Hide & Seek

It took her a few minutes to fully realize what had happened.   One minute his hand was warm against her hip and his lips were on hers, and the next she was alone in his quarters.  At first, she'd thought he'd been called away, so sudden was his exit. Then it dawned on her that he'd cut and run, leaving her dazed and frustrated.  

And, damn it all, the rejection stung.  It probably shouldn't have, given that it was Ares, but it did anyway.  The embers of her earlier anger flared to life with the sudden influx of new fuel and she fell back onto the couch to bury her head in her hands.  She really, really shouldn't care, but there was no changing that.  Her only options were to leave and lick her wounds in her own quarters or do something about his sudden departure.  The latter sounded much more appealing than the former.

"Ares!"  She barked into the empty space, lifting her head from her palms and staring around for any sign of the pale lavender light that usually accompanied his arrival.   Neither he nor the light ever materialized.  She growled softly under her breath and stood to rack her brain for ideas of where he might have gone.  Not to Aphrodite, and she doubted he would have gone down to the mortal cities, which narrowed the list to his temples.  Wonderful.

Her anger banished any qualms she might have had with checking each of his temples individually.  She wasn't through with him, especially not after his attempt at leaving her high and dry.  

It was no mean feat, but her frustration and humiliation drove her up and down the length of each of his temples until there was only one more to check.  It was the only other temple she knew of, and the heavens only knew that he could have had a secret bolt-hole somewhere, but she was determined.  

---

She stepped through the burst of verdant light onto the stone steps of the pavilion.  Thrace rolled down to the sea beyond the temple, and she watched the view change as she climbed to the landing outside the great pillars.   Her sandals snapped quietly against the stone as she stalked into the pronaos.  

"Ares!" Her shout echoed off the high ceilings as she continued into the building.  Any other time she'd have paused to study the friezes and mosaics that covered the walls, depicting valiant scenes, but her impatience had grown too great.  

She stopped in the center of the floor and folded her arms across her chest.  If he wasn't here she'd have to keep looking, but for the moment there was nothing else to be done but wait.

The continual calls of an angry goddess did nothing to help Ares' nerves. When he'd vanished, he knew there would be two possible outcomes, however, he'd not recalled that Persephone was rather atypical. Which meant that the old adage held true. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Really, he should have known better seeing as who his mother and lover were. Neither were very merciful when slighted or perceived a slight whether real or imaginary.

Ares had had the misconception that after he left her, Persephone would fume and do whatever it was she did to blow off steam. Not start hunting him and visiting all of his temples. Each time she called and he didn't answer, he thought she would give up and realize the search would be fruitless and she could go pet the cerberus to calm down or go drive the residents of the Underworld to fear her more than her husband with whatever display she let off. But no, this was Persephone. She had to go and be difficult! It made it rather hard to concentrate to vent his own pent up aggression and that weird feeling he had when she wouldn't shut up! Her calling him and the intent kept sending pricks of awareness that he would have to continually squash.

When it became clear that he would have to resign himself to having to actually face the music, Ares hid. He went to the opisthodomos of the temple and draped himself across the throne. Might as well be comfortable if he was going to endure this. Propping his cheek on his fist, idly wondered what the goddess would make of his throne. Despite the direness of the situation, he found the corner of his lips turn up slightly before he sighed. The woman was giving him a migraine with all the shouting! Then he felt it.

She was here and soon deafening his eardrums. Debating on which would be the better course, to stay silent, or to speak out, Ares wasn't sure what to do. The more vindictive and childish side that was sulking decided to let her come to him. While yet another part of him wanted to flee and let her discover an empty temple. That too would serve her right. It was too late in either case since she didn't find him out there, he heard her making her way to the inner room. Only his priests were ever allowed in here. Ignoring the turmoil of the storm that was going on in his guts, Ares schooled his face to one of apathy and stared at her with his eyes on the entryway.

"Took you long enough. Did you have to stop and get directions?" Ares knew that she hadn't really explored the modern world chained as she was to Hades. Her mother was likely one to keep her chained to her as well during the months she was allowed out in the sun.

She'd half been expecting to find herself in yet another empty temple.  When she'd spotted him draped over his throne her heart had dropped and lurched all at once.  His throne was frankly ridiculous, stylized with bones, claws, and enough draped red fabric to drown in, but the cold look on his face killed any laughter in her throat.

"I figured I'd better be thorough," she replied coolly, studying him and trying to decide if she wanted to wring his neck, continue in their earlier direction, or both. She didn't think anyone would blame her, not with the (literal) run around he'd given her.  

"If it weren't for your poorly executed tactical retreat, I wouldn't have had to visit every blasted temple between here and New York."  What was his problem?  He was the one who'd left, not her.  She had her faults, but being prone to abandoning her... Whatever she and Ares were was not one of them.

"Did no one teach you that it's polite to at least say goodbye when you leave?" Her eyes narrowed as she forced the aggravating sting of his rejection down.  He wasn't going to get away with it, and then she could move on to better things.

Like what? The little voice in her head mocked.  You're trapped in the underworld for one half of the year and on Olympus for the other.  This is as good as it gets, your highness.

Somehow, the fact that the little voice sounded alarmingly like Ares made its needling worse.

'I'm sure everyone from here to New York heard you.' was the immediate thought that came to mind. Instead he listened without a word or change of expression until the last bit when he pretended that he was actually considering it.  "Hmm, let me think," he mocked. "When one's mother is the goddess of marriage whose husband is a pathological adulterer, etiquette lessons aren't at the top of the list."

Ares had been weaned on his mother's hatred, anger, and his father's indifference. He'd learned from them how to hurt people and knew that that was what he was doing to Persephone. Inwardly he scoffed at the notion. She had more than made sure he understood that she despised him on the best of days. This, was likely to chew him out for leaving before she'd had the last word. His stomach roiled at the thought of what he was doing, but he ruthlessly squashed it an any other unknown feelings down.

"If that's what you came all the way here for then, goodbye." Taking his eyes off her since as far as he was concerned the conversation was over. The childish part of him wanted to vanish again and leave her to fume again. Knowing that would solve nothing though, he knew he'd have to wait her out because she would hardly accept that. Pretty sure.

She had to drop her gaze and set her jaw against the wave of disbelief and hurt that washed over her.  Why was he being so cold?  Not long ago he'd been holding her close that you could hardly have fit a thread between them.  What had changed?

The gods were cruel.  That much she understood and accepted.  Her own streak of cruelty only made itself known when her blood was up, which she supposed might be the reason for his changed behavior.  Had she hurt him?  She couldn't imagine the nigh-indestructible God of War being wounded by her petty complaints and barbs. Could he be?

Let him play with fire, she thought.  It would serve him right to be burnt. He'd always seemed to hold himself apart from the other male deities - proud of his rebellion against the norm.  She knew exactly how much it would sting him if she told him he was exactly like his brothers and father.

And yet she couldn't seem to make her tongue work.  The words just wouldn't come, perhaps because of the heavy dread that was pooling in her stomach.  No matter what she did, he'd evidently made up his mind about her.  He was abandoning her, just like everyone else, and she was going to be alone on Olympus and in the Underworld again.  

What was he to her?  A friend?  An ally?  Lover?  She didn't know.  Lover implied commitment, friend implied affection, and ally indicated mutual benefit.  They were none of those things, but somehow the thought of him going away scared her just a little bit.  

"A shame, really," she murmured, forcing herself to look up at him from under her lashes.  She wrestled with her hurt, trying to force it away so that she could focus.  "You were so proud of not being your parents' son.  I thought you'd have learned out of spite if nothing else."

Ares had been trying to puzzle out the strange feelings that he'd been experiencing. It had felt like adoration, (he knew what that felt like from his worshipers) but that wasn't it exactly. Perhaps that was what Persephone had meant when she'd said she'd felt 'happy'? It was a sort of soft glow, yet it hurt a bit like guilt. He'd experienced that one once. It wasn't pleasant and felt heavy. This too, had felt heavy, as if there was a tight band around his chest. Almost, but not quite, like when he was drawing his last breaths in that blasted jar the two giants trapped him in when he was a youth.

When Persephone's words reached him, that glow he'd felt and been trying to examine within himself turned brittle and sour. While she hadn't physically harmed him, he felt as if he'd been struck and for a brief second his lungs seized; he felt as if he was in that jar and Hermes was not going to be there to break the lid. It was almost akin to when he realized he would never be anything to his father. Being the son of Zeus and the god of war was the only reason his father hadn't struck him down during the Trojan War and been done with him.

White hot fury uncoiled and suffused him, pushing any and all other thoughts and emotions aside. Betrayal burned through his veins as well. Oh, how well was acquainted with Betrayal. He'd lived with it all his life. While he'd tried not to betray others (that was why he was so careful when he made deals or giving his promise), there were times he was swayed. He was careful when he chose his lovers and he never not once, tricked or forced them. While he didn't shower his children with affection, he didn't outright ignore them either. He watched out for them and he damned sure helped and protected them when they needed it. Even avenged them when it was called for.

Ares was well known for his temper and it was a very near thing that he was able to rein in his instinct to strike at Persephone with the fire or lightning the gods favored. Sitting up correctly on his throne, his hands went into the grooves between the clawed hand arm rests. His whole being screamed pent up rage, and his dark stare fixed on her eyes allowing her to see how close he was. Over the centuries, he'd had to master himself and how to control and box up his nastier side. That box's bindings were at the breaking point and straining.

"I am nothing like them!" Ares snarled. "And you know nothing!"

All she knew was whatever trickled through the grapevine after it had been exaggerated or twisted for others' purpose and amusement. Persephone had already shown that when he'd almost let down his facade before, only to have to keep it in place because of something she said. There had been disappointment in that.

His barely controlled rage washed over her like a wave.  She didn't have to have his powers feel the strength of his emotion or see how he nearly trembled from the effort of controlling the fire burning within him.  Her words had done more harm than good, but she counted herself lucky that he hadn't lashed out.  Still, she couldn't help but flinch, looking down and away, as he snarled at her through his teeth.

"I am nothing like them! And you know nothing!"

He was right, she really didn't.  A part of her had thought he was different than his brothers and father; less likely to use her and then leave her high and dry.  But here he was, fearsome upon his throne as he tried to dismiss her. Just like every other Olympian man.  

There wasn't anything she could say to calm him, and she doubted he'd be inclined to change his mind about her after this.  He clearly wanted nothing to do with her, she realized, her stomach sinking as she forced herself to lift her eyes to him again.  

"I thought you were different," she agreed, straightening her spine as her hands fell to her sides.  "I didn't think the god of war would ever run from something."

She was fairly sure her words would fall on deaf ears, but what did she have to lose?  If his mind was truly made up, then it wouldn't matter if her words failed; he would go about his business with or without her help, and she would go back to being alone for most of her days.  

"But what do I know?" She smiled bitterly and shrugged her shoulders.  "I'm just a foolish girl."

Something in the god snapped. Lunging from his throne, he let loose a primal scream of rage as he allowed the power he'd been suppressing to explode out of his hands. The entire temple shook as the wall to the right of the goddess fractured into dust. Even in the meltdown he was having, Ares realized it would be bad if he brought the temple down on them. Switching targets, he began to destroy one thing after another. From armor that was laying about, trophies, and even turned his rage upon the throne he'd been sitting on. It had once brought him a perverse sense of triumph. To have made a throne out of one of Echnida's children who had threatened his people before. It had been an offering he'd accepted gladly. Now, he didn't care anything about it except reducing it to nothing.

Keeping his back to the goddess once he was spent and breathing heavily, Ares still felt the trace of anger that was his constant companion. A deep scowl marred his face as he glared at the ruins in front of him. What did she know? How would someone who had been loved and treasured as she had, know of how he had been raised? How 'running away' was the only way for him to stay sane. She too, had 'run away' from the doldrums of her life as well. Wasn't that why she had even decided to start to play his game with him? But things were getting complicated and hard and she didn't want to play anymore. So, he's trying to obey her wishes, and he gets called the coward. Yes, he'd run away from her. It was partly, okay, mostly selfish on his part. Ares had only good memories associated with her in his room and didn't want that spoiled. He'd gotten back at her for entering his room unannounced and making herself at home. They should have been even. He had quit while he was ahead and so neither one of them would regret it. Plus, he didn't wish for anything to go south when the conversation had taken a more pleasant turn.

The muscle in his cheek twitched and he had to close his eyes as his fingers curled into fists at his sides before relaxing. She said she thought he was different. That brought a sneer to his face. If she had thought that, then why did she continually to treat him the same as everyone else did? On preconceived notions of what he was or what he was supposed to act like?

"It seems you are a foolish girl after all. Doesn't it?" Was all he could say with scorn and venom dripping from each word.

'And I am more foolish still, to have even thought...' That heavy feeling was back and it was accompanies by many nastier things along with shame.

For once, she hated being right.  

The scorn in his voice when he agreed that she was nothing more than a foolish girl cut deep, and she let out a shaky breath.  She hoped he'd think it was fear that made her exhalation rattle because she didn't know if she could bear him mocking her.  His anger had been a sight to behold, reducing walls to rubble and armour to dented scrap, and it was her fault.

If she'd just left well enough alone she wouldn't be standing here, hurt, confused, and frustrated as she stared at his broad back.  
What else could she say to him? He was hardly in a listening mood and everything she did say only made things worse.  

You've really done it this time, she thought to herself.  You broke the unbreakable.

She watched his hands curling and uncurling at his sides as her own fingers curled into the material of her skirt, gripping tight so that they wouldn't shake.  There wasn't anything else to do but leave, though she wished there was something else; something that would keep him from hating her, at least.  Turning on her heel, she began to walk back the way she had come and then broke into a run.  

The sooner you get away from here, the sooner things will get better, she told herself, unable to resist one last glance back over her shoulder at the ruined throne room as she hared off towards the entrance.

Every nerve in him was wound tight as he strained his ears to hear everything. Waiting, for what, he wasn't sure. For her to berate him? Laugh at him for destroying his beloved temple. Call him out on his behavior? Something, anything, but the quiet. Instead, he heard the scrape of her sandals against the stone floor and something squeezed inside when the footfalls quickened. Sinking to his knees in the aftermath of his bout of rage, he bowed his head in defeat. He'd really done it this time. And his ex-lover was likely to come after his head for hurting her friend. Ares' shoulders started shaking until he couldn't contain it and broke out laughing, head thrown back. The hysterical laughter rang out and echoed in the near empty room.

He'd made a mess of things now. So she was right about that at least. She wouldn't likely come near him at all voluntarily or otherwise. This was what she wanted though, wasn't it? To be rid of him and his 'messes'? She had one less thing to worry about now. Shifting to a more comfortable position, with one knee drawn up, Ares sighed as the hysteria wore off. While he knew that insanity ran in the family, he had hoped that he wasn't completely there yet.

It was a good thing he didn't have anything he needed up on Olympus since it seemed he wouldn't be showing his face there for the next six months. Except for the bi yearly councils. Even then, he knew he'd procrastinate until he was shy of arriving late and would be the first to leave. He didn't think he'd be able to stand being in the same room with two women he'd hurt. As for Persephone, she wouldn't be upset for long. She'd get over their game, happy she was right and smug to know that she was. Then she could go back to playing 'happy' with her husband.

"Oh look, we are like daddy dearest after all. We make women cry after we mess up their lives," he bitterly muttered. "Won't he be thrilled."