There was a knock on the door and Arlo seemed too wrapped up in the film to answer. I ruffled up his hair on my way past him and he briefly smiled up at me, before looking back at the telly.

I opened the door and was about to drop down on my ass.

"Arlo-" Cerberus said and then looked down at me, frowning. "Dion."

"H-hello," I stammered and stepped aside, letting in Arlo's dad.

"Dad?" Arlo stood at the end of the hall, opening and closing his fists, not looking like he knew what to do.

"Care to explain this?" Cerberus asked and dropped a newspaper on the dinner table, having brushed right past Arlo.

I hesitantly took a look at the paper, finding a picture of Arlo on the front page. But it didn't look like Arlo. His face was obscured by the big teeth and fur in his face. Only reason I knew it was him was because of his clothes. The black jumper and the jeans paired with his white sneakers.

Arlo swallowed hard and looked back up at his dad. "I..." he started but stopped.

"We cannot interfere with the matters of the top-side world, Arlo," Cerberus said very calmly. But coolly. Was this how he yelled at his disobedient kids? It was scarier than someone actually yelling.

"But-"

"We're not of this world. We're of hades. We do not meddle in worlds that are not ours." He just stood straight in his all-black suit. Cerberus looked exquisite and pristine. And scary. So intimidating.

"But this is my world, Dad. I live here. I work here-"

"You might live here now, but that is not permanent. We both know it isn't."

Arlo shook his head. He was breathing hard, obviously trying to get his emotions under control but struggling so hard.

"This is not our fight," Cerberus said and looked down at the newspaper.

"It is my fight," Arlo said with a low voice.

"How? How does this impact any aspect of your life?" Cerberus arched a brow.

Arlo briefly glanced at me before looking back up at his father. Cerberus softened a little and looked at me. I really just wanted to sink into the ground.

Arlo was still panting hard and he was starting to sway a little.

"Arlo, please sit down," I said and pulled a chair out for him. He didn't protest but looked almost relieved.

Cerberus sighed. "Are your pills in the bathroom?"

"I don't... Take those... Anymore..." Arlo panted and buried his face in his hands.

"You'll take two now." Cerberus went to the bathroom and returned with a glass of water and two pills. "Take 'em, Lo," he said softly.

Arlo looked up from his hands and took the pills and the glass. He downed both pills in one go, taking a sip of water.

"Go to bed, I'll be right with you," I said softly and helped him up by his arm. He didn't protest but just did as told.

Cerberus clenched his jaw, looking after his son, even after Arlo had closed the door to the bedroom.

"You smell of him. His smell is all over you," he said then, still keeping his black eyes sealed on the hallway.

"Yeah," I said in lack of a better answer.

"He's very special."

I nodded a little hesitantly.

"Very special." He shook his head and looked down at me. "Do you understand?"

"I think so."

Cerberus smiled a bit of a strained smile and then offered me a nod. I followed him to the door, and he stopped in the door.

"Tell him I'll be checking in soon again."

"Okay." He knew. He so knew Arlo and I were a couple.

I softly knocked on the door to the bedroom and opened it. Arlo sat on the bed and immediately looked up at me, holding his arms out towards me. I almost threw myself down to him and he hugged me so close, crushing me to his chest.

"Your dad will be back soon," I murmured softly.

"Yeah," he whispered.

He brought me down with him. I couldn't have fought him even if I wanted to but right now, I couldn't even think of a better thing to do, than cuddle him. He needed me. I knew he needed me.

"How about we get dressed for bed and just... Stay here for a while?"

Arlo nodded and lifted his arm off me. We went to the closet to get our preferred night clothes and then crawled under the covers. Arlo put his head on my chest and held me tight.

"I can't go to work tomorrow."

"I'll call Achilleus first thing," I promised.

He nodded and slung his leg over mine, getting as close as he could. "I love you."

"You know, I love you too."

The night was bad. Arlo kept waking up panting, his claws out and digging into my shirt. His teeth were burning, he said. He couldn't sleep until I fetched more of his pills. Then he finally calmed down and slept for about four hours.

I woke up to his claws having broken my skin on my ribs. It was just a small scratch but enough to wake me.

"Arlo," I said softly. "You're here." I got his hand untangled from my torn shirt.

It looked like he had to tear his eyes open. "What happened?" he asked with a slurred voice.

"Nothing, love. Go back to sleep." I smiled at him. "I just gotta pee."

He untangled himself and turned on his back, his breath growing heavy almost immediately. I went to the bathroom and checked the scratch. It was small and it barely bled. But the shirt was utterly ruined.

I pulled it over my head and left it on the floor before going back to the bedroom. Arlo was fast asleep already, his limps everywhere as usual. It was lucky I was a skinny kid otherwise there'd be no room for me in that massive bed of his.

I crawled back under the covers, tugged Arlo in and curled up to him. His arm came down around me, but it was gentle. He was still asleep, but he needed me. Even in his sleep.

I was happy I could support him. He had done so much for me already. I was happy I could give back just by being close to him. Put a dumb film on the telly for him. Distract him from being so anxious.

I wasn't scared this time. Last time I was, but this time I knew exactlywhat it was. He was caught in his head and he needed someone to get him out ofthere. I couldn't cure him, and I wasn't trying to either. I knew it'd be alost battle. But I could help him. At least a little. I could stand by him likeno one ever had before. I'd stand by him until the end of times.