Trying something new here! I finished one of my other stories a while ago (it's called Olympia if you want to check it out...hint, hint...) and Percy and Annabeth get married in the end, and Poseidon comes, and then stuff happens. This is about what happens! The beginning is a piece of the story but it'll change to follow Athena and Poseidon.
#7: Have a Drink
The party continued late into the night, but finally, everyone but our close friends were left. We sat on the tables, eating cupcakes and exchanging random stories.
Mother was about to leave when the door flung open, revealing a tall man, with Percy's eyes and a crown.
Percy grinned. "Hello, Father."
The man chuckled. "Ah, there's m'boy! How was the wedding? Heard it was a riot!"
Mother rolled her eyes.
"Who invited you, Poseidon?"
"Nobody, Athena. I don't need an invitation to come to my son's wedding! Ah, so you're the lucky girl, eh?" He stopped in front of Annabeth.
"Yes, sir. I'm Annabeth."
"Hello, Annabeth. I have a feeling you'll make a good ruler."
"She's not heir," Mother said, shooting daggers with her eyes at him.
"No, but Perseus is. And since they're married, that makes her crown princess of Oceana." He explained it like he was talking to a toddler.
"She's not going to Oceana, Poseidon."
"Come have a drink with me, Athena."
He took her arm and dragged her, forcefully, out of the room. Once out, he let her go.
"Don't you dare-"
"Let them have their fun, Athena. For once."
Her eyes flash, but she let it go.
"Now, where's the wine cellar?"
She snorted. "You ought to remember—you pillaged it last time." But she set off down the corridor, him at her heels.
It only took four hallways, six staircases, and one musty ladder to get to the wine cellar.
"This is why I only visit every seven years," Poseidon said, glancing around and trying not to breath through his nose.
"You visit every seven years because that's how long it takes for us to replenish the wine enough for your liking."
"Because that's how long it takes for your temper to die out."
She glared at him, around one of the large barrels.
"If you say so."
"Is this all you have?"
She smirked. "No. We have the official wine cellar somewhere else. I just like dragging you around."
He raised an eyebrow and leaned back against the wall. "You have to bear it, too."
"Yes, but I have a maid to bring me clean clothes when I'm done, whereas you have to wander around in filthy, stinking clothes."
He sighed. "Athena, take me to the real wine cellar."
She cocked an eyebrow. "Is that how you ask?"
"Please."
Smirking again, she turned on her tail and walked toward the opposite wall. Poseidon pushed off the wall to follow her.
The next wine cellar was considerably comfier. There was still dust and smell, but little enough that it just felt vintage.
"This is nice," Poseidon remarked, holding a bottle. Athena swung herself onto the table and swung her legs. He glanced at them, then up at the table.
"Did you already have drinks, Athena?"
Her slight smile vanished and she sat up straight, crossing her legs.
"No, no," He amended. "It's just you're not so..."
"Tread carefully," She warned. He shrugged, popping the bottle with his thumbnail.
He hopped up next to her and took a swig of the sour liquid. Then he offered the bottle to her. She took it and had a swallow.
"That's disgusting," She mumbled, passing the bottle back.
"Exactly." He tipped it back again.
She watched him, drinking with a flourish.
"So!" He said, banging the bottle down. She jumped.
"So?"
"That's a fancy dress," He said, eying it. "Very intricate lacing, though."
"Pass me the bottle," Was her only response.
A few more swallow each did it.
"How do you lace it up, though?" Poseidon laughed. She giggled.
"I'll unlace it, and then you'll see."
"Mm-hmm."
She reached for the back of her dress, angling her body so he could see.
"Like this...then like this..."
"Oh! I see. May I try?"
"Go ahead."
He pulled at the lacework, managing to get the top of it free.
"Ah," She sighed as the dress slipped off her shoulders and fell on her lap. She was wearing a slightly see-through shift underneath with thin straps. "You have no idea how heavy this is!"
"You should feel this belt!"
He untucked his belt with a flourish and showed off the heavy, golden belt buckle.
She leaned forward and ran her fingers along it. "It's very intricate."
"Yes, indeed." Then he showed her how to take it off.
"That's interesting," She mumbled, holding it in her hands. He shrugged and unbuttoned his vest.
"Goodness, isn't it hot down here?" He flung it off and fanned himself.
She giggled. "You just want clothes off."
"Oh, please, Athena." He leaned forward, their sour breath mixing. "I would never want any such thing! But the fact that you suggested it..."
He leaned back, crossing his arms. She raised an eyebrow. "Means that you want clothes off!" He began unbuttoning his button-up as she giggled more. "And I, as a chivalrous gentleman, cannot deny a lady's wishes!" And he flung off his shirt, leaving him in a crown, boots and pants.
"Hmm," She murmured, running her fingers down his chest. "My last husband was decidedly unhairy."
"Everyone is decidedly unhairy compared to me. Now, miss, I must ask you..."
She glanced up at him through her lashes.
"Why are you still wearing a dress and a shift? Not to mention shoes, and a crown..." His voice died as she got up, wiggled her hips so the dress fell to the ground, and yanked her shoes off her feet.
That's how they ended up the next morning, a tangled mess of limbs and sheets, wearing each others crowns. That's how they found themselves bright red, trying not to look as they untangled themselves.
"Athena..." It had been several hours since then, and Poseidon was preparing to leave again.
She turned to him, on her throne. "What?"
A faint smile tugged his lips. "I am leaving."
"I am well aware of that," She snapped.
The smile fell from his lips.
"I was going to offer," He continued, his voice sharp and his back straight and proud. "That if, you ever find yourself too stressed or bored or tired, I have a small country house that you're welcome to."
She stared at him with incredulity. "You think I don't have my fair share of houses?"
The smile returned. "Oh, that's not what I think. What I think is that seven years will be too long. What I think is that you're too young to be doing this, but in seven years we will be old. What I think is that your houses won't have me in them."
And he bowed to her, bowed to her hanging jaw and red ears.
"You...you..." She spluttered, unable to get words out.
"Have a lovely time," He said, and then he left.
This is what I imagine Athena's relationship being, more or less. Fighting when sober, intimacy when drunk. Review!