By Aramis

Disclaimer: The characters belong to MCA/Universal and were used without permission. No copyright infringement was intended and no money was made.

A hand caressed Iolaus' face. The touch awoke him with a jolt. He got even more of a shock when he saw the hand's owner. "Ares! What do you want?"

"What's on offer?"

"Nothing for you."

The God of War ignored the comment. "What's this new adornment?" he asked, fingering the earring in Iolaus' left ear.

"An earring."

"I can see *that*. Why are you wearing it?"

"It's a present."

"From whom?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"It's from my boring brother, Hercules, isn't it? Well, isn't it?"

"Yeah, Herc gave it to me."

"Not really a present then."

"What do you mean?"

"It's more a statement really, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

"Rather like a slave collar. It's a way of marking territory, of showing ownership."

"Herc doesn't own me."

"Of course he does. You're just one of his possessions, sort of like a pet."

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are! You just do exactly what he wants and he's pleased with you. Don't you ever get tired of being obedient?"

"Obedient? *Me*?"

"Well, what are you doing now but obediently waiting for him to return. You could be having fun without him. He put that ring into your ear before he left to symbolize his ownership and to remind you of his expectations of you, didn't he?"

"No! He *doesn't* own me! We're friends and partners. It's not a question of ownership."

"Really? Would he see it that way?"

Iolaus wanted to say "of course". He tried to say "of course". But, in all honesty, he knew that wasn't quite true. He feared that subconsciously, at least, Herc didn't see him quite as an equal. They'd had a number of disputes about Herc's over-protectiveness and his tendency to assume that he knew better than Iolaus what the latter should say and do.

His hesitation was enough for Ares, who pushed his advantage home. "You can't do anything without Hercules' approval and permission."

"That's *not* true!"

"Prove it."

"How?"

"You know you've been wanting to go to the winter festival at Konitza and you've been hoping Hercules will get back in time to go with you. You'll miss out if you wait much longer. Why not come with me?"

Iolaus hesitated. He *did* want to go and it wasn't much fun going to festivals by oneself.

"If it worries you to be seen with me, what about this then?" Ares metamorphosed into a replica of Hercules.

Iolaus blinked with astonishment. He'd seen Ares in other forms before, but this was incredible. If it hadn't been for a rather different glint in the eye and a much rougher manner, he'd never have suspected it wasn't Hercules.

"Do you like this?" the God of War asked, his voice caressing.

Iolaus didn't know what to say. He *liked* a Hercules that used that tone of voice towards him *very* much. The devastating smile that went with the tone shook him even more.

"Are we going?"

"I'd better not," Iolaus said, reluctantly.

"Okay, but I think I'll go. It occurs to me I can have some fun there like this."

Iolaus was horrified. Yes, Ares could certainly have fun damaging his brother's reputation. "No, please, Ares, you can't!"

"I can and will unless you come with me to provide alternative entertainment."

Iolaus was in a cleft stick. He couldn't let Ares carry out his implied threat, but he knew Hercules would be angry if he went with his brother. "Okay," he said, resignedly, "but I want you to promise that you won't do anything that Herc wouldn't do."

"Sure, I promise I won't *do* anything that Hercules wouldn't *like* to do." Iolaus was so relieved that he didn't notice the emphasis or the additional word.

So with a wave of Ares' hand, the two disappeared to reappear outside the town of Konitza. "Wow! That beats walking!" Iolaus enthused.

"Yeah, there are lots of advantages in being a god or in having one for a friend," Ares commented, silently adding 'as opposed to a demigod.'

To the hunter's pleasant surprise Ares turned out to be good company. Indeed, in many ways, he was more fun than Hercules. He didn't say things like "You've had enough to drink, Iolaus" or "You shouldn't go near that group, they're out for trouble" or "Surely you know she's married." As a result, Iolaus spent three days drinking heavily, fighting and flirting and enjoyed himself greatly. Indeed, he only felt a twinge of conscience when he remembered that the man who was enjoying these activities alongside him was not Hercules. However, he didn't stop to think that the new Hercules, by his wholehearted participation in and encouragement of these pursuits, was raising a few eyebrows. Hercules' reputation, that he'd intended to safeguard, was suffering to some degree, albeit not to the extent it could have done if Ares had attended alone and with malicious intent.

On the third evening, things came crashing down on the hunter in the form of a large, irate husband, ably assisted by his two equally large brothers. He was rather the worse for wear with drink and so his reflexes were slow when the latter two grabbed him and the former began to punch him. However, he gathered his wits and used the two holding him as a pivot to enable him to swing a boot into his assailant's face. His attacker dropped to the ground. Caught by surprise the other two slackened their grips and he wriggled free and then swung back to face them, standing over the man on the ground. Just then he heard the approaching Ares shout, "Look out, Iolaus!" He glanced down and twisted frantically to the side, thus receiving a knife in the fleshy inside of his upper thigh, rather than in the stomach as the husband had intended. He staggered and looked down in horror at the protruding knife. He grasped it and pulled it free. Blood gushed down his leg and he fainted.

He came around to find himself lying naked on a bed with Ares hovering over him. "Lie still, Iolaus, I'm just going to stitch up your thigh. Here, bite on this." He tossed the hunter one of his own belts. The wound was deep and it had bled copiously, but was a puncture rather than a tear and so did not need many stitches. Once he had finished, Ares bandaged the thigh tightly.

Then he looked lasciviously down at the hunter. He finally had him in the position he'd been planning for, admittedly not by the seductive means he had anticipated using while in his adopted guise, but one should never miss an opportunity. "You're lucky it wasn't a few inches higher," he remarked, stroking his hand along Iolaus' penis to emphasize his meaning.

Iolaus gasped with surprise and apprehension. "Don't!"

"Don't? Why? You want this."

"No, I don't!"

"Of course you do," the voice purred, "you've wanted me to do this for years."

"No, you're not Hercules!" Iolaus blurted, and then could have cut out his tongue at the admission.

"I'm as close as you're likely to get, pretty one. You *must* know Hercules will never agree to do this with you. He'd be disgusted if you suggested it."

"No!" He tried to scramble off the bed, but powerful hands thrust him back.

"Come on, Iolaus, second best is better than not at all, and I think you might be pleasantly surprised."

The hunter ran a nervous tongue over his lips. He was scared, but also a little tempted. Ares was probably right about Hercules' attitude. But what if Ares told Hercules afterwards? Not only would Iolaus' sexual behavior disgust the demigod so would his choice of partner. "No, I can't."

"If it helps, I'll provide you with an excuse." With that four golden rings appeared, one on each of Iolaus' wrists and one on each ankle. The attached chains stretched out across the bed, dragging the hunter's limbs with them to spread-eagle him, and then firmly affixed themselves to the bed's legs. "There! Now you can say it *wasn't* your fault. I hope you appreciate the adornments I've provided. They match the one in your ear so nicely. Five golden rings for my golden lover. Hell, I'm getting quite poetic."

He clambered onto the bed, settled himself between Iolaus' legs and slid his hands under Iolaus' buttocks to slant him upwards. The hunter gazed at him with wide, fear-filled eyes. "What's wrong, Iolaus? You know you've dreamed about this."

"I-I have," he admitted, quietly, "but *not* with you."

"Well, you just lie back and pretend I'm Hercules."

A hot mouth descended and Iolaus felt his treacherous penis beginning to harden at the attentions. He closed his eyes in despair. There was nothing he could do to stop Ares and he couldn't help the thought that this would probably be the nearest he'd ever get to having sex with Hercules. He felt disgusted with himself as his excitement built. He was soon aching for release. "Please, Herc!" The words were out before he could stop them.

Ares laughed exultantly and, without warning slammed into the hunter. Iolaus screamed in pain and tried desperately to pull away, but Ares grasped his hips firmly allowing him no movement. Ares began to pound into him, enjoying his screams.

Suddenly the door burst open. "What the hell is going on here?" shouted an irate demigod, as he advanced threateningly upon his replica.

Ares withdrew rapidly, forcing Iolaus to bite back yet another scream. In a twinkling, he had resumed his own form. "Nothing for you to worry about, brother dear. I saw you'd given your pretty, little friend a present and I couldn't resist going one better and giving him one he's wanted for years. Anyway, you might like to finish what I've started. Here's something to inspire you." A piece of mistletoe landed on Iolaus' groin as Ares vanished laughing.

An ashen-faced Iolaus, lay eyes tightly closed, waiting apprehensively for what Hercules would say. Hercules looked down at him. He had been stunned by Ares' words and even more by Iolaus' failure to refute them. "Iolaus, open your eyes." No response. "Iolaus, look at me, please." Guilty blue eyes opened fearfully.

"Iolaus, since I arrived in this town half an hour ago, I've found from comments people have made that I've been leading a rather riotous existence here. That is bad enough, but *this* is worse."

'I'm sorry, Herc." He didn't know what else he could say. He *was* sorry but he felt, in all honesty, he couldn't try to excuse his behavior. Sure Ares had railroaded him to an extent, but he was aware that the God of War had accurately divined his feelings for Hercules and that, to and extent, he'd been happy to go along with the pseudo-Hercules.

"But, Iolaus, why didn't you tell me?"

"Huh?"

"I *need* to know. Was Ares accurate in what he said?"

"Y-Yes, I'm sorry, Herc." He hesitated and decided it was time for honesty. "But I wanted the real you."

He waited nervously, fearing an angry reaction, but Hercules kept his face impassive and merely said, "I'd like you to tell me in detail what he has said to you and how you came to be here together."

"All right, but you won't like it. Please, Herc, could you release me first?"

"Okay." He snapped the golden shackles. Iolaus pulled the blanket around himself and then recounted events. The demigod listened quietly and then sat apparently lost in thought. Then he said, "Iolaus, you know how you agreed that Ares had been accurate in what he said about your feelings?"

"Yes."

"Well, I have to confess there was some truth in what he said about me as well."

"Wh-What do you mean, Herc?"

"The earring. I meant it to show a relationship. I-I'd planned a speech to go with it, but when it came to the crunch I wasn't game to tell you why I'd chosen it. I thought I'd finally nerved myself to say something about how I felt, but then I imagined your disgust at my feelings and I chickened out and didn't say anything. Then that message came for me from that friend who needed my help urgently and it gave me a good excuse to go without speaking."

"Herc, are you trying to tell me you love me?" whispered the hunter, in stunned disbelief.

"Yes."

"Herc," Iolaus said, hesitatingly, "if Ares was right about other things, do you think he might be right about this as a good starting point?" He held up the mistletoe.

"I think he might well be!" The demigod smiled, as he reached out and pushed the blanket off Iolaus' shoulders, pulled the hunter onto his lap and sought his lips.

THE END