I am just so happy to have my hand back in working order I can get all these ideas out of my head and into text. I just posted a chapter the other day, just be sure you don't accidentally skip that chapter since I rarely post this much content this fast. Just taking advantage of my time off work to try and catch up.
So I have a question for everyone: I really don't think I want to include the Zeus arc from Reopened Wounds. I did it poorly, it never really amounted to anything, and in truth did not make sense with movie canon. What do you all think?
I know in ancient Greece the men ate first, women/children second, servants/slaves last. But again, I feel this is a cultural norm Hercules would not take part in, that he would rather eat in the company of others rather than alone just to prove his dominance. He never fit in right, and I don't imagine him conforming to certain social norms. Also to remain in Disney canon. According to the animated series he had no probably eating with his friend Cassandra present.
Also, learned a fun fact. My old version of this, Reopened Wounds is nearly 100,000 words which would make it approximately 400 pages. Kudos to all of you who READ that thing. That is some serious dedication!
We went back inside to the den, where Herc sat me down on a divan, setting the pouches on a wooden table. He held my hand carefully and began to gently tug at the cloths binding the burns, and it took a lot of lip-biting to keep from crying out. The gentle friction from removing the bandages was making the pain flare up new. Despite the coating of lard, the bandages stuck in some places.
"Ow!" I yelped, managing not to pull my hand away, gasping as one of the blisters burst with the tear caused by the bandage.
"Sorry!" Hercules quickly apologized, letting go of both my hand and the bandage. I shook my head at him,
"Just keep going, have to do this one way or the other," I replied reluctantly. I wanted to stop, and just deal with the current pain rather than aggravate it worse, better medicine or not. "It'll feel better once covered up again, I don't think Hermes would have given you something if it wouldn't help better than what we had," I doubted my own words, and gambled on trusting Hercules's judgment over my own skepticism.
"Maybe we should have given you some of that poppy first, so it hurts less to change the bandage," He offered. "You can take some, then we can finish changing these. Maybe it'll hurt less?" The poor boy looked like he would faint.
"I guess," I was reluctant to try it, but at this point anything was better than the agony of my wrists. Hercules left my right wrist half-bandaged and grabbed the poppy. He measured it as instructed by Hermes and handed it to me, and I downed the foul tasting liquid. "Oh gods, that's even worse than the willow bark!" I complained, scrunching my nose.
"But if it works..."
"It'll be worth it," I finished. "How long does this stuff take to work?" I wondered,
"I'm guess the same as willow bark," He replied.
"Well we can't just have my hand open like this while we wait. Gods does it sting. Just hurry up, finish this one, and once the poppy kicks in we'll do the other one," Hercules agreed and resumed his work on addressing my burns.
"Hades will pay for this," Hercules growled.
"You also need to do something about that guard who keeps letting Helen in. My shoulder will thank you," I quipped back. Hades may materialize as he pleases, but even without his help that girl seemed to continuously find her way into the villa.
"What happened to your shoulder?" He asked, as he was mercifully finished peeling the last of the bandage away. I groaned a bit, the pain of the burn renewed with the exposure to the air,
"Helen happened," I replied. Hercules looked at me and lifted his brow and after I failed to elaborate apparently decided not to prod further.
"How does your shoulder feel?"
"Sore, but I'm okay. The wrists are what bother me..."
"I forgot a basin of water," Hercules complained. "I need to wash the lard off before I apply these herbs." he got up and left. I let my head fall back against the back of the divan so I was staring up at the ceiling. I was scared. I would never admit that to Wonderboy, lest risk the boy boor standing permanent vigil. But I couldn't find a loophole in this deal with Hades. Hades can be surprisingly patient. Why can't he just let me live my pathetically short mortal life before collecting his debt? Just let me enjoy this short time I have before returning to an eternity at his beck and call?
"Megara?" I was pulled from my reverie to see Alexina walking towards me. "Hercules walked by to get something to re-bandage your burns?" I bit my lip,
"Yeah. Not that you and Jason did a bad job. Just... one of Hercules's divine relatives fetched some kind of weird herbs that should help it heal better than lard would," I explained, hoping she wouldn't feel I was ungrateful for the pair's help earlier.
"I was just worried," She replied, and sat down at the end of the divan. "I thought the bandages became soiled already,"
"Nothing like that," I shook my head. "I'll be okay," I assured her, though I was a bit unsure myself. Burns tended to leave horrific scarring, and I hoped Hermes really was being altruistic with his offer. But since when did anyone do a favor without the expectation of something in return?
"Oh hey Alex," Hercules greeted cheerfully as he returned to the den. She gave him a light smile and scooted further down the divan to give him space to sit. He set the basin down on the small table and wrung out the cloth. "At least the water is cool," he remarked, and began tapping away at the lard. The top layer came off easy enough, but lard being lard a thin layer remained stubbornly clingy.
"Let me get you something to drink," Alexina stated, seemingly agitated from my constant flinching.
"I'm okay," I insisted. "I don't really need anything-Ow!" I yelped, my glance shooting over to my wrist.
"Sorry!" Hercules apologized emphatically, followed by a string of a dozen more apologies. "These blisters are fragile, I tried to be gentle..." I nodded at him, biting my tongue. The exposure to air combined with the constant wiping was reaching near-intolerable levels. To think I had to do this a second time was enough to make nauseous. A few more swipes of the cloth and Hercules seemed satisfied. He made a paste with the herbs and some water, and applied it according to Hermes instructions. I had to admit, the herbs felt strangely cool.
"Those... feel pretty good. What are they?" I asked. They looked and smelled unfamiliar.
"No idea. But Hermes has never steered me wrong before," Hercules replied, reaching for the dry bandages. "Alex, you did a really good job with this last time, better than I could probably do," He continued, holding the bandages out to her. She nodded, taking the linen strips and wrapping them around the herb-paste. I thanked her, getting her usual quiet nod in response.
A subtle but noticeable lightheartedness crept up on me, and I was no longer sure if it was the herbs or the poppy beginning to make my right wrist feel better. I rubbed my forehead roughly with the heel of my left palm, trying to clear my head.
"Meg?" I looked up at Hercules's concerned face and smiled to show him I was okay. He always worries.
"I'm okay. Just a little lightheaded," I insisted.
"We can do the other wrist after we eat, give that poppy stuff time to work. I don't wanna hurt you as bad again..." He trailed off.
"Yeah... that wasn't fun," I admitted, lifting a brow. "But it feels a lot better than before... so I guess it was worth it," I continued. Alexina finished tying the ends of the bandage together, and I flexed, well... wiggled, my fingers. "Thanks Alex," She replied with a meek smile and a shrug.
"I need to help Jason finish cooking," She excused herself and left the den. I sighed, leaning back against the divan, holing both my useless hands in my lap.
"You sure you're okay?" Hercules asked, and I was sure it was not the last time I would hear it that night. I nodded, feeling strangely relaxed. Hercules slipped an arm around my shoulders, causing a startled jolt out of me. "Whoa, easy. You spook easier than a wild horse," He teased, chuckling, I laughed it off, ignoring how fast my heart was racing.
"Sorry," I shrugged, and had to strain a giggle. I feel funny. I rubbed my face again with the heels of my palms, and felt slightly better. "I think I just need to eat," I added,
"Yeah, I'm starving too." He rubbed his stomach, giving it a hearty pat.
"You're always hungry," I quipped. I didn't have to be living with Wonderboy to learn that fact. But I guess something had to fuel his Godlike strength and seemingly perpetual energy. Hercules rested a hand on my shoulder, using his thumb to play with my earlobe. A contented sigh escaped my lips, and I tilted my head. He carefully clasped my fingers with his free hand, and I shifted so I settled next to him more comfortably. Hmm... I could get used to moments like these. I thought. We were allotted our moment of peace, and sat together quietly until Jason came to tell us our meal was ready. Despite my hunger I got up with reluctance, the deep sigh I heard beside me meaning Hercules felt the same. I couldn't help the smile at the thought that he was enjoying the moment as much as I. It's so strange to know someone loves me. I thought. But it was a feeling I would certainly enjoy getting used to.
Jason and Alexina joined us for supper at Hercules's request, but any other staff Hercules had was nowhere to be found. Either resting or tending to their duties elsewhere on the property. Jason set the food upon the table. Fish, lentils, bread, and mashed beans made with olive oil and cloves, and Hercules happily piled a large amount of the food onto his plate, announcing how excited he was Jason made his favorite food.
By dinner's end my head felt like I was underwater. My wrists felt fantastic, unless I moved my hands wrong I didn't feel much pain. Jason and Alex picked up the dishes, and Hercules suggested we change my other bandage if I thought the medicine was working. The answer to that question was a very emphatic yes.
We returned to the den where we had left the bandage supplies. We sat down on the divan, and Hercules lifted my hand to start peeling back the bandage around my left wrist. This time it hurt significantly less. It still hurt, but it was like the part of my mind that was distressed by the pain had simply been turned off. Without my constant flinching and gasping he was able to accomplish the task much faster, and within minutes both my hands were swaddled in the herb-paste.
"How's that feel?" He asked, letting go of my hand. I nodded, biting back a smile of no particular origin.
"Pretty good," I replied, inspecting the bandages. The one on my right wrist was starting to tint green from the herbs underneath. "Hermes knows his stuff..." I added, tilting my head. The lightheadedness was beginning to segue into fatigue. So tired. Always so tired. I thought to myself.
"You look tired," Hercules commented, as if reading my thoughts. I shrugged,
"Mmm... I'm okay though," I hummed. I wonder if this is why Hermes warned us about the poppy I mused, then giggled. Poppy... what a weird word for a medicine. Sounds more like some kind of cute animal.
"Maybe it wouldn't hurt if we went to bed early," Hercules suggested.
"I feel like all I've done is sleep," I answered.
"You've been through a lot,"
"We both have." I sighed, wondering when I would start to feel normal again. During my internment I would sleep only a handful of hours a night and feel fine. "I don't see you sleeping from dusk 'till dawn,"
"Well we don't have to sleep but maybe we can just go relax. We can read or something," He suggested. He reached an arm behind me, managing not to startle me, and began running his thumb against my neck.
"Mmm... you promise to do that and you have a deal," I replied, leaning against him and tilting my head to better expose my neck. He tilted his hand, running his fingers now along my neck and I sighed contently. I felt crimson heat spread across my cheeks and to my ears, shifting even closer to Hercules. My mind began to wander about his fingers venturing elsewhere, when he suddenly stopped.
"You have a deal," He stood, much to my distaste, and gestured for me to get up. I stood, with an exaggerated groan, and followed him down the hallway studded with decor to the bedroom. Even with the sun setting the summer heat left the room warm. The bed linens had been neatly arranged, no sign of the discarded laundry. The room hardly looked used with the spotless floors and neurotically organized shelves containing scrolls, trinkets, and various figurines of the monsters he had defeated lined up in a neat row. I walked up to the shelf, reaching up for a wood carving of the hydra, and smiled at it. Wonderboy sure blew me away that day, I thought to myself.
"You have all your monsters?" I asked, looking at him over my shoulder before putting the Hydra back on the shelf, sure to straiten it back into its nice little row someone had painstakingly organized. Wonderboy didn't strike me as the type to maintain this level of neat.
"Yeah, this nice little woodcarver makes them for me after every battle. He carves some of the toys they sell at one of my stores, but making them by hand they've become some kind of rare collectable," A broad smile overtook his face, obviously proud of his achievements. And rightly so. My humble hero deserved a chance to brag now and then. I heard him coming up behind me, and he wrapped one arm around my waist, his free hand brushing against my neck,
"I think I remember I made a deal with you," He whispered. I let myself fall back against him, the arm around my waist gripping me tighter.
"Hmm..." I hummed contently, tilting my head. I felt Hercules bring his lips down behind my ear, and I took a sharp breath through my nose, letting it out slowly to stifle the moan that I was worried would make him stop. I shifted my hands over the one he had wrapped around my waist as he whispered my name into my ear. Good gods, where did Wonderboy learn to act like this? I thought to myself, but like hell if I was complaining.
I turned in his arms, trying not to let his grip on me loosen as I moved my arms around his neck, meeting him for a kiss. His tongue met mine, and the taste of him was divine. I sighed against his mouth, startled at how good he was at this. The pressure of my wrists against his neck were little more than a mild annoyance, the sudden passion ignited in me allowed me to completely ignore the discomfort. I want you to touch me; the words arose in my mind, but I kept them there. I was afraid of being too forward. Wonderboy was so innocent, I wasn't sure how to approach this. But dear gods what he was doing to me was driving me crazy. Despite my own desires, I had to admire his innocence. Another man would have pinned me to the bed by now, but with Wonderboy it was different.
I stepped back from his embrace, getting a confused look and discontented moan from Hercules. I shushed him and lifted my hand to the strap of my chiton, rolling my shoulder so the garment began to loosen. Hercules looked surprised, a deep crimson overtaking his face.
"M-Meg..." He began to stammer as I pulled the strap of fabric around my chest allowing the loose garment to slip free, leaving me in nothing more than a strap of fabric around my breasts. I felt a blush beginning to take over my own cheeks, the burning continuing to my ears when his expression changed suddenly. "Meg..." He repeated, and I was confused for a moment, and I realized what he was looking at. "Oh gods..." Suddenly embarrassed I collected my pooled clothing, clutching it in front of me.
"Herc, I'm fine I swear..." I tried to assure him, but I saw the tears welling in his eyes. "Nothing hurts... Well... I'm a little sore, but not the way the bruises look," I continued, and began fumbling at the jumbled mess of fabric in my hands in a desperate attempt to redress myself. Hercules approached me, and carefully lowered my arms, one hand reaching out his fingertips touching my stomach gently.
"Oh gods..." he repeated, shaking his head, his voice beginning to tremble.
"Hercules look at me," I instructed, lifting his chin. "Look at me." I repeated with conviction. I shook my head, trying to clear it. What did that poppy do to me? I should have remembered these bruises, or had any semblance of self-control. "I promise you, I'm fine. I don't really understand them myself," I avoided looking down, a phantom pain shooting through me as I fought through my rising anxiety.
"I'm sorry..." he whispered, and I furrowed my brow.
"For what?" I replied, "Saving me? Bringing my sorry ass back from the dead?" I questioned, placing my hands on his checks and using my thumbs to brush away fresh tears. "Herc... What you did was a miracle in every sense of the word. But maybe my body just needs a little more time to finish healing. Maybe it's why I've been so tired. But I swear I'm okay,"
"I don't... I don't understand... I brought you back, you seemed healed. I mean... you weren't, umm... y'know... h-hurting," He stammered, finally looking up to meet my eyes. "I thought I healed you," I stood on my toes and placed a gently kiss on his lips,
"You did," I answered softly. I didn't know how to even begin to tell him just how much he had healed me. I smiled at the thought of how our months of friendship developed into something so much deeper, more precious.
"But... gods Meg, look at you!" He replied, gesturing incredulously. "What if something didn't heal? What if something is still wrong?" He shook his head. It looked like there was more he wanted to say, but kept the words to himself. "What if Hermes checks on you, I mean he helped with the burns. Maybe he can check..." He stopped when he saw my expression, "Meg... that kind of bruising... usually means bleeding..." I shook my head again,
"They also take a long time to go away. You bruise yourself you don't actively bleed for a month. Just takes a long time to fade. I'm sure that's the case here," it felt strange to be arguing basic fist aide. He knew more about the subject than I, but was letting his worry get the best of him. I picked up the chiton I had dropped again, clutching it in front of me, wanting to redress, feeling foolish and vulnerable. I shook my head, finding my hands had a tremor while struggling to to fix the large chiton.
"Here..." Hercules offered quietly, reaching out and helping me fasten the damn thing. I felt tears brimming on my eyelashes as I struggled to reign myself in. I watched, fastened at the nimbleness of his fingers as he fastened the fabric around my waist. "If anything feels wrong,"
"I'll tell you strait away," I responded, finally able to smile through the awkwardness. He looked up, eyes meeting mine as he bit his lip. I wondered if he had a moment to notice something other than my bruises when I first disrobed. I finished fastening most of my garment, and wished for a hole to hide in. "I think I need to sleep... that poppy is making me feel funny," Why can't I control my mouth? The last thing he needs is to think this medicine is doing something to me.
"Yeah maybe some sleep is a good idea," He smiled, and I briefly wondered if the smile was covering up judgmental thoughts. No, he's not like that. I reminded myself, and returned his smile.
"Join me?" He blushed, and I chucked, "I mean are you ready to sleep?" I clarified.
"Later. I'm still pretty awake," He replied, pulling my hands away from the chiton I hadn't realized I was fussing with. "Go lie down, you've had a day..."