Chapter Text
Odysseus looks up at the Alpha that pulled him from the water of the Styx. The god of the underworld sighs mildly exhausted from the paperwork caused by the disaster with his brother's now blind son. Knowing Poseidon he's likely out for blood since wounding his kid is a matter of pride. Never mind that Odysseus had escaped him using the already opened wind bag which would sting. Hades is sick of having to deal with the aftermath of his younger brothers' tantrums when it comes to mortals pissing them off.
“What on earth would drive you to enter my realm while living?”
Hades asks the man currently in his grasp.
The king shifts uneasily, “We came seeking the prophet mentioned by Circe. She advised me to seek his council, Lord.”
Odysseus replies sweat dotting his brow.
Alphas make him nervous seeing as not many of his crew know his true nature. His distant relation to Hermes caused him to be a chimera or a mortal born capable of both siring and bearing children. His wife is an omega which works out well for the Alpha in him. For the most part the Alpha is in charge but the omega in him still yearns. He’s had ruts before which his wife helped with as it usually synced with her heats. He hopes their son will be okay as he hits puberty and his class reveals itself. He had one heat that he genuinely mistook for a fever. Only when his wife pointed out that his scent changed did it sink in what was happening to him. It had been miserable and gave him an even greater respect for omegas.
Shaking his head he returns to the present predicament he found himself in being stared down by the god of the underworld.
“I assume to seek guidance to escape my brother's wrath?”
Hades asks raising an eyebrow at the nervous king.
“I admit that is the purpose of me seeking out Tiresias, Lord.”
Odysseus replies still uneasy.
Hades unlike his brother actually appreciates the honesty.
“What drives you to take such a large risk with no guarantee that you will escape my domain unharmed?”
Hades rumbles his curiosity piqued by the man that Poseidon is so desperately after.
“My wife Lord Hades; I miss her dearly.”
Odysseus replies honestly.
His heart yearns for her and the son he was forced to leave behind as a mere babe.
Hades softens a little at the mention of his wife. The god can tell he yearns to be at her side again. The war was long and kept many survivors from their families.
“And what of the child in Troy?”
The flinch he receives tells him that Odysseus was NOT happy about that particular incident.
“I could not kill Hector's son Lord Hades. I choked when it came time to follow through with what Lord Zeus commanded.”
Odysseus replies his voice pitching at the memory of his empty arms.
Hades growls lowly at the mention of Zeus telling the Greek to kill an infant. It is just like his insatiable sibling to toy with mortals as if the death actually changed the plan put forth by the Fates.
Odysseus flinches more at the growl unsure of why it bothers him more than usual.
Hades notices the discomfort and sighs regaining his composure.
“That is just like my brother to make wildly untrue claims to entertain himself.”
“The baby was never a threat?!
The despair in his voice tells Hades that the death is still haunting him.
“No he was not. He is safe with his father now in paradise.”
Hades offers him closure seeing how upset the man got over the unnecessary cruelty.
“At least he is at peace…”
Hades nods. He wonders who killed the infant if Odysseus could not bring himself to.
“Given your predicament with my brother and the honest answers you gave I am choosing to release you back to your journey. Understand that taking further risks will cost you and your crew dearly. Tread with caution once you are underway outside of my domain. Be sure you stay true to your cause. Do not be tempted by the sirens’ song. Block your ears before you reach them.”
Hades gives him a stern look no different from that of an exasperated parent.
Odysseus looks surprised that he is being allowed to leave unharmed. He bows his head offering genuine gratitude to Hades for his kindness. Hades nods back satisfied that Odysseus will be careful to avoid more lives being lost. Just as Hades is about release Odysseus back to his crew Persephone arrives on the blackened bank.
“I was beginning to wonder what was keeping you.”
He murmurs coming to his side and pressing a kiss to his cheek unbothered that Odysseus can see the display of affection.
“Apologies my flower.”
Hades replies leaning into his wife's touch.
“Why is the king of Ithaca in your hands while he still breathes?”
Persephone asks his husband.
“He had come seeking guidance from Tiresias to escape my brother and return home.”
Hades replies,
“This is the man that has Poseidon riled up?”
He asks surprised.
“Indeed and the paperwork my brother’s temper has caused is quite tiring.”
Hades sighs,
“I was going to send him on his way.”
“He ought to offer something in return for you granting him safe passage from your domain.”
Persephone point out.
“I had not thought of payment.”
Hades hums.
Odysseus looks nervous again as he and his men are already running on fumes even after Circe provided some supplies.
“Simply provide a sacrifice and you will be safely on your way.”
Persephone tells him.
Odysseus is silently panicking as there is nothing his already starving crew can spare for a sacrifice. His poor crew has lost enough men.
Hades and Persephone watch the man fidget sweat dotting his brow clearly in distress. Both gods wonder why the idea of sacrifice makes him so upset without knowing how little the crew already has to get home on without the threat of Poseidon looming over the single remaining ship.
So caught up in the new dilemmas before his crew Odysseus failed to notice the warning signs his body had begun giving before leaving Circe’s island. Subconscious submission where he is usually has confidence, heat simmering under his skin and, his scent changing. The gods however, pick up on the scent he has unconsciously begun to give off. Citrus, cinnamon and, pine. A clear sign of his oncoming heat.
“Surely you can spare a cut of meat as payment for safe passage.”
Hades murmurs to the distressed man.
“We are running on scraps Lord even with Circe providing supplies.”
Odysseus replies looking up at him.
There’s desperation in his eyes along with fear.
“My crew and I have nothing of substance we can offer as repayment.”
“Then I am afraid I cannot let you leave my realm. You will remain until safe passage has been compensated for. While I do not wish for further loss of life, it seems that is all you can offer to me in exchange.”
Hades replies.
Odysseus’s scent gets heavier then as he panics afraid for his men. He won’t leave anyone else behind. Hades gets a lung full of distressed pre-heat omega causing him to unconsciously let out low growl. Odysseus flinches still bothered by why the sound invokes fear in him.
“I thought he is an alpha? Yet this is the scent of an omega about to come into season?”
Persephone says in god tongue to Hades who blinks shaking the fog from his mind.
“I have not encountered this until now my dear. This is strange to me as well.”
Hades replies to his wife just as confused as he is.
Odysseus thinks back to his encounter with Circe once he bested her in battle. There are other ways of persuasion.
“Surely there is another way to repay you Lord?”
His voice is softer with an inviting lilt.
Persephone is surprised at how bold Odysseus is being. Circe clearly had tried to bed him though it seems she failed. Her method however, seems to have stuck.
“Another way, are you offering yourself as sacrifice Odysseus of Ithaca?”
Persephone replies staring him down.
Odysseus sputters his cheeks flushing a pretty redden hue but, his gaze does not waver.
“I refuse to leave another man behind Lady Persephone. My crew has lost enough men.”
He replies the alpha in him showing itself for a moment.
Persephone ponders this. He is likely unaware of what offering his body will entail yet, he is willing to risk it for his crew to avoid losing another man from his already bare bones crew.
“It seems the king has found a way to replay you my darling.”
Hades shakes the fog from his mind once again before turning to his wife raising a brow at her curiously.
“He is offering himself as sacrifice my love.”
Persephone clarifies.
“This is not an offering that is made lightly Odysseus.”
Hades rumbles.
“I cannot let another man die Lord. My crew has already lost too many.”
Odysseus replies maintaining eye contact with the gods.
“If you are determined to see this through, then I accept your offering little king.”
Hades hums his voice dropping an octave.
Odysseus swallows hard. What had he just gotten himself into?