are you mine[?]

.deux.

Patroclus sat at his father's side as he laid in the hospital wing of the large castle.

Hector wore a look of pain as he tried to remove his ring repeatedly. The damn Titans had poisoned him. They were holding Hector, soul to his body, as they searched for a cure. In Hector's absence, Patroclus had taken over as king. He wore regal clothes and sat on a throne, reading and signing contracts.

It had been only a few hours ago that Hades had arrived with an offer.

"I see you've taken over for your father," the god had said.

"Temporarily," Patroclus responded shortly. He was small on the large imposing throne as he stood up to greet the god.

"Interestingly, you say that with conviction. You truly believe you can cure him?"

"I was not prepared for this. I still am not. If my people are to survive this, I need guidance. I have prayed for help. From you, from your brothers, from Ares. I have yet to receive an answer."

"Hmm. I come to offer you a deal."

Patroclus stepped closer, his hand resting on a column. "What deal?"

"Until this war ends, your father will survive to guide you. I will return tonight. You need to have your answer by then."

He tilted his head. "Why?"

"Excuse me?" Hades asked stopping as he turned around to leave.

"Why are you offering me this?"

Hades smiled drily. "No one prepared you, you said. I know that. I would like you to be able to prepare yourself. You have tasted ruling. Can you handle it for the remainder of your life?"

No, Patroclus had thought. But he didn't say that. He just tilted his head. And Hades left, fading into shadow.

Patroclus reached out now. "Father," he said. "Hades came and offered me a deal."

"It is a trick," Hector said.

"It is not," Patroclus slipped out. "You will live until this war is over. You can teach me how to rule. I cannot do this yet, Father. Not without your guidance. Please."

"What have I said about that wretched word?" Hector coughed out. Blood splattered on his hand.

"Father—" Patroclus said.

"Do not take the deal. You will take the throne and my ring. It is to be your ring soon, regardless. When you are sixteen, was when I planned to step aside."

"Father, I'm not prepared."

"You must be. You were born for this purpose."

Patroclus opened his mouth to fight back.

"Do not argue. Now, my ring. After my death, your coronation. Wear white. Do not... let them force you. You are a... a king."

"Father!" Patroclus protested. "I don't know how to rule! I need—I need to be guided."

"It will do neither you nor I any good to discuss this now. I loved another woman when you were ten. After your mother died. But... she had to leave. I have no one but you."

"I have no one at all!"

"You have always had me."

"No," Patroclus said. "I never had you. You smashed my hopes into the ground, destroyed them. Obliterated anything good. Our people fear us."

"Good."

"Horrible! They don't love us!"

"Then make them."

Patroclus clutched Hector's hand. "Father, listen to me. If we cannot trust our people, then we cannot trust our allies."

Hector didn't answer. The blood he had coughed up was drying on his lips and hand, ring still clutched in his fingers, trying to give it to Patroclus.

"Father?" Patroclus whispered.

"Have you decided?"

"I need him," Patroclus begged.

"You will owe the House of Hades," the god warned.

"I have. Since my mother died. I have owed your house since I was abandoned in this world. When Persephone rose to earth's surface again each year, she brought a reprieve from the pressure of my father. I need him."

"Very well."

Hades took the ring and slid it on Patroclus's finger. "Take care and do what you must to protect your kingdom."

Hector's body laid motionless on the bed, but a small voice in Patroclus's mind had awoken. He recognized it, as it was his father's.

He clenched his fist and the ring glinted in the light.

He stood and his back straightened. He held himself with a new resolve.

He knew that he had to destroy those Titans. And he would—right after he was crowned king.

}{}{}{

Soon, I promise. Patroclus and Nico will meet. Patroclus is fourteen, two years older than Nico, so almost Percy's age but a year younger.