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If Nemesis was anything, soft would never be used to describe her. She was anything but that.
The bringer of Retribution could not be seen even in her worst state going against her nature, a battle-hardened, cold, monster of a woman who would hear nothing of mortal softness. How they clung to people like lifelines, the way they would spend their pitiful, short existences following a dull routine of marriage, forming a family. Some of them didn’t, but their expectations…
It was nothing like her.
A life partner was not something the Gods typically chose. Very few settled down, and even then they weren’t known for their loyalty to their wed. Take the King of the Gods himself, old Mr. Lightning Bolt Zeus. He was married to Queen Hera, a patron goddess of the very act of marriage itself, though the tales that circulated the ears of not just the immortal, but mortals included, spoke not much of monogamy. The others certainly weren’t a consensual venture that Hera allowed.
Then there was Aphrodite, and her husband Hephaestus. The Goddess of Love and all things included had settled down with a man too. However, stories still spun. It seemed Aphrodite had a taste for war and bloodshed, too.
Nemesis wasn’t a fan of that idea. Being bound that way.
She had tried a relationship once, that being something relationship-adjacent with Artemis. They’d meet sometimes, blow off some steam, and then avoid each other like the plague. It was recent that they broke things off without really saying it to each other, though Nemesis didn’t feel much of an absence when it was over.
And then the Princess started acting differently.
Melinoë had always been a thorn in Nemesis’ side, ever since she was tasked with standing watch at the Crossroads while a Goddess who had practically just started existing by Godly standards ran off every night to defeat the Titan of Time himself. It wasn’t fair.
Who was she to take what should’ve been her job? All because Hecate decided so. Most nights, she didn’t even make it to Tartarus. She would return to shadow and wake up in her tent, confiding in her oversized frog familiar and running about the Crossroads handing out Nectar and Ambrosia and having pointless conversations with those around her. One of them, being Nemesis herself.
The first time, Melinoë had approached her with an almost apologetic demeanour, asking if they could “start again” as if they’d been through a bad breakup. Sure, they didn’t spar as much anymore, but that was because the younger goddess had started on her task. They had no time to talk, and regardless, Nemesis didn’t know if she wanted to talk to her.
“Don’t need your charity, Princess, or temptations while I’m on duty or off. You’re doing this because you want something from me anyway, so here! Knock yourself out.” She had said, handing Melinoë her Evil Eye. The way it worked was it would keep track of whatever enemy last thwarted her, and in an act of retribution, Melinoë would hit much harder against the same enemy the next time. Give them a taste of her suffering in return.
Melinoë seemed thankful at that, at least. She called her that sickeningly friendly nickname, “Nem,” and left her alone afterwards.
Then it happened again.
And again.
She lost track, eventually, of how many gifts Melinoë was showering her with. Of course, it wasn’t just Nemesis she was spending time with. Oh, no. She seemed to have grown quite fond of Moros, Nemesis’ brother. He looked at her with a sort of admiration you would see from a smitten mortal, but he disguised it well under his poise.
One day, the saffron-dressed goddess approached her with a different gift, a small glass bottle filled with pleasant-smelling bath salts. She had renewed the hot spring that once flowed long ago when Nemesis had not yet arrived at the Crossroads, and Melinoë was still a mere child.
Retribution Incarnate remained skeptical, though over the past few encounters with Melinoë, it was hard to deny her presence failed to bring out the same sense of loathing it once did. With a sarcastic comment and a nudge from the other, they made their way over to the lush waters.
Gods didn’t have the same sense of shame that mortals did, in regard to the exposure of their bodies and the like. It was common for worshippers down in the world of humans to depict their images unclothed or covered only in certain areas deemed too sensitive. So why was this simple act of undressing in front of another immortal, a woman like her on top of it all, bringing an embarrassed flush to Nemesis’ cheeks? She brushed it off, discarding her heavy armour and shrugging off the metal plates, before pulling down her crimson dyed chiton.
Nemesis averted her eyes, stepping into the pool with a relieved sigh, the heat bringing comfort to her tense muscles. Melinoë slipped in beside her, and they talked while the steam rose into the air.
Such encounters like this were something Nemesis began to grow used to, and she found herself almost enjoying when the blonde goddess was around, whether it be meeting by chance at nighttime in the thick forests of Erebus, the gloomy, damp atmosphere of Oceanus, or the Fields of Mourning, or those short moments in which Melinoë would stop by to chat with her. It wasn’t so unwelcome now.
It became an issue, eventually. Like most good things did.
Being Retribution Incarnate meant avoiding excess. Only permitting herself the good when she felt it was deserved. Otherwise, she would have to bring it upon herself to punish those acts of indulgence, and Melinoë wasn’t exactly making it easy to steer clear.
She found herself growing unprofessional, not landing hits that even the most inexperienced of people could manage. Her pale golden eyes seemed to follow that ghostly woman, the way she nimbly slashed her way through the hordes of monsters, the way she spoke, her demeanour, her appearance…
“…I broke a sweat? I broke a sweat. That never happens, those were weaklings, I…oh damn…” Nemesis cursed to herself, her back turned until she felt a cold hand on her arm.
“What’s the matter Nem, are you all right? Our foes may have resorted to using poisons and such, if I could look at any superficial wounds…”
Her voice was so caring.
“Don’t touch me!” She snapped. “It’s not that. Now get on with it.”
“Hey…”
Nemesis hurried off after that. Her head spiralled. Her never-weakening heart beat in a way she wasn’t used to. She began to think, think of somebody else in a way she hadn’t thought before.
It wasn’t long before those thoughts consumed her, distracted her. In a way, it was frustrating.
So, when she next encountered Melinoë…
“Not quite as comfortable as being in the springs, is it, Princess? And can be solitary work at that.”
“It needn’t be, but you refused back when I suggested we could go together through these depths. Now having second thoughts?” Melinoë inquired, with a tilt of her head.
Nemesis balled up her fists ever-so-slightly.
“Been having thoughts, but of a different kind.” She managed. “You got into my head. I want you out. You always tried distracting me back when we sparred and now, you made it worse.”
“What are you talking about, what did I do…? Oh…”
The gears seemed to turn in the younger goddess’s head.
“…by having thoughts you mean…feelings. So what now…?” She twiddled her thumbs, her ghostly arm providing a soft bluish-green light between the two of them.
“Don’t know yet, but…well we could stay here a bit, till enough is enough. Since it’s quiet. Not binding you, just…too much solitude lately, and want to even it all out.” Nemesis murmured, feeling uncharacteristically shy. The words felt foreign in her mind, however much it spun in this moment.
Melinoë seemed to think it over for a second, then smiled.
“…Even it all out…well if we’re to make ourselves comfortable and stay quiet, then your armour has to go. Why don’t I lend a hand with that, and then we’ll go from there?” Her voice carried an almost inviting tone.
Nemesis swallowed.
“Look for a clasp right here at the small of my back…”
With delicate fingers, Melinoë carefully removed the retribution goddess’s armour, the pieces falling into the grass. They found themselves tangled together, closer than either could’ve imagined, with a sober mind or not.
Their time together seemed almost like a dream, warm skin against skin, soft gasps and sounds echoing throughout the Erebus chamber. It was a shame when they clambered off of each other, the act of putting clothes back on far more time consuming than getting them on the floor.
“…Well your armour’s definitely harder to put back on, but we got there. You alright, Nem? The distraction gone away at least…?” Melinoë’s voice was calming and quiet, her cheeks tinged with a rosy pink, her blonde hair visibly messy.
“Think so, and yeah, I’m better now. I’m good. What about you, are you…I mean…” Nemesis almost stumbled over her words, wondering if she had spent enough time winding down from the pleasure of it all with her.
“I’m also good! This was a thrill…! We ought be on assignment, not alleviating solitude, but…you’d know better than anyone whether this was too much.”
“Was just enough for now. Should get going, though could always do this again should the need arise.”
They said their goodbyes, and Nemesis rushed through the gates to the next chambers of Erebus, her body warm and smelling of the girl she once swore she despised.
They were lovers now, weren’t they?
It felt so odd. Daunting, even.
Time passed as usual after that, and their night together wasn’t the last. One of these such nights, they had decided to go somewhere more comfortable to spend those moments together, and found themselves in the cozy space of Melinoë’s tent. Her considerably strange shade roommate, Dora, had gone who-knows-where, perhaps to go and bother Nemesis’ brother about his antlers, so they were alone, thank the Gods. She had heard all too well of that shade’s snooping abilities.
The younger goddess swiftly removed Nemesis’ armour, as well as her own pieces that hardly qualified in Retribution Incarnate’s eyes, falling back onto her quilt and soft pillows, patting the space beside her invitingly.
Nemesis shrugged, and rested beside her, blinking when the blonde took it upon herself to use her chest as a pillow. “Surely the actual pillow is more comfortable, Princess? Or are you trying to get a rise out of me?”
“Perhaps.” She grinned. “I might just enjoy being close to you, have you thought of that?”
“Eh, I don’t get it.” Nemesis dismissed her, trying to avoid her face heating up.
“Oh, come on, Nem…we’re alone here, aren’t we? You don’t need to put up that front of being all gruff and devoid of affection.”
“It’s usually best I do.” She spoke simply, not meeting eyes with the girl resting on her.
Melinoë raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t indulge too much. You know this by now, how many times will I say it…? Too much of a good thing, and I have to make up for it. It’s better I stay this way. Anyway, you know I don’t do soft.”
“You could. And…for the record, I don’t think you’re indulging. You took almost that entire horde last we were out there. I stood no chance! Surely that’s cause for a bit of a reward?” She brushed her finger gently over Nemesis’ toned arm idly as she talked, her voice sweet as honey.
“I took your money as prize, didn’t I? There. Exchange done.”
Melinoë sighed, a hint of a grumble in her vocalisation.
“Then…how about we do it the other way around? You have a nice night with me, and…then make up for it later? Help me out?”
“As if. Regardless, isn’t this “helping you out” in another way?” The corners of her mouth twitched up into a half-smile.
Melinoë blushed, but shook her head and continued.
“I take the lead once in a while too. You seem to enjoy it.”
“Shut up…”
The younger goddess frowned.
“So…what exactly are we doing here in my tent, Nem? If you won’t allow any sort of “indulgence.” She said while holding up quotation marks.
Nemesis groaned, rolling over onto her front, giving Melinoë only a split second to scramble away before she was crushed by her sheer size. She prodded her, pushing a strand of night-black hair behind her ear and staring at her with those beautiful mismatched eyes of ruby and emerald.
“Nem…”
“Princess.”
“…if you don’t want to, it’s okay. Spending time with you like this is still nice.” She gave her a reassuring smile, resting her head in her arms as she gazed at the imposing woman before her.
“…no, I…damn it.” Nemesis pushed her hair back with a hand, taking a breath. She rolled onto her side, finally meeting eyes with her lover. “I do…it’s just hard.”
“Hard? Do you want to talk about it?” It wasn’t exactly normal for Nemesis to talk about things like feelings, but she would give it a shot if she could.
“Do you know me at all?” She let out a bitter laugh, but it softened into something fonder. “…maybe, I dunno.”
“Is it because you can’t indulge too much? I mean, I know that’s one of the reasons, but…does it maybe go deeper, or? Sorry, I’m not too good at this stuff either. Not exactly a therapist.”
“Hah! Don’t sweat it.” Nemesis paused. “I guess it’s just how I am. I’m not exactly what you’d call “soft.””
“No.”
“So you agree?”
“Well, yeah. You’re mean, violent, pessimistic…”
Here we go…guess it’s warranted.
“…but don’t think I forgot how gentle you were with me, that night in Erebus. When you told me how you were feeling…sort of. In your own “Nem” way.”
“Gentle?”
“Mhm. Is your memory playing up? It didn’t feel real, but…you were so careful with me. I always expected- well, not that I frequently imagined us in those situations…or imagined them at all…!” Melinoë sputtered, her face going utterly red. “Anyway! What I meant to say, was that I thought an encounter with you in that way would be…I don’t know, rough. It’s not that you don’t give me some of that energy now, but…you knew to be slow. It felt like you were holding me as if I was the most precious thing in the world, and how…almost shy you seemed. I liked it. Who says you can’t be that way again?”
Nemesis took a moment. She swallowed.
“Like I said, I was distracted. And I didn’t want to hurt you, for once. It’s not telling of my nature at all, that I can suddenly be soft. But, er…appreciate the compliment, Melinoë.”
“I like when you say my name.”
“…right.”
“Carry on!”
“Listen, I just…it’s difficult for me. If you want something more sweet, why not go to Moros? Or that winged shade Icarus who you seem to have wrapped around your finger?”
“Because I want you, Nem.”
The goddess felt her heart skip a beat at those words, and she let out a deep exhale.
“You really are something, huh…?”
“Heh. Maybe. Will you try? For me? Just…us. Here. Like this. We don’t have to think about our task. Let me feel how warm you can be, how you held me before.” Melinoë whispered, bringing her toned but slim arms loosely around Nemesis’ shoulders.
“…I’ll try. For you, Princess.” She decided. “But don’t expect this to be every time. Too much of a good thing, remember?”
“Yes, I remember. Now stop with that already, Nem.”
She laughed, lying on her back once again, effortlessly lifting Melinoë onto her chest, pulling a blanket over the both of them. Melinoë leaned down, taking Nemesis’ chin delicately in her fingers, pressing a kiss to her purple-coloured lips, letting out a sound of delight as the action was reciprocated, muscular arms coming up to hold her.
Their kiss was different than most they shared, save from heat and built-up frustration. It was sweet, lingering, the kind mortal couples would share. For once, Nemesis felt as if she could get used to being so similar to humans and their ways of love.
Was it love? She hadn’t thought of it much before. Those three words had never been spoken between either of them, it felt too much considering what they had was mostly hidden from others, whether it be due to preference or keeping it from their peers. She didn’t think they went deep enough to call it that. She knew it didn’t. Maybe it was her fault, or the fact Melinoë wasn’t some smitten mortal. Nor was she. But the way she talked to that shade…
Not now.
The nightmare goddess giggled, caressing Nemesis’ cheek with such adoration the other knew she was not worthy of.
“Nem…you know, you really are pretty.”
“Quit it with the flattery.”
“What did we say? Try…”
“…okay. Uh…thanks, Princess. Not too bad yourself.”
Melinoë laughed. “Sorry. You’re getting there.”
Wrapping her arms tightly around her, she pressed back into the kiss, affection pouring out of her mouth in the form of whispered compliments and confessions, all to further drive her intimidating lover into becoming more flustered.
They spun around, Nemesis bringing Melinoë’s body close to her chest as she trailed warm kisses down the side of her neck, drawing out soft noises from the woman.
“Nem…”
“I know, Princess…”
She pulled the blankets further over the two of them, enveloping them in warmth and shade.
~*~*~
When they slumped back into bed, breathless and flushed, Nemesis remained silent, Melinoë stretching out her body and getting ready to have a well-earned sleep.
Nemesis didn’t protest when she used her chest as a pillow again, instead reaching out her hand to play with her hair, much to her delight. Melinoë was warm, especially with the heat emitting from her fiery legs enveloping them both underneath the blanket.
“…shall we rest, Nem? We have time.”
“I don’t see why not.”
“Mm. Goodnight, then, if we can really say that down here. I love you, Nemesis.”
Nemesis froze.
“Wha- don’t just say that! It’s not even- it doesn’t- no you don’t.”
“I just said it.”
“That’s-“
“Don’t protest.”
“Ugh…fine…don’t expect me not to demand an explanation as soon as we aren’t exhausted, though.”
Melinoë simply chuckled.
Retribution Incarnate decided then and there, maybe this one indulgence…it was okay.