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Chapter Text

In the calm kingdom of Ithaca, a child of the king and queen was born. The child seemed normal at first, behaving like a infant should. But by the time the child could walk and talk, odd things started happening... the child would be on the ground one second, then the next they're in a tree or somewhere high.. or they would disappear with only their tiny giggles filling the panicked air they left.

The young prince's father would scold the young boy day in and day out, unaware of the much "worse" reason of his mischief that lied beneath the fabric the boy wore..

His mother on the other hand laughed, cackled, snorted, everything but scold her son for his enjoyable antics, not really knowing how her son does it, but having a wonderful laugh when she turns away for a second only to hear a faint noise of wind and her sons delightful giggles as she turns back around to see him in a different spot then before. A fun game of hide and seek, she called it, playfully hunting her son when he hid, their smiles being enough to rival Apollos sunlight.

When the boy was approaching his teenage years, his mother grew more suspecting of how her dear son could suddenly dissappear. Her father, his name lost to time, was a child of the god of thievery, lies, and messages, Hermes. Her father told her when she was young about how the god would visit him once in a while, and when he left, Hermes was gone the second you blinked and reopened your eyes.

"Its all in his wings" he would tell her "the ones on his heels do most the work, and the ones on his back supported the ones on his heel" he would explain.

The queen would smile at the thought of her grandfathers wings being bleesed upon her child. But when she even mentioned the thought to the king? He'd snap at her and yell that such a thing from such a god would be a curse, not a blessing. The kings fear of pissing off the gods led him to disrespect his wife and one of the 12 Olympian gods.
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Odysseus sat on his balcony, his wings fluttering behind him as he stares up into the night sky, smiling as wind blew through his feathers. Night was the one of the few times he could freely have his wings out without fear of his father seeing. The only other times were when he was alone in the forests or with his best friends, Eurylocus and Polites. The two didn't care their friend was different physically, they only cared about how he was mentally, especially with the fear of their friends father finding out of their blessing weighting their friend down.

Odysseus sighs, getting ready to meet up with his friends in a few minutes when he heard his door swing open and something metal clink to the ground. Fear seized Odysseus's heart as he slowly turned his head to see his father standing in the doorway, looking crazed as he stares with wide eyes at his thirteen year old son, his fear since the boy was young coming true.

Odysseus's eyes flick to the light glinting off of what fell.. panic and gripped his mind as he saw a blade laying there. The wings by his ears twitched at the sound of running foot steps as his mother skids to a stop behind his father, trying to pull the man back.

"Stop! Don't hurt your own son!! Dear, are you even listening to me-!" A hand connected to her face, sending her down to the floor, clutching her cheek with fear in her eyes. "Darling, please" she begged. "Don't cut his wings! And please don't kill him!" But her pleas went ignored as her husband grabbed the blade again and stalked over to his son, looking at the now crying boy, shaking and cocooned in his wings, the ones on his head trying and failing to dry his tears.

Odysseus was cornered against his balcony, having slid off it and took a few steps when he saw his father strike his mother, and now frozen in fear as the man came closer, pointing the sharp blade at him.

"You... are a FUCKING curse.. you know that?" His father asked, his voice dripping with hatred and a bit of fear as he stopped in front of the boy, a shaky laugh leaving his lips as he raised the blade to a wing on Odysseus's head. The Wind started to pick up and get more harsh as.. this monster he once called his father pushed the blade down just enough to draw blood. The air started to feel fuzzy as the sounds of the waves rolling in got harsher with every crash to the shore. The animals were dead silent as clouds came and covered the moon and it's light, casting a dark shadow over the monster as it picked a few of his newly growing feathers.

"And you are going to die for being one!" The monster raised the blade high above his head, ready to strike. Odysseus closed his eyes tightly, bringing his arms up to protect himself as he heard his mother crying for the monster to stop. His heart pounded in his ears, expecting the blade to slice through him.. but it didn't..

Daring to open his eyes, he saw a winged figure like himself in front of him, stopping the monsters blow. Their voice was drowned out by the sound of blood rushing through Odysseus's body and his heart pounding. He felt light head from the sudden adrenaline loss, until the sound of Thunder cracking and a blinding light just barely blocked by the new person broke through his thoughts. The lightning had struck right where the monster had stood.

It was all too much for Odysseus...

With a strangled noise, Odysseus fell forward, and unknowingly into the arms of the mysterious person. The boy felt soft wings surround him as nature soothed it's self. As darkness pulled him away from his mind, he was able to faintly here the persons words..

"You're safe now, dear grandson.."

And then pure nothingness...

Chapter Text

It's been ten years since his father had died, since his mother became the only ruler if Ithaca. It's been ne years since he became a Warrior of the Mind. It's been five years since he was crowned king by his mother, something his father would have done had he not died of that unknown disease, at least,that's what everyone told the new king. That his father was struck down by an unknown disease and not smitted by Zeus himself for daring to threaten one of his son's grandchildren, or, more accurately, his only grandchild. but the new king shall never remember that night..

The gods made sure of it.

Odysseus sat with his mother, resting his head on her shoulder as she sings to him, helping him preen his right wing so he wouldn't have to struggle with the thing. Anticlea plucks the final dead feather feom her baby's wing, before pulling him into a hug and rocking him gently as she continues singing, her only hope to ease her sons fears, worries, anxieties, you name it, before he has to leave for war.. praying to Ares and Posideon to let her baby come home, promising to give them a good sacrifice before he sets sail. She also prays to Athena, asking her to keep her son safe and let him think smartly.

Anticlea smiles as she feels her son relax against her, stretching each of his sets of wings. She's glad her grandfather helped save her son from the man she onced loved. She would have died of a broken heart if the man struck her son dead. Or she would have killed the man herself if he hurt her child. Her grip around Odysseus tightens a bit as she thinks back to that night. Had the gods not worked together to stop her husband, her dear oldest baby wouldn't be here.

"Hey, ma?" Odysseus asks, looking up at her with eyes that remind her of how her baby was a baby.

"Yes dear?" She replied, keeping her tone light.

"Did father really die of a disease? If so, why didn't we pray to lord Apollo for help?"

Oh no.. her baby was losing trust in the lie everyone had made to keep the prince now king to protect him from that night.. she had to keep the lie going. To protect her child from the truth of his father.

"Yes, dear.. your father died of a unknown disease that took him to soon, before we could even pray and give a sacrifice to lord Apollo.." she carefully said, mocking despair as she forces a tear to leave her eye so that she can sell the lie. She has to refrain from smiling as Odysseus wraps his arms and winga around her.

"Im sorry mom, sorry for bringing that up.." he says, his voice filled with guilt as his head wings come to cover his eyes.

'now that wasn't the desired affect' Anticlea thought, frowning at the way her son curls in on himself. She brushes a strand of his hair behind his head wing, making it flutter and him look up at her.

"Don't be sorry dear, stuff like that just happens, you sadly can't avoid it.." a sad tone weaves it's way into her voice as she thinks. Thinks about how that very lie could become true for her son. But she doesn't dwell on the thought, instead getting up from where she sat, helping Odysseus up, and leading him back to the palace.

'"Where are we going?" Odysseus asks, wings fluttering a bit as he walks besides his mother, a child like curiosity glint in his eyes.

Anticlea smiles widely at her son. "You have a wife and son you need to see before you leave, or is hermes playing tricks with my poor old eyes?" She jokes, cackling at the way Odysseus wings come to shield his face as he looks away, like an embarrassed bird.

"R-right.." he mutters, still hiding his face in his wings as they start their way into the palace. A perk of having a god as your grandfather, especially one you share physical traits with, is being able to get something enchanted to hide those features from people who don't already know about them. As they walk through the palace, no one pays attention to how the kings wings flutter here and there, or how his heel wings get ready for flight but never take off. Thank you hermes :D

When the mother and son duo reach Penelope and Odysseus's room, Anticlea gave her son a very tight bear hug, being thoughtful of where her son's wings are, before planting a kiss to his head and heading off to her room.

With a polite knock, Odysseus opens the door to see his lovely wife caring their wonderful baby boy, Telemacus, who seemingly sensed his presence, started throwing a fit to get into Odysseus arms.

"Aww, don't worry buddy, daddy's coming" he coos as he walks over to where his family rests on the balcony. Giving Penelope a loving kiss as she passes their child to her husband.

As Odysseus joins Penelope on the quartz bench, she rests her head on his shoulder, looking at their baby boy with a smile as Telemacus latches onto one of Odysseus's fingers, smiling toothlessly.

"When do you think you'll have to leave?" She asks, turning her attention to the sky and the seemingly fast rising sun.

Odysseus sighs as he responded "around sun high, a bit before that actually.." the sun was about twenty minutes away from sun high.. Penelope sighed before getting up from the bench and walking over to the mobile crib they got from Helen and Menelaus when they visited for Telemacus's birth, before gesturing for Odysseus to follow her.

"Im assuming your equipment is already on the ship?" She asks him, busy with getting the crib ready before asking for Telemacus.

"Yep, made sure everyone did at first light, so that we could spend time with family and friends" Odysseus says as he passes a now bit fussy Telemacus to his wife, gently shushing him as Penelope gently puts him in the crib, giving his a soft kiss to his tiny forehead.

"He's not going to like you gone" Penelope chuckles as she loops her arm around the handle of the crib, walking over to where Odysseus is holding the door open for her and their son. "Awww, how sweet of daddy, huh, Telemacus?" She coos, smiling at the little baby chuckles.

•v•

As they walk to the dock, the couple laugh and joke and bask in each other's presence, stopping once or twice when Penelope wanted to preen Odysseus's wings for him, making Odysseus get flustered before continuing their walk to the dock.

When they get there, it's a bit crowded, family and friends crowding the space. "Oh dear.." Penelope mutters, looking around. "So many people, oh my.." her more elegant voice coming out around so many people, making Odysseus's wings, all three pairs, tilt down in sadness, something that doesn't go unnoticed by two people...

"Oh! There's your mother, dear." She says politely, pointing to a woman sitting by herself, seemingly waiting. The three make their way over to her, smiling as a smile reaches Anticlea's face.

"Hello, my dear son abd daughter-in-law" she greets happily, standing up and gracefully walking over to them. "How have you lover birds been doing since i last saw you guys about twenty minutes ago" the old queen asks, amusement in her words.

"We're doing well, mother, you? And how are your eyes after hermes "messed" with them?" Odysseus seemingly politely asked her, but his own jab of humor lied beneath his words.

"Ahh, so much better! Especially when i see such a beautiful sight!" Anticlea gestures to Penelope and Telemacus, smiling with all teeth on display, jabbing her son lightly in the ribs.

"You wound me mother!" Odysseus cries as he puts the back of his hand to his forehead.

"I'll give you a real wound!" A voice shouts before hands wrap around Odysseus's waist and he's lifted into the air, letting out a womanly screech.

"POLITES!" the king yells, kicking his legs and flapping hisvwings in an attempt to escape his best friends hold. "LET ME GO! !!!"

"Mm, nah."

"POLITES I SWEAR YOU WILL SLEEP ON THE DECK!"

"Wha-!? Fine.. partypooper"

THUMP

"I absolutely dispise you."

"Love you too!"

Odysseus watches from the ground as his friend happily skips away, ad if he didn't just pick up and drop him. With the help of his wings and Penelope, he gets back on jis feet again. The family turn to the ship as Eurylocus shouts thsy they'll be leaving shortly.

With a heavy heart, Odysseus turns back to his family. He gives Penelope a long and loving kiss, having to go on his tippy toes to reach her without having her bend down. He gives Telemacus a kiss on his forehead and leaves a little wooden horse for the infant to play with, a little message written to him if Odysseus can't or won't make it home alive. And finally, he gives his mother a long and sad hug, whispering to her that he'll make it back alive to her, to all if them.

Breaking apart from the hug, Anticlea cups Odysseus's face with on habd smiling softly at her son. "Don't worry dear, when you get home I'll be waiting, waiting, and waiting. Even if you're the last thing i see I'll be waiting" she places a kiss to his head, and soothing his feathers before herding him to the ship after one last family hug.

The three watch with sad hearts as Odysseus waves goodbye to them. Penelope tries to shush Telemacus, the baby boy realizing his father is no longer with him, before politely excusing herself back to the palace to take care of Telemacus.

Anticlea just watches after the boat, praying to hermes to watch over her boy and his friends, to let them be safe.
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"Don't worry, granddaughter, I'll make sure my great grandson and his friends are okay. I promise I'll bring them back alive"

SPLASH

A joyful laugh rings out, to no one but himself from where he hivers in to clouds, one of his head wings coming up to wipe a tear from his eye, watching as the his grandson and his now overboard friends argue.

"Right after he stops throwing his friends into the water! Good one, dear fledgling! So proud dawling! Athena doesn't aprove but i do!!!"

Chapter Text

The sea rolls and crashes lazily against the boat as it goes up and over the low waves. Birds cry over head as they soar low to the boat, especially two particular birds. An Owl and A Hawk.

Odysseus knew the owl was Athena, his mentor going to war with him to make sure he remembers his strategies and didn't die. What a waste of her time if he did die..
nope, don't think like that! Odysseus thought, slightly shaking his head before looking back up at the sky. Well, more at the hawk flying besides Athena. It's feathers matched his own, gold mixed with different colors of brown and black, swirling together and dotted with black and white dots.

His wings flutter slightly under the breeze, the cool air a nice welcome as the sun gets higher and hotter. He spreads all sets of wings out as he soaks up the sun, making him relax a bit before the stress of war crashes it.

A shriek pulls him out of his warmth, making his wings puff in agitation as he whips his head around quickly, looking around for the source of the sound. He watches as the crew shriek and scream, rushing away from one spot on the deck faster than Hermes delivering a message.

Odysseus quickly grabbed a random crew members arm, pulling him to the side. "What is going on, why are you all running?" He calmly asks, forcing his wings to soothe the second he caught Euryloucus in the corner of his eye.

"Sir! There's a creature on the deck!" The crew member almost yelled, before yanking his arm harshly out of the King's hold before running away farther.

With a slightly annoyed sigh, he walks over to where Polites and a few other crew members are clinging to each other, screaming and crying like infants. As Ody approaches, he lets out a long, disappointed sigh at seeing the creature his crew was scared of.

A damn Hawk.

It was the exact one that was flying with Athena, too. With a loud cry, it flashing it's wings at whoever dared to get close. It seemed to heavily dislike Polites though, mainly squawking and screeching at him the most when the poor guy even breathed.

"Oh for God's sakes..." Odysseus said loudly for his crew to hear. "It's a hawk, you fools." Dropping down into a crouch, Odysseus sticks his hand out for the bird to go up to him, his wings fluffing a bit to seem bigger.

Only for the hawk to not care and immediately take purchase on his shoulder, chirping at him as it rubs its head against his, even preening his head wing, which looked like it was messing with his hair to the rest of the crew except for Euryloucus and Polites, which made both's jaw drop at the sight. Especially when only Penelope, Anticlea, and Once in a while Athena if she "thought" his wings were too out of shape for a practice. (Euryloucus and Polites both knew it was BS and she was just playing off her urges as a mama bird, as they call her)

With a giggle, Odysseus walks away from the confused crew and into his captain quarters, letting the hawk down next to Athena, who seemed to hate the idea of the hawk next to her, for some reason.

(⁠☞ﾟ⁠ヮﾟ⁠)⁠☞

Athena hated her brother. Instead of being smart and just introducing himself, in whatever form he wanted to take, to her student, he instead decided to terrorize his crew. Especially Polites. While yes, Athena herself doesn't quite like her students friend, for how touch-y and flirty he is with her so- student. Her student. No matter if the man was doing it playfully or actually meant it, but she wouldn't terrorize him. But then again, Hermes is the God of mischief and loves to bully and prank people.

"Why are you like this?" She asked him when Odysseus set him down next to her, much to her displeasure.

The God has the audacity to laugh his weird laugh at her as he preened his wings. "Oh, dear sister, I just looove the chaos! Especially the fear in that Polites guy's eyes!" His laugh turned a bit sinister at the last part.

The goddess of wisdom just shook her head in disappointment as she watches her brother fly over to her student and cuddling up to him on the opposite shoulder, preening the other head wing and letting out happy chirps along with Odysseus.

Athena looks out the window on the door at the darkening sky, thinking about the war that awaits for Odysseus and his crew. While she herself is a goddess of wisdom and battle strategies, she can't guarantee their survival without heavily interfering with the war. So she prayed to her father to keep Ares in check, and at least let her student and his friends leave alive.
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she doesn't go unheard, as the king of gods taps his fingers across the arm of his throne, humming. "Of course, my dear daughter. I'll let my, whatever he is because you couldn't deal with the calf being a calf, get home safely. But his crew will dwindle in size, I'm afraid. Someone must die to keep another alive..."

Chapter Text

Polites watched as Helios's chariot finished it's journey through the sky, letting the sun set and letting lady Nyx's domain roam the world. The night wind blew gently through his hair and headband, getting slightly in the way of his vision as he stared out into the dark abyss of the sea, it still surprisingly calm.

The hawk that decided to attach itself to Odysseus flew over head, letting out a few cries before landing by him and trying to nip at him before flying off again. Polites let out a yelp as the hawk managed to get some skin from his ankle in its beak to pinch him. He glares at the hawk, the first animal he full heartedly hates, unknowingly glaring at one of the twelve Olympians. But if he knew, he probably would still glare at him.

"aren't you going back to Ody? Or have anything better to do?" He questioned it, slightly side stepping away from the hawk as it jumps forward once, looking at him with a strange glint in its eye. Oh! Joy, he must be hallucinating, because did the hawk just shake it's head no?

Polites shook his head as he made his way over to the door to their sleeping quarters, only to have the hawk fly up in front of him, blocking his way with threats of being mauled or having his ears screeched off as it pushes him back. Polites's hatred for the bird onky grows the more it refuses to let him pass. "C'mon... i can get attacked by harpys out here!" He hissed through his teeth! Glaring daggers into the smug looking bird.

HOW CAN A BIRD EVEN LOOK SMUG!?

A familiar laugh rang out behind him, making the bird perk up and look around him before happily hopping over to his best friend. Odysseus leaned down to let the hawk somehow climb on him to his left shoulder.

"Oh! Ody! Can you tell that... thing that i need to go into the sleeping quaters?" Polites asked, putting on a fake cheerful tone as he gives a strained smile. The king just laughed, making Polites's eye twitch.

"My dear friend, have you forgotten?" The small king asked, his eyes glinting with the stars light. Polites felt his glare fall as he rembers the threat Odysseus made to him.

oh shit.. nnnNNOOOOOO!!!!

Polites knew exactly what Odysseus was talking about. And he wish he didn't. And based on his short friends smirk, he did too. For gods sake the HAWK seemed to be laughing at his misfortune!

"Dear Poli~ i think you know why our little friend isn't letting you in" Polites can see and hear the smile on his face. Already having dug his grave many times before, Polites decided he'd go out with a bang.

"Dear Ody~ the only thing i can't get into is you~"

WHACK, THUNK

Polites crumpled to the floor, gripping his head, barely registering the fact that Odysseus ran over him. As Odysseus helped him up, using a wing as extra support, Polites shook his head, trying to shake off the dizziness.

"How the hades did a SANDAL HIT YOU!?" Odysseus shrieked, his wings puffing up massively, making Polites look over at what Odysseus was looking at. And sure enough, a sandal was laying there.

"IS THAT NESTORS!?"

"IT IS?!"

said man was five boats to the right if them... and supposedly sleeping... old man their asses...

Odysseus sighs as he watches the hawk nip at Polites again, managing to only pinch him before being shooed off by Odysseus, flying away to rest at the crow of the ship.

"Well, looks like you're going to have a friend to accompany you!" The shorter man said, a bit too cheerfully, before walking back to his quarters. Odysseus stopped right before he got to his door, looking back at Polites with a soft smile. "When the moon rises to a quater in the sky, you may join me in my quaters, bud." And he left into his quaters without a sound more.

Polites looked up at the hawk, and jumped a bit when it dive bombed him, it's speed rivaling even Hermes. It landed on the railing and then just.. sat there.. staring at him. It was a bit unnerving.. Polites just decided to ignore the hawk for now, opting to look out a the dark abyss of the sea as the moon glows softly above him. It was nice and pleasing, especially with the soft rolls of the ocean below, guiding them to aulis at it's own pace, letting time melt into the back of his mind.

Polites was startled out of his thoughts by a loud cry piercing through the silence, his head snapping towards where the noise came from. Polites let a swear leave his lips as a harpy swooped down, leaving him with barley anytime to dodge the attack. The monster swooped back down again, this time managing to draw so blood as it's talons nicked his shoulder, making him yelp in pain and drop his sword from the scabbard. The harpy landed a few feet away from him and spreading it's wings wide, snapping at him, ready to tear into him.

Polites brought an arm up to shield him from the attack, praying to whatever god can hear him that he survives, and if not to not let Odysseus blame himself.

"You will not hurt him."

The voice was calm yet carried an air of anger as the person? spoke. The harpy stopped dead in its tracks, shaking like a newly born fawn trying to walk as it slowly turned it's head and slowly revealed the being behind it.

There, standing menacingly with his wings spread wide and upwards, his eyes glowing and piercing through the darkness, stood Hermes himself.

"you will let him be and leave. NOW." and with that, the harpy fled the scene, screeching in fear as it flapped away in the dark sky. Polites felt relief rush over him as he slowly got up, grabbing his sword in the process. The human puts his sword back into it's scabbard, then kneels before Hermes, unknowing of the harsh glare the god is giving him.

"O great Lord Hermes, I thank your divine presence for saving someone like me" despite the fact that you've terrorized me this whole time and probably would've ley me die "How can I ever repay such heavy debt, great god of travelers, merchandise, thievery and trickery."

The god sighed as he looked down at the mortal, the one who flirted with his kin. "Rise, young mortal, as for what I want from you is unavailable if i do not wish to hurt my little Cockerel."

"Wait what?"

Hermes giggled at Polites's confusion. "My dear great grandson! Cockerel is a nickname for my dear child!" Hermes explained, all of his wings fluttering happily behind him. Hermes's giggles turned into a loud cackle as he watches the mortal's confusion grows. "but! If you want to repay your debt to me.." the happy tone left the gods voice, it taking on a more serious one. "Keep Odysseus safe, for he is my dear young Cockerel. Promise to me you'll keep him safe and your fate will change."

Polites's confusion turned to fear upon hearing the news. One, his best friend had a very protective god as a great grandfather, and two, his fate or whatever is going to end probably horribly if he didn't protect his best friend...

"I'll do whatever i can to keep him safe lord Hermes, i swear on the river Styx." Polites bowed his head from his kneeling position, meaning every word that left his mouth. While his head was bowed, he didn't notice the god growing in size, sharpening his teeth and claws, and growing his wing span out, until the god pounced at him, a giant clawed hand big enough to go around his throat near slammed his head against the deck. Polites looked up in fear at the sharp, twisted grin on the gods face, the smike glowing slightly from the glow of his hooded eyes.

The god leaned close to Polites's ear, his voice gaining back a happy tone, this time accompanied by a underlying tone of malice. "You better. Because if you don't, I'll make sure that cyclops kills you. Or I'll do it myself, got it? " The god squeezed Polites's neck, his claws digging into his neck slowly the more Polites waits.

Polites nods his head, choking out "i.. i will. T-till the d-ay i fa-ll." And in a blink, the god was off of him and standing, well floating, up right, still huge and intimidating, smiling to show of just how sharp his teeth are.

"Good! Now, i have a few messages to deliver, since me uncle can't do it himself." Hermes said, glaring out at the ocean as it made the ship sway more than before.

"Shut the fuck up, little turtle. You know i can't go to my brother's domain in the underworld."

"I know, i know, but whu not iris? Im spending timw with my-"

Polites promptly ran into Odysseus quarters and slammed the door shut behind him, not wanting to deal with one of the big three, who, in theory, is Odysseus great-great-uncle. So is Zeus and Hades, and a good amount of others in that theory. Lost in thought, he didn't notice the huge figure come uo to him.

"Young Polites, don't you dare wake my student. I just got him to sleep."

Polites did the opposite and yelped. Loudly. Loudly enough to make Odysseus stir in his sleep and Athena to get defensive.

In a small voice, Polites whispered his apologies as Athena glared down at him. After what seemed like decades of Athena staring at him with slit pupils through the shadow of her helmet, with her claws softly taping the table besides her, did she finally deem him ok and let him go to the spare cot Odysseus had set up for him, flopping into it and becoming dead to the world.
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"Did you really have to threaten him? Both of you?"

"Of course father! I need my Cockerel safe!"

"Very much. He almost woke my owlet."

A long sigh.

"You two are menaces.."

"Wait till the others meet him!"

The god king is going to need to talk to Dionysus when that happens, he'll need to drink his headaches away...

Chapter Text

Most parents are happy and relived when their children come home after being gone for so long. Not Zeus. Not when two of his kids are fighting like fledglings. You see, just a few years back his Daughter, Athena, Goddess of wisdom, war strategy, and craftsmanship, had gained a student, one that managed to trick her into revealing herself. She's mentored him for almost his entire life. And what comes with practicality raising a child? Attachments!

Yes, his dear smart daughter is deeply attached, unaware of it herself. And that leads to the number one problem child, Hermes. Hermes is also deeply attached to Athena's student. Mainly because Athena's student his Hermes's great grandson. Hermes already goes feral when someone even dares look at the boy, Zeus can only imagine how he'll react when Athena signs the soon to be adoption papers. Probably not going to be pretty given the fact the god managed to scare all thw other gods into helping him kill Odysseus father then torture said man all the way to the underworld and then throw him into the deepest pits of Tartarus because fuck those who hurt Hermes's onky winged child.

But now those two are back on Olympus and Zeus is ready to pull out his own hair. He's been listening to the two bicker back and forth about who Odysseus likes more, who helps him more, whose the better parent, that topic genuinely shocking Zeus because only one of the two are self-aware and it definitely isn't Athena.

Zeus was about to put a stop to all this bickering because really? You're thousands upon thousands of years old, arguing like new born calfs who are hungry! but the door to the garden swung open, Hera, Posideon, and Hestia burst through, Hera's arms thrown out wide from how she opened the door.

"We can HEAR you twos bickering from the other side of WORLD!" She yells, her dressses tail feathers fluffing up behind her, making her seem bigger and making Posideon get a feather in his gills. Hestia helps get the feather out as Hera walks over to the now guilty looking gods, putting her hands on her hips while looking at the two, her affro bobbing a bit as she looks between them (please correct me if I'm wrong on anything!), glaring slightly. "Care to tell me why?"

The two gods didn't even try to make eye contact with her, Hermes hiding his eyes and face in his head wings while Athena tried to look anywhere but at the goddess, her own wings coming up to shield her body. Hera just looked at them, unimpressed. "Fine." She sighs, leading them into a false security before announcing. "I'll just chose on of you."

Both of the younger god's wings puffed up, Hermes trying to run, only for his ankle to be grabbed by Hestia and dragged back in front of everyone. Hera looks between the two, who are cowering like peachicks after falling off of something for the first time. She hums for a second before pointing at Athena. "You. Tell us why you're bickering."

Hera almost laughed as she watched Athena scramble to explain, poor thing had her thoughts all scrambled. Hera walked over to young goddess and pulled her into a soothing hug, humming softly and rocking her, letting her collect her thoughts. "There we go, now do you want to explain?" She felt Athena nod and let go of the younger.

"Ok, so, why me and the feather duster-" "FEATHER DUSTER!?rude.." "-are fighting is because of my excellent student, Odysseus. I've been mentoring him since he was about seven and he's shown outstanding growth. Did you know that he's the main strategist for the greeks? Aw, I'm so proud of him!" Athena let a proud chirp leave her, before quickly covering her mouth, thankful her helmet shadowed her face as an embarrassed blush crept up her face.

Hera just looked at Zeus, raising her eyebrow as he just does a.. pathetic flop? Of defeat as he slumps in his chair, summoning a bottle of wine and chugging it. Hera just rolls her eyes at het husband.

Hermes shoved Athena out of the way, avoiding her claws and a stray wing, and bowed politely to the goddess of marriage. "And im fighting the rubix cube brain-" "don't use that with your sister, those haven't been even a thought of yet." "-yeah, yeah, sorry not sorry father, but im fighting her because Odysseus is my great grandson. Did you know he's almost as good as me? Im so proud of my little Cockerel!!" Hermes practicality screeched, dancing in place before Posideon covered his mouth.

"We get it, you both like the kid. So why fight?" He asks, slightly glaring at the two for disrupting them over a small quarl. The two young gods looked between each other and shrugged. Posideon sighed, done his his supposedly smart niece and ever chaotic nephew. He wonders how Zeus deals with them.. or any of his kids to be honest.. didn't Dionysus mention in a meeting how he was concerned on how close Zeus was to pure insanity?..

The door burst open again as Aphrodite walked in, squealing as she does. "Oh my us, Athena!!!! Your little student is so freaking cute!!!!" Her wings fluttered with excitement as she opens the floor to observe Odysseus more. "Look at himmm!! I just wanna squish his face!"

As Aphrodite continued to baby talk Odysseus, she was completely unaware of the death glare Hermes and Athena were sending her, their claws sharp and wings spread out, ready to lunge at her, only to be stopped by hera, who seemed quite interested in Odysseus now.

"Is he married?" She suddenly asks.

Confused, Athena and Hermes slowly nodded their heads, aphrodite baby talking "of course he's married, he loves his wife so much and just ajuda budada~ whose a cute bebe~? You are~!"

Hera, ignoring aphrodite making faces at Odysseus, just hummed, smiling down at him. "I can tell, his thoughts are plagued by his wife and newborn son. It's nice to see a loyal man.."

To everyone's, Hera plucked two feathers from her tail feathers, did a quick blessing on them, then sent the pair down to Odysseus and Penelope, looking satisfied. Her smile went down a bit as she noticed everyone in the room staring. "What?" She asked, looking around at them, barely noticing her sister leave the room.

"YOU NEVER DO THAT!?" the room erupted into one voice in a second. All voices of confusion and shock blending together. Through the chaos, they barely heard the door reopen to reveal Apollo floating there, his crow wings fluttering slightly as he floated into the meeting room.

"Ssoo? What's got all of your guy's tails in a twist?" He asks, floating over to the viewing point. "Ohhh, Odysseus? Not surprised to be honest. Especially since thing 1 and thing 2 can't shut up about him." The god hums, music lacing his hum as he places his feet on the ground. His golden, pupil-less eyes widden as he viewed Odysseus. "Hey, uh 'Then? Herms? When did y'all check on Odysseus?" He questions them out of nowhere, the background music that followed Apollo wherever he went dropping into a somewhat anxiety inducing tone.

" 'bout a week ago, why?" Hermes answered, sharing a worried glance with everyone in the room. Everyone flinched suddenly as Apollo slammed his hand on a pillar, sending cracksspewing from the spot he hit up and down.

"I knew i should've checked in on him more!" He suddenly shouted, His music grew frantic as Apollo summoned items around him, like his bow and Arrows, a preening kit, wing oil, bandages- wait, why did he need these!?

"Apollo, what is going on!?" Zeus's voice boomed through the room, making the music grow more than frantic as Apollo shoved items into a pouch he had on and his quiver. "APOLLO, ANSWER!" Zeus demanded, lightning crackling with his words as thunder roared in the sky, a strom growing quickly in size and pouring rain, his bull tail lashing from it's spot on his chair. As much as Zeus hated to admit it, he was panicking about what could be wrong. The last time he saw everyone this frantic and scared was when Hermes got them to help kill Odysseus's father.

"I DON'T KNOW, BUT ODYSSEUS IS RIPPING OUT HIS FEATHERS!" was all he shouted before disappearing into a burst of golden light, making the gods he left behind cover their eyes. The room was swallowed in an nerving silence, the only sound left was the threatening storm that's accompanied by the sound of crashing waves and the earth shaking.

The door flung open once again to reveal a frantic Iris standing there, shaking. Ichor dripped and dried on her arm, poorly concealing a burn on her arm. "All of you are needed! Lord Apollo needs you!" She shouted, snapping them out of all of their shocks.

"But iris! Your arm-!" Hermes started, only for Iris to cut him of with a glare.

"You all are needed, GO NOW!" She shouted even louder, watching as one by one the gods went down to the surface. She stumbled her way to the Infirmary, clutching her arm. When iris was summoned by Apollo, she expected a simple message, one she could quickly get done with before leaving to show some children their first rainbows as they open their eyes for the first time. Not almost being burned alive by the shared god of the sun! Why even call her when you knew you'd not be in the right mind!?

She flopped onto the first bed she saw in the infirmary, sighing as a nymph got to work with tending to her wound. Iris really did not get paid enough for this.. she doesn't even get paid at all!!! Apollo better apologize to her when he's done being weird.. and maybe explain why he was so frantic about that mortal? Yeah, he looked like he wasn't doing well.. but he's on the greek side of the war! And Apollo ismon the Trojans side! Iris just layed her arm over her eyes, groaning as the nymphs finished up with cleaning her wound and got started witj dressing it. She could ponder her massive why question later. She's too tired for this shit y'all..