It doesn't take them long at all to reach Evie and Mal's dorm, not with the way Evie hurries them along. As soon as they're all in the room she starts passing around outfits.
"Jay. Carlos," she mutters to herself as she hands them each a garment bag. "And Hayden," she finishes, passing him a bag and giving him an exasperated look as she does. "It's black on black," she tells him.
"Perfect," Hayden says with a smirk.
"You really are just a little ray of darkness, aren't you?" Carlos asks in amusement.
He shrugs. "I'd say I try but it just comes naturally."
"He's got an excuse now," Jay points out. "I mean, what else could we expect the god of shadows to wear?"
Hayden gives him a look. "I'm not technically a god," he reminds him and just gets four disbelieving looks in reply.
"Hayden," Mal says clearly, "just because you're not gonna be bleeding ichor any time soon doesn't mean you're not a god. You just got four domains. Godly domains," she stresses.
He just rolls his eyes and turns on his heel, garment bag in hand. "Whatever you say, Mal. I'll see you guys at Cotillion," he says as he heads toward the door.
"Make sure you do something with your hair," Evie calls after him. He throws a lazy wave over his shoulder in answer.
Hayden makes his way to his dorm room without any interruptions. The halls are basically empty with everyone busy getting ready for the night which means he doesn't have to deal with people avoiding the possibility of eye contact and turning to avoid him.
Granted, it's much less common than when they first arrived. Most people have gotten used to him being around even if they're still not comfortable with it.
Hayden comes to his room's door and smirks a little when he sees the still crooked number 13. He pushes the door open, unsurprised that it's unlocked and equally unsurprised by who he sees as he closes it behind him.
Persephone is sitting on the table in the center of the room much like Hayden himself often does. Hades is on her left and actually sitting in a chair. His feet aren't even kicked up on the table because, as mother and son have both heard countless times before, he knows how to sit like a civilized person.
"Did you break in?" Hayden asks casually, tossing the bag in his hand over the end of the bed.
Hades scoffs. "As if we'd actually have to. Nice lock though," he adds. "It should keep the mortals out. You know, if any are ever foolish enough to try and get in."
"Yeah. Carlos rigged one up for each of our rooms and Jay approved them."
Hades nods in approval. "Good. Good. Fates know you can't trust these Auradonians."
"Believe me, I don't," Hayden drawls.
Persephone rolls her dark eyes as she hops off the table. "Stop making our son as paranoid as you," she tells Hades.
"It's not paranoia," he claims as he stands up. "Most everyone in Auradon and on Olympus hates us. That means it's just... strategic caution."
Hayden watches with a smile as the two of them start to argue. It's nice for him to actually see his parents together. He can tell there's no real heat behind any of their words and, as he watches, Persephone unconsciously reaches out to adjust Hades' tie. The god allows it without complaint.
He can't help but notice that it's just the sort of thing he and Harry have done numerous times before. Two people that can be away from each other for months only to fall right back into familiar habits with no hesitation...
Well, it does explain some things. That's all.
After a few minutes Hades huffs in defeat and Persephone turns around with a smug smile. Hayden just shakes his head, once again secure in the knowledge that arguing with her does no good.
"Now," she says, "your father told me what happened in the meeting."
"He did?"
"He did," Persephone confirms as she glides over and cups Hayden's face in gentle hands. "Oh, little hemlock," she sighs. "I'm so proud of you."
"You are?" he asks quietly.
"We both are," she says with a glance at her husband.
"We are," Hades confirms. "Look, kid, I know I already congratulated you on the whole 'justice' thing but you gotta know that this? Everything you've done for the Isle? We couldn't be any prouder."
Hayden smiles back at them only to raise a curious eyebrow when Persephone huffs a little and drops her hands.
"Right," she agrees. "We're very proud about all of that but," she claps her hands together with a grin, "poisonous plants!"
Hades and Hayden exchange an amused look at how happy Persephone is, watching as she does a little twirl.
"Poisonous plants!" she chirps again. She sighs and looks fondly at her son. "And here I was starting to think you only got my hair and tendency to misuse furniture."
"I did get both of those things," Hayden points out. He gestures in his father's direction. "He complains about it all the time."
"You are always on my tables!" Hades complains, fully proving Hayden's point. "And if you're actually in a chair then your feet are on my tables!"
Persephone and Hayden both roll their eyes at his dramatics when a knock at the door draws their attention. Before anyone can make a move to open it the door opens as whoever is on the other side obviously doesn't care enough for social niceties to actually wait to be invited in.
As soon as Hayden sees who it is, the whole not-waiting-for-an-invitation thing makes sense.
Harry lets the door shut behind him as his eyes immediately find Hayden, apparently not even noticing there are other people in the room. He smiles as their eyes lock and tosses the garment bag in his hand carelessly on the dresser beside the door.
"Bore-adon is far too brigh'," he tells him.
Hayden gives a short cackle, amused that the two of them seem to have had the exact same thoughts upon their first visits to the place.
"Believe me, I know," he drawls, watching as his pirate looks around the dark dorm room in obvious approval before he finally notices the other two people in the room.
"Lerd Hades. Lady Persephone," Harry greets. He pulls off his hat and holds it to his chest as he falls into a sweeping bow. "Lovely to be makin' yer acquai'nce."
"Ah, yes," Hades says flatly. "The pirate."
Harry straightens up and drops his hat on the table beside him. "An' I mus' say tha' I'm a big fan of yer werk," he tells them, grinning over at Hayden as he does and leaving no doubt as to what 'work' he's talking about.
Hayden just shakes his head with an amused smile as Persephone giggles.
"Oi," Hades groans with a roll of his eyes.
"Smooth," Hayden drawls, easily ignoring his father.
"As a calm sea," Harry agrees happily.
Hades looks between the two of them with a frown before he leans toward his son, not bothering to lower his voice. "I know I said you're free to be with who you want but, uh," he glances over at Harry, "is he really what you want? A half-mad, drunken pirate?"
Harry doesn't even pretend to be offended. He just sends them a crooked smirk that Hayden returns without hesitation. "Yeah," he tells his father. "He's what I want."
Hades raises a skeptical eyebrow only for Persephone to reach over and slap him on the shoulder. "Ow," he complains, obviously in no actual pain.
"Stop it," she tells him. "We like Harry, remember?"
"Do we?" he asks doubtfully.
"I'd s'ggest it," Harry interjects.
"I didn't ask for suggestions," Hades snaps.
"Stop it," Persephone says again.
Hayden rolls his eyes as he crosses the room to stand beside Harry. He doesn't even blink as the pirate grabs his hand, both of their rings clicking together.
"As much as I enjoy blatantly ignoring parental disapproval," he drawls, smirking at the look Hades shoots him, "we do have to get ready for Cotillion."
"Aye," Harry agrees. "The blue lass migh' jus' kill us if we're late."
"Right," Persephone agrees. "You two get ready. I expect you to be the best-looking ones there," she tells them seriously.
"Of course," Harry immediately replies, cocky grin in place. Hayden pointedly ignores it, along with the proud smile Persephone gives the pirate, and turns to his father.
"I assume you two are not going to be there?" he asks.
"Ugh," Hades groans with a roll of his eyes. "You think I actually want to spend time up here? No. Definitely not. See, there's really only two reasons for me to be topside." He gestures first at his wife then at his son in explanation.
"Mm-hm," Persephone hums as she leans into his side. "It's just the principle of the matter," she tells them.
"Exactly," Hades agrees, dropping a kiss to her dark curls. "I like the Underworld. I don't mind staying there and ruling my kingdom. But having those- those Olympians," he sneers the word, "tell me I can't leave? Unacceptable. I hate it. Which is, of course, part of the reason I'll be... visiting every so often."
"Perfectly understandable," Hayden says with a firm nod, mirroring the smirk on Hades' face.
Harry grins widely. "I like it," he claims. "Come topside a lil while, make 'em all nervous, an' laugh 'bout it at the end of the day."
Persephone sends them both an approving look while Hades frowns in the pirate's direction.
"Stop making me want to like you," he says sternly.
Harry's grin doesn't falter. "I think yeh do like me," he tells him. "Yeh jus' don' wanna admit it."
Hayden snorts at that as he leans comfortably into Harry's side. "Don't rile him up," he tells him.
"Wha' are yeh talkin' 'bout?" Harry asks 'innocently'.
"Don't even try that. You've never been innocent a day in your life."
"I mighta been. Once."
As the two of them dissolve into a light-hearted argument they completely miss the conversation happening between the other two people in the room.
Persephone raises her eyebrows at Hades. "I thought you weren't going to interfere?"
"Just because I'm not gonna interfere doesn't mean I have to like the boy shacking up with our son," Hades says defensively.
"Hades," she huffs. "They are hardly just shacking up."
When he still doesn't look convinced Persephone sighs and reaches up, gently turning his head to face the two in question.
"Look at them," she says quietly. "That's not something casual."
Watching the two of them as they focus on each other, lost in their own private world, Hades can feel his face soften. He can't help but notice the way they mirror his and Persephone's own position.
"I know it's not," he admits. "But... that's my son, Seph."
"I know," she murmurs. "Believe me, I know. I feel the same and I think your protective side is very cute." She smiles at the frown that comment earns her.
"I'm not cute."
"But," she continues, "Hayden is seventeen and he can certainly protect himself."
Hades sighs in defeat. "I suppose he could do worse," he mutters. "He could have chosen one of those little Auradon royals." He grimaces. "Or worse, an Olympian's kid."
"Exactly," Persephone tells him with an amused smile as he literally shudders at the thought.
"Alright, fine," he says in reluctant acceptance.
"Thank you, dear," Persephone says, kissing him on the cheek before she heads over to the other two. "Alright, boys."
Hayden pulls away from Harry to give his mother his full attention.
"We're off," she tells them. "Have fun at Cotillion. Feel free to cause a little trouble but don't get caught if you do."
"Of course, Mom," Hayden tells her, grinning slightly at her unique brand of parenting.
Persephone motions with one perfectly manicured hand and Hayden obligingly leans down so she can press a kiss to his forehead. He grins at the completely bewildered look on Harry's face when she turns to the pirate and does the same to him.
She just gives them both a smile as she turns and glides off, Hades taking her place in front of them.
He reaches out and ruffles Hayden's curls. "We'll see you soon, kid," he tells him. "Keep up the trouble making, yeah?" The two of them trade matching grins as he turns to join his wife.
Persephone crosses her arms and gives her husband a pointed look, mouth set in a firm line.
Hades visibly hesitates before he reaches over and gives Harry a short pat on the shoulder. With a final nod he turns and wraps his right arm around a now smiling Persephone's waist as they both disappear in a cloud of shadows.
Hayden raises one eyebrow when Harry turns to him with a bright smile.
"He likes me," the pirate claims.
Hayden just chuckles. "Well enough," he agrees. "Not that he'll probably ever admit it."
Harry shrugs. "I'll take it. 'Sides, yer mum def'nately likes me."
"She does," he admits, silently pleased at the approval. "I mean, I'm pretty sure she considers you part of the family now."
"Do yeh wan' a ring?" Harry asks seriously. "I'll get yeh a ring."
"Shut up," Hayden tells him, turning away to hopefully hide the blush he can feel on his cheeks. He pulls off his leather jacket and drops it beside the garment bag on the end of his bed.
"I will," the pirate says, pulling off his own long coat and tossing it on the table. "Yeh jus' have to ask an' I'll get yeh wha'ever yeh wan'."
He gets a black shirt thrown at his face for the offer. He grins as he catches it, watching as a now shirtless Hayden turns his back to him and reaches for his belt, completely comfortable changing in front of him.
"Quit staring, Hook," Hayden calls over his shoulder. "And get dressed. We've gotta be on that boat within the hour."
Harry grins a little wider, takes one last look, and listens to his godling.