[hades] areszag courting au

So UHHHHHHH this is different than my usual posts. I'm not a writer but this au has been rattling around in my head for the last year and I really wanna share it even if I can't write a fic or anything for it.

I hope y'all enjoy though! This is my baby of an au and I've got a few drawings that expand on some points of the au in the works rn!


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Courting AU takes place around the time in the game when Zag was rejected by Achilles, fucked up relationships with both Meg and Than, the point in the game where they're talking abt it doesn't matter if Zag is eavesdropping on them, we won't be around much longer anyways.

Zag who's maybe a bit dejected at this point, keeps giving the other god nectar, even if it doesn't give him anything more, it makes him happy to hear their enjoyment at their gifts.

Except Ares is different, has his whole horny for cthonics thing going on, out right flirting with Zag and yknow mayb Zag likes it. It's flattering being wanted, especially at that point of the game it's nice.

Zag is hesitant at first, Achilles had warned him off the Olympian when he first saw Zag carrying Ares' boon. But Zag can't help but warm up to the God when he's had a hard time facing any of his friends lately.

For Ares, he doesn't understand why but he's drawn to Zagreus, maybe it's because their aspects are so intertwined but Ares can't help but want to get closer to him.

They start exchanging more than just nectar and quick chats, we know the boons can pass along small objects. They start unknowingly courting, eased into it it's hard to pick when it turned into some more.

Ares reciprocating every nectar given with gifts from the surface, small trinkets/random THINGS he thinks Zag might enjoy having never been up there before. At some point starting to write letters to pass to Zag through the boon portals, telling him more about the surface past the limited time they usually have.

At some point Aphrodite teasing Ares about it, she can sense he's not infatuated, it's deeper. Ares doesn't usually take his time when there's something he wants.

This specific line inspired me from the game, saying he can feel a bond, asking if Zag can feel it as well. They can't help but feel drawn to each other.




Because of it Ares careful with this, doesn't want to fuck it up. Courting Zag with gifts, his letters, it takes Zag a bit to realize what's going on but once he does, more motivated to reach the surface. Has more than one reason now to make it out of Hades.


The cumulation of this all comes before the Feast.


Zag having gifted so much nectar and ambrosia but it doesn't feel enough for everything Ares has done up to this point. Next time Zag accepts a boon he gifts Ares one of his bloodstones.

The most personal thing Zagreus can think of, and Ares probably understands the weight of it the moment it hits his palm. The stones are always blood warm and shine like nothing Ares has ever seen.

Ares knows the importance of the gift and having the urge to keep this little piece of Zag with him at all times, having it made into an earring. Warm stone bumps against his neck as he walks. Constant reminder of his little love in the underworld.

After the gift of the blood stone Ares feeling he needs to give something in kind. Something that means as much but he doesn't really have anything. Ares gifting his own armband the next time Zagreus calls on his boon. Commenting its not as much of a gift as that Zag gave him but, telling him to take it as a token.

The metal still skin hot when it's passed to Zags hands, taken right off Ares' arm the moment Zag called upon him.

It's after the red glow of ares' boon dissipates that Zag takes a rare break mid-run. Just holding it.

The God of War isn't one for much decoration. Useless things in a campaign more likely to get caught and snagged on a wayward weapon. Better to wear less and have more ease of movement than to jewel himself up. Zag knows this is just some off hand jewelry he's picked up from his latest fight.

It's personal to Ares, saw him through who knows howmant wars and he's,,,, gifted it to Zagreus.

Later he tries to figure out how to wear it, it's too large for Zags own arms but finds it fits nicely on his thigh, a bit high, just a hint of silver peeking from under the edge of his chiton.

But in the House of Hades it's immediately noticeable. The underworld is all red, gold, and black. Silver stands out in stark contrast and the other Gods in the house know, the only god that wears silver is Ares, and apparently now Zagreus as well