Training
Pre-canon fic of Zag and Achilles first training session. Primarily featuring Zag’s daddy issues lol
alternate title: How Achilles Becomes Zag’s Father Figure
Cross posted on ao3 under the same username :3
Zagreus hit the cold stone floor of the courtyard with a loud thud, grunting as pain shot through his shoulder. He pushed himself up, grabbing his sword and leveling it at Achilles. “Again.”
“Are you sure, lad?” The shade looked almost bored, spear hanging loosely in his hand. “Perhaps training exercises, first.”
“No.” He lunged at Achilles with a growl, and slammed back into the hard floor a few seconds later. Undeterred, he rose back to his feet, going back for more.
His father had foisted his training off on Achilles, claiming he had not the time or patience to train Zagreus. At first, Zagreus had been excited. Training with Achilles, the war hero! But the longer he thought, the angrier he got. His father, the paragon of parental excellence that he was, foisted him off on everyone else every chance he got. The one thing Zagreus thought might have bonded them was training. And Hades couldn’t even be bothered with that. Besides, how was Zagreus supposed to learn anything when all his father did was snarl at him?
Again, he slammed into the floor. He got up to try again, but Achilles held up his hand. “A moment, Zagreus?”
Despite himself, he stopped. “What?”
“Your grip is off, lad.” Achilles set his spear aside, moving to shift Zagreus’ hands on his sword. “There. Try that.”
Zagreus swung his sword around, surprised. “That… does feel better. Thank you.”
Achilles chuckled. “Well, it is my job, lad.”
“Right.” Zagreus frowned, staring down at his sword. If only his father could treat him with half the kindness Achilles did.
“Perhaps that’s enough for this day or night,” Achilles suggested, apparently sensing his mood shift. “Take a break.”
“No, I can keep going.” He raised his sword again. Achilles sighed, but did the same with his spear.
Zagreus made some headway, but ultimately it ended with the stone floor digging into his shoulders again.
And again.
And again.
“Alright lad, that’s enough for today.”
“But i-”
“It wasn’t a suggestion, Zagreus.” Achilles said, sternly. “Part of training is resting.”
The gears in Zagreus’ brain ground to a halt. Resting? No, he had to keep going. He wasn’t allowed to stop and rest, not unless he wanted to hear about it from his father.
Achilles plucked the sword from his hands, putting it back with the other practice weapons in the courtyard. “You did well, Zagreus.”
He did well? Zagreus felt his heart clench in his chest, and it took a moment to respond. “I-thank you, sir. But all I did was get knocked down, really.”
“Yes, but you got back up.” Achilles smiled kindly at him, giving him a clap on the shoulder. “That’s half the battle, lad. You have an unwavering determination to do better. I can work with that.”
Oh, Zagreus did not know what to do in the face of such kindness. He was at a loss for words, one of the very few times in his life such a thing would occur.
Achilles kindly did not comment on it. “I have to return to my duties in the main hall. Next I’m off, we can continue.”
“Of course, sir!” Zagreus had changed his mind. Training with Achilles was much more pleasant than training with his father ever would have been. “I’m looking forward to it.”
25 notes
·
View notes