The Aphrodite Method
AN: Oh gods. Thank you so much for the feedback on the last chapter. I see everyone enjoyed reading that chapter. Personally, I enjoyed reading and writing it too. That is, by far, my favorite chapter in the whole story. But don't think that's the last of it because there will be more trials for the couples (five trials, to be exact) between daily task intervals. So here's the ninth chapter, and I hope you'll enjoy it!
Chapter Nine
Aphrodite
Aphrodite forced herself to enter the fiery premises. It had been a while since she entered the forges, mainly because if she wanted to run an errand that required entering her husband's forges – she'd let Eros or Iris do it. But it was already one in the morning and neither gods were awake. She'd let Ares do it but the man had gone to Germany to screw another woman, which apparently wasn't new. Much to her dismay, she'd have to do this task on her own.
Heat immediately met her once she opened the door to the forges. The sound of metals clinking and clanking resounded throughout the vast room as she made her way into it. There were only two beings inside the place, and that happened to be a Cyclopes which she assumed was her husband's assistant and Hephaestus. He looked like he'd been working on a shield, although for who, she couldn't tell.
He must have sensed her presence, or caught a whiff of her lavender perfume because the minute he turned to find the source only to see her; he frowned. She kept a good ten-inch distance from him, just to save herself from whatever contraption he was creating that would singe her beautiful skin.
"What are you doing here, Aphrodite?" Hephaestus asked her calmly despite the frown on his face.
She studied his features as she always did when she came face to face with him. He was certainly unattractive, with that horrible upturned nose that looked like it'd been jammed up way too high and his eyes that blazed so horribly that it often scared the wits out of her. Given, he was more in shape than Ares – but it was that metal chink on his leg, the one that limped around that made her frown so bad it stretched wrinkles into her forehead. She looked away from his face faster than she started examining it. She just couldn't stare too long.
"I came to have these rings upgraded." Aphrodite answered straightly as she took out three pink and three blue rings from her jean's pockets.
He arched a brow at her. At least his eyebrows were on point. "Upgraded? You never have these things upgraded. You usually want them fixed."
"Well, for this particular situation – I have to." She shrugged before finally nearing him. She still kept a good distance, and she did her best not touch him as she handed him the rings. "I got it from them once they fell asleep. Do you think you can fix in the upgrade before they all wake up?"
He scrunched up his nose, the way he always did when he was thinking. Don't ask why she observed that – she just knew. Finally, he placed the six rings on his work table before asking her, "What kind of upgrade are we talking about here?"
She told him. He frowned every once in a while, telling her that it might not be as easy as it sounded. Of course, Aphrodite wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"Why do you find it so necessary to have them upgraded in less than five hours or less, depending on how they wake up? I'm sure they won't even realize their rings had gone missing. In fact, I think they'd rather be glad that the rings are gone." Hephaestus reasoned with her as he began to take apart the rings – which separated into three little blocks each upon being touched by its creator.
"That would be risking my methods. What if Zeus decided he wanted to screw a tree nymph since there's no blue ring to stop him? It would be drastic not just for me, but for Hera." Aphrodite explained as she shifted uncomfortably on her feet. She was starting to sweat from all the heat that the forges were emitting, and she did not like to sweat. "I'm sure you can do something with it."
"You always assume, don't you?" He asked gruffly as he tapped at the little blocks of each ring briefly before sighing. "Fine. It'll be done. But you told me it won't be used till' three days from now, right? I'll do what I can with it, but the process won't be complete. You need to return these rings to me at the same time you did today on the recurring days before the deadline so I can finish them properly. Otherwise, they won't work and they'll probably explode due to malfunction."
"We wouldn't want that now, would we?" She shook her head at the thought. She has to come back here tomorrow and the next day… and the next day? Oh, for heaven's sake – she really needs to get a cherub that would be awake at this hour so she wouldn't have to endure coming back here again and again. "You have a deal."
He looked surprised at first, but he nodded to get rid of it before he began working on the rings.
Aphrodite stayed put and she watched in amazement as he screwed nails and things into the rings. She hadn't realized that she'd been standing there for so long, watching her husband work on the rings until he looked at her with that signature frown he had. He really needs to work on his other facial expressions.
"What are you doing?" He asked her and it sounded harsh – to her, at least, since she was irritated by the heat of the forges.
"Watching you work." She said simply, as if it was normal for her to just stand there and watch him work on things she hardly knew about. "Does that bother you?"
"No." He admitted as he worked his large hands on the tiny rings. She realized, upon watching him, that he handled the material so delicately despite the roughness in the way he worked on his other creations. "What bothers me is that you're still here, despite the heat."
"Well," She mumbled nervously as she patted her handkerchief against her forehead briefly. "I have to take them back, don't I? So I might as well wait for you to finish."
"You know I can take them back myself."
"Oh, nonsense. You'd wake them up in a heartbeat with the noise of your metal foot."
As soon as she mentioned the metal foot, she immediately regretted it. Her husband looked like he was ready to dip her in one of those lava pits that shaped swords and other metal-work. She always made it a point to think of Hephaestus's negatives in her head, only because she refused to sound like a terrible person. In which case, she was just thinking about it. But to be able to say it out loud, she just couldn't do merely because she only ever does so whenever they were fighting.
"I'm sorry." She apologized in a small voice as she suddenly took interest on her red flats. "I didn't… I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine." He murmured softly, his frown disappearing as he went back to work on the rings.
She swallowed, feeling exceptionally guilty. What was wrong with her? She never felt guilty around him. Never. And yet, in that small, menial event – it felt like she had thrown an entire mountain on top of him. Her conflicted emotions was tearing her apart, and before she could decide to just wait outside until he was finished with the rings; she said something stupid.
"I really am sorry." She blurted out, squeaking one octave too-high due to her nervous state.
He looked at her this time, ignoring the rings for a moment as he faced her. As she looked up to meet his gaze, she saw surprise and wonder etch his features – but there was still that roughness, that particular coldness that he graced whenever she was around. She couldn't blame him, really – but it wouldn't hurt to look at her like she was a goddess and not a harlot.
"Stop that." She said firmly this time.
"Stop what?" He asked her roughly.
"Stop looking at me like I've just finished screwing a model at the back of a truck!" She exclaimed this time, bothered by the way he eyed her. "Could you at least look at me the way you do with the other goddesses? With a hint of dignity and respect?"
"I didn't realize I had a certain way of looking at you." He shrugged, as if her outburst didn't surprise him which just made her mad. "I apologize if I find it so hard to see my wife without frowning, thinking of the times she called me names behind my back."
Now she was flabbergasted. "I-I never call you names behind your back."
"Really?" He laughed humorlessly as he crossed his arms on his chest. "Hunchback of Notre Olympus? Metal head? Limp boy? Don't those names ring a bell?"
"That's not me!" She yelled at him this time, and for once – her argument was true. "That was Ares. I just… I just join in the laughter."
"You do realize that's the same thing as calling me names?" He asked her with an arch of a brow. "Imagine what other things you called me. Of course I try to ignore them—"
"I don't call you names, okay?!" She stomped her foot this time as she glared at her husband. "I'm not as heartless as you think I am!"
"I find that hard to believe." He spat at her. The words felt like he had sheathed daggers into her heart. What is this? Was she… was she pained by the way he spoke to her? Wasn't it supposed to be the other way around? Why did it feel like she'd just lost her… her purpose? "Go wait outside, Aphrodite. I'll call you when the rings are finished."
"No!" She growled this time, which caused her husband's features to shift into complete surprise.
"What are you—"
"I will not be treated with so little respect, Hephaestus!"
"You expect people to respect you, me – of all people – after everything you did to me? Do you really expect me to look at you differently when all you've ever done is look at me like I'm a monster? Tell me, Aphrodite, why I should even give you an iota of respect if you can't even produce the same to me?"
Now she was fuming, either from embarrassment due to the truth in his words or due to her anger – she couldn't tell. But she had a feeling it was the initial; for it was her fatal flaw as the goddess of love. She just didn't know how to accept the ugly truth from people, especially their take that despite her beauty, she had an ugly heart.
"Forget it!" Aphrodite replied instead as she trudged up to his work table and began fishing the taken-apart rings. "I'll just find another mechanic to—"
"Aphrodite, don't!"
But Hephaestus's warning came too late. As soon as the taken-apart rings landed on her palm, the little bits of the ring started to bite her skin. A loud cry emitted from the love goddess, nearly scaring the wits out of the one Cyclops that worked in the corner. The Cyclops looked just about ready to help her, but he paused when his boss raised a hand to stop him.
"Gods damn it!" She cursed as she tried to wriggle the rings off her palms, but they stuck to her hand – biting mercilessly.
"Don't move your hand!" He tried to get a hold of her victimized hand, but she swatted him away.
"Get these things off of me!" Tears were streaming down her cheeks now as all six rings did their torture on her palm – biting into her skin as if they were trying to peel it off. "Please get it off me, Heph. Please!"
"I will. Just stop moving your hand!" He said roughly as he finally got a hold of her wrist. She whimpered aimlessly as he led her to a door, but she knew full well that it wasn't the exit of the forges. As she was brought into what looked like a small, cramped-up bedroom – she stopped moving her hand. The rings were still biting into her skin, but it wasn't as painful as it was the time she was trying to get them off.
Hephaestus made her sit on the bed next to a bookshelf full of scrolls and other nuts and bolts. She realized, to her relief, that this room was air-conditioned. Although how her husband had a small room with an air-conditioner in the back of the forges, she had no idea.
As she sat on the large, fluffy bed – Hephaestus began rummaging through one of those treasure boxes pirates fancied in the old days. Her tears haven't stopped because the rings were still biting her, but she stopped her whimpering for the sake of not looking so weak in front of her husband.
After a few minutes of futile search, he brought out some bandages, a canteen of nectar and a clean white cloth. He placed them beside her on the bed and knelt before her as he carefully took her hand. She gasped as the bites tightened, and from the dim light of the lampshade, she could see golden ichor dripping down her palm.
"Relax, and try not to scream bloody hell while you're at it." He sounded affectionate as he tried to wring the rings off her palm. Each time he got rid of a small bit of the ring, she yelped and grimaced. Other times, she found her uninjured hand searching for his for comfort – which wasn't so bad, although she would regret it later on. When he took off the last bit, she dug her nails against his hand so hard that he yelped.
"Sorry," She murmured to him, but he didn't show any acknowledgement that he heard. He started to pour nectar on the injured areas, causing a string of Ancient Greek curses to escape her lips. Hell, she cursed so much during the procedure that Hermes and Hera cursing together couldn't match her. But in the midst of her cursing, he tried to soothe the pain by whispering encouraging words. He'd shush her and tell her it was going to be okay, and that it won't hurt after the whole thing's over – just what someone would verbally do to help ease the pain. In fairness, she found his soothing words rather sweet.
Her tears dried once he smoothed the white cloth on her palm, damping off some of the excess nectar. She watched, with great interest, as he finished the procedure off by wrapping the bandage around her palm. Her whimpers and cries died down, and when she flexed her injured hand, it didn't hurt as bad as the first time.
"That should help ease the pain. I think Apollo has an ointment that you need to apply daily so that the bite marks would fade, so you can just ask him." He told her and she felt someone tugging on her uninjured hand.
Aphrodite realized that she was still holding onto his other hand for dear life. She released her hand immediately, blushing furiously once she saw her husband blush as well.
Hephaestus cleared his throat and rose to return the equipment he brought out. As he was placing the materials back into the treasure box, Aphrodite couldn't help but speak through the silence.
"Thank you, Heph." Aphrodite swallowed nervously as she said this, staring vacantly at her bandaged hand.
Hephaestus grumbled, and she hoped that meant like an It's okay or You're welcome – but she could never tell when it came to her husband.
"I guess you should stay at the lake while I work on these little rascals." He suggested as he began to fish the small bits of the rings. She cringed in fear that the rings would bite him too, but they didn't.
"No, I…" She protested in a small voice. "I want to watch you work."
"Seriously, after what just happened back there?" She could tell that he was trying not to laugh at her, but she nodded and looked at him to show her approval.
"What's so wrong about watching my husband work?" Now he didn't look like he wanted to laugh.
Hephaestus stared at her, dumbfounded. Probably because she called him her husband and not just "someone I was unfortunate enough to marry". In fact, she was quite surprised herself. But in the midst of the rings biting her, and his soft, affectionate way of tending to her wounds – Persephone's words a few days ago somehow hit her like a big yellow school bus.
"At least have the decency to improve your own marriage."
"I mean… if you'll have me." Aphrodite cut through the silence in a small voice as she stared at him, waiting for him to deny her or tell her to just go to the damn lake and wait for him there. But instead, he offered his hand for her to take. And when she did, he led her out of the cold room and back into the forges, where she spent the entire early morning watching him tinker away. And for once, they didn't try to kill the life out of each other.
They looked at each other and talked together just like any regular, young and clueless couple.
Poseidon
The sea god could have sworn someone was touching his finger somewhere around twelve to one in the early morning. He experienced the same thing at a later hour, around 7AM or so. But whatever it was, it was surely just his wife or his imagination – either way, he didn't give it any more thought after waking up.
When he shifted to turn on the other side of the bed, he saw his wife and couldn't help but smile. Amphitrite was curled up in a fetal position facing him. She looked peaceful and solemn in her sleep – her blonde hair a beautiful halo around her lovely face. Last night was a mere surprise for both of them, and perhaps Aphrodite's Survival Pill was to thank for it. They made love last night – one that they haven't done in years he can't even remember how long. Just the memory of it made the hair on his skin rise. At the sight of her; he couldn't help but pull her body flush against him.
Amphitrite woke up the second he planted a kiss on her forehead. She looked up to him with hazy, sea-blue eyes that were sultry and tired-looking. A small grin graced her lush lips once she realized that they were both naked under the sheets.
"Did we just… last night?" She didn't finish the first half of her sentence because she was laughing so giddily in between words.
"Yeah, we did." He nodded as he captured her lips for a searing kiss. "And I have a feeling that we're about to do it again."
This caused his wife to blush furiously. But before she could emit a protest – he was already on top of her, ravishing her lips like they were the ambrosia and nectar he needed to continue living; thus ending their small discussion.
After they finally had the urge – and strength despite their wobbly legs after that morning's frisky love-making – to get out of bed, they headed straight for Aphrodite's office. It had been two days since their first trial as a couple. Despite the horrific experience of having to relive the torture of staying in Kronos's stomach, he found that the trauma had reduced in time due to their break from the daily tasks but also due to his wife's support. His wife probably had never seen him so vulnerable before, and when she figured that he wasn't exactly a terrible husband; she graced him another chance (hence the sudden sex last night, although he still felt that was due to the ASP's side effect).
When he and Amphitrite entered the office, everyone was already there. They were staring at them curiously, probably curious as to what would have caused their lateness.
"I think I know why they're late." Aphrodite said cheekily as she grinned from ear-to-ear. "At least one couple had a good night."
"You're one to talk." Persephone said just as he and his wife took their seats beside the king and queen of the Underworld's loveseat. "Suddenly you look all giddy, Aphrodite."
"Yeah. What's that about?" Amphitrite asked as she laced her fingers through his, and he squeezed her hands with a small sigh. This kind of relationship with his wife was so much better than all the yelling and throwing corals at each other.
"I think she and Hephaestus tried to reconnect last night." Hera assumed with a sly grin, although Poseidon doubted it was an assumption. His sister had the great power of sensing the conditions of a married couple, and Aphrodite and Hephaestus were certainly a married couple.
At Hera's assumption, the love goddess blushed which made Persephone and Amphitrite suddenly break into melodic laughter.
"No way!" Persephone tried to wipe off her tears of laughter, but she couldn't because she turned over to start laughing again.
"Aphrodite reconnecting with Hephaestus?" Amphitrite asked as if the idea was a joke.
"Well, we didn't exactly reconnect…" Aphrodite fumbled for words, but she was blushing too brightly that the two goddesses couldn't help but continue their laughter. "Alright, enough. We just talked. I hardly consider that reconnecting. Now, can we please start so I can give out your daily task?"
"Did they really reconnect last night?" Zeus asked his wife, who was grinning like a madwoman. Poseidon shared a scared look with Hades. It wasn't a pleasant thing whenever their sister looked like she was about to cause World War III using peacocks and cows with that scary grin of hers.
"Well, it's something." Hera shrugged, her grin never leaving her face.
"Hey!" Aphrodite's voice squeaked, which wasn't new. "We're focusing on this marriage – not mine. Capiche? What happens outside my marriage counseling has nothing to do with any of you, unfortunately except for Hera who sees and hears everything like a jealous wife."
"I am a jealous wife." Hera admitted, and Zeus looked like he was debating whether or not to jump off the balcony or run for his life. Hell, if Hera had been his wife – he'd be pretty scared too.
"Today's daily task involves a little break from what I've done so recently. Again, my apologies." Aphrodite nodded at Hera, him and Hades. "I want each husband to do something… fun with their wives. Maybe it could be something you used to do together or something new. It could be anything. Before you, my lords, is a piece of paper and a pen—"
At that, a piece of paper and pen appeared before Poseidon. He caught it before it could tumble down on his thighs.
"—where you must write down the particular activity you wish to do with your wife for today. It may be a simple date or something extreme beyond measure. Just anything that you think would set a little flare into your relationship."
"So… anything?" Hades asked suspiciously.
"That's all on you and not on me." Aphrodite said with a wave of her hand.
"But what if we have scheduled meetings for today? Zeus and I, for example." Hera crossed her arms on her chest. "While I appreciate the effort of this daily task, as the king and queen of the gods; we can't just keep neglecting our work. Do you have any idea how many reschedules we had to do for our meeting with the Egyptian gods?"
"I had Iris and Hermes take care of that." The love goddess answered as she took a seat on her leather chair. "I'm sure the Egyptians would understand the drastic measures of this method. This does affect the fate of our world since we're banking on that new oath these three numskulls have to make."
"Numskulls?" Poseidon asked, offended to be called a "numskull".
"Oh, dear, just finish writing." Amphitrite cooed at him. "But make sure it's somewhere I'll actually have fun at."
Poseidon swallowed as he wrote down the best idea he could possibly come up with. He didn't want to screw this up like the last time when he decided to have dinner with her at Montauk Beach of all places. Oh hell no. He was not going to have that kind of crazy – and the last thing he wanted to have with his wife was an argument that set the bar higher than Zeus and Hera fighting together.
Aphrodite took the papers from the three kings after three minutes. As she looked over at the papers, her smile grew so wide he thought the love goddess might never take that grin off.
"Oh, these are so romantic!" Aphrodite squealed which nearly destroyed his ear drums. She started passing out the papers to the goddesses, who in turn received them excitedly as they read the paper.
Amphitrite scanned the paper where he wrote the activity he wanted to do with her on that day. Before she could say anything, another squeal emitted – but it wasn't from Aphrodite. Much to Poseidon's surprise, it was Hera.
"France?!" Hera squealed as she tackled Zeus into a bear hug – nearly making the couple fall off their love seat. "Oh, Zeus – hot air balloons on Loire Valley. How did you know? Oh gods. This is… this is so perfect!"
"Ugh, get a room you two." Persephone gagged, but when she started reading through her own paper – she, too, started squealing (although it didn't beat the volume of Hera's). "Oh, Hades. The Miracle Garden at Dubai? But… it's closed for the summer season! No person can get in."
"Who says we're persons?" Hades asked with a mad grin.
"Talk about rebellion. Let's see if you can top them." Amphitrite gave him a sultry wink before reading the paper. His heart nearly tumbled out of his chest when he saw the bright grin on his wife's face. Thank the Fates he's pleased her. "Monaco? Oh, not just Monaco. Monte Carlo. Oh, the beaches and the sceneries… why—oh, Poseidon."
Before he could explain the things they'd be doing there like sunbathing and swimming, his wife attacked him with kisses that he could hardly talk after her sudden assault. Amphitrite was bouncing ecstatically like the other goddesses, which made the room sound like a hoard of Aphrodite's daughters invaded the office.
"Yes, very romantic indeed." Aphrodite clapped her hands. "I gotta hand it to you, my lords. You just made your wives the happiest goddesses alive."
Poseidon was quite proud of himself for what he had decided. Monte Carlo brought so many good memories between him and Amphitrite. It was where he had taken her five years after he agreed about the pact. He and Amphitrite stayed in the area for six years, avoiding the conflict of their kingly and queenly duties as a form of vacation. By far, it was the best six years of his life. That was… until Sally Jackson. But he didn't dwell on the thought of Sally long, because as Aphrodite adjourned their meeting and told them to "have fun" – his wife was already dragging him out of the office in a hurry as she drawled on about Medea's SPF something lotion and bathing suits.
"Oh, Poseidon." Amphitrite sighed as she reached up to meet his lips. "This is… this is just grand. I mean, this is too much."
"Grand…" He whispered against her lips. "Too much is never enough for you, my little seashell."
She giggled at him as she continued to drag them out of the love goddess's palace. Perhaps, despite recent events, the Aphrodite Method wasn't so… terrible after all.
AN: Oh, I wouldn't assume so early if I were you, Poseidon. Remember that little upgrade Aphrodite did with the rings? You'll see, haha! Thank you so much for reading this chapter. I know it's pretty short, but did I reach my word count quota so I hope that's enough to satisfy you guys. What were your thoughts on that encounter between Aphrodite and Hephaestus? And what do you think would happen between Poseidon and Amphitrite once they arrive at Monte Carlo? Please write up a comment/review to let me know what you think. Stay tuned! – EMPG22HoPe
This fanfiction may also be found on Wattpad under my username MDSummers.
