II: The Reason For My Only Attachment
"Father." He said simply with a scowl, looking at the brown haired man which sat in his throne. His posture high and an air of authority surrounding him. The son just focused solely on his father in the chair, a tense silence hung even heavier in the room now, before the man spoke.
"Ares." The son really did hate this place with all his fiber.
In the grand halls lined with golds and silvers, only the sounds of breaths could be faintly heard. The tension was thick at the current scene of events. All attendants and servants watching on warily and at the ready, in case the worst were to occur. For Ares however, he couldn't care for what the others did. His scowl and hardened eyes were focused on the man he called his 'father,' though even Ares used that term loosely. Deep ocean blue eyes glared up at dark brown eyes. Though Ares' father seemed to be keeping his calm much better than his son could ever hope to achieve. That would be the only time Ares would ever compliment his father, was his ability to appear calm and at ease, but Ares knew deep down that his father wanted to return his own gaze at his son. All Ares could do was flex his fingers, flexing and squeezing them. His action of squeezing must've have caught the more observant members in attendance off guard. As he heard some shuffling behind him. They were probably confusing his adrenaline rush as a sign for something horrendous to occur. But before either one could speak or take any action, a smooth and disparaging voice finally left an attendant's mouth.
"You do know if you two keep staring at one another like that, your faces will most certainly be stuck like that for all eternity." The voice rang out. Ares and his father took this opportunity to find the origins of the silence breaker. Though neither were surprised by whom it was. Currently sat in one of the large custom built dining chairs, not even fully focused on the events was none other than the Ruler of the Underworld himself. Ares' uncle and his father's brother. Hades.
The two were able to get a clear view of Hades for once. His hands placed on top of his skull horned helmet, that also acted a crown to cement his authority in the land of the Underworld. His black hair pulled back just below his shoulder blades. His hair blacker than any abyss found his Hades, and his light green eyes like those damned suffers who would suffer for all eternity. Slight facial hair gracing his face, a very thin line of black hair connecting his side burns from one side of his face to another. His face was less aged than that of his elder brother, no gray or white hairs in sight to ruin his black mane.
"Hades, I don't ever recall you being invited to our conversation here." The elder brother said with authority, his hardened gaze focusing onto his younger brother.
"No you never invited me, but I can speak my mind when I'm in these halls. Isn't that right Zeus?" Hades snidely said to his elder brother, a devious smile gracing his face, showing off rows of white teeth.
The father now identified could only squint his eyes harder at his younger brother at the pristine table. His attention seemingly shifted from Ares for the time, but the thought of him quickly brought Zeus' eyes back to the War God. Zeus' matured eyes glaring a hole into the younger God's head. Ares could feel his father's eyes harden on him, it was something of a sixth sense, the eldest son had developed. Ares' eyes shifted from Hades and turned back to his greying father, their stare down seemingly resuming again, but not as intense as the that transpired earlier on.
"That's enough you two." A motherly voice commanded. Zeus' gaze instantly softened and shifted back to the neutral expression he held, before Ares fully introduced himself. Ares' eyes shifted focus once again to the brown haired woman to his right. His mother Hera, had always had the ability to keep the father and son's animosity towards one another in check. She kept them in check, making sure their constant staredowns, and occasional verbal arguments from spiraling out of control into a brawl. Hera noticed that Ares hand had found its way back to his face, absentmindedly rubbing it against the large scar that sat upon his cheek. Ares saw his mother catching him and the act, and quickly stopped and brought his arm back down to his side. Ares turned his back and began to walk back down the small set of steps that led to the thrones of his mother and father.
He found his heart beating faster, but why? Even he couldn't figure it out, maybe it was the quick flash of weakness he'd shown and someone had finally seen it. Maybe it was still the adrenaline from his 'confrontation' with his father. Yes, that was it. His body was still in fight mode, and hadn't yet recovered from the vast amount of energy that coursed through his body just a few moments ago. From the outside many were unaware of Ares' current dilemma. Most assuming it was him merely stepping down due to his mother's words, no one really knew how Ares thought or felt. Well, besides a few fortunate souls. Though a certain pair of pale green eyes were focused on him as he seemingly walked passed the table in the center of the hall, not wanting to take his seat was none other than Hades himself. Hades watched as his nephew had quickly turned face and marched away, he had always kept a close eye on the child for many years. Hell, he kept a close eye on many of Zeus and Hera's children. He felt a soft hand lay itself on top of his. He glanced down to see fair skin overlaying on top of his much paler skin. He smiled, just slightly enough to inform the person whom was the master of said limb, but just slightly enough so no one else in the hall could see. His small smile quickly faded as soon as it had appeared as he watched as Ares was heading towards one of the hallways, but another figure had caught up behind him after a brisk walk. Hades observed closely, he and all of the Gods in this great hall knew the hatred between Ares and this figure behind him.
"Just where do you think you're going Ares?" A high and noble voice demanded. Ares had straightened himself, seemingly taken out of his own world. The voice was feminine, but not soft or caring enough to be his mother's or any other of female God's he knew. His face had quickly transformed into a scowl again. He turned his body to face the figure behind him. His assumptions about the voice were unfortunately fully realized who it was. Long honey blonde hair flowed to the middle of her back, her personalized white chiton contrasting greatly with her red and gold shoulder and chest armor, and the thing that irritated him the most was the small gold headdress that sat upon her head. Why did she always wear that? Did she purposefully wear it to anger him? That must've been it Ares thought. She did it, because her regular helmet didn't anger her enough, her regular helmet made of the same gold that made that damned headdress.
"I believe you should know that already, 'Goddess of Wisdom,'" The God of War told the woman that came up to just above the bridge of his nose. She was most certainly a tall woman, the tallest of the female gods. "Or has time away from your precious library simply dulled your mind my dear sister?" Ares continued on, if there was something he seemed to have a natural talent for, it was angering the Goddess in front of him.
"I told you to never call me sister Ares. My name is Athena." She told told him contemptuously. Her eyes narrowing as she looked up at him just slightly. "And besides, it is easy for me know to where a simple blood lusting beast like yourself is going. More than likely you're off to slaughter a village of cyclops for fun, or trick humans into eradicating some centaurs peacefully grazing the fields." Athena retorted back at him a wry smirk forming upon her beautiful face. And that was something she as good at as well, being able to enrage her 'dear brother.'
Ares merely huffed with a small single chuckle. His scowl still as strong as ever as he listened to his sister talk back to him. "For a Goddess of Wisdom, you sure are an imbecile." Ares stated as though it were a fact, to himself at least. A small gasp erupted from the halls, many feeling uneasy, besides Hades and Zeus who merely watched from afar with blank expressions and observed. "If you were half as smart as you touted yourself to be, you'd know exactly how I worked." Ares stated in finality before turning his back towards the hallway that led out of the grand hall.
"Blood lusting bastard." Was the last thing he heard before finally leaving the hall as he continued his walk. He had one this bout of insult trading with Athena, though he never gave her the chance to retort back. He knew the mere concept of her not being to at least retort back was going to kill her inside. And that small thought allowed his face to finally have the pleasure of having a small smirk grace his face.
The hall was left in an awkward silence. No one knowing if Ares heard Athena's insult and seeing him walk back out of the hallway had everyone on a bit of edge. Athena finally uprooted herself from her position near the entrance of the hallway and began walking back to her soft seat she had taken before Ares' 'intrusion' in the grand hall. That man was insufferable in so many ways to Athena, his mere existence disgusted her. Her thoughts of her vile brother left her as two figures were trying to grab her attention. She was immediately able to recognize the two figures. Twins. Most likely the closest siblings amongst all of the gods. Artemis and Apollo. The two gods shared so many things in common, but personality wise were vastly different. Both of their hair was that of orange, though Artemis' was more earthly and darker. Whilst Apollo's was brighter gifted with traces of yellows and golds. Athena was amused by how much he truly did look like the sun. His hair wasn't the only thing that was bright with him. His personality was always so joyful and peaceful, always the optimist and looking towards the lighter side of situations. His chiton designed to show off how tanned his skin had become, his chest and arms bare, but his legs covered. Artemis on the other hand was not so revealing to herself, seemingly finding for comfort in the kinds of animals and other creatures of the land. Her skin was pale, but no where near as pale as their uncle Hades'. Her emerald and green leather armor was sewn into her own pale green chiton. She really was one with the woods it seemed.
"So what exactly was your plan going in and talking to Ares?" Apollo asked with a confused look. Even he knew talking to Ares was not a smart idea.
"Maybe he is right," Artemis spoke plainly "maybe you aren't as wise as you say your are." Artemis said. Apollo couldn't help but look away from his sisters and laugh. Athena though found no such humor in the unintentional joke made her way. Athena knew whatever Artemis said was never meant as a jab or an insult, the girl merely stated in truth what she thought. Though Apollo's laughter didn't help Athena's assumption that it was a cruel joke at her expense.
"I was just wondering where he was going was all. Plain and simple." Athena said whilst crossing her arms and leaning back, almost sinking into the comfortable chair that was personally designed for her use. "Plus, I think we deserve to know why that animal always walks away after saying hello to mother and father." Athena spoke with venom in her throat.
"Maybe if you didn't insinuate he was something my followers prayed to hunt for, maybe he'd be more willing to tell you what he does." Artemis suggested, brushing strand of stray orange hair from her face. Apollo had recovered from his small laughing fit, rubbing the moisture from his face.
"Yeah, I mean, maybe be a bit nicer to our resident 'war monger.'" Apollo continued along his sister's thought. The look Athena gave him was one someone would make as if they were about to vomit. "I mean sure he's a bit of an ass, but I'm sure that comes from what he was 'born' to do." Apollo finished.
"But even then, I doubt that'd work for an hour. You two would be back at it trying to slit each other's throats." Artemis deadpanned.
Athena was absent minded currently, listening to her younger siblings suggestion when she had realized something. There was a presence that was missing in their small social circle. When she realized this her eyes widened. "Artemis, Apollo." Athena finally spoke interrupting their one sided conversation with the honey haired goddess. The sound of their names had caught their attention. "Where is Hebe?" She questioned both of them. Apollo scratched his head in an attempt to remember, but as soon as he remembered his sister interrupted him.
"She was in the gardens last I heard." Artemis informed Athena blankly. "Why do you want to know?" As if on finishing her sentence, Artemis realized what she had put together, she saw Athena's movements as she began to rise from her chair. The three gods remembering the hall that their eldest brother had walked down earlier, led to the gardens where Hebe was.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa easy now Athena. Ares may be a bit punch happy, but there's no way you think he's doing." Apollo said optimistically, in an attempt to convince his elder sister otherwise. But he knew his actions were in vain, as he watched Athena walk quickly out of her seat and towards the hall entrance. All Apollo and Artemis could do was sigh and quickly follow after their sister's actions of storming off so quickly.
'It all makes sense what he does now. He needs to outlet why he's here, no wonder she's so afraid when he leaves. That low life bastard.'Athena thought as she moved quickly towards the gardens.
Ares found himself walking under the archways that were built along the rim of the grand garden that housed nearly all plant life that ever existed in this one garden. Every plant to ever exist or would come to exist found its home in the garden. He had to admit, it was quite the impressive sight to see the variety of flowers, trees, and fruit and vegetable producing plant. Though he did not enter the beautiful garden to observe the pretty flowers, he came there to find someone. He had walked down the trail that led to this person every time he was forced to visit Olympus. Though seeing this person along with his mother always allowed him to finally smile once in awhile. Though the person in here made him smile and even laugh. It even amazed himself, if he told anyone he had the capacity to laugh they'd think he'd gone far more insane than they thought he was.
When he finally reached the end of his path, he came to a clearing set in the center of the garden. When he glanced up he took in the beauty that was the open roof of the garden, allowing the heavenly rains to feed and grow these plants. His main focus was on the figure sat with it's legs beneath itself. Golden brown hair reaching down to waist, various braids and beads within the long hair, giving it more depth and character. The fairest skin he'd ever seen, not pale, and not even kissed by the sun, a perfect middle ground. Her figure of someone a few years off from adolescents. Though for many of the gods, time was irrelevant, he would argue that was not true. It was time that allowed him to become so close to this figure. Said figure's head turned to face his direction, he took in the figure's bright brown eyes, that widened with shock. A bright smile, great enough to challenge the sun found itself upon its owner's face. It quickly rose from the ground and ran towards Ares, arms outstretched. At the last second he stretched his arms out and grabbed the being a lifting hug.
"I missed you so much." The green eyed goddess told Ares. The voice small, but so joyful at the same time. He couldn't even stop the small smile that found his own face. He ran a hand across the top of her head and through her long and gracious hair.
"I've missed you too… Hebe" He said back to the goddess. They both instinctively squeezed tighter. As if their embrace was to be their last. 'This is what home feels like.'Ares thought to himself. The first happy thought he'd had in a very very long time.
AN: Ey, look at that. Another chapter or something. Hopefully it's okay, if it's not, then go ahead and blast me in the review section. I need some criticism here to help know where I need to improve.
