Chapter 27 � This�ll Only Herc a Bit�
"Gentlemen! Welcome to Theta Gamma Iota Falafel!" the lanky owner immediately launched himself at the wandering heroes, who'd managed to wander close enough to get pulled in by a vigorous warrior's clasp. "Come, come. I have the best seat in the house for my good friends."
From where he sat, Joxer could see the smile on Hercules' face, genuine with a hint of humoring. He'd had it directed at himself on more than one occasion - at least it wasn't out-and-out phony. That was something, he guessed.
"Theta Gamma What Now?" the shorter blond next to the son of Zeus chuckled.
"It stands for 'Thank Gods It's Falafel'," the chef-cum-proprietor puffed up proudly. "Catchy, huh?"
"It's� something, I'll give you that," Hercules intoned, turning just in time to catch a double-armful of nephew. "OOF! Hi Bliss!"
"Unca Herc!" A big hug and a noisy kiss greeted the hero. "Come sit wif us!"
"Uhh�" Hercules cast an eye over to 'us' and couldn't place anyone there. They looked vaguely familiar, but were, for the most part, strangers. What was his nephew doing with a bunch of strange men? A hand shot up and waved at him�OK, Joxer was there. That was� at least a little relieving. He was sure Joxer would have been looking out for the little guy.
"Hey Jox!" Iolaus waved back, happy to not have to occupy whatever "best table" Falafel had in store for them. There was nothing like being on display to ruin your appetite. Not his, of course. But Herc got a little high strung sometimes� Iolaus pivoted quick to catch the flurry of feathers heading at him at top speed with a spirited 'Unca Yolas!' "Hey, Squirt! You behaving yourself?"
Back at the table, Joxer could feel a faint tingle of nervousness in his belly. He could easily see Bliss announcing his tablemates, still currently in disguise, and the demi-godly son of Zeus not being very happy about it. He started to get up, but a hand at his shoulder kept him seated.
"He knows."
Eyes turning a shade wide, Joxer turned slightly to Strife, the faint twinkle of an applied glamour still lingering around Mischief's ears. He guessed that was for Hercules' benefit - the hero would naturally be able to tell his own family without it. But if Herc knew� "And he's not smashing the table to bits to get at you because�?"
"Not Jerkules. Bliss. He knows not to say anything. He thinks it's a game we're playing with them."
"Yah, and that little bugger HATES to lose." Phobos snorted a laugh quietly.
Strife squeezed his shoulder and gave a low chuckle. "It's cool. We done this before. Herkie-baby ain't ever the wiser." Somehow, a chortle from Mischief didn't make Joxer feel too much better about the situation. Especially as the heroes were making their way to the table.
"Hey, Joxer," Hercules smiled fondly as they sat down, Bliss still clinging to Iolaus. It wasn�t long before he was bouncing between the two men, regaling them with the merits of Falafel�s cooking. They didn�t look entirely convinced, eyeing the various plates spread out on the table.
"Hey guys!" a round of warriors� arm-clasps passed between the two men and Joxer. "It�s been a while, huh?" A sharp throat-clearing noise to his left made Joxer almost wince. This was going to be interesting. "Oh, let me introduce. This is�" he gestured toward Strife in disguise and his tongue fell dead in his mouth. What was he supposed to call the god? Surely not�
"Erin." Strife rose in his seat and Joxer�s view was full of the surreal image of him greeting his least favorite relative (as far as Joxer knew, anyway) with a wry grin and grasp of arm. "And these are my cousins Paura and Dolore." Giggles were stifled as the twins greeted the heroes.
