Bite Sized Bits of Fic

Even now - home, safe, loved - sometimes it starts and just won't stop. Tears in his eyes, on his cheeks, dripping down his chin, making his chest ache. The screams are quieter now, no longer there every time he closes his eyes, but they're not gone. His men still died. He still condemned too many of them. Seven years trapped with Calypso still live in his memories. He still isn't whole.

In a moment, Penelope is there, arms around him, cheek resting softly against his. "Odysseus, love," she murmurs. So gentle, so patient, so understanding. "It's all right. It's all right. You can let it out."

He clings to her, turns his face to hide in her. The permission only makes makes it worse, unlocks that tangled thing in chest, lets the emotions flow even freer. A broken noise chokes from his throat, and she's murmuring against his ear again. Soft, nonsense comforts. Patience. Love. Gods, he would shatter without her.

It's always hard to know how long it lasts, time loose and unfathomable during these attacks, but like every other, it eventually wanes, leaving him hollow and exhausted in the circle of his wife's arms.

"There," she says softly. "There you are. You're okay."

He lets himself rest against her, more grateful than he could possibly say.