The sky was getting darker. The concrete was hard beneath my boots. Hector and I danced around each other on the roof of the office block, exchanging light hits, never really aiming to hurt each other.
It had been this way for centuries. At first, when we had met again in another life, it had been nothing but anger and fighting and death. But over time I had gotten better at fighting and forgiveness, and my anger had simmered down until we got to where we were now.
We had all grown up, gotten wiser — Achilles, me, Hector, even Paris. Spending millennia together does that to you. And while it would usually be Achilles fighting the mainstream villains, it was understood by the citizens that Patroclus and Hector had a specific rivalry, and well, by now I could hopefully hold up against him if he ever decided to go full power. Maybe.
The sound of a police helicopter alarm sounded, and Hector quickly jumped away and disappeared over the rooftops. I couldn't blame him — those things were nasty, and even most heroes thought the amount of power they brought in for big villains was overkill.
I didn't chase him. It might seem suspicious, but I wasn't the best runner in the world and the helicopter had already set off after him. Instead, I jumped off the other side of the roof and landed in the dark alley at the bottom, blending into the shadows in hope of evading the cameras. Night had fully fallen by now, and the darkness covered me as I made my way back home. It was too late to go back to work now, and I wanted to get out of these clothes.
Achilles greeted me from the kitchen when I arrived. The smell of cooking food drifted into the hallway — carbonara. Gods, could Achilles make good pasta. As I passed through the kitchen to go upstairs, I stopped and pulled him into a slow, steady kiss.
"How was Hector?" he asked as we pulled away.
"He's doing fine. Helicopters chased him away though."
Achilles frowned. Not for the first time, I wondered why Hector hadn't just chosen to be a hero instead. The housing was much more comfortable. It was more fun if someone was the 'villain' though, and it sure wasn't about to be Achilles.
I came down a while later, showered and changed into civilian clothes. Achilles was just setting the table when I walked into the kitchen.
I wouldn't change this existence. Living a million different lives with my friends right next to me. I wouldn't change it for anything.