storypaint (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
storypaint) wrote2009-01-05 01:57 pm
storypaint) wrote2009-01-05 01:57 pm
Entry tags:
Responsibilities (Hercules gen)
Title: Responsibilities
Day/Theme: Oct 25 // the weight of the world
Series: Disney's Hercules
Character/Pairing: Hercules/Megara; mostly gen
Rating: G
Author's Note: I hate to write this fic set where it is, since Hercules does several of his Labors in the middle of the film (Phil mentions some of them in the scene before Herc and Meg's date). But according to some sources I've been reading, the Hercules timeline is way off, anyway, so I decided to just go for it. Based on the legend of Hercules and Atlas.
Excerpt: It had seemed quite simple, at first. And he was the strongest man alive. Why not hold up the world for a little while in order to get this job done?
Herc had never been the smartest guy, and he knew that. Megara had the intelligence and the beauty between the two of them. He had the braun and the dedication.
It was that sort of dedication that had led him here, and that decided lack of intelligence that had led him to taking up Atlas's job. It had seemed quite simple, at first. And he was the strongest man alive. Why not hold up the world for a little while in order to get this job done?
He hadn't expected Atlas to turn on him, not in a million years. He was used to the way that the gods all respected him as a son of Zeus. They didn't try to trick him.
And in a way, he couldn't blame the guy. It certainly was a heavy burden. But he had children to come home to, and a lovely wife who would surely scold him for being out too late.
Desperation led to an idea. Professional or not, he still remembered Phil's rules. Use your head. And another one that maybe he should have remembered earlier: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
He shifted very carefully and called out, "Atlas, Atlas!" He nearly didn't expect the god to show, but he did. Already he looked cleaner and more relaxed, though he did still walk with a profound stoop.
"Hold this a second while I tie my sandal," Hercules said casually, tossing the globe in Atlas's direction, and the surprised god caught the world before even realizing. Hercules stretched, his back cracking, and he carefully collected the apples that Atlas had dropped on the ground.
"I thought you were taking it back," Atlas whined, stooping again under his burden. Hercules looked down at him with a mixture of dislike and compassion. He was a hero, and heroes helped people, right? But he couldn't be stuck holding up the world forever, he had to go home.
"I'll come back and visit once in a while," he offered in a soft voice. "I'll bring a book."
Atlas sighed. "Okay. Thank you." He hesitated. "Sorry."
Herc clapped the man on the shoulder, ignoring his wince. "No problem," he said jovially, feeling much better. "And thanks for your help too."
"No problem," Atlas said dryly, and mission complete, Hercules headed home.
Day/Theme: Oct 25 // the weight of the world
Series: Disney's Hercules
Character/Pairing: Hercules/Megara; mostly gen
Rating: G
Author's Note: I hate to write this fic set where it is, since Hercules does several of his Labors in the middle of the film (Phil mentions some of them in the scene before Herc and Meg's date). But according to some sources I've been reading, the Hercules timeline is way off, anyway, so I decided to just go for it. Based on the legend of Hercules and Atlas.
Excerpt: It had seemed quite simple, at first. And he was the strongest man alive. Why not hold up the world for a little while in order to get this job done?
Herc had never been the smartest guy, and he knew that. Megara had the intelligence and the beauty between the two of them. He had the braun and the dedication.
It was that sort of dedication that had led him here, and that decided lack of intelligence that had led him to taking up Atlas's job. It had seemed quite simple, at first. And he was the strongest man alive. Why not hold up the world for a little while in order to get this job done?
He hadn't expected Atlas to turn on him, not in a million years. He was used to the way that the gods all respected him as a son of Zeus. They didn't try to trick him.
And in a way, he couldn't blame the guy. It certainly was a heavy burden. But he had children to come home to, and a lovely wife who would surely scold him for being out too late.
Desperation led to an idea. Professional or not, he still remembered Phil's rules. Use your head. And another one that maybe he should have remembered earlier: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
He shifted very carefully and called out, "Atlas, Atlas!" He nearly didn't expect the god to show, but he did. Already he looked cleaner and more relaxed, though he did still walk with a profound stoop.
"Hold this a second while I tie my sandal," Hercules said casually, tossing the globe in Atlas's direction, and the surprised god caught the world before even realizing. Hercules stretched, his back cracking, and he carefully collected the apples that Atlas had dropped on the ground.
"I thought you were taking it back," Atlas whined, stooping again under his burden. Hercules looked down at him with a mixture of dislike and compassion. He was a hero, and heroes helped people, right? But he couldn't be stuck holding up the world forever, he had to go home.
"I'll come back and visit once in a while," he offered in a soft voice. "I'll bring a book."
Atlas sighed. "Okay. Thank you." He hesitated. "Sorry."
Herc clapped the man on the shoulder, ignoring his wince. "No problem," he said jovially, feeling much better. "And thanks for your help too."
"No problem," Atlas said dryly, and mission complete, Hercules headed home.