I felt like hades eaten me and spit me back out again when I woke up. Oliver and Dion looked like how I felt. Except Dion still looked nicer than both me and Oliver did. He bore his hangovers better than anyone I'd ever known.

"Not action films," Oliver groaned as I looked through the streaming service's library.

"I think you just killed Arlo a little," Dion muttered from the corner of the huge sofa. He had hunkered down with a full pizza, a large bottle of red fizzy drink and a mountain of pillows.

"He'll live," Oliver shot back.

I frowned and searched for something else then. "What do you wanna watch then?"

"I dunno. Pick a good sci-fi."

Dion snorted. "Aliens and stuff?"

"Oh hell yeah, it's the best genre. Don't even fight me on this."

Dion chuckled and took another large bite of pizza. I kept searching and finally found an action sci-fi. That had to be good enough. I padded back to the sofa, grabbed Dion and lifted him up, sitting down and placing him on top of me. He didn't even stop eating while this was happening. He was so used to me nicking his spot to sit at this point he probably expected it.

He leaned back against my chest and handed me my pizza, putting it beside us on the sofa.

"I actually haven't watched this one," Oliver said. "I think it's new." He was sitting hunched over his pizza, staring at the TV while stuffing his face with chips.

I didn't reply. I slipped my hand under Dion's t-shirt and settled my hand on his stomach. He tipped his head back and smiled up at me. I smiled back and kissed his horn. He inhaled sharply and tipped his head back down again, stuffing more pizza in his mouth.

It was a nice hang-over day. We didn't really move away from the couch and we had enough snacks and drinks to get us through the day. It was so nice to spend so much time with two of the people who meant the most to me in this world. I was so fortunate to have them both in my life. Oliver because he was like a brother – and Dion for obvious reasons. He was the absolute love of my life, I was sure.

He wanted to change the world for me.

The water splashed against my legs as we slowed to a halt in a bay. The water was crystal clear, and we could see the white sand splaying over the bottom through the emerald colour. It was so beautiful here. And very silent, with the exception of songs from sirens sounding from the caves.

"The sirens here are very friendly," Oliver said and smirked at Dion.

"Been here many times, Oliver?" Dion smirked back.

"A couple of times. But it's also just really beautiful here. I used to sail out here when I was a kid and needed a break from my ginormous family."

"I know that feeling," I muttered. "Try having actual pups biting at your ankles. That hurts." I pulled my foot out of the water and showed off the small scars on my ankles, given to me by smaller siblings.

"I bet they were adorable though," Dion said and draped his arms around me from behind, kissing my cheek.

"Little monsters more like it," I chuckled.

"Where would you go when you needed a break?" He sat down next to me, his feet dangling over the edge of the boat. His legs weren't long enough to reach the water though.

"To Hades. He taught me how to play chess when I figured out how to change into a human. Before that, he'd let me lay by his fire while he and Persephone read books."

Dion's eyes widened a bit. "I didn't know you were that close with him."

"He and Persephone were a large part of my childhood," I said softly and turned my head, kissing him. "I'd love to introduce you one day."

"I think after meeting your father, nothing will ever scare me again. So of course, I'd love to. If it's important to you."

"You think Cerberus is scary?" Oliver asked as he secured the sail.

"Oh gods yeah. He's terrifying."

"Aw no. He's such a gentle giant. Cerb has always been super kind to me."

"You're also not my boyfriend, Oliver," I pointed out.

"Does he know you and Dion are dating?"

"Yeah, he definitely does," Dion said. "He said I smelt like Arlo. And then he kind of just... Figured it out."

"Ah, yeah. The guy could once smell we had been smoking weed. A week ago. Not impressed." Oliver snorted.

"In fairness we were like eighteen years old. And I hadn't been top-side for long. He was just worried."

Dion smiled. "I don't think he minds us dating. But he's still very scary."

"He'll grow on you. Just give it some time. He'll soften up when he gets to know you." Oliver dumped down on my other side.

"My dad is really nice..." I muttered and frowned.

"He is. But he's also scary before you get to know him." Oliver shrugged a little.

"Am I scary before you know me?" I asked, staring down at the water.

"I didn't think you were scary," Dion said. "You saved me on my first night, remember? That kind of did it for me in terms of figuring you out."

"Yeah nah, you're not scary. You're just... Big."

I turned my head and frowned at my friend. "Way bigger than you."

"Not that much bigger."

"Oh, he's big," Dion chimed in and bit down on his lip.

"Yeah, I think it's time we continued on now." My friend rose to his feet and got the engine in the boat running again. Both Dion and I couldn't stop laughing.

Going back home felt horrible. I didn't wanna go home. I wanted to stay here and just have all our stuff shipped to the island. But unfortunately, Dion still had four months left on his one-year contract. Only four more months. We had endured for eight. We could do four more.

"How was the vay-cay?" Nikon asked and closed his locker, turning to me with his shirt unbuttoned.

"Gods, not long enough," I sighed. "I wanted to stay."

Nikon made a grimace that was probably meant to be a sympathetic smile, but it just looked weird on him.

"Xander and I are talking about moving to Hydra. Especially after what happened in the weekend."

"Wait what happened?" Dion asked and turned his back on his locker.

"You didn't hear?" Nikon cringed. "A half was attacked. They spray-painted 'pest' all over her. And then beat her to a pulp. It was all over the news."

"We... Haven't checked the news. Lately. We were away," Dion muttered and fiddled with his hair.

"I don't wanna be here anymore if this is what it's turning into," Nikon said very seriously. "Fuck this town."

I nodded solemnly and dumped down on the bench in front of the lockers. "What can we do?"

"Besides the demonstrations? Fuckall. We can't do shit." Nikon closed his locker and shrugged. "I'm gonna go work now. Dion, come on. Let's partner up."

"Okay, yeah." Dion nodded but still looked frozen.

I grabbed him on his way past me and gave him a quick hug. He latched on to me and pressed his face to the top of my stomach before pulling back.

"I'll be okay," he said softly.

"I know. You're strong."