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English
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Published:
2025-03-21
Completed:
2025-04-16
Words:
1,407
Chapters:
2/2
Comments:
17
Kudos:
90
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Of Fathers and Failings

Summary:

You ever read a fanfic so good you write a fanfic of it?!

Well that's kinda what's going on here. Between reading the brilliant mer-acle 's fic Fighting to Be Loved and all her other amazing fics about Athena I decided to write a little scene where Triton finds out about Zeus striking Athena with the lightning bolt.

Triton, son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, was Athena's foster father. She was sent to Lake Tritonis and Triton's household. But Zeus caused an accident causing Triton's daughter Pallas to be accidentally killed by Athena and then she was kicked out and sent back to Mount Olympus.
Enjoy!

Notes:

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

"And where do you think you're going, Hermes!" Poseidon shouted, catching the messenger god by the wing.

"Somewhere out of the way so I don't get smited as well!" Hermes said, struggling against his uncle's grip, "It left a crater when he bolted Athena."

"What?!" Triton asked, suddenly speaking up from across the room.

"Nothing," Poseidon said as he gave his nephew a shove, "Get out of here then-"

"- What happened to Athena?"

Hermes could hear the darkness in his voice, a mix of anger and fear. He was the god of lying but he was also a messenger, responsible for communicating information and spreading news. And there was something fishy here besides the schools that swam around the palace.

"Hermes, I need -" Poseidon tried to say but was interrupted by his son.

"What happened to Athena?" Triton repeated.

"Zeus struck her with the lightning bolt. Six times to be exact. Did you seriously not hear about this?"

"Why?! Why would he do that?!"

"Son," Poseidon said trying to put a hand on his Triton's shoulder, but he was pushed away.

"You knew! You knew, didn't you!" Triton screamed at his father.

"Would you like to me to tell you the full story?" Hermes asked. Poseidon glared at his nephew. Which Hermes thought was incredibly rude considering he had saved him from having to confess his treachery to his son. At least for the moment.

"Yes," Triton said closing his eyes briefly, "Tell me everything."

Hermes had a feeling everything included more than that night in the arena but that would require a lot more investigation and incite than Hermes had at the moment.

"Well, a couple weeks ago Athena came to our father to ask for help for a mortal. She actually used the word friend. I believe it was the first time I have ever heard her use that word."

Triton winced. He was almost positive it wasn't the first time she had used that word. But it could very well be the first time in Hermes lifetime. The first time in the last 4000 years.

"And father said if she could convince Apollo, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Ares, and Hera then he would help her. And she did, unsurprisingly, Goddess of wisdom and master strategist and all. But the God King was not at all pleased. Maybe it was because while convincing Hera she brought up the fact that this mortal has never once cheated on his wife."

Maybe it was because for the first time in her life Athena wasn't being his perfect little pet soldier, Hermes thought, maybe he could tell that this mortal was more important to her than his approval. 

Triton hurled the vase on the meeting table across the room. Then the mirror on the wall. He was about to throw the whole table when Poseidon grabbed him.

"Breathe, son, breathe!" Poseidon commanded, holding his son in his arms, "Breathe, my boy, just breathe."

"She lived, if that helps," Hermes said, "The first time he struck her it looked like she was dead. But she continued on begging him to release her friend . . . and taking more strikes. But Zeus did release her friend in the end. I can guarantee it since I was the one who saw it done. It was terrifying but . . . I've never seen Athena fight so passionately."

Triton closed his eyes, which were welling with tears.

"Where is she?" Triton asked.

"Ummm, I assume she's still in her palace," Hermes started to say, "I haven't really seen her si -

But Triton didn't wait for an answer, he was already leaving the hall.

"Where are you going?" Poseidon shouted at his son. But Triton did not answer.

"Triton!" Poseidon shouted trying to block his son from exiting the room.

"Get out of my way!" Triton shouted back.

"Just think for a moment!" Poseidon pleaded, "Athena was his favorite and he still bolted her! What is there to stop him from doing that or worse to you?!"

"It's true, cousin," Hermes interjected, "My sister has diligently served my father for multiple millennia. She was his perfect little soldier, and yet that counted for nothing against his wra -"

"- I don't care!" Triton interrupted, "Now get out of my way, father!"

"Son, if not for your own sake then for mine," Poseidon begged, "I - I won't be able to protect you against Zeus's wrath."

"I have to do this father," Triton said, his voice now soft with both empathy and desperation, "Now stand aside."

"Son, she's not worth it!" Poseidon pleaded, "Did you forget she killed your daughter!"

"She IS my daughter!" Triton shouted.

Chapter 2: I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains

Summary:

Triton is determined to see Athena, Poseidon doesn't want his son to get hurt, and Hermes is . . . .

Chapter Text

"My boy -" Poseidon began but was cut off by his son.

"Please, father. I have to see her. Please, I already abandoned her once, I - I can't - I," Triton said starting to break down.

"How about I tell Athena that you want to see her and she can meet -" Hermes began to suggest.

"- She was struck by lightning! Six times! I'm not making her have to move let alone fly!" Triton shouted

"Okay, I hear you cousin. At least let me fly up to Olympus and see if it's safe and you know, if Athena wants to see you," Hermes said.

Silence.

"I mean, she's probably still really injured, didn't look like the wounds were gonna heal anytime this decade if I'm being honest, and in a lot of pain and well Athena doesn't really like to show any weakness whatsoever. So yeah it might not be the best time to see -"

"- I have to try! . . . Please. Please, cousin" Triton begged.

"Okay, you wait at the bottom of the mountain and I'll go up and check on things, deal?" Hermes said

"Yes," Triton agreed

"Son -"

"Father whatever harm Zeus will cause me will not be worse than if I never try. Please. This is the only way I can live with myself," Triton told his father.

"Fine. But I'm coming with you," Poseidon said.

Only problem was Athena was not there. Not in her palace, not in Apollo's palace - which was also missing it's resident - not anywhere on Olympus. He couldn't ask Ares because he would be worried, Aphrodite would tell Ares anyway, Artemis wouldn't be there, Hera wouldn't know either, and neither Heph would just be worried too. Reckless was not a word Hermes used when it came to his sister. Practically every move she made was calculated. And they still were, Hermes thought to himself a slight smile on his face. He had a suspicion where she might have gone.

Any lies Hermes might have thought about telling disappeared the moment he saw the fear and desperation on Triton's face.

"She's not there," Hermes told him.

"What! Where is she?" Triton demanded.

Hermes had his suspicion and was not finding this tension to be the delicious or hilarious kind.

"If she's left then she has probably healed," Poseidon said, although he knew there was no way she would heal from lightning that quickly. Poseidon tried to put a hand on his son's shoulder but Triton shook it off.

"Even IF her body could heal from the lightning that quickly she - she . . . her father . . struck her . . her father struck her," Poseidon said with tears rolling down his face, "I have to see her."

Hermes sighed. Lying would be soooo much easier. But Hermes wasn't heartless and after everything he had witnessed on Mount Olympus that night, really on Mount Olympus in general, it was nice to see a dad caring about his kid, and fates know Athena deserves that. Needs that, Hermes thought to himself.

"Okay, I do have a strong idea of where she might be," Hermes began, "But you must swear on the river stix not to intentionally harm the people of the kingdom I believe her to be in now, unless it's in defense of yourself or a loved one," Hermes said, "Athena took six lightning -"

"- I swear it on the river stix," Triton replied. Hermes blinked. So this is what it's like when a father actually cares about his kid, Hermes thought.

"Uncle, if you plan on coming too I need to you to swear the same oath. Athena really cares about these people and I will not have her suffering be for nothing," Hermes said.

Triton looked up at his father with pleading eyes. Poseidon sighed.

"I swear it on the river stix," Poseidon said.

"Good, then off to Ithaca we go!"