Make Love, Not War

Part 4

Strife took a deep breath and made his decision, he was going to tell the truth. It was the only thing he could do. With a thought, he flashed into his uncle’s temple mentally requesting Cupid and Ares to join him knowing he didn’t need to ask his uncle to bring Joxer with him.

“What do you want now, Mischief?” Cupid said with a groan as he appeared in his father’s home sitting on a nearby chair.

“I’ll tell ya once Unc and Joxer are here.” Strife responded ignoring the way his heart clenched when Cupid called him by his godhood and not his name. It had been this way for years but every time Cupid called him Mischief, it hurt.

As Joxer and Ares appeared Strife smiled at his son, “Joxer, I have something to tell you. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner.”

“Strife, wait until we’re sitting down!” Ares ordered as he pulled Joxer down onto a nearby loveseat.

“I guess the best thing is to just say it. Joxer, you’re my son. Well, mine and Cupid’s to be exact, you’re a god. You don’t have powers yet because you have to be officially recognised by the Pantheon first. We created the rule after Callisto.”

“How could you take my child and place him in the mortal world?” Cupid shouted as he blasted Strife across the room.

Brushing the dust from his clothes Strife stood answering, “I didn’t have a fucking choice! The Fates said if I didn’t give him up Zeus would kill him before he was two months old. If I told anyone before Joxer came to Olympus as the guest of War he would die and never be reborn. If I told anyone afterwards then I would be the one to pay the price but I deserve it.”

The Fates appeared saying as one, “Strife God of Mischief, you have disobeyed one of our edicts and must be punished. The punishment is either death without rebirth or eternal banishment. We will consider your actions before making our decision.”

“Wait! You can’t do this!” Joxer shouted as he jumped up unwilling to see his father be punished for telling the truth.

“Who are you to tell us what to do?” Clotho said scornfully.

Joxer smirked, “Apparently I’m the son of love and mischief. Why did you say he could not reveal the truth?”

Lachesis sighed, “Because the world is not ready for the son of love and mischief.”

“WAIT!” Gaia sed aed as she flashed into the room, “The pieces are in position. There is no need to punish Strife. He has simply played his part.”

“We must punish him, for he has broken one of our rules. Our punishment is death.” Atropos said sadly.

Strife said resigned, “When will my punishment start?”

“Now.” Clotho said as she waived a hand and the God of Mischief died as Strife disappeared.

“NO! Not my baby!” Discord shouted as she flashed into the room, tears of pain and loss streaming down her beautiful face.
*******
“You’re dead, Strife!” Hades exclaimed in shock.

“Yeah, so when does my eternal torment start?”

Hades grinned impishly, “It doesn’t. You are one of my Immortals; The Fates knew when they sent you down here. However, you are no longer a god. Now it is time for me to play my part in the grand scheme of things, I want you to find a man called Methos. He’s my best warrior and works exclusively for me. He will tell you the rules you must live by, follow them. Tell him Hades sent you to him to be his shield-mate.”

“His shield mate? I’m in love with Cupid!” Strife protested.

“Think Strife! Are you in love with Cupid or the person Cupid once was? He has changed a lot since you broke up.”

“How am I supposed to know? I don’t do love!” Strife said angrily.

Hades sighed, “Just go with Methos, he’ll help you. He may be brutal but once you’re in his heart, he looks after you forever.”

Strife sighed not seeing a way of escaping, “I’ll let this Methos fuck me if that’s what my punishment is. Any idea where he is?”

“I’ll send you about half an hour from him. Wear this necklace and he will immediately spot you.”

“Later.” Strife said as Hades made him disappear in a flash of sparks.
*******
Methos frowned as he felt a strange need to go south, he tried to go away from the area but every road led to the same place. Withdrawing his sword, he waited only to find the clearing empty apart from a man sitting on a stone angrily muttering about getting even with The Fates for taking away his son.

Methos didn’t react as the presence of the strange immortal went through him but he noticed the startled grimace in the new immortal’s face. Keeping his sword, visible Methos walked forward and pointed it at the new immortal.

Strife growled, “Don’t tell me this is part of the gig? Hades never mentioned this! I’m going to fucking *kill* him when I catch up with him!”

Methos laughed lowly, “You wouldn’t be the first to try and kill death. Who are you and what do you want?”

“The name’s Strife. I’m here because the fucking Fates decided to kill me for disobeying one of their ridiculous rules.”

Methos rolled his eyes, “You’re not dead, and you’re an Immortal. So what did Hades say when you saw him?”

“I’m supposed to be your shield-mate. Believe me, I’m only doing this because I don’t have any choice.”

Methos grinned, “I don’t need a unwilling body to fuck, there are more than enough willing people. However, since Hades has said that I’m to take you with me, so be it. You must be important for Hades to send you to me. Who were you before you died?”

With a snort at the man’s lack of knowledge Strife responded, “The God of Mischief. So where are we heading?”

Looking Strife over Methos said, “Until Hades asked me back here I was heading for Egypt. Why did The Fates kill you? It must be pretty serious for them to kill a god?”

“I told my son, Joxer, who he was. I had to give my son up to a mortal family because The Fates said Zeus would kill him if me and Cupid kept him.”

“Cupid, god of love? I thought he was with that Psyche?”

Strife said with a shrug, “He is and he hates me.”

“Well, maybe you’re better off without him. Come on Strife,” Methos said as he got on his horse, reaching down to pull Strife up beside him.

Hades watched what was happeningh a h a grin, now that his son was safely with his best warrior, Methos, he could ensure the next part of the plan worked. His plan would ensure the survival of his son even if it meant he had to separate Strife from his family. The Fates had known about his intentions, he was sure of it simply because they had placed no restrictions on him concerning his son.
*******
Joxer looked over at the angry Gods planning to get even with The Fates for punishing Strife, his father. It was weird to think of himself as being the son of both Love and Mischief but it would explain some of the scrapes he had managed to get himself into.

Joxer smiled at the quartet, “Still planning on torturing The Fates, or have you come up with a better plan?”

“Like you could to any better (!)” Discord said with a laugh wanting to take the chance to see what her grandson was made of. She knew if he was anything like Strife, Joxer would never turn down a challenge.

Joxer shrugged, “Firstly speak to Zeus. He must have known what The Fates were planning if he was willing to let Strife disappear for a year, not to mention he blocked access to Strife’s life. Secondly, why not speak directly to Hades? He might let you speak to Strife then you could find out if he has any ideas on what to do.”

“I doubt he would speak to me but maybe you, Cupid?” Ares said looking at his son.

Cupid growled, “If not, I’ll threaten to make him impotent for the six months he has with Persephone. If that fails there’s always torture.”

“What about speaking to Gaia? Grandmothers tend to know everything.” Joxer said thoughtfully.

“I’ll do that.” Discord said with a nod.

Aphrodite offered, “I’ll speak to Zeus. No offence but he might be willing to listen to me a little more than he does to you guys.”

“Jox and I will take care of The Fates.” Ares said looking at the others.

Aphrodite said with a laugh, “Nice to see you’ve regained your mind, bro.”

Joxer smirked, “Nothing like a family crisis to bring byouryour sanity.”

There were four flashes of light tinged with anger as the group went to their assigned tasks focused entirely on getting Strife back. They were so caught up in their task that they failed to realise they had left Auto alone in the temple where he was gently helping himself to a few trinkets.
*******
“I want Strife back NOW!” Cupid shouted as he appeared in his uncle’s home.

Hades laughed, “Cupid, you can’t go about making demands...”

“Listen you cold-hearted fuck, I want him back! If I don’t get him, I’m going to get very angry!”

Hades narrowed his eyes at the blonde, “Since when have you cared about him anyway?”

Cupid snarled, “I’ve always cared about him or have you forgotten that we were engaged?”

Hades’ eyes flashed with fire as he answered, “I haven’t forgotten but as I recall that relationship ended just over twenty eight years ago. You left Strife alone and started to play happy families with Psyche.”

“Since when have you cared about how I treat Strife?” Cupid said in shock.

Looking at the man who had hurt his son Hades said seriously, “He would sometimes talk to me when everyone started ignoring him. You broke his heart and now you want me to give him back so you can hurt him even more? That’s *never* going to happen, Cupid. You can threaten me as much as you want but I won’t change my mind.”

Cupid gave a wolfish grin, “If that’s how you want it. I Cupid of the House of Love, declare war on the House of Death! The war will only end when you give Strife back, Hades!”

Hades didn’t react when Cupid disappeared from the room not willing to give the younger God the satisfaction of a reaction. He didn’t know what he was going to do now. There was no way ouldould tell them were Strife was, he knew his son would be safer away from the Love God.

Hades only wanted Strife to be happy; that was why he had told the former god to go with Methos. Methos and Strife were alike in a lot of ways, he was sure they would be good for each other. Maybe he could contact Methos and warn him about the danger Strife was in? He knew Zeus would be out for blood if he discovered Strife was alive.

End Part 4