he has cut down more formidable opponents than he cares to remember. his ruinous wrath has brought countless ills upon numerous people. he has lead the greek forces into battles several times and, without a failure, always emerged victorious. the achilles in their stories is splendid in his grandeur; the man he is now, as he stands outside a certain apartment in queens, is but a pitiful shadow of that.
the man’s teeth dig into his bottom lip as he regards the plain door before him. it should not be this challenging — it is just a date, after all, is it not? a simple knock would do and, if the stars aligned, patroclus would be home and respond positively to his suggestion. the slight tremble is visible in his hand as he lifts it; and though his knuckles touch the door, he does not knock. momentarily, fear overtakes him. it is not just a date. when it comes to patroclus, nothing is ever just something. it has to always be wonderful and indescribably perfect. anything else is a failure — and that thought, in relation to patroclus, is something he cannot stomach.
achilles’ eyes flutter close as the nervous pit in his stomach grows. he inhales, although shakily, and his exhale is not much better — but a few rounds of that, he finds, do calm the worst of his nerves. the former hero opens his eyes ( he does not wish to look like a complete fool in front of his beloved ), knocking twice before he steps back. now all he can do is wait.
but if it isn’t the most nerve-wracking wait of his existence.