A/N: Over 2 weeks. Yes, I know it's a long period of time for the people who have been waiting for me to continue this from that cliffhanger I left last time, but I was busy uploading all of my other stories. Unfortunately, it took me much longer than expected. Both chapters exceeded 4000 words, so I have an excuse. Somewhat. Anyway, continue!
Mordecai found his ability to speak suddenly taken away from him. Sure, this park had been filled with crazy mishaps among the like, but Cupid now at this point in time? He finally had an explanation why his dating life was so difficult. But he was still too subdued to talk.
"Mordecai? You in there?" Cupid said, waving a hand over his face.
"How are you Cupid?" Mordecai said, his voice rather strained. It was the only thing that would come out of his mouth.
Cupid smiled as well as Skips and Mordecai's expression. The dumbstruck expression on Mordecai's face was absolutely priceless.
"Well, if you're wondering why I'm not a baby in a diaper with a bow and arrow, I grew out of that stuff centuries ago. It wasn't exactly kid friendly when I decided to go all Goth-like, so they kept the image like it was. But I'm actually like this. A good looking and charming man," Cupid said, straightening his collar with a confident air. "As for how we and Skips met... rather I gave the guy comfort after he lost you know who."
Mordecai nodded tightly. He didn't forget about that. He hung on to every word on that day. Because it really explained why Skips was so isolated.
"Granted, I don't do this for everyone and not in my true form. Plus it's never direct, but Skips was an immortal being, so I let it slide this time around. And when he told me that he knew Mordecai Quintel, the one who has the love life of 1000 hells? I had to meet him. And Skips set up this little meeting, thus my presence being here. Did that explanation satisfy you?"
"Just... why? Are you behind my love life being like this? Because if you are, Cupid or not, I would like to beat the tar out of you," Mordecai threatened.
Cupid let out a laugh at Mordecai's threat.
"Oh, I really don't blame you there. I would say and do the same thing if our roles were switched. But no. I'm not responsible for your love life. That's out of my hands, and rather in the hands of Venus. She tends to do this to people, and loves to laugh about it. It's like her favorite hobby, doing this to people. She admitted to me right out when I came across you," Cupid explained.
"Venus? As in..."
"Goddess of love, beauty, whatever you want to call it. Doesn't matter. But she prefers Venus. Because it gives her an excuse to have this phrase as her prerogative: 'Hail to the V,'" Cupid said. (Hint hint to the people who know the second meaning behind this)
Mordecai shook his head. That sounded like some of the girls in art school. Mordecai winced from a spasm in his leg, but bit his lip to fight the pain.
"Stupid leg," Mordecai growled.
"Could've been a lot worse for you than it was. You could be off of your feet, hooked up to a bunch of machines, and barely breathing. It's only because of Venus that you're not. She says, and I quote: 'I wouldn't want my favorite toy broken,'" Cupid said with a scrunched up expression. "If I were you, I'd tread carefully around any new women you meet. It's frowned upon for gods and goddess to maintain relationships with mortals, but it sounds like she'd make an exception for you. Which is saying something."
Mordecai's cringed. The last thing he needed was a new woman in his life. He had three of them that seemed to unintentionally torture him. And he hated it.
"Thanks for the tip," Mordecai said. "But if you don't control love, what do you do?"
Cupid smiled and summoned a bow and number of arrows.
"Those suits got one thing right. I do have arrows, though they don't have hearts on them. That just makes me barf. But when I do implant an arrow somewhere in your body, rather instead of making that person falling in love with the first person they see, it gives them a strong urging feeling concerning love. Say it's a push to make a person to do something they want to do, but never without their consent. They have to have a deep feeling concerning the programming and intention of the arrows. Demonstration: That Christmas party," Cupid explained.
Mordecai froze on the spot. So in reality he wanted to kiss Margaret? Even while he was with C.J. That was messed up in so many ways, and it made him feel guilty for it. But then Cupid started shaking his head.
"I know what's in your head Mordecai. You cannot help who you love, and in this case, that love you had for Margaret never went away. You thought you were over it, but your heart still held on without giving your head prior knowledge. The New Years party before the one that is tomorrow, was in fact, a compulsion on your part and C.J's. Courtesy of Venus," Cupid explained.
Mordecai suddenly let out a growl. The fact that all of this was happening because of a drama-loving goddess really made him mad.
"Again, I understand your anger, but there's not really much you can do about it. Unless you have an in with any of the other gods or goddesses, then you can't do anything," Cupid said.
Mordecai took a deep breath in an attempt to calm down. It was not working.
"I can't get over that. My love life is not a toy," Mordecai growled.
"In Venus' case, yes it is. I'm sorry, but that's how she works. My interference is not really supposed to actually happen, but she seemed to torture you with this issue more than most people, that I felt the need to interfere. I barely know you, but I like you. You're a nice young lad and personally after the emotional hurricane you've been through, I decided to put a stop to it. Look within yourself. Who do you see yourself marrying and having kids with? Margaret, C.J., Or Stacey?" Cupid asked.
Mordecai closed his eyes and imagined kids with Stacey. The thought didn't really reach out to him in any sort of way, but that didn't mean he was disgusted with the idea.
When it was C.J.'s turn, a small smile graced his face at the thought. They would have interesting looking kids, but certainly not ugly.
When Margaret came around and he imagined birds of red and blue, his heart soared at the thought and he unconsciously made an ear-to-ear grin at the thought. Then his eyes jerked open and his eyes were as wide as saucers. Skips and Cupid were grinning at the blue jay across from them.
"What'd you come up with?" Skips asked, his voice turning serious.
Mordecai turned toward Skips with a slightly subdued expression.
"Now, I may have hit you with an arrow to move your decision along more easy. I know your decision. I just want to hear you say it," Cupid said.
"Margaret," Mordecai said, his voice still subdued.
Cupid smiled and pointed up in the sky.
"You owe me Venus!" he yelled, his voice gleeful.
There was a crack of thunder at his words, even though the sky was perfectly clear.
"Oh, she's pissed. Though I'm glad I won the bet," Cupid said.
"What was her bet on?" Mordecai asked.
"Who'd you choose in the end. Master of love loses to a servant. Oh, the irony," Cupid said smugly. "Her bet was on Stacey. Because even her powers are limited somewhat that she can't predict who that person will choose. Though she as a lot of influence in that field.
"Likely, I wouldn't if you didn't open my eyes," Mordecai said honestly. At this, there was an even louder crack of thunder. Cupid outright cracked up at this.
"You mad or na'll?" Cupid said gleefully. "Anyway, I might make another visit soon. I was just here to give a little guidance. Until we meet again!" He then disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.
"He's always been like that?" Mordecai asked.
"Ever since I known him. Outright fun to be around at a party. Nightmare to be around when you're trying to impress a girl. Not to mention Cupid's a skilled archer. He can hit a bullseye blindfolded after being spun around in circles. Trust me, we tried it. He'll always make you do something you don't want to do with those arrows. And you usually end up chasing the girl off rather than toward you," Skips explained.
"Sounds like a mix of Rigby and Benson. Emotionally mature and immature," Mordecai said.
"Interesting combination, but accurate I would say. Anyway, what are you going to do about this whole... situation?" Skips asked.
Mordecai took a deep breath. He knew what he felt deep down for Margaret, but he can't deny the attachment he had for Stacey and C.J.
"Think of you for once," he remembered telling himself. He faced Skips with his decision made.
"There are wrongs that I need to make right," Mordecai said in a determined voice.
A/N: Shorter than I would like, but it would run over too long if I added the second part. I keep these chapters moderately paced, so it'll get more drawn on. Anyway, yes Mordaret was the initial pairing as soon as I started this story. Because I'm a die-hard fan of that shipping. Anyway, be prepared for the next chapter. Hopefully, it'll be a lot more interesting than this one. Pathetic update, but better this than nothing, right? Right? *laughs nervously before running out of the room*