Reversal [by TheSuperSass]

Chapter 3

As Hades followed Zeus through the halls of the palace on Mount Olympus, she squinted. It was certainly grand, but it was a bit ... much. It was excessively bright and lavishly decorated. To Hades' taste, it was overdone: her style was much more muted and understated. Between the light and the busy furnishing, it strained her eyes, even after spending the afternoon in the sun.

This time, she visited Persephone on Earth before seeing her sister to avoid any wardrobe mishaps. She found herself looking forward to visiting him, impatient on waiting for what she thought an appropriate number of days between visits should be. She didn't keep regular company with anyone in the world above, finding most of the gods to be tiresome. But Persephone always looked genuinely happy to see her. He was kind, friendly, and not afraid of her anymore. He was worth making the journey for, but pride prevented her from coming for him alone, so today's visit was excused as a trip to Zeus.

Hades dressed in more formal attire, knowing it would be a closer match to how everyone dressed on Mount Olympus. Normally she found such clothing unnecessary for a simple visit, but gods came to Zeus' palace to be seen. For once she didn't mind adorning her neck and ears with heavy, glittering rubies, a gold, full finger ring on her index finger. She admitted she preferred for Persephone to see her at her best to make up for him seeing her drenched and stripped down to her simplest clothes. Most goddesses seemed comfortable wearing the least, putting their curvy figures on display. Hades felt more empowered in the fine, dark layers, her heavy cape, and her fiery scepter. It displayed her power as a ruler of the cosmos, her wealth over the riches of the earth, and served as an armor against prying and judging eyes. Fair and thin were not physical features always valued by the lechery of fellow immortals, though occasionally someone would take it upon themselves to try to bed her, hoping to attain the unattainable. They never succeeded, as Hades had left the Olympian lifestyle of salacious trysts behind her long ago.

Zeus turned into yet another of the seemingly endless rooms, finally reaching their destination. Hades sat tall, shoulders back, while Zeus slouched low into the luxurious chairs, holding her ornate cup out for one of her attendants to fill it. Hades eyed the handsome young man who scurried up to do so; she wasn't shocked, but figured Zeus kept herself busy enough with affairs that she wouldn't need to constantly be surrounded by pretty things to look at too. Perhaps the palace was big enough for her husband to be willfully ignorant. She accepted the cup handed to her with with a polite, forced smile and set it on the small table next to her. She had long ago stopped insisting she didn't want what was offered to her, finding it easier to take but not partake.

Zeus watched her set the cup aside. Hades' abstinence didn't go unnoticed, but over the years she too had learned to let it be. She was not surprised but still amused at how little her eldest sister had changed. Even in a personal visit, she sat stiff and regal, as if the weight of her rule was always weighing her down. Something was a bit different, though she couldn't put her finger on it. There was a glow, an energy coming off of her that wasn't usually there. What was causing it would be the challenge to find out. Hades was a locked vault when it came to her feelings, and asking her outright would never work.

"So," Zeus started, clapping her hands together. "To what do I owe this extraordinary and rare honor of an unprompted visit?"

"Does there have to be an occasion?" she countered.

"With you? Yes," she responded, taking a sip.

"Aren't you the one who always insists I should come more often? If my visit is such a burden, I can--"

"No, no," she dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm just curious what could possibly have tempted you to come back so soon since you left early the last time you were here."