Chapter Text
Hermes strolled forward with purpose. He was grateful to his little cousin for attempting to reason with Luke, but obviously his son needed a firm hand rather than a desperate plea, and a firm hand was something only Hermes could provide. The god had seriously had enough of his child’s outrageous behavior. Luke was a child attempting to act like an adult, and Hermes was going to put Luke back in his place, but not just with discipline. He was going to give his darling child the attention and time ancient laws and Zeus had originally forbidden.
“Trying to overthrow us,” scoffed the god out loud. Risking his life, Hermes’s mind added. Yes, it was indeed time for Luke to face the consequences of his actions, and then, of course, he would come home with the god because Hermes was done stepping back. He would take back his role as Luke’s father, his dad, and ancient laws be damned. Hermes was determined to be a good parent for once, and who knows, perhaps the other Olympians would follow his example. Hermes exhaled softly, his footsteps slowly fading as he paused in front of his destination: Hampton Inn.
Hermes exhaled deeply as he shoved the doors to the hotel he knew Luke and Ethan were staying at open. He strolled around the few people checking in and out in the lobby. No one paid attention to him, courtesy of him using the mist. He marched to the elevator and pushed the button for up. The god waited a minute till the doors opened and walked in. Hermes pushed the number six and waited as the doors shut and then the machine took off. A moment later, the doors were opening and Hermes was walking out. The god marched down the hallway, stopping at room number 112. He gently touched the handle, undoing the lock, and shoved the door open.
————————
Luke had just been trying to come up with a plan with Ethan for their newest mission when the door to their hotel room was flung open. Luke heard himself gasp, and Ethan did as well. Shit, thought the son of Hermes.
Luke jumped, gripping Backbiter tightly as the door to his hotel room was flung open. He spun around to face the threat, Ethan right behind him, sword raised.
“Hermes,” gasped Luke, looking flabbergasted. He lowered Backbiter in shock. How did his dad find him? Why was Hermes here even? Luke’s heart squeezed, a flicker of warmth battling the cold resolve in him. Luke paused, remembering happier times, when his mother wasn’t cursed and his father had still been there for him. The demigod shook his head. Hermes is the enemy, Luke reminded himself internally.
The god marched right over to Luke and ripped Backbiter out of the demigod’s hands. He snapped it away. Luke wouldn’t be needing it anymore. The god then grabbed his son’s wrist and paused to look at Ethan. I cannot deal with both of them right now, but Ethan needs help as well, thought Hermes. Apollo, thought Hermes. His older brother would help him, and Zeus could not punish the son god for interfering if caught since Apollo was the protector of divine youth. I will use our bond, thought Hermes. That would be the faster way to get Apollo’s attention.
……….
‘Apollo,’ asked Hermes mentally, using the bond he shared with the older god.
‘Yes, little brother,’ replied Apollo, tone slightly curious. Hermes rarely used their bond to communicate.
‘I need to deal with my wayward son, but there is another demigod here, and I don’t wish to leave him alone,’ explained Hermes.
‘Ah, I see. I will be there in a moment,’ replied Apollo as he teleported off his island and towards his brother.
…………
A sudden flash of blinding light filled the room, causing both Luke and Ethan to squeeze their eyes shut. The air seemed to warm up rapidly, though it wasn’t uncomfortable like the sudden brightness was.
“Apollo,” Luke heard his dad say in a scolding tone. The demigod attempted to clear his blurry vision, intending to figure out what the hell was happening.
“Sorry, little brother. You know how it is,” laughed the sun god. “You must be Ethan,” said Apollo as he turned to look at the son of Nemesis. The god’s eyes were soft and held none of the malice Luke and Ethan were expecting. It could be a trap, reasoned Luke in his head. Maybe something like good cop, bad cop.
Ethan nodded, looking two seconds away from passing out. Luke felt the same way. Two Olympian gods. They were definitely dying today. Apollo beamed in response and held out a hand. Ethan trembled, almost falling, as he walked closer to the god and accepted Apollo’s hand.
“Come, I know a great food place a bit far from here,” said Apollo excitedly, giving Ethan a wink. He began walking towards the door, Ethan’s hand in his, before pausing.
“Good luck, Herm,” giggled the sun god, causing Hermes to snort and roll his eyes. Apollo felt slightly bad for his younger brother. Dealing with angsty teens was hard. He would know.
As Ethan walked out with Apollo, Luke felt something die inside of him. There was nowhere left for him to run. Luke had no choice now but to face Hermes regardless of if he wanted to or not. I am done for, thought the demigod. Actually done for, thought Luke.
————————
“Now then, let’s talk,” said Hermes, once Apollo and Ethan had left.
“I don’t want to talk,” snapped Luke, his voice slightly whiny.
“Tough luck, kid,” snorted Hermes as he dragged his son to the bed and sat down, pulling Luke in between his knees.
“You’re done,” declared Hermes. “There will be no more quests, no more attempts to overthrow your grandfather, and no more dealings with that mad Titan.”
“You can’t stop me,” replied Luke, his tone icy. He would not submit to this. Hermes didn’t have the right to make those demands of him after abandoning Luke without a second thought.
“I can and I will, Lukas. I am your father whether you like it or not, and that means I am in charge of you,” replied Hermes, his tone stern and commanding. He loves his little one dearly, but enough was enough.
“To hell with that,” snapped Luke, attempting to shove himself away from the god.
Hermes sighed, having expected this. His words were not getting through to Luke. Time to try method two, thought the god with false cheer. He caught Luke’s hands, which were trying to hit him, with one of his hands. The god used his other hand to pop the button on Luke’s jeans and shove them and the demigod’s briefs down.
“Hey! Stop!”
Hermes ignored his son’s demands and hauled the child over his lap, quickly pinning Luke’s legs with his own and placing a restraining hand on the demigod’s back.
“Hermes, let me up right now,” shouted Luke. “Owwww.”
“Don’t you dare call me Hermes, Lukas Castellan,” snapped the god. “Father, Dad, Papa, I don’t care which, but you will use a parental name.”
“No! Oww! Ahh!”
“You will not communicate with your great-grandfather!”
“Ow—Dad—ahh. Stoppp,” cried Luke, squirming as Hermes began to rain holy terror down on his backside. “Please!”
“There. Will. Be. No. More. Foolish. Quests,” scolded the god.
“Ow—Dad—ahhh,” yelled Luke, tears starting to fall at the sting.
“And no more foul language either,” added Hermes as he spanked his son’s now pink bottom. “You’re way too intelligent to be swearing like that.”
“Okayyyy! No more! Daddy!”
“So help me, Lukas Castellan, if you disobey anything I just told you, this spanking will seem like some love taps!”
“Nooo! Ahhh,” cried Luke, his vision blurry due to his tears.
Hermes nodded to himself, landing one more swat before stopping. The god gently adjusted Luke’s clothes and helped the child to stand up. Luke tried to back away, wiping at his tears, but Hermes was having none of it. The god pulled his child into a tight hug, gently rubbing Luke’s back.
“Come home, my heart,” whispered the god. Hermes’s eyes were soft and full of love for his child. The god’s tone was ever softer, calm even. A side that Hermes reserved only for his little ones.
“I am scared,” confessed Luke, still sniffling a bit. Everyone would hate him and they would have good reason too. Luke had betrayed his family.
“I will be there with you every step of the way,” vowed Hermes. I am never leaving you, darling.”
“Promise,” asked Luke as he pulled back to look into his dad’s eyes, identical to Luke’s own.
“Pinkie promise,” agreed Hermes, holding up his pinkie. Luke smiled lightly and intertwined his pinkie with Hermes for a second before falling back into the god’s chest, a deep sense of relief filling him. Maybe things would change for the better, thought the demigod. Just maybe, just maybe Luke was wrong about his dad.