Maybe He Isn't So Bad

*DF in bed with ten blankets* Uhhhhh, this wasn't supposed to be posted here.

What had started out as a simple 500 word drabble turned into 2.5k -ish words and I was like, fuck it, let's put it here.

The same thing occurred here as part three of Camp Renovations arc… I overthink stuff and rewrite A LOT of scenes.

Oh well, I think you lovely ducks can forgive me this time because this chapter is a PERCY AND TRITON CHAPTER!

I do believe a disclaimer is in order: DearlyFictitious does not own the Percy Jackson series or anything related to it. This was written purely for entertainment and no money was made off this. It belongs to Uncle Rick Riordan!

Also, your reviews always brighten up my day :) I'm so lucky to have you around.

Onto the chapter! This is set after their little team up mission and before they really get along.


Percy followed carefully behind his godly half brother in brooding silence. It'd been a month since they'd come back from being sent off to a kingdom in the North and the 'incident' had happened, but the distance physically and mentally between him and the sea heir still felt just as stagnant as ever.

He stared at the razor sharp sail fins on his brother and how they glinted dangerously in the low light of the realm. Percy now knew that deep down, his brother Triton wasn't as much of a douchebag as he first thought he was, but it felt like he was the only one actually putting effort into trying to get along with him!

He never looked for approval for anything in his life, nobody other than his parents ever gave him reason to put any effort into trying. His mom was a given and his Father was the obvious second; being thrust into a dangerous supernatural world full of creatures and deities that wished him harm, he didn't really have any say in the matter at all. It was only after all his world ending quests were completed that he could see that his Father was shyly looking for his approval too. And it was because of their mutual endearment that Percy even attempted to find common ground with Triton in the first place.

At least he wasn't purposefully snubbing or ignoring him anymore, he thought ruefully, he was all scoffs and side eyes before, but now all he could get from him was a considering look before he quickly turned back to pretending like he didn't exist.

It made Percy pause uncomfortably every time it happened. He was very well aware that he was the bastard prophecy child of Poseidon, that alone would cause some friction on the godly side of his family, but it was like Triton could see something or possibly nothing all at beyond his entire being and just deemed him unworthy. His Father and Lady Amphitrite assured him that he shouldn't take it personally, that it was partly because of the Sea God's caustic nature to treat him and anyone else this way.

Most days he could put up a strong front and act like it didn't affect him…but sometimes it just hurt.

A snide insistent voice in his head whispered that this is what Tyson must've felt when he was claimed at camp alongside (a horrified at the time) Percy. Was he feeling what his cyclops brother did when no matter how much Percy tried to push him away, he'd still cling onto him, hoping that his older brother would acknowledge him; and was Triton in turn feeling like Percy did when he wanted nothing to do with such a creature? Was he perhaps ashamed of him?

Percy frowned at that thought, maybe it was due to him growing up as a single child that he didn't quite first recognize the absolute want in him to have his elusive and admittedly cooler older brother's approval, he'd seen it at camp between cabin siblings, but now with his expanding family he couldn't help but understand the desire to have it; to have someone so similar look at you and say they like you and were glad to have you there.

And deep down, he still didn't know how he wanted to feel about Triton, but whenever he was with him, he knew that they could be so much more than callous half siblings.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when Triton called to him, "You're falling behind."

Percy sped up when he realized that Triton seemed much further ahead than he remembered. The demigod stared at the way the sea god's unique twin tails worked in mesmerizing patterns and somehow didn't collide with each other. Did he get it right on his first try or was he just seemingly born knowing what to do?

When he caught up to him he chanced Triton's good graces and swam right next to his much larger body. The god barely spared him a glance and kept going as if he never even noticed him.

Well, thought Percy, that just wouldn't do.

The demigod cleared his throat, "So, I got a letter from Kym the other day."

"Yes I know." Triton replied while still looking ahead.

Percy mentally facepalmed. Messenger of the Seas…duh.

"…Anyways she says she's started speaking to Briares recently."

"Is she now?" he asked with zero interest.

"Uh, yeah. I guess they weren't talking all that much and she wanted to try again with him." he gauged the merman's reaction, "That's good right?"

"I suppose."

At least he was replying, so Percy tried again with a similar topic, "I also heard we have two other sisters."

Triton's tone betrayed nothing but he gave a better response, "You heard correct. They are Benthysikyme and Rhodos."

"Oh cool." was his not-so-cool reply, "So who's the oldest?"

"I am the eldest, then Benthesikyme, Kymopoleia, and Rhodos." he said and nothing more.

Percy crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. He had omitted a lot of the content's of Kym's letter, most of it was pretty funny and lighthearted, but it did contain some 'choice' words for what she thought of her older brother. Her envelope had also included two more letters from Benthysikyme and Rhodos, and after reading their contents, he couldn't wait to meet them soon.

Benthesikyme, or Beny, as she insisted he called her, seemed like such a calm and gentle lady by the way she wrote to him; she reminded him very much of Lady Amphitrite. While Rhodos felt like she had an endless supply of cheer and ideas, her letter spanned three whole pages of an Atlantean underway rail system she was trying to get Triton to implement, Percy was so enamored he read the whole thing twice!

All of them had said the same thing about Triton, to give him time.

Beny, please be understanding, he means no harm.

Kym, Triton is such a whiny bitch, but he'll come around I guess.

Rhodos, show him what you're made of kiddo, us ocean folk stick together!

He was giving him time! He thought heatedly.

"I can feel your gaze trying and failing to burn a hole through my head Perseus." Percy jumped slightly and looked at Triton who was looking at him from the corner of his eye, "Whatever it is you're trying to do will only be in vain."

Percy's admittedly short fuse that he'd inherited from Poseidon was beginning to fray, he was doing this because he wanted to care! And then this jerkward brother of his had the audacity to think he could metaphorically backhand his efforts in one sentence?

Oh heck no!

So, in a moment of dimwitted impulsivity, Percy reached out to his brother's unguarded side and pinched his ribs hard.

Triton's ultramarine eyes flew wide open and he squealed so loudly and unmanly that it silenced all other chatter amongst the servants in the courtyard.

Both brothers gasped and quickly slapped their hands on their respective mouths and stared at each other in shock.

To his mounting horror, Percy could feel something other than bile begin to rise from his throat and bubble from between his fingers.

•••

Triton stared at the halfblood across from him in disbelief, did he just make him lose composure, and very publicly he might add?

It had been nearly a surface month since the 'incident' in the Northern Kingdoms and he'd been trying his damn hardest to keep his distance from Perseus. It just felt odd to be near him, and he didn't like the implications these newer feelings brought with them. Then he goes and pulls a stunt like this?

What in all of beloved Pontus possessed him to do such a thing? Why did he even bother? He'd heard from multiple sources and knew himself that he was not a nice deity to be around. He knew his so-called faults and shortcomings, but overall, he just couldn't see why Perseus Jackson would even keep trying when Triton didn't give him any reason to. He didn't undermine him anymore (it was very unbecoming of him now that he thought of it), if anything he tried to gently push him away.

Alas, ever the anomaly, Perseus seemed to go out of his way to defy all expectations.

But what made him think he could lay a hand on him?!

Looking at him now, he could see the horror on the demigod's face slowly morph into something that added to Triton's increasing dread, "You-

This apparently broke the mental and physical dam of his foolhardy brother's fingers and he began to laugh.

It was a bright and lovely sound that echoed across the courtyard and had him clutching his stomach. It would've been somewhat wonderful to behold…had it not been at his expense! Perseus tried forming sentences but each failed attempt made him laugh harder and so he settled for pointing at him instead.

For the first time in nearly four millenia, Triton felt the hot rush of ichor settle upon his cheeks.

Though not in anger, but some other emotion he couldn't quite put a name to yet, had him puffing up in indignation. Not even his sisters had the gall to pull something of this nature against him!

This feeling, it made his ichor boil over as he advanced towards his unsuspecting brother with his hands raised and poised like vipers in front of him.

He gave no other indicative of his next actions other than the timeless declaration of, "Why you little brat!"

•••

Delphin sometimes felt like he should be doing more to help young Perseus adjust to the underwater realm, but he knew deep down that it wasn't in his place to be doing so. It was painful to watch his budding efforts be ruthlessly batted away by Prince Triton, but he, and like every other person he consulted, had told Perseus to give his older brother time to warm up to him.

And he had! But today must've been the last straw.

He heard them come in and his heart clenched at the wistful look the demigod was giving his eldest brother. He'd been trying so hard to adjust to Atlantis and everyone welcomed him with open arms… except for the one being whose opinion seemed to matter the most.

Delphin winced when he heard his Prince declare,

"I can feel your gaze trying and failing to burn a hole through my head Perseus." oh goodness, the poor boy flinched, "Whatever it is you're trying to do will only be in vain."

Delphin knew that it was far beyond his station, but when he saw the hurt in his eyes, he was prepared to scold Prince Triton for his behavior. Though just as he was about to, he saw a range of emotions cross the demigod's face before it settled onto something that made him absolutely fear for his life. Perseus boldly swam right up to Prince Triton and pinched his side!

Prince Triton let out the most unrefined sound he'd ever heard escape his lips, Delphin watched as both brothers stared at each other in shock before Perseus broke the silence and began to laugh.

And the most phenomenal thing occurred after.

"Why you little brat!"

Prince Triton swooped down and squeezed his brother's sides!

Percy squeaked in surprise and slipped out from underneath him.

Another silence ensued, but this one was different…more, lighthearted?

Delphin's own eyes nearly bulged from their sockets when he noticed movement by Triton's tails, they were twitching about and kicking up sand in all directions…

The old time war general's jaw dropped in awe, Triton's tails were buzzing! Usually only mer children's tails did that during play, and they grew out of that rather quickly, but here he was, seeing it for himself for the first time coming from Triton of all beings.

Perseus Jackson actually managed to initiate play with Triton! Not even his sister's could ever achieve this marvel!

Some instinct must've taken over because there was no way for Perseus to know what such an action meant, but he slowly started to smile and back up,

"H-hey there, take it easy man."

"Silly Perseus, I am no man, but a God." Triton chuckled lowly, "How does that mortal saying go again? Can't take what you dish out?" He jabbed him again and Percy let out another embarrassing squeak.

"You're faster than me, how is this fair?" He paled when he saw Triton smile with all of his razor sharp teeth on display, "Triton?"

"Head start now."

"What?!"

"TIME'S UP!"

"THAT WAS TOO FAST!"

Triton didn't care and began tickling his brother's sides!

"W-wuh wait! Triton stop!" he tried to flail out of his arms, but the Sea God was relentless, "I give! I give!"

Delphin and the surrounding servants watched as they continued to play together. Triton let him go a few times and would then catch him again and again all the while Perseus loudly voiced his displeasures.

"Nnnngyaaahh T-Triton sto-hahahaha stop!"

"You've brought this upon yourself!"

The Dolphin God scoffed, they looked like they were having the time of their lives.

Their little fun time only ended when Amphitrite cleared her throat from the side of the room.

Both boys separated immediately and tried to straighten themselves out.

"Are you two having fun?" she teased.

Both of them smirked and declared,

"Nope."

"Perish the thought"


Cut!

I hope you guys enjoyed yourselves as much as I did writing this :)

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~DF