go the distance

Though she knew she shouldn’t have been surprised, it still shocked Belle how many people she came upon that couldn’t read. And the number of people who thought she should read because she was a woman was just irritating. It was nice to have someone think her passion was something other than odd.

“Thank you.” A smile lit up her pretty face as she retrieved the book from him. “I love to read. Books do so much more than hold information. They have the ability to transport you to different worlds.”

For a moment Belle glanced at the book in her hands and then back at the man. “Would you like me to teach you?”

His mother had attempted to teach him to read - though even her knowledge was limited. . . The basics were really all he knew and in Greece that basically entailed the names of their pantheon. He was a bit nervous on the offer - he was a hero now, he had to be there doing. . . well heroic things - he had indeed desired to learn, but Phil would have a conniption. 

“Well - I’d like to. . . but you see my trainer he’s not too keen on giving me days off and besides.”

His voice trailed off for a moment, eyes once more glancing else where - focusing now on the hooves of the winged horse that stood too his left.

   “DON’T bear hug people… That’s one thing you shouldn’t do. Um,” Rapunzel straightened her posture, her hands framed against her chin. “I guess names. Like, I’m Rapunzel, princess of Corona. But, fancier, most people have like, four titles…”

The ever bashful red haired hero found himself chuckling at the mere idea of hugging anyone. . . he had in bouts of excitement been known to squeeze in a hug or two. . . so he had to take note not to do that! 

“Well - I’m just Hercules, son of Zeus? I can’t believe you’re a princess - I haven’t met one before! It’s true that they’re very beauti-”

He stopped himself right there, attempting to quickly change the subject.

“Oh!” The soft noise was accompanied by a gasp as Belle was all but pulled up and off her feet. Belle had expected him to be strong, his build gave that away, but she hadn’t expected him to be quite so strong. He had pulled her up so quickly that Belle almost lost her balance again.

“It’s fine. It’s partially my fault for not paying enough attention.” It was Belle’s turn to look bashful. “Sometimes when I’m reading I forget about the world around me.”

The ever curious and still shy Hercules found himself amazed at such a simple statement - he himself was illiterate. . . he was learning some, but just enough to read the etchings on the various temples he visited.

“You can read?! Wow. . . that’s incredible!”

A sudden excitement overtook that formerly worried tone - and the muscular male leaned down to retrieve the book she had held prior to his steed’s ‘accident’, handing it back safely to she.

“No… you have to get up.”

Eyes sunk in with worry - he struggled to steer the winged companion that carried both - rain only continued to pour down - making their situation all the more stressful.

“You have to wake up, come on!”

Landing at a safe distance from the wreckage, the immensely strong hero quickly hauled the body of the other off the back of his steed and scurried off to take shelter beneath the crumbling temple.