InsaneJournal

Apollo watched Hermes from a distance for a long time, gazing as the god wordless walked among the mortal statues. It was a somber sight, the world frozen and silent, devoid of everything that gave them their greatest strength. Hermes’ face betrayed his concern, and dislike for the situation.

“Are you going to stand there watching all day?” Hermes called out finally, looking back at Apollo with a dark expression lit in his eyes.

“You seemed to be entranced….”

Hermes was beside him in a flash, the god of speed looking more like himself than he had since the fall of Zeus. It was that realization that made Apollo cringe slightly, casting his eyes away as he licked his lips.

“You wanted to talk, I assume…” Hermes commented, his arms crossing over his chest in an annoyed air. “So talk…”

“There isn’t any reason not to be civil…”

“I’m being perfectly civil. Civil does not require me to be kind, however, to a brother who betrayed the whole of his people.” Hermes scoffed, turning to step past Apollo. He had no intentions of listening to his brother it seemed.

“Hermes, wait…”

“Why should I?” Hermes snapped, “You! You are the reason everything is like this. How long do you think our world can survive like this? In a world that doesn’t move? People give us our power, their knowledge of us keeps us here. Their buying, their selling, their movies and music, their love, their wars, everything they do keeps us here! Look at them!” His voice echoed like thunder in the stillness, motionless people vibrating with the sheer power behind Hermes’ anger.

“I am sorry….” Closing his eyes, Apollo looked away before he knelt slowly before his brother. “I do not deserve your forgiveness, but I beg for it none the less, my brother. I have been selfish…reckless. Of that I cannot be absolved, I know…”

“Forgive you?” Hermes’ voice sounded hurt more than taken aback. “You want me to forgive you? Why should I? You would have fed me to the wolves!”

“Please!” Apollo cried, looking up at Hermes, “for my crimes I cannot repent enough. Tell me what task you would ask of me, and I would do it…”

“Your fate isn’t in my hands…” Hermes snarled, turning away angrily. His shoulders were tense, and his head was bowed in an uncharacteristic manner.

“Hermes…”

“Just stop! By Zeus, just….just stop.” Hermes glanced over his shoulder at Apollo, eying him cautiously. “Why did you do it?”

“It was meant only to affect Aphrodite, Ares and Hephaestus. I did not intend for the whole pantheon to crumble. “

“Well bravo, brother, because you fucking set us all on our asses. Thank you, it was an excellent experience. We’ll have to do it again sometime.”

“I did not…”

“You did not, you did not, not, not, not. I got it! Congratulations, you fucked up something you didn’t intend to fuck up. You played with fire, and we all were burned. I’m unbelievably proud. Now go away….”

“Hermes….”

“Go away! Just go. Go apologize to your muses, to your counterpart and the whole mountain. Bleed for them, and then maybe I’ll be ready to give you. Maybe.”

Gaping a little, Apollo sighed and stood. There was little point in trying to argue forgiveness out of Hermes. But…but at least he had tried. It as a start of a long list.