Chapter Text
Hayden Gallagher thought things were finally coming together.
After 5 years… The war against Kronos is over, and the gods are finally acknowledging their children, to an extent at least.
The minor demigods are finally getting their own cabin.
Children getting claimed and assigned cabins, and for once, all of Hayden’s siblings can all sleep in a bed instead of the floor, no more rotating around every night, no more always volunteering to sleep on the floor. For once, he's back, actually hits a bed mattress after what felt like years, because it was years.
Even after the whole Roman and Apollo incident, everything was falling into normalcy.
Hayden has never seen it since his early days in Camp Half-Blood.
And most importantly, his dad and father are getting back together!
Hermes is making an effort to spend more time with Hayden and his siblings, which was a dream come true for Hayden.
And for once, Hayden thought he could catch a break. Maybe even stay at his dad's place in LA for a month or so, take his siblings to McDonald's, and eat at a park.
But normalcy never was something Demigods experience…
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
After the Summer Solstice came to a close in Olympus, Camp Half Blood wrapping up their field trip there. Hayden was packing up to head back to LA to be with his dad to spend the remaining days of the holidays, hoping to catch a little break from the whole God thing and spend some quality time with the dad who raised him.
So it came as a surprise that morning when Hayden was toasting his favorite Eggo Waffles, preferring the chocolate chip ones, in his Star Wars Pajamas, when the sound of knocking came from the front door.
Hayden looked at the clock on the wall, his blue eyes still unfocused, and the hint of sleep still clung to him.
6:45 AM
Odd. Hayden thought to himself, his dad's employees don't come by around this time to give him personal reports, and surely no salesmen are willing to start selling stuff when the sun has just started to rise.
Hayden quickly plated his waffles and settled it on the table as he speed walked to the door and opened it, fixing his unruly brown hair even though he knew it wouldn't do anything.
In front of him was his father,
Hermes.
Hermes didn't even try to go into human form, as he was in his more comprehensible God form.
His winged appendages hid his pure white, glowing eyes. He was wearing a white Greek toga, a leather belt attached to his waist, a red scarf draped across his neck, where both ends hang at the back, and he was wearing his winged shoes.
Hayden blinked in surprise, “Father? What are you doing here?” Hayden asked.
Hermes gave a small smile, “Hey, kiddo, I needed to talk to your dad for a moment. Is he awake?”
Hayden shook his head, “Not right now, but you can wait till he is, come in.” Hayden opened the door wider to let Hermes in.
Hermes gladly accepted the offer to enter as Hayden moved in for a hug once he closed the door behind him.
“I missed you so much father,” Hayden mumbled into Hermes's chest as he snuggled his face against Hermes’s chest.
Hermes stiffened for a moment before easing and wrapping his arms around Hayden as well into a bear hug, “Missed you too, kiddo.”
Hayden could have sworn that when he looked up a bit, he saw a bit of Hermes’ eyes and had a sense of sadness and stress coming from it.
Maybe I'm just overthinking it. Hayden thought as he tightened his hold on his father.
They stayed like that until they heard footsteps descending the stairs.
They both broke the hug as they turned just in time to see Elliot Gallagher coming down the stairs, yawning away his sleepiness. His usual well kepted hair was messed up from sleep, and he wore a plush pajama set that looked comfy as hell.
Elliot's brown eyes lay on his son, then on the God of Messengers, and froze.
“Dear?” Elliot said as he walked up to Hermes, “What are you doing here?”
Elliot cupped one of Hermes’ cheeks gently as Hermes learned into the touch.
“I… I have to talk to you about something.” Hermes’ head turned to Hayden a bit, “Privately.”
Hayden huffed, come on, he isn't a child anymore! Before Hayden could speak, two familiar voices popped into Hayden's mind.
“We can take care of him, boss! Mark our words.” A hissing sound followed as two snakes slithered out of Hermes’ pouch.
Hayden reached for the snakes as both of them slithered across Hayden's outstretched arm and coiled themselves onto his neck.
“Hello Martha, hello George." Hayden greeted the two snakes.
“Hya! Do you have any rats by any chance?” George asked as Hermes gave him a stern look.
“I just fed you,” Hermes said.
“Yeah, well, I want more!” George whined.
Elliot chuckled lightly, “There are frozen rats inside the fridge in the kitchen.”
Hermes raised an eyebrow as he looked back at Elliot, "You have rats in your fridge?” Hermes asked.
In response, Elliot just shrugged and explained, “Since you were coming here more and more often, I thought it was right to buy some dead rats from the pet store down the block for Martha and George. The rats are meant for snakes, so they're safe to eat.”
Hearing this, George hissed in delight, “YES, RATS!”
Hermes signed as he gave a small smile at Elliot.
“You didn't have to do that, Elliot,” Hermes said.
“It’s fine, besides, I like seeing Martha and George happy with full bellies.”
Hermes smiled a bit before shaking his head, his tone turning a bit firm like he was holding back something.
“I think we should go to your bedroom,” Hermes suggested.
“Right, the whole I-need-to-speak-to-you-privately thing,” Elliot said.
Hayden looked at both of his parents, “You sure you guys aren't going to just fuck up there at 6 in the morning?”
Hermes sputtered, “OLYMPUS NO!”
Elliot looked at him with mild disappointment, “Well, as much as I wish it were true, it seems your father genuinely wants to tell me something. Now run along, I'm sure George is dying to eat the rats in the fridge.
Hermes looked at Elliot wide-eyed and blushing, “I said this once, and I will say it again.”
“You. Are. Shameless.” Hermes exaggerated each word by poking Elliot’s forehead repeatedly.
Elliot laughed as he grabbed the wrist of the hand that Hermes was using to poke him in the forehead.
“I'm kidding.” Elliot smiled, then turned to Hayden, “We'll be back in a minute.”
Hayden watched as both of his parents walked up the stairs and into his dad's bedroom.
“Hey Hayden, I want my rats!” Hayden's thoughts were interrupted by George's whine as he looked down at the snake and smiled.
“Yeah, yeah, I will get some,” Hayden said as he walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, grabbing the air-tight sealed pack of dead rats and opened it. The smell was bad, but it wasn't as bad as a dragon's breath and gave one rat to both Martha and George, giving the biggest one to George as per George's request.
Fortunately enough for Hayden, his waffles were still warm as he took a seat at his chair and quietly enjoyed his waffles.
Hayden suspects that his father was going to be up there for a while, so he decided to go to the backyard of his house to get Martha and George to slither around as much as they want as he sits on the grass. It was early enough that Hayden could still feel the morning air touch his skin.
“I wonder what they are talking about…” Hayden muttered out loud to practically no one.
“Important stuff, kid, stuff for the grown-ups.” George slithered towards Hayden and curled up at Hayden's leg.
“I'm 25 years old, I can legally drink alcohol now, so I'm not a kid.” Hayden pouted.
Hayden sat outside with George and Martha for what felt like an hour until the back door opened behind Hayden.
He turned and saw Hermes walking over to him in the mortal form that he usually wears nowadays. Short brown styled hair, blue eyes, a grey sweater, a green band on his right arm, darker gray pants, red sneakers, and finally a cheap-looking feather pin that Hayden found out recently was a pin that Elliot gave Hermes on their first date.
“Whatcha doing out here, Hayden?” Hermes asked.
Hayden can't help but feel a little concerned when he hears Hermes’ voice; it was somewhat rough-sounding, like he had cried earlier. Hayden shrugged it off. Probably just a morning voice.
Do Gods even get a morning voice? Oh well.
“I was just letting Martha and George slither around and get those snakes too excessive." Hayden happily said.
That earned Hayden a loud laugh from Hermes, which made Hayden's worries ease a little, so it really was just a morning voice.
“Thanks, kid. They've been back riding on me for centuries, so they do deserve some excess.”
“Ah, piss off, Boss!” Martha huffed as George and Martha slithered to Hermes the coil around each other to form his signature Caduceus.
Hermes rolled his eyes a bit, “And fuck off too.” Hermes said back to his Caduceus as he dismissed it to God knows where until it was ready to be summoned again.
Hermes' attention went back to Hayden as he smiled, ruffling Hayden's hair, “Wanna come with me to get some McDonald's? Elliot told me you've been begging him to take you there yesterday, but he was busy. He said he would probably also be busy again today, so I offered to take you there.”
Hayden's eyes widened as he smiled widely, going to McDonald's with his father? Oh, how can his life get better than this!?
“Absolutely! Come on, let's go!” Hayden was already up on his feet as he ran back into the house to get changed. Hayden might be 25 years old, but he doesn't play with his favorite food or restaurants.
Hermes watched Hayden disappear into the house, then let out a small sigh as his eyes filled with tiredness and sadness.
“I hope it doesn't happen to you too…” Hermes muttered under his breath as he followed Hayden into the house.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
“This is quite the reclusive McDonald's.” Hayden whistled. Hermes fast-traveled both of them to a McDonald's that's on a forest road meant for travelers to make stopovers, as the gas station is too far to go by.
Hayden was now dressed in more casual wear. He didn't have much clothing besides his Camp Half Blood T-shirt, his camping pants, and boots, and the winter gear he had for when it's winter time in Camp Half Blood when Mr. D felt like letting more snow into the barrier than usual.
“Eh, less people, the staff here are just angsty teenagers that mind their business or just too tired to care about the customer and besides, the forest is the perfect backdrop for a McDonald's,” Hermes said.
They were about to walk in before a voice spoke to both of them.
“Hey! Since you're going inside, boss. Can Martha and I explore the forest? I want to hunt rats!” George’s voice echoed between the duo as Hermes signed, summoning his Caduceus.
“Alright, fine, get out of here.” Martha and George slither onto the ground and into the woods. Once they were gone, Hayden and Hermes entered the McDonald's.
No one was there; the cashier was leaning on the counter, scrolling through her phone. When she saw the two enter, she mumbled under her breath about something, turned off her phone, and smiled.
“Hello, what can I get you?” The teen asked as Hermes, and Hayden looked at each other.
“Watcha want, kiddo?” Hermes asked Hayden.
“Uh… A double cheeseburger with large fries and a medium Diet Coke.” Hayden said, looking up at the menu.
“That's oddly specific, kiddo. Diet Coke? Really?” Hermes raised an eyebrow.
“I don't like the taste of the original Coke,” Hayden replied.
Hermes didn't push further as he hummed and then turned to the lady.
“And I will have a Big Mac, medium fries, and a large Coke. Oh, and make my son's large fries into bff fries.” Hermes added.
The lady nodded and placed it on the computer.
Hayden turned to Hermes, a little surprised.
“Why did you do that?” Hayden asked.
Hermes shrugged, “You like potatoes, don't you? Half of the portion offerings you give me are potatoes, and I'm convinced you take half of the tray of potatoes during dinner. Heck, you offer me cheese-baked potatoes one time as an offering after your unofficial cooking class with the Athena cabin.”
Hayden blushed, embarrassed as he looked away, chuckling awkwardly, “Potatoes are good! I like eating any type of potatoes.”
The lady finished printing the receipt and asked for payment. Hermes gave her drachmas, since drachmas can turn into any currency, the lady was none the wiser.
Hermes and Hayden found a seat at a window and a more private corner just in case the staff could hear them.
As they wait for their food. Hermes was looking out the window or at the reflection of himself as he seemed lost in thought.
Hayden was tapping his fingers on the table, a familiar rhythm that the Apollo kids use to warm up before singing a song.
Hayden seemed to notice his father's distant look as he abruptly stopped his rhythmic tapping.
“Father, are you okay?” Hayden asked.
Hermes blinked a few times, then looked at his son. After a moment, he smiled and shook his head.
“I'm fine, kiddo, just thinking about my job, that's all. If your grandfather finds out that I'm slacking and hanging out with my son, I don't think he'll be a happy camper.” Hermes teased.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, which caused Hermes to let out a startled yelp as he looked outside.
Hayden blinked a few times before bursting out with a chuckle and laughter.
“I think he heard you, father,” Hayden said between chuckles.
Hermes exhaled, “Guess so, kid.”
“You know, I'm not a child anymore.” Hayden huffed, “I'm 25 years old!”
“Yeah, still a child for God's standards.” Hermes smiled again as he rested his face on his hand, tilting his head slightly.
“Just stop calling me ‘kiddo’ or ‘kid'!” Hayden protested.
Hermes hummed as he looked up at the ceiling like he was thinking long and hard about it. For about 3 seconds, then looked back at Hayden.
“How about no?” Hermes teased, his smile not fading from his face.
“Come on, father!” Hayden pouted, crossing his arms and looking away from his godly parent.
“Fine, how about…” Hermes thought for a while, “Lil’ Roster?”
Hayden looked back at the God and hummed, thinking about the new nickname.
A roster is one of Hermes’ sacred animals. Rosters tend to be wake-up callers for their flock every morning; their other purpose is also to protect their flock as well. Hayden guessed that's the reason why Hermes called him by that nickname, since Hayden had always been a parental figure to not just the Hermes Cabin but also most of Camp Half-Blood.
“I guess it's fine…” Hayden finally replied.
That seemed to make Hermes happy.
A minute later, a staff member brought two trays of food. Setting both trays on the table, then leaving.
Both Hermes and Hayden ate in comfortable silence. Hermes occasionally looked out the window, thoughtful, almost on edge.
When he finished eating, he looked back at his son. He raised an eyebrow when Hayden left his cheeseburger half-eaten and left at least half of his other portion alone.
“Hayden, what's wrong? Why aren't you eating the rest of the food? I thought you liked the cheeseburger and fries.”
“Oh.” Hayden blinked, then looked down a little embarrassed, “I guess I've gotten used to offering half of my food to you.”
Hermes frowned, “Well, I'm here, and I sure don't need an offering right now. There's no reason to eat only half of your food.”
“Yeah… Well, I guess it's a force of habit.” Hayden let out a small chuckle.
Hermes stared at his son for a moment, then let out a sigh as he leaned back in his seat. He wasn't disappointed at Hayden, no, far from it. He's proud of his son, Gods he's so proud of all of them.
He was disappointed in himself, how he let this happen how he did nothing.
When he opened his eyes again, he made up his mind.
“Hayden.” Hermes suddenly said, to which Hayden snapped to attention.
“Yes, father?”
“When you get back to Camp,” Hermes began, “tell the rest of your siblings to stop giving me offerings. But if you need me, offer something in my shrine, and I'll be there.”
Hayden’s eyes widened when he heard that, “What do you mean father?”
“What I'm trying to say,” Hermes continued, “is that you don't have to offer me anything, besides,” Hermes smiled softly, “I don't need it.”
Well… Truth be told, he does need it; he honestly didn't know the last time he actually ate physical food until now, since he is always so busy. His children's offerings are the only things filling his hunger.
But he can't stand back and watch his children just offer up food without anything in return.
It's a sacrifice Hermes is willing to make; he just has to find a way to remind himself to eat. Maybe he should ask Martha and George to remind him to do so.
“Well then.” Hermes continued, “Go on, eat the rest of your food. I'm already full.”
Hayden blinked a few times before slowly nodding and picking up the half-eaten burger and eating it. It was weird for him to eat the other half of the food in his father's presence.
Just recently being in his mortal dad's place, he started enjoying fully eaten meals, and only did the whole offering food thing to his father when he was at camp or on a quest.
Once Hayden finished eating, both he and his father exited the McDonald's and stood near the gas station next to the building.
“Oh, Hayden, there's one more thing before we head back to Elliot's house,” Hermes said as he had a big smile on his face.
“What is it?” Hayden asked.
“Give me your spear, it's a surprise.”
Hayden had his spear strapped to his back the entire time. The mist made great work of hiding it from the workers in McDonald's while they were in there.
Hayden unstrapped his spear from his back as he handed it to Hermes, its Celestial Bronze surface gleaming in the late morning light.
Hermes took the spear gently, as if it were the most precious thing in the world, and closed his eyes.
The spear started to glow, Hayden's eyes widening as he shielded his eyes with his arms from the light emanating from his spear.
When the light subsided, he lowered his arms and, to his surprise, in his father's hands was a golden rose pin.
Hermes gave the pin to Hayden, the golden rose gleaming in the light.
“Ta da!” Hermes said like he did some kind of kid magic trick.
Hayden examined the pin, and when he pushed on the center of the rose, it expanded and turned back into his spear.
Hayden’s eyes gleamed as a big smile crept up his face.
“This is… this is amazing!” Hayden exclaimed.
Hermes chuckled, “I'm glad you like it. I've noticed you carry it everywhere, so I wanted it to be easier for you to carry it around.”
Hayden looked back at his spear, and after a while of examining it, he pushed a button on the butt of his spear, and it reverted to a rose pin.
Hayden pinned the rose to his shirt as he admired it for a bit.
Hermes looked around the area, then noticed something.
“Hey… Where's Martha and George?”
Hayden looked up and also noticed the absence of the two talking snakes.
“Odd, they should be back by now, would they?” Hayden looked at his father, a little worried.
“Don't worry, lil’ roster. Martha and George can handle themselves; I just need to call them over.” Hermes said as he walked towards the edge of the woods and called out to them, then waited.
Several minutes pass without any sight of Hermes’ snake companions.
Hermes frowned; he began to worry about what might have happened.
Before Hermes could think of the possibilities, his son spoke up.
“I can go look for them; they wouldn't have gone too far.” Hayden gave Hermes a reassuring smile as he walked into the woods.
“Hold on,” Hermes called out to Hayden, “I'm coming with you.”
Hayden nodded as they went into the woods together.
They walked for an hour as they called out to Martha and George without any response.
“We should split up,” Hayden suggested.
“That would be wise.” Hermes agreed, but before they parted ways, Hermes told Hayden one thing.
“If anything happens, call out to me, okay?”
Hayden nodded as they went in opposite directions.
Hermes knew his snake companions well, but it was really unusual for them not to respond to him, even when he tried calling or summoning them.
Hermes was about to give up until-
“FATHER HELP!”
Hermes immediately stopped what he was doing and turned in the direction from which his son's voice came.
No… Hermes thought as his winged shoes sprouted to life as he ran towards the direction of his son.
Everything was like slow-mo for Hermes as he passed by trees and animals. The ground under his feet trembled as he reached where his son was and was met with a horrible sight.
Hayden seemed to be tangled in a white string as it glowed brighter.
No… not this time… I'M NOT LOOSING HIM TOO!
Hermes reached out, his arms forward to get to his son as fast as possible.
And in one swift motion, he hugged Hayden tightly and tried to pry the threat away from his son.
But on doing so, the thread also wrapped around Hermes, essentially leaving him immobile like his son.
All Hermes could do was hug his son tightly, shielding him as the light became so blinding that it made Hermes close his eyes and just like that…
They were gone.
The Fates only intended to take Hayden with them to the other world…
But Hermes’ intervention was a welcoming one. After all, in his own way, he had suffered just like the demigods were.
The Fates think Hermes would fit right in with the other world quite nicely with the rest of the demigods.