Greece*Reader: Kitty, Kitty, Kitty~

"Hey, Heracles...? How do you keep track of so many cats??"

You were sitting beside Heracles in Athens, Greece - just inside the ruins of the Parthenon. Heracles has been your friend for years, and just a few months ago you both had recently become a couple. There were a few things that had always puzzled you about how he did things, like how he always seemed to know where every single one of his cats were.

He lazily looked over at you, yawning a little. "Hm...? What do you mean, __________?"

You tapped your chin thoughtfully. "Well...for example: when it's time to feed them, how do you get them to come? Do you call them by name, wait for them to come on their own? Or....well, I dunno." You shrugged your shoulders, looking at him curiously.

Heracles stared out towards the horizon for a moment, then turned to look at one of the numerous cats surrounding the both of you – his eyes settling in particular on a dark-colored tabby cat napping a few feet away. He pointed at her, and tilting his head, quietly ordered, "...Come here?"

The cat didn't even flinch.

With a slightly bemused expression, Heracles turned back to you, and said, "...I honestly don't know for sure."

You couldn't help yourself: you burst out in an enormous guffaw of laughter. Your boyfriend sweatdropped, a bit confused at what was so entertaining, but smiled sweetly at you nonetheless. Many of the cats stopped what they were doing momentarily to stare at you, then resumed whatever they were doing. When you regained control of yourself, you were grinning at Heracles.

"Hey...we could try training them? Your cats love you so much, I'll bet anything that they'd listen to you if you tried."

Heracles glanced up at the cat on top of his head, the two on his shoulders, the handful snuggling him in his lap, and all around a multitude of kitties napping or playing to their hearts content. A blush sported his cheeks as his gaze returned to you. "But...they never travel that far from me. They're almost always there whenever I need them, and if they ever do leave my presence, they return within a matter of time..."

You looked first at him, then all around him at all the adorable cats and a few kittens lingering on or nearby you both. One began rubbing up against your pant leg at that moment, mewing – it was the same dark-colored tabby napping just a little bit ago Heracles had tried to call. You picked her up, stroking her head and scratching her cheeks, smiling as she purred happily in your arms. "Yeah...I guess you're right. It doesn't really matter anyways~"

Heracles watched you. Seeing how you interacted with the affectionate tabby cat, and listening to you coo sweet remarks towards the four-legged creature. He blushed bright when you looked up at him, and so he said, "You know, __________...there is ONE phrase that I use sometimes to call my cats to me. But there is only one I especially like that it hasn't seemed to work on yet..."

You were shocked. What kitty-cat wouldn't want to come when Heracles called it – when he treated them with so much love, kindness, and respect – probably more than anyone else in the whole world? Even IF cats were very independent and at times wily animals.  You asked and told him just that.

He slowly lifted a hand to your face, starting to stroke your left cheek, a soft smile upon his lips. "Oh but you see, __________, my favorite one isn't actually a cat by any means, though she is just as precious to me as my kitties are...but I wonder...if someday she will come to me all on her own one day at just my thought of her? And I think of her all the time..." Your face flushed as Heracles leaned his lips in to just a breath's away – you could feel his warm breath gently brush your face as light as a feather, when he said:

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty~"

Every single cats ears, big and small, perked up at the sound of his calling – expecting some kind of tasty treat, attention, or something – but much to their disappointment, all they were called to witness was their master kissing you deep and passionately.