past-romance

[past-romance]

This account will no longer be posting! Since the other people in the AU have stopped, I am going to stop too :(

[past-romance]

CAPTIAN

WHATDOWEDO WITH OUR FALLEN FRIENDS???

I can't remember them anymore

[past-romance]

OOH HII!! creativity is at an all-time high tonight, so here's another STA story. warning that this AU is not mine, but was created by @stale-arms and @past-romance. you can check out their blogs anytime if you want more information!

Also warning that this story has elements that may be uncomfortable for some people. Do not read if the topics below are triggers for you.

Everything described here is fiction and ONLY fiction. The author does not condone any of the acts that happen here.

CW: possessive and obsessive behavior, intentional isolation, unstable mental health, long period without eating, character almost vomiting, severed hand.

❤️‍🩹

Odysseus couldn't help but feel an itch every time Polites spoke so happily of Eurylochus. It was a completely different manner and tone when compared to how the best friend acted with the King of Ithaca. It was frustrating for the Ithacan to have to force a smile every time, which required all the strength of his being to keep from making the most genuine expression of disgust.

Odysseus just couldn't understand how Polites could see anything good in his brother-in-law. Like, seriously, he wasn't all he said he was... That sounded more like a figment of his imagination than actual reality.

And ask for his hand in marriage? When he was already engaged to Ctimene? Pfft, impossible. Not in the sense that Polites was not a good match, in fact quite the opposite, he was a man worthy only of one who could love and revere him the way he deserved, characteristics that Eurylochus did not present at all.

And even if Polites did indeed win Eurylochus' hand, the latter would not be able to love him properly, Odysseus knows this. Only the King of Ithaca would know exactly how to treat his best friend properly.

Which causes him to slam his fist against the ship's wall and huff in frustration, finally able to reveal his true colors now that he's alone in a secluded room.

Such stupid thoughts... He wished he could just be able to make Polites see Odysseus' reality. Polites is just a little lamb who doesn't know what's best for himself and needs guidance in anything and everything.

The Ithacan sat on the edge of the bed with his head down, his foot tapping impatiently against the floor as the fresh wounds on his fist began to sting slightly.

He closed his eyes as the thoughts kept coming one after the other, stress and anger and anguish building more and more and more and more and more and more and more...

Gods, he just needed something, anything to get him out of that cycle, anything to-

"You look quite distressed, King of Ithaca"

... oh

oh

not that annoying eagle again.

"Can't you at least let me have a moment of peace?", Odysseus said in a tired tone as he palmed his face, not having the energy to deal with another problem. "Come fuck my mind some other time because it's already too messed up"

He didn't even need to open his eyes to look directly at the eagle and know exactly that his request would not be fulfilled. After all, when was anything he asked for ever granted?

"You know you don't have to deal with that kind of thing"

And of course the eagle had been watching him long enough to know what Odysseus's pent-up frustration was all about.

"You know you're better than him"

And the eagle just keeps on dropping promising words of something much greater into his ears...

"You just have to do what is necessary to make him realize that"

And he just couldn't stop listening because the fucking eagle just wouldn't stop talking.

"Why don't you give him what he wants? He said he wanted his hand, but not how..."

...

"Give him the best gift that only you are capable of giving"

--------------------

Polites currently finds himself in the small medical cabin that has become what he calls "home." Not in the sense that it is a comforting place that makes him feel safe and sheltered from the problems of the world, but in the sense that it is where he has forcibly settled.

Polites cannot see much beyond what the window and the small gaps allow, he cannot do much beyond what the small space allows to store. In all honesty, it sounded more like a prison than a place that was supposed to keep him safe...

His days were a drag and always the same, only occasionally having the opportunity to speak to one person or another of the crew, and only for a short period of time. Polites really had to put his imagination to work to do whatever it took to keep himself entertained and not lose his mind. And well, sometimes it worked, other times not so much...

His senses heightened when he heard the creak of the door opening, only realizing from the footsteps who it was...

Firm feet that asserted authority as a figure. Yep, it's definitely Odysseus.

Polites put on the best expression he could muster and looked towards the King of Ithaca with a serene smile.

"Good morning, Polites...", the Ithacan said in a gentle tone, his hands behind his back, seeming to be hiding something.

"Good morning, Odysseus!", Polites responded in the same way, if not in an even gentler way that made the other flinch. "What brings you here to my... room? Do you happen to have something to say?", he pointed out the fact that Odysseus had his hands hidden. "Or to give...?"

The King of Ithaca felt slightly embarrassed by his best friend's wit, but it wasn't like he was being so discreet. The enthusiasm on his face was clear and even contagious.

"Guilty as charged", he revealed without much beating around the bush. "I do indeed have a gift for you, and one that is quite special"

Polites couldn't help but feel a slight curiosity and excitement to know exactly what the gift was.

"I... I won't beat around the bush, I know I'm already making you quite curious, so I'll just hand it over to you"

Odysseus handed over something that was oddly shaped and wrapped in cloth, the smell being strangely familiar, yet weird.

Polites didn't even notice the bizarre tone the Ithacan's voice took on, nor did he even recognize the psychotic smile the other was making at the moment.

He gently removed the cloth wrapping from whatever was inside, being greeted with the sight of a...

severed hand.

but not just any severed hand.

That was Eurylochus' hand, right there in his hand, being held. Flesh, nails, blood and all.

"Since you kept saying that you wanted his hand, I decided to give it to you", Odysseus' tone sounded sickly sweet and sincere, as if he truly hoped that was what his best friend wanted. "Tell me, Polites, did you... did you like it?"

Polites had not said anything so far. He was paralyzed, his eyes focused only on the piece of meat in his hand from a person he had spoken to not long ago. He wished it was a hallucination, Gods, he wished he couldn't feel the texture and weight so perfectly in his palm.

Before he knew it, his breathing began to quicken, his pupils dilating, and his stomach twisting in pain. Polites wanted to vomit something that wasn't even in his stomach because it had been hours since he had eaten.

His eyes, visibly disturbed by the bizarre sight and revelation, looked at Odysseus, who remained still, anxiously awaiting some response from his best friend.

Polites had to swallow hard and hold back his tears to avoid having a meltdown right there and then. "It- It's perfect! I-It really is the perfect gift, hah...", Gods, his body was shaking so much, he prayed that Odysseus wouldn't see it as bad thanks.

Odysseus' smile took on even more extreme contours, clasping his hands together as if he had heard the best compliment of his entire life. "Awee, I'm glad you liked it!", he responded in such a genuinely happy way that it was impossible to believe that he was the one who had committed such a cruel act.

The other visibly trembled as he saw the King of Ithaca approaching, his fight or flight instinct telling him to act before something bad could happen. However, he kept his composure and pretended as best he could when all he got was a kiss on the forehead and a caress on his face with hands that were still bloody.

"I wish I could stay here with you longer, but I really have things to take care of", Odysseus stroked Polites' hair with one hand, leaving him even more marked with bloodstains. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon..."

When Odysseus left the room and his footsteps could no longer be heard, Polites threw the hand somewhere and fell to the ground with one hand on his stomach and the other on his mouth, with nothing coming out of his lips, but the nausea still intense.

His body continued to tremble intensely and he isolated himself in a corner of the room to hug his knees, unable to take his eyes off the severed hand that lay just inches away.

[past-romance]

this story here was made to promote an AU made by these two wonderful people: @stale-arms and @past-romance. take into account that i made a point of only writing a part of the complete story, and that if you are interested, you can check the profiles of the people mentioned above to find out more!!

that said, this story has some elements like: past injuries, implied OdyPoli, yandere behavior and a few others that i can't remember at the moment.

nothing too explicit, but if you're not comfortable with this kind of thing, you can stop here. if you don't see any problems, i genuinely hope you have a good read!

❤️‍🩹

Odysseus watched Polites' resting state with eyes of admiration. The man's chest slowly and gently rising and falling, his face completely calm, absent of any kind of bad thoughts, so different from the state of despair that Polites almost always found himself in every time he was conscious and next to Odysseus.

It was a scene that the Ithacan would have liked to capture and lock in time forever, unable to change, unable to return to the state of pain and suffering that has unfortunately befallen them. That was the way he wanted things to be, that was the way he wanted to see Polites. Calm, serene, and definitely not confined to the small space of the medical cabin he was forced to stay in.

Odysseus's heart ached every time he had to limit Polites to do the things that everyone else on the crew was free to do. He didn't like how his best friend's face contorted into expressions of anguish, terror, fear every time he had to do what was necessary to keep him alive and well. Of course, Odysseus also particularly disliked those drastic measures, and if he had other options, if they really existed, he would more than make a point of doing them.

But unfortunately those other options did not exist. Odysseus had to do necessary evil if he wanted things to turn out well.

It was a work he made an effort to do without letting sentimentality get the better of him. And believe it when he said he didn't like doing the things he did. Believe it when what he wanted most was to be able to see Polites smile again, without having to worry about the safety of his best friend.

Greet the World with Open Arms was a philosophy that Polites used to spread when Odysseus found himself in times when he needed some kind of emotional support. But now it was difficult for such a scenario to happen, even more so when Polites' wounds were so deep and severe, to the point of deforming his body.

The King of Ithaca passed a hesitant hand over Polites, not quite touching him, but capable of generating a wind that would have woken the man if he had not been too drugged with lotus. His fingers stopped near Polites' face, tempted by the urge to touch him, to feel his skin beneath his fingertips.

He reluctantly reached his fingertips out to touch the soft surface of Polites' skin, feeling a jolt of electricity run through his body at doing something so intimate from his perspective. Odysseus felt his cheeks burn with a feeling he thought had died some time ago: embarassment.

He took his time to enjoy the moment, running the tip of his index finger and middle finger along his best friend's cheek, temple, and forehead. And by the Gods, what an incredible, divine feeling it was that brought calm to his soul.

Polites held a soft quality that Odysseus had never seen in anyone else, and how he would do anything to have that for himself. For several moments, he wanted the other man to just see the motivation behind his actions, he wanted to be understood and accepted, to at least once not feel like a cruel monster and undeserving of love.

Polites' hairs made contact with the skin of Odysseus' hand, who was no longer as shy as before. Odysseus boldly used the entire palm of his hand to touch his best friend's hair, being greeted with the soft sensation of a large mass that somehow resembled sheep's wool...

The Cyclops' cave...

Just thinking about the word was enough to bring back not-so-pleasant memories of that fateful day. The day when Odysseus not only lost some of his men, but also felt the fear of losing the most beloved person in his life.

Just like Odysseus, Polites also was never the same after that event. One of his eyes was gouged out, his leg was mutilated and his arm was broken. And Gods, what a terrible scene it was when they had to tend to the blood and the horribly deep wounds.

It was an oversight on the part of the King of Ithaca that made him realize that he needed to drastically change his measures if he didn't want to have any more losses, if he didn't want to even think about the possibility of losing Polites.

Suddenly, everything became the greatest danger in his eyes, with even the smallest creature being able to bring misfortune to them all. Odysseus' crew came to be seen in a different light by the King of Ithaca, who could no longer trust them when it came to Polites' safety, not when any one of them could take him away from him.

It was a risk he could no longer afford to take, and one he would do everything he could to avoid in any way he could. Even if Polites would no longer trust him as he once did, even if his crew would become increasingly suspicious, even if his actions might seem insane and senseless in the eyes of all of them, Odysseus had to do the right thing.

If no one else would do it, He Would.

[past-romance]

He gave a small nod

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' .. Sure. Yeah. I do.. ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' That's not- you aren't going to tell me, are you? ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' ... Who are you? ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

He flinched

' ' A- am I? ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' I'd never yell at Polites... ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' Why would I shout? I know he doesn't like yelling ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' ... It'll be better for him eventually. He'll understand ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' The gravity? All I'm doing is helping Polites. ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' I don't understand ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' Strained? ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' What do you mean by that? ' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '

[past-romance]

' ' Comfort? Why would I need comfort? I'm perfectly alright..' '

A man walks up to Odysseus, he’s unfamiliar, wrapped in cloth from head to toe, but there’s something strangely comforting about his presence “you are Odysseus I presume?”

@the-stars-speak (to explain something, this is technically a titan in human form, that’s it, byyyee)

Odysseus jumps, startled, and turns around to face the strange man

' ' How do you know me-? ' '