Chapter Text
Hermes walked over to the same route he always used to the bar. It was the same bar he and his coworkers would go to after a long day of work on a Friday night. It was the same bar Hermes would drink that delicious cheap booze and let his drunk self lead the night away.
But today, it seemed, his boss wanted to do a celebration of sorts for this new kid who had just gotten a promotion after a whole year working at the force. They had told Hermes he doesn’t have to come if he doesn’t want to, but he insisted. After a long, long day of running side errands and part times, Hermes needed a cool off.
Just a drink, then he’d be off.
He took out his phone from his hoodie-pocket, turning it on with just his face-id and immediately opening his Messages. He clicked on the first contact on screen, “Amphion”.
“Hey, you there already?” Hermes texted. “I’m near.”
Not even a minute later, Amphion replied. “Yar, I see you from here.”
Hermes looked up from his phone, immediately catching the sight of his friend’s face outside the door of the bar. He was smiling, so Hermes smiled back, giving him a handshake. Amphion shook Hermes’ hand with that bright smile of his, until it dropped, his hand now gripping Hermes’ till Hermes swore he could hear bones cracking.
“Ow, ow, OW!!”
“You’re late,” Amphion said. “I waited for 10 minutes.”
Hermes hissed, blurting. “ IknowIknow , I’m sorry! There was a last minute thing I had to do and I didn’t check the time—OW!”
His friend sighed, taking pity, finally letting him go. “You’re lucky the boss has a soft spot for you. Come on!” Amphion wrapped his arm around Hermes’ shoulder, pulling the both of them inside the bar.
The bar looked exactly how you’d imagine one. Uncomfortable bar stools, a bartender serving drinks behind a wooden counter, drunks and party goers dancing and chugging bottles after bottles. But now, it looked like a fancy getaway with coworkers dressed up in formal clothes. Hermes looked down at himself, a simple jacket over a shirt and black jeans. He noticed a small stain on his trousers, blushing embarrassingly.
“Since when did we have this many people in the company? I thought we’re just celebrating the new kid’s promotion?”
Amphion eyed Hermes, as if he’s crazy. “New kid?”
Hermes eyed him back, confused. “You know, Allen, the new kid, worked here for a year and now he’s being celebrated ‘cause he’s the youngest kid to be promoted at his age.”
Amphion snickered. “Dude. First off, it’s Arren, not Allen. Second, he’s the boss’ son. This promotion is a granted position right under his father’s. The moment the big boss retires, he can take over.” Ah, that made so much more sense. “What did you think this was?”
Hermes shrugged his shoulders, grinning sheepishly.
“Anyway! I’m gonna piss a bit!” He changed the topic.
“You haven’t piss at all today?” Amphion called back to him as Hermes walked away, walking backwards.
“Not a single break! Side jobs does that to you—” Before Hermes could finish his sentence, he bumped hard against someone.
“ Hey !”
“Shit! I’m so sorry man!” Hermes turned around, facing the most gorgeous man he'd ever seen. Man, he wished he was overexaggerating. The man had the softest looking blond hair, tied up in a high ponytail. Hermes would’ve thought he was a girl if not for that handsome, sculptured face, truly beautiful with that sun-kissed skin. He had golden eyes, pierced as he stared at his own clothes, a white button up, only buttoned two or three from the bottom, the rest were not, exposing a part of his chest. It was too late when Hermes realised the white shirt was stained in red wine, with a glass on the handsome man’s hand— Oh no. Those pretty eyes looked at Hermes, flared in anger.
“What the hell man?” Fuck, he sounded hotter than his looks. “Do you know how much this costs?”
Hermes blinked several times, recollecting himself. His hand covered his face where a blush formed in embarrassment. “Sorry, I’m so sorry! I didn’t notice where I was looking at! I didn’t mean to spill your drink. Here, let me help—”
The man swatted Hermes’ hand before he could reach.
“Don’t bother, my girlfriend thought this would look great but thanks to you , it’s ruined. I don’t need your putty hands getting me dirty again.”
Hermes’ guilt deepened, but so did a flickered anger bubbling inside. It didn’t help with the blondie looking at Hermes like that. Like he was challenging Hermes into a fight. Unfortunately for him, Hermes wasn’t looking for one, not now, not tonight.
Just a drink, and he’ll be off.
“Damn, man, sor— ry , you didn’t have to say all of that, you know I already apologised.”
Hermes didn’t bother looking at the golden eyes softening ever so slightly at his words. He walked to the bathroom before he could think deeply about them. Has he seen that man before? Have they met? Does he also work for the same company as Hermes?
What— fucking —ever. It was probably another hot blonde dude he saw online. They all looked the same anyway. He went inside one of the stalls, finished peeing, then sat on the bowl to pretend to shit, playing with his phone for a while to take some anger off from the encounter.
Once he was done, he washed his hands, coming back to the party with a bright smile back on his face. He sat on the stool of the wooden counter, ordering a big glass of wine and drank it all in one go. Hermes had always got a high tolerance of alcohol, all back from when his dad let him take some of the booze from the kitchen counter without mom’s knowing. He wasn’t as crazy as he was about drinking now, but he does enjoy a good sip of it every week or so.
Looking around, he saw some of his coworkers talking with one another, coworkers that he hasn't had the opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with, given his high demand line of work. The only friend that he actually formed a bond in work was Amphion. He worked as the lister of the deliveries Hermes had to manage. Over time, they got closer, very close, closer than the boss should let two workers be. Amphion was probably the door that opened Hermes to the world of bisexuality. Hermes realised he liked having a man in a bed with him as much as a woman on his bed. He liked it, it was truly unfortunate Amphion and he didn’t become any more than that, but Hermes was happy with it. Now, Amphion is engaged with a friend from high school, Hermes’ high school, Niobe. She was kind and open to what Amphion and Hermes used to have. She was even open to an open marriage with Amphion in return she could do the same. It was something that surprised Hermes, a sort of marriage where two lovers enjoyed other people and then each other at the end of the day. Hearing that made Hermes more than happy when Amphion told him, and he wished nothing but happiness in their soon-to-be married life. Speaking of Amphion, he couldn’t find his friend anywhere, probably off with a man or woman he’s dancing or drinking with.
The bartender came to his side of the counter suddenly, sliding a glass of… red wine? Before Hermes could say anything, she nudged to the right.
“Red wine, coming from the lady over there.”
Three bar stools away, a woman in a tight hot pink dress came into view. Her dark gorgeous curls coming down her back like a waterfall. Her eyes twinkled impossibly pink, a striking contrast to her dark skin that shined unbelievably sparkly despite the bar’s terrible chandelier lights. Her plump lips curled in a soft smile, a wine glass in her hand holding up to Hermes as he turned to her.
Hermes looked at his own red wine then back at her. A flush started creeping onto his face, but he grinned, brushing it off as it may be the wine he had earlier. He didn’t know exactly what to do, so he grabbed his glass and moved closer to the lovely lady.
“I thought the man was supposed to buy the lady a drink?” Hermes said, a question rather than a flirting attempt.
“Are you complaining, good gentlemen?” she asked back. Her voice came silk, soft and sweet but with a mischief underlining beneath it.
Hermes eyed their glasses side by side. “N—No, I’m not.” This was maybe the first time a lady had been this direct to him, at least, not in a way where she’d crowd over him, dance a little and then they tumble in the sheets. It caught him off guard, if he was being honest. Suddenly, all of his social skills in wooing a lover got thrown off the window. “So!” His voice cracked. “Are you part of the event?”
The lady giggled. “Why, yes. I worked on the right side of the building, taking care of the client’s demands and orders to make sure it’s up to their needs.” Hermes nodded along to her words. “How about you?”
“I take care of the packaging loads and making sure they’re delivered right at the door.”
“Ah, so you’re like the messenger of this company, then?”
That was an interesting way to put it, like the lovely lady had planned to say it. He just laughed through it all. “I suppose you can say it like that.” A thought stirred at him at the fact he had never seen this woman before, so he decided to say it out loud. “But say, I’ve never seen you at any of the previous events before. You new?”
“Oh, I’ve only been in this company for a few months.” The lady explained, a little too quickly. She paused. “I’m Aphrodite, by the way.”
Hermes’ eyes widened. “Aphrodite, huh? Crazy coincidence. My name’s Hermes!”
“Hermes?” Aphrodite grinned, her eyebrow jerked. “So I’m not the only one with a Greek god’s name in this world.” She looked at Hermes’ green eyes, looking mesmerised, impressed and… relief? All at once. “How ironic of you to be the delivery guy when your name is Hermes, hmm?”
Hermes blushed at those words. “Well, I could say the same to you.”
“Oh?” She tilted her head, pink eyes staring at his. “What do you mean?”
“Y’know.” Hermes was full on blushing now, hands moving in the air as he tried to form the words. “You’re pretty… and beautiful, just like the goddess, like you’re blessed by her, y—y’know !”
Aphrodite grinned again at his words, as if she was engrossed at every stupid thing he blurted out.
“AND!” he added. “You wear pink! Aphrodite’s all about pink and femininity, you’re like her, like, truly, blessed by her.”
Hermes wasn’t exactly sure whether or not a woman would feel honored to be ‘blessed’ by the goddess of beauty. From the books he read during his literature classes, Aphrodite was well-known for her myths of punishing those who dared to challenge her beauty. So, he wasn’t really sure if the Aphrodite in front of him should be happy to be called as ‘blessed’.
Thankfully, she didn’t seem all that bothered. “Thank you, Hermes,” she said, smiling ear to ear, as bright as a woman has ever smiled in his direction. She sipped a cup of the red wine. “We’re not the only ones with a Greek god’s name, y’know.”
Hermes raised an eyebrow, sipping on his own cup, still cold even though it was left alone for a while. Meanwhile, he gestured to her to elaborate.
“My boyfriend!”
Hermes choked on his wine. Aphrodite jolted at his sudden coughing, some red liquid pouring down the corner of his mouth.
“Boyfriend?” he quaked, wiping the drool with the back of his hand.
“Yes?” Aphrodite tilted her head once more, confused at Hermes’ confusion.
“ Boyfriend .” Hermes confirmed. Was she those type of people who’d go after others despite being taken? Not that Hermes expected them to be a couple, Hermes owed her nothing! But he surely didn’t want to be part of some affair. Especially the part where Aphrodite’s boyfriend beat him up into a bloody pulp. “I—I don’t want to be rude, but, uhm… does your boyfriend know about you being… y’know…” He gestured to the red wine side by side, a conflicted look scorched his face as an extra touch.
It wasn’t that Hermes thought Aphrodite was a whore! Very much the opposite! But a small sigh of relief escaped him as Aphrodite picked up the pieces, immediately shaking. “Oh, no no no!” She laughed nervously, shaking her head and making an X with her arms. “I promise, it’s not like that! My man knows I sleep with others too, like how I know he sleeps with others.”
That certainly shocked Hermes. “So… you both are in an open relationship?” he asked.
Aphrodite nodded. “We’re very open, yes. Sometimes , one of us would bring home a special someone to spend the night with, we both pretty much have the same type, so…” she grinned, pink eyes gazing at him, playfully. “We like to share, If you know what I mean.” she winked, a mischievous grin played on her lips, eyes completely on Hermes.
Hermes swore his heart did a leap at the implication of those words. The “One more drink, then I’ll be off” rule started dissolving in thin air the moment he considered the invitation. Hermes truly didn’t want to get ahead of himself. He should just finish the drink this gorgeous lady had offered him and be off now. But then again, if what Aphrodite meant was what Hermes thought, he should stay… just for a few more minutes.
“Your boyfriend… you think he’d be into me…?” Damn, was Hermes ever this bold when he’s sober-drunk?
“Oh, very .” Aphrodite bit her lip, eyeing Hermes up and down. Her finger swirled around the mouth of the cup as she’s gazing up at him. “Pretty eyes, soft jawline, little masculine, you fit the whole package, sweetheart.”
Hermes so desperately wanted to take off his jacket, his body was getting incredibly hot. Still, he couldn’t resist. “You sound really sure of what your man would like in a man.”
“Again, we both have the same type. He trusts me, Hermes. If I like what I see, so will he.”
Hermes cleared his throat. He was practically looking everywhere but the pretty lady. “You said he had a Greek god’s name just like us…” Great job at changing the subject, Hermes internally slapped himself on the face.
Aphrodite drank another sip of her wine. “Apollo, his name. Which is ironic.” She giggled, a lovely blush creeping onto her cheeks. “Apollo and Hermes in the myths were said to be best friends. Perhaps it’s faith?”
“Faith?” Hermes giggled.
“Faith,” Aphrodite replied, lashes fluttering. “Perhaps you’re bound to meet us.”
Hermes cleared his throat once more. Drinking the red wine until it finished. “I should…” he slurred, feeling his body heating up to his cheeks. He looked back to Aphrodite’s eyes. “I should really go…”
But Aphrodite didn’t budge, placing a hand on his thigh in an attempt to not let him go. The heat of the touch jolted straight to his cock. And his whole body flinched as he almost tumbled back from his stool.
“It’s late.” Hermes blurted, blushing. “I’m more than happy to be with you tonight, I really do, but—”
“It’s alright.” Aphrodite whispered, reassuringly, the bar was becoming quiet in his ears, despite the party obviously still going on. It was as if she was making him hear her voice and only hers. “You can stay with us, if you’re not brave enough to go home at midnight.”
“I—It’s not that!” Hermes insisted, focusing on anything but her hand seemingly gripping his leg, so close to his crotch— “I just—” Hermes couldn’t find a good reason to leave. In truth, he didn’t want to, at all. And Aphrodite knew that. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I’m ready.”
It hurt Hermes’ throat to say that, and he could see the way Aphrodite’s eyes shifted to one of understanding the moment he did.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I didn’t mean to… I thought you’d remember—...” Aphrodite shook her head before she could say anything more. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you that far.”
“It’s fine, really, I’m okay.” Hermes smiled, as sweet as he could. He grabbed her hand which still lay on him. He brushed his thumb over her knuckles. “I… I didn’t mean I don’t want to sleep with you at all, by the way.”
Aphrodite looked up, genuine shock appeared on her face. “You don’t have to force yourself if you don’t want—”
“No!” he yelled, a little too loud to the point everyone looked in their direction. Hermes and Aphrodite blushed at the sudden attention, but neither worded it out. Hermes let them mind their business a couple of seconds later, before continuing. “I want to, I truly do. I mean, don’t get me wrong, but I feel… a connection, this.” Hermes gulped, bracing himself for the next words. “And I’d like to explore that. I could give you my phone number, and perhaps… I could meet Apollo as well?”
Aphrodite gazed at him, like she was staring intensely into his soul, which didn’t help his heart from beating a lot faster. But he let her process his words, hoping, just maybe, she’d accept.
Then, Aphrodite smiled. “I’d love that.”
Hermes smiled back, a little too brightly for a guy who had just deny a girl but also at the same time gave her a chance in a night of fucking, and maybe the girl’s boyfriend as well, but that’s besides the point!
As promised, Hermes gave Aphrodite his phone number. By the end of the night, he’d regret not asking for hers back. Then again, he didn’t want to seem desperate for sex, despite being the fucking opposite. Still, he was happy with the exchange, a chance to start something new.
“I have to be off now,” Hermes said for some reason. “I’ll be waiting for a call.”
“You will be getting one soon,” Aphrodite bantered back, grinning. “I’ll see you whenever faith lets us again.”
Faith. Hm.
“Should I not get a kiss from the lady? Wouldn’t want to be rude after she paid for my drink.” Hermes retorted, his own heart skipping at his own words. What the fuck is he doing?
Aphrodite smirked, raising an eyebrow. “Bold are we? Right after denying the ‘pretty lady’?”
Hermes chuckled despite himself. Before he could do or say anything, Aphrodite already leaned in, closing her eyes as she closed in the distance between them. Her soft lips met his. Hermes forced himself to close his own eyes as he surrendered to the delightful sensation. It was this moment Hermes realised he rarely ever kissed others in his life mouth-to-mouth. Too intimate it was, and Hermes had only done it to Amphion and maybe some highschool situationship he had years ago.
Unfortunately, this resulted in him being a terrible kisser.
Fortunately, Aphrodite didn’t seem to mind at all.
She quickly took control, pressing further, deeper. A hand sneaked onto the back of his head, lightly gripping the curls rooted there. Hermes softly groaned at the sensation, letting the woman sneak her tongue through his teeth, letting himself fall into a mini makeout session. Hermes wondered if people were looking at them kissing, strangely enough, that made him feel more exhilarated.
They pulled away before they could go further, a small string of saliva connecting their lips.
“Woah…” Hermes awed.
Out of nowhere, a small whispered ‘damn’ cut Hermes back to reality. He turned faster than his mind processed. And the person beside him and Aphrodite was the same exact hot dude he bumped into an hour earlier. The heat on his cheeks immediately went to his whole body, not from arousal, not anymore but from fear. However, Aphrodite only smiled at the man, like she was excited to see him. Their faces were the exact opposite when their eyes fell upon him.
“Apollo,” she grinned, love in her eyes. “Took you long enough to get here.”
“ Apollo ?! He’s your boyfriend?!” Hermes yelled, looking back at the man. Shit. Fuck. Oh, shit . It was one thing to stain a man’s expensive clothes, but kissing his girlfriend right in front of him(Hermes assumed Apollo watched the whole thing) was just down low. He needed to get out of here.
Apollo squinted his eyes at Hermes, possibly wondering why the fuck Hermes yelled his name out of nowhere. To Hermes’ dismay, he quickly connected the pieces. “You. You were the guy that spilled my drink.”
Aphrodite widened her eyes slightly, amusement flickered in them, Hermes swore. “Him? Are you sure, Sunny?”
Aphrodite knew?! He needed to get home now. This guy will for sure beat him up for kissing his girlfriend. If not, he’d asked Hermes to pay back for the shirt he dirtied. And if Hermes said no, then Apollo would beat him up. Yeah, no, this was a bad idea. His heart ached to run away, out of the bar, out of the city!
“I—I’m sorry! I didn’t realise she was your girlfriend. Fuck, my deepest apologies, sir, I didn’t mean to kiss her. I’ll leave you two alone. I wanted to get home anyway, but she—!”
“Hermes, hey, It’s fine—” Hermes’ eyes darkened. How the fuck did he know Hermes’ name?
Aphrodite grabbed him by the wrist, grounding Hermes from a panic attack. “Hermes, hey, it’s alright! Apollo’s not mad at you! It was just an accident! He was just playing with you!”
Hermes didn’t process any of her words. Just the sight of Apollo made him hot to the core, sweating underneath his shirt and a lump plumping on his throat. “It’s fine! Aphrodite, it’s fine.” Hermes’ words meant nothing when his voice cracked. “I’m fine! Seriously, I’m sorry, but I have to go !”
Hermes didn’t dare to look at the couple’s concerned faces before half-walking half-running out of the bar. The night’s cold air helped nothing with his flushed cheeks. The moon shone bright on the sky, and Hermes sent himself running back to where he came to the bar. He felt almost bad for leaving Amphion on his own. Damn it, he’ll text him when he’s home! Hermes’ mind then lingered on the couple he brought himself in. Fuck, he’s such a fool! Messing with a hot man then flirting with his hot girlfriend, Hermes didn’t wish for this. Fate was cruel to him tonight. All he could do was go back home and rethink his mistakes.
‘One drink, then you’ll be off’ bullshit.
Oh, Hermes fucked up big time.