Guess, who finally managed to drag her ass to the computer for something other that her Biophysics project? Yeah! ME! Hard to believe isn't it? Especially the fact that I've wrote a chapter about this story which I haven't done in ages. Literally.

Though you might be disappointed by this chapter. It's short and it's more of a filler than anything else but it kind of felt right to stop writing here so we could jump right into the action for the next one. And we do get some nice insight in Triton's mind, which has to count for something, right?

Anyway, enjoy this while I try to put a chapter together for my other stories as well. God, that's going to take some work.

A Drop In The Ocean
Chapter 7
Caring

Percy woke up to the sound of cackling fire and the flicking light of flames dancing across her closed eyelids. The familiar unyielding hardness beneath her indicated that she was probably lying on the ground, but for a moment she couldn't for the life of her figure what she was doing there. The last thing she remembered was Echidna and Chimera finding them on the bus and – Oh! Her mind cleared as slowly, flashes of memories returned – fighting Chimera, falling, the sight of yellow fangs poised to bite her head off.

Well that explained the pain. And there was pain. Her whole body ached, her muscles throbbing in tune with her heartbeat. She couldn't really remember the last time she had felt this way. During the battle of Olympus maybe?

Groaning, Percy shifted a little, winning the battle against her heavy eyelids. Her eyes streaked around, searching for Triton, hoping he had not dumped her somewhere so he could continue the quest in peace. She sighed in obvious relief when she spotted him sitting across the fire, pouring over what seemed to be a map of some kind.

He looked up at the sound, his gaze briefly meeting hers across the dancing flames. She thought she saw relief flash in the green depths of his eyes but it disappeared too quickly for her to be sure.

"What-" She tried to speak but her throat was dry and raw and she couldn't get more than a wheezing sound out. Thankfully the god seemed to hear her silent plea for water, because he rose and after a quick search in her backpack was pressing a blessedly cool bottle of water against her hands.

The liquid soothed the pain in her throat and brought back enough energy in her limbs, so she could push herself in a sitting position. Just now she noticed that she was lying on something that looked suspiciously like the jacket Triton had been wearing earlier.

"What happened?" She asked, rolling her stiff shoulders. Gods, when was the last time she had been on a quest and had to sleep on the ground? She had forgotten the feeling of sticks and stones poking her back while she slept and the horrible stiffness that accompanied waking up.

Triton who was back at his side of the fire, looked up. "You passed out after I killed Chimera." He explained shortly, looking annoyed at her gall to fall unconscious. Percy rolled her eyes at that. "I had to carry you to the forest so the mortals wouldn't find us."

Percy made a humming sound in agreement, rummaging in her back for the energy bars she knew she had stored there. When she looked up, the demigoddess was surprised to find Triton gazing at her with grudging curiosity.

"I thought the Achiles' curse made you invulnerable." He murmured at her questioning eyebrow. It was not a question but Percy took it as one, knowing he was probably too proud to admit something as human and normal as being curious.

"It doesn't, not really." The girl said quietly, between bites of the energy bar. "I mean it does make my skin impregnable to blades and all sharp things but heavy blows do have effect even if it's somewhat lessened. It makes me terribly hungry afterwards though, especially for sweets. After the battle of Olympus I single-handedly consumed two and a half chocolates."

Triton gave no indication but she knew he had heard her. He was back to looking at the map and Percy forced herself to stand and move next to him so she could read over his shoulder. He was indeed looking at a map of the US, though he had circled all the deserts with black marker, with little notes in Greek written next to them.

"What is that?" She motioned to the scrawls, ignoring the way he stiffened as her breath brushed against the back of his neck, though she did not miss his slight shudder. Absently she wondered when was the last time someone had dared to stand so close to him. He had such a forbidding presence sometimes and the scowl permanently stuck on his face certainly did not make him seem anymore approachable. As far as she knew he hadn't had children recently or at least none that had made in to Camp in the last few decades (no, she hadn't snooped, Chiron had mentioned it once while they spoke about the minor gods)

"Research" His short answer drew her out of her musings and she scoffed. Triton shot her a glare and sighed, motioning for her to sit next to him as he started explaining about all the deserts and their significance to the Greeks. It blew her mind how every famous mortal landmark was somehow connected to mythology.

He was in the middle of telling her that a place called Phlegra, where Zeus had defeated the giants during the Gigantomachy, was currently located somewhere in Arizona, when Percy couldn't handle anymore and let out a huge yawn. She would never admit it to him, but she found Triton's voice soothing when he wasn't scoffing or yelling at her.

"I'm sorry" The demigoddess mumbled tiredly when he stopped talking. "The Curse does take a lot of my energy when it's put to test."

She half expected him to sneer at her weakness, but was surprised to see his eyes soften slightly as they took in her exhausted visage.

"It's fine. It doesn't matter anyway."

Trudging back to her previous sleeping spot, she made to gather his jacked and give it back, but he refused her, claiming it was already dirty anyway. Collapsing onto it, she tucked her hands beneath her head, looking at him across the fire, while her eyelids drooped sleepily.

"Thank you." She murmured, letting sleep claim her conscious.

Triton looked up at her whispered words, seeing her already asleep. Her hands were piled up beneath her cheek making up for the lack of pillow probably. It took him by surprise, seeing her so relaxed – and vulnerable. It was as if years melted of her face. Gods, how old was she? Nineteen? Eighteen? She didn't look like it normally. No, she carried herself like a much older person, someone who had lived in the world and had seen the ugliest, bloodiest parts of it.

Sadness stabbed at his heart before he was able to chase it away.

When she was conscious Percy was a warrior, bled and tried, coiled tighter than a spring, ready to strike at the slightest indication of danger. Some of it was instinct, he supposed. He had seen it in other demigods, but in Percy it was something learned through trial and error and loss.

He would never tell her to her face, but he respected her, much like the other gods did, no matter how grudgingly. How could they not respect her, admire her even? This girl had bled and fought for them, and, as he had seen, she was ready to do it again and again, no matter how much it took from her.

Oh, he wasn't so ignorant not to notice (in fact he was way more attuned to her than he liked, but that was question for another time). In the last few days they had been together almost 24/7 and he had only seen her smile, truly smile, once. That was not normal. It was not healthy.

It's not like I care though. He reprimanded himself mentally, shaking his head to clear his mind from thoughts about this sad, infuriating, stubborn, beautiful girl sleeping across him. Yes, he didn't care. Or at least he shouldn't.

AN: I know, I know it's not some of my best work, but do bear with me until I can get back on track with writing. I hope you enjoy this at least a little anyway.
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