A SHOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION 

 

 

This is in response to the 5 point challenge.  My challenge included:

Person: Iolaus

Position: hands & knees

Piece of Clothing: Iolaus’ thong from “The Apple”

Place: Ares’ temple

Prop: wine goblet.

 

 

***** 

 

 

“‘Dite, I really don’t know about this,” Iolaus shook his head.  “I mean, it sounded good when we talked about it...”

 

“Relax, Sweetcheeks,” Aphrodite grinned.  “It’ll all go according to plan.  Trust me.”

 

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but...”  Iolaus flushed.  “Look, Herc hasn’t touched me since I returned from the Light.  And, yeah, it’s driven me nuts.”  He saw the sympathetic nod from the Goddess of Love.  “He’s....changed.  Maybe he doesn’t want me anymore...you know, that way.  But...”

 

“But nothing.”  Aphrodite put a reassuring hand on his arm.  “Bro just needs a little shove in the right direction, that’s all.”

 

“It’s not right!” Iolaus protested.  “It’s tricking Herc.”

 

“It won’t be a trick if I don’t distract Ares,” Aphrodite reminded him.  Before the hunter could protest further, she put a hand on his arm and they disappeared.

 

In the time it took Iolaus to blink, Aphrodite had taken them from the forest to Ares’ temple.  Iolaus instinctively tensed and looked around.  Tapestries depicting bloody and ancient battles hung limply from floor to ceiling draped around a dark stone throne which faced a stained altar.

 

“Eeuuuuwwww.”  Aphrodite shivered.  “How depressing.  No wonder Ares is always in such a bad mood.”

 

“Uh...yeah.”  Iolaus scratched his head.  “Look, ‘Dite.  I’ve changed my mind.  I’ll just seduce Herc.”

 

“Sweetie, that’ll take FOREVER!” the Goddess of Love protested.  “Just chill out.”  She grinned again.  “Trust me.”  Before he could argue, she waved her hand.

 

Iolaus tensed as he found himself flat on his back, chained to the altar.  “Ummm...’Dite?”

 

Aphrodite put her hands on her hips and stared down at him.  Impatiently, she tapped one foot on the stone floor.  “No...no...just not...right.”

 

“‘Dite?  This really isn’t good,” Iolaus gently interrupted.  He tested the chain wrapped around his wrists and grimaced.

 

The blonde goddess suddenly smiled.  “I know.”  She waved her hand.

 

Iolaus caught his breath as he found himself face down on the altar.  Blinking in confusion, he turned to stare at her.  “I wish you’d give me a little more warning when...”  He frowned as he felt the cold stone against his bare skin....against a lot of bare skin.  Twisting his head, he found himself clad in only a skimpy blue loincloth that barely covered anything.  “‘DITE!”

 

“Details...details...they’re so important, you know.”  Aphrodite conjured a golden wine goblet.  She grinned as she dribbled dark red wine down the hunter’s spine.

 

“Hey!”  Iolaus instinctively arched as the cool wine ran across his back.  “C’mon, ‘Dite!”

 

Aphrodite chuckled.  “If seeing THIS doesn’t get Herkie’s blood boiling, Sweetcheeks, nothing will.”  With a wave, the blonde goddess disappeared.

 

With a groan, Iolaus rested his forehead on the altar.  “Herc’s gonna kill me.”

 

 

*****

 

 

Hercules was close to panicking.  Even allowing for delays that didn’t include marauding bandits, psychopathic warlords, vengeful gods, and sneaky rabbits, he shouldn’t have been waiting this long.

 

‘Calm down.  He can take care of himself.’  Pacing, Hercules kept reminding himself there was no reason to panic.  But he realized he hadn’t lost the fear of losing Iolaus.  Ever since the hunter had returned from the Light, Hercules had alternated between not letting the hunter out of his sight and forcing himself to be almost distant.  He knew he’d confused Iolaus at times and perhaps even hurt his feelings.

 

‘He’s changed.  He’s been...where I couldn’t follow.  Seen things.  I’m glad he’s back, but I still miss...’  The demigod tensed, whirling around when he felt the energy of a god’s appearance.  He immediately relaxed seeing the Goddess of Love appear.  Then he frowned at the unusually solemn expression on her face.

 

“It’s Sweetcheeks,” Aphrodite said without preamble.  “Ares has him in his temple.”

 

“WHAT?!” the demigod roared.  He forced his fists to unclench.  “Why?”

 

Aphrodite glanced away.  “He said he’d wasted enough time...that he couldn’t take a chance on Sweetcheeks dying again.”

 

Hercules felt his blood run cold.  “I’ll kill him,” he threatened.

 

“Ares isn’t with Sweetcheeks,” Aphrodite quickly assured him.  “He left him in his temple.  One of his wars was going badly.  He wasn’t in a good mood.  I’m really afraid of what he’ll do to Sweetcheeks when he gets back.”

 

“Take me there,” Hercules demanded.

 

“I’ll send you there,” Aphrodite nodded.  “I’ll try to delay Ares.”  She saw the suspicious look on her half-brother’s face.  “Hey, I like Sweetcheeks!  And Ares is such a meanie at times.”  As the demigod grunted, she waved her hand.

 

As soon as Hercules disappeared, Ares appeared next to the Goddess of Love.  She glanced over her shoulder with a smirk.

 

“You have no idea how much you owe me,” Ares growled.

 

“I owe you?” Aphrodite sniffed.  “I put your temple back the way it was, didn’t I?  Back to its dreary red and black.”  She elaborately shivered.

 

“The only reason I didn’t destroy every one of your temples in retaliation is because I don’t want to offend Hesphaestus,” Ares scowled.  “You pull another stunt like that, however, and I’ll take my chances with him.”

 

“No problem,” Aphrodite brightly smiled.  “I have what I want.”

 

“They’d better be out of there by the time I get back,” Ares warned as he disappeared.

 

 

*****

 

 

Hercules quickly looked around as he found himself outside Ares’ temple.  Seeing no one, he ran up the steps two at a time.  Stopping just inside, he frowned as he eyes adjusted to the shadowed light.  Hearing a slight noise, he turned to his left.  Taking a few steps forward, he suddenly stopped, his mouth going dry.

 

Tongue caught between his teeth, Iolaus’ attention was on the chains binding his wrists.  He muttered under his breath as he unsuccessfully twisted his wrist, trying to wiggle it free.

 

Hercules forced himself to breathe.  As he took another step forward, he realized Iolaus wasn’t naked as he’d originally thought.  Still, the loincloth that barely covered him didn’t leave much to the imagination.

 

Hearing a noise behind him, Iolaus twisted his head to look over his shoulder.  “Herc?” he squeaked.

 

“Yeah.”  Taking a firm grip on his imagination...and libido...the demigod hurried forward.  He hid a smile, seeing Iolaus’ look of embarrassment.  “Here.  Let me.”  Then, seeing the half-dried liquid on Iolaus’ back, he frowned.  “Are you hurt?” he asked, running a finger across the hunter’s back.

 

Iolaus shivered at the touch.  “I’m okay,” he assured his partner.  “It’s...uh...wine.”

 

Hercules’ eyes widened.  He tentatively tasted the liquid on his finger, then shook his head.  Without another word, he easily snapped the chains binding Iolaus’ wrists.  Then he walked to the far end of the altar and broke the chains that kept Iolaus’ spread legs immobile.

 

Iolaus drew his legs underneath him.  Rocking slightly, he got to his hands and knees, his legs widely splayed.

 

“Iolaus?  You okay?” Hercules asked.  He rested a hand on the hunter’s shoulder.

 

“Yeah,” Iolaus nodded, shifting his weight so he was sitting down.  ‘That didn’t even a rise out of him...in any way.’  “Herc...”

 

“We need to get out of here before Ares gets back,” Hercules briskly interrupted.

 

As if on cue, Aphrodite appeared.  “So...how’s it going?” she asked.

 

Hercules frowned.  “Rather well.  But I’d rather not be around when Ares shows up.”

 

“Right.  I’ve distracted him a little,” Aphrodite assured him.  “But you’re right, Herkie.  He’s gonna be really mad.”  She saw the wary look on her half-brother’s face as well as the disappointed look on Iolaus’.  ‘This is NOT going according to plan.’  With a pout, she caused them all to disappear.

 

They appeared in the front room of Jason’s house.  A quick look around assured Iolaus that Jason wasn’t there.  ‘He’d laugh himself silly if he saw this.’

 

Hercules saw his partner’s expression and smiled.  “Jason’s still teaching at the Academy.  Nobody’s here.”  Then he turned to his half-sister.  “I’m really disappointed in you, Aphrodite.  I expected a much more devious plan than this.”

 

“What do you mean?” the blonde goddess innocently asked.  She widened her eyes and slightly pouted.

Iolaus froze.  He knew that tone of voice.  Warily, he eyed the demigod.

 

Hercules crossed his arms across his chest.  “I mean...faking Iolaus’ abduction?  That little display on the altar?”

 

Aphrodite played with the folds of her gown.  “Excuse me?”

 

“You knew?” Iolaus demanded.

 

Hercules’ blue eyes flickered to his partner then back to the Goddess of Love.  “Next time you go redecorating Ares’ temple, better make sure you get his agreement not to rat on you.”

 

“That lousy dirty double-crosser!”  Aphrodite angrily stomped her foot onto the floor.  “I can’t believe he’d do that!  To me!  Ooooohhh...just wait until I get my hands on him!”  With an angry flourish, she disappeared.

 

“Wait!  ‘Dite!” Iolaus yelled.  Catching sight of the demigod’s stern look, he took a deep breath.  “Ummm...’Dite?  My clothes?”  He took a deep breath when they appeared on the table.  He was reaching for them when a large hand closed around his wrist. 

 

“Iolaus...” the demigod growled.

 

“Okay, Herc, it was a crazy plan,” Iolaus defended himself.  “But...”  His explanation was halted when the demigod pulled him close and kissed him with an almost desperate intensity.

 

“If you get dressed, I’ll just have to undress you,” Hercules murmured.  He half-smiled.  “And, if it’s games you want...I can think of a few to play.”

 

“Oh, yeah?”  Iolaus’ blue eyes twinkled.  “Took you long enough,” he grumbled with a smile.

 

 

September 2000

 

  

Return to Rebel's Hercules Fiction