Author PenName: Dysis Nyx

Author's Note: Okay, so here is the most revered chapter six, some occasional fundamental things happen, but I am not saying what. So, yes as most of you have noticed I am following the basic run of the movie. Therefore, as you also have noticed the sweet Patroclus is about to have a stupid moment. Um, the story will take a twist that none of you are expecting after the run of the mill movie. The movie is followed, but at the same time not. Um, not to give too much away. I just did not want you to stop reading after you think you know is the end.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the "Troy" characters, because if I did, then I would have stayed true to the real story. Same actors, but not the same "just" cousins thing.

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Patroclus felt Achilles' arms loosen, but not let go. For whatever the man was about to say, Achilles could not look at Patroclus and say it.

Quite suddenly, Achilles pushed Patroclus forward and then he walked over to his disheveled bedding and sat. Turning to stare at Achilles, Patroclus asked shyly, "You called, my lord?"

Achilles shot an angry glare to Patroclus as he growled, "My name is Achilles and do not forget it." a silence passed between them before Achilles snarled, "I am not angry with you, Patroclus. It is Agamemnon whom I hate with a biting passion. The way he feels he can just as easily take complete control of the situation."

On the last word Achilles hurled a nearby shield at the walls of the shabby shack. Patroclus took a step closer to the bed and kneeled before Achilles, "I am eternally sorry, Achilles. I had not meant to fail you. All I have ever tried to do is serve you as the best soldier and novice I could be." looking away from Achilles scorching stare Patroclus continued, "It appears my best was not the correct amount."

From the corner of his vision Patroclus saw a flash of anger then watched it dissolve to a calm pity as Achilles reached out and touched his face, "It is not as you think, cousin. You, Patroclus, have surpassed my expectations. Granted originally those were not high at our first meeting, but they grew and always have. You would make any king proud to call you his soldier."

Patroclus did not understand what Achilles was talking about. He gave his golden cousin hard confused stare as he asked, "If I am as good as you say, then why do you not allow me to fight for you?"

The time had come. Achilles knew his words had reached Patroclus. He had two options now he could still deny Patroclus the answer or he could tell him the fear that lurked in his heart.

Standing, Achilles began to pace about the room as he snarled with his nerves cracking, "Do not ask me to answer that, Patroclus! I cannot answer you."

All Patroclus did was turn to face Achilles as he watched him prowl about the room, "Do I not deserve an answer? Achilles, why can I not fight for you as a soldier?"

Achilles in one stride was in front of Patroclus practically a raging lion by now roared, "Why is it so important to you to fight? Why do you have this need to shed the blood of other men? Can you not just be content with where I have you?"

Not a single flinch the unfazed Patroclus answered stare for stare with Achilles, "I wish to fight side-by-side with you, Achilles. I want to know that I, too, am protecting someone I care about. Can you not understand my need to protect the man I lo-…the man I respect?"

The anger died in Achilles as he saw the firm sincerity in Patroclus' eyes. Achilles placed his hands on the boy's shoulders as he tried to find the right words to say. His mind was in a state of disorder, then his hand, without a command from him, brushed lightly Patroclus' cheek. The words flowed from Achilles as he looked at Patroclus, "If that is the case, then, cousin, you should understand why I do not let you fight."

Patroclus did not get entirely what Achilles was saying. He thought he understood, but what if he was wrong. Could Achilles love him as he loved Achilles?

The sent a wave of excitement and relief into Patroclus' veins. The girl had not meant that much to Achilles then.

Without another moment wasted Patroclus embraced Achilles. He threw his arms in a blinded wave of excitement around his golden god's waist. His excitement had gotten the better of him and he had just done it. His body was in a different state then him. He had wanted to do so much more, but he had managed to control himself that much…luckily.

Pulling away, Patroclus excused himself and started to leave. Without a moment's turning Achilles grabbed Patroclus by the arms and held him tight while he planted a chaste kiss to younger man's lips. Then he pulled back and said, "Fear not of offending me, Patroclus. It is you whom is my weakness. If I was to lose you, all of Greece would go down in flames till I found the man responsible. You are my only fear."

Every possible word Patroclus could have said in response caught in his throat. For the longest time both men just stood there staring at each other. Neither knowing what to say or do until Patroclus muttered mesmerized, "I love you, Achilles…"

It was at that very moment that Eudorus decided to show himself. He entered the room with his usual, "My lord?"

With a nod of the head, Achilles bid Patroclus good night. Reluctantly, Patroclus left the two men alone. He knew Eudorus wished to speak to Achilles about tomorrow's battle. He only wished he could have remained in there with Achilles.

Back in Achilles shack Eudorus walked about the room nervously. Achilles knew he was trying to say something, but he also knew the man never spoke out of turn. Eudorus either did this out of fear or out of respect. Finally, growing weary of the man, Achilles barked, "Either say your peace, Eudorus, or leave. I do not care for your nervous pacing."

Eudorus paused right in his tracks and looked at Achilles as though he was about to say something then thought against it. Giving a small bow, Eudorus excused, "My apologies, my lord. We shall discuss it all better in the morning."

With that, the man left.

Groaning out of frustration Achilles watched him leave. The man had interrupted, then in the end had nothing to say. What great pains to be a nuisance did Eudorus take?

When it looked as though Patroclus was not coming back. Achilles grabbed his nearest wine pitcher and began to drink. He sat back on his bed and buried his sobriety into that pitcher. He was tired of it all. Tired of being here on the beaches of Troy, tired of serving Agamemnon, and tired of being Achilles the world's greatest warrior. There were a few times in his life he was ever just Achilles and that was every time he was with Patroclus.

-the next morning-

By this time Achilles was just recovering from his night of drinking alone. As dawn approached with the rising sun, Eudorus followed by Patroclus entered his tiny hut. All Eudorus came to tell him was that the armies were marching.

How thrilling Agamemnon and his countless cronies were off to fight a war for a woman. Granted Helen of Sparta was supposedly the most beautiful woman.

Achilles cared not for fighting a battle that was not his own with an ungrateful, pig of a king. He had better battles to fight, better opponents to kill, and more things to do to waste his time fighting for a king who does not know the names of any of his men.

Achilles roared, "We do not fight till Agamemnon groans to have Achilles back!"

Achilles knew that Eudorus would say not another word and like always he was correct. The man excused, "As you wish…" and turned tail and ran.

Only Patroclus remained in the room. Achilles could feel the displeasure of the lad for moments on end. So as the silence passed for a few painstaking minutes, Achilles finally asked asininely, "Are you ready to fight? Are you ready to kill? To take life?"

Stare for stare, Patroclus answered proudly, "I am."

Achilles had known that the boy would say that, but to still hear him say the words nearly killed him. How could he make him understand that being a soldier was not all Patroclus thought it was?

Watching Achilles intently, Patroclus had to fight the urge to go and sit by Achilles. The man looked so broken and lost. These were new looks to Achilles for Patroclus.

Knocking him out of his daydream, Patroclus heard Achilles' voice say, "At night I see their faces, all the men I've killed. They're standing there at the far end of the River Styx. They're waiting for me. They say…'Welcome, brother'."

Patroclus could only stare at Achilles. What did he expect him to say? Patroclus had never seen this dark side of Achilles before. It was new and a little unnerving, but he let him in on a part of Achilles he shared with no one else.

When Patroclus did collect himself he did not have a chance to speak. Achilles muttered, "We men are wretched things." then turning to cast a look to Patroclus he said, "I taught you how to fight, I never taught you why to fight."

Why did Achilles not see how hard this was for him? Patroclus hated seeing Achilles so upset, he hated hearing the doubt in Achilles' voice, most of all, he hated not being able to do anything.

In reassurance, Patroclus attempted to comfort with, "I fight for you…"

Letting out a doubtful scoff, Achilles asked sardonically, "And who will you fight for when I am gone?" he paused to let his question sink in, then he continued, "Soldiers fight for kings they have never even met. They do what they are told when they are told."

Achilles was trying to make the boy understand. Why was Patroclus not processing what he was telling him? Patroclus was far too good to be just an average soldier. Achilles could not comprehend why Patroclus was trying so hard to fight. Why was it so important to him?

Giving Achilles a hard look, Patroclus said defiantly, "Soldiers obey."

Achilles was at a loss. No matter what he said, Patroclus had this idealistic idea in his head about a soldier's life. Why did it matter so much to him? When nothing else came and both men were at a loss for what to say next, Achilles said sincerely and softly, "Don't waste your life following some fool's orders."
Looking at him in expectance, Achilles waited for Patroclus to say something, but nothing came. The boy just was biting his tongue in response to everything. Achilles practically threw a chair to the Eudorus-like behavior, instead he gritted his teeth and went back to his mulled wine. Then he quietly ordered, "Go…"

If Patroclus was to stay one more moment, Achilles would have lost it and everything he really felt would have come out. His mutual love for the boy would have been exposed. It was bad enough that Patroclus knew now that he was his only weakness.

The silence was becoming too much and when Achilles gave him that final pleading look Patroclus left. It was so hard to see him like that. Why was everything so hard now? Every time Achilles and him made progress, they always managed just to make matters worse. Now as he walked along the empty shores of the Trojan beach, Patroclus was giving up hope. All the soldiers had left. The only thing that remained was the empty remains of camps that had been recently forgotten it was as though all the people had just vanished. The Myrmidons were all in their own aspects on the beach.

They were either on the boat or asleep or wandering around aimlessly. Whether there were Myrmidons on this beach or not Patroclus knew not. His mind had him see an empty beach with dead campsites. He was alone in this world. Back in Phtia, Patroclus had Achilles, but now…

Now they were in Troy and Patroclus had no one. Achilles was with him, but Achilles was not with him.

Soon Patroclus found himself on some old ancient ruins and he was surrounded by Myrmidons and Eudorus stood next to him. They all watched the fight being waged in a strange fascination. They watched as Greeks fought Trojans, while Greeks fell. A presence scorched Patroclus' back and when he quickly turned to look behind he met the indifferent gaze of Achilles.

How could he watch this and not care? Patroclus tried to hate Achilles, but he could not. The man was the best warrior and he was not the least bit effected. How was that fair? Even now, Patroclus still held an emotion so deep for Achilles that words were not enough.

-middle of the night-

After a night of drinking Patroclus noted just how much happier the men were. They had lost a battle and fellow comrades today, but give them some wine and wounds are mended. This idea disgusted Patroclus.

Achilles was right.

This new idea fixed any problems Patroclus might have had with Achilles. He was right, there were other battles and today's was nothing compared to what he would fight in. He had to see him! Patroclus had to speak with Achilles he had to apologize and make everything right. They had left on ill terms and Patroclus would make it better.

Now with the greatest of speeds, Patroclus rushed to Achilles' shack. Tonight they would speak and make things better. Everything would go back to how it was supposed to be. Achilles and him would talk the entire night and share a bed, perhaps. In the company of Achilles, Patroclus was not so alone in the world. No one cared for him the way Achilles did.

Sure the other soldiers spoke with him,…occasionally, and there was always Eudorus. Although, Eudorus was merely pulling Patroclus around as sort of a child's caretaker. It was quite clear he was doing so as a favor to Achilles than anything else. Since the death of his parents, the only other person Patroclus had was Achilles. After tonight they would forget all their other arguments and go back to those nights on the ship, to when they were training, to those dinners back in Phtia. After tonight they would be each other again.

As soon as Patroclus reached the shack he stopped dead outside the door-flap. The sounds he heard stopped him dead. The moans and groans of the most heightened passion. The electrifying crackle of flesh meeting flesh. Then the earth shattering cry of Briseis screaming, "Achilles!"

Patroclus fell to his knees. After it all, Achilles had chosen her. He truly did love her. Maybe if he was to go in there now, Achilles would stop and try to explain…Or maybe he would send Patroclus away again. Either way, Patroclus was still forgotten about. He was still only second in the heart of Achilles.

--to be continued--