I'll be honest, I had not once considered this, now I'm having to sit and think.
oohh, Hector finding himself attracted to the head strategist (behind Nestor) does have quite the potential... At first he'd try to ignore it. Just. Get on with the meetings, negotiating peace does take precedent over this after all.
But it all keeps coming back again that he can't get into the strategists mind, he has no idea what he's planning, what he wants, how to negotiate with him.
It's like a dance they play, and it's infuriating.
Odysseus thought Hector was fun, but it wasn't until he saw him on the battle field. The gleaming helmed, defender of Troy, that attraction clicked into place.
He wasn't interested in playing that game, at first, then during negotiations he realized how it could be... helpful.
It started with glances, brushes of skin, it almost made Hector more annoyed than anything.
Hector didn't know How the strategist knew he was into him, but he Did know he was being used.
Then it happened.
Antenor and Menelaus left to discuss things in another room, Hector and Odysseus were left alone- Hector having urged the guards to go with Menelaus, seeing himself as able to handle Odysseus alone. That's what he'd say it was.
Odysseus strode over to Hector's side of the table with a sigh, Hector took a defensive step back only for Odysseus to merely lean back on the wood.
He looked up at Hector, as though studying him for just a mere moment, and it sent a rush to his head... Then the King looked away to a corner of the room, and he spoke in stride
"Your Brother really is an idiot, you know?"
"Excuse me?" Hector snarled, all sense of affection draining in an instance.
And Odysseus merely waves his hand, "Going and kidnapping a divine foreign princess, what did he think he was doing?"
"We didn't know she was divine."
"No, you didn't know anything about her, did you?"
"No. We didn't."
A tenseness followed, Hector couldn't quite make out what was going on in that stupid intelligent man's head yet again.
Odysseus then spoke again, "As for your city, ah, if you don't mind my input-" "I d-" "It's quite the mess. An aging king refusing to retire, somehow the first city to have to problem of too Many children, a messy layout- Ah, and your oracles. How can I forget to mention your oracles? Or, shall I say more accurately, your mad sister-"
Hector's hand slammed on the table to trap the bastard in, to scare him, though it occurred to Hector he wasn't sure when he got so close.
It also occurred to Hector that the Ithacan didn't seem frightened. Just a smug, annoying, calculation.
"Ah, forgive me, have I struck a nerve?"
"Many."
Odysseus leaned back but craned his head forward, Hector suddenly became aware of the position he had put them in.
He wanted to move away, but he didn't.
But he can't let Odysseus get away with making flippant comments like that, but did Odysseus even believe them?
What reason would Odysseus have for making them, it's not going to help negotiations. It's not-
He shivered suddenly as he felt arms tracing down his shoulders, and he was made very aware once more of the spot they were in.
His eyes flickered up and down the king, and as much as he wanted to stay thinking.... fuck, it could wait.
He came forward quickly and captured the King of Ithaca, who wrapped his legs around his hips.
