#percy being protective subtly | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

snexy-the-snail · 3 months ago

Text

Beach Snacks

Percy found that he ended up on the beach more often than not. More so when Annabeth wasn’t at camp. He sighs heavily as he shifts on the sands, wincing as the chill of the night settled into his skin. Cold sand sucked. It always seemed to suck the life out of your and...and slow things down- Percy sat up quickly, bile creeping up his throat at the rapid memories shoving to the front. He was fine, he didn’t need to focus on golden sand, the cold calculating feeling of eyes staring at him-

“Hey Perc-” He swung his sword out of reflex, on his feet in seconds. He looked around wildly for the source of the voice, his sword point lowering when he spotted the supposed attacker. “Woah, easy there squirt.”

“Hermes?”

“In the flesh.” Hermes chuckles, lowering his hands. The mortal form he had taken was still of a mail man, well sorta, the jumpsuit always through Percy off. His heart slowly stopped racing as he stood there in silence before capping his sword. “What brings you here? Don’t you have packages to deliver?” he asks, pocketing his sword. The lack of light made it a bit hard to see the expression the god wore, but his body language conveyed a deep-seated exhaustion. The god’s shoulders slumping inwards a bit.

“I could ask the same of you, aren’t you supposed to be asleep squirt?” Hermes prompts, not answering the question. Despite being the god of lies Percy often found that he was the most honest of the Gods simply by not straight up answering anything. The nickname, however, made him snort, crossing his arms.

He had grown a bit, more so from the summer Hermes had approached with gifts and oh so subtly prompted them to give it a go. He was a good head taller than this mortal form the god had taken as well. “I don’t think the nickname fits anymore, I’m a bit taller than last time.” He points out avoiding the question asked to him. In the limited light he could see Hermes' lips quirk upwards, leaning forward a bit. It was an action that promised mischievousness to follow and yet it didn’t make Percy’s stomach churn.

“You forget dear little cousin, that I can change that in seconds.” Came the sing song reply, Percy mentally bracing himself as the gods form grew rapidly. Soon a kneeling giant. He felt absolute tiny in comparison, a feeling he hadn’t had since his first meeting of the gods. The memory prickling the back of his head as he puts his hands on his hips. “Mmhm, wow, so scary.” He mocks, smiling at himself.

Hermes' laugh fills the night air with a warmth, not the type of Percy would have liked but it was good enough. “You’re a riot Percy.” the god muses, fingers curling around his body as he was lifted up. The feeling always made his stomach flip, like the few times it had happened before. He rolls his eyes, resting his hands on the massive digits encircling his waist. “Yeah yeah, I’m hilarious. You going to put me down or just going to chuck me halfway across the world?” He muses.

He wasn’t sure what was happening. Sure, Hermes would briefly visit, but it was always for his children, sometimes him, and occasionally to annoy Mr. D. He looks up at the gods face now, taking in the features now that they were massive and easier to see. Hermes seemed...tired. Not in need of some rest sense, just exhausted to the bone. He had seen his dad gazing at him like that a few times before. The comment still got a wayward smile out of the god, so he counted it as a win.

“I just came...to see how you’re doing.” The fingers briefly tighten around his waist. “You took up a heavy mantel, two prophecies all within a brief span of each other.”

“Exhausted.” Percy answers honestly, swinging his legs as they dangle. Open air should terrify him, the sensation of falling causing his breathing to hitch slightly at the memory. But just as quickly as the panic came, he was cupped against the god's chest, both hands protectively pressing into him. “Ah...Hermes?” He prompts after a second. This action he could see from his dad, Triton now too, but the trickster god?

“You cry out a lot in your sleep now.”

The silence around them didn’t seem too comfortable now. Percy swallowing thickly and casting his gaze aside. How would Hermes know? He was pretty sure his own father hadn’t noticed yet. “My kids are worried, you’re a great teacher to them and kept them alive. They pray for you all the time, how tired you are, how you rarely truly smile. Travis says you lie more often than not, and Conner swears that you rarely sleep.”

Damn. Percy really hadn’t realized how...bad he probably other seemed to the other campers. No one really approached him about the topic, the older campers treated him the same and the youngers would stare at him in awe. Chiron wouldn’t say anything and Mr. more times than not would just give him a nod and raise his Diet Dr.Pepper at him. “Well...they could all be lies; I mean they are your kids.” He tries, ignoring the annoyed fond look in the Gods eyes.

“Tell lies to me? Hmm, so my whole cabin is saying that Percy Jackson screams at night and more often we find him at the beach than in bed?” Hermes asks. While there was amusement the concern bled through. “They could be exaggerating.” Percy points out, pausing when has pulled away from the gods chest and up.

He frowns, his face scrunching as he got used to the chill of the air brushing past him. “Then why aren’t you in bed?”

“Maybe I took a good nap.” He shoots back shivering when he’s lifted up higher, more above the god’s face. He jolts when warmth rushes past him. Was...Hermes seriously going to... No, he wouldn't.

“Then why do you look so tired?” The warmth encircled him, the moonlight peaking from behind the clouds finally giving some light. Percy’s heart dips when he sees his legs completely engulfed in the gods mouth, saliva soaking through his shark pj pants quickly after. “H-hey! Gross-” He hisses out, trying to yank his legs up, surprised when a rolling pressure simply tugged him down, followed by a ‘glking’ noise. His heart skips a beat, grasping onto the fingers around him. “Hermes! Put me down- seriously this is- stop!” He snaps, yelping when another gulp tugged his body down further into the god’s gullet. He couldn’t even squirm, the pressures of the muscles keeping him firmly in place. His hands move from the gods' fingers to his lips, pressing firmly against eh flesh, trying to kick up and out of the tight space. It was unsuccessful in the worst ways possible, another swallow forcing his arms above him, as he was sucked deeper inside.

“Hermes!” he hisses out wriggling the best he could in the tight space, the fleshy tongue shielding the back of his head from the god’s teeth. He scowls as the gravity shifts, the feeling of falling accompanying the next few swallows. The slick flesh pressed into him, forcing him further into the core of the God. Soon his feet press against the tight entrance, and he slips in with no issue. The space was different than his dad’s and Triton’s for that matter too. Hermes stomach was dark, and breezy in a sense. The muscle was softer, more like pillows than anything in comparison. It didn’t move much either, if anything the muscle held him in place, the flesh rippling over him like it was surprised.

“You’re pretty salty squirt.” Hermes replied, echoing all around him, and almost tinkling like wind chimes. “Ew don’t even talk about what I taste like.” Percy grumbles, trying to shift positions, grimacing when the muscle held him in place. “Why not? My kids find it thrilling, they have a chart of who tastes like what.”

“That is literally so weird.” Percy says rolling his eyes, hating how heavy they felt now. It was something he had discovered recently with Triton. Apparently the closer to divine energy he was, the less his nightmares would affect him. Guess that spread to other gods as well. Hermes laugh shakes the space he’s in, an outside pressure squishing against him, most likely Hermes’ hand.

He shoves back against it, letting a breath out. It was awful how tired he got even after a little bit of time. “I can’t believe you stole me.” He continues crossing his arms. He could practically see Hermes smug look, another chuckle coming from the god. There was a small lurch, the god no doubt on the move again and yet..he didn’t feel the usual rocking movement that would accompany a god moving. Huh... Maybe it was just a sea thing. “I am the god of thieves my dear little cousin.” came the response.

“I am so telling my dad.” Percy mumbles, a yawn nearly cutting him off. He scowls again, his eyes nearly shutting. The breezy feeling of the stomach was different than he was used to. In the sea family’s stomach..well at least Triton and his dad’s it was almost heavy inside, like being in a pool and breathing water. He stretches a bit, the small movement accompanied by the muscles firmly cradling him back in place. “Seems like you’re a bit tired for that now, aren’t you?”

“This is totally cheating.” Percy shoots back, his eyes fluttering shut, the familiar noises slowly soothing him to rest. He hated sleeping now adays, but it didn’t seem so bad within a god. “Like putting a baby down for a nap.” Hermes teases, a pressure that had to be the god patting his middle coming and going.

Percy scowls, trying to fight the pull to sleep, eventually losing the battle.

Hermes sighs when he hears Percy’s breathing evening out, deeper breaths indicating the boy had finally fallen asleep. “Sleep well kiddo, we all know you need it.” He murmurs, a hand resting over his middle. Everyone in the sea palace was terrible gossip, and Poseidon was still rebuilding meaning he was constantly traveling to the deep blue sea. It wasn’t hard to get information that the little prince only slept within a god, and given how fiercely protective Triton had gotten made him connect the dot.

“Uncle P is totally going to kill me if this gets out, so maybe let's keep this between me and you.” He muses, before pulling out his phone, George and Martha pulling up the various deliveries he would need to make that night. The steady snore from Percy becoming wonderful background noise as the night carried on.

#safe vore #pjo vore #protective vore #extreme cuddling #endosoma #pjo soft vore #comfort vore #g/t vore #soft vore

48 notes · View notes

thesummerstorms · 5 months ago

Text

So in my personal version of an Annabeth Wayne AU, I see Annabeth as being very wary of Bruce.

I don't think he ever physically hurt her, even knowing those panels with Dick, etc, exist.

But I think he hurt her emotionally pretty badly and between that and everything she's endured from Athena she finds it very difficult to approach him again.

She definitely trusts him less than either of the older brothers she knew as a child.

She wasn't around for Jason's disastrous return, so she still knows him as Robin!Jason who teased her and fought with her but loved and looked out for her all the same.

Dick is still the older brother who pushed away from her (and everyone) to find his independence but was also the first to hold her, to comfort her. Who was the idolized Eldest and a buffer between her and Bruce when Bruce got his head up his ass.

But Bruce -

How much is Bruce like Athena? How much is she overreacting to them both? How much is she supposed to allowed to reasonable to feel and what is illogical, unwise, irrational. (Like Minerva and her wrath, like Athena and her pride...)

How much of the hurt did they mean? How much do they care? Will they do it again?

How much is she projecting on Bruce because of her mother because of all the things her mother loved Bruce for, that made them the same and how much of her anger or fear is justified? And vice versa?

She quite literally does not trust her own perception of any of it anymore, and that puts her even more on edge with Bruce than if she knew what to expect for certain.

And I actually think it would be interesting to see what Percy makes of that on a subconscious level. Because we know he's actually very observant, not to mention incredibly protective of Annabeth.

Not that he generally sees her as unable of protecting herself, but that anyone who threatens or hurts her still immediately earns his deep-seated wrath. He was angry that Arachne died without suffering enough for how she hurt Annabeth.

And then you add in his own background with him and his mom and Gabe.

And while I think he would follow her lead, whatever she asked of him, I think it would be really interesting to see how he reacts more at a subconscious level when around her and Bruce versus her and her brothers.

The Bats already read on an instinctual level like a threat and then Annabeth is subtly throwing all these little distress cues and moments of hesitation.

Cue him unconsciously putting himself just a little bit between Annabeth and Bruce. Eyes lingering a little bit too long when Annabeth agrees to talk to Bruce alone. Getting tense around him to a level he doesn't with Dick or Jason because Red Hood is terrifying but Bruce Wayne is who scares Annabeth.

He doesn't mean to be overprotective. He knows it isn't useful, that it's all Annabeth's call. He just can't help it.

#annabeth wayne

28 notes · View notes

cynthiav06 · 11 months ago

Text

I keep seeing the argument that Percy is plot armored and that other big three kids should be as powerful as him or more in the case of Thalia and Jason. I don't think that the inherent nature of their personalities is really taken into account.

The first argument is that Zeus is the king of Gods so his children should obviously be more powerful. This is a misunderstanding, Gods only ever transfer basic abilities to their children. Everything else that comes after is all a credit to the children themselves. (For e.g, how only Leo is able to summon fire even though there are many children of Hepheastus or how only Meg shows stronger, more deadly abilities of Demeter's domain.)

Percy's basic ability to control over water or earth comes from Poseidon but it's Percy's mindset, upbringing and motivations enhance and expand his abilities to the next level.

1)Thalia: She probably has more potential but is held back by her fear of heights and is therefore unable to exercise wind control. Her lightning control is way better and stronger but it's limited by her spite for Zeus or her overall fear of what ambition might do to her.(Titan's Curse subtly alludes to this)

2)Jason shows more inclination towards wind control more so than lightning perhaps because it's comes to him gar easier than lightning which requires rawness more so than discipline. His greatest downfall is his commitment to rules and his stern belief in doing things in a set way.

Jason is a lot of things, but he isn't very creative, nor is he a good out of the box thinker, so he just sticks to the rudimentary abilities he has and doesn't even think to explore Another good reason is that since Roman counteroarts of Gods are so disciplined, they do not indulge in the true raw nature of their power, and hence, Roman demigods are technically weaker in terms of raw power. (LOOK at the life expectancy of Greek demigods and how strongly they attract monsters).

He just doesn't have the touch of madness that sparks power in the big three children of Greek counterparts.

Jason is also not the type to damn the world for people he loves while we know the Jackson Family preaches the "do anything and everything under the sun to protect the ones we love. "

But mostly all of them, Thalia or Jason, believe there's a limit to what they can do or can be done and controlled while Percy has no sense of such predetermined boundaries. He is an open-minded and extremely adaptable fighter. He believes anything and everything could be used against his opponents, and hence, his fighting style is also better and far more unpredictable than usual. Percy also doesn't believe he is all that powerful, so he thinks there's always more to channel.

[It also helps that Poseidon favors Percy to the moon and back while Jupiter just gave Jason as a guilty gift to Juno.]

3)Now Nico has a good chance of being way more powerful than Thalia and Jason and isn't also very held back by moral concerns. His problem is that his powers are much too vast for him to control, and they always get the better of him. Raising the dead? Traveling through Shadows? Hands down Hades has the most op abilities to give. But this fact aside Nico also lacks the enhanced physical strength and the necessary experience to use his powers.

Last but not the least Percy is the most connected to his father's domain. He has sat on his father's throne, he has been in his father's secondary seat of power, Atlantis.

So overall, Percy is and will be the strongest demigod for a long, long time.

#percy jackson #jason grace #thalia grace #nico di angelo #big three kids #percy jackson and the olympians

59 notes · View notes

nickeverdeen · 1 month ago

Note

Hey! Could I request to get maybe an arcane, hunger games, and percy jackson matchup?

Okay, so i use mostly she/her pronouns, and i'd say i'm bi if i had to put a label on it.

personality-wise i'm more on the introverted side and i have an rbf - or so i've been told - that makes me intimidating/unapproachable, i guess. i moved around a lot as a kid and it was harder for me to make friends for said reasons, but once i did, i'm friends with them forever. anyway, i'm intj, and i take my academics really seriously, i'm currently studying criminal psychology. i'm also really sarcastic and have a somewhat darker/dry sense of humour that only a select few of my friends get

i love reading, listening to music, and being active. i'm pretty physical in which i take a few martial arts and kickboxing, i work out sometimes but i'm not a huge fan of structured workout routines n stuff cause i'm shit at sticking to routines.

looks-wise I’m actually pretty short around 5'3-4 with shorter black hair and dyed red sections in the front. i have a few piercings (several on each ear, septum, n tongue) and two tattoos (hips and thigh). my style is kinda just all over the place, i thrift a lot and just pick out what looks cool, you could never catch me out without firstly eyeliner (not too thick, but some sort of wing) and some kind of jewelry. i wear a lot of rings + one bracelet and necklace that are rly important to me and i wear every day.

lastly, i'd say my love languages are either words of affirmation or quality time. i'm not super huge on being touched or hugged by people - especially strangers/people i don't know well - but i'm not entirely opposed to physical touch with someone i'm comfortable with, it's just not really how i show my affection, which has been a problem in a past relationships.

sorry if this is too much info. and thank you so much for doing this if you have time, and no worries if you don't!

Your Arcane match is…

Sevika

Sevika would love sparring with you, finding your martial arts skills impressive and using it as a bonding activity

She’d subtly admire your tattoos and piercings, often running her fingers over them while you relax together

Sevika would understand your introverted nature and wouldn’t push you into social situations, preferring to spend time alone with you

She’d love your dry humor and sarcasm, often quipping back in ways that make you laugh unexpectedly

Sevika would be fiercely protective of you, both because of her nature and the respect she has for your independence

She’d buy you small but meaningful gifts, like unique rings or accessories, knowing how much you value your everyday jewelry

Sevika would encourage your passion for criminal psychology, often teasing you about “profiling” her

She’d be direct in her words of affirmation, praising your intelligence and strength without hesitation

Sevika would love watching you thrift and style outfits, often pointing out pieces she thinks would suit you

Despite her tough exterior, Sevika would treasure the moments when you let your guard down and show affection, no matter how subtle

Your Hunger Games match is…

Finnick Odair

Finnick would love teasing you about your RBF, often joking about how intimidating you are to others while finding it endearing himself.

He’d admire your martial arts skills and would ask you to teach him some moves, turning training sessions into playful competitions

Finnick would respect your boundaries with physical affection, finding subtle ways to express his love, like brushing your hair away or holding your hand

He’d constantly compliment your intelligence and sense of humor, loving how quick-witted you are

Finnick would gift you meaningful tokens, like small trinkets from his past or items that remind him of you

He’d love your eclectic style and often try to guess what outfit you’d piece together next

Finnick would enjoy spending quiet quality time with you, like reading together or walking along the beach

He’d often challenge you in games or debates, appreciating your competitive yet logical nature

Finnick would deeply value your loyalty and cherish the fact that you’re selective about who you let into your life

He’d occasionally surprise you with impromptu dates to unique places, knowing your love for exploring new things

Your Percy Jackson match is…

Nico di Angelo

Nico would instantly connect with your introverted nature and love for reading, often spending hours in comfortable silence together

He’d admire your tattoos and piercings, occasionally tracing them absentmindedly when you’re together

Nico would find your sarcasm and dark humor refreshing, often laughing at jokes others wouldn’t understand

He’d share music recommendations with you, appreciating your mutual love for lyrical, emotional songs

Nico would respect your boundaries with physical touch, opting for subtle gestures like holding your hand or leaning against you

He’d enjoy watching you thrift and would even join you occasionally, pointing out items he thinks match your style

Nico would admire your dedication to criminal psychology and often ask you about it, intrigued by your insights

He’d feel reassured by your loyalty and trust you completely, knowing you’d never let him down

Nico would join you in martial arts training, finding it both challenging and a way to connect with you

He’d make an effort to offer words of affirmation, knowing how much they mean to you, even if he’s not always great with expressing his feelings

#arcane #request #headcanons #matchups #hunger games #percy jackson #sevika #finnick odair #nico di angelo

3 notes · View notes

leossmoonn · 3 years ago

Note

LMAO jackie gets a boyfriend and matt is just so... matt XD he wants her to bring him over for dinner, and hes subtly interrogating him and being a little protective and your just rolling your eyes shaking ur head at how protective he is and jackie wants to jump out the window

Nah bc Matt is planning murder in his head lmao

“Do you get good grades?”

“How much do you like my daughter?”

“What’s your idea of a good date?”

“Do you do drugs and drink?”

LMAOOO MATT DEF ASKS “what’s your opinion on Daredevil”

Jackie is like “DAD SHUT UP”

You and Jackie are sharing glances. The way you apologize so much with your eyes to Jackie.

Lmao when Jackie’s bf sat down next to her Matt was like

“Nope. Sorry. I sit there.” And made Riley sit down like at the end of the table, really far away from Jackie

No bc when Jackie told Matt abt her bf he did some internet and real life stalking. Matt knows where he lives and is not afraid to use that info,,,, jk…

And at the end of the dinner Jackie and Riley are abt to kiss goodbye and Matt slides in between them like

“Percy is still a little kid! Please spare his eyes from this grossness”

#matt concepts #dad matt murdock

28 notes · View notes

phykios · 4 years ago

Text

this one is dedicated to mi amor mari @perseannabeth, who is a beautiful bird and a wonderful friend and i am v v vvvvv grateful to have crossed the airwaves with her :”)

Today Was A Fairytale [read on ao3] T, modern royalty, fun at disneyland!

She stares at him.

He stares back. “What?”

“Really?”

“What?”

“You really think this is going to be enough?” Annabeth points at her head, the blue Yankees cap squishing her curls.

“Of course! It’s the Clark Kent effect.” As if to underline his point, Percy slips on his fake hipster glasses, except that stupid grin of his is too bright not to draw attention.

“That’s not a real thing.”

“Sure it is. Studies show that glasses are actually good enough to alter your appearance if someone doesn’t know you well.”

“Then why didn’t you bring a pair of glasses for me?”

“Because your hair is definitely the prettiest thing about you,” he says, automatically tugging an unruly curl which peeks out from under the brim, a gesture so practiced she almost doesn’t register it--until he blinks, dropping his hand, blushing lightly. “I mean--the most noticeable thing. You know. A hat should be fine.”

He looks away. Heat rises to her face, too. Because it’s so hot out, obviously.

“Anyway,” he mumbles, “um. No--no one’s going to give you a second look if your hair is hidden.”

Chewing her lip, Annabeth can’t help but worry. Percy’s face is extremely well-known, possibly more than hers, and they’ve both spent the better part of three weeks with their faces plastered all over the media on their diplomatic trip. This is probably a really, really bad idea. Then, a thought occurs to her. “How about,” she says, perking up, “you give me your glasses, and I’ll give you mine.” From her backpack, she fishes out a pair of sunglasses, big and nondescript. He’ll practically be wearing a superhero mask with these.

Percy smiles again, and Annabeth thinks she might fly. “Perfect.”

Which is how Her Royal Highness Anna Elisabeth Ingrid Irene of Sweden and His Serene Highness Perseus Alexandros Ioannis of Thera play hooky from their day of boring meetings, insufferable dignitaries, and stuffy security guards, to go see the eighth wonder of the world: Disneyland Resort in California.

And how Annabeth eats her words as they make it past the security gate unchecked. “Eh?” He beams, nudging her with his elbow. “Eh?”

Rolling her eyes, she shoves him back. “Shut up.”

***

[description: a tiktok video which depicts a line at Disneyland. the op, a black girl with braids, covers her mouth and looking into the camera, turning the camera to focus on the two people behind her. one is a tall boy with black hair and sunglasses, and the other is a blonde girl with a yankees hat and glasses. both are white. video text reads: “p sure the people behind me are prince percy and princess annabeth??? um?????”. background audio is a dubstep remix of the fight theme from undertale. end ID]

***

Maybe it’s a little weird, on account of her being actual royalty and all, but Annabeth has always been interested in princesses, both as a matter of historical record (history is awesome) and in the general sense. Like millions of other people, she, too, was raised on Disney movies and tales of princesses and true love, and she was just as captivated as the rest of them. She and Percy used to watch the Disney catalogue whenever their families held state visits for each other, staying up into the small hours of the morning, sharing some popcorn and singing along.

Luckily for Annabeth, her favorite princess is holding a meet and greet at the Royal Hall.

“Excuse me,” Percy says, approaching Princess Ariel. Well, her cast member, anyway. “Could I get a photo for my friend?”

“Of course!” she trills, her blue eyes sparkling. “It would be my pleasure.” Holding her hand out, perfectly poised and graceful in a way that would impress even Annabeth’s stodgy etiquette instructor, she smiles, warm and welcoming, pivoting to bring Annabeth in for one of those weird, semi-awkward half-hugs. “What’s your name?”

“Anna,” says Annabeth. Hey, it’s not untrue. She’s a little leery of using any of her names, but Anna is common enough. Annabeth? Not so much. Even with her glasses and hat disguise, a little paranoia is justified, she thinks.

“It’s so wonderful to meet you, Anna,” she says, cheerful, with all the grace and charm of someone who doesn’t spend hours saying the same thing over and over again to excitable, temperamental children. What a trooper, she thinks.

“Don’t you recognize a fellow princess when you see one, your highness?” Percy says, grinning that stupid, smarmy grin of his.

Annabeth glares. Oh, he thinks he’s so damn clever.

“Oh, of course,” says Ariel, smoothly. “How could I have thought otherwise? Your highness.” And she curtsies to Annabeth, a short dip, her hand placed delicately against her chest. “Perhaps I can introduce you to my friend Anna, princess of Arendelle?”

Still smirking, Percy takes some more pictures, trapping Annabeth into smiling for the camera. She can’t be glaring daggers in her pictures, nor can there be video evidence of her kicking him--no matter how much she wants to.

And she definitely doesn’t miss the way Ariel not-so-subtly checks Percy out, eyeing him up and down.

“You fucking asshole,” she hisses as they leave the photo area, swatting him lightly, and he giggles.

“Sorry, sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

“Ugh, I hate you so much.”

It’s hard to stay mad at him, though she definitely tries as they enter back out into the park proper, giving him just the barest hint of a cold shoulder.

“Aw, come on,” Percy says. “I was just teasing.”

“You shouldn’t go around tempting fate like that,” Annabeth says. “Do you want to cause another international incident?”

Percy winces, no doubt remembering the Gateway Arch incident of 2008.

“If someone recognizes us, we don’t have Zoe or any of her team to protect us,” Annabeth goes on. “Not that I think anyone here would try to hurt us, but…” But it’s a little nerve-wracking, being on her own like this. She hasn’t been alone like this for a really long time.

Wincing, Percy rubs the back of his head. “I guess I forgot you’re a little higher profile than me. Sorry.”

She doesn’t like to think about it, but it’s true. Percy, by his nature as the younger son of a largely defunct royal house, doesn’t have quite the same number of… issues… that someone like Annabeth might have.

Deflating, she uncrosses her arms. “It’s okay.”

“I should have asked you first.”

“It’s really okay,” she says. “No harm no foul.”

“Do you want to get out of here?” he asks, entirely serious. “I can call someone up.”

She knows just how long they’ve planned this, how many favors he’s called in and policies he’s sidestepped. Backing out now would just be a waste of a day. She shakes her head. “It’s fine,” she says. “I’m just… feeling a little exposed, I guess. But, I don’t want to ruin all our plans. Let’s keep going.” She grabs his hand, squeezing a little.

“...Okay,” Percy says. “But say the word, and we’ll call it a day. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good.” Like he doesn’t have any other expression today, he smiles at her again.

It hits her, suddenly. He’s so much taller than she remembers. Once upon a time she used to be taller than him; now, he’s basically a whole head above her.

It’s annoying. But also… not.

Spying something over her shoulder, his eyes light up, and he practically gasps. “Cinderella!” he points with his free hand, like a five-year old. “Come on!” And he takes off to one of the park corners, dragging Annabeth along with him.

He has to wait in line behind a pair of twin girls, six or seven years old by the looks of it, in identical Cinderella dresses for a photo, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet, and when it’s finally his turn, he nearly trips over himself to go up and ask for a photo.

Cinderella agrees, and now Annabeth is relegated to the job of cameraperson. Percy slides in next to the princess, his hand on her waist, but, ever the respectful gentleman, loosely held, so the cast member can slide out of his grasp without any difficulty at all.

Taking a few shots, it does look kind of strange to have Cinderella’s beautiful, shining face, and Percy’s enormous sunglasses blocking his. “Take off your glasses?” she says, lowering her phone for a second.

Dutifully, Percy slips them off, smiling again for the camera.

Cinderella’s smile doesn’t falter, a credit to her professionalism, but Annabeth can see her eyes widen, just a touch.

Annabeth snaps off a few more photos, “Got ‘em!” and Percy once again gushes over the princess, thanking her for her time. Grabbing Annabeth’s hand again, he practically skips off, leading them in the direction of a nearby candy shop.

***

me: IM SHAKING GUESS WHO I JUST TOOK A PICTURE WITH????

sis: prince percy?

me: HOW TF DID YOU KNOW

sis: its on twitter already

***

They’re walking along, Annabeth slurping up a Dole whip, when she suddenly stops in her tracks, outside of one of the many, many gift shops. “Wait up a second.”

“Hm?” Percy says, around the giant lollipop in his mouth.

“I want to get some Mickey ears.”

Very quickly they get lost in the sea of Disney merchandise, walking the labyrinth of Star Wars and Marvel and Pixar goods. There’s a surprising amount of black for the so-called happiest place on Earth, but things do brighten up when Annabeth finally turns a corner and finds the enormous selection of Mickey ears. It’s a wash of sparkles, flowers, bows, and occasionally characters, for children and adults alike. Annabeth eyes a pair designed like Baby Yoda, eyes wide and ears adorably huge, before she fingers a pair of white Mickey ears that have a bridal veil attached to them, contemplating its counterpart, the black ears for the groom, each ear emblazoned with a sparkling silver “Happily Ever After.”

She looks around. Where did Percy wander off to, anyway?

Well, wherever he is, hopefully he hasn’t gotten mobbed by a horde of excitable fangirls. Given that she can’t hear any screaming--well, any unusual, non-Disneyland-relevant screaming--that’s probably a good sign.

Running her fingers over the ear selections, she finally picks out a pair of silver sequined earrings with a shiny gold bow, a tiny, rhinestone Cinderella’s castle placed delicately in the middle.

Yeah. This one.

Percy finds her as she is paying for her ears, a pair of his own already on his head, red balloons inside of plastic circles. The sunglasses, she notes with a tinge of nervousness, are tucked in his shirt, and not on his face, protecting his identity. “Oh, check mine out--they light up!” he says, giddy, pressing the button on the side, not that she can tell in the brightly lit shop.

“That’s not why I was looking.”

Walking out of the store, ears firmly in her possession, she looks around again. Percy’s face is out there for the world to see, and no one is giving them a hard time.

And her hat is really sweaty.

Ah, fuck it.

She removes the Yankees cap, shaking out her sweaty curls, sliding the ears on in its place.

And the glasses, for good measure.

“Cinderella?” Percy asks.

“I thought you’d approve.”

Outside the shop, next to a corn dog cart, Percy pulls her aside, out of the way of a whole classroom’s worth of children, holding up a plastic plag. “So, confession.”

“Percy…” He didn’t. “We said no gifts!” They had agreed to it that morning!

“Well, see,” he says, fumbling around in the bag, pulling out a black t-shirt. “I saw this, and I thought--I thought you might like it.”

He unfolds it, and Annabeth frowns at the shirt design.

It’s… a drawing of a man in a purple mask against a solid black background, glaring at the viewer. Circling him, in distressed, white-grey military font, are the words “BARON ZEMO,” and the logo for the show he must star in, Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. She doesn’t really watch superhero shows, though, and she’s pretty sure Percy doesn’t, either. Maybe he’s started this one and he really likes it? “Thanks,” she says, confusion coloring her voice despite her best efforts.

But he doesn’t look too disappointed. “I was looking through their pride merch, and they didn’t have any stuff with the ace flag, which totally sucks, but then I thought that maybe you might like something a little more subtle? So, yeah.” He shakes it. “Ace pride!”

Oh. Oh, this boy.

She remembers, so vividly, visiting his father’s summer home on Kalymnos, a few years ago, the summer she turned nineteen, waking up to a banging in the kitchen, noisy pots and pans making a real racket. Granted, it had been one in the afternoon, and Annabeth probably should have been awake sooner, but she had stumbled out of the guest room into the kitchen, rubbing sleep out of her eyes, to the sight of Percy wrestling with the standmixer, making bright, neon purple frosting. The night before, sometime around three or four AM, that weird, liminal hour where the shadow of night just starts to recede, the sky a sweet, soft, dusky blue, she had come out as demisexual to her best friend, saying the words aloud for the first time ever. Loopy from lack of sleep, the moment had passed without much fanfare.

But Percy, dark-circled and still yawning, had woken up early to make her a chocolate cake. By the time she had woken up, he had baked the cake, chilled it, and made two out of the three frosting colors, a beautiful, moist, dark chocolate cake which ended up being frosted with a marbled mix of purple, black, and white, all folding into each other into a kind of colorless, grey sugar.

Here, now, in Disneyland, she throws herself at him, wrapping his arms around his neck. His arms automatically come up to circle her, hugging her tight.

She had been worried it had been some kind of defense mechanism. A young girl with an alarmingly high profile, Annabeth had been the subject of intense scrutiny with regards to any romantic entanglements, with critics, tabloid reporters, and fans alike attempting to invent gossip-worthy relationships with every boy she ever talked to--most usually Percy. They did grow up in the public eye together, attending all kinds of events and functions together over the last fifteen or so years. And they did tweet at each other. Like, a lot. They even had their own portmanteau hashtag. But no relationship ever materialized.

She thought maybe she was just being stubborn, unwilling to play the media game. But it hadn’t been stubbornness. It wasn’t about shyness or inexperience. It was real, and it was her.

And Percy hadn’t even blinked.

“I love it,” she murmurs. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” he says, swaying her from side to side, just a little. “It was my pleasure.”

***

What’s happening: #percabeth (Entertainment • trending)

@kndrck__ STREAM CHROMATICA: um @TheraUS @SwedenRoyals i think i found your sick royals? #percabeth #disneyland

@wasabiviking: omg werent they supposed to be at some hospital opening today #percabeth

@ChampionSno brando he/him: LMAOOO NOT #PERCABETH PLAYING HOOKY LIKE IT’S ROMAN HOLIDAY

***

“Holy shit,” Percy moans, his mouth full of food. “Oh my God. Dear God in Heaven.”

Annabeth kicks his ankle under the table. “Don’t be rude.”

He swallows, eyes fluttering. “Oh my God, Annabeth. Holy shit. This is the best damn sandwich I’ve ever had in my entire life.”

“A monte cristo?”

“A deep-fried monte cristo! In sweet batter!” Taking another bite, he moans again, just this side of indecent. “Oh my God I love Americans. They are absolute culinary geniuses.”

“Better than Bistrot Chez Rémy?” They had both been to Disneyland Paris, separately, sadly, and Percy had recommended the restaurant to her with great enthusiasm for her upcoming trip. As usual, he was spot on with his food recs.

He nods, eyes closed in rapture. “By a mile.”

“You’ll have to learn to make your own when we get back home, then.”

He jolts, straightening up, cheeks full of food. Roughly, he swallows. “You’re right! I need to take notes.” And he takes out his phone, hurriedly typing down whatever scent and flavor notes he must be able to discern. “This is definitely challah…”

Plucking another piece of chicken with her fork out of her jambalaya, Annabeth lets her attention wander a little, content to watch the passengers on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride as they float on beside them, down in the artificially constructed bayou river.

Truth be told, she’s kind of tired. They’ve been walking around all day, and even with the brief reprieve of rides, her shoes really aren’t the kind that deal well with huge amounts of walking. She can already tell that she’s going to crash, and crash hard, whenever they get back to their hotel. You know, if their security detail doesn’t eviscerate them first.

When Percy had first presented his idea to her, she had agreed without hesitation. They had had a long, dense schedule of public appearances planned for their excursions to the states, and the days had begun to seriously wear them out. Together, they had worked out the kinks, coming up with contingencies, negotiating things to do, all over Discord so no one else would get wind of what they were doing. Prior to this trip, she hadn’t seen him in… probably almost a year. She knows his father had been keeping him close to home for whatever reason, and Annabeth had had a handful of official functions to deal with. Their paths just never managed to cross, up until now.

She hadn’t realized how much she had missed him.

It’s lonely, growing up in the public eye. It’s cliche, but it’s true. And while Annabeth is afforded a metric ton of various intersecting privileges, she thinks she’d probably give it up in a heartbeat. It kind of sucks being a living, breathing tourist attraction.

Growing up, she had her cousin Magnus, and a handful of other assorted children to play with, but she would never say that she had a best friend, or even a good friend, until she’d met Percy. Her mother and his father, famous for their mutual dislike, had put aside their differences to host some kind of charitable dinner for the disgustingly wealthy, and had trotted out their respective children in all their finery. Annabeth, being all of twelve years old, hadn’t really grasped the gravity of the event, and had gotten into an itty bitty little food fight with the then-unknown Prince Perseus, the result of an extramarital affair whom his father had so graciously decided to acknowledge and adopt.

After that night, they became fast friends, and she decided that, if she ever left the royal life, she’d make sure to take Percy with her. He’s one of the few things that makes her life bearable.

She thinks about it, sometimes. Renouncing her title. It wouldn’t exactly be hard. There was Magnus, just in line behind her. And it’s not like her family held any executive power anyway. They’re just fancy, historically interesting celebrities.

Would Percy give up his, she wonders?

“Hey.”

“Hm?”

He looks at her oddly over their dessert, two vanilla-bourbon creme brulees. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she says. “Just tired. Long day.”

“You want to call it a night?”

She frowns. “What’s left?”

“Well, we did Space Mountain, Rise of the Resistance, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, a few others,” he counts off his fingers, “saw the princesses, got Mickey ears, ate at Blue Bayou… I guess all that’s left is walking around the pier, if you want.”

“Sounds like you two had a full day.”

As one, they almost leap out of their seats, Annabeth choking on her spit. “Jesus, Zoe,” Percy pants, his hand over his chest. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“Oh?” says Zoe Nightshade, the head of their security detail, who had just apparently materialized out of thin air. “Funny. I could say the same about you, sir.”

Coughing, Annabeth eventually manages to get her air back. “Hey, Zoe,” she wheezes. “How was your day?”

“Eventful. Let me tell you about it in the car.”

Annabeth glances at Percy, who’s looking a little bit like a deer in headlights. Honestly, she’s surprised they even made it this far without one of their own tracking them down. Still, it looks like their game is up.

...Or is it?

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees a large tour group, approaching on the horizon.

“Sure,” Annabeth says, getting up. Luckily, they’ve already paid, so they can just head out; they don’t need to wait for another big group of people to cross their paths. “Will you let us go to the bathroom, first?”

Zoe squints. She’s always been able to see through Annabeth’s bullshit. But Annabeth has her best, Percy-patented baby seal eyes on, perfectly innocent. Surely, Zoe wouldn’t deny them a physical need such as relieving themselves?

After a moment, she nods. “Make it quick, if you please.”

“Of course,” Annabeth says, looking over at Percy, hoping he gets the message. He stands up, slow and stiff, eyes darting between the two of them. “We’ll be right back.”

They wander through tables and chairs towards the bathroom, her eyes always on the tour group as it just starts to pass by. Reaching out, Annabeth grabs Percy’s hand, and with a turn that would make her track coach proud, sprints out of the restaurant, using the throng of people as cover.

She thinks she hears Zoe yelling behind them, but maybe it’s just her own laughter. “Come on!” she shrieks, breathless, as Percy’s long legs keep pace with her. “To California Adventure!”

***

darthbingus said: the monarchy are fucking parasites but percabeth is pretty cute i guess :/

ladyofsandwiches reblogged and said: it’s obviously a publicity thing lmao, also prince Percy is gay???

eowynning reblogged and said: he’s dating rachel dare, right? he can’t be gay

ladyofsandwiches reblogged and said: That was a publicity thing too obvs, and Annabeth hasn’t ever been linked to a guy. The king of thera is hardline greek orthodox, there’s no way he’d let his son come out publicly. They’re both gay and pretending to date because homophobia

lardoftheprks reblogged and said: people can be bi and ace and pan and all sorts of things you know

batgirlcock reblogged and said: can you animals leave them alone fr

***

Zoe only spots them after the ferris wheel starts moving. Sprinting over to them, they’re still a full forty feet off the ground by the time she reaches the operator. “Sorry!” she yells down to her, hands cupping her mouth. “We’ll be down in ten minutes!”

“Ananbeth!” he chokes, giggles still escaping him.

“What?” she laughs.

“We’re in enough trouble as it is!”

“Exactly,” she says, settling back on the ride. “You’ll probably be grounded for life.”

“Me?” he squawks, playfully offended. “What about you?”

She scoffs. “Please. I’ll just pin it all on you.”

Leaning back, he pouts, arms crossed. “Wow. I plan this amazing day, violate a few embassorial rules, and probably put both of our countries on a massive red alert, and this is the thanks I get?”

“I helped plan it, too.” But he does have a point. “Thank you,” she says. “I had a lot of fun today.”

He turns his head to her, a grin stretching across his face. “Me too.”

His voice is so soft, so fond. They share a look, a moment, no words between them, only the silence of a true, deep companionship. They don’t need to say anything else, because they already know what the other would say.

As one, they break away, looking back out into the California evening.

They don’t talk much as the ferris wheel climbs higher and higher. Honestly, Annabeth is kind of impressed with how well he’s handling himself--she knows heights are a bit of a weakness of his. He grabs the edges of their gondola every once in a while as it drops a few feet, knuckles white and face a little green, but he manages to keep his dinner down, even as the ferris wheel grinds to a halt, Percy and Annabeth at the top of the world. The swing back and forth a little, hot faces against the cool evening breeze.

And they stay there.

And stay there.

And… stay there.

Annabeth checks her watch. How long have they been up here?

Percy taps his feet, a little too frantic just to be ADHD.

Finally, there’s a burst of noise from below them, garbled and static. “Uh, yes, excuse me--” the voice says, amplified through a megaphone. “Yeah, um, it appears we are having some… uh, technical difficulties with the Pixar Pal-A-Round. Please remain calm, as we have our best technicians on it, and we are working on evacuating the ride in a calm and efficient manner.” Then the voice cuts out.

Annabeth glances towards Percy. He has his hands in his lap, fists clenching and unclenching, over and over again. “Uh… you okay?”

“Hm? Oh, sure,” Percy says, “just fine. Peachy keen.” He squeezes his eyes shut, slowly blowing out his breath through his mouth.

“Hey.” She reaches over, and takes one of his hands in hers, lacing their fingers together. After a long day of holding hands, somehow it still manages to surprise her, how well they fit together, how her skin tingles as she rubs her thumb against his finger. “It’s gonna be fine. We’re gonna be just fine. They’re going to get us off this ride, and then we’ll fly home and be grounded for life.”

“I thought,” he wheezes, “you’d blame it all on me?”

“As if you could come up with a plan as genius as hiding from our guard in It's A Small World.”

He nods, shakily. “Right. All you. Definitely not my idea. Everyone knows I’d have looped back to Pirates of the Caribbean.”

“Definitely.” She squeezes his hand, scooting a little closer. “Just breathe with me a little, okay?”

They breathe together, slowly and evenly. At some point, Percy takes her hand in both of his, running his thumbs over her palm, tracing her lifelines like a map. His hands are big, and warm, and it seems to calm him down a little, so she doesn’t mind all that much.

Twilight darkens, stars twinkling against the grey, dusky sky, and still they are holding hands. Eventually, Percy relaxes, slumping against his seat.

“You good?”

He nods. He still doesn’t let go. “Yeah. Just…” he sighs, stretching his arms up, taking Annabeth’s hand with him. “Not super looking forward to the dressing down I’m going to get.”

She winces. Annabeth’s dad is a little more flexible than Percy’s when it comes to breaches of protocol. The king of Thera is somewhat famous for his paranoia. “I hope it was worth it.”

He whips his head to her, eyes wide. “Of course it was worth it!” he says, as though the opposite were even fathomable. “You kidding? This was the best day of my life.”

“Better than your sixteenth?” His father had officially acknowledged him that day. Annabeth had spotted him in a deserted hallway with his mother, the two of them fighting off a few happy tears. She knows just how special that day was for him.

“Not even close.” Squeezing her hand, he smiles again, that smile she knows almost better than her own by now. That smile she grew up with, a quiet oasis in a whirlwind of ancient tradition and modern media coverage. That smile is safety, familiarity. That smile was there to greet her when her mother chose to leave her family, when her uncle died without heirs, thrusting the position of heiress on her, whenever she had a rotten day or a bad grade or a lonely night, just on the other end of a phone, or down the hall, or in the kitchen.

Whatever happens, she knows, Percy will be her best friend. Her anchor.

Her…

She swallows. “Thank you,” she says again. “I needed this.” A day without an agenda. A day just for them.

His eyes are dark, and soft, like the water beneath them. One hundred and fifty feet in the air in a broken ferris wheel, there’s nowhere safer she can be. “Me too.”

So she’s not really surprised at herself when she says, “I’d really like to kiss you now.”

Eyes widening, just a hair, he opens his mouth, momentarily speechless. “You--are you sure?”

She nods, maybe a little too enthusiastically.

“Cool. Uh, me too.”

“Cool.”

Neither of them move.

“So, do--do you want to--”

Annabeth leans in, her other hand cupping his cheek, and kisses him.

His lips are soft. His mouth tastes like vanilla and bourbon. They are trapped in a metal box, one hundred and fifty feet off the ground, about to get the punishment of their lives when they get down, and it is absolutely, utterly perfect.

And when Annabeth pulls back, there are fireworks.

Quite literally.

Percy’s face glows with pink and green and purple, and a little fire in his eyes that’s all him. The pops of the fireworks, loud and brassy, and muted, completely overshadowed by the pounding of her heart in her chest.

They rest their heads against each other, breathing each other’s air, quiet and intimate, the calm before the storm that is surely coming. But that’s fine. Let it come, she thinks. She’ll be safe with Percy.

When the park technicians eventually get the ferris wheel moving again, Percy and Annabeth disembark from the gondola like nothing’s even gone wrong, waving to the crowd of people, fans, and reporters alike, who have swarmed the pier, phones and cameras held aloft in a constellation of light, before being quickly hurried away by Zoe and her crew, ushered to the end of the pier where Annabeth’s embassy’s car is waiting.

Percy doesn’t let go of her hand once.

***

KALYMNOS, GREECE--Prince Percy has arrived on the island for his family’s annual summer retreat, bringing his girlfriend, Princess Annabeth of Sweden, with him for the fifth year in a row, and the third as his official partner. Lifelong friends, the couple were most recently seen at Disneyland Tokyo, continuing something of a tradition for the two royals where they visit Disneyland parks across the globe. Our sources inside the castle are hinting that the family is planning something big this year. Could we see a proposal by the end of summer? Be sure to subscribe for more updates!

#pjo fic #percabeth #percabeth fic #my fic #au #perseannabeth #the rivalry ends here #will i ever stop writing modern royalty aus? no 💖#also look mari i even used a taylor swift song

138 notes · View notes

annabethy · 4 years ago

Note

Percabeth secret dating AU with jealous Percy really we just love jealous Percy and a secret dating AU is the perfect vessel for that

in which percy and annabeth are in a secret relationship, and Percy is just a little bit jealous,, percabeth,, this ones for u gray

Percy has always been a kind soul. It’s how he was raised, learning to be gentle and speak kind words. He cherishes the people that he loves, holds them tight because life is unpredictable, and things can turn around in a matter of seconds.

He’s especially gentle with her.

Annabeth looks so perfect today, her hair cascading down her back in the most pristine, delicate way. He may be a little biased because he’s in love with her, but he stands by the statement. She’s the perfect fit for him too – her head falls right below his chin, the perfect size for a warm hug, and her hands are small in his large ones. When they’re lying in bed at night, her back fits his chest like a puzzle piece, and he falls in love with the way she rests her head on top of him, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat.

The only problem is that no one knows. No one knows the way that Percy loves Annabeth with every fiber of his being. No one knows that he is forever ruined for anyone else except her. No one knows the way his heart races when she kisses him, soft and sweet.

No one knows, so he can’t really blame anyone for the way he feels when someone slides into the seat next to her.

Percy doesn’t intend to think such terrible thoughts, but he can’t help it. Certainly not when the guy leans into Annabeth over the lab table, tugging on one of her curls, and all he can think is that it should be him.

The thought of someone else’s hands on her makes him feel sick to the stomach. He knows her well enough that she’ll push off any advances, but she shouldn’t have to in the first place. If he hadn’t suggested keeping this quiet – something so beautiful and delicate – then he wouldn’t be subject to this torture, watching the love of his life smile back at someone that’s not him and be forced to act like everything is right in the world.

It’s not until their professor dismisses them from the lab that she spares Percy a glance. She comes up beside him as he’s putting away a couple of beakers, and her hand slides up him back, splaying between his shoulder blades.

“Hey,” she says, her voice a whisper in his eyes, leaving shivers down his spine.

Percy steps away from her touch as he faces her. The tension in his shoulders dissipates when she steps into his arms and he wraps himself around her protectively. The rest of the room is empty, except for a kid talking to the professor in the corner of the room, so he has no inhibitions in this moment.

“You okay? You look like you’re about to murder someone,” she says lightly against his shirt.

“Do I?”

“You have the entire class,” she tells him, looking up and resting her chin against his chest.

Percy looks at her accusingly. “Were you watching me?”

“Watching you? Always.” She laughs lightly, tapping his forehead. “But you looked very sad.”

“I wanted to be your lab partner,” he whines.

Annabeth pouts. “You can be my lab partner in my heart.”

Percy swallows, looking around the room. Her lips find their way to the base of his jaw, pressing two long kisses to the stubble that lines his skin. His mind is going too fast for him to handle – all he can think about is how sick he feels. It was an entire class of watching someone else’s eyes on her, and he hates it.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just…” Percy picks at his lower lip with his teeth, desperate to dissipate the tension sizzling in his gut. “He was looking at you in a way that definitely wasn’t friendly.”

“Oh, Percy.”

“It’s stupid,” he says, gently untangling their arms. “I know.”

“It’s not stupid,” she argues. “It’s cute, actually.”

Percy chokes. “Cute? This is the opposite of cute. This is disgusting. Abhorrent. I am the definition of trash.”

“You’re jealous.”

Percy looks highly offended. “I am not jealous.”

She laughs softly. “You’re jealous, babe.”

Percy scowls, and she just kisses him lightly.

“Come on,” she says, tugging him by the arm. “Let’s go back to the dorms and I’ll show you exactly why you have no reason to be jealous.”

He obliges after a second tug on his arm, but not before squeezing her back into his grasp and peppering kisses wherever he can reach on her face and neck. They walk through the empty halls hand in hand, splitting apart whenever they hear the echo of someone else’s footsteps. Each time she slips away from him, it makes his heart tear just a little bit more, and it’s not long before the frown is a permanent fixture on his face. It deepens impossibly more when the classmate from earlier somehow manages to find her and stop her halfway across campus. And Annabeth, of course, is the most beautiful and kind person Percy’s ever met, so it’s no surprise when she stops to listen to him.

The entire conversation flows in one ear and out the other, to be completely honest. All Percy knows is that the guy’s voice is incredibly shrill and scratchy, and it makes him want to burst his own eardrums out.

It’s not until that he catches the end of a very annoying sentence that he comes tunneling back to reality.

“–if you’re free this Saturday?”

Percy’s head shoots towards the guy, his mouth open slightly. “She’s not.”

The guy blinks at Percy. “Who are you?”

Percy’s mouth opens, and he’s about to answer her boyfriend until he realizes that he can’t. As badly as he wants everyone to know that Annabeth is his, and he is hers, he isn’t willing to expose something she isn’t ready to yet. So he closes his mouth and bites his tongue when the other guy smirks subtly.

“I’m not available,” Annabeth says, kind but definitive. “I’m sorry.” “Are you sure? It’s on me.”

Percy’s fist clenches, and he only relaxes when her hand slides over his, squeezing. He doesn’t know if it’s a warning or a reassurance.

“I’m sure, but thank you.”

Percy did not preen behind her.

She slides her hand back into his when he walks away, and she looks up at him accusingly. He only smiles innocently, pecking her on the nose.

“Not jealous, huh?”

Percy rolls his eyes. They’re walking right by a brick building on campus, and there’s not many people around so he has no inhibitions when he presses her against the brick of the building. His body covers her, elbows going to either side of her shoulders so he can lean down and kiss her properly.

“Only a little bit jealous,” he admits through kisses. “But can you blame me?”

Annabeth laughs, breathless. “Not at all. I’m hardly innocent myself.”

“Who would’ve thought the great Annabeth Chase would get jealous?”

“Well, you’re hot and you’re mine,” she defends, accepting when he ducks down to kiss her one more time. This one lingers for a few more seconds, and when he does pull away, she’s with her eyes closed and breathless.

“I’m always going to be yours,” he says, and he means it. Even if she never wants to go public, he loves her so much and could never leave her. If this is what she wants for now, then he will stand by her.

“Maybe…” Annabeth opens her eyes and locks on his. She bites her lower lip, makes him ache with affection, and says, “Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing if we told people.”

Percy blinks and the corners of his lips curve up. “Yeah?”

She surges forwards to catch his lips again. “Yeah. I love you, and I want people to know.”

Percy can hardly help when he pulls her in for a hug. Like always, she fits him perfectly. She is his second half, and she always has been.

The only thing that’s changing is that everyone’s going to know it.

The thought couldn’t make him happier.

#percabeth #percy jackson #pjo #annabeth chase #percy jackson and the olympians #my writing

282 notes · View notes

illyriachrysa · 2 years ago

Text

From Shadows You Shine: Phoebus Apollon

The following is a fanfiction I had come up with after I had finished reading "The Titan's Curse" and reading other fanfictions online.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING!:

📌 Percy Jackson & the Olympians Series is not mine. It belongs to Rick Riordan. So all credits go to him.

📌 This is my first fanfiction and will have two parts, or three... It really depends on how well the second part turns out.

📌 The fanfiction has the ship of Apollo x (OC) Bianca Di Angelo.

📌Bianca Di Angelo is the main character of this fanfiction. Mostly because I thought she was given too little screen time in the POJ Series.

And that's all! Enjoy and Comment down below of your thoughts. Please do be mindful of your words and learn to accept and understand the opinions and thoughts of others

By: Illyria.Chrysa 🌸

From Shadows You Shine: Phoebus Apollon

The first time Bianca Di Angelo had piqued his interest was when they had first met. During the middle of December in a clearing by the cliff, not far from Westover Hall.

His sister - Artemis - had called him for a favor without specifying the nature of the request.

It intrigued him, his sister, being the stubborn and hard-headed person that she is, rarely called upon him for help. So for her to suddenly request something like a favor didn’t sit well with him.

For it could mean one of two things: the favor requires assistants of something only he was capable of achieving or it was something she couldn’t handle alone.

The thought didn’t sit well with Apollo.

Artemis was many things to him, they had their ups and downs, and they argued upon many things, no matter how trivial. But, by the end of the day, she was still his older twin sister - she was still family.

And nobody hurts his family.

So, it came as a relief when Apollo cast his gaze down into the clearing below, spotting his sister with her hunters and what seems to be a handful of Chiron’s campers…

…But that relief soon washed away when he heard the reason behind her favor.

“I need a favor.” Artemis began, looking her brother in the eyes. “I have some hunting to do, alone. And I would like you to take my companions to camp half-blood.”

Apollo nodded his head but furrowed his eyebrows. “Alone? What exactly are you hunting that you have to do alone?”

“It’s none of your business.”

“I’ll find out eventually. Know all, see all.”

Artemis snorted, “Just drop them off safely, Apollo. I should be back by or before the Winter Solstice.”

He sighed, “You promise?”

“... I promise”

Satisfied with her answer he smiled brightly, showing off his pearly-white teeth. Apollo placed his right-hand on his chest and looked at his sister, mischief flashed in his clear-blue eyes.

“I feel a Haiku coming along!” he declared proudly. Only to be met by a chorus of groans from the hunters, an eye-roll from his sister and confused looks from the campers. Regardless, he spoke the Haiku proudly. Internally cringing at its subpar quality but couldn’t stop the amusement that bubbled within him, that no one noticed…

… No one except the girl that stood behind Percy Jackson.

The unfamiliar girl had her head tilted to the side, a small smile on her face and a knowing look in her onyx-black eyes.

Apollo subtly glanced at the girl, careful as to not catch the attention of his sister. Since, as far as he could tell, the girl was still a virgin. Therefore, she was under the protection of his sister - if not a possible candidate to become one of her hunters.

‘Ah… she noticed…interesting’

Most Olympians had an image they upheld throughout their existence. He was mostly bright and joviale. Basically all the characteristics related to the sun - including the notorious ones. And to top it all off, they had learned to conceal themselves. To never reveal their true intentions.

So when the girl - who he assumes was no older than twelve - managed to see through him, something even his sister was unable to do most recently, it… piqued his interest.

To other gods, they may have felt unnerved, even threatened.

But not Apollo. Cause when he looked into the girl’s eyes all he saw was light.

A look of splendor and innocence that didn’t match with how mature her gaze presented itself. A look that he was all too familiar with…

… Since, there were times when he too, had that daunting look in his eyes.

Apollo turned, and gave the mysterious girl his full attention. He waved his hand in the air and smiled. “Hi there! I’ve never seen you before, a new camper perhaps?”

As he spoke, all eyes darted to the girl that stood behind Percy Jackson.

He noticed the shock and unsure look she sent his way, before stepping forward and meeting his gaze.

“I am Bianca Di Angelo, Lord Apollo.” Bianca stood straight and nodded her head in greeting, “My younger brother and I recently joined camp a few months back. So you probably haven’t heard of me till now.”

Apollo nodded his head in understanding. He studied the girl for a moment and quickly noticed the beauty she possessed.

‘Not bad,’ he thought to himself. 'Not bad at all.'

The girl had silky midnight-dark hair that reached till her waist, pinned back by a masterfully crafted golden ornate hair clip, decorated with crimson jewels. A pale-ivory skin tone without a single blemish in sight. Thin rose colored lips and a beautiful pair of brilliant onyx-black eyes…

…Eyes that he has seen before. Except it was in a shade of deep-crimson, more isometric and gem-like. Eyes that flared with furry and-

‘Ah’ he thought, faintly seeing the resemblance between Bianca and someone he had not seen in a very long time. ‘So, she’s his daughter. Then that would mean Bianca’s younger brother could also be his son… If so, then the two of them would be the children he had with the last demi-god child of Hecate. Who was it again? Maria Di Angelo? Yes, I remember now.’

‘If so, then…’ Apollo’s eyes shined a lustrous gold, ‘The prophecy just got more complicated.’

He hoped that it wouldn't be the last interaction he had with the daughter of Hades.

Personally, he preferred Percy being the one the prophecy was talking about. His fatal flaw and blood ensured his loyalty to Olympus and his father rather than it being his half-sister, Thalia. Apollo has seen many heroes fail to overcome the fatal flaw of ambition, which in turn caused their demise. And with the weight of the prophecy given to the survival of Olympus, it wasn’t a risk he would take.

…But, he wouldn’t mind if Bianca was the one the prophecy foretold about.

The girl was interesting - different from other demi-gods. He just doesn’t know what it was that set her apart from the rest.

He was looking forward to their next interaction.

::::

Apollo didn’t have to wait long for that to happen.

For the next time their paths crossed was on a quest that had both campers and hunters working together to save the goddess in chains.

And the goddess so happens to be his sister - Artemis.

The first time he felt something amidst was when the connection he had with his sister weakened, till it became so faint he could no longer pinpoint her exact location. Not soon after, his oracle stepped foot outside of the Big House and walked towards Zoe Nightshade, the lieutenant of Artemis, and uttered a prophecy that added to his already growing concern of the well-being of his sister.

And just when he was about to go look for his sister, a council was called by his father to discuss the matter of the kidnapping of Artemis.

It was decided that no god can intervene with the quest, and that no god or goddess can go looking for Artemis since a quest was already given to the demi-gods and hunters. And under ancient law, the gods could not intervene on their behalf.

Hermes, Ares and Hephaestus glanced at their brother as they paid no heed to the words their father uttered. The three of them noticed the change in Apollo’s eyes. It was now a burning shade of deep gold, no longer a shade of clear-blue.

The three gods shared discreet glances, one thing on all of their minds.

‘Apollo would stand for not of it.’

The moment the meeting was adjourned Apollo quickly teleported to an abandoned subway. He didn’t have to wait long because soon enough he could hear the group of campers and hunters approaching.

He stood by a trash-can fire, under the disguise of a homeless guy. Once the group was close enough he gave them a toothless grin, and said, “Y'all need to get warmed up? Come on over!”

The group huddled around his fire. Thalia's teeth were chattering, she said, “Well this is g-g-ggreat.”

“My hooves are frozen,” Grover complained.

“Feet,” Percy corrected, glancing discreetly towards the homeless guy, hoping he wouldn't ask any questions.

“What now?” Bianca asked, huddling closer to the homeless guy than the trash-can fire. Feeling more warmth emanating from the man than the fire. She casts a quick glance at the man, gazing into his eyes. Before a flash of understanding gleamed in her eyes. “Should we contact camp? Perhaps Chiron-”

“No,” Zoe said. “They cannot help us anymore. We must finish this quest ourselves.”

Percy gazed miserably around the rail yard.

Apollo listened in to their conversation. He internally chastised the sartyr for his lack of filter but otherwise understood the current situation the group were in.

“You know,” he said looking at the group, “you’re never completely without friends. You kids need a train going West?”

“Yes, sir,” Percy replied. “You know of any?”

Apollo pointed his hand towards the railroad, summoning the sun chariot in the form of a freight train. It gleamed brightly and melted the snow around the surrounding area. Before he disappeared, taking the flames with him.

And just to further mess with the group, he name the train “SUN WEST LINE”

He could have sworn he heard Bianca chuckling to herself in amusement.

After an hour of traveling, Bianca sat in a car far away from the rest.

She needed a quiet place away from the group to clear her head. She had her suspicions but the truth was harder to swallow than she thought it would. She glanced down on her arms, seeing that they were still the same, she sighed in relief.

Bianca leaned back into the seat, a heavy truth weighed on her shoulder.

“We were in the Lotus Hotel and Casino for seventy plus years… It’s been seventy years.” She gazed outside of her window with a horrified look in her eyes. “How, how am I gonna tell Nico?”

She let out a tired yawn, ‘I can’t fall asleep. No, if I do then - those nightmares would come back.’

It had started when she had returned to camp half-blood after taking out the Manticore in Westover Hall that had Grover held captive. The dreams started the very same night. At first it was warm and happy, a woman so familiar yet so vague would embrace her tightly, muttering sweet-nothings into her ears till she succumbed to slumber.

The next dream she had was that of a man. He was tall and handsome, yet he was extremely pale and had a cold exterior. However, when he would glance at her, the cold facade instantly disappeared. He would embrace her similar to that of the woman’s and he would tell her countless stories she had yet to recall. But, she could have sworn the man spoke to her in Greek. The last image she saw was that of the woman entering her room, a prominent bulge on her stomach.

The following night, she along with the mysterious man stood outside of a door as she heard the woman screaming in agony. Seconds later, it was followed by a cry from that of an infant. The man carried her into the room and placed her on the bed, he kissed the woman’s forehead and glanced down at the little bundle the woman was holding. The woman spoke her name lovingly and ushered her closer. She looked down at the bundle, and her eyes shone with familiarity.

The baby was her younger brother, Nico.

‘So would that mean that these two are my parents?’

Bianca wasn’t certain, but deep down she knew that they were. She just couldn't remember.

Though, after that, the dreams began to flash before her eyes.

Some of them were of her taking care of Nico, others were spent playing with the mysterious man she had felt was her father, other times it was spying on her parents as the two lovingly held each other close, then it was of them moving to the States after her father whispered something to her mother, causing the woman to frown and glance at her and Nico with worry.

The last dream she had was the one she feared the most.

It was like any other memory, warm and familiar, but an unsettling feeling stabbed at her stomach.

Bianca was with her mother in the kitchen when she looked her mother in the eyes before she screamed in absolute terror. Her father went and grabbed her and brought both her and her brother into his embrace as the two of them wouldn’t stop crying.

Her mother seemed unsure of what to do and went to the living room to grab something when a roar of thunder was heard overhead. Her father tried to reach out to her mother when the crackling of lightning flashed down from above.

It was bright for a fraction of a moment but then she heard her father screaming in agony, kneeling down the place where her mother was supposed to be. She was embracing her brother, making sure he didn’t see the sight in front of them.

Then a woman came into the place, sympathy flashed in her eyes. Her father took notice of the woman and she could feel his rage burn with fury as she laid eyes on the girl. He struck her with something - a curse, a voice spoke in her mind.

She was cursed for something she had no control over.

Her father had cursed the girl before walking towards them. Embracing them tight, promising something under his breath before the dream faded into black.

The last dream she had was of her and Nico kneeling by a river. Her father stood beside them with sorrowful eyes. He had instructed them to drink from the river, and they did.

That was the last dream she had, and she was frightened of the thought that-

“A penny for you thought?” a voice asked from the seat beside her.

Bianca looked over and she wasn’t even surprised to see Apollo in the shotgun seat, no longer bothering with his disguise.

She shook her head, “I’ve been having dreams recently… some of them are horrifying.”

“If it weren’t for dreams,” he said,” I wouldn’t know half the things I know about the future. They’re better than Olympus tabloids.”

Apollo cleared his throat, then held up his hands dramatically:

“Dreams like a podcast,

Downloading truth in my ears.

They tell me cool stuff”

Bianca laughed light-heartedly, “I didn’t expect such a Haiku coming from the god of poetry.”

He smiled softly and placed a finger to his lips, “I’m incognito. Call me Fred”

“A god named Fred?” she asked, “if you're incognito, what happened to your disguise?”

“Don’t need it,” he shrugged. “The sun is my domain. Not even Zeus can question what I do with it.”

“... I thought gods aren’t allowed to intervene with demi-gods quests?”

Apollo’s eyes suddenly burns gold, “Zeus insists on certain rules, no matter how dumb and illogical they are, even if something dangerous is stirring. He's stubborn like that. But nobody messes with my twin sister, nobody.”

“...How fast are we going?”

“Fast enough. Unfortunately, we’re running out of time. It’s almost sunset, but I have already gotten you guys across a good chunk of America.”

Bianca looked Apollo in the eyes, with no sign of fear - something no other demi-gods would dare to do.

The only exception being the children of Poseidon, who are fearless and unrestrained like their father.

“Do you know where Lady Artemis is?”

Apollo’s face darkened, he scowled. “I know a lot, and I see a lot. But even I don’t know that. She’s… clouded from me, and I don’t like it.”

“Then the monster Lady Artemis was hunting?”

“No,” he sighed. “But there is one who might. If you haven’t found the monster when you reach San Francisco, seek out Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea. He has a long memory and a sharp eye. He has a gift of knowledge sometimes kept obscure from my Oracle.”

“But, isn’t it your Oracle?” She pointed out, “Can’t you tell us what the prophecy means?”

He sighed, “You might as well ask an artist to explain his art, or a poet to explain his poem. It defeats the purpose. The meaning is only clear through the search.

“In other words, you don’t know”

He sighs, looking down, “No, I don’t. Only the fates know, the Moirai. Even us gods are powerless against them.”

“I understand,” Bianca began, looking at Apollo with empathy in your eyes. “The feeling of worrying about the wellbeing of your sibling… Of being unable to defy the fates, that one day, deep down, you know that their choice is absolute. No matter what the future has in store for you, no matter the traversity and joy, you can only accept it with a heavy heart.”

Apollo chuckled, he looked Bianca in the eyes, his eyes gleaming gold. “You know, for a demi-god you sure know a lot about things. Dare I even say, you may already know your fate, and have reluctantly accepted it.”

Her eyes flashed a crimson hue, “I, I can only say that, I was born this way. A curse of perception.”

He raised a brow, “A curse? That’s the first I ever heard of it. Care to elaborate, who knows, I might be able to help you and shed some light.”

“...Was that supposed to be a pun?”

Apollo laughed whole-heartedly. “Haha,” he whipped a tear from his eye. “I, I didn’t expect that. I know your behind times but that-”

He paused, his words he spoke finally began to register.

Bianca perked up at what he said, “you, you know?!”

“...I do”

The two stared at one another, unable to form any words, not knowing what to say.

“You,” Bianca began. “Do you know who my father is? Why he…”

Apollo nodded his head solemnly, “Truthfully, it's not my story to tell. I believe it's best if you were to hear it from your father himself. But I do know this. Out of all the gods, he loves you and your brother very much, I can say for certain that you are his most treasured child, and he did what he did because, at that time, it was all he could do to keep both of you safe. He loves you, very dearly… and I know deep down, no matter how much you deny it, you feel the same way.”

Bianca had tears cascading down her eyes. She felt as though a heavy feeling was lifted from her heart.

Apollo reached out and wiped away the tears, he smiled at her reassuringly.

“...Do you know when I’ll meet him?”

“Soon,” he whispered softly. “It shouldn’t be long till you finally reunite.”

She nodded her head, and smiled brightly. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it”

#fiction #my writing #POJ #Apollo #Percy Jackson & the Olympians #Percy Jackson & the Olympians Series #Bianca Di Angelo #Di Angelo #Percy Jackson #Thalia Grace #Zoe Nightshade #Grover Underwood #Artemis #Hunters of Artemis #Olympians #Fanfiction #fanfiction #poj

5 notes · View notes

lunaslethifold · 4 years ago

Text

A Summer in Ottery St. Catchpole: Prologue (George Weasley x Potter!Reader)

Pairing: George Weasley x Female!Potter!Reader

Series Synopsis: Y/N Potter used to have a huge crush on George Weasley. She could hardly even function around him. Now fresh out of a long relationship, she can say with confidence that those feelings she harbored for years are gone. George, on the other hand, had barely even acknowledged her existence. But now that Y/N is more comfortable around him, he starts to see the real her. George starts to see her in a new light. Boy, is that bad news for him.

Warnings: Mentions of death.

Word Count: ~8.4k (Sorry! Future parts probably won’t be this long.)

Find the other works in this series in my masterlist (pinned and linked in my bio :))

A/N: Welcome to my new George Weasley series about this trope! Some things to note: I made the reader female because I am more comfortable writing that. The reader is in Gryffindor because it fits better with the story. I know it can be frustrating to read something that doesn’t fit you correctly and I’m very sorry! I also decided to make the reader adopted because not everyone looks like Harry, James, or Lily. I know I certainly don’t! This series takes place the summer after Goblet of Fire and before Order of the Phoenix, and will not be following canon completely to make room for the reader. I’ve no idea how long the other parts are going to be, but they probably won’t be this lengthy as this part covers the entire backstory. This is also the first fanfiction I’ve written in years, so please let me know what you think! Sorry about any off grammar and please enjoy! Thank you for reading!

The first time George Weasley laid eyes on Y/N Potter was on the day he was set to return for his 2nd year at Hogwarts. This time around he was more confident approaching the platform than he was his first year, but that wasn't saying much. On their first ride on the train, he and Fred had already started wreaking havoc on Percy and Charlie.

George grinned at the other people waiting around the train. In particular, the first years that looked like they were about to pass out. His eyes landed on a girl that was standing alone, almost hugging the bar on her trolley.

He nudged Fred. "Mate, does she look familiar to you?" he said, tilting his head in the direction of the girl.

"Dunno, maybe we saw her at Diagon Alley?" Fred offered, shrugging and turning his attention back to the chocolate frog in his hand. George glanced at the girl one last time and jumped into a conversation with Ginny.

The first year didn't cross George's mind again until he was sitting in the great hall watching the sorting ceremony. He wasn't paying much attention, too preoccupied with the rumbling in his stomach, until he heard Professor McGonagall call out a name he hadn't heard in a long time.

"Y/N Potter."

She wasn't nearly as famous as her brother, sure, but that didn't stop the whispers from breaking out among the students. Professor McGonagall not so subtly cleared her throat and the hall quieted as the girl that caught his eye on the platform approached the stool. That's where he had seen her! Pictures of her and her family were all over the papers after the dark lord was defeated. She was much older now, yes, but the remnants of her younger self were still present on her face. Especially her eyes, George thought, but he quickly shook it out of his mind.

Perhaps he had been the one to recognize her because he'd seen photos of her long after they were the only thing being printed in the papers. Ginny kept a stash of things related to Harry Potter in her room and he had accidentally stumbled upon it. Maybe that's why Ginny only talked to him about Harry, or maybe it's because George was the only one who stopped to listen.

The entire Weasley family was close, but the twins and Ginny got along great. That might've been due to the fact that Bill and Charlie were much older than them and many of their pranks were directed at Percy and Ron. While many people thought of Fred and George as a package deal, which they were in a sense, it seemed that Ginny was one of the only people to think of him as his own person. Somehow she recognized the differences and George appreciated that beyond what words can express.

He'd have to write Ginny about Harry Potter's sister coming to Hogwarts. The sorting hat seemed to be having a toss up about which house Y/N belonged to. He recalled the conversation he'd had with the old hat just last year. George was a Weasley; a Gryffindor through and through. But when the hat was placed on his head, it spoke about him having Slytherin and even Ravenclaw traits. Ultimately he was placed into Gryffindor just as the rest of his family had, though.

After a couple minutes of debate the sorting hat yelled out, "Gryffindor!" Y/N looked almost relieved and joined the Gryffindor table, not too far away from George and Fred. The rest of the sorting ceremony was uneventful and soon enough (though not soon enough for the twins), the food appeared on the plates before them.

A couple of times George caught his gaze slipping towards Y/N out of curiosity. Once their eyes met, he smiled at her. She gave him a nervous smile back and quickly turned back to her food. He thought it was a bit odd but brushed it off and continued to joke with Fred and Lee.

Y/N and George didn't see much of each other that year. They were in different years and Y/N seemed to spend more time out of the common room than in it. Him and his brother made the quidditch team as beaters, and occasionally he'd see her in the stands.

So no, Y/N Potter and George Weasley were not friends. He couldn't even remember if he'd spoken to her before. That year flew by just as his first year did, and then he found himself on the train back home.

Next year Ron would be joining them at Hogwarts and Charlie wouldn't be coming back. That summer was spent playing quidditch with his siblings, teasing Percy for becoming a prefect, and going down to the village near the burrow.

Y/N, on the other hand, was not having a good summer like the Weasleys. She had returned to the Dursleys’, but she was beyond ecstatic to see her little brother again. When she left for her first year at Hogwarts she had felt extremely guilty for leaving Harry alone and even went as far as to write Dumbledore asking if he could come a year early. He had reassured her that he would be fine and she should take the opportunity to see the world their parents lived in.

Harry and Y/N weren't blood related, but they knew they were real siblings regardless. Similarly, Lily and James Potter were Y/N's mom and dad, even though their blood didn't run through her. Y/N's biological mom was Lily's best friend since the moment they met on the Hogwarts Express. She clashed with Snape, but remained loyal to Lily through it all. Not long after graduating she got married to Y/N's dad due to the brewing war. Lily and James were made the godparents of Y/N and weeks after her birth, her parents and their entire family were killed by death eaters. She was taken in immediately by the Potters and assumed their last name for safety. Soon little Harry came along and Y/N became a big sister.

Unfortunately, as Voldemort set out with the intent of killing Harry, Lily and James' attempt to keep Y/N safe was put in jeopardy. The family of four went into hiding together. They were betrayed and the dark lord came to their home in Godric's Hollow. Lily knew that he was after Harry, not Y/N, and kept her promise to Y/N's biological parents that she'd keep her safe. Y/N was shoved into the closet in her and Harry's room, along with a muffling charm to silence her cries. That night not only did she hear her father getting killed, she saw her mother die trying to protect her younger brother through the shutters on the door. She heard her mother's cries and saw an evil, evil man try to murder her brother. Even though she was only two, Y/N possesses more memories of their parents and that night than Harry does.

This resulted in Y/N becoming extremely protective of Harry. Oftentimes this would cause her to get into trouble with the Dursleys. She was Harry's fiercest protector. When an escort came to collect her for Hogwarts, both her and Harry were introduced to magic and what their parents really were. She almost didn't go because she couldn't bear the thought of Harry having to deal with their relatives without her, but she eventually agreed. An escort brought her and her luggage to platform nine and three quarters on September first, but had to rush off right after. There she stood alone with her trolley, unsure of where to go or who to talk to. She surveyed the people around and her eyes landed on a group of redheads, most of them being children. The ones that were commanding the most attention were two twin boys, one of which was fiddling with a wrapper and one who had the brightest grin she had ever seen. She stared at him for a second before rapidly looking away. What she hadn't noticed after was the boy she was staring at was now looking at her.

On the train she didn't have much luck either, meeting a few students but ultimately sitting alone in a compartment reading a book. There was no telltale sign that she was a Potter, unlike her brother, who had the scar on his forehead. At the sorting ceremony, however, people began to take notice of her when they heard her name. The sorting hat had a long conversation with her about what house she belonged in. The big argument was about Gryffindor or (house of choice), but Y/N asked to be put in Gryffindor, like her parents.

Y/N took a seat at the Gryffindor table, trying to shake off everyone talking about and looking at her. The rest of the sorting ceremony went by and soon everyone was digging into the feast. Katie Bell, a fellow first year Gryffindor, struck up a conversation with Y/N and others around her. She relaxed a little and surveyed the rest of her housemates. Her eyes unexpectedly met those of the boy who she had been staring at on the platform. His lips turned up into a smile and a wave of anxiety crashed onto the girl. She smiled shakily at him and felt her cheeks warm up. Y/N quickly turned her attention back to the food sitting on her plate, which seemed quite interesting to her at the moment.

The rest of that year passed by quicker than she liked and soon enough she was back at the Dursley household. She was happy to see Harry, but Hogwarts was now more home than Privet Drive had ever been. The only thing missing was her brother, but he was due to follow right after the summer.

So it couldn't be going by any slower.

Between her uncle's shouting and her summer reading, she quickly found herself wishing the break would zoom by. She thought she was used to it, but she was getting fed up with Vernon and Petunia's constant nagging.

"Clean the kitchen!"

"Set the table!"

"Dust the living room!"

"Hurry up with dinner!"

Y/N would never admit it, but quite a few times she had to put her wand out of reach when it all became too much. Especially when Harry was getting the heat. She'd much rather have all the yelling directed at her than Harry.

September first rolled around and Y/N was accompanied by Harry to King’s Cross. Hagrid had dropped them off and left. As they pushed their trolleys through the station, Y/N found herself quite turned around. Which platforms was it between? Which wall were they supposed to enter through? Last time her escort had to apparate her and her things onto the platform because they were running behind schedule. Now she was wishing she had paid more attention because she couldn't for the life of her find the dang entrance.

Both of the Potter kids were growing nervous as the time ticked closer to departure. Just as it seemed all hope was lost, a familiar head, or rather heads, of red hair caught Y/N's eye. She looked at them and Harry followed her gaze. The Weasley family was moving through King’s Cross at a rapid speed.

As they passed, Harry and Y/N heard a snippet of their conversation. "-packed with muggles-" said the oldest woman.

"Muggles?" Harry whispered, turning to his sister. "Isn't that… Well come on then!" He raced after the woman.

"Harry! Wait!" Y/N ran after him and by the time she caught up he was already talking to them. Y/N shook her head. Why couldn't Harry have just followed them onto the platform? Why'd he have to stop and talk to them? She'd never say it out loud, but Harry wasn't always the brightest when it came to things like this.

Before them stood five people, presumably all family members. An older woman, three of Y/N's housemates, and a younger boy.

"Excuse me," Harry said to them as Y/N approached. "Dyknow how to-" he gulped and tried again. "How to-”

"Get onto the platform?" finished the woman. Harry blushed a little bit and nodded. She gave him a kind smile. "Yes, of course dear. Don't worry, it's Ron's first year too," She gestured to the younger boy that stood nearby. He half smiled at them.

Harry smiled brightly back. "I'm Harry."

"Ron Weasley."

Then it seemed everyone turned to Y/N expectedly. Her mouth went dry and she shifted on her feet.

"And you're Y/N, right?" spoke up one of the twins. Was it Fred or George? She nodded shyly and fiddled with the hem of her shirt. Why was she nervous all of a sudden? Maybe she wasn't as outgoing as Harry, but she was never this shy.

"Well, it's nice to meet you two. Now to get onto the platform, you just run straight into the wall there. Percy, you show them," said their mom, breaking the silence. The oldest one, Percy, who Y/N recognized as three years above her, ran to the wall and disappeared through it. "See? Just like that. Now you, Fred."

"He's not Fred, I am!" said the twin who spoke earlier. Ah, so Fred had introduced Y/N.

"Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother," said the other twin.

"Oh! Sorry George." She beckoned him forward.

He walked forward and spoke again. "'I’m only joking, I am Fred." Fred smiled and ran through the wall. Oh, so it was George that had introduced Y/N after all.

"Can I go next, mum?" said Ron.

"Yes, and Harry, why don't you go with him?" she replied. Ron and Harry ran towards the wall. Something small slipped off Ron's trolley without him knowing.

"Ron!" his mother called, picking it up and running after him through the passage. Now it was just George and Y/N.

"Did you really not know how to get onto the platform? Or did you just want an excuse to talk to me?" he laughed and grinned at her.

Y/N felt heat rush to her cheeks. "Erm… I-" she cleared her throat. "Last year my escort apparated me onto the platform," She looked at her shoes.

His smile didn't falter at her awkwardness. "Ah, that explains it. Well, have a go at the platform then."

George and Y/N saw a little bit more of each other during Harry and Ron's first year. Often she could be found talking with Harry, Ron, and even Hermione around the fire. He could tell that they had a really close relationship.

Sometimes they'd be hanging out or sitting with the same group, but only because of their siblings or Katie Bell, Y/N's friend, who was now on the quidditch team along with Harry. He started to see Y/N in the stands during games much more often now, probably because her brother and friend were playing.

George thought Y/N was, well, a bit odd. She was awkward, much more than her brother who got on quite well with him and his twin. She always seemed to be tripping over her words and fidgeting when he saw her. But she was the same way her first year, so he just boiled it down to her being shy.

The first time since Y/N's sorting that George thought about her for more than a few fleeting seconds was at the end of that year. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had returned after stopping Professor Quirrel from getting his hands on the Sorcerer's Stone. Percy, Fred, George, and Y/N were all summoned to the hospital wing when they returned.

Y/N looked utterly distressed. She even began to walk ahead of them on the way. When they reached the hospital wing, she bolted straight for Harry on the other side of the room. She hugged him and whispered a conversation with him. Harry had smiled and seemed to reassure her.

Then, before him and his brothers even had a chance to step forward, Y/N turned towards his brother. "Oh, Ron!" she exclaimed and then pulled him into a hug, just like the one she had given Harry. Then she took his face in her hands and tried to look him over. "Are you alright?" Ron nodded and smiled at her. Y/N let go and rushed to Hermione's side.

George was taken by surprise. Sure, Harry was Y/N's brother, but she seemed just as concerned about his brother's wellbeing and Hermione's. He'd have to ask Ron about it later. George smiled, shook his head, and approached Ron's bed.

Just as the previous summer, Y/N and now Harry went back to their Aunt and Uncle's. Harry and Y/N had gotten into big trouble when Dobby the house elf came to visit. Uncle Vernon was so angry that he put bars on their shared bedroom window and forbade them from returning to Hogwarts. Luckily for them, a certain family of redheads came to the rescue.

While they were up late talking in their bedroom, they heard something out of their window. Outside was a flying Ford Angelina, driven by Fred Weasley, with his brothers George and Ron sitting in the car. They ripped the bars out of their place on the wall and pulled up to the window.

"Ron!" Harry smiled widely at him. Y/N couldn't stop the grin that grew on her face. "What are you doing here?"

"We've come to rescue you, of course! Now c'mon and get your trunks," Ron replied. The two Potter siblings heaved their trunks into the car through the window. As Harry handed Hedwig's cage to Ron, Y/N heard stirring from the other side of the house.

"Harry, hurry. I hear Uncle Vernon," she spoke calmly, but there was a panicked expression on her face. "Go on, you first."

Harry began to climb out of the window and into the car with Y/N's assistance. Just as Harry was safely inside, Uncle Vernon barged into the room.

"Y/N!" Harry shouted, pointing at their uncle. Her eyes widened and she not so carefully leaped out of the window and towards the car. She caught onto someone trying to help her in, but she didn't have time to process who it was because Uncle Vernon's hand had enclosed around her ankle. She kicked her leg and tried to heave herself up, but the grip was tight on her leg.

"Let go, you tosser!" called out the person she was clinging to. She kicked hard one last time, and while his grip faltered, she pulled herself up by the person she was clinging to. The door slammed shut and she found herself face to face with one of the Weasley twins. Ron and the other twin were in the front seat, while she and Harry were sat on either side of the twin in the backseat. Y/N felt heat rise to her cheeks and she let go of him.

"Fred, you're going the wrong way," said the twin, George, next to her. Fred turned the car around. Ron and Harry had already jumped into a rather animated conversation.

Y/N cleared her throat nervously, then spoke up. "Thank you. For saving Harry... er, us."

"It was nothing, really," said Fred, cracking a smile.

"Yeah, someone had to. I mean, they've got bars on your window. Your uncle must be mad," George said. Y/N laughed. Never had she heard anyone but her and Harry speak bad about Uncle Vernon.

The rest of the ride was spent making conversation with the twins, but Fred did most of the talking. Soon they landed at their family home and went inside. The five of them were caught by Molly Weasley, who gave Harry and Y/N a warm hug.

Their trunks were lugged inside. While Mrs. Weasley was scolding her children, Y/N rushed to hers and opened it. She pulled out a box wrapped in newspaper and handed it to Harry. "Happy birthday, Harry. Sorry it's not anything special, but when we go back to Diagon Alley we can get something better," she smiled at him.

He smiled back and said, "Thank you Y/N, and I know whatever it is, it's brilliant." He unwrapped the paper to reveal a pair of red and yellow gloves that matched his scarf perfectly. "Did you- did you make these?"

Y/N smiled bashfully and nodded. "'S alright if you don't like them, but I saw the leftover yarn when I was doing laundry and-"

"Y/N," he cut her off. "Thank you. I love them. They're perfect." Y/N smiled widely and pulled Harry in for a hug. What the two didn't see was the Weasley family watching the exchange.

Mrs. Weasley smiled warmly. "Now who wants breakfast?"

For the rest of that summer Y/N bunked with Ginny Weasley. Although she acted a little starstruck at first, they were fast friends. Even though she could talk to Y/N, she still hadn't spoken a word to Harry. Before long the nine of them had to head to Diagon Alley to get ready for the upcoming school year. Ginny was starting her first year, Harry his second, Y/N her third, and the twins their fourth.

While they were shopping for books at Flourish and Blotts they ran into Draco Malfoy. He didn't skip a beat before immediately insulting all of them.

"And what, Potter number one has nothing to say this time? Nervous around your boyfriend?" said Draco to Y/N, gesturing vaguely to the Weasleys standing nearby. "I wouldn't be surprised. They're blood traitors just like your 'father' was." He put air quotes around father. "But I suppose after marrying a muggle's child, he'd let anyone into his family, if you could even call it that." Y/N took a menacing step forward, then felt someone step up to her side.

"Malfoy, you have no idea what real family is," one of the twins said, standing to her left. She turned and the "G" stitched on his sweater stared back at her. Fred joined him.

"Yeah, Malfoy. Harry and Y/N are more family than all of your relatives combined," Fred said from his spot next to George.

"What's that supposed to mean, weasel?" Draco crossed his arms.

"Well I don't reckon Lucius Malfoy is very loving to his son," George shot back. Y/N's jaw dropped to the floor.

"How d-" Draco began, before his father came up to the group. The rest of the conversation passed by in a blur for Y/N. As they continued on getting their school supplies, she found herself glancing at George and getting deeply nervous when he was around her.

Oh no, she thought. Y/N Potter was developing a crush on George Weasley.

Throughout her third year, Y/N avoided George as much as she possibly could. She thought that if she avoided him, her feelings would go away. Unfortunately for her, since they were in the same house and shared some of the same friends, this was proving to be extremely difficult.

So, yeah, George saw less of Y/N than he should have. Not that he noticed, of course. She was more of Ginny's pal and Harry's sister than his friend. But at the end of the year she proved she was someone that would be sticking around.

When Ginny had gone missing, Y/N was extremely upset. Harry could see it, Ron could see it, and even George (who didn't pay her much attention) could see it. But even feeling that way, she made sure to comfort the Weasleys. Even Percy, who had spoken to her the least out of all of them.

Then, when Harry, Ron, and Ginny returned from the chamber, she practically sprinted to the hospital wing. Just like last year, she ran to Harry's side and made sure he was ok. Then, she turned to Ginny, who it seemed everyone had turned against, and hugged her. Ginny looked relieved that finally someone wasn't scolding her for what happened to her.

George smiled gratefully at Y/N, then started talking to Ron.

Y/N and Harry were staying at the Leaky Cauldron the summer before her fourth year. They had left Privet Drive after an unfortunate incident involving their Aunt Marge and escaped on the knight bus. There they ran into the Weasley family, who had just returned from Egypt.

"And after we got there-" Y/N was sitting and listening intently to Ron, who was recounting his trip to Egypt.

"Goodness Ron, how many people are you going to tell about it?" interrupted Fred, walking down the stairs.

"What? I've barely told anyone, George," Ron replied, glaring at him.

"Actually, I'm George," came a voice from someone who was descending the stairs. Y/N suddenly found the newspaper in front of her very interesting. Fred glanced at her. "And I reckon Y/N's got better things to do than listen to you talk about some dusty old buildings."

Y/N felt blood rushing to her cheeks and bit her lip. While Ron and George continued to bicker, a wide grin made its way onto Fred's face. He looked between Y/N and George. Fred had noticed something off about them and he had finally figured it out.

Fred Weasley knew Y/N's secret.

"Detention, Miss Potter," Professor Snape's voice called out. She tried to stay out of trouble, but it seemed that Snape had a particular dislike for her. She groaned inwardly and bit her tongue. "My office after dinner." Y/N suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and nodded.

After classes, Y/N found her way to Professor Lupin's office. He was sort of like her newly appointed godfather after she was adopted by James and Lily. Her and Harry spent a lot of time with him.

"-And Snape's given me another detention. I swear he's got it out for me, Professor," she said to him. Lupin laughed and shook his head. "It can't be fair, can it? I mean, I'm a good student."

"That you are, Y/N. But did you ever stop to consider that Professor Snape was not having the best day? Or other students were putting him on edge as well?" he replied, going through the papers on his desk.

"Well, maybe." She paused. "But I swear he's been like this since first year. It's almost as if he's mad at me for something I didn't do. Like I was cursed from birth," she said jokingly. Lupin smiled as if he knew something she didn't. He opened his mouth to reply, but seemed to decide against it. Just then, the door to the office was opened.

Harry was standing in the entrance. "There you are, Y/N. I thought I'd find you here."

"Harry, what's up?" Y/N said to him, smiling slightly.

"Dinner is nearly done and you hadn't shown up, so I thought I'd see what you were doing," he replied.

Y/N shot up from her seat. "Dinner's almost done!?" She began to gather up her things. "Dang it, I forgot I had to go to Snape's right after dinner. I better get going then. Bye Professor. Harry. Thank you!" She waved as she rushed out of the room.

Y/N sprinted down to the dungeons and turned the corner, checking her watch. She should've been there already. Since she wasn't watching where she was going, she smacked straight into someone. She slowly looked up and her eyes met cold ones.

"Miss Potter, it is probably useful to look where you are going when you're running. Although I suppose silly things like that aren't important to someone who is late to detention," Snape's monotone voice said. Behind him stood Fred and George. One of them stepped forward and helped her up. "Well, since Mr. Weasley is so keen on helping you, Miss Potter, he will be joining you in reorganizing the potion supplies." The one who helped her up groaned. "Alphabetically," he added. The other twin moved to join them. "You, Mr. Weasley, on the other hand, will be cleaning the trophy room and I will be accompanying you. You can't possibly think I'd trust you two alone. Now run along. I'll be checking on you in an hour."

Y/N didn't have to be told twice and started towards the supply room.

"I'm Fred by the way," said the twin beside her.

She nodded. "Ah, that's what I figured." Fred smiled.

"That's what you figured?" he laughed.

She joined in. Well, you're not giving me butterflies, she thought. "It's not like you guys are the same person."

"Thanks for noticing," he grinned. "But I would've thought it was because of a certain reason."

"A certain reason? What's that supposed to mean?" Y/N replied, fiddling with her sleeve. She giggled slightly. Had she been that obvious?

"Well, judging by the way you act around George-" he started. She could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

Y/N cut him off with, "I don't know what you're talking about." She walked ahead into the storage closet.

"If you say so." He put his hands up in surrender. They began to work on organizing all of the ingredients. "How did you end up in detention anyways?"

"Who knows anymore? Snape always has something to say about me." She changed her voice to imitate Snape's. "Potter, that potion is terrible. Potter, stop daydreaming in class. Potter, you're enjoying yourself too much. Potter, I am a greasy fun sucker."

Fred laughed loudly and Y/N joined in. "Yeah, it always seemed like ol’ Severus had a problem with you and Harry." Y/N smiled gratefully. Finally someone else validated her feelings. "But I never guessed that Y/N Potter would be spending her evenings in detention making fun of her professors."

"Well maybe you need to get to know me better, then."

"Yeah? Well maybe I will."

That was the start of Fred and Y/N's friendship.

Fred knew that Y/N didn't feel comfortable being herself around George. He wished she was, though. They were fast friends and he had grown quite fond of her. Not wanting to push her out of her comfort zone, Fred spent time with her without George. He liked to push people's buttons, but also knew what buttons not to push. Fred understood.

George did not. He always wondered why Fred went off to hang with Y/N Potter of all people. She was nice enough, sure, but he had no idea what they would do or talk about. So he was confused when Fred was so excited about her coming to stay with them for the rest of the summer. Ginny also seemed to be bouncing off the walls at the thought. Maybe it was the whole idea of the Quidditch World Cup in general that had everyone energized.

Soon enough the Potters and Hermione joined the Weasleys at the burrow. Fred and George were on their way back from town when they arrived.

Ginny opened the door and leaned out. "Oi! Y/N's here! And Harry and Hermione, too." A wide grin spread across Fred's face and he walked ahead into the house. George followed shortly after and stood in the doorway. They didn't notice him standing there.

"Fred!" Y/N said, giving him a hug. George thought that they were both grinning like madmen and a small smile made its way to his face.

"About time you showed up," Fred said to her. He turned to the others. "Finally some more people to test out our products. Ron can't seem to handle it."

"Fred!" Ron said, glaring at him.

"Products?" Y/N said, turning to him with a questioning look.

"Yeah, I'll show you. Come on! I've got so much to tell you," Fred replied, rushing up the stairs. Y/N raced after him and they engaged in a rather animated conversation.

"I guess I should join them before Fred blows Y/N's head off," Ginny laughed and made her way towards the stairs. Now it was just George, Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

"Aren't you going to join them?" said Ron to George.

"Ron!" Hermione said, lightly hitting him with her book.

"Ow, what?"

"Join them?" George spoke up, confused.

"Yeah, aren't you friends with Y/N now? We see you guys hanging out all of the time in school," said Ron.

"Come to think of it, I guess I only really see her with Fred," said Harry, shrugging. He sent a questioning look to George.

"Well-" George started, but they were interrupted by a loud bang from upstairs followed by raucous laughter.

"Fred! That better not be my room again!" Ron said, sprinting up the stairs. Harry laughed and ran after him, followed shortly by Hermione. George felt inclined to go after them.

When he got there he found that no, it was not Ron's room again. They were in his and Fred’s shared room. Ron, Hermione, and Harry were standing in the doorway. He moved closer and peered over their heads, which wasn't hard because he was quite tall. Inside he saw Ginny, Fred, and Y/N all sitting on the floor huddled together.

Ginny had her hand resting on Y/N's shoulder. Y/N was leaning close to Fred, who had something in his hand. They all had smiles that they couldn't seem to shake off. All three of them seemed so… in their element. George couldn't quite describe it, but it was odd seeing as he never really saw Y/N like this.

"What's going on with you lot?" George called, feigning sternness.

"Nothing!" the three on the floor called in unison. Y/N hadn't looked up at him yet, but his siblings were staring up at him. They stared for a few silent seconds before Ginny burst with laughter, falling onto her back. Fred started laughing too, and he even saw Y/N covering up her giggles between them.

As the time to the world cup ticked closer, George couldn't help but notice how close his twin and Y/N had gotten. Usually the two of them had the same friends, so it was a little bit odd for George. He brushed it off, though. Fred saw something in her that he didn't, so what? Fred had a good way of making people come out of their shell, he supposed.

Before long it was the morning of the day they had all been anticipating. They began their trek to the portkey.

"George, you've got the face paint right?" Fred said to him when they left the house. George's eyes widened.

"No, I left it on the table. Keep going, I'll catch up." He dashed back into the house and retrieved what he needed. When he exited the house again, the group was in the distance. He broke into a jog to catch up with them. When he was catching up to the back of the group, he caught a snippet of a conversation.

Y/N and Harry were lagging a little bit behind everyone. George didn't mean to snoop, he swears. He just heard by accident.

"-spending time with him. Y/N, are you and Fred, er… dating?" Harry said to his sister. George had thought the same thing. But no, Fred would've told him. Besides, Fred was interested in Angelina.

"No! No. W-we're not, I promise. We're just really good friends," Y/N sputtered out quickly.

"Well it's just that you only hang out with him and not George. You have to admit that's a bit odd," Harry replied. She shrugged her shoulders. "Do you have a crush on him?" he said, teasingly.

Y/N bit her bottom lip. "Have a crush on…?"

"Fred," he finished for her.

"No. Definitely not." She sounded sure this time.

Harry grinned. "Brilliant. We can't have my sister getting a boyfriend, can we?" She pushed him lightly on the shoulder.

"Alright. Whatever you say. I wonder what Cho would think about all of this." She walked faster, heading to Ginny and Hermione.

"What-" Harry looked bewildered. "How-"

"I'm older than you. I know everything," she called over her shoulder, smiling cheekily.

George waited a minute before he decided it was time to make himself known. "Fred! I've got it." He waved the paint in the air.

Soon enough, they arrived at their destination. There, his father was talking to Amos Diggory. Just then, a figure jumped out of the tree they were standing by. He recognized the boy as Cedric, who was in the same year as him.

Hermione, Ginny, and Y/N exchanged glances in front of him and Fred. The two of them moved to pass the girls and greet Cedric. He saw Fred poke Y/N's side playfully as they passed.

"Diggory!" Fred called out. Cedric turned around. The three of them weren't the best of friends, but they got along just fine. Maybe if the three were in the same house, they'd know each other better. "What's up mate?"

Nearby Y/N, Hermione, and Ginny were talking. "He's kind of cute, don't you think?" Ginny whispered.

Hermione smiled bashfully. "Yes, I suppose so."

"What do you think, Y/N?" Ginny said, turning to her.

"Oh, er… yeah. For sure," Y/N answered.

"You don't sound very sure of yourself," said Hermione. Ginny nodded in agreement.

"Well, you're staring over there," added Ginny, laughing slightly. Yeah, at your brother, Y/N thought to herself. She quickly averted her gaze.

"Am not!"

"Don't look now, but I think Cedric noticed," Hermione said with a slight giggle in her tone. Y/N glanced up to Cedric looking in their direction. Fred seemed to have followed his gaze and was now looking at them too.

A cheeky grin spread across his face. "Oi, Y/N! Come say hi!"

Y/N approached them and shot Fred a glare. Cedric stuck his hand out to her. She took it and they shook hands.

"Cedric Diggory."

"Y/N Potter."

After the crazy night at the game, the trek from the portkey to the burrow seemed much longer than before. In fact, so much so that George was lagging behind the rest of the group. In front of him was Fred and Y/N, who seemed to be in their own little world. Just as earlier in the day, he caught a snippet of a conversation that wasn’t meant for his ears.

“So, what’d you think of Diggory?” Fred said to Y/N in a teasing manner.

“What did I think of… Cedric? Yeah, he’s a nice guy,” she replied, shrugging her shoulders.

“A nice guy?” Fred laughed and Y/N rolled her eyes. “I think he took a liking to you…”

“A liking to me? What’s that supposed to mean exactly?”

“Oh, you know. He just seemed a little bit… flirty, if you will,” Fred said with a large grin on his face.

“No, I will not,” Y/N replied with the hint of a laugh in her voice. “He was just being friendly. Besides…” she leaned closer to Fred. “You know I fancy-”

Just then George heard a loud crunch that came from the bottom of his foot. He had stepped on a branch.

Fred and Y/N whipped around.

“George!” she exclaimed. “I- We- We didn’t quite s-see you there!” she said, wringing her hands nervously.

He felt a little bad at her mortified look. “Oh yeah, sorry about that. I was way behind and just caught up now.” Okay, so he lied. But she did look relieved, so it didn’t matter much to him.

A smile crossed her face. “B-brilliant.”

“Y/N, I think I heard Harry calling your name,” Fred said after a long silence. Y/N sent him a grateful look and headed to the group in front of them.

The Yule Ball was fast approaching and all of the students at Hogwarts seemed to be buzzing with excitement. Everyone except Y/N, of course. She had been stressed about Harry in the tournament and more obviously, she had not yet secured a date. Y/N was silently wishing that a certain someone would ask her, but she tried not to get her hopes up. He had never really given her much attention anyways.

Y/N was sitting in the library doing her potions homework. Despite the upcoming holidays, Professor Snape still decided to pile on work. She lifted her quill to dip into the ink bottle that was sat on the table.

“Y/N.” A voice from behind her cut through the silence of the library. Several heads turned their way. On top of that, the person had startled her so much that she knocked the ink all over her parchment. She tried to contain her huff and turned around.

“Yes?” she said in the politest tone possible.

“O-oh I’m sorry about that,” said the boy before her.

Her gaze softened and a polite smile made its way to her face. “Don’t worry about it. My essay was rubbish anyways. Kenneth Towler, right?”

“Yes, that’s me. And I highly doubt that. You’re one of the top students in your year, aren’t you?” he replied, fidgeting with his hands. Y/N felt a bit of heat rise to her face and smiled brighter. And were those… butterflies in her stomach? “A-anyways, I was wondering if you were going to the ball with anyone…?”

She was a bit startled by the question. “The ball? Oh no, no one’s asked me.” Y/N’s smile faltered a bit.

“Oh wow, that’s surprising. Well, I was wondering if-” he cleared his throat. “I was wondering if y-you wanted to go with me? To the ball, I mean,” he stammered. Y/N smiled to herself at his awkwardness. It was endearing, in a way.

When she opened her mouth to reply, a head of red hair caught her attention. It was George, walking towards the exit of the library. Her eyes followed him for a split second, as if that would will him to come over and ask her to be his. She shook the thought out of her head. Come on, Y/N, he’s barely even spoken to you.

“You know what, Kenneth? I would love to.”

And just like that the idea of George Weasley got smaller and smaller inside of her head.

“Fred! Fred!” a voice called from down the corridor that the twins were walking through. It was Y/N’s. They turned towards her.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Y/N Potter,” Fred said, grinning as she approached. George thought that she seemed to have an extra pep in her step. She came forward and grabbed Fred’s arm in excitement.

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe it Fred. Someone’s just asked me to the ball. I didn’t think anyone would,” Y/N said. A bright smile was spread across her face. “Oh, and, erm, hi Geroge.” He nodded and smiled at her in acknowledgement. That was a bit unusual. She never really seemed to speak to him unless he spoke to her first.

“Oh, rubbish. You’re a right catch, Y/N Potter. Who’s the lucky guy?” replied Fred.

That just seemed to make Y/N’s smile wider. “Kenneth Towler.”

This shocked both Fred and George.

“Kenneth Towler? The Gryffindor? In our year?” Fred asked, eyes slightly wide. Y/N nodded. “Did you think you wouldn’t have any other options?” he teased, snickering slightly. Y/N lightly hit the side of his arm with the parchment rolled up in her hand.

“Oh hush, Fred. He’s a really nice guy. And handsome, too,” she said, laughing lightly. Oh thank goodness, George thought. She knows he’s teasing. For a second there he thought she’d get offended, but then he remembered that Y/N and Fred knew each other really well. They were quite close. Best mates, one could call it.

“Handsome! Handsome?! Well, I guess whatever floats your boat, Y/N. He’s definitely not Fred Weasley handsome, but he’s okay I suppose.” George let out a laugh at his brother’s word.

“Funny, coming from you Fred. I reckon Angelina will have to wear a blindfold to the ball if she even wants a chance at having a good time,” she replied. This made George shake with laughter. Y/N smiled brightly at him and fiddled with the bottom of her jumper. Did Y/N potter just make a joke? He had never seen it before. Perhaps that was why Fred had her around so much. She looked like she wanted to say something to him, but someone called his name and that was that.

The night of the ball soon came and Y/N was scrambling to get ready. Her hands were only slightly shaking as she was putting on her necklace.

"Are you nervous, Y/N? It's only Kenneth," her roommate, Katie said as she took the clasps of the jewelry out of her hand. She clipped it for her.

"That's the thing, Katie. It's not just Kenneth. He's the first boy who has shown interest in me and I really want him to like me," Y/N replied exasperated.

"The first boy-" Katie sputtered in surprise. "The first boy? Y/N, I can name four guys off the top of my head who've fancied you."

"Katie, I've no idea what you are on about. If anyone liked me why didn't they tell me or ask me out?" Y/N laughed slightly at the idea. She would've known if someone was interested in her… right?

"Well maybe it's because you never showed interest back," she replied, shrugging. Perhaps she had spent too much time looking at George to realize anyone was looking at her. Well, no matter. The fact was she was going with Kenneth tonight. Y/N finished with her accessories and stepped back to look in the mirror. Her roommate made her way to the mirror as well. "Wow Y/N, you look absolutely stunning."

A bright, genuine smile made its way to her face. "Thank you, Katie. Truly. And I know your date is going to be absolutely gobsmacked when he sees you." The two girls shared a laugh, then made their way down to the great hall.

That night Y/N hung out with Fred and Angelina, but she spent the most time with her date.

A few days later, after her second official date with him, she had an important conversation with Fred. The two of them were lounging in the courtyard.

"Y'know what, Fred?" she said. He hummed in response. "I'm completely over your brother." A large grin was spread across her face.

Fred sat up from leaning on her shoulder and turned to face her. "Are you really?" Y/N nodded excitedly. It was sort of… liberating to her. She felt she wasn't held back by her unrequited nonsense anymore. "That's surprising, seeing as you've fancied him since what? Before your fourth year?"

"Before my third year, actually. When you lot saved me and Harry from the big bad Dursley household." They both laughed at that. "But now I'm free." Fred raised his eyebrows. "Free from having to worry about George. Or what he thinks of me, at least. Now I've got Kenny. I don't know how to describe it, but he just makes me feel… good."

Fred grinned at her. "Kenny?"

"Yes, Kenny. You know I give everyone nicknames, Frederick," she replied, rolling her eyes.

George had a great time at the Yule Ball. There was dancing, singing, and good times. The Yule Ball also brought change, but it would take a little while for him to notice it.

Y/N seemed to have a magical night at the ball with her date. They went on a few dates after that and Kenneth asked her to be his girlfriend. She agreed of course, and they seemed happy as they could be for the rest of the year, given the circumstances. George saw that while Y/N still didn't really hang out with him, she came up to Fred while he was there more often now. He started to see more of her. Kenneth must be helping her come out of her shell, he thought.

Near the end of the year, George and Fred were walking through an empty corridor. They then turned the corner and were shocked to see a crying Y/N being comforted by Harry. Or at least he was trying to comfort her. He looked a little helpless.

"Y/N!" Fred exclaimed, sliding onto the bench next to her. He threw an arm around her comfortingly and said, "What's wrong?"

Y/N sniffled. "It's Kenneth," Harry answered for her. George felt a pang of anger go through him. He wasn't close to Y/N, but he still felt bad for her.

Fred looked even more angry than he felt. "What did he do?" said Fred, who George could tell was trying to contain his anger. She lifted her head from her hands.

"He didn't do anything. It's- It's-" Y/N started before stopping and letting out a shaky breath. "It's his parents. They're moving to- to-" she said, putting her head back into her hands.

"They're moving to America," said Harry, sensing that her throat was closing up.

“Moving to America?” Fred said incredulously. “Why?”

“They don’t think it’s safe here anymore,” she said, lifting her head once again. She tried to control her breathing and wiped her tears. “He has to sever all ties here and… I said I’d wait for him. Wait until this is all over. But he said that I’d be happier without waiting. Without him…” A fresh set of tears made their way to Y/N’s eyes. “But I’m not really happy now, am I?” she laughed at herself pathetically and tried to sit up straighter.

“I’m really sorry, Y/N,” Fred said, rubbing comforting circles on her back.

“Thanks, Fred.”

After George’s sixth year at Hogwarts everything seemed to change. You Know Who was back in his own body. Cedric Diggory was murdered in cold blood simply for being with Harry. The Order of the Phoenix was reestablished.

And another thing. Something about Y/N Potter had changed in George’s eyes. The summer before his last year at Hogwarts, the image of her in his head changed. And he wasn’t sure if it was for the better or not.

Please let me know what you think and ask me any questions you have! My askbox is always open! Thank you so much for reading!

255 notes · View notes

lunarrumor · 4 years ago

Text

piper and nico friendship hcs !!

- since jason and nico bonded, he's started hanging out with the lost trio more

- he doesn't really do it on purpose, but piper and leo are kinda always with jason

- jason doesn't tell them (he wouldn't), but piper figures out pretty quickly that nico's gay

- she starts /subtly/ trying to help nico experiment (asking if he wants her eyeliner, or to try on some of her clothes, etc.)

- when nico's ready (largely due to the fact that the lost trio are all so openly bisexual) he tells the group and they support him ofc

- when nico talks about trying out a more feminine look, piper immediately steps in

- (leo is happy because the aphrodite kids finally have a new guy to dress up)

- piper doesn't own a lot of skirts, but drew let's them raid her closet, bc of course she wants to help

- nico's a little unsure bc he's seen the way they dress and he didn't mean that feminine, but drew and piper stay true to his style and his emo aesthetic (although they sneak in some color obviously)

- piper and nico usually talk about guys together as well, bc jason is too protective and leo cannot be serious in romantic situations

- he tells her about his old crush on percy and she agrees that he's charming, but not really her type (she also commonly tortures percy with this line)

- when she learns what he was like as a kid she immediately wants to play mythomagic

- jason learned how to play mythomagic as well, but only piper can beat nico (though it's very rare)

- they don't just talk about boys though (bc tbh, neither of them are that romance-oriented), they have a lot of deep talks too

- nico loves having someone to talk to about anything after a long time of being alone, and piper helps him sort out his emotions

- he commonly sleeps over in the aphrodite cabin when he's having nightmares, cuddled up next to piper

- he doesn't usually like touch, but he's come to accept it from her (piper is v affectionate)

- her touches aren't scary or overstepping, they just feel friendly and comforting to him

- when he's laying next to her in cabin 10 he could swear her love powers lessen the terror of his dreams

idk i just think that them,,, bc piper would be the only friend nico has to really explore his feminine side with (not overly feminine though, bc piper isn't that either), and she's also really easy to talk to, which is great for nico bc he needs to let some emotions out

#i just think that the lost trio + nico would be the best group of friends #(reyna would be in there too but she's not in this post)#and i feel like the dynamic least explored there is piper + nico #and i think they would be such a cool friendship #so here :)#also !!#i actually remembered to do this :D #im proud of myself bc i almost forgot i taked about piper and nico before #rrverse #nico di angelo #piper mclean

22 notes · View notes

starlightshadowsworld · 3 years ago

Text

I truly believe Percy wanted to change the ministry from the inside.

Dumbledor is one man who controls the will of the people twisting it for his own agendas.

While the ministry is a system, it can be changed while Dumbledor cannot.

I don't think he realised what he was getting to, you just know he'd have to suffer to prove his loyalty. A blood traitor wouldn't be treated very favourably.

Maybe curse new recruits, be target practice for others and go through interrogations to find where his family were hiding.

While he was in enemy clutches.

Percy Weasely was a civilian, fresh out of school with no family to go back to. Finding support from the non corrupt ministry employees regardless of what their Hogwarts house had been and them banding together. Peers and rivals alike.

None of that mattered now, the only objective was to survive and protect. Not only each other but the greater public.

Sending coded messages to Hogwarts prefects so that they could look after their younger peers and be aware of what was going on cos they sure as hell weren't being informed.

Subtly destroying paperwork needing to access certain areas or magically binding other places. Having to encode their own letters and messages to each other because they weren't even allowed to act friendly with each other.

The walls had eyes and ears.

Anything they could do to restrict the Death Eaters control and knowing they could be killed at any moment should they be caught

#Percy Weasely #Harry Potter #Percy at the ministry

6 notes · View notes

flightfoot · 4 years ago

Text

Tower of Nero quotes

So since I’m planning on writing some analyses for Tower of Nero, I decided to assemble my usual catalogue of quotes, so I won’t have to constantly flip through looking for them and typing them up hopefully. This is based on the kinds of analyses and things I want to talk about or just found interesting, but hey, I figure other people may find this useful as well.

Beware of spoilers, because no duh.

It was a silly thing to say, but some stubborn part of me insisted that Percy Jackson must be here somewhere, waiting to do dangerous tasks for me. That was his job!

But no. That was the old Apollo’s way of thinking - the Apollo I’d been the last time I was in this apartment. Percy was entitled to his own life. He was trying to have one, and - oh, the bitter truth! - it had nothing to do with me. (TON 37)

“Paul...” I ventured. “Aren’t you worried about having us here? We might endanger your family.”

The corners of his mouth tightened. “I was at the Battle of Manhattan. I’ve heard about some of the horrible things Sally went through - fighting the Minotaur, being imprisoned in the Underworld. And Percy’s adventures?” He shook his head in respect. “Percy has put himself on the line for us, for his friends, for the world, plenty of times. So, can I risk giving you a place to catch your breath, some fresh clothes, and a hot meal? Yeah, how could I not?” (TON 40-41)

What was it about kindness? In my time as Lester Papadopoulos, I had learned to stand up under horrendous verbal abuse and constant life-threatening violence, but the smallest act of generosity could ninja-kick me right in the heart and break me into a blubbering mess of emotions.

Damn you, Paul and Sally, and your cute baby too!

How could I repay them for providing me with this temporary refuge? I felt like I owed them the same thing I owed Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood, the Waystation and the Cistern, Piper and Frank and Hazel and Leo and, yes, especially Jason Grace. I owed them everything.

How could I not? (TON 41)

Sally Jackson crossed her arms. In spite of the grim matters we were discussing, she smiled. “You’ve grown up.”

I assumed she was talking about Meg. Over the last few months, my young friend had indeed gotten taller and- Wait. Was Sally referring to me?

My first thought: Preposterous! I was four thousand years old. I didn’t grow up.

She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “The last time you were here, you were so lost. So... well, if you don’t mind me saying-”

“Pathetic,” I blurted out. “Whiny, entitled, selfish. I felt terribly sorry for myself.”

Meg nodded along with my words as if listening to her favorite song. “You still feel sorry for yourself.”

“But now,” Sally said, sitting back again, “you’re more... human, I suppose.”

There was that word again: human, which not long ago I would’ve considered a terrible insult. Now, every time I heard it, I thought of Jason Grace’s admonition: Remember what it’s like to be human.

He hadn’t meant all the terrible things about being human, of which there were plenty. He meant the best things: standing up for a just cause, putting others first, having stubborn faith that you could make a difference, even if it meant you had to die to protect your friends and what you believed it. These were not the kinds of feelings gods had... well, ever.

Sally Jackson meant the term in the same way Jason had - as something worth aspiring to. (TON 45-46)

And are you any better? taunted a small voice in my brain. How many times have you stood up to Zeus?

Okay, small voice. Fair point. Tyrants are not easy to oppose or walk away from, especially when you depend on them for everything. (TON 57)

I already felt disconnected from reality. I couldn’t concentrate. I didn’t know who I was, who I was supposed to be, or even who I wanted to be. I was getting emotional whiplash from my exhilarating surges of godlike power, my depressing crashes back into mortal frailty, and my adrenaline-charged bouts of terror. In such a condition, approaching Dionysus was asking for trouble. Just being near him could widen the cracks in anyone’s psyche. (TON 76-77)

Dionysus eyed me with a mixture of shock and horror, much the same way I looked at myself in the mirror these days. (TON 77)

In retaliation, Dionysus decided to look and act as ungodly as possible. He was like a child refusing to tuck in his shirt, comb his hair, or brush his teeth, just to show his parents how little he cared. (TON 78)

“Dad!” Will shot to his feet. He ran down the steps and tackled me in a hug.

That’s when I lost it. I wept openly.

My beautiful son, with his kind eyes, his healer’s hands, his sun-warm demeanour. Somehow, he had inherited all my best qualities and none of the worst. (TON 80)

“I figured you’d come back to camp eventually,” he said. “I hoped you would, anyway. I wanted you to feel at home.”

It was enough to start me crying again. Gods, I was an emotional wreck. Will hadn’t inherited his thoughtfulness from me. That was all his mother, Naomi, bless her kind heart. (TON 87-88)

“You’ve grown up!” Kayla gripped my shoulders with her archery-strong hands. The June sunlight made her freckles more pronounced. The green tinted tips of her orange hair made me think of Halloween-pumpkin candy. “You’re two inches taller at least! Isn’t he, Austin?” (TON 88)

I wanted to tell them that they were all so young. Their lifespans were a blink of an eye compared to my four millennia. I should be wrapping them all in warm blankets and giving them cookies rather than expecting them to be heroes, slay monsters, and buy me clothes. (TON 90)

“Nico has been having... I guess you’d call it post-traumatic stress disorder. He gets flashbacks. He has waking dreams. Dionysus has been trying to help him make sense of it all. The worst part is the voices.” (TON 93)

I frowned at Dionysus. “You could always, oh, I don’t know, decide to help.”

He scoffed. “You know as well as I do, Apollo, that quests like this are demigod business. As for advising, guiding, helping... that’s really more Chiron’s job.” (TON 99)

I wondered, bitterly, if there was anyone I hadn’t neglected, hurt, or overlooked during my time as a mortal - strike that - during my four thousand years of existence, period. I could only be grateful that my shoes were not sentient. Or my underwear. Gods, I would never be able to stop apologizing. (TON 110)

“I betrayed you once,” she said. “Right here in these woods.” She didn’t sound sad or ashamed about it, the way she once might have. She spoke with a sort of dreamy disbelief, as if trying to recall the person she’d been six months ago. That was a problem I could relate to. (TON 114)

“I have to go back,” Meg insisted. “I have to see if I’m strong enough.”

Peaches cuddled up next to her as if he had no such concerns.

Meg patted his leafy wings. “Maybe I’ve gotten stronger. But when I go back to the palace, will it be enough? Can I remember to be who I am now and not... who I was then?”

I didn’t think she expected an answer. But it occurred to me that perhaps I should be asking myself that same question.

Since Jason Grace’s death, I’d spent sleepless nights wondering if I could keep my promise to him. Assuming I made it back to Mount Olympus, could I remember what it was like to be human, or would I slip back into being the self-centered god I used to be?

Change is a fragile thing. It requires time and distance. Survivors of abuse, like Meg, have to get away from their abusers. Going back to that toxic environment was the worst thing she could do. And former arrogant gods like me couldn’t hang around other arrogant gods and expect to stay unsullied.

But I supposed Meg was right. Going back was the only way to see how strong we’d gotten, even if it meant risking everything. (TON 114-115)

“So now you believe the Trogs exist?” Nico asked.

“I am learning to believe in all sorts of things that can kill me!” (TON 136)

If my trials as a mortal had done anything, they had shown me how many times I’d abandoned, forgotten, and failed my Oracle over the centuries. I could not abandon Rachel in the same way. I’d neglected the basic truth that they did not serve me; I was supposed to serve them. (TON 158)

Nico smirked. “Friends, meet my glow-in-the-dark boyfriend.”

“Could you not make a big deal about it?” Will asked. (TON 163)

“Rachel, I’m scared,” I admitted. “It was one thing thinking about putting myself in danger. But the entire camp? Everyone?”

Strangely, this comment seemed to please her.

She took my hand. “I know, Apollo. And the fact that you’re worried about other people? That’s beautiful. But you’ll have to trust me.” (TON 175)

When he’d told me to remember being human, he’d meant building on pain and tragedy, overcoming it, learning from it. That was something gods never did. We just complained.

To be human is to move forward, adapt, to believe in your ability to make things better. That is the only way to make the pain and sacrifice mean something.

I met Rachel’s gaze.”I trust you. I’ll make things right. Or I will die trying.”

The strange thing was, I meant it. A world in which the future was controlled by a giant reptile, where hope was suffocated, where heroes sacrificed their lives for nothing, and pain and hardship could not yield a better life... that seemed much worse than a world without Apollo. (TON 176-177)

Not one deserved to be snuffed out by Nero’s cruelty. The revelation stunned me. I had become a human-life hoarder! (TON 182)

“I’m so sorry”, I managed at last.

“No, no,” Jason said. “I made my choice. You’re not to blame. You don’t owe me anything except to remember what I said. Remember what’s important.”

“You’re important,” I said. “Your life!”

Jason tilted his head. “I mean... sure. But if a hero isn’t ready to lose everything for a greater cause, is that person really a hero?”

He weighted the word person subtly, as if to stress it could mean a human, a faun, a dryad, a griffin, a pandos... even a god. (TON 218-219)

As a god of healing, I knew something about psychology and mental health, though I’ll admit I did not always best practices to myself. (TON 225)

I knew my anxiety about my own weakness was getting mixed up with my anxiety about Meg. Even if I somehow made my way back to Mount Olympus, I didn’t trust myself to hold onto the important things I’d learned as a mortal. That made me doubt Meg’s ability to stay strong in her old toxic home.

The similarities between Nero’s household and my family on Mount Olympus made me increasingly uneasy. The idea that we gods were just as manipulative, just as abusive as the worst Roman emperor... Surely that couldn’t be true.

Oh, wait. Yes, it could. Ugh. I hated clarity. (TON 225-226)

I found myself back in the caverns of Delphi, volcanic gasses layering the air, the dark shape of Python moving heavily in the background.

“So, I have you again,” he gloated. “You shall perish-”

“I don’t have time for you right now.” My voice surprised me almost as mush as it did the reptile.

“What?”

“Gotta go.” I lashed the reins of my dream.

“How dare you! You cannot-”

I rocketed into reverse like I was tied to a rubber band. (TON 233)

We both knew that, under most circumstances, Meg was fully capable of rescuing herself. But with Nero... I suspected Lu, like me, wanted Meg to be strong enough to save herself. We couldn’t make the hard choices for her. Yet it was excruciating to stand by while Meg’s sense of independence was tested. (TON 244)

But now, after knowing Lu, I wondered how many of these Germani really wanted to serve Nero, and how many had been conscripted into his service with no choice. Enough people had died. My grudge was with only one person, Nero, and one reptile, Python. (TON 250)

“Well, no, not Mr. D,” Nico said. “You know how it is. Gods don’t fight demigod battles. Present company excepted.” (TON 263)

Austin and I had gotten to know each other - not just as god and mortal, or father and son, but as two people working side by side, helping each other get through our often messed-up lives. (TON 273)

My heart broke. Meg looked elegant, older, and quite beautiful. She also looked utterly, completely no longer herself. Nero had tried to strip way everything she had been, every choice she’d made, and replace her with someone else - a proper young lady of the Imperial Household. (TON 285-286)

I tried to contain my horror. “Meg,” I said. “There’s only one person you need to listen to here: yourself. Trust yourself.”

I meant it, despite all my doubts and fears, despite all my complaints over the months about Meg being my master. She had chosen me, but I had also chosen her. I did trust her - not in spite of her past with Nero, but because of it. I had seen her struggle. I’d admired her hard-won progress. I had to believe in her for my own sake. She was - gods help me - my role model. (TON 293)

“I didn’t kill my father,” she said, her voice small and hard. “I didn’t cut off Lu’s hands or enslave those dryads or twist us all up inside.” She swept a hand towards the other demigods of the household. “You did that, Nero. I hate you.” (TON 295)

“Lu has immortality,” I said, “because you’re immortal. The two of you have been connected for centuries.”

Nero’s eye twitched. “But that’s my eternal life! You can’t trade my life for my life!” (TON 309)

Python had always been the real power behind the throne - a bigger puppet master than Nero’s mother ever had been. Like most bullies, Nero had been shaped and manipulated by an even stronger abuser. (TON 310)

Nero hissed. “Ungrateful child. The Beast-”

“The Beast is dead.” Meg tapped the side of her head. “I killed it.” (TON 311)

Rachel pulled out a blue plastic hairbrush and threw it at the nearest barbarian, beaning him in the eye and making him howl.

Sorry I underestimated you, Rachel, I thought distantly. You’re actually kind of a hairbrush ninja. (TON 313)

"You - cannot - take - it - Lester!” Nero said through clenched teeth, pulling with all his might.

“I am Apollo,” I said, tugging the opposite direction. “And I - revoke - your - divinity!” (TON 317)

“Hasn’t he proved himself already?” Artemis demanded. My heart ached, seeing my sister again. “He’s suffered more in these last few months than even you could have expected! Whatever lesson you were trying to teach him, dear Father, he’s learned it!” (TON 319)

“This has gone on long enough. Too much loss. Too much pain. But if my husband insists on seeing it through, the least you all can do is not talk about Apollo as if he’s already dead!” (TON 320)

Then I was back in my mortal form, looking up not at the Olympians, but at the faces of my friends (TON 320)

I alternated drinking my nectar and Mountain Dew, which was sort of like alternating between premium gasoline and regular gasoline. (TON 323)

Meg had thrown away her sandals, braving bare feet despite the arrows, rubble, bones, and discarded blades that littered the floor. Someone had given her an orange Camp Half-Blood shirt, which she’d put on over her dress, making her allegiance clear. She still looked older and more sophisticated, but she also looked like my Meg. (TON 323)

I considered that perhaps courage was a self-perpetuating cycle, like abuse. Nero had hoped to create miniature, tortured versions of himself because that made him feel stronger. Meg had found the strength to oppose him because she saw how much her foster siblings needed her to succeed, to show them another way.

There were no guarantees. The imperial demigods had dealt with so much for so long, some of them might never be able to come back from the darkness. Then again, there had been no guarantees for Meg, either. There were still no guarantees that I would come back from the caverns of Delphi. All any of us could do was try, and hope that in the end, the virtuous cycle would break the vicious one. (TON 324)

Even if I survived, I would not be the same. The best I could hope for was to emerge from Delphi with my godhood restored, which was what I had wanted and dreamed about for the past half a year. So why did I feel so reluctant about leaving behind the broken, battered form of Lester Papadopolous?

“Just come back to me dummy, that’s an order.” Meg gave me a gentle hug, conscious of my injuries. Then she got to her feet and ran off to check on the imperial demigods - her former family, and possibly her family yet to be. (TON 327)

“We all have a duty to rescue each other, wouldn’t you say?”

I nodded, wondering how the centaur had become so wise over the centuries, and why that same wisdom had escaped me until I had been Lesterized. (TON 328)

I felt a tingly sensation of power building just under my skin - perhaps my divine self, trying to reassert itself in the proximity of my old arch-enemy. I hoped it was that and not just my mortal body combusting (TON 332)

Deep breath. This was for Meg. This was for Jason. This was for everyone who had fought and sacrificed to drag my sorry mortal butt from quest to quest for the last six months, just to get me this chance at redemption (TON 333)

And yet, along with humility, I’d learned something else: getting humiliated is the beginning, not the end. Sometimes you need a second shot, and a third, and a fourth. (TON 335)

“YOU CAN’T HIDE!” Python bellowed. “YOU ARE NO GOD!”

This pronouncement hit me like a bucket of ice water. It didn’t carry the weight of prophecy, but it was true nonetheless. At the moment, I wasn’t sure what I was. I certainly wasn’t my old godly self. I wasn’t exactly Lester Papadopolous either. My flesh steamed. Pulses of light flickered under my skin, like the sun trying to break through storm clouds. When had that started?

I was between states, morphing as rapidly as Python himself. I was no god. I would never be the same old Apollo again. But in this moment, I had the chance to decide what I would become, even if that new existence only lasted a few seconds.

The realization burned away my delirium.

“I won’t hide,” I muttered. “I won’t cower. That’s not who I will be.” (TON 339-340)

I had done my best. Surely, Zeus would see that and be proud. Maybe he would send down a lightning bolt, blast Python into tiny pieces, and save me!

As soon as I thought this, I realized how foolish it was. Zeus didn’t work that way. He would not save me anymore than Nero had saved Meg. I had to let go of that fantasy. I had to save myself. (TON 341)

The prophecy came true. Apollo fell, and Python fell with me. (TON 346)

The river sapped my memories, my emotions, my will. It pried open the burning cracks in my Lester Papadopoulos shell, making me feel raw and unmade like a molting dragonfly. (TON 348)

I held onto my purpose. I remembered Meg McCaffrey’s last order: Come back to me, my dummy. Her face remained clear in my mind. She had been abandoned so many times, used so cruelly. I would not be another cause of grief for her. I knew who I was. I was her dummy. (TON 348)

Wow, Apollo, you marvel. How did you survive?

I didn’t.

But at that point I was no longer Lester Papadopoulos. I was not Apollo. I was not sure who or what I was (TON 349)

“Have you learned?” she asked.

If I hadn’t felt so weak, I might have laughed. I had learned, all right. I was still learning.

At that moment, I realized I’d been thinking of the Styx the wrong way all these months. She hadn’t put destruction in my path. I’d caused it myself. She hadn’t gotten me into trouble. I was the trouble. She had merely called out my recklessness. (TON 353)

Why couldn’t I let go, then? I kept clinging to the edge with stubborn determination. My wayward pinky found its grip again. I had promised Meg I would return to her. I hadn’t sworn it as an oath, but that didn’t matter. If I said I would do it, I had to follow through.

Perhaps that was what Styx had been trying to teach me: it wasn’t about how loudly you swore your oath, or what sacred words you used. It was about whether or not you meant it. And whether your promise was worth making.

Hold on, I told myself, to both the rock and the lesson.

My arms seemed to become more substantial. My body felt more real. The lines of light wove together until my form was a mesh of solid gold.

Was it just a last hopeful hallucination, or did I just pull myself up? (TON 354)

I rose with a sob and hugged her tight. All my pain was gone. I felt perfect. I felt... I almost thought, like myself again, but I wasn’t even sure what that meant anymore.

I was a god again. For so long, my deepest desire was to be restored. But instead of feeling elated, I wept on my sister’s shoulder. I felt like if I let go of Artemis, I would fall back into Chaos. Huge parts of my identity would shake loose, and I would never be able to find all the puzzle pieces. (TON 355)

My chest was bronze and perfectly sculpted. My muscular arms bore no scars or fiery lines glowing beneath the surface. I was gorgeous, which made me feel melancholy. I had worked hard for those scars and bruises. All the suffering my friends and I had been through... (TON 355)

I felt awkward and uncomfortable in this form, as if I’d been given a Rolls-Royce to drive but no car insurance to go with it. I’d felt so much more comfortable in my economy-compact Lester. (TON 357)

I remembered my dream of the throne room - the other Olympians gambling on my success or failure. I wondered how much money they’d lost.

What could I possibly say to them? I no longer felt like one of them. I wasn’t one of them. (TON 358)

My poor Hyacinthus. Had I really created these flowers to commemorate him, or to wallow in my own grief and guilt? I found myself questioning many things I had done over the centuries. Strangely enough, this uneasiness felt somewhat reassuring.

I studied my smooth tan arms, wishing again that I had retained a few scars. Lester Papadopoulos had earned his cuts, bruises, broken ribs, blistered feet, acne... Well perhaps not the acne. No one deserves that. But the rest had felt more like symbols of victory than laurels, And better commemorations of loss than hyacinths. (TON 358-359)

I turned and strode out of my room, trying to recall how the god Apollo walked (TON 359)

As much as we pretended to be a council of twelve, in truth we were a tyranny. Zeus was less a benevolent father and more an iron-fisted leader with the biggest weapons and the ability to strip us of our immortality if we offended him. (TON 366)

My father coughed into his fist. “ I know you think your punishment was harsh, Apollo.”

I did not answer. I tried my best to keep my expression polite and neutral.

“But you must understand,” Zeus continued, “only you could have overthrown Python. Only you could have freed the Oracles. And you did it, as I expected. The suffering, the pain along the way... regrettable, but necessary. You have done me proud.”

Interesting how he put that: I had done him proud. I had been useful in making him look good. My heart did not melt. I did not feel that this was a warm-and-fuzzy reconciliation with my father. Let’s be honest: some fathers don’t deserve that. Some fathers aren’t capable of it.

I suppose I could have raged at him and called him bad names. We were alone. He probably expected it. Given his awkward self-consciousness at the moment, he might even have let me get away with it unpunished.

But it would not have changed him. It would not have made anything different between us.

You cannot change a tyrant by trying to out-ugly him. Meg could never have changed Nero, any more than I could change Zeus. I could only try to be different than him. Better. More... human. And to limit the time I spent around him to as little as possible. (TON 367-368)

I still didn’t feel like my old self. I didn’t want to feel like my old self. (TON 371)

When I’d first met Meg, she’d assured me that Lester’s appearance was perfectly normal. At the time, the notion had horrified me. Now I found it reassuring. (TON 371)

Ugly weeping would not have been appropriate for a major Olympian god, so that’s exactly what I did. (TON 372)

To be honest, though, I could no longer consider my time on Earth a punishment. Terrible, tragic, nearly impossible... yes. But calling it a punishment gave Zeus too much credit. It had been a journey - an important one I made for myself, with the help of my friends. I hoped... I believed that the grief and pain had shaped me into a better person. I had forged a more perfect Lester from the dregs of Apollo. I would not trade those experiences for anything. And if I had been told I had to be Lester for another hundred years... Well, I could think of worse things. At least I wouldn’t be expected to show up at the Olympian solstice meetings. (TON 373)

She laid her hand on my arm. “You haven’t forgotten. I can tell.”

She meant about being human, about honoring the sacrifices that had been made.

“No,” I said. “I won’t forget. The memory is part of me now.” (TON 390)

It would have been inconceivable to the old Apollo, but the idea of aging in this lovely desert tree house, watching Meg grow into a strong and powerful woman... that didn’t sound bad at all. (TON 394)

Call on me. I will be there for you. (TON 396)

#trials of apollo #ton spoilers #tower of nero #the tower of nero #tower of nero spoilers #the trials of apollo

117 notes · View notes