CHAPTER 71: BACK TO WORK

The sunlight dripped through the apartment windows like honey that morning.. slow, golden, and sticky with contentment.

Hermes awoke entangled in warmth. Aphrodite’s hair against his shoulder, Somner’s arm slung across his waist like a weighted blanket. Their breathing was deep, quiet, at peace. His body ached, but not from trauma. For once, it was from something sweet.

A kind of tenderness that stretched into his bones. For the first time in months, Hermes felt like the darkness didn’t cling to him as tightly.

Still, there was a sharp knock in his mind.

Somner’s voice, muttering groggily as he stirred. "You do know you have to go back to work, right?"

Hermes blinked. "Wait, that’s today!?"

Somner yawned without opening his eyes. "It was three days ago."

Hermes launched out of bed in a scramble, legs tangled in the sheets. He crashed to the floor in a pile of limbs and regret.

Aphrodite sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. "...You missed work?"

"I thought it was still Sunday!" Hermes wailed, crawling toward his pants. "Those damn Grrberus pups threw my phone to a lake! I haven’t been checking anything for days!"

"Because you’ve been too busy frolicking with Aphrodite." Somner muttered with a smug look, stretching.

Aphrodite pretended to be asleep to save himself some face.

***

Breakfast was quick but heartfelt. Aphrodite made tamagoyaki and grilled rice balls, packing some for Hermes’ lunch. The smell reminded Hermes of the time before the war—before betrayal and pain and everything that came after.

"I packed you some lunch." Aphrodite said quietly, still wearing his soft gray sweater from the night before.

"Thanks. I’ll be back by sunset." Hermes leaned in and kissed him gently on the cheek. "Maybe with some dog treats this time."

Somner made some kissy noises to annoy them. "Ok, enough dilly-dallying, love birds. We’re gonna be late."

Aphrodite turned a pretty shade of pink and kissed Somner’s cheek. "Thank you for last night, Mr. Somner. I... I really learned a lot and had a great time."

Somner also turned pink, the two of them looking like peaches. "This cute little succubus... I’ll get you later for that."

***

The elevator of The Golden Apple hummed softly as it ascended. Hermes adjusted his new indigo A-class uniform, trying to wipe off a stain he hadn’t noticed until now. Somner stood beside him, already in full uniform, arms crossed.

"How’s work been?" Hermes asked, trying to sound casual.

"Busy." Somner replied. "We’re still hunting down Eirwyn. He’s the last major SHIFT figure unaccounted for. Everyone else is in detainment awaiting tribunal."

Hermes frowned. "Still no signs of him?"

"None. It’s like he vanished. But that’s not the only thing."

Somner tapped his communicator. "There’s been civil unrest. Youth groups, Threat families, and underground rebels have started something... unexpected."

Hermes’ eyes widened. "A revolution?"

"Almost. Peaceful, for now. But tensions are rising. Threat rights are at the center of it. Too many years of silence, fear, and ’accidental disappearances.’ People aren’t taking it anymore."

"And the government?"

"Too scared to crush the movement directly. It’s become too visible." Somner smirked. "Even the conservative parties are scrambling to clean up their rhetoric."

Hermes let that sink in. "What about Ymir and Magni?"

"Ymir’s helping Magni smuggle Threat children into the Void. They’ve set up several hidden safehouses. Mostly kids labeled unstable. Too dangerous for human society. No place else to go."

Hermes was quiet for a long moment.

"I... I want to see them," he said. "Check how they’re doing."

Somner smiled. "That sounds like you. I think they’d like that. And the kids would like that too, they would probably be inspired by someone who’s a Threat but still a hero."

Ding!

The elevator opened. The Ninth Department hadn’t changed much.

Same open-plan layout with curved gilded glass windows, neon pink lighting, and whimsical floating screens that drifted like jellyfish in an aquarium. Hermes barely had time to take in the nostalgia when he was ambushed.

"GIRLYYYYYYYY!"

Victorina.

Glitter tutu. Tank-top. Six feet tall and pure muscle.

She scooped him up into a rib-crushing hug, sparkles flying everywhere.

"We missed your skinny ass! What, you ran away to start a fashion blog with that Aphrodite boy?"

Hermes wheezed. "Vicky... I can’t feel my spine..."

"Means it’s working." She dropped him and ruffled his hair. "How’s things been going for ya?"

Vera was leaning against a console nearby, black lipstick and torn sleeves as ever. "Heard you had a nervous breakdown and went on sabbatical."

Hermes blinked. "That’s... not entirely wrong."

"Welcome back, I guess." She said. "The squad’s been too predictable without you."

Fiero popped in from behind a holographic panel, shirtless and shiny as ever. "BROOO! Look at you, all rested and glowing! Turns out Eirwyn is part of some evil operation, huh? Bummer. Now I’m kinda worried that the enhancement serum thing will never happen!"

He noogied Hermes aggressively.

Hermes made up an excuse. "Uh... It could still happen. Let’s just wait and see, your blood sample was definitely not going to be wasted.."

Cam was last to arrive, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

"Well, well. Look who decided to return from his extended vacation."

Hermes gave him a sheepish wave. "Hey, Cam..."

Cam’s gaze scanned him top to bottom. "You’ve gained at least five pounds."

Hermes expected such a welcome from him. "Gee, thanks."

Cam rolled his eyes. "Just saying, if you’re going to be part of our squad, we need you back in shape. Can’t have our department’s image ruined by love handles."

Hermes smiled. At least he saw him as part of the squad.

Somner raised a hand. "Alright, alright. I say this calls for a celebratory lunch. Victorina, you’re buying—"

Before he could finish, the entrance hissed open.

The entire squad turned.

Standing there, impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit with gold cufflinks, was the Guild Head Secretary.

A woman of few words. Silver hair, sharp eyes, presence like a dagger concealed in velvet.

"Apologies for the interruption," she said, voice as smooth as static. "Hermes Potentia is being requested for an audience."

"An audience?" Hermes asked, confused. "With who?"

"The CEO," she replied. "Immediately."

The entire squad fell into stunned silence. Victorina’s gum popped. Vera raised an eyebrow. Fiero let out a low whistle.

Cam muttered, "Guess the party’s over before it even started."

Hermes stood frozen. He hadn’t even been back for ten minutes... And now he might get into some trouble. Is he getting fired?

"Do I... need to bring anything?" He asked weakly.

The Head Secretary didn’t blink. "Just yourself."

Hermes looked at Somner, who gave him an encouraging nod. He took a deep breath.

"Alright." He said. "Let’s see what the top floor wants with me."