Intertwined Fingers. PG-13. October 4, 2006 - October 21, 2006. 472.

They had all the time in the world, wasn't that the saying? All the time. Except when it mattered most. Except right now. Now there was no time, no time at all.

Because everything hinged on the next few seconds, on whether she would go and what he would say. It was their world and, right now, it was in deadly jeopardy of collapse. They faltered.

"Ares, I have to do this."

He blinked, irritated, and purposefully refused to let her go the way her eyes were silently begging him. "No, Xena, you don't."

For just a second, her eyes softened, "Ares," she took a step forward, one hand reaching up to rest against his cheek.

Closing his eyes, he leaned into the touch and waited for the rest of a sentence that never came. Instead, his name hung there in the air, heavy with the weight of all the words not being said with it. His hand caught hers and he moved them down, moved her closer - not letting go of her hand. "Xena."

His voice was deep and firm and husky, accusing where hers was retreating. With them there was hardly anything else to say - nothing but biting insults or stinging retorts because that was all they ever did. Neither would change their minds and anything but a name would surely spark a fight with enough electricity to tear down walls. Sometimes, actual walls.

They stayed like that for several minutes, minutes that reminded him of centuries. Locked in a silent battle of wills, eyes firm and feelings harder.

Ares was the one to look away first, tasting the familiar bitterness that her stubbornness always brought. As soon as their eyes broke, Xena took the lone step toward him that crossed off all distance. Body pressed against his, encased in their world, she brought their hands back up while his mouth claimed hers for a kiss that spoke the passion of parting.

Trying to glue their world back together with violence and blood and sex and whatever worked.

Gasping, they broke apart, hands still intertwined. He glanced down at those roughened hands clasped together, wondering. Opened his mouth to speak and was cut off by her finger pressed against his lips.

Her hand squeezed his firmly and their eyes met again, too fatigued to be anything but resigned. This would not be a battle that came to insults or blows - it was only barely visible.

This was it then, it was decided. Ares sighed, straightening up and trying not to care that she was rushing out on some fool's errand, rushing out on them. She watched their fingers for a moment, savoring the hold that they shared. Slowly, she let her fingers slip free, and he didn't stop her.

"I love you," and then she was gone.