| Part 15 � How about a picnic?� Five faces stared blankly at Autolycus. � What? We don�t always have to be looking for trouble do we?� Xena frowned, then smiled, � I guess not, a little R&R wouldn�t hurt.� Gabrielle nodded. � Sounds great,� Said Iolaus, nudging Hercules, who grinned at him. � We know this nice little secluded place down by the river.� � I�ll just bet you do,� Autolycus snorted, leering at the couple. � Jealousy does not become you, Auto,� Hercules sniffed. Autolycus grinned at him. � Jox? You�re very quiet,� Iolaus commented. � Hmmm? Oh yeah, sorry, just Ares is laughing hysterically about something,� Joxer smiled. � Why do the words, �Ares� and �laughing hysterically� in the same sentence just not fit?� Hercules asked, but he smiled at Joxer, to show he meant nothing by it. � How�d you know anyway?� Autolycus asked curiously. Joxer blinked, � You know, I don�t know!� � It�s the mark. Even though you�re not a God, you�ll still be able to feel certain things from Ares,� said Xena. � How do you know all this stuff about the marks?� asked Gabrielle. � My grandmother�s sister had one,� Xena shrugged. � Really?� Iolaus leant forward, � Who from?� � Hms,� Xena muttered. � What?� came five voices. � Hermes,� she repeated more clearly. � Really?� Autolycus raised an eyebrow in surprise, � I�ve never heard of Hermes having a consort.� � Oh, he hasn�t, she died, that breaks the bond made by the mark,� Xena clarified. � Oh,� Joxer said quietly. � Oh Jox, I,� Xena trailed off lamely. � Oh, it�s okay. I just don�t like the thought of Ares being lonely,� Joxer tried to smile reassuringly. Then suddenly he clutched his head, and collapsed. � Joxer!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- � But, Father!� � But nothing, I said NO!� A small crack of thunder resounded around Olympus with Zeus� last word. � My dear,� Hera placed sarcastic emphasis on the words, � If Ares chooses to marry his consort, it is his right to have him made immortal.� � Fine! Ares is forbidden to marry!� Zeus said petulantly. � You can�t DO that!� Cupid and Strife grabbed Ares before he could attack his father. � Let go of ME!� he roared flinging them aside easily. He was frozen into place with a wave of Zeus� hand. � Grandfather, please,� Cupid started as he got up from the floor. � No Cupid. Ares is War, he cannot love,� said Zeus firmly. � I will allow Joxer to live out the natural course of his life, but that is all.� Ares bellowed in anger and frustration, struggling to move. � But grandpa, some of the most beautiful love in the world, comes from war,� Cupid tried to persuade Zeus. � Indeed, many of Ares� warriors keep a separate altar to me when they are on campaign,� said Hera. Zeus pouted, he didn�t like being argued with, then he smiled slowly, � If several conditions are met, of my choosing, within the month, then I will reconsider.� Ares went quiet, then his eyes widened, � Zeus, I have to go, now!� � Don�t you want to hear the conditions?� � Tell Strife. I have to go, NOW!� Ares shouted. Anger began to spill into the room as he struggled against his bonds. � ARGH!� He went limp. � Dad!� Cupid exclaimed. � Wha�s goin� on?� Strife and Cupid picked Ares up, from where he�d dropped to the floor when Zeus released him. Ares stirred, � Joxer,� he moaned. � It�s the bond,� said Hera, � If Ares� emotions overwhelmed Joxer, the pain would have bounced back to Ares. It would have gone back and forth until it got too much for them both.� � But how can it be that strong?� exclaimed Zeus, � He�s not a God.� � It�s called true love, not something you�d know anything about,� said Hera pointedly. Ares opened his eyes and stared about wildly, � Joxer!� He disappeared. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- � Shit Joxer!� Iolaus tried to hold him while he squirmed in pain. He quieted for a second, then his entire body convulsed and, with a cry, he passed out. Iolaus stared helplessly up at the others, � What do I do?� As they stared at each other a tremendous flash blasted the room. Ares crossed the room in two strides. He snarled at Iolaus who backed away. � What happened?� he snapped. Without waiting for an answer, he knelt beside Joxer�s prone body and gathered his lover into his arms. � Jox?� � Ares?� Joxer stirred. Ares pulled him up to his chest and clutched him tightly. � I�m sorry,� Ares whispered. A hand reached up and stroked his hair, � S�okay,� Joxer mumbled. � No it�s not,� Ares squeezed his eyes shut. � I could have protected you.� � Ares?� Ares looked up at Xena. � What happened?� Ares stared at her for a second, then sighed, � I was angry.� � There�s news,� Gabrielle muttered. Ares made to get up, but Joxer held tight. Ares looked down at his lover, � Please let me kill her,� he whispered. Joxer couldn�t help smiling, � No.� Ares pouted. He directed a glare at Gabrielle who suddenly leapt into the air. � Yah!� she yelled, � You bastard!� � Oh I�m sorry,� said Ares, � My power slipped.� Autolycus and Iolaus were struggling not to laugh. Xena rolled her eyes and Hercules frowned at his half-brother. � Ares,� Joxer admonished him quietly, but he was grinning. Ares stood up and pulled Joxer to his feet. � Are you okay now?� Joxer nodded, � Yeah, I�m fine.� He frowned to himself, something about Ares felt strange. He found himself touching Ares� stomach, but wasn�t sure why. � Good. I won�t forget, but in case I do, and it happens again, shout and I�ll protect you from it, okay?� Joxer nodded. Ares leaned down to kiss Joxer, who responded enthusiastically. The sound of several throats being cleared made them break apart. Ares glared at them, then turned his attention back to Joxer, � I have to go, Zeus is being,� Ares stopped and closed his eyes, visibly controlling his anger. Joxer touched his arm gently. � Difficult.� Ares finished, smiling at him. � I�ll explain later, I have to sort this out.� Joxer nodded and pulled him down for another quick kiss. Ares touched his face briefly, then disappeared. � Is he gone?� asked Iolaus. Joxer cocked his head and frowned in concentration, then he nodded. The group visibly relaxed, a tense Ares was not a pleasant person to be around. � So. Picnic?� asked Joxer. His companions frowned at him. � But,� started Hercules. � But what? We still have nothing to do, we might as well have some fun while we can,� Joxer smiled at his friends, despite feeling somewhat anxious. Things had seemed a little off with Ares, but nothing he could put his finger on. � Cool,� said Iolaus. He stroked Hercules� arm, grinning wickedly at his lover. Xena nodded, nudging Gabrielle, who was still sulking. Gabrielle glared at her, then sighed, � Yeah, sounds good.� Autolycus smiled, � Great, who�s buying the food?� There were several groans. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ � He can�t be serious?!� Ares exclaimed. Eris, Strife and Cupid watched Ares pace, ready to duck any stray energy bolts or fireballs. � Come on, Bro. We�re all behind you, Aphrodite, Heph and Mom, too,� Eris braved speaking. � Yeah Unc, and I�ll bet tha freaky foursome and Auto will help out Joxer,� Strife glanced at his mother out of the corner of his eye. He was gratified to see her flush slightly at the mention of Autolycus� name. He nudged Cupid, who winked at him. � Speaking of Mom, I�ve got to pick up Bliss,� Cupid said. He gave Strife a lingering kiss, then with a wave, he disappeared. � I suppose, I�d better go and talk to Joxer. I haven�t asked him to marry me yet,� Ares sighed. � I�ll come with you,� said Eris. Ares raised an eyebrow, � What? It�ll be fun to see the fab four�s reaction,� she shrugged. � Yeah, I�ll come too,� said Strife. � Okay,� Ares held back a smile at the show of support, � Let�s go.� ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hercules put down the large basket and flopped down on the ground, with a sigh. He pulled Iolaus down next to him, and the smaller man rested his head in his lap. Xena and Gabrielle sat nearby and Autolycus lay down near the river, shutting his eyes. Joxer smiled at his friends and sat next to Xena. � This really is a nice spot,� he commented. � Yeah, really quiet, if you know what I mean,� Iolaus laughed. Joxer chuckled, � I�ll remember that!� Autolycus started snoring. � You know, I really wish I knew what happened to Auto last night,� said Iolaus. � What do you mean?� asked Gabrielle. � Well, have you seen the way he was walking?� Xena and Gabrielle nodded. � Yeah well, what ever happened, caused that, and he�s not talking.� � Incoming,� said Joxer suddenly. There was a large flash and Ares, Eris and Strife stood before them. Ares' eyes lighted on Joxer and he smiled. � Strife? Explain to this lot. I want to talk to Joxer alone,� he said. Strife nodded, � Sure.� Ares pulled Joxer to his feet and they walked away, hand in hand. Eris walked over to the sleeping Autolycus and kicked him. � Hey! What?� Autolycus looked round, surprised. � Get up!� Eris commanded. � Yes Mis�, I mean okay, okay!� Strife hid a smirk, things had obviously gone well. � So, what�s going on?� asked Xena. Strife turned his attention to the group, � Oh yeah.� He waited for his mother and Autolycus to sit with them. � Okay, Unc wants ta marry Joxer, so he can be made immortal. But Zeus has decided he don�t want that. Unc and Jox havta pass some tests before they can get hitched,� he explained. � What kind of tests?� asked Hercules. He was surprised with his father. it had been rather forcefully pointed out to him, but even he could see Ares and Joxer loved each other. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ � So, did you sort it out?� Joxer asked. Ares sighed, � It rather depends.� � Depends on what?� Joxer sat on a tree stump and looked up inquiringly. He blinked when Ares knelt in front of him. Ares parted Joxer�s legs and shifted closer, resting his hands on Joxer�s hips. � On, uh, on whether you want to marry me,� Ares said quietly. Joxer opened and shut his mouth several times in shock. It took him a second to process what had been said. Then he raised an eyebrow, � It rather depends.� Ares felt his heart leap into his mouth, � Depends on what?� he asked fearfully. Joxer grinned, � On if you�re asking me.� Ares stared at him, � You�re really quite evil, aren�t you?� Joxer nodded. � Yes, I�m asking.� � Oh well, in that case,� he paused, grinning as Ares� grip tightened. � Yes.� Ares swallowed hard. He reached up to cup Joxer�s face and kissed him, sweetly, gently. The sharing of emotions between them from their bond, was almost overwhelming, but somehow, Joxer managed to pull away. � So, I take it there�s a problem?� Ares nodded, � Zeus has forbidden me to marry, unless,� he forestalled Joxer�s question, � we pass certain tests.� He sighed. � Whatever it takes Ares,� Joxer put his hands on Ares� shoulders, � What are the tests?� |