#zagtrochilles

Zagreus stumbled into the grandiose chamber, falling to his back against the fine, soft grass.

He breathed heavily, steadying his heart as his head pounded, flaming remnants of the last battle still clinging to his clothes.

"Just a moment." He muttered to himself, eyes squeezed shut. "A moment's rest, and I'll make it for sure."

He'd nary a second to recognize them before a pair of footsteps readily approached.

"Well look who it is." Patroclus whimsied. 

He stood just above him, the underworkings of his chiton just out of sight.

"Oh how the tables have turned."

A dumb smirk pulled at Zag's lips.

"Patroclus!"

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance again, stranger."

"What's that you said? Is someone there?" Achilles called over.

It took a bit of searching before Zag's eyes found him, rising from a flowery patch, a gentle blossom reef worn about his head.

Patroclus turned, revealing Zag's rather battered, bloodied form.

"Blood and Darkness, is that Prince Zagreus?" Achilles jogged over, crossing the rather short distance.

"In the flesh." Zag weakly replied.

"Though barely." Patroclus added.

"Let's get you up, mate."

"You look to have taken quite the beating there, lad. Let me help you."

"It's nothing. I'm actually quite impressed by how far I've made it."

"You've done well making it this far on your own, lad. But I won't be taking no for an answer, this time. Now show me where you're hurt, Patroclus and I will help patch you up. Won't we, Pat?"

"I suppose there's nothing better we've to do." Patroclus sighed.

"Oh come now, Pat. We've many days spent tending to each other like so. Don't you recall?"

"I recall much of that time was spent on my hands and knees, though perhaps my memory has faded with my indulgences of the river Lethe."

Zagreus answered in a quiet chuckle, clearing his throat as he was met with Achilles' rare, scolding gaze.

"Right, so. I'll fetch a pot for some water, lad. Pat here can help wrap you up."

Achilles sighed, glancing at his reflection in an adequate sized pot, filled to it's brim with the cloudy water of the river Lethe.

"Would Lord Hades approve of such help on my behalf?"

A sense of guilt twinged in his stomach at the thought.

"After all, though free of my contract, I do have a responsibility to Lord Hades."

His thought was interrupted by the sound of laughter carried with the wind.

His heart warmed with the sound of it, casting away his brief sense of doubt.

"I shouldn't worry myself with such thoughts."

Achilles returned, watching in silent reverence as Zag and Patroclus spoke. A sort of familiar, jovial camaraderie among the two.

"You two seem to have gotten along well despite my never having properly introduced you."

"Yes, despite my dreaded bemoaning and constant dismissals, O Son of Hades here was kind enough to pay me visits and offer a bottle of spirits when the situation so called for it."

"Think nothing of it, Patroclus. Just doing my due diligence of smashing things and pestering the residents of my father's domain."

Patroclus rested his hands upon Zagreus's.

"Do not humble yourself, stranger. If not for you, well. I would have never returned to my love. Likely, lost my mind, belly full on the river's water. I'm forever in your debt."

Zagreus smiled, squeezing Patroclus's hand tenderly.

"Now. That you're completely patched up." Achilles grabbed his lover's free hand as well as Zagreus. "Let's say we properly offer our thanks, for your noble effort to reunite us."

Zagreus/Patroclus/Achilles:

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Small Mike/Cowboy Hat Mike/Cat Mike: