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White hot light flashed before her eyes—she felt the burn of prickling needles into her skin.
Thunder roared above.
Her pleads went unheard.
Something sharp pierced through her chest, like a blade's tip striking through.
"Father, please!" Cried wise Athena, her voice trembling like the ripples of waves.
For the deaf ears of the Great Thunderer were indifferent to his child's screams.
As it faltered,
as did Athena.
The world fell cold and silent as it blackened.
Lids shut softly, like the rise of night.
She woke to the creak of a door. The smell of ichor and ozone clinging to her skin. The room was dark, save for open window in which moonlight traversed into.
Alone was she in the quiet stillness of her chambers. There was no memory of her entering, but everything felt hazy after the strike of the God King.
A soft voice spoke just behind the open chamber doors.
"Athena? May I come in?"
The voice was no louder than a whisper, smooth as honey, even in the quiet wake of dusk.
Athena gave a wary look, though, she could not quite make out the figure before her.
"If you dare." She spoke, lacking obvious bite from her tone. Her body too fragile for hostility.
Athena heard the doors close. The figure approached the nightstand near the bed, lighting the wax candle with only the tip of a finger.
A warm orange hue illuminated the room as if dawn had come early. Athena could see the shadows depicting flowing hair, perhaps another woman is with her.
Athena squinted.
Her face still burned, the pain traveled in lines across her body, like prickles biting new holes into her. Something golden trailed down her cheek, she quickly reached the wipe it—a hand stopped her, gently restricting her wrist.
"Do not touch it. Those wounds are still fresh, dear." The voice said.
Athena looked at the hand gripping her wrist, not tightly, just firm in a way that clearly said no. She saw Aphrodite, a robe the color of roses over her slim figure as she looked down at Athena. Concern visible in her eyes.
"You're still hurt, owl." Aphrodite sighed sadly, as if a wounded goddess were a tragic sight to witness.
"I do not need your pity." Athena said, shaking her wrist from the love goddess' grip.
She immediately tried to stand, successful in only a few short moments before fatigue took over.
She landed back on the bed in a frustrated huff.
Athena glared at the still standing goddess.
She did not laugh, 'nor did judgment appear anywhere on her face.
She was just… watching. With sadness in her gaze. A look that seemed rather foreign to a goddess of pleasure and beauty.
Athena felt the goddess tilt her chin up carefully, as if she'd break if she touched any harsher.
Aphrodite turned Athena's face to one direction, then the other. Left and right as the love goddess let out another sound of worry.
"Oh, Athena. You're still bleeding." Aphrodite released her face and quickly ran off somewhere.
When she returned, she held what appeared to be a small cloth in her hand.
"I am not as perfect as Apollo is when it comes to this stuff." Aphrodite says softly. "But, I cannot leave you to bleed ichor endlessly without any care done."
Before Athena could protest, she felt the fabric against her cheek, soaking up the golden blood that threatened to spill.
The burn remained, like acid within her veins, but Athena let her continue. Cleaning her body of the stains. It subsided only faintly.
Once Aphrodite finished, she placed the cloth in a small bucket filled with water.
"The servants will remove it later." She said.
Now turning back to the goddess of wisdom, Aphrodite settled onto the space next to her on the bed.
Athena shifted to give her some room.
"Why are you here." Athena asks, still eyeing Aphrodite, watching her every move. It was not common for someone like Aphrodite to care for a virgin goddess like Athena.
"I walked past your chambers three times before entering." Aphrodite replied. "It was a choice between willing to disturb you and willing to care for you. I did not want to be a bother so soon."
Athena paused for a moment. "You fear disturbing me? Why?"
Aphrodite's eyes fell to her own hands, picking at the loose strings of her robes as she considered her next words.
"I know it is not often for me to converse with you. You are not one for sentiment, I am aware."
Athena continued to listen, tilting her head to one side in the usual manner she did when she was actively analyzing a person's words.
Aphrodite took notice of this. She exhaled softly.
"I heard your screams. Earlier. I did not act immediately… and yet, regret fills within me, truly."
Athena did not respond, her gaze landed on the way the goddess fidgeted with her robes, nails dug deep into the fabric before releasing her hold like she were clueless in what to do with her hands.
Silence quickly took over the room, aside from the flickering flame from the lit candle. Athena looked back up at the goddess who avoided her eyes. Her face was shadowed in the dim light like moon shaded by clouds.
After a beat, the goddess of love spoke again.
"What Zeus done to you is unacceptable."
Athena blinked. The sudden sharpness in Aphrodite's voice was unexpected. Still, Athena's eyes narrowed.
"He rules all gods above. It is his right." Athena says, dryly, as if it was a long accepted truth that she cannot bring herself to longer deny.
Aphrodite then turned to her, her rose-colored eyes now a dull gray. Much like Athena's. The resemblance stunned her.
"Do you think you deserve pain?" Aphrodite asked, moving closer until she was right in front of the goddess.
Athena did not hesitate. "Zeus only corrected my behavior. It was a lesson that was reinforced."
"And tell me, dear wisdom," Aphrodite began. "What lesson was that?"
"That I needn't pester him when he is upset."
Aphrodite placed her hand on top of Athena's. Squeezing the bruised skin with light firmness.
"Don't you think he could have just told you that instead?"
Athena briefly considered it before meeting Aphrodite's eyes again with her usual neutrality.
"He is just as much a god as we are. You know gods do not solve things verbally."
Aphrodite sighs, the emotion visibly leaving her lips.
"Still, should he hurt his own family?"
She looked frustrated now. Painfully so, had the room not been so dark, the tears in her eyes would be obvious.
"It was a correction." Athena tried to argue.
"No. Aphrodite shook her head. "It is harm, I cannot stand by and let you suffer alone."
"I am fully capable of handling pain." Athena defended, her eyebrows furrowed together. She ignored the wound that scrunched up on her face.
"But must you?" Aphrodite asked, her hands gripped tighter around Athena's hands.
"I am the goddess of wisdom and wa— "
"I know what you are the goddess of!" Aphrodite shouted. Louder than she intended. But she focused little on it.
"You are still bleeding as we speak, even as you glare at me, I can still see how much it hurts!" She continues. "But, gods forbid I try to help you!" She throws her hands up in exasperation, standing to her feet in a quick motion.
She picks up the soaked cloth, wringing it out just above the bucket before pressing it gently back to Athena's face.
"Do you think I find amusement in watching you try not to fall apart?" She asked, voice breaking softly on the last word. "Do you believe that all this time I avoided you was to hear your screams when you thought no one would hear you? Did you?"
Athena tried to think, but the cold press of the cloth to her skin and the love goddess' warm touch made it impossible.
She opened her mouth to speak, to say anything, but she was left speechless. Like every processed thought had vanished the moment her mouth opened.
The love goddess cupped dear Athena's face.
"Wisdom does not equal perfection." Aphrodite said. "And it certainly does not mean you can't ask for help."
She placed the cloth down.
"Once I heard what had happened, I panicked, Athena. Panicked." Tears rolled down the goddess' face. "Are you aware how rare it is for me to panic?"
Athena remained silent.
"I never panic!" Aphrodite shouted. "So you must be aware of how scary it was to realize something happened to you and not know how to help you." She added. "Especially when you won't even acknowledge my care!"
Aphrodite didn't speak anymore after that, she placed the cloth back into the bucket and sat on the edge of the bed.
Silence filled the room once more.
Athena moved to stare out the window. Darkness covered the sky, like spilled ink over parchment. The moon much fuller now, a bright white and high up, like the tall marble pillars facing the night. She then paused, glancing over her shoulder to look at Aphrodite.
She had a finger curled up in her hair, twisting it in and unraveling it repeatedly as she fixated on the carpeted floor. The tips of her toes traced the fabric on the rugs, like she was doing anything to keep herself from disturbing Athena again.
"You know… the first time I realized I had feelings for you, I was disgusted." Aphrodite admitted, voice slightly distant as if distracted by her own fidgeting. Or lost somewhere in her thoughts. "I convinced myself I was ill."
The goddess of wisdom did not react. Instead, she returned back to the view beyond the window.
"Then," Aphrodite continued. "It happened again. And I spent the whole day drinking away my feelings, hoping that I was losing my sense of self."
A beat.
"I know that made no sense. But neither did I at the time…" She said with a sigh. "It was only after the third time, years later, did I realize what my heart truly felt."
"Years of denial over something as silly as attraction. Love." She turned to Athena. "Can you believe that?" She let out a weak laugh.
It faded just as quickly. Her eyes fell back to her lap. She licked at her lips, still figuring out something more to fill the silence.
She then felt a hand on her shoulder. Aphrodite jumped before realizing who it was.
"Athena…?"
"Aphrodite."
She met her eyes.
Before she could stop herself—more tears fell.
"I probably look so pathetic." Aphrodite mused, quickly wiping away the tears before more could fall.
"You do not." The wisdom goddess replied.
Aphrodite froze.
"What?"
"You do not look pathetic." Athena repeated, softer than earlier.
"…You're only saying that."
"I am not."
"…"
"Sorry for forcing all these… feelings onto you.." Aphrodite eventually replies.
"You needn't apologize." Athena says. She sat beside her again, leaving just enough space between them.
…
"I regret acting so cold." Athena said quietly.
"You do?" Aphrodite asked, full of hope.
"I should have paid closer attention… to your words and actions."
Aphrodite smiled.
She extended her hand again slowly, giving Athena all the time she needs to pull back.
Athena hesitated, before gently taking the goddess of love's hand.
"You mean very much to me…" Aphrodite said, lightly squeezing her hand.
The goddess of wisdom looked stunned.
Aphrodite laughed weakly. "You still look surprised when I tell you that.." Her gaze softened, landing on their intertwined hands.
The smile softened slightly.
"I was scared." She said, "Scared that my words meant little to you."
"And they probably do," Aphrodite continued. "But, you're in pain. And I cannot keep this to myself any further."
Before either could properly think—Aphrodite kissed Athena.
Their lips met softly.
Athena went still.
She had faced monsters, gods, even the ignorance of mortals.
And yet, none prepared her for this.
No battle victory would ever hold her as soft as Aphrodite did.
No bit of flame could ever warm her as much as Aphrodite did when she kissed her.
Not even the richest of ink could capture what stirred within her.
The kiss was not perfect, not even entirely planned.
Athena's skin still stung, Aphrodite's face wet with tears.
Still, neither let go. Not yet.
When they finally parted, they did not separate.
Aphrodite wrapped her arms around dear Athena, and embraced her tightly.
Despite Athena's earlier protests, a small smile found her face.
Athena carefully hugged the goddess back. Tears pouring from her eyes as well.
"You matter, Athena." Aphrodite whispered.
Athena nodded.
There was a brief pause.
"Thank you."
Aphrodite smiled against Athena's shoulder.
"Later, Apollo will arrive. He'll heal you, I promise."
Athena nodded again.
"I will be waiting."
"You're loved." Aphrodite said quietly. "By me, by many other gods."
Athena kissed the top of her head.
"I love you, Athena." Aphrodite murmured.
….
"…And I as well." Athena spoke.