The drive back to Aurelia's apartment was peaceful, the occasional faint tune from the radio filling the comfortable silence. The night outside was calm, stars scattered across the sky, and the city lights twinkling like a mirror of the heavens. By the time they arrived, the day had given way to a serene darkness, the kind that lulled the world into a restful hush.
Once inside, Aurelia kicked off her shoes and sighed, exhaustion mingling with the lingering warmth of the day's memories. She glanced at Hades, who was carrying her teddy bears inside, a sight that made her smile.
"I'm going to freshen up," she said, grabbing a towel.
He nodded, leaning casually against the doorway. "Take your time."
In the bathroom, Aurelia let the hot water wash away the stickiness of the day. As she rinsed off, her thoughts lingered on Hades. He had been… different today. Playful, attentive, almost human. It was a side of him she had never imagined existed, and she wasn't entirely sure what to make of it.
After drying off, Aurelia slipped into a cute set of soft, pastel nightwear—a loose-fitting top with delicate lace trim and matching shorts. Her damp hair fell loosely around her shoulders as she padded barefoot out of the bathroom, heading to the living room.
The faint clatter of dishes caught her attention, accompanied by the rich aroma of garlic and creamy herbs. She frowned, curiosity pulling her toward the kitchen.
When she rounded the corner, her steps faltered.
Hades! the God of the Underworld! was standing in her kitchen. Shirtless. His broad shoulders and perfectly sculpted form seemed almost surreal under the soft glow of the overhead light.
He had prepared a dish of creamy pasta paired with golden garlic bread, the steam curling up invitingly.
Stunned didn't begin to cover how she felt. Aurelia blinked, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to process the sight before her.
Hades glanced up and caught her staring. A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "You're going to burn a hole in the floor if you keep standing there like that."
Her cheeks heated instantly, and she stumbled over her words. "I—uh—what are you…doing?"
He gestured to the table. "Cooking, obviously. You've had a long day, and I thought a proper meal would be nice."
"You…you can cook?" she asked, incredulous.
"I've picked up a few things over the centuries," he said casually, grabbing two plates. "Now, sit. This pasta won't stay warm forever."
Aurelia sat at the small dining table. The smell of the meal made her stomach growl. Hades joined her, pouring a glass of wine for each of them. "I hope you like it," he said, setting her plate down in front of her before sitting across from her.
She picked up her fork, twirling the creamy pasta and taking a cautious bite. The flavor exploded on her tongue, and she couldn't help the small moan of delight that escaped her lips.
"This is… amazing," she admitted, meeting his gaze.
Hades grinned, pleased. "I'm glad you approve."
They ate in companionable silence for a while, Aurelia couldn't help but sneak glances at him. The way the soft light accentuated the sharp lines of his face, the relaxed way he leaned back in his chair, it was all so strangely domestic.
"I never imagined you doing something like this," she finally said, her voice soft.
He raised an eyebrow. "What, cooking?"
"No," she said, shaking her head. "Just… this. Spending the day at an amusement park, making dinner, sitting here with me like… like you're human."
A shadow of a smile crossed his lips, "Perhaps I wanted to let you know that I'm not just the God of the Underworld. I'm more than the title."
Her heart skipped a beat at his words. She didn't know what to say, so she simply nodded, letting the moment settle between them.
When they finished eating, Hades cleared the plates, refusing her offer to help. "You've done enough today," he said firmly. "I'll handle the rest."
As Aurelia leaned back in her chair, sipping the last of her wine, a sudden thought hit her like a lightning bolt. Her apartment had only one room. One bed.
Her heart rate spiked instantly, and she set the glass down with a clink, gripping the edge of the table as her mind began to spiral.
What were they going to do?
Surely Hades didn't expect them to… No. No, no, no. That was impossible. But then again, where else would he sleep?
Her breathing quickened, and she could feel a flush creeping up her neck. Calm down, Aurelia. He's a god. He's probably above caring about sleeping arrangements.
But her mind wouldn't stop racing. She had never been in this situation before, and the very thought of sharing a bed… even if it was just sleeping… with him made her feel like she might combust on the spot.
"Are you alright?" Hades' voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, calm but tinged with concern.
She looked up sharply, realizing he was now standing in front of her, his brow furrowed as he took in her wide eyes and flushed cheeks.
"I… uh, yes," she stammered, her voice higher than usual. "I'm fine. Totally fine."
His eyes narrowed slightly, and he crossed his arms. "You don't look fine. What's wrong?"
Aurelia swallowed hard, cursing her inability to hide her emotions. "It's just… I only have one room. And one bed. And, um…" Her voice trailed off, and she gestured helplessly as if the rest of her sentence were too mortifying to say out loud.
For a moment, Hades just stared at her. Then, to her utter humiliation, the corner of his mouth quirked up to one of his signature smirks.
"Aurelia," he said, his tone amused but gentle, "I'm not expecting to share your bed. I may be a god, but I do know how to be a gentleman."
Her face turned crimson, and she covered it with her hands. "Oh gods, I wasn't assuming—I just—I didn't—"
He chuckled softly, and the sound was unexpectedly warm, "Relax. I'll take the couch."
She peeked at him through her fingers. "The couch? Are you sure? I mean, it's not exactly… godly."
Hades gave a small shrug, his smirk softening into a reassuring smile. "I've slept in far worse places, believe me. Besides, it's only for a few nights. I'll survive."
Despite her embarrassment, Aurelia felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Alright," she said, "I'm sure," he said, stepping away to grab a spare blanket she kept folded on the edge of the couch. "Now, go get some rest. You've had a long day."
She nodded and headed to her bedroom, but as she closed the door behind her, she couldn't help but smile.
The idea of Hades, the mighty god of the Underworld, willingly sleeping on her lumpy couch was so absurd. And yet, as she settled into bed, she found herself feeling strangely comforted by the fact that he was just a room away.
************************************************
The warm aroma of pancakes and scrambled eggs wafted through Aurelia's room, stirring her awake. She groggily sat up, her hair a tousled mess, and blinked against the sunlight streaming through her curtains. A smile tugged at her lips as she recognized the scent of breakfast.
Without thinking, she jumped out of bed and padded toward the kitchen, still in her oversized sleep shirt and shorts, her hair sticking out in all directions.
When she entered the kitchen, she froze. There was Hades, standing by the sink, his sleeves rolled up as he washed the dishes.
He turned, catching her staring, "Good morning," he greeted.
Aurelia, still half-asleep, didn't think twice. She walked toward him, guided by an impulse she couldn't control, and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. "Good morning, Hades," she murmured sleepily, her voice muffled against his back.
Hades tensed at the sudden contact, his hands pausing mid-wash. For a moment, he stood frozen, his heart skipped. Then he said, "You must be really happy this morning."
Realizing what she'd done, Aurelia gasped and stepped back quickly, her face burning red. "I-I didn't mean—" she stammered, struggling to meet his gaze.
Hades turned, wiping his hands on a towel as he leaned against the counter. His lips curved into an amused smile. "You're quite easy to fluster, aren't you?"
She crossed her arms, her blush deepening. "I-I just… I wasn't thinking. I was half-asleep!"
He chuckled, the sound warm and low. "You look so cute in the morning, bed head and all," he said teasing her.
Aurelia groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Please stop," she muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
Hades smirked, clearly relishing her embarrassment."What? I'm just stating facts. It's not every day I get to see you without your usual sharp tongue."
Aurelia dropped her hands and shot him a glare, though her blush betrayed her. "If you keep this up, I'm going to start questioning why you're even here," she said, trying to sound stern but failing miserably.
He laughed,"Because someone has to make sure you eat properly, and clearly, you're not the type to start your day with breakfast unless someone else makes it for you."
She narrowed her eyes, though the smell of pancakes and scrambled eggs was quickly dissolving her annoyance. "I'll have you know, I'm perfectly capable of cooking for myself."
Hades arched an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh? Shall I step aside and let you take over next time?"
"…Maybe not," she muttered, sitting down at the table in defeat.
He chuckled again, grabbing two plates and setting one in front of her. "Thought so."
As she picked up her fork, she tried not to focus too much on the fact that Hades had not only made breakfast but had done so perfectly. The pancakes were golden and fluffy, the scrambled eggs soft and buttery.
Between bites, she glanced up at him,"Do gods cook often, or is this some hidden talent of yours?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Hades shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "When you've lived as long as I have, you learn to appreciate the finer details in life…like making the perfect breakfast."
Aurelia snorted softly, "You sound like a walking self-help book."
His smile widened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he gestured toward her plate. "Eat up. We have a full day ahead of us."
She paused, her fork hovering mid-air. "A full day? What are we doing today?"
"You'll see," he said cryptically.
She frowned, "You're infuriating, you know that?"
"So I've been told," he said, his smirk growing.
When she finally set her fork down, she leaned back in her chair and let out a satisfied sigh. "Okay, I'll admit it. That was the best breakfast I've had in a long time."
"Good," Hades said, taking her plate and stacking it with his own. "Then my job here is done."
As he turned back to the sink, Aurelia hesitated for a moment before standing up. "Wait."
He paused, looking over his shoulder at her.
"Thank you Hades," she said softly.
For a moment, his expression softened, "You're welcome," he said, his voice low.
The moment lingered, but before it could stretch too long, Hades turned back to the sink and resumed washing the dishes. While she went to get ready for the day.