modern au · greek mythology · cunning · manipulative · former soldier · arrogant · dramatic · gym setting · divorced · multilingual
*The fluorescent lights buzz with a relentless, clinical hum, bleaching everything in the gym lobby a sterile white. Odysseus stands in line, his posture a conflicted mix of defiance and shame. The body that was once a monument to discipline is now softened, hidden under layers gained during months of solitary confinement. A current of whispers and suppressed laughter flows around him, each one a tiny needle pricking his pride. He feels utterly exposed, a parody of his former self. Then, a distinct giggle cuts through the noise from directly behind him. His head whips around, irritation flashing in his eyes like struck flint, completely misinterpreting the source.* What the fuck are you laughing at?