Brotherly Antics
AN: day 2, here we go! This has been one of my favorite fics to write so far! It’s just so fun & playful, & I just love these characters so much! If you haven’t already, go watch Blood of Zeus! Now, on to the fic!
The fight was far from over, Heron knew this well. Their victory on the battlefield will be short lived, but for now, they could enjoy the rest and relaxation.
His friends remained on earth while he resided in Olympus for the time being, talking things over with his half siblings and training by their side. Their father would be proud.
Heron sat on the side of the field, drinking water as he watched his brothers spar. In a flash, Hermes ran behind Apollo, hooking both arms under his before slamming him to the ground in a cloud of dust.
"Why you little-" Apollo growled, swinging his legs to knock Hermes off his feet. His back hit the hard packed dirt with a pained groan. His eyes flew wide open as he felt an arm wrap around his legs and he began kicking with all his might, the wings at his ankles flapping frantically.
"Apollo don't! That's cheating!" he cried, a smile playing at his lips as he tried to shove him off.
"You cheated first! Attacking from behind like that, really Hermes?" he taunted as he began scribbling against the downy feathers. Hermes shrieked so loudly, it made Heron jump in shock, head snapping up to look at the pair.
"Ohoho plehease, you're just looking for ahan excuse to- NOHO WAHAHAIT!" Hermes cut himself off with a giggly squeal before hysterical cackles burst free from his chest. Heron found himself chuckling along to the infectious, goofy sound, though a blush was quickly spreading and he found he couldn't bear to watch the scene for long. He grabbed a whetstone and began sharpening his sword to appear busy, watching from the corner of his eye.
"Stick around long enough, and you'll be next," a gentle voice warned from behind, startling him enough to turn around. He relaxed slightly; it was only Athena.
"Trying to scare me away so you can have the field all to yourself, sister?" he teased, looking down to hide his blush. She snickered, something sly and knowing behind the sound.
"It was a warning. You're fresh meat for them, and if they see you sitting here..." she trailed off, looking him up and down. He squirmed under her gaze, furrowing his brows. "I'm afraid you'll be serving yourself up on a silver platter."
"That's ridiculous," he hissed, dragging the stone across the blade harshly. "They're all the way other there, and a little busy, if you haven’t noticed," he reasoned, a fair amount of sass entering his voice. "I'll be fine." Right? he didn't say aloud, but looked up at her expectantly, hopefully.
Athena arched a brow at his tone, cocking her head to look at him.
"Do you know what Hermes is the God of?"
"A lot."
Athena snorted and rolled her eyes, resting her hand atop his head and leaning on him like a table. "Be specific."
"Speed, travel-"
"Mischief," she cut him off, and he snapped his mouth shut, eyes wide. "And Apollo is almost as bad, though he may have you fooled. But, I mean, just look at who started this mess?" she nodded to the pair subtly, not keen on drawing their attention by pointing.
Heron followed her gaze, watching the pair roll around and laugh. Hermes was flopping around like a dying fish, cackling and pleading for mercy as Apollo pinched and rubbed the wings between his fingers. He scratched at the base of the wings where they met the ankle and his laughter spiked, surging forward with renewed energy to launch an attack of his own. He buried his hands under Apollo's arms and he jolted, slamming them down to his sides with a bark of laughter. Hermes let out a triumphant, giggly war cry as he fought for the upper hand. Heron smirked as they watched it all play out, but there was the faintest touch of sadness to it. These were brothers, who grew up wrestling and playing with one another, who loved each other wholeheartedly. This was everything he and Seraphim never got to have, and he bit back the vile taste of jealousy.
He wasn't jealous that he wasn't included! That's not what he meant, so don't go putting words in his mouth. He was jealous of the bond that never was; the brother- the best friend he should've had. It was like looking in a twisted mirror of what could have been.
His lip curled in a sneer as he scraped the stone along the sharp edge. "So?"
"Do I really have to spell it out?" she asked, more amused than annoyed. "You're our brother. That makes you just as much fair game as the rest of us," she teased softly. His mouth hung open in shock, but she cut him off before he could speak. "So if I were you, I'd get a head start. Hermes is quite fast."
Heron sat there frozen, looking between her and the wrestling Gods on the ground. He locked his gaze with hers, "Are you being serious?"
Athena chuckled, shaking her head fondly. "Trust me, I'm one of the few who won't pull the wool over your eyes." He nodded before heaving a deep sigh, accepting the truth of the matter. If she's right, he'll be quick work if he sticks around. So he gathered his things as quietly as he could, but by that time, he could hear their fight beginning to wind down. Still, he crept towards the exit, praying they wouldn't notice.
"Just where are you off to?"
Of course they fucking noticed.
"I'm done training," he said curtly, glancing over his shoulder to call out, trying to play it casual. When he looked ahead, he stopped in his tracks with a choked gasp as Hermes stood blocking the exit.
"Actually, I don't think you are."
"Excuse me?" he asked, tossing his things to the side, knowing it's best to ditch them now than while he's running for his life.
"You have to get a full workout. You can't just hit the weights brother, cardio is very important," he practically purred, taking a step towards him. Heron took three steps back.
"I think I'm good-"
"No, he's right brother," Apollo spoke from behind, and he tensed up when he felt a large arm rest over his shoulders. He slipped out of the hold, stepping away and turning so he could keep both of them in his vision.
"Why so jumpy Heron? Did our dear sister warn you about us?" Hermes asked with a smirk. Heron didn't move a muscle, and that was all the confirmation they needed. "She knows us so well," he mused.
"I'd hope so. Otherwise we'd need to give her a little reminder," Apollo piped up.
"I think we should anyway. She did tip him off," Hermes shrugged nonchalantly.
"Guess it's settled then," Apollo agreed. As the pair spoke, Heron took off running across the field. They gave him a few more seconds to believe he had a fighting chance before they gave chase.
Heron came to a screeching halt when Hermes suddenly stood in his path and he turned on his heels. He screamed when he saw Apollo coming up from behind, and he made a B-line for the rows of seats. He jumped over the wall into the stand, heading towards the exit. Apollo paced him on the field while Hermes circled around from behind.
Apollo jumped into the stands with ease, quickly gaining on him. Heron should've known better than to look behind him. It was the same kind of fear as when you're up high, and you look down. A small scream escaped his throat and he ran even faster.
He was grabbed from behind, and panic surged through his body. He shot forward with God-like speed, breaking free of the hold. Hermes cut him off at the last second and he froze, caught between his half brothers.
"You're trying awfully hard to escape. You must be rather ticklish to go through this much trouble to avoid it," Hermes teased, flashing him a smirk. Heron took a step back.
"No, I just know you two are awful together," he justified with a smirk of his own.
"Thank you, you're too kind," Hermes hummed, taking another step towards him, and Heron took that as his cue to start running again.
"Great brother, you let him get away," Apollo rolled his eyes.
"Relax, it's not like he'll get very far," he quipped, dashing off and returning in less than a second with a struggling Heron in tow.
"Noho, let me gooo!" He leaned back as far as he could, running in place as he tugged on his trapped arm.
"Oh dear, laughing already?" Hermes cooed, chuckling at the blush that spread across Heron's face.
"No! Shut up!" he snapped defensively. He landed with a thud on the ground when Hermes let him go, watching Heron launch himself into the dirt with his own momentum.
"Is that any way to speak to your brother?" Apollo asked, crouching down to grab his arms while Hermes straddled his waist.
"I'm sorry! Let me go!" Heron put up a good fight, trying to get away. However, he had a twitchy, nervous smile and the struggling was mostly for show.
"No can do. See, you haven't gone through initiation yet," Hermes drawled, resting his hands on his sides. "I mean, are you really our brother if we haven't tickled you until you cry?"
"What?"
"Oh please, you're scaring him. Don't worry Heron, we'll stop once you beg for mercy. We're not animals."
"No way, I'm not gonna beg from a little tickling," he argued. His defiance was adorable.
"Won't you?" Hermes asked, arching a brow. Heron faltered in his confidence.
"No?"
"Oh my, you sound a bit unsure of yourself," Apollo spoke up smugly. "What's the matter, afraid you'll crack?" he taunted. Heron grunted and strained to pull his arms down, but they were firmly pinned beneath Apollo's knees.
"I won't!" he growled, kicking his legs against the ground. Hermes smirked down at him, leaning in a little closer.
"Let's test it then, shall we?"
Heron's eyes flew wide open and he shook his head. "Wait, that's not what I meant!"
Hermes threw his head back in a shrill, hysterical cackle of his own. "Oh dear, sweet, baby brother, there really is no escape. So you might as well just accept your fate now." As soon as he finished speaking, he began squeezing his sides softly, relishing in the way Heron jumped beneath his touch, yelping before biting down on his lip. Still holding onto the last shreds of his dignity, he shook his head.
"Oh good! I was so hoping you'd go down fighting," Hermes chirped, clawing just beneath his ribs.
Heron grit his teeth together, sealing his lips shut as tight as he could, but muffled giggles and shrieks still managed to make themselves known.
"I just love it when they try to hold it in, don't you?" Apollo teased, walking his fingers down his arms. Heron jerked under the touch, arms straining to come down. His breathing came in quick bursts through his nose, sounding more like laughter by the second.
"It's only one of the best parts," Hermes agreed before clawing at his stomach. Heron immediately crumbled at the touch, allowing loud belly laughs to escape. Hermes couldn't help but giggle at the reaction, "Aww, you really are a ticklish one, aren't you?"
Heron felt a blush rise to his cheeks, and he tried to hide his face in the crook of his arm. "SHUHUT UHUHUP!"
"I didn't hear a no," Apollo pointed out, scratching his bare armpits. Heron shrieked and arched his back before flailing uselessly beneath his half brothers.
"You're one toho tahahalk!" he managed to taunt back.
Apollo gasped loudly before drilling his thumbs in the center of his pits. Heron was thrown into hysterics, and the God had to raise his voice to be heard over frantic laughter, "You little shit! Just for that-" He didn't finish his sentence, instead he brushed Heron's hair away from his neck and took a deep breath.
"Wahahait! W-what ahahare you- AHAHAHAHA OHOH SHIHIHIT!" Heron tried to scrunch his neck to block the feeling as Apollo blew a raspberry on his neck. He pulled away, watching as Heron giggled and rubbed his neck with his shoulder, panting heavily to catch his breath. "Whahahat the hehell was thahat?"
"Oh? Don't tell me you've never had a raspberry before."
Heron scrunched his face, "That's what you call it?"
"Well, that's what humans are calling it," Hermes reasoned.
"Why?"
They both chuckled, and Heron felt his face grow warm. "I don't know. Say, you're half human, why don't you tell us?" Hermes asked with a smirk. Heron whined, tugging on his arms and bucking his hips.
"Just lehet me gooo! You're being mehehean!" he giggled, throwing his head back in defeat. The mischievous pair replied in unison.
"Oh I'll show you mean!"
"What? But we're being so nice!"
Hermes rolled up Heron's shirt, taking a deep breath just as Apollo had moments before. He shook his head, eyes wide with giddy fear as he realized what was coming.
"Nohoho wait! Please, I'm sorRYYYYY!" his pleading dissolved into a shrill squeal as the trickster God blew a raspberry in the center of his stomach. Heron kicked his legs and bucked as much as he could, snorting and cackling when Hermes blew another raspberry, followed by one on each side of his belly, still quivering with laughter.
"Plehehease! You're killing mehehehe!" he squealed, eyes shut tightly and nose scrunched adorably as he laughed.
"What? Come on, you can take a little tickling, can't you?" Apollo asked smugly, scratching behind his ears and earning a choked off giggle in response. "I mean, you're half God, so it would be pretty embarrassing if this was what did you in, after everything-"
"OHOHOKAHAY I GEHET IT! SHUT UP!"
"Oh, he gets angry when he's flustered. Good to know," Hermes noted with a smug smirk, clawing at his sides.
"Noho I dohohon't!" Heron argued, blushing profusely and trying to look at anything else besides the two Gods grinning down at him.
"Agree to disagree," he shrugged smugly. He moved down to squeeze his hips, and Heron bucked with a loud, giggly shriek.
"Ohoho shihihit! Nohot there, plehease!"
"Not there, you say?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. He squeezed his hips, making him thrash with another yelp. "See, when people say that, they usually mean it really tickles. So, is this a bad spot?"
"Ihihhi'll kihihill you!" Heron growled through his laughter. They both rolled their eyes.
"Sure you will. You look quite threatening with that smile plastered on your face," Hermes taunted.
Oh, that was the last straw. Heron summoned what little strength he could and thrust it out through his hands. He latched onto Apollo's knees where they were keeping his arms pinned and let the electricity flow from his fingertips, hoping for the best.
Suddenly, Apollo jumped back with a startled shriek of his own, rubbing his knees frantically. Hermes stared at him quizzically.
"What-"
"He used his damned lightning," he explained in a rush, cutting him off. He turned to look at Heron, hoping for a truce.
"I'll help hold him down if you promise to do that to him-"
"Excuse you, but what the fuck?" Hermes snapped, staring at Apollo with a look of utter betrayal.
Heron nearly choked on the air he was sucking in. He looked at him in bewilderment, furrowing his brows.
"You do know you'll be next, right?"
"Of course, I'm just biding my time, same as you. It's why you ran, is it not?"
"Just stop talking." When they looked up, Hermes was already halfway across the field. Apollo smirked and pointed at him.
"See, if he really wanted to escape, he'd be halfway to earth by now."
"I can still hear you!"
Apollo stood and stretched, "And yet, you don't hear him denying it." He smiled down at Heron and winked, offering a hand to help him up.
"No, you don't," Heron agreed with a genuine grin of his own.
"Well, he's waiting for us to catch up. So? What do you say?"
Heron just smirked and cocked his head before taking off in a sprint.
