Sorry guys, I've got keyboard issues atm which makes it hard to type. I'm working on it.
Grover found him sitting by the lake, studiously not looking at the Nereids waving at them from the lake bed. He knew Kelpies often drowned their victims- thanks Bobby- and he'd always been a particularly strong swimmer- able to hold his breath for far longer than John had expected- but he didn't know enough about these particular water spirits to feel comfortable around them. No matter how comfortable everyone else seemed around them or how much time he'd been spending on the lake.
The air was starting to cool and he refrained from rubbing at his arms where the hair was still singed after a close call on the climbing wall. How he'd not been burned he didn't know. He was certain that the lava had come close enough to warrant at least reddened skin, if not outright burns.
Who the fuck puts lava on a climbing wall anyway?
He wouldn't admit to himself just how cool it was. It certainly ensured that every camper had excellent reflexes - it only took a few close calls to make you move that little bit faster. Climb that little bit quicker. Dodge that little bit swifter. Percy'd been distracted by the sight of Grover scampering up the wall like a…well, like a mountain goat. Once they'd both made it safely back to the ground, Grover threw his patented We-Need-To-Talk look at Percy. One that had been perfected over the year at Yancy - Grover pulled it any time Percy started getting reclusive and short tempered. He'd known it was only a matter of time before Grover found him for a much needed conversation.
"Hey." Grover's voice was quiet. Subdued.
"Hey, G-Man." Percy kept his voice equally quiet. Chiron had told him that his tenure as Mr. Brunner was a cover, and he'd hinted that Grover's presence at Yancy had been the same.
This is it. He's going to explain how his friendship was just a means to keep an eye on you. He's going to be all apologetic but inevitably….
"So," Grover nervously cleared his throat, "it's occurred to me that I haven't been a very good friend lately."
Whatever Percy had been expecting, it wasn't that.
"You…what?"
Grover shuffled awkwardly. "Back at Yancy, before you…left, I could see that you were struggling. Satyrs are sensitive to emotions, and I could feel how upset you were getting. I wanted to say something but I thought it was because of my lies about the Mrs. Dodds thing and Chiron ordered me to keep you in the dark. I was thinking about telling you anyway but then you started getting so angry, and I got scared, and then you were gone. That's no excuse, but I thought you should know why."
"Grover, I left you. With absolutely no warning. No note even. I might not have known about all of this but that's still a really shitty thing to do to a friend."
Grover scowled at his use of an expletive and Percy almost laughed at how normal the action was. He couldn't count the number of lectures about his language he'd received from Grover while at school. Grover grinned at him, no doubt recalling the same thing. For a moment, everything felt normal. Then Grover's smile faded and he looked away.
"In the end, my decision not to tell you resulted in a lot of…unnecessary harm." He winced at the term.
Percy wanted to get angry. He wanted to be able to pin it all on Grover, blame it on someone else. Maybe it would be enough to absolve him of all this guilt-
But she'd hate that. She'd be so disappointed if he let her death- if he let his grief- ruin the best friendship he'd ever had. She'd want him to move forward. She'd want them both to move forward.
"Mom's death is not your fault and she'd scold you for even daring to think that if she was still here."
"But that's my point. She's not here. If I had just done my job-"
"Grover, it was my job to protect her. And it was my fault she was even out there that night anyway."
Grover paused for a moment and stared out across the lake.
"If she was still here, she'd be yelling at both of us for blaming ourselves, wouldn't she?"
That startled a laugh out of Percy. After a second, Grover joined in.
"She so would," Percy wheezed out. Grover grinned at him, and as usual they were on exactly the same page. Just the way she'd want them to be.
He couldn't believe he'd entertained the idea of Grover being dangerous. That he'd allowed the words of John to place a seed of doubt. He was still the same kid, the same friend he'd had in Yancy. They'd had each other's backs then and they still had them now. Percy could feel a quiet whisper in the back of his mind, developed after years spent with the Winchesters. If it ain't human, we kill it, John's voice echoed in his head. Percy shut it out. It felt good.
Still, just because Grover had turned out perfectly fine didn't give everyone else an automatic pass. Percy warily eyed the Nereids again. It didn't mean he was suddenly going to start believing in gods.
"So what's the deal with the empty cabins?" He couldn't help himself. It was like poking a bruise- he just had to know. "I know they're sorted by…by godly parent, but some of them look like they've been untouched for years."
Grover gave him a knowing look at Percy's hesitance, and studied his face for a moment.
"You know, I've seen lots of kids arrive at camp over the years, but none of them have been as calm as you. You accepted the idea of monsters without hesitation, it's just the divine side of things you're stuck on. And while you might not believe yet, you're not explosive or cutting yourself off from everyone either."
Percy just shrugged and didn't meet Grover's gaze. "I know you noticed stuff at Yancy, so you know I've got some other stuff going on, man. You know I can't talk about it."
Grover just hummed for a moment before sighing and saying, "You're talking about the three main cabins, right? Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon?"
Percy nodded.
"Well, Hera is the goddess of marriage and therefore fundamentally against affairs-"
"Ergo, no demigod children," Percy broke in.
"Right, but it goes a little further than that. She doesn't approve of demigods, period. We have a cabin here to honour her, but if you can manage it I'd stay out of her way entirely. She doesn't tend to react…well around Demigods.
"Zeus and Poseidon are a little more complicated. Children of the big three- Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades- tend to be more powerful than your average demigod. They also tend to become more important threads within the Fates' tapestry. Annabeth has been explaining that side of things, right?"
"Fates' tapestry - you mean three old ladies controlling the major experiences of heroes, spinning, weaving, and cutting threads. Like your tragedies of old."
"Yeah. Anyway, children of the big three are also predisposed to infighting. Put three powerhouses in a room and inevitably they're going to want to find out who's better. Who's stronger. The more powerful ones are capable of influencing mortal events, albeit not usually on purpose. World War II started as a grudge match between some children of Zeus and Poseidon, and some children of Hades. Afterwards, the big three all swore on the river Styx not to have any more demigod children. Well, Poseidon and Zeus did, and then strong-armed Hades into doing the same. So far, their cabins have remained empty."
Percy could've sworn he heard Grover mutter something along the lines of 'not for lack of trying.' Before he could question it, thunder boomed overhead and Grover started darkly at the giant pine tree on the border of camp.
Right. Conversation over.
No one could sit still through dinner, with playful insults being tossed back and forth between tables. Apparently Capture the Flag was the only time when cabin rivalries could be playfully expressed. Chiron gave a few campers reproachful looks when they took it too far, but for the most part he turned a deaf ear to the proceedings. Luke turned to give Percy a conspiratorial grin.
"We've allied ourselves with the Athena and Apollo cabins. Ares has allied with pretty much everyone else which unfortunately gives them more numbers than us, despite the size of the Hermes cabin. Luckily, Annabeth is one of the camp's best tacticians even if some of the councillors can't see it yet. That'll work in our favour tonight- chances are, most of the campers will underestimate her. If we follow her lead, we might have a shot at winning this."
Percy couldn't help but grin back. The excitement was infectious, and it felt nothing like gearing up for a hunt. The mood was light. Happy. He knew that some of these kids had seen terrible things and come from awful situations, and he knew that this was survival training loosely disguised as a game but the aura wasn't dark. Everyone here knew why they were gearing up for a more violent game of capture the flag, but they still seemed…young. Unburdened. Luke, the head councillor for the Hermes cabin, was leaving the battle plan in the hands of a twelve year old girl because she wanted to try and he was willing to back her up. Clarisse fired insults at Annabeth and was twice her size but she didn't condescend to her. Yes this was a chance to train, to prove yourself, but it was also a chance to let loose and be a kid. Something they didn't always get.
This is what Sam and Dean could've looked like without John's influence, a traitorous part of him whispered. This is what they would have looked like without the constant moving and training and dismissal of any interests that didn't pertain to hunting.
Shut up, he silently shot back.
But he couldn't shake the image of Sam and Dean happy. No, they'd been happy. He couldn't shake the image of them unburdened. The image of them as children. As they should've been.
Annabeth found him while he was still trying to buckle his armour, the straps not yet familiar to him.
Mental note to self: practise donning and doffing your armour until it's second nature. You usually don't get this much forewarning for battle.
She batted his hands away and started buckling his undone straps.
"So, Master Tactician," Percy started, "What's the plan?"
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "You've been talking to Luke."
Percy just grinned at her.
"The plan is that you're on border control. Luke's one of the few councillors who trusts that I know what I'm doing and I won't have you screwing it up."
"Ouch." Percy flashed another grin as Annabeth chuckled.
"In all seriousness, you've done well this week Jackson. Border patrol is actually a relatively important job. Anyone you let through has a serious chance of ruining this for me." She met his eyes. "Don't screw this up, and we'll look at friendship, yeah?"
She strode off. He picked up his helmet and followed the throngs of campers headed toward the forest. She might have been dismissive, but she'd also taken the time to help him out all week, despite the scoffs and glares she'd received for it. The idea of maintaining their friendship after the night was up was exciting. Assuming he didn't stuff this up, of course.
"Alright, campers." Chiron called out. "You know the rules. No maiming is allowed, the first team to get the opposing flag across the border wins. Magic items, as always, are permitted. However, the condition of such items rests solely on the users - you cannot bring something into a battle without accepting the potential of it getting damaged or broken."
Chiron's warnings did nothing to dampen the excitement of the campers. They'd heard this speech a thousand times before. Chiron smiled.
"Places!" He called out.
Everyone started cheering and running off into the forest to get into position for the start of the game.
Luke fell back to join Percy. "Annabeth let you know your job?"
"Border patrol." Percy grinned, "And then there was something about not stuffing up her chance of winning?"
Luke huffed a laugh. "Yeah, that sounds like her."
"I trust the job isn't any more complicated than keeping the reds away?" Percy asked, slotting his helmet over his head and brushing the blue horse-hair plume out of the way.
"You got it," Luke laughed, "I'll see you on the other side!"
Percy took in a deep breath of evening air.
Now this should be fun.
The border was quiet, but Percy couldn't extinguish the little thrill of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He could hear faint yelling in the distance, and every snap of a twig had him tensing. The creek flowing in front of him bubbled quietly, and suddenly the world went cold. He could hear a quiet rumble beneath his feet and his breath misted in front of him.
Just like at Bobby's.
A growl reverberated around the clearing and Percy's hair stood on end.
It was only his hyperfixation on his surroundings that warned him of the ambush in time. Clarisse and four of her siblings burst through the bushes across from him. Clarisse smirked, as if an additional sibling meant that they had this in the bag.
Then again, it was only the fact that you were fighting in cramped quarters that saved your bacon before. A forest clearing gives them more room to manoeuvre.
"Cream the punk!" Clarisse roared, and suddenly Percy was facing attackers on all sides.
He grunted as he sidestepped a punch and brought his shield up to deflect a spear.
"I feel like this is a pretty bad strategy for finding the flag." He stumbled as he tried to deflect a sword thrust.
"You could tell us where to find it." An Ares kid he didn't know the name of grunted.
Percy couldn't help but laugh, a distraction that allowed one of his opponents to sneak past his guard, drawing blood.
Okay, so we're ignoring the 'no maiming' rule, are we?
Clarisse snickered and swung her spear forward. He managed to deflect it with his shield but a strong jolt shot up his arm, making him grit his teeth.
Of course her spear is electric. Fan-fucking-tastic.
The Ares campers pressed their advantage. Percy was just barely keeping up, his shield arm was numb and he could tell they were toying with him. He may have been better than anyone expected, but one sword lesson could not hold up against years of practice.
"C'mon Jackson, where's the flag?" Clarisse smirked at him. That was why she'd targeted him, he realised.
She thinks you'll be intimidated and give up the location. Most newbies would be shitting themselves when faced with five Ares campers who are clearly happy to disregard the 'no maiming' rule.
Percy smirked. "Why don't you check up his ass?" Percy nodded at one of the Ares boys. "He's standing like he's got something wedged up there."
What sounded like a strangled cough came from the tree line, but Percy didn't have any time to think on it. The Ares cabin had not found his quip as funny as he had.
They stopped toying with him. Within seconds he was lying in the creek, dazed from a blow to the head and bruises forming all over. He sucked in a breath and forced himself to stand, raising his sword. Respect shone in Clarisse's eyes even as she bared her teeth and strode through the water to meet him.
He deflected her first thrust, carefully avoiding the electric tip. She snarled as he batted away her second attack and she was forced to go on the defensive. Her attacks became more wild, less coordinated. Percy bared his teeth in a feral grin.
Don't fuck with a Winchester.
He caught her spear between the rim of his shield and his sword. And snapped it.
She bellowed in rage, but before she could do anything Luke leapt over the border carrying the Ares flag. It shimmered and changed to bear the Hermes caduceus. Percy started laughing as cheers went up all around.
Clarisse strode forward. "You snapped my spear."
"It's not against the rules, which I might add, you were all breaking. Or was I hallucinating when I heard Chiron say 'no maiming?'"
She grit her teeth. "It was a gift from my father, dipshit."
Oh. Oh.
Percy sighed. If anyone knew anything about complicated relationships with fathers and father figures, it was him. "I'll see if the Hephaestus cabin can repair it. They seem to be freakishly good at that sort of thing."
That brought Clarisse up short. She stared at Percy for a moment before shoving the pieces of her spear at him and storming off.
Annabeth appeared out of nowhere, clutching a Yankees cap. Percy frowned.
"Please tell me that doesn't turn you invisible or something."
Annabeth raised a curious eyebrow.
Magic items left right and centre. Because that always bodes so well for everyone involved. Gonna get hives at this point, I'm sure you can have an allergic reaction to magic.
Percy sighed. "It was you coughing earlier right?"
"You're a very strange twelve year old, you know that right?"
Percy shrugged. "I've been called worse. Besides, it takes one to know one. Congrats on the successful plan, Wise-Girl."
He didn't comment on the fact that she'd pretty much hung him out to dry with her plan. One against five was never going to be a fair fight.
Annabeth just shrugged. "I came back to help you, but you didn't need it."
"How did you know Clarisse'd come after me, anyway?"
"She does it to all the newbies. Most get scared and rat out the location if they know it, or get taken out pretty quickly, allowing them to breach our defences. You've also managed to get her grudging respect somehow, which means she's always going to be testing you to make sure you're worthy of it."
"And if they pulverised me without issue, you'd know I wasn't worth helping."
She just shrugged again before her gaze snagged on Percy's arm.
"What's that?"
"What does it look like? Or did you miss the asshole slicing me open?"
"No. It was a sword cut. I know that. Look at it now."
Annabeth's face had gone grey. Percy glanced down.
What had been a decent cut was now nothing more than a faint scar. Only the fresh blood lingering around the wound belied what it had once been. Annabeth looked like she was going to be sick.
"W-what?" Percy stuttered.
That's not normal. This can't be happening. This Can't Be Happening.
"Get out of the water, Percy."
"Annabeth, what's happening?"
"Just do it."
The minute he left the stream it felt like all the energy left his body. The world greyed out and he couldn't help but sway. Annabeth caught him and he collapsed into her side, barely keeping his feet under him.
"Styx. Styx. Chiron!"
A low growl silenced the clearing. Percy's breath misted in front of him. Even in his exhausted state he saw the shadow of a tree solidify into a massive hound. Red eyes locked onto him. Everything slowed down.
Breathe in, breathe out.
He watched its muscles tense.
Breathe in,
It pounced.
Breathe out.
Percy shoved Annabeth with all of his remaining strength.
Then he was lying flat on his back, ears ringing and head pounding. The hound dissolved into shadows once more, taking the half dozen arrows lodged in its hide with it.
Breathe in, breathe out.
He couldn't get enough air. His breath felt wet. Slowly sound filtered back in. Snippets of conversation started registering.
"A Hellhound-" … "Someone must have summoned it-" … "Oh my gods his chest-" … "Percy, can you hear me?"
That last one. He knew that voice.
"Percy?" Annabeth.
He opened his eyes.
Oh fuck.
"Ouch." The word was rasped, and even just the one syllable made everything hurt.
"Help me get him in the water." Annabeth. She was talking to-
"Annabeth, what-" Chiron.
"Trust me."
Agony. The Hellhound had shredded through his armour like it was paper. He didn't want to know what his chest looked like. He was vaguely aware of being moved, and then- relief. Something cool was soothing his chest. His brain felt less foggy. His breaths came easier. He let out a low groan.
"This is not good."
"I thought it would be Zeus." Annabeth. She sounded…conflicted.
Percy finally dared a look at his chest. The chest piece of his armour could perhaps be used as scrap metal if someone was particularly clever, but it had done its dash as chest protection, that was for sure. He'd have to bin his shirt as well. But his chest…his chest. It was knitting back together. All that remained were shallow slices that were slowly closing to form thin scars. He thought he might be sick.
Not right not right not right.
Unable to sit still any longer, he pushed himself to his feet.
"Perct, wait!" Annabeth hovered as if afraid to touch him. There was a sharp intake of breath behind him and Annabeth's gaze fixed itself just above his head. He glanced up.
A green trident floated just above his head.
"Annabeth, what-"
"Your father," she murmured, looking pale. "I told you Percy, I can't convince you. Maybe this can."
He felt sick.
"It is determined," Chiron stated firmly.
All around him campers started dropping to one knee. Clarisse. Even Annabeth.
"All hail Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon. Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God."