Would You Fall In Love With Me If We’d Been Enemies For A While?

by Shadow1264

Summary:

The world is always in need of more reaction fics. A few characters get transported into the Void to react to their songs.

Chapter 1: The Horse and the Infant

When Odysseus was having his… moment… about murdering infants in the Underworld, the last thing he expected was to suddenly not be in the Underworld anymore.

 

Unless Hades had recently decided to go full hospitality mode and redecorate with white walls, lavish furniture, and a giant black rectangle that looked vaguely ominous and he happened to accidentally walk straight into. Ouch.

 

No gloomy caverns. No river of souls that scream at you for getting them killed. 

 

The room was big. Lavish, even.

 

If you ignored the total lack of exits. Something he was trying very hard not to focus on.

 

So, obviously, this wasn't a natural occurrence. Not that anything regarding his life was natural at this point. Really. A god then? Very inconvenient for him, who pissed off every god he came across except Hermes. 

 

“Captain?”

 

Odysseus froze. That voice.

 

He turned slowly. Hesitantly. Painfully.

 

Polites.

 

Polites.

 

Warm. Breathing. Not see-through. Odysseus’s knees gave out as he threw himself forward. Polites caught him like it was nothing.

 

He was warm.

 

He was alive.

 

Odysseus clung to him with shaking arms, pressing a hand against his friend’s chest just to feel his heartbeat. This was cruel. This was impossibly kind. It was a dream, and he desperately didn’t want to wake up.

 

“…Odysseus?”

 

His head whipped around. 

Penelope.

 

The King of Ithaca froze. 

“Penolope…”

 

His wife. His beloved. Oh by the Gods, she was here. Holding a child—Telemachus. His boy. His baby, who was not a baby anymore. How long had it been? Twelve years? More? Oh, Fates, don't let him wake up.

 

Really, it's on him for not immediately thinking something will go wrong.

 

“YOU!!”

 

Shit. Odysseus, who had about to be hugging his family for the first time in like, twelve years, quickly pushes them behind him. Odysseus instinctively shoved his family behind him. Useless gesture against a god, sure, but it was the only thing his panicking brain could come up with.

 

But no attack came. The sea god snapped his fingers—nothing. Snapped again. Still nothing. He tried stepping forward and smacked into an invisible wall with an oof that Odysseus would’ve found deeply satisfying if he weren’t currently experiencing a breakdown.

 

“What did you do?” the Earthshaker hissed like Odysseus of all people had summoned a divine time-out box. Rude. He was only human, how could he do this? Whatever “this” was.

 

“This was not my doing, My Lord.” Odysseus says respectful, because this was still a deity after his head, invisible barrier or not.

 

Poseidon sneered but turned away, ignoring him. Fine. That made two of them.

 

Odysseus glanced around. Eurylochus had found Polites and was shouting gleefully, half-laughing, half-crying. Penelope was speaking softly with Telemachus, and—gods, Telemachus—was standing quietly, eyes wide, staring up at him.

 

Odysseus dropped to one knee in front of him.

 

“Father?”

 

“Son…”

 

“If you start giving heartfelt speeches to each other, I’m going to vomit,” Poseidon called from the other side of the room.

 

Odysseus ignored him. He didn’t need a speech to communicate his message. Unlike someone.

 

Instead he pulled his boy into an almost crushing hug. 

 

After a while, he didn't bother counting, of reuniting with his son, he finally stood up to fully look around.

 

It was, like he said, a large white room, split into two sides. The side with Poseidon, and the side with the mortals. With couches and… uh. Smaller couches? Odysseus didn't know. Along with that was a very large black box thing in the middle. 

 

Ignoring that for now, Odysseus focused back on the gods side, suddenly realizing Poseidon wasn’t the only deity there. Hermes, which made him feel slightly relieved and… Athena. Great. He's going to ignore that. And the fact she looked… not regretful, exactly, but lost. A look that he had never seen on his former mentor in his entire life. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.

 

That's when the black box suddenly lit up.

 

’Hello.’ the box-uh-wrote?

 

“Hello?” a few people mumbled back, wary yet curious. The three Gods all reached for their respective weapons, and Odysseus, along with Eurylocus, did the same.

 

‘Please, relax. I mean no harm.’

 

Athena scoffs, tightening her grip on her spear.

 

’You are here to react. To both past and future. Time will be still outside this room as you do so.’

 

At that, Poseidon tenses. “Father?” he snarls, his prosthetic water-arm clenching and unclenching in an uncharacteric show of nervousness. Whatever drama was there, Odysseus did not want to know. Nor did he want to be dragged into it, but he learns how to pick his battles.

’I assure you, I am no Titan. I am a being outside the realms. I believe this will help you. The dead guy is the most emotionally stable of all of you, and I believe will make a good eventual therapist. Unlike Phoebus Apollo’s prophecies, what you see here can, and hopefully will, be prevented.”

 

Poseidon seemed to relax a fraction at that, though his eyes still held distrust.

 

“Ohh, what are we watching?” Hermes interjects, the only person who is having a good time. Beyond Telemachus, who seems perfectly content to be doted on by the alive Polites. 

’Odysseus of Ithaca’s journey home.’

 

Excuse me?! Odysseus blinked. Him. They’re reacting to him. His journey, what he's done. What he's failed. Gods, he failed in so many ways. He's a Monster. Telemachus doesn't deserve to see his father like that.

’in song form.’

….

What.

 

As it turns out, no one in the room got an actual say in this. What a shocker.

 

Evidently, after realizing not even the gods had a choice in this, their powers apparently, not shut off exactly, but locked away. He had a lack of information on them, with Poseidon scowling each time they locked eyes, Athena ignoring him- which. Was fine. Not hurtful at all- and Hermes, the only being actually helpful, speaking way too vaguely in a I-am-here-for-chaos-way. They all took their seats on the couches, and smaller couches, beanbags, apparently, according to the Box.

That's when the Box decided to light up. Again. Only this time, instead of words, there were images. The horse, Odysseus realized grimily. Of course they had to start with this. And music. Because of course there was.

“Alright my brothers, listen closely.”

 

Odysseus blinked. He did not expect this when the Box said ‘song form’. It looked like him. Sounded like him. But it was singing. At least… he? Was a good singer.

 

“Tonight we make the Trojans pay. Ten years of war they killed us slowly. But tonight we’ll be the ones who slay!”

 

“My love…” Penelope intangles her fingers with his. Ten years. Its been even longer now, he knew that much.

 

“Think of your wives and your children.”

 

 He tightened his grip.

 

“They’re growing old, and yet you’re still here. Do what I say and you’ll see them again!”

“Yes sir!”

 

Not true. Painfully not true. From six hundred to less than fifty. Penelope noticed him about to spiral and rubbed his back comfortingly. Gods, she's perfect. How he's missed her.

 

“Diomedes will lead the change! Aggamengon will flank the guards! Menelaus will let our mates through the gates to take the whole city at large! Teucer will shoot any ambush attack, and Little Ajax will stay back. Nested, secure Helon and protect her. Neo, avenge your father, kill the brothers of Hector.”

“Yes sir!”

“I did not shout my plans while already hidden inside,” Odysseus defends.

 

“Obviously,” Eurylous placates.

 

“We know Cap,” Polites lightly slaps him on the shoulder.

 

“I didn't,” Odysseus repeats anyway because, honestly, he's a strategist, and yes he could be stupid, but this was plain insulting.

 

“Exposition!” Hermes pipes up, and, yeah, it probably was. Odysseus was not a fan.

 

“Find that inner strength now. Use that well of pride. Fight through every pain now. Ask yourself inside. What do you live for? What do you try for? What do you wish for? What do you fight for?”

“What do you live for? What do you try for? What do you wish for? What do you fight for?”

 

The echoing seemed redundant in Odysseus’s correct option. Whatever, it was, at the very least, catchy.

 

“Penolope, Penolope.”

 

Penelope lets out a slight gasp at her name, though she really shouldn’t have been surprised. Her husband had always been her best supporter. She pulled her love into a side hug, never wanting to let his go again. It had been twelve years too long. In that sense, she was grateful to this… being, who made it possible.

 

“And Telemachus.”

 

Telemachus' breath caught. He had been raised with stories, and nothing more of his father. To hear his name said… it made a warm feeling bloom in his chest.“You thought of me?” he asked.

 

“Every single day,” Odysseus responds without hesitation, all the emotion in his voice enough to communicate his love.

 

“I fight for us! I fight for us!”

 

“What do you live for?”

 

“Penelope…”

 

“What do you try for?”

 

“Telemachus…”

 

“What do you wish for?”

 

“I’m on my way…”

 

“What do you fight for?”

 

“ATTACK!”

 

Odysseus winced as the music blended into shouts, watching himself surge into Troy. As he remembered, the shadowy attacker showed up and stabbed him through the stomach. His loved ones gasped in worry and he flinched. He knew what was coming.

 

“What- was that?”

 

There was the eagle screech. He saw, from his peripheral vision, the gods on the other side sitting up straighter. So even they paid attention when Zeus showed up.

Odysseus closed his eyes.

 

“Tell me how.” 

 

“I don’t think you’re ready.”

 

He really hadn’t been.

 

“A mission. To kill someone’s son. A foe who won’t run. Unlike anyone you have faced before.”

 

“Say no more. I know that I’m ready.”

 

Odysseus hears Poseidon scoffing from across the room. Ass. Not that he doesn’t agree with him. He had been a fool, high on victory, to think a challenge from the gods would have been easy.

 

The door opens revealing the cradle. Odysseus feels a few sharp gasps from the people around him and winces.

 

“It’s just an infant… It's just a boy. What sort of imminent threat does he pose that I cannot avoid?”

 

“Father?” Telemachus whimpered.

 

“Don’t look, son.” Odysseus answered quietly, covering the boy’s eyes. He was surprised Athena didn’t comment about learning early, but he supposed she wouldn't bother with someone no longer her student.

 

“This is the son of none other than Troy's very own Prince Hector. Know that he will grow from a boy to an avenger. One fueled with rage as you're consumed by age. If you don't end him now, you'll have no one left to save.”

 

Eurylous and Polites, both of whom had been there, winced at the explanation. To get rid of an enemy lineage was expected, but they should have known it wouldn’t have been Odysseus’s idea.

 

“You can say goodbye to (Penelope). You can say goodbye to (Penelope).”

 

Penelope grimaced immediately at those lyrics. Odysseus’ decision was made, no doubt, as soon as her name left the GodKing’s lips. She gently squeezed his hand in support. 

 

“I could raise him as my own! (he will burn your house and throne) Or end him far away from home (he'll find you wherever you go) Make sure his past is never known (the gods will make him know) I'd rather bleed for you (they're bringing you) I'm on my knees for you (down on your knees for you) I'm begging, please! (oh, this is the will of the gods).”

 

Athena frowned nearly imperceptibly. The sight of Odysseus on his knees, begging, was an uncomfortable one. She could tell Hermes felt the same, the winged god fidgeting in place.Poseidon…well. It would take a mind reader for anyone to understand what her uncle was thinking. He had two states; utterly stoic and emotionless or angry. At the moment, the ocean king was the former. Athena could only be sure that the emotion wasn’t happy. 

 

“Please don't make me do this, don't make me do this (The blood on your hands is something you won't lose. All you can choose is whose.)”

 

Odysseus swallowed as the screen went black with a five minute timer on the front. “Well. This is going to be…weird.”

 

Notes:

I like found family, enemies to whatever, and reaction fanfics, so I’m combining all of them 🤗 :D

Chapter 2: Just A Man

The five minute timer hit zero sooner than Odysseus would have liked. Even if he’d already embraced ruthless, even if he’d told himself a thousand times that he would make the same decision again without hesitation…he still didn’t want there to be witnesses. Not for this. Not for him.

 

He didn’t want Penelope to see this. Nor Telemachus, his poor boy. He didn’t want Polites to know that it wasn’t just the long journey, but who he’d always been somewhere deep inside. A warrior. A weapon. A Monster.

 

I look into your eyes and I think back to the son of mine

Telemachus frowned. He’d usually be completely thrilled his father thought about him, but considering the context, he felt it diminished the value a little.

 

Hermes was uncomfortable, to say the least, with the tense atmosphere. But to crack a joke felt a bit… tone-deaf at the current moment.

 

You're as old as he was when I left for war

 

Odysseus closed his eyes and took a shaky breath. He knew what he did, why he did it, and he meant what he said; he’d do it again if he truly had to. Still, seeing himself kill a baby who had yet to do anything because Fate was cruel… it grated on him.

 

Will these actions haunt my days? Every man I've slain? Is the price I pay endless pain?
Close your eyes and spare yourself the view. How could I hurt you?

 

Polites shifted uncomfortably. He knew what happened of course—he was there. But he didn’t see this part, nor had he ever wanted to see his captain go through the emotional turmoil. Seeing his captain, his friend, pulled open like this felt like he was intruding on something sacred and terrible.

 

Poseidon scowled with derision. Would he, like his brother, demand the demise of an infant? Absolutely not. In fact, he felt bad for that baby. And any other human he would have felt a milligram of pity for, being forced into such a situation. But Odysseus? Not a chance. Every word—er, lyric—from that bastard’s mouth only reminded Poseidon of his own son’s suffering. That self-righteous wretch, pretending to agonize over “hard choices” while destroying everything around him. Of course he would “struggle.” Poseidon didn’t believe it for a moment.

 

I'm just a man who's trying to go home. Even after all the years away from what I've known
I'm just a man who's fighting for his life. Deep down, I would trade the world to see my son and wife

Odysseus let out a quiet sigh. He had meant those words then. He failed to uphold it. He should have stuck to that creed earlier. If he had, perhaps he would have been home already. Maybe fewer ghosts would weigh down his shoulders now.

 

I'm just a man… But when does the comet become a meteor? When does a candle become a blaze? When does a man become a monster? When does a ripple become a tidal wave?
When does the reason become the blame? When does a man become a monster? Forgive me

 

Penelope squeezed her husband’s hand yet again, using her free hand to hold Telemachus closer as well. She expected as much, but she didn’t want her son to see the scene.

 

Athena didn’t externally react to the scene of course. But internally… she was conflicted. She had been, for a while now. Normally, she would have been proud of Odysseus for his good decision, listening to her father, protecting his family from prophecy as so many fail to do. But she didn’t want to do that right now. She felt… sad? Was it sadness? It was an unpleasant feeling, and she pushed it to the side.

 

(When does a man become a monster?) Forgive me
(When does a man become a monster?) Forgive me
I'm just a man

 

The five minute countdown appeared once again. Odysseus couldn’t help but frown at it.
“I hate this.”

“I think everyone here does.” Polites sighed, reaching over to pat his back. “But we’re here for you.” He glanced over at the gods. “Most of us. You’re not facing this alone.”

Notes:

Everyone summarized this chapter:

Odysseus: depressedTM

Telemachus: “please do not mention my similarities to a baby you’re about to yeet- (ᵕ•ᴗ•)“

Hermes, trying not to crack a joke because he can read the room: (¬⤙¬)

Polites: “I don’t want to see a mental breakdown actually 😀”

Poseidon sees Odysseus: instant hate (ง •̀_•́)ง

Penelope: 🎵A single mom who works two jobs🎵

Athena: “I don’t feel emotions, actually” she says, like a liar.

Eurylochus: was forgotten 🥲

Chapter 3: Full Speed Ahead

Yet again, five minutes passed too soon.

 

Six hundred men
Six hundred men under my command
With only one goal in mind
Make it back alive to our homeland

 

Odysseus flinched as if burned. He dared to glare Poseidon’s way. The god, of course, noticed, and only responded by rolling his eyes. Odysseus grit his teeth at the obvious contempt.

 

“Odysseus?” Penelope lightly elbows her husband. “Are you alright?”

 

No. He wasn’t. But saying so would only invite concern he could not handle right now. “I’m fine.” He lies, giving his wife a smile. He could tell she didn’t believe him, but fortunately, she didn’t press it.

 

Six hundred men, six hundred miles of open sea
But the problem's not the distance
It's what lies in between

 

Polites let out a humorless little exhale as images flashed through. It sounded almost mocking; what lies in between. He hated that there had been anything at all.

 

Eurylochus swallowed. Hard. He glanced down, shame creeping up his neck. So many of those men had laughed with him, eaten beside him. And so many didn’t make it home, lost to the raging sea.

 

And Ithaca's waiting, Ithaca's waiting
My kingdom is waiting (the kingdom is waiting)
Penelope's waiting for me

 

Penelope’s breath hitched, a soft, sharp inhale. Part of her wanted to smile at the devotion in those lines; part of her wanted to crumble. She had waited for so long, lived through the anxious silence of nights when hope seemed a cruel joke. Seeing it rendered in such earnest words, even through this device, made her chest ache.

 

So full speed ahead, full speed ahead
Captain, Eurylochus
Six hundred men, six hundred men
Six hundred men with big mouths to feed
And we've run out of supplies to eat
Curse the war, our food store's depleted

 

Odysseus grimaced. Hunger. It was always hunger. Hunger led to desperate men, and desperate men led to poor decisions. He had a bad feeling it wouldn’t be the only time they’ve gone off course for hunger.

 

Eurylochus winced. They should have…done a lot of things differently. But hindsight was a luxury they didn’t have then. And living with failure, with what he did, was a permanent weight on his soul.

 

Six hundred men (six hundred men)
Six hundred reasons to take what we can
So captain, what's the plan?
Captain, what's the plan?

 

Poseidon huffed a disdainful laugh under his breath. Whatever the plan was, it ended foolishly. And it involved far too much grief for him.

 

Polites felt the tension tighten in his chest. The plan was good, in theory. In practice, it ended with his death. He was not looking forward to seeing it.

 

Watch where the birds fly (watch where the birds fly)
They will lead us to land (they will lead us to land)
There we'll hunt for food, my second in command

 

Athena’s eyes narrowed, thoughtful. She remembered being there, watching, nudging that bit of intuition along. Part of her swelled with pride hearing it aloud. The other part of her remembered that she had no right to feel pride over someone no longer her protege.

 

Now full speed ahead, full speed ahead
We're up, we're off, and away we go
We're up, we're off, and away we go
We're up, we're off, and away we go
Captain
Polites!

 

Polites startled slightly at hearing his name shouted in the lyric. It was said with such joy it hurt.

 

Penelope glanced over, and gave him a graceful nod. Her husband had always been closest with Polites. She knew, instinctively, he didn’t make it. But currently, he was right in front of her, and she wouldn’t mourn sooner than strictly necessary. It was easier that way.

 

Look! There in the distance, I see an island
I see a light that faintly glows
Maybe they're people lighting a fire
Maybe they'll share some food, who knows?
Something feels off here
I see fire but there's no smoke

 

Athena grimaced internally. That accursed island. She should have guided Odysseus away from it. But what’s done is done.

 

Odysseus dragged a hand over his face. “I should’ve listened to myself,” he muttered. “Should’ve turned back.”

 

Telemachus reached over to hug him, the boy’s small arms barely wrapping around his father. “You did your best, Father.” He says, as firm as a child could. “You were hungry.”

 

I say we strike first
We don't have time to waste
So let's raid the place and
No

 

Telemachus frowned at the box-thing. Ethics were a recurring theme already, and he was decidedly not impressed. He disliked it greatly, in fact.

Hermes let out a low whistle. “Hey, at least he’s efficient.” No one responded to the joke, but he expected as much. The tension was thick despite the current song being relatively tame.

 

Polites gear up, you and I'll go ahead
You and I'll go ahead
We should try to find a way no one ends up dead
We don't know what's ahead
Give me 'til sunrise, and if we don't return
Then six hundred men can make this whole place burn

 

Penelope frowned. She did not like him risking himself like this, choosing to advance alone with only one companion instead of sending a larger party. She resolved to scold him for it later.

 

Athena’s jaw ticked subtly. She reminded herself she had no more right to complain about his decisions, and she had already lectured him then. It had been the right call anyway, she had her doubts that anyone but Odysseus would have noticed the Lotus in time.

Now full speed ahead
Full speed ahead
Full speed ahead
We're up, we're off, and away we go
We're up, we're off, and away we go
Full speed ahead (we're up, we're off, and away we go)
We're up, we're off, and a
Full speed ahead

 

Odysseus stared at the thing, throat tight. He truly hated it, the way it showed the past so cheerfully. As if it didn’t know the disasters that were incoming.
Once again, that dreaded five minute countdown appeared.

Notes:

Everyone this chapter:

Odysseus: “why 😩”

Telemachus: tiny hugger, morally judging the ‘box thing’ (ᵕ︵ᵕ)

Hermes: low-key “why am I here” (¬_¬)

Polites: “I just want to not see me die, is that too much?” (◞‸ ◟)

Poseidon: internal screaming every time Odysseus 😤

Penelope: side-eye + mom energy (≖_≖)

Athena: what even are feelings (._.)""

Eurylochus: Remembering every poor life choice 🥲

Chapter 4: Open Arms

You can relax, my friend

Huh?

 

The song started suddenly, the audience having lost track of the lead in.

 

Odysseus stiffened immediately. Those words felt like a dagger in retrospect. Relax? As if. He couldn’t relax. Relaxing got people dead. Relaxing got him off course from home.

Penelope’s hand found his instantly, squeezing once, as if she could pour a decade lost of comfort through that single point of contact. He didn’t squeeze back, but he didn’t pull away either.

 

I can tell you're getting nervous, so do yourself a service

And try to relax, my friend

I'm fine, Polites

 

Penelope smiled sadly, gently kissing her husband’s cheek. “You don’t always have to be fine,” she murmured quietly. Odysseus glanced at her, but said nothing. She didn’t press.

 

Think of all that we have been through

We'll survive what we get into

I know that you're tired of the war and bloodshed

Tell me, is this how we're supposed to live?

 

Eurylochus winced. Those words were a little too sharp, too honest. War wasn’t glorious, and even afterward their lives had been reduced to survival and sacrifice. Hearing Polites frame it so earnestly made guilt stab deep. He lowered his head, unable to face anyone’s gaze.

Polites reached over and bumped their shoulders together. “Hey. You good?” he asked softly. Eurylochus made a choked sound and looked away, blinking hard. Polites frowned, concerned, but he knew Eurylochus would just shut down more with questioning.

 

Look at how you grip your sword, enough said

Why should we take when we could give?

You can show a person that you trust them

When you stop and lower your guard

 

Athena’s eyes narrowed. She remembered this moment vividly, and how brutally she had crushed the belief. Her fingers curled against her palms. Wisdom demanded caution, yes, and this optimistic creed was the main reason for her former protégé’s problems. Yet the memory of Odysseus’ face the day she told him kindness was weakness flickered behind her eyes. She felt… uncomfortable was the only word she had to describe it.

 

Telemachus leaned forward. He’d heard stories of Polites, his father’s best friend. He never met uncle Polites directly, but he liked him. Both from the stories, and now from this song. 

 

Here we have a chance for some adjustment

Give it a try, it's not that hard

I'm telling you

This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms

 

Poseidon scoffed. He crossed his arms, unimpressed. Polites’ idealism grated on him. Too bright, too trusting, too doomed. “Open arms. What a ridiculous sentiment,” he muttered under his breath.

Hermes, lounging on the soft couch, kicks his feet casually. “I dunno, fish-face, the song’s catchy. Ten-out-of-ten in my great opinion.”

Poseidon rolled his eyes and didn’t dignify his nephew with an answer.

 

Whatever we face, we'll be fine if we're leading from the heart

No matter the place, we can light up the world

 

Hermes grinned. That mortal, Polites was it?, was his favorite of everyone shown so far. It was a sweet song, and a nice break from the tension.

 

Here's how to start

Greet the world with open arms

Greet the world with open arms

 

Telemachus’ eyes shined with admiration. “He sounds kind,” he whispered. “I see why you liked him, Father.”

Odysseus swallowed hard but didn’t answer. Telemachus deserved to be shielded for as long as possible. He reached over instead and ruffled his son’s hair once. He was glad Telemachus was able to meet Polites, even in a situation like this.

 

Stay back!

(Stay back, stay back)

My friend, greet the world with open arms

We're only here for food

 

Eurylochus flinched. Hearing Polites’s kindness in comparison with Odysseus’s distrusting voice was jarring, and reminded him too much of what they lost when Polites left. His throat closed. 

Polites turned and buried his face against Eurylochus’s shoulder for a heartbeat. Eurylochus’s arm came up automatically, holding tight. For now, Polites was here with them again. Not in that cave where they all failed in some way.

“I’m sorry,” Eurylochus whispered into his hair, so low only Polites heard. He needed to apologize to more than just Polites, but he couldn’t bear to do more right now. Polites just squeezed him tighter.

 

(Food, food)

Six hundred friends are waiting for us to show our faces

(Food)

Stay back, I'm warning you

 

Odysseus tensed, watching himself on the screen, tensed, breathing out slowly. He sounded so on-edge. Rightfully so, and it ended up being the correct call. Why didn’t he keep that energy throughout the encounter? If he had kept that awareness, that judgement, maybe he would’ve acted differently when they approached that cave. But he hadn’t, and paid the consequences of it.

 

(Food)

If we don't get back safely

My men will turn this place into blazes

(Here you go!)

 

Penelope watched her husband with a mother’s worry and a queen’s composure. She wanted to gather him all up like a child and tell him it wasn’t his fault. Whatever it was. She leaned her head against his upper arm instead, steady and unmovable as their tree.

 

See?

This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms (ooh-ooh-ooh)

Whatever we face, we'll be fine if we're leading from the heart

No matter the place, we can light up the world, here's how to start

Greet the world with open arms

Greet the world with open arms

 

Athena’s lips pressed into a thin line. Beautiful sentiments. Utterly wasted on the danger they were about to walk into. For once, she wished she’d been wrong, just so he might have lived longer. She knew how much he meant to her old student.

The thought started her. She had disliked Polites. Heavily. The mortal held her warrior back with his foolish ideals of mercy. Too soft for the champion of a god. She expressed her disapproval many times. But Odysseus was only human, and sentimental. 

So why was she upset over his death? 

Perhaps it was because it lead to their separation. It couldn’t be helped, Odysseus disobeying her direct order was one thing, but outright speaking flaws of a goddess? He was truly lucky she favored him so. 

Yes, that was the most logical explanation.

 

My friend

I wish that I could say that I agree

But look at the way this fruit is glowing

And filled with glowing seeds

It took me a while to notice just what kind of fruit they eat

It's a lotus, it controls your mind and never lets you free 

That's what we'd get with open arms

Lotus-eaters

I'd like to show my friend that kindness is brave

Could you tell me where there's other food to eat?

(The cave! Scary cave)

 

Eurylochus pulled away slightly, shoulders hunched. Scary cave. What simple, and accurate, terms. 

 

Polites’ hopeful smile faltered. He closed his eyes for a moment, as though shielding himself from the memory of that glowing fruit, from that cave drawing ever so near that would spell his doom.

 

A cave?

You're saying there's a cave where we could feast?

And where do we sail to find this food-filled cave?

Thank you

(Welcome!)

 

Athena’s lips pressed into a thin, sharp line. A flicker of guilt something crossed her chest. It was unpleasant and annoying and entirely unwelcome. 

 

This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms

I see in your face, there is so much guilt inside your heart

So why not replace it and light up the world? Here's how to start

Greet the world with open arms

Greet the world with open arms

Greet the world with open arms

You can relax, my friend

 

Poseidon let out a low, humorless chuckle. Relax? No, Odysseus could not relax. Not so long as Poseidon was out for him. Odysseus didn’t deserve to relax.

 

Odysseus closed his eyes, fists clenching at his sides. Every lyric, every plea for hope, it swirled around him, echoes of what might have been, what should have been. A harsh silence settled, the same silence that seemed to settle each time a song was done.

Then Penelope reached out and squeezed his hand, hard. Telemachus nudged closer on his other side until he was practically in his father’s lap. And Odysseus allowed himself to relive some tension from his shoulders. Just barely, but he did.

 

The infuriating countdown began again.

Notes:

Can you tell I enjoyed writing Athena this chapter? She is definitely biased towards Odysseus, but she watched all three men grow up together by proxy, there’s no way she wasn’t also affected by Polites’s death even if she didn’t like him. But she is a goddess, and mortals die, so I think it’s likely she genuinely believes she only cares because the aftermath was her Goodbye, and said Goodbye has been illogically affecting her for a while. She’s not a fan.

Also Eurylochus and Polites friendship! The musical resolves around their relationship to Odysseus, because he’s the main character obviously, so I wanted to build up their relationship to each other as well. They grew up together after all.

I didn’t focus much on Poseidon’s pov this song, mostly because I couldn’t decide if he would be internally seething (hate Odysseus+exact opposite philosophy) like a cat taking a bath or utterly indifferent like a cat ignoring you (I don’t know why I like to compare Poseidon to a cat so much 😅).

You can assume Odysseus is on the edge this entire song. Open arms is a trigger phrase for him and it’s only because Penelope and Telemachus are there he isn’t going all scream mode this time. (ᵕ—ᴗ—).

Chapter 5: Warrior of the Mind

Odysseus was started out of his conversation with Penelope by a sharp, piercing note.

The previous song’s more light tone helped everyone refocus more easily, with less tension, as the Box, as that is what he is beginning to call the chest of visions, started making noise to signal the next viewing’s start. It truly was different than a sundial or clepsydrae. Odysseus would have admired the invention, had it not been prying into his very personal life.

It wasn’t long before the music overtook the room again.

 

Have you forgotten the lessons I taught you?

Athena!

 

Odysseus flinched, his grip tightening on Penelope’s hand. That voice, that tone, it was the last conversation they’d had before everything fell apart. He hadn’t forgotten; how could he? But hearing it now, in front of everyone, made his chest ache with regret.

 

“THEA?!” Polites shrieked as the owl, Odysseus’s apparently not pet, flew on screen. Eurylochus, too, blinked as the owl that had followed their king around during his younger years shifted into what was, indeed, the goddess Athena.

 

Odysseus blinked. “I know I have problems with hubris, but you guys didn’t actually think I was foolish enough to name a random bird ‘Goddess’, did you?”

 

The silence was deafening, and frankly, offensive.

 

Have you forgotten to turn off your heart? This is not you

I see you changing from how I've designed you

 

Penelope frowned sharply at that. To her, it sounded less like mentorship and more like grooming a weapon. It was a far cry from the goddess who she met as a teenager, encouraging them to get together despite clearly knowing nothing of romance. Who she met at her wedding, who gifted her the loom she still used today. The one that held Telemachus with an almost-smile. It was an almost jarring difference. But based on her husband’s reaction, the same could not be said for him.

 

Have you forgotten your purpose? Let me remind you

Goddess of wisdom, master of war

My life has one mission, create the greatest warrior

 

Hermes let out a low whistle, grinning widely. “Damn, sis. Greatest warrior? That’s vague. Pretty unachievable dream there, don’t you think?”

 

“It is a perfectly reasonable goal.” Athena replies. “While yes, it could be debated as ‘unachievable’, it is good encouragement for me to work harder.”

 

Poseidon snorts. “To please Zeus, you mean.”

 

Athena gave him a glare. “Which, again, is not a bad goal to have. Pleasing my father and king is advantageous in multiple ways.”

 

“Uh-huh. How’d that work out for Pallas?”

 

There was no response.

I had a challenge, a test of skill

A magic boar only the best could kill

One day a boy came for the thrill

A boy whose mind rivalled the boar's own will

Let's go!

 

Odysseus’s lips twitched into a faint, nostalgic smile despite himself. It was the day everything changed, the day a goddess noticed him. He glanced at Athena, but she avoided his eyes, her expression unreadable.

 

Maybe one day he'll follow me 

And we'll make a greater tomorrow, then they'll see

I know he'll change the world 'cause he is a warrior of the mind

 

Athena’s fingers tightened on the armrest of her seat. She remembered that hope, that certainty. Odysseus had been her masterpiece, until he showed himself too human for a god. When she mentored him, she remembers feeling things like pride, favor, and fondness. When she left him, she felt angry, bitter, and betrayed. And now? What did she think now? She pushed the thought away, focusing on the screen.

 

Maybe one day I'll reach him

And we can build his skills as I teach him

If there's a problem, he'll have the answer

He is a warrior of the mind

 

Odysseus felt a pang of something like gratitude mixed with sorrow; those early days had been full of promise, before the weight of war and choices crushed it all. Penelope squeezed his hand reassuringly, sensing his turmoil. Telemachus hugged him tighter.

 

Show yourself

I know you're watching me, show yourself

I can see you

 

Penelope’s lips curved slightly. She’d heard this story from Odysseus before, and hearing it sung now brought a warmth to her chest, a reminder of the clever boy her husband once was.

 

How can you see through my spell?

Haha! I was lying and you fell for my bluff

Haha, haha

 

Hermes burst into laughter, clapping his hands together and calling over to the other side of the transparent wall-thing. “Classic bluff! That’s my kind of trickery right there. Nice one, Ody!”

 

Odysseus couldn’t help but chuckle softly himself. The god’s enthusiastic personality, and his own family’s closeness, helped the tension drain a little more from his chest, albeit just slightly. “Thank you, Lord Hermes.”

 

Well done, enlighten me, what's your name?

You first, and maybe I'll do the same

 

Telemachus chuckled quietly. His father was bold. He could not imagine playing the same game, especially not with a magic stranger. It made him proud to be such a man’s son. 

 

Nice try, but two can play this game

Nah, don't be modest

I know you're a goddess

So let's be honest

You are Athena (Athena)

 

Eurylochus raised an eyebrow, surprised that his king had dared call out a deity. The banter was one thing, but winning, or ruining in this case, an Olympian’s game was not known to go well. It was lucky the goddess didn’t seem to care for the battle of wits they were having that much. It could have gone much differently, had Athena taken offense.

 

Badass in the arena

Unmatched, witty, and queen of the best strategies we've seen

 

Athena felt a rare flush of something like embarrassment at the flattery, Poseidon’s earlier comment finally washing away, though she masked it with a neutral expression. She had forgotten how much hero worship Odysseus had for her before, and her chest felt a strange warmth at hearing it again. Replaced quickly by a pang of something much more unpleasant, that she quickly blocked off.

 

If you're looking for a mentor, I'll make sure your time's well spent

 

Telemachus beamed at the screen. He didn’t know how’d he measure up to having the goddess of wisdom as a mentor, but his father being here, with him, hugging him, helped the feeling of inferiority be buried under pride. 

 

Sounds like a plan

Goddess and man

Bestest of friends

We'll see where it ends

Okay

 

Polites covered his laugh with a cough, of which he heard most others in the room fail to do. It wasn’t polite. But young Odysseus didn’t seem that offended, and the goddess just leaving him hanging was unintentionally hilarious.

 

Maybe one day they'll follow me and we'll

Make a greater tomorrow, then they'll see

I know we'll change the world 'cause we are the warriors of the mind

 

Poseidon resisted the urge to laugh without mirth. What an interesting approach to the world. He wondered which creed it fell upon, open arms or ruthlessness. The former would be pathetic. And too disruptive to what is Athena’s apparent ultimate goal. Ruthlessness was much better in Poseidon’s opinion, but, as much as he hates to admit it, would be too self-centered to change much. He considered his niece’s stance for a moment, then remembered the man standing beside her as her Warrior of the Mind was Odysseus, and decided it wasn’t actually all that compelling. He pushed such contemplations away.

 

Maybe one day we'll reach them

And we can build their skills as we teach them

If there's a problem, we'll have the answer

We are the warriors of the mind

 

Hermes claps his hands again. It was an endearing song, and a nice look into Odysseus’s past, without being too invasive. The problems that came afterwards were a whole separate issue, that Hermes refuses to focus on until they come. 

 

I still intend to make sure you don't fall behind

Don't forget that you're a warrior of a very special kind

You are a warrior of the mind

Don't disappoint me

 

Odysseus winced. He had disappointed her, in the end. He glanced Athena across the divide, the ache of lost camaraderie sharpening in his chest. The goddess still was not looking his way. 

 

He pretended that it didn't hurt as the countdown began again.

 

Except, to his surprise, it wasn’t five minutes like before.

 

Time remaining: 24:00:00

Notes:

Eurylochus, judging Odysseus for being cheeky towards a god (ᵕ•_•). My Goodbye looming in the horizon. 👀

Hermes, god of lies, watching Odysseus lie: :D!!

Poseidon, currently: “After farther consideration, I must hate 😌. No one is safe from my hater era.”