Author's PenName: Dysis Nyx
Author's Notes: Okay, so here is my second fanfic story. Um, this is the struggle between two men to find out their true feelings and one of them struggling to find his place in manhood. I think this is a future awesome fanfic. Kinda nervous about it, but enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from "Troy"…not even Patroclus. I know, no matter how cute he is, he is not mine so don't bother asking to borrow him.
Patroclus first arrives to the home of Peleus after his parents have died
Achilles stared at the younger boy in front of him. His name was Patroclus and he was his...cousin. By the word from Achilles' father, he was to live with them from now on.
How pathetic! He wasn't that scrawny, but then he wasn't as toned as Achilles himself was. The sense of loss was quite clear in the boy's eyes. Which it should have been since the boy recently was recently orphaned. How could his father dare to put such a straggly thing in his charge? Achilles' would die of embarrassment from having this child follow him around.
Patroclus stared up at the older boy for a second, because he was too intimidating to examine any longer than that. He was older than him, but not like decades, yet not a few years either. Though the age range Patroclus saw every last bit of strength in Achilles. This was no boy, even at his age Patroclus knew Achilles was a man. Through his parents he had heard many tales of Achilles. He loved to have his father speak of Achilles and the things he was capable of. When he was orphaned and told he would be sent to Peleus and Thetis, he felt fortunate to be near his cousin the great Achilles. Now, though, he felt small and insignificant under his cousin's gaze. What was he to do? What made him think they could form a friendship when he couldn't even look the man in the face?
Achilles sneered at the boy a grumbled loudly to his father "You wish me to look after this child?"
Peleus laughed and slapped his son hard on the back "I wouldn't make it sound a trial, Achilles! I have been told of his potential by many. That is why he is now your responsibility. You can train him when you feel he is ready."
"If it your wish, father, then let it be done." those were Achilles' last words as he stalked off.
Patroclus was close on his heels. When he finally found his voice he muttered "It is a pleasure to be-"
His words were quickly cut off by a look so heated by Achilles that Patroclus' skin would melt off. When Achilles spoke Patroclus felt illuminated, "Patroclus, have you any training as a soldier? If not, you will join the classes by Aetos tomorrow. I will watch in and see how well you move. Clear?"
Never in his years had Patroclus been treated so much like a inferior. This was not a choice of his. It was clear that everything was up to Achilles, but for some reason Patroclus cared not. For some strange reason, Patroclus was not bothered being the subordinate to Achilles. It was clear that Achilles was something great.
Both men walked to their noon meal together. Patroclus was always one step behind Achilles' pensive, angry step. So much excellence and yet still so odious. He truly was the lion that his training had prepared him for.
When they arrived in the open hall Achilles immediately sat at a table with his father but at the very end.
"You do not have to sit at this side of the table with me, Patroclus. This is my choice to sit at a distance from my father." Achilles said the words with a quiet pride.
As the younger boy leaned in next to him Patroclus whispered "It is my honor to share your rebellion, cousin."
For some reason Achilles allowed the child to sit down next to him. For the life of him, he did not know why.
No, not child.
Young man.
In his heart he saw a great bond between them in the future. He didn't know what told him this, but something deep inside him told him.
That entire night the two men talked about everything and nothing.
-next morning-
Patroclus was trying so hard to beat the bigger boy in Aetos' lesson. It was so hard to knowing that the boy, Bastiaan, was almost twice his side. But he had to do it. Achilles had been standing on the outskirts talking with Aetos.
Aetos was an old man and a very close friend of Peleus. He was overweight and walked with a gimp. He was loud, smelled of wine, and would beat you violently with a stick. Patroclus hated him.
Achilles leaned in close with Aetos and gestured gruffly to Patroclus "How does he fare? Patroclus, I mean."
"I hate to tell you this, Achilles. The lad has much potential, but he is weak. It appears as though he is trying to move similar to you. He is ungainly, blundering, and high-spirited. He will never be a soldier. He has in his sights to be a soft-hearted fool!"
"A young lion cub is also ungainly, blundering, and high-spirited. And all cubs become lions one day."
On that note Achilles stalked off past the other battling boys. Both Patroclus and Bastiaan stopped in the midst of their battle and stood facing Achilles. Both boys just waited for Achilles to say something. So, when he did they relaxed "Neither one of you will make good soldiers at this rate. You use your size against your opponent, Bastiaan. And you, Patroclus, you are trying so hard to overpower a boulder when you are merely a pebble."
"I should think you do the same, cousin. I saw your practice this morning and you did the very same thing."
Achilles' eyes narrowed, but sparkled with amusement "Do you wish to take me on, cousin?"
Without another word Patroclus got in position. Achilles had one thought; This boy is arrogant.
And so they started.
And then they ended.
The battle did not last long because as soon as it started Achilles unweaponed Patroclus and knocked the boy to his stomach. With a foot on his back Achilles' whispered for Patroclus' ears only "Know your place, cousin."
Without a moment's warning Patroclus rolled onto his back. His eyes staring right into Achilles' eyes. His voice was exasperated and hoarse "And where is my place, cousin?"
By the boy's eyes, Achilles saw a heavy pain and grief. It struck Achilles with silence. No person had ever struck Achilles' sympathy, but for some reason this mere child broke through all his barriers. He knew he was great and that no one in this world was possibly a worthy opponent. So, with that said Achilles' cared not to waste his time with such people. Then there was this child. He was helpless, he was alone, he was weak. And yet, Achilles' cared.
Offering his hand out he helped Patroclus to his feet. "Come! Walk with me, Patroclus."
"Yes, Achilles" was all the boy said as he followed.
Achilles led him to a ruined open structure that overlooked to sea. To Achilles it was the best training ground in Phtia, Greece. This structure must resembled the modern day Stone Henge. Its tan columns were completely worn. A few desert plants and bushes grew on the sides of the open structure. This was Achilles' sanctuary. He stood in the middle and soaked it in.
While Patroclus stood on the outskirts of it, he slowly approached Achilles. The man seemed to revel in it all. Then he was thrown off by the older one's voice.
"Patroclus, do you wish to be a soldier? A warrior like myself?"
"I wish to be great like you, Achilles."
This drew a silence from the golden warrior. Finally when Achilles spoke he looked directly into Patroclus' eyes. "I will teach you, Patroclus. You will obey me and no one else. Your orders will come from me and no higher. You will be a soldier for me and no other. I am your king, no one else."
Patroclus lowered himself to one knee, but never taking his eyes off Achilles. Almost as if he was in a trance. "Understood, my lord."
\up-to-date (three days before Odysseus sails out to Troy)/
Swords clanged together, muscles tightened, and arms thrust in lunges these were the games of Achilles and Patroclus by the daily the two practiced.
Achilles managed to back Patroclus slowly up the stairs He even scared the boy enough to give a pause to scratch his back. Although he wasn't fighting to his full potential. Just as he was becoming comfortably Patroclus thrust his game sword forward causing Achilles' to block it.
He knew Patroclus would have made it if he hadn't hesitated to stab him. The boy seemed to be hesitating more lately. They had been training for awhile now, but as Patroclus grew in talent, he hesitated to stab more and more. Maybe it was because Patroclus was older and understood what fighting meant if he won. Death.
"Never hesitate."
Damn. Patroclus thought. Achilles had seen his hesitation again. He could only hope that he didn't know why he hesitated. Patroclus knew these were only play swords, but still the thought of hurting Achilles killed him. Could he possibly guess? What would happen if he did? Patroclus thought again.
Oh well, he really didn't care. After all, he was training with Achilles, but how far would his training take him?
Patroclus stepped off one of the columns with Achilles hot on his trail. They raced around to fighting practice ruins as they had done since Patroclus first came to be Achilles'
student.
The pounding of hooves could be heard in the distance, but neither Patroclus nor Achilles paid them any mind. No one dared to interrupt their training sessions. The last man that tried was a messenger from Peleus to Achilles, the man took a sword to the rib from Achilles.
One thing Patroclus knew about Achilles was that he hated to be ordered around. The only person who dared to suggest anything in the slightest order way or take a wrong tone was himself. Patroclus dared to do a many great liberties, because of the bond they shared.
Finally, Achilles caught up to Patroclus, but he turned it around on Achilles. The running defensive switched to a swinging offensive.
Damn! Achilles thought, that was a good swing. Not bad. The boy is gaining a talent with the sword. Dodging the sword as it flew over his head. Patroclus' swing had been seen, but Achilles was still shocked by his skill as he handled the sword. Now Achilles was back onto defensive while Patroclus attacked.
They very rarely never enjoyed these lessons. Patroclus seemed to be growing into a man and a soldier more every day. The thought scared Achilles and fear was an unknown feeling to him. He feared no man, no woman, no god or goddess. He was Achilles and he was fearless.
As he would always tell himself this, the thought of Patroclus lying dying crept back into Achilles' worst nightmares. Losing the boy meant losing what little humanity he had.
Slightly distracted Achilles' blocked every one of the boy's attacks. When Patroclus pinned his sword, he teased, "Nervous?"
A smile crept at Achilles' lips. No one dared to mock him without paying a high price. Yet this child always seemed to irk his final nerve. Here he was again, testing Achilles.
The wooden sword played dangerously on Patroclus' throat, "Petrified."
The words were more of a game, then a challenge. Their banter was always friendly nothing ever harmful.
When Achilles' sword was defended back by Patroclus, the boy advanced again on him. The fight was proceeding with tremendous skill and stamina. The boy was getting better. Perhaps it was due time to end the lesson. It was best to throw the boy off.
Switching the hand his sword was in Achilles pinned the sword again to his cousin's neck. The boy caught his jest and teased him on it.
As their fight progressed the horses still proceeded. Achilles finally ended it and kicked the sword away from Patroclus.
Stalking over to the pile of weapons, Achilles took hold of one of the spears and hurled it. No one dared to interrupt or trespass during lessons. Patroclus was his responsibility and if he was training him, then he had a say and only him. No one interfered...no one.
Then the men approached. It was Odysseus, the eking of Ithaca. What a bother.
The only man he respected of the hierarchy of Greeks. The man's soldiers stayed behind, while Odysseus came forward. He held his helmet under his arm as he approached. Achilles knew the man came with a recruiting mission. Why could he not escape that bothersome king? He took orders from no man and did as he pleased.
Patroclus watched the foreign man come toward him and Achilles. Since Achilles had not harmed the man at all, then he must be very close with Achilles. Then Achilles stabbed one of the fake swords in his back and shoved him forward.
Then he introduced Patroclus to...Odysseus, king of Ithaca.
Oh, this was the great king that Achilles had mentioned and whose name men both revered and feared, not as much as Achilles, but there was no man who was feared as Achilles was.
Patroclus watched as the two men drew away from him. They were conversing something. Odysseus talked of a war and that foolish king Agamemnon was mentioned. Slowly, Achilles was becoming bothered by Odysseus. This conversation was bound to put Achilles in a bad mood.
Ah! An idea struck Patroclus. He would get Achilles distracted and play with him to make him happy again. So, Patroclus launched towards Achilles with a practice sword. Achilles quickly blocked him. So, Patroclus continued to fight...and Achilles continued to block him. When Achilles finally struck him, Patroclus was punished with a spank to his rear with Achilles' own practice sword.
It was clear Achilles was engulfed in this conversation as much as he tried to feign disinterest in the war. Why Achilles was so frustrating when it came to fighting, Patroclus did not know. It was as if war and fighting were all he lived for and yet the two still bored him.
When Achilles refused to join Odysseus, the king turned his attention to Patroclus.
The king wanted his sword arm? The thought someone thought he was good enough to fight and was ready made Patroclus' heart leap. Finally, someone acknowledged his sword arm and strength. He had gotten bigger, faster, stronger with Achilles' training him. Yet, the man proved to think him still a child.
Before Patroclus could say anything, Achilles stopped him. What? Patroclus was fully prepared to fight! The thought that Achilles had degraded him in front of a king upset Patroclus beyond reason. The man was insufferable!
After King Odysseus had left Achilles bellowed, "Patroclus! Load the equipment on the horses. We ride out."
"Yes, my lord." was the only reply Patroclus uttered. Normally he would reply light and happy with Achilles, but not now.
Patroclus was mad and Achilles knew it. The boy wasn't as happy as usual. There was something raging deep inside Patroclus. Achilles grabbed the boy's wrist and turned him to face him, "Patroclus, what bothers you?"
Patroclus snapped angrily, "I am not a child, Achilles!"
So, that is what was bothering Patroclus. He wanted to be treated like a man to Achilles. Trying to keep control Achilles said, "I know..." he had to tell him and Achilles knew it, he continued, "...that is what frightens me most."
Patroclus cast him a doubtful look and laughed humorlessly, "The great Achilles fears nothing."
Now he was patronizing his reasons. Achilles could almost strangle the boy. His words were a loud growl, "That is what makes it so bad!"
If Patroclus fought, then Achilles would no longer be fearless. He would be all he worried about. His mind would constantly be thinking if he was all right or if he was dead.
The mention of the word infuriated Achilles. His fist pounded into one of the nearby columns. Patroclus would not die and Achilles' weakness for the boy would not be exposed.
The mention of the topic was infuriating Achilles. Patroclus was foolish for not seeing his reasons. He was foolish for thinking he was invincible in all aspects. This boy was his one and only weakness. If any man caught a glimpse of how important the boy was, Achilles would kill him. No harm would ever come to Patroclus. This Achilles vowed.
Turning to walk away, Achilles barked, "Get the horses ready and packed! We go see my mother."
to be continued