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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
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I promise that we will get to see more of Joxer and Auto and the others in this but the focus has changed to Strife and Cupid. I know this isn't anywhere near cannon, but hey its a fan fiction. Strife is probably more based on fan fictions I have read than he is his original cahracter.

Strife in my Life
Chapter 2: You Can Run...

Strife hugged himself and rocked slowly. He was in a forest somewhere on earth, he didn't know where and he hoped that would be a good thing. If he didn't know where he was maybe nobody would think of looking there for him. He suspected he was going to be in a heap of trouble with his uncle, but Uncle Ares was currently insane. So was Apollo's son.

"Ah always thought Ace had a good head on 'is shouldahs," Strife mumbled, "I guess bein' serious all tha time finally made 'im crack."

Strife heard a limb snap and some distant voices he panicked and flashed away. As he left the stag that a group of hunters had been tracking ran into the clearing but the sparkles flashed and frightened the poor beast right back at the men.

He appeared at a walled village and disguised himself as a pesant. He exchanged his normal safety pinned black leathers for a pair of black leather breeches and a dark grey tunic. His hair was a curly nest on his head, it looked much softer than his normal spikes. He thought he must not look too bad. People were looking his way and some people actually smiled at him.

He worked his way toward a tavern. He sidled up to the bar. A haggared looking old man asked him what he wanted, "I'll 'ave an ale." He materilized a couple of dinars and placed them on the counter. He took his drink and found an empty table. He was alone for all of five minutes before he was noticed. A man in uniform with a sword at his side slid in next to him and pounded the table, "Two more drinks over here!"

Strife sneered at his new companion, "What ya want?"

"You don't sound like you're from around here. I just wanted to get to know the exotic foreigner," A hand came to brush against Strife's thigh and the mortal was only still alive on the god's sufferance. Strife didn't want to give himself away for the time being and surprisingly he did have a sense of tact. He brushed the hand off his leg. Strife got a burst of mischief energy from the man. It was not normal for him to get energy from mischief directed at himself.

Strife turned a gimlet eye on the man. The solider sported a permenantly broken nose. Strife could only wonder if it was this bold egotism that brought about that physical trait. The man was unphased, used to rejections aparently, "No worries beautiful. I suppose you want to get to know me before we get on to the fun stuff. I bet you'd like an introduction to your future lover. You can call me Lethos. What may I call you, sweet cheeks?"

"Not sweet cheeks," Strife turned and started to get up. A broad hand wrapped around his slender bicep and he was jerked back down. Strife was about to retaliate when a couple other men in the same uniforms came over to the table.

"Lethos!" The larger one was frowning, "Are you bothering this man?"

"Captain Eos!" The man squeeked in surprise and let go of Strife's arm. Strife stood and backed up enough to give himself some breathing room. The man, Lethos, also stood, "We were just getting to know eather other sir."

"This can't keep happening. You have a choice," The captain spoke sternly, "You can stay on as a guard or you can continue this unsavory behavior and end up in prison."

The other man, shorter and wearing an eyepatch turned to Strife and smiled in sympathy, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, 'M fine," He was ok. He was sure if he had been a mortal his arm would be bruised, but he wasn't a mortal.

"I'm sorry about Lethos," The man said, "He gets a bit...amrous. I promise he won't bother you again."

Strife watched as the man was being dragged out by the captain. The other man sat down and offered Strife the other chair. He retook his seat and as the Captain lead lethos out the door. The door suddenly slammed on Lethos leg. He screamed. Strife stole a quick look and grinned.

"Let me buy you a meal?" The other man asked. He was sitting safely across the table from Strife. He was watching the men leave to and winced at the 'accident'. He turned back to Strife, "I'm Sosilus, by the way." He offered a friendly smile.

"M Erin," Strife offered. He rarely went by his given name. He much prefered his title, like his mother Discord.

"What would you like Erin. I'm buying," Sosilus reminded the god, "The meat stew's not bad...though this place used to be better, before Rhoda left. She moved south a few weeks ago. She was a good cook..." He seemed to want to say more as he frowned at the bartender. Strife looked at the disgruntled old man and he got a good reading of the man. He's full of negative energy. Strife had a feeling his negativity had something to do with this Rhoda leaving.

Strife looked back at the man. His aura was friendly and reletively innocent. He shrugged and figured he could count a free meal as an offering, an unofficial offering at least, "Sure."

Sosilus waved a bar wench over and ordered stew for the both of them and more mead. When she left with their order he turned back to Strife, "So Erin could I ask where you're from? I mean if you don't mind? Your accent is...different," The man blushed at how rude his question sounded.

"Oh I'm from fah north," Strife lied, "Evah hear of Britania?"

"Uh," Sosilus nodded and blushed, "That's pretty far... What brings so far from your home? I know you can't be a sailor too far from the sea here," He was looking at the earrings that decorated the other man's ear. Only sailors and pirates generally had rings like that. Them or savages of the far south. Strife was far too pale to be from the south, He looked exotic but certainly not like a man from Aethiopia.

Strife realized he was staring at his earrings he should have willed them away but it was too late now. He brushed his finger over the warm metal in his ear. He loved his peircings they were something that made him unique, but it also might call too much attention to him.

"I wanted ta be a sailah when I was a kid," Strife spun a tale, "...but mah uncle had othah plans fah me. Had ta go into tha family business. Unc raised me but I had ta get outta there. I...ah...kinda got the earrings as a rebellion against 'im."

"Oh, what was your family business?" Sosilus asked in interest. He looked eager for a story. Kind of like a kid listing to tales of sea monsters and mighty heros. Strife got a bit of a charge from him.

"He's a big wahlard," Strife fibbed, "Ah was tha closest thin' to an heir he had. He has othah children but they was...not suited to wah."

Sosilus nodded, encouraging Strife to continue. Though he sized the slender man up. Strife knew he didn't look like much but he was good with blades and what he lacked in mass he more than made up for it with agility.

"Ah know I don' look like much but Ah been trained by tha best," Strife assured him.

Sosilus blushed realizing he'd been caught scrutinizing the man. Strife would have continued but the wench had just brought their food. She set a plank of bread ladened with stew before each man and a mug of mead to each of them; taking Strife's empty one back to be washed.

"This looks pretty good," Strife smiled.

Sosilus nodded, "Best food in the house."

"Thank ya," Strife offered feeling strangly happy. It was nice not being the god of Mischief for a while.

The men dug into their food and ate quietly before they were finished the Captain was back, "Lethos is scrubbing the privy," He announced, mostly to Sosilus. He took a seat next to the other guard. He was sitting really close and Sosilus blushed. Strife hid a smirk.

The captain ordered a platter of stew and a mead. It was brought quickly and they three enjoyed thier food in a comfortable silence.

Strife decided to stay a while. If he kept up the charade he might be able to hide out for a little while in this village. Strife took a room in the tavern and settled in for the night.

Cupid had a bad feeling. He couldn't pinpoint it but he somehow knew Strife lay behind that feeling. The problem lie in his absence. It had been days since he had last visited. Not long in godly time but Cupid had been keeping tabs on his cousin, had put a tracing spell on him in fact, but he hadn't resorted to that in almost a week. He had realized at some point that he was being kind of a creep. So he had stopped watching Strife, mostly. He absolutely didn't go poking around his father's temple. His pops didn't mind his visits so much but his spying on one of the house of war would not go unnoticed or unpunished. He mostly watched the younger god when he was on earth. He was facinated, addicted. Strife was brimming full of the energy of youth and of course mischief too.

His son loved the other god. He was constantly asking when cousin Strife was coming back to play with him.

"Soon son," He'd promised. He hoped he could keep that promise.

The best part was Strife genuinely liked Bliss and indulged the godling whenever he managed to sneak in a visit. Sneak being the operative word. Ares kept him very busy, and visits always came at short notice and didn't last nearly long enough for either the god of love or the god of joy. Cupid wondered what his dad would have done without Strife. Under apriciated. Cupid shook his head. Maybe that's why he was missing. Planning to show his uncle how important he really was. That didn't seem very Strife like though. Strife enjoyed his job...mostly.

He talked passionately about his intrigues and plans, and about his children. No not literally his children, but his worshipers. Children from the time they are able to toddle around and cause mischief were his. Some were his into adulthood, Strife told him stories about the crazier ones. Giving him strange offerings like live serpents and rats in a bag. Of course he only found that offering after the snakes had gorged themeselves on the rats and some of the smaller snakes so that he had three very bloated snakes he dicided to keep as pets. He named them Medusa, Euryale, and Stheno. Cupid chuckled. He had this box made of glass. He called it an aquarium, said it was from the future. He could fill it with water and keep fish in it if he liked. He kept the three snakes in it and gave them mice to eat every week. He offered to set one up for Cupid. The god of love declined saying that sounded messy.

Instead he gave Bliss a glass bowl and a little orange fish he called a gold fish, it didn't look very gold but it was shimmery. Bliss called it Sol he said it looked like a little ball of sunshine. There were colorful stones in the bottom and a tiny replica of cupid's temple for Sol to hide in. Bliss adored it. Strife promised Cupid it wouldn't die because he's put some of his own energy into it. He handed over a round clynder with holes in the top. He told bliss to give it only a pinch of those colorful flakes each day, and not to eat any of them himself, "That's fish food, good for fishes but it'll make ya tummy hurt if ya eat any." Bliss was given the responsiblity over his first pet. Strife was teaching his son how to nurture life with his thoughtful gift.

Bliss was with his mother for a couple days. Cupid hated sharing custody, but he would never deny his son the love of his mother. He would grow up knowing both his mother and father loved him. Cupid didn't get to know his father until he was a teen. That was when he was about three-hundred. His godhood was burgening and Ares insisted on giving him some formal combat training. It really irked his mom when she learned he was going to be using a cross bow. She insisted it was too dangerous and too many of her babies had ended up in war. Phobos and Demos ended up with their father and only came to Aphrodite for weekend visits, but it was more than Cupid got until he was old enough to go on his own.

Cupid remembered Strife when he came to visit. The shy slip of a boy hiding behind his father's throne. Strife had been a timid quiet little thing. Scared of his own shadow. That was the reason Eris had foisted the godling onto his uncle. She said he needed toughened up. He was so small. Standing there shaking like a leaf as one of Ares warlords shouted instructions at them. He had delegated their training to some of his favored mortals.

Strife couldn't handle a sword very well but when given a dagger his eyes gleamed in a strange way and he had petted it. He held it out and made a few pratice swipes with it. The man brought his sword up and comanded him to attack. Strife found his confidence and managed to gracefully duck beneath the sword and if he had been using anything but a pratice weapon the mortal would be in tartrus...well he was by now. That was about one hundred and fifty years ago. Strife had been twelve, in actual years, in appearance he was more like eight, but he had aged until he appeared to be in his late teens or young twenties. He settled there, the appearance of rebelous youth.

Cupid decided to be proactive and flashed down to earth. He would find Strife himself. He felt for the god's energies. The signature was weak and hard to pin down if he hadn't put a tracing spell on the other then he wouldn't have been able to find him at all. He was standing in a very familiar village, "What's Strife doing here?"

The god of love desguised himself as a mortal and followed Strife's tracer. Cupid walked nonchalantly. Even as a mortal he was a handsome sight (He pretty much just hid his wings and wore a pair of pants and a tunic). The village women were watching (drooling over) him as he moved through the streets. He ignored them and kept going. He heard loud grunting and the clashing of blades.

There was Strife in a closed off field beside a set of barraks. He was sparing with a tomboyish woman. They were both sweating profusely and Strife lunged at the woman. He as about to shout or stop them when the woman grabbed his arm and turned tossing him over her soulder. Strife rolled to his feet quickly. He clapped his hands together, "Good job Ismene."

She bowed blushing and the group watching all aplauded.

Strife spoke again and the group quieted, "Rememba when yah apponent is biggah than yah...yah need to use thah weight and momentem against em. I want bigger ones to square up against the smaller ones. Lets see how yah do. Me an' Ismene'll come round an' correct yah where yah need it."

The men all jumped up eagerly, but most of them were busy watching Strife rather than getting into formation. The few women were much more apt and when the fighting started there were several young men on their asses and the women pleased with themselves. Strife went to the closest pair and offered a hand to the young solider on the ground. The guy took the offered hand and got pulled up. Strife was stronger than he looked (being a god and all, but they didn't know that).

"Thanks Erin," The man smiled and blushed red. He didn't let go fo Strife's hand right away and he was leaning in close.

The lust was palpable. Cupid could almost reach out and grab hold of it. It was directed at Strife, and it wasn't just that one man. Cupid's eyes flashed green even through his guise. He growled and it must have been loud enough to get noticed, because Strife, and the guy, and the rest of the people were staring at him. Strife blanched. He saw through Cupid's disguise. He really wasn't ready to go back yet. Playing mortal had been really fun and he and Sosilus had struck up a bit of a friendship.

"Cupe?" Strife whispered. His worry bled into his tone and the man holding his hand stepped in front of Strife to protect him.

Then there were three and four more standing there, "This guy a problem Erin?" One of the larger ones cracked his knuckles. Cupid rolled his eyes and stalked forward, but before he could meet the group. Strife pushed them out of the way.

"Its cool," Strife put his hands up, "This is...Cupe. Everybody Cupe, Cupe everybody." He giggled a bit at the absurdity of the situation.

"What are you doing here St..." Strife threw his hand up and shushed the other god. He begged with his eyes that the other god play along, "Erin...What are you doing? I've been worried about you."

"Erin's in good hands Cupe," The one who cracked his knuckles spoke up harshly. In apearance he might have been intimidating to Cupid, if cupid were a mortal. He insinuated himself in between the love god and the god of mischief. A very stupid and dangerous proposition, but he was a mortal and mortals could to be both dumb and tended to die a lot.

"It's fine Onias," Strife pulled the man back and he stumbled in surprise. Strife was slender and looked fragile but he was still a god, "I can protect maself. 'Sides, Cupes isn't a threat. He don' mean any harm." The men didn't look too convinced but they backed off. Cupid wasn't too convinced either, the men were still far to close to Strife for his liking. He might not kill them but he wouldn't hesitate to hurt them if they kept looking at Strife and if they touched him again, in such a familiar way. It wasn't fair that he couldn't touch Strife like that without him freezing up, or jerking away.

Cupid conceded and backed up. He didn't like it but he would do it for Strife. Cupid offered a smile to Strife and relaxed. Strife gave him a thankful smile and turned back to the group, "Me an' Cupe need ta 'ave a chat. Ismene can you keep things unda control?"

"Sure Erin," She nodded and started herding the over protective men back to the other side of the field.

Strife Started walking and Cupid followed. His eyes slowly raked over the other god's body. Strife seemed a little different...slightly less slender than he had been...in the hips and that bottom. It was sinful. Cupid wondered if that was a glamor. He was so tempted to just grab it.

"So how'd ya find me Cupes?" Strife asked looking back.

Cupid blinked and shook his head stupidly, "Oh I...um...Was just in the area...sensed you?"

"Ya a terrible liah," Strife turned and grinned at the other god.

"Ok...I might have put a tracer on you," He mumbled. Strife gave him a disapproving look. Cupid waved his hands in the air, "I'm sorry I know, but its like I hardly ever get to hang with you and I like you Cuz. Bliss loves you. Its been a few days since I invited you to dinner. Bliss misses you. I was hoping to catch you. Pops has you so busy I can hardly keep up with you."

"So Unc didn' send ya?" Strife asked cautiously. Cupid shook his head and Strife relaxed visibly, "Thank tha fates."

"Why what's wrong?" Cupid felt his heart skip a beat. He knew his father was very tough on Strife but for Strife to be this worried about Ares meant something major was going down.

"Nothin...least I don' think its anythin' Somethin' bout some potion and him and Ace sayin' I have a womb," Strife hugged himself and shivered at the thought, "It's just crazy talk in' it?"

Cupid stared slack jawed. His eyes roamed over his cousin again and this time taking in the changes in his figure. Taking a long deep breath and there it was, faint now it had probably been very strong at first, the smell of desert rose. His eyes flashed briliant green and he grabbed Strife's arm. Strife flinched and tried to pull back but Cupid wasn't having it, "Did he force a potion on you?" Strife felt his arm bruising. Cupid was a god and gods could hurt other gods and he was weaker than Cupid. The anger and jealousy rolling off Cupid made Strife gag.

"Na! No! He...I saw it on 'is desk...thought it was ah drink...it...I took it when he wasn' theah," Strife felt his heart beating against his chest. If he were mortal it would have no doubt burst. The pale godling gulped for air and jerked back.

It was the fear in his eyes that got Cupid to finally let go, "I'm sorry Strife. Are you alright?"

"M fine," Strife rubbed his arm and healed himself quickly. Cupid noticed. he reached out and brushed Strife's arm. The god stilled but didn't pull back. He watched Cupid's face and he was genuine remorse there. Ares sometimes looked like that after beating him but it never saved his ass in the end. Everyone was going to hurt him eventually, but Erin. That was a different matter. Erin was respected and liked.

"Just...I wanna be a mortal fah a while longa," Strife begged.

Cupid nodded he couldn't deny those clear blue eyes, "A few more days...but I'm staying with you."

Strife smiled and patted Cupid on the back, "Yah tha best Cupes!"

Cupid relished the feel of Strife's touch. It wasn't much but it was a start.

TBC
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Strife in my Life