Perseus x Heracles | "ryhmes and vines" (469 words)

when heracles first met perseus, he had wandered into the garden inside of the palace of seriphos in search of a sacred olive branch his father had commanded him to find. "piece of cake" heracles chuckles out while he skimmed through the thin branches of citrus tree with his calloused fingers. he strode through the dirt path, meticulously checking every branch for his goal, he slowed and scurried behind a tree once he had overheard a man— which sounded more like a boy— rehearsing some awful rhymes. heracles came to a final halt as he had leaned against the tree, obtaining the will to be hidden. nobody could've thought of something this bad other than the one and only perseus; son of polydectes and a self-proclaimed "rhyme master."

"i am percy and i slayed medusa! i flew across the sea to... ehm... get a loofa! i may be bad with swords but i made her poof-a!"

heracles bares his teeth and cringes as the distant sounds of the boy rhyming rang in his ears. the boy scratches his head and heracles lets out a silent scoff, still trying to keep his presence unnoticed. that was actually one of the worst things he'd ever heard. he had shaken his head, the second-hand embarrassment almost physically hurt. as it fell silent again and perseus thought of better rhyme, heracles had spotted the leaf he needed in the corner of his eye and without hesitation, he snatched it.

"hey," the boy shouts, "who goes there?" he yells, his voice a bit shaky.

heracles jumps and quickly stills his arm, still outstretched. heracles clears his throat and puts on a confident facade as he strides out from behind the tree, holding his hands up, leaf still clutched in his palm.

"why hello there! i just needed a leaf, piece of cake pretty much." he moves his free hand to his face, looking at his nails and tapping his foot. a confident smirk still played on his scarred lips.

perseus's eyes widen. "h-heracles?" he sputters, running up to the man. perseus's face is so close— too close. heracles tilts up his head to make some space between him and percy. "i've head about your stories of you killing hydra, cerberus, oh gosh! i could go on for days!" perseus notices the discomfort and strain in heracles' face and steps back a bit, his eyes still wide with excitement. what's this kid's deal? "i made a rhyme for you, check it out!" before heracles can respond perseus takes a few steps back and puffs out his chest, fumbling on his tippy toes ad an attempt to make himself look taller.

"AHEM! heracles and his sword, he makes me never bored, i uh..."

silence. 'rhyme master' my ass. heracles chuckles anyway, amused by perseus just being himself.