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The night before the fight was oppressive. They all sat together at dinner. Everyone had as much ambrosia and nectar as possible to strengthen themselves and relatively quietly. In their heads, everyone went through the plan and all the ways it could go out. And at the same time, they worried about the others. Only when they finally finished the meal did everyone went to their rooms to spend the possible last evening in their own way.
Athena kept pacing up and down when Artemis came out of the bathroom. She had had the feeling of having to wash herself, she did so before each hunt. Now she leaned into the door and watched Athena. Her girlfriend had her dark curls put up, but some had already fallen out of her hairdo. Her gaze was thoughtful and as always when she was deep in thought she could not keep her fingers still. She was so in thought that Artemis could go to her without Athena noticing her. Artemis gave her another minute, then she took Athena's hands and stopped her with them.
"Thena? You have to stop." “I'm worried the plan will fail. If even one detail doesn't work, even if only one of you-." "Sh, Thena. First of all, this is our plan and if it goes wrong then we are all in there together. No one is to blame. And secondly, it's no use to us if our most brilliant strategist goes crazy. We need you with a clear mind." Athena wanted to say something, but Artemis put a finger on her lips: “Tomorrow. Now we spend time together. After all, this is our last illegal night together.” Athena laughed, "All right." "Are you okay?" "Just stay with me." "Promised."
The two sat down on the couch in front of the fire. Artemis told Athena to lie down and put her head on her lap. So they stayed for a while until Athena broke the silence. "Do you think we'll get married sometime?" "Do you want that?" “I mean...maybe. We both swore to be alone forever, but...that was before the whole thing. When we thought men were our only option. What about you?" “I would marry you, but to be honest, that's not important to me. We belong together whether we make an oath in front of someone or not."
Athena smiled softly. Artemis loved that smile. She knew that she was only her being there, because Athena was only like that with her. So relaxed. "I wonder if anyone thinks that about us. That we are like this to each other.” “Who cares what others think? No one is concerned about this relationship, except you and me, Owly." Athena snored, "Don't call me that." "Oh yes. There's no end to this, I swear.” "That she swears to me," Athena murmured to herself.
“Do you want me to swear my love to you? Because damn Athena, I don't know how, but I fell in love and I don't know if I could ever love someone else like I love you. So you better stay with me or I'll take something apart." Athena laughed, "That was nice." "Now it's your turn Owly." "I-." Athena sat up, "I love you, Artemis. It's so easy. I could compare it, but there is no comparison for how endless my love for you is and I think I'll break something apart when you leave." Artemis laughed and also mumbled: "We are so silly." "We are. Aphrodite had too much influence on us." "If Aphrodite didn't exist, we might never have found each other."
“I would have noticed sooner or later. I would have found you in any life, Arti," Athena said and lay down again. “I love you too, Thena. I love you too."
"Damn shit," Dionysus groaned. "Herm, Herm, we can't-." “Can't we? You seemed to like it," said Hermes and kissed Dionysus' neck again. "I did and believe me, I would love to spend the whole evening making out with you, but I don't think this is how we should spend this last evening." "Don't call it that," Hermes said softly. "We shouldn’t spend tonight like this." Hermes withdrew: "Fine. You are probably right." "Really?" "Of course. I just want to be close to you, it doesn't matter in what way," Hermes said. He pulled Dionysos to their bed and they made themselves comfortable. Dionysus leaned against Hermes and Hermes stroked Dionysus' hair. "I love you." “I love you and the day after tomorrow we can finally get married. If you still want, that means." "Of course I want to marry you, fool. As strange as it is, I have never met anyone like you.”
"Why is that strange?" asked Dionysus. “I've met so many people, Dio. Dead as well as living and no one comes close to you." Dionysus laughed, "You exaggerate." "I don't." "You do." "I don't." "You do..."
"Ares, what are you doing?" "What does it look like?" Apollo rolled his eyes: "You had weeks for that." “I put it off. For the last moment, so to speak. Maybe I wanted to push it out too," said Ares, looking down at his sword. The sharpening was not finished, but he put it down anyway. "You've never been afraid of a fight." "This is not a normal fight," said Ares. Apollo smiled sadly, "No, it's not." He put his hands on Ares' shoulders. “But it's the best. For everyone." “I know I...take the whole thing too personally. After all, we were close for a long time.” "I know, honey, and it's okay to feel that way," Apollo said, kissing Ares' cheek.
Ares sighed, "I feel like they broke me. Why do I feel bad about it?” "They're your parents, Ares." "It's your father." Apollo grimaced, "Don't say that. And besides, he's different for me. The two of them didn't raise me. That makes a different bond. And you may feel bad, but know you're doing the right thing.” Ares closed his eyes. Apollo knew that it was now easier for him to admit feelings, but still not completely easy. So he gave him time. But Ares said nothing more. He placed a kiss on Apollo's hand and continued to be silent.
Apollo carefully took the sword and put it away. He looked out the window. Olympus lay deceptively peacefully before him. "If you can't, you don't have to, you know that." To Apollo's surprise, Ares spoke his answer very close to his ear. "And how are you going to do that without me?" Apollo smiled and leaned against his boyfriend: "That's right, what am I thinking?" "Thank you for listening to the shit," Ares said. "Always, you know that. I love you.” "I love you."
"Heph?" Aphrodite had been in the bathroom and when she came out and Hephaestus had still not been in her bedroom. So she had gone on a search. Of course, she heard dull hammer blows and immediately knew where her husband was. The forge was always warm and where some people found it suffocating, she found it pleasant."Heph!" Of course, he didn't hear her over the hammer blows. Aphrodite went down the stairs and walked around some shelves until she finally saw him. Hephaestus had put the hammer away and was looking at what he was working on.
"Heph?" He flinced and turned around: “Dite. Why are you here?” "Because you're here. What are you doing?” Hephaestus sighed, "Distracting." "Heph-." "Maybe you should check on Ares, he's probably not feeling well right now." “Ares has Apollo with him. Everyone is with their partners. So why don't you want to be with me?” Hephaistos smiled slightly: "I had to do something else. Actually, I wanted to give it to you tomorrow.” He stretched out his hand and as always when he did that she saw in his eyes fear that she would refuse it. But she didn't. Not anymore.
He pulled her around a corner and behind it was an armor. It was beautiful, made of bronze and decorated with gold. On it were flowers, swords and pigeons. "It is beautiful, Heph." "I wanted you to be safe." "You're too cute," she murmured and kissed his cheek. "I actually wanted to-." “It is perfect, Heph. Like everything you do.” Hephaistos huffed: "This is not-." Aphrodite turned to him again: "Don't end this sentence, my dear." "You're exaggerating, Dite." "I don't. But let's not argue tonight. Come with me to bed.” "I have the feeling that everything is not ready yet." "You always have that, honey, even if everything is perfect. Now come. Let's wash you and then you better hold me until tomorrow.”
Hephaestus smiled: "Nothing I would rather do." Aphrodite put her hand on Hephaestus' cheek: "I love you, you know that, don't you?" “It's hard to believe, but yes, Dite and I love you too.”
And the night was strangely quiet. And everyone spent it exactly where they wanted to be. With their lovers, believing that after the next day everything would be better.
The fight began at dawn.