Archive of Our Own ^beta

They all start like this: once there was a man(his name was Odysseus, the king, Odysseus your father) and he was brave or strong or clever- unbeatable in anything he did. Telemachus wants to be something like that. Wanna-be?

Fighting monsters (maybe it's just the old dog). Cerberus holds his head high- howls, he's said to bring down castle with his voice alone. But Telemachus is strong-fast-quick! He feights- and the monster is tricked! He leaps- put in all your strength! There appears a long line of red all down its back-furred throat, and the whistling wind blows Telemachus's hair back. He kicks his legs absently in the fantasy(and up in his bedroom too). 

Hydras, sirens, giants both dual- and- single- eyed. His father slaughters them with ease, so he does as well ( so he does? and he does. I'm proud of you, his father says in the shepherd's voice). We could help the common people together, you and I. Be the world's light (you said that once, right?)

He's reaching, reaching, if I could do it, if I could be it- who's to say he can't? His father had made it, they tell about the true King of Ithaca in lands far away. Brave, strong, clever. If he were here, the Queen would have no reason to weave and unweave, ceaselessly. She'd be married, yes, but moreso she'd be protected, so much so that no one dare hurt her. But he is not here, so Telemachus will have to try.

He imagines marching up to the one-hundred-and-eight men- you invade my home? Don't you know who I am? That's who says you can't, Telemachus.

Well, shut them up, then! Uppercut him, now!