A Rude Awakening

1-3 / ???
Title: A Rude awakening
Author: mishap
Rating: NC17
Feedback: mishap00@yahoo.com
Fandom: Xena/Herc
Disclaimer: Any rights I am entitled to I freely give back to the copyrighted owners of H: TLJ and X: WP. I own nothing and make no claims.
Pairing: Ares/Joxer
Status: WIP
Series: ??
Archive: AJCS, and others ask and you shall receive.
Warning: If you are not 18 and don’t like m/m relationships don’t read this.
Notes: First slash and Xena/Herc story.
Summary: Joxer finally realizes that Gabrielle will never be his and discoveries some unexpected friends of the Godly type.

A Rude Awakening

I wasn’t sure what woke me at first; it was early, very early before dawn in fact. Then I heard it again, “Oh Xena, yes, more…oh gods…” As the sun rose I saw what my heart had been trying to convince me that I hadn’t heard. The woman I loved, Gabrielle, locked in a passionate embrace with Xena. I felt my heart shatter, as my dreams died a violent death. I closed my eyes trying to shut out the sight and sound of the two women as they made love.

It seemed to take an eternity before all was quiet again and I heard the normal morning sounds of breaking camp and getting ready for the day’s journey. Even expecting it I jumped when I heard my name screamed, “Joxer! Get up, I think you could sleep through a war.” Gabrielle bellowed.

If only I could, I thought to myself as a bitter little grin twisted my lips. I sat up and tried to pretend that nothing had changed, but everything had. The little touches and the looks they shared that had seemed so innocent the day before took on a whole new meaning now that my eyes were opened. How could I have been so blind, so…so stupid?

As the day wore on my eyes were forced even further open as I realized what I had thought was teasing from friends was revealed to be honest disdain and disgust aimed at me. Coming upon a crossroads I decided I couldn’t stand it anymore. With an attempt at my usual spirits I made a little speech about how I was needed elsewhere and that I would be leaving them here to journey alone and how I was sorry to leave them unprotected. Xena asked me if I was ‘ok’ and I don’t think she believed me when I assured her that I was. At least I could see a little honest concern in her eyes all I could see in Gabrielle’s was relief and eagerness to be away from me as she tugged on Xena’s arm saying that I was an adult and could make my own decisions. I said my goodbyes and turned away.

I walked around the bend out of their sight and came to op mop my breath shuddering in and out of my lungs as I fought against the tears that were forcing their way out of my eyes. I scrubbed at my eyes with the back of my hand as I remembered the sly insults and put downs that I had listened to today.

I tore the ridiculous helmet from my head followed by the worthless armor that I had believed would make look like the hero I wanted to be instead of the fool I was for ever believing I could prove my father wrong. For believing that I could be something other than a worthless nothing.

“Joxie, that’s not true. I felt your heart break and I came right away.” I turned to face the voice I heard and there was Aphrodite dressed as usual in her ‘almost’ there clothing.

“Isn’t it?” I rasped hoarsely my voice roughened by unshed tears. “I am nothing but a joke even to my so-called friends. They can’t wait to get away from me and you can’t tell me differently.”

She stepped closer and took my face between her hands and forced my chin up so she could look in my eyes. “I have never said it. I really didn’t think I needed to, but why do you think I involve you in my plans and schemes? I do that because I can trust you and you have so much love in you that you are almost an extension of my godhood.

You are a blood innocent and provide my brother Ares with some of purest power he receives by your faithful worship of him. That you do so without expecting any return for it supplies him with a steady source of untainted power equal to what he receives during a battle. So you see, you aren’t nothing in fact you are very, very special to us.” She finished.

“If that’s the truth then why didn’t you tell me that she could never love me?” I cried out.

“Oh Joxer, if you hadn’t seen and heard it with your own eyes and ears would you have believed it?” she asked with the most serious expression on her face that I had ever seen.

“N-n-no,” I answered ducking my head and glaring at the dirt as if was guilty of not telling me as well.

Raising my chin so she could look in my eyes again she said, “I can’t take away the pain you are feeling now, but I can offer you hope for the future. I can assure you that there is a true love for you, one that will make you happier than you have ever dreamed of being.”

My heart leapt in my chest at her words, “Who…where…what’s her name? Do I know her?” I blurted out.

Aphrodite smiled at me and said. “You’ll just have to wait and see. If I told you, you would think I was manipulating you. I can tell you that you have met your love and it isn’t anyone you would expect, but someone you are close to. In fact your true love would never expect you to be their love either.” With that she stepped away and I could almost see her step in to the air headed persona that everyone expects from her, “I gotta jet, you wouldn’t believe the waves at Naxos.” Rose petals filled the air and she was gone.

My feet continued down the road I had chosen under their own direction. My mind was awhirl, who could it be? Meg? No we’d gone down that road and discovered that we liked each better as friends than lovers. There was a very short list of people I was close to. Excluding my brothers, and Xena and Gabrielle the only others I could think of were Hercules and Iolaus. That was completely out of the question the two of them cared so deeply for each other that eve’ co’ couldn’t miss that. Although the two of them were completely clueless.

They bright flash and the hair standing on end all over my body warned me that another god was incoming. I hunched my shoulders wondering who was coming and what they were gonna want from me.

Cupid materialized in front of me and spoke. “Dude, you’re majorly bumming me out. I could feel your heartache all way out on Cyprus.”

“I’m sorry I am ruining your day.” I said sarcastically not caring that he could squish me like a bug.

“Joxer don’t be that way I’ve come to cheer you up.” And with that he snapped his fingers and the world disappeared. We rematerialized and I stumbled and fell scarcely noticing the pure white marble under my body as I tried to keep my stomach from emptying its contents.

When the room quit spinning I looked up and saw Cupid standing next to me holding Bliss. “What…where are we?”

Offering me a hand up Cupid spoke. “My place.”

Pulling myself to my feet with his assistance, I stuttered. “O-Olympus?”

“Olympus.” He confirmed.

I swayed on my feet. I could feel the blood draining away from my face and I started seeing black spots before my eyes.

“Chill out, Joxer.” Cupid said gently shaking the stunned man’s shoulder.
“Nothing’s going to happen to you here.”

“You mean I’m not stuck here? He asked.

Cupid laughed out loud causing Bliss to giggle as well. “I forgot about that old rumor. Zeus started that when one of his ‘ladies’ wanted to visit. Can you imagine the look on the old goat’s face at the thought of Hera running into her?”

I laughed rather nervously, it would have been funny except that I didn’t want to set myself up to be fried by lightening in the next storm.

“Anyway Joxer the reason I asked you up here was to take your mind off your troubles. And I—“

“By scaring me to death?” I questioned rather puzzled I thought Cupid liked me.

“No,” he chuckled, “not to scare you. To let you spend some time with Bliss. No one, especially a mortal can be miserable around him. In fact if you think about it I’ll bet that you don’t feel too bad at all right now.

I thought for a moment. “You’re right I do feel better. I can still feel it, but it doesn’t bother me so much. How’d he do that?”

“To quote my father, ‘It’s a God thing.’” Cupid replied.

“Oh, okay. So what do I do with Bliss or whatever?”

“I have some more work to do so I am gonna leave you here with him. He remembers you from when you watched him before and has wanted to see you ever since.” He bounced him on his arm and said to Bliss. “Right?”

The next moment I found my arms full of winged godling as Bliss launched himself at me. “JOSSER!” He shouted as he landed on me knocking me on my butt.

“I gotta get back to work now, see ya.” And Cupid was gone.

*****

Ares lounged on his throne in the hall of war brooding over the vague dissatisfaction that had been plaguing him lately. Even tormenting his daughter and her irritating sidekick wasn’t as much fun as it used to be. No major wars to distract him nothing, but petty squabbles that he could handle in his sleep. He thought about stirring up a major civil war or invading Macedonia again, but that failed to spark any interest either. Nothing interesting at all he was bored stiff.

The feeling of another god invading my privacy perked me up a little until I recognized my son Cupid’s signature. I wonder what he want
P
Popping in with ois uis usual showy sparkles and fluttering hearts he asked. “Hey Dad can you check on Bliss and Joxer every once in while for me? I’ve sealed my temple so that he can’t get out and cause havoc, but I left Joxer in charge of him and Bliss can be pretty overwhelming at times.”

“Why is a mortal watching ‘my’ grandson?” I growled not y wiy with this turn of events. “You know I’d watch him if you needed a baby sitter.”

“I brought Joxer up to take his mind off his troubles and Bliss adores him. They got to be friends during the whole mess with Psyche.” He answered.

“What troubles?” I asked, wanting to know what was going on.

“He finally realized that Sis and the harpy are together and he’s feeling like hell so I thought I’d let Bliss work his magic and give Joxer a distraction from his infatuation. I gotta run Dad I am way behind. Thanks, bye.” He zapped out before I could refuse.

I started to grumble, but just gave a sigh unable to work up a good mad Cupid was just being his normal self. I conjured up a mirror to keep an eye on Bliss and the mortal what’s his name. Who knows he might be worth a couple of laughs as clumsy as he was.

I almost didn’t recognize him. This was the first time I’d seen him out of that ridiculous excuse for armor he habitually wore. Not bad, not bad at all. I was treated to the sight of him wrestling with Bliss growling and pretending to bite his stomach. My grandson was giggling hysterically. Joxer had his nice firm ass in air as they played and I felt a stirring of desire as his snug brown leather pants hugged the taut mounds lovingly.

Without the clanging tin and the idiotic ‘helmet’ he looked completely different. He resembled a marathon runner with his long smooth muscular body, slim and compact, not bulky at all. The day was starting to look up.

He actually seemed to have Bliss under control (a true accomplishment for a mortal and most gods as well) until he tried to feed him. Bliss had recently decided he was going to feed himself and only him. Every time Joxer tried to put the spoon in his mouth Bliss would wave his hand and the food would end up on Joxer’s shirt or pants or hair. By the time he finally figured it out and let Bliss eat his food with his hands he looked like he had rolled in his lunch. I practically fell off my throne laughing it was the funniest thing I had seen in centuries (of course it wasn’t at all funny when the same thing happened to me last week).

By the time Joxer got Bliss bathed and laid down for a nap the food had dried and started flake off of him. He went to the bath and took off his shirt giving me a view of his ivory skin that was every bit as fine and soft as my grandson’s. As he scrubbed his shirt I watched his muscles move under that almost hairless skin I began to fantasize about how well my marks would look against all that white skin. How every bite and suck mark would show up beautifully.

As I watched him give up trying to brush the mess off of his hair and pants and remove his clothing to bathe, I was taken off guard by the rush of heat that the sight of his nude body sent straight to my groin. I banished my clothing with a thought and absently began to stroke myself as I hungrily watched Joxer wash his body. I traced the path of a water droplet from his hair down the length of his spine to disappear into the shadowed cleft of his ass.

His unconscious sensuality as he washed his body caused my body to harden even further and my breath to quicken. Stroking my iron hard cock I sent a mental nudge through the connection I have with all those dedicated to my service.

Joxer’s movements became languid and carnal as my suggestion hit his subconscious and he started enjoying the touch of his hands as he rinsed the soap away from his chest. His hands lingered and stroked his nipples to hard-reddened peaks. I watched as he soaped his cock grasping it in one hand as the other rubbed against the pucker of his anus.

I stroked my cock harder and harder as my breath came ever faster moving my hand in time with the fingers he pushed in and out of his body. I synchronized our movements and we came together. I lifted my semen-covered hand to my lips tasting it and imagining it to be his.

I watched regretfully as he pulled on his damp clothing and left the bathroom to lie down on a couch next to Bliss’ crib and fall ep. ep. Although he was much more valuable to me as a blood innocent, I wondered how I had missed him as a child.

I mentally reviewed and remembered the triplets dedicated to me as children, how one was psychotic and another delusional I had not bothered with the third until he became a powerful power source. I had absentmindedly given him a low level protection that worked with his untrained awkwardness to keep him alive by attracting him to people that would take care of him no matter how irritating he became. Other than that I had ignored him.

Watching him sleep I mentally plotted to make him mine, normally I would’ve just appeared and ordered him to please me. Considering that Aphrodite and Cupid liked him, not to mention Bliss, I would have to seduce him into my bed.

*****

Lying down on the couch next to Bliss’ crib I wondered at the sudden lust that had over taken me in the bath. I just chalked it up to the effect of being in the god of love’s home. Drifting into a post coital sleep my thoughts turned to the long time object of my secret fantasies ever since my first visit to his temple as a child when I caught my first glimpse of a fresco that featured him in the nude. I began to dream of the god I followed, the sensual and dangerous Ares, god of war.

The sound of Bliss giggling woke me and I opened my eyes to see the object of lust-ridden dreams. He was holding his grandson and tickling him. Turning to face me he said “Good. You’re awake.”

I bolted to my feet my heart racing a mile a minute. Why was he here? Was I in trouble? Did I do anything wrong?” I thought. Still half asleep I babbled. “What…where did…how?

Ares laughed out loud at my confusion sending chills racing up and down my spine. “Relax Joxer I just came to meet the man that my grandson talks about so much. You have made a big impression on him.”

As if to prove his words Bliss once again knocked me to the floor as he pounced. “Mine Josser…good boy…fun.” He looked up at his grandfather and asked, “Josser stay?”

“Only for a little while Bliss only a little while.” He replied. “Why don’t you go play for a little bit and then grandpa will play with you and Joxer.”

“‘Kay.” He said getting to his feet and trotting out the door toward his playroom.

I suddenly became aware of my position sprawled out on the floor and I scrambled to get to my feet only to feel a strong, callused hand grab mine and pull me up. “Uh th-thanks.” I stuttered as he continued to hold my hand for a moment longer than necessary.


“Your welcome.” He replied in that sexy voice he has and continued. “I have wondered about you since Bliss first mentioned you after he stayed with you during that whole nightmare with Psyche. He seems to adore you almost as much as he does his father and I. You are also one of my most devoted and loyal followers and to top it off the house of love trusts you more than their own high priests and priestesses. Do you realize how unique that makes you?” he questioned.

“Um…no.” I squeaked out. I couldn’t believe how friendly he was being to me. When I had seen him before with Xena he was always upset and angry. I couldn’t believe how much more approachable and…well nice he seemed.

Reaching out with one strong finger he lightly traced the curve of my ear lingering on the sensitive skin behind the lobe ing ing the fit of my pants to abruptly become tight and restrictive. “Do you have any idea how attractive that makes you to me? He whispered huskily stepping closer to brush against me with his body.

I couldn’t believe this was happening. This morning I was heart broken over Gabrielle and Xena’s relationship and now unless I was delusional Ares was propositioning me. I had no more time for thought as his lips came down on mine.

His lips were hot and firm and yet soft, as they demanded entrance. I was shaken out of my daze by his arm sliding around my waist pulling me in tight to his hard body. It felt like my body burst in to flame. My own arms made their way around his neck of their own volition as our mouths devoured each other.

He pulled his lips away from mine and I noticed his breath had quickened. I couldn’t believe that the he wanted me, Joxer the clumsy. “We can’t leave Bliss alone for long.” He spoke huskily. “We’ll have to continue this later.”

He guided me out of the room to where Bliss was playing happily. “Ganpa and Josser happy. Feels good!” He fairly beamed at us.

A soft chuckle from behind sent a pulse of electricity through my shaking body. “I am always glad to please the god of happiness and pleasure.” He whispered. “I’ll see you later…tonight.”

I watched as he dissolved in flurry of sparks and turned back to Bliss my thoughts turning over his last words.

*****