OFFING | TRITON | WC: 1,397

Every time he learned about another of his father's transgressions, Triton grew a little more frustrated with the god. Was it really so difficult for him to not fuck another woman? Mother was so much less bothered when it was some naiad or nereid or mer or other nymph, but a human woman? He'd hoped Father had learned not to spawn anymore demigods from the last mistake.

But no, Triton got to learn five years after the brat was born that his Father had broken his promise to not have any more children. The poor naiad who'd told him had looked terrified, for herself and for the child, but she'd insisted the child was kind and adorable, that he wouldn't grow up to be another bastard like Theseus or his other hundred half-brothers.

"I'll see for myself," Triton had told the naiad, curious as to who had caught his father's eye this last time, especially as Father knew the risks of spawning another demigod brat. It wasn't difficult to look for the brat, with how brightly he shone of Father's godliness. So Triton waited until the demigod was close to the beach —Montauk, a beach Father favored as much as he could, and a beach Triton himself greatly enjoyed. Of course it was Montauk.

Barefoot and irritated, Triton walked out of the sea onto the sand, trailing wet footsteps as he stalked towards where his brother clearly shone. The brat was young enough that he'd probably be unable to tell who Triton was, but that was good. It meant Triton would be able to see whether or not the child would be an irritant or not, and more importantly, whether or not Triton would need to… arrange an accident, as it were, to make sure the brat wouldn't grow up to destroy the entirety of Olympus.

And maybe he'd be able to learn why father had been so taken with the mortal woman.

Triton rounded a curve of the beach, peering over the sand. In the water there was the bright figure of his half-brother, dark hair and bright eyes visible from where he was. There were a few other families nearby, children playing in the sand and the shallow water, but the brat was deeper out, far enough that Triton could easily call a tide to pull him out far enough that he wouldn't be able to save himself… Maybe Triton shouldn't plan his half-brothers murder out this far in advance.

Triton scanned the beach again, looking for the woman, finding her further up the sand, magazine folded in her lap and looking Triton right in the eyes, brow furrowed in concern. Well then. Triton set an easy pace as he approached her, glancing back at his half-brother as he splashed around. If Triton focused, he could pick out the faint voices of the fish surrounding the brat as they begged for attention. Attention the child gave easily.

"Lord Triton?" the woman asked, and Triton refocused on her, looking her over. She was pretty enough that Triton could easily see why Father had noticed her, but more than that there was something terribly kind in her eyes and smile, even as she was clearly worried.

"Hm," Triton's response was noncommittal, coming to a stop with crossed arms in front of her. She stood carefully, nodding her head respectfully.

"I, uh, I'm Sally Jackson," she introduced herself, then gestured out at the sea. "That's Percy. Is there… is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes," Triton said coldly. "Explain to me how, after all these years, my father still feels the need to cheat on my mother and spawn demigods— and you let him."

"Excuse me?" the woman sounded startled.

"There's a mortal word for this, I believe. Homewrecker?" Triton pretendeed to think for a moment. "That is the word to describe someone who knowingly sleeps with a married person, is it not?"

The woman stared back at him, eyes wide and confused. She opened her motuh to say something, paused, and restarted. "I don't have any power over what your father chose to do," she said softly. "Should I have slept with him, knowing who he was? No, but I was a teenager —a child— and I was in love. Do I regret that? No, I have Percy now, and he's the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. If you are here to threaten me, or him… I don't mean to threaten you, that's not my intention, but I have met a lot more gods in my life than I ever thought I would. I don't… Whatever your afr— whatever your opposed to Percy being, it wont happen. I know the child I raised, and he's the kindest, gentlest soul."

"Perseus already is what I am opposed to him being," Triton denied. "He exists. He is yet another thing to prove my father's unfaithfulness, born despite an edict my father agreed to that said he wouldn't have any more demigod children. Everything about him is a risk; to my father, to Olympos, to the world. That child, regardless of how kind you think he is, could grow up and kill us all."

"That wouldn't be a problem if you —your father— just spoke to him, were there for him, cared for him," she refuted. "Children grow up to hate their parents only if their parents never cared for them. I will always be there for Percy. He's my son, and I love him. If he grows up to be everything you fear —and he won't— then it won't be any fault of mine"

"There are laws—"

"Laws I've seen bent time and time again! Poseidon came to us, after I'd given birth, to hold his son. His flimsy excuse was that he had lost track of the time and thought I was still pregnant, so he wasn't breaking any rules! I've seen gods interact with their children just by pretending they were there for another reason! Don't tell me how there are laws preventing him from caring for Percy, when he broke one to have him!"

Triton's jaw clenched uncomfortably. He frequently found excuses to visit his own four mortal children. Alejandra he always visited with the reason of having her truly divine tamales, ekeing out the last of his time with her as she aged. James he stumbled into on daily runs and swims as he prepared for his triatholon. His youngest two, Macy and Ben, twins too young for camp, he made sure to always happen to be at an ice cream or candy store when they were there.

"Do you have children?" Sally— the woman asked, voice gentler than before. "Do you visit them?"

"When I can," Triton said, forcing hostility into his voice. His twins were barely older than Perseus.

"Do they all know you?"

Macy and Ben didn't. Their mother had found a new partner soon after Triton's time with her, and they'd married, having two younger children. Macy and Ben, though their mother planned to tell them of their parentage eventually, hadn't yet. Any time Triton saw them, she referred to him as an old friend, but not their father. Triton never enjoyed it, but if it was what would let him see his children now and again he was far from opposed.

"I think you understand," Sally said softly. "Would you like to meet him? He's got… he knows a few… oh, he knows a few people who aren't human. He'll ask you about it, but you don't even have to tell him you're his brother, unless you want to. He'd be really excited to meet you, though. He likes asking after his father whenever we're here— I tell him he was lost at sea."

Triton chuckled lightly, looking back at his half-brother. "True enough," he said. "I… We'll see. I enjoy coming to Montauk. If a visit overlaps…"

"We'll see," Sally agreed, her smile soft. "Best wishes, my lord."

"Triton," the god corrected halfheartedly. His brother was diving into the waves, emerging with loud laughter and big splashes. The fish nearby had grouped at his feet. Triton knew from experience they were likely nibbling at his feet or tripping him.

"Unfortunately," Triton said, turning back to Sally. "It was good to meet you."

Triton vanished to a spray of mist and her startled laughter.