Pairings: Hephaestus/Percy
Challenge: His wife has many lovers, but he does not stay faithful to her either. And they're both fine with the set up.
Word Prompts: Grandiose or Frail
Song Prompts: Outside by Staind
TV/Book/Movie Prompts: Beauty and the Beast(any variation)
Frail. Delicate.
It is his opinion on demigods and non-automatons. They can be hurt so easily, broken so fully. He spies upon Percy; after all, of all of them, who does not? He sees his relationship with Annabeth grow, before being shattered against the ground like glass spheres and delicate, whimsical instruments. Like trust, so easily lost between lovers.
He takes Percy into his smithy, showing him how to pound fury into metal and make beauty. He takes to it avidly, better than anything else. Within weeks, Percy has gained some muscle tone and color. He cannot help himself on certain days, to eye him up and down, admire the muscle he now had, and wish to touch him. He reminds himself that Percy is healing, that it would be cruel to do this to his wife, even with her many lovers.
His efforts are for naught, when one day, Percy comes to him and kisses his lips.
He briefly wonders to himself at the marvel that is Percy, just long enough for his heart to tell him to get moving. He feels a stab of guilt when he catches sight of the ring on his finger, before scowling at it and returning to Percy.
After all, his wife has many lovers, but he does not stay faithful to her either. And they're both fine with the setup, as long as Aphrodite is allowed to sample his lovers from time to time.