Wishing You'd Come Sweeping In

 

When Percy stared at his door, sometimes he could imagine Hermes bursting through or sneaking in, like the god was prone to do. Sometimes, he’d even imagine Hermes’ weight on his bed at night, his arms ghosting around his middle. But then his eyes would open and he’d realized he’d pathetically imagined it.

 

Maria was his girlfriend, but he honestly felt more for the god.

 

It wasn’t right and it wasn’t fair to her. Percy had to make it right one way or the other. He couldn’t date her when he didn’t feel for her, even though he had no idea what did he actually feel for Hermes. But though he was confused about what he felt, that didn’t mean he didn’t feel anything for the possessive god.

 

He just didn’t understand exactly what it was or how deep.

 

For the hundredth something time, he glanced over at his phone. This time he just stared at it before he tentatively grabbed it and began typing three small words that meant a great deal to him.

 

I miss you.

 

Percy swallowed harshly, staring at the words, his finger hovering over the ‘send’ button. Instead, he just pursed his lips and threw himself back on his bed, smothering his face into his pillow as he clutched tightly onto his phone. Unnoticing, he’d accidentally hit the button and sent the message. He fell asleep like that, not knowing that Hermes appeared in his home, disgruntled as he shuffled in unhappily.

 

His phone vibrated with an alert and he glanced at it, taking a double take as he saw the message was from Percy. He hesitantly opened it and saw the words he so wanted to hear. He took a pause, wondering if he really should, but decided that he’d already done it so why not now.

 

Maybe he was hesitating because Percy had said something to him. Such a simple thing made so big a difference…

 

In Percy’s room, he stared at the sleeping boy and winced. Obviously, Percy had gone to bed upset, if the way the boy had gone to sleep was any indication. And it also indicated that message hadn’t been meant to be sent. Still, that it had been made at all spoke how troubled Percy had been feeling all along. And since he hadn’t been bugged by Athena for awhile, that meant that Percy hadn’t had anyone to talk to.

 

He sighed, threading his fingers through Percy’s hair before leaning down and kissing his temple.

 

“I’m sorry for giving you so much trouble,” he murmured. “But I really do care about you.”

 

He wanted to stay. He wanted to make it up to Percy. But right then, he didn’t know what to do, and his pride killed him at saying two simple words to Percy’s face. At least on this issue. And still a part of him thought he’d been justified in his reaction, knowing that Percy belonged to him and no one was allowed to just casually be comfortable around him unless they were Hermes. Then again, he knew that was the possessive and one-tracked mind of his –the one that got him into this mess in the first place. Now he was being too prideful to admit to it.

 

“Hey, if we ever get together again,” gods forbid that they didn’t, “I promise I’ll take you to California. I know you’ve been wanting to go there.” Well, especially because of Annabeth, but he knew that Percy had wanted to go sightseeing there one of these days.

 

Hermes gazed longingly one more time before disappearing, and wishing that things hadn’t gone as bad as it did. It probably could be resolved now if he wasn’t so stupidly stubborn.

 

He left and Percy felt colder in his sleep.

 

The next morning, Percy woke up feeling like crap. The shower he took only made him feel a little better, but not enough to completely soothe his aches and pain. Most of which were also emotional and mental.

 

He had to at least be friends with Hermes again. Something inside of him had become so used to Hermes being there; he had come to need the god as much as Hermes proclaimed he needed him. He couldn’t seem to be without Hermes in his life.

 

And the first thing he had to do to make the god happy was to break up with Maria, like he’d been thinking about.

 

“You have to understand, Percy, that when you get into something like this with a god…you need to know how we are. We tend to be…very possessive, prideful to the point of conceitedness…and most of all selfish.

 

“It is something you will have to keep in mind…and put up with if you wish to continue whatever it is you have with Hermes.”

 

Well, looks like he’ll have to be the pathetic mortal that makes excuses for the god this time around. One of them has to be willing to make sacrifices to keep what they have and make it work.

 

That’s why, as he looked into Maria’s eyes, he strangely didn’t feel as much remorse and guilt as he thought he would. He was sorry, of course. He was sad he had to hurt such a nice person as Maria, and that he had let her in as much as he had, knowing that Hermes would (in some way, at the time) be more important. But he didn’t love her, plain as fact.

 

Not that he loved Hermes, of course.

 

He forced his thoughts away from that line of thought and buried it deep, refusing to consider or even skim the possibilities of the implications of that statement.

 

“You look like someone killed your pet or something,” Maria joked, seeing Percy looking serious and only nervous.

 

“Can we speak, Maria?”

 

That tone set her off, making her nervous and confused. She swallowed anxiously, nodding and following him.

 

Percy threaded his hand through his hair several times, obviously torn about what he was about to say, but didn’t seem to be willing to back down from what he needed to talk to her about.

 

“I don’t want to use the stupid ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ excuse,” she froze, he grimaced, “But I’m sorry, Maria. I like you…but only as a friend. I don’t want to lead you on; I had to tell you now before we became even more involved and you would have become even more invested in this relationship than you are now.”

 

She flinched, “You figured this out when you first kissed me.”

 

Percy bit his lip, “What –”

 

“Maybe I shouldn’t have asked you to. If kissing me had started this whole thing, then maybe I should’ve put it off. At least…at least we could’ve been together longer, if I had never asked you to.”

 

“I’m sorry,” Percy whispered again.

 

She shook her head, “Please, Percy. I can’t…I just need some time to myself. I can’t be with you right now.”

 

Percy nodded reluctantly, letting her walk away from him. He sighed and looked up at the sky mournfully.

 

“What am I getting myself into?”

 

By the time school started, it had already spread about the mysterious breakup. Everyone was guessing to the reason why, or had started speculating about what had happened, but neither Percy nor Maria was speaking to anyone about it.

 

When the last class of the day rolled around, Percy was equally nervous and reluctantly excited. His stomach was churning and he felt like his chest was being squeezed too tight, but he couldn’t deny that there was a part of him that was really happy.

 

Unfortunately, his slight high crashed down on him.

 

Hermes avoided interacting with him the entire time. The god went on as stoically and nonchalantly as he had been the past few weeks since their fight. He didn’t even look at Percy. Whenever the god’s eyes would pass over him, he would feel worse with each time.

 

‘Stupid, stupid bastard. What more do you want?’

 

Percy couldn’t help the urge to cry, but he refused to do so in class. He couldn’t, not in front of Hermes.

 

‘Jerk. I’m already miserable and acting like an emotional idiot for you. I’m giving up and all you do is stomp on my feelings more.’

 

“I’m putting up with your stupid attitude and demands. Why are you still treating me like crap?” Percy whispered under his breath wretchedly. Unable to help himself, he buried his face into his arms on the desk and his body lightly shook with his crying.

 

He missed the slight tensing of Hermes’ body as he heard what Percy said, and the god sitting heavily at his desk.

 

After school, Percy trudged to his soon to be stepdad’s classroom, waiting for said man to finish up. They were going to their tuxedo fitting, for the wedding. As he waited, he was surprised to see Hermes quietly trailing into the room. Hermes looked up and their eyes caught for a second before both of them looked away awkwardly.

 

“Okay. I. Am. Done,” Paul proclaimed before he noticed Hermes at the door. “Oh! Lord Hermes, is something wrong?”

 

“No. Percy said you needed an extra groomsman. Do you still need one?” Hermes smiled a friendly smile, speaking calmly.

 

Inwardly, he wanted to run away. He didn’t know Percy was having similar thoughts.

 

“Thanks a lot, Lord Hermes! It’s very appreciated.”

 

Paul drove the odd group to the place, not noticing the tense atmosphere. Hermes sat stiffly up front with Paul, while Percy slumped unhappily in the back. The god focused on staring ahead and Percy was just darting his eyes everywhere but at Hermes.

 

When they got there, the employees immediately got them set up and they were each separated into their own dressing rooms to change. Percy was staring at himself in the mirror, trying to tie his tie on right and getting frustrated with it. Warm and calloused fingers gently nudged his hands away, and started fixing it correctly, movements slow and steady. He could feel Hermes’ hot breath against the back of his neck, and his own face flushing red.

 

Percy didn’t want to look at himself in the mirror, but he was stuck in front of it and watching himself look too wanton for his liking. Hermes didn’t seem to mind, even with a serious and blank of emotion face, moving closer and sliding one hand down Percy’s front to brush his fingers teasingly on the inside of his thigh, the other slowly moving up to grip Percy’s hair and roughly use it to pull Percy’s head back and even baring his neck out to the god.

 

 At any second, Hermes’ lips were about to descend onto his neck, at the same time as his hand was going to touch Percy’s cock through his pants. He paused, listening to Percy’s heavy breathing and the boy’s fast beating heart, closing his eyes to hear it peacefully and gratifyingly. The sounds made him satisfied and happy, and he missed this.

 

“I miss you too,” Hermes murmured, lips slightly brushing against Percy’s neck as he spoke.

 

His eyes opened lazily and Percy could see the flash of want and need in the god’s eyes. Percy quivered and bared his neck more in offering. Just as Hermes’ hands were about to reach their destinations, the sound of Paul approaching broke through to them and Hermes threw himself across the room, straightening up and leaning against the mirror on the opposite side of the room, looking indifferent and like nothing had happened.

 

That left Percy to lean forward and hold himself on the mirror in front of him, still flushed and eyes glazed. He was just starting to catch his breath when Paul walked into the circular mirror room.

 

“Percy! Are you alright?” Paul rushed to his side. “You look sick. Are you feeling okay?”

 

Percy’s face turned even redder in embarrassment.

 

“I’m okay. I’ve just…been feeling stressed out lately,” his eyes met Hermes at that and the two stared at each other for a second, before Percy broke it off to focused back on Paul.

 

“Let’s finish up here and then we can leave.”

 

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The wedding was finally here, and Percy could tell Paul was extremely nervous. He would’ve been with his mom, but Sally had insisted that he stay with Paul and offer him support. Hermes was already there, idly looking passed the window as Paul paced back and forth and Percy watched him in amusement.

 

“It’ll be fine,” Percy reassured him.

 

“Sally’s not going anywhere. It’s supposed to be one of the best days of your life. Relax,” Hermes added.

 

“One of?” Paul blinked.

 

“There’s also the day of your future kids’ birth,” Hermes smirked.

 

Paul blanched and just started pacing faster. Percy sighed, but exchanged a strained amused look with Hermes. Things were still tense between them, and they still hadn’t talked since the incident in the dressing room, but at least things were somewhat better.

 

“Knock, knock, dear brother,” a voice drawled and both Hermes and Percy saw Paul grimace and flinch.

 

Everyone turned to the door, seeing someone looking slightly similar to Paul.

 

If Paul looked like a movie star, his brother looked like a model.

 

“Arthur,” Paul greeted stiffly.

 

“Is that anyway to greet your baby brother after not seeing one another for so long?” Arthur grinned, though there was a noticeable mocking tint to the grin.

 

Arthur’s hazel eyes swept over the room, noting the others and catching Percy, pausing for a moment at him before moving back to Paul.

 

“Why are you here?” Paul narrowed his eyes at his brother.

 

Arthur yawned, “It’s your wedding, isn’t it? Mom and Dad are here, and we’re family. I don’t see why I shouldn’t be.”

 

Paul looked like he really wanted to protest that and start yelling at his brother, but instead Paul twitched and forced a smile onto his face.

 

“Of course. I’d be happy for you to be here, Arthur,” Paul gritted out.

 

Arthur’s mouth twitched upwards, a glint of triumph in his eyes. His eyes trailed back to Percy and Percy had the urge to fidget under such an intense gaze. Suddenly, the man was in front of him, his long and quick strides allowing him to close the distance in a matter of seconds.

 

“And who is this exquisite specimen?” Arthur purred, leaning over Percy as Percy leaned back in dismay, face automatically turning red in embarrassment and discomfort.

 

Alarmed, Paul scrambled closer, pulling Arthur away.

 

“Stop that!” Paul glared at him. “Leave him alone. He’s my stepson and should be treated with respect. Let’s go. There are several things I wanted to talk to you about.”

 

Arthur shrugged, glancing back at Percy.

 

“Dear brother, you have all the luck,” Arthur sighed. “Alright, alright. Let’s go.”

 

But before he turned to leave with his brother, he quickly planted a firm kiss against Percy’s unresponsive mouth, moving back and allowing Percy to catch a glimpse of the calculating gaze the older man had. Paul made a strangled noise before he upsettingly dragged his brother away.

 

Percy flinched, but then remembered Hermes. He hesitatingly stared at the god, seeing the god frozen in shock before quickly turning to look furious. Percy strangely didn’t seem frightened or dismayed at Hermes’ reaction. Instead, his mind was racing and he continued watching, before tentatively walking over to the god.

 

He had felt absolutely nothing.

 

Percy moved to the top of this toes, closing his eyes and pressing his lips surely against Hermes’.

 

There was no doubting or mistaking the explosion of feelings he felt right then.