Caves
Kere sighed as they watched their champion hold Hecate’s pipsqueak close. “This is so fucking boring why can’t we start training him now?”
Atropos rubbed her temples, “For like the thousandth time, he isn’t ready. He just broke the bindings on his magic. We have to give his body time to adjust to its new power.”
Kere’s red sandals stomped the water they were standing on causing a ripple effect, “We could heal him if it's too much! Or ask Rapheal or one of those other birds to heal him. I want to see the blood shed already!”
Thanatos was laying on his stomach giggling at the fishes that swam between his fingers, tinkling him. “Your war will be even greater if you let him get older. First the enemy must come back.”
“A decision I'm highly against.” An ancient voice echoed from behind them, Hecate stood with her arms crossed, leveling Kere with a look. “We can easily have that pleb dealt with to avoid a war.”
Atropos shook her head, her basil-colored hair flying around with the motion, “It's the War or a five-year long plague. Those souls need to pass in this life, so they can be reborn in the next. Let them have the shorter deaths, I want to save that plague for a few more decades.”
Hecate clicked her tongue, “Very well. I felt the power shift in your ward, what caused it to happen?”
Thanatos grinned cheekily up at Hecate, “I switched Jason out for Charlie.”
“And why would you do that?” The elder goddess pinched the bridge of her nose, “You do realize she’s still healing right?”
Thanatos’ bare feet swung in the air behind him as he kicked the empty air, “I wanted to cause a little mischief. Plus, she’s already awakened her core, he should too.”
“He would have in his own time! I’m not leaving him helpless. Also, if you took Jason, where is he?”
“I put him somewhere. At least, I think it was safe.” The god of death looked up at the sky in glazed look. “Like 87% sure it's safe.”
His fellows stared at him before backing away slowly, Hecate was convinced these three children were going to give her a migraine. “I’m not helping you if Ares finds out.”
Thanatos only responded by humming, “Did Hades agree to the Evan thing?”
“It has a time limit; I’m waiting for the right moment. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go make sure you haven’t reversed any of my progress.” Hecate hissed as she disappeared.
“Does that mean I have to back to work?” Thanatos wondered aloud.
“Yes.” the remaining gods answered Flatley, also wandering off to do their jobs. Only briefly hearing Thanatos have a little melt down about having to go back to work.
---
Jason groaned as he woke up in a cave, his was sitting by an extinguished fire, shivering in his wet clothes. He rubbed his face as he heard a man’s voice.
“I don't care if I'm Dead, he must be freezing!”
Jason realized that he was being hugged, and he was just guessing here, by a ghost.
“Reggie why are you so mean! Our son might freeze to death and you want me to let go?”
“What do you mean were cold?”
“So youre saying I might be killing our Jay-Jay faster?!”
“Bro who is hugging me, stop yelling. It hurts my head.” Jason rubbed his forehead, before laying back on the ground.
“Jason?”
“Hmm?”
“Can you hear us?”
“Not Us just you.”
“What abo-”
Jason stayed silent for a moment as the pressure released from his body. “Huh, guess I can only hear you if your touching me.”
Jason stared at the cave’s ceiling for a bit before he felt his leg for his wand holster; lucky it was still there. He summoned some dry wood and leaves from the forest as he laid there. Enjoying some peace for once. The shiver reminded him to cast a clothes drying spell, before he started to build a fire. He could stay out here for an hour or so before sending a Patronus to Alfred. It’ll be fine… right?
“Jason?” A kind feminine voice called to him as he felt her hand on his back. “Can you hear me?”
“Yes Ma’am.” Jason replied wondering if he could summon marshmallows, it would depend how far from civilization he was, he supposed.
“My name is Lily, I’m your mother.” the voice sounded as if it was going to start crying.
Jason sat in silence for a moment, “If this is a trick, its a cruel one.”
“It’s not dear. Your fathers and I are here, Reggie is .. Subduing your father, James. He’ s a little over excited at this moment.”
Jason was still tense, “Tell me something no one knows.”
Lily hummed tapping her fingers, “When you were born, you had a little birthmark right on the inside of your inner thigh on your right leg, it looked like a-
“Lasso.. It disappeared a few years ago.” Jason answered whistfully, “Nice you hear your voice…Mom.”
Lily grinned as the tears fell down her cheeks, but her happiness wouldn’t last long.
Regulus was tucked behind James as he faced the front of the cave, his body trying to act as shield. An murderous feeling entangled itself in the air, a faint red glow moving towards the cave becoming brighter.
“Jason something Murderous is coming this way.” Lily gripped his shoulder tightly. Jason groaned, he just wanted an hour, just one fucking hour.
He reached into his jeans, pulling out his weapon of choice.
Heat radiated of the figure who entered the cave, all five foot seven of him.
His long thick black hair was pulled back in a braid, beard was neatly trimmed and brushed, his eyes stood out the most, steel gray with a stripe of red in the corner of his right iris. He glared at the spirits that were on edge, his helmet hung in his grasp limply, the motorcycle jacket was a deep red with brown patch work, the black tee looked like it was painted on him, deep blue jeans were tucked into brown leather boots, the violent fellow threw his helmet at James’ feet. “Wanderers leave. Now.”
“Who are you?” James sneered, wand in hand.
“It's been a while since I killed a disincorporated body, three would be fun.” The smirk was shark like, the red suddenly taking up more of his eye.
Jason, only receiving the mystery man side, “Care to introduce yourself?” His gun was aimed at his target.
“You think your little metal thing is enough to take me, spawn?” The dark voice rumbled in the room, “We will speak. Alone.”
Regulus, the one parent known for having more than one brain cell, pulled at James and made eye contact with Lily, “As you wish. Loves let’s go back.”
“We’re leaving you Jason, Regulus is insisting. We love you.” Lily kissed his cheek as she was pulled away by the black heir, who was dragging James by his hair. “Love you guys.” Jason called, not sure if they heard him.
They did.
The tanned stranger cracked his neck as he released a sigh, “I really didn’t want to kill them. I just wanted you alone.” He plopped down with a thud, “I’m Ares, the one who blesses you, or curses you depends on how you see it.”
Jason sucked at his teeth before putting his gun away, following suit of sitting on the other side of the fire. “What did you exactly bless me with. I don’t feel much different.”
Ares’ laugh filled the space, “You are actually. I can still recall your laughter very well, from before I chose you.”
The red in his eye slimmed down to just a silver, “It was bubbly and cheerful. As to your abilities? I’m not as old or favored as some other gods so my gifts aren't as noticeable as Charlotte’s.”
“Charlie, she goes by Charlie now.” Jason snapped, with a light glare.
“For now, she will be Charlie, in the future she’ll change it again. Its a useful protection, she’s a smart kid, I think Athena had her eye on her but that’s neither here nor there.” Ares pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offering one to the boy, who took it cautiously. “You’re protectiveness, bloodlust, desire to win, faster healing, better endurance and maybe your temper, that came from me. Surprised you didn’t figure it out.”
“When exactly did you bless me?” Jason inhaled his cigarette, already knowing when those particular traits started to be consistent parts of his personality.
“When you threw your body over Charlie's, protecting her from the Joker. It was impressive, for a kid to be willing to take a beating like that over and over again to try and minimize the damage to someone who is not quite their sibling.” Ares blew his smoke out staring at the ceiling, “Kid, I'm known for many things, some, I wish I wasn’t gifted in sometimes, but I will always protect women who didn’t have a chance. You have done that more times than I wish you had to.”
Ares kicked Jason’s foot so that he was looking at him, “I need you to understand, there is a War coming, one filled with blood and death. Do not become a monster because of what I did to protect you all those years ago. You were a good kid, I need you to be a great man. I need it because that is what you are under all the anger, you’ve been doing great hiding it, but I know when you go too far with a criminal. I know about those Lieutenant Heads you have in a freezer, waiting for the meeting next week. For the sake of your family, do not become the darkness.”
“And what am I supposed to do? I can graduate now if I wanted to, but I stay here, playing babysitter and gracious big brother, I grit my teeth and pretend I can handle it! It’s so much to deal with!” Jason yelled at the god, who stared unblinking at him, “I’m still trying! Where is B? Where is Dick? Gone living lives, Remus left Hari alone, Sirius went and got arrested, all of the friends of our parents left us to suffer! I grew up in crime alley, and before that some red head drops a baby in my arms, I was FOUR. Do you know how hard that was?! Never mind trying to explain to my parents when they got home?! I’ve been saving her from ovens, drug lords and death so many times, and my own brother was across the ocean not surviving much better!! Where is the justice in that?! They knew where we were and didn’t save us. But no Jason is suppose to be grateful, turns out his parents loved him and his brother, but they just happened to die!”
Jason’s breathing was wild, the cave was filled with a charged feeling in it. “AND then a god descended from the heavens to tell me to be a great man! What kind of bullshit is that?!” the glow from around his hands went unnoticed, the denim blue mixed with a steel grey.
“Charlie was kidnapped again.” Ares inhaled his cigarette causally
“GOD DAMNIT!” The lighting left Jason’s hands as he flung his hands from his hair downward in a V shape, behind himself.
Ares hummed as watch Jason’s shocked expression, “that is a lot kid sorry about the shit hand, not my call there I’m afraid. Good news, we unlocked your core. Shit news its lightning. Also Charlie is safe, with Hari. ”
“Why is lightning bad?”
“No, it just reminds me of my dad so I think it’s Shit.”
A bolt of lightning descended from the sky hitting the ground right outside the cave.
“FUCK YOU TOO DAD!” Ares yelled, his voice echoing in power, vibrating off the walls.
Jason stood there, not recalling when he started pacing and ranting, staring at the faint blue of his hands, “I'm guessing you wanted me to unlock this for a reason.”
“Not really, Hecate’s brat unlocked it a while ago, and Hari just did so I thought you shouldn’t miss out on the fun of being powerful.” Ares grunted as he stood up.
“I’ll be popping in and out now. If anyone ever asks, I’m mean, violent and short-tempered. Heavens forbid I know when and where to act out.” Steel gray eyes rolled as he started to walk out the cave.
“Righttt.” the mortal vowing to steal some whiskey before he went to bed tonight.
“ Oh yea.” Ares summoned his helmet to his hand, “this is for you.” he tossed it to the teen. “I feel like Red Hoods suit you.”
As he stepped out the cave, the air felt less like he was in a fight or flight mode, “Jason, leave a shot of that Whiskey on the window seal for me, when you nab it.” Wise eyes winked at him before disappearing in a Red mist.
“I’m fucked aren’t I?”