Sorry for the longer-than-usual wait guys. But I've been terribly busy these past few days and just couldn't make time. Frosh week started and is unsurprisingly, not as fun online as it is physically. Still, I am making friends, having fun and just waiting impatiently for my college to start. I know it might take a while, and I just can't wait. Anyway, I had 98.6 percentile this time, which is not bad. Just not enough to get me my dream college. But this one is looking so good to me now, and I'm excited about everything! Still, not so-good news for you: I'm going to update only once a week until I can make time for this again. So, anyway, enough rambling, here you go:
Triton stumbled yet again, muttering curses under his breath.
"If you'd just be a bit more careful," Percy suggested from a couple of steps ahead. Before Triton could snap at him, Percy stumbled too, catching himself before he fell down. Triton derived a detached feeling of vindication at the sight, but he was too tired for any more.
"This is-" Percy sat down in the wreckage and rested his chin on his knees. Despite the meek gesture, Percy looked anything but meek. His face was lost but his eyes were stormy. Despite looking so lost, his back was straight, his shoulders firm.
Percy was such a natural leader, his power entangled so tightly into his very being, even sitting in the ruins of some riot-torn building, surrounded by sheer and utter destruction, he looked like a commander.
"My city is destroyed," Percy said in an even tone, eyes stormy. He looked up at Triton, "I let my guard down for a little while and Apollo, that scoundrel, that rat bastard, tricked me into accepting a marriage proposal and destroyed my city. You see, Triton?" He said conversationally, almost calmly. "This is why I'm going to destroy him and tear down his home and heart."
And there are three things all wise mean fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon and the anger of a gentle man.
Triton swallowed. He sat down next to Percy. "I'm too tired to fight you on this."
It had been emotionally tiring. Angry mobs and looting. Fear and anger and panic. Buildings ravaged and torn and deserted. Streets deserted in some places, being torn down in others. Debris on the ground, cracked walls and wailing children.
There were no cars or anything around. Anybody foolish enough would be mobbed and torn apart. That is, if the person could drive through the debris littering the streets which was pretty impossible in and of itself.
"Let's just go," Percy said firmly. Triton followed without a word.
Getting to New York had been easy. Just get to the essence of Olympus' power. But Triton did not know how to find Sally Jackson's house and so could not teleport there. That left getting help or walking to their target. Walking suited Percy just fine. He said he wanted to see the damage.
Triton found it exhausting. He hadn't been in the mortal world enough to get a general sense of this world. He was nigh impossible to beat in the seas. Here was a different matter altogether. It drained him. He wanted to get back home, to it's beautiful gardens and lively chatter.
"Triton-"
"I want to get home," Triton told him petulantly. He didn't care about those stupid mortals. They weren't his concern. He knew well, because he took very good care of those under his rule. This was just unfair. He had helped built a beautiful, wonderful kingdom under the sea and was now being forced to see such filth. Humans really weren't good for much, were they?
"Nothing's stopping you," Percy pointed out with an irritated look to him.
Triton growled low in his throat, randomly exploding a nearby abandoned building to smithereens.
Percy looked unimpressed. "How and who did that help?"
"Me," Triton said sullenly, pushing past Percy and onwards. "So I wouldn't explode."
Percy didn't even roll his eyes. He looked around at the mindless destruction, at the still bright blue skies, brighter than he remembered in New York (but ultimately dull to a certain divine land, sweet and crisp air, and the tastiest of foods…). Pollution levels were low apparently. Wild animals were reclaiming some of the lost lands.
But all Percy felt was sorrow. Soft, unforgiving sorrow which built up to this unbearable pressure in his chest. He was too exhausted to be angry. Not tired, no, that really was too mild a word. Exhausted. In and out. He was too tired to be angry, too worn to cry.
He didn't want to even sleep. He was too wired to want to lie down. He…he didn't want to do anything. He just wanted it to pass, wanted everything to be normal.
Or actually, he wanted to jar himself back again. He wanted to get out of this…this slump, for lack of a better word. He wanted to be in his city back again.
(He didn't want to have to miss Delos ever again. No please, he did not think that or feel that, no way, Hades no, absolutely not. He hated hated hated that place)
"Percy?" Triton called out, laced with irritation. "Why did you stop? We have to go. If the sun starts going down, I'm getting us to the destination my way. I'm not camping here at night, okay? It's bad enough that-"
Triton got close enough and his mouth twisted, a wave of concernprotectionadoration palatable to Percy. Their connection burned bright and stronger than ever before and it really did burn, like something tangible, something close and strong and alive.
Percy just stood there, feeling and not feeling, understanding but not really, bleeding out from a flesh wound in his heart, and no words to explain anything, not one language strong enough to tell him…what? What did he want to say? What did he want to do?
"We're done walking," Triton said, hushed and whispered, a direct contrast to the world around them, which was anything but peaceful. Percy didn't say anything, just stood there and watched him breath in and then out and then in again. Over and over and over…
Triton kept close to Percy, as close as he could. He kept his voice low, quiet, soothing; kept his core calm. Divine help was quickly and easily provided. Before he could call for 'The Chariot of Eternal Damnation', which made Triton wary especially with Percy so detached and lost, a bird dropped Triton a scroll.
Within seconds, they were at the location.
The place was the right one, one could easily tell in a glance. Even if Triton couldn't sense the magic thrumming within the place, the flora happily bobbing to the soft, mild breeze, the beautiful creatures docile and soft, minding their business around, the skies a wonderful bright blue, the woman removed any and all doubts.
Loudly and jarringly, she ran out and screamed, "My baby," and rushed to Percy, engulfing him in a tight hug, so loud, so away from the peace he had tried desperately to provide for Percy.
He bristled inwardly, then stubbornly forced it down. Stupid magic wrist bands. He couldn't feel what he wanted to feel without having to filter it.
"Mom," Percy whispered back, still lost, but more alive since he had seen his city, like he had started breathing back. Triton tried not to feel too offended. But really, who had held Percy's hand when he was scared? Through everything?
"Mom," he whispered back, a little stronger, as if just realizing what he had lost and even though Percy was taller, he didn't hesitate to bend down his head into her shoulder, eyes closed lightly and his mom, Sally her name was, Triton remembered, just held him and herself.
Held him tight but gentle. And Percy relaxed, his shoulders dropping down, eyes relaxing, as if her mere presence was enough to combat the after-effects of divine illness. Drive away his problems and an unwanted marriage and a burning city. As if her hug was worth more than all of that.
And that…that was enough to begrudgingly endear Sally Jackson to him more than a thousand words and kind gestures ever could.
There was a baby gurgling in Hera's lap, of all people. Percy came in and paused at the sight, just a fraction of a second and Hera looked up, her face at least to Triton surprisingly vulnerable, and Triton had a moment to pause and think that the goddess of marriages and families had a terrible family.
She had her own faults and was the cause for a good fraction of the problems in her own marriage, but feeling the love of such a family must be like rubbing salt in those wounds.
And Percy effortlessly proved yet another one of his secrets to success. His uncanny habit of reading people in precisely the right way at the right time. Not always, not 100% but good enough, especially when he had the privilege of being distant enough to it.
He didn't bow down or in any way act like it was odd for her to be here. He just said, "Hey, Aunt Hera," as if they were and had always been family. Hera choked in surprise but Percy had already turned around, almost casually, as if he wasn't giving her time to regain that equilibrium that she needed to.
There was a man on the doorway, handsome, middle-aged mortal, undoubtedly Sally's husband. Triton had never heard him be mentioned by Percy and just once by Poseidon when he had reassured his wife and son that he had asked Aphrodite for a favor and his lover was now well and happily married.
Triton didn't know anything about him and that uncertainty gave him pause. What was the man like? He knew his mother was an exception in how well she treated her husband's demigods, even in the godly world and mortals were even more filthy.
But the man snapped out his surprise and in two quick gestures stood in front of Percy, hugged him tight. "Kid, I was so worried." He let go and this time there was anger in his features. "I thought we agreed to take it easy out there."
Percy petulantly pouted and nodded. "It got away from me. I'm sorry, Paul."
The guy took a deep breath and nodded, said a little more quietly, no anger tones underneath anymore. "I was-we were all so worried."
"You were safe," Hera said softly. "I told you you were safe. That your family would be well-protected. There was nothing to worry about then, was there? Or did you not believe me?"
"I believed you," Paul said firmly. "But we were missing a family part." Paul smiled at Percy.
"We are his family," Hera said, almost coldly now.
Paul didn't give anyone else a chance to answer. "Of course. Doesn't stop him from being ours either. If anything, I'm happy he has so many people to look out for him." Paul seemed good-natured about it, but neither Triton nor Hera missed the obvious barb.
So many people to look out for him…It was a blatant accusation that they had never done anything even remotely close to what his mortal family. A way to lay his claim without being too aggressive about it.
Triton was grudgingly impressed. Hera was fuming too much to be able to enjoy it too much.
"I don't think we can go out and celebrate this time," Paul said, a little grimly.
"Not much to celebrate," Percy said mournfully.
"Of course there is," Paul said easily, not letting it dampen his spirits. "My family is safe. Well-fed. Relatively happy, even."
"The world is burning."
"Oh Percy, there is always something bad going on in the world. But if you start looking at only the bad parts, you might as well give up. You want to know about the good parts?" Paul sat down, patting at the space next to him.
"There was this lady, we saw it on news, who cycled over 15 km, 30 in all, to feed the children in her surrounding villages. Free of cost. Said she was just doing her part in the time of crisis. The vaccine makers have been working over-time to get out the drugs, and are aiming to give it away at a no profit-no loss scenario. The doctors are working so hard, beyond their capacity to do what they can. Are there people exploiting this fear and panic for their own profits? Of course.
But I bet you there are more people out there working to help this world than there are out to destroy it. You just have to look for people who help. There is no use being angry at those that don't. People will tell you the world is cruel. But it's really not. They're just looking in all the wrong places."
Paul looked intently, sincerely at Percy. Percy nodded but his face was still sour. He was in a funk and it would take more than a few well-placed words to get him out.
Paul seemed to realize that too, because he leaned back and smiled enthusiastically. "Wanna know something else awesome?"
Percy perked up a little, more at the tone than the words. "What?"
"Nah, you don't seem like you want to know it that bad."
"Of course I do," Percy whined, a spark of life.
"Okay…yeah, no. I'm not telling." Paul said mischievously.
"Paul," Percy whined. "Tell me."
"You sure?"
Percy groaned. Then abruptly stopped and cocked his head. "Is that-?"
Paul nodded meaningfully to Hera and the baby she was holding.
Percy rushed to Hera, bouncing on the balls of his feet, more excitement in one breath than Triton has seen from him in his entire stay, combined, which okay he was sick, but still rude. "Can I hold her? Please. Can I?"
Hera looked startled but she managed to nod and hand her over.
The baby looks to Percy and is even more excited than Sally on seeing her baby boy again had been. She had been passively and sweetly sucking on her…something (what was that? Triton had never seen anything like that before) but then, on seeing Percy, she spits the thing out and shrieks.
She starts kicking and babbling sheer and utter nonsense (was this supposed to be a different language Triton had never heard about) and shrieks and spits in between, hands fisted and waving about as if in anger but looking anything but threatening, eyes big and surprised and happy.
Percy, for his part, looks happier holding the squealing, kicking drooling mess than he ever has before, a smile growing on his face. "Did she really say that?"
"Say what?" Triton asked baffled. All he heard there was nonsense.
"She said my name," Percy said in disbelief, looking awed. He looked at Triton, eyes young, a boyish twinkle in them, smile sheepish and enthusiastic. Triton hurt at the sight.
"I didn't hear it," Triton admitted, walking closer to the two of them so he could share in this moment.
It was so abrupt, like suddenly falling off a cliff, a realization that he wasn't annoyed or irritated with this family. He wasn't afraid they were going to steal away something he liked, that they wouldn't divert Percy's attention from him.
Or rather, when they would, Triton could take it, happily even, if it made Percy smile so silly and carelessly happy and when Triton leaned down to hear the baby try the word, all sloppily and barely managing to say it, his smile is just as bright and genuine too.
It's almost dark then. The rays of the sun are finally back, a little milder and dimmer than before and are now starting to fade, uncaring of the destruction below.
Appropriate, Triton thinks tiredly.
Percy had stood here after the jokes and the smiles and the easy laughter. He had been quiet, still, impassive. He had stared out blankly and Triton knew he wasn't seeing the soft beauty of the flowers or the blue skies, just the ruins beyond it.
Then the army had come in, with tanks and heavy artillery and men in uniforms with serious faces. They had marched, calling out in loud tones, warning the looters and trying to provide safety and security to the scared.
"They won't pull down the people who are only damaging the property," Percy had explained, a quiet intensity in his tone, when Triton had joined him. "They'll let them cool off a little, but also make sure to protect the people caught in the cross-fire."
"Why not?" Triton had asked, just as hushed.
"Why are people out in the streets? Because they're scared, they're afraid and when someone gives them a chance, it comes out as anger and rage. They want to be heard, and if they're stopped before they have a chance to cool down, it won't go away. Just bubble down and wait to be unleashed. That's why democracy is so much better. The system is still rotten, but you can scream and rage all you want. Once this dies down, the army will patrol the streets and march down the houses. Like a way to say, you're all safe now, we're here and we'll take care of you."
"But they can't," Triton pointed out. "They can't kill the diseases or make food or anything."
"Doesn't matter. Sometimes you need to tell yourself a little white lie to get through the day. People don't trust this government but now that it's gotten so bad, it's all they have left to lean on. Churches are all packed. As are the temples and mosques and everything else."
"I know."
"They're just scared," Percy echoed, and he suddenly looks so, so lost, so young standing there and Triton knows that there is more to those words.
"Maybe you just need a good enough lie."
Percy drags up his eyes to his, eyes dim, mouth twisted. "It's all my fault. I was so so stupid. I…I never learn. I'm just dumb-"
"Shut up. Shut up," Triton snarled, voice quiet but furious, startling emotional.
Percy shut up, but Triton didn't say anything more. Just stared at him until Percy walked back to his room, barefoot and subdued.
Triton looked at the closed door, the thrum of tiredsadgrief thrumming through his wrist and straight to his heart. He looked back outside, stared. What could he say or do here, really?
A clang of cup caught his attention.
The step-father, Paul his name was, handed him a cup. Coffee. Triton stared, then shrugged and took a sip. Bitter as always. Bitter like life.
"I always feel guilty enjoying a cup when there are people out there without even one solid meal every day," Paul admitted. "But it's just sitting there in the fridge and no use letting it go to waste now."
"You're under protection," Triton said stiffly. "You and your family and generations ahead shan't have to worry. The gods don't break promises or go back on their word. Besides, Percy will keep an eye out after he ascends. He seems the type."
Paul said nothing for a second, took a sip. Didn't say that that wasn't what he meant. "I still can't believe this life sometimes. Before I met Sally, I could only imagine something like this in my dreams. Now-" He shook his head.
"Look, you look-you're a god, even though you look like a normal guy in his 20s or something," Paul rushed out. "But just, I know I can't and that he's going somewhere none of us can follow, so just, just. Take care of him. Please."
Triton sighed. "I can try. I am trying. It's just-he seems so-"
"Distant?" Paul said knowingly. "He does that when things aren't going his way. He'll shut down, get like that, think about his problems in his own time."
"There is nothing to think about. There are no loopholes to this and trust me, father and I have looked over it for the slightest of leeway. But father is a good negotiator. He'll find a way to make it easy on Percy. Shared custody or something. And Lord Zeus would agree, because what has happened is an embarrassment to the entire pantheon and more so for him because Apollo is his favorite son."
Paul absently noted that Zeus was Lord and Apollo was just Apollo but only Poseidon was father, a close enough familial relation to acknowledge.
"It's not about loopholes. He needs to come to terms with what has happened. As terrible as it is for girls who get married off young, they at least have been expecting it. Percy has the shock factor against him. It'll wear off soon enough." Paul said neutrally. Too neutrally. Not the only one in shock, Triton thought wryly.
"That's not-he blames himself. Ridiculous child. Self-pity and self-blame are such self-centered emotions. He believes he is better than anyone else, that no-one could have been smarter or better than him. He got out-smarted. But he doesn't want to accept that."
Paul doesn't look surprised. "Self-blame is easier to endure than helplessness, I suppose."
Which is so profoundly clever, Triton dumbly stares. Could it be that this fumbling mortal man had a spine and was clever enough too? Wouldn't that be a surprise?
"And Lord-"
"Triton, please," he demurred.
"Triton then," Paul said easily. "He is a child. Try to remember that. He is only 17. He may have a lot of experience in real life matters and he is more mature than most children his age that I meet, but that doesn't magically make him an adult. There are some things only age can gain you and like all children his age, he thinks otherwise. Let him make a few mistakes in his own time. He needs time and space to grow up."
Triton stared out blankly. "Then what am I supposed to do? Just stand aside and let him be?"
"I didn't say that. Be his brother and more importantly, be his friend. Lend him a hand when he needs it. Tell him it's okay when he's scared. He'll never say it but he needs to told he is loved every once a while. When he needs to hear it, tell him you'll stand by him. When he messes up, tell him you'll always stand by him."
"What makes you think I will?"
Paul looked at him, almost amused, that same knowing glance his father and mother and everyone in between had been giving the two of them, "I don't doubt that you will, even if you do. For what it's worth, I have no doubt that he will do the same for you. And two have a millennia to work it out."
Paul walks away too eventually, Estelle up and crying for something or the other. Triton wondered what was wrong with it.
He looked out again and realizes he doesn't need a millennia to figure it out.
He walks back into Percy's room and doesn't feel like an intruder when he mutters for Percy to move and slips in beside him and curls up by his side, perfectly platonic but much stronger than any old romantic relationship he's ever had or probably will ever have.
The pain in his wrist dies down to a soft murmur, still there, not gone, but blissfully quieter for now.
When Triton woke up, it was to Percy sitting by his side, fingering the designs on his own wrist-band. Triton looked at him, noticing his thoughtful look with a sinking heart.
No way was this a good idea.
Percy glanced over and saw him watching. Didn't look surprised. "There's something I have to do. You in or out?"
And even when he knew this wasn't the smartest of his plans, he didn't hesitate. "In."
Like always.
Hemera: Oh gosh, yes. I'm so sorry. I will change it when I get the time. Thanks for the heads-up! And thank you so much :) I hope this Sally, while maybe not as good as RR's, is good enough.
Aine: Thank you so much :)
Sunspot: Gosh, I sure hope not. That fire is what makes it interesting
Aine: Thanks so much; and yeah, Apollo is Apollo. Nothing to be done about that for now.
Addithebookthief: Nice conspiracy theories, lol. I thought about it, easier to plan, but it'd be too close to the truth and this is supposed to be an escape from that reality rather than a reminder of it. Would be too close to the truth, too depressing, so I didn't. Hope I'll be able to give this disaster jusice.
Alis-volat-propriis97: No jealousy sadly. But I think I like a calmer version of Triton better. Chill af until he erupts like a volcano before anyone can even understand what happened.
BethnPercy: Thank you for all of your reviews. You didn't have to do that, but it so made my day that you did. I know I'm not answering all your questions here because I wasn't sure which ones still needed answering after all. But if you have any questions still, please don't hesitate. It's amazing that you took so much time writing me reviews. I think I can spare a few for your genuine doubts and questions :)