above all things, hera knew this: nemesis would never mislead her, not even so much as a little white lie to placate her or spare her agony. with her, she had been promised a refreshing privilege zeus scarcely offered; truth, untainted by sentiment, just as it was. so when her girlfriend swore blind that the sick horror show of the past day was real and not some illusory living nightmare, it was a breath-stealing blow to the chest, pained gasp sucking air into her throat. they’d thought it a prank … she’d let out sardonic laughter, proclaimed his joke as thrillingly funny and that he could get up, now. when she cried, held her daughter so tight to her chest out of simultaneous comfort and fear of losing her too, she couldn’t help but think: are you happy now, zeus? is this punishment enough for you, are you done?
( he wasn’t done — well, he was, but he was just dead. and that never ends. death merely goes on, and on, into forever, death the beginning of the finite grief of the living until they too come to its waiting jaws. another thing that hadn’t changed, and wouldn’t changed. so that was two: one dreaded, one precious. )
she offered the same nemesis always gave: the truth, even if they both already knew it. ‘ no. i felt too sick. maybe i still do, but i’ll try… ’ her fingers grazed her chin, a soft and momentary kiss pressed to her lips, ‘ for you. ’
hebe … oh, her precious daughter. the guilt came flooding in, tears sprung afresh to her eyes and spilling free; before she knew it, she’s shaking with the force of it all.
‘ i put up with his shit for years, baby, but i’ve never— ’ her grip was tight on her girlfriend’s clothing, but never on her skin. ‘ never felt this useless, this inadequate, not with all that he said to me. all i can think is, i couldn’t protect her. isn’t that the one thing i’m supposed to do? the way she screamed, i hear it whenever it’s too quiet, and i think … what if i can’t protect her again, and she gets hurt, or she— ’
the sentence proved impossible to finish.
when esme got sick, rosalie learned to listen, something she hadn’t done much of in the past. she genuinely loved her sister and wanted to help, as they all did, but months into it, she realized that no one knew more of what esme needed than themself. they would all try, but they never really knew. so, lee learned to shut up and listen. this was different, naturally, but the same applied. lee would and could never know exactly how hera was feeling in this moment so the best she could do was listen. “ it’s okay. we can save it for dinnertime. small steps. ” she returned hera’s kiss, reassuring her that she wasn’t going anywhere. they could take their time.
“ hey - hey, hey, hey...baby, this is not your fault. her seeing that? there’s no way you could’ve known. no way. ” lee held her love tighter, if that were even possible, and soothingly ran her hand along her back. “ this is not your fault. ”
“ and i can guarantee you, ” pulling away just enough for hera to see the intense gravity by which she said this, “ you and hebe are safe. i, personally, will keep guard and i’ve got friends who’ll help if you want. good friends - people we can trust. ” it was an offer, but if hera said no, she’d probably do it anyways. the only time she’d go against her wishes. “ whoever did this to you is going to pay, i promise you, and you know i don’t make promises lightly. we’ll catch them, and they’ll pay in whatever way you deem fit. ” she hadn’t read much mythology, living in the human world, but what she did know was that her girlfriend was a badass who’d dole out a better punishment than anyone else would, plus, it’s the least she deserved.
