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idksmtms · 4 months ago

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You Are Not One of Us (Poseidon x Norse Goddess!reader) - Part 9

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Part 8 << PART 9 >> Part 10

AN: I am so so so sorry it took me so long to get this out omg. First it was life, then it was uni, then writer’s block and just aaaa! Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading this and keeping up with it since it started. I am so thankful to all of you!!! I hope you enjoy this and get ready for the final part of the series!

Summary: Percy learns the ways of camp, meets new and… interesting people, and embarks on a quest that will change his life.

Word count: ~10.8k

Trigger Warnings: she/her pronouns, AFAB reader, profanity, innuendo, age gap (even tho they are both thousands of years old), personal insecurity, absentee parents technically, abandonment issues, angst, kidnapping, depictions of someone being held against their will, way too heavy use of dramatic irony, any warnings associated with Percy’s adventures, (please let me know if I missed any)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians characters. I do not claim to own any of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians characters. I do not own any pictures used nor do I claim to do so. (I do use some scenes from the show verbatim but I did not write the dialogue for those scenes, only the descriptions attached.)

Always appreciate comments, likes, and reblogs :)

Percy heard the soft rustle of a voice on the wind. Surely he had imagined it, he thought, gazing around the darkness of the woods, the shadows in the leaves and the sudden quiet that had descended once more. But he would swear on his life that he had heard a quiet “Perseus…” whisper in the wind. He shook his head, wiping at his eyes to make sure any trace of tears and pain had disappeared, before tossing the contents of his little fire onto the forest floor and stamping out the embers.

Night had descended on Camp Half-Blood and everyone had taken to their cabins. While a quiet chatter still emitted from the doors of each cabin, the grounds of the camp were mostly still and silent, disturbed only by the occasional stamping of hooves from the pegasus stables, and Percy Jackson tiredly making his way to the bathrooms.

He turned the corner around the (rather magnificent) bathroom building, only to be faced with Clarisse, arms crossed, stern look painted on her face. Another two of Ares kids stood behind her, a pack of wolves.

“Hey guys! Can’t sleep, huh?” Percy joked, though the hairs on his arms rose.

They were quick to pounce on him, grabbing him by the arms and hauling him into the outhouse cabin as Clarisse watched on nonchalantly. They threw him to the floor, and he grunted as he fell back, hitting it with a smack. He turned onto his back, palms pressed down as he gazed up at her. He felt a bit like an ant about to be squashed under her boot.

“Every new kid shows up here and they think they’re special. Do you think you’re special?” Clarisse asked, nudging her chin forward as she waited for a response. Percy frowned, glancing around at all of them.

“No?”

The two with Clarisse grabbed him under the arms and hauled him to his feet, the one to his left grabbing at his hoodie. He struggled, grunting as he tried to push them off, but they were built of steel, immovable.

“Tell me you made it all up about the Minotaur, and I’ll let you go.” Clarisse came to stand right in front of him, staring him down. Percy frowned in confusion.

“I didn’t make anything up.”

Clarisse glanced between the two kids holding onto him, then gestured to the stall with her head, barely a movement. They began to haul Percy toward it, each of them groaning with the effort. He struggled, his feet just about scraping the ground. Clarisse sighed as she watched on.

“Some kids gotta learn the hard way.”

The boy to his left kicked the back of his knee and forced him down to lean in front of the toilet. The smell of detergent and water and that distinct porcelain toilet smell began to overwhelm him. He was desperate now, disoriented and desperate to escape. He could hear Clarisse’s sinister chuckle behind him as she watched on like some sick dictator taking pleasure in her clever torture methods.

They forced his face down to the toilet bowl, right to the edge of the seat. His nose began dipping down just under it, a hair’s breadth from the water. He closed his eyes, willing for escape, willing for strength, anything to get him out of this hellish predicament. When suddenly, the water was sucked back up into the pipes. He heard it, carefully prying his eyes open and seeing it quickly fall through the hole and disappear.

The two kids let him go and quickly stood up and moved back. The sound of water gurgling was suddenly rumbling under the cabin. They all stood still and listened. It was like a flash. The water shot out of the toilet and above Percy’s head as he crouched down to avoid it. It seemed to separate into three tendrils, smashing through the walls of the stall and turning into swirling columns that attacked each of the others standing just outside.

They were shoved into the walls, onto the floor by the door. The water was quick to dissipate, falling onto the floor in a splash. The three Ares kids looked like drowned rats, drenched and dripping in damp shirts and jeans, shoes that squelched as they gasped and tried to find their bearings.

Percy slowly unfurled from where he was crouched by the toilet bowl. Water was bursting out of the sinks, the floor was slippery and slowly turning into a lake. Even the sprinklers had burst open and poured down on them. He stood up straight, shaking, hoodie dishevelled from the roof treatment and stared at Clarisse as she shook the water off her hands. Her hair draped around her face, limp, and she glared at him with the power of a thousand suns. She was quick to run after her already fleeing companions.

Percy watched after her, slowly stepping out of the stall, shoes drenched and splashing through the rising water on the floor. He looked around him at the destruction, at the fountain spouting from the right-most sink. He almost gasped to find a girl with long braids leaning against the door, arms crossed, watching him.

“I can explain,” he began slowly. She huffed.

“No you can’t.”

“Okay,” he breathed out. He glanced around awkwardly, but he couldn’t keep his eyes away from her for long. He soon realised why.

“Wait, I know you.”

“No you don’t.” She answered instantly, shaking her head as she looked at him with something akin to disdain.

“Yeah, but you were there. That night in the infirmary.”

“Yes. I’m Annabeth.” She introduced herself like it was a given, like she was the most Annabeth Annabeth an Annabeth could be.

“Are you stalking me, Annabeth?” He asked, eyebrows furrowed. She thought for a moment.

“Yes,” she shrugged.

“Okay,” he said slowly, nodding his head. “Why?” She seemed almost annoyed that he would bother asking her why.

“Well, I’ve been waiting to see if something like this,” she gestured to the room with her hand, “would happen. So I’d know if you can help me.” She shifted and leaned more firmly against the wall.

“Help you do what?” Percy asked, shifting a little closer.

“Win Capture the Flag.”

That was the last thing Percy expected her to say.

Percy gasped for air, glancing between Luke’s celebration and the pebbles on the beach. His entire body seemed to gasp for air. Fighting Clarisse, breaking her spear, it was almost like the Minotaur all over again. His blood was thrumming, the cut on his cheek burned, but… he felt alive. He had known exactly what to do, how to move. Instinct. The conflict of emotion rose within him, and all he could do was stand there and pant.

“Not bad, hero.” His head shot to the left, but he could only see the treeline. A moment later the air shimmered and Annabeth appeared, pulling a Yankees cap from her head as she strolled down to meet him. He frowned at her, still panting.

“Were you here the whole time?” He asked incredulously.

“Yes,” she responded, as if it was obvious.

“You were here the whole time and you didn’t help me?” He asked, almost yelling, shocked and angry.

“Yes,” she shrugged, again, behaving like this was obvious and normal.

“Why?!”

Annabeth simply stepped forward and held out her hand to him. He looked at her, at her hand, then with a grunt, reached out and grabbed it, allowing her to help haul him back to his feet. She looked into his eyes, suddenly serious.

“Listen…” she trailed off. “Percy.” He stared at her, eyebrows twitching into a frown of confusion. But she just shook her head and frowned in frustration, “I’m sorry,” and shoved him in the chest.

He went reeling back, stumbling over his own heels and slamming straight into the water. It was barely knee height, but he splashed and flailed for a moment before lifting his head and chest up to stare at her in astonished frustration.

“What is wrong with you?!” He yelled, loud enough for the rest of team blue to turn away from their celebrations and stare at the pair of them.

He struggled to his feet, standing in the surf, and about to make his way back onto dry land when Annabeth began running her eyes over him. He felt it, an almost tingling feeling in the places he had been cut. He reached up to his cheek, gently grazed his finger over his cheekbone, but there was nothing there, only unblemished skin. The bruises and cuts on his arms seemed to wash away with the water, the dirt and blood dripping away as if it had never marred his body in the first place. Percy examined his arms then looked at Annabeth in fearful confusion.

“I don’t understand.”

But Annabeth wasn’t looking at him. Her face, soft in triumph then awe, was tilted up to the space above his head. He noticed a soft glow of light fall over his eyes and he leaned back, looking up at the space above his head. There, hovering over him was a glowing blue trident. It was like some high-tech hologram, sharp and clear. Annabeth huffed out a chuckle as she looked at it.

“Your dad’s calling.” Percy glanced back to look at her, before realising that every person in camp had their eyes fixated on him. Luke and Chris turned away from the flag, staring at the sign above his head in shock as Chiron slowly made his way down the beach. He looked as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing as he gazed down at Percy.

“You have been claimed by Poseidon, Earthshaker, Stormbringer.” Chiron announced, continuing to stare at him as if Percy had just grown wings or done something else that would be considered actually impossible in this impossible world. “Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon.”

A gasp ran around the camp. A murmur arose amongst everyone watching, hands coming up to shield their mouths as they whispered to each other.

“This is impossible.”

“How is this possible?”

“Poseidon… was he ever known for having affairs?”

“I thought he had never had a demigod child. Like… ever.”

“Has this ever been mentioned in any of the old stories?”

“What about Poseidon and…? I thought the whole story of her betrayal and banishment…”

“Poseidon was only known to ever take one lover…”

“But the old stories about Poseidon and…”

“What is everyone whispering about?!” Percy burst out, staring with wide wild eyes.

“Come, Percy, we have much to discuss,” Chiron gently gestured to the boy. But his mind was racing behind his calm eyes, because if there was one thing to know about Poseidon other than his domain over the sea, it was that he was a god who loved only one…

You were not sure how to describe your prison. It was a prison in your own mind. A room with no door. Stark white. A roof that both closed in on you, yet was an endless sea of white… Walls that did not permit you to escape, but if you reached out to touch them, only a white expanse was bare before you. Except one. One wall was an eye, or at least, what an eye would see. Like those huge screens humans had invented. You could watch your son, your Perseus. You could watch him live his life, watch him struggle through the ins and outs of camp, like a fly following him around, watching everything so you could watch him too, like a never ending play or a film. It was torture. It was a blessing.

You were curled up on the floor, your head on your hands as you watched the girl shove him into the sea. As you watched your husband, the love of your life, do what you could not. Your eyes welled up, pain and joy fluttering together in a dance in your chest. He knew of his father. At least he knew of his father. You stared at the glowing symbol of Poseidon. Your heart called out desperately for him. Your mind screamed his name, over and over. Wished only for him and Perseus. Only for him and Perseus. Only for him and…

Mr. D sat in the glass attachment of the Big House and sipped from a Diet Coke as he stared off into space. The news of Percy’s claim had reached him. A son of Poseidon. How intriguing…

He had been there, of course, that day so long ago that it blended into the long-reaching fabric of time. Though he had been rather tipsy off his own wine, he had still been there to welcome the Norse gods. And though he was perhaps not the most observant of gods, anyone could have seen the way Poseidon had become enraptured with you. But who could deny that? You were beautiful and kind, you had even had Hermes vying for your heart back then. But Poseidon had been triumphant, of course he had been.

And it was… different, between you and Poseidon. Even him, deep in his cups, could note that. You had returned for him, glowed with a love for him that would make Aphrodite and Eros jealous. What you and Poseidon had found with each other, no other gods could boast of that. Even after your banishment, after the separation of the Greek and Norse gods, Poseidon had held onto you. He could tell.

At first it was because he was sure you two were meeting despite the danger. Though Poseidon had fought the banishment with his entire heart, had raged at Zeus for so long, he had sort of, calmed down after a while. His fighting was not so pronounced, as if he had found some peace somehow. It was only plausible that the two of you had found each other again. But then, millenia later, Poseidon had become stony-faced once more. He stayed secluded to the sea, only returning to Olympus for the most dire of matters, not giving into Zeus, losing any… whimsy he may have once possessed. It became a dark picture.

So to see Percy Jackson appear now, a son of Poseidon… Well, something didn’t quite add up. Poseidon would not have been disloyal. He would not have strayed. The love he held for you was not so easily swayed. It was simply not possible that Percy had a human mother. Or a mother other than… you.

Mr. D turned his head to look out at the water and chewed lightly at his lip. He wouldn’t say anything yet. He feared others may have already begun to connect the dots. Because if what he suspected was the truth… then Percy was nothing so simple as a forbidden child…

“As a forbidden child of the sea god, you are singular amongst demigods. And your father’s only hope to prevent the outbreak of war.” Chiron stood with his back to the windows as he looked down at Percy. Percy still wasn’t quite used to craning his neck back to look up at the centaur. “For months now, Zeus and Poseidon have been locked in a dispute over the master bolt. The symbol of Zeus’s authority. And it has been stolen. Again.”

“What do you mean, again?” Percy asked, head tilted and face scrunched up in confusion.

“It was stolen once, a very long time ago,” Chiron sighed, looking out the door behind Percy wistfully. “But…well, that’s another story for another time.”

“Who stole it?” Percy asked, hoping to keep the conversation on track. He wasn’t sure where this was going.

“You did.” Mr. D answered, arms hanging at his sides as he nodded toward Percy.

“What?” Percy frowned, looking between Mr. D and Chiron. How was being claimed by Poseidon not the weirdest thing to happen to him today?

“Zeus is looking for a thief, sees a forbidden child claimed by his jealous brother… It doesn’t look good for you, kid.” Mr. D gestured to Percy with his hand, shrugging.

“I didn’t do anything!”

“Of course you didn’t,” Chiron soothed, looking at Percy with soft eyes. “But, your father needs your help. An ultimatum has been given to him by Zeus, that if he doesn’t return the bolt by the summer solstice in 1 week… there will be war.” Chiron paused, and the gravity of his words began to settle over the room. War. An immortal war… “That is your quest. You must leave immediately.”

“Leave?” Percy looked up at Chiron, the frown on his face deepening. “Leave for where?”

“Zeus is king on Olympus, and Poseidon has always resented it, but there is a third brother, who has always deeply resented them both.” Chiron shifted a little.

“It’s Hades,” Percy mused, his mind running through all the old myths Aunt Sally used to tell him. Myths… he couldn’t really call them myths anymore, could he?

“Yes.” Chiron nodded, threading his fingers together in front of him.

“The bolt is with Hades. In the Underworld.” Percy voiced slowly, mouth moving stiffly over the words.

“I know it sounds daunting,” Chiron looked down at him sympathetically, almost ready to gently pat him on the shoulder. “But you won’t be alone. A quest is always undertaken by three.”

“Great. Good luck finding those guys, cause it ain’t gonna be me.” Percy shook his head, holding up his hands and ready to begin backing away. He did not sign up for this. None of this was necessary, at least not for him.

“Poseidon has claimed you. This is his will.” Chiron said it with such finality, as if it was a given. But Percy wasn’t ready to go down without a fight.

“Poseidon has ignored me my entire life,” Percy bit out, jaw clenching as anger began to rise up in his chest.

“You are his son.” Mr. D jabbed his finger at him, as if that answered every possible query.

“I am Sally Jackson’s son,” Percy shouted, glaring at Mr. D. He wasn’t going to let some random god come in here and claim to be his dad, as if he had ever been there, ever done anything that a father should do… Sally may have called herself his aunt, but he knew what a mother was, what a mother did, and she had always been that for him.

“Who’s Sally Jackson?” Mr. D frowned, almost yelling.

“She’s the one who cared enough to raise me, when my parents didn’t. She’s the one who got herself killed so that I could be safe here.” Percy bit his lip, the frustration piling into the backs of his eyes in the form of tears. His hands were shaking and all he wanted was… all he wanted was for Aunt Sally to be there.

“The fate of the world hangs in the balance. You will accept this quest,” Mr. D told him firmly, eyes widening as he glared right back at Percy.

“I won’t!”

“Hey everybody!” Grover appeared at the door, an awkward little smile on his face as he quickly hopped into the room.

“Grover, now is not the time.” Chiron frowned, shaking his head at Grover, but the satyr was not deterred.

“I’m sorry sir. But I have news,” Grover continued on, looking away from Chiron to Percy, determined.

“Grover…” Chiron warned, knowing exactly where this was going, and fearing the consequences.

“Sally Jackson is alive! It looked like she died, but it only looked that way,” Grover exclaimed, not bothered to wait a second longer. He looked at Percy directly, right into his eyes as he shared the news.

“Grover…” Mr. D warned this time, tone low and eyes angry and exhausted.

“Your mother was stolen… by Hades. Which means she’s with him now. In the Underworld. It’s where they want you to go too, isn’t it?” He asked quickly, looking between the two teachers and Percy. “If you can find her there, I think you can bring her back…” Grover encouraged, clasping his hands together in front of him.

Percy looked at Grover, and all he could hear was that Aunt Sally was alive. She was alive. That was all that mattered. Aunt Sally was alive. And he would do anything, anything, to get her back.

“When do we leave?”

Percy trudged his way up to the top of the BIg House, and pushed open the door to the attic. It creaked, an old, horror movie-style creak. It was dark, almost pitch-black, and the attic was full to the brim with… things. Helmets, mirrors, weird old togas, and even a weird dead scorpion-looking thing in a jar. He looked around at the array of items, and walked slowly through the room. The floorboards creaked and a phantom breeze made the weird hanging cages swing a little.

He walked to the back of the room, where a grimy circular window let in the faintest wash of light. Suddenly, there was a creaking on the other side of the room, like someone had sat down in an old rocking chair and was now slowly moving back and forth. He turned, heading off in that direction.

There was another circular window, parallel to the one he had just stood by. This one seemed only slightly cleaner, and beamed light directly down onto… someone. Something. Whatever, in a rocking chair. Percy slowly walked closer, squinting and trying to get a look at the person. They had their hands draped on the armrests of the rocking chair, their head dropped down onto their shoulder as if they had fallen asleep, or had a really bad bout of neck pain. Their hair was long, unkempt, draped over their shoulders and chest. He really hoped she was the oracle he had been told about…

“Hi,” his voice cracked. “I’m Percy. It’s nice to meet you.” She didn’t move. She didn’t even rock back in her chair. Percy glanced down, a little afraid of looking at her too long, and huffed. “I was told a quest isn’t a quest until you’ve said so?” The body did nothing. Nothing. “Which is weird, considering you’re a Halloween decoration.” He sighed out his words, feeling hopeless and a little bit stupid to be speaking to what was clearly some weird stuffed model.

All of a sudden it began to shift. Her shoulders lifted, bones cracking as she moved and stretched her spine, grabbed harder onto the chair.

“Oh geez,” his heart began to race. She lifted her head, leaned forward in her chair and stared directly at him. “You seem busy. I’ll come back,” he scrambled, moving back a little before turning away, ready to sprint out of the wretched attic. Who kept an attic like this anyway?!

But he could hear… something. It was like a garbled whisper, like a sharp icy breath out. Percy turned back around, looking at her, when her mouth began to open, and a noxious green smoke poured out. It was thick and opaque, a dark swampy green. It poured out of her mouth and began to swirl, moving this way and that, as it slowly began to take shape.

He could vaguely make out a person, a dark shadow of shoulders and a head, when it suddenly cleared into an image of… Smelly Gabe.

“Come on, really?” Percy sighed out, already annoyed by this stupid oracle business. This was the shape it chose? Seriously?

“You shall go west and face the god who has turned. And you shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned. The answers to the questions of your life, lay on this journey through grief and strife. Truths to be uncovered are plenty abound, necessary to free a hidden world once found. You shall be betrayed by the one who calls you friend, and fail to save what matters most, in the end.”

You sat up onto your knees as you watched Percy leave the safety of Camp Half-Blood. You had cried as he took on the quest, sobbed as the kind son of Hermes offered your boy his shoes. Your insides were a flock of birds, constantly flapping their wings and fluttering inside your heart, your stomach. You bounced between joy at seeing your son, at being able to watch him now, to watch him learn the world he came from, and the crushing pain and dread at the thought that you could not protect him from any of it.

You watched him on the bus, his face falling at the thought that Zeus, that random gods, would want to chase him, to kill him just for being born. That he was no longer safe. You crawled to the image on your knees, sobbing as you reached out. You brushed the image of his cheek with your fingertips, like old humans caressed photographs from their youth. You pressed your face to his, wishing you could wrap your arms around him, press loving kisses to his forehead and tell him that his mother loved him, that his mother never wanted to leave him.

Then you began to scream as the Fury attacked him.

It was a curse. Surely it was a curse that Odin had placed on you. To finally be able to see your cherished child, after years of being blind to him, only to watch him experience the most difficult times of his little life. He was so little… Twelve years was nothing, even less than the blink of an eye in your lifetime. But it was still so much time you had missed… so much time…

And now, now when you were finally able to see him again, to take joy in the fact that he was alive, that he was under your watch once more, you could do nothing to help him. Nothing. You wailed for so long, with so much strength… you wailed until you could no longer wail.

Outside your prison, Odin listened, his heart shredding itself to pieces at his daughter, his beloved child in so much pain. Pain he put upon her. But it was for your own good. Odin had to be strong. He was the Allfather, he knew what was best for you, even if you could not see it. One day, perhaps if Perseus survived his adventures and learned of his godly origins, Odin could release you so you could reunite with your child.

He understood your pain now. He felt it as keenly as he could, but he loved you most dearly. You were his child, his most beloved child, and it was his job to protect you in the best way he could, the best way he knew how. Even if it caused you a little pain right now, you would be better off in the future. It was how it was written, he was sure.

Freya had already tried her best to fight him on this. She had demanded your release, demanded of Odin to stop this madness. He may be the allfather but she was his child, and nothing should cause his child pain. But Freya didn’t know about Perseus, about Zeus and the threat of a war between gods that would destroy Midgard… No, she didn’t know.

Perhaps he could be kind though, lenient in his imprisonment of you. Allowing Freya to visit you would perhaps soothe you a little, would perhaps calm Freya’s fighting spirit. He too was feeling rather destroyed listening to your pain. Yes, perhaps he could arrange that at least…

You believed you were on the bridge of madness. Or perhaps you had been cursed to lose your godly powers and become human, unstable. The laughs of relief and triumph that bubbled out of you as he cut off the Gorgon’s head, as he used it to turn the Fury to stone. Because how could you laugh in this prison, amongst all the pain? It was pride, clear as fresh water that burst through you, bubbled within your chest and overflowed along your skin. You were proud of your darling Perseus. He was intelligent and resourceful. He was kind and loyal, and all the good things you had always hoped for him to be. He was good.

And you laughed again as you watched him send the head to Olympus. Laughed and laughed and laughed until your heart ached and you dissolved into tears once more.

You could see her. Echidna, smirking as she threatened your child. You yelled, screamed, tried with all your might for Percy to hear you, to run. The creature stuffed into that bag, hidden in plain sight, was not to be trifled with. A chimera, young, and hungry.

You dug your nails into the ground, pressed your face close to watch Perseus, Grover, and Annabeth jump from the train. You watched them, catching your breath as they did theirs.

He clutched his side, groaning in pain. It felt as though you had run out of tears. You had cried so much for your son that you could cry no more. You reached out, gently caressing his hair, wishing you knew how his beautiful curls actually felt. Those were the curls his father had when he stepped out of the water and allowed himself to be at the whim of the water and the sea air. Those were your curls once too…

You watched the little group stroll through the St. Louis arch, watched Percy collapse, his pallour became blue and sickly. Your pain was renewed. Every time you thought you had felt the worst of it, some new fresh horror was presented to you, and you were right back at the start.

You watched them douse him with the fountain water but you could only shake your head, fidgeting in agony, pursing your lips and biting on them as you refrained from screaming. He needed the sea, proper, fresh, natural water. The water blessed by his father.

Instead they took him into the temple. But you knew, you knew that wretched Athena would not help them, not even her own daughter. Her own glory mattered more. She would do nothing to aid them. You were proven right as the chimera ventured easily through the doors, sniffing at the ground as it chased after their scent, the Echidna strolling leisurely behind her abomination. You vowed that you would send her to Tartarus. She would arrive slowly, in pieces that would take eons to be put back together. It would take her eons to return to the world, eons in which she experienced the same agony she had inflicted on your son.

And then you watched him be brave. Your darling boy, sacrificing himself for his friends. Your cheeks were wet with tears, and you could do nothing but clench your hands into fists and watch him face the creature. He held the sword in his hands like he was meant to, he was a fighter, he was born to be. You watched his eyes set with determination, his jaw clench, even as the poison coursed through his body. You smiled, a tearful, pained smile because your son was a true hero.

But when he dangled from the monument, his hands desperately gripping at the metal bar, you began to pray to Odin, to Poseidon, you even stooped so low as to beg Zeus. If only some other god, someone who could help your son, save him. But none heard your prayers. They bounced back hollowly against the walls, right into your ears.

And as he fell from the monument, his hands slipping and his body careening through the air, you screamed. At the top of your lungs. You wailed, hands pressed into the ground. Your power rose within you, a crashing flood rising up from your belly to your chest, spreading through your fingertips. Your eyes began to glow, flickering with blue light as your very being trembled. Your mouth was open, a screech of pain and suffering flooding the room. The walls shook, you could feel the floor trembling beneath you as you watched your son fall to his doom. You overflowed.

Every god and creature, each one of the Aesir felt your anguish. The world shook, the very branches of Yggdrasil trembled.

Odin listened in fear, watched as cracks appeared in the boundaries of your prison. You would not be held for long. Your love for your son… it was boundless, endless, and it fed your power like nothing else. You would be held. His only choice… he only had one choice.

Then suddenly, as you felt the powerful waterfall of relief as his father saved him, as your husband did his duty, you were immobile. You could no longer move. You were sitting on your folded legs, head turned to watch your son’s life play before your eyes, and you could do nothing but watch. It was the same as the day Odin had put you in the prison. You could do nothing.

The walls had moved in close, you could feel them brush against your arms and legs, as if the prison was fitted to the size of your body with only an inch to spare on each side. And your son’s life filled your eyes, as if you were there with him, hovering near, unable to speak, unable to touch, unable to help, but always there, at his shoulder, watching him.

You despised Ares. You despised him with every drop of your soul. Every piece of you reviled him. He was a god of war, like you, but he took pleasure in it, enjoyed the death and destruction. You were so far from him. The two purposes in you were constantly fighting, love and war, so often intertwined. People fought wars for love, but love had no place in war. You did not love war, though you patroned it. You fought to end war, you fought the war to reach peace. Perhaps a contradiction in itself. But you did not take pleasure in it. Never once. And you reviled Ares so for enjoying it.

What you hated more, was that he was in the presence of your son. You did not want Perseus anywhere near him. You did not want the foul presence of Ares to taint the air around your son, let alone for him to speak to your beloved child. He was hateful, vile, the personification of destruction. Your Perseus was everything good and brave. Those things did not go together.

You watched the sickening god of war laugh as he toyed with the children, twisting their minds this way and that, proffering his joy of an inevitable war. You felt sick to your stomach.

It was even worse when he tasked them with retrieving his shield, dangling the ease of entering the underworld just under their noses. Of course they would accept the task, it would be stupid to refuse. It was just as bad to accept it though…

You liked the girl, Annabeth. She was brave, unafraid of standing up to Ares. You respected that. You were glad she was with your boy, she would take good care of him. She was good too. A soft little smile twitched at your lips though your mouth didn’t move.

It was another torture to watch your son and Annabeth try to work through Hephaestus’ amusement park. It was a sad moment, you had never had any quarrel with Hephaestus. He had kept to his own on Olympus. The most you had seen him interact with anyone was Hestia, she treated him kindly, there was a type of love there, between them, you just weren’t quite sure what it was. And Aphrodite, that jealous creature, she had mistreated him beyond belief. The one time you had seen the two of them interact, she had spoken to him with vile words, cutting him down as if she had not once been bound to him in marriage, as if there was nothing sacred there… It disgusted you. You only held sympathy for the poor god.

But if anything of his doing caused harm to your son… all sympathy would die, fall into the black pit your heart was slowly becoming. If any of those gods hurt your son, you would personally see to their destruction.

You watched him narrate the story of the chair to Annabeth, and you beamed with pride. He was intelligent, he knew his immortal history. A pang of sadness hit your chest then. Sally, your dearest friend Sally, was responsible for this, him. She was responsible for raising him, and she did such a wonderful job. She raised a boy with integrity, respect, honour, valour, intelligence, confidence, every possible good thing a boy could be! It was all her. Neither you, nor Poseidon could take any credit for the amazing child he turned out to be. It was all Sally. And now she was trapped, held in the clutches of Hades, for who knows what reason? He had been a friend once, a dear friend among the Greek Gods. Surely he knew about Perseus, knew of his heritage… What reason did he have to keep Sally Jackson and somehow fuel this budding war between his brothers?

You watched him stare at Annabeth with pain in his eyes. You wept as they argued, fighting to be the one to sacrifice themselves. You wanted to reach out, to clutch them both to your chest and hide them from the evils they had faced. You could feel it, the bond the two shared as they looked at each other. They were still children, so small, so young, but they were connected. There was friendship, there was love, the innocent pale love of children. You sobbed as Percy sat on the chair and allowed the gold to creep over his skin. Cried, agonising tears as he smiled, his beautiful blue eyes sparkling, the beautiful blue eyes of his father… soon overtaken by gold.

You watched Annabeth, dear darling Annabeth, whose heart was filled with care and loyalty, step over the shield they so desperately needed to complete their task. You watched her round the chair, gaze at the gears, using all her knowledge. You watched her struggle with each piece, trying with all her might to twist and turn something, anything. Just one cog. All she needed was to be able to turn one cog and reverse whatever the chair had done.

You watched on. There was nothing you could do but watch, locked in a prison of your father’s making. You watched as Hephaestus entered the room, watched him as he watched her. As she wept silent tears and ignored his offer to leave, struggling with a machine she could not understand, would never understand.

Against your wishes your heart sparked a little. The girl wouldn’t leave. She wouldn’t leave Percy. And not only would she not leave, she wouldn’t stand down from Hephaestus either. You would have laughed had you not felt as if you had entered a period of mourning. Annabeth had forever cemented a place in your heart. And perhaps, she had carved out a piece of Hephaestus’ too. If you ever escaped this place, if you were ever free to roam the realms of Yggdrasil once more, you would bestow every possible blessing you could on the child. She saved your son, she stayed loyal and fought to save him. Nothing you could do as a god would ever be payment enough for this…

You felt such beautiful, innocent, joy when you realised Ares’ plan was to get Percy to Hermes. Your dear friend Hermes, a kind soul you trusted with the entirety of your own. He would help Percy. You knew he would. If he suspected, even for a moment, that Percy was your son, you were sure he would help him. He had cared for you once, graciously kept you company those many eons ago on Olympus. Yes, you knew he would help. He had to.

And once more you were filled with pride, beautiful, lethal, pride as you watched Percy stand toe to toe with the inimitable god of war. As you watched him put Ares in his place. You smiled in triumph. Your son was just like you, even if it was only in your shared hatred of Ares.

Your mind was beginning to work on overdrive behind your frozen facade. If Ares was protecting Clarisse this time, it meant Ares must have stolen the bolt the first time. It made sense, he was the first one to accuse you of stealing the bolt. It is far easier to be absolved when you can rest the blame on another.

But why would he steal it? Why would he steal it just to return it so soon after? What was his agenda? The goal must have been to be rid of you, to destroy the alliance between the Greek and Norse gods. But why? And why steal it again now? What new plan had he cooked?

The cogs of your mind turned and turned, circling the thoughts but not being able to settle on any answer as you gazed absentmindedly at the children on their journey to the Lotus Casino.

And when they reached the casino, you could sense something was wrong. It was covered in a haze, something unnatural. There was something wrong with the Casino, and despite all your wishes for the children not to go in, you knew they would. You only hoped they found Hermes quickly.

When Percy and Annabeth finally lay eyes on him, you beamed. He had chosen a new form since you had seen him last, this one was much more… modern, casual. He still had the same smirk though, the same mischievous glint in his eyes. He was still your same old Hermes. You wanted to reach out and touch him too, to wrap him in a hug and thank him for his friendship from eons ago. Even just a word would do, anything to let him know you were there, to let anyone know you were there….

A stray tear slipped from your eye leaving a ticklish trail down your cheek.

You watched his face fall at the mention of Luke. Luke… the boy who had helped Percy at camp, who had been so kind to your son. Of course he was a child of Hermes, of course! You wanted to laugh. The world came full circle. His father had once been kind to you, and now he was kind to your son. The Fates loved to weave their threads in such magnificent ways.

If nothing else, maybe for the love of his son, Hermes would help yours.

You did the only thing you could do, watching Percy speak to the Nereid. They had only just missed each other. Only just. Your Poseidon, your beloved Poseidon had been there, you could have seen him again, laid eyes on him once more… but Percy was too late. He was too late.

You wanted to scream, but only a small choked sound left your lips. You exhausted yourself trying to fight the stillness, willing your limbs to move, just move! One inch, one twitch was enough. Just something to end this prison sentence. You wanted to disappear, to disintegrate. You wanted the humans to stop believing in you, for Ragnarok to take you into the endless darkness. You did not want to be the statue of a god any longer.

But all you could do was sit there and watch the Nereid hand your son the pearls to return him safely. All you could do was watch your darling boy continue on this perilous journey. All you could do was… nothing.

You watched the little gang of friends make their way through the Underworld. You watched them traverse past the souls, millions of people desperate to make their way to the next life. And you watched, with bated breath, as they outran Cerberus. He was a magnificent beast, three headed and humongous. A gorgeous creature. You had heard many tales from Hades, once upon a time… the dog was a loyal companion, if a little, uh, unconventional. The children simply needed to show him some love, he was a gentle beast if you treated him right.

Annabeth was intelligent though, and you were glad to see her figure it out. Each and every moment she rose higher in your esteem. You could hope for no better companion for Percy than Annabeth.

Your heart leapt into your throat as the shoes began dragging Grover towards the gaping maw of Tartarus. Your vision of them began to turn hazy. Whatever magic allowed you to see Percy was weaker in the Underworld, even weaker close to Tartarus. Your gaze on them flickered as Percy hauled Grover back up, watching the shoes fall into the pit.

As Percy slowly unzipped his backpack and pulled the lightning bolt out, you gasped in shock, or at least, in your mind you did. The bolt… why was it in Percy’s bag? But the bag… the bag was not Percy’s. That reviled god of war… he had given the bag to Percy. That hateful creature had possessed the bolt this entire time…

You cursed that villainous god, that repulsive deity… As soon as you were out of this prison, as soon as you had control of your limbs again, of your power, you would heap innumerable curses on him. You would personally find the Fates and ensure they wrote in only pain. You would go to the ends of Midgard to find ways to ensure the rest of his infinite days were filled with nothing but pain. You would… you would have your revenge.

He had destroyed your life. He had ruined the peace and love you had found on Olympus, ruined any hope you had of marrying the god you loved and living peacefully with him, having children peacefully with him. And now he was ruining your son’s life. This you could not stand for. This you would not allow.

You seethed as you watched on, as Percy and Grover considered their next steps. The ice suddenly surrounding your heart thawed a little as they set upon saving Sally. It seemed you would be endlessly proud of your son until the end of days.

They trekked across the Underworld to Hades’ Palace. You hoped Hades remained as he had once been. He was kind at heart. Despite his title, he was a gentle soul, with a rather dry sense of humour. You, in your limited time with him, had been friends once. You were also quite sure Poseidon favoured him over Zeus (though he did not hold much love for any of his family, and you could particularly understand why when it came to Zeus) and you hoped that would give Percy some sort of sympathetic edge.

“Hey, fellas. Welcome!” Hades walked over determinedly, arms outstretched in welcome. “Sorry about all the… Oh…” Percy and Grover watched him as he walked over from a distance, staring as he slowly became clearer and clearer. “Anyways, it’s great to meet you. I know who you are, and you know who I am, so we can just skip right past that part. Can I get you anything? Fresh pomegranate juice, a snack?”

You would have chuckled if you could. Though he seemed a little more…jovial, than he had been before, the dry humour had not been done away with. Oh how you missed him…

“Actually if…” Grover began, but was quickly interrupted.

“My aunt.” Percy’s face was set with determination.

“Boom. Straight to business.” Hades looked Percy up and down then offered him a little smile. “I admire the cut of your jib.” Percy looked on, unimpressed. “Little nautical reference for you,” Hades responded, before nodding his head a few times as his smile slipped away. “I see you.”

“Where is she?” Percy asked quickly, beginning to frown. He was not in the mood for any more godly trickery. He had been through far too much.

“Right. Okey-doke. Let’s get to it. Your aunt’s just over here.” Hades jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, then turned and began to walk in that direction. Percy and Grover glanced at each other, frowning in confusion. No way it could be that easy.

“You’ve come all this way, don’t be shy,” Hades called back. Percy and Grover were still for a moment more before quickly following after the God of the Underworld. He had already made substantial ground ahead of them.

They rounded a corner and he led them to a sitting room-type set up. On the side, by a set of brown leather couches, a golden statue stood of… Sally Jackson. She was reaching out, frozen in gold. You felt a certain kinship with her at that moment.

“Aunt Sally?” Percy looked on incredulously, moving haltingly through the threshold as Hades fiddled with a blue throw. “What did you do to her?” Percy asked, accusation heavy in his tone. Hades dropped the folded blanket onto one of the couches and turned to Percy.

“Uh,” he scoffed, “saved her life?” He gestured at the statue, as if it was not obvious enough already what he had done. “You know, typically, getting crushed by a Minotaur is a terminal diagnosis.”

Percy stared at the statue, at the way her arm was still reaching out, telling him to run. His Aunt Sally, the closest thing to a mother he had ever had…

“I snagged her for ya, just in the “ta-da” nick of time,” Hades smiled, “so that you would come see me. And here we are.” The God of the Underworld seemed so… pleased to see them, as if he had been waiting for this moment. “You give me what you got, and I’m giving you what I got.”

“I… I can’t give it to you.” Percy didn’t take his eyes off his Aunt Sally, but a heaviness suddenly filled his chest. Of course, Hades would want the bolt in exchange for Aunt Sally. But he couldn’t… he just couldn’t.

“Ah, see, there’s a quid and a quo here.”

“The bolt doesn’t belong to you.” Hades paused, his eyes flitting away in confusion. “Your plan almost worked. You and Ares managed to steal the bolt, trick me into bringing it right down and giving it to you. But it’s wrong, and I won’t do it. So all I can do is ask you to do the right thing, too. Please… let my aunt go.”

Hades was silent for a moment, watching Percy, before he shook his head and frowned in confusion.

“Huh?” He looked completely lost.

“What?” Percy asked in return, now feeling confused at the god’s confusion.

“Who… who tricked Ares into doing what?” Hades asked, squinting his eyes a little more.

“You’re in cahoots with Ares, to secure the bolt,” Grover supplied, looking at Hades with a sort of ‘duh’ expression.

“I’m not in cahoots with Ares,” Hades replied, “I seldom ‘cahoot’. The bolt is my brothers’ drama, I don’t want any part of it.” Hades fluttered his hand in the air, as if physically brushing away the idea that he would be interested in any of that.

“You don’t want it?” Percy asked, frowning as he stared at Hades.

“No.”

“Then what do you want?” Percy asked, holding his hands up a little. Hades looked between the two boys as if there were two village idiots standing before him.

“My helm!” He exclaimed.

“Your what?” Percy asked, frowning once more.

“My Helm of Darkness. It went missing just days before someone,” he pointed at Percy, “used it to turn invisible and steal the bolt. I’d like it back now, please, and then you get your aunt back.” He gestured with both his hands from the statue to Percy, then stood there, waiting for them to hand back what was rightfully his.

“You really don’t want the bolt?” Percy asked, leaning forward a little as if he couldn’t quite believe the conversation he was having.

“Why would I want that?” Hades asked, sighing exasperatedly.

“To start a war between your brothers,” Grover supplied, shrugging his shoulders.

“Why would I want that?” Hades repeated, staring at Grover.

“Jealousy!” Grover replied, glancing away as if he couldn’t believe he had to explain this to the person that was surely responsible.

“I don’t know if you noticed,” Hades began sarcastically, “but it’s all candy canes and rainbows down here. I’m managing just fine.” Thunder rumbled somewhere in the distance. “I don’t really do jealous.”

Percy began to think, staring at a spot on the floor as his mind slowly began to turn. “My brothers, on the other hand, have the market cornered on jealous.” Hades huffed. “Family drama is why I don’t go up there anymore. These grudges, they go on forever. Super unhealthy. Someone stole Zeus’s bolt, it wasn’t me, it must have been somebody who was…”

“Kronos,” Percy burst out. Hades twitched his head forward, fixing his eyes on Percy.

“Excuse me?”

“He’s got the longest grudge of them all. Zeus took Kronos’s throne. Who else has a bigger reason to weaken Zeus and take his throne back?” Percy told them, feeling the wheels in his brain begin to speed. Hades nodded his head a little, but sighed, glancing away from Percy.

“Kronos is in a million pieces at the bottom of…”

“Tartarus,” Percy interjected, “where something just tried to pull us into it the moment the bolt appeared in our bag.” Hades glanced the boy up and down. “Tartarus…” Percy repeated, thinking aloud. “Where I’ve been hearing a voice from in my dreams, telling me it needs my help to take down Olympus.” Percy walked closer to Hades, but the God of the Underworld simply stayed quiet, listening to the boy with an unbothered (if slightly exasperated) expression. “I assumed that was you, but that voice I heard… that definitely did not sound like you.”

Hades took a deep breath and sighed, blinking slowly as he looked away from the boys. He shifted a little, looked this way and that, before returning his gaze to the pair with his eyes set.

“Ask me for sanctuary.” He said it so simply.

“What?”

“If Kronos is somehow planning to emerge from his exile, and you were his first call… you’re not safe. Ask me, and I’ll protect you. You and your aunt,” Hades glanced back at Sally as he spoke. “And the goat,” he gestured to Grover carelessly with his hand. “I'll throw him in, on the house.” You would have kissed Hades for the offer. He would protect your son. He would do it. It was all you could hope for. But… but it would not be free. And knowing Percy over the time of your imprisonment… you knew he would not take it.

“This works out nice for you as it turns out. All it’ll cost you is the bolt,” Hades offered nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders as if it was the simplest of bargains.

“I thought you didn’t want the bolt?” Grover asked quickly.

“I don’t want the bolt. Now, I need the bolt. If war with Kronos is coming, I’d like to be prepared,” Hades told them. “Not messing around here, kid. This only ends one way. The only question is how difficult you make it.” Hades shifted on his feet, moving a little closer to Percy.

Percy looked away, settling his gaze on Sally. He ran his eyes over the smooth gold, the grooves of her hair and clothes, then subtly shook his head.

“No.” Hades had had enough. He stepped forward.

“Give me the bag.” He began reaching out for it but Percy pulled the pearl the Nereid had given him out of his pocket and held it up threateningly in the air. “Nice pearl,” Hades bit out sarcastically, glancing between it and the boy.

“I accept your offer,” Percy spoke quickly.

“Great!” Hades shook his head, confused why the boy was still threatening to disappear.

“Your first offer. We’re gonna go get your helm. And when I get back, you’re gonna let my aunt go.”

“Okay. Hang on, kid,” Hades moved forward once more, holding out his hands.

“Grover, now!” Percy yelled, and watched Grover throw the pearl at his feet and fall into a flash of light.

“WAIT!” Hades yelled, holding his hands up in surrender. Percy paused, his hand almost moving down to smash the pearl at his feet. “Wait, wait, just a minute.” After they took a few deep breaths each, Hades looked at Percy with a hint of more gentleness than before. “How’s your mother?” Percy stood up a little straighter in shock.

“My mother?” He frowned, bringing the hand with the pearl down a little.

“Yeah, your mother, kid. How’s she doing? I haven’t- I haven’t seen her in… actual eons. I’ve had no news about that side of the world so like, yeah, how’s she doing?”

“You… you know my mother?” Percy asked softly, clenching the pearl a little tighter in his hand as he gazed at Hades.

“Uh, yeah, kid, you’re my nephew, technically speaking, so I did know your mother, yes. How is she? I would’ve thought she would be all over you… I’m a bit surprised actually, seeing you do all this demigod work on your own…” Hades frowned and stared at Percy a little hard. “Why are you disguised as a demigod? I guess that would make it easier to steal the bolt, but your mother never seemed like the type to exact revenge… and she would never let you do this alone…” Hades began to mumble in thought, his frown deepening as his gaze on Percy became unfocused.

“Uh, yeah, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t know how my mother is doing, I dont… I don’t even know who she is. My Aunt Sally raised me,” and he pointed at the statue behind Hades, raising his eyebrows as he gave the god an odd look. Hades stared at him, and the two stood still for a minute.

“What… what do you actually know about your parents, kid?” Hades asked, eyebrows furrowing.

“Not a lot,” Percy shrugged, “I know Poseidon’s my dad now, I guess. But Aunt Sally never really told me anything about my mom except that she loved me and couldn’t raise me. Funny, loving me then abandoning me,” he mumbled sarcastically, huffing as he returned his gaze to Hades. “Why?” The God of the Underworld sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead, rubbing at his brow before standing up straighter again and gesturing to the couches.

“Have a seat, kid, this is going to be a long story.”

“No way, I’m not sitting down,” and Percy raised the pearl threateningly again.

“Ok! Ok! Don’t sit, I don’t care, I’m gonna sit down, though,” and Hades moved to the couch and sat down facing Percy. “Can’t imagine how this duty has fallen to me,” Hades grumbled. Percy watched him carefully, wondering where in the world this was going.

“A long time ago, like before the modern world long ago- wait, hold on a minute, how much do you know about Norse mythology?” “Norse mythology? I don’t know, not a lot. They have the guy Odin, and Thor and that tree of worlds or something.”

“Oh Olympus, ok, well, a long time ago, the Norse and Greek gods were at war for the world. There was fighting all over, random things, random places, but finally, Zeus and Odin met and created a peace treaty. It was far better for both worlds to interact peacefully, to give benefit to each other rather than destroy the world they were both inhabiting. As a gesture of goodwill, one of the few Zeus has ever bothered with by the way, he invited the Norse gods to Olympus. All of us were forced to attend, even yours truly, and your father too-”

“Is this story going somewhere? I have things to go do,” Percy hurried, but the god of the underworld just scoffed and glared at him.

“Can you just let me finish? I’m helping you!”

“Ok, ok, fine, sorry, keep going,” Percy raised his hands in surrender and quietened.

“Odin had a bunch of kids, but his youngest was a daughter. She was his most precious child, a goddess of love and war. Her name was Y/n.” Hades sighed wistfully as he thought of you, lovely and sweet you entering the throne room in Grecian garb, a hopeful and innocent little smile on your face, gazing in wonder at this new world that had been unlocked for you. You were such a curious little goddess. “And Poseidon instantly fell in love with her.”

Percy raised his eyebrows, his limbs loosening as he became enraptured in the story.

“Poseidon was… mad for her. Any past flings with Nereids or humans were completely forgotten at the sight of her. He was enamoured. Even after the Norse gods left that day, he would go meet with her somewhere in the world. He spent so much of his time with her… They had a bond like no other. A love like no other. If it was even a fraction of the love between Persephone and I… well, you get the gist. They were crazy about each other.

“One day, Hermes had invited her back to watch a performance by the muses. She and Hermes had become friends, but between you and me, I think he was kind of into her. Anyway, she was on Mount Olympus when Zeus’s lightning bolt was stolen. Ares accused her of stealing the bolt, and she was banished and thrown off the mountain.”

“Wait. Are you saying… are you saying my mother stole the lightning bolt?!”

“Well, that’s what Zeus claimed. Personally, not a fan of that theory. It was too convenient, and having known her, she would never bother with something like that. She had no interest in petty squabbles for power.

Anyway, Zeus threw her off Olympus and threatened to attack the Norse gods with all his power if the lightning bolt wasn’t returned to him. It was like, almost two days later or something that Hermes found the bolt. Back then Zeus was a little careless with his power, it was highly possible he probably just forgot the bolt somewhere on one of his little trips down from Olympus. But the damage was done. All peace had been broken and war was threatened once more. In the nick of time, Odin came to Zeus and brokered another peace, but this time both kings vowed there would never be contact between either of their worlds ever again. The Aesir would stay where they were, the gods in Olympus, and everyone would be better off for it.

But of course, Poseidon was raging. He was barred from seeing his one true love. He raged, he almost started a war with Zeus over it. He even isolated himself to the seas for a long time, refused to come up to Olympus, even when Zeus ordered him to. Slowly, as time passed though, he mellowed out a little, started coming back to Olympus. It wasn’t like him, to just let go of his anger, even if it was after a long time. I just assumed he found a way to see Y/n again, broke the rules here and there to spend time with her. Who wouldn’t?

And then, about twelve years ago, it was like his anger had returned somewhat. He withdrew a little, came up to Olympus only when he had to, but mostly stuck to the seas. Funny how that coincides with the time you came into existence, isn’t it?” Hades raised an eyebrow, looking at Percy like he was waiting for him to get the message.

“It makes sense that you’re her son. Poseidon hasn’t ever taken another lover since the banishment. No secret little forbidden children, nothing. It would make a lot of sense then, that she would be your mother, Percy. And it would make a lot of sense then, why they hid you as a demigod.”

“What… wait, do you mean I’m… not a demigod?” Percy swallowed, staring at Hades with a frown.

“Do I need to say it slowly? Your mother is a goddess. Your father is a god. What would that make you?” Hades asked, exasperated as he gestured at Percy.

“Are.. are you saying that I’m a god?!” Percy exclaimed, pointing at himself.

“Bingo! Finally! Yes, Percy, you’re a god.”

Taglist: @thicficbich1, @pasta-warlord, @turtleshavesoulmates, @wolfgirl294, @stanswifties, @mrsinclaire, @homanoid, @bellamysnatblida, @mooncleaver @butterfly-skinnylegend @marvellover98, @kakorrhaphiphobia

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k-nayee · 9 months ago

Text

It's Giving...Igor Percy Jackson and the Olympians

wc: 4.3k a/n: lol I'm having so much fun with these oneshots y'all. I hope you do too!

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ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙.·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ

The sun hung lazily over Camp Half-Blood casting a golden hue on the wooded area.

Percy Jackson, now somewhat accustomed to the camp's ebb and flow, still found himself feeling out of place.

Though the events of his first quest had solidified his place in the world of Gods and monsters, the reality of being a Demigod was still sinking in.

He strolled through the camp watching the campers in their daily routines; the clang of swords from the training fields, distant chatter from the dining pavilion.

But amidst it all something caught his attention—a bright and bubbly figure bouncing around the Ares cabin kids without a care in the world.

Percy blinked as his gaze trailed your movements. You was a complete contrast to the scowling battle-hardened Ares kids.

Not to mention you didn't look like a typical child of Ares. Hell you didn't seem to belong there at all.

"Who is that?" Percy muttered partially to himself.

Annabeth, who had been walking the camp with him, followed his gaze.

A smirk curled her lips. "Oh that's ____. She's from the Eris cabin."

"Eris? As in...the Goddess of strife?" His brows furrowed in confusion.

"Yep," Annabeth confirmed with a chuckle. "Goddess of discord and chaos."

He stared at you laughing with one of the Ares kids, passing them a bottle of water as though it was the most normal thing in the world.

It was hard to accept the idea of you being related to a Goddess of chaos when you seemed so gentle. "She doesn't really look it...like at all."

"You really think so? Awe thank you!"

Percy and Annabeth jumped, startled to find you standing just a few steps away with a sweet smile plastered on your face.

How you got that close without them noticing was beyond them.

You were practically beaming—a stark contrast to the usual gloom that seemed to hang around the children of Eris.

"I get that a lot ya know," you continued, rocking back on your heels as if completely unaware of the scare you caused. "If I'm honest it's probably cause of my dad. Sweetest man you could ever meet...wouldn't even guess he was a serial killer."

There was a beat of stunned silence.

The two share a quick wide-eyed glance of disbelief, clearly unsure whether to laugh or be terrified.

Before they could react you dart forward and grab Percy's hand with both of yours, shaking it enthusiastically.

"Percy Jackson!" you chirp, shaking his hand so vigorously that it left him wobbling on his feet. "Can't believe I'm finally meeting you in the flesh. The son of Poseidon! Wow. I've heard so much about you."

Percy found himself lost in the whirlwind that was you. Your energy was so sunny in comparison with the words that had just left your mouth seconds ago.

"Uh...y-yeah," he stammered trying to collect himself. "That's me."

You didn't let go of his hand right away, instead holding it just long enough to make the situation a little awkward.

"So! You really fought the God of War Ares huh? That must've been something. Although..." You leaned in a little with a head tilt as if you were sizing him up. "I was expecting more. I mean for someone who fought Ares, you look like you could barely take on a mortal bully."

Percy was caught off guard. "W-What?"

"You know with all the talk around camp I was expecting it to be a little more...epic. Then again you did the best you could. I mean, if I were facing a God I'd probably want to take the easy way out too. No shame in keeping it simple."

He opened his mouth to respond but nothing came out. What was he supposed to say to that?

Annabeth stifled a laugh, clearly amused at his baffled expression before looking to you.

"You're really good at that aren't you?" Her tone was light with an edge of knowing.

You give a half-shrug.

"At what? Being honest? Someone's gotta keep him humble Wise Girl. Though," your gaze slid to Annabeth with a mischievous glint, "Of all people you should know all about fight with Ares right? Oh wait—never mind. You weren't there. Shame really. Could've used the help."

Annabeth's lips twitched into a tight smirk.

"Yeah well someone had to stay behind and do the thinking." Her words were sharp and calm as if this exchange was nothing new to her. "I figured you'd be better at that considering your parentage."

Your eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Touché," you give a dramatic little bow clearly unfazed by Annabeth's quick jab.

Meanwhile Percy was still trying to wrap his head around what was happening. "Wait...what do you mean I couldn't take on a mortal bully?"

You turned back to him with a bright smile as if you hadn't just insulted him. "Oh no offense of course! It's just with all those big stories about you I was expecting someone a little more...I don't know, formidable? Then again tales exaggerate things. Kind of like when you hear all about a store's big sale, but when you get there it's just old clearance stuff that no one wanted anyway."

Percy blinked. "What?"

You pat his arm as if to console him. "It's fine really. Happens all the time. I'm sure you're...adequate."

The Jackson boy once again didn't know how to respond. Was he supposed to be offended?

It wasn't like you were directly mocking him—more like you were making him doubt himself in the weirdest way possible.

Before he could say anything, your gaze suddenly drifted over Percy's shoulder and your eyes lit up.

"Oh!" Bouncing on your heels as you focused on whatever had caught your attention you turn to the pair with a smile. "Looks like I'm needed! Well it was fun meeting you Son of Poseidon."

You give Percy a teasing salute and then turn to Annabeth with a wink. "And you and I definitely need to have another round of wits Wise Girl."

With a little wave you skip off leaving them in the dust.

For a long moment Percy and Annabeth stood there, both staring after you.

"I don't get it," Percy muttered, finally breaking the silence. "What's her deal?"

"She's from the Eris cabin," Annabeth explained with a shrug as though that summed everything up. "Being chaotic is kind of her thing."

Percy blinked. "Chaotic? She's weird. Her dad's a serial killer Annabeth."

She sheepishly rub the back of her neck. "Yeah I wasn't expecting that either. But trust me she's not dangerous. Not to us at least. She just likes stirring things up."

"Yeah but..." Percy shook his head, watching you with a deepening frown. "I don't trust her. She's too..."

"Too what?" She asks with a smirk. "Too nice?"

Percy shot her a look. "She just told me I was like a disappointing clearance sale!"

Annabeth chuckled. "Yeah that's pretty standard for her to keep people on their toes. You get used to it."

Percy frowned. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."

As they spoke Percy's gaze caught sight of you now across the camp.

You were laughing with a group of Aphrodite and Artemis kids, flitting between them like you belonged everywhere.

It was weird. The way you moved so easily between groups always smiling and lighthearted—yet there was something unnerving about it.

Like you were playing some game that no one else knew about.

"Look," Percy said nodding toward you. "There she goes again."

Annabeth followed his line of sight just in time to see you lean in close to one of the Aphrodite kids, whispering something with an exaggerated gasp.

The Aphrodite kid's eyes widened and she looked at you for confirmation with shock coloring her face.

Seeing your nod, she becomes visibly shaken till the point a few of her half-siblings swarmed her trying to console her.

While they were distracted you effortlessly slid over to a nearby Artemis camper and whisper something in her ear.

The Artemis girl's face hardened instantly. Eyes darkened with fury, without hesitation she marches over to the Aphrodite camper.

Tension between them crackled as they exchanged words.

The Aphrodite camper snapped something sharp at the Artemis camper who fired back with equal heat.

Within moments the two girls were yelling and nearby campers began to picking sides.

It wasn't just about the two of them anymore—campers from both cabins were dragged into the fray.

Shoves were exchanged and even the onlookers who had initially tried to mediate were swept up in the full-blown fight.

You slipped away completely unnoticed, leaving the chaos to spread behind you as counselors rushed in to contain the fight you had so subtly instigated.

Annabeth's mouth fell open. "Did...did she just—?"

Percy nodded with an darkening expression. "I told you."

Annabeth shook her head in disbelief. "She really does live up to her mother's name doesn't she?"

Percy sighed, his gaze following you as you joined back with the Ares kids as if nothing had happened.

"Yeah," he muttered. "And I'm pretty sure she's way more dangerous than she lets on."

*.·:·.☽✧✧☾.·:·.*

Percy couldn't shake the unsettling feeling you left in your wake.

You weren't like anyone he'd ever met at Camp Half-Blood—and that was saying something.

All day he kept noticing you; flitting between groups of campers, always smiling, always helping.

But for the Ares cabin? You didn't just help—you managed everything for them like a personal servant.

You'd bounce from one camper to the next, making sure everyone had what they needed.

A strap needed tightening on someone's armor? You were there.

Someone's sword needed fixing? Off to Hephaestus Cabin to get it repaired.

You even carried a pile of weapons over your shoulder like it was nothing, making sure every spear and sword was in pristine condition.

It was strange the way you handled things.

To everyone else you looked like a wimp. A pushover trailing after the Ares kids like a loyal dog.

Some campers even joked about it, wondering why someone as bubbly and soft as you would waste your time with them.

You didn't have the brutal intimidating energy the Ares kids were known for.

And yet despite your soft appearance and sunny attitude, they seemed to tolerate on you.

As lunchtime approached Percy found himself alone.

Annabeth was busy welcoming a new camper, leaving him to make his way to the pavilion by himself.

Plate balanced in hand, he scans the rows of tables where campers sat in their respective groups—most sticking to their own cabins.

Though the tables around buzzed with laughter and conversation, but Percy still felt like an outsider, even after everything he'd done.

He hadn't fully found his place, not yet really.

Tearing his gaze away with a sigh the Son of Poseidon makes his way to the central hearth to make an offering.

With a portion of his meal selected Percy gets ready to offer it to his dad when—

"Hey Jackson!"

Percy nearly jumped out of his skin. You had appeared beside him, tray in hand with a grin like you'd just won the lottery.

"Uh...hey." he managed caught off guard.

You leaned forward, watching him with wide eyes as he prepared to toss the food into the hearth. "Whatcha doing?"

The Demigod glances down at the hearth then back at you. "Just uh, just giving an offering to my dad."

"Oh cool! It's sweet you do that," you replied with a grin, humming thoughtfully as you looked at the flames. "Guess I should do that too."

Percy's brows raised in curiosity as he watched you step up to the fire.

He assumed you'd pick something off your plate—maybe a small portion to toss in as an offering like everyone else did—but instead you did something that made his heart skip a beat:

You reached directly into the flames.

"Whoa wait—what are you—?!" Percy sputtered eyes widening in disbelief.

Instead of pulling your hand away with a scream of agony, you calmly pluck a half-cooked piece of [food] from the fire.

Percy's mouth dropped open in a mixture of shock and confusion plastered on his face.

"What?" You blink at him before following his gaze to the still-flaming food in your hand. "Oh there wasn't any more of my mom's favorite left at the bar. I figured I'd just grab something quick before it burned all the way through ya know?"

Percy stared at you like you were from another planet. "Your mom's favorite food?"

"Yep," you confirm with a grin. "She's a picky eater sometimes. Then again I guess Eris isn't the easiest Goddess to please."

Shrugging as though this was common knowledge, you turn the food in your hand to inspect it further. "I usually only give blessings for her. Oh and Ares too—only if he hasn't ticked me off though."

Percy's brain tried to catch up with the words you'd just said. His mouth moved, but no words came out for a second. "Wait so...you're only making offerings to Eris and Ares?"

You make a small prayer for your mom before throwing the food back into the hearth and turn to the blonde boy.

"Uh-huh! The others don't really care much for me. I mean can you blame them? No one likes messing with my mom, and by extension me. She causes too much trouble even for them." You flashed him a playful grin. "Plus, I think I'm her favorite."

He shook his head unable to wrap his mind around how nonchalant you were about everything.

"You're...impossible," Percy mumbled, his tone equal parts baffled and impressed.

"You're not the first person to say that," you teased with a wink and nudge him lightly. "Anyway, looks like you're all alone today. Mind if I join you?"

Before he could respond you were already dragging him to one of the emptier tables.

Percy was still trying to figure you out. You weren't dangerous—at least not in the way he'd expect a child of Eris to be.

But you were unsettling in your own way; friendly yet... strange, an almost too carefree energy about you.

"So," you lean forward with a bright-eyed grin, "What's your story? I mean I know the basics—son of Poseidon, fought the God of War, saved the day and all—but how's a guy like you end up doing all that?"

Percy gave you a sideways look. "You already know all that stuff. You seem to know everything that goes on around camp."

"True," you admit with a pout. "But I wanna hear it from you. Stories are way more fun that way."

He hesitated, still unsure if you were genuinely curious or just setting him up for another round of subtle digs.

But surprisingly the more you pressed, the more you managed to pull bits and pieces of his story from him.

He talked a little about his mom and how much she meant to him—though he skipped over the worst parts.

"Wow only child in both worlds huh? That's a bummer. I was an only child out in the mortal world too, but Camp Half-Blood gave me a bunch of moody gloomy brothers and sisters." You waved vaguely in the direction of the Eris table, where your half-siblings sat.

Percy followed your gaze, eyes narrowing as he observed the difference between you and the others from your cabin.

They were all starkly different from you—dark, brooding, exuding an aura of chaos just by being around.

Like storm clouds or a brewing hurricane while you were the sunshine in the middle of it all.

It didn't make sense.

"You don't really fit in with them though," Percy said, gesturing to your siblings. "You're...not like them."

You tilt your head with a playful smirk tugging at your lips. "You'd be surprised. It's easier to blend in with chaos when you wear a smile. Keeps people guessing."

Satisfied with the answer Percy suddenly shifts in his seat.

His gaze dart around, unsure of how to bring up the topic that had been bugging him ever since your first meeting.

Finally he cleared his throat. "Uh...speaking of family. You mentioned your dad before. That he was...y'know..."

"A serial killer?" you finished for him, smile unfaltering.

Percy flinched at how easily the words rolled off your tongue, like it was just another quirky fact about your life.

"Yeah that."

"Oh my dad's the greatest!" you exclaimed, leaning back with a nostalgic sigh. "The sweetest man you'd ever meet—total golden retriever energy, always in pastels and soft colors. He's truly the last person you'd expect to have over two hundred bodies to his name."

Percy nearly choked on his drink. "Two hundred?!"

"The official documented count. They estimate there's more. He never really kept tabs so who knows," you add with a shrug.

The pre-teen was silent, his mind reeling as he tried to process what you'd just said. "And you...seem okay with that?"

"Why wouldn't I be? He was a good guy! I mean he only went after people who deserved it—kinda like Jigsaw. Strong moral compass and everything."

He purse his lips. "That's...that's not really the same thing."

"Eh. But hey, at least he stopped killing when I was born. Wanted to focus on raising me. He did start back when I turned six though." You smiled fondly as if reminiscing about happy childhood memories. "We even went on father-daughter hunting trips together. Great bonding time."

Percy's jaw dropped. "H-Hunting trips?"

"Yup! He'd teach me all about tracking, stealth, how to dispose of bodies. Said I had a natural gift for it."

He tried not to grimace at the thought of six-year-old you going on murder trips with a serial killer, a disturbingly vivid picture appearing in his mind.

"That's messed up," he blurted out unable to stop himself.

You giggled, waving it off like it was no big deal. "He got caught when I was nine. That's when I ended up in foster care."

The casual way you spoke about your past made Percy's skin crawl but he was too curious to stop listening. "Foster care?"

You poked at your food absentmindedly as you spoke. "It wasn't the best. Different homes, different people. It was toxic really: thrown bottles, yelling voices, a bruise here and there..."

Percy stiffened, the similarities between your childhood and his life with Gabe hitting a little too close to home.

Though it crashes at the sight of your dreamy expression, "...it was so chaotic. So beautiful."

"You're serious?" his voice was barely above a whisper, unsure if you were joking or genuine.

"Oh completely," you reply without missing a beat. "Chaos is unpredictable, uncontrollable. There's just something so freeing about it."

He swallowed hard feeling the gulf between how you both saw the world. What you called beautiful, he called trauma.

Not knowing how to respond to that he gives a stiff nod. "So um. W-what happened after that?"

You snapped out of your reverie and perk up again. "Oh right! So when I was around eleven I found out I was a Demigod. Arrived here and figured out who my mom was—Eris, goddess of strife and chaos, all that jazz."

A sense of relief filled him, feeling the conversation veer back to something he could at least wrap his head around. "And your dad?"

Your eyes brightened as if he'd asked the perfect question. "Well of course I started visiting him in prison once I figured out how to shadow travel."

"Wait," Percy blinked in surprise. "You visited him? Like you actually met him?"

"Yup," you said cheerfully. "I'd pop in during the night. To everyone else it just looked like he was talking to a dark corner. But I was there right beside him. Kept him company until..." Your voice trailed off but your smile didn't falter. "Well until he got the lethal injection when I turned twelve last year."

Percy stared at you, his mouth dry. "You were there?!"

"Duh. Who else was gonna be there for him? That's my dad after all...stayed with him until the very end."

A fond look appears on your face. "He even said his last words to me. Go out there and keep shaking things up sweetheart. The world's better with a little disorder..."

"Wow..." Was all Percy managed to say. He leans back in his seat as his mind reeled from everything you'd just told him. "I...uh...I'm sorry for your loss?"

You giggled, waving your hand dismissively. "Oh don't be. It's all good. He lived a full life you know? And I got to see it all."

Before either of you could continue the conversation a familiar voice cuts through the air. "____!"

Clarisse stormed over, her heavy boots thudding against the floor as she approached.

"Where have you been?!" She barked. Her scowl deepened when she saw Percy sitting across from you. "And what the Hades are you doing sitting with him?"

You simply smiled at her as if you hadn't noticed her foul mood at all.

"Just keeping Percy company," you chirped. "He looked lonely."

Clarisse huffed, her gaze sliding back to Percy with an unimpressed sneer. "Lonely huh? Poor little Seaweed Brain."

Percy bristled at the insult. He couldn't understand why you hang out with them, why they relied on you.

The question had been gnawing at him since he first noticed your strange connection with the Ares kids.

And now, with Clarisse glaring at him, he couldn't hold it in anymore.

"What's the deal with you and those Ares kids anyway? They treat you like—like you're their servant or something."

Clarisse's sneer twisted into something darker, her voice dropping low as she leaned over the table toward Percy.

"You don't know anything," she growled. "Just her mother is to our father, she's everything to us. Without her we wouldn't be able to fight the way we do. Spill blood the way we do. She makes us stronger."

The intensity in her voice caught Percy off guard.

There was a fierceness to her words, but there was also something deeper—something like reverence. Maybe even admiration.

The Ares cabin respected you, needed you in a way that went beyond simple reliance. It unsettled him.

He looked at you perplexed but you only smiled at him as if you'd heard this all before.

Sensing the tension building you gently place a hand on Clarisse's arm, your touch instantly diffusing her aggression.

"Relax Clarisse," you say with a grin. "Percy's not so bad. He's just curious."

Clarisse grumbled under her breath, clearly still annoyed but less intense now.

"Fine. Just don't take too long. You know where to find us." She glared at Percy one last time before turning on her heel and stomping away, though not before giving the Demigod one last warning glare.

You turn back to Percy with a playful glint in your eyes. "Looks like I saved just you from an ass-whooping. You owe me one."

Percy couldn't help but chuckle with a shake of his head.

"You sure are a wild one," his words slipped out before he could stop them.

"Wild....?" The word roll off your tongue. Your smirk darkened ever so slightly as if those words triggered something in you.

Percy's brows furrowed unsure what you meant, but before he could ask, you raise your hand.

Dark inky smoke began to twist and curl from your palm, snaking around your fingers like living shadows.

The air seemed to thicken with energy and Percy could only watch transfixed as the smoke condensed into a solid shape—a golden apple.

It seemed to shimmer with a strange otherworldly light, pulse softly as though it had a heartbeat of its own.

Percy's breath hitched. There was something mesmerizing about it but also deeply unsettling.

He knew enough about myths to recognize what this was: The Apple of Discord.

"Wha—" Percy began, but the words died on his lips as you twirled your hand with an elegant flick of your wrist and the apple morphed.

In its place appeared a sleek new phone and a vape pen, both gleaming as though they had just been pulled out of a store display.

Percy barely had time to process what was happening before you casually tossed the objects a short distance from the table and stood up.

"Hey look!" you called out loud enough to catch the attention of the surrounding campers. "The newest [phone model] and a [flavored] vape from the mortal world!"

Heads snapped in your direction, eyes widening as campers spotted the coveted objects lying on the ground.

In an instant the entire dining pavilion erupted into chaos.

Campers lunged for the phone and vape, shoving and pushing each other out of the way desperate to claim the prize.

Voices rose, chairs screeched across the floor, and fists flew as they scramble for the items intensified.

Percy could only sit there watching in stunned disbelief as the scene unfolded around him.

Campers who had been peacefully eating moments before were now engaged in full-on brawls all over a phone and a vape.

It was like a bomb had gone off and you had lit the fuse.

From across the way, Clarisse and the Ares kids along with your half-siblings, watched the chaos unfold with bored amusement.

They barely paid attention as they continued eating, as if this kind of spectacle was a routine occurrence. It probably was.

You calmly sit back down in your seat with a soft giddy sigh as if you had just finished a particularly satisfying task.

You didn't even glance at the chaos you'd caused, your focus entirely on your food as you took a slow bite.

"Wild you say...?"

A pale-faced Percy turned to look at you. The sheer ease in which you'd thrown the entire pavilion into disorder left him speechless.

Finally, you turn back to him, still smiling that sweet carefree smile. "...you have no idea~"

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cece693 · 9 months ago

Note

hi! loved your pjo first they're amazing. I was wondering if I can request a headcannon of percy x son of aphrodite male reader? probably about how percy wants to ask them out and then them dating. thank you!

Fountain of Love (Percy Jackson x Son of Aphrodite)

Thanks for the request :) It's a little short, but I hope you enjoy it!

tags: nervous Percy, asking out, dating, son of Aphrodite is not only a pretty face but good with a sword, oblivious reader, puppy love

From the first moment Percy stepped foot into Camp Half-Blood, he knew your name—M/N, son of Aphrodite. You were somewhat of a legend at camp, not just for being devastatingly handsome, but also for your skill with a sword.

But you were oblivious as fuck. Even more so than Percy himself, which said a lot. No matter how many heads you turned as you passed by, or how many gifts appeared outside your cabin, you remained unaware of the effect you had on others. For you, the attention never seemed more than friendly admiration, nothing deeper.

Percy, however, was different. From the moment he first spent time with you, sitting by the lake, talking about sword techniques, and exchanging stories of battle until the dinner horn blew, he knew one thing—you were the one. It wasn’t just about how incredible you looked, it was how easy it felt to be around you, the way your smile softened his nerves.

But Percy wasn’t alone in his feelings. Dozens of campers—some Apollo kids, others from various cabins—were also vying for your attention, and Percy knew he wasn’t the only one wanting to ask you out.

Over time, he noticed the competition intensify. A couple of campers, Ares kids, constantly tried to one-up him during sword training, cracking jokes about him in your presence, trying to win your favor. Even the children of Hermes, known for their mischievous pranks, tried to outshine Percy in their own crafty ways. It was like everyone was fighting for their chance to stand out, hoping to catch your eye.

Percy fought through the jealousy and frustration, determined to find the perfect moment to finally ask you out. But every time he gathered his courage, something interrupted him—a monster drill, a sparring match, or another camper cutting him off.

One day, as Percy finally approached you by the campfire, an Ares kid—who clearly had the same idea—stepped in and asked you if you wanted to hang out. Percy clenched his jaw, stepping back in defeat, watching the moment slip away again.

Little did he know, you liked him back. You always had. His easy smile, his sense of humor, the way he seemed so sincere around you—it all made you fall for him in ways you hadn’t expected. But since Percy hadn’t made a move, you assumed maybe he wasn’t interested.

Days passed, and finally, Percy couldn’t take it anymore. He couldn’t wait for the perfect moment because every moment with you was already perfect. So, after a long training session, where the two of you fought side by side during a particularly difficult capture-the-flag game, Percy found the nerve.

The two of you were covered in dirt and sweat, but it didn’t matter. As you both sat by the lake, cooling off, Percy finally turned to you and blurted it out, “I like you. A lot. And, um, would you maybe want to go out with me? Like, officially?”

You blinked, a bit stunned by his sudden confession, but then you laughed, a soft sound that sent Percy’s heart racing. “I like you too, Percy. I’ve been waiting for you to ask.”

His eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, he was speechless. You? Liked him back? He couldn’t believe it.

From that day forward, the two of you were inseparable, and when you became boyfriends, everyone in camp knew it. Percy’s friends teased him relentlessly, but nothing would wipe the dopey grin off his face whenver your name was mentioned.

You and Percy balanced each other perfectly—his brave heart and your calm confidence were an unbeatable pair.

But dating at Camp Half-Blood wasn’t without its challenges. There were moments when Percy’s duties as a hero pulled him away, leaving you to worry. You’d send messages through Iris, waiting anxiously for his return, and there were times when he came back battered from battles that left your heart aching. The other demigods, those who had once vied for your attention, sometimes stirred up trouble out of jealousy, testing the strength of your relationship with snide remarks and rumors.

Still, the two of you always found ways to push through. When Percy felt the weight of the world on his shoulders, you were there to remind him he didn’t have to carry it alone. You comforted him when nightmares from the Titan War resurfaced, holding his hand and promising that, together, you could face anything.

And when your own insecurities came up—doubts about whether Percy could love someone like you, despite the constant attention you received—he reassured you that you were more than enough.

“I chose you,” Percy would say, with that earnest smile that made everything feel okay. “And I’d choose you over and over again.”

No matter what challenges arose—whether it was monsters, the gods’ interference, or the complications of being demigods—the bond you shared only grew stronger. And eventually, when the Great War ended, Percy would drop on one knee and ask you to marry him :)

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elysiality · 1 year ago

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Fem Mortal Reader x Yandere Hestia, but the reader isn't a pushover.

yandere! Hestia x fem! mortal! Reader - ♡ general hcs

warnings -> none....it's hestia...actually, slight clinginess??

paring/s -> yandere! Hestia x mortal! fem! reader (gender of the reader isn't mentioned or relevant tbh)

a/n -> rising from my grave to finish this

————————————————————

-> meeting her as a mortal means that you're probably gonna meet her in your fireplace

-> the most likely scenario is that you had just faced one of the worst heartbreaks in your life— losing a family member, a regular breakup, whatever

-> Hestia, being who she is, would probably not be able to bear the sight of someone in pain, guiding the fire to warm you up, flames flickering up towards you as if in a comforting manner

-> her presence is a very comforting and homely feeling and when she concentrates on a particular hearth, her power increases tenfold

-> probably resulting in you dozing off in a cozy armchair, fast asleep like your world hadn't just come crashing down around you

-> she watches you sleep so peacefully (but like- in a non creepy way)

-> she keeps on at it for a while, watching you do your daily chores for a while, admiring you from a safe distance and slowly falling for you

-> I don't think Hestia would even bother trying to disguise herself as a regular human to you, she just pops up in your fireplace one day and shyly starts a conversation

-> Depending on your reaction, she'd either cool you down or happily continue your conversation like literally nothing ever happened

-> I'm not gonna go into details but she'd win you over pretty damn quickly and starts dating you as soon as possible

(now for some domestic fluff...cuz it's hestia)

-> I have this headcanon that because Hestia is the goddess of family, she'd know all the best picnic spots

-> like you cannot tell me that she wouldn't know the most gorgeous cliffside overlooking a sea view in the world and take you there as a date

-> she likes baking for you because she adores how your face lights up when she makes you those cookies you love so much

-> she already knows your allergies and taste in food so don't even bother telling her, she's already got the best recipes she has set in mind :)

-> she likes taking you on peaceful walks with her while she's disguised as a human

-> watching all the different people walk by with their dogs, significant others, etc, etc makes her very happy

-> she'll point out to you all the small, gorgeous details your eyes might've missed

->she wants to show you the beauty of the world you live in!

-> definitely takes you to visit her favourite places in greece

->dresses up like a local that the people know well by now and takes you to her favourite parts of her homeland <3

->wants you to try all the native food, 100%

->when it comes to the issue of her being an immortal goddess and you being a regular ol mortal with a short life span (compared to her anyway), she'll try to convince you to let her feed you nectar

->obviously, you say something along the lines of 'fuck no'

->she's devastated when you abandon her at the table in the restaurant she took you to, to run away

->keeps popping up in the hearth whenever you light your fire (only for you to extinguish the flames with water)

->she finally gets you to have a normal, healthy conversation with her when she catches you off guard while you're napping by the fireplace

->would probably end with a compromise (somehow) that she'd make your closest friends and family immortal with you so that you'd all be able to live together

->after that, your relationship is pretty much smooth sailing

->Hestia isn't a very possessive or jealous person and she usually communicates that she's uncomfortable when she is

->cuz, y'know...she's actually sane (unlike the rest of her siblings and nephews and nieces)

->adopts an animal with you, a hundred percent <3

->likes cuddling you in her hearth, because it's so warm and cozy that you always end up falling asleep on her chest

->and she likes that :)

->takes you up to Olympus because she isn't scared of someone else taking you away

->none of the gods would even try because who would want to make Hestia upset? (especially cause it's mostly out of fondness, rather than terror *cough cough* Athena *cough cough*)

->anyway, she's probably one of the best girlfriends in the world <3

->can't and doesn't marry you because of her vow, but gives you a promise ring and lets you give her one if you really wanted to <3

->mostly just overly clingy, staying by your side whenever she can and hearth-hopping to wherever you go— work, out with friends, etc

BONUS!

-> she leaves you with Aphrodite if she's busy, because Aphrodite thinks you're adorable and always spends her time with you helping her doves make you all pretty for Hestia, Cinderella's fairy godmother style :)

#percy jackson #pjo #percy series #pjo hoo toa #pjo fandom #percy jackon and the olympians #hestia #goddess hestia #yandere greek mythology #yandere #yandere greek gods #yandere hestia x reader #yandere hestia #yandere headcanons #greek mythology x reader #greek gods #greek mythology #yandere pjo #(๑>◡<๑) works !

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vipvesper · 11 months ago

Note

heyy so can you do a clarisse x reader fic where they have like rivalry?

major h8r

pairing: clarisse la rue x reader

warnings: clarisse, mentions of bullying, some low-grade tajin level spice

word count: 890+

"next time you won't be so lucky."

"Dude, you can't keep letting her pick on you like that," preaches Luke as the two of you sit on a rock. What happened, you may ask? You decided it would be a good idea to give into Clarisse after she relentlessly harassed begged you. Rather than actually focusing on technique during your spar, she took the opportunity to beat the Hades out of you. “She’s a bully.”

White bandages slip out of your grasp as you feebly attempt to wrap your wound. While ambrosia and nectar would've done the job, you're wary with consumption as to not burn to a crisp. Luke takes your hand, doing it for you. Contempt swirls in his oak-hued eyes, he knows you're better than this.

"I shouldn't have believed her when she said she wanted to improve her technique. I let my guard down," you mutter. Annabeth tuts, turning to face the entrance of the woods. “She may be a little… rough around the edges, but she’s not a bad person.”

"You'd think that someone like you would notice that she is," she states, blunt as ever.

"Helpful input, Annabeth.”

"It's the truth." The girl shrugs, fresh braids (courtesy of you) draped down her back.

"Thanks for the help, guys," you say, clapping an injured hand over Luke's shoulder. "But I have to get going. Camp won't run itself."

"But it literally will--"

You're already out of range by the time either of them can make any sort of protest. As you walk through the dirt paths, surveying the behaviors of the campers that are out and about, a familiar stomping sound approaches. Great. Clarisse.

Before you can turn to face her, an angry fist hits you over the head.

"You idiot! Why didn't you tell me you fight like a toddler? I would've gone easy," she jabs your side rather hard, forcing you to fold in on yourself. "Can't have Chiron's favorite in the infirmary. It'd be a shame if you shriveled up and died from an ambrosia overdose." You simply brush her off, having much more important things to do. “C’mon, dude, you suck at swordfighting!”

“Why are you talking to me?”

The question seems to catch her off guard. Her playful stance shifts to one fueled by anger at your comment.

“Cuz who else here is stupid as you?” The girl scoffs, built arms crossed over her overly toned chest. This isn’t even fair.

“Goodbye, Clarisse,” You roll your eyes, hiking up the stairs of the Big House, shutting it behind you.

Darkness creeps into the corner of your visions as you lay in your bunk, eyes trained on the ceiling. The snores of your siblings fill the room, coupled with the shuffling of blankets. Just as you near dreamland, a loud thunk on your window jolts you awake. You grab the weapon under your pillow, startled. You groan, seeing the culprit. Clarisse stands at your window, eyes shifting around.

Reluctantly, you let her tumble into the cabin, forcing her to silence.

“Shh, you’re gonna wake them up.” She simply laughs, kicking her shoes off, and dropping into your bed. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” Your voice is nothing more than a whisper, quiet as a breeze.

“Missed ya’.” The daughter of Ares snickers, grabbing your tired form and dragging you down with her.

“You can’t keep breaking into my cabin,” you insist, but she doesn’t listen. The two of you lay side by side, simply enjoying eachother’s company. “You’re like… too calm.” Clarisse snorts, curls draped over your blankets

“Shut up. Next time you won’t be so lucky. I’m exhausted from beating your ass all day.” She grabs you by the collar, planting an uncharacteristically gentle kiss on your cheek. Heat blooms in your face, creeping up your neck and touching your ears.

“Oh. Wow.”

She moves quick, tackling you in a kiss—this time on the lips. A hint of cherry chapstick touches your tastebuds as your situationship pulls away. It’s a fleeting feeling, her lips on yours, and you simply can’t get enough. She chuckles upon seeing the look on your face.

“I hate your stupid face.” Clarisse’s sudden words are laced with laughter, her fingertips gently brushing over the dip of your nose and the apples of your reddened cheeks.

Her pretty dark eyes stare into yours, thumbing over a bruise she left from sparring.

“Doesn’t seem it.”

The brutish girl props herself on her elbow, staring down at you with her gorgeous eyes, darkest browns dotted with celestial bronze, swirled with imperial gold in the low light.

She tucks a loose tuft of hair behind your ear, leaving down again to deliver another gentle kiss. “Mmh,” she hums, warm tongue prodding for entry. Warm summer air blows in, the window left agape. The scent of the strawberry fields and the last embers of the latest fire mix to form a pleasant smell, bathing the cabin.

Clarisse’s calloused hand cups your jaw, her tongue slipping into your mouth. The air between you only gets thicker, forcing the duo up for a quick breath.

“Thought you didn’t like the French,” you jest, deciding this is the time to poke fun—since you won’t end up with a goose egg. She shoves you around for a bit.

“Shut up. Stupid teacher’s pet.” She captures you in another kiss, fingers intertwined like the stars and the sky.

a/n

i got pretty distracted, so this is less of a rivalry and more of a secret relationship 😔

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she-was-a-goddess · 2 years ago

Text

𝚂𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎

#she is a goddess #anakin icons #star wars anakin #obi wan and anakin #clone wars anakin #tcw anakin #sw anakin #anakin x reader #anakin and padme #anakin x you #anaki #anakin smut #anakin fanfiction #anakin skywalker #anakin and ahsoka #hayden christensen #star wars #ashoka series

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reneesghostinthelivingroom · 9 months ago

Note

Fem reader x Thalia headcanons, especially if reader is either the daughter to a minor god/dess, or is a nymph.

Thalia Grace Headcanons

|| Thalia Grace x minorgoddess!fem!reader

|| Warnings; none, just fluff

|| Summary; a collection of headcanons of reader and Thalia! 16 headcanons total

Requests open!

Started; september 26th

Finished; september 29th

~~~

If Hunters of Artemis were allowed to date women...

• reader is a daughter of a minor goddess of your choosing

• upon first meeting Thalia, reader's intimidated by her. Due to both who her father is and Thalia's lieutenant status

• they often hold each other's hand around camp when Thalia's visiting, trying be as close as possibly to each other

• one is hardly ever seen without the other, normally with smiles on their faces

• they often sneak out of their cabin at night, only going as far as one of their porches in case of the harpies. lots of late night conversations with only the stars as their audience

• stealing kisses during training sessions when no one is looking

• Thalia helping reader with her Archery skills, being as close as possible as her hands guide hers

• reader braiding Thalia's hair as they sit by the campfire, illuminated by the different colours of the flame

• Thalia braiding reader's hair by the campfire is reader doesn't know how

• by the campfire, being as close to each other as possible. usually with a blanket over them, reader sitting between Thalia's legs. Thalia's arms loosely around reader's hips

• sneaking out of camp to enjoy the rain, kissing under the storm

• Thalia and reader sneaking out of their cabins to sit by the lake, then running from the harpies while laughing

• getting in trouble with Mr D for their constant sneaking out and having to do chores together

• whenever Thalia isn't at camp, they iris message almost every night

• reader getting special permission to go out of camp and spend a few nights with the Hunters

• during the winter when reader's at school, Thalia visits sometimes. pretending to be an exchange student, using the mist

feel free to add on in the comments!

#x reader #fanfic #canon x reader #fem reader #wlw fiction #thalia grace x fem!reader #thalia grace x reader #thalia grace daughter of zeus #pjo thalia #thalia grace #percy series #percy pjo #percy jackson #percy jackon and the olympians #thalia grace headcanons #daughter of minor goddess #reader minor goddess daughter

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kikyoupdates · 10 months ago

Text

⭑˚💘⭑ bnha x f!reader

reverse harem, my hero academia x fem!reader, slowburn

Ever since your Quirk first manifested, you’ve been the apple of everyone’s eye. With the goal of becoming a hero, you enroll to U.A. and soon find yourself drawing the attention of many. Will you form genuine connections with others, or is this all just your power's will?

00 — prologue 01 — beloved 02 — pastel heart 03 — new class cutie 04 — lover boy 05 — sweet & spicy 06 — sugar cheeks 07 — freckles 08 — win their hearts 09 — divine presence 10 — overtake them all 11 — pretty hurts 12 — two of a kind 13 — princess of mischief 14 — mesmerizing 15 — the charmed 16 — wondrous beauty 17 — blessed by the gods 18 — cherry lips 19 — cats are great 20 — chicken nuggets 21 — drunk on love 22 — affectionate storm 23 — simply lovely 24 — boyfriends 25 — like a butterfly 26 — disillusioned 27 — aesthete 28 — serendipity 39 — love trumps all 30 — enchanting 31 — chance meetings 32 — no love 33 — serene 34 — sun kissed 35 — melting gaze 36 — exquisite 37 — tainted beauty 38 — whispers in the night 39 — beautiful torment 40 — revered 41 — helpless little lamb 42 — a friend's hand 43 — flickering flame 44 — the gods must be crazy 45 — saccharine 46 — new home 47 — strengthened desires 48 — song of voice 49 — progress 50 — love you a latte 51 — center of attention 52 — thriving devotion 53 — graceful rescues 54 — disagreements 55 — a troubling feeling 56 — long overdue 57 — friends once more 58 — better than a kiss 59 — sowing the seeds 60 — instant defeat 61 — golden gaze 62 — love's in the cards 63 — humorous introduction 64 — repressed emotinos 65 — a discovery 66 — violent embrace 67 — arisen 68 — newfound appreciation 69 — shackled by pain 70 — infiltration 71 — the meaning of fear 72 — ghost-like beauty 73 — misguided love 74 — the raid's aftermath

More chapters are available on Quotev and Wattpad!

⊱.⋅follow + post notifications on for story update announcements or join the author's discord!⋅.⊰

💘 main masterlist ♡ oneshot masterlist

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islassour · 8 months ago

Note

luke castellan x reader angst plsss

ofc. 🫡

you should've come over.

luke castellan x reader

you always thought of that day that luke had left camp to serve kronos. you thought that you would've changed his mind if you didn't have that argument over him sneaking out, you really, really regretted everything you'd said. did he regret it too? only the gods above would know.

it trailed back into your head everyday as you passed by the hermes cabin, it was a bit more quiet and less hyper-active as it was. you missed the sound of them messing around and their stupid pillow fights they'd have almost every day.

"do you understand how worried i was?!" you whisper-shouted as you walked along the forest trail. it was only a month ago now.

'you need to chill out," luke rolled his eyes. "i got back here just fine, it was a little bit of fun thats it."

"it might have been, but i was genuinely gonna freak and go ask connor where you were at, and i really do not like that kid." you stated bluntly.

"can't you just come over to my cabin and i'll make it up to you? please?" he pleaded, his tone etched with annoyance.

"unlike you, i don't break the camp rules." you mumbled, glancing at him softly. "we'll just talk about this tomorrow, besides the celebrations on for percy-"

"oh my fucking gods. percy this, percy that, can you please stop talking about this kid?" he groaned again as he stopped in his tracks.

"what has gotten into you recently?" you took a step towards him with a mixture of concern and anger on your expression. "you've been really strange ever since you came back from your quest and its killing me not knowing whats up with you."

"oh come on, are you really that paranoid on everything?" he grunted with his hand running through his hair. "just- just please act like your not upset with me, not tonight."

"what makes this so different to any other night?" you scoffed. "don't make up stupid excuses cause you know i'm right."

"just stop getting so worried!" he snapped, immediate regret on his expression. "shit- i'm sorry, i really am-"

"what the fuck is up your ass?!" you yelled as your arms flew into the air for a split second. "you know- ugh forget it. i'll speak to you in the morning."

"no come on, don't do this." he shook his head, taking your forearm into his hand as he tried to tug you back. "please i really am sorry."

"your apologies don't mean anything to me right now." you scowled, you could tell he meant it but you were angry and upset.

"please." he begged, he acted as if he wouldn't be here ever again.

"goodnight, luke, i will see you in the morning." you growled, the passive aggressive tone in your voice thick.

little did you know, it really was the last day he would step foot in camp. and your heart ached, to hear his soothing words and feel his kind hands again.

#pjo #luke castellan x reader #luke castellan #percy jackson #pjo hoo toa #percy jackson and the wrath of the triple goddess #percy jackson x you #percy jackson x y/n #percy jackson x reader #percy series #percy jackon and the olympians #jason grace x reader #jason grace #luke castellan x you #nico di angelo

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idksmtms · 25 days ago

Text

You Are Not One of Us (Poseidon x Norse Goddess!reader) - Part 10

Full Request

Part 9 << PART 10

AN: Omggg! Guys, I can’t believe we made it to the final part. I can’t believe I finished this series! (Let’s not talk about how long it took me…) Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading, who has kept reading. Thank you so much to blue butterfly anon, your request has taken me on a crazy writing journey! I hope you guys enjoy the final part of the Poseidon series! Brb, trying not to cry right now…

Summary: After some huge revelations, Percy must finish the journey he has started on.

Word count: ~17.9k

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians characters. I do not claim to own any of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians characters. I do not own any pictures used nor do I claim to do so. (I do use some scenes from the show verbatim so I did not write the dialogue for those scenes, only the descriptions attached.)

Always appreciate comments, likes, and reblogs :)

“But… but I don’t feel like one,” Percy mumbled, frowning as he looked down at himself, as if his limbs were suddenly so strange to him.

“Well, of course you don’t. All you’ve known is a limited sense of yourself. There’s a lot more to you, to your powers.” Hades leaned forward and rested his elbows to his thighs. He clasped his hands in front of him and looked gently at Percy. “Look, kid, they hid you as a demigod for a reason. You have a lot of hidden enemies, on both sides, enemies that would want to get rid of you before you matured to your full potential. I’m the last person that should be commenting on parenting, but… they had a reason. She had a reason for not being there.” Hades watched Percy frown as he thought about everything. “I… I don’t know what happened to your mother. I don’t know why she hasn’t contacted you now that you’ve entered our world. But there is a reason.”

“Y/n…” Percy mumbled, feeling the name in his mouth. “Y/n and Poseidon. My parents.” He ran over his memories, at all the different stories Aunt Sally had told him, Greek and Norse. It made so much more sense now, the mix of cultures. She was trying to tell him everything, before being able to tell him anything.

Percy looked at the god, looked at his hands, at the statue that was once Aunt Sally. He set his jaw, and straightened up.

“This changes nothing. I’m going to finish this quest, I’m going to get you back your helm and return the lightning bolt. And after that… after that I’ll get my answers.” And with that, Percy threw the pearl at his feet and fell through the light.

Your entire body felt like it was full of light as you watched Hades tell Percy about you. He knew. He finally knew. Perseus. Your son. He finally knew your name. You savoured the way he said your name, closed your eyes and listened to him say it again. You cherished each sound, each syllable. Tears, beautiful crystalline tears trickled down your cheeks as your body began to tremble. He knew. He finally knew.

Your fingers twitched, just at the tips, and the entire prison shook and trembled like Ragnarok had begun. Your son knew. He knew of you, of your history. He knew the story of you and his father. He knew Y/n and Poseidon. Your entire head felt filled with glorious fresh air, like the world had begun spinning off and had suddenly been righted.

You could almost hear the cracks spiderweb through the walls.

Percy blinked his eyes open. He could feel the coarse sand on his cheek, the dampness seeping through his clothes. He pushed up a little and a hand reached out to help him, another pair hauling him up by the shoulders. He looked at Annabeth and Grover as they frowned at him in concern.

“What took you so long?” Grover mumbled, gazing worriedly at his friend, but Annabeth had already turned away. She was gazing at something far down the beach, a big blot that was slowly strolling its way toward them. A blot that began to clear into a tall man, a huge sword slung over his shoulders and a satisfied smirk on his face. Ares.

Percy watched as the god of war came to a standstill. He stood tall, casual, legs spread and chest out, ready to fight. Percy clenched his jaw and uncapped Riptide. He began walking cautiously toward the god of war, Grover and Annabeth following a few steps behind. Ares smirked at the sight before him, and Percy stood up straighter before lifting the sword and pointing it at Ares.

“Single combat!” He challenged, glaring at the god. Ares’ brows came together as he smiled in confused-shock, huffing out a ‘what?’ echoed by Grover and Annabeth. Percy glanced back at them for a moment before returning his eyes to Ares. “One-on-one, but I set the terms.” Ares brought his sword down and gripped it properly in his hand, waiting for the child to finish. “If I draw first blood, I keep the bolt and you surrender the helm.”

You began to tremble in your prison. Your fingers twitched incessantly, your eyes swivelling back and forth across the scene, your jaw clenching and unclenching, your throat beginning to squeeze. He couldn’t be doing this. Percy could not be risking himself like this right now. He was too young, a fledgling of a god, he was not safe. It was too risky, especially against a creature like Ares. No. He could not do this. You could not let him.

Ares slowly began to laugh. It was incredulous and wheezy at first before turning into full-blown belly laughter. He pointed at Percy, mouth wide open as he bellowed his chuckles. He was two seconds from bending in half and full on wheezing. Percy looked around awkwardly, but didn’t drop his sword.

“Do you accept?” He asked, hand trembling only just.

“I mean, it’s your funeral, kid,” Ares responded, smiling brightly. “Although, just to be clear, no funeral,” and the smile dropped instantly from his face. “Any trace of you leaves a trace of my plan, and we can’t have that.”

“It wasn’t your plan, though, was it?” Percy accused, an almost-smile of clarity overcoming his features. “It was Kronos.” Ares began to glare. “It was his idea to frame Poseidon’s kid and steal Hades’ helm and Zeus’s bolt to start a war.” Behind Percy, Annabeth grabbed Grover’s arm and turned him to look at her.

“What?” She demanded, staring at him with eyes of stone.

“Is that where he got to you too?” Percy asked, beginning to walk closer to Ares, his sword dropped low at his side. “Through your dreams?”

“Gods don’t dream, little man…” Ares bit out, before his face burst into a life of anger. “And no one tells the god of war how to start a fight!” He was seething, his face stony with rage. Percy frowned at him, moving to grip Riptide with both hands as he began setting his feet into the ground. “And after you die… say hi to your aunty from me.”

Percy’s nose twitched in anger, his jaw clenched and his eyes glaring with the might of a storm on the sea. He gripped Riptide tightly between his fists and lifted it up close to his chest, bending his knees slightly, ready to pounce.

Ares began to stomp over the sand toward Percy, sword clenched at his side as he moved closer. Percy stood rooted, waiting just until he was in Ares’s sword range before pushing forward and ducking under the first swing of the god of war’s sword. He stumbled past Ares before hurrying to turn around, sword held up just in time to fend off Ares’s first slash.

Your prison began to tremble. You listened to the clash of swords. It was abrasive in your ears, repugnant to your core. You were a goddess of war, you berated yourself. Fighting was in your very blood. But you could not watch it for your son. You could not find any peace nor joy in it when it was your Percy. You could not offer him your blessings, could not gift him your sword, could do nothing to help him in this perilous endeavour, and that was just as much torture as anything else.

You could almost see cracks appear in the world around you.

Percy stumbled back as Ares jabbed relentlessly at him. Left, right, the god was a swift wind, a force of violent nature. Percy could only hold up his sword in the right places, stumble back and try to steady himself on the crumbly sand. One parry, one clash, Ares shoved him in the chest with the hilt of his sword. Percy’s breath left him, his ribs almost cracking under the pressure of the hit. He fell onto his back, the sand instantly beginning to dampen his shirt, but he managed to keep a hold of Riptide. He raised the sword in front of him, redirecting two of Ares’s slices to either side of himself.

Ares lifted the sword above his head and brought it down with all his might, but Percy held true. Riptide, smaller in every way, kept pressed right to the hilt of Ares’s sword, keeping the weapon away from Percy’s body. His arms trembled and slowly began to dip back toward his body, but Percy held strong.

As the swords began to near his neck, Ares bent further and released one of his hands to grip Percy by the scruff and lift him back onto his feet. The god of war was toying with him. Like a cat releasing the mouse only to slam its paw right back on top of it once the small creature had had a taste for freedom. Percy would not be a mouse.

When Ares reared back to bring his sword down again, Percy ducked under the swing and forward rolled over the sand. He stumbled onto his feet behind the god of war but one minor slip of his foot left him shaky and Ares slammed his sword into Riptide, wrenching it from Percy’s grip and flinging it off into the sand with Percy left watching after it.

Your heart was in tatters. Your entire body was shaking now where it had once been so still. Your hair shifted over your shoulders and you could almost feel your limbs again, almost feel the magic you had once possessed coursing through your veins.

But you could not tear your eyes away. If you were to watch your son’s doom, then you would watch it with your eyes wide open. You would etch every detail into your celestial memory. You would memorise each moment, his little face, his anguish. And you would use it to fuel your revenge. You would remember it exactly as it was when you would chop up Ares’s immortal body into pieces and feed it slowly to the sharks.

The cracks were spider-webbing through your vision now.

Ares gripped the boy by his neck and wrenched him closer until they were face to face. He glared into the child’s eyes, let the fire in his immortal soul burn through his gaze, then hauled the boy up over his head before flinging him into the sand like a ragdoll.

Percy groaned as his entire body was jarred. His spine felt like a stack of loose coins and his head throbbed ceaselessly. His face was contorted in pain and he wasn’t sure he had the clarity of mind to keep going.

Across the beach, Grover began to step forward. He couldn’t watch his best friend die in front of him. He wouldn’t. But Annabeth grabbed his arm and stopped him from going any further. She had faith. She would have faith until the final second.

“Wait,” she told him, eyes trained on the fight before them.

Ares stood over Percy as he lay on the beach. His sword gripped in his hand, ready to be used. But Percy began to push himself up, groaning through the pain. First his head, then shoulders, and he dug his hands into the sand to get himself up faster. He tilted his head to look up at the god of war as he came stopping toward him, arm out, sword ready to cut through Percy. Instead he kicked him square in the chest, sending the boy flying across the beach. Percy rolled three times over the sand, each hurting worse than the one before. His entire body was on fire, his limbs were disconnected from him, his brain was no longer working, and he writhed in pain on the sand.

Ares began to look a little triumphant, smugly shrugging his shoulders to shake his jacket into place as he kept his eyes pinned on Percy. But behind Percy, the sea began to pull back. Slowly, the surf creeped back across the sand and a wave began to rise on the horizon, frothing white at the edges, churning like a storm. Percy began to push himself up, his entire body aching, limbs shaking, his hair damp with sweat and sea water.

“I warned you…” he croaked out, glaring at the war god. “If you’re not careful…” he pushed himself up onto his knees, then shakily rose to his feet. His shoulders were hunched, and he did not cut an impressive figure, but the wave behind him reached higher and higher, curling at the top. “You’ll find out who I am,” he panted, glaring at Ares with the might of all the oceans.

The wave rose high above their heads, touching the skies, and Percy became a blip against its background.

You watched the water rise and laughed. It was a breathless, incredulous, laugh. It was light itself, tinkling brightly into the air. He was his father’s son. You were almost hysterical. Tears, bright and shiny like liquid gold, like pure light, dripped from your eyes and pattered against your hands and dress.

You could see Poseidon in him so clearly. In the face of adversity, your husband too would attempt to simply wash everything away. You could see the power of it all coursing through your son. He was your son, he was Poseidon’s son.

Your heart was soaring with love and relief and everything between. If your Percy could fight until the end, so could you. You had to get to him. Someway, somehow, you had to get to your son.

Your fingers twitched again and you glanced down. You could feel it in your chest now, deep inside you, the little tingle of power you had regained. It was barely a touch of what you were truly capable of, but it was there. If nothing else, for now you could at least send him a message.

Slowly and carefully, you moved your fingers back and forth, and just at the tips, the magic began to weave together, glowing and blue before it began to take shape. First the antennae, and then the little spindly legs, then the wings fluttered into life, blazing and blue, etched in black at the edges. You carefully crafted the butterfly before gently lifting the tip of your finger and sending it into the air. You watched it flutter about, slightly lost at first before it found its purpose. Then, with the gentlest movements, it floated across to a crack in the white walls and slipped through. Your face cracked into the brightest smile, and you began focusing on gathering your power back.

You would get to your son, one way or another.

Ares watched the wave rise and pull closer and closer. An inevitable reckoning. Percy was swallowed by the wall of water, disappearing into the dark blue. The crest rose a little more before it curved down and slammed right into the god of war. Frothing white water crashed around him, filling his nose and lungs, ripping his body this way and that.

When the water finally stopped churning and spat him out onto the beach, he was face down and drenched. His hands slipped across the wet sand and his entire body was weighed down by the water filling his clothes, hair, nose, mouth. He couldn’t gather his bearings, palms flat on the ground and head moving this way and that as he tried to reorient himself. He began blinking the water out of his eyes and taking panting, salty breaths in.

Ares noticed his sword lying a few feet in front of him, covered in wet sand, almost sunk into the beach. He began crawling forward, like a fish flapping about on land, and hurriedly reached for the hilt. He gripped it in his hand and scrambled on all fours to turn around just as Percy began running at him. Ares managed to rise up onto his knees just as Percy slashed at him with Riptide. The god of war narrowly missed being sliced in half as he raised his onyx sword and parried the attack.

But Percy was smooth and swift like the sea. He slung his sword through the parry and lifted it in his right hand before bringing it down across Ares’s calf just above his ankle. Riptide sliced through cloth and flesh as Percy ran forward to face Ares once more. But the god of war turned back to grip his leg tightly. Golden ichor, pure and blazing, dripped through his fingers, painting the sand. He scowled in wretched pain, an animal crazed as he turned back to glare at Percy with all his might.

Annabeth slammed her hand to her chest as she watched, eyes wide and still disbelieving. Grover huffed out a laugh as he turned to look at the girl beside him, mouth dropping open slightly in shock. Annabeth turned to face him, lips pulling into an incredulous smile as she quickly glanced back toward Percy.

He stood up shakily, licking his lips and panting as he frowned in shock and confusion. He stared at Ares, at the ichor dripping on his fingers and palm. Percy turned back to look at Grover and Annabeth, hoping they had seen, hoping he wasn’t already dead and dreaming of a victory that would never occur. But the two of them were suddenly staring right at him. Well, moreso right above his head.

Percy turned to look up, wondering if he had received another sign from Poseidon. But this time, instead of a glowing blue trident, a bright blue butterfly hovered over his head. It was bigger than any butterfly he had ever seen before, and glowing a blue so bright it was almost blinding. It was almost hazy at the edges, and flapped its wings three times before it… shattered. The entire thing burst and broke into a million little pieces of glittery sparkles and rained down over Percy. They stuck to his skin, mingling in the water still dripping from him, glinting for a few moments before they disappeared. He panted sharply, and the sudden urge to cry beset him.

“What was that?!” Grover and Annabeth asked as they ran up to stand beside him. “You okay? You hurt?” Grover asked quickly, reaching out for Percy before pulling back to stand next to him.

Percy kept his sword arm up slightly, blood still rushing, heart still pumping, and mind still waiting for another attack from Ares. He only shook his head slightly in response, glancing back to Annabeth for a moment.

“What kind of pathetic sign is that?” Ares bit out as all three kids turned to look at him again.

“That,” Percy spat, glaring at the war god with renewed anger. “Was a sign from my mother. Y/n of the Aesir, Goddess of Love and War.” Ares’s face dropped. He looked almost… afraid.

“Y/n… And you thought you were just a kid,” Annabeth told him breathlessly, smiling small but proud. He nodded in her direction, face relaxing just slightly, before Ares began to clap sarcastically.

“Yay!” He gripped his hands in front of him, a bitter and sarcastic smile grotesquely painting his features. “That was so cool,” he picked up his sword and used it to help himself stand up to his full height again, stumbling a little as he moved forward. “Wanna know what you really won today?” He growled out, baring his teeth like an enraged wolf. “An enemy for life. Congrats. And tell your mother… tell your mother she can only be lucky once.”

He began to smile, wide and deranged. Then a bright, burning glow began to light up under Ares’s skin. It was like a fire was lit right in the middle of him, slowly engulfing his insides, glowing behind his eyes. It burned brighter and brighter until it almost became blinding.

“Don’t look at his true form!” Grover yelled, and all three turned their heads away, clenching their eyes shut as Ares burned as bright as the sun. Then the light flashed away. One bright pulse and it was gone.

Your insides were burning up. Slowly, like the ebb and flow of the tide, you could feel your magic rise up within you. It pulsed out from inside you, curling in your chest and warming up your insides. Then the tendrils began to curl upwards and outwards, pressing into your chest and heart, slithering down to your knees and toes, pouring through your arms and legs before kissing the tips of your fingers. It took everything from you. You were burning through more magic than you were gaining, but you would not stop until you either got out or… or you no longer existed.

The cracks appeared directly across your vision now. Little black lines ran through the image of Percy and his friends on the beach. You couldn’t hear them as clearly anymore, their voices becoming disjointed and garbled. Little pieces of the image around you began to fall away, like something made of glass had been put back together but now slowly all the pieces were falling away again.

You could feel your hands begin to move now, each of your fingers flinching and stretching as the restraint began to pull away. You could soon lift your arms at the elbows, move your legs at the knees, and you pushed yourself forward, falling onto your palms. Your chest heaved with the effort, the fire of your magic burning brighter. Even your dress began to move around you again, the blue fabric flowing like water in the air, caressing your skin gently.

You pushed again, pressing the magic out from your fingertips until it was almost painful. It burnt within your chest, it burnt at your fingers, it burnt at your very being. But you pushed, and you pressed, and you kept on burning until the picture finally fell away. Until your limbs were suddenly loose and you could move at will.

It was like waking up. You blinked your eyes blearily and looked around at the room you had always occupied in Asgard. You slowly stretched each of your fingers, then your arms, legs, moving side to side. Your entire body was tender, exhausted, and you stayed on the floor for a little while longer. Your throat was parched, your eyes heavy, but there were things to be done.

You needed to get to your son. You needed to get to Poseidon. You needed to… you couldn’t do any of that. Not yet. Not without your magic replenished, and certainly not without your weapons. You needed to find Loki.

You carefully pushed yourself up, first onto your knees, then gripping the bed beside you in clawed hands, you managed to pull yourself up onto your feet. You swayed dangerously, toppling onto your palms on the soft bedding. You were panting, a cold sweat building along the back of your neck. But you were determined. You got to your feet once more and stumbled your way to the door. You blinked furiously, trying to make sure your vision stayed clear as you felt the cold drip of your power slowly begin to settle in your stomach once more.

You peeked at both ends of the hallway and then stumbled your way through, slamming into the walls any time you went too fast. The door at the far end of the hallway opened and your heart dropped out of your chest. You clenched your hands into fists and prepared yourself to fight. You may not have your powers at your disposal, but you could still fight. Being a goddess of war had a few requirements after all.

Freya poked her head out there, frowning in confusion at who was causing all that ruckus. When she noticed you leaning against the wall, trembling in fear, her eyes widened. She looked past you, just to make sure the coast was clear before rushing over to you and gently grasping you by the arms. She hushed you gently, kissing the top of your head and gently cupping your face. You looked up into your mother’s eyes and felt everything hit you all at once.

Your eyes well up with tears and your face crumpled. Your lips trembled as you dissolved into sobs. Freya wrapped you up in her arms and kept hushing you softly, pressing soft kisses to the top of your head as you clenched your hands in the soft material of her dress. She smelled as she had always done, soft and warm and motherly.

“Hush now child, hush. You do not have much time to cry.” She pulled you away from her chest and began wiping the tears off of your cheeks, gently dabbing at the corners of your eyes with the fabric of her sleeve as she smiled encouragingly. “You have much bigger things to attend to, hm?” She nodded at you, waited for you to nod in return like a little duckling copying her mother. “Yes, good. Now, let’s get you to Loki while I ensure your father remains distracted and unaware. Loki has all your things, he will feed you and clothe you and then… then you can go find your husband.”

You could see the tears building in Freya’s eyes as well, a soft crystalline line at the edges of her lower eyelids. She threaded your arm through hers and began walking you down the hall. She half carried you against her through the palace to the other wing where Loki chose to reside far from everyone. You simply closed your eyes and let your feet take one step after the other. You needed to conserve any and all energy until you felt anywhere close to the goddess you had once been.

Freya gently knocked on the door to Loki’s abode. He swung it open and stared at the scene before him. He was quick to take you off your mother’s hands, gently grasping you as Freya told him what to do. Your head was still ringing. He led you over to a chair and deposited you onto it. You swallowed thickly, grasping the armrests and forcing your eyes to open again. The door was closed and Freya was gone.

You tilted your head to look up at Loki. He stood by his bed, hands on his hips as he shook his head before snapping his fingers. In a flash of light, something appeared on his bed, covered with a dust cloth. He smiled gently at you before pulling the cloth off and holding your sword up to the light. Your beautiful, magnificent, sword. You almost began to cry for joy.

“Right,” he clapped his hands, “let’s get you sorted.”

Slowly, carefully, the trio peeled their eyes open, one eyelid at a time, and began to turn back to stare at the spot where Ares had once been. Instead there sat a helmet, shiny and golden, etched with all sorts of patterns.

“It’s Hades’s helm,” Annabeth spoke, almost in astonishment. She walked over and bent down, gripping it with both hands before beginning to lift it up. It was heavy, heavier than she was expecting, and she brushed some of the sand off.

“Come on, we have to find a way to get it back to Hades,” Grover said, beckoning Annabeth back over.

“I can’t believe Y/n is your mother. I can’t believe it!” Annabeth exclaimed, looking at Percy with wide eyes. “She’s my favourite non-Greek goddess. I mean, a goddess of love and war? The parallels that could be made, the interconnectedness of concepts, it’s… wow. Did you know one of the stories cites her as single-handedly defeating an entire army of zombie-creature-thingies called Draugr? And old Viking stories cited her as being there during their biggest battles. The humans could literally see her walking among them and giving help to their campaigns. She’s… magnificent.” Annabeth was gushing. Percy had never seen her like this before. She had all this stored in her head and he could see it all bubbling out of her. He exchanged an incredulous look with Grover right before he started hearing whispers of his name. And it sounded an awful lot like Mrs. Dodds.

After returning Hades’s helm to the Fury, and a final plea for Hades to fulfil his end of the bargain, Percy readied for his journey to Mount Olympus. Grover and Annabeth tried to talk him out of it, citing how it was a doomed journey. The war had already begun, the gods wouldn’t listen, he would not make it out alive. But he was determined to go. He needed Zeus to listen, because whether he liked it or not, Kronos was coming back.

And when Annabeth had gently clasped her camp necklace around his throat, his heart had swelled with joy. He had found friends, real friends. He had finally found people that understood him, understood all the struggles he had been through. And not just understood but related with, respected. He could have cried. But again, emotion could wait.

Percy walked casually through the entryway of the Empire State building, his backpack swung over one shoulder, as if he wasn’t carrying the god of thunder’s masterbolt. He walked all the way to the end of the hallway and right to the white marble reception desk. Just as he approached, the man began speaking.

“Tour starts by the sign.”

“Not here for the tour,” Percy responded, slipping the bag off his shoulder and resting it by his feet, “I’m here to see Zeus.” And he dumped the master bolt onto the desk with a thump. The receptionist’s eyes widened into saucers. “I don’t have an appointment,” Percy shrugged.

He took the elevator all the way to the top, and then higher. The doors opened with a small ding, and Percy witnessed the most magnificent sight he had ever seen. Pillars of marble, and huge white palaces as far as the eye could see. Fountains and balconies and beautiful bright yellow sunshine. Olympus was… endless. Each rise seemed more magnificent than the next, domes made entirely of sapphire or onyx or ruby, lush olive trees and bushes of fruit grew everywhere. It truly was a land for gods. And all he could think of was Luke’s advice, “you don’t want to be small and scary. When you’re small and scary, you get squished.” He had never felt as small as he did at that moment.

Percy trekked his way through Olympus and to the top of the tallest tower. The air was crisp and clear everywhere and he took deep fresh breaths in and out. When he made it to the top, he found a circle of thrones. The floor was pristine black, marbled with orange from the flickering sconces of fire placid all around the edges. Pillars of black stone rose everywhere around the outside and the sense of impending doom weighed heavy on his heart once more when he spotted the man sitting in the largest throne of them all.

He was still a little too far to see him properly, but Percy knew it could only be Zeus. A throne that large, towering over all the others… only one god truly had the ego and temperament to match that. As he traversed closer, Zeus became clearer. The god was wearing a dark navy suit with a blue tie and light-coloured pocket square slightly poking out, sitting as casually as if he was on a couch.

When Percy reached the middle of the thrones, Zeus leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. Percy paused in the middle and began taking the bag off his shoulders, trying not to let the tremble in his hands show. Zeus stood slowly from his throne, like a cat slowly stretching right before it began the hunt. He began to walk closer, leisurely long steps, but heavy, almost thundering. Percy held the master bolt out to him in both hands, proffering it out as he bowed his head. Zeus kept his eyes on it, as if Percy wasn’t even worth a glance. When he reached the boy, he did glance up, a quick flick of the eyes, before he reached out and grasped the bolt in his right hand. Percy brought his hands down to his sides and slowly raised his head to look at the king of gods.

“I didn’t steal it,” he broke out. “Neither did any of my friends,” he added quickly. “We found it. We got it back.” Zeus simply stared at him, his naturally frowning face set in stone. “We tried to get it to you on time, but…”

“You failed,” Zeus finished, his deep voice like liquid rock.

“Yes,” Percy nodded, a little defeated, “but I had to come. I had to tell you who did steal it. It was Kronos.” Zeus’s head rose a little, his eyes glancing around for a few seconds before he turned his back on Percy and began walking to his throne once more.

“He’s behind all of it,” Percy spoke quickly, desperately. “He’s emerging from Tartarus, or trying to.” Zeus kept walking to his throne. “He’s gathering strength and he’s coming for all of you!” Zeus only paused at his throne.

“You may go,” he ordered, not even bothering to turn back and look at Percy as he did.

“But…” Percy began to argue back, but Zeus finally turned around to face him again.

“I know where Kronos is. I put him there.” Then Zeus sighed and began walking back toward Percy. “I know who Kronos is. I am his son. Of course, he’s gathering strength,” he spat. “Of course, he’s coming. That is what we do. We snap and plot and strive. It was only a matter of time before he did again.” Zeus paused just in front of Percy and looked at him for a long moment before sighing. “Thank you for the news. It is the only reason I am letting you leave alive.”

Percy stared at him, mouth drooping open in shock. This couldn’t be it. This could not be it.

“I have a war to prosecute now, so when I say “you may go,” it means be grateful, and it means be gone.” Zeus’s eyes widened just so, threateningly so, but Percy couldn’t let this be the end.”

“But the war can’t continue,” he argued.

“Boy!” Zeus yelled, and thunder crashed through the sky like the roar of a lion. Percy’s lip trembled. “The war proceeds. And it ends with victory. You escape with your life. That is your prize,” Zeus explained, warning him not to argue further. “What did you think, that you and I would negotiate?” The god seemed to almost laugh at the suggestion.

“I thought you might listen,” Percy told him, voice light with panic. “Kronos wants you to fight my father. He wants you both weakened.”

“I will not be weakened by my brothers,” Zeus rejoinded.

“You already are. Your family is a mess,” Percy spat, glancing around at the empty thrones. “They don’t support you because they love you. They obey because they’re afraid. Ares, your son, he turned on you the moment someone stronger showed up. Do you really think he’ll be the last?” Percy could almost see the lightning flash in Zeus’s eyes, could see the thunder build across his face as it crashed in the sky behind him. “How afraid of you do you think they’ll be when your dad shows up looking to put you back in your place?” He began to shout, anger shaking his bones.

Zeus’s face contorted in anger, eyes almost bulging and mouth scowling. The master bolt began to buzz and glow blue in his hand. He lifted it, preparing to strike Percy down where he stood.

“Wait!” Percy yelled, and ducked down, arm coming up to cover his face in his last moments but… but the last moment never came. The buzz stalled and he heard heavy breathing behind him. Then there was a flash from in front of him, bright and dazzlingly blue and he clenched his eyes shut tighter. There was a metallic ‘schwing’ sound, like someone ripping a sword out of its scabbard, and Percy peeked his eyes open to find… a woman.

A beautiful woman stood just ahead of him, a long billowing dark blue dress blowing around her legs, and a sword as black as night in her hand. She pointed it toward where Zeus stood and held her head high. Her eyes were made of fire and stone, blazing with power. And her hair… She had bright blue hair, stranger than anything he had ever seen, but magnificent too.

Percy glanced behind himself when he realised he wasn’t being burst into smithereens only to find Zeus, arm still raised with the master bolt, and another man grasping him by the forearm. Both Zeus and the man had turned their heads to look toward Percy now, but the man holding Zeus had his eyes trained on the woman behind Percy. On you. Though he held fast to Zeus, his eyes were shining and his mouth dropped open a little as he stared at you. Percy glanced between you, back and forth…

“Do not. Touch. My son.” You bellowed, lifting the sword even higher as you kept your glare on Zeus. The king of gods wasn’t sure where to look, whether at his brother or the Norse woman.

“I surrender,” the man huffed out, turning back to glare at Zeus. Lightning shined in his eyes.

“What?” Both men were panting from the effort.

“I surrender,” he huffed out again, and glared straight into Zeus’s eyes.

All in one go Zeus deactivated the master bolt and the man let go of his forearm. They stood glaring at each other as Percy got back to his feet and you stomped forward until the tip of your sword was just shy of brushing the god of thunder’s neck.

“You dare raise your sword at me?” Zeus seethed, stepping even closer, but Poseidon, because it could only have been his father, stepped between him and the goddess once more. “And showing up at such an opportune moment. It would not surprise me that you were the thief once more.” Percy could almost see fire shoot off you as you stepped even closer, jaw clenching as you readied to fight the king of gods. But Poseidon just turned to face you and gently grasped the hand on the hilt of your sword. He reached up with his free hand and softly touched your chin, jaw, cheek, and tilted your head until you were looking into his eyes.

His eyes were so beautiful. He was so beautiful. He had not changed his form in the time since you had met him. Perhaps a little more muscular, a little thicker around the shoulders and the midriff, but you were enamoured all over again. You stared into his eyes, the blue of the very depths of the ocean. Your favourite blue. You reached up and ran your fingers over his beard, cupping his cheek in return.

Percy had never seen two people look at each other like that. Both your faces were on the verge of crumpling. Your mouths made these sad little joyful smiles as if you were in pain from being so close. Both of your eyes filled with tears, mirroring each other, and Poseidon cupped your cheek for a moment more before turning back to Zeus.

“Take your victory,” he huffed out, “just spare my son.” Percy watched on, mouth hanging open in shock.

“Your forbidden son…” Zeus chastised, glaring superiorly between Poseidon and the woman. “Who should have never been born.” You looked as though you were about to speak but chose not to at the last moment.

“The same as your Thalia…” Zeus’s face fell just a fraction, “whose bravery still inspires all demigods. Perseus is one of those heroes, and has shown a measure of that bravery today.” Zeus lifted his head and looked at Poseidon before glancing over his shoulder, as if he was already done with this. Poseidon wrapped his hand completely around your wrist then stepped forward a little more. He looked Zeus in the eye and sighed. “Who else knows about Father?” He asked in Ancient Greek.

“Ares, Hades, Hermes. So…”

“Everyone,” Poseidon finished, frowning slightly. Zeus glanced back at Percy, glared at the goddess just in front of him, then looked back at Poseidon.

“I’ll have Athena set a meeting. The whole council. We’ll declare my swift and crushing victory…” Poseidon huffed out a breath, almost a growl as he looked away from his brother, and the goddess began shifting forward again, ready to attack. “And then discuss family business.” Poseidon nodded, a little dip of the head as Zeus glanced back to Percy and the goddess. “Make sure I never see them again,” he added, and Percy clenched his jaw just as Zeus disappeared in a flash of light.

Poseidon and you stood still for a moment, before the black sword clattered from your hands and you turned to Poseidon. Your face looked pained, distraught, and tears began spilling down your cheeks. But Poseidon only smiled, looking deep into your eyes with something Percy would never be able to name until years in the future. Poseidon reached up with both hands and cupped your cheeks. He pressed his forehead to yours and the two of you closed your eyes and smiled, teary and almost hiccuping laughs with joy. You pressed your noses together, breathing in each other’s air. Your hands pressed gently to his sides, digging your fingers into the fabric of his shirt. You could smell the salty sea air again. You would never let go of him again.

A tiny little cough echoed from the side and the two of you slowly pulled away from each other. You blinked your eyes open and turned to the side and… there he was. Your son. Tears began to fill your eyes again as you looked at him standing there awkwardly, one hand rubbing the back of his head as he glanced between you and his father.

He had beautiful curly blond hair, and the bright blue eyes he had inherited from Poseidon. His little face was painted with a smattering of freckles and his clothes were a little worn down. You had so much to teach him.

Slowly, you walked forward, one hand grasping Poseidon’s and pulling him along behind you. You walked until you were standing just in front of Perseus before bending down a little so you were face to face. Your hands were trembling. Your entire body was filled with elation and you couldn’t control the tears spilling like waterfalls now. You felt Poseidon rest one of his large hands on the small of your back and you gently reached out and brushed your thumb on Perseus’s cheek. It was just a graze, barely a touch, but his cheeks began to turn rosy pink and you let out a little huff of a laugh.

“Perseus…” you whispered, and it felt magical to say his name to him. Not even a goddess could conjure this type of magic. He cleared his throat and awkwardly rubbed at the back of his neck.

“Uhm, it’s just Percy, ma’am,” he broke out, feeling awkward but being unable to tear his gaze from you. You smiled even wider, letting out a soft watery laugh.

“Percy, yes, of course,” you whispered, and you reached out to gently touch his hair, soft and curly, just as you had imagined. You touched his shoulder, bony and awkward, just as young humans were. Then you could help yourself no longer. You wrapped him up in your arms, bending down so you could press your face into his head and his was squished into your neck. You held him as tightly as you had always wanted to, as you knew any mother would. You pressed your face to his hair and cried into it, your shoulders shaking with your sobs. Arms came to engulf the both of you and the shadow of Poseidon curling over the two of you darkened your eyes. You began to cry even harder.

Finally, finally your little family was all together again… Poseidon simply breathed slowly against your hair, rubbing your back softly.

Gingerly, you began to pull away, unfurling yourself from around Percy like a snake letting go of its clutch, and turned your back to him and Poseidon for a moment to quickly wipe your tears before turning back again. Percy looked up at both of you, gulping and blinking rapidly.

“You have blue hair,” he blurted out, and the red brightened his cheeks once more. You giggled, soft and high-pitched and nodded.

“Yes I do,” you nodded, “but it can be anything else too.” With a snap of your fingers your hair changed to an almost painfully bright bubble gum pink. Another snap got you deep, dark, forest green, and another changed it so every strand was a different colour so your head looked like a jumbled mess.

“No, no, I liked it, I liked the blue,” Percy added hurriedly, hoping he hadn’t offended you somehow. “Blue’s my favourite colour.” Your smile brightened and you almost wrapped him up in a hug again.

“Blue is my favourite colour as well.” The three of you stood in silence until Percy coughed again and glanced between you two.

“So…” he trailed off.

“Obedience does not come naturally to you, does it?” Poseidon asked with a small smile, gazing down at him gently.

“No, sir,” he answered softly, his head dipping down a little as if he had been chastised.

“I must take some of the blame, I suppose,” Poseidon sighed, “the sea does not like to be restrained.” He reached over and gently gripped Percy by the back of the neck, his thumb settling along the side of his face as he stared down at his son. You smiled between them, the tears welling in your eyes once more. Percy sighed and dropped his head down a little as Poseidon released his grip.

You let yourself rest your eyes on Poseidon once more. He was… everything. He was what you had craved all these years apart. He was your nectar, your ambrosia. To see him again, to be with him again… you moved forward and gently pressed yourself against him until your entire body was molded to his. You pressed your face against his, your foreheads touching softly. Your noses brushed, and you stood there just like that, breathing each other in after so many years apart.

Percy watched on awkwardly, his eyes glancing around, even turning his back for a moment before he finally could bear it no longer.

“Uhm, can you guys not?” He asked, face contorted in slight disgust. “I get that embarrassing your kid is, like, essential to parenting or whatever, but… stop it.”

You pulled away from Poseidon slightly, only just far enough so you could turn your head, and began to laugh. Percy just stood there and frowned at you guys, but you only smiled and turned back to Poseidon. You looked into your husband’s eyes and pressed your hands to his face, feeling his beard under your cheeks and enjoying the simple ability to just look him in the eye.

“My husband,” you whispered, and he blinked his eyes shut, pressing you just a little closer to himself again.

“Say it again,” he whispered in return, and you smiled wider.

“My husband,” you repeated, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek-

“Guys!” Percy huffed exasperatedly, and you pulled away from Poseidon once more, this time a little farther and a little more shy, a slight tingle in your cheeks. You had never felt… embarrassed before.

You took a deep breath in before noticing your sword still on the floor where you had dropped it. You walked over and picked it up, holding it across in your hands before it disappeared in a flash of light. Then you turned back to your little family and offered your hand to Percy.

“Come, let us take you back to Camp Half-Blood. You have news to share with your friends and… I would like to see it,” you smiled a little hesitantly, but you simply kept your hand proffered to him.

“You’re… gonna come back to Camp with me?” He asked incredulously, staring at the two of you with wide eyes. You smiled and nodded, glancing at your husband as he followed your nod with his own, though rather more hesitantly.

“I do not want to stay on Olympus any longer than I have to,” you added, and Poseidon gently wrapped his arm around your waist, tucking you in close to his side, before holding his other hand out to Percy.

Percy looked at both of you, glanced between his mother and father, before gulping and reaching forward to grab both of your hands.

As Percy walked through Camp Half-blood, he was shocked at the reception. Everyone stood around clapping for him, cheering him on as he made his way through to the Big House. The claps soon became silent though as everyone saw who followed a little ways behind him. Soon the entire camp was shrouded in silence as you, tucked close into your husband’s side, strolled through. No one knew where to look, whether at you or Poseidon, or if they shouldn’t look directly at either of you.

You were simply in awe at the beautiful camp, the trees sheltering all the cabins and growing proudly along the walkways, bathing everything in a beautiful yellow-green light. You smiled in joy at all the little children staring up at you in awe, knowing how precious each one was, knowing the parents who worried for them at every moment. You could feel the love emanating from all over the world, reaching out its beautiful hands to the precious children collected here.

You looked ahead to your son as he paused and was quickly engulfed by Annabeth in a tight hug. She seemed to be trembling almost, but you could see that it was anticipation, you could see her lips moving as she whispered something in his ear. You smiled softly before leaving your husband’s side and moving forward to greet her.

“Annabeth Chase,” you sighed happily, reaching out your hand. She simply stared up at you in awe, mouth dropping open a little before she snapped it shut and hesitantly reached out to shake your hand. You smiled a little wider, shaking her hand firmly before letting it go. “Thank you for looking after Percy on his journey.”

“I… thank you, ma’am, thank you so much,” she replied haltingly, still not able to tear her eyes away from you. You giggled and gently patted her on the head before stepping away, following after Poseidon who was standing just ahead on the path, waiting for you so you could go and speak to Chiron at the Big House.

“Um, hey,” Percy called after you quickly, wincing slightly, “I’m gonna go talk to Annabeth and Luke for a sec, I’ll-I’ll catch up,” he explained hurriedly. You smiled and nodded, reaching out and gently petting the top of his head.

“Don’t be too long,” you whispered, cupping his cheek gently for a moment before turning and walking to Poseidon.

You did not want to be separated from him for even a moment, not after you had only just got him back. But you also knew he had responsibilities. He had lived a life without you, and you couldn’t just overwhelm him in a moment. You could wait… you already had.

“Clarisse stole the master bolt!” Percy exclaimed, frowning at Luke and Annabeth.

“It’s complicated,” she responded, urging Percy to be patient with her eyes.

“Everyone was ready to join the war here,” Luke explained, “to start fighting each other. An accusation against Clarisse…”

“Without proof,” Annabeth interjected.

“Exactly,” Luke nodded, “without proof, it would have lit this whole place on fire.” Percy glanced between them, nodding his head once, hesitantly. “But now you’re back. You’ve stopped the war. You’ve saved the world,” Luke smiled at him, and Annabeth nodded, a hint of pride colouring her expression. “Now, it’s safe to tell Chiron and finish cleaning up the mess. I told him we needed to meet him away from the celebration so we can talk without any of Clarisse’s supporters noticing.” Luke looked between Percy and Annabeth as he spoke, a look of calm collectedness settling on his features. Annabeth nodded in response.

“I’ll keep an eye on Clarisse while you’re gone. Make sure she isn’t going anywhere,” Annabeth told them, steeling herself.

“Great. And we’ll meet back here.” Luke paused, looking Percy up and down. “Re-”

“I have to go see my… mom and dad,” Percy burst out hesitantly. “I… they’re here and… I don’t know, I need to speak to them, like actually speak to them, about everything.” “Your mom’s here?” Luke asked quickly, looking out the door of the cabin for a moment.

“Yeah, she… she came to Olympus to try and save me. Her and Poseidon brought me back, so… yeah. They just went to speak to Chiron and Mr D. I should go with them,” Percy responded, frowning a little in thought.

“Alright, but don’t say anything about Clarisse yet, you don’t know who could be listening,” Luke urged.

“Yeah, yeah, of course.” Percy nodded, placating Luke. “I’ll be back in time to go, yeah,” and Percy looked almost dazed as he left, making his way up to the Big House.

“We are… grateful, that you deigned to visit us,” Chiron said, bowing politely as you smiled at him. He offered you and Poseidon seats at the small table across from Mr. D and you took one, but Poseidon chose to stand just behind yours, one of his hands resting softly on your shoulder. You reached up to gently stroke it, placing your palm over the back of his hand.

“Chiron, it is we who are grateful to you for helping Perseus,” you replied.

It was then Percy came ambling into the room, pausing just in front of Chiron to look at the scene. He still couldn’t believe you were there, you and Poseidon, sat in Camp Half-Blood…

“Hey guys,” he greeted softly, looking between everyone awkwardly.

“So, wait, where the hell have you been this entire time?” Mr. D turned to you and Poseidon, eyes squinting into a frown as he leaned onto the table and looked at the two of you.

“Where do you want the story to start?” Poseidon asked, sighing imperceptibly at his nephew.

“Uh, the banishment would be good, right? That’s a good place to start,” Mr. D nodded sarcastically, but Percy actually agreed with him.

“Yeah, uh, I think maybe go back to the whole stealing the lightning bolt thing, then maybe we continue on, just because it might be a little bit relevant to… everything,” Percy interjected, looking between his parents. You sighed and nodded, grasping Poseidon’s hand a little tighter.

“I didn’t steal the master bolt that first time, and I don’t know who did either. Poseidon and I were… busy at the time,” you explained hesitantly, cheeks turning pink as Percy scowled in disgust and Poseidon’s lips pulled up into a smirk.

“Yes, we were away from the palaces of Olympus and when we returned, someone had stolen the bolt,” Poseidon added, and Percy nodded. It was exactly as Hades had told him.

“Ok, and you still don’t know who did it?” Percy asked.

“No, the bolt was found a few days later and Zeus was no longer angry about it, but he and Odin agreed it would be best to keep the worlds separate. There was too much possibility for something like this to happen, and Olympus was already big enough without adding more gods with unfamiliar powers to the mix,” Poseidon explained.

“By then I was banished and not allowed to see Poseidon anymore. Though we didn’t stay true to this rule for long… Your father began to send me small signs, and eventually he asked me to marry him,” and you smiled, a soft watery smile, as you spoke, turning to look at Poseidon for a moment. “I sent my own signs in return, of course, and we spoke this way, cautiously, fleetingly.”

“It continued in secret for just over a century, I counted the days until I next saw her. Time had never been an enemy before,” Poseidon sighed, bending down slightly to press a kiss to the top of your head.

“Then, one day, a little over twelve years ago, I was called to battle. An army of draugr had assembled on a beach and begun to terrorise the midgardians. Though the mist works similarly for us, it would not do.” You could still remember facing them, the searing pain as they had slashed your arm. “Then, just as the battle was finished, your father appeared again.”

You glanced at Percy and he was listening intently, that little frown on his face when he was concentrating heavily on something.

“It was magical in the way mortals claim. It was something untouched even by the power of Olympus or the Yggdrasil,” you sighed.

“And a few weeks later, I received a message from your mother. She was with child,” Poseidon smiled this time, soft and sweet and full of the joy one would experience upon becoming a father.

“You were forbidden for many reasons. Poseidon and I should not have been seeing each other in the first place, let alone conceiving a child. Our worlds were not to interact, not in any way,” your face fell as you relived the panic you had experienced at the time.

“And then the pact between Zeus, Hades and I… I was not to have a child at all, especially a godly one,” Poseidon’s face became thunderous, and his grip on your shoulder tightened just so. You simply rubbed your palm over his knuckles, a soft attempt to soothe. You understood, of course you understood.

“We needed to find a way to hide you, just until you could reach an age where you were no longer vulnerable as a new god, an age at which you could begin to explore the powers you were blessed with.” Then you smiled again. “The beach where your father and I had first kissed, so many eons ago, was a perfect place to hide. Humans had begun using it as a holiday destination, there were cabins, and I would be close to the water. That’s where I met-”

“Aunt Sally,” Percy interjected, looking at you with wide eyes of surprise. “It’s the beach in Montauk, that’s why Aunt Sally takes me there every year.” You smiled brightly, nodding at him.

“Yes, that is where I met Sally Jackson. Within days of meeting her, I knew she should be the one to take you. She is what a human ought to be. Sally is kind, and friendly. She is thoughtful and… she is the best of the humans. After meeting her, I was doubly decided on disguising you as a demigod and having you live in the world with the humans. I wanted you to know what it was like, to be human. I wanted you to know that us gods are nothing without the humans.” You paused before turning to look directly at Percy. You leaned a little further across the table so he would be forced to look you in the eye. “The gods often forget that we are nothing without the humans who believe in us. We often forget that just because we are powerful, does not mean we need to wield that power against those who do not possess it. And most of all, we often forget that it is our job to protect those people, not to do harm to them. We are flawed, Percy, just like people, but we should not forget that we are meant to be better, that we are meant to strive towards betterness. I wanted you to know that most of all.”

Percy gulped, nodding his head as the gravity of what you said settled over everyone. Mr. D shifted in his seat, clearing his throat and gulping from his can of diet coke.

“Your mother told Sally Jackson about our world. It was good luck in the end that she was born with the clear sight,” Poseidon added.

“On the day of your birth, your father created a storm to hide us. We only held you for a few moments,” you paused, swallowing the sudden lump in your throat as you thought about that day. Your eyes filled with tears and you closed them so no one would see. “We only had you for a few minutes. A storm that large would attract attention if it went on too long. The other gods would have known that it was your father causing it, but they would not have known why. Too many eyes would begin to turn.” You felt Poseidon caress your cheek with his finger and you blinked your eyes open. He ran his hand gently up your neck to where your hair began before stroking back down to rest it on your shoulder. He was warm, strong, a firm presence and you simply turned your head to press a soft kiss to the side of his index finger.

“And you are aware of the rest,” Poseidon finished for you. You glanced up at him worriedly for a moment but did not speak up. He began to frown, staring at your face as you nibbled on your lip before reaching up and gripping his hand.

Percy was still staring at the table in thought, before he looked up and glanced between the two of you.

“So, when it rains on my birthday…” and Poseidon smiled gently, dipping his head in a small nod.

“Your mom was banished from here like a million years ago, kid. We’re ALL shocked, not everything’s about you,” Mr. D sneered, and Percy just turned to stare at him, one eyebrow raised as if the god couldn’t possibly be serious. Chiron simply sighed as he looked at Mr. D, shaking his head as you smiled the type of smile one makes when they are trying not to laugh.

“Could I have a moment alone with my son?” You asked everyone suddenly, standing up from your seat and gently grasping Poseidon’s hand. Chiron immediately agreed, nudging Mr. D who grunted and groaned before following less than eagerly. Your husband was the last to remain but you pressed your hand to his cheek, cupping his face and nodding once before letting him go and waiting as he slowly walked out. He kept walking until he reached the water’s edge, and you could see him standing with his feet in the surf. You smiled at the sight for a moment before going to sit down next to Percy in the seat Mr. D had vacated. “Are you alright?”

“I mean, I could have done without the stories of my conception but… yeah, cool,” Percy shrugged, turning slightly in his chair so he was facing you. He still looked at your face hesitantly, and though your heart clenched at it each time, you knew you would have to be patient. You couldn’t just become a happy family overnight.

You gently took one of his hands between yours and softly held it. Just as you would have done if you had been there during his childhood, in the moments where he had needed you most…

“Almost within a year of having let you go, I began being unable to watch you, Percy. I couldn’t see you in the pools of the Yggdrasil, I could not tune my mind into your life, nothing.”

You remembered the panic you had felt at the blindness, like someone had ripped a portion of you out and now you were half a soul, doomed to a restless eternity.

“And then one night, after you had arrived at Camp, I heard a call. I could smell burning jelly beans,” and you let out a small watery giggle, remembering the smell of burning sugar. “Sally used to bring me blue jelly beans as well. They are my favourite of the Midgardian candies.” You reached up and gently petted Percy’s hair, moving some of the curls back from his forehead and smiling at him. He was still just a boy.

“You had made a sacrifice in my name, and whatever magic had been keeping me from seeing you had dissipated, even for just a moment. It broke my heart, Percy.” You paused, swallowing the lump in your throat. “After you made your prayer, I was on my way to find you. I was going to come to Camp, tell you everything and explain…” The tears filled your eyes again, quickly and ferociously, uncontainable.

“But… It was Odin. All along it was Odin. He was keeping you from me, hoping that I would be content not knowing anything about you for your own safety.” You swallowed, gripping Percy’s hand tighter. “As I was leaving Valhalla to come find you, Odin stopped me. He… imprisoned me. I have been imprisoned since.” You wiped the tears haphazardly from your face and looked right at Percy. “I could finally see you. I could finally watch you grow just as I had wished to for the past 12 years. Though I was imprisoned, he had returned the sight to me and I have watched you complete this quest.” You gripped his small face in both your hands and made him look you right in the eye.

“You have been incredibly courageous. You have been kind and valiant and done everything as you should have done. No one could be prouder - no one could be luckier - to have a son like you.”

You could see the tears build in Percy’s eyes. You could see his lower lip begin to tremble and suddenly he was hugging you. He wrapped his arms tightly around you and buried his head in the crook of your neck. His curls tickled your cheek as you pressed the side of your face down to the top of his head.

“I am so sorry, Perseus,” you whispered, “I am so sorry for not having been there.”

You wrapped your arms around him, engulfed him, and sat there breathing him in. You could hear him sniffle softly, the little twitches his nose made rubbing against your neck, and you simply held him. You held him tight and close and you never wanted to let him go again.

After a few moments Percy pulled away, rubbing at his eyes and cheeks and glancing away from you. He patted your back awkwardly, as if he was trying to comfort you, and you simply smiled softly in return.

“It’s alright,” he finally told you, “we have forever to get to know each other,” and he gave you a little smile in return.

As Percy pulled his head away from your shoulder and smiled a pale and watery smile at you, Poseidon and Mr. D reentered the room slowly. Poseidon came to stand by where you were sitting and Mr. D swiped his can of diet coke off the table, grumbling about how you had stolen his seat before Poseidon sent a sharp look his way. Percy looked out the window and finally noticed how dark the sky had gotten.

“Crap! Um, I gotta go,” he huffed out, glancing between you and the door. You smiled patiently, reaching up to gently cup his cheek before bringing him closer and pressing a long kiss to his forehead.

“Of course,” you whispered gently.

“I’ll try not to be too long, promise,” he added quickly, but you simply smiled and nodded in return. Despite how much you wanted to tell him to hurry back, you didn’t want to smother him either.

“Chiron! Peter Johnson’s leaving!” Mr. D hollered, finally looking up, only to glance around the room and realise that Chiron had not returned. He frowned in confusion as you began to giggle, shaking your head as you pressed your hand to your mouth. Percy just huffed and shook his head, already exasperated with Mr. D, a similar frown of tiredness gracing Poseidon’s face.

“You have not changed Dionysus,” you told him, and he simply smiled, bright and true (the most sincere smile Percy had seen from him in his short time of knowing the god), flapping his hand in the air as if to brush you off.

Percy just waved in your direction before hurrying out the door. Only narrowly missing Chiron returning through the big house as he set off in search of Luke for their meeting.

Percy and Luke walked through the woods, a lantern gripped in the older demigod’s hand. A loud whistle and boom echoed across the sky and Percy looked up to watch the colours flash and spread in a dizzying array. He chuckled as Luke nudged him on the shoulder, smirking.

“Talk about a celebration,” he huffed, “they really pulled out all the stops for you.”

Percy just smiled in return, continuing to slowly follow along the path. Luke turned to look at Percy properly, holding the lantern aloft in front of them. “Come on, you’ve said like two words since we left the cabins.” Luke turned to look ahead of them again, waiting for Percy to speak.

“Just…” he sighed, “thinking about everything. Thinking about what the Oracle said. That I’ll fail to save what matters most in the end.”

“You’re thinking about your Aunt Sally,” Luke responded, nodding in confirmation and a sort of kinship. “I get that.”

They paused in a small clearing, what looked to be the remains of a pavilion littering the space, old crumbling columns and blocks of stone. Luke turned and set the lantern down on one of the larger rocks, setting it at about waist height.

“Believe me, I do,” Luke continued, before turning around to face Percy with a frown, shaking his head, “but prophecies? Those things are so vague,” he huffed, dismissing it in an instant.

The light illuminated only one side of Luke’s face in the purple twilight, his scar shining an angry red against the rest of his skin. His eyes looked so black in the dark, almost stony and soulless. Percy frowned, shaking his own head.

“The quest is over, and everything the Oracle said has either come true or makes sense,” he responded. Luke was quiet for a second, and Percy could almost see his face become sterner, his eyes darker.

“Has it?” Percy leaned forward a little, as if desperate to convince Luke.

“‘You shall go west and face the God who has turned’.” Luke nodded slowly, glancing up then back down.

“Ares, okay,” he nodded to the side, as if he was convinced just a little.

“‘Find what was stolen and see it returned’,” Percy continued, and Luke nodded again.

“Clearly the bolt.”

A frown began pinching Percy’s features as he stared at Luke.

“‘And you shall be betrayed… by one who calls you a friend.” The fireworks flashed red and pink in the sky, painting the gaps in the trees and surrounding them in a myriad of shadows and beams of light.

Luke gulped as Percy watched him, both of their bodies still as wires pulled taut. He could almost see the realisation settle behind Percy’s eyes, his own suddenly shiny with a film of tears.

“Well, the reason Clarisse is still here is because…” Percy’s voice became scratchy, low, “you never said anything to Chiron about her. Did you?”

Luke shook his head a little, one nudge to the side, then again, before a small, almost sheepish, smile played on his lips. HIs eyes were so glossy, Percy couldn’t help but notice how shiny they had become.

“You couldn’t…” Luke stepped closer, slow and just barely, but Percy continued glaring into his eyes.

“Because you knew Clarisse didn’t steal the bolt,” the pieces were falling perfectly together in Percy’s mind. His eyes were wide and pained, a soft crease appearing between his brows as he stared at Luke. “You did.”

Luke could only continue staring at Percy, jaw slightly clenched and eyes like two black pits in his head. The fireworks shined orange and red, bathing one half of his face in the light.

“You worked with Ares to plant it on me, so when the shoes you gave me pulled me down into Tartarus, the bolt would be delivered right to Kronos.” Percy could see everything now, could see how easily everything had played out without him having even an inkling that anything was wrong. He focused his eyes again, looking directly at Luke.

Luke gulped, a quick movement at his throat as his eyes became even shinier, a quivering line of tears settled just above his lower lashes. His lips trembled as he spoke.

“I didn’t think you’d give ‘em to Grover to wear…” his head shook, a twitch to the left, as if something inside him wanted to deny, but it was too late.

Percy’s eyes widened, as if he still hadn’t believed it until the words left Luke’s mouth. His lips fell open, hands trembling and he took a sharp breath in.

“I am your friend,” Luke said firmly, as if he was stamping each word into stone. “Percy, none of this was meant to betray you.” He added quickly, shaking his head as he watched Percy sway back and forth, as if he was about to fall over. He blinked quickly but kept his eyes on Percy. “The gods are my enemy,” Luke added firmly, leaning in a little closer. “You…” and Luke walked closer now, ignoring the way Percy’s chest heaved and his eyes darted all over his face, his lip twitching as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t. “I’m here to recruit,” Luke nodded with his words.

Percy could only frown, his head tilting in confusion, but his eyes stayed open, wide and glossy and trained right on Luke.

“Recruit?” Luke nodded in response before turning slightly away from Percy. He seemed to pull something out of his pocket, but Percy could neither see his face nor his hand. Then there was a soft ‘schwing’ sound, the same sound Riptide made when he uncapped it, and a long curved blade appeared in Luke’s hand. It was pure instinct that had Percy pulling Riptide out, the blade appearing to life in his hands as he held it up.

“Easy,” Luke placated, raising his free hand. “I don’t wanna fight,” he put his palm out to Percy before bringing his attention to the sword in his hand. “This is what I wanted to show you.”

Percy couldn’t stop staring at Luke’s face. He couldn’t decide if the boy looked manic and crazed, or if it was the same Luke he had always known. His eyes were open and bright, his posture relaxed and calming. Percy gripped Riptide tighter as he glanced between the sword and the boy.

Luke stepped closer again as he brought the sword toward Percy. “This… is our way out.” Luke looked at Percy as if he had introduced him to exactly what he had been looking for, as if he had suddenly answered all of Percy’s questions, that almost smug look he got every time Percy agreed with him about the faults of the gods before Percy had set out on his quest.

Percy glanced between the sword and Luke, frowning as he bent a little lower, farther from the sword and keeping his knees ready to lunge.

“Way out of what?” he asked quickly, face pinched in disbelief and confusion.

Instead of answering, Luke clenched his jaw and turned away. Percy didn’t relent though, and simply watched him from his slightly crouched position as he lifted the sword and said ‘camp’ before carving a line into an old stone pillar. A bright blue line appeared where he wanted and dragged down with the tip of the sword before appearing in the air near the column, as if Luke was cutting the world. A thrumming sound appeared from the slash and it began to billow like fabric in a strong wind, as if being pulled in slightly by whatever existed on the other side. “And their control,” Luke spat, turning around to face Percy as he backed away just a step, his entire body shaking as Luke almost frowned in disgust.

“Backbiter can open secret doors,” Luke explained, “we can stay on the run as long as it takes.” He was rushed now, almost manic as he moved closer to Percy again, holding the sword aloft beside him.

“Stop saying ‘we’,” Percy rushed out, backing away from Luke as he glanced between the portal, the sword, and the boy he once thought he knew.

“It’s the word Zeus fears the most,” Luke responded, shaking his head as if he was annoyed that Percy wasn’t understanding everything he had been trying to show him. “The gods want us to fight for them, worship them, fear them. And they couldn’t care less what we want.” Luke’s eyes were almost pleading. “They’re bad parents, Percy.” He paused, standing up straight until he had to look slightly down to meet Percy’s eyes, his jaw clenching before he spoke. “And they’ve gotten away with it for far too long.” But Percy was done listening, shaking his head as he ground his teeth.

“No, no, this isn’t you!” He yelled at Luke, pointing at him with his free hand, his eyes filling with tears. “This is Kronos. He got to you.” But Luke was already shaking his head, eyes widening, ready to respond.

“No, he opened my eyes to the truth.” Percy pressed his lips together, something like a sob suddenly pressing against the back of his throat. Luke stared at him for another moment before turning away. He looked back and began carving another line down the dilapidated pillar, another identical slash appearing in the air, the same bright blue light spilling out. “A golden age. That’s what they called it when he ruled,” Luke turned back to Percy, a half-smile on his lips, as if he could see the vision before him. “We’re gonna help Kronos bring the Golden Age back.” Luke’s eyes were wild now as he moved closer to Percy.

“Stealing the bolt and the helm was easy. I wasn’t the first one to do it. At least that’s one thing my dad did do for me. For what comes next…” and he looked right into Percy’s eyes, blue and brown clashing in the yellow light of the lamp. “We’re gonna need all the help we can get.” As Luke turned back to begin carving the rest of the door, Percy whirled around and used Riptide to parry Backbiter away. The sound of the swords clashing echoed in the woods and Luke backed away a little from where Percy now stood just in front of the unfinished portal. He brought Backbiter down a little and stared at Percy and Riptide with wide incredulous eyes.

“Our parents aren’t perfect,” Percy huffed out, and he could almost see your’s and Poseidon’s faces flash across his eyes, smiling down at him with tears streaming. He could feel your arms pulling him close, wrapping around him as if to cocoon him from the world, Poseidon’s hand gently gripping the back of his neck and ruffling his hair. “But they’re trying their best,” he huffed out, continuing to point Riptide right at Luke. He could see the anger begin to rise in the son of Hermes as he lifted his own blade to point back at Percy. It was longer, more menacing, but Percy simply ignored it, continuing to look right at Luke’s face.

“I met your dad, he-” but that was the wrong thing to say. Luke’s face contorted in rage, and he shook his head before slashing at Percy. He used his free hand to shove at Percy’s chest before rearing back and swiping at him, but Percy was quick. They clashed swords, swiping back and forth, dodging and jabbing, before Luke managed to parry an attack and grab Percy’s wrist, pointing Backbiter at his chest. Percy stared up at Luke, panting and trembling. An almost smirk tugged at the older boy’s face.

“You did get better,” he commended, and Percy yanked his wrist back, slashing at Luke again. Luke spun with the motion and slashed another line across the two he had already drawn for the portal. Percy shoved him back but he could hear the portal opening, pointing his sword at Luke’s head as he glanced back at the shimmer, the very fabric of the world billowing in front of him. Luke capitalised on the boy’s distraction and slashed at Riptide, leaping forward and kicking Percy in the chest so he stumbled back against the stone column. Percy pressed himself against it, cowering away from Luke as he pointed Backbiter at his chest.

“Last chance,” Luke spat, moving closer. Percy glanced back, slowly moving himself around the column that seemed to thrum with the lines Luke had drawn on it. Instead of answering, he used it to push himself forward, launching himself at Luke and shoving him across his middle.

Percy threw himself into the fight, slashing and jabbing, moving Luke backward and further away from the portal and into the trees. He rolled across the ground and slashed at Luke’s stomach. The older demigod groaned, curling forward and clutching at his stomach as he stumbled back.

“I’m sorry,” Percy quickly breathed out, reaching out a hand as Luke slowly straightened and began turning back to face him. “I didn’t mean to-” but Luke lashed out, swiping upwards with his sword and catching Percy along his arm, sending the son of Poseidon sprawling on the forest floor. Percy landed with a thud and Luke stared down at him, both of them panting heavily. Percy turned onto his back, clutching his arm as he scrambled back a little, staring up at Luke in a mix of anger and trepidation.

Luke took slow steps to come stand over Percy. He no longer spoke, simply looked down at Percy with a disdain he had never seen before, a deep-seated anger, resentment, and revulsion he had only seen in the monsters he had faced along his journey. Luke raised Backbiter, face trembling as he glared down at Percy. Just as he was about to bring the sword down, twigs cracked underfoot and a dagger came rushing at his face. It was pure instinct that had Luke deflecting it away, stumbling back as he followed the dagger’s trajectory. He glanced between where the dagger landed, Percy, and a spot in the woods that began to shimmer only to reveal Annabeth staring at him with pure shock and dismay.

“Annabeth?” He was trembling now as he watched the girl pull a sword from the scabbard at her waist and point it at him.

“I heard everything,” she breathed out, watching him with eyes made of stone, not a trace of the love and familiarity she had once offered him. Luke stared back at her like a betrayed dog, his brown eyes soft and pained. He gulped, glancing down at Percy who was still on the forest floor clutching his arm, frowning as he frantically gazed between Annabeth and Luke.

Luke looked between them again and again, a frantic back and forth before he finally gripped tightly to Backbiter. Annabeth readied herself, Percy curled a little further around his injured arm, but Luke simply sprinted for the portal he had created and jumped through.

You clutched Percy close to your chest, your entire body trembling. The magic flowed from your hands and into his skin without your awareness, healing his cuts and bruises as he held you tightly in return. You cried into his hair, your tears dripping gently against his scalp as he closed his eyes and inhaled your scent.

The others in the room whispered amongst themselves at the table. Though they had already become aware of Kronos’s involvement, the knowledge that Luke - and most likely not just Luke - had been pulled into the conflict changed a lot. Poseidon glanced over at you two occasionally, allowing you to process your fear with your son. Mr. D, Chiron, and Annabeth frowned as they discussed what this could mean for the rest of camp.

You slowly pulled away from Percy, pressing your thumbs to his cheeks and cupping his face. You looked him all over, making sure your magic had done its job before wiping your own tears. Percy led you back over to the table where Poseidon wrapped an arm around your shoulders and pulled you in close. He pressed his forehead to your temple and you breathed in his scent of salty air, allowing it to calm your heart. You gently reached up and ran your fingers through the hair above his ear, pressing your lips to his bearded cheek and sighing softly against his face.

“I love you,” you whispered, just barely a movement of your lips against his face. He leaned a little farther down and pressed his mouth to the shell of your ear.

“I love you too,” he whispered in return, and you allowed yourself the smallest smile before Percy cleared his throat and called everyone’s attention.

“There’s one thing that Luke said that I still don’t get,” he frowned, looking between you and Poseidon. “He said he wasn’t the first to steal the bolt - we all know that - but he said… he said ‘at least that’s one thing my dad did do for me.’ What did he mean by that?”

You turned to look at Poseidon, a frown pulling the corners of your lips down. But your husband’s face had turned stormy, his brows pulled down and his jaw clenched. You could almost see his brother’s lightning flashing in his eyes. You could see the ferocity that created the storms, the power that made the waves rise and crash.

“He means it was Hermes who stole the master bolt the first time,” Poseidon growled out. You pulled away from him, eyes widening and breath catching in your throat.

“What? No!” You shook your head, holding your hands up in disbelief. “No, how could you possibly think that?”

“It makes sense. It has made sense from the beginning. I have suspected him for some time, and this only confirms it.”

“Poseidon, no. He was… he was my friend. He would not do that,” your eyes became teary as you thought about your time on Olympus, how kind Hermes had been. “No…” you whispered, shaking your head, Poseidon simply sighed.

“He may have pretended to be your friend but not without other motives. He wished to court you, to bed you, and he was angry that I got you to love me first. He is mischievous and vengeful. Zeus would leave his lightning bolt lying around all the time before, and with his winged shoes it would have been easy to sneak in and steal them. He had the means, the motive, the opportunity…”

Everyone could see that Poseidon was raging. The waters of the lake were unsettled outside, sudden waves crashing against the sandy shores, frothing and foaming, scaring the campers who began retreating their celebrations from the beach.

“That explains why the bolt was returned only days later,” you whispered, clenching your eyes shut as you pressed your hands to your face. Your back ached as if he had actually stabbed you through it.

“A guilty conscience, perhaps,” Poseidon bit out. He clenched his hands on the back of the chair just in front of him and the wood cracked beneath his palms. He pulled it away and tossed it to the floor, rubbing a palm across his mouth and beard before moving closer to you and gently grasping your wrists. He brought your hands away from your face and looked you right in the eyes.

“He must have told Luke about it at some point,” Percy mumbled, biting at his lips as he frowned and tried to think through the situation.

“He must have thought it would be a way to get Luke to talk to him. And I bet Luke finally seemed interested in talking to him when Hermes began telling the story,” Annabeth added, glaring at the table as if it had personally offended her.

“I am going to Olympus,” Poseidon announced, his cheeks beginning to turn red with his anger. The lights flickered for a moment and you quickly grasped his arms before he could move too far from you. Chiron and Mr. D looked fearfully at him, eyes wide and mouths trembling. “The punishment of Prometheus will be a blessing compared to what I will do to that sniveling little ra-”

“You will do no such thing.” You lifted your head and glared at your husband with eyes made of stone. He clenched his jaw, readying to argue, but you simply shook your head and silenced him. “You have only just narrowly avoided a war with your brother, a war that would have been an unnecessary distraction from the true battle at hand.”

“So you mean to forgive him?!” Poseidon snapped, though he did not move out of the clutch of your arms. You shook your head sharply, grasping onto him tighter and pulling him a fraction closer.

“No, I do not mean to forgive him for this betrayal. But I also know that this is not the right time to seek punishment, especially at your own hands. He is your nephew, Zeus’s son. The same Zeus who was ready to smite you and your child not a moment ago. Let us handle the problem of Kronos first, rebuild your relationship with Zeus even just a fraction, then you may seek whatever punishment you desire. You may even be able to have that vile brother of yours on your side for it.”

The two demigods and camp leaders watched your interaction with baited breath. They watched Poseidon almost melt in your arms, allowing you to snuggle into the clutch of his arms and gently hug him to soothe him. They watched him huff and grumble quietly against your ear but ultimately wrap himself around you as you gently whispered in return. They could not hear what else you were saying to each other, but they were certain you had managed to talk the god of the sea down from his instant desire for justice.

The two of you pulled away from each other and went back to the table, ready to discuss the next steps with everyone.

That evening was the final night of the summer for the children who would be returning to their homes for the next school year. You sent Percy and Annabeth to bed, pressing soft kisses to both their heads before walking back to the lakeshore where your husband stood in the shadows of the night.

You paused just before the beach started and watched him. He was staring off over the black water, at the ripples in the breeze and the movement of light from the Big House. His arms were crossed over his chest and his feet were bare, slightly dug into the sand as if he was slowly sinking into it and one day would disappear beneath the surface. His linen trousers were wrinkled, his blue shirt rumpled, and even his beard was getting a little longer and looked scraggly. His hair looked smooth and soft but was a bit messy where it sat against the nape of his neck and you smiled. He looked so soft. He looked so gentle. He looked like he loved with all his heart.

You finally moved forward, your dress billowing around your legs and the breeze brushing over your bare arms, ruffling through your hair as it waved behind your shoulders. You gently touched his arm and he dropped them both open, waiting for you to snuggle yourself against his chest before wrapping them tightly around you. You pressed your left cheek to his chest, listening to his heart thud against your ear. You breathed in the scent of freshly washed clothes and bright sea air, feeling the way his entire body seemed to emanate a warmth that touched your skin like a million gentle caresses. You let out a sigh, closing your eyes and wrapping your arms around his torso, gently running one of your hands up and down his spine.

“To feel you in my arms again…” he began, a soft whisper against your hair, “this is what true magic feels like. Not even Aphrodite could conjure a love so pure.” You smiled, a soft breathy chuckle falling from your lips.

“Careful she does not hear you say such a thing or you may have to fend off a revenge plot before creating your own.” He chuckled, shaking his head and rubbing his lips back and forth over the top of your head.

“I hope they can allow me a few moments of peace with my beloved after so long,” he sighed.

“What is twelve years in the grand scheme of existence?” You responded, though it sounded more sarcastic than sincere.

“Twelve years, twelve seconds, twelve millenia, each is as painful as the other. To be parted from you in any way, for any morsel of time is wrong.” He sounded so sure, his voice firm with conviction. You chuckled again but did nothing to rebuff his words. Though they may sound silly to any other god, they were the truest words ever spoken. You had felt the thoughts keenly in all the time you had been away.

The two of you were silent for a little while, just listening to the waves gently lap at the shore, the rustle of sand and the distant crackle of fire from the sconces all over the Camp. You could even hear the gentle tinkle of the chandelier inside the observatory and the stamping of the pegasi hooves in the stables on the other side of camp.

You gently pulled away from Poseidon, just a smidgen so you could turn to face him fully. You pressed your stomach to his and leaned back so he could look down into your eyes. He smiled, the small little smile of his any time he met your eyes as if it was a blessing to simply be able to look upon you, and you gently cupped his cheek, rubbing his beard.

“We may have to be parted over and over as this war heads our way,” you informed him, as if he didn’t already know. He closed his eyes and nodded, pressing his lips tightly together.

“I know,” he sighed.

“But never again will we be separated without knowing exactly when we shall see each other again,” you added firmly. “I will not allow it. From this day forth, we will only be separated if we know the exact moment we shall return to each other.” He smiled at your conviction and nodded along, reaching up and caressing your cheek, cupping the back of your neck so your ear sat perfectly in the crease between his thumb and forefinger. He swiped his thumb back and forth over your cheek and simply marvelled at you.

“We have a long journey ahead, but it is all worth it with you by my side.” And then he leaned down and kissed you.

You waited at the boundary of Camp Half-Blood for Percy. The sun was shining brightly across the land, the sky a perfect blue, the leaves crisp and green, the grass swaying in the softest breeze. You gently rested your hand against the tree that was once Thalia and sent a soft pulse of energy toward it. You felt the bark of the tree pulse in return and you smiled, stroking the rough wood once more before venturing away from it. You walked along the perimeter for a while, breathing in the fresh air and stretching your limbs.

You had quickly realised how truly ungrateful the gods were. Being able to move whichever way you wanted, to possess a power that gave you endless possibilities… you had only now begun to appreciate it the way it deserved after tasting the hell that existed without it. You had grown a further appreciation for humans as well, how strong they must be to live so solidly for their entire lives, unknowing of the pleasure of existing without… existing.

You realised you had strolled for longer than you had intended and turned to begin the march back to Thalia’s tree. From a distance you noticed Annabeth standing there, gently touching the tree as you had done before Percy came ambling up to her. They smiled at each other and began to speak. You paused where you were, bending to sit in the grass a moment as you allowed them to talk without your presence. You felt the blades swish softly under your palms as you watched the small smiles they offered each other before Grover came rushing up to them. He pulled open his jacket and you smiled as you saw the flower pinned to his jumper. You would congratulate him for it later.

You watched the three of them jump and hug each other, clutching tightly and swaying side to side for a moment. You laughed softly before standing from your spot and walking toward them once more. You were so proud of your little trio.

As you came within hearing distance, the three of them pulled away and turned to look at you. You walked over and gently pet both Annabeth and Grover on the tops of their heads before standing beside Percy and dropping a kiss to the top of his head.

“How are my little demigods faring this morning?” You asked quietly, gently ruffling the curls on the back of Percy’s head. He squinted in feigned frustration but didn’t stop you.

“We’re alright, ma’am,” Annabeth and Grover chimed quickly, trying not to look at you for too long lest they expose their awe. You simply chuckled and nodded as your husband appeared on Percy’s other side in a flash of light. He dropped a hand to Percy’s shoulder and looked between the two of you.

“Alright, is everyone ready to return to New York?” You asked, and they all exclaimed little ‘yeah!’s. You dropped your head to look at Percy and found him already looking up at you. His big blue eyes were shiny and he squinted lightly in the sun but he was smiling, bright and open. You gently nudged him under the chin then nodded. “Let’s go see Aunt Sally, then.”

BONUS SCENE:

“Alright, let’s try one more time,” you encouraged clasping your hands together in front of you.

It had just hit twelve in the afternoon on a Saturday. You had whisked Percy and Sally away to Poseidon’s palace for a family weekend. While Poseidon was off solving a dispute between some particularly vicious seeming Nereids and Sally was taking a well-deserved nap, you and Percy had agreed to attempt to jumpstart the godly powers he would have inherited from you. Thus far you had been mostly unsuccessful, but you had started to see some progress in the last ten minutes.

“Why don’t you try thinking of an animal? What’s an animal that you think would represent you well if you were ever to send a signal to someone?” You asked, crossing your legs under you and smoothing out a wrinkle in the jeans you had begun to wear.

“Um, I don’t know?” He shrugged, brows furrowing as he concentrated. “A seahorse?”

“Yes! That is a good place to start,” you clapped your hands together, smiling brightly at him. “Picture a seahorse in as much detail as you can, or in whichever way you like really. Accuracy is not essential but try to make the image you conjure as detailed as possible, then… will it into existence.”

Percy closed his eyes, clenched his jaw and his brows became so furrowed you were worried he would hurt himself for a moment. For a moment nothing happened, and he began to mumble the word ‘seahorse’ over and over again. You pressed your hand to your mouth to hide your smile, watching his lips move over the word again and again.

Then, when you could tell he was starting to lose his patience, there was a flash just in front of you and a tiny seahorse appeared. It was just about the size of your palm and seemed to glow from within. It was blazing electric blue and looked as if it was made up of razor sharp edges. Then it burst into a cloud of shimmer that dissolved into the surrounding water. You leapt towards Percy, pressing obnoxious kisses all over his face and head as you yelled in triumph.

“Look at you! I’m so proud of you Perseus!” He cringed as you yelled by his ear and patted you lightly on the back.

“Ok, I know I can breathe underwater but can you let go, Mom? I’m kinda suffocating,” he wheezed out. You instantly let him go and moved back, pressing a hand to your mouth as you muttered little apologies. But when you looked back up at him, your eyes widened once more.

“Oh Valhalla,” you exhaled, staring directly at his head.

“What?” Percy frowned, trying to look up but seeing nothing. He reached up and swiped at his forehead but there was nothing there. As he moved his hand back down, a lock of his hair fell into his eye and he blinked rapidly. He quickly plucked at it, pulling it lower so he could see it more clearly. “You’re joking…”

You snapped your fingers and a mirror appeared in the palm of your hand. You handed it to him as you began to laugh, leaning back on the sofa as your stomach convulsed with each giggle. You leaned forward again, gently touching his hair and smoothing it out so you could see the roots.

“Please tell me this was you and not me,” Percy breathed out, trying not to hyperventilate.

“I did nothing,” you wheezed out, staring at the blazing blue mop of curls that now sat on his head. In every other way it was his hair exactly as it had been before, except now it was as electric blue as your own, as the seahorse had been.

“What the fu-”

“Perseus!” You exclaimed, glaring at him for a moment before he raised his hands in surrender.

“Sorry,” he grumbled, continuing to stare at it. “But how do I change it back?!”

You simply doubled over laughing.

BONUS SCENE 2:

Clarisse sat outside of the Ares cabin sharpening her collection of daggers. Though the day was bright and beautiful (as it always was at Camp), her countenance was thunderous and even her siblings avoided where she sat near the entrance of the Cabin.

A pair of children of Apollo were slowly strolling by as Clarisse was pulling out her next dagger and she caught a snippet of their conversation.

“I heard that she beat Ares in…” Clarisse’s head snapped up and before the two kids could even utter their next words a celestial bronze dagger came flying past their heads, sticking into the nearest tree trunk. The two girls jumped, clutching their hands to their chests as they shrieked and turned to face Clarisse storming toward them. The girl reached over and yanked the dagger out of the tree before pointing it at the pair.

“What were you talking about?” She spat, her eyes blazing.

“What?” The girl on the left uttered, her entire body shaking.

“I SAID, what were you talking about?” Clarisse yelled, thrusting the dagger closer until it touched the tip of her nose. The girl on the right whimpered and her eyes filled with tears.

“We were talking about Y/n! Percy’s mother!” She replied, her voice so high-pitched and shaky that it was a miracle Clarisse understood her in the first place.

“What about her?” Clarisse growled, unrelenting.

“We were told a story about the first time the Norse Gods went to Olympus,” the girl on the right cut in, her eyes clenched shut and her hands clasped together tightly, as if begging Clarisse for mercy. “They said she beat Ares in single combat, and he lost badly.”

Clarisse ground her teeth together, her jaw popping as her eyes seemed to fill with flames. She pulled back from the two girls and slowly pointed to all the demigods that had gathered to watch the commotion.

“If another one of you tells this lie again, I will personally make your life such a hell that you will WISH Hades had taken you already,” she spat, glaring so fiercely that one of the younger campers began to whimper and sob.

“It is not a lie,” came a firm voice from behind Clarisse. The girl froze, spine suddenly ramrod straight. Everyone around her was now looking behind her, mouths dropping open in awe and eyes widening in succession. Clarisse gulped, hands suddenly trembling. She could feel the power pressing against her back, daring her to turn and face… you.

You looked down at the girl without a smile on your face, your eyes hard as stone. You were ethereal, your hair blowing in a phantom breeze and your dress settling perfectly around you. A belt kept a scabbard at your side, so dark and black that it seemed to suck the light in. A blade that inspired a fear in Clarisse like none other had. She tore her eyes away from it before more terror settled in her bones. She gulped again.

“It is not a lie that these children tell, Daughter of Ares. Next time you meet with him, I would suggest asking him how those events played out. Or even any other god that was a witness on the day,” you smirked, a small self-assured smile, and Clarisse nodded, too fearful to even speak. Then you met her eyes properly and smiled again, this time it was sweet, gentle and motherly. You reached out and gently pushed some of her hair over shoulder so it didn’t fall in her face. “Don’t be so scared, Daughter of Ares, I can see that you are a good fighter, and under all the anger there is a loving heart. Do not fret,” and then you gently caressed her hair once more and walked past her, saying hello to all the demigods you passed.

Clarisse stood there, stunned. She gently reached up and touched the part of her hair that you had, thinking about the sword that dangled from your belt. And as she went back to polishing her daggers, she suddenly felt giddy at the thought of you approving of her.

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