Started With A Dare - A POTHENA STORY ✔

That Undesirable Hug

ATHENA'S POV

  I was surprised that Poseidon didn't bite back when I insulted him. He usually would. This time, he completely ignored me. And for the first time in my life, I felt curious.

  Ahem. What the Hades am I saying, of course I feel curious all the time. I am the goddess of wisdom, after all. Curiosity is my domain. But this kind of curious is different - the kind which made me want to edge closer, closer, closer...

  I stopped myself from having the thought. It surprisingly took most of my willpower. What is wrong with you, Athena?! I scolded myself. You're not being yourself!

  I turned to Poseidon, my heart still going wild for some reason. Some reason that even the most rational immortal couldn't figure out. Then again, Poseidon and I aren't a math problem. Wait, we kinda are. Poseidon + Athena = Absolute nonsense. Yep, exactly.

  That curiosity kept burning me, in a way I've never felt before. I had this strong urge to get closer to the sea god as if it was a drug I'm addicted to. By the way, kids, don't do drugs, they are not good for your health. They will also affect your mental health greatly, which will offend me greatly.

  Poseidon glanced at me for a second, and I wondered what I did but no, I didn't do anything, I guess it's just because I couldn't take my eyes off him no matter how hard I tried and that kinda made him uncomfortable. I looked away for a second, feeling the burning of my neck.

  Finally, I couldn't stand that hunger of getting closer. I wanted to do anything to stop myself, to build a book tower next to us to stop my foot, but that would've been awfully awkward. Besides, he was giving me a defenseless feeling. Not the way I faced him in previous battles because we were fed up with each other's annoyance. I felt like I couldn't stop myself from doing anything now. I felt like I was falling into a never-ending hole, with all my powers taken away. This was probably how Annabeth felt like when she fell into Tartarus. Hopeless. Useless.

  I moved closer to him, trying to take back the tap dance my heart was doing, but if you've ever had the same feeling I'm experiencing right now, you would know it's impossible. Absolutely impossible.

  I was now about seven inches away from him. My mind went completely blank, and you know how much saying that means to the goddess of wisdom. My mind is never blank. It is now, though. Covering up any rational thoughts I ever had.

  Curiosity attacked me again, urging me to get even closer. No, I told myself. Seven inches. You've broken the record. Yet I couldn't stop myself. That defenseless feeling was getting stronger and stronger. I got closer. Six inches. I leaned in even more. Less than six inches. What am I doing?! 

  I felt like I've lost myself. Poseidon's knuckle brushed against mine and my heart went crazy, booming in a way that is impossible for a godly body. Suddenly, I lost my balance and leaned against Poseidon. I couldn't hold anything inside anymore. I tried, I failed. Your favourite goddess has failed herself.

  Poseidon didn't react much, but I felt his quickened pulse. "Athena," He whispered, his breath unsteady. I felt like breaking rules. And I was. I am a maiden goddess and Poseidon is married to some Amp person. Why am I doing this? Stupid. Stupid. I kept repeating that word in my mind. Then I remembered what Hermes said. You two hug at least once, and we'll stop it. I felt something even stranger, though. I didn't want it to stop. I didn't want this special heart attacking, defenseless feeling to stop. It wasn't rational. But it was the best entertainment yet.

  I stood up and straightened myself. I cleared my throat to clear my mind, and it went back to normal. What's 5+5? I asked my brain. 10, it replied. Yep, back to normal.

  It was already night, and the library was closing. Besides, Poseidon and I needed to have some ambrosia for dinner. We teleported back to our own thrones on Mount Olympus. All the other gods were there. I felt my face burning. I never understood why Zeus decided to put my throne next to Poseidon's - now I'm having a really hard time trying to look away and see his expression at the same time. I considered using a mirror thing, but no, I'm not a creepy stalker like Hades.

  The other gods all stopped whatever they were doing and all turned to us. Then they cracked up, Apollo even rolling on the ground.

  "That," said Hermes with a smirk that gave me dead irritation, "was an awesome show, don't you think, guys?" He looked around the throne room, and everyone laughed even harder. I rolled my eyes, reached for the book on my throne behind me and got ready to bury my face in it. Zeus loud and clear voice stopped me.

  "Not enough," Zeus boomed, "but as Hermes said, a good show. Applause, everybody!" And everyone was clapping politely because they didn't want to be zapped by the lord of the universe.

  "Zeus." Poseidon stood up, a lightning strike crossing his face. "I am married. Do not try to do anything that affects my marriage."

  That statement actually pierced my heart, for some reason, and again I failed to find out what it is. His sentence replayed in my mind, refusing to leave, and I wished that I could throw it down from Mount Olympus like the handkerchief I tossed when that gross Hephaestus was after me. But it's a sentence, not an actual object, so I let that thought go even though bearing the pain was impossible.

  Zeus shrugged really intimidatingly. "Alright, brother, we'll see how this goes. One last date."

  At that, all the goddess snorted and all the gods snickered. I rolled my eyes, yet for the second time, wishing that I could pull out my Medusa shield and turn my father into stone. Poseidon gave him a death glare, and I finally acknowledged how it was like for you kiddie and teenage mortals, having to follow everything you parents say.