Part 4
Steve hadn’t been wrong about Pegasus knowing the way, the creature beginning to move without being told as much. Pietro had been hesitant about letting you go, though Steve had reassured him it was necessary. You had a strong feeling Ares wasn’t the type to let a host of gods, goddesses, or anyone else for that matter to come traipsing into his palace.
But it felt nice to be moving on your own. You were tired, exhausted even, but this leg of the journey was yours to make. And it was reassuring to know that soon your father would be pulling in nets upon nets of fish and other marine life. You could see him smiling brightly, the ocean calmed as the water splashed against his weathered features. He was grinning like a madman knowing his family would be cared for.
Below you could see Poseidon reigning once more in his kingdom of the ocean, trident in hand as he guarded and watched over not just your father but all those you loved who relied on the ocean. He was ever ready and ever knowing. You felt the warmth of your mother’s love as she allowed her anxieties about her wandering daughter to part slightly at the good fortune. She would know it meant the gods had listened. It meant you were safe.
You were startled from your thoughts at the darkness and rumbling that began to crawl forward. Ahead you could make out the stunning temple that belonged to Ares. Deep, dark marble was carved heavily, planted on the ground in a way that made it look so solid. The grass was green, but with the blocked sun there was a gloom that seemed to tread over it. The lightning and rain appeared to stop before where Ares’ own home was, and you guessed it was Zeus being kept at bay. At least, from what you knew.
Pegasus appeared to sense your anxieties as they grew, neighing softly and shaking her head, as if to reassure you that there were no dangers here. But how did you greet the man so in love with you? Had he seen you all those times, racing home from classes to clean the temple you so worshipped? Had he watched you as you lay in bed, sleepless nights, staring out your window at the stars and wishing for strength like he had? And did he know it was simply strength, and not power, that you wanted? Could he feel how strongly you prayed to him for peace?
The horse began to descend and you were grateful. Enough time in the sky for one day, you had a strong feeling that this was your final stop for the day, at least. Your journey was not over, but you needed to see Ares. You needed to speak with him.
Stepping off of the horse, your sandals hit the lush grass that felt cold beneath the darkened sky. What shocked you most was the landscape nearest the temple. Grass didn’t grow closer to the dark marble steps, and instead there was armor and weaponry scattered about. Rusted chest places, broken helmets, spears and swords planted deeply into the ground like trees. There was no, blood, however, and no sign of struggle. You understood that instead this was Ares own shrine to the fallen warriors. These were the items of men and women who had given their lives in Ares’ name. He was celebrating them.
Curious, you stepped closer, stopping abruptly, however, when you heard it; deep growling and snarling came from behind the shadows of the temple. You realized how tightly you had been gripping the cloth-covered package in your hands, eyes wide as you forced yourself to move forward. A dog, larger than Pegasus that had guided you here, stepped forward. Its fur was grey and white with sharp teeth on display as he stepped towards you. Each foot padded against the ground, avoiding the battle items beneath.
You felt your own breath catching in your throat, your form steady however. You were going to see this through, come Hades or high water.
As the dog approached, a hound it felt more like, you unwrapped the cloth on instinct. It felt right. You knew. And as it unwrapped the hound began to settle somewhat until the large slab of raw meat lay visible. Its eyes, a deep green color, stayed focused and the deep rumble he emitted did not entirely die down. But you were not going to throw the meat and run. No.
Stepping closer, you spoke, “Steady, creature. I am not here to hurt you. I mean no harm.” Your words felt as though they might crack but you remained steady. Carefully, less than five feet away, you were staring up at it. Muscles hulked down and he watched you, though his air seemed much less threatening.
Another step, and the creature suddenly sat on its hind legs. It appeared to be waiting for you now, curiously so, as you closed the gap with ease. Your robes glided along the ground, carrying no dirt despite the earth it touched, your hands shaking less as you held the meat out, “And you mean no harm, either, do you?” A soft smile touched your lips and the dog appeared to relax at once.
You carefully reached up and allowed the canine to take the meat, which it did gently, moving away from you carefully as he lay down to eat it. He looked content as he began to chew at the food Steve had thankfully brought for you, and you couldn’t help but let out a long breath. Tension had built in your body and at once it was releasing.
“You came…” A voice suddenly pierced the world before you, a sharpness that rang forth, commanding your attention without meaning to. Your eyes turned and you saw him as he walked down the mighty steps of a temple that, while not nearly as glorious, felt so much more powerful than the others you had seen. The man that walked carried himself with a kind of heaviness, deep red robes the color of blood draped over him. But what you noticed beyond his clear strength was the metal arm on his left side. It was glittering, even in the cloud cover of his kingdom. It was strength.
You knew without being told who this was. This god with dark hair falling by his face, grey eyes that shone through a sort of darkness that had tainted him, darkness he fought hard not to let control him. He was a man who knew war but longed for love, “Ares. Of course, I have spoken to many, and I came- that is to say, I’ve come-” your words were getting lost and you were having trouble identifying why. You’d met so many gods in such little time, why was he so difficult?
He continued to walk closer, “Arete has frightened many off. I’m pretty sure no one has ever been brave enough to hand him food as closely as you have. Not even Poseidon,” he grinned lightly, a grin that melted your heart.
Courage wound its way back into your chest and you shook your head, “Why me, Ares?” Your voice was pleading as you stepped towards where he was.
His eyes fell, face looking sullen as he walked towards you also, “I am so sorry, Y/N. I… I didn’t realize what falling in love with you would do.”
Without realizing it you snapped, “Falling in love? Ares, you and I have never met!”
His eyes lifted towards yours and at once locked on, “But I’ve known you for so long. The days where you’d sit at the docks waiting for your father, praying to Poseidon, I would listen. I watched you begin to hunt on your own, stand up for your own city. I’ve seen your beauty for so long and kept my distance. If I had known the cost of all this, I’d have planned better. Trust me.”
They were not words you’d been expecting, honestly. You supposed it was sort of strange to know the god as intimately as you did from text, while he did in fact know you well, “This can’t continue, Ares-”
“Bucky, please. Call me Bucky.” He finally arrived at where you were, his right hand reaching up to stroke your cheek gently.
His own powers might have been of strength and war, but he could have been love itself given how you felt right now. A wave of emotion tore through you at his touch and you felt it all. His warmth, his strength, his compassion and kindness, his care. You could see him defending the cities below as best he could while still working to keep Olympus from falling apart. You felt his grief and you understood.
“Bucky… this must stop. There is so much pain below and so many are suffering. What can I do to fix this?” Your voice once more was pleading but you were so willing to beg. Anything to stop what was going on below. You doubted it ended with Bucky, but he might have an answer.
A soft chuckle left his lips, “Just as I remember you, Y/N. You claim that the others are the heroes with abilities, but you’re so much stronger than the rest. Do you see that?” He was referring, of course, to the times on Earth you had cursed at yourself for not having the powers others did.
You shook your head, “Why are you doing this?”
He looked suddenly distraught, his hand dropping from your face, his warmth with it, “It’s not a choice, Y/N. I wasn’t going to steal you away like the rest of them. I wanted to give you a choice. I told Zeus of my intentions and he was… furious. He demanded I let go of my feelings and ignore you. But I can’t! I can’t just let you go, Y/N! Do you know what it feels like, when I look down and see you?”
His face had almost contorted, the pain clear as his voice rose, “I see perfection when I look down from my temple. I see your devotion, what you’ve sacrificed! I have been there when you’ve felt the most alone and I have wanted for so long to hold you. Zeus has no right to tell me I can’t love you! And believe me, I have tried. You are more than just a ‘crush’, or someone I want to sleep with, Y/N. I’m not like the rest of the Pantheon. I truly love you.”
His admission had given you pause, and there was no denying it. So many stories littered Earth of gods and goddesses who had taken lovers and fled soon after. You knew some were true, and others just a thing of legend, but Ares seemed so sincere. He was a man caused grief by his love, enough that he’d risk his own life and his own future to simply refuse to renounce his love for you.
Surprising even yourself you had walked to where Bucky was, placing a hand on his strong shoulder, “But other people's’ lives are now at risk, Bucky. Steve, Clint… not just us mere mortals,” you smirked slightly.
He reached up, taking your hand and moving in closer. It was intimate, especially for someone you still felt was so new, “And here you are, through it all. Stay with me, just… long enough to understand what’s going on. I can explain what I know, and we can discuss a course of action. God of war and all, I’m pretty good with strategy.” He grinned as well and it caught you off guard.
It was undeniable, the chemistry that was already at play. He knew you, in every intimate detail that one might imagine, and you found yourself wanting to know the same about him. A man you already worshipped was now holding your hand, feeling him as he placed his metal hand on your waist, playing with the rope of your robes, “Red, always the color red… you’ve always been my most devoted of followers.”
He leaned in slightly, his breath hot against your skin as you felt yourself crumble beneath him. A god of war and yet so much more than that, everything you had wanted and never been able to find in the mortals below. Not even the heroes that won affection of the gods could have wooed you, and none could have made you feel the fluttering inside of you.
Your own hand reached up and danced along his cheek, over the unshaven jaw and then against his neck, “I have always been yours, Bucky.”
There was no hesitation as he leaned down and pressed his lips against yours, closing his eyes as he wrapped you up in his strong arms, keeping you safe. Your lips pressed hungrily back against his and the passion was nothing but your own. There was no magic, no powers in this moment. It was the need of a god who had watched for so long as the woman he loved lived a life below. It was a woman who had so long desired Ares in ways she couldn’t have understood, but did now.
The kiss… the embrace felt all but too brief as he pulled away, almost painfully, resting his forehead against your own. His breath was hard and so was yours, holding to him gently but with no plans on letting go, “I will ask nothing of you while you are here, Y/N, except that you help me to end this. As long as you’re with me, you’re free. Do you understand?”
His words held weight, and it was weight you did in fact understand. So you nodded gently, “I do, Bucky. And I will do everything in my power to save not only you, but my family and those I love. I’m with you, Bucky.”
You opened your eyes warmly, holding to him still and knowing what this meant. It meant you were walking into battle with Bucky, knowing there was more than just a little risk of life and limb. You would use your strength and the love you held for Bucky. This was not a god you were going to let go of so willingly, and if that meant facing Zeus himself, then you would.
When Bucky pulled away gently you felt yourself wanting to grab him back. But he smiled, “We’ll have time later. For now, you must be exhausted and you must be hungry.”
You were going to argue that those were things that could also wait, though in a moment you were scooped up into Bucky’s arms. He was grinning as he carried you, taking large steps up the stairs and into his temple. It appeared to be no trouble at all for him as he stepped through the large entrance into the well-lit hall, torches and candles lining the chambers.
“You know, I’m capable of walking.” You raised an eyebrow at him, suddenly unafraid of giving your well-known attitude to a god of the Pantheon.
He laughed, a smile lighting up his face, “I’m aware. I just like holding you. I’ve dreamed of it for so long. Are you going to deny me that?” He looked down, his eyes shining in the light of the home before you.
A flush crossed your cheeks and you smirked, “I suppose not. Just don’t expect it to be a regular occurrence.”
As he walked, you were able to soak in the world before you. It wasn’t surprising how much of his temple was marble and metal, but the light inside was a bit surprising. You knew that were the sun shining it would have been glittering inside, though as it stood the firelight did enough to make the world sparkle. He had paintings of the other gods and goddesses, depictions of battles he wasn’t in. It was a home devoted to others and it was a man who you had a feeling was not always used to being worshipped himself.
When he did let you down, warmly and comfortably, it was in the living room, food lining the tables and luxurious couches and chairs throughout. It was the living room of a god, certainly, but he was waiting on you as he stepped back, “My home is your home. Now come, feast. And rest. And once you are comfortable, perhaps we can discuss what’s next.”
In your life, living in the temple of a god had not been something you’d imagined. You had pictured yourself learning to fight and running into battle, you had found yourself wanting to protect and defend others. You had tried to prove yourself as a child, as a teenager, and as an adult. Your life had been made of wanting to be something even with nothing.
Standing in the living room of a god whom you understood now you were just as in love with, it began to sink in how different this world really was. You were no longer cleaning the shrine at a temple or helping your father reel in fish. Now you were basking in the warm glow of torchlight and candlelight in the home of a god. You were going to be asked to step up and protect those who could not fight. You would be asked to stand before the Pantheon itself and ask them to lay down their weapons.
You would become a hero of your own.