Chapter Text
"Hold it steady, now.”
He heard his archery teacher's voice close behind him.
“Keep your elbow down.”
Breathe in. Breathe out.
“Fire.” She commanded.
The arrow flew from his hand. Odysseus watched as it passed through an axe with a hole carved just wide enough in the blade for a singular arrow to fit through.
And the arrow did pass through one. And then two, and then five, and then ten.
He watched the arrow tip pass through the eleventh, and second to last axe before watching it clank against the metal of the twelfth axe before falling limply to the floor.
Odysseus through his bow across the floor. “Damnit!”
Athena let out a gasp at the sound of the expensive wood hitting the floor. “Odysseus! Now, don't throw a tantrum!”
“But I don't understand! That shot was perfect!” Odysseus collapsed onto the grass below and roughly ran his hands through his hair. “I've been working on this trick for like a whole month, and I still can't do it!”
Athena let out an exasperated sigh as she came to sit next to him. “That's because trying to shoot an arrow through twelve axes is quite literally impossible.”
Odysseus blinked at her with the most deadpan look he could muster. “You literally just did it twenty minutes ago.”
Athena pursed her lips, “well, I've been practicing archery since I was two. You just picked it up three years ago. I have leagues more experience than you, kid.”
Odysseus threw his hands in the air. “You're the one who said I was a prodigy and ‘the best student you've ever taught.’ So, that means it's possible. And I have to pull this off, it's the only way I can ask Penelope to prom.”
“A fact that I still don't understand, considering you've been dating for the past two years.”
Odysseus released a tired sigh and rested a cheek in his palm. “Yeah, I know you don't understand…” his voice came out as a mumble. “I just have to, okay?” He said, his voice back to his usual irritated cadence.
Athena didn't say anything for a few seconds, and he wondered if he possibly got too worked up. Until she said slowly, “Okay.”
“Well pack up for tonight. And then tomorrow, I'm putting your ass through the most grueling training of your life.” She said with a playful smirk.
She stood up and reached out a strong hand for him to grab. “You're gonna nail this trick. And Penelope's going to be so proud of her brilliant boyfriend.”
Odysseus felt himself smile at her words as he grabbed his teacher's hand and was pulled up on his feet.
He looked at her with a matching grin. “Right.” he nodded.
…
Getting to school the next morning was as usual.
Wake up. Make breakfast. Check on dad and make sure he's taken his medication. Make breakfast for his mom and little sister. Pack a lunch, and catch the subway.
He tried not to be seen getting off the subway, so he would get off a few stops before the one he should be getting off at, and walked the rest of the way.
He had just gotten in with the kids that were more popular, and he was not trying to give anyone a reason to look down on him. And not for as stupid of a reason as having to take the subway to school instead of having a personal driver to escort you everywhere.
Because gods forbid one singular kid not be filthy rich in that school.
But it's fine now. It's senior year and he's worked his way up the social ladder and finally earned some well deserved respect from his peers.
Diomedes was waiting for him as usual in front of the gates.
Dio was his best friend as one the one person who really helped him out socially these past years.
Which is funny, because he started out as a one time hook-up at a party three years ago. Of course, a couple months before he met Penelope. So, not the most conventional friendship, but a friendship nonetheless.
Dio swung an arm over Odysseus' shoulder. Dio was a lot taller and bigger than him so it almost knocked him over. Not that Odysseus was small, he wasn't super short and he was pretty broad shouldered, Dio was just that big of a dude.
“Hey, man! You ready for the pep rally tonight?” He moved closer to his ear. “You got that thing for Penelope done?” He said quieter.
The two kept walking as Odysseus shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. “I've almost got it. I'm gonna get it perfect with Athena this afternoon right before the pep rally.” He said as he pulled out his student key and watched as their machine at the gate scanned it to let him past the gates.
“Damn, talk about last minute.”
Odysseus whacked him on the arm. “Shut up.”
Dio let out a series of giggles as they walked in the school and headed to homeroom.
There they met the rest of the boys in their friends group. Notably, Agamemnon, who was the captain of the wrestling team, and his brother Menelaus, star quarterback and was rarely seen without his girlfriend Helen.
So she was there too, along with Achilles and Patroclus, who were the best players on the soccer team.
Patroclus was the first to notice them arrive. “Hey guys!” He said. He walked up to greet each of them with a light clap on the back. “Oh, Ody! Penelope told me to let you know she'll meet you in the stairwell to the middle school.”
Odysseus felt his heart swell at the mention of her name. He thanked Patroclus before leaving to go find her shortly after.
He knew why they were meeting there today. Telemachus had wanted to talk to them this morning. He had said he would rather spend free period with them instead of anyone from his class.
Odysseus and Penelope first met Telemachus as he was walking her home from school one day. They found him bruised and beaten on the side of the road.
All he told them was that some kids from his grade did it. No more information than that.
From that day forward he and Penelope made a point to protect him during, and especially after the school day when they walk him back to his house everyday.
Telemachus was still in middle school though, so they didn't have any classes together.
Odysseus opened the double-doors to the stairwell to see Telemachus braiding Penelope's hair into two pigtails.
His heart stuttered at the sight. It was just so domestic looking.
Penelope only jokingly refers to Telemachus as their “son” but it was times like this where he could really see it. It was something he wished for someday.
Them. As a family.
Except his beautiful girlfriend’s glassy eyes soured the picture.
He rushed down the stairs to her side. “Penelope, why are you crying?” He positioned himself in front of her and cupped her cheeks with his palms.
He saw Telemachus' eyes grow wide with surprise and worry. Obviously, he didn't know she had been crying. Penelope was probably trying to hide it from him. “What? Crying?” He exclaimed. And moved to sit beside Odysseus.
Telemachus was letting out quick, fast breaths as he tried to figure out what was wrong. “Shit! I'm sorry! Did I hurt you? Was I pulling too hard?”
His rambling was cut off by Penelope pulling the boy close to her chest.
She started rocking him gently.
“Oh, okay.” He said blinking owlishly at Odysseus, maybe hoping he would tell him the right words to say.
“I just don't get it!” She cut him off, now fully sobbing. “You're such a kind person. I don't understand how they- how anyone could mistreat you like this.”
Odysseus watched Telemachus' face as it twisted from shock to something that resembled a kind of self loathing.
Telemachus wrapped an arm around her, the angle was a little awkward due to his head being tucked into her neck, but the gesture was there. “I'm sorry, Penny. I shouldn't have told you. I didn't know it would upset you this much.”
Odysseus sensed that his girlfriend was about to explode into a rage she couldn't control, so he cut in before that could happen.
“No,” he said, voice firm but not loud. “Tel, you should be able to say whatever you want without worrying about how it will affect others. Especially to people like me and Pen, who want to hear about everything going on inside your head.”
He continued on. “You are not a burden on anyone for having emotions and talking about them, okay?”
Telemachus sagged. “Sorry.”
“What did I say about the s word?”
Odysseus saw the first letter form on his lips before he pursed his mouth together and sighed. “Thank you.”
Odysseus let a smile spread across his face. “That's more like it.”
Odysseus situated himself so he could hold both Penelope and Telemachus in his arms. “Now, what happened.”
Telemachus sighed. “I was just telling her about some guys-”
“They threatened to kill him.” Penelope answered coldly, rage palpable in her voice.
Odysseus felt his whole body stiffen. Penelope wasn't the only one about to freak out now.
He let go of them, “What!?”
Telemachus quickly sat up. “Nonono, it wasn't exactly-”
Penelope cut him off again. “Some boys cornered him on his way here. Told him that if we weren't in the picture, he'd be dead.”
Telemachus tried to cut in. “Yeah, exactly! They didn't say that they, specifically them, would kill me but…”
Odysseus rested both hands on his shoulders to steady him. “Are you really going to sit here and tell me that's not what they meant?”
Telemachus fumbled for words for a good minute before letting his entire body go limp with defeat.
That was enough of an answer to Odysseus. He brought the younger boy into a hug, “Okay, so here what we're gonna do. I can’t kill them because that's illegal, but I am going to start teaching you self defense just in case any of them ever try anything again, alright?”
He felt Telemachus nod against his chest.
“Okay…” Odysseus said softly. “Unfortunately, me and Pen have to get to our next class.”
He made telemachus look him in the eye. “You gonna be alright?”
Telemachus smirked. “Yeah, duh. I'm a strong, independent woman. Who don't need no man.” He finished.
Both Odysseus and Penelope snorted at his joke before making their way out of the stairwell.
Once they were far enough away Penelope spoke up. “Y'know I'm not totally against you killing them. I'll 100% help you hide the bodies.” She said half-joking, half-serious.
Odysseus wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him while still walking. “I know,” he nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck. “And that's why I love you so much!”
She giggled and playfully tried to push him away. “Oh, stop! Ew, PDA.” She said, still laughing.
“Yeah, seriously. Ew, stop.” A new voice said.
Two guys walking near them.
Whatever, people will do as they please.
Penelope rolled her eyes at them, which made Odysseus start laughing again.
Apparently, the guys didn't think they'd said enough, because before turning the corner one of them shouted. “You're too good for him, Penelope!”
Okay, that one kind of got to him. It always sucks when real people speak all the bad things you tell yourself out loud.
That's why this trick had to work at the pep rally. It just had to.
Odysseus felt Penelope's warm hand cup his face and moved him to be looking at her. “Nevermind them. They're idiots.” Her eyes grew softer, “I chose you.”
She pressed her lips against his. Anytime she kissed him it felt like flying, like coming home. It was the warmest feeling on earth.
“I love you,” she said once she pulled away.
Odysseus still felt a little dizzy, and he couldn't stop the dopey grin he was sure was making its way across his face. “I love you, too.”
…
Later at lunch, he and the rest of the guys were all sitting at their designated table.
Patroclus was trying out some weird style in Achilles’ hair until he suddenly spoke up, “Hey, did you guys know that Paris transferred to Illium?”
Menelaus and Helen let out matching whooping noises. “I know right?” She said, smiling from earlier to ear. “Good riddens fucking creep!” She exclaimed.
Menelaus pinched the bridge of his nose, “I swear to all the gods, if it had to watch him try to flirt with you one more time, I was gonna choke him out.”
Helen let out a boisterous laugh as she rested her head against him. “Awe, that's cute, babe!”
Penelope laughed at her cousin's antics from her place at Odysseus’ side.
Dio rolled his eyes, “And of course his little pansy ass is going to Illium now.”
He folded his arm across his chest as he leaned back in his chair. “Damn Trojans, he'll fit right in.”
Odysseus eyed his position. “You know, if you lean your chair any further back, you're gonna eat shit and I'm gonna laugh.”
“I bet that turns you on.”
“Fuck off.”
“Anyway,” Menelaus cut in, “after the pep rally, me and Aggs are throwing a party at our house. You all coming?” He asked the group.
A chorus of ‘yes’s rang out, all except for Achilles who said, “Not if Agamemnon's fat ass is gonna be there.”
The person in question made a couple incredulous facial expressions before addressing it. “Dude, it's literally at my house. Do you ever listen to anyone other than yourself?”
Achilles ignored the question, “Damn. Guess I'll just have to deal with him, then.”
“Thanks, babe” Patroclus quipped.
“ ‘welcome”
…
Odysseus had decided to bring Telemachus along after school to his lesson with Athena.
Where he witnessed Odysseus getting put through the workout of his life and performing several different trick shots in a row for hours.
Odysseus was panting, and sweaty, and he felt like he was going to die. But today was the day that arrow was getting through that axe. So, he couldn't die yet.
Telemachus tried a couple of the exercises he was doing, and Odysseus showed him the basics of archery.
So there Telemachus sat, as Odysseus failed to shoot through the twelfth axe for the 30th time.
“So, remind me why you're doing this again?” The younger boy asked.
Odysseus let out a couple short breaths before letting his body relax for a moment. “So I can ask Penelope,” he drew back another arrow. “To prom!” He released.
Another failure.
“Damnit!”
“Right, you told me that,” Telemachus said. “But, like, your literally boyfriend and girlfriend. Can't you just ask her?”
Another miss.
Athena piped up, “I keep asking him the same thing. And I get the same answer every time.”
“Ugh, you just don't get it!”
“Yeah, that's the one.” She stated.
Odysseus glared at her. “Aren't you supposed to be on my side?”
He let out a frustrated noise and dramatically flopped on the ground. He stared at the sky that was beginning to change from blue to orange. “Look, people finally leave me alone at school. But they're always talking about me and Penelope…” he swallowed thickly. “And how I don't deserve her.”
He rose to a sitting position looking at his mentor and telemachus. “So, I'm going to shoot this arrow through twelve axes during the pep rally. And when I make the shot, the banner tied to the arrow will release and I'll have ‘will you go to prom with me Penelope’ written on it. And then not only will she say yes in front of the entire school, but everyone will have to acknowledge me and my skills as being better than everyone else's and that is why I deserve to be in this school and with Penelope.” He recited his whole plan without even taking a breath.
“Damn.” Telemachus’ face was painted with shock, and a little bit of concern. “That's great, but like, aren't you doing too much? Like, Penny loves you no matter what, and I don't really think she cares how everybody sees your relationship.”
Odysseus looked away, “Yeah, I know.” He sighed. “But if I do this, maybe people will finally leave us alone…leave her alone.” He admitted. He thought back to those guys from earlier today.
Telemachus and Athena looked at each other, smiled, and nodded.
Athena walked over to Odysseus, “Alright drama queen. If you wanna pull this off, we better get back to work.”
About an hour later Athena had taken to standing behind him and physically guiding his form like she had done when she had just taken him as a student.
It was a little embarrassing now, but he had to admit, he felt incredibly nostalgic.
Her hands guided his elbow to be lower and maneuvered the string to pull back tighter then he had ever had it.
He almost thought it would snap, until his fingers released the arrow and he watched it fly through all twelve axes and hit the target right in the bullseye.
Telemachus jumped up and screamed with his hands flying. “Oh shit, you did it!”
Odysseus was laughing as the boy ran up and almost knocked him over with a hug.
The two boys embraced each other, and slowly rocked in a circle without realizing it.
Odysseus caught a glimpse of Athena's proud smile before grabbing her wrist and dragging her into the group hug.
“Thank you, Thena” he said, as he felt her slowly sinking into the embrace.
She rolled her eyes before clapping him on the back. “Come on now. Don't you two have a pep rally to crash?”
The smile on Odysseus’ face could have been any wider.