Cupid Harry
“I think I’m in love…”
Or Harry is Eros (Cupid) and Y/N gets in the way of his job……
it’s really long
It is not often that the gods mingle around humans; as they’ve stopped believing the gods have stopped showing up. The occasional tryst may occur between one of the big twelve olympians and a human, but again, it’s rare. Because of this disbelief, the rules surrounding the interference in human lives have become mere guidelines instead of something to get killed over. So for gods like Harry, also known as Eros, his job gets to be a bit more… hands on. It’s not that he doesn’t love being in Olympus, the perfection and beauty of it really please him, but something about watching people fall in love in such a horrid and cursed place like Earth, brings him the most joy.
He doesn’t want to say that he has the most important job, but he thinks he has the most important job, without love the world would be in even more shambles than it is. So he doesn’t mind it one bit that he’s leant against a tree, watching a young couple leaning in to kiss through his camera. He’d been following the two for a few months and he believed it was time for Marc to say the ‘L’-word to Greg. Greg tended to be a bit more of a skeptic, he noticed. Harry really liked Marc, he was a nice guy who deserved to be happy, so shooting Greg with his arrow would be the least he could do for the guy, guaranteeing a positive response to his impending confession.
Here’s the trick though, the magic arrows he shoots need to penetrate the person when they are looking at whatever it is Eros wants them to fall in love with. So his hearing and eyesight are sharp and he is ready to release as the words leave Marc’s mouth. Currently, to the human eyes it appears as if he’s taking a picture (as the times changed so did his tactics) his finger is right on the button, about to press down, smiling as he hears Marc utter the magic words and Greg’s eyes widen with surprise and suddenly he’s knocked to the ground. His finger has pressed down on the button, but he’s taken a shot into the sky. Suddenly, he hears Marc calling desperately after Greg to come back. But Harry can’t sit up,up, there’s a weight over him and suddenly his cheek is wet and he squints up to see a huge dog panting in his face.
“Oh my god, I am so, so sorry!” He hears and looks up to see the most beautiful girl looming over him. She’s shooing the dog and then extending her hands to help him up. She’s perfect, dare he say that she’s more beautiful than Aphrodite he reckons (he’ll keep that bit to himself because his mom is a very jealous goddess). He just cannot pull him eyes from her, his heart is thumping and he feels warmth and peace and giddiness, and her hands are so soft. He’s so entranced that he’s not even upset about Marc and Greg, he can get them another time. “Are you alright?” she asks, releasing his hands, letting him dust off his pants.
“Yeah, I’m alright.” He smiles softly as he looks into her eyes once more. She stands shorter than him, but she still looks fully concerned and then looks down to the dog, it’s a great dane, he’s massive, nearly to her waist and she bends down to grab his leash.
“That’s good to hear, I am terribly sorry. You see, It’s Ares’ first walk in a while and he just got very excited.” Harry burst into laughter, wait ’til Louis heard people were naming big, clumsy dogs after him! His boisterous laugh caused the girl to giggle along with him, she was a bit confused as to why he was laughing, but his laugh was so contagious and he was beautiful. More beautiful than any other person she’d ever seen in her life. He extends his hand out towards the dog, letting him sniff him before he pets between his ears, and his nails dig into his short fur a bit to scratch at his head.
“He’s a very cute dog.” Harry says sweetly and she smiles.
“Thanks, I’m his walker. I usually bring him here a few times a week, but it’s been a few months. He just got his cast taken off. The big klutz tumbled down the stairs, hit a table and knocked the prized bowling ball trophy onto it. He really is very unlucky, but he’s my favorite customer.” She informed and Harry chuckled. He needed to know more, he’d seen one beautiful human before and he could honestly say that this beautiful, bubbly human had her beat by a long shot.
“Well, I got his name, but I don’t have yours.” Harry said smoothly and her eyes widened like saucers.
“I’m terribly rude, sorry! I’m Y/N, it’s very nice to meet you…” she extends her hand again.
“Harry.” He finishes for her and he grins at her, shaking it gently, “it appears I’m just as rude.” He mumbles and she smiles again. He swears that smile is so bright, it puts Helios to shame.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you around, do you go here?” She asked, they were in a university’s botanical garden.
“Yeah, I do.” He lied quickly, “I’m new, just transferred. Do you go here?” She nodded. “Nice, well maybe we’ll see each other around?” He asked and she smiled and nodded.
“Yeah, maybe!” She said, unable to tear away from his eyes. They were such a pretty green, almost like an entire forest lived in them, she’d never seen that before. “Well, again I am really sorry for Ares’ behavior, I hope we didn’t ruin your camera.” She said looking down and he almost forgot, his eyes widening as he bent down to pick it up, inspecting it.
“No damage.” He assured her and she looked relieved.
“I should be going, it was very nice to meet you, Harry.” She smiled and he smiled back.
“You as well, Y/N. Bye Ares.” He chuckled, patting the dog’s head one last time before they walked off.
Harry wanted to follow her, invisibly of course, but he had to settle things with Marc and Greg, so he walked further into the garden and became invisible. His wings extended broadly and with a little kick off he was in the air, soaring to Greg’s house. Sure enough, Greg was pacing around, he could see him through the balcony, Harry knows why he has commitment issues… humans are so fragile when it comes to love, but that’s what happens when it’s not true love.
One prick from his arrow and people are helplessly and foolishly in love, but some of the other gods mess with his work. If the human he has struck commits a sin against the person he is in love with, the magic dies. Again, humans are fragile, they can’t resist temptations, it is awful, but seeing them in love, even for just a little makes it all worth it.
Harry is waiting for the perfect moment, he needs to pick up a picture of Marc or something… so he waits for nearly an hour. Greg picks up the photo of him and Marc in Spain, that’s where they fell in lust. The first step, attraction, desire, whatever you want to call it has to come naturally, he can help a smidge, but he works most at step two. Step two is love, if he thinks they’re a good fit, Harry will strike one person, usually the most hurt or insecure one, so that they don’t back away from the opportunity. After he strikes, it is up to the pair to take their love further or keep it stagnant. Greg smiles at the picture of Marc, perfect! Harry, who has an actual bow this time, takes his arrow and sets it in place, pulling back and releasing it, smiling in satisfaction as it pierces Greg’s chest and then fades to nothing. The effects are instantaneous, he grabs his wallet, slips on his shoes and bursts out of his apartment. Harry will help him, he flutters down to ground level and influences a cab driver to pull over right in front of his building. Just then, Greg runs out the door, looking both ways and see’s the cab, he gets in and they take off. Harry follows along, hovering above the vehicle, protecting it, clearing a path until they get to Marc’s house. Greg is pounding at his door and Marc is all teary-eyed when he opens up, but Harry watches as Greg leans in and kisses him hard, stunning Marc, but then he pulls away and whispers that he loves him too, that he loves him so, so much and he’s done his job.
****
Y/N gets home and for some reason, she cannot shake Harry from her mind. He was really something; he was beautiful and so nice. She’s a fine arts major, specializing in sketching and painting and her mind is just image after image of him. She barely says hello to her housemates, Barbie and Oliver, and hurries into her bedroom, scrambling to find a blank piece of paper and begins sketching quickly. Her brows furrow as she tries to recall the little details of his face, but those eyes, those are the first things she can put down. She’d been in her room for about twenty minutes when her door creaks open.
“Are you gonna eat?” Oliver asks, walking over to where she’s hunched over her desk, she hasn’t even bothered to sit down, she was finishing up the details of his lips.
“Not now. I’m busy, Oli.” Y/N grumbles, her hand moving to work on the last bit, defining his jawline. Oli looks down at her work and asks,
“Who’s that?” watching her finish up, inspecting the wispy sketch.
“Some guy Ares knocked over at the park.” She said taking it from the surface of the desk and pinning it at her board, her hands on her hips. “Looks familiar, no?” She asks and Oliver hummed, they both look it over for a while and then Oliver gasped, “What?” Y/N said, jumping slightly.
“I know what he looks like!” Oli said, hurrying out of the room leaving Y/N confused, ready to follow him, but then she heard his steps coming back down the hall and then into her room with a textbook in his hands, paging through it.
“Remember last semester we took that British Art class and there was a shit ton of portrait painters… Ah! Here he is, Hamilton… look. He painted this painting of cupid and psyche.” He said handing her the book and she squinted at the smaller painting and her eyes widened.
“It does resemble him…” she said glancing up to the sketch she had pinned up.
“Your guy looks like the painting of Cupid. There’s another that comes to mind…” Oli said pulling out his phone, typing away at it before showing her another painting, this time by Bouguereau, she put down the book and took his phone, zooming in, “the neck, the jawline, the curls… classic cupid.” Oli chuckled and she smiled.
“Yeah, he’s a full on god. He looked ethereal in person. Do you think the greek gods were real?” She asked, studying the painting’s features and he shook his head.
“It’s called Greek mythology, as in myth, Y/N. Just stories.” He argued.
“Of course they were real!” Barbie input as she joined in inspecting the sketch and then painting. “Twinsies. You’ve found cupid re-incarnated.” She smiled excitedly.
“Classic impressionism, both paintings still inspired by realism, though Bouguereau is more progressive, look at the bright colored veil around psyche.” Y/N mumbles, “It’s a sign I should pursue a realism approach to my senior project.” She hummed happily and Barbie chuckled.
“Please, do it! But only as long as that guy is going to be your model.” She said pointing to the sketch. “You should re-create the cupid-psyche myth!” Barbie cheered and Y/N nodded excitedly.
“Yes, perfect! Now leave me alone, I have to write up a proposal!”
*****
Harry finally was home, the sun was setting over the beautiful Olympian structures, his feet landing on solid gold streets as he made his way to Zeus’ palace. There was a feast tonight for something and he could hear music and chatter from the entrance. Once inside he caught sight of his usual friends, Niall and Louis, who are Dionysus and Ares.
“Hey guys, how’s it going.” Harry said smiling and Niall groaned.
“What’s the point in coming to a party if you can’t fucking drink.” He mumbled in irritation and Harry chuckled.
“Where’s Liam?” Harry asked looking around.
“Had to pay Hades a visit, he should be back soon.” Louis said before taking a drink, smirking in Niall’s face.
“Today I met another Ares.” Harry said to Louis and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Did you now? How rare!”
“Yeah, apparently people are naming their giant, clumsy dogs after you!” He informed and he and Niall burst into laughter. Louis was so easily angered, it was quite amusing, “On the bright side he was a cute dog, with the most beautiful companion, some girl, prettiest thing I’d ever seen!”
“Don’t let your mother hear that, she’ll be dead before she even knows what’s coming.” Harry rolled his eyes.
“that is wise advice…” he grumbled.
“Yeah, it’s best to keep that bit to yourself.” Niall advised.
His mind was a mess just thinking of her, he needed to find her and he would go to the gardens every single day until he ran into her; he just needed to see her again.
****
Y/N and Ares were walking through the botanical gardens again, her eyes were peeled for Harry, the cupid doppelgänger. Ares was a bit more relaxed now, seeing as he was back on schedule and not deprived of the outside world; Wednesdays were his favorite because he had dog friends who played in the field on those days and Y/N just sat at a bench, watching, making sure he was playing nice. But then she saw him, walking down the path, camera slung over his neck, looking left to right, probably seeking inspiration. She hurried towards him, not bothering to grab her purse or her sandals that she had slipped off while she waited.
“Harry!” She called out and he looked up, smiling wide as he saw her coming up to him.
“Hi, Y/N.” He beamed, he was more than excited to see her. She was the reason he came.
“Can we talk? I know that you don’t know me at all, but I wanted to ask you something?” She asked and he nodded, following her back to her bench, he took a seat beside her and looked into her eyes, waiting for her to speak. “So, I’m a fine arts major and this is my last semester and we all do senior projects, right? Well, I kind of want to do something crazy for mine.” She said, then paused for a moment, “If you’re willing, could you help me with it?” She asked and he grinned.
“Depends what I need to do.” He countered and she giggled.
“Right well…you’ve heard of Eros right? Or Cupid? Whatever you want to call him!” She said and his heart started pounding, had he been found out? But how? After one run in? He nodded none the less, to see where she was going with this. “Well, my friend fed me this crazy idea that you look like the depictions of him. I paint realism, which many people don’t do anymore and I wanted to sort of bring back the style with a modern twist and I was thinking of doing panels based off of the Eros & Psyche myth, are you familiar with it?” She asked and he nodded dumbly almost.
Was he familiar with it? He basically lived it, the myth had been altered, given a happy ending because again, humans are fragile and need hope. Unfortunately, Psyche never woke from her slumber, no matter how much he had tried to wake her. It was the one thing that turned him from a reckless force into the sagacious and responsible being he is now. He had been in love once and it broke him completely, he did his best to prick those who seemed stronger or who deserved love. It had been decades since he had thought of Psyche, but seeing Y/N now, the softness of her eyes and the easy beauty of her face, he saw slight traces of his first ever love.
“Harry…” Y/N hummed, smiling a bit as he seemed to come out of his thoughts.
“Sorry, was just daydreaming.” He said and she smiled.
“No worries, well either way I uh- since you look so much like the depictions would you be interested in being my model?” She asked hopefully, brows furrowed as she waited for a response. “I know you don’t know me well and you won’t even get paid, so you can say no! But you’re just so perfect for it.” She explained and he smiled.
“I’ll do it.” He stated and her eyes went as wide as saucers.
“You will?!” She asked, shocked and he nodded, he loved seeing her smile.
“I will. When do we start?”
****
Naturally, after that day in the park with Harry, Y/N went home and told Barb and Oli that Harry was her model. She was more than excited about Harry agreeing to be her model, she just used one of her previous models as Psyche. Just as planned, the following Wednesday evening Harry and Chloe, her two models were stripping down and posing for the first panel. Y/N had sketched out what she wanted it to look like, so she was just making some adjustments to their positions.
“Your tattoos are cool.” She said to Harry quietly, adjusting his arm a bit and he grinned like a lovestruck schoolgirl.
“They’re not a problem are they?” He inquired and she shook her head.
“S’perfect actually, I’m doing it with a modern twist.” She said and then arranged the veil Chloe was wrapped in, she just went for a white one, Psyche represents the soul, untainted and perfect. Eros is the passion, reckless and spontaneous. After 3 hours and a few ten minute breaks Y/N had the color palette and general shape down. She snapped a quick picture of her two models in pose and then came off of the step ladder and took a few steps back to see the whole picture, it was almost to scale, it was big. “Thank you so much for your time, guys. I really appreciate it! Next session we’ll work on detailing the painting.” She said and the two stretched a bit. Harry was helping Chloe down, whose leg had gone numb and as he was helping Chloe slip on her clothes he started sensing massive amounts of attraction, so he glanced around the room until he saw a young man, standing alongside Y/N, talking to her a bit about her painting, so he tuned in his hearing.
“This is going to be incredible.” The man said and Y/N smiled.
“Thanks, I’m so excited! Choe and Harry work well together, they look really nice together, they both have godlike beauty.” She said and that made Harry smile, but the man interjected.
“Um, so do you…”
“Oh my god, Oli… let’s not, okay?” She said flustered and he grinned.
“Sorry, sorry… anyway, your project is going to put the rest of our class’ to shame. You’re definitely going to get the commission call.” He said and she sighed.
“I hope so, lord knows I need it.”
Harry had finished helping Chloe and tuned out of the conversation that wasn’t his. He now knew that Oli really, really likes Y/N. He also knows that Y/N really doesn’t like him in the same way, and that there is an endgame to this project. Being commissioned to make art is basically getting paid to paint or draw, or whatever… he wanted Y/N to win, so he was going to call a few favors in with his friends Athena and Apollo when he got home, they owed him. Chloe had said goodbye and he lingered in the studio area, the room was big, but there were three different styles at three different desks and he knew which one belonged to Y/N without even asking.
“I’m guessing this is your station?” He said and she turned quickly, seeing him looking at the sketches and tiny paintings sprawled out. She walked over to him, she was so close he could feel her warmth and smell her perfume, it was sending his heart into a frenzy.
“Yep.” She hummed.
“Raphael fan, eh?” He smiled, picking up a little mock-up of the famous angels and waving it with two fingers.
“Yeah actually, I really like his work. He’s one of the reasons I’m so into realism.” She explained and he hummed.
“He was gay, you know?” Harry muttered as he inspected more of her art.
“It is a speculation.” She argued, “I mean, I believe it, but some cannot come to terms with it.” he chuckled.
“Trust me, he was.” Harry said glancing to her and she giggled.
“How can you be so sure? It’s not like you knew him.” She said and his eyes widened for a bit, he definitely knew him and he was saying too much.
“Uhhh, I’m cupid… I know everything about everyone’s love life.” He said honestly, but smugly because she didn’t necessarily know that and she rolled her eyes playfully.
“Alright then, so what can you tell me about mine?” She challenged, her arms folding over each other and raising a smug eyebrow at him and he grinned.
“I can tell you that your boyfriend doesn’t appreciate me flirting with you.” He said softly and she looked over to the entrance of the room and Oliver walked off quickly.
“Oli is not my boyfriend.” She stated firmly and Harry chuckled.
“Does he know that?”
“He does, but uh… he’s persistent. Wait, did you say you were flirting with me?” She asked smiling, a pink hue coming over her cheeks.
“I did find out if you were single, no?” He said smugly and she bit her lip, nodding.
“Alright…” she hummed, suppressing a smirk.
“Do you want to go get a coffee sometime?” She looked pensive, “I am posing as cupid for at least three more months…” he sang quietly and she giggled.
“I would love to. Also, don’t really like the sound of cupid… Eros is nicer.” She said quietly and he smiled, he liked that name better too.
After Harry left Y/N and Barbie were just squealing about how beautiful Harry was and how he had asked her for coffee. Oliver was rolling his eyes the whole time at the “Cupid-wannabe” as he liked to call Harry.
*****
“Have you been here?” He asked Y/N as they walked up to a little shop.
“I have not… didn’t even know it was here.”
“Well, they have the best coffee you will ever taste, come on.” He said, opening the door for her and letting her in.
He recommended something for her to try and paid for both of them and then led her to a booth, sliding in across from her.
“How’s the background of the first panel going?” He asked.
“I finished early this morning,” she disclosed, “Just need you and Chloe to come back in and do the finishing touches and panel one will be complete!” She said excitedly.
“You are extremely talented, you know? Probably one of the best artists I’ve ever known.” He said sweetly, reaching for her hand and she smiled as he held it in his larger one.
“Because you know so many of them?” She asked and he chuckled.
“More than you can imagine.” He teased and she rolled her eyes playfully. They were interrupted by a waiter who placed their drinks before them and mumbled a quick and polite ‘enjoy’ before slipping away just as quickly as he’d come. His hand moved off of hers and she instantly missed the contact, he was a magnet. After their first session they exchanged numbers and they have not stopped texting each other. Harry got a cell phone just for that, he didn’t get close to many humans and he really didn’t need a cellphone, but he wanted to keep talking to her.
“I love coffee, I can’t believe I had gone ages without it existing. At the first try it became my favorite flavor.” Harry shared enthusiastically after taking a sip from his steaming mug. Y/N caught that whole ‘ages without existing’ thing, it seemed odd to her, but Harry was just a curious person and expressed himself oddly at times.
“I love it, too.” She smiled, tucking the words away to mull over at another time.
“So, what made you want to become an artist?” He asked and while she explained about her dad drawing all the time he listened to how her heart rate picked up when she’d look into his eyes and how the sense of attraction he could pick up so easily seemed to be growing the longer they were together. Her lips looked inviting and smooth, he wanted to kiss her and tell her that she was more beautiful than the stars in the sky and that he also, felt an overwhelming need to be near her. “So why did you agree to be my model?” She asked curiously, “I could’ve been a serial killer or something crazy.” She said and he chuckled, shaking his head at her wild mind.
“Because I wanted to get to know you better.” He admitted.
“Well, I hope you’re getting what you hoped for.” She replied, looking down at her cup and he smiled.
“I definitely am.” He said smiling timidly.
“I also want to get to know you better.” She said, making his tummy flutter.
“What do you want to know?” He asked and she pursed her lips pensively.
“What’s your biggest fear?” She asked and he bit his lip.
“Falling in love.” He said honestly and she looked shocked.
“Why?” She asked immediately and then shook her head, “Sorry, you don’t need to answer that question.” She interjected and he shook his head.
“It’s because the first time it happened it ended badly and it feels like I hardly healed from it and it has been ages, but if I think about it for a second too long it feels really real.” He whispered and she frowned.
“I’m sorry, Har. Can I call you that?” She asked and he nodded.
“Y’can call me whatever you want, love.” She smiled sweetly at the pet name.
“Well, love is scary but I’d say it’s worth the risk, don’t you think? All the best things in life are.” She pointed out and he smiled at her optimism. Somehow, her fragile human heart had accepted it’s condition, life hurts, it’s tough, but there is beauty in everything. She had a true artist’s soul and he loved it.
“You’re right.” He responded quietly, “It’s worth the risk.”
Quite honestly, Harry had not felt this way about anyone in a hundreds of years. Psyche was also human, maybe he had a soft spot for humans? Who knows, but he knew that he could spend eternity with her and never get tired of her face. After coffee they went to a bookstore and then decided to catch a film. And as they sat there quietly, basically alone in the theater he reached over his arm rest and rested his hand over hers. She looked up at him so quickly, he just smiled tenderly, his skin prickling with chills as her fingers parted a bit, allowing him to slot his own fingers in the gaps. They stayed that way until the movie ended and made the walk to her house in the same manner and when he was saying goodbye the sun was setting and the rays were hitting her perfectly, thanks Helios.
“I really want to kiss you.” She confessed, her eyes seeking his for something and he grinned.
“You can.” He said and she shook her head, looking down to her feet. “Why not?” He asked, tilting her head up, so that their eyes could meet once more.
“I don’t kiss on first dates. Ever. Never have.” She explained and he nodded.
“Alright, well I always do, so…” he said quietly and leaned in, her breathing halted for a moment, but he pressed his lips to her cheek. Her skin was warm and soft, he could only imagine what her lips were like. It seemed like his kiss was searing her skin even when he pulled back, her hand flying up to the little patch of skin, holding her hand over it as her face broke into a blush. “A compromise, yeah?” He offered and she grinned.
“A compromise.” She repeated.
“I’ll text you, yeah?” He asked and she nodded, she felt like she was walking on clouds. “Have a goodnight.”
“You too.” She called after him and soon he was gone and she was pressed against the door, reeling by how much she already liked him.
“We need to talk.” Oli said seriously and she snapped out of her daze.
“Ugh, what is it, Oli?” She asked, toeing her sneakers off.
“It’s about Harry. If that’s even his name!” He said following after her as she headed further into the home, rolling her eyes as she dropped onto her bed waiting for him to say what he needed to say. “Harry Styles doesn’t even exist! He’s not listed, he isn’t a student here… I checked everything!”
“Maybe your hacker friends misspelled his name.” She said and he shook his head.
“No, we tried multiple variations and pseudonyms. He isn’t real.”
“Then who the fuck is he?” She asked sitting up and his eyebrows rose.
“Exactly! Who the hell are you spending time with and letting into our home? What if he’s a criminal?”
“What if he’s in WITSEC and your paranoia tips the real bad people off?” She asked and he rolled his eyes.
“I doubt that’s what this is… he has a British accent, maybe he’s in the mafia or a crime ring!” He speculated and she didn’t want to admit that he was putting doubts in her mind, but he totally was. She trusted him though, something about the way he was made her feel at ease, she didn’t feel afraid or suspicious.
“You need to drop this, Oli. I know that you like me, but this is crazy!” She said and he groaned.
“Fine, but if something bad happens I told you! I warned you.” He seethed and stormed out of the room, slamming the door hard. Y/N was ready for tomorrow, she had two early classes and then got to spend the afternoon with Ares, he seemed to like Harry as much as her at least.
****
Ares had been really hyper today, he was extremely alert and she was having a hard time controlling him as they walked through the gardens. She was only distracted for a moment, she was about to step on her shoe lace when he took off like a bullet. She groaned as she finished tying the knot and running after him, calling out his name as he tore into a section of thick trees.
“Ares!” Y/N called from outside, “fuck me…” she grumbled, they weren’t allowed to go behind the barriers. “Ares!” She tried once more and when he didn’t come out she glanced left to right, no security was in sight so she slipped past the display plaque and the barrier and into the thick trees. It was cold in the shade and as she walked deeper into the wooded area she could hear him barking.
“Ares!” She called, walking further in the direction of his barks. Finally she could see his rear and she sighed in relief. He seemed to be barking up at something, he was on the edge of a clearing. From above the garden made some sort of intricate sun, there were helicopter tours from the city just to see it. But when she arrived beside Ares she glanced up to see some sort of glowing spot in the middle of the air and her eyes widened in fear and curiosity, it started getting larger and larger so she picked up Ares’ leash and tugged on it to get him out, but he was planted firmly and she was too curious to leave. If she died, she died. Suddenly a foot was seen and that turned into a leg and she was about to faint when she saw the body draped in a white toga, a bow in hand and a quiver full of arrows in the other, a large pair of white wings were flapping moderately to ease the being’s landing. When it landed, it turned around at the sound of Ares’ barks and she really fainted when she saw a very familiar, handsome, curly-haired Harry.
“Y/N…” she heard at a distance. “Hey, come on, open those pretty eyes, love.” It was Harry… Harry who she saw coming out of a glowing hole with wings! She sat up all of a sudden making him jump in fear. “Y/N! Thought I lost you there for a moment!” He said excitedly and she was too weak to stand so she rubbed her eyes.
“You’re- you- what the fuck is going on?!” She said loudly and he frowned a bit.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t tell you.” He said quickly and she shook her head.
“I’m going fucking crazy.” She said slapping her own face a bit and he pulled her hand away.
“Stop that, you’re not crazy I’m just-”
“A fucking angel?” She interrupted and his lips twitched up in a half-smile.
“No, actually I’m Eros. Cupid…” he said and her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Do you have a pet dolphin too?” She asked and he chuckled.
“I don’t actually.”
“Jesus…” she mumbled in disbelief, finally standing with his help and pacing around, glancing from him to the ground and to the sky back and forth.
“I think you should sit.”
“I think not.” She quipped back. “Is this real? Am I on drugs? I think I need to call Oliver. Have you kidnapped me?” She asked worried and he hurried to her side.
“No, no please do not call anyone. I shouldn’t reveal myself to people!” He said anxiously and she pulled her hand away from his hold.
“How the hell…”
“If you will calm down I will explain everything.”
“Is that why you were always saying odd things like about coffee not existing?” She asked as he took her shoulders and guided her to sit on a nearby stump. Ares was following her around and planted himself beside her.
“Deities are very real, we’ve been around forever and uh… I happen to be one of them. I uh… Ares ran in to me while I was trying to get these two blokes to commit to each other and I thought you were very pretty and was determined to find you again and here we are.”
“Gods have cell phones?” She asked and he chuckled.
“I ummm, I got one because I wanted to keep talking to you.” he said timidly and her eyes widened.
“You, Eros, the god of desire or love, wanted to talk to me?” She asked and he chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.
“I thought you were cute.” He said genuinely and that was very… Harry of him to say and it broke her spell of shock for a moment and she rolled he eyes.
“This is crazy.” She whispered more to herself than him. “Where does all this go when you’re not looking like that?” She asked , making a circle with her hands and smiled.
“The wings retract and I fit clothes into my quiver, I can also be invisible to the human eye.” He said, “Wanna see? Or not see.” He joked and she shook her head quickly.
“No, no, this is… quite extraordinary already.” She said and he smiled.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to lie to you, but I’m not really supposed to advertise it either.” He said and she nodded in understanding.
“What’s with the accent?” She asked.
“I learned English in Europe, it kind of stuck.” He said and she nodded. A silence fell between them and he was worried that this might change the feelings she had started accumulating towards him. “Was Raphael really gay?” She asked and he nodded. “You’re positive?” She asked.
“He made a move on me.” He answered honestly.
“Did you fuck my idol?!” Y/N asked shocked and he just shrugged, not really being able to suppress the little grin that made it’s way onto his face. “So you actually knew him?”
“Yeah, he was a very kind person.” Harry said, “We were friends, it really sucked when he died.” He said, his tone becoming a bit more soft at the memory.
“This is so fucking weird.” She whispered, planting her face in her hands.
“You’ve done a lot of cursing today.” He pointed out and she scoffed, looking to her feet again. She had ruined her sneakers coming in here looking for Ares.
“I am not sure how to process this…?” She said.
“Do you need space?” He asked and she shrugged. “We can go somewhere and-”
“Wait if you’re Eros then you’re married? Or have a wife technically so nothing can happen.” She said signaling between her and himself and his eyes widened.
“No, no I’m not.” He said quickly and her eyes narrowed.
“I’m painting your fucking love story!” She said loudly and he sighed.
“That is a myth, it didn’t end so happy.” He said and her eyes grew wide in realization, he had told her he was afraid of love. “Let’s go somewhere and talk, please?” He asked and she sighed.
“Will your mother kill me or turn me into a cow? Or make my hair into reptiles?” She asked quickly and he half-chuckled.
“You’re mixing up a few people.” He said amused.
“No, I know that wasn’t all her, but these are all viable possibilities of a punishment.” She said and he rolled his eyes.
She walked off with Ares to allow him to get changed into normal clothes and soon he was by her side, and Ares followed after him as he walked past her.
“C’mon.”
****
After they dropped Ares off at his home she walked over to her car.
“Where should we go talk?” She asked as they slipped inside.
“Your place?”
“No, Oliver had his hacker friends look into you. I got in an argument with him defending you. Said that he couldn’t find record of you anywhere and all this nonsense, told him that maybe you were WITSEC so he should drop it.” Y/N explained quickly.
“WITSEC?” Harry asked and she nodded.
“In a witness protection program. Actually, I know where we can go.” She said and they took off. She was going to take him to the school studio she had rented for the semester and she was going to draw him in all his glory, it would help her wrap her mind around things.
“What’s this place?” He asked as they walked into the dark building. It was nearing midterms so the building was desolate, people were home studying. Y/N pulled out a key and let them into a small room nearly the size of her bedroom and she locked the door behind them , switching on the light and pulling the blind down over the window that was on the top half of the door.
“This is the university’s art studio, I rented a room for the semester but the panels I’m painting are so big, they don’t fit in here so I had to move home.” She said and he nodded in understanding. He sat on a stool, waiting for her to say something, but she started looking for something in the drawers of a desk in there and she paused and randomly laughed out loud.
“What is it?”
“You laughed when I told you Ares name. You know Ares… I get why you laughed now.” She giggled, wedging a thin, plastic box between her armpit, then bending to pull out a large paper pad from a crevice between the desk and the wall. “Watercolor it will be.” She said and he went to stand, “Stop, don’t move!” She said and he froze.
“Why?”
“Show me.”
“Show you what?” He asked nervously.
“The real you, wings and all.” She said and he looked around as if someone might see. “Give me your things.” She said walking over to him and taking the quiver full of arrows and his bow and setting it on the desk. “Alright, now go on. Flame on or whatever the magic words are.” He rolled his eyes and removed his shirt and jeans, he stayed in his boxer-briefs and cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders back and suddenly his wings expanded. “Ummm, can you angle to your left a little. Just need t’see your face, do what’s comfortable with your legs and hands.” She said and he nodded, getting comfy as she pulled a water bottle from her purse, tossing the cap in the trash and just dipping a brush through the top of it and setting it down while she opened the paint palette and within a few moments she was making strokes on the paper. “Does it hurt when your wings expand?” She asked and he shook his head.
“When they grew in that was the most painful. Like your limbs, they grow as you grow, but when they started coming in I was only a week old, we grow faster… a week would be like… 4 years your time?” He said and she hummed, glancing from her paper to him and back and forth.
“So tell me what happened between you and…”
“Psyche.” He said and she nodded.
“Well, the story is pretty much how it goes, except that my mom basically said she was a cheater for getting help with the tasks and uh, the whole Persephone set up happened, it was a poison that put her into some deep slumber. I tried to convince my mother to just lift the curse, said only real love could do that. I did love her, with my whole heart, but when I tried bringing her back she just wouldn’t wake up.” He was getting quieter and quieter. “I revealed it to someone eventually, but they made it into a happy ending instead. Which is where you humans got the true loves kiss shit… My mother said I didn’t really love her because it didn’t work, which killed me for a long time. She just hates the idea of deities with humans, which is rather hypocritical. Either way, I later found out that Psyche had been killed instantly by the poison; she was only human, she couldn’t handle the things my mother had done to her. A god or even a demigod would have been able to withstand, but uh, she was too fragile.” He finished and when he looked up Y/N wasn’t even painting anymore.
“I’m so sorry.” She said quietly, a frown over her angelic features. He could sense that her heart was heavy and aching for him. Empathy was rare in humans, real, honest empathy.
“I am too, she was a good person. I uh- ever since then I had never felt anything close to what I felt for Psyche until I saw you, looming over me in the garden,” he smiled, “You were just so gorgeous and there was this aura of warmth and light around you that makes me feel not so shitty when you’re close by.” He said and she was nearly in front of him now.
“I feel that way too.” She said softly and he smiled.
“That’s called attraction.” He said quietly as she stood between his legs. Her hand came up to his face, feeling his perfect and warm skin at her fingertips.
“Is this allowed?” She asked and he shrugged.
“Lots of them do it.”
“Do what?”
“See humans. Human relationships might be a little messy, but they were built to care and love. No god or goddess or being in the universe can give love the way a human being can. It’s truly selfless and fulfilling.” He said and she bit her lip.
“So I can kiss you?” She asked and he smiled.
“Of course you can.” He said, hands sliding down to her hips, her breath tickling his lips.
“I won’t melt into a puddle of cells or slime?” She asked, seriously, but exaggerating the outcome.
“No, but I might when I finally get to taste you.” He whispered and she moaned and melded their lips together. She might as well have been a mushy slime of cells on the ground because he was so beautiful and perfect. His lips were addictive, and his taste was so sweet, she moaned as his tongue rolled onto hers. Y/N pushed him off the stool and pressed him towards the desk, they kissed feverishly and moved carelessly and his body rammed against the desk and he pulled back.
“Ow!” He yelped, his hand flying back to touch at his side and he felt it there, she glanced around him and saw as one of his arrows was pierced into his hip and it suddenly faded into nothing. She looked up at him, giggling. Oh, how the tables had turned. He looked into her beautiful eyes with so much adoration.
“I think I’m in love.” He whispered.
