Work Text:
They sit in front of the sunset.
They do this every afternoon, watching the sky change from day to night. But the brief moment where everything became bathed in gold reminded Patroclus of him.
The golden horizon in front of them could never compare to the golden warrior whom he shared life and love with.
He lifted the hand he held and kissed each knuckle, grateful to have this. Warmth fills his heart as he glances next to him. Grateful to have such support and love next to him.
“Do you miss him?” she asks.
He is half of my soul, as the poets say.
Every waking moment Achilles fills his thoughts. Their love was a fireplace. Radiating warmth through cold bones. He has never known such comfort. Will never know such warmth again.
But Briseis loves him. And he loves her too. Not in the same way, he could never love another in that way. Achilles took his heart with him when he left.
But, he can live a happy life with her.
They do have a happy life. She knows she can never replace him, she has never tried. They came to an unspoken agreement to live as happily as they can together, despite the absence of things they both want but can’t have.
“The sky is beautiful, isn’t it?” He murmurs. Tilting his head up to see the last moments of the golden sky, he can only hope somehow his heart can hear him. He closes his eyes, basking in the golden hour.
They both ignore the tears that roll down his cheeks.