Work Text:
Odysseus, still shocked from the birth of his heir Thelemacus, cradled his son in a soft tissue wrapped all over the young infant, his face barely left uncovered.
He walked up and down, anxious and excited with thousands of thoughts and plans for his son’s future running through his head. Finally, he heard a soft, almost silent, flap of wings, followed by a hoot.
His dear friend Athena had arrived.
As soon as the Goddess of Wisdom saw the cradled infant, she transformed into her human form, her cheeks flushed and her eyes flashing with excitement.
“Can I?” She asked shyly to the King, who slowly passed the baby into her arms. The baby felt a sudden surge of calm as soon as his cover touched the Goddess. “What’s his name?”
“Telemachus. Penelope thought of it.” He explained, his voice cracking from the excitement.
“And how’s your head?”
The captain looked nonplussed by the question, “My.. head?”, he stuttered, “it’s fine, I guess? Why do you ask that, Athena?”
“Because of the baby.” the Goddess replied, without missing a beat, her eyes glued on the young Telemachus.
Odysseus chuckled confused, “i’m not sure I follow”
“You know, babies come from the head!” she quickly diverted her eyes from the baby, giving the newly father King a look, before starting walking around the hourglass, cradling the child close to her chest. “Telemachus..”, she repeated softly, “I like that. Telemachus, prince of Ithaca.”
“It does sound good, I’ll give you that.” he walked closer to her, starting to pick the infant back into his arms, “Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, do you know how babies are born?”
Right then, she froze, realizing she might have said something stupid. She almost went for an apology, but her pride stopped her from doing so, instead, she shifted into an owl and hooted away.
“She does not.” Odysseus, now left alone with his son, explained softly to the baby.