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It always felt good to be back in the Underworld. The surface was so bright, so loud and so demanding . The house was blessedly quiet as Thanatos shook out his chiton on the balcony, leaving a mess on the floor. He’d have to apologize to Dusa later. The latest war had led to fires that ravaged homes and covered everything in a thick layer of ash, Thanatos included. He wiped the ashes from the little table that Zagreus had commissioned for him, noting that there were fresh poppies left in the vase. Than didn’t need these little gestures of friendship, much less request them, but he’d be lying to himself if he didn’t enjoy them all the same. Perhaps a visit to his dear friend Zag was in order.
As he rounded the corner, he discovered that the house was very quiet indeed. Hades’s giant desk sat empty, meaning that there were no lines of protesting shades to fight through. Even his ever sleeping brother was missing from his post.
Crossing the hall, Thanatos hoped that Zagreus was not missing as well. Finding no one in the hall, he scanned the empty lounge before turning his attention to Zag’s room. He moved towards the flicker of candle light coming through the archway of his room but stopped short. What he heard next rooted him to the floor.
A needy, wanton moan.
Thanatos could barely believe his ears. Surely his mind was playing tricks on him, he couldn’t possibly have - yet there it was again. A little louder, more imploring, Zagreus’s voice strung tight as if at breaking point. Than’s face began to flush golden and grow hot.
Thanatos had long had a crush on his best friend but lacked the words to tell him. He always lacked the words. While he was tongue tied, Zagreus would have just the right words to say, just the right gift before bounding away to his latest adventure. It was enough to send Thanatos up the wall in frustration.
It was this frustration that threatened to compel Than through Zag’s doorway, to seize control of this moan and show rather than tell Zag how he truly felt.
If he just went in and saw… saw what exactly? His confidence faltered. Zagreus was already crying and begging for release loud enough to be heard outside and Thanatos wasn’t in there.
Meg.
It had to be. Thanatos knew that she had had a fling with Zag in the past but he thought it had long since ended. Perhaps their fights had reignited their passions? The longer Thanatos stood there, the more he came to believe it. Embarrassment replaced the lust in his cheeks and tears burned behind his eyes. He could be happy for them, he told himself. He couldn’t control who Zagreus was with and if he had chosen Megaera, it was really none of Than’s business.
The pleasurable moans and whines increased in frequency and Thanatos sensed their tryst was coming to a climax. He should leave them to their embrace; mind his own business.
He turned to go when a beseeching, sonorous moan slipped from Zagreus’s lips, “THANATOS!”
- - - - - - - - - - - -
With the loud bell toll rivaling the heartbeat pounding in his veins, Thanatos found himself in his room. He squeezed his eyes shut and buried his hands in his hair, willing his racing thoughts to focus on what he thought he had - or had not - heard come from Zagreus’s room.
Surely he misheard, right? He paused. Yes. Yes he must have. He opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and perched on the corner of his bed. Of course he had, that was the only reasonable explanation. He nodded his head in self agreement and exhaled.
...But what if he hadn’t? The thought jolted him to his feet once more, pacing back and forth as his thoughts raced again.
If Zagreus liked him as much as he did… His head dared not think it but his heart leapt at the possibility.
To see that smile beam for him and him alone, the sweep of his fingers, the warmth of his embrace… It was all too much for Thanatos to bear. He gently palmed himself through his clothes, his gauntleted hand running down his own chest, imagining the touch to be Zagreus’s.
The cold metal only dispelled his fantasy as it lacked the burning heat that radiated from Zag. No, if he was going to do this, he needed to do it right. He hastily divested himself of his armor and regalia, laboriously tugging off his gauntlet and dropping it unceremoniously to the floor. Free of cold metal, he freed his erection from his leggings before he managed to even stumble towards his bed.
Thanatos laid back against his plush pillows and closed his eyes. In the darkness he could better picture the warm red bedding of his prince’s room, the gentle crackle of his flaming laurels and the earthy, musky scent of his skin. That scent that tempted him from the pits of Tartarus to the fields of Elysium, calling for him to come touch, come taste-
No, he was getting ahead of himself. Thanatos resettled his pulse and took himself in his hand. How would Zag do this? He asked himself.
Would he be sweet and gentle, almost shy as if this was his first time? Barely there flutters of his fingertips against flushed skin, stolen glances behind long eyelashes and hushed words? A shiver ran down Than’s spine as the scene played out in front of him. Than’s fingers mimicked the dreamy soft caress of Zag’s hand, slowly stroking himself. He could easily see himself melting under the tender kisses and Zag’s warm embrace.
Or perhaps Zagreus would be more forceful, a confident hand? Hot breath against his neck as Zag bit his neck and sucked at it? Hmm, he could see the appeal in that. Seeing his prince command him and take charge of the older god’s pleasure was beyond erotic for Thanatos. He gripped the base of his cock and squeezed. Yes, if Zag were in control, he wouldn’t let him come so easily. He’d draw out desperate mewls and moans from him as long as possible and, if Thanatos was being honest with himself, he wouldn’t mind.
Thanatos’s heart knew the real truth though; his Zagreus would treasure him like the finest Ambrosia but not hesitate to fuck him senseless. The realization sent shivers down his spine and he pictured him pinning him to Zagreus’s luxurious bed, pliant and spread wide for him.
His hand ghosted over his body, mind racing at all the ways he wished Zag would touch him. Somehow Thanatos just knew that Zagreus would know what to do, what would feel good, what would wring a moan from his throat. Thanatos’s hand, however, wasn’t as experienced as his imagined partner.
Taking himself firmly in his hand once more, he closed his eyes and allowed his imagination to bring Zagreus to life with him. Zagreus’s eyes appeared first, smokey and half lidded from lust. They smoldered for him and ignited a fire within his heart. The fire burned down to his loins and he couldn’t help but begin to stroke himself, slow but firm, relishing the calloused skin of his fingers against his shaft.
Zagreus’s matching rough hand found its way to his chest and worked down his breast. The illusory heat from his hand left behind such a searingly hot mark that Than could’ve sworn he was burned. His breath hitched as warm fingers pinched his nipple, harshly at first but then gently massaging the tender flesh. The momentary pain turned into such exquisite pleasure that his cock pulsed in his hands every time the sensitive nub was tormented.
His hand pumped faster into his tightening grip. It felt good but something was missing. He wanted more.
He momentarily broke from his reverie, eyes searching for the oil he knew he left nearby. He impatiently opened it and poured a generous amount on his fingertips. Thanatos had previously experimented with a finger or two but he longed to feel the press of Zagreus’s cock, stretching him to his limits, making him feel full- He took a deep breath. He was getting ahead of himself. He might spoil all his fantasies before they had even begun.
He circled his hole with his oiled fingers, pressing one digit in before quickly following with a second. He stroked himself and scissored his fingers, opening himself up further. The press of his third finger sent chills up his spine. “Zag…” he called, closing his eyes and beckoning the mirage of Zagreus to return to him.
His prince reappeared above him, pressing him deep into the dreamlike bedclothes. His hot breath caressed his neck and tickled his ear as he whispered sweet nothings. Thanatos’s hand quickened it’s pace. His dream felt so real…
The memory of Zagreus’s moans filtered through his haze. Before he knew it, the moans were tumbling from his mouth and Thanatos delighted in knowing that this time, it was for him. His fingers curled and brushed a spot inside him that made him see stars. Finding it again, he started to lose himself to the pleasure. His moans grew in intensity and mingled with his phantom Zagreus’s. They got louder and louder, eventually so loud he didn’t care if all of the house could hear him. He was taking himself apart in sweet agony.
Thanatos came all over himself in a desperate keen, “Zagreus! Oh, oh Zag, my sweet Zag…” but all he could hear in his own mind was the cry of his own name he heard from Zagreus. As he came down, his thoughts were fixated on that sweet sound. He had never heard his own name sound as sweet as it did dripping from Zag’s tongue. In that moment, he knew what he must do:
He must see Zagreus moan his name with his own eyes.