| TITLE: Feathers and Fur AUTHOR: Scorpio ARCHIVE: HB's Parlour (if she wants it) & Scorpio's Constellation only. FANDOM: Herc/Xena CATEGORY: Missing Scene, humor NOTES: This "missing scene" is set between two stories written by Hergerbabe on the AJCS Mailing List. The first story is *It's What's on the Inside that Counts* and the sequel is *Bringing the Inside Out*. NOTES 2: All you really need to know about HB's story arc is that Joxer is a Werewolf and is engaged to be married to Ares: GOW. I haven't touched her actual plot lines because she is still writting in this AU. ::grins:: HERGERBABE'S WEBSITE: http://www.geocities.com/hergerbabe/ PAIRING: Ares/Joxer, Strife/Cupid RATING: G DISCLAIMER: Ren Fics & Flat Earth Prod own the boys, HB owns the concept of Jox as a Werewolf. I am shamelessly stealing from both. ::grins:: SUMMARY: Ever make a complete fool of yourself in public? Don't feel too bad. You're in good company... * Feathers and Fur by Scorpio * It was with a long tired sigh of weary exhaustion that Joxer flopped down on his side in front of Ares' hearth. The woven rug was comfortable and the warmth from the crackling flames felt good as it washed over him. Suddenly breaking his contemplation of comfort, Bliss flung himself down half on top of Joxer's furry body and snuggled in close. "Oooo, G'ampa Puppy... Yous so soft an' fluffy." Joxer snorted lightly and his tongue lolled out in a wolfish grin at his young charge. He had spent lots of time with the young Godling since Ares had asked him to move to Olympus permanently, but this was the first time he had baby-sat all by himself. It had been a lot of fun since Bliss was enthralled with his ability to shift into a wolf, but it had also been tiring and they both needed a nap. Looking around at the room that they had spent the last two hours in, Joxer realized that he wasn't alone in that respect. The room had also taken quite a beating. White feathers lay here and there and the occasional clump shedded fur floated in the air. Pillows had been tossed to the floor from the couches and toys were scattered everywhere one looked. In short, the room was a disaster area. And a good time was had by all. Bliss snuggled tighter against his furry ribcage and Joxer turned his head around to gaze down his side. The little white winged Godling had succumbed to sleep and two of his pudgy little fingers were stuffed in his bow shaped mouth. With a sigh of contentment, Joxer laid his shaggy head down on his forepaws and decided to join his soon-to-be grandson in slumber. **** The distinctive sound of displaced air from the sudden appearance of a group of Gods pulled Joxer out of his dream of running through a deep green forest along side of Ares as they hunted some small furred animal through the underbrush. Without opening his eyes, he swiveled his ears around towards the direction the sounds had come and he breathed in deeply through his sensitive nose. Ares. He'd know that delicious scent anywhere. Joxer breathed in again. Strife and Cupid. The scent of feathers grew stronger as he tracked the soft footsteps coming closer to him. Slowly, he peeled open one eye and he watched as the God of Love knelt down next to him and Bliss, a soft smile on his face. "They look adorable together." Strife's high-pitched giggle filled the air and Joxer peeled open his other eye. The Mischief God was looking pointedly around the room. "It looks like they had a lot a fun too." Joxer snorted in amusement and lifted his head up off of his paws just as Cupid reached out to pick Bliss up in his arms. The sleeping Godling cuddled up against his father's chest, his small rounded arms wrapping around Cupid's neck. Cupid stepped back and walked over to Strife with their child as Joxer stood up. Yawning widely, his mouth gapped open, exposing his razor sharp fangs as his tongue lolled out slightly. Then, smacking his chops together a time or two, he shifted his weight back on his hunches and stretched his fore legs out far in front of him. He grunted at the lovely sensation of stretching stiff muscles. His eyes half closed in warm contentment, he shifted his weight forward onto his forelegs and stretched out his hind legs until his paws curled up onto their backs and his claws scrapped the floor. "Feel better after your nap, baby? Bliss wear you out?" Joxer snorted in amusement at Ares and whined a brief affirmative. The War God chuckled softly and Joxer gave himself a brief shake. Turning around, he began to pad across the room towards his family when he was hit with an eerie sensation. He was being stalked. Silent and unseen, something lurked behind him. It followed his every move. He could feel it there, taunting him with it's presence, mocking him as it shadowed his every move. Urging him to... *pounce*. A rumbling growl echoing around the cavernous room, Joxer leapt up and sideways, snapping his jaws behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his prey as it tried to dash past him. He ran after it, curling his body into a tight coil. He spun in a tight circle. His sharp teeth clashed together and he growled in his throat. And still it eluded him. He chased it. Around and around and around. In tighter and tighter circles, building up his speed until *suddenly* he lunged at it. Victory was his! His prey lay trapped against the cold stone floor of his lover's home, caught beneath the fierce clasp of his right forepaw. He snarled and growled at it in his triumph and felt a strong urge to raise his muzzle and howl. Until... Three loud male voices erupted in hilarious laughter, the chuckles and giggles echoing back from the ceiling. He looked up to glare at his husband-to-be and his son and son-in-law all standing there, red faced with laughter as they clutched their bellies with one hand and pointed at him with the other. Joxer glared at them, but still they giggled inanely. The Mischief God gasped out his query. "Now tha' he caught it, what's he planning ta *do* wit' it?" The other two paused a brief moment and then laughed even harder. With an inelegant snort in their direction, he turned his head away from them with a vast dignity. Then feigning indifference to their amusement, Joxer looked down at his prey resting under his paw. And saw his own tail. Suddenly, he saw the humor in the situation. At least, from *their* point of view. But, until *they* walked a mile in his fur, they'd never understand. Lowering his head slowly, Joxer carefully pulled out the single white feather that had gotten stuck in his fur at the very tip of his tail with his front teeth, turned back to face his family...and spit it out at them. The three Gods burst out into laughter once more. END: Feathers and Fur |