When in Rome

Dogfight

Mars was telling the truth when he said he liked the boy. He had spunk, he had courage, maybe a tad bit of arrogance but founded entirely on experience.

If anything he reminded him of himself, in the early years when he and all the other gods were still developing. Newly worshipped and dreamt into creation with so much power at their fingertips and no opinions or characteristics other than the domains they embodied. But still strong and running about helping people and giving them everything they asked for no matter how small the offering.

Things had changed since then; he and his fellow gods had changed. But still, this boy gave him nostalgia.

He watched him stare at the black medallion-like coin in surprise. He levelled a calculating stare on him and slowly took the seat from by the door, letting the helmet resting on it clatter, and sat in front of him.

"what do you have to say?"

Mars smiled, "I'm making a house call, figured I'd meet Pluto's mortal representative."

Hiccup narrowed his eyes, Mars could practically hear wheel's turning in his head as he thought of every implication and possibility, "I don't believe you."

"aww," he gave him an overdramatic pout, "no benefit of the doubt? Come on, give me a chance. I've been blessing your troops-"

"and to do so you took a girl's soul as offering."

Mars sighed, "yes, Annabella. Poor child."

Hiccup raised a brow, clearly not believing him empathetic.

"look," Mars shifted in the chair and straightened, "I will not call it honourable. Only necessary. You'll understand."

"no, I don't think I will."

Mars laughed, "boy, do you think you're the first human to struggle with freedom? With humanity? With the decision to take lives? No. every man goes through this, you are not special in the dramatic sense." Mars levelled a tired look on him, "I have seen hundreds of wars. Do you think you are the first to think yours justified? To call the militarising of children wrong?"

Hiccup clenched his jaw. "I never said I was significant, just that this was immoral."

Mars shook his head, "some evils cannot be avoided. And you will thank me for this in future. But that doesn't make it better. I do not agree with it either." He fiddled with the coin, "but that's not what I'm here for."

"why take the offering if you don't agree with it?"

"I am a war god, boy. I know how to make hard choices. I know more about strategy than you could ever hope for." He tossed the coin to Hiccup, who caught it and stared at it with confusion, "and this strategy is the same as Pluto's."

"excuse me?"

"you and that girl are not much different, situation wise."

"I still have a choice."

"do you?" Mars gave him a pointed look, "if Pluto asked you to bear arms would you turn him down?"

Hiccup glared, "I still have the choice."

Mars sighed, "aye, yes. Yes you do. But," Mars held up a finger, "Pluto gives you favour for the same reason I took Annabella's offering."

Hiccup raised an eyebrow, a clear sign to go on.

"I'm sure he's rambled about visions and danger to come?"

"plenty."

Mars nodded, "it grows closer. The gods don't know what's coming, it's being obscured. We need information and the only way we will get it is with-"