What To Do With Who Knows

Kiku had stayed much longer than he should have. It was not as if he was not keeping track of the time, but... okay, he had not been keeping track of the time. He had relaxed as Heracles had bid him, tried to push the problem from his mind, if only for a short while.

It was evening now. Kiku nearly panicked at thinking how long he had left Heracles alone. He had to go back, he had to get back to work.

"Kiku... you leaving?"

He almost had not heard Alfred, which was strange enough on its own. Turning around, Kiku came up quickly with his excuse. "Yes, I have some work to return to."

Alfred nodded a few times, as if he was not quite listening, hands fidgeting. "You sure you don't want to stick around for a bit longer?"

Kiku smiled sadly. "I am sorry Alfred, I would if I could."

The man nodded again, as if he had forgotten he had already nodded before. "I'll come over!" he exclaimed, as if the bright idea had just hit him. "We can play Baldur's Gate!"

"No, Alfred. I'm sorry. Not tonight."

Alfred actually looked hurt and Kiku could not conceive as to why. It was not the first time he had asked a similar question and Kiku did not always say yes. If Heracles had not been at home, if he did not have so much work to do to return the man back into visibility... but Alfred could not know. Kiku was not even certain how he was going to explain to Heracles why to stay quiet about it after he was cured and could leave the house.

"Oh. Okay."

His voice was so quiet, Kiku felt confused. Before he could say anything however, Alfred was kissing him.

"See ya later, 'kay?"

"Of course." Kiku almost wondered if he had imagined Alfred's hesitation at first, because he left, pace not slowed. It was one of those situations where Kiku was certain there was something more (like in his manga), but with Heracles waiting for him at home Kiku could not bring himself to follow after Alfred. He was probably just trying not to sulk; Kiku would make it up to him later. Perhaps on the fourth, his birthday. Yes, then.

Kiku returned home.

"Did you have a good time?"

"Yes, thank you iLudovicus," Kiku responded, setting his jacket down on the couch and looking about for Heracles. He saw Heracles' sleeve followed by the rest of his outfit enter the room. "You were well while I was gone?"

Heracles did not respond immediately, but when he did Kiku almost wished he had not. "I went out."

"What?" Kiku whispered, clearing his throat before actually speaking out loud. "Why? I thought I said..."

"I'm sorry, but I had to see Gupta. I was worried."

Struggling with his reactions, Kiku sat down. "You did not talk to him, did you?"

Heracles folded his arms across his chest, appearing to be fussing with a sleeve in one hand. "I did."

"Heracles!" Kiku exclaimed softly, a hand raising up to his forehead. "I cannot have this– You must understand, this cannot be known!"

"He saw me in the mirror."

Kiku blinked. "He... you reflected in the mirror?"

"I had to talk to him then."

Immediately, Kiku got to his feet, rushing into another room to find a mirror to bring back. He did not have to even do that, as Heracles had followed him. He was reflected in the mirror. Another fact to add to all of his uncertainties. "The clothes as well?"

"Yes. I left them back on the table," Heracles said, not even meeting his own eyes in the mirror. Staring at his friend for the first time in months, he reached back and gripped his hand, giving it a squeeze.

"I can work with this."

There was nothing to worry about from Gupta, Gupta was not the type to start talking to anyone about normal things, let alone about a subject as sensitive as this. Kiku relaxed just as he was becoming excited from this new information. Would this help him turn Heracles back? It had to!

"...Natalia saw me too, but she ran away."

All his panic resurfaced.