Executioner for Hire

I didn't know why I was this nervous. This, at least, I was good at. I knew how to handle upper-class pricks like Zeus Grace, knew how they thought. I was wearing blue jeans, a white-collar shirt, dark grey blazer and light grey oxfords. All topped off with my aviators. I even managed to somewhat tame my hair.

All and all, I knew I looked decent enough. Ganymede had even smiled when he picked me up from the airport. I assumed that it was a great victory. The man's wrinkleless, waxlike face led me to believe he didn't show any form of emotion regularly.

So why the fuck were my hands shaking? Maybe it was because I was running late, thanks to my flight being delayed. The car pulled up to Hard Rock stadium half an hour before kickoff, whereas Zeus had requested I be there an hour before kickoff. I wouldn't even have the time to duck into the locker rooms and wish Jason luck. That's probably what annoyed me most.

"Mister Grace is already seated," Ganymede droned next to me. "We will need to hurry to avoid humiliating him. Keep your head down and move fast, understood?"

"Yes," I answered, just as the car came to a stop. Ganymede was out the car a second later, with me close on his heels. We seemed to be on an express lane, Ganymede merely flashing a couple of passes before we were ushered past all the gates and towards our seats in just a few minutes. Both teams were still on the field as I was pushed down the aisle of the 72 Club Living Room Boxes. Ganymede led the way to the last row of boxes, both of which were empty, save for one very imposing head of neatly cropped black hair seated in the furthest box. I took a deep breath and plastered a practised smile on my face.

"Mister Grace." I extended my hand towards the man as he turned his electric blue eyes on me. "Sorry for keeping you waiting. Short of flying the plane myself, there wasn't really anything I could do."

"Ah, Perseus." The man gave me a once over, seemingly deeming me fit as he stood and took my hand in his firm grasp. "Ganymede did inform me of your flight's delay. I guess that's the gamble one takes with commercial flights." He motioned towards the seat beside him as an invitation.

"Ganymede, pictures," Zeus ordered. I smiled as the waxlike man took a few pictures of the two of us seated together. "I am told you have quite the influential social media presence," Zeus said, turning his attention to the players on the field, finishing up their warmups.

"I guess I do well enough."

"Good," he said simply. "You will document today on your accounts as well. Ganymede will send you all the approved pictures tonight." Jason had warned me not to get my hopes up. He had told me his father didn't care about meeting his only son's boyfriend. It was merely business.

"So, I'm your LGBT spokesperson," I concluded, and Zeus smirked at me as he handed me a soda from the minibar. I heard the click of Ganymede's camera at the action before he took a seat in the empty box next to us.

"It's refreshing to see you can still play the game." I raised a questioning eyebrow at the man. A wolf whistle sounded from the field as the players made their way to the change room.

"Looking good, Sailor!" Connor called as Travis nudged Jason, who was worrying his bottom lip between his teeth as he glanced between his father and me. I gave him a natural smile and a wave, hoping to put him at ease, before turning back to Zeus.

"Play the game?" I asked.

"I'll be frank, Perseus." I grit my teeth, but I wasn't going to correct him. If there was one thing men like him despised, it was being corrected. So he could call me whatever he liked, as long as I could still be with Jason.

"I am very well aware of your previous employment. It's good that you haven't forgotten your training." The simple statement made my blood run cold. "You made quite the impression on many of my close friends and colleagues. It was out of respect for your father I never acquired your services myself." I suppressed the disgusted shiver that ran down my spine.

"Did your father ever tell you about our days at Olympia together?" he asked innocently. I forced myself to smile even if it made me want to hurl. I hated having to do this again, but I had to. I had a lot more to lose this time around.

"I can't say that he has," I shrugged.

"Poseidon was like a brother to me," he smiled wistfully. "He had all the raw talent and natural charisma in the world. And he was blessed with a son who's inherited that from him." The man sighed heavily, taking a drink from his scotch.

"I, on the other hand, was cursed with disappointingly mediocre children." I bit the inside of my cheek to keep myself from lashing out. My mouth was filled with the metallic taste of blood, but I didn't care.

"With all due respect, sir," I was sure to keep my voice steady and measured. "Perhaps you hold your children to too high a standard. Both of them are exceptional people with amazing talents."

"I see Poseidon's romanticised view on the world didn't skip a generation either," Zeus chuckled. "Let's be honest. Jason is a decent football player, not because he was born with talent, but because I had the best trainers in the country coach him day in and day out. The same goes for Thalia's archery."

"The only way he'll ever reach the top is with external influences and endorsements." He gave me a wicked smile. "That's where you come in. Why else would I let a fucking whore anywhere near my son unless I could use it to my advantage? You might be a whore, but you have influence." His eyes flashed dangerously like lightning.

"You were drafted into the NFL straight out of high school. Do you even realise what the Immortals had to do to achieve that? You were declared academically unfit for college so they could draft you. Someone definitely lost their job when you then turned around and actually got accepted to a college." The man chuckled. "Of course, the fact that you got into college on a football scholarship relieved some of the tension and ridicule the Immortals were facing."

"So you want to use my reputation to build Jason's." He smirked back. "That's why you need the media to see me support him. Because my fanbase will become his fanbase. That's also why you need to be seen with me. You've lost supporters, and you're hoping to pull some by reaching a different demographic through me."

"Now you're playing ball, Perseus," he smirked. "Of course, there is a certain give and take to these situations. So let me tell you what I have to offer. I will allow your relationship with my son, as well as benefits of said relationship, as long as it favours him."

"I will also ensure your history remains a secret, for my sake," he scrunched up his nose in disgust. "If anyone knew, it could crumble the empire I've built. On that note, I'll be damned if Gabriel Ugliano ever reared his ugly head, so I'll see to it that he never does."

"And in exchange, I assume I'll be expected to use any means and influence to build up Jason's reputation?"

"Naturally," Zeus shrugged. "But you will also help my son in this game we play. You see, Jason has never had the temperament to navigate our world. He's too naive and innocent. You, on the other hand, know what it's like to get your hands dirty." I frowned.

"You want me to be his executioner."

"Do we understand each other, Perseus?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at me. I had no other choice. This way, I'd at least take the brunt of Zeus's wrath and Jason would be happier.

"Yes, sir," I said, taking a sip from my soda.

"Of course, if Jason loses today, this whole conversation is rendered moot," he said darkly making me clench my jaw." If he performs poorly, having you beside him will only hurt his reputation. The media will draw unfavourable comparisons between the two of you, and he will never escape your shadow."

"He won't lose." My leg was bouncing nervously, but I blamed my ADHD.

The game got off to a rocky start. Zeus gave me a pointed look with each missed tackle or every time someone dropped the ball. It made my stomach drop lower and lower. I felt physically sick with every single point the opposing team gained against us. Jason's head clearly wasn't in the game at hand, and the entire team suffered from his disconnection. He glanced toward us every few minutes, and I tried to give him an encouraging smile each time, but it was getting harder.

The team was stumbling more often, their feet becoming heavier with each passing second. I couldn't take it anymore, so I excused myself a few minutes before halftime. No-one stopped me on my trek towards the locker rooms. I waited in the hallway, pacing back and forth.

It wasn't helping my nerves any. My chest was starting to hurt. I had to force myself to keep my breath even. What was I going to tell Jason? I couldn't exactly tell him that he had to win so we could stay together. That would just make him worry more and play worse.

The first of the team came trudging down the hall. They acknowledged me with a nod before they disappeared through the doors. Each face looked more hopeless than the last. The Stolls wouldn't even look at me. Finally, my blonde Superman brought up the rear.

"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly. "What happened?"

"Nothing." I pulled him a little further down the hall, throwing Coach Hedge an apologetic look. "I'll just be minute, Coach."

"Whatever," Coach mumbled before slinking into the locker room after the team. My eyes widened. If even Coach Hedge lost his fight, things were seriously fucked.

"Jason, what the fuck are you doing?