Writer's Note- Small blurb here and chapter continues down below.
Someone has asked for Pictures of how I envision my characters. I'll put some pictures below but it's hard for me to think of my characters as real life people, so remember these are just approximations. I also primarily chose models because the internet is over saturated with pictures of them and it feels less creepy.
Achillesâ This is a Persian model, Mahdi Hejrati. I guess Achilles could look something like this, maybe less pretty though? I like to imagine Achilles a bit less well kept together.
Achilles as a wolf- yeah he's a black wolf and black wolves aren't super common but yes this is what he'd look like.
Xanderâ
This is another model, Reece King. I want to say this is a good likeness for what Xander could look like, but Xander has some freckles across the bridge of his nose and his eyes are green. I would say Xander is maybe a bit darker, and his hair is more kinky, and definitely bigger. The reason why I chose this person in particular is that there's a certain softness to his features that suit Xander's character.
Xander's hair probably, this kind of hair but bigger I guess.
Okay so, those are my likely images for Achilles and Xander. What do you think?
This chapter will be a bit short, but it's more of a segue chapter.
~Xander~
I looked around the airport to see if I saw Achilles anywhere in the arrivals waiting area. There were a good amount of people there, families, and more waiting for the loved ones.
I heard my name and I looked to the side, seeing Achilles. He was wearing a sleek winter jacket and a toque, waving excitedly at me.
We walked towards each other even though I wanted to run, as I brushed past people not looking anywhere but at him. He didn't take his eyes off me either.
Soon, there were no steps between us and Achilles stood in front of me in the flesh. He almost looked shy. "Hey," he said with a soft smile.
"Hey," I said, grinning at him.
Achilles engulfed me in a hug, whispering, "I've missed you." He pulled away, only to lean in to kiss me. It wasn't the kind of kiss that was meant for airports but I don't think Achilles cared, his mouth reminding me very much that I was his.
Not too many seconds later, the kiss was over and Achilles took hold of my luggage, "You smell like airplane."
That made me smile, "God, I know. It's a direct flight but it felt like forever. I mean, I was in first class, but still."
We started walking towards the parking lot, Achilles leading the way through the bustling airport. "How was Germany?"
"It was nice. All my extended family getting together is rare. It's kind of weird, I have a lot of cousins, aunts, uncles and stuff."
"So, it's all your dad's family?"
I nodded, "Yup. Papa was weird, too. He apologized for taking my coming out badly. He talked about wanting to start over." My lips flattened and my voice lowered.
Achilles gave me a sidelong look, "That upsets you?"
"He said he's been going to therapy, and it made him realize he had a lot of issues. I already told you my mom and him had an arranged marriage and that they divorced. But afterwards, he got married four more times. They all ended in divorce. In fact, his longest marriage was to my mom. I think he still has feelings for her, isn't that crazy?" I shook my head.
We were standing on an escalator, heading downwards and towards the parking lot. Achilles' reply was thoughtful, "Isn't that kind of romantic? An arranged marriage that results in love, and he was clearly never able to recreate that with his next marriages. You mentioned he apologized to you, but can you forgive him?"
"Would you forgive Anders if several years from now he realized he was a bigoted asshole, and he wanted to be back in your life again?"
"Iâ" Achilles hesitated. "I think I would."
I screwed my face tight, "That's because you're more capable of forgiveness than me. I don't know if that's a good thing." I didn't want to argue, "But anyways, how were your holidays?"
Achilles frowned, picking up speed as we went through the doors leading to the parking lot. "They were good. My mom made her special Christmas casserole, but in my opinion it had too many raisins. My mom and Jim's siblings and my cousins came around. It was weird, like my family realized I was coming alone and they seemed relieved. Anders and Jim tried to talk to me, basically asking if we'd broken up. When I told them we hadn't, they seemed disappointed. New Years was just bar hopping with Rory and the guys. But, I mean New Year's Eve was only last night."
We walked through the parking lot, and I sighed. "Do you wish I was a woman? So that things would be easier for you with your family."
Achilles gave me an offended look, "I wish my family didn't care who I dated. You know Xander, you've been doing this a lot lately, blaming yourself for things that are really my family's fault. You can't control their reactions."
We reached the car and I rubbed my jaw, "Yeah, you're right. I'm just tired, I don't know." I had been blaming myself a lot, but, sometimes I wasn't sure who was really worthy of blame.
Achilles unlocked his car, putting my luggage in his trunk and coming back to the driver's seat with a bouquet of flowers. I didn't know much about flowers, but they were colourful and Achilles handed the small bundle to me as he slid into his seat. "I'm happy you're back."
"Wow, flowers, Achilles?" I gasped, "You didn't have to."
"I wanted to." He said earnestly, brown eyes taking hold of me and reminding me that I was very loved.
#
Short chapter, but overall thoughts?
The next three chapters kind of work together as the beginning of the next big arc. They kind of read well when you read them back to back.