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Strife in my Life	By : AmberDDawn Category: S through Z > Xena Views: 2142 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own "Xena: Warrior princess", or "Hercules: The Legendary Journey" They were produced by Renissance Pictures I am not making money for this fiction.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
I really, really hope you guys are still with me. I don't actually know the ages and orders of the god's births in the Hercules/Xena-verse, but I wrote Strife really young, for a god, like he's barely legal if you get my meaning. Also I can't remember Deimos' speaking style and inflections. I'm just gonna give him a similar but much more understated affect to Strife.

Strife in my Life
Chapter 10: Brotherly Tolerance

Strife was watching one of Ares' warlord's camps. He really wasn't feeling the mayhem lately. Don't get him wrong it wasn't just his job it was his passion making idiots suffer their own stupidity, but he was so tired and distressed. He'd entertained a few deities, with Ares watching over them. Cupid would usually end up making an appearance, with or without Bliss. Strife preferred him with Bliss. Things got very ugly when the innocent cherub was not there to quell Cupid's jealous nature.

The mischief god walked amongst the soldiers, invisible. It was mucky and wet from a near constant downpour. The last three days it had been raining, and Strife just knew someone up on Olympus was laughing at him. Demeter didn't like him, but he had a feeling that Apollo had kept those clouds in front of his chariot as it drew the sun across this particular patch of sky. Apollo wasn't his biggest fan either, and the fact that his favorite son took it upon himself to court him didn't do Strife any favors.

He shook his head watching a few men gambling under a muddy tent. He flicked the dice midair, causing them to tumble off the hewn log that acted as a table. He scooted around pressing his foot on the ivory cubes hiding them in the mud. Three of the men turned on the one throwing the dice.

"Idiot! You did that on purpose!" A large and angry man grabbed the thrower's shirt and pulled him up.

"What are you talking about?" The man said with an almost undetectable undercurrent of fear tingeing his voice. He jerked back.

Strife gave a good swift kick to the bigger fellow's shin. The smaller man fell on his ass. The bigger man yelped then snarled, "Why you little piece of shit!" He lunged at the smaller one who was scuttling backward in the mud like a filthy animal.

The other two lunged to grab the big guy. Strife tripped one of them and he went sprawling on the man. The angry solider drew a knife and growled slashing at the other two. Strife pulled the fourth guy back before he could get his throat slit. He was supposed to cause unrest but was instructed to keep the death to a minimum. He supposed he should be thankful for the nasty conditions it would make his job easier, but it was still pretty wretched. Finally they pinned the big guy down and managed to get his knife away. Other men came in shouting.

Strife moved on. He needed to get closer to the main tent. He was going to see how flammable a wet tent could be if he 'accidentally' dumped a bunch of lamp oil over it. It didn't need to be the main tent but one close. On his way he stopped by a tent where men were eating trail bread and dried meat. Strife snapped his fingers and the bread went moldy. The meat got extra salty and the wine turned to vinegar. It was a bit much but he remembered a future saying, 'An army marches on its stomach.'

He chuckled, "Ah army with food poisnin doesn' maach anywheah but ta tha latrine."

Strife noticed something out of the corner of his eye and turned. He was being watched. He knew he hadn't been spotted by any mortals but there was that feeling that another deity was around. Hiding from him.

"Yah can come out, Ah know yah watchin me," He said in an affected blasé tone, though he was actually nervous. There were more gods interested in him than he had realized and a most of them were higher on the totem pole than him. More power and more pull with the big guy. Any pull was better than none, right?

Obnoxious pink and red sparkles hit him in the face as his near mirror image materialized before him grinning like a fool, "Hiya Cuz. You lookin fine today...That wet and muddy style suits ya, but mebby yah wanna jump in a hot bath with me?"

"No," Strife frowned, "Ah'm in tha middle ah workin heah." He pushed past Deimos heading for the center of camp. The god of fear chuckled and followed, keeping his eyes on that leather clad posterior. Strife wore his clothing so tight it was almost as good as seeing him in the buff...almost.

"Whatcha up ta then Cuz? Need me ta throw tha fear of tha gods into these chumps?" Deimos said as he caught up to Strife and threw his arm over his younger cousin's shoulder. Strife tried to shrug it off but Fear was having too much fun with Mischief's discomfort.

Strife's eyes darted around and he saw a good tent he snapped his fingers and a bucket of lamp oil appeared tipping over the canvas. Then he snapped his fingers again and the oil was ablaze. Muted flames crept down the sides pelted and hampered by the rain. The fire seemed to be searching for a shelter so it could grow. Burning oil dripped on the ground and once a decent size hole made its way through the tent the fire curled in and more oil dripped on the floor of the tent. It was unoccupied at the time but as the support poles started to burn it collapsed into the Warlord's tent. Screaming and cursing could be heard. Men scrambled to put out the flames even as accusations of sabotage were thrown around.

Deimos clapped Strife on the back hard enough to bruise, and cackled, "Good one Cuz! They gonna be looking for someone to blame for that'n for a while. Let's take a break from this dump and go have some private time."

"No thank ya,” Strife turned away from his cousin, but Deimos wasn't having it.

He grabbed Strife by the arm and jerked him back snarling, "That wasn't a suggestion Strify." He pulled Strife close and licked his ear. He was getting buzzed off his little cousin's fear.

Strife didn't even hear himself screaming, "Unc!" He was pulled away from Deimos by strong hands.

"What exactly do you think you're doing, Son?" A deep and irritated voice grated on their ears, "I had to leave a very important strategy meeting with three of my best warlords to come here and break this up."

A miasma of angry energy rolled off Ares as he looked at his son. Suddenly the god of fear was getting a taste of his own medicine. He flashed out without answering his father, even though he knew he couldn't escape punishment.

Ares looked at his young nephew who was visibly shaken, "Are you hurt?"

Strife angrily shook his head but he didn't trust his voice not to crack if he spoke. Ares looked around at the camp. Men were shouting there were a few fist fights and the warlord's tent was actually burning in the heavy rain. That idiot warlord who decided to march on an unimportant and defenseless village was screaming about traitors and betrayal.

He had prayed to the god about taking the village. The prefect's daughter had caught his eye but she was promised to the village's blacksmith, and soundly rebuffed his entreaty to run off with him. She loved the blacksmith and her father loved her. The man she had chosen was a good upstanding citizen and an excellent tradesman. He could support her and a family more than comfortably, and that was all that mattered to her father.

Ares told him 'no' in no uncertain terms, but the man disobeyed his lord's wishes and decided to wage war on the village to either capture the woman, or kill her. Either way hundreds of men women and children would suffer and die. It was a waste of life and a waste of time. Ares was hoping that Strife could deter them long enough for the men of the village to prepare for a fight, or possibly send the army home. He was going to have to replace the warlord with someone more effective but his second in command would need more training before he would be ready.

After his assessment Ares decided to call Strife off, "You've done good enough Strife, go home and get cleaned up. You have another date tonight anyway." Strife smiled brightly for a second then his face fell. Hearing that he had another grabby, clingy male coming to objectify and harass him was hardly conducive to happiness.

"Sha," Strife managed before flashing out.

'Now to have a talk with Xuthos about his lack of discipline,' Ares walked over to the burning tent. He saw his warlord barking orders while his men beat at the flames of his ruined tent. He was invisible to the man; he leaned in and whispered in his ear. The man grew ashen and wobbled on his feet. His second managed to steady him.

"Pack up,” The second looked around, "Leave the tent. Xuthos is ill and unable to command. This was a pointless march. Everybody grab your things and go home to your families! We will choose a better time and place to wage war. Now is not our time!"

Ares smirked at the young solider. Maybe he would be ready sooner than the god had predicted. Poor Xuthos wouldn't know what hit him.

He watched from the shadows as the four set up camp. He frowned as he watched his target touching his brother. Joxer giggled and pushed him off as they ate their dinner in leisure. Autolycus didn't ease off. He groped Joxer's behind. Jett clutched his knife tight in his hand.

'What do you think you're doing with my brother?' Jett shook his head. That man was going to get his dick cut off. He didn't care if he had to kill the women and tie his brother up. Joxer was letting that fool touch him. Almost like...

"Well fuck me," Jett whispered. Joxer was pulled into Auto's lap and they shared a gentle kiss. This would complicate things.

Joxer kissed Auto and cuddled with him under their blanket. Xena and Gabrielle were on the other side of the fire sharing their own bedroll. He saw that they were happy together and it made him feel happy. He had Auto and he was still amazed at just how right it felt to be with him. Auto was snoring gently. In his sleep he hugged Joxer, pulling him tighter. Joxer pillowed his head against the man's shoulder and sighed.

He almost dismissed the faint crunching sound beside his head. In the dark a figure crouched over him throwing his hand over his mouth and whispered in a husky voice, "Hey Jox."

He recognized his brother's voice and relaxed. Jett had a policy of not hunting his family. Then he tensed. Jett wasn't there for him. He reached up and pushed at his brother hand. He whispered back, "What's going on Jett? Please tell me you’re not here to kill someone."

Jett gave him a look and shrugged. He tilted his head toward the sleeping man hugging him. Joxer misinterpreted it and slowly disentangled himself from his lover. Auto whined and pulled him back in. Joxer sighed and uttered to his husband, "I need to pee Auto love." He looked to where Jett had been standing and he was gone.

"K, babe,” He kissed Joxer's neck and allowed him up.

Joxer quietly crept to the surrounding forest. He found his brother leaning against a tree, "Sup Bro? You fucking the King of Thieves now?"

Joxer blushed but it was dark enough to hide it. He nodded his head, "He and I...we're lovers, yes."

"I'm going to kill him," Jet managed to threaten in the most emotionless voice possible. He leaned forward, "I was paid to, I'm just going to enjoy it more now."

"You might as well kill me too. I'm not going to raise a baby alone,” Joxer hissed, and stepped into Jett's personal space. Jett grabbed Joxer's arm, put it behind him and got him in a choke hold. Joxer struggled.

"I already accepted payment. If I go back on my word how good is my rep!" Jett snarled in his ear.

Joxer panicked and started hyperventilating, "I-I'm pregnant!"

Jett loosened his hold a bit, "Explain."

"Gods, a potion...long story," Joxer panted.

"That bastard got you pregnant, I'm gonna make him scream!" Jett pulled Joxer in close. He moved his arm around Joxer's chest.

"Please don't," Joxer begged, "I love him. Please. Jett?"

The assassin threw his hands up giving a frustrated sigh. Joxer stumbled away from him, but managed to not fall on his face. Jett watched his brother stumble. He didn't believe the pregnancy thing, but looking at Joxer he did notice a few things. His skinny little brother wasn't quite as skinny anymore. He had hips and a butt that made his brother feel a bit inappropriately uncomfortable. If they weren't brothers he could see himself bedding him. Then Joxer turned and Jett saw the curve to his stomach. Jett's mouth hung open and he came closer.

"Gods,” Jett fell on his knees and pressed his hand into the convex stomach. He rubbed it. His eyes wide, "You're not lying to me are you? You're, you are gonna have a baby? I'm an Uncle?"

Joxer just looked down and nodded, "And Auto is the father...err...the other father. Please, you can't kill him!"

"The person who hired me won't just accept it. If I don't kill him I'm going to have to kill a lot of people so word doesn't get around that I go back on my contracts,” He stood and grabbed Joxer by the shoulders hugging him, "Fine. I'm gonna go, I’ll find you after I straighten this mess out. I'm gonna want to see my niece or nephew."

"Oh ok,” Joxer just stood there in his brother's arms, "Thank you Jett."

"Fuck," Jett chuckled, "You know my policy. I don't kill family, and as long as Autolycus is taking care of you I can hold off on killing him. If he does anything to hurt you though..." He let Joxer go and vanished into the shadows leaving the threat hanging.

Joxer turned to go back to camp. He gasped sharply as he bumped into Xena.

"We're not going to have any trouble from your brother are we?" She was holding her chakrum.

The man sagged as the tension fled his body, "No. No, Jett doesn't break promises to me or Jayce. He never has, I would feel sorry for his employer if he wasn't trying to kill my husband."

Jett ran the half mile to his waiting horse. He growled in frustration as they galloped away in the night. That had not gone the way he planned; but he would do anything for his baby brother, including risking his reputation.

Strife washed up quickly, gelled up his hair and went to his room to wait out his punishment...he meant his date. Laid out on his bed was an outfit. He tried to ignore the clothes but when he tried to flash on his normal clothes the outfit attacked him and wrapped around him. Strife looked at himself in the mirror, "What tha Tartarus am I wearin?"

He was wearing a deep navy tunic with little flecks of silver sprinkled over it, looking like the night sky; His pants were soft loose silk that draped his legs like a skirt. He was wearing black silk slippers. Strife frowned and tried to take the shoes off and found them unwilling to be removed. He did mean unwilling. The clothes clung to him like a living thing. Strife raked his hand through his hair and cursed. The hair decided to follow the clothing's example. The gel was gone and his hair lay in loose ringlets. He thought up more gel and styled his air. It fell again.

"Your guest is here,” A priest appeared in the doorway bowing.

"Whateveah,” Strife shrugged angrily and pushed past the immortal. He burst into the main hall, "Shit! Not you!"

"Good to see you too, my little moonbeam," Adonis smirked, "I see you found my gift." Adonis was wearing a complimenting ensemble with gold and tan being his colors.

"Ah shoulda known," Strife griped, "This stupid get-up attacked me!"

"You look beautiful," Adonis ignored his complaint, "I just wish I could take you out and show you off, but Uncle Ares insisted you stay here for the evening." The god of beauty sauntered over to the younger god. He smirked and grabbed Strife's chin gently. Strife tried to jerk away but Adonis just moved his hand to his shoulder and pulled the slender god in for a kiss.

A throat was cleared, saving Strife from the unwanted contact. Strife expected to see his uncle but he looked behind Adonis to see Cupid with his arms folded over his chest standing imposingly. Cupid couldn't help appreciating his cousin's outfit. He had a feeling Adonis was behind it. While his adopted brother was his least favorite person on Olympus, at the moment, he had to admit he had good taste.

"Respect my cousin's personal space. Pops wouldn't hesitate to ruin your pretty face if you did anything to make Strife uncomfortable," Cupid warned. Strife swore his eyes were glowing bright green.

"Oh of course brother dear I wouldn't think of doing anything to bother our lovely cousin,” Adonis spoke without turning around. He pressed his lips to Strife's cheek. Which still repulsed Strife, but at least it wasn't a kiss on the lips this time. He swore he heard growling coming from his winged cousin.

"Dad's going to be a little late. He said something about having a meeting interrupted,” Cupid insinuated himself between Adonis and Strife. If Zeus were at all fair Strife wouldn't have to put up with the pompous ass that would have raped him given half a chance. If the fates were fair Strife wouldn't have drunk that potion. If the fates favored Cupid at all, then he would be to only one getting to court Strife. The fates and Zeus be damned, Cupid was going to be there for every date unless Strife himself told him to go away.

"Well then," Adonis said in an irate tone, "Shall we have some dinner? I thought I would bring some of my best offerings." He waved his hand and there in the main hall a golden banquet table materialized. It was overflowing with food and wine. Adonis waved his hand and four chairs appeared. One Adonis held for Strife. Strife just stood there looking suspicious.

"Theah bettah not be any aphrodisiacs in any of tha food...or tha wine," Strife warned. He produced a dagger from thin air and stabbed it in the perfect surface of the gilded table. He took a seat and let Adonis push him in.
"Of course not," Adonis took the seat next to him. Cupid took one of the other chairs at the other end of the long table and brought it to Strife's other side. He sat there, watching his step-brother like a hawk.

Adonis picked up a platter of oysters, fresh from the ocean sitting on pearly half-shells. He held one before Strife, "You should try one of these they're simply divine." The tall blond god chuckled at his lame joke. Strife shook his head violently. He wasn't about to eat anything out of Adonis’ hand like some pet. Especially since he couldn’t trust the god not to try something stupid like drugging the food.

‘Ah ain’t eatin anythin thah came offa tha table,’ Strife thought toward his cousin, ‘You nevah know he might actually be dumb enough to try somethin.’

Cupid nodded toward Strife.

Adonis was still holding the oyster out; he even gently prodded Strife’s lips with it. Strife moved to bat his hand away and opened his mouth to say something. The oyster was skillfully slipped past his lips and he swallowed it. He choked and coughed, “Damn it! Ah didn’ want it!”

“There’s no need to get crabby about it moonbeam,” Adonis patted his back indulgently.

“Don’ fuckin’ call me that! Makes me sound like a fuckin flower child,” Strife hissed at him.

Adonis rubbed his chin in thought, “I suppose the name doesn’t suit your nature but is does suit your looks. Anyway I wouldn’t think of you as one of Demeter’s children. Imagine…she would have grey hair by now if you were her ward.” Adonis chuckled again misconstruing the future refrence.

Strife just shook his head in disgust. He waited for any strange symptoms. After a few minutes he still felt fine he materalized a goblet of wine for himself and drank it down. Then he produced a future food called a sandwich and started eating. He ignored any entreaties from Adonis to try more of his offerings and finally the god banished the meal and angrily stormed out.

Cupid smirked in triumph as Strife whipped up something for him he called pizza. They shared a feast of future food.

"Why don't you marry me and save yourself the frustration? You know I would respect your wishes not to share a bed," Cupid looked Strife in the eyes.

"Ah, can't do that ta ya," Strife looked away, "It ain't faih ta ya or ta Bliss."

"...But Bliss loves you," Cupid argued, "I love you!"

"Ah, can't give yah what yah need," Strife turned further away.

"What if you're what I need?" Cupid asked putting his hand on Strife's shoulder.

"Yah can have anybody," Strife shrugged his hand off, "Why me?"

"You don't ask the easy questions do you?" Cupid frowned as his hand was shaken off its perch.

"Nah," Strife turned with a hint of a smirk, "When have Ah eveah made anythin easy?"

Cupid smiled and raised his hands in defeat, "I can't argue with you there. It might seem strange to you, but your mischief...It makes me feel alive. I know its cliche. After Psyche and I divorced, I felt like I'd failed, I felt blank, and it was hurting Bliss too. When you started visiting us things changed, but even before that...before I split from my wife I was noticing you. I felt so guilty looking at another while I was married to a woman I thoughht I loved, but our marriage was a shambles long before we cut ties."

Cupid sagged into his chair, "It doesn't matter now I guess...Anyhow, you didn't just touch my life, but Bliss' too. You are good for us, inspite of what you think. You brought brightness back into our home and our lives. We miss you when you aren't there, and Bliss asks about you everyday he doesn't see you. We want you. Me and Bliss. We want you to be happy and safe, and even...Even if you choose someone else we would want to be part of your life still. I'm so afraid that whomever you end up with would try to control you and rule over you. I'd never get to see you again. That terifies me," Cupid started out strong but by the end he was whispering and pleading with his eyes.

Strife had realized a while back that his eyes seemed to change color with his mood. They were dark almost chocolate brown thought there were always flecks of green in his irises. Strife's heart was pounding in his chest, trying to break through his rib cage. He put his hand on his breast bone and rubbed.

"Ah...ah, Ah don't know what ta say Cupes," Strife struggled with his words.

A boom and red sparkles interupted them, "Where's your date? Sorry you had to put up with him. He went over my head to Zeus, but at least you still get a say in who you choose." Ares looked between Cupid and Strife. He knew he had interupted something, "Did I miss something?"

"Ah..." Strife cursed under his breath and looked at his cousin, "Ah'm gonna marry Cupes. He asked an I'm...well fuck it. Yeah Cupid we can get hitched."

Cupid looked stunned. He held up his hand and opened his mouth, nothing came out but a gutteral bark. He felt like he'd been punched. He should feel happy but he knew Strife was only taking him up on his proposal to get out of seeing more suitors. Hadn't he asked for this himself? Yes he had. He was joining the man he loved in a sham marriage.

Cupid forced a smile and nodded. Bliss was going to be happy when he learned Strife would be moving in with them. Cupid felt a real smile grow and replace the forced one. He had asked for this. He promised to respect Strife's desires. He just had to work toward changing those desires. He could win Strife's love, and now he literally had eternity to do it.

TBC
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Strife in my Life