Unexpected news… or not?

(Hermes' POV)

Wow.

But let's start from the beginning. When I went back to the Council Hall the gods were silent and they all turned to look at me – apart from Ares.

I took my seat: -If everyone is here, we may resume the council.- my father just nodded and almost immediately Ares raised his hand.

-You may speak.- I told him softly, not trusting my voice very much.

-I wish to apologize for what I said earlier. It wasn't… timely.- he said. He didn't seem very contrite, though, and these false apologies enraged me even more. But I didn't want to argue again and I tried my best to be quiet.

-I don't think I'm quite… ready to accept your apologies, Ares. Especially because they don't seem heartfelt. I would be glad if we went back to the original topic of this council.- Ares didn't reply and thankfully Apollo raised his hand.

-It would not be appropriate to help Thesaeus so openly. If we guided him to the Minotaur and back from the Labyrinth he would not need to prove his strength and his skills.- he said quietly, and I agreed.

-Ariadne could instruct him about how to reach the Minotaur. This way we would still help him but not so openly.- Athena cut in and I agreed again, this was the best course of action. We voted and Athena's proposition prevailed.

At the end of the council I looked at Athena, unsure of what to do, feeling everyone else's gaze upon me. –I would like… to speak to you, please.- I whispered eventually. I knew that the other gods were listening but I didn't care, they already knew, so be it.

-Of course- she answered gently, motioning for me to follow her. We went to her office and I sat in front of her, shaking slightly. I was so scared that she would have put an end to our friendship, that she would've destroyed my last hopes. She just looked at me, waiting for me to speak.

-I'm sorry. I didn't want you to find it out like this. But Ares was right, I… I like you, I'm in love with you. And…- I swallowed hard –I know that you are… that you won't love me back but I can't stand losing your friendship as well. So please… please… don't be angry.- I swallowed again –And that's all.- I concluded, looking down. I couldn't meet her eyes.

-Hermes, look at me.- she told me gently. When I shook my head, she simply raised my chin with two fingers.

And then she kissed me. She kissed me! My brain just went away and for a moment I thought that I was just dreaming of her again, that soon I would've woken up. But she was there, mere inches from me, looking at me…

-What… do you… do you…?- I stammered.

-I love you.- she answered simply.

/

(Athena's POV)

Oh, it was time!

At the end of the Council he requested to have a word with me; we went to my office and he… well, he declared. That silly boy thought that I would have refused his attentions! I will never understand how he can be so insecure.

I thought that the best thing to do to silence him and to answer his question was to kiss him. Obviously that was my first kiss so I just hope that I haven't made a fool of myself. But from his attitude I think he liked it quite a lot.

-I love you.- I said after kissing him.

-You what?- he asked, bewildered.

-Are you deaf? I love you, you silly boy! You should know that!- I answered with a laugh.

He just looked at me without a word, a small smile forming on his blushing face. He was adorable.

-Have you the slightest idea of what trouble you have put yourself into?- he asked. All the shyness was gone from his voice.

-Of course I have. And I like it.- I answered, bending to kiss him again.

It felt so strange and yet so natural to have his hands on my body, his arms holding me.

-There is one thing I must do.- I declared.

-And what is that?- he asked, smiling at me.

-This- I said, slowly and gently running my hand through his curls. They felt wonderful under my touch. I took one curl between my fingers, pulled it until it went straight and then I let him bounce back.

He looked at me as if I was out of my mind.

-What are you doing?- he asked with a laugh.

-I love your hair.-

-But they are stupid and messy…- he protested, trying to make them stay still and failing miserably.

-… as their owner.- I completed the sentence.

/

(Hermes' POV)

I still can't believe it. We're a couple. A couple! She's never fallen for anyone and now she loves me! What have I done to make her fall in love?

After speaking to Athena I rushed towards Apollo's office.

-I can't believe it!- I exclaimed, hugging him so tightly that I could hear his breathing stop. When we parted, though, he looked as tidy and quiet as always.

-What is that you cannot believe?- he asked, raising an eyebrow.

-Athena loves me! She loves me!- I replied excitedly.

-And why should that surprise me?- he asked back.

-But… but… did you know?- Maybe she had opened up to him.

-Apart from the fact that it was quite obvious…- he started, but I cut in:

-Obvious? What are you saying?-

-It was obvious but you are so busy despising yourself that you did not even notice- he explained sternly –Anyway, I've known it for a long time.-

-Since when?- I asked. It couldn't be so long.

-I suppose… since a month before your birth.- he replied calmly.

-Before my birth? How on Olympus…-

-I had visions about you. I had visions about you stealing my cattle and you and Athena getting together. And many other things.- he explained as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

-You knew about Athena and me… when I was a child…- I repeated, trying to process this information.

-Yes, and that is why I was so curious about you. A god capable of making her fall in love must be quite a remarkable one, I thought. And I was right.- he added affectionately, caressing my shoulder.

-Don't say that. So you didn't actually found out by yourself that I was the thief! I spent months asking myself what was wrong in my plan…

-Nothing was wrong.- he said.

-You say it only now! This god must be quite an intelligent one, I thought. And I was wrong!- I mocked him.

He just regarded me with the no-nonsense expression he wears to mask his amusement.

-Be respectful, little brother!- he told me, threatening to slap me.