Between Us ~ An Achilles and Patroclus Fanfiction

Chapter Ten ~ Mother and Father

T/W:  This chapter contains  intense swearing and a romantic twist to what was thought of to be a father - son relationship between Neoptolemus and Patroclus (JUST TO AVOID CONFUSION they are BOTH adults in this timeline, so it is legal for both of them to have romantic feelings towards eachother or even form a relationship. Spoiler: this relationship will not happen, cause Achilles and Patroclus are ENDGAME). If this kind of content upsets you, please avoid reading this chapter. Thanks!

ACHILLES' POV 

Deidamia and I were trying this new way of parenting for quite a while now. Neoptolemus had now turned twenty years old. In my hometown, a man his age could possibly be king, have a wife and kids and live a long life. Things weren't like that though, as we were dead. When you're twenty and dead, you are still  very young, you're considered a kid in some cases. You're too young. Too young to be king, too young to have a wife, too young to have a child, let alone more than one. Dead, single and young people stayed with a dead parent or relative, and if they were all alone they were assigned someone to look after them. Luckily for him, I had died young myself. I was only twenty one years old. It had been eight years since all of us died, but things were good. Sometimes I missed what would be my life, but I had found a way to deal with it. Now, it was my son's turn to feel bad about the things he didn't get to experience when he was alive. And that's what drifted us kind of apart. 

 I was lucky enough to have Patroclus in my life, who willingly helped me keep up with parenthood. He was there for me, even in my darkest times, and he was the best parent to my son when me and his mother couldn't understand him. I was totally okay with Patroclus acting like a father to my son, but I must admit that I was very concerned when I saw his signs of romantic love towards Patroclus. I really wished I missunderstood things, but my instinct was never wrong in things like that. Patroclus was enjoying the attention, thinking that Neoptolemus viewed him as a father, but the truth is that I saw in him what I used to be when me and Patroclus first fell in love. 

I understood that my son had never experienced some kind of stuff that we did  due to his premature death, but I really felt weirded out because of this kind of feeling expression he was going through. He said things like <<I wish I had someone like Patroclus>> or <<I could never have a partner quite as you>> to me and him, and that put me into thoughts. It went up to the point that I couldn't bear to see my son flirting with the love of my life and him being so happy to finally have a place in my son's life that he was too bling to see what has been really going on, so I decided to have Deidamia over and talk with her and Patroclus so we could solve the matter. 

- You're just overreacting, Patroclus said, he has grown to like me as a father figure and we are just bonding differently now that we are all adults.

- I think he has to stay with you, Deidamia, at least for a little while, I said, the situation is just too hard to watch. 

- I'm sorry to say this, she said, but maybe we should set him up with someone, he is pretty much feeling lonely and enjoy Patroclus's company, because he is looking up to what you guys have.

- I think I missed the part where you actually are happy for us, Patroclus said.

- I've seen things differently, she said. I understood that it's not all about me and moved on. I am genuinely happy for you, I really mean it.

- Thank you, Patroclus said, but what I do wonder is how did you finally change your mind.

- Patroclus, I said, what is the fucking matter with you? Stop being rude to her!

- I'm being rude? Please, he said, I'm the one who's accused of having romantic feelings towards your son! And she's the one who badmouthed us all this time!

- I have come to peace with your relationship, Deidamia said, I just want my son to be safe and happy.

- He is safe! As if I would ever want to form a relationship with him, Patroclus said, that is riddiculus, I have watched this child grow up these past eight years, all I wanted was him to accept me being his father's lover and bond over it! I am pretty dissapointed that you think of me like that!

- I don't want you near me or my son ever again, i said, you crossed the line!

- I did this all for you, Achilles! Did you ask me if I wanted to live witha twelve- year old who hated me deeply? Did you care that I had something else in mind for us? Was I happy with this arrangement? Were you happy with this arrangement all along?

- For fuck's sake, I said, you bastard, you tried to seduce my son and have the guts to deny it infront of my face? What exactly could I possibly do? Leave my only child all alone just to be with you? Since when did you become so fucking needy? Were you jealous because your father didn't love you and gave you away because you were and still are a cold hearted fucking murderer? 

- Stop the fucking nonsense, Achilles, he said, I could never love anyone besides you and you're accusing me of doing such a twisted thing to you? What the fuck is wrong with you? Please, come to your senses or take your things and that idiot son of yours who started all this shit and leave this instant!

- Fine, I said. Deidamia, I and Neoptolemus will stay with you from now on. As for you, Patroclus, you can spend the rest of eternity being alone and fucking twisted. I don't want to ever see you again, this was the biggest mistake of my goddamn life. 

- Achilles, Deidamia said, are you sure you're not overreacting?

-Not at all, I said. After all, you were right about one thing, Neoptolemus has to live with a mother and a father.

I closed the door behind me and I didn't even bother to look at Patroclus. Shortly after, I would be experiencing on of the things my mother always wanted for me: living a family life.