Disclaimer: Nope, just a fanfiction writer. I would be a man, if I owned it, wouldn't I? So nope. 5/19
Story: Two people grieve over the loss of Luke, and in the end consequences wait. Hermes sleeps with Percy, misses his son, wants Percy to be with him, hates everyone around him and overall feels like a jerk. Percy is all over the place and just wants things to be normal.
Set AU elements for "The Lightning Thief" and onwards, set at the end of "The Last Olympian".
Spoilers: Yesssssss……
Warnings: Cursing and violence for now…hm, just in case since I'm usually writing it, bit of crazy humor, perverted humor, morbid or sarcastic humor, and maybe some sexual situations…bits of chanslash (aka shota) (minor/underage activity)…oh, just read at your own risk…
Pairings: Past Luke/Percy, Hermes/Percy
WARNING FOR GRAPHIC MALE/MALE SEX IN THE BEGINNING AND IN LATER CHAPTERS :P
Scattered Memories on the Floor
Chapter Three: In an Ordinary World
He didn't want to admit it, but he kind of missed having Hermes around. Not that he was around a lot back then, but remembering though made Percy miss the god's presence. Again, not that he would admit that.
He was too afraid of calling Hermes or even texting the god back, because Hermes was at least texting him everyday.
Percy wouldn't admit that he'd begun to look forward to those texts either.
A month of school had passed, and things were alright. He was struggling as usual, but Paul was actually really helpful and had taken to tutoring and helping him out after school, even though the man was bogged down with schoolwork himself. He hadn't even known that Paul had been trained to help ADHD and dyslexic kids…he would've been a blast with the others at camp…
Then, one day, Hermes had missed texting him. He shouldn't be freaked out about it and it really shouldn't be a big deal (Hermes was a god and a busy one at that, especially as the Messenger of the Gods –it was surprising enough that Hermes had managed to text him everyday so far), but that didn't make Percy feel better about it. He hadn't noticed it, but he'd begun to crave those texts.
So he finally text Hermes back.
Hey, missed a text from you today.
He flushed red and thought that sounded stupid and too familiar, but he sent it anyway. He flopped his head against his pillow, annoyed with himself. Then his phone vibrated and he saw he had a reply.
So you have been getting my texts.
Percy's red face darkened even more, this time in embarrassment.
…Yeah. I didn't…I wasn't…comfortable…texting back.
Hermes' reply was even quicker.
Sorry I didn't text earlier. Rush packaging today. Invitations being sent everywhere. Apollo's holding a party.
Percy blinked and a part of him was relieved that Hermes had been too busy, instead of being fed up with Percy. He couldn't understand his feelings at that moment, but he did know that was how he was feeling –for whatever odd reason. Again, he wasn't going to tell Hermes he'd been worried about why the god hadn't text him, or that one of the reasons why was because Percy didn't want Hermes to be tired of him. But he was glad that Hermes didn't address Percy's reason for being silent.
His phone vibrated again and he looked down at it.
Anyways, how have you been?
Fine, he text back. Back to school and hoping to do well enough to make up for the past years. I was hoping to get into NYU.
Ambitious. How's that working out for you?
Okay. Paul is helping me.
There was a long pause from Hermes, making Percy worry again. Then Hermes finally text back.
Paul?
Percy blinked in confusion.
Yeah. My soon to be step dad? He helped me get into this high school and he's been helping me keep up.
Oh. That's great. It's kind of him. What classes are you taking?
Percy blanched, thinking back to his classes.
American Government, English, PE, Pre-Cal, Home Ec, and Economy. I got on the swim team too.
He was much more happy about the last part.
Good. Enjoying it, Son of Poseidon?
Percy pouted.
Is it really that unfair of an advantage?
No, I was just teasing. You were born with an affinity for water. You can't help it.
Thanks. At least I'm not going for the Olympics.
You should. I patron athletes and I'd completely root for you.
Percy unconsciously smiled happily at that, glancing at the clock before doing a double take. He sighed.
Hey, I have to go to sleep. Got school tomorrow and I'm not supposed to stay up or else I'll end up sleeping in.
There was another pause from Hermes, but much shorter than the other time.
Alright. Sweet dreams, Percy.
Percy frowned to himself, unhappily getting ready for bed. But he was actually tired, so he had no problem going to sleep quickly.
The next day, Percy speedily got ready, having got up just a tad later than he should have, and then he was driving off in his new car. Government and English passed by quickly, thank goodness, and then it was Brunch. He bought a sandwich to snack on, from off campus nearby the school, then he got back just in time for the first bell to ring. He went to go change, miserably spent the hour dodging dodge balls (thank Zeus there weren't any giant cannibals this time), and then went through an hour mind numbingly torturing himself with formulas in Pre-Cal. After Lunch, Home Ec was alright; he liked the class but he was horrible at a lot of stuff. At least he'd managed to get a passing grade on each of the stuff.
Then it was Economy, but strangely the teacher was absent. He sat in the back, waiting for the teacher to come and silence the loud class angrily, but Mr. Gowan never appeared. Instead, the principal did.
"Settle down, everyone!" when everyone slowly did, the principal continued. "I'm sad to say Mr. Gowan won't be continuing with us for the rest of the school year. However, we've already found a replacement. Please welcome Mr. Luke Castellan warmly!"
Percy perked up considerably and his heart nearly stopped as he craned his neck to look at the door. He was expecting to see a sly grin on a scarred face, blond hair disheveled and framing mischievous blue eyes.
Most of that was right, only the hair was black and slightly curly, and the face was as smooth as a baby.
Instead of Luke, Hermes stood in the doorway, in a dark green dress shirt, black slacks and shoes, and his dress jacket slung over his shoulder as he held onto it with just two fingers.
While the females in the class swooned and the males glowered, Percy's emotions were split between disappointment and excitement.
Still, he found himself wishing the class would just be over with so he could talk to the messenger god already. But as the time went by, his excitement faded away while the disappointment lingered in the background, and instead anger and confusion replaced them.
The bell rang, but instead of wanting to talk to Hermes like he originally wanted to, he stuffed his things into his bag and angrily tried to stomp out.
"Mr. Jackson, you left your book behind," the god said softly.
Percy stiffened up from the doorway, turning to see that he left his Economics textbook on his desk. He could've sworn he'd put that into his bag…Looking up, he saw Hermes' blank face and he gritted his teeth. Stupid god.
He pushed back through the thinning crowd, getting his book, and hearing in the new quiet the click of the door being shut. Then it was locked and Percy turned around to face Hermes, who stood by the door, hands still poised against it and on the doorknob.
"What's wrong? Thought you'd be happy to see me," Hermes questioned quietly, not his normal cheerful self since he had recognized Percy's angry disposition, though he had a feeling beforehand that he was either going to make Percy upset or happy by being there.
"Isn't it obvious?" Percy frowned at him, narrowing his eyes.
Hermes strode over as Percy backed away, backing him into the wall. Once Percy's back had hit the wall, Hermes closed in and placed his hands on either side of Percy's head, leaning in close and his breath ghosting against Percy's lips.
"No, it's not," the god murmured.
Percy averted his face, feeling it heat up.
"You can't just come in here like this. Why do you keep coming after me? Just leave me alone. Go away. I thought I made that clear before. You just…you just can't come in here, steal your son's name, and keep bothering me like this!" Percy cringed when he realized there were tears in his eyes.
"Can't I?" Hermes tilted his head back to face the god's, whose eyes were smoldering with a mix of emotion that Percy didn't want to untangle and decipher. "You want Luke. So I'll give you Luke. In. Every. Way. Possible," Hermes punctuated each of his last words with a lingering kiss to the boy's neck.
Percy was so distracted by it, he hadn't noticed Hermes' flawless transformation until the god had pulled away and Percy's breath hitched as he was looking at an exact replica of Luke, down to the scar on his face to the sandy-blond hair.
His legs turned to jelly and he just stared.
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Hermes as Luke muttered (and it was his voice), the god leaning close again and the tips of his fingers dancing on the edge of Percy's jeans, sliding in briefly before slipping out and then expertly unbuttoning the jeans and then pulling the zipper down.
Percy was still frozen, gazing at the ghost with wide and unblinking eyes.
Then Hermes slid his hand into Percy's boxers, fondling his cock and stroking it briefly as he also began tenderly lavishing attention on Percy's neck, Percy ending up staring forward blankly. When Percy finally blinked, he hadn't noticed the tear dropping until it landed on the blond head near his neck. And then after the first drop, more and more came until he was silently sobbing and beginning to shake with his sobs.
The god paused, feeling Percy's body trembling and then as he'd licked upwards on the skin, he'd tasted the familiar salt that came from tears. Pulling back, he was surprised and upset to see Percy in the state that he was. Straightening up, he was about to apologize when Percy interrupted him, arm cocked back and then he'd decked Hermes in the jaw, the god flying back and landing on the floor with his head thrown to the side.
Percy realized he'd just punched a god, but he was torn between not caring and feeling like Hermes had deserved it.
"Don't…don't do that," he rasped out. "Don't ever do that again. Turn back. You're not him, you're not him," Percy slid to the floor, cradling his head as he murmured the last line again and again.
Feeling a twinge of regret at his actions and resigned about the situation, Hermes transformed back and crawled towards Percy, comfortingly pulling the boy into his arms. Percy resisted at first, but then relented, letting himself be held while he clutched onto the front of Hermes' dress shirt.
"I'm sorry," Hermes apologized. "I'm so sorry. For everything. For touching you. For wanting you. For not feeling a real ounce of regret for I've done," for everything else, because he did regret what he did just now, especially after seeing how affected Percy was by it, "And I'm sorry for not wanting to stop myself with you, because I can't stop wanting to be near you. Please, Percy. I'm sorry. Just don't push me away. I need you," he confessed.
"It's always about what you need," Percy muttered into his shirt.
"I know. But I know something in you needs it too…needs me," Hermes replied softly. "At least that's what I keep telling myself."
Percy didn't know how to reply to that so he kept quiet.
"Come with me," Hermes breathed out. "Just come with me."
"Where to?" Percy asked tiredly, pulling back slightly to look at him.
Hermes shook his head, "Just come."
He pursed his lips, but reluctantly shrugged.
"I'd have to tell Paul. And I'm not sure how he'd take it. He and Mom would be worried."
"I'll take care of it," Hermes answered. "Go to your car and wait for me. I'll talk to your step dad."
"Almost step dad," Percy corrected, getting up on wobbly legs and using the wall to help him.
Hermes nodded and let Percy go, and then headed to the staff room. He saw Paul Blofis there, having met the man earlier when he was being introduced to the staff, recognizing the name from Percy.
"Mr. Blofis, can I talk to you for a second?" he came near.
Paul looked up in confusion, nodding an okay though. Hermes led him away from everyone, to a more secluded corner.
"You know about your step son, don't you Paul? Can I call you Paul?"
Paul winced, "Yes, of course you can. And I do know Percy's known to be a troubled kid and things happen, but I swear it's not his fault. He's a good kid, so please don't be too harsh on him –"
Hermes smiled, "No, I meant you know about him being a demigod."
Paul froze and looked at him in fear.
"H-how do you know that?"
"Don't be afraid for him. It's alright. I'm Hermes."
The man equally paled in shock and still in fear.
"The, uh, god?" he asked hesitantly.
Hermes nodded, "I won't hurt you…or Percy," he added as a second thought, knowing that Paul was still afraid about that. "I'd like to borrow Percy though."
Paul blinked and then frowned.
"I'm sorry, but I'd like to ask why."
Hermes' smile almost dropped. He hadn't expected to be questioned, and no mortal had ever really done so.
"There are things that he and I need to discuss…concerning recent events," which was half-true, as he had been debating whether or not he should bring it up and start having that deep talk he and Percy needed to have, "You understand, don't you? It's very important and I don't think it can wait."
Paul flinched, "Very well. I'll tell his mother. Please take care of him and try not to keep him out too late."
"No guarantees on that last one, but I will definitely take great care with him. The best," Hermes' smile gentled. The god hesitated, but plunged on. "So…you really like Percy, huh?"
Paul grinned, "He's a great kid. Troubled, but I guess he should be being a demigod. Very sweet and hard working. I can see why Sally loves him so much. I can only hope Percy doesn't mind my presence in his life. I'd really like to become part of his family."
"So you see Percy like a son?" Hermes tentatively prodded.
"Oh, I'd hope our relationship would be like that. I would say it's working towards there," Paul stated proudly, but the undertone of relief said that it had been bothering and worrying him for quite awhile and that the progress between he and Percy was making him very happy.
Hermes didn't release the sigh of relief he'd been holding. He was content with the knowledge that Paul Blofis was fine with and actually looking forward to being Percy's step dad. At first, he'd been jealous of this Paul Percy had mentioned, not knowing who he was and why he was helping Percy so much. Then Percy told him it was his soon to be stepfather and Hermes had calmed down. That is, before he started thinking that maybe Paul didn't want to be a step dad and just maybe wanted something else, something more. Hearing the man now, reassured Hermes that that wasn't the case and he was relieved to find that out. He had just wanted to make sure…
Now to find Percy.
Finding him in his new car, that he whistled at once he slid into the driver's seat and had successfully flustered Percy, he started driving them out of the parking lot and went on without saying anything about their destination.
"Will you tell me where we're going?"
Hermes shook his head.
"Why not?" Percy asked hotly, narrowing his eyes at him.
"Because it's a secret."
When Percy scowled, Hermes just shrugged unapologetically.
"Come on, Percy…Just trust me on this."
By the deepening of Percy's scowl, said that no, Percy didn't trust him.
Hermes sighed in frustration, pulling over quickly and turning to the surprised demigod. Grabbing hands smaller than his, he looked into Percy's sea-green eyes and tried to plead with his own.
"Please, Percy. Even if temporarily, give me your trust," seeing the desperate need for it in Hermes' eyes, Percy gave an awkward half shrug and looked away uncomfortably.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever," he mumbled, pulling away.
Hermes' shoulders slumped in depression and sudden exhaustion. But he turned back to the wheel and put the car back in drive. Percy didn't comment.
For awhile, he just drove and Percy kept quiet, outwardly seeming to fulfill his agreement to temporarily trust Hermes. Soon enough, Hermes stopped. Percy didn't recognize the area, but he waited for Hermes to explain instead of bombarding the god with questions.
"Niagra Falls," Hermes declared.
Percy looked at him in disbelief.
"Are you kidding me? How did we get all the way over there? Er, here?"
Hermes grinned at him, lightening up. "I am the god of the roads. Traveling is kind of my thing, Percy."
Percy let himself crack a grin back, and for a second the tension eased a bit between the two.
They both got out of the car and Hermes went around and stood next to Percy, hesitating before putting an arm around Percy's waist, who tensed before forcing himself to relax into Hermes' hold.
"Close your eyes," Hermes murmured and Percy did so in confusion. Then he felt the strangest sensation, like he was fading away before in a sudden instant his whole being was like slammed back into existence. When he quickly opened his eyes in shock from the jarring feeling, he saw that he was at the top of the waterfall of the same namesake of the city.
"Woah," Percy's eyes widened.
A small smile played across the god's lips.
"Glad you like teleporting. Helps with my job and better than the usual divine transportation, and no hassles about accidentally disintegrating people. Care to sit down?" Hermes waved his hand and a picnic blanket appeared near the edge.
Percy hesitated, but then sat himself down on the huge blanket, settling down as Hermes gently sat down next to him. He tensed a little when Hermes scooted too close, but all the god did was sit and tentatively reach out to grab his hand and hold it.
"It might be a little too early and too heavy to talk about…certain things. But I do want to talk some with you. Is that alright, Percy?"
Percy nodded jerkily so Hermes continued.
"After your text last night…I decided to take a sabbatical from work. Just for your school year though. I haven't taken a break in centuries and I think it's a good time to do so now, especially if I want to take the time to get close to you and…try to be there for you and not just myself."
"But it is also for yourself," Percy acknowledged, but he didn't sound angry or bitter so Hermes took it as a good sign and that Percy was also just stating it as fact. Because by then it was.
"So…if you would allow me to…I would like to spend my sabbatical in your presence, spending time with you."
Percy squirmed a little, but sighed.
"Yeah. I guess that'll be alright. Just don't go all touchy feely with me. Or grabby and stuff. I'm not gay. I like girls," he mumbled.
Hermes rolled his eyes, purposely taking the hand he was holding and brushing his thumb against Percy's hand in small caresses. Seeing Percy slightly flush red, Hermes smirked inwardly to himself. Suddenly, he pushed Percy gently onto his back and hovered over him, straddling the boy's waist and the tip of his nose touching lightly against the tip of Percy's.
Playfully grinning, Hermes spoke in a husky whisper.
"But you do like me touching you, don't you?" Hermes trailed his fingertips down Percy's sides, making a shiver go through Percy. "You. Are. Gay. You like girls, huh? I bet not as much as I do this," the god bent down and nibbled Percy's earlobe before licking. Hearing Percy gasp, Hermes gave himself a point.
"You're persistent," Percy gritted out, jerking his head away and staring steadfastly over the cliff and glimpsing water down there. He ignored his flushed state.
"Of course. I wouldn't have to be, with the women usually giving in with just the first look, but you're being quite stubborn and I'm not willing to give up. Normally I'm not persistent because I don't have to be. You're just being difficult."
Percy pouted.
"But admit it," Hermes licked his ear again. "You do enjoy my attention."
The demigod huffed, "No. Because it's not true."
Hermes sighed in his head, but wasn't ready to back down. So he thrust down against Percy, whose body stiffened at the action, even as a certain anatomy down there started hardening in response.
"No?" Hermes raised an eyebrow.
Percy swallowed harshly, "…No."
So Hermes started slowly grinding his lower half against Percy's, hearing a whimper escape the boy's lips.
"No?" Hermes murmured seductively into his ear. He thrust harder than the other times.
"Yes," Percy hissed, bucking upwards.
The god grinned in triumph.
He kept grinding down in reward, Percy getting off first and then he kept at it until he came. Lazily lying on top of Percy and not bothering to get off, he felt Percy breathing hard and his hands entangle themselves into Hermes' curly hair.
"…I give up. You're just going to do whatever you want, aren't you? You gods are just like that," Percy sighed. "Fine, whatever. But if I say stop, you have to stop, okay?"
"Mm'kay," Hermes murmured, closing his eyes contentedly.
"I mean it," Percy said seriously. "Promise me…Please?"
He blinked in surprise, looking up at Percy. Percy was looking at him solemnly, with a hint of desperation, and Hermes had a thought that Luke might still be involved with that.
"Yeah," Hermes answered softly. "I promise, Percy. I swear if you really want me to stop, I'll stop."
Percy sighing in relief told him things in volume without anything having to be said.
"Thank you, Lord Hermes."
Hermes frowned, "Why are you calling me Lord Hermes now? I noticed that before. I mean, come on, Percy. You decked me in the jaw, we've had sex and multiple sexual encounters, and you've never called me Lord Hermes before. You've always been familiar with me, why are you being so formal now?"
Percy coughed awkwardly, "It's just…after we had sex…I kind of…automatically tried to distance myself from you…and…I was just…"
He really didn't need to say much more, and between the two of them a lot of things were being said without them needing to really say them.
"I get it. I understand completely," Hermes mumbled unhappily.
Percy caught that and winced.
"Hermes," Percy murmured.
Hermes shivered in pleasure, hearing his name coming out of Percy's lips like that.
So he leaned up and pressed his lips against Percy's.
Started 5/19/10 –Completed 5/21/10
A/n: Yeah, definite delay on the Zeus/Percy Grim Tale. I'm still working on it, no worries, but it's just a matter of finishing and fleshing it out. So…please be patient for it!
And can I say how relieved I am to say most people are okay with me not writing smut every single chapter? I'm good on lime (and definitely fluff, 'cause I love fluff), but smut actually makes my head hurt writing it. I really don't think I would be capable of being creative enough to write different chapters of smut like that O.O Anyways, a bit of fluff/lime in here, but don't expect full out fluff just yet because the two aren't in okay/happy phase yet. Lots and lots of hesitancy (mostly from Percy) and confusion (and again mostly from Percy). Cheers!