Triton is really nice.
I know that he doesn't really like our Father's other children, my mythology books kind of implied that, but he was being really nice to me. Maybe it's because I'm young? I know that when I pout at adults they usually coo over me, maybe that's what he's doing with me.
He's leading me back home, holding my hand as he guides us straight back towards the Hudson.
"Mr Triton?" I tentatively spoke up when we reached the Lower Bay.
"Just Triton, Percy. I'm your brother." He replied kindly, smiling down at me.
"Sorry, Triton." I corrected, "You can leave me here, you don't have to take me all the way back to shore."
He frowned, "You are a child, you shouldn't be wandering the seas by yourself. Especially in these waters; the land-dwellers polluted it, it's unsafe."
"But I got all the way out to the reef by myself! And I always wander the Hudson alone!" I protested.
I hate it when adults think I can't take care of myself. Gabe has been leaving me home alone for more than a year now, and nothing bad has ever happened to me! I'm not stupid either- I know I shouldn't talk to strangers or wander the city without sticking close to another group of people or touch things that I didn't know where they've been!
"Just because you have done it once without consequence, doesn't mean that you can do it anytime without consequence." He explained, looking serious. "Our father has many enemies who would love to take advantage of a lost child of the sea. You have to be careful, Percy."
"I'm sorry," I murmured. "I didn't think of that."
I didn't, and I felt like hitting myself for it. What's the point of reading all those books if I don't use their lessons? Sun Tzu would be disappointed in me for forgetting the art of hostages and political prisoners.
"You are young yet, brother." Triton said, "I wouldn't expect it of you."
"But it was my mistake?" I asked, perplexed. Gabe always punishes me when I mess up, and teachers love to put me in detention. Why isn't Triton mad?
"Has anyone told you not to go wandering around by yourself?" He asked.
"Not really." I answered, my mind drifting to the thought of Ms Athena. She tells me I shouldn't be left alone, but that's not the same as being told not to.
"Then how am I to expect you to do so?" Triton logically replied.
I stayed silent at that. He did have a point, and I have no idea how to refute it. Also, I didn't want to get told off.
We swam a bit further upfield, passing the Statue of Liberty. My eyes wandered down to the shipwrecks and scattered treasure below us. I wistfully wished to go exploring them again, but I'm pretty sure Triton just banned me from doing so. I guess I have to start practicing my powers in Central Park.
Triton suddenly hissed, yanking me backwards behind him, and I gave out a startled yelp.
Right in front of us, a boat had just dropped both a net and an anchor. If Triton hadn't stopped me, I would've swam right into it.
"Land-dwellers!" Triton hissed, enraged. "Their foolish pollution and fishing are going to be the death of so many!"
My hand was twisted tightly around his flowy shirt. "Why do they do that?" I asked in shock. I knew that they pollute the oceans a lot, but that could have killed me!
"They are mad." Triton sniffed, "Every land-dweller thinks they can destroy what gives them life, not caring if they harm others or even themselves in their actions."
I wanted to protest and tell him that my mom is not like that, that she cares, but I didn't. I've seen her turn a blind eye to Smelly Gabe's littering and rants about how GreenPeace are cracks. Is the pollution why it's so bad for me to go wandering the seas by myself? I know the Hudson is very polluted, and that it's made the water toxic, but I didn't realise how bad it would be for me.
I let him carefully guide us up to shore without saying a word.
oOo
It's dark when we finally arrive at the shore which I left this morning.
I hate the dark, you never know what's hiding in it. Especially if I have to walk home in the dark.
I hastily shouldered my backpack. Throwing on my jacket and wrapping it tight around me. I'm probably going to have to run home, hopefully mom isn't back from work yet.
When I turned back around, Triton was frowning at the sky, looking so mortal with his new legs it threw me off. "How close is your home?"
I hastily tried to dissuade him from walking me home- even if I was glad I didn't have to walk alone- but he wasn't having it.
I held his hand as we walked the streets, sticking close to his salty sea aura in hopes that it could protect me from the looming shadows that were everywhere.
"Are you alright, Percy?" Triton queried, furrowing his brow the same way I was furrowing into him. "Is something wrong?"
"I don't like the dark." I told him, "There could be anything in there!"
He looked almost... nostalgic at my answer.
"How old are you?" He asked.
"Ten," I answered. "I turned Ten in August, three months ago."
"You're small for your age." He chuckled, eyes a bit misty. "You remind me of Pallas. She used to do the same whenever she was scared."
"I'm not scared!" I said, unthinkingly. "I just don't like the dark!"
He smiled. "She would say the exact same."
I pouted until we got to my apartment complex steps.
His eyes flickered up to the building. "Is your mother inside?"
"She should be." I said, a little bit nervously.
"Then this is where I'll leave you." He said seriously.
I nodded. Then in one of my instinctive moves, I threw myself in a hug, wrapping my arms around his middle.
I quickly let go and gave him a gap-toothed grin, before fleeing.
"Thank you Triton!" I called behind myself, yanking the door open and flying up the flights of stairs.
I left a surprised godly brother on the front steps, and snuck into my bedroom without incident.
That was fun.
A/N
This chapter may look like filler, but I establish a small important detail. Also, anyone who isn't familiar to the story of Pallas, I really recommend you look her up because she will be important to a very specific subplot.