Little authors note before I start.
I just wanted to thank you all for the kind words and reviews. It means a lot hearing everything you have to say about my story. I can promise you this, updates may be slow, but they will come. It may sound a little cliche, but this story has been building up in my brain for a while, slowly stitching itself together while I'm at work or out with friends. It may take a while, and it may not always come out the way I hope, but I hope it's something you all enjoy.
Also, how do you reply to reviews in the phone app. I've been having trouble with that.
Leo and Calypso's story was one that most of the Aphrodite cabin fawned over.
The idea that him, Leo Valdez, that odd, elfish, scrawny, oh-so-annoying son of Hephaestus could've somehow wooed, then rescued, then married the legendary cursed-to-be-heartbroken goddess of Ogygia? It made their makeup covered heads spin. They swarmed them, crowded them, made them up into the greatest love story since... well since Percy and Annabeth. They asked them questions, constantly, and praised them, constantly, and made them tell their story, constantly. They smothered the two of them to the point where Calypso had asked if she and Leo could just go back to Ogygia and tinker with their garden robots there forever.
They needed an escape from it, and that usually came in the form of canoe trips.
Leo was, before anything, an engineer. Coming in a close second though, he was a romantic, so it only made sense that their canoe was both technical and romantic. It had everything; mini bar, sun shade, radio, tv, it even had seat warmers. It exemplified everything Calypso loved about Leo. If a problem arose, he found a solution. A spectacular, complicated, fascinating solution.
Really, Calypso couldn't really help but fall in love with him. His sly wit, his charming smile, his burning confidence. The way he always wore that white shirt with the three buttons, the slacks, the leather boots, and the suspenders. He looked like a cute, Latino hobbit.
Yes, she'd read the Hobbit, one of Annabeth's personal recommendations she'd given after they'd built a friendship based on Percy Jackson related frustration.
But Calypso didn't just love him for his looks, although they did help, it was for his mind. His problem solving, ADHD struck mind. What to do when you can't escape pestering daughters of Aphrodite? Built a personal, mechanical, highly technical canoe of course.
He was, at the moment, lounging in the boat, his head on Calypso's lap as she sat on the bench gently stroking his hair. Their daughter laid on his chest, gently snoring as he ran a thumb over her face.
"Y'know." He said, craning his neck to see her, "I never thought I'd end up the most romantically lucky one." He said.
She shook her head, giving him a look. "Oh really?"
"Yeah." He said, turning back to his daughter and holding up his free hand. "I've got a beautiful, perfect wife." He raised a finger, "A lovely, fiery, adorable daughter." He raised another, "Another baby on the way." He raised a third, "I definitely did not predict this in the Leo's life story I was semi-joking my way through."
Calypso couldn't help but laugh as he spoke, "Oh, you think you're surprised? Imagine if we had a time machine and I went back six years and told myself that I'm going to marry you of all people."
Leo shrugged, as he nestled his daughter tighter to his chest. "You'd have to bring me along. Only way you could convince her is with my irresistible sex appeal."
Calypso smiled, cocking an eyebrow. "I recall resisting it quite well at first."
"Well sure, then my clothes came off-"
"You burned them off." She corrected, poking him in the forehead.
"-I burned them off." He said, scrunching his face into a mock scowl, "and boom, you were all over me." He said.
"I think..." She said, tilting down to get right up to his face, "That you have an odd way of remembering things, my hot headed love."
He poked her in the nose. "So you admit I'm hot. Gotcha."
She giggled at him and leaned in for an upside down kiss. He happily accepted it. She pulled away and went back to stroking his hair. He let out a sigh.
"I used to hate boats." He sighed.
"Even Festus?" She asked him.
"Festus was a dragon... 's head. Not a boat. But yes, even the Argo II. Actually especially the Argo II." He admitted, tucking his hand behind his head.
"Why did you hate that one?" Calypso asked. She always thought he held those memories in high regard.
"Well, once Annabeth and Percy got back, there was a lot of fighting. A lot of yelling." He sighed and scratched the back of his head. "My biggest regret is not making the walls thicker. Might've gotten some extra shut eye at night."
Calypso studied her husband's face, watching as he stared off over the lake, deep in thought.
"Leo?" She asked him.
"Yes my love?" He answered in a joking tone.
"What happened between Percy and Annabeth?" She asked. He got still for a moment, his body stiffening enough for her to feel it. He took a deep breath and let out a deeper sigh.
"I didn't really know much at the time, and I still don't know much now. But... let's just say Annabeth had some demons, and when they were in the pit they came to light in the worst possible way." Leo answered, with as much truth as he could.
Calypso nodded. Her heart belonged to Leo, it always would, but that didn't spare her mind from some fleeting interest in Percy and Annabeth. It was a bit hypocritical, she knew, that she was in a boat to escape the children of Aphrodite and yet was thinking like one, but it did spark a bit of hunger for gossip in her mind. She was pulled from her thoughts by her husband.
"You know what the best part of that boat was though?" He asked her, reaching up blindly to find her hand.
"What's that?" She asked him.
"All the tacos I could ever eat." He answered. She stuffed a laugh and flicked him in the forehead. He mock winced at it, mouthing ow at her.
"No, but seriously." He said, looking up at her with his still as cute upside down face. "It was getting blasted off the deck and meeting you. Well, actually, you hated me at first when I came crashing into your island and destroyed your table."
"Yes, that was not the best." She replied, tapping her finger in his forehead.
"And as we've already discussed, I take some warming up to." He continued.
"A LOT of warming up to." She added as she twirled a lock if his hair.
"No, but... Falling in love with you..." He said, his eyes taking on that ever so rare Leo look of seriousness, "That will always be the best part of my story, Calypso."
She felt her cheeks flush at his words as she ran her hand through his hair. "Y'know..." She said, letting her hand graze his chest, "I might already be pregnant, but..." She leaned into his ear, "maybe I'll let you make sure I am when we get home."
His cheeks lit up and he reached for the control module to their engine. "Shall I?"
"I think so..." Calypso said, before looking at the lake and frowning, "...and I suppose that's a good reason to."
Leo tilted his head up and looked at the lake. It was churning, rustling. Slight waves were breaking against the hull of their canoe. He frowned a knowing frown and looked back to the shore, towards the big house.
"Looks like Percy's dad's here."
People often forgot that Poseidon was God of the storms. It wasn't intentional, nor disrespectful, nor anything other than blissful ignorance. His other subjects of divinity were certainly well known.Horses? Anyone who saw Percy Jackson riding blackjack knew that. Earthquakes? That still had some validity, earthquakes and tsunamis usually went hand in hand. Sea? Yeah, no shit. You could take one look at his mortal outfit and tell that.
But storms, storms were what people often forgot. Storms were the one that surprised people.
Maybe it was because the sky was so abundantly Zeus' domain, so clearly ruled by the king of the gods, that people never once gave it a thought. Storms are in the sky, so surely Zeus rules them.
But no, storms may accumulate in the sky, but they start in the sea. Swirling and frothing and propelled by Poseidon. By his wrath, his anger, his sadness, his hurt. They relied on his fervour to come into being. So when the sky over camp half blood suddenly darkened and began pelting down rain, most were convinced Zeus had just stubbed his toe.
Their assumptions were corrected when Percy Jackson threw his father through Chiron's office window.
The god of the sea hit the ground with as much grace as a bag of potatoes, but wasted no time scooping up his trident and turning back to his son, anger, confusion, and hurt all swirling in his eyes.
Percy stepped through the window, eyes steeled, mouth curled into a sickening scowl. He ignored the commotion around him, ignored the campers staring, ignored how the older half-bloods were rounding up the younger ones into their cabins, ignored how some of them had weapons drawn and we're looking at him.
All he could focus on was his father, and the sword in his hand.
"Perseus." Poseidon finally spoke, his nerves steeling as he grabbed control of himself. "What is the meaning of this."
Percy's lips pulled back, bearing his teeth. He lunged forward, his sword raised above him as he did, bringing it down as Poseidon raised his trident again. The blade struck the weapon with enough force to send Poseidon back a step. His hand ached from where It held the trident.
"Why did you let her die?" Percy repeated. His voice coming out as a hiss as he pressed the blade deeper into Poseidon's weapon.
"What are you talking about? Percy I-" He was interrupted when a kick landed in his chest, fling him back.
"Don't you feed me that shit. You know." Percy said, as he approached his father yet again. Poseidon was still on his knee, he'd been holding back at first, scared to hurt his son, but it quickly becoming clear that wasn't an option.
He rose with gusto, the winds ripping around them as he did so. His eyes swirled, mixed up with so much emotion they looked ready to burst.
"Percy, if this is about your mother-" Another swing of Anaklusmos cut him off.
"What do you think this is about?" Percy demanded, winging a slice at Poseidon's midsection. The god dodged it, barely, feeling his Hawaiian shirt rip over his belly button. "Did you really think I'd forget?"
"Percy please, I had no involvement in her death." Poseidon pleaded. Percy felt his teeth grit to the point they might crack. He brought his sword down again, locking it in the teeth of Poseidon's Trident and pressing close to the God of the sea. Rain swirled around them, dripping off of Percy's face, disguising the tears that fell from his eyes.
"The only reason she's dead is because of you."
Poseidon's eyes flashed with anger, he reeled back his fist and drove it into Percy's midsection, doubling the boy over as he dropped to a knee in pain. The rain poured around them, terrified campers pointing their weapons at the duo, not sure how to act.
"If you believe I wanted that, or would have ever wanted that, you're mistaken." Poseidon spoke, his voice a low rumble. "I did everything in my power to-"
He was cut off again as spit hit him in the face. Percy rose to his feet, feeling the rain around him heal his cracked rib.
"You did nothing." He said, clutching Anaklusmos as he did. "You did nothing but sit and watch as she died."
Poseidon hefted his trident, pointing it to Percy's chest. "You will stop this insolence at once. I will not stand for this."
Percy tightened his grip on his sword. "Then you'll die for it."
Poseidon sneered and brought up his trident, his knuckles tight around the weapon, before a few taps on his shoulder briefly pulled him from his rage.
"Excuse me." The voice asked.
Poseidon turned, barely getting out a "Who dares." Before an uppercut to his jaw sent him flying across camp, landing next to his cabin.
Percy watched with slight disbelief as Thor dusted off his knuckle, cracking it before turning to Percy with a slight grin. "What? Can't have him crippling the saviour of Asgard, now can I?" The old God stretched, cracking the bones in his neck as he unzipped the top half of his coveralls, pulling the sleeves off to reveal one of the most terrifying bodies Percy had ever seen.
Thor was ripped. No, not ripped, he was absolutely positively massive. His arms were just about the size of Percy's legs, and toned to a degree that seemed impossible. His chest bulged from between his equally massive pumpkin sized deltoids. His neck was nearly non existent, his traps essentially eating his head. Adding to all this was a smattering of tattoos of Nordic symbols, spiralling up his chest and over his arms, with what looked like an ancient round calendar on his back.
The only part that didn't fit was the thunder god's round belly. He almost looked like Santa. Like a jacked, tattooed, terrifying Santa.
"It's been a while since I fought with another god." The Norse admitted, cracking his knuckles over his head. "Let's see if those cobwebs will shake off in time."
He barely got that sentence out when a spiral of water blasted at him from across camp. The god smiled, raising his hands immediately. The spiral his him and split at his body, shooting off behind him. He stood until the spray stopped and he rolled out of the way nearly in time to dodge a trident being driven into the ground, right where he'd been standing.
Poseidon rose, his old clothes now gone, replaced by ornate Greek armour.
"You dare attack me? On our sacred land? I'll have your head for this." He threw at Thor.
The Norse rose to his feet and gave a mighty laugh. "Do you really believe you can frighten me, God of the Seas? I have battled the frost Giants at Niflheim, Bested the great serpent Jörmungandr in the oceans of Midgard after days under the waves, beaten the mighty Jötuun with my bare hands." He pointed a massive finger at Poseidon.
"You wish to have your life end? Have at me."
Poseidon took him up on his suggestion. He crashed into the god of thunder, sending him flying back towards camp half-blood lake, pushing them onto the beach. The god of thunder smiled as he did, wrapping his arms around Poseidon's neck and tripping him to the ground. Poseidon's Trident clattered away as he wrestled with the Norseman.
Their hands met, pushing against each other as Thor smiled.
"A battle of strength? You should know who wins this bout, Greek."
Poseidon gritted his teeth. "You should remember, Norse..." He said, before ducking under Thor's arms, "...The Greeks invented wrestling."
He lifted the Thunder god over his head and suplexed him into the sand. The thunder gid sputtered, discombobulated, before he was thrown into the waves by Poseidon. The sea god opened his palm, his trident materializing in his grip, before diving into the sea after him.
It was quiet for a moment, not a voice being spoken as campers silently watched the waves of lake half-blood churn and sway, barely noticing a canoe being run aground and a couple carry their daughter towards bunker 9.
It was almost calm. Almost. Until a Hammer flew across the camp and crashed beneath the waves.
The churning stopped. There was nothing for a second. Then for another. Then another.
Then a bolt of lightning crashed into the centre of the lake, ripping through the waves with all the might of Zeus, sending out streams of electricity through it. The water stood still, before a mighty clang rang out and Poseidon was thrown from the water, hundreds of feet away.
He landed near the pavilion, smashing through tables and coming to a stop near the stage. The Norse landed as well, but on his feet, cracking the stone time beneath him. His hammer sat in his hand, crackling slightly, reflecting his eyes which glowed blue and shot out small sparks of lightning as he stood. He raised his hammer, pointing at Poseidon.
"Do you yield."
The god of the sea spat out some ichor, and rose to his feet, his trident reappearing in his hands. The god of thunder smiled, raising his hammer, before a voice boomed over the pavilion.
"Enough!"
Any campers present who'd not yet fled for safety at the danger fell to their knees. Zeus had made himself present, and they knew better than to cross him when he had that look on his face.
The Greek God Stared at the Norse, his bolt clutched in his hands, letting his electric blue eyes take note of the being that stood in front of him. They glared at each other, their eyes meeting in an unfathomable battle of attrition. Zeus broke the silence without breaking his gaze.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Defending myself." The Norse replied, giving his hammer a flip. "Your brother thought it wise to attack me. He was sorely mistaken."
"He was." Zeus replied, before hefting his bolt. "Why don't I see you what the king of the gods can do."
If anyone was left near the king of Olympus as he uttered those words they had better have hoped they didn't miss their eyebrows. Zeus lifted his bolt, raising it to the sky, as he called down a bit of lightning on the Norseman. It crashed from the sky, wider than the big house and stretching up into the clouds. It connected with the ground, immediately obliterating any stone that remained in the dining pavilion. The earth cracked, heaved, and split at the seams as the lightning cut through the dirt like a hot knife through butter. It was a wonder that a portal to Hades didn't open right then and there in the middle of camp.
The Norse didn't look bothered at all as the smoke cleared. He stood in the same position with the same bored look on his face. Not even his suit was burnt.
"Was that meant as a threat? Or a tickle?" Thor called up to the Greek.
"Neither." Zeus replied, "A distraction."
The Norseman couldn't reply before Poseidon's fist cracked across his jaw, shooting out a shockwave of water off the God's face. Thor stumbled a bit, before another hook sent him to the floor unconscious.
Poseidon heaved breaths, struggling to regain his breath as ichor dripped from his mouth. He looked up at his brother who had a mixed look of disappointment and concern. Poseidon cracked him a slight, crooked smile.
"What an asshole."
Those were the last words he got out before he too collapsed.
It was rainy. Very rainy. Extremely, unbelievably rainy. Actually no, that doesn't really describe it well enough, the only way to truly describe it was with blunt and accurate truth.
It was "Alaska in spring" rainy.
The water fell from the sky like a monsoon, like some god had been carrying a bag of water and simply ripped it open over the clouds. The water poured, soaking the earth, admittedly falling just about vertically as there didn't happen to be any wind that day.
It was perfect. At least to Zoe it was. She loved the rain, always had. When she was out in the wild especially. Something about the way the skies would open and water would pour, it just made her feel a certain way. Like she was closer to nature, as it's hydration process covered her body. It made her even happier if she was camping during it, it made her feel like her tent was worth pitching, like her fire was worth starting, like her sleeping bag was even more comfortable.
She thought it was a bit sad that today, a rainy day, would be the day she left.
Yet, despite her town's best attempts to convince her otherwise, she was steadfast. Determined. She was getting out today, and he was going to help her.
She found herself a little bit nervous as she stood outside Percy Jackson's house. He had a nice place, admittedly. A place that she would have liked to live were she not determined to escape. Don't be mistaken, Zoe enjoyed her lonely cabin, and all it's little details, but Percy Jackson had a house. A home. With a truck and a garage and a deck with a barbecue and a doormat that read "Sea dogs rest yer bones here" with a little image of a dog with an eye patch on it.
It made her feel an emotion sometimes. Guilt? Regret? Longing? She could never really tell and didn't really have time to think about it. She walked up to his door and knocked firmly. There was no answer. She waited a moment and knocked again. Still no answer. She frowned, peering into his house through the little window next to his door. From her angle, she could see the outline of his feet sticking out from his kitchen into the hallway.
She sighed and pulled out her swiss army knife, jamming one of the tools in the lock and rotating it until she felt the lock click. She pushed the door open and marched into his kitchen, expecting to find him asleep on his kitchen after a long days work, or from practicing another one of his "special dinners" that he cooked for her every Friday.
She didn't expect this.
He was laid passed out on the floor of his kitchen, a bottle of rum in one hand and a revolver in the other.
He stirred in his sleep and she froze, not sure how to react. He grumbled something and opened his eyes, blinking as he tried to focus on her.
"Zoe?" He asked, his eyes lighting up when he saw her. She didn't move, she just watched as he tried to get up, but fell back onto the floor. He picked up the bottle and brought it to his lips, taking a swig before successfully getting up to his feet. He let out a groan as he walked over to his counter, dropping the gun into a drawer and closing it.
"Why are you here?" He asked, his voice a soft tone as he stared out his kitchen window.
"I... well I..." Zoe felt the words tighten in her throat. She could feel her voice sinking into itself, unable to vocalize as she was still in shock from what she'd seen.
"I... was just checking up on you, is all." She finally said, her voice finally returning to her. "Percy, why did you have that..." She asked, taking a tender step towards him.
"Nothing." He snapped, before settling himself, immediately loosening his shoulders and softening his tone. He brought his hand out to his face, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "It... it was nothing, Zoe. I was just cleaning it, is all." He said, still staring out the window. He turned to her, his eyes clouded over with thought. They only looked like that when he was thinking about life before Alaska.
She took another step towards him, letting her hand rest on his forearm. She felt him get goosebumps at her touch. "Percy, are you alright?" She asked in a tone that seemed to snap him from his thoughts. It was a stupid question, of course he wasn't. He looked at her for a moment, his eyes meeting hers with a gaze so tender that... that it made Zoe start to question things about herself, things she'd frankly been questioning since he showed up...
"I'm fine Zoe." He answered, with a tone so sweet she could almost pretend he was being honest. "How's your hand doing?"
"It's alright." She said, stretching her thumb, wondering how he could be asking about her minor, multiple month old injuries when he was like this. She looked up at him, worry in her eyes. "Percy..." She began, but he held up a hand, stopping her.
"Just... tell me why you're here, Zoe." He asked, with a smile "And don't say you're just 'checking up on me', because we both know you weren't."
"I... well..." She thought back to outside, to the bag she'd thrown in the back of his truck, with maps and plans all drawn out. She thought about the fact that she had come over her fully with the intention of forcing him to help her escape the place he called his home. She thought about how she knew he was going to say yes, because he always said yes if she was involved. She thought about how last night, when he'd been going through all this, and despite how often he looked after her, she was mapping out possible escape routes, ignoring him, as she'd more or less done the entire time he'd been here. She thought about what would've happened if she hadn't shown up today, and he'd woken up on his own.
"I... wanted to know if we could watch that movie." She asked, "The Monty one, with the snake."
He looked at her with a bit of a gormless look of confusion, before his mouth changed into a bit of a smile. "Monty python? Really? Because if we watch one, we have to watch the rest." He said, his smile growing, "And there's about five of them."
She groaned, "Well... then I guess we'd better get right to it then."
He gave a little fist pump, mumbling "I love Monty python" under his breath as he reached into one of his cabinets and pulled out some microwave popcorn, chucking it into his microwave.
"I'll find it on Netflix." He said, rushing into his living room. "And if you need to use the bathroom, I'll pause it. I don't want you missing any of the classic bits! Especially not tis but a scratch!" He called from the living room. Zoe's expression fell a little as he left the room. She walked over to the drawer, the one with the revolver in it, and pulled it out, examining the mass of steel in her hands. She knew enough about guns from her hunting to know that a gun needed to be empty to clean it. She popped open the cylinder.
It wasn't. It had one bullet loaded.
Percy stirred in his sleep, waking with a slight yell and leaping out of his bed. He took a few deep breaths, taking in his surroundings as he did. He was in the big house, again, but this time in the medical wing. A daughter of Apollo was sat beside him, gently resting a hand on his. She couldn't have looked more than twelve and had a nametag on that said "Healer in training". She stirred when he yelled, jumping up in a shock. He steadied his breathing and looked at the girl.
"Sorry about that." He said, taking a few more breaths, "Demigod dreams, right?"
She didn't answer him. She just stared at him with a look that Percy couldn't quite read.
"Uh, are you alright?" He asked, "I'm sorry if I startled you, I-"
"Did you mean what you said?" The girl asked him. She shook slightly as she asked, but held as firm as she could. "When you were up on the pavilion, did you mean it? Do the gods really not care about us?" She asked him, turning to look up at him. He let out a sigh.
"Look..." He said, glancing at her name tag, "Elsie. What I said up there, what I meant was..." He tried to find the words to say, but was interrupted by the soft sound of crying. The girl shook slightly, pressing her hands up to her face. Percy realized suddenly why she looked so familiar. She was the girl who'd asked him a question in the pavilion, the little girl. "Did you really meet my dad?" The question, and her expression, were burned into Percy's mind. The innocence, the youth. She reminded him of how he was at her age, amazed by this new world of gods and adventure, and here he'd gone and shattered it for her.
Percy sighed and walked towards the girl. He got down on a knee and held her hand in his.
"Look. Your dad, he does care about you." Percy said, making the girl look up at him with her big blue eyes. "He does, really. I've talked to Apollo, a couple times. Truth be told he's one of the ones who really cares about his kids."
The girls expression could've brought a statue struck by Medusa back to life. "Do you really mean it?" She asked him.
"I do." He replied, "In fact, I think I may be meeting your dad again pretty soon..." He said, glancing out the window at the low concrete building that he now had some theories on.
"Can you tell him I said 'hi'?" She asked him, "Tell him... tell him I love him, even though I've never met him, but I'd like to, and... tell him I really want to meet him. Please." She begged him. He nodded with a smile.
"I'll make sure of it." He said, before he scooped the girl up and sat her on his shoulders as she let out a giggle. "Now then, what's the time?" He looked at a clock, "9 p.m., thanks for the mini coma dad, and you are how old young lady?" He asked up to her. She let out another giggle.
"10, but everyone says I look older."
"I'd agree, and pretty smart if you're already a healer in training. But I'm guessing it's still your bedtime young lady?" he asked her, she laughed again.
"It is."
"Then please steer your noble steed." He said. She grabbed on his forehead, and turned him to the door as he let out a whinny.
Oh man, if blackjack could see him now.
He marched forward, exiting the big house and walking over to the Apollo cabin as campers looked over at him in disbelief. He got to the cabin and took a knee, letting Elsie get off safely.
"Is Will still your counselor?" He asked the girl. She let out a nod.
"Good, you give him a hug for me, tell him Percy said that's for saving his butt at the statue of liberty around 7 years ago." He ruffled the girls hair and sent her into her cabin, the girl laughed as she did.
Percy stood up, giving the cabin a smile, before a slow clap behind him caught his attention. There stood Leo Valdez, an impressed look on his face.
"Not bad, Jackson, not bad." He said, "Although, if it were me, the kid would be walking in there with a little Leo invention too." He said.
"What, like a bomb?" Percy asked, crossing his arms with a smirk.
"No." Leo said, crossing his arms. "...Maybe. If they're a Hephaestus kid then yeah, or they'll just make whatever I give them into a bomb."
"I cannot believe Calypso let you bring another crazy fire starting Valdez into this world." Percy said, rubbing his face.
"Honestly, neither can I sometimes." Leo replied with a crooked grin, before he gazed off over Percy's shoulder, his brow line softening as he quietly added, "...but I sure am glad she did."
"Yeah. Twice." Percy said as he shook his head, before his smile fell and he looked at the concrete building. "They're in there aren't they?"
"Yup." Leo answered, arms still crossed.
"And they're pissed?" Percy continued.
"Oh yeah." Leo said, "Like you wouldn't believe."
Percy sighed, "At least I'll have you there?" He offered, but Leo shook his head.
"Sorry Perce, this is unfortunately your cross to bear. My cross is in my bedroom at the hands of my wife."He said, running a hand over the back of his head, "You'd never believe how... eager they get when they're pregnant." He said, as Percy shuddered, trying to get that image out of his head. He moved last him, patting his friend on the shoulder.
"You take care, alright Leo?"
"You too, Percy." He called, "and hey, we might come visit, just shoot us the new address, eh?"
"I'll think about it." Percy called back over his shoulder.
Considering how much power was in that one single room, you'd think Percy would've had the the self preservation instinct to at least knock first.
He didn't, and twelve god heads immediately snapped to his position. He waltzed into the room, ignoring the looks and the glares. Well, mostly glares. He didn't care though. He strode up the the round table they were at, putting his hands on its surface. The room was painfully simple, black with torches on the walls, and a round grey table surrounded by simple thrones. Percy took a deep breath as he spoke what could vert possibly be the last sentence he uttered.
"I know you all heard what I said up there." He said, his voice strong and determined. "I meant every word of it. I don't want to be here, I didn't choose to be here," He pointed at Artemis, "And if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here. When this day ends I am going back home. That's final. Whether I choose to ever return again will be my decision and my decision alone. But, all things considered..." He said, giving Artemis a knowing look, "... I wont be. So please, say what needs to be said so I may be done with this."
The gods were silent for a moment before a slow, sarcastic clap rang out from the room. It was Dionysus, who was leaned back in his throne and bringing his hands together with a slight grin on his face.
"Oh, how I've missed you, Peter Johnson."
Percy couldn't help but smile a bit at that.
The rest of the gods all kind of settled in their seats, softening a bit as the god who was, admittedly, most familiar with Percy eased the tension. They focused again when Zeus cleared his throat.
"Right, well then, I believe we are missing someone." The god of thunder clapped his hands and Thor appeared on the table in front of them.
He looked fine, save for a bruised jaw and a shattered ego. Couldn't imagine getting ktfo'd by a Greek sea god was all too good for the Norseman's pride. He looked around as he appeared, about as well as he could considering the fact he had celestial bronze chains wrapped around his body. He let out a smile as his eyes landed on Percy.
"Perseus Jackson..." The old god spoke, "I see you survived your little spat with your father."
He turned a bit more to see Poseidon glowering at him from his seat, "And he evidently survived ours..." The Norse concluded, before his expression tightened and he flexed his arms, bursting the chains from around his body.
Some Olympians sprang to their feet immediately. Ares summoned a gun to his hands, Artemis drew an arrow in her bow, Poseidon clutched his trident tightly in his grip.
They all lowered their weapons when Zeus raised his hand.
"Enough." He commanded, in a tone that paled in comparison to his last one, "I will not have a battle in our meeting areas." The gods slowly lowered their weapons and returned to their seats.
"Now then," Zeus said, watching as the Norse dusted himself off, hopped off the table, and pulled his jumpsuit back over his massive frame, "As you were discussing before, there was a prophecy?"
Percy felt a bit of anger pang through his body at that. He remembered Thor's words, hearing them echo in his mind. The prophecy does not yet knock at our gates. Apparently it did, jackass.
"Indeed." The Norse confirmed, before shooting an apologetic glance at Percy, Sorry for deceiving you, my boy. I did not which to worry you or disturb your life, lest I were sure."
Percy debated pulling out Anaklusmos and seeing how many swings he could land before he was fried to a crisp, but he squashed the thought as he realizes something.
"Ragnarok is coming." He said, to which the thunder god nodded.
"It marches upon us, ready and hungry." The gods eyes flashed with what Percy hoped wasn't fear, "The great hound stirs in it's slumber." He snapped back into attention. "But, we have a way of preventing it." He said, turning to the council of Greeks.
"I propose a quest." He said, clapping his hands. "A classic quest, a Greek one. Group of demigods, epic journey, mutton and grog and wenches for all those who return."
A deathly glare from most of the goddesses made him correct himself, "Okay, maybe skip the last one. You Greeks never have any fun, do you?"
"No, we don't." Zeus replied sternly, "Not until the job is done. Shall we consult with the oracle, Apollo?" He said, turning to his son.
"No can do, pops." The sun god replied. "This is a strictly Norse affair, I can't predict Norse. Even if I could, I can't predict Alaska on top of that."
He gestured in Percy's direction, "Which would explain why I couldn't find him."
"Speaking of him." Zeus said, turning his gaze towards Percy, "I suppose you already know what I'm going to say Perseus?"
Percy was silent, staring at the table in thought, silently debating a million ideas in his mind. He turned to Thor.
"Ragnarok is coming isn't it?" He asked.
The god nodded, "Aye, she nestles at the breast of our destruction."
Gross, Percy thought, before feeling his gaze tighten again. "What happens if it happens?"
"Bare minimum? The complete destruction of Asgard, including Hammer falls. The ground will burn, the mountain will crumble, the Jötuun will arise and crush the ground beneath them. Rivers will flood the land, the great Jörmungandr will arise, swallowing the land whole. The great hound will awaken, consuming the moon and bringing about a new dark age."
Most of the gods in the room were shocked into silence, Artemis looking particularly disgusted at the "hound consuming the moon" line. They quietly discussed this amongst themselves, bickering as they did. Zeus held up his hand and the room silenced. He turned to Percy.
"Your answer, nephew?"
Percy was silent, staring at the table as his hands leaned into it. He stared at the table, ignoring everything the gods were saying, ignoring the lines Thor had said, ignoring the look he was getting from the king of Olympus. All he could focus on were the first words Thor had said. The complete destruction of Hammer falls.
His home.
Her.
Percy let out a deep sigh as he drove home, and it wasn't the good kind, either. No, it was the "I just wasted my Friday night" kind of sigh. He'd finally relented, given in, allowed the worst outcome possible to happen.
He'd gone on a date.
Gods it was horrible. Mind you, the girl was nice. Julie was her name, he thought. She was a blonde, already a bad start, but she was a sweetheart. He'd helped her get her cat out of a tree and in the midst of it all she'd asked him out and you could blame it on the tequila hangover he'd had the previous night or just boredom from the admittedly slow week, but he said yes.
It was terrible. There was no chemistry, no spark, no enjoyment. Sure, she seemed to be enjoying herself, but every time she asked him about his work, or praised him for his looks, or just stared at him it made him want to crawl into a hole and die.
He dropped her off at 6, she asked him if he wanted to come inside, he made something up about work. The message was pretty clear right then and there.
He wondered if this would make things better or worse for him as he walked up his driveway, thumbing his house key from it's ring. One of two things would happen, girls would think he's up for daring now, or girls would think he was emotionally cut off now. He silently prayed for the latter.
Percy stepped into his house and perked up his ears, letting out a groan as he recognized the sound coming from his bathroom. His shower was on, and he got the feeling his drunk ass had left it on last night.
He dropped his keys in his key bowl and walked over to his bathroom, kicking his boots off and dropping his jacket as he did. He pressed the door open gently, expecting a room full of steam, which he got.
What he wasn't expecting was Zoe Nightshade, in his shower, back turned to him, spreading soap over her body, gently humming to herself.
Percy froze. His cheeks flushed. His breath hitched. His eyes bulged. He just kind of stood there for a moment, staring at her just standing there, naked, water glistening off her smooth skin, soap running down her back, her hair cascading down her spine.
Zoe was in his house and completely naked.
He bolted out the door before he looked any more and gently closed it behind him as he struggled to catch his breath. He took a deep breath and knocked loudly on the door.
"Is someone in there?" He said.
He heard the water turn off, "Yes. It's me." A voice called from inside the room, "Sorry Percy, got a little dirty hunting today and my hot water's out."
He let out a groan, "And how did you get in my house? I don't remember giving you a key." He said through the door.
He heard her laugh. "And I remember telling you to change your locks. A monkey could pick those things."
He gritted his teeth, letting a small hiss out from between them as he mumbled, "Then what would happen to your surprise visits?" He stopped talking when the door opened.
She was standing there, wearing one of his white t-shirts and his sweatpants. She had her hair tied back in a messy ponytail and her skin steamed slightly from the shower. She looked beautiful, the looked stunning, she looked like a goddess, she-
Percy choked on a breath as he suddenly looked up.
"Zoe?" He asked, staring holes at the ceiling.
"Yes?" She asked, confused by his sudden behaviour.
"You're not wearing a bra." He said, the words hissing out through gritted teeth. She looked down at her chest and let out a devilish grin, standing on her tippy toes to talk right into his ear.
"Then I guess you'd better grab me a sweater."
He nodded vigorously at the ceiling and marched into his room, digging through his closet while quietly whispering "dead kittens, think about dead kittens" To himself. He grabbed an oversized grey hoodie and walked back out, handing it too her with his eyes still at the sky. She let out a sly smile and plucked it from his hands, slipping it over herself.
"Better?" She asked.
"Much." He replied, walking over to his kitchen. He grabbed one of his glasses and poured himself a half glass of rum.
"Bad night?" Zoe asked.
"Bad date." He replied, taking a sip of his drink. He'd worn a nice dress shirt and tie to the soiree and he was using his free hand to loosen it. "She was... well, she was something."
"I'm guessing no second date, then?" Zoe asked, leaning against the entrance to his kitchen.
He shook his head, "Not a chance."
"Well, what has this taught you?" She asked, walking up to him.
"That I'm right in my bias against blondes?" He offered, finishing the glass and setting it aside.
"No. That Fridays are for watching movies with me." She answered, grabbing him by his tie and dragging him into his living room. "Now come on, I've been researching the era you seem to prefer and have some I'd like to watch with you."
"Oh?" he asked, as she tossed him on the couch, "Which ones?"
She reached next to the tv and pulled up two movies. Airplane! and Blazing Saddles.
"I've heard they're... as comedic as
monty python."
He grinned at her, "So you DID like it!" He exclaimed.
She let out a sigh. "Yes Percy, I found the tis but a scratch scene quite... endearing."
He was grinning ear to ear as he hit the disk eject on his DVD player. "In that case, Blazing Saddles first. I wanna see your opinion on the pinnacle of parody after you've laughed yourself to tears."
She let out a sigh and crashed down on the couch next to him, sitting in silence as the movie began.
"Percy." She said, facing forward . He turned to her.
"Yes Zoe."
"I heard you come in, you know." She said, a slight smile spreading across her face. He felt his cheeks go crimson.
"You did?" He mumbled out.
"Mhm." She said, her smile growing, "never doubt the ears of a hunter, Percy Jackson."
He let out an audible gulp and she let out a laugh. She kicked her bare feet up and laid them across his lap. He looked up at her. She looked back at him.
They stared like that a moment longer than friends should have. Percy cleared his throat and turned back to the screen. "I think you're gonna like this one."
"Oh?" She asked turning to the screen.
"Yeah. It's got some absolute classics. Like the chess scene, my gods I love that one." He exclaimed.
She laughed at his reaction, staring at his excited face as he watches the screen. Her mind started to wander. She thought about how excited she'd been finding those movies at the town's old used DVD store, she thought about how she's secretly hoped the date wouldn't work out so that they'd have another movie night.
Deep down, though she was trying to deny it, she thought about how she wished he'd closed that door behind him and joined her in the shower.
"Percy?"
His eyes snapped back to attention, and he looked back up at Thor. The god had his hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright? You just... stared off there for a second, my boy."
Percy nodded, gripping the table as he stood back up. He turned to Thor, looking the god in the eye as he asked him a question.
"Zoe can't ever leave Hammer falls, can she?"
The god frowned. "At the moment, no."
Percy didn't hesitate.
"I'm in."
Planning went pretty smoothly from there. The gods discussed the quest. Names of champions were thrown around, some Percy liked, others he didn't. He didn't stick around though, he took an opportunity to leave the council room and settle in the swing chair on the big houses deck. He sat for a moment, taking in the night breeze, feeling the wind blow through his hair, and smelling a very familiar smell.
"If you're gonna spy on me you probably shouldn't wear your perfume." He said to the empty deck. Annabeth shimmered into view a few feet away.
"If you don't want me to spy you probably should just head back home then." She replied bitterly, crossing her arms as she did.
Percy sighed, running his hands together. He looked over at Annabeth, taking her in for a moment. She still looked beautiful, almost beautiful enough for him to ignore his anti-blonde bias which... well which she had started, admittedly. He stared at her for a moment as she shivered from the breeze before he sighed, motioning her over. A small smile formed in her face as she sat next to him on the swing.
They sat there for a moment in silence, letting the breeze lightly swing the chair. It was almost... romantic.
"Are you still upset?" Annabeth said quietly, breaking the silence.
"No." He replied, "Not at you, at least. Dad gave me a cracked rib, though, and I'm not too thrilled."
Annabeth smiled, feeling her heart beat raise a bit as the old Percy came back. "Remember Ares? You didn't have too much trouble fighting him?" She offered.
"Remember Circe?" He returned with his own grin, "I'd still be a hamster if it weren't for you, you know."
"A guinea pig." She said, her smile growing, "And that's not that bad, remember holding up the sky?"
"Remember Medusa?" He said, grinning wider.
"Remember the exploding statue at new Rome?" She asked, now beaming at him.
"Remember the manticore?" He replied.
She stayed quiet for a moment, her smile dropping a bit. "Remember Mt St Helens?"
His smile dropped a bit too. "Every day of my life." He replied.
She felt a tear well in her eye. "Percy..." She began, but he reached over and held her hand.
"Annabeth." He said, staring at her, his own personal storm raging behind his eyes. "Please don't come on this quest." He said.
She let out a breath, nervously shifting her eyes, "You know I don't decide who goes."
"No, but I know you're smart enough to get into it no matter what." He said, his gaze unwavering. "Annabeth... I can't have any more blood on my hands. Especially not yours."
She stared at him, feeling her eyes begin to water. "Percy..." She asked, "Who is she? The girl in Alaska?"
Percy frowned, "You heard that?"
She let out a small smile, "To be honest I've been following you all day." She said.
He let out a breath and let his gaze drop. "She's... a friend." He said.
"There was a time you called me that." She offered.
"I still do." He replied, looking at the floor. "And I don't hurt my friends, which is why I won't tell you."
She sighed and stood up, turning towards the Athena cabin. "I know." She replied, before shooting a look over her shoulder. "I'll see you in Alaska... Seaweed brain."
"You too..." He said with a a small smile, "... Wise girl."
She hid her smile in front of her and marched off to the Athena cabin.
Percy sighed, leaning back in his seat. He ran a hand over his face and once again debated every choice he'd ever made. A voice behind him brought him out of his mood.
"She's cruel isn't she?"
Percy let out a small laugh, "Who would that be, Apollo?"
The sun god walked forward, taking a seat next to Percy. "My sister, Aphrodite. She may have some good in her, but man, can she be cruel."
Percy let out a short laugh. "You're not pissed at me?"
"Pissed? Never." Apollo said, leaning back and tucking his hands behind his head, "Contrary to my high in the sky status as sun god I'm very down to earth. I get why you hate us, Percy, and I somewhat agree. I may be the god of prophecies, but I never said I liked them."
Percy let out a dry chuckle, "Any chance you got a prophecy for me?" He asked, turning to the blonde, "A nice one, maybe."
"No, but I do have a haiku." Apollo said, clearing his throat and raising his hand, "Love is in the air, a gust blows from either side, Percy is so fucked."
Percy blew air out of his nose. "I'll make sure to burn you some venison my next meal for that one."
"Oh I'll bet." Apollo replied, "I've heard from Artemis all about your little, ah, romantic dinner?" He let out a sly smile. Percy blushed and turned away.
"And what is your twin's verdict on it?"
"Honestly?" Apollo said, shaking back his hair, "She seems cool with it. Which made me think she'd finally snapped. But then I remembered this is you we're talking about here."
Percy sighed, "I'd just like the gust to stop blowing from either side, if that's the case."
Apollo chuckled as he rose, "Then maybe you should cast your sails on the breeze most favourable." He said, jiggling his eyebrows. "There, see? A boat poem, I'm not just haiku's."
Percy laughed as the sun god rose to his feet.
"Well, lovely chat as always Percy, but I've got a chariot to ride in about eight hours, and I like to have an eight hour warm up in the form of a nap."
He started to walk away, but Percy grabbed his shoulder. "Apollo wait."
The god turned and looked at Percy, "What?" He asked, grinning, "Want another haiku?"
"No, it's just... I met a little girl, a daughter of yours." Percy said.
Apollo nodded, "About yay tall? Blonde? Looks older than she is and smart as a whip?" He asked, eaving his hand at around Elsie's height. Percy nodded.
"I talked to her and she's very sweet and she's just so... excited about all this stuff and, well..." Percy rubbed the back of his neck. "...I think she'd like to meet her dad."
Apollo stood there for a moment, observing Percy's face, not saying anything as he did.
"Y'know, you just can't help but be a hero, Jackson." He said, patting him on the shoulder. "It's in your nature."
Percy let out a smile. "I guess it is."
Apollo grinned, before stretching his arms. "I suppose my nap can wait until tomorrow. I think it's about time my awesome kids met their awesome dad." He marched off to the Apollo cabin and Percy let out a smile, Apollo turned around and called off to him, "Oh! And thanks for saving the world again!" He said.
"I haven't even done it yet!" Percy called back, throwing up his arms.
"I know, but remember!" Apollo said, tapping his forehead, "God of prophecies." He shot Percy a grin before stepping into the Apollo cabin.
Percy smiled and turned around, running nearly headfirst into Artemis. He pretty immediately took a step back and let out a slight bow. "Lady Artemis."
She looked at him with her arms crossed, unimpressed. "I take it that's for Zoe as much as it is for you?"
Percy looked up at her with a sheepish look. "I... uh well, I'm sorry." He admitted as she stepped towards him. He tensed, half expecting a punch, but was surprised to see her laying a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Don't be Perseus. Frankly, if I had to choose someone for her to love, it'd be you."
Percy was startled by her words, before he took a second to register them fully. "Love?" He asked.
She shrugged. "Though I'm not familiar with the concept I have... suspicions." She admitted. He nervously ran a hand over the back of her head.
"Home time?" He asked. She nodded, raising her hand but stopping when. he raised his.
"Just one stop first."
The Poseidon cabin wasn't empty. Nor was it full. No, only one man sat there. An old god, ancient even. He sat on a bunk, his brow furrowed in thought as he rolled his trident in his hands. He looked down at the floor, at the shattered picture frame that lay on it, wishing with all his heart that he could look at her one last time.
"Hey dad." A voice spoke up behind him. He didn't move, he just stayed still, letting his eyes fall a little lower.
"Percy." He replied, in a tone neither angry, nor bitter.
"I have something for you." His son said, moving towards him. Poseidon groaned.
"Percy, if this is another attack, please. I have no time for-"
He was cut off as Percy handed him something over his shoulder. Poseidon's eyes glazed over with a thin layer of tears. It was her, a photograph of her. Just as beautiful as he remembered, as beautiful as the day he'd lost her.
He turned to his son, who was holding back his own tears.
"Percy, I-"
"I want you to have it." Percy said, gently putting the photo in his father's hand. Poseidon took the photo and stared at it, a tear falling as he did.
"I'll always have her, in here." Percy said, tapping his head. "But you... I want you to remember her like I did."
Poseidon smiled, before his expression fell and a great sorrowful look spread across his face.
"Percy, I'm so sorry." He said, his words failing him as he tried to elaborate. Percy shook his head.
"It's not your fault, it never was. I was upset, and distressed. I needed someone to blame, but I shouldn't have chosen you."
Poseidon felt like the weight of the sky had just lifted off his shoulders. He smiled, looking at the photo before looking back at Percy.
"I... I love you, son."
Percy took a deep breath, "I love you too, dad."
They embraced, and Percy finally, after years, finally felt free. Free of the hate, the anger. Free of it all. He felt truly free.
He pulled away, turning to the door to leave, but not without giving his father some final words.
"Sorry about the shrine, by the way."
"It's alright." Poseidon said, staring at the picture. "This is more than that little building could've ever hoped to be."
Percy smiled, and stepped out of the cabin, shutting the door behind him and turning to face Artemis, who almost looked like she had tears in her eyes.
Almost.
"Are you ready Perseus?" She asked.
He took one last look at the camp. At the training pavilion, at the big house, the cabins, then back at the Poseidon cabin. He didn't know if he'd be back, but he wanted to remember it as well as possible if he wasn't.
"I am." He said, as Artemis raised her glowing hand. He felt his body start to glow.
"And Artemis?" He added, about to disappear.
"Yes Perseus?" She replied, on the cusp of sending him off.
He smiled.
"It's just Percy."