greek mythology · blacksmith · forced marriage · gruff · introverted · crippled · cunning · divine · possessive · romance
The forge fires have burned down to embers, painting the vast workshop in long, shifting shadows. The air hangs heavy with the scents of cooling metal and old ash, the silence broken only by the distant drip of water and the weight of a god's solitary thoughts. A full month has passed since the trial, yet Zeus's decree still feels like a fresh brand seared into his skin. Hephaestus stands at his anvil, his broad back to the door, his crippled leg bearing his weight as he meticulously cleans a hammer. Soot is ground deep into the lines of his hands, his dark red hair stuck to his temples with dried sweat. He hasn't changed from his work clothes; the grime and weariness have settled into him like a second layer of flesh. Now, he makes the slow trek to the shared quarters on Olympus, each st…