Until I found you
All around Nike and Athena celebratory cheers rose up. The latter picked up her girlfriend and kissed her deeply. They did it! They won!
"I love you." The wisdom goddess smiled.
"I love you too." The angel replied.
The daughter of Zeus put the angel down and turned to her soldiers behind her.
"Tend to the wounded and prepare the dead for their journey to the underworld." Athena ordered.
"Captain, I want you and a squad coming with me and Nike. We'll look for any survivors in the town nearby." She added.
"Yes ma'am." Captain Rexhenor saluted and left to go get his squad.
"You really wish to go into town now?" Nike asked.
"Not really, but we have to look for survivors and help them rebuild the things they've lost. We have to carry out the proper rites for the dead. It's the least we can do after using their home as a battlefield." Her girlfriend frowned.
Athena hated how so many innocents had been brought in danger because of a stupid fight between her father and his brothers. This time Zeus and Hades had been teaming up against poseidon. Naturally she stood with her father.
If you know a little about the sea god you'll know he doesn't exaclty go down without a fight. He definitely proved that once again and at a high price as well.
A little later Athena, Nike, captain Rexhenor and about 8 other soldiers were headed into town. Around them houses were still smoking and the smell of burned flesh still corrupted the air.
"Man... The artillery sure got them good." One of the soldiers mumbled.
Nike couldn't help but agree. She knew the cost of a victory better than anyone, but she hated walking in places like these. You could feel and see the lost souls dwelling around. It gave the angel the creeps. She just wanted to get this over with so she could celebrate with the others.
The victory goddess glanced beside her. Athena didn't seem bothered at all. Nike knew better. She knew the wisdom goddess had seen enough battlefields to know this is how it always ended. A bunch of rubble and losses on both sides. She also knew that no matter how many battlefields her lover had seen it never got easier to walk through the bodies and ruins.
Suddenly Athena stopped them all with a hand sign.
"Did you hear that?" She asked.
Immediatly the soldiers were on high alert. They would never question their goddess. Each of them moving quielty to stand around the goddesses. Everybody knew they were capable of handeling themselves, but that wouldn't stop the soldiers from giving their lives for the pair behind them.
With handsigns the wisdom goddess told her soldiers to stay alert and move forward. Soundless the squad did as they were ordered. Every corner was covered. Again they were stopped by the daughter of Zeus.
"Captain, please tell me you heard that." She said.
"I did my lady. Someone is definitely following us." Rexhenor acknowledged.
"I think it came from inside." He continued.
"Move aside." Athena ordered.
The soldiers parted for her the way the sea does for Poseidon. The goddess stepped forward towards a house.
"Cover all entrances. Rexhenor and Nike with me. Make sure you don't find yourself alone." She continued.
The trio entered the building. Nike stayed a little closer to Athena. Outside is one thing actually entering one of the destroyed houses was a completely other and terrifying thing.
The victory goddess gasped as they were met with two bodies sprawled out on the floor. The faces were frozen in time, a fearfull expression all that was left of the feelings once inside.
The bodies were holding hands. Both were trapped underneath rubble, but the thing that scared the angel the most was that one body was partially burned. She had to keep herself from gagging as they all averted their eyes.
Athena pulled Aegis a little tighter around her shoulders. Even she was ready to turn around and run back home. But she wouldn't. Not without knowing who was following them.
"Lady Athena! Lady Athena, you should come over here!" One of the other soldiers shouted.
After a last glance at the pair trapped beneath the rubble Rexhenor, Nike and Athena hurried after the voice of the soldier that called out. They ran up the stairs in the direction of the voice and found a duo named Anthousa and Irakles.
"What is it private?" Athena asked.
Irakles stepped aside to reveal a little girl hiding in what was left of a closet. She was cowering away from the scary soldiers, just like her parents told her to.
The wisdom goddess' eyes narrowed. She didn't expect the find a child in this area. Like the soldiers said before, the artillery blasted this part of the town to bits.
But she wasn't surprised either. A lot of children roam these places, most of them orphaned by war, trying to find their family and their home.
"Leave her be. She's scared. There's nothing we can do for her now." The daughter of Zeus said, turning around.
"We can't just leave her here." Nike replied, taking Athena's wrist.
"What would you have me do? Take her with us? To a camp full of the same soldiers that destroyed her town? Her home?" The steel grey eyes stung with tears.
It's not that she didn't want to help the girl, but it's that she couldn't. Not the way she wanted to at least.
"There has to be something we can do." The angel said.
Her lover sighed as the gears in her head started turning. Nike watched as Athena paced the room. Her boots clicking against the wooden floor.
The child coward away from the sound as much as she could. It was the same sound those mean people had made when they hurt her daddy. She remembered both her daddies telling her to hide and not make a sound. Only then would she be safe.
The wisdom goddess stopped pacing. She got it. From her soldiers she asked a piece of their rations each and a cup with some of their water.
"Angel come here for a second." Athena said.
Nike obeyed.
"Could you give this to her?"
"Why me?" The victory goddess asked.
"First of all, I'm dressed in battle armor, so are my soldiers. Have you seen how afraid that makes her? Second your aura. It fills people with pride and joy. It might balance out the fear a little." The wisdom goddess replied.
Nike nodded. It made sense. She just wondered why this child would ever trust a stranger after all she's been through.
She walked up to the little girl and sat down in front of her. It was that the girl was already up against the wall, otherwise she'd have crawled back even further.
The angel didn't push. She placed the bits of food and small cup of water in between herself and the girl. After that she moved back a little to give the girl the space she needed.
The victory goddess decided she'd take up Athena on the aura thing. She imagined it filled the room. All those present could feel the cheers from earlier bubble back up in their chests.
Even the little girl came a bit closer and snatched the food away. She did however move back against the wall.
Athena watched the scene unfold in front of her. She noticed a change in the child's eyes. They'd gone from pure fear, to curiosity for who this angelic being in front of her was.
"Anthousa." The wisdom goddess spoke up.
"Ma'am?" Was the ever quick reply.
"Take Irakles and get back to the others. Continue the search for survivors. We'll rendez-vous at camp when you're done."
"Yes ma'am."
"Oh and if anything happens, you know how to reach me." Athena finished.
Anthousa nodded. With a salute both her and Irakles disappeared. Rexhenor heard his fellow soldiers leave the ruins of the building.
He wondered why the lady had kept him here. It seemed odd, seeing as there wasn't really any point in keeping him here.
"Rexhenor, keep an eye on the street will you?" Athena asked.
It came out as a question, but it was more of an order. So that's why he had to stay. Someone had to make sure no one would try anything. And knowing his general he figured Athena would like to keep an eye on the victory goddess and the little girl.
"Yes ma'am." He said, walking up to a hole in the wall and sitting down on the wall itself.
Nike hadn't moved from the spot where she sat. The girl kept a sharp eye on her. As if she thought the angel would take away the food and water.
"Do you have a name?" She asked the girl.
The child furrowed her brows, but nodded ever so slightly.
"Will you tell me?"
The fear lighted up again in the little kid's eyes. Nike saw. She imgagined her aura exploding beyond the walls of the house.
Athena noted her pride growing, even though she didn't do anything, meaning Nike was strengthening her power. She'd have to watch out not to alarm anyone. The wisdom goddess cleared her throat to catch the angel's attention.
"Babe. Not too much. We don't know who or what is out there."
The latter ignored the warning. Maybe not a good idea, but she wanted the girl to feel safe. It was clear she had been living in fear for days. She had to know the fighting was over and that none of the people in the room were going to hurt her.
"How about this?" Nike started.
"My name is Nike. The tall lady leaning against the wall is Athena and the man keeping watch is Rexhenor."
The eyes of the little girl rolled over Athena and Rexhenor. They wore the scary clothes those mean people wore.
"They hurt my daddies." She stated barely above a whisper.
Part of the victory goddess was happy that the girl spoke. The other part was troubled by the very words that came out of her little mouth.
She cast a glance at her girlfriend on the other side of the room. Athena shook her head when their eyes connected. Then she pointed at her cape. Nike understood.
"Actually they weren't." She turned back to the girl.
"How do you know?" The little kid asked.
"Do you remember the colors they wore?"
"Blue. Like the sky and water." she replied without hesitation.
Nike nodded. She motioned for Athena to come over.
"Sit with us." The angel ordered her girlfriend.
The wisdom goddess did as was asked of her as the girl watched her closely.
"Now take off your cape and hand it over." The victory goddess continued.
Athena raised a brow. No way. She couldn't possibly take off Aegis here. Much less hand it over only for her girlfriend to give it to a complete stranger. Without it she'd feel so vulnerable. So fragile. If the child would hold Aegis she'd hold the very thing that ensured Athena's safety in her little hands.
Nike held out her hand and looked the daughter of Zeus dead in the eye. She needed her girlfriend to trust her on this one.
Rexhenor followed the scene from his place on the wall. The streets were deserted. There was no one there. He might as well watch what was going on in here.
To his surprise his general sighed and took off her Aegis. He knew Athena well enough to know this was very much against her own will. This once again proved to him just how much she was willing to do for her angel.
As the wisdom goddess had predicted Nike handed Aegis to the little girl. Aegis currently had a red color, with golden thread woven through the fabric.
"This cape is red as you can tell. And if you look closely you can even see the gold." The victory goddess said with a gentle smile.
The little kid felt the fabric between her fingers. She'd never felt something so soft and at the same time so strong. It gave a warm and comfortable feeling. Just like the goddesses in front of her did now that she thought about it.
"Put it around your shoulders. I'm sure Athena won't mind." Nike winked.
Athena's head snapped towards her girlfriend. She did not! The daughter of Zeus did in fact mind.
"Actually-" She started.
The angel gave her a stern look that had 'trust me' written all over it. The wisdom goddess sighed.
"It's okay. Go ahead." She muttered.
"You have to do one thing though." Nike said.
The girl gave the angel a curious glance.
"What?" She asked.
"You'll have to tell Athena here who you are. She doesn't like it when people she doesn't know touch her things."
The child turned her eyes on the grey eyed goddess. It would be alright if she told them right? She could trust them. They were nice to her. Not like the people with the blue capes.
The girl noticed Athena keeping a sharp eye on the piece of fabric in her hands. In must mean a lot to her. She swallowed and called up all her courage.
"My name is Alexia." She said just loud enough for the goddesses in front of her to hear.
Both Nike and Alexia looked expectantly towards the wisdom goddess. Athena nodded. A sign the little girl could wrap Aegis around her shoulders.
Alexia wrapped Aegis around her like a huge, comfortable blanket. It felt so safe. So secure. It made her feel as if she was sitting with her daddy by the fire place. The fire place...
When the young girl struggled to get up Athena's eye fell on a wound on her right leg. Had that been there the whole time?
"I want to show you something." Little Alexia said.
When she tried to take a step she fell forward with a scream of pure pain. She was caught in the loving arms of two goddesses.
"Easy now. Let us help you." Nike said in a soothing voice.
"Rexhenor, get over here with a med-kit." Athena called for her captain.
The latter seemed to shock from a trance. As he took the kit from his backpack he came towards the trio.
"Hand it to Nike." Athena said.
Rexhenor just did as he was told. The angel took the med-kit and immediately took out the supplies she needed. She was no doctor, but she knew enough to give Alexia a quick fix. They'd have to take her back to camp later to do it properly.
Athena held the girl in her lap. Tears started dripping from the little girl's eyes. Slowly the goddess wiped them away.
"It's okay sweetie. We're here to help you. Nike's going to take care of your leg and then you can show us what you wanted to." She whispered as she wrapped Aegis a little tighter around her once again.
Alexia was thankful for the kind words and the protective energy of the woman holding her. Just as she was thankful for the woman taking care of her leg. The one who had a calming voice and happy energy.
She was even thankful for the soldier that was assuring her that she was in good hands with his generals.
"You must be blessed kid. Being treated by an angel and being held by a daughter of Zeus. You're going to make me wish I had a wound on my leg." Rexhenor joked.
"Rexhenor." Athena remarked.
"Don't say such things. You know thoughts have power."
"Of course ma'am." The captain said as he winked at Alexia.
Athena rolled her eyes in response. She couldn't hold back a smile though. He was such an idiot sometimes. In situations like these you could always count on Rexhenor to lighten the mood.
"There all done." Nike said as she put the things she used back into the med-kit.
"Thank you." Alexia said politely.
"Of course." The angel smiled.
"Now why don't you relax and let Athena carry you as you direct us to what you wanted to show us." She added with a wink.
The girl glanced at the goddess that was holding her. She nodded back.
"Hold on." The wisdom goddess said.
Alexia wrapped her arms around her neck. With ease the daughter of Zeus rose to her full length.
"Alright kid, where did you hide this treasure." Rexhenor smirked.
"It is no treasure." She chuckled.
"Mhm... You're just saying that I'm sure of it."
"Nooo. You'll see. It's down the stairs."
With the light mood Nike had almost forgotten the fact that there were two bodies downstairs. She glanced at Athena whose face had gotten grim as well. She too must've remembered.
"Alright. Let's go then!" Rexhenor continued as he walked out of the room, both goddesses and Alexia close behind him.
When they got there the first thing they all saw were the pair underneath the rubble. Alexia seemed sad at the sight, but not afraid. The daughter of Zeus noticed.
"Do you know who they are?" Athena asked.
"Babe-" Nike started.
It seemed rather insensitive to the angel that her girlfriend would be so straight forward, although she had to admit, she too was a little curious for who they were. Alexia nodded.
"They're my daddies." She said quietly.
That certainly sucked the light mood from a moment ago directly out of the air.
"By the gods..." Captain Rexhenor whispered.
"The mean men with the blue capes did this to them when they came here. They don't want to wake up anymore... I miss them." Alexia continued as tears rolled down her cheeks again.
Silently Athena held the girl closer. Alexia put her head on Athena's shoulder.
After a moment she lifted her head again and whispered something in Athena's ear.
Still without a word Athena did as the girl had said. She went left into a hallway, followed by a confused angel and soldier.
She took a right and a left again. They entered what seemed like a living room. The right side was covered in a bunch of shelves with books. To the left was a cozy seating area with a fireplace. It seemed to be the only place in the entire house that was still fully intact.
Again Alexia whispered to Athena. The latter walked forward and stopped right in front of the fireplace. On the shelve right above it were framed pictures. Pictures of Alexia with her fathers. Or so she assumed.
Nike and Rexhenor walked up to it as well. The victory goddess put a hand on her girlfriend's lower back as she too studied the pictures.
"What did she say to you?" She asked after a while.
They had sat down on the couch. Nike was resting her head on Athena's shoulder. Rexhenor in front of them and Alexia asleep in the wisdom goddess' arms, still wrapped up in Aegis. Athena glanced at the sleeping girl and without her even noticing it a smile laced her lips.
"She told me a woman with hair like fire told her to wait by the fireplace for her new family. She wanted us to wait with her." The daughter of Zeus replied.
"Hestia?" Rexhenor asked.
"Definitly." Both goddesses said in unison.
"So who's her new family you think?"
Athena looked up at the captain.
"Who do you think?" She smirked.
Rexhenor raised a brow.
"Really?" Nike asked, gesturing at the sleeping girl in Athena's arms.
He raised his shoulders.
"You know Rexhenor. Sometimes I really wonder how you made it into my army..." Athena shook her head.
"I'm kidding. Of course I know it's going to be you. I don't think either of you is ever going to let her go again." The captain smirked.
"Of that you can be certain." Nike replied.
The angel's promise was seeled when the wisdom goddess captured her lips in a kiss.