Fall
Disclaimer: The movie Troy does not belong to me, mythology even less so. I'm making no money with this.
Pairing: Paris/OC slash
Rating: R
Genre: AU, drama
Warning: Story will turn angsty later
Beta: webbswoman
Summary: It takes less than a year for Alexandros' world to be shattered. In spring he fell in love, in summer he enjoyed life, in autumn it was all destroyed. Troy, he swears, will fall for this.
Author's Note: The story takes place some years before the Trojan war and does not build on any historical facts. My thanks goes to webbswoman for being my most faithful beta and to starlesscity, who did (and still does) fantastic cheerleading!
Some Merriam-Webster definitions of FALL (noun):
(…) 2b : the season when leaves fall from trees : autumn
(…) 5a : loss of greatness : collapse; "the fall of the Roman Empire"
b : the surrender or capture of a besieged place; "the fall of Troy"
c : lapse or departure from innocence or goodness
Chapter 1: On the Run
Fall
Alexandros could not hear their pursuers. But he knew they were close. He had to get off the streets as quickly as he could. Leaving the city would be impossible: the guards would already have been alerted and the gates were closed anyway at this late hour.
He tightened his arm around Vernados, who threatened to slip from his grasp. The older man gave a pained groan. Alexandros could feel the slick wetness leaking from his lover's stomach wound. The other man was a good portion taller than Alexandros, and more heavily muscled, making it difficult for Alexandros to support him. But there was no other way.
It was night, and the people of Troy were asleep. It should have been easier to disappear; Their pursuers would be forced to go from door to door to search for them.
Alexandros did not know where to go. They had fled straight from the barracks in which they had resided for the past months and, while their pursuers had finally lost sight of them, Alexandros knew they would not give up until they had been found. The princes Hector and Deiphobus themselves had given chase, furious that they had been fooled, and Alexandros feared that he, too, was now a suspected spy.
"'Xandros…" Vernados moaned. The younger man wished his lover's voice were filled less with pain and more with passion.
"You may have to leave me," the man said through clenched teeth.
"Never," Alexandros swore.
The other man chuckled with some effort. "You know, you love more than is good for you."
"So you've said before."
"My little love," Vernados said with a smile on his bitten-through, bloody lips.
"Always," Alexandros replied quietly, sparing a moment to meet his companion's brown eyes with his own fear-filled gaze.
He had to force himself to turn away and continue walking. Vernados attempted to help and move his feet faster but he quickly had to give up; The pain was overwhelming.
"The gods aren't smiling at me tonight. I probably won't make it far," he said.
"I know," Alexandros answered. "We're nearly there."
"Where?"
"Kallias' house."
"Do you really think that's a good idea?"
"I can't think of any other place. We don't have a choice."
"And you think he'll give shelter to two wanted men?"
"I don't know!" Alexandros snapped, distress trying his patience.
"You shouldn't have run with me. You should've stayed. This is not your problem, it's mine. They'd've believed that you're not involved…" Vernados was beginning to slur.
"Be quiet, Vernados. Just be quiet."
Vernados complied, though more due to exhaustion than because Alexandros had told him so.
Alexandros thought he could hear loud voices. Thankfully they were already at their destination. The area was not one of the best. It was near the place where the launderers washed clothes and it stank of urine. Alexandros knocked on the wooden shutter of a window. Kallias lived on the ground floor. If he was back and wasn't busy with someone he should be able to hear the knock.
Nothing happened at first. Sweat was running down the side of Alexandros face. Vernados' breathing was harsh next to him.
Finally, the window opened and a blonde head poked out. Kallias' eyes were still heavily lined with kohl so he hadn't been back for long. His eyes widened when he saw them:
"What happened?" he cried.
Alexandros shushed him. "We need help – the palace guards are looking for us."
The young man didn't bother lying about this. Kallias wasn't doing the most respected work anyhow and there could be many reasons for the palace guards to be searching for someone. That the princes themselves might be leading them, Alexandros kept for himself.
Kallias didn't even blink. He disappeared and a moment later opened the door. He wasn't any taller than Alexandros and had no muscles to speak of but he still took Vernados' other arm and offered his shoulder as support. Together, they hauled the bigger man inside and laid him down on Kallias' bed. It was rumpled but Alexandros wasn't worried about whatever had transpired in that bed a short time ago.
Kallias went back to lock and bolt the door to the streets and his own door as well as the window. There was another occupant on the upper floor who Alexandros had never seen but Kallias had said worked at the port as a carrier.
"Now tell me what happened," Kallias instructed. "I have some water so we can clean his wound."
"Do you have string and a needle as well?"
"I think so. Wait." Kallias hurried to one of his many chests and threw it open.
Vernados seemed unconscious and didn't even twitch when Alexandros took the knife strapped to the older man's thigh and cut his clothing open. It couldn't be saved anyhow.
At that moment the other Trojan returned and handed Alexandros a needle and a small ball of thread. He wore an expectant expression, reminding the younger man that his friend wanted answers. Alexandros thought about what to say. He could lie, though he could not think of how to explain away the Trojan princes themselves searching for Vernados. He could tell Kallias the whole truth and risk scaring the one person who was their only chance of help. Or he could tell at least part of the truth while avoiding the most alarming details. Finally he decided on the latter.
"There was a visitor to the palace tonight. An emissary from Egypt. He said he knew Vernados and claimed he was a spy. I heard it and went to warn Vernados but I was nearly too late. We ran, but not before some bastardmanaged to injure him."
Again the younger man did not mention that it had been prince Deiphobus' knife which had inflicted the vicious, deep cut in his lover's flesh.
"A spy?" Kallias raised incredulous eyebrows. He studied the man on his bed with different eyes. It was not completely impossible of course. "That's the biggest thing I've heard in a while," he breathed. Alexandros could see that his friend was starting to become nervous.
Alexandros wiped the blood from the wound away. The wound needed stitches, but the younger man was hesitant to make them. He had never stitched a wound, nor had a chance to learn how to do it.
"Do you want me to do it?" Kallias asked, noting his hesitation.
"Can you?" Alexandros looked at him with pleading eyes.
Kallias nodded and took the needle and thread out of his hands.
"Hold him down," he instructed.
Alexandros kneeled up on the bed and took hold of Vernados shoulders. He hoped he would be able to restrain the other man; his lover was usually much stronger than he, something Alexandros had always admired.
Kallias pierced his flesh with the needle and Vernados groaned. His eyes snapped open and he strained not to move. His jaw was tightly clenched. Alexandros turned away from the sight of Kallias sewing and instead met his lover's warm brown gaze. They never looked away from each other.
Alexandros had to wonder how it had come to this.
So, after a long dry spell only interrupted by a Troy crossover story, here comes my newest baby. I hope you'll enjoy the ride - which I can already tell you won't be nearly as long as in Forging of Bonds.
Thanks for reading and reviews are loved!
