I don't own Percy Jackson & the Olympians. Seriously people, why would you possibly think I am Rick Riordan? It is preposterous.
Oh and this chapter is dedicated to Hunter10600. I only wrote this chapter, the idea is from Hunter10600. My apologies it took so long, I didn't have any inspiration. I hope to write more soon. No promises. Enjoy!
"Why again are we here owlhead?". A grumphy Poseidon asked a provoked Athena, who was trying very hard to ignore him.
She gave him a sharp look. " You are very well aware of the reason we are finding ourselves in this situation Kelp head".
" I am?".
" I sincerely hope you are trying to peeve me and not actually are being honest when you behave like you have no idea".
He sighed, looking rather like a lost puppy with plain confusion written over his face. He glanced at her , almost accusingly, and sighed another time.
" Why are we here again?".
Athena gave Poseidon, who was walking next to her, an exasperated look. She clearly couldn't believe he could be that thick-headed. He couldn't be obtuse enough to not know the answer to that simple question. But , judging from the confused look he currently wore, he could.
She sighed and asked herself why again she had allowed the obtuse, infuriating and obviously feckless man to go with her. She must have been insane to allow him to accompany her. Why had she been insane enough to allow him , again?
Oh that is right, she hadn't. He had to come with her. She didn't have a choice or anything to say in the matter. She had to allow him to come with her. While he didn't seem to have any use, other than to make her get homicidal tendencies.
Rigjt now, he was making her slowly lose her self-control. Every time he opened his mouth, something came out of it that made her even more annoying. Every single time he managed to say something infuriating and maddening. Every. Single. TIME!
Athena took a deep breath, reminding herself it was impossible to kill the thick-headed sea god, no matter how much she wanted to kill him. Or throw him into Tartarus. Anything that would make him stop talking really. She had never met a person, or god, that was as annoying as he was.
She turned towards him, fully prepared to have to deal with another stupid, infuriating question when she saw him.
She had to bit her lip to keep herself from smiling. He was looking around with this peculiar expression. One of curiousity and childlike innocence. It made him a lot less annoying. It always made her smile when he looked like that.
Sometimes, he looked like that. Like he was still a little boy and everything in the world seemed to surprise him. Like he didn't know the cruelity of the world yet and saw magic everywhere. Like he could still believe in Santa Claus.
Athena found the childlike innocence and wonder he possessed at times odly fascinating. She had issues believing it was possible to still possess that wonder, that innocence, only children had when you were centuries old and had seen more wars you care to remember. She couldn't believe someone could keep it with him for all those centuries, even afer seeing and participating in wars and knowing all too well the cruelty of life.
And yet, Poseidon still possessed it. Among other things that made him different and interesting, although she would never admit it, to Athena. He was so full of oppositions.
He could be utterly clueless at times and surprisingly smart, one would almost say wise, at others. He could be immature, infuriating and foolish, but also serious, calm and steady. He could be one thing one day, and the complete opposite the next day.
All the different aspects of his character made him interesting to Athena. It made spending time with him stimulating and enjoyable. She would never admit, but she enjoyed arguing and spending time with him.
Of course, he could drive her crazy with his comments and attitude, but he was also one of the only persons that could make her laugh. Even when she didn't feel exactly happy. He would always manage to make her laugh.
And he might not be good with words, but arguing with him was always interesting. He looked at things so differently than her. She was always calculating and mature, while he was reckless and immature. Athena liked it when he showed her his view on things. She always liked to know the differences between their points of view.
But what she really liked, was seeing the expression he was currently wearing. It made him look less like the powerful sea god, less like one of the big three. It made him look oddly human.
He turned to her and smiled, his eyes still holding that mix of wonder and innocence. Athena couldn't help but smile back when she saw that look. A small, carefree smile that made her look a lot more approachable.
" I wonder why they would close it"he suddenly said, not even mentioning the fact she had been staring, even he must have noticed.
Athena raised one of her eyebrows. " The profits were likely getting to low to make it anything but useful to have it open" she was the logical reason and it surprised her he didn't know it.
Poseidon snorted. " I can't believe that. Why would people stop visiting a waterland amusement park? It is so much fun!".
Athena shrugged. " Maybe people actually matured, unlike you, and discovered how futile it is to go to this place".
Poseidon gave her a sharp look. " It isn't useless! It is fun. Do you even know what that means miss bookworm?".
" I do. I have a vast knowledge of the definition of words. Unlike you. I am surprised you actually comprehend what I meant by futile".
Poseidon grinned. "I am not a complete idiote , you know. I just don't understand why people would use words like that all the time. Besides, we have been spending a lot of time lately. I must be copying your impressive vocubulary".
" Well, at least you are gaining something positive from all the time we are urged to spend together"Athena retorted.
" You mean turning into a human encyclopedea like you is something positive? Seriously Athena, aren't you supposed to be smart ?".
That was when Athena punched him hard on his arm. She wouldn't let him get away with that offending remark.
He yelped and gave her an angry look. She must have seriously hurt him if he gave her that angry and disappointed look.
She merely rolled her eyes in reply. " Oh shut up you. And don't flatter yourself, you could only dream of possessing the amount of knowledge I do. Or actually possessing any knowledge really".
Poseidon grunted and rubbed his sore arm. " I don't want to! And how is it even possible for you to hit that hard?".
"I am the goddess of war strategy, mind you. Also, you are a wimp".
" I am not!".
" Oh and what prove do you have that you in fact aren't a coward?".
Poseidon grinned at her. " I have an entire list of reasons why I am not a coward. If there is a coward here, it is you!".
Athena narrowed her eyes, the desire to kill him slowly and painfully almost irresistable now. Even if it wasn't possible, she still wanted it. He deserved it for such a crude and unrealistic remark. She did NOT like it to be called a was a lie, a horrible and mean lie.
" And what reasonsing has brought you to actually be obtuse enough to believe I could possibly be that?" Athena hissed.
" Well, your children are all scared of spiders, they must get that somewhere, oh wisdom goddess" he teased. He was one of the only people who were actually either brave or stupid enough to tease her. Even Zeus wouldn't try that, all too aware of the abilities of his daughter. She would make Tartarus look like summer vacation if you really angered her.
" The simple fact my children are frightened by those arachnae,doesn't prove anything. You are being foolish like always Poseidon".
Poseidon chuckled. " You just don't want to admit you are scared. I am convinced you are".
" Oh shut up. I am not".
"You are".
"Aren't".
"You are!".
Athena gave him her best angry look, but he merely chuckled. She was really provoked by now. How dare he suggest such a thing? It was insulting and crude.
They had been walking for some time and he was slowly driving her crazy. Asking her if she knew where they had to go all the time. Asking her if she was hungry like him. Asking all kind of trivial question that made her really peeved and frustrated. Why did he have to come with her? He was only annoying her, not helping at all.
They were at the Waterland Amusement Park , Denver and he had insisted he should come along because he could help. He had been willing, wanting, to go. Athena had been forced to.
The only reason Athena was here in the first place, was because Aphrodite had convinced Hermes to help her steal a very valuable and rare book that Athena really needed. It was indispensable if she wanted to do any more research.
She still didn't know how he had managed it, but he had gotten past all her security and stolen it while she was working in her laboratory. She was always a bit distracted when she was occupied, so that must have made it easier for him to steal the book. Still, it couldn't have been easy.
Aphrodite and Hermes both had fled shortly afterwards, even before Athena had discovered the book was gone, to avoid Athena's wrath. Which came shortly afterwards.
When Athena had been finished with her research - for now-, she had quickly discovered the missing book. Knowing fully well there was only one person skilled enough to steal her book, she had ran towards Hermes' palace. She would get her book back and punish that god, she had promised herself.
She had been furious, wearing her battle armour and Aegis, when she had run inton Poseidon. He had followed her when she had shoved him aside and muttered something about 'blasted men'. He had been smart enough not to ask what she meant. Or what had made her angry.
The only thing she had found at Hermes' palace however, was a note from him saying the book was hidden somewhere in Denver, at the Waterland Amusement Park.
That was when Athena had known Aphrodite was the other culprit and this was possibly one of her schemes, but she really needed that book. And the note said she could only find it if she went there with Poseidon. Which was why he was with her. And it was also the only reason she had allowed him to come with her.
He had been willing to go when the words Waterland Amusement Park had left her mouth, showing enthusiasm at the idea of going to an amusement park like normally little children would.
Athena was really regretting her descision to accept his help. He wasn't helping at all after all, only asking stupid questions and annoying her. She had to find that book before he drove her crazy.
They walked around a bit, looking at the old, mostly broken attractions, trying to discover where the book was. This had been going on for quite some time. They had seen a lot of old attractions and some other interesting things, but Athena's book was nowhere to be seen. Sadly.
Poseidon sighed. " Such a waste, abandoning a perfectly fine park like this" he said sadly.
" It didn't serve any purpose whatsoever in the first place, Poseidon, so don't be mournful" Athena said without looking at him, instead looking at her surroundings. She really needed to find that book. If she just could find it...
Poseidon sniffed. " I should have known you find fun -what is the word- insignificant! How dare you".
"I have never actually vocalized I believe fun is insignificant Poseidon".
"Actually, you just have. You said the amusement park didn't have a purpose, but it did! It brought amusement to others and now it never will again".
Athena sighed, annoyed at his dramatic tone and attitude today. That is already one character trait my father and Poseidon share. Being overly dramatic when the smallest, most insignificant things are concerned. Just wonderful.
She gave Poseidon another annoyed look, but he didn't even blink. He just kept on talking about how the poor park wasn't save and now had to spend its days without the laughter, the mirth, of children.
Athena, unable to stop herself, rolled her eyes. Like it mattered. It was just a stupid amusement park. It wasn't like it was actually significant and useful, like books.
"Poseidon, if all that leaves your mouth is piffle, do not open it at all. I possess neither the time or patience to handle your antics right now".
Poseidon put his hand on his heart and mimicked being shot. "Ouch! Why did you have to hurt me so, oh fair lady?" he teased and received another annoyed and angry glare from Athena.
She turned towards him, looking straight into his beautiful, green eyes. They seemed to twinkle, reminding her of a certain book character with blue eyes ( A/N yes, I am talking about Harry Potter. I have just started reading the serie and I am now in book four. Albus is one of my favorite characters) They always seemed to twinkle when he teased her. It was infuriating , but also attractive in a certain way. She ignored the twinkle today though, annoyed and impatient with him as she were.
" Because you fully deserved that and- look!".
Athena suddenly started smiling when she saw it. It was an empty pool, shaped like a bowl and a tunnel on the opposite side. At the bottom, there was a little, pink boat,with little hearts painted all over it. Her book lay on one of the seats, the title clear from even this distance.
Athena felt relieved and happy. She could finally get away from Poseidon. All she had to do was grab her book and go. She just had to figure a way to grab it without being trapped, like Aphrodite obviously wanted.
Poseidon, who was standing next to her and looking at the little boat, raised one of his eyebrows. "Well, that is your book, isn't it? Why don't you go and grab it".
" Because that would be astonishing stupid. This is obviously a trap, so we can't just go down there and attempt to take my book. We need a plan".
" Fine. The plan is I fill the damn pool with water and your book floats on the water towards them".
" Cretin! That plan contains more holes than cheese does. Firstly, my book will get wet and be ruined. And before you ask it, it might be a powerful and rare book, that doesn't mean it is magic and should be indestructable. Secondly, it is a paperback and will sink before it even comes close to us. Thirdly, you are the most provoking, infuriating and useless person I have ever had the misfortune of meeting!".
" Jeez woman, I was just trying to help. You don't have to attack me like that".
" Well, your help is neither appreciated nor wanted, because it doesn't help at all".
" Well, you- Athena, watch-". Poseidon's eyes suddenly widened and he screamed a warning at Athena before they were both grabbed by a metal arm and thrown into the little boat. The pool started filling with water while the cupid statues revealed the hidden camera's.
Athena tried to escape, but the metal arm pressed her into the boat and suddenly, metal threads bound her tightly to the little seat. She couldn't escape anymore and was pressed uncomfortably close to a shocked Poseidon. Bugger.
The boat took off and started going down the tunnel, with the two gods trapped in it, close together.
Athena tried to yank free, but found she couldn't. She was helpless. She couldn't move as much as a muscle. Hephaestus had obviously made this. Only he could trap two powerful gods.
She cursed, then turned her head towards Poseidon. " Are you able to get us out of this?" she asked, knowing the answer already, but for once hoping she was wrong.
He shook his head. "No. I fear we are trapped".
She cursed again, annoyed and infuriated with both herself and Aphrodite. Aphrodite had obviously managed to convince Hephaestus to change his trap slightly, succesfully making it trap her and Poseidon. She, on the other hand, should have seen something like this coming.
Poseidon smiled at her, distracting her from her thoughts. " But try to see the positive Athena".
She sighed. "Like what?".
"Well, at least you will have fun for once".
" You call being trapped with a thick-headed, arrogant god in a tiny boat, going down a tunnel with startling speed is fun?".
"Yep. At least you aren't stuck with an annoying know-it-all".
" I am going to cause as much harm to you as possible when we escape this opprobrious trap"Athena hissed. She tried to move, so she was further away from Poseidon, but she couldn't. She could only move closer to him and she definitely didn't want that.
She was already too close, their arms and hips touching. If she would be any closer, she would be on his lap. And that would be even worse than being attacked by Tyson, she told herself.
They were quiet for some time, Athena refusing to speak more and Poseidon just looking around him and enjoying the scenery. He seemed to enjoy himself, smiling and not even trying very hard to break free. Not that he would have managed to escape, but he didn't seem to want it anyway.
Athena tried to ignore the feeling of his legs, arms and hip against her body and remained calm by thinking of all the ways she could torture Aphrodite. Maybe destroying all her make-up, clothes and shoes before capturing her and forcing her to drink a potion that would make her ugly.
The possibilities to torture her were endless and the ways Athena came up with slowly became punishments that seemed fit for Tartarus. Like actually trapping her in a room that would be filled with every poisinous animal in the world and allowing them to bite her while mustard gas slowly filled the chamber. Or dropping her in a pool with acid, getting her out before she was completely burned, spraying her with a fire extinguisher and stabbing her with burning knives on the places where her skin was really damaged.
Athena was just thinking of the most humiliating and painful way to take revenge when she felt something on her shoulder. Something heavy.
Distracted, she turned her head a bit to look at it and froze. It was a black, very hairy, big spider that seemed to smirk at her and enjoy her helpless position. The feeling Athena had when she saw it was anything but pleasant. It was a mix of anxiety, fear and panic. Not fun.
Athena swallowed nervously, convincing herself to stay calm. She wasn't paralyzed by spiders like some of her children, but she didn't like them at all. Especially not when she couldn't defend herself. Like right now.
Slowly, she looked up at the ceiling. And almost screamed when she saw the ceiling was covered by black, hairy and huge spiders like the one on her shoulder. There were so many, enough to cover every little spot on the ceiling.
Please don't let them land on me, please don't let them land on me, please- ARGH!
Athena screamed when the spider suddenly let themselves fall from the ceiling and landed in the boat. It was like it was raining spiders, so many were there.
Oddly, they didn't go to Poseidon's seat, only hers. They climbed on her, covering and biting her. Trying anything that might hurt her.
She trembled and tried to get them off her,but she couldn't. No matter how hard she tried, they wouldn't go away. They hold on to her, only more spiders landing on her and covering every piece of her.
Just when she was about to scream in terror, she had only been making small sounds in the back of her throat until now, a pair of strong arms lifted her and placed her on his lap.
Athena felt the spiders immediately leave her body and let out a relieved sigh. She was finally safe. They wouldn't hurt her anymore.
Still a little frightened, she pressed herself more firmly against the firm body. It felt strangely comforting and familiar, the salty scent invading her nostrils and make her a bit more relaxed.
The pair of strong arms were now around her, holding her against his chest , and she sighed again. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt safe and content like this. Maybe there hadn't been a time she felt this good.
Hesitantly, she lowered her head and rested it on his chest. His calm heartbeat slowly calmed her down as well and she could relax again.
He lay his chin on her hair and seemed to inhale her scent. She didn't react, just closed her eyes and enjoyed the wonderful feeling of being in his arms.
They remained like that for a while; she on his lap with her legs at his sides and he inhaling her scent. Not moving or talking, just enjoying each other's presence. It just felt right, at that moment.
After what seemed forever, she lifted her head to look at him.
Now she was calm again, she realized what position they were in. She had never been this close to him before and it was certainly not appropriate how they were seated. She normally never would have allowed him to hold her like that. But right now, she only liked it. No matter how wrong it was.
Trying hard not to blush, she smiled faintly at him. He was looking at her as well, with a small smile and twinkling eyes. Those beautiful eyes that seemed to pull her in.
He stroked her hair softly and gave her a kiss on her temple, surprising the both of them. She didn't say anything about it though. And neither did he. Again, it just felt right.
" You know, that might have been the first time I was right and you wrong" he said softly. He had never looked at her like that before; with a tender, almost loving look in his eyes. It made her feel even more at ease.
She smiled, not at all offended. " Oh? And about was I wrong and you right?".
" You are afraid of spiders" he spoke softly, but his tone was neither accusing nor teasing. He seemed concerned.
She sighed. " Normally, I certainly am not frightened by spiders. But when I am trapped in a little boat and unable to defend myself against them, I am. They despise me, remember?".
Poseidon nodded, knowing she was talking about Arachne. " Yes, I know. I remember that. Are you all right now?".
Athena nodded. " I am fine. You can let go of me now".
He smiled. " Or we could remain like this for a little longer. It is quite comfortable. Or aren't you comfortable?".
" It is inappropriate. Let go of me and be glad that I am not angry at you". She tried to sound angry, but she simply couldn't. She wasn't angry after all. Confused, yes. But not angry.
" For what? trying to help you?".
Athena sighed. " Poseidon, I-". She froze when he suddenly kissed her softly on her lips. She tasted ichor, nektar and salt when his soft, warm lips met hers.
She didn't resist for long, too tempted to think about the rational, the wise thing to do. She kissed him back, hesitant at first, but eager and passionate later. It was pure bliss.
They pulled back after some time, staring at each other. Both looked shocked and confused, but they also looked very happy, relaxed and were smiling.
Athena licked her lips, tasting him on them, and grunted. She placed her head on his chest again. No matter how right it had felt, it had been wrong.
"Great. I just ruined my life. I have actually kissed you of all people and it has been recorded. I hate that pesty love goddess".
Poseidon chuckled and started stroking her hair again. " We will get back at her" he said softly.
Athena lifted her head for a moment, smiling at him, before she lay it on his chest again and allowed his slightly accelerated heartbeat calm her down. They didn't talk that much the rest of the ride.