Thanatos can't remember the last time he was held like this. He must have been a godling, held by his mother and clung to by his twin. Or maybe Zagreus when he acted overly affectionate?

"I, I... have only ever been my role. I'm supposed to uphold the image of Death and the House, to make up for the humiliation Sisyphus caused. I complete my assignments as timely as possible. Anything else comes second." How can he make them understand? He was born for this. He's a servant of the House of Hades. His job is important. He can't just stop and be something else.

If this isn't a punishment, then it's all coincidence. And isn't that worse? There's nothing to be done about it? He closes his eyes and clutches Mort tighter. "Blood and darkness. Why did I have to start having feelings? Everything was... it was so much easier when I didn't feel. Before he... Damn it, Zag."

That last part is whispered because in the end, he knows he could never cut himself away from Zagreus. He tried. He was drawn toward him again.