Between Us ~ An Achilles and Patroclus Fanfiction

Chapter four ~ Talking loud

NEOPTOLEMUS' POV (T/W)

My father and Patroclus left the palace and soon after, Hades sat in a chair, leaving me and Briseis looking weirdly at eachother. The silence in that room was the loudest thing that I had ever heard.

- Well, Hades said, I don't have all day, I need to go annoy my brothers sometime.

- Sorry, I said. Well, Briseis, would you like to talk first?

- Oh, don't try to be kind all of a sudden, she said. You're not your father and you will never be even half of what he is.

I took a deep breath. Hades had grabbed himself a snack and waited for my response.

- Look, I said angrily, I didn't want to kill you, okay? It's not my fault that my grandmother was a sicko who wanted to either kill me or make me a god. I wanted to do nothing with both of those things. War really turns you against yourself, I said calmly. I didn't even know you that well, under other circumstances I would approach you differently, knowing you're a pretty girl who's a friend of my dad's and my dad's boyfriend. I have regretted killing you and trying to get with you more than anything else in my life, Briseis. I didn't want any of this to happen, I was just a twelve year old boy who was expected to be better than his father, who chose the love of his life over his own mother. Please, by vanishing me you will create another mess, my dad will be destroyed and Patroclus will be twice as destroyed, by losing my dad and losing me. They both care about us, Briseis. You're their best friend, which makes me somewhat close to you. You can hate me, I don't blame you, I'm not even close to what my father is, but I'm trying to be better for him and Patroclus, they're my only family here and I don't want to disappoint them anymore. I don't ask you to forgive me, but please don't vanish me for my father's and Patroclus' sake. I'm really sorry for killing you, Briseis, I wish someone had killed me then instead of you.

- I didn't know you were just twelve, she said. Your grandmother had pressured your father very much so it makes sense that she did that to you too. I'm sorry for what you've been through, but it's obvious that I cannot forgive you. I am not vanishing you, not because I am sorry for you, but because I respect Patroclus and Achilles. They were protecting me after all, I would have died much earlier if it weren't for them. I am doing this for them, she said. I would prefer if your father and Patroclus would stop talking to me, but I truly appreciate their help. As for you, you seem to have regretted what happened, but I still think it was unfair. Hades, do not vanish him. That's my final decision.

- Well, Hades said, that's final, Briseis you're free to go.

- Thank you Briseis, I said while she was leaving. And you, Hades, thank you very much.

- You're welcome. Oh, my, he said in shock. Come to the light, kiddo. Oh, my, Hades said again. Come closer, Neoptolemus, I need to see something.

I went closer to him. His cold hands touched my face, my hair and my shoulders. I smiled nervously to him.

- People are right, he said. You are a mini Achilles but you're your own person as well and that's amazing my dear. You look like him, but your eyes are cold blue and his are sparkly green. Also, your hair isn't as curly and soft, more like a strawberry blonde. You're straight I guess, that's another major difference, but don't worry my child, you're good looking too. Also, he said coming closer, your father is much more shy that you are. You're fierce. You're welcome for the confidence boost, he said.

- He's not very shy, I said. Well, it depends. And that's true, I'm not that shy when it comes to defend myself.

- So you don't deny you're pretty, he said.

- I have people telling that to me all the time, but beauty isn't everything, I said. People think I'm a bad person.

- No one is a bad person, only I can be bad, he said smiling.

- Bye, Hades, it was nice to see you.

I left Hades's castle and ran straight to my father and Patroclus. They were sitting outside, looking worried.

- Neoptolemus, my father said, is everything alright?

- Relax, I'm not going anywhere, I said smiling.

- That's amazing, Patroclus said. You'll tell me later, you need to talk with your father, he said and went inside.

- Thank you, gods, my father said while hugging me tight. I don't know what would happen if anyone took you away from me.

- I'm not going anywhere, dad, I said. Stop crying, everything is fine, I assured him.

- I know we  are not  like that, but I love you, Neoptolemus, you're an amazing son and person and I couldn't be more grateful that you accept your mistakes.

- I love you too, dad, you're the best father I could ever ask for, I said. I am very honoured to be your son.

My father hugged me tight. He wiped my tears and put my hair away from my face. He then told me to tell him what happened. I told him everything, even the weird comparison Hades did.

- You're really good looking, he said, he's saying the truth. People will point out your resemblance to me forever, just ignore them and be who you are.

- They don't get that I'm not like you and I will never be as great, I said.

- I'm not that amazing, he said. I have done bas things myself, I never married, I never had any children except from you, who is a kid outside of wed, I love a man and even though he's amazing people still find it weird, I never lived to become a king like my father of a god like my mother, I am known just because I was in a war and I am appreciated just for my looks and the things I did at the war. I'm not great, but I'm trying really hard to be a good person for you.

- People are mad at me for the person I was in the war, they think I'm a disappointment who happens to look like you and some of them even call me "Achilles's mistake". Some of those things really hurt, I said.

- You're good enough for me, he said. If I am proud of you and Patroclus is proud of you, you don't have to worry about a thing that comes out of their mouths. You're just a kid, after all. You've grown, sure, but to me you're just that twelve year old boy with the surprised look who Patroclus introduced to me seven years ago. And those have been very good years.

- Thank you for having this talk with me, I said. It feels good to know those things about you.

- We can talk whenever you want, he said. I want you to feel comfortable talk with me for whatever reason, you can tell me anything that's bothering you and I will take care of it. Now go to rest, it was a big day for you.

- Goodnight, dad.

- Goodnight, Neoptolemus.