Chapter Text
So close! So damn close to having Jackson out of her daughter's life, yet he turned down immortality? Athena had seen the way he looked at Annabeth, and the way she had looked at him.
As an immortal goddess, it shouldn't drive Athena all too mad to think that her daughter had fallen for a son of Poseidon, but it got on her nerves. The mutual fondness between the two was infuriating, even more so that both of them were probably too dense to even realize it.
Jackson was turning her daughter stupid!
There was something so familiar about the two, something she didn't even want to consider. What are the chances that… Nevermind.
Despite the unlikely nature of her hunch, Athena found herself entering the underworld, paying a visit to Hades for the peace of mind. She felt silly vocalizing it, but Hades was reclusive enough that he wouldn't go around telling people. It was a safe bet.
As she reached his palace, she debated turning back, but the odd little skeleton guards were already opening the tall doors for her. Perks of being a goddess. It wasn't hard to locate the throne room, and Hades happened to be sitting on his throne, conversing with his son.
The boy noticed her first, and he quickly knelt, “Lady Athena. “ He greeted her formally.
Hades nodded at him to leave, and he slipped into the shadows and vanished. “Athena, I wasn't expecting you! Was I? “ He glanced down at a scroll of parchment on the armrest of his throne, “No.. I don't believe so. What can I do for you? “
Athena straightened, praying her question wasn't as silly as she thought it was, “Lord Hades, I have.. A bit of an odd question for you. “
“You came all the way here for a question?” He seemed surprised, maybe at the fact that someone was seeking him out specifically, or maybe because the Goddess of Wisdom had a question for him.
“Well, you see.. “ She thought about how to phrase it, “My daughter, Annabeth, she seems infatuated with that boy, Perseus, and, as much as I detest him, there is something so.. Familiar about him, about the way they act together. Is it possible that-”
“You're wondering if they've been reincarnated? “ Hades guessed.
Athena hesitated, “Yes? “
He smiled, “Your hunch is correct, their souls have been reborn several times throughout history, but you knew them as.. What was it? Odysseus and Penelope? Yes.. I believe that's right, Young Perseus has more than just Poseidon in him, he's been fighting in wars all throughout history, not that he remembers, of course. “
Athena froze, she wanted to be right, of course, but knowing it, knowing that Jackson and her daughter were.. Soulmates? That would take some getting used to.
“Thank you for your time, Lord Hades.” She finally managed to stammer, “I must be going now. “
Hades had a glint in his eye, as if he had been waiting for her to put the pieces together, “Good luck, Lady Athena! “
Good luck indeed. What is she supposed to do with this information? If anything the confirmation is more draining than the wondering was.
Why did she have to ask?