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After three days of research and serious contemplation, Xena decided that she would indeed become a fugitive recovery agent..The more she thought about it the more it appealed to her. After all, that was essentially what she had done after she'd meet Hercules. She and Gabrielle had roamed the world taking on warlords and criminals in the name of justice. And in an effort for Xena to make up for her past evil deeds. She and Gabrielle just hadn't been paid for it in a monetary sense, but that was a different world. And, it wasn't really that she wanted money for doing it now, but the simple truth was that it would take cash money to survive in today's world. If they wanted to continue to maintain their residence and have utilities, then they'd both need a reliable source of income. Xena looked at the computer screen in front of her and read over the form again. In this new world, if she was going to be apprehending bad guys, she would have to get the credentials to back her up. With her mind made up, Xena pressed print on the online form.
As soon as she settled into the idea, Xena realized she was going to need a whole new set of skills. Thugs and criminals in this world wouldn't be armed with swords, knives, and daggers. No, they'd be firing live rounds which meant Xena was going to have to become proficient with handguns and get a Kevlar vest. Sure, she could catch arrows as they ripped through the air, but she didn't really want to try catching bullets. Xena had never fired a gun but she knew how it worked in theory. Aim wouldn't be a problem. She was always good with a crossbow, just ask Ares. She chuckled to herself as she remembered shooting him in the thigh on Olympus. Still, she didn't really know the first thing about guns. But, she knew could learn, she was a quick study. Xena moved her cursor into the Yahoo search box and typed "handgun training and certification Los Angeles." Xena's juices began to flow just thinking about being back in action. She read down the list of options but another idea occurred to her. Xena exed off of the page and shut down the computer as she let the thought breathe.
When the monitor winked to grey, Xena looked at her image reflected back at her on the screen. The Annie look had to go. No self-respecting criminal was going to take her seriously looking like a bookworm. Xena needed new clothes, new shoes, and definitely new hair. Xena pushed back from the desk. It was time for a makeover!
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Stuck to the refrigerator with a banana shaped magnet, Xena found a note from Gabrielle. "Going to the grocery, picking up the stuff from the list, if you think of anything else call me."
Xena pulled the note from the fridge, crumpled it up and shot it basketball style into the trashcan across the room. She smiled, pleased with herself. Her hand eye coordination was as good as ever.
Xena pulled out the milk and grabbed the cereal from atop the fridge. She poured a bowl big enough to feed an Athenian army and then took it to the table. As she ate breakfast, she thumbed through the circulars from the morning paper. None of the knit tops and jeans advertised in the JC Penney and Macy's ads appealed to her. Xena opened the Big 5 ad hoping they'd have something more like what she was looking for. When she unfolded the ad, another circular fluttered to the floor. Xena looked at the paper staring back at her from the tile floor. It featured a bikini-clad woman sitting atop a Fat Boy with a cherry red tank. Toward the bottom of the page was a smaller inset with a picture of black leather motorcycle boots, the white print advertised "Boots 30% off." Xena picked up the Glendale Harley Davidson insert and flipped it over. Jackpot! These were the clothes for her. Xena folded up the ad and put it in her back pocket. She woofed down the rest of the cereal and in her excitement, left the bowl on the table, a single Apple Jack bobbed in the milk as she went out the garage door.
Gabrielle had taken the Jeep. So, Xena decided that she'd walk to the stylist. Their house, situated in the Hastings Ranch area of East Pasadena was within walking distance to three large shopping centers. Xena figured the walk would help her burn off the bowl of cereal and give her a chance to think about how she wanted to proceed with her firearms training. She knew she'd have to take a certification course but she wanted to be as familiar with guns as possible before she went for formal certification. And there was one sure way to get the training that she wanted. But it would mean relying on the one person she didn't want to be beholden to. Xena shook her head when she thought about him. She bet Ares just loved guns. All that destructive potential right at the squeeze of a finger. Not that he needed them. He could after all summon fireballs in the palm of his hands. But she figured he enjoyed seeing how creative humans could get in tearing each other apart with today's weaponry. All the warning bells went off inside her head. Trusting him was a bad idea. Letting him back into her life, no matter what the terms, was an even worse idea. Hell, she'd just had to force him to destroy a contract that gave him ownership of her very soul. Why was she even thinking about letting him teach her about guns? Xena closed her eyes as the memory of his whiskeyed lips on hers overtook her. All the promises he'd whispered to her before that kiss in her doorway ran through her head. His apology that had seemed sincere for the first time since he'd healed Eve on Olympus all those years ago. And another image came to her. One of the god of war, defeated and very mortal, sitting in the sunset nursing his wounds. Echoed words played in her heart, "you were bad for me."
"Walk. It is now safe to Walk across the street," the crosswalk sign called and blinked with a green human stick figure. Xena blinked away the liquid frustration that had gathered in the corners of her eyes. Why did bad have to feel so damn good?
When Xena was safely on the other side, she took a deep breath and called into the air. "Ares."
She waited a beat and took the time to steel herself for the rush she knew would accompany his arrival. He always had an electrifying effect on her senses. She both loved and hated it at the same time. After a minute nothing happened except the crosswalk had turned to allow pedestrians to come through again. Xena wondered if the traffic in the area was deterring him from showing himself. But at the same time, she knew he had the ability to secret himself from others while revealing himself to her alone. Ares, she called again. Still nothing. Xena found an office building which had a panel built around its central heat and air system to make the building facade appear more attractive. Xena ducked behind the panel growing irritated with him. Why wasn't he responding? It wasn't like him. "Ares, I know you can hear me!" Another beat. Still nothing.
"Fine," she called through the aether,"if that's how you wanna play it." She pulled her phone from her pocket and cursed herself when she looked down at her address book. Why had she even saved his number? Another voice inside her said, you know he will teach you and teach you well. "Fuck," Xena muttered to herself as she pressed the 2 button and hit send.
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Ares was going for his morning swim when he heard her calling his name. He was tempted to go to her but he was going to make her call him on the phone. He'd vowed to himself that he was not going to use his powers with her. Xena called again. Her voice was last with that old need that always pulled to him when she drew out his name like that. Damn, why was she making this so difficult? He realized she was probably confused. He had never not shown himself to her before.
"Ares," agitation was now heavy in her voice. "I know you can hear me."
Still, he held his ground. He hadn't meant to turn this into a battle of wills but there it was. Just like it had always been between them.
"Fine, if that's how you wanna play it," he heard, then in a few seconds his cell phone rang. He climbed out of the pool and grabbed his phone off of the table.
"Hello, Xena," he tried his best to mask the satisfaction of winning that little contest. Especially since he knew it was a superficial victory and she was still winning the war.
"Ares, what kind of game are you playing?" She asked.
"Game, Xena? I don't know wh…"
"Oh cut the crap, Ares why didn't you just come when I asked for you?" Xena had to raise her voice as the air conditioning unit she was standing beside kicked on.
Ares knew if he didn't get a hold of himself and the conversation this was going to turn into a colossal mess. He didn't want to argue with her but she made it so damn easy. "Look," he wanted to tell her that part of this new leaf he had turned over meant not abusing his powers but it felt too revealing over the phone.
"Look what? You know what? To hell with it. I don't have time for this." Xena started to move the phone from her ear.
"Xena, don't hang up," he said too frantically for his own liking, "the truth is, I'm trying not to use my powers too much."
Xena pulled the phone back up to her ear. "What are they in short supply these days?" She mocked him.
Well, fuck her. He didn't have to take this. He was a god! Ares fought the urge to transport himself to her and have a good old fashioned row. If it ended with him fucking her senseless, all the better. But instead he took a breath, "Did you call to fight, Xena?"
Silence.
A deep breath on her end.
Then.
"I'm sorry."
Ares pulled himself up onto the side of the pool and wondered if he'd heard her correctly. Had she just apologized? To him? Calmly and with an uncharacteristically raw honesty he replied, "I didn't expect you to call, you know,"
"I didn't expect to call," she replied with the same.
Neither said anything as they let the weight of the truth live between them. Ares desperately wanted to ask her if she'd called for a particular reason but he feared it would shatter the moment they were having. Xena wanted to know the real reason he wasn't using his powers? Had losing so many worshippers taken a toll on him?
As the silence continued it occurred to Ares that she was taking so long because she was trying to work up the courage to ask him for a favor. Asking him for anything had always been tremendously difficult for her. But he supposed that he was the one who actually made it difficult. He'd always made her work for it. Or made her feel weak if she needed help. Or worse demanded an ultimatum in return for his divine assistance. All the memories of his missteps taunted him. So, he waited.
Finally.
"I would like to see you," she said.
If hearts could leap, his did.
"When?" He asked, impossible to hide the eagerness in his voice.
"Now," she replied thinking it was obvious. When had she ever called on him that she didn't want to see him right away?
"Where?"
"Well, where are you?" She asked wishing he would just materialize in front of her so she could ask what she needed to ask and be done with it already.
"In Malibu, but I can be in Pasadena in half an hour," he answered.
"Half an hour?" she asked.
"Trying not to use my powers, remember?"
Fine. She would indulge him. "I need to talk to you. Can we meet somewhere?"
"Anywhere you'd like, Xena."
"How about Glendale? I have to pick some things up there. Say, around two?" If he wasn't going to just flash in on her, then she might as well get some of the shopping she had to do out of the way. And she still needed to get her hair done.
"I can come now if you like, Xena."
"No, this afternoon is fine."
"Okay, where in Glendale?" His curiosity was piqued. She was definitely going to ask him for something. He hoped desperately he would be able to deliver. His stomach began churning at the realization that she was still calling him even after Aphrodite had brought Gabrielle back.
"Glendale Harley Davidson, it's at…"
"Yeah, I know where it is, you buying a bike, Xena?"
"No, just some decent clothes. See you there?"
"Wouldn't miss it." Ares waited for her to hang up. Had that just happened? Did they just manage to stop a fight before all Tartarus broke loose? And then, continue to have a normal conversation? He toweled off and headed upstairs. Ares passed Cupid on the landing.
"Dare I ask what has put the spring in your step?" The winged god asked.
"I have a date," Ares answered with a grin. Yeah, he liked the sound of that. He had a date, a date with Xena. He knew it wasn't a real date but it was at least a step in the right direction.
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Ares got to Glendale Harley early, of course, his anticipation had gotten the better of him. He didn't see the Jeep anywhere and began to get worried that Xena had backed out. It wouldn't have been the first time she'd set him up for disappointment. But surely she would've called, wouldn't she? Xena wouldn't just stand him up. She had more class than that. He decided to lock down his Harley and go look at the new bike models on the floor while he waited for her.
As he was headed for the entrance, Xena walked out of it. It took Ares' brain a minute to register the message his eyes were sending. It was Xena. It wasn't just Xena in Annie's body. It was Xena. The first thing he noticed was the hair, back to its original raven beauty. She, like he, was dressed head to toe in long legs were encased to the knees with black biker boots which were accented with circular silver buckles. Two silver hilts of twin boot knives peeked out of each boot. Leather pants fit her better than they should fit anyone. Ares felt his groin tighten at the sight of her. But the kicker was the black tank. It exposed her toned arms. And across the front in silver lettering it read, 'Princess'. Ares almost laughed because she looked like anything but a modern Disney Princess but he knew why she had bought the shirt. It was another way of claiming a piece of who she used to be in this modern world he had thrust her into. For a moment he felt guilty. For a moment that is, until she spoke.
Her new look made her feel confident, sexy, and sultry. Her voice matched the look perfectly, "Hey."
"Hey, yourself," Ares said as he came closer.
"What do you think?" She asked with a sly grin. Xena knew full well he liked what he was seeing. The imp in her just wanted to tease him a bit.
"It's definitely you, but aren't you forgetting shades?" Ares tried to play it cool.
"Then I couldn't do this," she answered and gave him her famous icy glare.
"Oh, you are wicked." She wasn't about to let him play it cool. He wanted her more than he'd ever wanted anything. He couldn't stop himself, he moved toward her.
Xena placed her hand against his chest to stop his forward movement. Damn, why did it have to be so solid? She ran her tongue between her lips then bit the bottom one to restrain herself.
The movement had happened quickly but Ares had caught it and knew that her desire matched his. It wouldn't satisfy his need but at least it was a promise that her hunger was alive. "So, you wanted to see me?"
"I did." Xena dropped her hand when she was satisfied he wasn't going to try to close the gap between them. If he came any closer she was afraid she might come undone.
It dawned on Ares suddenly that they were alone, "Where's Gabrielle?"
"She dropped me off," Xena answered and realized that she had been very presumptuous. "I thought you could give me a ride home, if that's okay?"
"Yeah, I can give you a ride," Ares managed to get it out without it sounding like innuendo. "But, if I'm being honest here, and I really am trying. I can't believe you would trust me this much.
If she was being honest, Xena wasn't sure why she was trusting him either. And she hadn't even sorted out for herself how much of it was desire to learn or desire for the teacher. Finally she responded, "You said the other night you want to change things between us. Ares, I am trying to take that at face value. I am trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. Plus, if I am being honest, and I will try too, I do want something from you."
Ares was conflicted. She must want something pretty badly to ask him. It hurt him but, he didn't believe for a minute that she was taking him at face value. And he was guessing from Blondie's absence that she wasn't exactly cool with whatever Xena had planned. "What does Gabrielle think about all this?"
"Let's not bring her into it okay?"
"So, she doesn't trust me?" Off Xena's look, he raised his palms, "No, No, No, I understand completely. I haven't given her much reason to. Okay, you're right let's leave the bard out of it. But Xena's look had told him everything. Despite her words to the contrary, Xena didn't trust him either. But he hadn't come all this way to fight. He'd come because she'd asked him to. Ares extended his hand. "Truce?"
"The god of war calling a truce? Now that's new." Xena said and grinned inwardly as she took his hand and shook in the old style pressing their forearms together. The feel of so much of his flesh against hers was maddening and Xena quickly broke the contact.
Ares was glad she pulled away when she did. He was finding it difficult not to pull her into him. "Xena, I'm no fool I know you have your doubts about me too. Whatever it is that you want, it must be really important to you for you to ask me"
"It is," Xena nodded. "I want you to teach me about guns."
"Guns," Ares couldn't have heard her right. Next, she'd be asking him to father her child. "Wait, I am the one that's supposed to convince…"
"Ares, don't!" Xena knew he was shocked but her request was sincere and she didn't want him doubting that sincerity. "What we have is not a game. It doesn't have to have prescribed rules.. I need your help and so I am asking for it. If you were truly sincere the other night and want to see where we ca . . . ."
Maybe she was taking him at face value. Abruptly, he put his hand around her waist and pulled her into him. He reached down and kissed her on the ear and whispered, "I am sincere, Xena and I am sorry. You never have to explain yourself to me."
She pushed him off but gently. He saw the goose bumps on her exposed arms. "You gonna behave yourself?"
"Only if you insist," he answered with a half-smile.
"Oh, I do," she cocked one eyebrow.
"So, do you have a gun in mind?"
"I want to learn about them all," she answered as if it should have been obvious.
Ares nodded and smiled. "Of course you do. That could take a while, not that I'm complaining, mind you. But can I ask why the interest?"
"Ares, I've decided to become a bounty hunter."
It should have surprised him, he supposed, but I didn't. He shook his head sadly. "Still, atoning? I thought 40,000 souls would've done that for you." Ancient words whispered to his soul, 'you were bad for me, still are.'
"It's my path, Ares and I am going to walk it no matter what life I live."
He pursed his lips trying to not scream. How could she forgive him when she couldn't even forgive her damn self? Part of him wanted to walk away. But her nearness was like oxygen. If teaching her meant he could spend more time in her presence, there was no way he would turn down this opportunity. "Understood. Okay, then let's go." Ares put his hand on the small of her back and led her to his bike.
He motioned his hand in the air and began to materialize a helmet for her, "Dammit," he quit. "I'll be right back," he said as he walked back toward the Harley shop. He came out five minutes later and handed her a black helmet. "This no powers thing is wreaking havoc on my bank account, you know?" Ares straddled the back and waited for her to situate the helmet and encircle her hands around his waist before firing the engine to life.