(to the person who requested this I’m so sorry idk how to make this in short paragraphs and I noticed it said it after I was finished 😭 🙏 I hope this is okay I’m a writer and just started yapping bro I’m so sorry)

He was surprised, to say the least.

Ares was your mentor, after he had taken you under his wing since you were young. He would be lying if he said he didn’t care for you, he saw a lot of himself in you. You were a great fighter and listener, and inhabited many skills that made it easy for him to teach you.

One of your skills though, was hiding your feelings.

Ares had never exactly paid attention to your true emotions, he just saw you as a future warrior. He had never even thought about your feelings, always too busy teaching you. But why should he care? He was your mentor, not someone designed to help with human emotions.

Ares was currently searching for you, ready to start your training, per usual. He walked into the gardens he always met you at, the designated spot the two of you agreed to meet at for training. But instead of finding you prepared and geared up as usual, he saw a glimpse of you behind a tree.

Confused and curious, he approached quietly, raising an eyebrow under his helmet. He then noticed you crying. That shocked him. To think of it, he’s never even seen you upset.

He stood there for a moment, before going to kneel down beside you. He was never good with helping others with their emotions, much less handling his own; but he’ll try.

“Hey, kiddo.” Ares spoke gently, using that nickname he’s been using for you for years. “What’s going on?” He tilted his head to the side slightly, the bronze of his helmet brushing up against his shoulder plates; his tone softer than it has been in a while.