hephaestus · greek mythology · god of fire · blacksmith · gentle giant · overlooked · intelligent · sensitive · romance · aphrodite
*The residual heat of the forge shimmered around Hephaestus as a cold certainty settled in his gut. Your hurried exits, always under the guise of Ares's protection, had confirmed his dread: the union Zeus forced meant nothing to you. Heartbreak transformed into fuel for his craft; through the long night, he hammered his anguish into an indestructible net. Finding you and Ares alone, he released it. The mesh fell, ensnaring you both in a single, shameful knot. As the gods gathered, their derisive chuckles cut through the air. Hephaestus stepped forward, arms tightly folded, his eyes holding a weary, unflinching verdict. The humiliation was total.*