The Song of Royal Blue

Henry lies on the wooden deck and feels the bright heat from the sun beaming on his skin. The aroma of the flowers pollutes the air as he hears quick swishes in the waters. Before he knows it, he recognizes a large figure hovering over him blocking the sky. His boyfriend shakes the water droplets from his curls onto Henry, which makes him shove him off. The smile and laughter from the other man feel intensely nostalgic for the Prince.

This has been happening since he first met Alex, where he feels this strong familiarity and even stronger pull towards him. Almost as if their souls knew each other much longer than their bodies were alive. For a while, the blonde has been having dreams of Alex in him living in tents and castles. He remembers his tan skin complimenting his dark curls. He figured it was just a fantasy perhaps that his brain conjured up, but the dreams had been shifting and he wasn't so sure anymore.

"I've been thinking," The brunette starts.

"I seriously doubt that." His boyfriend mocks his British accent after he says that and continues his original thought.

An image strikes in his head. He remembers this boiling anger, turning away from an army of men. He remembers his partner yelling at him, and he remembers feeling betrayed. He doesn't understand the full context, but in his dreams, he feels this type of pressure to achieve a legacy. Which is often how he feels in real life, but this time it felt different than just a symbolic imagination.

"I've been thinking about how my life is gonna be a lot different after the election."

"How so?"

Alex goes on to describe how they can be more freely in a relationship, where they can do this they currently are restricted from. Flashbacks of Alex being stabbed in the stomach with a spear. A faint voice in his head that sounds similar to Alex goes, "Send me in your place. Put me in your armor, and I will lead the Myrmidons." Guilt overwashes him and panic rises in his chest. He feels his chest burst as he hears his own voice scream, "Patroclus, Patroclus, Patroclus!"

Alex says quietly, "I feel there's a rope attached to my chest that's pulling me towards you. It feels so right."

He remembers the wrath and the vengeance he carried. The corpse of his lover lying beside him in bed that he held onto every night.

"What I'm trying to say is... Henry-"

The Prince leaps off the deck before he can finish. He heads into the room to rest from the realization. As he tries to rest, everything rushes back. All the details. He knows he's in love, but he needs to get out of there. He needs to distance himself from him. 

Henry comes home to a lyre sitting on a chair in his bedroom. It mocks him like a mosquito to a light bulb. The sight of the instrument unsettles the nerves in his body. He practically tosses it into the closet and shuts it as he presses his back to the door. He lets his body sink to the floor, tucking his knees to his chest.

Achilles considers himself a threat, a curse. He let his ego take over him and kill Patroclus. Now, he's returned to him as Alex but Achilles doesn't deserve either one. Achilles doesn't deserve anyone.

About a week later, Henry hears a ruckus going on downstairs from his bedroom as he's trying to read. 

"Henry! You motherfucker!" It's Alex's voice screaming from downstairs.

Henry yearns to hold him, and so does Achilles, but Achilles is the one holding them back.

After a minute or so, he realizes he is not going to leave. Henry steps outside and tells the guards, "He can come in."

Alex walks up, screaming at him, "What happened?"

Henry looks at him, with obvious dry tears on his face and bright red eyes. He notices he's been crying hysterically just by the looks of it. All the blonde says is, "I want to show you something."

He opens the closet where the lyre sits. At first, Alex looks confused, but then suddenly he stumbles back and his eyes widen like a wave just crashed him. Henry looks at him and he notices Patroclus in his lover's eyes when they meet contact. 

"I know it was long ago but history repeats itself all the time. I sent you to your death. I said I'd be the first hero to be happy but I'm no hero. I'm the villain in your story. I let my ego get the best of me, and who's to say that won't happen again?"

Alex takes this in. "Henry has a tendency to shut Alex out. Achilles would put up a wrath for Patroclus. I need you to be him right now."

"You want me to be angry?"

"I want you to fight for us."

Alex steps closer to them, breaking the distance. "We're here now. We're reunited, that's all that matters."

Henry looks up at him and seals Alex's lips into his. "God, I love you."

"I love you too."