On Summoning (and) Half-Bloods
Chapter Two: The Summoned
(a.k.a. By any chance, do you have spare boxers?)
The sun was shining too brightly for Annabeth's tastes and she rolled to her side in the hope that the rays won't blind her still lidded eyes. It was an odd feeling since she hasn't been blinded by the sun in years. She always woke up at the crack of dawn or even earlier, usually because she used that time to study or prepare for her summoning. A frown made its way to her face when she realized that she should have been up hours ago, that she should be up right now.
But she grumbled as she pulled her blanket even tighter to her body. But she just had the most fantastic dream, fantastic in the sense that it was so unreal or surreal not in the sense that it was great. In her dream, she finally succeeded summoning her half-blood. But she wasn't sure whether to consider her dream as a good dream or a nightmare because her whole summoning was illegal. Actually, it bordered on impossible because it shouldn't have been possible for her to do a summoning outside the basement of the Hera Cabin. And add to that she didn't use the real incantation, she didn't even use an incantation at all; she just shouted, ranted, and screamed her frustrations. She made a happy sounding noise in her sleep, it wasn't possible for her to do a summoning at all, especially an illegal one, so she shouldn't have problems about it.
There was a knock on the door and she grumbled as she pulled her blanket to her face. For some reason, she was terribly exhausted and did not want to deal with anyone this early in the morning. Maybe she'll feel more like herself in the afternoon, but until then, she'd rather spend the day sleeping off her tiredness.
The knocking became more insistent and Annabeth groaned. It might have been her imagination, but there was an answering groan to hers and only then did she force herself to get up and answer the door. Never mind that her curls weren't combed and tied back or her sleeping attire only consisted of a large t-shirt that only went past mid-thigh, and she was fairly sure was off-shoulder. She stumbled across her cabin, nearly slipping on her notes that were scattered on the floor, though she can't remember when that happened last night.
She opened the door slightly as she rubbed her eyes. It was too bright today and it seemed to be hell-bent on blinding her. "May I help you?" she said groggily though honestly she just wanted to slam the door to his face.
But it was Chiron who was knocking and she could never do that to him. "Child, is everything fine?" he asked with such a soft voice, his eyes sparkled with concern as always.
"Yeah, why should it be?" she answered back and covered her mouth as a yawn escaped from her mouth.
"I heard that the other cabins heard that there were odd sounds coming from your cabin," he explained and tried to peek in her room despite Annabeth covering the small crack that she opened. She sensed what he was trying to do and opened the door even wider so that he could enter her room. "Thank you," he said and she nodded in reply and stood to the side so that he could wheel himself in.
Annabeth winced as she finally noticed the mess in her room, not only were her notes scattered but there were also her books, notebooks, and even stuffed animals lay on the floor. She can't believe that she actually let someone in with the mess in her room, and more so that she let her room be as messy as it was.
"Are you sure that nothing is troubling you?" Chiron said as he turned around to face her. Annabeth shook her head, both as an answer and to remove the blush on her face because of the embarrassment of someone seeing her cabin so messy.
"Child," he said, as he wheeled closer to her and she looked straight into his brown eyes which always held so much care and concern for her. Much more than her mother's steel grey eyes ever offered. "Not only is your room a mess, but several hours have passed since dawn and you're still not awake as you normally are, judging by the state of your undress," he said as if he was simply stating facts. He never laced his voice with judgement whenever he talked to her, which is why she respected him so much, despite just being a half-blood.
She gave him a smile and a shrug. "It was a difficult night," she offered as an explanation and he nodded understandingly. She never really dealt with Athena's visits well and his visit didn't ease her discomfort at all.
"If that's all, child," he said as he turned away from her. As he was about to exit the room, his gaze landed on the far corner of her cabin and he let out an uncharacteristic gasp. Chiron was never surprised by anything, and it made her curious on what could make him so shocked.
Her eyes landed on where he was outright staring and she let out a gasp of her own. "It was real. It did happen," she mumbled as her eyes never strayed from the corner, rather on what was in the corner.
There lay, on what seemed to be a nest that was made of sheets and blankets, a man who seemed to be around Annabeth's age. He seemed to be happily curled into himself as he slept despite wearing only rags and his body was littered with a number of wounds that were dressed with bandages that were mostly white, though some seemed to be tinged with red. She made a mental note to change them as soon as she can. And to top it all off, he was drooling on his arm, which served as his pillow, and unknowingly causing the state of shock in the rest of the occupants in the room.
The half-blood that she summoned last night was in the corner of her room. The half-blood that was illegally summoned last night was in a nest of her sheets and blankets that she made last night. Her half-blood that she illegally summoned last night was sleeping contently.
She felt her legs turn to jelly and give out on her as she collapsed on her butt. She had a feeling that if Chiron was standing, he would have done the same thing, judging by the dumfounded expression on his face.
"What is Percy doing here?" he said and Annabeth wondered what a "Percy" is. Is that the name of the breed of the half-blood or something similar?
Chiron wheeled closer to the nest but was stopped by the mess on the floor. He frowned at the mess and Annabeth stood up. "Would you want me to wake him up?" she offered, though her legs were still wobbly.
"Yes, please," he answered as she walked over the mess. She made another mental note to clean up as soon as possible, probably right after changing his bandages. Maybe he could help her out, but it wasn't likely because she didn't like other people touching her belongings. But he was a half-blood, her half-blood at that, so he shouldn't count as just another person.
Sh
e was by his side and part of her was unnerved with how close she stood to the half-blood. If he wanted, he could hurt her once he woke up and she only hoped that Chiron could cast spells fast enough to protect her. "Hey, wake up," she said, not ready to touch him. He grumbled in his sleep in reply but didn't stir. "Wake up," she said louder and he only grumbled again. She sighed as she ran a hand through her curls.
She was ready to slap or punch him to wake him up, a pre-emptive strike because he could lash out against her. At least she got a good hit before he retaliated. She already pulled back her hand but then she remembered their conversation last night. "I won't hurt you if you don't hurt me." And considering that she was still in one piece when she woke up, it seemed that he kept his part of the bargain. Maybe he'll continue keeping it, and if he did hurt her when she woke him up, she could always remind him of what he said. With a decisive nod, she shook him by his arm.
His reaction time was amazing and she hardly noticed exactly when he pulled away his arm from her grasp. Not only was he quick, but he was also mindful of his actions and made sure that he didn't hurt her. A split second after he woke up, he was already awake and aware. And he already moved away from Annabeth, with his back to the corner as he crouched, as if ready for an attack.
He blinked a few times before he said, "What happened?"
It took a few moments before it registered in Annabeth's brain that he asked a question. She still can't believe on how fast he moved. Were all half-bloods just like him? She shook her head when she realized that he was waiting for her answer.
"You drool when your sleep." She couldn't help but grin as he hastily wiped his mouth and chin until it was free from drool stains.
"Percy, my boy?" Chiron said hesitantly when he noticed that Percy was up. Annabeth watched as Percy's gaze land on Chiron instead of her and with the same speed and agility he showed only moments prior, he got up and moved towards Chiron. By the time Annabeth realized that she should have held the brunet back, he was already more than halfway towards the older half-blood. By the time she got up, he was almost at the still shell-shocked Chiron. Even though she had no chance to fight against the half-blood, her plan was to only distract her half-blood until Chiron got hold of his shock and fight back. The brunet seemed intent on hurting her mother's half-blood, her mentor, and she wasn't going to let that happen.
By the time she started moving, he would have already been just an arm's length away from Chiron if he didn't trip over her mess. She almost had him when Chiron got down from his own wheelchair to sit in front of the fallen half-blood. Annabeth kept her distance as she watched Chiron touch the tanned face with his gentle hands.
"Percy, it is you," he said with an breathy quality. The black-haired demigod got up immediately and practically tackled Chiron as he pulled the older half-blood into a hug.
"Chiron!" and though Annabeth couldn't see his face, she could hear the happiness that practically oozed from his voice. He sounded just like a child on his birthday. Actually, he sounded even happier to her ears. And the way he held onto the older man was as if he was a monkey that never wants to let go of its favorite tree branch.
Annabeth managed to hold her tongue for a while, afraid to break this touching reunion. She has never seen Chiron so happy before and it would break her if she was the one who had to shatter that picture of happiness that surrounded them. She slowly moved closer towards them and picked up her things that lay on the edge of the mess. She'd clean her way inwards so that they would have some semblance of privacy as they stayed in each others' arms.
She slowly picked up her notes and started sorting through them while the two of them held their reunion in silence. She barely lifted her head when she heard Chiron ask, "Percy, what are you doing here?"
"I got kidnapped," he said cheerfully and Annabeth couldn't help but snort while she continued to sort her papers.
"I summoned you," she retorted as she looked up to give him an even look. He gave her a sheepish grin in response and Chiron seemed to want to both grin and frown and looked quite torn.
"And I told you, you abducted me from my world. Isn't that kidnapping?" he answered back and Annabeth rolled her eyes.
"I most definitely did not abduct you nor kidnap you. And even if you were kidnapped, no kidnapping victim would be as happy to admit he's kidnapped like you," she said as she returned her attention to her notes and books, that were slowly but surely getting sorted out. Though her attention on them did not stay for too long because she heard a whoop of joy.
She looked up and noticed that he pumped his fist in the air as if he accomplished something though he immediately brought it down as he whined, "Ow, ow, ow." He held on to his right arm, which he pumped in the air just moments prior as he complained in pain.
Chiron let out a sigh of resignation as he said, "Oh, Percy." But there was a smile on his face as he said it, as if he was reminiscing.
"Didn't you notice that you're injured?" she said as she stopped sorting her things and picked up her nearly empty first-aid kit. "Why did you do that anyway?" she asked as she started tending to the wounds on his right arm, which opened when he stretched it.
"You admitted I was right," he said with a grin and she rolled his eyes at him as she flicked her finger on his arm, careful not to hit one of his wounds that practically covered his arm and the rest of his body, at that.
"I did not. I said 'if', which made it into a hypothetical situation," she said as she cleaned his wounds with disinfectant before bandaging them again.
"Ow, why do you keep hurting me? I'm already injured," he whined as he let her clean his wounds without even flinching.
"I did not hurt you. You're just a big baby," she said as she finished his right arm. She let her hand out as she said, "Now give me your left arm, I need to change the bandages for that arm too."
He did as she said though commented, "You know, I do need a bath after this."
She stopped removing the dirtied bandages and glared at him, making him flinch slightly. 'Good,' a vindictive part of her thought. She needed to instill some fear and respect into that thick skull of his. "You could have told me that earlier! Now, I've wasted so much bandages and disinfectants on you because I have to redress your wounds after your bath!" she said to him angrily and he cowered a bit.
"I'm sorry?" he said and Annabeth would make him sorry if Chiron didn't interrupt her by laughing heartily.
"It's good to see you, despite your your current state and unfortunate situation, Percy," Chiron said with a smile. And if Annabeth had any doubts (not that she had any to begin with) about exactly how happy the injured half-blood was, the brilliant smile that he gave Chiron cleared them all away.
And for some odd reason she couldn't fathom, she found herself smiling. There was something in his smile that was so infectious and she couldn't stop her lips from curling upwards.
"What are you doing here, Chiron? We, me and the rest of the camp, thought you were, you know" he said, his tone of voice gradually becoming sadder until he stopped speaking though he was gesturing his arms as if they could supply his missing word.
"Dead, I assume?" Chiron supplied and Percy, which she assumed was the name of her half-blood since Chiron kept using it to address him, nodded. The older demigod gave the younger one a one-armed hug as he said, "Well, I'm happy to inform you that I am not dead even though I have been gone from Camp for eight years. Which makes me wonder, who has been in charge of camp after all these years?"
Percy pulled back and puffed his chest out in pride. "Me. I've been managing the camp for the past few years, but Thals took charge right after you left. Then she passed it down to me, well, more like ordered me to take care of camp, when she became the head of the Hunt right after Zoe disappeared."
"Zoe? As in Artemis' half-blood?" Annabeth interrupted and both of them looked at her in surprise, as if they forgot her presence in the room. She huffed at that, she hated being ignored and even though they didn't mean to, she would never let anyone just cast her aside, most especially two half-bloods, even if one of them was her mentor.
"Zoe's here too?" Percy said, obviously shocked at the revelation.
Chiron nodded solemnly as he said, "I assume that several people you thought have died are here." And Percy looked excited at the thought.
"You mean G-man's here? And Ethan? I haven't seen them in forever! And how about Katie? Miranda has been missing her older sister for years. Oh, and how about Beckendorf? We just lost him yesterday, is he here too?" and he would have continued listing names if Chiron did not cover Percy's mouth with his hand with an amused smile on his face.
"Yes, all of them are here," Chiron said and Annabeth could see Percy smile despite his mouth being covered with Chiron's hand. His face, most especially his eyes, expressed his joy and enthusiasm at the news that his fellow half-bloods were here.
Percy pulled away Chiron's hand and said, "Great! Everyone back home will be so happy to hear that they're still alive!" This time, Chiron didn't share Percy's enthusiasm and Percy's expression fell a little, "Why? What's wrong?"
"Percy, once you're summoned, you can't go back to Tartarus," Chiron explained.
Annabeth bit her lip as her heart clenched at the expression Percy wore. His shoulders slumped and his complexion paled. His jaw was slacked in hearing the news and his eyes, they sparkled as they held unshed tears.
She wondered if it was part of his magical powers to control emotions because when he was happy, he infected her with his enthusiasm and joy. And now that he's sad, he seemed to have leeched all the happiness in the world and then some. And it made him all the more dangerous because he wasn't using a weapon and yet he was using his magic. But considering that he was the leader of their camp, whatever that was, then he must have been powerful. No, he must be powerful, just because he's in Olympus now did not mean that his power was lessened.
"I can't go back?" he said in a daze and Chiron nodded his head. Then his jaw clenched as he turned to face Annabeth.
There were a few things that she feared, among them were monsters that could kill so effortlessly and destroy completely, but at that moment, when his sea-green eyes filled with rage and tears, that only seemed to amplify the anger he's expressing, he was her greatest fear. Gone was the light-hearted half-blood that she summoned and in front of her was the very definition of a half-blood: a monster dressed in human skin.
"Percy Jackson," Chiron said sharply and those eyes that scared her so much, though she would never admit that, turned away from her. And then in front of her returned the expressive, almost childish half-blood that she summoned last night. He was pouting as if he was already reprimanded though Chiron only said two words. It was amazing on how much those two words had an effect on him. Maybe she could use them when he would turn on her, though she doubted that since she could barely breathe when those eyes were focused on her like that.
"Now that you're here to stay, it's better to move on than dwell on past actions," Chiron said calmly and Percy nodded like a meek child that he acted instead of the full-grown adult that he actually was. "Now, we have to address your lodging and your marking," Chiron said though he spoke of the latter with a heavy air. Percy tilted his head in confusion.
"Marking? What's a marking?" he asked and Chiron showed the underside of his right forearm. Burned on his skin was an image of an owl. Percy winced then paled.
"You mean they're gonna burn my skin?" he said and Chiron nodded sadly.
"They mark us so that they would recognize us as not one of them," Chiron explained and Percy frowned.
"If I say that he's a half-blood," Annabeth spoke up and both of them looked at her.
She has been silent for most of the conversation but she felt that she needed to speak up now. Chiron looked at her with curiosity while Percy looked at her with suspicion and disgust.
How many times has she seen eyes that only looked at her with suspicion and disgust? Far too many and she wouldn't accept that her own half-blood, her own responsibility, look at her at the same way.
She licked her lips before she said, "Percy." His name felt odd on her lips because she felt like she was treating him as an equal even though he wasn't. He raised his brow and nodded for her to continue. "I asked you last night if you would extend the same courtesy if I won't hurt you," she said and he nodded.
"And I answered that I won't hurt if you don't hurt me," he answered, though they both knew that she did not ask a question. His voice and expression were oddly serious, though she wondered why she thought so. Maybe because in the short time she has been acquainted with him, he was just so light-hearted and happy. Despite being kidnapped, in his words not hers, he didn't seem to be too bothered. Now that his expression was straight-faced and hardened, she may actually believe that he was the leader of their camp.
"Will you keep your word?" she asked and he didn't hesitate before nodding.
"Only if you keep your end of the bargain," he replied immediately, as if he didn't require much thought into it. She nodded and took a deep breath.
"What are you planning, child?" Chiron asked worriedly and she gave him a small smile in reply.
"Well, Piper did tell me to live a little. Break some rules," she said and her cynical smile grew. "You, Percy, are going to learn on how to become a summoner in Camp Half-Blood," and she can't believe that she actually said that.
Gone was the serious Percy, the leader of their camp, and back was the childish Percy, who had a confused expression on his face. Chiron on the other hand understood the full implications of what Annabeth said and was looking at her with wide eyes.
"Do you know what you're saying, Annabeth?" Chiron whispered and Percy just looked more confused.
"What's going on here? Why am I gonna become a summoner? I don't want to study anymore," he said, the last part came out as a childish whine and Annabeth couldn't help but giggle at his words despite the seriousness of the situation.
"I think so. For one, the whole summoning was illegal since I just did it in my cabin and I didn't use the incantation," she explained to him, but partially to herself as well.
"Those are minor details in the summoning. Hera didn't use the prescribed summoning ritual and yet she successfully summoned Zeus," he replied and both of them ignored Percy's outburst of "That bastard of an uncle is here?"
"But that doesn't change the fact that the summoning was illegal. And for another, I don't think Percy wants to be marked," she said, almost eating her words. But both half-bloods seemed to have uncannily good hearing and looked at her in surprise. Chiron was mostly in shock, which seemed to be his default expression from the moment he entered her cabin this morning, while Percy seemed to be shell-shocked. Then his expression changed to something so soft and gentle.
And he used his stupid magic again to affect her emotions as something warmed fluttered in her chest. No one looked at her like that, not even her parents or even Luke. The closest that she's ever seen that on a person were from her friends. She shook her head to rid of the odd feelings. As his summoner, she shouldn't let herself be too affected by his magic. She waited for a few moments until she was fairly sure that her thoughts were cleared and she wasn't being afected before she spoke again.
"And besides, I'll be punished if they were informed. If we manage to keep it under wraps, then no one will find out. He'll just be another summoner who can't summon," she added and Chiron used his second default expression the moment he entered the cabin, which was worry.
"But if they catch you, child," he said and she interrupted him, "Then I get caught and punished. But they'll probably be lenient on me since it would be my first offense."
"But it's a great offense," he warned and she just shrugged. Half of her was shouting in her head, screaming that she should just inform the authorities that she finally summoned a half-blood. But the other half, the half that she was currently listening to for who knows why, said that if their ploy worked then she wouldn't be punished in the first place. Her perfect records, excluding her inability to do a proper summoning, would never be tarnished. And besides, she and Percy have an agreement, and letting him be marked seemed to be painful for him. If she didn't let him be marked, then he won't be hurt, and in turn, he'd never turn and hurt her. It sounds reasonable, right?
Chiron sighed before saying, "I believe that's not your friend mean when she told you to live a little and break some rules."
"Well then, she should have been more specific," she answered back. Chiron just shook his head with a small smile on his face.
"I don't understand what's going on," Percy finally spoke up.
"I don't think you ever do," Annabeth replied tiredly and Percy just pouted.
"Hey, that's just mean," he said as he crossed his arms.
"But it doesn't change the fact that it's true?" she said and the pout on his face grew bigger.
"You're almost as bad as Thals, always picking on me. Actually, even the angels pick on me too," he said, looking to his side as he spoke his after thought.
"Well, I am a good judge of character," she answered back and he just stuck out his tongue.
She rolled her eyes at his immaturity. This is her half-blood. Her responsibility. Heaven help her.
"Well, it seems that Annabeth will vouch for your and handle the rest of the details of your stay here at Camp Half-Blood," Chiron said as he tried to lift himself up and return to his chair. Percy, at his usual quick pace, got up and lifted the older demigod and deposited him gently into his chair. "Thank you, Percy," he said.
"You're welcome, Chiron," he said as he grinned.
"And let me be the first to say: Welcome to Camp Half-Blood," he said and Percy leaned down to give the older half-blood a hug, which he returned.
"Thank you, Chiron."
"Well, I'll be off. And Annabeth?" Chiron said as he pulled away and looked at the blonde, who was shocked. Chiron, in all his years in Olympus, never called her by her name. He always addressed her as "child". What changed that he would call her by her name?
"Yes, Chiron?" she said through her shock.
"Never forget on how powerful a request can be," he said as his parting words before leaving the cabin. Percy followed him out and closed the door behind him with a grin on his face.
"What's so funny?" she said, not understanding what's so humorous about the situation.
"Chiron hasn't changed after all these years. He'd always leave behind some crytic riddle for us to ponder: With great power comes great responsibility. You are stronger than you think. A pen is as powerful as a sword," he said rambling and the last part caught Annabeth's attention.
"What?" that definitely caught her attention and broke her daze.
"Yeah, he really said that to me, though I still have no idea what he was really trying to say," he said with a shrug. "Anyway, what's a guy gotta do to get a bath around here?"
"My bathroom's through there," she pointed at the door near his little nest. He nodded and went on his way there before stopping.
"Thals would laugh her ass off, but this is a serious question," he said, with an oddly serious expression on his face. She looked at him straight on and was amazed that she wasn't frightened of him. Maybe it was just a one-time thing since she's not used to him yet.
"What is it?" her reply just as serious.
"Do you have spare boxers you can lend?"
She blinked once. Then twice. Then she said incredulously, "That's your serious question?" She actually thought it was life-threatening or something. How will she be able to put up with him if he thought that asking if she has boxers she can lend is a serious question.
"I'm serious! I don't have anything and my clothes are a mess," he said as he gestured to his clothings which look more like rags than anything else. "And I'm a boxers guy. Briefs are too constricting. Unless you don't have boxers and briefs here on Olympus-" and he would have continued rambling if Annabeth didn't raise her hand to make him stop. Luckily for her, he seemed to understand that gesture and stopped talking.
"One, too much information," she said as she fisted all of her fingers except for her forefinger. She did not need to know that much information about men's underwear. She's a woman and has no need for such information from a guy. "Two, there are boxers and briefs on Olympus," she said as she lifted her middle finger as if she was counting. She was amazed though that Tartarus also had such mundane things. How much similarities do the two worlds have? "And three, yes."
"Yes, what?" Percy asked with a confused look on his face. And she slapped her forehead at his question.
"You asked if I have spare boxers I can lend. My answer is yes, I do have spare boxers I can lend," she said and he grinned.
"Really?! That's awesome! Hah, I should rub that in her face," he said with a triumphant look on his face. Then he paled and asked, "Are those the women's boxers?"
"No, they're guy's boxers. And before you ask another stupid question, I wear them as shorts. They're cheap and comfortable," she said and he nodded.
"That's what I always keep telling them. Glad there's finally someone who agrees with me," he said with a grin.
She smiled back before putting on a straight face. She needed to stop being affected by his magic. "Look, just take a bath. I'll leave the boxers on the knob of the door so you can just get it without getting out, all right?" He nodded as he entered the bathroom.
She ignored the mess on the floor to collapse face first on her bed. He day hasn't started yet and she knew that it would be tiring. After dressing his wounds and cleaning up her cabin, with his help, they have to go to Lupa and think up of a story on why Percy wants to apply as a summoner. And then they have to go shopping for his clothes and other basic neccessities.
But a smile crawled its way to her face because after long last, she finally had a half-blood to call her own.
...
AN: They were supposed to do more than just bond in the cabin but they just won't stop talking! 5k worth of words for just one scene. And the worst part of it is that I'm not that happy with them because they should ask more questions and I just can't write anymore. xP Anyway, like I said, not to be demanding but reviews are really nice.
And just to elaborate, no one is from the book universe. This is a complete AU. But despite being an AU, the characters will not change. (Well, I hope they didn't.) They should be as IC as possible, and if they're not, it would be nice if you pointed it out through a review or pm.
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