Chapter Text
Hestia had always wanted for very little. From the moment she was born, swallowed and locked away, she had asked for little and demanded less. She wanted to see her siblings safe, to feel the sun on her skin. And then, when that sweet breath of fresh air did eventually come, she had only one other desire: to win the war.
She got her wish eventually, and with a heart full of joy, watched as her family ascended Mount Olympus and took their rightful place as leaders of the new world. For a moment, there had been nothing else she could ask for.
But with power came one thing she knew she didn’t want. Marriage.
Hestia came to realize that what she truly wanted in this life was simplicity. Modesty. Freedom .
The only thing she had ever demanded was her freedom. She would not marry a soul, and those who accosted her would be punished. It took a little convincing, but Zeus agreed in the end.
And from then on, Hestia knew that she would need nothing more. She was content with her home at the hearth. She was even happy to hand over her seat to Dionysus when the god arrived on Olympus. It was simpler that way, and simplicity was a gift she was always willing to give.
There were always going to be hiccups, of course. With a family as expansive and complicated as hers, Hestia knew she couldn’t have it all. Poseidon and Apollo wished to marry her, pestering her to change her decision. It made her uncomfortable, never wishing to disappoint those she loved most, but her brother and king came to her aid. The begging stopped, and she was free to continue as she had before.
It wasn’t the first time she had experienced discomfort, however. And as she soon came to learn, it would not be the last, either.
~
The Muses had put on a spectacular performance, their songs highlighting the tale of Heracles the highlight of Hestia’s night. She applauded and cheered, and watched as her family danced and mingled and drank themselves into a mild stupor. Only when the moon was at its fullest and the night became a tad too raucous for her tastes did Hestia finally slip away, knowing her presence would not be missed.
Her feet carried her out into the fields, enjoying the feel of cool night air on her face. She wandered across the grass, head tilted back to admire the stars. When she’d walked far enough, the goddess settled herself down in the grass and counted the twinkling lights above her, a sense of calm washing over.
She didn’t realize she had fallen asleep. Not until her abrupt awakening.
Her eyes opened, and the first thing Hestia realized was that she was no longer alone.
A face that might have been handsome under normal circumstances hovered over her, his breath reeking of alcohol. His face had become hidden by shadow, making him look harsher, more like a threat. His hand had slipped beneath her long skirts and was currently caressing her thigh, cooing something in her ear that Hestia couldn’t comprehend.
The scream that ripped from her throat was guttural .
A sense of disgust so profound it left her dizzy coursed through her veins. Panic and fear swelled like the ocean inside of her, and she scrambled backwards as far as she could get in the grass, her eyes blown wide in terror.
“What’s wrong?” The god demanded, and he grabbed hold of her ankle to hold her in place. “I only want a taste! Just one, and I’ll leave you be.”
Hestia screamed again, kicking at him with all the force her legs could muster. Her foot collided with his shoulder, and the god cursed, reaching for her again.
“Stupid girl, why won’t you just lie still --”
Tears streamed from her eyes, as she kicked and clawed at everything she could reach. Around her, birds cawed at the sudden eruption of noise and a donkey brayed somewhere in the distance. Terror gripped her like a cold hand. He was going to hurt her. She was so far away from the party, and he wasn’t giving up .
“Leave me alone!” She cried around a broken sob, but the god had her tight by the ankle and he dragged her closer, an expression of fury on his face.
“How can a beautiful goddess like you tell the rest of the gods that she’s not for sale? How can you know you don’t want it if you haven’t tried it --”
Something in her chest shattered. Fear did not begin to describe the way she felt, her heart threatening to pound out through her ribcage. This god didn’t care what she wanted. She was a piece of meat to him, an object to be sold and bought, no matter what the rules were. He’d take, and take, and it didn’t matter to him how much he hurt her.
The scream that escaped her next possessed every ounce of fear, every bit of anger and despair she felt poured into the word that left her mouth. It was all she had left to give.
“ ZEUS! ”
The peaceful night sky above her turned stormy in an instant. The stars were hidden behind thick gray storms clouds that sped across the sky. Thunder rumbled above them, shaking the earth beneath her, and the wind began to whip at her face. The god who held her looked around in fear, his face turned ugly in cowardice.
And then the field was no longer empty. Around them, several others burst into existence in multioloured flashes of light. She saw Demeter, and Hera. Athena and Ares too -- and then her eyes fell upon her little brother, his blue eyes full of electric fury. She had seen that look before, and it never boded well for the target of Zeus’ wrath.
The god who had found her was trying to get away, scrambling messily through the grass. He did not get more than five feet away before Ares kicked him in the stomach, and he was sent rolling onto his back.
“Priapus.” Zeus’ voice was full of cold fury, and Hestia could hear the wobble in his tone that meant he was barely holding it together. She watched the exchange with wide eyes, shrinking in on herself as Zeus approached Priapus.
“And just what --” He said dangerously, crouching low enough to meet Priapus’ eyes. “Do you think you were doing?”
“She wanted it, my lord! She just got nervous, and--”
Hestia knew to look away. With her eyes squeezed shut, she could still imagine the scene that played out. The crunch of bones left graphic images on her eyelids, the screams of pain that burst from Priapus’ mouth enough to make her shiver. Several more cracks followed, and Priapus’ screaming turned to weak gurgles of pain. She still dared not to look.
“Take him and throw him from the mountain. Priapus, you are banished from ever setting foot on Olympus again. Do so, and the punishment will be imprisonment.”
When Hestia did open her eyes, she caught Ares and Athena carrying a limp figure away from the scene. In front of her was Demeter, her expression gentle, concerned. Zeus and Hera whispered to one another a few feet away, but Hestia’s blood was roaring in her ears, and she couldn’t catch what they said. Zeus was clutching his hand which was coated in golden ichor.
“Are you alright?” Demeter asked quietly.
Hestia feared that if she opened her mouth, nothing but terrified gibberish would come out. So she nodded once, hoping that Demeter understood not to pry. Her sister had always been wise, and with great relief, she simply smiled and kept Hestia company while Zeus and Hera finished speaking.
Hera offered Hestia a nod, and then disappeared in another flash of light. Hestia did not need to have heard the conversation to know that she was going back to the party to do damage control. When she was gone, Zeus hurried over to her, sinking to his knees next to Demeter. All rage had left his face, replaced only by a weary sort of concern that made him look far less harsh.
“I’m sorry.” He said at once, but Hestia shook her head vehemently. How could this be his fault? He had always done all he could to protect her. She shouldn’t have fallen asleep in the field…
“Can we help you inside?” Demeter asked, a simple question that she could answer easily enough. Hestia nodded, and took a breath to stop her body from shaking so hard.
Zeus extended a hand to her. Hestia stared for a moment, a sudden surge of panic rushing through her again. Zeus noticed the change, and withdrew a little, electric blues widening a hair. No, he would never hurt her , Hestia reminded herself, meeting his gaze. He had waited for her to make the next move. He protected her. He wouldn’t hurt her.
Hestia took his hand, and Zeus visibly relaxed. Together, the three of them rose from the grass and made a slow journey back to the palace. No one spoke, and Hestia was grateful. She didn’t want to talk, not really. They knew well enough what had happened, and she feared that if she tried to talk, she would simply start sobbing.
They accompanied her all the way up to her room, where she sank shakily onto the edge of the bed. Her eyes were trained on the floor, and it was Demeter who broke the silence.
“I’ll run you a bath, alright?” She murmured, and Hestia nodded once more. She missed the look Demeter offered Zeus as she headed into the bathroom.
“Do you want to be alone?” Zeus asked.
This time, Hestia shook her head. The thought of being alone was enough to make her chest seize in fear. Priapus was gone now , she tried to remind herself. It did little to comfort her. She saw his feet draw closer, and then Zeus sat next to her on the bed, his warmth emanating off him in a way that was quite comforting.
“You know that what happened tonight is a crime I won’t let happen again.” He said, and Hestia nodded. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there sooner.”
“I’m glad you got there when you did.” Hestia whispered, surprised by how strong her voice had become. “It's not your job to protect me from everything.”
“Yes it is.” Zeus replied immediately, stooping to catch her gaze. “My decree was to guarantee your safety and your freedom, and I let people into our court who would defy it all.”
“Stop being so dramatic.” Came Demeter’s voice as she emerged from the bathroom, gathering supplies for the bath. “You can’t stop every bad person in the world. Beating yourself up isn’t what Hestia needs. Stand guard while she bathes, and your job is done."
The look of indignation on Zeus’ face was enough to draw a small smile to Hestia’s mouth. Though it did not reach her eyes, it felt good to see her family so normal .
“You have both done plenty to make me feel better.” Hestia said quietly. “If the bath is ready, I’ll take it now.”
Demeter nodded, and Hestia rose carefully to her feet. Her legs felt like jelly, and she was a tad lightheaded, but she remained standing. She crossed the room, Demeter close behind.
“I love you, Hes.” Her little brother said gently.
Hestia paused, glancing over her shoulder at him as her eyes filled with tears. “As I love you. Thank you both for always looking out for me.”