"Mortal?" Menoikeus repeated. He and the other Kadmeas had gathered in the dining room for a private, parent-excluding meeting. The King of Thebes regarded Hercules with concerned scrutiny. "And you became a mortal for marrying my sister?"
Hercules bowed his head. "It's more that I defied my father, but that is how I defied him."
Menoikeus looked between the two for a solemn minute, then spoke again. "Is this at all connected to the incident where a student at the high school was hurled to his death on the school's campus?" That look on the king's face said he knew the answer.
"He was in the process of assaulting your sister," Hercules shrugged. "If you want to punish me, go ahead."
Menoikeus's eyes widened. "That will not be necessary. I also heard a mysterious boy was wandering the grounds at the time…" He tilted his head without phrasing the question.
"It seemed like a good idea then," Hercules shrugged. "Too bad I can't disguise myself anymore. I think I was really onto something there."
"It wasn't as good of a plan as I would've helped him come up with, but he was alone when he made up his mind," Megara supplied. "If anyone asks, it was a god in disguise meting out divine justice. No need to elaborate."
"Fair enough," Menoikeus said. "Though this leaves the conflict with Zeus… None of us wish to suffer curses from the gods. If there is a way for us to atone, please tell us how we may do it in a non-fatal manner. Since she is your wife now, I cannot be the one to pass judgment on her as an elder brother, but if you wish me to pursue the matter as her king-"
"No!" Hercules wrapped his arms around Megara. "I've been punished, and if the gods want any punishment on her, I'll take it in her stead. You and the rest of your family are not to suffer for any of our actions. I have been commanded to train as a hero under a trainer of mortal heroes, and so it will take some time before we can take up residence at our villa. In the meantime, I'd like someone to stay there until the construction is completed to ensure everything goes well and the place isn't looted."
"Haemon and Ismene should stay there," Megara added. "If you don't mind, that is." She glanced at her brother and cousin, neither of whom had anticipated a suggestion of that kind.
"Don't you mean Antigone and Haemon?" Haemon asked, raising a brow at his sister.
"Do you honestly think she wouldn't make it unbearable if you spent an hour alone with her in a house?" Megara shot back.
"I'm engaged to her! We'll live together eventually!"
The tightening of Megara's facial features would inevitably reveal her distaste for that sentiment, but she couldn't hide it now. "She's not allowed in my house."
"Your suggestion is noted," Menoikeus replied. "Megarion will stay there. He must leave the palace and maybe see the sun a few times daily." The eldest son of Creon put up a hand so that the youngest's objections went unformed. "He will move in the day you leave. How soon will this training begin, Hero?"
"At once," Hercules said. "I must earn my way back to godhood as quickly as possible. As much as I love being on earth with my wife," he paused, and a blissful grin stretched across his face when he spoke those words. "I would rather know I can secure her safety with no reservations. Now that she's involved in cosmic affairs on my account, it's my duty now."
"Agreed," Menoikeus said. "I am proud that my sister is allied with you, though I am sorry you have lost status on her behalf."
"That's not it," Hercules replied with some ferocity. He collected himself and added, "Meg and I will reach Olympus together. This allows us to grow together in ways we couldn't if I'd stayed immortal."
Menoikeus made a skeptical face characteristic of the Theban people, but Haemon nodded his approval of that sentiment.
The first word Megarion spoke in the entire exchange was, "Wow," to which he added, "You've got it so bad for her it's made you delusional."
"That's how I'm keeping him," Megara responded to her twin. "Delirious and delusional. He's a goner as far as I'm concerned."
"And happy to be one," Hercules chirped. He lifted Megara into his arms bridal style. "My father didn't see it, but we're perfectly matched. I'm pleased she's my wife, and she'll be sticking around for all my adventures."
"Just keep her safe," Haemon said. "If things get rough out there, Megarion and I can always lend aid."
Megarion cut his violet-slitted eyes in his older brother's direction. "Speak for yourself, you gigantic hairy ham."
Haemon burst into hearty laughter while his siblings rolled their eyes in unison.
"It is true that as Megara's family, we will aid her," Menoikeus said. "Your relationship has met with resistance that we do not envy, but we remain your allies. The sons of kings are often so thwarted by their fathers. It stands to reason the prince of the gods would face opposition similarly. I myself have had some difficulty pleasing my father with the possible queens I have sought. Perhaps in that we are alike, Mighty Hercules."
"I agree, but I hope you find someone soon. If I meet anyone I think would make a fine queen, I will send her to you before anyone else. I still consider you my family, and I would hate to see you lonely and without a queen for longer than necessary."
"Speaking of that old devil, where is he hiding?" Megara asked.
Menoikeus made a mischievous little smile. "He's busy. Antigone took it upon herself to become envoy to Polynikes, and I recommended that our father go along with her to exert his authority over our unruly cousin… Cousins. But who knows? It could be months before they return."
A worst-case scenario crystallized instantly in Megara's mind. "Just watch out. Antigone might decide she can join her brother in some righteous endeavor against us."
"Once again, your caution is commendable and will not be discounted," Menoikeus said.
"Careful, if you encourage her to think she's got influence here, she'll aim for your crown," Megarion said.
"Me? Ugh!" Megara gagged dramatically. "No chance! Thebes is your problem. I've got a full-time commitment here with a high-maintenance god-prince." She patted Hercules's bicep. "I've got to keep him mollified at all times, and he'd get antsy if I tried to rule a polis."
"Uh…" Hercules blinked at her a few times, uncertain whether he should be offended.
Megara poked him. She was kidding, after all!
"Heh! Oh, he-heh!" Hercules grinned. "Uh, yeah! Yeah, y'know, I um… I am really, really sensitive, yeah!" He put an arm around her. "In fact, we'd better get out of here before the last time she took care of me wears off and I get needy again."
"Yes, I'm sure we're in danger of that," Megara said drily.
"Hey, you're the one who told everyone I'm high-maintenance! Wouldn't wanna be exposed as a liar, now!" Hercules pressed a kiss to her brow.
"You don't wish to dine with us tonight?" Menoikeus asked.
"Aw, we can come back," Hercules said, winking at Megara. "I'm taking her home to settle in and see if we've gotta pack anything. Tomorrow, we'll seek out the hero trainer, either Chiron or Philoctetes. It depends on who's accepting new students." With that, Hercules strode out of the palace, still carrying his newlywed bride.
"So odd to walk everywhere," he said. "I'm used to thinking of where I want to be and going there with no more than the blink of an eye."
"Now you're down at my level, Wonder Boy. We lowly mortals don't have that luxury."
"You're not lowly! Just... not as high up."
"You realize that's the same thing, right?"
Hercules pouted, contemplating how he might argue with her. When he came up with nothing, he instead shrugged it off. "Maybe I have a lower rank now, but that doesn't mean anything about my life has diminished. Everything's better, actually. You're the reason for that, by the way." He gave her temple a quick kiss before lifting her onto Pegasus.
"We're both aiming for the stars, though," Megara mused.
They took off, drifting over the city of Thebes, its problems seemingly diminished by their perspective. Megara wondered if she'd forget what it was like to struggle in a mortal city when she eventually joined Hercules on Olympus.
"You're quiet again…" Hercules pointed out.
"Are you not entertained?"
Hercules snorted. "That's not what I mean. It's… good to hear your voice."
"I could sing for you if you wanted."
"Yes. But first, tell me if you're all right."
"What makes you think I wouldn't be? We had a pleasant conversation with my brothers, and my father and Antigone weren't there to ruin it."
"True. But we're in a new spot in life. Your brothers blessed us to pursue this spot between gods and mortals. I'd go home, but I'll take you with me. We're almost envoys between our people."
"Now who's lost in their thoughts? You're making all of that up. I hadn't even thought any of it."
"Maybe I'm overthinking it… but you matter so much to me, by the way." He kissed the top of her head.
They flew over the city to come to rest at the temple Megara had built for them. It was almost a home, but they'd never entered it as such before. The fact their home was a temple finally hit Megara.
"We're in a strange position now, I get it," she said, unlocking the front door. She was about to take the first set,p but Hercules lifted her over the threshold instead.
"Are you sorry we're not like everybody else?" He asked softly.
Megara huffed, wrapping an arm around his neck. "Herc. I fell in love with a god. Who cares about anyone else?"