Balm in Gilead Chapter 18

Chapter 18

With a flourish of her quill, Hestia signed the agreement formalizing her Familia’s first alliance.

She smiled happily at the God across from her. “It’s official!” She gave a little giggle. “Taylor's been bugging me about this for almost a week, you know.”

Aphrodite nodded, grinning widely. “Yep, Yep! And you know what I say! Everything’s better as a threesome.”

Hephaestus sighed, running a hand down her face. “Must you?”

“Of course not! Doesn't mean I won’t.” Dite grinned unrepentantly. He leaned back on the couch, stretching his arms above his head in a way that emphasized his trim stomach. But then, that was love gods for you. “After all, what's the fun of being all stuffy all day?”

Hestia giggled at Hephaestus's much put upon expression. “Other people call that decorum,” she said.

Aphrodite waves his hand. “Other people are boring. You should just cuddle me instead, right, right?”

Hestia pressed her hand to her mouth, trying to keep her giggling in check. It really was so nice seeing her two best friends from heaven getting back together here in the mortal world. And even though Aphrodite could be a bit much at times, Hestia had never seen Hephaestus happier than the past few weeks.

Though, if she mentioned the thought aloud, Hestia was certain that Aphrodite would find a way to turn it into yet another sex joke, so she kept her peace.

Really, the display just made her wish Taylor was back from the dungeon, but her oldest daughter was off delving with a few members of the Apollo familia, essentially as a dry run to their own upcoming alliance. That one had yet to go through final agreements, but really, the ink was nearly dry on that issue as well.

On one hand, Hestia was a little suspicious of Apollo, given her past experience with him. The alliance agreement was more than a little bit in her favor.

But on the other hand, Hestia was never the type to go through life suspicious of anyone and everyone she met. It just wasn’t in her nature.

It hurt, knowing that Taylor was so much the opposite of trusting. Hestia wished she could share a little bit more of her own outlook with the rest of her Familia, Lili included. Oh, how did she manage to wind up with the most jaded and cynical children in all of Orario?

She couldn't think of a reason why.

Coming back to the moment at hand, Hestia held back another sigh of contentment as she watched her friends snuggle on the couch across from her. Sometime in the last minute or so, Aphrodite had managed to worm his way under Hephaestus's arm without either goddess the wiser.

Hephaestus had another amused expression on her face, one hand idly draped around her husband's delicate shoulders. They really did complement each other.

“So.” Aphrodite turned her gaze of molten gold towards Hestia. “How are things going with your own tall, leggy, object of affection?”

Hestia blushed. “W-well, I-I don't really know what you're talking about…” She shuffled her shoulders, glancing down towards the carpet. “Taylor and I are just friends.”

“Oooooooh?” Aphrodite wiggled his eyebrows. “But you knew exactly who I meant?”

Hestia's blush deepened, and she clenched her hands in the fabric of her dress. “That’s—this is this and that was that!” She glared at her friend.

Aphrodite chuckled, one hand coming up to cover his own mouth. His eyes, however, gave away his mirth. “My lady doth protest too much,” he said. “You'd better make a move if you're interested, you know. A girl like that… She's no great beauty, but Orario has plenty of great beauties. Your daughter has something different, and you know how much us gods love different.”

Hestia looked down at her lap. She loved Taylor. Of course she did! It was her nature to love unreservedly and wholeheartedly, as only family could. But on the other hand, what she felt for Taylor wasn't just some romantic love the way Dite assumed it was.

Assumed everything was, really.

It was practically an obligation, on the god of love’s part…

“I couldn't.” Hestia shrugged, looking off to the side. “Taylor is my daughter, and I… I couldn't ever make her do something she didn't want to do.”

“What makes you think she wouldn't want to… do?” Aphrodite grinned. “The poor darling probably doesn't even realize how repressed she is. I can barely see any of her fetishes at all! She must have been raised by nuns or something.”

Hephestus flicked her husband on the forehead. “Darling, remember when we were just speaking about tact and the having of such?”

Aphrodite rubbed his forehead, pouting. “Hey! I have tact, in fact I even have tactics, that someone here could use to great effect.”

“Don't take dating advice from a God of love.” Hephestus gave a sigh, pinching her nose. “Their experience is skewed by the fact that everyone falls in love with them immediately.”

“That's not true!” Dite glared playfully up at his wife. “I'm plenty good at making people fall in love with me the ‘old fashioned way’, and I can prove it!”

“Oh?” Hephaestus raised an eyebrow. “And how, exactly, do you intend to do that?”

“H-hey now!” Hestia waved her hands back and forth. “You don't need to get into a fight over me!”

But the pair ignored her. Hestia slumped.

“You know, I notice that you still haven't gotten yourself a mortal lover.” Aphrodite crossed his arms. “Didn't I tell you to get on that?”

“What if I don't want one?” Hephestus rolled her eye. “Not all of us are as difficult to satisfy as you.”

Aphrodite harrumphed. “I am practically easy to satisfy, you know, compared to all of the other people from heaven.”

Hestia hummed in agreement. “Yeah, Yeah! You know that Apollo has a whole mansion for his familia? I don't even know what I do with that much space.” She fidgeted again. “That's the main reason I'm still a little suspicious of his offer, as is Taylor. But Taylor is always suspicious. It's exhausting!”

Hephaestus gave a deep chuckle. “Should you really be talking that way about your beloved child?”

Hestia glanced to the side. “Knowing Taylor, she'd probably agree with me about all of that, especially the exhausting part. She… really doesn't have much self-esteem.”

“That's why you need to be the one to give her that self-esteem!” Aphrodite leapt to his feet, hands planted on his hips and golden hair swaying behind him like a banner. “The last thing that girl needs is some fuddy duddy coming in to sweep her off her feet, unable to truly appreciate the splendor of her mortal soul!”

Hephaestus and Hestia shared a look and a long suffering sigh. There was no stopping Aphrodite when he got like this. The last person to try ended up as a harem protagonist three dimensions down and to the left.

They… weren't really allowed to talk about it. Especially not outside of heaven.

“All I want… is to make Taylor happy.” Hestia folded her hands against her chest, fingers clasped tight. “With how much she's been through, how much hurt she has inside, how could I call myself her goddess if I ever did her harm?”

And to that bare declaration of an entirely different kind of love, Aphrodite found no reply.

Of course, that didn't mean they were done. Instead, the god of love rounded on his own love, pointing at Hephaestus with a single finger. “Well, what about you?”

Hephaestus raised a singular eyebrow. “What about me, again?”

“What’s your reason for turning down the delights of love and lust?” He threw his arms wide. “Monogamy is so last century! It's time to spice things up a little bit, don't you think? Kick off a whole new free love revolution!”

“I have my hands full with the industrial one, thank you.” Hephaestus slouched back into the couch.

Hestia giggled. They were like cats and dogs sometimes. “You know, I still don't understand how you two got together. But I’m happy you did!”

Hephaestus and Aphrodite paused. They looked back towards each other for a moment, before their faces broke out into matching smiles.

“It was an arranged marriage,” Aphrodite said. He slipped into his wife's lap, curling his feet under her calves. “I've never been a big fan of those… but sometimes they can work out in your favor.”

“In heaven, I never thought I'd be away from my forge long enough to get married.” Hephaestus shrugged. “But, even if he was an irrepressible horndog, Zeus knew a thing or two about matchmaking, I suppose.” She smiled fondly at her husband, tangling her dexterous workman's fingers in the god’s golden mane.

Aphrodite giggled, nuzzling Hephaestus’s neck.

“Should I… Go get ready for my shift?” Hestia tilted her head, pointing towards the door.

“No, no.” Hephaestus waved her hand. “Dite just doesn't know how to control himself. Besides, you know he doesn't mind people watching.”

Aphrodite just giggled again. “I also like watching, myself.”

“I know, dear.” Hephaestus sighed.

Aphrodite stretched, raising his hands above his head before getting to his feet. “I've decided!” He planted his hands on his hips. “That's how I'll convince both of you!”

Hestia tilted her head. “Convince us of what?”

Hephaestus sighed. “Convince us how?”

“Convince you that love isn't some kind of shackle to be clamped upon a person's neck!” A fire began to burn in his eyes. “Love isn't a weapon, or an instrument of pain. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud!” Aphrodite seemed almost to glow. “It is something to be shared with all, and in the sharing become greater. For love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Hestia leaned back at the almost manic energy that seemed to pour off of her friend.

“Love never fails,” Aphrodite looked at both of them, “And I will convince you the same way that Zeus convinced Hephy and I that we were made for each other!” He giggled, a sound that inexplicably sent a shiver down Hestia’s spine. “I am going to match both of you with a perfect lover.” He grinned. “And there is nothing you can do to stop me.”

“And here I thought love wasn't something that could be forced,” Hephaestus said.

Aphrodite just laughed again. “Oh ye of little faith! I’m not going to have to force a single thing. Well...” he tapped his chin. “there probably won’t be any forcing in general. Neither of you are into size.”

Hestia blinked.

“But anyway! There is an entire city out there of eligible bachelors, bachelorettes, and every delectable gender in between! What kind of god of love would I be if I couldn't find someone for both of you, especially after you were so kind as to let me know your exact preferences?”

“We did?” Hestia scratched her cheek. “I don't remember having that conversation.”

Aphrodite gave her a practically withering look. “Please, as if it wasn't blatantly obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes!”

Hestia and Hephaestus shared another look, worry written plain on both of their faces. Gods and goddesses of love usually behaved the same as everyone else, but get them going, and it was clear that they saw the world just a little bit different than the rest of the assorted pantheons.

Really, Hestia just wished that they could all be as sane and normal as Freya.

It would make her life much, much easier.