Work Text:
Odysseus had been forced into this soul-sucking, draining war for *ten whole years!* He was so tired, desperately longed to go home back to his parents, Ctimene, Penelope and Telemachus, to be on the imperfect, rocky and jagged shores of Ithaca, were his kingdom and people were, the homeland he missed deeply... Gods, he was surprised he didn't *swim* all the way back to Ithaca!
Odysseus was inside his tent, sitting at his desk writing summaries, plans and notes of what information he had, and also analyzing his (mostly) stolen information as Helios and Selene's chariots cross the sky at the same time, creating a gorgeous sunset filled with many different hues of reds, oranges and pinks.
As he worked, his mind kept recalling the promise he made to Penelope the day Palamedes and other recruiters restraining Penelope and stealing their little Telemachus from her arms, scaring the young baby as he was dropped in front of a plow that would instantly kill his small, weak and vulnerable body, all for the sake of proving Odysseus was crazy! Odysseus remembered that day like the back of his calloused hands and was insanely enraged about that day, but as much as he wanted to find Palamedes and brutally murder him, but he always had to tell himself, “Blindly unleashing all of your rage and anger on the man will likely get you caught or worse, you should wait until you have a better opportunity to strike.” But now, he decided he was tired of telling himself the same thing that was possibly even a *lie* over and over again. Deep down, he felt as if his impatience would get him caught.
After stretching and some deep thinking, he finally decides to leave his tent and carry on with his actions, groaning.
The chilly air instantly hits his body as he steps outside of his tent. Odysseus searches inside his cloudy mind filled with ideas to remember where Palamedes' tent was located.
Odysseus stops at Palamedes' tent, taking a deep breath before peeking inside to see if he is able to come in. He walks into the tent, immediately putting on that facade he used when he was being "friendly" with Palamedes.
“Palamedes, my good friend, how are you?” Odysseus tries his best to hide the slight irritation in his tone that would immediately transform his words into the nastiest poison.
"H---" Odysseus immediately cuts him off, not wanting to hear the sound of his hideous, disgusting voice.
“I wondered if you'd be interested in a short walk in the nearby forest? Just...Two very good friends observing nature in peace.”
"Well, why not? I have nothing else to do, why don't we go now?
Palamedes and Odysseus chatter about the beautiful nature around them and their interests. If a someone were to pass by, they would definitely think that the two were close friends. Speaking of someone 'passing by,' there was a rustle in a nearby push, too loud to be a simple animal. Odysseus feigns surprise at the nose, even jumping back slightly, but he knew exactly who it was.
Diomedes quickly jumps out of the large bush and pins Palamedes down to the ground until Odysseus can get closer to him. Palamedes' skinny and tall frame provided them less of a fight.
“a D-did you really bring me here just to---” Diomedes lightly wrapped his hands around Palamedes' neck, shooting him a warning look.
Palamedes then had no choice but to stay silent.
"All yours." Diomedes gets off of Palamedes and stands back, allowing him to think he finally had an opportunity to finally escape, only for Odysseus to attack him next.
Odysseus immediately tackles Palamedes down to the ground as soon as he tries to get up.
"Does your head happen to be made out of wood too?" Odysseus practically spits on him. "There is absolutely *no* way you can't remember how you dropped *my son* in front of that plow while my dear wife wailed?" "I am a man of my word, and that day I told you would never, *ever* see peace ever again until my dying breath. I also promised my Penny and Telemachus this very moment."Odysseus dreamily mentions his family before acknowledging Palamedes' existence, making a disgusted snarl at the other man's terrified face, punching him again.
"Gah!"
"Shut up."
"Y-you made that oath and abandoned it as fast as you made it! Are you---are you seriously making me ---"
"So your head is really made out of wood, huh? Maybe I should crack your skull to check myself." Odysseus' eye almost twitches.
The man groans in pain as he is punched a second time.
"What did I just tell you?"
You *will* be caught if you do this, you know---
"I, unlike you, am crucial to winning this war. Agamemnon