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“Come’ere.” Patroclus said in a hushed whisper, his hand pressed against Achilles’ cheek gently urging him closer.
Achilles smiled as he leaned in, touching his lips to Patroclus’ while his hand grasped his lover’s arm.
Their kisses were chaste and sweet. Pulling away from one another only for a moment to check they were real.
“Hello!” Came a familiar voice.
Patroclus rolled his eyes, but smiled as he pulled away to see Zagreus standing there covered head to toe in splatterings of blood. “Hello, boy.” He settled back into the grass, his hand moved to rest on Achilles’ back.
Achilles smiled at Zagreus as well, pushing his long blond hair behind his ear. “Zagreus, hello. Making the rounds?”
Zagreus smirked, looking inspired at the sight of them. “Yes! Helping father shore up some of his defenses… just to make it more difficult for me later.” He scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully.
“Yes, well… you best be off.” Patroclus urged, gesturing to the two doors with a tilt of his head. He also held out a goblet for Zagreus to drink from before continuing on. “Take a deep drink to keep you going.”
“Oh! Yes.” Zagreus said, thankfully taking the goblet and swallowing it down. “On my way!” And then he left, choosing to enter the door on the right to fight against the bull, Asterius.
The moment the door closed with a heavy slam, Patroclus immediately went in for another kiss, ever eager to return to physically holding his lover. Yet, he found Achilles’ fingers pressed against his lips. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I should get back.” Achilles murmured, shyly standing up and brushing grass from his tunic.
Patroclus scowled, not moving to stand with him. “Very well. Until next time.”
“Very soon, I promise.” Achilles held out his hand for Patroclus, who held it out for him. He took it and gently squeezed.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Achilles kissed Patroclus’ hand and turned to leave.
-----
Achilles embraced Patroclus, passionately kissing at his neck.
Patroclus moaned, his fingers running through Achilles’ long mane while his other hand gently caressed his lover’s rump. “Still good after all this time…” He murmured.
“One hardly forgets how to make his lover sing.” Achilles chuckled, catching Patroclus right under the curve of his ear.
He stopped mid retort to let out a low, gravelled groan of pleasure. “Guess I’m your song bird…”
Achilles’ tugged at the sash tied round Patroclus’ waist as he sucked Patroclus’ earlobe into his mouth, sucking it and gently scraping his teeth against it as he pulled back.
“Sorry to interrupt, sirs.”
It took less than a second for Achilles to raise off Patroclus and move to sit beside him instead.
Patroclus took a little longer to recover, a little dazed from the appreciative touch. He blinked at Zagreus, trying to get his wits about him. “Ah, Zagreus. Back again then?”
Zagreus smiled sheepishly. “Just making the rounds.” He seemed pleased to see his two favourite people passionately enjoying each other’s company.
“Off you pop.” Patroclus gestured with his thumb, holding out the goblet again.
“Ah, yes! Thank you.” He took a heavy swig and then ran off, avoiding the bull this time.
“Perhaps I should just have the goblet laid out for him…” Patroclus murmured.
“Yes… well…” Achilles said, standing.
“Not again.” Patroclus grunted, tugging at Achilles’ tunic. “What ails you? The boy comes through and you hurry from me. We shan't see him for another long while.”
Achilles chewed on his lip, not quite looking at Patroclus. “I find myself overcome with embarrassment and am no longer in the mood, I fear.”
Patroclus scowled. “Embarrassed of us?”
“He is my student and the young master of my household. It is as if Hades himself has interrupted us.” Achilles swallowed, shaking his head. “I apologise. I shall be back again.”
Patroclus let Achilles’ tunic slide through his fingers. “I understand, my love. Very well. Until next you come.”
Achilles kissed his hand once more and then left.
Patroclus watched him until he vanished from sight, falling back onto the grass and staring up at the expansive sky. He often wished to be left to his own devices before Achilles found his way back to him, yet he felt the same now, simply wishing for a private space for him and his lover. “Achilles…” he said wistfully, his fingers touching
------
“Patroclus! You are alone?” Zagreus said, entering through the door with a giant sword resting on his shoulder. He looked relatively unscathed. Perhaps he fared better this time around.
“Ah, boy.” Patroclus said. “Yes, Achilles is not here.”
Zagreus looked a little sad at that fact.
“Zagreus.” Patroclus said with a sly smile. “Achilles tells me you are a capable warrior. In fact, it must be true with how often you have reached Elysium. You do him proud.”
Zagreus perked up, moving to sit at his knees and sitting on his legs. “Does he say so?”
“He does.” Patroclus held out a goblet for him. “Although, I’m curious how you would fare against an enemy who has already conquered you.”
“What do you mean, sir?” Zagreus asked, sipping at the goblet intrigued.
Patroclus looked up at the expansive sky of Elysium, appreciating its green glow. “When Achilles and I were warriors in our own right, capture and interrogation were quite important. I simply wonder if you would last.”
Zagreus licked his lips. “I would like to say I would last for a long while, yet I fear without a test I would be unsure. Are you trained in such a fashion? The art of capture, I mean.”
Patroclus grinned. “Oh, yes. I was one of the best.”
“Then please assist me!” Zagreus urged. “If I were to obtain skills from you, I would surely be a much better warrior.”
“Very well.” Patroclus smirked.
----
Patroclus ruffled Zagreus’ jet black hair. “I have to confess something, my boy.” He looked at Zagreus’ form, the ropes wound around his chest. His wrists crossed behind his back with a length of rope looped through his belt keeping them taut to his lower back. Even his ankles and knees were thoroughly bound with intricate knots. Rope was tied from the rope at his back to the rope at his feet holding him suspended from the ground. All carefully balanced on the large statue at the entrance.
“Confess?” Zagreus asked, distracted in an attempt to test his bonds.
“Yes, I must be honest. The truth is, every time you interrupt Achilles and I, he finds it difficult to continue after you leave.” He put a strong hand on Zagreus’ shoulder. “It is not your fault, nor his. Just a sad unfortunate string of fate. I am eager to manipulate fate wherein Achilles does not leave, nor do you interfere. I need you to stay here and be quiet for a while.”
Zagreus blinked. “Wait, I am-'' He started, but Patroclus produced cloth and lovingly forced it into Zagreus’ mouth, fingering it in until it barely protruded from between his lips. Then he pulled another cloth between Zagreus’ teeth, tying it tight behind Zagreus’ head. Despite the gag, Zagreus still tried to speak, but all he managed were quiet murmurings.
“I will make this up to you.” Patroclus said, kneeling down to speak with him quietly. “If you escape these bonds through whichever means you manage, I’ll teach you how to do so effectively. As I said before. True to my word.”
The boy considered the offer and let out a mewling sigh. He nodded.
“Wonderful.” Patroclus removed his sash and tied it over Zagreus’ eyes. He waved a hand, testing its effectiveness. “And I apologise for this, boy, but I cannot allow any possible voyeurism this time.” Patroclus pulled wax from the candles set against the large statue and carefully placed it over Zagreus’ ears, blocking them.
Zagreus’ voice raised in pitch, rather worried and surprised at losing access to all his senses. He immediately began to twist and squirm in his bonds, tugging at the ropes, his fingers grasping at the knots.
Patroclus sighed, patting Zagreus on the shoulder as he walked back to his seat, waiting for Achilles.
From where he sat, Zagreus could not be seen nor heard. Fortunately allowing Patroclus’ plan to come to fruition.
Achilles came several hours later, embracing Patroclus. “I missed you.” He whispered.
“Not I.” Patroclus said, rubbing his thumb along Achilles’ cheek. “For you are always with me.”
They kissed and -- uninterrupted -- made sweet love for several hours.