alieninterestsâ:
For the first time in who knows how long?
Since⌠forever. Since inception.
He has been uncomfortable in his own skin since birth, simultaneously too big and too small for this existence. The expectations chafed against Hadesâ soul, and yet he could not stand the thought of giving them up for someone else to handle.
(What if they did it better than he did, with less stress, less worry?        What if they did not harbor such loneliness, such bitterness?
       Would everyone see him for the broken thing he was,           if he didnât have worth?)
âThe question isnât whether or not I deserve it.â
      He does not.
 âItâs a matter of practicality and logic.         Thereâs no one else qualified.â
He can nearly see Hadeâs shoulders sag as the godâs mind continues to spiral off from what heâd initially thought would be a harmless jab, and he once again silently chides himself for such thoughtlessness. When Hades speaks again, Luci nods silently, mulling over the words and taking several seconds to respond.
âHmm. Perhaps not. At least not in the long term, but perhaps long enough.â Heâs settled with the idea thatâs been brewing in his head since this conversation began, so all thatâs left is to be convincing. âYou are the king of the Underworld, but perhaps you could let someone carry the heft of your crown for just a day. Iâm sure I could manage that long. In the mean time, you could take the opportunity to breathe. Whenâs the last time you could do that without your chest feeling tight? Who knows, you might even, dare I say, have some fun with it. Just for a little while.â
