#ancient polycule

It’s upon a pile of pillows that they fall, having appeared a malm or so above the ground. Azem’s cackle is bright, and not drowned out in the least by the indignant squawk and startled laugh from her paramours, even as her face ends up buried in the cloth of someone’s robes. 

“There you are.” Comes Hythlodaeus’s voice, and Azem lifts her head to find him reclining upon the edge of the picnic blanket, leisurely feeding himself grapes. “So nice of you to drop in, my dear.  And oh, what’s this, you’ve brought a Hades and a Themis?” 

Grumpily, from somewhere beneath her robes, yet not struggling in the least, comes- “-didn’t ask whatsoever if I was free. No, you simply grab me and go-“

“Yep!” Azem says, delightfully, and to her side, Themis’s mask has already vanished from their chest, the better to nuzzle into her neck, and add on to the weight upon the still faux-grumbling Hades. “Hey, bring those over here, will you? And y’know, my hands are busy, you should feed me them.”

For several moments, Persephone couldn't process what it was she was looking at.

She'd come to the library in search of some quiet after a busy day, thinking about settling down with a book. Perhaps something to expand her gardening skills. But when she entered, she could see she wasn't the only one who'd gravitated towards the library, as was so often the case. But the current occupants didn't seem too interested in the books.

Hythlodaeus had Hades crowded against a bookcase. The taller man’s head was leaned back against the books while Hythlodaeus worried at his throat with his lips, working his way up to Hades’ jawline. Hades growled at that, grabbing Hythlodaeus roughly by his hair and pulling to expose his neck, leaning over him with teeth bared, though clearly not in anger. Persephone must’ve made some sound, because Hythlodaeus’ eyes suddenly met hers.

“Ah, it seems we’ve been found out,” he huffed a breathless laugh.

“I, uh, I,” Persephone stammered for some response, but it was rather like her brain had decided to take the day off. “I was just, uh… This is clearly a bad time… Sorry!” She spun and, as quickly as she could without running, made her exit. She faintly heard the thud of someone likely slumping back against the books, and a quiet curse; anything further was drowned out by fighting her own tears and the sound of her heart shattering.

She hadn’t been blind, of course. She had wondered when she first met them if they were more than just friends, but after days and weeks of no indication of such, she dismissed it. After all, two men could be friends. And in the absence of evidence of either one being taken, she’d let herself imagine. And she’d thought she’d seen signs that her affections had been returned. But now…

No. She would not be the one that would come between what they had with each other. She just needed to compose herself and then everything could go back to normal.

But it was like a great chasm had opened inside her and was devouring everything.

She reached the room that had once been the spare bedroom, but now she had converted into her own room. She’d made it a peaceful oasis for when she needed to be alone with herself. Plants covered most surfaces, each one having their own grow lights to make up for the blocked out sun. Soft fairy lights were strung about the room, gently providing a quiet glow in place of a large overhead light. The bed was strewn with not only normal sleeping pillows but also small throw pillows, a few favored stuffed animals, and a handful of small knitted or quilted blankets atop the comforter. Persephone kicked off her shoes and burrowed into the pile of pillows and soft things on her bed, clutching one of the larger pillowed to her chest and burying her face.

A quiet knock at the door. Persephone, jumping at the noise, rapidly blotted at her face, grabbed the first thing she could use as an excuse for why she left so suddenly — the romance novel she’d dug up in the library from one of the less visited corners a few weeks ago — and called for the visitor to come in. She wasn’t surprised to see Hythlodaeus open it, apology plain on his face.

“I owe you an apology,” he started, sitting at the edge of her bed but keeping his distance otherwise. She sniffed, hoping it could be passed off as allergies.

“Why would you apologize? You shouldn’t apologize,” she turned a page, hoping she was being convincing. “I only wish you’d told me sooner, is all. I’m totally fine with it.” There was quiet for a moment before Hythlodaeus reached over and plucked the book from her hands, neatly flipping it and setting it back in her hands right side up. She grimaced at the book, officially found out, before setting it aside.

“I’m apologizing because I was trying to force something and I hurt you doing so,” he explained.

“I’m not hurt.” Persephone was fully aware that the crack in her voice revealed the lie for what it was.

“Talk to me? Please?” he begged, and while she wanted to say they were talking, she wasn’t so obtuse as to claim not to understand that he meant he wanted her to open up to him.

“I…” Persephone swallowed before continuing. “I just thought that…there was, I don’t know, feelings there… for at least one of you… But if you’re together, I don’t want to ruin that for either of you.” He blinked at her.

“Who said any of us had to choose?” he challenged. “I love you, Persephone, and so does Hades.”

She wanted so badly to believe him, but she felt her walls trying to crawl their way back into place.

“What if he’s just humoring you, to make you happy?” she moped, wrapping her arms around her legs. “I don’t… I’m not worth ruining your relationship over.”

“Stop that,” he tapped her gently on the head. “You’re not ruining anything, and you’re certainly worth adding to our life. If it’s what you want.”

And it was. She did want that. For just a moment, she allowed herself to imagine it. Lazy, sunny days inside cuddled with the two, nights out trying to drag Hades from his shell with Hythlodaeus, traveling from place to place together as the community noticed none of them looked quite as old as they should.

But she imagined then the resentment that could build if Hades was just humoring Hythlodaeus, as she feared. She imagined him ordering her away one day, and it made her heart ache in a way that made her want to insist, no I’m fine we’re fine we’re just friends. She heard Hythlodaeus sigh and lean over her, planting a chaste kiss on the top of her head that would’ve made her blush if she still could, as if she were a schoolgirl with a crush.