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"Mutual?" she asked innocently, but her blue eyes were as sharp as broken glass. Aphrodite gave a false laugh. "Aren't you forgetting, Ares? I can take that away just as easily as it came around!" Her fingernails went from shell-pink to a scarlet red. "What would happen to her if she came back and found you suddenly so... detached and disinterested? Maybe if you left? No... your relationship is still blossoming. I can wait. I could have you rip her pretty little heart out anytime I want..." she purred.

She moved away from the wall and approached him. Aphrodite ran a nail softly down the side of his face. "Imagine how badly it would hurt her... and you. You'd know exactly what you were doing, but powerless to stop it. A pity," she said dismissively. "... but I can wait. I don't run away like you do," she hissed.

Ares tensed, his jaw clenching and fingers curling into fists. He didn't know where it had come from, but there was an urge rising in him that begged him to ensure that she would not destroy this... whatever it was. It was too precious, too fragile. Glaring at her, he growled. "No, Aphrodite. Do not hurt her. She is just a bystander. She doesn't need to be involved."

Ares was going to protest--but suddenly he was being kissed by Aphrodite. He wanted to back away, but he couldn't help giving in, almost imagining that it was Evermore there kissing him, not Aphrodite. However, it ended quickly, when he took just a moment to consider his next move; this was not Evermore. This was Aphrodite, a bitter, angry Aphrodite, who was currently jealous of Evermore.

He pulled back, somewhat reluctant. She had used her powers, he knew, but he couldn't do this. He couldn't bring himself to do such a thing when someone might see, when it might hurt Evermore. "Aphrodite..." he murmured, looking away. "I... no, I'm not sorry. I never was and probably never will be, but you have to understand that..."

Understand what? He didn't even understand it himself, so how could he expect Aphrodite to?

"Understand what Ares?" she demanded, her eyes on fire. "All those years ago, you tried to play the game that I play everyday. You thought I'd get it, you thought I wouldn't want love for myself. You. Were. WRONG. I wanted that! I thought we had that... and then you ran! RAN. You COWARD!" she spat. "You never were any more than a coward! Sure, you talked big talk, but when it came down to it, you NEVER walked the walk," she said venomously.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned," she quoted, "... and I'll be damned if I don't make you pay for every second you lied to me." Aphrodite had a deadly beauty about her now. "I'll make you rip her heart out. I'll make you pay," she hissed.

Ari felt him pull away, and could hear his heart beating like a hummingbird’s wings. ”Bist du in Ordnung? Sie klingen wie Sie ertranken. Haben Sie vergessen zu atmen?” she asked, laughing. She was a bit breathless too, but grinning from ear to ear. Her eyes sparkled, and looked a little more vibrant than their usual dull selves. ”Oder vielleicht haben Sie endlich einen Herzinfarkt, weil die Nerven?”

Aphrodite stood tall and proud, her arms crossed. Inside, her heart was breaking. His feelings for that childling were deep and true. If she forgave him for his faults, it meant letting go. A part of her had already forgiven him, though. She loved him, and she hated him for it. She knew he was so close to begging… and this was probably the closest she’d ever get to hearing him do so. “Ares…” she said, and sighed. She walked up to him again and placed her hands on either side of his face. The gesture was not sexual this time, nor romantic. It was tired. Tired, and defeated.

“No matter how much I claim I loath you, my heart is forever yours,” she admitted, “… even if you lied to get me to give it to you. I will help you with this she-child on one condition.” Aphrodite looked into his eyes. “To earn my complete forgiveness and aid with this whelp of a girl, you must promise me one favor: no strings attached, whatever I want, when I want,” she said. Favors were a common form of ‘currency’ between Gods and Goddesses. She would make a valuable ally to him, so he would most likely accept to avoid risking her anger should he be foolish enough to refuse her.

"Dead and gone..." she said, humming the words like a song. "You need to keep yourself calm then. No dying on my watch!" she exclaimed, tickling him under his chin. Laughing, she pulled away. She was partly teasing him by doing so. "Ich könnte Ihnen ein Herzinfarkt! Ich könnte Ihnen ein Herzinfarkt! Ich habe sich offiziell eine Gefahr für Ihre Gesundheit!" she sang, laughing.