𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ─── bruises

inference to abuse, talking about injury

𝕬nd her soul began to settle, melding with his...

"Thank you, Hermes." Delia smiled, as the god set her back down on the island shore. He nodded, grinning as she leant against the side of her staff. "Thanks for taking me there. I had not been there in a long time."

"I'm glad," He replied, making sure that she had everything. "I thought it might make you smile."

"It did." He grinned, as she looked up at the midnight stars as he did, before the god sighed. 

"I need to be off. I'll see you when I next come to check in."

He turned around, his wings fluttering as he prepared to take off once more.

"Oh, Hermes." The god turned back around, as Delia rested her hand on his shoulder and pressed a light kiss to the side of his cheek. "Thank you, once again."

She turned away before he could catch a full glimpse of the blush that was dusting her cheeks, taking a moment to shake off the shock and stupor that the small kiss had put him into, as a large grin formed on his face.

"I'll see you soon, Delia!" He shot off again, as Delia hurried back to the house, entering through the kitchen so that she could place the flowers into a glass of water, and place it next to the others that Hermes had brought her.

"Did you have fun?"

"Di Immortals, Leto," Delia placed a hand to her heart, that was beating out of control, spinning around to look at the auburn haired woman, who was sat in the corner eating grapes. "Don't do that to me!"

"I did not know you were so jumpy." She smiled, before standing up. "But you didn't answer my question, did you have a good time with Hermes?"

"What's it to you?"

"Your love life is a lot more amusing that mine is." Delia shot a glare at the woman over her shoulder. "Come on, just tell me a little of it! Please, you two are so adorably cute and I need to know more."

"Nothing happened, alright?" Delia could feel the flush forming on her cheeks, even as she said those words. "We just went to some gardens, he gave me some flowers and then we came back."

"And?"

"And what? Nothing else happened." She put the flowers down, before grabbing her staff and stalking off towards her room, with Leto following behind. 

"The blush on your face says differently." Leto sung, as Delia growled. "Tell me, Delia, please."

"Fine, I kissed him on the cheek," Leto squealed as Delia began to protest the matter. "It was barely a peck."

"Oh, you two are so sweet," She replied, before Delia slammed her door in the pregnant woman's face and placed her back to it.

Only then did she allow a full smile to bloom, touching her lips gently, as she thought of Hermes' grin and the flowers that he had given her, as he stared at her with those speckled eyes that did wonders to her heart.

∘☽༓☾∘

"Messenger Boy! I was beginning to wonder when you were coming back!" Delia hopped down the side of the cliff, seeing Hermes standing at the edge of the peninsula. She hadn't seen him in days and it had been worrying her, but he was here now. "What have we got today?"

"How's Leto?" Delia froze at his words, watching as the wings on his sandals barely flittered at her appearance. Normally, they were a blur by now. "Is she all right?"

"Messenger Boy?" He didn't turn to look at her, which caused Delia's eyes to narrow further.

"How's Leto, Guardian?" 

"Hermes? Hermes, what's going on?" He didn't turn once more, shaking his head. "Hermes."

"I have to report back to Zeus on Leto's condition, so please tell me how she is so that I can do that," He replied, as Delia's eyes narrowed and she stuck her staff into the sandy ground.

"Hermes, look at me." The god shook his head, turning away from her again. "Hermes."

Touching his shoulder gently, Delia carefully stepped in front of him as he gave up on protesting, and tilted his head upwards, her heart dropping at the sight of him. His face was covered in bruises, from the split lip to the dark circle surrounding his eyes.

"What happened?" Carefully, Delia traced the outline of the bruise on his right cheek, watching as he averted his speckled eyes from her. 

"Please, tell me how Leto is, I have to report to Zeus," He choked out, his voice quiet and trembling, as Delia shook her head. "Please, I have to report back."

Tears were starting to well up in his eyes, that made Delia's temper flare, her body trembling with barely withheld rage.

"Come on, Messenger Boy." Reaching down, she pulled his helmet from his grip and grabbed his hand, tugging him towards the cliff face. "Let's get those wounds cleaned up."

"Delia, I...I can't," He replied, digging his feet in.

"Yes you can. He can not harm you here," She replied, turning around to look at him, but Hermes shook his head.

"You do not allow gods on your island. I can not disrespect that rule of yours," He said, shaking his head. 

"You're a special exception, Messenger Boy." She tugged at his hand again, pulling him up and through the barrier of her home. It parted for the both of them, allowing Hermes to see the beauty of the Delos isle, the groves and streams, the rolling hills and the large house that Leto was sat in front of.

"How was your meeting...?" Leto trailed off as she looked upwards, her eyes widening at the sight of the young god standing behind Delia with bruises over his face. "Di Immortals."

"Leto, I need fresh water, chamomile, honey, amica, a pineapple from the storerooms, ice and clean rags. Now!" Leto nodded, rushing off towards the stream as Delia pulled Hermes into her home and towards the atrium off of the main hall.

"How...Delia, what...?"

"Questions later," She replied, pushing him down onto the chaise and putting his helmet next to him. "We need to treat those bruises, and the cuts. Are you injured anywhere else?"

"He said I could not have them healed," Hermes struggled to sit upright, but Delia pushed him back down. "He'll come after you."

"He can try," She hissed in reply. "Now, do you have any more injuries?"

"A cut on my chest, and some more bruising, I think," Hermes mumbled, as Delia ran her hand over his ribs, wincing as he hissed at some of them. Leto appeared beside Delia, all of the things in hand for Delia to get to work.

∘☽༓☾∘

"There." Delia dried her hand, before perching on the chaise by Hermes' legs. "How are you feeling?"

He looked up from where he was chewing on pineapple, shooting her a small grin.

"Better," She nodded, cracking her knuckles as Leto came in to sit near to them, her face contorted in confusion.

"Hermes, what happened?" Leto asked gently, as the god turned to look at her and shrugged.

"Zeus is not exactly too pleased about me seeing his favorite guardian," Delia stiffened, as Leto turned to look at her once more. "So, he told me not to see her and as you can see, things got a bit physical."

"Delia, what is he talking about?" The guardian looked up at Leto, who was watching her with narrowed eyes. "What does he mean, 'favorite guardian'?"

Hiya,

So, Zeus is a dick and next chapter we're getting backstory for Delia. Also, Hermes is so cute that he didn't want to go on the island because he wanted to respect Delia, Leto ships them so hard (as do I) and Delia's so protective over him. 

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx