Characters: Ares and Justin Hammer Setting: New York docks somewhere Content: Timid Summary: In search of Alexander...a certain someone takes notice.
Ares had reached his wits end a long time ago. When he was far younger, he would have never expected his life to be so complicated, but even Gods had complicated lives. They made decisions and they had to live with those decisions just like everyone else, except more so because of the fact that they were immortal. But he had been over that problem a long time ago, and could not personally recall a time where he had found himself with any real regret for any of his own actions except where Alexander was concerned. Not that he would admit that to anyone of course. No, he was too prideful for that.
He hated that he hadn't been there when Alexander had been taken. Hated that he hadn't taught the boy enough to be able to not be taken, not that a boy could necessarily take on certain elders quite so easily, right? Though he was proud that his own son nearly killed him and Zeus. There was something to be said about that. Regardless, Ares couldn't understand why he could not find him. He had tried everything except going to Zeus himself, and come hell and high water, he didn't know that he wanted to know if Zeus knew. Yes, he was prideful and did not want to ask for any such favors, but the part he refused to admit was he did not want to find out the worst. Right now, he could be as determined as possible to find him and not have to worry about finding his worst fears come to life.
But, he had found yet another lead on a boy matching a similar description as Alexander's and was now in New York because of it. Standing before the abandoned, run down building near a pier, guns strapped to his legs, battle axe in one hand, and a sword in the other, fully prepared to walk inside and make quick work of the sorry excuse of men inside, he found himself doing what he had done countless times, and hoping that this boy was his lost son.
Ares could hope all he wanted, but the result never changed. It was just another blonde boy fitting Alexander's description, but it was never his son. Always someone else's son, leaving him once again alone with the only purpose of finding him again. One way or another. Walking away from the building as it literally collapsed, Ares didn't even bother to turn around as he walked away with the boy wishing this were the happy ending he was looking for. Instead he was stuck with someone else's kid that he would have to figure out how to get home. When did his life turn in this direction again? Years ago he would have laughed at the thought.