Welcome Home, My Love
(Photo credit to @/itsajollyjester on Tumblr)
a/n: AHHHH IM DONE ONE MORE FIC BEFORE 2024 IS OVER!!! I'd like to take a moment to thank so many people on here who have helped me tramendously throughout the year. @idk-what-to-make-user @turtle-bee-rayne @mountain-dew-tickledpink @tobysbliss and @veryblushyswitch have all especially made this year a whole lot better, thank you all so much for being my friends and I will forever be great ful for all of you. I'd also like to thank all of you- YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!!! We started this year out with less than 200 followers, and now I'm leaving with over 300 of you weirdos /aff! Thank you all so much for all the love and support <33. NOW ONTO THE FIC LMAOO! This lee!Ody ler!Penelope idea very quickly turned to a switch!Ody and Penelope! I also got a little depressing at the end, BUT I PROMISE YOU IT HAS A GOOD ENDING- probably one of my favourite endings to a fic LMAOO! Anyways, enough yapping, I hope you all enjoy!
Word Count: 4k
Summary: Not much to summarize, just some just cuddly tickles with a sleep-deprived husband and a loving wife :)
CW: HURT/COMFROT!! There's some more hurt comfort near the end so watch out, but other than that just sfw tickles!
Lees: Odysseus, Penelope
Lers: Odysseus, Penelope (very slight ler!Elpenor at the end, it'll make sense when you read it)
.....................................................................
âSee that wedding bed? Could you carry it over, lift it high on your shoulders, and get if far away from here.â
Odysseus felt his mind begin to race and his heart sink at the sound of his wifeâs cold words. She couldnât possibly be serious⌠could she? He just killed 108 men to protect her, spent 20 years away from her, 10 of those years were dedicated to trying to get back to her. Get back to his son. Get back to their home they built together. Sure, he was far from the same man he was before he left Ithaca. That was probably it. He looked different, she said so herself.
âHow could you say this. I had built that wedding bed with my blood and sweat⌠carved it into the olive tree where we first metâŚâ The king felt his heart start to break, rage spewing out from the cracks the more he talked, âIt was a symbol of our love, everlasting! Do you understand what you have asked me?! The only way to move it is to cut it from its roots!âÂ
He then realized that he was beginning to cry. He held his mouth to prevent any more yelling, and making his wife more upset with him. He felt his tears rolling down his hand and his nose start to get clogged. Oh gods, this was so pathetic. All of this bloodshed, just to make it back home to his wife who doesnât want him-
âOnly my husband knew that! So I guess that makes him you!â Ody was surprised when Penelope yelled back at him. He was also confused at what she was saying. Before he could ask, she ran over and gave him a hug. It was gentle, yet tight. She never wanted to let go of her husband again.Â
Odysseus was frozen in shock. He wasnât really comprehending what was going on, his mind still foggy from the murders and talking to his son for the first time. Her tone seemed angry at him, so then why did she hug him?
âPenelope..?â
âI will fall in love with you over and over again, I donât care how, or when. No matter how long itâs been. Youâre mine.â She said, as she felt herself start to tear up. The dam broke when she heard Odysseus sniffle before embracing her back. She started to softly sob into her husbandâs shoulder, but not before yelling the words into his shoulder so he could hear her clearly, âDonât tell me youâre not the same person! Youâre always my husband, and Iâve been waiting, and waiting, and waiting⌠for you.âÂ
âPenelopeâŚâ Odysseus muttered, still crying. He rested his cheek against her head, âIâm here, my love. Iâm finally home.â
They stayed there for a full minute, standing with each other in their arms, both crying into the otherâs shoulders. When Penelope felt like she had calmed down a bit, her sobs turning to slight sniffles, she broke the hug, but only to lean forward and interlock her lips with his. They kissed passionately, Odysseus reaching a hand up to gently hold her head as her hands stayed at his waist.Â
This time, the king broke the contact, and just stared into his wifeâs eyes, soaking in all her beauty all over again. Gods, age does not wither this woman. Meanwhile, he changed completely. He was a ruthless killer, not capable of relearning empathy. He turned into the monster he was distended to become, and he hated it. On the bright side, he got to win a fight against a god, one on a similar status as Zeus nonetheless, so that was pretty cool.
âAs I said before, you look tired,â Penelope started, snapping Ody out of his thoughts by grabbing his hands.
âVery,â Odysseus huffed out a chuckle, but internally sighed a breath of relief. He was so scared that his wife, his soulmate, no longer loved him. Maybe moved on with another man. He was happy that she really was waiting for him, as he was waiting to arrive back to her. That being said, why did she play that cruel trick on him?Â
âWell, you really should shower. You look like you need one,â Penelope playfully teased, earning a sheepish laugh from Odysseus. He stunk of the blood that was probably going to stain his clothes forever, and on top of that he hasnât taken a shower since he left Calypsoâs Island, so in probably around 2 weeks or so. God, and his wife wanted to hug him in this state of filth? âYou do that, then we can afford some alone time before dinner. Is that okay with you?â
âPerfect!â the king couldnât respond quicker. At first, he was scared to take off his quiver, still not trusting that heâs completely safe in the palace. What if he missed some of those suitors? What if Telemachus was in danger, like how he was when he first found him?
A gentle hand on his shoulder from Penelope reminded him that heâs okay now. Telemachus has his training from Athena, if he was really in trouble, she would help him get out of it. Plus, he killed all of the potential danger him and his family were in.Â
Theyâre okay now.Â
That reminder made him kiss Penelope again before handing his quiver over and walking towards the bathroom. He looked around, most of the bodies were cleaned up. That was fast, Odysseus thought.Â
He then heard some laughter from the bar. He quietly looked in to see it was Telemachus, standing over Antinousâ dead body. He looked closer and saw that his son was using the suitorâs lifeless hand to smack his own corpse repeatedly in the face. He was childishly repeating âWhy are you hitting yourself, huh?â giggles mixed in with his words.Â
Odysseus smiled, holding back some laughter of his own. He considered telling his son to stop, tell him that it was disrespectful to do that to someoneâs dead body. But then he remembered the threats Antinous made against his family. The disgusting words along with the visual representations he made using a pomegranate. That man was not worthy of any kind of respect. So he let his son have some fun.
The queen of Ithaca was right, a shower was exactly what he needed. He was greeted by some of his old servants, and some new ones (well, if you consider sometime over the past 20 years as ânewâ). After changing, he returned to the bedroom. Penelope was brushing her hair next to her vanity, and was dressed slightly down from her usual queen attire, wearing far less jewellery and slippers on instead of her usual heels, but still wearing her stunning evening dress.Â
Ody swore he felt his face heat up at the sight of her. How was she so effortlessly beautiful?Â
She turned around to face him, smiling brightly as she got up and walked over to him. Cupping his face with one hand, she greeted the king with a soft kiss to his cheek. âHello, love,â She whispered, guiding him to their bed. She didnât miss his soft smile at the nickname.Â
Neither of their smiles faltered as they got situated on their bed. They held each other, cuddling as he laid his head on her chest, her heartbeat soothing him. Ody pulled the covers over them, creating a very cozy atmosphere.
He swore he could fall asleep in his Penelopeâs arms. It has been way too long since he has felt so loved. He feared how awkward it would be when he first saw her, having not talked to her at all in 20 years, but as soon as she began to gently scratch at his head, playing with the long strands of his hair, the room fell into a comfortable silence.
As pleasant as this was, Odysseus had to ask, âPenelope, why did you ask me to move the wedding bed? I know you werenât being serious, but still, how could you request such a thing?â
Penelope hummed in acknowledgement, not stopping the scratching on her husbandâs head. âYou said youâre no longer the kind and gentle man I fell in love with. If that was true, and you were actually the âcold and heartless monsterâ that you claim you are, you would have no problem moving the wedding bed. But you didnât, you refused to. In fact, it brought you to tears. That means you still have goodness in your heart.â
âHow could you say that?â He muttered, although he was on the verge of sleep, he still couldnât let his wife expect anything good to come from him. âI am a monster. Iâm sure you heard what happened, just outside these doors. Everyone I talk to dies. I traded my friendâs lives for my own. I constantly put everyoneâs lives in danger by doing stupid things, by not being ruthless. That canât be a coincidence.â
âWell Iâm here, arenât I?â She lightheartedly joked, trying to pull her husband out of his depressive state, âAnd you love me. And you love our son. Monsters have no love in their heart, and you know this. Iâve heard you encountered many on your journey home.âÂ
She felt her husband tense up at that comment, but he didnât say anything back. Penelope then moved her hand slightly down his head, near the nape of his neck, tracing just below his hairline back and forth a few times. Her smile returned when he gasped and scrunched his neck. âYou know, youâre not as different as you claim to be.â
âH-hehey!â Odysseus groaned, turning his face into the crook of her neck. He felt his face heat up as he heard her sweet giggles. Gods, he missed that sound so much. Nevertheless, he brought up his hand to cover the back of his neck, âthahat wasnât nice.â
âWhatâs wrong, dear? Iâm just saying that since youâre still ticklish, that ties you back to the man you were before the war!â Penelope explained, she moved her hand down, wiggling her long nails under Odyâs arm since it was now exposed. He gave another gasp ad snapped his arm back down. Penelope didnât let that stop her, continuing to lightly tickle behind her husbandâs armpit, causing helpless giggles to break free from his clutches.Â
âP-Pehehehenelohohope!â He cried, tuning his flushed face into the crook of his wifeâs neck, hoping to hide his blush from her.Â
âHey, donât think I forgot how ticklish you are,â Penelope then traces down his back, running a straight line up and down his spine. Odysseus gave another startled gasp before his giggles quickly turned into laughter. Penelope couldnât help but throw her head back with a lighthearted giggle, âOh, now I know youâre definitely my husband! Only he has a back this ticklish!âÂ
Odysseus was too lost in laughter to respond. For the first time in his life, he couldnât think straight enough to send back a snarky comment (Penelope took note of that). The light tickles were both unbearable and so unintentionally relaxing. It didnât help when Penelope brought her free hand back up to continue scratching at his head. The sleep deprivation was really getting to him.
Penelope couldnât stop smiling as she reduced her husband into a laughing mess. She was able to feel the heat from his face against her neck, and it was only encouraging her to continue. So thatâs exactly what she did. She continued to spider her hands up and down her husbandâs back, being reminded of how he squirms when she targeted his lower back, and ducked his head down when she would move to is shoulder blades.Â
She then moved to his ribs, and Odysseus finally started to fight back a little. He brought his hand back down from his neck to glue it to his side. It didnât do much to stop Penelope, however, as she just moved to the backs of his ribs, resulting in a few snorts to be peppered in with his constant stream of squeaky laughter.
âPEHehenelohopehehehe! *Snort* Ahahahaha! *Gasp* N-Nohohot thehehere! *snort* HAHAHahahaha!â Odysseus was lost in happy laughter, beginning to shake his head into Penelopeâs neck (he took a mental note of how she shrugged her shoulders slightly... for later).
âNohot here? Okay!â Penelope smirked as she stopped scratching Odyâs head, instead using that hand to gently grab his wrist and bring his arm across her. She then used her other hand (that was already tickling him) to gently scratch at his armpits. âHow about here? Is this better?â
Odysseus was thrown into a whole new bout of giggles. Although, he wasnât pulling at his arm at all. âNahahahahohoho! Nohohot behehetter! Nohot behehehetter!âÂ
Penelope decided to question the king on what she notted earlier. âHuh, maybe you have changed, darling. You used to make up such stupid teases about me to make me tickle you more, now you canât even speak?â She giggled as she moved to skitter her nails over his bicep, âAre the tickles really that bad? Iâm barely touching you!âÂ
âNohoho! IhIhItâs nohohot thahahahahat!â Penelope decided to bring the tickling down a notch, letting go of his arm and returning to her head scratching and back tracing.
âI know, my love. Light tickles it is.â
The queen knew her husband, even after 20 years. She knew that he could never resist provoking her to tickle him more, if it was on purpose or out of instinct. She clocked why Odysseus could only giggle weakly and lay limp in her arms the moment she began to tease him. He was tired. Sleepless nights on the venture back home, the amount of nightmares he's had, making him fear sleep. It all adds up eventually. He was touch starved, and tired, and didnât want anything more intense than what he was getting.
Penelope knew that she would have to get him again, after a very well-deserved nap.
âWh-whahaha- *gasp* Ehahaha! *snort* Whahat dohoho yohohohou mehehean âI knohowâ?â Odysseus questioned through his growing giggles. Penelope didnât respond, however, and just decided to quicken her pace over the backs of his ribs again, âOHOhohokahay, ohokahahay! Pehenelopehehe!â
The queen couldn't help but giggle at Odysseusâ sensitivity. She was right, he didnât change that much in 20 years. But there was still one more place she needed to try. âI wonder⌠if you were really still my husband, then you would be extra ticklishâŚâ She smiled, leaning forward to latch onto her husbandâs thigh which was laying across her own legs, âhere!â Easy access, she tought.
âAH- *snort* PEHENelopehehehe!â Odysseus shrieked, jerking his leg back. His face turned a few shades redder as he heard his wife giggle at his reaction. She then decided he had enough, and settled with gently rubbing up and down Odyâs back, continuing to scratch at his head.Â
âShh, IhIâm done now, darlingâ Odysseus could hear the smile in her voice as she giggled at him. Gods, this was so embarrassing. But he wasnât complaining, at all. In fact, this was the happiest he felt in years. However, he heard the slightly teasing lit to Penelope's words.
âDohohonât laugh at mehe!â He resorted, as he brought his hand up to her neck, gently scratching at the side of it.
Penelope, being caught off guard, immediately let out a snort before letting out some high-pitched giggles. Odysseus couldnât help but tease her, even in his tired state, âlooks like someone didnât change all that much either!â
âOhoho plehehease, *snort* yohohouâre stihihill wahahahay wohohorse thahan mehehehe! Ahahahaha!â She laughed, snorts weaving their way into her quips. She squealed Odysseus placed a gentle kiss from his place in the crook of her neck.
He smirked at the adorable sound. âOh yeah? Wanna bet?â he teased as he continued to kiss along her neck, going right under her ear and along her jawline. His beard wasnât helping Penelope with bearing the sensations, as it was scratching at her neck as he kissed her neck.Â
âOhoho, huhuhush!â She squeaked and attempted to bring her shoulders up to block the tickles, but it was hard considering Odysseusâ head was right there, forcing her to uselessly tilt her head from side to side to escape the affectionate attack. Odysseus then brought his hand down to tickle gently tickle her stomach, deciding to blow a quick raspberry on her neck.Â
Penelope shrieked and threw her head back, pushing at the kingâs head. âO-OHOHOdehesseuhus! *snort* Wahaha-HAHAIT!â She laughed, majestic and adorable at the same time. Odysseus blew one more raspberry on her neck before using his beard to nuzzle against her. Her laughter upped an octave as she lightly smacked at the hand still tickling her stomach.
âO-ohohokahahay! Yohohohou gohohot mehehe!â She giggled, poking at his back in retaliation, causing him to bring his hand back and throw his head back with a hearty laugh.
âFihine! Fine! Truhuce! Mehercey!â He giggled as Penelope stopped for real this time. She re-wrapped her arms around Odysseus, scooching down the bed to see him face-to-face. She put her hand up to cup his face, his own hand covering hers as he leaned into the contact.
âHow long has it been?â The queen questioned, softness and adoration dripping from her words.
âSince weâve been here? Around 15 minutes or so.â Odysseus replied, laughing at his own âjokeâ as Penelope scoffed and pushed her hand into his cheek.
âNoho, Ody!â She laughed anyways, taking a moment to look deeply into her husbandâs eyes before continuing, âI mean how long has it been.â
He smiled. It was a kind of sad smile, thinking about how long they spent away from each other. â20 years.â He replied. But that doesnât matter now. Now heâs going to be by her side for the rest of their lives.
The king didnât wait for her to reply before pulling her into a proper hug, his arms wrapping around her frame and squeezing her tightly, but gently, making sure not to hurt her. Penelope quickly returned the cuddle, her hand finding the back of his head again.Â
âI love youâ They giggled to each other when they said the phrase at the same time.Â
~~~~~~~~
Odysseus hadnât realized he had fallen asleep. That was until he "woke up", looking around just to find himself in a dark room. Oh gods, not this nightmare again, he thought.Â
He has had many nightmares over the course of his journeys home. Most of them included him being tied down as his soldiers, his comrades, his friends, called him all sorts of degrading words and haunting him with their screams from dying grusemly.Â
The one that always hurt was the one he thought he was just about to experience. In about a minute or so, Polites will walk in, tell him how disappointed he is, how heâs selfish for all of the decisions he made. Say how arrogant he was for not being able to resist calling his name after the Cyclops. Hit him a few times, cry, all before calling him a sad excuse for a commander, before leaving.
Odysseus folded his legs in, ducking his head under his arms and began to cry. Could the dream Gods not give him a break for one fucking day? He would take anything over this.
âOdysseus?â
The gentle tone and the light hand on his shoulder startled the king. He looked up and, low and behold, Politesâs ghost was standing in front of him.Â
âJust get on with it,â Odysseus said, whipping his tears, âI already know whatâs going to happen.â
âOdy, what are you talking about?â Polites said, his tone was genuinely confused, âI just wanted to check up on you. I havenât seen you in a while. I think the last time was⌠during the wind bag incident! Yeah, that's it!â
Now it was Odysseusâ turn to be confused. âThat's⌠not true. Just last week, you were here, a-and-"
âOhh,â Now Polites understood what was going on. He sat down in front of Odysseus, grabbing his hand, brushing his thumb over the appendage. âOdysseus, that wasnât me... The real me, I mean. Morpheus likes to mess with peopleâs dreams if they make stupid mistakes. Only until the person is happy again, then youâll have a good dream,â He explained, âyou know I would never hurt you.â
âB-but you died, and I⌠I couldnâtâŚâ Odysseus stopped himself before crying again. Polites saw this, and moved to sit beside his best friend, throwing an arm over his shoulders in an attempt to comfort him.
He then felt another presence behind him. He turned around, to see Eurylochusâ ghost standing there, with some ghost crew members behind him. âHey, captain,â He said, and gave a smile as he walked forward, the rest of the ghosts followed, greeting Odysseus as they passed him.
âWhat are⌠whatâs going on?â Odysseus asked. This was unlike any dream heâs had before. He was confused. He didnât trust it. He was scared that something bad will happen. He couldnât anticipate anything.
âWe saw that you made it home alive-â Eurylochus started, before being interrupted by a crew member, who still hasnât come out from behind Odysseus.
âYeah! And we saw your adorable reunion with Penelope!â Elpenor giggled, giving a quick scribble down Odyâs back. The latter gave a startled gasp as he straightened his back.
âElpenor!â Odysseus squeaked, causing some crew members (including Elpenor) to giggle at his reaction.
âSorry, Cap! I had to!â He said before joining the rest of the crew.Â
âAnyways, what I was about to say is⌠We just wanted to tell you that weâre proud of you, Odysseus.â Eurylochus finished his statement by crossing his arms and giving a small smile to his brother-in-law.
âB-But how could you be. I killed you, Eurylochus. I killed all of you. Iâm a monster.â
âYou are no monster, Ody,â Polites spoke up from his side, âyou did what you had to do to get home. If I was in your position, I would have done the same.â
Now it was Odysseusâ turn to give a huff of amusement, though his face remained emotionless, âOh please.â
âWhatâs that supposed to mean?!â
âIt means youâre too kind and soft to hurt anything. I mean come on, you refused to kill a mosquito when we camped out on the Lotus Eaterâs island.â
âOkay, maybe Polites wouldnât, but I know that I would have.â Eurylochus spoke up again. Odysseus didnât have anything to say in rebuttal, so he just let his brother talk. âListen, of course I was mad at first. I was fucking pissed, and I refused to enter your dreams because I didnât wanna face you. But then, after a bit of time and reflection, I really began to think about what I would have done if I was in your shoes. And now I know. I donât blame you. None of us do.â
Those words finally broke the dam, for the second time during this dream, and Odysseus began to cry. Polites offered himself with his arms open (heh get it) and Odysseus accepted, embracing his friend as he sobbed.
Eurylochus was a little confused, âdid I⌠say something bad?â He looked around at his comrades for answers, just to be left with shrugs.Â
That was until Peremedes stepped forward, placing his hand on Euryâs shoulder. âItâs the opposite, actually. You said just the right thing.â He smiled, before quickly repressing it. Though he felt eyes on him. He looked over and saw Elpenor, smiling at him, mouthing the words âI saw thatâ. He just gave him the finger, not wanting to bring more attention to himself.
Polites motioned for the rest of them to come join them, and that's exactly what they did. They all embraced Odysseus. The captain didnât know this feeling. Heâs been touched by his friendâs ghosts before, but that was only through beatings. This⌠this was different. It was warm, and comforting, and made him wanna cry tears of joy, which was exactly what he was doing. The words that Eurylochus said playing on repeat; âWeâre proud of youâ âWe donât blame youâ. He was overwhelmed with joy, feeling most of his guilt lift off his shoulders at his best friendsâ words.
~~~~~~~~
Odysseus woke up again, smiling. He opened his eyes to see his wife, peacefully sleeping beside him. She eventually turned over in her sleep, now her back facing the king. He gave her a hug from behind, kissing the side of her head as she woke up.
âDarling, I believe itâs time for supper,â Odysseus said as he smelled his favourite feast through the door to their room. Penelope rolled over, gave him another kiss, then got up to fix herself up again, putting her jewellery back on and fixing her messy hair and dress. Ody fixed himself up too, using his wifeâs hairbrush to fix his long hair.
They then left their room, linking arms, as Telemachus joined them for their first dinner as a family.
















