𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

35

"According to the myths- and we know myths can get warped beyond recognition by oral tradition- Achilles and his "best friend" Patroclus," Hadrian made air quotes at "best friend" for some reason, "They swapped places- Patroclus went into battle with Achilles' armor because Achilles' was too butthurt and cradling his ego. As most myths end- Patroclus died"

Percy blinked. Well, he didn't know that.

"Achilles' ghost came to warn me before I took a dip in the river Styx" Percy muttered, he wasn't sure who he was talking to anymore. Hadrian or himself. "He told me his arrogance and hubris was his downfall"

"It was love" Hadrian breathed out next to him.

Percy's confusion must have been clear on his face.

"Patroclus was his best friend, colleague, his best buddy, his ride or die, his roommate, his- oh gods I keep forgetting you're stupid"

Some of Percy's hurt must have shown on his face. He was aware he wasn't as smart as Annabeth, or a strategic leader or a great architect or whatever. But did everyone always have to call him stupid? He had been called that since day one. First because of his dyslexia and now because he liked to goof off sometimes.

"Half of the insults I spew, I don't mean" Hadrian amended, "I don't think you're stupid. Actually, you might be the smartest demigod on board. I don't think you can defeat monsters without using your brains"

"It's fine" Percy shook his head, "Tell me about Achilles and Patroclus"

Hadrian lit up like there was nothing else he wanted to do.

"There's so many sources that claim they were lovers. Now, I'm very well aware that Ancient Greece wasn't that great, but sometimes I think I'd like something like that- a great love, a story for the ages." Hadrian blurted.

Percy chuckled, the child of Eros, a hopeless romantic. It wasn't that hard to put together. "A love story? Tell me about it"

"Plato literally argues about whether Achilles was a top or a bottom, but some people who have their head stuck up their asses still won't believe Achilles could have been queer" Hadrian was like Percy in the way he got super into something when explaining it. Like Percy had talked about his past adventure, Hadrian talked about Patroclus and Achilles as if he'd known them personally.

And well... Percy could listen to him all night.

"They grew up together, Patroclus who was banished from his kingdom came to Achilles' father's kingdom- Phthia. Then supposedly they went to train with Chiron- I asked him about them when I was at camp, obviously. He just laughed and said he missed them. Though he wouldn't say if they were in love when I asked him. But Percy- I'm telling you I know they were in love, I can feel it in my bones"

Percy watched the lantern light hit Hadrian's hair as it turned soft pastel pink. He didn't mention it. For some reason, Hadrian didn't like that part of him. Other than a few times, he would keep his hair brown.

Percy liked the random vivid colors.

"They were barely our age when they went to fight the Trojan war and... That whole thing is a different story. But the thing is- when Patroclus died- killed by Hector, the illiad mentioned that Achilles' sobs shook the ocean floor. If I ever meet your dad, that's going to be my first question." Hadrian said, "There's so many paintings of Achilles cradling Patroclus' corpse, he loved him too much to let him go just yet. And maybe that's what love is, you know? Someone you'd do anything for, someone whom... gods forbid, if you lost, you'd lose a part of yourself. In any case, Achilles was prophesied to be killed by Hector so he hadn't fought him yet. But now he did. And he won. He fought a fucking river too! And then Paris killed him, like you said"