If You're Wondering If I Want You To (I Want You To)

 

The sublime explosion of emotions quickly crashed when mere moments later, Paul had come grumbling back into the room and had caught them. Percy jerked away, staring at his soon-to-be-stepdad-in-minutes with wide eyes and Hermes’ face fluttered into a closed expression, not revealing anything.

 

Paul stared back with equally wide eyes, face frozen into shocked disbelief.

 

“Um…this isn’t what it looks like?” Really, that was like a super age-old excuse and it never works.

 

It looked like it wasn’t going to work this time either.

 

“Y-you!” Paul twitched, pointing at Hermes. He looked ready to combust actually… “Don’t think that just because you’re a god, doesn’t mean I won’t threaten you with a restraining order! Arthur is really in hot water already, but you can join him too, Lord Hermes,” he spat out.

 

Percy sweatdropped, “Um, I don’t think that’s necessary, Paul. I think your brother just wants to get under everyone’s skin.”

 

Paul snorted, agreeing partially with that. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Hermes.

 

“And what about him?”

 

Percy hesitated, fidgeting. “Well…we’re…sort of…together,” he finished lamely, in a weak voice.

 

Hermes’ hand found his and squeezed tightly.

 

“We’re dating,” Hermes said bluntly, looking pointedly at Percy and raising an eyebrow. Percy just responded by looking hesitantly questioningly at him. Hermes responded with a frown. “I’m not toying with you, Percy,” he lightly reprimanded. “I sincerely and honestly want to be with you.”

 

“So we’re actually…really together?” Percy scrunched up his eyebrows.

 

“Yes, I’m your boyfriend,” Hermes declared. Then he backtracked. “That is, if you want me to be,” he added, looking uncertain about his words, as if he wasn’t used to such a notion. Whether it was the notion of someone actually having to think about dating him or the notion of actually having to ask and make certain, Percy wasn’t sure. He definitely was sure he wouldn’t like it either way.

 

Paul cleared his throat, interrupting them. He glowered at the god before glancing uncertainly at Percy.

 

“We’ll talk about this later, alright Percy? And you…” he glared ominously at Hermes. “I’m watching you.”

 

Hermes just gave him a winsome smile that he inwardly scoffed at.

 

‘I’m on to you now, trickster,’ Paul thought, pursing his lips and placing himself in between the two, pushing Percy in front of him as he kept watchful glances at the seemingly innocent looking god behind him.

 

Percy just sighed, while Hermes hummed a tune.

 

The wedding was going smoothly, thankfully, but Paul couldn’t help glance at Hermes suspiciously. The god just smiled innocently at him, even putting his hands in front of him and wiggling his fingers.

 

‘I don’t trust you,’ he mouthed with a frown towards the messenger god.

 

Hermes’ innocent smile dropped and he sighed, giving a tiny shrug in response. However, before Paul could start to show more of his displeasure, Sally came out and took all of his attention. To take advantage of that, Hermes leaned to his left, brushing intimately against Percy and while not obvious to anyone else (but highly obvious to a blushing Percy), the god’s body rested slightly against Percy’s own with the action.

 

The wedding finished off with no further complications, other than the fact Hermes’ body never left his, and then it was the reception. Paul and Sally greeted everyone and then left to mingle around. For that moment, Paul took the chance to drag Hermes off for a private talk. That left Percy to wander around in boredom, snagging appetizers every few seconds. The place they’d rented for the occasion was expansive, so Percy didn’t have a problem preoccupying himself. It was when he’d made it into a deserted, even if it was brightly lit, hallway that things got a little sticky.

 

“Percy, right?”

 

He turned warily, finding Paul’s brother leaning against a wall at the end of the hallway from where he’d just came from.

 

“Yeah, that’s me,” Percy reluctantly confirmed. “Arthur, right?”

 

The man’s hazel eyes narrowed at him, before a smirk graced his mouth as he traveled closer to him.

 

“Your stepdad is always great fun to tease. He’s always given me the best reactions whenever I provoke him, though he is the elder of us,” Arthur drawled. “It’s been the same way growing up. He was the favorite, you know. The one that was supposed to inherit the family business. But then he became a teacher. I still don’t know what the hell he was thinking.”

 

Percy uncomfortably shrugged, though he was getting curious.

 

“Say, the other guy you were close to…you two aren’t attached, are you?” Arthur questioned, cocking an eyebrow as he abruptly changed subjects.

 

Percy’s face colored. “U-uh, um…h-he’s my boyfriend,” he uncertainly said, not used to saying it and still not quite believing it.

 

Arthur leaned in dangerously close, one hand firmly planting itself on his waist and the other coyly toying with the lapels of Percy’s tuxedo.

 

“You don’t sound so sure of that,” Arthur purred, face leaning even closer than his body was. “Is he really?”

 

Suddenly, Arthur was tossed off of him and he saw Hermes standing protectively near him, coldly staring down Paul’s bitter brother. Because, listening to him, Percy understood that a lot of his antagonism stemmed from all this bitterness inside of him. It was a little hard to be angry at the guy, though Percy could definitely say Arthur made him uncomfortable, especially when he tended to invade Percy’s personal space and make advances towards him like that.

 

“Yes, I am. And I would appreciate you keeping your hands to yourself,” Hermes hissed out, narrowing his eyes in warning.

 

“Apologies. I didn’t realize a dog had already pissed on him and claimed territory,” Arthur said coolly, snidely insulting Hermes. He turned on his heel and left the two behind, leaving a relieved Percy and a fuming Hermes.

 

“Must not kill mortal, must not kill mortal,” Hermes chanted to himself, clenching his hands. “I don’t think I’ve ever gone so long with so many mortals taking free passes at me. I swear to Zeus the next one pisses me off, I’m not going to back down,” the god grumbled.

 

“You should be proud; you’re learning restraint,” Percy snarked, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. “Besides, killing or harming Paul would upset me. Killing or harming Arthur would aggravate Paul, even if the two brothers seem like they’re at each other’s throats, and…upset me too. Don’t look at me like that. I think he’s actually a really good guy. Issues, but a good guy. Plus, I don’t want you to think you can just go off on anyone just because you’re a god,” he shrugged. “And then there’s me. Well, I’m special, aren’t I?”

 

Hermes huffed, “I let you get away with decking me all those times. Even when I deserve it, I let no one do that to me. You’re damn straight you’re special.”

 

Percy hmmed, “So what did Paul want with you?”

 

Hermes grimaced, “I had no idea your stepdad could be so creative with threats…death threats to be specific.”

 

“Mm…he is an English teacher, you know. He reads a lot too. It’s no wonder,” Percy said nonchalantly.

 

“Haha. Anyways, this weekend…do you want to go to California? I know you’ve been wanting to visit there,” Hermes brought up.

 

He saw Percy hesitate, but then he smirked and shyly wrapped his arms around one of Hermes’.

 

“Sure. I’ve even got my own personal tour guide.”

 

Hermes sighed dramatically, “Yes, yes, of course. I’ll be your personal tour guide. But you owe me, Percy.”

 

His eyes glinted mischievously and Percy gulped.

 

Hermes leaned closer, nibbling a little on Percy’s neck. Percy’s breath hitched and he moved his head a little out of the way for Hermes, his eyes fluttering close.

 

“I’ll show you all the best places,” Hermes breathed into his ear, moist lips brushing against it with each word, and he shivered from the sensations.

 

“Mmhm. Promise?” Percy licked his lips, biting back a moan as Hermes practically plastered the length of his body against Percy’s.

 

Hermes flicked his tongue against Percy’s ear and then breathed on it.

 

“Of course.”

 

Unable to stand it, Percy grabbed onto Hermes’ hair and yanked the god’s head down, slamming his mouth against Hermes’ and taking charge for once.

 

“Room over here,” was all he muttered before leading them backwards into a door, fumbling with the doorknob until it was open.

 

Percy continued to lead them away from the door, letting Hermes kick it close, and was completely distracted by the god’s roaming hands. They’d made it to the bed before Percy was unceremoniously placed onto the top of it, where the teen was sprawled inelegantly on cotton sheets. But the flushed cheeks, glazed eyes, slightly mischievous smirk that was more along Hermes’ preference and yet looked strangely at home on the boy, made it all worth it. The disheveled hair just made Percy seem all the more adorable. And also, Percy’s sprawled form held a certain charm to it –that not despite but because of Percy’s casual draping all over the place, just ready for Hermes…it was just very, very appealing to him and held an allure that was unique and practically matchless. But Percy always seemed to come up with things that matched previous lovely attractions Hermes really loved about him…

 

Still, Hermes was going to really appreciate and savor this, especially with Percy being so forward himself and that he was so readily accepting Hermes’ own advances.

 

It was very rare and he had to make sure to make the most of it while he could.

 

It was also amusing to note that, despite the implied experiences Percy shared with Luke, he was still very inexperienced and Hermes didn’t mind taking advantage of that. Or teaching him either. And the first time they had full on sex, and it was the only time, Percy was completely drunk.

 

But now he was sober and here and there was no confusion as to who was who.

 

Hermes was Hermes.

 

And he didn’t mind doing one of the things he did best. He even let Percy set the pace, tentative touches down Hermes’ chest, and he could glean the curiosity from the minute touches just as he could feel the hesitant but eager brush of Percy’s lips against his neck. He groaned and nearly lost control, wanting to just rip Percy’s clothes off of him and do away with his body in any way he pleased, but instead he exercised restraint and let Percy keep control.

 

Even when Percy’s arousal rubbed against his, and with his new lover instinctively widening his legs and opening up to him.

 

Control was never a god’s priority.

 

Being with Percy was like a whole other realm of a relationship, he understood. And if he wanted to keep his boyfriend happy, he needed to learn virtues like a man without water, have restraint like a priest, and be patient like a saint. As a god, he was selfish and did whatever pleased him. As Percy’s boyfriend, he needed to learn to change his thinking. He wasn’t just a god anymore.

 

He was Percy’s god.

 

And each moan and exhalation of breath, every “Oh god (fictional though he is)”, and every “Hermes” was like a prayer on Percy’s lips. And every caress of Hermes’ hands down Percy’s sides was just as much worshipful.

 

Percy’s lithe body arched into his and Hermes finally finished unbuttoning the front of Percy’s tux. Percy’s trembling hands removed that last of the cloth on Hermes’ torso, fingers brushing over toned shoulders as Percy’s hands pushed his shirt off of them. The shy lick to Hermes’ collarbone nearly had the man undone. He licked his lips eagerly in response and pulled Percy in closely, sitting him onto his lap and pulling him into a nearly mind-numbing kiss, ravishing his mouth thoroughly and wanting to practically meld with the boy.

 

He was so, so, so close. It was unusual for him, but he hadn’t been with Percy in so long, and he had never needed anyone like he needed Percy. And never to such lengths or extents of devotion he’d been exhibiting, never needing someone so much.

 

What hold did this boy have over him?

 

His thoughts derailed as Percy actually mewled at a particular nuzzle. Hermes admitted that Percy’s neck was a favorite spot of his, but that Percy really was sensitive there and liked it made that little tidbit even better.

 

He had his hand wiggle into Percy’s pants and grasp Percy’s hardened cock when probably the most horrifying thing so far in the time he’d been with Percy happened. His hand inside Percy’s pants and apparent to what he was grasping, shirtless and an obvious erection through his own pants paralleled the debauched picture Percy made, jacket and shirt still on but completely unbuttoned and nearly thrown off his body. Added with the fact he was practically straddling Hermes on a bed and was painfully close to the god’s erection, his face too flushed and panting heavily with an all too wanton look as he clutched tightly onto Hermes’ shoulders –that was not an image Sally Blofis nee Jackson and Paul Blofis needed to see. Especially on their wedding day.

 

If it had been Poseidon, Hermes knew he’d probably been incinerated without delay.

 

Paul bristled and started to stomp forward before Sally touched a hand to his shoulder.

 

“Hold on, dear. I think we all should go back to the party. Percy, we’ll talk about this later, alright? Paul, let’s just enjoy ourselves for now. Lord Hermes, may I ask you to refrain from further molesting my son tonight?” Sally raised a challenging eyebrow at Hermes, and he wasn’t sure if he was imagining that faint mocking smirk.

 

“Of course, ma’am. I’ll try to keep my hands to myself tonight,” Hermes kept a straight face on, not believing either his luck or her reaction.

 

She nodded and steered her new husband out the door, who was still sputtering and confused and upset all at once.

 

Hermes let out the breath he’d been holding, and grinned. “I like your mom.” He could see where Percy got a lot of his spunk and attitude from.

 

Percy winced, “Yeah, well…we’re, er you’re, not off the hook just yet. She’s not unforgivably upset, but that’s because she understands the draw of a god and all. You know –Dad. But I’m still her son so there’s still that.”

 

Hermes brought him back onto his lap, nipping lightly on Percy’s neck.

 

“Completely worth it…Now, can I take that to mean I’m irresistible?” Hermes purred.

 

Percy snorted, “Stop trying to have your ego stroked.”

 

“There’s something else I need stroked.”

 

“Shut up. We need to go back out, if you didn’t catch my mom’s silent warning and order,” Percy sighed in exasperation, slipping away from the god and starting to fix himself up.

 

“Okay, okay,” Hermes acquiesced. “But if I see that Arthur guy near you again, I’m going to incinerate him.”

 

“Behave.”

 

Hermes held up his hands, smirking. Fondly, Percy shook his head and hooked his arms around one of his and led the way back out.

 

With the party still going in full swing and crowded, their absence wasn’t noted. Paul brought Percy, and reluctantly including Hermes, to meet his parents. They were nice folks, Percy observed, but he could see glimpses of what the problem was with Paul’s side of the family. His mother, Angeline Blofis, was very sweet and motherly. But the father had a hard edge to him, and while not completely arrogant and not at all snobby, it was obvious that Derek Blofis held himself to high standards and probably expected that of everyone and everything else. Probably even his own family.

 

Arthur was there as well, but he more really made himself part of the background, swallowing glasses of wine one after the other as he leaned against a stone column carelessly with a scowl and a dark countenance. Paul was animatedly talking to his parents about Sally’s accomplishments proudly, explain their own plans of what they were planning to do now, and other stuff that Percy was only half listening to.

 

Glancing between Paul and Arthur, he could guess that as eldest Paul had probably been the favorite and had been heir to the family fortune before he chose to become a teacher instead. Arthur had probably been second choice for everything.

 

“Paul tells me you’re planning on going to NYU after high school, Percy,” Derek’s voice cut into his thoughts and brought him back into the conversation. “Do you know what you plan on majoring in?”

 

Percy felt his face flush. He knew he wanted to go there, but he had no idea what he was going to do with his life afterwards. But he didn’t really want to say as much, not thinking that it would be acceptable an answer to a man like Derek Blofis. He didn’t want to embarrass Paul because of it either.

 

“Not sure, eh?” Derek correctly guessed anyway. “Do you like the idea of business? I’d always thought Paul would inherit the family business and all, run it when he got older, but even now he’s still adamant on staying as a mere teacher! But it’ll be good to bring in some fresh blood and you’re practically family anyway…so how about it? You could intern during the summer after you graduate, take a job as my other son’s secretary when school starts up, and when you graduate university you’ll already be all set up with a job. Probably help run the business actually!  The company needs someone as reliable and innovative as you, as Paul tells me.”

 

Percy’s head was whirling with the information and the suggestions. But…he actually, strangely enough, kind of liked the idea. He’d never really thought of going into business before, but the idea intrigued him enough that he found himself unconsciously nodding hesitantly.

 

“Brilliant! NYU’s Stern’s School of Business is one of the best and most renowned in the country, and is very competitive. I’ll help you out getting ready to apply and try to get in, and whatever else you might need. If I can’t be there, I’m sure Arthur can substitute for me, right Arthur?” Derek looked at his younger son unblinkingly, his friendly smile to Percy turning just a bit stiff.

 

“Of course,” Arthur murmured, bowing his head slightly in agreement. Then he went back to gazing out into the yard.

 

Percy gazed around hesitantly, pausing at Arthur. He really hoped Arthur wasn’t too upset and didn’t think that Percy was trying to take the company away from him or something. Though he really did like his new plans in his life…

 

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“Lord Hermes, would you be so kind as to not visit Percy tonight?” the knowing look and tone was all Hermes needed to hear from Sally.

 

Having asked Hermes to stay away for the night an hour ago after the reception ended, Sally and Paul sat Percy on the couch and faced him.

 

“Hm, after all these years and every other trouble, I think I’ve been remiss in having forgotten to give you ‘The Talk,’” Sally said thoughtfully. “Though we might have to alter it a bit due to the…ahem,” she turned slightly pink, “nature of your partner. And I don’t mean just about the god part in all this.”

 

Percy and Paul stared at her horrified.

 

Paul coughed, “Well, I’ll just leave you two to it. I’ll be in the kitchen –”

 

Just as he got up to pass her, Sally rolled her eyes and grabbed his sweater, tugging him back down and sitting him roughly onto the couch.

 

“Not so fast, Paul. Think of this as your first real foray into parenting…Your first real task as a parent,” Sally patted his back in cold comfort.

 

“Yeah,” Percy snarked, unable to help it. “Do your first job as a dad, Paul.”

 

Both of them grinned eerily in unison at the helpless man.

 

Paul pouted, “Aw, come on. This is a mom and son tag team. I can’t win. Besides, my dad never gave me ‘The Talk.’” He shivered.

 

“Then how’d you learned about the birds and the bees, honey?” Sally smirked.

 

He twitched, “It was an awkward affair. He tried, but after the first couple of times he opened and closed his mouth, and the other times where he spouted out some weird explanation that made no sense, he just shoved a bunch of pornographic magazines in a brown paper bag and shoved them at me before disappearing.”

 

Mother and son couldn’t help bursting into laughter at his expense.

 

“Alright, Paul. You can just sit there and interject whenever you feel like. But you have to stay. You know, for moral support,” Sally teased. Then she turned to her son. “Well, there’s the birds and the bees, but since you’re dating a man that would be a moot point. Though, just in case, we’ll throw that in there just so you know about it and so you can be prepared in case you get a girl pregnant.”

 

Both males twitched.

 

“The flower to flower thing is for females, and the snakes metaphor is a little weird…so, let’s take the clinical route! Percy, when two men want to have sexual intercourse, usually one man takes his penis and inserts it into the other man’s anal hole –”

 

Percy started turning into an unnamed shade of red.

 

“–There are of course different positions to use, not just with man to man, woman to woman, etc. etc. –”

 

He could swear his throat was closing up and horror was creeping up on him again.

 

“–Like Slot A and Slot B as common venues, and we just talked about Slot C. Though Slot A is more about females, so I guess for you it would be more like Screw A –”

 

Oh gods, if there was any a time, he would gladly be happy if Zeus just fried him right now.

 

After a painstaking hour, Percy walked into his room in a zombie-like state, mind numb from all the information his mother had lectured into his mind. Did he mention just how weird hearing all of that from his mother was? That Friday night was the worse…

 

He plopped onto his bed and wiped his mind as much as he could, wishing he could just forget that last hour from his mind. He’d lightly dozed off when 1:25 hit and the bed dipped slightly. Warm muscular arms wrapped around his waist comfortably, and a moist mouth kissed the back of his neck repeatedly.

 

“Right on time, hm?”

 

Percy refrained from turning around in the man’s arms and hitting him upside the head.

 

“Didn’t my mom warn you off for the night?”

 

“Ah, but it is not night anymore, is it? It’s early morning. The next day. The day after. A new day –” Hermes was cut off when Percy had enough and shut him up, finally turning around and kissed him quiet.

 

“I’m really enjoying myself right now,” the god’s eyes were twinkling.

 

Percy echoed by rolling his. “Don’t get used to it.”

 

Hermes sighed in mock disappointment, “Ah well. It’ll be good while it lasts. Anyways, how about California? Do you still want to go?”

 

“Sure,” Percy perked up. “I don’t know if they’ll let me, but if you can swing it and persuade them, I’m still up for it.”

 

“Good, get packed. They’ll be fine with it, you’ll see,” Hermes nodded surely.

 

The demigod raised an eyebrow at him, “Last time I checked, they were pissed at you. Very pissed.”

 

“Well, we’ll just have to be on our best behavior, won’t we?” Hermes winked. “Take a shower, get packed, and by the time you’re done, everything will be settled. I’ll take care of everything, so take as much time as you want.”

 

With an offer like that, how could Percy refuse?

 

So he got ready and when he got out, he was confused, shocked, and wary of the scene he walked in on. Hermes was making pancakes, glancing nervously every once in a while at Sally, who was smiling politely as she sat at the table with a mug of coffee in front of her, while Paul sat next to her and was strangely staring at her in awe.

 

“It’s very nice of you to be cooking for us, Lord Hermes. It’s not every day a god cooks you breakfast,” Sally commented, her smile looking a little off now that Percy looked closer.

 

Hermes smiled hesitantly, “Yes, well…It’s the least I could do. Thank you for letting me take Percy for the weekend and all…”

 

“No problem,” Sally’s eyes closed and she tilted her head to the side as she kept smiling at Hermes.

 

Was it him or did his mom actually look kind of creepy for a second?

 

Afterwards, Hermes practically dragged him out and helped him get his stuff into the car quickly, taking his keys and slipping into the driver’s seat without a word.

 

“You okay?” Percy asked as he slipped into the passenger seat.

 

Hermes shivered, “Paul’s got the mind, but there’s just something about your mother that is just infinitely more scarier…”

 

He blinked, “Wait…she threatened you?”

 

“More or less,” Hermes grumbled. “I was making breakfast and all, as a peace offering, and I asked her about taking you to California. Paul was quick to say no, but she surprisingly said okay. And then she said that there was really nothing she could do to stop me from having sex with you, being a god and all, but she asked if I could at least try to sometimes refrain from my urges when it came to you. Then she was saying that though there was nothing she could do about us being intimate, immortal or not, she told me just exactly what she was going to do to me if I ever hurt you in any way.”

 

Percy nearly gawked, “Paul was one thing, but I had no idea my mom had it in her.”

 

“Zeus, your family may be a little more crazier than mine.”

 

The demigod snorted, “Yeah. Just wait until Poseidon and the others come into the picture.”

 

Hermes froze, hand still reaching out to turn the key as he was still bent nearly over the wheel.

 

“Hermes? Hermes! Are you okay?”

 

“…”

 

“Oh. Did I break you?”