A/N: I have honestly shocked myself. This chapter contains detailed, slightly mature sexual themes. Between Percy and Thalia; don't worry, nothing kinky like Grover and Tantalus. That thought is my most disturbing, by far.
Moving on, the series is going to grow more mature as it progresses, but there will probably be no sex in this story in particular. There is a specific reason for Percy and Thalia jumping the gun and engaging in nearly sexual activity, and it will be referenced further on. Or, you can choose to blame it on teenage demigodly hormones. Your choice, really.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or the original story, you all know that.
Private Displays of Affection
The three demigods leaned against a massive, shadowed marble column, watching as the different cabins headed into the dining pavilion. The young Cyclops stood close to the son of Poseidon, still gazing in wonder at the camp. Annabeth spotted her cabin mates and wished her friends goodbye before leading her siblings to their table.
Clarisse and the rest of the Ares cabin marched past the three remaining figures. Seeing a piece of paper on the larger girl's back, Thalia reached forward and swiftly pulled it off. The daughter of Ares stopped in place and glared, her arm looking extremely uncomfortable in its cast. Her scarred face rippled when her expression morphed into one of anger.
Without bothering to say anything, she stormed her way through the pavilion.
"What do you imagine that look was for?" the daughter of Zeus asked.
Percy shrugged, looking slightly distressed. "I wouldn't know."
Charles Beckendorf—who Thalia learned preferred his last name over 'Charlie'—led the Hephaestus cabin. Afterwards, some of the other cabins began piling in. Apollo, Demeter, Aphrodite. Naiads surfaced and Dryads peeled away from their trees.
Eventually, the daughter of Zeus spotted a friendly face. Connor Stoll, alongside his brother Travis, walked the Hermes cabin into the dining pavilion.
The two of them always got mad whenever Thalia referred to them as twins, but they might as well have been. The Stoll brothers were relatively tall and slim, walking around with the bodies of track stars. Mahogany spirals sprung from the top of their heads, and they donned perpetually mischievous smiles and pointy ears like the rest of their siblings. Luke had the same sarcastic smile, Thalia recalled almost wistfully.
Percy cleared his throat, gesturing to Thalia. "Why don't you go ahead first?"
The daughter of Zeus shrugged. "Okay."
Thalia jogged over to her table and took a seat, and smiled at the wood nymph that instantly brought her a plate of steamed asparagus and steak. She almost dug right in before she heard someone hiss behind her. She turned to see Annabeth eyeing her harshly—a clear sign that a lecture was looming in the near future.
"Your offering," the daughter of Athena hinted quietly, raising a blonde brow.
Thalia knew she looked stupid. "Oh."
Rushing up to the brazier, she scraped a delicious portion of her steak into the flames along with the freshest asparagus.
"Zeus," she murmured, "accept my offering."
And try and keep that thing you call a wife away from me, for the love of Rhea.
Thunder rumbled, but the refreshing scent of lavender and pomegranate filled the air nonetheless. Sighing, Thalia made her way back to her bench and took a seat. She took the first bite of her steak and summoned a goblet of grape juice before she managed to overhear a conversation taking place.
Percy was talking to Dionysus and…who looked to be the new activities director. His graying hair was choppy, and his eyes lifeless. He wore the standard prison jumpsuit, although it was extremely baggy on his form. He was slender—excessively so—and his face was gaunt.
Thalia watched on as the director reached for a goblet, only to have it scoot violently away from his hand. A full plate of mouth-watering barbeque shot away from him, flying into the bronze brazier. The daughter of Zeus slowed her chewing, coming to the conclusion that her earlier assessment had been correct.
Their new activities director was Tantalus, a haunted spirit from the Fields of Punishment.
Why on Gaia's green earth would Dionysus think it a good idea to invite a criminal to instruct them? The idea of it was absurd, and Thalia failed to see any sense in it at all. She didn't recall the myth of Tantalus, but she knew he sinned unforgivably. Whatever he did, his punishment most likely suited him.
Percy trudged to take his plate to the flames, and glumly made his way back to Poseidon's table. Thalia's brow furrowed in concern as she studied him. He looked worn, confused, and above all irritated. She almost made a move to join him on his lonely bench, figuring there was no sense in being lonely, but then she remembered that Chiron wasn't there. The wise centaur was the only instructor that would have allowed her to get away with doing something so drastic.
A satyr blew the conch horn at command, and Tantalus slowly stood from his seat.
"Yes, well," he began, his cold and unfeeling eyes scanning the hesitant faces of the demigods before him. "Yet another fine meal, I am told. Here on my first day in authority, I must say that it is a rather pleasant punishment—compared to the horror I was previously subjected to. I hope to…instruct you children over the course of Spring Break."
Dionysus applauded, resulting in the some of the satyrs following his polite example. It was then that Thalia's eyes drifted over to Tyson, who stood shyly. For a brief moment, she almost pitied the Cyclops.
Tantalus flashed a killer grin. "As my first move as director, I will have the chariot races reinstituted."
The campers began to chatter in disbelief, their voices filling the pavilion. The daughter of Zeus paled. She wasn't liked by horses, the creatures created by her father's rival Poseidon. Her competitive attitude won out eventually, and her eyes narrowed in determination. Horses didn't like many of the gods' offspring. If the other demigods could overcome it, so could she.
"Yes, yes. I am fully aware of the cancelation of such activities many years ago, due to some…technical difficulties."
"Three deaths and twenty-nine mutilations, not to mention the horses," a son of Apollo called out.
"But, I know you all will welcome the old tradition!" the director exclaimed. "Golden laurels shall go to the winners, and they will have no chores for the entire month in which they are victorious! Teams may register in the morning, and the race will take place in three days. You must prepare your own chariots and horses, and Dionysus and I will gladly excuse you from your daily activities in order to do so."
Once again, conversation erupted in the pavilion. Every camper was excited, and for good reason. No chores for a month? That sounded like paradise for a demigod.
Clarisse stood. "But, sir! What about patrol duty? If we drop all of our responsibilities, what will we do to ensure the safety of the camp?"
"Ah, the hero of the day. Brave Clarisse," Tantalus said, smiling. "You single-handedly bested the automatons!"
The daughter of Ares blushed, and her eyes flickered to both Thalia and Percy. "Um, sir, I didn't—"
"And modest, too! Listen, dear. This is a summer camp. We are here to enjoy ourselves, yes?"
Flattery. Thalia's cheeks flared red in irritation. If there was one thing that really got under her skin, it was manipulation through compliment. She could tell that Clarisse was letting it get to her, despite her tough nature.
"But Thalia's tree—"
Several eyes wandered over to the daughter of Zeus and she averted her gaze to the top of her table.
Tantalus clapped his hands together. "Now, we have an issue to discuss. For some reason, Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson, and Thalia Grace have chosen to bring this here." He waved a hand distastefully towards Tyson.
Uneasy mutterings and insults fluttered in between the tables. Most of the eyes turned off of Thalia to stare at the son of Poseidon. Percy's ears reddened and he looked about ready to kill everyone in the pavilion. Again, she got the urge to rush to him but quickly squashed the urge. What was wrong with her lately?
Just want to help out a friend, she guessed to herself. That must have been it.
"Of course, most Cyclopes are bloodthirsty creatures who prey on half-bloods and have the mental capacity of three-year-olds. Under normal circumstances, I would release this foul monster and the woods and have you slaughter him for sport. But, perhaps this Cyclops is not as cruel as its brethren. Until it proves its disastrous intentions, we need a place to keep it. I was thinking the stables, but we wouldn't wish to make the horses uneasy. Perhaps the Hermes cabin?"
Connor and Travis turned their attention away from Tantalus, and their other cabin mates did the same. Tantalus was being a moron. Why would the Hermes cabin—the most crowded of them all—have enough room to store a Cyclops?
"Oh, come now," the director urged. "It must be capable of carrying out chores. Any suggestions on where to keep it?"
Gasp rung through the air, and Thalia instinctively glanced back at Tyson. A bright green holographic sign shined above the Cyclops' head, and the daughter of Zeus dropped her fork onto her plate. She knew that such monsters were typically the offspring of Poseidon, but the god had actually found the nerve to claim Tyson.
Tantalus erupted into laughter. "By the gods! I guess the monster's residence is decided now. I can see the family resemblance!"
Every camper—with the exception of Annabeth, Thalia, Connor, Travis, and a few others—burst into laughter at the snide comment. Tyson obviously didn't take offense to the insult, as he was too fixated with the glowing trident above him.
Percy threw his plate from the table in a fit of anger and abruptly stood from his table. Tantalus snickered at his nerve, but the son of Poseidon glared and stormed off in the direction of his cabin.
Thalia considered her options for a moment before she stood. When she made to leave, the laughter halted. The campers stared at her, almost looking ashamed. The daughter of Zeus clenched her fists in anger and fixed Tantalus with a menacing sneer before she ran after her friend.
When she got to Percy's cabin, she wasn't surprised to see that it was bolted from the inside. She knocked, and did so again after receiving no reply. She attempted to turn the doorknob, if only to get his attention.
"Go away," his voice rang from the inside.
Thalia sighed. "Jackson! It's me. Just let me in."
"Why?" he snapped, throwing open the door and making her stumble back in surprise. "What? You come here to make fun of me, too? To make fun of Tyson?"
The daughter of Zeus glared. "Like I would."
"Like hell you wouldn't."
"Look, believe it or not, I'm not here to judge you. I wouldn't dare make fun of you for something that upset you so much. I wasn't laughing back there, was I?"
"No," he answered reluctantly.
"Then, what makes you think I'll laugh now?"
Percy opened to door and walked back towards his bed. He plopped down on it as Thalia entered and shut the door behind her. She sat down next to him, placing a comforting hand on his knee. He scooted closer to her until their thighs were touching, and the daughter of Zeus fought back a blush.
"Tantalus was mean."
"Yeah," he said sharply, shooting her a sarcastic look.
Thalia resisted the desire to slap him, beginning to soothingly rub circles on the thigh of his gym shorts. He tensed, but she shrugged the motion off. He was most likely cautious.
"You don't look like a Cyclops," she said, meeting his eyes with a renewed sense of determination. She frankly didn't like seeing any of her friends hurt or insulted. "He's the moron that can't stop a brisket from running off."
Percy's nose flared. "Everyone is going to start treating me like some kind of freak. The demigod with the monster for a brother. Last year, they treated me like a hero. Now, they're going to look at me like I'm some kind of outcast."
"And who says you have to let that get to you?" Thalia inquired, arching a dark brow. "Percy, if they will sit there and judge you like that, they aren't deserving of your attention. Why bother with people that don't even make an effort to be friendly with you?"
"You sound like you speak from experience," the son of Poseidon noted, his eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah, right. Like anyone would ever bully you. They wouldn't dare."
"I've been bullied plenty," she assured, attempting to adopt an indifferent tone towards the subject. "I think everyone has."
He snorted in disbelief. "You think everyone has been bullied? Nancy Bobofit, Matt Sloan, Clarisse—all of them. You think they've ever gone anywhere and found themselves ridiculed?"
Thalia removed her hand from his thigh, starting to wring her fingers over her lap. "I'm going to give you some advice."
"Delightful."
Thalia brushed off his snide comment, turning her gaze to the front wall of his cabin. "Something my mother told me when I was younger."
Percy sobered up, instantly placing a reassuring hand on her lower back. Thalia was surprised by his change of attitude. Then again, he did know how she was about discussing her mother. It was very rare that she ever did it, and when she did it was serious.
"Not everyone is going to like you, Percy," Thalia said. "There's going to be occasions in which you meet someone, and they aren't going to like a single thing about you. For absolutely no reason at all, they'll hate you. Anything and everything you try to do will only make them dislike you even more."
The son of Poseidon dropped his gaze to the floor, his mouth twisting sadly. "And? What do you do then?"
"You don't do anything," she replied, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "That person is always going to have something against you, whether it is intentional or not. You can't change the opinions of some. You can't make everyone happy."
"People change opinions all the time."
Thalia shook her head, smirking in amusement. "Not solely because of another person's argument. We believe what we see with our own eyes, which is admittedly not very much. Bullies like Matt and Nancy don't see how much they hurt others with their hatred because they don't want to see."
"How does this tie into making everyone happy?"
Thalia shrugged. "You can't make everyone like you. No amount of begging will win me Hera's favor, just like you wouldn't be able to persuade Amphridite to accept you."
Percy nodded in understanding. "I can't make everyone happy with me. The only person I can bring happiness to is me?"
Thalia smiled. "To the people you love."
The son of Poseidon returned the warm smile. "You know, I'm pretty sure this is, by far, the gayest conversation we've ever had."
The punk wrinkled her nose. "I think you're right."
"I like talking to you, though."
Thalia turned to look at him, a shockingly full smile splitting her lips. "Yeah?" He nodded. "I like talking to you, too."
Percy cleared his throat, an obvious sign that he was about to change the subject. He fiddled with his thumbs, observing her shyly from the corner of his eye. She almost laughed. What had him looking so shy?
"You wanna maybe…team up for the chariot races?"
Thalia considered it, shrugging. "I don't see why not. Maybe you can keep the horses from curb stomping me."
"Most of them actually like you."
"No way."
Percy laughed. "You're right. Most of them hate you. But, Pumpkin likes you."
Thalia smiled, shaking her head. "That's great. I've always wanted Pumpkin's approval."
"It's a wonderful approval to have," he agreed, nodding. "I just realized something."
"What would that be?" she asked, looking to him in confusion. She was half-expecting him to say something stupid.
Percy blushed. "We're alone."
"Last I checked, yeah," she said, amused. He had just now realized that?
"In my cabin. Just us."
Thalia was about to question him again, but then the information slowly sank in. The two of them didn't share the same parent and they were alone in a cabin together. They were breaking one of the camp's most stressed rules in doing so.
The last demigods to break that rule had been Francis Hagen, a son of Apollo, and some daughter of Aphrodite. Thalia didn't recall her name because the half-blood no longer attended camp. But, she hadn't forgotten the punishment. Both Francis and his girlfriend were given the brunt of the entire camp's chores, and had been forced to clean all of the public buildings. The two of them had cooked dinner on several occasions.
Now that she thought about it, perhaps the chores had been the reason for the daughter of Aphrodite leaving. Thalia couldn't say she blamed the girl. She hated chores, too.
The daughter of Zeus knew it was risky being with Percy like this. They might have gotten away with it if she didn't have some level of feelings for him. Unfortunately, her mind wandered off. It had been a while since she and Percy had last kissed. The most recent time had been while he was in the infirmary. A large part of her wished to do so again, just to feel the warmth of his lips against her own.
The longer she remained silent and just stared at him, the more difficult her urges became. Her inherited libido was going to be the death of her. Her cheeks flushed. She did not just think that! Thalia tried to focus on other things, she did. Her gaze drifted off to the Minotaur horn hanging near Percy's bed.
Percy's bed. She was on Percy's bed…with him.
Why was she such a teenager?
Thalia quickly stood, attempting to take her leave before she was unable to control herself. Percy, unfortunately, rose at the very same time and they bumped into one another. Thalia's footing slipped, and she tumbled into the son of Poseidon. They landed in a groaning mess on the floor.
Thalia's head landed on his upper chest, and she immediately glanced up to his handsome face. He happened to look down at her at the same time, and his beautiful sea green eyes seemed to gleam with something unrecognizable. Whatever he was feeling, it sent a strange shock through her. His eyes were nearly enough to make her entire body weak. She was quick to place her hands on either side of his head in order to lift herself off of him.
Percy's hands instantly latched onto her wrists and he used his grip on her to tug her body back onto his. This time, her face was hovering mere inches above his. She felt the heat of his chest against her own, and her legs were nestled in between his.
"Kelp Head, what are you—?"
His lips closed over hers, and she was quick to respond. Taking his bottom lip between her teeth, she trapped it in her mouth and ran her tongue along the length of it. He groaned almost inaudibly, pulling her further into them as he slid his tongue into her mouth.
It was unlike any of the few kisses they had ever shared, and Thalia knew she should have put a stop to it the moment it began. They weren't even dating, and yet she was kissing him like that? She didn't want things to progress between them that way. She wasn't even positive she truly wanted any relationship at all.
Her desire screeched in protest, but she managed to pull away from the kiss, rolling off of him. She leaned up to sit against the edge of his bed, breathing heavily. Percy, looking extremely apologetic, rose from his spot on the floor and joined her against his bunk.
"Thalia, I am so very sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen."
"And what exactly did you mean to happen?" a voice called from the doorway.
Thalia and Percy both glanced up in alarm, instantly recognizing the form of their new activities director. The demigods rushed to their feet, spitting out their respective excuses like heavy machine guns.
"Sir, I was just helping him clean beneath his bed—"
"Dropped my contact, and I just—"
"—then, a hoard of wild dust bunnies charged at us!"
"—and, she has better eyes than I do. You know, hawk eyes!"
"Dust bunnies are allergic to kissing, so we only did what we had to in order to keep them at bay!"
"The eyes of a hawk. Walk like a demigod, search like a hawk!"
"Children!" Tantalus shouted, which was the first time he had raised his voice around them. It scared the daughter of Zeus, even though she wouldn't admit it to him. His voice was almost desperate, but in the creepiest and most frightening sense. "Enough! Immediate action will be taken regarding your punishments. Now, to the Big House, both of you! Dionysus and I shall discuss this matter together."
The demigods turned their gazes to the ground and stormed out of the cabin. Tantalus was following a good way behind them, so they were able to whisper without him overhearing.
Thalia scowled. "Eyes like a hawk? Is that your version of a pun?"
Percy subtly looked to her, raising his eyebrows in mockery. "Dust bunnies?"
The daughter of Zeus grumbled, "Oh, shut up."
They trudged onto the porch of the Big House, neither looking forward to discussing the issue at hand. How was Thalia supposed to explain to her immortal brother why she had been making out with the son of Poseidon? She was fully aware of how explicit their actions were, but that didn't mean she lacked the nerve to be ashamed.
Tantalus stomped up the steps, and the demigods twitched anxiously as he swung the door open. It was time for them to face the music.
Hera swiped her hand through the foggy image of her husband's offspring, sneering. If the daughter of Zeus continued to participate in extracurricular activities with Percy Jackson, the queen's plan wasn't going to go very fluently at all. Pacing the length of her impressive, shimmering multi-color garden, she contemplated her next course of action.
Originally, she had planned to remain a passive observer as the demigod's life progressed, but her predictions were steering from their positions. In order for things to go as she needed them to, Hera would be required to alter the obstacles—Percy Jackson being the primary one.
The Queen of the Gods felt a presence behind her and plastered on a false smile, before she turned around to face her husband. Zeus was studying her unsurely. He looked to be suspicious, if his defensive stance was anything to go by. Hera had realized long ago that he was overprotective of Thalia, and she wasn't going to willingly share any information with him.
"Darling," he greeted, his voice regal and cautious. "May I inquire as to what you are doing in your garden at so late of an hour?"
Hera somehow managed to keep the smile on her face, although irritation simmered underneath. "It is my garden, yes? You have claimed so yourself, my Lord."
Zeus appeared impatient, though he nodded his head accordingly. "True, true. Dear wife, I should rephrase my previous question. What are your actions with your looking glass?"
Her looking glass—the almost invisible frame of light fog that trailed from the sparkling pond—was her favorite device, as she used it to view into the affairs of mortals and demigods. She spotted her reflection on the surface of the water, her husband standing strong beside her. He was with her. The way she longed so desperately for. The way it should have always been.
"Your daughter and her friend are receiving punishment," she remarked coyly, failing to hide her smirk. "It appears she models your behavior more than I imagined."
Zeus paled slightly, which was something she had never desired to see. Her husband, courtesy of his paranoid attitude, was a worrywart. Anything mentioned about his half-blood daughter sent his mind spiraling. He had never shown such concern toward his loyal wife, or any of his other children.
What was so different about Thalia?
That was the very question that drove Hera up the walls of Olympus. It wasn't in a god's nature—one who had not been human at a time, anyway—to involve his or herself in the affairs of mortals. As harsh as the fact was, gods weren't meant to care for their demigod children. Why did Zeus treat this Thalia like she was his…well, daughter? It didn't make sense in the realm of the Olympians.
Hera knew he hadn't loved the girl's mother. He had lusted after her (and that was still enough to anger his devoted wife), but he hadn't held any significant love for her. He had treated her similarly to how he had treated the lovers of his past. He surrendered gifts, children, and sex, but never would he dare offer an actual immortal life. Hera knew she could never be replaced as his wife, and even that failed to comfort her.
Thalia…oh, yes, she had been receiving a great amount of Zeus' attention. Too much of it, in fact. It didn't take a fool to notice that the queen wasn't in favor of it at all. It wasn't right for an immortal—especially one as powerful and mighty as her husband—to be so involved in a mortal's life. It was all almost too much for Hera to bear. And, the worst part of it all? Zeus forbade her—forbade her!—from taking any harmful action.
Zeus' shocked expression soon flipped to one of anger. "What has happened?"
"I am aware that you see her more often than you should," she stated casually. "Perhaps you should question her yourself."
He tightened his jaw. "Don't speak of such nonsense."
"Oh, good! You're beginning to realize your fault?"
Zeus raised a brow. "Which fault would that be? Assuming I have made any, that is."
Hera scoffed, no longer attempting to act nonchalant. "Which fault? Heavens. You think it fair to spend an unreasonable amount of time with your mortal daughter? The other gods abide by the ancient laws."
"Half-mortal," he corrected, offended. Of course he would get offended from such a claim. "And…and, she has no one else."
"As it rightfully should be!" she argued. "Demigods are too reliant. No matter what we gods gift them with, they continuously pry for more. Mortals are nothing but selfish, darling. You give this girl attention, and you will forever bend to her whim."
"That is not true of Thalia."
"She has mortal blood within her. She is selfish."
"Thalia also contains the essence of godly ichor. Does that make her indifferent and independent at the same time? You contradict yourself."
"No mortal shall have the best of both worlds, Zeus."
Zeus scowled, meeting her cold gaze bravely. His nostrils flared as thunder shook the palace. "She shall have nothing but the very best, Hera. Be sure of that."