27 Purpose

"So how long have you know him for?"

"Not very long." Selene replied, "I heard about you, a warrior who is immortal. I really do envy you."

"Why?" Artemis asked not sure what Selene was talking about.

"It's nothing," Selene said as she turned back towards Howard, "So this is it, I believe you know your way from around here."

"Thanks," Howard said still fidgeting with the gadget in his hand as he passed it to Selene, "You remember the address I told you about right?"

"Yes." Selene nodded, "Are you sure it will be okay?"

"Of course, it's just a small recorder which... might explode." Howard said, "I am just kidding, it will explode for sure."

"I am not talking about this, are you sure this whole plan of yours will work out."

"Who knows." Howard shrugged, "You take care of yourself too, from what I've figured about your situation, the Lycan surely entered the military for weapons. So look out for that."

"I will." Selene nodded as she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "Hope we will see each other soon again."

Howard smiled as he watched Selene leave, "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing much, I just didn't expect you two to be so close with one another," Artemis said, "Are you sure you will be fine without her?"

Hearing the sarcasm in her voice Howard chuckled, "Of course, after all, I have the company of such a beautiful bodyguard. How could I ever think of another woman when I am with you?"

"How long do you think it would take to reach our destination?" Artemis ignored Howard's cheekiness but she seemed satisfied.

"We should get there by night, but be prepared for a seriously long detour." Howard cracked his fingers, "Let's go."

--------------------------------------------------------

"Do you think he'll be here soon?" Diana asked sitting around the fire as they met up with Chief.

"Should be, but how come you're so worried?"

"I can't help but be." Diana said making a bitter expression, "Though I don't like to admit it, I've come to rely on him more than I should. And without him, I don't know which direction should I run to in search of Ares."

"Welcome to the Howard trap." Victor chuckled, "He makes simple work complicated and leads you to believe that your own plans are stupid and pointless. Hence, making you rely on him."

"The way you said it makes it sound like he's manipulating me."

"Take it however you want it to. But it's as he said, he doesn't lie. But that's a vague definition considering he hides a lot of things as well." James shook his head, "But on the plus side, his plans always work and have never failed, so there's that."

"Sigh! I wonder if I made the right decision."

"Okay, wonder woman you can stop wondering." Howard came through the bushes making everyone suddenly alert. They noticed Artemis who was soaking wet and Howard who was clean and dry.

"Don't ask," Artemis said before anyone could ask anything as she went over to the fire to dry herself.

Howard went over to the chief and introduced himself, trying to talk to him about his roles in the plan without wasting any time.

"So I heard you guys fought in the civil war," Steve asked James and Victor, "What was it like?"

"Gruesome, and it's not something we want to remember." James said, "Just the smell of the burning flesh and wounds makes me want to puke."

"I see." Steve hesitated as he shrugged back.

"How come you're suddenly interested in the past?" James asked not trying to make things awkward than it already was. With Howard around, he had to deal with several business deals so reading the environment was part of the job. So even though he wasn't much talkative about his personal life, he wouldn't shy away from a conversation either.

"It feels like we've only been talking about Howard most of the time." Steve said as he glanced towards him, "I don't like the sense of distrust in the air when we're supposed to be fighting on the same side. So I'd rather get to know you guys instead of all this."

"No need." Victor cut off his thoughts, "Because after this mission I am going to leave and even if you survive all this and keep working with Howard I am not going to be around any longer."

"You want to leave?" Diana asked curiously,

"Well, I have similar thoughts as well." James said, "I have always been hiding under my brother's shadow, so I want to go out and experience the world for myself. And now that he has got himself, someone, to protect him, I can leave with no worries as well."

"I might stab him at any given moment, so don't count on me," Artemis said as she wrung water off her clothes.

All of them chuckled as the atmosphere grew a little lighter.

"So where do you plan to go?" Sameer who was on the sidelines asked, "I myself have been meaning to do a lot of things after the war. But with the given options, I might as well prove myself to Mr. Smith and work with him. Maybe I'll save enough money and fulfill my dreams."

"I don't have a destination, so I guess I'll travel away from the country first." James said, "Change my identity once again and head towards Asia first, and then I'll just go where the wind takes me."

"Seems practical enough." Victor nodded as he finally opened up a little as well, "I am thinking about heading to Russia to run a mercenary company of my own until my identity dies off and then I'll think about what to do next."

"So basically you both want to run from your brother, huh." Arthur appeared out of nowhere making himself visible making them jump a little, "And I am guessing we are stuck here with him."

"We have had a complete lifetime together, at least you won't be stuck for that long."

"And what about you Diana?" Steve asked, "What are you going to do after all this fight with Ares ends."

"I can't return home and much like Artemis, we're stuck here whether we like it or not. So I don't know, I haven't thought so far yet."

"Today, Howard was talking about purpose and it made me realize the importance of it." Artemis said with a deep look on her face, "For me sticking by his side seems like a good start. His life is interesting enough and he wouldn't die on me either so it seems like a good thing to have something constant here."

"If cooping up inside the same room for years is considered interesting then I doubt your taste." Victor chuckled, "It seems like he told you some personal stuff, huh. So I am guessing he trusts you."

While they were chatting, Diana was lost in her thoughts wondering what she would really do. She looked towards Howard who was drinking and chatting with the chief, 'Purpose, huh.'

"What are you guys talking about?" Howard asked though with his enhanced sense he could hear them all he still pretended he didn't, "Since the night is too long, how about I tell you a story?"

Victor and James rolled their eyes crashing into their bed while others listened carefully. "What kind of story?"

"About how I am the actual inventor of the light bulb."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The thing about writing this type of fic is that almost all the characters are the protagonist of their own story. So dumbing them down seems unnatural and kind of removes the point of being in the same universe as them. And even things like stealing someone's spotlight seem pointless but not doing anything feels boring too.

So I am just experimenting with things here trying to see what really works and I have also realized that I am focusing a little too much on Howard, so I am trying to give other characters some spotlight as well to not make them characterless side-characters with no personalities. Feel free to leave your thoughts and suggestion about it.