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thatbigbisexual29 · 10 months

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We’ve Had Better Days (Hades)

Ok, so! This is a fic I had written a while ago when I bought the Hades game. I fell in love with it and I loved the parts with Achilles and Zagreus because I loved the story of Patroclus and Achilles. But this is about Achilles and Zagreus when Zag was in his youth. Lots of angst at first but it turns into squishy fluff :) Also I know the Hades tickle community is not many, but imma post this anyways so enjoy my lovelies!

Achilles wasn’t… the best when it came to kids. When he was alive he avoided them as much as he could. They were loud, unpredictable, and had no respect for personal boundaries. He remembered when he was alive he would frequently get swarmed by a group of kids that would want to play with him, and it’s a wonder how he got out of those situations every single time. But now, in the Underworld, there was only one troublesome child to deal with. Zagreus, the Prince of Hell. And honestly, calling him troublesome was an absolute lie. The boy did what he was told, followed orders, and was very polite. The only annoyance he caused was when he was curious which would be followed by heaps of, what seemed like never ending questions. Achilles didn’t mind all that much though. He’d preferred him and of his questions rather than any snotty nosed brat on the surface.

Today during training though, he was quiet. It was something to take note of. Zagreus couldn't stand being quiet. It wasn’t in his nature. Achilles observed him from the side of the courtyard with his spear in hand, watching closely as Zagreus practiced with his trusty blade, Stygius. He was disconnected but focused at the same time. Something’s happened, Achilles thought to himself.

“Remember to keep your feet apart, young prince! And try not to move your weight when you swing with the blade or else it’ll fly out your hands!” the forgotten hero called from the side. Normally Zagreus would respond with a “Understood sir!” or “Like this sir?” But today, he grumbled lowly to himself as his practice shade poofed into smoke. It came as a shock to Achilles, but then he remembered how testy pre-teens could be. He knew how much venomous fire he spat from his mouth when he was Zagreus’ age. And yet their training session had just begun. It’s going to be a rough day… Achilles let out a small sigh.

The training went on for another hour. Zagreus was slightly bruised with a few cuts here and there, sweating and panting profusely. Achilles had offered multiple times for him to take a break, but the young god refused. It was starting to look all too familiar to Achilles. When he would go hours on end with endless training, even stretching his sessions into the darkest of nights. He was battle hungry and wanted to prove himself, just like the prince was now. A rageful yell escaped Zagreus’ lips as he vanquished another shade, ripping Achilles from his memories. The young god whipped his head around to meet his mentor’s eyes, a malicious expression on his face.

“Achilles. Send me another,” Zagreus growled. Achilles huffed from his nose and shook his head, shocking the young prince.

“No? What do you mean no? Isn’t it your job to train me? Send me another!” he demanded. Achilles forcefully tapped the stone floor with the end of his spear, standing his ground.

“You’ve done enough training for now. Take a break and we’ll get back to it.” the soldier answered calmly.

“You said that in war, there are no breaks! So I’m not taking them! I’m preparing myself like father said I should! I’m only following his orders! Send another shade, Achilles!” Zagreus barked the order at him, marching up face to face with his mentor. Damn it, so that’s what this is about, Achilles thought as he looked into the furious eyes of the young god before him.

“Indeed, I did say that, lad. But overworking yourself will just lead to more pain. You’re taking a break.”

“You can’t make me!” Zagreus fired back as he stomped to the middle of the courtyard.

“You don’t need to prove anything to me…” Achilles started slowly as he began to approach. Zagreus turned around and pointed his sword at the forgotten hero. “Maybe not to you, Achilles, but I need to prove myself to him! I have to show him I’m not worthless!”

“You aren't worthless, Zagreus, and you’d better think twice before pointing that blade at me! You don’t need to prove anything yet, you’re still a child,” Achilles argued. Seeing Zagreus act this way, in such a hateful manner to think it would please his father, it’s as if a bear mauled Achilles’ heart to pieces.

“What do you know?! You’re not his son! He likes you! BUT HE DOESN’T LIKE ME!” Zagreus threw Stygius to the ground in his fit of anger. It slid and clattered away as a hush came over the courtyard. The Prince’s short, angry panting turned into stressed, sorrowful breaths as he fought to hold back a sob.

“Why doesn’t he like me…?” The dam broke as a whimpering sob emerged from his chest, tears streaming down his face. Achilles dropped his spear and wrapped his arms around his boy, enveloping him in a large, comforting hug.

“It’s alright, lad, it’s alright. I’m here. I’m here for you. Just let it out,” Achilles coaxed softly into his ear. Zagreus hugged back and although it was muffled by the warrior’s chest, his wails were loud and full of sorrow. Gods how Achilles hated that sound. It even brought tears to his own eyes which he fought down to keep his composure. He hated this. He hated how he had to soothe Zagreus from his own father’s verbal assaults. Anger bubbled in his chest. If he could, he would fight the brute that did this to his prince in a bloody battle that ended in a permanent death. Zagreus screamed and cried so hard that his face was red and he had to fight through hiccupping gasps for air.

“Easy, prince, easy. Shh shh shh. It’s ok. Calm down. Take deep breaths. Here, do like me.” Achilles instructed, rubbing his hand across the boy’s back to soothe him. He took a deep breath in, then a deep breath out. Zagreus, through shaky breaths, followed his lead and eventually the two were breathing in tandem. With an affirmation from Achilles, the two walked towards the glass case and sat before it, with Zagreus leaning onto his mentor’s shoulder and burying his head into his neck. Achilles wrapped his arm around the boy, keeping him close to his side.

“I must be honest, lad. There’s nothing I can say truthfully that will ease your mind…” the warrior said in defeat, his heart crushed when he saw more tears spring from the young god’s eyes. “Your father is not easy to understand. And I hate the things he says to you, honest. If I still had blood, it would be boiling. I would fight him if it meant you never cried again.” Zagreus looked up at his mentor, the biggest tear-filled eyes looking for solidarity. Achilles only held him closer and pressed his nose to the boy’s hair. The soldier closed his eyes and gave a kiss to his head in a way to tell the prince that he cared for him. He pulled away and brushed his mop of spiked hair from his forehead, using his thumb to wipe away the tears tracks that clung to his cheeks. Achilles cleared his throat to fight off the wet emotion that would have seeped into his words.

“Now, let’s take a break. And, if you want, I’ll have the head chef make you your favorite. How does that sound?” Achilles promised, smiling wide when he saw the hopeful look in Zagreus’ eyes.

“You mean it…?” he asked with a lump still in his chest. Achilles chuckled and nodded, slightly shaking the boy.

“Of course I mean it, lad! Anything to make you happy again. Let’s see, a chicken gyro with fries, right? I’m right, aren’t I?” the soldier grinned as a small smile crawled onto Zagreus’ face.

“Yes…” he muttered, turning his face away from his mentor.

“You know better than to turn your back on me, young prince. I see that smile!” Achilles teased as he pulled the boy closer, but that only resulted in Zagreus attempting to lean further away.

“Noho…! I don’t wanna smile…!” Zagreus whined with giggles threatening his voice.

“Alright, smiling’s off the table then. What about laughing?” Achilles offered, snaking his hand down and squeezing Zagreus’ side. The young god squealed and laughed, grabbing his mentor’s hand but not moving it.

“Nohohoho! I dohohon’t wanna lahahahahaugh eheeheeheeheeither!” Zagreus curled his side in an attempt to escape Achilles’ tickly fingers, but he only sealed his fate as the soldier pressed his lips against his neck and blew a torturously big and wet raspberry. Zagreus shouted and his laugh went silent momentarily before it was rocketing out his mouth at a high speed. Achilles began to laugh as well as he playfully tickled the boy silly. Zagreus’ laugh was so infectious and goofy that practically anyone’s mood would brighten after hearing it. It certainly worked on Achilles.

“Sorry lad, but you need to pick one! Smiling or laughing, one or the other! Now pick before I call in Nyx to help me tickle you!” Achilles threatened, playfulness clear in his voice. He forgot how much fun it was to play with another person. The warrior took Zagreus’ wrist and lifted it above his head, scribbling his digits into the pit. Zagreus arched his back and failed to grab the attacking hand, scream-laughing his mentor’s name

“AHAHAHACHIHIHIHIHILLEHEHEHEHEHEHES!” Zagreus cried out with tears of mirth falling down his cheeks. All of a sudden, Achilles was shot back to a memory of his life. A position similar to this, but a shirtless man with cocoa colored skin and amber eyes, a laugh as rich as the taste of a pomegranate, writhed before him in his bed. He yelled his name too. His name was…

Zagreus finally slipped his hand from Achilles’ grasp and shot his arm down, holding a hand in his armpit and panting happily as his mentor stopped his assault. Achilles shook the memory from his head and smiled softly at the young god next to him. He reached his hand out to wipe Zagreus’ tears away once more, but the giddy boy squealed and rolled away, hugging his torso tightly.

“Nohohoho!” he giggled. “Nohohohot agahahahahain! I want to smihihile! I’ll smile!” Achilles laughed and held up his hand as a sign of peace.

“Don’t worry, I’m done. Here,” he said as he leaned over and wiped his cheeks with his thumb.

His hand stayed on the boy’s face, his thumb softly caressing the prince below his eye. Zagreus slowly calmed down, his giggles dying out into a mirthful sigh. Then, his stomach growled. Loudly. Achilles chuckles as a blush came across Zagreus’ face.

“I guess that means it’s lunchtime. Stay here, lad. I’ll go get some food.” Achilles said. The booped the boy’s nose with his thumb and ruffled his hair, earning more giggles. The soldier left to the kitchen and returned with two plates that held two chicken gyros and a boatload of fries, as well as bandages for the prince’s cuts. As he approached though, he saw a figure the same size as Zagreus peeking at said prince from a pillar.

Achilles smiled fondly as he recognized the gray skin of Thanatos. He let out a sharp whistle because 1 he wanted to get Zagreus’ attention and 2 he wanted to let Thanatos know he saw him. The young god of death looked at him in shock, as if a giant exclamation mark appeared above his head, and disappeared. Achilles shook his head and chuckled. Young love, he thought. The mentor sat next to his student as they enjoyed their meal in comfortable silence with Achilles taking breaks to patch up the prince’s wounds. Then, Zagreus spoke up.

“You know what, Achilles, sir? I don’t need my father’s approval. I just need yours…” the prince muttered that last part as his cheeks were dusted with a pink blush. Achilles’ heart swelled and happy tears fell down his cheeks.

“Ah, you’re such a sap, lad,” he sniffled, wiping his tears away with his thumb. Zagreus looked bewildered.

“Wait, you can cry? Since when??” he asked. Achilles barked out a loud laugh and held his stomach, enjoying the freeing feeling in his chest. He wrapped his arm around Zagreus’ neck and pulled him close, ruffling his hair.

“You know what, lad? I’ll give you all the approval you desire.” Achilles said, giving another kiss to his head. They stayed like that for a while until Zagreus eventually fell asleep. The soldier plucked the young god from his spot as if he weighed nothing and set him in his bed. He pulled the blankets over him and pressed their foreheads together.

“Rest well, mighty Prince Zagreus. May you grow up strong-willed and resilient in this rough Underworld. I pledge allegiance to you as I have with Lord Hades. I will not abandon you in your time of need. Soldier’s honor.” As Achilles finished his vow, he softly pressed a kiss against Zagreus’ forehead. He stayed there a moment then left him. From now on, Zagreus was Achilles’ boy. No one could tell him otherwise.

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