Chapter Text
Over time it had become a big running gag in Olympus for Apollo to always be the one to take care of any god that acquired an injury, whether it was big, like a gash on Ares's arm from training, or comedically small, like a dog scratch on Ares's hand from trying to carry a dog. Being the God of Healing made it so he was the best fit for the job, his father took the joke as far as to give him his own medical room, similar to the ones mortals have, filled with 6 beds and medical equipment that wasn’t really necessary to have since Apollo could easily use his magic to begin the healing process, shutting most wounds in minutes, however, he liked how all the equipment and medicine made the room look so he never got rid of them. His walls were a pristine white, as well as the floor, holding a sort of professionalism to whoever came in. Apollo took great pride in keeping his area clean, always cleaning the tables and organizing his equipment and materials to perfection, even if Hermes and Dionysus would always attempt to ruin it by snatching some medicine in the middle of the night. His favorite activity though was watering the couple of Hyacinths that were scattered around the nearby tables, the soft and curled petals holding the droplets and making the flowers shine in the sunlight.
Gods were never meant to be hurt, which is why there was never any true use for Apollo’s medical room, not that Apollo ever minded. His days in the medical room consisted of helping with the occasional bruises and cuts that Athena and Ares got after their spars, or the incredibly rare occasional burns from Hephaestus when he burned himself, as well as the constant dragging of Dionysus to one of the beds after he drank one too many goblets of wine after his party and banged his head on a table or pillar, something Apollo has constantly told him off about. But overall, there has never been such an intense injury that Apollo couldn’t fix in less than an hour, or overnight if you count a hangover. Gods were never meant to be hurt, that has always been a fact, everybody knew it, both gods and mortals knew that gods, while not indestructible, were sturdy, so much to the point that people forgot they still had skin and ichor…people sometimes forgot that gods could still bleed.
This was until the ‘God Games’ that his father had proudly announced, challenging Hermes to convince five gods to release a mortal that Apollo barely cared about. He remembered sitting in his room in annoyance at being dragged into a useless game, telling himself he would make up a useless excuse so he could keep Hermes around and pick at him. Once that was done and Hermes left in a blinding light, he wasn’t bothered, because Apollo told himself he would just say goodbye and congratulations to Hermes once he won…He should have known it was never going to be as simple, not with their father. That first strike of lightning tore at Apollo’s heart as he attempted to break free from Hepheastus’s grip and run towards Hermes, to at least attempt to stop Zeus from the ongoing strikes that seemed to never end, Hermes suddenly growing in size to match Zeus. It had felt as if he was the only one actually concerned for Hermes, everyone else just standing there as if they were useless mortals, as if they didn’t have the power to help. He didn’t even remember much of the rest, just the yelling and arguing with Hephaestus to let him go, that he needed to help Hermes, but the other god just stood there, like the rest of them.
The second it was all over, Apollo broke loose from Hepheastus and sprinted over to Hermes, the scene too gruesome even for him, but maybe that’s just because it was somebody he knew, Ichor seemed to spill from every single pore of Hermes’ body, lightning burns that seemed to crawl all over his showing skin, having already reached his neck, but the only thing Apollo could focus on was the cruel gash on his right eye, it was as if a pitless hole, filled with endless ichor that seemed to be constantly spilling down onto the floor, staining everything it touched, the floor, Hermes’ hair, Apollo’s hands. Hermes looked over to the rest of the gods there, they were just standing there, Ares was already gone to deliver the news to Athena, but everyone else wasn’t moving. Apollo wanted to yell at them, even Hera, as stupid as it would be, to help him move Hermes to his medical room, to at least look concerned, but he didn’t speak, he wasn’t thinking straight, he just looked back down at Hermes and began trying to heal the god right there on the floor, his hands glowing and flowing with his godly magic.
It took three days.
Three days for Apollo to confidently say that Hermes would heal.
Three days for Apollo to confidently say that Hermes would live with only scars.
Three days for Apollo to grow angrier at Zeus for everything that happened.
It was three days too many in Apollo’s opinion.
Apollo was watering the Hyacinths in silence, trying to ignore the bandaged god behind him as he hummed a small tune he had been working on for a few days now. Gods were never meant to feel exhaustion, but that’s all Apollo seems to be feeling lately. He turned and began to organize his medicine table for the fifth time that day, the slow tune not changing, “..That’s the same tune, you know that right?” Apollo ignored the raspy voice behind him as he continued to hum through the silence, finally, he seemed to speak, “It’s not the same” he tried to defend “It sounds like the same” Hermes said back. Apollo huffed as he finally turned around, his eyes seemed to scan Hermes' body, trying to see if the bandages needed changing, “You shouldn’t talk, you should be lucky you’re even speaking at all” Apollo said sternly, going back to organizing his medicine. Hermes seemed to take it as a challenge as he continued to speak, “I have just the god to heal me if I get an issue then. Now back to that horrible song, I'm telling you, it’s the same damn tune every ver-” “Hermes, stay quiet will you!” Apollo snapped out sharply as he glared back at the young god, surprising Hermes as he shut his mouth quickly. Apollo pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to stifle a groan, “Just..please Hermes, I don’t want you getting hurt worse, whisper if you want but stop speaking so loudly” Apollo murmured as he turned away from Hermes.
Hermes’ expression softened a bit as he relaxed into the bed, “Apollo..” he said in a hoarse whisper, making the sun god stiffen a bit, “Come on, look at me ‘Pollo” Hermes pleaded with a small smile. Apollo sighed as he turned back around to look at Hermes, a tiny frown present on his face. Hermes's smile grew a bit more as he signaled him closer, “Get closer, I don’t bite..anymore at least” Hermes teased, remembering the time he used to bite at Apollo when he first became recognized as a god. Apollo rolled his eyes but did walk over to Hermes, sitting down beside Hermes' bed, “are you alright? Do you need new bandages?” Apollo murmured as he kept looking at the bandages that were slowly staining gold. Hermes slowly shook his head, “No, I’m fine for now, but I want to talk about you. Are..are you alright? You’ve been tense since I woke up this morning” Hermes looked more concerned than anything. The god had just woken up this morning after two days of unconsciousness but he had immediately caught on about how stiff and almost anxious Apollo seemed. The sun god shrugged as he avoided looking at Hermes’ face, “I'm fine, I'm more concerned about you and your health” he said with a comforting smile. Hermes huffed as he rolled his eyes, “Stop being my medic for a quick second and be my brother” his hand shakily reached out and gently touched Apollo’s shoulder.
Apollo’s smile faded a bit as he slowly slumped on the chair he was sitting on, hesitantly taking a chance to look at Hermes’ face. When Apollo was healing and bandaging Hermes up three days ago, it felt much more easier to do the arms and chest than the face, because to him he was able to pretend that it was just a random mortal he was bandaging up, as long as he just saw the body of course, it was only until he reached Hermes’ face that he was reminded that it was his little brother he was trying to bandage up. Even now with the heavy amount of cloth that was hiding more than half of Hermes' face, he could just imagine the empty gash where Hermes’ right eye should be.
Apollo let out a small breath as he finally spoke, “You got hurt Hermes, and I’m not just saying a small cut or bruise from training. You were unconscious for two damn days, your right eye hasn’t even started to regenerate because of how messed up you got..” Apollo buried his face into his hands as his voice softened, sounding shaky, “We’re gods, we aren’t meant to get hurt to such an extreme.” Hermes listened quietly, looking a bit concerned but there was also understanding as he looked up at the ceiling of the room, “I..understand why you are worried about me Apollo, and I get why seeing me like this has made you feel..anxious.. But you need to understand that I'm okay, I'm okay because of you and your healing and power as a god. I’m not good at feelings and I don’t want to pretend and act like I can comfort you, but understand that I am fine..do you want a hug?” Hermes whispered, the tinge of awkwardness could be heard but the understanding was there as well. Apollo chuckled softly as he slowly leaned closer, “No, no hugs, I don’t want to hurt you by putting pressure on your wounds..thanks for trying though, it’s appreciated” He said with a small smile
The two brothers stayed in silence for some time, Hermes lying on his bed as he stared at the roof, Apollo leaning close to the bed and Hermes but not yet touching. Eventually, Apollo began to hum his tune again as he closed his eyes, the song filling the room. “For being the God of Music, you suck at making songs with good tunes” Hermes whispered with a smirk, “Shut it and go to bed, brat” Apollo responded in good nature. Hermes gave a huff of amusement but did find himself being lulled to sleep by the soft and slow humming and his brother by his side.