So I know none of you are reading this now because you are dying to know what will happen next and I've probably just about killed you with the suspense. Sorry. I had a lack of inspiration, and honestly I thought it would take a lot longer for this to come out but anyway. I don't know why I'm rambling on. Sorry again. Enjoy!
He didn't know how to respond and she evaluated his expression cautiously and decided to continue.
"I had cancer."
Stunned into silence, the god could do nothing but open and close his mouth wordlessly. Lucy was quick to add, "I don't have it anymore."
"Why…" He trailed off hoarsely. He licked his lips and continued. "Why didn't you tell me?"
She avoided his eyes.
"I didn't…I didn't want you to…"
The next words came out in a whisper.
"Hate me."
He let out a noise of disbelief.
"Hate you? Why would I ever hate you?"
"Because…" She was wringing her hands anxiously. "I had cervical cancer. And…when they discovered it, it was too far along. And I didn't have enough money for any treatment. They couldn't do anything but…" She swallowed nervously and whispered, "Surgery."
"Surgery?" He repeated the soft word feebly, a vision of fragile little Lucy being wheeled into a harsh, impersonal operation room flashing unbidden into his mind.
She nodded.
"A hysterectomy." She looked about to cry and he held her tighter. She gripped her fists, her expression split between relief and fear. "I can't…You know what you said? About what happens when gods and mortals…are together?"
He nodded slowly, not understanding.
"I can't…I can't give you that. I can't have kids, Hermes. And I understand if you don't…" She bit her lip, her voice hoarse. "If you don't want me anymore."
He looked at her, aghast. She interpreted his expression and began to pull away, fighting tears. His iron grip held her firmly in place and she settled for avoiding his gaze.
"If I don't want you?" His incredulous, almost angry, tone made her look up.
"How could I ever—" He shook his head. "I can't even comprehend—" He gripped Lucy's shoulders. "I've spent so much time trying to convince you—Did you ever listen to a word I've said? Did you never believe me, Lucy? I said no matter what. I meant No. Matter. What."
She looked bewildered. "But I can't ever have children. Don't you…don't men want that? I thought…if I was broken, you wouldn't…want me…"
"Wouldn't want you?" His voice was strangled. "Lucy, why are you saying these things? Broken," he made a face. "You aren't broken. You're—"
"Broken." Her voice was forceful, but she looked afraid as she said her damning words. "I'm broken. I can't have children. I can't do what I was meant to do. That's wrong. You shouldn't want me. I'm not right—"
Her voice cut off as he pressed his lips firmly against hers. Her eyes widened and she instinctively stiffened, pushing away from him. But he didn't give up and her mind caught up to her reflexes. She melted into him, letting her eyes fall shut. Hermes' noticed her consent with joy, his lips curving against hers. She twined her arms around his neck, surprising both of them with her eagerness. He could have stayed there for a lifetime, for a god's immortal lifetime, where only Lucy mattered, where he could forget about everything else but her soft lips on his, but the flutter of her eyelashes against his cheek, the subtle heat from her blush. A thousand things whirled in the god's mind but they all centered on the mortal girl who was wrapped in his embrace.
Remembering that the girl needed to breathe, he gently pulled away, instead moving his lips to her ear, where he whispered, "You're perfect."
She shivered, her face in the hollow where his neck met his shoulder.
They remained like that for a long moment. Both had accomplishments to celebrate privately.
Lucy had secretly been worried that, after her ordeal, she wouldn't ever want anyone like that. That she would never find pleasure in physical contact. But she'd been worried for nothing. Because she'd definitely enjoyed that.
Hermes was congratulating himself on proving his control. He had kissed her, in the heat of the moment, no planning in his mind, on the bed, no less, and had merely kissed her. Though 'merely' was not the right word for it in the least, but the point being that he had gone no further.
Eventually Lucy pulled away from his shoulder and looked at him. The tears had disappeared and been replaced by amazement. Sheer amazement.
"That wasn't…" She stopped. He waited long enough to grow impatient.
"Wasn't what?"
She didn't answer immediately, but slowly leaned in. She touched her lips to his, lightly, quickly, and pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes.
"That wasn't…like I'd imagined."
"You imagined it?" His smiled was somewhat roguish and she looked at him disparagingly.
"Really?"
He smiled and shrugged.
"You should expect this from me by now." He suddenly straightened, startling the girl. She looked at him curiously.
"Do you want me to go now?"
She smiled wearily. "No. Stay."
She lay down, resting against the pillow and watching the god. He frowned.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded.
"Really?"
She sighed in exasperation. "Anyone would think you didn't want me to say yes."
"I don't want you to be forced outside your comfort zone."
"Sometimes your comfort zone is not the healthy place to be."
He pressed his lips together.
"Come on, Hermes. I think…" She blushed.
He grew curious. "What?"
"I think I won't have the nightmare if you're here." The blush deepened.
"Why not?"
"Because I feel safer with you."
The simple words made him start. She watched him in amusement. He nodded slowly.
"Okay. But Lucy…"
"Yes?"
"If you have that nightmare again…" His voice turned menacing. "I will find that boy."
She shivered. "Please don't."
"No. I will. I'm not stupid, Lucy. I know that the cancer was his fault."
She said nothing. He looked down at the girl. She was staring blankly at the wall.
"I don't want anyone to be hurt because of me," she said softly.
He relaxed.
"You won't be like him."
She didn't respond.
"Lucy, why were you crying, that first day?"
The unexpected question made her sit up suddenly.
"What?" She faltered, her expression startled.
"In the park. Why were you crying?"
She bit her lip. "I had been to the doctor's like I told you when you asked before."
"But it wasn't because of a stomach ache, was it?"
She hesitated. "It was, actually. In a way. I'd had…cramps. And I was…hopeful." She blushed, and he understood what she meant. "I thought, somehow, I wasn't," she glanced at him, "completely broken." She sighed sadly. "But I was being stupid. And the doctor told me as much." She ignored his small sound of protest. "That was when she told me, bluntly, that having children was not ever in my future. I think I'd always been a bit hopeful that I could somehow have one. I don't know how. But I was wrong. I was walking home, and I just thought more and more about it, and the tears started and they wouldn't stop, and I just had to sit and—" She didn't realize she'd been crying until he gently wiped the tears off her cheeks. He softly kissed the tear tracks.
"This doesn't change you, Lucy. I want you because of you, not because of your child-producing ability. I just wish you'd told me, or that I'd met you sooner…" He sighed. "If I'd been able to help you at all…Why are you crying again?" His tone changed from wistful to baffled in a sentence as he hurried to wipe away the fresh tears.
"Because you're such an idiot," she spit out, hitting him weakly.
"What?" He was utterly bewildered. "Why?"
She fell into his ready embrace, curling into his lap.
"You're so damn perfect. It makes me want to hate you sometimes."
"I'm…sorry?" He was still befuddled.
"You should be," she said grumpily.
He chuckled, caught between amusement, relief, and confusion, and lay down heavily, Lucy still tucked into his arms. He pulled the blankets over them, and allowed her to uncurl a bit, to find a comfortable resting position. She made a small noise of interest.
"What?" His voice was sleepy, poised in the barely awake part of consciousness.
"I didn't expect this" she gestured at the pair, "closeness to be so…pleasant."
He smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Sweet dreams, Lucy."
Lucy stretched, rolling out of strong arms. She sat up, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Hermes was still asleep and she took the opportunity to study him.
Unconscious, his face lost the stress and tension that betrayed his true age. He looked younger, perhaps even closer to her age. His lips curved upward in reaction to something in his dream and his arms curled in. When he realized she wasn't still wrapped in his embrace, his eyes blinked open in confusion. He was greeted with Lucy's amused smirk, and sighed.
"How was your night?" He reached for her.
She shrugged, allowing him to pull her down and bury his face in her hair.
"I didn't have another nightmare."
"That's good."
"Mm." She hummed her agreement and kissed his neck, the closest part of him. He shuddered and she sat up to look at him curiously. His eyes were squeezed shut.
"I'm…not sure that's the best idea. I'm not that good at self-control."
"Oh. Sorry."
He opened his eyes to see her attempting to cover her blush. The god sighed and pulled her hands away from her face.
"Don't apologize. It's very much your fault, but nothing you should apologize for."
He sat up and cupped her face in his hands. He tilted it up and her eyes, after a moment of hesitation, flickered up to look at him. He smiled softly at the girl.
He murmured something too quiet for her to hear and bent down, kissing her gently. Her eyes slipped shut and he pulled away only far enough to kiss her nose.
"Thank you."
Her eyes opened. "Why?"
He moved to her cheekbone. "For being you."
Her eyes followed him, mystified. "Why?"
His lips found the edge of her jaw where it connected to her neck and she gasped.
"Oh!"
He looked up, his mouth pulling away from her neck.
"What?'
She said nothing, only touched the warm spot.
"Lucy?" His voice was soft, cautious, afraid he'd done something wrong. She looked at him, green eyes filled with confusion.
"I don't…I'm not used to…feeling like…" She trailed off and looked down, her cheeks turning pink.
"Are you okay?" He frowned in concern, leaning in. She glanced up.
"I…I think so." She faltered, her expression unsure.
A thought occurred to him.
"Lucy?"
"Yes?"
"Have you ever had a boyfriend?"
Her eyes widened slightly, her cheeks turning a darker pink.
"Oh, not—not really. Why?"
He nodded, understanding.
"Why?"
"It explains a lot," was all he said. When she realized that he would say nothing else, she made a face at him.
"Tell me!"
He sighed. "Fine, but you'll just be mad at me."
"I'm already mad at you." She crossed her arms and pouted. He couldn't help but smile at her sour expression.
"You've never experience…" He bent down to kiss the corner of her mouth, lingering until he felt her breath catch. "That." He spoke against her lips before pulling away again.
Her eyes were huge. "I guess not," she said breathlessly.
He smirked at her expression.
"Shall we wake up, my dear?"
She arched an eyebrow. "I was under the impression that we were up."
He grinned devilishly. "No, not really. You aren't really awake until…" He scooped her up and flew out the window. Lucy shrieked as they plunged into the pool. She surfaced, gasping and sputtering and pushing hair from her face. She looked at the god in shock. He grinned at her.
"I cannot believe you just did that!" Her voice rose an octave in disbelief.
"But I did." He blinked at her innocently. She glared and splashed him.
"You're irritating."
He laughed. "Did you really just do that?"
"Do what?" It was her turn to smile innocently.
"Oh, my dear."
With a mischievous grin and a roar, he dove toward the girl. She yelped and attempted to swim away, but to no avail. The god caught her and shot out of the water, droplets flying off the pair as they ascended. She scrambled to curl tighter into Hermes' arms as the island grew smaller below them. After what seemed like ages of flying, she grew chilly.
"How far are we going to go?"
Her face was against his neck as she spoke and for a moment she had no idea if he heard her or not.
Their ascent halted and he looked down at her contemplatively.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"On whether you've been properly chastised," he replied with a huge grin.
"I think I have," she hurried to assure him.
He shrugged. "Oh, I'm not sure."
She shivered. "I'm pretty sure."
"Are you cold?" When she nodded he cursed at himself silently. He kept forgetting that the mortal girl was more susceptible to cold than him.
"Sorry," He bit his lip as he slowly passed through the clouds. She shook her head, still shivering.
"It's just that my clothes are wet…"
He wrapped his arms around her tighter, letting the warmth seep through the damp cotton. She looked up at him in surprise. His heart plunged in guilt. He took one hand away from her to touch her lip gently.
"Your lips are blue."
She shrugged. "It happens."
She turned her head and buried her face in his chest. He felt her cold lips against his neck.
She screamed as they plummeted fifty feet.
He halted so suddenly that she jerked up, and he had to grab the girl to keep her in his arms. She looked up in shock at the god. His eyes were closed and he was breathing heavy, calming breaths.
"I'm sorry. But when you do that I do not have self-control. I'm very sorry."
This time Lucy's shivering was not entirely from the cold. Hermes opened his eyes and, seeing her expression, bit his cheek. He was being rotten.
"Lucy…" He hugged her tighter, kissing her hair. "I'm so sorry."
After a moment of hesitation she twined her arms around his neck and looked up at the god.
"If I'm not allowed to apologize, I don't think you are either."
He laughed weakly. "One day I'll do something so bad you won't forgive me this easily."
"Doesn't mean I won't forgive you."
"Have you ever done anything remotely bad?"
An emotion lay deep in her eyes, too deep for him to read.
"I'm not a saint," she reminded him softly.
"Are you sure?"
She thought, a crease between her brows. He could barely keep from laughing at her concentrated expression.
"I've caused four kitchen renovations," she offered.
He laughed.
"That's not what I meant. But remind me to monitor your kitchen use."
She made a face at him but then smiled, please she'd managed to distract him from his mood.
"So can we go down now? I'd like to change into clothing that hasn't been thrown in the pool."
She arched an eyebrow at him and he grinned sheepishly.
"If you want."
They sunk to the ground and he gently put her down. She smiled up at him.
"So, what are we doing today?"
He thought, taking her hand and leading her into the house. "I don't know. What would you like to do? We could hike the mountain again," he laughed at the face she made, "or I could fly you up. We could go snorkeling. We could go to the beach again. There's a ton of stuff to do inside the house but I think you might rather spend the time outside, since I couldn't easily bring that to your apartment."
She looked at him doubtfully. "You could bring a pool to my apartment?"
He grinned widely. "It wouldn't be as big, but if you really wanted. Do you?"
She rolled her eyes. "Not particularly."
He squeezed her affectionately.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"Hm." She looked up at him, contemplating. "Snorkeling? And then we could go to the beach again."
He smiled. "Okay."
He watched her walk lightly up the steps. She turned back when he didn't follow.
"Aren't you coming?"
"I have to go set things up. I'll be back before you're ready."
"Oh." She held his gaze for a long moment, her eyes enigmatic, before turning away again. He watched her enter the house before pivoting on his heel and shooting into the air.
The island might have been hours away from New York, but it was never far from Olympus. Especially if he dematerialized.
His feet touched the marble floor and he made no attempt to mask his annoyance as he scanned the hall. Finding his brother, he marched over to the blond god.
"What the hell do you want?"
His voice was sharp, his eyes flashing with anger. The other held his stance calmly.
"Zeus wants to talk to you, Hermes."
"I was busy," he hissed. The other god shrugged.
"That's not my fault."
"Where is our illustrious father?"
Apollo ignored the sarcasm dripping from his brother's words and pointed to the king's study. Hermes stalked off without a word.
The bearded god looked up as the door opened with a bang. Hermes folded his arms.
"What?"
The father looked unamused.
"You took quite some time to get here."
"I was otherwise occupied. As you know perfectly well."
Zeus did not deny the accusatory words.
"I will remind you that your duties take precedence above all else. That is the law. It applies to all the immortals and just because you have found yourself a mortal companion does not mean you are exempt."
His son sighed angrily. "What do you want, father?"
The last word was spit out with such venom that the older god almost drew away, taken aback. He had never felt the amount of malice from his favorite son that he felt in that moment. What was this mortal girl doing to his son?"
"This," he gestured toward a bulky package on his desk, "must be delivered to Hades."
"A package?" Hermes' voice rose incredulously. "You forced me away from Lucy for a package?"
Zeus frowned at his son. "The contents of this package are of extreme delicacy. I ask that you deliver this promptly and do not tell anyone of this."
"And after that?"
"After that you may return to your mortal."
Hermes grumbled as he snatched the package from his father's desk, turning on his heel and disappearing.
He reappeared by the side of a dark river. The god sighed, waiting for the ferry that was slowly moving up the black water. When the boat reached his location, he stepped in, staring at the ferryman.
"You took your sweet time."
The thin man looked up at him from under the dark cowl.
"Death moves faster only for himself."
Hermes sighed. "Well bring me to the all-mighty trapped one, why don't you. I'm in a hurry."
The ferryman did nothing but shrug, pushing off from shore. The boat moved slowly, and Hermes watched the Underworld absently. He was never fond of being in the Underworld. It was dark and depressing to begin with, but his impatience added another layer of urgency to the dark kingdom.
After what seemed like lifetimes, the ferry rocked gently against the pathway to a castle, and the ferryman nodded as Hermes tersely bid him goodbye. The messenger god walked quickly up the steps, ignoring the servants scattering out of his way.
Hades looked up as Hermes banged into his hall. The eldest god raised his eyebrows as the young one moved forward. Seeing the package he carried, Hades dismissed his servants with a wave. The hall stood empty with the exception of the two gods.
"From your father?" Hades deftly caught the package Hermes tossed at him. The messenger god merely nodded.
"You seem angry."
"I was interrupted during my vacation. I'm not exactly pleased."
Hades smirked at the curt response.
"Just like your father. But I must thank you. This was an important delivery."
With that, he turned his attention away from Hermes. The younger god didn't even bother to consider the ferry, disappearing right in the middle of the hall. Hades chuckled darkly, amused at his nephew, and plans spawned at the interaction.
Lucy was not in her bedroom when he reappeared and he knew he was in trouble. He pushed the door open warily. Music trickled lightly through the hall; he knew instantly where she was.
He peeked into the room and confirmed his guess.
The girl sat at the grand piano in the center of the room. Her back was to him but as he watched, her finger slowed on the keys, the music halting. She turned to look at him, her eyes questioning. She did not wear her swimsuit.
"Lucy…"
She said nothing, waiting patiently for the explanation she expected. He walked forward.
"I'm sorry." He seemed to be saying that so much recently.
"Why?" She tilted her head at him. She did not act possessive, did not demand to know where he'd been and with who. But her quiet curiosity was worse than if she'd been screaming at him.
"I lied to you."
Her expression did not change.
"I told you we wouldn't be disturbed this week. But that wasn't true."
He sighed and sat in the chair that materialized beneath him. She blinked at the sudden appearance of the seat, but said nothing.
"Lucy, in many ways I am not like a mortal. You know that. And one of these ways is…I can never truly be on vacation."
She frowned at him curiously.
"Why not?"
"Lucy, our purpose as gods is to be the patrons of whatever it is that we are. But we are not patrons as mortals are, like patrons of the arts. We exist to ensure the prosperity of what we are in charge of. That is why we are alive. And so we can never be 'off-duty.'"
The girl was silent for a long time.
"So you're apologizing for being what you are."
He frowned, but nodded.
Lucy began to laugh. Hermes looked disgruntled.
"What?"
She smiled at him. "Next time just tell the truth, yes?"
He returned her smile, relieved. She shook her head at him, still amused.
"What's so funny?"
She grinned. "You're always so worried. Why? That something about you is going to scare me so much I'll run away?"
He frowned, uneasy. She'd guessed exactly what he was worried about. She saw the expression on his face and her smile faded away.
She swung her legs over the bench and faced him. Gently, the girl took the god's hands and looked up at him.
"I've seen a lot, for living such a short time. I will never run away from you."
Hermes squeezed her hands softly, using them to draw her towards him. He lightly kissed the girl, lingering. When he began to pull away, she followed his movements, prolonging the contact. He smiled but didn't protest and when she finally drew back, his expression made her blush.
"Why do you look at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like…" She wrinkled her nose. "Like you're memorizing me."
"Because." He slipped onto the piano bench, hugging her to him. "I can never get enough of you."
She rolled her eyes, but he saw the flash of pleasure that crossed her face. He smiled and pretended to not see it.
"What were you playing before?"
"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini." She looked at him curiously. "Why?"
"Teach me to play it?"
She considered him for a long moment, the emotions in her eyes unreadable.
"Okay."
She positioned her fingers on the keys, but hesitated and looked up at him.
"Why?"
Because I want an excuse to spend time with you.
Because I want to learn how to do what you like.
Because I love you.
"Because I like this song."
Ah, fluffy chapter was so fluffy! I swear to god, that's the absolute fluffiest chapter I have ever written.
Did you expect Lucy's secret? Does it give you a new impression of her? If you want background info, go to visit-the-moon .tumblr .com/ask and ask away!
Drink or don't drink? I still haven't made up my mind yet so you may want to get input. I just might decide to turn evil and choose one over the other, or I may be good and choose the other one. You never know...