Love's gonna get you down (Apollo)

[Hermes]

Hermes was ready for the odd magic of the portal and stepped out of the opening in stride. Feeling smug he took a few easy strides forward to take in his surroundings only to trip over a broken chair and nearly fall. From the phone in his pocket, hissed laughter could be heard. Irritated and embarrassed, Hermes reached in and clicked his phone into silence mode. This hissing ceased and he smiled. Looking back down to address what had caused him to trip, Hermes quickly realized he was standing in an abandoned building.

"This can't be right" He said, circling around slowly. He was certain that portal was going to take him to the school. The school always had a certain type of power to it, not unlike the gods, yet different enough to recognize. He saw old tables and chairs, a meal that looked like it had been sitting there for as long as he had been away from...the school. This was the school? Had it really just been sitting here the last one hundred years? Hermes spun again, trying to get his bearings, he wasn't quiet used to his new body yet. This was the staff room. Hermes pulled a vine off one of the chairs and fondly recalled harassing many of the teachers int this room. Ah yes, the day when he was headmaster. He would play the best pranks on his staff. For some reason they never quite enjoyed it like he did. Everything was so great before this place went and became and battle ground. Now look at it! Hermes had been hoping to return and see it still in full swing, with new and old people to flirt with. Instead he was watching a rat tear into what he assumed used to be some kind of sandwich.

With a look of disappointment, Hermes considered leaving. He could very well be the only one here. He did all this dressing up for nothing. He pushed the glasses he was wearing up on his face and crossed his arms moodily. Re reached in his pocket, thinking he might ask Martha about it, but then he sensed something. Someone else's presence. He looked up and scanned the room, but said nothing. He didn't want to give away he had any abilities and he couldn't be sure if this was normal thing mortals could do.

[Apollo]

Where were all the people?

Here he was in his gorgeous new body and no one, especially young men in glasses, was around to appreciate it. Seriously, all this wasted effort and the most attention he had received so far was from a particularly gnarly vine that had latched on to him for a bit. He didn’t like, didn’t like it one bit, it reminded him of nymphs and he hated nymphs.

Feeling lonely he had headed for the one part of the school that always cheered him right up, the gymnasium. It had to be around here somewhere…the only thing was…he couldn’t remember exactly where it was. He opened the door to his right and rather than looking inside first, stepped in to the room in all his glory,(adding a little extra sunlight behind him for effect) and said, “your prayers have been answered!”

He looked around the room…it was just a normal room…this wasn’t the gym.

“Oh,” he said, his shoulders sagging a little.

But wait! His face shifted to that of delight. There was a young man here!

Plastering on his most sunny smile he leaned against a nearby table and said, “why hello there gorgeous, do you have a name? Or can I call you mine?”

[Hermes]

Suddenly the room was very bright and Hermes instinctively shielded his eyes before turning around to look. That's what humans do right? Sometimes Hermes shielded his eyes from the sun just to insult Apollo if he thought he was paying attention. There was a loud booming voice that Hermes dared to think sounded familiar. When the radiance of sunshine died down after a moment, Hermes focused on the figure. Hold on a second. If it walks like a sun god and talks like a sun god...

Holy mother of me

It couldn't be. Of all the people he was hoping to run into back here, he didn't even come close to making the list. Not to mention Hermes had to deal with him back home, he didn't need his ugly mug back at this school. This school was supposed to be a new adventure. Not an adventure he had been tricking and fighting his whole damn life. Here he was looking more fabulous than ever and it was being wasted on his annoying older brother.

Hermes stared at him grumpily, not assuming he'd tricked him. He'd forgotten just how good he was at his job. Apollo was smiling and leaning and Hermes prepared for the "well well well" or the terrible insult. Hermes wasn't in the mood for any of this nonsense, he wanted to find pretty people and lay down traps for old friends. He wanted to haunt whoever was the new headmaster so they had just as hard of a time as he did! And yet, it wasn't looking like he could do any of that anyway because as far as he knew there wasn't a single other soul around except himself and the god of a ball of gas lurking in front of him.

Apollo opened his mouth and Hermes starred at him, standing his ground. Yet, the insult didn't come. It was...it was a terrible pick up line. What poor form, first of all. Hermes considered himself a master pick up artist, he'd managed to seduce Aphrodite herself and produce Eros the god of love in the process. This was just embarrassing. What a terrible effort. Wait, hold on. Hermes glanced around him and then it occurred to him that this sad excuse for flirting was directed at him.

Ah, yes He thought, a disguise worthy to fool a god. He smiled for a moment, smug and then really thought about it.

Gross.

His pocket buzzed and he knew Martha and George where having a field day over this. Luckily, putting the phone on vibrate also silenced their telepathy for a time. Oh dear Zeus, how was he supposed to handle this? He wasn't about to play along, but he couldn't let Apollo know he's true identity. Surely his brother would instantly go around shouting about it.

"Call me..." oh no he hadn't thought of name yet. He thought hard for Martha to give him a name, but recalled he'd silenced her. What a fool. He was usually smoother than this, but Apollo wasn't just some mortal he was trying to trick. When he had gone out with the intention of tricking another god there was planning involved. He tried to think of names he'd called himself before. "Mer-" He stopped himself, he couldn't say his name was Mercury, that was still his actual name, just in Roman form. He cleared his throat, adjusting his glasses and trying to remain in character. He was sweet and studious. He could so this.

"Mercutio." Hermes concluded. He kept his distance, glancing around the room for a normal human exit, of course Apollo was blocking the only one. Hermes tried not to whimper.

[Apollo]

Look at him, so nervous, just how Apollo liked them. There was just the briefest hesitation, like he had forgotten on his own name and it had been so wonderfully cute. If he had more battery in his phone he would have taken a picture of his little lost expression, however he had limited battery and hadn’t yet taken enough selfies of himself yet.

“Mercutio,” said Apollo, drawing the name out, “yes, I love it, ‘I see Queen Mab hath been with you tonight’.”

He moved even closer to the young man, running his hand along the table, until he realised he was running his hand through dust and that was just gross, not sexy. “I am Apollo, god of the sun, the arts and…young men.”

When he was in front of him he said, “And here’s me thinking you were google, because I just found what I was searching for.”

[Hermes]

Hermes felt like engaging in a childish round of fake gagging when Apollo uttered a line from Romeo and Juliet. While Apollo was the god of art and poetry, Hermes was just a side step away as a patron to literature. They both knew Shakespeare very well. He was very famous of his plays and poetry, but Hermes remained bitter that none of his genius was ever attributed to him. Who did they think helped him come up with such a clever characters as Mercutio? Certainly not Apollo Yet here he was fawning over the name, probably because he thought it was the Fates who would have sent him someone so perfect and with such a clever name. Well that was just too bad because there was not a chance in Hades Apollo was winning this cute kid over to his side. Still, Hermes couldn't blow his cover.

He tried to smile in response to the line. Wow, congrats, you know one of the most famous Shakespeare lines in history, he thought. Instead the smile remained, but he said nothing. Apollo was too easy to fool, was he mistaking this for lovesick jitters? Hermes was off his game and the giant fireball still hadn't caught on. Holy Zeus and now he was moving closer. Hermes knew that look his brother had plastered on his stupid face. Like a hunter moving in for the kill. How subtle and elegant Apollo's pick up game was. Like a bull in a china shop.

Young men. Hermes had to use all his power to keep from cringing when Apollo emphasized the words. "You don't say" Hermes all but squeaked. How much worse could this get? Much worse, obviously, because then Apollo gave him the dumbest pick up line he had ever heard. His heart stopped and his eyes widened. Don't laugh, don't laugh, he'll ruin everything if he knows. Hermes released a giant breath. "Wow..." He said, rolling his eyes at the ground. Looking back up he adjusted his tone to one of mild awe. "Wow! That's sooo..." He cleared his throat, side stepping away from Apollo and trying to edge toward the exit. "Ah...yes..well...It was good talking to you" He said awkwardly. That was still in character, right? Right. Please let me leave.

[Apollo]

This was going so well!!! Those cute little nervous faces he was making were simply adorable.

However then he was trying to leave and that wasn’t so good, Apollo frowned, throwing in a little extra pout for good measure, “So soon? But we’ve only just met?”

Which…was when something started to…seem a little off. Something was…not right here. It might just be a feeling but he liked to thing that he was, on occasion, good at picking up feelings. You couldn’t be an amazing patron of the arts like him without understanding feelings and right now, the radar was pinging. But why? Everything was as it should be, cute young man being all nervous and Apollo coming after home. Oh as usual the cute young man would eventually make an excuse to leave, then Apollo would chase but…in between then Apollo would…change. Usually in the first few minutes he could pick up what his new infatuation wanted, how best to appear in order to appeal to them. With Merlin it was a big muscular blonde who he could have a bit of back and forth with, with Milo it was someone who was interested in his work (although he had never finished that particular chase) and with this one…nope…he couldn’t figure it out…which was…odd…

Still he was super CUTE!

Apollo changed tactics and leaning back on the table he said, “such a pity…and I was going to share with you that thing I found, but…I suppose you’re not interested.”

[Hermes]

"Ah, well" Hermes began to back away, taking fulls steps toward the door now. He kept smiling at Apollo apologetically. He was feeling more confident now, his way out just a few more steps away. "I'm sure I'll see you around" he quipped, figuring Apollo would like the sound of that. Little did he know he was speaking to the last person he would ever want to see again. This would all make beautiful ammo later, whenever Hermes decided to reveal himself in some grand manner. He would make some comment that only he could know and then watch the horror sink into Apollo's eyes as he melted into a form his brother would recognize. Hermes smiled brighter at the thought of it, then turned around, just a single step away from leaving the room. Apollo spoke again.

Hermes froze in the threshold. Had Apollo recognized him? Why would he choose this tactic above all else unless he had. No, no, if he knew he wouldn't still be acting this way. Hermes tried to reassure himself. Surely Apollo would have burst into some rage if he'd realized he'd been duped, yet again, by the handsome and clever trickster god. He was still trying to flirt, then. Hermes knew this and, yet, he was curious. It was a trick, Hermes could see it from a mile away, but he loved secrets so dearly. What could it hurt to just stay a moment longer? He could learn what Apollo was hiding and use it against him at a later date.

Hermes turned his head to the side, still halfway out the door. "Found?" he asked. He turned all the was around to face him again, but dared not leave the doorway. He figured he should be able to make a quick exit should Apollo try something more than flirting. Sure the gods never had much of a problem sleeping with each other, but some gods Hermes regarded as siblings where others felt completely unrelated. It was a muddled sort of mess that you could only understand if you lived among them on Mount Olympus.

"Tell me, won't you?" He said, trying to not sound as demanding as he felt like being. His tone was more eager, more curious.

[Apollo]

Ah ha! It had worked. When it doubt, dangle a nice vague carrot.

Apollo turned his back on the boy so that he wouldn’t see the grin on his face, “no, no it’s fine, I understand, you have other things to do, other people to see no doubt. Someone like you surely has many people demanding to have your attention. You seem the type, smart, handsome, intelligent.”

Reaching one of the tables he turned around again, carefully rearranging his feelings so that he looked disappointed and jumped up and sat cross legged on the table. “I mean, the room did have a lot of vines around it, but it was easy enough to clear away, and when I did…oh…then I found something good. But…no, no you go ahead, I wouldn’t want to take up any more of your time.”

[Hermes]

Yes, in fact, there were a lot of people demanding Hermes' attention. He'd probably missed 4,000 calls since he'd put his phone on silent. He could almost hear Martha screaming in his head that he was falling ten years behind each minute he spent here messing about with Apollo. But, he was pretty sure it was his imagination this time and not telekinesis. Even if he hadn't muted her, he would probably be ignoring her. He did that often. She was just 'all work and no play' all of the time. Hermes had't returned to work. It was playtime, starting here with this idiot Apollo and whatever information his was withholding from his much more intelligent brother.

"Ah, gee, thanks" Hermes said, rubbing the back of his head bashfully. What a load of crap, Hermes already knew he was wonderful and amazing. It sounded sour coming from Apollo's lips. He probably was making this secret up, but Hermes had to know. He was obsessed with secrets and intelligence. How was he supposed to set up spectacular pranks when everything had changed at this silly school? If Apollo had even the slightest bit of information over him he had to have it. However, Hermes was not patient and he wasn't particularly enjoying this game. If he had known Apollo was going to be here, sure, but Hermes would rather die than flirt with him, yet that was the game he had fallen into.

Hermes took a few steps back into the room in spite of himself, irritated that Apollo was being so difficult. He controlled his face to continue appearing excited, but it was difficult to keep the impatience out of it. "What? what was it?" he rushed, staring at Apollo with fiery eyes. Stay calm, he thought, but Apollo was making it so darn difficult.

[Apollo]

Apollo grinned at him, pretended to think about it for a moment and then went, “Oh alright then, I’ll show you. Come with me.”

It was a stroke of luck that he had just found something that the young man might find interesting, well, that he hoped the young man might find interesting. It was the reason he had continued his search, looking for someone else to show it too, and as always, preferably a handsome young man…in fact…super preferably one particular young man. A young man with a handsome smile, glasses and an eagerness for history and the unknown…yes…he had been very much hoping to bump into that particular young man.

So much so that as he got the door of the staff room he hesitated. He was still in pursuit of another, the chase had never been completed, he had never really caught his young man…in fact…he had thought about him often…almost as often as he thought about…a dark look crossed his face…the nymph. Damn cupid.

He stopped and turned round to look at Mercutio with a sorrowful look, “My dear young man…I am sorry…but…I have just realised that I cannot show you…you see…my heart is already a flutter at the thought of another, and as tempting an enticing as you are…this particular show and tell…well…I do not think it is for you…I am sorry to disappoint you so but…yes…I think…I think what I found is really for another, I know he will appreciate it and…well…I cannot wait to see his little face when I show him…I hope you understand.”

[Hermes]

Success. It was so sweet and almost too easy to obtain. Of course Apollo wanted to show him something and Hermes was extremely attractive, so it only took a little nudging to get what he wanted. Apollo was so stupid. All he cared about was sleeping with adorable men. Hermes was wiser. Well, at least, he didn't limit himself to just adorable dudes. There were so many wonderful ladies out there too. Apollo was really missing out. Then again it was probably for the best, Hermes didn't want to subject the other half of the population to her brother as well.

Hermes was too busy stroking his ego and thinking of awful names to call his brother to see what was coming. He was smiling now and trying not to look too smug. Apollo moved toward the door and Hermes made way to let him through. Now he would see what treasures his brother was hiding and they could become his. It didn't really matter what it was so long as it belong to Apollo and Hermes could take it. What a wonderful to claim something someone else owns as your own. Hearts, for example.

Then Apollo halted and turned around. He looked disappointed. Hermes cocked his head to one side and narrowed his eyes slightly. Was this a trick? What was happening here? It sounded very genuine to be a trick. Not to mention, Hermes could feel that he was telling the truth. He was rather good at spotting lies, after all. Was Apollo...in love with some mortal? Hermes eyes lit up. What had his son, Eros, been up to lately? Despite being angry he wouldn't get to see what Apollo was hiding, this was a new and wonderful truth that he could use.

Hermes fixed his features into one of disappointment and leaned against the wall beside the door. "I understand," he remarked softly, seriously. A knowing look grew on his face. It was a tired and longing look, a look he had found on his face genuinely a few times, but not without regret. This time he was making a show. He glanced at the ground then back up at Apollo.

"You're in love."

[Apollo]

Apollo nodded solemnly.

“I am afraid so,” he said with a sigh, “being the god that I am, I fall quickly and I fall hard and this particular object of my affections…well…he is the one that got away, the one that was just within my grasp only for him to be literally snatched away from me.”

He crossed over to where the other younger man was standing and with a fond smile said, “I wonder if he has changed much since we last spoke. He was telling me about his exciting trip to Atlantis, oh it was wonderful, he was so enthusiastic, I thought I was going to melt right there and then. Afterwards I was going to show him the great ‘Fate Tapesteries’…but…we never got round to it.”

He looked at the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder, “I hope you can forgive me, you gorgeous specimen you, but until I have cleared my mind and my heart of my little Apple, I cannot pursue another…your time will come no doubt…just not today.”

[Hermes]

Who is he who is he who is he? Hermes chanted the words over and over in his head impatiently, wishing it would blow his cover to project them into his brother's mind. The while second half of this conversation, Hermes had felt like it was a single step away from tantalizing information. It was similar to the frustration he felt when he lead souls to the underworld and got too close to one of nastier parts. That longing the damned felt for their souls had to be exactly what this felt like. Right? Perhaps he just felt things more deeply than mortals, or desired things more. This was torture. He must know what Apollo is longing for so he could make him suffer similarly.

"Oh no, that terrible" Hermes said with a tone of wistful sorrow. His love got away, what a terrible thing to suffer, blah blah blah. What a drama queen. Just say his name, you idiot. Hermes was growing impatient. He had a lot of better things he could be doing, but Apollo had to wistful lament about his lost love. Apollo did too much lamenting in Hermes' eyes. Still, he needed to know. He couldn't let this whole conversation be a bust.

Hermes had a carefully placed frown on his face, trying to appear sympathetic to his fellow god. His fellow god that was now touching him. Eck. Hermes didn't squirm, though he desperately wanted to. He let the weight of his brother's hand buckle his knees slightly. Hermes had learned this from the many times he had accidentally crushed someone with a pat on the back. Haha, mortals are so weak. And know he was pretending to be one. Maybe this wasn't his greatest trick.

Hermes payed close attention to his brother's words, staring into his eyes, trying to read the thoughts beyond. Well, trying in a figurative sense at the moment. He tried not to get distracted by the complement. He was rather gorgeous but that was beside the point. My little Apple. Who could that be? Hermes racked his brain. He had mentioned Atlantis and an apple. Hermes had yet to meet someone that had traveled to such a place. Nor had he met a handsome man named Apple. This wasn't enough information.

"Oh, alright." Hermes said, looking at the ground in designed disappointment. Hermes had an idea. He looked back up, adjusting his glasses and shuffling a bit in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, but.." He swallowed hard. "Could you tell me more about him? It's just- I'm quite smitten with the idea of love lately, is all. I didn't know that a god could be in love with a mortal. He must be very special." He rambled, ending with a sheepish chuckle. What a grand performance.

[Apollo]

He was so disappointed, naturally of course, and he looked so cute when he was making that little face that Apollo almost reconsidered. Almost. Apple might be out there, somewhere, and until he found him he could not have any further dalliances with anyone else, that would be rude and unfair, all his attention needed to be on Apple, it would prove his loyalty, show Apple how much he cared for him.

However this young Mercutio got him back on the right track when he asked to know more about Milo. “Oh he is incredibly special,” said Apollo with a dreamy look on his face, “so intelligent, so sweet, he loves history, I mean really loves history. It’s adorable.”

He leaned against the doorway, resting his head against it in a way that he knew made him look good and tragic looking, “he was going to tell me all about his trip to Atlantis, he had slides and everything.” He smiled fondly…almost…genuinely… “when I asked to hear his presentation, you should have seen his face. I don’t think many people listen to him but I could have listened to him all evening…I swapped a chance to view the fates tapestries in exchange for a story…and I still owe him that, and he still owes me a story…”

He sighed, “Oh my little Apple…I hope one day you will meet him Mercutio…if I ever find him again…”

[Hermes]

The man had been to Atlantis. He liked to tell stories. He's intelligent, he loves history, and his name is...Apple. Apple? Hermes checked off important information in his mind as a decent list began to form. These were all weapons he could use at a later date once he found this little...Apple. Ok, come on, was his name really Apple? Hermes didn't know many mortals named such, but mortals were strange beings. Hermes would guess that perhaps he was some kind of odd male nymph, but Apollo was well known to hate nymphs. For hilarious reasons, by the way, but Hermes had other important things to focus on.

Apollo was trying to be dramatic so Hermes tried to follow suit, looking heartbroken as he lamented on and on. He mentioned that he'd swapped a chance to see the Fate's tapestries and Hermes almost lost it. Apollo loved art, and he likely loved the idea of the Fate's being the god of prophecy and all that junk. Just how in love with this boy was he? There was a small tugging at his heart. An old part of him felt pity for his brother. Still, the rest of him smiled for the thought of the beautiful torture he could cause from this. He'd get over it in a few thousand years anyway. Probably sooner since most mortals barely made it past one hundred.

"Little Apple?" Hermes repeated softly, once Apollo had finished speaking. "Perhaps I could help you look. I just got here, I haven't anything better to do." Not answer ten thousand emails or actually do my job or anything. "What does he look like?" gods, Hermes was good.