#apollohermes

Hearing laughter and joy being had a few rooms over made him feel more miserable, how could everyone be so cheery? To welcome him so openly. Gods, the fools- No, he was in the wrong, he was always against the ideal, he was the problem, to want so much from life was selfish. Live to serve the star. His hands balled up, unsure of to punch himself, punch a wall, or wipe those tears forming in his eyes.

“Hermes? Are you hiding again?” Apollo’s voice, always so cheery.

The office door opened, light peeking through as Apollo carefully sneaked inside and gently closed behind him. The two of them, a dark room – Gods, how long has it been since they last talked? Apollo’s quest to better the world by looking inwards and out had left Hermes behind, was he that forgettable, truly? But the exhaustion on Apollo was palpable, thus is the life of The Azem. It made Hermes, or, Fandaniel’s heart flutter to see him after all.

“You really should call me Fandaniel now, since I’ve taken this role…” Distancing himself, at least verbally.

Apollo scoffed, “I can’t get use to it, not so easily, not so quickly, dear friend.” Apollo inched closer, ignoring the distance being put in place by Fandaniel. He takes off his mask as well, both of them without their guards, their personal cover, emotions on full show. It should be a sign of great trust between two friends, lovers, but it made Hermes flinch and look to the dying plant in the corner of the office.

“I missed you.”

That soft longing tone the one Apollo only used when the two of them were wrapped in each other’s arms and discussing their dark fears, and their desire for more in life. It should have made Fandaniel’s chest loosen, for him to fall into Apollo’s arms like when they were both fledgling researchers. After all this time? All this worry and unknowing of the dear Azem’s whereabouts? It came off as awfully manipulative to now suddenly care for Hermes now.

Fandaniel put back on his mask with an uncomfortable smile, like Azem said something that was meant to be funny but came out wrong. “Let’s… just get you back to the party. Emet-Selch must’ve noticed your lack of presence by now.” As he stood up a bit straighter, a bit colder, “I have much work to fill in on from the former Fandaniel, and you– Azem– need to focus on your people.”