AN: Sorry for the long wait and relatively short chapter. University ya know? I'll try to get another chapter or two out before I head back. (Also in case you were wondering, chapter titles are, in fact, Panic! At the Disco lyrics). Let me know if you want me to add which songs they come from in the author's notes. Full Chapter title (since I ran out of room): Searching for a New High (High as the Sun)

Percy...

She had no agenda for the day. After a light breakfast that had been brought to her room, she went to wander the palace. She kept to the more open and golden areas to make sure no one thought she was spying. There was a hallway that had large windows that were currently open. It was parallel to the path of the sun so it wasn't incredibly shadowed or overly glaring.

Twisting her wrist summoned a book as she took a seat on the cushion by a window towards the middle of the hallway.

Athena was currently in the meeting with Odin and presumably the princes. While she came to act as a diplomat, there were certain things Odin apparently didn't want her to know. She would join in later meetings.

She slipped a silver band onto her right middle finger and began to read.

It was three hours and twelve minutes later when she heard footsteps. She looked up and saw Fandral. He smiled widely when he caught sight of her and lengthened his stride to stand next to her seat. From where she was seated, she was actually the same height as when she stood.

"And how are you today fair lady?" Fandral smiled, gently taking her hand and kissing it. She wasn't sure if that was some sort of courtship thing or not so she just gave a faint smile and placed her hand back in her lap when he was finished.

"I'm good. Though, I don't have anything do today since I can't attend any meetings until tomorrow."

Fandral's eyes brightened. "Let's go to the market then! You said yesterday that you wanted to explore our culture."

"Sure! Will what I'm wearing be okay?" She slipped off the seat so he could see her attire. She had conjured a dress similar to the ones she saw during the introductory meeting yesterday with the addition of her Greek decorated vambraces and sandals that couldn't truly be seen under her dress's skirt.

"You look enchanting." A reflexive smile tilted up the corners of her mouth.

"Thank you." And gave a half-joking half-sincere curtsy. "Lead me to this market?"

"Did you want to drop off your book at your room?" In response she teleported it away to her bed. His eyes twitched at the use of magic but it was barely there. She didn't take his arm when he offered but walked next to him as they left the palace.

"Are there stalls with food? It's gonna be lunch soon." She had a thought about talking more like the royalty she was but mentally shrugged. It didn't matter much. As long as she spoke pretty in front of the royal family it would be enough. And maybe Sif, she seemed a little judgy.

They spent an hour wandering around. Percy admired the weapons that had been laid out. It was nice that the stall owner didn't patronize her about the weaponry. She had gone to a few mortal markets and usually they assumed she didn't know how to fight. She reigned herself in when she saw dresses hanging from the support struts of a tent. She had to be a warrior first. She still needed to talk to Odin and she wasn't sure if the sparring from the previous night was enough.

It was warm but breezes would come off the water and the canals. It really did remind her of Venice...or was it Tosakl now? Or Salonnare? She couldn't remember if they had been conquered again by the Beliks or still under Garnotees control. Try as she might she couldn't replace her outdated knowledge from her time as a mortal to new information if it was outside the United States. Or what had been the United States. Venice/Toaskl/Salonnare was more water than land at this point though. She wasn't really sure what they were fighting about anymore. Athena or Ares might know.

Fandral stayed close enough that their shoulders bumped even as there was enough room to prevent it. "Any recommendations for food?" She asked, leaning to speak in his ear so she didn't have to actually shout.

"Is there anything you don't eat?"

"No seafood." Before she had known she was a demigod she never liked seafood. And she never ate it especially after finding out who her father was. She did not like the idea that she could have talked to her food beforehand and have it speak back.

"Understood." He smiled at her before scanning the various stalls. Most Asgardians were around her height, with normal variation. Fandral's extra few inches helped him see over the crowd and find a suitable lunch place. "How about mutton?"

"Sounds good." She was a little surprised at how much like the mortals they were. She followed on the tails of his cape as he made his way through the crowd.

The mutton was delicious and dessert involved a peach-like fruit that she already forgot the name of. They had found a semi-quiet place to sit and eat.

She watched people as they passed. Studying their clothes and hair. They had just as much variation as mortals did. There were a lot of half updos with the women and it seemed that the men were split between stubble and full beards. There was a lot of earthy toned clothing with some wearing muted blues and purples.

Fandral...

Lady Percia was beautiful. It was luck that he just found her in the hallway. He liked spending time with her. She knew her weapons but wasn't as stiff about it like Sif was. She was very informally Midgardian in her mannerism while other Greeks he had met were rather...well, godlike.

He wasn't really aware that he was staring at her until there was a confused furrow of her brow. "What?" She asked with a bemused smile.

"Just admiring your beauty." She looked away, uncomfortable with the compliment yet pleased. "Would you like to have a private dinner with me?"

Percy...

She shouldn't have been surprised. But she wasn't expecting him to ask her on a date so soon. And she didn't know if she wanted to.

Fandral was good looking. He was funny. And had been a perfect gentleman (barring the innuendos) while they were out walking around. She was comfortable with him. Except...

He was too much like Apollo. Did she actually feel things for Fandral, a man she met a day ago? Or was she projecting old feelings for Apollo? Would accepting be stringing him along when she wasn't sure of her feelings? Would she eventually have feelings for him?

She hated being single. She had thrown herself into the Camp and Atlantis after her divorce.

"Fandral," she started staring at the hopeful tilt of his mouth, "I don't think we should get involved."

His face dimmed. "Why?"

You're too much like my ex. She didn't say.

When her silence continued he asked, "Oh, are you married?" He glanced down at the ring she still had on her right hand.

Fandral could have sworn rings were worn on the left hand. And she hadn't been wearing it yesterday. He thought it was just an accessory.

"No!" She said louder than she meant. "Um, no. Not anymore." She winced at the last bit.

"May I ask what happened?" He still seemed disappointed but didn't seem like he would push it.

"I, uh. He-It didn't end well." She really didn't want to air her dirty laundry or make anything really awkward.

"Oh." Fandral trailed off, looking away to stare at a murder of crows. (Or crow-like birds, Percy wasn't sure). "I'm sorry."

"It happened a century ago, it's alright." When his eyes widened she realized that time was relative and a hundred years to him was probably not that long at all. Time moved a little quicker now but she spent so much time in the mortal world and at Camp that she still saw time mostly like a mortal.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." He said with more passion.

"No, seriously. I see time differently. A hundred years is actually awhile for me."

He didn't look completely convinced but his shoulders dropped.

They fell into an awkward silence after that. Percy just wanted to escape. She didn't like thinking about Apollo. He hurt her, he trampled his way into her domain and nearly collapsed reality. Sometimes she would feel guilty about lying about his punishment and then angry that she felt guilty. It was a constant battle and it left her emotionally drained every day unless she was able to distract herself from it.

"I'm, I'm going to get us dessert." She didn't stop him when he left despite the fact they already had dessert.

She got up as well, wanting to run, wanting to hide. Her heart was beating too fast. Her hair and dressed changed color as she walked, not wanting Fandral to be able to find her easily. She hated running but she wouldn't be able to talk to him.

She tucked her newly blonde hair behind an ear as she approached the dresses she saw earlier (And if her hair was almost an exact match to Annabeth's then no one was there to call her out). Another woman stood there holding the dress and feeling the fabric with her free hand.

She stood a little away and started with the dresses on the other end from the woman. There was a handful of styles ranging from the one she was currently wearing to more complicated patterns and ones with shorter hemlines. Though it appeared ankle or floor length dresses were preferred.

"I think that blue one would look stunning on you." The woman said, leaning over slightly with a green dress in her hands.

"Hm, thank you, but I own quite a bit of blue already." Percy smiled and looked up from the dress. She was stunned by the woman's sparkling gold eyes.

"If you have a color then stick to it." She smiled. She was currently wearing an almost chiton like dress. Gold shoulder clips contrasted with the darker blue-gray she was wearing. "I'm trying to expand." She said lifting the dress she was holding.

The woman stepped closer and Percy had to look down slightly to meet her eye. "I'm Siya."

"Percy, nice to meet you." They shook hands.

"Percy? That's an unusual name." Siya tilted her head.

"I'm Greek. I'm just visiting."

"Oh!" Siya's eye brightened with recognition. "You came with Lady Athena yes?"

Percy nodded. "I did."

"Not to seem nosy but why haven't I heard of you much? You're a part of the Olympian Council but before this visit, no one has heard of you."

Athena had told her that most Asgardians wouldn't know a ton about the Greco-Romans. More know that Zeus was the king and that Athena was his daughter and the diplomat but not much more past that. A few would know more of the Council.

"I'm not actually officially a part of the Council," Percy explained. "I'm an advisor and I can act as a tiebreaker and sometimes step in if another member is unavailable." She shouldn't give away too much information and if asked would give the story they gave the mortals. That she was a recluse that just was never mentioned and didn't have a huge following.

"But not even a peep?"

Percy shrugged. "I doubt you've heard much about Hebe, Asclepius, Maia, or Metis."

"I haven't," Siya confessed.

Percy looked up quickly. Something told her not to trust that. Siya had heard of at least one of them. But why would she say otherwise?

"Lady Percia?" Percy heard Fandral calling. It caused some heads to turn, probably hoping to see the Greek among them.

"I have to go. It was nice to meet you." Percy smiled, holding out her hand.

"Likewise."

Percy turned but hesitated when her hair fell into her eye line. She turned back. "I don't usually have this hair color. I changed it to blend in better." Siya just met her eyes. "I just didn't want to...shock you or anything." She turned away again and let her hair return to its natural color along with the dress before weaving through the crowd towards Fandral.

They spent a few more minutes walking around with a sort of pie thing before they awkwardly agreed to return to the palace. She met Siya's gaze a couple of times before they left the area.

Percy met up with Athena for a while before dinner. Which was less boisterous than the night before. When they arrived the royal family was already seated. Loki was holding a drink while Thor was speaking with his father.

Other dignitaries arrived and dinner started. Once again she was left alone with her thoughts as both Athena and the man beside her were busy.

"Lady Percia." Percy turned, surprised Loki was addressing her. "How was your day?" Making small talk no less.

"Oh," talk pretty, "It was educational. Fandral and I went to a market and discussed our cultures." Percy took a sip of her drink. "How was yours Prince Loki?"

He waved a hand lazily. "As well as can be expected when stuck in meetings all day." She hadn't expected Loki to be honest about it. She was expecting some sort of shallow pleasantry. "What are those symbols on your ring?" His question blindsided her. She had forgotten she was still wearing it. Athena looked over then, scanning her fingers before landing on the ring.

"Oh," Athena squinted, likely trying to match the symbols to ones she knew, "they're ancient Atlantean." Not technically a lie. Her heart stuttered when Loki narrowed his eyes behind Athena.

Loki...

Despite his popular moniker, he wasn't technically the god of lies, but he knew his way around half-truths and lies. She was hiding something but wasn't lying. She must have a reason and if he had to guess, she was keeping the truth from Athena.

Her Greek magic swirled more heavily around her, an effort to make herself more trustworthy. It was likely a subconscious reaction to his suspicion. Her secondary magic swirled around her hand with the ring on it before retreating and hiding in the ring.

He told himself he'd ask for the whole truth at a later time.

AN: So? Kinda fillery but I need to set up some things before we really get into it.

Any questions about Percy's ring will be answered in a later chapter.

No pairing requests involving Percy will be considered. I already know what's happening on that front.

Please review! I adore hearing from you guys! Thank you all for following me into a sequel! I really do hope to finish this one as well (it might even be longer than the previous though I can't be certain. As usual, nothing is truly planned ahead of time).

~Dawn