From ARES to MARS
This is Rated Mature. Please read accordingly.
Chapter 1: The Man from the Shore
In a vast field of sunflowers, facing the blue sea in a soft orange sunset dream.
A gentle, demure, loving voice speaks:
"Mars…Oh Mars," She whispers as she caresses his face. Mars opens his deep blue eyes; he smiles at her, seeing her sunflower-colored blonde hair and meadow green eyes.
She snorts and chuckles.
She took a sunflower with vermilion petals as she smiled and tapped her lap, letting Mars rest on it.
She gently set the vermilion sunflower on the upper crevice of Mars' ear.
He retorted, "Selene, this is girlie…" as they chuckled.
"My Bumblebee…" said Selene as she kissed him.
They stood up as they ran around the flower fields, laughing as she kept on laughing and laughing, falling off a cliff.
Mars's expression shifted as he ran towards her.
They fell into a deep blue sea. Mars looked at Selene as the water slowly poured inside the car, making him lose consciousness with a wound on his eyebrow while holding Selene's hand.
Blue-Red lights flicker with the siren noises.
The police sirens pass by on the ground level, waking up Mars now, like a bad dream from a bittersweet nightmare.
His eyes were tired and teary. He scratched the scar on his eyebrow.
He stastood from the coach in the ground floor of the Martial Lion Company as he faced the door.
"Uhm, Mars, you okay bro?" asked a black-haired woman with blue eyes. "I'm fine, Bellona." He rubbed his eyes and yawned. Bellona woke up a black-haired woman with light blue eyes. "Minerva, let's take a break, okay?" said Bellona/
There were other people on the desks sleeping; they all seemed tired from having worked overtime. "You get some rest, Mars; me and I will handle it later. Take a rest, bro," said Bellona.
Mars holds his head and nods as he goes to the elevator. goes inside the bathroom and takes a shower. He checks on his body, well-muscled, well-toned. But the scar on his eyebrow. He holds it. Then move on.
In the Past, Selene used to pinch his scar on a warm sunflower yellow meadow.
"No, I'm just upset you called me fat…" said Selene. "You are, though, but I still love you, my fatty," Replied Mars. Selene looked upset as Mars laughed. As they ran, Selene began to laugh and snort.
Back to the present, the memory warms him, putting a smile on his cold tower building, it was almost midnight on a deep blue sky, almost dawn in his office. Looking down at the world.
The next day, he looks at the mirror, at his deep blue eyes as he looks at his cleanly shaven face.
Still having bittersweet dreams, and the car submerging in a blue distant dream.
Looking at Selene and him on their Wedding day.
Next, he's doing push-ups. As he stands up. He stops; he looks back at the Smart Television. The secretary looks at it; she smiles. Brand Ex was bought now by Martian Lion on the text. Mars smiles as he goes away.
Mars yawns as he passes among his employees, celebrating, happy, but still weary of him.
As he goes in front of the elevator. "Martian Lion… We are celebrating after acquiring Brand Ex, Flowerhound Farms, and Bumble Honey products… I just need a rest. Go break some legs," said Mars as everyone celebrates. He looks back. "You too, take a breather; we worked hard to acquire those." He said as the secretary smiled as she joined the other employees.
Mars smiled a little as he went inside the elevator.
He watched the employees, his stepsisters, his brother, and his Stepfather talking with the employees.
Then,
The penthouse was silent, too silent. He sat down and relaxed. He looked at his phone. It was Selene with a sunflower field on Mars, while a vermilion sunflower rested in the crevice on Mars' ear.
The next day, he lay on the floor on a blue rainy day, drops like tears, hitting Mars' dry eyes.
He looks at the end, looking at the gloomy city, atop the best view in twilight.
Raindrops keep falling as Mars goes back inside.
Imagining his wife embracing him on a sunny, warm yellow-orange sunset in his memories.
In his memories: "Hey babe..." said Selene as she kisses him on the cheek. Seeing a younger Mars laying on the floor as they cuddle. They stand up.
"Selene, come on, I still have a company to run..." replied a younger Mars.
"You're all work, and no play..." she said by her as they stared, and she bit her lower lip, as giggles were heard from the room from the past.
Contrasting the gloomy blue present. Mars was alone in the living room on a blue rainy day.
In his bathrobe. He goes to his room and changes clothes.
He wears a white tank top, gets some cereal as he sits at the table.
He looks up at the memories…
In times past; on a sunny amber flashback.
"Selene! That's gross... Ketchup on cereal?" a disgusted inquiry from her husband.
"Yes! Here, try it!" said Selene as she took a spoonful and gave it to Mars.
In the present, a gloomy rainy day.
Mars was just staring at the chair in front of him. "Selene! No! GROSSS!!!" said Mars, echoing inside his head. He smiles as a tear flows down from his left eye as he closes and wipes it.
Later, He's wearing a suit with a red tie. He faces the camera on his Laptop.
Then he was in a web meeting, looking intimidating.
"I'll think
Inside his room again. He was on the Right side of the Bed, looking at the left side of the bed.
"I love you, my Bumblebee…" as echoes of Selene were inside his mind.
The Next morning, he looked at the date.
It was their Wedding Anniversary…
As well as her Death…
He drove his car with a bouquet of vermilion sunflowers on the left seat and another colored bouquet of sunflowers on his back. All those 5 years of anniversaries, one each time.
He was driving for miles and miles when he stopped at a gated flower field and a Gravestone.
Mars stands in front of the gravestone: Selene de Leon.
He kisses his palm and puts it on her grave as a blonde, tall cowboy riding a horse looks at him.
"Huh… Is someone visiting Selly? Howdy!" He goes down with a stoic demeanor. Mars looks back.
"This is new. I never knew Selene had other visitors, including me and her family, two; probably one from her sister," said Mars.
"I know, Mene sure goes here from time to time; I'm their foster brother. Name's Ares; I just returned here a few years ago," said Ares.
"She did mention that. Nice to put a face on the name," said Mars. "Glad to meet you, Selly's husband, huh? Nice." Said Ares as he winked. Mars smiles softly.
"I'm Mars...Mars De Leon," replied Mars.
Ares extends his hand for a handshake as Mars obliged. Ares tips his hat as the hat drops, then he picks it up. Mars laughs a little.
"See you around, Boss-man. Oh, it may look like clear skies, but it might rain soon- a strong one. My cabin is a few miles ahead; I would be happy if you visit or grab a drink or two. I want to know what Selly's up to all these years, if you have time," replied Ares as he moved his eyebrows up and smiled gently. "Aight…" as he rides back his horse and goes to the mountain road to the pastures.
"Quite a Charmer. Oh, Selene, your little foster brother is something else," then Mars sits next to his wife's grave.
He sighs and smiles as he caresses the grave fondly as he looks at the sunset on the shore nearby.
The sky is clouding up, making a peach, yellow, pink sunset.
It starts to rain; Mars grabs his pocket, realizing there are no keys. He looks at his car; the keys were inside.
"Fuck!" Mars looks around for any shelter of sorts, but he found none.
He sat on the bench near a lamppost and gave up as he looked at the vast ocean.
The rain flows, and flows as the night turns it darker and darker, even windier, on its cold blue embrace.
The lamppost near him warms his cold night a little.
He shivers and sighs. "I'm wet already," said Mars as he removed his suit, leaving only his red boxer briefs.
He remembers what Ares said. "Duh. Ares' cabin." Said Mars, to his disappointment.
"Ya called?" An umbrella's shadow looms above him, shielding him a little from the rain.
He looks back. It was Ares; "I… got a little worried, since your car is still nearby, so I checked," implied Ares.
Mars sighs in relief while shivering. They started to walk.
Let's go down the shore; my cabin is about half a mile away.
"Thanks, I'm a fool thinking I got my keys," said Mars as he shivered.
"If you don't mind, you've been in the rain for hours, I think?" Said Ares as he removed his leather jacket, revealing a tank top. He pulled Mars close to his body and covered them with his jacket.
Mars pulled back a little. "No! You'll get wet too," said Mars. "I don't really mind; better than hypothermia on yours. Don't get the wrong idea," replied Ares as he noticed him to be colder and shivering.
"Damn, you're too cold; come closer," said Ares as they touch skin and a half-embrace. Mars comes closer, making him blush a little. Ares looks at him. Mars shivers as his ears and cheeks become red. "Damn, you looked feverish." Said Ares as he held him closer, realizing something, making Ares blush. "I mean, sorry, It's better than Selly's husband getting sick in my watch; you kind of need it…wait a minute…" said Ares as he blushes more and adds, "Fuck it, you are Selly's husband, you are a friend to me, in a way." Said Ares.
Mars smirks. He looks at Ares. "Eeeughh…this will be awkward," replied Mars as he hugs him.
Ares looks at him with a smile, then looks away. "Just so you don't get sick. Don't take it the wrong way," As he looked at him. Mars hugs him closer. "Thanks." Replied Mars as they slowly walked.
His tensed body relaxes a little. He closes his eyes and hugs just a little tighter. Ares notices that… "It'sthanks." Said Mars. Ares notices it as he hugs Mars closer. They look at each other as Ares pulls the jacket up slowly; in brief seconds, their eyes met, then he looks up at the jacket, covering his head. "There, even warmer," said Ares as he looked up the shore as the continue walking. Mars giggles a little, then he stops, then ponders why he giggled.
Mars ponders and adds, "It's awkward." Replied Mars. "No, I think you need it… for…your body heat," said Ares, then he farts.
They burst out laughing.
Mars remembers the same with Selene. In a rainy park in the past, she farts to break the silence.
Back in the present, they look ahead, seeing the Cabin.
Ares starts a fire in the fireplace and arranges it to have a drying rack. Then he removes his tank top and leather jacket, and put it next to it on the rack.
"Give me yours too, to dry it up," said Ares, as Mars blushed and sighed. Ares removed his pants, leaving his underwear. "Whoa whoa whoa!" said Mars as he looked away. "Chill dude, we're both guys." Said Ares.
"No, I mean, have some decency…" said Mars. "Eh, we're both guys," replied Ares. Mars looked at him; he was in blue shorts and a tank top. Mars looked at the clothes.
He then spreads his cowboy physique in the heat of the fire. "I will look back, so you can change," said Ares. Mars removes his wet clothes and underwear, dries himself with the towel, and wears the shorts and tank top. "Wow, this is comfy," said Mars.
"It is; join me, you lose some body heat being in the rain for a few hours…" said Ares. Mars seemed to doubt, but he still shivered.
"Ahhhhh…" grunted Ares, and Mars, warmed by the warmth of the fire, looked at each other and laughed. Mars still shivered. "Dude, hypothermia, come here..." said Ares. Mars seems to feel awkward and looks away. "I won't hug you; the fire is ah-o-kay…" said Mars as Ares put on a comforter. "What hug? That was an emergency because going here takes time," intrigued Ares.
Mars blushed in shame.
"Just kidding." Said Ares, giving Mars a cup of cocoa as they warmed themselves up. They laughs. Ares looked at Mars. Mars looked back, "Is there something on my face?" asked him. "Nah, I saw your face; you seemed more mature, and that scar in your eyebrow…" replied Ares.
Mars looked down and looked away with a sad face and touched it. "Sorry if that is a touchy subject…" replied Ares.
Mars smiles a little and says, "Thanks"
Ares, as he sips his cocoa, puts more firewood and goes to his room.
He looks around: pictures of Selly, their other sister who seems to be her twin, and their foster/adoptive Mother that looks like a tan Asian.
He looks at the fireplace, looking at Mars drinking cocoa. "You know, Selene loves you very much; you're her precious baby brother," said Mars, looking back as Ares smiled a little as they drank more.
Ares drinks his cocoa as he stares at him. He looks down and says, "I'm sorry, I was not there even in her wake. I should've been there, with you, since we are one of the few men close to her," replied Ares.
"It's fine, I know you have it hard too. Mene told me that: You had a bad break-up with someone," narrated Mars.
Ares giggles, I did; there is nothing between her and me from the start. It was purely physical, but I caught feelings. Then, she's gone," said Ares.
"That beard thing looks great on you though," said both of them. They laughed. "Yup, you kind of look better if you have a beard. I saw you beardless in the pictures of you and her, while she eats the cereal with ketchup…not just with any ketchup… our mom's favorite Banana ketchup," said Ares as he rubbed his face. They keep on laughing.
Mars drinks cocoa again.
Mars giggled a little, remembering Selly eating ketchup and cereal as she rubbed Mars's well-trimmed beard in the past.
Ares rubs his very short beard. "That's weird. But, I guess... thanks?" said Ares. They burst out laughing.
The rain starts to get stronger.
Mars starts to get a little red. He falls on Ares' shoulder, then gets back up. "You okay?" asked Ares. "I'm fine, just a bit drowsy," said Mars as he alerts himself by slapping his cheeks. "She talks a lot about you to my Mother and our sister a lot. We only spoke once since then… I regretted that," said Ares.
"How old are you anyways, since you are the youngest among the three?" asked Mars. "I'm 32, just last January. I presume you are 37, 3 years older than Selly," implied Ares as he sips his mug and adds,
"You two met; I bet it was a funny way… Oh, Selly, she has a knack for humor."
"Long story short, she and I met under funny circumstances, twice," said Mars as he started to look dizzy, as he breathes heavily. Mars falls down as Ares catches him. "You okay? I mean, you've been drenched in the cold rain… Wait, sorry, I can only offer my bed; you need to rest," insisted Ares as he went to Mars.
"Oh, sorry again, I'm just tired, been on a long ride to see her here," said Mars as Ares carried him and opened his door. Mars rests on Ares' bed.
Ares takes out some water and medicine.
He takes his own phone and looks at pictures of Selene, Mene, and him with their foster mother. "Selly…" said by him as he kisses Selly on the phone picture.
"Sometimes, he reminds me of you, in a way…" said Ares as tears fell from his eyes, and he started to cry. "I miss you, I missed you so much, Selly." Whimpered Ares. He sniffles and wipes his tears. He smiles and says, "I promised I would be stronger." He looks at Mars on his bed; Mars is full of tears while asleep. Ares takes out a pillow and foam from a closet. Then he sleeps.
Mars wakes up the Next Morning.
He realizes he is in someone's bed. There is a pillow lying next to him; he raises his body a little, seeing Ares sleeping on the floor.
Mars smiles as he covers him with the blanket and puts a pillow on his head. He coughs accidentally as Ares wakes up as he goes to the living room, staggering, feeling heat in his body and head.
He takes off his dried clothes and wears it. Ares goes outside.
"You sure you're okay?"
He shivers; it was very cold outside now in the foggy morning.
He looks around; almost no one is around except a port town in the far-off distance. It was a nice sunrise; he sat down on the porch and smiled a little. Ares covers him with a blanket. He looks back, seeing his car being towed by the Martian Lion Corp. They noticed him. He waves at them. They awkwardly raise their hands.
Mars touches the blanket. "Thanks, Ares. " I'd better go," replied Mars as he signs someone. Men in suits carry a crate of goods: food products from Martian Corp.
"Thanks." he gave it to Ares; Ares carries it easily. Mars looked stunned. "Two men are carrying that thing, you know... Impressive strength," said Mars.
Ares carries it on his shoulder. "Nah, Thanks. I will hold on to this when you visit back; good thing they are non-perishables," said Ares as he smiles and winks as he walks back and tells himself, "Why did I wink?" Mars heard that as he laughs a little.
He looks back at Ares, as Ares waves. He smiles and waves back. "Come back anytime!" shouted Ares.