Make Love, Not War

Part 8

Leaving Phobos and Joxer alone in their new home Ares immersed himself in every little battle he could find. He brutally massacred enemies on the battlefield in an attempt to rid himself of his rage. It didn’t work. Unable to bear the thought of Joxer having sex with his son, Ares went to the Fates to find out exactly why they had been so cruel to him.

“Why did you do this?” Ares asked his voice equal parts anger and sorrow.

“We feel your pain but we no no choice in the matter. It simply had to happen. On the day of Zeus’ triumph over the Titans a prophecy was announced.”

Ares glared at them, “What is the prophecy? What does it have to do with my Joxer?”

Not looking at him, the most feared women in Greece calmly stated the prophecy together,
“When He who was resurrected dies again,
This prophecy shall come into play,
The child of Love and Mischief,
Will be forced to choose the Fate of us all.

If the Young One chooses duty,
Fright shall be called to the cave,
They shall be bound together,
Love’s child will bear their daughter.

She is both birth and death,
Aurora shall be her name,
At her meeting with the Grandmother
The gods will disappear from this plane.”

Two undying ones will work with Aurora
These three souls shall bring together,
Three couples of impure blood,
When these Nine stand together,

At the place where He first died,
The earth mother will awaken,
Calling into being the new King
And the Gods shall be renewed.”

Ares spat out angrily, “So Joxer did all this for nothing! The gods are going to be destroyed anyway!”

Lachesis protested, “If he didn’t do this there would be no chance of the gods being reborn. He did this so that you could live!”

“What was the other side of the prophecy?” Ares asked as he remembered there were two possible choices.

Destiny looked at him seriously before saying, “All the gods died while Joxer watched. He would become insane and allow Dahork to takeover the world.”

Atropos declared, “You are helping Joxer, your parting ensures he will survive until the rebirth.”

“Why can’t I touch him?” Ares asked thinking to himself everything would be okay if only he could take his beloved into his arms. He could have even coped seeing his Joxer married to another if he could hold him.

Clotho explained patiently, “It is because you are the choice he rejected. That path is closed to him, for now.”

Destiny said softly, “Do not give up hope. You and Joxer will get through this.”

“Easy for you to say.” Ares said bitterly as he disappeared from the room.
*******
With a friendly grin Phobos said, “Joxer, what do you say we at least try to be friends? We’re stuck together and I’d prefer to be with a friend than with someone who hates me.”

Joxer said seriously, “I don’t hate you, I hate the situation. I guess we could be friends.”

“Joxer? I’m not going to attack you, lie down on the bed,” Phobos said soothingly.

Joxer ignored him as he ranted, “How am I supposed to cope now? I burn for Ar and I can’t even touch him!”

“I know, I’m sorry. Look, we only have five hours before the deadline. We have to er…consummate our marriage or this will all be for nothing.”

Joxer nodded, “You’re right. I don’t want everyone to die, that was why I did this.”

“I know. Look I’m not going to hurt you.”

Joxer sighed, “Thank you for that. Are you a top, a bottom or both?”

“A top. Look, have you done this before?”

“Yeah.” Joxer said dejectedly.

Phobos said ruefully, “At least that’s something.”

Joxer nodded as they started undressing. He could do this, Joxer reassured himself. He didn’t know how but he would do it. He closed his eyes as he felt Phobos move over to him and kiss his cheek gently.

Directing the now naked man to the bed Phobos murmured, “I’m sorry about this. If it helps, think of dad.”

Joxer heard him but knew he couldn’t do that. It would be a betrayal of his feelings for the war god. He didn’t know why he was put in this position but he would do his duty. He fell back onto the bed, opening his eyes the god looked up at his husband.
*******
“How are you?” Clotho asked the next day as Joxer appeared in the Fates’ Cave.

“Alive. We consummated our marriage, happy?”

Lachesis smiled at him, “Yes actually. Let me be the first to tell you that you are with child.”

“WHAT!” Joxer shouted shocked.

Phobos appeared looking around for the source of Joxefearfear, which was resonating throughout him. Finding nothing, he moved to take the man in his arms to comfort him. Joxer stiffened before relaxing seeing the god was only trying to soothe him.

Phobos questioned worriedly, “What’s wrong, Jox?”

Joxer laughed bitterly, “I…I’m pregnant with your child.”

“B…but we’ve only slept together once.”

“Once is all it takes.” Joxer said ruefully.

Phobos nodded saying slowly, “I guess you’re right. Dad’s going to freak when he finds out you’re pregnant.”

“I know. He’ll hate me.”

Phobos protested, “No, he loves you. If anything he’ll hate me.”

Destiny reassured them, “We’ve spoken to him. He understands the situation.”

“Er…what is the situation?” Joxer said seriously, not wanting to be kept in the dark about something so important.

Destiny said calmly, “Your marriage and thus your daughter ensured that the gods will return.”

Atropos announced, “Without your daughter it would not have happened.”

“What’s so special about her?” Phobos said worried knowing the women were keeping something from them.

“She is the end,” Clotho said emotionlessly.

Atropos continued, “And the beginning.”

Lachesis explained reassuringly, “She is destruction and creation.”

Destiny called out, “She is the last of the Olympians!”

“That’s a lot of pressure for a child!” Joxer said worried knowing how difficult it was to live up to the expectations of others.

Clotho smiled at them, “She will be ready. You will make sure she is ready.”
*******
“Herc! We’ve got to help him.” Iolaus said urgently trying to make his lover act to no avail.

Auto said sighing, “He’s not going to listen. Joxer’s not going to be happy to see everyone if they just react like the Big Guy.”

“What makes you say that? Just what do you know about the marriage Joxer’s agreed to?” Xena asked glaring at the t.
.

“I’m a friend of his. When I was with him and Ares on Olympus, I heard a few conversations. Joxer is the child of Cupid and Strife, he only found out recently.”

“Whoa, how did he take it?” Iolaus said confused. He really hadn’t expected that.

Auto said thoughtfully, “He was shocked and scared. I think he was worried about whether it would affect the way people treated him.”

The warrior princess asked annoyed, “And the marriage?”

“He was told that his marriage would determine the Fate of Olympus. He wasn’t happy about it. He left with Ares, saying he only wanted to be with the one he loved.”

Gabrielle asked angrily, “Who was that?”

“He never said but I think it was Ares.”

Hercules fumed, “ARES!t wat was he doing with that murderer?”

Auto moved to stand right in front of the hero using his body to stop the man from moving. With a snarl the thief said, “Look he loves him and to be honest I think they’d be good together.”

“They’re not together though from the sound of it.” Xena thought aloud.

The thief agreed explaining to the others, “Yeah. When he agreed to this marriage, Joxer was giving up any chance he had with Ares. He had no choice, if he didn’t agree to the marriage then Olympus would be destroyed. He wasn’t going to let the people he loves die, so he agreed.”

“Poor Joxer.” Gabrielle said sympathetically looking at Xena with a grin.

Xena nodded, “Yeah. I wonder who he married?”

“What’s so special about Joxer?” Hercules said wondering just what he had missed about the wannabe .
.

Auto shrugged, “No idea but he must be important if the Fates forced him into a marriage.”

Looking at the others Iolaus clicked his neck as he shouted, “ARES! ARES!”

When the war god didn’t respond, the hunter looked at his friends in a mix of fear and worry. What was so important it would make the god ignore this chance to disrupt their lives? He grinned when Xena shouted, “ARES! Get your ass down here, we’re worried about Joxer!”

Iolaus didn’t know who was more stunned when Ares appeared Xena or Hercules. He looked at the god suspiciously noting the red eyes, if he didn’t know better he would think that Ares had been crying.

“What do you want?” Ares asked with a resigned sigh.

Xena ignored the god’s annoyance as she said, “Where’s Joxer?”

Ignoring the flash of pain as he thought about his love Ares replied, “With his new husband I would imagine.”

“What new husband?” Iolaus wondered aloud.

Ares said softly, “My son – Phobos.”

“What was that Ares?” Auto asked as a look at the others informed him they didn’t hear the god’s words either.

In a mix of hurt and rage Ares answered, “My fucking son Phobos, okay! Don’t even think about bothering Jox with your insignificant questions. I’m so fucking angry I’ll make you all wish for Tartarus if you upset him!”

“Why are you so worried about Joxer?”

Ares snarled, “I just am! Can you please do Joxer a favour and keep quiet until he tells the Pantheon?”

Looking at the others Xena assured him, “Of course. Some of the gods might not be very understanding unless everything is explained to them.”

“Thank you. Now you’ve got your answers, leave.” Ares said watching as the five left his temple in silence.
*******
Ares disappeared back to his room so he could mope in peace. He wanted to be near Joxer…gods he would do anything just to see him. It was at this point he got a nervous summons from his love.

“A…Ar, c…can you come and see us? Please, I need to talk to you.” Joxer’s voice floated into the room full of barely concealed grief and anger.

Ares quickly disappeared from his temple in a flash of sparks appearing almost instantly in Phobos’ private temple. He frowned when he spied Joxer sitting next to a large fire, tears flowing from his eyes.

Only the knowledge that touching Joxer would result in pain for his love kept Ares from taking the obviously distraught god in his arms. Gently the war god asked, “What’s wrong, love?”

“Phobos and I spoke to the Fates. They said that I’m pregnant with his baby and they told us why we had to get married.”

“How do you feel about it?”

Joxer said with a bitter l, “H, “Honestly, I wish it wasn’t so. If all that mattered was that, I carry Phobos’ child there was no need to do this to us. I could have slept with him anyway.”

“That’s not the only reason. Didn’t they tell you about the rest of the prophecy?”

“No, what does it say?”

Ares took a deep breath, “Two Undying Ones will return the gods to power with the help of your daughter. They said that your marriage to Phobos was also about making sure you survive. Our separation gave you the extra power needed.”

Joxer nodded absently, “I can see why. I’m the god of Absent Lovers, fitting seeing how you can’t get any more absent than you. Sure, you’re in the same time, place as me, but you’re not with me. So we’re Absent Lovers.”

“Yeah. I wish I could hold you.” Ares said gently.

Joxer gave a watery smile, “And I you. Its not so bad, I guess. At least I’ll be able to see you. We should see Hades about getting Dad out of his domain. There’s no need for more of us to be unhappy than necessary.”

“I’ll see him later. How is Phobos coping with everything?”

Joxer smiled, “He thinks you hate him. He’s taking care of me though. We’ve agreed to try and become friends.”

Ares moved to place one hand just above Joxer’s saying, “I’m glad you’re at least married to someone who’s going to treat you right. I can’t believe he thinks that though, how could I hate my own son? This has nothing to do with him.”

“I know but you should talk to him. He’s just as confused as I am but he’s too busy taking care of me to let it show.”

At this point Phobos appeared in the room worry, regret, and anxiety burning in his eyes for a second as he looked at his father. Then the fear god blinked and the look in his eyes disappeared, making the pair question what they had seen.

“Dad. I’m sorry about this,” Phobos said trailing off when he didn’t know what to say.

Ares hugged his son determinedly not thinking about the fact that his child had taken the virginity of the man he loved. When they broke apart, he could see the relief in Phobos’ face.

Ares reassured him, “Its okay, son. This isn’t your fault and to be honest, I’m happy that Jox is with someone who is going to take care of him. Someone who won’t use him and hurt him.”

Phobos vowed, “I will take care of him, I swear it. He seems like a nice guy, I’m sure if it weren’t for our marriage, we would have been good friends. Ours can be a marriage between friends, there aren’t many of them on Olympus, and I like the idea of having a friend around.”

“Thank you, son. Have you made plans for telling the rest of Olympus about your marriage?”

Phobos blushed, “Not yet, I guess I should call a meeting.”

Ares smirked, “Just attend Zeus’ petitions tomorrow. You can petition to have your temple enlarged and break the news at the same time.”

“That’s a wicked idea, Ar. I love it.” Joxer said with a smile.

Ares said anxiously, “Jox, your little thief has already told everyone that you’re married. I told them who to. They’re going to keep quiet until you tell the Pantheon.”

Joxer beamed at his love, “Thanks for taking care of it Ar.”

“You know I’ll do anything for you.” Ares said with a sad smile as he left the room.

End Part 8