Joxer's Revenge
Part 4
“Xena, I had the strangest dream…” Gabrielle started as she woke up, then looking at her surroundings she groaned.
“I’m guessing that wasn’t a dream?” Gabrielle stated looking at Xena.
Rubbing circles on Gabrielle’s back soothingly Xena said. “If you mean Joxer being the son of Hephaestus then, no. Joxer came to talk to me last night and told me what’s going on.”
“What’s that?” Gabrielle asked warily, she knew from the way Xena was acting that she wouldn’t like the news.
Bending the truth, just a little Xena said, “We’re going to an island with Joxer to rest for a while. He said he didn’t want us here where something could happen to us.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad. What’s the catch?” Gabrielle narrowed her eyes at Xena.
“Ares and Jett are coming with us,” Xena replied looking Gabrielle in the eyes.
“We’re going to be stuck on an island with those murderers (?)” Gabrielle asked in disbelief, looking at Xena in shock.
Seeing that Gabrielle was about to go into one of her moods Xena replied, “Either we go with them willingly and they let us move around or we try to stop them and spend the whole time chained up.”
“When you put it like that there’s only one thing we can do,” Gabrielle answered sullenly.
“Joxer won’t let them hurt us and it’s been a while since we had a break,” Xena said, trying to make the bard see that their unexpected vacation might not be a bad thing.
Not willing to try to understand Joxer’s motives Gabrielle said stubbornly, “How do we know what he’s going to do? Joxer’s not the man we knew, the man who as our friend.”
Understanding Joxer’s motives Xena said, “Zeus attacked his mother so Joxer and his brothers fought Zeus. The three were cast out until the day he wants them to return, and Zeus can hold a grudge for a long time. Joxer didn’t do anything wrong he was just trying to protect his mother, like I would do, like you would do.”
*******
“Blondie, Xena. Are you ready? We really need to get moving,” Jett asked as he strolled into the room dressed completely in black wearing a black cloak with a wolf on it. Strapped to his side were two silver daggers with wolves on the hilt.
“Ready for what?” Xena asked, moving so that her Amazon could dress in relative privacy.
Willing to keep talking if it kept the annoying do-gooders from bothering his brother Jett said, “To go to the island. Dad said he‘d best take us now so Zeus doesn’t find Ares. We still have to wake up Res and Jox, sometimes I think nothing short of Grandmother’s temper will wake them.”
Although Joxer had given up his position as the God of Wrath he still had the abilities and the perseverance to go on a rage at someone if they deserved it. That little trick had come in useful in the past when they needed to remove a particularly unpleasant character. That was one of their main jobs when they had been Gods and they still felt it was their duty despite the fact that they were mortal.
“I guess we are. Where is this island?” Xena asked, seeing that Gabrielle was still in a mood.
Jett smirked as he said, “I’m not telling ya. Why would I (?) Ya don’t like us and most of us don’t like ya.”
“Bro, we’re ready to go. Since when have you been afraid to wake us up?” Joxer said with a grin as the three joined him and Ares in the main room.
“Since I know you, besides I felt it would be more interesting to let Dad wake you up,” Jett commented, lounging on one of the chairs.
Ares commented with a short laugh, “So you’re the one I have to thank for that. You know there are better ways to wake up than seeing your lover’s father glaring at you.”
“Enough chit chat, let’s get going. Have you got your bags?” Hephaestus asked the room, receiving only nods he continued, “Let’s split then.”
*******
There was a large flash of light seconds before the small band of travellers appeared a mile away from a large house. The house and its surroundings were the perfect place to relax; all you could hear were the sounds of nature.
Joxer took the lead and started walking towards the house, not worrying about possible enemies. No god could enter unless Ares had given them permission and mortal eyes couldn’t see the island so there was nothing to worry about apart from Gabrielle. Joxer knew that Xena could be trusted to keep her word but the bard was another matter entirely.
“It is beautiful.” Gabrielle gasped as the house game into view, patiently waiting on top of a large hill.
“Yeah, it’s great. Can you get a move on?” Joxer said to the frozen bard, he could see Ares was starting to tire.
“Okay, okay. Who died and made you god?” Gabrielle muttered as she ran to catch up with the group.
*******
Joxer ignored the others as he settled Ares onto his favourite chair, determined to do everything to stop the still healing man from moving. He knew that Ares would need all his strength for later when they tortured Zeus. There was no way Ares would want to miss out on that!
Hephaestus grinned, “I’ll be back as soon as possible, Strife and Cupid might call by later. Everyone thinks that Ares is simply avoiding everyone for a while so you should be okay.”
Joxer and Jett said as one, “Thanks dad.”
The god flashed out the room with a grin on his face. Zeus would pay for what he had done to his sons. Hephaestus loved Zeus but nothing was more important to him than his children, and Zeus had made his children hurt.
Joxer grinned as he considered just how he would get his revenge. By the time they where finished with him, Zeus would be begging to die. Oh sure, they couldn’t kill him but that didn’t mean they couldn’t hurt him a little.
“We’re going to have a look around.” Xena said, looking at the three men.
“Fine. Don’t bother trying to leave, there’s only one way out of here and that’s the way you came here.” Joxer said with a cruel smirk.
*******
“Just how are we going to stop Zeus from leaving?” Ares asked, knowing his father could easily teleport off the island.
Jett said thoughtfully, “Dad’s said he’s going to put some manacles on his feet to stop him from using his powers. “
“Who wants the first chance at punishing him a little?” Joxer asked a bloodthirsty grin on his face.
“I think we should leave that to mom and dad. They’ve been wanting to hurt him since he made us mortal.” Jett said knowing his mother had other reasons for wanting revenge.
Joxer countered, “Actually mom’s been out for blood ever since that sick fuck raped her.”
Ares smiled, “So we agree, Eris can torture him first. Then Heph and us.”
Ares hated what the rape had done to his sister. It had made her a lot more cynical and bloodthirsty. She loved Strife with all her heart, despite the fact that he was the result of the rape.
“Yeah. You think we should tie them up while we play?” Joxer asked, referring to the two women.
Ares said honestly, “If Xena knew that Zeus raped Eris she would happily torture him.”
“Blondie should be tied up anyway, I don’t trust her.” Ares said angrily.
“She was my friend.” Joxer reasoned, knowing that he didn’t sound sure of that.
Jett said, “Yeah right (!) As far as she knew you were some idiot who couldn’t defend himself and was in love with her. Despite that she treated you like dirt and never bothered to help train you. All she did was make fun of you and hurt you.”
Joxer said sighed, “Okay we’ll tie her up. I already told Xena not to interfere so everything should be okay.”
Continue
Back To Joxer's Revenge Main Page
