Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The celestial family were all hiding inside the Trojan horse.

The Trojans thought they were surrendering. They thought the Celestials—Ithacians—would give in that easily, did they? Well, the Trojans were idiotic. They really thought they’d give them a surrender gift? As if. They’re warriors, they fight for their freedom and fight for each other as family. They wouldn’t give up. They’ve been fighting for ten years, if they stopped now they’d be stupid.

They were ready, considering all that. They were ready to fight the Trojans. Ready to make them feel stupid and helpless. Ready to avenge all the fallen citizens of Ithaca. Hidden inside the horse, the Celestials plus the other men and women laid low.

Sun and Moon, being the leaders of the group, were giving out instructions to the rest of the crew.

“Alright, my brothers and sisters, listen closely.” Sun spoke up, getting the attention of everyone, not just his family. “Tonight we make the Trojans pay.” This got a few cheers from the warriors in the group, and Sun settled them down with a gesture.

“Ten years of war, they’ve killed us slowly.” Sun continued, pacing around the horse with his hands behind his back.

Moon had noticed Sun being more put together ever since they rode out to war. He’d matured, having to command 600 men with Moon. He was proud, as much as he didn’t want to say it. He also had his doubts, too. Worriedness, on how this has been affecting him.

However, they’re fighting in war. There’s no point in worrying about mental health when they have bigger problems to deal with.

“But now we’ll be the ones who slay!” Sun continued on, a fire in his eyes Moon hadn’t seen before. They were going to get their revenge. Revenge on the Trojans who doomed them all.

“Think of your spouses...” Sun looked over to Lunar, although he didn’t want to say it, Gemini, Lunar’s partner, was out in Ithaca somewhere awaiting his return. Hopefully they’d be able to see them again. “…and you’re children.”

When Sun said that, he looked over to Solar. He saw the glint in his eyes. The thought of seeing his son again was too heavy, and the same went for Sun himself. His daughter, Dazzle. Oh, how he missed her. Ten long years since he’s seen his daughter.

Sun pulled out of his thoughts, looking up at the group of 30 warriors. “Your families wonder where you’ve been.”

Sun took a deep breath, dipping his head low. “They’re growing old and yet you’re still here.” Suddenly, with precision, Sun looked up at the group of Greeks. “Do what me and Moon say and you’ll see them again.”

“Yes sir!” The group yelled out, besides his family, which continued to stare at him. Sun and Moon never enforced the celestials to call them sir, considering they’re family. Sun didn’t want to be called sir by his own family, and neither did Moon.

“Diomedes will lead the charge.” Moon stepped up next to his brother, pointing towards a brave and austere man. “Agememnon will flank the guards.” He pointed towards another soldier, then another. “Menelaus will let our mates through the gates to take the whole city at large.” Moon got tired of pointing at people, and let his arms go loose at his sides. “Teucer will shoot any ambush attack and little Ajax will stay back. Nestor, secure Helen and protect her. Neo, avenge your father, kill the brothers of Hector.”

“Yes sir!” Came from the crowd, and Moon smiled.

Sun took over the speech, stepping forward a bit. Sun was way better at emotional tasks then Moon was. Moon could give instructions and make strategies, not speeches that will ensure everyone uses their entire willpower to push through another day.

“Find that inner strength now. Use that well of pride!” Sun cheered on, watching as the warriors thought to themselves while listening. “Fight through every pain. Now, ask yourself inside: what do you live for, what do you try for, what do you wish for, what do you fight for?” Sun said, and stood up straight on his feet. He heard the crowd repeating, and Sun had to think about that question himself.

He knew the answer.

Everyone in the celestial family knew the answer.

“Dazzle…” His daughter, his beautiful daughter who he has to leave behind to leave for war. She’s around 15 now, Sun had to miss the most important parts of her life. He misses her. He wants to give her the father she never could have. “Dazzle…”

Solar seemed to be deep in thought, and Moon looked over to his best friend. “Jack,” Moon heard Solar murmur, which sent a shiver down Moon’s spine.

Moon didn’t have anyone to fight for but his family, here and now, hiding in this wooden horse, waiting to strike.

Sure, he could fight for Dazzle, and Jack, but those are Sun and Solar’s kids. Not his. But, he’d fight for them. He’d fight for them.

“I fight for us.” Moon nodded, finally.

“I fight for us.” Sun repeated, nodding back, before looking back to the rest of the crew.

Sun heard a few murmurs across the horse, especially from his own family. He heard a “Gemini,” he heard a “Monty” and “Earth,” which Sun thought was cute coming from the power couple.

Sun was pulled out of his thoughts when Moon tapped him on the shoulder.

“Focus, brother.”

Sun nodded, looking up at the crew. “We’re on our way…”

After a few moments of silence, speech started to erupt from within the horse again. Sun, having to shush down the crew so they didn’t get caught, looked out the cracks. He noticed through them it was pitch black.

Sun signaled this to Moon, “Moon, it’s time to attack.” Sun had a wicked look on his face, but also a regretful one. Moon could tell he didn’t really want to kill anyone besides the ones who attacked first.

They both knew it had to be done, however.

So Moon looked towards the group of people, nodding, “I hope you all remember your rolls, because it’s time to ATTACK!”

Movement erupted, and everyone poured out of the horse and started running to their assigned jobs. They’re sure Sun and Moon picked them for good reason.

Fighting ensued, innocent and non-innocent Trojans died and got greatly injured. Diomedes led, Agememnon flanked the guards, Menelaus let the rest of their crew in through the gates to have more man power, Teucer made all the ambush attacks he could, so on and so forth.

Cries let out through the city. Did the Trojans really think they’d go without a fight? As if.

After a few hours of fighting, Moon was hit by someone. He put up his shield, defending himself quickly, but his thoughts still prevailed. He was still shaken up. “Who… was that?” Did he just get ambushed?

“A vision.” A voice came from above, and Moon identified it as Zeus, the almighty himself. “Of what is to come, cannot be outright. Can only be dealt with right here and now.” Sun, who was a little to his right, heard Zeus’s voice. He came running over.

“Tell me how!” Moon yelled up towards the sky.

“I don’t think you’re ready.” Moon could almost feel the shake of Zeus’s head. “A mission, to kill someone’s son. A foe who won’t run. He is unlike anyone you have faced before.”

“Say no more!” Sun, who caught onto the situation fairly quickly, yelled up.

“I know that we’re ready.” Moon said.

“I don’t think you’re ready.” Zeus said, which caused Sun and Moon to frown. Sun guessed neither of them according to Zeus were ready for what was to come.

However, Sun and Moon were both informed of where to go to find this threat and to exterminate it.

They nodded to themselves, thanking the thunder bringer and running off to avenge the city of Ithaca. The pair ran into the palace, showing off their swords and weapons to those who dared step close. It scared them off real good.

Once in the room, both their faces collapsed. What… How could a child be the cause of destruction? “It’s just an infant…” Sun whispered, dropping his weapon and walking over to him. “It’s just a boy.” He whispered again, watching the sleeping thing. He was reminded of his daughter.

Moon dropped his own weapon on the floor, making sure the door was securely locked before walking next to his brother. “What sort of imminent threat does he pose that we cannot avoid?” Moon asked, looking up at the sky for guidance.

Zeus was right.

They were not ready, neither of them.

“This is the son of none other than Troy’s very own Prince Hector. Know that he will grow from a boy to an avenger, one fueled with rage as you’re consumed by age.” Zeus continued with the prophecy. “If you don’t end him now you’ll have no one left to save.”

Sun had a dejected look on his face, having a hand on Astyanax’s crib, not being able to meet the boy’s beady eyes.

“You can say goodbye to Dazzle.” Sun looked up, knocked out of his downward spiral of thoughts. No. Not his daughter, anyone but his daughter.

Again, Zeus repeated it. “You can say goodbye to Dazzle.”

“I could raise him as my own!” Sun reckoned. The idea of giving Dazzle a sibling would be nice.

“He will burn your house and throne.”

“Or I could send him far away from home!”

“He’ll find you wherever you go.”

“I’ll make sure his past is never known!”

“The gods will make him know.”

“I’d rather bleed for you,” Sun started pleading. He just couldn’t bring himself to kill an innocent child. “I’m down on my knees for you, I’m begging, please.”

“He’s bringing you down on your knees, reminder, this is the will of the gods.” Zeus replied.

Sun paused. He had to think through his thoughts.

After a few seconds, he replied, “please, don’t make me do this! Don’t make me do this!” He continued to plead, begging for something. Anything, to not have to kill an innocent child. Moon wished the same thing, but he kept it to himself for now. Sun needed him to stay calm.

Zeus decided to give the best answer he could. “The blood on your hands is something you won’t lose, all you can choose is whose.”

Then Zeus was gone.

Sun collapsed onto his knees, a sob escaped him. “Moon, I can’t do this. I can’t do this for the life of me, I can’t kill a baby boy…” He gripped the carpeted floor, scrunching up his hands into fists.

Moon had to stay strong. He knew he couldn’t either, but he had to stay strong and comfort his brother. He went down on his knees, rubbing Sun’s back. “Hey, hey, hey, look at me.”

His brother's eyes levitated towards Moon’s, and he sniffled.

“Breathe. In and out. We’ll make it through this, okay? I’m sure… it’s for the better… If the almighty thunder bringer says so, it must be.” Moon reassured.

Sun breathed, in and out, just like Moon instructed. He took control of it, but it was hard to stay strong.

“He’s so much like Dazzle. He has the same look in his eyes… I don’t know how I’ll be able to do it.”

Oh. That’s what this is about.

Moon should’ve guessed. That’s who Sun fights for. His baby girl, his daughter.

Chapter Text

Moon sat on the floor with Sun, watching as his brother sobbed over the child sleeping in the cradle.

Moon just sat with him.

He didn’t want to kill Astyanax, either. He didn’t want to become a monster.

However, Moon knew they had to get up. He knew they had to kill this baby in order to get home safely and to make sure their family came out of this unharmed. Doesn’t matter what they do, this baby will burn down all of Ithaca.

All they had to do was kill it.

Moon had to intervene.

“Come on, Sun… we need to… do it. We got to. It’s the will of the gods.” Moon tried, he really did. He tried to get Sun to get up, to kill the baby. “If you want I’ll do it.”

Sun shook his head. “No, no. I’ll do it with you. Don’t… worry, Moon.” He stood up, shakily, going over to the baby's crib.

Moon just watched, backing up a bit as Sun looked down onto Astyanax.

“I look into his eyes and I see the daughter of mine.” Sun spoke, rocking the crib ever so slightly. “He’s even younger than she was… when we left for war.” Moon had a worried expression. He let his brother monologue.

“Will these actions haunt my days? Every man I’ve slain is the price I pay, endless pain.” Sun dropped down next to the crib, peering into the crib through the bars. “Close your eyes… and save yourself the view…” He sighed, leaning his forehead on the crib.

“How could I hurt you?” Sun exhaled, standing up again just to pick up the baby and cradle him. It was just like cradling his daughter again.

“I’m just a man… who’s trying to go home. Even after all the years away from what I’ve known. I’m just a man… who’s fighting for his life.” Sun had a painful look on his face. He looked towards Moon, with the baby still in his hands. “Deep down, I would trade the world to see my daughter.”

Another sigh escaped Moon’s brother, the words “I’m just a man…” mumbled out of his mouth.

Moon walked towards his brother, putting a hand on his arm in a comforting motion. He had to do something. Say something. He couldn’t just let his brother mope.

“But… when… does a comet become a meteor?” Moon started, looking Sun in the eyes. He wasn’t the comforter. As much as he wanted to be, all he could give was breathing exercises. “When does a candle become a blaze?” He asked, watching Sun’s eyes. “When does a man become a… monster?” He watched his brother’s eyes widen, then relax again out of pure tiredness.

“When… does a ripple become a tidal wave?” Moon continued, taking his brother into a hug. “When does the reason become the blame?” Moon didn’t know what he was saying. He didn’t know what nonsense, but it seemed to be helping his brother take his focus off Astyanax. “When does a man become a monster?”

Moon took hold of Astyanax, cradling him himself.

He took a deep breath.

It’s time to slaughter a baby boy, isn’t it?

Moon grabbed his brother’s arm, holding the baby with the other. He moved onto the balcony of the palace.

Sun didn’t fuss.

“Forgive me…” Moon mumbled, staring down at the child in his hands. “Forgive me,” he repeated, holding his arm out over the edge. It was more of a plea to the gods above.

“Forgive me…” He sighed, finally, closing his eyes. He spared himself the view, letting go of the child and letting him fall to his doom.

A pause.

Moon heard Sun gasp behind him.

“I’m just a man…” Moon took Sun’s mantra. He’s just a man, after all.

And so is Sun.

What could they have done?

Nothing.

“Moon…” Sun mumbled, causing him to turn around and look at him.

“Yeah?”

“I’ll never forget this day.” Sun looked defeated, having his arms crossed and letting them loose to his sides.

Moon sighed. “Me too, Sun.” A pause. “Me too.”

***

Sun and Moon gathered all their men at sunrise.

The mood was still heavy, from that night. They both felt weak, especially Sun.

“Crew! Gather now, onto the ship!” Moon called, and heard back multitudes of ‘yes sirs!’

The group started to gather onto the ship. Sun and Moon stood together, waiting for everyone else to get on.

Moon put a hand on Sun’s shoulder, tapping a few times in a comforting manner.

He didn’t seem to be as affected by killing the infant as Sun was.

Why? Was he a monster? Is it because he didn’t have anyone to go home to? Anyone who he could compare the child to?

…

Moon shook that thought away. No, he’s not a monster. He helped his brother kill the baby out of love.

Not because he’s a monster.

Sun was having a hard time, though.

He’d just have to be there for him.

***

Solar came up to Moon after everyone boarded the ship, even Sun. He was about to get on when he noticed Solar.

“Solar?” Moon jumped down from his climb. “What are you doing?”

He looked embarrassed. “I’m not doing anything, I was just waiting to talk to you after… uh… everyone got on. And I didn’t get a chance.” Socially awkward as ever.

Moon rolled his eyes. “Right. What’d you want to say?”

“I wanted to ask if Sun was okay. I would've asked him myself, but I know Sun, he’d lie and say yes… uhm… if he was okay or not.” There was a pause. “So… I wanted to ask you.”

Moon took Solar’s hands into his. “Let’s just say, he…, well, and I, had to go through something very traumatic. But we all have, at this point, so what’s to fuss? Don’t worry, brother.” Moon smiled, letting go of his hands and running back to the ship.

“Come on, stupid!” Moon yelled out, and Solar grinned, running after him.

Moon needed that conversation with his best friend.