White Lies

By: Ariadne

-W..M..W..M..W..M..W..M..W-

Title: Bros Before Hoes

Chapter Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Plot mine. Characters are Ms. Collins's. Don't sue me.

Summary: He never knew what he was getting into. He never expected that such a small thing could affect his life so drastically.

Author's Notes: Rated for (homo)sexual reference, language, more panty jokes, and conniving. Sorry this took so long, I've been lazy. So, thanks to the overwhelming response to my question last chapter I'm going to start updating once a week on a certain day. I'm going to try for Sunday, which obviously didn't happen this time, but still. Btw, when did Smashing Pumpkins get good? I used to dislike them, but I spent almost half the chapter listening to them. Btw, if you ever wanted a soundtrack for this story I'd try She Wants Revenge's album This is Forever. Their songs practically wrote this story. Ja ne!

Beta: A horrific chocolate milk sugar buzz.

-W..M..W..M..W..M..W..M..W—

Unfortunately for Ares, despite the fact that his personal drama had turned his life upside down, he still had to go to work on Monday. Early on it wasn't so terrible, he was getting used to trawling through horrible songs for the few that might have promise. It was monotonous, but he found that if he concentrated on it the work went fast and he could distract himself from everything that had happened so suddenly. He knew that he had to think about it at some point, but he meant to avoid it as long as possible.

Caught up in his work, Ares didn't notice the slender woman's approach until it was too late. Twirltongue brushed her perfectly manicured nails along the back of the dark man's neck, making goose bumps rise all over his skin. He took his headphones off to turn and look at her. For a brief second he welcomed the further distraction, then he saw the predatory gleam in her eyes and realized that she intended to make more trouble for him.

Twirltongue bent forward, ostensibly so she could be more on Ares's level, but he suspected she was just trying to display the creamy gentle curves that threatened to overwhelm her tight blouse. The first two buttons were undone, and he could catch glimpses of red lace when she breathed in. He felt his body reacting without his say, and hoped she didn't notice his discomfort or the excited flush of his skin.

"Good afternoon," she said with a smile. If she did notice she didn't make any mention of it. "How was your weekend?"

"Stressful and hectic," Ares replied honestly, meeting her pale green eyes with his own. He thought he read sympathy, but couldn't be sure.

"Tell you what," she purred in her honey sweet voice. One hand came up to toy with a long strand of Ares's hair. "Why don't you come have drinks with me sometime and I'll make sure you have a good time."

The offer was almost tempting, but Ares had an easy excuse at hand to fend off her advances. "I don't drink, sorry." Then he tore his dark eyes away from her, signaling that the conversation was done. He didn't expect her to give up so easily, but was surprised when she just pouted.

"What a pity," she stood and brushed the blond ringlets away from her face. Then she handed him a manila envelope, the kind they used to keep documents in. "This is for you, by the way. It's urgent, so you should read it at your earliest convenience. Maybe next time, Ares darling."

Then she gave the smallest of waves and began to walk away. Curious why he would have an urgent document delivered to him, Ares tore open the seal. He peaked in and saw a pair of skimpy red lace panties. The style matched the small snatches of bra that he'd been able to see when Twirltongue had bent over. Which meant…

Immediately he turned around to watch her walk away. The pencil skirt she was wearing was tight and clung to her form, with a dangerously high slit in the back that could reveal everything in the right position. Ares could see every curve in her body as she walked away, hips swaying hypnotically and couldn't tear his eyes away until she looked over her shoulder and smirked at him, then turned a corner.

Ares fitfully ran his hands through his black hair. He wasn't sure how much of this he could take. With a sigh he stood up and walked to the bathroom to splash his face with cold water, something he'd learned to do after his third encounter with Twirltongue. He had a feeling this was going to be a long week.

-W..M..W—

"Why the hell did you wait so long to call me?" Nike sounded angry on the other side of the phone, her voice raised so much that Ares had to hold the phone away from his ear.

"Sorry, I thought if you minded you'd call me," Ares replied in a consolatory tone. That was partially true, the rest of it was that he had been so busy with everything going on that he really hadn't thought about it. Or if he did, he forgot quickly.

"Lazy ass," she snapped, then took a deep calming breath. "So are you settled in okay?"

"Yeah, actually the apartment looks pretty good now that I've invested some money in furniture and stuff. I still need an actual bed, but just a mattress is working out fine right now."

Nike snickered, "I guess that means I can assume you're not getting any."

Ares rolled his eyes, "You know I mean to focus on career right now. I need to get my feet under me before I try and get in a relationship."

"Psshk, yeah, because you're not the kind of person to jump head first into anything," her voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Besides I wasn't talking about a legit relationship, I'm talking sex."

"I can't believe I'm talking about this with a seventeen year old girl," the man said with a sigh, thumping his head despondently against the wall. "I don't like meaningless sex, Nike, you know that. If I wanted it I could have it, but I don't. Which seems to have disappointed your mother."

His last statement was said quietly, barely above a whisper, but she still heard. "What about my mom?"

"She um…called me. A while back. She was…kind of scary, actually. I feigned phone problems to get rid of her," Ares admitted a bit shamefully. He was embarrassed that she had been able to get to him so easily.

"Are you freaking kidding me," Nike growled. Then he heard her take the phone away from her mouth and yell. "Moooooom, what the hell?"

"Hey," Ares interrupted before she could get in a full on argument with her mother while on the phone with him. "Why don't you come over and hang out for a bit? I could use the company…and some advice."

"Be there in twenty."

-W..M..W—

Ares met Nike down at the front desk to escort her up into his apartment 'in case the cockroaches think you look good to eat' he had told her. She had pulled back her striped black and white hair into a ponytail and had done a flirty cat eye with black liner. Both of them wore sweaters to keep away the cold that seemed to be able to find its way in through every crack in the building.

"So what's the emergency?" Nike asked curiously while they rode the elevator.

"What, there has to be an emergency for me to want to see my friend?" Ares acted offended, then shrugged. "It's not really an emergency per se."

"Did you screw something up?" she probed, an eyebrow perked up in curiousity.

He squirmed uncomfortably for a moment, not sure how to answer then finally conceded, "Maybe…"

Nike laughed and gave him a playful slap on the cheek with her leather gloves. "Then it's an emergency. I swear you cause trouble like no one else can."

As they walked out, Ares was about to argue with her but caught sight of Bane standing by his door. The pale boy looked up as they exited and strode toward his friend happily.

"Ares," he called, no trace of his anger from the previous night. "I knocked on your door but you didn't answer. Are you just now getting home from work?"

"No, I've been home for a bit, I had to escort her upstairs," Ares gestured at the girl next to him. "Nike, this is Bane. Bane, my friend Nike. I stayed with her before I moved here, and this is the first time she's been to visit."

"Oh," he looked disappointed, and cast a glance at Nike that could have been anger or jealousy. Then he flipped his shaggy white hair out of his eyes. "I'll see you later then."

With a vague wave he was gone, walking back to his door. Nike whistled appreciatively and winked at Ares, "He's pretty. You tried getting him on your mattress yet?"

Ares almost choked at how direct she was and looked away. "Come on," he urged, grabbing her hand and guiding her to his apartment. "I'll fill you in on it."

"So, is he gay too, or is it just you?" Nike prodded as she dropped onto the couch and flashed Ares a knowing smirk. The dark haired man just sighed and headed to the kitchen to make drinks for the both of them.

"I wish you'd quit trying to label me, Nike. I'm just Ares, I like who I like," he replied quietly.

"And you like the boy with the swishy hips out there. What's the problem then?" She took the drink Ares gave her and set it down untouched. She was intrigued by how serious he was being and how sad the look in his eyes was. "Don't you just tell him you like him, you date, you screw, happily ever after, you may kiss the bride?"

"It's never that simple, Nike," Ares told her, sitting down as well and slumping into the cushions dejectedly. "It wouldn't work between the two of us. He's not my type and I'm definitely not his. He's four years younger than me, and he likes this girl who just moved in to the apartment a few doors down. Not to mention he's so straight that he makes rulers look crooked. If you listen to him tell it, he's slept with more girls than Pandora has."

"I doubt that," Nike said with a laugh. "I also doubt he's completely inflexible. I mean, guys can be effeminate without being interested in the same sex, but he's really pushing it. Not to mention how mad he was that you were hanging out with a girl. But from what you're saying it just sounds like unfortunate circumstances. Where did it get so complicated that you had to call me in for damage control?"

"Twitchtip," he sighed. "She's the girl that he likes, and last night he saw the two of us come in together and assumed the worst. He was livid, and to make matters worse she said something that indicated she might like me.

"Do you have any popcorn, babe?" Nike asked. "Cuz you sound like you're in the middle of a romantic comedy."

"Not helping."

The girl rolled her eyes and ruffled Ares's black hair, ruining it in a way that made wind jealous. "What do expect me to do? Wave a magic wand?

"Just advice, Nike, I'm helpless with this stuff, you know," his dark eyes pleaded with her, and his bottom lip was slowly becoming a pout.

Nike stretched out and set her legs across her friend's lap. "First, I suggest you avoid all future contact with my mom."

"You don't have to tell me twice." She shushed him.

"Second, you need to figure out your priorities. What do you want out of the situation?" Ares just shifted back and forth, unable to answer that question. "You need to figure out if you want a relationship with this guy or just want a fun night, or if you need to pursue something else. The biggest problem is that you won't know how he feels unless you ask him. No tricks, no subtlety. Leave that to the girls, you have to come straight out and tell him how you feel or forever hold your piece. If you won't do that I suggest you find someone else to fixate on."

Ares groaned and put his head in his hands. "This sucks."

"No one ever said it was gonna be easy, Ares," she said, petting him gently on the head. "This girl, Twitchtip, she cute?"

"Why?"

"Because, if you want to get the albino's attention," Nike grinned deviously. "That's who I'd go for if I were you."

-W..M..W—

They spent the rest of Nike's visit catching up on each other's lives and watching horrible reality shows just so they could mock the rest of humanity. Ares felt a sense of relief after talking with his friend, even though she hadn't given him any definite answers. It just felt good to get it all off his chest. She happily told him about Pandora and her new girlfriend, and mentioned that she'd seen Henry walking around in the arms of yet another gorgeous but brainless girl. He happily told her all the ways he wanted to kill Henry, inspired by the horror movies he'd been watching recently.

Around nine o' clock Nike checked the time and leapt to her feet. "Wow, I didn't think I'd stay here this long, my mom's going to give me an earful for not telling her where I was going."

"The fearless, independent Nike, afraid to upset her mother," Ares mocked as he gathered the refuse of their dinner. "I'm surprised at you."

"You're one to talk, Ares. Have they fixed your phone line yet?" The girl sneered at him and began pulling on her gloves. "Oh, wait, you faked a dropped call because you couldn't deal with her on the phone. Honestly though, I can't say I'm that surprised."

Ares just rolled his eyes and ushered her out the door, "You've overstayed your welcome, princess."

"I wouldn't have come over if you weren't so pathetic when it came to relationships," she informed him haughtily.

"That reminds me," he said. "There's this woman at work that keeps sexually harassing me. Any clue how to make her stop?"

The girl smirked, "I'll let you figure that one out on your own. Wouldn't want your life to get too boring without me here to keep you company."

She patted him affectionately on the cheek and then waved goodbye as she left. Ares shook his head, he'd missed her a lot, but he was glad they weren't living together anymore. When she was out of sight he walked across the hall and rapped on Bane's door. He could hear the boy playing music, and it continued for a while before Bane decided to see who was at the door.

"Sorry!" the pale boy said the moment he opened the door and saw Ares standing there. "I wanted to tell you as soon as you got home, but that…girl was there. Sorry about last night. I didn't mean to get so mad at you."

Ares waved him off, a little surprised by how earnestly those bright red eyes look at him. "It's no big deal, no one's perfect. You were sick, and it was late. It's totally understandable."

"Thanks!" The boy grinned at him, and his face nearly gleamed with happiness.

"Anyway, guess what I got you?"

Bane's eyes lit up, "Present?"

"Well, not exactly a present, we have to return them," Ares said, smiling in spite of himself at how excited his friend was. "I went and rented Ratpocalypse, Zombies vs. Vampires, and Wrench 8. So now we can watch them together even though you were sick during HorrorFest."

"You are my new god," Bane murmured in awe, eyes wide and mouth open. "Thank you, Ares!"

Then he did something he'd never done before. Bane flung his arms wide and pulled Ares to him in a bear hug. Ares practically melted, then felt a pang of regret. He had finally come to terms with the fact that this wasn't a passing fancy or a crush. Seeing Bane so happy just because of something he had done overwhelmed him. He wished he could see that smiling face every day of his life, and for a second he let himself fantasize waking up to those beautiful red eyes, rimmed with white lashes, that soft voice. Then he remembered the look on Bane's face when he had seen Twitchtip with Ares, and the fantasy shattered. It was a delusion, nothing more.

"Come on, let's go watch people die," Ares said, his voice raw with emotion. Bane didn't notice and followed him happily.

"Yaaay, dying people are my favorite!"

-W..M..W—

"What's the date today, Ares?" Bane asked offhandedly. He was sitting upside down on the couch, his white hair brushing the floor, knees hooked over the back of the couch.

Ares was switching movies, and having a hard time of it because all the lights were off except for a few candles to make the mood spooky. Not romantic, spooky. "It's November first, why?"

"No reason," Bane said elusively, flipping right side up before all the blood rushed to his head.

The dark haired man stood up and put his hands on the couch on either side of Bane's head. "I seriously doubt that. You can't even keep up with what day of the week it is, why do you need the date?"

"I was just curious," he protested, grabbing Ares's wrists and flinging him onto the couch. Then he grinned with a sudden idea. "If you can pin me, I'll tell you."

"I don't need to know that much," Ares laughed, remembering that these kinds of physical games always made him end up in awkward positions.

"To bad," Bane smirked, and jumped at him, knocking him off the side of the couch and onto the floor. Ares tried to shove him off, but only managed to free his top half from the clutches of his opponent. Bane pulled at the older man's legs. His grip loosened, though, and Ares managed to jerk away at the last moment.

"This is completely ridiculous," Ares breathed before launching a counter attack of his own. He jumped at Bane and shoved his shoulders down onto the ground. The boy was stronger than him though, and he realized he wouldn't win with just brute strength. A smirk spread across his face and he started to tickle Bane around the ribs and stomach.

"Ah…Ares s-stop," Bane cried out, laughing to the point of almost tears. "Pleeeeaaaase!"

"Do you surrender?" Ares demanded, not letting up.

"N-no, never!" The boy gritted his teeth, trying to resist laughing. His opponent merely tickled him harder until finally Bane gasped out, "Okay, okay, I give up."

Ares jumped up victoriously and went back to sit on the couch, looking over the back of it at the boy struggling to get back to his feet. Bane held his stomach and took deep breaths, then leaned across the back of the couch to look at Ares.

"November the fifth is my nineteenth birthday," he said quietly, looking away as he spoke like he expected to be chastised about it. Ares's eyes widened in surprise, he hadn't even thought about birthdays since his and Nike's were both in the summer.

"What do you want? For your birthday, I mean," he asked. A few days wasn't very long to come up with something and he wasn't sure he had any money to get the boy anything.

"Don't worry about it, I don't want anything," Bane muttered, slowly turning red. "Birthdays aren't that big a deal to me."

"Well now you're my friend and I want to make it a big deal," Ares grinned at him and tapped his arm gently with a fist. "Cmon, it won't kill you."

"I don't know what I want, no one's ever really celebrated my birthday before," the boy admitted, looking ashamed for some reason.

"What? Why not?" Ares demanded without thinking about how secretive his friend was about all the parts of his past.

"I don't really want to talk about it," Bane replied, rubbing the back of his neck and biting his lip. Ares felt sorry for making him so uncomfortable and reached up to ruffle his hair, marveling at its softness.

"Well, I'm going to give you an awesome birthday, okay? Is there anyone you want to invite?" he asked, already drawing up plans in his head. Cake, presents, celebrations…maybe he'd even be the cool guy and get some mind altering liquid that Bane seemed so fond of.

"Besides Twitch? Not really," the pale boy said with a shrug. There wasn't anyone at school he was overly friendly with except maybe Nerissa but she hadn't been talking to him recently for some reason. Girls were weird.

Ares was shaken by the mention of the girl that had been on his mind for so long. This was the perfect lead in to figure it all out. Well, not perfect, but it would work. Finally he asked, "…what do you think about Twitchtip?"

Immediately Bane clammed up, "I don't know what you mean." The look on his face denied this though, and he blushed all the way to the roots of his white hair.

"Yes you do, you looked like you were going to kill me last night," Ares insisted. "We're friends, you can tell me about it. I mean, you don't have to but you seem a little stressed by the whole situation."

"I…she's amazing, I guess. I've never met a girl that acts like her," Bane's eyes had a fond look in them, and Ares could practically feel the wistfulness in his voice. He would have just taken those statements as his answer and been sad enough, but Bane continued. He seemed happy to be able to talk about it all. "It's not that difficult to go through the motions of getting a girl to sleep with me, but that's not what I want from her. And for some reason when I talk to her the stupidest shit comes out of my mouth and she probably hates me after Sunday, but…"

The young man finally stopped, realizing how much of himself he had bared with just a few sentences. As embarrassed as he was he still looked to Ares hopefully, like he had answers. Ares was the last person to ask for relationship advice in the first place, and he was having a few issues himself with trying to keep his emotions from showing up on his face. This was it. Bane liked Twitchtip, and apparently there was some kind of self realization or epiphany or something mixed up in it as well. If Bane had said she was 'the one' Ares wouldn't have been surprised at that point, and it wouldn't have made this any less painful. He had prepared for this though, and he would be damned to hell if he was going to be anything less than supportive to his friend. Friend. That's all.

"Ares?" Bane started quietly.

"Bane, if you want to-" Ares spoke at the same time but was cut off.

"Wait, let me first, okay? I think…I think that you two might um…I mean…if you want to date her, then you can. It's okay with me, and I'll still be your friend," he breathed deep, convincing himself as well as Ares. Then he grinned, trying to put a funny spin on such a serious topic. "Bros before hoes and all that shit. She's too smart to like me, anyway."

"I think she'd be smarter if she realized what a catch you were," the dark man said softly, thinking about what the brunette had told him when they had come back from the movies. He didn't even stop to think about how compromising the sentence had been, but Bane, ever oblivious to the subtleties in language, didn't seem to pick up on the meaning.

"Nah. I'm an asshole to the girls I date, or so they tell me," he laughed and rubbed his knuckles on Ares's head. The man flinched and slapped his hand away. Bane just smirked. "Flattery isn't going to make me stop stealing your cigarettes, you know."

"Get out of my house," Ares snarled, pointing at the door.

"I'm not leaving until we finish the movies," Bane declared, leaping over the back of the couch and spreading out like he owned it. "Get me snacks, bitch."