Odysseus🏹

When the gods ordered Odysseus to kill Astyanax, Hector's young son, he refused. Yes, he killed people in war, but they were grown men capable of fighting and defending themselves. Odysseus defeated them in battle, and he didn't kill them when they were defenseless, at least not while they slept. But a defenseless baby...? No. That would be crossing a line the king of Ithaca refused to cross. What he didn't think about was: what would he do with a baby on his ship? Odysseus had barely any experience with young children. Sure, he helped Penelope when Telemachus was born, more than any father would, but that was ten years ago... And so, after days of barely any sleep because Astyanax didn't sleep at night either, Odysseus decided to ask you for help. From what he knew, you were good with children, or at least better than he was.

—I swear I'll give you half of my kingdom if you manage to kill him.

Odysseus grunted wearily, gently handing you over to Astyanax. You laughed at the exaggeration, but at that moment, he didn't care.

—"If I had known that having a second child would be so complicated..."

That phrase earned him a look of surprise. For a moment, he didn't know why, but then he understood. He'd never referred to Asytanax as his son before. It was the first time. The thought made him smile too, and he gently kissed the head of the baby in your arms. A new wave of affection washed over him.

—It might be tiring, but... I mean it. He's my son now. And I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world.

A son he could watch grow up... Odysseus liked that.