A Race To Kings (Hiccup x Reader)

Chapter 5

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Ares asked, looking irritable.

Odysseus noticed and frowned. Salem had as well, and kept a respectable distance from them both as Odysseus slowly took Ares's hand.

"Do you love me?" Odysseus asked Ares, eyes gazing into his own.

Ares blinked, his grip tighting lightly on Odysseus hand out of worry.

"Of course I do," Ares had raised his other hand to Odysseus face. "What would ever make you think otherwise?"

Odysseus slowly moved Ares's hands away making Ares worry more. Salem, confused, looked between them.

"Then be honest with me," Odysseus stepped back, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you still love Cherry?"

Ares bristled slightly as Salem looked to Ares with curiosity. He didn't know much about Ares's past with Cherry. So the, 'do you still love Cherry', caught Salem's attention. Salem knew little, but it had to do with neither of them wanting to talk about it, even if it was clear that was once something between them.

"Ares, you know I wouldn't be mad or upset. We opened our relationship," Odysseus reminded glancing to Salem. "And I don't have any regrets about it, but Cherry came back to us upset. I don't know what happened, but if you do still love her, why not express it to her?"

Ares shook his head as Salem slowly walked over. Salem leaned on the table next to them and tried to catch Ares's eye.

"Ares. I may be ignorant to your past with her, but I'm not stupid," Salem glanced to Odysseus. "You two were more than friends, weren't you? Her necklace. It wasn't just any gift was it?"

Ares narrowed his eyes slightly, but sighed knowing Salem was bound to find out. Ares just didn't want anything to change, but it was inevitable now.

"It was my engagement gift to her, years ago. Don't matter no more," Ares whispered bitterly. "Her and I made our choice. We moved on. Nothing more to really say on it."

Odysseus shook his head knowing better. Ares and Cherry had know eachother since they were little. Grown up together. Held captive, although differently, by the same person. Ares had actually been the cause of Cherry becoming slave. Odysseus looked to Salem, his own irritation bubbling.

"Wether they'd like to admit that or not, this opening of relationships has been tearing them both apart. And I think it is mostly because Are has been pushing her away," Odysseus muttered. "All because neither of them had time to really smooth thing out with the other. Ares had been too much of a coward to be alone with her for more than five minutes."

Ares glared to Odysseus, his irritation turning to anger.

"What do you know? You don't know what I'm going threw-"

"The hell I do Ares!" Odysseus snapped back.

Salem looked between them concerned as Ares stood quietly turning to look out the window instead of his partner. Ares's body went ridged as he did his best to breath. To stay composed. Odysseus was opening a can of worms Ares wasn't ready to deal with. Then again, Ares wasn't sure if he'd ever be ready.

"Little history lesson. That bracelet he has on his wrist was Cherry's betrothal gift to him. He never took it off in hopes of finding her again after he had found a way to free her. Now you finding her on your shores was no accident. He left her there intentionally, hoping for the best," Odysseus clarified. "They loved each other deeply still, even if they don't want to say it. It won't get better til they confront it, instead of running from it."

As Odysseus took a breath, he and Salem both looked to Ares. Ares scoffed shaking his head. It wasn't going to be that easy, or that's what Ares believed. Ares took a breath when Odysseus stepped closer to him.