Chapter Text
He couldn't do it. The gods told him of the consequences, but he couldn't do it. Odysseus looked at the infant's sleeping face.
This child; Astyanax is about the same age Telemachus was when he left for war. Honestly, he probably would've never left had that douchebag Agamemnon not decided to threaten his boy.
Odysseus hopes that piece of shit dies horribly.
The crying of the baby snaps Odysseus from his thoughts. If he leaves, someone else will kill this boy.
Odysseus knows it. He also knows he can't stay here any longer or else the others will begin to worry about him.
"I can't stay here any longer and when I leave, someone else will kill you. I hope I'm making the right decision here."
-
Odysseus's crew was starting to set sail when they eventually noticed their captain had Astyanax in his arms.
"Captain, is that a baby in your arms?," Eurylochus asked pointing at the bundle.
"Yes. He is an orphan and I've decided to take him back with me as my new son," Odysseus said.
Polites said," oh my gods, he's so cute! Does he have a names?"
Odysseus replied," oh it's A....a...um. Uh."
Members of his crew began looking at him.
Eurylochus said," it's okay if you didn't name him immediately after finding him."
Polites said", let's start putting suggestions! How about...Jason!"
Others began given name suggestions. They eventually settled on Theodoros a name meaning "gift from the gods."
Theodoros wasn't given to Odysseus as a gift. This boy was stolen from his home. Odysseus has disobeyed the gods. He had disobeyed Zeus.
If this boy is destined to destroy Ithaca, Odysseus just hoped he could change that fate.
-
A terrible storm had blown them off course. It's been a few days. Food was running out. Theodoros kept crying much to everyone's dismay.
He hasn't left Odysseus's side once. He's doing his best to make sure the baby was being taken cared of.
The rest of the crew tried their best to comfort the baby. They adored the child. Mainly, because a lot of them are fathers themselves and miss their children.
"Captain, what do we do?," Eurylochus asked raising his voice to be heard. Odysseus bounced Theodoros in his arms and looked at the sky.
"Follow the birds. They'll lead us to land," he said.
After a while, Theodoros stopped crying and began cooing at the birds that strayed closer the ship.
If they got any closer, they'd be lunch.
"Captain! There's an island!," Polites said pointing at the island giving Odysseus bad feelings.
Theodoros whimpered and cuddled closer to him. Clearly, the baby isn't really fond of the place either.
"Let's go and raid the place," Eurylochus said.
Odysseus replied," no. We'll check it out first before doing anything. Polites, come with me."
Odysseus handed Theodoros do Eurylochus.
"Take care of the baby and if we don't return by sunrise, raid the place," Odysseus said.
Eurylochus nodded. Theodoros began to get fussy as Odysseus walked away.
-
"This place is beautiful. Is there anyone here? I swear there was a fire going on the beach," Polites said.
Odysseus put a hand to his chin trying to figure out what was up with this island.
"Captain, please don't make that face. The locals," Polites said.
Odysseus asked," what locals? I see no one."
Polites said," there must be. There was a fire on the beach."
"Yeah, that's the most concerning part," Odysseus said.
Polites sighs happily. "Captain, you must see that life doesn't have to be terrible when you greet it with open arms. The locals will definitely help us if show them you mean no harm."
"Polites, please. The last thing we need is to be naive and give the locals a chance to strike."
"You might be wrong or right, but they'd probably feel more assured if we greet them with open arms. If we relax and show them we mean no harm," Polites replied.
Odysseus said," my friend, I get what you're trying to say, but it could end in disaster if we constantly think that way."
Polites replied," my dear friend just relax. We've been through so much and you can take this chance to heal from it."
Rustling came from the bushes startling them both. Strange creatures came out of the bushes.
"Hello," they said in unison.
Odysseus immediately took out his sword. It made the creatures back off a bit.
Polites gently placed a hand on his wrist and said in a soft voice," open arms, my friend."
/
Eurylochus was bouncing Theodoros in his arms. He smiled seeing the child sleeping in his arms.
"Eurylochus!"
Odysseus's voice from the shore snapped the baby awake from his napping. Theodoros screamed seeing in father coming closer.
"Hey, Theo! Did you miss me?," Odysseus asked taking the baby into his arms. Theodoros eagerly latched onto his father.
"He's very attached to you," Eurylochus said.
Odysseus smiled holding the infant. It reminded Eurylochus of Telemachus. He misses his nephew and his wife, Ctimene.
She was pregnant when he left.
"So, where to next?," he asked Odysseus.
"To the island a days way from here," Odysseus. "That's where we'll find food."