Chapter Text
To decide the cities patron deity both Athena and Posiedon had decided to make this game. It was a…interesting thing that was for sure. Both him and Athena had spent a while planning the gifts that they’d give; although Posiedon admittedly didn’t know what Athena’s was, he had heard some whispers from Hermes but admittedly nothing more; at least nothing concrete to give an idea of what it was.
He had taken a fair bit of thought into making it. Choosing to create something that they could harvest the salt from, something that could preserve food - and life of items. Something that busted at the seams with life.
This was partially a distraction from the heart ache that he felt, that he knew the others felt similarly. Because messing with mortals and gaining power through the champions was way more interesting then acknowledging the deep seated loss they all felt. The one that ate away at them all.
Maybe he was just feeling pretty lonely. He had Triton - his one living son. That was more than could be said about Hades’s kids. (and chaos did he mourn for his brother - who still continued to hope) but he had lost another one just a few weeks ago. His daughter who he was still mourning. Making this as if it could heal the pain of the tiny girl never getting to open her eyes.
That didn’t stop the shock he felt though when he watched the mortals try to drink from the saltwater spring. Staring at them and blinking slowly. Not even responding as they turned to Athena for her gift. His niece came up and brought this ‘olive tree’ she had created on the spot. No matter, it was not her fault the mortals didn’t seem to comprehend the salt that they had just given up. Those who insulted it would be adequately punished later…when his niece wasn’t celebrating her victory.
“You did good” he walked up and told her, the small ghost of a smile on her face as she looked at him.
“Thank you uncle”
They had missed it though - unaware of two leaves on the olive tree blowing in the wind and into the fountain. At least until the searing pain hit - burning through both of them as the waves started crashing.
Despite having dealt with the pain before it had never once been as bad as this was. The pain magnified to such a level he couldn’t even hold onto his godly form - slipping away as those who hadn’t denied from the initial moment burned to dust upon witnessing the true form of not one - but two gods. The moment lasted forever as the pain traveled everywhere, searing into Poseidon's very being as he panicked - realizing that he needed to get the child a domain before it was too late.
He had one prepared for his daughter - he could take that one, it was somewhere. But admittedly he wasn’t fast enough. The violent wrackings had made it impossible to think and as suddenly as the pain came it left. Leaving a hollow burning sensation in its wake. A reminder that more were list - more children he’d never get to keep, to claim.
The oceans rocked dangerously as he let out a mourning scream. The skies thundering with it as he turned to see Zeus holding onto a sobbing Athena. His dear niece who had sworn off kids and marriage all those years ago, her talons clinging into Zeus as he bled. His brother didn’t seem to care though, the others thunderous eyes remaining fixated onto him.
“What did you do?” He sneered.
Before he could even get a word out it was Athena who said something though, “my gift - the leaves fell into his spring, they made…made a child” the last part was whispered in a broken manner. And the effect on Zeus was almost instantaneous. His brother looked horrified and guilty, a face full of understanding at what the loss and the pain meant.
He turned away, unable to see the look on his brother's face. Instead staring towards his spring. Normally they’d be seafoam at this point. The curse withering them away to nothing. But now..because of Athena - there was a chance it wasn’t that. There was a chance they were still tangible and able to hold.
She didn’t seem to want to look, but Posiedon couldn’t help himself - he needed to see if they were at least visible before he turned them into pearls, before he marked his child to be placed with all the others who were never born.
Or maybe he’d give the pearl to Athena - this was her only child after all, no doubt she’d insist on keeping the remembrance of them when she wasn’t as distraught. Although the very idea of doing that drove a trident into Poseidon's chest. Because he’d be giving up his kid all over again.
However he couldn’t help but stop and stare the moment he saw them. If he was a mortal he’d be breathless from what was in front of him. Not one - but two tiny children. His own Artemis and Apollo.
One son and one daughter. Two leaves must have fallen into the spring then. His throat closed up as the realization that he’d never have been able to save both of them. One of them was always going to die because at best he’d only been prepared to grab one domain to give one of them.
Still, they weren’t seafoam and he couldn’t help but be grateful for that. The two laid almost curled up around one another protectively. Scars littering their body - they must have had such a painful and cruel birth. Maybe they had also gotten cut on the jagged rocks of the spring.
His son - the boy on the left was almost identical to him, and he couldn’t help but stare at his son - another one who’d never get to live and see the world. Then at his daughter who looked so much like Athena that it was no doubt she got more from her mother. Maybe…he’d make them twin pearls and give the girls to Athena. That would be fair right?
But looking closer he saw a similarity in their blonde and black hair - a single gray streak. Almost a reminder that the two were in fact twins. One thing that did look identical. He closed his eyes - trying to keep himself from drowning the world in his grief, the grief for his twins who weren’t going to live despite being so grand..so precious.
“I’m sorry my son, my daughter” he whispered - aware that Athena’s head had lurched up at the mention of not one - but two children. Aware that she had a look of horror on her face as Zeus held her so protectively.
He went to close, run a hand over them, give them a small bit of comfort even if they’d never know it. Only to jump back as the boy’s hand swatted his own away. Letting out a startled keenness as Athena and Zeus made some questioning noises.
The girl shifted as well, her body moving up and down as she started to flail in the water - she was moving. His son was moving as his eyes snapped open and he went to help her.
“Brother?” he heard Zeus say faintly, but all he could focus on was that his twins were alive - that they were moving here as he let out a noise of excitement.
“They're alive!” was all he said before moving to swoop them both up - keenly aware of Athena lurching out of her fathers grip to come and scoop up her children - her living children - for herself too.
He stared at the boy and girl in his arms preciously. Making a reassuring churring sound as he looked into the sea green and stormy grey eyes. His children - alive.