𝙄 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨

Her Past

She pushed him away and he turned to look at James irritated.

James looked from one to the other, taking in the fact that Tal was exposed, no shirt, just a bra covering her.

James eyes trailed down to her stomach, no stitches, no wound, nothing. Skin smooth as a baby's.

His eyes widened.

"Wha-How?" he asked confused.

Tal rolled her eyes and bent down to pick up her shirt.

She quickly put it on and patted James on the shoulder.

"Let's go James. Ares will explain everything in the car." she said quickly and went to leave but Ares quickly grabbed her by the wrist.

"What? I will not!" he protested.

Tal closed her eyes to retain her anger.

"James. Go put the things in the car. You can choose where we eat breakfast. Go before I change my mind." she said in a strict tone.

James frowned in confusion, before nodding and walking out of the room.

She turned to look at Ares her fury evident.

"Your mission. Your problem. You handle all the explanations. All the tantrums. Everything. Or I won't help." she said defiantly.

He clenched his jaw, looking into her eyes as if he could change her mind.

Her gaze was stronger.

He sighed and nodded.

" Fine. As you wish. "he said in surrender.

She smiled, a proud smile.

" Good. Let's go. " she said marching towards the door.

Before she exited though, he twisted her around and before she could react, planted a kiss on her mouth.

She pushed him off of her and wiped on her mouth.

"What was that for?" she glared at him.

"Just taking what I'm owed." he said cheerfully before walking out.

She stood there for a few moments, touching her lips, before quickly following him out.

They walked towards the car and he stole glances at her.

She sat on the drivers seat and he on the front one, next to her.

James was already behind, looking out the window.

Tal looked at Ares pointedly.

He clenched on his jaw and then turned to look at James.

"Listen, kid." he started but James cut him off.

"Why are you calling me kid? You're only what? Ten years older than me?" he asked with a frown.

Tal stifled a laugh.

Ares glared at her.

"Okay. I'm just going to tell you everything I know. I am a God. The greek god of war. Ares." he said.

James laughed.

"I see you're really into your name. Alright. That's fair." he said in between his laugh.

Tal couldn't help but chuckle, Ares clenched his firsts.

"Kid.Just let me speak. It concerns you. Trust me." he said seriously and James rolled his eyes.

"Sure...God of War. Continue..."he said dismissively and turned to Tal.

" Where did you find this one again? Are you sure you don't have a thing for phychos? " he asked her.

Tal broke into a hysteric laugh.

" Oh my gods, you're killing me! " she said banging softly into the wheel.

James smiled at her reaction. He liked making her laugh. He hadn't seen her so light since she first caught him.

Ares looked between them and felt the anger rising inside him.

He quickly grabbed James by the collar and let his eyes glow red.

James smile dropped and he stared dump founded into his eyes.

"You stupid mortal. How dare you mock me in my face and flirt with her?" he snarled in his face.

James trembled.

Tals eyes widened.

"What are you doing?" she said pulling him away from James. "I told you to talk to him. Not phychologically scar him!" she yelled before glaring at him and turning to look at a now unconscious James.

"Weak." Ares commented.

Tal rolled her eyes.

"You are useless." she said before exiting the car.

One thing she asked him to do and he couldn't even do it properly.

He followed her angrily.

"I'm the problem here? He wouldn't listen to me! He mocked me in my face! You both did!" he accused.

She rolled her eyes, continuing to walk away from him.

"Boo hoo. Little Ares got his feelings hurt. Grow up." she said.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him.

"Don't you speak to me that way!" he demanded.

She rolled her eyes.

"Or what? You'll hit me? Scare the hell out of me? I've lived more war than you can imagine. While you were busy leading it, I was busy trying to survive it.
You have no idea how much I've lost because of your little tantrums. I've changed. And I thought you changed as well. But apparently I was wrong. "she said pulling her wrist away from him.

He stared at her, confused.

" What do you mean? Where did you go, Atalanta? When you disappeared, where did you go? "he asked.

She stopped dead in her tracks.

" A portal opened up. I was pulled in. Next thing I new I was somewhere else.
Bombs dropping next to my ears. People screaming, crying, running. I run with them. Faster than any of them. I found a forest, a cabin. There was a woman there. In her sixties. Grace. I spoke in ancient greek. I thought she wouldn't understand. She did. She was a teacher before the war. Teaching ancient greek.
She helped me calm down and explained everything. Told me about the Nazis. The war. Everything. It was 1940.
She took me under her wing and taught me English. I hunted for her and brought food to the table, most of it we gave to those in need. The rest we ate. I took care of her and she took care of me.
Until the Nazis came. She was a Jew. They took her. She told me to run. I did.
I ran fast. They couldn't catch up to me.
I hid. I listened on the radio that America was gathering soldiers. They needed the help. I got on a boat and traveled there.
I needed revenge. Perhaps a new purpose. I enlisted. They were hesitant to take me because I was a woman. I quickly proved I was more than better than their men.
I found Grace was dead. Years passed and the war ended. I served for other wars. Helped as much as I could. People started to age. I didn't. Suspicion run wild. I ran away again. Changed my identity. An undercover agent.
They found nothing on my past. Suspicion again. Running. Being a bounty hunter was the only thing that didn't require too much explanation. Just a licensed gun and qualifications. I had those. All those years....I saw people die, I killed people and run. That had been my life. So don't tell me you're hurt. Or traumatized. Cause you wouldn't know anything about it. " she finished.

Ares gulped. He had no idea.

In the end they were strangers.