Percy shifted uncomfortably in the chair. He hadn't been back in this room since he'd first arrived at UA, and he felt just as uncomfortable in the moment, as he had all those months ago. All of the teachers at the school, as well as Nezu, were back around the same table from Percy's first time at the school. The hour was late, and it showed on the tired faces of the collected teachers in the room. Part of him felt bad about dragging them out of bed so late, but Percy felt that it was the right call to bring them all in on this.

An hour before, Percy had woken up in a cold sweat after having the same dream he'd been having for weeks. Since he finally had a moment to breathe, and since the dreams were starting to drive him insane, he called Nezu and got a full staff meeting together.

"So let me get this straight," Present Mic said sleepily, "You dragged us out of bed, at two in the morning, because you've been having dreams?"

"They aren't just dreams," said Percy crossly, "But it's good to know that you think I'm such a child that I'd ask for a full damn staff-meeting because I had a nightmare. Thanks for the bode of confidence."

"All right, all right," said Nezu in an effort to keep the peace, "I'm sure that Mr. Jackson would not have called for us if he hadn't felt that it was important."

Percy nodded thankfully at the principal, "Demigod dreams aren't like real dreams. They're…they're kind of like visions."

"Visions?" Said Toshinori with interest. The former symbol of peace had finally been deemed fit to be released from the hospital, though he was still covered in bandages and his arm was wrapped up tightly in a sling,

"Best way I can describe it," said Percy in uncertainty, scratching behind his ear.

"Basically, when a demigod has a dream, it isn't like…it isn't like I have an overactive imagination or something. My dreams show me things that are actually happening…" He hesitated, before swallowing thickly, "They're also a way for gods to communicate with us."

That got some attention around the room. Those who had been only half-paying attention, suddenly sat straight up as all traces of drowsiness left them.

"I thought you said the gods were dead," said Aizawa,

"I said I thought they were," corrected Percy, "I didn't actually go and check."

"So they might still be…alive?" Asked Midnight nervously,

"If the pantheon is still there, then there aren't many left," said Percy, "My dad wouldn't have just left his trident to rust at the bottom of the Atlantic. Atlantis wouldn't have been abandoned if he or any of my family were still around."

"So what is it then?" Asked Snipe, "Are they alive or not?"

"I have no idea," growled Percy in annoyance, "Which is why I'm bringing this to you."

"I presume you mean to travel to New York then?" Asked Nezu, who was looking at Percy curiously,

"I do," said Percy with a nod of his head,

"It's almost certainly a trap," warned Thirteen, "Are you sure that's wise?"

"It probably is a trap," said Percy, "But if it is, then I'd rather spring the trap."

"That's foolish," said Aizawa, "You'd be walking headlong into an ambush, you're better off staying where you are."

"No, no I'm not," said Percy emphatically, "You think it matters where I am? You think that's going to stop someone who wants to kill me? You don't get it, you have no idea what these people can do." He glared meaningfully around the room, meeting the eyes of each teacher individually.

"What would you say if I told you that you've still never seen what I can do when I go all out. That you've never seen how much destruction I can cause."

"I'd call bullshit, but I'm under the impression that you're making a point," said Snipe,

"You'd be right. Even against All for One, I wasn't comfortable doing everything that I could do. I can summon hurricanes on a whim. I can cause earthquakes if I fart too loudly."

Someone snorted, but they were ignored.

"Now imagine power like that, and then crank it up by a factor of ten. Then you're scratching the surface of what a god can do. You think I'd let something like that come here?"

"But you're willing to do that back in New York?" Asked Midnight,

"The few people I have that I care about live here, not in New York," said Percy, nobody had anything to say about that.

"Then I suppose that you have our permission to go," Nezu said, beaming slyly,

"Thanks," snorted Percy, "I appreciate the sentiment, but I wasn't here to ask for permission. I was going, whether you wanted me to or not, I just figured it would be courteous to let you know first."

Nezu let out a noise that sounded strangely like a mix between a bark and squeak, and Percy supposed that it was supposed to be a laugh.

"I enjoy having you around Mr. Jackson," he said happily, "Such a refreshing change of pace."

Percy laughed, "Glad to be of service sir."

"I still don't think you should go alone," said Midnight nervously, glancing around the room, "You said it yourself, this is probably a trap. Going there by yourself sounds like a one-way trip hon."

"I appreciate the sentiment, but that's a bad idea," said Percy, "I don't mean to be a dick about this…"

"And yet you continue talking," muttered Present Mic.

"But anybody who comes with me, likely gets steamrolled. And that's not an exaggeration. There are a few protections I have from what these bastards can do, but I genuinely believe there isn't a hero alive or dead who could even so much as put a dent in these guys." Percy looked over to All Might.

"Not even you,"

"Judging from what you can do…I fear that may be accurate." Toshinori admitted.

"Regardless of whether or not this is a trap, I still believe that it is in your best interest to have a chaperone, Mr. Jackson," Nezu said breezily, "The last thing we want is for the American government to snatch you up and for us to have no idea."

"You think that's a possibility?" Percy asked, worriedly. That hadn't been a possibility he had considered.

"Most certainly," said Nezu, "You are a man from the time before quirks. An American citizen at that. The American embassy here in Japan was in quite the state when I told them that you were, in no uncertain terms, adamant about staying in Japan."

Percy cursed under his breath. The rat had a point. As much as he didn't have much of an issue with fighting to stay alive, he didn't much fancy the idea of having to face down the entire American military, should they decide that he needed to stay in the US on a more permanent basis. More to the point, he didn't want to draw any heat towards the people that had given him a second chance at a life.

"I'll take it under advisement," said Percy after a moment,

"Then we shall leave you to your arrangements," said Nezu, "I just ask that you keep me appraised of the situation as it develops. I expect updates from you at least once a day while you are abroad."

"Yes sir," said Percy, that much he could agree to.

With that, the meeting was dismissed, and Percy made his way back to his apartment.

He needed to pack.

BREAK

"You're going to New York?" Asked Mandalay. Percy had given her a call later that morning as he had begun to pack up his belongings.

"Yeah," said Percy, "I just…I think it's high time that I go to see my mom, you know?"

That was the other reason that Percy had decided that he would take the advice of Nezu and bring someone along. The ulterior motive of going back to New York was that he wanted to visit his mother's grave. He had looked up where she was buried, and he had decided that he couldn't keep avoiding it any longer.

But he didn't want to go alone.

He knew what it would do to him to be there. To see her grave.

It wasn't going to be pretty.

"Oh hon," said Mandalay "I…I really wish we could…but the Summer Camp-"

"I understand," said Percy quickly. He had anticipated as much. The Summer Camp for the school was taking place at a retreat run by the Cats. They had been hosting the Camp there for a number of years, and it took a lot of work to get everything set up.

"I figured as much, but I wanted to at least ask."

"That's very sweet of you," said Mandalay, "And I can't tell you how much that means to me and what it's going to mean to the others that you wanted us to be there." Her tone grew innocent, "You could always ask Rumi…"

"She can't afford to take the time off," said Percy dismissively,

"Sure she can," said Mandalay quickly, "She's risen quickly the last couple of weeks. Besides, it's not like you plan on spending a week there or anything. C'mon Percy, she needs a break, and I know you two are close."

Percy considered it for a few moments. Rumi was the closest friend he had, and while he was fairly sure that she would say no, maybe Mandalay was right.

"All right," said Percy, "I'll meet up with her and ask."

"Good!" Said Mandalay happily, "Regardless of what happens, text us when you arrive and every day you're there please."

"I will," Percy chuckled, "I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, Percy." Mandalay announced, and Percy ended the call. Sighing to himself, Percy pulled up his contacts list and shot off a quick text to Rumi, asking if she would be free for lunch. He got a message back immediately that she would be free in an hour and to meet at their usual spot. Smiling to himself, Percy tossed his phone back in his pocket, and headed out the door.

The restaurant was empty in the middle of the week, which was enough to make him happy. He wasn't in much of a mood to be dealing with crowds. He'd only been sitting down for a couple of minutes when Rumi sat down next to him. She was still in her uniform, and there was a smudge of dirt on the side of her uniform.

"So, what's up?" She asked as she pulled her food close to her. Percy had went ahead and ordered for them while they waited, Rumi was a creature of habit if nothing else.

"I'm going to New York for a couple of days," said Percy.

Rumi choked on her mouthful of curry, and had to pound her chest a couple of times before she could catch her breath.

"You're what?" She asked.

"Going to New York," Percy repeated.

"Why?" Asked Rumi, her brows furrowed.

"It's time I go see mom," said Percy simply, and Rumi grew somber.

"Oh," she said softly, head dropping down.

"Yeah," said Percy, "And I was hoping that you'd come with me."

Rumi's head snapped in his direction.

"What?!"

"You'd think with those ears of yours, your hearing would be a little better," he teased, and Rumi punched him in the leg for his trouble.

"Can you not be an asshole all of the time?" She groused.

"Not particularly," said Percy cheekily, rubbing at his knee.

"Why would you want me to come with you?" Asked Rumi, "I mean…wouldn't the Cats make more sense?"

"They've gotta prep for a training camp they host in a couple of weeks," explained Percy.

"Then-then why not ask one of your teachers or friends, or something?"

Percy furrowed his brow, "You can say 'no', you know? I won't be offended if you don't want to go or you're too busy or something."

"It's not that!" Said Rumi quickly, "It's just…well why me?"

"Because you're my friend?" Said Percy in confusion. "I don't know, I just…I don't wanna go there alone, you know? Like…I just don't think that's a very good idea."

"Oh," said Rumi, falling silent.

"If you don't have time, I completely understand," said Percy after a moment, "I know that things are starting to heat up in the ratings race."

Rumi frowned, and bit down on her lip as she thought over the situation,

"How long would we be in New York?" She asked,

"Only a couple of days, three at most," said Percy quickly.

"All right, when do you want to leave?" Asked Rumi, and Percy stared at her.

"You'll come then?"

She smacked him on the shoulder, "It's what I just said, isn't it? Whose hearing is bad now?"

"All right, all right," laughed Percy, "Anybody ever tell you that you're pretty violent?"

She raised her fist to hit him again, but Percy flinched away, laughing as he did so.

"You didn't answer my question smart-ass, when are we leaving?"

"Could you swing leaving tomorrow?" Asked Percy. Rumi frowned in thought, before nodding.

"It's last minute, but I can make it work," said Rumi.

"I'll buy the tickets," said Percy with a wide smile on his face.

"Why are you smiling so broadly like that?" Asked Rumi, an agitated look on her face.

"I'm just happy," shrugged Percy, "You're one of my best friends, and we're going back to my hometown. I get to share my life with someone I care about. I don't know, it's just kinda cool."

"Oh," said Rumi, flushing somewhat, and her ears flopping down around her head "You always say stuff like that."

"Well," said Percy, throwing a wad of cash down on the table, "Maybe it's just fun to see you get all flustered."

He left the restaurant as Rumi serenaded him with some of the most colorful swearing, he'd ever heard in his life.

BREAK

Percy managed to get a ticket for early in the evening, given the time changes that would occur on the way to New York, they would be arriving just a little before midnight. That was all well and good with Percy, that would give them a chance to rest up, and take their time on their way to the graveyard.

If he were being honest with himself, Percy was torn about his arrival to New York. He really wasn't sure if he was emotionally ready to see his mother's grave just yet, but he was also very excited about returning to New York. As much as he loved his new life in Japan, he missed New York. It had been his home for his entire life. Really, he was just excited to show Rumi New York.

Airports in the future were every bit as boring and tedious as they had been back in the day. Although it had been fun messing with the airport security about his arm. It had certainly sparked a bit of a turn when he popped his entire off in the middle of the line.

Although it had been odd seeing Rumi dressed in civies. Percy had been pretty convinced that she didn't even own anything that she couldn't fight in.

Percy hadn't been…excited, about the prospect of flying to New York. In all honesty, he had considered swimming all the way to the city. But that would have been taxing, and he didn't think he wanted to be bothered with dragging both himself and Rumi all the way to the States.

He dug his nails into the arm rest as he rested his head back against the headrest. He took a deep and steady beat, but with the start of the engines he felt his heart continue to beat faster and faster.

"Hey," said Rumi, "What's your deal? Afraid of flying?"

"If man were meant to fly, we'd have wings."

"You can fly," scoffed Rumi, "Hawks hasn't stopped bitching about it."

"Doesn't count," grunted Percy, as the plane shifted and began to roll away from the terminal.

"Don't tell me you're actually afraid of airplanes," laughed Rumi, "All the shit you can do, and you're afraid of planes?"

"I don't like planes, no!" Percy finally snapped. He wasn't about to explain to Rumi that his fears of flying were incredibly well-founded. Growing up and living in a world where it was all but guaranteed he would be blasted out of the sky by his vengeful uncle should he enter his domain had left an impact on Percy. True, he was fairly confident that Zeus no longer existed, but that didn't mean that the trauma didn't linger.

"Hey," he felt Rumi's hand cover his, "I was just teasing, sorry, I didn't know this was a whole thing for you."

"It's fine," said Percy through gritted teeth. The engines had roared to life, and the entire plane began to rumble as the pressure before takeoff seemed to increase.

"Deep breaths," said Rumi soothingly. Percy focused on his breathing, and gripped Rumi's hand tightly as the plane tilted up, and Percy felt them leave the ground.

He didn't release his grip on her until the plane had leveled off.

The trip was otherwise free from discomfort. After a certain point, Percy had been able to distance himself from where he was and what was going on, and was able to relax. That being said, he had never been much of one for sitting in one place for extended periods of time, and had spent the majority of the flight walking laps up and down the plane.

It took them nearly twelve hours to get from Tokyo to New York, and they were too tired to do much of anything but crash at the hotel that Rumi had taken the liberty of paying for. They were staying in separate rooms beside one another with a door connecting the pair of them, but Percy hardly paid any attention to the room, as he collapsed on the bed and was nearly instantly asleep.

There was something oddly exhausting about traveling, even though all he had done was sit and pace.

"You're like a damn kid," grumbled Rumi the following evening.

The two of them had slept clean through the following day and well into the early afternoon. Traveling through multiple time-zones and seeing the sun set twice had really screwed with their internal sense of time. They had decided to take it slow after waking up, which was more of Percy's doing than anything else.

He was putting off going to the graveyard, and he was well aware of that, but he didn't care. He was going to drag his feet on going to see where his mother was buried. He was going to wait to see his mother again for the first time in nearly a year.

Only instead of being welcomed home by open arms, he would be mourning her passing. The guilt of the entire situation had been swirling around in his chest since he'd first boarded the plane, but he'd been burying the feelings as viscously as possible.

Rumi, bless her, understood what Percy needed, and didn't say anything about it. She and Percy had spent the majority of the evening walking around New York. Percy had taken a lot of pride and pleasure in showing Rumi where he had gone to school, or at least where he had gone to high school, and some of his other familiar haunts.

It was odd. If Percy didn't know any better, he would say that nothing had changed. As though he had never gotten sent several hundred years into the future, that was exactly what it felt like, because it was almost as though nothing had changed. Although Goode High no longer existed, that might have been the only stark difference from the time before. The apartment building that Percy and his mother had lived in when he first found out he was a demigod was even still intact.

It was a strangely emotional day.

But Percy couldn't outrun the inevitable forever. The time eventually came where Percy knew that he had to go. Calvary Cemetery looked strangely beautiful in the early summer evening. The moon was high and full in the sky, and blanketed the cemetery in an ethereal glow that Percy could have sworn was nearly divine in nature.

Gulping thickly, Percy felt his heart constrict as they stood outside the entrance to the cemetery, and Rumi reached out and squeezed his hand reassuringly. Taking a shaky breath, Percy stepped forward into the cemetery. Sally Jackson was buried near the center of the complex, and it didn't take him long to find her tombstone. She and Paul, blessedly had been buried beside one another, and beside them, was the little sister that Percy had never gotten to know.

Rumi, knowing that Percy needed to be on his own for the next couple of minutes, gave him one final squeeze of the hand, and allowed Percy to walk forward towards the headstone. It was a simple headstone. Her name, the date of her birth, and the date of her death. Underneath, was a simple sentence, but one that profoundly affected Percy.

"Sally Jackson, Mother, Wife, and one of the kindest humans to bless this realm."

Underneath was a small trident, etched into the stone like it had been stamped there.

"H-hey mom…" said Percy, his voice choking, "Been a minute…" He swallowed thickly, his mouth painfully dry. He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to atone for what had happened. For the worry and heartbreak that must have occurred in the months and years following his disappearance. Unbidden, warm tears began to trickle down his cheeks, dripping onto the warm summer ground.

"I'm sorry mom…I'm just so sorry," His shoulders heaved as the sobs took hold, "I don't…I didn't…This wasn't what I wanted…I just…" He couldn't find the words, much less find a way to say them.

He fell to the ground, his hands wrapped around his head as he was tucked forward around his knees. For some time, he sat there in the grass, letting the tears fall freely and heavily. There was so much he had wanted to say, so much he had wanted to do with his mother. Soon, the emotions and the despairing thoughts just overwhelmed him. This wasn't supposed to be what happened. He wasn't supposed to be here. He wasn't supposed to be some weird superhero fighting other weirdos and freaks. He was supposed to be in college. He was supposed to be engaged. He was supposed to have a normal life, a family, and was supposed to spend time with his mother, have a meaningful life with her. But because of him, because of his arrogance and his stupidity, he had thrown all of that out the window. If he had thought things through, if he hadn't dove headfirst into a situation he didn't understand, he would never had been put in this position.

All he wanted, more than anything, was to open his eyes and to see his mother standing there. Her arms open, welcoming.

He just wanted his mother back.

He allowed himself to cry for some time, to mourn the loss of his mother. To mourn the life that he should have had. When the tears no longer fell, and when his temples throbbed, he finally spoke once more.

"It's…it's not all bad though," he said, his voice was hoarse and croaky, "I've…I've made a bit of a life for myself." He chuckled somberly, "You'd never believe it mom, but I'm-I'm going to be a superhero, I'm not even kidding. Going to a school for it and everything. It's…it's been crazy. Been a crazy year, you know?" He sniffed and dabbed at his eyes with the back of his hand,

"And I got a lot of friends. And-and my classmates are great. It reminds me of the good ol' days at Camp." He laughed, shifting in the dirt to get a little more comfortable, "They're all full of piss and vinegar, think they can take on the world, arrogant as all that. Not like I was ever like that, right mom?" He chuckled sarcastically,

"I erm, I brought someone here that I want you to meet. She's-she's probably my best friend these days. You'd like her a lot, she doesn't take any of my shit, and she calls me out whenever I do something stupid which, I mean you know me…" He glanced over his shoulder and looked at Rumi. She froze in place for a moment, before slowly walking over. She sat down on the ground beside him, looking thoroughly uncomfortable to be intruding on Percy's private moment.

"Mom, this is Rumi. Rumi…my mom."

"H-hello…" said Rumi uncertainly.

Percy was well aware of how uncomfortable the situation may have been, it was important to him that Rumi meet his mom. He hadn't been exaggerating when he said that she was his best friend. Nobody else in the future knew him as well as she did. Nobody understood how he thought like she did. As the closest person in his life, it was more than time for her to meet Sally Jackson…metaphorically speaking.

Rumi, glanced uncertainly at Percy for a moment, before looking back at the tombstone. She shook off her uncertainty and squared her shoulders,

"You have a hell of a kid, ma'am. He's a smart ass and he gets under my nerves…but you raised a hell of a man, and I'm proud to be working with him," Rumi glanced over at him, "And I'm more proud to call him a friend." Percy smiled at her, and she returned the expression.

"I promise I'll look out for him as best as I can…but you know how he can be."

Percy chuckled, and they stayed for some time. Percy spoke at length about some of his fondest memories about his mother, telling Rumi any and every story that he could think of.

By the time they had left and had gone back to the hotel, Percy was feeling…better was not the right word. He didn't quite know how he felt, but it did feel good to have spoken to his mother. To have let all of his emotions out, to genuinely mourn his mother for the first time since arriving to the future. he was by no means healed, he didn't think he would ever be, but he had made a great stride towards making peace with his life.

But that didn't mean that he was ready to head back to Japan. He still had things he needed to do, he just needed to wait before heading out from the building.

It was well after midnight by the time they got back to their rooms.

"You good to be alone right now?" Asked Rumi, leaning against the door jam,

"Yeah," said Percy softly, "I think so." He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair, "That…that was hard, you know? I needed to do it, but that was just…that was a lot."

"Understandable," said Rumi, "With everything that's been going on, I doubt that you've had the time to ever really think over these things."

"Not really," said Percy, "And it's not like I've really let myself, you know? And any time that I started to think about it, I just pushed it aside, buried that shit."

"I don't think that's healthy," said Rumi carefully.

"It's not," said Percy, "But I didn't really care at the time…or even have the time, like you said. Things have just been moving so fast, and there's so much shit…I don't know, it's just been hard."

"You sure you're good?" Rumi asked again, and Percy smiled. He appreciated the sentiment,

"I'm sure. I don't think I'll get much sleep tonight, but…but I'll be good."

Rumi didn't look like she necessarily believed that, and she opened her mouth to say something, but she never got the chance.

Bright, orange flames erupted around both of them. He could feel the heat of the flames, and yet they didn't burn. It was the oddest sensation, because instead of feeling afraid…he felt strangely comforted. As though he were being wrapped up in a warm hug. It was a familiar feeling, one he was certain that he had felt before. Then, a strange tugging sensation from around his naval. it was a similar sensation to when he was using his mist-travel. All too abruptly, however, the sensation disappeared, but the warmth did not. He still felt comfortable, safe, like he was back home.

They were no longer in the hall of their hotel, they were inside a comfortable-looking apartment. It appeared, for all intents and purposes, as though the occupant had gone to great lengths to make the small apartment feel as live-in and comfortable as possible.

But what had Percy's attention wasn't the apartment itself.

In the center of the apartment, was what appear to most to be a campfire.

But Percy knew better.

It was a hearth.

His heart began to hammer against his chest.

And then he heard the voice.

"Hello nephew…you've been gone for some time…welcome home."

"Hestia?"

AN: AND WE'RE BACK! LET'S FUCKING GO! This. This fucking arc. I haven planning this arc since I first started writing this fic. So much planning. So much writing. All of it building towards what this arc kicks off. I'm so fucking excited for it, and I hope all of you are too! As always shoutout to Double0Sxvxn for being an awesome Beta and dealing with my bullshit and as always if you enjoyed this but haven't checked out my other work, give them a try you never know you might find something else you like. I'm also on discord now, where I and a bunch of other writers hang out, chat and brainstorm ideas, you just have to copy the link that's in my profile bio if you want to come and hang out with us. Stay safe, stay healthy and have an awesome week.

All My Love and see you next week,

LilDB