Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

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
- 4
- 5
- 6
Another Chapter, and I hope you enjoy it! I realized that I didn't write an accent for Jayce, and also that according to the Xena Wiki his name is spelled without the y (Jace) I'm just gonna keep on as I have been. I guess.

Strife in my Life
Chapter 5: Every Day, Average, Mundane…Right?

Joxer was heaving into the washbasin, and Auto had the chamber pot. It was a bonding experience being violently ill with your partner. Auto felt a bit ashamed of himself. He didn’t normally get so drunk. He had woken with a terrible headache. Joxer was vomiting and first instinct was to go to him but his body had other ideas. He threw up all the wine and dinner he hadn’t digested yet.

“Ugg,” Auto dry heaved a few times after his stomach was empty. He found a pitcher full of clear cool water and poured some straight into his mouth spilling it down his front. He swished and spat the content into his chamber pot. He shoved the offending thing away from him. He wobbled over to his lover and avoided looking at the wash basin as he gently rubbed his lover’s back, “You okay baby?”

Joxer cringed a bit but nodded. He wasn’t about to open his mouth to speak until he was certain he was finished emptying his stomach. He gagged a few times and opened his mouth. More bile and last night’s dinner came up. He had tears in his eyes. He hadn’t thrown up this much since he’d started getting sick in the mornings. He wasn’t going to have any more wine…or rare venison for that matter. Just the thought of either had him gagging again.

“I’m really sorry about last night,” Auto had vague recollections of the evening after a certain point it got a bit fuzzy, but he remembered being all over Joxer, “I can’t believe I got so drunk.”

Joxer shook his head. His backside was sore from the rough handling but he was hoping that the marks would fade before his husband discovered them. Auto had actually bruised him. He wasn’t strong as Hercules, but he was stronger than the average man. Joxer was willing to bet Auto could best any normal mortal in a show of strength, but he knew what his love excelled at was speed and agility. He’d seen him rob a man blind in less than a minute. Of course the man was not a very nice person. Auto didn’t target good people, that’s what he told Joxer and why shouldn’t he believe his husband?

Joxer moaned and leaned forward. Auto pushed his shirt up to rub his back. His pants were a bit low and Auto saw an angry red mark on Joxer’s left hip. He tugged on the waist of the loose fitting pants and examined the welt. That was only the beginning there were light bruises over his curved backside. He pressed his hand over the marks his hand easily covered one of them. Joxer gasped from Auto’s clammy hands.

“Oh gods, what happened? You’re covered in bruises!” Auto gently stroked the colorful marks, “Babe I’m so sorry.” His voice was shaking.

“Water, Please?” Joxer whispered. Auto was up and across the room in a flash. He came back with a mug of water handing it to the other man. He tried to ignore his hangover. He had a beast of a headache, but Joxer was the priority. Joxer rinsed his mouth then drank the rest.

“I’m ok…you were just a little…rough last night,” Joxer tried to reassure him. It didn’t have the desired effect.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Auto gasped. Joxer turned to look at his husband. Auto had turned an ashy grey color. Joxer reached for him and Auto flinched. His husband backed away, “How can you even stand looking at me? I must disgust you. I’m a monster.”

Joxer’s head was starting to hurt, “What are you talking about? A little hard groping doesn’t make you a monster, you’re just a horny drunk.”

“A little groping? Joxer?! Forcing you to have sex isn’t just a little groping…” Auto looked more green than grey at this point.

“Gods Auto would you calm down! We did not have sex last night. You groped me hard sure, but you were asleep the second you hit the bed,” Joxer slapped his shoulder.

Auto breathed in deeply, “Thank the gods.” He slowly reached out and pulled Joxer close, “If I ever try anything you don’t want you know you can tell me no. I never want to hurt you.”

“I know love,” Joxer pressed into him and sighed tiredly, “Now we need to get cleaned up. I didn’t get to talk to Jayce yet. He has another show tonight so we need to get going before he gets too busy to talk.”

Cupid sat and watched Strife. He hadn’t slept and when Psyche came over with their son she gave him a worried look. Ares took Bliss to the gardens so he wouldn’t disturb Strife. Cupid was holding his pale hand, stroking the back of it with his thumb and just watching. He sat like that for twelve hours, without moving, eating, sleeping, or drinking.

Strife lay unmoving; if he didn’t feel the warmth on his skin and occasional, almost indiscernible, rise and fall of his chest; he might have though Strife were dead. That was an unpleasant thought. To think of Strife that way sickened him. At some point Bliss had been settled in his lap. Ares had a battle to attend. Bliss watched Strife for a while. He looked to his daddy, “Strife sleepin’?”

“Shh, yes baby,” He shushed Bliss and kissed his head.

“When he’s waked up can we play?” Bliss whispered.

“We’ll see,” Cupid nuzzled his nose into his son’s hair and took comfort from the softness of it.

Father and son watched the ailing god for a while. Eventually Bliss nodded off in his father’s lap. Cupid just held the child with one arm and his cousin’s hand with the other.

Strife felt stiff and sore, even if the bed felt much softer and nicer than the one at the inn. He blinked at the bright light flooding the dark marble room. He felt fingers twined with his and looked to his left. There sat Cupid holding Bliss. They were slumped in a chair both sleeping. He smiled for a second before his brain caught up with him.

He looked around and easily recognized his room in his Uncle’s temple. He started to panic and the instinct to flee hit hard. He tried to transport himself away. Nothing happened. He tried again. He felt a burning tingle in his core.

“Ah’m broke,” He looked at himself he was dressed in his normal clothes. There was bright shiny silver wrapped around his wrist, “Sh…“ He looked at Bliss and mouthed the rest of the curse. He grabbed the bracelet and tried to tug it off. He knew enchanted hephaestian metal when he saw it. That’s one thing he never wanted on his person again. Not since he was a child.

Strife thought of the things that had happened when he had been bound by hephaestian chains, vile things. When the bracelet refused to come off Strife started to claw at his wrist. Nobody knew what had happened to him, thank the fates, not even his mother…oh she suspected…He was sure she had her misgivings about the priest…eventually.

Strife gouged his wrist open and blood poured from the wound. The damn thing wouldn’t budge. Selepos had been her favorite priest, but after the last time it had happened he vanished, and Strife had been dumped at his Uncle’s place. Maybe if he hacked his hand off? Unc didn’t know or he was sure the god of war would have just dumped him on earth. He was ruined anyway. Strife was very pale. He started feeling for his daggers. Damn! They took them!

“Zeus! Strife!” Cupid shouted and startled Strife.

Cupid didn’t know when he fell asleep but when he woke up he was greeted to a horror show. Strife was mutilating his wrist. There was so much blood. Cupid reached for his cousin still holding his son. Bliss was thankfully still asleep, and unaware of the gruesome sight of his cousin trying to remove his hand from his body. He grabbed Strife’s hand and pried it away from his bangled wrist. Blood pumped with the beat of Strife’s heart.

“Ace!” Cupid shouted. Bliss rubbed his eyes and blinked. Cupid felt him moving and pushed his little head into his chest. Bliss I want you to close your eyes. He didn’t want his son to see Strife hurt like that. Strife looked a bit dazed and lifted his injured arm to his face.

“Oh, oops,” Strife giggled, “Sorry Cuz. Didn’ mean ta upset yah like that.”

Asclepius appeared looking around. He spotted Strife holding a blood drenched arm up to his face in fascination. Ace swallowed thickly and rushed over applying his hands to the deep wound. He pumped massive amounts of his energy into Strife, healing the gaping hole closed.

“What happened?” He asked. He had over done things and felt a bit faint. Cupid willed a chair behind him. Ace collapsed into it.

“I’m sorry Ace…I panicked,” Strife said weakly, “Don’t care for the bangle look. Too feminine.” He chuckled at his little joke but nobody joined him.

“Can Strife play now daddy?” Bliss peeked up at his father. Cupid felt the tension leaving his body. He willed Strife clean.

“Sha ya can,” Strife patted the bed. Bliss scrambled down from his daddy’s arms and ran over to the bed and climbed up.

“Ya got any toys Strife?” Bliss asked innocently.

“Sorry kiddo. This da…darn bracelet blocks ma powahs,” Strife complained, “I’d get yah some fun toys from tha futuha but I can’t.”

“Darn brace-it!” Bliss pouted.

“Bracelet, Bliss,” Cupid corrected.

“Darn Bracelet!” Bliss repeated.

Cupid thought up a blank parchment and some of those colorful wax sticks from the future that Strife had given Bliss, “Why don’t you draw a picture for Strife to hang on his wall.”

Bliss nods enthusiastically, “I’mma draw uncle ‘Pollo’s horses.”

“Going to, Bliss,” Cupid automatically corrected his child. Bliss was already busy covering the parchment with light blue wax.

Strife watched the child in rapt silence. Only occasionally did he look at the shiny silver bangle that kept him trapped there.

Cupid took the distraction to talk to Asclepius. He nodded toward the door and both gods went into the hall. The door was left open so they could keep an eye on their unstable cousin, though with Bliss sitting next to him the chance he would do anything drastic or dangerous was extremely low.

“Is that normal? I mean you mentioned him hurting himself. I thought that was why you had the suppressor on him?!” Cupid was whispering yet yelling.

“It’s not normal,” Ace sighed, “But it is a natural fight or flight response. They say that wolves will chew through their own legs to escape a trap. He was apparently trying to remove the bracelet in the only way he could. It is unbreakable and only your father can remove it from Strife’s wrist. Strife was simply trying to remove his wrist and the bracelet with it.”

Cupid groaned and rubbed his temples, “What do we do?”

“Well, I say keep doing what you’re doing. Keep him distracted as much as possible. He likes Bliss and Bliss likes him. Strife’s godhood, his light side, wants to shield children, but his dark side... You have seen it in action. His godhood is like a shattered mirror. The pieces are there but it’s hard to fit things back the way they were. We have things lined up but the broken halves grind against each other. There is possibly a way to make him whole…I agree with Psyche. We could put things back better if Strife were willing to participate and if there were enough of us willing to restrain him during the treatment, but it is very risky. Things could go very badly. Imagine a mirror ground into dust. There would be no putting that back together short of re-forging the glass. Strife could lose himself.”

Cupid nodded. He didn’t want to picture Strife broken apart. If only there were a way to repair his broken godhood without hurting, or damaging Strife, but the risks sounded too great. Cupid watched Strife as he talked to Bliss. Bliss was telling Strife of his visit to Apollo’s stables the day before when Grandma Dite had him. They got to brush their silky manes and feed them carrots. The pair looked so right sharing a moment. Strife was something both he and his son needed in their life. Wanted and needed.

“I need to go,” Ace said reluctantly, “If anything comes up call for me. I’ll come as soon as I can.” Cupid nodded and the older god flashed away.

Cupid slapped on a smile and walked into the room, “So I bet you’re hungry Strife. Why don’t we take a lunch out in the gardens?”

“Yeah!” Bliss clapped. He started to get off the bed then he looked at his picture, “I finish your picture later Strife?”

“Sounds like a plan little man,” Strife got out of the bed and followed His cousins to Ares gardens. Surprisingly Ares had a very serene spot on Olympus. It was a nice big patch of lush greenery with a small fish pond and several shade trees. The garden was populated with tiny wild flowers and hearty shrubs. Even the god of war sometimes needed a peaceful spot to rest when he wasn’t causing havoc and mayhem.

Cupid spread out a few soft furs on the ground and got down on his knees, “Well come on.” He smiled and lay on his side with one knee propped up. Strife blushed at the sensual picture he created. He settled on his butt across form Cupid and Bliss wiggled into his lap and looked up at him, “Hungry?”

“Yah betcha!” Strife hugged the child and smiled at Cupid still blushing. Cupid waved his hand and a feast spread out before them; all kinds of fruits and vegetables, roast lamb, cheeses, honey cakes, goblets of wine for the adults, grape juice for Bliss, and ambrosia for them all.

Cupid reached for the grapes and popped one in his mouth slowly chewing. He watched as Strife handed Bliss a chunk of roast. He selected an apple for himself and crunched into it. A bit of juice rolled down his chin and Cupid watched as he tried to lick it off. The only thing keeping Cupid from tackling Strife and licking him clean was his adorable son sitting in the other god’s lap. He groaned quietly and stuffed some of the lamb in his mouth. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned but he didn’t taste it. His mind was focused on Strife, his eyes tracing his elegant throat as he swallowed another bite of apple.

Strife was avoiding looking at Cupid with his legs spread and his short kilt almost showing off all he had to the world, “Why doncha have some vegetables Bliss?” Strife tossed his apple core behind him and selected a nice kabob with tomatoes, peppers, onions and squash. Strife took a soft cooked tomato off and offered it to Bliss.

“Matos is yucky!”

“Awe common Bliss,” Strife wheedled the stubborn child, “Its good fah Yah. Wanna grow up to be strong like yah Dad?”

“Hmmph!” Bliss crossed his arms and turned his head aside.

“Bliss,” Cupid warned gently.

“Tell ya what,” Strife spoke up, “Ya eat some vegetables Ah’ll take you on a horsy ride all ovah tha garden.”

“Really?” Bliss looked excited.

Strife nodded and held the squishy tomato in front of the little godling, “Fah every veggie yah eat that’s one lap on tha Strife express.”

Bliss took the tomato and popped it in his mouth. He made a face but he still chewed it up and swallowed it.

“That’s one lap little Blissy,” Strife ruffled his head he took a bite out of the cooked squash then offered an onion to bliss. Bliss ate it.

Cupid watched amazed and a bit worried as his son managed to eat quite a lot of his vegetables. Strife was up to twenty two laps when Bliss was finished. Strife was supposed to be taking things easy but he wiped his hands and stood holding bliss. He deposited the little god on his shoulders and whinnied like a horse and started to gallop around the gardens.

“Yay! Strifey Horse!” Bliss screamed in excitement and held onto Strife’s curls, “Giddy up Strifey Horse!”

“Neigh, neigh! Imma horse!” Strife giggled and made another few laps, but soon he was panting and he stumbled. Cupid flashed in front of him. He grabbed him by his shoulders and steadied him. Bliss giggled not realizing that he had almost had a nasty fall.

“I think Strifey horse needs a rest Bliss,” Cupid deposited his son on the soft grass. Strife was still leaning on him. Cupid wished it was because he wanted to be held and not because his eyes fluttered in exhaustion. Cupid felt Strife start to slide down. He scooped the thin god up in his arms, “I think its nap time for Strife.”

“Awe!” Bliss started to whine but it ended in a yawn.

“Make that nap time for both of you,” Cupid corrected. He adjusted Strife so he was leaning against his shoulder with one arm under his legs and he reached down to grab his son’s hand.

“M not tahd,” Strife mumbled.

“Come you need to rest,” Cupid made it to Strife’s rooms as the man started snoring.

Bliss climbed into Strife’s bed and patted it, “We play later, Strife’s very slee-yawn-py.”

“Why don’t you keep Strife company while he sleeps?” Cupid suggested feeling that Bliss would be more apt to rest if he was with their cousin than if he tried to put him in the spare room Ares kept for them. He didn’t really want to leave Strife alone anyway. He tucked Bliss and Strife in to the bed and thought up a comfortable chair for himself. He leaned back and watched two of his favorite beings sleeping.

Joxer watched his brother pacing the floor. They had a nice private…closet…in the back of the theater. Joxer and Auto stood on one side and Jayce kept looking at them and then pacing.

“Jett is going to gut him, slit him from groin to throat and bathe in his blood!” Jayce’s slight accent and feminine effect were dropped and he looked, well not pissed but not happy. Joxer whimpered and hid his face in Auto’s chest.

Jayce looked at his youngest brother and sighed, “Come here Joxie.” He opened his arms and Joxer untangled himself form a reluctant Auto. Joxer threw himself at his brother and sobbed. Jayce petted his hair and hugged him, “I’m sorry. I am not angry with you…This was not your fault, and if that man…” He glared at Auto, “…plans to support and take care of you I can accept this…But’s it’s so unbelievable. I suppose with that many gods involved it can’t be helped. Now if we can keep Jett from slicing Autolycus’ dick off and feeding it to him then we will be fine.” Jayce rubbed Joxer’s tummy and looked in amazement. His grim frown flipped and he was beaming, “I’m gonna be an uncle! I can’t wait to see if you get a boy or a little girl.”

“It’s going to be a boy,” Joxer informed his brother.

“Oh he’ll be such a handsome little thing, won’t he!” Jayce smiled at Auto, “Congratulations are in order I suppose and we can have a nice quiet dinner after tonight’s show, Just no more drinking contests with Praxie.”

“No way,” Auto shook his head, “I’ve learned my lesson.” He grabbed Joxer and pulled him into a tight hug.

A stack of gold coins fell from slender ring covered fingers. Long nails pinched the last coin and he looked into the cold dark eyes of a killer.

“You know what to do,” Thickly accented Greek poured from the man’s mouth. He sneered, “I want his head. I want his head and I want his manhood. He took from me so I want you to take from him. He’s traveling with some heroes. It might be dangerous but I understand you are the best at what you do.”

“You just worry about the rest of my payment when I return, and I’ll get you what you want.” Those dark eyes shined in the dim room, he turned and was gone in a blink of the eye.

“You had better, King of Assassins,” The man hissed.

TBC
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Strife in my Life