Archive of Our Own ^beta

As Harry’s fingers strummed his lyre with a tenderness reserved only for Chris, he marveled at the way his presence seemed to infuse the world with a light that his music could scarcely capture.

He’s always found it easy to create songs, flowing through him easily as if it was the wind, but the deep love he has for Chris doesn’t make it as easy. There doesn’t seem to be a melody or any words that are perfect enough.

They are to be wed in a week's time, and Harry wants to create the best song for him to play at

their wedding. Only the best for the man he’s loved since they were young. He’s made plenty of songs for him before, but trying to create one that perfectly details their story has proven to be difficult. He will continue to try nonetheless.

He watches as Chris dances to the current song he is playing. That’s always been something they do. Harry plays the music, Chris dances. They fall perfectly together, it was only a matter of time before they fell in love. They probably always were.

Chris sits down next to Harry, watching the sunset on the horizon. He sighs. “It’s gorgeous, it always is. I’ll never get tired of it.” Chris looks at Harry. “Play your sunset song.”

Harry does. Watching the sunset has been a pinnacle of their relationship, any milestone has been within the light of a sunset. The beauty of the sunset and the memories that come from watching the sunset every night since they were children inspired Harry to write a song about the sunset.  He used this song to propose marriage to Chris, and Harry’s played it every night since. Because of the significance of the sunset, that is what it’s named after, even though it’s about them. Chris doesn’t dance to this song, he sits next to Harry with his head on his shoulder.

The song eventually finishes, timing with the disappearance of the song. Chris looks up at Harry again.

“I know you want to create another song for us, but I think that one is perfect.” Chris says, placing a peck onto Harry’s cheek. “It explains us so well, I can’t imagine another.”

“Then it’s decided. That will play at our wedding.” Harry gives Chris a kiss. “Are you ready to sleep?” Chris nods, and gets up and heads for their bedroom, and Harry follows.

The wedding is, of course, at sunset. They couldn’t imagine a better time. As Harry plays the song, the crowd is brought to tears. It’s been said many times by the people, but their love story will become legend one day. That’s all Harry hopes for, for his love for Chris to be known by the world. For it to permanently be cemented in time.

The ceremony is all Harry could ever hope for. Sharing his love for Chris publicly is his favorite way to do it. Declaring his love in front of a crowd is the best way in his mind to make sure their love is told for centuries.

It’s a love even accepted by the Gods, Hermes has told Harry. They say that there’s something different about them, that they haven’t felt so much love in a human couple before. THis was confirmed by Hymen, when he came to perform the ceremony.

He also said that this happiness wouldn’t last for long.

Harry decided to ignore that statement, for how can he not be happy with Chris? He often takes advice from the Gods, anything Hermes tells him, but he can’t help but doubt them this time.

How could he not be happy if he has Chris?

“You understand the consequences of not listening to the Gods, don’t you?” Hermes asks Harry. It’s been a couple days after the wedding, and Hermes came to warn them yesterday as well. Chris went to the woods to hang out with the nymphs.

“I understand.” Harry says, plucking at his lyre. “You guys might be misunderstanding something, though. I just don’t see how it’s possible.” 

“You are living in delusion.”

Harry shrugs. “I might be, but we’re happy now. Why worry? Which God headed the warning, anyway?” He looks up, and the look on Hermes’ face makes him stop playing his lyre. “No,” He says, shaking his head. “No, say it’s not him. Say it’s not who I think it is.” Hermes opens his mouth to answer, but before he can there’s shouts of Harry’s name. Harry turns around to see the nymphs running toward him.

Chris is not with them.

“No, no, no.” Harry says, falling to his knees. “No, no, no.” He repeats, as if the word itself could stop whatever nightmare he must be in the middle of.

THe nymphs reach him. “Harry, we were in the forest. A snake bit him. It was venomous, we’re so sorry, he’s-,”

“No!” Harry says, this time louder, with the tears he was holding back finally spilling over. “No, no, no!” He continues repeating, as if it’s the only word he knows.

“It was instant.” One of the nymphs says. “We couldn’t save him.”

Harry turns to Hermes. “Please,” Harry begs. “There has to be a way. This can’t be how we end, please, you must know of some way.”

Hermes shakes his head down at Harry. “We’re unable to do anything for mortals.”

“Please,” Harry begs, with a desperation he didn’t even know he was able to muster. “There has to be a way.”

Over the years, Hermes has developed quite a soft spot for the man in front of him. So, although frowned upon, he offers the man something to help.

“I can send you to the underworld to talk to Hades yourself. I will protect you.”

“Thank you,” Harry says, grabbing onto Hermes' clothes. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

The trip to the underworld wasn’t easy. It wasn’t expected to be, of course. It was a long journey with many obstacles, Cerberus being the biggest. Harry put him to sleep using his lyre easily. Hermes followed and protected Harry during the entire journey. Soon, they arrived at the throne room.

“I will go in first.” Hermes tells Harry. “He may have already been notified, but I will try and convince him. It won’t be easy. Please prepare for bad news.” Hermes knocks and goes in, leaving Harry out in the hallway. 

It feels like forever until Hermes comes back out. “He’ll do something, but only if you succeed in what he asks of you.” Hermes says immediately after he comes out and waves Harry in. Harry goes and immediately hears the voice of Hades.

“Harry,” Hades says, his voice deep, seeming to echo around the room. “Hermes and my wife here have convinced me to at least hear you out. So, tell me why I should let you try and bring your love back.”

Harry thought about the approach all the way down. So, he asks, “May I sing for you?”

Hades laughs, and Harry’s heart drops, thinking this must be denial. But, his fears ease when Hades speaks again. “Go ahead, I’d like to see what you got.”

Harry brings up his lyre, and begins playing the sunset song. This song being their relationship in a song, Harry thought this song to be the very thing to convince Hades. His love for Chris has replaced the blood in his veins, it’s what rushes through him, keeping him alive. Without Chris, he doesn’t know who he is, he doesn’t think he could live without him. This song is the best way he knows to convey that.

He opens his eyes after the song is done to see Persephone and Hermes in tears. Hades' expression hasn’t changed much, but after he looks at Persephone, it softens.

“You miss me, don’t you? When I go up? That’s only temporary. This is permanent. Let him try.” Persephone says to Hades.

“Very well.” Hades says, waving his hand and a door at the other end of the room bursts open, and Chris walks in. He sees Harry and his face lights up, he runs over to give him a hug. Harry catches him and squeezes.

“You came,” Chris says. “You came all this way.”

“Of course I did,” Harry replies. “It was for you.”

Hades interrupts. “You may lead Chris out, only in front of him. You may not look back at him, or talk to him in any way or he will return here. Do you understand these conditions?”

Harry nods. “I do.” He looks at Chris. “Please know that I love you, even though I can’t look or talk to you.”

“I know. I know now, and I will know forever.” Chris responds, and they get on the trail.

“Your journey starts now.” Hades says, and they start walking.

With the protection of Hermes, nothing can hurt them, but it’s a long way up. The ground is constantly uphill, and it’s uneven dirt. Hades never said anything about Chris talking to Harry, so Chris occasionally will talk to Harry. Reassurance that he’s still there, talking just to talk, anything. Chris talking is the only thing keeping him sane in this journey.

It’s been multiple days since they’ve started walking. Any time Harry gets any doubt that Chris is still there, or the thought that Hades has brought Chris back to the underworld despite his word, Chris will talk to him. Chris knows him so well, knows him the best, and that is another reason Harry loves him so much.

Harry steps up another block, and sees the exit. It’s still quite far, but the light from the sun is shining through, lighting up their path.

Harry isn’t sure the exact amount of time, but he finally gets to the exit and runs out. The sun is setting. Surely, that’s a sign, Harry thinks. Surely that’s a sign that they’ve made it.

“It’s gorgeous,” Harry says. “It always is. Chris, it’s a sunset, that must mean-,” Harry turns around to look at Chris and-

And Chris is still in the cave.

Harry’s breath immediately catches in his throat, tears welling up in his eyes. “No,” he says and repeats, like the first time he lost Chris. 

Chris gives him a smile, taking a breath to say something, but is pulled back into the underworld, and Harry collapses. He’s crying so hard he can barely breathe. He pulls out his lyre to express his pain in the best way he knows how. Even whoever can’t hear the song, feels his pain. Even down in the underworld. Hermes stands by the exit, watching him, with his own tears pouring. Hermes watched their love firsthand, it was different for him to see all this.

Harry didn’t know how he could be unhappy if he had Chris, he now understands. He’s unhappy because he doesn’t have Chris.