Tip this way, tip that way, no matter, you'll still fall.
|Chapter 5| Tipping Point
Percy knows it will happen soon. He knows that soon his carefully built-up a wall that hides the real him will come crumbling down in a bright inferno. He will be the sole thing that stands upright at the end.
But it will not be the Percy Jackson they know. This is a darker, tired, Percy. A man who strikes fear into the heart of monsters and gods alike. A man who when he puts his helmet on only his eyes show. His vivid green eyes that hold the rage of the sea in them.
He hears loud conversations as he passes the cafeteria. He was out in the morning, due to a mandatory cabin counsellor meeting he had to IM into. It went overtime so he just grabbed some pizza from a pizza place near his apartment before driving over to Goode.
He stops by his locker and packs his bag for the next class before tossing the said bag into his locker. He heads outside eager for a quick walk, that will hopefully settle his ADHD. It's been spiking up a lot lately.
A few moments after he steps out it starts to lightly drizzle. He glares at the sky for a moment thinking it was Zeus before he realizes that the rain is light and he hears no thunder. This is the work of his father. He smiles because his father is trying to help him calm down.
He stands in the rain for a moment, his face tilted skyward letting the cool drops slide down his face. He hears some other students come out to enjoy the rain as well but he ignores them. Then he hears what sounds like at least thirty people come out, chattering loudly. He inwardly groans; he was enjoying the quiet and they had to come out. Gods they are annoying.
He opens his eyes and of course, it's them. The football team with the cheer squad. All rich kids who think themselves to be amazing. They disgust him. But they're not bullies. That's other people. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean they are nice in any way shape or form.
The rain starts to come down heavier and they all start to shriek as it starts to actually soak them. Weak, he thinks. This is nothing compared to what his father could do. He hears one idiot curse Zeus and thunder rumbles across the sky. He hears muffled gasps and then prayers of forgiveness. Smart. As much as Percy would hate to ever admit if your mortal and you truly offend Zeus, you'll be dead before you can say sike.
He heads back inside as the bell rings and picks his bag up from his locker before heading to English. At least Paul is teaching and understands how hard this class truly is for him. He heads to his assigned seat which is in the back corner near the window.
He hears Paul start class and turns his attention away from the window. He explains how they will be reading the Odyssey for the next month or so. He explains that he chose this book, not just because it is classic literature, but it ties into the reveal. He also says that it should be taken as a warning to not piss off the gods. Especially the temperament God of the Sea.
His eyes turn to Percy as he asks "Now quick opinion question; judging by the sheer amount of power of Lord Poseidon described in this book, do you think the same warning should be extended to his children? I'll go around the classroom and you'll tell me your opinion. Let's start with...hmm...Percy." He smiles brightly at his stepson who just rolls his eyes and sits up. Everyone turns to face him.
"Well yeah. The greek stories describe Lord Poseidon as vengeful when antagonised. In ancient times if you couldn't go out to sea without sacrificing something to him. If you didn't you wouldn't survive the journey. And he was known to be temperamental and what's saying that doesn't extend to his children." He smirks slightly knowing just how much that extends to them. "We have all heard how his only son was made an Olympian god. We know how he killed the minotaur at twelve, with his bare hands." He runs his hand through his hair and sighs, trying to calm his nerves. His eyes became dark and his smirk fell. "And, he's one of three people to survive Tartarus. So I think it does extend to his children."
As the class continues he mulls over what he said. He knows he is scary. He knows he is powerful. He knows that if he really wanted to, there would be no gods. He shudders slightly, remembering when he made misery herself miserable. As the class continues he hears whispers about how cool it would be to be a demigod or god, how cool it would be to be able to scare someone with one look.
He wishes he could slap them, get that stupid wish out of their heads. Shake it out of them, and tell them it's a trap. It's a slippery hole one cant even hope to escape. It's not fun. It's jarring, it's scary. It's difficult to know that people are scared of you, and they watch their words around you, just to keep you calm.
The bell rings.
He walks out of the classroom and almost immediately he feels a heavy shove on his shoulder. The person barks out "Watch it!" When he turns to the voice he sees its Kyle Voctar, the school bully. When he sees Percy a poisonous smirk spreads across his face as he says "Well, well, on my first day back I get to see Percy Jackson again! Where you go? Was it family issues?"
It's no secret why Kyle wasn't here the first three months of school. He was suspended late last year for inappropriate actions or some shit like that. Not that the suspension really did anything. Kyle's brown eyes met Percy's green, and he felt something about his perception of Percy Jackson shift.
Those eyes were not the eyes of a normal teenager. They were the eyes of a man, a soldier. The eyes of someone who knew what fighting for your life was like. And there just beneath the mask of happiness and calm rested a savage force. A force that would propel someone on the battlefield, the instinct to kill. It was a dangerous swirl, not quite a storm but could become one. Kyle felt fear slice through his heart but he swallowed it down.
"Or was it a mental hospital you were sent to? Your slut of a mom finally realised that you were part of the loonies?" He taunts.
Something changes in Percy Jackson's eyes. The storm has formed, but it is now a storm of hate. Percy moves to punch the mortal teen but before he can there is a flash of silver, and it collides into Percy and he is pushed back.
When everyone can see him again he is on his back on the floor, a woman with short black hair and a silver circlet. After a moment it hit them; that is Lady Thalia, the goddess. Percy Jackson is being pinned to the floor by a goddess. Percy Jackson is glaring at a fucking goddess.
"Get off of me Thalia." He spits out his voice full of venom and his eyes narrowed into slits. His classmates are now certain that he has a death wish.
Thalia presses her elbow into his neck and glares back at him. "I will not get off of you Percy. You were gonna kill that mortal." She presses her elbow in deeper, but Percy seems unfazed at the pressure on his airways. "Weren't you? I'm not dumb, I know what I saw, and you were going to beat the Hades out him." People reel back in shock at Thalia's use of his name, because does she know him?
Percy's lip curls and he growls out "He called my mother a slut, Thalia! Do you think I was going to let that slide? Do you really think I'm going to let him call my mother whatever the Hades he wants?" He practically roars the last question and a violent tremor shakes the floor.
"I get it your pissed, but you cant just murder him. You need to learn how to control your anger. You're too much like your father for your own good." She says.
He laughs, a hollow empty sound, a song once lively but now a mournful tune "You need to learn how to control your anger! You're too much like your father for your own good!" He mimics. "That's rich coming from you, Thalia."
It is raining again, but it is heavy and thunder cracks along with it.
She growls and a short dagger appears in her hand which he presses at his neck, "Say that again Jackson, I dare you. I didn't come here to fight but you're asking for one now."
He grins, a wild feral thing, that looks almost inhuman. "You could never beat me. How's it feel to know you daughter of Zeus, king of the gods could never defeat me, the 'lowly weak son of Poseidon'? How's it feel?" Gasps go around at his claim of being the son of Poseidon, and whispers erupt about him lying, but nothing happens to him so he's clearly not lying. Percy Jackson is a fucking god.
The two glare for a second longer, but a crack of lightning shakes the building. In walks Jason Grace, son of Jupiter, the god of memory loss, co-leaders, flight, comfort, and glasses. It's a strange combination but mortals have decided against commenting on it.
When he did that press conference a while back he had seemed kind and agreeable. The mom friend sort of guy. But the Jason they see now is a far cry from that. His lips are pressed in a thin line, and his sword Ivlivs is in his hand. He looks utterly pissed.
"I came here because I was getting reports of storms and earthquakes. But of course, it's just you two going at each other's throats again. When will either of you ever fucking grow up? You're acting like two-year-olds, but you have the strength of gods. If you two had fought do you know how many mortals could have died?" He turns away running his hands through his hair. He takes a deep breath and walks over to his sister and pulls her off of Percy.
Percy shoots up and moves to attack him, but multiple mortals move to hold him back. Jason nods his approval to them.
Thunder crackles again, but this time it is accompanied by the sound of rushing water. In walks Zeus and Poseidon themselves both looking beyond furious at their children. Every mortal, including the ones holding Percy, drop to their knees in respect. Peoples faces are white as snow now, because not only are they in the presence of five gods, two of them are members of the big three. Percy lunges at Thalia again, but his father is there in an instant holding his son back with ease. Zeus takes Thalia from Jason, seeing as she is kicking him, and shocking him, trying to get herself released.
"Take my arm." The king of the gods tells his son who complies. "Cover your eyes!" He orders the mortals, as the five gods teleport out of the school.
They reappear in the throne room of Olympus. Hestia, Demeter, and Hera are the only occupants of the room, and they regard the newcomers with raised eyebrows.
Demeter and Hestia approach their brothers, nephews, and niece. After a quick exchange of words Demeter is now holding Thalia back, and Hestia is holding Percy. Zeus walks toward his throne, and after a deep breath turns towards, his daughter and nephew and roars out "What were you thinking? You could have killed hundreds of mortals. This would have put an even worse light on us. We cannot afford this. You, idiots, are just confirming to the mortals that we are bloodthirsty and need to be killed." Poseidon nods along furious with his son.
"Both of you are fools!" He continues pacing in front of his throne. He turns to his daughter "Thalia, your sister will deal with you. You may leave." After a cold glare towards Percy, which he gladly returns, and Demeter drops her arms she teleports away in a flash of gold.
Poseidon steps forward. "Perseus, I expect better of you. That mortal is a horrible person and completely wrong about your mother, but that is no reason to result in violence. I believe Annabeth has been informed of the situation. She is waiting for you at Camp Half-Blood. And for the love of the Gods, you don't need to engage in every fight. Keep your sword down, hands at your side. Think before you do anything."
Percy hangs his head in defeat and when he can no longer feel Hestia's hands holding him back, he leaves to Camp Half-Blood.
When he gets there he is right outside his cabin. He walks in, discards his hoodie and shirt on the floor and collapses into his bed. He hears the door open and a weight settles on his bed. He knows it's Annabeth. In defeat and not wanting to elongate the time till his inevitable lecture he says into his pillow "Go ahead start yelling at me."
Annabeth doesn't yell at him. She just rubs his bareback softly and quietly asks "Why did you do it Perce? You knew the consequences, and you and Thalia's little...spat, could have been avoided."
He doesn't answer her but just keeps his head in the pillow. She surprises him by grabbing his shoulders and turning him around so he is facing her. When he meets her eyes they are not angry. They are soft silver, kind and full of worry. He can't stand it. He feels tears start to fall and soon the story is spilling out of his mouth. How the kids had called him a loonie, his mom a slut. How Thalia had tackled him to the ground and told him to stop. How in a fit of blind rage, fury at the mortal boy, and just overall exhaustion clouding his judgement he had picked a fight with Thalia.
When he is done Annabeth does something different. Instead of screaming at him or telling him everything he did wrong, she lets down her blonde locks. She proceeds to head to her dresser the two added after the war because he and Annabeth needed to sleep together. She takes off her shorts, pulls on some sweatpants, and changes into a loose shirt. Wordlessly she climbs into the large bed, and Percy joins her under the warm comforter.
They stare at one another for a moment before Annabeth reaches out and traces her finger across the scar on his chest. "You know, you're gonna have to reveal yourself. Like actually reveal yourself." Her grey eyes meet his green and she smiles "And who knows, I may just reveal myself as well."
He laughs, an actual laugh not the hollow one from earlier. It's warm and happy. He pulls her close and kisses her forehead. He can smell her lemon shampoo and the smell of fresh books.
Together with Annabeth he slowly floats into sleep. They are holding one another, and are together. Before he succumbs to sleep Percy has a fleeting thought; this is the first time he's seen her in person in three months.
Later when a camper is sent into Cabin Three to check on Percy and Annabeth they see the couple asleep on the bed. The camper grins and reports the news back to Chiron. A small smile comes onto his lips, and he turns and walks back to the Big House.
They're perfectly fine.