Disclaimer: Nope Don't own any of them.....Not a one! And I'm not making any money off of this.....NEXT PARTSummery: This story comprises: The Just Friends challenge from Joxerotica, Strife God of Love from the Strife_lust list. After a fight with Discord, A bump on the head makes Strife thinks he is the god of Love. Autolycus wants to be more than friends but Joxer isn't interested.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Angsty and Waffy (Warm and Fuzzy Feeling).....
Thank you to Joanna and Scorpio for inspiring a new series.....The Roses and thanks to my husband Blackadder (his online name) for giving me a plot bunny when the kids had inadvertently chased off my others. And a little note....The Roses series are based on challengesA Rose for Joxer
By kirasmommyStrife woke up slowly. His head was pressed against the cold hard marble beneath him. The cold chilled him to the bone waking him. He didn't really want to wake up to be honest. His head throbbed and it was hard to breathe. He couldn't remember what exactly happened to him. As he sat up slowly he tried to think back. He prodded at his nose gently as he tried to focus his eyes. Stars burst behind he eyes as his fingers found a painful spot above the bridge of his nose.
He remembered...Discord. She had been angry at something. No, someone. He remembered her screaming at him. She had been pacing back and forth. That's right she had been mad about something he had done. Or was it something that he hadn't done and was supposed to do? They had fought about it. She caught him by surprise and he had went flying across the room into the opposite wall. He tried to remember what they fought about. Love? Someone was in love? And she was mad at him? Love was definitely apart of the fight.
He sat and pondered it. She disapproved of a match....had he made the match? Maybe? It had to be the answer.
He stood up and brushed himself off. Well she would just have to get over it then. He didn't answer to her!
Now...where were his arrows?
@---}----}--.......... --{----{---@ He found his arrows outside of Aphrodite's bath. He didn't remember leaving them there but he found that he was having a hard time remembering a lot of things. For example he was finding it hard to remember names, particularly his own at the moment. He shrugged his shoulders as he slipped the harness on, and smiled happily. His problems could wait; he had work to do. He decided not to bother his mother while she bathed. But he did make a mental note to tell her what Discord had done later. He could hear Aphrodite's light laughter from inside as he left quietly. She loved her bath, she often allowed visitors in where they would then talk while the bath would bubble hot water around them. It was very invigorating especially in such cold weather.He was already gone when Cupid and Aphrodite came out of the bath. Cupid frowned, "Mother? Did you see where my arrows went?" He looked around the area he had left the arrows and his bow.
"No, are they gone?" She asked distractedly as she twisted ribbons into her hair by hand.
"Yeah" He answered her annoyed.
"Well that's not good!" Aphrodite tilted her head making her eyes wide.
"Well no duh!" Cupid rolled his eyes just before hitting the wall with his fist. "Damn where are they?"
Meanwhile in a little inn in a little town Strife had found his next match. The inn was cozy with a roaring fire in the hearth. It smelled of cooked meat and stale ale. A perfect place to be on a cold autumn day. Autolycus sat down at the table with his drink in hand. One of his companions was sitting by his side while the other paced the floor in front of the fireplace. Salmoneous was reviewing slips of parchment with some amusement while Autolycus sipped slowly. Joxer continued to pace, aggravation coming off of him in waves. The other two men ignored it.
"We really need to get out of here!" Joxer tried to stress to the two men.
"Relax. We are safe here." Autolycus smiled at a pretty blond bar wench who returned his smile with a wink.
Joxer was still nervous after Autolycus almost got both he and Sal arrested in the next town over. They had only escaped by the skin of their teeth.
Joxer folded his arms across his chest and continued to pace.
He might not have been so nervous if it hadn't been for the fact that Auto had tried to steal from a temple of Ares. "Safe? From Ares? Are you kidding?"
Sal shrugged his shoulders; "It's not like they really got a good look at us."
He smiled at the parchment of paper in front of him. He also had a few scrolls by his hand. Joxer came closer, "What are you looking at?"
Sal winked and pushed the papers to him.
"AW Gods that's sick!" He backed away quickly while Sal laughed. Then after a minute of stunned silence Joxer crept back slowly and peered back at the paper. Tilting his head all the way to the side before just picking up the paper and turning it around. Then around and around again. "How on Olympus does one get into that position?"
Sal chuckled and winked again, "It can be done my friend, it can be done."
Auto stretched an arm; "Yeah but carefully I might add. You can pull some major muscles if you haven't stretched first."
Joxer gave them a blank look.
"NO not with him!" Autolycus said quickly then turned to Sal, "Hey no offense."
"None taken...you aren't my type anyway." Sal smiled as he started shuffling his papers around.
Autolycus gave him a miffed second look, "Hey buddy I'm everyone's type! I mean....Oh I don't know what I mean." Auto turned back to his drink and decided to stay out of this conversation.
Strife watched them with a playful smile. Invisible to their eyes he walked around them and sized up the situation. He pulled out an arrow and let it loose. (Cool!) Strife grinned as it struck Auto full in the chest.
Auto's smile mellowed as he watched the would-be warrior in front of him, who had begun to pace once more. "Look I really think we should get out of here!"
Auto nodded, "Whatever you want."
Joxer looked up surprised so surprised that he slid on the rug under him. As he fell he could have sworn he felt something whistle past him.
As Joxer crawled to his knees to get up he froze in place as he saw the feet standing in front of him. Black boots. He looked higher, Black leather pants. (Oh no...this is NOT good!) Joxer thought as he finally got the nerve to look all the way up.
Ares, God of War stood before him. A Dark dream in front of the roaring fire. Black against an amber background. The glint of silver against the black, and a jewel encrusted sword by his side. Joxer felt his heart drop into his stomach. (We are SO dead.).
After a minute he realized that he was still alive. He crawled out from in front of the God and stood up. The God had Salmoneous pinned with a stare. Still invisible and unknown to either the god or the mortals Strife stood with his hand clapped over his eyes, (Whoops! Well maybe I can still make this okay...I just need to shoot ol' Sal there...) He aimed.
And missed his target hitting Joxer instead who was back to staring at the God of War.
(DAMN! Well arrows were never my best weapons....) Strife shook his head sharply, (Weapons? Why would I use weapons?)
Strife sat down in an unoccupied chair as he tried to get past the cobwebs in his mind to try and remember.
His headache was coming back just as Ares made his move. He swept Sal up into his arms. "You are coming with me!"
"Umm look we didn't actually take anything!" Sal quavered slightly as he tried to bargain for his life.
Joxer stepped forward but was blocked by Autolycus who had come to stand in front of him, to protect him if need be. Joxer tried to push him out of the way. Hungry for the view of the fierce God.
"I don't care," Ares shook his head as he pulled the struggling man closer to his chest before disappearing in a flash of light.
Joxer hit the table with his fist as the light died away. "DAMN!"
"It's okay! He'll be fine. Are you okay?" Auto asked laying a hand on Joxer's shoulder.
Joxer shook it off without thinking as he stomped out of the inn leaving Autolycus behind with a hurt confused expression. Slowly he followed behind him.
@~@~{~~{~~..... ~~}~~}~@~@ Meanwhile Strife followed the amorous Ares.Salmoneous had stopped struggling, as it became clear that Ares wasn't going to hurt him. He looked around them as. It didn't look like a temple. It looked more like...Salmoneous swallowed hard. It looked more like a bedroom. Another fire this time blazing in a black marble fireplace roared cheerfully in the middle of the farthest wall. Across the room a big bed with a black canopy and silk sheets waited invitingly.
"So you aren't mad about the temple?" Sal ventured as Ares started to nibble on the really confused man.
"What temple?" Ares asked distracted licking the edge of his ear his hands roaming over his body freely.
"Uh your temple. Remember Autolycus tried to steal that dagger? Joxer and I were there with him." Sal asked as he gulped with a nervous chuckle.
"Oh that! No big deal. I can't even remember why I was mad about it." Ares blew on the wetness he had left on the man's ear causing him to shiver. "Anything you want...I'll get it for you!"
With a wave of his hand the dagger that Autolycus had tried to steal appeared before him. A useless weapon made of soft gold. Rubies and Diamonds encrusted the hilt. A trinket really. The etched design on the blade was of flowing fire down from the hilt to the tip of the dagger. The dagger disappeared again with another way of his hand. "It's yours whenever you wish."
"Uh okay, Look I'm the last person in the world that wants to make you mad...but don't you find it a little strange that you...are finding me attractive?"
Ares backed up slightly with a hazy look in his eyes. "I guess it IS strange." But before he could pursue the thought his mind wandered back to thoughts of lust and love.
He attacked the soft skin of Sal's throat with a renewed vigor. In between nibbles he whispered, "Let's get married."
"Uhhhh how does one say no to the God of War?" Sal asked cautiously with just enough of a light tone to make it sound as though he may be joking.
"Easy," Ares looked him in the eye seriously, "They DON'T."
"That's what I thought." Sal said nervously.
Strife covered his eyes with his hand; (I am SO dead!)
@---}----}--.......... --{----{---@ Autolycus continued to follow behind Joxer as they made their way back to the stables."Where are you going?" Autolycus asked.
"Back to Ares temple! I've got to find him." Joxer announced as he started to ready the poor looking horse.
"We go back there and they are going to kill us." Autolycus tried to reason with him as he leaned against the wall of the stable.
"I don't care." Joxer told him leading the horse out.
"Well I DO!" Autolycus tried to stop him but Joxer merely pulled away. Leaving him behind. Autolycus grimly started to ready his own tired out horse.
@~@~{~~{~~..... ~~}~~}~@~@ Hours later Aphrodite found she had a situation on her hands. Hera goddess of marriage and Childbirth, Queen of the Gods was presently ranting and raving as she paced around her."MY little boy! Marrying that...that...merchant! A MORTAL! I tell you I sensed Cupid's power signature on him!" The Queen came up to yell in Aphrodite's face.
"I told you Cupid's arrows were stolen! He didn't do this, we are trying to find out who did."
"Take the enchantment off of my son!" Hera commanded before flashing away.
"Okay you old Heifer!" Aphrodite grumbled as she sought out Ares.
He was easy enough to find. He was in bed...with Salmoneous.
"Rise and shine!" She called out cheerfully.
Ares growled lowly as he sat up. Salmoneous hid deeper under the covers.
"Go away!"
"Brother dear? We need to have a long talk," She said as she bounced on the bed.
@---}----}--.......... --{----{---@ In a clearing Joxer and Autolycus made camp. The fire warmed the cool Fall air. There was a crisp smell and feel to the world around them.And as evening fell on them they huddled together for the warmth.
"Joxer? What do you plan to do if you find Ares?" Autolycus finally asked.
"I-I don't really know to tell you the truth. I just feel like I've got to find him."
Autolycus stretched his arm and put it behind Joxer. "I know the feeling."
"You do? You feel like you have to find Ares?"
"No...I feel like I need to find...you." Autolycus said quietly touching him gently on the shoulder.
Joxer looked at him sadly, "I think we are both in for heart ache."
Autolycus looked down sadly.
"It's not that you aren't a great guy. It's not that you aren't attractive. I just don't feel the same. I'm sorry." Joxer tried to capture his eyes.
"Hey don't be sorry, it's not your fault. You know if I didn't know any better I'd say someone has been playing with Cupid's arrows." Autolycus tried to joke through his pain.
In the background their horses whinnied softly in the night.
@---}----}--.......... --{----{---@ "STRIFE! Where by the name of all the Gods and Goddesses on Olympus ARE YOU!" Ares roared while Salmoneous hid under the bed itself this time."STRIFE!" Ares called over and over again.
Aphrodite yawned prettily as she sat on the bed waiting for the missing minor deity.
Within minutes he did arrive. But before he could be clobbered he grabbed Aphrodite in a big hug. "Hello Mom! I've been looking all over for you!"
Aphrodite wrinkled her nose, "Ew"
"What's wrong?" Strife asked shaking his head.
"You called me Mom. I'm not your mom!" Aphrodite told him batting his hands down.
"Of course you are." He stated looking from Ares to Aphrodite.
Even Salmoneous risked poking his head out from under the bed long enough to get a look.
Ares was stunned. The sincerity in Strife's voice was a tone only rarely used. He approached his nephew slowly and took a closer look. The bruises had faded some but they were still marking his skin and the knot on his head could be seen on closer inspection.
"Who did you fight with Strife?" Ares asked.
"Strife? Now that sounds familiar." Strife said slowly as he sat on the bed oblivious to Sal under it still.
"It should it's your name!" Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "Look I need Cupid's arrows back so he can unmatch some people."
"Cupid. Yes Cupid!" Strife stood up suddenly. "That's IT! Cupid is a God of Love!"
"Well duh!" Aphrodite intoned as she took the bow and arrows.
"Later!" She disappeared in a rain of flower petals.
"Okay Strife you want to explain exactly what happened today?" Ares asked as he started to pace the room.
"Discord." Strife frowned. "She had been mad..."
He snapped his fingers. "She was mad because I had refused to interfere with a match that Cupid was intending to make! She wanted me to mess it up because she wanted the guy for herself! That was what it was about!"
He chewed on his thumbnail as he tried to work out all the missing links. As every thing clicked into place he acquired a certain panicked look upon his face. He bent down slowly and looked under the bed while still sitting on top of it.
Salmoneous waved shyly at him.
Strife wiggled his fingers back in a shy hello.
"Aw Geez...Look Ares I'm real sorry about that..." Strife stood up and started to back up slowly.
Ares made a sudden move as though to chase Strife and Strife disappeared in a spectrum of light.
Ares laughed lowly before bending down and looking under the bed. "Come on out I won't hurt you. It wasn't your fault."
Salmoneous crawled out slowly looking nervous.
Ares pulled him up. "Well the spell has been undone. True there will be residual feeling left for awhile but I can at least think clearly."
Salmoneous nodded his head, "Well I'll just be going now." He chuckled nervously.
Ares grabbed his arm, "Not so fast."
Salmoneous cowered slightly.
"I am thinking extremely clearly right now and I seem to remember certain things." He brought his hand to Sal's face. "I seem to remember a certain position that I can't seem to figure out how you did it. I want you to show me again." Ares smiled at the bewildered look on Sal's face as Ares pulled him back to the bed.
Ares bent down and kissed the man. As he pulled back Sal smiled slightly. "Well first you need to stretch real good! Otherwise you can pull a muscle..."
"And we don't want that!" Ares leered as he pulled him into bed.
@~@~{~~{~~..... ~~}~~}~@~@ Autolycus fingered the trinket in his hands. The glint of gold in the sun light caught Joxer's attention as he sat across from the campfire. They were currently sitting as far away from each other as possible. The morning was as uncomfortable as the night had been. The visit from Aphrodite, while relieving the urgency of the feelings had left them with an echo. Autolycus gripped the gold item in his hand hard before finally making a decision.He crossed over to Joxer and kneeled beside him. "I still want to be with you."
The look of pain on Joxer's face told him the story more eloquently than words could. He shook his head slowly.
Autolycus bowed his head and squeezed his eyes shut. "I understand."
He held out his hand and took Joxer's. "I want you to have this."
Joxer looked into his hand. The piece looked delicate at first glance but as Joxer touched the golden petals it became apparent that it was quite resilient. A beautiful rose bud caught as it was just opening done in gold. Perfectly identical to a real one if every way down to the thorns. Joxer looked closer and could even see fine veins etched into the petals and leaves.
"I can't take this." Joxer tried to hand it back.
"It's okay I stole it, it didn't cost me anything." Autolycus smiled slightly.
Joxer smirked, "I figured that. I mean that I just can't take this from you."
"I insist. If anything....keep it to sell if you ever need money. Or better yet. Give it to the one you finally decide to be with."
Joxer fumbled for words as Autolycus grabbed his pack and walked away leading his horse.
He was gone before Joxer could stand.
"It's okay Joxie. He'll be fine." Aphrodite said as she appeared beside him.
"I hurt him. I didn't want to hurt him." Joxer said sadly as he unconsciously touched the rose to his nose as though it was real.
Aphrodite lifted her eyebrows as she peered at the golden rose.
"He gave it to me. If you want I guess you could have it." Joxer held it to her.
"No it's not for me to have." She finally shook her head. "But don't worry about Autolycus he will be fine. The best medicine for a broken heart is a new love."
She left him to think as he held the golden rose in his hands.
He smiled.
"The best medicine for a broken heart is a new love?" He lay down; "Tomorrow as they say is a new day."
Not far away Autolycus nodded his head in agreement ignoring the tears that threatened to fall.
"Yes tomorrow is a new day." He whispered as he got a better grip on his pack and finally started to leave the area.