Once again cut into parts because of word limit

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Many days passed, though those days were filled with a lot of fighting as Ares came by every day to train with Theodore and watch his technique when training others, he wasn’t surprised to see the blond could practically throw grown men a few feet away from where he grabbed them. He was also not surprised that when the magic wielding twins sparred with the man, that they too were over powered by the younger man.

Ares had spent the days between when he would come here, writing and sending letters to the people he needed to come to him and waiting for their responses until many days later he heard back from all of them saying they would meet him at the property he described. The rest of the time that he spent at the property with the group he had previously attacked, he grew to become very familiar with them all while watching the soulmates closely; it was clear to Ares that they would be intimate in the physical sense but also the mental sense as there was obviously still much they hadn’t admitted to each other.

Fighting the man he had become was incredibly taxing for the older man as he had forgotten how the smaller man had bested him two years before though he could see that he surprised Theodore quite a few times with the way he swung his sword and he felt delighted by the shock flooding the blondes face when Ares brought fire to life around the blade of his sword and swung it towards him. They stopped a half hour later when Theodore crossed his arms, staring at the sword that was still covered with dark purple flames.

“How did you do that?” The blond had asked, a large grin on his face as the flames disappeared.

“It was something I learned from one of the fire sorcerers who had once worked as a torturer for one of the former kings of Endolias back a good thirty years or so when he was just eighteen.” Ares answered, bringing even more surprise to the man’s face.

“He was eighteen and worked as a torturer? That’s incredible, I want to meet him!” He exclaims excitedly, his golden eyes lighting up in a way that made Ares question whether that was a good idea or not.

“He will probably like the natural fire that lives inside you, it’ll speak to the fire within himself.” Ares shrugs and gets back into position when Theodore uncrosses his arms, his fingers curling around the hilt of the sword strapped to his back; the very sword Theodore had carried when he and Tristan ran from their home, and the same sword he’d used to bring the large man down two years prior.

Today though was a day where he decided to sit out and watch Theodore train the twins; loving the way the breeze ruffled his dark hair. The blond’s technique was quite unusual; like he didn’t really care if he was hurt, which Ares was beginning to realise was true since the younger man’s body was a lot like his own meaning his sorcerer powers healed his body from any and all wounds, unless they were life threatening and couldn’t be healed with magic. He was lost in his thoughts as he watched the twins try and hit Theodore with everything they had, meaning the younger blond would hit them back with exactly the same force and power; sometimes using fire, sometimes using ice and sometimes using air, the raven haired man had only ever seen and felt Theodore use his earth magic a few times when his training partner was getting especially tricky to beat. Ares was beginning to understand that Theodore wasn’t against using dirty tricks to win a fight, if it meant he would survive and be victorious.

He looked to the side when the prince sits beside him, smiling lightly at him causing Ares to smile back though he did feel surprised that the prince had decided to sit beside him. Considering that past they had; a lot of them had forgiven but none of them had forgotten what he’d done. Tristan would never forget how hurt Theodore had been when he reached them at the clearing, lucky to even be alive though for the blond’s sake, the prince decided to be friendly to the black haired man. He trusted Theodore’s judgment about him; he also trusted Theodore’s vision.

“I hope you don’t mind me joining you, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you about,” the young prince says, earning a nod from the older man beside him, “do you truly think that Theodore and I are soulmates?”

“Considering what you’ve told me about the prophecy Theodore’s parents were given, I do believe that’s what you are. Couples who are said to be together because of a vision or prophecy are soulmates.” He replies.

“But what makes soulmates different to any other couple? How are we different compared to Micah and Alissia?”

“The difference is that you and Theodore have an unbreakable bond where as Alissia and Micah doesn’t; meaning they could break apart at any moment though when you and Theodore connect the bond to its permanent state you won’t ever be able to break apart.” Ares explains, making Tristan’s face contort with wonder.

“So, that basically means Theodore and myself will be together for basically the rest of our lives?”

“Yes that’s exactly what that means. Have either of you even spoken about what this means for you both?” They both look over when the Justin whoops after knocking Theodore down, though he doesn’t stay down for long as he grabs the older blond’s ankle and drags him to the ground too. He immediately climbing on top of him while using his air magic to keep Julia at bay; he holds a hand to Justin’s throat, saying something to the other though it was too quiet for them to understand.

“Well, not really. I haven’t even told him I love him yet and it’s not because I’m not sure about my love for him because I am. I’ve been in love with the blond idiot since I was sixteen; I’m now twenty three, almost twenty four.” Ares nods in understand at the prince’s words before they fall silent so he can think about a response.

“I think that when the time is right and you both connect in the physical and mental ways you’ll both feel better about your relationship, especially when you admit your love for each other, though you shouldn’t feel pressured about it. All good things happen in time.” He chuckles at the blush now blooming over the prince’s face, he’d obviously been thinking about when it’ll happen between them.

A week later, the prince had really taken in what Ares said about telling each other they love each other and being intimate for the first time though he was definitely not going to force it if Theodore wasn’t ready; because it all relied on him. Tristan was ready and waiting, he just wasn’t sure if Theodore was comfortable with the idea of being with another man yet. He was shaken out of his thoughts by the door opening and closing, looking up to smile at Ares as he makes his way through the house and out the door that leads to the back field. Ares gives him a smile back and exits the house, not surprised to see Theodore already training without him.

“You don’t know how to take it slow, do you Theo?” He says with a chuckle and Theodore just shrugs and launches back into the fight while Ares got comfortable.

He now sat silently, watching as Theodore was suddenly disarmed by one of the men he was training who then whooped with delight before advancing with another attack; one that Theodore took to the forearm like he had a week before but this man was stronger than the other one and the sword went deeper than the others had, cutting through flesh and a little bit of muscle. Blood instantly started trickling from the wound when the man pulled the blade back, apologising immediately when the blond looked up from his arm. Ares held his breath waiting for the blond to strike the man but he doesn’t, he just shrugs and puts a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s fine; this is what happens in real fights. Just ask Ares over there about how cut up I was when we fought.” Theodore says, gesturing to the raven haired man who grins with a nod. He opens his mouth to speak but before he can get another word out the door is thrown open and Tristan is storming over to him with worry on his face. His green eyes land on the large cut on Theodore’s arm as he gets closer and quickens his pace to grab it and look it over while Theodore rolls his eyes.

“I told you to be more cautious and not to take swords to the arm,” he says making Theodore shrug and turn back to the man he’d been fighting, gesturing to Ares.

“Ares will train you and anyone else for the rest of the day while this heals.” Theodore tells the man who nods and walks over to the raven haired man whose standing ready to begin fighting him; he turns to the brunet, “I’m fine Tris, it’s just a cut. It’ll be healed by tomorrow morning.”

“Doesn’t matter Theodore, I felt the pain that flashed through you when it happened and I know you’re holding back pain to push yourself to your limit but it’s not worth you being hurt,” the prince says, resting his large hands on the smaller man’s biceps and watching his shoulders slump slightly as he relaxes against the touch.

“Fine, I’ll stop pushing myself so hard,” the blond says and brings the other closer to him to wrap his arms around his waist, though is soon pushed away when the prince remembers the blood on his arm. He pulls him inside to clean up the wound, pouring some alcohol over it to clean it out completely before wrapping it in some gauze.