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Chapter Text

Ithaca...he could see it. Odysseus was so close after losing everything; he was so close to seeing his wife. He only had himself and the small raft he made himself. He was navigating through the waters; he didn’t dare take his eyes off the island.

“I’m coming...wait for me, Penelope, just a little longer,” Odysseus whispered under his breath. The waves around him slowly grew. "No...” Odysseus tried to quickly change the direction of his raft, but it was too late. “No!” His raft was sent into a nearby rock formation.

The raft was destroyed as he went flying onto the rock, tumbling. He grabbed onto the edge of the rock, pulling himself up. He looked around frantically. The waves around started to grow aggressive before they slowly formed into a giant, godly form.

“There you are, Coward,” Poseidon whispered, his tone full of hatred. His long navy blue hair slowly faded into white and flowed around in the water. His eyes only glowed a blue stare down at the mortal. His face fins flared up in anger. He had a cut of pale aquamarine toga held up by the wise eye golden pendant with sea green jewels hanging from it. Pearls wrapped around his wrist.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment.” His clawed hand came up. “For the perfect time to strike.” He clenched his fist. He pointed at the island. “When your home’s so close, and you reach your coast. That’s when our paths collide!” He slammed his hand down beside Odysseus, causing the man to fall over.

“I’ve got a reputation,” he sneered, leaning in close. “I’ve got a name to uphold, so I can’t go letting you walk, or else the world forgets I’m cold,” he said, standing up straight, his form dwarfing the mortals. His face fins flare up. “Now get in the water.” He sneered, narrowing his eyes. “Get in the water, or I’ll raise the tide so high all of Ithaca will die,” he said, raising his hand. Water formed around it before forming a small island, and a wave crashed over it before the water went back to liquid. “Get in the water,” he sneered. "Wait,” Odysseus tried to stand slowly. “Get in the water,” he said, looking down at him. “Stop this, please...” Odysseus begged,

“I’ll make tidal waves so profound both your wife and your son will drown.” Poseidon said. “No!” Odysseus fully stood. “Get in the water!” Poseidon yelled, slamming his hand down. Odysseus fell back, covering his face. He sat between both Poseidon’s index and ring finger. He wasn’t going to kill him with his bare hands... he wanted Odysseus to have a slow, painful death.

“Get in the water!” He sneered, pulling his hand away. “Don’t mistake my threat for a bluff,” he sneered, the water around him growing dangerous as it slammed against the rock that kept Odysseus out of reach of the cold and unforgiving sea and its ruler.

“You have lived more than enough!” Poseidon snapped, moving around the rock. “Get in the water!” He yelled, slamming his fist into the rock, causing some of it to break. Odysseus fell back, his chest heaving, his eyes widening.

“Get in the water!” Poseidon moved back in front of Odysseus. “I’ll take your son and gouge his eyes!” The water formed a human, resembling Odysseus's son with no eyes. “That is unless you choose to die!” Poseidon sneered, slashing the form of water and making it disappear. “Get in the water,” he sneered.

“Aren’t you tired, Poseidon? It’s been ten years. How long will this go on?” Odysseus begged, falling to his knees and looking up at the god. “We’re both hurting from losses, so why not leave this here and just go home?” Odysseus said, slowly standing from his knees.

“I can’t,” Poseidon said, looking away. “Maybe you can learn to forgive,” Odysseus said, slowly stepping back. Poseidon's eyes shot open; they glowed brighter. "No.” The water around them slowly wrapped around Poseidon’s body, his fins flaring up and his claws flexing as water slowly formed and solidified into a trident in his hand.

“Ruthlessness is...mercy upon OURSELVES!!” Poseidon pointed the trident at the rock.

“DIE”

He yelled, slamming the trident into the rock and breaking it with ease. Odysseus went flying into the water. The cold water was quick to pull Odysseus deeper.

Odysseus reached up, trying his best to get to the surface, but the ocean was throwing him around like a rag doll. I’m sorry… Penelope, I’m not coming home. His eyes widened when a colossal finger wrapped around him, enclosing him in darkness as it pulled him out of the water.

“I’ll give you a choice, Odysseus.” Poseidon said his voice was neutral but still filled with hatred. His clawed fingers slowly stretched out, revealing Odysseus's curled-up form.

“You can choose death, or you can serve me for the rest of your pathetic, useless life,” Poseidon said, narrowing his eyes. Odysseus looked up at him. If he died here, he wouldn’t see Penelope; if he served Poseidon, he wouldn’t see Penelope. Either way, he wouldn’t see her...he couldn’t see a world without her. But if he does serve Poseidon, he might be able to get on his good side even if the chance is slim to none.

“If I go with you...swear to me my wife and son will be protected,” he said, looking up at Poseidon with fear. “I don’t owe you anything; you don’t get to bargain with me.” Poseidon narrowed his eyes.

“Please…show some compassion.” Odysseus whispered, feeling Poseidon’s clawed fingers tighten around his fragile body, “I don’t show pity to a man who blinded my son.” He sneered, “Then show pity to my son and wife if not me... My job is to protect them; if you take me away, you take me away from that responsibility...” he whispered. Poseidon stared at him in silence. “Fine, both your wife and son will be under my protection...but if you make one wrong move or try to get away, I’ll destroy them myself,” he sneered.

"Deal,” Odysseus whispered. Poseidon turned away from Ithaca. Odysseus cast one more glance at it before Poseidon descended into the water, his body merging with the water, and Odysseus felt himself being dragged with him. Forever being taken away from his home…and his free will.

Chapter Text

“The master wanted us to make sure you’re shown around. He said you can’t be a good servant if you don’t know your way around,” she said, helping him up. She led him out of the dungeon. She showed him around. The palace was covered with sea green decorations and gold designs across the wall. It was clear it belonged to a god. He looked out a window to see they were underwater with fish swimming around.

“How…” “If you’re wondering how the glass isn’t breaking from the pressure, I do not know myself, just that it does,” she said, looking at him before continuing down the hall.

“Where is…he?” Odysseus whispered, looking at the woman. “He said he had to go deal with something; he will be back,” she said, looking back at him. Odysseus looked around; he needed a way out. “There’s no way out unless he takes you himself,” she said as if she could read his mind. Odysseus looked at the ground. They kept walking around the servant, explaining different things and how things work. She introduced Odysseus to the others. “That’s the lord’s room; none of us are allowed in there,” she said as they passed by a room. “This is the lord’s bedroom; one of the servants will help when it comes to waking him up,” she said the last part a bit uneasily. They kept talking, and eventually they started talking about what happened before they became servants. After that, they cleaned a little.

Poseidon wasn’t there all day. Odysseus was glad he wasn’t. He didn’t even want to think what he would do to him. After a while the servants started to head to what seemed like their room.

“I don’t know where Lord Poseidon wants you to stay yet, but if you’d like, you can come with me and stay with me,” she said. “I’m good... I’ll go back and stay in that... cell,” he whispered. After being with Calypso for seven years, he didn’t trust staying in a room with a woman sleeping. He made his way to the cell. Oh, how uncomfortable it looked! He sat down in there, curling up in the corner. He felt so weak; he will never again see his wife and son because of his stupidity.

There were still screams in his head. He covered his ears, the same word being repeated: “Captain! Captain!” They haunted him. “Captain! Why would you let the cyclops live when ruthlessness is mercy!” He curled up on the floor. Tears falling down his face.

“Odysseus!” A voice rang out, waking him up. He sat up, his body sore from the hard floor. It was the woman. “The lord isn’t back yet, so I assume he must be at Mt. Olympus.” She said, Help him, but in the meantime, we have work to do.” She helped him around, explaining the routines that they do and how he could help.

“Though you might be a personal servant to Lord Poseidon from the way he was speaking,” she said. They walked around as they started to get some stuff done. He learned her name was Eleni. They were talking and cleaning when Odysseus felt a presence walking into the room. He tensed up. The servants bowed their heads, and Odysseus did the same, not daring to look at him. He moved over. “Glad you guys met,” Poseidon said, his clawed hand coming up and grabbing Odysseus’s face, forcing him to look up. “Look at you, King of Ithaca, the man who blinded my son, who insulted the gods, finally in his place as a servant for the gods,” he sneered, throwing him into a wall. Odysseus yelped in pain as he slowly sat up. The servants took a step back. “Out,” Poseidon said to them. They all left. Eleni looked at Odysseus before leaving. “I should give you to my son so he can make you feel the pain he did,” Poseidon said, grabbing Odysseus’s hair. Odysseus whimpered as he tried to pull Poseidon’s hand away from his hair. Poseidon only tightened his grip. “But my son will end up killing you,” he sneered, slamming Odysseus’s face into the ground. Odysseus cried out in pain, blood trickling down his face. “And where’s the fun in that?” he said, walking away. “Go get cleaned up and clean up that blood on the floor,” Poseidon said, leaving the room. Odysseus groaned in pain as he sat up. He wiped his nose, blood smearing on his hand.

Eleni walked in, seeing Odysseus cleaning the blood mess. “Are you ok?” She asked, walking over, “I don’t know; a god practically just used me as a toy to take his anger out on.” He grumbled as he finished cleaning the mess. “It will get easier...hopefully,” she whispered, helping him. He looked at the ground, shaking his head. “No, it won’t. That god held a grudge for ten years…” he whispered.

The time went by slowly. Anytime Poseidon needed something, Odysseus was the one that needed to do it. Every time, he got a new bruise or scar from it. He was slammed into a wall, blood dripping down his head. “Lord Poseidon, I’m sorry for questioning you, but at this point you might kill him!” Eleni finally spoke up. Poseidon glared at her before turning. “Clean that blood up,” he snapped, walking off, his hair flowing behind him like water. His toga dragging against the floor. ‘Clean that blood up.’ He heard that same sentence maybe five times today. Eleni helped him clean up before patching him up. “At this point…I’m going to be dead by tomorrow.” He whispered, wincing as Eleni wiped his face. “I’m sorry…” she whispered.

Poseidon did keep his side of the deal, though…

Ithaca, Telemachus was returning home after a mission he went on. He hoped that maybe when he docked his ship, his father would be there with his mother, but he knew that was just a dream. He docked his ship, and climbing down, he helped some of his crew unload the supplies. He walked until a group of men jumped out of the bushes. They tackled the young prince. “Get off me!” He yelled for his crew to come help, but another group of men held them back. Antinous walked out with a knife in his hand. “This is going to be fun,” he smiled, flipping the knife. Telemachus struggled as best he could, but the men were too strong. The water around the shore started to grow chaotic. Antinous went to slice the boy's throat, but something threw him back—something powerful. He hit the tree hard. Telemachus looked up, moving away as the suitors cowered back, seeing the figure in front of them. “Poseidon…?” Telemachus whispered, backing up. An owl flew by, landing near Telemachus.

Even as an owl, Telemachus could tell Athena was confused. “How I love your attempt. Unfortunately, I can’t let you kill these boys; he and his mother will be under my protection for the time being,” Poseidon said, not really seeming happy. The suitors back up. “And your time as being a suitor is unfortunately over; you can go back to your normal life. The queen will rule by herself,” he said, knowing he was getting kind of bored. That’s when one of the suitors spoke up. “You can’t take that away from us!” Dumb idea. Poseidon looked at him. “Oh, I can’t? And who are you to tell a god what I can and can’t do?” he said, moving over to him. “Say it again… I dare you,” Poseidon said in a low tone. The suitor cowered in fear. “I’m sorry, Lord Poseidon!” He said, falling to his knees and bowing. Poseidon stood up straight, wiping off his toga. “Disgusting,” he sneered. "You all can go now,” he said, flipping his hand.

The suitors practically ran. He turned, and that’s when he was faced with Athena. “What the fuck are you doing?!” She snapped, “Does it matter?” He said, raising an eyebrow. “Why are they under your protection? What did you do!” She sneered, “I didn’t do anything; I just made a deal. I’m holding my part of the deal. Come on, Athena, I have some dignity,” he said, looking at her and then at Telemachus. He sneered, “You look just like your father.” Telemachus sat up. “My father? Is he alive? Is he ok?! You've seen him! Where is he? Telemachus said quickly. Poseidon blinked. “You ask too many questions,” he sneered. Athena stepped in. “What did you do to Odysseus?” she snapped. “I only made one deal: he comes and serves me for life, and I protect his family.” Poseidon shrugged. “You can’t…” “I can, and I did. The deal was already made; no going back now.” He said, narrowing his eyes at Athena.

Poseidon walked with Telemachus and Athena back to the palace. Poseidon told Penelope that she will no longer need suitors and she and her son will be under his protection from now on. As Poseidon left to go back to the ocean, Athena stopped him. “If I find out you killed Odysseus!” She said, “Oh, Athena, he isn’t your student anymore. After all, you said your goodbyes. He is my servant now.” He smiled, going into the water, and said, “And I’ll do whatever I want to my servant,” before he merged with the water, disappearing from view.

Chapter Text

It’s been weeks since Poseidon made Odysseus his servant. Odysseus was treated like some punching bag for the stupid god. Eleni helped him with cleaning his wounds, but most of the time Poseidon forced Odysseus to just bleed there. Each day he had a new scar on his body, a new pain to think about.

The past week had been different, though. Poseidon hasn’t been as aggressive as he usually is; he has been more calm. Odysseus was walking through the palace after he had grabbed some food to serve to the lord. His tunic was changed; Poseidon, for some reason, had a change of heart and gave him new clothing.

The tunic was soft, made of fabric that only the gods would be seen wearing. It was a deep blue color, and it hung from his waist most of the time, though he was able to wrap it around his shoulder.

He came into the room where Poseidon's throne was, and he knelt down. There was another throne there, most likely for the sea queen, but Odysseus only saw her once or twice. Poseidon looked at Odysseus. He stood, walking over to him, reaching out a clawed, webbed hand. Odysseus flinched, but all Poseidon did was take the grapes and walk out of the room. Odysseus looked at where he walked, shocked.

That was a first. Eleni walked in. “No blood this time?” She asked, moving over to help Odysseus stand, “I’m shocked he gave you one of his tunics,” she said, dusting off the tunic. “This is his!” He asked, shocked, “Yeah, what do you think? He provides clothing this good to servants?” She chuckled. “So that’s why it’s a bit big…” He whispered, looking down.

He was walking through the hall with a basket of blankets that the other servants cleaned. He saw Poseidon helping what seemed to be a young merfolk; he was teaching him something that, from Odysseus's view, couldn’t be determined. He shook his head and kept walking.

He made it to the room and sat down, helping the other servants. “It’s been two days, and I haven’t seen you covered in blood—new record!” Eleni smiled. “It’s not covered in blood, just a few scratches,” Odysseus said, shaking his head. “Whatever you say,” she shrugged. He helped her clean and do her tasks.

After the day slowly finished, he walked back to the cell that he called his room. It was uncomfortable, but he still didn’t trust sleeping with females, and the room that he could sleep in was full of female servants. He sat on the cold floor. He didn’t have new scars today, so that was a good thing. He lay on the hard stone floor, closing his eyes.

He started to hear the screams again… “Captain, captain! Why would the cyclops live when Ruth—” The voices were cut off when someone grabbed Ody, pulling him against their chest as they lay next to him. His eyes shot open, expecting to see a servant. “Poseidon?!” He tried to sit up, but Poseidon's grip on him was strong. “Shut up and lay down,” he whispered. Odysseus seemed hesitant but slowly lay next to him. The voices didn’t come back.

When he woke up, he wasn’t in the cell. He sat up quickly. He was in a bed. He looked around. The blankets and pillows were made out of expensive materials, and the decorations around the room looked expensive.

He quickly almost got out of bed. “Calm down, I put you there.” Poseidon called out, entering the room. “Why…?” Odysseus asked, scooting away, “You were sleeping on the cold floor; I decided to change that.” Poseidon shrugged. “Why would you let a mortal you despise sleep in your bed?” Odysseus asked hesitantly.

Poseidon looked to the side in thought. “That is something I can’t answer,” he said, shaking his head. Odysseus stared at him suspiciously. “Well, I have to go to Mt. Olympus, so, uhm, don’t blind anyone while I’m gone.” Poseidon said, walking out of the room.

Odysseus looked shocked. Did the god of seas try to make a joke? If so, it was horrible. He slowly got out of the god's bed. He looked at the room. Why would a god let a mortal that he intended on killing sleep in his bed?

He walked out of the room. He walked down the hall before he ran into Eleni. “There you are!” She said, smiling, “I went to wake you, but you weren’t in the cell. I’m glad you decided to sleep somewhere else!” She laughed, “Well, the thing is I didn’t choose. I kind of, uhm, woke up, and I was in the lord’s bed…” Odysseus whispered nervously. Eleni looked shocked. “What?! No way! He let you sleep in his bed!” She smiled. “Wow, that’s insane to think about.”

They both walked down the hall. “Well, at least that means you got the lord starting to like you!” Eleni smiled. “Yea, after almost bleeding out how many times?” Odysseus whispered, his finger running over claw marks on his chest. “Hey, at least things will get better,” she smiled at him.

It’s been a week, and to say the least, things have been somewhat getting better. Poseidon didn’t show much aggression toward Odysseus now; unless he’s drunk, then there will be blood. But that was rare now. Poseidon gave Odysseus his own room, and even if it was an old room, Odysseus was grateful that Poseidon understood his fear, shockingly.

Poseidon was walking around Mt. Olympus when he ran into his brother, Zeus. “There you are. I was looking for you,” Poseidon said, walking over to his younger brother. Zeus looked at him suspiciously. “Ok, what do you want? You’re never looking for me; if anything, I have to look for you.” Zeus said, crossing his arms.

“Just a question, you know, uhm, you had your affairs with mortals.” Poseidon started off. Zeus looked annoyed that he brought up his affairs. “Uhm, how do you take care of a mortal’s hair that is kind of like your texture, just not...cloudy?” Poseidon asked, “Ok, first off, I don’t really stay long enough to figure out how to; second off, leave my cloud hair alone.” Zeus said, crossing his arms.

“If I wanted to, it could be real hair, and why are you asking? Does my brother have a mortal with my type of hair? Zeus asked curiously, “Oh, please do tell.” Zeus smiled. “So you can seduce him? No.” Poseidon sneered, “Oh, it’s him? Interesting.” Zeus had a thoughtful look.

He saw his brother's look and laughed. “I’m joking,” Zeus laughed. “You know if you can’t help me, I’ll find someone who can.” Poseidon said, turning to leave, “You know, since you’re not a professional at taking care of hair,” he said, waving his hand. “WOAH! I’m very professional. I take care of my hair better than anyone!” That was a lie. “Fine!” Zeus groaned in defeat.

Odysseus winced in pain. “When’s the last time you washed your hair?!” Poseidon asked, shocked and annoyed, “Here, let me think. I’ve been at sea for years, then imprisoned for seven years, forced to let a woman I hated do my hair, and then, before I could get home to my brush and wife, you enslaved me, so I don’t know.” Odysseus said, groaning in annoyance, “You could have just said 'a while.'” Poseidon said, finally getting the tangle out of the king’s hair.

Eleni walked around before running into Odysseus; he looked clean, and his hair was in a braid. “Woah, what happened to you! Finally got a bath?” She teased. Odysseus looked at her with an annoyed look. “Poseidon happened,” he sneered. “Hey, look at that, you two are bonding,” Eleni smiled. “Oh, please, he just didn’t want one of his servants walking around looking like a rat,” Odysseus said, shaking his head. “Whatever makes you happy,” Eleni laughed.

Chapter Text

Poseidon walked down the halls of Mount Olympus. Athena, anytime she saw Poseidon, always gave him a look. She was the only person on Mount Olympus that knew Poseidon took Odysseus.

He kept walking when he heard a particularly annoying voice: “Poseidon! There you are! I thought you would have left by now.” Zeus walked over laughing. “I was about to, until your annoying voice called my name.” Poseidon sneered, looking at his brother.

“That’s not very nice, is it?” Zeus chuckled, “Come on, let’s have a drink. It’s been forever since we had one together.”

Odysseus was walking around the palace, bored out of his mind. His body was still in some pain, but it wasn’t as intense as it would have been weeks ago.

It was late, and he was about to go to the cell he slept in, which now had a lot of pillows and blankets for him to lie in. Poseidon decided to put them there even though he denies putting them there.

Suddenly Poseidon returned, making Odysseus jump. Poseidon fell to the ground completely drunk. Odysseus winces, moving over and checking on the god. “Odyy~ I think I,” Poseidon’s words were slurred, “you’re drunk out of your mind,” Odysseus whispered before getting the god to his feet and helping him to his bedroom.

He helped the gods into the bed. “Mm, you have soft hands~” Poseidon slurred as he lay in the bed. Odysseus turned to walk out when suddenly the god's arms wrapped around him, pulling him into bed with him. “Don’t leave—“ Poseidon whined, his chest pressed against the mortal's back.

Odysseus was tense, not liking the sudden contact. But as a little time went by, he relaxed a little.

He adjusted himself into a more comfortable position with Poseidon's head against his chest.

He gently ran his fingers through the god's hair slowly. A sudden sound rumbled from the god's throat. Purring.

Odysseus's eyes widened. “Oh my, you purr?” He chuckled softly, but the god was too exhausted to care.

The next day, Poseidon woke up with the biggest hangover ever. He grumbled. He finally realized he was leaning against something warm and soft. His eyes shot open, seeing himself sleeping against Odysseus. He yelled, falling back off the bed.

Odysseus suddenly woke up shocked. “What’s with the yelling?” he whispered while rubbing his eyes. “Why was I sleeping against you!” Poseidon yelled, sitting up off the floor, “I don’t know; ask yourself why you didn’t let me leave.” Odysseus grumbled, getting out of bed.

Poseidon hissed to himself, getting off the floor and quickly getting changed while fixing his hair. “No one shall know I was cuddled up against you like that, you hear!” He sneered, “Oh, don’t worry, but they will know that you purr.” Odysseus chuckled, running out of the room.

Poseidon's face turned red. He ran after the mortal. “I’ll fucking kill you.”

Eleni helped get seaweed out of Odysseus's hair because Poseidon almost drowned him. “You two have been getting a lot closer,” she said, finishing up. “You think so?” Odysseus asked softly, not realizing it until now.

“Yea, some might say you two are starting to gain feelings for each other.” Odysseus shook his head. “I assure you it’s not that,” he chuckled softly.

Eleni finished braiding his hair. “I don’t even think you know that, Ody,” she said, walking out of the room.

The rest of the day Odysseus was in deep thought. He wasn’t gaining feelings for the sea god; he was in love with Penelope.

He shook his head, not wanting to think about all of that. He started to do some of his chores when Poseidon came over. He sat down and watched the mortal. “You know it’s not nice to stare,” Odysseus sneered.

“It’s nice when I’m staring at a man folding chitons completely wrong.” Poseidon chuckled. “Oh, and I’m assuming you know,” Odyssus sneered. Poseidon took that as a challenge.

He moved over and started to fold them. He folded them just like how his mother taught him.

Odysseus rolled his eyes. “Show-off,” he mumbled, annoyed.

From then on, Poseidon and Odysseus hung out a lot more. The nymphs and servants gossiping about the two. The little arguments they would get into were over small, stupid stuff.

Poseidon brought Odysseus to a little pool that was hidden under the palace. “Wow, it’s amazing down here,” he whispered, looking around. His eyes widened seeing kids running around. “It’s a nursery,” Poseidon said.

Odysseus stopped backing up. “No, no, no, Poseidon, you don’t understand. I can’t be near kids.” Odysseus started to panic, backing up.

Poseidon grabbed his hand. “Ody... it’s fine,” he whispered. “No, no, I killed one. I dropped him off at Troy’s walls…” he whispered, his breathing picking up.

“Ody…you didn’t kill him.” Poseidon whispered, turning his head to look at a little boy who looked exactly like… “How...” Odyessus was shocked.