*The Next Day*
“SOOO what does she look like?”
Hades rolled his eyes, “You know, you keep calling me and you’re most certainly going to blow your cover.”
Aphrodite scrunched her face. “Well, I’ll deal with it when the time comes. Until then, quit avoiding my question. How. Does. She. Look?”
*Like a walking sin*
The thought irritated him, as did every thought he had of her since he’d gotten back home.
Aphrodite smirked. “That beautiful huh?” He grumbled and opted to not answer the question. “So, what are you going to do?”
He looked at her in disbelief. “What do you mean what am I going to do?! She literally flung me into a wall. Flirted to get under my skin, and then told me she fully intended to kill me.” His face reddened at her laughter.
“So what time are you heading back to see her?”
He smirked removing his hair from his face, “Goodbye Aphrodite.”
Hanging up, he shook his head.
*Perfect…just fucking perfect. *
---------------------------------------------
“How are you three not upset by this?!” Thanatos stared at his wife, and brothers in shock.
Romulus laughed, “Because you should know more than anyone that trying to stand in the way of soul ties never works in our favor. Not to mention-” He fluffed his hair, “It’s pretty badass that Adam is tied to Aphrodite.”
Thanatos groaned, “Romulus, he’s going to kill her, and then what hmm? Could you imagine having to kill Derrick?”
A lump formed in Romulus's throat, “I-I didn’t-"
“No. None of you have. Look, if it were ANYBODY else, I would shut up and let my daughter be happy because as you said, I know firsthand the pain of not being with your tie is like…but this…I don’t want this for them. I don’t want them to know this pain when it comes time.”
Evie bit her bottom lip, “…what if they don’t have to?... I mean…what if they allow them to live?”
“Doesn’t work like that.” Thanatos turned to see Hades.
“Don’t you ever use the front door like a decent person?”
Hades smiled, “When have I ever been accused of being decent, dad?”
“Stop calling me that.”
“Stop getting so pissed when I do. It makes it extra hilarious.”
Placing her hand on her husband's chest to calm him, Evie addressed Hades, “What do you mean it doesn’t work like that? You said Adam and Kore can destroy you all, so why can’t they decide who lives and who dies?”
Folding his arms to his chest, Hades looked at her seriously, “You four powers are like daggers, focal. You target Hermes, you kill Hermes. You target Apep, Apep’s dead. You target me and change your mind, eh, no harm no foul. Kore and Adam’s powers aren’t like that. They're more like-a nuclear bomb with multiple targets attached. Once they set it off, there’s no stopping it, until every target on its radar is eliminated.”
Her eyes widened, “How is that even possible?”
He sighed, “Because there’s no fail-safe, wife of the grumpy reaper.” He smiled causing Thanatos to blow steam from his nose, “You make it so much fun to get under your skin. Anyway yeah, that’s why Zeus wanted them dead as children before their powers got so strong. Hell, I don’t even know all they can do. Their power is limitless.”
Romulus covered his mouth, “How can you be so calm about this?”
Hades groaned and threw up his arms. “Why does everybody keep asking me that?! I LITERALLY deal with death every day! It’s the last thing I fear.”
“Even if it means not being with Kore?”
Hade's eyes blackened, “I do not wish to be with Kore. I may enjoy ruffling the Grim Reaper’s feathers but make no mistake, I don’t care what may tie us together, I’m not interested.”
Evie smirked, “Yep, heard that one too.”
Scoffing, Hades changed the subject. “Look, can I assist in training or are you four going to keep busting my balls?”
Derrick laughed, “I didn’t even say anything.”
“Yeah but it’s written all over your damn face.”
Thanatos face hardened. “Train them, but I mean it Hades, remain professional. The last thing I need is my daughter’s heart being shattered because she had some inclination that you two have a chance. You will die when the time comes.”
Hades nodded, “Wouldn’t expect it to be any other way.”
Exiting the room, Hades overheard Evie. “Thanatos, we both saw the way they looked at one another, do you really think they’ll be able to remain professional?”
Hade rolled his eyes.
*So dramatic*
Thanatos sighed, “For the sake of Kore, I hope so.”
------------------------------------------
“Go again, dear cousin?” Adam smirked, positioning himself to spar.
Tying her hair up, Kore nodded, “But of course.” Going blow for blow, the two tried their best to gain the upper hand.
“Hey, Kore?” He smirked grabbing her.
“What are you-” Adam slung her into a nearby tree, using his powers to trap her inside. “You motherfucker!” She screamed, her rage growing as she heard him laugh causing the tree to tighten around her.
Breathing in deep, Kore burst through the wood, destroying the large oak in one swoop. Eyes blackened, she cut them, setting a ring of fire around Adam. He glared at her, “You better not!”
She laughed harshly, “You stuffed me into a fucking oak tree!” Raising the flames, Kore shot the embers like daggers at Adam, burning his suit.
“I GIVE! I GIVE!” He shouted as he patted the flames from his hair.
“SAY SORRY!”
“SORRY! DAMN!” Calming the flames, she smiled at his white eyes cutting into her. Storming past, he healed the oak, restoring its life.
“I knew that would throw you off your game.”
He scoffed, “Tree killer.”
“Wall Walker.”
“Death Dealer!”
“Procreation whore!”
The two bursts out laughing before hugging. “Love you.”
Kore smiled, “Love you more.”
Looking up, Adam saw someone watching them, “Kore, who’s the creep checking you out?”
She laughed, “That would be my soul tie, ain’t he a peach?”
He released her, wide-eyed. “That’s Hades?!” She nodded. “Well...this has gotten a bit more interesting.”
Folding his muscular arms to his chest, he looked at her, “I have to say, I now find myself curious as to what Aphrodite looks like. Certainly, the goddess of love couldn’t be a hag if death literally looks like he’s only a few years older than us.”
Kore scrunched her face. Turning, she called out to Hades. “Honey…could you come here for a second?” Trying her best not to laugh at his fume, she smiled sweetly at him.
“Don’t piss me off Kore. I told your father I’d remain professional, and I doubt sending you to hell would be a great start to our working relationship.”
She smirked, “Depends on what you’re planning on doing to me when we get down there.”
Adam chuckled at the irritation on Hade's face. Extending his hand, he shook Hades'. “Adam. One half of team nightmare. Nice to meet you.”
Hades groaned, “Great, two smartasses. Can we train now? There’s a lot I need to teach you about Olympus.” Wrapping her arms around Hades, the look of slight shock made her pull him closer.
“Sure, sure big daddy, but first, Adam here was wondering what the goddess of fertility looks like? Would you happen to have a picture?”
Hades looked to Adam, whose face was as red as the jacket he wore. He grinned.
*Payback Aphrodite*
“I’ll do you one better.” Whipping his hand, he connected to Aphrodite as she sat with her back turned manipulating a pink mist that floated around her blonde hair. “Hey Aphrodite…white eyes wanted to take a *peek* at you.”
She sighed, “I’m not in the mood for your shit Hades. You know love is hard to conjure and even harder to mold especially when I’m combining it with passion.”
“Will you just turn around.”
Rolling her purple eyes, she made the mist vanish. “YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD REASON TO-” Lips parted, she stared into the pale blue eyes looking back at her. Neither spoke for a moment until Adam finally cleared his throat.
“Hello.” His deep voice seemed to snap her out of her trance.
“H-hello,” she said back.
*Well shit…at least I managed to get some damn words out. *
Hades thought in amusement. “This conversation is amazing. I can literally feel the mental connection happening here.” His fun stopped, as he saw Aphrodite’s eyes glass over.
Lip quivering, she turned her attention from Adam to Hades. “Do not call me again when he’s present.” She hung up, and Kore watched the look of anger slowly make its way onto Adam’s face.
“Excuse me. I don’t think I’ll be up to training right now.” Silently he stalked off leaving Kore and Hades watching him.
Kore shook her head, “At least we didn’t act like that.”
“Because unlike them, we don’t like one another.”
Kore pouted, “Damn, and here I thought we were about to pick out our china pattern.”
“Are we going to train or not? I really have more important things to do than to spend my time with a sarcastic child.” He saw her eyes darken.
“Don’t insult me again. I let it slide the first time but knock it off. I’m not a child and you know it.” He eyed her, trying his best not to look at the curves of her lips and body that made it perfectly clear that what she said was true.
Tying his hair to the top of his head, Hades ignored the comment. “Let’s start. Since Adam can transfix you both through objects, that will work well to get you undetected into Olympus, however, once you’re there, the Gods aren’t the only things you’ll have to face.”
Kicking her feet from under her, Hades looked down to Kore glaring at him from the ground. “You need to temper your rage Kore. Much like your father, if it consumes you, you’ll be your own destruction. Adam can take some of the brunt, but only so much. You will kill him, do you understand?” He saw her eyes soften.
“Yes.”
“Good. Up.” Kore stood and the two prepared to spar. “I’m assuming you know combat without your powers? Using them too early in Olympus will tip them off.” Moving swiftly, Kore punched Hades hard in the side before nodding. He grinned, “Alright then.”
Grabbing her by the throat, Hades slammed her to the ground, laughing as her green eyes widened. “What? You expect me to take it easy on you because you’re a woman?” He wagged his finger. Rising again, she dusted her suit of the grass.
“Of course not.”
Leaping in the air, Kore threw multiple punches to Hades, him effortlessly blocking each one. “FOCUS!” He shouted. “Watch my movements! Figure out the pattern and use it against me.” Continuing to throw jabs, Kore suddenly stopped, and kicked his feet from under him, laughing as he hit the ground hard. He smirked, “Took you long enough. Oh, and one more thing.”
She eyed him, “What?” In one swoop, he pulled her down to him and rolled her over until she was pinned underneath.
“Never gloat. Even one second could give your opponent the upper hand.”
She chuckled, “Fair enough.” Without thinking, Kore reached up and pulled the tie from his hair.
He looked at her wildly. “Why did you do that?”
She shrugged, “Honestly…I don’t know. I guess I like the way it frames your face.”
Hades watched the small amount of pink reach her cheeks, before quickly disappearing. “Hmm. Thanks,” he muttered.
She tilted her head, “You know, I’m curious. Why are you so sure that we wouldn’t get along?”
“Because in two days, you’ve managed to get on every last nerve that I have.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be rude, technically you started it. I didn’t appreciate being called a brat. You don’t even know me.” She saw his eye soften slightly.
“You’re right. My apologies. I just don’t like being forced into something. What I and my wife had was natural, this…this is revenge.” For the second time, he saw another emotion quickly reach her face and disappear.
“Of course. Woe the God whose soul tie is a freak who was never meant to be alive.”
He ran his hands through his hair. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Right, can you get off me? You’re cutting off my circulation.” As he moved to stand, Kore grabbed him by his shirt.
*Asshole*
She was pissed, less at the fact of his comment, and more that it’d for some reason managed to bruise her feelings.
*Let's see how he likes it*
“Let’s put your little theory to the test.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Since you’ve been so wrongfully tied to me, then it shouldn’t affect you at all if I kiss you.” She wouldn’t go through with it, but the thought of watching him squirm as she played a game of chicken made her giddy. Before he could speak, Kore pulled him to her, and placed her lips inches from his, feeling him still. She murmured, “Well go on…pull away.”
Wrapping her hands in his hair, she stared into his hazel eyes as he closed them and shook his head in agitation. And then, to her surprise, Hades connected their lips and kissed her passionately.