13 Works in Protective Polites (EPIC: The Musical)
Listing Works
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I’ll be waiting for you with open arms by Pancakes_of_ithaca
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums)
03 Dec 2025
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Summary
I just needed to get home.
Yes, that was the mindset I needed.
Not that there is anyone there waiting for you, the cynical little voice said in the back of my head.
No, I needed a mindset change for this.
Odysseus needed to get home.
Odysseus needed to be happy.
Even if it wasn’t with me.
-or-The odyssey retold by Polites, who is jealous of Penelope.
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What does it take to bring 600 men safely back home?
Weapons? Food? Stories?Or maybe just a bit of common sense.
After all, they’re just men.________________________________________________________________
(Or, the one where a girl joins Odysseus’s crew to help them find food—
but they’ve all underestimated the power of a strong-willed woman.
Luckily, Polites is quite used to being told what to do.) -
A Son for A Son by kiracat_1123581321
Fandoms: The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller, EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Iliad - Homer, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore
23 Oct 2025
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For sixteen years, Patroclus has worked hard to keep the war from harming those he loved the most. He convinced Achilles to choose peace and life over glory, and together they had grown and raised their family. He was convince King Peleus and the foreign leaders alike to keep Phthia out of the war, preventing a single man from being shipped to the beaches of Troy. He had worked hard to keep the peace, and for a long time, succeeded.
But that was before the cunning King of Ithaca uses his tricks to attack the peaceful family on their eldest's 16th birthday, taking away their peace, their safety and their oldest son. That was before Odysseus showed he thought himself entitled to take it all. That was before Odysseus showed he thought no consequences would come to him.
Patroclus would prove him wrong, ensuring the Ithacan King lost what he had lost. That all those war-mongering kings, the ones whose arrogance and entitlement kept the war raging for 16 years, would lose it all.
OR
Patroclus decides to avenge his time by conquering Greece.
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The ways you win by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Iliad - Homer, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore
20 Oct 2025
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Summary
Ody had thrown an object and Polites had clumsily caught it.
"What is this supposed to be?""Enlargers!" Ody had said, coming closer. He was smiling as if it were his birthday.
"Enlargers?"
Seeing his confusion, Odysseus had picked up the object and placed it on his face. It was heavy on his nose, perhaps because of the glass. His friend's face was bright as it always was when he could use an idea of his own.
"Okay, try looking at that tree. What fruit do you see?"***
He felt his grip on his weapon weaken as Polites reached out. He was armed too but did not seem to have any intention of drawing his sword.
"You" Neoptolemus tried to say but the word came out of his mouth like a prayer. "You..."
"Hey," Polites repeated. "I guess this madness is another one of Ody's plans, huh?"
***
Or: One day, Odysseus created glasses for Polites. Many years later, they are on opposite sides of a battlefield.
Series
- Part 3 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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We'll Survive What We Get Into - Whumptober 2025 Days 3, 7, 14, 22, and 31 by ElementalWinter
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums)
14 Oct 2025
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Polites frowned and shifted his weight, glancing out at the sea. The water glittered, harmless as glass. And yet—
A restlessness. A whisper. Like the hush before a storm, when the wind tastes wrong. A prickle at the base of his skull, a flicker in his chest. Nothing he could name. Nothing he could fight. Just... wrongness.
Maybe it was the knowledge that Odysseus and Penelope would be leaving soon. Maybe it was knowing that for the first time in nearly a year, Ithaca would sleep without its king. Maybe it was nothing but nerves, the aftertaste of old wars that never quite leave a man.
Or, when Odysseus leaves for a conference on the mainland, the burden of Ithaca's safety lands squarely on Polites's shoulders. But with dark shadows circling nearby and a young prince to protect, can Polites handle the weight, or is Ithaca—and Telemachus—doomed to fall?
Whumptober 2025
Day 3: Candlelight | Found Family
Day 7: Trapped with the Enemy | Pushed Beyond Breaking Point
Day 14: Wounded Caretaker
Day 22: “All the battles I want to win, nothing matters but giving in.” | Self-Sacrifice | Song: Givin’ Up, One Eskimo
Day 31: Bleeding OutSeries
- Part 5 of Nothing Bad Happens AU, AKA The Uncle Polites AU
- Part 3 of ElementalWinter's Whumptober 2025
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Summary
Polites kept a tight hold on Odysseus’ hand as he dragged him into the medic tent. He barely registered his protests.
“Polites, really! It’s not that bad, I’m fine.”
Odysseus’ limping and soft gasps of pain said otherwise.
OR; Polites works to heal a wound Odysseus received while fighting the Trojans (pre-Horse and the Infant, obviously)
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The captain upon us by Hana013
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Odyssey - Homer, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore
25 Sep 2025
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The war has ended, Odysseus really REALLY wants to go home, but going home means no more him for them, as he'll never go back to sea with them, he's too precious to lose, they all like something of course.
OR
Everyone, even the gods obsess over Odysseus in one way or another
Series
- Part 1 of Everyone obsessed with ody fics
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Prince, Warrior, and Healer by kiracat_1123581321
Fandoms: The Odyssey - Homer, EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), Ancient Greek Religion & Lore
17 Sep 2025
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Summary
This continues where "Queen, General, Pacifist" left off.
Alpha Polites and Omega Odysseus are finally going home after 17 years at sea. Odysseus' long vigil over the windbag took its tole, placing him into heat just before they return home. But when his heat suddenly retreats, leaving only a sense of foreboding, Polites looks to see what awaits them, and it's nothing good. There's 108 suitors- 108 Alphas- vying for the Queen's hand and throne, attempting to take their son's life, and threatening to harm his mate. But the suitors will soon learn the mistake they have made.
Series
- Part 2 of Queen, General Pacifist
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Look at How You Grip Your Sword, Enough Said by ElementalWinter
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums)
01 Sep 2025
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Summary
Polites rose to his feet slowly, brushing dust from his knees. The sun caught the lines in his face, faint but present, worn by laughter more than war these days. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, tunic loose, hands calloused from carving wood rather than wielding blades. To Telemachus, he had never looked like a warrior—he lacked the sheer breadth of his father, or the scarred bulk of Uncle Eurylochus. Polites was all lean lines and quiet smiles. Steady. Kind. Safe.
And then the shouting started.
A voice rang out from the barracks. Sharp. Panicked.
“Commander! They won’t stop—someone fetch the commander!”
Polites’s smile vanished like mist in the sun.
Or, Telemachus sometimes forgets that his storytelling, woodcarving uncle is also a soldier. But when chaos strikes the training yard, Polites steps into his commander role without hesitation. Telemachus struggles to reconcile his memories of his gentle uncle with the commander standing before him.
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Let Me Be the Stars You See at Night by ElementalWinter
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums)
27 Jul 2025
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Summary
The ships crested over the horizon like tired seabirds, their sails ragged from the journey but still proud in the wind. The waters around Ithaca sparkled in welcome, and the cliffs, long-remembered, seemed to lean forward to greet them.
They had done the impossible. After ten years of war and weeks at sea, the men of Ithaca were coming home—whole.
Or, before leaving Troy, Odysseus does the smart thing and packs enough supplies for the return trip to Ithaca. As a result, all 600 men return. And Odysseus returns to his family.
Meanwhile, Polites's return is bittersweet. He has no family awaiting his return. That is until a tiny hand grips his in the middle of the crowded reunion and a pair of familiar eyes blink up at him.
Now, in this time of peace after 10 years at war, Ithaca's King and his brother-in-arms must rediscover what it means to live free and to make a home in safety.
Series
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So When You Need a Friend or When You're Scared by ElementalWinter
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums)
05 Jul 2025
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Summary
The halls of Ithaca's palace were steeped in shadow, lit only by scattered torches flickering against worn limestone walls. The scent of salt and lavender hung in the air—sea breeze mixing with herbs burnt in offering to the gods. Somewhere deep in the stone belly of the palace, Penelope laboured, her cries muffled by thick wooden doors and the whispers of anxious servants.
And Odysseus? Odysseus was unraveling.
He paced the length of the great hall with the energy of a cornered wolf, his bronze-clad sandals slapping sharply against the flagstones. Each lap was punctuated by muttered prayers: to Athena for wisdom, to Artemis for safe passage through womanly trials, to Hera for strength, to Hades—gods forbid—that he might be bargained with.
Or, when Odysseus is anxious for the birth of his child, it's up to Polites to calm him down. After all, if he's going to be "uncle Polites", the first task is grounding Ody.
Series
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The old, dear rocks by insonniacaotica
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), The Iliad - Homer, Ancient Greek Religion & Lore, The Odyssey - Homer
12 Jun 2025
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Summary
Penelope had let her husband go eleven years ago. Since then, every day, she waited for the news that she knew would come sooner or later. Since then, every day, she waited to hear those words: "I'm home."
"My queen?" one of the maids called. "They've spotted ships out at sea."
Penelope stood up suddenly and lifted her skirt with one hand. "Get everything ready and meet me on the beach. I'll be there. Waiting."
***
"No one else would understand," Polites had said.
"Why do you think I understand?"
Polites was a gentle soul. So Eurylochus knew he would lie. "'Cause we are friends, Eury."
Polites was gentle. And he didn't say what Eurylochus already knew. "You would understand. You would understand, because you could betray the one you love too."
***
Eurylochus returns home to find someone waiting for him. Penelope is also waiting, but there is no one for her.
Or: The plan is simple: kidnap Telemachus. The emotions behind it, however, are anything but simple.
Series
- Part 7 of Epic: The Solitude Saga
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A Laugh That I've Been Holding by MirrorCatCreditcard for bad_as_school_glue
Fandoms: EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), Ancient Greek Religion & Lore
27 Mar 2025
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Summary
The first time Polites notices a god in the trees, he's not quite sure that it's a god. It just looks like a nudist in a chlamys and helmet. In particular, it looks like a naked man watching his friend train in the field near the forest. Which is definitely suspicious. And he needs to tell Odysseus about that fact. But before he can open his mouth to signal Odysseus discreetly that something's off using their code, a white fluttering stops him.
Wings. The man has multiple sets of wings? Of fuck oh fuck oh fuck, it's a god! What does he want with Odysseus? Athena doesn't walk around nude, and she never takes a male form! I don't know him!
Or
The one in which Polites notices Hermes observing his great grandson and finally confronts him, just to learn it wasn't only the prince who caught his eyes after a while.
(This story spans from Polites and Odysseus being around age twelve until a little bit after the last song of the musical, with Odysseus and Polites in their late 40s to early 50s.)
Series
- Part 1 of Our Stages of Amusement
- Part 6 of Gift Fics