Aides (COMPLETED)

Sixty Two

Kore

Aides steps into the room, closing the door behind Eris before looking around.

"It's comfy Aides... thank you for the accommodations" I try to sound as natural as possible but my self consciousness was proving fatal.

He picked up a dark vase, staring at its shape before placing it down. He was doing anything to distract himself from the awkward air of silence, especially after our intimate meeting just minutes prior.

"How is Zeus liking his room?"

Why would Hera ask that? I think to myself. She would never care what Zeus was doing but I was only trying to make conversation!
To be honest, I was more curious to know what business Aides had with me...well not me but Hera.

"He hates the room. Too dark and too smelly? So he claims" He shows of his handsome smiling, relishing in his brother's misery.

"It is a room befitting" I smile, taking pleasure at the complaint.

His eyes lift and his focus fixated on my features.
He looks with an expression so ambiguous, I was nervous to try and guess it.

"Something is different about you" he says, walking closer to where I stood. He scans my face with urgency, studying and trimming every quadrant. It was as if the answer he was searching for was hidden within my features.

"I can't seem to place... I might...be crazy" he curses, stepping closer to my chest.

"Aides..." I try so hard not to cry. I was his forgotten love. He's delicate flower. I was standing right before him but he did not know. Or did he?

"Tell me one thing—" he invades the confines of my territory, lifting a warm palm to my chin and pushing away my tight bright brown curls.

"What" I whisper impatiently. He pushed his thumb above my lips, stroking the ridges with care.

Aides

There was something about Hera I could not place?
There was an indescribable aura of charm that surrounded her physique.

She was warm.
Jubilant.
Clever.
Qualities unusual to bestow upon the goddess.

It reminded me of...

No!

I couldn't be her.
How could she possibly come down to the realm? She was banished! Even if she did have the confidence to change her appearance, only Zeus had the potion to grant the ability. Kore hated Zeus more than she hated the realm. She would never go to him for help...and Zeus would never give it to her.

I lift my thumb to her lips, brushing against them delicately, carefully observing her features. As I watched her eyes, the warmth of Kore filled my soul. Her skin was warm and my heart perched to be filled with it's comfort.
It reminded of the fire in Kore.

I was not attracted to Hera. I never fantasized a world in which I would bed her, but as I snatched  her jaw, something came over me.

"You look like ... maybe I am just—-"

"Who do I look like Aides...Say it" she breathed, gently running her lips against my skin. I don't know what emotion had taken over me. I was not a philander like Zeus. Chasing women was not a pastime I chose to indulge in, but Hera's aura was ...too personal to ignore.

Closer and closer our lips came until embraced.
There was a fire in her eyes, a warmth in her lips, it was all so familiar...

And soon, we found ourselves smacking violently, kissing as if we had known each other all our lives.
We both fall on the bed, still adamant in continuing our heated embrace.
Hera's gentle palm caressed my beard, pulling and tugging at every patch.
I  broke, reluctantly of course as I felt the minutes passing us by. "Hera...I am " the words couldn't find their place.

Kore

"Aides..." I pull his wrist, intertwining my hand with his. I knew him more than anyone. I could tell what was on his mind.
He was confused. Not with his emotions. He was puzzled how a goddess as cold and mean spirited as Hera could be so warm?

He had to know it was me....

We were still intertwined above the bed, watching each other carefully. We refused to part. He pulled me into his lips once again and we smacked with fervent intent.

"WHAT IN THE DEVILS NAME IS GOING ON!!"
Zeus shouted behind us. We were so consumed with passion we hadn't even noticed the opening of the door.

Aides continued the embrace, reluctantly breaking before looking into my eyes. He did not care to  unravel out of our compromising embrace nor was he worried about Zeus's wrath or even the fact that he caught him kissing his wife.

He was upset.
Upset that Zeus had caught him faltering.
It wasn't customary for Aides to act out and philander like he.
Out of the three brothers, Aideoneus was righteous. Now, Zeus had leverage to hold against Aides for any future table discussions.

"Aides please...don't" I whisper, pulling his shirt as he tried to push himself away.

"I come here for your wedding and what do I see? You! In bed with my wife!!" Zeus fumed, storming over to where Adies laid.

I eventually let him go and Aides separated from me, standing and adjusting his cloak and hair.

"What do you have to say for yourself" Zeus raged, pushing his chest in challenge.

"Look Zeus..." Aides rolled his eyes, looking into his brothers eyes. Before he could come up with a proper explanation, Zeus chuckled violently, hugging him  before clapping at the air in victory

"Finally! Your first affair! With my wife no better!" He patted Aides back in glee.

"What!?" I yelled, standing up from the covers.

"I do not blame you brother.
I should castrate you...but I won't." He shrugged, lifting his palm and Aides own so he could shake it. Zeus forced him to hug in camaraderie. As he was embracing his brother Zeus looked into my eyes and winked.

That sneaky little devil!

Aides separates from his brother before turning over to me.
"Hera... I know that was not becoming of me"

"Aides...it is okay" I assure him, wishing so much I could tell him who I truly was. But if I did reveal my true identity, my plan to prove my innocence would be obsolete.

"I only apologize that my actions have been so... well I have been overcome with grief and stress. With the upcoming wedding and Eris's coronation"

I pushed my hand to his jaw, forcing him to stare into my eyes.

"You miss her...that is all"
He nodded looking to the floor.
"You saw her in me and wanted to feel her once more?"

He was silent. I could see the sadness in his eyes. He still cared for me which made my heart joyful. I couldn't take it. I had to tell him. Maybe Aides could help me with my plan.

"Well...what if I told you that I was not who I seemed. Aides, I am K—-"

"HERA!" Zeus interrupted me, grabbing me into his arms. Aides was surprised at Zeus's abrupt interruption.

"Aides please listen to me" I brush Zeus to the side, running up to face Aides.
"I am —-"

"Hera! You look beautiful!" Zeus interrupted me again, pulling my chin and kissing me violently.
I tried to hit him off but he carried me away, lifting me all the way to the bathroom.

I bit his lip before he cursed and finally broke his contact.

"Let go you disgusting pile of trash! Disgusting!" I fume, wiping my lips clean. Who knew how many deities he had kissed before me. He finally dropped me into the tub and snapped to turn on the water.
"Maybe water hitting your body will knock some sense into you daughter" he grumbled before turning on his heel. He snapped and had two lighting bolts wrap around my body, inhibiting my movement.

"Zeus!! Zeus come back here!! Let me GO!!!"

He turned out the porcelain room and closed the door behind him. I hear him saying a few more things to Aides before I hear the door shut.

Author note
Hmmmm... wonder why Zeus was trying so hard to interrupt Kore?
Do you think Aides knows? Hmmmm