are you mine[?]

.treize.

Patroclus rolled over onto his pillow. He blinked his eyes open.

When had he gotten into bed?

He looked down at his attire. He was wearing the same clothes as he was the day before, meaning that someone had moved him without changing him. He sat up and looked around the room. Nico was curled up on the beanbag in the corner. He was dwarfed by it, sinking deep into the middle.

Of course.

Patroclus slowly got out of bed, doing everything within his power not to wake up the peaceful son of Hades. When he slept, he really loved up to his surname. Patroclus smiled.

He made his way to his closet slowly. He pulled out an off-white tunic and pulled on black leggings. He clipped a red cape onto his shoulders and lifted his laurel onto his head. He cast a soft look at Nico before scratching a note on a sticky note and sticking it on the boy's hand.

Patroclus crept out into the hallway, closing his door behind him. Then, instead of walking tentatively, he strode to the throne room. His cape billowed behind him as he sat on his throne, facing his guards.

"Bring me the treaty from them."

A guard rushed out, returning a minute later with the papers.

Patroclus read through the papers. He grew increasingly frustrated when he found nothing to help him. "How can we contact them?"

"Through the Amazons," Reginald said, leaning heavily on his cane.

"Besides that. They'll attack me if I talk out of turn."

"You're still a king, Patroclus," Reginald reminded.

"They're still extreme feminists," he retorted. "As in, women are better than men and not in the good way."

"What's the good way?"

"Uh... you know. Look, in Greek mythology, when women are advocating themselves, it's always taken a step too far. Regardless, I think we should try to contact them without involving the Amazons."

"Can you recite that prophecy for me?"

"Son of lightning, beware the earth, The giants revenge, the seven shall birth, The forge and dove shall break the cage, Death unleash through Hera's rage, The king of men shall hold the crown, Down within the princess's town."

Reginald nodded, rubbing his chin in thought. "It sounds like it's referring to you."

"It does, but I cannot rule out a possibility. In fact, I would prefer it to be not me."

"Why?"

"Reginald, if I get called on this quest, there is no question — it will be the beginning of our Trojan war. Someone will steal away someone or something, and we will have to create our own Trojan Horse."

"It will not be before the end of this," Reginald assured the boy.

"It may be. Perhaps the giants plan to divide us. Kill me, then Nico."

"Just because you are Patroclus and he Achilles does not mean what you think it does."

"It means everything!" Patroclus stood up, pacing the floor before his throne. "Reginald, I can't think of anything but the worst — we all know what will happen if —"

"Patroclus," a different voice said.

He turned. There stood Nico, wearing a loose black satin collared shirt and black pants. He had a black coat over it, his hair tousled like he hadn't even bothered to brush it.

"You need to relax," the boy warned. "You'll find a solution. I believe in you."

"You might," Patroclus agreed. "But I need to find something — anything — for Chiron. I need to check on Miya, Henry, and Cleo and tell them not to tell the Romans, but that we found Praetor Jason... and everything else! And then —"

"Patroclus."

Nico's face was stern.

"Relax. Let's go and... do something. Anything to get your mind off this."

"Nico —!"

"Patroclus. Come on. Leave the crown here. Let's go into the city and have some fun."

Patroclus sighed. He could never say no to Nico. "Fine."

}{}{}{

It took me soooo long to write this! Lmao.