Marvel Multiverse System

The next morning, as the first golden rays of sunlight streamed through the windows of the room, Yuri quietly slipped out, adjusting the collar of his shirt with a faint smile on his lips. Behind him, still asleep amidst the tangled sheets, lay Hestia, the little goddess with the blue ribbon, breathing softly after a night of intense intimacy.

Yuri carefully closed the door behind him, leaving behind the warmth and fragrance of that night.

At the table, he quickly finished the last bites of an improvised breakfast before heading down the corridors of the forge. His destination was clear: the workshop of the goddess of forging, Hephaestus.

Inside, the rhythmic sound of hammering filled the air. Flames danced vividly in the furnace, reflecting off the goddess's red hair as she worked with complete focus. The anvil held a partially finished black blade, its form already exuding power and elegance.

The hammering stopped.

"If you're here just to get in my way, come back when you've finished your own business," Hephaestus grumbled, without looking up from the hot metal.

"Actually, I came to tell you something," Yuri replied, stopping at a respectful distance. "Tonight will probably be our last night here. Tomorrow, Hestia and I are moving out."

The words hung in the air like a nail to the heart. For a moment, Hephaestus didn't answer. She always joked that Hestia was an annoying parasite, but now... the thought of a quiet house, without the laughter of that small goddess, without the nightly noises, without the silly fights, without the presence of that loud couple, tightened her chest.

She took a deep breath and crossed her arms.

"Yeah, of course... I didn't expect you two to stay forever. I'm used to the silence, after all."

Yuri gave her a kind smile.

"Used to it, yes. But that doesn't mean you like it."

The words hit Hephaestus like an invisible hammer. She turned her gaze away and gripped her hammer tightly, as if seeking warmth from the metal could help conceal her feelings.

"If you ever want to spend a few days with us, you're always welcome. Apollo's family mansion is huge. I'll always have space for you, Hephaestus," Yuri said sincerely, his eyes reflecting respect... and something more.

Hephaestus fumbled with the hammer for a moment, turning her face away, blushing.

"I'm Hestia's best friend, you hear me? I'm not one of those silly goddesses who gets charmed so easily. Don't say things like that to me as if I were—"

She stopped when she realized she was speaking too loudly, and returned to hammering the blade with more force than necessary. The noise echoed through the room, muffling the emotions threatening to surface.

But then, amidst the noise, the goddess's voice emerged—low, almost a whisper:

"A goddess... as ugly as me... can't be called beautiful, no matter what you say."

She ran her hand slowly over the dark eyepatch covering the right side of her face. There was bitterness in her voice, an old pain that neither time nor flame could burn away.

"Even among the gods, I'm a mistake... a face like this... shouldn't exist."

Yuri stepped forward.

"Just because the other gods are completely blind doesn't mean you're ugly."

"You don't understand..." She clutched the eyepatch. "The only person who's seen my face without laughing or recoiling in disgust... was Hestia."

Hephaestus gave a sad smile. "That's why I've stayed by her side all this time. She's... the only one who's truly seen me."

For a moment, silence reigned. Then Yuri took another step and, without asking permission, placed his hands firmly on the goddess's shoulders.

"What do you think you're doing?!"

"Do you trust me, Hephaestus?"

She hesitated. Then nodded, almost imperceptibly.

Yuri raised his hand gently. His fingers touched the edge of the black eyepatch covering the right side of her face.

"Then... let me see you. All of you."

Hephaestus shut her eyes, as if trying to hold back tears. Her body trembled slightly—not with fear, but with shame. She had never allowed anyone besides Hestia to see her true face.

But slowly, she let her arms fall to her sides.

With near reverence, Yuri removed the eyepatch.

What was revealed was not the monster Hephaestus feared. It was a face marked by imperfection—yes. But still profoundly human. Her right eye, pale green and cloudy, contrasted with the left, bright and crimson—like two gemstones of entirely different natures. The skin around it was lightly scarred, lacking the divine symmetry of the other gods.

Yuri looked silently.

Then, he raised a hand and gently touched her cheek, caressing the revealed skin with his thumb. His eyes were locked on hers—unflinching, unwavering.

He stared straight into her.

"You're beautiful, Hephaestus. And not because of your appearance. But because you carry scars and still forge ahead. Because you faced a world that rejected you... and never stopped creating."

Hephaestus swallowed hard. Her breathing was unsteady.

"No one... has ever said that to me like this."

"Then it's time someone did."

She wanted to look away. She wanted to scream. But she couldn't. For the first time, someone truly saw her. And didn't turn away.

The furnace still burned behind them. But in that moment, something else was burning in the chest of the goddess of the forge.

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(End of Chapter)

I am officially back my friends 🤩🤩