Look! I got a chapter out in a timely manner! This is new and I feel everyone should be proud of me for it.

Pairings: Octavian/Percy(main) with Paul/Sally, Nico/Jason, Reyna/Annabeth, and Frank/Hazel/Leo


New Beginnings

Skyward

Upon being woken up to freezing cold water and the blinding light of the sun, Octavian retracted the statement he had made the night before. When he saw fit, Perseus Jackson had the almighty ability to be a scary person. The evil grin of said praetor spoke volumes upon being the first thing seen when waking up from deep sleep.

"Thanks Lord Apollo!" The cheerful, kind voice didn't match the wicked grin on the teenager's face as he closed the window. Instantly, the force of the sun's blinding light disappeared. It seemed that Perseus had pulled in help from one of the many gods that would willingly fall at his feet. "Nice to see you're awake, Octavian. Apollo said that the water would do it, but the sun was for good measure, to make sure you stayed awake."

The blond sat up, rubbing his eyes with a groan. "What do you want Jackson?" The full force of his snap was there, not blocked by silly emotions in his agitated mood. "Do you even know what time it is?"

Percy could only smile, though it lacked some of his earlier joy. "Of course I do. It's almost nine. We'll be leaving in half an hour, by the way. You need to get packing. Don't worry about breakfast. I planned for us to stop for that on the way to New York."

"New York?" Octavian sputtered, eyebrows raising into his hairline. "What makes you think I have any plans to go to New York today?"

The sea demigod and moved from Octavian's bedside to Octavian's dresser. He pulled out clothes, robes, only to shove them back into the drawer with a simple shake of his head. "Well, my mother lives in New York with her husband. Seeing as that is where I will be going for Christmas, and you by default, you will be going to New York today. It's a long flight, so I suggest packing light and wearing something comfortable." He tossed a pair of worn jeans and a purple shirt to Octavian's bed. "That should do. Are you going to force me to pack for you as well?"

Again, Octavian sputtered, no words coming out this time as he stared at Percy Jackson, watching the smaller male prance around the room as if he owned the place. Taking a breath and running a hand through his bedhead, the blond stopped the yell that was building up in his throat. "I am not going anywhere with you Perseus."

A visible shudder shot through Percy's spine. Spinning around on his heels, he raised a dark eyebrow at the augur. "Yes, you are. Reyna has already been informed and approves of your sudden interest in getting away from Camp. She said something about that being good for your psyche." He shrugged. "The point is, you're going to New York with me, even if I have to tie a leash to your neck and drag you there."

"Kinky Jackson." It slipped out before he could help it but Octavian refused to regret his words or feel embarrassed by them. Besides, the delicate blush he received from Perseus was enough to satisfy his momentary slip up. Stuttering out a "Just get dressed perv" the sea demigod was out of the blond's room quicker than he came.

Octavian pursed his lips, leaning back on his elbows. "Interesting," he mumbled, watching the boy go. It seemed he was as temperamental as the ocean from which he came. "Very interesting indeed." Without wasting another moment, he dressed in the clothes chosen for him and packed a small bag. Perhaps this week would be more fun than he had originally suspected.

New Beginnings

Percy tried not to laugh. He knew that it was a bad idea. It was such a bad idea that it could possibly send him tumbling out of the sky. He was never one to listen to the obvious, though, and let out a small snicker. The hands on his hips tightened and Octavian let out a growl, the warm breath spreading out across his neck. "I never thought you would be one afraid of flying."

The blond hissed. "Silence, Jackson," Octavian hissed. He didn't lift his head away from where it was buried in Percy's shoulder, further proving the Greek's point. "I'm not afraid of flying."

The sea demigod snorted. "Really?" He asked, one eyebrow arched skyward. "Then explain to me this act of squeamishness you're currently having."

Octavian let out a huff of annoyance, allowing his eyes to open slightly. Thankfully, the view of the clouds around them was blocked by Percy's neck and jaw. He breathed in the ocean scent emitted from the boy. Almost instantly, it calmed him, confusing him enough to trick his mind into thinking he was on the ground, on the beach. "I'm not afraid of flying...in a plane. Or a helicopter. Or even in a bloody hot air balloon. I do not like...feeling open to attack. I was trained differently. Like this, I am completely open."

"That's adorable," Percy cooed. He yelped at the sudden squeeze to his side, rolling his eyes. "Fucking stop that. Have you yet to realize that if I fall off, you're coming with me? Plus, we are over land. There isn't any water below us that I can use to cushion our fall, little prick." It took a moment, but Octavian's grip loosened. Instead of painful, the hold was comfortable and barely noticeable. "Much better. Thank you."

All he received in return was a grunt and then the blond's face burying into his neck. A smile slowly curved onto the sea prince's face. Despite knowing who it was sitting behind him, this was still nice. He hadn't had the pleasure of someone holding onto him for a long time now. Since the hold was no longer painful, it could almost be considered nice.

Boss, is this your new mate?

Percy blushed, his eyes instantly darting to look at the blond head of hair buried into his neck, then darting away. "No. Why would you even think that?"

Octavian lifted his head slightly, eyeing Percy. "Who are you..." Then his eyes looked to Blackjack. "Of course. Your father created horses."

Chucking, the sea demigod nodded. "Yeah. I'm a horse whisperer...and a fish whisperer, if you're really curious. This is Blackjack, by the way. I didn't get the properly introduce the two of you before we took off. Blackjack, this little prick is Octavian," he spoke with a soft smile. As Percy turned back to the pegasus, his smile wavered. "Answer my question."

Blackjack let out a breathy sound that Percy had learned was his laugh. He's all cuddled up to you Boss.

"So? Annabeth has done that before too," he argued, trying to pick and choose his words carefully. Octavian could at least hear half of the conversation.

This is different, that much I can even tell. You haven't pushed this one away yet.

Percy started to open his mouth before pausing and closing it again. Blackjack was right. He hadn't pushed Octavian away, nor argued about being cuddled up to. He had argued with and teased Annabeth. Hell, he had even teased Thalia whenever she ended up in the air with him, and he knew about her problem with heights. "Maybe you're right." That only received another laugh from Blackjack.

New Beginnings

Octavian couldn't help but feeling left out. Perseus didn't give enough away for him to be a part of the conversation. Plus, he hadn't said a single word since the horse let out what he could only assume was a laugh. The strange silence did not comfort him as it once had only a few weeks before. In fact, it worried him. Perseus Jackson was never this silent. Whenever he was, something tended to be wrong.

Even when they landed behind the mortal diner, he hadn't said a word. No, Perseus stayed silent, disappearing into the diner's restrooms once Octavian had picked a table. As much as he hated to admit it, this silent act was worrying him, a feeling he wasn't used to, especially when it came to the idiot sea prince.

"Why are you looking so gloomy?"

Lifting his head slowly, Octavian was meet with the sight of a smiling Perseus. How does he flip emotions so quickly? Mentally, he shook the question away, figuring it was a defense mechanism of some kind to stop others from asking questions, and found amused green eyes staring at him. He tightened his jaw and looked away, not wanting Percy to see all the emotions in his eyes. The idiot would probably assume him sick just because he was feeling something. "I'm not gloomy."

"Yeah, you are," Percy grinned, leaning back in his seat. He caught sight of a spark of something in those blue eyes, but refrained from commenting. "I see all the storm clouds gathering above your head Tave. It's pretty depressing."

Octavian sneered, narrowing his eyes. "What did you just call me?"

Percy blinked, chewing on his bottom lip as he silently ran through his words. "You mean Tave? It's your nickname. You won't call me by mine, so I decided to annoy you with yours." He smiled blindingly.

Letting out a puff of air through his nose, the blond shook his head. "You do not amuse me." He crossed his arms over his chest to stop the warmth from spreading upward and causing his lips to smile. That would deter from his point. "Let's just get this breakfast over with. I want this week done as soon as possible."

Sighing, Percy shook his head. "I don't believe you, but whatever," he glanced down at their menus.

Octavian grumbled a bit, not understand why this idiot demigod was affecting him so much. He knew that it would happen eventually. Perseus brought out emotions in others. Normally, it was just anger from him, anger and annoyance. Now...Octavian didn't even want to piece together what these warm feelings bubbling in his chest and stomach could be. Whatever they were, he blamed them for this entire mess. Had they not been there, he wouldn't have given Perseus a present in the first place and he would be...all alone in his room, for Christmas, again.

Reaching up, the augur rubbed his temple, closing his eyes so he wouldn't have to look at the easily excitable praetor before him. Alright. Perhaps things hadn't turned out as badly as he originally believed. For once in years, he wouldn't be alone on Christmas. Plus, Perseus was tolerable now, if not a bit more than that. Maybe they could bridge the gap between them and be more than acquaintances. Certainly not friends, though. He could never deal with that much of the sea prince.

New Beginnings

Contrary to others' beliefs, Octavian turned out to be a great travel partner. He stopped trying to make Percy free fall through the sky upon realizing that he himself would be free falling as well, his silly complains kept up an amusing conversation (not to mention the obvious jealousy whenever he was ignored in favor of Percy speaking with Blackjack), and the cuddling was good. No, the cuddling was great. Percy loved the feeling of a warm body pressed up against his back and arms wrapped around his waist (because Octavian had moved from simply holding his hips to circling his waist the moment Blackjack did a dive in the air). Plus, he could smell that earthy, tea tone that always seemed to admit from Octavian when he was this close. It was surprisingly calming and made his heart beat a little faster.

"Where are we going to land?" Percy shivered as it was whispered in his ear. Turning his head some, he smiled gently. "We are in New York City. People will see you on a flying horse."

Percy could only grin at him. "I've flown to my mom's before, so stop worrying," he assured the blond. "There's an alleyway near her apartment that is large enough for Blackjack to land. Plus, mortals only see what they want to see thanks to the mist. They'll probably think he's a flock of birds."

Octavian gave a small nod, resting his chin on Perseus' shoulder and watching the city fan out before them. He couldn't explain it, but being this close made him feel much safer. Perseus didn't let anything happen to his friends, not that they were that, and wouldn't let him fall. No, he was sure the younger demigod would risk life and limb before he let even the likes of Octavian fall to his death.

Just as he said, they soon landed in an alleyway between two apartment buildings. The black pegasus' wings barely brushed against the bricks. Perseus whispered a few words to his horse, Blackjack if he remembered, before the stallion flew off and Octavian finally had the ocean's prince all to himself for once.

The blond blinked. All to himself? Where did that come from? "Uhm."

"This way." Perseus turned his brilliant smile on the augur, shouldering both their bags and refusing to give either away. "Blackjack is going back to Camp Half-Blood. He likes it there, most of the time."

Octavian gave a small nod, following Perseus without another question. He didn't want to start up a conversation about Camp Half-Blood. There were too many wounded memories with that topic. "Do you ride him often?" He tried, not wanting to lapse into the same silence they had gone through hours earlier.

"Not as often now that I'm praetor," Perseus confessed, the smallest of smiles on his lips as he found interest in his sneakers. "Plus, his home is with the Greeks, not the Romans. I don't want to take him away from his friends and everything he knows."

Feeling as if he might have breached an unwanted topic, Octavian stayed silent for a minute. Finally, he came out with, "I am sorry for all I have done to your camp. You may be an annoying graecus but there was no need to bring all those children into a war where they do not belong."

Percy couldn't help it. He snorted. "Tave, we were children. For both wars, we were children. How can you say that when the war was won by children?"

"Because we shouldn't have been involved in this war," Octavian hissed, no longer pausing to think on his words. The best conversations he had with Perseus, the most truthful ones, always came from words of passion. "Perhaps I may have been of age for the giant war, but not before that. You are only coming of age after everything has ended. Children...have no place on the battle field. I would like to believe that. I disagree with the gods, who seem to believe the lose of innocent life is worth it for the greater cause. I disagree. Children are the future and should not be thrown away as if they were trash. Is something wrong?"

That was when Percy realized his jaw had dropped. Immediately, he closed it and turned away, blushing red. His mind somewhere else, he didn't even stop the blond as Octavian snatched the bags from him. There was nothing left in him to argue, not when he had heard such kind, passionate words from a man he had once thought only full of hatred.

"Perseus?" Shaking his head, Percy met those, now soft, blue eyes. "Your parents...they will think nothing of bring a strange man home, unannounced?"

Percy blinked owlishly before fully realizing what Octavian meant. He smiled slyly and shook his head. "No. Mom will be fine with it. She's used to Nico showing up randomly for family events. Plus, Paul has pretty much learned to just roll with things when it comes to my friends," he chuckled. Spinning the blond around, he tugged his key out of his bag and unlocked the apartment door, not even waiting for the augur as he wondered inside.

Octavian stopped, staring wide eyed after Perseus. "Friends?" He repeated, his own eyes looking a bit owlish now. "We are...friends?"