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It all started because Poseidon couldn't keep it in his pants. Now, it's not like they were together or anything, because they weren't. They were just uncle and niece (thanks to one of Zeus's MANY affairs). But Poseidon decided to be on the rebellious side that day and stir up some trouble, so he did the one thing no one should dare do, god/goddess or not; he had sex with someone in Athena's temple.
Everyone knows that you should never dirty the temple of a god or goddess, so the fact that Poseidon decided to do that, no less with a mortal woman, well Athena was enraged. So, she marched right on down and cursed the woman. Obviously it wasn't the woman's fault, but Poseidon's, but Athena was blinded by anger that she cursed the poor woman. Another factor could have been that she really didn't have the power over Poseidon to do such a thing and only Zeus could, but why would he curse his brother. So, now the woman lives an immortal life of hiding in shame unless she wishes to turn any mortal to stone with just one glance.
But from that point on, Poseidon and Athena were officially enemies. It didn't help to fuel the fire when the people of now-Athens were trying to decide the name of their city. Both Athena and Poseidon wished to be the official god of the city, and so the town folks had the idea of a competition; whoever comes up with a better invention for them will be the official god and name of their city. Poseidon gave them water, albeit it was sea water and Athena gave them olives. In the end, Athena won and let's just say Poseidon was bitter towards her and the people from here on out.
Now though, after years and years of fighting, I guess the saying "There's a fine line between love and hate." is actually true. For Athena and Poseidon, they dare not try and pass the line of hate. That area is so familiar and all they really ever know that they don't dare try to cross it. They can't. (Another reason is that Zeus would blow a casket).
But one day, Poseidon was feeling rebellious and he decided to be nice to Athena. After all, he told himself Just this one time wouldn't hurt.
"Athena! Long time no see niece!" Looking up from the book she was reading, Athena placed a finger in front of her lips.
"Hush Poseidon. We are in a library and mortals do not like loudness when in a library."
"Oh gosh Athena. You and your humans. Why do you even like to spend time down here when there is plenty of entertainment on Mount Olympus." Wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, Poseidon gives Athena a smirk, but she just continues to read her book.
"Thanks but no thanks Poseidon. All the gods up there, including my father, have their head so far up there ass, all they talk is bullshit. This is why I stay down here and sometimes even visit Hades and Persephone. They are actually decent gods." And with that statement, she disappeared.
"Geez, I was just trying to be nice." He mumbled to no one.
"He's such an ass Persephone! I don't know how Hades is related to Poseidon and my father, but you got lucky not having a conceited and unloyal god as your husband." Sitting patiently and waiting for Athena to stop ranting, Persephone just continues to sip on her tea and nod in all of the appropiate places.
"I swear to Grandmother Gaia, he's just like my dad and that's a sickening thought. I can't stand him and I couldn't have for years. I hope he dies but sadly that isn't possible because he's FUCKING immortal."
Poking his head through the door, Hades asked, "Are you ranting about Poseidon again?"
"Maybe." Athena bites out, crossing her arms.
"Gosh, my brothers are idiots. Zeus is an unfaithful fucker and Poseidon is terrible with showing you his true feelings."
"Hey, you kidnapped me. You aren't that great with ladies either." Persephone said, a small smirk on her face.
"You said you didn't mind, so no, I didn't kidnap you. And, you're welcome to stay down here as long as you want Athena. We don't get many living visitors so it's nice to have some people down here once and a while."
"Thanks Hades, I may take you on that offer. So how long is overstaying my visit would you say?"
"You'll never overstay your visit Athena. You are family and family helps family out. Plus, our family is pretty… disfunctinal. Then again, when being the only living creatures on earth for millions of years, I could see why." Persephone explains, making sure Hades won't actually give her a certain amount of years before she must leave.
"Don't worry. I'll be out of your hairs when I can maybe find a place in the mortal world to stay. I don't really want to live in Mount Olympus anymore with all of those pompous asses."
"Well, you are always welcome here. Now, Hades and I have some Underworld matters to handle but you're welcome to stay here for as a long as you want." Nodding, Athena waves goodbye to them and then begins to get lost in her thoughts.
It's so weird that Persephone is my cousin but also my aunt while Hades is my father's older brother but also his son-in-law. Gosh, my family is so crazy and full of incest. Is that why we are the way we are. Because we didn't really spread outside our own family (besides my father of course because I have like a bunch of half-siblings from that man-whore). Gosh, why couldn't I just be human and have a normal family instead of being part of this family. Have normal parents and not be born from my father's forehead. And have a normal l-
"ATHENA! Where are you?" Ripping her from her thoughts, Athena jumps off out of her bed quickly and instantly goes in an attack stance. Until the voice resonates into her mind. Ugh. Poseidon.
"What do you want Fish Boy?"
"Oooh! We're on nickname-bases! Exciting. Now I need a nickname for you. How about Owl Girl? Yeah, that sounds pretry rad, almost like we are superheroes." Laughing at his own little joke, Athena just stands in front of him with a bored face.
"Why did you find me Poseidon and what do you want?" Taking his hand from behind his back, Poseidon holds out a picnic basket.
"I would like to believe our feud has been going on for long enough. How about a… break from it for today. We can go back to being enemies tomorrow if that is what you wish for."
Looking skeptical at Poseidon, Athena hesitantly agrees. "Fine. But we aren't eating up on Mount Olympus."
"No worries. We can eat in a Central Park or wherever you want to." Giving Athena a small smile, Poseidon just waits patiently for her answer.
"Fine. Let's go to Central Park. What did you pack anyway?"
"Thats for me to know and you to find out."
It was just three days later and Poseidon was asking Athena if she wants to go on another's picnic, this time during the night though. "Why not. I have nothing better to do at the moment and I think Hades and Persephone want me out of their hairs for a bit."
"Perfect!"
Taking her hand in his, they transport quickly to an deserted meadow, the stars twinkling brightly from above. "Nyx did a great job with the sky tonight, huh?" Poseidon asked, trying to make do with conversation.
"Yeah. It's great that it's also a clear sky tonight. That way we can see all the stars and constellations. They are truly beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you." Poseidon mumble, but his side comment was unheard, Athena too focus on trying to see which constellations she can see. He didn't know whether he should be thankful or not for that.
That night, the two enemies slowly started to blossom and become friends, having a nightly picnic tradition of just looking up at the stars.
It was a century into their friendship when Zeus finally got his head out of his ass and discover his brother was apparently besties with his favorite child. Now, a century may seem long to us mortals, but to an immortal, that's like a year for them.
"POSEIDON!" Zeus raged, not liking how close his brother is to his daughter.
Transporting in front of Zeus's and Hera's thrones, he was dripping wet and rolling his eyes. "What is it now Zeus? Did some mortal woman reject you or something?" Poseidon poked, enjoying to see his brother's and sister's face turn bright red.
"No you fool! What is this I hear of you and Athena being best friends? Last time I heard, you hated each other."
Hearing why Zeus was so enraged, Poseidon started to laugh, like knee-slapping laugh. "It has been a century Zeus, and you are just realizing this? Look, you just interrupt my time with Athena actually. I was teaching her how to surf and she's teaching me different things about the sea creatures that loiter in my oceans, so if you don't mind, I'll be leaving now."
And with that, Zeus had a tantrum.
"Aw man, you should have seen his face! It was the funniets thing ever!" Poseidon exclaim, conversing with Athena after his little conversation with Zeus.
"I can imagine how furious he is. He is quite protective of his children, even though it seems like he had endless amount of them."
Laughing together at that, Poseidon and Athena continue to hold a conversation while floating in the ocean, talking about anything and everything.
"If he can see his precious and virgin daughter now, floating around with his charmastic and playboy bro-"
At Poseidon's own compliments, Athena snorted at that. "What? Am I not a playboy and charmastic?" Poseidon asked teasingly.
"I don't know… I'm not really feeling the charmastic. Or buying that playboy thing. I bet you are as much of a virgin as I am."
Athena knows that's a lie, but who's to say friends can't tease.
"You wanna bet?" Poseidon bite back, his own little smile on his face.
"I just might." She whispered, there faces only a couple inches away from each other.
"You aren't as innocent as innocent as I believed, Owl Girl."
"Maybe not Fish Boy."
And with that, they sealed the night with a kiss.