𝐆𝐎𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 ᵉ*ᵗᵐ

17 ┃ 𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲

━ ⭑─⭒━

━ ⭒─⭑━

You stumbled as the familiar stone corridor of Ithaca's palace came into focus, the sharp, golden light streaming through the high windows blinding after the muted greys of the Fields. The air here felt thick, humid compared to the cold emptiness you'd left behind. Your legs wobbled beneath you, the ground solid but foreign, and you swayed unsteadily.

A low chuckle echoed beside you. "Whoa, there, little musician," Hermes teased, one hand shooting out to steady your shoulder while the other gripped his staff. His fingers were warm, firm enough to stop you from tipping over. "You're back on solid ground now. Don't go planting your face in the floor just yet."

You blinked up at him, your heart still racing as you tried to gather your bearings. His golden eyes sparkled with amusement, the corner of his mouth twitching upward into a knowing smirk. "I'd say that was a smooth landing, all things considered."

You let out a shaky breath, taking a step back from his grasp. "Thank you," you murmured, your voice hoarse from the whirlwind of emotions still churning inside you. Your hands fidgeted at your sides as you glanced anywhere but his face, feeling awkwardly vulnerable under his teasing gaze.

Hermes' chuckle softened, and his expression grew unexpectedly fond. He leaned down slightly, his hand brushing lightly over your hair. His touch was fleeting, more like smoothing down the edges of a stray thought than offering comfort. "Anytime, little musician," he said softly, his voice carrying the same warmth you'd felt during your journey.

Your breath hitched at the sincerity in his tone, and when you dared to glance up at him, you caught the faintest trace of something more—something unspoken—beneath his smirk. But before you could dwell on it, he straightened, rolling his shoulders with an exaggerated flourish.

"Well," Hermes said, his grin returning full force as he adjusted his cloak. "Duty calls." With a small jump, the wings on his sandals began to flutter, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. "Don't get into too much trouble without me, alright?"

And with a playful wink, he disappeared in a blur of red and gold, the faint hum of his laughter lingering in the corridor long after he was gone.

You stood there, frozen in place, your eyes locked on the spot where he had been. It was as though the space still held a faint echo of his presence, the air warmer and lighter than it should have been.

Your heart raced in your chest, pounding with a mixture of awe, exhaustion, and disbelief. You felt like you'd just stepped out of a vivid dream, one so real that it left a lingering weight in your chest and a strange ache in your limbs.