Hades

Hades - Greek god of the Underworld and the dead

Hades is a notorious flirt. Boy, girl, lion, leopard - it doesn't matter. Good looks and bountiful charm are wielded expertly to bed pretty much anyone he wants. The only thing he likes more than pursuing new partners is bragging about his conquests to his pridemates. He's completely oblivious to the fact that every single one of them is sick of listening to him go on and on about his colorful love life. So sick of it in fact, that they decide to issue him a challenge to distract him and give themselves some relief. To Hades the chase is half the fun of any seduction so he eagerly rises to the bait.

His mission: seduce and bed King Fenyang.

It throws him for a loop. The King is known to be a stoic, aloof sort who rarely interacts directly with the pride, leaving the responsibility of maintaining day-to-day life to his sisters. Overall he isn't what one would qualify as an ideal partner, or even a good one. Hades for sure has never looked at him that way. But, a challenge is a challenge and he wouldn't be able to stand the ridicule should he give up so soon. He spends the next few days strategizing his plan of attack. A simple pick-up line or lingering touch won't do it; he'll have to use every trick he knows to get Fenyang to lower his defenses. Failure isn't an option.

He catches the King early one morning as he's returning from a pre-dawn patrol. Greetings are exchanged, as is normal when he comes across a member of his pride, but becomes wary when Hades starts to follow him. The conversation they share is mostly one-sided, with Hades pouring on the charm and Fenyang responding with monosyllabic grunts. Only when they reach the royal den does Hades depart with a wink and his tail running under the King's chin, a sultry 'farewell' on his lips. He can see how tense Fenyang is as he walks away and scowls once out of sight. It seemed he'd have to take things even slower than he intended. A pity.

This routine goes on for over a week. Hades greets his King as he returns from his patrol and talks at him as he accompanies him back to the royal den. At first Fenyang barely tolerates him, but the longer it goes on the more relaxed he becomes. He posture becomes less rigid, his grunts become less terse, and Hades can tell his plan is working better than he thought it would. After almost a month of bodies 'accidentally' brushing against each other and subtle compliments Fenyang finally breaks his silence and asks Hades what he's up to. At first he's evasive; it's too early in his plan for Fenyang to know his true intentions. The other lion give him little choice, however, as he's backed Hades up into a literal corner. The King's questions become progressively more accusatory. They'd know each other a long time and Hades had never expressed an interest before, so why now? Why so suddenly, and why so intent? Hades feels his victory slipping away as the larger lion traps him - literally and figuratively - between a rock and a hard place. He can't stand being crowded in any further and spills the beans. He tells Fenyang of his bragging, how his friends were fed up with him, and the challenge they gave him to get him out of their fur. The fact that it worked sits bitterly on his tongue. King Fenyang gives one of his signature grunts and steps aside to let Hades out. Hades's apology is only half sincere, but a tiny bit of guilt tugs at him when he notices the disappointment in Fenyang's eyes. Before he can dwell on it for too long he turns tail and scampers off. He reluctantly returns to the pridemates who issued the challenge. They are extremely satisfied watching him sulk for the next few days.

Once he's done brooding on his failure Hades tries to return to life as normal. Between hunting and socializing with the pride he wanders off to charm passing rogues and tempt neighboring kings and queens. But... something's wrong. It's not that he's out of touch - absolutely not - or that there is any shortage of attractive potential partners. It's something else that he can't quite place. He doesn't enjoy it anymore. His heart's not in it. It's unnatural and frustrating, but, he concedes, unquestionably true. With this realization he returns to his brooding ten-fold and no one can bring him out of it. He spends his time ruminating on the situation. What's changed? The only thing he can think of is his failed seduction of King Fenyang. But that can't be it! Yes, he'd spent a lot of time with him, and yes, he liked spending time with him, but it didn't actually mean anything. The flirting, the touching... his eyes roving over that strong body and pale, shimmering coat; the way those lovely teal eyes glinted when amused; the rumbling purr from deep in his chest when content, like a distant storm bringing life giving rain...

It was nothing...

Right?

The groan that escapes him is the loudest noise he's made in days. "You idiot," he chides himself under his breath. "You've gone and fallen in love with your King, you absolute dunce!" He gets up to pace, still growling at himself and his stupid, awful, gooey heart. Of course. Of course. His life is over. He's damned himself, and for what? Affection for a lion he's known all his life but has barely said two words to, barely knows, a lion who -

Whose heart he broke. He remembers the look in Fenyang's eyes that day and finally understands what it meant.

... Fuck.

Hades doesn't register that he's running until he's halfway there. It's almost dawn and his body is taking him to the place where he first approached Fenyang all those weeks - now months- ago. He feels lost; numb, yet exhilarated. Ecstatic at his revelation and terrified of the damage he's done. He's running blind and slightly hysteric. He collides into the King before he can slow his momentum. When he comes back to himself he finds King Fenyang on his back, clearly shocked and a bit winded, and himself sprawled on top of him. Mortified, he leaps away with all the grace his leopard heritage has graced him with, only to stand awkwardly shuffling from foot to foot. He can't meet the King's gaze but feels it on him nonetheless. He can't remember a time when he's been more nervous. A hesitant "My King," and a quick look up at his face is all he can manage before he averts his eyes and begins fidgeting again.

"Hades?" A question. Soft and concerned and rumbling like a distant storm.

It all comes pouring out. How he admires Fenyang, how he's insanely attracted to him, how much he's realized he adores him. And all throughout, a litany of "I'm sorry" and pleas for forgiveness. He goes on and on in the same way he once bragged about his conquests and it is a relief, a catharsis, to be telling the truth to someone he wants, for probably the first time in his life. All Fenyang does is listen. He doesn't stop him, doesn't shush him or comfort him. He lets Hades have his moment, his release, and waits patiently for it to finished. Eventually Hades collapses, out of breath and tears and things to say, and only then does Fenyang approach him. He grabs the smaller male by the scruff and heaves him up into a sitting position. There is silence between them and entirely too much eye contact for Hades's comfort, when the King's great paw lands gently on his shoulder. Hades's brain fizzles out as Fenyang draws him close and lays a gentle lick on his head that is as comforting as it is affectionate. "I can't forgive you yet," The King rumbles. "I will, though. Probably sooner than you deserve. You're a real piece of work, you know that, Hades? But I think I love you all the same."

Fenyang is true to his word. He's distant for some time after that, and Hades understands. He feels blessed that his King even gives him the time of day. He comes around eventually though and their relationship swiftly takes a serious turn. It isn't long before Hades is moved into the royal den and given the title of Prince Consort; 'Prince Hades' has a nice ring to it if you ask him. Gone are the days of seduction and sleeping around. In it's place is a monogamist life he would have never imagined for himself and the solid-yet-soft bulk of his husband to snuggle against at night. Hades has found he can't sleep without the sound of Fenyang's breathing.

Rumbling like a distant storm.