Chapter Text
Hypnos awakes to neon lights and thudding music.
He's sprawled across the cushioned seat of a booth surrounding a low table that’s covered in emptied highball glasses. He doesn't recall falling asleep but it's not the first time it's happened. He lifts his head and looks at his surroundings, taking in the flashing lights of the glitter covered strip club.
A half finished drink is in his hand and the pink furry coat he wore is half off from slumping low onto the seat. His legs feel like they’re sticking to the bench and he can’t tell if it’s because the bench itself is dirty or he was just that deeply asleep. He tugs down the hem of his shorts to help but they’re too short to do much help.
There’s a girl on stage and he vaguely recalls that there had been a boy up there when he'd last been conscious. The girl up there now is already topless, her full breasts moving with her swings around the pole. Her remaining garments consist of a purple lace thong, black fishnet stockings, and purple pleasers with lots of straps. He wrinkled his nose at the choice of color but was otherwise unmoved.
While he enjoyed the strippers, they were not his main draw to this club. Nor any other club for that matter. The main appeal of these places were the well dressed men slipping white powder to patrons who could afford it. It was easier for him to score it in a place like this than to spend energy looking for a dealer elsewhere.
This way he could also enjoy seeing beautiful, glitter-laden bodies as they slowly came unclothed while in a dope induced stupor. He drained the watery remains of the cocktail in his glass and sat up to shove it onto the table.
He already perused the wares of the dealer in the bathroom, already did a line there too but the high is wearing off now that he’d slept. He’s about to slump back down but the arrival of a waitress.
He grins at her, she’s blonde and busty and wrapped in red lingerie. She’s also one of his favorites at the club. The tray in her arms is tucked up under her breasts, pushing them further up on display as she asks him if he wants another drink. He trails a long finger along her forearm drawing a giggle.
“One more can’t hurt.” He says lightly as her hand catches his and she tangles their fingers together. She squeezes his hand before she caresses along his arm and tugs his coat back into its proper place.
“That’s better.” She purrs into his ear, “I’ll be right back with one more for you, sweetie.” She trails a manicured finger along his jaw before she turns and traipses away to get his drink.
As she walks away he rifles through the inner pocket of his coat, pouting when he doesn’t find the small baggie he’s looking for. After finding nothing he tilts to the side and shoves his hand into the flower shaped pockets on the ass of his shorts. His fingers wrap around the familiar plastic and he lets out a pleased hum. He’s quick to dip a pinky in for a quick bump before the waitress comes back.
When she does it’s with a bright blue drink, different from the usually orange and yellow ones he gets. He tilts his head at her but takes the drink from her regardless, popping the chunk of pineapple from the rim into his mouth as he does so. He takes a sip, tasting more pineapple and watches her clear some of the empty glasses away onto her tray.
“Need anything else, sweetheart?” She asks, lifting the now full tray off the table. He takes another sip of his drink and shakes his head before he’s pulling cash out of the pocket of his coat. She smiles a little smugly as he tucks several bills into the garter on her thigh.
“Just dream of me tonight.” He says as she leaves, brushing a hand through his curls as she goes.
His attention goes back to the stage as the girl in her purple Pleasers finishes her set and slips backstage. He’s slowly sipping his drink, slumping back onto the seat waiting for the next. The high makes him feel fuzzy and happy and the buzz setting back in just adds to his content feeling.
The lights in the club shift as the next set starts and a well muscled black haired man steps out.
“Woo!” Hypnos is on his feet as the man steps up to the pole.
He bounces toward the stage, dino covered creepers thudding on the floor as his drink splashes onto his hand. The man dances and Hypnos cheers again, tossing bills onto the stage at him before taking a long sip of his drink.
He empties his pockets of cash on the man who keeps blowing him kisses now before he turns back toward his table, reaching down to pull one of his socks back up.
There at his table though stood a familiar short, tanned man with windswept hair. Hypnos sighs as he shuffles back to the table. He peers down at the man, chewing the straw in his drink.
“Hermes.” He mumbles around the straw.
“Time to go, boss.” Hermes says, tilting his head at Hypnos.
“Welp. Alrighty then.” Hypnos sighs and then pulls the straw out of his drink and brings the rim to his lips to drain the reset of it quickly. Hermes snorts at the action before they both turn to exit the club. Hypnos pouted the whole time as Hermes chattered about something that he couldn’t follow.
Once outside the shorter man leads him to a nearby alley while Hypnos whines.
“Are you sure it’s time to go?” he leans against the wall, jacket slowly sliding off his shoulders as glowing orange wings flap into existence at Hermes temples.
“‘Fraid so. That’s coming straight from your brother.” he says as he grabs hold of Hypnos’ arms. Where he touches on the taller man starts a slow bleed of blue color, until Hypnos’ pale skin has shifted completely to a soft blue. Hermes gets the taller man in a more secure hold before taking to the sky quickly.
“I can teleport like Than, you know.” Hypnos says petulantly even though he’s already feeling the effects of his drink and his eyes start to get droopy. The air whipping around them doesn’t bother him as much as it used to.
They’re at the familiar temple far too quickly for Hypnos’ liking. Hermes lets him stand on his own at the end of the dock where his brother Charon’s skiff is patiently waiting. He watches Hermes speak quietly at his brother, before pressing his lips to Charon’s teeth. The winged man then turns and salutes Hypnos.
“Best be off now. Can’t fall behind! Lots to do.” he says before zipping away and leaving Hypnos staring blankly at the glowing afterimage left in Hermes wake. His focus shifts to Charon as his brother lets out a soft groan and a bright purple plume of vapor before gesturing to the skiff. Hypnos sighs and stumbles into the boat.
“No telling mom.” he huffs out, gathering up the red lump of his comforter from the front of the boat and slinging it around his shoulders. He slumped down onto a bench as the boat began to move. He slumps back off the bench, high fading quickly as he watches the ceilings above them.
He can distantly hear some sort of fighting, so he assumes yet another escape is being attempted. How boring.
It’s time for yet another seemingly endless shift. Even more boring. At least he had the next night out to look forward to.