From a distance, Hephaestus watched her. He was the Greek god of fire, and the rain was not something he enjoyed. He preferred the warmth of the sun and the dryness of the earth. But as he watched Ophelia, he couldn't help but be drawn in by her energy and her joy.
Ophelia turned to him and raised an eyebrow. "You hate the rain?" she asked, her pale blue eyes sparkling with amusement.
Hephaestus nodded, his dark brown hair sticking to his forehead. "I do," he said gruffly.
Ophelia laughed, the sound rich and full. "How could anybody hate the rain?" she asked, her voice full of disbelief.
Without warning, she grabbed Hephaestus's hand and pulled him into the rain, laughing as he sputtered and tried to protest. Ophelia danced in the rain, her white hair sticking to her skin and her pale blue eyes shining with joy.
Hephaestus watched her, his dark brown eyes following her movements. He could feel the rain on his skin, but it didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. There was something about Ophelia that made him want to let go and just enjoy the moment.
Slowly, Hephaestus began to relax, letting the rain fall on his skin and soak his clothes. He even started to smile as he watched Ophelia dance. She was a hybrid of a siren and a wendigo, and she had a wildness about her that he found intoxicating.
Ophelia noticed and grins at him, her white teeth flashing. "See? It's not so bad, is it?" she asked.
Hephaestus shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "No, it's not," he admitted.
Together, they stood in the rain, watching the sea and feeling the rain on their skin. Ophelia reached out and took Hephaestus's hand, her pale blue eyes meeting his dark brown ones.
Without a word, they turned and walked back to Ophelia's house, their hands still linked together. As they entered the house, Ophelia looked over at Hephaestus and grins. "You know, you're not so bad yourself," she said, her voice full of playful insult.
Hephaestus rolled his eyes, a smile tugging at his lips. "And you're not so bad yourself," he replied, his voice full of humor.
The rain continued to pour down outside, but inside Ophelia's house, a fire was lit, and the two of them were warm and dry. The night was still young, and there were many more moments to be had.
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