Bitter Sweet

As Ares came to he wondered hazily if it had all been a very weird
dream. Hearing Hestia explaining to Zeus about Joxer he realized it
wasn't. He groaned realizing why Hera had given him that particular
fertility potion; it was hard enough for male gods to get pregnant on
their own, large amounts of energy were required and the infant
physically linked to both its parents to sustain itself during the
pregnancy.


Once Joxer was a god it would be easier to keep the infant growing
but for a demigod or immortal a heavy-duty fertility potion was
needed all the father to carry the infant and bond the father to the
baby without the other fathers help. Hearing his mothers cajoling to
him to open his eyes, he did, wishing he hadn't straight away.


Hestia and Hera were fussing over him, trying to stuff water and
ambrosia down his throat whilst Zeus was studying a large mirror
which was showing Joxer on his travels. Ares shuddered, there was
even sound and he was singing that damn song again. Zeus didn't seem
bothered by it though he kept saying words like `innocent' and `could
be good for him' as he studied the image. Ares noticed he did have to
suppress a smile as Joxer tripped over his own feet.


Ares sat up and Zeus hurriedly put down the mirror, "Sorry son, but
time is getting on. We still have to tell the others and you need to
grab that mortal." He said glancing down at the mirror again. Ares
nodded as Hestia and Hera stepped back a bit and without a word to
them, flashed out and over to Joxer.


Zeus looked to the others "It went better then I expected." He
admitted "I'm just worried how he will convince this man to carry his
child." He looked down at the mirror itching to pick it up and
eavesdrop on the two.


Hera laid her hand on the mirror firmly, "We have work to do, we have
to go and see Aphrodite and then Eris if you haven't forgotten." She
raised an eyebrow "Not to mention Athena and Persphone and Hades
and..."


Zeus rolled his eyes "The joys of matchmaking, more cupids job then
mine," he groaned following Hera as she flashed over to Aphrodite’s
arguing with her over whom to tell afterwards. Hestia studied to
Mirror thoughtfully and picked it up. Ares was one of her favorite
nephews and she hated to see him put in a difficult position, she
wondered who Joxer was and if he'd be good for him.


Throwing caution to the wind, she picked up the mirror and settled
down in Zeus's chair to watch the two.


*********************


Happy in his own little world, Joxer sang his song as he strode
through the forest. Luckily for him he was one of those people that
never let anything get him down for long, after the day he'd had most
other people would have been trudging along scowling at everything.


First he'd lost Xena and Gabrielle after a huge bar fight in Athens,
admittedly he had caused it but he'd been depressed. Xena and
Gabrielle had been all over each other and he'd been getting comments
about not being man enough for either of them. After his ninth drink,
he had had enough; gone to leave, tripped and head butted the lead
speaker of the comments, knocking him out.


Chaos had ensured and Xena had managed to drag him out with only a
black eye and dented pride. After that both she and Gabrielle had
declared alone time and when he woke he decided to get a headstart
and meet them later.


So although he had a ferocious hangover, smarting eye and dented
pride, he still managed to sing, despite seeming to trip over every
log and small tree. As he tripped over the umpteenth log he
completely lost his balance and tried to twist as he fell to the
ground, pulling several muscles as he did. He closed his eyes seeing
a flash of colour surround him as he fell and slowly opened one eye
realizing that he hadn't hit the ground yet. Someone had caught him;
he prayed thanks to the gods and looked up to see Ares.


Joxer went extremely pale and wriggled out of Ares arms
quickly. "Ares, thanks I mean, thank you my god I mean, thanks." He
looked up nervously "Xena isn't with me she's still in Athens, there
was a fight and a lot of alcohol, and I'm sure you know that being a
god and all." He was starting to get even more nervous. Ares was
grinning at him and it wasn't in a 'I've just had a great idea that
is really going to hurt you' way it was more amused.


Joxer sighed waiting for Ares to send him to Hades, start yelling at
him and cursing his existence, and well pretty much anything other
then stand there grinning. His worried mind was working so hard he
missed what Ares actually said to him "What?"


Ares smirked "I said, most people just pray to me, oh the occasional
tribute but not many have actually thrown themselves in my arms."


Joxers confusion grew, on the one hand Ares was talking to him in the
same way he spoke to Xena, on a personal level. On the other he
wasn't going to risk being smited by him for not paying tribute or at
least worshipping him.


Ares felt a slight twinge of sympathy for Joxer as he read his
thoughts but he could sense thing starting to get more then a little
crazy on Olympus so he had to work fast. He pretended to study
Joxer. "Joxer the mighty, wants to be a warrior, hangs around Xena
and Gabrielle mostly, has an annoying song." He pretended to muse as
Joxer shifted uncomfortably "Here is the deal, come with me, that
parts not an option by the way. Convince me that you're worthy and I
will make you a warrior." He smirked again admiring his own
brilliance.


Give Joxer something he can't refuse, get him into bed and bang bang,
symbols created and they all stood a fighting chance. He looked again
at Joxer who seemed to be considering it.


Joxer was considering, and worrying at the same time. He might have
prayed to Ares daily to be a warrior but he never even believed his
god knew he existed and despite hoping against hope that the gods
were actually smiling on him (rather then smirking sexily) he
couldn't help feeling a little cautious. He wasn't too sure that was
all Ares had in mind and after having the `Ares will do anything to
get Xena back' lecture drummed into him several hundred times by
Gabrielle and her staff, he had to question it. Then again Ares was a
god, what choice did he have? He could go on as he was or hope
against hope that he could become a warrior in the end, someone he
was proud to be.


He looked up at Ares who had started to go a little cross-eyed after
following Joxers mental babble. "I'll do it, I mean please?" he
looked beseechingly to Ares who snapped out of his daze, rolled his
eyes, grabbed Joxer to him and transported them both to his temple on
Olympus in a bright flash.


As they reappeared Joxer struggled to keep his balance almost falling
back against Ares again. A slight blush covered his cheeks as he
tried not to think about how close his was to the god. Ares sighed as
Joxer caught himself and stood up, blinking dizzily. He frowned now
he had the man it was time to put his plan into action. He took one
look at Joxers clothes and shuddered "First things first." He walked
forward and took Joxers chin pulling him closer and trying to keep
his eyes off his ridiculous helmet. "Lets dispense with the, I'm my
god, what on Earth could you do for me talk. I just end up sounding
like a bad porn character." He sighed.


"You'll find out when you're older." He interrupted Joxers silent
question *Several thousand years older* he mused to himself, as a god
Joxer would be around to see everything that was in his future had he
been a mortal. Assuming the fates idea worked that was. He frowned at
Joxer who was looking even more confused, trouble was Ares didn't go
in for forced sex and he wasn't too sure how to delicately say `lets
you and me get it on now'. So he opted for the best option he had
available.


A bit of manipulation and arousal. He let go of Joxers jaw and
stroked his cheek, hearing the mans slight intake of breath "You're a
lover not a fighter Joxer, but if you want to be a better fighter..."
he stroked down Joxers arm and watched his eyes widen and a deep
blush cover his cheek.


Ares had a great urge to jump up, lick his ginger and write one in
the air while hissing. He restrained himself. He was an attractive
god, he knew that and Joxer wasn't too bad himself, from what Ares
could see anyway plus he knew from hints dropped by both Aphrodite
and Strife, that Joxer was more then interested in him. Fantasizing
and getting himself off while murmuring Ares name was courtesy of
Strife. A long talk about Joxers fears on sexuality during
adolescence and his determination to get Gabrielle, a woman he knew
he could never have, from Aphrodite.


Ares smiled licking his lips slightly and watching Joxers eyes grow
wider. He stepped back breaking the spell and waved his hand slightly
in Joxers direction removing all his clothes in a bright flash. He
appraised Joxers body as the man yelped and tried to cover himself,
something that Ares was happy to see was quite difficult.


He nodded behind Joxer and two doors open up inwards, he walked
towards them leaving Joxer to follow, which he did after several
minutes.


Without even looking at Joxer Ares could tell that he was finding it
easier to walk and keep his balance without his awful armor and shoes
which Ares had been amused to note were both for left feet. He stood
by a huge sunken bath and turned to Joxer as water and bubbles filled
it. "Get in, relax and soak yourself." He thought for a moment and
then frowned slightly as he sensed Aphrodite calling for him. He
snapped his fingers again and produced the golden apple, carefully
squished down and mixed into a small beaker "eat the fruit and
drink..." another small flash and he handed Joxer the fertility
potion mixed in with fine red wine in a silver cup.


He scowled, now Hephaestus was calling for him and not very politely.
As soon as the shocked Joxer entered the tub, and had eaten half of
the apple and drunk half of the wine, he flashed out leaving the
stunned mortal to finish his food and bathe his sore body in peace.


Hestia sighed disappointedly as she continued to view them and Ares
flashed out. She knew Ares only had unlimited time but getting
Aphrodite pregnant and then flashing back in to make the mortal
pregnant was a bit much. She felt sympathy for both Ares and Joxer,
she could sense how strongly Joxer wanted to prove himself and the
attraction he had for Ares, when he found out what Ares had done,
there would be Tartarus to pay.