Percy's father didn't stick out as much as the Lord of the Sea should have. Standing on a pier that overlooked the East River, gazing out at the horizon stood Poseidon, clad in a standard fishing vest and cargo pants. With his dark hair and clean-cut beard, Poseidon could have passed for any regular New Yorker—except for the shining gold trident in his right hand. That was the dead giveaway.
"Argus, could you pull over?" Percy asked his and Annabeth's hundred eyed chauffeur. Argus said nothing (as usual), but he nodded his head and pulled the Delphi Strawberries van into a small parking lot by the pier. Annabeth's grey eyes fluttered open as she woke up from her nap.
"Percy? What?" she asked as she got her bearings. Her eyes then locked onto the Poseidon, through the front windshield. "Oh," she said.
"Yeah," Percy said as he unbuckled himself from his seatbelt. With a deep sigh, he said, "I'll be right back."
"Want me to come with you?" Annabeth asked, her expression dancing between concern and curiosity.
"Nah, it's alright," he told her. He kissed her cheek and said, "Be back in a sec."
He slid the van door open and hopped out. As soon as he shut the door, Poseidon turned from staring at the sea to looking right at Percy, with an unreadable expression. Part of Percy wanted to turn around and tell Argus to gun it. But, another part of him was glad to see his dad, and maybe, Poseidon could give him some advice on the issue that Percy had been grappling with. And another part of Percy wanted to yell at Poseidon for letting him be made a pawn in another one of the gods' stupid plots. He'd have to keep that part of him in check unless he wanted to be turned into a sea lion.
"Hello, Percy. It is good to see you again, son," Poseidon said, his expression shifting to a warm smile. "I am truly sorry we did not have more of a chance to talk in Athens."
"Hey dad," Percy said, trying to keep his tone measured. Even though Poseidon was his father, he didn't want to upset him. Poseidon's temperament could change at any time, just like the tides.
There was an uncomfortable silence, which was broken when Poseidon cleared his throat. "You're wondering why I'm here, I'd imagine." The gods had the strange ability to read minds apparently because that's exactly what Percy was thinking. Why here? Why now?
"The thought had crossed my mind."
"I'm here to thank you for everything you and your friends did. I know Zeus provided a more formal thanks, but well, I prefer to do things a little differently. You endured much and saved us all. Thank you, Percy."
Poseidon's words seemed sincere, but Percy couldn't help but feel anger—though he wasn't sure if it was directed at all the Olympians or just his father. "That's it? You come see me after almost a whole year, after my friends and I saved the world and the gods again, and just say thanks?"
"Well, I did see you in Ath—"
"You know what I mean, dad." Percy snapped. The realization dawned on him that he ought to watch his tone, so he took a breath. To his surprise, Poseidon did not look angry but was more saddened by Percy's outburst.
"I am sorry, Percy. You know how… restrictive the rules are. And with Zeus locking Olympus, it would have been challenging to visit you. I watched your journey, and I am so relieved to see that you did not meet a hero's fate," Poseidon said, choosing his words carefully. Percy couldn't help but feel a bit bad for yelling at his father, since Poseidon did seem sincere.
The words hero's fate stuck in Percy's mind. It's exactly what he was worried about. His expression must have changed, because Poseidon asked, "What is really troubling you, Percy?"
Percy took a deep breath and slumped his shoulders. "It's just—after the Titan War, and after the prophecy came to pass, I thought I could go back to regular life. Or at least, as regular as it can be for me. Go back to school, hang out with friends, train at camp without worrying about the end of the world. Normal teenager stuff. But I get swooped up and thrown into another mess. I'm just worried about what apocalypse I'm going to have to deal with next summer. I know it sounds stupid and unlikely, but I can't help but think about it."
It felt good to get it all out. While Percy was excited to go to college in New Rome and go back to Camp Half-Blood in the summer, he knew there was the threat of being sucked into another quest, another dangerous mission. Another chance for him to meet a hero's fate. Every year since he was 12 years old, Percy had risked his life on more than one occasion. He loved his friends and was grateful that he found a place he belonged. But how could he reconcile that with putting himself in harm's way? After his trip to Tartarus, he had his fill of quests for a long time.
It felt like Poseidon knew precisely what he was thinking, even if he didn't say it all. "Percy, I know how much you have suffered because you are my son. But I also know how much you have gained because you are you. This world we're a part of is equally wonderous as it is dangerous. I know you feel the need to become involved in any problem that may come your way—I've seen that desire in many heroes. But perhaps, for your sake, and for…" Poseidon hesitated, and Percy wondered if he was going to say and for mine. "…everyone else in your life's, you can learn to step away. Sometimes, that's the best way to learn how to move forward."
Step away. That was his great challenge, wasn't it? It was so hard to stand idly by while others fought their battles, but Percy knew his father was right. He had personal obligations he had to fulfil and no time for quests. He needed to get through high school if he wanted to get into New Rome University. Plus, Annabeth would kill him if he died.
"I know, dad. I just—I can't help but feel like I should be doing something. I can't just walk away from camp or my friends." Percy felt like he was caught between two worlds, with no real solution. He wondered if this was how Jason felt when he was stuck between Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter.
"Nobody is asking you to give up either. I understand your predicament. I, too, feel the pull between my home under the sea and Olympus. It is not about giving up either, it is about balancing both and prioritizing what's important," Poseidon paused, and nodded towards Annabeth, who was pretending like she hadn't been staring, "As well as who's important."
Percy felt his face get red. He wasn't sure he wanted to talk about girls with Poseidon. But he also knew his dad was right. Percy needed to step away, at least for a bit, or else he would end up dead. It was called a fatal flaw for a reason. He couldn't help but feel down on himself about it, though. "What if the world is in danger again?" Percy asked.
"There will always be threats; you know this. While I do not have all the answers, I believe that the worst may be behind us. There may be a time where Olympus will need its heroes, and perhaps then, you will need to make a choice. A choice that will be yours to make, and not the gods. But until that time comes, if it ever does, you know what to do." Poseidon said, trying to reassure him.
In the nearly all the blue sky, a single dark cloud appeared and thundered. "Ah, I believe that is my cue to leave. Be well, Percy. I hope to see you soon. And, for what it is worth, I am proud of you."
With those parting words, a wave splashed up against the pier, and Percy's father dissolved into the water. The tide washed out, and Percy stood, shellshocked, alone at the dock. You know what to do. Percy had to wonder, did he?
The rest of the drive was quiet. Annabeth asked Percy about his talk with Poseidon, but Percy didn't say much about it. He hadn't fully processed the conversation and didn't want to talk about it until he had his thoughts together. Luckily, his spirits lifted as soon as they made it to the Upper East Side, and Argus stopped the car in front of Percy's building.
"Thanks, Argus!" Annabeth said, "Hope all goes well with the strawberry delivery!" Argus simply gave her a thumbs up and pulled away right after the two got out of the van.
Percy and Annabeth headed upstairs, and Percy knocked on the door a few times before letting himself and Annabeth in. "We're home!" he announced.
Before he knew what was happening, Annabeth's dad rushed by and gave Annabeth a tight hug. "Hey, dad," she squeaked. He quickly realized he was squeezing the life out of his daughter and let her go.
"It's so good to see you," he told her. Mr. Chase didn't look much different from the last time Percy saw him. He had dirty blond hair, brown eyes and was wearing a tweed jacket. He basically looked exactly how Percy pictured a college professor to look (which made sense, considering Mr. Chase taught at West Point).
"Percy Jackson!" a voice yelled from just behind Mr. Chase.
"Hey mom," he said, poking his head around Annabeth and her dad to make eye contact with his mom. "Long time, no see." Gods, she was a sight for sore eyes. Sally Jackson had always been the kindest person he knew, and even though her bright blue eyes were staring daggers at him, he couldn't but feel at ease. Without saying another word, she surged towards him and gave him a big hug. Percy got a face full of her brown hair, but he didn't care. He happily hugged her back. "I missed you," he said.
"I'm so glad you're safe," she told him, "We were so worried." She pulled away and looked up at Percy. "You've gotten taller," she noted. Percy hadn't really considered it, but he was definitely a couple of inches taller than he was last winter.
Sally's eyes looked past Percy and locked onto Annabeth, and the two hugged. "Thank you for getting him home safe."
Annabeth laughed and said, "I told you I would." It hit Percy that his girlfriend and his mom had been hanging out while he was gone. It warmed his heart, but also made him very nervous. How many embarrassing stories had his mom shared with Annabeth over the months he was gone?
Sally ushered the two into the main room, where the dining table was set out for seven people. For a moment, Percy could almost see his friends from the Argo II at their seats, waiting for Percy and Annabeth to join them.
Percy's stepdad Paul came in from the kitchen with a pitcher of water. "Hey, Percy," he said, gently placing the water on the table. He hugged him and said, "It's good to have you back." Paul seemed so laid back, he basically radiated calming energy. Percy was glad that Paul had been there to support his mom while he was gone. Paul hadn't been in Percy's life for too long, but he had quickly become someone he trusted. He had taken the time to get to know Percy and treated him with respect, which was unlike a lot of adults he knew. Plus, when it came to father figures, it wasn't too hard to compete with the absentee sea god (despite the cool underwater palace).
"It's good to be back," Percy said.
Paul motioned with his head over to his left side, and said, "Between you and me, those kids are worse to the apartment's health than Mrs. O'Leary."
Percy looked over to his left side, and saw Annabeth greeting a tall Asian woman with an awkward wave—her stepmom. Mrs. Chase gave Annabeth an unexpected hug that Annabeth settled into. Beside them, her half-brothers, Matthew and Bobby, bounced up and down. Percy could see why wrangling them may have been a challenge. The two boys ran to Annabeth and tugged at her hand. Matthew (or was it Bobby? They were identical twins; it was hard for Percy to tell them apart) said, "Dad says you went to Rome! Did you get to see the Coliseum?"
"Well, I didn't," Annabeth said, "But Percy fought a couple of giants in it."
The twins looked at Percy, and in sync, they said, "Woah!"
Percy was about to tell them all about it and keep earning cool points, but his mom called them for dinner. "I'm sure Percy and Annabeth will regale us with their stories, but let's sit down first."
Before they sat down, one of the twins pointed at Percy's forearm. "Hey! Cool tattoo!"
Percy froze in place. His mother stopped as she was tossing salad to stare directly into his soul. "Tattoo?" she asked, her voice was as cold as stygian ice.
He gave his mom a nervous smile as he took his seat beside Annabeth. "Well, if it makes you feel better, it's more of a brand. And it wasn't optional."
Sally just sighed. Paul jumped in and said, "Why don't you guys just start your story at the beginning?"
Even skipping over their journey through Tartarus, Percy's mom was serving blue cookies for dessert by the time they finished. They glossed over a lot, so they didn't worry their parents, but talking with them felt so easy. Having a joint family dinner made Percy almost feel like an average teenager, even if they were talking about how they beat Mother Earth. He was so focused on enjoying the present, he almost forgot his father's words and his worries about the future.
Sally started cleaning up the kitchen, and Mr. and Mrs. Chase offered to help. Annabeth was busy being bombarded with questions by her brothers. As everyone left the table, Percy had the urge to tell everyone to sit back down. He just wasn't ready for it to be over yet. He must have had some kind of look on his face because Paul pulled himself aside. "Hey, you doing okay?"
Percy was quiet for a moment and looked over his shoulder to see that his mom was out of earshot. He just wasn't ready to tell his mom about his conversation with Poseidon. It just felt weird talking to her about the sea god. Paul, on the other hand, Percy found it easy to talk to about basically anything. "I saw my father today, just as we came into the city." He gave Paul the shortened version of his conversation with Poseidon. He finished with, "He told me I'd know what to do, but I just don't. It's messing with me. I just don't know how I can move forward."
Paul thoughtfully listened to everything Percy said and then stroked his chin as if he was considered what to say next. Percy couldn't help but feel at ease confiding in Paul, and he was glad he told his stepfather about his issue.
"Well, what do you want to do?" Paul asked.
Percy thought he knew the answer to that question. Having dinner with his family felt so right. It was the normalcy he craved. "I want to just live a regular life," Percy told him. There was some hesitation in his voice that Paul clearly caught onto.
"But?"
Percy pursed his lips for a moment and then said, "But I want to go back to camp. It feels like home, and I feel like I actually belong there. And I want to help people too. I just don't want to, y'know, be in mortal danger doing it." As much as he liked being in the mortal world, he loved being at camp. Training, canoeing, singing campfire songs. He was always at his happiest when he was there.
Paul chuckled to himself. "Percy, do you know why I became a teacher?" Percy shook his head in response. "When I was growing up," Paul started, "I saw a lot of kids my age struggling. I was lucky enough to have my family in my corner, but a lot of people didn't. So, when I got older, I decided to be a teacher so I could help out people who need it, kids who didn't have the right support or just need some guidance."
Percy's respect for Paul skyrocketed, which wasn't an easy feat, since it was already so high. "Are you telling me I should be a teacher?" Percy asked in a genuinely curious tone. He hadn't considered himself the teaching type, but he trusted Paul's advice. Now that he thought about it, he was looking forward to teaching kids to sword fight next summer.
Paul put his hand on Percy's shoulder and smiled. "I'm not saying that, But I do think you'd be a good one. All I'm saying is there are ways to help others while still living a normal life, and not all demigods are going to have a great mom like yours."
Percy's smile mirrored Paul's. Man, this guy rocked. Percy felt instantly better. Ideas started to come to him, ways he could help campers who may need someone like Paul to guide them. Maybe his story didn't have to end with a hero's fate. Maybe it could be something a little brighter, not just for him, but for all demigods. "My dad isn't so bad either," Percy said.
A mutual understanding passed between them, and Paul's expression softened. Before he knew it, Percy was wrapped in a hug. "I'm glad you're back," Paul told him. After a second or two of comfortable silence, Paul let Percy go. "I'm going to go help your mom. Why don't you go walk the Chase family to their hotel?"
Paul walked into the kitchen and started loading up the dishwasher. Annabeth nudged up beside him. "Ready to head out?" she asked. Percy took one last look at his parents before turning to Annabeth with a smile on his face.
"Yeah, let's go for a walk."
From the kitchen, Sally yelled, "You better be home soon! I don't want you missing for another eight months and come back with another tattoo!"
Percy and Annabeth laughed as they linked hands and headed out the door with the rest of the Chase family.
"I can't believe there's a Roman legion in California," Mr. Chase said, as he walked alongside Percy and Annabeth. In front of them, Mrs. Chase walked in between Matthew and Bobby. She was gripping their hands tightly to make sure they didn't get distracted by the bustling city.
"It's pretty impressive to see them in action," Percy admitted.
"If you'd like, maybe we can arrange a talk for you with Reyna or Frank," Annabeth said, "Might be helpful for your military research."
Mr. Chase seemed like he was trying to keep his excitement contained. "That would be awesome!"
After a short while, they finally arrived at the Chase's hotel. "Honey," Mr. Chase said to Annabeth, "Could I talk to Percy for a moment?"
Annabeth flashed Percy a worried look, which did not make the sinking feeling in his stomach feel much better. He had managed to avoid having the boyfriend/father talk with Mr. Chase so far, and he wasn't eager to have that conversation now. Percy had talked to Athena though, so this couldn't be any worse, right? Annabeth headed inside with her stepmom and brothers and showed them to the elevator, leaving Percy and Mr. Chase alone.
"She was really worried about you, you know."
"I know, sir," Percy said, trying to keep his nerves in check. "If it were up to me, I never would have left."
"I'm sure," he said, a faint smile crossing his lips, "I'm glad she found you. And I'm glad you were able to look after each other out there."
Percy chuckled and ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know what I would have done without her. She pulled us out of more scrapes than any of us would like to admit."
"That's Annabeth for you," Mr. Chase said. "Just keep taking care of her, okay?"
"You got it, Mr. Chase," Percy said, becoming more at ease. "We'll look after each other."
"Call me Frederick. Hopefully I'll see you soon," he said as he extended his hand. Percy took it and gave it a shake.
"That would be great. Thanks, Frederick." Calling Annabeth's dad anything other than Mr. Chase felt weird, but Percy wanted to be polite.
Frederick gave Percy one more reassuring smile and then headed through the hotel doors, switching places with Annabeth. "What was that about?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, you know, guy stuff," Percy replied with a smirk. Annabeth rolled her eyes in response.
She let a moment pass and then changed the topic. "I saw you talking with Paul after dinner. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, actually," Percy said, "I think it is." As he said it, he felt more sure about how he felt. Everything was going to be okay.
"What are you thinking?" she asked as she squinted her eyes as if she was trying to look directly into his brain.
Percy smiled and said, "Paul helped me realize that I can still help people without putting either of us in danger, and it kind of inspired me. Maybe I'll run some ideas by you when I figure them out. But until then, I think we should relax. Because I don't know about you, but I could use some peace and quiet for a bit."
Annabeth put her hands around his waist. "That sounds great to me. As long as we're together."
"As long as we're together," Percy agreed as he pulled her in close and kissed her deeply. Their lips stayed together for what felt like an eternity. Eventually, Annabeth stepped away awkwardly, as if she were scared her knees were going to give out on her.
With a goofy smile on her face, she stepped back towards the hotel door. "I love you, Seaweed Brain."
"I love you too, Wise Girl," he said, a smile plastered on his face. Annabeth flashed him one more smile and headed into the hotel to join her family. Percy made sure she got into the elevator and then started back towards home.
Percy took the long way home and stopped in front of the Empire State Building. It felt like so long ago he had gone up there with Zeus' Master Bolt in tow. As he looked up at the needle, it was hard to picture Olympus hanging up there among the stars. But he knew it was up there. He wondered if the gods were looking down at him right now. Maybe they were all taking turns making fun of him for accidentally waking Gaea.
A year ago, it would have bothered him. Now, it didn't matter so much to him. He felt like he had a path to follow that was his own, not the gods', and he had some great people in his corner. Not so bad for someone who used to be notorious for getting himself kicked out of school. He looked towards the lobby and remembered when it was filled with injured campers. The memory only strengthened Percy's decision that he wanted to spend his time helping demigods. Then, he took one more look towards the sky and tried to imagine Olympus above him. Maybe one day he'd be back up there. Maybe not. Right now, it didn't matter.
Percy put his hands in his pockets, and started on his way back home, leaving the Empire State Building, and Olympus, behind him. He didn't look back.