You sat down the table, the last one to get your food from the concessions area. "Welcome back, cutie~!" Jay exclaimed, grinning. Hermes blinked at her, startled. You tried your best not to blush. You placed your plate and cup down, grabbing your slice of pepperoni pizza and taking a bite. 

"Hey, Jay." You grinned.

"So uhmm, how did you two like, meet?" Seth cut in awkwardly, directing your gaze to you and Hermes.

"I saved her from getting hit by a car!" He exclaimed, grinning.

"We kept in touch afterwards." You shrugged. "..he's relatively entertaining." You added, muttering.

He gasped dramatically. "That has to be the nicest thing you've ever said about me!" He exclaimed.

You scoffed. "Oh please. I say nicer things about you plenty."

"She certainly did when she was telling me about you." Jay cut in. You gaped.

"Oh~? Do tell me more, darling."

You clasped your hand over her mouth. "Jay!" You hissed. You knew she would greatly exaggerate what you had said to embarrass you. "He calls everyone that, don't worry about it." You said in a low voice, nodding at Seth, who looked rather confused. You could feel her laughing beneath your hand.

"Don't worry, cutie, I won't tell him a thing. I'm sure you can tell him about how charming and pretty you find him yourself anyways." She remarked, a mischievous tone of voice.

Your face went beet red with blush. "Shut up." You grumbled. Hermes grinned at you, a horribly smug and giddy look on his face. For a split second, however, his expression dropped, as if something worried him. But it changed back so quickly you were left wondering if you had imagined it.

"Oh, don't act like you're not smitten with me~!"He teased.

"Both of you are insufferable." You groaned, rubbing the bridge of your nose.

"...I think that's just your type."

You turned, blinking, seeing that it was Seth who had just spoke. "I- you too?!" You exclaimed, startled. Jay and Hermes just stared for a moment, before both burst out laughing, Jay wrapping her arm around boyfriend's shoulder. "...I hate the fact that you're probably right." You admitted with a sigh.

Hermes leaned against your shoulder playfully. "Aww! I'm your type!" He exclaimed. You rolled your eyes.

"Don't flatter yourself."  You responded, though your tone was lighthearted. You leaned into him for a moment, before sitting up and shouldering him off of you.

"So. Were you dating when he flirted with you at work or-?" Seth asked after a moment of quiet.

"Nope." You spoke.

"To be clear, I was not flirting-"

"You were harassing me." You corrected.

"Was not!"

"Hold on, what are you all talking about?" Jay cut in, confused.

Before anyone else could answer, Hermes responded, giving a slight eye roll. "Oh, not much. I visited that cafe you all work at while she was at the counter. I simply wanted to make sure she was doing alright. It did not occur to me I was being 'weird' and 'creepy'." He sighed, doing quotation marks with his fingers.

There was a moment of silence after he spoke. "Right..." Jay muttered, squinting. "Anyways, I was thinking we could take a group photo!" She exclaimed, pulling out her phone from her pocket. You felt yourself perk up at the suggestion. She extended her arm, messing with the camera angle to make sure everyone was in frame. You grinned, Hermes peeking out a bit to make sure he was visible from besides you. He slung his arm around your shoulder, warmth seeping into your skin. She snapped the photo, and you leaned onto his touch.

"You better send me that." You spoke, raising a brow. Hermes rested his head on your shoulder, but you didn't pull away this time, instead just paying him no mind.

"Of course." She shrugged. She pointed her phone towards you, snapping another photo, a mischievous grin on her face. You rolled your eyes.

"Are you seriously taking pictures of us?"

"What? You two are being cute. Figured I might as well." She protested, tucking her phone back in her pocket. She casually took a bite of her pizza, taking a moment to chew.

Seth hesitated, looking like he was about to speak. You moved your attention to him. "So uhm- Hermes, where are you from? You don't really seem like you're from here so I figured I'd uh- ask." He asked hurriedly, still sounding a bit nervous. You wondered if something was bothering him. He did tend to be awkward, but still. You thought about his question. You supposed the god did appear a little out of place here, and not just for his beauty. His skin was well tanned, something unusual for a place like this. Not that it didn't get sun, but certainly not enough year round to maintain a tan like that. Not to mention he had an odd sort of.. accent? You weren't sure what to call it. But his pronunciation was almost.. too perfect. Which didn't exactly mean all that much, but it could imply that while he speaks English fluently, it may not feel natural to him.

He shrugged. "I'm from Greece. I travel a lot though." Answered casually. "How about you two? From here?"

"Born and raised." Jay shrugged.

"I'm from South Carolina. Moved here in middle school." Seth replied. "What? Why are you all looking at me?"

"I don't know, you've just never mentioned that before. I would never have guessed you were from the coasts." His girlfriend replied, sounding mildly surprised.

"Isn't being from Greece more surprising?" He asked, blinking

"Yeah but like- I've never met him till now. I'm just surprised it's never come up." She remarked, voice light. "How were the beaches down there?"

"Pretty ok, I think... I don't really remember, honestly." He spoke, squinting as if in focus.

She sighed. "I've gotta scrounge up enough money to travel to East Coast one of these days. I miss the beach."

"Huh. I don't think I've ever actually been to one of those." You blinked. "Or well, a salt water one that is."

Hermes and your coworker across from him both stared at you for a long moment. "Well I suppose I'm going to have to change that." The god finally spoke, sounding completely certain.

"Oh please, I don't-"

"Nope. I'm taking you. You need a vacation anyways." He interrupted.

"Ugh, don't we all." Jay groaned. "I've been taking extra hours lately. Sucks ass."

"Oh shit, why?"

"Tiffany's a bitch."

The rest of the evening went on similarly, full of light conversation and laughter.

~OPHELIA'S PERSPECTIVE~

She sat, inhaling. He would be here soon.

"Ophelia?" A soft, melodious voice rang out. Sure enough. "I've returned. I apologize for how long I've been gone, my sunrise. Helios kept me quite busy." He swept towards her, cupping her face in his warm, soft hands. She could feel his smile, his light amusement in his words.

She turned away, unable to meet his gaze. "Ophelia?" He asked again, slightly confused. "Please just look at me, my dear. I'd hate to think the love of my life was angry at me." He spoke, concerned.

She couldn't look at him. She was afraid if she looked at him, she'd collapse back into his arms, sobbing as he held her close. "Don't call me that." She snapped. He pulled away, as if shocked. "If you loved me, you wouldn't have been trying to kill my best friend." Her voice was cold, distant and far from the warmth she had once greeted him with. And yet, it trembled. Strength diminished by her heart break.

He hesitated for a long moment. "Ophelia, I-"

"Don't. I don't want to hear your words- I don't want to hear your excuses! Just.. leave." She burst out, holding back a sob. He reached towards her, and she stiffened. "Don't touch me."

"Please, my dearest..."

"What could you possibly have to say for yourself, Apollo?!" She protested, eyes wild. "What excuses could you possibly have for trying to kill my friend?!" The words tore from her throat, the anger almost sounding unnatural, something she rarely let free. But now it has clawed its way out of its prison, unleashing itself.

He was silent. Tension crackled in the still, quiet air. She drew in a long breath, her heart itself trembling. Suddenly, the weight of his presence that once comforted her tasted bitter on her tongue. "I love you deeply, Ophelia. You are my sun, my light, my warmth. Without you, my world would be plunged into cold, icy darkness. The bird song would turn into cruel mockery of my grief, the poetry that once came so naturally would dry on my tongue. I couldn't bear living without you. I only wanted-"

"You wanted me to be dependent on you." She finished coldly. "You wanted to rip me out of my previous solar system and into your orbit, where you would be the only thing I had. You wanted to own me." She confronted. "You're selfish. You think everything revolves around you. Why didn't I see it before? Gods, even from the day we met, you were like this. Why did I ever let myself fall for you?" She desperately wished she could hate him. She wished she didn't still crave the feeling of his arms around her. She wished the thought of his absence didn't make her feel hollow. Since when did she feel so much about him?

"Why can't I hate you?" She wondered out loud, her voice much quieter than before, a whisper of somberness to it.

"You belong to me. Just as I belong to you. It was written in the stars, woven by the fates themselves long ago. We make each other whole. Can't you feel it?" He responded, an underlying tremble to his smooth voice. "Please, I beg you, my dearest, don't abandon our love. I need you like I need the ambrosia I sustain myself off, without you I'd shrivel, I'd-" He cut himself off. He had dropped the serene act he had held before, panic and desperation rising as he spoke, words beginning to flow quicker from his lips. He reached up, holding her face once more. "Please. Just..- Just at least look at me."

Guilt twisted in her stomach at his desperation. Some part of her wished she didn't confront him. But she had to. Perhaps what she really wished is that it wasn't this difficult. A sob she had been holding back rose in her throat. "I- I can't-"

He gently wiped the tear from her face. "I can't do this anymore, Apollo. You- You think you can just kill someone just because it's convenient to you! A real, human life ended just to make yourself more of a hero in your stupid love story! It's not even me you fell for- it's the idea of us." She choked out, tears streaming down her face. "I  don't care if I have to defy the stars, I don't care if I never love again. I can't be with you. I can't play the part you wrote for me in your stupid fantasy! Not if it means you'll kill innocent people to maintain it!"

He hesitated. "It is the nature of the gods, to kill." He uttered, though there wasn't much confidence in his.. excuse(?).

"It didn't have to be yours." She spoke softly.

Unable to resist any longer, she looked at him.

And gods, what she saw felt heartbreaking. His wide, beautiful golden eyes were flooded with desperation, his normally serene, enchanting face a painting of panic and grief. Something within her shattered.

But hidden beneath all of what she saw, was a small spark of something she had never seen on him before. Something that she almost couldn't identify at first.

Fury.

She felt a knot of fear in her stomach. "Just- leave. Please." She uttered, looking away once more as she pulled away from his touch. Suddenly, she wondered if this was a bad idea. What would he do in his grief when he lost hope? What if he harmed her? She would have never thought he was capable of doing so, but now she isn't sure if she knows anything about him. Or worse, what if he harmed her family? Or friends? Someone specific came to mind in that last statement, and her stomach lurched with dread. No one deserved to be punished because she had made the foolish decision of loving a god.

"...Are you afraid of me?" He asked, shock and devastation weighing on his voice.

She ignored the question. "If any part of you actually loves me just please- don't hurt the people I love. That includes <Y/N>."

He froze, stiffening at the mention of that name. It almost looked as if a switch had been flipped within him. "You'd really choose her over me?" He muttered.

"Apollo-"

"Fine. I'll go. I won't touch her, if that's what you really want." He interrupted, jaw clenched. "But just know I love you deeply, even if you do not understand. If you want me back, call my name and I will come."

And with that, he was gone.

She sobbed.

Author's Note: love yall but you two have been dating for like. a month at most. 😭🙏 these dramatic ass bitches I swear...

song "what if we rewrite the stars" from hit movie/musical Greatest Showman except instead of rewriting the stars to be together it's rewriting the stars so they can get a divorce

SORRY IF THIS IS BADLY WRITTEN IDK IF IT IS BUT IT KINDA FEELS LIKE IT SO IF IT IS MY BAD

also wow i posted a new Hermes story!!! don't get too attached to it for all we know i might not update it for like. four months or something. not purposefully or anything but it be like that sometimes

This chapter was going to be called "This Night" in reference to a Billy Joel song of the same title however the scene that the chapter title is referring to ended up being postponed in favor of Ophelia and Apollo break up scene so.

see yall!!!!

~Published 07/25/26~

You sighed, holding back a shiver at the cold. It was early January, a few days after winter break had ended. It felt like no matter how much you covered up, the frost would still sink its fangs into you, seeping deep into your aching bones. The nymphs and dryads (such as you) and other spirits of plant life didn't tend to do well during the winter, and you were no different. You were grateful to see the entrance of the school ahead of you, though you wished you had a scarf.

You were relieved as soon as you entered the building. Warmth. You heard the chatter around you, a slight drawback to the indoors. You didn't exactly like being around too many people. It overwhelmed you. You paused, startled by a group of students rushing past you. Minor gods, all walking much to slow to your annoyance. When they finally passed, you scurried to your locker, stuffing your backpack within. You had math class first. Certainly one way to wake up in the morning. Luckily, it wasn't too far away.

You turned slightly, glancing at the door to the classroom, the rustling by of feathers catching your eye. Hermes rushed in, and your breath quickened before you stabled yourself. What was he doing in there so early? There was a good six minutes before class started. Normally people would socialize before being confined to the classroom. Especially him. In fact, he was often late.

Whatever. It wasn't your business anyways. You ought to visit Aspasia. She was a good friend of yours, someone who actually saw you for who you were and dragged you out of your shell. Plus she was always up to date on all the gossip. You felt bad for her in this weather. She was an Anthousai, a flower nymph. In the winter, a tree's leaves may shed, and its bark may grow brittle, but it will remain standing strong. Not like a flower. A flower will wilt.

You exhaled. Hopefully she had many layers to wear.

***

You sighed, making your way to your seat. Class would start soon. You sat, when suddenly- something caught your eye.

There was a note on your desk.

A note. On your desk.

Actually, it was better described as a rather ornate envelope. There was a gold border around the edges, twisting like vines. Little hawk motifs decorated it, along with golden leaves. You tentatively picked it up, wondering if someone had left it here on accident. Why would anyone leave you a note?

Wait... Was that the Olympian seal on it?

You blinked.

The Olympians were the most popular kids in the whole of Olympus Highschool for Immortals and Magical Creatures. Their father founded it, and therefor not only did they get away with anything they wanted, but they were also loaded. Practically everything that happened at this school revolved around them. After all, they were rich, hot, and powerful, who wouldn't want a piece of that? Rumor has it that most of them are actually only half siblings, despite their father being married, so it seems that drama is hereditary in that family. Each of them all had different reputations and- Alright fine, you'll go down the list.

Athena and Hephaestus were the eldest, and least problematic. They had actually graduated last year, and now both off at college. Athena, while she was here, was always super academic. She never got an A- or below on anything, and was probably a genius. She was in a bunch of after school activities, like Chess Club, Debate Team, Student Council, and probably a bunch more. You and her actually had a slight friendship. She had helped you study before, and would help you with your homework if you needed it. She was by far your favorite. Hephaestus you had a bit less to say about. He was quiet and reserved, and apart from when he and Aphrodite dated, there wasn't really any drama about him. You heard he was a talented artisan though, excelling in classes like woodworking.

Aphrodite. She wasn't actually related to any of the Olympians, instead just being a family friend who moved in with them. And she was hot. Practically everyone dreamed of getting with her, and she knew it. She had a new boyfriend pretty much every week, each having an elaborate break up story. Currently, she was dating Ares, and to his credit he was lasting way longer than usual. Apparently she actually started consorting with him when she was still dating Hephaestus. Scandal.

Ares. A buff jock, who was surprisingly smart, but just didn't show it often. Similar to you, he was in all AP classes. He was very committed to the wrestling team, and was probably their most important member. He was actually rather sweet, from what you've heard. Always buying Aphrodite flowers and helping kids who are being picked on.

Artemis and Apollo. They were twins, though they couldn't be more different. Where Artemis stayed out of relationship drama, Apollo was enthralled. Both were in all AP classes though, and you actually were sharing a class with Apollo right now. He was extremely pretty, and practically everyone has swooned over him at one point or another. He was a tragic, poetic dream boat, heart broken over his boyfriend Hyacinthus suddenly transferring schools. (Rumor has it he moved because his parents found out he was being bullied by some kid named Zephyr. Who also apparently had a crush on him? It was unclear.) He was in choir and was a very talented lyre player, though he wasn't in band. Both him and his twin sister were in archery club, excelling greatly at it. Artemis was in track as well, and generally had a reputation for being fairly cool. She'd defend girls who were getting bullied and harassed, and generally was untouchable.

Dionysus. He was the youngest out of the siblings. He was also a huge party animal. He was super eccentric and animated, and actually in the grade below you, so you didn't share any classes with him. Apparently he had a reputation for hosting absolutely insane parties, sparking the phrase "What happens at a Dionysus party stays at a Dionysus party". You weren't sure you wanted to know. He was also in the drama club, being a very talented actor. You were actually also in the drama club, though they had stopped meeting for the year. You'd met him, and he seemed chill enough.

And finally, Hermes. He was in your grade. Fastest kid in track. Valued member of the school newspaper. All AP classes. In fact, you shared many of your classes with him. Got broken up with by his toxic girlfriend a week ago. Objectively hot. Ok yes, fine, you had a massive crush on him. In your defense, you tried desperately not to! He was a notorious class clown and troublemaker! The teachers dreaded him. And yet... you always found yourself having to hold back a laugh at his jokes and pranks. You should be finding him annoying! Not funny! But oh stars above, he was pretty... And he was charming, and he was athletic, and he was smart and witty and clever and- Agh, you had it bad. Not to mention that other than Athena, he's the only Olympian that ever remembers your name. He actually remembers you. You. A forgettable, quiet dryad.

You of course, did not have a chance with him, nor any of them. You were at the bottom of the social hierarchy. You had a few friends, sure, but other than that you were a nobody. You preferred to stay that way. You were purely focused on academics, art, and theater. You stayed out of drama and weren't involved with relationships.

So what in Hades would an Olympian want with you?

You flipped over the letter in your hands. The Olympian seal was a letter seal stamp all of them used. It contained an image of a torch surrounded by a laurel wreath. You realized with a start that words were written on the back.

"Open me! -H."

H. Hermes? Why would he leave a note for you? It must have been a mistake. You swapped nervously, eyeing him chatting with Apollo in the back of the room before class. You should return it to him. Your heart fluttered, but you swallowed back your fear. It was the right thing to do.

You made your way across the room to him. He paused in his conversation, gaze flickering towards you. Hopefully you weren't interrupting anything. "Uhm- Sorry, I think you must have accidentally left this on my desk..." You muttered, embarrassment flooding through you as the brothers stared. You held up the letter, trying to avoid eye contact.

Hermes took the letter from your hand, eyeing it for a second. He looked up at Apollo, who seemed to be watching this exchange very closely, interest sparking in his eyes. Soon, the letter was thrusted back into your grasp. "Not mine." He shrugged. "Something tells me you should hold onto it though. I doubt someone would carelessly misplace a letter like that. It's probably for you." He added, tossing you a wink. You felt the tips of your ears go red with blush.

You opened your mouth to speak, to protest, but nothing could quite come out. So instead you just gave a slight bow of your head and walked back to your seat. You heard him resume conversation with his brother, chattering like nothing happened. You sat down, looking to see if anyone was watching before tearing open the envelope. Hopefully it wasn't a mistake, and someone really did leave it for you. You pulled out the note, reading it.

"Dearest Y/N,

Meet me by the willow tree in the courtyard during lunch. Don't tell any of the other Olympians. I need your help with something.

-Sincerely, as always, Hermes."

You reread it a few times, still trying to process things. So it was actually him. And he doesn't want his family to know. What does he need your help in particular for? Why you? Maybe he wanted help with a scheme? That wasn't exactly something you wanted to be involved with. Was he trying to prank you? What if he knew you liked him and was trying to humiliate you? Possibilities ran through your head. It probably was a bad idea to go but... Damn it, you were curious.

The bell rung, and you quickly stuffed the note into your binder, grabbing your pencil. Class was starting.

***

It was lunchtime. And you had a decision ahead of you. You unfolded the note, looking at it for a moment. It had haunted you all day, lurking in the back of your mind when you should've been paying attention in class.

You weren't sure what to do. You could go to your regular table and not risk it but... You really wanted to know what it was he wanted. And besides, it felt rude to just leave him hanging if he really would be there. He was absent from the Olympians's usual table...

You took a deep breath, walking into the courtyard, paper sack lunch in hand. You weren't a coward. You'd face this.

You made your way towards the willow tree that stood in the corner, it was tall, its enchanting leaves swaying in the breeze.

Sure enough, he was there, a grin on his face as he sat crisscross applesauce by the trunk. "Finally! I was starting to think you wouldn't show!" He exclaimed, beckoning you to sit next to him. You hesitantly complied, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Why did you uhm.. invite me here, exactly?" You asked, trying to sound at least semi-confident (and probably failing). Your heart sped up. You were alone with him.

He let out a small laugh. Something about it made him almost sound.. nervous? Surely that couldn't be the case though. He sticked his pinky out towards you. "Pinky promise you won't tell anyone?" He asked. Catching the look on your face, he amended his statement. "It's not anything bad, I swear."

You locked your pinky around his. "I promise." You spoke hesitantly.

He took a deep breath. "Ok. So. I may or may not have been failing math as of late." He admitted. Your eyes widened with shock. "I've heard you're pretty good at it, and cheating off you isn't really an option since you're so far away so I was wondering if perhaps you could tutor me?" He asked, tone uncharacteristically awkward and his eyes pleading.

You blinked. "What- Why me?! Why not one of your siblings or friends-"

"It's embarrassing! I can't have them know I'm failing anything! Normally, Athena would help me but she's off at college now, and she had good things to say about you, and you seemed nice and I wanted to get to know you more since you seem so mysterious and-, but also if Zeus finds out I'm failing anything he'll smite me and-" He cut himself off, taking in a long breath. You froze, bewildered by his sudden desperation. His eyes were wide, seemingly slightly mortified by his ramble. You'd never seen him lose his cool like that. "Err- sorry. That was rather undignified. Forget I said any of that. But anyways, I have my reasons." He corrected, clearing his throat.

You just stared for a moment, scrambling for words. He wanted to get to know you more? That thought seemed impossible. Let alone the thought he wanted your help. "Oh." You spoke, blinking. He had never really seemed the type that actually cared about school, and yet, here he was, freaking out about math.

"So will you help me? You can name whatever price you want, darling, as you can see, I'm desperate." You felt your heart flutter at the word darling, face warming up.

You hesitated. Getting tangled up with any of the Olympians was a bad idea. You had tried to stay in the background. The background was safe.

"Please?" He pleaded, vibrant hazel eyes glittering. Was he doing puppy dog eyes? If so it was kind of working.

You sighed. It was just tutoring. What was the worst that could happen? "Oh fine." You spoke, giving in. He let out an exhale of relief. "Do you have somewhere you want to meet?" You questioned.

"Would you mind if we meet at your place? We could probably get privacy at mine but... Well it's very chaotic."

"I don't know.. I'd have to ask my parents, I'm not sure if they would appreciate me bringing a boy over-"

"Great! I'll walk with you there after school!" He interjected, not paying any mind to your words. He materialized a deep purple flower out of no where, which considering it was the middle of winter was particularly impressive and confusing. He tucked it into your hair, a grin on his face, before standing back up. "The others will be wondering where I am. See you at three, darling! I'll meet you outside the front door!" He exclaimed, bounding away.

You sat there for a moment, startled. What in Hades just happened?! Hermes, who you had barely talked to previously, and happened to have a massive crush on, just asked you to tutor him out of nowhere? Perhaps he's plotting something. He did seem genuine but... You shook your head. You couldn't possibly know for sure, especially with him.

You supposed you'd just have to wait and see.

Author's Note: should I be starting another fic? NO. DEFINITELY NOT. Am I doing it anyways? yeah.

I personally always liked school aus way more than I think I would. idk they're just plain fun. so that's kind of what I'm planning for this story. for it to just be like a fun fluffy tale and stuff :D I'm thinking like around 10 chapters? Idk.

If you were thinking "why is Hyacinthus at a school for immortals" well. ok so in this au he is an anthousai. specifically a.. you guessed it!!! hyacinth!!!! he's also a trans guy, because I think that would be fun. Hermes's ex is Peitho btw. More on her laterrrrrr!!!! Peitho my beloved....

Hermes may or may not also be crushing a bit..... that's partly why he chose her in particular for help 😼

~Published 07/21/26~

Your eyes wearily blinked open, followed by a sharp burst of pain. "Agh, fuck." You muttered, trying to sit up. You felt a hand gently push you back down. 

"Don't you dare."

You looked up, seeing someone looming over you. Apollo your mind rung, though you were offered no other context. His violet eyes glowed in the candlelight, and you could spot a thin ring of gold within, shining through. "Where..?" You uttered, gaze flickering around the small room. It appeared to be a clinic, though it was a bit more.. cozy than you were used to when it came to those. Less industrial. 

"You're on Olympus." He paused, sighing. "I suppose I better tell Hermes you're awake." 

"Why the fuck am I on Olympus?" You asked, blinking.

He turned towards the door, shrugging. "You were shot a few days ago. Hermes freaked out, messed with some cops, broke a lot of rules while doing so, and brought you here." He explained, reaching for the doorknob. "I'm going to go fetch him." He sighed.

He disappeared, leaving you alone. "That explains some things." You muttered. Looking down, you saw your torso covered in bandages, flinching as another burst of pain hit you. "Shit." You groaned. You could barely move, the pain was so heavy. Sunlight spilled through a slim opening between the curtains, a faint reminder of the outside world. Candles flickered dimly, the shadows of their flames dancing on the walls. You found it difficult to focus on anything, mind constantly being drawn back to the sharp pain in your torso. No matter what you did, it was a constant presence, buried deep within. You knew it would take a long time of healing to finally dislodge.

You felt your mind trying to slip into unconsciousness, wishing for nothing more to escape, but you fought it. You'd stay awake. You wished to see Hermes, after all. You struggled against the dark sludge of sleep threatening to drown you, trying to avoid falling into its dark waves. You tried focusing on how your body felt, despite how much you hurt. It helped, though it was painful.

The door swung open, breaking through your drowsiness. "Y/N?" Hermes stood in the doorway, face alight with concern. His voice was quiet, as tentative as a leaf falling to the ground. For some reason, you felt your heart beat faster at the sight of him. It surely couldn't be fear, no, but you weren't sure exactly what else it could be. 

"Hey Hermes." You croaked. At the sound of your voice, it was as if a switch had been flipped in him. He hurried to your side, frantic.

"You're awake!" He exclaimed. "I- I don't even know what to say! I was afraid you wouldn't pull through and.."

"I'm not dying over a box of fucking twinkies." You let out a light, shaky laugh.

His eyes went wide with guilt. "I am so sorry, darling- it's my fault this happened, isn't it? If I hadn't made you go in that 7/11 or split up you wouldn't have-"

"Shush." You muttered, raising your finger to his lips. You allowed your hand to fall back to your side, a small echoing thud on the mattress. You were surprised by the look on his face, the worry, the care. You hadn't thought he cared much. He leaned down, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear and placing a tentative kiss on your forehead. It was.. oddly tender. He was oddly tender. Your heart gave another flutter, to your slight confusion.

"I'm just glad you seem to be alright." Hermes sighed.

"'Alright' isn't the word I'd use, personally." 

You turned your gaze, seeing Apollo standing in the corner, an unreadable expression on his face. "Me neither." You muttered. 

"She may still die. We can't be certain." He added, and you thought you may have seen a flash of pity in his otherwise guarded eyes. 

"You do not sugarcoat things, do you?" You spoke, raising a brow. Your voice dragged, tired and shaking. "I'll be fine. Again, not letting myself die over.. twinkies." You shuddered, mustering what little strength you had to speak, trying not to portray your weakness. Apollo didn't seem to buy it though, shooting you a glance.

"Right. Besides, you can't die! We have so much catching up to do!"

"She needs more rest, little hawk." The elder brother interjected, his tone soft.

"What? But she's been resting for days! She just woke up!" Hermes protested, eyes wide. 

"He's probably right." You admitted with a sigh. "I can barely talk." 

"You.. Oh, fine." He relented, letting out a deep breath. He turned away, shooting you a look of longing before facing the door. You felt desperation seize your throat. For whatever reason that may be, you didn't want him to leave you. Darkness clouded the edges of your gaze. You didn't feel ready for sleep yet, but it most certainly was ready for you.

His brother hesitated for a moment, mouth open as if about to speak. "...You may stay this time." He sighed, giving a slight roll of the eye.

"Thank you, Apollo." Hermes responded. He returned back to your bedside quickly, gently grabbing your hand. He pressed it to his lips, the feeling quite soft, before returning it to your side. He didn't let go, instead letting his fingers interlock with yours.

"Rest well, my love."

***

Two weeks had passed. At first, you'd drift in and out of consciousness, waking up every few days. Apollo told you he had been keeping you sleep for longer to let you heal. Hermes would come by occasionally, leaving you trinkets and snacks to wake up to if you were still asleep, and if you weren't, he'd sit down by you on the bed and chat about his day and how things were going in the mortal world and do anything he could to keep you company. It was.. nice, really. Recently, though, you had found yourself being awake longer and longer, the pain fading into something more tolerable. You had begun getting out of bed, stretching your legs. Apollo had begun leaving your side more and more, trusting you to be fine on your own. 

This was one of those times. You took a few steps, pacing around the room. Your legs had grown weak from lack of use, and you were trying to get them back in shape. Your torso still burst with pain, but you had grown somewhat used to it. The curtains had been opened fully, allowing the sun to fully spill into the room, spreading its warmth.

Suddenly, the door swung wide open, Hermes striding in. "Greetings, darling!" He exclaimed, a wide grin on his face. You jumped, startled.

"Hi." You responded flatly. 

"Guess what?" He started excitedly, too impatient to wait for a response. "Apollo said you can finally leave the clinic! Well, he also said I have to bring you back later, but still!" His wings fluttered with energy, his golden eyes shining. 

"He did?" You uttered. You felt some of his excitement spread to you. You hadn't had fresh air in forever.

"Come on!" He exclaimed, grabbing your arm. "I have somewhere to show you!" 

~~~~~~~~~

You slowly sat down, careful not to upset your wound. "It's beautiful." You breathed, looking up at the wisteria trees around you. Different trinkets hung from string on the branches, colorful pieces of broken glass catching the sunlight. A clear pool sat in the center, lily pads floating atop. Crocuses sprung up around, their vivid petals breathtaking. 

"It's one of my sacred groves. I come here for privacy, calmness, all that junk. Only those I invite can enter." He explained, shrugging. 

"And you invited me?" You teased, grinning. 

"Of course, darling~! I've taken quite a liking to you, you know." He grinned, practically beaming.

You gave a small laugh. "No shit. I'm on Olympus instead of wherever the fuck the afterlife is." You chuckled. "Not to mention the fact you've asked me to kiss you twice." You added with a raise of the eyebrow.

"And you've obliged both times, my dear." He reminded you. He cupped the side of your face, fingers brushing softly against your cheek. "Speaking of, do you mind if I..?" He asked, voice dropping softly. You shook your head slightly. He broke the distance, letting his lips fall against yours. 

It was gentle, different from the others somehow. It felt more intimate, more of an intentional, indulgent action. Heat rose to your cheeks, hot as flames. Your heart beat heavily as he moved his other hand to hold your face. 

When the two of you finally broke apart, he was quiet. He didn't move his hands, letting his forehead lean against yours. A small giggle escaped his mouth. You could hear the wings on his head fluttering giddily. His touch was warm, sparks alighting beneath your skin that you had never felt before. You knew he was beautiful before but... You don't think you had found him so gorgeous until now. His golden eyes shone, tan skin practically glowing. What was happening to you? What even was this? Neither of you had ever put a label on whatever the fuck this was supposed to be. You enjoyed his affection, yes, but it was rather confusing. He gasped excitedly after a moment. "Wait... Are you flustered?" He asked, raising a brow.

"...Whatever." You muttered. 

"You are~!" He exclaimed, beaming. 

"How am I supposed to not be?!" You protested, defensive, pulling away from him. 

He laughed. "Looks like someone's not as unshakable as I thought~!" 

"Shut up." You grumbled. Your heart must have been beating like a drum. You wouldn't be surprised if he could hear it.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you like me~!" He teased.

"...Am I hallucinating?! Did we not just fucking kiss?!" You asked, blinking. You thought his cheeks grew a bit more pinkish at your words, but if so it was quite subtle. "Do you think I just let anyone do that?!"

He laughed. "You've got a fair point there. I'm flattered, really." He spoke, reaching out to cup your face one more. You didn't resist. "You're quite beautiful, you know..." His voice had become more gentle, eyes soft as they drank you in, affectionate. You tilted your head, slightly surprised. 

"Oh. Uhm- thank you." You replied, blinking. "You're pretty as well." Something within you stirred at his gaze, something you didn't quite recognize. It was warm and fluttering, oddly pleasant. "Very pretty." You added.

He gave a small chuckle. "Thank you, dear." He responded. "There's something else about you, I can't quite put my finger on it... But you're well- alluring. I can't quite stay away, even if for whatever reason I wanted to." He gently stroked the side of your face with his thumb, touch soft. "Whatever it is, I've missed being with you. I'm more glad than I could put to words that you're getting better, and that you're alive, and..." He trailed off. You hesitated, unsure what you could even say to that. "You don't have to respond. Just know if you ever need anything.. Tell me. I'll come running." 

There was a long moment of silence between you two. You were shocked at how genuine his words felt. "..Wow. Uhm- thank you." You finally spoke. 

"Of course." He breathed. "Sorry, was that a lot

You hesitated for a moment. "When I'm healed, what are we going to do? I doubt Apollo will have me stay any longer than I have to." You asked, voice tentative, afraid to ruin the moment.

"..I was thinking, only if you were ok with it, of course, I could help you settle somewhere in Greece! Perhaps somewhere like Lesbos, it's quite pleasant there." He suggested, tilting his head. "Of course, if there's somewhere specific you'd rather be, I'd gladly take you there. As long as it's far, far away from the U.S." He added, letting his hand slip away. You felt relief that he wasn't sending you back

"Lesbos sounds nice." You responded with a shrug. "as long as you visit, I don't really care where I end up though." You found yourself a bit embarrassed at the.. sappiness, of your words. But they were honest, and that mattered more. 

He let out small laugh. "I'm not even sure if Zeus himself could stop me from visiting you, darling. That is, if he even cared to try. He knows I'd probably go on strike if he did." He remarked, the corner of his lips tugging up in a small smile. "Not that I exactly have as much work to do than I used to, but I'd like to think I'm still very important." He added, shrugging.

"And yet, you still have the time to go on the run with a random mortal for almost an entire week." You pointed out, raising a brow. 

"Oh shush." He muttered. "I left plenty during the nights, you just happen to be a rather deep sleeper! Not to mention I perform my duties much faster when there's something I'd rather be doing." He explained with a shrug. 

"...I can sleep through that?" You blinked. 

He giggled. "Well, admittedly I've done a bit... of interference. You actually woke up the first time, though I'm assuming you don't remember." He spoke with a shrug. "...I had to leave three times that night." He added, shuddering. 

"Interference?" You asked, a brow raised.

"Oh you know, just a bit of divine stuff. Apollo's always been much better at it though." He explained. "All I can really do with it is soothe you when it seems you are about to wake up. Really, it's a matter of luck that it has worked each time." 

You tilted your head. "Huh. How many times have you been called away?" You questioned.

"Five." He sighed. "Apparently when I hold my lover in my arms I am no longer busy enough for them to leave me alone. And yet when I interrupt them-"

"Lover?" You cut in, brows furrowed. He went quiet for a moment, as if his voice had dried in his throat, mouth hanging slightly agape. A pinkish hue rose in his cheeks, his eyes widened. Is that really how he viewed you? You couldn't help feel a bit shocked.

He cleared his throat as he regained his composure. "I mean... would that word be inaccurate, really?" He answered tentatively. You felt your heart flutter to your annoyance. You thought of the feeling of his lips on your own, his toned, rich olive skin turned soft as he held you, his golden eyes gentle when they fixed on you. The thought of his affection tempted you, a song drawing you near. You couldn't deny anymore that you wanted him.

You blinked. "...I guess not." You muttered, looking away. He grabbed ahold of your chin, turning your head back towards him. His wings gave a small twitch, a smile on his face. You allowed yourself to stare at his face, the myriad of freckles decorating it, each one of them some how perfectly placed, scattered with the utmost care. He was gorgeous. "Quit looking at me like that." You grumbled, not a fan of the infatuation that was coursing through you.

He tilted his head. "Like what?" He asked, seemingly pretending to be utterly clueless. 

"Never mind." You sighed. He let out a small huff in response, but didn't press you further. You looked up at the vibrant purple petals above you for a moment, trying to focus on them instead. 

He inched closer to you, his skin now brushing against yours. Still, you didn't look back at him. He seemed to find this mildly offensive, to your amusement. At this point, you'd might as well make a game out of it. He leaned in further, letting his lips graze against your neck, causing you to stiffen. You felt sparks beneath your skin where he had touched, jolts of electricity running through your body. Your stomach flipped, eyes widened. You felt yourself grow hot, struggling for words. "Hermes." You uttered, blinking.

"Hm?" He answered innocently, and you met his gaze. He flashed you a triumphant grin, dazzlingly bright. He lowered his head once more, pressing another kiss to your neck, this time more firm. Your breath hitched in your throat, and for a moment you must have forgotten how to breathe at all. Your mouth hung slightly agape, lips parted, but no words escaped  "Something to say, love?" His breath was hot against your skin as he spoke, tone teasing. 

"I-" You started, no idea what you could even respond with. His eyes were alit with amusement, and something else you couldn't quite put a name to. Finally, you managed to scrounge up enough confidence to come up with a quip. "Somehow I don't think Apollo would approve of such improper behavior with a patient." You pointed out, raising a brow.

He laughed. "Probably not. Do either of us really care though?" He asked, quirking up a brow. He wrapped his arms around you, careful not to get too close to your wound, pulling you closer to him.

"Guess not." You shrugged. He had a mischievous grin on his face, and he leaned in. His gaze flickered down to your lips.

"Do you mind if I..?" He asked.

You shook your head. "No, It's fi-"

Suddenly, his lips rushed against your own, interrupting. Your eyes widened for a second before you closed them, startled. He leaned forwards, causing you to tilt back. It felt like a gust of wind coursed through you, sweeping you off your feet. He didn't separate, instead letting his tongue slide within, tasting oddly sweet, like cinnamon. You accepted it, a warm, thick molten feeling slowly traveling down your throat and pooling in your stomach like honey. You wrapped your arms around his neck, skin fever hot. He placed his hand on your back, stabilizing you as he leaned further.

Damn, you were lucky.

***

Months had passed from that moment. Apollo had long released you from his care, and Hermes had helped you settle into a beautiful little cabin on Lesbos. It was more than you could ever have hoped for. Every moment was peaceful, and it was difficult to have worries when the beach was only a short walk away. Hermes would visit often, bringing flowers and stories and different exotic snacks he had picked up from his travels. The two of you had grown much closer, finding joy in each other's embraces. When he wasn't there, you'd spend your time reading, learning crafts, meeting the locals and joining on community activities. You had picked up the guitar recently, practicing your singing as well. You were a bit rusty, but he had insisted on hearing your voice, and seemingly found himself enchanted. For the first time in your life, you were at peace. You were happy.

You sighed, shifting slightly. The early dawn light spilled through the slightly opened window, the curtains swaying in the gentle, salty breeze. You spared a glance at your lover resting beside you, your limbs a tangle of warmth and ease. You watched as his bare, toned chest rose and fall faintly with fondness. Your gaze traced the curve of his jaw, entranced by his beauty. Every part of him was perfect, glowing in his radiant divinity. 

His eyes slowly fluttered open, golden irises fixed on you. "Morning, dearest~" He murmured, his voice as soft as the wind. He looked at you with warm, blooming affection. 

"Morning, pretty boy." You muttered. He ran his hand through your hair, grinning. He pulled you closer, his uncovered skin was soft pressed against your own. Since the.. well, incident, he had always been careful not to agitate your bullet wound, which had now healed into a more subtle scar. Though, it did still hurt if pressed on hard enough. You rested your head on his warm chest, noticing the bite mark on his shoulder with faint satisfaction. You're sure your skin was much more blemished than his, however. "What do you want for breakfast?" You asked, voice dragging drowsily. 

"Mm.., I was thinking I'd make you something today." He responded. "Hestia showed me her chocolate chip pancake recipe yesterday. You'll love them, darling."

"Sounds good." You responded with a small shrug. "I'm assuming you'll be out of here after breakfast again?"

Hermes grinned, the wings on his head twitching slightly. "Actually, I recently realized I never quite cashed that favor of yours!" He remarked, mischievous. "Up for another little adventure?"

You sighed. "Oh, great." You muttered sarcastically, though your tone was light hearted. "I don't know. I think I'm passed my politician slaughtering days." You spoke, yawning. "Besides, pretty much the entire American presidential succession line sucks ass." You pointed out, lifting your head to face him.

"But wouldn't it be fun to cause a little chaos~? After all, the frenzy of two assassinations without a person in custody should last until the next election. He's got a speech he's doing today, it's the perfect opportunity!" He quipped back. 

"Mmm.., can't someone else do it? If I get shot again I'll be pissed.. Probably'll die too..." You murmured. The memory of the dark alleyway haunted you, the sudden pain, the fear.. You shuddered. 

He flinched slightly at your words, frowning as his gaze flickered down to the scar decorating your torso. "I assure you, dear, I'll be more careful this time. We won't spend any more time down there than necessary, alright?" He responded, grip tightening. 

"...Fine. But you better have a damn good plan." You responded, allowing your head to fall back down onto him. 

He let out a light chuckle at your words. "I'll think of something over breakfast." He shrugged. You scowled at him in response. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! No need to glare daggers at me, darling! We can discuss it over food, alright?" He grinned. He traced circles on your back with his thumb, the sensation oddly tingly. 

"Whatever." You grumbled. He pressed a kiss to your head, soft and affectionate. You sighed, letting your tenseness melt atop him. Out of anything that could have happened after the assassination, falling in love with a god was probably the thing you expected least to happen. But now that it had, you couldn't feel an ounce of regret. For once, it felt like someone actually cared. He made you feel seen, wanted. You couldn't ask for anything more. He had clawed his way into your heart, now firmly imbedded within. You had never felt this way before, but now that you did you were determined to hold onto the feeling. "How long you figure we can stay like this?" You murmured, voice quiet. 

"Forever?" He answered. You laughed, voice warm. 

"You and I both know thats not happening." You replied. You had to admit however, that the prospect seemed tempting. He sighed dramatically. "We should probably get up to have breakfast soon." You pointed out reluctantly. 

"Probably." He muttered. "Doesn't mean we have to, darling." 

You gave a slight, playful eye roll at his words. "If we wanna kill Vance at that speech, we have to get up at some point."

"Orrr, perhaps we could kill some other politician! Like that Mitch McConnell guy."

You laughed. "Oh please, he's bound to die on his own any second now. He'll probably be dead before we even show up." 

"Fine..." He muttered. "Ten more minutes?" He asked.

"Ten more minutes." You agreed. You nestled yourself even closer to him, his warmth seeping into you. You noticed the markings on your skin from when we 'marked you' with his symbol thing were faintly glowing, a soft buzz. You exhaled a small breath. "...I love you." You murmured softly.

You could hear his wings fluttering excitedly in response, to your amusement. He placed another tender kiss to your head, lips soft.

"I love you too, darling."

Author's Note: holyyyy shittttt ITS DONE?!??!?!? anywayyssss surprise!!! its all fluff!!! ive never actualllllyyyyyy finished a fic before. Ever. At least one that wasn't a oneshot. 

my thought process while writing some of this was "omg these freakign FREAKS!!1!1!11""

here's the playlist I listened to while writing this

this was a fairly slow writing process like I only got like a few hundred words out per day after the first like thousand and two hundred. 

if I had a nickel for every time ive written a make out scene id have two nickels which isn't a lot but considering im a romance author its weird its only happened twice. 

I low-key might write a bonus chapter with hermes reaction to when y/n eventually one day dies. (peacefully, but he's still distraught). y/n canonically goes to Elysium like all great monster slayers do.

anyways. I leave you all with these parting messages.

Be gay. Do crime. Punch your local nazi. Kill evil politicians. Remember no matter how hopeless things seem, we can still change our own future. There is always hope for us, no matter how much they try to suppress us.

~Published 07/09/26~

You stirred, yawning.

"Morning, my darling...~" Hermes murmured sleepily, pulling you in tighter.

"Morning, Hermes." You responded flatly. You drew your arms closer to yourself, allowing him more room. He used that space to get even closer to you. His warmth had sunk into your bones, settling within you, leaving you with a full, comfortable feeling, as if you had laid out on concrete on a sunny day. He leaned in further, giving you a small, quick kiss on the forehead.

His lips twitched up in a small smirk. "I'd appreciate a bit more enthusiasm, love~" He muttered.

"That sounds like a you issue." You said, rolling your eyes. He made a small 'hmph' noise, but said nothing else. His eyes had a light-hearted gleam, though the rest of his face was rather pouty. "Don't give me that look, it won't get you anywhere." You grumbled.

"Worth a try." He sighed.

"I disagree."

He laughed. "Someone's grumpy today~" He said, dragging his voice in a drawl. You rolled your eyes once more, letting out a huff of breath. "Not that I mind." He added.

"Shouldn't we get up?" You asked, almost sighing.

He hesitated. "I don't want to." He admitted, still sounding tired.

"C'mon.." You muttered, trying to sit up. He pulled you back down, holding you even closer than before. "When are we getting up, then?" You asked, skeptical.

"Mmm..., never?"

You wriggled out of his grasp. "Yeah, not happening." You responded, admittedly a bit amused. You stood up, stretching for a moment. He groaned, spreading himself over the bed further. "Who's tired now?" You remarked, quirking up a brow.

"Oh shush." He muttered, sighing. "Cruel, you are, leaving me laying here without your touch." He declared dramatically, shuddering. You couldn't help but laugh.

"You could just get up if you're feeling that clingy." You pointed out, rolling your eyes.

"Only if you give me another kiss~"

You sighed, rolling your eyes. "Why are you like this?" You muttered, leaning down. You plopped a small kiss on his lips, and he immediately sat up, wings fluttering excitedly, face bright pink with a wide grin adorning it. "Now come on, we need to get back on the move." You spoke, moving over to your bag.

"Your wish is my command, my darling!" He exclaimed, scurrying up off of the bed. You rummaged through the bag, realizing with a start there was a new set of clothing in there. You turned your head towards him, opening your mouth to speak. "I figured perhaps you'd need more than two sets of clothing, especially seeing you've been seen and recognized in one of them." He shrugged, a small smirk on his face.

"Oh. Thanks." You spoke, startled. "I'll go get dressed." You sighed, scooping up the new items, and making your way to the other room. You looked down, seeing how nice they were compared to your other clothing, which were all worn down from years of wear. Closing the door behind you, you stepped onto the cold white tiles of the bathroom. You pulled off your hoodie and shirt, replacing them with the soft, pale blue tank top he had left in your bag. You slid on the navy hoodie, surprised at how comfortable it was. You swapped your shorts, once again shocked at the comfort they brought you. You had no idea how he knew your sizes, but you had to admit you appreciated it. You tied the bandana around your face, pulling up your hood, and exiting back into the main room once more. "These are nice." You spoke, blinking.

"Only the best~!" He exclaimed, a wide smile on his face. "Anyways, shall we get going?" He asked, standing by the door. You slung your bag over your shoulder, nodding.

***

You took the thermos, which Hermes had decided you could keep, out of the bag, taking a sip of the water that remained ice cold despite the fact it had been given to you a few days ago. You also noticed that no matter how much you drank, the amount left inside never seemed to change. Must be a divine thing or whatever. You screwed the lid shut and pulled up your bandana back up, placing the thermos back within where you took it from. "Why are we heading to a 7/11 again?" You asked, increasing your pace to walk besides him.

He shrugged. "Snacks. I wanted to snag a box of Twinkies, but you may grab whatever you want, darling." He responded, tone casual. "Me and Apollo are quite fond of them. I was thinking I'd surprise him with some later." He added, a small smile on his face.

"Alright, but if we get caught over a box of fucking Twinkies I will be pissed." You remarked, raising a brow.

He rolled his eyes playfully. "Oh come on, darling! You're just paranoid." He responded, a wide smile on his face. "Besides, even I can barely see your face. You'll be fine." He added, giving you a small pat on the head.

You sighed. "Look, the hood and bandana work from a distance, but if I stroll into a gas station like this they're going to think I'm about to rob them." You took off your hood, making your way towards the entrance.

"Who says we're not?" He asked, eyes glittering mischievously. "I mean, you do have a gun, correct?"

You blinked. "Me. I say we're not." You said flatly, shouldering him. He burst out laughing in response.

"I'm joking, darling." He paused, a smirk sliding onto his face. Though, whatever he was going to say, he must have changed his mind. "Anyways, shall we go in?" He asked, tilting his head. You nodded.

You opened the door for him first, letting him go ahead. You were greeted by the shrill ringing of the entrance bell and the hum of the bright industrial lights shining down on you, almost like a spotlight. You were always a fan of the place, though you wouldn't admit that to him. You mostly just liked the slushies, or slurpees as they are called here. Either way, it was a place familiar to you, and it brought you a semblance of comfort.

You quickly disappeared into the shelves, flashes of colorful wrappers and chip bags catching your eye before you continued your way to the slurpee counter. He did say you could grab anything, right? You stopped at the machine, staring for a moment. You felt prickles of discomfort from the open area, finding your gaze flickering around, checking for people. Luckily, it was relatively empty today.

"What's that?"

You turned, seeing Hermes behind you, a box of Twinkies already tucked beneath his arm. "How did you find those so fast?" You asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"God of speed, darling, it's kind of my whole thing." He shrugged, a slight smirk on his face.

"..That pretty much answers nothing, but alright." You sighed. "Anyways, it's a slushy machine. What flavor did you say you want?"

"I didn't." He said, sounding rather amused. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again, eyeing the different flavors. "Cherry." He answered. You grabbed a cup, pushing it against the weird pedal thing, watching the bright, unnatural red liquid gushing out. You quickly capped it, sticking in a straw and handing it to him. "This is a slushy?" He questioned.

You couldn't help but find humor in his confusion. "Well, technically it's called a slurpee here, but it's basically the same thing." You gave a slight tilt of the shoulders as you explained.

He narrowed his eyes, staring down at it skeptically. "...Can't say I've ever liked the word slurp. Let alone 'slurpy'" He sounded mildly disgusted.

"Why?" You asked, letting out a huff of amusement.

"I don't know! It's just- weird." He shuddering. "Anyways, I'm assuming I'm supposed to pay before drinking this?" You nodded in response to his question. He took a sip anyways, causing you to sigh. His eyes widened. "Huh. I quite like this, honestly." He admitted. He took another sip. A small laugh escaped from you. "Very sugary."

You grabbed your own cup, mixing a few different flavors in. He gasped. "That was an option?!" He exclaimed, as if offended.

"Yup. It's the cup you're buying, not whatever you put in it." You sighed. "Now come on, we should hurry up."

He nodded. "Are you going to grab any snacks, darling?" He asked, tilting his head. You shrugged.

"I'll grab a bag of combos or something." You said. You made your way back between the shelves, the slurpee cup cold in your hands.

"What flavor?"

"..Pepperoni, I guess?" You answered. He disappeared, before quickly reappearing with the item. "Huh." You uttered, startled. He tossed it to you, the bag flying in the air for a moment while you scrambled to catch it. "How do you find things that quickly?"

He only gave a slight tilt of the shoulders in response. "Who cares, let's just get out of here already!"

You let him walk ahead, his strides confident. You glanced at the different variety of snacks as you walked past the shelves, absently taking note of them in your mind. You found yourself lingering behind, almost hiding yourself. He stopped at the counter, and you saw two employees whispering to each other, before one of them quickly scurried through a door to some sort of backroom upon seeing you. Both of them had seemed rather nervous. The one that stayed stared, her gaze burning into you. Did she know? "I'm going to wait outside, if that's fine." You told Hermes, voice low, handing your items to him. He nodded, taking them, and you turned, making your way to the door. You didn't want her to get a good look of your face.

~~~~~~~~~

You groaned. You've been waiting forever. How long did it take to pay for four items? You were honestly tempted to pop back in at this point.

And then you heard it. Sirens.

Shit.

Hermes popped out a moment after, a similar look of doom dawning on his face.

"Took you long enough!" You exclaimed, hissing the words through your teeth.

He sighed. "Look, in my defense, that cashier lady is really good at stalling."

"You knew she was stalling and you still fell for it?!" You questioned, aggravated. If she was stalling him, it was more than likely that those sirens were in fact for you.

"She was charming!"

You rubbed your temples, exhaling a deep breath. "Cmon, we gotta go already before we get caught." You muttered. "They're going to be looking for you too now. Not that it matters." You added, raising a brow. You were trying to keep yourself calm. If you sounded calm, maybe that would mean you are calm. The police knew where you were. Even if you left, they'd know you couldn't get far. You knew you had been ok with being taken to jail or even receiving the death penalty before, but know that you had been tasting freedom for so long you weren't eager to let it go. The sirens grew louder, almost deafening.

He nodded, turning away to move behind the convenience store. You followed him, swallowing nervously.

***

"Are you alright, darling?" He asked, looking back at you as he turned the corner of an alleyway.

You hesitated, quickly continuing to move when you realized you had paused. "The fucking cops are after us, obviously not." You hissed back, speeding up your pace. Your heart was beating like a drum, anxiety twisting in your stomach like some sharp, gnawing creature.

"They've technically been after you this whole time." He pointed out, and even though he looked ahead once more, you could practically hear the smirk on his face.

You felt yourself grow more irritated at his words. "Agh, you know exactly what I mean." You groaned.

"I have an idea."

You tilted your head. "I was thinking, perhaps, that we'd split up. I'll go over to those police officers, send them off towards you in the opposite direction, and then I'll rejoin you, and we'll run off together!" He explained, a wide grin on his face.

"They're looking for you too, remember?" You reminded him, raising a brow. "They'll take you in for questioning."

"Well, I'll simply show up in a disguise, of course." He spoke, snapping his fingers. Suddenly, he looked entirely different. He appeared as an old man with absolutely horrendous vibes. Exactly the kind of person you'd expect to snitch on the person who assassinated the president.

"Thats.. not the worst plan, actually." You blinked. Something in you still felt queasy, as if something was wrong, but you knew that objectively, the idea was fine. You'd suck it up. "So should I stay here then?" You asked.

"Just keep going, darling, I'll find you." He said with a shrug. You nodded. "I'll be back soon~!" He exclaimed, grinning. It was kind of unnerving actually, seeing a republican looking man smiling at you like that. You didn't like it. He disappeared, and you were left alone once more.

You continued your way through the systems of alleys, hurrying. The night air was colder, wind biting into your skin like tiny fangs. You payed it no mind though, instead focusing on the pounding of your feet against the concrete. The stars above you dimly shined, covered by the lights of the city. You hurried, hearing the faint sounds of yelling. You weren't sure where you were going exactly, only that you needed to get as far as you could.

You heard a yell.

You broke into a sprint, not caring to look behind you. Whoever it was didn't follow you to your relief. You sighed, a small, quiet breath escaping from you. You tried to keep your strides long, making sure you wouldn't run out of energy too quick. Though, you had never been a good runner. You panted, lungs greedily sucking in air. It felt like there were stones weighing down your legs as you struggled to keep moving. You slowed. It'd be fine. Right?

And then you saw it.

A group of policemen ahead of you. Holy fucking hell. Why?!

"Hey!"

"Thats her, isn't it?"

"Where's the dude?"

You turned, running back. Suddenly, your fatigue was forgotten as adrenaline coursed through your veins, a burst of speed following every jolt of energy. Blood pounded in your ears, drowning out the yells of your pursuers. Curse your shit luck. Suddenly, you wondered if Hermes was the only divine being that didn't apparently hate your fucking guts.

You took a different turn than you had taken to get here, hoping to lose them. It felt like the world was slowing down around you, as every one of your coherent thoughts were pushed to the side in favor of pure, unfiltered panic. It was as if you had let yourself be reduced to prey.

You ran into a wall.

You were trapped.

"Put your hands up!"

You grabbed your gun, hands trembling.

Why? You'd never know. Was it reflex? Panic? Or just pure stupidity? For some damn reason, you pulled a gun on a group of cops. And the pigs would use any excuse to test out those shiny toys they were armed with.

You gave them an excuse to shoot.

And they did.

BANG!

A bullet flew through the air, your thoughts moving so fast that everything moved in slow motion. You were dimly aware of Hermes appearing, a look of horror dawning on his face as he stared. You found yourself frozen in place like a deer in headlights. You were helpless to do anything, really.

A cry of anguish ripped from your throat as the bullet hit you. A searing, burning pain seized your body, its sharp claws squeezing you. Your vision blurred, only aware of a rush of motion towards you, someone yelling your name. You crumpled, falling as you lost the strength to stay standing.

Warm arms enfolded you before your consciousness slid away, touch firm.

***

"Hermes, please calm down." He sighed, trying not to further aggravate his brother.

"How am I supposed to 'calm down'?! She was shot!" The messenger god protested, continuing to pace around the room, his eyes wide with panic. Every now and then he would glance down at the mortal on the bed of his sibling's clinic, before quickly looking back up, as if he couldn't handle the sight of her. Apollo felt a twist of pity for the younger god.

"Yes, and now I'm helping her. She'll be fine." He pointed out. "I still don't know how you got this attached so quickly." He muttered, going over the supplies in his cabinets. He'd have to get the bullet out soon, but right now that couldn't be his top priority.

For just a small moment, his brother paused in his restless pacing. "How are you so calm? How do you know she'll be fine? What if I have to guide her down to Hades?" He spoke, his words becoming more and more desperate and frantic.

"I'm the god of healing, remember?"

"Right. Yes, god of healing." He still sounded unconvinced.

Apollo sighed once more, clasping Hermes' face in his. hands. "If worse comes to worse, I'll call in Asclepius, alright?" His voice was gentle, trying to soothe the spiraling god. He found it very doubtful that it would be necessary, but still.

"You would do that?" He asked, as if startled.

"Of course I would. You're my brother. We both know what it's like to lose someone. I.. I don't want that for you again." The sun god admitted. He let go of his face, stepping back. The flighty god seemed calmer, to Apollo's relief.

"...Thank you." Hermes sighed.

"Now that that's over with, I have a favor to ask you."

He stiffened. "Anything." He responded, wings twitching nervously.

"I need you to go take care of Hyacinth while I'm with the mortal." The god of the arts declared. Really, it was an excuse to get him out of the room. It made it difficult to focus with him in there.

"What? But-"

"Not Buts! You need to distract yourself. I think we'll both go insane if you spend all your time pacing around in here. Besides, I can't leave Hyacinth alone for too long, and she likes you."

"She likes Ares more! Why can't he do it?"

"He spoils her too much, someone needs to watch over. I'll send him to join you later."

"But what about-" His gaze flickered to the unconscious mortal as he spoke, this time lingering longer.

"If- No, when she wakes up, I'll summon you first thing, alright?" He soothed.

"...Fine." Hermes huffed. He stopped at the bed and leaned down, pressing a tentative, gentle kiss to her forehead. "Wake up soon, darling."

Apollo inhaled sharply. If she were to wake up soon, she would be in a lot of pain. In fact, he might do something to make her asleep longer. But he wouldn't correct his brother. "Now, go on. Hyacinth hasn't eaten since lunch, she'll be hungry." He urged, making his way towards another cabinet. Hermes sighed, making his way out the door.

Now alone with his patient, he allowed himself to focus back in. For now, the bleeding was being stopped, but he needed to do more than that. He looked down at her thoughtfully. He saw why his brother liked her. She was fair of face, and kinda scrappy. Which was pretty much his type, knowing him.

He sighed. He'd better get to work.

Author's Note: if you caught the heathers reference I love you

They did in fact get caught over a box of fucking twinkies lmao. wowieee Apollo perspectiveeee. platonic sibling relationship my beloved.

Little blooper that came about as I was writing. He doesn't like glean.

ares walking in to Apollo's chambers for hamster sitting duty only to find hermes sobbing while cupping hyacinth in his hands.

canon btw I almost wrote it in. he was gonna comfort him and be like "I have seen many a soldiers fall in battle but I know it's different when it's someone you love" or something like that and hermes would be like "i think it's a bit quick to use a word like love" and ares would be like "would it be inaccurate?" and hermes would would be like smiling despite himself and wiping a tear and say something like "not really, I suppose" and it'd be all cute and cheesy or whatever.

I'm going to pride today woooo!!!!

last chapter soon yabadabadoo

BYE!

~Published 06/26/26~