HELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOO AAAAAAAALL! I know, I know: "where the hell have you been?!" etc. Etc. and honestly? I DONT HAVE A GOOD ANSWER!

Ive been rethinking life decisions, making altering choices, dealing with new peeps and low self esteem and- quite honestly?- I forgot my password until I found a previous lost file!

BUT! I have returned to bring Y'all some new and improved writing. I'm intending to have this finished before too long, taking into account some of your suggestions, and then I will re-edit it! ALL of it. Until then, see you soon, and enjoy!

Sadlk leaned back against the couch, humming contently as he ran his hand through Heracles hair, thinking back through the past few days, a smile tugging at his lips.

'Who would'a thought, me and the cat brat being civilized in a room together'

Of course, things hadn't always been the ways they were now. Sadlk and Hera used to be close, the only reminder of which being the few brief moments of happiness when they enjoyed each others company. Now, the two nations were always at odds with each other, though never necessarily war. Though Sadlk was normally the instigator, every spat left a feeling in his gut much like an aftertaste to some foul drink he foolishly tried.

Sadlk remembers clearly the way things were before, perhaps even more so than now. The memories boil at the pit of his stomache, burning on the bad days, because he knows nothing will ever be the same, yet warming him in the winter- like days when he feels the nip of life coming on.

Today's a mix of both of these days, and Sadlk closes his eyes as a particularly fond memory drifts into his mind, Vague yet clear all at once; the sort of memory that had little details to remember. This memory consisted of cotton candy, a merry-go-round, games, and a mask. Sadlk remembered the mask, remembered the promise clearly. He also remembered the cat, a tabby, that was Heracles first pet.

Sadlk found it slightly ironic, Heracles hating the beast he used to loathe.

' Well, I suppose he still does, apparently.'

Sadlk laughed as that recent conversation came back to him. He couldn't, for the life of him, figure the brat out. Suddenly his breathe hitched in his throat as he recalled Heracles' wordings and his and stilled its subconscious petting of Heracles' hair.

Sadlk's head fell back against the couch as he reached up to hold his head in his hand and groaned out a couple curses.

"I don't fucking hate you, kitten," Sadlk whispered his thoughts aloud, cursing himself for being such an idiot.

— XxXxXxX

Heracles nestled into Sadlks' lap, dozing but not quite asleep. Although the act of pulling him close was altogether remote, he wasn't going to object. Besides, the feeling felt nice. Heracles let himself drift off, the soothing brushing of his hair both relaxing and frustrating him.

Heracles remembered a time when the two of them were close, when nobody could have separated them. Heracles rued not to remember what caused it all to change. Shoving the particularly painful thought away, Heracles remembered a more interesting day, a day of cotton candy and Ferris wheels and games; a day with a mask; a mask Heracles happened to recall very well at this moment.

Heracles' eyes flew open before quickly closing again as his mind tried telling the dream was a fake; that the mask had nothing to do with him.

'But it did.'

Before he could question the mask further, a stream of swears flowed out of the masked man in particular. Heracles pulled himself back into the real world painfully, missing the continuos petting of his head.

"I don't hate you, kitten." Sadlk barely whispers the words, making Heracles strain to hear it. Hear them he does, however, and he rolls onto his back, eyes open and looking up at the older man.

Sadlk's head is back and a strain is heard in his voice. Heracles studies the older man, contimplating on whether or not to reply. He doesn't think too long.

"You could've fooled me." Heracles speaks in a tone that isn't quite bitter, yet isn't quit sad, his voice only slightly louder than the older man's. He watches Sadlk's Adam's apple rise and fall as he took in a breathe of air, heard his heart quicken with his ear just against his stomache. It's a nice moment, a simple moment, a moment the two of them never seem to have together, especially nowadays. It was a tender moment and could go two ways.

It could end abruptly, without grace or caring. Things could go back to the way they were after Heracles' independence, with the constant fighting and rivalry, with the anger and grudges and foolish arguments.

Or it could... Not. It could lead into something else, perhaps like the way they were before hand, yet... Not. They both knew this; they both knew their options and the possibilities. It all came down to a choice, a response, from either, from or, from both.

Sadlk pushed a strand of hair out of Heracles face.

"I'm sorry, Hera."