The Show Must Go On

[Gabranth]

As Gabranth continued to walk, he came to sets of rooms inside a long corridor. Shortly up ahead he saw what seemed to be Hercules sneaking out of a room. He took this moment and walked up next to him just as he was leaving the room.

His empty hand twitched a moment as the demi God turned to his direction. Within the blink of an eye, he grabbed the brim of Hercules’ chest plate and pushed him up to the door. And with an almost hatred sound to his voice he spoke to him. “Try as you might, we can not escape our past. History’s chains bind us too tightly, and I have no intention on fighting a war in which I can not defend.” He released Hercules from his grasp as he turned and took a step away before stopping. “Do you not seek revenge on the one that took your Meg? Do the ones on living on that planet not demand justice? Preen and strut as you like Hercules, in the end, you and I are much the same. Nothing more than blood-thirsty carrion birds, hell bent on revenge.”

[Hercules]

Herc was just glad to have gotten out of the room without having destroyed anything (well... anything irreplacable anyway). Just when he thought he could relax, he made a turn and suddenly, there was Gabranth slamming him against a door! "HOLY-" he cried out, startled, but quickly had to fall silent long enough to get the typical lecture from Gabranth.

When the man finished and released his grip, Hercules could do little more than smile. He lifted a hand and placed it on Gabranth's shoulder firmly, an almost brotherly gesture on his part.

"I don't know who you're trying to beat up more, me or you," Hercules said in that boyscoutish voice of his. And yet for as much as Gabranth probably could only barely stomach Wonderboy's enthusiasm and optimism, no one could deny there was a definate air of sincerity in his words.

"I'm not trying to run from my past, Gabranth. I try to live with it every day, no matter what. Yeah, you can't change it. You'll drive yourself insane trying. It might even be hard to forgive yourself for things you wish you could do differently, but that doesn't mean you have to be tied down by it forever."

Hercules let his hand off the man's shoulder, knowing it was probably making him uncomfortable at this point. "Yeah, I'm mad that Meg was kidnapped, but look what we did! We rescued her! She's safe at home, probably getting an earful from Phil, if I know my coach like I do..." he said, crossing his arms and adopting a somewhat amused look on his face.

He snapped back to reality quickly, shaking his head. "But it's not revenge I want. Justice... well, maybe. What I want more than anything else is an end to the fighting. I would have just gone home with Meg if I didn't see everyone else in danger too. These people are my friends, and when I see them in trouble I have to act. I don't know if you understand me too well..." Hercules continued, rubbing the back of his head as he struggled to think of a way to explain.

"Think of it this way..." he said, trying to articulate his point. "That world we saw destroyed, it could have been any world, right? Well, if I didn't do anything, I'd have to live with the thought that it could be the people I care for next. Maybe it could be me? I'm not after blood or revenge. I'm after peace of mind and safety. The people that did that need to be stopped, first and foremost. They can face justice later, and from people smarter than me and more qualified to know what counts as fair. My job is just to make sure they don't hurt anyone else."

[Gabranth]

Gabranth had stopped a step or two from Hercules to speak. Once he was finished, his head turned slightly to his left shoulder. Hercules had placed his hand upon it, which yet was still something Gabranth was getting used too.

“I don’t know who you’re trying to beat up more, me or you…”

When Gabranth heard this, he simply made a small hmph. He never saw his path in such a simple way. Then again, Hercules had a way of simplifying anything. For Gabranth, it was not a feeling of punishment upon him, it was a path of pain and despair he wore on his sleeve. He continued to listen to what the young God had to say, in hope that maybe there was something to his method.

Hercules had since removed his hand from Gabranth’s shoulder and continued to stumble for the words to describe what he had been trying to explain. Gabranth simply stood silent and listened, until a small phrase caught his ear.

“…My job is just to make sure they don’t hurt anyone else.”

Gabranth took a long breathe and glance upward to the ceiling, in an almost day dreaming stare. “What must defend is inevitably lost. You will then know what it is to be in the company of pain and despair. But if you fall and surrender yourself to despair you will be nothing more than a dog.”

His day dreaming stare fell ahead, as he remembered what Hephaestus said to him from before. Gabranth began to walk off as he spoke to Hercules in what seemed to be a compassionate tone. “I will put an end to this pointless battle. This is the only reason I am here. Remember Hercules; never cast away your hope, live with pride. Don’t ever become like me.”

[Hercules]

Hercules smiled a bit, glad to see that Gabranth had actually found some reason to keep going. It wasn't much, but sometimes the little things are all it takes to give one the drive to keep putting one foot in front of the other. At least he wasn't lost any more.

Happy for this much at least, Hercules walked alongside him, patting his back a bit enthusiastically like they were good buddies. "There's hope for you yet, Gabranth..." he said, cheerful as ever despite his moment of grim resolve back on the ship.

"Who knows? This is basically a new life for you, right? You could find a fresh start and a new perspective, if you're willing to let the fact that you basically died for whatever ya did before serve as your right to a clean slate!" Optimistic words, but Herc wouldn't give Gabranth much of a chance to challenge them the way he usually does.

"Hey, I think that way's the bridge! We should probably get going!"

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