Athens
The camera phone clicked, capturing the moment as Alexander Ward, known to friends as Alex or 'A to the X', stood in front of a quaint café on a narrow street in Athens, Greece.
"Well, Grandma's was a bust," he said, speaking over the speakerphone to Tiffany on the other side of the world. "All the pieces were from the 9th century, and while they have their own value, they won't fetch much as artifacts in a museum. Maybe the grandkids could make a pretty penny at an auction for a private collector, but no museum would be interested." He switched back to a regular call, holding the phone to his ear as he continued. The street was bustling with mopeds, bicycles, and cars, the sun shining over the Grecian cityscape.
"At least you got a paid vacation to Greece," Tiffany replied from her darkened room in California. "Maybe you'll find yourself a cute little Greek boy to have some fun with. Wish I was there, at least."
"So far, all the eye candy seems to be nowhere near the suburbs of Athens," Alex chuckled, strolling down the street in his touristy button-up shirt and shorts. "But the weather's gorgeous."
"With Grandma's being a bust, what other plans do you have while you're in Greece?" Tiffany asked, filing her nails smooth.
"I'm in Athens, the home of the Temple of Ares and Athena as well as the Agora. I haven't explored them thoroughly yet," he said, peering over the mountainside, his sunglasses shielding his eyes from the blinding sun. "And my Archaeological and Smithsonian pass will get me past the usual crowds, so I might head that way after lunch."
"You know that temple's been picked clean since the 11th century," she replied, blowing on her nails to clear the filings.
"Yeah, but you never know what you might find, right? At the very least, it'll earn me a few hundred likes on a post," he said with a shrug, catching his reflection in a nearby window. "I don't look half bad as a tourist," he thought to himself.
"Whatever you say, 'A to the X'," she chuckled mockingly.
"Goodnight," he rolled his eyes.
"Morning!" She waved at her phone before ending the call.
—
After savoring a delightful lunch at a charming street corner cafe, where he indulged in the rich flavors of authentic Greek cuisine, Alex hailed a cab to whisk him away to his next destination: the renowned 'Temple of Ares' nestled at the heart of Athens, along with the world-famous Agora.
As the cab weaved through the bustling streets of modern Athens, Alex marveled at the juxtaposition of ancient and contemporary architecture that adorned the cityscape. Towering structures from various epochs stood side by side, creating a visual tapestry that spoke volumes of the city's rich history and cultural heritage.
Upon arriving at the Agora's main drop-off point, Alex was greeted by a sea of fellow tourists, all eager to explore this historical gem. The air buzzed with excitement as visitors from around the globe soaked in the atmosphere of this iconic site, the very heartbeat of Athens's tourism scene.
—
As Alex strolled amidst the bustling crowds, all engaged in capturing photos and striking poses, he deftly retrieved his Smithsonian badge and pass from his pocket. With a practiced motion, he presented it to the security guards who stood as sentinels, blocking entrance into the more secure and valuable areas of the park.
"Berkeley?" the guard inquired in broken English, scrutinizing Alex's badge. "What brings you to the Agora instead of the National Museum?"
"Covid," Alex retorted sarcastically, a hint of humor lacing his tone. "Seems all the important people are under the weather, so they had to summon us Californians out here."
The guard instinctively covered his mouth with his arms, a reflexive gesture, and then swiftly unlocked the gate leading into the depths of the Agora. "Yes, please proceed."
"I don't have it!" Alex rolled his eyes at the guard's reaction before striding confidently into the heart of the ancient park.
—
He wandered leisurely amidst the remnants of antiquity, where olive trees and pines adorned the hillsides and weathered pillars stood as silent witnesses to the passage of time. It was a realm forever enshrined in the past.
Approaching the main thoroughfare of the Agora, Alex paused before a long rectangular structure adorned with imposing pillars.
"The Temple of Ares..." Alex murmured to himself, raising his camera phone to capture the moment.
Stepping into the shadowy recesses of the temple, Alex found himself enveloped by the towering marble pillars that defined the open rectangular space.
He scanned every nook and cranny of the massive structure, his expression shifting from curiosity to disappointment. "Yup... picked clean since the 11th century," he muttered ruefully, snapping another photo. "Not to mention the 1930s, 50s, and 90s," he continued, his voice tinged with a sense of resignation.
As Alex raised his camera to capture another snapshot of the ancient temple, a sudden thunderclap echoed through the air, startling him.
"What the heck!?" Alex exclaimed, looking up at the sky, which remained clear and serene. "Where the hell did..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a blinding flash of lightning struck the ground in the center of the temple with a deafening roar, knocking Alex back a step from the force of the impact. The sharp tang of ozone filled his nostrils as he struggled to regain his balance.
"Ho...ly..." Alex breathed, his gaze fixed on the figure standing amidst the smoking rubble. Towering above him was the most imposing man he had ever seen, with a physique that seemed chiseled from granite itself.
The man's skin was bronzed, devoid of any body hair, and his legs were as thick as tree trunks. His arms, resembling pillars of strength, hung at his sides, and his broad shoulders rippled with muscle. Curly, raven-black hair framed his face, adding to his aura of raw power. Clad in nothing but a perizoma, a garment barely concealing his modesty, he seemed utterly unaffected by the commotion that surrounded him, he exuded a calm confidence that was both captivating and intimidating.
Caught off guard by the sudden appearance of this imposing figure, Alex's breath caught in his throat as their eyes met for the first time. The stranger's piercing emerald-green eyes bore into Alex's own blue ones with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.
Feeling a mixture of awe and unease at the unexpected encounter, Alex muttered to himself, "Fuck…"
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