The morning sun had just barely risen in the sky when Rex entered the massive stone building.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was not his typical territory - he tended to prefer something more physical, like a sports competition. Even in his more recent times of reflection, delving into literature old and new, art wasn’t something that did anything for him.

Until today. Today was the grand opening of a new display of ancient Greek artwork and artifacts on loan from the national museum of Greece. When he’d heard about it, something had broken inside of him, as his mind rushed to thoughts of his…friend…Hercules. Ever since that day when the vile Dr. Cama had attempted to use again vivisect Hercules for the secrets in his skin, using a carnivorous plant to do so, Rex had been haunted by what he’d seen.

Rex made his way to the exhibit, but chose not to attend a tour. He wanted to take his time, immerse himself in the world from which his friend claimed to come from.

As a crowd swiftly filled the massive hall, with statues and weapons and pottery shards galore, Rex allowed himself to get lost in the moment, unaware of events around him.

William was with his classmates, most of whom the boy didn't get along with. They teased him and a few attempt to bully the boy but were smart enough to keep their distance as his ‘Uncle’ was acting as a chaperone. It only took one time for the other kids to start talking. The way Hercules tossed the largest kid in class like he was nothing helped spread that talk.

”It truly is beautiful is it not?” Hercules asked one of the mothers who refused to make eye contact with him but instead stared at his chest or arms whenever they talked. “Sure is.” she said her eyes focused on one of tattoo’s that danced in the neck of his opened shirt. ”To think some of the art in here is ‘history’. My history!” there was a few busts of the other gods next to a statue of his.

”Glorious.” he said admiring his likeness. It might have not been the most accurate but time made Hercules realize not everything was.

“You’re being to loud.” William said softly. Bending down to hear the message Hercules stood and cleared his throat. ”Understood Mas- My nephew!” he boomed and took a few steps away from the group. Doing so helped draw some eyes away from William. It also gave the prince of power an opportunity with someone he recognized.

”Rex of the Inferno!” the god roared and approached his friend and ally in combat. Hercules picked the man up in a bear hug then set him down after a warm hello. Glossing over the fact the last time they had seen each other Hercules had ‘died’. A firm and friendly pat on the back he roared, ”What are the odds you’d be here today as well! Ha Ha!”

The skill and craftsmanship of the artists was not lost on Rex. The stonework seemed alive and vivid, like people trapped in pale time. Every muscle defined, the curvatures dynamic. Granted, the artist’s really could’ve given some of the sculptures clothing but that was Greek aesthetics for you.

Rex stood before a larger than life statue of supposedly Hercules, and it was clear the artist had never met the man. The face was all wrong, there were no signs of his tattoos, and even the body proportions were wrong, tending toward a lean swimmer’s build as opposed to a powerhouse bodybuilder. Then again, the statue was also fourteen feet high and held a bronze globe on top of it. It was supposed to be representative of the time Hercules took Atlas’s place in holding up the world.

However, for all the artist got wrong, one thing was right: the expression, wonderfully capturing the dual natures of Hercules, the joy he displayed even in the face of death and danger. That almost made up for everything else, to the point where, as Rex stood there, he could almost hear Hercules calling his name…

Then the air was crushed out of him and he was levitated into the air. Rex’s eyes bugged out and like a stiff wooden board the man froze in place as…as…as…what was happening?

He was returned to the ground and he whirled to see his attacker, a verse from the Bible dancing on his lips, when he saw him.

Live and in-person, it was the man known as Hercules. Breathing, uncontrolled by a plant, in the middle of a museum surrounded by civilians. Not dead.

“Herc--” Rex said in a strangled voice as the color drained from his face, leaving him almost as pale as the sculptures around him.

”Hmmm?” Hercules questioned with a grunt. The man looked ill like he had seen a ghost or had been beyond malnourished for far too long. ”Rex you look pale. Have you been eating enough?” he flexed to show off the effects of eating properly. Even if he didn’t technically need to eat.

William seeing the commotion and hearing the base in Herc’s voice rolled his eyes and wheeled away why the ancient Greek was distracted.

”What news today?” he asked warmly like they have been friends for centuries and now just catching up. ”Are you too here on a ‘field trip’?” he chuckled and looked around, ”Though I have yet to see a field other than in one of the paintings.” he chuckled and looked back to Rex of the Inferno.

”Oh! What news of the vile doctor? Were you able to handle things without me?”

Rex staggered back as if he’d been punched in the jaw. “Hercules…” he stuttered. “You--you’re alive!” He placed his hand on a guardrail for support and stared up at the man.

There was no writhing mass of deadly flower growing out of the side of Hercules’s face. The telltale signs of rustling vines weren’t crawling beneath Hercules’s clothes. The man moved with his typical grace and speed, none of the slow, lethargic, jerky actions of the Gravevine present.

He heard Hercules talking but the words weren’t registering.

“How…how did you,,,,?” he asked.

“I came back…after…” he tried, fumbling for the words he was never skilled with in the first place. “There was just….ash….”

Ash in the same spot where I’d left you after you’d caught fire thanks to my spells. GRowing horror clashed with relief and disbelief.

“Thank the Lord you’re alive!”

The man’s shock was visible, the way he stumbled over his words made Hercules roar with laughter. So much so a few of the students he was chaperoning turned to see what the commotion was. The laughter stopped abruptly as a wheelchair squeaked back into view to see his angsty teenage master stare daggers at him.

The laughter died down and Hercules used his ‘inside’ voice. Knowing all too well what the glare meant. He was drawing too much attention again. Clearing his throat he chuckled which was less commanding of a room.

”I am! And I am well!” he reached out to help Rex should he stumble if the guard rail didn’t support him, ”Yes, it was a... difficult situation for me.” he tapped his chest with an oversized fist where one of the vines had erupted from his flesh the last time he and Rex of the Inferno met.

”I cannot truly die Rex of the Inferno. Not as long as there are those willing to make a pact with me in this era.” he explained, ”Gods don’t truly die. Not the way mortals do.” he puffed out his chest and flexed, ”I just couldn’t draw any more magic from my masters. Not without killing them.” he said truthfully.

The laughter cinched it. There was no doubt this was Hercules. No hallucination or delusion could capture just how incongruously the man could make himself in any situation. Public museums weren’t exactly known for being quiet, but even so Hercules’s booming laughter drowned everything out.

His subsequent words further grounded Rex. The casual dissonance of religious values that were meant in no ill-intent yet felt like a slap to Rex’s face was just so…so…Hercules.

Rex’s face smoothed out and he reflexively took a half step back from the casual physical contact. “That is…good to know,”he said. He wasn’t sure if he was totally honest. Regarding Hercules's life, it was truthful. The idea that it backed up the man’s claims of semi-divinity? Less so.

He nodded as he readjusted his thoughts. “Dr. Cama was returned to prison and his sentence was extended to two lifetimes,” Rex said. Magic wasn’t an official type of murder weapon, but the use of murderous plants and non-consensual control was. “He will be placed in solitary confinement with standard anti-manipulation mutation measures in place.”

Rex’s grim smile conveyed what he thought about that. Dr. Cama wasn’t a mutant, but if they thought he was, that should still be plenty of safeguards against him escaping again.

The god’s face lit up a little bit when Dr. Cama was mentioned. Literally a tinge of green could be seen. A hidden tempest of rage swelled behind his smile knowing that the doctor was out of the general population and tucked safely away from the rest of humanity.

It depressed him knowing that there were people such as he still in this era but knew that the good of others such as Rex of the Inferno and the rest of the X-men were there to help safeguard against them. Part of Hercules wanted to reach out to the doctor and try to reason with him but knew it would take some time to rehabilitate. That and he wanted to make sure there was no way to he’d be captured again. That was twice now he was reduced to a prisoner.

The children he was supposed to be chaperoning moved as a large band of nomads across the floor studying the statues and pottery of history. ”I hope he will learn to move on and stay away from his experiments.” Hercules said solemnly his green tint fading back to his normal olive skin tone.

”And how are you doing my friend?” he asked knowing that Rex of the Inferno was a solitary hero. Even they needed to talk about what had happened.

Rex’s gaze sharpened slightly as he caught the greenish tint starting to shimmer around Hercules’s tattoos. He knew it was a sign of the man drawing upon magic, which he often did in times of stress or danger. Then again, he also did it a lot when he was excited. Regardless, Rex erred on the side of wariness and he glanced around to ensure there were no obvious immediate threats.

“Lord willing,”Rex said. He didn’t expect the doctor to actually abide by rehabilitation - his casual disregard for life screamed of something dark and evil. Without some divine intervention, Rex expected nothing to change.

When Hercules's glow faded, Rex nodded slightly. “I am….well,” Rex said after an uncertain pause. There was a lot of loss hiding behind his eyes, ever-present even with the balm of learning of Hercules’s survival. I….will survive.”

Rex noticed the looks of a lot of school-aged children coming their way, as well as the looks of a few women who seemed to be standing guard while also trying to…lure Hercules over to them? Maybe get him to do something?

“Are you…with these children?” Rex asked.

>>>“I am….well,”

There was more that the man didn’t say. For eons Hercules had interacted with the mortals; he served them, worked with them and even loved them. Everything about them was just so... imperfect it was beautiful. The demi-god had always been empathetic long before his ascension. So he knew what to do in this situation. Support.

>>> “I….will survive.”

A large hand reached over and was placed on Rex of the Inferno’s shoulder. His friend seemed hurt. There was more Rex didn’t say. However the behemoth of ancient Greece didn’t push further. ”Yes you will and should you stumble I will be there to help you friend. I am always willing to listen, or sit in silence in good company.”

Hercules’s hand dropped to his side and looked over his own shoulder to see the kids migrating around the room never standing in one place for two long. The group was getting closer, and so were the mothers who had been smiling at them. With a wave he smiled warmly to them all.

”Yes! My mast- I mean my nephew is among them. I am his sole guardian while his mother remains in the hospital.” he said tearing up at the thought of William’s mother still in a coma after the accident. Hercules had saved her but she was still taken from the boy. While Hercules failed entirely with the boy’s father. He was too slow to the summon.

”This is perfect! I did promise to introduce you to William! He studies healing! Among other things, truly a marvel! I’m blessed to have been summoned to this era to bare witness to his trials!” Hercules turned to see William sulking over in the corner looking at a bust of Zeus. One that looked nothing like his father. ”William!”

The teen cringed at the boom of the voice that carried through the museum halls.

The massive hand came out and resumed its grip on Rex’s shoulder. He didn’t step away this time, largely because it wouldn’t make any difference - Hercules was a very touchy-feely guy. Rex considered him an ally anyways. “Thank you,” Rex said rather stiffly in the face of Hercules’s unbridled emotional support. He nodded at the other man.

He sent a quick prayer up to Heaven as Hercules redirected his attention to the children and mothers. Rex blinked. “You have a nephew?” he frowned. He stared at the man who claimed to be an actual god. Rex couldn’t help the natural line of thought. How do you have a sibling if you’re supposed to be this Greek demigod? Is Zeus supposed to be running around siring more offspring? He didn’t say any of that though. He would’ve mere months ago, but much had changed since then.

Just like that, a kid was summoned before them. There was no chance for Rex to forestall the man or escape.

“Hello, William,” Rex said, looking down at the kid and extremely aware that he didn’t know if she should crouch down or not. He decided to follow Hercules’s example….although the lug seemed more socially oblivious than even Rex himself. “I’m Rex. A friend of your…uncle,” he said, trying to not make it sound like a question.

”Well technically I have thousands of nephews, as well as nieces.” Hercules replied without putting much thought behind it. Because his father was Zeus the king of Olympus it meant the family tree stretched and crisscrossed every which way. It was a headache trying to sort it all out.

The squeaky wheels of the wheelchair stopped when William stopped moving closer. He was in arms reach now and Hercules beamed at the boy who looked genuinely disinterested in everything. Hercules knew it was because he was coming up on the teenage years. Hercules was truly excited to see what sort of man the boy would become.

“Hey.” was all he offered vocally but the eyeroll at the mention of his ‘uncle’. It was the boy’s idea after all, William just wished Hercules would cool it with the title. “Friend or boyfriend?” William asked finally making eye contact with Rex. Hercules roared with laughter at the question. ”No William, Rex of the inferno is just a friend.” that was when the name sparked a reaction. His eyes lit up and he looked back to Rex.

“Wait... like THE Rex?” the boy asked leaning forward in his chair to get a good look at the man. “You made him seem... bigger.” the next comment caused Hercules to laugh even harder. A group of moms quickly started to laugh as well hoping to segway into the conversation. They still hovered nearby.

Rex was pretty sure the kid had cast no spells, but Rex still felt his face heat up. “Uh, no, I’m…I’m…”he sputtered, blinking rapidly at the kid. Hercules began guffawing and that only added fuel to the flames. “I’m married,” he said awkwardly yet decisively. Then he realized he might’ve been overexplaining?

Lord, please let this cup pass from before me!

He regretted it immediately because unlike him, God had a sense of humor.

Amid the poorly-hidden titterings of the mothers who by this point had mostly stopped chaperoning the chaotic, spread out children, Rex’s face burned and he stiffened up even more, much like one of the nearby statues. He turned his gaze into a glare and aimed it at Hercules.

“He looks plenty big to me,” one of the mother’s said about the 6’2 man.

“Rex of the Inferno, huh? Sounds…hot,” said another, whose whispering work was terrible.

“Excuse me,” Rex said as he started to turn to leave.

Oblivious to the comments by the mothers Hercules regained his breath after looing it for a few seconds of clearing his throat. ”And we are just friends William. Don’t make the man uncomfortable.” he chuckled again after seeing Rex’s face turn red. Was the man ill or was he embarrassed.

”Rex is plenty big enough, he saved my life at least twice!” it was then William recounted the stories that Hercules told him. Hercules was pretty good at story telling the first time. It was hard to stay interested when they were repeated which happened a lot. It seemed Hercules was impressed by this guy.

“Well it’s not my fault you make everyone seem like giants.” Hercules crouched down and smirked, ”You are all giants to me.” one of the mothers chimed in with an ‘awwwwww’ it was then William’s turn to blush.

“Where are you going?” Hercules asked turning towards Rex, ”Been wanting you to meet him since after our lessons.” William snarked, “Why are you teaching? You can’t do magic.” he said out loud forgetting where they were. It was very uncharacteristic of the boy who was usually so secretive about his abilities.

Rex glanced back at the women. “I am…I do not want to…intrude…on your…field trip,” he said stiffly. He didn’t want to stand around as an object of mockery or…flirtation? Were the women flirting? All of this on top of realizing that Hercules wasn’t dead? It was so much to deal with.

“Oh you’re not intruding, honey,” a woman called. “We could always use another pair of…eyes.”

A third woman elbowed her hard. “Hush, Darlene, we don’t want to scare him away. Besides, you’re married too. Does John need to hear about this?”

Darlene frowned and tutted at the woman. The woman returned her gaze with a steely expression. “Apologies, Mr. Rex,” she said to Rex as she shooed Darlene away.

“Accepted,” Rex said with a thankful nod. The woman glanced at Hercules and nodded. “Mr. Hercules,” she said, before ushering the other moms away to get back to their duties.

Rex stopped his exit at that point. He actually engaged with William. “He is better than the Welldrinkers,” he said gravely. “I have come to the realization that if this is a talent I have been given, I should do more with it than merely bury it in the ground.”