Interlude: 6
The Man was sitting at his desk grading papers over the recent WWI/WWII test he gave to his students two days earlier.The Man gave a giant red "X" on the paper and sighed. The Man was getting tired of faking being a human in the mortal world. He longed for the dark, damp palace he calls home. But he would wait patiently if it means he could spend more time with his beloved Ponyboy.
He put his head in his hands, sighing at all the papers he still had to grade. Right then, he heard a knock on his door.
"Come in," he said, rubbing his head, feeling a migraine coming.
"Mr. Cesar? I wanted to ask a question about the quiz that's coming up on Friday."
The Man looked up and gave a fake smile, "Sure. What is your- Oh it's just you."
The kid who walked in had on a cross country gear. He had an athletic body with black, curly hair with blue eyes, "Aw why you sound like that? I thought I was your favorite nephew?"
Draco chuckled, "Yes, you are and yet I know you. If you are here with a silly disguise on, then something important with your father is concerning you."
The kid sighed. He walked over to one of desks in the room and pointed at for permission. The Man nodded. "Father is getting suspicious. The dead are dying faster and no one is in the Underworld to direct and organize the place. I've been trying to distract him but you know father."
"Yes I know how my brother acts. Let me guess, more rain in Vietnam?"
"More or less."
"More or less?"
The kid shrugged, "How about making it impossible to see the ground when dropping bombs? Or the fact that the rain is flooding everything and spreading diseases."
"So what," The Man asked, "what do you want me to do?"
The kid shrugged and picked at his nails, "I don't know really. Maybe come back to the Underworld for a bit. Do what you need to do and then come back to the mortals. Just long enough for Father to think you came back to the Underworld"
The Man looked over at the kid and gave him a Cheshire grin, "If I do that, I'm taking what I came here."
The kid gave an uncertain face. He hesitated. This is my favorite uncle and he does deserve happiness, but…
"I don't really see a reason to do that. I mean, you aren't going to be gone long. Minimum a week, maximum a month."
The Man's eyes darken. He took a deep breath and he slowly blew it out. "Hermes. Think about it. I have been lonely for eons now and when I finally find happiness, Zeus wants me to throw it all away-"
"And you don't have to. You can just tell the mortal you're leaving for a business trip and it'll be fine."
"His names is Ponyboy and no it won't be fine," The Man slams his hands on the desk, making his coffee shake and spill all over the test, "Shit. Hermes, grab me some paper towels."
Hermes nodded and dashed off towards the bathrooms down the hall. While he ran, The Man's mind was racing. The Man couldn't possibly leave Ponyboy behind. He knew that the Fates were tricky creatures who aren't keen on giving second chances.
Hermes arrived with a hand full of paper towels, "Will this do?"
"It will thank you," The Man murmured and grabbed the towels. He started to clean the test papers, dabbing the paper towels, eyes locked with the brown stain. After he was done he stopped and sighed.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I should just go."
Hermes ears perked up with interest, "That's a good idea. Plus if you really think about it, who knows, maybe the Fates have something else in store."
The Man nodded. He checked his watched and his eyes widen, "Shit I'm going to be late."
"Late for what?"
"I have to meet Pony's family for dinner and their house is a good 15 minute walk from here. I need to make a good impression to the family and-"
"Woah slow down," his nephew chuckled, "The last time I saw you this frazzled was when you accidently walked in on Hera bathing."
The Man's cheeks instantly turned pink, "Let's not talk about that." The Man walked around the room closing up cabinets and drawers. He grabbed his briefcase and stuffed all the tests inside. The Man walked towards the door when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back to see is nephew giving him a look.
"What?"
"Are you seriously going to you little…Ponyboy's house dressed like that?"
The Man hmphed, "It's professional."
"Yeah and it also looks like you're trying too hard," Hermes rolled his eyes, "Isn't the kid a Greaser? Not trying to talk low on them but they're not excepting much from you. Wear some jeans and a leather jacket. Maybe a black shirt."
"What about green?"
Hermes raised his eyebrow confused, "I mean green would work I guess. But I think black would really tie in better."
The Man shrugged and walked out the door, "To each their own."
"And hey," Hermes said from the door, "Like I said the Fates always have something up their sleeves."
The Man raised a hand as he walked down the street towards the house of the Curtis's.
I know. It's not long and the update took too long. But you know what…#YOLO