See you at the bottom.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own PJO, HoO, Star Wars, and any other familiar references in this story. All rights belong to their original owners.
Of Royalties and Responsibilities
Chapter Two
"I'm dying."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I am. I can't do this anymore."
Jason rolled his eyes, ripping a piece of paper from his notebook and chunking it towards Leo's head. Percy snorted from where he was on top of the bed, glancing up from his reading to see his two roommates sprawled on the floor.
"What are you guys doing?" the Aspyros prince asked.
"Dying," Leo stated seriously, slamming down the book he was reading onto the floor before sulking like a little kid. "It's only the first month of school and we're already subjected to multiple torture."
"Your 'multiple torture' being reading, of course," Jason piped in.
"Exactly!" Leo cried out. "Why must such cruelty exist?!"
Percy laughed. "Drama queen. What are you reading, anyway?"
"History Four," the prince of Ceprione grumbled. "I swear Professor Charon's out to get us. How much history does Olympus have, really?"
"That's senior year for you." It was Jason who snorted this time. He went back to whatever he was writing down, deciding that whatever drama Leo had now was probably similar to all the other ones he had in the past three years. (By some miracle, the guy still passed all of his classes, so Percy and Jason weren't that too worried about him.)
But Leo wasn't done talking. "You'd think they'd actually teach us the good stuff a little more seriously this time."
Percy's brows furrowed. "The good stuff?" He thought back to the past few years of his stay in the academy. So far, Percy had already gotten a taste of what he thought was the good stuff. At least, that's what he felt. He already had saber sparring, blaster shooting, and aircraft flying for gym. And even his other lessons were interesting to him, especially since he had a pretty girlfriend to study with.
"The good stuff," Leo mused. "Like… you know. Like actually battling the real things instead of just holo simulations."
"Leo… you designed those holo simulations for gym."
"Yeah, but we're going to be generals pretty soon," Leo argued.
"Except we don't have any battles to practice with, if you're looking for actual blood bath," Jason said.
"Not yet," Percy reminded them.
"Not yet," Jason corrected himself.
Years after the events with Luke Castellan, and even if nothing had happened so far, they still hadn't forgotten about the Pherena prince's threats once upon a night.
"Take over Olympus," Luke had said. Percy and the team deduced that such a big plan took tremendous amount of time and planning. Of course, they had to shut up about it because the school boards hated that anyone spoke about the events almost four years ago, but that didn't stop Percy and his friends nonetheless.
They had to ask somewhere else. Percy knew he couldn't handle this alone without anyone of authority (besides Chiron, anyway). He had even tried warning his father, the King of Aspyros, who thankfully hadn't dismissed Percy's worries like the school boards easily did.
But, of course, while there was no real evidence of an upcoming war, there was no real action being pushed. Luke was locked away in Tartarus, anyway, and nothing alarming had happened so far.
Percy could easily dismiss Luke and everything that had happened, but…
No. Luke was a murderer.
It was as if Leo was reading Percy's mind. "Man, I feel like Percy's the only one who's ever got to experience a live battle in the last one hundred years or something. All these years the academy's just been teaching sparring for the heck of it, maybe."
"I'm not sure if 'for the heck of it' are the correct words," Jason said. "For preparation, sure."
Percy nodded. "For times like this."
"Wow," Leo muttered. "And they're refusing to acknowledge that the very thing they're preparing us for is already happening."
Silence.
Jason spoke slowly. "You're not… excited, are you? For this whole Kronos Army to finally happen?"
"Oh, it's happening already, my friend," Leo said seriously. "We're just waiting for them to strike."
It was funny, talking about their impending doom like this. Percy remembered the first time they ever talked about the armies way back in their first year. The three of them had just decided that they were going to head Chiron's Army (because who else would, really?). As if sneaking out way past curfew wasn't already troubling, they still had the audacity to talk about what the school boards considered taboo.
They used to be terrified that they would get caught.
Now? Psh.
Talking of nothing but Chiron's Army was almost second nature to them.
"Leo, dude," Percy had to laugh. "The stuff you think of when you're bored."
And just like that, all the tension that was previously in the room dissipated.
Leo sighed before standing up from the floor, stretching as he did so. "I know, I know. I just can't wait to be a general."
Jason cracked a smile. "You make it sound like it's an easy thing. First thing's first: graduation."
Percy stood up from his bed, walking to where his best friends were on the floor. "And that means—" He picked up Leo's abandoned book before playfully throwing it towards the brown-haired boy's head. "—reading."
"Eh." Leo caught the book with ease. "You know, if I had a pretty girlfriend like you guys, I wouldn't be so worked up about this whole general thing."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, you know. I'd have other things to worry about. Marriage and planet alliances and all that—Jason, are you hyperventilating?"
Percy stared at the blond still sitting on the floor. "Leo, what have you done?"
There was a sudden look of horror on Jason's face. "Why are you so calm?!" He pointed an offending finger towards the Aspyros prince. His voice was probably eight octaves higher. "Didn't you hear what he just said?"
"Um…"
"What?" Leo asked innocently. "Girlfriends? Marriage? Planet alliances? Don't tell me you haven't talked about that with Piper yet."
"Well—uh—"
"Hoo boy," Leo whistled. "No wonder Piper said something about this thing the other day—hey, you know what? Respect to you, Perce. I bet you and Annabeth have that whole spending-the-rest-of-your-lives-together thing under control."
"Huh?"
"What thing?" Jason sputtered. "What did Piper say?"
Leo grinned. "Kinda hungry. Gonna go to the mess hall for some dinner. You guys with me?"
He was already out the door before the other boys could respond.
Jason scrambled to his feet, chasing his roommate with just his socks on.
"Leo!"
Percy stared at the princes' retreating forms.
Uh oh.
"—I feel like most of the teachers aren't even trying anymore. A lot of them can't see how wrong it is that they're not even revising the school curriculum to something more—"
I bet you and Annabeth have that whole spending-the-rest-of-your-lives-together thing under control.
"—I mean, we get it. Constancy and traditions are great, but we've been following the same program for the past fifty years, and—"
Spending the rest of your lives together
"—Piper and I have been putting a lot of work into this petition. Princesses aren't just supposed to sit idly while their husbands are—"
Rest of your lives together
"Percy…"
Together
Together
Together
Hand snapping. Eyebrows raising. Gray eyes suddenly calculating.
"…are you okay?"
"I'm sorry," Percy apologized, for the first time becoming aware of where he was. Right, right. They did this all the time; he was in the library with Annabeth before dinner, trying to get some homework done before heading into the mess hall.
The princes and the princesses' curriculum were very far apart from the other, so spending time with each other during school hours was nearly impossible.
But they've worked around the clock somehow, and for the past few years, Percy and Annabeth have had a routine. Despite the differences of their schedule, Percy was so accustomed to spending time with her that it was difficult to imagine doing things without her.
It was difficult to imagine a life without her.
Damn it, Leo.
"Okay," Annabeth said slowly, pushing the books on the table aside so she could rest her elbows on the platform. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Percy answered, shaking his head and smiling to reassure her. "Just thinking about some things Leo said yesterday."
"Oh," she mused. "Well, if Leo's making you think this deeply, then that can't be good."
"Believe me. I kinda want to smack him in the head right now."
Annabeth grinned. "I can do that for you."
He laughed, grabbing one of her hands from across the table. He set their entwined fingers between their books in the middle of the desk. "Then by all means, m'lady, please do so."
"Right after dinner, sure."
She focused her attention back to all the work she had, and before Percy could let his mind wander off again—
"I love you. You know that, right?"
Annabeth looked up. She cocked her head to the side and pursed her lips to keep herself from smiling widely. "Yeah, I do. Are you okay, Percy, really?"
Here we go—
- word vomit.
"Don't you ever just think about it?"
Playful eyes were soon replaced by confused ones. "What?"
"I mean, like, the future. Don't you… just… you know? Think about it? Like, does it ever cross your mind… or something?"
Percy cringed inwardly, sending a silent dude what the hell are you doing? to his brain.
Annabeth looked like she was considering his question. "Well… I guess I do think about it, honestly. Actually, now that you've mentioned it, I was hoping to talk to you about something."
He didn't know what to expect. "Yeah?"
Suddenly he got a giddy feeling in his stomach. Heck, if Piper was thinking about spending the rest of her life with Jason, then she must've talked to Annabeth about that, right? Which means that Annabeth must've thought about a future with him, too. Right? Right?
Well… you know. He hopes she's thought of a future with him, at least.
He sent another telepathic curse to Leo, because let's face it: Percy was fine before the Ceprione prince put those post-graduation thoughts inside his head.
"I was thinking," Annabeth was saying. "that after the war that we're expecting… well, I kind of have an idea on what to do. My father called me this morning and said something about Malcolm helping him decide with what I can do after the academy."
"Yeah? What's that supposed to mean? And how is Malcolm?"
"Oh, he's great. He's still training with the Mylita army." She smiled softly. "Apparently, he's talked to father and he's convinced that my debating skills are enough to put any planet at my mercy. Of course, Malcolm would know; I've spent my whole life arguing for his cookies. And for anything he has that I want, really. And I win. Every single time."
Percy snorted. "My girlfriend, ladies and gentlemen. Why am I not surprised?"
"Oh, shut up, you. Anyway, guess who just got offered a position in the court?"
"Annabeth," he said, grinning. "That's great! Wow, remind me to tell my dad not to cross paths with Mylita in the near future. We don't want you hating on Aspyros again."
"Stop reminding me of that," she laughed before sighing. "I still haven't answered my father properly. You don't think it's a bad idea, do you?"
"No, no," he assured her. "Come here." He pulled on their entwined hands, leading her from across the table so she could stand where he was sitting. He stood up when she reached him, suddenly wrapping his arms around her frame. "I'm proud of you, Annabeth, did you know that? Whatever you're going to decide… well, it's not like I have a choice now, do I?"
She playfully hit him before hugging him back. "You're a loser. Thank you. I love you too."
He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. For the meantime, he was spared from that particular discussion.
The next words were not his own nor Annabeth's.
"So, um… aren't you guys tired of traumatizing the librarian?"
Annabeth rolled her eyes as she pulled away. "Piper. To what do we owe this pleasure?"
"Don't pull that snarky tone on me, Annababe, or I might just tell on the two of you."
Percy raised his eyebrow in anticipation.
"Okay, you got me," Piper sighed. "Now's definitely not the time to be joking. Jason and Leo said they found this by your room, Percy. They're heading to Chiron's office as we speak. We figured you were going to hold an emergency meeting."
There was a soft clank as Piper dropped an item on the table.
"Oh, gods," Annabeth whispered.
"Story of my life," Percy muttered as he stared at the offending object.
It was something he hadn't seen in years. In fact, the last time he saw one of those, Luke had dropped by the school for a visit, which resulted into an ugly battle… which, in turn, resulted into one of them getting locked up in Tartarus.
Percy shuddered.
Because, right there, on the table, was the red scythe of Kronos' Army.
"Oh, boy," he mumbled. "Guess this is where the fun starts."
King Hermes of Pherena wasn't exactly his father, but Luke was thankful that he was there.
Usually the palace help were the ones knocking on his door, but the young prince was surprised one day when his uncle – the King – greeted him instead.
Luke stood up immediately from his bed. He felt a little woozy, but maybe that was because he hadn't slept nor eaten in a long time.
"Your Majesty," he greeted his uncle.
"None of that, Luke," Hermes said. "I thought I told you to call me 'uncle.'"
"I'm sorry," he sighed, sitting back down on his mattress. "Was there anything you needed?"
"Nothing in particular, no," the King replied, moving towards his nephew's bed at the center of the room. "Would you mind if I sit down and talk to you?"
Luke shook his head mutely, so the King took it upon himself to sit down on the bed. He continued to speak. "The help tells me you haven't been eating. Is that true?"
"Uh… yes, uncle. I'm not… I'm not in the mood to eat these days."
"I know the feeling, if I'm going to be honest. I believe I miss my brother as much as you do."
Luke looked up at him, before shaking his head slowly. "…I'm not sure about that, uncle."
Hermes allowed himself to smile slightly. "You remind me of him a lot, did you know that, Luke? He looked exactly like you when he was your age. He was my best friend."
"I know that, too, uncle. Father used to tell me stories about the two of you."
"Oh? Which ones?"
"The ones that made me wish I had a brother, too."
There was a pause, before the King chose his next words.
"I know it's easy to think that we're alone, Luke, but I promise you that you're not." He lifted a hand so he could rest it on the prince's shoulder. "You have me, and you have Connor and Travis—"
The door to the room suddenly creaked open. A mop of brown hair peaked out before Connor's head suddenly came into full view. "Father? Someone's asked to see you."
"Speaking of your cousin," Hermes said, waving a hand to motion the prince into the room. "Connor, come here."
"Luke, hi," Connor greeted carefully, slowly moving towards the other two men. "I was just thinking about how you were going to enter the academy really soon."
Luke's eyes suddenly bugged. "I completely forgot about that."
His mind was too preoccupied with thoughts of his father that he forgot he used to be excited at the idea of entering Olympus Academy finally. Given his state now, was he ready? Call him anti-people, but…
It was as if his cousin read his mind.
"Don't worry." Connor grinned. "You've got me there. You won't be alone. I promise."
Luke stared at his cousin for a second, before sharing a glance with his uncle. King Hermes smiled at him in reassurance.
He smiled for the first time in what felt like forever.
"Yeah. Yeah, I won't be alone."
End of Chapter Two
Hiii so long time no see, huh? I know, I know. I am a failure to the human race and I am extremely sorry that this took too long. :( The good news is that I've got a two-month break from school and I'm finishing the next chapter as I post this. So expect the next one soon, too. Thank you for reading, if you haven't completely given up on this story yet. As usual, reviews are welcome.
Thank you for reading!
-YJ
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