Chapter Text
The goddess of strategic warfare, philosophy, wisdom, civilization, intelligence and brilliance, none other than the great goddess Athena, was sitting in the dirt. Against a tree. Waiting for her wayward champion to return, so the pair could continue their training. The pair was staying here for Helen of Sparta, apparently the most beautiful woman in all of Greece, blessed by her godly heritage.
Personally, Athena thought that it was wholly unreasonable to travel that far, and fight against the strongest warriors in all of Greece - for marriage. Strategically, she could see the point—with Helen, whichever man she married would receive quite a bit of power. Emotionally, Athena was… she wasn’t confused. Simply disappointed. Why must every mortal she ever favors be so affected by love? This endeavor was hindering their training and Athena’s attempt to create a warrior of the mind.
Despite her opinion, she was nonetheless sitting here. Bark digging into her back. Spear next to her side. Waiting. Athena was excited by the prospect that soon they would be on their way back to Ithaca, without any other woman, as Odysseus had no chance of winning Helen’s hand, and then they could resume their training.
The lack of chance didn’t have to do with the fact that Odysseus of Ithaca was deaf, but rather that he was most certainly not a favorite of Helen, Icarius, or the other suitors. Odysseus was known for his mischievous talents and his twisting words of deceit.
Rather, his being deaf from birth had instead presented Athena with a unique challenge, requiring Athena to learn a new language (which wasn’t too difficult, with her being a goddess), and also requiring both Odysseus and Athena to find a way for him to not get impaled in the back by an enemy waltzing on behind him.
Overall, an interesting challenge. One she had accepted.
Athena’s musing was interrupted as she heard footsteps approaching, running through the overabundant grass and between the trees arching overhead. Her head lifted, turning towards the direction of the sound.
Sure enough, her champion, Odysseus, was there. His hands moved rapidly, signing far too fast for Athena to make out the message other than a few words. He was smiling like an idiot, looking overall like that of an overexcited dog.
The goddess felt nothing but pure, unfiltered fear. What has he done now?! He only looked that giddy when he had done something worthy of Hermes’ favor, which was horrific for whoever his victim was.
Athena drew her right hand up on the back of her left hand repeatedly, trying to sign to him to slow down . Although Athena could understand his sign, she wasn’t a master at it, and at that speed there was no way she could understand it.
Odysseus slowed down in front of her, still smiling as he tried to compose himself.
“ There was a girl, Helen’s cousin. P-E-N-E-L-O-P-E, ” he signed out this girl’s name clearly, his hands just barely slow enough for Athena to read.
She stared. Odysseus still smiled at her, fidgeting with his hands. Athena made a ‘keep going’ gesture to figure out what in Tartarus Odysseus wanted from her.
Odysseus started up again, and signed, frantically and still excited, “ Seventeen, the smartest girl there! She’s out of my league and world—can you help? ”
He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head. His eyes were pleading and… oh. Oh, no. Odysseus was in love, wasn’t he?
Athena covered her eyes with her hands and groaned, throwing her head back onto the tree. Why was he asking her, the one goddess who likely had the least experience in this area?!
Pulling her hands back down, Odysseus was still staring at her with those puppy dog eyes.
“ Why me, ” she questioned, exasperation clear in her eyes, “ I am a goddess of war and strategy, not love! ”
Odysseus’ face fell, and he pouted at her. Athena held her ground. Not this time. No, Odysseus had tricked Athena before, but not this time . She would not help.
He stared at her with the biggest and incredibly sad eyes she had ever seen.
“ Please?”
Athena pinched the bridge of her nose and inhaled and exhaled slowly. She nodded, thereby condemning herself to this horrible fate worse than death. Odysseus perked up unbelievably fast, signing ‘thank you’ over and over. Athena screams internally, regretting every life choice she has ever made.