I had never been one to question things. Not when my father charged into battlefields to lay waste. No, even then, my brother and I had been the first to go ahead and proclaim his coming.

Never once did the worries of mortals cross my mind. Those who respected me were acknowledged, those who spat at my feet would lose their own peace of mind for the rest of their days.

That was until I came upon them. Left in the wake of my father the mighty Ares’ wrath, covered in dust and blood. The look they gave me was neither one of fear nor sorrow.

Just….Hallow.

Never before has a mortal looked upon me without fear in their eyes. After all, I, Phobos, am the very embodiment of the thing they dread so foolishly.

Yet this mortal hadn’t so much as flinched. That had caught my attention, which has never happened before. Not once in the millennia's I’ve been heading my father’s war paths.

So I did something that called into question the few morals I had. I would take a trophy.

A trophy that was left in the wake of Ares’ path. Something left in the ruble and remnants of what had once been a prosperous town.

Even being unclaimed by Hades is a feat for the best of warriors after father’s massacre. This one, was clearly no warrior. Only by the spot they lay, were they spared.

I came to my decision with a quiet conclusive thought.

They have been through hell. Nothing that I am, can strike fear in a mortal, worse than that.

My robes swept out, the mist around me solidifying into a tangible form this mortal could process. My pale slender fingers reached down, my palm up. I sank to one knee while my pale blue eyes focused fully on this soul alone.

“Come, mortal who looked fear in the eyes and did not falter.”

My voice was soft, no indication to any of the thoughts that wrestled in my mind. The silver strands framed my immaculate and godlike face, the pale pink lips of mine twitching, the ghost of something deeper lingered in my gaze.

“Take my hand, let me take you away from this field of death.”

For a moment, it all was silent. The mortal's glassy gaze focused on my palm like they weren't processing things clearly. I watch as their lashes flutter in a slow, tired blink before their gaze met mine once more.

For a moment, my breath stilled for I was completely entranced by this small things' stare. Never in my many eons of existence had I been rendered as speechless as I was in this moment.

My other knee fell to the bloodstained dirt while they had my full attention enraptured by those tired eyes.

My palm slowly shifted, from offering, to gently, oh so gently taking their scraped up hands into my own. I let my other hand fold around the small fragile cusp of their own with a reverence that even Aphrodite would swoon over.

For a moment I don’t move, taking a breath in as my eyes flutter shut. Before bringing their hand to my lips, I proceeded to do something that would make the other gods recoil.

My divine lips pressed to the tips of their bloodied fingers, my icy eyes held their gaze, I didn't waver, nor did I make any move to pull back.

The pink flesh of my lips then gently pressed to each finger gently, reverently, as a soft sigh escaped me. Vulnerable was never a word I could be described as, but in this moment, I felt as though I was holding my very soul on a platter for this mortal.

"Let me rephrase my prior words..."

My lips brushed against their palm as I moved to press it against my mouth while never letting my gaze waver.

I wouldn't, no, couldn't look away now, not when this one mortal on misery's door had caught my heart so securely withing their trembling grasp.

"Will you allow me to have the honor, of letting you live the rest of your days without sorrow or pain, if only you just be mine?"

It wasn't begging per say, however, if it came to that I would not hesitate to grovel for even the mere chance to keep this individual by my side till the Fates cut their string. I knew pain, and they knew misery, and by Zeus' name, misery loves company.

And so does FEAR...