Kore

"Aides noooo!" I gasp as I felt my features molding to my own. My previously silky hair sprung free, transforming into its former kinky black curls. My pasty skin reverts to its glory, showcasing my umber rich hue.

He caught me as I fainted. The transformation had certainly made me somnolent. My energy dwindled the moment he said my name. He allows a lazy smile to mold his features. "I knew it." He says in fearless assurance.

I watched him with tears in my eyes, gently lifting my palm to meet his jaw.

"How did you know? " I whisper with tears staining my cheeks. Although I was relieved he had known, I was dismal of the change in my plan.

"No matter the disguise, I know your lips. I have memorized their taste since our very first embrace. And Your eyes?" He touches the cusp of my arch. "I have familiarized myself with their warmth." His words made my heart leap with comfort. Of course, he knew me.

"Plus, I have never seen Hera cry." He chuckles knowingly, "Surely you don't think I'm that daft?"

I laughed. Then he laughed and then, we laughed together, cherishing each other's company.

"You look different," he says. It wasn't a critical observation, just one he said in honest confession.

"Different? How so?" I was curious about his findings.

"Calmer? More assured. As if you are dripped in confidence and self-assurance. It makes you look regal"

I greeted his observations, clasping my hand over his as stroked my lips and then I told him everything! I told him about my plan and how Zeus brought me to the realm to help me, the trouble disguising the markings on my back.

'Ahh so that is why your markings disappeared. I truly thought I was losing my mind"

"The three fates helped me conceal it"

"Of course they did" he rolled his eyes, already familiar with their misbehavior.

"Can you stand?" He asks, inspecting my figure with concern.

"I will say no now because if I say yes, you will let me go and I do not want you to stop holding me Aides" I frown, refusing to wean from his touch. I was selfish.

He studied my features in admiration, kissing my forehead in love. "Then I will not let go Kore" he confesses, lifting me from the floor and carrying me to a sturdy lounge chair in the middle of the room. He lays beside me before pulling me in his warmth and I rest in the comfort of his arms, realizing my place in reality.

I was reunited with my love and I was content. There was no place I'd rather be.

We lay in silence, taking moments to embrace before falling into silence once again. "Is it really true?" I whisper.

He nodded, stroking my back with care. "Eris will kill me tonight"

"Then we must stop her! We cannot let her get away with this Aides!!" I push off his stomach to stand but he pulls me back.

"Kore" He looks into my eyes, making me submit at his sound.

"You think I will allow it? You, to be killed by Eris? Of all the goddess? Her? You must not know me Aides" I scoff, trying again to stand.

"Kore!" He holds my shoulders, his eyes darted to every part of my face. It was then that a wave of understanding cloaked me. I discerned his hesitancey.

"What have you done with my Aides? The fearless ruler who refused to back down when hardships arose?"

"He died the day his love—-" he halted, staring to the floor.

"Aides you must believe m when I say I did not try to kill you! Maybe at first..."

"At first? So you attempted?"

My tears began again. "In the beginning...I mean.. the three fates tricked me. Aides you must understand where I am coming from? I was stolen from my home on earth. That was my only sense of normalcy. Please believe me when I say this"

"I don't know what or who to believe anymore..."

"Dare yourself to believe me!
Not as your wife but as your lover!"

"And how do you expect me to do that when it was my very love who decided to strike a knife into my back?"

"Why won't you take my word as truth!" I shout, standing talk to face his figure. He grabbed my neck assessing my features. "Show me. Tell me how my heart can heal Kore."

"Aides...." I whisper, pushing my palms against his chest. He grabbed my own hands into his, bringing them up to his lips.

"I rather die than live I life knowing the hatred in your heart was so deep that you—"

"ENOUGH! I tell you time and time again
What must I do Aides to prove to you!
Why won't you believe me! You don't want to believe me!
Why? Why!!"

"Because" he grumbles.

"WHY!"

"Because I am scared!" He pulls away going across the room to pace.
"Scared to love you again
Scared to open my heart
Scared to... imagine my future with you in it.
I have already envisioned it before that night....it ended the minute you decided to stab a knife in my back"

My heart shattered as I heard his confession. It was my betrayal that closed his heart. He loved me, but he refused to be betrayed again.

I make my way across the room to meet his stature. I held his jaw, lifting his eyes to mine. "I love you Aides. With all my heart.
I would never do anything to harm you. I meant it when I said I did not attempt to kill you that night"
But ... I know I must prove my innocence to you."

"You don't have to" he lies so brazenly.

"I do Aides, whether you care to admit it or not, lucky for you, I have a plan. I have a way to prove it"

Author Note:
Y'all think Aides is being unreasonable? Not trusting Kore?
The image in his mind of that night is still fresh in his mind.