It was a bright sunny day in New York City and the entire city was buzzing with life. Despite the slight conglomeration of mist from the storm-like rain from the night before, the roads and streets were filled with people going about their daily lives. On one such street stood a young teen.
His raven black hair fluttered in the gentle morning breeze as he stood outside a cobbled brownstone. Any observer would mistake him for a college student. Between his attire and age, it would have been an accurate description but rather fortunately or unfortunately he wasn't one now. His expression did not falter as he continued scowling, looking between the building and a piece of paper in his hand. With one final sigh, the boy began walking to the door, grumbling under his breath.
After ringing the doorbell, he tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for someone to answer the door. Not just any someone but the one person whom he relied on to get through the last few years. He would never admit it but the two of them were more alike than anyone realised. Of course, their relationship was now entirely platonic but there was always an undercurrent of attraction between them that they decided not to worry about until later. Besides, she held a very important place in the immortal world and the last thing they wanted to do was create more problems. It wasn't long before he was greeted with the familiar sight of the curly mop of fiery red hair and bright green eyes. All the boy heard was a high pitched squeak before he found himself being squeezed in a hug. A smile broke out on his face as he returned the hug with just as much fervour.
Ushering the raven haired boy inside, the redheaded girl lead them to the living room. Taking this time to study his mortal friend, the raven haired boy glanced over her to notice she was still in her sweats, covered in splotches of paint and her curly hair was in a sloppy clip. She hasn't changed one bit., he thought to himself. The two of them had spent many an hour and weekend here since he woke up from his 'accident' and it was truly the most peaceful and liberating time of his life. Most beings in his family either feared him or thought of him as a thorn in their side, but she was the only one who showed him kindness and compassion expecting nothing in return.
In fact, the first time he met her after the tragedy was at the hospital. Apparently she has been visiting him daily and even spent a quite a bit of time sitting by his bedside. He thought she would have been angry with him for not choosing her. After all it was a very common problem in his family. Heck, his cousins and brothers had it much much worse with retribution ranging from war and torture to death. But despite his actions, which he believed had hurt her, she was nothing but happy and excited to see him. After he was discharged, she all but dragged him to her home, a polished brownstone smack dab in the midst of the nexus of the immortal world, and helped him recover.
The boy was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realise he was still walking until he walked right into his redheaded friend, the back of her head bumping into his chest. His face flushed in embarrassment as the redhead let out a giggle and teased him, 'You know, Percy, if you wanna cop a feel, you don't have to pretend. Just go for it, buddy.'
The comment served its purpose and the raven-haired boy flushed, from head to toe, a deep pink that was clearly visible despite his bronze tan. Fighting the raging embarrassment, the boy sputtered, 'What? No…. I came…. ask… help.. quest'
The redhead's giggle turned into full blown laughter as she replied, 'Yeah, Perce. I know.' Tapping at her forehead she continued, 'Still the oracle, remember? But your face just now was priceless. No matter how many times, it still is funny.'
Wiping at her eyes, the redheaded oracle composed herself before speaking again. 'Ok. No more jokes. I promise.' The raven haired boy who was looking at his friend with narrowed eyes sighed a breath of relief internally. No matter how many jokes she made, they both couldn't resist the undertow of attraction between them. They had nearly broken their promise to each other and acted on impulse one stormy night when the two friends got piss drunk at his dorm. However they were interrupted by his roommate, which sobered them up instantly and thankfully before they crossed a line either could never return from.
The raven haired teen knew that despite all her jokes, she was just as afraid of what could have happened then and how deep their 'attraction' ran, almost like instinct. But they were both bound to their duties and fates. A true testament to the fates they were each bound to. After all she was the undying oracle of the Gods and he was just a veteran demigod. Or at least so he thought. But the Oracle was already aware of the fact that he was a fledgling immortal and now, the high priest of the goddess of Maidens.
The raven haired teen was broken out of his reverie by his mischievous friend who was smirking and snapping her fingers in front of his face. Collecting his thoughts, the young immortal said, 'I, uh, I need your help, Rache. A lot of things happened and I guess I am back to playing hero. Funny, huh?..'
He never got to finish his sentence as the sound of a snap filled the room. The young hero was surprised to find his friend hold a broken paintbrush, which she had clearly snapped herself.
'Stop it, Perce. Stop talking like that. It doesn't suit you. I don't know what exactly happened and the details but I know enough to say that you are more than just a hero.'
Setting the broken brush down, she continued smiling, 'Now come on, we have a quest to prepare for. It is going to be like the gold old times.'
As she walked into her room, she asked as an afterthought, 'Do you think I should pack my hairbrush? We might need it.'
The young Perseus was so moved by the trust and emotion in her words that it took him a few seconds before he fully processed what she said and he took off behind her asking, 'What? What do you mean 'we'? Hey stop. Answer me, Rache.' The only reply he received was a jolly laugh from his friend, which rang out across the house.
And thus began a new chapter in the story of our protagonist as well as in that of the Greco-Roman pantheon as a whole. It wouldn't be long before 'it' happened and despite the raging storms of fate, the world seemed unaware and unprepared, both mortal and immortal, except for sly immortal who merely watched over time.