Fiction: Acing it (Athene / Nike)

Hello my lovelies!

When I put "Athena / Nike asexual romance" in the Pride Month poll, I never expected this prompt to win. You keep challenging me, my lovelies. I don't consider myself great at romance but I'm pleased with how sweet this one turned out.

I had to do some research into asexuality in order to get an idea how to portray this relationship and I definitely learned something. And this is what Pride Month is also about, to me at least: visibility and understanding of those who feel different than I do. I am a thoroughly allosexual person, so I thought it would be very hard to relate to an asexual character until I watched this video of Sriti Jha who brought up the time before she was sexually active and all of a sudden I had a point of reference, a familiar connection I could work with.

Also many thanks to Sarah, the Queen of Fluff, who helped me out with the romance. If you enjoy sweet and cute Greek mythology fiction, go check out her story archive on tumblr!

Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈

Glossary

Amboulia: an epithet of Athene, Athene the Counsellor

Athene: transcription of the Greek Ἀθήνη

chiton: an ancient Greek piece of clothing akin to the Roman tunic.

Erato: Muse of Love Poetry

exedra: stone platform on which the judges sat

ichor: the divine blood of the gods

thyrsos: a staff of giant fennel topped with a pine cone and decorated with ivy vines and leaves, sometimes wound with colourful tainiai (ribbons). It was carried during Hellenic festivals and religious ceremonies and is tightly associated with Dionysos and his retinue.

Tyche: Goddess of Fortune and Good Luck

The title is a play on "ace" for "asexual".

Acing It

Golden blessed Nike had lived on Olympos ever since her mother Styx sided with Zeus and brought her into his service along with her siblings Bia, Kratos, and Zelos. When Athene and Poseidon were competing for the city that would become Athens, Nike awarded victory to the olive tree, and so a lifelong friendship began.

At first, they had only met at the council meetings when Nike would stand beside Athene's father Zeus. Nike had listened to her speaking to all the gods who hold Olympos, giving advice with clear words and sharp tongue, a goddess who was well-spoken and reflected. Nike herself was rather impulsive. The calm, collected presence of Athene impressed her and keeps impressing her to this day. But that doesn't mean Athene isn't passionate. Nike had noticed the fire in her eyes when she argued for the pardon of Prometheus, the titan who had helped birth her from the head of Zeus and created humans. Prometheus, who had met his harsh punishment of being chained to a rock with an eagle eating away at his immortal liver. But her strength did not end with her clever speech and wise council. Nike had watched her spar and sometimes fight with Ares, and more than once she had awarded victory to her instead of her raging half-brother. There was something calculating about everything Athene did and she rarely did anything rash or unaccounted for. Nike had admired her from afar, stealing glances at the goddess while she drove her father's chariot, silently cheering her on when she guided a hero protégé to success. Until the day when Athene had asked her father if Nike could be her charioteer, laying out a string of well-rounded arguments, as she always did. Zeus had agreed and from that day on, they had been nigh inseparable. Nike was always by Athene's side as she drove the team of flying horses with her heavenly whip.

One day, Athene had asked her to move into her quarters within her father's palace, flawless arguments of increased efficiency and better work dynamic flowing off her tongue like impeccable silken thread off her spindle. And then, the goddess had done something unexpected. Her cheeks in a rose-coloured hue, she looked at the pristine marble floor, then at Nike and added: "And you should know that I have great affection for you. I shall love to share my quarters with you, if you so please."

How could Nike have said no?

"You have very convincing arguments, Amboulia," she said. "But none of them would matter if I were not in your heart."

"What a foolish girl you are," Athene said, prodding her with the butt of her spear. "You are in my heart. Always."

Nike fluttered her wings and flew up to match Athene's height, giving her a soft kiss on the brow.

"I shall have my belongings at your place by nightfall."

🦉 🦉 🦉

The air was thick with pants and moans. Gods and goddesses where testing their prowess in athletic contests and none of them wanted to lose. Hermes fluttered beside her as the god who presided over competitions. He wasn't allowed to compete after his fellow gods had complained about his shameless cheating. So now he prevented everyone else from gaining an unfair advantage by acting as the umpire.

Athene wasn't dressed in her usual armour, only a short chiton for the spear throwing contest. Nike overheard Poseidon make an insinuating remark about the virgin goddess and her unwomanly legs. Once again she couldn't help but admire grey-eyed Athene's collected response:

"You don't have to find me attractive to lie in the dust before me, defeated."

The little owl on her shoulder gave the sea god a disdainful look as Athene walked past him to the line in the sand. She wielded her spear as if it were a part of her, the brazen tip gleaming in the sunlight. Next to her stood Dionysos, more than a head shorter than her with his richly decorated thyrsos. It wouldn't fly very well with all the plants and ribbons adorning it but the wine god seemed to care more about how it looked than his chances at winning. Ares approached with heavy steps, his own trusted spear in hand. He tried to poke Athene's bum with the tip of his spear but she had put up with his tomfoolery for too long not to see it coming. She blocked the attack and gave the impulsive war god a stern look as she saw him to his position at the starting line. Artemis participated with a hunting spear but it was Dionysos who turned to wave at Apollon, who sat in the audience to watch his sister compete. Of course he didn't partake himself. Apollon competed to win and he was very well aware of his own strengths and weaknesses. He was not a bad spear thrower but he wasn't nearly as good as Ares and Athene. For both, their weapon of choice was a spear and they wielded it with an expertise that would need a blessing from Tyche to surpass.

Hermes mussed up Dionysos' hair and fluttered to the starting line where he cleared his throat and lifted his kerykeion with self-importance.

"The spear throwing contest is about to begin. Please be sure to throw your weapons in this direction and not towards the audience. Especially you, Dionysos."

"That was one time..." The wine god muttered.

"Get ready!" Hermes announced, and the gods lifted their spears or what passed for a spear for the sake of the contest. Artemis looked absolutely deadly with her hunting spear in a grip that could crush bones, eyes focused on her target in the distance. Ares, as Nike had seen for herself many times, could spear a man like meat on a spit. He didn't usually hurl it very far but he used his immense strength to great effect. His muscles bulged as he held his spear over his shoulder, directing a cocky grin at Athene. The goddess stood motionless, her short chiton fluttering in the breeze. Her face was full of calculated focus. She did not give a damn about anyone else in the arena. Her eyes were set on the horizon, on the target that would win her the victor's crown. Nike's throat dried up when she, once again, became very much aware of Athene's lovely features, even from afar in the exedra. Nike hoped Zeus wouldn't notice the blush on her face when she gazed at his favourite daughter, that he wouldn't know how her ichor raced through her veins at the thought of holding her hand. Hermes cried "Loose!" somewhere in the distance and Nike watched the sharp-eyed goddess take aim, her bare feet flying over the dark earth as she raced to the line, loosing the spear with flawless technique at the perfect moment. Her white arms relaxed and Nike couldn't help but think how much she wanted to be swept up in them, held close to her heart and hearing it beat only for her. These feelings were not entirely new for her but she had never felt as strongly about anyone else and their living together had only intensified her infatuation. But Athene wasn't interested in neither love nor romance, was she?

Ares' spear came in close, only a finger's breadth off the mark Athene had set, while both Artemis' and Poseidon's throw fell short. Athene came to sit beside her father and Nike as the stadion was prepared for the foot race. Hermes must be severely disappointed he was not allowed to compete. Even without his winged sandals he was sure to outrun most of the other gods. He was telling them to get ready when Athene turned to Nike and, smiling, took her hand in hers.

"Did you see me throw?" she asked, her voice calm, but Nike heard the excitement contained in it. She nodded.

"Of course I did!"

Her heart felt as if it would leap out of her throat any moment. Athene did not let go of her hand while they watched the footrace with Ares and Apollon vying for first place. Nike didn't really care who it was she would crown victor after the match. Her thoughts were racing faster than any of the athletes. Did this mean anything? They were always affectionate with each other, so maybe this was no different? No, it was definitely different. But what did it mean? Should she say something? Or just enjoy the moment? What would she even say? 'I noticed that you are holding my hand. Do you mean anything by it?' That would just make her look like a fool.

Apollon sprinted over the finish line with Ares just a heartbeat behind him.

"That's my boy!" Zeus cheered beside them.

Athene gently squeezed Nike's hand.

"Did you do that?" she whispered.

"He wanted to prick your bum with his spear."

Athene's cheeks turned a lovely pink.

"You did that... for me?"

Nike nodded.

"Of course I did. I love you."

Now her face was burning too. She must look like a winged beetroot.

She had anticipated Athene to misunderstand her words, to assume she said it lightly, as a friend might do. But with the serious expression usually reserved for intellectual discourse the owl-eyed goddess replied:

"You are like me. You... you get me, Nike. You are more than just a friend. So much more. And yet... and yet you don't expect anything. Anything I cannot give. I love you too."

Athene pressed a small kiss on Nike's brow and left with the other athletes to wash and clean up for the award ceremony.

Nike busied herself with the victory crowns even though they were perfectly in order. Athene had just confessed to her that there was something more than friendship between them, something that would never include sexual acts because that wasn't who Athene was. Nor who Nike was. The other gods, they wouldn't understand. For them, most relationships were defined by their desire. Desire Nike had never felt. And neither had Athene, as she had so vaguely confirmed. But to Nike, the meaning of her words had been clear as day.

The victorious gods and goddesses entered the arena and Nike's heart skipped a beat when she saw Athene again, clothed in a white peplos next to Apollon and Erato, who had won the musical competitions and appeared in the nude. Neither Apollon's masculine beauty nor the feminine curves of Erato could have excited her as much as the small smile Athene gave her as she stood in the line of victors. Nike picked up the golden wreaths and took to the air, placing one on Erato's dark tresses, then on Apollon's braided golden hair before she came to a halt in front of Athene. She lowered the crown onto the goddess' brow, but she did not let go. She pulled herself close and found sweet lips, kissing her new girlfriend in front of everybody. Athene did not shy away. Her arms held the fluttering goddess in loving embrace.

Nike spread her wings and wrapped them around her love. This moment belonged only to them.

Epilogue

"Nike and Athene, eh?" Hermes received his cup filled with wine from Dionysos and sat down by his side, grinning at the other gods who were still celebrating. "Looks like wing sex is what does it for her."

"I knew she just hadn't met the right person yet," Erato chimed in as she stowed away Apollon's lyre for the night.

Aphrodite's full lips twisted into a smirk as she took a sip from her golden cup. She still held no power over Athene but the other gods didn't need to know that.

"If she had sex with me, I could have taught her how great sex is ages ago."

"About time someone gave that bitter cunt a good pounding." Poseidon made an obscene gesture and laughed.

"You are all fools," Artemis said coldly. "Just because she has a girlfriend now doesn't mean she has sex."

"If she doesn't have sex, what on earth are they doing right now?"

🖤🤍💜

Athene sat in bed with Nike beside her, who leaned her head on her strong shoulder as she read aloud of mortal heroes and their deeds. Nike loved her voice, loved listening to her read, and to the thoughts of her sharp mind which they discussed until they put away the scroll for the night.

"Goodnight, love," Athene said, dousing the light of the oil lamp and making herself comfortable.

"Goodnight, love." Nike crawled up into her arms and they kissed again, unseen by gods and men, before Hypnos sent them to sleep in each other's embrace.

FIN

Humble thanks to all of you who voted for "Athene/Nike asexual romance" and everyone else who supports me on here. Special honours go to my demigoddesses Linda and Jane as well as my nymphs and satyrs Sarah, Ellis, Wirebiter, Max, Malpertuis, Jennifer, Julia, Joshua, Suda, Evan, and KJ. May all of you have someone who just gets you in your life  🖤🤍💜