| Part two Ares couldn�t quite put his finger on it, but something was off this morning. He was discussing plans for the coming week with Strife and Eris and he got the distinct impression that Strife was laughing at him. He dismissed that idea immediately, Strife wouldn�t dare, would he? He glanced at Strife out of the corner of his eye and caught his nephew smirking at him. He rounded on the younger God, � Is there a problem, Strife?� he said menacingly. He caught a flash of fear before Strife�s face blanked. � Problem Unc? Nah, nevah!� said Strife, � Just thinkin'.� � Thinking, you?� said Ares mockingly, � About what?� � That it�s interesting how often our plans involve Xena and Blondie, and that weirdo, what�s his name?� he said guilelessly. � Joxer,� said Ares without thinking. Strife watched with interest as Ares the God of War actually flushed lightly. � Isn�t it obvious?� said Eris, seemingly oblivious to the byplay, � It�s too much fun winding that pair up.� Strife nodded, � Yeah, I guess it�s close ta annoying Hercules in the fun stakes.� He managed to maintain a fairly innocent expression as Ares watched him suspiciously. Eris watched her son too, with interest. She was well acquainted with that particular expression, what did he think he was up to? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Ares eventually decided that Strife couldn�t possibly know anything, but just to be sure, he visited his sister after the meeting. � Aphrodite!� he yelled in his sister�s home. � Arry? What can I do for you?� Aphrodite appeared in a twinkle of gold. � Does anyone else know?� demanded Ares. � Know what Ar?� said Aphrodite in confusion. � About Joxer,� said Ares. � Of course not Ar, you know that stuff�s all in confidence,� said Aphrodite. � Have you still got that survey thing?� he asked. � Of course,� she snapped her fingers and it appeared in her hand. � Destroy it.� � But Ar,� started Aphrodite. � Please,� said Ares. Aphrodite blinked and then nodded, the survey disappeared in a flash. � Thank you.� � Are you all right bro?� she asked in concern. Ares sat down heavily and sighed. � Just for one horrible moment, I thought Strife might know something,� he said. � Oh please, the only thing in Strife�s head other than mischief, is Cupid, you know that,� said Aphrodite. Ares� face softened at the thought of his son and nephew together. � Why is it so important that it stays a secret?� she asked. Ares rubbed a hand over his face and through his hair. � I remember when he was a kid, Joxer and his brothers were dedicated to me by their father. I honestly didn�t take much notice of Joxer and Jace when they were kids, neither of them were really cut out to be warriors, but I followed Jett�s career with interest.� Ares paused and looked up at his sister, she smiled encouragingly. He looked down again before continuing. � What caught my interest with Joxer, was when he was older; he continued to be dedicated to me, he prays to me every day you know?� Aphrodite squeezed his shoulder. � He never asks me for anything, only thanks me for being able to help others and for when he survives. I became even more interested when he hooked up with Xena and Blondie, it gave me an excuse to actually meet him in person, instead of keeping an eye on him like I normally do.� � I thought he�d lived for too long on his own abilities,� laughed Aphrodite. Ares nodded, � He needs rescuing a lot,� he said. � That�s one reason I let Xena and Blondie live, they actually care about him, well a little and they protect him.� � So once you met him�� started Aphrodite. � I fell in love with him, he, I, he was terrified of me, I know, but he didn�t back down. He stayed with Xena and Blondie ready to protect them, even though he knows he can�t fight. Ever since that first meeting he�s been like that, despite being afraid of me, and despite still worshipping me, he stands up to me.� Ares shook his head in wonder, � He is beyond my comprehension and I have been watching him for years.� Aphrodite smiled softly at him, she was the only one privy to this side of her brother. � Why don�t you let me do something?� � No!� said Ares firmly. � But�� � No!� Ares got to his feet and started to pace, � If anything were to happen, which it won�t, I don�t want any outside interference,� he said vehemently. � What do you mean it won�t?� asked Aphrodite, � Why don�t you pursue it?� Ares looked sad, � He�s in love with Gabrielle,� his jaw clenched convulsively as he thought of the way the blonde bard treated Joxer. � Are you sure?� asked Aphrodite. Ares frowned at her, � What do you mean?� he demanded. � Just maybe you should watch him a little closer,� she said with a gentle smile. � Now,� she stood and hugged her brother. � We both have work to do.� Ares kissed her cheek, � Thanks �Dite,� he whispered before they both flash out of the temple. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Cupid breathed a sigh of relief, he�d put the scroll back just in time. He quickly made his escape home. He had been lucky that his father had been too agitated and his mother too concerned with her brother, that neither of them had noticed him. He hadn�t been surprised exactly, at the conversation; he�d always known that his father had a softer side. He�d been more surprised at Ares� reluctance to try and win Joxer, as if he didn�t believe anyone could truly love him. That thought tore at Cupid�s heart, and made him even more determined to help his father. he was pretty sure Joxer�s feelings for Gabrielle were hiding something else, and his mom�s hints to Ares confirmed it. But he wanted to be absolutely sure. *Strife, you busy?* Strife appeared in a flash of blue in front of him. � Nevah too busy for ya babe,� he grinned. Cupid smiled, stepping into his lover�s outstretched arms. � Hey love,� he whispered after a soul-searing kiss. � You called?� asked Strife. � Yeah, I wanted to know if Ares was planning on annoying Xena in the near future?� Cupid asked. Strife raised an eyebrow, � Yeah actually, today,� he looked thoughtful, � Um, pretty much now.� Cupid looked agitated, � Let�s go then.� � What? Go where?� asked Strife in confusion. � To watch,� said Cupid. They flashed down into a clearing, watching unobserved as Ares suddenly appeared in front of Xena, Gabrielle and Joxer, causing Argo to rear up, nearly throwing Xena from his back. � Ares!� she growled in annoyance. Gabrielle took up a defensive position next to Xena. � What do you want?� she snapped. Ares sneered at the blonde and appeared to completely ignore Joxer. � What?� said Ares, � I can�t come and thank you for a job well done?� he smiled mockingly. Joxer had slowly made his way round Argo to Xena�s other side, his eyes never leaving Ares� face. � What do you mean?� asked Xena frowning. Ares� smile grew wider, � Oh just that little unauthorised battle you stopped for me, giving me time to concentrate on a bigger and much more important war.� � You tricked us,� hissed Gabrielle. � Oh like that�s hard to do Blondie,� snapped Ares. Ares, Strife, Cupid and Gabrielle looked at Joxer. Suddenly the wannabe warrior blinked. � Hey, don�t speak to her like that!� said Joxer, he�d suddenly realised Ares had insulted the woman he was supposed to love and tore his attention away from the true object of his affections. � Or what?� asked Ares with a snort, before he vanished, leaving all three mortals extremely agitated, if for somewhat different reasons. � Don�t let him get to you Xena, you know he does it deliberately,� said Gabrielle, looking up at Xena�s furious expression. Xena sighed, � I know, don�t let him get to you either.� Gabrielle smiled up at her. Neither of them thought to ask Joxer how he was, but Joxer was too busy trying to shake the daze that came over him whenever he saw Ares. He sighed as he followed the two women to a clearing. � We�ll stop here, I don�t feel like travelling now,� said Xena. � Um, I�m going to go and, uh, wash,� said Joxer hesitantly. Xena nodded, � Be careful.� Joxer waved and headed carefully for the river, at last able to adjust his erection. At the riverside he stripped off his armour and his clothes and slipped into the water. He lay back and grasped his hard cock which hadn�t been discouraged by the chill of the water. He pictured Ares in his mind; it was one of his favourite occupations, speculating on Ares� naked appearance. As always his imagination quickly supplied him with tantalising images. He sighed and put himself in the picture, kneeling before his God to worship him with his mouth. He pumped quickly on his cock, pinching his nipples with his other hand, before sliding it down his stomach to roll his balls gently. He wondered what Ares would taste like, how it would feel to have his thick length down his throat. � Oh,� he bit his lip as he started to shudder, jets of come spurted into the water. � Ares,� he whispered, flopping dejectedly back against the bank. He curled up on himself desperately fighting back tears. Why did he do this to himself? Nobody had ever loved him, what on Olympus made him think that a God would even notice him? He knew focussing on Gabrielle and trying to fall for her was probably just as stupid, but he didn�t know what else to do. All his life he had felt connected to Ares, even when he�d known that he would never be a real warrior, he couldn�t not worship Ares. As he�d got older it was as if he could sometimes feel Ares� presence, but he knew that wasn�t possible. His feelings for his God had only increased after meeting him, despite Ares� actions. Joxer shook himself out of his despondency and washed himself off before heading back to the camp. � Wow,� said Strife. � Yeah,� said Cupid. � How, by Hades, are we gonna get em together?� asked Strife. Cupid grinned and kissed him hard, � I was hoping you were going to say that!� � You gotta plan?� asked Strife expectantly. Cupid nodded and in a flash they were in Aphrodite�s temple. -------------------------------------------------------------- When they�d disappeared Eris walked out from behind a tree, grinning. So that was their little game. Well it�d be interesting to see what they�d come up with. Eris sighed fondly at the thought of her son making mischief for Ares, but then it would be nice to see her bro hooked up, maybe he wouldn�t be such an asshole all the time. She decided to keep a close eye on the proceedings. -------------------------------------------------------------- � Mom?� called Cupid. � Cupie, darling,� said Aphrodite, appearing before them in a shower of golden sparks. � Mom, we need your help,� said Cupid after hugging the Goddess. � What can I do?� asked Aphrodite. � Well I have two men, and they�re very much in love with each other, but both of them think the other couldn�t possibly love them,� he replied. � Oh how sad,� said Aphrodite. � I need your help getting them together.� � Ooh goodie!� said Aphrodite clapping her hands excitedly. She frowned suddenly, � Wait a moment, who are the two men?� Cupid smiled, � Come on, you know.� Aphrodite bit her lip, she didn�t want to say anything in case she was wrong, � Well I think I know who you mean, but I�d rather hear it from you.� Cupid took pity on her.� Ares and Joxer.� � Ha, ha, I knew I couldn�t be the only one to realise that, even without their surveys!� squealed Aphrodite, � Oh but I promised Arry I wouldn�t interfere.� � It�s ok mom, all I need from you is Joxer�s survey, actually I�d like to take a look at it,� Cupid said. Aphrodite grinned and snapped her fingers, a scroll appeared in her hands and she started to read. � NAME: Joxer SEX: Male AGE: 27 HOME: Nowhere HEIGHT: don�t know EYES: brownish HAIR: brownish FAVORITE SMELL: truthfully? Ares WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD: Unrequited love BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD: seeing Ares WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THOUGHT OF WHEN YOU WOKE UP THIS MORNING? Oh no, not another dream about Ares FAVORITE FOODS: fish THINGS TO DO ON THE WEEKENDS: sing, rest, dream DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS? Uh, I�d rather not say DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS: I used to until Dad found out-he wasn�t happy IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY KIND OF PET, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A kitten IF YOU COULD BE ANY KIND OF ANIMAL WHAT WOULD IT BE? Ares� warhorse IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE? Well I get to meet Ares quite a lot, so I guess my mom WHAT IS YOUR SIGN? Sagittarius GUYS IF A GIRL ASKED FOR THE SHIRT OFF YOUR BACK, WOULD YOU GIVE IT TO HER? Of course WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION? Helping people, well trying to IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB YOU WANTED, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A warrior worthy of Ares IF YOU COULD MAKE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Black WHAT IS ON YOUR WALLS IN YOUR ROOM/TEMPLE? Well back home I used to have a picture of Ares IS THE CUP HALF-EMPTY OR HALF-FULL? Oh half-full ARE YOU A RIGHTY, LEFTY OR AMBIDEXTROUS? Righty WHAT�S UNDER YOUR BED? Usually rocks IF YOU WERE SOMEONE ELSE, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOURSELF? I don�t know WHO ARE YOU ENVIOUS OF? Xena and Gabby, for their relationship WHAT WAS THE BEST SOLSTICE GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED? A good luck charm from Meg WHAT WAS THE WORST SOLSTICE GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED? A beating from my father NAME ONE PERSON YOU WOULD CALL A FRIEND: Uh, maybe Xena or Gabby NAME ONE PERSON YOU WOULD CALL AN ENEMY: I don�t know really DO YOU LIKE GUYS, GIRLS OR BOTH? Um, both ARE YOU A VIRGIN? No HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? My whole life DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING: I don�t think it�s even possible WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEXUAL POSITION? All of them <flush> as long as it�s consensual WHO IS THE ONE PERSON YOU�D LIKE TO TAKE TO BED? Um Ares WHY? I love him NAME SOMEONE PERSON YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON: Ares DOES THIS PERSON KNOW? By Tartarus I hope not SAY ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: she�s very understanding.� Aphrodite finished with a sad smile. � Wow, they are both hopeless!� exclaimed Strife. � Yeah,� said Aphrodite, � I�ve asked Arry to let me help, but you know how he is,� she shrugged. Cupid nodded, � We�ve got to find a way for them to show their feelings, and I think I might know how,� he grinned wickedly. |