Chapter Text
“Maybe you could learn to forgive.”
Poseidon really could’ve, but it’s too late to learn that lesson now. You could say he was taught a lesson either way – but he wouldn’t be the only one. Yes, soon, all of Olympus will learn: The Earthshaker was brought to his knees by a mortal.
- ~•
Poseidon trudges back to Olympus, and maybe the most painful part was that. The shame and humiliation painted his face better than the blood dripping ever could.
He could go back to his underwater palace, but having the eyes of his servants, of those below him, looking at him with satisfaction was something he simply didn't want to deal with.
So Olympus it was. And it didn't fucking matter, did it? Everyone will forget bullshit like this in the next millennia or so.
Poseidon had to stop midway to catch his breath. The wounds weren’t healing fast enough.
Then the thought of anyone — whether a lowly nymph or god — descending down the mountain finding him here, makes him feel a kind of dread he hadn't felt in a long, long time. No. It had to be on his terms, Poseidon had something to prove. He can very well show up like this, he didn't give a damn.
Yeah, that’s right. He doesn't give a damn. It’s just one shitty week till the wounds heal and—
“Brother! What are you doing here?” A deep, flabbergasted voice rang out.
Two nymphs hang on each of Zeus’ arms, giggling and red in the face. Zeus, on the other hand, stares at Poseidon, utterly incredulous at his bleeding form. The Olympian King shakes off the nymphs and tells them to go else where, the questioned, “Well well, what has befallen you?”
“None of your business.” Poseidon spat. Zeus gazed at him a little while longer then began laughing loudly, “Don’t tell me — Athena’s mortal actually got you!” Midway, the question became a statement, and it only fuels Poseidon’s anger. Which is only more reason for his brother to laugh.
Zeus’s laughter ends with a slap in the back to Poseidon, which only makes him cough up blood. Naturally, Zeus finds this hilarious and chuckles again, at least having the decency to try and muffle it.
“Shut.. up..” He managed, spite dripping from his tone, but the mere attempt of speaking sends him into a coughing fit. This time, his brother shakes his head, frowning when it went on for a lot longer than it should’ve.
If his younger brother was taking this seriously, it just meant he looked even more pathetic than he thought. Great.
Zeus, tactless like always, asks ‘what exactly happened’. As if the each three deep circles didn't speak for themselves. Poseidon told him to piss off and it was more or less coherent.
“Very well.” Zeus shrugged, raising his eyebrows and making a gesture to say, lead the way .
Deep breaths. Control your anger. It’s not like you’ll have anywhere to put it.
Gritting his teeth, Poseidon took two, three, steps before he was gasping for oxygen, the air around him feeling like it’s all concentrated near the stab marks, in and out and it burned like crazy—
“Water break, perhaps?” His brother taunts.
“Bastard..” Poseidon muttered as he walked uphill again, Zeus lagging behind lazily.
He only had to stop five more times before he actually made it, Zeus calling out occasional mocking words of encouragement.
“Where’s Apollo?” Poseidon asked. He wanted, no needed this healed. He couldn't stand to look at it any longer or he might—
“Unfortunately, he’s still tending to my daughter.” The response was accompanied by a “sympathetic” nod.
“Which one?” Poseidon replied. For a sea god, his tone was unbelievably dry.
- ~•