Chapter Text
Poseidon Pov
Poseidon sighed, all this fanfare was a diversion. A distraction from the countless innocent and gut - wrenching deaths of godly infants. Deaths of his children, their lives severed prematurely, their blood curling screams cutting short as they turned into ash and smoke. Every death a incurable piercing wound onto his heart.
Such feelings were not often, he was after all well versed in the art of deceiving himself. He had to be, for he could not allow himself to wallow in these thoughts. Yet, as much as he tried they inevitably found a way back to him. Immortal feelings of longing and want gripped him like sea vines gripping the ocean floor. How could they not? the gift of children was not extended to him, wrenched out from his cursed father. Ooh how he longed for a child one he could cradle, one he could hold and sway until their tiny innocent eye lids drooped shut. A child he could coo and sing lullabies to. He squeezed his eyes shut, such thoughts were dangerous. His eyes flashing through the unnumbered attempts at child birth, each ending with a disfigured painfully twisted corpse turning to ash and smoke or bubbling to seaform.
Ah yes the competition - something to bury down the pain- Zeus wished for the creation of a new mortal city, something about mortals not having anything. As if they didn't have the greatest gift of all. Poseidon would never admit it but he would forever be jealous of mortals, for their thighs could pop out children one after another - one, two, six, a dozen. The thought sent him into a fleeting fit of rage a part of him decimating shorelines and creating monstrous storms while the other created the most magnificent fountain mortals had ever laid eyes to. Just as he finished, another deity greeted him, her smell of old forgotten books informing him that it was in fact his niece.
The mortals gasped and bowed to the Olympian Goddess. Poseidon mentally chuckled, outwardly Athena looked calm, composed, ruled by logic. However, beyond what mortals could perceive her body betrayed her. She held her spear just a bit too tightly, her muscles tensing as she straightened, her eyes darting the most infinitesimal amount more than usual.
Being the elder one, he presented his gift first. With a thought he made the fountain visible to mortal eyes. Was it not perfect? Sculpted from Pure White Atlantean marble and filled with water from his own divinity. One would be able to see glimpses of far off lands in the water, it would also allow the mortals to travel great distances in an instant. A smile invaded his form as he viewed his creation, to be able to see a making of his own which didn't crumble into nothingness was refreshing. "Behold mortals, the almighty fountain created from my very own hands." He saw as the city's' leader, a mortal whose name he could not bother to remember, gasped in awe and wonder. Unable to cure his excitement the mortal rushed to kneel and taste the divine waters.
"Forgive me mylord, its too salty to drink mylord" the mortal cried out.
Poseidon eyed him, of course it was too salty to drink! He almost growled. When had mortals become so foolish? Such divinity was too great to satiate their mortal thirst. A hurricane crashed on shore some far place else, mortals running in fear as the sea engulphed them whole.
Athena walked to his side. "Mortals" she proclaimed opening up her arms wide, "I present you an olive tree" gesturing towards her brand new creation. "You can pluck the fruit and feast upon it, or crush it and turn it into oil. The oil can be used as an ointment or put into food. Furthermore the leaves can be used as a natural remedy to combat illness and diseases."
The leader of the city started murmuring with the townsmen who had gathered, after a short discussion they announced their decision.
"We choose Lady Athena as our patron" he squeaked out.
Foolish, foolish mortal. How could they not see the wisdom in choosing him? He would punish them, not today, today he would let his niece celebrate in her victory. But mark his words someday be it a year or a century from now he would punish such disobedience, such defiance, such recklessness.
Athena looked up at him. Their eyes meeting. "It seems I won today" she smirked. How did it matter? Both of them knew in their hearts such creations were a mere distraction from what the Gods truly wanted - a child. Athena and Artemis, his poor nieces, traumatized from the pain that comes with childbirth had followed Hestia into an oath of eternal celibacy. Yet, he knew they longed for a child. How could you not? They were the greatest gift one could have.
He pushed down such thoughts. "It seems so." he smiled at her. "Your wit truly knows no bounds." he praised her. Come let us celebrate at Olympus. A part of him scuffed at this temporary distraction.
He glanced at the pale imitations they had made as distractions, watching as a leaf from Athena's tree fell into the fountain he created. He watched as it cascaded downward slightly swaying as it fell. He watched as it touched the water. A blinding light of pure gold materialized momentarily forcing even him and Athena to squeeze shut their eyes.
How did Poseidon know?
He felt the same wrenched pull and drain where the child drew upon the parents divinity to live.
The smell of thunder reached his nose. His brother materialized, eagle like claws gripping him. "How did this happen." Zeus thundered.
Poseidon fell to his knees. Pain concocting onto him in ways he did not know. He did not intend for this, he did not plan for this.
" We did not- we could not- a mistake we made." he chocked out.
He had created the fountain in want of a child, same with Athena and her tree. As their divinity came in contact, it seemed to... do exactly that? Create a child.
He scrambled. Searching desperately within him for any domain to give to his child. Any domain he could break into two for his precious child. Any domain he could create for his child. But he could not find one. For there was no preparedness. No domain in place before his child blessed this cursed realm. His heart beating wildly, his body trembling remembering all the failed attempts. Any, any domain. Before his child slipped away. His sweet summer child-
NNNNOOOOOOOO
His worst fear had come true.
He pull stopped.
His child was dead.
Dead before he could feel the ocean at his fingertips.
Dead before he could experience life truly.
He howled. Banging his fist against the ground. The pain of loss was so much more so so much more. Another child lost to the dammed curse. He was curled up hugging his knees, as if he was in father's stomach with no space to move. Coastlines were decimated. The sea plunged cities and towns into its icy depths. A storm wiping out islands filled with people.
He had changed form after form desperate to avoid this emptiness. Yet, there was no retrieve, all knew this. He looked at his surroundings, mortal bodies desecrated littered the place. Athena seemed to be hugging her father. Her eyes golden and puffed out from all the crying. Owl feathers sprouting all over, desiring the comfort of her nest. The loss of the first child was always the hardest.
"May I get an explanation?" Zeus gently asked.
Poseidon chuckled humorlessly. "It seems out divinity mingled and created a child." "A child lost to our father's cruelty."
"Our child" Athena whispered "My child." Athena let out a guttural scream, turning away. Unable to bare the sight of the fountain.
The smell of thunder went away, Zeus would have wanted to see blood for the one responsible for his daughter's pain. But in light of their misery and anguish had realized the tragedy of the situation. No body was to blame.
Poseidon dragged himself to the fountain. He had to, to see the face of his child. To itch the newborn's face into his immortal memory never to forget always to honor them. Perhaps if he was lucky he could cradle the pale lifeless body before it turned into ash and smoke.
Coming at the edge of the fountain, he peered over.
He saw a body floating. He shut his eyes. Gods, he loved all his children, the one alive and the ones dead. But, none of them and he meant none of them looked so alike to him. It was like staring into the mirror. The boy was well past toddler age, looking like a adolescent. Scars roamed his body, scars no newborn had the right to bear. Scars form the unwinnable battle he had fought for every second he was alive. If only - if only Poseidon was faster, smarter swifter perhaps he could save this child. To raise another boy like he had with his only child - Triston. Oh dear, how the sea would weep for another prince lost before they could live.
"Rest my son. You Faught with all you had." A wail accompanied his proclamation. Athena wailing at the mention of her son.
Then the unthinkable occurred. Sea green eyes flared open basking in the surroundings.
Poseidon stood still, unable to comprehend this impossibility, this boon.
"Dad?"