Chapter Text
Orpheus sat with his back pressed against his and Eurydice’s kitchen counter, hands working furiously with his lyre. He didn’t know how many hours had passed since him and Hermes’… less than pleasant conversation.
He knew that Hermes would come looking for him soon. This is how it would always play out.
He didn’t know why he let himself fall back into the cycle. He should have seen it coming. He’s stupid for not doing anything. He’s wasting everyone’s time by doing all of this again. So, he refused to go out and bring this up to anyone. This problem was nonexistent in his head. If someone came looking for him, then someone came looking for him. If nobody bothered talking to him, then perfect! He wasn’t wasting anybody’s time.
He strummed a few notes on his lyre. Stress and anguish and many feelings, each one more overwhelming than the last, began bubbling up inside of him. There was something else. Something that if he focused hard enough, he could just barely recognize as guilt. Though he didn’t exactly know what he was guilty for.
Perhaps it was for dismissing Eurydice, when all she wanted to do was help him. Perhaps it was for isolating himself, and not bothering to see Persephone even though he knew she was leaving soon. Perhaps it was for getting into his head, and making his problems bigger than they are. For wasting everybody’s.
Or maybe, just maybe, it was for running away from Hermes. Hermes who was just trying to help like all of the times before. Every time. He was always there. Wasting his time.
Because Orpheus didn’t need help. He was just seeking attention. He was just stressing over imaginary problems. He was just wasting everyone’s time.
Another strum of the lyre. Another shaky breath. He pulls his knees closer to his chest. Just another chord. Another chord and it will all be fixed.
He plays another chord.
He messes it up.
His ears ring.
He shoves his lyre as far away from him as possible.
He crumbles into himself, letting out a muffled sob.
He digs his nails into his arms with a whimper.
He curls into himself further, putting his head in his arms. He let out a pained cry over everything. Every emotion warping his thought process, every failed note, every person he’s pushed away.
He stays in that position, sobbing silently. His knees pulled to his chest, face in his hands, as if to hide himself.
He needed help.
•
Hermes walked up to the door with a sigh. The last conversation didn’t go…. As planned. Usually it only took one conversation for Orpheus to let Hermes in, which really worried him. Knocked lightly on the door, and was met with nothing. He waited a little bit, for a sign. For anything. Shuffling of feed, muttering of words, anything. But he got nothing.
He quietly opened the door. The house was eerily silent. Orpheus and Eurydice’s house was not very bright, except for the dim evening light. The light seemed to perfectly frame Orpheus.
Orpheus.
Orpheus sat on the floor, pressed up against his counter. His head was bowed with his arms wrapped around, almost protectively. What seemed to be new scratches covered his forearms. He was nearly completely still, with only a slight tremble here and there. Every once in a while he would let out a small whimper.
Hermes might as well try again.
He sat quietly down next to Orpheus.
”…Orpheus.” Hermes said softly.
No response.
”Persephone misses you up at the bar. She’s been asking when shes going to see your face again.”
A slight hum.
Good. This was good. Hermes was worried that he wouldn’t get him to respond at all.
Hermes gently brushed Orpheus’ hair out of his eyes.
”Have you at least been eating?”
Orpheus’ eyes stare out in hesitation, before he gives a small nod.
“I want you to be honest with me, Orpheus.”
”…i- i have. A little bit. But- but i have.”
Hermes nods. It was clear that Orpheus was not ok. He had known that for days. But it was worse than usual. He had never done the scratching before. Maybe he had pulled his hair impulsively a couple times when he was younger and didn’t know better, but never this.
“Did… did something cause this?” Hermes asked softly.
”Cause what?” Orpheus said nervously.
”Orpheus, you’re spiraling. You’ve been focused on a song you finished months ago for the past week.
Orpheus hesitated.
”I….”
He stopped, gathering his thoughts.
”I need to fix it.”
”..what?”
”The song. I wanted to work on it so that come winter, me and Eurydice could be safe. But… but i couldn’t even conjure a flower. I- what do i do? When winter comes, what if- what if a storm comes? What if we dont have what we need? I wont be able to provide. But- but i need to. Because if she leaves me again, I-“
”Orpheus.”
He stopped. His breathing had picked up. He looked at hermes, hands trembling, eyes pooling with tears.
”Can’t you see the problem here?”
Orpheus nods, looking away.
”You’re stressed. You can’t conjure anything because you’re freaking out. You need to take a break.”
Orpheus nods again, defeatedly.
Hermes hesitated before reaching out and lightly grabbing his forearm. Orpheus flinches upon the contact.
”And… please,”
He starts.
”Just, be careful. You’re hurting yourself.”
”I- I didn’t try to the first time- i swear- i-“
”Orpheus, i’m not angry.”
Orpheus stopped, and shakily inhaled.
Hermes stopped. The first time. What about the rest.
”What do you mean you ‘didn’t try the first time’..? Is this.. is this intentional?”
Orpheus looks terrified to talk.
“I- i don't- i don't want to. It- it helps.”
”Orpheus, it’s hurting you.”
“I know.”
”Please, try to be wary of that. I don't want you hurting yourself.”
”i will.”
”Thank you.”
They sit in silence for a few minutes. But it wasn’t uncomfortable like it was before. It was nice. Nice in a way Orpheus had forgotten existed over the past few days. After a few minutes, Hermes spoke up.
”Do you want to come back to the bar with me? It would make Eurydice and Persephone really happy.”
Orpheus pauses, almost as if he was scared to show himself. Hermes gave him a second to think about it. He wasn’t going to force him if he wasn’t ready.
”Yeah. I think i’d like that.”