Can we get something of Athena mentoring young Odysseus?
Iy can either be fluff with either Odysseus gushing over Penelope or Athena simply being a comforting adult figure to him
Or
Angst, with Athena unknowingly being too hard on him because gods are far different than mortals with emotions and physical capabilities or Odysseus feeling like he isn’t enough because how can some messily mortal live up to the standards of a goddess
Me realizing I’ve written almost nothing with Athena…hrrgh
Haaah..hah…haaaah…
Odysseus couldn’t help but pant like a dog, bending over with his hands on his knees. Sweat dripped from his brow, and possibly everywhere else.
Athena, however, was still as pristine as she had been when she arrived that morning. Her gray eyes followed Odysseus as he set his sword aside, and turned away from her.
“And where do you think you’re going?”
Her words stopped the prince in his tracks, as he turned around to look at Athena with a weary, puzzled expression. “To get some water,” he murmured, though from the way it lilted up at the end, it sounded more like a question to her ears.
“You can drink after.” Athena extended a hand towards his sword; it flew back towards its owner, and Odysseus barely managed to catch it without impaling himself. He was slowing down, even though they’d only been training for two hours.
“Please, Athena? I’m tired. Can we not take a quick break?”
Athena gave him a hard stare, and then, without warning, swung her sword at his ankles. The prince stumbled backwards with a yelp.
“No groveling.” With that, she advanced upon him- another surprise swordfight. Odysseus huffed, but jumped into the right stance.
Athena had grown used to finding a spark of pleasure in sparring with him; he was quick on his feet, growing stronger, and under her tutelage, getting better every day.
So when his return strikes were sluggish, his footwork sloppy, she decided to press against his weaknesses. Teach him a lesson. She expected him to sharpen up, take this more seriously.
What she hadn’t expected was for her pupil’s knees to buckle, for his sword to fly from his hand far too easily when she took a final swing against it, disappearing into the high grasses of the field.
Odysseus fell to his knees, wheezing and panting, harder than earlier. His hands were shaking.
Athena stared at him for a moment, and then with a simple thought, her surroundings turned blue, as an hourglass tipped over. She didn’t bother pulling Odysseus into the Quick-Thought with her.
He is not giving up the training on purpose. Athena figured that, at least- Odysseus was proud as any prince, he would not be on his knees before his mentor by choice. And his face had been undeniably screwed up in concentration, even with the flimsy results it yielded.
So then, what was the issue, if he had not done this on purpose?
It was moments like these Athena regretted her less-then-close relationships with most of her past students, especially younger ones. Perhaps she would know what was going on now if it had been different.
But Athena was a goddess of wisdom; learning was in her nature. And where better to learn the root of a problem from its source?
The deep blue background shattered into the brightening sky of dawn once more. Odysseus was still kneeling before her, catching his breath. He didn’t look up to her until she spoke.
“What’s this?”
The prince’s soaked brow furrowed in confusion, as he absorbed the question. Then he cleared his throat.
“I- I’m tired, Pallas Athena.”
Athena frowned at him. “But why?”
The two’s eyes locked, and for a moment there was an unexpected feeling of…division. Like there was something she was not understanding, even deeper than before.
How frustrating.
“B..because we’ve been training for hours. Without break or water,” Odysseus murmured. And, unexpectedly, his lips twisted into a weak, pained, pleading smirk. “Don’t forget that I’m only mortal, Athena.”
Ah.
Perhaps there was her miscalculation. She’d forgotten that mortals needed frequent rest and hydration to be at their best.
How…simple of a mistake.
Athena stared down at him for another moment, before waving her hand; her sword disappeared. “Fine. Got get some water, then.”
Odysseus’ twisted smirk dissolved, replaced with a bright, relieved grin as he scrambled up onto shaky legs and bolted for the treeline, where he’d stashed his waterskin earlier.
Athena watched him, then turned away. She’d allow for more input on training schedules here on out. Only a little more.
