For the love of the Gods

Artemis sat stewing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the vast valleys of her domain. Sighing mournfully she anxiously ran her fingers through her hair and tried to figure out how over the last three days her world had gotten so confusing.

It was the dead of night and despite her own state of denial she knew exactly where Buffy was. Why she cared…that didn’t matter.

Artemis just couldn’t understand it; she had done everything right over all of her existence ever since Velma was called.

She had played the dutiful daughter, patiently awaiting the day that Velma would cross over into her world and they could finally be together. And when she had…all humanity had been beaten out of her from years of slaying…and her very essence had been drawn from her body by five very foolish magi so that the slayer line could continue…Artemis had made certain that those magi knew exactly how she had felt about that particular move.

That had been the beginning of her ‘fall’ as Athena would put it, self righteous bitch. Artemis snarled to herself, she had orchestrated her life exactly as she had pleased since then…she wasn’t foolish. She knew that her family thought her heartless and cold. Maybe she was…but she didn’t much care for there opinions.

Now when she had managed to stay in Zeus’s good graces only by skating the line of what he decreed ‘legal’…she had her forests, she had her duties to the slayers, Apollo, her followers…managing to keep all that in perfect harmony and control until Buffy showed up and stirred the emotions Artemis had prided herself on repressing.

For a fleeting moment Artemis had hoped maybe it was simple lust…but the…remorse she had felt when she flung the slayer from her presence was shocking. Looking to the heavens…

“Apollo” She whispered. A moment later the space beside her shimmered and turned to the shape of her brother sitting beside her in a nearly identical stance.

“Bout time…thought I was going to have to come offer advice.” He playfully scoffed. Turning serious. “What is it sis?”

“I think something’s wrong with me Apollo.” Artemis said mournfully. Without looking she knew the serious glint that was in his eyes.

“Like what? Is it Bacchus?” Apollo asked, only slightly wary he had been found out. If Artemis got wind of his deal with Cupid….holy Hera would she ever skewer him.

“No…I don’t know…you…how did you move on from Daphne?” Apollo visibly winced at the memory of his first love. Daphne had been shot by the arrow of hate when he had crossed Cupid while he was shot with that of love…

“I accepted that she never loved me in the first place…I have loved since then sister, just none that would make me wish to commit myself to them.” Apollo said gently. Idly wondering just how STRONG that arrow had been that Cupid had shot her with? “Is this about Velma?”


“Isn’t it always?” Artemis bit out. “I’m…I’m just so angry Apollo. I’ve always fulfilled my immortal duties and the only one I’ve ever loved was taken from me.” Old anger stirred to life within her, Apollo looked away saddened and weary of the familiar bitterness across her features.

“What was done to Velma was cruel and wrong. And you may always love her Artemis but that doesn’t mean you cant accept a lover or someone else to love.” Apollo carefully leaned away, prepared to teleport back to the safety of his temple if his twin lashed out. Instead…she seemed to deflate and he was shocked to see fat tears roll down her tan cheeks. “…Artie?” Apollo whispered.

Surprised when she leaned into him he automatically wrapped his arms around her shoulders; suddenly very sorry he had made that deal with Cupid. Taking a deep breathe he tightened his hold around her, hoping that maybe finally she was letting go.

Artemis dug her head into his shoulder almost as if that would shield the fact that his ‘Ice Queen’ twin was crying. She whispered something and he pulled back. “What?”
Sniffling Artemis sat straighter, “She touched me”

“Yes she did Artemis, first loves do that.” Apollo said, thinking she meant Velma. Confused when she shook her head and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

“No…Buffy…the new slayer. She…held my hand when I took her from Bacchus.” Artemis whispered.

“Does that shock you?” Apollo asked, wondering how this tied into everything.

“No its just…aside from you…no one has touched me since Velma….at all. I think I miss it.” Artemis admitted, shamefully looking away.

“Do you care for Buffy?” Apollo asked gently, not wanting to push this any further in the slightest.

Artemis limply shrugged her shoulders and then in a move that was very ungodly wiped her nose across the sleeve of her tunic. Apollo tried not to smile at the first show of the real Artemis that he had seen in a millennium.

“I think I do…I kissed her…it didn’t go well.” Artemis said blushing when Apollo snorted.

“How’s that?”

“She…kinda said something about she only does that with mortals she loves and then something about rape that I MIGHT have taken wrong and then…well I sort of flung her out of the temple.” Artemis muttered the last bit and Apollo really did hoped he heard wrong. Fat chance.

“Why?” Apollo leaned back onto his elbows; suddenly glad the four nymphs he’d left in his bed were still sleeping from last nights adventures…this was going to take awhile.

“I don’t know why…I’m god I shouldn’t have to explain myself to her.” Artemis stated as though Apollo asking had been idiotic.

“No but you cant treat a lover like a slave Artemis, do you wish to win Buffy?”

“She’s not…I don’t want to WIN her…I want to see…if I can do it again.”

“What…have sex? Trust me its like riding a bike…or so I hear” Apollo said playfully, laughing when Artemis scoffed and smacked him in the chest.

“NO…I mean I wouldn’t mind seeing if I can care for her.” Artemis said shyly showing Apollo yet another sign of the old Artemis.

Silently he thought ‘you already do sister’ instead he grunted and sat up. “Well then have at it. What do you say we go hunting? You may be Goddess of the hunt but I can still out shoot you.” Apollo watched the competitiveness play across her face before she shook her head and stood up.

“No…I’m going to go find Kit and see if she knows where Buffy went off too.” With that she turned and waived goodbye before vanishing into the air.

Smiling Apollo lay back on the green cliff and smiled up at the sky. Maybe his stupid idea hadn’t been so stupid?

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

Buffy sat beside a warm campfire, leaned back in a centaurs embrace. Since coming back from the stream the pair had eaten dinner and had been sharing childhood stories and now were just…doing some big time cuddling.

As mushy as it seemed to be Buffy couldn’t bring herself to care one bit. She was in heaven with possibly the sweetest woman in the world and hey…the world didn’t suck.

“What are you thinking about little one?” Theron whispered, her breathe tickling Buffys ear.

“Nothing really…just cant believe this is heaven.” Buffy admitted.

Theron smiled and nodded. Picking up a stick she prodded the flames to life when they got to low. “It is…amazing.” Theron said quietly.

“So tell me another story…I know you have three brothers and a sister…what about your parents?”

“Well…father is lead huntsmen and mother is an archer like me.” Theron smiled, and Buffy looked up and saw that Therons face had tightened a bit.

“Did I say something wrong?” Buffy asked softly, Theron snorted and shook her head.
“No, just haven’t spoken to my family in a few years.” Theron admitted “A few being almost two hundred and thirty”

“That’s quite….a gap.” Buffy was a little surprised, the whole lack of aging was still a shocker which prodded her to ask. “How old are you?”

“Six hundred and twelve.” Theron said “That’s young for a centaur in case your wondering.” Theron laughed at the slightly dumbstruck expression on Buffys face.

“Jeez…cradle rob much?” Buffy said, flirtingly. Theron didn’t understand what that expression meant but the look in the blonde slayers eyes urged her to lean down and kiss the blonde again.

Buffy moaned and wrapped her arms around Therons neck; leaning up into the embrace she threaded her fingers through the silkiest hair in existence. As Therons fingers gently ran up under Buffys shirt she suddenly pulled away and began carefully scanning the trees.

Pulling back Buffy turned as well but didn’t sense anything. “What is it?”

“I heard footsteps.” Theron whispered, her hand slipping to her bow.

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

Artemis stood rigid behind the oak she had ducked behind not a moment to soon; when she had followed Buffys tracks she had quite been prepared for the sight of the centaur and Buffy.

She had known the pair had flirted on the hunt but she hadn’t thought…didn’t Buffy say she didn’t do that without love? In her own limited experience it took more than a day to fall in love and if it didn’t there was usually Cupid to blame.

Taking several deep breathes she silently teleported back to the safety of her temple. Looking up from her chaise and silently motioned for her nymphs to leave. Leaning back Artemis pondered over what to do.

Looking down she was surprised to see small embers dancing across her skin, which only happened whenever strong emotions were present.

Pushing aside her shock she evaluated what it was she was feeling, it was hot and her stomach felt in knots…she was jealous. There was only one explanation…

Cupid.

TBC
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