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Patroclus tries to keep his eyes closed as he stumbles to the bathroom. He hates waking up in the middle of the night, but nature called, it seems. He finishes his business fast, keeping his eyes firmly shut in the theory that it’ll keep him “less awake”. He washes his hands and shuffles back into the bedroom.
He’s about to slide back into bed when he hears something. He pauses, cracking his eyes open. He doesn’t see anything out of the ordinary though– everything is in its place, and his husband is fast asleep.
It comes again, louder this time. It sounds like… oh fuck, like a sob.
Patroclus blinks a few times, trying to dispel the fog of sleep. He looks down at Achilles, just to be sure. But Achilles is curled up on his side, almost entirely buried under the covers.
The sob comes again, muffled.
Patroclus’ heart sinks. It has to be Zagreus.
He wipes his eyes with the back of his hand as he heads over to the bedroom door. He pokes his head out, looking across the hall. Zagreus’ door is cracked open. He must’ve left his computer on, because Pat catches a glimpse of it through the crack in the door. Patroclus crosses the hall without hesitation and pushes the door open the rest of the way.
Zagreus is lost in his blankets and pillows. He’s thrashing, tossing and turning as he cries.
“Zag?” Patroclus whispers, unsure if Zagreus is still asleep or not.
“P-Pat!” Zagreus sits up suddenly, startling him.
The only light in the room is from Zagreus’ monitors, allowing him to see his boyfriend’s distress. Tears roll down Zagreus’ face as he shakes.
Patroclus quickly closes the distance between them. In just a few steps, he’s pulling Zagreus into his arms. Zagreus comes easily, curling his arms over Pat’s shoulders as Pat envelopes him.
“Oh darling,” Patroclus murmurs, pressing a kiss to Zagreus’ knotted hair. “It’s okay, I’m here now…”
Zagreus hides his face in Pat’s chest, trying his best to muffle his sobs. Pat doesn’t ask what the nightmare was about. It’s been the same lately, ever since Zagreus’ father decided to cause a mess. It seems to have reopened some old wounds.
For the past few months, before Hades’ intervention, Zagreus has been having very few nightmares. When he had first moved in, they were rampant. He had trouble sleeping to the point where he was taking something over the counter to help. It looks like they’ve unfortunately come back. Zagreus hasn’t said anything about it, but Pat and Achilles know that Zagreus is having more, just by how quiet and tired Zagreus has been lately. So Pat has a vague idea of what happened in the dream. Disjointed memories and bizarre emotions from Zagreus’ childhood.
“‘m sorry,” Zagreus whispers.
“I was already awake, it’s okay,” Patroclus replies, knowing what Zagreus was about to say.
Zagreus nods once in confirmation.
“Come on, let’s get you comfortable…” Patroclus murmurs.
Zagreus begins to pull away, expecting to be laid back down in bed. But Pat forces him to stay close. Zagreus tilts his head in confusion, turning one bloodshot eye towards Pat. Pat says nothing else, only shifting so he can tuck one arm under Zagreus’ knees.
“Wha…?” Zagreus mumbles.
“It’s okay, darling,” Patroclus kisses the top of his head once more. It’s a bit difficult to stand, but Patroclus manages. “We’re going to bed.”
“But…” Zagreus’ eyebrows furrow. He doesn’t fight though, instead leaning his head against Patroclus’ breast. He allows himself to be carried, out of the room and then across the hall to the master bedroom.
Patroclus nudges the door closed with his foot, then goes around to his side of the bed. He carefully sets down Zagreus, right next to Achilles, who is still fast asleep. Zagreus looks over at him, then up at Pat.
“I don’t want to wake him,” Zagreus whispers, barely audible.
“It’s okay,” Pat murmurs with a soft smile. He brushes stray hairs away from Zagreus’ eyes, then lays back down. As he goes, he picks up the covers, and pulls it up and over them. Then, once fully laid down, he draws Zagreus into his arms. Zagreus rests his head back against Pat’s chest, letting himself be swaddled.
“Mmph?” Achilles begins to stir, making a noise from the back of his throat.
Achilles has always been a light sleeper, and a morning person. The exact opposite to Pat, who will sleep like the dead until mid-morning. It is a blessing and a curse, but right now, it’s a blessing. One sea green eye cracks open and the other quickly follows.
“‘agresus?” Achilles slurs.
Zagreus whimpers, tucking his head into Pat’s chest. “G-Go back to sleep– I don’t want to wake you–”
Achilles’ face scrunches up, confused as he begins to wake.
“It’s okay,” Pat repeats, running his hand up and down Zagreus’ back. He watches his husband, watching as realization dawns on Achilles’ face.
Ah, Achilles mouths, nightmare?
Patroclus nods minutely. Achilles shifts then, scooting closer to Zagreus. Delicately, he curls his arms around Zagreus, drawing him away from Pat and into him. The tears have resumed, or maybe never quite stopped. Either way, he tries to hide his tears in Achilles’ hair, but Achilles cups his cheek to keep him steady.
“You can always wake me, lad,” Achilles whispers, “whenever you need me.”
Zagreus wordlessly shakes his head. His lips press together, but it doesn’t fully hide his sobbing. Achilles leans in, pressing a kiss to Zagreus’ forehead. Zagreus shuts his eyes next, wishing, irrationally, that Achilles will leave him be.
For so long, Zagreus has dealt with his nightmares alone. Growing up, he’d sneak down the hall to Hypnos’ room on nights he couldn’t sleep. Hypnos would always have room for him, drawing him into his nest of a bed. Maybe that’s where Zagreus’ obsession with pillows and blankets came from… but that simple act of comfort stopped at some point, when Hades began to shame Zagreus for that “childish behavior”. Since then, Zagreus has dealt with his bad dreams all alone. He keeps them to himself, only really discussing it when Achilles and Patroclus weedle it out of him.
He’s kept the latest batch of them secret, muffling his cries as best he can at night. It seems tonight he wasn’t successful. And that hurts… he knows that Achilles and Patroclus mean well, but he can’t help but feel like a burden to them. There’s a reason why, despite being together for quite some time now, he still stays in his own room at night.
Achilles peppers kisses across Zagreus’ face. Forehead, cheeks, jaw, even his nose. The one on the nose finally gets a reaction out of Zagreus. He snickers a little, voice still wet.
“There we go…” Achilles murmurs. “Let us take care of you.”
He dots a few more kisses, then allows Zagreus to pull away. Zagreus doesn’t go far, however, only leaning a few inches back into Patroclus’ chest. Pat immediately takes him in.
Arms curl around Zagreus, legs get tangled together. Under the blankets, the three of them lie together. Zagreus’ sobs slowly fade and the tears dry. Achilles and Patroclus hold him through it, murmuring sweet nothings that help calm Zagreus.
“Do you feel better?” Pat murmurs after some time.
Zagreus nods a little. “Thank you…”
“You don’t have to,” Achilles says. “We are always here for you.”
Communication has been more open since that night a few weeks ago. There are some things Zagreus is still coming to terms with obviously, but he’s been working on being more open. It’s hard to let some things go though. Fortunately, they’ve got time.
Zagreus doesn’t reply. He opens his eyes to meet Achilles’. That is all that needs to be said, it seems. Achilles understands, and Pat does too.
“Love you,” Pat whispers.
“I love you both,” Zagreus replies.
Achilles murmurs it as well, leaning in to kiss his boyfriend’s forehead. Zagreus huffs out a laugh, eyes falling shut once more. He loves them more than words can describe, and he’s thankful that they understand.
Silence falls once more. All three pairs of eyes shut, though none of them are tired enough to fall back asleep. But it’s okay. The warm presence of each other is perfect.
“Stay,” Achilles murmurs into Zagreus’ hair, some time later.
“Huh?” Zagreus replies.
“Stay, here, every night,” Achilles continues.
Zagreus gives it some thought. He keeps his eyes closed, head resting against Patroclus’ breast. He can hear the gentle rhythm of his heart, feel the gradual rise and fall of his chest.
After a minute, maybe two, he nods. “Okay.”
Patroclus holds him tighter. Achilles cracks a smile, kissing the top of Zagreus’ head.
“Okay,” Achilles replies. “Okay…”
It takes some time for them to fall back asleep, but eventually, all three do.
And Zagreus does stay.