...and More Surprises
by Mythdefied
July 1998

The past few days had been fun. The place Autolycus had taken him to had turned out to be a very high-class brothel. Not that he minded; he was familiar with those types of places. More than familiar, really. He'd just never been in one that was so fancy.

Apparently Autolycus was there quite a bit although he went by a different name; Ace, Asp, something like that. Joxer couldn't remember. It didn't matter; the owner of the place, a woman named Cyra, seemed to know him very well, and was happy to provide both he and Joxer with a place to hide until Autolycus could find them a way out of the city. Not that Autolycus had spent much time looking until that morning.

Autolycus had made it very clear that first night after they'd escaped from the palace dungeon, that his sudden desire for Joxer was merely a whim brought about by listening in on Joxer talking in his sleep. Joxer recalled with a smile how Autolycus had gone on at great length about how it would only be a one-time thing and that it would never happen again after that night. Joxer had gotten the last laugh on that one.

He may have been something of a klutz on his feet but in bed was an entirely different matter. Autolycus was hardly the first to misjudge him in that aspect. Well, it hadn't taken very long for Autolycus to realize his mistake. It had been extremely humorous to see the look on his face when he'd discovered exactly how talented Joxer really was in that area. Autolycus wasn't used to finding someone who was better than he was.

Joxer had given him the one night he'd asked for and he'd made sure that he wouldn't forget it anytime soon, if ever, then he'd gotten even for the trouble Autolycus had caused for him. Joxer's smile widened as he remembered the past couple days. Autolycus, not surprisingly, had wanted to continue their "arrangement," but Joxer had refused, citing the fact that Autolycus himself had insisted that it would never happen again. Autolycus hadn't liked that answer and he'd been trying to convince Joxer to reconsider. Oh, yes, the last two days had been fun, indeed.

It was so rare for Joxer to find himself on the other side of things; usually he was the one in Autolycus' position, desperately wanting something with no way of getting it. He enjoyed this reversal of roles, but he wasn't cruel. He had no intention of leading Autolycus on. He fully intended to give him what he wanted before they left the city. It would be fun for them both. Joxer just wanted to make him beg a little more first.

The only real problem he'd encountered since their escape was Autolycus' refusal to let him leave Cyra's place, saying that it was too dangerous. Autolycus himself had left once or twice to contact some person or another about transportation out of the city but he'd always told Joxer to stay put. Well, Joxer was sick of it. He'd decided that morning after Autolycus left that he was going out for a walk. He wasn't going to go far and he was certain he could avoid attracting any attention. So far, he'd been right.

He was enjoying the marketplace. All he could do was look since he didn't have any money but that was fine with him. There was so much to see; people from different countries, speaking strange languages, selling things he'd never seen before. It occupied his entire morning.

It was getting on towards mid-afternoon when he decided that it was probably time for him to get back. If Autolycus had already returned he knew he was going to have to listen to some sort of lecture on how stupid he'd been to leave the brothel. Hopefully, he could avoid that.

The crowd was thinning out some in the heat of the afternoon making him feel a little more vulnerable than he had earlier. It was definitely time to get off of the streets, he thought as he quickened his pace. Fortunately, the marketplace wasn't all that far from Cyra's place, so he'd be back there soon.

That didn't happen. After walking for a fair length of time without sighting the place, he reluctantly came to the conclusion that he'd taken a wrong turn somewhere. He was lost. That wasn't good.

So, what to do now? He could keep walking in the hope that he'd eventually get lucky and stumble onto the place. He quickly dismissed that idea. With his luck the only thing he'd stumble onto would be a large patrol of soldiers. Without his sword he couldn't defend himself against one soldier, let alone that many. The only other option he could come up with was to ask for directions. There were plenty of people on the streets and surely one of them would know where Cyra's place was. He stopped walking and began looking around, trying to decide who to ask. It wasn't like asking for directions to the local tavern, he could end up offending someone and he really didn't need any trouble right now.

As if that thought had provided the cue, the collar of his shirt was grabbed and he found himself yanked back into an alleyway. He yelped in surprise and a hand was clamped over his mouth.

"Will you shut up!" a voice hissed in his ear.

Joxer knew that voice. He relaxed, nodding.

Autolycus removed his hand but kept his grip on Joxer's shirt as he walked quickly towards the other end of the alley, pulling Joxer along with him.

Joxer kept up although he had trouble keeping quiet; seeing Autolycus' clothes again had him fighting back laughter. How in Tartarus had he found purple pants? They looked like something a dancing girl would wear. The brown vest was kind of nice but the silk shirt he wore under it was a truly sickening shade of yellow. Then there were the sandals. They looked well made but they'd been dyed badly; the color was somewhere between pink and red. Put all together the effect was definitely...entertaining.

He choked back another burst of laughter; and people thought his taste in clothing was bad. He wished Xena and Gabrielle could see this.

Suddenly Autolycus turned and pushed him back into a doorway that was set back in the side of one of the buildings. He stepped close to Joxer, pressing him further back against the boarded-up door.

"If I hear one more sound out of you...." Autolycus let the threat go unfinished, his voice low and filled with anger.

Joxer's amusement quickly vanished. He didn't doubt that Autolycus had a good reason for being dressed the way he was. His vanity would never have allowed him to look like that if there was another choice.

"I'm sorry," he apologized.

"I just warned you about speaking! Don't you ever listen?" Autolycus snapped. "I told you to stay at Cyra's and I come back to find you gone! I spend hours tracking you down only to find you wandering through the streets like the village idiot!"

Autolycus was more than angry, and he had every right to be, Joxer reflected. This situation should never have happened. However, the depth of his anger did make Joxer wonder; it sounded like Autolycus actually cared about him. That would make things interesting.

"How could even you be this stupid?" Autolycus continued. "Do you really think they've stopped looking for us? Well let me tell you, they haven't! They don't like it when people escape, they want us back and they want to hang us! You could have gotten yourself captured and I wouldn't have been able to get to you before they executed you!"

There it was. Joxer kept his expression appropriately guilt-ridden, but inside he was smiling, the realization that Autolycus did care giving him added confidence. Now he had to bring the situation under his control. With anyone else he might not have had a chance, but he'd learned how to deal with Autolycus. He had to start with the truth.

He interrupted before Autolycus could continue the lecture. "Auto, I'm sorry. You're right; I shouldn't have left."

"Damn right, you shouldn't have." Autolycus backed down slightly, looking just a bit confused. Apparently, he'd expected an argument.

"I was really bored," Joxer explained with a sigh. "I know it's not an excuse but that's why I did it. I didn't think I went far but I guess I did because I got lost." He deliberately bit his lower lip as though he were nervous.

"You get lost a lot, don't you?" Autolycs asked although it was obvious he already knew the answer.

Joxer nodded. He wasn't any good at finding his way, he definitely had problems with his fighting skills and he was clumsy. He knew that, but he also knew how to use what talents he did possess.

"I really didn't mean to make you worry," he said, glancing up at Autolycus briefly from under his eyelashes before looking away. Nothing overt; that wouldn't work on Autolycus. Just an observation and a look; let him take that any way he wanted to.

"Yeah," Autolycus looked uncertain, much of his anger gone. "Well, just don't do it again, okay?"

"Okay." Joxer smiled. He could put a lot of suggestion into his smile when he wanted to, but for now he just made it endearing. It worked; Autolycus smiled back, albeit a small smile.

"You didn't run into any soldiers, did you?" Autolycus asked, concern coloring his tone.

"I saw a few, but I avoided them."

"You were lucky. We'll have to be careful on the way back."

"Were are we, anyway?" Joxer frowned, shifting his balance slightly so that he was almost but not quite, pressed up against the other man.

Autolycus tensed at the small but important change in proximity but he didn't comment on it, apparently believing that it was accidental. "Not too far from Cyra's, fortunately," he replied.

Joxer wasn't quite sure but he thought he heard a faint tremor in Autolycus' voice.

"Did you find us a way out of the city?" he asked.

"Not yet, but I think I'm...close."

Yeah, that time Joxer heard it. Time to press the advantage.

"Thanks, Auto." He placed his hand on Autolycus' arm. His touch was light enough to be a caress, but he didn't let his expression show that intention.

It took a moment for Autolycus to reply and when he did his voice was definitely unsteady. "I did get you into this; I guess I've worked with Xena too often because I never even considered not getting you out of it." Even his smile was lacking his usual self-assuredness.

"I told you she'd have that effect on you," Joxer said softly, letting his own smile take on just the barest hint of allure, nothing Autolycus would be able to pinpoint.

"Yeah, you did." Amusement crept into Autolycus' tone briefly before vanishing. "Funny, isn't it?"

"What?"

"I was ready to do some serious damage to you when I found you and now, I'm not even annoyed with you." He sighed, looking into Joxer's eyes. "What am I going to do with you?"

It was a rhetorical question but it was what Joxer had been waiting for.

"Don't you know?" he asked, sliding his hand up Autolycus' arm to the back of his neck.

For a moment surprise shown in Autolycus' eyes, but it was quickly replaced by desire. "Oh, you're good." He smiles as his arms went around Joxer's waist. He obviously knew he'd been seduced and just as obviously didn't care.

"I know."

Autolycus hesitated a moment more, apparently considering that response, before pulling him into a deep kiss.

At last, familiar territory, Joxer thought as he worked his tongue into Autolycus' mouth. At least he had one talent he could count on to work when he needed it to.

Autolycus drew back after a few moments, his breathing more rapid than before.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get back to Cyra's place and finish this there."

Joxer had other ideas. Keeping one hand on the back of Autolycus' neck he slid the other down his back, then lower, to rest on his ass. "Why not here?" he asked, rocking their hips together.

Autolycus gasped, closing his eyes in an apparent attempt to try to maintain his self-control. Joxer had no intention of letting him. He pressed himself as close as possible, rocking against him again, eliciting a deep groan in response.

Autolycus opened his eyes and looked at Joxer, who smiled, wetting his lips with the tip of his tongue, a calculated move that had its desired effect.

"Oh, fuck it," Autolycus muttered.

Joxer suddenly found himself pinned tightly between the boards behind him and Autolycus. It gave new meaning to the old "rock and a hard place" analogy, he thought fleetingly before his mouth was taken in a rough kiss. He felt Autolycus' arms tighten around him at the same time that Autolycus thrust against him, grinding their cocks together through the material of their pants.

That definitely felt good, he thought as Autolycus continued to move against him, but it wasn't what he'd had in mind. Breaking their kiss he managed to work his hands between them enough to push Autolycus away.

"What?" Autolycus growled, reluctantly stepping back but keeping his arms firmly around him.

"Not that this isn't nice, but I want something else." Joxer reached out to run a finger lightly over Autolycus' lips, swollen from kissing.

"This had better be good." Intense arousal was making Autolycus impatient. Good.

Joxer smiled. "Oh, I hope so."

Autolycus frowned. "What exactly is it that you want?"

"Well, for starters, it's gonna be a lot easier if you're on your knees."

Autolycus' eyes widened. "You're joking, right?"

"No." Joxer continued to smile.

"We don't exactly have a lot of privacy here!" Autolycus pointed out. He released Joxer and stepped back a little more so he could see both ends of the alleyway. A quick glance showed that no one else had entered the alley. Yet.

"I thought you liked taking chances."

"Only when I've got something to gain from it," Autolycus replied.

"Oh, well, okay then." Joxer crossed his arms and leaned back against the boards. "What if after this we go back to Cyra's place and find out just how many times I can make you come in one day?"

Autolycus stared at him a moment before looking away. He ran a hand back through his hair with a resigned sigh. "I can't believe I'm going to do this," he said to himself.

Joxer did; he'd never had any doubts. He kept himself from grinning as Autolycus stepped close and braced one hand on the boards beside Joxer's head.

"All I'm gonna say is that if we're caught here and executed, I'm going to kill you."

Joxer responded by putting his arms around Autolycus' neck and kissing him. He really wasn't too worried but he didn't see any point in trying to explain that to Autolycus, especially not now.

Autolycus returned the kiss but at the same time his hand was busy between them unlacing Joxer's pants. Joxer tilted his head back and closed his eyes as Autolycus' mouth moved down to his throat, moaning when he felt teeth lightly graze his skin. He let his arms slip from around Autolycus' neck, hands resting on broad shoulders as Autolycus dropped to his knees.

The feel of Autolycus' mouth closing around the head of his cock drew another moan from him. This was what he'd wanted, what he liked; a hot, wet mouth tight around his cock, sucking hard as it slid up and down his length. There was only one thing that could make it better.

He grasped Autolycus' hair in one hand and, holding his head still, he thrust hard. He half expected Autolycus to pull away but he was surprised when Autolycus just relaxed the muscles in his throat. He quickly took advantage of that, thrusting deeper and harder.

Groaning, Joxer bit his lower lip as he felt the suction increase. He was thrusting faster now, his hold tightening on Autolycus' hair. Gods, but it felt good! He would've been happy to do this all day; but then Autolycus swallowed and the movement of those muscles around his cock was enough to bring him off.

Joxer retained enough sense to bite down hard on his lip to keep from crying out as he came down that hot, tight throat. It was absolutely wonderful.

When it was over he didn't release his grip on Autolycus. Instead he used it to pull him up into a hard kiss. Reaching between them Joxer ran his free hand down Autolycus' stomach to the front of the his pants where he encountered Autolycus' hard cock. A brief, firm caress was all it took; Autolycus' cry was muffled against Joxer's lips as he came.

"Oh, gods," Autolycus mumbled, his head falling to rest on Joxer's shoulder when Joxer released him.

Putting an arm around Autolycus' waist, Joxer sighed contentedly as he opened his eyes. He couldn't help the slight smile that came to his lips then. That had been quicker than he would have liked but considering their circumstances, he'd been lucky to get what he did.

"Hey, Auto?" he said near Autolycus' ear.

"Huh?" came the muttered response.

"I've got good news, bad news, and really bad news; which do you want first?"

"Let's be original, gimme the good news," Autolycus said with a sigh.

"Okay; I think I know a way out of the city."

"Yeah, that is good news," Autolycus agreed. "So, what's the bad news?"

"We're gonna have to leave really soon which means that we can't go back to Cyra's place and have our 'fun.'"

Autolycus raised his head and smiled at Joxer. "You're not getting out of it that easily. Once we're out of the city, we're going to 'enjoy' ourselves for at least a day."

"Well, now that brings us to the really bad news," Joxer said. "You remember that first night when I told you that there might be a problem with this?"

Autolycus shrugged. "Yeah, and I told you we'd worry about it later."

"Right, well 'later' is gonna have to be now, because that problem I mentioned is standing behind you."

Autolycus quickly turned around ready to defend himself, only to freeze in his tracks, his eyes going wide. "Ares?" he whispered, a combination of amazement and fear mixing in his tone.

The God of War, leaning against the wall of the opposite building, raised his hands with a smirk and began applauding.

"Wonderful show, Autolycus, I didn't realize you were so...talented," Ares said, his voice heavy with sarcasm as he stopped clapping.

Autolycus, recovering enough to regain movement, looked at Joxer who was busy relacing his pants.

"You...and Ares?" he said in disbelief.

Joxer nodded with a smile.

"Oh, fuck," Autolycus said, his voice coming close to a squeak. "I'm dead!"

"Oh, I don't know about that," Ares said. "Well, maybe your fashion sense is." He looked Autolycus, his smirk widening.

"Don't you start, too," Autolycus snapped. "No, wait, I didn't mean that," he said hurriedly. "Say whatever you want to, you're the god."

"You got that right." Ares' smirk turned menacing.

"Ares..." Joxer said disapprovingly. Now that his clothing was back in order he approached Ares.

Ares turned his attention to Joxer, arching an eyebrow. "Well, I see you've kept busy."

"Don't get upset, huh? Auto didn't know."

"You should have told him."

"And he would've believed me? I don't think so." Joxer smiled.

"I don't believe this," Autolycus said, confusion evident in his tone as well as his expression.

"You'd better start," Ares said with a grow, his arm going around Joxer's waist possessively. "He's mine and it would be healthy for you to remember that from now on."

"Oh, don't worry, I'm not likely to forget this!" Autolycus assured him.

"Will you get us out of here?" Joxer asked, pressing himself against Ares with a seductive smile.

"Yeah," Ares breathed, his other arm going around him.

"I mean all of us. Auto too," Joxer clarified.

"Fine." Ares sighed in a resigned manner.

One second they were standing in the alleyway and the next they were out in the middle of nowhere.

"Where are we?" Autolycus frowned as he looked around.

There were a few small trees and some bushes scattered around but for the most part they were surrounded by tall grass.

"An old battlefield," Ares answered. "It's miles away from any populated area."

"Now why does that make me nervous?" Autolycus wondered aloud, looking suspiciously at him.

Ares set Joxer aside and crossed his arms, looking at Autolycus.

"Let's review a few things, shall we?" he said calmly. "You got my lover involved in one of your petty little thefts, you almost got him executed, then you went and fucked him. I'm not exactly happy about this you understand." His tone was still calm but the look on his face was leaning towards homicidal.

"I didn't know he was yours!" Autolycus protested, backing away.

"Doesn't matter. I think a little punishment is in order here, then maybe next time you'll think before doing something this stupid."

"Ares!" Joxer stepped in front of him. "Please don't. I mean, no harm was done and all that," he pleaded.

"Yeah, listen to him!" Autolycus nodded enthusiastically.

Joxer couldn't stop the sigh that escaped him when Ares reached out and caressed his cheek.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt him," Ares promised.

"Okay," Joxer found himself agreeing as he leaned into the caress.

"Okay?" Autolycus yelled. "You're supposed to be on my side here, Joxer!"

Ares glanced up at Autolycus and made a small motion with his free hand, then he turned his attention back to his lover.

"Oh, gods, not again!"

Autolycus' cry of dismay drew Joxer's attention away from Ares. He turned to look at Autolycus...and nearly burst out laughing.

"See, I told you I wouldn't hurt him," Ares said reasonably.

Autolycus stood there, completely naked, glaring at them both.

"This isn't funny, Ares!" he snarled.

"Yeah it is," Joxer giggled.

"Oh, thanks a lot," Autolycus snapped at him. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"It's a long walk to the nearest village so I'd get going if I were you," Ares said, humor evident in his tone. "If you head due North you should make it there in, oh, say about three days."

Autolycus looked furious but before he could say anything Ares and Joxer vanished.

"You really shouldn't leave him there without food and water," Joxer said when they arrived in Ares' temple

"He'll be fine, I put him in that place for a reason. My annoying half-brother should stumble across him in a day or so." Ares dismissed the topic with a shrug before pulling Joxer into his arms. "Now I need to deal with you."

"Are you gonna 'punish' me too?" Joxer licked his lips in anticipation.

"Oh, definitely." Ares smiled wickedly. "I've got this lovely new set of manacles...."

Fin