| Part 3 Ares paced back and forth in front of the large map laid out in his war room. He was supposed to be planning but he couldn�t concentrate. His mind kept wandering back to his earlier meeting with Xena. Aphrodite had told him to watch Joxer more closely, and he had. His mortal love had certainly been distracted by his presence, but that could mean anything, after all, he still worshipped Ares. And he had still leapt to Gabrielle�s defence. Ares� lip curled into a snarl at the thought of the blonde bard. That bitch didn�t deserve Joxer�s affections. Slamming his fist into the table in frustration, he transported himself to the middle of a battle to indulge in some wholesale slaughter. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Joxer was so quiet at the camp, that eventually even Gabrielle noticed something was wrong, although Xena had been flicking concerned glances his way for some time. � What�s wrong with you?� Gabrielle asked him. Joxer looked at her in surprise, shrugging because he couldn�t think of anything to say. � I don�t know why you�re so down. It�s not like Ares even knows you�re alive!� Joxer blinked at her, keeping his face blank very carefully as the terrible cruelty of her words, although unknowingly so, ripped his heart to pieces. � I was just thinking,� he said, very proud that his voice didn�t break. He got up. Xena looked at him questioningly. � Call of nature,� he said before making his way into the darkness. Tears trickled down his face but he held onto his control until he was sure no one could hear him. Gabrielle�s words had rammed home the sheer stupidity and hopelessness of his dreams. He sat there for a while, letting the tears stream down his face, staring blankly into the darkness. A small rustling noise caught his attention and he looked about him nervously. Then he heard a tiny mewing noise and a fluffy little kitten rolled out of the bushes across from him. Joxer got up, looking around cautiously, there appeared to be no one around so he walked over to the little animal and crouched down to pet it gently. � Hello little one, what are you doing out here?� he said. Then he noticed the note attached to the kitten�s collar. � To Joxer, this kitten is yours, his name is Ares, with love, your secret admirer� Joxer blinked several times and reread the note. Secret admirer? Who could possibly know he wanted a kitten except�Aphrodite! He picked up the kitten, which snuggled itself into his arms. � Well Ares,� he said aloud, � I think we�re going to have to pay Aphrodite a little visit.� � Oh how adorable,� squealed Gabrielle, when he returned to the camp with the kitten. She reached out to pet the tiny animal but jumped back when it hissed and struck out at her. � Not very friendly though,� she said with a pout. Joxer had to fight not to laugh, � Well he is called Ares.� � You called a kitten Ares?� asked Xena raising an eyebrow. Joxer shook his head. � It�s on his collar, it�s appropriate somehow though,� he said thoughtfully. � You�re not going to keep him?� asked Xena. Joxer nodded, � For the time being till I find out whose he is,� he said. Xena tilted her head thoughtfully before nodding, � We�re not far from Thrace, maybe someone there will know.� ---------------------------------------------------------------- Strife grinned as he watched the exchange. The kitten certainly seemed comfortable with Joxer, and it was just perfect that it didn�t like Gabrielle. Then he transported himself back to his lover, who was waiting for him at their home. � How�d it go?� Cupid smiled at Strife. � Phase 1 in motion,� Strife grinned, � Calling the kitten �Ares� will be a stroke of genius I know!� � How modest of you,� said Cupid. Strife winked at him, � You knows it babe,� he bowed mockingly. � C�mere lover,� pouted Cupid, � You haven�t kissed me yet.� � Are ya sayin� I�m neglectin� ya?� said Strife, a smile playing on his lips. � Yeah,� breathed Cupid, � Come and make it up to me,� he waggled his eyebrows suggestively. � Your command is my wish,� said Strife with a small grin, dropping to his knees between Cupid�s legs. He leaned forward and kissed Cupid hard. Cupid moaned and slid his fingers into spiky hair pulling him closer. Lips and tongues entwined in a familiar dance as the lovers reacquainted themselves with the others� taste. Strife pulled away breathless. � Mmm, I missed that,� said Cupid licking his lips. � What? Since this afternoon?� Strife smirked. Cupid nodded, � Can�t get enough, you know that.� Strife grinned and waved his hand, leaving his lover naked. � So I see,� he stared at his lover�s beautiful, hard cock. � Is that for me?� he asked licking his lips. Cupid nodded, swallowing at the expression of hunger on Strife�s face. Despite being God of Love, their relationship still never failed to leave him in awe. Strife smiled and touched his cheek, he recognised the expression on his cousin�s face. It was the same one that had appeared when Strife had first confessed his love. He slid his hands down to Cupid�s hips and leaned forward to rub his cheek against the soft, silky skin of Cupid�s erection. Cupid sighed and relaxed back against the chair. Strife leaned back and wiped the streak of precum off his face, licking his fingers clean. � Umm, finger lickin� good,� he chuckled, before burying his face back in Cupid�s crotch. He laved Cupid�s length until it was thoroughly wetted, occasionally flicking his tongue across the slit at the tip to taste more precum. Cupid groaned, spreading his legs wider. Strife shifted lower, gently sucking the sensitive skin at the top of Cupid�s thighs and licking lightly haired balls. He stroked Cupid�s length slowly as he dipped his tongue lower to the sensitive skin between balls and anus. � Oh,� gasped Cupid, shifting forward in his seat to give Strife better access. Strife flicked his tongue across Cupid�s quivering opening, before moving upwards again licking up the length of Cupid�s shaft. He simultaneously took the erection into his mouth and pushed a finger into Cupid�s ass. Cupid struggled to maintain control and not thrust deep into Strife�s mouth. As Strife continued to suck and lick, his tongue swirling endlessly around his lover�s cock, he pushed a second finger into Cupid, wiggling deeper to find his pleasure spot. As he grazed his fingers over the small nub of flesh, he relaxed his throat taking Cupid deeper inside him. He grinned at the stream of nonsense words, endearments, and his name pouring from Cupid�s mouth. Cupid couldn�t even think coherently, he just rocked himself between the twin pleasures of warm mouth and questing fingers. Strife reached down with his free hand and began to stroke himself, matching Cupid�s jerking movements. � Strife, Strife, STRIFE!� gasped Cupid, pleasure peaking in the jets of come that shot down his lover�s throat. Strife moaned, forcing himself not to bite down as his hips jerked from his own completion. Cupid slipped from his mouth and Strife rested his head on a muscular thigh, panting loudly. � Consider yourself forgiven,� gasped Cupid. Strife laughed. With a wave of his hand they were clean, dressed and Strife was cradled in Cupid�s arms. � So what next?� he asked his lover. � We wait for a while,� said Cupid, � I�ve a feeling things are going to get interesting.� � Cool,� said Strife, � Shall we go and pick up Bliss then?� Cupid nodded, � Mom�s been great looking after him while we do this. I�ve told Bliss about it, he thinks it�s great; he said he wants �gwandpa� to be as happy as us.� � Aw, that�s so cute,� said Strife. They transported themselves to Aphrodite�s temple. ------------------------------------------------------------ When they arrived in Thrace, Xena and Gabrielle went to get supplies while Joxer begged off saying he had errands to run. After going to see Aphrodite, he wanted to visit Ares� temple and make an offering and he didn�t like the two women knowing that he still actively worshipped Ares. He shifted the kitten up to its favourite position round his neck and made his way to Aphrodite�s temple. Inside he walked through the opulence and pink drapery to the statue of the Goddess. � Um, Aphrodite, could I speak to you,� he said hesitantly. There was a shower of gold and the beautiful blonde Goddess appeared in front of him. � Of course Joxie, what is it?� she smiled kindly. � Um well, I was wondering, uh well, I found this kitten,� he started. � Oh what a sweetie,� Aphrodite petted the small creature gently. � Yes well, there was this note with it,� Joxer held it out. � Oh my, a secret admirer, lucky you,� said Aphrodite. Joxer looked uncertain. � What is it?� � Well I was just thinking maybe it was a joke or something, you know. I mean only you know I wanted a kitten,� he said. Aphrodite frowned, � I did?� � It was in my survey,� said Joxer. � Oh I�m sorry Joxie, I haven�t had a chance to read the surveys yet,� said Aphrodite. Joxer looked stunned, � And, and no one else could have read it?� Aphrodite shook her head, � Oh no they�re locked away safely, I would never let anyone else read them.� � Oh,� said Joxer, the Goddess�s answer left him feeling slightly disconcerted. � Come on Joxie, don�t look like that, why shouldn�t you have a secret admirer?� she asked. � I don�t know,� he said quietly, � it just seems so unlikely.� Aphrodite sighed, � Well I don�t think so, why don�t you just enjoy the compliment?� Joxer nodded uncertainly, � Ok, but I still think it must be a joke. Well thank you Aphrodite, it was nice of you to talk to me,� he said ready to take his leave. To his surprise the Goddess pulled him into a hug. � You�re always welcome Joxer,� she said before disappearing. Joxer blinked, then shrugged. � Come on Ares,� he said to the kitten. He made his way to Ares� temple, a stark contrast to Aphrodite�s, all dark and stoic, decorated in black with the odd bit of silver. He walked up to Ares� statue and knelt before it. He made a short prayer of thanks for surviving the last battle and left a small offering, then he stared up at the statue for a while. It didn�t do Ares justice, but it was still beautiful. He didn�t notice the kitten wandering away. Ares was watching a battle when he felt Joxer�s presence in one of his temples, he smiled fondly at the prayer and transported himself to Thrace. He entered his temple, remaining invisible. Frowning in bemusement he watched Joxer creep around the temple. � Ares, Ares where are you?� whispered Joxer as he searched for the small kitten. � Come on Ares, I don�t have time for this. Here kitty, kitty.� Here kitty? Ares shook his head, had Joxer gone mad? He appeared in front of Joxer, arms folded across his broad chest, an eyebrow raised. Joxer didn�t notice anyone in his way until he bumped into the solid body. � Oh, I�m sor�� he looked up at Ares and jumped back. � Ares!� Ares smirked, � Were you, uh, calling me?� � I, I, no,� stuttered Joxer. � No I didn�t think you would be calling me kitty,� Ares said, suppressing a grin. � Oh no, I wouldn�t,� said Joxer, � I can�t find my kitten.� Ares frowned and concentrated, he found the little animal and transported it into his hands. He looked at the tiny, black kitten and noticed the name tag. � You named your kitten Ares?� he asked incredulously. Joxer gulped, certain he was about to be blasted into cinders, then he started in surprise when Ares burst out laughing. � Well Ares, let�s hope you live up to your namesake,� he handed the animal back to Joxer. � Well, I�m not sure I shouldn�t be insulted,� said Ares. Joxer was still staring at him in surprise. � Hello?� Ares waved a hand in front of Joxer�s face. � Oh I�m sorry My Lord,� said Joxer jumping again, � I, he�s not mine, at least I,� he stopped. � No matter, you have amused me, here,� Ares waved his hand and Joxer found himself dressed in leather trousers, cotton shirt and leather armour. Joxer stared down at himself in amazement and then back up at Ares, who was no longer there. Ares was still standing in front of Joxer as the man looked about in confusion. He ached to reach out and touch him, pull him close and kiss him, but instead he watched as Joxer made his way out of the temple. He sighed as the tight leather flexed over muscular cheeks and reached down to palm his erection. He�d been looking for a reason to get rid of that god awful excuse for armour Joxer usually wore, and he certainly appreciated how the new leather showed off Joxer�s surprisingly toned body. He still couldn�t work out why he would call a kitten Ares though. ----------------------------- Strife smirked, he was getting good at shielding his presence from his uncle. He transported himself to Aphrodite�s temple to tell Cupid and Aphrodite all about it. ---------------------------- Eris waited for her brother and son to leave before she let fly with the hysterical laughter she�d been convulsed with ever since she�d heard Joxer calling for his kitten. Her son came up with some doozies, calling a kitten �Ares� of all things! -------------------------------------------------------------- � It was so funny,� Strife laughed, � Seeing Unc�s face when Joxer said �here kitty�,� he stopped as he started to choke, tears pouring down his face. Cupid patted his back, even though he was convulsed with laughter himself. Strife recovered, � Joxer was so sure Unc was gonna waste him, I�ve never seen anyone look more shocked when Unc gave him the new clothes,� he giggled again. � I told you it�d be interesting,� said Cupid, � And you were right, naming the kitten �Ares� was a stroke of genius.� Aphrodite smiled at the two younger Gods, � It�s a good start.� |