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Our sweet little lad can't seem to sleep, can he?"
Zagreus vehemently shook his head, "Not tired daddy!"
Achilles cocked a brow, "No?"
"Nu-uh!"
Achilles laughed fondly and shook his head, sitting down in the chair next to the bed and getting his lyre ready. Patroclus was in the kitchen prepping Zagreus a bottle of heated up nectar. Zagreus was already bathed and dressed in his pajamas, specially commissioned footie pajamas with cloud patterns on it. A gift from Patroclus and Achilles.
"Not tired despite spending most of the day with your uncle Hector? I heard you two spent most of the time roughhousing and you helped him out with his horses! He always wears you out, and yet this time you claim to not be tired."
"Not sleepy!"
"Funny," commented Achilles, "when Hector brought you back here you were half asleep on his shoulder as he carried you. Told Pat and I how you kept saying how tired you were. Yet now all of the sudden you're not sleepy."
Zagreus giggled playfully and grabbed one of his stuffies, a turtle one, a gift from Hermes. He pulled it to his chest tightly and gave it a squeeze.
Achilles smiled, "Such a cute little prince."
Just as he said that Patroclus walked into the room and gently shut the door behind him.
Patroclus threw Zagreus a loving smile, "What's this I hear about you not being sleepy?"
Zagreus laughed again, "I'm not sleepy daddies I swear!"
"Oh, well now, we'll see about that I'm sure."
"I'm not!"
"Your mouth may say no, but your eyes definitely say that you are exhausted. Which, judging from the day you had, wouldn't shock me at all. My sweet sleepy prince."
Achilles laughed and lightly plucked at the strings to make sure everything sounded good as Patroclus sat on the bed. Situating the fully grown yet age regressed god onto his lap so Zagreus could properly have his bottle and some cuddles.
He handed the bottle to Zagreus, who happily accepted it, shifting the stuffed turtle to his other arm.
"Thank you daddy!"
"You're very welcome, and good manners, little stranger."
Zagreus happily kicked his legs and snuggled further against Patroclus. Leaning against his strong shoulder as he began drinking the warm and sweet nectar. Patroclus' strong arms wrapped around his abdomen and he slowly rubbed up and down in the way that always soothed the prince.
"We're ready for you Achilles."
The blond smiled, "Anything in particular you two would like to hear? Or will just anything work?"
Zagreus shrugged to show he was content with whatever, still drinking from his nightly bottle. Patroclus smiled.
"We'll both be very happy with whatever it is you choose, beloved Achilles."
A faint blush appeared on Achilles' cheeks at the affectionate pet name and soft tone of Patroclus' voice.
Achilles gave a nod and slowly began plucking at the strings again, this time creating a soft and melodic sound that filled the room. He remembered it by heart, if the piece even had a name, but his father played it all the time for him when he was a kid and he managed to memorize it just by watching his father's fingers on the strings.
The prince made a small sound in the back of his throat and he relaxed against Patroclus, nectar already almost gone. It warmed his insides and made him even sleepier than he already was, but that he'd admit that, it's not like he needed to anyways his daddies could already tell. Tell in the way his body relaxed and eyelids seemed to grow heavy. The way his drinking got slower and slower.
Patroclus slowly began rocking side to side, "Oh, oh, oh...sweet little prince...so sleepy..."
Zagreus mewled around his bottle and wiggled ever so slightly before settling down again.
"Sweet baby prince, sweet little prince..." He kissed Zagreus' forehead a few times while continuing to gently sway. Lulling the prince further towards the brink of sleep.
Achilles smiled at them and kept playing.
Zagreus finished the nectar and Patroclus gently took the bottle from him, switching it out with a pacifier. The prince happily accepted it and began sucking on it as Patroclus maneuvered them so they were both lying down on the bed. Both of them were still watching and listening to Achilles who was in turn still watching them fondly.
Zagreus rested on top of Patroclus, head on his chest as he still clutched his stuffed turtle with one arm and had his other hand on Patroclus' shoulder. The shade pulled the blankets up over them and Zagreus made another sound as he further snuggled into the softness and warmth of the room. Feeling the love radiating off both Achilles and Patroclus. Basking in it all. Greedily accepting what was given to him. Having been denied such affection as a child. He briefly let go of his stuffed turtle to make a grabby hand for Achilles. Silently beckoning him to the bed with him and Patroclus.
Achilles stopped playing and sat the lyre aside before getting up and walking to the bed to join them. Patroclus practically beaming up at his lover.
He joined them and Zagreus let out a sleepy laugh. Moving so he was nestled between the two shades. Burrowing comfortably between them, content as could be. The shades both draped an arm over him and watched as he finally fell asleep.
After a few minutes of silence Achilles chuckled silently, "So much for not being sleepy."
Patroclus smiled, "He's very easy to read," he whispered, "boy looked seconds away from sleep the moment Hector brought him back."
"I noticed that too. He was practically asleep in his arms. Definitely a far cry from the big bundle of energy we had before he left."
Patroclus said, "I know you're still a bit wary of Hector but you do have to admire his ability to get all of Zagreus' energy out."
Achilles nodded.
The couple shifted a little and pecked each other on the lips. Then gave Zagreus featherlight kisses on his cheeks.
"Goodnight, little prince, sweet dreams." Patroclus whispered.
"Goodnight lad, sleep well."
"Goodnight my beloved."
Patroclus smiled, "Goodnight my heart."