The pressure in the throne room did nothing good to the bruises that littering on Percy's body. Ares kicks like speeding truck. As it was, he grit his teeth in pain as he kneels in front of his father.

"Should you not address the master of this house first, boy?"

Well, Percy wants to snarks, excuse him for having lackluster etiquette education. The camp is much closer to military school and whenever he asks certain topic, no one answers. Either because they themselves do not know, or they refuse to answers.

He manages to keep his mouth under control this time.

"Peace, brother," Poseidon finally said. Hearing his voice make Percy remember that dream. The thing in the pit was snarling at him, since he drop there unprompted. Yet

(A strong arm wrapped around his body and smell of saltwater flooded his sense when an old, powerful voice growled out,

"Leave! My! Son! Alone!")

"The boy defers to his father. This is only right."

"You still claim him then?" Zeus asked menacingly. "You claim this child whom you sired against our sacred oath?"

"Percy Jackson is a rightful son of the Sea." Poseidon exclaimed. Half-lidded as if this has nothing to him, yet his eyes betray the lazy disinterest persona. They are dark. Like the deep, darkest part of the sea. Where the strangest, bizarre, dangerous creatures lurked in the darkness. "Nothing you do can rescind that claim. And if my memory serves, out of us three who swore the oath, only one have the right to scold me. Or have you forgotten about Grace?"

For a moment, the image of Poseidon shimmered. For a brief second, it was not a laidback man with eyes befitting the deep sea itself, bedecked in Hawaii shirt and khaki pants and fisherman hat. For a brief second, it was a man with eyes of turbulent river right after storm hit, wearing full regalia of navy dress uniform so dark it's almost green.

Percy blinked. Had he been hallucinating that?

"Let the child talk."

And so, Percy recounts his adventures. Tensing as Zeus summoned the bolt from its sheath to his hand, and flinched when it transforms into giant electric javelin with a loud cracking of thunder.

When Zeus accused Ares, Percy feels the strong urge to scowl. He instead tells them about the dream. Emphasizing that it was not Hades, but the Thing from The Pit.

Of course, he excluded the part where his father saved him.

That was personal.

Both gods look at each other and has a quick discussion in old language Percy barely can understand what they are talking about.

Okay.

Calling it discussion would be overstating. More like arguments and barely restrained yelling.

His father's form flicker once in a while.

"Zeus you can't possibly—"

"Enough!" Zeus end the discussion. He made a quick acknowledgement to Percy—and cut it off when Percy tries to remind him that he is not doing it alone (he is not alone he had helps and he won't take all the glory it's just unfair for the rest). Thunder shook the building and Zeus disappeared. To clean his bolt or something.

Leaving Percy alone with his father.

Poseidon sighed. "I can see why mother can substitute him with a Rock. He is as stubborn as one. If not worse." He grouched.

Percy hesitates but decide to brave himself.

"Sir? That… at the pit… was it you?"

Poseidon's expression darkened.

"I curse the day that thing I have to call Father turn his attention at you." He spoke lowly. "If I have my way, you will never talk to your grandfather. Ever."

Normally Percy hates to be told this and that. It chafed him. Especially when during child he fantasies he had secret family somewhere that will take him and his mother away from Smelly Gabe.

But remembering the first dream. The way the laugh from the pit chilling him to the bone…

Yes. He'll be happier if he knows Kronos just from old tales and hearsay. Not firsthand experience.

(Though, he supposes, not everything is bad. He got confirmation that his father cares enough to shield him from it)

He still has questions, though.

"Uh. Father?"

"Yes."

"You… earlier you are… flickering."

Poseidon closes his eyes.

"I suppose it was imminent." He whispered.

Percy watch as his father stand up from the throne, and shrunk to the size of adult human.

"Walk with me, Percy."

Together, they walked out of the throne room. Down the path towards one of the Temple.

Poseidon's Temple.

"What do you know of Roman, Percy?"

Percy frowned at the sudden question.

"That was what came after you." He tries to remember what Chiron had said. "The Flame of Civilization shift, and you got new names and all that stuff."

Poseidon sighed. "Neptune," he begins, "is more than another name to me. He is his own person. A separate personality."

Percy missed the step and almost tumbling down, if not for his father caught him by hand.

"What?"

"When Rome was built, changes were made." Poseidon's voice spoke tales of grief. "Some gods don't change, some, has major change. The problem with us gods, we cannot just change. It takes centuries and millennia to adapts. Even then, some of the old way persists. With how Roman insist to change some of us, we… split. Acquire second personality, so to speak. It was quite hassle, really, as usually when we shift to Roman, we are having blackouts. We did not know what happen until we take control back. Though lately, things are better between Neptune and I."

Percy didn't know what to say.

Does it mean gods have literal split personality? That explains why they are so moody.

"The flickering form, as you put it, is Neptune trying to make appearance. Zeus' lack of care and insistence of playing ostrich angers my roman half a great deal," Poseidon paused and frowned. It was as if someone was loudly complaining in his ears… or it actually is.

Percy does not envy his father for that.

"Why don't you let him talk, then?"

"There are many reasons. Chief of that is that it will be dangerous." Poseidon told him. "Roman and Greek did not get along. Look at Civil War, Percy. That was the last time Roman and Greek were put in close vicinity."

Percy blanched.

"Even most of us, are at war with our split personality."

"But you don't?" Didn't Poseidon say things are better between him and his split personality?

Poseidon smiles. "Well. Thanks to you."

"Me?"

"And… we get into another problem. You see, Percy. During that Capture The Flag Night," why it doesn't surprise him that his father paid him attention since back then? "I was… bit preoccupied with something. But your heritage had come true with no room left for denial. Thus, Neptune did the claiming on my behalf."

Huh.

"Here's a trick. When a demigod child is claimed, no one truly know if they are Greek or Roman, unless the parent in question personally shows up. And even then, confusion could happen. A little loophole that allows Neptune did it on my behalf. We thought it means nothing but," Poseidon grimaces. "I was wrong. When Neptune claims you, until you move to my Cabin and allows me to formally claim you as myself, you are Roman Demigod."

Percy… does not understand. But he has feeling it was not supposed to be. "What does it mean?"

"To you? You inherit Neptune and my power. You are twice as powerful than you supposed to be. To us, gods? There are good chance our Roman side stirred to consciousness. You already do it twice."

Twice.

Flickering form.

"Ares."

That day in the beach. Before Ares issue challenge. He had been frozen. For a moment Percy saw the god dressed in toga and ancient battle gear. Then Ares' whole demeanor changed.

Poseidon nodded. "The one you fought is not Ares. That was Mars. His Roman counterpart. Triton confirms it for me."

Just his luck.

"Would I see more Roman gods, then?"

"No." Poseidon denies it. "No. You won't and you can't."

His voice is tinged with fear.

"Listen, Percy. bad enough two Roman gods stirred awake when you are around. You can't stir more than it. You can't talk about it to anyone. Ever. You cannot let people know you are Roman Demigod."

"Because Zeus would smite me?"

Poseidon laughs. Bitter and jagged and—wait. Would that be Neptune?

"Forget him." He spoke. "Athena would kill you and everyone you love."

Percy's stomach dropped. "An-Annabeth's mother?"

"Her rage towards Roman is infamous. She had ended family lines just because they are Roman. Even Ares finds her action too much and calls her out on it. If she knows you are Roman, pray I was around and fast enough to intercept her attack. Child of mine and Roman. Combination of things she loathes. She would kill you and made it painful. No, child, this is why I suppress Neptune. Your status as Roman demigod is not allowed to be known to public."

Percy shivered.

"Percy, listen to me. When you think of us gods, think of us as Greek gods. Address us with our Greek name. Do not, I repeat, do not think of us as Roman gods. Avoid using Latin if you could, and if anyone ask why you are fluent of it, find an excuse."

"I… I understand."

"Thank you." Poseidon smiles and pressed a kiss to his temples. "I have take too much of your time. let's escort you down. Your mother is waiting."

His mother…!

"Do give my elder brother an offering, will you? He had taken your mother before she died, otherwise it would be impossible to take her out from underworld. Not without angering Hades, the Judges, and have Thanatos treat Sally as escaping soul that he have to drag back to underworld. Hades deserve nice things once in a while."

Percy nodded.

"Would you—can you…?"

Poseidon smiles.

"Not now." He shook his head. "I have things to smoothen out… and a nephew to beat. But maybe I can pay her a visit later. She already has a package waiting. Well. It's for you, actually, but I suppose you won't mind giving it to her."

"What package?"

Poseidon's eyes twinkles with mischief.

(It was amazing how his emotions change in drop of hat)

"Why, have you ever heard Return to the Sender?"