PenName: Dysis Nyx

Author's Notes: I really am becoming quite fond of this fanfic. I like looking back and seeing just how different the other character relationships are in the different fanfics. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and give a full reviewing report. I have many new twists and turns planned out. So, keep on reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the "Troy" characters. I wish I did, but alas I do not. heavy sigh

Pinned against the door in Achilles' room Patroclus stared at the golden man with confusion. They had just shared one of the most passionate kisses Patroclus had ever experienced in his life...with a man who was his cousin no doubt. What was this? He had never encountered something like this in his life. The truth was he did love Achilles with all his heart, but what kind of love was it?

Now staring into the void eyes, Patroclus sensed that Achilles was not in control this time. The mind of the man had relinquished power to the body. Maybe he should do the same?

With that Patroclus released all thoughts from his mind and let his body take over. Instinctively Patroclus' arms wrapped around Achilles' neck and kissed his lips. Then Achilles' arms traveled from Patroclus' wrists to around his waist. He, too, deepened the kiss.

While their lips tangled with their tongues and their arms clung for all passion, it was their legs who were ignored. The legs began to move without any attention being paid to them. Slowly, but desperately moving over to the bed, Achilles and Patroclus toppled onto it.

Breathing heavy, Achilles looked down into Patroclus' eyes and simply stared. At that moment, both men knew what was to come next. If they didn't stop now they knew what was going to happen. A silent consent lit into Patroclus' eyes and Achilles leaned down and claimed the lips of Patroclus with a fierce passion.

The night was far from over and neither one wanted to see the sun rise...at least not at this moment. Tomorrow they knew would be a different story. Tomorrow everything would be new and frightening.

just after sunrise

Achilles woke up from sleeping stark naked on his stomach. This was a feeling he was used to. Since every night this was his particular activity. Instead, of a feminine arm, or two, wrapped around him, there was nothing. Opening his eyes, Achilles noticed no one next him.

A dream?, Achilles' thoughts panicked.

Propping himself up on one arm, Achilles looked to the end of the bed and finally saw Patroclus. The boy was sitting with his knees to his chest and his arms wrapped around his knees. The masculine chin was resting at the tops of the knees, while the face was stern with contemplation.

So, it isn't a dream, Achilles thought, While that is good, Patroclus looks less than pleased. Steadily, Achilles moved to the end of the bed. His hand reached and gently squeezed the back of Patroclus' neck. It was a gesture he had done many times before. Perhaps the boy would have appreciated something like that at this time.

The words came from nowhere as Patroclus murmured quietly, "Achilles...? What do I--what do we do about last night?"

Getting up from the bed, Achilles shrugged off the question and answered, "Nothing. We act as if nothing has happened. From where I stand nothing has changed."

What! Nothing!, Patroclus thought as he shot to his feet in anger and surprise. He could hardly believe his ears as Achilles dressed. This morning was like any other for Achilles, but for Patroclus it was so very different. The evening was more important than what Achilles was making it.

This was something Patroclus was new to this whole experience. How was he to know that one shouldn't involve feelings into it? The more he looked into it, the more anger brewed inside of him. Wrapping some of the nearest clothes around himself, Patroclus strode towards the door. A fist tightened around his upper arm and stopped him. Achilles' voice said, "You were not excused from the room, Patroclus, by your commanding officer."

Yanking his arm out from Achilles' hold, Patroclus was feeling how he had never felt. New emotions were running rampant in his body.

A spark flared in Patroclus' eyes, one that Achilles had never seen before. This look was pure, unbridled, passionate...hatred. The boy was a man standing in front of him loathing him. Patroclus had never looked so dangerous and so adult,...and so sad. With his stomach twisting inside of him, Achilles said nothing.

Patroclus let it all out with a strong, angry control, "I am through, Achilles! I am no longer a child. We have killed it. We slaughtered any bond we had together with...last night. Worst of all, I used to hold a respect for a man who I thought was above all the greatest in all of Greece, possibly the world."

Achilles' voice was low and firm as he asked, "Now?"

Without hesitation Patroclus answered, "I only see a selfish, flesh-lusting, blood-feasting mortal. I say mortal, because no man could have killed the great Achilles. Now you are simply Achilles, my cousin."

The words Patroclus had just said would be death to a lesser man, or even a greater one, but this was Patroclus. In his heart, Achilles knew he could no more harm Patroclus than he could wake a dead man. While many emotions coursed through his veins, none knew what to do. Patroclus turned to leave the room and Achilles stood there with fists on either side of him.

Outside in the hall, Patroclus stormed through the passages. Patroclus had last cried when he was a baby. When his parents died, he was an angry sad, so there were no tears. Now Patroclus had lost the one man he held dearer than his own life. Achilles was a god to him, not now though. Now Achilles was a man with a love only for himself.

Tears were forming in his eyes as the sense of pain came back. Betrayed, immoral, lecherous, and callous all things running through Patroclus. All emotions behind the oncoming tears. They had not fallen yet, but sooner or later they would come. Men didn't cry, real men never cried. That added to Patroclus hating both himself and Achilles.

"Patroclus! Turn around, boy!" the voice of Peleus called from behind.

Turning around Patroclus faced his uncle with patience. He knew his face was pale and his eyes were red. What Patroclus didn't know is what his uncle would think.

The man approached with long, slow strides. There was a smile on Peleus' face as he opened his arms to Patroclus. Giving him a quick embrace, Peleus placed an arm around Patroclus' shoulders and continued down the hall.

As they walked Patroclus listened to his uncle talk and that was a past-time his uncle loved best. Peleus found an odd joy in listening to himself speak.

His voice boomed cheerfully, "Patroclus, I had a thought that maybe if you spend the day with some of the hardened Mrymidons, then you could see real men. All you ever see all day is servants, me, and Achilles. While, I know my son is strong and powerful, he is not an entire race of men. To get an idea of real men one must spend time with large groups of them. Also, I would like to see you battle my proudest warrior, Ajax. He may not be Achilles, or even the Trojan Hector, but he is one of the best. If you can give him a decent fight, I shall make you a Myrmidon. Achilles is my son, so he shall abide by my orders. What say you?"

To go over Achilles' head on something. To go over his orders to a higher power. While it gave him a strange delight, there was a sense of him betraying Achilles. He had promised to Achilles that he would only take orders from him. Patroclus lowered his head and answered, "I would be honored, uncle."

Slapping his back, Peleus led him to the practice grounds outside of the villa. His voice boomed even louder, "Good! Ajax awaits! Let us go to a fight."

After Achilles had sent the messenger to Eudorus to collect the men. In the message he explained how they would go to Troy with Odysseus. The decision was made and they would leave tomorrow for Troy. Now to find Patroclus and continue his training. This morning would be forgotten and they would go on as if nothing happened.

Walking out in the open outside hallways Achilles heard a ruckus coming from below. He looked over the side of the banister to see Ajax with a sword in one hand, his sheild on the other hand and a helmet on his head. The man appeared to be facing off with another. With Ajax's back to him, Achilles could not see the other soldier. The swords were real, but their was an audience to this fight, so it was merely a battle for fun. Achilles leaned against the banister looking on below to watch the fight.

His interest was peaked since Ajax was the biggest man in Phtia and no one, besides Achilles, would dare fight him. He gave a small chuckle to the idiot who thought to challenge Ajax. For anyone in Phtia, besides Achilles, Ajax would crush with his strong sword arm and his towering size. He was a proud and skilled warrior. Only reason why Achilles would never trust him was because he was his father's favorite soldier.

Achilles muttered as Ajax swung his sword, "The idiot! Who would be so foolish? Idiot..."

With a dodge to the right, Achilles got a full glimpse of the other fighter. Hey, That's my idiot!, Achilles thought.

Sure enough, Patroclus was fighting Ajax with a sword and sheild, but no helmet. How could Patroclus be so stupid as to not use a helmet? Then again, how could he be so stupid as to fight Ajax?

Rushing to where the audience gathered Achilles started to make his way towards the fight as close as he could muster. Right before he reached them, a hand grabbed his arm. Looking back, Achilles saw the disapproving face of his father.

Achilles walked with his father on the outskirts of the gathering audience. All Achilles wanted to do was stop this fight before Patroclus got hurt or worse.

With that thought Achilles growled at his father, "What is the meaning of this? The boy is in my charge."

Nodding in agreement, Peleus stated in a matter-of-fact manner, "Yes, that is true. I felt that the lad needed some encouragement. At first, I thought to make him a point in a fight he could not win, but now...Well, my boy you have trained him well. I watched his movements with surprise. That is fair fight he is giving Ajax. No harm will come to him, so do not worry. Ajax knows not to seriously harm Patroclus."

Realizing it was all a ruse of his father's Achilles asked with loathing, "How did you lure him into this foolish game?'

Laughing at his own genius, Peleus answered, "I tricked the boy into thinking I would make him into a full Myrmidon. While, he is ready, I would never make that soft-heart into a soldier of mine. He would disgrace me!"

Before Achilles could say anything to his father more, applause and cheers rang out from the audience. Both Peleus and Achilles turned to see Patroclus had lost to Ajax. the boy was now angrily retreating from the arena with a vengeance.

Growling low in throat, Achilles snapped, "That is the second time you have disgraced him, father."

Peleus laughed, "It is good for him! Plus, why should you care? You only care for yourself, Achilles. Maybe that mother of your's, too."

Storming off to go after Patroclus, Achilles left his father without another word.

-hours later at dusk-

Finally, after searching long enough Achilles found Patroclus. He had been searching since the fight between Ajax and Patroclus. When he found him he was hanging with some of the other Myrmidons and their wenches. Only Patroclus and Eudorus stood on the side.

While the other soldiers were completely drunk and were laying sloppy kisses on their wenches. Eudorus was completely in charge of himself and Patroclus at that.

As Achilles approached he thanked, "Many thanks, Eudorus. I have been looking fo rhim for a long time now." Turning to go, Achilles barked over his shoulder, "Come, Patroclus!"

When he heard the boy's footsteps he continiued. When they approached the chariot, Patroclus eyed it suspiciously. As they got in Achilles explained, "It is faster than a single horse with a pack one tied next to it."

They rode on in silence till Achilles said, "Are you proud of yourself, boy? You missed your lesson, you fought a far better soldier than yourself and lost, you tried to leave without any dignity, and you attempted to hang around with the bigger dogs. So, I ask you, are you proud of yourself?"

Staying quiet for a few moments Patroclus finally said, "You forgot 'taking orders from someone other than Achilles'."

Casting a glance back at Patroclus, Achilles scoffed, "So, I did."

Deciding that the air was still heavy around them and that the main reason this all happened was still around, Achilles made a decision. He blew out a sharp breath and addressed, "This morning you claimed we killed what we had. That is not true, Patroclus, and you well know it. There is a bond, a fondness, that we share that cannot be ruined by a simple act. All we did was give into something that was already there. We were sharing are feelings without words."

Crossing his arms, Pataroclus sneered, "Who said there was ever feelings of that sort?"

Achilles pulled on the reins to the chariot and stopped the two horses on such short notice that Patroclus' stomach collided with the chariot. When he stood up he caught a hold of Achilles death stare, "Maybe you don't love me, but you will grow to love me even more as time goes on."

Patroclus lowered his head and muttered, "I was not talking about myself. I guess I am not going to Troy with all my mistakes?"

Smiling evilly Achilles answered, "However would I battle without you there?"

Both would leave for Troy, but neither knew what awaited them over in Troy. The battle for glory and the battle to get out of the shadows still fought and struggled on.

-day of sailing to Troy-

Standing on the ship as the other men loaded it, Patroclus felt his excitement growing. He was almost off to his first battle. This would be the first time he would prove to Achilles he was just as worthy as any of the Myrmidons. All of the others got to prove their loyalty and dedication to Achilles, but he hadn't had his chance yet.

With the new sense of wonder and pride Patroclus looked out at the open sea waiting for them to sail off. Lost in his own thoughts, he jumped when a hand placed on his shoulder.

Turning he faced Achilles who asked, "Excited?"

Patroclus nodded and faced the spacious sea again. His words were a contained excited as he answered dreamily, "This will be my first battle ever, Achilles. I will finally be a soldier."

Without saying a word, Achilles just stood next to him. He would wait to tell Patroclus he wasn't fighting. Why make the trip to Troy a living Hell with Patroclus' disappointment. Plus, at least, Achilles knew now that since he wasn't letting Patroclus fight, then the boy wouldn't die.

Again, that stab at the thought of Patroclus' death. Placing an angry arm around Patroclus' shoulders, "Yes, cousin, we go to Troy. Glory we seek and glory we get."

to be continued