Future Leaky Space Blob

~~Trust and Fear in Equal Measures~~

Grace looked down at the hand stretched out to him, swallowing nervously at the deal lingering in the air. He had the chance to save Simon, if he could manage the trip back without looking to see if he was following. His eyes drifted over to Simon. The man he loved beyond words standing off to the side with his gaze to the floor.

He trusted Simon. He knew that if he led the way, that his husband would follow. The thought didn't stop the fear from creeping up. Grace had always been a little bit of a worrier whenever he wasn't focused on one of his pursuits. He didn't want to walk back without knowing that Simon was with him, safely returning to where they belonged.

Though the idea of leaving him here, stuck in the underworld was decidedly worse. He steeled his nerves, looking back up to Hades with a stiff nod as he took his hand and shook," You have a deal." The deal was made and the god stepped away from him, waving a hand at the two of them dismissively as he returned to the side of his wife," You are free to start your journey whenever you please."

Grace took a shaking breath as moved over to Simon's side, checking him over nervously before he moved to hold him. He felt the man wince under his grip, but he didn't pull away. "I'm so sorry, Ryland. This never should have happened. I didn't mean for this to happen" Simon's voice came after a long moment. That made Grace shake his head and kiss his temple, hoping to offer a small comfort before their journey," I don't blame you. It isn't your fault."

He holds him for another long moment before he parts, looking back at the way out. "Are you ready for this?" He asks quietly. He can't help but ask to make sure. Simon nodded, following his gaze and taking a breath," I believe in you, Ryland. You got here. You can get us back." He said it like it was a fact, which amused Grace. But it also gave him hope.

Grace sighed, nodding gently," then let's go." He started walking first, heading to the entrance to his trial with a strange mix of dread and hope. He trusted Simon to follow him. He just wasn't sure he trusted himself to look back. He stepped onto the path that would bring them home, looking ahead firmly and taking a steady breath as he officially began his trial.

The walk was quiet and tense. His body twitched with the urge to check behind himself and see that Simon was safely following him, but he couldn't. Giving into fear would just mean damning his husband to the underworld with no chance of escape. His legs felt like lead as he walked, forcing himself to keep moving forward without pause to avoid lingering on how much he wanted to turn around. After everything they'd gone through, he felt like it was natural to be frightened and want the reassurance of knowing his husband was safely at his side. But that didn't mean he could do it. He wouldn't know for sure until they passed into the mortal realm.

Grace had to close his eyes, focus on the fall and land of his own feet. He started to hum quietly to himself, just needing some sort of sound to fill the deafening silence within the space. Trust like this was hard. He had always struggled with trusting wholeheartedly, and he was sure that Hades had peered right into his very soul and seen his cowardice. Had specifically chosen this trial knowing that Ryland Grace was a coward who wouldn't be able to fight the urge to turn his head and check behind him.

But this time, he had something far more important to fight for than himself. He had found someone he was willing to be brave for. His husband. His sweet husband, who'd been torn down by a life far more brutal than he ever should have had to face. Who gave him hope for the future, a belief in a future where they could share days spent in the warmth of spring. Who he'd fought endlessly to save after the tragedy that occurred at their wedding. The man he trusted more than any other, and who was trusting him to be brave.

Sunlight glimmered at the edge of the exit. The sight had Grace's heart racing as he let it guide him, that deep fear trying to rear its ugly head as the finish line came closer. He tensed as he took his first step into the light creeping into the passage, all of his effort focused on not giving into instinct and choosing to be brave.

Stepping into the mortal world he held his breath, continuing to walk a few steps until he was far enough away from the passage to the underworld that he couldn't feel its otherworldly pull. He couldn't look behind him, couldn't even move from the fear. Then he felt himself being pulled back into an embrace and his body sagged. "You did it, Ryland. We're home." The words relaxed him enough he could finally turn, wrapping an arm around his husband's neck and placing a hand on his cheek to reassure himself.