(Too Familiar)

Mars POV

I step out on the front porch feeling like I just got stabbed in the gut.

All broken up.

I walk out to the woods, and find Apollo standing at the base of a large cherry blossom. A large all too familiar tree.

"Korri's hurt," I mumble.

"Okay, where is she? Wait, you found her? Where was she?"

"I dunno, she just came back."

"'Kay."

☪

We walk back home, to see Korri replacing the light bulb from up on the porch's ceiling.

"Oh." I mumble, my face flaming.

Korri feels guilty for... what happened, so she's doing house chores?

Or at least that's what it looks like.

"You good?" Apollo asks, the wariness in his voice way too noticeable.

"Uh huh?" Her head pops down, and she smiles. "Hi. The light bulb burst so... I thought I may as well fix it, and clean up a little bit." She looks at me for a second, but looks away.

Apollo's gaze flickers between me, and her and back again. "Did something happen?"

"No."

At least nothing you should know about.

He notices the deep cut on Korri's leg and frowns, his jaw dropped as he stares at me.

I shrug. Told ya. I mouth.

"Um, I was-" Apollo cuts himself off.

"What about the cut, Apollo?" Korri frowns, and goes back up into the ceiling. "I know you wanna ask about it."

"How are you so damn calm over it?!" Apollo snaps.

I can't shut my mouth quick enough. "Holy shit."

I try not to swear, but when you have a bunch of stupidly nectar-drunk gods in your house all the time as a kid, you get habits that die hard.

And there's no better way to describe what Apollo just said.

It's just... holy shit.

Korri snorts. "I didn't know Apollo could swear."

He frowns. "I certainly can."

I can't stop myself from laughing.

"Um, Mars," Korri says, sitting on the top rung of the ladder, a shattered light bulb in her hand. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Uh, sure?"

Apollo smirks. "I see where this is going."

"NO!" we snap.

And he walks away laughing.

"I wanted to ask you something."

I stay quiet.

"You don't have to answer." She adds. "Just... don't act like you did in the kitchen."

"I won't try to. But I cannot promise anything."

"That's fair." She looks at the woods. "Um, I thought since I've kinda put of asking-"

"Where'd the blood come from?"

"How did you-"

"I'm smart. And I know you fairly well." I sigh. "That's kinda a looong story."

"W-what do you mean?"

"You know how I'm technically a god?"

"I thought you were a demigod."

I frown. "No. I'm the son of Hera and Zeus."

"So that's why Lola keeps calling you Ares?"

"So you know that part of the myth?"

"I read a lot about it when I was little." She smiles. "Kept me in a fantasy I guess. Saved me from reality."

"Then you also know I'm the god of war." And I tell her my story.

My long.

Deep.

Bloody story.

"What about the whole 'bleeding from your hands' thing?"

I wince. "My dad—Zeus—tried to give me the title of the god of war, which I refused. But he still made me take it, and cursed me for ignoring him the first time."

I don't tell her about the cure—which I'm pretty sure is bull—'cause there is a 99.9% chance that she'd sign her name on a list of death wishes.

LIST OF QUICKEST DEATHS...

...and she'd shoot right up to the top.

"So if you're the god of war..." Korri says, and starts to pace. "Apollo's the sun god?"

"Yup." I snicker. "Or you could say he's the god of shameless flirting, terrible romantic relationships, etc."

Korri collapses into a fit of laughs. "T-that's good!" She giggles.

I join in.

My chest hurts I'm laughing so hard.

"What's going on?" Apollo asks, frowning. "And why are you guys laughing?"

Me and Korri stop, grinning. "Nothing."

"I know something is off." Apollo shakes his head. "But I needed to talk to you two for two reasons. One: I wanna check out that cut, Korri. Two... why were you laughing?"

"No reason." I assure him.

"Oh." Korri's voice cracks. "I forgot about that."

"Yeah."

"Well," I say. "I'll let you two work,"

And I leave.