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Chapter 2: Trouble in paradise

While Damon and Asterius got closer Theseus wondered where his friend had gone, he hadn't seen him in quite a while and nobody spoke of him challenging anyone to a spar.

Hopefully that lecherous brigard hadn't kidnapped...oh perish the thought, Asterius was mighty and could not be captured by some rascal. He had likely just found a meadow and was sleeping the days away.

Then again...he did need to have a little chat with that upstart about the rules and put him in his place so he wouldn't bother his friend again.

Unaware of their pursuer Damon and Asterius had awoken and made a meal to take with them to a wonderful meadow with tame animals that Asterius knew of.

"This place is incredible..." Damon petted a deer, which leaned into his touch rather than skit away.

"There are a few places that I haven't grown bored of, this is one of them." Asterius chuckled at how Damon, with childish wonder, walked around the place and petted all the animals while he unpacked their food from the basket.

But right before they could dig in the place changed and Asterius had to seriously focus to bite back a curse.

"Wh-what happened?"

"The realm has turned defensive due to an intruder...most likely Zagreus again..." Asterius nostrils flared.

"Oh you did mention him, Hades son, sometimes checks up on the defenses." Damon smiled, but it was a cold smile.

"Say...how about I lend you a hand this time around?" Asterius paused and looked at his friend and they smiled evilly at each other. They would make the prince of the underworld pay for ruining their peaceful moment together.

Zagreus entered Elysium none the wiser to the danger that lied ahead. "Oh...well if it isn't Asterius' room?" After so many runs he had begun to be able to recognize what lay behind each door by the minor differences in their appearance despite the rooms always being shuffled.

"It's been a while since we had a spar." The prince entered and then paused as the minotaur was not alone this time.

"Why hello Asterius...who is the new company?" He was surprised by the twitch upward on the minotaur's mouth.

"A new friend of mine." The bovine hefted his mighty axe ready.

"Name's Damon...and you will pay for ruining our planned picnic." Before Zagreus could ask, the white-haired hero had drawn two swords.

"Now now...surely this is just a misunderstanding..." Zagreus tried to buy himself some time to understand what was going on.

"The only thing you need to know is that your mock escape ruined our time together and we are not happy about it!" Damon got into a stance his friend had shown him and found it better than his self-taught one.

"Wait...you know about... ?" Zagreus was cut off and barely leaned backwards enough to avoid the sudden blade that had been aimed at his neck.

The prince gulped...he was in big trouble...

Damon had begun to take lessons under the minotaur and they were already paying off. Every strike of his was dodged but that was the aim. Completely unaware, Zagreus was being culled into a position where Asterius would make the final strike.

Zagreus barely managed to see the descending axe. "Blood and dark-" he was cut off as he was hit.

"Well that takes care of-" Damon was cut off as the blood pool that the prince of the underworld had dissolved into suddenly condensed back into Zagreus.

"Whew...I am glad I picked that talent this time around or that would have been the end of me." Zagreus was sweating bullets, he was utterly unprepared for these two.

"So are the defenses up to task your highness?" Damon snarked, just wanting to go back to enjoying himself with his friend.

"Well...I usually go until I completely die..." Zagreus replied.

"And you just...what...do mock escapes only?" Damon questioned.

"It's what I am good at." The prince smirked.

"You are not gonna catch all the flaws doing that." Damon admonished him and the prince actually flinched. "Hmm...maybe you are right...but I gotta finish this attempt."

"Gladly." A cold shiver ran down the son of Hades back as Damon reached down and unlocked his anklets and looked up at him with a dangerous smile.

"Zephyr." Was all Zagreus heard before he was bombarded with a storm of strikes and fell over dead again.

"Darkness..." The prince muttered as he got up again, "That took away both my remaining second chances."

"He's a tough one to kill..." Damon breathed heavily, he had wanted to make it quick, but that technique quickly tired him out.

"Yeah..I am kinda like..." The prince's eyes widened in shock as he was hit straight on by Asterius who had lopped his axe at him. This time he didn't appear again.

Elysium transformed back into it's more peaceful state.

"Three revivals, he rarely has more than that, often fewer." The minotaur smirked at their victory.

"He better have gotten the message not to just do a mock escape on a whim again." Damon huffed, but relaxed as Asterius picked him up.

"You tired yourself out using that skill of yours, let me carry you back to our date."

"D-date?!" Damon squeaked and Asterius froze. "Dear Aphrodite, did I say that out loud?"

"Yes...yes you did...and we can change it to a date if you want." Damon teased the minotaur who blushed but muttered "I...I would not be opposed to that."

The prince revived back home with a fearful reminder to not spontaneously try to escape again lest he interrupt Damon and Asterius again, he did not want to have a replay of that.

"Welcome back" Hypnos greeted and then checked his list "You died to Asterius again...oh! And someone called "Damon", is he new?"

Zagreus nodded "yeah...now excuse me I will try to arrange a formal inspection of the underworld rather than another mock trial." As used as he was to dying, he needed a break after that one-sided massacre.

Hypnos nodded "Okay you go ahead and do that" he said and nodded off to sleep again.

With that matter taken care of, Damon was whisked back to the meadow where their picnic had yet to actually begin. After using that technique, the demi-god was a bit winded and was grateful to Asterius for carrying him back.

"Say...I was planning on giving it to you later, but since this is now a date...I better give you a proper gift." Damon smirked as he pulled out a small box for Asterius who wondered what was in it.

"Well go on, it is for you after all." Damon encouraged the minotaur who opened the gift and paused as he saw the ring.

"It's a new nose ring, it is much smaller and less obtrusive than your old one, I hope it's the right size...I did my best to measure you."

Spellbound, Asterius grabbed the ring and admired it. It looked nice, being the perfect smallest size possible. To his surprise, there was no need for piercing, as soon as he brought it close to his snout, a spell of sorts allowed it to trade places with the one already in his nose. With the thick, awkward ring in his palm, he breathed a sigh of relief. That constant discomfort was finally gone...This new one was very unintrusive...he could barely feel it even when focusing on it, it was just a tiny bit of pressure on the inner wall of his nostrils.

The minotaur traced a finger along it, the ring exited one nostril, traveled alongside the skin of his columella and rounded into the other.

"Do you li-Hmpgh!?" Asterius pulled Damon into a surprise kiss. The demi-god blinked as he recovered from the surprise "I will take that as a "yes"" he hugged the neck of the minotaur as he shed relieved tears.

Being rid of that constant feeling was amazing, but it was the fact that Damon cared enough to seek out something that could help him. There was nothing that could be done about his curse to wear a ring but this new one made it more than bearable, he might even forget he was wearing it. He hugged the demi-god tight and thanked him.

"So...would this be considered a successful first date?" Damon asked with a smile.

"You will have a hard time topping this on our next date you know..." Asterius pointed out teasingly. "Oh darkness..." Damon cursed, then they both laughed.

At this point, Theseus was very concerned. It had been more than a month now and there had been no sign or word of Asterius. He couldn't help but let his worst fears take over his rationale. There had even been an attack which had just suddenly been solved without any fanfare.

Laying down on his lectus, he finally recalled what the minotaur had told him. Someone new had come to the layer and had the gall to request a kiss from his friend in exchange for winning during a spar that they likely cheated to win. There was no doubt in his mind that this unknown person was responsible for his friend's disappearance.

Just as he was about to invoke his authority to rally a search party his friend arrived in the room and he almost fell off his couch in shock.

"Ah...there you are my steadfast companion, I was wondering about your whereabouts." Theseus managed to hide his worry in his boisterousness.

"Hmm...you were...worried about me?" Asterius looked confused. An entire month was an awful long time to just worry without acting.

"Well...so much happened all at once, I was just about to gather a search party when you showed up, I knew you were alright. My mighty rival knows no match except for myself after all."

As flattering as that was, Asterius felt his friend's underlying anger.

"Come sit down, that one over there is reinforced, and tell me what adventures you have been on while away." Asterius blinked, his friend had made him a reinforced seat?

As nice as the gesture was...they had been together for an awfully long time and it just felt a bit ill-timed that only now had his friend thought about doing this. Damon had made some for him out of consideration and they had only known each other for a short while.

But...Theseus was his friend...he owed him everything, so he sat down without voicing such thoughts. Once comfortable, he indeed gave the details of his time away from the palace.

As the hero king listened, he was horrified to hear that the minotaur was spending all of his time with Damon. He was told of the room made for him and the gift he was given. Even after being told, he still did not notice the new ring. The only thing he focused on was his hand missing the feeling of holding his spear, that...that...scoundrel was mesmerizing his friend and stealing him away from him!

He would have to act and do so quickly before Asterius was lost to him!

"Ah my friend, you have been away for too long, have a flask of ambrosia to drink." Theseus offered his friend the drink reserved for only the gods and highest nobility.

"I will arrange for the hot baths to be prepared for our use, let us enjoy each other's company this day." Theseus declared but had already planned the excuse he would use to slip away while his friend was being pampered to confront Damon.

The minotaur could sense that something was off. Not only with the offer of the drink that had been all but forbidden for him to consume but the last time he checked, the baths were not big enough for him to get truly comfortable.

"Theseus...I can't drink this..."

"Oh shush...you are the friend of a king, it was high time you had a taste of this." Theseus insisted as he poured them both a glass. Though his body language was steady, Asterius heard a bit of desperation in his voice.

Had Theseus really missed him so much? He was falling over himself to try and get him to stay. But it was only after he was gone for some time did change finally come to fit his needs... When comparing it to Damon's acts of making things suitable for him from the start...

It felt...selfish, as if he was being bribed. Theseus didn't feel like he was doing this for him, but rather...himself. But...Asterius gritted his teeth...this was his friend...they had sworn to each other...

Daring to think back to the day they met, he could recall himself pledging to Theseus but when he tried to recall the other doing the same...yes...he had called him "friend"...but never a pledge like his own.

"Is everything alright, Asterius?" Theseus asked, sounding a bit worried.

Sighing Asterius picked up the glass, trust...he trusted him...and drank it. The divine taste was soured by his mood, but Theseus looked happier and that eased the guilt he was feeling.

"Wonderful, let us spend the day together, my trusted companion." Theseus led the minotaur to the baths, but when Asterius came out undressed his friend was nowhere to be seen.

A maid approached "A sudden matter required Theseus' presence, he said he would return with haste once it is settled."

Trust...trust...Asterius swallowed nervously and did his best to enjoy himself as much as he could. He noticed that the baths were expanding in length but were lacking depth to really submerge his body. It was as if the expansion was rushed...the minotaur huffed and laid down and let himself float...yeah...this was better...

The water was nice, but now he was all alone...again... Theseus had promised they would spend the day but he's gone now...he had promised to return quickly...he always kept his promises...trust...trust...relax and just...trust that it was just his emotions playing tricks on him.

With him floating all alone, he couldn't help but wonder how Damon was doing right now...

Damon was brought out of his reading when the screeching of chariot wheels coming to a halt outside his home.

Had Theseus given Asterius a lift back? Damon wondered, how thoughtful of him.

But as he exited the house the minotaur was nowhere to be found and the hero king stood armed with his famed spear and shield.

"Fiend! You have tried to corrupt mine companion with thine tricks and fake kindness, I shall strike thee down and force ye to promise never to even lay eyes on Asterius again!" It took a brief moment before the words sunk in for Damon.

"Wh-what?" Fake kindness...did he think he was just pretending to be Asterius' friend ? "I-I assure you that I am not faki-"

"I take no assurances from fiends such as thee!" Theseus shut down any possibility of trying to talk this situation out.

With no way to get through to Theseus, Damon was seeking other methods and noticed that Asterius himself was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is he? Where is Asterius? He said he was going to you." Damon inquired.

"He is safe from thee, Fiend! I shall not betray his location, now...ready thineself!"

What was going on? Theseus sounded like he was trying to protect Asterius from him, but that made no sense...he would never intentionally hurt his friend.

"I don't know what in Hades name is going through your head...but I am not just gonna be pushed over by someone who clearly isn't thinking straight."

"Hah...mine thinking is as straight as mine spear." Theseus boasted.

"And just as narrow apparently." Damon insulted the hero king and with a furious yell from Theseus their battle commenced.

The lessons from Asterius did well to aide the demi-god. To his credit, Theseus was just as fierce in battle as the minotaur, but relied more on skill than strength. That darn shield of his deflected just about anything thrown directly at him without making him even flinch.

"Thy are not worthy of Asterius' company!" Theseus raged as he threw his spear and then recalled it when it missed.

"Is that what this is all about? You're jealous!?" Theseus snarled furiously at the question.

"Silence!" Damon ducked barely in time.

"NO! I will not! How dare you try to imprison Asterius like that! What sort of tyrant are you to decide who your friend is allowed to associate with!?" Theseus was being forced back as Damon was not giving him any opening to counterattack, his barrage of slashes was relentless and all he could do was try and weather it.

"To be friends with?!" Damon's strikes were not weakening...if anything...they were getting stronger...

"To trust, to love?! How DARE you isolate him like that!?" One moment Theseus had Damon in his trained eye...the next he was gone and then appeared right in front of him, behind his outstretched shield and far too close for him to try and attack him with his spear.

Rather than swords Damon rammed two daggers into the midsection of the hero king and with a battlecry lifted him still impaled over his head and then tore the daggers out Theseus sides and let him drop to the ground only to send him flying with a kick.

To his credit Theseus managed to use the kick to get himself unto his feet, but to his dismay he clearly would not be able to take this fiend on his own easily.

Raising his spear Theseus prepared to invoke the aid of the gods as he had done many times in the past. "Aphrodite!" He called on the goddess' aid, but rather than the familiar rush of power nothing happened.

Had he...accidentally angered the goddess? Shaking the thought off, Theseus tried again "Ares!" Still nothing. "Poseidon!" nothing "Z-zeus!" nothing "D-d-demeter!" Nothing.

The hero king didn't bother to try and invoke the aid of anyone else, he fell to his knees in shock. Why had he been abandoned? One angered deity he might understand, but what could he possibly have done to earn the ire of them all?

"Are you done?" Damon asked. There was nothing more that his opponent could do, not with how much damage he had already taken. Swallowing his pride, Theseus admitted defeat. He could not beat Damon in a fight, but he was still adamant on keeping Asterius away from him.

"Theseus..." The hero king turned around and paled as he saw his companion standing there with an expression he had never seen before.

"I meant what I said back in the arena when we fought against Zagreus together...our bond is unshakeable...no one can break it...except you." Theseus eyes widened in realization.

"Tell me...what am I to you? Am I your friend..." Asterius' look turned cold "Or am I some kind of trophy that you jealously guard to keep for yourself?"

Theseus gripped his spear so hard that his knuckles were turning white, this...this couldn't be his fault! It was...he turned his sight to Damon...it was his!

Damon sighed and got into a low stance as Theseus was clearly about to do something stupid. "Boreas." He called out and shot forward at blinding speed, kicking up a massive amount of dust.

The reflexes Theseus had earned through his life as a hero was the only reason he managed to lift his shield in time to block the cross-slash, but as he turned to strike the back of the fiend a small metallic "thud" caught his attention and he looked down to see a piece of his shield on the ground. Then he felt immense pain run through him and he dispersed, his last thoughts were of shock that his shield which had protected him from even the mightiest of dangers had finally met its match.

"Are you okay?" Damon turned to Asterius before collapsing from exhaustion.

"Damon!" The minotaur rushed to him and picked him up and carried him inside "I told you not to use those skills, they are too draining on your stamina."

"Had to show him he couldn't just push you around." Damon muttered.

"And you did...he will definitely not try something like this again..." The minotaur sighed

"what has gotten into you old friend?" Asterius asked nobody in particular and hoped Theseus just needed some time alone to sort out his feelings.

When they met again...Theseus better have a solid explanation for his actions...otherwise...that bond they had might just break...he didn't want that, but...

Asterius sighed, later...not now...he was too tired and upset. Damon did not protest as he put him in the large bed in his personal room and slept alongside him.