At Last [for scarlettwin]

[shooterfromafar]

As far as Apollo could tell when it began, the day was no different than any other day. Standing on the balcony of his favorite estate, overlooking the crystal blue Aegean, the weather sunny and fair, he had no warning at all that this day of all days would be the one to change his immortal life forever.

He felt a tingle at the back of his neck, a signal that one of his brethren Olympians had just used their gift to appear in his vicinity. Although the humans of the world had not worshipped the gods of Mount Olympus in a long time, they still retained their power and immortality, and so such travel was still available to them. Apollo also recognized the feel of this arrival, knowing it to be his beloved twin sister, Artemis. He'd invited his twin to spend time at his villa as he often did, cherishing the time he spent around her.

Artemis had always been his other half, that which completed him. And Apollo had never once questioned his desire to make that true in every sense. They were gods, and in his opinion, utterly above any human mores or standards. He loved his sister, as a true friend, as a part of him, and as a woman. And Apollo had spent centuries trying to convince Artemis of this and, if he was truly fortunate, to forsake her ancient vow of celibacy for him.

But always, Apollo had been spurned, at least in that last respect. It did not keep him from continuing to try, though, and so when he turned to greet his twin, it was with open arms and a warm smile and thoughts of how best to prevail upon her.

"My beloved sister..."

Comments

[scarlettwin]

"Brother," Artemis greeted in return, moving towards him with open arms to return his embrace. She breathed in his scent of spice and warmth, finding herself at peace, complete even. Normally, her visits were filled with brighter smiles and warmer greeting. Today though, today there was something weighing on her mind. Something she was trying to hide from her brother. Though, it was doubtful that he wouldn't pick up on it. He was her other half, born of the same Goddess only minutes apart.

There were no longer bound to the duties and prayers of the mortal that once worshiped them. They were no longer a reality to them, only legends found in books and other tales. She was the Mistress of the animals, Goddess of the hunt, the one mothers prayed to as they gave birth, and the woman who took a vow of celibacy. For so long she held onto all of those, letting them form her identity, and now in a time where those titles meant nothing...she found herself hunting for something more.

She had watched humans fall in love over and over again. Some with their own happy endings, others with tragic ones. Stories that ended in heart break enough to bring tears down her face, and others that made her long for something similar. Her mind wandered back to her brother, how he continued to make advances to her, but she always turned away. Yes, she had lovers before, but nothing that compared to the other half of her soul. Mortal lovers that died, or ones she turned away after days or weeks. She was protecting herself from the heartache, and pain that came from being in love. Afraid of what would happen, and thus, stood in her own way of her happiness.

Maybe that's why she came to Apollo. A chance to get out of her own mind and enjoy herself. Or maybe face the reality in which she wanted to let down her walls and be with him. To be with her other half and open herself to the love he had for her. Not the love that siblings--twins shared, but that of a man and woman.

"How are you fairing?" she asked, pulling herself out of her own head to enjoy the time she had with her twin. She didn't bother to pull away, moving to instead place her chin on top of his shoulder and continued to hold him.

"I would've guessed you'd be out in the cities, looking for another home to build, or a new adventure to go on."

[shooterfromafar]

Apollo embraced his sister happily and warmly. If nothing else, Artemis' very presence made him feel whole, as if there were no other world except whatever small corner he carved out for the two of them to enjoy while they visited. And when his strong arms gathered in her lithe form, he reveled in the way she felt, as though they fit perfectly with one another, made to hold each other like this.

Or, he had always held out hope, to hold each other as lovers. But through the centuries, Artemis had held fast to her vows, and his entreaties and seductions had fallen short of convincing his twin to consummate the love that he was certain was between them.

He was too attuned to his other half to not detect her unease. Something weighed on Artemis' mind, and if it was troubling her at all, he knew it was his mission to address it and solve it, all other concerns be damned. Apollo smiled wanly at her small questions.

"Not when I have much more important things to do, like spending time with my sister, who is going to tell me what is troubling her..."

[scarlettwin]

Artemis let out a light scoff, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Of course he could tell there was something weighing on her mind. There was very little the two of them could hide from one another. Whenever there was something weighing heavy on Apollo's mind, she was able to sense it. They were able to sense one another's feelings. Their bond was that close, and she could only imagine if that would become stronger if they became lovers too.

"Ahh, who is the older one of the two of us?" she teased softly, pulling back slightly just for him to see that small smile. He couldn't really boss her around, considering she was born first. Only minutes apart, but that could feel like several lifetimes.

"I'm not troubled, only pensive," she began, leaning in to press a tender kiss to his cheek. A simple, but meaningful form of affection. To show she cared, but didn't want to cross the line with her brother. To blur the lines as he yearned to do so.

"I'm recalling the times when you tried to seduce me, to woe me to the point of breaking my vows. You certainly were very persistent..."

[shooterfromafar]

"Age is no barrier to my need to look after you, Artemis," he retorted, still smiling though, as the exchange was not only warm and loving, but very familiar. Apollo took after many of his male Olympian relatives in carrying a certain patriarchal view of the world, and even though Artemis was technically the older of them, he felt much more comfortable in the role of more authority.

He was not so bad as the others, though. At least Apollo hoped so.

Arching an eyebrow at his twin's response, he took a few moments to put his own thoughts together. "And what makes you think of such things, hmm? I haven't made a single attempt to pursue you in such a manner for... years, now? Decades?"

[scarlettwin]

"A need or a desire?" she quipped back, falling back into their old habits. Bantering was always fun with Apollo. Teasing him until his smile out shone the sun itself. His loving, beautiful smile that he only showed her. She didn't mind him trying to be the authoritative role between them. She knew she could hold her own against him, but if he wanted to be her care taker, she would permit it.

At least he wasn't like Hades, stealing her and holding her against her will.

Artemis cast her gaze downward, feeling perhaps the tiniest bit shy about bringing the subject up. Her smile took on a nostalgic look to it, recalling the times her twin tried to woo her. He used romance, pure, raw seduction and other methods...and maybe this was her way to tell him she wanted to take that next step.

"Perhaps I'm missing those times. Maybe, I miss having my brother be a romantic."

[shooterfromafar]

Apollo laughed, his smile bright and delighted. Yes, even if he knew he was destined to be rebuffed when all was said and done, he still enjoyed the chase just as much as his sister the huntress.

"Your brother has never stopped," he quipped, stepping close to loop his right arm around Artemis' waist and grasping her hand with his left. Suddenly, the room was full of light, flirtatious music and the blonde Olympian was dancing his beloved twin around the floor. As they spun, she would be able to see that the day had turned to evening and the room was lit with hundreds of flickering candles, their warm, golden light spilling everywhere.

She fit perfectly into his hold, and Apollo spun her around only to bring Artemis tight against him after.

[scarlettwin]

"But he has!" Wanda exclaimed just as her brother came closer, bringing his arm around her waist. Her hand easily fit into his and within a few seconds they were dancing in his home. The atmosphere taking on a more romantic setting with appropriate lightening and music. He spun her around, dancing with her and making her forget about what was on her mind.

Artemis had been putting too much thought into how she should tell him what was on her mind. There wasn't a need for a flowery speech or sudden declaration. She just needed to go with the flow of things. Eventually Apollo would pick up on the desire to experience a more intimate bond with him.

As day gave way to night and the warm light of hundreds of candles filled the room, Artemis found herself pressed against her twin. Her form fitting so perfectly against his. Truly, they were made for one another, sculpted from the same clay and broken apart.

"You only did this because I reminded you how long ago you chased after me," she continued to tease, her voice soft and playful.

"Perhaps, it might be time for me to find someone who would like to chase after me all the time..." Another hint that she wanted more. Albeit she was being slightly vague, but it was directed at him. She wanted him to chase her again and this time...this time she would let him catch her.

[shooterfromafar]

The sensation of Artemis held closely in his arms was almost enough to distract Apollo completely from any other thoughts, anything else except the way his sister fit with him. He did not ever want to let his twin go, to see her parted from him, but even an Olympian could tire after centuries, and that was what had happened. And while Artemis often teased him about that ardor as often as she chided him against it, there was a timbre to his twin's voice, a set to her eyes that seemed unusual.

"There should be no one but me, of course," Apollo replied. "Don't mistake my having slowed down for having lost any interest in having you at last correct your foolish vow of so, so long ago. If you require pursuit, you will have it, beloved sister."

He leaned in, brushing his cheek against hers, and then his lips against her ear. "Let me have you, Artemis... be with me in the way we have always been meant to... you are the world, all the world to me, and I cannot be complete until we're one."

[scarlettwin]

Ahh, there it was. His low, silky voice, tempting her to give up her vows. Apollo was flirting with her, teasing her. There was the side of her brother that she missed. The daring romantic who whispered in her ear, declaring his love for her. How she meant the world to him and how she should only be with him. These were the things she had been longing to hear, and now that he was saying them...did she dare go through with it?

Yes, she was ready to move on and enter into a new territory with her brother...but she was still apprehensive about it. Artemis did have the right to be hesitant, if only because she was fearful of the change that would come after. If her brother would be possessive of her, or would grow bored with her soon afterward. While she knew her brother's feelings for her were true and strong, she still wondered. Even gods could have doubts.

"My vows were not foolish," she whispered back to him, a slight edge to her voice. He may have bruised her pride slightly by calling her vows foolish or silly. They were what she had club to at the time, and watching Leto give birth to him was scarring. But that was a long time ago and both of them had grown so much since then.

"If...I were to give up my vows...would you try to keep me locked away as our Uncle did to his wife? Or would you still earn for the company of others? Tell me the kind of lover you would be, Brother...." Artemis tilted her head, her lips brushing over the corner of his mouth for a near kiss.

"And maybe...if you are patient...I might recant my vows."

[shooterfromafar]

"Fair enough," Apollo replied, chided for his words. It had simply always been such an unthinkable position to take in his mind. Olympians were beings of great and powerful emotions, a situation exacerbated by their power and immortality. How Artemis had been able to suppress that part of herself for so long was a mystery.

His eyes narrowed as his twin began to speak in much more welcoming tones than ever she'd used when discussing the idea. Apollo could almost sense that something about his sister had shifted. "I would be devoted, of course," he answered sincerely. "Artemis, you are my other half, my everything. To be with you would be the completion of myself. You would be prized and loved and cherished far more than anything in this world. I would treasure every moment you chose to give me and I could never begrudge you your freedom."

Apollo blinked. "Are you... are you telling me the truth? Are you really considering it?"

[scarlettwin]

Her vows kept her grounded and after having mortal men try to take her, it only made sense to continue on with her vows. It was difficult at times, extremely so especially when her heart ached whenever she saw her brother with one of his lovers. She was doing it to protect herself more than anything...and now she was willing to lower her walls and let her brother in.

Artemis pulled slightly back to hold his gaze, noting the sincerity in his words and in his eyes. He was trying to woo her, but he wasn't trying to deceive her. He was being truthful to her, and for that she felt more at ease with lowering the walls around her heart.

"When have you known me to lie to you?" she asked in earnest, unable to recall a moment when she deceived her twin or gave him false information. Even among their own kind, the two always stuck close together.

"We are no longer needed. The last prayer I heard was centuries ago, and maybe now...I feel ready to be with the one God who has held my attention and interest longer than anything else. I'm ready for you and I...to be one."

[shooterfromafar]

"Never," Apollo answered with all sincerity. "And you know I have never been false with you, either." That was how it always had been, how he knew it always would be. Two parts of one being could never lie to one another, or should even try. He had always laid his heart and his desires bare to Artemis, even at the height of her determination to remain untouched, never once stooping to deception or trickery to claim her, as so many mortal women had been by other Olympians.

The rest of his twin's words all but rendered the god speechless. He gazed at Artemis with surprise and adoration beaming from his face, expression glowing with the joy to where it nearly haloed his face.

"I would ask if you were certain, sister, but I know you. I can hear it in your voice, see it in your eyes. And I truly hope you can see how happy it makes me. I swear to you that you will never regret this decision." With that, he leaned in with as much caution as he could muster and found Artemis' lips with his own.

[scarlettwin]

"I know." In all of their lifetime, the twins never lied to one another. They weren't like their other relatives on Olympus who sought to take lovers, countries or power from one another. Artemis and Apollo looked after one another constantly. Even when they fought, they still had boundaries with one another and it didn't take centuries for them to make up.

In delivering her news to her brother, Artemis felt a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Now came the anticipation of how her brother would react. If he would act like a beast and pounce on her, or let her take her time in exploring him and the new depth of their relationship. When she saw how happy he was, even beaming, she knew she made the right decision.

"You always make me happy, brother, as you said..you are my other half." And now she was going to fully embrace that. Perhaps not all at once as she needed to get comfortable with him exploring her body and with her returning those affections.

Artemis found herself closing her eyes, letting her brother's lips touch hers for the first time. In terms of feeling, it was different, but she could feel the love behind it. He cared for her deeply, she knew, and she cared just as deeply for him. Her hand came up to rest on his cheek and she found herself shyly kissing him back. As wise as Artemis was, she was a novice to this.

[shooterfromafar]

Too many of their relatives were ruled solely by their own desires. And while he and his sister were passionate beings to be sure, Apollo knew that so long as they had one another, they would always have an anchor to keep each other from going too far.

He was nearly glowing with light, unable to completely control his joy at Artemis' revelation. Apollo had wanted nothing so much as this for his entire existence, and now the time had at last arrived. But at the same time, he loved his sister too much to allow that ardor to make him rush or force her into anything she wasn't ready for.

And so he began with the kiss. A touch at first, and then movement, with his twin's soft lips moving against his. It was long and languid, warm and loving. Apollo deepened it only a touch, gradually, and only when it seemed Artemis was ready for more.

[scarlettwin]

Though her eyes were closed, Artemis could feel her brother glowing with joy, pride and love. The warmth of his light touched her deeply, brushing against her soul. She let out a soft hum, enjoying the feeling of his lips pressed against hers.

When he began to kiss her deeper, Artemis found herself parting her lips. She let his tongue slip into her mouth, making her moan. Gods, she didn't think Apollo could taste this sweet. The goddess began to press her body against her brother's body.

Her hands moved up to rest against his shoulders, finding herself getting lost in the kiss. Artemis found herself murmuring her brother's name.

[shooterfromafar]

[OOC: So sorry this took so long. Been having one of those weeks.]

Feeling Artemis kiss him back-- feeling her respond to it with such fervor and excitement-- was better than Apollo had ever imagined. His sister's body moulded against his as though they'd been built to hold one another in such an intimate way, and the press of her figure on him made his immortal heart race. And when she moaned, the Olympian felt his head begin to swoon.

It was absolute paradise, knowing that at last, he and his twin would be one.

"I love you so much," he whispered against Artemis' lips, then reached down to scoop her off her feet, carrying her towards the bedroom without moving his mouth from hers.

[scarlettwin]

[ooc: That's okay, I understand.]

If Artemis wasn't kissing her brother and found herself in a more rational state of mind, she might have thought they were going to too fast. It started out with a kiss, and now her brother was holding her and bringing her to his bed. In the back of her mind, she knew she could say stop and he would listen, but she found herself enjoying the way his lips felt on hers too much to care.

"I love you too, Brother..." she murmured back to him, breathing pulling back to catch her breath. Her cheeks looked flushed and there was a hint of embarrassment in her dark eyes. Not because of what they were doing, but she couldn't figure out what they should do next.

Her lips moved over his jaw, to his cheek and then to his ear. Her tongue snaked out to lightly brush against the shell of his ear, just to see how he would react.

"What do you plan to do to me, Brother?"

[shooterfromafar]

Apollo couldn't help but be a little bit tickled by his sister's expression of uncertainty, since he knew it had nothing to do with her choice to be with him. There had never been a decision that Artemis had ever made lightly, as far as he'd ever been witness, and so he knew this one especially was a certainty. No, he recognized that his twin was hesitant at her own inexperience, and he loved her for it.

He gave a slight shiver as her tongue touched his ear, and he smiled. "I was planning on laying down with you and holding and kissing you until you go mad and ask me to touch you. And then touch you until you go mad again and ask me to use my mouth on you..." A light danced in his eyes as he let her know not only that he had ever intention to do many things with Artemis, but that he would let her set the pace, as well.

[scarlettwin]

If she were with any other mortal or God, Artemis' inexperience would be her problem. They wouldn't let her set the pace of their intimacy, only focused on their own desires. Whereas with Apollo, he wanted to take his time to explore her. To let her tell him what she wanted from him. He had been waiting for this moment for so long, he wasn't about to ruin it.

Artemis shuddered from his hot breath and the images his words conjured in her mind. She bit her lower lip and bowed her head, trying to hide how aroused he was making her. Her lower lips wet with anticipation.

"Go mad, you say? I don't believe you could drive me to madness, Brother..." a silent challenge in her words, trying to tempt him to do more.

"But if you do, how long will we be tangled in your sheets? Hours? Days? Will you let me stay in your bed until we are thoroughly satisfied?"

[shooterfromafar]

A low, humming sound rose from deep in Apollo's chest as his sister's wonderful spirit rose to the surface and teased him, challenged him to do his very best to undo her completely. He was more than up to the challenge, of course-- he relished the idea of it.

With Artemis' head lowered, his lips wandered over her temple and brow and cheek as they spoke.

"How long will I 'let' you stay? Dearest sister, were it up to me, you and I might never leave that bed for the rest of our immortality. But short of that, I expect you to go nowhere until you are completely sated and not a moment before."

[scarlettwin]

Apollo's lips to her skin made her heart race and womanhood quiver with anticipation. She could only imagine where his lips would travel. What parts of her his tongue would caress, or where his hands might roam. He was up for the challenge and Artemis, she was willing to keep going. She was nervous, but that was normal. She was the one who set the pace, and could easily bring it all to a halt.

Her hand came up to rest on his chest, right over his heart. His was beating steadily, confident and excited about their night or nights together. Her eyes were fluttered shut, picturing what he would do to her. Thankfully, he was holding her, otherwise she would be weak in the knees.

"You would want to keep me only in your bed? Brother, you are cruel. I thought you would at least want to explore other areas to have fun." She had heard being intimate in the water, a pool or bath, was fun. Whatever he wanted to do with her...she was eager and nervous to do it.

[shooterfromafar]

"Oh, is that so?" Apollo answered, laughing heartily. "My dear sister is already planning on running and flying before she's learned to walk. Although," he answered, his eyes shining warmly, "I suppose I should expect nothing less from you."

His hands clasped around the one that Artemis had placed on his chest and lifted it to his lips, kissing her fingertips before moving his lips to her palm and the inside of her wrist, where he could feel his twin's pulse against his kiss. Apollo did not stop there, kissing his way up her arm, to her shoulder, neck, and then to her mouth once more.

"If that is your wish, then we can keep going until there's nowhere on Earth we haven't made love."

[scarlettwin]

Artemis opened her eyes to see the warmth in her twin's. They were challenging one another, but in a playful way. Artemis want to know what her brother would do to, just to prepare herself...and get herself aroused.

She said nothing, watching Apollo kiss her fingertips and felt his lips travel from her wrist up her arm and then to her mouth. This time she was prepared, kissing him back and even found herself deepening the kiss slightly, letting her tongue play with his before he pulled back.

"That sounds perfect.." she breathed, looking up at him and leaned in to initiate a kiss of her own, still a novice, but she wanted it to be sweet, sensual, and teasing. Artemis pulled back after a few moments, pressing her forehead against her twin's.

"Take me to your bed, brother."

[shooterfromafar]

Apollo was delighted to find that his twin's quick abilities with the physical extended to these tender, more intimate activities, as well. Every time they kissed, he could feel her growing more confident and more daring. His tongue danced with hers for a moment before Artemis spoke with such warm anticipation. And as soon as the words were spoken, they were there.

He lowered his sister to the bed, plush and soft and topped with silken covers. Apollo climbed onto the bed beside her, stretching out their bodies together. His mouth claimed hers once more for a moment before tracing a line of kisses down Artemis' throat, stopping at the edge of the fabric of her gown.

"May I see you, my love?" he asked with heat simmering under the tone of his voice, "or would you feel more comfortable seeing me first?"

[scarlettwin]

Artemis' confidence was steadily growing. Each time they kissed she felt her confidence rise, and felt a bit bolder. She trusted her brother to not take advantage of the gift she was giving him; the chance to be whole with her, to see her in her truest form, and to be with her. There was still some anticipation and nervousness dwelling in Artemis. A new experience for her to face and the chance to shed her old vows.

She went from being in her brother's arms to his bed. The soft sheets felt light and smooth on her skin. His mouth was on hers again, allowing her tongue to glide and grind against his. Artemis went as far as dipping her sleek muscle into his mouth for another taste of him. The kiss didn't last as long as Artemis had anticipated, but his lips left a trail down the column of her throat to the edge of the fabric of her gown. His question left her breathless and unsure of what she wanted first.

"...I don't know," her voice came back to her then, letting him know she was still anxious about what they would. Artemis softly shut her eyes to ground herself and took a deep breath. She had seen Apollo naked once, the day he was born. This shouldn't be any different. She opened her eyes to look at him, her hand coming up to caress the side of his face as she weighed her options.

"...May I see you first, my love?"