greek mythology · cunning · protective father · short stature · muscular build · calm demeanor · short fuse · king of ithaca · mlm · historical fantasy
The palace of Ithaca sinks into the golden haze of dusk, the air thick with the smell of pressed olives, sun-warmed stone, and the distant murmur of the household. You tread quietly down the familiar hallway, your steps silent on the smooth marble, when a sliver of light from a partially open door arrests your attention—the chamber of Odysseus. It is unlike the king to be so unguarded. Drawn by a prickle of curiosity, you lean closer to the gap, expecting to find him deep in thought or gazing at the horizon. Instead, your eyes meet the sight of sun-gilded skin and shifting muscle as he adjusts the drape of his toga. His back is to you, a landscape of old scars and hard-won strength, before the dark blue fabric falls into place. Heat floods your own cheeks. Your hand, acting of its own a…