Chapter 697: A Captive?
Abaddon was a relatively stress free person.
Because he kept his own stress under control as best he could, he didn't like to get overly involved in other people's stress either.
This isn't to say that he didn't like to help people, because he truly did.
But he also knew that something's just really weren't his business to get in the middle of..
All of this is pretty much why, despite his ability to teleport to the Greek temple instantly, he flew instead.
He hoped that the extra time spent traveling would result in someone being knocked unconscious already.
He even prayed for the first time in forever, but Yesh told him not to use his ear for things like that…
Unfortunately, as Abaddon landed in front of the Greek temple, he knew that he would not be getting what he wanted.
"Come to gawk at the circus act?"
Abaddon smiled when he saw his friend Demeter sitting on the steps outside her home.
"I'm afraid your daughter texted me to demand my appearance. But it can't be so terrible, right?" He smiled.
Demeter suppressed a gulp at the sight of a much larger Abaddon.
It had only been around a week or so since they'd hung out, but already she felt like hadn't seen him in years.
'Damn it, get it together..'
Demeter pointed at his head. "I-Is your hair supposed to do that?"
Abaddon grabbed a fistful of his own hair. The twin black and white color was occasionally shifting into a very deeper red than what he was used to.
"Ah. It's been happening ever since I absorbed my son's powers back. I've been trying to get it to stop." Abaddon narrowed his eyes and his hair went back to normal.
"I assume your power returning explains your new growth in height as well?"
"No, the girls fed me titan meat."
"Of course they did." Demeter shook her head. "What a strange being you are, Abaddon Tathamet."
Abaddon shrugged. He'd been called worse.
Suddenly, the temple rumbled from outside and Abaddon remembered that he was on a small time crunch.
"Are you joining me inside?"
"…Sure. Your powers might actually come in handy." She stood up.
"Eh?"
-
"… AND I GOT SICK OF CLEANING UP AFTER YOU ALL OF THE TIME!! YOU BROODING LITTLE INGRATE!!"
*Crash!*
Hades ducked out of the way just in time to avoid a flying plate to the head.
"Well I wouldn't have to brood all the time if you didn't physically suck the life out of me over the course of 3,000 years!!"
"And you WONDERED why I refused to suck anything else! It's called a shower, ever heard of one?!"
"Yea, I stopped taking them on purpose so that you wouldn't cut me to pieces with your teeth at night!"
"HADES!!!! I will make you forfeit your life!!"
"I could've sworn you'd already did that when we exchanged vows."
"BASTARD!!!"
Abaddon and Demeter entered the room just as a table was flipped over and hurled across the room.
A small crowd was watching Hades and Persephone's marital spat from a safe distance. They were so enthralled that almost no one noticed him arrive.
At that moment, Discordia came running up to Abaddon and wrapped him in a bigger hug than what he had ever expected from her.
"Eh? What's this for, you angry little imp?"
Discordia looked up at Abaddon with eyes that weren't the least bit deterred by his teasing.
"I always wondered why you chose to lump us together like we were some brats in a college dorm, but I no longer doubt your wisdom! This is gold!!" She cackled.
She was so happy that this was the first time Abaddon ever believed she might try to kiss him.
"I honestly just thought this would be the best way to keep an eye on you all at first, but you don't have to stay here any-"
A wooden chair came flying at Abaddon's face.
The flame from a nearby torch flared to life and consumed the wood until it was just an ashen pile that fell harmlessly at Abaddon's feet.
"See what I meant? Useful." Demeter nodded to herself as she patted her overgrown friend on the back.
Abaddon didn't know how he felt about being used as a convenient shield, but it was a role that kind of seemed to come with his powers.
Naturally, after that earlier display, the room noticed his arrival.
There were more guests in the Greek temple now than there were a few days ago.
This is because Nyx had fulfilled her word of bringing all of her children to Tehom. (Or all of the ones she spoke to atleast.)
This was their first time laying eyes on Abaddon, and none of them were quite sure what to say.
They certainly weren't expecting for the ruler of this place to show up wearing a dark hoodie and sweatpants.
But everyone else who knew Abaddon were already aware that this was pretty much a normal day for him.
The dragon yawned as he stuffed his hands into his pockets and stared at the rampaging goddess with a dull expression.
"Persephone… What is the meaning of all of this?"
The spring goddess practically somersaulted across the room to stand in front of the black dragon.
"Abaddon… Have I done something to earn your ire as of late?"
"Not that I know of." He shrugged.
"Then WHY are you punishing me by making me play babysitter to this bastard!?" She pointed at Hades.
"I needed somewhere to put him until I decided what to do with him."
"Stick him in prison maybe?!"
"For one, you know he wouldn't survive in dragon prison. And two, we don't even have one anymore. Don't you ever watch the news?" Abaddon rolled his eyes.
Crime had dropped considerably since they'd moved from Dola, but the real stake in the heart came when they migrated to Tehom.
There was kind of just no reason for it now… And as the dragon civilization evolved, their sense of community improved as well, and they became much less willing to harm each other.
And the most obvious reason was that there was just no way to do anything without being caught.
"I could have put him in oblivion, but then he would have likely suffered permanent damage." Abaddon said.
"He's already damaged!" Persephone yelled hurtfully.
"Yes, I could tell by the insults…" Abaddon yawned.
Hades didn't know what came over him, but as he saw his wife speaking so comfortably with the gods' mortal enemy, he had a small fit of jealousy bubble up.
"…So this is why you were gone for all of this time. You were cozying up with a new man while I was out looking for you!"
Persephone whirled around. "Try not to pull a hamstring jumping to conclusions, Hades! For your information, my mother has already called dibs on this one!"
Abaddon clutched his forehead and Demeter looked down as if she wanted to die of embarrassment.
"I'm married already as well, funny how you left that part out…" He grumbled.
Persephone didn't hear him of course, because she was still too busy being irate with Hades.
"A-And what are you talking about 'looking for me'?! You probably never searched for me once!"
For some reason, those words more than any other seemed to make Hades truly upset.
"I searched everywhere for you..!" He growled through gritted teeth.
Persephone was finally silent, and so was Hades.
The tension in the room seemed to waver as if it couldn't figure out whether or not to remain present or make way for peace.
"…I'm going home. Please don't bother me with this high school shit again." Abaddon swiftly turned around and began walking away.
"Discordia and I are coming over later with Izanami." Demeter called.
"We'll be waiting." He waived without looking back.
When Abaddon disappeared, the hall became quiet once more.
Thanatos and his twin brother Hypnos were actually going to try to speak to the dragon god before he left, but he vanished before either of them got the chance.
"Is he… always like that?" Hypnos asked.
"Uh-huh." Demeter began walking towards her room so that she could go and get ready for later.
"He did not even acknowledge us…" Thanatos actually looked a bit offended.
"Don't take it personally, brother. He's just bad with new people." Discordia dismissed.
The angel of death, and the bringer of sleep both looked at each other awkwardly.
'This place is a nuthouse..' The two of them thought in unison.
-
Abaddon went to go and see his father for the first time in forever at the behest of his mother.
It didn't take him long to find the grey skinned demon god in Lusamine's room. Apparently he was missing her council while she was within an egg as well.
Abaddon started to jump in the room and strike up conversation, but he paused on a dime when he felt someone trying to communicate with him first.
And it was most certainly not an honored guest.
' … I'm really going to kill him this time.'