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Home Unknown	By : katecooley Category: S through Z > Xena Views: 15190 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Xena, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 29
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*WOO! This is officially the longest story I�ve ever written!
Thank you all for being so patient. It�s been hell trying to get this part out and I don�t know why.
And if you don�t know there�s dudes havin� at it by now� in this chapter, some dudes have at it.

Chapter 30 � Let Slip the Dog of War
Joxer wished that Jett were there. His brother was better at this sort of thing. He could move without smashing into everything in his path and drawing attention for 50 miles in any direction. Joxer just couldn�t get his feet to cooperate, godhood or not. They seemed to make extra noise, even.
There had to be a way. There just HAD to be.
Ares was out of the question. He�d never go for this and � Joxer had a feeling that he wanted to keep this as far away from the God of War as possible. Something wasn�t right and he wanted to put as much distance between whatever this was and his new lover as possible. A twitch in his spine agreed with him unreservedly. Anyway, Ares was off, something about a meeting with Zeus and Joxer DEFINTIELY didn�t want any part of that.
Eris? Maybe. But subtlety wasn�t exactly her forte. She was more War-Hammer-To-The-Face than Thief-in-the-Night. Plus� he hadn�t seen her in a while. She was probably extremely busy.
Strife? He had his hands completely full. The way Cupid had snatched him away, Joxer would be surprised if he saw the mischievous god anytime soon� especially not in any condition to help. Joxer snickered. Or to sit without wincing.
The candidates were really slim. He could hunt out Hermes � as the official chaperone, he was sure he could wiggle a favor out of him. But the messenger god was probably swamped with his own business as well.
And he needed help. Athena was a senior goddess with powers beyond his comprehension. She would no doubt detect him snooping around in her Hall. And then she would turn him into a memory� or maybe even not that. Maybe even less than a memory. She had the power and probably the compunction to erase him from existence.
He thought of his brothers. The three of them had been close at times and had settled into a friendship of sorts in their older years. They still fought like cats and dogs now and then� but he couldn�t imagine what it would be like if there were only two of them left. Any two. Something would be missing, that unimaginable chasm. Even if they never knew, their minds wiped clean of him by godly hand� there would be a space that was left empty.
He thought of Xena and Gabby, not in the longing way he used to but detachedly. They might miss him � as much as they thought of him as an annoyance, he was still their friend� kind of. A cloud slipped past his mood � not enough to, say, tell him important things like they were nailing each other, though.

Don�t think of them right now, Jox� And he thought of Ares, as an imitation of the War God�s growl mimicked in his head. He wasn�t sure what he meant to Ares. He might never know. But he got the distinct feeling that his disintegration would be something the heir of Zeus and Hera might take offense to. At least inasmuch as Joxer was his. If nothing, there was that. Though Joxer did hope there was more than that.

And he thought of himself! He didn�t want to be blasted back to his elements, thank you very much! That sounded like it would be just about the worst thing he could think of happening. He�d gotten very used to living, and was currently trying to get used to living forever. Being dust would seriously put a cramp in that.
So he had to do this on his own� but he wasn�t so blind to think that he could actually do this without some kind of help. His newly-deitized brain whirled through many possibilities when a wet nose nudged into his hand, encouraging him to keep up the rhythmic petting that had been helping him think. What was it about scratching a dog�s ears that was so calming? Was it the wordless companionship? The repetitive motion? And when had Graegus come in anyway? Joxer hadn�t heard him shuffle over or anything � the great gray hound had just sort of nudged in under his hand and�
Wait.
He hadn�t heard him come in. Hadn�t noticed him. And that was one big dog. How do you not notice a dog that big? He dropped his gaze to the grizzled head under his hand. It was so simple, wasn�t it?
Well, it wasn�t as if he had a million choices.
***
Strife yawned and flexed, wanting to stretch the unexpected sleep out of his limbs. Nothing was cooperating, though. His arm was tingling sharply with pins and needles thanks to being bent and squashed underneath his head while he slept. His other arm was immobilized against his chest, something tying up his fingers in loose knots. And something was wound around his legs, keeping them from moving, too. Add to that a twinge of pain fluttering around inside that sent a shiver of panic racing through his immortal body. He tensed, trying to prepare himself for whatever agony and peril was awaiting him once his eyes opened. Even tied up as he was, he steeled himself for the next blow.
"Mmmmmmm� quit fidgeting, babe," a deep, sleepy voice rumbled through him from behind. "I told Mom we�d pick up Bliss before dinner. We still got some afterglow comin� to us."
"Cupe?" Slowly, Strife blinked his eyes open and reexamined. A big, brawny, bronze arm was wrapped around his middle, fingers laced with his where they rested against his skinny chest. His legs were tangled up with� two more legs. And that pain wasn�t so much pain as it was a warm ache radiating out from�
Strife blushed fiercely. Well, no wonder his ass hurt. There was a freakin� tree jammed up it. Still.
The past few hours came rushing back to him at top speed. He hoped that he hadn�t really been that noisy. Judging from the yelp and hiss that burst forth from him when he shifted, even slightly, that was unlikely.
A deep, luscious chuckle hummed in his ear. "Yeah, sorry �bout that. We kinda just� keeled over together. Hold still and I�ll�"
Strife felt the muscles wrapped around him shift, a hand resting on his hip now and the warmth departing. The ache flared for a second and then there was delicious friction as Cupid began to withdraw gently. The pale god shivered with delight as the spent prick slid from him, a groan burbling out unbidden. The love god hummed happily, taking care not to jostle his prone cousin too greatly. A gentle fingertip ghosted over Strife�s wet, red, sensitive hole and made him gasp.
"You OK?" A spark of energy and Strife found that he wasn�t quite as sore anymore. There was still a flicker of ache, but he decided he kind of wanted that to stay around. He nodded in answer to Cupid�s question. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Mmmmm, good." And the brawny form settled back down behind him, spooning up and wrapping around him until Strife couldn�t tell which way was out. A twinge of instinct bleated at him to run, an echo of hundreds years he�d spent on everyone�s wrong side. He sighed deeply � things like that were hard to ignore. Relaxing wasn�t a luxury he usually allowed himself, especially not when the possibility of hurt was so looming. He was risking a lot lying there. Hades, he�d been risking a lot just sending Cupid that note in the first place.

Yah, and look where it gotcha! Burrowed deep inside the Arms of Love. Quitcher bitchin�!

Not easy to do, he found out. It was as if his skin was crawling off his bones with the need to move, to leave, to escape, to� oh. Oh, that�s nice. Strife hummed as Cupid�s broad hand drew soothing circles on his chest and stomach, drawing him back to lay flush against the love god�s body and petting him in a gentle, calming rhythm. His back arched, pushing his belly into Cupid�s touch and his head into Cupid�s shoulder, where Strife could easily nip at his neck. The Love God purred deeply as his cousin stretched and wiggled and writhed in his arms. With one finger, he nudged Strife�s chin to turn to him and warm lips met his again.
Strife jumped, almost surprised that it was happening again. That Cupid would deign to� would want to� The mouth on his disappeared and then reappeared at his ear, nuzzling and nipping around the silver rings that decorated it. Heat ran through Mischief�s slim body like lightning as Cupid made tongue-love to his ear, humming happily while he lavished it.
"Cupe� I�"
The Love God sighed almost sadly and he nuzzled Strife�s ear again apologetically. "I know. Mom�d have my head if she knew."
"Mine, too."
"Yeah," Cupid grumbled and Strife sneaked a look at him � he had an incredibly guilty expression on his face. Aw, maaaan� "I guess she�d have a fit about it, too. She�s always worried about you like that."
"Yeah, that�s Ma for ya," Strife said regretfully. I shoulda known�

What he should have known was anyone�s guess - his especially - as the sudden flip and wiggle shot all thought from his brain. Before he could figure out what was going on, he was on top of Mount Eros, nestled in the cradle of his cousin�s hips and wrapped between two brawny but welcoming thighs. Cupid was splayed out underneath him in a display of wings and tan skin and blue-green eyes as bottomless as the sea. Strife had to brace both hands on the sinfully soft mattress to keep from pitching off.
"You won�t rat me out, will ya, Cuz? I�m too old for the �bed etiquette lecture�." Cupid�s hands traced Strife�s sides in whispers of touch, his nose still tickling at Strife�s ear. "Mom�s a real fanatic about that �let your partner top first� thing. Since I�m a love god and all, she thinks I can be too pushy. I wasn�t too pushy, was I?"
Pushy? Strife shook his head. Cupid had been a few things � including delightfully obtuse and hot beyond all reason � but not pushy. A red tinge flirted with Strife�s ears � he�d been very willing to lay underneath his cousin and be taken. Mostly as he couldn�t see very many repeat performances in the future. But now here he was, sprawled on top of Love itself. A slight shift brought a hiss of pleasure from both men, a pair of freshly woken cocks rubbing together happily. One of Cupid�s big hands cupped Strife�s ass, giving the cheek a friendly squeeze and tickling the much-enjoyed cleft. Strife almost leapt in the air � his bum was definitely still sensitive, but not in a terrible way.
"Still hurt?" There was concern in that inquisitive look and Strife just about melted at it.
"Naw. Just� tender. S�OK."

Cupid�s hand curved around his cousin�s flank and pushed until their hips ground together softly. "I bet. I bet there�s just tons of �tender� places you have just waiting for some attention." Strife shivered at the husky note Cupid�s voice was embracing. "And I�m gonna find �em." Fingertips brushed the dimples at the top of his butt cheeks. "Later."
"Later? What about now?"
"Now�" Cupid�s hips canted ever so slightly and rutted against Strife slowly. "Now, you shag me ragged."
"Yeah?"
"Oh yeah."
Strife looked down at the tanned love god underneath him, laid out like a buffet. A slow smile spread out, wickedness clinging to the edges. "You sure?"
Cupid wasn�t a fool by a long shot. He was, after all, half War God by birth. He�d grown up around Ares and Discord. He�d trained with them, too, as no son of Ares was going to be defenseless. He�d even sparred with Strife when they were younger. They were friends a long, long time and he'd known that once the initial awkwardness was over, they�d get back to their usual way of dealing with each other. Only now, they could do it naked and greasy.
Cupid�s smile quirked into a smirk. "Bring it on."
Of course, he did forget that Strife was always a little better at the warfare stuff�
****
The side door to the Hall of War cracked open slowly, cautiously. A golden head peeped out, scanning the area for busybodies. It was empty. A few more darting looks and the rest of the Messenger of the Gods slipped out the back door to the salon of the Goddess of Discord.
Not that there was really a need to. They were both adults and what they got up to in the middle of the day without an audience was really their own business. But he didn�t relish trying to explain that to a War God bent on removing his intestines. Ares was prickly toward him on good days � he couldn�t imagine what kind of rage the honor of his sister would inspire.
The door cracked open and a hand shot out, grabbing Hermes by the toga shoulder and hauling him into a messy-red kiss. Eris had the advantage of a stair and he had to crane up on his toes to meet her, but that was fine. They�d already had One Last Kiss inside, but he was more than willing to snatch another one. Her own sheet slipped, exposing a darkly dusky nipple that he couldn�t help brushing his thumb against and making her growl.
"Go. Before you start something we can�t finish right now." And she shoved him back down the stairs with a grin.
"Says who we can�t?"
"Says me. Now scoot." She scowled at him and shooed him with a wave of her hand.
"I�m goin�, I�m goin�," Hermes grinned broadly. "I�ll see you later, Rissy."
"Just go already!" And the Goddess of Discord blushed deeply while trying to look indifferent. It wasn�t working, as she couldn�t keep her eyes off of Hermes� departing gilded backside. Such a nice little butt, too. She made a mental note to bite it next time.
Hermes flexed his tush as he walked, knowing full well that Eris was watching him go. Might as well give her something to watch, he chuckled to himself. Today wasn�t turning out so bad, he decided. Though he could do without having to hang around the Hall of Intellect much. But he had to drop off a message for Apollo � something about the Oracle that Zeus just had to tell him. And the Muses had their daily missives that had to go here and there. He sighed. A god�s work was never done. Now he kind of wished Joxer were around instead of� where was he anyway? Would Ares still have him? If he did, the poor guy wasn�t in any condition to do any deliveries for anyone, having just taken one or two packages to the rear. Hermes snickered at his own joke. The best ones are always when I don�t have an audience. Don�t it figger.

A furry roadblock almost tripped the Messenger God up on his stroll back to his house�s main hall. Graegus, Ares� hound of choice, stood almost as tall as Hermes did and saw no problem at all taking advantage of that and licking his face in broad swipes.
"Easy! I�m not lunch, y�know." He petted the large, grizzled-gray dog and leaned away from that tongue, which always seemed to stretch in his direction. He was just glad that Graegus was able to tell him apart from a chew-toy. "Daddy still out, then?
Graegus whined almost pitifully, flashing large and wet soulful eyes at Hermes, who shook his head at the Mush of War. "You better not let mortals catch you like that. Your rep�ll be shot to high Hades." Another whine and that long, whip-like tail swished tentatively. Graegus dropped his head down to the ground to rest on his paws, his hindquarters starting to wiggle. Hermes chuckled and bent to scratch the fuzzy head. "OK, you can come with. But I�m warning you now, you poop on the floor again and I won�t be able to stop Athena." The Dog of War growled at the sound of that name. "Yeah, you and me both, brah. C�mon."
And it didn�t take more than that to get the big gray hound to follow him, big paws all but prancing along the path. Hermes chuckled. He did like the big galoot, though he�d be an idiot to think that anything about the dog was harmless. He�d stumbled onto a battle once, laden with messages, and he�d have a hard time saying that this was even the same dog he�d seen then. That dog had been dressed in battle armor and had been sporting the nastiest set of slavering jaws Hermes had ever encountered. Not for the first time in his life, he thanked Zeus that he was a nice guy and friendly with the House of War. He never wanted to be on the business end of that.
Graegus, for his part, was happy to trot along in the ever-present sunshine with the Golden One Who Gave Him Treats Sometimes and Rarely Yelled. Not Daddy, but certainly a worthwhile Walkies-Sharer. And since Daddy�s Friend had asked him for help, it worked out well that this one was going in the right direction. As the Dog of War, he was very glad to get a mission to go on. It kept things from getting dull between wars. Though he wasn�t entirely thrilled at having to go THERE. He hated THERE. Even though he was well entitled to go THERE whenever he liked, he�d prefer not to. SHE was THERE and he didn�t like HER one bit. Neither did the Golden One Who Gave Him Treats Sometimes and Right Now Smelled a Lot Like Auntie. He could understand that. SHE wasn�t something that you liked, only tolerated in small parcels. And if Daddy�s Friend needed his help, he�d bear through being around HER. At least for a little bit.

***
Joxer checked the tiny rope that held him securely to the buckle of Graegus� collar, making sure he wasn�t going to slip off anytime soon. Getting trampled underfoot wasn�t on the agenda.
The Hall of Intellect loomed ahead of them. Joxer hoped he wasn�t making a huge mistake here. He looped his arms around the metal and held on tightly.
tbc
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