Hermes felt man really had a few screws loose in his head.
"You... You want to go on a date with me and kiss me again? Even though you see me as an F-class loser?"
Somner elbowed him, looking around as if checking if anyone heard that. "I-It’s not a date, bro! I just wanted to know who you really are! And..."
"Don’t you want to kiss me?"
He batted his eyelashes, making himself appear as cute as a cherub.
Hermes just gave him a stone-cold "No."
Somner pouted. "Oh come on! I know you want to, everyone would be happy to kiss the great Sirentone! I don’t even mind that you stole my powers for a bit!"
This is when Hermes turned from apathetic to hostile.
He grabbed Somner’s shoulder. "What did you just say? What do you know about my powers?"
Somner whimpered like a scolded child. "It’s not that hard to guess... You immediately managed to hypnotize everyone to shut up after kissing me. I may have been drunk that time, but I’m not dumb."
He looked down. "It’s my first time having someone tell me what to do and following it... For some reason, I liked it."
"What?" Hermes was so confused.
Somner explained: "I have always controlled others, even without my powers. I tell my Daddy to give me his credit card, and he does. I tell my butlers to carry my bags, and they do. Everyone does as I say, so..."
He shivered against Hermes’ touch. "To have someone not listen to me and even take control of me... It’s kinda hot."
Hermes felt another loading screen come up in his mind.
"So you’re saying... You want me to kiss you so I can hypnotize you and boss you around?"
Somner nodded. "Y-Yeah... I’ll give you anything in return. I’ll buy whatever you want, I’ll pay you... J-Just..."
He looked like he was having difficulty saying the word, as if it was a fish bone stuck in his throat.
Hermes could not fully register this request yet, but his body sure did.
Somner’s eyes immediately went lower, and he gasped, placing his hand on his chest. "What the hell is that, a ballistic missile!? How did you manage to hide something like that in our tight uniform pants!?"
Hermes covered himself. "It’s a grower..."
"That popped out like some Jack-in-the-box... Let’s hurry and get you to the bathroom." Somner said, trying really hard not to gawk at it.
They awkwardly rushed to the mall’s comfort rooms, which had gold furnishings for their bidet, sinks, toilets and urinals. The design and architecture was ridiculously opulent that Hermes felt bad using this place for relieving himself.
Somner pushed him to one of the stalls. "Do you want me to help? Because I can—"
Hermes closed the door immediately.
He can hear the fairest of them all in The Golden Apple chuckling. "Oh come on. Was hearing me beg really that sexy? I only said p.... ple.... The P-word."
"It’s exactly because you’re having a hard time saying it." Hermes explained, unzipping his pants.
"I’ve never said it, ok!? I’m a virgin when it comes to begging." Somner pursed his lips. "And in other things..."
"I really thought you were experienced." Hermes said, trying to take care of his not-so-little ’issue’ by the door.
Somner sounded really ashamed. "Yeah, it’s part of my image, so don’t go telling anyone, ok? Not even Fiero and Cam know about it. If you tell them, I’m going to hypnotize you to jump off a cliff."
A few minutes of uncomfortable silence passed.
Somner cleared his throat. "Are you done?"
He leaned on the door to listen in. He can hear Hermes’ heavy breathing, and that was also slowly stirring something inside him.
Somner bit his lip. "Ok... You really don’t want me to help?"
"No. We barely know each other."
That blunt response somehow roused more butterflies in Somner’s stomach. His hand slowly reached between his thighs—
The door opened, and his face fell immediately onto Hermes’ chest.
The intern immediately pushed him away. "What are you doing?"
Somner adjusted his clothes, feeling like they tightened somehow. "Ah... I was waiting for so long that I leaned against the door because my feet got tired. Anyway, let’s go!"
He just took Hermes’ hand and dragged him out of the bathroom before Hermes could see holes in that excuse.
They spent about 3 hours just walking around and buying stuff outside of Hermes’ budget.
Even though Somner insisted on paying, he just shook his head every time. Somner had him try out all kinds of casual clothes and suits, all from luxury brands and international fashion houses. But no, he still didn’t want to take any of them.
"Then which one do you want!?" Somner stomped his foot. "I’m paying anyway!"
"I really don’t need any of them... We wear uniforms in the guild anyway. And I think my clothes are fine as it is."
Somner crossed his arms. "You’re so mean, you know? Do you just say ’no’ to everything?"
"Well, I still went with you here."
"But you won’t even talk to me or enjoy things with me!" Somner crossed his arms. "You seriously need to lighten up."
Hermes sighed. "I just... Don’t want to be indebted to anyone. I prefer to give than to receive."
Somner stopped frowning, his scrunched up face muscles relaxing. He then went closer to Hermes and then...
He put on a very fancy silver dog tag necklace on his neck.
"Then just this. It’s not that expensive, and it’s practical. You would need it when we go on field missions and you fall unconscious or something."
He then pinched Hermes’ cheek. "And I’m not trying to make you indebted to me. If you just keep giving and never receiving, will you have anything left to give in the end?"
Hermes’ eyes widened from those words of wisdom, especially since it came from someone he thought was just shallow and vain.
And even though shopping wasn’t his thing... He did enjoy having someone treat him nicely for a change.
He can’t just take all this effort for granted.
Somner blinked. Hermes was the one dragging him by the arm this time, all the way to the changing room.
"Oh, you want to try something?" Somner clapped his hands. "Finally! Just pick whatever you want—"