For the love of the Gods

Buffy sat at a long table in Artemis’s chambers toying with a small piece of melon, every now and then she would peek up to catch a glance at the Goddess, Artemis hadn’t been able to sit still for long once Apollo had left.

Buffy watched in amusement as the Goddess constantly was in motion, whether it was ordering around her nymphs or when Pan, Kits older brother came to play a song on his lyre, the Goddess was always moving.

Now the Goddess was reclining on her couch while Kit told her about that nights hunt. Buffy was surprised when she saw genuine warmth in Artemis’s golden eyes. ‘So…the Goddess did have a heart.’ Buffy was jolted out of her musings when she realized Kit was saying her name.

“What? “ Buffy asked, smiling at Kit when the younger woman held up an ivory flute.

“Look what Artemis made me. See it’s just like Pans.” Kit said excitedly, leaping from the couch and making her way over to Buffy in two long strides. Buffy smiled and took the flute and gently turned it over.

The polished ivory was carved with small images of demons and satyrs.

“Its beautiful, Goddess made this?” Buffy asked, surprised she looked over and met the Goddess’s eyes.

Unsurprisingly the Goddess seemed to be looking everywhere but at the pair, looking back at the flute Buffy handed it back over to Kit. “It really is a beautiful gift.”

“Yea it really is…I’m going to go show Theron.” Kit said excitedly, turning the young satyr ran from the room. Buffy smiled and turned to see that Artemis was watching her intently.

“Why do you look at me like that?” Buffy asked, it was stupid that she was stuck here but if she was she could at least attempt some semblance of a conversation with the Goddess.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about slayer.”

“Buffy, my name is Buffy.”

“I know your name. Why did you touch me?” Artemis asked, curiosity had finally gotten the better of her and she had to know.

“Touch you? When?”

“In Bacchus’s cavern, you held my hand…why?” Artemis asked softly. Buffy was somewhat surprised that Artemis was asking her about that but still…

“You looked about ready to rip his head off….rightfully so; I just…wanted you to calm down some.” Buffy shrugged. “It was no big deal.”

Artemis nodded and looked away, “You don’t have to stay here if you don’t want too…I wont tell Apollo.” Artemis smiled softly, nearly knocking Buffy out of her chair, she hadn’t even been sure the Goddess knew the entire concept of humor.

“If you’d like me to leave…”

“I don’t care what you do.” Artemis snapped, turning away growing angry again that she actually cared what this mortal felt or thought of her.

“Okay…then ill leave, sees what Kit and Theron are up too.” Buffy said softly, standing she started to leave when she turned and looked back at the Goddess. “You’re lonely aren’t you?”

Artemis spun around and glowered at the slayer. “I am Goddess, I am never alone mortal.”
“Just because you live forever…doesn’t mean you aren’t lonely.” Buffy said softly. “I know what it’s like…to be so alone in the world…to have no one even when you’re surrounded by people that adore you.”

“I am Goddess; I have no need for…such mortal things as loneliness.” Artemis snapped standing suddenly she stalked over to Buffy and glared down at the blonde. “You are my responsibility, all slayers in the entire world in all time. I watch over them just as I always have. I have family in Olympus, my brother, the satyrs…I have no need for…friends or love.”

“You did once.” Buffy said softly, all the while her mouth seemed to be saying the stupidest things her mind wasn’t letting her stop.

Neither was expecting the resounding slap that echoed through the room when Artemis struck her. Buffy’s hand went to her cheek and she backed away from the Goddess. Artemis looked more shocked than Buffy felt, the Goddess stepped back and her eyes seemed fixed on her hand, as if she had had no control.

“Get out.” Artemis whispered, looking up she saw Buffy glaring at her as if she had the ability to combust Artemis into flames.

“You. Hit. Me.” Buffy growled, her shock was wearing off and now she was pissed. “I’m sorry if everyone else around here gives you a wide berth and ignoring the fact that your lonely and pissed as hell at the world over something that happened a million years ago and I’m sorry about Velma, really am. I don’t know what happened and I don’t want to know what I want is to actually enjoy heaven! I spent ALL my life protecting everyone and never doing anything, the one person I really loved I couldn’t be with cause oh yea…if we had sex he’d go evil but hey…its life. So deal with it.”

Artemis was taken aback, no one not even Apollo had ever spoken to her like that. Torn between shock and utter indignation Artemis realized that the slayer was right…she didn’t know everything though.

Didn’t know that Artemis had kept the shell of Velma safely tucked away for an eon. Strangely Velma was no where near her thoughts at the moment.

Without quite realizing what she was doing Artemis grasped Buffy’s shoulders and leaned down, softly kissing the slayers lips. Buffy stiffened momentarily before carefully wrapping her arms around Artemis’s neck; standing on the tips of her feet Buffy depended the kiss and was thrilled when Artemis allowed her probing tongue entrance.

Moaning softly Artemis wound her hand up into Buffy’s hair, heady with lust Artemis pulled back and stared down into Buffy’s eyes, the green color had darkened and the mortal’s cheeks were flushed. As she was about to bend down again and kiss the blonde. Buffy placed a halting hand on Artemis’s shoulder.

Artemis pulled back, surprised. “What is it?”

“What…what are you doing?”

“Kissing you.” Artemis said softly. Buffy stepped back.

“No, your not.” Buffy said firmly forcing herself to stare at the Goddess in the eye.

“Well no not at the moment, if you’d stop talking…” Artemis smiled gently before moving towards the slayer, after nearly an eternity of celibacy feeling lust again was heady and scary but a strangely welcome experience.

“No, I don’t…not without love and you don’t love me.”

“No I don’t but I think I like you, you certainly amuse me and are more honest than my own twin.” Artemis shrugged, still determined to stop being afraid of her passions and simply embrace it.

“You…no Artemis, you’ll have to force me. I won’t do this willingly.” Buffy said sternly, stepping farther away from Artemis’s tempting warmth and crossing her arms.

“You…I wont force you slayer. If you detest me that much be gone.” Artemis snapped, highly offended that Buffy would even bring rape into the discussion. Without thinking she magically propelled the slayer from her temple.

**************************

Buffy landed heavily on the ground outside of the temple, groaning she looked up and cursed softly under her breath as she stood and began walking away from the temple, stopping long enough to kick Artemis’s damned fountain. Hissing when the limestone painfully smashed her toes she turned and walked determined away from the temple and the Goddess as fast as she could.

Once she broke through the brush she began walking blindly through the foliage looking up only whenever she wanted to orient herself. Somehow instinctively she knew exactly where she was and where exactly every other slayer and creature in this forest was.

Smiling she quietly brought up a memory of Theron; suddenly she knew exactly where the centaur was.

Smiling she began walking in the direction that her new little homing device told her. After nearly an hour she found a small river and by the embankment was the mouth of a cave and Theron. Laid down on her side, her equestrian half was folded carefully while her human half was busily making arrows.

“Having fun?” Buffy asked after a moment of staring at the dark haired beauty. Startled Theron nearly sliced her hand when the slayer spoke so suddenly.

“I am now, please come sit with me.” Theron smiled and gestured to a small wooden chair beside her. “Kit just left awhile ago, have you seen Artemis’s gift to her?”

“yes I did, its very generous.” Buffy said, coming around the small campfire and sitting beside the centaur.

“Yes, Artemis is a fair God. She is no Aphrodite but then again…that woman changes fancies like the wind.”

Buffy smiled with Theron, not certain what the centaur meant by that but the sight of Theron’s pearly teeth and faint dimples made Buffy’s stomach flips spastically.

“So…where does everyone sleep?” Buffy asked. Theron smiled kindly at her and shrugged.

“The slayers have there own villages mostly, there are twelve separate villages throughout the forests. It’s a little late to go there tonight, your welcome to stay here if you’d like.” Theron reached behind her and pulled out a chunk of dried meat.”I have fish.” Theron said as if that were the deciding factor.

Suddenly Buffy laughed as she remembered a dirty lesbian joke Willow had told her once about fish.

Theron frowned in confusion and studied the small blonde human. It was unusual that she could be so attracted to the slayer but she was. She did know why affairs between centaurs and humans rarely worked; humans were just so puritan at times.

“I think ill take you up on your offer. Do you want help?” Buffy asked, pointing to the arrow in Therons hand.

“No, I’m about to finish up actually. I was going to bathe, would you like to join me?”

Theron smiled charmingly and Buffy just couldn’t find it in her to say no.

“Yes id love too.”

TBC
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