“Everything crosses eventually.” (Part 1)
1051 Words
Zagreus wandered through the city streets, completely oblivious to the stares directed at him.
He was far too captivated by the mortal world to notice the whispers following behind him.
After saving the woman in the alley, he had forgotten one important thing—
his appearance.
The clothes of the Underworld were nothing like the fashion of mortals.
Alecto quietly walked beside him while Zagreus admired the towering buildings, glowing signs, and endless movement of the city around him.
Then suddenly—
He bumped into someone.
“What the hell?!” a young man shouted.
The drink in the teenager’s hand spilled all over his shirt, causing his friends to burst into laughter.
The boy looked down at the stain in horror.
“What the f**k?! This is my favorite shirt!” he snapped angrily before glaring up at Zagreus. “Watch where you’re goi—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
His friends fell silent as well.
Zagreus stared back at him quietly.
For a moment, neither side moved.
The prince of the Underworld realized he had absolutely no idea how mortals handled situations like this.
In the Underworld, everyone stepped aside the moment he appeared. No soul would ever dare collide with him.
The teenager frowned awkwardly beneath Zagreus’ silence.
“Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you can’t apologize,” he muttered.
Zagreus blinked once.
Then, sincerely, he said:
“I apologize.”
The honesty in his voice immediately caught the group off guard.
Remembering Hermes’ advice, Zagreus extended his hand toward the teenager.
“My apologies, young man. I am unfamiliar with this place and failed to notice you approaching.”
The teenager awkwardly shook his hand.
“Uh… okay,” he muttered. “Let bygones be bygones, I guess.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Zagreus repeated them thoughtfully.
“Let bygones be bygones.”
The entire group stared at him strangely.
The teenager slowly pulled his hand back.
“Okay… you talk weird.”
One of the girls stepped forward curiously.
“Are you a cosplayer?”
Zagreus frowned.
“A what?”
“A cosplayer,” she repeated. “Like people who dress up as anime characters.”
Zagreus laughed softly.
“No. I do not know what that is.”
The teenagers laughed.
“You look weird,” one of them said. “And you dress weird too.”
The boy grabbed the girl’s arm.
“Come on. Let’s leave the creepy guy alone.”
“Wait,” Zagreus called after them. “I’m trying to find someone. Could you perhaps direct me—”
But the group had already walked away laughing amongst themselves.
Zagreus watched them disappear before slowly turning toward a nearby shop window.
Then he froze.
His reflection stared back at him.
He stepped closer to the glass in fascination.
There were no mirrors in the Underworld.
No reflections.
Souls simply existed as they were.
But now, for the first time, Zagreus saw himself clearly.
He touched his own face curiously.
Then glanced down at his clothing.
Slowly, he began observing the mortals walking around him—the way they dressed, the way they carried themselves, the way they blended into the world around them.
Quietly, Zagreus removed his dark hooded cloak and draped it over his arm.
He loosened his clothing slightly and brushed his dark hair back away from his face.
Thankfully, Nyx had insisted he wear mortal garments before leaving the Underworld.
Otherwise, he would have looked even more suspicious than he already did.
Zagreus studied his reflection again.
Already, his appearance seemed to be adapting to the mortal realm.
His eyes had shifted into a natural shade of brown, hiding the divine colors beneath them.
He smiled slightly, attempting to mimic Hermes’ easy grin.
It suited him surprisingly well.
“It seems my body is adjusting to this world naturally,” he murmured to himself. “Perhaps I truly can belong here.”
Alecto whimpered beside him.
Zagreus crouched and scratched behind the dog’s ears.
“Do I look more mortal now?” he asked quietly. “Less like an outsider?”
Alecto barked loudly in approval.
Zagreus laughed softly.
“Good.”
He leaned closer to the dog.
“Help me find an old friend, will you?”
Alecto barked again enthusiastically.
As Zagreus rose to his feet, he remembered Nyx’s words.
One of her sons lived among mortals now.
Someone familiar.
Someone who understood both death… and humanity.
Thanatos.
The twin brother of Hypnos had long preferred the mortal realm over the Underworld.
Zagreus had not seen him in centuries.
And somehow, knowing Thanatos was here made this unfamiliar world feel less lonely.
The prince smiled faintly.
“Come on, Alec,” he said quietly. “Let’s go find Thanatos.”
.
.
.
Thanatos stood behind the bar, absentmindedly polishing a glass.
It was still early afternoon, so the establishment remained mostly empty. The true crowds would not arrive until midnight.
Mortals became far more reckless after dark.
Alcohol loosened their restraint, and sin flowed as freely as blood.
Thanatos had spent centuries observing it.
He was used to humanity by now.
Used to their flaws.
Their self-destruction.
Their loneliness.
He sighed quietly—
then suddenly froze.
A cold breeze swept through the room.
Immediately, Thanatos looked toward the entrance.
His eyes narrowed.
That presence…
He knew it.
And then he saw him.
Thanatos nearly dropped the glass in his hand.
Standing in the doorway was someone he never expected to see in the mortal realm.
Zagreus.
The Prince of the Underworld himself.
Thanatos stared in complete disbelief as Zagreus walked toward him with a smile unlike any he remembered.
Not forced.
Not tired.
A genuine smile.
“Hello, dear brother,” Zagreus greeted warmly.
For several seconds, Thanatos said absolutely nothing.
Then he immediately stepped out from behind the bar and crossed the room.
He grabbed Zagreus’ hand in a familiar warrior’s clasp before pulling him into a tight embrace.
“Zagreus,” Thanatos muttered into his ear, “what in Hades’ name are you doing here?”
Zagreus laughed softly and returned the embrace just as tightly.
They had not seen each other in centuries.
Thanatos finally pulled away and stared at him from arm’s length.
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.
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- Writer
