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The night was quiet, the wind casting a cool breeze in the Ithacan summer. The sky was a deep blue, dotted with bright stars, unobscured. The moon sat in the sky, full and clear.
Ari skimmed over the letter that they had received at the start of the day, the looping handwriting spelling out some dramatic confession of love.
"Hello darling," she heard behind her.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hermes' familiar figure approach them.
"Hi." He gave a small wave.
"I can't surprise you anymore, can I?"
Ari shrugged, "I mean, you come visit me every second night, what are you expecting?"
"I don't know," Hermes' wings fluttered slightly, "Maybe you should be more honoured a god is visiting you. An Olympian, no less."
She let out a laugh, "Maybe you should be honoured that I want you here."
He gave them a playful shove, then let out a contented sigh.
"You're different from any other mortal I've met."
"Is this a good thing, or a bad thing?" Their fingers tapped on the letter, short patterns.
"Darling, you could never be a bad thing."
Ari blushed. Their face was lit by moonlight, more beautiful than Aphrodite.
...Maybe Hermes shouldn't say that allowed.
"How's Olympus been?"
He shrugged, "Same, same. Ithaca?"
She gave a smile, "Boring without you."
His wings tucked in more, "You can't just say things like that, you'll embarrass me." Hermes could feel his face was hot, tinted with gold from the ichor flowing through his veins.
He just rolled his eyes in response.
What Hermes would’ve given to spend eternity in this moment.
They spent the next few minutes in a comfortable silence, Ari gazing out to the sea, and Hermes looking a much different view.
He wore the necklaces that Hermes had stolen for them, simple, the value more in the effort gone to take them.
Probably not a good idea to take them from other gods, but what fun was stealing without a challenge?
“What’s your favourite flower?”
“What?” Ari looked at him for a second, “You’re getting me flowers?”
“Maybe…”
He would, but really, he wanted to plant some at his place on Olympus. He wasn’t there often, but he could bring some with him during his work.
Just a reminder.
“So… Do I need to get you flowers now?”
“I doubt you could get me moly.”
He laughed, “Actually, I still have some from last time you gave me some.”
“My father wasn’t happy about that,” Hermes said, “And I think that was the best part about it.”
“Not me?”
“Obviously excluding you.” He dramatically put a hand to his chest, “I could never think anything else.”
Ari was smiling. “You’re amazing.”
“Not as amazing as you.”
Hermes took their hand, feeling more at home here than ever before.