He Lies, He Lies
"Have you ever thought the world is all but fair?" he asked her.
Athena could barely breathe as she so helplessly stopped herself from trembling from his warm soothing voice; a voice so different from his title of a mad prince.
Who knew that tonight would be the third time they met? Of course, she's heard all sorts of stories of the prince of Atlantis. He was ruthless, dangerous, and a killer. But the person in front of her was nothing like the rumors.
"Have you ever considered we are all just being played like puppets; forced to follow the rules of a mad king?"
Athena looked on neutrally or at least she hoped, but with the way, he gazed into her eyes with a feral predatory look she felt her resolve slowly crumble.
"Tell me, princess, have you ever been outside these castle walls?"
His question pulled her from her stupor like a knife cutting through butter. She cleared her throat and met his gaze as she took that moment to recompose herself.
"Of course I have, what kind of Princess would I be if I don't know the state of my subjects?" she answered cooly.
Athena thought she could intimidate him with her cold demeanor but no, instead he merely laughed before leaning down so close that she could see the faint red circle around his iris; and the way they seemed to flicker as the light from the chandeliers would occasionally illuminate his aristocratic features: a strong jaw, high cheekbones, and his ever so smooth raven locks.
"That is good and all but let me say it again. Have you gone out of these walls to see firsthand what has become of your people?"
His action made her falter in her step; allowing him to catch her as she felt her feet almost slide from under her. It was when he dipped her down along the music that she answered.
"I-I have of course and unlike you," she hissed. "I didn't go walking around slaughtering them like some common farm animal."
Athena thought she caught his eyes narrow dangerously but with a blink, they were gone and replaced by a blank look. He brought her back up, his hand still on her waist as they danced around the ballroom floor.
She could feel the way his calloused hands caressed her petite slender finger. But why now? Just mere moments ago they were customary gestures; so why was it different now? Why did it cause sparks to fly through her body?
He shook his head with an amused smile. "Oh my dear Princess I do not think you truly understood my question," he joked before turning serious. "Because beyond these walls, not everything is what it seems."
His eyes gleamed madly-like a roaring fire-as they brighten considerably like the flames of hell only to diminish after as he gave her a small sneer.
"Tell me, my dear. What has your father truly done that won him praise amongst your people?" he said in that mocking tone that sickened her. For some reason it just didn't feel like him, it didn't feel natural at all.
Athena looked baffled. "He has done many things; he's helped fund the war effort against the Gigantes even going as far as to ride in battle when I was only a little girl."
"Something that many fathers have done and would've done," he interrupted her.
She glared slightly before continuing, " He's helped the poor. Can you not see the people, the children, the elderly, and the youth; walk, chat and carry on with their lives with no worry of what may come?"
Athena finally thought she got him there but no; his next words turned the table just like that.
"Do you not see how you assumed there is something they must worry about? Tell me, Princess, why do you say their worries have been solved through gold and food when you haven't sat down with them, haven't eaten nor drank with them; spent time and played with the children, sat and listened to the stories of the old."
"You speak as if you're a poet. But we both know you are anything but one," she scoffed.
"Perhaps I am, you can never know," he smirked. A smirk that infuriated and endeared her at the same time.
"This proves nothing about your mad declarations of my father."
"How do you know I'm trying to ruin your father?" he quirked a brow.
Athena stopped, her breathing stopped, her heart stopped and in a way, the music did as well. Why the hell did she assume it was her father they were talking about? He did start by asking her what her father has done but that shouldn't have led to her declaring he had committed treasonous acts against the whole kingdom. Her father was a good man, he made decisions for the betterment of his people.
It was something revolutionary, something concerning and mad. It was as if her mind was internally fighting against each other with one speaking truths and the other sprouting lies; but which one was correct?
A particular scene crossed her mind where a man dressed in Othryian garbs left her father's study with a pleased smile. Another memory passed to when she overheard her father telling Captain Boreas to withhold the shipping of food and medicine to a village in need; until they could pay their taxes. These thoughts kept coming again and again until she felt a kiss on her brow.
"Don't overthink it, love," the devilish man smiled. This man who she called a killer, a madman who wanted nothing but chaos just opened her eyes. He afflicted some sort of disease upon her and now she didn't know what was right or not.
"No no no, this doesn't prove anything!" Athena hissed.
Instead of being mad, his eyes softened. "Athena," he whispered her name surprising her. "You can believe me or not it doesn't matter to me…because, when something ends there is always a new beginning," he paused briefly. "And this particular beginning…will conquer."
She looked up at him determining if what he was saying was true. He was looking back at her but not with his usual beautiful and intoxicating sea-green eyes, but with these poisonous green orbs so unlike the ones that bore into hers just seconds ago.
"I don't know what to do," she finally whispered as she averted her gaze to the floor. "I don't know what to think; or who's right or wrong, what is reality what is a dream. Can't I just get some rest?" Athena frowned.
The moment of silence between them was broken by the warmth of his hand as he caressed her cheek. She allowed him to tilt her head up where he could see the warring emotions on her face.
"You and I aren't so different from each other," he said gently. "What is reality? What is a dream? Our world is so corrupted that even our sense of honor, kindness, and peace is all over the place. It feels as if our lives are tied to these strings of fate, but you see, these strings are different. They aren't the ones the three sisters forge for us mortals, they are false ones created by people like your father."
"...My father, I don't want to talk about him anymore," she said with a sullen look.
"We don't have to," he shrugged. "I quite like what we're doing right now."
"And what is that?"
"Dancing, dancing right here with you," he said with a roguish grin.
"I…like it too," she mumbled.
He didn't reply with words, but with actions. With a smirk he pulled her close; closer than customs would allow. But she didn't care because surprisingly, with him here holding her like this she felt peace at last.
A.N Just wanted to post something on Halloween; so I tried a Percy x Athena one shot. To be honest I haven't seen that many Percy x Athena pairings out there. So if you guys have any recommendations feel free to send them to me. Lastly, I hope you guys enjoyed it, and stay tuned for whatever comes next.
Prompt: you're the hero waltzing with the villain, realizing they were right all along (Just search it on youtube it should be by oliviaalee) Maybe you guys can write your own and send it to me.
Next update...IHH