WHO: Pandora & Prometheus WHEN: Valentine's Day 2012 WHERE: Prometheus' studio WHAT: The love whammy of doom
Pandora woke with Prometheus' name on her lips and nothing about that seemed unusual. To Pandora it felt like waking up from a long dream to reality. That dream had been too long, because now she saw that all their arguing, all their disagreements and the way they managed to bother each other, all of it meant something far different than she had always assumed.
She loved him. It all seemed so clear to Pandora right now and she pulled herself out of Epimetheus' bed but didn't want to waste time in writing him a note. Nor did she want him disturbing her today so she left her phone there on the nightstand instead.
Then it was a cab ride to Prometheus' studio where she banged on the door, hoping she could somehow make him feel the same way about her that she no knew she felt about him.
Prometheus had wandered about in a frown, gathering things to go find Pandora. He hadn't let himself think about the feelings she made him feel, but today that seemed so pointless. He'd hid it behind love for his brother, but surely Epimethius would understand.
One couldn't help the one they loved after all.
He'd picked up the box when he'd heard her and with a grin he knew was awkward he moved to her, glad to just see her. He'd been acting horribly though so he'd need to make up for that. "You came. I didn't think you would but," smiling he stepped closer. "I am glad you're here. Everything seems easier around you."
Pandora lifted a hand to put it on Prometheus' cheek, gazing up at him in awe. "I love you," she told him. "I woke up this morning and I just knew. I love you more than anything and I had no idea." Her laugh was nervous and happy.
He leaned into the touch, setting his own fingers on her wrist. He smiled to her words and set a kiss on her palm. Her words had made him breathe easier. "Good." smiling he stepped closer, "I didn't know how to convince you I loved you. Knowing you return it is everything." He smiled and watched her, using his free hand to trace her features. "Beautiful."
He was beautiful, she thought, as much as a work of art as she herself in some ways. "I'm only sorry that I'm not golden for you," Pandora admitted, and then, "kiss me, Prometheus?"
He shook his head, "you are beautiful no matter what." Then he grinned and leaned closer, kissing her as she had asked. He was stupid sometimes, to wait with things like this.
Against Prometheus' lips Pandora sighed his name. She'd searched through so many men to try and find the one that would somehow give her everything she needed, and yet here he'd been all along. How could it be that Prometheus was the one to satisfy her constant yearnings for more?
Without breaking that kiss she drew him inside so she could push the door closed behind her and keep the world out. This was just theirs for now. Everyone else could wait.
When she broke the kiss it was only to look at him and smile, amazed at this. She'd been so foolish to not see it right in front of her. "There have been other men," Pandora admitted with a shake of her head, "but I'll end it with all of them. I don't want to be with anyone but you."
He let his hands rest around her waist, keeping her close. Everything was wonderful and perfect and she seemed so right. Her confession made him shake his head. It was inconsequential now and either way she'd said he'd be the only one. "You are my only now. My everything."
He brushed his fingers along her hair, just watching her. "Come upstairs with me." He felt bad that his apartment was a mess, but he hoped she wouldn't mind. And his studio wasn't the place to do all the things he wanted to.
"I'll go anywhere with you, Prometheus," she promised him, taking his hand and letting him lead the way. There was the problem of Epimetheus to deal with, but that could happen later. They'd just make it clear about how they felt for each other and surely Epimetheus couldn't deny a love as great as theirs?
He knew his brother. Epimetheus would be upset, but understanding in the end. Surely he would be.
Smiling he led her upstairs and gave her a shy grin. "I should have cleaned up. I'm a bit messy." He didn't want to let go of her though so instead he pulled her closer. "Everything about you is perfect."
"I don't care about the mess," Pandora told him with a smile and a shake of her head.
When he called her perfect Pandora believed it, even in this dark form she wanted to shed. Pressed against him she could feel every breath she took against his chest and she asked, "you really love me?" she could hardly dare to believe it. What were the chances of her realising this just as he did?
Smiling he nodded, "of course I do. I will do anything to prove it if you like." There wasn't anything he wouldn't do if she asked. Smiling he drew her to the couch and sat down, tugging her to sit down beside him.
"I believe you," Pandora smiled, her body close to his. "Gods above, you're all I want now. I've been so blind." She began to kiss along his throat, slowly drawing back his collar to kiss the skin there as well.
...
Pandora awoke with her cheek resting against the warmth of a man's chest. For a moment she lay there listening to his breath and his heartbeat below that and then she stiffened, beginning to remember something.
She sat up quickly and hoped that seeing the man would prove it all a nightmare and- No. Prometheus!
Naked Pandora leapt from the bed with a shriek. "No, oh no!"
Prometheus had gotten gentler wake up calls. Sleep didn't always come easy so he let himself sleep as much as possible when he could. The shriek made him sit up and he frowned, wondering if it was Jade. But then he remembered and the figure became more clear.
Paling he sat up, guilt already flooding his system. "Shit." Stupid to ask how or what in the world. He remembered his actions all too clearly, enough to know it hadn't been really his doing.
"We didn't," Pandora said quickly. "We didn't!" But they did, and she remembered it. She remembered loving him. This was the work of the gods, it must have been.
"Where are my clothes?" she asked, dropping to her knees and searching amongst the blankets that he been thrown off the bed during- during things Pandora did not want to think about.
He winced, both from the pain in his side and at the thought of what they'd done. And what he'd said. He couldn't help but think about his brother, how this would all hurt him so bad. "I think we did."
He frowned, "downstairs." Luckily he found one of his stray pants and put it on, leaning forward to hand her the blanket. "Here." He didn't know where this calm came from, but it seemed the best thing to do. "I'll find them."
"I don't love you," she told him quickly, wrapping the blanket around herself tightly. "I said that I did but- Eros." Because of course that was how this had happened. Eros pulling his Valentine's Day bullshit.
"This is the worst thing," Pandora moaned, running her hands through her hair.
"Thanks," he shook his head and sighed. He didn't doubt it was Eros and he really wished the Olympians and their spawn stayed away. There was only one who was the exception, and that was because of honor. "And I know you don't."
With a sigh he walked downstairs, returning with her clothes and setting them on the bed. "Showers over there." He motioned to the bathroom. He really wished he could drink right now.
Pandora grabbed her clothes and went quickly to the bathroom, tossing the blanket out into the hall because she refused to abandon it before she was well and truly inside. The shower was quick and she scrubbed hard at her flesh, furious at it for how much it had enjoyed yesterday.
Prometheus! Eros had a sick sense of humour but at least - she reasoned - Prometheus would have been as horrified as her. The two of them didn't exactly manage to get on most of the time.
When Pandora came back out she kept her distance, leaning in the doorway on the other side of the room. "Now what?" she asked.
When she showered he dressed, trying not to recall to much of last night and how much he'd enjoyed that. It wasn't right to touch her. Whatever else, she was his brother's, and he loved Epimetheus more then anything.
when she returned he lit up a smoke and shrugged. "I have to tell my brother. I can't keep this from him."
"It'll kill him," Pandora whispered with a shake of her head. "You can't." She licked her lips, tender and bruised from his own. She was sure could still taste him on her even though she'd scrubbed the inside of her mouth out.
"Look, this wasn't our fault," she continued. "It's not like either of us wanted this."
He glanced to her and sat down. "You give my brother too little credit." He had no doubt that Epimetheus would be angry, but he deserved his brother's anger. "No. It wasn't. However, I am not keeping this from my brother. You can keep what secrets you like Pandora. I will not."
"He'll hate me for this," Pandora breathed and then, quickly, came over and dropped to her knees in front of Prometheus. "Please. Please, don't, this will ruin everything and I don't want to hurt him."
That brought too many memories of the previous evening and he sighed, going to set her down beside him. "I can't keep this from him Pandora. It would eat me alive keeping this from him. I'm sorry."
Pandora sighed, closing her eyes. "He'll leave me," Pandora said quietly, trying not to let too much feeling seep into those words. If she let her emotions loose then they'd overwhelm her.
She tried to remember what things she might have said to Prometheus the night before, but everything was a blur. Had she mentioned William? Had she talked about anything that he could now use against her?
He ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry, I can't keep this from him." he couldn't though and he remembered her mentioning others. If that was true, then she was hurting his brother more then she was helping him.
He rose and took his phone, sending his brother a text before glancing to her. "I'm going to see him now."
Pandora stood up, twisting her dark wet hair into a bun angrily. "I'm going to skin that Erote," she hissed. She couldn't stand the thought of actually being escorted out by Prometheus and so she grabbed her coat from where it lay across a chair and walked out quickly, not turning back to look at him. All she wanted was to get home and hide out.