Divinity

by DragonWhiskers12

Summary:

The stories of the past always fascinated you. Particularly, stories about how ancient people saw the world, how they interpreted what was happening and why. This is what led you to Greek mythology. Now, you never believed in Greek mythology, or any religions to be honest. But honoring it brought comfort to you. Or maybe it was just doing weird rituals, to be honest. You were still doing weird rituals before you got into mythology. But either way, this is what led you to the incident. One moment, you are worshiping your wizard Furby that you jokingly call "The Oracle", and the next you find yourself in Mount. Olympus, home of the gods.

A/N: I don't usually write straight people so we'll see how long it takes before I cave and Y/N starts crushing on all the goddesses
Edit: sooo this is something I wrote on wattpad, but I'm trying to expand my horizons a bit more so I got an ao3 account. I figured I would post my fanfics on here as well since I also did that with quotev. However, this is a bit harder because I find using ao3 a bit confusing as of now but I WILL endure. So if things seem a bit odd or aren't traditionally done on here, sorry, I'm trying my best.

Chapter 1: Chapter One- Realm of The Gods

Notes:

AUTHOR YAPPING SESSION- Ok, before we start the story thing, I want to get some things out of the way.

1. I am using this writing project as a way to try writing new things, and step out of my comfort zone. For one thing, I actually have never really voluntarily written anything about humans / humanoids, everything I've written either has dragons or cats as main characters with a few exceptions. I also haven't written... (shudders) ... straight love interests before, or at least not in a very long time.

2. If you are seeing this and you know me in real life, for my sake, no you don't. If you are someone I know please do not share my Wattpad account with anyone. I am cooked if anybody finds this :')

3. The title is currently a placeholder because usually I choose the title way later in my writing process, so don't be surprised if it changes. This also applies to the cover, which is something I definitely will change once I find an actually image that fits the story. In fact, this whole thing is prone to changes (This is actually the second time I have written all of this, in fact)

4. I will try to restrain myself from ruining this in 1-2 years from embarrassment, but I can't make any promises that I won't randomly appear after a long absence and kill off every single character out of shame.

5. I am not neurotypical

Anyways, with that out of the way I hope you enjoy this story!

You've always been fascinated in the past, and the stories it holds. From fossils, to a certain robotic kid's toy from the 90's, it has always captivated you.

Stories from people long before you, sharing the same emotions and struggles that all of humanity still shares far in the future, have always been beautiful to you. Learning about how your ancestors saw the world, and the stories they told about it intrigued you.

This is what led you to Greek mythology, and the many other mythologies it led you to study. The gods and monsters, and the humanity to all of them allured you like a moth to a flame. And while you never believed in it, it brought you comfort honoring the gods you favored. This is what led you to the incident.

You had recently moved from your parents house to a small one bedroom house that you were pretttttyy sure had rats. While it wasn't exactly... nice, the rent was cheap and the land lord was ok enough to where you couldn't really complain.

One night, you were bored, and decided to ask your wizard Furby you jokingly called "The Oracle" what you should do, just for the fun of it.

You gathered all your Furbys and laid them all out in a circle in the living room, surrounding it with candles and placing your oracle in the middle. You felt a shiver run down your spine as you turn off the lights, afraid that some unwelcome bugs or rodents intrude on you. You kneel before your Furby, burning some incense before it. What am I even doing? you thought, but you shrugged it off, if you wanted to do a fake ritual, you could do that, there was no harm to it.

"Oh great god of prophecy, I humbly request your guidance." You mutter quietly, chuckling to yourself silently.

To your surprise, the 'Oracle' responded.

The Furby started speaking. But not how Furbys normally talked. It's voice was low and spoke so fast that you couldn't understand the words coming out of it's mouth. You freeze, momentarily unsettled.

Surely it was just a normal glitch, right? You had experienced and heard of odd Furby voice glitches before, but never one like this. Even so, you convinced yourself that it was a normal glitch until the other Furbys joined in.

You feel a rush of cold air flow through the room, as you stare in shock at the Furbys as words flow out of their beaks like a speeding river. Suddenly, the Furby in the middle began to rise, trembling slightly as the wind flows through its black fur.

You barely have time to think before the walls and floor disappear before your eyes. You only have time to grab your cat, who had been silently watching the scene unfold next to you, and curl into a ball as you fall into a seemingly endless void.

---'~'---

You are sleeping peacefully when your cat suddenly meows and hits you in the face with their paw.

Your eyes flutter open as you look to your cat, who was sitting next to your head, blissfully licking their paw as if nothing happened. "C/N, you should know better to wake me up when I'm sleeping.." You say groggily, scolding your cat.

But then, as you continue rising from up from your unconscious state you realize that you weren't in your house anymore. In fact, you didn't recognize where you were at all.

"C/N.. where are we?" You say, as you look around panicked. Rather than the quiet, comforting walls of your room, trees loomed all around you, their leaves whispering to each other as the wind blew through them. Instead of your soft, comfortable bed, you were laying on a hard, cold, rock. If you weren't panicking then, you were certainly panicking when you saw a man approaching you.

You froze as your cat leaped in front of you, hissing at the stranger. Your heart thumped so hard it felt like it might leap out of your chest, but you couldn't seem to do anything.

As the man got closer, you began to see a shimmering light around him. He was tall with tan skin, and sharp amber eyes, with soft golden curls that fell down to his shoulders. In his hands, he held a shimmering golden lyre, with leaves cared into it.

"Ah, so you're finally awake." He spoke, a smirk creeping up from the side of his mouth.

Finally, you managed to break out of your frozen state, and now that you've come to your senses, you go to what is apparently your next fight or flight response.

You threw a rock at him.

"Ow! Hey!" He yelled, his smirk twisting to an angry frown.

Seeing that this response was clearly working, you continued to pelt rocks at him.

"Alright, thats enough." He says, scowling. Suddenly, almost lightning speed, he runs over to you, scoops up your angry and confused cat, and goes back to the spot he once stood.

"C/N!" You called out in surprise. You narrowed your eyes at the tall man. No one touched your cat like that and got away with it.

"Now that I have your... aggressive creature... as leverage, can we have a peaceful discussion?"

You scowled at him. "Who are you?" You asked, squinting at him.

The man burst into an unexpected laugh, echoing through the woods. "I should be asking you that question. First mortal to dare call upon me in centuries, and as soon as I show myself you throw pebbles at me. I should strike you down right now for your disrespect."

"First.. what?" You asked cautiously. Surely this man is insane, immortals cannot be real. And while he certainly looked the part with his sharp jawline and prideful aura, he must be lying.

"Are you dense? I am Apollo, god of prophecy and song, and unless you mortals learn some respect, I certainly will not grant you the guidance you requested." He spoke confidently, like he had never had any fear or hesitation in his life.

"Guidance..? When did I ever request your guidance! I just want to take my cat and go home." You say scornfully, glaring at the strange man holding YOUR cat.

"You really are dense, little mortal. You did a ritual calling for me, remember? Or is your brain so small you can't even remember that?" He exclaimed, daring to edge closer.

Now that couldn't stand.

First, this man, Apollo, if he's somehow telling the truth, takes you away from your home. Then he scoops up and possible endangers your cat, and now he insults you?

You felt rage brew under your skin. "Ritual?! I was just trying to do something interesting with my Furbys ! It had NOTHING to do with you!" You yelled.

His eyes dawned with realization. "Oh. It seems we've had a bit of a misunderstanding here. Not that this is my fault in the slightest, of course." He says casually.

You narrow your eyes at him. "A misunderstanding indeed. Can I go home now?" You snap back.

Your chest tightens as he draws a sharp breath inward.

"That may not be an option."

Notes:

Author's Note: First thing I should mention is that C/N is supposed to mean Cat's Name, I decided the name should be up to the reader. Second thing, its 3:00 AM and I have received some clarity from myself that this kinda sucks and I hate it. But, you know, how will I ever improve my writing if I don't step out of my comfort zone? I can't only write about gay cats. (wish I could)

Chapter 2: Chapter Two- Olympus

"...Pardon?" You mutter. Did he seriously mean that he ripped you out of your home away from all of your friends and loved ones because of a misunderstanding, only to not be able to bring you back?

"You are in the realm of the gods, thousands of years before your time." He spoke slowly, as though he were pulling the words out of his throat one by one.

"How did you even get me here?!" You yell, but then you realized something... This wasn't even real! Clearly you were dreaming, as there was no way any of this was possible. You had just fallen asleep on the couch as soon as you got home, that had to have been what happened!

You look down at your hands, and are surprised to see that they look completely normal. Weird. Maybe it was dream perception or whatever.

You are busy doing different dream tests on yourself when you are interrupted by 'Apollo' answering your question.

"As a god of the future, it is possible for me to possess a vessel outside of the world of Ancient Greece, and using that vessel I can transport people to the past. I have a couple of these vessels around the world, all of them scattered across different times, of course. I assumed you knew that that 'fur-by' or whatever it's called was one of them." He spoke, shrugging.

That explained a few things, even if you were just dreaming (Right?). Though, you still were curious about some things. "What other vessels do you have?" you said, avoiding eye contact by looking at your cat he was STILL holding.

"I tend to do objects that are relics of their time period, but not always. I've taken statues, pottery, clothing, children's toys, two of those being Furbys , and other things." He said casually, ignoring your cat's frantic wiggling.

"That's neat" you say, still focusing on your cat.

"You seem a lot calmer now..." he observed quietly, his voice nearly a whisper as he looked you up and down.

"That's because I realized that I'm dreaming, and will probably wake up fine in the morning." You say casually, shrugging.

'Apollo' laughed, his warm voice flowing in the wind. "Oh I promise you little mortal, you are not- OW!" He yelps, looking down to see your cat biting down on his hand.

He quickly drops the cat, and you look down to hide the glint of amusement in your eyes. "By the gods that thing's teeth are sharp!" He exclaimed, staring down at the golden blood trickling out of the wound.

You quickly scooped up your cat protectively, stroking them as they purr. 'Apollo' narrowed his eyes at the cat as it rubbed against you innocently. "Anyways, as I was saying, I assure you this is no dream, but if that is what you wish to believe, you may carry on." He said, his voice calmed back down to his usual, slow tone as he played with his hair.

"Sure, so now that I'm apparently trapped here, what do you reckon I do?" You said, not bothering to cover the hint of skepticism in your voice.

"I suppose you could come to Olympus to see if the other gods have any ideas on how to get you home, but first I would like to learn your name." Apollo said, looking you in the eye.

"Why do you want to know?" You say, arching your eyebrow.

"Curiosity." He said, his gaze softening as he looked at you.

You sigh, bringing your gaze up to look back at him. But as you begin to truly look at him you had to bite back a gasp. He was gorgeous. His eyes were a piercing gold, and his tan skin almost looked like it was glowing. He had dark freckles dotting his cheeks, and his face was sharp and narrow. Apollo chuckled, noticing your shock. "I see you have finally taken in my appearance. Most mortals have the same reaction when in the presence of a god." He said, smirking. "Anyways, your name?" Apollo said smugly.

"___." You said cautiously, your voice barely a whisper, dream or not you were still in the presence of a stranger, even if he was the god he claimed to be.

"___.." He tried, tasting the name on his tongue. "Thats a good name for a pretty mortal like you." he chuckled.

You forcibly beat down the red crawling up your face, not wanting to be caught flustered by the prideful god.

Suddenly, Apollo grabbed you by the arm, carefully avoiding touching your cat. "Come on then, we should get on our way to Olympus."

You protested loudly as the god dragged you along, trying to wiggle out of his grasp. "Quit squirming! You are making this so much harder than it needs to be!" He yells, frustrated.

"What have you got there, brother?"

 

~~***~~

 

Both you and Apollo froze, staring in the direction of the voice. Suddenly, a tall slender woman stepped out of the trees. She had forest brown eyes, with long ginger hair tied in a loose braid behind her.

For the first time, Apollo seemed nervous.

"Greetings, Artemis." He said carefully, calming down his voice.

"Care to explain what you were doing?" She said, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing of your interest, sister." Apollo said, staring at Artemis.

"Really? Because what I see is my brother in the middle of the forest dragging away a young virgin woman against her will." Artemis said, her eyes narrowing at her brother.

He swallowed nervously, letting go of your arm. You stood there frozen in place, resisting the urge to run as you had no where to go.

"She is simply lost, dear sister. I am taking her to Olympus to see if the other gods know how to get her where she belongs." Apollo said slowly, flicking his gaze from you to his sister.

As Artemis turned to look at you, her gaze softened. "Another soul stuck in the wrong time?" She said softly, reaching her hand out at you, her fingers brushing your arm. Apollo nodded.

Artemis then turned her gaze back to Apollo, fire burning in her sharp eyes.

"Then why she has obtained immortality?" She spat.

Apollo's eyes widened in shock.

"I am not a fool brother, do you think I cannot sense it?" Artemis said, frustrated.

You stared at them in disbelief. "What..?" You whispered.

Apollo sighed, "I may have slipped her ambrosia while she was unconscious, and for that I apologize, sister." he said, wincing.

You felt your rage brewing beneath your skin. If you understood it right, that meant that Apollo had made it so you'll never make it home, due to the fact that your immortality would probably bind you here.

"YOU WHAT?!" You and Artemis yelled in unison. Artemis glanced at you in surprise, and perhaps a little bit of respect too.

"It was supposed to be a surprise! I thought surely she would prefer being an immortal goddess of Greece than being a lowly mortal." Apollo exclaimed.

"If being a goddess means I have to be around sneaks like you, then I would much prefer being a 'lowly mortal'!" You yelled, setting your cat down.

"She has a good point, brother." Artemis says, chuckling. Her face turned solemn again as she turned to face Apollo. "I will accompany you and her on your way to Olympus, where we will figure out how to fix this." She said, in a voice that wasn't open to argument.

Apollo sighed, and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, a giant golden chariot appeared before them, glittering in the sun. You stumble back, startled, as you stare at it with awe.

Then, to your surprise and horror, Apollo swoops in and grabs you by the waist, gently placing you in the chariot. He laughed to himself as you scowled at him.

"Was that really necessary, brother? I'm sure her legs work fine on their own." Artemis sighed, rolling her eyes as she scooped up your cat and stepped into the chariot. You blinked at her gratefully as she placed your cat down by your feet.

"That was not needed nor appreciated" You grumbled, staring down at your cat. You swear you heard Apollo laugh, but when you looked up he had wiped his face clean of emotion.

Suddenly, the chariot spun into the air, being led by white horses with fiery manes. You yelped in surprised, and felt yourself shrink into your seat in embarrassment as Apollo turned to look at you, amused.

Your embarrassment seemed to shrink away as you felt the wind blow through your hair, filling you with energy. You watched as the chariot leapt through the clouds, and pretty soon you saw a palace in the distance, sitting on top of a mountain peak. Was that Olympus?

~~***~~

You swallowed nervously as you stepped into the palace, feeling alone even with Artemis and Apollo guiding you.

Your eyes widened as you took in what was around you. Surrounding the room, there was twelve thrones, three of which were empty. In the very front of the throne room, sat a large bearded man, wielding a staff and wearing a crown. Next to him, an equally intimidating woman sat, wearing a beautiful dress that shimmered with blue and green, and a crown studded with sapphires and emeralds. Undoubtably, this was Zeus and Hera, the king and queen of the gods.

"Who is this you have brought us, Artemis and Apollo?" Zeus spoke, his voice deep and demanding. You felt yourself instinctively shrink under the curious gazes of the gods, staring at you like you were a fascinating bug.

"This is ___, father-"

"Who my foolish brother fed ambrosia too in her sleep. She is not from this time, and we need to know how to make her mortal again so she may be sent back home." Artemis interrupted, sticking her tongue out at Apollo. Zeus sighed in response, clearly not interested. The rest of the gods however, began to stare at you even more intensely.

"If she was fed ambrosia, that means she is now a goddess, and there is no reversing the effects of immortality." Zeus says calmly, staring at you with curiosity. Hera glances at you with pity.

Suddenly, a high pitched voice rang out from one of the other thrones. "A new goddess! What a delight! It would be nice to have a new face around here." You turned around to see where the voice was coming from, and to your surprise you saw what might just be the most beautiful woman you had ever seen staring back at you. You guessed this was Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty herself.

"I think it would be best to keep this new goddess on Olympus with us, that way she can learn the ways of an immortal." another voice rang out, much lower than the other one and belonging to a woman in battle armor. Athena you thought.

There was murmurs across the throne room as the gods whispered to one another. Suddenly, Zeus cleared his throat and the whole room went silent. "Very well, Athena. ___ will be kept here on Olympus. Until we can find her somewhere here to stay, I suggest she stay with another god or goddess." Zeus said, his voice booming through the room like a bell.

You looked around nervously, none of the gods seemed like someone you would want to spend the night with.

"I volunteer, father!" a cheerful but mischievous voice rang out. You looked and saw a young man wearing a winged cap and sandals. You instantly recognized the god as Hermes, god of messengers and thieves. Hera leaned in on Zeus and whispered in his ear, and he nodded in response. "Hermes, you know better than to think I will stick her in the chambers of a god, Artemis, would you be ok with taking ___ for the night?" Zeus said, his voice echoing like thunder.

"Of course father, I would be happy to." Artemis said, bowing. Zeus nodded in response and Hera smiled. "In that case, you all are dismissed." Hera said peacefully.

Artemis made a beckoning gesture and you followed her down a hallway, into the darkness of the palace.

Notes:

A/N: Hello readers! If you enjoyed this and want me to continue writing this, please leave a vote or a comment that way I can know! I decided to try and write a longer chapter, but for a frustratingly long time Wattpad kept telling me that it was only three minutes long, so what Wattpad is telling me now may be unreliable, so this chapter could be extra long for all I know. (P.S. I have been writing like nonstop for the past five hours and only got nine minutes of content made.. whyyy)

Edit from the future: so uhhh yeah none of this applies on this website lol. do whatever you want idc. I don't think I am capable of not continuing writing this these days anyways.

Chapter 3: Chapter Three- An Apology?

Artemis's chamber was surprisingly peaceful. As a wilderness goddess, Artemis herself didn't spend much time in it, and in fact had gone out to hunt in the forest for the night, leaving the bed all to yourself. Speaking of, the bed was surprisingly comfortable. It was filled with soft blankets and pillows, and Artemis said you could use it since she wasn't going to be back until morning. You had curled yourself in a ball and slept like a baby all through the night. You were peacefully snoring away when you awoke to a knock on the door.

Groggily, you moved your cat off your lap and walked towards the knocking. Half asleep, you open the door. When you see who it is, your eyes fling open. In front of you, stood the mischievous messenger god, Hermes.

"Why hello there, new goddess." The god smirked, leaning on the door frame. "Zeus requests you in the throne room." Hermes said. You shuddered, remembering the feeling of all the gods looking down at you. "I suggest you take a moment to straighten up before I lead you there." He said, his eyes glinting in amusement. You nod, embarrassed. "You aren't very talkative, are you?" Hermes muttered, a hint of boredom in his voice.

"What is there to talk about?" You mumble, walking away from the door. You quickly fix your hair and straighten the wrinkles from your clothes, but you aren't exactly sure how much it helped. Finally, you go back to Hermes, who was fidgeting with his bag. "Follow me." He said, bounding down the hall. You sigh inwardly, following him.

As you speed walk down the hall, trying to keep up with the god, you gaze at your surroundings, trying to keep yourself calm. The halls were filled with beautiful tapestries, each of a different myth. You would have liked to study them all, but evidently by the speed Hermes was going, you clearly didn't have the time.

Finally, you and Hermes had reached the throne room. He turns to you and bowed his head, "Ladies first." he smirked. You sighed and went in, instinctively bowing to Zeus and Hera, who were the only ones present in the room.

"Welcome, ___." Zeus said solemnly. You nervously look back up at the king of the gods. He had blue gray eyes and a long white beard. Hera, meanwhile had emerald green eyes that complemented her brunette hair that was up in a bun. Her dress was adorned with fine golden chains and had an embroidered peacock on the chest part. Both of them wore golden crowns, with different jewels imbedded in them.

"After you were sent away last night, we held a council meeting to decide what to do with you." Zeus said, holding himself in a commanding way. You swallowed nervously, having no idea what's happening.

"We've decided you will stay here on Olympus as a minor goddess, and Athena will mentor you in our ways." Zeus echoed, his deep voice rumbling like thunder. Hera gave him a meaningful glance and cleared her throat. "And Apollo will be punished." Zeus says in response. "Thank you, lord Zeus." You say quietly, nervous. "You will soon be given your own room, and you may feed ambrosia to your cat if you wish." Hera adds, looking slightly annoyed with Zeus.

"Lord Zeus, if I may ask, if I am to be a goddess what will my domain be?" You say, trying to strengthen your voice. "That is for you to decide, ___." Zeus responded, shrugging. You think for a moment, unsure what exactly you want. This topic had occurred many a time in your head when you were still where you were supposed to be. You draw a breath in and respond. "I would like to be a goddess of sorcery and a guardian of forest beasts." You say solemnly and Zeus raises and eyebrow at you. "Very well. It will be your job to establish your domain among the mortals, and it is up to you to determine how the mortals view you." He says.

"You are dismissed." Hera says, glancing at you with amusement in her eyes

You nod and bow your head, turning to the door. You still had a lot of questions, but you didn't want to push your luck. As you slip through the door, you see Hermes floating by the door. "Welcome back, goddess." He says in a sing-songy tone of voice. "Are you ready for your tour?" Hermes said, smirking. "Is that necessary?" You say, trying not to show the disappointment in your face. You had been looking forward to seeing your cat again.

Hermes giggled and looked into your eyes. "You don't exactly get a choice in this matter." He says, amused. You sigh, admitting defeat. Hermes turns and hovers down the hallway, and you follow him.

 

~ *** ~

 

After a long tour, Hermes leads you to where the other gods were hanging out. Aphrodite, Athena, Dionysus, and Ares stood around a pond, chattering. Dionysus was the first to spot the two of you approaching and smiled smugly, sipping a glass of wine. "Well look who the cat dragged in." He said, and the other gods looked your way. Aphrodite's face lit up. "Hello there dear!" She said, smiling.

You felt your words tighten in your throat, feeling nervous. "It's been a while since we had a new pretty face around here, it's almost been getting boring, really." Aphrodite said, winking at you. "She's gonna be a goddess of sorcery, so it looks like you guys will have a little bit of work taken off your load." Hermes said, smirking. Aphrodite exhaled a sigh of relief, but then looked concerned. "Oh dear. You're not gonna be another virgin goddess, are you?" She says, and she and Athena shoot a glare at each other.

You freeze, not knowing how to respond. The other gods looked at you expectantly, especially Hermes and Dionysus to your horror. "I- uh.." You awkwardly stammer, not even knowing the answer yourself. Would you be a virgin goddess? Maybe you should, but did you really want to? You couldn't tell.

Suddenly, the silence is broken by Athena clearing her throat. "How about I continue ___'s tour on my own?" She says, and you exhale a sigh of relief. "Stealing the new goddess away already, Athena? Thats not very fun." Dionysus said, twirling his curly black hair in his fingers. Athena cut him off with an assertive glare, and no one else dared to object.

"Thank you, Athena." You say, bowing your head. "No need, ___. I'm not sure how you even managed to be alone with Hermes for as long as you did." She said, chuckling. You bark out a laugh. "I suppose he wasn't as bad as Apollo was." You say. "Agreed-"

"Excuse me?!" A voice yells through the hall, interrupting Athena. You turn and see a familiar face. Apollo stood there, his amber eyes glaring at you and his golden laurel crown sitting crooked on his head. His hands were gripped tightly around his lyre, so tightly it almost looked as though it would snap.

You feel a surge of rage flow through you at the sight of him. "You dare compare me to my brother?!" He yells, and you feel your eyes burn in anger. "At least he didn't take me away from everyone I know and love!" You yell back, stopping yourself from running up to him and punching him in the stomach even though you were very tempted too. "You ungrateful worm! You'll be glad I brought you here soon enough!" He speaks harshly. Athena raises her eye at the two of you and steps back.

"You are so arrogant!" You cry out, frustrated. "That's enough, you two." Athena said calmly, stepping in-between you and Apollo. You shoot a glare at Apollo, and he shoots one right back. Athena drags you away with an amused glint in her eyes, and Apollo looks back at you with a confusing expression with a flurry of emotions in it. Anger, of course, but something else. Was that.. longing in his eyes?

 

- ~. * ~ -

 

After a long day with Athena, you are sent back to Artemis's chambers for the night, and are happy to be with your cat again. You feed C/N some strips of chicken and pat their head lovingly. Suddenly, you hear yet another knock at the door. Sighing, you walk up and swing it open, and are surprised to see Apollo. Before you can say anything, he yanks your wrist and drags you down the hall.

You yelp in surprise, and Apollo makes a shushing motion with his finger and you are too tired to argue. Finally, he stops at a room near the end of the hallway and drags you in. Judging by the fancy decorations and golden silk curtains you guessed this was his chambers. As tired as you are, you still feel anger with Apollo. "Why have you brought me her?" You mutter, rubbing your eyes tiredly.

Apollo's eyes soften, and he becomes less tense. "You are much more likable like this..." He whispers, and you roll your eyes. "Don't push your luck." You say. Apollo sighs and lets go of you. "Listen, I brought you here so I can apologize." Apollo said quickly, the words quickly rushing out of his mouth. Your eyes widen in surprise, as this was the last thing you expected.

"It was foolish of me to do what I did, and I shouldn't have said what I said." Apollo sighs. "l..." You trail off, not sure what to say. You look into Apollo's eyes and you almost find yourself forgive him for a second, but not quite.

"Listen, I'm not sure if I can ever forgive you, but I accept your apology." You said to your own surprise, "We can leave it in the past for now and start over." You continued. Apollo looked surprised and nodded. "That would be great." He said, smiling softly.

You sigh, "This is your second chance, so don't ruin it." You say sternly. "Can I go back to Artemis's room now?" You mumble, exhausted.

That was when he tried to kiss you.

Notes:

Author's Note- Finally got this finished! For this chapter rather than just hyper fixating on writing for a couple hours after a few days of feeling unmotivated, I just worked on it for shorter amount of times spread out through a couple days. Also, this is probably gonna be the last chapter that focuses on Apollo for a while because the other gods need some time in the sun. I have not decided which god (or goddess but probably not) will end up with Y/N in the end so like I don't want to have no choice because I focused too hard on one character.

Also sorry for coming for your job Hecate

 

Originally Published 3/12/25

Chapter 4: Chapter Four- An Apology Ruined.

Apollo grabbed you by the waist, pulling you toward him and leaning toward you, puckering his lips. You resist, but he has a strong grip on you. So you do the next best thing.

You slapped him across the face.

Ok yes, maybe that wasn't the best decision, but what else were you gonna do? Let him kiss you? Without permission?

Apollo staggered back, surprised. His eyes glowed with anger, and he lifted his hand to feel the wound on his cheek. "I thought you said you were giving me a second chance!" He yelled, frustrated.

"Thats not what I meant! And now you just ruined your second chance!" You yell back, enraged. Apollo looked a bit panicked, to your surprise. Before he can say anything, the door swings open. Standing in the doorway, was Hermes, giggling mischievously. If you had to guess, you'd say he'd been standing behind that door the whole time.

"Hello dear Brother. I see you've been bothering the new goddess?" Hermes says, smirking. Apollo clenched his fists, glaring at Hermes. Hermes dipped his head, chuckling.

"How about I escort ___ back to Artemis's chambers?" Hermes said his eyes glittering smugly at Apollo. You had to admit that going back was the only thing you felt like doing right now, Apollo's failed attempt at a kiss had left you sick to your stomach. Apollo opens his mouth like he was gonna say something, but you cut him off with a glare.

Hermes led you out of the room down the hallway, in the direction of Artemis's chamber to your relief. Once you two were out of earshot, Hermes stopped and turned to you. "So what exactly happened in there?" Hermes said, his voice laced with curiosity rather than the amusement that was normal for him. You felt your heart beat speed up as you clench your fists, filled with the usual rage you having when thinking about Apollo.

"He tried---" You start, choking on your words. Hermes looked at you confused. You took a deep breath and continued. "That son of a toad tried to kiss me." You say, not hiding the murderous glint in your eyes.

Hermes widened his eyes, continuing too walk. "You really hate him, huh?" Hermes said, in a slightly mocking tone. His face turned serious for a moment. "Does this mean you're gonna be a virgin goddess?" his voice said, almost a whisper. You freeze, remembering that while Athena helped you avoid the question before, the gods were still looking for answers. "I.. I don't know. It feels like the best option sometimes but other times it doesn't feel right to me. I think I just need time to figure out." You say, sighing.

Hermes nodded in understanding. "Besides, I just like screaming at Apollo, it's almost therapeutic, really." You joke, trying to bring up the mood. Hermes barked out a laugh. "Here, how about tomorrow you and the girls and I go out? That way you can avoid him." He said.

You hesitated for a moment, you assumed that by 'the girls' Hermes meant Athena and Aphrodite, but he could mean anyone. Honestly, the incident with Apollo affected you a lot more than you were letting on, I mean you had no idea Apollo liked you like that. All you wanted to do was sit in bed and sulk, but you knew it would be better to socialize. "That sounds nice." You simply say. Suddenly, Hermes stopped at Artemis's door "Great, I'll see you tomorrow then." He said smugly

You stepped into the room, practically leaping into the bed. Hermes left and closed the door, but you still couldn't fall asleep for a while, as your mind kept wandering back to Apollo. Why would he do that? Did he.. like you..? No, surely not. But then why would he try to kiss you? Your thoughts were interrupted by yet another knock at the door, and you sigh and get out of bed, why can't you just be left alone?

You look through the peephole this time, seeing the tall shape of Apollo standing in front of the door. "Go away!" You yell through the peephole. You then rush back to the bed and shove your face into the soft silky pillows to drown out the sound of the knocking until Apollo finally gave up and left. You sigh in relief, finally falling into a deep sleep.

 

'~*~'

 

Finally, you wake up, to Hermes flinging your door open. "Guess who now has their very own chamber~" He says, laughing as you and your cat (AN: I never forget about the cat, I just forget to write them in) blink at him groggily. As you finally processed his words, you perked up. "Really?" You said excitedly, grabbing your cat. Hermes giggled, "Follow me." He said, amused. Your cat meowed in protest as you hurriedly followed him.

He stops at a new door, it seemingly was made from polished mahogany wood, and the golden door handle had vines carved on it. You open it hesitantly, and see a comfy looking hanging bed with a big canopy. Beside it, there was a giant wooden wardrobe, with animals and plants carved on it. There was giant window with two sets of curtains on it, one of them translucent. You stare in awe at your new room.

"Like it? We didn't know if you preferred bathing in springs, so we had the servants add a bathroom just in case." Hermes said, nodding to another mahogany door that you had failed to notice. You also saw a cat bed with a food and water bowl next the door, and placed your cat there.

"They also made dresses and accessories for you to wear." Hermes continued, pointing at the wardrobe. You sighed in relief, as your pajamas were getting quite dirty. You were so excited about your new room you nearly jumped up and hugged him, but you held back. Your eyes twinkled as you stared at your new room.

"I'll be back in a couple hours." Hermes said, smirking. You nodded at him, grateful. He turned and walked through the door, and you heard his soft foot steps fade into the distance.

You excitedly opened the wardrobe and see a variety of beautiful dresses, along with shoes. Shoes! Oh how you missed real SHOES! As of now, you've been wearing your worn out slippers that were basically falling apart at this point. You quickly grab a nice green dress and pair of golden sandals. You take the items with you to the bathroom, where you see towels and various different hair brushes and combs. In the middle of the room, there stood a big ol' tub. You immediately filled it with warm water. (AN: Sorry to interrupt again I'm just here to tell you not to worry about how the tub works.) You take your hair out of its ponytail, and climb out of you pajamas and step into the bath.

 

After a long warm bath, you step out of the tub and grab a towel and brush. You sit down on your bed and brush your messy, tangled hair. As you sit there, you remember what happened with Apollo last night. You still couldn't understand anything, even after clearing your head with sleep. You sigh and get off your bed, slipping on the green toga style dress since you felt uncomfortable thinking about the god in such a vulnerable position.

Why and what was Apollo thinking? You pondered the conundrum as you got dressed, slipping on your sandals and a pretty opal necklace. What did Apollo think of you? And... What did you think of him?

You sat back down on your bed, leaning into the soft plush blankets, sighing. Perhaps you should do something to take your mind off what happened with Apollo, but nothing came to mind. You put on some golden bracelets, and waited for Hermes to arrive.

 

'~*~'

 

Finally, you heard a knock on your door. You excitedly jumped off your bed, hoping to finally have something to do. You open the door and see Aphrodite standing there giddily. "Hello, darling!" She said, eyeing you up and down. "I see you've finally given yourself a proper outfit" she said, smirking. You felt yourself glow in embarrassment, clutching your dress. "You know, I picked out your wardrobe myself!" Aphrodite exclaimed proudly, lifting her chin up. You nod your head gratefully.

"Anyways, shall we go on our way?" Athena yelled from somewhere behind Aphrodite.

Aphrodite rolls her eyes and nods, leading you away.

Notes:

Author's Note: I was only on my ADD meds for the first few paragraphs of this chapter, so sorry if it was written weird. Also, sorry that this was shorter than usual, I just suddenly lost motivation for the day. Also, happy late Ides of March! I hope you all had a good time stabbing Julius Caesar!

 

Originally Published 3/16/25

Chapter 5: Chapter Five- A Day Out

You followed Athena and Aphrodite down the hall. You were curious as to where they were going, but you figured you'll find out soon enough, and stayed silent. You looked up at the two goddesses as they led the way, trying to seem more confident than you actually felt. Aphrodite kept looking back at you, her deep brown eyes glimmering with what looked like curiosity. You had a feeling that she was trying to hold herself back from asking a question, and that soon she was gonna break. You drew in a resigned breath, accepting your fate.

"So what's going on with you and Apollo?"

There it was.

Aphrodite's tone was almost teasing, as it broke the silence. You flinched hearing Apollo's name, and Aphrodite seemed even more intrigued. "Must we discuss that topic?" You sighed, not wanting to have to untangle that particular mess in your brain. Athena looked at you with pity, but also curiosity, as if she had been wondering that too.

You sigh, knowing you have to provide some sort of answer. "He's just been annoying me." You say, trying to sound casual, but the strain in your voice and the tensing of your shoulders probably betrayed your discomfort. Athena raises an eyebrow skeptically, and Aphrodite laughs. "'just been annoying you', really? Hermes said something happened between you too last night, and I am determined to find out what it was." Aphrodite said stubbornly, placing her hands on her hips.

Your breath got caught in your throat as you tried to figure out how to respond. You felt heat rise up your face, and you tried to beat it down before Aphrodite noticed, but it was too late. "You're blushing! Now I have to know!" She exclaimed, her voice giddy. Truthfully, you think the red on your face was more from shame than anything else, but Aphrodite clearly thought otherwise. "He was. really getting on my nerves, and I slapped him across the face in self defence." You say, using your words to dance around the truth without lying.

Aphrodite seemed disappointed, but Athena's eyes glittered with amusement. "It was about time someone did so. I must admit, it is often I feel like slapping him myself." Athena said, chuckling. "He deserved it." You muttered.

"Hello ladies!~" A voice rang out from behind you, and you jumped. You turned around and saw Hermes behind you, chuckling lightly at your surprise. "Oh great.." Athena muttered, rolling her eyes. Hermes scoffed and gave her a wounded look, "And here I thought you enjoyed our little outings!" He exclaimed, and Athena laughed in response.

"So, where exactly are we going?" You said confidently, trying to clear your mind. Hermes turns back to you, his eyes glittering. "Probably the mortal realm unless we feel like going some where else." He said, shrugging. You perked up, realizing that this would be your chance to establish yourself among the mortals, and also your chance to find out what point in time you have been transported to. You quietly hum to yourself, thinking about how you would make yourself known to the mortals, and how they will behave. Maybe they'll actually understand you, after all, none of the gods on Olympus really know what it's like to be a regular person.

 

~'*'~

 

"So, basically you're telling me to jump off this mountain and fall to my death." You said skeptically, raising an eyebrow.

Hermes sighed and his forehead creased in frustration, "For the last time ___, just float down, you'll be fine." He stated, impatient.

"I think you forget I have literally no idea how to do that." You said, looking him in the eye.

Hermes sighed again, and you pinched the bridge of your nose in frustration, it wasn't like you were the problem here! Suddenly, Hermes grabs you and carries you bridal style off the ledge, his touch firm but warm. You wriggle and yell but Hermes playfully ignores your protests.

Then you made the mistake of looking down. You stopped squirming, and gripped him tightly. "Not a fan of heights?" He remarked, his amber eyes glittering with amusement. You tried to muster up anger at him, but all you felt was paralyzing fear. "Whoops!" Hermes said, pretending that his hands were slipping, you gripped him even tighter and he laughed at your fear. "Not. Funny." you hissed through your teeth, staring down at the ground that was far below you, and Hermes barked out a laugh.

As you slowly got closer to the ground, you saw Athena and Aphrodite staring at you, and you felt a twist of embarrassment in your stomach. Finally you approached the ground, and Hermes still didn't let you down. You started wriggling again, scowling at Hermes. Aphrodite giggled, and Athena looked like she may have been stifling a laugh. "Put me down you heathen!" You growled, and Hermes gave you a mischievous look. "Oh so NOW you want me to let you down." He said smugly, and you felt a flash of fury. You finally wriggled out of Hermes' grasp, and he let out a little gasp of surprise. "Someone's feisty." He quipped, and you shot him a glare.

You brush the dirt off your dress, and meet the other two goddesses' eyes. "Shall we go now?" You say, deciding to ignore Hermes' presence for now. Athena nods, her gray eyes glowing in the sunlight. You follow the two goddesses as they lightly tread towards a mortal settlement nearby, and you could hear Hermes walking behind you, though you didn't dare to look at him, you rather let yourself brew in your own pettiness.

"Why are we walking there? I'm getting dirt on my lovely clothes!" Aphrodite remarked, striking a dramatic pose. You and Athena exchanged a glance, and she rolled her eyes. Athena paused for a moment before turning her gaze towards Hermes, and thoughtful expression on her pale face. "Why are we heading there on foot, Hermes?" Athena asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically. Hermes shrugged, "I wanted to take the scenic route, but I guess if you all insist we don't have to." He said, exhaling a dramatic sigh.

"How about we go to Arcadia instead? I heard they are hosting a festival in your honor today, Hermes." Athena suggested, looking Hermes in the eye. Hermes perked up, his eyes glowing and his shoulders looking lighter. "We should! I could introduce you all to my mother!" He exclaimed, looking joyful. If you knew your greek mythology correctly, you guessed he was talking about Maia, who lived in a cave in Arcadia at the time of Hermes' birth.

Before anyone can respond, Hermes excitedly grabs everyone by the wrists, and you find yourself in the wild town of Arcadia before you can blink.

 

~*~

 

You find yourself overwhelmed by your surroundings, the sounds of merchants loudly advertising their products, parents yelling at their kids, and people loudly talking to each other filled your ears. While Hermes seemed full of confidence, you felt yourself instinctively shrinking, even though Athena informed you that you were invisible to the mortals until you choose to show yourself. You nervously fidget with your opal necklace, keeping your head down.

Hermes started aggressively looking through his bag, muttering to himself as Aphrodite stared at him judgmentally. Finally, Hermes triumphantly pulls out four pieces of Jewelry. "Finally, I was starting to think you forgot them." Aphrodite said, rolling her eyes. "What are those?" You ask, narrowing your eyes at the sparkling objects Hermes held. "They're our mortal disguises, basically." He replied carelessly.

You sighed inwardly, deciding not to comment on the lack of actual information in Hermes' reply. He tossed you a golden bracelet, and you instinctively slid it on your wrist. You shivered as you felt your appearance change, it was a very unsettling feeling. Almost like you were putting on someone else's skin. You watched as Hermes tossed the others their 'mortal disguises' or whatever it was he said. Athena wore a silver ring, Aphrodite wore a pearl necklace, and Hermes wore a golden bracelet similar to yours.

Despite their physical appearances changing, they were all still very reminiscent of their godly forms. Aphrodite was still as radiant as ever, with her wavy strawberry blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, and her now dark brown eyes shining in the sunlight like pots of honey. Athena still radiated quiet wisdom and power, though rather than a suit of armor she now wore a modest ivory robe, and her once gray eyes were now an icy blue. Hermes looked pretty much the same except his cap and sandals were no longer winged, he was still covered in freckles and still wore a boyish grin on his face that complimented his fluffy brunette hair.

You wondered how you looked, and if you even looked different at all since you were a mortal by blood. "Still radiant as ever, ____." Hermes commented, smirking at you. You shot him a skeptical look, refusing to react how he wants you too. "I could say the same about you two." You say, nodding towards Athena and Aphrodite politely. "What about me?" Hermes exclaims, with a mocking tone, and you roll your eyes. "You weren't exactly radiant in the first place" you respond, shrugging. Hermes lets out a dramatic gasp, "You wound me!" he says, grinning. Aphrodite giggles, her smooth voice echoing through the marketplace.

"How about we go check out the mortal shops first?" Athena says, clearing her throat. "We should go to the jewelry stands!" Aphrodite exclaims excitedly, hopping from one foot to another. "Sounds good to me." You declared, not really caring all that much.

Aphrodite grabs your wrist giddily and practically drags you over to the jewelry stands. "Hey!" You call out in surprise, but the goddess doesn't seem to notice. Aphrodite comes to a stop in front of a small booth with a glossy blue awning. The whole booth was covered in breathtaking jewelry, there were a variety of crystal necklaces and rings, each one of them unique. "These are beautiful.." You breathed, looking at the gems. "Thanks, I made them myself." The shopkeeper said shyly, not looking you in the eye. Aphrodite grabs a golden necklace with a ruby pendant in the shape of a heart and looks at it curiously. You focus your attention on a golden opal ring, it was carved in the shape of a dragon, and it was filled with tiny intricate details that really took your breath away.

Hermes and Athena finally catch up to you, and Hermes strides over to your side. "Do you want me to get you that one?" He says, and you narrow your eyes at him. "What's the catch?" You said skeptically. You didn't exactly trust Hermes, if you were being honest. He laughs, and you narrow your eyes at him even more. "No catch, just a simple good deed." Hermes hums, and you give him a skeptical look. "Excuse me sir, how much for this dragon ring?" He says, directing his attention to the shopkeeper. "That one? I'd say five coins." The shopkeeper huffs, pointing at the ring in question.

Hermes digs through his bag and pulls out a soft velvet bag, and slides it to the shopkeeper. He gives Hermes a surprised look, and shrugs, taking the bag and handing you the ring. "Thank you-" you say, stopping yourself before you said Hermes. You slide the ring on your index finger, and look at the twinkling opal. "No problem." He said, grinning lightly at you.

After a while of Aphrodite trying to haggle over the price of the necklace she was looking at, you and the rest of the group finally left the stand, with the stubborn goddess proudly displaying her prize. You keep stealing glances at your new ring when you think no one is looking, trying not to fuel Hermes' ego with how much you appreciated the gift.

As you and the others walk down the road, several merchants try to stop you so you can buy their wares.

"Fresh fish! Get your fresh fish!"

"Best carpets in all of Arcadia!"

"Don't listen to him! If you want real quality carpets visit my shop!"

It was honestly exhausting, really. The other gods seemed unfazed by the merchants, and you wondered how they managed to ignore them so well. At some point, a kid tried to steal from Hermes' bag, but Hermes grabbed him by the wrist, giving him an amused look. "Nice try, but you'll need to be much quicker if you want to pick pocket people walking down the street." He said, tossing a coin to the kid, who stared down at it in awe.

"Ugh, must you always be rewarding street rats for their bad behavior?" Aphrodite grumbled, giving Hermes a look. "C'mon, the kid was clearly starving, plus I am a god of thieves after all." He quipped back, giving her a look back. "Kid's gotta eat somehow." You pipe in, shrugging, and Aphrodite looks down to the ground and mumbles something to herself. Athena doesn't react to the situation, keeping her face stoic as usual.

Hermes gives you an approving glance, and you feel yourself shimmer with pride. Aphrodite then looks up at the two of you and smirks, "How about we split up for a bit? Me and Athena will continue looking at the shops and you two can visit your temple." Aphrodite says smugly, and you find yourself confused with what she means. "Sounds fine to me." Hermes responds, and you just nod in response. "We can meet back up at Maia's cave at sunset." Athena says smoothly, nodding her head.

The two goddesses walk away, leaving you alone with Hermes. You swallow nervously, realizing that this is gonna be a long day.

Notes:

Author's Note: Thanks for reading!!! I have recently gone up to three engaged readers, which is really exciting for me. So thank you all for the support! This chapter was a bit of a long one, so I hope that makes up for the fact that it took me like a week to finish it. Most of it was written today, I just haven't found that much motivation this week. Also I have like curly strawberry blonde hair and I aspire to have it be long enough to cascade down my shoulder's like Aphrodite's does in this chapter.

 

~Originally Published 3/23/25~
Edit from the future: I'm realizing that like half of these notes do not translate well to ao3 but I'm leaving them here so you can see what was going on in my head when I wrote it

Chapter 6: Chapter Six- Questions With Too Many Answers

Aphrodite bounds off into the distance, with Athena following her. You stand there, watching them rather shocked. "Well, don't just stand there, where do you wanna go?" Hermes asked gleefully. "Didn't they say we should go to your temple?" You ask back, a bit confused.

"I mean, we could but we don't have to spend the whole day in there. I wanna go shopping!" Hermes replies, almost pouting on the last part of his sentence. You nod, "How about we just walk among the booths and browse?" You offer, not really having anything specific you want to get. "Just tell me if you see anything cool." Hermes says, shrugging.

You follow the god through the streets, looking at the booths as you pass. You find yourself instinctively stopping in front of a book stand, looking at the wares being sold there. You always enjoyed reading, and you were sure that even in Ancient Greece they would have cool things to read. Hermes gives you a surprised look, "You can read?" He asks, and you're so startled by the question you start choking on your spit.

"Of course I can read! I love reading!" You exclaim passionately, looking Hermes in the eye. "Usually the women I meet don't know how too, how far in the future are you from?" He says, narrowing his eyes at you curiously. You do a bit of math in your head before responding, "I'd say about 3,000-2,000 years." You say, shrugging. Hermes seems to make the wise decision of not pushing any farther, and takes a step back as you look at the books.

They were all beautifully decorated, and you looked at them with wonder. You grabbed a philosophy book, and studied it curiously, and the shop keeper looks at you with the same surprise Hermes did, but he didn't say anything. Hermes laughs as you feverishly look at the books, and grabs a couple of coins out of his bag. "Just pick one for now, I'm sure once the others figure out you like to read you'll have plenty of books." Hermes says, smiling at you. You hesitate for a moment before reaching for book about Mesopotamian culture, finding that the most interesting. Hermes raises an eyebrow at you before tossing the coins to the shop keeper.

You and the messenger god continue walking down the street, stopping at a few booths along the way to browse but not actually getting anything. You had even started getting use to all the noise, and were able to partially block it out. You and Hermes were already on your way to his temple when you finally saw something that caught your attention, it was a fox running through the streets in horror as a crowd of men wielding spears and swords chased after it. The poor thing looked like it was starving, and you felt your heart twinge in pity. You tug at Hermes' arm to get his attention and pointed at the fox. He sighed, and nodded, stopping in his tracks.

You ran in-between the fox and the hunters, scowling at them. "Get out of the way lady!" A voice called out from the crowd. You passionately shook your head, "Leave the poor creature alone, it has done you no harm." You growl defensively, though the men only snickered in response. "Move before we make you!" Another voice called out, the other men joining in. Suddenly, you feel a dagger fly past your head, hitting the wall behind you instead. You feel yourself slip off your bracelet in rage, ripping off your mortal disguise. The crowd goes silent as they see the goddess standing before them, and you cast them a disapproving look.

"I am the goddess ____, protector of wild beasts and goddess of sorcery. I suggest you all leave before you become subject to my wrath." You snarl at them. Your statement alone causes a few men to run away, but as you take a threatening step closer the rest of the crowd disappears as well. You sigh in relief, sliding your bracelet back on, and turning to the cowering fox crouching in front of a wall.

Hermes approaches giving you a skeptical look as you attempt to scoop up the fox. "Done causing a scene?" He says in a sing song voice, looking from you to the fox. "Oh please, tell me you didn't feel bad for the thing as well." You reply, rolling your eyes. Hermes sighed, "I suppose so."

"Lets get this fox outside of the city where it's safer." You suggest, putting distance in between you and the fox as to not provoke it. "I don't understand what all the fuss is about a wild animal, but if you insist." Hermes says shrugging. He snaps his fingers, and next thing you know you are in the forest.

The fox runs off into the trees, and you smile, knowing you had done something right. Compared to the town, the forest is much prettier. You were in a sunlit clearing where the light filtered through the thin tree canopy, there was a small brook of water surrounded by colorful wild flowers, and you couldn't help but sit down to admire the beauty of the area. Hermes walks over and sits beside you, smirking.

"I don't recommend lingering here too long, Pan tends to roam in these woods." Hermes says, plucking a flower and twirling it between his fingers. "Your pretty enough to catch his attention, if you know what I mean." He continues carelessly, and you hear yourself snort. "Me, pretty? I kinda doubt that. Besides, I can defend myself just fine." you blurted. Hermes gave you a concerned look, and you felt yourself blush in embarrassment.

"I think many of the gods on Olympus would agree with me that you're quite pretty, you've already caught a lot of people's eyes." Hermes says, his tone light. Your face reddens, and you look down, trying to hide your reaction to being called pretty. Hermes grins, "Of course, you didn't hear that from me." he chuckles. "Whatever." You mumble, deciding not to dwell on what he said for now. "Lets just head back" You finally say, after a moment of silence. "As you wish, m'lady."

 

~'*'~

 

After doing some more exploring of the town, you and Hermes finally approach the temple. It was breathtaking. The polished wooden doors had caduceuses carved into them, and the pillars looked like they were made of solid marble. On each pillar, there was a tapestry displayed on them, each one featuring Hermes in some way. You take a moment to gawk at the beautiful structure, and Hermes lets you without teasing for once.

Finally, you let Hermes lead you inside, and you then have to take another moment to gawk at the inside. There was hundreds of offerings laid out in front of a tapestry featuring a caduceus on it. The walls were filled with gold that had been carved in, each taking the shape of a specific symbol of Hermes. "Ugh, I keep telling them that I don't like these things but they keep offering them anyway. Want one?" Hermes grumbles, holding out a small pastry that was sitting among the other offerings. "Uh, sure, I guess." You respond, grabbing the pastry. Your eyes light up as you take a bite, your mouth savoring the sweet flavor. It was delicious. You quickly finish the thing, licking your lips clean of the crumbs.

Hermes laughs warmly, his hazel eyes glowing in the candle light. He steps closer, close enough to feel his warm breath on your face and you instinctively look back up at him. "I don't usually like tasting sweet things, unless it's you." Hermes says, winking.

You immediately punch him in the stomach after that comment.

Hermes staggers back in surprise, clutching his stomach. Perhaps it was a little violent, but you weren't going to allow Hermes to get away with saying that. You had to assert yourself.

"Alright, I guess I deserved that." He says, in-between winces. "I suggest you think twice before making a comment like that in my presence, pea brain." You say, trying to keep your voice low as to not betray how flustered you felt. "Point- taken..." Hermes says, flinching. You tried to make sure that if you had any red on your face at all, it was out of anger and not anything else.

Hermes then proceeds to give you a tour of the temple, though it's a little bit strained because of the little incident that occurred earlier. You clench your fists angrily thinking about it, though you weren't actually sure how to feel. After a while, Hermes leads you out of the temple and into a private garden behind it. "We can wait here until sundown." Hermes says, drinking out of a goblet of wine he had picked up somewhere along the tour. You nod at him, and he sighs.

"Alright, look, I'm sorry for making that comment, and I get it was totally uncalled for." Hermes blurts, and you feel a little bit of sympathy for him. "It's fine, I just want to know why you would say something like that." you sigh, looking back up at him. Hermes hesitates, swallowing nervously.

"Listen, you wouldn't have noticed, but there has been a lot of competition over your attention. Artemis and Athena have been trying to make sure you get your personal space, but like how when Aphrodite arrived all of the gods have been getting competitive over you. A new beautiful goddess attracts a lot of curiosity, especially when we want to get to know you ourselves before Zeus marries you off. Everybody wants to stake their claim, and I guess that's what I was doing." Hermes blurts out, and your eyes widen in shock at him. You rub your temples, you take a moment to process all that he said, feeling overwhelmed.

"Wait.. did you say that Zeus is gonna marry me off?" You breathed, both confused and terrified.

Hermes inhales sharply, and you feel your stomach twist. "Well, he might not. There's no way to know. It's just that he married Aphrodite off when she arrived to avoid conflict, and he might do it again." Hermes continues, his words rushing out of his mouth like a waterfall.

You felt overwhelmed by the amount of information, there was so much emotions that your brain was trying to conjure up, and you weren't sure how to feel. You buried your head in your hands, and Hermes looked a bit panicked. You were a new goddess just getting your feet on the ground, and now you had to deal with the possibility that you may have to get married to a stranger.

If you were to get married to any of the gods, who would you even want that to be? Hermes? You couldn't lie to yourself and say you had an answer. Why did Hermes have to make that comment earlier? You could've just gotten to continue living in blissful ignorance, but deep down you knew that you would've found out sooner or later, and maybe this was the best time to do so.

You buried your face deeper into your hands and begun to cry. Hermes awkwardly patted you on the back and you chose to ignore his efforts. You were embarrassed at your show of emotion but you couldn't really do anything. Your embarrassment just made your crying worse. You breathed in and out over and over again to try and pull yourself back together but your breaths kept quickening. Your brain was moving too quick for you to keep up, and you felt lost.

Suddenly, Hermes grabbed both of your shoulders, and you stiffened at the sudden contact. He started massaging them, not very well, but the gesture was enough to ground you. "Apollo taught me this once as a favor, and I thought maybe it would help?" He said softly, clearly nervous.

You chuckled softly despite your tears. "Thank you, Hermes." You sighed. You stared down at your opal necklace, admiring how it shined in the sunlight. You still felt kind of hollow, but you figured you'll sort through your feelings later when you were alone. You felt a little bit uncomfortable, but you tried to push that aside. For now, you were gonna try to be fine.

Notes:

Author's Note: Merry Wattpadmas have another chapter

All jokes aside I was having a moral dilemma when I wrote that Hermes line, like I was texting all my friends asking if I should make him say that or not, because it felt like to good of an opportunity but its also an absolutely wild line. I hope y'all enjoy this chapter, I just started spring break so I might write more actively this week, however I will be going on vacation in a couple of days soon so perhaps not. Shout out to my friend Bailey for giving me the ok to have Hermes say that he wants to taste somebody *skull emoji*

~Published 3/24/25~

Chapter 7: BONUS CHAPTER I: LONGING

~APOLLO'S P.O.V~

 

The sun god paced back in forth in his room, thinking about you. When Apollo first saw you, he couldn't help but be enamored. He saw the way the wind blew through your hair, and how your eyes glowed in the sunlight. He saw the way your lips looked when you smiled, he saw the way your face lit up when you saw your cat like you had just discovered sunshine rather than a fluffy thing with sharp teeth. Your voice was smooth like a melody, and your hair shined in his radiant beams of light. Apollo was drawn by you.

He remembered when he first brought you to his realm, and how he had slipped you ambrosia as you slept, knowing he wouldn't be able to separate from you. Apollo thought surely you would be overjoyed at the prospect of being his lover, but apparently not. When Apollo had tried to claim what he deserved you had slapped him across the face. Apollo savored the memory of the kiss that almost was, the feeling of his hands on your waist, the feeling of the warmth of your breath on his face. It felt natural, how things were supposed to be. But it was interrupted.

And then his annoying little brother swept in and stole you away, Apollo remembered with a twist of rage in his stomach. Thats where you were now, laughing and enjoying yourself with that thief. Apollo had been watching from his sun chariot all day, until you retreated to Hermes' mother's cave where you were now. Apollo remembered seeing Hermes comfort you as you cried with a twinge of jealousy. That should have been him massaging your shoulders, that should have been him joking with you and easing your nerves.

Apollo felt himself brim with rage as he thought about you and Hermes, how he flirted with you and made you blush. He thought back to when you punched Hermes in the gut with satisfaction, surely a sign you were meant to be with Apollo instead.

Apollo wanted to be the one to hold you, to comfort you in your sadness, to buy you gifts. Most importantly, he wanted to be the one to kiss you, to shower you in his desire, and perhaps go even farther. (AN: Me and Y/N are getting ready to square up with Apollo) He still had a chance to be the one who does those things with you, Hermes hadn't stolen that yet.

Apollo wondered how it would feel to kiss you, to feel your warm lips against his own. He felt so much desire towards you, desire that you surely felt towards him. But then why do you keep rejecting him? Perhaps Hermes and the other gods were distracting you, making you feel doubt. Perhaps Apollo just needed to stand out more. To try more. To do more.

Apollo knew what he had to do.

He would see you tonight.

(AN: I'M TELLING A TRUSTED ADULTTT!!!! ARTEMISSSSS COME PICK ME UP I'M SCARED)

 

~HERMES' P.O.V~

 

Hermes liked you and he couldn't deny it. He started going after you to annoy his older brother, but it developed into so much more. It started that night Apollo had tried to kiss you, when Hermes walked in.

Hermes had been walking back to his chambers that night when he caught a glimpse of Apollo dragging you through the hall.

Intrigued, he followed, hiding himself in the shadows. He propped his ear to the door, waiting for the best time to intervene. When he finally opened the door, he saw you bristling as Apollo staggered back from you with a giant red mark on his face. Hermes thought back to that with a smile, knowing that no matter what he did Apollo certainly deserved it.

Hermes saw you differently than he saw you before, though. He saw the way your eyes twinkled in the moonlight, he saw the way you made yourself look taller when you were angry, despite having a noticeable height difference with all of the other gods and goddesses. Hermes noticed the way you looked at him like he was your savior from Apollo, he saw how you smiled.

Hermes was intrigued by you.

Or at least that's what he thought it was.

Hermes feels like offering to escort you to Artemis' chambers was the best choice he had made in a while. He liked how you were so honest with him, even when he was wearing his trickster persona. Hermes remembered how he was unable to look away from you, he remembered how much hatred you showed when talking about Apollo, which made him laugh. Hermes remembered how eager you were to accept his request to take you out with Athena and Aphrodite, to take your mind off Apollo.

The best part had to be the morning after, though. Hermes remembered how excited you were to receive your new chambers with a twinge of satisfaction. Hermes couldn't deny that you were kind of cute when you got all excited, your eyes wide like a doe's. He had spent that morning barely able to wait, pacing around his room until he finally thought he had given you enough time to prepare and sent Aphrodite and Athena for you.

Hermes thought back to when he carried you in his arms down the cliff, feeling rather amused as you froze in fear. You were warm and smelled of lavender, and your hair was smooth and silky against his chest. He remembered how you writhed in anger only after he had reached the ground, managing to break out of his strong grip.

Hermes thought about your face when he had bought you that opal ring, the way you lit up every time you looked at it, and how you had tried to hide your joy from him. Hermes remembered how he felt himself blushing when Aphrodite took Athena and left, giving him a smirk and a knowing glance. He had walked with you down the crowded streets, watching your face as you looked around.

He remembered your passion as you defended the unfortunate fox that had found itself in the city being chased by hunters, and he remembered how you blushed when he called you pretty in the forest. He was worried about the other gods, he knew Apollo wasn't the only one who had their eye on you.

Hermes thought about how he had flirted with you in his temple with a sting of regret, it was only a couple of hours ago, but his chest was still sore from how you had punched it. Even worse, it lead to a conversation where he made you cry. That was an awful feeling that he never wants to experience again. He didn't want to ever make you cry, he wanted to make you feel good, to make you feel wanted.

And now, he sat beside you on a log, watching as you read your book he had bought for you. He's pretty sure he's ready to do anything for you, to go anywhere for you, you just need to ask.

Notes:

Author's Note: merry Wattpadmas again

Is this cannon? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, it's up to interpretation.

seriously tho I am gonna have to throw hands with apollo because I made him creepy in this. It's somehow his fault.
Edit from the future: yeah the bonus chapters are canon now.

~Originally Published 3/24/25~

Chapter 8: Chapter Seven- Maia

You stared down at the ground below you, looking at the variety of flowers. It was filled with Crocus flowers, a symbol of Hermes, but it also had violets, snapdragons, and many other flowers you didn't recognize. In the middle of the garden, there was a serene pool of water, and you watched as fish swam around in there. Hermes sits beside you on a log, he keeps looking like he's about to say something but he keeps changing his mind.

Your mind felt an eery sense of calm. Like the quiet after a storm. "Are you ok?" Hermes finally asked, concerned. "I'm sorry Hermes, I just had a lot of emotions all at once." You sigh, still not looking up at him. "That doesn't answer my question, are you ok, ____?" He asks again, and you feel your words get caught in your throat. "I'm fine, Hermes." You say softly, your hands falling from your lap to the log. "Listen, I'm sure if you talk to Zeus you can find a way to at least get to choose who you marry." Hermes says gently. You snort, "I don't know, I feel like having a private conversation with him would be even worse than one with you or Apollo, knowing his history." You said, chuckling. Hermes laughs, "Good point, I guess just talk to Hera instead, she'd probably have better luck getting through to him." Hermes points out. You look up at him, smiling faintly.

"It's been kind of a crazy past two days, never once in my life did I think I'd ever be having this conversation." You joke, looking Hermes in the eye. "Yeah, that makes sense, I imagine this must all be kind of jarring" He responds, smirking. "You don't even know." You sigh, your brain starting to go back to normal. You smile, looking back to the ground. The flowers looked like they were practically glowing when the sun hit them this time of day. Hermes looked like he was practically glowing too, but you honestly didn't care that much.

You slip your bracelet off, figuring you won't need it anymore today. You sigh in relief as you return to your normal form, finally feeling free. Hermes gives you a skeptical look, and you shoot one right back. Hermes takes off his bracelet too, and you roll your eyes at him. He probably didn't enjoy the sensation of wearing a mortal disguise either. You pull out the book Hermes got you and begun to read it since you clearly had a lot of time left to lose.

 

~***~

 

Finally, the sun began to tip below the horizon, and you shut your book. Hermes turns to you and smiles, "Are you ready to go?" He asks, tilting his head. You nod, excited to get to go do something. Hermes grabs your wrist, and you find yourself wondering what Hermes was thinking about while you were reading, surely it was something interesting. Suddenly, you were in a forest again. In front of you, a huge cave entrance loomed, the stalactites studding it making it look like a huge stone mouth, ready to swallow you up. Hermes turns to you and smirks, "Charming, isn't it?" He quipped.

You nod, swallowing nervously. Hermes leads you into the dark cave, and you slow down for a moment to let your eyes adjust. In the distance, you see the glow of torches. "Hello? Mother?" Hermes calls out through the chasm. "Hermes?" A voice calls out from around the corner. "Did you bring a guest? I hear an extra set of footsteps." She continues, and you feel yourself impressed at her hearing. "Yes, mother." Hermes responds, and you see a glowing shape appear from around a corner. That must be Maia, you thought.

Maia ran to Hermes and gave him a giant hug, and Hermes looked like he couldn't breath. You bite your tongue, holding back a laugh. After squeezing the life out of Hermes, she turns her attention to you. "And who might our guest be?" She says, giving Hermes a smug glance that you don't exactly understand. "This is ____, mother." He says gleefully, grinning. "She's the newest goddess on Olympus." He continues, his chest welling with pride.

"And why'd you bring her here specifically?" Maia asked, raising an eyebrow. "Athena and Aphrodite should be here soon." You answer, before Hermes can say anything misleading. "I was just taking her and the gals out to Arcadia, and I thought I'd visit." He adds, shrugging. Hermes' mom seems a bit disappointed, to your confusion.

Suddenly, you see Athena and Aphrodite appear at the tunnel entrance, their forms illuminated by torches. "Shhhh.. They can't see us, let's try to scare them." Hermes said giddily, and Maia nodded. If you had to guess Hermes got his tricksy side from someone and that someone was not Zeus. If there was anything you were good at, it was making weird noises. You used your voice to make loud fake breathing sounds, and giggled quietly.

"Hello? Maia?" Aphrodite said, practically clinging to Athena's side. Athena, however stood stoic, but you could tell she was filled with unease. Hermes banged a rock against the ground and you stifled another giggle. Maia stood watching, looking at Hermes with a proud expression. Just as Athena was pulling out her sword, Hermes seemingly teleported in front of them. "Hi you two!" He says gleefully, Aphrodite screams, clutching Athena's arm before she cuts herself off. "Oh it's just you." She utters. Athena gives Hermes a stern look, "Not funny, Hermes." She says, putting her sword back away. "I think it was, don't you agree, you two?" Hermes said, waving at you and Maia. "Yeah, I think it was plenty funny!" You call back, giggling, and Maia joins in. "I must say it was quite fun seeing your reactions!" She yells.

Athena rolls her eyes, muttering to herself. You laugh, being in a good mood. Aphrodite scoffs and puts her hands on her hips, raising her chin up and refusing to meet anyone's eyes. Maia leads the group to a dining room area, illuminated by torches. "Tea, anyone? I just heated up a kettle." She declares, pointing to a bronze kettle. Athena nods, and Aphrodite shakes her head no. "Me and _____ will take some, mother!" Hermes exclaims, and you bite back a sigh. Of course you weren't getting a choice in this matter.

Hermes sits the group down at the dining table, and plops himself right next to you. Maia fusses over the tea, leaving you all to silently look at each other awkwardly. "Sooo how'd it go." Aphrodite says in a sing song voice, breaking the silence. You and Hermes exchange glances, and he shrugs. "I got punched in the stomach." He said, and you sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. "..Why?" Athena asked, after a moment of silence from the both of them. "He knows what he did." You stated stubbornly. Athena just raised an eyebrow skeptically and backed off, letting you avoid the subject in peace.

Finally, Maia placed down teacups in front of everyone except Aphrodite, who didn't ask for one. Maia sits down at the head of the table and starts telling stories about Hermes' childhood, and you feel nice and content as you sit and sip your tea.

 

~***~

 

Finally, Hermes brings you back to your chambers for the night, and as he leaves you feel yourself sigh in contentment. You take off your opal necklace and ring and place the ring on your bedside table, and the necklace in your wardrobe. You slip off your dress and put on a comfortable silk robe, and you tie your hair back in a ponytail using a ribbon. As you're about to take your sandals off you hear a knock at the door, and you sigh. Can't you have one uninterrupted night? You swing open the door, and your eyes widen with shock as you see who it is.

Standing in front of you, was a not so happy Apollo.

"What do you want?" you sigh, not wanting to deal with him this late at night. "Done hanging out with that little thief of your's?" Apollo says, and you scoff at him. "He's better than you." You quip back, giving Apollo a glare. "I doubt that." He says, arching an eyebrow.

"Listen, can you just go? I'm tired." You mutter, glancing at your bed. You swallow nervously as Apollo steps closer. You'd never really thought to worry about what the gods might do until Hermes made that Pan comment earlier that day. "I'm not leaving until we reconcile." He says stubbornly, and you sigh. "Of course you aren't" You mutter, raising an eyebrow. He closes the door, and sits down on the floor. You sit down on the floor as well, to meet his eyes.

"Well? Are you gonna apologize?" He asks, and you feel a twitch of rage. He wanted you to apologize for defending yourself? Not gonna happen. For now, you'll just play dumb. "For what?" You ask innocently, petting your cat that had curled up in your lap. A flicker of frustration ran across Apollo's face before he beat it down with a smirk.

"You slapped me." He said, his voice accusatory. "You deserved it." you quip back, looking him in the eye boldly. "Why? I was just giving you what I know you wanted, sunshine." He said smugly, and you felt yourself turn a shade of pink because of the nickname. "Don't call me that. Also, I did not want to be kissed by you, nor will I ever." you declared, practically bursting with indignation.

"Are you sure about that, sunshine?" He says, grabbing your chin forcefully and stroking it with his fingers. You tense at the sudden contact, no longer wanting to look him in the eye you instead look down. "Quite su-" You start, but you are cut off by Apollo locking his lips on to yours and throwing you into a deep kiss. He grabs your back in a possessive manner, and leans into you, sending a jolt down your spine. You clenched your teeth, wondering how in hades you were gonna get out of this. His lips were warm against yours, sending little sparks down your body.

Apollo finally lets go of you, leaving you gasping for air. "What. the. hell. was that." You snarl, and he laughs. "Can your little messenger do that?" Apollo finally says, and you feel your fury build up.

"Get out." You growl, and to your surprise, Apollo obliges. "Alright, but I'll be back tomorrow, little sun." He says in a sing song voice, finally exiting the room. Your hands slowly brush your lips as you process what happened.

You sigh, and take off your sandals and robe, and step in the bath. You weren't originally planning to take one tonight since you already bathed this morning, but you wanted to get the Apollo gunk off you.

That was your first kiss, Apollo had stolen. You would always resent him for taking that from you, but deep down you knew that a tiny treacherous part of you didn't hate the kiss.

After a long bath, you step out and put your robe back on, and practically leap into bed with your cat. The bed was even softer than Artemis's, to your surprise. At least it was comfortable.

You couldn't sleep for hours, it felt like invisible claws were pressing down on your neck, choking you whenever you thought of Apollo. But maybe in the morning, you'll wake up at home and realize this was all just a bad dream.

Notes:

Author's Note: I wrote most of this yesterday, but I was so tired I couldn't continue it so when I woke up this morning I cranked out an extra six hundred words so I could finish it. But anyways, HOW DARE YOU APOLLO I WILL SMITE YOU.

I also thought I should mention that it took a lot of restraint to try and get myself to not make a your mom joke in the title, but I failed. Or I succeeded? I haven't actually decided yet.

Alright I should probably go eat breakfast or something. Good bye!!

~Originally Published 3/25/25~

Chapter 9: Chapter Eight- Aftermath

You woke up calm that morning, despite what had occurred the night before. Your hair was a mess, and your cat laid by your feet. You dragged your blanket off you, and got out of bed. You grabbed your hairbrush and brushed your hair, thinking back to the night before. Apollo didn't just try to kiss you, he did kiss you. "Ugh.." You muttered, combing your hair until it was silk soft. Your head pounded, and you guessed it was a headache. You wanted to just lay in bed and sulk, but it didn't take future sight like Apollo's to know that would only make it worse. Oh right, Apollo. You took off your robe and put on a flowing ivory dress, accompanied by a golden belt and golden bracelets. You put on your opal dragon ring you had left on your bed side table the night before and sighed. You put on a garnet necklace, and sit down for a moment, thinking.

You remembered last night Apollo said something about seeing you today, and you groaned. From your understanding, Apollo and Helios seemed to take turns riding the sun chariot everyday, and today was Apollo's off day.

Then you realized, if you weren't in your room, Apollo wouldn't know where to find you, and you smiled. You grabbed your book and walked out the door, deciding you'd go hang out near a spring or something. As your walking through the halls, you try to recall your tours with Hermes and Athena. You pass through an exit, and take in the scent of the outdoors. You sat near a small fresh water brook and read your book peacefully, hoping none of the gods would run into you. You fidgeted with your ring, moving it up and down your finger.

"Well hello there, new goddess." A voice calls out, and you groan internally. At least it didn't sound like Apollo, but it didn't sound like Hermes either. Either way, can't you just be left in peace? A tall figure steps out of the trees, with glowing purple eyes and and inky black curls. If you had to guess, you'd say it was Dionysus. "Hello." You said, not daring to hide the dread in your voice. "Hiding away from the other gods, are we?" He said, his voice kind of oily. "Mostly Apollo." You said flatly, not looking up from your book at him. He twirled his hair in his finger, "I've heard some interesting rumors about you two." He said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Oh?" You say, trying to appear uninterested in hopes that he'll go away.

"Well, the most recent one is that he kissed you last night." He continued. You looked up from your book and snarled at him. "Listen, I've got a bad headache right now, and I need you to leave." You say, with brute honesty. "Oh, but that wouldn't be very fun, would it?" He purrs, humming softly to himself as he peered over your shoulder.

"Now, are these rumors true? I must say Apollo isn't a very reliable source, so I thought I'd ask you, darling." He said, his voice smooth like honey. "Apollo, is a walrus nose." You said flatly.

"Ohh, but you're not denying it, are you, darling?~" Dionysus purrs, and you decide to hold back your violence for now, knowing that punching another god in the face would land you in some trouble. You ignored him, trying to read your book in peace

. "Tell me what happened or I'll tell Apollo where you are." Dionysus said flatly, noticing that his previous approaches weren't working. "YOU-" You cut yourself off, sighing. "Last night, he came to my room, seemingly to scold me for hanging out with Hermes that day, and he may or may not have kissed me without my permission before I kicked him out." You grumble, looking Dionysus in the eye. "Do not tell anyone this, or I swear by all of Jupiter's moons I will punch you so hard that you will cough up all your self esteem, got it?" You snarl, and he just laughs in return.

"I only promise to try, little goddess, but secrets don't usually stay hidden for long on Olympus."

 

***

 

Dionysus leaves, leaving you to read peacefully by the brook, but you decide that just to be safe you should move reading spots anyway. You walk through the serene forest with your cat, and settle somewhere in earshot of your previous spot. This ends up working out well because you hear Apollo pacing around the area and grumbling something to himself about Dionysus, and you quietly laugh to yourself.

After a few hours, you are eventually found by someone, that someone being Hermes, who used his tools he uses as a messenger god to find people. You weren't mad about it though, since you couldn't find a reason to be. "____!" He says, grinning. "Hey Hermes." You respond, not looking up from your book. "You're lucky I found you before Apollo did, he's been tearing up the place looking for you." He says lightly, but there is a hint of solemness in his voice. "He almost found me, I heard him stomping around here earlier." You say, your voice was filled with amusement that you only partly felt. "Is it true that he.." Hermes trailed off as he meant your gaze.

"Unfortunately, yes." You sigh mournfully. "I want to punch him so hard right now." You continue, and Hermes barked out a laugh. "Same here, he's been so smug about it." Hermes sighed, crushing a clover that he picked beneath his fingers. "That was my first kiss that smug frog faced blob of camel spit took from me!" You yelled angrily, balling up your fists.

"Shhh.. he could be around here somewhere." Hermes whispered, grabbing your fist with both hands. Sure enough, you hear hurried footsteps nearby, speak of the devil, and he shall arrive, you suppose.

You hurriedly grabbed Hermes arm and hid the two of you in a nearby bush and wait. "I know your around here somewhere, little sun~" Apollo calls out in a sing song voice, and you're about to yell at him not to call you that when Hermes covers your mouth and makes a quiet signal with his other hand. You studied Hermes' face to ground yourself, and saw a flash of envy in his eyes.

Unfortunately, right as he was about to leave, Apollo spotted you in the bushes and pulls you out, and Hermes follows. Apollo frowns at the sight of Hermes, giving you a look. "What's he doing here?" He asked, and you rolled your eyes. "I was simply talking with ____, brother. Is that not allowed?" Hermes asks in a teasing tone. Apollo shoots Hermes a glare, who shoots one right back. You can't help but notice the underlying tension between the two.

Apollo mumbles something under his breath that sounded like "should be" and you rolled your eyes.

"Can't you just leave me alone?" You remarked. "No can do, sunshine." Apollo purrs, and Hermes lightly kicks him in the leg to remind him of his presence. "I seem to recall telling you to stop calling me those names." you growl, frustrated. "I seem to recall not caring~" He chirps, and Hermes raises an eyebrow at him. "Enough, you two." He says, slightly annoyed. "Brother, just because ____ refuses to have a friendly conversation with you doesn't mean you have to take it out on her when she's having one with me." Hermes says with a smirk, and you sigh.

"Your not the one who she kissed~" Apollo sang, and both you and Hermes glared at him.

"Woah! I did not kiss you! You kissed me!" You yelled in an accusatory voice, and Apollo chuckles at you.

"Come on, ____, let's just leave." Hermes said, sticking his tongue out at Apollo. "Let's just go." You agreed, sticking your tongue out at Apollo as well.

Apollo glared at you and Hermes as you walked away, though he didn't stop you. Once you were finally out of earshot, you spoke. "I swear he acts like he owns me!" You exclaim, frustrated. Hermes chuckles. "I know, right?! I'm allowed to talk to you!" Hermes shouted, and you both exchanged a look.

"Is it ok I just go to my chambers and have some alone time?" You ask, and Hermes shrugs. "Yeah, sure." He says casually, and you nod. "Great." You respond, looking forward to being in your soft bed.

You and Hermes walk back to the palace, the sun high in the air, your cat weighing you down just a bit as they sat yawning in your arms. You would try to make today a good day, no matter what.

 

***

 

"Do you want me to murder him for you?" Artemis asked with a dangerous glint in her eyes. You chuckled, "Honestly, murdering Apollo sounds like a pretty good idea for a girl's day." You respond, and Artemis laughs. "I'm sorry I've been gone for the past few days, I would've joined you and Hermes on your little adventure yesterday but I've been hunting with my nymphs." Artemis said, and you nodded in understanding. "Perhaps you could join us some time?" She asked, her eyes twinkling.

"Sounds fun! Though I do have some training with Athena coming up soon as well." You declare, smiling at Artemis. "Taking a break from the gods? I feel that." Artemis remarked, her sharp gaze softening. "Yeah, kinda." You respond, still full of energy. "You could always take the vow of chastity, you know. Me, Athena, and Hestia would protect your decision." Artemis said, her voice low. You shrug, "Maybe, but I don't think I'm ready for that kind of decision." You respond, your voice lowering to meet her's.

"That's fair, it was harder for me than you other goddesses because it was more of a personal choice. For them, they aren't really capable of feeling different." She continues, her eyes meeting your's.

"Anyways, I've got to go, see you later? Just scream for me if Apollo appears and I'll chase him down with my bow." Artemis declares, winking at you.

After she leaves, you are left alone in your room, and you sink into your pillows, deciding to take a nap. Your cat curls on top of you as you fall into a deep dreamless sleep.

Notes:

Author's Note: I was less medicated than yesterday and therefor wasn't focused so this chapter took me longer to write than the last three.

Also, for the next few chapters, (probably other than 10?) we will be taking a break from love interest deities and be focused on developing Y/N's relationships with the goddesses.

Have a great day!!!

I leave for vacation on Thursday :)

~Originally Published 3/25/25~

Chapter 10: Chapter Nine- Training

You woke up that morning to a knock on your door, and a couch shoved in front of your door. You were wearing the same dress you were yesterday, and your hair was a mess. You thought back to last night, trying to remember what happened. All you knew for sure was that you must of drank a lot of wine.

The memories flooded back, along with a head ache. That afternoon, you had pulled a couch in front of your door, and ignored all knocks on your door, most of them being from Apollo, the other two being from Dionysus. You ignored all of them, not wanting to deal with it. Then when you were snooping through your cabinets you found a bottle of wine, and everything was a blur from then. The few things you did remember were very embarrassing, making you very glad that your door was barricaded that way no-one would see them.

You hear the knock again. You groan and get out of bed, brushing the dirt off your dress. "Give me a moment!" You yell, and whoever was knocking obliged and stopped. You quickly slipped off your dress and slipped another on. You noticed you weren't wearing any jewelry anymore, but you didn't care. You grabbed your hair brush and quickly started combing your hair, and dragged the couch away from your door.

You silently sigh in relief as you see Athena standing there when you opened the door. "Just woke up?" She asked, and you nod in shame. "I'll give you a bit to get yourself together more, as you won't get too for a while." Athena continued. "Thank you" you breathed, and Athena nodded at you. You closed your door, and continued brushing your hair. You decided not to take a bath until you got back after you trained with Athena, figuring that you didn't want to make her wait too long. You combed your hair as you went on a scavenger hunt looking for where you left all your jewelry you were wearing the day before, which were frustratingly all left in different places. You had found your necklace and bracelets, but you couldn't find your opal ring and you panicked.

You tore through your bed seeing if it had slipped off your finger when sleeping. You had found it in your drawer, and you sighed in relief, slipping it on your index finger. You put on a matching opal necklace, and a pearl bracelet. You sprayed lavender perfume all over yourself, and walked out the door to meet Athena.

She smiled and led you down the corridors, finally leading you to a sun filled courtyard. There were owl symbols carved into the pillars, and spears and other weapons were laying on the edges. "We are going to begin with battle training, choose a sword." Athena said, giving you a stern look. You looked through them, reaching for a large heavy sword. "Wrong choice." Athena commented, shaking her head. "When you become more experienced, you can practice with a sword such as this. For now you'll want to start with something lighter." She continued, her voice light.

You're face glowed red with shame as you reached for a lighter sword, but not too light. "Good choice, do not be embarrassed when you make mistakes, as they are an essential part of the learning process." Athena praised, nodding at you. You held up the sword and she inhaled sharply, gently grabbing your arms and repositioning them. "Hold your sword like this that you don't accidentally pierce your own skin." She said, and you nodded. Athena and you sparred for a while as she gave you constructive criticism.

After a while, Athena put her own sword down and instructed you to do the same. "I will now teach you how to use your abilities as a goddess." She declares, and your eyes twinkle with excitement.

You and Athena trained for hours on end, the sun reaching it's highest point and dipping back into the sky.

 

***

 

"I've taught you everything I intended to today, you are dismissed. I'll take you for another training session in a few days." Athena declares, and you bite back a sigh of relief. You were quite tired, as the sun had begun to dip behind the horizon and you had been training since morning. "Thank you, Athena." You say, bowing your head, walking back to your chambers that way you can bath the sweat off yourself.

You stop at your door, your hands brushing the golden handle. You step inside, slipping off your jewelry and your sandals. You take off your belt and dress as you enter the bathroom, stepping into the tub. you fill the tub with warm water, and sigh as your hair absorbs it. You rub different oils on yourself, as it was the only soap you had. You missed real soap, maybe at some point you could look into making it? But you didn't know how to do that, so the oil would do for now. You hear the door to your chambers open and you sigh, at least a little bit relieved that the bathroom door was closed. "____?" A familiar voice rang out, and you pinched the bridge of your nose in frustration, getting a bit of water in your eyes. "I'm bathing right now!" You yell, swinging your head around as to direct your voice to go through the door.

You hear Artemis walk back out of your chambers and you sigh in relief. Honestly, you didn't mind if any of the goddesses walked in on you bathing as long as they didn't make it weird, but still you were glad that got Artemis to leave before she had reached the bathroom. You step out of the tub, tying up your hair in a towel. You wrap a towel around your body, leaving the bathroom and put the dress you had been wearing that day in a hamper since it was covered in sweat and dirt. You didn't plan to settle down for the night just yet, so you picked out a pale pink chiton dress. You placed your ring on your finger and put on a couple layers of pearl necklaces. You put on some soft leather sandals and a dark pink cloak.

You exit your chambers, meeting Artemis outside your door. "I got you something!" She exclaimed, and you smiled. She walked inside your chambers and snapped her fingers, and a cauldron appeared next to your night stand. Your face lit up as you saw it, and you grinned. "I got you some ingredients to experiment with as well." Artemis continued, and you nearly jumped up and hugged her. "Thank you, Artemis!" You said instead, bowing your head. "Tell me what you make!" She said, and you nodded.

Artemis left you, and you stare at the ingredients wonderingly. There were little bottles labeled with stuff like 'Stymphalian Feathers' or 'Siren's Song'. You noticed Artemis had left a book there as well. You grabbed it and looked through it, deciding you'd make a simple healing potion first. You wanted to experiment by making your own potions, but you knew you'd need to learn the basics first. You open a couple of bottles and dump some of the ingredients the book called for and stirred.

The door swings open and you jump, dropping a few extra Siren fangs in the cauldron and you sigh instinctively. "Can I not go ten minutes before getting intruded upon in my own chambers?" you growl, swinging your head to face whoever had entered. Standing behind you was a mildly mortified Hermes, and you rolled your eyes. The potion you were making turned an uncomfortable looking deep purple, when it was supposed to be green.

"Why are you here?" You say, calmer trying to put him at ease. "Just here to deliver a package." He said in a light voice, "It's from Apollo." Hermes continued, his voice darkening a bit with envy. "Can you just set it on the floor?" You say waving your arms, adding a few more ingredients to the cauldron. "Sounds good." He responded, shrugging. Hermes gently set the package down and left, closing your door behind him.

After a bit, you bent down and picked up the package curiously, and noticed there was a note attached. "For my sunshine" it read, and you scoffed and rolled your eyes, but you couldn't help but be intrigued. You unwrapped it to find a bracelet and necklace with matching sun pendants hanging off them. You opened your drawer and dropped them inside, not wanting to deal with the dilemma on whether or not to wear them. They were very pretty but it almost seemed as if Apollo was trying to claim territory by giving them to you. You turn back to the cauldron, bottling the mixture up. You wondered how the extra fangs would affect how the potion worked.

You decided to let the rest of the mixture sit out over night that way you could test to see if there was any difference to the one in the bottle and the rest that would be left exposed. As soon as you turn your back, your cat saunters up and takes a sip, you rush over to stop them but it was too late. You watched in astonishment as your cat grew half your size.

Your cat sat satisfied licking their paw, and you decided to dump out the rest of the cauldron to make sure they couldn't have more. You now had a giant cat. Great. You decided to settle down for the night, hoping your cat wouldn't eat you.

You slipped off your ring and placed it on your nightstand, sighing. You tied your hair up with a ribbon and swapped your dress for a robe. You blew out your candles and climbed into bed for the night, falling asleep with ease.

Notes:

Author's Note: I leave for vacation tomorrow!!! Yippee!! Also, I hope this chapter wasn't boring, and I'm sorry if it was! I have something planned for next chapter >:)

Though, there is a good chance I won't do any writing on my trip to Florida because I won't be bringing my computer, so sorry If I leave y'all hanging.
Edit from the future: turns out I did the most writing I've ever done in a short amount of time on that trip. seriously tho some of those chapters I wrote during that were over 3k words long

~Originally Published 3/26/25~

Chapter 11: Chapter Ten- Trees and Confessions

You wake up with a giant cat sleeping on you, and a mild mannered god standing near by watching in amusement.

"Hermes.. what are you doing here?" You asked groggily, and he laughed. He yawned and leaned back on the wall. "I'm taking you on an adventure today, but I didn't want to wake you." He said casually, looking at his nails. You sat up, bringing the blanket up with you that way it was still covering up your slightly undone robe. "So basically, you just decided to stand here watching me like a creep." You said, giving him a skeptical look.

"What happened there?" Hermes said, moving his gaze to your cat that was now practically a miniature tiger. You shrugged, "The cat drank my potion." You said flatly, narrowing your eyes at Hermes. "Now shoo! I have to get dressed!" You said, holding up the blanket with one hand and making a shooing motion with the other.

"Can't I stay for a bit?" Hermes asks in a teasing tone, looking from your face to the blanket and giggling softly. "Now." You said, your voice low, and Hermes slowly backs up, leaving your room. You quickly did your morning routine, brushing your hair, choosing an outfit, putting on the opal ring, all that stuff. The outfit you wore today was an ivory toga dress with a gold belt and other adornments, including your favorite opal necklace and some golden sandals. You also wore a slightly transparent yellow shawl that complemented the golden accents of your outfit.

"You can come back in now, Hermes." You call, and he walks back in. "You're pretty today." he says, and you roll your eyes, but the red on your face betrayed you. Hermes smirks, his brown eyes twinkling. "I dress like this everyday." You respond flatly, raising an eyebrow at him. "Still." He huffs, looking you in the eye boldly. "Anyways, where are you even taking me?" You ask, keeping your tone low. "We're gonna go around helping some mortals." He responds casually, twirling his hair around in his finger. You grab your potion bottle from last night, thinking maybe it could help.

"What was in Apollo's package last night?" Hermes asked curiously, keeping his tone light. "Some sun themed jewelry, I wasn't sure whether or not I should actually wear it though." You respond, nodding your head toward the drawer you put it in. He inhaled sharply, but didn't say anything.

"I see you're wearing the ring I got you." He said smugly, looking down at your hand. "I wear it everyday." You respond, shrugging. His face turned a little bit red, and you chuckled. "Lets just go." He said, and you nodded.

"The first mortal I had in mind goes by the name Perseus, I think Athena may have already stopped by but it wouldn't hurt to give him our help as well." Hermes said, pausing. (A/N: Ok, the version of Medusa I'm going with is the version where she was always a gorgon, because I feel like that thing of Y/N magically healing Medusa because she's just so cool and virtuous has become a bit cliché)

Your face lights up as you hear the name, because now that you know Perseus is around you can finally make a time line of when in greek mythology you are. That means you don't have to deal with Heracles or the Trojan war for a while. "You seem to recognize that name." Hermes observed. "I knew a lot about greek myths in my time." You admit, and he looks surprised. "So basically, you know our future." He says, and your eyes lit up. You never really thought about it like that. "Yeah, I guess I do." You say thoughtfully.

"Anything useful to tell me?" Hermes asked jokingly, but there was a serious edge to his voice. Your mind races through about a million things you knew would happen, but you figured it would be better to keep your mouth shut. "Not anything I should tell you." You respond, and Hermes looks disappointed.

He grabs you by the arm and transports you to a sunny field, where you see a young man sitting under a tree. Hermes strolls up to him casually and you follow behind. The man's eyes light up and you smile warmly at him. "Before you go to Medusa, I recommend taking this sword and these sandals." Hermes says, straight to the point, handing Perseus the objects in question. "Thank you, Lord Hermes." Perseus says, his eyes glittering. "And who might you be?" He says, turning his gaze towards you. "I am the goddess ____. I am here to give you a potion that will temporarily increase your size, but you must only take a sip of it at a time. You may not need it to slay the gorgon, but I advise you hold on to it." You reply, handing Perseus the purple potion bottle. You knew that Perseus wouldn't need it for the gorgon, but you knew about the sea monster he would face on his way home and thought it might be helpful.

Perseus's eyes light up, "Thank you, Lady ____. How can I repay you both?" He asks and your mind goes blank. "You can spread her worship across Greece, that way she is known by all." Hermes responds, and you nod. "Very well." Perseus says, bowing his head. You and Hermes walk out of earshot, looking at each other. "What's next?" You ask, studying Hermes' face. "How about we see if there are any hunters in need of assistance?" He asks, shrugging. "Sounds good." You say curtly, bowing your head.

Hermes takes you to a forest, where you spend majority of the day helping hunters face difficult circumstances and spreading the knowledge of your existence.

 

---'-'---

 

You and Hermes stop to rest in a dark clearing, away from Apollo's grasp. Hermes leaned back on a tree, softly humming to himself. You feel the soft breeze run through your hair, but not enough to agitate you. It was a nice day outside, and while you'd like to be in the sun, Apollo was navigating the chariot today and you didn't want him to see you and Hermes.

You looked up at a tree and saw a branch that would be a perfect perch. You grabbed the bark, determined, and began to climb. Hermes laughed, "Your gonna get dirt on your dress." He said, and you gave him a look. "So what? I don't care." You respond, keeping your attention on the tree as you scuttled up it. "I know. That's one of the things I like about you." Hermes retorted, flashing you a boyish grin. You feel red creep up your face and are glad you were facing the bark and Hermes couldn't see you.

You finally climb up onto the branch and sit down facing Hermes, giving him a triumphant smile. He appeared next to you, startling you to the point you almost fell off. "It's a really nice view up here.." You said softly, looking down at the forest below you. "Almost as gorgeous as you." Hermes agreed, winking at you. You softly punch him in the side, more of a joke than anything. Your face reddened, and you must of looked like a tomato. "I suppose your not so bad looking yourself." You sigh, and his eyes twinkle.

Hermes looks you in the eye, and your heart beat speeds up. On a branch right above your head, a bird calls out loudly, startling you. You lose your balance and begin to fall off the branch, yelling in alarm. Hermes looks down at you in shock, thinking fast, he appears below you. You fall into his arms, and you feel yourself turn redder than a tomato in embarrassment. "Quite the tumble you took there." He laughs, and you roll your eyes, catching your breath. "Thank you Hermes." You say flatly, not trying to inflate his ego to much.

He sits you down on a log gently, and you cross your arms at him. He sits down next to you carelessly, looking you in the eyes. "I'm glad we can finally be alone again." Hermes says, and you scoff. "It hasn't been that long since we last hung out, Hermes."

"It's still been too long." He huffs, almost looking pouty. You laugh as he gives you a wounded look. "I guess I'm glad I can be here with you too." You say begrudgingly, and he chuckles. His hand slowly creeps toward yours, settling on top of it, you blush but he doesn't seem to notice. You meet his eyes and are surprised to see the softness in them, different than how sharp they normally are. You find yourself unable to move your hand away, and more importantly you find yourself not wanting too.

"I don't like it when Apollo is so possessive over you." He sighs, and you feel yourself wince at hearing his name. "I can't say I like it either." You respond, rolling your eyes thinking about the prideful god. "He's always reminding me about that kiss. Always reminding me I'll never have a chance with you." His breath hitched at the last sentence, and your eyes widen in surprise. His face glowed red in embarrassment, and your's did too. "Don't respond to that." Hermes sighs, and you feel a wave of sympathy.

"I want to be with you, ____, always." He said, grabbing your hand and looking you in the eyes fiercely, but a hint of sadness in his face. "Hermes..." You start, trailing off not knowing what to say. "Hermes, I don't know how I feel, but can we just enjoy this moment together?" You ask softly, and his tension eases. "Of course." He responds, nodding.

Both you and Hermes go silent, but he still holds your hand. He sighs and lets go, simply just letting his hand rest on yours. He then took his other hand and brushed it against your cheek. "Can I..." He whispered, trailing off, but you understood what he meant. You nodded, curious on what it would be like. He leaned in, embracing you in a powerful kiss.

You felt his warm lips against your own as he embraced you, letting his arms wrap around your back. The sun shone dangerously through the leaves as if Apollo knew what you were doing, but you didn't care. Hermes finally let go, leaving you gasping for air. The sunlight grew brighter, but you chose to ignore it. If Apollo wanted to be a crybaby, he could. Hermes grabbed you by the waist, pulling you into a kiss once more.

That's when Apollo had enough.

Notes:

Author's Note: Not even vacation can stop me mwahaha perhaps it can slow me down but I cannot stop.

Anyways, I had been planning a Hermes smooching scene to happen SPECIFICALLY in chapter 10, which is what I've been hinting at. However, I am going to cool it on the Hermes chapters for now. Expect some more of the goddesses or Apollo and Dionysus (maybe ares but I don't like him)

Anyways, have a good day!

Chapter 12: Chapter Eleven- An Angry Sun

Apollo came down in his golden chariot, looking very displeased. "____! What are you doing?!" He yelled, and Hermes let go of you, looking embarrassed. You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. "Apollo, what are you doing here?" You ask, glaring at the god. "I simply came to visit you, sunshine, but when I arrive I see this." He responds, waving his arms at Hermes in an odd hand gesture. Then you realize, Apollo said he just arrived. He may have not actually seen you and Hermes... doing what you were doing. Apollo sighs in frustration, and you feel yourself roll your eyes involuntarily. "You're not even wearing the jewelry I got you!" Apollo said, and you laughed.

"Should I go?" Hermes asked, sidling away. "Yes, yes, I'll deal with you later." Apollo said, making a shooing motion with his hand. You exchange a look with Hermes before he walked away, and you sighed. "It has come to my attention that perhaps I haven't been treating you well." The sun god said dramatically, placing the back of his hand on his forehead. "Really? It just occurred to you?" You replied sarcastically, placing your hands on your hips. "So I'm taking you on an emergency road trip." He finished, and you looked at him in surprise. An emergency road trip? That certainly sounded.. interesting. Your mind kept circling back to Hermes and the kiss you had shared, that Apollo didn't seem to notice.

"I'll go get Artemis and Aphrodite, while YOU are going to put on your gifts." Apollo sighed, picking you up by the waist and placing you in the chariot. You remembered the first time he had done that, when you first got here. Before everything became complicated with the gods. "I can get in by myself, you know." You blurt boldly, raising an eyebrow at Apollo. "I'm sure you can, sunshine, but this is much more fun."

You mutter under your breath as Apollo drives the chariot towards Olympus. It was sunset, so he had to take the long way around. "Helios and Selene will be happy to cover our shifts, after all they enjoy the job much more than us." Apollo whispered, seemingly to himself.

After a while, Apollo came to a stop at the palace, and you climbed out of the chariot before Apollo took you out himself. "I'll allow you to freshen up and pack while I go sort things out." He declared, and you roll your eyes. You just nod and walk towards your chambers, putting together an outfit to wear in your head. Apollo seemed insistent that you wear the sun jewelry, so you might as well make sure they match your other clothes.

You sighed as you entered your chambers, opening your drawer and grabbing the necklace and bracelet. You didn't trust them. So you figured, just to be safe you could do something to make sure they had no magical effect. You looked through your potion book, searching for answers. You eventually found two things that could work. One potion that reveals the intention of a magical object, one that removes magic from the object. You immediately get to work brewing the first one, as you knew there wasn't much time. You dropped the ingredients in carefully, making sure everything was correct.

Finally, you dropped the necklace inside the cauldron, and watched to see what happened. The cauldron started steaming, and words started to appear in the liquid. Nothing that made sense of course, but all of the words were related to healing. That was probably a good sign, right? You sighed and grabbed the necklace, drying it off. What's the worst that could happen? You thought, placing it over your neck. You decided not to test the bracelet, knowing Apollo if something were to have an important effect, it would be a center piece.

You took off your opal necklace and slid on the sun bracelet, deciding to keep the ring on. You chose a flowing ivory chiton from your closet, along with a golden belt. You swapped out your yellow shawl for a yellow cloak, but you realized you didn't actually have to change your outfit much. You sprayed yourself with your lavender perfume, and grabbed a bag, placing your book inside.

You sat down on your bed, petting your sleeping cat that had finally gone back to normal size. Not long after, Apollo came knocking at your door. You sighed and grabbed your cat, walking out with him. "Are you seriously bringing that?" He asked, and you aggressively nodded at him. "Of course I'm bringing them! Their my cat!" You said passionately, petting the cat in question as they purred.

Apollo reached for your arm, but you moved it out of his grasp, not wanting to be dragged along. He sighed and continued on, and you refused to talk. You were still very mad at Apollo for the incident that had occurred just a few days ago, and didn't want him to think you had forgiven him so easily. Apollo stopped as he saw Aphrodite and Artemis approaching. "Looks like our entourage has arrived~" He sang, and you scoffed. "Apollo, what is this?" Artemis asked skeptically, her sharp gaze sweeping over the both of you. "Just a fun little outing, dear sister."

"What's with the jewelry?" Aphrodite asked, looking rather delighted. "That's what I want to know. Apollo insisted that I wear them." You respond flatly, looking at the sun god in question. Apollo just shrugged, not answering your unspoken question. You fidgeted with the bracelet nervously, not wanting to meet anyone's gaze.

"I need to grab something, I'll be right back." Apollo said, leaving you and the goddesses alone. As soon as he walked away you took off the necklace and bracelet, dropping them in your bag. "Any idea on what this is about?" Artemis asked, fidgeting with her arrows. "He found me and Hermes hanging out in the woods and said he was taking me on an 'emergency road trip'" You responded, glazing over what you and Hermes were doing.

"Why were you two hanging out anyway?" Aphrodite asked, raising her eye. "Because it's entertaining." Aphrodite rolls her eyes at your response and you sigh, not really wanting to deal with anything. Aphrodite gives you a knowing glance and you realize that as a god of love she may know what happened, but she wasn't saying anything. Apollo strolls back in, and you wince.

He summons a golden chariot, not the sun chariot, but almost equally impressive. "Climb in." He instructs, and you and the rest of the group oblige. "So where exactly are we going?" Artemis asks, here tone flat.

"Delphi."

"Should've expected that." Artemis muttered. Your searched through your brain, and then you finally remember that Delphi is a major temple location of Apollo, along with where the oracle is located. Apollo sat down in the front, grabbing the reins of the horses. The chariot flew up into the night sky, and you stare out at the stars. There was less constellations than you remembered, which surprised you. That must mean their myths haven't happened yet. "So, can you explain the reason behind this? I had plans you know." Artemis asked bitterly, and Apollo laughed in response. "Just a little family bonding!" He chucked, and you gave him a skeptical look.

"____ isn't related to us." Artemis said slowly, confused.

"She's my future wife." Apollo responded casually.

You snort. That was not happening. "I am not!" You call out, and he laughs. "Well Zeus is gonna marry you off to someone, and I'm your best bet." He said matter-of-fact-ly.

You had forgotten to worry about that. Zeus could marry you off at any moment, you were at his mercy. You didn't want to get married to someone you barely knew and didn't trust. Also, you knew what happened to a lot of Apollo's lovers, and while maybe dying or turning into a plant was preferable to being with him it still wasn't appealing. "I rather get thrown in Tartarus than marry you." You grumbled, and Artemis laughed.

"Whatever you say, sunshine." He grins, and you groan. "Why'd you even bring me?" Aphrodite chimed in unexpectedly, and you look back at her. Why was she here? "You're fun." He answers, shrugging.

"Not much of a Family trip.." She grumbles, and Apollo shoots her a glare.

You sigh, tonight was gonna be a long night.

 

{^...^}

 

"We should stop for the night." Artemis says suddenly, and Apollo whirls around to face her.

"But it's only a couple of hours away!" He argued, and both you and Aphrodite groaned. It had been what felt like forever, and your legs were cramped.

"Wouldn't you rather get there in the day time?" Artemis counteracted, shouting across the chariot. They had been having this argument for a while.

"Ugh, fine. I see an island in the distance we can stop at." Apollo groans, and you sigh in relief.

The chariot begins its descent towards the dark shape, and you realize that you will have to sleep in your clothes. You'd also have to wear the same thing the next day. You didn't really mind, since you had wore your old pajamas for way longer, but still it was inconvenient. As you got closer to the ground you saw that it seemed to be covered in a massive forest. Your cat had long fallen asleep, and you felt bad about having to wake them up.

Finally, you landed and immediately stepped out that way you could stretch your legs. While Artemis looked at the forest in joy, Apollo seemed rather comedically disgusted. You sat your cat down on a log as you stretched, and watched the others get out. Artemis started a fire and Aphrodite sat down next to you.

"So, what happened with you and Hermes today?" Aphrodite whispered, leaning in so close you could feel her breath on your ear. "What do you mean?" You ask, playing dumb. "I can see your blush, did.. something happen between you two?" She continued with a smirk. Your eyes flicker from her to Apollo, who seemed to be distracted fighting with Artemis about something. You sigh. "We kissed." You blurted, still quiet enough to only be heard by Aphrodite. She gave you a delighted grin. "It was just in the heat of the moment." You whisper softly, and she chuckles. "Who do you want Zeus to marry you to?"

You pondered on the question for a moment, even though you knew you didn't have an answer. "I don't want him to marry me off at all." You answer honestly. Aphrodite rolls her eyes and smiles. "You have so many great options, surely you must have a favorite!"

"I don't like any of them, they're all sand-snorters." You laugh, and Aphrodite drops her smile. "Honestly? I don't know. I haven't really been here that long." You sigh, and she smiled again. "You'll have plenty of time to figure it out." She responds, winking.

"How was the kiss with Hermes?" She suddenly asks, her voice still quiet to your relief. Your face heats up at the comment. "...fine, I guess." You mumble, and Aphrodite laughs. "Are you sure you don't like him?~" she sings, and you sigh. "I don't know."

"What are you ladies talking about?~"

You whirl around to see Apollo standing behind you, and by the fact he looked like he was in such a good mood you guessed he hadn't been standing there for long. "Artemis has left to hunt, so I'm alone with you two." He says, and you sigh. "I'll go help her while you two hold down the fort." Aphrodite exclaims, winking at you. You groaned, not wanting to be alone with Apollo. Aphrodite wouldn't even help Artemis if you knew her well.

"Looks Like we're alone, sunshine." He smirks, and you roll your eyes. Apollo sits down next to you as Aphrodite disappears into the trees. You thought back to how earlier that day you were sitting next to Hermes instead. His hand crept toward you, and you swallowed uncomfortably. He placed his hand on your thigh, and you glared at him. "Get your hand off me." You snarled, and he laughed. "If we are to get married we might as well consummate our marriage early~." He sang.

You punched him in the face.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"First of all, we are not getting married. Second of all, do you really think I'd let you force yourself upon me? Finally, get your damn hand off me!" You shouted angrily. Apollo moved his hand off your thigh, and you sighed in relief. "Why are you so difficult?!" He grumbled, and you rolled your eyes.

"I feel like you're the difficult one." You grumble.

"Not my fault you're so beautiful." He quips, and you blush. "Not my fault you can't control yourself." You growl under your breath, and Apollo laughs. You look into his glittering golden eyes, and sigh. "Where are we even going to sleep tonight?" You ask, keeping your voice low. "We can share a blanket, if you want." He states, shrugging. "I'd much rather sleep in the cold, thanks." You retort. You lean in closer to the fire, letting the warmth seep through your skin. You take off your cloak and drape it over yourself as a blanket.

Aphrodite and Artemis step out of the trees, with a giant boar hanging over Artemis's shoulders. "Looks like our fun has been cut short." Apollo sighs, and you can't help but feel relieved. Artemis sits by the fire and begins to cut up the meat, and you hold back a gag. Aphrodite and Apollo looked a little jarred too, but she continued cutting with a determined look on her face. You looked away, ignoring the sounds of tearing meat. You stepped away from the area, and Apollo followed to your surprise.

"Leave me alone, will you?" You say, glaring at him. "I'm just here to give you your garments for tonight and tomorrow." He laughs, and you calm down, intrigued. He throws you a silk robe, and a green toga dress. You give him a grateful look. "Thank you, but can you leave now so I can change clothes?" You ask gently, bowing your head.

"Can't I watch?"

"Do you want to be punched again?"

"Fair enough." He sighs dramatically, and you scoff. After he leaves, you walk further in the forest, just to make sure you wouldn't be watched. You quickly slip out of your dress, and put on the white robe. You place your dress and jewelry in your bag, but keep your sandals on for slightly obvious reasons. You find Apollo waiting for you right outside of the camp. And to your horror, he was shirtless. Not wanting to give him a reaction, you try to walk straight past him, but he blocks your path.

"Put a shirt on, walrus nose." You grumble and Apollo laughs. "Don't like what you see?~" He teases, and you cringe. "No, as a matter of fact I don't." You say, shooting him a glare.

You couldn't deny to yourself that he was very attractive, but you could ignore it. "Well this is what I wear to sleep so you better get used to it, sunshine." He declares, and you groan. "You should put my necklace back on." He continues, and you raise an eyebrow at him suspiciously. You follow his suggestion and put the necklace on, and you feel a wave of warmth roll over your body. "You're welcome." He hummed, and you felt slightly less like punching him. He stepped aside and you walked into the camp, and saw Artemis cooking meat above the fire.

Artemis tossed you a piece of meat that was already done, and you tore off a piece for your cat, who ate it immediately. You bit into your piece, and were surprised on how good it tasted. You quickly ate it, bowing your head at Artemis in thanks.

You walked over to the edge of the litten area and grabbed your book out of your bag and read. After a while, you saw Aphrodite and Artemis settle down with a blanket, sleeping next to each other on the ground. You close your book and lay down, trying to sleep. You heard Apollo walk over to you, and then he started playing his Lyre. You grew drowsy at the sound of his soft melody, and by the time he stops you are barely awake. He lays down next to you, spreading a blanket over the two of you. You feel your robe against his bare chest as he inches closer to you.

You are too tired to care as he wraps his arms around you, his warmth sending you into a deep sleep.

Notes:

Author's Note: I hope y'all enjoyed this longer chapter! I may be in Florida, but that doesn't stop me from writing. This was a fun chapter to write, and I want to explore Y/N and Apollo's dynamic more. I've decided that every six chapters I write a bonus chapter, so you can expect another one of those soon.

I was really tempted to have Aphrodite make an inappropriate joke, but I didn't want to and was kind of uncomfortable, so your welcome.

Chapter 13: Chapter Twelve- A Prophecy

You woke up in Apollo's arms, and panicked. Physically, you were very warm and comfortable, but mentally you were screaming.

Your robe was a bit undone, but not enough to where anything could be seen. Apollo still slept soundly, and you didn't want to disturb him. You looked at your surroundings, and saw his golden lyre laying near by. Apollo held you very firmly, and you couldn't think of a way out without waking him. You looked back at him and saw his peaceful face, his golden curls falling down to his shoulders and his dark freckles on his tan skin. You blushed at the way he held you, how you could feel the muscle in his arms.

You wriggle a bit, but stop when your robe becomes more undone. You had no choice but to wake him. "Apollo?" You whisper, shaking his arm. He drowsily opens his eyes, smiling as he sees you. "Hm?" He says, looking down at you. "Could you please let go of me?" You ask, and his eyes twinkle. "I like having you in my arms, my sun." He replies, and you sigh.

"If I must.~" he teases groggily, releasing his grip. You immediately straighten up your robe, and get up to look out at the woods around you. Apollo sits up and stretches, but stays under the blanket. You grab your dress out of your bag and walk into the forest to change. Once you're out of eye shot, you take off your robe and slip on the dress, along with a few accessories. You walk back over and see Apollo smiling at you warmly. "Hey sunshine." He says gently, and you blush. You sit down next to him, trying to absorb his warmth. "I wish I could wake up with you in my arms every day." He sighs softly, and you roll your eyes. "Too bad." You respond, chuckling gently. You grab your book and begin to read as you awaited the others waking up. Apollo looked up at you with an endearing expression on his face, and you ignored the fact that he still hadn't put on a shirt.

Apollo wore a golden sun pendant matching your own on his chest, and you swore that it was glowing. He tried to run his hand through your hair, but you swatted it away, not looking up from your book. You weren't planning on giving in to him any time soon. Apollo sighed and gave up, laying back down. "Aren't you gonna get dressed?" You asked, risking a glance at Apollo, and blushing. "Oh, but I enjoy seeing your reaction so much, little sun." He says, and you groan. You were suddenly reminded on why you hated Apollo so much.

"Can you please stop using those nicknames?!"

"No."

"Great." You sighed, looking back down at your book. You weren't really expecting that to work, but it was worth a try. Apollo reached toward you, but again you swatted his hand away.

"Quit trying to touch me." You grumble, and he just giggles in response. You get back up and walk away, not wanting to deal with Apollo anymore. If you were lucky, he'd be too tired to follow you. You walk into the woods and sit down, reading your book in peace. You felt calm and tranquil.

Hours passed, and so did your thoughts about Apollo. You had forgotten that you were even here. Of course, all good things must come to an end. "____! Where did you go?" A voice yelled from the camp. You closed your book and sighed, walking back. Artemis stood at the entrance, to your relief. "I was just getting some peace and quiet." You said, shrugging. "From who? It's early morning." She asked, and you sighed. "Apollo, he was.. sleeping on one of my things so I had to wake him up, and he's been insufferable ever since." You lied, and Artemis nodded. You'd have to bribe Apollo with something to get him to match your story later. He probably liked shiny things, so you'd try that.

You entered the camp, and saw everyone was dressed, including, to your relief, Apollo. "There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" He shouted, and Artemis rolled her eyes. "Correction, I've been looking for her, you have been pacing around camp doing nothing." She grumbled, but Apollo ignored her. "You saw me leave, I didn't even go that far." You shouted back, Apollo rolled his eyes, and you scoffed at the audacity.

"Anyways, we are about to leave for Delphi, get in." Apollo said casually, summoning his golden chariot. You climb in the spot farthest from the front, as to not be near him. Aphrodite climbs in next to you, holding your cat. "C/N!" You called out, and she laughed. "They slept on top of me last night, I think they quite like me." She said, and you felt a twinge of jealousy. "Awww!" You cooed, smiling.

You grabbed your book as the chariot lifted up into the sky, you weren't about to depend on conversation for entertainment. Apollo tried to talk, but his voice was swept up by the wind. You would've ignored him anyway, so that just made it easier.

 

* * *

 

"We're here!~" Apollo sang, and you rolled your eyes. The chariot descended towards Delphi, where you saw a city in the distance. "What are we even going to do here?" You asked, giving Apollo a skeptical look. "Just hang out, maybe visit Pythia, the usual stuff." He said, shrugging. So basically, you were here for no reason. Your cat sat curled up in your lap, yawning. You wondered about the gods left on Olympus, and if any of them actually knew where you were.

Apollo stepped out of the chariot, almost glowing in the sun. Artemis followed shortly after, and you and Aphrodite got out at the same time. You stuffed your book in your bag and surveyed your surroundings, you were at the outskirts of town, where there weren't very many buildings.

"We should head to my temple." Apollo said rather flatly, to your surprise. You nodded in agreement and followed him through the streets. You looked around at the warm environment, kids playing, people talking, merchants advertising, it was a very lively place. Apollo walked through the crowd effortlessly, not checking to make sure everyone had hidden themselves from mortal view. (You had checked though, just to be sure.)

Finally, he stopped at the grandest building in the town, the temple of Apollo. It was beautiful. You stared at awe, it was even grander than Hermes's temple. The pillars reached high in the sky, and you could see gold glittering in the walls.

Apollo's chest swelled with pride as the group approached the temple. You wondered what they were even going to be doing in there, but every time you asked Apollo was stunningly uninformative. He walked past the line of people and entered the temple, and the rest of you followed. Inside, the temple was filled with sunlight. There were mirrors reflecting the light hung around the walls, and there was symbols of golden lyres engraved on the wall. There were four pathways, one of them had to lead to the oracle. Each door had a curtain of yellow gems hanging from it.

"Where should we go?" Apollo asked, turning around to face you. "Don't ask us, you brought us here." You responded, shrugging. Apollo gave you an oblivious look and moved his gaze to the others. "I agree with her, brother." Artemis added, and Aphrodite nodded. He sighed, turning back to face the doors. "I'll go see Pythia while the rest of you go to the entrance hall." He remarked, and you nodded. Artemis beckoned you and moved to the doorway on the left. You followed, observing the halls as you walked through them.

Finally, Artemis lead you to a giant ballroom, where lyres and some other instruments hung from the walls. It was filled with tapestries of the muses, and you saw some side tables with wine on them.

You knew you didn't handle being drunk well, so you mentally told yourself to avoid the alcohol. You fidgeted with your opal ring, unsure what to do. That's when Apollo burst in.

"Pythia requests you." He said, panting. "What for?" You ask curiously, wondering what the oracle could need with you. "She has a prophecy for you." He breathed, catching his breath. You nodded, following him through the halls once more. His golden hair shimmered in the sun beams shining through the skylights, and he hummed softly to himself as he walked through the halls. Finally, you were back at the starting room. Apollo led you through the middle door, which was a dark hallway. You ran your hand across the wall as you walked, feeling the stone walls. This was probably the darkest part of the temple, where it was only lit by the occasional torch.

Finally, you reached the oracle chamber. A woman sat upon a stool in the center with steam rising around her, she held a goblet and a large leaf in her hands. This must be Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi.

"She has arrived." She whispered, her voice almost carried away by the breeze. Pythia's eyes rolled back behind her head and began to glow white.

"Weaver of Chaos, Watcher of dreams.

A soul lost where she doesn't belong, a soul who's decision will impact the gods.

Bringer of Beasts, Bringer of Joy and Sorrow.

She holds the future in her hands and will weave it skillfully to her will.

She has caught the eye of many gods, but she grows small in their light.

She will have to make a decision on whether to preserve the gods or destroy them and let a new generation rise from the ashes.

Beware, for the future of all of Olympus depends on her."

...

You and Apollo are both silent, and you involuntarily shiver. Pythia's eyes roll back to normal, and stop glowing. The wind ripples through her white dress and dark ebony black hair. "Thank you, Pythia." Apollo whispers, bowing. He turns to you, his golden eyes meeting yours. "Can you wait for me outside?" He asks, and you nod, walking back down the hall. Once you are about halfway down, and Apollo can't see you he speaks again. "Do you have any information regarding her marriage?" He asks, and you feel rage brew under your skin as you stop to listen. Of course he would ask about that.

"Not that I am supposed to tell you, Lord Apollo." She responds, and you feel yourself smirk. You hear Apollo sigh, "Goodbye, Pythia." He says, and you immediately continue down the hallway. You wait by the doorway and listen to his footsteps as he gets closer.

"Hello, sunshine." He said, his voice light. You were angry with him, but you knew he'd be mad if he knew why so, you'd just bury your anger. "Hello, Apollo." You responded, your voice low.

"I'm gonna throw a party with the muses tonight, and you are coming along." He declared, and you rolled your eyes. "I'm not sure what else I would really do, since I'm kind of stuck with you." You muttered, and Apollo laughed. "That's true." He said unexpectedly, with a thoughtful look on his face.

You and Apollo entered the ball room, the afternoon sun gleaming through the sky lights. Artemis and Aphrodite stood in the middle, arguing about something. "I should've known better than to leave them alone together.." he whispered, and you giggled softly. You sat down on a bench and watched as Apollo walked over to break up their conflict. You paid no mind to it as you sat and read.

As you are flipping a page, the glistening opal of your ring catches your eye. You shut your book and you observe it as it glitters in the sun. It was in the shape of a dragon holding an egg, or more accurately the opal. It made you think about Hermes, and you wondered what he was doing at the moment. Knowing him, if he wasn't doing his job he was probably hanging out with Athena or messing with mortals.

You sighed and continued reading your book, waiting until you were forced to socialize.

 

* * *

 

The sun had reached its highest point and begun dipping below the horizon by the time the party finally started.

Apollo summoned the muses and Artemis had returned from collecting her hunters. One of the muses immediately went over to the alcohol, pouring a glass and taking a swig. "Been a long week, Melpomene?" Apollo teased, and she turned to face him. "More like long month." She croaked. Apollo laughed and they continued to chatter until Melpomene walked away.

Apollo grabbed his golden lyre and begun to play a melody. You saw the muses mingle with the hunters and talk, but you found it hard to find an opening. Aphrodite trotted up to you, smiling. "Not much of a party person?" She asked, and you nodded. You didn't like being around so many people.

"Let's dance!" She suddenly exclaimed, grabbing your wrist and pulling you towards the middle of the room. "I don't really dance!" You yell, but Aphrodite doesn't care. "None sense! You can dance fine!" She shouts back, grabbing your arms. Aphrodite spins you around, and you quickly regain your balance before you fall. One of the muses dances on her own next to you, looking like she was having a great time. Artemis and her hunters hung out by the side tables, eating some grapes. Apollo and a couple of the muses play music together, creating a beautiful melody.

You and Aphrodite dance until she eventually stumbles back, catching her breath. "I'm gonna go get a drink? Wanna come?" She asks, looking you in the eye. "Sounds Fine." You shrug, following her.

Aphrodite filled a glass and chugged it, while Artemis stood near by laughing. "Do you want a glass, ____?" Artemis asked, and you shook your head. "I don't really drink." You lie, and she nods. Apollo strides over, watching. "Bet I can out drink you." He says, smirking at Artemis. "Hah! I doubt it!" She laughs, giving him a glare. "Shall we put it to the test, dear sister?" He asks with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Oh it's on." She answers, narrowing her eyes.

You watch in amusement as Apollo pours himself a giant glass and chugs it, while Artemis starts downing an entire bottle. "Beat that." She spat, smiling triumphantly. Apollo gives her a surprised look, before grabbing an entire bottle and drinking it as well. You cheer as the twins chug wine, watching them get absolutely plastered.

Eventually, Apollo gives up, giving Artemis the victory. Night had fallen and stars twinkled through the sky light. Apollo staggered up to you, and you beat back a sigh. His drunkenness would probably make him even more insufferable. "____! Do you want to dance?" He asked, his speech slurred. "No thank you, Apollo." You answered, forcing a smile. "Come one! I have like, two right feet, you know? Like the saying two left feet but like.. good at dancing?" He blabbered, and you laughed. He was even more drunk then you thought.

"Well, I have two left feet so no." You joke nervously, not wanting Apollo to embarrass you. After a bit, he gives up and walks away and you sigh in relief. "He's certainly a lot, right?" A voice sounds behind you. You turn around and saw one of Artemis's hunters, who had her dark brunette hair in a braid. You snort. "He never leaves me alone." You grumble, and she laughs.

"Does he have his eyes set on you?" She asks sympathetically, her brown eyes gleaming. "Unfortunately, yes." You laugh, glancing at Apollo who was trying to do a hand stand. "He doesn't always seem to understand what 'sworn virgin' means, he's always hitting on us as well." She replies, rolling her eyes.

"Ugh, that sucks." You agree. "I know right! I've been lucky enough not to catch his attention yet tonight." She says, and you laugh.

You and the hunter talk for the rest of the night, and you finally feel free.

 

* * *

 

The hunters and muses leave, leaving you alone with the drunken gods. You suddenly wish you had drunk as well, and didn't have to deal with all of them sober. "Let's head to bed." You declare, and to your relief Apollo nods. "I'll take you all to my guest area." He says, putting his hands on his hips.

You followed Artemis and Apollo as they argued on their way to the 'guest area'. Apollo lead you to a small room filled with cots. You had a feeling that this was set up by Apollo himself previously. "You should come with me to my sleeping place." He declared, and you sighed. You had a feeling you would be able to slink out easily, so you agreed. You went with him to a room with a lot of windows and curtains with a large bed in the middle. Apollo laid down in his bed and gagged. Thinking fast, you grabbed a vase and raced over to him with it. Apollo leaned over and vomited into it, before falling back into the bed. You open a window and empty it out.

You close the window, closing the curtains. "I'm gonna go get you some water, please stay here." You said with a resigned look on your face. "I don't think I'm even capable of moving, sunshine." Apollo croaked, and you laughed. You walked through the halls, going back to the ball room. You remembered there being some water there, and you were determined to get some.

You filled a goblet with water and quickly walked back to Apollo's chambers. His eyes lit up as he saw you, and he slowly sat up. "Drink this." You ordered, handing him the goblet. You walked around the room, closing all the curtains.

He sipped the water gratefully, before raising an eyebrow. "I was hoping this would be wine." He sighed, and you giggled. "Apollo, I think you might actually die if you have more wine." You said seriously, and he sighed dramatically. "I think I'm already dying, dear." He groaned, putting the back of his hand against his head. "You should get some rest, Apollo." You suggested, and he nodded. "Only if you rest with me, my sun." He said, and you shook your head. "Not happening." You grumbled, looking into his amber eyes.

"Goodnight, dear." He said, sinking into his blanket. "Goodnight, Apollo." You call back as you leave the room, heading to the guest chambers. You jump into a cot and bury yourself in blankets.

You fall asleep effortlessly, staying in a state of deep slumber until morning.

Notes:

Author's Note: I'm at it again mwahahahaha. Words cannot describe how tempted I was for Y/N to gain a crush on the hunter of Artemis she was talking to, but I held myself back. Also I just realized how long this chapter is, dear lord.

~Originally Published 3/30/25~

Chapter 14: BONUS CHAPTER II: BICKERING

Apollo's P.O.V-

He watched you longingly as you left the room. His whole body ached, and he regretted how much he had drank. He wished he got to hold you in his arms again like he did the night before. He wished you didn't resist him so much. He wished he wasn't so drunk.

Apollo thought back to the night before, when you hadn't resisted him as hard as you usually do.

He looked around the camp, seeing you in the corner, laying on the ground. He thought you were far too pretty to be laying on the cold ground alone. He approached you, noticing that you weren't quite asleep. You were staring up at the stars, your face bearing a drowsy expression. He picked up his lyre and played a soft melody, hoping to put you to sleep. Once he had watched your eyes flutter shut, he draped his blanket over you and laid down next to you.

He wrapped his arms around you, making sure you were warm. It felt natural to him, like you fit there perfectly. He fell asleep soon after, holding you close.

The morning after, he woke up to you calling his name. He smiled as he looked down at you, you were perfect there between his arms. "Hm?" He mumbled, wondering what you needed. "Can you please let go of me?" You asked, and he frowned. He never wanted to let go of you. But he obliged, not wanting to anger his sunshine.

His arms felt empty without you, and his heart ached for you once more.

Apollo sighed, looking up at the ceiling. He just wanted to be near you, to see you. He was hoping to call in a favor from Zeus to make you his bride, that way you could lay in your arms every night.

He thought of Pythia's prophecy, a prophecy he hadn't already received. He wondered what would become of it. It warned of danger, but he was to drunk to actually think about it too hard, so he'd just worry about it in the morning. He thought of your beauty, the softness of your voice and lips. He thought back to the kiss he had finally shared with you.

It was magical. Even if you were mad at him after, it was worth it. But then you started choosing Hermes over him. Apollo glowered with rage as he thought about the messenger god, stealing you away from him. And then, he found you alone with him with his hands around your waist. He never wanted to let that happen again, but there was nothing he could do.

He let himself drift asleep, slipping into his dreams.

 

Hermes P.O.V-

Olympus had been thrown in quite a tizzy when you disappeared. It wasn't just because you specifically were gone, exactly, it was because you, Aphrodite, Artemis, and Apollo had all gone missing. Hermes was the last one to see you, when Apollo had walked in on you and him. He remembered that day, when he had kissed you, and you had let him.

It was bliss, having your lips against his. Your warm breath against his face, his hands on his waist. The way your eyes glowed in the dim forest light, the way your hair blew in the breeze, the way you laughed when he cracked a joke, it drew him in. He had cupped your face in his hands, holding you gently. He yearned to be with you again, but he worried that Apollo would make you hate him.

Hermes missed you, he found himself lingering near your chambers, wishing you were there. He worried for you, he didn't know where you were and if you were in danger. With Artemis there, surely you'd be fine, but he was still afraid. What if you were hurt? What if Apollo had.. done something to you? What if you were dead somewhere? Well, that last one was probably impossible, but he still lingered on it.

Hermes longed to be with you, to talk with you, to joke with you. But you were gone. And so was majority of his friend group. He missed Artemis and Aphrodite as well, but you the most. Hermes knew you would never choose him over Apollo. He was handsome, he called you cute nicknames, and he was taken serious. You probably just saw Hermes as your fun friend.. but if that was the case why did you let him kiss you, but not Apollo?

He remembered his talk with Apollo that happened just a couple of days ago.

"Do you really think you have a chance with her, dear brother?" The sun god asked, sipping his wine.

"Step off, Apollo." Hermes growled, glaring at him.

"Why would she choose you when she had me? You are but a lowly messenger." He teased.

"She hangs out with you out of pity, you know." Apollo continued, giving Hermes a smirk.

"That's not true." Hermes said, clenching his fists. But Apollo's words had slithered into his head, echoing whenever he thought of you.

Hermes sighed, his heart aching for you. He knew for sure at this point he liked you, and he got butterflies when he thought of you.

He hoped you would come back soon.

Notes:

Author's Note: I might rewrite this later I didn't really feel like writing a bonus chapter, but I wanted to get this out of the way before starting chapter 13. I wrote this late at night, though it is only 10pm, and only 9pm at home. The Florida sun has been recharging my gingerness.
Edit from the future: all of the like flashback scenes were written in italic originally but idk how to do that here so yayyy

~Originally Published 3/30/25~

Chapter 15: Chapter Thirteen- Olympus Once Again

You woke in a peaceful mood, and saw Artemis and Aphrodite sitting on their cots chatting. "Morning sleepy head!" Aphrodite exclaimed as you sat up, and you blinked groggily at them. "Would you be a dear and go wake up Apollo so we can leave?" She continued, and you nodded, standing up. You walked down the hall, entering his chambers.

You shook him awake, and he slowly sat up. "Good morning." You said mischievously. "Morning, sunshine. I've got a massive headache." Apollo sighed, and you gave him a skeptical. "I wonder why." You said flatly, raising an eyebrow at him. "What even happened last night?" He asked, blinking at you drowsily. "You got in a drinking match with Artemis and drank almost an entire bottle of wine, you flirted with Artemis's hunters, you tried to do a hand stand to impress Aphrodite, you cried in a corner, and you threw up." You said, recounting your mental list. "Did I at least win the drinking match?" Apollo asked hopefully, and you laughed. "No, no you did not."

"Damn it. How much did she drink?" Apollo asked, sounding slightly concerned. "An entire bottle." You said, flatly.

"So are we going to head back to Olympus?" You asked, and Apollo nodded. "Just give me a couple minutes, my sun." He said, waving his hand, and you sighed. You walked back into the guest chambers, and saw Aphrodite nursing Artemis's head ache. "He'll be here soon. He's dealing with a hangover." You remarked, closing your eyes.

Aphrodite nods, and Artemis groans.

"I envy the fact you didn't drink." Artemis grumbles, and Aphrodite giggled. "I get a bit rowdy when drunk, and I didn't want to subject you all to that." You joked, feeling a bit nervous. "Worse than Apollo?" Aphrodite asks, and you nod. "I once challenged a few guys to a drinking match and drank twenty eight cups." You add, thinking of the time before you got taken here. "Did you win?" Artemis asked, and you laughed to yourself. Maybe Artemis and Apollo were more alike than you thought. "Yup." You spoke, smiling. "I don't think I've ever heard of you talk about life before you came to Olympus until now." Aphrodite added thoughtfully, giving you a curious look.

"I guess I just haven't really had a reason to bring it up." You respond slowly, not really knowing what to say. Aphrodite gave you a sympathetic glance before Apollo burst in dramatically, making you jump. "We're going now." He declared, and you calmed yourself down. "Ugh, finally." Artemis said, slowly standing up. "They're probably wondering where we are back on Olympus." He continued, shrugging.

"Did.. you not tell them where we were going?" Artemis asked, and you immediately turned to look at Apollo.

"Did we have to?"

"Yeah! Did you seriously just make us disappear without any of the other gods knowing where we went?"

"Perhaps."

"Why are you like this?" Artemis grumbled, looking up at the ceiling. He just shrugged and left, having the rest of you follow. You walked outside, where the chariot was parked. You hesitated, waiting for the others to get in first. Finally, you got in behind Apollo, because that was the only spot left. You whipped out your book, though you suspected you may finish it before you got back to Olympus.

"We should get back today." Apollo said, and you nodded. If you had to guess, the trip took about two to three hours, since the sun had set when you set off a couple of days ago. He still seemed drowsy from yesterday, and you guessed the him and Artemis just wanted to lay in their chambers all day.

The golden chariot shined in the sunlight, and so did Apollo. His golden hair reflected the beams of the sun, and his amber eyes looked like pools of honey. Everyone still wore the same things they wore last night, since no one had bothered to get extra garments. You took off your jewelry, including the sun jewelry, since you didn't want people to connect it with Apollo. He looked back at you and frowned, and you rolled your eyes. You got the feeling he was only staying quiet because Artemis and Aphrodite were there. Your cat sat comfortably curled on your lap as you read. (A/N: my bad yall I forgot the cat was there 💀)

"Say, ____, where did you get that ring?" Aphrodite asked, smirking. You stiffened. She knew exactly where you got it, she was there. You knew exactly what she was doing. "You were there when I got it, were you not?" You asked back, shooting her a glare.

Aphrodite went silent for a second, but Apollo chimed in. "Where did you get it? I don't seem to remember seeing it when we were helping to prepare your room."

"Hermes gave it to me." You blurted, not thinking of a way to get around the truth with Aphrodite there. Apollo stiffened, and you braced yourself for a screaming match.

"It was just a piece of jewelry I saw a mortal selling and liked, and Hermes offered to get it for me. That's all." You said flatly. "You wear it every day." Apollo remarked, and you sighed.

"I like dragons, and I like opals. I just like the ring, it doesn't have any other meaning than that, and if it did then it still wouldn't be your business." You counteracted, bristling.

"Can you two please shut up? You're making my headache worse." Artemis interrupted before he could reply. Apollo sighed, but both of you obliged, staying silent for the rest of the trip.

 

* * *

 

The chariot landed, and you saw a familiar face burst out of the trees. "Where were you all?! We were all worried sick!" Athena shouted, giving the group a stern look. Apollo rolled his eyes, but you just sunk into the seat. "Not our fault this frog face didn't tell you all that he was taking us!" Artemis piped in, and Apollo rolled his eyes. "All of you are coming with me to see Zeus and inform him of your arrival." Athena declared scornfully, specifically at Apollo. You climbed out of the chariot along with the other goddesses, and Apollo followed shortly after.

You followed Athena into the grand throne room where Zeus sat, but Hera was no where to be seen. You wondered if this was all Zeus did all day, or if he actually did leave the throne room, since this was the only place you've seen him.

"Greetings, father. I am here to inform you of these four's return." Athena said, her voice echoing through the room as she knelt. You bowed to Zeus, and the others followed. "Where were you?" He asked, his voice booming like a bell. "Lord Zeus. Apollo took us to Delphi, though we were not informed where we were going and that we would be gone for more than a few hours. I only recently discovered that he had not informed anyone of our trip." Artemis said, bowing her head respectively towards her father.

"Is this true, Apollo?" Zeus huffed, staring down at them menacingly. "Yes, father." He sighed, sensing the glares around him. "In that case, I expect you to apologize to all of the Olympians for the trouble you've caused." He rumbled, wielding his lightning.

"Yes, father."

"You are all dismissed, except ____."

Your eyes widened, and Apollo gave you a shrug. You stood nervously in the center of the chamber, shrinking under Zeus's gaze. "Lord Zeus." You addressed, kneeling. "I wanted to tell you that we will be holding a celebration to make your new ranking as a goddess official. Know that this will be your first impression with a lot of gods." He declared, and you nodded. You stayed knelt, as Zeus hadn't dismissed you yet.

"You also may have heard rumors about your impending marriage. Know that I do in fact intend to marry you off soon to avoid conflict. However, I will give you some time before I do so." Zeus continued, and you stiffened, terrified. His eyes glittered with amusement as you fidgeted nervously.

"You are dismissed." He finally said, and you hurried out. As you walked down to your chambers, you bumped into Hermes. "Ah! Sorry!" You yelled out instinctively, and you saw him look up with shock. "You're back!" He exclaimed, blushing with embarrassment. Before you can say anything, he hurried off past you. That was weird. You thought, feeling concerned.

You continued off to your chambers, thinking about the encounter. Maybe he was just in a rush. You walked through your door, breathing in the familiar air of your chambers. You missed it here. You slid off your dress and ring, dropping the dress in a basket. You looked over to the bathroom, walking over there. The marble tub shined in the afternoon sun, and you stepped in. You had missed bathing here, even though you weren't gone for long.

You soaked up the warm bubbly water, washing the dirt off your body. You sighed peacefully, glad to finally have a moment alone.

"____?"

Of course, you must have jinxed it.

You froze, not knowing what to do. Who has here? You weren't able to immediately tell from their voice.

You instinctively sunk deeper in the tub, covering your chest with your arms.

The door swung open, and there stood Hermes.

He stood there in shock, his mouth agape. You were both silent. "Get out." You said, your face as red as a tomato from a variety of emotions, and he nodded, leaving.

He didn't actually see anything, but he was still too close to doing so. You hoped that after this encounter he would start knocking first before barging in. You rushed the rest of your bath, stepping out a couple minutes later with a towel wrapped around yourself.

You exited the room, seeing Hermes standing there blushing heavily.

"Have you ever considered knocking?" You asked before he could say anything. "Did it occur to you that if I was in the bathroom you shouldn't come in?" You continued, scolding Hermes.

"Sorry." He breathed, almost to quiet to hear. His brown gaze was directed at the floor.

"What do you need?" You asked, giving him a look.

"I was just hoping to hang out, but I feel I may have spoiled the mood."

"I'm afraid that may be true. But maybe come back later when we've both calmed down?" You suggest, bringing up your tone a bit. Hermes nodded, quickly leaving.

You stop holding your breath when he leaves, and you process what just happened. Hermes had just seen you very exposed. You felt mildly traumatized, really.

You drop the towel, quickly slipping on a pink chiton. You fastened a dark pink cloak around your shoulders, sitting down on your bed. You put on a string of pearls, and slid on your opal ring. You stared at it as the colors of the opal gleamed and twirled in the sunlight.

You sigh, sinking into your pillows. There was so much stress you felt. The prophecy, that you had been subconsciously trying to untangle in your mind, your future marriage, and now Hermes.

What were you meant to do about this?

Notes:

Author's Note: hello! I'm about to get home from vacation tomorrow. (Or technically today since it's midnight)

I'm also going to throw hands with Apollo because of the GNARLY sunburn I got. I must assert my dominance.

In fact, have a bonus (not canon) scene of me squaring up with him.

 

BONUS SCENE:

I walked up to the golden gates of the temple, brimming with fury. My skin hurt, my brother's skin hurt even more. Apollo would pay for his injustice toward my mortal flesh.

There we was, lounging lazily in the sunlight in a woven hammock, eating grapes offered to him by servants.

He gave me a surprised look, but ignored me at first, waiting to see what I wanted.

"You." I started, raising my finger at him.

"Do you know how much pain you have caused me? How much pain you have caused my family?"

The sun god shrugged, not caring. I was going to make him care. He would regret crossing paths with me.

"My skin burns now, and my brother can barely walk, the pain is too much,"

"Listen, I really don't care, do you want some aloe gel or something?" He asked, raising a skeptical eye towards you.

"No. I want vengeance."

I slapped him square in the face. His hand reached up and brushed his wound. "You dare strike a god?!" He uttered, his face twisting with fury. "I am simply dealing you the same pain I faced. An eye for an eye, they say." I said calmly.

I punched him in the stomach as he stood up to face me, pushing him back onto the hammock. "You certainly have a lot of nerve, for a mortal." He spat, standing back up again. I didn't respond, I simply walked away.

"And Have some damn Aloe Vera! You look like a lobster!" He yelled, chucking a bottle at me. I caught it in my hand effortlessly, and exited the temple.

I lathered myself in the Aloe Vera he threw at me once I was out of sight, and I made sure to save some for my brother.

My vengeance had been served.

Apollo P.O.V

The bold mortal stormed out of the temple, leaving only him and a bewildered servant.

"Aren't you gonna punish her, my lord?" The servant asked, bowing.

Apollo shivered, unsettled by the mortal's ferocity. He thought back to how naturally she had caught the bottle of sunburn gel. He found himself feeling that he had gotten off rather light.

"No.. She scares me."

 

Author's Note: Happy April Fools day! In all seriousness my skin hurts so bad haha

Edit from the future: at the time of me writing this note I actually got another bad sunburn so... Apollo watch your back

Chapter 16: Chapter Fourteen- Temples and Books

Hermes avoided you for the rest of the day. Wherever you where, he was gone. It was awkward, and you understood that, but avoiding you would only make it more awkward, didn't he realize that? Whatever, you didn't really care, right? You fidgeted with your opal ring, thinking.

You contemplated what the prophecy meant. How were you meant to change anything when you barely had any control over your own life?

You then realized that if Hermes wasn't coming back, maybe you could have your very own adventure. You'd pop down to the mortal realm, help some people out, and feel some independence. You didn't need to be dragged along by other people all the time just to have fun.

You grabbed your bag and filled it with some cool gizmos and gadgets you had, including a pearl bracelet that could mask your divine energy and some potions you had made. You fastened your dark pink cloak, and took a deep breath, stepping out of your chambers. You quickly walked through the halls, if you made it there fast enough you wouldn't have enough time to talk yourself out of it.

"Where are you going, ____?"

You stop in your tracks, directing your gaze towards the voice. It was Apollo, leaning on a door frame giving you a concerned look. You sighed, of course he was there. "I am going to the mortal realm. By myself." you remarked, arching an eyebrow at the god. "Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you?" he asked, and you rolled your eyes.

"Quite sure." You sighed, meeting Apollo's gaze. "If you insist." He shrugged. You continued on your way, walking straight past him..

You stop on the rock ledge, hesitating as you recalled your last lesson with Athena. You float down the mountain, surveying your surroundings. You glide down onto a cloud, directing it towards a random mortal city. Pretty soon, you find yourself floating over Thebes, watching mortal life go by. You decided to go down there yourself, rather than just watching from above. You slid on your pearl bracelet to hide your divine energy, and dropped down into an empty alley. You pulled your hood over your head, letting your hair flow out through the front and cascade down your shoulders.

You made sure to position your bag under your cloak that way people couldn't steal from it as easily, and set forward towards the busy streets. You watch as people wave as they pass each other down the street, and children play near the road as their parents watched idly by. You feel a pang of envy as you remember your old life. But then you see something unusual. A young woman, no older than 25, and probably younger, sat sobbing in an alley. You approached slowly, not wanting to attract attention. "Are you ok, ma'am?" You asked, giving her a sympathetic look.

"Yeah, well, no, but it's fine." she sniffles, wiping away her tears. "What's troubling you?" You ask, pulling your hood off your head and crouching beside her. "My father is marrying me off to a stranger, but I don't wish to marry a man at all." She shares, her voice cracking.

You thought for a moment, as the girl looked down at her feet. "You could become a hunter of Artemis, then you wouldn't ever have to worry about marriage." You suggested, and the girl looked up at you, meeting your gaze. She had long wavy brunette hair that flowed down past her shoulders, and she had soft hazel eyes. Her face and shoulders were speckled thoroughly with brown freckles. She wore a long dark green dress, and you couldn't help but acknowledge her beauty.

"But I don't know how" She said softly, looking back toward the ground. You felt immense pity for the girl, and remembered that you've had a few temples popping up in your honor lately since your last little expedition with Hermes (not that many, as you were a minor goddess), temples that are a bit understaffed. "How about this? You could become a priestess of the goddess ____, I hear a lot of her temples are in need of them and she is a protector of women." You say, and she gives you a hopeful look. "But how would I even do that?" She asks, and you chuckle. "I have some ties there that could get you in." You smile as you rise to your feet.

The girl nods at you, her eyes shining with hope. "What is your name?" You ask, tilting your head. "Althaia." She responds, standing up. "I can get you there, but only if you are ok with leaving the city for good." You declare softly.

"I've always wanted to get away from here." Althaia admits, her eyes shining. You nod in understanding, and take her arm, transporting the both of you to your temple almost instantly.

"Woah, how did you do that?" She asks, and you laugh, sliding off your pearl bracelet.

"I'm not entirely what I seem."

 

* * *

 

After a long afternoon of training Althaia, you're completely worn out. You taught her many things, how to brew potions, how to guide your visitors, how to call for your help, and much more. Finally, you left her to fend for herself for now, deciding that she now knew enough.

You headed back toward Olympus, your mind clearer. You arrived at the palace, taking a side entrance as to not catch attention. You walked through the tapestry filled halls, your hand brushing against the wall as you passed by. "Well hello there, darling." A deep voice said, making you jump. You turned around and saw Dionysus behind you, chuckling softly to himself. His violet eyes were focused on you, and you shivered involuntarily. "Hello, Dionysus." You say dryly, meeting his gaze.

"I have somewhere to show you." He hums, and you can't help but feel curious. "Just follow me." He continues, and you nod, tilting your head at him. You follow Dionysus through a dark hallway, lit by only a few candles. At the end of this hallway, there is a set of giant wooden double doors, which he opens for you. As you step in, you can't help but feel a sense of awe.

You were surrounded by books.

"Since you seem to enjoy reading so much, I figured you would be delighted at the prospect of visiting our library." He says, clearing his throat. The library was filled with natural light spilling through the windows, and it was filled with reading nooks as well. "This is.. amazing." You breath, and Dionysus smiles at you. "Have fun, darling~" He purred, leaving the room. You immediately flocked to the bookshelves, looking at the titles and brushing your fingers against the bindings. There was so many books, and you felt yourself getting giddy at the prospect of reading them all. You grab a philosophy book, settling down in a corner to read it. You felt your fingers brush against the old yellowed pages, and your nose breathed in the musty scent of old books.

You sit and read for a while, before it becomes sunset and you decide to leave the library before it got too dark. You stare out the window, looking at the beautiful streaks of red and orange painting the sky. You always loved looking at the sunset. Finally, you sigh and stand up, walking back over to the library doors.

You exit the library, bringing the book you were reading with you. You are instantly swallowed by the darkness of the hallway as you drag the heavy doors shut, murmuring to yourself. You hummed as you treaded carefully through the palace, thinking about a tune you had memorized back in the day. You're on your way to your chambers, when you trip and lose your balance on a rug you had forgotten was there. Before you could fall, you feel strong arms catch you. You look up to see Apollo smirking at you, his eyes glittering.

"Thank you." You grumble, restoring your balance. "No problem, gorgeous." He winks, and you scoff. Apollo escorts you personally to your chambers, despite your protest. "I'm perfectly fine without an escort." You retorted, giving him a glare. "That's too bad." He yawned, oblivious to your aggression. You eventually gave up trying to send him away, as it clearly wasn't gonna work out. At least until you actually got to your chambers.

You opened the door, looking back at Apollo. "Are you gonna go now?" You asked, and he shook his head. "No can do, sunshine." He smirked, and you groaned in frustration. He strolled into your chambers like he owned the place, plopping down on your sofa. Why must he always be so difficult? "What will it take for me to get you to leave?" You ask, pleading. Apollo just shrugs, to your dismay. You walk over to your wardrobe, taking off your jewelry and placing it inside, including your ring, since you didn't want him to bother you about it. You grab a silk night dress and your worn out slippers, taking them with you to the bathroom to change.

You quickly slipped out of your dress and sandals, and swapped into your pajamas since you didn't entirely trust Apollo not to barge in. You grabbed a brush and hair ribbon from the wall and began to brush your hair, opening the bathroom door a bit to show that you were done changing. You tied your hair into a low ponytail using the ribbon and stepped out. Apollo stood by the couch, flashing you a boyish grin. He was about to take his shirt off again, but you walked over there and flicked him in the chest, and he laughed and admitted defeat.

"If you're gonna wear what you wear to sleep, do it in your own room." You sighed, feeling amused. "Ugh, fine." He grumbles, and you stifle a laugh. He beckons you over to sit down next to him, and you oblige. He sits down, his hands pressing down against the couch. "Why are you so pretty?" He murmured, and you scooted a little farther away from him. You weren't doing this today. "Shut up." you grumble, and he giggles.

"Please leave my room." You order, pointing at the door. He still does not oblige, shaking his head, and you sigh. Sometimes you think Apollo was a force sent to punish you for all your wrong doings in life, and that was why he was so hellbent on getting under your skin.

Why was he even here? What did he want from you?

"I am trying to read in peace." You sigh, and his eyes glittered with amusement. "Then do that." He shrugs, and you groan. "Not with you in here, walrus nose. You're a major distraction." You retorted, giving him a look. He laughs, and you feel your left eye twitching. "Very professional wordplay, sunshine."

"I'll barricade myself in the bathroom until you leave." You declare, your tone flat. "Ugh, fine I'll go" He grumbles, standing up. You sighed in relief as he shut the door behind him, glad he was finally gone.

You jumped onto your bed and stayed up late reading, glad to finally have some alone time.

Notes:

Author's Note: Sorry if this chapter was boring D:

I wrote a lot of it during play practice at school (except I did it on paper and typed it onto the computer when I got home). Right now it is morning for me, I meant to finish it yesterday, but failed. It is currently early morning, and I should probably get ready for school now.

Thanks for reading!!!

Chapter 17: Chapter Fifteen- Salt

Notes:

Note from the future when I'm uploading this on here-
Oh no its this chapter.
Just a warning for attempted assault :(

Like it usually does, the morning begins for you by waking up. Your hair was messed up, splayed across the pillows. You blinked groggily, taking in your surroundings. You still weren't used to waking up here. Your first thought was always about something like your job or family or friends when you woke up, and you always had to remind yourself you didn't have them anymore, or yet, you guessed. You still had your cat there, at least. (AN: I don't enjoy interrupting, but I just want y'all to know that that wasn't foreshadowing, nothing bad is going to happen to the cat.)

You looked out the window, as the sunshine spilled through it. You remembered with a bit of glee that Apollo was riding the sun chariot today, and would do so for the rest of the week to make up for the days he missed. That meant you wouldn't have to deal with him during the day time for a bit, and you could have a break. You wanted to just lay in bed and sulk all day, but you knew that it was too nice of a day out and sulking would only make your mood worse. You stepped out of bed, staggering to the bathroom to bathe. You felt nervous about getting in the tub again after yesterday, but you did it anyway because you wanted to smell good.

You let yourself soak up the warm water, sighing. You didn't even know what to do today, but you'd figure something out. Perhaps you'd go outside and read. A little fresh air and sunlight never hurt anyone.

 

After a long bath, you got out and wrapped yourself in your towel, going to your wardrobe. You grabbed a dark blue chiton you had never worn before, dropping the towel and putting on the dress instead. You put on a pearl and sapphire necklace, along with a matching pearl bracelet. You put on your ring as well, even though it didn't match the outfit. You were almost doing it out of habit. You put on some soft brown sandals, and tied your hair back in a royal blue ribbon.

You grabbed your bag and stuffed the book you got from the palace library in there, along with some other gadgets that you weren't entirely sure why you were bringing. You stepped out of your chambers, breathing in the scent of the candles illuminating the hallway.

You immediately went to the forest, venturing deep within as to not be bothered. You climbed up a tall tree, using a branch as your perch. You inhaled the fresh air, glad to be outside. You watched as squirrels and birds ran around below you, with a smile. Finally, you grabbed your book and begun to read, taking out the make-shift bookmark you had been using. That's when you heard something. Footsteps, nearby. Not approaching you, in fact it sounded like it was someone pacing back in forth. You maneuvered through your tree, a large sturdy oak, you sat yourself down on a branch closer to whoever it was, close enough to hear a voice murmuring to himself. It was Hermes.

You looked down on him curiously, the leaves hiding you. What was he doing here? He walked repeatedly in a circle, muttering something you couldn't quite hear. Weird, you thought, peering down at him. He wore a snake pendant, and seemed to be carrying something you couldn't quite see. It looked like a golden necklace, but you were to far away to make out the details.

It felt wrong just watching him, but you didn't exactly want to come down and greet him, as it might just give him another reason to keep avoiding you. You climbed down to the branch you were on before, deciding to give him privacy. You were on a lower branch, that was still viewable from the ground. You continued to read, but your mind kept circling back to Hermes.

Eventually, however, you heard his footsteps approaching. He stepped into your little area, and he didn't see you at first, but when he did his eyes lit up. He smiled and walked over, and you couldn't help but smile back, putting your book down. You waved as he approached, stifling a laugh when he almost tripped.

His face was a flurry of emotions, but mostly it held joy and nervousness. "I.. got you an apology present for what happened yesterday." He said, something cupped in his hands. He opened them, and you saw the golden necklace you had seen him carrying earlier. On it, it had a pendant of a golden dragon protecting an opal, very similar to your ring. "I found it at a market place and figured it would match with your ring." He said shyly, and you grinned. "Thank you." you said quietly as he dropped it into your palm.

You both stood there for a moment, basking in each other's presence. "I was looking for you last night, where were you?" He asked, his voice almost a whisper. "I simply went out by myself, I tried to wait for you before then, but I gave up." You answered honestly, hoping you were imagining the hint of possessiveness in his voice.

"Sorry that I was avoiding you." He sighed. "No, no, I understand why, it's fine." You said quickly, the words flowing out of your mouth as your cheeks glowed red when you remembered yesterday. He blushed too, and you both were silent. "I should go now, see you later?" He said lightly, giving you a hopeful glance. You nodded, letting him leave the area peacefully. You sat and continued to read, hoping he would actually come back this time.

 

***

WARNING: Poseidon (ew)

 

The sun had reached its highest point, and you were out of energy for reading. You hopped off your branch, heading back to the palace. You were in a much better mood then you were when you woke up.

You walked through the forest, remembering the path you had taken clearly. Pretty soon, the palace came into sight. You walked through the side entrance you usually took when leaving the forest, as it was much closer to your chambers. You stare at the tapestries as you walk past, not paying attention to where you were walking. That's when you bump into someone. You stagger back, looking up at the huge figure. He smelt of fish and salt, and he had long black hair. You recognized his face from your first day here, when all of the Olympians were sitting upon their thrones. Poseidon you realized, immediately bowing and mumbling apologies.

"Well look who it is. Aren't you the new goddess?" He rumbled, his voice having a dangerous edge to it. "Yes, that would be me." You mumbled, terrified for your life. Poseidon gave you an amused look as you shrank down in his presence. "You're quite pretty. I can see why Zeus agreed to keep you." He smirked, and you felt your soul leave your body. You turned pale, tensing up. You backed up slowly, but he grabbed your arm fiercely.

"Almost too pretty." He purred, and you felt a familiar sense of rage brewing up deep within you. "With all due respect, lord Poseidon, I need to leave." You said nervously, a hint of sharpness in your voice. You knew your place though, and knew you could get in serious trouble if you showed any disrespect. "That's just too bad." He whispered, his grip on your arm tightening.

You thought you had known true fear until now, as he dragged you through the halls. You hoped you didn't know what he was going to try to do. He opened a dark brown door covered in sea shells and pulled you inside, closing the door. You breathed heavily, your vision becoming a blur. Poseidon had pinned you to the wall, reaching for your dress.

You weren't going to let this happen.

You punched him in the gut, running to the door. He hesitated a moment, processing what just happened before he begun to chase you, his face twisted with fury. Nothing compared to the fury you felt, though. You burst out the door, running. You feel a jolt of adrenaline flash through you, determined to get away. However, Poseidon was starting to catch up. As much as you had wanted to, you knew you couldn't fight him off.

Out of ideas, you stopped at the door to Artemis's chambers, praying she was in there as you knocked. To your relief, she answered. "____?" Artemis asked, her voice full of concern as she saw the terrified look on your face. "Poseidon." You breathed, and she nodded, understanding. She immediately took you inside, facing the door as he approached. "Harassing another maiden again?" She asked, and his face glowed red with shame and anger. "She punched me!" He shouted, and you rolled your eyes. "He had me pinned against a wall!" You whispered, out of breath.

You sat down on the floor as Artemis and Poseidon argued back and forth, sighing with relief when he finally left. She approached you, her face filled with sympathy. "What happened?" She asked gently. "I don't know! I bumped into him, and he flirted, and then he was dragging me off to his chambers and pinned me to the wall, he was grabbing my dress and I had to defend myself." You ventilated, the words spilling out. "You did the right thing, especially when you came to me." She said gently, soothing you with her words. "Thank you, Artemis." You said, looking up to meet her gaze. She looked at you softly, and you couldn't help but feel immensely grateful.

"Do you want me to walk you back to your chambers?" She asked, and you nodded. Artemis gave you her hand and helped you get up, and you followed her to your bedroom. She was silent the whole way there, and you couldn't help but look around, still shaken up. When you reached your door, Artemis gave you a curt nod and walked away, leaving you alone. You shakily reached for the door, walking inside, and almost immediately jumping into bed and burying your face into a pillow as you begun to cry.

 

***

 

After what felt like about half an hour of sulking, Hermes burst in. Apparently, he hadn't learned to knock from last time. Great.

"Hello!- woah, are you ok?" He asked, seeing you. You nodded, but your face betrayed you. His usual smirk left his face, and his brow furrowed in concern. He glided over to you, sitting down on the bed. "What happened?" He asked, gently patting your back. You hesitated, swallowing nervously. He gave you a soft look and you sighed. "Poseidon tried to assault me." You admitted, and Hermes's eyes widened at you. "He what?!"

"I punched him in the guts and ran to Artemis before he could really do anything." You said, looking down. "I'm just- still processing everything." You mumbled, your breath hitching as you buried your face in your hands. He patted your back gently, and you gave him a grateful look. You were mad, you were scared, and most of all you were overwhelmed. "How about this, we go hit a tavern and have a couple drinks? It'll help take your mind off things." He suggested, and you laughed. "Are you suggesting I drink my sorrows away?" You ask, and he giggles. "Pretty much." Hermes responded, shrugging.

"Well, I don't really drink, especially not in public."

"Why not?" He asks, giving you a curious look.

"I always manage to have too many drinks and embarrass myself." You shrug, and Hermes laughs. "I'll make sure you don't have too much, as long as you do the same." He says with a wink, and you sigh, giving up. "I suppose I'll go." You say, and Hermes's eyes glitter. "But- we'll wait until later when it isn't the middle of the afternoon, I don't think any taverns are even open right now." You remark, giving him an amused look.

"I've got a free schedule for the rest of the day, how about we hang out until it's time to go?"

"Sounds great." You say, smiling. You feel the weight of your troubles lift off your shoulders and you feel relieved, even if it's just for a moment.

"What should we do first?" Hermes asks, and you think for a moment. You thought back to last time you had really hung out with him, and you blushed as you remembered the kiss you had shared. It was such a fleeting moment, yet it had such a big impact on you. You push the memory to the back of your mind, trying to not take an awkwardly long time to answer.

"How about we just talk for a bit until we think of something?" You suggest, and Hermes nods.

Maybe today could be a good day after all.

Notes:

Author's Note: I'm on my grind.

I was very hesitant on writing the Poseidon thing, so I asked my friend Bailey if I should keep it in. She said yes. If Bailey says yes then that means I must oblige. If anybody wants me to write it back out just tell me before next chapter and I'll prob write it out.

Also, I now have TEN engaged readers! To celebrate this accomplishment, I will be taking suggestions on any bonus scenes or stuff like that I could write as celebration. I'm open to doing a one shot or something, but y'all get to choose.

Edit from the future: its too late for me to write it back out. Though I am still always open to one shot suggestions

~Originally Published 4/3/25~

Chapter 18: Chapter Sixteen- Taverns and Gods

You and Hermes walked into a mortal tavern, disguised. He was back to his usual mischievous demeanor, always wearing a perpetual smirk. Its a very warm place, both in temperature and atmosphere. The candles made the place glow, and the place was alive with the buzz of people's voices. Hermes confidently strides over to the bar counter, sitting on a stool. You sit down, next to him, and his mouth widens in a big grin. "Two wines, please." Hermes said to the bartender, slipping them a couple coins. The bartender gave the coins a skeptical look before taking them, grabbing two goblets and a bottle.

The bartender slips you and Hermes the goblets after filling them, and you take a sip. "The drinks here are good and cheap." Hermes said, taking a big swig. You immediately taking another sip. "It is pretty good." You agree, smiling.

"I come here pretty often, whenever I need to take my mind off things." He continues, staring into space. Two guys walk in and sit next to you, but you pay no mind to them. "It seems like a nice place." You said, sipping more wine. It was pretty good, especially since you hadn't had good wine in a while, as the wine that was in your room, was pretty trashy. "Try to pace yourself." He smirks, and you roll your eyes. You'd drink as fast as you'd like.

You chugged your wine, feeling stubborn. "Or not, I guess." He laughs as you slam down your goblet. He smiles, taking a sip of wine.

"Oy! You two!" A voice calls out, and you see a couple of people surrounding you and Hermes. "Finally found yourself a woman?" A man asked Hermes, and he laughed and shrugged. "We're just hanging out." He responded, smiling. The men greeted him like an old friend, and you assumed that Hermes had hung out with them at this tavern before. "So, what's the lucky lady's name?" a dark haired man asks, and both you and Hermes rolled your eyes. He hesitates, and you let him come up with a fake name because you didn't know much about greek names, and didn't want to embarrass yourself. "Amaltheia." He said, and you bit back a laugh. "Really, the goat?" You whispered in his ear, and he looked like he has holding back a laugh too. You may be bad at remembering names most of the time, but you were pretty sure Amaltheia was the name of the goat who had nursed Zeus as a baby.

"She chugged her wine down already." Hermes continued, flashing a grin.

"Bet she won't be drinking any more tonight." A blond guy chuckles, and you arch an eyebrow at him.

"You wanna bet?" You asked.

"I told you I wouldn't let you drink too much, dear." Hermes said, giving you a warning glance.

"This is a challenge for my honor." You declare, narrowing your eyes at him, and throwing your hands down onto the table. You decided not to say anything about the fact that he called you 'dear' since you didn't want to cause a scene about it, not right now. You wave down the bartender, getting him to pour you another. You chug the glass, staring your challenger straight in the eyes.

Hermes sighed, knowing he couldn't stop you. You yearned for alcoholic beverages other than wine, but if wine was all you had you'd drink it. Unfortunately, they don't have beer so you can't make White Gilgameshes anymore. Truly a shame. That's ok, you could find new horrible monstrosities to make that use the materials you already have, when you have time.

You had a strong tolerance, so you could probably get away with a few more drinks, right? You got another refill and continued to chug, and Hermes gave you a concerned look. But when you tried to get another, he decided to cut you off. "I think you've had enough for now. You've proved your point." He said, patting your shoulder. You rolled your eyes, but didn't argue.

The group of men that had surrounded you and Hermes begun to spread out slowly across the tavern, leaving the two of you alone. "I'm starting to see why you worried." He joked, and you nodded. "I mean, I have other reasons for not drinking often. Like for one thing, it's useful to my friends to have one sober person that can take them home, and make sure they don't do anything too stupid." You shrugged, thinking back to your old life and the party Apollo had hosted a couple of days ago.

"That's true." Hermes said, sipping his second glass of wine. You got another refill, and he sighed, not stopping you. "I'll allow you to have maybe one more after this, but no more than that." He sighed, and you nodded. You tried to pace yourself with this glass, but you were already feeling tipsy anyways. Maybe you'd use sense and not have any more, but it was unlikely.

You swirled the goblet around in your hands, watching as the dark purple liquid twirled about inside. So much for drinking responsibly. You slowed down, taking a small sip. "Are you done threatening your own well being?" Hermes asked, and you scoffed. "Ha! That was nothing. I've drunken far more in one go." You laughed, your voice rough. Amusement glittered in his eyes, though he said nothing.

"I suppose I am done for now, to answer your question." You said more quietly, filling your voice with mock dignity. "I've suddenly felt a feeling of doom settle over me." Hermes joked, and you grinned. "That checks out." You said, taking another sip of the wine. You breathed in the intoxicating aroma as you brought the goblet to your lips. The edges of your vision blurred a tiny bit, but you hadn't really noticed.

Somebody new stepped into the tavern, carrying a wooden lyre and settling in the corner, beginning to play a soothing melody. It was a woman, with short brown hair.

"She's pretty good." You said, nodding towards her. "Do you think she's one of Apollo's mortals?" He whispered, and you shrugged. "Maybe, I wouldn't be surprised." You responded, your gaze lingering.

You and Hermes chattered for a while, but after that the rest of the night was just a hazy blur.

 

***

 

"It's getting late, we should go." Hermes said suddenly, looking out the window. You felt dizzy, and your vision was blurred slightly. "I think I've got a couple of good hours left in me." You chirped, your voice slurred. You leaned against a table, and Hermes glanced up at you with an amused look in his eyes. "I doubt that." He smiled, arching an eyebrow at you. You sighed, knowing he was probably right. You felt like you were going to vomit. "Fine." You grumbled, walking towards him. Hermes wrapped his arm around yours, leading you out of the tavern. That was probably so mortals wouldn't see him teleporting but you didn't really know if that was true since your brain was so fuzzy.

He lead you into a dark alley, and something in your brain told you to be nervous but you didn't really know why. Your whole body ached, from the amount of movement you had been doing all night. Hermes transported you to Olympus, and you feel something like relief flicker in your mind, but when you tried to pin it down and find the source it withered away.

He lead you to your chambers, humming. He seemed rather calm, as he walked ahead of you. "Ladies first~" He said, his voice smooth as he swung open the mahogany door for you. You stumbled inside, collapsing on your couch. He laughed, his voice filled with warmth that made you feel a twinkle of joy.

"I knew you wouldn't last another minute." He said, giving you a knowing smirk. You grumbled something into the couch pillow, and he giggled. He paused for a moment, thinking. "You should probably get some rest." He suggested gently as you shoved your face in a pillow. "No." You grumbled, and Hermes sighed. "The later you stay up, the more you'll regret it in the morning." He said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Determined to prove you did not need rest, you slowly got up, facing him. "Do you wanna hang out more tomorrow? I've got a free afternoon." He asks, and you nod.

"Definitely." You declared, your voice slurred.

You embraced him in a tight hug, and he let out a oomf of surprise. You let go, sitting back down on the couch. His face glowed red, and you leaned against the couch arm, giving him an amused look. You blinked groggily, feeling very tired.

"I'll be right back." He says, quickly leaving the room.

You sighed, trying to keep yourself awake as you waited for his return. But you found it hard to fight back the comforting darkness encapsulating you.

Your eyes fluttered shut, giving into sleep.

~ * ~

HERMES POV-

He creaked open the door, holding a goblet of water he meant to give to you.

He thought back to the hug you had given him with a blush, it was so sudden and genuine. You rarely had shown anyone affection like that, to his knowledge.

As he walked in, he saw you sprawled across the couch, your eyes shut. He hesitated for a moment, watching your chest rise and fall as you breathed before he decided that you were probably asleep. He laughed softly to himself, not surprised you had managed to fall asleep already.

You weren't wrong about how you were when you drank. While Hermes found you quite charming when drunk, he had to admit you were a bit exhausting. You were very competitive, in fact you had almost broken into a fight with some guy before he had managed to break it up. It felt like every time he looked away for more than ten minutes, you tried to do something stupid. It was madness. For your own sake, Hermes hoped you didn't remember most of what happened that night.

He put the goblet down on your night stand, deciding he should probably try and wake you up so you could sleep in your bed. He shook your arm gently, "____?" He whispered rather loudly, but it was no use. You were out cold. He sighed, knowing you probably wouldn't appreciate what he was about to do if you woke up.

He slid his arms under you, picking you up. To his relief, you didn't wake. He carried you over to your bed, gently placing you. He made sure you were in a comfortable position before he tucked you into the blankets. He grabbed a piece of parchment paper on his bag, writing a note for when you woke up. He decided to leave the goblet there, assuming the water might help in the morning when you'd have a nasty hangover. He placed the note next to it, glancing at you. Even in this state, you were beautiful.

He wondered if maybe he should take your jewelry off you to make you more comfortable, but he decided it was overkill and he just wanted an excuse to linger. Hermes turned and left, sparing one more glance at you before he left you for the night.

Hermes was glad he had made you feel better that night. It almost seemed like you had forgotten your unfortunate run in with Poseidon.

Poseidon he thought with a glimmer of fury. How dare he lay a finger on you. Hermes would come up with some petty pranks to pull on him, though he deserved far worse.

Hermes was busy thinking up revenge schemes when he bumped into an annoyed sun god.

"Watch where you're going!" Apollo shouted, his glare as sharp as a dagger.

"Sorry." Hermes shrugged, not really caring. Apollo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Have you seen ____?" He asked, his gaze softening a bit.

"She's out cold. We were just out at a bar and she drank too much wine, and now she's sleeping it off." Hermes responded casually, trying not to provoke Apollo. He tilted his head, confused.

"I thought ____ didn't drink?"

"She does sometimes, apparently. But she usually doesn't because when she does she becomes a danger to herself and others, evidently." Hermes remarked, remembering today's events.

"Whatever, I'm going to see her."

Hermes rolled his eyes, letting Apollo pass by him. He hurried to his own chambers, he wanted to get good sleep since he had places to be tomorrow morning.

~ * ~

APOLLO POV-

Apollo walked past the messenger god, frustrated. Of course you had been mingling with him that night.

He ran his hand through his hair, mumbling to himself. He saw the amused look Hermes had given him as he walked past, but he chose to ignore it. He wanted to see you.

He had heard from Artemis what had happened to you.

"Listen, I'm giving you a chance to actually comfort her. Mess this up and I will strike you down."

She had warned, but Hermes had beaten him to it anyway.

Apollo felt rage brew deep within as he thought about Poseidon. He clenched his fists, that god was a dirty, nasty thing that was always touching things that didn't belong to him.

Besides, his beloved had been deeply affected by this, and you didn't deserve that.

He stopped at your door, knocking.

No response, of course.

Apollo sighed, opening the door. He preferred to knock first, but it seemed you were in fact asleep.

You were tucked comfortably under the covers, your hair shining in the faint moonlight streaming through the window. Apollo didn't linger too long, as he knew better than to intrude. He set a package down by the door and left.

It was another gift Apollo had gotten you. A beautiful topaz necklace, meant to establish his claim upon you.

You were his, and his only, no matter what your little messenger thought.

He cared about you deeply, that was enough, wasn't it?

Apollo wouldn't let Hermes get in his way.

Notes:

Author's Note: Ok, for the first part of this I don't approve of a lot of it. Idk, I just had a skill issue this morning. Also, Y/N mentions the "White Gilgamesh" drink, and I figured not many people will get my little Tumblr reference so here is a screenshot of the post.

Also, Y/N mentions the "White Gilgamesh" drink, and I figured not many people will get my little Tumblr reference so here is a screenshot of the post

Edit from the future: can't put images on here :(

I've heard apparently as long as you don't drink it warm its not actually that bad? Idk I haven't tried it.

Also I don't approve of the fact I included a white Gilgamesh reference in this at all, but I chose not to take it out.

Anyways, I added extra perspectives because I didn't want to wait until the next bonus chapter where I'd have to focus on all of the other events that happened chapters 13-18 as well. Originally I was just gonna do Hermes then switch back to Y/N but I ended up throwing Apollo in there.

Have a great day!!!!

~Published 3/4/25~

Chapter 19: Chapter Seventeen- Rain

You awoke with a sharp head ache, sending jolts of pain through your head. You groaned, sinking deeper into your bed. You looked to your side, surprised to see something on your bedside table. A water goblet, and a note.

'Dearest ____, when I came back I found that you had already fallen asleep. I moved you into your bed, rather than the couch and left this water here for you to have in the morning. -Hermes'

You looked at in confusion, until your memory slowly returned to you. You had a very small recollection on what happened that night, and when you reached for those memories they drifted away. You thought you remembered Hermes escorting you to your chambers, and leaving at some point with promise of return, but it could just be your mind playing tricks on you.

You gave the goblet a skeptical look, but you figured maybe hydration would help with the head ache, even if the water was room temperature. You reached for it, your arm catching the sunlight as it ventured in front of a window. You grabbed the goblet, the coldness of it startling you. You tentatively took a sip, and were surprised to notice that it was still very cold. You drank the whole thing, placing it down on your night stand. You then realized you had slept in all of your garments, except your shoes.

You sighed, getting out of the bed. You ignored the burst of pain in your head as you walked toward your wardrobe, thinking about what you'll wear today. You rummage through it, looking for whatever dress spoke to you most that day. You chose an off-white toga, and grabbed a golden belt to accompany it. You quickly took off your sapphire necklace and pearl bracelet, keeping the ring on. You placed them back with the rest of your jewelry as you slipped off your dress, placing on the new one you had chosen. You liked the clothes here, but sometimes you wish you had your old wardrobe too. Being able to dress however you wanted, and be as comfortable as you wanted was something you had taken for granted. You slipped the dress back off, along with the ring, deciding that maybe a nice bath would help with the head ache.

You stumbled over to the bathroom, bringing the dress and belt with you. You took your hair out of the royal blue ribbon you had tied it back in, placing it on a counter. You got in the tub, filling it with warm water. You felt the throbbing in your head ease a bit, and you sigh contently. You were at peace, mostly.

After a long bath, you step out and dry yourself off. You put on your dress and belt, and headed to your wardrobe to put on some jewelry. You slid on your opal ring, along with the opal dragon necklace Hermes had gifted to you only the day before. It felt like ages ago when you and him were under that oak tree, but it was only yesterday. You were sliding on some golden arm bands when you noticed there was something by your door. A small, unassuming package. You had a guess on who it was from.

You approach it, lifting it up into the light. Sure enough, a note was attached that signified it was from Apollo. You sigh, opening it. Inside, there was a pretty topaz necklace, that glowed in the sunlight. It was beautiful, but you weren't sure you trusted it. You could never be sure when it came to Apollo. You put it in a drawer in your night stand with the sun jewelry he had gifted to you previously. You put on some golden sandals that match with the rest of your outfit, and you felt a little bit of pride when you looked at your reflection in the mirror.

You grab your bag and look through it, making sure the things you wanted were in there. You slung it over your shoulder, letting the familiar weight sink onto you. You had no idea where you were gonna go, but you'd figure something out. You stuck a dagger into your bag, just in case you needed it.

You wished you had brought it with you yesterday.

You sighed, not deciding to follow that train of thought. You left your chambers, choosing to go to the library. You were pretty sure you remembered the way there, though you had only been there once.

However, on your way there you are interrupted.

"____, I've been looking for you." Athena said, giving you a curt nod. "I figured today we should train, as neither of us seem to be busy today." She continued, and you nodded, glad to get to do something useful with your time. She led you away through the halls, and walking in silence. As you entered the courtyard, you looked up at the sky. Clouds had begun to creep in, almost obscuring the sun. You had a feeling that it would rain soon, but not for at least a couple of hours.

"Grab a sword." Athena said, and you obliged, approaching the sword area. You gravitated towards the sword you had used last time, wrapping your hands around the handle. You took off your bag and set it down by a pillar, that way it wouldn't weigh you down. Athena pulled out a large sword from the sheath on her back, the metal glinting dangerously in the light. "Let's begin." She said, her voice low. You ran at her, and the two of you sparred, occasionally stopping so Athena could critique your techniques.

By the time you both were done, you thought that the sun had reached its highest point, but the clouds had spread, fully obscuring the sun. The wind had picked up, blowing a chill down your spine. The banners flapped in the breeze, making it hard to make out what was depicted on them. "I will teach you more about using your new abilities." She said, her face fixed in a state of calm.

 

***

 

Athena's lesson was cut off early by the rainfall. She looked up at the sky, giving the rain a disdainful look. "You are dismissed for now." She declared, bowing her head. "Thank you, Athena." You said, smiling.

Your body ached, your muscles tired from the harsh training. You left the courtyard, going to your chambers. You stopped at your door, hesitating.

You reached for your bag, before realizing you had left it. You sighed, turning back, despite your limbs feeling like noodles. Your feet felt heavy, like stones weighing you down. You walked back down the hall wearily. You tried to step quietly, not wanting to be seen in your current state of being tired and drenched in sweat and rain. You walked through the now empty courtyard, the downpour aggressively drenching you. You were glad to see your bag sitting dry under an awning. You quickly grabbed it, wrapping your arms around it in a protective manner to try and stop it from getting wet as the rain soaked you. You quickly moved, getting back into the warmth and dryness of the indoors.

Your wet dress clung to your skin, the now present weight of it pressing down against you. You trudged onwards to your chambers, opening the door to see a certain god leaning against a wall.

"Caught in the rain?" Hermes asked, his face lit with amusement. "What makes you think that?" You grumble, a shiver running through your body. "I'll go get you a towel." He declares, his voice a bit softer. You roll your eyes as he scurries to the bathroom, with an unnecessary sense of urgency in his movement. You drop your bag down next to the door, and start rummaging through your wardrobe for a different, less moist dress to wear. Hermes emerges from the bathroom triumphantly with a white towel, grinning.

He walks up next to you, mimicking your pose and expression as you peered at your clothes. You turn around to face him, and he looks back up at you, smiling warmly. "Here, let me get that.." He started, dabbing your face gently with the towel. You stiffened, heat rising up your face. "I can dry myself, you know." You grumbled, and Hermes let out a small chuckle. He paused for a moment, moving a strand of wet hair off your face, his touch sending ripples of warmth through your cold body as his fingers brushed your cheek. "I know, but I much prefer this." He whispered, and you blush.

The edge of his mouth was tugged up in a smirk as he dried you off with the towel, his eyes soft as he looked at you. "I should change, I don't think I'll ever be dry with this dress on." You blurted suddenly, looking down at your feet. He nodded and you looked back to your wardrobe. Then you noticed something. There your old pajama pants and tee-shirt you had been wearing when you got here hung, freshly washed. You reached for them instinctively, deciding that you probably weren't going anywhere today and might as well wear them. Hermes gave you a curious look as you walked towards the bathroom with them, but didn't say anything.

You closed the bathroom door and peeled off your dress, drying yourself off more with the towel before putting on your pants. You missed wearing pants, dresses were nice and all but they didn't exactly keep your legs warm. You pulled your shirt on, and grabbed your hair brush before stepping back out to meet Hermes again.

"Are those the clothes you were wearing when you got here?" He asked, his head tilted slightly to the side. You nodded, "They're very comfortable."

"That's nice." He said with a thoughtful look on his face. He then noticed the brush you were holding, and his eyes lit up. "Could I do your hair?" He asked, grinning mischievously. You gave him a surprised look, and shrugged. "Only if you let me do yours." You smirked.

"Deal." He agreed, his eyes twinkling. You handed him the brush, along with a few ribbons and combs, and sat down on the floor, beckoning him over. He sat behind you, and gave all of the tools a suspicious look. "You have no idea what you're doing, do you?" You chuckled, moving your hair behind your head. "Nope." He chirped, grabbing the brush. He hesitantly began to brush your hair, with a gentleness you weren't used to. He went quiet, focusing. It was kind of soothing, having him brush your hair. Except when he accidentally yanked on a tangle, but other than that it felt pretty nice.

Once your hair was brushed out, he hesitated, thinking. "What hair style are you trying to do?" You asked, staying still. "I was thinking doing a braid, but I just realized I have no idea how to do that." He remarked, giving you a wounded look when you laughed. "I'll teach you." You said reassuringly, and he smiled. "Take a comb and use it to split my hair into three parts." You instructed gently. He hesitated, giving the comb a look as if he was afraid it would come alive and bite him as he grabbed it. He obliged though, giving you an enthusiastic look as he awaited your next instruction.

"Next, take one of the strands and place it over the middle one, and keep doing that until the braid is finished." You said, and he gave you a surprised look, as if expecting it to be more complicated. He hummed quietly to himself as he worked, and you smiled. Finally, he tied the bottom off with a ribbon and turned to look at your face as he smiled triumphantly. "Done!" He called out, and you laughed. You stood up and took a look in the mirror, it was a bit sloppy looking, but it certainly wasn't bad. Hermes gave you a prideful look, and you chuckled.

"Now it's my turn!" You sang mischievously, and he stiffened. "You're gonna make me look ridiculous, aren't you?" He sighed, and you smirked. "Guilty as charged." You shrugged, sitting behind him. You decided to spare him a little bit, just tying a bunch of ribbons in his hair as bows rather than doing anything too crazy. "How do I look?" He asked when he was done, putting a shrewd expression on his face. "Fabulous." You laughed as he stood up and struck a dramatic pose.

"I'm glad you seem to be feeling better after last night." He said suddenly, catching you by surprise. "Ugh, do I even want to know what happened?" You grumbled, and he shrugged. "You just got really drunk." He responded, giving you an amused look. You decided not to dwell on what you were doing that night, and he made the same choice.

"May I ask, what were you doing in my room before I came in?" You questioned, arching an eyebrow at him. "Waiting for you." He shrugged casually, something flashing in his eyes that you couldn't quite name. "Why? I could've been anywhere, it could've been hours until I came back." You blurted, the words flowing out of your mouth like a speeding river. "It was." He said casually, and you pinched the bridge of your nose in frustration.

"Was that not extremely boring?"

"Maybe just a little." He said, and you sighed. "Besides, I think it was worth it." He grinned, and you laughed. "If you say so." You commented skeptically, not understanding his reasoning at all.

Did he not have better things to do? "What were you doing when you were gone?" He asked, a tiny bit defensive. "Training with Athena." You shrugged, and you saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Ah, that explains some things." He smirked, and you rolled your eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" You asked, and Hermes laughed. "Nothing, dear." He said innocently, batting his eyes.

You felt yourself blush a bit at the nickname, but you tried to beat it back down. "Whatever." You huffed. He chuckled, looking back up at you.

Suddenly, something in his expression changed. His smile faltered, and he sat up straighter, almost tense. He looked.. annoyed.

"Ugh, I've got to go. Duty calls." He sighed, and you felt your stomach twist. He stood up, putting his hat back on and slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"Come back later?" You asked, looking up at him hopefully.

"I hope so."

Notes:

Author's Note: AAAA DIVINITY IS NOW NUMBER ONE IN THE GREEKMYTHOLOGY TAG!!! YOU ALL ARE AMAZING!! I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT EVEN HAPPENED BUT IT'S STILL PRETTY COOL.

ALSO I WENT UP 7 ENGAGED READERS SINCE LAST CHAPTER. 7!

THANK YOU ALL!!!

Also, fun little fact: I almost always have a tab open that lists synonyms for the word said because I never remember alternative words I can use

Also, I wasn't kidding when I said I'm taking one shot suggestions a couple chapters ago, even though the milestone it was celebrating has now doubled. If you have a suggestion that is at least some what related to Divinity (so basically it just has to have Greek Mythology) please share and I'll probably write it!!!

~Published 4/5/25~

Chapter 20: Chapter Eighteen- Topaz

You sat down on your bed, reading. Your favorite thing to do on a rainy day. There was nothing like the sensation of the sound rain filling your ears and reading by the glow of the warm flickering candle light. You were at peace, curled up comfortably in your blanket.

Of course, that's when you heard a knock on your door. At first, you thought Hermes but then you realized that Hermes is rarely polite enough to knock. Still, you hoped.

"Come in!" You called out, not taking your eyes off your book. The door swung open, and you looked up to see Apollo standing there. His golden curls glowed warmly in the candle light, and he wore a smug expression on his face. You bit back a sigh, closing your book and meeting his eyes. "Why are you here?" You sighed, and he gave you a wounded look.

"Excuse me, sunshine? What happened to hello?" He exclaimed, putting a hand to his chest. "You're not even wearing the necklace I got you." He huffed, and you rolled your eyes. "Its not your decision on what I wear. Besides, I plan on wearing it eventually." You pointed out, and he sighed. He adjusted his golden laurel crown, frowning. "You should wear it now anyways, I wanna see how it looks on you." He pouted, and you sighed. You went over to your nightstand, opening the drawer. You grabbed the topaz necklace and placed it around your neck.

"Happy?" You grumbled, glaring at Apollo. You felt a jolt of electricity run through you, and your eyes widen. You gasp, quickly taking the necklace back off. "Why'd you take it off?" He asked, and you narrowed your eyes at him. "What did you do to it?" You questioned, an accusatory note in your voice. "Nothing, my sun."

"You aren't a very good liar."

He sighed, rolling his eyes. "Just a little thing to make sure the other gods know you're mine." He huffs and you blink, startled. "I- what?"

"They don't seem to acknowledge it." He shrugged, and you inhaled sharply.

"First of all, I am not yours. I don't belong to anyone, nor will I ever. Second of all, there is no way I'm wearing that now." You snapped, glaring daggers at him.

"You'll always be mine, little sun." He chuckled, and you brimmed with rage. No one talked to you like that, as if they owned you. You clenched your fists tightly, your knuckles pale with the pressure. "Never. I'll never belong to you." You snarled, and he laughed.

"Whatever you say, sunshine." He said condescendingly, and you growled. "It's like you're asking to be punched in the gut." You muttered, and he giggled. "Oh, but I doubt you'd actually do it, gorgeous."

"I've hit you before, what makes you think I won't do it again?" You uttered, a dangerous gleam in your eyes. "I'll tell on you." He said smugly.

"I hate you so much." You sighed, looking down. "Oh, now thats not true. Maybe you're mad at me now, maybe you even dislike me, but you'll never hate me." He laughed, and you felt your anger growing deeper. You hated how you knew he wasn't wrong. No matter how much you wanted to hate him, you couldn't.

You dropped the necklace into the drawer again, closing it. He took a step towards you, and you immediately step away. You grab your bag, slinging it on your shoulders. You grab your dagger as he backs you into a wall, holding it threateningly at him. "Get away." You hiss, holding the dagger up at his chin. "Do I have to?" He smirked, and you pressed the tip of your dagger against his chin, golden blood dripping down from the wound.

"Ow!" He yelped, backing up. "I warned you." You shrugged, wiping the blood off your knife. It was a tiny wound, and it barely even bled. Of course, he would still make a fuss about it. "I Didn't think you'd actually do it!" He yelled, and you rolled your eyes. "Be glad I barely even stabbed you." You grumbled, glaring at him.

Thats when the door swung open.

"____!~" Hermes sang, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw the scene in front of him. "Is this a bad time?" He asked, and Apollo narrowed his eyes at him. "Yes, it is." He said, and Hermes shook his head. "I wasn't asking you, Apollo." He said, turning his gaze to you.

"No, it's not a bad time." You said, giving Apollo a disapproving look. He sighed, mumbling to himself as he left the room, leaving you and Hermes alone. "What happened?" He asked, giving you an amused look. "He got too close despite my warnings and I gave him a tiny cut." You shrugged, putting the dagger down.

You trusted Hermes, enough to let your guard down around him. The tension in your shoulders relaxed, and you felt calmer. "You really do not hesitate when it comes to violence, do you?" He teases, eyes twinkling. "Not when it comes to Apollo." You sigh, frowning. A smirk tugs the corner of his mouth up, and his eyes glitter with amusement.

"But you do when it comes to me?" He smiled smugly, and you rolled your eyes. "Maybe a little bit." You muttered, and he flashed a triumphant grin. He went and sat down on your couch, and you go and sit down next to him. "He tried to give me some sort of weird cursed necklace." You grumbled, and Hermes sat up, alarmed. "What does it do?" He asked, looking concerned. "I don't know; he was weirdly vague about it. He just said that it would show prove his 'claim over me' to the other gods." You sighed, and he gave you a thoughtful look. "Could you show me it?" he asked, and you nodded. You stood up, walking to your nightstand and grabbed the necklace out, presenting it to him. You saw a brief look of horror flicker across his face, and he reached towards it.

"It's meant to bind you to him. The longer you wear it the harder it is to get rid of the effect." He said, grabbing it. You shivered, glad you had taken it off quickly. You sat back down next to him, letting him stuff the necklace in his bag. "So, what did you come here for?" You asked, looking him in the eye. "Just to hang out with you while the night is still young." He said, his eyes glowing with warmth. You snook a glance out the window, it was almost pitch black. The clouds loomed above the sky ominously, only a couple stars managing to shine through. "I'm not sure that the night is very young." You said quizzically, frowning.

"Whatever. Maybe we could have one of those.. what do mortals call it.. a sleep-over?" He shrugged, and your eyes lit up.

"We could! As long as you're comfortable sleeping on the couch!" You exclaimed, smiling excitedly. "I don't mind." He said, leaning back. He looked casual, like he didn't really care, but you saw the way his eyes glittered, and how his fingers twitched and fidgeted, as if restless.

"You'll have to get your sleeping garments, unless you'd rather sleep in your clothes." You suggested, fidgeting with your bag strap. "I don't really care. Though, we should probably make sure the other Olympians don't know." Hermes shrugged, and you tilted your head curiously at him. "Why?"

"They'll assume things." He said awkwardly, his face turning a pale red. You blushed slightly too, now understanding what he meant. "Thats true. I guess this will be just between us. Unless we want to invite someone else? We could invite Artemis or Aphrodite." You suggested, your eyes lighting back up. "I'd say Artemis, Aph is great and all but you know how she can get." He said, rolling his eyes. He seemed slightly disappointed, his shoulders drooping a tiny bit, but you didn't really understand why.

"Do you wanna go invite her or should I?"

"I'll do it, I suppose." Hermes said, waving his hand in a dramatic gesture.

 

~ * ~

HERMES POV-

(AN: ok I know this may seem like it's gonna be a reoccurring thing but it's not I just really wanted to write this scene.)

 

Hermes found himself in front of Artemis's door with a snap of his finger, and he hesitated. He had wanted to be alone with you. Perhaps he could go back and say that Artemis had declined? He was the god of lies and trickery, after all.

No. It felt wrong to him some how, it felt like it was something Apollo might do. Not that he could really lie very well, of course.

He sighed, knocking on the door. Artemis was one of goddesses he feared angering, so he always at least tried to knock first.

She swung open the door, looking tired and grumpy. Hermes swallowed nervously, there was no going back now.

"Congratulations! You have been cordially invited to me and ____'s sleep over!" He exclaimed, lifting his hands up high. "No." Artemis said simply, giving him a skeptical look.

"Listen, it was either you or Aphrodite and you know she'd be weird about it." He sighed, and she rolled her eyes.

"Listen, if you had come any other day maybe I'd consider it. Go bother Aphrodite." She grumbled, slamming the door shut. Hermes sighed, not knowing what to do. While he wanted alone time with you, he also knew having another witness there would stop any rumors from spreading. He decided to just go for it.

*

"Finally asking for my help?" She smirked, and Hermes narrowed his eyes. Two could play at that game. "Who said I needed help? Last I checked you are the one that tends to come groveling to me when in trouble." He said smugly, leaning against the door frame and looking down at his nails. "You are totally hopeless, you know that, right? Just a little nudge from Eros and all that complication would go away. You know I owe you." She said, giving him a knowing glance.

He regretted this already.

"Look Aphrodite, I was just here to invite you to hang out with me and ____ for the night. Not to argue." Hermes said, looking up from his nails to meet the beauty goddess's eyes. Her eyes lit up, and she looked a bit surprised. "That sounds fabulous! I'll go get my things!" She said giddily, turning her back on Hermes and retreating back to her chambers. He sighed. Aphrodite kept trying to meddle with your relationships, and kept offering her help to him. He always denied her though, on the principle that he wanted you to get to choose things for yourself rather than having others choose for you.

Aphrodite scurried back to the door with a large bag, and a devious smirk. She was absolutely planning something.

 

~ * ~

 

You paced around your chambers, setting up blankets and pillows on the floor. You made everyone, including yourself a make shift bed. You would've felt bad sleeping on your bed while everyone else is on the couch or floor, so you decided you would sleep on the floor as well.

You set up a few games to play, including a game of uno that you had painstakingly made every card for. You were planning on trying to make 'Apples to Apples' or 'Cards against Humanity' at some point, but the Uno deck had already taken long enough to make. You liked making games from your time, as they made you feel more at home. If that meant you had to invent games way before they were supposed to exist, that was fine.

Suddenly, Hermes appeared back in the room with Aphrodite, making you jump. "I tried to get Artemis to come, but she refused so I got her instead." He said quickly, shrugging. She shouldered him, giving him an offended look but not saying anything.

"Anyone want to play a party game?" You ask, gesturing to the little stations you had set up. "What are they?" Hermes questioned, tilting his head. "Uhm.. I think you guys don't have any of these in your time so I'll explain them if we play. I've got charades, Pictionary, and Uno. Any of those sound interesting?"

"What's Uno?" Aphrodite asked, and you try your best to explain it to them, unfortunately you had to explain the entire concept of a card game first.

*

"Hah! I am great at this game!" Hermes exclaimed, putting his last card down. You sighed, but Aphrodite practically snarled. "Stop winning!" She hissed, standing up. You looked outside nervously, at this point it must have almost been midnight, but Aphrodite refused to stop playing until she won. "I give up." She grumbled, turning her back to the table. You sighed in relief, your exhaustion seeping into your bones.

You spared her a hopeful glance, "Does that mean I can sleep now?"

"No, I still haven't given you a make-over!" She protested, gasping dramatically. "How about tomorrow when I won't immediately have to either ruin it or sleep in it?" You grumbled, and Hermes laughed.

"You can give me a make-over Aph, I don't mind. That way ____ can get her beauty sleep." Hermes shrugged, his eyes gleaming. "Oh that I want a part of." You commented, narrowing your eyes at him.

"I'm claiming the couch." She declared suddenly, plopping herself down. She looked down and you and Hermes with a mischievous glance. "Say, I'm sure it will be awfully cold down there. Perhaps it would be warmer if you two got a bit closer together." She smirked, her eyes glowing as she twirled her hair around in her finger. You just rolled your eyes and moved on, but Hermes seemed to stiffen, clenching his fists.

Aphrodite giggled softly to herself as he glared at her. You wondered what was going on between them, but you didn't say anything. You buried yourself in your blanket on the floor, letting the warmth seep through your flesh. Hermes sighed and settled down somewhere near you, but not too close, he looked uncomfortable, and you felt a twinge of pity. "You can take my bed if you want, Aphrodite. That way Hermes doesn't have to sleep on the floor." You suggested, and she shrugged. "Sounds good to me." She said, moving off the couch. Hermes gave you a concerned look, and you sighed mentally, knowing it might take a while to convince him to let you sleep on the floor.

"You should take the couch. I'm fine here." He shrugged, and you rolled your eyes. "As the host, I insist that you take it. I refuse to sleep on it." You declared dramatically, and Aphrodite rolled her eyes from on the bed. "Why don't you two stop the bickering early and just share the couch?" She suggested, and you felt yourself blush. The couch was barely big enough for one person to lay comfortably, two people would have to practically be on top of each other. "Not happening, I'll take the floor." You said, laying down and squeezing your eyes shut, making sure there was no further argument.

He sighed, giving in and moving onto the couch. You felt yourself slowly drift to sleep.

Notes:

Author's Note: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THE NEXT BONUS CHAPTER. IT WILL BE IMPORTANT.

Am I ashamed at adding Uno? Yes. This is why I shouldn't be allowed to write early in the morning. Last time I did that I added a Tumblr drink reference.

However, it shall remain there. I dare not remove it, as I have gone too far to do so. My friend Bailey wanted me to add a certain Dionysus joke, so you might have to expect a Dionysus chapter in the future. Maybe. I feel like I'm morally against it due to Ariadne, even if this takes place before then.

Also

Future Archeologists in this universe: Is that a fucking Uno set!?

 

I don't even like uno tbh.

 

~Originally Published 4/7/25~

Chapter 21: BONUS CHAPTER III: MEDDLER

~ ' * ' ~

HERMES POV:

Aphrodite had begun meddling. She was very careful to make sure you didn't notice, of course. It was mostly subtle things at first, telling Apollo where you were, suggesting gifts you may like. In fact, it was Aphrodite who had found that Opal dragon necklace Hermes had given you. She didn't care who ended up winning your favor in the end, she just wanted to boost things along for her entertainment.

Eventually though, she had started going even farther

"I have a proposition, for you, Hermes." Aphrodite asked, sipping wine out of a golden goblet. "Oh?" He said, raising an eyebrow as the goddess gave him a knowing look.

"I know how you feel about ____. I'd be willing to.. pull a few strings and get Eros to shoot her with an arrow for you, and then she'd be all yours." She chuckled, and he felt his face turn warm. For a moment, he almost considered agreeing. He yearned to be with you, but he wanted to earn your affection. "Come on, she probably already likes you anyways. Why not make sure?" She coaxed, and he shook his head.

"She can choose whoever she wants, it doesn't have to be me."

"I don't make this offer lightly, you know. It is rare I offer this service, especially free of charge. But if you say no.." She trailed off, a smug twinkle in her eyes. "I might just see if Apollo would be interested." She whispered in his ear, smiling. Hermes stiffened at the name. He knew Apollo would accept without question. He couldn't let that happen.

"You wouldn't." He hissed, and she chuckled.

"Oh, but I would. I don't really care who wins this little contest of yours, as long as there is a winner. I only came to you first because I know I owe you a few favors." She purred, twirling her hair in her finger.

"How about this. I give you some time to rethink your decision, but if the answer is still no.. then you know who I'll go to next."

Hermes shivered thinking about that interaction. He stirred, looking around him. Down below him, on the floor you were sprawled out under a blanket. The early morning light gleamed through the window, illuminating your skin. The soft light glowed around you, Brushing against your hair and skin, making you almost shine as you slept peacefully. The way the sun hit you was unusual, as if it was stuffing you with it's light. Apollo he thought with a bit of jealousy, he knew these were signs of his favor.

"Psst, Hermes."

He looked up, to see Aphrodite beckoning him near the window. He cautiously approached, making sure to step around you.

"I'm giving you one last chance to accept my offer, otherwise I go to Apollo today." She whispered.

He panicked.

"You better not." He whispered, shock filling his voice. He couldn't bare to see you with Apollo, to see you give into his whims. Aphrodite gave him a pitiful look, and he could tell it wasn't genuine. "Oh but I can, and I will. Besides, Zeus wants me to end this now before it gets out of hand." She said, wearing a malicious grin. Hermes's heart sank. If this was an order of Zeus, there was no way to get around it.

"Fine. I accept." He whispered solemnly, risking a glance towards you.

"I knew you'd come around." She smiled, flipping her hair.

He had to find a way out of this

 

***

 

An idea struck Hermes in the head like one of Zeus's lightning bolts. There was an item on Mount. Olympus that can protect someone from Eros's arrows. The problem was, he needed to steal it.

Well, it wasn't really a problem for him except for the fact that he didn't have much time. Stealing was in his nature, it was his domain after all. It was a golden elixir belonging to Hera, something she had once planned to slip to Zeus, before he found out. Hermes lips tugged upwards in a small smile of amusement as he remembered that incident.

He wouldn't be surprised if Hera had forgotten she even had it, as Zeus had forbidden her to use it at all, and made her swear on the river Styx. He decided not to ask her for it directly, as if she said no then she would actually notice when it went missing and know who to blame. It would be perfect to keep you safe.. even if it meant you wouldn't love him. He frowned thinking of that. He thought he did at first, but did he really have a chance with you without that arrow?

Maybe Hermes should just let it happen.

No, he couldn't. You would never forgive him if you found out.

Hermes stopped abruptly at two giant wooden doors, a place in Olympus that few dared venture, in fear of the wrath of Hera. This was her personal treasury, and it was laced with traps. Hera was foolish if she thought she could stop him though. Knowing Hera, it wouldn't be something that would inconvenience her to avoid. Hermes swung open the doors, walking carefully inside.

The whole chamber glittered as if it were made of gold. Glittering emeralds as darker than summer leaves and shining sapphires as bright as the sky above were carved into the walls, making the whole place radiate power and royalty. He shut the door quickly, letting himself hover above the ground to survey the space.

He didn't know where to look.

There was so many drawers and hutches in the room, all filled to the brim with glittering objects. Glass peacocks, emerald tiaras, golden goblets, it was almost overwhelming.

Then; he saw it.

A small vial, with a metallic golden liquid inside. It was in a hutch, but it was locked. He rummaged through his bag, searching for something to pick the lock. Finally, he pulled out some pins and began to mess with the lock. He hesitated. This felt.. too easy. He hadn't even had to drug any guards, as there were none.

"Halt!"

Ah, there it was. He whipped around and saw one of Hera's personal handmaidens standing there. "What are you doing here?" She said, and he didn't let himself stiffen.

He needed to find a way out of this where no one would know something had been stolen. "Hera has requested I take this and sent it to a mortal for her." He lied, confidently gesturing towards the vial. The handmaiden narrowed her eyes at him, before moving beside him. "You could've just asked for help unlocking it." She grumbled, grabbing a key out of her pocket. "Ah, but I didn't want to bother you." He smirked, grabbing the elixir as the handmaiden walked away after unlocking the hutch.

He quickly transported himself into your chambers. He had to be quick, he could already feel Eros's presence in the room. You looked at him bewildered, luckily fully clothed which he had failed to worry about before. "Hermes?" You asked, blinking at him in confusion. He brandished the golden vial, holding it directly in front of your face. "Listen, I don't think we have much time. Drink this." He said urgently, stealing a glance at the corner he believed Eros was in. You gave him a confused and skeptical look, and he sighed in frustration.

You gently move his hand away, "Hermes, I trust you but I don't think I trust you enough to drink a mysterious yellow liquid without an explanation first." You say slowly, and he winces at the amount of time wasted in that statement.

"No time!" He breathed, terrified.

An arrow flew past your head, a whoosh of air moving with it. Your eyes widened, but Hermes raised an eyebrow suspiciously. Eros never missed, not on accident anyway. Sure enough, there was a note attached.

Hermes, if you didn't want me to shoot her you could've just told me. You didn't have to steal from Hera, though I find it quite amusing that that's what your first instinct was. If I did everything Aphrodite told me to, I wouldn't have married Psyche. Meet me in our usual spot once you're done explaining to ____ what this was. -Eros

He felt his face turn hot in embarrassment as you turned to face him. "Well?" You questioned, arching an eyebrow suspiciously at him. He sighed, this would not be a fun conversation.

You looked up at him expectantly, not fully able to hide how shaken up you were. He could see it in the trembling of your shoulders and the wideness of your eyes. He knew he couldn't lie to you. Not now, not ever. He cared about you too much.

"Aphrodite offered to have Eros shoot you with an arrow for me, I tried to decline but she threatened to ask Apollo instead, and I couldn't let that happen." Hermes blurted, his words moving faster than Apollo when he finds out he got snuffed.

Your eyes widen further, looking like those of a deer being chased by hounds. "I- What?"

"This elixir is meant to protect people from Eros's arrows. It used to belong to Hera, but I stole it." He confessed, his words flowing out faster than Apollo after he finds out he got snuffed.

You blinked, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "I-.. Thank you. For not just having those stupid arrows force me into something. But.. why?" You asked, and Hermes felt his gaze pierce into you. He took your hands and looked into your eyes, hesitating.

"Because you should have a choice."

 

***

 

Hermes met his friend in a sunlit courtyard, where they had hung out in the past, but not in a while. Eros stood there, his wings fluttering gently.

"So, I have to come clean about something." He said, and Hermes gave him a skeptical look.

"When Apollo had brought in a new mortal into our realm, I intended to shoot him with an arrow to make things more interesting, but it seemed like he had already developed an interest, so I just watched. But the night they had their first big fight and she had slapped him, I could tell things weren't going so well. So when you came in I had shot you with a Ludus arrow, to see if the bond would be strong enough to develop further. I later shot her with one too, but it seems to be taking effect much quicker for you than her. She's more stubborn than most." Eros blabbered.

Hermes went silent, taking in everything he had said. "So wait, she's already been shot with an arrow?" He asked softly, tilting his head. He almost wasn't surprised he had been shot by one of his arrows. Even if his affection had started small, it was still so sudden. "Yes, but the one I was going to shoot her with this time was one that would match your own affections, as that was what mother requested. Though, I don't think it would've worked like she had wanted it to, as ____'s stubbornness tends to make her in denial of what she feels." He continued bluntly, and Hermes bit back a sigh. Eros talked a lot when it came to this kinda thing.

Hermes had learned not to question how Eros knew these things, as he was an expert at this sort of thing. It was almost scary sometimes. Though he didn't really like having his and other people's feelings just.. explained like that. It felt almost dehumanizing, for lack of a better word.

"Also, I'm curious, you usually flirt a lot more, but not with her, why?"

Hermes shivered at those words, almost being ashamed of the answer. "Get punched by her once and you'll understand why." He breathed, and Eros laughed. "You can be such a coward sometimes, you know that?"

"I'm serious man, she stabbed Apollo last night for getting too close."

Eros laughed, and him and Hermes continued to talk for the rest of the morning, the topic drifting away from you quickly.

It was nice taking his mind off things for a change. Talking with someone casually, that he viewed as a friend was pleasant.

His stress eased, as he laughed into the afternoon.

Notes:

Author's Note: DIVINITY HAS REACHED 1K READS!!!! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!! AAAAAA!!!!

Also, hope y'all enjoyed the little Hermes adventure. But I feel like him and Y/N are getting a bit too snug. Prepare for something to happen between them soon. Prepare for like an Apollo chapter or something.

I've been having a little bit less time for writing lately because I've been getting home later due to school musical rehearsals, we are doing Frozen btw. I'm Oaken aka the shop keeper and I am VERY excited

if only I could actually pronounce hygge. Also if I don't care if I'll be wearing a dress if I don't get to wear a big dramatic curly fake mustache I WILL drop out of the show.

Edit from the future: I didn't get my mustache :(
Only because they're apparently difficult to perform with, other than that my director was fine with it.
The show went well though :3

 

~Published 4/9/25~

Chapter 22: Chapter Nineteen- Salt in the Wound

You stood there absolutely flabbergasted. Hermes had just dropped a giant bomb shell on you, answered like one question, and just left! One moment your hands lay in his, him looking into your eyes like nothing else mattered, and the next moment he's just gone. He didn't even walk out the door. He left as he had arrived, randomly out of no where with no warning.

You couldn't help but feel a little frustrated. Not just at him, at everything. At Aphrodite for going behind your back, at Hermes disappearing, at Apollo for bringing you out of your peaceful life in a hostile place before your time, at yourself for feeling so pathetic. Aphrodite you were the most frustrated at. She betrayed you, offering you off like you were a rare object instead of a real person with feelings. At least Hermes didn't let her. But still. You needed to blow off some steam.

You were wearing an Ivory toga, with golden accents and your regular opal necklace. You were wearing your opal ring, of course and had your bag slung across your shoulder. You decided you'd go for a walk or something, to comprehend everything that had happened in the past twenty minutes. As you were preparing to leave, you felt yourself drawn to your nightstand drawer. Not to the topaz necklace, which Hermes had returned to you that way Apollo wouldn't get mad, but to the sun pendant. It felt.. important. Like you'd need it. You shrugged and dropped it into your bag, just to settle yourself.

You confidently walked out of your chambers, hoping that maybe if you acted confident enough you'd start to feel confident too. The clouds had cleared, and it looked like it was a beautiful day outside from the windows. You went out your usual side exit, and ventured into the woods.

It felt like your safe haven, nowadays. You'd sit and read surrounded by nature, and it was the only place you really felt tranquility other than the library. You looked up in the tree tops, where birds boasted to each other and burst into song. You hummed softly to yourself, walking among the colorful wild flowers. Spring had come in full swing to Olympus, though it seemed to be warm here all year long spring still brought new growth.

You stopped beside a pond, deciding it would be a nice place to sit and read. You sat down on a log, but before you could even open your book.. he appeared.

A hulking figure smelling of salt and fish emerged out of the pond, staring menacingly. You recognized him instantly.

Poseidon.

"Well hello there again lass." He smirked, and you instinctively put your hand in your bag, feeling around for your dagger.

"What a coincidence. Me and the little goddess who defied me, in the same place. Only this time Artemis isn't here to help."

You glared at him, narrowing your eyes.

That's when he strikes, grabbing you and holding you up by the neck. You fight for breath, panicking. You grab the dagger out of your bag, and out of a move of self preservation you stab him in the chest. He winces, and throws you against a rock. You still held on to your dagger tight, despite the pain in your body. The blood roared in your ears as he approached, and you staggered to your feet. You quickly slashed him across the arm, fighting for your life.

Golden ichor oozed from his wounds, and you ducked as he tried to hit you in the face. You were caught by surprise, however, by him punching you hard in the jaw. You tasted the sharp metallic tang of blood in your mouth, and wiped it off your lips. Your jaw ached in pain, and you already felt tears welling up in your eyes. In your moment of weakness, Poseidon knocked the dagger out of your hands and pushed you down, your skin getting caught on sharp tree branches and your head hitting a rock.

You stared up in horror at the triumphant god, but he wasn't done. He grabbed the trident off his back and held it up in front of you. "It's time someone taught you your place." He grumbled, turning the trident upside down and holding it above you. You were dizzy with fear and adrenaline, and could only watch as the trident plunged into your stomach.

He stabbed you with it over and over again as you watched helplessly, blood oozing out slowly. Finally, he turned and left silently, leaving you to bleed out alone in the forest.

You looked down at the golden blood running from your wounds. You were a god after all, it seemed. You groaned in agony, what were you going to do?

You fought to stay conscious as you crawled towards your bag, that had fallen off, wincing at every movement. When you finally reached it, you slowly grabbed the sun pendant from it with a trembling hand. You leaned back against a tree awkwardly, holding the pendant to your chest like a prayer.

You felt tired and dizzy, like you were falling asleep. You were gonna die. Wait no.. you couldn't die, right? Since you were immortal now? Or had this all just been a dream and now you were back in reality and actually were going to die. You couldn't tell.

You were barely aware of Apollo materializing before you, yelling your name. His eyes widening in shock. It sounded like he was trying to say soothing words but those words kept slipping off your brain. Did words even exist? Maybe they didn't. You felt your darkness begin to crowd the edges of your vision, as you blinked wearily. You slipped into the inviting inky darkness that had greeted you, welcoming you into unconsciousness.

 

***

 

You awoke in Apollo's chambers, with pain all over. You were laying on his bed while he stood near some cabinets, seemingly preparing something. You couldn't move your head up to look though. "You're awake already?" He asked as he saw you looking when he turned around. "That.. can't be pleasant." Apollo continued, looking at you with concern.

"I'm fine, Apollo." You lied, your voice hoarse. "Obviously not. You're covered in bruises and stab wounds and were just bleeding out in the middle of the woods, sunshine." He said skeptically, and you let out a small gasp of pain as you tried to move your head to look up at him. Apollo looked at you with immense pity, and as he got closer you saw he was carrying bandages along with some other things. Your dress was soaked in your golden blood, and you turned to stare up at the ceiling. "Is it ok if I take your dress off to treat you?" He sighed, and you panicked before you realized you were wearing shorts and the bra you had been wearing when you first got here. You'd be fine.

"Yeah, it's fine." You croaked, and he nodded. He quickly slipped the dress off and begun to clean your injuries. He didn't say anything, he didn't even look at you anywhere other than your wounds. He wiped the dried blood off your face with a warm wet towel, and begun bandaging over your stabbed stomach. He worked swiftly and carefully with a precision and skill that you assumed just came with being a god of medicine. "Thank you.. Apollo." You choked out.

"Hush, sunshine. Don't waste your energy talking." He said gently, briefly looking up from his work. You sighed, but obliged. You were glad he wasn't making you speak. He started bandaging your more minor cuts and scratches, and rubbing some odd gel on your bruises. Finally, he placed the sun pendent around your neck and stepped back. You felt warmth seep through your skin, and you thought you felt the pain numb a tiny bit as well because of the pendent.

"Rest now, my sun. I'll be back soon with fresh clothes." He urged, and you obliged, your eyelids fluttering shut.

 

***

 

You awoke again, this time to Hermes standing over you with a look of sheer horror, while Apollo sat in a chair in the corner of the room, watching. "Hermes?" You croaked, the pain being eased enough to where you could move your head to look up at him. "What- happened to you?" He asked, reaching a hand towards you hesitantly but pulling back.

"Good luck with that one. I've been trying to get that answer out of her for a while." Apollo snorted, and you shot him a glare. "I have no memory of being asked that until now." You rasped, and he rolls his eyes. "Thats because I hadn't lifted your concussion yet. Glad to see you're actually awake now, by the way." He continues casually, crossing his arms.

"Now, what happened?" Apollo asked, and Hermes nodded. You swallowed nervously, recalling the incident more clearly than you'd like. "Poseidon attacked me. I tried to fight back but he caught me by surprise." You admitted, and you saw something darker flicker in Apollo's eyes. Something vengeful and possessive. Hermes frowned, and you could see the anger in his expression.

You slowly shifted your position, wincing as you slowly sat up. Apollo raised an eyebrow at you but didn't say anything. "Are you sure you should be moving that much?" Hermes fretted, and you roll your eyes. "As long as she's not actively hurting herself by doing so, she should be fine." The sun god said, shrugging.

It hurt a lot, but you tried not to let it show. You didn't want the two gods to worry about you too much. You realized with a bit of embarrassment that you still weren't wearing a dress, which explained the rosy pink spread across Hermes's face. You didn't care all that much though, and were certainly not in the mood to make it weird. "Am I allowed to get up?" You asked, wanting to stretch your legs. "That I do not recommend, sunshine." Apollo sighed, almost a little bit theatrical.

Hermes frowned at the name 'sunshine', and you couldn't blame him. It was extremely annoying. "I've got to go, I'll be back later." He sighed, looking down at his feet. In an instant, he was gone, leaving just you and Apollo.

Notes:

Author's Note: Ending this chapter a tiny bit earlier than previously intended due to the fact I may have to leave for school for the morning any moment now.

OK I GOTTA GO LIKE NOW

Edit from when I got back from school- I felt like making Y/N get beat up so I sent a poll to my friend for who got to beat her up and Poseidon was our lucky winner

seriously tho Y/N can't catch a break first Hermes now getting absolutely obliterated

Chapter 23: BONUS CHAPTER III PART TWO

Notes:

Author's Note: ok after this bonus chapters will be on normal schedule of every six chapters and normal chapters will ONLY have Y/N's perspective. The reason I didn't just add this to Bonus Chapter III is because I needed Salt In the Wound to happen first.

*~APOLLO'S P.O.V~*:

 

He'd never admit it, but Apollo had been terrified when he had discovered you half dead lying alone in the woods.

He was spending time watching the mortals, having been released from his punishment from Zeus early of having to ride the sun chariot each day for a week, when he felt a jolt run down his spine. Something was wrong. He couldn't figure out where the feeling came from, but it filled him with unease and dread. It was like he had felt a disturbance of some kind.

He needed to check on you.

He didn't like just transporting himself instantly, as he preferred adding more flair to it. But it felt urgent. He knew you were probably fine, and would just get mad at him for invading your privacy or whatever, but he couldn't shake this feeling that he needed to get to you now. He sighed, snapping his fingers and finding himself in a dark forest.

And there you were, slumped against a tree. Golden ichor spilled out of your mouth, and your eyes were blank as they stared forward into the horizon. You were covered in cuts and bruises, most on your arms and legs. Three ugly gashes were ripped across your stomach. His eyes widened as he took in the sight. "____?" He whispered in shock, crouching down in front of you. Were you dead despite your immortality? Would this really happen every time he loved someone?

You let out a low groan, your head tipping back. He rushed closer to you, panicking. You were alive, at least. You looked at him, a devastating look in your eyes. He wouldn't let it end like this. You were his, and that was that.

He bit back the tears that were building up in his eyes, seeing you so... helpless was heart wrenching. "Listen, you are not going to die, ok sunshine? You're not allowed to die." He said fiercely, grabbing your chin. He saw something flash in your otherwise blank eyes, recognition. "You're gonna be fine, ok? Gods.. you're gonna be fine." Apollo said, voice cracking, heart pounding. Your eyes slowly fluttered shut as he wrapped his arms around you, staining him with your blood.

Tears fell from his eyes as he looked down at your blood stained dress and lifted you up, careful not to accidentally hurt you. He brought you to his chambers, laying you down on his bed. He was a god of healing, surely he could fix you? He soaked a towel in warm water and wiped the blood off your face and arms. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He rummaged through his cabinets, searching for his supplies.

He looked back and to his surprise saw you awake, looking at him. "You're awake already?" He asked, making sure he at least seemed calm to you. "That.. can't be pleasant." He said simply, eyeing you with concern. Surely being awake right now must feel like being dragged through Tartarus for you.

"I'm fine, Apollo." You rasped, and he rolled his eyes. "Obviously not. You're covered in bruises and stab wounds and were just bleeding out in the middle of the woods, sunshine." He scoffed, hiding how shaken up he was. You let out a gasp of pain when you tried to look back up at him, and he held himself back from fretting over you. Right now, he had to focus on healing you.

He walked over and stood next to you, placing down his bandages. Then he realized he wouldn't actually be able to bandage you if you were fully clothed. He swatted down the heat that threatened to creep onto his face. He must remain professional. "Is it ok if I take your dress off to treat you?" He sighed, looking into your eyes. "Yeah, it's fine." You croaked, and he gently slid the bloodstained dress off you, and you were wearing some short pants and an odd cloth thing that went over your chest. He decided not to question it, he didn't even take a moment to look at how exposed you were.

He washed the wounds a bit more before beginning to wrap the bandage around your stomach, focusing on his work. He wrapped up the smaller cuts too, and spread some ointment on your bruises. "Thank you.. Apollo." You choked out, clearly uncomfortable talking. You should be focusing your energy on healing, not being polite.

"Hush, sunshine. Don't waste your energy talking." He soothed gently, placing the golden sun pendant over your head. "Rest now, my sun. I'll be back soon with fresh clothes." he whispered.

Your eyes fluttered shut, and he let out a sigh. He'd head back to your chambers and grab a dress for you at some point but right now.. he was scared to take his eyes off you. He felt as if something would happen if he wasn't watching you, even though he knew it was just paranoia. He sighed, knowing he should just do it now before you woke up. He exited the chambers, walking down the hall.

He reached your chambers and entered cautiously, making sure no one saw and asked awkward questions. He looked through your wardrobe, picking out a dark green robe. He slipped back out unnoticed, quietly walking back down to you.

He sat back down on a chair he had pulled out by your side, and let his gaze linger on your face for a moment. He still would not let his gaze linger on the rest of you, as he hadn't earned that privilege yet. Then for the first time, he found himself wondering how you ended up like this. It surprised him he hadn't thought about this earlier, especially when he had found you. He was just a bit pre-occupied, it seemed. But.. who did this to you? Who broke you?

Whoever it was, even if it was Zeus himself, would feel Apollo's wrath. They hurt you, and no one was allowed to hurt something of Apollo's especially not something as important to him as you.

He sighed, calming himself down. He'd ask you later. For now, he just watched you as you breathed, your chest rising and falling in a repetitive soothing manner. He reached his hand forward and brushed it against your cheek, feeling your warm skin against his. From now on, he'd always keep an eye on you, protect you.

He'd make sure he never even got close to losing you again.

He sighed and just.. looked at you for a while, thinking to himself.

Then he heard a knock on his door.

He groaned, getting up and opening the door just so they could only see him, and not you in the background. "Apollo, have you seen ____?" Hermes asked, placing his hand on the door frame. Apollo sighed, knowing Hermes deserved to know what happened and visit. "She's in here with me.. she's injured." He said solemnly, creaking the door open a bit more. Hermes rushed to your side, a look of wild panic on his face. "What happened?" He asked urgently, gazing down at you.

"I don't know. I found her laying against a tree in the woods covered in blood and barely conscious." Apollo admitted. Hermes just stared down at you, and Apollo moved his chair to the corner to give him space.

After a bit, you woke up. "What- happened to you?" Hermes asked, his words catching in his throat. "Poseidon." You croaked, and Apollo felt a burst of rage.

Now he knew who would pay.

 

***

 

After Hermes had left, Apollo grabbed his lyre from its spot on the wall and begun to play, crafting a soft melody. He liked the way you looked at him as he plucked the strings, your eyes filled with awe. When he was finished, you clapped your hands in what seemed to be an appreciative gesture. He grinned, bowing his head. You slowly tried to stand up, and Apollo quickly dropped his grin, rushing over to you. "Sit back down!" He fretted, eyes wide in concern. "I was just trying to give you standing ovation." You shrugged, and he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Besides, I'll probably heal faster if I move around instead of just rotting in the same spot anyway!" You added defensively. He knew you were probably right, but he couldn't help but feel protective. He saw the way you winced, and let out small gasps of pain, even though you were trying to hide it. He knew how much pain you were still in.

"Will you be fine alone for a while, my sun? My duty calls." He sighs, using his words to dance around the truth without lying. The duty he was talking about was getting his vengeance on Poseidon.

You nodded, sitting back down, you reached for your bag sat down near the bed but Apollo quickly grabbed it for you. He spared one last glance at you as he left the room, heading for his sister's chambers.

He was going to tell Artemis what happened, that way she can help him scheme. Even with his overinflated ego he had to admit his twin was better at this. But with his sister's help he would make the sea god regret ever laying a finger on you.

Apollo would get his vengeance.

Notes:

Author's Note: During musical rehearsals on Friday, I was suddenly struck by thy muses with divine inspiration but I was unable to direct it anywhere.

Aka I suddenly got the urge to write this but I was to busy doing dance numbers or whatever to do so, lol.

I think it was worth it though even though I had to wait a couple of days to regain the inspiration.

I REALLY wanted to write Apollo's perspective for Y/N getting absolutely obliterated. I CRAVED violence, so I just decided to write a part two to the last bonus chapter since it didn't already have an Apollo P.O.V

~Originally Published 4/13/25~

Chapter 24: Chapter Twenty- Homesick

You yearned for sleep, for your slumber to come and ease your pain. But instead, you waited for Apollo to come back. You didn't want to fall asleep in his own bed, especially when he's not there. You shivered as a cold gust of air wept through the room from the window, spreading cold through your bones. The chill did not help to ease the pain of the blows that the sea god had dealt to you.

Though, perhaps the cold would help you stay awake as you awaited the return of the sun god. So maybe there was a benefit to the wind after all.

Even if it almost made you feel like you were still being stabbed.

Waiting for Apollo made you feel like you were still slumped against that tree, bleeding, helpless, and craving to be released from the hell you were being put through. Though in this case, that release would be sleep. You sighed, knowing you were just being dramatic. But ever since earlier that day in the forest you felt uneasy being alone, you felt afraid. You looked out at the night sky, sighing. The sun had long since sunk below the horizon, bringing the warmth and security with it. The moon glowed in its place, its faint beams still shining down into the room.

Then you realized something. While you were unconscious, at some point Apollo had brought a simple, dark green robe in the room, you had noticed it when you woke up for the second time but you hadn't paid much mind to it. Perhaps it could help keep you warm. But it was just out of reach. You stared at it longingly at it sitting on the counter across from you, so close it was almost taunting you, but still too far.

You sighed, knowing you had to get up. You fought your own unwillingness, slowly rising to your feet despite how you trembled. You stood awkwardly, and stiff, not wanting to accidentally provoke any of your wounds.

You tentatively walked forward, reaching for the deep emerald green robe and feeling the soft silk under your fingers. You slowly unfolded it, wrapping the fabric around your bare shoulders. It wasn't exactly all that warm, but it was comfortable and would block the cold from reaching your skin. You yelp softly as you accidentally tighten it around your waist too much, causing sharp bursts of pain to erupt from your gashes. You stumble back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as you lay down on your back.

Thats when you hear the soft flutter of wings outside your window.

You look out and see a small bird perching on the windowsill, a familiar look in its eyes. It chirped, flying inside and sitting itself on top of you, almost seeming smug. It's small warm body nestled against yours almost felt comforting, but you knew better to not question its presence.

You narrowed your eyes at the small creature suspiciously as it sat there peacefully. "Hermes?" You questioned dryly, arching an eyebrow at it. The bird stood up and puffed out it's chest, as if offended before giving you a resigned glance and hopping off. Quickly, the bird transformed back to the god you recognized, now sitting next to you.

"You got me." He huffed, causing you to chuckle. "Why are you here?" You asked, a bit of sharpness creeping into your voice. "I heard Apollo was staying the night somewhere again, and figured you might want company... but I can leave if you want"

You mentally sighed, of course Apollo was just leaving you alone for the night without warning. "No.. please stay." You pleaded, your voice only a whisper on your lips. "Of course." Hermes said warmly, a weak but genuine smile on his face. "I don't want to be alone." You muttered, looking down.

He wrapped his arms around you carefully, engulfing you in a gentle embrace. You looked back up at him and smiled faintly, your spirits lifting just a tiny bit. "I don't want you to be alone either." He admitted, his soft voice muffled as he sank his head into your shoulder when you hugged him back.

Finally, he looked back up and met your eyes, his gaze soft but carrying a strength behind it. "Here, I can take you to my chambers that way I don't have to leave." He uttered, a faint smile tugging at the edge of his lips. You nodded and he quickly scooped you up, one arm going under your knees and the other supporting your back. You let out a small noise of alarm, and the god hesitated for a moment to make sure you were ok.

Your face heated up a bit, feeling flustered. Hermes transported you to a warm, candlelit room filled with blankets and windows that were already closed. It was full of tapestries, some featuring the caduceus and other symbols of the messenger god. He sat you down on the bed and placed a blanket on your lap. "Much better in here." He commented, a hint of pride in his voice. "Much warmer too." You added contently, but Hermes didn't seem to quite understand. "Is it too hot?" He asked, his eyes wide with concern.

You laughed, and you saw the tension in his shoulders ease just a bit. "No, it was just freezing in Apollo's room." You reassured, unfolding the blanket he had handed you and laying it over your lap. He let out a sigh of relief, tilting his head down slightly. Your mouth stretched open in a large yawn, and Hermes gave you an amused but adoring look. "You should probably get some sleep, dear." He says gently, a teasing edge in his voice. It wasn't long until he yawned as well though, and you let out a small laugh.

"Fine. But quit calling me that, you toad face." You mumbled sleepily, laying down and burying yourself in a blanket. Hermes barked out a laugh and put out the candles, letting darkness consume the room. "Is it ok if I lay down next to you?" He asked softly, his cheeks glowing pink.

"Sure." You shrugged sleepily, trying to close your eyes. You were vaguely aware of Hermes settling down next to you, but still rather far away. You inched closer as you felt the heat radiating off him, wanting to absorb his warmth in your groggy state. He sighed, giving in and moving closer to you. "You're warm." You mumbled, and Hermes let out a soft laugh, barely audible.

He wrapped his arms around you as you nestled in to him. You fell asleep, warm and comfortable. Today had been terrible, but perhaps the next day would prove itself to be better.

 

***

 

Your eyes flickered open in the early morning light, taking in your surroundings. Your wounds felt a bit better, though they still ached. Your memories of the previous day slowly resurfaced, and you realized once again you had awoken in the arms of a god. You mentally sighed and slowly moved away, able to escape Hermes's grasp since he didn't have an uncanny amount of grip strength in his sleep like Apollo did.

You awkwardly shifted out of the blankets, sitting down on the bed. Then you actually process what just happened and where you were. Your face glowed red as you stared at Hermes, flustered. You shouldn't be here. What were you even doing? He was a god, and you were just a human who somehow gained immortality. What could he possibly want from you? He probably didn't even care, why would he? Why would any of them care what you did?

You slowly stood up, stronger than the night before, but sharp bursts of pain still shot through your body. You were going to go back to your own chambers, where it was safe. You yearned for the life you used to live, your family, your friends. The fact you'd never see them again still crashed through you whenever you thought about it. You remembered all of those little things you took for granted with sadness. You successfully stumbled to the door, but as you reached for the handle, hand trembling---

"What are you doing?" Hermes mumbled sleepily, slowly sitting up. Your breath caught in your throat as you stared at the door, not daring to look at him. "Leaving." You said, trying to sound strong and certain, but you couldn't hide the quiver in your voice.

"Why? Did I do something wrong?" He exclaimed, panic seeping through his voice. A pang of guilt tugged at your heart and you turned to face him.

"No! I just-- I don't know." You sighed, clutching your injured chest. The god gave you a worried look, standing up with far more ease than you had. "Are you ok?" He asked, giving you a worried look. In your hesitation, he quickly moved himself in front of the door, and you stepped back so you weren't so close.

"I'm fine." You said bluntly, looking him in the eyes. You winced as you felt another burst of pain when you tried to bend your torso, stumbling back. "I don't think you should be moving so much." He warned, his eyes glinting with worry. You sighed, rolling your eyes. "I'll be fine." You grumbled, trying to get past him. "Not if you want to heal!" Hermes exclaimed, spreading his arms out.

"Jesus christ, fine." You sighed, sitting back down. A brief flash of confusion flickered through the god's face, and you realized he probably had no idea what you were talking about. Whatever, you certainly weren't going to explain the concept of modern day religion to him.

He sat down next to you, the wings on his sandals fluttering softly. "Thank you." He said, almost sounding exasperated. You both just sit there for a moment in awkward silence, and you feel rage brewing in your stomach, but you try to stomp it back down.

"What's troubling you?" Hermes asked, raising an eyebrow. "Not your business, goat breath." You huffed, and he laughed softly. He grabbed your hand and looked you in the eyes fiercely. "I just want to help you, and I can't really do that if you're too stubborn to tell me anything." He declared, his face lit with determination. You rolled your eyes, but you felt your guard lowering.

"I had a life before this, you know."

You looked out at the wall, not meeting his surprised gaze.

"I had a family, I had friends, I had a home, I had a job. But now it's all gone. Instead, I'm here, far away from anything I've ever known." You admitted, words catching in your throat. Hermes's face softened and he shifted closer to you.

He was silent, and you looked back down.

"I know I can't exactly bring back your old life, but I'll try my best to make your new one bearable." Hermes declared suddenly, and you looked up and met his gaze.

"Thanks." You sigh, cracking a small smile.

Notes:

Author's Note: HUZZAH! IT IS DONE.

I have slowly been losing my shame on this website... beware.

Well by that, I really mean that I've been gaining confidence. I've stopped feeling shame for writing what I want to write, early in this you can kinda tell that I was scared of being judged. But now I'm starting to almost feel pride in what I write, and for that I have you all to thank.

In other words I couldn't have made it this far without you all you're all awesome <3

 

~Originally Published 04/18/25~

Chapter 25: Chapter Twenty-One - Meadows

"Hermes, I swear--"

"Lighten up dear! I brought you here to have fun, not to listen to you constantly worrying!"

You sighed at his interruption, looking around at your surroundings as the god held you up in the air.

"I thought you wanted me to stay in bed so I can 'heal' or whatever." You grumbled, pretending to not be afraid of the giant drop below you.

"Oh so now you want to sit and rot away indoors? Last I checked it was you who insisted on moving around and being outside, darling." Hermes teased, his grip still tight on you as he flew through the air. You clenched your teeth, looking down at the ground below you that was rapidly getting closer and closer.

"When I agreed to venturing outside your chambers this was not what I was picturing." You hissed, holding on tight.

"What were you picturing, exactly? Perhaps a romantic candle lit dinner? A new temple made in your name, maybe?" He asked, sounding terribly amused with himself.

"No, but I was picturing not hovering above the ground at a height that could kill me."

"You can't die. Immortality, remember?" He commented in what to you seemed to be possibly the most frustrating tone of voice known to man. "I think its became very evident that I can still be injured though." You mumbled, and you felt the god stiffen. Though he played it cool, you could feel his grip tighten around you.

Finally, Hermes brought you down to the ground. You were in a soft meadow filled with colorful wild flowers, the sun softly shining above you. "Charming place, isn't it?" The god grinned, beaming at you. "Maybe it would be if you actually put me back down." You grumbled. He looked down at you, a mischievous glitter in his eyes. "How unfortunate. Too bad I don't want to." He smirks, causing you to scowl at him. You would try wiggle out, but you knew the pain in your injuries would worsen. The pain had settled into a steady non-stopping wave, laying underneath everything you felt, allowing you to some what get used to it. However, the wounds would still sting fiercely if you did something to provoke them.

You elbowed him in the stomach and he stumbled back a tiny bit. "Ugh, fine." He muttered, gently setting you down on a rock. "What are we doing here anywa-" Hermes dashes off before you can finish, and you stare after him, puzzled.

He appears in front you again, holding up a cluster of bright purple flowers proudly. "For you, dear." He says smugly, dramatically bowing.

Your narrow your eyes at him suspiciously, and he gives you an innocent, doe eyed look. "...Thank you." You utter hesitantly, taking the flowers. "You're welcome." He declares triumphantly. His brown eyes glittered excitedly, and his hands fidgeted nervously. You raised an eyebrow skeptically, what was he planning?

You decided to move your attention to the flowers, weaving them together. The stems were a bit soft, making the crown you had begun rather weak, but you continued none the less. Hermes looked back down at your hands, giving you a curious look. He crouched down, watching as you worked.

When you are finally done, you take a moment to bask in your crown's glory before placing it on the god's head. He slowly took it back off, observing it. "What is this?" He asks, not lifting his gaze from the purple flowers. "A flower crown. You're welcome." You said proudly, and his eyes glowed.

He quickly grabbed a colorful cluster of flowers, eagerly looking back up at you. "How do you make one?" He demanded, narrowing his eyes. You laughed softly, before grabbing two of the flowers and showing him the motion. He was a quick learner, managing to copy what you did on the second try. He rushed through the rest of it, resulting in a colorful but rather sloppy flower crown. "I think that might be too big for either of our heads." You observed, but Hermes just shrugged. He pulled the flower chain over your head, resulting in a necklace. "It works." He said, putting the flower crown you had made on his head.

You adjusted the crown, making it slightly less crooked. Suddenly, Hermes reached into his bag, pulling out something large and fluffy..

"C/N!" You cried out, recognizing your cat. How could you have forgotten about your precious feline? Wait.. how did you forget? Usually your cat takes up about a quarter of your thoughts, so how did you not notice their absence for so long? Why were they in Hermes's bag? What the hell was happening?

"Artemis 'borrowed' them for a bit, I think she may have charmed you to not notice or something. She didn't elaborate to why exactly she needed them but I have a feeling we'll find out soon." He explained, shrugging, and your head buzzed with questions.

"..How long were they in that bag?" You asked hesitantly, scooping the creature up. Hermes laughed nervously, and your gaze sharpened.

"...Since last night." He sighed, and you gasped, albeit slightly dramatically. "You poor thing!" You exclaimed, coddling your cat that purred smugly in your arms. Thats when you notice something.

Your gashes were knitting themselves back together in response to your cat's satisfied purring, and your minor cuts were simply fading away. You met the god's gaze as you both stared in shock. What in a dozen red carnations did Artemis do to them? Your pain faded, and you hesitantly pulled your bandages off. The gashes had now fully scarred, now only mere marks instead of wounds.

"What in Hades was that?" Hermes uttered after a long moment of silence, blinking in shock. "I.. have no idea." You responded honestly, looking back down at your cat's face.

"Whose a good kitty?" You coo, stroking your cat's fur. They suddenly swat at your hand, giving you a small scratch. "Hey! What was that?!" You exclaim, putting the cat down. Hermes laughed as you stared at your scratch, the cat innocently looking up at you. You sighed, continuing to pet your cat. "I can't stay mad at you.." You muttered, eyes lit with adoration as your cat rubbed against you.

The god stared at you in amusement as you coddled your cat. "You spoil that thing too much." He observed, and you shrugged. "Thats true. They don't deserve it." You said, not lifting your eyes from the cat.

"Why did you wait so long to give them back?" You asked rather sharply.

"I may have forgotten they were in there." He admits, and you narrow your eyes at him.

"Well I guess you could say the cat's out of the bag now." He joked nervously, and you facepalmed.

"That was awful, wasn't it?" He sighed.

"Yes, yes it was. Please never make a pun in my presence again." You said, moving your head up to look at him. "Can't make any promises on that one, dear." He smirked mischievously, and you groaned.

"Well you should anyways." You grumbled, squinting at him. He shrugged, reaching towards your cat hesitantly. To your surprise the cat actually let him pet them, purring at his touch. You ignored your stomach twisting in jealousy.

His gaze softened and suddenly he was cooing over your cat just as you had been a moment earlier. Finally, he looked back up to you with a comically serious look on his face. "This is mine now." He declared, and you blinked, startled. You stifled a laugh, instead giving him a skeptical look.

"As the current proud cat parent of C/N, I would like to veto that course of action." You said, voice flat. He narrowed his eyes at you, not lifting his hand from the purring feline. "Well, now they can have two parents." He said firmly, and you sighed.

"You won't have to be a single mother that wa- OW!" He was cut off by your cat suddenly biting down hard on his hand, a victim of their sudden whims. His smirk that had been forming on his face got wiped back off, replaced with a frown. You laughed, and he gave you a wounded look. Perhaps the cat wasn't a fan of his subtle flirtation either. "Absolutely deserved." You commented, your mouth curved slightly in a small smile.

"Rude." He huffed, rolling his eyes. He still continued to stroke the cat, who was looking increasingly annoyed. "But correct I guess." He added begrudgingly. You chuckle slightly, and your cat struts away from Hermes and back to you. "Looks like you've lost their approval." You observed, smirking.

"As long as I still have your approval, dear."

"Bold of you to assume you ever did in the first place."

"Well if I didn't you'd probably be with Apollo or something right now."

You opened your mouth and shut it again, unsure what to say. "If he didn't randomly disappear yesterday and not come back, maybe I would." You muttered.

"Probably because he would drag me kicking and screaming." You added, seeing the slight trace of worry flicker across his face.

"..say.. opal is your favorite shiny rock, right?" He asked suddenly and you stared at him in confusion for a moment.

"Yes..?"

"Good to know." He muttered and you arched an eyebrow suspiciously. That was rather ominous. "What's yours?" You asked, actually curious for the answer. "Citrine." He shrugged, and you made sure that you'd remember his answer for later. Could be useful. Never know when you might end up going jewelry shopping and want to get a gift.

You both just looked at each other in silence for a moment, before Hermes got an odd look on his face.

"I have to go." He sighs, and you feel a knot of disappointment in your stomach.

"Can you bring me back to my chambers first?" You asked just before he was about to disappear.

He nodded, obliging. With a snap of his fingers, you were both in your room, and in another he was gone.

You take a moment to linger, soaking in what's left of Hermes's presence. And then you realize something extremely annoying.

"Wait.. could he have done that the entire time he was flying me there?!"

Notes:

Author's Note: I finally figured out how to put the cat back in there, because there is simply too much I could do with them to retcon them out of existence. I personally head cannon C/N (cat's name) to be absolutely GIANT. Like at least as big as my cat, if not bigger.

 

~Originally Published 4/21/25~

Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty-Two - Silence

Silent.

Everything was silent.

And you couldn't stand it.

You weren't sure what you were doing exactly, just restlessly pacing around your room. Your cat watched from on top of a cabinet, licking their paw. You felt confined, even though you could leave whenever you wished. But something kept you there. But you were done waiting for nothing, you were going to go out.

You fastened your cloak around your shoulders, and covered your arms in bracelets, including your pearl one that disguised you. You gave your cat a few goodbye pats before leaving the room. Ever since.. the incident everything before it felt a life time away. The halls felt familiar yet distant at the same time, and you let your feet lead you forward and let your mind wander else where, letting your muscle memory guide you. You avoided the woods you usually lingered, instead going down the mountain. You head to the nearest city, deciding you'd mess with some mortals or something.

The streets were busy, but not too crowded. You looked at the stalls around you, checking out the wares being sold. You stop at an odd little trinket shop, and you surveyed them curiously. The girl working the stand stood there awkwardly, seeming almost flustered. Your eyes were caught by a small intricately detailed cat figurine, that looked just like your own cat. Your eyes shined and you pulled out some coins you had 'found' in Olympus. The gods carelessly tossed around their wealth, making it very easy to steal. You liked having shiny things.

"Is this enough?" You asked, sliding the coins towards the vendor. The girl nodded sheepishly, her face glowing red. You smiled, bowing your head and taking the figure. You stuck it in your bag, quickly thanking the girl.

You continued through the streets, slipping some random kids coins because it brought you joy seeing the looks on their face. You felt your mood lifting, and you had decided to stop at a jewelry stand, not sure why, since you had enough jewelry. But then you saw what had pulled you towards that stand.

A pair of beautiful, citrine earrings.

They would look really good on Hermes.

You swatted that thought away, you certainly wouldn't do something to feed his ego like that.. and yet you wanted to anyways. They glittered smugly in the sunlight, pulling you towards them. You sighed, paying the shop vendor and snatching them. You think back to earlier that day when he had said citrine was his favorite gem. He'd surely like them. But you shouldn't care about that, right? it was too late now though. You grabbed your cat figurine from your bag and admired it for a moment. Maybe Hermes would like it. Since he had grown so enamored with your pet cat. I mean, he had given you a few gifts in the past as well, why were you still scared of giving him things?

Well, you'd do it anyway. Even if he didn't like them. Which he probably wouldn't.

You went back to Olympus, wrapping the earrings and cat figure up in a nice little parcel, tying it off with a rope. Your eyes glittered in anticipation of giving it to him, feeling both excited and nervous at the same time.

You took off your cloak and folded it up neatly, feeling the softness of the fabric between your fingers. You put it on the foot of your bed, knowing you'd probably wear it again soon.

You adjust your dress, and took off some of your bracelets

You sigh and grab the package you had made.

You're about to go and find Hermes when he literally appears outside of your window.

"What the hell?!" You yell out in surprise, eyes widening. He made a fool of himself trying to open it from the outside. You open it for him, and he climbs in. "What's this about?" You asked, still extremely confused and slightly afraid. "Simply making a dramatic entrance, dear." He shrugged and you rolled your eyes.

"Next time use the door instead of embarrassing yourself." You suggested flatly, giving him a skeptical look. "That takes the fun out of it!"

"I will board my windows up if you ever do that again. Gave me a heart attack." You grumbled, and he chuckled. "Anyways, I got you something." You added, and Hermes perked up.

You tossed him the package, and he tore it open. He gasped in awe, dangling the earrings from his fingers. Then he saw the figurine. He looked almost giddy, and you felt yourself become less tense. "I love them!" He exclaimed, and you smiled. He quickly put in the earrings, and you felt pride well up in your chest. They perfectly complemented his appearance, and your face reddened.

He stared at the cat figurine in his palm, a giant grin on his face. His energy was almost contagious, and you couldn't stop yourself from smiling too.

The god lingered for a while longer, before leaving once more.

You were alone again, but this time it didn't feel so stifling.

 

*~*~*

 

The moon glowed, high in the night sky. You had gone out again, taking in the fresh air. You were wandering through the mortal wilderness, when you realize the spot you were in felt familiar. A moonlit clearing in an ancient pine forest, a flat boulder near the edge. You recognized it. This was the place where you woke up after the furby incident that had brought you here. Memories flooded in from that night, before you got here. You had been exhausted from your day at work, wishing you didn't have to have a job. Now you missed it. You missed all of your old troubles. Even though back then you would kill to live lavishly like you did now, but not if you knew you had to give up all of your relationships and most of your hobbies.

You felt your eyes tearing up, but then.. something tugged at the edge of your vision.

You slowly turned around, and saw something tangled in the grass.

You reached towards it hesitantly, grabbing it.

It was a furby.

The wizard furby.

(AN: THAT'S RIGHT THEY'RE BACK MWAHAHAHAHAHA YOU CAN'T ESCAPE)

You felt the black fur rustle between your fingers, still soft despite being outside for who knows how many days. Well you thought it may have been twelve, but you weren't really sure. Only twelve days, but it felt like years.

"Are you ok?"

You turned around and saw Apollo standing behind you, softly strumming his lyre. You instinctively rolled your eyes at his presence.

"I'm fine."

"You needn't lie to me, my raven."

Your eyebrows raised slightly, surprised at the new name. It was perfectly dramatic, just like him. You had pretty much given up on stopping him from calling you nicknames, as it was a lost cause. That didn't mean you had to like it though. You scowled at him, but he ignored it.

"Where have you been?" He suddenly said, surprising you.

"You weren't there when I got back last night. I was worried sick!" He exclaimed, staring fiercely into your eyes. Your mind spun in confusion, what did he mean by 'last night'? Wasn't he supposed to come back in the morning?

"..Hermes came and told me you wouldn't be back until morning and.. took me back to my chambers." You lied, wondering if maybe it technically wasn't a lie since it was only one word away from the truth?

"That liar! He was just supposed to give you the cat!" He snarled, balling his fists. You couldn't help but feel a twist of fury in your stomach too, did Hermes seriously lie to you just to get you in his chambers?! The wind blew through the sun god's hair, causing it to look as if it was rippling. Then he gave you a suspicious look, and you stiffened. "But you shouldn't lie to me either, my raven." He said, and you felt stupid. He was the god of truth, of course he could tell when you were lying.

"It was his chambers he took me to." You sighed, and Apollo stiffened, a look of fury on his face. "Did you sleep wi-"

"No! Nothing happened!" You exclaimed loudly, your face heating up. He sighed in something that sort of sounded like relief, before nodding.

"Of course. I doubt he'd be able to get you to do that when I still haven't been able to." He said, and your face turned beet red. "Can we not talk about this?" You snapped, burying your face in your hands. Was... that... all he wanted? Was Apollo not capable of thinking of anything else?

"Oh, but I just love seeing how flustered you get when I do." He smirked, eyes glistening. You clenched your jaw, glaring at the god. You looked away, but he grabbed your chin and pulled it back towards him. His eyes glittered with danger, and you swallowed nervously. "Don't fucking touch me." You hissed between your teeth, and he laughed. "You're not exactly pulling away, sunshine." He observed, stroking your chin with his fingers. You narrowed your eyes at him, but you knew he was right. You found yourself unable to pull away from him.

He suddenly slammed his lips into yours, seeing his chance and taking it. Your eyes widened in surprise, a shiver running down your spine as he wrapped his hands around your waist. You grabbed his back for dear life so you wouldn't fall over from the amount of force he was using.

He had engulfed you in a fierce, possessive kiss that sent bolts of energy through you. His hands were on your back, but they were slowly traveling lower.

Your nose wrinkled and you moved your hand to his chest and pushed Apollo away from you. "No." You growled, stepping back.

"Oh come on, little feather~ Have some fun for once!" He protested, and you rolled your eyes. "I'm leaving." You huffed, walking off.

The god laughed, his gaze following you when his feet stayed firmly rooted to the ground. You quickly made your way back to Olympus, pretending you didn't still feel that kiss lingering on your lips. Pretending that your traitorous mind didn't enjoy it even a little bit.

Your heartbeat had sped up, thumping around in your chest wildly. You made it to your chambers and dove into your bed, not even putting on sleeping garments first.

Your cat curled up beside you, and you felt yourself slip into the steady calmness of slumber.

Notes:

Author's Note: Ngl the part where Apollo was getting rizzy was inspired by how one of my friends is backstage during rehearsals for our school musical. I KNOW YOUR READING THIS BAILEY. MEET ME IN THE DENNY'S PARKING LOT, WE ARE GOING TO SWORD FIGHT FOR MY HONOR.

THOU CANNOT RIZZ ME UP WITHOUT BEATING ME IN A DUEL FIRST.

Anyways thanks for reading!!!

~Originally Published 4/25/25~

Chapter 27: Chapter Twenty-Three - The Thrill of Curiosity

You woke up in a daze that morning, slowly piecing your memories of the day before back together. You remembered that last part with Apollo with more clarity than you'd like, along with your memories of Hermes from that day, but that bothered you less despite his betrayal of your trust.

You slowly got up from your bed, sliding your dress off and approaching your wardrobe. You grabbed a clean dress without care for which one it was and put it on. You chose a garnet necklace, deciding not to wear opals. You didn't even wear your opal ring, because you were still angry at Hermes.

You aggressively brushed through your hair, making it smooth and silky. You decided to eat some fruit you had laying around, since you hadn't eaten anything in days. You technically didn't need to anymore, but you still were starving. The grapes did little to soothe your hunger, so you gave up on feeding yourself. You'd probably find something else later anyways. You'd be fine.

Suddenly, you heard a knock on your door, and your heart sunk. You had a sneaking suspicion you knew who it was. You swung the door open, seeing Apollo standing there.

You slammed the door back shut.

You weren't doing this today.

He banged at the door five times before giving up, and when you finally heard his foot steps retreating you exhaled a sigh of relief. Today, you simply wished to perform your duty as a goddess. Answer prayers, lightly punish people for blasphemy, and all that fun stuff. You didn't want to have to spend the day entertaining the proud sun god. You'd been through a lot lately, and you just wanted to have a day for yourself.

You threw on a dark green cloak, and packed your bag with things you liked. You were going to do your job, and the other gods probably should as well instead of constantly stalking you. Seriously, did they have nothing better to do? You quickly left the room, and Apollo immediately appeared in front of you, to your not surprise at all, but instead of giving him attention you just walked past him. You swallowed down a chuckle as you saw his jaw drop at being ignored. You quickly moved around the corner of the hall and out of his sight before he could follow you.

He'd probably follow you anyways.

Still, you persisted in trying to ignore him. The sun shone brighter, as if he was trying to get your attention by any means possible. By the sands of the hour glass, he was desperate. Well, Apollo would have to wait. He can have a muse or one of his mortal lovers engage with him instead. You, however, were going to do whatever you wanted to do. That is when you figure out what you want to do, that is. You were still workshopping it. Yes, you knew you were going to hang out at your temple or something, but what exactly were you going to do there? Unclear. You'd figure it out later. First you needed to get there. Away from this place that was slowly driving you insane.

 

***

 

You knew you were being watched. Even though you made it to your temple, of course you couldn't have a peaceful moment to yourself. You were helping out your staff by cleaning one of the rooms, without them knowing, of course. It was quiet, peaceful, serene even. But something was off, and you knew it. You felt the gaze of a god, a feeling you had begun to recognize, resting upon you. You knew it was intended to fill you with comfort and warmth, but instead it made you shiver. Did the gods not have anything better to do? You wanted to escape for once, to be completely alone. If you didn't get to do that, you would probably go insane.

"Can you leave me alone?" You suddenly huffed, scanning the room looking for the intruder.

A shimmer of light appeared before you, and you squinted as to avoid blinding yourself.

"Hello, dear." Hermes said, as mischievous grin on his face after his dramatic entrance. He opened his mouth as if he was about to continue, but you cut him off. "I do not want to hear from you right now. Or anyone, really. Go find something better to do." You grumbled, rubbing your temples. The god's eyes widened in surprise at your sharpness, his ego probably bruised.

"Rude. I mean, I get it, but I'd be careful with that tongue of yours." He warned, causing you to roll your eyes. As much as you wanted to ignore him and send him away, you realized you were being unfair. Hermes didn't even know that you weren't happy with him at the moment, and you honestly couldn't snap at him too hard right now.

"I'm sorry, just please give me some space for once." You sighed, and Hermes reluctantly nodded. You were alone once again, and you let out a sigh of relief. Finally, you felt at peace. You were going to have a self care day, because you really needed it. Maybe you could explore. After all, just because you had become a greek god didn't mean you had to stay in Greece. This was a chance for you to learn more about the rest of the ancient world. It never really occurred to you until now how much there was you could learn now that you were here in Ancient Greece. You hadn't become more trapped when you became a goddess, you became more free. You could go wherever you wanted, travel the world, pursue hobbies you previously didn't have the time for ever since capitalism got its grip on you. You could do anything you wanted.

You could learn so much about the cultures that once fascinated you but was too far away in time to study fully. The real question was where would you go first? Perhaps Egypt, or Babylon, or maybe even the Minoan Civilization if it hasn't fallen yet. A sense of curious excitement that you hadn't felt since you had gotten here rushed through you, your eyes lighting up.

You quickly went back to your own chambers, getting ready to travel. You packed your bag with writing supplies to take notes. The history you once studied was alive around you, the information once lost now readily available. You might even get to read all of Sappho's work, instead of just the fragments you had in your own time. Though, Sappho's life is probably still far in the future. After your bag was packed, You went to your bathroom and slid off your dress, deciding to bathe first. You filled the tub with warm water, and stepped in.

You quickly rushed through the bath, too excited to slow down and relax. After slipping your dress and cloak, you grabbed a map off your shelf. It wasn't the most accurate, but it was all the ancient Greeks knew. You marked the places you wanted to visit most quickly, but then you realized something. You had no idea where you were going. Until you did you'd have to stay in Greece, but you didn't let that dishearten you. There was still so much to do! You were going to go to all of the different towns you could, and read all of the history you could and take notes. You'd try your hardest to preserve information for the future archeologists of your time. You had found yourself an actual purpose. You could learn more about the past, but more importantly you can teach people more about the future. There is so much information from the modern times you could spread. You have the power to make the world a better place, and you hadn't even thought to use it.

You threw on your cloak and quickly walked out of your chambers, and left the palace of Olympus. You made your descent down the mountain, an extra spring in your step that had been absent earlier that morning. You weren't even sure what to do first, where to start. You pushed all of your worries to the back of your mind, you had found something to do and keep you occupied now. Everything felt bright. You decided to stop in Athens first, choosing to keep yourself invisible to mortal eyes. You were going to write down as much as possible. Everything that was frustratingly lost in the modern day could be restored with your help, even if you couldn't get everything since that was literally impossible, you could probably still preserve a lot of information.

You couldn't suppress the wide grin on your face, even if you wanted to. There were positives to being here that you completely overlooked before. You found yourself an actual purpose, something to dedicate yourself to so you didn't have to sit and brew in your homesickness and discontent. For the first time since you got here, you had been enthralled in excitement for the future. You were happy.

Notes:

Author's Note: Happy Mother's Day! Sorry this chapter was so delayed, I've been busy with my school's musical. I'm happy to report that our performances went really well! Now that I have a bit more free time, I can probably write more often. I was just a litttttleee bit self indulgent in my interest in anthropology in this chapter, but it was established in chapter 1 that Y/N was interested in history so it's probably fine. I hope this chapter wasn't boring, but if it was know that more is on the way soon that will be more interesting.

 

~Originally Published 5/11/25~

Chapter 28: Chapter Twenty-Four

Notes:

Note from the future when I am uploading this here-
I was seemingly feeling a bit silly when I wrote this
be warned

You spent the day taking notes on your surroundings, listening to lectures, all of that fun stuff. After the sun went down you had gone 'home' and fell asleep in your chambers easily, giving you plenty of sleep to prepare for the next day.

And now the next day had come.

You woke up to your cat jumping on your stomach, meowing loudly. "Ow!" You exclaimed, quickly sitting up. Your narrowed your eyes at your cat who sat innocently on top of you, giving you a doe eyed look. "You're lucky you're cute. Otherwise I'd have gotten rid of you by now." You muttered, knowing you didn't really mean it. You'd love your cat either way. You stroked your cat's soft fur, listening to their purrs. It was peaceful. You let yourself sink up the moment, hoping it wouldn't get interrupted.

And this time, it didn't.

You spent the morning petting your cat until you finally decided to get up, which happened to be after your cat had enough and went to sit on your chair instead. You stumbled to your feet, your weariness weighing you down. You breathed in the soft scent of the candles that surrounded your room, letting it calm you. You opened your wardrobe and hesitated as you surveyed the dresses, unsure what to wear. You ended up choosing a violet toga with golden accents that you liked, realizing you don't wear nearly enough purple. You quickly undid your robe, fingers fumbling slightly as you slid on the dress. You missed comfortable clothing, but you didn't mind the clothes you had now. You pulled an opal necklace over your head, and placed your opal dragon ring on your finger, liking it too much to avoid wearing it despite the symbolism people may think surrounds it, even though there isn't any. You spritzed yourself with lavender scented perfume, finding the smell pleasant.

You put on your sandals and combed your hair until it was silky soft, wanting to look nice. You tied your hair back in a silk ribbon, and threw your bag over your shoulder. You wanted to continue your work from yesterday, but you wanted to spread information as well. You were still hyped up from yesterday, though your excitement was slightly fainter after a night of sleep. You hummed softly under your breath as you exited your room, quickly walking down the hall, avoiding knocking over vases as you brushed against them. You had specific plans this time around.

However, it seemed someone else had plans for you today.

You stumbled back as Athena appeared in front of you, her armor shining in the sun. "____. It has been a while since I have seen you. I think it is time we resume training." She declared, and you nodded. You felt a bit disappointed, but you still were excited to find out what you would learn next.

You followed the tall goddess through the corridors to the training courtyard, fidgeting with your bag strap. When you arrived, you went into your usual routine of sliding your bag off and grabbing a sword, getting ready to spar with Athena. You felt the smooth wood of the training sword in your hand, soft, heavy, and reliable. You felt the sun shine down on you, filling you with warmth as Athena got herself ready for her lessons.

Your mind felt clear and bright, and you felt light on your feet despite your frequent clumsiness and mistakes as the sparring session begun.

You felt good.

 

***

 

The sun was high in the sky by the time Athena had dismissed you, but your energy was still almost as high as it was before. After the sparring session, the goddess had taught you shapeshifting, which you found really cool. It would also be useful to hide from the gods when you needed time to yourself, which was a nice bonus.

You no longer hid away from the future, but instead reached for it with open arms.

You still hid from the gods though. You didn't think you'd ever reach for the gods. Especially the male ones. They're gross.

Your nose wrinkled at the thought of them as you walked down the corridors, unsure what to do or where to go.

You weren't really in the mood for your original plans for the day. But you weren't really sure what else to do, so you decided to write poetry or do something stupid like that.

You swung your door open, startling your cat who quickly stood up. You sat at your desk grabbing your writing materials but finding yourself stumped on what to write about. Perhaps you should've tried to get closer to the muses at that party Apollo hosted a while back. Maybe that would've helped your current situation. Never the less, what's done is done. You gripped your 'pen' tightly as if it was a blade, until you realized and relaxed yourself.

You began to draw, mostly just doodles. Did they look good? No. Did that matter? Also no. You drew a picture of your cat, which you were quite proud of.

"What in Hades is that?"

Your head swiveled behind you where Apollo stood, squinting at your work with a concerned look on his face.

"It's my cat." You sad flatly, raising an eyebrow at him. A puzzled look spread on his face as he looked from your cat to the drawing, as if he was trying to find the similarities. "...It looks like a horse." He finally said after a moment of silence. You gasped, offended. "You look like a horse!" You exclaimed, glaring at the music god.

"Why were you drawing anyway? It's not something I've ever seen you do."

"Not your business, gaywad." You quipped back defensively, flipping over the drawing so he couldn't see it anymore.

"Are you feeling ok? You're speaking in odd tongues. Do you have a fever?" He asked, and you narrowed your eyes at the music god.

"I'm fine, but please never intrude on me without warning again." You sighed, turning around to fully face him.

"Noted."

"Anyways, what brings you here anyway?" You asked, calming yourself down. Your shoulders relaxed.

"I was hoping I could perhaps take you out for an afternoon meal." He offered, almost seeming chivalrous. You stifled a laugh at his dramatic wording, but agree.

"..Alright." You said, squinting at him. His face lit up, and you sighed.

You followed him as he led you away, dimly aware of your stomach growling.

Notes:

Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is kind of short, I had to delete and rewrite the drawing scene because in the original version instead of drawing her cat Y/N wrote down this

{Edit from the future: Again, can't put images on here so I'll just tell you that it was the "Then Perish." post. Though when I originally wrote it INTO the chapter I wrote all of the dialogue down instead of just putting in the image.}

So I had to rewrite Apollo's reaction and Y/N's response. I decided to keep her calling him a gaywad because I found it funny. This chapter is far from my best work because of all of this, but I cannot help writing a silly moment every now and then, I just can't make things too silly.

My bad chat

Summer break is almost here!!! Also in band today I got to watch some of my classmates disassemble a desk using a hammer and screwdrivers and other stuff like that, and my teacher told them not to hurt themselves because she didn't want to have to go through the process of filling out a report. She also said that if anything bad happened she was going to run away so she didn't have to deal with it. She's real for that honestly.

my friend Bailey asked me to put in a reference to the white Gilgamesh drink, but I already did a couple of chapters ago. I am always two steps ahead.

 

~Originally Published 5/15/25~

~Originally Updated 5/16/25~

Chapter 29: Chapter Twenty-Five - Myzithropita

A lunch with Apollo.

You found yourself nervous at the concept.

You had never really done anything.. casual with Apollo. He had dragged you on many other outings, yes, but all of it had been something. This? This was a normal event. It didn't feel dramatic enough for him. It felt suspicious, almost.

Apollo though? He acted like it was the most natural thing in the whole world. He walked besides you, laughing as the two of you talked. His voice was airy and warm, and his sun kissed skin glowed in the light. His golden hair fell softly to his shoulders, amber eyes glistening. His shoulders were bare, dark freckles speckling them like paint splatters.

You mentally sighed, even now, you still couldn't ignore the sun god's beauty. Or any of the gods on Olympus's, really. Apollo just had a kind of vibe to him that he was meant to be admired. Like he was made to be worshipped in temples. He was alluring.

You were yanked from your thoughts when you realized he had asked you a question. "What did you say?" You asked quietly, slightly embarrassed. "I asked if you were paying attention." He stated, his lips curled up in an amused smile. "Sorry.." You breathed.

Apollo laughed warmly, and you smiled back weakly. "Haven't gotten used to my appearance yet, sunshine?"

You immediately bristled defensively. "Don't push your luck." You muttered, and he dramatically sighed. "You're too stubborn. Why can't you accept what you know you want?"

Your gaze turned into a glare, and you rolled your eyes at his inflated ego. "And you're too prideful to realize that you are not the only thing that occupies my mind." You snapped back, and he frowned.

"Oh? And what exactly else occupies your mind? That lying little messenger?" He demanded, in an accusatory tone of voice. "That's not your business!" You exclaimed. "You are my business!" Apollo shouted, angry.

"Since when?!"

"Ugh. You're lucky you have a pretty face." He muttered, and you scoffed. "Is that all you care about?" You accused. You stormed off, a cloud of anger surrounding you. Suddenly, you no longer wanted to have lunch with the sun god. Suddenly, you instead wanted to curl up in a blanket and sulk. You went back to your chambers, slamming the door behind you.

You wrapped yourself up in blankets with your cat, but the moment of peace did not last long before it was interrupted. Apollo burst in, a determined expression on his face.

You sighed, why couldn't he just leave you alone?

"We are going to make this work, whether you like it or not!" He declared, grabbing you by the wrist and dragging you through the door, your weight slowing him down like an anvil. You protested heavily, but he paid no mind. It seems like you weren't getting out of this one. His hands were warm, but not in a way that brought comfort. They almost seared your wrist from how tight his grip was. "Fine, but let go of me!" You growled, fire burning in your eyes as they fixed on him in fury. He gave you a skeptical look, not letting his guard falter for a moment. "How do I know you won't run off again?" He asked, voice almost sounding like he was scolding a child. You rolled your eyes, knowing there wouldn't be a point in running again.

"I promise I won't." You said, bartering for your arm's freedom.

The sun god sighed, finally loosening his grip. He still held you by the wrist, but gently, as if you were made of delicate porcelain. He had a longing look in his eyes as he looked at you, eyes sweeping over you slowly as if he was burning the memory of your presence into his mind. You felt yourself shrink self consciously, feeling unworthy. Apollo let out an amused huff, but didn't say anything. The two of you shared a sort of serene silence, neither of you wanting to reignite the previous tension. You let your mind flow adrift as he led you. Finally, your curiosity yanked you out of your thoughts, and you brought your attention back.

"Where are we going anyway?" You asked, breaking the quiet. Apollo paused for a moment, hesitating before giving his answer. "A mortal market. Then we'll go to one of my gardens." He said, head tipping modestly. You nodded, deciding not to question further.

 

***

 

You and Apollo stood in the busy marketplace, people bustling past you. It was so crowded, you almost thought you might get swept away in the chaos. You kept looking at Apollo, letting his presence ground you like an anchor. He was tall like all of the gods, but it was a bit more toned down for his mortal form. "Come on, there are some pastries here that are worth writing hymns about." He said giddily, energy once again filling him. He quickly led you through the crowd, weaving through it skillfully.

You followed him, letting the fresh air fill your lungs. You decided to put the previous argument past you, after all you could have fun, if neither of you ruined it. Though, you knew that might be too much to hope for. When was the last time you just simply.. hung out with Apollo? When was the last time the two of you didn't argue?

You drew in a long sigh, and the sun god gave you a look that almost seemed nervous. As if he was afraid of ruining it as well. Maybe for once he was looking past his own pride. You hoped that was true. That would probably make him a bit more bearable to be around. The corner of your lip curled up in a small grin, relishing the moment of silence between the two of you, letting your senses wander to your surroundings. It was a beautiful little town square, statues and pillars all around you. In the middle, there was a small decorative pond, with some dusky brown minnows swimming around inside. Some of the shops had really long lines, and you wondered what was sold at them. None of those stands were where Apollo was leading you though, instead, the two of you were headed to a more quiet spot.

"I heard of a pastry that was invented here and I wanted to try it with you." He said as he approached a small stand. "I think it was called Myzithropita?" He added, testing out the name. The name sounded familiar to you, but you couldn't quite put your finger on it. The shopkeeper's face lit up as he saw his two new customers approaching. "That sounds interesting." You replied quietly, looking up at Apollo with a curious expression. He confidently walked up to the man running the stand, asking for the pastry he had mentioned previously. Your eyes lit up as you saw what the man in the apron had grabbed from the back, it was cheesecake! You stood back as he dropped about a couple of coins onto the counter, grabbing the two plates. Each one had a slice of cheesecake and a few figs on it, and you could barely contain your eagerness. You loved cheesecake, it was one of your favorite dishes back at home. Especially when it was homemade, store bought cheesecake was ok, but you preferred it fresh like this.

The disguised god walked back to you, handing over one of the plates. You couldn't help but smile at the fact he had given you the plate with the bigger slice. "Thank you." You said, tipping your head.

Apollo's eyes shone with pride at the joy that must have been radiating off you. "That looks like one of my favorite pastries from my time." You exclaimed, giving the god reasoning for your excitement. You saw a spark of worry in his eyes at the mention of your home, but it was gone so quickly you couldn't be sure it was there. "What's it called there?" He asked curiously, though you weren't sure he really cared to hear the answer all that much. He seemed glad to have found something you enjoyed though. "Cheesecake." You replied rather flatly, staring down at your plate.

"I remember making this at home.." You trailed off, feeling nostalgic. "Well, maybe someday you could make it here." Apollo said absently, waving his hands in a dismissive gesture. He obviously was not interested, but it wasn't like you were saying anything important anyway. "We're heading to one of my gardens to eat these." He declared suddenly, changing direction without warning, walking at a quick pace. You hesitated, and in that moment of hesitation he had disappeared into the crowd of people.

Shoot.

Your eyes darted from place to place in a frenzy, searching for the music god. You were alone, holding a slice of cheesecake, and drowning in a sea of people.

You were screwed.

Notes:

Author's Note: Hey y'all!!! Sorry its been a while since I posted!!! But hey, I did follow through on my promise to upload this week this time!! Hoorah!

I love writing, I just don't always have time. But I finished. :)

I would have made it a longer chapter, but I did not have the energy and wanted to finish it there.

 

~Originally Published 6/10/25~

Chapter 30: BONUS CHAPTER IV: APOLLO'S VENGEANCE.

Notes:

Author's Note: So this is a continuation of Bonus chapter III part two, which means you get to see Apollo's vengeance!! Meaning this takes place offscreen during Chapter 20, Homesick. Yippee!!! :3

*~APOLLO P.O.V~*

He knocked on his sister's door, his mind hazed by anger. Artemis appeared in the doorway, arching an eyebrow at his presence. "Why have you came here, brother?" She asked, a faint note of annoyance hidden within her voice. In her arms she held a large cat, one he recognized as yours. "...Why..?" He asked, momentarily distracted from his goal. "Do not worry about it, Apollo. Come inside and tell me what is troubling you." She said, breathing out a long sigh as the cat purred in her arms. She disappeared back into her chambers, beckoning for the sun god to follow her.

Apollo entered the dimly lit room, lit only by the moon and the stars outside the windows. "I have come here for your help in vengeance." He said plainly as he stood beside his sister. The cat jumped out of her arms and strutted to a soft mound of blankets piled in the corner of the room, letting out a soft, satisfied mew as it settled down and curled into a ball. "Oh?" Artemis breathed, her interest clearly piqued.

"Yes. Poseidon has acted again, and he has attacked ____. I found her wounded in the forest, if she were mortal I do not think she would have lived." Apollo let out a shuddering sigh, still shaken from the events himself. His sister's eyes widened, and she quivered with rage. "How dare he lay another finger on her." She uttered, eyes narrowing. He was surprised at her ferocity, not knowing his counterpart cared that much. "She is resting in my chambers now. I have done my best to heal her."

"You should've just sent her to me instead.." Artemis muttered, but then shook her head. "No, you needed to see for yourself that she would be ok. I suppose it is fine." She sighed. The sun god dipped his head. "Indeed dear sister, but what's done is done, and we have more important matters to deal with now." He responded, drawing in a long breath of anticipation. How he longed to hurt Poseidon. To stab him over and over again, to make him bleed, to make him feel pain. He wanted the ocean god to regret ever touching you. But while he hated it, Apollo had to admit Poseidon was much more powerful than him. He would have to settle for something more.. Subtle. "I suppose my little C/N here is ready to be sent back to ____. I'll send Hermes after her later, when we've already left. He doesn't need to get involved in this." Artemis declared, yanking Apollo out of his murderous thoughts.

"No, he does not." He agreed, dipping his head in respect. "I say we desecrate one of his temples. We bring as many arrows as we can carry and strike down all of his priests and servants." She continued, looking him in the eye with a certain intensity. "Yes. And I'll burn down what is left afterwards until there is only ashes." He said, narrowing his eyes fiercely. If the god of the ocean thought he wouldn't suffer consequences for his actions he would be proven wrong.

"I'll prepare the arrows, you prepare our bows." Artemis declared, retreating to the corner of the room where she kept her archery items.

Vengeance was on the horizon.

 

***

 

The music god and the wilderness god descended onto the sea temple in the cover of darkness. Both were silent, jaws clenched. They had made themselves invisible to the mortal eye, as to not arouse panic so quickly. The panic could wait until blood had already spilled. There would be no survivors from the carnage that would ensue.

The twin gods had chosen to target Poseidon's most sacred temple, to ensure they would leave an impression on him. By the time he would notice, it would be too late. The damage will have already been done. The twins entered the temple, shoulders brushing shoulders. Not soon after they saw their first victim. A priest praying at an altar. Apollo silently raised his bow, and Artemis nodded and slowly stepped back, letting him take the first kill. The arrow sliced through the air, cutting cleanly through the priest's throat. His eyes widened as blood gurgled through the wound. He fell back, a thud as his head hit the floor. The siblings were not fazed, and they continued through the halls.

Soon, the corridors were filled with the thick smell of blood. The echo of screams cut short filled the halls. Bodies of ones who had once been holy figures or servants filled the temple, lives taken away from them. Apollo had a cold certainty set within him that his actions were justified, no matter how they made him feel. And they made him feel proud. He had avenged you. He had killed in your name. And now it was time to clean the scene. Apollo let his fury emerge as flames that engulfed the entire temple. Him and Artemis left, silent as they were as they had come. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, and the sounds of screams did as well. It seemed they may have missed a person or two. Unfortunate for them, but he wouldn't end their suffering early. They had served his enemy.

"We should leave. We have done enough tonight." Artemis declared, speaking for the first time since they had descended. The poetry god bristled with fury, feeling as if he hadn't done enough, but he nodded, knowing she was right. They ascended back into the clouds, towards Olympus in her chariot. Apollo felt satisfied with what he had done.

When they had arrived, he quickly went descended to his chambers as quickly as possible, realizing how long he had left you alone. He felt anxious, afraid something could have happened to you. The halls were dark, the candles all blown out. What if Poseidon had came to you when he was away? And when he got to his door, it felt too quiet. He creaked the door opened slowly, his eyes scanning the room. The air was cold, chilling him to his bones. But when he approached the bed, it was cold and empty.

You were gone.

 

*~HERMES P.O.V~*

Hermes had been very shaken by what he calls 'The incident'. He had arrived to Apollo's chambers and saw you sprawled on the bed, covered in bandages. He had longed to stay by your side, to be near you while you healed, but his duties pulled him away.

But now, his duties had brought him to you.

Artemis had sent him to bring you your cat, whom she had seemingly stolen. Along with a message that she thought her and Apollo would probably be away for the night. It was his final duty for the night, so he had as much time as he wished with you. He had turned himself into a bird, hovering outside the window. And there you were, lying awake on Apollo's bed. You looked uncomfortable, and suddenly all of his thoughts about his duties left his mind.

He flew inside, the sound of his chirps and the soft flutter of his wings filled the room. He landed directly on you, and smiled to himself as your eyes glowed with amusement. A moment of silence and hesitation stilled the air between the two of you, but eventually it was broken. "Hermes?" You croaked, a ghost of your smile flickering on your face. Had you found him out that quick? He played dumb for a moment, walking in circles while flapping his wings as if offended. But there was no point, and he eventually flew into the air and turned back into his real self. "You got me." He huffed.

"Why are you here?" You asked sharply, and Hermes flinched. Were you mad at him for not coming here sooner? Or being here in general? "I heard Apollo was staying the night somewhere again, and figured you might want company... but I can leave if you want." He said, a spark of annoyance flickering in your gaze, but your eyes were soft towards him.

"No.. please stay." You had pleaded, and Hermes felt like his heart was melting. "Of course." He said warmly, smiling weakly. Your face had an air of sadness and softness surrounding it, and he had wanted to make you happy, but he wasn't quite sure how to yet. "I don't want to be alone.." You muttered, eyes looking to the side.

"I don't want you to be alone either." Hermes admitted, engulfing you in a warm embrace, sinking his head into your shoulder. Your gaze was now lit with warmth, and a small spark of happiness burst through him.

Finally, he looked back up and met your eyes, his gaze soft but carrying a strength behind it. "Here, I can take you to my chambers that way I don't have to leave." He uttered, a faint smile tugging at the edge of his lips. You nodded, and Hermes scooped you up in his arms. It felt perfect to have you in his arms, your warmth pressed against him. You let out a small squeak of alarm, and he froze, scared he had accidentally provoked one of your wounds, but you seemed fine, so he transported you to his chambers.

His room was warm and filled with tapestries and blankets, it was messy, but it was lively. A space crafted for him especially. He placed you down on his bed, placing a blanket on your life. "Much better in here." He said, voice lit with pride. You let out a chuckle, filling him with warmth. "Much warmer too." You commented, your voice sounding content. But he still worried. "Is it too hot?" he asked, eyes wide. "No, it was just freezing in Apollo's room." You reassured him, and he calmed down. He gave you an adoring look, and you let out a large yawn. "You should probably get some sleep, dear." He says gently, a teasing edge in his voice. You elbowed him gently, seemingly amused.

"Fine. But quit calling me that, you toad face." You mumbled sleepily, laying down and burying yourself in a blanket. Hermes barked out a laugh and put out the candles, letting darkness consume the room. "Is it ok if I lay down next to you?" He asked hesitantly, embarrassed. You shrugged sleepily, "Sure." You said, sounding a bit lethargic.

He settled down on the opposite side of the bed, aware of you slowly nodding off into slumber. His cheeks flushed as he realized you were inching towards him.

"You're warm.." You muttered, and Hermes let out a nervous chuckle. He sighed, wrapping his arms around you as you both slowly fell asleep

Notes:

Author's Note: Its done!!!

Ngl the Hermes part was too fluffy and I crave violence and I want to kill.

I̵̤̤̮̭̭̤͍͙̥̼̖̭̯͓͓͐̈́͆͘͠ ̸̢̢̡̹̜̗̳͓̲͙̳͚͉͓͙̀ͅͅC̶̨̣̱͇̖͙͈͎̩͍͚̻̥͉̊͋́͛̏͐͝ͅŖ̴̹́͛͐̍͠Ã̴͔̒͊͆̒͆͜͝V̴̛͖̪̬̍͊̔̆́̒̆͌͛͂̏͋̕̕E̴̡͈̩̖̞̰͖̪͙̥͕͚͍̹͌̔̅͂̑̈́̚ ̸̢͖̩̺̟̲̘̜̈́̑͒̐̇̏̄͗̀͌͠͝V̸̡̧̳̤͉̜͕̩̺̰͙̞͜͝İ̵̢̢̡͉̻͎̱̼̤͎̼̮̜̾͂̂́͌̄Ȍ̴̢̦̩̾͠L̵̡̆͌̏̓̔͒͐̆̍̽́͘̕Ȩ̷̛̘̪̤̦͖̜̤̉͆̅̏̌͆̎̓̊N̶͈̞͓͚͎̫͙͗͊͊͂̀͌̀̋͝C̶̯͕̝̻̘̟̪̪̝̆͂E̷̲̟̟̹͉͙̮͆̓̎̆͋͑̏̍͌̉̋̎̈́͝ ̵̡͉̫͚͔̩̝̖́͌̅̈̅̅̃̚͝ͅT̶͇̲͆̅͠H̷̦̱͍͇̹̗̼̠͈̗̖͔̾̒I̴͓͍̾͐̀̐͑͛͗̔̀͘͝S̸̡̹̫̥̯̞̰̫̩̭̖͚͔̺̭͑̐̿̆̑͊͋̌̈͒͘͘̕͜͜͝ ̶͓͈͔̈́͊̉̃̏́̔̆͗̎̂̀̚͝W̷̠̣̼͂̈͐͆̽̈̀͝Ȁ̷̢͕̹͈̱̖̺̝͈̒͗̔͊̀̃̀̉͐̈́͘̚͘͠͠ͅS̸̛̻͙̻̦̈́̔́̍̒͂̉̀͝ ̴̬́T̴̢̛͔̥̑̋̂̈̈́̈̑̍̇͜Ö̶̡̨͎̥͇̲͚̥̝̤͚̩̜̙̯́̅̍̉̏̈́͑͛́͆̄͒̿̌͘̚ͅǪ̵͔̪͓̙̣̌̾̑̓̓́̿̈́͛̓͑ ̵̞̩̪̼̹̗̆́͆͗̋̽̂̏͠ͅF̷̱̙̬̟̌̑͐̌͋̽͘͝L̸̡̳̝̫̭̠͓͔͉̼̞͗͂͋̒̍̏͘U̵̪̱͚̦̩̪̳̜͕͖̙͎͖͉̕͝F̶̧̥̰̳̩̳̹͈̤̗̯̮̆́̏̍̉̈́̾̑̑̂͒͐͜ͅF̴̧̨̤͔̜̳͗̆Y̷̫̭̱̙̻̘͍̬̥̲͖̫͔̝̙̏̾́̈́̎̏̍̏͌̕͜͝͠ ̸̞̱̱͚̘̙̰̰̤͛̆͋͐͛̃̚R̸͎͎͎̹͖̠͗̒̎̑̈̎̈͊̉̈̑̄͒̍͘͘Ą̸̛̗̣͈̥̜̹̜͚̦̙̼̝̖̝̩͑̐̄͑̊̀͂͛̂̄̍̀̈́̏́ͅA̶̡̲̻̗͈͗̋̒͊͂͐͂̈́͘͝A̸̢̛̛̭̼͍͖͍̪͖̭̟̤̥̫̝͒̆̓́̑͊͐̽͌͛͛̽Ą̵̡̡͕̜̖̼̲̙͂͋̇́̀͊Ä̵̢̛͖̮͍̥͚͙͇͉̥̭͇̦̝͙́̓͐̄́́̈́̚̚͝Ȃ̵̛̒̈́͊̇̃̓̃̎̏͑́͘͜͝A̸̡͓̪͙̤̮̿̋

 

I am not medicated <3

Also, I GET TO GO TO SUMMER CAMP! SOME KID WASN'T ABLE TO GO SO I WAS MOVED FROM THE WAITING LIST TO THE OFFICIAL CAMPER LIST!!! YAYYYY!! ITS LIKE MY ALTERNATIVE FAMILY THERE :D
Edit from the future: I GO TO SUMMER CAMP IN FIVE DAYS YIPPEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

 

~Originally Published 6/19/25~

Chapter 31: Chapter Twenty-Six - Hyacinthus

You stood, hesitating for a moment before diving into the sea of people after Apollo. You searched for his golden hair among the crowd, but you couldn't spot him anywhere. You tried to keep calm, not letting fear overwhelm you. The air around you felt cold and still in Apollo's absence, as if the sun had been obscured by clouds. You shivered, and wondered whether it was his warmth keeping you comfortable previously. If so, you wondered if it was intentional or not. You realize that he would be looking for you too. Perhaps you should have stayed in your spot, that way he would know where to look. You sighed. What's done is done. You would've called out for him, but you knew that was a bad idea. You didn't want to be seen calling the name of a god in front of all of these normal people going about their day.

The wind was sharp and unforgiving, the cold cutting straight down to your bones. You knew it couldn't be that cold, but it was the contrast between what you had experienced previously and now that threw you off. The sound of your own heart beat felt deafening, and you knew you were panicking. There were too many people, too many sounds, and too many sights flooding in around you. Your brain felt overwhelmed, overfilled, overstuffed. You had lost your only guide and grounding presence, and now you were alone. Why were there so many people anyway? Was there some sort of event happening? Why did it have to be like this? You were trying to retrace your steps, but you weren't really fully aware about what your body was doing. You were trapped in your own mind.

Everything was moving in a blur around you, the sound of people's voices pounded in your ears like a stampede. You had lost your grip on yourself, you weren't sure if you were speaking in words anymore in your mind. There wasn't enough room for words. Your brain was flooded with too many things for there to be enough room for too many words. You gripped your plate tightly, feeling its coolness in your fingers. You thought you might be tearing up, but you weren't sure.

You moved your hair to cover your face, wanting to hide yourself. Where had Apollo gone? Why couldn't you find him? Everything was too much.

"____!"

A voice cut through the haze in your mind, sharp and laced with concern. Warmth unfolded around you, sinking into your skin. "Apollo?" You breathed. Your mind still raced, and your panic had only stilled slightly. But you felt a bit calmer, if not by much. "Where have you been?! I was worried something had happened!" He exclaimed, appearing before you, radiant as always, and a line of worry creasing his forehead. "...Are you ok, sunbeam?" He asked suddenly, and you nodded, unsure if you truly meant it. You didn't feel like you had the energy to speak. He only looked more worried at your response.

"Lets just go to my garden." He said comfortingly. "ok." You mumbled, voice quiet and subdued. He led you through the town square, steps thudding across the stone. Your head pounded heavily, but your mind felt rather subdued.

Apollo led you into a dark alleyway, where the noise lessened and the fog in your mind started to lift. He grasped your wrist firmly, and the world around you fell away.

 

***

 

You were in a beautiful garden, with tall wooden walls surrounding it, orange honey suckle vines growing from them. It was a beautiful sunlit clearing, filled with many colors. There was coral charm peonies growing around the spot where you stood. You saw pink bleeding hearts, colorful snapdragons, golden yellow sunflowers, but most abundantly grown in the garden were hyacinths. You glanced at Apollo, and immediately thought of his doomed lover, Hyacinthus, son of Pierus and the muse Clio. You felt a flash of pity for the god. But you knew better than to dive too deep into it. It was quiet except for the sound of the bird songs. It was a beautiful scene, putting you at ease.

"I thought only Hermes could do the teleport thing?" You asked, quiet, and a look of curiosity in your eyes. Apollo shrugged. "Yeah but the author was too lazy to have to write in us traveling somewhere else and the previous events specifically took place in the island of Samos, which as far as she knows never had a shrine or garden dedicated to me. Also it wouldn't make sense for us to go to a whole new place outside of that island just to eat a damn cheesecake if it was going to take a while, so she is retconning in this ability." He blabbered, eyes clouded, almost seeming possessed as words spilled out of his mouth.

"..What are you talking about?" You narrowed your eyes as you stared at him.

"Never mind. Hermes is the only god able to 'teleport' wherever he wants, but the rest of us can only transport to our most sacred sites." He answered, shaking his head out of the trance he had once been in. You shrugged his previous words off, deeming them irrelevant. Probably didn't matter, right?

"Its beautiful, isn't it?" Apollo muttered, eyes warm and prideful. You nodded, listening to the calming burble of the bird bath fountain. A stone raven was perched on it, eyes made of some sort of dark gem. All of the structures in the garden had a sort of over grown look to them, vines creeping up them. There were several statues of Apollo scattered throughout, all of them in different poses. One of them sitting peacefully, strumming a lyre. Another standing, looking out on the horizon. The sculptor must have been very talented at their work, the details almost uncanny. They had captured everything from the wavy hair falling softly onto his shoulders, to the way his smile seemed both caring and vain at the same time somehow. Small flowers and vines grew in the little cracks in all of the structures and statues, giving the place an almost magical feeling around it.

You couldn't help but be infatuated with the place, its beauty leaving you looking around in awe. "Come on, let's eat, sunbeam." Apollo's voice rung out, causing you to snap out of it. He sat down plainly on the ground, beckoning you to follow.

You sat comfortably, the cool grass against your legs. "Its been a while since we've really been alone together, my sun." Apollo commented, and you rolled your eyes. "Its only been like, a couple of days since.. the incident." You said, trailing off at the end, unsure how he would react. You weren't sure how he felt about the whole Poseidon incident. "And you've seen me since then anyways." You continued, changing the topic slightly.

"Still not enough." He sighed, and you rolled your eyes. "Whatever, pea brain." You muttered underneath your breath, knowing you had enjoyed all of the time away from the sun god. "What'd you say?" He asked,

"Nothing."

"If you say so, sunshine."

You stared down at your cheesecake plate, the smell filling your nostrils. You glanced at Apollo, who had already begun to consume it. You took a bite, and your eyes immediately lit up. It was good. Really good. The sweetness took you back to your home, of course, but it also reminded you of Hermes for some reason. You focused on that thread of thought for a moment, and realized you were thinking of the pastry he had given you in that day in the temple. That was only a couple of days after you had first arrived, and you felt a twinge of anger at Apollo. You sighed softly, knowing at this point there was no point to being mad. You couldn't help but bring your thoughts back to Hermes. You.. missed him. Even if he had lied about Apollo not coming back that night, you couldn't help but miss his presence. It felt like it had been more time than usual since you last saw him. He was probably just busy.. but still.

You took your mind off him, knowing you shouldn't be thinking about him when with Apollo. Instead you focused on Apollo. He was radiant in this light, blonde hair resting on his shoulders shining like gold. His tan skin was practically glowing. He was beautiful. He noticed your gaze, but didn't say anything, just smirked. But it was still infuriating. "This is really good." You said, directing your gaze to the cheesecake on your plate, with the hope of directing his attention as well.

"It really is. I'm surprised it hasn't caught on anywhere other than Samos yet." He added, but his golden eyes were still fixated on you, as if he was taking all of you in. You swallowed nervously, feeling slightly insecure under his piercing gaze. It felt odd trying to talk casually when he was looking at you like that. "You're staring." You said, stuttering over your words a bit. "You did first, sunbeam~." He replied, a teasing note in his voice. You knew he had a point, but you still didn't like that. "But if you don't like it, I guess I must stop." He sighed, diverting his gaze. You exhaled a breath of relief.

"Thanks." You sighed, glad that for once he listened. You caught him looking at the hyacinths with a sad glance in his eyes, and felt a twinge of sympathy. You wondered how long it had been since the death of his past lover. He had washed the look from his face, as if he didn't want to think about it. You wondered if you should say anything about it.

"Are you ok?" You asked hesitantly. Apollo gaze you a startled look, before his shoulders relaxed, like a tide pulling back. "Of course, sunshine." He said, and you sighed. You decided not to push forward, it wasn't your business.

But Apollo had gone silent, as if he was pondering your words.

"Do... you know about him?" He asked hesitantly.

The question surprised you, eyes widening.

"Hyacinthus?" You asked, and his face was filled with pain. "Yes." He answered, dipping his head. "Do.. I ever see him again?" He asked, and the look he had made you feel as if your heart was being squeezed. "No.. I'm sorry." You said.

He sighed. "What's in the past is in the past." He decided, and you nodded.

You continued eating your cheesecake quietly, and the two of you would occasionally converse through the afternoon. It was peaceful.

Notes:

Author's Note: my hand slipped and I wrote another Divinity chapter instead of a Feathers one

whoopsies

Anyways I hope y'all enjoyed!!!

 

Edit from the future: Ok, thats the last of the Divinity chapters that I've already written on wattpad. From here on out everything will be published as I write them :3

~Originally Published 6/26/25~

Chapter 32: Chapter Twenty-Seven - The Huntress

You drearily woke up to your cat batting at your face. "C/N, I swear.."

The memories of the Previous day flooded back in. A day with the sun god. He had escorted you back to your chambers at sunset, and you spent the rest of your night reading. It was a peaceful day. The issue you remember was that you had actually finished your book last night. What were you going to do now?

You'd have to visit the library again. If you remembered where it was..

You sighed, moving your cat away from your face. You stood up hesitantly, weary. You grabbed your book from your beside table, the feeling of the weight and the soft leather cover in your hands causing you comfort. You put it up on a shelf, deciding that it would be the perfect spot to put your books. You'd probably reread it at some point, so it would be useful to have it somewhere you could find it.

You grabbed a deep dark blue dress from your wardrobe, feeling the thin fabric between your fingers. You took off your robe, dropping it onto the ground, and pulled the dress over your head. You put on a golden belt and shimmering gold arm cuffs. You liked getting to dress up, it made you feel more confident. And you certainly need that in a place such as this.

You tied your hair up in a ribbon, and wore a sapphire necklace. You also slid on your dragon ring, barely noticing when you did as it had became a daily habit of yours. The opal had caught on the sunlight wafting in from the windows, its rainbow colors reflecting on the walls. A beautiful sight to behold. You sighed, patting your cat on the head before exiting the room.

The candlelit warmth of the corridors had begun to bring a sort of familiar comfort, after navigating through it for so long. You brushed your hand across the smooth walls, trying to remember where the hall leading to the library was. Finally, you found the small doorway and stepped in, being consumed by the darkness of the hall. You steadily walked down the dimly lit hallway, eyes fixed on the double wooden doors ahead. The hallway was narrow enough to where you could brush the walls with the both of your arms, it was oddly long as well. There was a few doors within the hall, but you weren't sure what were behind them and weren't sure if you should check.

Finally you stopped, hesitating as your hands brushed against the dark wood. You swung the doors open, and the smell of books and old paper hit your nose sharply. It was filled with windows and skylights, and while there were a few lanterns, they were all unlit. There were benches and desks lined with soft cushions scattered around the place. The tall shelves towered over you, and you felt comfortable in their presence. You gently closed the door behind you, not wanting to make too much noise.

You flocked to the nearest shelf reading the spines to see if anything interested you. Nothing really caught your eye though. You were busy contemplating what to read when-

BANG.

You jumped at the loud noise, looking to the direction where it occurred, you didn't see anything as it seemed to have happened behind one of the shelves. You could infer who it was from the angry curses that followed. "Artemis?" You called out, a questioning tint to your voice. "____?" She asked, her voice lighting up. The huntress goddess emerged from behind a shelf.

"Its been a while! How have you been?" She exclaimed. You were a bit startled by the relief in her voice. "Err- Good." You responded, looking to the side. "Glad you finally have some free time after spending all of it osculating with Apollo." She remarked, and your eyes widened. "Wha- I was not!" You exclaimed, leaping to your own defense. Artemis laughed, her eyes gleaming. "Calm down, I was just making a joke. Though it feels like me and Aphrodite haven't really seen you since the incident." She added thoughtfully, and you felt a twinge of guilt. You really hadn't seen anyone other than Hermes and Apollo since then. You didn't want to dwell on it too much, because you didn't like having to think about it.

"I'm sorry- everything has just been going by so fast.." You apologized, looking to the ground. "Oh you're fine." She responded, making a slightly dismissive hand gesture. You let out a small sigh of relief, barely a whisper.

"Also, may I ask what that noise was?"

She drew in a sharp breath, nervously looking from side to side. You arched an eyebrow skeptically, and she sighed. "I knocked something over." The huntress goddess admitted, voice strained. You peeked behind the shelf and saw an overturned desk. "...How?" You questioned, narrowing your eyes.

"...Don't worry about it." She muttered, and you decided you probably didn't need to know.

"Whatever.." You sighed, muttering under your breath. "You should come hunting with me soon." She declared, her tone almost making it sound like a command. "Sounds fun." You remarked absentmindedly.

"When will you be available?" She asked, and your eyes widened slightly. "Anytime, really. I've got no plans." You responded, shrugging.

"Great, see you this afternoon." She said, quickly turning and leaving before you could process. You didn't think she meant today. Though you couldn't help but feel excited. An afternoon spent gallivanting in the forest far away from the presence of men and surrounded by women sounded amazing.

Maybe there was something you could infer from that statement, but you decided not to dwell on that.

 

***

 

"Are you ready to go?" Artemis asked, an eyebrow arched. You nodded, adjusting the dark green cloak around your shoulders. You wore a modest ivory chiton and your satchel was strapped across your arms underneath your cloak. "Ready as I can be." You remarked, the sound of your voice smooth as silk. The goddess of the hunt flipped her long brunette braid over her shoulder, eyes glistening like moonlight reflecting off water. "Here- you'll need this." She said, suddenly producing a bow seemingly out of no where. It had a long wooden frame that curved in an ornate way. You reached out to grab it, hands brushing against the soft wood. It seemed almost as if it was made with you in mind, fitting perfectly in your arms, as if it was supposed to be there.

"Thank you, Artemis." You spoke with a curt nod. "Right, let's go. The others will be waiting." She declared, and you followed her as she descended, absently aware of the thud of footsteps against the ground.

She plunged into the green sea of trees and ivy, and you followed without a moment of hesitation to hold you back. The familiar sounds of wildlife greeted you, bringing you an ounce of comfort. The sun clung to your skin, lingering for moments longer than it should have with you entering the shade. You wondered if that had anything to do with the fact that Apollo was driving the sun chariot that day. Either way, it was pleasant.

You stepped over logs and hopped over streams until you heard the sound of voices nearby. You continued following Artemis, trusting her to know where her feet were taking her. Finally, she stopped, standing over a large ravine. Next to it, however, you could see hunters bustling around tents and unlit campfires. "Cmon, let's head in." The huntress said. You weren't really sure where 'in' was though, as everything seemed very scattered. You felt a little bit nervous to be around all of these people you thought so well of.

You kept your head low, ignoring stares as you entered the camp. You felt a bit out of place, like a fish in a tree. You also tried to ignore that you could see some women bathing in a near by spring. You felt your face heat up, but you quickly beat down your blush. There was no reason to blush. They were simply bathing. It was fine. You didn't look their direction, trying not to betray how embarrassed you felt.

Artemis's posture was one of confidence, as if she was used to this. You tried to copy it, straightening your back. She turned to you, giving you an amused look. Was your discomfort that obvious? "Nervous?" She asked, the corner of her lips tugging up in a small smirk. "Just a bit." You admit, dipping your head respectfully. "Don't worry, everyone is their first time." The huntress goddess said, and you felt the sharp edges of your nerves smoothen, even if just a tiny bit.

The leaves crunched beneath your feet as the two of you approached what you thought to be the middle of the camp. The buzzing of voices around you filled your ears. She jumped on top of a large tree stump, and you hesitantly followed. "Ladies!" Artemis called out suddenly, and you jumped at the loud sound of her voice. Everything went silent, as if the whole forest was waiting to hear what she had to say. "Before we can begin our hunt, I must inform you that we have a guest." She announced, and you felt yourself shrink with all of the eyes that turned to you. "The goddess ____ will be joining us today." She declared, chin high. "We will begin soon, and I shall call you all once again when it is time."

She stepped off the stump once again, and the sound of voices filled the air once more. "Wait here. I have something else to give you." She told you softly, and you nodded, heeding her order. The goddess disappeared into a dark green tent, and you waited patiently. Soon enough, she emerged once again, holding something large and leather in her hands.

"Here. You'll need a quiver if you are to hunt with us." She stated, fashioning it onto your back. It held a sort of comfortably weight to it, heavy enough to be felt but not enough to be uncomfortable. "You know how to wield a bow, yes?" She asked, and you froze up, as if you were petrified. "Err- I'm a bit rusty." You admitted, shaking your head. Artemis sighed. "I suppose I can give you a quick lesson on the basics."

"That would be appreciated.." You breathed, an air of anxiety surrounding you. She led you around towards the outskirts of the camp, where there was a row of targets. "Try to copy me." The huntress told you, and you nodded. You studied the way held up her bow, and where her muscles tensed as she drew the bow. Finally, she release, and the arrow whooshed through the air, landing straight in the bullseye of her target. She turns to you expectantly, and you swallow nervously, trying to copy her movements as you held your bow up and drew an arrow from your quiver. You pulled it back, eventually releasing. The arrow hit the outer edges of the target, and you couldn't help but feel a bit surprised that you had hit the target at all. "Not bad, but could use some work."

"Now, try again, and let me correct your movements."

You nodded, holding up the bow once more. She adjusted your arm's position slightly, and you let her hands guide you. You released the arrow and this time it hit much closer to the bullseye, though you still didn't hit it quite right, it still felt good. "Thats all we have time for today." She sighed, and you felt a twinge of anticipation. That meant it was almost time for the hunt!

You followed her hurriedly back to the tree stump from before. You couldn't help but feel a bit unprepared, only having shot two arrows before going hunting.

Still, you were excited.

Soon the hunt would begin.

Notes:

Author's Note: I wanted to write down the hunt itself in this chapter but then I went camping for four days and when I came back I realized its been a while since I last updated so I decided to just quickly finish this and publish it. Soon I go to my summer camp :3

 

~Published 7/7/25~

Chapter 33: Chapter Twenty-Eight - Guilt of The Hunter

You descended into the woods with the pack of other women. You couldn't entirely pick up why, but you felt... nervous. There seemed to be less hunters with the group than in the camp, and you supposed that made sense. How were you meant to catch anything with hundreds of footsteps pounding through the forest floor? Even if hundreds was just an exaggeration, it was still a lot of huntresses. You trailed towards the back of the group, unsure of what position you were meant to take. Suddenly you found yourself having second thoughts about being involved in this. You were previously too excited by the idea of hanging out in the woods with Artemis and other women to process what hunting actually was. Could you really handle having to kill things?

You swallowed nervously, maybe if you strayed farther behind you wouldn't be have to participate? You imagined most of the action happened near the front. While you felt a but squeamish, you couldn't deny you enjoyed the wilderness around you. The crisp forest air filled your lungs, and you felt that your senses were much sharper than they had been before in the present times when you had been indoors for most of your days. And you certainly couldn't deny you felt much safer under the trees than you ever did in Olympus. The leaves of a near by bush rustled besides you, and you felt your self stiffen. You paused your steps, looking curiously towards it.

A rabbit scurried out and ran past you quicker than a flash. You gave an amused shrug, continuing and deciding not to alert the rest of the hunting party. Leaves crinkled beneath your feet, the sound of the crunching itching your mind in a satisfying way. You wondered what exactly the hunters were even looking for. Deer? Bears? Foxes? Were there foxes in Greece? I mean, you're pretty sure they are pretty much everywhere, so yeah probably.

A loud rustle near by startled you out of your thoughts, and you turned to see a far away deer, its white tail bobbing as it disappeared behind a tree. Artemis had clearly seen it as well. Signaling the group to silence the small chatter that had been occurring so they could pursue their prey.

The hunters drew their bows, and you followed, trying to swallow down your hesitation. You barely even got any archery practice. You didn't even know how to do this. But once the group had reached their prey, you probably wouldn't be the one shooting. You took a deep shuddering breath inwards, fixing your eyes forward.

You noticed Artemis beckoning to you from the front, and you approached hesitantly. "It is a tradition of ours that a new hunter will make the first kill. I want you to stay ahead with me." She said calmly, and you tried to look enthusiastic. Regret and dread had its claws around your neck, their talons digging deep into your soul. A drop of cold sweat rolled down your forehead, and you cursed yourself for diving head first into this. "Alright!" You awkwardly exclaimed.

You pulled out your bow, hands gliding over the carved wood. You walked besides the huntress goddess quietly, looking around for signs of the deer. "There!" A hunter exclaimed from behind you. The deer was in sight, unaware of the group as it chewed grass peacefully. "Quick, shoot!" Artemis whispered, and you drew an arrow obediently. Your arms trembled as you hesitated, tension crackling in your own mind. A creature's life rested in your hands. Would you do it?

"Here." The goddess whispered to you, breath hot against your ear, softly resting her arms on yours, her skin soft and warm as she corrected your position. You flinched as you let go, the arrow whizzing through the air. Due to Artemis's guidance, the arrow had hit it directly in the neck. Your face was hot with what you thought must have been embarrassment at the fact that you needed help.

The hunters ran towards it, shooting arrows wildly to finish the job. The deer fell to the ground and you ran to see the kill. The deer was laying in the grass, blood pouring from its wounds, eyes clouded. Your stomach knotted as you realized it was still alive. Its head tilted up at you, and you couldn't bear to look away as its eyes met yours. You felt a bit sick at the sight. You knew it was just a deer, but a certainty had formed in your mind that you weren't cut out for this. You were yanked out of your thoughts when you felt a hand on your shoulder, and your head swiveled around to see that Artemis had caught up to you.

"Nice shot! You'll make a fine hunter." The goddess exclaimed, and you smiled nervously. ' "Thank you." You muttered, a ghost of a smile on your face.

Could you really handle this?

 

***

 

You walked back to the palace, oranges and reds dancing across the sky like fire as the sun began its journey to disappear beyond the horizon. You had wanted to walk back alone, wishing to think to yourself.

The image of the bleeding deer was burned into your mind, it felt like every time you closed your eyes you saw it staring back at you helplessly. Guilt sank in your stomach like a heavy stone. You sighed, trying to focus on your surroundings instead.

Crickets chirped loudly, a buzzing chorus surrounding the forest. You were calmed by the woods around you, despite earlier distress. Thats when you heard a faint giggling.

"..Hermes?" You tentatively called out. "Hello darling!~"

Hermes dropped down from a tree far ahead of you. "Its been so long!" He exclaimed, his eyes shining. "Its only been a few days!" You laughed, though you almost found your statement hard to believe. "A long few days!" He protested, crossing his arms. "Well- yeah I suppose it was." You sighed. You couldn't deny you had missed him. It had felt like a long time. "What have you been up to anyways?" You asked.

"I've been going back and forth to the underworld for a while. Uncle Hades has been sending requests to visit for a while now. I had to shove it in Zeus's face in order to get him to finally sign them." He sighed dramatically. You tilted your head curiously, wondering what was so urgent that the god of the underworld was repeatedly sending requests. It was quite possible he just wanted to visit, but could there be a bigger reason?

"Do you know why?"

"Didn't bother to ask. It seemed urgent, but he always looks so serious it's hard to tell." Hermes responded, shuddering at the word 'serious'. You laughed, but a seed of anxiety had wriggled into the back of your brain none the less. You furrowed your eyebrows, a crease of worry on your forehead, thinking.

"Hey, loosen up! I'm sure everything's fine." He exclaimed, poking you in the nose. You smiled despite yourself. "You're probably right." You sighed, losing the tension in your shoulders. The wings on his cap fluttered restlessly, eyes shining. He seemed almost.. suspiciously excited. But you didn't want to be nosy, so you didn't press him. If he chose to reveal why later, you'd listen.

"So what have you been up to?" Hermes asked, lips curling up in a smirk. Your mind blanked for a moment, unsure how to reply. "Err- Not much, especially not anything you'd find interesting. I suppose most of it was studying 'mortal' culture." You replied, holding yourself from yapping too much about the topic of ancient societies. You felt a bit uncomfortable just describing the Ancient Greeks as mortals, but you supposed it would make more sense to the god. "Oh my! You must have been bored out of your mind without me, darling!~" He giggled, fidgeting.

"Sure." You huffed, amused. You supposed time had seemed to have felt rather slow, but you wouldn't quite say you were bored. "We'll have to make up for lost time!" He exclaimed, brightening even more somehow. His energy was almost infectious, and you felt a big giddy grin spread across your face. "Should we take this conversation outside of the middle of the woods?" You offered, amusement lighting your gaze.

"Gladly." He replied, brown eyes glowing like pools of honey in the setting sun.

 

***

 

You dramatically collapsed onto the sofa, letting out a shuddering sigh as you stared at the emerging twilight. Hermes sat floating in the air. The two of you had settled in a small yet beautiful courtyard, billowing silk of many colors surrounding the pillars.

"The sky is beautiful this time of day." You smiled, looking up at the open sky.

"Nearly as beautiful as you." He commented. You choked on your spit, startled, before recollecting yourself. You lowered your gaze to look him in the eyes.

"Thats gotta be the cheesiest thing you've said yet!" You teased, smirking. "Maybe, but it's true." He shrugged, a hint of some deeper emotion in his eyes.

"You're such a big sap." You noted, a hint of affection in your voice. He sat down next to you, arm brushing against yours. "Correction, I'm your big sap, darling~" He replied, leaning against you.

You practically melted against his touch. The two of you just sat there for a moment, enjoying each other's presence. It felt as if all of your worries had dissolved, leaving just your joy and comfort.

"I love you." Hermes murmured.

Notes:

Author's Note: HI GUYS!!!!! SORRY I'VE BEEN NEGLECTING YOU!!!! D: I HOPE YALL ENJOYED THEE CHAPTER

 

WOW ITS BEEN A WHOLE MONTH SINCE I LAST UPLOADED A CHAPTER?!?!

 

for anyone first reading this when I'm later in the story just know the reason why Hermes and Y/N are acting like they haven't seen each other in 27 years its because thats what it felt like to me and maybe the readers lol

 

~Published 8/21/25~

Chapter 34: Chapter Twenty-Nine - Fleeing Messenger

You stiffened at the messenger god's words.

"I love you."

The words pierced into you like an arrow. Your face glowed red with blush. "Are you ok?" Hermes asked, worried. "No- No I'm fine." You hurriedly answered, words rushing out like a waterfall.

"I'm sorry- I was moving too fast, wasn't I?" He apologized quickly, sitting up, and you felt a twinge of guilt, wincing.

"No! No- No its fine I-" You started desperately. "Maybe I should just go to bed for the night. It's gonna get late soon." He interrupted.

"..Right. I'll.. see you soon I guess." You sighed as he quickly stood up.

"Goodnight, Y/N." Hermes called hurriedly as he looked back before he walked away. "Goodnight Hermes." You responded sadly as he disappeared into the corridors.

Gods, why did you have to ruin everything? And why did everything have to be so damn complicated? You sat alone on the sofa now, the breeze rustling through your hair. You still didn't feel quite ready to retreat to your bed. So instead you sat alone with your thoughts, listening to the sounds of the surrounding nature.

A moment ruined, just because you were flustered. You were already missing the warmth he had always radiated, not quite literal warmth like Apollo had, but a sort of comfortable warmth surrounding him.

Apollo

How did you feel about him? You weren't sure. But then, were you really sure about anything these days? You covered your face with your hands and sighed. You thought more about what Hermes said. Did he really mean it? Did he really feel that deeply? And.. did you feel the same? You didn't know. But did you even know what love is?

You sighed, shaking your head. Maybe you should go to bed. It was almost dark. It wasn't exactly late, but you just wanted to be unconscious for a while and forget. You stood up, walking back into the corridors, footsteps echoing on the polished wooden planks. You walked until you had reached your familiar hallway, brain quickly recognizing it. But you felt like no matter how familiar it became this would never feel like home. Though you knew that there was no use on dwelling that. What was done was done. You opened your door, smiling faintly as your cat came to greet you. You wish you could bring your cat with you everywhere, but you didn't want them to wander off. Maybe you could make them a harness? You brightened at the idea. A project to take your mind off things sounded like exactly what you needed. But you didn't have anything to sew or cut with. You'd probably have to do it tomorrow.

You took off your cloak, tossing it into your basket of dirty clothes. You took off your jewelry, placing it down on your wardrobe. You stared at your opal ring longingly for a moment before taking it off and putting it on your nightstand. You just wanted to sleep.

 

★ ★ ★

 

You woke up to paws on your face. "C/N..." You sighed. Your cat was standing on your chest, meowing loudly. "Yes, ok I'll feed you!" You exclaimed, raising your finger up to their mouth in a hushing motion. You pulled your cat off you, setting them next to you. You sat up, hesitantly getting to your feet. You wandered to the kitchen, grabbing the food you were provided to feed them. The cat quickly jumped off the bed, strutting up to you and rubbing themself against your legs. You smiled, leaning down and giving them your food. They quickly gobbled it up, purring. You tried to block out all thoughts of Hermes. That didn't matter. You looked out the window, seeing that the sun had barely begun rising. "You're a gluttonous little beast, aren't you?" You teased affectionally, scratching your cat behind the ear.

You walked over to your wardrobe, picking out a nice forest moss green colored gown. You took your hair out of the ribbon that held it up. You quickly changed, not wanting to waste much time. Though you didn't really have anything planned for the day, like usual. You slipped on your sandals, and put your opal ring on your index finger. You sat on your small sofa, pulling out a book.

Thats when you heard a knock on your door.

You sighed, opening the door. Your eyes widening when you realized it was a stranger. She had blond hair with rainbow highlights, and golden eyes. On her back were giant white wings, and a messenger bag was slung across her shoulder. You had a guess on who it was.

"Iris?" You tried, desperately hoping you were correct.

"Oh, so you know me. I'm here to deliver an invitation to an event. Everyone's going. Something about Hades having information to share." She said, leaning against the door frame. She seemed mildly annoyed at having to be here. "Doesn't Hermes usually deliver to this hallway?" You asked hesitantly, hoping you wouldn't set her off. "Oh yes, but apparently this was 'a detour to his normal route' as if he hasn't done it a million times. But of course, Zeus's special little messenger boy gets whatever he wants while I am forced to cover for him!" Iris shouted, rolling her eyes and clenching her firsts.

You felt like you had been punched in the gut. Was Hermes avoiding you? "Sounds about right." You sighed, and she stuck her hands in her bag. "Anyways, here." She continued flatly, handing you a letter addressed with your name. "Thanks." You said, dipping your head.

Iris turned and left without another word. You sighed, closing the door. You opened the letter skeptically.

"Dear Y/N,

Please gather in the colosseum when the sun reaches its highest point. Hades has requested all of the gods and goddesses's presence. -Zeus"

You scanned the paper for any more information, but to your dismay that was all it said. You guessed you'd just have to wait to find out anything about what Hades had to share. You set the letter down on the coffee table, crouching down to pet your cat. "are you a sweetbabykittywho'sneverdoneanythingwrongintheirentirelifeexceptkillsmallanimals? Yeah?" You cooed. Still you tried to block out thoughts of Hermes. Even though his avoidance hurt.

You planted kisses all over your cat's head, receiving a swat to the face in return. "Hey!" You yelped, giving them a stern glance. Though you really couldn't stay mad for long. "I love you." You murmured, petting their head.

 

★ ★ ★

 

You sat down, the sun hot on your skin. You were sitting in the colosseum, waiting for the event to begin. You chose to be near the minor gods and nymphs, assuming thats where you were meant to sit. The main Olympians were sitting near the royal booth where Zeus and Hera were. You couldn't help but stare at Hermes, though he avoided your gaze.

You were so focused on him you had missed when Hades walked forwards into the arena.

"Attention, everyone!" He called out, voice low and rumbly. The chatter went silent, as everyone fixed their attention on him. He had a dark cloak draped over his pale skin, but he was too far away to make out any other details.

"I have important information to share." Hades announced, and you were practically on the edge of your seat in anticipation.

"Tartarus has been behaving oddly."

Loud gasps erupted from the crowd, and chatter had begun growing once again. He cleared his throat and waited for it to quiet again before continuing.

"The furies refuse to stay inside for too long. The trapped souls report occasional earthquakes and light emitting from the lowest pits."

Your eyes widened.

"I suspect something must be happening with the Titans. I will be going back and forth from the Underworld and Olympus to report any new information."

Hades retreated back out of the arena, leaving the crowd murmuring to themself.

"That is all. You all are dismissed." Zeus called, voice booming like a bell.

You sat still for a moment in shock. Were the Titans going to rise? You shuddered. You watched to see where Hermes was heading and quickly scuffled there to catch up. You needed to talk with him. You quickly pushed your way through all the people, trying to get to the doorway.

"Hermes!" You called out to no avail. He scurried away quickly, acting as if he didn't hear. You sighed. You retreated back to your chambers in defeat. You'd never catch up to the god of speed if he didn't want to talk to you. Surely he knew the two of you needed to have a discussion after last night? And yet now he was ghosting you.

You continued down the hall, mildly pissed off.

You growled under your breath, opening your door. It creaked loudly, and your cat greeted you happily. "Hey C/N." You smiled. While you were waiting for the sun to reach its highest point, you had begun working on a harness and leash for them. You were borrowing some needle and thread from Athena. You sat back down on your desk, continuing to work, threading the needle. You were sewing different fabrics together to make the shape thicker and stronger.

You were hyper focused on your task, continuing threading throughout the day. You were excited to be able to take your cat out with you. You didn't want to ever leave them alone too long if you didn't have to. C/N was sitting down on the edge of the desk, purring. You wondered if they ever got homesick like you did. Maybe they longed for the time things were less complicated as well. You shook your head. You weren't entirely sure if your cat was even smart enough for the latter of those.

You sighed, continuing your work.

Notes:

Author's Note: hi guys :3

new chapter mwahahaha

I love ruining moments

I kept being tempted for like Eros or something to show up and have him just straight up explain Hermes's emotions to Y/N or write a Hermes P.O.V where someone tells him to stop being a coward and talk to her but I figured it would be better if I prolonged it :)

also slowly leaking in the plot.

SCHOOL STARTED LAST WEEK BTW!! I THINK ITS ACTUALLY MAKING ME WRITE MORE THAN I WOULD IN SUMMER? YOU'D THINK IT'D BE THE OPPOSITE SINCE I HAD MORE FREE TIME THEN BUT GUESS NOT.

 

~Published 8/22/25~

Chapter 35: Chapter Thirty - Seamstress

You sighed, pushing your fabric scraps away. You had barely even finished cutting out the shapes you needed before you got tired of it. You knew it'd only take an hour at most, but you figured you had a lot of time. You turned away from thinking about the potential thousands of years that stretched before you, not wishing to dwell on your immortality. But you did none the less. Was it possible you would live to see modern times? But then.. if you are here when that happens, does that mean you wont be born? Or will it mean that there will be a second you? Or perhaps maybe you'll be reborn and get stuck in a time loop. Dear lord, were you just a time paradox waiting to happen? You groaned.

You stood up, pacing around the chambers like an animal in zoochosis. You found yourself restless, as you did often these days. You thought about the Titans, worried. You didn't exactly remember a myth like this taking place. Maybe that meant it wasn't really that important. Or.. could it possibly be a result of something you did? You shook your head desperately, not wanting to think of that possibility. But.. you couldn't deny that it made sense.

You sighed. Until there was proof or something to do that can fix it, there was no point following that train of thought. You stopped pacing for a moment, staring through the window. Wind rustled through the laurel trees, filling the air with soft rustling. You felt drawn to the outside. You threw your satchel over your shoulder, deciding leaving the palace may help.

Why does it always feel like you are trapped and free at the same time? Your chambers were both a cage and a safe haven. A prison and a sanctuary. You quickly disappeared into the hallway, needing to clear your mind. You quickly walked down the hallway, it was muscle memory at this point. You just wanted fresh air.

You stepped outside, breathing in the crisp air. You thought about the previous night, when you had met up with Hermes. You wished you could go back to that moment and do something to fix what would happen. But you didn't even really know what you had done wrong. It wasn't just that you hadn't seen him, it was that he was making sure you wouldn't see him. If he had a problem, he should say it to your face. Not leave you guessing.

You jumped over a log, still thinking. Seriously, he tells you he loves you and then leaves and refuses to speak? Everything felt too quick. You clenched your fists. Why was everything so difficult? You wanted to scream.

 

***

 

A ray of golden light shined down before you as the clouds parted. "Oh for heaven's sake.." You muttered under your breath. Apollo floated down from the sky dramatically, glowing in the sunlight. He looked almost ethereal, but you had no doubt that was his intention.

"Hello, my love." He smiled. You blinked slowly, unimpressed. "Hi Apollo." You said flatly. He raised an eyebrow, but didn't seem surprised. "Do you need something?" You asked, pretending to sound uninterested. "Only your presence.~" He remarked, smirking.

You sighed. You kind of walked right into that one. "Of course. How else would you spend your time?" You grumbled, voice dripping with dread. Though, your disdain was partly performative. Apollo's company was better than nothing most of the time. "No time better spent than time spent with you, my darling."

Is there any way he could be cheesier? You sighed. "Anything specific, or are you just here to taunt me?" You asked, staring at him blankly. "Well now that you ask.." He started, and you felt mildly surprised that he actually had something to say.

"There is going to be a feast in two days, something about Zeus honoring Hades's visit. And I think there is no one better suited to be my plus one than you." He continued, a smile on his face. You felt heat slowly creep up your neck and across your face in a light blush. You actually felt a bit flattered. But you weren't sure what to say.

"Err- isn't this just going to be Olympians?" You asked nervously. You didn't want to stick out in an event not meant for you. "Only Olympians are invited, yes, but we are allowed to bring a companion. And you are going to be mine." He insisted, without a trace of doubt in his voice. You hesitated. Did you even want to go? You knew your presence might stir up trouble. But reluctantly, you decided that you might as well.

"Alright. I'll go with you."

For a moment, the thought of Hermes flashed through your head, swift as the god himself. Would he be there? You knew how awkward that would be, but at the same time you knew you wanted to go with Apollo. You'd just have to deal with it.

"I knew you'd come around." He smirked, sounding triumphant. "Come, let's go plan our outfits. We are have to be the most fabulous people at the party!" He exclaimed, grinning feverishly. He grabbed your hand and excitedly led you back to Olympus. You laughed at his enthusiasm. He smiled brightly, and he seemed genuinely really happy. You followed him quietly as he led you down the hall.

"This is going to be great! We are going to be unstoppable! You are going to look gorgeous, sunbeam! Not that you weren't already of course..." You let Apollo's blabbering fade into the background, letting it melt into comfortable backdrop noise. He stopped at his own chambers, opening the door. The sunlight shined through the wide windows. You felt a twist of discomfort in your stomach. The last time you were in here was after.. the incident. And before that the last time you were here he had tried to force his lips upon your own.

You hadn't really ever had a pleasant experience in this room.

But maybe that could change.

You walked inside as Apollo threw open his wardrobe with a dramatic flair. "I've been working on something." He declared suddenly. "Oh?" You asked, interest piqued.

He pulled out a folded ivory toga, holding it gently in his arms. "I started making a dress for you! I wanted you to make sure you had the perfect thing to wear." He exclaimed, puffing out his chest in pride. "Have you ever... made a dress before?" You asked hesitantly, rather amused.

"Well.. no. But I am the god of art! If anyone can make a dress masterfully, it's me."

You skeptically raised a brow as he unfolded it, presenting what he had created.

"Its.. not done. I need you to model it for me." He admitted, handing it to you. You nodded. The dress was very.. rough looking. But it was fixable.

"I will look away if you wish." He added, almost seeming embarrassed, which was certainly a rare sight. You wondered why you couldn't just change in his bathing chambers when you realized he didn't have one. Your brow furrowed in confusion. Surely he bathed? He didn't smell bad.

"Please do." You awkwardly muttered. He backed into the wall and turned around, and you breathed a sigh of relief. You quickly removed your own dress, and pulled Apollo's over your head. "Done!" You called out, and he turned back at you. His work was.. uncomfortable, to say the least. Both mentally and physically. It was very revealing, and from the look on his face you could tell that wasn't the intent. A lot of areas were held together only by pins, and hadn't been sewn yet. The waist What was done well so far however, was the embroidery. Sun patterns were stitched into it with beautiful golden thread, clearly done by a masterful hand.

He pulled out a pin cushion after a moment of staring, moving quickly and decisively. "If you want I could help with the stitching." You offered, spreading your arms out so he could reach all of the fabric better. "I assure you, I shall not need it." He remarked, unpinning the back.

"If you say so, master seamstress." You quipped sarcastically. You held back a shiver of discomfort at your now bare back as he trimmed the fabric. He quickly pinned it back up, but this time it was a much better fit.

He paused for a moment, letting his needle sharp gaze sweep over you. "You're as beautiful as the sunrise, my love." He muttered, voice soft. You stiffened, trying your hardest not to move as you turned red as red as a rose. He continued taking measurements casually, as if he hadn't said anything, but you swore there was a smug glint in his eyes.

He marked something with chalk and turned to write some notes on a scroll lying on a desk. You had to admit, he wasn't half bad at this now that he had a model. You stole a glance at the scroll and saw a detailed sketch of the toga, and some notes and measurements. You were surprised at the level of intricacy and detail in it. He was a really talented artist.

"Hm. Could you flip it inside out for me? I'll look away." He asked, and you nodded. He was probably going to begin stitching. You hoped it wouldn't take him too long. You had become used to using a sewing machine whenever you needed to finish something quick, especially if you were having someone model for you. While you found hand stitching more calming, it was much slower. You took it off and flipped it when he turned around, quickly slipping it back on.

He grabbed his needle and golden thread, stitching quickly and carelessly. You snorted when you realized he hadn't even tied the thread and it wasn't staying put. Not to mention how messy he was. "Apollo, wait." You cautioned. He paused. He stiffened when he saw what his mistake. You giggled, voice floating lightly in the air. "Are you sure you don't need help?" You asked again, gentle.

He sighed. "Fine. What do I need to do?"

"First, pull the needle back out.." You explained how to properly sew, keeping your calm despite how silly it seemed that he needed help after how confident he behaved. He listened, diligently following your instructions as the two of you quietly chatted.

 

***

 

"I think it's done." Apollo finally said, and you exhaled a sigh of relief. Your body ached from standing still for so long. You were sure it had been hours. You were wearing it on the right side out now, and he had just finished the final touches. "Can I sit down now?" You asked, your legs feeling like noodles.

"..For a moment, I suppose. But you'll need to stand up again soon." He sighed. For a moment, it almost seemed like he was going to say no, but when he caught your eye his gaze softened. He went back to his wardrobe, looking through his clothing. You sat down at the side of his bed, looking down at your new dress. It was beautiful. It was light and breezy, with a sheer shawl draped over it. You zoned out, staring at it.

Suddenly, Apollo turned towards you, holding a toga matching yours. He must have modeled yours off it. "You can take it off now, if you'd like. We just need to figure out accessories." He commented, laying his down on the bed. You nodded.

"Are you going to turn around or..." You asked, brow furrowed in confusion. "Oh! Sorry, I must have forgotten." He smirked, turning. Somehow you doubted his statement. With a huff of annoyance, you stood up, carefully lifting the dress off. You pulled your green dress you had been wearing previously over your body, and sat back down, laying the new one down behind you.

"You're good now." You called, and Apollo looked back towards you. You looked through the windows, realizing with a start that the sun had begun setting. You tried to ignore the previous events of the day for now, trying just to focus on the moment.

"I'm assuming you still have the sun jewelry I've gifted you?" Apollo suddenly asked, grabbing your attention, his tone a bit darker than before. "Uhm, yeah of course. Why wouldn't I?" You told him hesitantly. Your mind flashed back to the Topaz necklace he had given you. You shivered at the thought of it. You wouldn't be surprised if he knew you were no longer in possession of it. He relaxed. "Good. We can both wear our matching sets. Do you think you would be willing to wear a laurel crown?" He questioned. You nodded. He grabbed one from a shelf and gently placed it in your lap.

"I can already tell you're going to look radiant, sunshine." He murmured softly into your ear, breath warm against your face. You shifted uncomfortably, flustered. He sat down besides you, resting his hand on yours. You moved yours away hesitantly. "Should I.. go now?" You asked. It seemed everything had been sorted out.

"Wont you stay a bit longer?" He offered, giving you an earnest glance. You sighed, giving him a smile.

"Alright." You yawned, stretching. Apollo laid back, looking up at the ceiling. The two of you sat in silence for a bit. Not demanding anything. Just enjoying each other's presence.

It was peaceful.

Notes:

Author's Note: SORRY ITS BEEN A WHILE!!! SO FUNNY SILLY THING UHMMM I ACTUALLY ALREADY DRAFTED THIS ENTIRE CHAPTER WEEKS AGO BUT I SCRAPPED IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE THE PACING. I MIGHT STILL USE IT AS THE NEXT CHAPTER AS A SKELETON BUT DO SOME EDITING. soooooo yeah lol.

 

I LOOOVE YALL :3

 

~Published 9/21/25~

Chapter 36

gay. You blinked warily, tired. Apollo was messing with your hair, and you let out a small chuckle. You looked into his golden eyes, gods he was pretty. You felt comfortable with him for once. You inched a bit closer, readjusting a strap on his shoulder. He grabbed your wrist gently as you tried to pull away, and grabbed your other arm as well. He rested them over his shoulders, pulling you in closer. "My sun.." He murmured softly, voice barely audible. His arms were warm and inviting, and you were practically melting at his touch. You weren't sure if you'd ever get up. His skin was soft, soft as a flower petal.

"Apollo..." You whispered, trailing off. He smiled gently, a serene look on his face. "Yes my love?" He asked, tilting his head.

"I can't stay here long." You muttered, looking away sheepishly. He tucked the strands of hair covering your face behind your ear, making you look back up. "Don't think about that yet, dear. Just stay here with me." He sighed, sounding a bit disappointed.

"Of course." You breathed. You felt as if you were in bliss. You knew you'd have to go back to your chambers eventually. But for now.. you could just enjoy the moment.

You pushed thoughts of Hermes even farther back into your head. There was no need to linger or feel.. guilty right now.

You closed your eyes, tucking your head down against his chest.

You could stay there forever.

--------

Your eyes slowly blinked open as you yawned. A jolt of surprise ran through you when you saw where you were. These weren't your chambers. Had you fallen asleep? What time was it? You looked out the windows, and was surprised to see that it was pitch black out. You looked up and saw Apollo sleeping soundly. You needed to go back to your chambers. But he looked so comfortable. You didn't want to disturb him.

You lifted your arms from him carefully, trying to untangle yourself without waking him. It was futile, however.

"Y/N?" He whispered, eyes slowly opening.

"I have to go." You sighed, trying to sit up. He looked kind of.. sad. A blossom of pity bloomed in your mind, but you sat up none the less.

"Why?" He asked, voice scuffed from weariness. He was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, yawning.

You paused. You realized that you didn't actually know why you needed to leave, only that you did. An action without a motivation. But did you really need to? Maybe you could just stay.

"I- don't know." You finally uttered, stumbling over your words.

"Mmmm." He mumbled, blinking slowly. He suddenly grabbed you by the waist, pulling you back down. "Stay." He declared. You sighed, now laying down again. What would you do in the morning? But it wasn't like you wanted to say no.

He hummed softly under his breath, a loose melody drifting through the air. You gave up, nestling yourself into his arms. He drew in a long breath, draping a blanket over you, and smiling.

You let yourself be lulled to sleep by his humming, slowly drifting back to unconsciousness.

 

***

 

You woke up to sunlight filtering through the windows, birds chirping brightly. Apollo was gone.

Your brows furrowed in confusion, until you realized it was his turn with the sun chariot today. You sighed, turning over and getting up. You lingered for a moment, hesitating. The room was a bit chilly, from the wind that always seemed to run through it.

You slunk out through the door, hoping you wouldn't be seen by anyone. You stuck to the walls like a shadow.

You brushed pasted the tapestries silently, trying to un-poof your hair. You were sure you were in an unkempt state.

You quickly opened your door, slipping inside.

You were greeted by your cat, purring happily. You crouched down, petting their soft fur with a smile on your face. You were reminded your unfinished project meant for them, the cat harness you barely worked on. You sighed, deciding you'd finish it today after you've washed.

 

***

 

You had finished the cat harness.

"Oh C/N!~" You called out in a sing song voice, brandishing the harness like a weapon. Your cat looked resigned, as if they had already given up. You picked them up from the arms, trying to put them through the holes. Your cat squirmed in your arms, clearly not as used to the harness as they were last time you used one on them. They were harness trained, believe it or not. You just didn't always have time to take them outside in the last month or so before the incident. You finally managed to quickly slide it on, putting the cat back down immediately. "Yes!" You rejoiced, relishing in your minor victory. You decided to wait before taking your cat outside, giving them time to get used to it again.

But the cat seemed eager, meowing at the door. Their voice was pitiful and high pitched, crafted perfectly to catch your attention. You supposed it was because of how little they got to explore. Hell, they've barely left the room. You sighed, attaching the leash. "C'mon, scoundrel." You smiled, opening up the door. The cat practically darted out, and you scrambled forward as to not let go of the leash. You closed the door quickly. Your cat paused, sniffing. They changed course, almost as if they were tracking something. You wondered if there were mice in the castle with how determined your cat seemed.

It was almost peaceful having your cat lead you. You were only dimly paying attention to where your cat was leading you. You figured you'd probably be able to find your way back just fine. You Hummed softly to yourself as you walked furry feline beast.

You stared at the tapestries that decorated the walls as you passed. Some of them seemed to tell stories. You recognized a few myths being told on them. Athena and Arachne, Zeus and Hera's marriage, Apollo and Hyacinthus, and many of other tales were portrayed as well. You had never really stopped to admire them before, you realized. Not that you had much time to now, with the pace your feline companion was moving. They were clearly on a mission. You let out a huff of amusement. Your cat had reached a courtyard, and confidently strode in. Your heart twisted as you realized it was the same one from the night before the last, when you were with Hermes.

Your cat sniffed the grass cautiously. They leaped into the flowers, and you heard a small squeak. Had your cat caught something? You sighed as they emerged with a mouse hanging from their jaws. It squirmed, eyes alit with terror. "If you are going to kill wildlife, do the poor thing a favor and don't drag it out please." You grumbled. Your cat blinked innocently at you before dropping it. You knew your statement was no use. Your cat was just a little freak who liked to torment small creatures. As all cats were.

You dropped the leash, trusting C/N to stay put. You sat down in the grass, watching as your cat batted the mouse with their sharpened claws. Blood spilled, glistening in the bright sunlight as it pooled from the hapless rodent. You crouched in the flowers, choosing to look away from the murder scene. You brushed your hand against the soft petals, cupping a lily flower in your hand. You stared at it, ignoring the squeaks of anguish. "C/N, why are you like this.." You muttered under your breath. The cat trotted up to you, the recently deceased mouse in their merciless jaws. "I'm not eating that." You warned gently. They dropped it, the rodent hitting the ground with a sickening thud. They watched you expectantly. "No." You firmly restated. They nudged it towards you with their paw and you shook your head.

You sighed, quickly picking a flower and dangling it above their head. They stopped what they were doing and batted it with their paws. You used it to lure the cat away from their catch, bringing them towards a bench.

You continued to play with your kitty cat, letting your worries melt away.

***

Your cat perked up.

They were curled up on your lap, purring. But something must have caught their attention. They leaped off you, running away. "Hey!" You called out, hurriedly trying to grab the leash, but failing. You chased after them as they ran into the corridor, following just out of reach. "C/N!" You yelled, wishing you could run faster.

They turned around a corner, out of sight. You hounded after them furiously, trying to reach for the leash. Why had you trusted them?

You turned the corner, but stopped at what you saw.

"Who's a good kitty?~" Hermes cooed as he crouched down, letting your cat press themselves against his hand. You could hear the purring from where you stood. "Hermes?" You echoed.

"Y/N?" He answered, tilting his head. Citrine earrings dangled from his ears, and you let out a soft gasp realizing they were the ones you had given him only a couple of days ago.

"I..." You trailed off, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry- I'll go." Hermes mumbled, standing up. "No!" You objected. Your cat meowed loudly, as if objecting to his course of action as well. You were amused by that, but tried to keep a serious tone. "We need to talk." You said, trying to stop your voice from shaking.

"Of course." He agreed, voice calm despite the anxiety in his eyes.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" You asked, a tinge of longing in your voice.

"I thought you wouldn't want to see me." He confessed.

You stood shocked for a moment.

"Why would I not wanna see you?" You asked after a period of hesitation. Waves of confusion crashed back in forth in your head, like a tide.

"I don't- know. I just thought I was moving too fast and-" Words rushed out of his mouth, before he caught himself, clenching his jaw shut.

You didn't know what to say.

So you didn't say anything, and instead you embraced him in a hug. His eyes widened in surprise, and his cheeks glowed red with blush.

"Its fine, Hermes." You assured him, voice quaint and frail.

"I.. love you too."

Notes:

Author's Note: hehehehe

guys this totally wasn't just and edited version of an old draft hahahahaha (specifically the second part)

LOOK I HAD TO USE IT SOMEWHERE IT WAS LONG ENOUGH TO BE PUBLISHED ON ITS OWN, TECHNICALLY I DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO WRITE A 600 WORD PRELUDE TO IT

I might start doing updates every weekend :3

mwahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahaha

::::::::::::::)

eeeyeees

 

~Published 9/27/25~

Chapter 37: BONUS CHAPTER V: DAWN.

~APOLLO'S POV~

Everything was perfect this way. You, in his arms, sleeping soundly. You had stayed after all. He smiled, eyes soft. He wanted it to always be like this. A serene moment of peace. No struggles, no arguments, just bliss.

He wished he didn't have duties to preform. That he could stay with you forever. But soon, dawn would appear to awaken the day, and the sun would have to follow. He would shine his radiant beams upon you, but wouldn't be the same warmth you would feel from his touch.

He ran his fingers across your hair, looking down at you fondly. He tightened his grip. He would make sure you were always safe. His thoughts flashed back to that day in the forest, when he had found you bloody and battered against a tree. His breath quickened, he never wanted to see you like that ever again. He would make sure you would never be harmed like that again. Never again.

He sighed, trying to calm himself down. You were safe right now, and thats what mattered. He had to savor this time before he had to get up. He breathed in your lavender scent, letting his heart rate slow down. He released the tension in his body, relaxing.

He glanced out the window. The sky was beginning to fade into a pale purple. He was going to be late if he didn't get up soon. He looked back down. You looked so comfortable. He didn't want to disturb you, but how could he get up? He slowly removed his arms from you, peeling off the blanket. He grabbed his lyre, playing a soft lullaby as he stood up, hoping it would keep you asleep. You stirred, shifting your position to take up more space. He felt a twist of guilt in his stomach, but he knew he had to ignore it.

He pulled the blanket back over you, sighing. Your eyes slowly drifted open, startling him.

"...Apollo?"

He softened at the sound of your voice. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "Go back to sleep, my sunbeam." He whispered, breath warm against your face.

"Mmmm.." You murmured, seeming hesitant. But he knew you were too tired to protest. He doubted you'd even remember this.

"I love you." He gently breathed, but you were already out like a flame. He paused, eyes sweeping over your resting form. You were as beautiful asleep as you were awake. You were serene, peaceful.

He already missed you, despite still being there.

Surely, he had really found someone this time. He knew how foolish he was to think he could love anyone without losing them. He already almost lost you. Shaking his head, he sighed. No need to dwell on the past again.

He stepped away towards his wardrobe, picking out something to wear. He had slept in his normal clothing, never changing into his sleeping garments.

He'd head to the bathing quarters and change there after washing. He didn't mind doing so in here, but he knew if you woke up or found out you'd freak out and yell at him. Though he found your flustered face quite amusing, sometimes you could get a bit annoying or violent. It'd be better to avoid conflict for now.

He gave you longing look as he stepped out the door. He hoped he could see you again soon. "Goodbye, Y/N." He breathed, barely a whisper on his lips.

 

Author's Note: so you may be wondering where the rest is. I apologize. Writer's block has me gripped in its slimy little claws, and I found myself unable to write the Hermes section because I didn't know what I wanted to do with it. After a while just writing stuff from another perspective does get a little old and sometimes I think its better not to see into another character's head in some scenes.

here is my offering as consolation

~AUTHOR'S POV~

A/N: so uhm this is where I remembered I have free will happy halloween and I am sorry

I sighed, closing my laptop. Unfortunately, I didn't have anything down for the chapter I planned to release this weekend due to not having much time to write. I had a big band performance, and was hanging out with my grandmother. Writer's block had me clutched in it's cruel talons, claws digging into your brain.

I tucked my computer under my arm, walking outside to the garage. There was one thing I could do. I opened the door, heading straight for the staircase to the attic. I carried some candies in my hand as tribute.

I swung the doors open, the creaking sound piercing the air. I heard a low agonized groan. "Carl?" I called out, searching. Had it escaped?

A loud scratching sound answered you, like nails against a blackboard. Ah, it was still here. I approached the corner, seeing the shriveled up shape of Carl balled up against the wall. It turned towards me, eyes hollow and blacked out. It was frail and shaking, jaw unhinged.

"I brought you some candy~" I sang, grabbing the zots from my pocket. It tilted its head, tentatively crawling closer. I opened my laptop, turning it towards Carl. It slowly reached towards me, hesitant. It quickly grabbed the candy before pulling back and beginning to type.

I smiled, watching. Carl worked very efficiently.

It eventually pushed it away, backing into its corner. It was shaking in fear, slowly unwrapping its zots and popping them into its mouth.

I flashed it a toothy grin, snatching my computer back and reading its work. It let out a small squeak in fear. My eyes scanned over its work. Perfect.

This was way better than using chat gpt like an uncreative loser (or my mom). At least Carl had passion and creativity.

Notes:

Author's Note: ok thar ye go

I figured I had to put this somewhere I was going to scrap it cuz I didn't like it but y'know might as well put something there to make it a longer chapter.

 

~Published 10/09/25~

Chapter 38: Chapter Thirty-Two - Mercury

"...You do?" He uttered, eyes lit up.

"But... what about Apollo?" He tentatively asked after a moment of silence. You paused, words catching in your throat. His words felt like they were piercing a bubble on your head, releasing a flurry of emotions.

"I- don't know! Everything's just so confusing!" You exclaimed, distressed.

"I mean. you're kind and funny and pretty but Apollo is just so- I don't even know how to describe it! I don't know what to do! I've never felt this way before, I feel like I'm being torn in half and my mind is just in such a tizzy and-" You cut yourself off, covering your mouth. Where had all that come from? "Gods, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to share that much-"

"No! It's ok. I get it. I- I won't make you choose." He interjected, voice strained. You felt a twinge of guilt. You didn't want to keep playing with his feelings like this, and yet he was just prepared to.. let you.

"I don't want to keep you waiting like this, Hermes..." You trailed off, not knowing what to say.

"Well then what are you going to do?! It's not like we have a choice!" He snapped back unexpectedly, his eyes looking as if they were filled with longing. "Perhaps if I weren't so selfish I'd have left you alone from the beginning and you'd just be happy with Apollo." He added, sighing. Your eyes widened at the statement.

"You're not selfish! You've been so kind!" You protested. Surely he didn't actually believe what he said, right? You thought back to your first few positive memories in Olympus, realizing he was in all of them. "I don't know what I would've done without you." You said as earnestly as possible, shaking your head.

"Do you know what you'd do without Apollo?" He asked dubiously.

"I'd be home." You insisted, why couldn't he seem to grasp anything you were saying?

He was silent for a moment. "Touché."

"You are way too insecure for your own good." You sighed, affection creeping into your voice like vines as a ghost of a smile flickered onto your face. The confident facade was fully away, thrown out like an old mask after a party.

"Thanks, darling." He smirked, the smile back on his face.

"Thats not a good thing."

"I strive to be humble!"

"Jesus christ...." You mutter, rubbing your temples.

"What's that?" He asked, full of earnest confusion.

"Nothing, it's just a thing from my time someone might say if they are frustrated." You explained, deciding he wouldn't like learning that the gods are no longer worshipped. "Though I don't know if I could ever truly be frustrated with you these days." You weren't sure if you meant it, but you think he needed the praise. And a distraction.

"You flatter me."

"Good."

"Should we go somewhere more uhh- picturesque? At least more picturesque than this random hallway?" He asked, getting a good laugh out of you, who scooped your beloved feline up.

"Gladly." You smiled.

 

***

 

The two of you had wandered across Olympus with your cat, idly chatting. Eventually you sat down near a fresh water brook. The cat jumped up, settling on Hermes's lap. "Traitor." You grumble, narrowing your eyes.

"You're just jealous they like me more than you right now." He teased, giving the cat a pet on the head. They emitted a low rumbling purr, absolutely melting your heart.

"Not true! They just missed you!" You protested, crossing your arms.

"Awww, they did?"

You hesitated. "Maybe." You admitted modestly. Some nights the cat would refuse to sleep on the bed and would instead curl up only places where the messenger god had been. You weren't sure if the pattern of where they would sleep had something to do with scent or if it was just coincidence.

"I missed them too. And you, of course." He sighed, smiling.

"Its only been like, two days since we were last together, calm down." You rolled your eyes.

"Don't act like you weren't absolutely going after me in those two days."

You were quiet for a moment. "Oh shush." You muttered, knowing he was right. He let out a huff of amusement. "Alright, fine I guess I missed you." You sighed. You were glad he was at least feeling like himself now.

"Figured. You think I'm irresistible, after all~." He winked, a grin on his face.

You sighed. He wasn't wrong.

"Whatever, frog face."

"Oh wow, not even denying it?" He chuckled, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

"I'll admit it's true." You sighed, edge of your lips slowly curling up in a smile.

He went silent for a moment. "Didn't quite take you for the swooning type." He observed, bantering.

"Eh, 'swooning' is not the kind of word I'd use, but you do you bud." You muttered, rolling your eyes. He smirked.

"Weren't you just singing my praises a moment ago?"

"You clearly needed it!" You protested. From how vulnerable he was in that moment, he certainly had some nerve to use it against you.

"Still~" He sung, the wings on his head fluttering.

"I stand by what I said, pigeon boy." You declared, tussling his hair.

"Hey!" He protested loudly, a big goofy grin on his face. He frizzed up your hair back, making you laugh. You leaned in close, breath warm against his face as you gave him a quick flick on the nose. "Ow! Jerk!"

"Hah! Got you!" You shot back, a devilish smile on your face.

"You're lucky I wouldn't dare lay a finger on you, darling." He sighed dramatically.

"Sorry. Forgot you're a wuss." You sighed.

"Exactly- Wait-" He was cut off.

"There you are."

Your head whipped around to see who had spoke.

"...Hi Uncle P." Hermes breathed, an awkward smile dawning on his face.

It was him.

You backed away, trembling. Memories you had buried deep down thrusted forward, rearing their ugly heads. The memory of the pain he had inflicted on you was so bright you could almost feel it. Your breath had quickened, your head pounding.

What surprised you most was your anger.

"Do you know what I discovered today?" He snarled, leaning closer to Hermes, face only inches away from him.

The messenger god seemed mildly disgusted, but otherwise unfazed. "Feel free to enlighten me." He shrugged.

"My temple. Desecrated. Care to explain?"

"I don't know. Maybe the mortals decided to take their chances with another god with how much you've been neglecting them lately." He sniped, smug.

"Bull shit. I know damn well you were involved. This was about the little siren, wasn't it?" The sea god grabbed him by the shirt collar, practically spitting in his face as he beckoned to you.

"Agh! Look- look, bloody revenge isn't really my thing, ok? All I did was egg your chariot, promise." He protested through clenched teeth, voice strained.

"Of course that was you. Those were enchanted eggs you used, dipshit."

"Yeah I know. I should've done far worse, but it seems someone else had me covered." He hissed, thrashing his legs.

"Tell me who did it, or I'll have my sharks rip you apart limb by limb."

"Ohhh I'm so scared~ If only I was a god and had the power to stop them." He remarked dryly.

He unsheathed his trident.

"Ok! Ok! It was Apollo, alright? Don't go waving that thing at me for something my brother did a week ago!"

Poseidon threw him against a tree, turning away.

(A/N: I wrote this only for the purpose of the chariot egging because I thought that would be silly.)

He disappeared as suddenly as he arrived, but your nerves remained high. What had even just happened? You felt as if you were in a fever dream, or sleep paralysis.

You shook your head, forcing yourself to move.

"Holy hell, are you alright?" You asked, kneeling down besides Hermes's slumped figure.

Golden ichor dripped from his mouth, dazzling in the sunlight.

He slowly sat up, wincing. "I'm- fine. Just sore- Ow!" The last bit came out as a sharp yelp, and he stumbled back.

He begun trying to stand up again, but you stopped him. "Quit moving, you'll make it worse!"

You paced back and forth hopelessly, muttering curses in panic under your breath.

"Relax. I'm fine, really." He choked out, ignoring your warning and sitting up, successfully this time. Your head was spinning with questions and panic.

"You're bleeding!"

"I am? Huh." He exclaimed in mild surprise, wiping the ichor off his mouth.

You sighed. "Cmon, I'm sure there's gotta be some sort of clinic around here-"

"I'll be fine, I just need some rest." He interjected, though he let you boost him up.

"Are you sure?"

"Snakes and stars, quit- worrying. I heal quickly. I think it's just a broken rib or two." He assured you in between winces. You let him lean against your shoulder, and were surprised at how light he was. You looked closer at him, realizing that his smaller cuts were already sealing up. "Besides, I'm like fifty-five percent sure Artemis gave your cat healing powers." He added, looking down at the little beast who was walking besides you.

"Whatever. Let's just go inside." You muttered, allowing your breath to slow. His skin was warm against yours, almost reminding you of the heated blankets from your own time. His breath was heavy with exhaustion, but he was otherwise silent. His presence against yours was comforting. Not just a physical anchor but a mental one too, steadying you and dissolving your panic, leaving a puddly of contentment.

Gods, you were a mess.

Notes:

Author's Note:

~Published 11/12/25~

ACK sorry its been quite a while! For about two or three weeks this thing was just at one word because procrastination yayyyy. also for some reason I'll only hyperfixate on one of my fanfics at a time and for a while I was on my other one, Feathers, causing me to put out like three feathers chapters in between this and the last divinity chapter instead of just rotating between fanfics every chapter like im supposed to. Honestly tho that schedule has pretty much fallen apart at this point I just write whatever the hell I want

so uhm yes the cat was going to do something cool but it didn't end up fitting in the scene so yeah

y/n is kind of just trauma blocking at this point and will process the events taking place in this chapter later