Ctimene's Interlude

by Twisted_Anime_Lover

Summary:

To put it simply, what if Odysseus' and Ctimene's reunion was like Zuko's and Iroh's? Odysseus thinks his sister is going to hate him, but Ctimene is relieved to at least have her brother; she would rather have him than no one.

(+Some of the gods reaction)

This is what I NEED their reunion to be like!

Then her reaction to Eurylochus betrayal as she burns countless letters from the man she waited for.

Notes:

I keep seeing Ctimene as Ares' warrior and her being mad at her brother when she finds out what he did, but I want her to be like Uncle Iroh and understand his choices.

Also quick note: If it wasn't obvious enough this is separate from my other fanfic ASFIAWIHBA that is still ongoing I just want to be able to reach a goal of 10 asks. I don't care if it's headcanons, curiosity, or whatnot I am ready to answer whatever you have for me (you can also ask about me if you want but I won't be answering too personal stuff like my real name, where I live, that sort of stuff). Now that I got that out of the way ONTO THE STORY!!!

Chapter 1: Siblings Reuniting

Odysseus found himself in an old, once vibrant room, now shrouded in an oppressive silence that echoed the weight of his sorrow. The walls, which had once resonated with laughter and joy, felt as if they were closing in on him. His gaze was drawn to his little sister, Ctimene, who stood by the window, her silhouette framed against the fading light. She stared out at the horizon, lost in thought as if searching for the adventures they had dreamed of in their childhood games.

 

He remembered their shared laughter and wild imaginings of grand journeys, but those innocent days had been swallowed by the harshness of reality. The air was thick with unspoken words, and she didn’t even turn to acknowledge his presence. A pang of guilt washed over him; he understood her silence all too well. Not only had Odysseus lost his entire crew in a maelstrom of fate, but he had also been the reason for the death of her husband and their closest friend. 

 

‘She probably hates me,’ he thought, a wave of shame washing over him as he took hesitant steps closer to her, his heart heavy with the burden of his failures. The room was a bittersweet reminder of the lives they once cherished, and he dreaded the moment he would finally face the reality of what had been lost.

 

“Ki-Ctimene I know you must have mixed feelings about seeing me,” He tried to approach her but felt as if his feet were stuck to the ground. “But I want you to know that I am so, so sorry Ctimene.”

 

Odysseus sank to his knees on the cold, unforgiving ground, his heart heavy with regret as he fervently begged for his sister’s forgiveness. Warm tears streamed down his weathered cheeks, glistening in the fading light as he poured out his sorrow, each drop a testament to the pain he felt for the rift that had grown between them.

 

“I am so sorry and ashamed of what I did…I don’t know how I can ever make it up to you, but I—“

 

Ctimene could no longer bear the weight of her brother’s self-doubt, so she stepped forward and wrapped him in a warm embrace. Her grip was tight and comforting, reminiscent of the way their mother used to console them during their darkest moments. As she held him close, her fingers gently wove through the tangled mess of his hair, which felt like a wild thicket beneath her touch. Tears streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the unspoken pain they shared, as she sought to soothe both his heart and her own.

 

“How can you forgive me so easily? I thought you would be furious with me!”

 

Ctimene listened to her brother as he spoke to her, the only remaining mortal family member since their parents' passing. With their parents gone, it was just the two of them and his son, Telemachus, who represented what was left of the Ithacan royal family. Not only had he placed the heavy burden of taking care of their family on her shoulders during the war, but he had also lost her husband. As she comforted her brother, rubbing his back, she reflected on her situation. Yes, he had left her with the responsibility of caring for their family, managing the kingdom, and protecting his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus. However, despite this overwhelming burden, she couldn’t bring herself to blame him. He had not started the war; therefore, she held no resentment toward him. She told him,

 

“I was never angry at you, I was sad because I was afraid I lost you as well, meaning I was alone in this world.”

 

Though she would have had Telemachus and Penelope, they were not the family she had known in her earliest years. The thought of her mother, who had perished from a shattered heart under the weight of grief for Odysseus’s absence, haunted her. The loss of her father, once a steadfast beacon of hope for their family’s rightful place on the throne until Odysseus’s return, had left an aching void. Her heart was heavy with the conviction that she had failed her brother in protecting his son when she was too late in finding out the Suitors' plan to kill him if he had not been there Telemachus would have surely died that day. In those desperate moments, all she longed for was the warmth and comfort of being held as she once was in childhood, to wrap herself in the cocoon of safety and innocence she so desperately craved.

 

Odysseus held his sister tighter as her words reached his ears, bringing comfort to his weary soul. He was glad to know that she didn’t hate him for what happened he truly believed he didn’t deserve her love.

 

“I don’t- deserve your forgiveness not ever after what I put you through…losing my crew…Eurylochus..”

 

Odysseus tried to speak between his sobs and tears, he hated feeling so weak but it also felt nice to let his guard down around his sister. He continued to keep his face against his sister’s shoulder, he continued to cry as he couldn’t even speak. He was both thankful and filled with guilt at the same time.

 

“You can’t say that you’re not mad, please for the love of the Gods, you’re allowed to be furious with me or even hate me for what I’ve done to you!”

 

His body trembled against her as he continued to hold onto her.

 

“You did lose me…”

 

Ctimene wiped her older brother’s tears seeing the face of her brother, not King Odysseus but her brother Ody, and saw just how much Odysseus and Telemachus looked alike.

 

“But you found your way home, and you had to do it yourself…”

 

Odysseus kept his head against her shoulder as he felt her hands wipe his tears he gripped onto her even tighter as he heard her respond to him.

 

“Not without losing everything and everyone that I knew and loved.”

 

Odysseus finally pulled away from his sister as he finally found the courage to look into her eyes a part of him was terrified of what he’d see. Fearing the worst that deep down in her soul she hated him and he wouldn’t be surprised if she did.

 

Ctimene held onto her brother as she told him, “I would stay waiting, waiting for you.” She comforted her brother, letting him hold her for however long he needed.

 

Odysseus felt his heart nearly break again as his sister responded to him. He was expecting anything from her, shouting, crying, or even a punch in the face, but words of comfort and love were not what he was expecting.

 

He was at a loss for words as he tried to find a response. He could only hold onto her as he let himself feel comfort after a long time.

————————————————————————————————

 

Meanwhile on Olympus Hermes, Athena, and Ares were tearing up from the reunion (with Hermes being dramatic with his great-grandbabies, Athena allowing tears to fall at her warrior’s reunion with his sister, and Ares trying but failing to not cry at his champion finally reuniting with her brother).

 

Hermes had his head against both of his hands pretending to not cry as the tears streamed from his face.

 

“Look at them! They’re so adorable!” He cried out in a very Hermes way.

 

Athena on the other hand was just shedding a single tear at her warrior’s reunion. Even though she wouldn’t admit it, she missed him and was happy to see him finally reunited with his family.

 

Ares on the other hand was trying so hard not to burst out crying as he covered his face. Only to fail as he cried against Aphrodite in a loud manner. “Dammit, I’m supposed to be strong even with my emotions!” The God of War cried out against his lover as he held onto her in his weeping mess. She rubbed his back, knowing he was a big crying baby.

 

“There there, my love.” Aphrodite had a sad smile on her face as she comforted her lover, knowing that deep down he was very much a softie despite his title she smiled as she looked at the siblings, feeling confined by their sibling love maybe Athena wasn’t completely false when she said a broken heart can mend if not his mother’s than his sister’s.

 

Hermes was laughing through his tears as he looked at the God of War.

 

“You’re a big softie, you know that right?” He teased him, even though he was also crying like a baby.

 

Meanwhile, Apollo was watching from a distance and was trying so hard not to tease both of his brothers as he recorded them.

 

“I am so sending this to Artemis and teasing them about this later,” he muttered with a smirk.

 

Aphrodite glanced at the god and shot him a warning glare as if saying ‘You’re not doing that!’ to Apollo.

 

Hermes looked at Apollo and began to laugh at the God of the Sun’s actions.

 

‘He’s going to get himself into trouble.’ thought Hermes silently as he continued his observation of Odysseus and Ctimene.

 

Odysseus and Ctimene both slept against each other with Odysseus’s head on his sister’s lap and her head resting against the wall. They were exhausted from the emotional roller coaster they were experiencing.

 

Penelope found the two on the floor, exhausted, and saw that they were asleep. She smiled before covering them with a blanket before letting them sleep to recover both their minds and bodies. As Penelope put a blanket over the siblings, she couldn't help but smile at the sight in front of her.

 

The sight of the great Odysseus and his sister asleep on the floor, the king and the warrior both looked so at peace for once compared to the hell that they’ve been through.

 

Odysseus slept soundly against his sister’s lap, the first time he was able to sleep in ages. He was wrapped in a protective hold from Ctimene subconsciously, as they slept together like when they were children.

 

Up in Olympus, Hermes could only look at his great-grandchildren as he thought about how it went from a young Odysseus being excited to get to meet his baby sister to now, to Hermes it was no more than a blink of an eye as time went on. Maybe just maybe they’ll be alright’ he thought as Aphrodite tried to get Apollo to delete the message.

Chapter 2: She Waited Only To Get Burned

Notes:

Been meaning to finish the second part of this story for a while and I finally had the motivation to do so. Here you go and don't forget that I'll be answering questions you have and making scenarios.

Ctimene found herself in the familiar confines of her childhood bedroom, a space steeped in memories and shadows. The walls, once vibrant with laughter and innocence, now echoed the heavy silence of loss. She hesitated to return to her husband's house, the absence of his presence creating an unbearable void that loomed over everything. Her brother had come back, a cherished remnant of the family that she held onto tightly, grateful for the solace of shared blood, yet it did little to mend the aching wound in her heart.

Every corner of the room whispered reminders of what once was, deepening the sense of longing that enveloped her like a heavy cloak. That's when she found something from long ago, a box from when Eurylochus had courted her. He may have paid her brother the bride price, but before they wedded, they would send letters to each other. Even after he and her brother were sent out to war, she would try to write to him, and when they lost communication with them, she started writing letters but never sending them. There were possibly thousands in their home of Same, but these were the first set of letters they sent to each other.

“I saved every letter you wrote me
From the moment I read them
I knew you were mine
You said you were mine
I thought you were mine”

Ctimene was rereading every letter thinking about her husband. She stood lighting up a candle to see them more properly. When she spoke she imagined her husband being in the room with her as she continued talking as if he was there,

“Do you know what Brother said
When we saw your first letter arrive?
He said
"Be careful with that one, love
He will do what it takes to survive"”

“You and your words flooded my senses
Your sentences left me defenseless
You built me palaces out of paragraphs
You built a cathedral”

She read another letter as if reimagining her husband in the room with her once again. Her heart ached a little more and she felt more tears welling up in her eyes. A mix of grief and nostalgia filled her as she continued to read another letter. She smiled when she heard her brother’s words again. She could picture Odysseus sitting next to her, listening to her read the letters.

“I’m re-reading the letters you wrote me
I’m searching and scanning for answers in every line
For some kind of sign and when you were mine
My world seemed to burn”

Ctimene once again read another letter, her heart heavy with a mix of sorrow and longing. She ran her fingers over the words written so many years ago, feeling the ghost of her husband's presence in the room. She could envision him seated beside her, listening intently to her read the words that held traces of the love they had once shared.

Burn
Burn

“You staged a mutiny against my brother
Telling the whole crew how he’s a monster
He’s no longer himself
In clearing your name, you have ruined your own lives”

Ctimene tightly clenched the letter in her hand, her heart racing as a wave of anger surged through her. Hot, furious tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring her vision as she tried to process the emotion swirling inside her. She hated that she wished he was here, she hated that her heart was mad at her brother, and most of all she hated the feeling of sorrow that overwhelmed her.

She angrily crumpled up the letter before letting out a frustrated yell. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair, she thought. It wasn’t fair that her husband was dead, and it just wasn’t a normal death, it was due to her brother’s stupidity. Her heart was filled with an array of emotions, and she couldn’t decide whether she was more angry at her brother or if she was angry at her husband for not being here now.

She hated that she could almost feel him, almost hear his voice as clearly as she heard her own thoughts.

“Do you know what My Brother said
When he told me what you've done?
He said
"You have married Icarus, and now 
He has flown too close to the sun"”

Ctimene let more tears of rage fall down her cheek as she laughed at herself for being so stupid.

She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white, as the tears continued to roll down her face. The irony of her brother’s words pierced her soul like a sharp knife through butter. How true they were, she thought. How true those words were. But even as rage clouded her mind, she couldn’t shake the feeling of loss and the grief that weighed on her heart like a boulder.

Her breath trembled as she tried to breathe, the air suddenly feeling like needles on her skin. She stumbled backward, her legs feeling like jelly, and she found herself leaning against a wall for support. The weight of her emotions was overwhelming, and everything suddenly seemed too much. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of grief, anger, and guilt, with no escape in sight.

“You and your words, filled with men’s foolishness
Your sentences border on senseless
And you are paranoid in every story
How they perceive you”

Her chest heaved, the tightness of the grief constricting her heart. She clutched the letters to her chest, the edges crumpling in her tight grip. Her mind was spinning, a whirlwind of thoughts that she couldn’t quite piece together.

She tried to breathe, her breaths coming in jagged gasps, her shoulders shaking as she struggled to take in air. She wanted to shout, to scream, but the only sound she could produce was a soft, strangled sob.

“you, You! YOU!”

The word echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls, as she repeated it, her voice growing louder with each repetition.

She was drowning in a sea of grief, her vision clouded with a mix of anger and despair. She had always known that her husband could be…himself at times, but she never imagined that his actions could have such a catastrophic outcome.

And now, here she was, alone in the night, the weight of it all crashing down on her all at once. She couldn’t breathe, the air felt thick and suffocating.

The room suddenly felt too small, the walls closing in around her. She stumbled backwards, her legs weak and shaky, until her back hit the cold stone wall. She slowly slid down the wall, her body folding in on itself as she sat on the cold floor, her head in her hands.

The letters rested in her lap as tears continued to streak down her face, the only sound in the room was her ragged breathing.

Ctimene looked at the candle burning grabbing it to set it down next to her. The warm flames reminded her of the warmth the sun had whenever they were together at the meadow that they first saw each other, they kissed there, got married there…

As she stared at the flickering flames of the candle, her mind was taken back to that day. The feeling of his lips on hers, the taste of his kiss, and the way their bodies had fitted together so perfectly. Her heart ached with a sharp pang, like a knife thrust into her chest.

Ctimene brought the last letter to meet the candle’s flame. She watched the flames engulf the letter destroying it into soot beyond repair. She barely reacted when the inflamed letter met her fingers that pain was palpable compared to the pain she was already experiencing.

“I'm erasing myself from this story
Let future historians wonder
How Ctimene reacted when her heart broke
You have torn me all apart
While I waited
Waited”

The heat from the burning letter stung her skin, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the aching pain in her heart. She watched the flames consume the last trace of him, and her heart ached with a finality that she couldn’t bear. As she sat there, watching the fire, a numbness settled in, and she felt like she was watching from far away, detached from her body and the pain that coursed through her.

"I waited" 

She repeated softly, the words barely a whisper, her voice barely audible. She started to burn letter after letter before reaching the first letter written to her. As she burned each letter, a part of her heart went with it. The words, once full of love and promises, were reduced to ash and soot, just like the memories they contained. She watched silently as the flames danced and flickered, consuming the last traces of their past.

She reached the first letter he ever wrote her. The words, so full of hope and love, a stark contrast to the reality she was now facing. She couldn’t bring herself to burn it.

She clutched the letter to her chest, her heart aching as if it was being torn apart. She felt as though Eurylochus’ presence was there in the flames trying to convince her not to do it.

For a moment, she pondered her decision. The thought of burning the one remaining letter was agonizing. Holding on to it would mean clinging to the memories, the pain, and the love. But burning it would be the final act of letting go.

She stared at the flames, watching them dance and flicker, the fire beckoning her to make a decision. She turned to flame Eurylochus glaring at him as she told him,

“You no longer have the right to my heart
You no longer have a place in our bed
They don't get to know what I said
I'm burning the memories
Burning the memories that might have redeemed you”

Her gaze was fiery, her words biting as she spat them out at the phantom. She clutched the last letter to her heart, her knuckles white.

“You forfeit all rights to my heart
You forfeit the place in our bed
You sleep in your office instead
With only the memories
Of when you were mine
I hope that you burn”

The flames crackled and danced as if to taunt her, daring her to go through with it. She was being torn in two, the love and hate warring in her heart, making it hard for her to think straight.

She closed her eyes, her hands still clenched around the letter as if letting go would mean letting go of him. In that moment, she felt lost, unsure of what was right and what was wrong.

The room was silent except for the crackle of the fire eating away at the remnants of their past. Ctimene sat there, her body rigid, the letter still crumpled in her hands. She could feel the heat of the flames on her skin, but she ignored it.

Her mind was a jumble of thoughts and feelings. Part of her wanted to burn the last letter, to let go of all the pain and heartache. But another part of her, a part that she hated, just couldn’t do it.

Ctimene opened her eyes and found herself seated in the familiar meadow where they first met. The sunlight felt different, warmer, and the air seemed to still hold the memories of happier days.

Looking down at her hand, she held the first letter her husband had sent her all those years ago. The paper was worn from countless readings, the ink faded just a bit.

“I lived another twenty years,”

As if in a trance, Ctimene continued speaking, her voice soft and quiet. 

"I lived another twenty years…I saw another summer, and another fall. I loved again, I lost again, I wept and laughed again. But nothing felt quite the same, and nothing could ever replace you."

She held the letter in her hand, gently running her fingers over the paper, feeling the memories of his words.

She paused, looking up to the clear blue sky, her eyes unfocused as if lost in thought. The sun was high in the sky, its warmth on her face, reminding her of all the sunny days they had once spent together.

"But still…I think of you constantly. In every song I hear, in every person I meet, in every moment of joy or hardship. You're woven into the fabric of my life, the memory of you never fading even as time passed."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The smell of the meadow, the sound of the grass swaying in the breeze, it all felt so real. When she opened her eyes again, she half expected to see her husband standing there, smiling as wide as the day they first met.

But the meadow was still empty, and only the letter and the memories remained.

Notes:

Hello everyone now that this story is finished I got to get back to work on Falling For The Wild Princess and I would love to hear any suggestions you all have!!! Have an EPIC day!!!

Notes:

Hera *glaring at Poseidon*: "You try to hurt that family you will face all the wrath I have against Zeus."
.
Poseidon *still bandaged up from 600 strikes knowing Hera never jokes about her threats*: "...okay."