Another way is to show a begrudging respect. Ares might respect Athena's intelligence in battle even though he is more impulsive. In the fanfic, there could be a scene where Ares witnesses Athena outwit an enemy with her wisdom, and he has to admit, albeit reluctantly, that she has her merits. Then, this could lead to a more complex relationship where they start to collaborate on some military matters.
A plot could revolve around a mortal who prays to both Ares and Athena simultaneously. The two gods are intrigued and descend to the mortal world. There, they find that the mortal's problem is a complex one that requires both war - like strategy and wisdom to solve. As they work together, they discover new aspects of each other and their relationship evolves.
In Greek mythology, there is no traditional 'love story' between Athena and Ares. Athena represents wisdom, strategy, and warfare in a more civilized sense, while Ares is the god of brutal war. Athena often opposes Ares' chaotic and blood - thirsty ways. For example, in the Trojan War, they are on different sides with Athena supporting the Greeks more rationally and Ares just fueling the violence.
There are no real versions that depict Ares and Athena in a love relationship. Ares is associated with brute force in war, while Athena is about strategic warfare and wisdom. These two concepts don't really lead to a romantic connection between them in any of the traditional mythological tellings.
One interesting Ares and Athena fanfiction could be about their rivalry in a modern setting. For example, they could be competing in a business world, with Ares using his aggressive tactics and Athena her wisdom. Another might focus on a time when they have to team up against a common enemy from the underworld. In this story, they would have to put aside their differences and combine their powers.
One common theme is the clash of their personalities. Ares being the god of war, impulsive and violent, while Athena represents wisdom and strategy. Another theme is the idea of forbidden love, as they are often seen as being on different sides in the mythology.
A fictional Athena and Ares love story could start with their initial disdain for each other. Ares, being the god of war, might be attracted to Athena's strength and wisdom in battle. Athena, initially resistant, could gradually see a different side of Ares beyond his bloodlust. They might find common ground in their understanding of the power of war, but their relationship would be complicated by their different approaches. Maybe they would secretly meet on battlefields, sharing their views on the fates of warriors.
There isn't a traditional love story between Ares and Athena. Ares represented raw aggression in war, while Athena was the embodiment of intelligent and just warfare. Their relationship was mainly defined by their different approaches to battle. Athena was respected for her wisdom and skill, and she would have little to do with Ares in a romantic sense as their natures were so different.
You can start by looking on fanfiction websites like Archive of Our Own (AO3). It has a large collection of fan - made stories, and you can easily search for Ares and Athena fanfiction there. There are also some dedicated Greek mythology fanfiction forums where writers share their works about these two characters.
Some fanfictions focus on their character development. Athena might be shown learning about the more primal aspects of power from Ares, while Ares could gain some wisdom from Athena. It's also popular to see them in modern - day settings in fanfictions, like they are reincarnated and have to deal with the modern world while still having their inherent god - like qualities and the complex relationship that comes with it.