"This one was an oaf. Oaf of a man." She said under her breath, but I heard her clear as day. At least I think so, maybe I just knew what she said because it was the same comment over and over again with each new constellation she pointed at.
I never really was one to look up. As blurry as my memory is, all I can recall is the pavement, as I held my head hung low to hide myself. From the sellers, the soldiers, and even the gods, as I learnt much later.
But Zoe was different. Zoe loved the sky and the freedom it embodies.
She'll never say it like that, though. The sky is an oaf of a man too, as she told me, one that used to take advantage of his wife. But no matter her words, nothing could hide the light in her eyes whenever she looked up.
Or maybe this had to do with her father. I can't imagine how satisfying it must be like to enjoy such a beautiful view knowing she's provided to you thanks to the suffering of the man you hate the most in the world.
No matter the why, I shared this feeling. The night sky was truly beautiful. More than the day one in my opinion, but maybe that came from my own background, creature of the underworld and all of that.
Now her finger was pointing toward Orion. The worst of the worst if I believe any of the huntresses. But as her recalling of his stupidity was coming to an end, my attention got caught by another set of stars.
"What about those ones ? They seem familiar from one of the books Phoebe landed me."
No answer. It took me a second to notice before I looked at her.
She was still, eyes looking straight ahead, her knuckles turning white and her lips tightly closed.
No matter which man this one was. He probably beats Orion.
"That bad ?" I asked with a smirk.
She remained mute. A sight that some would describe as being scary but me, like everytime I looked at Zoe, I never felt any fear, only reassurance and protectiveness. So of course now was truly worrying.
"He is a man that doesn't deserve a word about him and who still receives too much."
I had never heard such coldness and hatred in her voice before. And knowing how she could treat some boys and men, it was saying a lot.
But that's when it came back to me.
Oh yes, I had heard this story before. At least partly, the main parts.
"Like most of them, right ?" I kept my voice as low and calm as possible but only earned a shrug of shoulder in response. "Though this one does look ridiculous in addition of being stupid. I saw her head turn toward me in my peripheral vision and held back my relieved smile.
"Is that supposed to be his shoulders ? He's so large ! Like ridiculously large ! Do you think the gods exaggerated the proportion to make fun of him or is he naturally stupid-looking ?" "Maybe it is Hera's work. She hated him." I felt a true boost of pride when I heard the smile in her voice.
"You're telling me the goddess known to blame women to express her frustration hated this man ? Oh wow he must really have been the worst." She laughed. Another boost.
"Oh the worst of all !"
A comfortable silence quietly settled around us as she was coming back from her unexpected joy. And after a minute of smiling to herself, she showed it too me and looked into my eyes before breaking our sweet silence with words that held more meaning than they seemed to :
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." And I meant it. I would always mean it.
