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smallraindrops-blog · 9 days

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I Know A Place (just for you and me)

Part Three

WMFTD: Drabbles

WMFTD!Y/N X Hypnos

Word count: 7.5k

Warnings: implied sex, AUs out of the wazoo, no beta.

Notes: sorry for being gone for so long. It wasn’t planned. Request that have already been sent are being worked on and I won’t be accepting any for the moment.

Enjoy the randomness

Run (Zombie AU)

The boxes of flavored oatmeal and fruit snacks were out of date but you didn’t care. It might as well have been a delicious bloody steak as far as you were concerned.

It also meant that the group would have food for the night. Maybe even tomorrow depending on how the other runners did.

Quickly you packed the goods into your backpack, flashlight between your teeth. There was a low rumble in your stomach but you ignored it.

You had gotten very good at ignoring your stomach.

The gas station had been destroyed at some point, broken glass everywhere, the shelves tipped over. It must have happened early on since there was a noticeable lack of gore.

After you searched the rest of the building, scowling when you had found the backroom empty of any stock, you began the run back to camp.

With a tight grip on the tire iron that had been with you since the first day, you tried to keep a steady and quick pace. It would be twilight soon and it didn’t matter how fast or strong a person was, no one wanted to be caught in the dark.

Everything had changed so fast. A mere year ago, you were among one of the famous boxers in the world, well on your way to the championship. Now, you were in a town with no name, fighting for your survival.

All because some rich asshole lied and sold meat contaminated with the ‘Wasting’ sickness to every single damn grocery in the nation.

Thankfully the run back was empty of any zombies. Which was odd considering how active they normally were during dusk.

You lifted a hand in greeting at the wall guards, and let the nurse do the check up before opening the doors. You saw that her hands were trembling. At your frown, she offered up a strained grin.

Several pairs of eyes lifted up in acknowledgment when you stepped past the imposing fences. You gave a nod - a silent ‘we got food tonight’ and got smiles of relief in return.

As one of the runners, you didn’t have to cook - thank gods, you weren’t that great of a cook back when spices were readily available, let alone now- and dropped off the goods in the kitchen.

It looks like some of the others had found a dented box of cereal, another found canned peas.

It was clear the group will have to widen the search radius soon. Food was running low.

You rubbed your face in frustration as you left the kitchen. So far the crops had yielded little and no one trusted meat easily now. No one knew how much the wasting disease affected other animals. Since the CDC had thought it wasn’t transmissible in the first place only to be proven horrible wrong.

The dorms were blissfully empty but you didn’t go to your bed. Sleep wasn’t what you wanted. The moment you saw him, a weight lifted from your chest.

He didn’t see you at first, his brow furrowed over the gardening book. His white curls were hidden by a red beanie but it had gotten long enough that his ends curled around his collarbone.

It wasn’t until he flipped to the next page that his eyes snagged on you and his lips curled up in a shy grin.

Gods help you, Hypnos had a gorgeous smile.

His smile had been the first real one you had seen in months when you found the military base. He had looked so angelic in the morning light with his white curls and amber eyes, you thought you really did die and he was there to guide you to the afterlife.

“Hey.” He greeted you quietly, tipping his face up for a kiss.

“Hey.” You returned just as quiet, finally able to breath past the knot in your chest.You kept the kiss gentle, cupping his chin. You just wanted to feel his warmth.

Just wanted him.

Once the kiss broke, you joined him in the cramped bed, dumping your backpack and weapons on the floor. Yours and his legs tangled together as you pulled him close. Until Hypnos, you had forgotten how good it was to just hold someone.

“Any luck?” Hypnos whispered, sighing in peace as he buried his face against the hollow of your neck.

“A little bit.” You muttered, closing your eyes. “Oatmeal. Some fruit snacks. Another runner found peas.”

“Ooh. Sounds delicious. Much better than my day. They had us work on escape routes today.” Hypnos murmured. “It's too bad, I was looking forward to the chance to work in the garden. I think the tomatoes might be fruiting soon.”

Your body tensed up at the words, your eyes snapped open, staring blindly at the lines of beds.

That… wasn’t normal. The practices for escaping were all in weekly rotation, along with training for first aid and weapons safety. Today’s training was supposed to be a refresher on medicine and emergency care.

The nurse’s tight, worried expression flashed in your mind's eye.

“Just in case.” Hypnos rushed to assure you, pulling away enough to smile up at you. “Others didn’t like it either but it never hurts to be safe. You know?”

You said nothing for a long moment, mind rushing. Hypnos’ smile changed into a faint worried expression as he whispered your name. You heard the question in his voice.

Realizing that he was waiting for you to say something, you offered up a smile, running your knuckle against his soft cheek. You prayed that it would be enough to hide your own stress.

“Yeah, you’re right, my love. It never hurts to be safe. I’m just tired.”

Relief bloomed in his face, lighting up his sleepy eyes and he gave you a quick kiss before returning to his spot. “We have time to doze before dinner starts.” Hypnos yawned, already halfway asleep.

You muttered a mindless agreement.

That nurse… Her hands were usually as steady as yours. Flesh made into steel.

But not today.

Then the noticeable lack of the dead wandering around… you thought you had gotten lucky.

Something was wrong.

Your eyes flickered toward one of the windows, it will be night soon. You had a hidden map in your bag. You weren’t that far from the mountains, from possible safety for you and Hypnos.

“Hey, how about we stay in my bed tonight?” You asked, cupping the back of his head. Hypnos gave a hum of agreement, “Sounds good to me. More quieter on your side anyway.”

You had lost everything when the world ended. Your parents, your friends along with most of your humanity.

At the end of the world, you had found him.

You will be damned before you lose him.

Ocean (mermaid, Hypnos’ pov)

Many had whispered under their gills of the lazy, spoiled Hypnos. The last child born to the Great Queen Nyx and possibly her greatest disappointment. But what they couldn’t say was that Hypnos didn’t do his duty to his family.

Hypnos grimaced, lifting his wrist up to study it as he wrapped his tail around the large tip of a jagged stone deep in the reef, his eyes locked onto his wedding band. It was thin but heavy, with pearls and rubies embedded in the gold.

No, Hypnos thought with a dim, hard satisfaction, they couldn’t say that.

Dozens of impossibly small fishes, their colorful scales glinting as they hurried away into hiding holes. Hypnos didn’t move for a moment, watching how the eels ducked deeper into their caves, how turtles began to quietly move away, the gentle anemones closing, even the handful of the sharks darted away.

Then a large shadow was casted over his form.

“You know it isn’t safe out here.” The deep timbre of his mate’ voice rumbled, causing Hypnos to shiver unwillingly, his fins fluttering in response.

Not turning around to acknowledge you, Hypnos straightened his back and crossed his arms. He stared past the colorful reef and out into the depth of the sea. “Well, that's why you are here, right? Everything now should be safe as- as… a school of planktons!”

”Until a whale shows up.” You replied, moving in front to easily block Hypnos’ view with your large form.

The differences between you and him couldn’t be more clear.

Hypnos had the bright colorful scales of his people, his tail was a rich red with dramatic ruffled fins edged with white. A trait that made him stand out the dark greens, blues and purples of his family and he was proud of it even if it made Nyx grimace at the mere sight.

In contrast, you looked like the very beasts that you and your people were meant to protect his kingdom from. At least twice as tall and more than double the size of Hypnos. You looked like you were born to fight with a tail of onyx black, thick and powerful, built to cut through water with a speed and power Hypnos’ kind never could reach.

Scars lined your muscular form, but the ones that caught Hypnos’ eyes were the huge circular marks along your shoulder and chest. He never had even seen a giant squid but you had. You had fought one and survived.

His eyes flickered toward yours, growing wide when he realized that you were studying him. Under your cool gaze, it felt like every ugly, childish part of him was laid out for you to judge. Yet his heart raced, a heated flush growing under his pale skin.

Hypnos scowled, unwrapping his tail as he drifted to the side to put some much needed space between you and him. It wouldn’t do for you to see his unwelcomed emotions.

”Just because we are married doesn’t mean I have to stay by your side at all times, like some poor lovesick anglerfish.” Hypnos muttered, pointly swimming away.

Not that you seemed to care, following him with ease. The deadly trident strapped to your back didn’t seem to slow you down at all.

“I never said that.” You told him, voice relaxed and low enough to rival the deep. If he had turned around, he would have seen the flash of warning in your eyes.

Hypnos scoffed. ”It was implied.”

An uncomfortable silence fell between the pair, one that weighted on Hypnos. He picked up speed, knowing you would keep up. Jerk.

Typically the reef, his home for as long his ancestors had existed, was flushed with life swirling all around. Now the creatures were hidden, waiting for the long shadows of his mate to leave. They never hid from him before. Hypnos wasn’t a predator; however you were and the animals of the reef sensed it.

Fed up, Hypnos swirled around to face you, shoving his hair out of his face. His annoyance deepened when you drifted past him lazily. “Is there something you want from me?” He snapped, his tail lashing slightly.

You stopped and turned to face him, far too close for comfort, the masculine line of your jaw stern as you stared down at him. Then something flickered in your eyes, a shadow that made Hypnos’ instinct scream at him to swim fast and far as he could.

Before he could move, your hands snapped out and caught him like he was a dumb prey. You pulled him flushed against your chest with one arm, your rock tight grip pinned his own arms down, keeping him from escaping.

Your fingers caught his chin and with a firm yet gentle touch you tilted his face up.

Hypnos wanted to scream but all he could muster up was a weak, breathless growl. You leaned down like you were going to kiss him.

Flames licked along his back, the memory of the first kiss shared at the altar rushing back. It has been chaste, soft with your fingers pressed against his cheek but there was a quiet, possessive promise of more.

A promise that Hypnos had been hellbent on avoiding, going so far as to sleep in a separate room from you and trying to stay as far away from you as he could. But it felt like you were always lurking now, watching him with the keen eye of a predator.

You stopped when just a hairbreadth away with a smile, your expression softening. Hypnos swallowed, his breathing shaky, his anger forgotten in the pounding rush of his blood, drowning out anything else. Then you chuckled, the dark sound vibrating through Hypnos.

“If you get eaten by something not me, my little nymph then the whole deal is off. So what I would like is for you to return to our pod.” Your smile dropped. “Now.”

With that you let him go.

With his cheeks burning from embarrassment, Hypnos glared up at you, dozens of bubbles escaping his mouth and gills as he bit back the many foul names he had come up for you.

”Oh, noooo. We wouldn’t dare to hope for that, now would we?” Hypnos finally snapped, not able to hide the bruising his pride just took. With that, he turned around and casted one last longing glance at the silent reef.

“When the pod of orcas are banished from the area, I can bring you back.” You offered. There was an unspoken apology in the undercurrent of your voice.

It was only for the sake of his people that he didn’t turn around and slap you. That and he knew it would fail.

“Very well.” Hypnos said stiffly.

Later, much later with the Reef only a memory, Hypnos returned to his chambers alone. He paused when he spied something on his vanity and drifted over, smiling at Monie, a littler pufferfish Hypnos had since his youth, dozing on the bed of seaweeds.

It was a small box, made from stone and kelp. With a furrow brow, he risked a peek. Inside there was a lovely red anemone resting on a stone, the tentacles swaying.

The note attached read, ‘Not an apology. A promise.’

Snapshots (BTIBN!AU)

The first photo Hypnos picked out was one taken in his junior year of college, with your arms wrapped around his waist, both grinning up at the phone. If one looked close enough, his face had thinned out and there was a shadow lurking behind your eyes. Hypnos never could explain why he picked that one.

He placed it on the wall with a simple black frame. (It was the first day out of the hospital, and you couldn’t stop touching him, he had caught a bad flu the previous winter and you had counted down the days until you could hold him close again.)

When you found one of the photos your parents took on prom night, you couldn’t resist placing it on the dresser.

The shy, happy smile on Hypnos’ face, the way you and he matched with red ties (a detail that Hypnos included for the wedding as well). And you, still a young idiot who was ignoring his parents’ amused eyerolls, were beaming down at Hypnos like he had hung the moon and stars.

You loved it (loved him) and glanced at it every morning as you got ready.

Another photo Hypnos added to the wall was the first day they got Moine. The little puff of cotton stared up at Hypnos with naked adoration in those wet black eyes. The first night they had fallen asleep on the loveseat together, Monie curled under Hypnos’ chin.

You had quietly taken the photo, heart overflowing. (Monie was never impressed by you, always choosing to walk away with a huff when you got home before Hypnos. Whenever Hypnos was ill, the little dog never left his side, loyal as you were.)

It took some time for you and Hypnos to agree where to place the wedding photos. Eventually some went into a shoebox, tucked away somewhere in the closet. But the ones that made it found a home on the fireplace mantle. Save for one.

Hypnos placed it on his nightstand.

(Meg had a surprisingly good eye for photography and had caught a moment between you and Hypnos. You and him had ducked away for a moment of privacy-or so you thought yet you couldn’t be that upset over it. Under the warm patio lighting, you and him were swaying alone, his head tucked against your shoulder. Your eyes were closed, cheek resting against the top of Hypnos’ head, your face relaxed for the first time all day. )

Countless more photos were added, of bright summer days and laughter. Of graduations, of parties and weddings. Of Monie and his beloved tennis ball.

Then…

Children.

Each one of them broke your heart when they came into the world screaming. Long nights of diaper changes and bottle feeding. Baseball games and ballet recitals with last minute poster boards projects. Bedtime stories and late night snacks. Scraped knees and first bike rides, of their first crushes and heartbreak, of birthdays and mundane ( and utterly perfect) days, of finding their own dreams and paths.

Then somehow they were grown.

(How was that even possible? Photos of their beaming faces, round cheeks with gap tooth smiles that changed into proud expressions with graduation caps, line the walls. Their childhood was told in fleeting moments caught in frames.)

Days went into months that turned into years that somehow became decades in a blink.

Your parents beaming over the dinner table. A few more lines on their faces and a little more grayer.

One of the most favorite photos you have of your parents was in your office. Gray at Pa’s temples, his body worn down by years of nursing and Achilles’ blue eyes made bigger with glasses, it was them simply holding hands during the last holiday with everyone together. As if they all knew subconsciously.

(Gods, only if you had the power to stop time in its tracks. You made sure to keep them together in the end. Not even death kept them apart for long. )

It was when you saw the newest photos Hypnos placed by the doorway that you had stopped in your tracks. You didn’t recognize yourself.

The photo was one of the bunch you and Hypnos had with the children and their partners. Hypnos looked beautiful as always, smiling cheerfully with his cheek on your shoulder.

You… you looked older, lines around your eyes formed, your hair a little more grayer than you remembered.

(It had been a good day, filled with laughter and joy, kisses made sticky with maple syrup and smiles warmed by coffee.)

When did you become this old man before you? You still felt like you were that kid in the letterman jacket, fingertips covered with spray paint and staring longingly at the beautiful boy with golden eyes that belong to the sunset.

You shook your head, scowling as you turned the lights off for the night and went looking for your husband.

He was in the bedroom, curled up with a new book under the thick quilt they had for years. He didn’t hear you come in, so you shamelessly took the moment to watch him, crossing your arms as you leaned against the door frame.

To you, Hypnos hadn’t aged a day. He was just as beautiful as the day you saw him standing on your porch on that summer day, eternal as the sunset itself.

His eyes flickered up, blinking behind the glasses that you had finally managed to convince him to wear. The black frames suited him, making the gold of his eyes vivid. He placed his book down and waited for you to speak.

”When did we get old?” You asked him with a sigh, walking over to your side of the bed. On your nightstand was a photo of just Hypnos, beaming at you from across a diner table, a mug of coffee by his elbow.

You don’t remember the occasion for the road trip. Just that he had looked like perfection in that early morning sunlight coming behind him.

(you could live countless lifetimes, it still wouldn’t be enough time with Hypnos.)

Hypnos smiled, lines forming around his eyes. “Did you just now notice?”

You grumbled, “I don’t feel old.”

Laughing, Hypnos gestured to you to join him and you obeyed as you always did. Like a puzzle piece, he tucked against you, his hand over your chest and you tightened your arms around him.

”I love you.” You murmured into his hair, running a hand along his back. It was the only words you could come up with because how could you even begin to summarize everything that he was to you? To thank him for choosing you, for their shared life, for the children and filling their home with laughter and love?

Hypnos kissed the hollow of your neck.

”I love you, too.”

(How did you get so, so lucky?)

Marks (Soulmate!AU)

“It is a pretty uncommon name. Are you sure that you are on the right website?” Pa sounded distant over the phone, the sounds of dogs barking and running around in the background.

With a heavy eye roll, you spun around in your chair and glanced at the soul mark website. Set up by the UN in the early thousand, it was meant to be a far easier way for soul mates to find each other.

Before the net, people had to rely on letters and documents and often prayer to find their one. Never before in known history, had it been so easy to find a soulmate.

Upon adulthood, most people put their mark’s name in the database along with an uploaded photo of the mark and their own names. If they were lucky, they would meet their soulmates that day.

“Yeah, pretty sure.” You muttered. Honestly, you weren’t in a rush. Most soul pairings seemed way obsessed with each other. Codependent if one would. Including your parents, much as you loved them.

Too much work. Too much time. Too many expectations.

”Hopefully they aren’t in one of those cults.” Dad said, his voice louder than Pa’s, “I have a friend who’s son in law was in one. So if-“

And you were done. You weren’t going to listen to this. Again. “Hey, I gotta get back to work. Love you guys, see you for dinner next week.”

Hanging up the call, you went to close the website yet your fingers lingered over the keyboard. It wasn’t that you haven’t looked for this Hypnos before. The name alone was enough to make you curious but nothing ever came up. Even now that you were comfortably settled in your early thirties.

With a huff of annoyance at yourself, you clicked it close.

The late golden sunlight caught on your mark, the red and gold poppies gleaming around your soulmate’s name. It had been with you since you were five years old, forming on your forearm overnight.

Mindlessly, you brushed your fingers along the flowers then you caught yourself and pulled your hand away like the mark burnt you.

On a damp Tuesday morning, your ancient electric kettle gave out. As in it caught on fire.

With a curse, you tossed it into the sink, black smoke causing you to cough. The smoke alarm began to scream, ringing in your ears and you were not awake enough to deal with this.

Once you were sure the kettle wouldn’t burn down your home, you stumbled out into the world, desperately looking on your phone for a nearby coffee shop.

Wet droplets landed on your face, cold and sharp against your skin. Realizing that you forgot your umbrella, you flipped the hood of your jacket up in vain against the oncoming storm.

Then as if the universe decided that it hated you and everyone else, the clouds began to pour rainwater down on the busy city street.

Today was most definitely not your day.

You picked up speed, water splashing against your legs until you found the small coffee shop and ducked into it. With some disbelief, you stared out into the city, feeling like a drowned rat.

Coffee, then you can sit down at a table while feeling sorry for yourself.

You got in line, trying to find something on the menu that wasn’t a bomb of sugar and cream. A young woman, with forest green dreads and toothy smile, was rushing around mumbling to herself. As she helped the customer before you, she took a moment to turn around and yelled to the closed back doors.

“Hypnos! I got a line and I need help!”

You stopped breathing.

It had to be a nickname. Surely.

Then the door opened, a man with impossibly white curls and an armful of bottles of syrup stepped out.

“I know Dusa, I know.” The man yawned, unaware of you staring at him. You couldn’t help it, he was the most lovely, most perfect man you ever saw. He plopped the bottles down onto the and turned to you as he tied up his black apron.

The first thing you noticed was that his bottom lip was just a little more fuller than his top one. Second, you noticed that his eyes were heavy with dark circles but that didn’t stop him from smiling cheerfully at you.

Gods, it hadn’t even been a minute and you wanted to kiss him.

Your eyes flickered to the name tag and there it was, same spelling and everything.

Hypnos. Hypnos. Hypnos.

“So what can I get ya today, sir?” Hypnos chirped, unaware that he had changed everything for you in a single moment. Thick white lashes framed around his golden eyes and you couldn’t breath.

Your mouth opened but nothing came out so you shut it, trying to come up with something. There were movies of people making the perfect speech, books filled with breathtaking moments of first meetings.

All you could do was stare.

”Sir?” Hypnos said, and he sounded like he was unimpressed with a touch of worry as his golden eyes - and how the world did he have those irises, it seemed too divine for a mortal- darted to Dusa.

“I-“ your voice cracked and you stopped. Now everyone was staring at you. You were being an idiot.

Without hesitation, you yanked up your jacket sleeve and revealed the soul mark. You could have swore the colors were more vibrant, more lifelike than ever before. Like the flowers had come alive just for Hypnos.

Hypnos’s name caught gold in the bistro lighting.

Hypnos’ mouth dropped open, his hand automatically wrapped around his forearm as he stared at your arm. He kept his arm close to chest as if trying to protect himself.

“It is you.” You said finally, like something inside of you had been missing and you had found it - found him, and the last piece clinked in place, like it belonged. You understood now.

For a long moment, he said nothing, only staring at you.

Then with an unusual calm, Hypnos turned to Dusa, “I quit.”

Without another glance at you, he promptly booked it toward the backroom and out of your sight.

You moved before you realized it, climbed over the counter and darted into the back to where Hypnos went. You ignored Dusa’s surprise cry, the murmuring of the customers as your eyes darted around the kitchen.

Realizing that the back door was opened, you rushed back out into the rain, and caught a glimpse of him just as he turned the corner.

With your jaw tight with determination, your heart pounding in a rhythm that belonged only to Hypnos, you gave chase.

Repetition (Reincarnation!au, Hypnos’ Pov)

The Wise ones, all three of them, were smiling over him. Their hands laid on his chest, over his heart. He stared up at the night skies, at the billions of stars. At the countless moments, lives flowing like river water over stone.

He was gasping for breath, tears streaming down his face. His wings fluttered like the delicate petals of Amare willows that bloom outside his childhood window.

He had been reborn.

They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to.

His Captain wasn’t much different from his other lives. Your eyes still burned with the intensity of a black sun, your shoulders were still broad enough to carry the weight of the world and countless scars still marked your body like constellations of the milky-ways.

Hypnos knew it was you the moment he laid eyes on you.

Turn out, finding you weren’t the hard part. It was everything after that. He wanted to fall in your arms, to feel your mouth against his and to rediscover you. He just wanted to be loved and to love you once more.

Maybe patience was the lesson he was meant to learn in this life but if his memory served him right, patience was a lesson he had learned before. Yet here he was, learning it once more.

It was hard, especially when he ached just being near you. Only he hadn’t seen you at all today or yesterday, you must have been too busy writing reports or something.

He stood before your personal rooms, playing with the keycard in his hands. You had given it to him after the second attack, a full three months after the first. It wasn’t for romantic reasons like Hypnos knew it was for some species, you had made that perfectly clear. Purely for emergencies, you had repeatedly told him.

Shaking away the bitter thought, Hypnos pressed on the intercom outside of the door.

It came alive with a faint glow, the robotic voice sounded bored as it spoke. “Name and reason?”

“It’s me. Hypnos. I mean. And I just…” Before he could recall the made up reason he had for showing up, the door opened.

With a deep breath,Hypnos stepped into the room. He couldn’t hide his curiosity as he tried to take in everything.

The living room was spartan, with only a sofa and loveseat that came with the ship. The low table in front was bare of any personal items. The open kitchen was empty as well, not a single bottle of spice out on the counter.

Hypnos was torn between worry and helpless amusement.

It was a faint thing, hazy like the river lethe but Hypnos knew this wasn’t new. It was familiar in a way.

‘A few blankets, pillows, a handful of warm lights and we could make this a lot cozier.’

Then your voice reached him, “Hypnos, in the office.”

”Coming.” Hypnos called out, glancing over the room once more time.

When he found you in your office, you were pouring over a starmap, a glass in your scarred hand. You took a sip as he knocked and waited for your permission to come in, even though he wanted to rush toward you.

You glanced at him, then nodded. Hypnos hurried in, before you changed your mind, the door closing behind him with a click.

He studied your office, unlike many others, You kept it simple, a dark desk with a nameplate and a few awards on the wall. On one side, there was a window, open to reveal the void of space, with far away stars gleaming.

If he knew you and he liked to think he did, you probably had at least ten different weapons hidden away somewhere.

Hypnos settled in the surprisingly comfortable chair before your desk, not saying anything.

You took a sip of your drink, the liquid amber in the dim lighting. “Can your species drink human alcohol?”

Your voice was husky, rich and dark as the mines of his home world and Hypnos shivered. His wings perked up in pure animalistic instinct but he stilled them, his stomach hot with embarrassment and maybe something else entirely.

“I can. Yes.” Hypnos replied, hoping his voice didn’t give away his thoughts.

You politely moved up from your desk to get him a glass and poured him a drink. The whole time Hypnos studied you, admiring the flex of your powerful muscles under the captain’s uniform.

When you came closer to hand over the drink, Hypnos wanted to pull you closer but he didn’t.

Hypnos curled his hands around the drink instead then sniffed it. It was a familiar smell, filled with sharp, warming spices. Where he had known this smell before…

“Rum. The makers claimed they were one of the original creators from Earth.” You told him, and tapped his glass with yours. At the same time, you and him took a sip.

Warmth flooded his mouth and raced down his chest before settling low in his stomach.

Then everything rushed toward him.

Ropes, sea salt, the sway of a ship, moonlight on dark waters, powerful waves crashing against earth, bruises on his thighs and rough kisses with rubies -or blood- and gold spilling everywhere.

Hypnos closed his eyes. Oh yes, he remembered that life. That had been one well lived.

Silence overtook as you returned to the map, writing notes down on a tablet. The starmap casted an pale blue glow in the room, millions of little stars gleaming over your desk.

Hypnos continued to drink, warmed by the liquid and memories that tasted like the ocean, the blue so deep he wondered he would ever see its likenesses again. He shifted, letting his legs swing idly, his wings swaying along in beat.

Then you turned the map off. The tablet dimmed.

Hypnos blinked, his wings fluttering softly with his curiosity.

“Tell me about one.” You ordered, leaning back against your chair. Your eyes were locked onto him. Hypnos swallowed, his pulse racing as he took one last sip. He pushed his empty glass toward you.

A beat of silence, then you grabbed the bottle, and using your teeth, uncorked it. Your eyes unwavering, like you decided you were ready to peel all of his secrets away. Hypnos hated how much he was looking forward to it.

He ached with so many unspoken words.

With a full glass of rum between his hands, Hypnos met your eyes. “Tell you what?”

“About one of these past lives. Or alternative universes or whatever.’” You replied with an unimpressed eyebrow, placing the cork back in, your thumb pressing down on it. “Any of them, your pick.”

Hypnos swirled his drink, his brow furrowed. He didn’t know which one he should pick. What if he chose badly and you kicked him out? Or pick one of the more fantastical ones and you thought him as a liar. Not mentioning the fact Hypnos was still recovering so many moments, like small, precious white shells on the beach, picking them up one at a time.

”It is hard to just choose one.” Hypnos admitted, unfolding his legs and shifted closer to your desk. He took a sip then sighed.

“One of the first ones I remember… Language wasn’t a thing, not really. All we could do was point and grunt if you will. We just hadn’t evolved to speak complex languages, not yet. The one of the courting gifts you gave me was a big clay jar, filled with bright red pigments for cave painting. My favorite color.” Hypnos paused, not able to look at your face.

He was terrified of what he would find in your expression. Yet the words spilled from him, like confessions of sin. “I still wonder if I could find the cave with our handprints. It must be out there somewhere- or maybe that planet had been swallowed up by its sun by now.”

Silence took over for a long breathless moment and Hypnos took another sip, deeper. He felt so warm, like it was mating season and all he wanted- all he wanted…

You finished your drink, the sound of glass loud as you placed it down.

”Tell me another.” You ordered as you stood, and Hypnos watched you move around your desk and stopped in front of him. All Hypnos could do was stare up at you, helpless. You leaned against your desk, powerful arms crossed and gestured for him to continue.

He swallowed, “There are so many, I can recall one where you were a superhero and I worked as handler. Then another world where you were an artist, often struck by fits of madness, you called me your beloved muse. There were so many where we met as children, in one of those lives, we shared a first kiss on a snowy night. Another one where you were a pirate…”

”A pirate?” You said with a quiet laugh. Hypnos flushed at your tone, not used to you sounding so light. He lifted his half-full glass with a smile before taking a quick sip.

“You were quite fond of rum.” Hypnos teased after he swallowed, a knot in his chest slowly slipping open, his stomach warmed. You leaned in, and took the glass from him. Before Hypnos could process what happened, you were downing his drink.

All Hypnos could do was watch, your Adam’s apple bobbing as you polished off the rum. One drop of rum almost escaped, but you caught it in time with a swipe of your tongue. He copied you without realizing it, feeling like he was at a feast but not allowed near the table.

You always kept the full uniform on, and Hypnos wished he was bold enough to reach over and reveal the secret flesh underneath, to trace the line of your neck with his tongue. His wings twitched and jerked, wanting to flare out in a mating display and woo his mate closer.

His wings were going to give him away with how obvious they were.

“The caveman one, was that the first one you remembered?” You placed the glass down. Your foot hooked around the chair leg and pulled Hypnos closer. The sound was loud in the quiet, a final warning.

But for what he didn’t know.

He grabbed the chair arms, looking down with a blush. Somehow he suddenly felt shy.

“Ah.” Hypnos tried to find his words, very aware of how much bigger you were than him. He could swear that he could feel your body heat this close. “No.”

Your fingers brushed along his jawline, curling under his chin and his breath hitched as his face was tilted up.

Like breathless gravity, Hypnos caught in your gaze, like the moon once to earth, lovers so close yet were millions of miles away. He couldn’t look away if he wanted to. Under the heaviness of your stare, he felt weightless.

”Tell me.” You ordered in a whisper, moving slightly closer, your other hand moving past his side and gripped the arm of the chair. Like this, Hypnos was completely trapped in.

Hypnos smiled. There was a touch of sadness in it. One that you noticed judging by the silght furrow in your brow.

“I was an immortal god and you were a dead moral. A man turned to a shade.” Hypnos whispered. He waited, sure you would pull away. You didn’t. Your thumb caressed along his cheek in slow, gentle swipes.

Hypnos let out a shuddering breath, closed his eyes. “Yet we found each other.”

Maybe he should say more but no words came. That life had been so vivid in his mind’s eye, a part of him still wondered if that universe still existed, far out of his reach, one where you and him existed forever in a small corner of the vastness so very happy and loving.

He hoped so, a quiet heaven with you was what his soul was made for.

“You terrify me.” You admitted, causing Hypnos to open his eyes with surprise. You gave him a rueful smile. Your voice was low enough to sink into Hypnos’ bones.

“Me?” Hypnos whimpered, not able to comprehend the idea of him being scary. Maybe if someone had a phobia of naps or of ridiculous creatures who walked into walls on occasion.

The mere idea of it… It was laughable.

”You just came from the stars one day without a single warning. I tried to stay away but I couldn’t. In every room I step into, I look for you.” You pressed your thumb on the corner of his lip. “I should be able to dismiss all these stories without a blink, of these past lives or alternate universes. But I can’t. I just can’t.”

With an easy grace, you leaned down, your breath hot against Hypnos’ mouth. And oh, how Hypnos wanted to lean in yet he couldn’t move.

“When I look at you, when you smile at me; Hypnos, it’s like coming home again.”

Hypnos knew it was coming but he still gasped against the press of your lips, his wings shuddering as you tipped his head up to deepen the kiss. It was so much better than any memory.

A hand cupped his cheek and he looked up at you unable to hide his tears. Your expression was soft and fond - and a little apologetic -as you smiled down at him. You looked so handsome in your military uniform. You promised to return to him the moment the war was over.

In the end, all he had left was a letter that spoke of your bravery and a folded flag.

Tears burned under his eyelids, Hypnos cupped your face between his hands, needing to feel you. He kept you close as the kiss continued between soft gasps and murmuring. His fingers trailed against your cheeks, feeling the start of rough stubbles along your jaw.

“Wait for me!” Hypnos called out, his birdlike wings on his back flapped in effort to keep with you. He was still too young to truly fly but he still chased after you anyway.

You laughed with pure joy, your wings casting shadows over the land as you returned. You dipped lower to grab his hands and lifted him up higher and higher.

In a singular moment, he was one with everything. His heart raced along yours, when you breathed in, he breathed out, two beings becoming whole and perfect once more.

His moral. His warrior. His dearest.

You didn’t wake even as Hypnos shifted, your head heavy on his thighs. Hypnos pushed your hair out your face, running his fingers through your locks.

That finally prompted you to wake just a little bit with a low hum. Your lips quirked up in a lazy smile. “Looks like I’m still dreaming.”

Hypnos scoffed, his heart overflowing as he leaned down to kiss you-

Then the kiss broke.

You pulled back, lips shiny and your eyes blown dark with lust, staring down at him. You panted harshly and Hypnos realized he was doing the same.

”Hypnos.” You said with a ragged and torn voice.

His heart stopped, sure that you were going to push him away. Only you didn’t.

“Hypnos.” You repeated brokenly, staring down at him. It was like you were seeing him, really seeing him for the first time.

The next kiss was just as amazing, he couldn’t tell where you and him began and ended. Memories rushed toward him, burning him along with the growing need deep in his core.

His hands roamed over your neck, shoulders and chest as he murmured your name over and over against your lips. You swore against his mouth.

Before he knew what was happening, you had silded your arms under him and lifted up and out of the chair with an ease he should have expected. You turned around and planted him on your desk, still kissing him, still touching him as you pushed him down onto his back.

Hypnos knew they should slow down, talk it out but he had missed you, craved you so much he didn't have it in him to stop if he wanted to. He felt starved until you touched him. His mating seasons had never felt like now, all gauzy heat and the hard, wonderful press of another body against his.

He was the personification of lust, of the euphoria that could be found in another.

Tangling his fingers in your hair, you and him kissed and kissed and kissed, hands caressing new flesh. Somehow it was new and familiar at the same time. The primal rhythm was built into their DNA, even now.

Hypnos tossed his head back, trying to breathe, trying to move with you as you consumed him, like the void of space swallowed countless stars. It was perfect, it was just you and him once more.

Everything ends, even this.

You buried your face in the crook of his neck and shoulder, your arms braced around his head as you tried to return to normal. There was a growing dampness against his neck. Hypnos blinked slowly up at the ceiling, still floating along the river of sensations and of returned memories.

He caressed the line of your back, pressed kisses against your scalp, his heart growing and love spilling out of him like new constellations as he murmured comforting words.

Later, you and him will speak of everything, of nothing and it will be good, it will be right. Because it will be what it always had been, you and him among the stars once more.

#wake me from this dreaming #hypnos x male!reader

14 notes · View notes

smallraindrops-blog · 5 days

Note

hi! requests are open, yes? may i ask for a poly tsc!reader x wmftd!y/n x hypno? idk how this’d work but it seemed fun and v self indulgent which is the Best kind of fun hehe. have a nice day!

Constellations of Us

(Part One)

Pairing: TSC!Reader X Hypnos X WMFTD!Y/N

Word count: 7.5

Warnings: Angst, post-breakup for TSC!R x Y/N, jealousy, AU, mentions of infidelity ( none that occurs between the main ship), multiple POVs, no beta.

Summary:

‘Nothing is more unintelligible than the human heart.’ - Homer, The Odyssey.

Brokenhearted and the new resident of the House of Hades, you are left to pick up the shattered pieces of yourself.

Funny enough, your hands aren’t the only ones in the pile.

Notes:

Requests are not open.

I am simply working on a very overdue request.

For sake of readability, TSC!Reader will be in second person aka ‘you’, Hypnos and Y/N will be in third person’s. I will also attach who POV is.

This will likely be two parts.

Thank you for waiting. I hope this first part is worth the wait.

(Reader’s Pov)

The administration chamber had quieten down as the last few shades hurried out, done with their duties for the day. Their happy chatter faded with each step they took. The room was dimmer with just a few candles, the warm light smothered by the dark. Walls of scrolls seem to go up and up into an endless height.

You paused on the paper you were working on, your quill left in the ink pot as you reread it. You were mildly impressed that the Master’s son had managed to find new ways to break apart the underworld.

Who knew fire could be used as a surfboard?

You gave a quiet chuckle at the mere thought but slowly, your smile faded.

This wasn’t what you thought it would be.

A skilled healer turned into a bookkeeper. What would Patroclus say?

You weren’t sure how you felt about it but it was an undeniable fact that the dead didn’t need healers. At least, this way you were getting paid. Not that money meant much to you.

It was just proof that you were doing something and not wasting away.

The bureaucracy was mind numbing and exhausting. It was also what you wanted.

You didn’t have to think about anything that wasn’t the work on your desk. You didn't think about your shattered heart. That the love of your life was just a few steps away, unable to meet your eyes.

Or think about the god that had taken your place.

Only if there was paperwork you could use to sign away your own useless heart.

You rubbed your forehead, hating that the moment you stopped working was when you thought about him.

About them.

With a sigh, you picked up your quill and signed the paperwork, verifying that the money will be needed to fix the damage.

“Oh! You’re still here.”

With a muffled gasp, you looked up. Did you somehow summon the god of sleep by a mere thought?

Lord Hypnos blinked at you slowly, drifting closer to your desk like he wasn’t a intruder. His red cloak floated around his shoulders, so heavy it looked like a blanket. He didn’t have the regal appearance of Queen Persephone, or the terrifying aura of Lady Nyx but it was undeniable that he was a god.

The god of sleep smiled at you hesitantly, staring down at you. If the god stood on his own feet, he would be taller than you. Another insult even if unintentional.

You hated that you couldn’t deny how beautiful he was. Heavy lidded golden eyes, full lips and perfectly messy curls. His form was mostly hidden under his modest clothes but the glimpses of his arms revealed a slender masculine shape.

“I am, Lord Hypnos.” You kept your voice quiet, respectful as you stood. You bowed your head, your hands curled by your side. “How may I be of service to you?”

“Just Hypnos.” The god corrected with a hand wave. “I think we both passed that point, hm?”

You didn’t know what to say to that.

Hypnos lifted up the thick stack of paperwork in his hands, giving you a rueful grin, “Master Hades had loudly informed me and everyone else in the hall that I had messed up my paperwork once more. Form ZEY -1 to ZEY-213 and um…Form S-3 to Form S-111. I think.”

“I will be happy to make you new copies.” You said in a rush, glad to be given a task. The sooner you can get this god away from you, the better. With a speed you didn’t know you had, you hurried to get him new paperwork.

You wondered how he could mess up simple paperwork but didn’t ask. One, you didn't want to even look at him. Two. It wasn’t your problem.

The god had shamelessly picked up your quill and studied it with his head tilt when you returned. Soft white curls spilled over his ridiculous sleep mask. Another thing you didn’t understand, how a god could be so... ungodly.

It was an ugly thing to think of and you hated that small, petty side of yourself. Afterall, the god did nothing wrong.

This whole mess was yours and Y/N’s fault. You were grown enough to admit that at least.

Lord Hypnos’ face lit up when he spied you. His graceful hands took the fresh stack of paperwork, and your quill floated back to its ink pot with a wave of his finger. You winced when you noticed how ratty your writing quill was getting. You just didn’t care enough to replace it when it was still working perfectly fine.

His old forms were on your desk. There were doodles of random animals, flowers - and maybe a person? There were a few of them, each one different.- everywhere on the paper and you saw many, many blank lines with missing information.

Well then.

“This is horribly awkward, isn’t it?” Lord Hypnos chuckled, drumming his fingers along the papers. You bit the inside of your cheek. Lord Hypnos lifted an white eyebrow, and you realized that he was waiting for a response.

Gods were supposed to know when morals lied, or so you were warned by your mother growing up.

“Very much so, Lord Hypnos.” You sighed. No point in denying it. It was horrible. It was right down painful. You didn’t know loving someone and knowing they belonged to someone else could hurt so much.

“Hypnos. Please. Just Hypnos. I have rank over you so you have to obey. Or at least pretend to.” Hypnos said with a wink. The joke came effortlessly to Hypnos or so it seemed. It was a talent you couldn’t help but admire.

“Hypnos.” You admened with a jerky nod.

A thick pause filled the space between you and the god. All your life, you were taught to respect and worship the gods. Now you were handing one of the infinite beings paperwork.

It was surreal.

“Well, I guess I will go and try not to mess this up again.” Hypnos laughed again, like it was another joke. You tried to smile but you weren’t sure you had succeeded.

It wasn't until Hypnos vanished that you allowed yourself to slump against your desk. You covered your eyes with your hand and let out a shaky breath.

You survived a lot. This was nothing compared to the brutal war that stole so much away, your heart shattering into millions pieces or even your death.

With an inhale, you made yourself straightened up. This was nothing and you will get over it.

You had to.

A moment later, you realized that his paperwork had been left on your desk. Unsure what to do, you just shoved the pile into one of your empty drawers.

You will deal with it later.

There were many things you missed about living. What surprised you that one of the things you missed the most was the ability to tell time. There were no sundials in the underworld nor calendars.

The closest thing you and every other shade had was the coming and going of Queen Persephone, her gentle smile was nothing more than a fading memory.

Sometimes the Prince would let something slip when he came in for paperwork.

His very appearance was enough to terrorize every administration shade, yourself included.

“Please don’t touch that, your highness.” You begged as Prince Zagrues began flipping through files, tossing them aside or worse, putting it back in the cabinet but out of order when he didn’t find what he was looking for.

You thought you heard one of the shades begin to weep.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be long.” Prince Zagreus assured you cheerfully then he picked up a box too quickly, the scrolls rolled out onto the floor.

Several of the scrolls unfurled, hitting your foot. You bit on the inside of your cheek, so hard that if you were still alive, you would taste blood.

Then Prince Zagreus dropped the armfuls of scrolls he was holding.

The weeping turned to full on sobs and horrified stares. You couldn’t quite stop the strangled noise of anger that spilled from your lips.

“Sir please just tell me what-“ you tried to speak but Zagreus was already going back to the next box of scrolls.

“Why are they crying?” The prince asked you with a frown, like he didn’t realize that he had single handedly ruined everyone’s hard work. “I know spring has ended since I last came in but I just need this one record. I still remember where it is. I think.”

Your ears perked at that.

It had been a while since Queen Persephone returned, and if Spring had ended with Zagreus’ last visit, along with the rumors she will be returning in due time. It must be close to the end of summer then.

Gods, what wouldn’t you give for a sundial and calendar?

“Hey! Didn’t your Father ban you? Or had he unbanned you again?” Hypnos swept through the crowd of shades, his cloak bellowed behind him as he came closer. He lifted an eyebrow at the mess that Prince Zagreus created then slowly he glanced toward the crying shade.

“Wowie.” Hypnos murmured. “You already made one of them cry. Good job, your highness. Just like your father.”

Prince Zagrues had the grace to look guilty. “I just need this one thing, Hypnos.”

Hypnos gave Zagreus an unimpressed look, a hand on his hip. “What? Do you need to know how many times you've been run over? Or stabbed? Or nibbled on? Or how many times you annoyed me?”

“Fish.” Zagreus admitted with a shrug. “I wanted to see my fishing records.”

You slapped a hand on your forehead, prompting both gods to look at you. You flushed when you realized how disrespectful it was and murmured an apology. You immediately went three spaces over and pulled the box labeled with Zagreus’ name and quickly found what he was looking for.

“Oh thank you, my good shade.” Zagreus said, reading the scroll. “Huh, I haven’t been fishing as much as I thought.”

“Are you done terrorizing everyone?” Hypnos’ question was honey-coated, his smile fake.

“Oh come on now, I am not that bad.” Zagreus replied then he looked at you, flashing you a gorgeous smile. One that told you that Zagreus knew he was a troublemaker. “Am I?”

Hypnos grabbed a random scroll and began smacking Zagreus with it. “Out. Out, you foul thing. Shoo!”

“Ow! Stop it, Hypnos. You are going to give me a papercut.” Zagreus batted at the air as he left, Hypnos was still hitting him.

Exhaustion hit you like a wall. Suddenly, you just wanted a bottle of wine to drink and maybe a small nap. However Prince Zagreus’ mess was calling to you. With a sigh, you kneeled and began gathering the scrolls.

You were going to have to stay late. Again.

“Hey, I am sorry about him. You should see his room, I mean really.” Hypnos had returned like a ghost, hovering near you. You nearly dropped the scrolls when you heard his voice.

“No, thank you.” You muttered. You had no intention of ever seeing or stepping into Prince Zagreus’ chambers.

“Wise decision.” Hypnos said with a nod, grabbing some of the scrolls himself only to immediately give it to some unfortunate shade.

You dropped the scrolls on your desk, and turned to face Hypnos. You wanted to shoo him out much like he just did to Zagreus but you didn’t. You bit your tongue.

The god gave you a grin but you saw the tension around the corner of his smile. He was nervous.

Why would a god be uneasy around a nobody moral like you? There was that certain someone you and the god had in common however one look at you then at Hypnos would make it clear that you were outclassed in every sense of the word.

“Is there anything I can help you with, Lo- I mean Hypnos?” You asked when he still didn’t speak up. You could feel the weight of eyes on your back, no doubt you were going to the main conversation for post-work drinks.

Lovely. Just lovely.

Hypnos bit on his bottom lip, his long fingers drumming on your desk. “Well, yes. I seem to be missing some forms. Like could you see if you have any for me? Um. Please?”

“Of course.” You murmured as you went to check for him. There was a nagging suspicion that Hypnos didn’t have any missing paperwork, one that was confirmed when Hypnos’ paper tray was empty.

When you went back, the god was gone.

You glanced down the scrolls and frowned. On top of the pile was a brand new quill and a note.

‘A thank you gift! - Hypnos.’ There were little smiley faces and flowers surrounding the words.

You took a sharp inhale. The quill was nice, far nicer than what a normal shade should have. But you weren’t glad for it.

It felt like he was mocking you. There was no point in him giving you this. It felt like a slap, one more taunting gesture toward your worthless heart.

You didn’t hesitate to grab the quill along with the note and dump the stuff into the drawer, the one that was still filled with Hypnos’ forgotten paperwork.

The loud slam of the drawer closing echoed out though the administrative chamber. With a huff, you returned to work, glaring at anyone brave enough to glance your way.

When everyone else left for the night, you pulled the quill out. You twirled it between your fingers, resting your chin on your hand as you studied it.

The quill was high quality, the orange color shone like fire in the candlelight. If you remembered correctly, it was the same type that Hypnos used.

Maybe Y/N use the same one as well.

With a sigh, you closed your eyes, the heartache settling in like an old friend. Perhaps taking this job was a mistake. Not that you had much choice. When one is summoned by Master Hades, it is usually in their best interest to obey.

Regardless, it would be best to thank the god of sleep. You highly doubt that Hypnos took time out of his day to mock you. Besides you saw how he bullied Zagreus. He wasn’t the type to hide his teasing.

Nor will you be ruled by your own heartache. You had seen the ugly paths a soul could take doing so.

You closed your eyes against the memories. Maybe someday you won't be haunted by your own ghosts.

It shouldn’t have been surprising when you found Hypnos by your desk when you came in yet it still caught you off guard.

The god flashed a toothy grin, waving with far too much enthusiasm for the start of a workday. His curls looked messier, his sleep mask loose around his neck and his right cheek were marked by lines. It looked like he just woke up from a pleasant nap.

Yet that only seems to add to his beauty and you tried not to think about how unfair that it was.

“There you are, my favorite administrative shade- worker-?” He paused, tapping his chin with a finger, then with a nod. “Shade.”

“Hypnos.” You greeted in a more relaxed manner, “I take it you need something from me?”

His smile turned sheepish. “Well. It seemed I messed up my papers once more. I am surprised the house is standing after all the Master's screaming.”

“Oh that must be why the house was shaking earlier.” You teased him, surprising yourself and him. Mostly yourself.

Hypnos looked delighted, his hands fluttered in the air. “See, I knew you were my favorite for a reason. The others just roll their eyes at me.”

You cleared your throat, stuffling the papers on your desk. “So what forms do you need?”

Hypnos opened his mouth then closed it with a clink. “Um-well-”

Pity bloomed in your chest the longer Hypnos struggled. It must have been obvious on your face because Hypnos crossed his arms. He was actually scowling. At you.

You blinked in surprise. Not even Master Hades could break Hypnos’ smiles, it was a fact everyone in the house knew.

“I don’t know how you- or anyone for that matter- can keep up with the forms! Everytime I think I know which ones, I turn around and there are a billion more.” Hypnos ran a hand through his curls, frustration clear in the furrow of his brow.

“There are a lot of forms.” You agreed, your eyes darting over to the walls of scrolls. Only problem was, those forms were necessary. There was so much that needed to be documented for Master Hades to fully understand everything that happens in his domain.

Or you hoped so. Otherwise you and everyone else are doing busy work for nothing.

Then an idea came to you. You immediately began to pull out your drawers, ignoring Hypnos’ curious glance as he floated closer.

Where was it-

“Ah! Found it!” You grinned as you revealed the small notebook. It was a blank one that you haven’t gotten around to using yet. It wasn’t as nice as the ones you saw Master Hades used but it will suit.

Hypnos lifted an unimpressed eyebrow. “Yay?”

“Lists.” You told him with a smile. “Whenever I have a lot of work, or stuff I need to remember, I write down everything in a to-do list.”

You offered the notebook to Hypnos. You held your breath, sure that the god was going to reject it.

Hypnos reached out, his slender fingers brushing against you. You resisted the urge to jerk, shocked at the sheer amount of warmth that came from the god of sleep.

The god flipped through the pages. He was obvious, thankfully. “Do you really think this will help me?”

“Yes.” You said, giving him a sure nod. “I still remember when Patroclus was first teaching me. There was always so much information I needed to know. Once I could write and read, those lists were a lifesaver.”

Hypnos nodded slowly. “Okay. Yeah, you know what? I’ll try it. I mean, there is a reason Y/N calls you a genius, right?”

Those unassuming words caused you to flinch like you were slapped. You didn’t realize that Y/N still called you by your old nickname especially to Hypnos. Or that he told Hypnos that much about you.

The god caught on immediately. His heavy lidded eyes going wide, his golden irises gleamed with shame.

“I- I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit a sore spot.” Hypnos grimaced. “I am quite talented at sticking my foot in my mouth.”

“It’s fine.” Your smile was brittle.

Hypnos bit down on his full bottom lip, the silence filling the hollowed space. Then the door opened, then a flood of shades came. Some brightly chattering as others tried desperately to wake up.

Some of the office busybodies caught sight of you and Hypnos with wide eyes. They stared shamelessly, even slowing down as they walked passed. You rolled your eyes.

As the newcomer who hasn't had a breakdown yet, you were a novelty among the gossipy office workers. It didn’t help that you also had a certain god who wouldn’t leave you alone. Hypnos closed the notebook with a nod and offered up a smile. One that you returned.

“Find out what forms you need and I will make sure to have a fresh batch ready for you.” You told him.

It wasn’t until he left that you slumped into your not so comfortable chair. Immediately, it was Lydia who came up to you. Her blue eyes staring a hole into you.

“What was that about?” She asked, placing her hands on your desk and you thought she might be attempting a friendly smile.

“Our favorite type of paperwork. You know how crazy I go over forms for TA.” You replied blandly. It was petty but the look of pure indignation she shot at you was totally worth the uncomfortable moment with Hypnos.

Don’t leave me! Don’t- don’t! please!

You jerked awake, gasping for breath, limps tangled in your blanket. You stared up at the dark ceiling with wide eyes, the candle in your room was so dim it was almost nonexistent.

Hating yourself, you pressed your palms against your damp eyes, willing the tears to stop. Only more came, running down your cheeks. You let out a quiet sob.

You hated that dream.

It came over and over again. Never letting you get true rest.

Eventually, you curled under the blanket like you could hide from it, your hands clinging to it, all alone in the dark.

You weren’t embarrassed to admit that your knees still shook whenever you were called forward by Master Hades. It was the most perfectly respectable response a moral could have.

His size was impressive, beastly in comparison to a moral. He flipped through the report you gave him, his scowl deepened as the silence grew. You resisted the urge to shift on your feet.

You felt like if you just twitched, it would attract the god’s attention, like a cat to a very dumb rat, and that was the last thing you wanted.

“On form TA11 to TA13 regarding Tartarus’s last chamber, it looks like you corrected the previous shade’s work. Why was that necessary?” Master Hades said. His tone was polite - for him anyway.- but there was an undercurrent of danger.

“Yes, Master Hades. If you please refer to the file on your desk, you will see what the contractor shades had noted down for repairs versus what was listed on the forms. The document will show with the corrected information along with the new knowledge that we can reuse the materials and save a decent amount.”

The words came out quickly, your fingers shaky as the god did as you requested. Hades studied the forms and the documents, his red eyes darted between the paperwork.

“Very well.” Master Hades signed the paperwork and you felt your soul resume in a dizzying rush.

As you began your return to your overflowing desk, Hypnos waved at you. When he saw he had your attention, he gave you a double thumbs up with a wide grin. It made him look utterly ridiculous.

Not wanting to be rude, you gave the world’s most awkward thumbs up back. You didn’t know why he wanted to be friendly with you of all people.

Pity, maybe.

You kept your head down as you hurried down the hallway, eyes skimming over Master Hades’ notes. It was better not to look, to not see him.

“Genius, slow down.”

You paused in mid step, your body going on autopilot at the mere sound of his deep voice. With a sharp inhale and a silent prayer for strength, you faced him.

It didn't stop the devastating knife from twisting in your heart. He was just as you remembered, his eyes intense as he studied your expression. You jutted your chin out, your nails digging into the paperwork.

Unlike you, he looked like he belonged here among the gods. His strength was undeniable even as a shade, his presence commanded respect. You hated that you still wanted to reach out, to wipe away that brooding expression to reveal his smile.

“That isn’t something you get to call me anymore, Sir Y/N.” Your tone came out abrupt, harsh among the gentle light of the hallway.

His eyes flashed and it was obvious that he wanted to say something back. You straighten your back, ready to counter. It was comforting in a horrible sort of way since disagreements were normal for you and him even before the war. It would feel good to blow off some steam.

Then he only nodded. His voice low as he took a step back. “Of course, reader. Forgive me for overstepping.”

And just like that the wind went out your sails. Were you really going to have a full on argument with Y/N in the middle of your workplace? You closed your eyes for a single moment then adjusted the papers in your hands.

“Was there a reason you wanted to speak with me?” You didn’t look at him again. You don’t think you could bear it.

“I heard that you and Hypnos had been...working together.” He said after a pause. His voice was a lower octave and you shivered at the sound of it. “That notebook you gave him, it is actually helping him. A lot.”

“Good.” You said. You actually meant that. Even if you weren’t sure about Hypnos, you hated the idea of anyone struggling. Then you heard him repeat your name, his voice lower.

It took everything in you to not look up at him. To reach for him. “I’m glad to hear that. Was there anything else you wanted?”

“I wanted to say thank you.” He murmured. “So thank you. For helping Hypnos when I couldn’t.”

His quiet gratitude hit a new soreness in your heart - one that you didn't know even existed- but you forced yourself to take a breath. With strength you didn’t really feel, you made yourself look.

There was an unexpected softness in his expression, one that you recognized. You had seen it countless times, during long nights after battles, whenever he pulled you close or the quiet moments of just you and him with the sunshine warm on your skin.

Your breath hitched, and you wanted to tell him that you missed him, that you were sorry about how everything went down, that you just wanted to hold him one more time.

You wanted to ask if he missed you just as much.

Then you caught a glimpse of white curls, Hypnos’ curious expression shifted to one of guilt and he darted away as Y/N turned his head toward the noise.

“I’m more than happy to help anytime. Tell him I said thanks for the writing quill.” You said, your cheeks flushed hot from pure shame. You were already hurrying away like the guilt was nipping at your heels.

His presence was the reminder you needed to snap you back to reality.

You thought you heard Y/N began to call you back only for his voice to fade as you pushed past the doors.

(Hypnos’ pov)

“A writing quill?” His voice was low, only for Hypnos’ ears even though they were alone. With a quiet hum, Hypnos gave an indulgent stretch, too stated to actually get up. His arms flopped down around his head and grinned when he caught the flash of hunger in Y/N’s expression.

He met Y/N’s cool stare with an innocent blink.The shade had somehow still had energy, sitting up in the bed. Blankets were pooled around them, with countless soft as cloud pillows spilling onto the floor. The firelight was golden and peaceful.

His mortal looked gorgeous, the light casting shadows over his muscular form, tempting Hypnos to move closer and use his tongue to trace the lines of his powerful body.

For some reason, his mind flashed back to Reader, or Genius as Y/N called him. The guilt in the Reader’s face was a mirror to Hypnos’ own. Hypnos didn't mean to eavesdrop on a private moment, really.

He just wanted... he didn’t know, not yet.

Hypnos gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “He needed a new one. The one the house gave him was falling apart.”

Y/n said nothing. He didn't need to, his silence was enough.

Hypnos sighed, closing his eyes. “You will have to accept his presence here eventually.”

“I have.” Y/N said, his calloused fingers caressing Hypnos’ bare hip. Hypnos let out a soft gasp, goosebumps forming on his skin but he didn't move.

Y/N moved downward, pressing open mouth kisses against Hypnos' neck. “What I don't understand is why you are so determined to befriend him.”

Hypnos gripped Y/N's broad shoulders, torn between wanting more or making him stop so they could talk. His eyes traced the stars that gleamed above them. If he was completely honest, Hypnos still didn’t completely know why he cared.

But he did.

There was something about Reader...

“I like him. Hades still hasn't found anything wrong with their work. And I know he tried. Many times.” Hypnos said, not even attempting to hide his jealousy. He never knew someone who could stand toe to toe with Master Hades with paperwork.

not even his Mother could say such things. Certainly not Hypnos nor the Queen herself.

Hypnos huffed. “ And he actually wants to help people, do you know how rare that is? I think anyone else would have refused to help me, considering the situation.”

Y/N pressed a lingering kiss against Hypnos' collarbone before rolling off on him. His voice was quiet. “I do.”

Hypnos bit his lip, his thoughts whirling. Maybe he should confess to maybe taking quite a few peaks of Y/N’s nightmares and of his gentle dreams. That Hypnos had seen moments shared between lovers. Ones that weren't him and Y/N.

That Hypnos knew Reader still dreamt of y/n.

Jealousy had definitely been there but not as much as Hypnos thought there would be. If anything, he wanted to keep watching. He didn’t but now, he was curious about this other person.

This other person that his dearest had loved once. Maybe he still did.

Hypnos wasn’t sure what to expect when he finally met Reader. There was nothing unique about him. He could have easily been lost among the crowd, even if he was pretty for a moral.

Then Hypnos saw it. The spark in those eyes that spoke of an unnatural intellect. Then Reader kept helping Hypnos, again and again.

Reader had been someone Y/N had loved. Surely that meant something. Especially if Hypnos was right, that he saw the same longing in Reader's eyes.

Hypnos stared up at the canopy, turning the moments over and over in his mind like a puzzle to be solved. Then you reached for him and Hypnos went obediently, sighing when he found a comfortable position, his leg over y/n’s thick quads, his hand on Hypnos’ hip.

”Love you.” He murmured, kissing Hypnos’ forehead gently. Hypnos returned a kiss against Y/n’s bare skin.

“Love you too.” Hypnos murmured, his fingers trailing over familiar scars.

It felt odd, like something was shifting into a new shape but it wasn’t quite sure what shape it wanted to be yet. Hypnos knew all he could do was wait and see.

(Reader’s Pov)

Shades were rushing past your desk, their arms overflowing with scrolls, orders yelled overhead as the chaos grew. One of the more experienced shade were already passing around a flask, muttering about how it was going to be a long night.

You skimmed over the scroll once more. You were obvious to the chaos around you. It was almost like being back in the war, only this time you didn’t have your hands inside a pulsing body, rushing against time and the fates themselves to save lives.

This time, it was just your -and everyone else’s- livelihood.

Queen Persephone was due back any day now and Master Hades’ list of demands had only grown.

New flowers needed to be ordered, fresh wood for the hearth, there was a rare type of soil mix from Olympus that Queen Persephone had requested months ago and it still hasn't arrived. Fancy food and types of wines that you have never heard of, fine fabric and so on and so on.

Your fingers danced along the abacus as you went over the numbers of Hades' orders and the cost of everything. It was already more money then you would have earned in a thousand lifetimes but the numbers were easy and mind numbing.

Which may be why you didn't notice him at first.

“Reader.” His low voice was enough to jolt you out the trance you were in, your fingers lingering on the wooden beads.

Y/n stared down at you, his arms gripping a huge stack of scrolls. You blinked once then once more as you registered just how many he was holding. His strong jaw clenched, the glint in his eyes hard as stone.

It was a familiar expression, one that told you just how close he was to losing it. Once you had been the one to reach over and smooth away the anger. But that wasn’t your place anymore.

Not that your body didn’t seem to get the memo. Your fingers twitched.

“What is this?” You gestured toward the pile of work, trying to keep your voice cool.

He exhaled, “Master Hades had decided in his infinite wisdom to increase security for the house. Again. I have the paperwork for the new routines for myself to be filed, along with new procedures for the administration staff.”

With that, he dumped the scrolls in the ‘IN’ box.

“You’re kidding me.” You breathed, plucking the top scroll and unfurling it. You skimmed over the words, a pounding headache forming behind your eyes.

This was just more work, not even necessary with all the last minute preparations for the Queen. No one was going home until the Queen arrived, that was for sure. Maybe you should have taken that offer for a drink after all.

“Here.”

He placed a wrapped parcel on your desk, the rich scent of spiced meat and herbs hitting your nose immediately. Your mouth watered.

With a head shake, you pushed it back to him. “I don’t-“

But he was already walking away, “You need something, gen- Reader.” He scoffed. “You get cranky without food.”

That made your mouth snap close and you let him go without another word. The parcel was still warm when you picked it up. As a shade, food wasn’t a need. But it was a gift from Y/N.

And he wasn’t wrong to be honest.

You unwrapped the parcel, inhaling the scent of the gemista. A simple food, a large tomato stuffed with herbs, meat and vegetables. It took you back to long nights over bonfires, of your thigh pressed against Y/N’s, of Achilles’ lyra playing sweet melodies, Patroclus’ dark eyes watching over with pride.

When you took the first bite, you let yourself savor the meal like chaos wasn’t surrounding you. Then you devoured the rest in a single bite and got back to work. The gods wait for no one.

The fates must still keep an eye out for the shades because Queen Persephone’s reunification with the house went off without a hitch. Laughter from the celebrations reached even as far as the administration chamber.

No doubt that wine was free flowing and the tables were stuffed with delicious food. Your stomach growled even if you didn’t actually feel hungry. The thought over an overfilled cup of wine sounded heavenly.

But the thought of possibly running into a certain couple made your gut turn sour. So you looked down at your desk, biting down on your lip.

Numbers were nothing but blurry ink to you now and the lights felt like a thousand sun. You forced yourself to blink your painfully dry eyes. Others were celebrating, some already packing up to return home. It must have been many days since the start of this whole madness.

As you listened in, you wished that you could have done something. But you were dead and so was the child. At least, their many grandparents were more than happy to fuss and spoil the little one.

One of the older men was telling the others about the young grandchild that had recently made their journey to the underworld.

An short and brutal illness was the cause.

You began to clean up your desk, sighing at the chaos. Ink bottles and papers were scattered everywhere and you cursed yourself for getting so messy.

“Hey, you should come join us.” One of your coworkers, you had forgotten his name, said quietly. He nodded toward the mess on your desk. “I promise it will be more fun than cleaning up.”

The shade was good-looking, his eyes were a charming, gentle brown and his smile was perfect. It made you smile in return but nothing stirred, no breathless sparks in you.

”No. I can't come along but thank you for the invite.” You told him.

“I insist, let me buy you a drink. Gods knows, you were the only reason none of us lost our jobs today.” He pushed a little more, his smile was still there but it looked a little more colder.

You parted your lips but before you could say anything else, a voice piped up.

”He can’t, because he already promised to join me.” Hypnos beamed at your coworker, blatantly lying. “Early birdie get the worm as they say.”

The shade narrowed his eyes at Hypnos as if doubtful of Hypnos’ words.

”Soooo.” Hypnos waved him off, like he was a bothersome and pushy merchant. A beat and the shade ducked his head, “Of course, Lord Hypnos. See you around, Reader.”

“Yeah.” You murmured, noting that Hypnos didn’t bother to correct the shade on the title. Far as you knew from rumors and your own handful of interactions, Hypnos didn’t let coworkers call him by any titles, or even strangers if Hypnos liked them on sight.

Once the group left, it was like the air in the room went with them.

Suddenly, you were aware that you were alone with Hypnos. You have been before but it was different this time. One that you couldn’t put your finger on.

“Thanks but I had it under control.” You told him, stacking the last bits of paper and sitting it aside.

”I don’t doubt that for a moment but I never get to play the hero.” Hypnos grinned at you. It was so boyishly sweet that you actually were a little charmed by it. “Beside, you and I are going to go get a drink, I need to thank you for saving my behind from Master Hades.”

You shook your head but Hypnos held up his hands. His fingers were spread out a little, each one was slender and long. Hands that artists would craft into marble. Unlike your rough hands, ruined by years of creating herbal medicine and cleaning them with harsh soaps.

”I won’t push.” Hypnos said quietly. “I would like to thank you. I usually get yelled so much, my ears would ring for hours but the making a list thing, it really did help. But I understand if you don’t want to.”

His words struck you as sincere. You bit down on your lip, torn. Did you really want to share a drink with Y/n’s lover, to act like you and him were friends? It would be the adult thing to do, but you might only be sitting youself up for a world of hurt.

“Why are you trying to be so nice to me?” The words spilled out before you could stop them. You slapped a hand over your mouth as if that would help take them back.

Hypnos cocked his head. “I’m curious about you.”

You blinked, surprised at his honesty. “You are?”

”Aren’t you curious about me?” Hypnos asked, his golden eyes watchful.

You considered his words then slowly nodded. “I am actually.”

At those words, Hypnos reached into his cloak and pulled out two bottles of nectar. He wiggled one of the round bottles at you, the liquid appeared like melted gold in the lighting. “So how about those drinks?”

(Y/N’s Pov)

Hypnos had vanished.

Among the partygoers, he saw Zagreus along with Thanatos and Megarea, sitting on one of the temporary chaise, set out just for the parties. They looked cozy, with their heads close together as they talked in low voices. One of Zagreus’ hands was in Thanatos’, and his thigh pressed against Megarea’s

Y/N didn’t want to interrupt, besides they probably didn’t know where Hypnos disappeared off too.

After making a quick loop, he still didn’t find Hypnos. Unfortunately, he had to work during the celebration, leaving Hypnos by himself. If Hypnos decided to call it an early night, he would usually let Y/N know.

With a frown, he scanned the great hall one last time. He pretended that he also wasn’t looking for another face among the crowd.

Guilt settled deep in his chest. He didn't like this side of himself. He always thought of himself loyal, he didn’t have a problem keeping his dick to himself unlike many others he knew.

Yet, he found himself wanting to talk, to make sure that Genuis- no- No. Reader. He had lost the right to call Reader by the little pet name Y/N gave him so long ago. That had hurt like a knife to the guts. It hurt far more than it should have considering everything.

Sighing in annoyance at himself, he turned to go to Hypnos' chambers when he caught the cast of lights coming from the administration chamber.

No one was supposed to be there right now.

He began walking toward the doors, just one more thing to deal with before getting to see Hypnos. He didn’t know what he would say if he saw it was just you.

It was until he was a few steps away that the sound of laughter reached his ears. Two distinct ones, both of them were so different but wonderful to hear together. He froze in place.

For a moment, he considered being a coward and turning around. He didn’t, his own need to know was far more powerful. He needed to be sure.

Quietly, he pushed the door open just a crack.

Hypnos sitting on your desk, you in your chair, giggling like children. Hypnos’ sleepmask resting on your head, your fingers brushing on the cloth.

“I don’t think I can pull this look off.” You told Hypnos as you returned it. Hypnos placed it back on, resting his cheek on his palm as he leaned closer to you. You began telling Hypnos something but your voice was too low.

The sight of Hypnos and you sitting together, smiling and laughing warmly, was like lightning bolts shooting down his back. The contrast between you and the god was beautiful, the dimness in the room softening the difference, bringing two separate pieces together.

He swallowed.

Hypnos saw him first. His smile grew, bright and cheerful. He also looked quite tipsy. “There you are! All done with work for tonight?”

Reader jolted upward, blinking at him in surprise. You swayed a bit, cheeks flushed red. It was then he saw the four bottles of nectar sitting on the desk. That would explain a lot then.

“I thought I was but then I found two troublemakers.” He teased, trying to hide the shock to his system.

That caused you to scoff and you pointed at him. “Hypnos, did he tell you about the time he nearly got killed by a bull because he kept sneaking out at night?”

Hypnos whipped back to you with a dramatic gasp. “Are you serious right now?”

”Wait- don’t tell him-“ he tried to speak over but you went off, telling Hypnos all the sordid details.

“So after killing the bull, they had to pay the owner for lost income and Y/N had to stay in his parents’ tent for three weeks.” You finished the tale. Both pairs of eyes rested on him.

It caused his guts to twist, a heat clawing up the back of his neck and he scowled at them.

Hypnos shared a pointed glance with Reader, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “So him being bull headed isn’t a new thing, then?”

That got a genuine laugh from you. Gods, he had missed it. He shifted, trying to shove the unwelcome thoughts away. He was a grown man, he wasn’t going to play these games.

“Nope.” You replied, giving the ‘p’ a loud pop.

”I don’t like this.” He grumbled, crossing his arms. “Why are you ganging up on me?”

Another shared glance between you and Hypnos and the pair broke down in loud, drunken laughter.

Despite him being the butt of their jokes right now, it warmed something in his stomach to see them getting along. Even if it did take alcohol to help smooth the process.

It didn��t take much coaxing to get Hypnos and You to call it a night. He walked behind them, readying to grab one or both everytime they swayed a little too far. Both of them were chatting over office gossip - One of the shade was leaving to work as a blacksmith, there was a rumor of an affair between two of the HR workers and so on.

It wasn’t until they stopped in front of the Reader’s dorms that they went quiet.

Hypnos shamelessly pulled you into a tight embrace, his cloak enveloped you and him in soft red. You gave Y/N a surprise glance, silently asking and he nodded. If anyone understood the unusual process of becoming friends with Hypnos, it was him.

After a beat of hesitation, you returned it.

A knot formed in his throat. He should have looked away but he couldn’t. He didn’t want to. There was something beautiful in this moment, two halves of his soul embracing under the warm candlelights.

He knew that he would be returning to this memory again and again, saved between quiet heartbeats, admiring a sight that only he got to see.

Hypnos broke the hug, his hands on your shoulders and beamed at you. “Friends?”

Returning Hypnos’ smile, you nodded, carefully not looking at Y/N.

“Friends.”

#wake me from this dreaming #hypnos x male!reader

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