(no subject)

[borrowed-armor.insanejournal.com]

Who: Achilles [Narrative] open for Patroclus and Briseis
What: Achilles stressors! and a little PTSD and pays visit to his buds~
Where: Achilles apartment then to Bri/Pat's joint!place
When: Monday night
Warnings: Awkwardness?



It was glass shattering into a million pieces, distorting the image portrayed, cutting flesh and nerves when picked up. Pieced back together the image was more horrific than it had been before, disjointed only fragments of what beauty it may have held. Those millions of pieces were his mind post Hybris' influence. The headaches had continued almost more painful than when he'd fought her if only because now he was aware of all that had been done. A constant ringing bell in his ear that kept him awake. Burdens were not easy to take, and this was just another war he must fight. Alone.

Patroclus denied that anger, enough to put Achilles into a listless state. As it had been all those centuries ago when Patroclus was nothing to him than a corpse upon which he felt undeniable grief.

Achilles flopped onto the floor, back pressed against those hardwood boards, staring up to the ceiling. It was closing in on him making it hard to breathe. This was where he had fallen at the hands of his own son, and where Patroclus had fallen at his hands. His breath grew ragged, the walls turning more gray, seeping not only with the blood soaked of his past but of his present.

What did the future hold if he didn't deal with this but in the only way Achilles knew to handle it.

Anger.

He was angry at Patroclus for not showing hostility. Angry at himself for believing Hybris' words, and wanting it. He was angry that still after all this, as humble as he had become, he still lay here shaken and facing his fears that for so long were not fears at all.

Even the mighty Achilles had fear. For all his forceful demands, his constant assault with the world that a warrior of his stature had no reason to be anxious, there were still things in this world that made him inanimate.

The loss of those dear to him.

Since crawling back from the Underworld the first time, he'd been on his own with only his mother's constant supervision and love. There was never a reason to doubt it wouldn't be there. Now, at the hybris of his own pride he'd wiped away all trust from those he loved and it was killing him inside.

His eyes shut tightly, sweat starting to break against his brow and he hummed lightly trying to break the desolation his mind was keeping him in. It was this mindset and restlessness that brought him to Hybris in the first place. He couldn't do this again. Snapping his eyes open he jolted from his position and pulled on his coat and walked. He walked for hours, not sure where he was walking until he came across that familiar apartment complex. The one Briseis used to share with David. That trudge up the stairs seemed longer than it ever had until he reached the door. With a tight pain in his chest he knocked.

Patroclus groaned when there was a knock at the door, and he managed to heft himself off the sofa so he could trudge to the door. When he opened it he found Achilles on the other side and, visibly, he winced before realising Achilles probably wasn't here to hurt him.

Patroclus couldn't really speak, so he waved.

Achilles walked in no words spoken between either of them. His eyes kept away from meeting his friends, either out of his own conscious or attempting to force some annoyance out of the other man.

After Briseis harsh criticism, Achilles wasn't sure what could be spoken, all he knew was being alone to his thoughts wasn't proving to make things any lighter on his heart.

"Is Briseis near?" he asked Patroclus, turning his head so that all his cousin saw was a profile view as he stepped in further.

Patroclus nodded, but he wanted more from Achilles. Seeing his best friend enter his home with nothing more than a question about Briseis hurt. Patroclus reached out and he caught Achilles' hand before he could get too far away. He shut the door behind Achilles and then he tried to lean in to hug his cousin.

Seeing him there, Patroclus suddenly needed the reassurance that it was truly Achilles in his apartment and no one else.

Achilles hadn't meant to ignore Patroclus, seeing him standing, alive and well was enough of a hello. For now, until he was able to understand why his friend was so forgiving.

He shouldn't have been.

The last time Achilles had embraced Patroclus was when he'd seen him again after all these centuries of torture from having let him die. For a moment and just a moment he let his defenses down long enough. His arms braced around the other man's shoulders giving him the hug he requested.

When he felt his eyes sting he jumped back, gripping Patroclus on the shoulder in manly affection, already feeling how awkward this was when the last time he'd visited his cousin was laying flat on a hospital bed.

Patroclus had felt so much better as Achilles had embraced him and when Achilles jumped back, Patroclus rubbed his eye awkwardly, even as Achilles gripped his arm. "I'm glad to see you," Patroclus mumbled. It was easier to talk now. It hurt less. But it was still a little hard to understand what he was saying.

His eyes locked on Patroclus, however warily to reassure him that he wasn't the beast he had been while under Hybris' influence. While it may have made his friend feel better it only further grieved the blonde Greek. He didn't want Patroclus to be glad, he wanted him to treat him in the way he should have been.

Running a hand through his blonde hair, Achilles nodded. 'Are you?' he wanted to ask, but at the relief on his friend's face all he could muster was a "So am I."

From her bedroom Briseis had heard the door open, but their voices from that distance weren't loud enough for her to actually hear what they were saying. So she waited, just to give them both some time. When it seemed they'd fallen silent she emerged to join them both with a small smile.

"Hi, Achilles."

Greetings were strange now as the big warrior had no idea how to approach. The water still just pricked his eyes as he gave her a forlorn look.

"Briseis," he replied softly, running a hand through his hair as if he had no perception of where to go from here.

Briseis wasn't sure what to say and the three of them stood there a little awkwardly for a few moments. Then Briseis cleared her throat lightly. "Coffee?" she asked him.

Briseis speaking up was a relief as Achilles didn't know how long the three of them would stand there without a thing to say.

"That would be pleasant." Anything to keep his head from splitting.