"Ms. Dougherty is a true friend." Iter stated, as soon as the front door closed once more. I heard Kris's steps fade going down the stairs. I closed my eyes and let out a long, shaky breath. Then I turned to face the god.

"She's the best, better than I deserve. But is that really the most important topic right now?" My voice rose in tone unintentionally, so I brought it under control and asked in a firm but even voice. "What are you doing here, Iter?"

"You are angry," he cocked his head at me, the first expression of confusion or uncertainty I'd seen on his face. It was a little unsettling, but I pushed forward calmly.

"I'm not angry. I'm confused. I thought the Hero was no longer required," my words sounded more bitter than I'd intended, as the other god's words echoed unpleasantly in my memory.

"Ah, it is so difficult to understand in this form. Speaking words and determining intent from visual expression is a new experience for Us." He peered at my face intently, making me uncomfortable. "We shall endeavor to master it." Iter seemed to relax again, his smile re-forming. It was kind of irritating.

"So. The Hero. No longer required, right?" I spoke slowly, enunciating carefully. "So why. Are. You. Here?"

He looked at me thoughtfully, crossing his arms loosely. "To become the Hero, We bestowed upon you Our holy Communion. A portion of Our Divine power." He stated each point evenly, watching my face with care.

"Yes, I still have it. The Status and translation and all that," I confirmed, wondering where he was heading.

"Correct," he replied. "And Metan was also correct that with the Demon Seed gone, a Hero is no longer required. However," he continued, "the fact remains that a Hero was already created." He extended one hand toward me. "And as the progenitor of this Hero, We must support you." He placed his hand now on his chest. "And We determined that the best support We could offer was to return you to your original world." Then he added quietly, "And, of course, without the power of the Hero, you would most certainly be dead."

I opened my mouth, then closed it. Yeah, I woke up in the hospital in a bad way. I recovered because of Swift Regeneration. If I didn't have it, if he hadn't given it to me, if I'd been sent back without it… It felt like a bucket of cold water on my head, cooling away any remnants of annoyance or persecution I'd been feeling. "Thank you." I said softly. I took a breath before continuing, looking away to the side, "So, do I need to give it back now, or cancel it somehow?"

Iter smiled kindly in return, and shook his head slightly. "It cannot be removed or returned until your body's death and your soul is taken up, We fear. As intended by the ritual, Our power has merged with your soul and cannot be sundered. And," he added with a wry look, "as We went to the effort to send you back alive, it would displease Us greatly to see that effort wasted now."

He straightened, reassuming his divine bearing and majesty. "No, We are here because We are meant to be here," he proclaimed. "You are our Hero, you are a part of Us now. And We are your God, here to support you until the end of your days."

✦ ✦ ✦

"So what do gods eat, anyway?" I'd changed out of the hospital scrubs and into more comfortable sweatpants, and a loose and favored long-sleeved shirt with a D20 design. I'd also recovered a spare pair of glasses from the bathroom so I could finally see better. Iter was waiting right outside my bedroom door. I ushered him out of the hallway and into the kitchen. Taiga had followed suit, and was currently staring us down from the hallway entrance. It was an older kitchen, like many of the Victorians in the area, with a deep, enamel sink, white half-tiled walls, painted metal counter cabinets, and built-in cupboards. The floor had a hexagonal flower mosaic tile, though a number of the small tiles were worn or missing with age. There was a newish gas stove, as well as a white refrigerator on the opposite side of the room, both of which looked out of time with the rest of the fixtures. I'd found a formica and chrome table with matching chairs with vinyl seats back when I first moved in. I'd thought they matched pretty well when I first found them, but they turned out to be uncomfortable in practice, and one of the chair seats was already peeling. I seldom actually ate here. In fact, I had to move some papers and old mail from the table to make space.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The god was looking at the chairs with interest, then sat in one gingerly. "We do not eat," he said simply.

"Oh. Hm." I considered for a moment, as I looked through the refrigerator shelves and drawers, taking stock. "Is that by choice, or could you eat something if you wanted to?"

Now it was his turn to ponder, before responding, "It has never been necessary. But this form seems to have all the necessary organs and orifices. We could eat, if desired."

"Ew," I muttered under my breath. Then louder, "Well, I'm going to make some fried rice, do you want any?" I'd discovered I was starving, once I'd been able to slow down. The last meal I'd eaten was a pitiful lunch at the hospital, which was likely appropriately balanced for a patient recovering from the ICU, but it was pretty disappointing in more ways than one. On a more typical night, I'd likely get takeout or delivery. But I felt like staying close to home tonight, and hungry enough that I didn't want to wait. I was no great cook, but I could survive.

"We will attempt the experience, if you are inclined," he responded regally.

So I pulled out from the fridge some leftover steamed rice, the last four eggs, some green onions, soy sauce, and some roast chicken I'd picked up at the grocery for quick meals like this. Taiga appeared at my feet as if by magic, staring up at the counter, and lifting a paw in a pathetic display.

"Mee-yaoow," she demanded.

"You'll have to wait, hime-sama" I replied. The paw dropped, but her bi-color face and orange eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the counter from below.

I chopped up the onions and broke up the rice while the oil in the pan was heating. Then I scrambled the eggs, and stirred in the rice. I added bits of the pulled apart chicken and the soy sauce next, and when it was practically done, added the chopped green onions. If some of the chicken landed on the floor in front of Taiga instead of the pan, well, that was only to be expected. I tried to ignore the god's gaze as he watched from his seat, hands resting gracefully on his lap.

Once done, I moved the pan off the burner, and portioned the fried rice out into two bowls. Taiga knew from experience that snack time was over, so she darted off to another part of the house. I considered briefly, then took out two spoons as the easiest utensils to use. I put one bowl before the god, and one in front of the seat across from him. I set down the spoons on either side of each bowl. Iter watched this all, making no move to start.

"Would you like to try drinking something, too?" I grabbed two cans of lager from the fridge, and held them up.

"We shall partake the same as Our Hero," he inclined his head in a nod.

I walked over to stand next to him. "Now, we're going to have to change that up, at least in front of others. Name's Mai, remember?" I held out one of the cans.

"Only you can understand Us in this world," he chided, then added, "Mai." He paused a moment before accepting the beer, and held the can in both hands before him.

"Well, it makes me uncomfortable," I sat down across from him, set my can down on the table, and opened it. Iter watched my motions, and did the same. "Just Mai is fine. Like before, in that place."

"The Divine Realm. Understood, Mai." He smiled brightly, looking straight at me. It was a bit discomfiting.

I picked up the spoon and raised it to draw his attention. He did the same. I scooped up some rice, and he followed suit. It was still pretty hot, so I blew on the steam. Iter did, too, which was oddly adorable. I stared at him, momentarily fascinated by the gap between his presence and his mannerisms. He looked back at me expectantly, and I quickly looked away. Then I put the spoonful of fried rice in my mouth, and looked back at Iter to see if he did, too.

He moved his mouth somewhat mechanically, his eyes narrowed and attention focused inward. I chewed as well. Wow, it tasted pretty good. The chicken was a bit bland, but I was surprised how delicious the simple meal tasted. My stomach rumbled expectantly. They say hunger is the best spice, after all.

"What happens next?" Iter asked, bits of fried rice spraying from his full mouth onto the table.

"Don't talk with your mouth full!" I had barely swallowed before exclaiming in surprise. I leapt up and hurriedly fetched a towel to wipe up the food from the table.

"Our mouth was hardly full," He replied, this time holding a hand in front of his mouth. "though We understand it is unpleasant for the food to leave it." He watched me curiously as I endeavored to wipe up the food. "But what are We supposed to do with the food once it is broken down?"

"You swallow it," I replied, moving around to my bowl and taking another small mouthful, then quickly making an exaggerated swallow to demonstrate. The god copied my motions, then gazed inward for a moment, as if tracking the movement of the rice through his esophagus. Then he frowned and gently placed the spoon onto the table next to his bowl.

"We found the sense of taste to be appealing, and We can see why mortals would relish it so," he reported. Then he looked up from the dish to me, with a look of distaste. "But We found its movement through Our body after swallowing to be mildly displeasing. We may ask for some kind of bowl or dish for disposing of used food the next time We partake."

"That's… not going to happen." I pictured the scene playing out like some kind of bizarre hedonistic ritual, and shook my head. This was not going at all like I'd expected.

"Then We may simply observe, if that is acceptable." He picked a grain of rice from the side of his mouth, and set it carefully back in his bowl.