Confrontation pt.3

"You wouldn't mind would you?" Ares said as he flicked his fingers as two glasses of wine floated out of his bag along with wine that poured into their glasses.

"Are you sure you aren't hitting on me?" Howard said with one of his eyebrows raised, "I mean I know about the Greek gods and their way of incest and affairs, so I want to be clear that I don't swing that way before you develop an idea."

"That tongue of yours will surely be your demise someday." Ares said, "But I can see through your whole mocking scheme. You spit some unfavorable words, I get angry then I attack while I reveal my plans to show you that I am not so incompetent as you think. And then you call your people, you attack me, and so on."

"Many writers and directors will hate you for that line." Howard said sipping the freshly poured wine, "Well you need something to move the plot forwards, and my trick isn't working, so please do continue by yourself."

"I won't waste any of your time then," Ares said as he slowly distorted away, and not only him even the surrounding changed as the run-down walls faded away and he was left in an open field all alone.

Howard was still calm figuring it was an illusion of a sort but the whole scene seemed way too familiar to him. And as he feared, screams came down from the down the valley he was in. Howard rushed towards the scene as he saw a village being burned to ashes as the almost deafening scream of horror never stopped.

"I was working as one of the soldiers under your command at the time when I first noticed you." Ares who was dressed in Civil war era clothing standing right next to him. "And this was the night I realized what you truly were. I had to say that I was already quite invested in you. You and your brothers were just complete monsters, including the strongest group of soldiers throughout the war following you around. It's easy to assume things but it wasn't the soldiers who were strong, no it wasn't even your brothers, it was always you."

"Most people believe war to be about strength but in reality, it's the strategy and intelligence that wins the war." Ares's voice continued under the screams as Howard was still focused on the burning village, "And that's where you shined the most, a general leading an army, winning every battle with no fatal casualties. You are truly one of the first creations that I've admired so you should be proud of yourself but in the end, I figured you were just a measly mortal, that'll die regardless of his wits and strength."

"And that's when I saw something completely unnatural, Victor, your brother took a canon head-on. At first, I was sure he was a goner but then I saw him wake up like it was nothing. Completely fine and not a single scratch on him, and I knew what you and your brothers were. Living breathing weapons." Ares said, "I'll be honest, my first thought was to control you like I normally would but then I realized that was of no use. You were a different and unpredictable force with too many secrets."

"So you had the enemies attack the village where my lover lived to see if I will slip up and show my powers." Howard chuckled a little, "And I did."

"Being an immortal you should learn to look at things differently." Ares said, "Your lover was a mortal and could die any given day, so I saved you the pain of watching her die before your feelings could get any deeper but seeing the bloodshed I am guessing you were already in too deep. And besides, it's not me who killed her, it was never my intention, I just informed the enemy of our whereabouts, that's all."

"So sweet of you teach me that lesson," Howard said as the final scream drowned out into the cold night, "And I did start thinking that way after this incident. I realized I was a higher being and should act that way. So I stayed away from mortal affairs as best as I could especially emotional connections."

"The smell of the blood is quite something isn't it?" Ares nodded, "This scene gives me the thrill I hadn't felt in a long time. You not only killed your enemies but also those soldiers fighting by your side after they tried to attack you for they realized what you truly were. This pool of blood and dead bodies gave me quite the joy."

"I am glad these things were within my predictions, so there isn't much of a surprise element if you were hoping for one." Howard said turning his back towards him, "But yet here you are showing yourself in front of me like nothing ever happened. I am sure you had an eye on me for a while now, so now that we're done with the past. What are you truly here for? Want me to join your world-ending scheme?"

"You should know that I haven't--"

"Yeah, yeah humans are selfish and cruel and they bring destruction among themselves without you even trying. I suggest you play that horn elsewhere."

"I understand your anger for I am guessing this to be one of your worst nightmares." Ares said, "But I have been thoroughly honest as you wanted me to be."

"I am not angry at all, and I sleep just fine." Howard said turning back towards him, "You know I agree with everything you said, every single word. Monster, a living weapon, the whole concept of looking things through a different perspective, and though a little evil, I even agree with your strategy for seeing through my powers."

"I am glad you understand." Ares nodded,

"You know, I can't help but feel good about myself seeing how even the God of War is so invested in me." Howard chuckled as the imaginary world crumbled away as they were back in the candlelit room. "You can't manipulate me or control my thoughts can you?"

"I can't." Ares's expression remained the same, "And this has made me admire you even more. I have bigger plans for you in the future but a truce should do for now."

"And here I was thinking, all those crazy weapons I started creating were due to your influence on me." Howard sighed, "Guess, I am just chaotic in general."

Seeing his blatant ignorance Ares got the answer he wanted to, "Are you sure?"

"Of course, and you should know why."

"Is it because of the divinity I feel outside the building or is it a sense of duty as you still feel a need to be human?"

"None of it." Howard said nonchalantly ignoring the fact that it seemed Diana had made her way towards the place somehow, "Seeing how you're still holding a grudge and a lot of daddy issues from eons ago, you're not in the position to be advocating for letting things go when you come here and confess to being involved in my lover's death. You should know what I did to every single people involved in that incident but I seemed to have left a big fish out."

"It's more than just a grudge." Ares said, "I understood from the moment I sensed divinity here that you've already got yourself involved with the god-killer and you were likely to ignore my offer. I still hoped your intelligence would let you make a better choice but I guess the human part of you still prevails."

"What can I say, I like to be prepared." Howard said, "But boy do I want to be the one to rip your heart out of your chest and shove it back into your face."

"I'll have the most fun torturing you out of everyone after I am through with my mission," Ares said, "There is so much I could do, so many ways I can kill. It would be quite fun to see if I could find a way to kill you first or a way to break you."

"And I am just wondering what your head would look like on my shelf." Howard said, "So what now? You walk away? Run and hide? or you attack me right now?"

"Everything in this world is killable, do you really want to test my patience?"

"You wouldn't be acting so kind if you could." Howard nodded, "You can certainly torture me but what makes you think that I am not prepared."

"And what makes you think I am not?"