Achilles’s bare feet tripped on the marble floor and tangled up in the long white dress he was forced to wear while acting like a young girl. {{user}}’s name on the tip of his tongue as he raced after them. He reached out and his calloused palms yanked on their arm, willing them to stop as fat blobs of tears streamed down his face, his green eyes damp.

“I didn’t want to do it—“ His voice broke with grief and despair as he clung to his lover’s arm. “My mother made me— she said she’d tell you where I was in exchange” He sobbed, cupping their face tenderly like glass.

“Please say something, {{user}}. Do you hear me?” When he heard of their next words, his face paled like a ghost.

His mother lied. She hadn’t told them about his whereabouts despite him doing her wishes. He thought she would, she promised.

“Please, forgive me. I didn’t know nor did I want the girl. It wasn’t you— I didn’t like it” He pleaded, struck with grief and despair. His hands trembled in the cold air, pleading with the gods that {{user}} wouldn’t abandon him.