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“(Y/n)!” You jerked awake to the sound of your voice being called. There was a whooshing sound , as though someone was flying through your home. “(Y/n)! Where are you?”
“Her—” You coughed, propping yourself up to a sitting position. “Hermes?”
In a flash, he was beside you, one hand on your cheek. “Darling, are you okay? Who hurt you?”
You blinked at him groggily. “What?”
“I got your message,” he said, speaking so fast you almost couldn’t follow. “I got your message, and then you didn’t respond, so I thought I’d pop over, and who hurt you? Just say the word and I promise you they’ll regret it very, very soon.”
“What?” you said again.
“You—” Hermes faltered. “You sent me a text, darling. You said you weren’t feeling well.”
“Um…” You blinked harder, trying to shake off the vestiges of sleep. “Oh. Right. Sorry, I just woke up.”
“That’s alright, darling.” Hermes stroked your hair. “But now that you’re up to speed, all you have to do is tell me who made you feel bad, and I’ll take care of them for you.”
“Nobody made me feel bad, Hermes.”
“ Odysseus ?” Hermes snarled. “After everything I’ve done for him, he has the audacity —”
“ What? No,” you said. “I meant no one. No person made me feel bad.”
“Ah.” Hermes nodded thoughtfully, placated. “Just one of those moods, then? Would a quick flight help?”
“No, Hermes, I’m—” Right on cue, you paused to cough. Hermes’ hand stilled. “I’m sick,” you finished.
“Oh, right.” He frowned. “One of those…mortal things. Is that why you sound funny?”
“Oh god, is it that bad?”
“Oh no, darling, of course not,” he assured you. “I just noticed because I pay such close attention to you that I notice even the smallest shifts in your being.”
“Aw, thanks.” You smiled up at him. “Yeah, I’m congested, so that’ll do it.”
Hermes tilted his head at you, a look of perfect confusion on his face. “Con…gest…ed?”
“It means that I’ve got mucus in my nose…” Hermes’ expression didn’t change. You raise your eyebrows. “Hermes…how much do you know about mortal illnesses?”
“Not much, I’m afraid,” he admitted. “That’s really more my brother’s domain. Oh!” His eyes lit up. “That’s it then! I’ll just tell Apollo to get over here, and—”
“No—” You broke off into another cough. Hermes looked horrified, but you grabbed his hand.
“I don’t want to bother him,” you said.
“Darling, I bother him all the time,” Hermes pointed out.
“Yeah, but that’s you .” Hermes looked at you blankly, as if he didn’t see what that had to do with anything. “Besides,” you added hastily. “It’s not too bad. I should be fine in a couple days.”
“Really?” Hermes asked.
“Really.” You squeezed his hand. “It’s just a cold.”
“Cold?” Hermes repeated.
“Yes, Hermes, it’s a type of minor illness.”
“I see.” Hermes was quiet. “Alright, I won’t call Apollo, then. But is there anything you need, darling?”
You thought for a moment. “Honey?”
“Yes, darling?”
“No, I meant—” You grinned. “I meant, like, the food.”
“Ah.” Hermes blinked. “You want honey?”
“Yes, some honey and tea would be nice. It’s good for your throat, I think.”
“Oh!” Hermes lit up. “Yes, of course, darling! I’ll brew you up some lovely tea with honey. You just wait right here.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” you called after him, but he was already breezing out of your bedroom. Not even a full minute had passed before he returned with a steaming cup of tea.
“It’s called holy moly ,” he informed you, with a giggle. “ Holy moly tea.”
“Thank you, Hermes.” You took a sip, and then placed it on your nightstand. Hermes hovered anxiously next to your bed.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Oh, I’ll be fine, Hermes,” you assured him. “I just need some rest.”
He blinked rapidly. “Rest?” he echoed.
“Yeah.” You tilted your head back to look up at him. He looked as though he was pondering something unusual. It occurred to you that he was always on the move, attention always pulled in nine different directions, always having a million things to do or think about. “Hey, when was the last time you took a rest?”
Hermes put a hand to his chin and pursed his lips. “You know, I cannot recall.”
“Hm. Maybe you should rest too, then.”
“With you?”
“Oh. I mean, I don’t want to bother you—”
“Nonsense, darling. If you’d like me to stay, then of course I will. It’s not as though you’re going to get me sick.”
“By all means, then.” You shifted in your bed to make room for him, then patted the space next to you. His eyes lit up. He set his bag and helmet on the floor, unlaced his sandals, and then climbed in beside you. For a moment, Hermes just stared at you silently.
“Question.”
“Yes, Hermes?”
“Are sick people opposed to touch?” Hermes asked.
“Not at all,” you said with a grin, and he moved closer, wrapping his arms around you. You snuggled closer. The two of you were quiet for a lovely few moments. You let your eyes drift shut, relishing in his warmth.
“Now what?” Hermes asked, his voice sending comforting vibrations through you.
“Hm?” you muttered.
“I mean…” he faltered again. He was unusually uncertain today. It was cute. “What…do we do now?”
“We’re resting, Hermes.”
“Resting,” he echoed.
“Yes. You’re not really supposed to do anything. At least for mortal rest.”
“I…see,” Hermes said. “And this…will help you get better?”
“Yes, Hermes.”
“Hm.”
“A few days of this, I mean. Just taking it easy. And then I should be good.”
“I see,” Hermes said again.
You opened your eyes to look at him. “Honey, you don’t have to stay if you’re busy.”
“No, no,” Hermes assured you. “It’s just…I suppose I’m not used to it. Staying still, I mean. Especially when I’m trying to make something get better.”
“I know, you always have something to do,” you murmured. You reach out and stroke one of the wings poking out of his hair. “My busy boy.”
“Yes. So staying still, for me, it’s…odd.”
“In a bad way?”
Hermes hummed, leaning forward to nuzzle you. “With you? Not so much. In fact, I think I quite like this.”
You smiled. “I’m glad.” You snuggled closer. “Thank you for staying. And for the tea.”
“But of course, darling. But of course.”