𓂃 ࣪ ִ⠀In the woods , 𝐊𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐬 x 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫
𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 ,, a meeting between two young teenagers under the stars in the heart of a forest.
𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝚰𝐍𝐆 ,, Nothing, really ? Maybe I’ve mischaracterize Kratos – Idk, bad writing, english isn’t my first language, so I’m really sorry for any grammar mistakes.
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐎𝐑’𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 ,, Pfff, I haven’t posted here for ages – it feels a bit strange, not to mention that I’m not the biggest fan of this – but I really wanted to write something rather sweet for Kratos ! I can hardly find anything for him, especially anything sweet, so I decided to give try something – I hope you like it ! Also, the peplos (which will be mentioned in the os) was the women’s tunic worn in Ancient Greece (I’m not an expert or a historian, but I’ve done some research to stay accurate, if I’m wrong, I’m sorry !) and idk if I’m going to write a second part…
── ( ꪀow playing ) surrender
Before he became the God of Hope, before he became the Ghost of Sparta, before he became a lieutenant, and long before he became a captain, Kratos was a dreamer alongside his Spartan brother, Deimos.
Hot-headed by nature, many kept their distance, already wary of the anger simmering within him an anger that only grew stronger with each passing day, fueled by relentless training.
Rumors about him had long begun to spread. Some called him a monster, others, an abomination, simply because he was a bastard. Words that would have wounded most people but not to him. Nothing ever reached him. Only his dream of joining the army drove him forward; it had almost become an obsession. It had become something far greater than a mere ambition it was an obsession.
Yet, despite this image of a headstrong boy, Kratos showed rare wisdom when it came to his mother and younger brother. They were very different, but that did not stop him from reminding them that, to him, their presence was a true haven of peace. With them, he was just an ordinary boy.
And then there was the young girl he had met one night. (Y/N) a fleeting haven of peace in a world shaped by violence. He would remember that moment for the rest of his life.
Like every young man in Sparta, he had just endured another grueling day of training. Once night had fallen, he quietly slipped away from the camp and made his way toward the forest.
Hidden deep within it lay a lake he believed no one else knew existed. Its still waters mirrored the night sky perfectly, and it was the only place where his restless mind could finally find peace, far from the dust and the constant shouts of the camp.
But that night, he was not alone.
A noise immediately put him on his guard. Without hesitation, he hid behind some bushes, gripping his spear firmly, ready to fight if necessary. Yet when he looked towards the source of the noise, it was neither a wild beast nor an enemy, but a young girl busy cleaning delicate flower stems.
For the first time in a long while, Kratos didn’t know what to do. It was as though the mere sight of the young woman had robbed him of his ability to think.
There was an almost unreal gentleness about her. The way she tended to the flowers only confirmed it, stirring a tender memory of his mother, Callisto.
The peplos she was wearing was adorned with countless floral motifs, which she appeared to have embroidered herself. Flowers also adorned her long, carefully plaited hair.
That evening, it was no longer the silence of the lake that soothed his mind. It was her mere presence. To him, it was obvious: she was a nymph, the most beautiful he had ever seen.
As though spellbound by her beauty, he took an unconscious step forward, the rustle of leaves beneath his feet betraying his presence.
The young woman flinched, every hair on her body standing on end. She straightened at once, instinctively slipping into a defensive stance as her eyes locked with those of the young Spartan. He inspired little trust, and the spear gripped tightly in his hand did nothing to ease her sudden fears.
Kratos immediately realised his mistake. To her, he must surely have looked like a man ready to use force against her.
He hesitated for a moment before letting go of his spear. It was something he would never normally have done. Yet, without knowing why, he wanted to win this stranger’s trust.
“I… I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m…”
His voice suddenly pitched higher, betraying his growing nerves. Mortified, he bit the inside of his cheek. He was Kratos a young man destined for greatness ! Yet he couldn’t even speak properly to a girl. The thought filled him with shame.
Then, much to his surprise, a soft laugh broke through his spiraling thoughts.
He then realized that the melody, as gentle as the sound of a lyre, was coming from the young woman. His breath caught, without even understanding why, he felt something awaken deep within him. Almost against his will, a smile tugged at his lips before he found himself laughing along with her.
Why were they laughing ? He had no idea. But he wished that moment could last forever.
"You are a strange man," she said once the laughter had faded, though a hint of suspicion still lingered in her eyes.
Kratos should have taken offense. Yet, somehow, he found the remark almost refreshing. Most people lowered their gaze when faced with him and would never have dared speak to him that way, especially not someone his own age. He appreciated that honesty.
"Strange ? You’re the one wandering around alone in the middle of the night to… wash flowers ?"
The young woman slightly furrowed her brows. That simple gesture was enough to send Kratos into an internal panic, convinced that he had said something wrong yet again. His worry only grew when she crossed her arms over her chest.
May Athena come to his aid.
"For your information, I’m not the one wandering through the forest alone with a spear for no apparent reason," she replied, a hint of pride in her voice.
"I was actually coming here to bathe," he admitted with disarming sincerity.
That simple response caused a small part of the wall she had built around herself to crumble. After all, this boy hadn’t come here to harm her.
She suddenly felt foolish for having judged him solely based on his appearance. In the end, he wasn’t as frightening as she had first thought. Besides, he had set his spear aside from the very beginning.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone else came here," she said, bowing her head slightly.
"How could you have known ? I didn’t think anyone else knew about this place either."
He stepped closer to the edge of the water, careful to keep a respectful distance between them.
She glanced at him discreetly. Beneath the lake’s silver reflections, she could make out his features more clearly. In the end, he wasn’t as frightening as she had first believed. He simply looked like a boy her own age.
The words slipped out before she even had time to think.
Kratos felt his heart skip a beat. For a moment, he genuinely wondered if something was wrong with him. Then he understood. She trusted him enough now to share her name. And just like her, that name seemed to carry an infinite gentleness. It stirred those strange, unfamiliar feelings he had begun to experience.
He whispered it, savoring each syllable as though the name had been made to be spoken. A faint smile softened his features.
She repeated his name in turn. Her expression softened as she realized just how unusual this encounter truly was.
Only moments ago, she had been afraid of him. And now, they were exchanging their names.
“Your name carries a sense of greatness. I like it very much.”
Her words caught Kratos completely off guard. A gentle warmth immediately spread across his cheeks, forcing him to look away.
“You’re talking nonsense.”
She burst into laughter, teasing him without the slightest restraint.
And that was how Kratos and (Y/N) became friends.
As time passed, (Y/N) became the refuge he had been searching for without ever realizing it. Whenever he was with her, the weight of the world no longer seemed quite so heavy. She had become the breath of peace that not even the gods could have granted him.
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