Title: The God within 13/22
Fandom: Hercules/Xena
Rating PG
Summary: Gabrielle takes a long hard look at herself and the heroes finally realise something is amiss and Joxer has disappeared.
Pairing: Ares/Joxer Cupid/Strife (overall and smattered throughout series)
Chapter warnings: Slash mentionPrompted by the challenge at
(http://community.livejournal.com/10_cliche_fics/profile) _10_cliche_fics_
(http://community.livejournal.com/10_cliche_fics/)
(_http://community.livejournal.com/10_cliche_fics/profile)using_
(http://community.livejournal.com/10_cliche_fics/profile)using) the cliché~ Never judge a book by its coverA/N: Since I'm now working off the ten prompts for the cliche fics, I now have a storyboard and know how long this series is going to be. It was meant to be locked but i keep swaying so i unlocked it, besides this way I keep Vae happy too cos i'm pimping the comm in a way.
_Previous_parts_archived_here_
(http://wildannuette.livejournal.com/98621.html) :
_http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=wildannuette&keyword=Own+Her\ cules/Xena+fanfic&filter=all_
(http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=wildannuette&keyword=Own+Her\ cules/Xena+fanfic&filter=all)Thanks to fanfictionaddict and Kerensa for the great betas *hugs*
Gabrielle wasn't in the best of moods. If she was honest with her herself, she felt more than just a twinge of guilt as Joxer had walked away, shoulders slumped in dejection. Her bad mood had been becoming obvious of late and much as she tried to hide it, she knew he'd picked up on it-bore the brunt of it more like. They'd had so many fights in the last few weeks, especially since he'd taken to defending Strife-a god Gabrielle had nothing but distain for. But that wasn't her main reason, it wasn't just Joxer's defence of Strife that made her agitated and put her on edge. His infatuation was just to uncomfortable for her. Knowing he cared for her, loved her even. The way he hung around all hopeful and puppy-like, as if he were pleading for her to try. Which she couldn't, wouldn't, do.
In a way the pre-emptive annoyance, the sharp comments and petty actions that just seemed to spring out when he was near, had worked in her favour. Joxer seemed less devoted and even interested of late, and more fed up. Possibly he 'd be leaving them soon, which would in a way be a sweet relief, but Gabrielle didn't want to lose his friendship in pushing him too.
She sighed. It was a difficult balance to find and she hadn't been finding it well she knew that but with Hercules and Iolaus, who were normally pretty great guys to be around, being just as difficult and annoying-her patience was wearing thinner and thinner. Early that morning, Iolaus and Xena had gone fishing, leaving Gabrielle and Hercules to cook breakfast. Since Joxer had looked so peaky later, Gabrielle had agreed with Xena that they should let him rest.
Then Hercules had wandered off, leaving Gabrielle to pig-sit Discord on her own. Discord truly lived up to her godhood, making Gabrielle's mood darken as she caused chaos and ran amuck. After stopping the pig from jumping on Joxer for what seemed like the hundredth time, Gabrielle decided to tie her to a tree her tolerance disappearing after being bitten several times. The peaceful, pleased look on Joxer's face had pushed her over the edge and without even thinking she'd grabbed the bucket of cold water and thrown it over him.
"Not the best way to wake up,"she murmured to herself, sneaking a guilty look at Joxer's wet bedroll as she poked the raw vegetables half-heartedly. She was more than a little confused what had happened to them, before the Pig-Joxer disaster they'd almost been cooked, but now they were raw and smelling pungent too. Gabrielle couldn't help wondering if it wasn't the work of a god, or goddess. She snuck a look at the pig, reassuring herself that she had no powers there.
"Something's wrong."
Hercules strident tones jolted her from her musings and Gabrielle jumped, her hand instinctively moving towards, and missing, her staff. She looked up at the demigod who wore a troubled frown, arms crossed as he towered over her.
"How do you mean?" Seeing no immediate danger, she pulled the vegetable pan from the fire before she stood up, not quite eyelevel but closer than she had been. For someone so big and bulky, he'd been surprisingly stealthy at sneaking up on her.
"Off. Something feels off, I just can't quite put my finger on it-" Hercules words were bitten off at the sound of crashing from the forest, branches parting to reveal Xena and Iolaus. Both were carrying fish over their shoulders and both looked worried.
"Gods." Xena's word was almost a snarl as she glanced around the clearing, " where are they?"
"Who?" Gabrielle couldn't help feeling confused. Unsurprisingly Hercules looked a little perturbed, though the demigod was catching on faster than the bard.
"Did you feel something too, Herc?" Iolaus moved past Xena, fish dropped to one side, just far enough away from Discord to get the pig squealing but not close enough to steal.
What in Hades is going on? Gabrielle thought, feeling her annoyance from earlier resurface. This time, without Joxer, to prompt it.
"I felt something." Hercules admitted, looking away from Iolaus, his eyes locking with Xena. "You're right, it felt like a God. Not just one either. There was something off about it all but they aren't here. Usually I can feel if one is close, or has been close, but with Discord here all my senses are being thrown off." He threw the pig an annoyed look, who was smirking back at him in a very smug and un-piglike manner. Even if she was rendered in a useless, embarrassing form, Discord was managing to cause problems for one of her least favourite people.
Xena, for her part, had stopped staring suspiciously around and though she still looked wary, she didn't look as worried as before, at least not till her eyes flicked to Gabrielle. "Where's Joxer?"
"He went into the forest, to the stream." She felt her cheeks flush as Xena' s eyes narrowed, giving her a searching look. "We had an argument." Gabrielle couldn't keep the snappish tone from her voice as she felt the men's eyes turn to her too. "What? It was just a little tiff and Joxer…he was being Joxer!" It was almost a white-lie but luckily no one called her on it. Instead she felt shame heating her cheeks, her stomach churning slightly as Xena turned back towards the forest.
"I'd better go and look for him. If there are gods about, who knows what kind of trouble they could visit upon him for their own amusement."
"It might be better if we all go." Iolaus was the voice of reason as he gathered up the fish. "Seeing as we don't know what we're up against. Besides if there are any of them around, it would be better if we moved on and made breakfast elsewhere." Tossing the fish over one shoulder, he released Discord and swept her into his arms. Surprisingly, he was the only person the goddess didn't ever bite and grunt rudely at.
"Besides, I think the vegetables have gone bad." Hercules made a face as he peered into the pan, "How long did you cook them for anyway?"
Gabrielle clenched her teeth, stopping herself from making the snippy comment she wanted to make at Hercules and pointedly ignoring the question. Instead, she threw the vegetables into the bushes, and began gathering up what little they had. He'll be back, he always comes back when he's called. She told herself. Surprisingly she found herself taking extra care rolling up Joxer's blanket, the dampness setting off guilt inside her, an inner voice making her wonder just how much of the worst was being brought out in her of late.
Gabrielle's thoughts kept her quiet as they headed to the stream, resolving to ask Aphrodite perhaps to find Joxer a nice woman. After all he deserved one and it might be a quick and easy solution-besides the love goddess seemed to like him, or at least wrestle between liking and being amused by him.
"Perhaps he's further downstream."
Iolaus' comment interrupted her inner musings.
Gabrielle was thankful that they hadn't been greeted by a naked and blushing Joxer, but the wannabe-warrior not being there was a little odd. It was very like Joxer to just wander off or start following someone, but with Xena's comments on gods and the uneasy expressions around her, Gabrielle's stomach was starting to churn vigorously.
"Maybe." Xena didn't look convinced and Gabrielle could see her hand wavering over her chakram as she glanced around, eyes searching. "We should stay close. Hercules you and Iolaus move upstream, Gabrielle and I will check the area downstream."
Body rigid, tension obvious, Hercules gave them a curt nod before turning away and striding up river, his eyes scanning around him. Iolaus was slightly less on edge, though worry was obvious in the hunter's eyes as he attempted to reassure them with an -"I'm sure he's fine"- before moving hurriedly after Hercules.
Unable to muster desire to engage in any kind of small talk, the ache in her belly growing colder and heavier by the moment as she gripped her staff, Gabrielle kept to Xena's side who kept scanning the water and opposite bank as they walked past; her eyes taking in everything, her whole being focused on finding Joxer. It was Gabrielle, however, found him first, or at least something that marked his since-vanished presence anyway. Something which had her voice catching in her throat, the coldness sinking deep in her belly as she let out an involuntary shocked cry, spotting the bloodstains smeared casually on the side of a tree.
Stumbling forward, fingers pressing against the wetness as if to convince herself that it was real, she didn't notice Xena's shout to the demigod and hunter. Didn't even notice their quick approach. As the redness coated her finger tips, warm and sticky and all too real for her conjuring up image after image of Joxer's battered and bruised body.
It was Hercules who moved her out of the way, swinging her against Xena who steadied her.
They all crowded around the tree, no one saying a word at first as Hercules pressed his finger to the blood, raising the bloody digits to his nose and sniffing cautiously. "It's blood, that's for certain. And it's fresh."
He glanced at Iolaus, eyes shadowing slightly, a scowl forming on his lips as he noticed Discord vibrating excitedly in the other man's arms-enjoying the chaos vibes he assumed. In truth though, the vibration was from anger, from sensing a power so weak it shouldn't be there and so destroyed it couldn't be there.
Strife. The goddess could sense him, pig or not. Just as she could sense the others. But even if she could tell Hercules she chose not too. Fury, guilt, loathing and confusion all in melding together in a miasma of unpleasant emotions, pushing Discord to bite her tongue and think rather than react-something she would later be grateful for.
"Tartarus, what do you suppose has happened?" Iolaus' hand was in his hair, clenching at the curls Gabrielle noted absently, wiping the blood onto her skirt rather than have to keep staring at it. The all wore identical looks of distress, the uncertainty of what had happened to Joxer troubling them all.
Apprehension clutching at her chest, Gabrielle had forgotten what both Hercules and Xena had sensed earlier when she finally spoke, breaking the silence. "Someone must have dragged him off fast. He was only gone for a few minutes. Maybe-"
"Maybe we should shout for Ares." Hercules patented response was too classic for Gabrielle, the woman just about managed to bite her tongue though her nostrils flared as she rolled her eyes.
"Do you actually think Ares would stoop to dragging Joxer off while he was bathing?" Even Iolaus look sceptical, "Come on, Herc. Wouldn't he rather throw it in our faces, kidnapping someone right in front of us?"
"And why would he want to anyway? The only interest he's shown in Joxer didn 't strike me as being one to kidnap him and given how much Joxer worships-" -" Xena paused, not only because she was unsure as to why she was getting so annoyed and defensive but also because of her sudden realization that it had been a while since she'd seen Joxer pay tribute or pray to Ares, which was extremely out of character for him. "Or do you think Ares needs to drag people off unwillingly to get them into bed?"."
Gabrielle's mouth dropped open at that, but she was the only stunned one. Iolaus didn't bat an eyelid at the thought of Ares wanting to bed Joxer, nor did Hercules even appear surprised. In fact the demigod looked more annoyed, frowning back at Xena in displeasure.
"No, Ares may be a lot of things but he doesn't need to have the inclination towards rape. I may find a lot of things against him but I can't fault him there, and besides if that were the case and he propositioned Joxer then Iolaus is right- he would have paraded the idea in front of us.." Forestalling any further comments (though Gabrielle, at least, had been rendered speechless to make any), Hercules hurriedly continued, "But Discord is enjoying this far too much and if we both sensed something godly then we should call on him. Especially since he showed an interest in Joxer before-perhaps he could be willing to help, even if it is just to get in Joxer's good books."
Iolaus was nodding in agreement, nudging Xena to draw her attention to him, " He might be more receptive to you. The times he's appeared when you've called he's only glared, we get a grimace."
Xena's yell of ‘Ares' made them all wince and started Gabrielle into snapping her jaw shut. Ares, the big bad god of war as he liked to portray himself, lusting after Joxer of all people. That certainly threw off all of Gabrielle' s plans for setting him up with a woman, much as she disliked Ares there was an attractiveness about him and an allure. Joxer having barely had any kind of attention in the past would never be able to resist it. The idea of her friend being taken advantage of, used in such a way, sat badly with Gabrielle. Even if she privately admitted she had treated him poorly, especially recently, Joxer becoming involved with Ares just seemed like throwing him to the wolves. Though it would solve my problem if Joxer became involved with Ares, he knows I'd never go anywhere one of the Gods has been…
Nothing…barely a bird sound broke the silence as they waited. After a few minutes, Hercules joined in and then Iolaus and even Gabrielle found herself shouting Ares' name in chorus.
"Ares!" The warrior princess tired once more, a tinge of desperation to her voice. She knew that she didn't have to yell for Ares to hear her, sometimes even a whisper sufficed, which meant the god was ignoring her.
"This isn't going to work." Iolaus was first to voice what they all knew, arms folding, bouncing on his heels in agitation as the cries died down. "If Ares was going to come, he would have by now."
So now what do we do? Gabrielle clenched her teeth, This is just so typical of Joxer. She then sighed as she realized what she was doing. She'd got so used to being annoyed and made uncomfortable by Joxer's presence that she found both her tongue and thoughts often ran away from her.
"Cupid!" Xena's exclamation, drew all their attentions to her as a smile curved her lips, "We know he's taken an interest in Joxer too, though for whatever reason even I can‘t be sure."
"Maybe one of Aphrodite‘s projects?" Iolaus suggested, shuddering slightly at the idea, having also been under the attention of several gods meddling in his life. Aphrodite was the most pleasant in his mind but he knew she'd meddled in Joxer's love life once before and royally annoyed the man in the process.
"Cupid?" They didn't even need to call for love god, Hercules' confused bellow had him appearing in a flash of yellow light, an exasperated expression in place of his normal grin, as he juggled Bliss in his arms; the baby wriggling, curious to look around even if he poked his daddy in the eye to do so.
"What is it now?" Cupid had a ‘why me' expression on his face, one that deepened to a scowl as he failed to get an answer right away. "Look I've got things to do, a son to feed, couples to hook up-so quit with the not talking and start, right now."
Cupid wasn't all that impressed with their timing. He'd been spending quality time with Bliss which was a rarity given all the subterfuge of late. It was time he enjoyed spending with his son and had looked forward to all day. With Psyche taking prayers at her temples it was the perfect opportunity, it was hard when they were together; the both of them trying to remain civil, build ing some kind of friendship and relationship for Bliss' sake. He didn't bother to explain why he had Bliss with him, even though it was a novelty for anyone to see him, given that the baby hadn't even been off Olympus yet in an official capacity; having only small altars in his parent's temples and no statues to call his own. In an official capacity anyway, Cupid couldn't help smiling as Bliss giggled, waving to Xena.
"We have a problem," Hercules paused for a moment as if drawing out the suspense, but Iolaus easily cut into the silence, drawing Cupid's raised eyebrow and attention.
"Joxer's missing. He went to bathe and now, he's gone."
"Gone? Gone as in wandered off?" Cupid strove to keep the anxiousness from his voice, though it still came out edgy. The fear only increasing as Gabrielle stepped to one side, still silent and waving slightly back at Bliss who waved to her.
His fingers were on the blood smears, moving too fast for them to realise at first. They didn't feel right. They felt off, though Cupid wasn't about to voice that opinion. Looking thoughtful, his tongue caught between his lips, Cupid touched the blood again keeping his face stoic as his fear dissipated. He could sense Ares' handiwork and given the interest his father had shown in Joxer, and that he'd pretty much convinced himself Joxer was connected to Strife, he knew Ares wouldn't harm him.
Rut him into the mattress was a more likely scenario, thought Cupid.Though Cupid had no doubt Joxer would resist the urge. The mortal was still furious with Ares and would have to consider Strife's safety first. Still, something was strange. Cupid could sense three godly signatures in the area, in fact four. He frowned, closing his eyes for a moment to place them all.
Ares…Asyinnitos…those didn't surprise him, but he could also pick up on one of his brothers. Though which one he couldn't be sure. Uneasily, he mentally called to Asyinnitos who hurriedly urged him to return to Olympus and assured him Joxer was safe. That was a sweet relief. Cupid knew that over the years, several of his brothers had made sure Strife was aware of their displeasure with him. If they'd somehow also gotten the idea Joxer was connected to Strife, the man could have easily been a target.
Cupid sighed tiredly, seeing they were all on edge, all waiting.Truth be told, he was surprised by their reaction. He hadn't thought they'd do anything to check on Joxer, just wanting to ditch him. It was pleasant to discover he was wrong. The warm feeling it gave him had the small godling in his arms squealing in delight.
"Joxer's safe." He held up a hand, seeing Hercules' mouth beginning to open, there was still something different about it all…something not quite right. "I'm going to go and find out what's happened. I'll get back to you if I can, but he's cool, so just go about and do your thing."
Discord, that was what was encroaching on his senses. Cupid tightened his arm around Bliss at the realization, finally sensing her presence. That was one goddess he didn't want coming within fireball distance of Bliss; after what he'd managed to pry out of Strife that she'd done to him, he didn't want her anywhere near the baby, her grandson or not. Focusing, his gaze was drawn downward, and then he saw her. The pig was snarling silently up at him and Cupid burst out laughing, which made Bliss giggle.
That didn't sit well with them. Even Gabrielle felt herself glowering which was something that rarely happened when Cupid was around. The Love God was extremely attractive after all and so naturally flirtatious, no one could resist smiling around him.
"But surely Cupid-" Hercules began, trying his most winning smile but Cupid was too busy chuckling to be affected by it.
"Don't even try it Uncle Herc. I can't tell you what I don't know." He smirked down at the pig, as Bliss clapped his hands together, enjoying all the emotion in the air. "Much as I could happily watch you barbeque her, you'd better watch after her. Dad and grandpa might take offence if you did anything she couldn't snap back from."
Later, Cupid's words and actions would lead the heroes to wondering if Joxer was perhaps Cupid's lover as well, the reason for his marriage breaking up and perhaps a pawn in a tug of war in lust between Ares and Cupid. For now though they all had other things on their minds and Cupid was effectively distracting them, making Hercules pout at having not been asked, as Cupid spoke to Xena about watching Bliss sometime, given that there was lots of trauma going on in Olympus.
"There's been a lot of drama going on in Olympus and it would be nice to give him time away from the vibes. Besides, he had so much fun the last time you met up." Cupid couldn't resist, especially as Hercules pout faded to a smug grin and Xena’s eyes widened. With that, he flashed quickly away before the demands that were sure to come to go to see Joxer and Asyinnitos.
TBC