Chapter Text
Pollux.
There is a good chance you have heard of him, or his namesake.
Pollux is one of the twin sons of Dionysus.
Half of a broken whole.
His twin, Castor died in a battle defending camp half-blood. He was very brave.
Pollux in the battle for Olympus, broke his arm and said he could still fight despite this.
They are both very brave
Pollux, as a son of Dionysus, deals in insanity.
He had never been the best at growing grapes, and he didn't wish to touch alcohol knowing how likely it would be for him to become an alcoholic.
Octavian had captured Pollux’s interest.
The stories of the deranged roman both concerned, and intrigued him.
He wondered if he could assist.
He had been told that Octavian would scream and scream.
That whenever anyone entered his prison, he would yell until either his voice gave out or cower until they left.
Like a caged animal.
Pollux, against advice, decided to pay a visit to the camps newest resident. From the rumors and what those who had gone to see him, Octavian was completely insane. Batshit crazy. Screaming and yelling.
So Pollux decided that made him the best person to try and talk to him.
Walking into the basement was ominous.
The stairs creaked with every step, and the silence threatened to swallow him whole.
Pollux slowly pushed the door open.
Now, Pollux, for all he had heard of Octavian, had a pretty sound mental image of him. He had been compared to Luke, so Pollux was expecting someone fit, tall, strong, your typical leader type.
The figure he saw slumped against the far wall was none of those things.
As the door opened, Octavian's head snapped up.
The room was.. Very gloomy.
A single lightbulb buzzed on the ceiling, casting dark shadows across the room.
Octavian had dark bags under his eyes, and he watched Pollux like a hawk.
The moment Pollux stepped into the room, Octavian's form grew rigid. “GO AWAY.” He shouted. “VADE ET IRRUMABO AUFERETUR” ((Latin for go the fuck away))
Pollux calmly closed the door behind him, surveying the empty ‘prison.’
Octavian clearly flinched. “LEAVE ME ALONE, GRAECUS.” Octavian looked almost frozen. A deer caught in the headlights.
“No,” Pollux said calmly, sitting down against the door.
Octavian stared at him for a long moment. “GO AWAY YOU, YOU INFERIOR GREEK SCUM”
Pollux said nothing as he sat there, staring at Octavian. Waiting.
Octavian continued screaming profanities for.. Awhile. Pollux wasn't exactly keeping track of time. But long enough for Octavian to run out of insults to scream in both English and Latin.
Now, contrary to what you may be thinking, Pollux did have a plan. Well, more of an idea of what he may be able to do to help Octavian. By the time Octavian had stopped screaming, his voice was hoarse and his chest was heaving.
Octavian eyes were tearing holes in Pollux's skull. “Why. Haven't. You. Left.” Octavian grit out.
“Because, I am here to help you.”
Octavian looked at him skeptically. “No one can help me. Much less a graecus.”
Pollux sighed, and decided to finally approach now that he was done screaming.
Before Pollux could move even a step forward, Octavian had flattened himself against the wall. “DON'T COME ANY CLOSER. I DON'T WANT YOU ANYWHERE NEAR ME. ” His voice was hoarse and crackly from screaming, eyes wild in panic.
As they said, like a caged animal.
Pollux nodded, and backed up again. “Okay.”
Octavian.. Didn't expect that. He expected Pollux to approach and kill him.
They expected that.
They told him it was dangerous. That Pollux was his executioner. That he was facing his death in the face.
They must have been lying
Octavian stared at him in almost surprise, he stayed flattened against the wall, but looked considerably less panicked than before
Pollux was silent.
“Why are you really here Graecus?”
“I’m here to help you, and my name is Pollux by the way.”
“I don't need help from anyone. Much less a graecus. I will win glory for Rome! Those who are loyal to me will come for me. You cannot keep me imprisoned forever. I will be free and I will win glory! You are all weak for not killing me.”
“How so?”
“I am your enemy. Yet none of you have slain me. It's weak. ”
“Do you want to die?”
“Of course not. But you are going to kill me I'm certain. Why keep around someone who wishes your camp razed? ”
“We have no plans on killing you Octavian” Pollux assured him.
“As if I am expected to believe such baseless lies.”
“I promise, you will be in no mortal danger in this camp.”
“Who am I to trust your word? I am certain there are murderous people who would slay me like a dog.”
“And that will not happen Octavian.”
Octavian curled into his arms, making himself seem smaller.
“Can I come closer?”
Octavian nodded once. Quickly.
“Tell me when to stop, alright?”
Octavian nodded again, quicker than the last.
Pollux took a step forward, and while Octavian flinched, he didn't say to stop.
So pollux took another step.
And then another.
Halving the distance between them.
“Stop.” Octavian's voice was muffled by his arms, yet still audible.
Pollux sat down again.
The silence was palpable.
A hardly touched serving of the camp’s breakfast sat on a plate to Octavian's right. A half-empty water bottle to his left.
“Okay. Do you know what happened when the Argo II attacked New Rome?”
Octavian looked up. “You attacked unprovoked. 16 fatalities including 3 children. 45 injured. Homes destroyed. You attacked a civilian city, a declaration of war.”
“There were Eidolons aboard the Argo II. 3 of them.”
“No.” Octavian looked shocked.
“Do you know what an Eidolon is?”
Octavian felt like ice was running through his veins. Creeping through capillaries and freezing his arteries. “...malicious spirits that can possess you and compel you.”
“Exactly. One forced now late Leo Valdez to fire upon New Rome.”
Octavian looked.. Ghostly pale.
“It was not his fault, nor will to fire upon New Rome. It was a minion of Gaia.”
“Oh.”
“Gaia was the one who attacked New Rome.”
Octavian felt like his brain was crumbling as this information filled holes he hadn't been aware of being there.
There were no comments from Them as this information slotted into place and it made sense.
And he had been too blind and too arrogant to see that the greek’s motives didn't make sense.
Octavian felt shame well up in his chest as tears collected in his eyes. “ Oh. ”
He pressed his face into his arms attempting to hide his face in his arms. To hide his expression.
They had nothing to say. And the silence was practically deafening.
“Octavian?” Pollux moved to sit next to him. Octavian flinched away but said nothing.
Octavian didn't want to cry.
But the tears in his eyes refused to be blinked away.
And he couldn't just hope Pollux didn't see them. He was right there with a stupidly concerned expression that he didn't understand because he nearly killed everyone here. He would have killed everyone here. He didn't understand why Pollux could even be concerned about him
“Hey.. Octavian. It's alright.” He sounded so concerned and Octavian couldn't understand.
“Are you- were there truly eidolons?”
“Why would I lie?”
Octavian blinked furiously. Trying in vain to stop the barrage of panicked thoughts of what else was he wrong about?
Pollux reached out an arm to touch his shoulder, but decided against it when Octavian started speaking.
“I- That makes so much sense .”
“I mean..”
“I- I brought an entire army against you over a fucking misunderstanding. ”
“In the end, it was a good thing because then we could fight together against Gaia..”
“I just- 16 people died. You attacked my home. You declared war. I thought- I was so angry. And now I can't even fault you. Eidolons. Eidolons. ”
Pollux didn't know what to say.
“And now I’m- I’m going to be killed by you greeks and there is nothing I can do. ”
“We’re not going to kill you.”
“You expect me to believe that? ” Octavian laughed mirthlessly and spread his arms. As if gesturing to a nonexistent crowd. “I’ve been here chained up like a rabid dog for who knows how long? I am a prisoner and nothing more.”
“5 days. And yes. I expect you to believe we are not going to kill you”
Octavian stared at him, then looked away. Focusing on something across the room.
He attempted to discreetly wipe tears from his eyes, but when it's only you and who you’re talking to in a room that's nigh impossible “Why are you still here? You delivered your.. Message. ”
“Because, as I said, I'm here to help you Octs.”
“ Don't call me that.”
“Alright then.”
“...Why would you ‘help’ me anyway? What's the point of ‘helping’ me? Your prisoner ?”
“Why shouldn't I help you?”
Octavian stared at him incredulously. “Because I am your prisoner.”
“And?”
“ I was going to cut every single person in this camp to shreds. I wanted your blood to stain this ground. I wanted to revel in your demise. ”
Pollux blinked at him. “A tad morbid there?”
Octavian’s expression grew somehow more sour. “ Why are you here? I could have killed you without a second thought or a spot of guilt. ”
“Because I want to help you. Honestly, how many times do I have to say that?”
“I am your would be murderer. ”
“Yeah. You are. But I don't see you jumping at my throat to kill me right now, so it's fine.”
“This makes no sense. You make no sense.”
“Yeah. Anyway, I don't recall you ever seeing a healer after the battle. Just the trial thing and then you being locked down here”
“That's because I didn't. And I didn't exactly expect I would. After all, I tried to kill everyone in this camp. ”
“We’ve been over this. I don't care about you wanting to kill everyone right now. Were you hurt in the fighting?”
“Not too terribly no. I had an army guarding me.”
“Thats a yes.”
Octavian glared at him. “I am fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“ Yes. ”
“I heard that's what you said right before you nearly launched yourself into the atmosphere.”
Octavian merely glared at him.
Pollux smiled humorlessly. “Another reason why I am lead to believe you need help. You nearly killed yourself and apparently didn't notice .”
Octavian scowled at him. He didn't know what to say.
“ Fine. I admit that I have some not terrible burns. From my bracelets and such. Nothing terrible. Nothing life-threatening.”
“May I see?”
Octavian glared, but pulled down the hem of his sleeve. “It's fine. ”
The burn was certainly not fine. In fact, it looked rather serious. Pollux had been expecting some blisters, maybe red skin.
Not very obvious burns that look like what happens after lava splashes you .
“Yeah, that's really not fine Octs..avian.” Pollux caught himself.
Octavian looked at him scrutinizingly. “It won't kill me.”
“So?”
Octavian huffed. “It's fine. I’ve dealt with worse.”
Pollux shook his head. “That doesn't mean you should just.. Leave it to fester?”
“it’ll heal. It's fine.”
“Yeah no. I’m going to get someone to help.”
“You don't need to.”
“I am here to help you Octavian. And this,” Pollux gestured at his wrist. “Is why I am certain I need too. ”
“Alright. Fine. Go get your ‘healers’ or whatever you call them.”
“You’ll be alright while I'm gone?”
“ Yes. I’ve been alone for days and didn't want you here in the first place ”
“Oh. And I thought we were on good terms now.” Pollux teased lightly. “I’ll be back soon. Bye”
Octavian couldn't muster the will to glare at him.
They had been oddly quiet since he came in.
Mere mumbles in the back of his mind.
It was nice, the silence.
“Goodbye, Pollux,” Octavian muttered more of second nature than anything.
Pollux smiled at him, and stood up. “I’ll be back soon.”