Waiti

Summary

Void. The lack of something which would or should be there. Like the silence after a soul leaving a body, or the absence of light in a quiet room. Rarely ever witnessed, and rarely ever acknowledged. What would happen if the God of Swiftness met the Absence of a God? A being so full of energy and life, meeting a formless absence that’s known nothing for eternity. …What would happen if said god, were to fall in love with this absence of a person?

The overview of the mountain, long ruined by the many hordes of Chronos’ loyal followers and Typhon’s relentless rampage loomed over Hermes. He wasn’t ever one to dwell too much on these things, he rarely ever had time to think in general. 

Melinoë was taking too long. Usually he would’ve sensed her presence by now, or at least heard the clashes and flame bursts from further down the mountain. Yet today, the only thing that signaled her coming forth were the distant flashes far beyond her usual route.

He restlessly sat among a ruined arc, his body brimming with the urge to move and scout, even though he had several times. What he’d say and what he’d ask ran through his head, as he refined each of his words in a rush, as if every second doing nothing would kill him, like each thought was a breath of air, keeping him alive.

A loud bwoop had him snapping his head down towards where he had set up shop, his eyes widening in shock. A weird door with an eye of eyes laid upon the floor, beckoning to him like a call. “What in..?”

Despite knowing he should stay put for Melinoë, his curiosity gnawed at him like rock against centuries of flowing water. It barely took him a minute to flash before the gate, curiosity leaning down. Chellen looked up at the god in curiosity as he squinted at the gate. Ah, this was a chaos door! He snapped his fingers in recognition, turning to the small turtle in his bag. “Hold on, clearly someone is beckoning me for something important! If my memory serves me correctly, this door will hurt quite a bit if I go through it. So…” He slowly took off the bag and put it behind one of the many boon bags he had set up for shop. He pulled out a piece of paper from his bag, quickly jotting down a note apologizing if he was late for shop. Just in case, for once, his speed failed him!

Taping the note to Chellen and giving a thumbsup to the little turtle, he turned to the Chaos door. “Alrighty Chaos! I have no clue why you beckon me, but why not! It must be important, right?” With a flick of his wrist, a stinging pain stabbed his chest, flinching at the feeling. It wasn’t common he felt it, as usually he was out of there before anybody could even think of harming him.

The door opened, menacing plumes of galaxy inviting him. Yet it didn’t feel very inviting. He turned to salute his turtle friend, before falling backwards into the chaos gate.

…He didn’t like it. This dimension always unnerved him, the few times he had come here. The infinite void always felt so suffocating despite it being the absence of anything. Chaos went on about something, but Hermes barely processed it as his eyes trailed off around the area, zoning out.

“...nd this portal should bring you immediately there. Are you ready? Respond.” Finally he zoned back in at that, his eyes widening before plastering a smile on, pretending that he heard everything. “Of course! I’ll be back before you can even close that portal! Trust me on that..” He coughed sheepishly. “Uhm, what did you need me to do again?” Chaos didn’t seem bothered by his ‘forgetfulness’, instead just simply repeating. “Retrieve crystalized darkness, as the princess of the underworld needs it in her incantations. I would ask her myself, but regrettably, it appears she has yet to arrive to a place I can reach. This portal shall take you immediately there.” They spoke, and this time Hermes nodded. “‘Course! Pop that portal down, I gotta get a move on after this. Chellen can’t man the shop herself!” Chaos created a rift with a flick of their wrist, and Hermes peered inside carefully. Ugh, void, he just did not like it. Always had an air of unsettling emptiness. Which made since he supposes, since void was literally the absence of anyth-

“Hermes.” He straighted up at his name, snapping around a little too quickly as Chaos spoke again. “Do not stray far from the portal. You acknowledge?” “Yes Mx!” He said, easily avoiding allowing the uncertainty to sink into his voice. Although, he knew that wouldn’t mask it from Chaos.

He stepped into the portal, only to yelp as he remembered there was no fucking floor. He fell a little bit before easily gliding back up, giving an awkward salute to Chaos through the gateway.

But when he turned around to look at the infinite abyss, uncertainty flooded his mind immediately. There was nothing! He turned back around, “Uh, where do I find this crystalized darkness anyw- anddd they’re gone!” He pursed his lips. “Great.” Well, he guesses he should probably drop something to make sure he knows where the portal was, so Chaos can reopen the portal where he left off. Tugging out a handkerchief from the folds of his chiton, he enchanted it with a levitating spell before dropping it where he entered. 

Dusting off his hands, he looked around hesitantly. “Now, time for finding this.. Crystalized darkness or whatever. What does it even look like?” He mumbled to himself, beginning to hover through the abyss.

His extended list of reasons to hate the void had tripled.

Not only had he no idea how long it’d be, but he had no idea where he’d searched or even if he was moving! The only indicator was the handkerchief that hovered not far from him, as he circled the darkness, never straying too far away.

Frustration gnawed at his mind, and he debated just calling it quits and calling out for Chaos. But then again, could he even just say no to Chaos’ request? Probably not.

Finally, after what felt like forever and yet 5 minutes at the same time, he spotted something purple forming farther out. Ah-ha! Immediately he zipped over to it, his eyes lightening up as he eagerly waited for it to form fully.

When it did, he snatched it and shoved it into the folds of his chiton, the small crystal easily able to stay there. Perfect! He could get out of this bloody place, and be on his merry way to shop-keeping and collecting coins- But his eyes sparkled as he caught another crystal farther out. Okay, well, on second thought, maybe a little more wouldn’t hurt. Surely one single crystal wouldn’t be enough for M, he’d seen her incantations! Expensive stuff! He zipped over and waited for this one to form, before taking it into his chiton too. But when he spotted another one, he couldn’t help but hesitate, glancing back at the small spot that was the handkerchief. 

…

Nah, it’d be alright. He wouldn’t lose track of it.

~~~~~~~

By the time his chiton was full, he felt quite satisfied with himself. Boy, not only had he fulfilled Chaos’ request, but he’d gotten enough crystalized darkness that neither Melinoë or Chaos would ever need to go out to this suffocating hell ever again!

But all that excitement and pride immediately got hit by a truck as he turned around.

…Where was the handkerchief? No, it’s okay, he could just go behind him and he’ll run into it, retrace his steps… which way was behind him? Wait, no, he was definitely going deeper. He would just need to turn around… and..

…

Fuck.

“Fuck, fuck fuck fuck!”

He panickedly zipped around the void, unsure how fast he was going or if he was even moving. Not indicator of how far he’d gone or how fast he was going, panic gripped his mind like a pillow suffocating him in his sleep.

Was he facing up or down!? Further or closer!? Instead he stopped moving, cupping his hands to his mouth.

“Uh, Chaos! Sorry to bother ya but it’d be real swell if you were to pop a portal and get me outta here!” 

…

No echo. Nothing. Simply just the sound of his voice, like yelling underwater. Nobody could hear him.

His breathing quickened, his thoughts racing even too fast for him. He only went faster through the void, begging for literally anything. No more crystalized darkness, no handkerchief in sight, no portal, no voice. No one.

He was alone.

Truly alone.

Despair gripped at his mind as he realized he may very well be trapped here forever. Alone, nothing but the sound of his own voice.

As panicked tears pricked at his eyes, right before panic truly overtook his senses, a sensation spread through him. A tugging, at his chest?

At first he looked around, thinking a portal had opened. But the tugging continued, and it wasn’t at his chest, it was in his chest.

Like something pulled at the very fabric of his being, leading him towards.. Something. Centuries of existing taught him that’s never a good thing, yet he didn’t have a choice here. He was hoping for anyone, anything.

He began towards where the tugging led him, despite the unnerving circumstances, he felt an odd sense of calm wash over him. The tugging became more and more insistent, before finally he saw something.

Excitement and utter relief washed over him as he flew over to it, only for his heart to sink as he realized it was another crystalized darkness. Frustration flooded his mind as he growled despite himself, reaching out to grab the damn crystal that had gotten him into this mess.

But, as he grabbed it and yanked it, it didn’t budge. He stopped confusedly, before tugging again, only for the same result. What the?

He eyed the crystal warily, before… feeling a sensation. Or rather… the absence of one? Like the ghost of something that should be there brushed over his digits.

He squinted his eyes, realizing it was… the void? The vague form of a hand cupped the crystalized darkness over under own hand, and he felt a deep chill run through him. More formed around him, and slowly, he looked up.

White eyes gazed down at him, as if the void itself had come alive. Everlasting tears flowed forth, falling before stopping and forming into crystalized darkness. Despite the chill and fear running through his system, he slowly tilted his head. The eyes followed the movement, and he couldn’t help but stare in shock. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out, as if they’d been ripped out of his throat.

Slowly, he regained his senses, turning and tugging at the crystalized darkness again, unsure what else to do other than try to achieve the crystal. The void tugged back, the ghost of a hand wrapping around it slightly. His other hand came up, wrapping around the void’s hand and trying to pry it off.

The reaction was instantaneous, a surge of power as the whole void recoiled at the very touch. He barely had time to react as it seemed to shove him back. He tried to fight against it, but they grew further and further away.

He looked behind him, finally seeing a rift open up, Chaos’ form on the other side.

Reality crashed down on him, and he flew at that rift like his entire existence depended on it. He came crashing through the rift, slamming and tumbling right into the marble floor of their dimension. Crystalized darkness flew everywhere, some shattered as Hermes scrambled backwards from the portal. “Close it for fucks sake!” And so Chaos did, regarding Hermes with a rather curious look. He sweated profusely, backing against a marble pillar as his pupils constricted. Chaos just observed him simply. A long silence.  “...You strayed from the portal.”

Hermes' eyes snapped to Chaos, finally registering that the rift had dissipated. He opened his mouth, gaping like a fish out of water as he struggled to form words. Chaos did not seem upset, instead curious and intrigued. “That isn’t like you to stray into something so uncertain. What did you see in there to evoke such a reaction? Respond.” His breathing calmed, before running a hand through his hair, brushing over the feathered wings atop of his head.

“It.. was nothing.”