Greece X Reader- Skinny Love

Shivering slightly, _(Name)_ quivered slightly feeling another gust of cold, bitter wind pass by her as chills sprinted up and down her spine. Pulling her thick scarf closer around her neck she let out a breath, watching it as it quickly turned to a white cloud of frost in the air.

Quickly jogging up the steps the older looking apartment complex, though one that really only housed three different apartments. It looked a bit old on the outside, with a few modern touches here and there, all the apartments having a small balcony, one of them with pots and various plants hanging off of it, albeit now covered to protect the green vines and closed up flower buds from the freezing winter air and signs of snow that were beginning to show.


Huffing out a breath as she opened the large, front wooden door, _(Name)_ pulled on the handle before scurrying inside to block herself away from the cold atmosphere outside. Walking up the small stairs she passed by the first apartment that was on the second floor, heading up to the third, where her close friend, Heracles Karpusi, lived. Or…He did at least for the rest of the afternoon anyway.


For the holidays that were within only two days, her friend was planning to take a flight back to his home country, Greece to visit some relatives and spend the holidays. So it was the last day to see him before he would return in three weeks.

She had many other friends, of course, but Heracles was one of her closest, one she had met and bonded with many years ago and felt so relaxed and comfortable around. She just felt…Well, like herself around him. So when he had brought the news upon her earlier last week, her hopes had taken a stop and slowly went down.

For one, she was going to be alone without her probably closest friend to keep her company, even if he had asked her kindly to watch all the various kittens he had within his apartment. Those cats, of which he had somehow gotten the landlord to let him keep in the apartment. That's what he had told her at least when he had first moved in anyways.

Though secondly… She had rather been hoping to spend the holidays with someone special. In her mind she had the idea of spending it with someone closer, maybe someone even closer than just a friend possibly.
She was hoping that person could be Heracles. So when he had brought the news onto her, she was a bit taken back for a moment, though tried to stay positive, telling herself it would only be a little while and that the time should fly by quickly.


Hastily unlocking the Greek's door with the spare key he had given her not long after he had moved in, mainly just in case she wanted to see him and he was still asleep as usual, she pushed the door open, stepping inside. Only to be met with the mixed scent between flowers, feta cheese, and cat. Sure enough, all three of the things could be found within the small, but cozy apartment. A small arrangement of flowers sat in a small vase by the window, over on the counter, while a spread of feta cheese lay next to it. As for the scent of cat, well…There were many of them for that matter.

One of the many kittens, a light golden brown one of which the Greek had named Eris, laid comfortably on the spacious light green couch huddled in the living room, along with another sitting on the armrest.


After relieving herself of her jacket and heavy scarf, along with discarding herself of her shoes at the front door, she was now left in her grey and white striped long sleeve shirt, jeans, and as well as her _(h/c)_ pulled back. Gently scratching behind Eris' ears, and petting the other fluffy white kitten, she walked towards Heracles bedroom, where, as she expected, was him still in bed, lost in a deep sleep still.

_(Name)_ sighed to herself at her friend's behavior to sleep in practically all day, every day. Though she wasn't one to complain, some days she was the same, but she had remembered to wake up before twelve for once, lest she'd still be sound asleep right now perhaps.

Sitting at the edge of the Greek's small, but comfy bed, she gingerly picked on of the awakening cats, bringing it up to her lap as her back faced her close friend. Whilst scratching behind the cat's ear, one she recognized as Hêbê , she began rubbing at the feline's soft belly as she began asking questions to no one in particular, as they disappeared into the thin air before her.


"Why do you have to go away, Heracles?" she asked quietly, her voice hinted with a bit of a child-like voice as she pouted lightly to herself, still scratching at the kitten's stomach, much to its liking as it purred, mewing in thanks for the attention.
"And leave me all alone here… Idiot," she mumbled lightly, still with the same small voice, "…Why can't you ever take a hint when I-"


"When you what, _(Name)_?" Heracles asked, scaring the wits out of mentioned girl as she squeaked lightly from shock, Hêbê in midst of the surprise leaped out of _(Name)'s_ arms, landing gracefully to the floor once more.

Feeling a new weight press against her shoulders and back, she glanced behind her slightly, only to find herself face to face with the person she was just speaking about.
That…And a small, brown kitten that laid carelessly on top of his own messy, wavy brown locks. His chin rested upon her shoulder blade as his arms locked together around her waist securely, his eyes drifting closed once more, though was still awake.


"S-Sorry, Heracles, I didn't know you were awake. I let myself in, if that's alright. I figured I might as well get here a bit early," _(Name)_ stuttered out in a small, meek voice, still a bit surprised by his sudden state of being awake, not to mention how his arms were locked around her waist, as well as his head resting against her shoulder making a rosy hue appear over her cheeks.

She almost wanted to protest to the movement and affection, but at the same time did not want the moment to end ever. The Greek only hummed in reply, in his normal lazy tone of voice, while another cat curled up against _(Name)_, finding a comfortable place on the mattress beside her.


A few moments of silence passed by quickly, but it was…Nice. It was rather relaxing and sort of cozy, rather than awkward. That is until Heracles spoke up once more, breaking the peaceful silence and tranquility of the moment.

"You never answered my question, _(Name)_," he purred out, making another chill race down her spine, albeit it not being cold in the apartment what so ever.

How his husky voice always teased her so, not to mention that since they were close, longtime friends, it was as if they could tell each other everything and anything. Though since she had actually become conscious of her feeling toward the Greek, she had locked herself up more, keeping more thoughts to herself, lest she want to tell him that she thought he was drop dead sexy and how she loved his love for cats and his regular sleeping habits, even his aroma that haunted him. Mainly cat of course, but he also always seemed to smell like the fresh, crisp, clear ocean, green grass, and even with a hint of old, worn out leather sometimes. It only made her melt inside even more though.


"I-It's nothing, Heracles," _(Name)_ replied hastily, shooing the question off, "Don't worry about it, I was just talking nonsense to myself again, as always."

She couldn't tell him that though, so it had become a regular habit to try and keep things to herself more often. She hadn't told anyone about her secret crush for her close friend, other than her other three friends of whom she entrusted her small secret to, she was more so afraid to do so and so refrained from this as well. It was sometimes hard to lock her feelings up though, and sometimes, even purposely on occasions, or even just unconsciously, she would spew out small hints to the Greek.

As if she were leading him through a large labyrinth and she was the guide, telling him to turn here, take a right there, or keep going straight. Most times it wasn't really with words, but more with small things she did for her friend such as taking care of his cats, cleaning his small apartment sometimes, or even just dropping little notes, sometimes with a little coded secret within it, waiting to be decoded by the male.

Although it seemed despite her unconscious and conscious attempts at telling him were doing nothing, as if he didn't realize it at all. What was to be expected, she thought to herself occasionally.


He was a handsome, young Greek man. Who had his ups and downs, a warm, kind personality, and definitely a body that would probably have a trail of girls behind him like the trail of cats usually following him within his apartment on some days.

Who was she to compare to other girls that could easily woo the young Greek?


The downing thoughts only made her hopes decrease as well, knowing well enough she was just friends with the man, and that's all he might ever plan to be with her.
She mentally slapped herself out of her state, she shouldn't be thinking like this. Especially not right before he was about to go and leave to Greece in less than ten hours. By eleven o' clock that night he would already be off and away, on the plane even on his way to his home country.

He would be gone and away from her, and it wouldn't matter anyways.


Abruptly being pulled out of her thoughts, she found herself being tugged along from the Greek's bed over back into living room as he sluggishly shuffled his way into the living room before settling himself down onto the spacious couch, where Eris was still laying comfortably before noticing the new presence as the cat slowly got up, stretching quietly before finding yet another comfortable spot on the male's stomach as he spread himself across the couch, pulling _(Name)_ down as well to sit beside him.

He only silently turned the small television on as _(Name)_ only sighed lightly, but willingly showed a warm smile that bubbled up to her lips, not being able to resist the silent urge of her friend to watch a movie with him. It was a common pastime for them, more like a tradition how many time she came over, they would watch the cooking channels, or just watch movies, sometimes even cartoons simply with a small snack as they snuggled with the various felines that resided beside them, on top of them, or even just laid out across them where ever they could get to.

And as the minutes, even as an hour and another more ticked by, _(Name)_ slowly felt her eyes droop, her mind becoming hazy as she slowly drifted off, still laid out on the house beside Heracles.

--

How beautiful she had looked that day, that first day he noticed her. Sitting in a small cafe, a cup of steaming coffee at her fingertips, and a gentle smile placed over her lips as she seemed so content, practically curled up in her jacket and hot drink while a book was set in front of her.

Her warm smile, one that covered up those gentle eyes, misted with a slight sadness, a smile that held so much care- how it burdened him to the very core, only wishing on a mere star somewhere far away in the universe that it was maybe, just maybe for him.
She was beautiful, and it was the first day he noticed _(Name)_.


Reawakening from what seemed like a small nap, _(Name)_ groaned under her breath gently to herself, wishing that she were sleeping once more, cast back into the vast sea of her sweet dreams, filled with what-could-have-been's and what-could-never-be's.
Shifting in her current position as carefully as possible, she felt another mysterious weight pressing her down. Assuming it was just one of the many cats Heracles owned, she tried to shrug the animal off her stomach. As she did so, her hand swept across what felt as if it were not fur, rather hair. Disdainfully opening her eyes, though much to her discomfort, she glanced down to only find the Greek who she must have been dreaming about minutes ago, quickly feeling the blood in her veins rush to her cheeks.


It was quite awkward, she would admit with his head rested, nestled comfortably into her stomach as he lay across the plush couch, spread out comfortably. Though in fear of waking the poor man up, _(Name)_ soon gave up with trying to figure out how to wriggle out of the position she was in, only frustrating herself. Laying her head back, letting a sigh pass from her lips she only stared at the bland ceiling above.

Petting the Greek's tangled, soft mass of brown hair as if he were a cat, much as he would have desired to be, _(Name)_ only frowned at the small gesture, though also at herself. She always had a soft spot for the man, ever since they had become friends really. They were best friends, lazy ones at that, but they almost prided themselves on it. She was hesitate to try his Greek dishes at first, some she never got used to exactly, but she was happy to try them. She loved the loved it when she heard stories and myths of the many gods and goddesses of Greece, intoxicated by the stories Heracles told- the ones of hate, revenge, greed, passion, kindness and love.
It was small to say that she had a tiny, school-girl crush on her friend. After becoming friends with the man, she had rather found herself in love. Not just with his stories and myths, the way she could relate to him and vice versa, not even his adoration for cats that she had come to love as well. It was simply him that _(Name)_ had fallen for.

Maybe she had fallen too hard…?


"Come on skinny love, just last the year. Pour a little salt, we were never here…"

Something about the Greek made _(Name)_'s heart race so, even despite how she doubted he could ever feel the same. She wondered how she became friends with the man sometimes, the beginning of their friendship seeming like a small distant memory she couldn't remember.

Humming to the all-too-familiar tune, she closed her eyes peacefully, a sad smile seeming to creep up onto her lips as she did so, almost relaxing under the song's spell. She continuously pet the soft, curly brown hair that fell on top of the tired Greek's head, his head still pressed to her stomach, seeming comfortable there as she could faintly feel his heartbeat and small breathing. Though it was no use to try and compare his resting heart to her own heart's speed, thumping furiously in her chest, though distant in the back of her head as she continued to sing quietly.


"And I told you to be patient, and I told you to be kind. And I told you to be balanced, and I told you to be kind,"

But now he was going away. Even if it was for a short while, she wondered how she would make it through the week, wide awake at night, and bored to death in the morning. She probably would be even more lazy without Heracles there, and could imagine already how he might come home a week late, claiming that he had found a girl- or maybe his family had already come up with one for him instead?

In less than four small hours he would be on a plane off to his home country, leaving _(Name)_ here alone, worried, lonely, sad and sitting in a heap of various cats most likely.

She didn't want him to leave though. She didn't want him to leave her.


"Who will love you? Who will fight? Who will fall far behind..?"

The last note of her line was cut off quickly, a sharp gasp pulled from her lips as she was pressed into the softness of the couch, lips descending upon her own and _(Name)_ almost had to wonder if she was  still dreaming or if Heracles was somehow "sleep-kissing".

But as time grew on, and the kiss continued, _(Name)_ felt herself fall farther from the thought, feeling herself not caring anymore much as she rather gave into the much needed kiss. Though within another few moments, the young Greek's lips moved from her own, causing _(Name)_ to awake once more, feeling her cheeks rise in temperature as each second passed by.


"I think you do, _(Name)_," Heracles breathed quietly, looking at her, a sorrowful expression passing in his eyes. "If not, I should for eternity be claimed as Zeus, and the one rejected by Demeter, the one he loved so," he retorted weakly.


Catching her breath in her throat, _(Name)_ stared to the brunette, her eyebrows knitting together as she said nothing, alas grasping his face between her cheeks carefully, rolling her thumb gently against his cheek gently. Reminiscing on the Greek myth shortly, she pressed her lips to his forehead quietly, mumbled words leaving her lips.

"I love you more than you know, Heracles," _(Name)_ whispered, smiling lightly- the same smile that brightened Heracles day, that kept him awake in hopes of seeing more and to hear her beautiful voice and laughter.

"Even more than you love your cats and country and stories and myths. I love you."


It took nothing more than those words to have her lips pressed so wonderfully, delicately and softly against his own. How reeled in she was by his simple, gentle touch as he pulled her up.

Maybe he could miss his flight tonight… There would be another tomorrow. And that certainly gave enough time for him to help _(Name)_ pack and get ready as well.


Come on skinny love…