blood runs red ✓

XXIV

'having kids doesn't make you a father - raising them does'

- unknown

Ares

It was Leonardo's 66th birthday. For his 66th birthday he had decided to manipulate and blackmail Ares into appearing at his dinner.

A dinner full of people Ares only dreamt of knowing during his childhood. Faces of people he wished would send him a cards for his birthday but yet never once thought of him.

Ares knew one thing coming to this dinner; he was not going to let Leonardo get his way.

Unfamiliar faces turned directly towards Ares as he wondered in, August following shyly behind.

"Ares." Leonardo stood up to greet him and tilted his head towards the boxer's ear. "How much later did you think we would wait for you?"

"Late enough." Ares muttered, unbothered.

The older man shot a smile at August; his expression seemed almost irritated by the presence of him. It was like he didn't expect Ares to really bring anyone.

Judgmental looks passed around the room. Not only had Ares arrived mildly late, he hadn't dressed up properly for the occasion: Sweatpants and skins.

August however did try his best to put in some effort to his wardrobe, with the very little he had. It wasn't anything impressive to the others though.

Leonardo cleared his throat. "Please, sit."

So they did.

Ares' eyes wandered down the table, there were approximately twelve people or so he could count. All people in which he could be related to.

"So, Ares?" An older woman, younger than Leonardo but still quite sour, faced him. "Famous boxer? That's quite impressive. How do you feel about such achievements?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." Ares clenched his jaw.

Leonardo inhaled out of slight embarrassment. "What are you, a child? You don't talk to family like that."

"Family? What family?" Ares spat.

August sat awkwardly, his hands in his lap.

"Ares!" The woman brought her to his attention once more. "Alessandro, please introduce yourself." She was talking to someone sitting next to her.

Ares hadn't noticed him earlier; he was sort of shy and uncomfortable by the setting. It reminded Ares of August slightly.

"Hey." His eyes locked onto the ground.

Ares greeted himself in return, small conversations taking place around the dinner table.

The older woman whispered something angrily in Alessandro's ear, something enough to make him excuse himself to the bathroom.

Ares turned his face to August, who has hardly spoken a word to anybody since arriving.

"You good?"

"Fine."

Ares laughed. "Yeah, right."

August rolled his eyes. "Your family is kinda scary."

"That's pathetic." Ares scoffed, jokingly.

Before August could reply to him, Ares had managed to be the prime subject in a conversation that was being shared around the table.

Most people were asking about his reputation about being ruthless, whether it was all an act or not. Some people looked distant, as if they were trying to avoid him completely.