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[chink-in-armor.insanejournal.com]

Who: Achilles and Patroclus
What: Achilles lets Pat in on his new...err...addition to his relationship.
Where: Park near memorial
When: Monday
Warnings: all the inward jealousy?



Achilles was not sure how Patroclus would take such news. It wasn't as if Achilles was cut out to be a father figure. He was a leader by nature but as with his son Neoptolemus had shown him, he failed at being a leader to those who looked up to him the most. He was a man of battle. A man of war.

Yet, such a small sense of hope trickled in that he might not fail this time. It was a mission to accomplish. He had the most unlikely of girls at his side that believed in him despite his hardships or any hurt he had caused her in the past. And what way to show a girl she meant something than to swear an oath for her blood on his tomb to redeem his damaged soul and resurrect with her now at his side. Polyxena in many respects had turned into his modern Briseis. Someone he had wronged that he needed to atone. This new life with her, with their child could be the fresh start he had deserved all these years.

He waited on the park bench for his cousin, stoic in appearance as the statues that remained in museums. He still looked as if nothing could touch him. This golden god. He needed his brother's blessing however, or this couldn't happen.

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[borrowed-armor.insanejournal.com]

Patroclus caught sight of his cousin and he loped over to him, a silly smile on his face. He loved spending time with Achilles, even though it sounded like his General had something he needed to discuss.

He took a seat beside Achilles and he leaned back, relaxing into it. "Hello, Achilles. It's nice to see you."

[chink-in-armor.insanejournal.com]

This wouldn't work if he didn't have support. Achilles knew that without an army, without leadership, then one fell flat. He used to think he could do everything himself (and he still did to a degree), but he had learned over time and years of being a soldier in another man's war that he still needed the support of those who followed him.

Achilles patted Patroclus' arm. It had been too long once again. He missed the days that they saw a lot of each other. When they did everything together. "Good to see you as well, brother."

[borrowed-armor.insanejournal.com]

Patroclus crossed his legs and then he cocked his head to the side. "What's troubling you, Achilles?"

[chink-in-armor.insanejournal.com]

He rested his back onto the bench. "It's not a trouble cousin, just a new chapter. Something I need your support with." He needed to know that he was okay with this, he and Briseis both. Achilles had never been here in this position, it was strange territory. "You know I've been seeing Polyxena for some time now. Things between us have gotten serious." He was skirting around the point so that he didn't just throw it out there like a blade. "She is with child."

[borrowed-armor.insanejournal.com]

Patroclus' eyes widened and then he felt like his heart had been shattered.

He couldn't show it though. Achilles didn't know and Patroclus couldn't show how much he loved him. He managed to keep his face neutral before slowly nodding. "I see. How are you?"

[chink-in-armor.insanejournal.com]

Achilles couldn't see that heartbreak, because like most men of their time they had learned the art of a stone face. They hid their emotions behind their eyes and kept them from coming to the surface until things exploded.

"As well as to be expected. I am not sure how to father a child. I have not had experience there, and the one time I tried with my son I ended up burying his face into concrete."

[borrowed-armor.insanejournal.com]

Patroclus continued to keep his own emotions from showing as he nodded. "But you know what mistakes you made before. You can be there for this child."

[chink-in-armor.insanejournal.com]

"The times and circumstances are different, yes." Achilles would be lying if there wasn't a little doubt. He didn't let anything stop him from his goals. He had already taken time off, and when he came back what would the limelight do to Polyxena? More importantly what would it do to a child? Though he too had protected that stone face, he and Patroclus knew each other through and through. Their moves were still those of men of old.

[borrowed-armor.insanejournal.com]

"This child will be lucky to have you," Patroclus said honestly. He really did think that Achilles would do well if he had the time to dedicate to it. "I mean that."