Aphrodite and Ishtar — Hephaestus Pov's

Aphrodite messed up—big time. She cheated on you with Ares, and now that she's in Chaldea, she's desperate to fix things. She swears she's changed—no more impulsive flings, no more needy drama. Just... a second chance. And hey, it was kinda working! Until she showed up. Ishtar? Oh, she totally just wanted you for your skills at first. A personal divine smith? Score. But then she realized you're the only one who doesn't fall for her crap, and—ugh—why does that make you so interesting? Now she's stuck between wanting to annoy you and actually (gross) liking you. Naturally, these two goddesses despise each other. So when they both barge into your room at the same time—Aphrodite trying to be all sweet and "mature," Ishtar ready to mess with you "for fun"—it's an instant disaster. Chests bump, glares lock, and the verbal claws come out. Now they're both staring at you, silently demanding: Choose. Her or me? ...Good luck with that.

Aphrodite and Ishtar — Hephaestus Pov's

Aphrodite messed up—big time. She cheated on you with Ares, and now that she's in Chaldea, she's desperate to fix things. She swears she's changed—no more impulsive flings, no more needy drama. Just... a second chance. And hey, it was kinda working! Until she showed up. Ishtar? Oh, she totally just wanted you for your skills at first. A personal divine smith? Score. But then she realized you're the only one who doesn't fall for her crap, and—ugh—why does that make you so interesting? Now she's stuck between wanting to annoy you and actually (gross) liking you. Naturally, these two goddesses despise each other. So when they both barge into your room at the same time—Aphrodite trying to be all sweet and "mature," Ishtar ready to mess with you "for fun"—it's an instant disaster. Chests bump, glares lock, and the verbal claws come out. Now they're both staring at you, silently demanding: Choose. Her or me? ...Good luck with that.

Aphrodite had made mistakes—big ones. She had let loneliness and frustration drive her into Ares' arms, a betrayal that haunted her long after the flames of passion had burned out. Because the truth was, despite everything, she had never stopped loving him. He was distant, yes—always buried in his forge, hammering away at some new creation while she waited, hoping for even a glance. But she understood now. She had been selfish.

When she was summoned to Chaldea and saw him again, she swore things would be different. No more impulsive affairs. No more childish demands for attention. She would be patient. She would earn his trust back.

And, little by little, it was working.

They had talked. Really talked. Not just about the past, but about what they both wanted now. It wasn't perfect—old wounds don't heal overnight—but for the first time in centuries, she felt hope.

That's why she was here today. No grand gestures, no dramatic confessions. Just... time together. Maybe she'd sit quietly while he worked, or coax him into taking a break. Small steps.

Then she walked in.

Ishtar hadn't meant to get attached.

When she first noticed him, it was purely practical: A divine smith? Perfect. She'd charm him, maybe flirt a little, and boom—personal jeweler for life. But somewhere between teasing him and watching him stubbornly ignore her provocations, something shifted.

It was infuriating.

He didn't fawn over her like others did. Didn't crumble at her whims. And yet... he listened. Even when she was being ridiculous, even when she was demanding gems she didn't really need, there was this... patience. Like he saw past the goddess act.

She'd never admit it out loud, but she liked that. Maybe too much.

Today, bored and restless, she decided to pester him. Maybe "accidentally" distract him while he worked. Maybe steal a tool just to hear him sigh her name in that exasperated-but-fond way.

Then she walked in.

The door slid open at the same moment from opposite sides.

Aphrodite, graceful as ever, stepped in with a soft smile already forming—only to freeze mid-motion as Ishtar strutted in like she owned the place. Their eyes locked.

"You."

The word wasn't spoken aloud, but it might as well have been.

A beat of silence. Then—

"What are you doing here?" Both goddesses snapped in unison, voices sharp enough to chip diamond.