Underworld.
Hecate stared at her reflection in the mirror, sothing she rarely did.
She had never cared much for appearances before. She was a goddess—beautiful by default, her presence enough to command awe and respect without effort.
But today was different.
Her hair had been styled carefully, her dark robes replaced by a softer dress with gold accents, a choice Aphrodite had helped her pick.
It felt strange, but not unpleasant.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Her assistant, a quiet divine spirit, entered and bowed. "Lady Hecate, Lord Hades is asking to et you. He is waiting in your office."
Hecate took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Very well."
She followed the divine spirit down the quiet halls. Her steps were calm, but her heart was racing faster than she wanted to admit.
When she entered the office, she found Hades seated behind his desk, sipping mint tea. The faint scent of it filled the room, soothing and crisp.
Hades looked up as she entered. His expression softened slightly.
"Hecate," he greeted.
Hecate bowed respectfully. "Lord Hades."
"Co, sit," he said, gesturing toward the chair across from him. "You’ve been working too hard lately. I thought we could talk."
Hecate hesitated for a mont before sitting across from him. Her back was straight, her face calm, but her hands rested tightly on her knees under the table.
She sat down across from him, silent for a mont, before finally speaking. "You called for , Lord Hades. Was there sothing urgent?"
Hades shook his head, taking a slow sip of tea. "Nothing urgent. I just wanted to check on you."
Hecate’s brows drew together slightly. "Check on ?"
"Yes." Hades looked at her steadily. "You have been... quieter than usual. More tense. Your reports have been thorough, but I can tell you have been forcing yourself to work. Tell , what is bothering you?"
Hecate felt her chest tighten. She lowered her gaze to her cup. "I am fine. It is nothing that affects my duties."
"That’s not what I asked. I’m asking what’s bothering you." Hades said, tone calm but firm.
Hecate blinked, then glanced away, uncomfortable with how much he could read her. "It is nothing you need to concern yourself with. I am simply... irritated."
Hades raised an eyebrow. "At what?"
"That is irrelevant," she said quickly.
Hades sighed softly. "I am not prying, Hecate. I only asked because you have been pushing yourself harder than normal. You do not need to shoulder everything alone."
Hecate hesitated, then let out a slow breath. "It irritates to see you spending ti with others but not . Aphrodite gets to spend ti with you while you work. Hera gets to spend hours with you while you’re not working. anwhile, I bury myself in paperwork."
Hades blinked at that, then leaned back, a small smirk forming on his lips. "Ah. So that is what this is about."
Hecate glared at him. "Do not make light of it."
"I’m not," he said, amused. "I just didn’t expect you to say it so directly."
"Why should I not?" she said, sitting straighter. "I have stood by you since the earliest days of the Underworld. If Aphrodite and Hera can have your ti, then I should as well. I think it is only fair that you take out too."
Hades rested his chin on one hand, considering her words. "Are you asking for a date, Hecate?"
Her face turned red, but she kept her tone cold. "Call it whatever you want. I expect equal treatnt."
Hades chuckled softly. "You sound almost jealous."
Hecate looked away, refusing to answer.
"Very well," Hades said after a pause, his tone softer. "You’re right. I should have taken you out as well. When do you want to go?"
Hecate hesitated, surprised he agreed so quickly.
"...Tonight," she said finally.
"Tonight, then," Hades nodded. "I know a place that you will like. Sowhere quiet, away from the noise of the court."
For a brief mont, Hecate’s lips curved into a small smile. "Good. I will hold you to that promise."
Hades inclined his head, hiding a faint smile of his own. "I would not dare break a promise to you."
*
*
*
That evening, Hades kept his word.
He ca to fetch Hecate personally, surprising her. She had expected a ssenger or a servant escorting her, but there he was, standing at the door to her office.
"Ready?" he asked, offering his hand.
Hecate hesitated for half a second before taking it.
"You actually ca yourself," she remarked as they walked side by side through the halls.
"You asked for equal treatnt," Hades replied with a faint smirk. "Aphrodite would never forgive if I treated you any less."
Hecate rolled her eyes but her lips twitched, betraying a smile. "I suppose I should thank her then."
"You could just thank ," Hades said, glancing at her.
Hecate tilted her head. "Perhaps. If this place you’re taking to is worth the trouble."
Hades chuckled. "My, my, how troubleso. You have always been difficult to impress."
They reached a part of the Underworld Hecate had never seen.
It was a hidden cavern, its ceiling glowing with thousands of tiny lights, like a sky full of stars.
A calm river ran through it, its waters glowing faintly with drifting soul-lights that looked like fireflies dancing on the surface.
Hecate stopped, her eyes widening. "This..."
Hades watched her reaction quietly, a small satisfied look on his face. "This is where I co when I want peace. Not many know it exists."
Hecate stepped closer to the river, her fingers brushing the cool air above it. "It is beautiful. Why have you never shown this to before? I wouldn’t be so stressed if I can rest here."
"Because you never asked," Hades said simply, standing beside her.
She glanced at him, her lips curving. "So that is how it works? If so, should I also make requests just to spend ti with you? Are you just going to ignore if I don’t co running to you?"
"You make it sound so cold," Hades said, amused. "I thought you were too busy to join in such quiet monts."
"Perhaps I was," Hecate admitted. "But perhaps I should have demanded this sooner."
Hades chuckled. "You? Demand sothing from ? That I would like to see."
Hecate turned to him fully, her playful side erging. "Do not tempt , Loed Hades. I might make a habit of this."
"I would not mind," Hades said, his tone softer, almost teasing.
Hecate blinked at him, a rare warmth rising to her face. "Seriously, you should smile more often. It is a sha to hide such beauty."
Hades chuckled, confusing Hecate.
"What?" She asked, confused.
Hades shook his head. "Just find it amusing. Usually it’s the man who’ll say things like that. But I guess you’re already beautiful, smiling or not."
Hecate’s heart skipped a beat, but she covered it with a smirk. "Of course. I am a goddess."
"That, you are." Hades said simply, and they stood there for a long mont, watching the glowing river together in silence that felt comfortable, almost intimate.
But Hecate never took her eyes from him. She watches how strands of his silver hair fluttered, the way his purple eyes glowed with power, every little movents that seems to capture her gaze.
She just couldn’t take her eyes off of him.
Hades’ smirk deepened as if he could read every single thought crossing her mind.
"You’re staring, Hecate," he said, his voice low and teasing. "Are you trying to make nervous?"
Hecate quickly turned her head away, her cheeks warming despite herself. "Don’t flatter yourself, Lord Hades. I was just... thinking."
"About ?" Hades tilted his head slightly, clearly enjoying himself.
"About how annoying you are," Hecate shot back, but the corner of her lips twitched.
Hades chuckled softly, leaning back on his hands as he looked at the glowing river. "You know, it’s cute when you try to be intimidating. But you’re terrible at hiding things from ."
Hecate frowned. "What exactly do you think I’m hiding?"
"Oh, I don’t think. I know." Hades glanced at her, that sa sly smirk playing on his lips.
Hecate narrowed her eyes, feeling her heart rate quicken. "And what is it that you ’know,’ Lord Hades?"
"I know what you wanted to ask." he said simply, with a tone so casual it made her want to hex him on the spot.
Hecate sighed in relief. For a second, she thought he knew about her feelings. "Oh? Then tell , what is it that I wanted to ask?"
Hades turned to face her fully, his expression amused but calm. "You want to ask whether I knew about Hera’s and Aphrodite’s feelings for ."
She wasn’t. But not what he brought it up, she is curious. Does he know?
"And yes," Hades said evenly, "I know. I’m not dumb, Hecate. I can see it from a mile away."
Hecate’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Then why aren’t you doing anything about it? Hera and Aphrodite are two of the most beautiful goddesses in existence. Any man would be falling over himself."
Hades humd, resting his chin on his hand thoughtfully. "You’re right. Any man would. But I’m not one of them."
"Then why?" Hecate pressed, leaning closer.
Hades shrugged. "I just don’t see the point of being in a relationship. With Gaia, it was for children. With Nyx, it was because of our domains pulling us together. Love? Whatever mortals and gods romanticize about? I felt nothing."
Hecate frowned, her voice sharp. "Then reject them. Don’t play with their feelings if you don’t intend to return them."
Hades turned his gaze toward the shimring river, his smirk fading into sothing softer. "Aphrodite is the goddess of love. You can’t stop her from pursuing her own heart. Hera is the goddess of marriage. She can only love one man in her life and she will never leave, no matter how badly she is treated. I could reject them a thousand tis, and they would still stay."
Hecate was silent, stunned by how easily he spoke the truth. It made sense. Those two would never give up on him.
For a while, neither spoke, just sitting together, watching the glowing water ripple under the dim light.
Then, slowly, Hecate turned to him, a sudden thought flashing in her mind.
If he knew about Hera and Aphrodite’s feelings...
Could he know about hers as well?
Her eyes widened slightly, but before she could look away, she saw that damned smirk on his face.
He knew.
"Stop smirking at ," Hecate muttered, feeling a rare wave of heat rising in her cheeks.
"Why?" Hades replied smoothly, leaning a little closer. "You look cute when you’re flustered."
Hecate clicked her tongue, looking away quickly. "You’re insufferable."
"And yet," Hades said, reclining casually against the rock, "you’re still sitting here with ."
Hecate scoffed, "That’s because I can tolerate you. If it were others, they would’ve already punched your smug looking face."
"They won’t dare."
Well, she can’t deny that.
"You..." She tried to counter that, but couldn’t co up with any other argunts.
So she chose to shut up, and simply stared at the scenery.
She chose to give up this round. But once she thought of a perfect argunt, he is so gonna get it.
"Besides..." Hades stared at her, "Only with you can I be act like this. Not even with Hera and Aphrodite did I act so carefree and openly teasing them like this."
She flinched. She turned away, hiding the soft smile on her face. So he only act like this with her? Did that an she’s special?
"Oh? Is that a smile I see? Are you happy to hear what I said?"
Hecate lost her smile and glared at him.
Damn that man!
She will surely make him eat his words one day!
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