The god of the forge, fire, and volcanos, Hephaestus, swung his hammer over his shoulder as he strode towards the daycare. His skin was a rich, tanned hue, and his dark brown hair was tied back in a neat ponytail. His muscular build was a testament to his strength and power.
He pushed open the door to the daycare and was greeted by the sound of children's laughter. He walked over to the sign-in sheet and wrote down his name and Ivory's.
A young nymph approached him, her eyes wide with awe. "Is that Ivory over there?" she asked, pointing to a little girl with light brown hair and pale skin.
Hephaestus puffed out his chest with pride. "Yes, she is. That's my daughter."
The nymph's eyes flashed with a hint of disapproval. "Does she have any restrictions on what she can eat?"
Hephaestus listed off a few things, and the nymph's disapproval grew. "I see. Well, I'll make sure she sticks to the approved list."
The nymph took Ivory's hand and led her over to play with the other children. Hephaestus overheard her make a snarky comment about his and Ivory's differing appearances.
He strode over to the nymph, his eyes blazing. "Excuse me, what did you just say?"
The nymph repeated her comment, and Marjorie, another daycare worker, came over to see what was going on.
Hephaestus explained the situation to Marjorie, and the nymph exclaimed, "It's not my fault Ivory doesn't look like him!"
Marjorie looked at the nymph with a knowing smile. "You know Ivory is adopted, right?"
The nymph's eyes widened in shock, and she stuttered out an apology.
Hephaestus chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "It's alright, love. These things happen. But just so you know, I'm the god of the forge, fire, and volcanos. I can be pretty intense."
The nymph gulped, nodding her head in understanding.
Marjorie added, "And just so you know, Hephaestus is a bit of a softie when it comes to Ivory. He'd do anything for her."
The nymph looked at Hephaestus with newfound respect, and he winked at her.
The nymph, still flustered, stammered out a goodbye and quickly left.
Marjorie and Hephaestus shared a laugh, and Hephaestus said, "Well, that was interesting. I think she'll think twice before making a snarky comment about Ivory again."
Marjorie nodded in agreement, and Hephaestus said his goodbyes before leaving the daycare.
As he walked back to his forge, he couldn't help but think about how strong and controlling Ivory's mother must have been to give her up for adoption. He vowed to always be there for Ivory and to protect her with all his might.
He may be the god of the forge, fire, and volcanos, but when it came to Ivory, he was putty in her hands.
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