It was a long time ago.
The Titan war, the first one, had just been won.
Things were still new. Positions on Olympus were still being decided. Marriages were to be arranged.
But that didn't stop the goddess of love and beauty from breaking hearts and making her rounds.
One day, Aphrodite had her eyes set on a certain goddess. The goddess was intelligent and beautiful. She carried herself with such confidence that she made all the other gods look puny.
The goddess's name was Athena. She was the planner and designer of their home, Olympus.
Aphrodite decided she would make her move. No one could resist her charm. No one could resist her beauty. Not even the most stubborn of the gods and goddesses.
But Athena wasn't just any goddess. She was the goddess of wisdom, so she wouldn't be easily fooled. And to make matters even more complicated, Athena has vowed to be a virgin goddess. And when Athena said she's going to do something, she sticks with it.
But Aphrodite was willing to take up the challenge and see if she could persuade the goddess of wisdom from her vow. If the goddess of love couldn't tempt her, then who could.
"I'm going to bring a little insurance." Aphrodite said to herself.
Aphrodite had a belt that could tempt the desire of a person. This belt had the power to cause others to fall in love with the wearer.
She decided she would bring that belt as back up just in case Athena rejected her. The goddess of love and beauty would not be rejected.
That would cause too much embarrassment. It could strip her of her godly status.
Aphrodite slipped the belt over her pink silk chiton. She admired herself in the mirror. She reapplied her cherry red lipstick.
"Perfect. Athena won't be able to resist me now." she said, smoothing down her chiton and running her fingers through her blonde hair.
She took a deep breath and then went to meet Athena.
Athena was standing over her desk, reviewing blueprints for Mount Olympus's renovations. She hadn't noticed Aphrodite had walked in.
"Athena." Aphrodite said.
"Mhm?" Athena said not looking up from the plans.
Aphrodite rolled her eyes. No one could tear Athena away from her work, not even the most gorgeous of the gods. Aphrodite was determined to be the first.
Aphrodite walked over to Athena's desk and sat on top of it, crossing her legs, cupping her head in her chin.
"What are you up to?" Aphrodite asked. She normally hated small talk. But she needed a moment to come up with a plan to catch Athena's eye.
"What's it look like Aphrodite? I'm planning." Athena said, still not looking up from her paper.
Aphrodite snatched the paper from the table, crumpled it, and tossed it behind her.
Athena rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Aphrodite! I need that!"
"You deserve a break. We just won a war thanks to your strategies. A break is the least you deserve." she jumped off the table with incredible elegance and sat on the couch. "Come. Join me."
Athena looked at her for a moment with her analyzing eyes. Then she laughed.
Athena picked up her crumpled paper, smoothed it out, and began studying it again.
"I know what you're trying to do Aphrodite. And it's not going to work. I'm not falling for it. I listen to my head. Not my heart. That's how I avoid falling into the enemies hands. Love is weakness. And weakness is an opportunity to overthrow."
Aphrodite forced a smile.
"I'm not trying to do anything. I'm just having a friendly chat with a fellow goddess. Is that not allowed? Is that what's mistaken for flirting these days?" Aphrodite batted her eyes and smiled innocently.
But of course, Athena was paying no attention.
Aphrodite huffed.
Good thing she brought backup.
Aphrodite channeled her power of emotions and desire through her belt. It released a small burst of pink light that lit up the room.
When the light vanished, Athena turned around.
Her eyes were no longer the striking gray that they normally were. They were now a dusty rose color.
Aphrodite smiled with achievement. The dusty rose eyes meant her belt had worked. She had finally managed to subdue one of the strongest goddesses on Mount Olympus. Something no one ever could.
What now? She didn't think she could get this far. She decided to take advantage of this opportunity and run with it.
She walked over and sat on Athena's desk once more.
This time, Athena disregarded her work and looked into Aphrodite's eyes.
Aphrodite smiled, triumphantly, pulled Athena close, and kissed her.
Athena, still under Aphrodite's spell, obliged. She leaned into the kiss. It lasted a good while.
Somehow, Athena had Aphrodite standing on her feet as they kissed. Athena pulled her closer and ran her hands through her hair.
This went to Aphrodite's head. She was caught up in the fact she was able to overpower the goddess of wisdom.
Suddenly, she was knocked to the ground.
The wind was knocked out of her. She was disoriented. When she looked up, Athena was standing over her, her eyes back to their dazzling gray color.
Aphrodite struggled to her feet.
Athena had grabbed her spear and flipped Aphrodite to the ground, once more. Aphrodite now had a spear point under her chin.
"Never. And I mean NEVER try to use your powers on me again. You WILL regret it." Athena said with such authority that it made Aphrodite nervous. "You know I've pledged to be a virgin goddess. And nothing is going to change that. Not even the goddess of love and lust."
Aphrodite gulped.
"You know you enjoyed it, just a little." Aphrodite said, smiling seductively.
Athena snorted.
"You are unbelievable. I should run you through with my spear right here, right now." Athena growled.
"But you won't."
"Looks like mind wins over love after all, Aphrodite. Better luck with someone else. Try Ares. He's a hot head. Anything flares his ego.
You smile at him and he's ready to pounce like a hungry lion."
Athena removed her spear from Aphrodite's throat.
Athena helped Aphrodite to her feet.
She brushed off her toga and was heading for the door when Athena called back at her.
"It was a really great kiss, though, Aphrodite." Athena said, winking.
Aphrodite rolled her eyes.
"Apparently not good enough for you to forsake your pledge." Aphrodite said.
"Close. But no cigar." Athena said smiling, slightly. "Next time you try that on me, I will kill you."
Aphrodite rolled her eyes.
She went back to the throne room and told the other Olympians what had just happened. She was sure to leave out the part about being flipped to the ground and being rejected.
She did, after all, have a reputation to uphold.
The other Olympians stared at her in amazement.
"You mean you nearly seduced the goddess of wisdom and battle strategy and didn't die?!" Apollo asked.
Aphrodite shrugged, admiring her pink nails.
"Yep. It wasn't that hard. No one can resist my charms." she said, flipping her curly blonde hair over her shoulder.
"You have to teach me your ways!" Apollo said. "Athena's turned me down once. Preposterous! I know."
"Sorry, lover boy. I don't kiss and tell." She whispered, winking, running her fingertips along his jaw line as she walked away.
Aphrodite looked towards Athena's cabin.
She would always remember Athena as the one who got away. The one she could never deceive. But of course, no one else needed to know that.
It was their little secret. One that will be kept for all eternity