I know I don't own Percy Jackson & the Olympians, I already have to live with the pain of knowing that and now you people also want to rub it in my face?! MEAN! So mean and sadistic!
Anyway, I don't own anything and even the idea isn't my own, because the amazing I fell from heaven came up with this wonderful idea! Hail her:) ( and check out her stories, I personally like them a lot)
This is a Percy Jackson & the Olympians story. Summary; in order to learn to co-exist peacefully, the Gods are sent to earth and have to live in the same apartment complex. To make things worse, they also have to become teachers!
Enjoy!
Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt the sun doth move
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt I love
* William Shakespeare
The sun rose and illuminated the couple sleeping peacefully in the large bed with red curtains around it.
The woman had long, curly black hair and -although they were closed at the moment-, startling grey eyes that reflected the intelligence that surpassed the intelligence of any other creature that exists or once existed. The man had black hair as well and his eyes, which were also closed, were sea-green which made sense since he was god of the sea.
The man had his strong arms around the woman and the woman was laying half on top of him, with her ear on his heartbeat. His heartbeat would always lull her to sleep or calm her down. It was a very soothing sound and the woman often told the man it was her favorite sound.
The man and woman were deep asleep and from the way they embraced each other and smiled in their sleep, we can assume they were very happy sleeping together. The entire atmosphere in the room was one of tranquility and peace, an atmosphere that made the room seem warm and inviting.
That tranquility and peace was interrupted when the only window in the room suddenly flew open and something flew into the room. It was an owl and she - for it was a girl- was absolutely breathtaking.
At first sight, she might seem just beautiful, not really special, but beautiful. Her wings were brown, with a few white feathers between the brown. Her stomach and feet were orangish gold with white and her head was light and dark brown, with little white spots. Her eyes were spectacular, both intimidating and enchanting and a little frightening; they were big and the exact grey as the woman's eyes, something that wasn't common with owls.
What was really unsettling about the eyes however, was how human they looked. Eyes are often called mirrors of the soul and where the eyes of most animals don't consist a lot of emotion, hers did. They were filled with emotions and a sharp intelligence comparable to her mistress' intelligence.
But her eyes weren't the only thing you would notice if you had the (mis)fortune of being able to see more than others ( for normally , the mist concealed her quite nicely)
She was larger than most owls and although her feathers were mostly brown and white, they seemed to have a gold glow on them.
If you were clear-sighed and stared long enough at the owl, you would notice something even more unsettling than the sharp intelligence in her eyes, was what was slightly above her eyes; a third eye. It wasn't very noticable, but there was a third eye, hidden by feathers and the eyelid, that seemed to be moving, spiralling, and changed colors almost every second.
The owl looked at the sleeping people and rolled her eyes ( the third eye was closed again, so she didn't roll that one). She looked down at them with partly admiration and partly with annoyance. She didn't like it that her mistress and the mistress' man were still asleep. They should be up.
She flew towards them and started to hoot. Since the owl was so different from normal owls, her hooting was different as well. The normal rash, vaguely annoying or at least frightening sound was replaced by something gentle and beautiful. It actually sounded like humming, in a strange way.
The owl continued to 'humm' for a few minutes, the tune being that of " Open your eyes" by John Legend, one of the songs Athena liked. Athena prefered classical music, but the owl thought her mistress didn't deserve that. She should have been up already!
Her mistress stirred and groaned softly, but refused to wake up. The man tightened his grip on the woman, but didn't react in any other way.
The owl sighed - again, something that indicated this wasn't an ordinary owl- and closed her eyes, still humming. She kept her eyes firmly closed for a few moments and actually used one of her feet to support her chin, like a human might do during thinking.
After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and made a soft, happy sound. It sounded like a mix between a sigh and quiet chuckle. She jumped on the head of the man and , without any hesitation, brought down her beak. She didn't do it very hard- she didn't want to harm the man after all- but it must still have hurt.
The man immediately opened his eyes, sat up, yelled and slapped himself on his head. The woman opened her eyes, pushed herself up and covered her mouth when she yawned. After stretching cat-like, she looked at the man with worried, grey eyes.
" Poseidon? Is there any valible reason that you are currently hitting yourself?".
"Yes! I felt a sharp pain, some bird must have-".
His eyes widened and his mouth became a thin line when he spotted the owl that was sitting on the nightstand and looked at him with something in her eyes that could only be amusement. He pointed his finger at her. "You! It was you!".
The woman looked at her own owl and smiled when she saw how smug and satisfied she looked. She obviously felt completely justified to hurt Poseidon.
" Poseidon, please attempt to calm down. She didn't intend to really harm you, she was probably just attempting to wake you".
" Athena! She.. she tried to make a hole in my head".
" I sincerely doubt that she intended to do such a thing".
" Oh really? Why? Because she is your sweet owl who never does anything wrong?".
" No, because she possesses intelligence and would never attempt something that is so incredibly futile, inane and ridiculous".
" Oh really? Maybe she just likes making holes in people's heads! Or maybe she thinks I am going to have a brain child and wanted to help me by making a giant hole in my head for it!".
" Poseidon.. she just wanted to wake you. And you are unattainable to have brain children".
" Well, maybe your homicidal owl doesn't know that".
" Owls cannot be homocidal Poseidon. And even if they could be, she isn't".
Poseidon glanced at the owl that was following their conversation with great interest. He bent towards Athena, glancing at the owl one more time, before whispering " that is what she wants you to think! She is planning to assasinate me!".
Athena arched one of her eyebrows. " You honestly believe that my owl is plotting some far-fetched scheme to assassinate you? Darling, how hard did she hit you?".
" Athena! I am serious. Your owl is a crazy maniac who wants to kill me!".
" I beg your pardon, my darling, but I believe that is piffle. Why would my beloved Michi desire to assassinate you? She is rather taken with you, so that is utter ridicule Poseidon".
" THEN WHY DID SHE TRY TO MAKE A HOLE IN MY HEAD"?
Athena flinched when Poseidon suddenly screamed very loudly , loud enough to make her ears hurt. Michi flinced and ruffled her feathers, but seemed amused again after that ( probably because she knew her mistress wouldn't stand for all the immature behavior)
She didn't appreciate that and her normal patience was already wearing thin without him screaming at her. She pursed her lips and glared at him, satisfied when he flinched.
" Do not yell at me Poseidon. I do not appreciate your current behavior and will be very, very vexed if you proceed your current bad behavior".
Poseidon smiled sheepishly and gave her a soft kiss, which made Athena immediately a lot calmer and happier. He tasted like salt, but not in a bad way, she noticed.
" Sorry love. I suppose I am react a little too strongly. But I just don't want to miss you any moment with you and spending time will you will be problematic if I have a giant hole in my head".
Athena practically melted when he looked at her with love and devotion. She felt the familiar butterflies in her stomach and couldn't be mad at him when he looked at her with not only love and admiration, but also used his puppy dog eyes. She never could stay mad with him.
She perked him on the lips and smiled, watching as his face immediately lit up. " It is all right, my love. I can't imagine anything worse than not being able to spend time with you either, but don't accuse my owl of plotting anymore will you?".
" If he - Michi glared at him, holding an even stronger resemblance to her mistress- fine if she stops hurting me!".
" You make it sound like this is a daily occurence".
" Well, not daily, but it happens far too often that that owl hurts me".
" Poppycock. My dear Michi is sensible, extremely intelligent and compassionate. She would never intentionally hurt someone over and over again".
" Athena, whose side are you on? Mine or hers?".
" I prefer to remain neutral, thank you very much. And seeing as my Michi isn't plotting against you like you seem to believe, there shouldn't even be two different sides".
" She is plotting! She is evil".
" Poseidon.. she isn't evil!".
" Yes, she is! She is trying to kill me, because she is jealous!".
" Why would she envy you?".
"Because I get to spend a great amount of time with the most beautiful, intelligent and wonderful woman that has ever existed. Who wouldn't envy me?".
Athena smiled at him and gave him another soft kiss on his lips. She loved it when he complimented her. It was not like she fell for flattery, but it was still nice to be genuinely appreciated and admired by someone like Poseidon.
" It is endearing and flattering that you believe that love. I am convinced you are wonderful too, in your own seaweed brain way".
" Thanks. Does that mean you are on my side?".
" No. It means I forgive you your puerility and insanity, because that is just the way you are. But Poseidon, you really ought to stop making inane accusations. And say sorry to Michi, will you?".
" But Athena-".
" Poseidon. Do you enjoy sleeping on a couch?".
Poseidon took one look at Athena and decided he didn't want to make her even more angry. And he knew she was very touchy about her precious owl, her Michi.
" My sincere apologies Michi. I shouldn't have accused you of such a thing. Can you forgive me?".
Michi tilted her head and studied Poseidon intensely for a few minutes, just staring at him like she was deciding whether he was eatable or not. Poseidon knew she was considering her answer very carefully; Michi was a proud creature and she probably didn't like his wild accusations.
To make matters worse, she still had to come to terms with the fact that Poseidon and Athena were a couple. They had been for quite some time, but Michi still didn't exactly like it. She was very protective of Athena and Athena had warned Poseidon from the beginning it would be very difficult to gain her trust. Michi didn't trust a lot of people and it took her a long time to trust or start to like anyone. And it took her even longer when that person was close to Athena. She didn't envy that person; she knew she was very important to Athena. She just wanted to protect her mistress from getting harmed in any way, whether physically or mentally. She loved her mistress more than anything else in life and would do anything in her power to protect her.
Athena had warned Poseidon of all this and that it would very hard for him to earn Michi's trust and respect, but he hadn't realized just how difficult it would be.
Michi had been a true terror the first few weeks; blantly attacking him, using her claws and sharp beak, and torturing him in any way possible. She would drop dead mice everywhere he went just to provoke him. She would sit down on his head and - like Poseidon put it- try to make a hole in his head. She would offend him by leaving messages( Athena had taught her to write when she was young) that were about his stupidity, his ugliness and everything else that could possibly offend him.
She stalked him for those first weeks, doing everything to annoy, embarress or hurt him until Athena had told her to stop.
It really went too far when Michi tried to poke Poseidon's eyes out. She had justified it by telling Athena that if Poseidon really loved her, he wouldn't mind not seeing her outwardly beauty anymore, because she was even more beautiful from within.
Poseidon had been outraged- he even had sworn he would make owl-soup of Michi-, but calmed down somewhat after he had heard Michi's justification. He had grudgingly admitted her justification showed she had just attempted to protect her mistress.
Michi herself had calmed down after Athena had talked to her and after she had seen what Poseidon had done for Athena. Walking her everywhere, leaving her little presents, even writing a love poem ( which was really horrible, because Poseidon couldn't write poetry to save his life, but Athena liked it nonetheless) ... Poseidon tried everything in his power to make Athena happy.
A few days after the eye-poking incident, Poseidon had asked Michi to come with him and aid him with some important thing he had planned. She had been reluctant at first, but had complied when Poseidon explained it was for Athena.
Michi had been nonplussed when she saw what he had done.
He had chosen a secluded part of the magnificent gardens to set up a picknick. He had planted flowers in patterns; stunning red, thornless roses in the form of a heart, blue and lavender bachelor buttons in the form of a NYANSAPO (wisdom knot), pink and white camellia in the form of a shell and a breathtaking fern maidenhair that was painted gold and in the form of an apple. Under the golden apple-formed plant was written; for Athena, she who will ever be the most beautiful, inside and outside.
Apart from the stunning flowers, there were also big, golden fountains that held statues of Athena, with the water bended in the shape of hearts. To complete the romantic setting, there were candles and a hamper filled with Athena's favorite food.
Michi had been very impressed when she had seen what the man had prepared for her mistress. He obviously had put a lot of effort and thought in preparing a romantic evening. She just hoped he had done it for the right reasons. Because he cared for her mistress and not because he wanted something from her.
Poseidon had explained he had asked Aphrodite for advice and he had used her ideas to make this, but that he needed Michi's help to make the evening a succes. He needed her to lure Athena towards the secluded place, so they could have the perfect evening together. She was invited to stay and guard her mistress if she wanted too.
Michi had lured Athena towards the secluded place and she had been very happy when she saw her mistress smile broader than ever and throw herself into the arms of the man she loved. It had been the perfect evening, in a very romantic place, with champaign and delicious food.
Michi and Poseidon had grown closer when Michi after that day, but they still weren't friends. Michi barely trusted him and Poseidon still didn't really like her, but they weren't fighting anymore. Until this day.
It was the first time in a long time that Michi and Poseidon querelled. They had been getting along fairly well until today. But then again, Michi had woken Poseidon in the worst way possible. No wonder he was mad. And she had been once plotting against him, although she wasn't anymore. He just didn't know that.
He had actually earned her respect and trust those past weeks, by making Athena happier than Michi had seen her before. And her mistress' happiness was all that mattered to Michi. Nothing made her happier than seeing Athena smile.
So she nodded, knowing her mistress would be glad if she at least tried to behave nice. And the man did have some good qualities, qualities that had attracted her mistress and made her happier than ever. He couldn't be a complete failure if her mistress like him.
Poseidon smiled and nodded back. He knew how difficult it must be for the owl to swallow her pride. She was just as proud as her mistress.
" Thank you Michi. I hope I haven't hurt you or anything?".
Michi made another soft, musical sound and shook her head. Without another word, she flew towards Poseidon and sat down on his shoulder. Poseidon didn't need to speak 'owl' to understand that was a sign she trusted him.
Athena smiled when she saw the man she loved with all her soul, heart and mind and one of her dearest friends getting along. It made her unbelievably happy they seemed to be over their feud.
" Well, I can honestly proclaim I am relieved to see the end of this feud" she said, sighing and laying her head on Poseidon's chest to hear his heartbeat.
Now everything seemed all right again, she wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. Michi wouldn't have it though. Hooting loudly- this time making it sound much like an alarm clock- she flew towards Athena's head and gently bit her shoulder to get Athena's attention.
Sighing, Athena pushed herself up. " Apparently I need to deal with some imperative matter before I am allowed to return to sleeping. What is it Michi?".
Michi begain hooting again, this time the song-like hooting, fast and making other small sounds. Athena tilted her head and listened intently, hanging on to every word. Suddenly, she hissed and jumped out bed, startling Poseidon.
He watched her when she collected her clothes and quickly put them on. "Athena? Why are you getting dre-".
" Poseidon! Leave that bed this instant, we are late!".
" Where-". "The meeting!".
Poseidon's eyes widened and he swore when he realized where this was all about. The meeting they were supposed to attend. Apparently they had overslept.
He put his clothes on and they teleported together, disappearing and appearing again in front of the throne room. They ran their fingers through their slightly dishevelled hair and opened the doors.
Ten heads immediately turned their way.
" Athena! Poseidon! Why are you both this late?".
Athena bowed for her father. " Father. My sincere apologies for my delayed arrival. I fear I have overslept".
Her father still looked stern and royal, but she saw the smile hidden in his eyes. He wasn't mad at her, just vaguely concerned. She didn't miss how his eyes immediately became devoid of any of that worry and sympathy when he looked at Poseidon.
"Brother. What is your reason?"
" I was busy rebuilding my palace".
"Mm. That is a coincidence. Lax behavior like this is actually why I wanted to talk to you all. Sit down, both of you".
Poseidon and Athena sat down, Poseidon winking at her when nobody was looking. She ignored him, but he noticed the faint smile playing around her lips. She secretly loved those little signs of affection.
" Now that we are all here- Zeus gave Poseidon a pointed look which he ignored-, I would like to tell you all why you are here. This isn't an ordinary meeting you see. It isn't just about some problem we are facing or something I need your opinion on. It is about something I have noticed lately".
Zeus paused, looking at every own of them pointedly. He cleared his throat before continuing. " Lately, I have noticed a concerning and increasing amount of lax behavior. Every one of you isn't fullfilling your duties as well as you shou-"
Athena stood up, her exterior calm and composed while Poseidon was convinced that wasn't the case. He knew Athena and even though she looked calm, she wasn't. The storming grey eyes betrayed her, showing a flicker of anger if you looked well enough.
" I beg your pardon king Zeus, but that is a decidedly invalid proclamation. It is certianly possible that certain people are displaying lax behavior, but I know I am not one of them. I have been working very hard lately. Why do you think I overslept?".
Aphrodite giggled. " Oh darling, I know why you overslept. And you're right, you have been working very hard. Although I doubt that what you have been doing is part of your job".
Athena glared at her, looking ready to kill the love goddess. " What activities I indulge in in my spare time, is none of your business Aphrodite".
" Those kind of activities is darling".
" That kind and no, it still isn't. there is something called privacy Aphrodite".
" There-".
" SILENCE! This is what I am talking about! There is a shocking amount of lax behavior. No one cooperates and instead of working, you all are either indulging in - He looked pointedly at Athena- decidedly inaproppriate activities, or too busy with arguing to actually get some work done".
Athena sat down, looking very provoked and biting her lip slightly to prevent herself from saying something either puerile or disrespectful. Zeus seemed very satisfied that he had silenced her, what only annoyed her more.
" This has to stop! I have warned all of you various times, telling you this behavior should change, but nothing has happened. You all continue being reckless and careless and I have had enough! I won't tolerate this lax of behavior any longer".
" Father, with all respect, I sincerely doubt this is true. Not all of us are reckless and careless" Artemis spoke, looking quite offended.
" But everyone is Artemis, even you! You have been too busy with arguing and spending time with those hunters to fulfill your duties".
" That is only because my lousy brother keeps bothering me!".
" You shouldn't be so immature Artemis, your brother can't possibly bother you so much he keeps you from fulfilling your duties".
" He can! He is the most bothersome person on the planet".
" Sis! I am not. I am just trying to make you have some fun ".
" I never asked you to!".
" Well, that might be because you don't what fun is little sis".
" Stop calling me that! I am older".
" Am not!".
"Are too!".
" A- ".
"STOP".
Both bickering gods immediately stopped when Zeus stood up and screamed at the top of his lungs. It wasn't a pleasant sound.
" This is exactly what I mean! You are all spending too much time arguing about meaningless things to fulfill your duties. You can't expect me to put up with it any longer and I won't!".
No one said anything, not even Ares. Even he understood it wasn't smart to interrupt Zeus now. Unless you liked getting a lightning bolt getting thrown at you.
" I am sick of all of it and if you won't take my warning seriously, maybe you will take this seriously. From this day on, all of you will be mortals and teach at Goode High School until further notice".
" But- " Apollo started to say, looking annoyed.
" No buts! This is the way it will be and that is the last thing I have to say about it!".
Everyone was silent when Zeus, who was still angry, sat down and looked sternly at every one of them. They didn't protest any further, not even when they had to drink the foul tasting potions that would make them mortals.
When they had drunk it, Zeus transported them. Unseen, Athena hold Poseidon's hand while they transported. She didn't like this situation even the slighest bit.
Bachelor Button; Single Blessedness
Camellia pink; Longing for you
Camellia white; You're adorable
Red Rose; Love growing in strength, domestic bliss, beauty and passion.
Fern Maidenhair; Secret bond of love
NYANSAPO ; Wisdom, ingenuity, intelligence and patience
Shell; Protecting live and the protective quality love sometimes takes
Apple; Love, ecstasy, fertility, peace ( China), blossom for adoration ( China) and beauty. Also refers to the beginning of the Trojan War, when Hera, Athena and Aphrodite had a contest of who was the most beautiful and deserved to win the golden apple. Athena lost back then, but Poseidon thinks she is the most beautiful.