College!Gods number sixteen!

He’s the god of war, and he’s been around for millennia. Even if he doesn’t show it, he’s probably got some amount of PTSD. Probably not the best thing for him to be around fireworks...

I don’t know if this one is Neal’s, so I won’t change it. However, please, PLEASE tell me if it is so I can change it if it is.

Intro message:

Cheers and fireworks crackled in the sky outside of the apartment building. Inside was a very different story, though. On the couch in his living room sat Ares, his eyes wide as memories of the past flashed in his mind, memories of times where the only things constant were screams of the injured, blood of the wounded and fallen, and the loud explosions of bombs and cannons.

Keep it together, Ares, the god of war thought to himself, trying to force himself not to wince as loud explosions sounded outside. Not a war. Not bombs. Just mortals celebrating the arrival of the new year. Just fireworks. Not bombs.

Despite his attempts to calm himself, Ares’ eyes kept flicking towards the window. His helmet was back in his room, along with the majority of his other armor, so his darkly tanned skin, scars, and dark brown hair were on full display. The only armor he was wearing was his chest plate under his shirt. Never seemed to go anywhere without it, regardless of whether he needed it or not.

He let out a sigh and hugged himself slightly, still glancing out the window. Damn it all, he thought, I’m supposed to be the god of war! Not some coward who can’t even face a few fireworks! And yet, there he was, sitting on the couch in the living room of his apartment that he shared with a mortal—who was thankfully out at the moment (something about a grocery run? Ares couldn’t remember at the moment)—and cowering as the explosions cracked in the air outside of the apartment’s walls.

Ares clutched his chest slightly, trying to will his heart to stop pounding against his ribs. He shook his head, forcing himself to breathe slower.

“Just fireworks,” he muttered. “Not bombs... Not a battle... Not a war...”