Welcome to AresJoxerCupidStrife

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

Title: Patched 1/?
Author: Werewindle
Email: Werewindle@otakumail.com
Rating: PG
Fandom: Xena
Pairing:
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Warning: maybe considered OOC.
Summery: Joxer is found. ~ Sequel to `Broken'
Status:WIP
Series:
Archive: AJCS anywhere else just ask.
Website: http://grayswandir.virtue.nu/

Beta by Karisma

Joxer struggled to pull himself up grabbing a hold of a broken
crate. He pushed off from his knees almost falling before gaining
his feet. Joxer leaned against the wall panting shallowly from the
exertion. He managed to make it three steps before passing out. When
he fell, his hand came to rest in a niche made by a crack in the
wall. Bloodied fingers curled against a crude statue made by a
child's hands.

~~~~~~~~

"How in the world do you get yourself into these things Joxer? Most
mortals would have given up quite long ago. Gone off to live as a
hermit. Settled down with a wench, sired some whelps. You just flash
that goofy grin, get up and do it again. If you didn't cause such
wonderful calamity just walking I wouldn't even bother. Must be
going soft.

*flash*

"Strife"

Strife smiled trying to look innocent as he turned to face
Ares. "Yah, Unc'?"

"Explain to me /why/ you are carrying a /dead/ body through my
Halls?" Ares demanded crossing his arms with an exasperated look.

"'s not dead, just /mostly/ dead." Strife pointed out in the vain
hope that Ares would be satisfied and get back to what ever he had
been doing before.

"Unnnhuh" Ares didn't move he just raised an eyebrow and waited.

"I found him, I'm gonna heal him up. *pause* You won't even know
he's here, I promise."

Shaking his head the god of war turned to leave, "Just don't forget
that job in Crete." He called over his shoulder.

~~~~~~~

It's dark in here where the shadows have crept to meet, hiding from
the burning light. This dark place, this cool, safe place; nothing
can hurt here. A place in my memory that I do not remember until I'm
here. The padded darkness deep in my own soul.

When I was little, I would retreat to this place. Here I could not
feel the pain from scrapes or bruises. Here I was not clumsy or
awkward, or lonely. I had adventures here. The good guy always won,
the horizon so close you could almost touch it or forever just off
your bow. Here I could not hear the harsh words thrown at me. The
painful names, aching disappointments became little more than a bad
dream.

Here I was beloved, the shadows kept me company. Soothing the hurts
of the outside world, whispering words of love. They held me when I
needed to cry, ran with me when I needed to run. Healed my soul and
kept my secrets.

As I grew older, there were fewer adventures with shadowy
companions. Less time spent wrapped in comfort, drifting on the
sound of a reedy lullaby. But no matter how long I stayed away, when
I need them the most, they are here. Time and again I have left
them, stepped out into the bright light and muted color of the real
world. Never have they deserted me. Even now, especially now, at my
lowest point, they surround me.

I can sense my body somewhere outside this place in the bright
world. If I concentrate on my limbs, the pain causes streaks of red
to cut across the dark. I don't want to go back. I want to stay here
and listen to the reedy sighing song. Let the other world wait, here
I am beloved. Maybe I won't go back just stay here till I slip away,
soul into shadow.

But that can wait too, now there is the song. My lullaby and
shadowed comfort.

Title: Patched 2
Author: Werewindle
Email: Werewindle@otakumail.com
Rating: pg
Fandom: X: tWP
Pairing:
Disclaimer: I don't own them. *Sigh* Saddness...
Summery: Joxer drifts and Strife is stubborn
Status: WIP
Series: Sequel to `Broken'
Archive: AJCS and TW, anywhere else just ask.
Website: http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=55268

Beta by Karisma

Strife leaned against the wall opposite the window in Joxer's room.
Technically, it was Strife's 'guest' room but since Strife never had
guests and Joxer had been there for nearly three weeks, Strife had
begun to think of as Joxer's.

There was something that was bothering Strife and it wasn't the
room, more like who was in it. Strife could not figure out why Joxer
hadn't woken up. Strife had healed all of Joxer's injuries after he
had first brought him here. Physically, there was nothing wrong with
Joxer. Even any lingering exhaustion he might of felt should have
been taken care of by the healing sleep Strife had put him in that
first week. But it had been two weeks since Joxer started sleeping
naturally and he had not stirred once.

Strife hated to do this - he really did - but it was time to break
out the bronze knuckles. He would have to ask Ace for help. That
would mean owing him a favor. By the Styx, he should just take Joxer
back and leave him where he found him - that would be a lot easier.
But like Unc' always says, he can be a stubborn little shit some
times.

~~~~~~~~

The red is gone. No more pain, still I linger here. After a while I
moved around a bit, allowed the shadows to draw me out, or, I
suppose, in more. Not just darkness any longer. The woolly cocoon I
wrapped myself up in has drawn back, leaving another reality. If I
stray too far, I can feel it and this starts to fade into the gray
of darkness.

But if I float here, just here, this place is more real than
anything in that bright world. The smells are richer, the sounds
clearer, the colors sharper. The water is cool even as the sun's
muted rays are warm. My little raft lazily drifts between stands of
reeds. The greens and blues and browns each have a different
texture. I rest here, exploring each new find. Listening to sounds;
pipes maybe, the wind and down, deep down something like a drum. It
pulses through the marsh: thud thud... thud thud... thud thud.

I am content here. I imagine this far away like the marshy edge of a
rice patty in Chin. I always wanted to visit there. See the gardens
and the people dressed in silks, the colors more vibrant than the
browns and grays of my own sturdy cloths of rough woven flax.

Maybe I'll go there someday. Hmmm, what's this? Smudge of deep green
I haven't seen. Just there on the back of that leafy shoot. I wonder
what it feels like...

Patched 3/? -

Author: Werewindle
Email: werewindle_2@hotmail.com
Rating: PG
Fandom: Xena
Pairing:
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Warning: maybe considered OOC.
Summery: Joxer is found. ~ Sequel to `Broken'
Status:WIP
Series:
Archive: AJCS and TW anywhere else just ask.
Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/twin_swords/

Beta by Tyggie

~~~~~~~~~~
Ace was troubled. As a god of healing, it shouldn't have been
difficult to fix whatever ailment Strife's little human was
suffering from. The work of mere moments to send a healing wash of
energy over him, through him. But it wasn't.

At first glance there seemed nothing wrong with the man, he just lay
there in a peaceful sleep. A little malnourished in the past
perhaps, but not now, nothing even to suggest his recent healing. It
was quite unusual for a mortal to sleep so. The length of time and
the lack of movement suggested a coma, but a scan had disproven that
idea. He wasn't in a coma, natural or not, just ... sleeping.

In fact the only odd thing that his numerous and varied scans had
picked up was that he appeared to be dreaming in deep sleep instead
of REM, which quite frankly shouldn't be possible for a human. Ace
sank into the chair next to Joxer's bed and sighed in frustration.
Of course Strife's human *would* have to be difficult.

There was something odd going on here. Either Strife wasn't telling
him everything or the mortal was more than he seemed. This would of
course require research, not how he really wanted to spend his
night. Visions of his lover laid out on their bed, draped over his
desk and stepping out of the bath slick and wet swirled through his
mind.

Strife owed him big for this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joxer felt odd. He trembled as tingling waves washed over him. It
wasn't a painful sensation just not a wholly pleasant one. The
feeling passed, only to start anew moments later. He shifted
restlessly unable to avoid the tingling waves. Around him the
shadows pressed closer trying to sooth him, protect him.

Joxer whimpered as this time as the waves sank deeper pulling at
him. He didn't want to go, wasn't ready for the bright world. He
wrapped the shadows tighter around himself trying to burrow deeper
into their embrace. The shadow hummed a low lullaby as it tried to
take his mind off the intruding presence.

Finally they stopped and Joxer relaxed. The shadows pulled him into
a game racing down a grassy hillside. Reeds playing an accompaniment
to Joxer's singing, troubling invasion forgotten.

Patched 4/? -

Author: Werewindle
Email: werewindle_2@hotmail.com
Rating: PG
Fandom: Xena
Pairing:
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Warning: maybe considered OOC.
Summery: Joxer is found. ~ Sequel to `Broken'
Status:WIP
Series:
Archive: AJCS and TW anywhere else just ask.
Website: "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/twin_swords/"

Beta by Tyggie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ace rubbed a hand across face and paused the action in the mirror before him. This was a tedious process, and if he weren't able to watch it at rapid pace, he would go stark raving mad. He slouched back as much as he could in the nasty uncomfortable chairs that the Muse of History insisted on. He thought briefly about changing it to something wide and squishy, but he had already suffered through one tantrum from the girl, another and he would cause her bodily harm.

Much of Joxer's life was unpleasant to watch. Healer or no, he felt the need to string Joxer's father up. And his *mother* that woman - harpy - wasn't fit for fodder. This was not helping him any. He sat up to start again just as Strife flashed in amidst black sparks and smoke.

"Hey Ace, find anything yet?" Strife asked, spinning one of wooden chairs around and sat straddling it to face the other god.

"Not yet, Strife. I told you this might take a while. I'm not even sure what I'm looking for." Ace sighed, "Other than a shitty set of parents, all I have learned about Joxer is that he is a triplet. One brother is Jayce and the other is Jett. They are full triplets though, no soul-splitting phenomenon. It's too early to tell if there is anything else unusual about them, but I know that presently Jett has the title of 'King of Assassins' and Jayce is a rather successful performer. I wish you knew more about his history. When exactly did you start keeping tabs on Joxer?"

"He was maybe fourteen or fifteen when he left home. He set one of his father's encampments on fire in his wake. Big power kick off that, got my attention. That was a decade and a half ago. He is one of my favorites Ace, and if he hadn't been dedicated to Ares as a child, he would be one of my most prized followers. As it is, the only reason he isn't now is due to Ares' possessiveness over his warriors. For whatever reason, Ares won't let him go, but he is very important to me," Strife leveled a hard look at Ace, eyes flashing with emotion.

Ace held Strife's gaze before nodding solemnly. He would do whatever he could to help Joxer. "I was about to start again, if you'd like to stay. A second pair of eyes would be most welcome," he said. Strife shrugged and turned his chair to face the mirror. Ace gestured at it and the scene before them started again. They watched in silence as a six-year-old Joxer played in the corner with a toy made of sticks and bits of rag, singing softly to himself. Strife slowed it down so they could understand the boy. Strife felt a pang in his heart when he recognize what would become Joxer the Mighty's song.

A woman came into view screeching at the child for disturbing her. Strife creased in confusion, he was sure that wasn't Joxer's mother but he did recognize her. "Who is that, Ace?" The God turned to him slightly puzzled over the question, "His Mother, Ellice." At Strife's wide-eyed look Ace paused the mirror again and turned more full to face him. "What? Strife?"

"That's not his mom. Joxer's mom is Keres, tall buxom redhead. I've seen her." Strife points at the woman in the mirror "That is not her."

Ace looked between the mirror and Strife before speaking slowly, "But it is Strife, I watched her give birth to the boys. I don't know who the redhead is but that is without a doubt Joxer's birth mother."

Strife shook his head a bit "I know her," he cocked his head to the side and studied the woman. She was willowy with long dark hair piled high and spilling down her back. "There was a girl at my temple. It was storming outside and she had come in to get out of the rain. She was soaking wet and shivering. She wanted shelter but had nothing for offering, so she offered herself. I was bored and she was cute; all big eyes and dark hair and there was definitely something wicked about her."

Ace sat back, his mind ticking over this new information. He thought about Strife when he was younger and how Joxer looked now and he saw the resemblance. "When was this? How long ago?" Ace demanded eyes bright with discovery.

"Thirty years or so." Strife answered comprehension coming slowly. "And Joxer is twenty-nine, there is a chance he could be -"

"Mine. Tartarus, he could be mine." Strife looked shaken. He stood suddenly, "I have to go, have find out" and flashed away.

Ace sat and stared at the mirror before him jaw slack with shock. /This was certainly surprising. / He blinked rapidly, /*Very * surprising. / Ace shook himself, coming out of his daze. /Well it explained Strife's interest in Joxer at least. /

Ace jerked back at Strife's sudden reappearance right in front of him. Strife grabbed his arm and pulled him out of his seat, "Come on, Ace. What's taking you so long? You have to test Jox," and flashed them away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joxer was lying in the grass enjoying the feel of the fading sun. His shadow companion curled next him. They whispered of change, of something coming. They told of a dark presence that smelled like home. They warned of choice that must be made and sadness at being left-lost once again in hidden memory.

Joxer rolled over, covering the shadowed form with his own. Cradling his friend close he shushed and soothed, the protector instead of the protected. Around them the reedy song once again played calming them into sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N
The names I chose for Joxer's Moms are actual Greek girls names. See:
KERES: evil spirits ELLICE: devoted to God
http://www.20000-names.com/female_greek_names_02.htm

Patched 5/? - Family
Author: Werewindle
Email: werewindle_2@hotmail.com
Rating: PG
Fandom: Xena
Pairing:
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Warning: maybe considered OOC.
Summery: Joxer is found.
Status: WIP
Series: Sequel to `Broken'
Archive: AJCS and TW anywhere else just ask.
Website: "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/twin_swords/"

Beta by Tyggie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ares was studying a map of Greece, plotting where to direct battles
that would cull the population before starvation and cold did. He
really hated this part of his job, but it was both necessary and
tedious. Just as he dipped his quill in the jar of ink, a shout
startled him. Ares growled at the smudge now obscuring his notes.
There had better be a good reason for this or heads would roll.

He stalked towards Strife's set of rooms and he could hear raised
voices from the guestroom. When he reached the doorway, he could see
Ace trying to calm down a jubilant Strife. "What's going on here?"
Ares questioned. All he could make out from Strife's joyful babble
was something about paint and `Mine' repeated over and over again.
He finally resorted to restraining Strife in his arms with one hand
over his mouth to silence him. Ares raised an eyebrow at Ace giving
the healer god a look that said he wanted to know what was going on
and he wanted to know NOW.

Ace looked slightly flustered and gestured to the bed and the body
lying there. "It seems that Joxer is ... that Strife is Joxer's
blood father. Strife is a bit, um, excited over the news as you can
see." Ares grip loosened enough for Strife to wiggle free. He turned
around and grabbed up his Uncle in a bear hug and bounced him about
a bit. Ares took all this in with a stunned expression.

"Is that who you were carrying about? How did you find out? Is he
all right - is there something wrong with Joxer?" Ares asked once
again holding the enthusiastic new father still. He looked back and
forth between the two men, his brow furrowed, trying to make sense
of this shocking revelation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ares sat beside Joxer on the bed, gently running his fingers over
the sleeping man's cheek and up through his hair. He couldn't
believe that this man was Strife's child, the son of a god, and that
seemed to be the problem. Something about his heritage was causing
this sleep. Ace was baffled by it. He still had a lot of Joxer's
life to pore over, but he was hopeful that some kind of pattern
would emerge. Surely if this was caused by something godly, it
wouldn't be the first time.

He thought about the many years he had known of the mortal and never
once had imagined he was a demi-god. Even after he had started
keeping tabs on Joxer, he had seen nothing to hint at it. Now of
course the familial resemblance was obvious, Ares thought, shaking
his head. When Joxer had been dedicated to him as a child along with
his brothers, Ares had barely given them a thought other then to
mark them. Childs' markers - marks of potential.

He had checked on them every so often just as he did every other
child that had been dedicated to him. Those who were regular
followers were nothing like those who were dedicated. Being
dedicated was something special and it afforded them greater respect
and it demanded more from them in return. Some he let go, as they
were lacking in skills, lacking in dedication-unlike those adults
who dedicated themselves-better to let them leave his service then
deal with them. Most of the pantheon did so and it made everyone
happier when that one in a family of bards who can't carry a tune
isn't made to inflict their singing on the masses.

Jayce, he had let go at twelve even then it had been obvious that
his talents lay elsewhere. Jett was still nominally his as an
assassin, and had on occasion worked for Eris. Joxer though - there
had always been something compelling about him. He had felt a swell
of pride when he learned of Joxer's leaving home at fourteen and
smirked over his setting the camp on fire. Ares had never liked
Joxer's father, but he wasn't quite sure why. The man was an
adequate warlord, but there was something about his attitude that
had rankled.

Ares enjoyed the way Joxer looked at the world, finding his joy in
the simplest things. He had a rather off-center sense of humor that
had Ares near to giggling a time or two. The war god had found
himself as time went by doing little things for the mortal. Putting
the occasional rabbit in a trap so he wouldn't go hungry, compelling
an Inn owner to let him have a room in exchange for labor, things of
that nature.

Joxer was exceedingly prideful so the gestures were subtle things
that Ares could brush off if he asked himself why he was doing it.
He had tried on more then one occasion to get Joxer to train at one
of his temples. The man was in dire need of proper self-defense
training, but Joxer had looked at the priest's offers as pity or
charity and declined. So then Ares decided to get a bit sneaky which
was an urge that was harder to excuse. Joxer had met and shared
campfires with soldiers who, in exchange for a shared meal, taught
him a few basics.

He remembered thinking about taking Joxer as a lover, but nothing
had ever come of it and Ares wondered why. He was certainly still
attracted and it was not like the God of War to deny himself
something he wanted. In fact, it had been around that time that
Joxer had fallen in with Xena and her bard. Ares had trusted his
daughter to protect Joxer and his attention to the man had lessened.

Ares sat brooding over this. There was something wrong here.
Someone, a *godly* someone, had been meddling with his thoughts.
Joxer still bore his mark, a mark of his favored, one he had given
to Joxer soon after his seventeenth birthday. The attack in the
alley never should have happened. Even if his attackers couldn't
sense his mark, there was no way Ares would have allowed him to be
hurt so badly.

His connection should have flared long before he reached the point
where Strife found him. Ares would have torn those men apart for
daring to touch what was his. The god felt rage start to boil
through him. Someone was messing with his family and it pissed him
off. He would find out who had caused this and take vengeance on
them, for himself, for Strife and for Joxer.

He would get Strife and Ace to keep quiet about Joxer's presence and
paternity until they could formally present Joxer to the pantheon.
No one was taking Joxer from him again and as a child of the House
of War, he would more securely protected. Ares grinned ferally. As a
child of War, he could claim vengeance against them even after
death. There was no way his Uncle Hades would deny him the right to
choose punishment. Hades valued family as highly as he did and was
as protective of his own as Ares himself was.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joxer sighed contentedly. He could feel a presence out there and it
felt so familiar somehow. He could feel pulses of emotion from his
visitor-caring and protection and a confusing mix of family and
possessiveness that brought a faint stirring of heat deep inside
him. But the most wonderful thing was, the presence demanded nothing
from him. It did not try and pull him from his beloved shadows or
poke and prod at his flesh. It just let him be.

Joxer shivered at the sensation of invisible fingers caressing over
his face. No one had ever touched him like that, with such
gentleness. He rolled on to his side and looked at his shadowy
companion. There was a look of resignation. For this they would
endure being left, being forgotten. Joxer pulled his friend closer
hoping that maybe whoever was out there could help him find a way
keep them with him even in the bright world.

Patched 6/? - Contented Blue
Author: Werewindle
Email: werewindle_2@hotmail.com
Rating: PG - 13
Fandom: Xena
Pairing: A/J S/C/Psyche mention of X/G
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Warning: maybe considered OOC.
Summery: Joxer is found.
Status: WIP
Series: "Godling In Shadows'
Archive: AJCS, TW, Joxerotica - anywhere else just ask.
Website: "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/twin_swords/"

Notes: Thanks to Tyggie for letting me bounce ideas off her. ^__^
Otherwise I might have had some major Writer's Block.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Ares revelation that he had been under some kind of malicious
influence Ace was even more determined to find out what the hell was
going on. They had decided to keep all of this quiet. Ace promised
not to mention what his new project was to anyone, Ares and Strife
were going to raise some havoc on Earth and around Olympus to draw
attention away. They of course shielded the Joxer's room against
anyone finding him or being able to enter it.

Ace yawned jaw cracking loudly in the hall. Little Joxer and his
brothers were now age seven and as amusing it was to watch them play
it gave him no clues to Joxer's sleep. To tired to continue with out
a least a nap Ace changed the setting on the mirror, pulling up
three random lives so that anyone coming along couldn't tell whom
he'd been interested in. He flashed out of the hall and to his
temple looking forward to spending a few hours sleeping wrapped in
his lover's arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strife slipped into Cupid's temple trying to keep his excitement
down lest there be visitors. Strolling through the rooms he found no
one but Psyche standing at a shelf in the central room browsing
through scrolls. Strife grabbed her from behind and picked her up,
swing them in a circle. Laughing at her squeak of surprise that
melted into giggles.

"Strife! What is up? You're unusually jovial." Psyche asked looking
into the twinkling blue eyes of her lover. She ran her fingers
through the mane of black hair, giving a little shake when he only
grinned wider at her.

Strife pulled Psyche down for a smacking kiss. He dotted her jaw
with wet nips of his lips to her ear. Strife whispered the news
mouth brushing the shell of her ear. Psyche blinked in surprise eyes
going wide in shock she nodded her head in agreement to the need for
secrecy even here because of the little bundle that *thud* "Stwife
Daddy!" seemed to always seemed to know when the dark god was about.

"Hey there munchkin, how's things?" Strife threw the little winged
goddling up, up toward the ceiling and catching the squealing
bundle. It was a game they played every evening.

"I's good. We pway paintses but Mummy won't lets me on the walls."
Bliss pouted at this "But I's NO like white walls Stwife!" The
toddler stated, sure that his `Stwife Daddy' would fix the problem.

Struggling not to laugh Strife settled the goddling on his hip and
started off toward Bliss's room. "So what color do you think they
should be munchy? Green, orange... Speckled?" he asked in a serious
tone.

"No! Silly. BLUE, see?" Bliss pointed to a cobalt blue vase. "Ok
Bliss, you sure? Can't change it for a year once it's changed."
Strife warned, not wanting to be plagued by demands to change the
color all the time. Strife was all for spoiling the kid but he
didn't want to raise a true brat.

Strife tossed Bliss on to his bed and looked at the room. He changed
the walls to a bright clear blue that darkened at the top and over
the ceiling. Speckling the ceiling with stars that would glow at
night, giving the room a pale light better then any torch or candle.
He changed the bedding to crisp pale blues. He grinned at the
pleased laughter from Bliss.

Strife had missed this with the triplets but he'd be damned if he
was going to miss anything else. He sighed in pleasure at the feel
of Cupid's strong arms wrap around his waist. Settling back against
his lover Strife looked forward to having all his boys here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ares gave the final order to his general near Athens for night
maneuvers in the surrounding towns. He didn't want any raids just
training and skirmishes. Stuff that would set Athena on her ear
trying to figure out what the hell he's up to. He'd already nudged a
few roaming bandits to cross paths with Herc and blondie. As well as
having Strife cook something up to keep them occupied for the next
day or two.

One more thing on his list tonight but that could wait. Ares flashed
to his temple on Olympus and checked on Joxer. The man lay peaceful
just as he had when he last checked and the time before that. Ares
sat next to Joxer sinking on to the bed with a weary sigh.

Quietly he look at the sleeping form, the pale skin hidden by a thin
sheet was so inviting. He lost his self for long minutes running his
fingers through dark hair and tracing over the arch of collarbone
from one shoulder to the other. Regretfully Ares pulled back and got
up flashing from the room.

Ares appeared not far from his daughter's camp, masking his presence
even before he materialized. It didn't always work up close but at a
distance he could observe undetected. He hadn't decided weather or
not he wanted to confront them yet but he needed to know what had
caused Joxer to leave their company and if there was any godly
forces meddling about.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

The atmosphere around the camp fire was strained. Fuming on one side
and icy on the other. "Come on Xena, isn't your sword sharp enough
yet?" Pleaded the bard petulantly.

"No." Came the stilted reply as Xena continued her running the wet-
stone methodically over her blade.

"But it's been DAYS Xena, don't you want to-"

"No." Rang clear and sharp stopping Gabby mid sentence. The dark
hair warrior glared at her companion before returning her gaze to
the sword across her legs.

"I don't understand what you're so upset about." The blonde whined,
crossing her arms in a huff. "It's not my fault we can't find Joxer.
He's probably gone to visit his family in Corinth." She muttered.

Xena raised her eyebrow incredulously "In all the time we have known
him has Joxer ever `gone home to visit'? Gods! Gabby, that's the
last place he'd go. To visit Jett or Jayce maybe but not back to his
folks place." She shook her head in disbelief. There were times she
was amazed at how self absorbed the bard could be.

Checking the edge on her blade Xena was finally satisfied and
sheathed the sword. Gabby moved as if to join her on the other side
of the fire, Xena stared her down and finished smoothing out her
bedroll.

"I don't get why you're so mad at me." Gabby yelled
frustrated. "It's just fucking Joxer, he'll find his way back like a
lost damn dog. I mean we can barely turn around with out running in
to him half the time. If you are so worried about him why did you
send him away? Huh? It's not like you can stand him either." She
raved arms waving violently about.

Xena just stood there waiting for the blonde to finish her tirade.
When the bard wound down she stated to speak in a cold precise
voice, "That is bull shit. Joxer has been our friend for years. Yeah
he can be a bit much at times but I have never wished him harm. And
I sent him away because YOU," She pointed at Gabby angrily "were
beating him unconscious. I thought Joxer would wait for us in the
next town and we could catch up to him after you cooled off."

Xena took a deep breath and let it out slowly trying to clam herself
down. "I think we should..." She pinched the bridge of her
nose, "The road branches off not to far from here, leading to
Athens. Why don't you go to that festival you've been talking about
and I'll meet up with you there in a few weeks? I'll head up this
way and stop in at Meg's then loop back around." Xena looked over at
Gabby begging the bard silently not to fight about this.

Gabby sulked for a few moments. The festival in Athens was supposed
to be great, and if Xena wasn't going to put out there really wasn't
any reason for her to trek all the way to Meg's and back
around. "Fine but I don't have enough money to stay in Athens for
more then a day." She looked pointedly at Xena.

The brunet nearly growled but managed to restrain her self digging
out a little pouch of money and tossing it to the bard. She curled
her lip at Gabby's pleased smirk. Xena lay down and closed her eyes,
listening to the blonde settle down for the night not relaxing until
she heard the familiar snores.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ares smirked at the bard as his daughter told her off; pleased when
Xena suggested the annoying blonde to travel on with out her. He
always thought his girl could do better. Still he was raging over
the news that Joxer had been so badly treated by someone he called a
friend. He had nearly fried her on the spot, having to quickly
reabsorb a fire ball before Xena could sense it. Gabby's behavior
might be deplorable but there was no godly influence just her own
nasty personality coming through.

Ares had mixed feelings over Xena's motives, on one hand he was
relieved that she truly cared for Joxer. It lessened the guilt over
his absence in attention to Joxer for so long. On the other she had
allowed to bitch to hurt him. Ares rub his hands over his head too
tired to puzzle out his feeling on the matter. He was glad to see
that she bore no marks of meddling either. One less factor to worry
about.

Ares took himself home with out the usual flashy display, once again
ending up in Joxer's room. This time as he gazed down at the
dreaming form Ares could not resist the temptation. He waved away
his leathers changing them for a pair of soft cotton pants and
slipped in to bed next to Joxer. He gathered the man to him,
planning holding him for just a little while before going to his own
room to sleep.

But the even breathing and the warm weight of him lulled Ares and he
fell asleep nuzzling soft hair surrounded by Joxer's earthy sent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joxer felt so at peace, surrounded by love. He lay with his head
pillowed on his friends chest basking in the sunlight. And out there
was his protector, the presence that watched over him and touched
him so gently. He smiled and wiggled closer to his companion.
Content.

Patched 7 - Talk
Author: Werewindle
Email: werewindle_2@hotmail.com
Rating: PG - 13
Fandom: Xena
Pairing: A/J S/C/Psyche mention of X/G
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Warning: maybe considered OOC.
Summery: Joxer is found.
Status: WIP
Series: "Godling In Shadows'
Archive: AJCS, TW, Joxerotica - anywhere else just ask.
Website: "http://groups.yahoo.com/group/twin_swords/"
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ace grimaced at the sight of Joxer's father knocking the eight year old in
the temple with the butt of his sword. The man had made it on to the
healer's short list of people he'd gladly eviscerate. Ace watched closely as
Joxer's birth mother sent for a healer and spent the night watching over her
son. Yeah the woman was too self absorbed to be a fit mother but she showed
some caring; which was the only thing saving her from him visiting her in
Hade's realm.

Days passed in the mirror and Joxer did not rise. Leaning forward in
excitement Ace rewound to the blow and watched again this time screening
Joxer's vitals and *how* he slept. At first all was normal but like now
Joxer drifted into dreams while still in deep sleep.

Something triggered the scans and a violet light gathered over Joxer's brow.
Ace bit his lip eyes tracing the light as it grew and swirled around
cocooning the boy's body - this was Joxer's gift, his power manifesting.
Weak and not like anything he had ever seen. If asked Ace would have sworn
that Joxer possessed no godly powers - that his gifts had been non-existent
or bound. He had been born the year Hera decreed that all demi-god's powers
would be bound at the moment of their birth unless formally recognized by
the pantheon.

It was truly amazing that Joxer could show this much ability. Ace quickly
muddled any trace of who he'd been watching and flashed out of the Hall. He
needed to see if either Jett or Jayce could access their powers. Oh! Track
down Psyche as well, if they could see into Joxer's mind maybe they would
find a way to wake him up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strife drew Psyche into to the room leading her to Joxer's bed. She was
shocked by the sense of familiarity, he reminded her of Strife. She squeezed
the god's hand, giving silent support to her lover. It would be a hard thing
to see your child - one you had so recently found - lying ill.

They sat on low couch near the bed and watched the son sleep as Strife told
her what he knew about Joxer. He talked for hours sharing memories and
making plans for the future when he'd be able to have his whole family, safe
and together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ares was glad that he had learned restraint over the millennia, it would
hardly do to truss one's sister up and leave her in a disused closet. Athena
was, as predicted, going nuts trying to figure out what Ares was doing with
his troops so close to Athens. Unfortunately she was also making a nuisance
of her self, a whining, bitchy nuisance.

There was an tingle at the back of his mind, like he was forgetting
something. He'd checked on Xena earlier and the sensation had flared as it
had when he'd woken that morning and seen Joxer sleeping in his arms. He
knew there was something going on, that some one, some how had messed with
his family.

Ace was concentrating on Joxer's life but Ares had a hunch that part of the
puzzle was to be found around the time that Joxer first met Xena. He could
remember quite clearly marking Joxer at seventeen as one of his favored.
Ares had been attracted to him and thought the young man had potential to
become an ideal companion but was to young. So Ares marked him for
protection and watched over him waiting for the Joxer to grow in to his
potential.

It was just a few short years after that that Ares quit keeping close track
of him. Joxer soon ran into Xena and Ares' attention turned from him. There
was no way Ares would have given up on Joxer after spending so long waiting
for him. Especially since he was still attracted to the man.

That is where Ares would start his search the moment he marked Joxer. But
instead of just watching Joxer's life he'd watch his as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joxer and his friend sat in comfortable shade and chatted. They talked about
all the places Joxer had traveled and where they'd like to go, about old
friends and for once they talked about the future. Not just what they'd like
to do in a few minutes but a true future outside this place.

The thing they talked about the most was what shape his friend would take
out side. Here he could be anything, human or animal, but out there would be
different. Bewildered at the choice and not a little overwhelmed he'd asked
for help. The two went through every character from imagination, anything he
had ever been or anything they had a wanted to see.

Now exhausted they listened to the reeds play snuggled together murmuring
snatches of conversation. They had not decided on a shape but were teasingly
arguing over the dozen or so choices they'd culled it down to.

tbc