Chapter Text
“Achilles” I hear my dad in an airy sing songy voice. I also feel something really cold in my neck. He says my name again, and I shove the coldness away but find my hand being nibbled on. That's when I jolt up and see him. He had dark golden hair, the kindest brown eyes I had ever seen and his tongue was almost hanging out of his mouth in excitement.
“I found him, just for you” he says chuckling. “I better not find his shit all over the house”.
“Are you really gonna let me keep him?” I ask, breathless because if he didnt I might cry. I always wanted a dog, and a few years ago when mom left, he had told me no. But I was going away to college soon in about a year, so maybe he changed his mind. He was like that.
“Yes, but you need to train him” he says, his voice shifting from his usual soft one to his Achilles voice.
“Okay okay, I will. But no take backs. He's mine now you can't take him away” I say, grabbing the dog and tugging him closer. “Thank you dad”
“What are you going to name him? And you no, you can't name him fried chicken” he says derisively, but the smile on his face proved otherwise.
I roll my eyes at him, before saying “His name is gonna be Patroclus”. It was a good name, and I liked the way it sounded. And it was funny, since there was no chance I would never find a Patroclus.
His eyes soften, and he laughs, so heartily it always reminded my of a cackling fire. He places the palm of his hand on my shoulder and squeezes.
“That’s the perfect name for your new companion” his eyes shone because he knew. He read me the Iliad a lot when I was a child, that was his favorite book. That's why my name was Achilles.
I trained him, he slept with me and woke me up. He was very energetic and had curly hair that I had to groom a lot. And for the first time in a long time, I felt so happy I could burst. My dad worked a lot, so he kept me company. When I cried, he licked my face until I stopped. He would get so happy that I got home, it made me feel so loved and special. I would never tell this to anyone, but I talked aloud to him all the time. He would curl up beside me while I read and loved to eat leftovers. Especially my burgers.
When I went away to college, I took him with me. I didn't spend as much time with him as I did before. I had cross country, lots of schoolwork and friends I actually liked. But I still came home to my apartment and he was waiting, always as excited to see me as the first day I got him.
I took him on walks, mostly runs around the city. He was friendly, too friendly I would say. Strangers loved him, and he loved them back. Always with his mouth half open and heavy breathing that could be seen as a smile.
When I got home last night, he kept making happy noises at me, and curled up around my legs. I had slid down the door and started to cry, because that's what I did when I drank. After the light and airy vibes went away, usually after my 4th or 5th beer, it all went downhill. Everything made me sad when I was completely pissed.
“Patroclus, I saw this sock by a sewer in the street. It was so lonely, I want to go back and get it” I sobbed and he started licking my hand. When my shit show ended, I almost fell asleep by the door but he woke me up. I babbled a bit more about the sock and crawled into the bed, with him at the foot of the bed.
It's morning now, and I hear Patroclus dragging his leash around, basically yelling “take me out damn it”. I hadn't taken him out in a few days so he kept going at it until I dragged my ass out of bed. It was cold, and I was wearing ripped skinny jeans, but I don't remember taking my clothes off. I had a headache, and the sunlight stung my eyes as it seeped through the curtains. I quickly brush my teeth, regret my life choices and put my hair in to a somewhat bun. I throw on a grey sweater, throwing on a hoodie on top (because fuck winter) and my black coat. It was like 16 degrees out, so I grab my green bay packers beanie and my clubmasters, some boots and head out with Patroclus already out the door, leash in his mouth.
The cold hits me harder than I expected, waking me up and with Patroclus tugging me forward like he's chasing a squirrel. I'm walking really fast by the time we get down town. The red leash is keeping him from jumping into peoples pace but not for long, wait until someone tried to pet him. He's such an attention whore. We make a left into a corner and the next thing I know, he's running like theres no tomorrow. He stops and leaps into a brown haired boy, and he doesnt stop until the guys coke is spilled on his coat.
“Patroclus! Oh my god, are you okay? I am so sorry” I yell, pulling on the leash but he just wouldn't budge. All I can hear is laughter, a sound so warm it reminded me of the sun. Suddenly it stopped when I spoke. I forcibly remove Patroclus from the boy, and he lays there, sprawled on the concrete sidewalk, mouth half open and his eyes, his eyes were all over the place.
“Do I know you?” He asks, still stunned and not making any effort to move. He had tan skin, earth coloured eyes and a mouth that could kill me. Don't even let me get started on the freckles, sprayed all over his sharp nose and in his cheeks right below his kind eyes. Even though he was questioning me, he was still polite about it.
“I don't think so” I say extending my hand and helping him up. “I’m Achilles, this is my overly enthusiastic dog Patroclus” The boy huffs, puffs of steam filling up the air between them before erupting in laughter, he clutches his stomach and I can see actual tears coming out of his eyes.
“Did Brie pay you to do this? This is her best one yet” He says, awestruckly looking at Patroclus and back to me.
“ What? I am so confused right now. You should probably take that off ” I tell him, pointing to his wet shirt. “Here, put this on its fucking freezing” I say, taking off my coat quickly before giving him my hoodie, it was the least I could do. “I didn't catch your name”
“You really don't know my name?” he says quietly, grabbing the hoodie and unbuttoning his shirt quickly.
“Should I?” I ask, taken aback at the gentleness of the question.
“I’m sorry, my name is Patroclus. Your dog's name seems to be patroclus, your name is Achilles and there's been some kind of mix up” Patroclus, the rosy cheeked human says, taking his shirt off and I swear my breath hitches at the exposed skin, even if it is for less than 30 seconds. While he puts on my green hoodie and his coat, and I finally get the memo. And then we’re both laughing really hard.
“Okay so you're Patroclus, and I am Achilles. What the fuck?” I say, struggling for breaths.
“My thoughts exactly” He concludes, scratching the top of his head. Patroclus is dancing between Patroclus legs. Well there's something I never thought I would think.
“Who names their kid Patroclus?” I say, and regret it instantly when I see the way he drops his head to hide a frown. “Oh no! Don't get me wrong, What kinda name is Achilles? My dads favorite book is the Iliad. That’s why my name is Achilles. I didn’t mean to offend you. I actually love the name, as you can see” I blurt out, gesturing to canine Patroclus.
“My parents were greek” he says, his voice small, eyeing me and giving me a small smile. I call my dog off him and watch the smile grow and grow. “Its okay, I kinda like Patroclus” he grins, bending down to pet Patroclus and patroclus kneads his neck softly. What the fuck? “I used to tell people to call me Pat, to avoid the weirdness” he reveals.
“Well, you shouldn’t. Its a unique name, Patroclus. Patroclus” I say, testing it on my tongue.
“No one has ever said it like that” he admits.
“Like what?” I question, a bit confused.
“Like they meant it” he says and smiles, a smile that didn’t really seem genuine. Maybe he thought he had fooled me, but it was like looking at a light bulb and pretending it felt like the sun. But when he did smile for real, like when he met his tocayo, he was incandescent. I wanted to know this fiery boy, with the warm laugh and messy curls.
“Hey, Patroclus” I start and we both laugh when my dog turns his head towards me. “Do you want to have some waffles with me? I know a really good place that delivers, and my place isn’t very far from here”
I see the way his eyes widen, like he understood what I was asking. Like he couldn’t believe I wanted to spend time with him. He ran his hand through his curls, and exhales softly and says
“Yes, but with one condition. I get to walk Patroclus” he states, grabbing the red leash from me. Our fingers grazed at the action and I could feel the way his hands were shaking.
“Okay, but careful he’ll tug at it like crazy. Are okay? Your hands are shaking. Are you cold?” I question and he shakes his head, looking briefly at the sidewalk as we get going.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I'm just not very social and you seem to be very…vocal? I don’t know I’m just overwhelmed, I guess. I get anxiety sometimes” he said, and I hated what his voice sounded like at the end. It sounded defeated.
“Its alright, I understand, and I don't want you to be uncomfortable. You do know you have a choice? You don't have to have waffles with me”
“I want to” he admits, and when he makes eye contact, his pretty cheeks got even redder, and his nose as well. He bit his chapped bottom lip, in the same spot his teeth had pulled before. It was dark red, like it had bled recently. “I really want to, Achilles” he finishes.
“Good, because I really want to as well” I tell him and he coughs a bit, blushing even harder. Christ, I’m so fucked. He was as tall as me, but he was a bit smaller and he had a lithe chest. His coat made him so fluffy and cozy and homey. Home, that's the word. He looked like home.
“You do know that I can tell you're staring, even if I am looking forward. It's called peripheral vision” he deadpans, catching me completely off guard. He was lippy as well. This should be fun.
“I’m aware, Patroclus. I really don't care if you notice because...You're just too good to be true. I can't take my eyes off you…” I say, leaning into whisper into his ear in a sing songy voice.
“That's the cheesiest thing I have ever heard” He says, almost giddily and facepalms, trying to stifle his laughter. We walk in silence after that, and I hum the rest of the song. I can feel him get less anxious as the time passes and I smile in success.
“You got that damn song stuck in my head” he says shaking his head as if trying to get it out.
“Good” I say coyly.
“You’re too cheeky for your own good” he mutters.
“I prefer honest, but I’ll take what I can get. I think you’re too pretty for your own good” I tell him cheekily.
“Stop that Achilles” he says, blushing harder, if that was even possible.
“What? You want me to lie to you? Alright then: You do not enrapture me at all”
“How can you say all this aloud? Its like you have no filter” he tells me fondly, his brows furrowing slightly.
“Who needs filters?” I question.
“Cigarettes, tap water, people” he says sarcastically. I could tell that if it wasn’t for his insecurities holding him back he would be even feistier.
“Okay then. I dare you to spend the day with me, with no filters. What do you say?”
“You’re on goldie locks” he accepts and we shake on it.