Promise of Life, Declaration of Death
Disclaimer: I don't own PJO.
Quick Notes: Athena's father is NOT Zeus in this story. Zeus is younger than Athena in this, so... yeah. Also, Poseidon and Athena are in NO way related! And they're six, or almost six, in 2011. I get that. I made it that way intentionally, because they didn't have hospitals in the 4th age. (Poseidon was born in and raised in the 4th age, NOT the 5th) OH! BY THE WAY, ALL MORTAL!
Athena's POV
The doctors and nursed were flocked around me, running blood tests for the surgury I as going to have in three days. I was feeling such an odd mix of excitment and mortal terror. Mostly mortal terror.
They were sticking IV's and needles in my arms, taking blood tests, and a few others I can't remember right now because of the anesthetic.
Anyway, just as they were putting in the last IV, a boy with black hair and green eyes was rolled in. The doctors and nurses immedietly crowded around him.
I felt sorry for him, but at least my torture- I mean, medical attention- was over.
When the doctors left the room, the boy was glaring at the IV stuck in his arm.
"Hey." He said. "Who are you?" He asked.
"I'm Athena." I said. "I'm 5 going on six."
"I'm already six, but my birthday was only a month ago" The boy said. "I'm Poseidon." He said. He paused, as if he were considering saying more, then continued. "I need an organ transplant. Why are you here?" Poseidon asked.
This boy was a little strange, but I let it pass. He was friendly enough and was my age. "I also need an organ transplant. A liver." I told him.
"Kidney." He said. "I'm here for a kidney." He glared at the IV again. "Stupid torturers." He muttered. "Sticking needles in my arms, claiming it's for my own good."
I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. The boy smiled and started laughing too. "What I don't get is why they have to do it three days before the actual surgery" The boy said, between fits of laughter.
"It's called Pre-Op" I told him.
"I get that, but three days?" Poseidon said.
"I agree. Cruel and unusual medicine" I said, not noticing that a nurse in her early twenties had just walked in.
"Nice one!" She said. "We all hate IV's, however, your just going to have to deal with it for the next few days. Then your free to go home." She said, smiling at the two of us. She came in to talk to us about our operations and to calm any fears we might have.
"Your going to be asleep the entire time, and when you wake up, it'll be all over" She said in a sticky sweet voice. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I'm six, not three. Well, almost six, anyway. But I'm so close, I might as well say I am.
"Poseidon, your sister is here" She said.
"My sister is here?" He asked in surprise. Then he smiled. "Hestia? Please tell me it's Hestia!"
A woman who looked maybe 18 stepped into the room. She had chocolate brown hair and warm brown eyes. "Hey little brother" The person I assumed was Poseidon's sister.
"Hey. Hestia, this is Athena. Athena, this is my older sister and legal guardian, Hestia." Poseidon said, introducing us to each other.
"Someone's pretty enthusiastic today!" Hestia said, laughing. Poseidon grinned.
"I'm always enthusiastic. Right up until the "knock me out and cut me open" part." Poseidon said.
"Well, when you put it that way..." The nurse, Ms. Keller, said. "It does sound rather like cruel and unusual punishment. But it's for your own good."
Poseidon pretended to look heaven-ward. "Again with the "for you own good"!" He said. Then he pointed up at the sky dramatically. "But it was not you mocking me! It. Was. ZEUS!"
Hestia and Ms. Keller laughed at the boy's strange antics. "Thank you! I'll be here all week! Literally!" Poseidon said.*
Hestia smiled. "And then, hopefully, you can go home. Your little brother misses you"
Poseidon smiled.
"Wow, way to make his ego even bigger!" I commented sarcastically. As far as I could see, he didn't have an ego, but I could still tease him. Poseidon and Hestia burst out laughing.
"Poseidon, have you been upsetting this poor girl?" Hestia said, smiling.
"As if he could upset anybody" Ms. Keller said. "He's a little ray of sunshine!"
"I... don't have... an ego!" Poseidon said, through more fits of laughter. Then he calmed down. "But if I DO, at least I can laugh at myself!" He said, with a goofy grin on his face. I couldn't help but smile.
I managed to get out "Immature... idiot" Poseidon smiled.
"Thanks! That was exactly what I was going for!" He said, cheerfully. "And who cares if I'm acting like an immature idiot? I'm having fun"
Hestia smiled. "The house feels so empty without you. I can't believe Demeter, Hades, Hera, and Zeus didn't want to come and see you"
"You and your sibblings are named after Greek gods?" Ms. Keller asked.
Poseidon nodded. "Our parents were WAY obsessed with Greek Mythology." He said, his face becoming serious for once.
"Were? What happened to them?" Ms. Keller asked. Poseidon seemed to have gone hard of hearing.
Hestia answered for him. "Our parents... weren't the best... that's why I take care of them. I'm the oldest out of the six of us."
Poseidon nodded, looking sad. Then he bounced right back to his usual, cheerful, joking self. "What's for lunch? Hopefully not hospital food."
"How about I bring you and your friend something from the resturaunt downstairs? They have some really good, healthy stuff that follows hospital regulations for patients' family members." Hestia suggested.
"As long as it's not cereal, I'm okay" Poseidon said, grinning again.
*I'd just like to point out that Poseidon is SIX, so he's going to be a little immature and theatrical and OOC if you go by the book's description of him.
Oh! And this is a Pothena FRIENDSHIP fic, BUT... it's an incredibly strong friendship, and soon Hades even jokingly calls them the "hottest new celebrity couple". You'll see later on, but no spoilers!
