Regret

Apollo had been training Alessia for several weeks now, and Zagreus found himself constantly watching her from a distance. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he observed her growth in strength and technique. But despite his satisfaction with her progress, Zagreus couldn't shake the unease that had settled deep in his gut.

He knew that his attraction to Alessia was only growing stronger and that he needed to be careful not to cross any boundaries that would harm their relationship. But his heart raced every time he saw her, and his palms grew sweaty. He found himself reaching out to touch her, to feel the warmth of her skin against his.

As Alessia finished her latest training session with Apollo, Zagreus approached her tentatively. "How did it go?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Alessia smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It was great! Apollo is an amazing teacher. I feel like I'm becoming stronger!" She flexes her muscles.

Zagreus smiles down at her.

"Good. How about a sparring match?" Zagreus suggests. Alessia's smile widens at the suggestion. "Sure, I'd like that," she replies.

Zagreus leads her to a secluded area where they can spar without interruption. They start slowly, testing each other's defenses and finding ways to counterattack. But as they continue, the atmosphere between them grows more intense.

Alessia's strikes become more aggressive, and Zagreus finds himself responding in kind. Their movements become more fluid, almost like a dance. And as they lock eyes, Zagreus can feel his desire for her growing stronger.

Suddenly, Alessia lunges forward, catching Zagreus off guard. He stumbles backward, and she takes advantage of his momentary weakness. Before he knows it, she pins him to the ground. Her body pressed against his.

Zagreus can feel the heat radiating off of Alessia, and he can't resist the urge to touch her. He reaches up, cupping her face.

"You indeed have become stronger, Alessia." He says with a deep whisper. Alessia's eyes widen at the touch, and for a moment, she freezes. But then she leans into his touch, her body shuddering with desire.

"Zagreus..." she breathes, her voice barely above a whisper.

Their faces are only inches apart now, and Zagreus can feel Alessia's hot breath on his lips. He knows that he should pull away, that this is wrong, but he can't seem to control himself.

Before he knows it, their lips are locked in a passionate kiss, their bodies pressed together in a tangle of limbs. Zagreus can feel Alessia's hands roaming over his body, exploring every inch of him.

For a moment, he allows himself to give in to the pleasure, the lustful desire that courses through his veins. But then reality sets in, and he pulls away, panting for breath.

"This can't happen again," he says, his voice heavy with regret.

Alessia needs clarification.

"Is it because I'm a human?" Alessia squeaks out, trying to gain composure as she removes herself from Zagreus. Zagreus shakes his head. "No, it's not because of that. It's because we have a professional relationship. We can't let our personal feelings get in the way."

Alessia looks crestfallen, but she nods, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"I...I didn't mean to overstep any boundaries," she stammers.

Zagreus reaches out and takes her hand. "I know you didn't. And I'm just as much to blame as you are. But we need to be careful from now on."

Alessia nods, her eyes downcast. "I understand."

The two of them stand there in silence, their tension palpable. But then Zagreus takes a deep breath and smiles at her.

"Come on, let's get some rest."

Alessia smiles back at him, and their awkwardness continues to grow.

Before she realizes it, she can feel tears in her eyes. Zagreus notices the tears and pulls her into a tight embrace, holding her close. Alessia melts into his arms, feeling safe and protected.

"I'm sorry, Alessia," Zagreus whispers. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Alessia shakes her head, wiping away her tears. "It's not your fault. I just...I don't know what I'm feeling right now."

Zagreus pulls away slightly, looking deeply into her eyes.

"I know it's hard, but we have to be strong. We can't let our personal feelings interfere with trying to stop Cronus. We have to protect so many realms, and it's people."

Alessia nods, her expression resolute. "You're right. We can't let our emotions get in the way."

Zagreus smiles at her, his hand still resting on her shoulder. "We'll get through this, Alessia. Together."

Alessia nods, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. Deep down, she isn't sure how long she can hold back. She knows her desire for Zagreus will only grow stronger, and the thought of being with him is almost too much to bear. But for now, she will focus on their mission and ignore the longing in her heart.

As they return to their respective quarters, Alessia can't help but steal glances at Zagreus. She admires how he carries himself and how his muscles ripple under his shirt as he walks. She longs to feel the touch of his skin against hers, to be enveloped in his strong arms.

But she knows it's not meant to be, at least not right now. They have a job, and their desires must come second to that.

As they reach her quarters, Zagreus stops and turns to face her. "Goodnight, Alessia," he says, his voice soft.

Alessia nods, her heart aching with sadness. "Goodnight, Zagreus"

She steps into the room and closes the door. Alessia slides down her door and lets the tears fall that she was holding back. She knows she needs to be strong, but her desire for Zagreus is almost too much to bear. She can't stop imagining what it would be like to be with him, to feel his body pressed against hers.

But as the night wears on, Alessia eventually falls into a restless sleep, her dreams filled with images of Zagreus and their passion.

The following day, she wakes up exhausted and unsure how to proceed. She knows that she needs to focus on her training and push herself harder than ever to defeat Cronus. But the thought of Zagreus is a constant distraction, a reminder of the desire that she can't seem to shake.

As she heads to her training session with Apollo, Alessia tries to push the thoughts of Zagreus out of her mind. She focuses on her technique and the movements she needs to master to become stronger.

But as the training goes on, her mind won't settle. Alessia puts down her sword and looks at Apollo.

"Do you think we can take a break for today? I'm feeling unwell." Apollo nods, concern etched on his face. "Of course, Alessia. Take all the time you need."

Alessia thanks him before she turns to leave. As she walks away, she can feel Apollo's eyes on her, but she doesn't turn back. She needs to clear her head and find a way to deal with her overwhelming desire for Zagreus.

Alessia's mind races as she makes her way back to her quarters. She wonders if she should talk to someone about her feelings, but she knows there's no one she can trust with such a personal matter. She's on her own.

Alessia collapses onto her bed when she gets to her room, her head spinning. She closes her eyes and tries to calm herself, but the image of Zagreus's face keeps intruding on her thoughts.

Suddenly, she hears a knock on her door. Alessia sits up, surprised. She wonders who it could be.

Alessia walks to the door and opens it. A young maid smiles up at Alessia.

"Miss Alessia. I made you some tea at the request of Apollo. Please have some."

Alessia takes the tray and smiles at the maid, and she leaves. She closes the door and takes a sip. The fresh aroma easies her discomfort.

As the minutes pass by, her vision begins to blur. Her heart rate jumps up as she feels herself starting to black out. She falls to the ground and looks up to see a shadowy figure looking down at her.

Alessia can see the smile on its face.

"I've come to fetch what belongings to me." The shadow bends down and picks Alessia up.

Within a split moment, her vision goes black, and the last thing she remembers is Zagreus yelling her name before she blackens out.