This little number popped into my head while I was trimming my horse's hooves. Hope you like it.

Disclaimer:

I do not own the manhwa Ares. If I did, my name would be Ryu Geum Chul, not Snooki. :p

"Cygnus," Sara said, "can I ask you a silly question?" They were sitting together on his balcony, looking up at the narrow strip of sky between the insulae roofs.

"Hm?" Cygnus looked at her. His long, lanky form was folded against the wall, legs bent at the knees. "Sure."

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

"What do you mean, 'when I grow up', Sara?" He teased her, in mock bemusement. "I'm nineteen years old! Isn't that grown-up enough for you?"

"That's not what I meant." she answered, smiling. "I mean, do you really want to be a restaurant delivery boy for the rest of your life? It's not exactly glamorous work."

Cygnus shrugged. "Maybe. It's fun for now." He looked at her quizzically. "Why?"

Sara turned her eyes to the spread of stars above them. "I don't know. It's stupid, but…"

He moved a little closer and put his arm around her shoulders. "Come on. Nothing you say is stupid.'

Sara sighed and leaned into him. "Well… I always thought you were kind of too good for Subra, you know? Like you belong somewhere greater than this."

Cygnus' smile faltered a little. "What does that mean? Subra isn't bad."

"No, I know. I just… I can't really explain it." She glanced at him. "Maybe I just feel like you're better than some tiny peasant village."

As soon as she said that, it was like the scene in front of him just melted away. He didn't see the sky, or feel her weight against his arm. He was back in Nemesis' temple, standing before her altar with a gold chalice in his hands, the metallic taste of blood in his mouth..

Become strong, Cygnus, and do not disappoint your mother! You are my hope.

Would she be disappointed if she could see him now? Undoubtedly, the answer was yes. Her hope, living in a slum, working like a dog for minimum wage, dating a plebeian girl. It wasn't what she wanted. If she had her way, half the population of Chronos would be dead by now. And maybe if Sara wasn't there, it'd be his way too.

But Sara was there, and suddenly he was back, the heavens sliding into focus before his eyes. He stretched, the bangles on his ankles jangling. "Well, I might be." he said nonchalantly. "But, listen..." Cygnus settled down and pulled her closer so that he could put his lips right up against her ear. "As good as I am, I'm not better than you. And where do you happen to be right now?"

Sara giggled. He didn't look, but he knew she was blushing. "I'm here." she said quietly.

He tucked a little kiss underneath her earlobe. "That's right. So I am too." Silence settled between them. Cygnus smiled.

The blood of the Chronosians would have to wait.

Well, there you have it. Please please please for the love of Ares leave a review! Even if you just give me a score out of 5.

Love and snuggles,

Snooki. xx

*Insulae - The tenement type buildings that the plebeians (commoners) lived in.

*Nemesis - The Goddess of vengeance.

Hey, this world is based on ancient Rome :p