Chapter Text
"Zeus is upset with you."
Odysseus looked at Athena and sighed.
"I'm aware. I couldn't do as I was told," Odysseus said.
Athena replied," I told you countless times not to let your emotions get the better of you. That child will find out his true origin and fate-"
"Can be changed," Odysseus interrupted.
The goddess glared at him.
Odysseus woke up to the baby smacking his face.
-
Theodoros was at the age where he could crawl around and everyone in the crew would try, at least once, to get the boy to come to them.
Unfortunately, the only people that Theodoros would go to were Odysseus, Polites, and Eurylochus.
Mostly, Odysseus.
The island finally showed itself after a long day. As the crew began to settle near the shore, Odysseus handed Theodoros to one of the crew members.
"Make sure he's stays safe," he ordered.
The crew member nodded. Odysseus left the ship with a few of his men. They made it to the cave and heard the familiar sounds of "baa, baa".
There were sheep in the cave. Tons of them. One of the soldiers shoots an arrow hitting the fattest sheep.
Everyone walked in. There were baskets of fruit and large barrels of water.
"Look at all this food," Polites said.
Eurylochus said," this is amazing. Seems like the gods have blessed us."
Odysseus wasn't as joyous. He was suspicious.
"We should probably get what we can carry and get out. There's no way food can just be here," someone was gathering this," he said.
His crew members began looking at each other and began grabbing the food when-
"WHO ARE YOU?"
Odysseus froze and slowly turned towards the cave entrance. A giant eye was the first ting to catch his sight followed by a large body.
A cyclops.
The instinct to flee was gnawing at him.
"We're just travelers," Odysseus said with a voice so calm he didn't even know he could possess. "We didn't know anyone lived here. We'll just get out of your home."
The cyclops walked into the cave and looked around before saying," you killed my favorite sheep."
Odysseus felt his stomach drop.
"What gives you the right to steal from me and kill my favorite sheep without paying for it?," the cyclops asked.
Thinking quickly, Odysseus said," we're sorry for that mistake. We honestly meant no harm. To make up for this, I'll give you the best wine in my homeland."
He pulled out a gourd of whine he had on him and handed to the cyclops. The monster to a sip and smiled.
"This is good," the cyclops said. "What is your name, traveler?"
Thinking fast, Odysseus replied," Nobody. My name is Nobody."
"Well, Nobody, you'll be the last to die."
Odysseus felt as if his stomach turned to ash. This can't be happening!
"Captain, what do we do?," Eurylochus whispered.
"Everyone, to battle!," Odysseus shouted.
All the men grabbed their swords and charged.
Odysseus began giving orders.
"Surround him, hit him in weak points, scatter!"
The cyclops threw dirty blocking Odysseus's view for just a moment.
"CAPTAIN."
Suddenly, before Odysseus could react, Polites pushed him away and someone large came down swinging.
THUNK.
Polites was crushed under a wooden club. He looked at Odysseus reaching out.
"Captain."
"Poli....Polites."
Polites's eyes were faded. He was dead. He was dead, he was dead, he was dead.
Dead.
Dead.
DEAD.
"ODY."
Odysseus realized Eurylochus was dragging him away from Polites's body.
"Die! Die! Die!"
The cyclops was killing anyone close to him. Men were screaming, dying. Finally, the cyclops collapse.
Everyone froze.
"What happened?," someone asked.
"The wine. I put lotus fruit in it," Odysseus said.
The survivors looked at him in shock.
"We have no time to lose. Use your swords to make the club into a pike," Odysseus said.
Everyone did as they were told.
When the pike was complete. They all put in effort to lift it up. Odysseus was in the front. He'll be the last thing that damn monster sees.
The cyclops open his eye after a few minutes of the pike being lifted.
"Now!"
Everyone pushed forward stabbing the eye with full force. The cyclops screamed in pain and grabbed at his face.
Loud footsteps began approaching the cave.
"Hide!," Odysseus hissed. Everyone hid behind the large rocks in the cave.
"WHO HURT YOU?," a voice asked.
Eurylochus said," there's more."
Odysseus shushed him.
"WHO HURT YOU?," more voices asked.
The cyclops replied," Nobody. Nobody hurt me."
"Nobody? Then, be silent."
Odysseus felt himself relax when the footsteps couldn't be heard anymore.
"Grab what you can and go!," he shouted.
The survivors did as they were told and began grabbing sheep, fruit, water. They ran like hell trying to get to the boats.
Someone spoke to Odysseus in his mind.
"Odysseus, you need to finish him off!"
Athena appeared in his mind.
"Athena, what are you doing here?," Odysseus asked.
Athena answered," need I remind you not to let your emotions get in the way?!"
Odysseus said," Athena, I'm being merciful in letting the cyclops live after he killed my mem! I believe the world needs more mercy in live."
Athena rolled her eyes. "Mercy will only lead you to trouble!," she said.
A loud cry interrupted them. It was Theodoros.
"You still have time to fix your mistakes before it's too late," she said clearly indicating he should kill the baby.
"No. No more killing," Odysseus said.
Athena stiffened before saying," I did everything to make to make you the perfect warrior, but it seems that I've failed."
She turned away.
"Goodbye, foolish boy."
-
Odysseus came back to his senses while running towards the ship. The minute he got on, Theodoros stopped crying.
The baby looked at him and smiled.
Odysseus smiled back before hearing the cyclops screaming in pain.
"Cyclops!," Odysseus said. "This pain only came because you didn't let us go! Never forget this! I, Odysseus of Ithaca, brought this pain to you!"
/
As the ship sailed away, the cyclops smiled.
"Odysseus of Ithaca, huh?"