Achilles Pelides is a superstar singer whose music is constantly flying off the charts. From hit singles to sold out concerts, the singer has garnered a huge fanbase who watches his every move.Â
When Patroclusâan overworked nurse from a small townâattends Achillesâs concert one night, he is unexpectedly thrust into the singerâs world of fame.
As the two navigate the unique situation they find themselves in, the pair learn more about each other and themselves, and somehow manage to fall in love along the way.
Drifting out, drifting through the water
Through the sound, swim to me now
Long way down, I can feel you fall
Hear me now, through the sound
Something Wild | Radiator Hospital
pairing: singer!Achilles x Patroclus
Patroclus awoke to the sound of repeated buzzes coming from his phone on the table beside him. Eyes opening blearily, he began to reach for the device to check or at least silence it when an arm draped over him pulled him back, keeping him firmly in place.
Right. He had slept with Achilles last night.
Well, not slept with, Patroclus hurried to correct the implication of the statement in his head. More like⊠fallen asleep with. Not that that carried any less of a suggestive tone.Â
Patroclus turned over carefully so as to not wake the sleeping man.Â
How was it possible that he was beautiful even in sleep? The golden curls of his hair were splayed delicately on the pillow, framing the curves of his face perfectly. He looked so peaceful, and so innocent.
It was hard to believe that the man lying before him was one of the most famous singers of this generation. The way soft breaths fell out of Achillesâs slightly parted lips and his face was so smooth and free of worry made him look almost boyish in nature. Not to mention the fact that he was holding onto Patroclus as if he were a teddy bear from his youth.
Patroclus had half a mind to reach over to trace the manâs face or brush a curl from his forehead, but he managed to stop himself before he did so. He found himself glad that he did, as it was at that moment that Achilles began to stir.Â
The blondeâs eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light and Patroclusâs face before him.
âGood morning,â Achilles said, voice husky from sleep. He didnât seem at all perturbed by the sight of Patroclus staring right at him as soon as he woke up. Instead, he looked rather pleased, a soft smile creeping onto his face.
Patroclusâs eyes widened a fraction, put off at both the sound of Achillesâs morning voice and the fact that he had been caught watching the singer sleep.Â
âMorning,â he managed to stutter out. He was embarrassed, but couldnât find it in himself to pull away.
There was a beat of silence as the two men watched each other, both of them unable to find the words to say anything else.
Patroclus was spared from the awkwardness as the incessant buzzing of his phone reminded him of why he woke up in the first place.
âI should get that,â he finally said, clearing his throat and sparing a glance at Achillesâs arm which still lay around him.
Achilles looked to where Patroclusâs eyes fell. âRight, of course,â he said, removing his arm immediately and sitting up. âSorry about that. Iâve been told I have a tendency to do that in my sleep.â He chuckled, though the way he brought a hand up to fiddle with his hair betrayed his sheepishness.
âNo worries,â responded Patroclus. Though he briefly wondered how many other people he had done this to. Not that it mattered, of course.Â
Achilles offered him one last smile before excusing himself to get ready for the day and retreating to the bathroom, leaving Patroclus to go through his phone.
Once Patroclus finally turned on his phone, he was shocked at what he saw.
The phone was bombarded with notifications from thousands of follows, likes, comments on his Instagram profile, with the number continuing to rise. His profile had been public, having had so few followers and sporadic life update posts. He shouldâve known that his newfound connection to Achilles would cause people to track him down. Thankfully he had turned his location settings off on everything. It at least prevented hundreds of screaming fans from breaking down the hotel room door just to see their idol.
With a sigh, Patroclus turned his Instagram notifications off and tentatively clicked on the app, deciding to read through some of the comments on his profile against his better judgement.
He first clicked on his most recent post. Uploaded around four months ago, an image Briseis had taken of him at Mount Parnitha National Park had attracted the most attention on the app.Â
Patroclus mentally cringed at the image of him standing in front of the breathtaking scenery. Briseis had told him he looked really attractive in that photo, but now that so many people were scrutinizing it he felt intensely aware of his appearance. He remembered being sweaty from hiking that day and he had forgotten his sunglasses which caused the sun to beat down into his eyes, so he figured his exhaustion was clear despite the smile he managed to put on for the camera.
Bracing himself, he tapped on the comments section of the post and began to read through some of them.
bea7689: are u achillesâs bf??
achillesfanzz01: Ew he looks kinda boring ngl. I think Achilles could do better lmao
lacyyy_281: can this patroclus guy fight lol
pengwin7: Why he kinda⊠đ I get it Achilles.Â
mattieluv: holy shit is THIS his boyfriend? hard pass lol
achillezhoe: wait heâs actually really cute tho awww
dan151: calling it now, heâs just using achilles for fame đ
user6173988: Achilles and Deidameia would make a much better pair. Hope he comes to his senses and ditches whoever tf this is
hannahjones79: @patroclusmenoitiades can you sing too? Are you making a song together?
cinnamon8172: ugh why is achilles dating this rando?? heâs not even attractive lmaooo
Patroclus frowned as he scrolled through the comments. Peoplesâ reactions seemed to be mixed, with many seeming to be confused as to how someone like Achilles ended up with someone like Patroclus. A question that was still flitting through the brunetteâs mind.
They were definitely an odd pairing, and Patroclus felt so dull and unattractive compared to the singer. A sentiment that seemed widely agreed upon across the internet.
âWhatcha looking at?â
Patroclus tore his eyes away from his phone screen upon hearing his fake boyfriendâs voice.
âI was justââ Patroclus trailed off when his eyes landed on Achilles.
The manâs golden blonde hair was slightly damp from the shower, and he wore nothing except for a towel that was wrapped low around his waist. Patroclus couldnât help but lower his eyes to the manâs toned abs and then even lower to the trail of hair under Achillesâs belly button that presumably led toâŠ
âYouâre done in the bathroom right?â Patroclus rushed out once he realized where his train of thought was headed. He didnât wait for a response as he quickly grabbed his things and sped past Achilles into the bathroom, locking the door behind him.
Patroclus mentally slapped himself for inadvertently lusting over the man in the other room. He was insanely attractive, but that was no excuse for him to be ogling at him like that.
Maybe he didnât even notice, Patroclus frantically tried to convince himself.Â
He just needed to calm down and hope that Achilles hadnât caught onto where his eyes were looking. And if he did, then hopefully he wouldnât say anything about it. That would be mortifying.
As Patroclus began to relax, he slowly started to get ready for the day.Â
It would be fine. He could be Achillesâs fake boyfriend without lusting after him. All he needed to do was pretend he wasnât so physically attracted to him, and it would all work out just fine. It would be easy.
But first, Patroclus needed to take a cold shower.
If Achilles was at all perturbed by Patroclusâs staring at his half naked form, he didnât show it much to the brunetteâs relief. Rather, he seemed quite chipper as he walked Patroclus through the itinerary of the day. It seemed that the excitement of the beginning of the tour had temporarily dissolved Achillesâs feelings of apathy towards the way his management had taken over his career.
Achilles explained that he and his team had already done a lot of practice in preparation for the start of the tour, so this day would mostly be a lot of equipment setup and last minute rehearsal of a few songs.
Upon their arrival to the venue, Achilles was eager to introduce Patroclus to his crew.Â
First, Patroclus met the singerâs band. There was Automedon, a cheerful young man who was the drummer and keyboardist of the band. Along with Automedon, Patroclus met the lead guitarist, a kind man named Phoenix who was clearly good friends with Achilles and with whom Patroclus got along easily. Lastly, he was introduced to the bassist, a savvy woman named Penelope who Patroclus was surprised to find out was married to Achillesâs manager Odysseus.
âEven though her husband and I donât get along well, Penelope is cool,â Achilles said as he led Patroclus away. âShe keeps Odysseus and I from biting each othersâ heads off.â
Patroclus hummed in acknowledgement, remembering how icy Achilles acted towards his manager. He was definitely curious as to why they didnât seem to get along, but it wasnât his place to pry.
âSpeak of the devil,â Achilles mumbled as they turned a corner and saw the aforementioned man heading towards them.
âAchilles, Patroclus,â Odysseus greeted the two with a genial smile. âIâm glad to see you two made it here in one piece.âÂ
Patroclus and Achilles greeted the man, the latter offering him a mere grunt in acknowledgment.
Odysseus ignored Achillesâs lackluster response, moving on to let him know where he was needed. âThey want you to start your vocal warmups and take some photos, Achilles.â
âOkay,â Achilles agreed, turning to Patroclus, âCâmon, you can watchââ
âActually,â Odysseus interjected, a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he looked at Patroclus, âI was thinking that I could stay with Mr. Menoitiades while you warm up. Iâm sure he would like to escape the hustle and bustle of all the concert preparations before the show.â
Achilles frowned, casting a dubious glance between his manager and Patroclus. Patroclus was surprised at Odysseusâs suggestion, but he hid it behind a smile that he hoped would be reassuring to Achilles. He didnât want to disturb the singerâs warmups by being in the way at all.
âI donât mind,â Patroclus said, catching onto the uncertainty behind the blondeâs expression. âIâd like to stretch my legs anyway.â
âAlright,â Achilles conceded, reaching out to gently touch Patroclusâs forearm, âIâll come find you afterwards, okay?â
âSounds good,â Patroclus nodded, doing his best to ignore the way the singerâs hand felt on his arm. Why did such a simple touch make him feel so nervous?
Achilles gave him one last smile, and a brief narrowing of his eyes directed at Odysseus, before he turned and headed down a different corridor.Â
Once Achilles was gone, Odysseus turned to Patroclus. âWalk with me,â he said, turning and setting off down the hallway.
âIs⊠there something in particular you wanted to talk about?â It was clear that the man wanted to speak with him alone, so Patroclus wanted to skip the small talk and get straight to the point.
Odysseus chuckled and nodded at Patroclusâs question. âHow has your time with Mr. Pelides been so far? Iâm sure it must be a huge adjustment for you to take a break from your job and go touring with a celebrity.â
Patroclus paused to think about the manâs question as he walked beside him. âWell, it is weird to not be at the hospital,â he said. âBut I think it might be a good thing to be away for a while. My friends are always saying that I work too hard anyway.â
Odysseus hummed in response, giving him a knowing look. âI trust Achilles has been making you feel welcome as well?â
Patroclus couldnât help but smile to himself at the question, thinking back to how kind and open Achilles had been with him thus far. He hadnât been obligated to pay any attention to Patroclus outside of their contracted appearances, yet he spoke and laughed with him as if they were old childhood friends. Although they had only met days before, Patroclus could confidently say that Achilles was the perfect gentleman, and even friend, to him.
âYes, of course,â Patroclus answered truthfully.
âGood, good,â Odysseus clasped his hands together. âYou know, Iâve known Achilles since he was a child. His father and I actually used to be good friends. Well, until we had a⊠disagreement of sorts.â The man had a far away look in his eyes, as if he were distinctly remembering a moment from the past.
Patroclus frowned, unsure of how he should respond. âWhy are you telling me this, sir?â
His question seemed to snap the man out of his reverie as Odysseusâs gentle smile returned once more when he looked at Patroclus again.Â
âOdysseus,â the man corrected. âAnd my point is, I know Achilles well. I watched him grow up, and though he would hate to admit it, I know him better than most others. Because of this, I suppose I just wanted to give you a word of caution, Patroclus. Tell me, what have you heard about Mr. Pelidesâs reputation?â
A word of caution? Why would Patroclus need to be cautious around Achilles?
âNot much,â Patroclus shrugged. âI mean, I heard from my friend that he had been kind of reckless lately, but honestly before the concert the other night I never really paid much attention to him.â
Patroclusâs last comment caused a chuckle to escape Odysseusâs mouth. âBetter let that stay between us. Iâm certain Achilles wouldnât be pleased to hear that,â he said with a wink, earning a sheepish nod from Patroclus.
As the pair approached a lounge area down one of the hallways, Odysseus guided Patroclus to take a seat on one of the sofas in the room. Once they were both seated, there was a pause in which the man seemed to turn words over in his mind before he continued to speak.
âAchilles Pelides is, in my humble opinion, one of the finest musical artists this generation has seen. However, that level of fame seems to have taken a toll on him. In recent years, Achilles has had quite the reputation of being a playboy and a partier. He has had relations with several people, both men and women, although none of those relationships have lasted. Mr. Pelidesâs public bisexuality has prompted individuals from all over to flock to him, but none of them have truly seen Achilles for who he really is. I believe this has caused him to⊠act out lately.
âThis is why I urge you to exercise caution with him. Though Achilles and I have our differences, I care for his safety. And I wish for him to be surrounded by people who are good to him. He can be reckless at times, but in the end he has a good heart. One that I would hate to see broken yet again,â Odysseus finished, his stern tone of voice a stark contrast to the calm and gentle demeanor he had before. The manâs serious expression conveyed the gravity of his words as he awaited Patroclusâs response.
Patroclus was visibly startled by Odysseusâs words. Was the man trying to threaten him? Did he think he was going to hurt Achilles somehow?
 âAre you trying to say that I shouldnât get close to Achilles?â Patroclus asked cautiously.
âNot at all,â Odysseus shook his head, his previous friendliness beginning to return. âIn fact, I think that it would be good if you two were companions whilst on this tour. I am merely urging you to take care of not only Achilles, but watch out for yourself as well. Mr. Pelides is a complicated man after all.â
Okay, that definitely wasnât ominous at all. Patroclus definitely wasnât planning on hurting Achilles in any way. But why was Odysseus telling him to watch out for himself? How could Achilles possibly hurt him?
âOf course,â Patroclus assured the man, trying to tamp down his confusion at the otherâs words.
Seemingly satisfied by Patroclusâs assurance, Odysseus smiled in gratitude before his eyes drifted to the doorway behind where Patroclus was seated.
âWhat were you guys talking about?â a voice, which Patroclus instantly recognized as Achillesâs, came from the hallway.
Patroclus immediately turned around to see the blonde leaning against the doorframe with an air of nonchalance. Briefly, Patroclus noticed the way Achillesâs lips twitched when he looked at Odysseus in question.Â
âOh, I was just asking Mr. Monoetiades about his time on tour so far,â Odysseus said as he stood up and began to walk out of the lounge room, Patroclus following suit. âItâs such a big adjustment to be here instead of at the hospital, of course.â
Achilles looked to Patroclus as if asking for confirmation, to which the latter gave him a reassuring nod and smile. Technically Odysseus did ask about how he has been doing here.
âRight,â Achilles said after eyeing Patroclus carefully. âWell, if you two are done I was coming to see if Patroclus wanted to watch me rehearse a few songs.â
Patroclus nodded in agreement. He found himself eager to watch the singer perform without a large audience, even if it was only a rehearsal.
âIâd love to,â he smiled, glad when he saw Achilles perk up with a pleased look falling on his face.
A few hours later, the concert was in full swing.
Before the concert had started, Patroclus was led to a private tent guarded by security towards the middle front of the venue, giving the man a clear view of his fake boyfriend. Achilles had joked about this, saying that now Patroclus wouldnât have to look at the screens in order to check him out. In response, the flustered Patroclus had merely given the blonde a halfhearted plea for him to shut up, eliciting one of those beautiful laughs that Patroclus was becoming fond of.
Patroclus was glad for the privacy he was granted within the tent. Well, for the most part at least. As he had entered the secure area he had caught the attention of several concertgoers, many of which had pulled out their phones to snap a picture or video of Achillesâs new beau.Â
Per Odysseusâs instruction, Patroclus did his best to ignore the attention he was receiving as people noticed him in passing. It was hard though, as he was ordinarily used to being ignored by those around him. And given the mixed reactions he had been receiving online, he once again felt very self-conscious about his appearance and every move.Â
Once the concert started after what felt like ages, Patroclus was glad to no longer be watched so carefully by Achillesâs fans. It also helped that the tent he was in was located far enough away from the main crowd and behind barricades so he didnât have to worry about being disturbed throughout the show.
Everything from the light features and stage design to the concertâs setlist were very different than they were when Patroclus had last attended Achillesâs concert, but they were equally as stunning.Â
When Achilles entered the stage, Patroclus had immediately noticed the blondeâs stage attire. It consisted of slightly oversized black pants with fashionably placed pockets and chains, and a deep blue mesh top that left very little to the imagination. Not that Patroclus had to imagine anything after that morningâŠÂ
Focus on the performance, he quickly had to remind himself, determined to not break the unofficial agreement he had made with himself that morning.
As the concert progressed, Patroclus found himself enjoying himself just as much, if not more than the first time he had seen Achilles perform.Â
He played some of the songs from the last concert, and Patroclus was surprised to find that he remembered the lyrics to most of them. There were also a good amount of songs that hadnât been played the other night, but were equally as powerful. Just like before, the blondeâs singing voice was silky smooth and irresistibly captivating. His vocals were also highlighted by the dramatic lighting that matched the moods of each song with different color palettes and effects.
In between songs, Achilles also included a lot of fan interactions that kept the show lively and entertaining. At one point, he even brought a lucky fan up onstage to sing one of his slower songs with him as he played the piano.Â
The man commanded the stage throughout the whole night, leaving no doubt that Achilles was a born performer and star. Every movement and expression seemed to come easily to him as he moved around the stage, effectively captivating the audience. Several times, Patroclus thought he noticed the singer cast gazes towards him but he ended up telling himself that those heated glances were mere coincidences.
As Patroclus watched the blonde, he couldnât help but notice the way in which he seemed so joyful and radiant as he sang his heart out. In a way, he almost looked younger than his twenty-five years of age in that he was so carefree and happy as he performed for his fans.Â
Recalling their conversation on the bus ride, Patroclus was glad to see Achilles enjoying himself. The man deserved to be happy without the pressure of the media and his management causing him stress. If only Achilles could be this content all the time, then that gorgeous smile of his would never have to leave his face.
Around two hours later the concert had wrapped up and Patroclus was led by Ajax and a few other security team members backstage. Achilles, who had just finished downing a bottle of water, immediately beamed when he saw Patroclus. With rosy cheeks and wide, bright eyes, the man approached the brunette and pulled him into a hug, to the latterâs surprise.
âPatroclus!â Achilles said, pulling away after a moment to look at the man, but keeping his hands on his back. âHow was it?â
The blondeâs palpable energy caused Patroclus to beam back at him. In this moment, Achilles looked just like a little kid who won his first football match.
âIt was amazing,â the brunette responded earnestly. âYou were great. I had a lot of fun.â
Achillesâs grin became even wider, if that were even possible. He was clearly pleased by Patroclusâs response, causing the brunette to blush at the idea that Achilles seemed to value his opinion so much already.
âAn awesome opening night, Achilles.â
Both menâs attention was diverted to Phoenix, who clapped a hand on Achillesâs back. Achilles let go of Patroclus to turn to his guitarist, clasping his hand in greeting, saying, âHell yeah, man!â
âWeâre gonna go out tonight to celebrate,â Phoenix said. âYou two coming?â
âIâm not sure yet,â Achilles responded, glancing at Patroclus with a certain glint in his eyes.
Phoenix frowned at the manâs response. âCâmon man, you always go out after the first showââ
âChill, Phoenix,â Penelope said as she came over to the trio, pulling the strap of her bass over her head and setting the instrument down on a stand nearby. âIâm sure Achilles just wants to relax with his âboyfriendâ tonight.â
The woman flashed Patroclus a wink and a knowing smirk, making the brunette flush under her attention.
Achilles chuckled at the womanâs statement. âIâll come out another time guys, I promise. Besides, we still have the whole rest of the tour to hang out.â
Having reassured Phoenix with this statement, Achilles and Patroclus bade the band members and the rest of the singerâs crew goodnight and headed back to the hotel so that Achilles could shower and change.
âYou can go out with them if you want,â Patroclus said when Achilles had exited the bathroom after his shower. Thankfully, the blonde had changed into a hoodie and pants so Patroclus didnât have a repeat of that morning. âIâll be fine by myself here.â
Achilles smiled softly and shook his head. âI donât want to. Actually, I was thinking we could do something on our own.â
Achilles wanted to do something with just him?
âReally?â Patroclus said with a bemused smile. âAlright, what do you want to do?â
Achilles merely gave him a mischievous smile, reaching out to grab Patroclusâs hand and pulling him up from the sofa he was seated on. âWeâll just have to see where the night takes us.â
The pair ended up taking a taxi to the Ladadika district, not far from where the concert was within Thessaloniki. The neighborhood was lively and bright even at this time of night, full of bars and restaurants with many younger people milling about and enjoying themselves.
Patroclus took in the sights and breathed in the amazing smells of the local food vendors. He was excited to experience all that the area had to offer, but he stopped himself from getting carried away when he came to a realization.
âWait, are you sure we should be doing this? Arenât we breaking that rule Agamemnon gave us about bringing security wherever we go or something?â Patroclus frowned as he looked at Achilles, who seemed completely unbothered.
The man shrugged with an amused grin. âAgamemnonâs ârulesâ are more like suggestions to me.â He then reached over and grasped Patroclusâs hand for the second time that night and began walking down one of the cobblestone streets. âCâmon, Iâm starving.â
Patroclusâs heart beat traitorously in his chest as he allowed himself to be led through the amply lit street.
Heâs just doing this for show, he told himself as he looked at their intertwined hands. Though the blonde had pulled his hood over his head so he was unrecognizable from afar, making the whole fake boyfriend stunt unnecessary for the time being.
As the night went on they went to a variety of street food carts, getting their fill of souvlaki and tiropita, with loukoumades for dessert, which they washed down with samples of spirits from different vendors.
Though they were only a bit tipsy off the alcohol, the two stumbled around the streets laughing and joking as if they were university students on vacation.
At one point, they found a stray striped orange cat wandering around the sidewalk, which Achilles immediately began trying to lure over to them.
âPspspsps,â the blonde said as he crouched down with an extended hand to the cat.
Patroclus burst out in laughter, probably louder than he intended. âIt doesnât look very interested in you,â he said, watching as the cat merely stared at Achilles, making no move to come closer.
âTrust me, Iâm the cat whisperer,â Achilles said, looking up at Patroclus and causing him to laugh even harder.
âOh yeah? Then why has the cat disappeared?â
âWhat?â Achilles frowned, head snapping to where the cat was indeed nowhere to be found. âAw, man.â
Amused, Patroclus gave Achilles a sympathetic pat on the back when he stood up. âDonât worry, Iâm sure it had nothing to do with you, Mr. Cat Whisperer.â
Achilles playfully rolled his eyes and kept walking. âIâll get the next one to let me pet it, just you wait.â
âSure,â Patroclus grinned and walked alongside him. âIâm looking forward to it.â
After spending some time wandering around and listening to various live musicians, the men found themselves walking along the waterfront.
While it was dark out, the water was illuminated by several lampposts and the moon. It was serene and quiet compared to the activity of the shopping area.
âCâmere,â Achilles said softly, bringing Patroclusâs attention to the blonde who had pulled his hood off as there was no one nearby.
âI want to get a picture.â
Achilles gently pulled Patroclus close to him, his hand on his waist which was reminiscent of when he had declared the brunette as his boyfriend. He pulled out his phone and they angled themselves so that their smiling faces were lit up well enough, with the sea in the background.
Patroclus cleared his throat, extracting himself from the blondeâs hold once the picture was taken.Â
âWas that for social media?â he asked casually.
âNo, just for us. I donât want to forget this night.â
A lump formed in Patroclusâs throat. The thump of his heart felt impossibly heavy in his chest.
Not trusting himself with words, Patroclus merely smiled in return and turned to look back at the view of the water. Though the view was pretty, Patroclusâs mind was racing as he tried to make sense of Achillesâs words.
There was a long moment of silence between the two as they watched the waves swell and crash upon the shore. Eventually, Achilles spoke up, interrupting Patroclus from his thoughts.
The man was startled by the sudden utterance of his name.
âHm?â He looked back at Achilles, forcing a small smile on his face. One that he hoped wouldnât convey his inner turmoil.
Achilles opened his mouth, ready to speak when he was interrupted by the shrill squeals of several women nearby.
âIs that Achilles Pelides?â
âIt is him! Itâs Achilles!â
âShit,â Achilles groaned, realizing that a large group of women was rapidly approaching them, clearly recognizing him with his hood off.Â
Before either men could move, the group descended upon them. Loud pleas for autographs and pictures from their favorite singer rang out, disrupting the prior peace of the waterfront.
Patroclus was frozen in place, still unused to being around swarms of people like this. Much to his dismay, a couple of the fans realized that he was there with Achilles and started spewing comments directed at him.
âHoly shit,â one chimed, âItâs that Patroclus guy!â
âAre you two actually dating?â
âI bet their relationship is fake. Youâre just using Achilles for clout, arenât you?â
âThereâs no way Achilles would actually date this guy!â
Almost all of them had pulled out their cameras, snapping several pictures of him. The lights of the flashes were blinding so close to Patroclusâs eyes. This was somehow worse than that first paparazzi encounter he had not that long ago.
âI donâtâ,â Patroclus tried to stutter something, anything out, âNo, Iââ
His words fell on deaf ears as some of the fans lost interest in him. He panicked as he found himself being shoved away as the fans pushed their way past him to get to Achilles. In this state, he hardly noticed the way in which Achilles was trying to get ahold of him and telling the fans to leave him alone.
Patroclus felt helpless as he lost his balance and fell to the ground as he was pushed aside.
âSTOP!â a voice bellowed out immediately, causing the chatter of the group to die down.
The singer pushed his way forcefully through the crowd to reach Patroclus, pulling him up and wrapping his arms around him protectively.Â
âAre you okay?â he said immediately, roving his eyes up and down to make sure the brunette was unharmed.
Patroclus gave him a shaky nod. Once Achilles was sure the brunette was okay, he turned a furious glare onto the raucous fans.
âWhat is wrong with you people?â he seethed.
There was complete silence from the group, minus the surprised squeak of one of the women.
âI donât give a shit if you like my music. You cannot treat people like this. You canât treat Patroclus like this. And you have no right to assume you actually know anything about us,â Achilles said forcefully. âI donât care how much you all supposedly like me or my music, if you canât have any human fucking decency then I donât want to have anything to do with so-called âfansâ like you. Now, apologize to my boyfriend and then leave us the hell alone.â
Patroclus looked between Achilles and the group in shock, his facial expression matching those of the latter.
After a beat of silence, the group members stuttered out hasty apologies and sheepish glances at Achilles before quickly scattering and leaving the men alone.
âYou didnât have to do that,â Patroclus said quietly once the group was out of sight.Â
While Achillesâs words were harsh, he felt comforted by the fact that the man seemed to care so much about his safety.
âYes, I did,â Achilles responded. âIâm really sorry, Patroclus. I shouldnât have let them get so close to you and say all that. Some of my âfansâ have no sense of respect.â
He was calmer now, but still clearly upset by what had happened as he continued to hold onto Patroclus and look for any sign of discomfort from him.
âItâs alright, Achilles. They surprised us both. Iâm just glad you got them to leave.â At Achillesâs look of skepticism, Patroclus offered him a reassuring smile. âReally, I swear Iâm okay.â
Achilles nodded in acceptance and let go of Patroclus, who subconsciously missed the warmth of his embrace.
âPatroclus, Iâll always keep you safe. You can count on me,â Achilles promised as they began to walk back to catch a taxi back to the hotel. His eyes were soft as he looked at the brunette.
âI know,â Patroclus responded.
He felt warm inside knowing without a doubt that Achilles meant those words.
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