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broadwayprincess98 · 2 years

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Sicktember Day 1: Fall Weather Fever

Fandom: Hadestown

Pairing: Hades/Persephone

Word Count: 4,754

Prompt(s): ‘Do You Know How To Take Care of a Sick Person?’, Intense Coddling, Excessive Use of Tissues, Common Cold

Author's Note: First, I have to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Yes, the title is kinda lame. Even after writing this whole thing, sitting on it for over a week, and editing, I still had trouble coming up with a title. If you have a better idea for a title, feel free to leave a suggestion down in the comments.

I know I already wrote a Hadestown fan fiction last December where the main point is Hades and Persephone trying again, but I just couldn't resist. I've had this idea sitting in the back of my mind for months and after reading a few Tumblr prompts (I'll mention those in the credits/second note) I just couldn't resist! So, here it is: my first entry for @sicktember 2022. I'll be posting this again on AO3 so even more people can read it. I hope you guys like it!

...

The sun’s golden arms reached through the window, trying to coax Persephone awake. Instead, the goddess pulled the covers over her head. While she had already felt partly cloudy the night before, she chalked it up to a long day of work in the garden and a long night of performing at the bar. She went to bed certain she’d wake up feeling like her usual, sunny self again. Unfortunately, more storm clouds had gathered overnight, sending a flood of mucus rushing out her nose like rainwater down a waterspout.

Persephone rolled over to try and go back to sleep, but a musical ring jolted her awake. She buried her head in the pillow, trying to drown out the incessant noise. When that didn’t work she slammed her hand down on the nearby alarm clock and threw it across the room. Still, the sound continued to pound away at her already throbbing head. That’s when she knew the sound wasn’t coming from the alarm clock.

She looked over at her bedside table where her phone was ringing off the hook. She sat up with a groan as her muscles ached from head to toe. “Whaddya want?” she answered groggily.

“Persephone?”

“Hades?” The sound of that familiar, gravelly voice made her head spin and her face flush, something she hadn’t felt since they had started courting. It could’ve been her rising fever or perhaps it was a sign of something more. Persephone was hoping for the latter.

“Is this a bad time? I’ll call you back.”

“No, it’s okay. I was just thinkin’ about you.” Persephone took the red narcissus from her hair. She looked down at the flower, rubbing her thumb across the petals.

She remembered the last thing she had asked her husband before she left last winter. “And how about you and I? Are we gonna try again?” She was content to stay just a little longer if it meant they could patch things up. But they both knew the world had gone without a spring or fall for far too long. For the first time in forever, she found herself counting down the days until she could return to that kingdom of smog and steel.

A heavy sigh escaped the god’s lips before he continued. “So, y’know that orchard you told me about? The one at the other end of the garden?”

“Ya mean the one where I almost popped the question?” Persephone teased.

“I was thinking…maybe…y’know…”

“Yes?” Persephone’s heart fluttered while she waited for her husband to finish that thought.

“Maybe we could stop by for a bit… before headin’ back.”

Persephone’s mind wandered back to that glorious day in the orchard.

After seeing each-other behind Demeter’s back for so long, she kept telling herself: This is it! Today’s the day he’ll propose! Each time, she’d been left disappointed. Eventually, she decided they’d waited long enough. They rendezvoused at the orchard near the end of the garden. Before she could get a word out, Hades was already down on his knees, stumbling over the words he had written on index cards.

She was torn between “What took ya so long?” and “But what about Momma?” Just as he finished his proposal, she burst into tears and leapt into his warm embrace. “Yes!” she sobbed between passionate kisses.

What better place to patch up their marriage than the place where it all began?

“You had to ask? I know just the—”Persephone’s response was cut off by a round of violent coughs she had been trying to hold back, forcing her to turn away from the receiver.

“Lover, you alright?” Hades asked, his voice laced with concern. “You sound a bit off.”

Persephone swallowed and cleared her throat, trying to get rid of the nagging irritation. “Yeah, just a tickle in my throat, don’t worry,” she chuckled, though her laughter turned into another fit of coughs, which she tried to muffle with her sleeve. “Meet me at Momma’s place at sunset.”

“Wait for me?”

“I will,” Persephone said before hanging up the phone.

She looked over the calendar until she reached the current date. Fall equinox was written in a bold script. Warm butterflies flitted around in her stomach at the thought of seeing her husband again. It was a strange feeling she had to admit. But then the butterflies flew up from her stomach and started tickling her nose and throat, resulting in more coughing and sneezing fits. I’ll be damned if I let a little cold stop me from trying again.

Persephone slowly got out of bed and stepped into the bathroom. She rifled through the drawers and cabinets, hoping by some chance she would find some medicine that would relieve her symptoms.

Dammit! Nothing, she thought to herself when she opened the last drawer. What else should she have expected from her momma? If it didn’t grow out of the ground, it wasn’t a remedy worth having in her eyes. It seemed she would have to find some other way to get her hands on some medicine.

Once she made it back to her bedroom, she picked up the phone and called Hermes. “Mornin’, Sister,” the god answered with his usual, warm greeting. “What can I do for ya?”

“I’m sick,” the goddess answered. “Feels like someone took a jackhammer to my brain and my bones ache like I aged a few decades overnight. Not to mention all the mucus that could fill the River Styx. It’s a nightmare.” Persephone sniffled, reaching for a clean tissue on her dresser. “Now listen, I’ve got a date with Hades tonight and there’s no way in hell I’m gonna miss it! So, I need the good stuff. The ‘Callie needs to sing tonight’ stuff.”

Even through the receiver Hermes could hear how hoarse and congested Persephone’s voice was. He had half a mind to suggest she call everything off and get back in bed, but he knew better than to argue. He saw how the power of the queen of the underworld unfolded on those who crossed her, mortal or immortal. If by some luck this sickness had weakened her powers, she’d probably bite back with a snarky response, like “Since when did you become my momma?” So, instead, he nodded his head and said “Got it! I’ll be right over.”

Once she heard a click on the other end of the line, Persephone slipped into an old pair of overalls and dragged herself to the kitchen. She scanned the shelves, searching for just the right kind of tea but the words on the labels were blurred by her watering eyes. It didn’t help that all the jars looked nearly identical.

Persephone grabbed the first jar she could find and staggered over to the stove where she filled the kettle with water. While it warmed up, she sat down at the kitchen table, keeping one eye on the stove and the other on the clock. Gods dammit, Hermes! What’s keepin’ ya? she thought as she watched the minutes tick by.

As if the god had heard her gripes, which he probably had, there came a flapping of feathers followed by a knock at the back door. But before Persephone could answer, the kettle shrieked, calling her back to the stove. She quickly poured the steaming water on top of the tea leaves and stirred in a few spoonfuls of honey straight from the hive. With the mug in hand, she headed for the door and opened it to be greeted by her half-brother.

He stood there silently with a parcel in his hands, looking the goddess over. “Gee ‘Seph, I barely recognized ya. You’ve been hangin’ with the souls of the dead so long, you’re startin’ t’ look like one of ‘em.” His wisecrack was met with a groan and an eye roll from the goddess. “Ah come on, lighten up! They say laughter’s the best medicine.”

“You’re lucky I’m too sick to strangle you in thorns!” The goddess retorted, though the intensity of her threat was undermined by the stuffiness in her voice. “Now ya got the goods or not?”

“I gotcha covered, Sister.”

Before he could hand it over, Persephone was already untying the twine and ripping off the paper. When she opened it, all she found was a bottle of nasal spray, some eye drops, a bag of cough drops, and a small medicine bottle at the very bottom of the pile. She slowly looked up from the parcel and narrowed her eyes at the messenger god.

“Don’t give me that look! It’s flu season, this is the best I could find. At least I got you some aspirin. Now, I got work t’ do.” And so Hermes took off almost as quickly as he arrived.

Once Persephone finished her tea along with a few doses of the medicines, she made her way to the garden.

No sooner had she stepped into the sunlight, Demeter dropped the trowel, looked up at her daughter, and frowned. “You’re up late. You feelin’ alright?”

Persephone froze. She had hoped the elder goddess would be none the wiser. She should have known better. Nothing got past her momma. She had to say something. But what? “Momma, I haven’t been drinkin’. I swear!”

“I didn’t say you were,” Demeter said, furrowing her brow.

Persephone cursed herself for her response. Now her momma would be even more suspicious. She couldn’t blame her, especially after all the times she’d fallen off the wagon.

Sure enough, Demeter said “It’s just, there’s this nasty bug goin’ around and I’m worried you might’ve caught it.” Before Persephone could insist she was fine, the elder goddess took a deep breath before speaking again. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I’m trying to be less of a hover mother. If you say you’re alright, then you’re alright. So, are you ready to give me a hand in the garden?”

Persephone rolled up her sleeves, eager to plow through this bug. She snuck some more doses of medicine between weeding the garden and planting the winter crops. She sucked the cough drops Hermes had given her to quell her coughing fits. She mopped up streams of mucus using all the tissues she could find. Every now and then, her momma caught her in the middle of a coughing or sneezing fit. Each time, Persephone blamed it on the ragweed pollen which seemed to convince her.

Before either of them knew it, the sun was sitting low in the sky and the two were sitting in Persephone’s bedroom, packing her bags for her annual return to Hadestown. Once the last of her daughter’s things had been put away, Demeter sat down on the empty spot on the bed beside her. “Things’ll turn out well this time. I just know it!”

Persephone glanced over at her momma with a confused expression painted on her face. “You’re…strangely optimistic. I thought you didn’t like Hades.”

Demeter brushed strands of chestnut curls away from the younger goddess’ face and looked at her with that well-known sadness.“Well, regardless of how I feel about the man, your happiness is my happiness. So, whatever it is that started this mess, you better end it,” she said with a smile.

“Trust me, I’m plannin’ on it.” Persephone wrapped her arms around her mother, noticing the shine of silver tears, like raindrops, in her eyes. Demeter tightened her grasp on the young goddess for fear that she would slip through her fingers. The two sat there, taking shelter in the other’s embrace, neither one exchanging a word for their eyes and arms said it all. At that moment it was just the two of them as it had been for centuries.

The distant call of a train whistle startled the goddess’ out of each-other’s embrace. “I’ll be puttin’ some of the plants to bed for the fall. So, you won’t be seein’ much of me. Y’all have a good time.” Demeter kissed her daughter’s cheek before stepping out.

Once she was sure her mother was gone, Persephone sat at her vanity, searching for the extra stash of cosmetics she kept on hand for special occasions. She rushed to apply the rest of the makeup before her husband arrived. But by then, she could already feel his presence somewhere nearby.

…

After taking a moment to compose himself, Hades gave the farmhouse door a curt knock. The door opened to reveal his beloved wife wearing that same, warm smile he fell in love with that day in the garden. Though she had tried to hide her condition well, her chestnut curls resembled a bird’s nest after a storm, her eyes watered like a flooded river, and her nose was damp and red like a cherry. He decided not to mention it and instead let her lead him inside.

“Hey!” she greeted, her voice more than a little congested. “Gimme just a second, okay?”

“Okay.” Hades leaned against the doorframe and watched as she opened her bags to retrieve some more layers. Glancing around the room, he noticed the wastebasket overflowing with tissues and the vanity and dresser cluttered with no shortage of cough drop wrappers. “You sure you’re feelin’ up to this, Lover? You sound a little sick.”

She slipped on a sweater and then her big, fur coat on top of her forest green dress. “It ain’t so bad.” Her statement was followed by a wet sniffle, which did nothing to convince him of her wellbeing.

“Tonight’s s’posed to be the coldest it’s been all week.”

Persephone playfully rolled her eyes. “Yeah, it’s almost like weather normally gets colder as the seasons change. Wild.” She was about to head back to the closet only to be stopped by a crudely-knitted scarf wrapped around her neck. “You made this for me?”

“Of course. I mean, it ain’t like Athena’s work. But what kinda husband would I be if I let my wife catch a chill?”

Persephone’s smile widened as she took him in her arms. “This is better than anything Athena could’ve made. It’s got a story to tell.”

Hades saw her attempt to hide a few coughs in her elbow followed by a wince when she realized that the force of the coughs had spilled some mucus from her nose. He raised his brow and looked at her with a mix of concern and bemusement.

“Oh, uh…” she sniffled, “I’ll bring tissues.”

“Good.” Hades knew it would probably be best not to take her out in such a state, but who was he to deny her a nice evening together? Especially after the promise they had made last winter. Besides, there was nothing he could say or do to change his wife’s mind once it was made up.

Hades stepped into the kitchen to wait for his wife. His eyes landed on the kettle sitting on the nearby stove and then on the thermos in his hand. Guess it couldn’t hurt to bring along somethin’ warm to drink. Once the kettle had been filled, he turned on the stove and began rummaging through the cupboards stocked with various jars of herbs, spices, and tea leaves.

Even from the kitchen he could hear his wife sniffling and sneezing, which made his stomach sink. What if he was somehow to blame for her illness? The sweltering heat and smog-filled streets couldn’t be good for a nature goddess like Persephone. Any number of things in that dark and dismal kingdom could have weakened her, leaving her vulnerable to sickness. Before he could dwell any further on that, the kettle squealed and he shot to his feet. He emptied a jar of tea leaves into the thermos and poured boiling water from the kettle and stirred in some of Demeter’s organic honey.

“I’m ready to go.” Persephone popped out from behind the corner, took his hand in hers, and led him out into the garden.

…

The trees and flowers lining the dirt path bowed down their heads in reverence for the passing king and queen. Even through the branches overhead Hades could see a few of Nyx’s stars shining like diamonds along the golden streams of Helios’ chariot. A cool breeze swept the land, carrying the smokey, crisp scent of autumn. It was a natural sort of beauty, one that could not be replicated by even the most precious stones or the most advanced machinery.

The quiet chemistry between the gods was abruptly halted when Persephone broke away from him in a small fit of coughs. The king raised a sturdy arm, gently placing his hand against her back while she hacked. “”You doin’ okay? We can head back anytime, y’know?”

“Nah, it’s fine.” Persephone sniffled again before clearing her throat. She searched her bag for a tissue to wipe her dripping nose. They hadn’t been walking for very long, but she already found herself reusing old tissues.

A few steps later, the gods came to a clearing at the end of the lane. The leaves parted to unveil a large gathering of trees bearing every kind of fruit known to man. As he stared at the perfect blend of red, green, and yellow apples that hung from the branches, he took a whiff of the sweet, natural scent of fresh produce.

Hades thought about everything else they could do here now that the garish, summer heat had been put to rest for the season. They could come back here for picnics under the stars, snowball fights once the first snow fell, maybe even a game of hide and seek.

When the hell did I get t’ be such a sap?

A smug grin crept across the god’s face as he looked up at the hanging fruits. “Well lookie here, all these apples up for grabs and not a ladder in sight. Just how is a goddess of your size s’posed to grab any?”

“Watch me!” Persephone thrust the basket at her husband and approached the towering tree with her hand outstretched. The tree lowered one of its branches to the queen, gifting her the biggest, juciest apple it could produce. She plucked the fruit from the branch and bit off a large chunk before turning back to her husband with a wry smile.

She swore she heard her husband mutter “Show off” under his breath, but the smile on his face told her he harbored no hard feelings. So far so good.

“Hey, chin up. Maybe the others’ll give you somethin’ if you ask nicely,” she teased.

“You can talk t’ trees? Really? What’s it say?”

“It says…” Persephone started, leaning her ear against the tree’s mighty trunk. “Last one t’ fill the basket peels all the apples! Looks like you’re gonna hafta do it the old-fashioned way, Lover.”

Hades and Persephone raced to fill each of their baskets as quickly as possible. They started chucking rotten apples at each-other, hoping to slow the other one down. Robust laughter and the humming of an old song resonated throughout the orchard; a song of love brought to life after spending so much time forgotten. Had an oracle told either of them years ago that this was where they would be, they would have scoffed at the possibility. Now, they couldn’t imagine it any other way.

Persephone had nearly forgotten about her condition. That is, until another breeze passed by, sending a shiver through her. When she held out her hand, the apples sat motionless at the top of the tree. She tried again, but all that fell from the branches were a few pathetic leaves. Looks like I’m gonna have to do this the hard way.

Persephone slithered up the trunk like a snake until she reached the nearest branch. So far so good. Her heart seemed to swell into a mallet, drumming up extra ichor through her veins to the tips of her fingers as she hoisted herself up the tree. Almost there! Her mouth began to water as she edged closer and closer to the apples, red and shiny as rubies, hanging from the branches.

The goddess reached her hand out to the plump, ripe fruit just inches away. But before she could claim her prize, a wave of heat swept through her body. The sky and surrounding trees started spinning in a violent circle, as though she were caught in a cyclone. She clung to the tree for dear life, disregarding the aches in her arms and legs. Unfortunately, the branch she had been clutching slipped from her hand, sending her plummeting toward the ground.

Persephone braced herself for a rough landing, only to have her fall cushioned by something warm and soft. She opened her eyes to find her husband looking down at her. “Is this a habit of yours? Fallin’ off stuff?” he asked, attempting a smile.

“Well, normally someone’s there to catch me,” Persephone chuckled, tracing her finger along the brick pattern that lined his arm.

“Come on, let’s sit down for a spell.” The king cradled his queen in his broad arms and laid her down slowly on the orchard floor, handing her one of the apples he picked.

Persephone leaned against the trunk, snacking on the apple while basking in the warm glow of the fall evening until a cool breeze passed by, sending a shiver through her. She inched closer to her husband and pressed against him. Her fur coat stretched further with every shiver and shake that passed through her. Hades obliged, wrapping himself and his wife in the coat, which now resembled a winter blanket, and pulling her in close to him.

Persephone leaned into his touch, emitting a small, content sigh. Her body tensed as she attempted to stifle a wet sneeze against the king’s shoulder, leaving the silver fabric damp. “Shit! Ugh…I-I’m so sorry,” she sniffled, fumbling for a decently dry tissue in her bags.

“It’s alright, lover.” Hades pulled out a clean handkerchief from his coat pocket and handed it to his wife. He watched another miserable, soggy sneeze erupt during her fervent attempt to clean up after the first one. Another breeze passed by, causing her to shiver again. This time, so did he. “Maybe we should head back. It’s gettin’ cold.”

Persephone gave her nose another blow into the now sodden handkerchief. “Alright, just let me drop some of these off with Momma first.” Once she finished, she noticed her husband holding a thermos out to her.

“I brought some tea. Should help us warm up on the way back.”

Her face flushed a bit, whether it was because of her fever or her husband, she didn’t know and, at that point, didn’t care. She gratefully accepted the drink, releasing a delighted hum at the soft blend of sweet honey and the powerful kick of the tea leaves. The two of them stood, took the bags, and headed down the path

Hades and Persephone walked back slowly, each one supporting the opposite side of the basket. A comfortable silence hung over them as they walked, only being broken by the occasional cough or sneeze coming from Persephone or the sound of either of them sipping the hot drink. Finally, Persephone turned to her husband with a wounded expression painted on her face. “I’m sorry, Lover. I know you wanted to give us a perfect night and I ruined everything…again.”

“Oh lover. You didn’t ruin anything,” he reassured her, squeezing her hand a little tighter. “Besides, you’re better than all the apples in that orchard.”

Persephone shook her head. “It ain’t just about the apples,” she said. “I let us grow apart like weeds all because I was blinded by a river of wine. I’ve been tryin’ to quit for the both of us, but if only you knew how many times I’ve fallen off the wagon.”

She tried to avoid her husband's eyes, but Hades cradled her chin in his coarse hand and gave off a low chuckle. “I think I got you beat,” he said. “You shoulda seen all those nights Hermes and Hecate had t’ drag me outta the office kicking and screaming. One time Cerberus mistook me for one of them low-lifes. Though, I guess I was.”

Persephone let out a watery sort of laugh which soon gave way to another fit of coughs.

A few steps later, which felt like a mile-long trek to Persephone, the two arrived at the old farmhouse. The goddess raised her hand to knock when the front door swung open. Not even seconds later, she was greeted by her mother’s frantic stream of worries. “Baby, what happened?!” Demeter gasped. “You look white as a ghost! Hades, you know you shouldn’t be taking her out if she’s unwell! Now look what you did!”

“Leave him outta this, Momma. It ain’t his fault. I’ve been feelin’ lousy all day.”

The elder goddess placed the back of her hand against her daughter’s forehead, biting her lip. “I knew it,” she murmured. “I knew somethin’ was wrong this whole time. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Persephone snapped.

Demeter raised her arms and took a step back, staring at her daughter with her mouth agape. When she finally spoke, the first words out of her mouth were “Because I know you needed space.” She turned away from the younger, hanging her head low. “You’re not a little girl anymore. It’s time I put my own feelings aside and accept that. But right now, you need to march right up those stairs and head straight to bed.”

“No!” Persephone protested, flocking to her husband’s side. “Hades, we have to go! Tell her it’s time!”

Hades shook his head. “I’m sorry, Persephone, but your mother’s right.”

The goddesses stared at him with a mix of confusion and surprise planted on their faces. “But—”

“Lover, you are in no condition to travel. I could never forgive myself if you got sicker on the ride back to Hadestown. Fall can wait a few days.”

Persephone relented before turning back to the elder goddess. “Well, if I can’t go then he stays.” She hugged his arm a little tighter, silently pleading for her mother to have pity on her poor husband.

“Do you even know how to take care of a sick person?” Demeter asked cooly, staring straight at her brother.

“I made her some tea,” he said, showing her the thermos.

“It takes a lot more than knowing your way with a kettle, Mister.”

“Well, I’d be willing to learn from the best.”

Demeter hesitated, looking over at Hades with a glare as bitter cold as the winter frosts. Just when Persephone thought they were through, she said “Alright, but just for tonight.” The goddess waved the two of them in before showing them to their room.

Once the door closed behind them, Persephone attempted to peel off the gown, whimpering and groaning at the aches that followed every movement. “Little help here?” she asked, glancing over at her husband.

With a soft laugh, Hades pulled the dress up and over her head before helping her slip into one of her silk nightgowns and tucking her into bed. “I better go help your mother in the kitchen, I’ll be right back,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to her rosy cheek.

Persephone settled into the pillows, tucking her mother’s woven quilt around herself. She drifted off to the lullaby of rustling leaves, the steady beating of the knife against the cutting board, and the sizzle of her mother’s homemade cooking. Some time later, she was awoken by an enticing smell from the kitchen. She figured she must already be on the mend if she could smell again.

Her husband came in bearing two steaming bowls and two ceramic mugs. He proceeded to pile on layers and layers of blankets between fluffing her pillows and offering her spoonfuls of soup, much to Persephone’s delight. “Is there anything else I can do for you, my queen?”

“Well, maybe just one more thing,” she said coyly, extending her arms to the king. “Will you lie with me? The bed’s a bit small, so we’ll have to get real close.”

Hades happily obliged, wrapping himself in the mountain of blankets and sheets, hooking his arm around his wife. The gods drifted off to sleep, not just side-by-side, but in each-other’s arms, relishing in the other’s presence for the first time in years. The story turned out even better the second time because the gods had remembered their love.

Credits/Sources of Inspiration: "Under The Weather Under The Stars" (Tumblr Prompt) Fall Sickfic prompt about characters A and B apple picking (If you wrote it you know who you are)

#sicktember 2022 #hadestown #hadestown fanfic #writing challenge #writing #musical theater

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oldsongoldtale · 2 years

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spring again

a hadestown fic that takes place after the show. old but hey!

also on ao3

Persephone looked out the window as the entrance to Hadestown was coming up. The entrance made her remember a memory of long ago, when she first used to come up to the surface to bring Spring and Summer. She complained to her husband the first time she returned that it was ugly up there, all full of coal and dirt. He waved her complaint away, but she didn't let it go. It took weeks of arguing with her stubborn-headed lover to finally get him to let her decorate the entrance. It was buoyantly dancing with life as vines and flowers grew along the underground's cave walls. The further you went down, however, the less flowers there were. It was Hades' doing, of course. He claimed to only need one flower, his beautiful wife. "You just miss me too much every time you see a flower," She would tease.

The memory allowed Persephone to smile to herself as she ventured further down on the train. The sight was beautiful, seeing her work still presereved and even more elegant than the previous years. Hades most likely had some workers tend to it while she was gone, and that alone made her feel blissful and hopeful. Her mind wandered and she wondered what Hades thought of the sight the previous years when he had come to get her. This year, she was leaving the surface earlier as a surprise for Hades. She had come early last year, and she believed it was time to return home to the one she loved. As years passed she hated the sound of the train's whistle but for once it was calming to her to know she was going home.

Even then she couldn't help but think of Orpheus and Eurydice. She had waited at the entrance for the two, bearing flowers and wine for them to share. Approaching the underground, she could only see Orpheus looking defeated and Eurydice nowhere to be seen. She had always rooted for them, but that was the deal Hades made. It took a while for her to get over her anger at her husband for what he had done, but she rememered Orpheus made the deal. She couldn't deny that, it was his fear and doubt that made him break the rule and have this happen. Even so, Persephone did all she could to try and bring Orpheus's spirits up again. Maybe she could bring him something from the underground, something from Eurydice to show him it was okay.

The train whistled again as it was pulling into the end of the cave. Persephone sat up straighter to get her first look at Hadestown since the events that caused her husband to worry so much. When she could finally see his underworld, it looked so much like it had did the year prior, but it wasn't as bright and some of the factories were taken down. She smiled happily at what her husband had down and enjoyed the rest of the ride. Persephone considered cracking open a bottle of wine but instead she shook her head and gathered her things. The train had pulled into the station where the souls were stumbling off. Persephone had her own car, so she didn't get to see all these people and that made her feel deep remorse and regret. She could have comforted them, but she didn't know. The train continued onward to Hades' castle and she gathered her things.

As the wheels screamed and the train's whistle was blown, she waited for it to come to a complete stop and the door to open. She removed her coat and took out her fan, it was already getting hot in the underworld. Persephone took a deep breath and smiled, happy to almost be home. The car door opened and she stepped down a step before looking up and noticing her husband standing before her. He was in his usual attire, business casual minus his large black leather trench coat. His glasses were on his face, and he removed them and put them on his shirt. Hades smiled at his wife, the glint of his wedding ring catching Persephone's eye. "You're early," Was all he said as he held a hand out to her.

"I missed you." Persephone mimicked as she handed her coat over to him instead of her hand. His playful sneer made her laugh as she threw herself into his arms for an embrace. The last embrace this passionate they had shared was that of when they danced to Orpheus's song. She felt safe in his arms, and comfortable. It was in contrast to how she hated his touch long ago- for now they were mended and healed. Hades ran his hand through Persephone's hair, kissing her forehead and all over her face. "I missed you too, my flower."

#hadestown #hadestown fanfic #fanfiction #hades x persephone #persephone hadestown #hadestown hades

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jointherebellion215 · 1 month

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Flowers

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen x female!reader

Summary: You're living a perfectly content life on Geidi Prime with your husband. It's a shame your mind can't rest, sparked by glimpses of a life unknown. Loosely based on the song from Hadestown.

Word Count: 1.5k

TW: Dark!Feyd-Rautha, Dead Dove Do Not Eat, yandere!Feyd-Rautha, manipulation, gaslighting, like SO much gaslighting holy shit, descriptions of violence, abusive relationship, emotional abuse, isolation, tragedy, nonconsensual drug use, nonconsensual medical treatement, induced memory loss, amnesia, dubious consent, pregnancy, songfic, happy-but-not-really-happy ending, I know I said female!reader but there's virtually no pronoun usage or descriptive words in thisfor the reader besides titles so maybe GN!reader??

A/N: I'm blown away, almost 500 notes on His Kiss, the Riot? Holy shit, all of the thanks! Here it is, the final part! I'm ending it with the song that actually started this whole idea. Listening to Eva's interpretation of Eurydice singing Flowers gave me the most delicious, fucked-up bit of inspiration and this came out. I was clutching my own metaphorical pearls writing this cause damn, this gets dark. Like, way more than I thought I could write. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the end of this twisted tale. Thank you for reading! As always, I appreciate you taking the time to like, comment, and reblog.

Read Part One and Part Two

AO3

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Dune properties, characters, or storylines-- nor do I own anything related to Hadestown. The images used in this are not my own, and any similarities to stories or events other than what are directly referenced are strictly coincidence.

Lily white and poppy red

I trembled when he laid me out

“You won’t feel a thing,” he said, “when you go down”

Nothing gonna wake you now

Drops of blood.

A wicked, black smile.

“You won’t feel a thing.”

You wake up with a gasp. Your doctor had warned you about dreams like this. They weren’t real, just an aftereffect of your accident.

The medical staff for House Harkonnen had been gracious enough to inform you of your predicament. When your family had recently hosted the Harkonnens, you quickly met and fell deeply in love with the na-Baron Feyd-Rautha. Your love for each other was so intense that you had demanded to get married right away. Your father disapproved of the union, so he disowned you and banished you, demanding to never see you again.

On the journey back to Geidi Prime, a stray asteroid hit the ship and caused you to hit your head. Feyd had apparently worried for your life, which saddened you and warmed your heart. It was nice to know that someone truly cared for you. However, your mind wasn’t quite the same afterwards. Your life before Geidi Prime was completely unknown to you. Your memories were in a fragile state.

That was just a few months earlier. Unfortunately, your mind has not yet recovered your memories prior to the accident. You were diligently taking a specially brewed tea that would calm your mind so it wouldn’t fracture under the immense pressure to try and fix itself. When you asked how long it would take for you to recover, your heart cracked when they said that it may take the rest of your natural life.

While it broke your heart to hear of your father’s dismissal of your feelings, you believed that you were strong enough to carry on. Having no further ties to your home world made it better to settle in with your new family.

You are a Harkonnen now.

Now, your footsteps make the quietest of echoes as you traipse down the narrow corridor. Heads of nearby servants and slaves bow, and eyes snap to the floor as you pass by. You feel the barest of sympathies, for not being allowed the simplest of human connection with their na-Baronness. But it was paradise considering the consequences should anyone ever feel bold enough to try otherwise.

Your husband wouldn’t allow that.

Dreams are sweet, until they’re not

Men are kind, until they aren’t

Flowers bloom, until they rot and fall apart

“Can I not have a single friend on this planet?!”

You burst into your shared chambers, rage rushing through your veins. All you had wanted was to have lunch and tea with one of the few female palace advisors you had taken a liking to. Maybe share a laugh or a story. Make a connection outside of your new family. That was all ruined when Feyd barged in and gutted your companion, stomach-to-throat, while she sat in her chair.

You were sure that your shoes had trailed blood down the hallway, but your mind was focused elsewhere at the moment.

“What use would you have for friends? I am right here.” He closed in on you, grasping your arms and forcing you to look in his direction. “Am I not enough for you? Do I not give you everything you should ever desire?”

His hands tighten around your wrists, making you flinch. A stray tear falls from your eyes, guilt starts to overcome your anger.

“No, not at all, husband! You have given me everything I could have wished for and more,” You wrench your hands out of his grip and grasp his face. He showered you with gifts, never let you go hungry or thirsty and this is how you repay him? “I just… I didn’t think you would want to hear me talk about certain things. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful.”

“I know you don’t, my darling.”

You take a deep breath as you feel the tension in the room start to settle.

“Your mind is already fragile from the accident… I just want to keep you safe.”

Safe. That was the key here. He takes step back and retrieves a small dagger from his belt.

Feyd holds it up, showing you the weapon. “Did you know that your friend had a blade dipped in poison strapped onto her person?”

You can feel the blood rushing from your face. No. You didn’t know.

“I-I didn’t see a knife on her. She couldn’t have-“

“She did.”

He drops the blade and leans in closer to you, forehead aligning with yours. “There are people out there who seek to harm you, who seek to harm me through you. I can never let that happen.”

You nod furiously. You couldn’t believe that you had been so stupid.

Trust is unbelievably hard to come by in the Galactic Imperium. Your few months’ worth of memories can even attest to that. It seems that the only people you can truly rely on is family.

“I only want what’s best for you.”

You understand now.

Is anybody listening?

I open my mouth and nothing comes out

Another argument discussion had emerged from your telling of your latest dream. Your husband was convinced that you were entirely too exhausted to put any stock into what your subconscious was telling you, but you thought otherwise.

Fingers run through a patch of bright pinks, yellows, and blues—

“I swear to you, it felt so real! It was almost like a memory, like something I-,” A firm hand is placed on your shoulder as you give a slight stumble. Feyd puts a hand on your back, leading you to the edge of your bed, setting you on the bench that was placed against the footboard.

“Please, have some of your morning tea, my darling. You look a bit peaked.” You accepted the cup he gave you, settling down and taking a few sips of the warm, spiced drink. Your mind instantly calms, anxieties evaporating from your body like puffs of smoke. Never mind the memories that you had just… Floating.

Your husband is now on one knee in front of you, arms encasing your body, as his hands cup your face. He brings your eyes to meet his, seemingly searching. For what? You do not know.

“What were you saying about this dream of yours?” A pause reverberates throughout the room as your head tilts in confusion.

“My…?” You stutter, mouth opening to complete a thought that was no longer entirely there. “I can’t quite remember. What were we talking about?”

Your husband gives a smirk, analyzing your face once more before placing his hand on the dark fabric covering your swollen belly.

“Nothing of import. It seems that my heir is set on scrambling your thoughts.”

There seemed to be nothing in this world that brought more joy to Feyd-Rautha’s face than the sight of you and his unborn child. He’s more protective of you now than ever, having guards always posted near you, having you wear a shield during all public appearances. Not to mention, he was damn near insatiable in private. His hands and mouth are practically dragged away from you and your growing stomach every morning.

You give a chuckle. “I’d heard about pregnancy brain before, but never knew it to be this taxing! Perhaps I’ll take a walk later if I’m feeling up to it.”

Feyd gives your cheek a soft pat before rising to his feet, “Rest, my darling. I shall check in on the both of you later.” His hand rests next to yours, giving your belly a quick rub before he walks towards the door.

Your head goes to set on your pillow, the warmth from the tea running through your body. You must be really tired, since you fall asleep so quickly.

Quick enough to not hear the deadbolt lock clicking from the outside once the door is closed.

Flowers, I remember field of flowers

Soft beneath my heels

Walking in the sun, I remember someone

Someone by my side, turned his face to mine

The dreams start to encroach your mind while you are awake. You continue to follow your doctor’s instructions: take your daily tea, rest often, don’t overexert your body or your mind. But, ever persistent, they push through, finding parallels with your daily life to latch onto.

A hand, gently enlaced with yours, guides you through a meadow—

You husband’s hands lead you to stand with him by his uncle’s side, preparing for another ceremony.

A laugh, familiar and warm—

A chilling cackle of laughter reaches you in your viewing box, watching your husband gleefully slay another adversary in the arena.

Bright, yellow sunlight caressing your face and neck—

The black sun of Geidi Prime pulses in your periphery as you wave to a crowd below, your husband standing stoically next to you.

A kiss, given freely—

Feyd ravishes you in your chambers, lips melding together with yours.

My darling—

My love—

My darling—

“Is everything alright, my darling?”

You blink, snapping back to the present. Pale, smooth skin and blue eyes, your husband extends his hand towards you. Safe. He gives you everything. You and your child will never struggle or suffer with him. You are safe with him. Aren’t you?

Blood splatters over a patch of bright pinks, yellows, and blues—

You give a bright smile.

If you ever walk this way

Come and find me lying in the bed I made

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considerablecolors · 7 months

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Despite the explicit instruction not to, Orpheus looks back. He needs to know if Eurydice will follow him anywhere, and so, he turns- And he finds her standing in place, unmoving.

We, the audience, find this sad for a few reasons:

1. We know there was a time when Eurydice would have followed him to the ends of the earth and straight into hell- but now, she watches Orpheus ascend to heaven alone. We know there was a time when she would have followed. We know what has changed between the then and the now.

2. Orpheus does not know what has changed. Orpheus does not know Eurydice stays because of how badly she loves. Orpheus thinks Eurydice has stayed behind because she does not love him enough.

3. Eurydice thinks the same thing. We know this, but we cannot tell them. They have both gone to places we cannot go.

4. By looking back, Orpheus has doomed them both, thinking he was saving them. If given the chance, he would do it again.

5. At some point, Orpheus believed the world was good, and Eurydice believed the world was evil. At some point, their love was powerful enough to change each other's minds.

6. Now, both see what the world could be. Orpheus reveres it. Eurydice fears it. Both are wrong. We don't know if their love can become powerful enough to change their minds again.

7. Eurydice does not follow, but she waits to see if Orpheus will turn around again. She cannot resist one last look.

8. We, the audience, know what has happened, and we know why- Orpheus and Eurydice are not gods. Their mistakes are human. We watch the scene again and again, denying what has transpired, longing for a deeper reason- coffees, lies, a higher power- but the story of Orpheus and Eurydice plays out the way it always does, for the reason it always has- love.

9. These two know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice well. Perhaps they watched it play out. Perhaps they greeted Eurydice at death's door. Perhaps they sat in a tavern and heard Orpheus play. Aziraphale thinks the story is about the inevitably of fate, the inability to resist the higher-ups- a god's will is ineffable. Crowley thinks the story is about the inevitably of leaving, the inability to have a happy ending- a god is always cruel. Neither have gotten this story quite right.

10. Once again, Aziraphale and Crowley have forgotten to focus on the love.

#YES THIS IS PROSE FOR A GREEK TRAGEDY X BIBLE FANFIC SCREW YOU #good omens #orpheus and eurydice #hadestown #ineffable husbands #ineffable wives #ineffable partners #keeping Eurydices pronouns here is VERY intentional #azicrow #good omens 2 #good omens 2 spoilers #cc speaks #cc writes #poetry #prose #spilledink #idk what do you tag poetryon here??

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grim-has-issues · 9 months

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i love tumblr.

its the only place where I can openly go insane and say things that i would never tell my therapist and a stranger on here will be like, “same/mood”

and then you all move on with our day

if thats not real community

idk what is

#fandom #fanfic #good boy audios #hozier #hadestown #lord knows i need it #no friends

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sydneyofalltrades · 6 months

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Summer Songs

Writing Request #2 Musical: Hadestown Ship: Orphydice (Orpheus/Eurydice) Requested by: @gayandtrashy

The summer sun was refreshing and bright from the frozen snow and bitter winds. Eurydice, the hungry young girl, felt full for the first time in years, not of food and drink, but of adoration and love.

As she walked through the grassy fields and rows of delicate flowers, she spotted Orpheus, the poor boy with a song to sing, sitting and playing his guitar, the flowers swaying along to the breeze.

"La, la, la, la, la, la, la..." he sang, the telltale sign he was working on his precious song.

Eurydice gently sat next to him and placed her head on his shoulder. He jumped slightly, then turned and smiled.

"Eurydice! What are you doing here?"

She smiled. "I just wanted to watch you work. Don't stop on my account, love."

Orpheus smiled as well, and continued to play his fractured song, adlibbing notes and phrases, trying to make his lover smile.

And in that summer day, where the flowers and trees all bloomed and grew, where two lovers sat in pure peace and love.

Unaware of the fact that they'd sung this song, danced this dance.

Locked in an eternal cycle of love.

#hadestown #hadestown fanfic #orpheus #eurydice #orphydice #writing requests #syds writings

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roukabi · 5 months

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What's up cool cats. Submission for @reevepheusweek Day 4 coming in hot!

#finally outta there! i struggled so bad with this chapter i'm much more confident in the next ones lol #btw this chapter and my Other Fic's 2nd chapter have related names. i think i'm soooooo clever #hadestown #hadestown fanfic #hadestown au #hadestown nytw #hadestown broadway #orpheusweek #orpheus week #orpheus #rook writes!#rook roars!

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my--moon · 2 months

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my followers after I promise them a fic and it never comes out;

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fanonical · 3 months

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if you write a fanfic for a musical and don't have all the dialogue be rhymes/lyrics then you are a coward

#Fanfic #Fanfiction #Fandom #I wrote a Hadestown fic where all the dialogue is lyrics COME AT ME

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amatalefay · 9 months

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“Why ‘m I not dead?” “The wall is completely sealed. No one gets through. Not Thanatos, not Hermes, not even the king.” Though his vision was still splotchy and unfocused, Orpheus thought he saw the goddess smile. “Like I said. He ain’t getting his hands on the girl, and he ain’t getting you, either.” “So—so ‘rydice’s safe? Hades can’t—” “Eurydice is under my protection. You, on the other hand, are not.”

Warning: mild gore in the first section. If you would rather skip it, feel free—I'll put a brief summary at the end.

#hadestown #hadestown twice as bright au #my fanfic #my writing #hadestown fanfic #orpheus #persephone #hermes #hades

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astorytotellyourfriends · 2 months

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six sentence sunday

i've been working on this au on and off for almost a year now but i'm hopeful to finish it soon 🤞🏼

"Nobody's ever made me feel safe the way you do," Chrissy continues, not letting him interrupt with another self-deprecating remark. "You protected me, Eddie." "I didn't—" he says, his throat going tight as he's struck with the memory of their last moments together in the trailer; those horrible images of her body breaking flashing across his mind's eye. "I couldn't…" "You did," she says as she presses her forehead against his again, her fingers rubbing against his skin like she's trying to comfort both him and herself at the same time. "I was seeing things in the woods when I was on my own—terrible things—but then you were there and… it stopped. It all stopped."

#hellcheer #eddissy #chrissy x eddie #hellcheer fanfic #hellcheer hadestown au #stranger things #stranger things fic

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jacks347 · 1 month

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When you remember you actively use Tumblr now so you can cross-post all your Discord fics :o (Enjoy Hadestown Bastard Warrior)

"You're really going after him."

Faith nearly jumped out of her skin at the sudden voice, turning to see her only friend leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and eyebrow raised. She just sighed, turning back to continue packing her suitcase. "He's the love of my life, Devlin. I won't give up on him that easily." "Sister, I know you're dedicated but he walked to the underworld willingly! He saw Hades and went with him!"

Faith snapped the lid of the case shut, spinning around to face Devlin with a fire in her eyes he'd only seen a few times before. "If going to Hades and demanding him back is what it takes then by God I'll do it!"

Devlin just stared at her for a minute, as if trying to read into her soul, see if she would squirm or break under his hard stare. She just stared back, rising to his challenge and daring him to question her. He closed his eyes, sighing heavily before digging into his pocket and pulling out a shimmering gold coin. He tossed it over to Faith who fumbled to catch it. It was ancient, the engravings in a long-forgotten script. The only thing she recognized was the embossed symbol on the back. It looked like a horseshoe but Faith knew better. Omega, the last letter of a lost language, the sign of Hades. She'd never seen anything like it, it was no currency from any country she recognized. What was it? Why did Devlin have it?

What did he know?

"If you're really sure about this, I can't stop you. But I can tell you how to get down there without getting yourself killed. Unlike Albus, you won't get the easy way down on the train. You'll have to walk the tracks. That is your ticket past the gates. I trust you'll treat it with care until you come back."

Faith clutched the coin tight, feeling the cold of the metal seep into her skin. "Tell me how to get him back."

The air was thick with smoke and suffering, a smell that burned her nose and threatened to choke the air out of her lungs. So this was Hadestown, land of the dead, domain of death itself. It wasn't quite the fire and brimstone she'd been taught as a little girl but it was close enough. It reminded Faith of the mines she'd visited while traveling on a charity mission. Faith sucked in a deep breath that stabbed her lungs, holding it in her chest as she pushed through the slow-moving crowd. She had to find him, she would find him, she would march up to Hades himself with her love in tow and demand he return with her if that's what was required of her. Gods have mercy on her, you couldn't blame her for trying.

She waded through the sluggish worker bees of the underworld, scanning every face for the one she desperately wanted to see. How long had she been searching for? Minutes? Hours? Days? It was impossible to tell. But gods be damned, she was standing by her word, she would not return until she found her warrior.

"You are a persistent one, you know that?" A voice from behind Faith chirped, making the priestess spin around. Who stood before her was someone...different. Faith couldn't exactly tell what they were but they certainly weren't one of the dead around them. It almost looked like they were made of...stone? Was that possible? The person tilted their head at Faith, their long purple hair falling over their shoulder. "You're looking for him, aren't you? The warrior that Dad brought down.” “Y…Yes, I am. Who are you? How do you know that?” The person laughed, straightening back up with a grin. “Call me Pandora. As for how I know, it’s kind of obvious. It’s one thing for one living person to be in the underworld but two? Consider it a likely guess.”

Faith took a second to compose herself before stepping towards Pandora, attempting to look intimidating. “Take me to him or I’ll-” Pandora held up her hands in surrender with an amused smile, cutting Faith’s threat short. “Take it easy, dear Sister. I was going to do that anyway. Follow me.”

“Dad! Dad! She came! I told you she would!” Pandora shouted as they kicked the door open to a massive throne room of sorts. Sitting in the giant throne was an equally giant man with the same carved stone design as Pandora, white hair, glowing eyes, and a kind smile. Faith knew who he was, she’d heard stories about him all her life. “Hades…” She whispered under her breath, making Pandora pause, turning to look at her. “Hades, Tyr, Jupiter, ancient giant, whatever name you wanna give him. I usually just call him Dad.” They turned back to the man, still beaming like a child bringing their parent a shiny rock.

Hades stared at Faith for a moment with a blank expression, making the priestess squirm before he smiled, standing from his throne and gently removing a black bundle from where it was nestled in his hair to place it on the ground in front of Faith. “Is this what you’re looking for?” His voice held a hint of laughter, revealing the bundle to in fact be Albus who had been peacefully sleeping on the lord of the underworld’s hair until he was moved and was now very much awake and not very happy about it. “What the hell? Why’d you wake me up, I was enjoying that-” “Albus!!”

The man in question barely had any time to react before Faith practically bowled him over as she threw herself into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed like he’d disappear if she let go, buried her face in his neck and cried. All the emotions she’d forced down since he left sprung to the surface, like a pressure release valve being pulled. “I thought I’d never see you again…I thought you left me…” She sobbed, her voice broken. Albus took a few seconds to recover before he very slowly and awkwardly hugged Faith back. “Faithful? I-I missed you but what are you doing down here? How are you down here?” “I could ask you the same question, you train-hopping jerk.” She sniffed, pulling her face out of his neck to look at him properly.

Hades cleared his throat softly, making Faith look up. His smile had turned sad and a little guilty. “Don’t be mad at him, little priestess. If you’re going to be mad at anyone, be mad at me. I’ve been watching Albus for a while now, he intrigued me. So when I saw the opportunity to give him a better life down here, I took it. I only realized after I heard your cries that taking him wouldn’t be as consequence free as I thought. I’m sorry I took him from you. Now I must ask, how did you get down here?”

She begrudgingly pulled away from Albus to properly face Hades. “I…was guided. In a sense. Someone told me how to get down here.” “Someone told you?” Pandora chimed in, looking very confused. “But the only person on the surface who know how to get down here without the train is…oh.” They took a second before bursting into giggles. “He really disguised himself again? Wonder how long it’s been. Did he give you the coin?” “Yes…he did.” Faith slowly pulled the golden coin out of her pocket, letting Pandora get a close look at it. Hades let out a soft chuckle of his own. “Seems Hermes has taken quite the liking to you if he was willing to help like that. Or does he still go by Devlin?” “Devlin is Hermes??” “Hermes, Mercury, maybe Odin if you squint at it, names are never consistent.” Pandora shrugged as they ticked off each of the names on their fingers.

Faith turned her attention back to Albus, her heart hurting at the thought of having to return without him, even if she knew he was safe. Would it be selfish to ask for him back knowing he was doing well here? She shook the thought away. No, she came down here on a mission, she was going to fulfill it. “Hades, my lord, I do thank you for your hospitality but I’m sure you know I don’t belong down here.” “Of course, you’re still living, you must return home.” “Then, I’ll go. But I’m taking Albus with me. If the living cannot remain in the underworld, he can’t either.” Hades frowned at that, his brow furrowing. “Dear Sister, he came down on the train. He gave up his life, he is no longer part of the overworld. The dead cannot return to the land of the living.”

Faith felt her heart stop. No, that was impossible. Sure, Albus went willingly but that didn’t mean he was dead, right? Then again, he did step onto the train. He took the dead way down. She felt sick. “No…no that’s not possible. I came all the way down here, I’m not leaving without him. I refuse! There has to be another way!” Hades thought for a moment, muttering quietly under his breath before sighing. “Fine. I’ll let you return with him.” Faith’s entire body relaxed in relief.

“However.”

He continued before she could start to thank him. “You must return the way you came, back up the railroad tracks. But you will not be side by side, hand in hand. If you wish to bring the dead back to life, you must lead him, standing one in front of the other. You must have faith in yourself and in him to remain behind you. If you turn back to check if he’s there at any point in your journey, he must return to the underworld and you will continue back home alone. It will not be easy, there will be those on your path that will try to make you doubt. Whether you choose to listen to them or not is up to you. That is my condition. Choose to take it and I’ll let you go. Choose not and you will return alone. Will you take this test of faith?”

Faith contemplated for a minute. A single file walk back home, simply having to trust that he would be there. Could she do it? Did she really have the mental strength to?

She had to. There was no other choice. She came all this way, she wasn’t going to leave without him.

Faith turned to Hades and nodded solemnly. “I’ll take the test. We’re going home.” Hades smiled, something encouraging but also worried. “Then let’s send you two on your way.”

"Think they'll make it?" Pandora looked up at Tyr curiously. His face was caught between tired and hopeful.

"I don't know." He frowned, the tired sadness in his eyes taking over as his shoulders sagged like a sudden weight had dropped upon them.

"Tyr, you let them go." Pandora looked back at the two with a worried expression, the retreating figures of the pair as they started on their journey inspiring both excitement and fear. Tyr's soft laugh had her staring up again in confusion.

"I let them try." The hope was back, a smile just barely tugging his lips up.

Maybe...just maybe...

Faith was terrified, she really had to admit. Her hands were squeezed together in front of her to keep them from shaking and the only sound was her heart hammering in her ears. She could do this. There was no reason she couldn't. But there was still something weighing on her, like a block of marble threatening to crush her heart if she let it hope too much.

“You really think you can do this? Bring someone back from the dead that easily?” The voice was new, lilting and dripping in honeyed sympathy. Right, this was the enemy of the return trip Hades had warned her about.

The Fates. Or Fate, she supposed in this case. He'd told her this one was called Kravatas. Believed to control the lifespans of everyone through golden strings. They didn’t much appreciate being challenged, so the path back to the surface would have them whispering in her ears the whole time, making her doubt herself in an attempt to make her break the deal and turn around. She just had to be stronger than them.

"Poor naive Sister Koria. Why do you think no one has succeeded in this before? What makes you think you're better than anyone who came before you to walk this road?" He hissed, his sweet tone doing nothing to hide the acrid venom in his words. She knew she shouldn't listen, that he was just trying to mess with her. But something in his words made her hesitate for just a second.

"Faith? Faithful, listen to me. Just keep going, you have to trust me. I'm right here, I'm still with you." Albus’s voice pierced through her thoughts, reminding her that she wasn't alone in this. She took a trembling breath, wishing desperately she could turn around and hold him or at least reach back to touch him. Some kind of physical sign that he was there. But she couldn’t. All she had was his voice and her own faith in him.

“But does he have faith in you?” The voice was back, she could practically feel his breath curling against the back of her neck. And as much as she didn’t want to think about it, his question hit her. Did Albus have faith in her? He was living the good life in the underworld, the only reason he was going back to the surface, a life he loudly expressed his hatred of, was because of her. He could turn back at any time and never say a word. She would be left all alone and not even know it until she got back.

No, I can’t think like that. He wouldn’t do that to me. Sure his life hasn’t been great thus far but he loves me. I know he loves me.

Right?

Faith had long since lost track of how it’d been since they started walking. The hissing doubts of the Fates becoming white noise that buzzed in the back of her head. Not like she needed them, her own doubts were far louder.

He’s still there, right? He hasn’t spoken in a while, I can’t tell. He wouldn’t have turned around without telling me, right? He wouldn’t just leave me, right?

Faith had bitten her nails down to nothing, her nailbeds aching. She couldn’t hear, she couldn’t think. She just needed a minute to process but she had to keep moving. There was nothing she could do. It was just her, the road ahead, and her own thoughts. And that was the scary part.

I just have to trust him. I know Albus. He might’ve gone down himself but he’s coming back now. And that’s all that really matters, doesn’t it?

“He already left you once. Who says he won’t do it again?”

She nearly stopped in her tracks. He was right. She hated to admit it but he was right. Faith already had to walk down into hell for him once, took him away from a life he deserved far more than what the world above was giving him. What was stopping him?

“Do it.”

I have to.

“It’s just a peek.”

Just to check.

“Prove his love to you.”

Prove that I’m not a fool.

"Turn around, Faith.”

And turn she did, looking right into the betrayed eyes of the man she doubted.

In the dead silence of their walk through purgatory, Faith could hear both of their hearts shatter.

She knew Albus didn’t cry. He just didn’t. But nothing could hide the shine in his eyes or the waver to his voice. “Missed me that much, did you Faithful?”

It was all over. She’d let the Fates get in her head. She got in her own way. “Albus…I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have doubted you-” “Don’t apologize, Faith. I’ll see you eventually, right? Don’t forget about me while you live your life up there, will you?” “I don’t think I ever could forget you, Albus York.” She laughed wetly, his face beginning to blur from the tears that welled up in her eyes.

“I love you, Faith.”

“I love you too, Albus. I’ll see you again.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Devlin leaned back against the wall of the train station, flipping a familiar gold coin idly. “And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the story of Faith and Albus. Lovers torn apart by doubt and want.”

The gathered crowd burst into a mix of applause and sobs, as was the reaction every time he told this story. He didn’t blame them, it was a popular one.

His coin flipping was distracted by a small tug on his sleeve. It was a little girl, one who attended his stories quite often and he’d heard some of the Sisters call Kerano. “Mr. Devlin? Can you tell it again?” Devlin sighed, shaking his head with a smile. Kerano’s hopeful stare and bright smile were too cute to deny. “Alright, one more time. Just for you. Now, on the road to the underworld, there was a railroad line.”

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