Sons of Sparta - A Story of the Spartans, Book 3
(inspired by the story 'Spartan' parts 1 through 4)
by argouru
Note: All credit for the creation of the Spartans and Amazons, as well as the Spartan mythos belongs to the author 'CF', to whom I owe special thanks for his allowing me to write about these incredible people.
WARNING: Portions of this installment of the series includes a section regarding mental illness.
The next day after an excellent room service meal for Ahmed and Tina, which they had only after a two hour long sex session for Joshua that left Him well-fed, they got cleaned up and the humans dressed. Joshua allowed His divine light to radiate outwards for a moment, then with an exercise of willpower, molded it into physical clothing for Him to wear. Josh wasn't a fancy person, so He elected for street clothes today like He usually did.
Just then, a loud shrill bell rang. Tina jumped in place from shock, looking around wildly with her hand to her chest to steady her heart.
"I think it's the phone," Ahmed said and moved towards it. "Bloody Hell! Do they have to make their phones screech at you like that? What's wrong with a nice calm buzzer sound?" He picked it up with a frown. "Hello?" he said into it. "Yes... Yes, we're all for going. Right, be down shortly. Thank you." He hung up and turned to them. "That's the garage, they say our car is ready to take us to hospital."
"Right then," Josh said as they gathered together, linked arm-in-arm-in-arm and made their way out of the room...
It felt odd to them to be driving down the wrong side of the roads, but they looked out at the sights as they went and saw that despite the differences of clothes and buildings, Americans didn't seem too different from British people. They arrived at the hospital and rode the lift to the third floor. As they neared the proper level, Josh took a deep breath to steady His nerves. This was definitely the place. He squeezed the hands of His partners tightly, bracing Himself.
"Is it that bad?" Ahmed asked gently.
Josh nodded. This is the worst I've ever seen from anyone... He thought into their minds. The sad part is that this is a good time for him... Come on, He thought, leading the way. As they neared the room, they saw two men standing outside in the hallway, both Spartan to Josh's trained eye. One was clean-shaven with light brown hair and dark blue eyes in a kindly face. The other had very short dark brown hair, a full, yet close-trimmed beard and piercing green eyes. As they saw the trio approach, they perked up with interest.
"Are you Daniel Matthewson and Sam Apolloson?" Josh asked them.
"That's right," Daniel answered with a nervous smile. "Are you Joshua?"
"That's me," He replied with a smile.
Daniel and Sam went to bow low, but Josh stopped them. "Please," He said gently, "It's my Dad Apollo that you worship, not Me. Let's not hang on formalities."
"Umm..." Daniel said. "Alright then."
Josh looked to Sam, who smiled and shook His hand. Instinctively, Josh reached into the Spartan's mind. I hope He really can heal John, Sam thought to himself. Kind of hard to think that I have a god for a half brother... Of sorts. ... Well wait... His grandfather Mike is also my half-brother... Okay, this is getting confusing.
"Try not to worry about it, Sam... But if you insist on thinking of Me as family, then thank you."
Sam started with surprise. He read my mind? ...Duh Sam, Father can do it too. "Alright then," he said aloud with a nervous smile as he recovered his composure. "Thanks for coming all the way here from England."
"Oh no worry at all," Josh said with a smile. "After Dad Apollo told me about John, I had to come."
"Well thank you for doing so," Daniel said with sincerity.
"Well, let's go and meet John, shall we?" Josh asked, leading the way.
They knocked softly, then entered. Henry was sitting in the chair on John's right as the human laid in the bed, looking at them as they entered. John frowned in confusion as they entered.
The Brits stopped at the foot of the bed and smiled at the pair who had waited for them. "John, Henry, I'm Joshua and these are My priests Tina and Ahmed. It's nice to meet you."
"You're Joshua?" John asked skeptically. "The healing god?"
"Correct," He answered calmly. He reached into the human's mind and read his thoughts.
This is supposed to be a god? John thought to himself, feeling both disappointed and as though some kind of practical joke had been played on him. That's what I get for building my hopes up... Fucking moron, he thought about, chiding himself and sinking back into depression. I must be the stupidest person on the planet to trust these people to actually care. Now I've got some British guy pretending to be a god to try to trick me into feeling better. How can they be so cruel? He wanted to cry, feeling hurt and betrayed. I was actually starting to believe they could help me...
"We're not here to trick you John," Josh said kindly. "But if you think I don't look much like a god..." He allowed His divine light and power radiate out from the core of His being as He returned to His godly aspect, which He usually kept hidden. "There... Do I look more properly like a god to you now?" He asked gently in a radiating voice.
"What?" John gasped, his mind derailing in shock as Joshua stood there glowing and speaking in a resonating voice that was as much felt as heard, just like Apollo's had been when He'd spoken with John through Sam. "Y-... You really are a god?"
"Yes," Joshua said softly. "I am the son of Apollo, god of the sun and was a demigod until I chose to shed my mortality in order to save the health of my male partner Ahmed," He said, hugging the mortal man He loved dearly close with one arm. "After that, I chose to use My powers to aid any who have need, especially people like you. I have cured HIV and AIDS, broken bones and even mended things like intense fear."
John looked down at his feet and shook his head sadly. "I still don't see how you can help me," he said glumly. Besides, he thought to himself, Worthlessness isn't something that can actually be fixed...
Joshua felt saddened by the man's thoughts. He wasn't trying to invoke pity or sympathy... He believed that to be the literal truth about himself. Joshua had never met anyone who's thoughts were so dark and hostile towards themselves. He was shocked at that as well as at the intensity of the man's self-hatred. In that moment, Joshua knew He had to help this man no matter what. He sighed gently and smiled at the human with sympathy. "I'll admit that I've never tried to cure depression like yours, but I'm willing to try."
"Whatever you can do for him, I'll be grateful," Henry said to the immortal.
Joshua turned to the man with a sad expression. "You may not like what I'll have to do to heal him," He said apprehensively.
"What do you mean?" Henry asked with a frown of worry.
"My healing powers are based on love. There has to be strong love in the person I help in order for my powers to work."
"Well that's fine," Henry said. "John and I are bonded to each other. If that isn't good enough, then nothing is."
"No," Joshua replied gently. "What I mean to say is that in order for Me to heal John, he has to feel love for Me, personally."
"What the hell are you talking about?" John asked, unable to believe what he was hearing. "I can't do that to Henry! It's wrong! I just barely met him and now You want me to cheat on him with You?"
"Why?" Henry asked in shock and confusion.
"Because I need that connection in order to perform the healing. If he cannot honestly love Me, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to heal John. Because of the depth of his inner pain, only his love for Me can form a powerful enough link between us for the healing to take place. That's how My power works."
"So in order for my depression to be cured, I have to cheat on Henry?" John asked, feeling stunned. I can't do that! he thought to himself in shock. Henry's the nicest guy I ever met and has done so much for me. I love him... I can't betray him like this! It's wrong!
"Isn't there some other way?" Sam asked. "You can't expect a bonded pair to be able to go through with this! It violates one of the most sacred things about being Spartan!"
"There has to be something else!" Daniel protested.
"It's not easy on us, either," Tina said softly. "Both Ahmed and I are Joshua's partners. It will be as difficult for us as it will be for John and Henry."
"Joshua has had to do this before," Ahmed added. "It is very hard to watch, but we understand the need and are willing to endure this if it will help to heal John of his depression."
"Besides," Tina said gently, "It will only be for the duration of the healing itself. After that we'll leave and you won't ever need to see us again if you don't want to. We understand and respect your bond. We know how difficult this is for both of you."
"Wait," Henry said slowly. "You're saying that -both- of you are Joshua's partner?" He turned to Tina. "And since when does a Spartan have a female partner? Joshua was born as a Spartan, so his partner should be male. I understand about Ahmed, but you're saying that you're a second partner to Joshua?"
"Yes," Joshua said calmly in defense of His loves. "When I met them, I was still a mortal Spartan. My partner bond is split between the both of them. When I became an immortal, then decided to become a god of healing, Tina and Ahmed helped me to realize that without consciously doing so, I had chosen them to become My priests in addition to being My partners. I don't like having to interfere with My own bond to them in order to heal John, but we understand that a temporary sacrifice must be made for the greater good."
"Actually Son," Daniel added, "while it's true that Spartans can only reproduce with men as you well know, there have been rare cases of bisexual Spartans who have enjoyed intimacy with women until they meet their true partner. It's basically for us what gay men are among humans. It's only rarer because there are so few Spartans in comparison with humans."
"John," Joshua said softly, "we won't force this onto you. If you'd rather not go through with this, then we'll respect your wishes."
"I'm sorry to bring you out here for nothing, but thanks all the same," John said. He couldn't hurt Henry no matter what. It hurt to turn down the offer of help, but he could never live with himself knowing he'd hurt Henry just to get well.
"John," Henry said, placing his hand on the human's right shoulder. "Do it. This healing means too much for you to not go through with it. I can't let you go on suffering just to spare my feelings. It's okay... I want you to do this."
"But Henry," John protested. "I can't hurt you like that... I love you. If it means betraying your love then I can't go through with it."
"I love you too," Henry answered. "And that's exactly why I want you to do it. I can't let you not go through with this just to avoid hurting me. Please do this John... For me if not for yourself. I love you too much to let you go on hurting like this. You deserve to be well and I won't take no for an answer." He turned to the Brits. "What all do you need?"
"Henry," John began weakly.
"John, you need this. I love you too much to let you suffer, so please do this. It's okay, I want you to be well... More for your own sake than for mine. Please don't fight this. You deserve to be well and happy."
"...Alright," John said weakly, looking deeply guilty.
"Well then," Joshua said, "let's retire to the hallway for a few moments before we begin. Henry, please accompany us."
"I'll be back soon," Henry told John. "Everything will be alright."
They shut the door softly behind them and Henry turned to Joshua. "Alright then," the deity said, "Here's what we'll do. John's love for you is very strong, Henry, so we'll have to approach this differently. I've used this method before, so I know it will work. I'll need your help."
"What do I do?" Henry asked.
Joshua placed His hands on either side of the Spartan's head. "Just focus on your love for John..."
John waited in his hospital bed nervously for several minutes before the door opened and Henry came back inside, moving to John's side. "John, I know that this is a lot to ask of you, but just remember how much I love you."
"I love you too," John said.
Henry rested his forehead against John's and closed his eyes. "You're going to be okay," he said softly, then kissed John.
John kissed back, his heart swelling. That Henry was willing to go through with this healing meant the world to him and he felt his love for the Spartan swell in strength. After a few minutes, Henry began to rub his crotch against John's right hand.
"John," Henry said with the deepest of needs. "I need to be with you... I'm so horny. Please, help me out. I know you can't do a lot, but still... I need to be with you."
John hadn't masturbated in weeks and not had sex with anyone else in ages, so he eagerly complied, carefully unzipping Henry's pants and reaching inside them. What he found waiting for him was shocking. Henry was huge! John felt rather embarrassed then, as his own six inches paled in comparison. Henry, however, didn't seem to mind as he reached under the covers for John's hardening manhood, taking it into his hand and beginning to manipulate it gently. John still couldn't believe just how big Henry's penis was and in a moment between kisses, gasped out "Just how big are you?"
"Twenty one centimeters," Henry replied.
"Centimeters?" John asked in confusion, but Henry bent down, took John's shaft into his mouth and began to pleasure him. The intense sensations drove all thought from his mind and he laid back, sighing in pleasure as he continued to stroke Henry's shaft.
They continued like this for several minutes until Henry began to moan in pleasure. "I'm nearly there," he sighed.
"Ah fuck," John said softly. "Me too."
Henry moaned deeply in pleasure. "I love you," he said.
"I love you too," John said.
Henry leaned down to kiss him as he said that and groaned in satisfaction as he climaxed, John feeling an odd tickling sensation inside, as though something intangible was being pulled out of him. He groaned as his own orgasm hit at the same moment. But there was something else. The orgasm didn't limit itself to John's genitals... It seemed to fill his entire body with a radiating warmth that flowed outward from the core of his being. He felt a slight stinging sensation in his bones and a pulsing in his brain that grew stronger and stronger as his orgasm continued. He nearly shouted in pleasure as he came, then collapsed, feeling winded when it ended. He laid there in his bed, panting from exertion. Then he sensed Henry pull away gently and opened his eyes to see Henry and Joshua standing beside him. Embarrassed, he also saw Tina and Ahmed standing near the door, smiling at him gently, Henry's parents beside him, Daniel looking as though he was trying hard not to be embarrassed at walking in on the human moments after he had orgasmed.
"Oh shit!" John gasped, scrambling to cover himself with the sheet that was damp with semen, feeling ashamed of himself for having had sex in front of them. He hadn't ever even noticed them enter.
"It's alright John," Joshua said gently with a smile. "The healing always results in orgasm."
"Healing?" John asked dumbfounded. "We didn't do anything yet! Henry and I... Were..." The human trailed off as he saw that Henry's pants were still zipped up, but Joshua was refastening his own. "What the fuck just happened?" he asked, stunned and confused.
"I'm sorry John," Joshua said with a sad smile, "but that wasn't Henry you were with just now... It was Me."
"No it wasn't!" John protested. "I know what my own boyfriend looks and sounds like by now! It was him, not you!"
Henry shook his head sadly. "No John, I only came into the room after you guys finished. It was Joshua you were with, not me."
"But it was you, not Him!" John protested. "I know what I saw!"
"John," Joshua spoke gently. "I'm sorry, but it -was- me you were with. Your love for Henry was so strong that the only way I could make you love Me was to trick your mind into thinking that I was him. It was the only way that you would feel love for Me strongly enough for Me to heal you... I'm sorry."
"You had sex with me!" John accused angrily. "I jacked you off! You... You made me cheat on the only man who's ever loved me! What's wrong with You?" He turned to Henry, looking horrified and deeply ashamed. "Henry... I'm sorry. I... I didn't know..."
Henry's reaction stunned him. "It's okay, John. Joshua explained everything to me in advance. I knew what would happen, but know that it's what you needed. It's alright... I forgive you. I know you only did that because you thought that Joshua was me."
"Why did you do that to me?" John asked Joshua with hurt in his voice.
"Because it was necessary. My powers are based on love and sex, and only a powerful expression of both was what allowed Me to heal you. I'm just as ashamed as you are angry. I hope one day you can forgive Me, but I only did it to help you. Don't you see, John? I've healed you... Completely."
John paused at that, taking stock of his body with shock. It was true. Not only was his mind free of self-hatred and emotional pain, but his body was also healed. His arm, leg, head and side, as well as his nose and inner right elbow also felt completely fine. "What the fuck did you do to me?" He asked the god in shock.
"I was able to completely heal both your mind and your body. It will take you some time to adjust mentally, but you won't ever have another fit of self-hatred or self-destructiveness. I am sorry I tricked you like that, but it was necessary. I feel just as guilty as you do. I hate that I had to put My own beloved Tina and Ahmed through this."
"Hush now," Ahmed said, hugging Joshua from behind as Tina kissed his cheek gently.
"We came to terms with this long ago, Josh," Tina said gently. "We forgive you."
"John," Henry said. "It's alright. I forgive you too." He leaned down and kissed John deeply, reaching up to wipe away the tear of shame from John's cheek. "All that matters to me is that you're well now." He finished gently. "I love you."
"I love you too," John whispered, kissing Henry again.
"If you'll excuse us," Ahmed said to the Americans. "We need time alone together." With that, the Brits retired to the empty room next door to re-strengthen their own bond.
Daniel and Henry left the room quietly to allow their son and his partner to have some alone time together...