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Peleus wasn’t having a good week. He had just finalized his divorce, moved, and was now late for his son’s first day in a new school. He had woken up late, misplaced too many items, and his son had stayed up late. Waiting outside in front of his car, Peleus went through every other scenario that could occur; from Achilles throwing a temper tantrum to missing paperwork.
“It can't be that bad,” he reassured himself. “I’ve done this before, it’s all going to be fine.”
Thump, thump, thump
Looking behind him, Peleus saw his 6 year old son sprinting out of the house.
“Sorry dad, I couldn’t tie my shoes!” Achilles announces. Peleus chuckles and seatbelts the kid into his carseat.
“Alright let’s get going!”
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“Don't worry Aeacides, your son is in good hands,” the teacher assures him. “I’m sure he’ll have a great day!”
“Thanks,” Peleus replies—crouching down to his son’s height—“Alright buddy, have fun. Love you.”
Achilles hugs his father and runs inside. Waving, the teacher follows.
“Good morning everyone!” the teacher greets, sitting down on a stool in front of the class. The children are sitting “criss-cross applesauce” on the floor, attentively waiting.
“As you know, we have a new friend joining us today!” she announces. “Let’s give him a warm welcome!”
The teacher looks reassuringly at the kid and signals him to enter the classroom. Achilles, noticing her, swiftly walks to the front of the room using long strides and having way too much confidence for a first grader.
“My name’s Achilles Pelides, I’m 6 years old, I like teenage mutant ninja turtles, and I’m good at running.”
In the corner of his eye, he spots Ajax (son of Telamon), his cousin.
“Since when do you go here?” Ajax mouthed.
“Since now!” he mouthed back.
Ajax looks back, confused and mouths: “What?”
The two cousins have a few more back and forths before the teacher tells Achilles to sit down.
●・○・●・○・●・●・○・●・○・●・
“Can I come over to your house soon?” Ajax asked. “I’m really bored.”
It was lunch and the boys finally had a chance to talk properly without getting scolded. Achilles sat with some of his cousin's friends, which included another guy also named Ajax (who was called short Ajax to differentiate the two).
“I dunno” Achilles shrugged, while taking a comically large bit out of his sandwich. “I gotta ask my dad. We just moved in last week. There’s nothing there.”
Behind the blond, he heard a voice gripe: “You didn’t save a seat for me?”
Turning around, Achilles sees a boy with medium length, wavy gingerbread brown hair. He had it tied back in a low ponytail (similar to how Achilles would tie his own hair when he ran).
“Sorry Antilochus,” Ajax apologized. “My cousins sitting here, just moved.”
Antilochus shrugged, placed his plastic lunch tray on the table, and squeezed in between the two Ajaxes.
“Im Antilochus—if that wasn’t obvious.”
“Achilles.”
Ajax (the shorter) chimes in, “His dad’s a teacher here—for the 5th graders.”
Antilochus deadpans at Ajax and grumbles: “Is that really the most important thing about me?”
“No, but I couldn’t think of anything else.”
Achilles, seeing the conversation was going nowhere, changed the topic.
“Anyways, is this school always so hot?” he asked. He wasn’t lying: Achilles was sweating up a storm. Ajax (the tall one) nods.
“It’s always like this in the lunchroom,” he explains.
“It’s better outside.”
“Good,” Achilles mutters, standing up and dumping his trash.
Sitting back down, the blond looks around the lunchroom, seeing if there's anything else to do. In the corner of his eye, he spots a glimmer. A door, with the playground outside. The kid snickers and a mischievous smile begins to appear on his face. Antilochus, noticing Achilles’ facial expression, nudges Ajax (taller) and points at Achilles.
Leaning over, Antilochus whispered, “Ajax…what's that look on his face?”
“I dunno!” he responds. “Why are you asking me?”
Antilochus gave him a puzzled look.
“You’re his cousin?”
Strangely, Antilochus could feel a presence behind him.
“You guys talking about me?” Achilles interjects.
The three boys stare at each other in silence. Ajax (short) seems to be invested in another conversation. It’s just these three 6-7 year olds versus the world.
“I have an amazing plan…” Achilles announced.
Ajax rolls his eyes and sighs while Antilochus leans forward in curiosity.