“I remember . . . And I suppose that would have been incredibly loud. That place is called the birthplace of the gods. At least the deities honored in Indonesia.”

And some, like all gods, are volatile.

“You already do so much.”

His touch is reassuring. Grounding. The god leans into it.

“Having you in my life gives me hope.”

Not all is darkness. There are those like Steven who give off immense light.

“What can I do for /you/? Tell me about what was frightening you.”

Well, he adores this part. Soon, his arms are around Steven, and he sighs happily.

“Well. But perfect now.”

The work, Steven knows. That is what it is with the rewards and the sadness.

“I do like being here — with you but also just up here in general.”

~ want them to spend every moment in the underworld. For them.

“Maybe . . .”

He smiles, also a bit bashfully.

“I wish to be here when you need me.”

And if the God of Death chase away the scaries, he is happy to do it.

“And you know I wish that I could be here all the time.”

Steven and Marc helping him has decreased their time apart, but he does not ~

“I like being here,” he replies, sitting beside Steven. Close enough should the man wish to lean on him. “My preference actually . . .”

His work is meaningful and needed, but this is meaningful and needed for /him/.

“Need company?” he asks, waiting to be invited to take a seat but appearing out of nowhere nonetheless.

Steven seemed mildly agitated — curious but agitated.

So here he is.

He smiles sadly, though he is comforted with her hand in his.

“I do not know.”

There are rules even the gods must follow. Death is Death. Mortals are not meant to return from it.

And yet, there are exceptions. Perhaps, Eurydice could be one.

“My father would have to permit it.”

“I would like it if they did.”

And he feels just as responsible as she does when they do not. He /is/ Death.

Gently, he pats her hand.

“You know that the gift will not fix everything. A bracelet like that would enable her to visit but not remain.”

She doesn’t have to tell him what that bracelet is for.

“It’s been a long time,” Anpu reminds her. “He is older.”

Sadder, too.

“She won’t be finding the same man she left.”

So . . . who is it she is bending the rules for?

Will she tell him about this special case?

He smirks just a smidge.

“Might anger Dad.”

Osiris. Hades. Take your pick of name.

“But I’m fine with it.”

He likes a good love story, too.