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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Lore Olympus is owned by Rachael Smythe.

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Chapter 3: Big Golden Gaze

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I'll be honest. My current punishment- it ain't that bad.

I didn't mention this to Demeter as I knew that would just be plain disrespectful and quite the suicidal move from my part. Working the field, helping around and getting paid in having a shelter, a warm meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and also the chance of being alive. Yep, that was a good deal for me, especially because of my current situation. But I could tell that even though I was sure Demeter and I had no reason to be hostile, the goddess seemed upset about me.

Maybe I was looking too deep into this and... maybe I was actually right. I couldn't just tell, and Hecate, being the one that stuck around the most second only to Kore was clueless about what was up. Speaking of Hecate, the woman was intrigued by me. I was an anomaly through and through and her questions were somewhat 'tentative' and rather restrained at times. Either because she didn't want to 'spoil the fun' or because she could already tell that some of the answer I had weren't going to tickle her right.

Also, did I mention that she has this interest on me as a person? I doubt it was just out of physical attraction, but she was extremely flirtatious after I got freed. Like, a lot. Not to the point it got too intense, but she patted my butt way more than a normal friend should. Had it been a normal individual, that hand would have been removed from that arm. I was fine with the 'big butt' jig, but groping was no-no if you were within my power's reach. And I was in no rush to risk it against a goddess. It was tame so... I guess it was fine?

Plus, Hecate answered as many questions I replied to hers, and I could tell she wasn't lying. So, situation in 'Heaven' is pretty much the same as usual. Three big bosses, one in 'Hell', one ruling the fishies and the other thundering men and 'thundering' women much to his wife's eternal chagrin. Most Gods I knew where there and... the 'non-mortal' zones (AKA Mt. Olympus and the Underworld) seemed to be fairly modern compared to how they should be.

So yeah, I was now given a small hut, some stuff to survive, and I was told to work while interacting the least with the others until given permission to. But where I was handled restrictions, someone else found it impossible to follow her own mother's rules due to how unique of a situation I represented by my presence alone.

"John?" A familiar pink individual asked, dangling from a low tree's branch. "How was your Sicily?"

I hummed. "'My' Sicily? Well, do you have anything in particular that you wanted to know?"

"Is it as green as it is now? Or is it greener?"

My lips twitched at that, knowing that the answer wasn't going to be as pleasant as she would have wanted.

"I would say less than now."

"Less?" Kore pressed on with a confused tone. "John, what do you mean less? Mortals can cut down forests, but we build more than they can destroy them."

"Well, mortals learned how to get wood faster and clear up space for cities. Thus, forests couldn't outmatch progress."

"That's... horrible."

I couldn't agree more to that, yet her upset was a tad bit more than mine. And I didn't even mention pollution. I doubt the girl was planning to hear anything worse than that, and I just didn't want to poke bad at the girl. She was really trying to be friendly despite how crappy her effort currently was.

"But we also found other lands with other plants and trees and fruits," I remarked mirthfully, my admission instantly getting the girl's attention.

"Really?"

"Yep. We had one thing in particular that came to Sicily. It was a red vegetable which juice was a delicious ingredients to use for food," I elaborated calmly, ignoring the fact she was gasping and giving me those cute big eyes that were pressing me to tell her everything about it. "We called it 'Pomidoro'."

"Golden Apple?" Kore repeated with a frown. "But if it is red-"

"It's the meaning behind its introduction. It became staple for Sicilian cuisine and a good part of dishes are tied to this particular juice."

"You... you are not lying to me, right?"

I frowned at that. "What?"

"I mean- how do I know you're being honest or just teasing me? Ugh, I blame Hecate for being so untrusting of others ever since she pranked me a few times," Kore half-ranted and I snorted in amusement, which prompted a scoff. "It wasn't nice of her-"

"Wasn't it? Being playful isn't a crime, lady."

"But she did that at my expenses," The pink girl rebuked with a frustrated look. "Like, what's the point?"

"Hmm," I took a moment to pause on my work and actually fake-think about it. "Maybe she was trying to get you out of your shell? You're not exactly a confident girl when talking with strangers."

"I did fine with you," Kore reminded to me and I nodded.

"But I was someone that wasn't introduced to you by your mother. In fact, I bet that the very moment you heard she was your mother's friend you took all polite lessons Lady Demeter taught you and implemented it with any interactions."

...

"Yes, I did that. Why is that bad?"

"Not bad, just... awkward. Since I have a bit of a clue on what kind of individual she is, I can tell you she means nothing bad but... she is trying to get to know you. Not 'Kore, daughter to Demeter', but 'Kore, cute girl that is quite lonely and shy'."

She blushed a bit as I used 'cute' to address her. "I'm not that cute."

"Oh please! You're incredibly cute, Kore," I remarked, causing her to giggle.

I thought this would have been it. She went quiet and I was busy dealing with the last weed that I had to remove before having it burn in the proper setting for this process. Then, that silence was broken again.

"...You know, this feels nice."

"What does?" I asked quietly, with Kore humming as she finally jumped off the tree.

"To talk with someone that isn't mom or the nymphs. Is... is it odd for me to say that?" She half-inquired and I sighed.

"Not really. Didn't you tell me you don't have many others to speak with other than your mom and the nymphs?" I pointed out and Kore nodded.

"Yeah, and?"

"And you are just curious. That's pretty normal."

She nodded. "I also... feel safer right now."

I genuinely paused at this, concerned by what she just said. "What?"

"I-It's nothing."

"That didn't sound like a 'nothing'," I pointed out. "Kore-"

"I feel watched," The girl said, her tone going quiet and uneasy. "It's... it's not that bad. But it feels like there is something around that is looking at me."

"Is this something Lady Demeter-"

"She doesn't and... I don't like it. I shouldn't be telling you this but... but I want you to not tell this to my mother."

"I will not tell," I promised, still worrying about what I was hearing. "But still, I can't just let the topic get dropped like that. Is there something you do to... keep that under control?"

"I generally tend to be around others during those times but... hugs work well."

That's good to know. I guess?

"Well, if you feel like you have this thing going again, you are allowed to hug me."

She tilted her head at that. "I mean, I don't exactly feel it while I'm around you."

...

"Really?" I asked, this time my confusion evident in my voice. "You don't feel it at all?"

"Well, part of it I still do, but it's manageable," Kore admitted, then gave me a questioning look. "Can I... try hugging you?"

"...Go for it."

A big grin appeared on her face and the ensuing embrace felt... nice. For a time.

"You smell," She muttered, doing little to move away from me despite her new 'suffering'. I don't know what she was expecting considering the fact that I was still going through some work here that had me sweating a storm after a while. The heat was just being a bitch nowadays...

"And you ain't fresh roses, Kore," I remarked flatly, getting an amused snort from her as we enjoyed the closeness for a while.

There was just something familiar with the interaction and... I couldn't get it through. Dunno why, but I felt like this was 'right' on multiple levels. Yet, much to our combined dismay, Kore had to soon leave because she had work to do and I had to finish my own. There wasn't much left to say and the next few weeks were particularly chill. But as Kore left, I swore I had seen something flash briefly through the trees. Something sinister and... upsetting.

It looked like a yellow eye with a dark iris staring right at me- no, at my soul. One moment it was there, the next one it was gone...


AN

Next up is some interactions with Hecate and... a new Godly friend! Huzzah.

REVIEW Q&A!

Coldblue2015:
1) Can't confirm, nor deny;
2) They will share the bed soon enough;
3) I think that encounter will happen much earlier;
4) Yes;
5) It's the ideal option, but I can't say if this is indeed what will happen.

Monkiepawn: Truth be told, this series does put an effort to show how shitty Zeus is, in fact I would suggest reading the story itself before making any assumptions on people. Zeus is a dick, but Hera is not a saint when it comes to who she really lies. Likewise, Apollo is a far worse prick in this series...

Austin: I have heard of it, but I haven't watched it. I could give it a try once I am done with commissions and this round of ideas I have for story concepts in QQ.