PJatO || Jercico || PJatO || Jercico || The Legacy of the Big Three || Jercico || PJatO || Jercico || PJatO
Title: The Legacy of the Big Three – Heroes of the Next Generation
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Rick Riordan. Aside from the Gods, they belong to the old Greeks. This fanfiction and its OCs on the other hand are entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Tags: polyamory (m/m/m), superpowers/superheroes, hurt/comfort, fluff, mutual pining, explicit intercourse, anal, oral, double penetration, m/m, f/f, m/f
Main Pairing: Nico/Jason/Percy
Side Pairings: Reyna/Annabeth, Piper/Hazel, Frank/Leo, Octavian/Luke, Ethan/Alabaster, Jake/Will, Charles/Silena, Chris/Clarisse, Malcolm/Katie, Grover/Juniper, Bryce/Drew, Paul/Sally | Poseidon/Amphitrite, Hades/Maria | Hades/Persephone, Tristan/Beryl, Zeus/Hera, Howard/Hecate
Percy Jackson Characters: Perseus Jackson, Nico di Angelo, Jason Grace, Thalia Grace, Bianca di Angelo, Hazel Levesque, Piper McLean, Leo Valdez, Grover Underwood, Annabeth Chase, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, Frank Zhang, Luke Castellan, Ethan Nakamura, Alabaster C. Torrington, Lou Ellen Blackstone, Cecil Markowitz, Will Solace, Charles Beckendorf, Silena Beauregard, Clarisse la Rue, Chris Rodriguez,Travis Stoll, Connor Stoll, Jake Mason, Malcolm Pace, Katie Gardner, Miranda Gardner, Nyssa Barrera, Kayla Knowles, Zoe Nightshade, Octavian, Drew Tanaka, Bryce Lawrence, Mike Kahale, Lacy, Mitchell, Juniper, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Ella, Tyson, Sally Jackson, Paul Blofis, Maria di Angelo, Tristan McLean, Beryl Grace, Esperanza Valdez, Howard Claymore, Small Bob, Mrs. O'Leary, Argentum, Aurum, Festus, Arion, Blackjack, Tempest
Gods: Zerberus, Hades, Persephone, Triton, Poseidon, Amphitrite, Zeus, Hera, Hecate, Chiron
Summary: Twenty-five years ago, the Olympians, led by the so-called Big Three, were the greatest group of superheroes in the world. One by one, they retired. There were still heroes, but there had not been a huge threat in many years. Now, the sons of the Big Three train at a school for heroes to be. Jason grew up under the pressure of being the son of Zeus, both from the public and from his father. Nico grew up knowing who his father was, but no one outside their family knows he is the son of Hades. And Percy? He has no idea he's the son of Poseidon.
The Legacy of the Big Three
Heroes of the Next Generation
Chapter 11: The Son of Poseidon...? (2)
Percy squirmed a little as his father loomed over him with a look of both disappointment, exasperation and maybe also an edge of despair on his face. "Please tell me Principal Brunner called us only two weeks into the school year, because you're such an outstanding student."
"Ye—eah. Sure. That totally must be it", Percy cleared his throat awkwardly.
"At least tell me it's not an exploded bathroom", Sally covered her face with a sigh.
"No exploded bathroom!", exclaimed Percy proudly.
"...No need to be that proud, it's usually normal not to explode bathrooms", noted Sally amused.
"Mister and Missus Jackson. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
Chiron offered a kind smile as he opened his door. The adults shook hands and Percy closed his eyes for a quick prayer. Second week and his parents were already called to the school. That much for his great ambitions. The best of the best should not get in trouble, especially not this soon.
"What happened?", asked Sally concerned, looking at Chiron. "Why are we here?"
"Your son snuck into a restricted area of the school", supplied Chiron, not sugarcoating it.
"Percy", Paul groaned in a drawn-out manner.
"I have a defense-", started Percy quickly, straightening up, just to see the look Chiron gave him.
Sally heaved a sigh, rubbing her forehead. "What exactly happened?"
"Your son put himself in danger, that is why you're here. There was no damage and no one got hurt, but what he did was dangerous and risky", stated Chiron, arms folded in front of himself. "We have been housing a... dangerous pegasus. Your son has been sneaking into the clearly marked, restricted area where we have been keeping the animal."
"I'm sorry, you're telling me you put a dangerous animal onto school grounds and my son is in trouble for that?", asked Sally pointedly, straightening her back and glaring the principal down.
Chiron cleared his throat. "That is not entirely the point. Our students are old enough to read a sign and obey it. Your son included. There aren't many facilities equipped to house pegasi and trained to take care of them. Your son has been warned to not go there."
Now, Sally turned to look at her son, silently questioning him. "There was only a brief window of opportunity! I knew they'd send him away again, so I had to get in and talk to him first, try to help him. That's what heroes are supposed to do! Help the helpless."
"That is a nice sentiment, Percy. But you are not yet a hero, you are a student. And a first year student, at that. You can't just go wherever you want and bend rules because you think you know better", Chiron raised both his eyebrows pointedly as he stared Percy down.
Slowly, Percy sunk down lower in his chair. "I just... wanted a chance to help, before he leaves... He doesn't deserve to be shipped off to some shelter where he'll be locked away for good."
"Well, that is not going to happen, it seems", stated Chiron with a sigh. "He has been... bought."
"Bought? What? So he's going to someone who, what, collects pegasi?" Percy sat up straighter, a worried look on his face. "They don't even know what they're getting into! I need to-"
"You need to stop getting involved", interrupted Paul. "You're here for your education. Not to get in trouble by getting involved in things that aren't your business, son."
"Like you haven't done your fair share of animal rights activism in your youth", noted Sally.
"Babe, that is not the point and also not helpful", Paul grunted, a bit flustered.
"Yes, I do think we're getting off-topic here", agreed Chiron, though he looked amused. "I need you to start listening to the rules, Percy. And to make sure of that, I felt your parents need to know. Also because the pegasus now has an owner. And sneaking into restricted school areas is one thing, but sneaking around to someone's pet could get you into serious legal trouble with the owner."
"Wait, he was bought by someone on campus?" Percy perked up again.
"See, this reaction is why I called you here", Chiron heaved a sigh, looking at Paul and Sally.
"Pe—ercy", Paul groaned and rubbed his face. "My beloved main source of my gray hair..."
Again, Percy sank lower on his hair. "...Who bought him, Mister Brunner? If I ask their permission, I could continue visiting Blackjack, right? No trouble then. I visit Mrs. O'Leary all the time!"
"Who is Mrs. O'Leary?", asked Sally confused – was that a teacher?
"Mrs. O'Leary is this really huge really pretty hell-hound!", exclaimed Percy excitedly, gesturing to indicate her size. "She belongs to Nico – uh, Nico di Angelo. He's... kind of... a friend?"
Sally and Paul exchanged a look at that name. It reminded them of Hades' words, words that Sally had shared with her husband last night. They had laid up all night talking about them.
"Zeus", interrupted Chiron, drawing the attention of the Jacksons. "Mister Grace bought it."
Poseidon drew his eyebrows together at that. Why would Zeus buy a pegasus? Him and his children could all fly. He turned to look at Percy, who looked thoughtful only for a second before perking up.
"Jason!", announced Percy with a stunned look on his face. "Uh. Other friend of mine."
"Jason? Jason Grace? The son of Zeus?", asked Sally stunned.
Their son really had gone ahead and befriend the sons of Zeus and Hades? Poseidon shook his head a little bit in amazement. Percy could befriend everyone, he knew that. Lovable, cheeky, precious boy he'd always been. People flocked to him. Still, this... was reminiscent of the past.
"...Yes. If you have the owner's permission, you can visit the horse", Chiron heaved a sigh. "Though that was entirely not the point of what I was trying to teach you here, Percy."
Both Sally and Paul had to hold back a smile as they saw the way Percy was practically bouncing in his seat. He had definitely not learned the right lesson here. Sally could see so much of her husband in Percy. Always finding loopholes to get what they wanted.
"Percy... What you did does require punishment. You're going to be cleaning out the community stables for a month. And I do expect that you are going to listen to the rules from now on."
Percy did a great impression of a guilty, regretful school boy. "Yes, Mister Brunner."
Both his parents profoundly apologized to the principal and also promised something like that would never happen again. Together, the Jacksons left the office in silence and then made their way down the hall, toward Percy's room. Percy bit his lips, waiting for the berating to come once they reached his room. He was somewhat relieved that his roommates didn't seem to be there.
"In my defense-", started Percy as soon as he closed the door behind them.
"You have a very big, bleeding heart and when you see someone in distress, you want to help", finished Sally, a fond smile on her lips. "Why did you think the pegasus needed you?"
"Because he did! He was only aggressive because he'd been abused before. So he doesn't trust humans. And... other humans, they're so ignorant of an animal's need. They just judge their behavior and don't ask where it roots from and what they could do to change it."
His father reached out to ruffle his hair, huffing amused. "My son, through and through."
At least his parents understood where he was coming from. He sighed relieved before he sank into his mother's arms for a tight hug. Much more at least, Percy motioned for them to sit on the couch, before he went to the fridge and got them all something to drink.
"So you have been making friends...?", asked Paul slowly.
"I have!", Percy offered his parents a slight grin. "I made... a bit of a splash at the powers show-off. Nico might be the strongest of our class, obvious legacy of Zeus excluded. He's really impressive. Uh. Both of them are. Nico and Jason. Though, Jason... mh..."
"What does 'mh' mean?", asked Sally with her eyebrows raised.
"He doesn't want to be a hero", elaborated Percy, motioning around a little with his hands. "He hates the pressure that comes from being, well, the son of Zeus. And... now that I know him, I guess I get it. For him, his whole life was pressure from the public, being paraded around, having to live up to some impossible standard set by Zeus being Zeus."
"Really?", asked Paul surprised, sitting up a little.
"I never looked at it from that angle", admitted Percy, running his fingers through his own hair. "I just always saw... the opportunity. The glamour. The importance. Kid of Zeus, he was on the right path to become what I wanted to become. It never occurred to me that the son of Zeus might not actually want to become a hero. And that all of that was...not fun for him."
"Being a child of one of the Big Three might open a lot of paths", conceded Sally after a moment.
As she said that, she locked eyes with her husband, glaring pointedly. Paul started squirming. Now? Really? Now was the time? Well. It wasn't like there was a perfect time that would announce itself or anything. And they had been delaying this for too many years now.
"What would you do?", asked Poseidon slowly. "If you were the child of one of the Big Three?"
"Are we playing What If now?", Percy grunted amused, before he adapted a thoughtful look. "I don't know. I don't know how that'd affect my life. Like, being paraded around the way Jason was as a kid...? Though... I would use and rely on the resources it'd bring me. The connections to heroes of the old – and through that, maybe, their heirs. Having the kids of the original Olympians in my new team would of course sell some nostalgia and... familiarity to the public, endear them to us."
Sally turned toward her husband, taking his hand and giving it a firm, pointed squeeze. Poseidon made a face, still not quite convinced. He thought they were putting a target on Percy's back, even if Percy seemed aware of the pressure. However, Sally saw more perks than downsides, especially now. Percy wasn't a little boy anymore. He was also attending a school for heroes in the making. He had a set plan to become a hero and on that path, knowing who his parents were would help him.
"Percy, sweetheart, there is something we have to tell you..." Sally's smile was wavering.
Percy frowned as he picked up on the change of mood. "...What is it?"
"I know we might have owed you the truth for a long time now, but it is hard to find the right time for this. When you were a child, well, you were a child. Too young to understand the responsibility of this secret. Then you got older, but... we feared there would be too much pressure. It's... hard to know how to say this, or when to say this", Sally knew she was rambling.
"What is... going on?", asked Percy confused. "Just... tell me?"
"I... am Poseidon", stated Paul, the words sounding unsure even to his own ears.
For a moment, Percy blinked, before he then laughed. "Okay. That was actually funny, dad."
"It's not a joke, Percy. I am Amphitrite. Born Princess Salacia of Atlantis", offered Sally seriously. "I met your father when we were young. Young heroes. That's... why you have never met my side of the family before, because they live under the sea. And... don't... like humans."
The laughter died as Percy looked from his mom to his dad. He didn't know what was going on anymore. They were... joking, right? After another moment of Percy simply staring at them, Paul got up. He heaved a sigh and closed his eyes. Percy yelped and jumped a little when the faucet just turned itself on and water was pulled toward Paul, surrounding him and slowly forming around Paul into armor. The iconic armor of Poseidon, even the trident formed in his hand. He stood tall and proud, chest puffed out. And though he was older, salt-and-pepper hair, like this... it was hard to deny. This was Poseidon, standing right before Percy. He swallowed hard, because... this was his dad. But that couldn't be. Helplessly, he turned toward his mom, but... she had done the same as his dad, summoning water into shape of Amphitrite's armor.
"Holy shit you gotta be kidding me", Percy whispered and sank down on the couch. "What..."
"We saw what being the children of Zeus had done to Zeus' kids. We never... went public with our secret identities. And considering we were retired by the time you were born, we thought there... was no point. Children... It'd have just... You couldn't have kept it a secret if you knew. But... it is hard to know when that line shifts, when you are old enough to keep that secret", said Sally.
"I can't... I... holy shit... holy shit...", was all Percy managed to say.
""We're sorry for lying to you", offered Paul, letting the water go back to the sink. "We didn't know what to do. When to tell you. But you're... at this school now. Friends with the sons of Zeus and Hades. On the path to become an Olympian one day. You have the right to know, as they do."
"Right. Yeah. That makes sense. Here, as a hero, being friends with the-", Percy interrupted himself, a confused frown on his face. "Wait, did you just say I'm friends with the son of Hades? Hades doesn't have a son, not to the public. I would know if I were friends with the son of Hade—holy shit Nico is the son of Hades. Holy shit."
"Your vocabulary starts troubling me, son", noted Paul with furrowed brows. "And... You... did not know this? Seeing as the boy approached his father, who came to us about this, I had assumed he told you that he's the son of Hades."
All Percy could do was shake his head and run his fingers through his hair in surprise. "He did not. But this makes... just... all the sense. His necromancy and control of darkness, Hades' powers, but the geokinetic powers of Persephone. And of course. Hazel is the daughter of Pluto, Hades' twin-brother. This makes just... Wait, so he knew? He knew I was... How did he know-?"
"It seems Hades and I were not... very subtle in our reunion", admitted Poseidon embarrassed. "And since the boy knows his parents' secret identity, me being a 'fraternity brother' of Hades' and you having hydrokinetic powers... he put one and one together."
"Better than me", Percy muttered beneath his breath, burying his face in his hands. "How stupid am I? You both have water powers. I never met mom's family at all. I read all the comics, multiple times. And how pouty dad's always been that Hades was my favorite hero!"
Poseidon flushed at that and cleared his throat. "You are not stupid, Percy."
"We did everything to hide this from you and your brothers", whispered Sally and reached out to brush Percy's hair back. "We never displayed just how great our powers are. Water control is... a very common power, there was no reason to link us to being Poseidon and Amphitrite just based on that. We were never active heroes during your lifetime. You never... suspiciously saw us run out while our counter-parts saved the day, or saw strange injuries that could give us away. You just know us as Paul and Sally, as your... very normal parents. A teacher and a candy-shop owner. That's not what anyone would expect two of the greatest heroes to be. Why would you?"
"Wait. My brothers", Percy looked up wide-eyed. "Does Triton know?"
"No. We never told him either. And since he chose... a different career path, we didn't see a reason to", admitted Sally. "Though now that we have told you, he have to tell him too."
"But, just for the record, I knew first? So I can rub that under his nose", Percy smirked.
"Percy", Sally heaved a sigh and shook her head. "Yes, but... you two are horrible."
Percy just grinned and shrugged half-heartedly. "I... still can't believe this though. You guys..."
"You can tell the children of Zeus and Hades, since I assume they know our secret identities already", offered Paul gently. "Though... you do have to know how important it is you keep this secret. For all of our safety, including Tyson's."
"Of course", Percy nodded quickly, frowning. "Nothing to go public about. I get that."
"And Annabeth and Grover", amended Sally after she shot Paul a look. "We know how important they both are to you, and will be to your future as a hero."
Percy offered her a small, relieved smile. Grover and Annabeth were two people he couldn't lie to. He would have, because he knew he'd owe that to his parents, but it'd be incredibly hard. Heaving a slow sigh, Percy leaned back against the couch. The day had only barely started and so much had happened already. His head was swimming. Which was ironic, all powers and origins considered.
"I'm the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite", whispered Percy amazed. "Holy shit."
"There it is again, the limited vocabulary", Paul grunted and shook his head.
"It's a lot! It reduces me to a limited vocabulary!", Percy exclaimed with a pout.
"Are... You're not angry at us?", asked Sally tentatively. "I... We... would understand if you did feel angry about us lying to you for so long."
"I love you guys. And I know you love me. And I... get it. This isn't something you tell a kindergartner. I would have run around the playground, screaming it proudly at the top of my lungs. I get that. I'm not... angry. I do wish you had told me earlier, but... even I don't know when the exact right 'earlier' would have been", admitted Percy with a frown.
He offered a half-smile as he got up and walked over to his parents to pull them into a tight hug. They seemed to relax and return the hug just as tightly. The air between them felt cleared and somehow, Percy felt so much closer to his parents now.
"Just, you do have to tell me when you told Tri so I can gloat", noted Percy finally.
"You're awful. I raised an awful ball of mischief", declared Sally playfully, ruffling his hair.
/break\
Annabeth was with Grover in the greenhouse when Percy practically tackled them both. The boy was radiating nervous energy – even more so than usually, and that was saying a lot. The blonde frowned a bit annoyed, because she had been categorizing poisonous flowers with Grover, a project for their herbology class – a very important class in a world where you could be attacked by plant-powered supervillains at every moment. They needed to know what was poisonous and what was a potential cure for it. One of the reasons why Grover was a very practical teammate to have.
"Percy", Annabeth huffed. "What is going on? You look like you're about to explode?"
"Something important I have to tell you!", Percy's voice was an excited whisper.
His eyes darted around, noticing that at this hour, they were the only ones in the greenhouse. Perfect. A giant grin spread over his lips as he pulled his friends even closer, down in the corner. Just to be sure, even if there was no one else here right now.
"So my parents came by earlier, right?", Percy's voice dropped even lower.
"Oh yeah. How was your conversation with... wait, why are you this happy and excited? Don't tell me you didn't get into trouble?", asked Grover confused.
"Well. Actually, I kind of didn't? I'm on stable-duty for a month, but Mr. B doesn't seem to realize that that's just... more time with horses. Also, Jason apparently bought Blackjack so I get to continue seeing him", replied Percy with a thoughtful frown before shaking his head. "But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about! My parents! They told me—holy shit I don't know how to say it."
"What? What's going on? As excited as you are, did they give Triton up for adoption?"
"Wishful thinking", Percy huffed amused. "No. But... they're... They're Poseidon and Amphitrite."
"Is this some kind of joke? Are you...?", started Grover confused.
Annabeth heaved a sigh and shook her head. "No, he's serious."
"...You knew?", asked Percy surprised and mildly offended.
"I'm a genius. It's my super-power. I mean, literally. Knowing them up close, but not as close as you – your judgment was clouded by only seeing them as your parents", offered Annabeth. "And no, I did not tell you, because this most certainly wasn't my secret to share."
Percy shrugged at that. That was true; he wouldn't want anyone to share his own secrets either. Huffing, he collapsed backward against the wall. Grover and Annabeth were quick to follow, sitting down on either side of him. Annabeth reached out to pat his knee.
"How do you feel?", asked Annabeth, a note of concern.
"It's a lot. It's... so much. I feel both like it's super surreal but also like it was totally obvious all along and I really should have seen it earlier", Percy heaved a deep sigh. "I just... Poseidon and Amphitrite. They're... I'm... holy shit, I'm a legacy. A huge legacy."
"Damn", Grover grunted stunned. "Poseidon and Amphitrite."
Percy hummed in agreement, nodding his head. He planned on digesting this for a bit longer, before talking to Jason and Nico tonight. He was super excited about that.
Author's note: Finally, Percy knows the truth! And I know, some of y'all expected him to be angry or hurt, but... he wasn't really in canon either, even though his mother had lied to him all of his life too, and with much dire consequences, so I don't think that being angry at his parents for keeping this secret would be in line for him. Next chapter, he's gonna tell Nico and Jason ;D