Hello all! I'd like to thank everyone for their continued support! As a note ahead of time (and not to sound like an early 2000's author who disappears for 6months) I will be having surgery this week and may not be able to update as fast as I have been, but once I am more conscious I will hopefully be having all the more time to work on this!
As well I am participating in a collection / gift fic event and will be working a tad bit on that and a sequel for it. Finally, i am also working on more prompt based fics for this series and am open to requests for angst / family bonding based prompts to add to it
I think that gets everything out of the way, so i hope you enjoy!
It had been a miracle that Triton and Poseidon had managed to exude the poison that had infected Percy's body. Since then, he had been steadily regaining colour and a general essence of life seemed to return to his unconscious body.
Because of this, he had begun to look much more alive overall. On the flip side of that, however, lie the only remaining issue: that he was so lifelessly still it was as if he had truly passed in the events following his arrival in Atlantis.
So still in fact, that the already stressed Poseidon and Triton had taken turns between following their necessary duties to Atlantis, and obsessively waiting by his beside, intently watching the too still demigod with impatience and worry.
Initially, they had hoped to have just waited by his bedside until he woke, but hours of waiting had turned into days, which had turned into weeks, and before they knew it, Percy had been in Atlantis, incapacitated, for over a month and Atlantis could only be without guidance for so long.
Normally Amphitrite would be able to step in during any sort of absence of her husband, however, she had left on a diplomatic mission to address a sensitive matter the same day that Triton had gone to retrieve Percy and had yet to return.
After it had become apparent that Percy was well enough, and that he would not be awakening within a day or two, he had been transported back to his chambers.
With a shudder, Triton remembered the state that the boy had been in when he first brought him here, all those weeks ago now. How he had reacted to the water attempting to heal his body, the utter sobs of pain and the writhing convulsions of his form.
While he had stopped seizing since they had removed the poison, the way that Percy had attempted to claw the poison from his veins in his previous slumber had made the gods hesitant. In addition, while his chest wound had begun to close, the poison that had sat within the mutilated skin, corroding it, had done lasting damage; leaving the wound to take much longer to heal than the small, thin cuts that the two had used for his bloodletting.
This had made it so that they were anxious to allow him to have the potential to suddenly jerk and writhe again, opening the previously deep laceration. As a matter of fact, Triton himself had lingering damage to his hands from the acidic burns caused by the poison and was unsure if and well they would heal.
Normally there wasn't much that would leave a leaving mark on him, but despite any changes that he made to his form, and any healing that he had attempted, the burn marks remained, and the very thought terrified him, if not for himself but for the poor, mutilated demigod who lie in his bed.
Currently, Triton sat in a plush green armchair next to the resting boy with a tired set of eyes trained on his face, desperate for any signs of consciousness. Finding none, with a sigh of distress, the god rose before moving over to a nearby medical table that they had moved into his chambers as a necessity, and retrieved some seaweed bandages and thick, teal balm in a short, cylindrical vial.
Returning to the boy's side, Triton carefully pulled back the thin white sheet that covered him before doing the same to the previous bandages that had been wrapping his chest and disposing of them.
Despite the fact that the wound was no longer as deeply open or bleeding, the bandages and the healing balm were a necessity. The bandages, which had minor healing properties on their own, in addition to the healing balm seemed to lock in as many healing capabilities as possible to help remedy the gash that was healing at a much too gradual pace for Triton or Poseidon's liking.
After Finishing rebandaging his chest and lifting the sheet to cover him once again, Triton fixed his brother with a sombre gaze before returning to his previous seat by the bedside and lifting the book that he had brought with him off of the small round side table in an attempt to take his mind off of things.
Surprisingly enough, the book had done wonders. Triton's mind had become desperate to fixate upon anything but his anxiety and while the mystery fiction book was not exactly what he typically found himself enjoying, he would be lying if he did not say that he had become fully absorbed in it.
So absorbed in fact, that he had not noticed that Percy had awoken until he let out a noise of distress before yanking on his restraints and crying out again in fear. Shit.
Percy pivoted his head to look around as much as he could, but seemingly unable to see Triton or recognize his surroundings, his mounting panic only grew and resulted in him straining on his bindings once again.
Wasting no more time, Triton forgot all about his book, and let it drop, not even bothering to save the place. In an instant he was by the boy's side with one strong hand on either shoulder, leaning over his body ensuring that he came into his field of vision, regardless of the fact that Percy's eyes were now screwed shut "Peace, Perseus, you're safe." Percy, in response only struggled more, leaving Triton to continue his attempts in getting his attention. "Please Perseus, come I assure you, all is well, you are safe here."
Finally seeming to get through to him the young demigod stilled and snapped his eyes open. He still looked far too out of it for Triton's liking, confusion coated his eyes like a wall of smoke and the god was unsure if the injured boy even knew where he was. However, he seemed to have enough clarity to understand that someone had been trying to get his attention and he focused his hazy gaze on the face above him, "Triton?" he said in a voice too quiet and fearful for the exuberant demigod.
The aforementioned god gave the boy a comforting smile and a nod. "I apologize for the bindings, we had to be sure that you would not cause yourself any harm," he told him in a very light and calm voice so as to not agitate the demigod who was still looking around with apprehension.
Triton squeezed his shoulders lightly, before lifting one hand to his chin, and tapping his thumb on Percy's cheekbone. Tilting his face so that his eyes would once again meet his own, he spoke, being sure to keep his voice light "I can undo them now, but you have to promise to remain calm for me, yes? You are still injured and I do not want you to exacerbate your injuries." Percy, who was still clearly disoriented, blinked in response before nodding hesitantly.
Never taking his eyes off of Percy's, Triton proceeded to undo the restraints before re-arranging the numerous plush pillows that lie behind him. With one hand on his back and one on his arm, aid him in sitting up in a way that did not strain him. Luckily, from all the fussing the two gods did over the demigod, there seemed to be enough pillows and blankets for a half dozen beds.
"What happened?" Percy's voice came out in a rasp, whether it was from lack of use, or still recovering from the sheer amount of screaming he had been doing asleep, Triton was unsure. "What do you remember?" Triton asked patiently. Percy's eyes were scanning the room and he continued to wear a look of uncertainty on his face but seemed considerably more lucid.
The god did not want to further cause any stress on the boy. As such, before broaching any of the topics of what had happened, especially if he was unsure whether Percy did or did not remember the events, he had to be sure on the matter.
A puzzled expression came across his face as he concentrated and tried to think back to what had happened, "I remember getting back to camp and feeling like shit." Triton nodded encouragingly and Percy continued "I remember, um, talking with you in the cabin, and then, um," Seemingly losing his train of thought, he fiddled with his hands and the foggy look clouded back over his features, leaving his eyes a bit unfocused. In response, Triton returned to his seat so as to not crowd or overwhelm him and gently prodded, "And after that, do you remember anything at all? Or even from before that?"
"Nothing from after. Just you and then nothing." Percy replied, blinking. Then, with a deep look of focus, he tried to recall any of the events that had happened before he returned to camp, but the very moment that he got near the memories, his mind went bright white with fear and his body went rigid in response.
Noticing the change, Triton shifted where he sat in the chair next to the bed. "Perseus?" he asked, worry creeping into his voice, his only form of response was a whimper as Percy's breathing picked up and his eyes glazed over in what seemed to be utter terror.
Triton was back out of the chair in an instant, trying to get his attention but to no avail. "Snap out of it," Triton said the worry in his tone mounting before grabbing Percy firmly by his shoulders and shaking him, but to no avail. The boy slumped in his grasp and Triton swore.
"Perseus!" he shouted with growing desperation, the now limp and unresponsive boy staring blankly straight ahead, small quiet sounds of fear falling from his mouth.
Then, as if nothing happened at all, Percy snapped back to attention, eyes turning to Triton in bewilderment. "What are you doing? Let go of me!" taking an immediate step back, Triton looked at the boy with bewilderment and pity. Oh, Perseus, He thought, what happened to you?
He was understandably quite concerned over the fact that Percy even attempting to remember who had caused his suffering for only a single moment had sent him into a state of extreme fear. Triton once again found himself utterly furious at the mystery assailant that would have dared to hurt any child, let alone his brother in such a way.
This matter, undoubtedly was going to need some investigation, and once he found out who it was that had dared to have done this, well let's just say that they would pray for the mercy of his uncle's wrath.
He was glad at the very least that Percy did not seem to remember anything from after their meeting in the cabin. He would not want the boy to remember himself coming in and out of consciousness in nothing but pure agony as the toxin overcame his body and he succumbed to the growing near fatality that had dominated his torso,
Triton hesitated. While he truly did not want to send him back into that state of fear that he had entered during his earlier questioning, he had to know. "Perseus," he began, "have you ever encountered Polybotes?'
Percy just tilted his head in response. "Uh, yea a few times, why?" Huh, maybe he hadn't directly intervened this time around then, if he was able to recall his previous memories of their encounters with seemingly no trace of fear.
"Oh! You don't think this was his, like, freaky poison thing, do you? You know that would make so much sense. I tried to put water on it and it just like freaked out and made it worse." he said before putting a hand on his abdomen. "He did make some kind of threat about how 'his touch turned water to poison' and wondering 'what it would do to my blood' one of the times he came after me."
Triton felt ill. That vile-. Wait, "You've faced him numerous times in the past?"
Percy blinked in confusion. "Uhm, Yeah, two or three times I think, not counting the times he was chasing me and shouting straight up unhinged threats like that. I get a lot of threats and insults, but damn, I haven't heard ones that are unique, creative or personal in a long while."
Just as Triton was about to follow up, their father entered the room, "Good morning Triton, I was wondering if i could ask you-" Poseidon stopped in his tracks, eyes locking onto the now conscious demigod. "Perseus, You're awake," he said relief flooding his tone.
Percy flushed, a bit more life coming to his cheeks. "I hadn't received word," he continued shooting a pointed look at Triton, who was used to his 'subtlety' and was unsurprised, and so he gave no response.
What had surprised Triton was that Percy had almost seemed to shrink into himself and away from their father's worried gaze.
"Uh, hi," he said in a small, quiet voice.
Triton looked between the two with mild confusion. The hero was normally so exuberant, even now after everything, once he had adjusted to his environment he had been energetic and almost enthusiastic. However, under his father's concern, he seemed somewhat nervous? No that wasn't the right word, but he couldn't quite place what he was seeing from the boy in front of him.
Oblivious to Triton's inner musings, Poseidon crossed the room, eyes never leaving his demigod son. With a small, sad smile he placed a hand on his head, ruffling his hair. "How are you feeling, my son?"
Triton rose as Percy responded to their father and went to retrieve his fallen book from where he had dropped it upon his brother waking up. He turned to look at his father and brother before lifting the book and placing it on the small table next to the chair where he had been sitting.
He had been about to leave but froze in his tracks when he had heard Poseidon ask Percy about what he had remembered from before the events proceeding his arrival at Atlantis. He spun around and cut his father's questioning off, which got him an incredulous look from his father in response.
"Father, he has just awoken, why do we not allow him to come to his senses a little more first, yes?" he finished his question with a meaningful look to his father that he hoped got across the message that they would discuss it later.
With eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance, Poseidon nodded before turning back to Percy with a more pleasant expression on his face.
Trusting that his father would leave the issue be, at least for the time being, Triton left the bedroom, the exact same way that he had done every time that his father had entered it for the duration of the time that they had been switching out in watching over the slumbering boy.
Making his way to the throne room, Triton neglected to notice the servants bustling around more than they had been since Poseidon made the all-or-nothing decision to save his youngest son's life. Triton certainly neglected to notice them all speaking in hushed tones and training their eyes on him, his thoughts were too focused on his most previous interaction with Percy.
What possibly could have happened to strike that level of fear in him? Why did he seemingly forget that he had even had such a reaction immediately after?
Dozens more questions passed through his mind, and he had become so wrapped up in his thoughts that he did not even notice a new set of eyes on him until her voice pulled him out of his musings. "Well I cannot say that I have seen you so pensive in quite some time." in shock Triton turned his deep green gaze to meet a rich, brown one.
"Mother."
The goddess smiled in return, moving closer to her son and brushing hair out of his eyes that had come loose from where it had been tied back. "Now what is it that has you so deep in thought?" he simply looked away in response and his mother trailed the hand she had used to brush back his hair down his arm, resting at his elbow, giving it a light squeeze.
"Always so strong and independent" she teased, "You are allowed to need and even to want help you do know," he broke her gaze and looked over her shoulder at the set of thrones with a tight look on his face.
"There is probably something that we should discuss, mother," Triton said, in an attempt to change the subject from her concern over him. He was fine, he thought to himself,he could deal with things on his own. He always had.
Amphitrite followed his gaze before looking back at him with concern. "What has happened?" she asked immediately, her hand releasing his arm and coming up to cover her mouth. "Where is your father?"
Blinking away from the thrones and looking back at his mother, he sighed, "Father is alright," at his response his mother let out a breath of relief. "Where is he then?" she repeated, voice rising,
At receiving no response she asked again, "Triton, what has happened, what is going on?"
Triton remained quiet, unsure how to respond, which only seemed to make his mother more anxious. "Triton!" his mother said again, nearing desperation.
He was typically not one to go against what was asked of him, and he certainly was not one to evade his mother's questions. It was due to this that his mother was sure that whatever it was that was wrong must be truly terrible to have him reacting in such a way.
"Perseus is here." Oh. Or that.
Amphitrite made a sound of disinterest and turned from her son to head in the opposite direction from where he had come. "Very well then, please do me the favour of coming to get me once he has left."
'I'm not sure that will be happening anytime soon." Triton said in response. "Oh?" Amphitrite questioned. "Why might that be?"
Looking weary, Triton began a condensed version of his tale, starting when they had both left Atlantis and ending just as his father had walked into the boy's chambers.
"I fail to understand why it is that you seem to be so concerned about the child." Yes, while it was true that she did not make it a point to loathe her husband's demigods, she certainly did not tend to hold them in her favour either, and neither did her son for a matter of fact, quite the opposite actually. "Why is this one different?" she questioned "He certainly was not before, so what has changed?"
Triton lowered his brow to his hand. "You did not see him, mother, hear him. The sheer desperation and agony in every ounce of his being. I have never seen anyone, let alone a child in that much pain." he raised his gaze to meet his mother's. "Who would have dared to have done such a thing?"
"You have truly come to care for him then?" she asked, surprise clear on both her features and in her tone.
"No! I have n-" Triton stopped himself before hesitating and letting out a breath, "Yes," he admitted at last. "I suppose that I have."
His mother simply nodded in response, before saying something that had caused Triton more surprise than anything else over the past month,
"I do think it best then that I too give him a chance, lead the way."
Well? What did you guys think?
What fo you think of Percy's reaction to trying to remeber what happened to him?
What do think of Poseidon and Triton's interaction?
How do you think Amphitrite will interact with Percy?
This remains largely un-beta'd so if you notice anything do let me know!
I hav ebeen really throwing some angst-ish stuff at you guys, so look forward to next chapter largely being fluffy
See you, bye!