December
Percy started to get out of his chair as the bell rang.
"Percy can you stay behind for a moment?"
Percy raised a brow, confused to why he's being asked to stay. Nevertheless, he stayed seated as everyone got up and left when the bell rung. He waved away a hesitant Grover, silently telling him to go on without him.
Once all the students left Mr. Hermes rolled his chair next to Percy's desk. He had a book in his hand.
"I hope you're a reader Percy. I'll highly recommend adding this to your list, it might come in handy in the future." Mr. Hermes put the book on Percy's desk.
"How To Successfully Get Away From A Prison Sentence " Percy looked up at his teacher in alarm.
"Is this why you asked me to stay behind? With all due respect sir, I'm not interested in committing any crimes. I already have enough on my plate as it is."
"Well this might help with the load on your plate. From what I heard and researched, your grandfather is a mastermind behind crime, and has manipulated many in law enforcement. This very well may become your future, hence why I'm giving it to you."
"You know about my grandfather?"
"I have been friends, practically brothers with your cousin Apollo. We knew each other since as long as I can remember, so yeah I knew about your grandfather for years. He mentioned to me last month he made an appearance. I just haven't connected the dots that you're the same Percy as his cousin Percy until Mr. Brunner pointed it out. And yes he also knows the history about of your grandfather as well. He actually plans to speak with you after his class too, just to give you a heads up."
"Just humor me with this request. It details many loopholes in law. Before you ask I've already tried to give this to Artemis who is studying law, but she refused to take anything I give. Frankly, she hates my guts." Mr. Hermes pleaded.
Percy snorted and took the book from his teacher's hand, "She hates every male, don't take it personally. If that's all you wanted to talk to me about, can you write me a pass? My next teacher will not let me by unless I have a pass."
"Will do. Which teacher do you need to make it out to?" He rolled back to his desk to get the pass form and pen.
"Miss Dodds."
"That old hag still works here? Man, I feel sorry for you. I thought she retired?"
"Unfortunately she hasn't. I have no doubt I'm going to feel her wrath regardless of the pass, especially since that project is due tomorrow."
He hummed in agreement as he scribbled on the pass. He tore the pass out of its pad and gave it to Percy.
"Have a good day Percy. I'll see you tomorrow ."
"You too, see you tomorrow." Percy exited out of the classroom with the book and pass in hand. That was rather strange. He just shrugged the odd encounter off, and made his way to the most despicable class. Percy held his breath in before turning the knob.
"Jackson! You're late again honey." Miss. Dodds growled.
Percy put on a cheeky smile and handed her his pass which she snatched from his grip. She narrowed her eyes at him after reading the pass. Knowing she was defeated, she angrily pointed to his desk, which Percy graciously followed her silent command.
Annabeth already moved her desk next to Percy's as she has done for the past week. Miss Dodds only let them work on their project in class this week.
Annabeth glared at him "Jackson, the project is due tomorrow! Why are you late?"
"Mr. Hermes asked me to stay behind." Percy whispered trying not to raise attention from the other students.
"Mr. Hermes? What did he want from you? Did he steal your wallet?"
Percy patted down his pockets in alarm remembering the demonstration he did on Malcom on pickpocketing. He sighed in relief realizing it's still there, "He just wanted to talk about some legal stuff, I guess he knows my cousin Apollo."
"You didn't know that? When I hang out with Thalia, and Apollo is there, him and Hermes are practically glued to the hip. I think there's only a handful of times I didn't see Hermes with Apollo."
Percy frowned upset that she knew more about his own family than he did, "No I did not."
"That's weird. I thought you would have known. How many problems did you complete last night?"
"I did twenty five, I only have another twenty to complete and then I'm finished. I already completed that stupid essay why algebra matters."
"I guess that's better than nothing, I was hopeful that you finished the whole project. We would've had more time to double check everything".
"We? I think you mean only you. You're the one who persists on checking everything, not me. It's fine as it is."
Annabeth buried her face into her hands, slightly pulling a few curly strands out from her ponytail. "Seaweed brain, how do you even pass your classes with that logic? It is vital that every problem is doubled check to ensure at least a decent grade for this project."
Percy shrugged, "Technically we can score a one on the project and still pass the semester."
Annabeth threw her hands in the air, "A one is a D. I will not accept a D, nor will I ever. If a miracle happens we can pass with an A. Though I have strong doubts by working with you, I do believe we can manage a B."
Percy snorted but did not say anything, not willing to destroy what progress they've made at friendship. Fighting his internal instincts to take control of the project, he let her steer it, for the sake of keeping her wrath down.
9th period
Percy clenched his pencil, he was seated behind the one and only Nancy Bobofit. She kept quietly giggling at the pictures in the Greek Mythology Textbook.
He dutifully kept his mouth shut at her stupid comments about why she even needed to know about story of Hercules in her adult life. He rolled his eyes and biting his tongue to hold in the retort about it being an elective. He didn't know why she chose to to take this class if she was going to get this prissy about it?
The bell rang and Mr. Brunner called out for him, Thalia, and Jason to stay behind. Remembering Mr. Hermes warning, Percy knew what this is about, while Thalia and Jason wore confused faces.
He motioned for the group to bring chairs to his desk. Luckily Percy didn't need any crutches anymore and adapted to his prosthetic, so maneuvering a chair is so much easier than what it used do to be.
The three of them moved their chairs to their teacher's desk and sat down.
"You three are not in trouble, I just wanted to discuss what I've heard concerning your family. As you know I've been really close friends with your fathers and know of the strange and dangerous family relations they have. I was talking to Hermes earlier and he mentioned there was an encounter with your grandfather last month. I just wanted to make sure you're okay and safe."
"Thanks Mr. Brunner for the concern, but we're good. Fortunately there was only one encounter, there hasn't been any other signs of him since last month." Thalia answered.
"That's why I'm concerned. Your grandfather is never the one to do things quickly, he likes to drag out each blow before tackling. Kronos was never lenient, not even when he was younger. Something very devious lurks within him, a malicious aurora hangs off of him, making him ever so dangerous. I've been around for some decades, the things I've seen and heard coming from him is inhuman."
The three cousins all exchange a glance before they look back towards Mr. Brunner.
Jason swallowed, "Is he that bad? I mean I know what he did about Bianca, but can someone be that evil?"
"Never question what someone is capable of, Jason. That's the downfall of society today, they don't expect people to commit such heinous acts, and are blindsided when those acts come to light. They won't do anything about it of course, still willing to be ignorant and continue as nothing as ever happened."
"As for Kronos, he is and will continue to be evil. No law enforcement will stop it, they will be ignorant of his crimes and will not care about his involvement. Which is why I stress to you not to take it lightly, he is capable of anything. I know this is a difficult situation for your family to discuss with you, so I'm taking it upon myself to talk to you about this. Percy did Hermes talk to about this yet?"
Percy nodded, "He did. He gave me a book earlier today."
Mr. Brunner nodded, his eyes combing the three of them, "That is all I wanted to discuss. I do hope you three think about what I've said, and always come to me with questions. I love your fathers, but I don't have faith in them to give the exact truth or sincerity about your grandfather. You're dismissed, I'll see you tomorrow."
The cousins all stood and said their farewells before shuffling out of the classroom. They all looked at each other. Not knowing what to say, Percy blurted, "I didn't know that Mr. Brunner knew so much."
Thalia shook her head, "Neither did I. From what I've heard they were very close friends in school. What he said is quite disturbing."
Jason sighed, "Well, he's right. Dad doesn't really talk about grandfather, and I doubt your does either Percy?"
Percy shook his head no, before Jason continued.
"Then maybe we need to listen to him. He's been around when all of this stuff has been going on. He has no reason to hold it back from us."
They all nodded their heads in agreement before they took their separate ways. Percy headed towards the parking lot where Triton's car is located.
Triton wasn't in the car and the car is locked. Percy let out a groan, it is cold. He wasn't used to the below freezing temperatures as California didn't get this cold in the winter.
Triton has been late for the past couple weeks and Percy has been getting more agitated with him. Percy haven't spoke with him either in the past couple weeks, not since the incident last month with Luke.
There hasn't been an other situation with Luke. No matter how much he tried to ask Triton, he pretends like it didn't even happened. Percy's starting to believe that it might of been a hallucination, since it was way out of Triton's character.
Luckily Percy didn't have to wait too long, as Triton walked over with keys jingling in his hands. Percy chose not to ask why he was late, since he knew it was going to be answered with silence, like all the other times he asked.
He just embraced the warmth of the car heater as Triton drove to the aquarium.
The Next Day (Lunch)
Percy rolled his eyes, "Annabeth I swear it's fine. Calm down!"
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down Jackson! It's perfectly reasonable why I'm a bit frantic. The project is due today! I've got to make sure everything is correct."
Percy rolled his eyes once more annoyed, choosing to stay quiet and let her do her thing. He glanced over at Grover who was engrossed with his apple.
"What's up G-man? Why are you looking so intensely at the apple for?"
Grover sighed dejectedly, "I had a field trip earlier this morning and Nancy threw her peanut-butter ketchup sandwich at me, and I might have accidentally swallowed a whole apple."
Piper looked disgusted at the mention of peanut-butter ketchup sandwich. Percy's eyes harden at the mention of Nancy, but he couldn't help but let out a laugh.
Grover looked like he a kicked puppy from Percy's outburst. Percy waited a few seconds before explaining. "Grover trust me, that is not that bad. I've done worse on school trips".
Grover looked up with an eyebrow raised, "Really?"
"Yes. I think it was in fourth grade we went to the San Diego Zoo, and the class went into the aquarium exhibit. There was this cat walk going over one of the tanks and I accidentally bumped into a lever, and I guess you can say the class took an unexpected swim that day."
Jason and Thalia bursted out laughing, Piper wore a smile, Annabeth looked unimpressed, and Grover looked a bit better than what he was.
"Then there was fifth grade, we went to a Wild West excursion, and you can say that I accidentally pointed the cannon at the school bus."
Everyone but Annabeth laughed at that one, though Annabeth let a smile lightened her features.
"Geez you weren't lying! Thanks man! That did make me feel better." Grover said wiping his tears from laughter off his face.
"Anytime Grover, just let me know if Bobofit gives you any more trouble. I have the pleasure to sit behind her in ninth period."
Grover groaned, "I forgot she was even in ninth period."
Percy patted his back in sympathy. While Piper cleared her throat, "Christmas is in a couple of days do you guys have anything planned?"
Percy frowned. This is the first year he's spending Christmas with his father. He doesn't really know what they do? They didn't do anything for Thanksgiving, besides Amphitrite cooking a turkey.
Percy shrugged, "I have no idea?" He turned to Thalia and Jason, "Will there be a get-together?"
Thalia shook her head no, "Hestia, bless her heart, tried several years ago. It didn't turn out good. I think a few members ended up leaving with black eyes."
"What about you Annabeth?" Piper asked, not liking any mention of family physical violence.
She shrugged, "It's the same every year. Me and my brothers open gifts in the morning, and I hang out with my father and stepmother before I go over to my mother's."
"You have brothers?" Percy raised a brow, never hearing that she had any before.
"Technically they're my half-brothers, but I knew them since they were born. They're twins Bobby and Mathew." She clarified.
Annabeth swiped at a math problem with her eraser, "It is nice that we get a two week break. I'm tired of studying for these finals."
Thalia put a hand on Annabeth's forehead, "Did you just say you're looking forward to a break? Are you sick?"
Annabeth swatted her hand away, "Just because I care about my grades doesn't mean I cannot take a break. We all need a break sometimes, My fire is burned out by this math project."
"Sure Annie. Just tell us if you need us to take you the nurse's office. I'm pretty sure that you're sick. I never heard you talk about breaks before." Thalia put her hand back on Annabeth's forehead.
"Don't call me Annie!"
8th Period
Percy smiled at Miss Dodds while he handed in the project.
Miss Dodds had the expression of a mad man who didn't get his way. Her eyes were twitching and her hands trembled as she stare in disbelief that he finished the project on time.
Percy turned his back to her, feeling her eyes burn holes into the back of his head as he walked towards his seat.
The project was their final. Now they get to sit back and watch the movie this period. It was a much needed break, since all the other classes had their finals going on.
Percy looked towards Annabeth's seat and she looked relieved. He almost let out a laugh at her expression. She was leaning back in her chair as if the weight is lifted from her shoulders. She had a smile of pure contentment written on her face.
Percy decided to let her have her moment and leaned back to watch The Polar Express.
He could feel weight being lifted from his shoulders as well. It was as if the weight of the sky was on his shoulders for the past four months. The sudden departure of the weight made him feel free.
Without knowing, Percy's smile mirrored Annabeth's.
Triton opened his locker ready to leave the school and go to the aquarium.
"Olympion."
Triton's shoulders tensed up, he's been more anxious around Luke as of late as he kept laying out hints that would lean towards his grandfather's reappearance.
For the past couple of weeks Luke has been lurking around school after hours, making Triton late for his job at the aquarium.
"Castellan."
Luke had his hands in his pocket with his signature smirk on his face. Luke watched as Triton grabbed his keys from his locker.
"It's been a quiet few weeks hasn't it?"
Triton shut his locker with a sigh, he's still trying to figure Luke's endgame in all of this.
"It's been quiet all year Castellan."
Luke let out a chuckle before collecting himself, "I bet you would've said otherwise last month."
"I still don't know what you're getting at?"
"Maybe you don't, but I bet Jackson does."
Something snapped within Triton and he grabbed the collar of Luke's flannel and he pushed him back into the lockers.
"You leave him out of this. Do you hear me Castellan?"
Luke flashed a smile, "Oh I was under the assumption that you didn't care about him. I see that I am mistaken."
Triton released his grip on Luke's collar, before straightening out and took a step away from him.
"So where does that leave you? You never mentioned you had a half brother over the twelve years we known each other. Has the death of Jackson's mommy given you the brotherly-"
Luke didn't get the chance to finish his sentence as Triton spun around and punched Luke's nose.
Luke's hand instinctively went to cradle his nose. Triton didn't think that he broke it but he flexed his hand which was now bleeding and throbbing from the force behind the punch.
Triton let out an exhale, not believing he just punched Luke over Percy, he must've really lost it. He shook his head and quickly walked away from Luke heading to the exit.
The raw crisp air helped Triton's head clear, he shook his hand trying to divert the pain away. As he got closer to his car he could see Percy shiver in the distance.
Triton made an effort to make his face expressionless to not give away that anything happened. He heard Percy's sigh of relief as he unlocked his car and started his car.
"What happened to your hand?" Percy asked.
Triton pulled his sleeves lower in attempts to hide his injured hand. He will never tell Percy of his fight with Luke, Percy didn't need to know about it.
"It's nothing."
Poseidon shivered as he, Delphin, and Triton were on a rescue call.
The ocean was frigid during this time of year. They could technically only do jobs that wouldn't take too long in order to prevent risk of hyperthermia.
The rescue call was for a manatee caught on the surface on a fishing net. Poseidon and Delphin stayed on the boat while Triton freed the mammal from it's trap.
Delphin was along on the rescue as the net left some injuries. They were preparing to transport the manatee to the aquarium.
"It's free" Triton called through chattering teeth. Poseidon went into the cabin of the boat to steer the back end of the boat towards the manatee.
Poseidon exited the cabin once he was pleased with the position of the boat. He lend a hand with Delphin to lift the manatee onto the designated tub they had custom built in the boat.
As the sea cow was lifted from the Ocean, Triton booked it to the cabin to dry off and warm up before the hyperthermia could set in.
Delphin was checking the manatee over as it was placed in the tub, "There's a nasty cut on right by the right flipper I'll need to see to at the aquarium."
"Is that all?" Poseidon asked drying his hands on a towel.
"Well the manatee has smaller cuts all around the body. I don't think those will need any interference on my end."
Delphin snatched the towel from Poseidon's hands, after making sure the manatee was secured.
"Damn it's cold!" Delphin muttered.
"Don't let Triton hear you say that." Poseidon commented before they both made their way back to the cabin of the boat.
Triton has already changed out of his wetsuit and was dressed in a thick pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt with a blanket draped around his shoulders.
"Well that's another job done! We still need to name the manatee. Any thoughts?" Delphin asked.
Triton remained silent, staring out the window of the boat looking at nothing.
Poseidon frowned. Triton has been acting more reserved and out of the ordinary during the past couple weeks. He thought it may had to do with the unexpected visit from his grandfather, but that was a month ago and there was no interaction since then.
"How about Bessie?"
"Bessie? Why do you want to name it that, Poseidon?" Delphin asked.
"What's wrong with Bessie? I think it fits! Besides we never had a "Bessie" in the aquarium before." Poseidon exclaimed.
"Usually the names you pick have to do with some sea movie. I don't recall Bessie being apart of any ocean themed movie, which is why I asked. But if no one has any objections then Bessie it is!" Delphin wrote on the clipboard.
Poseidon's frown deepened. He wasn't that predictable, was he? He started up the boat, "Alright let's get this manatee back to the aquarium."
"Good! I'm freezing my ass off." Delphin said while shivering.
Poseidon rolled his eyes.
As Poseidon turned the key in the ignition something caught his eye. He spotted Triton's hand as he readjusted his blanket. Normally that wouldn't catch his attention, but the ugly purple bruise that lay around his knuckles did.
Poseidon clenched his eyes shut for a moment. The bruise resembled the ones you get by punching something. Poseidon just got Triton's Christmas gift - and it was a generous one - for not getting into any fights this semester.
Poseidon hoped he could still give the gift to him. Triton will surely be upset if he didn't anything compared to what he got Percy for Christmas.
Triton sat in the back of his father's car while his father drove and Delphin made pointless small talk.
They made it to the aquarium without any catastrophe. The aquarium wasn't as full as it usually was during the summer season, leaving a few empty tanks.
Triton was now fully warmed up from the frigid rescue. He's overjoyed to be back on land and in a building that has heat.
"Percy why don't you go help Delphin with Bessie." Poseidon ordered Percy as soon as he spotted him.
"Who's Bessie?" Percy asked furrowing his brow.
"The new manatee. C'mon I'll show you how to inspect the wounds." Delphin said leading Percy to the examination room.
Triton took a step to go back to his regular duties before Poseidon gripped his forearm, stopping him.
Poseidon rolled up the sleeve where the bruise was hidden, "What happened to your hand?"
Triton closed his eyes not expecting him to noticed his bruised hand.
Triton shrugged, "I injured it at school. It's just a bruise." He broke free from his father's grip and pulled the sleeve over the hand to hide it.
"I asked what happened, not where. You didn't get into another fight, did you?"
Triton rolled his eyes, " No. If I did you will know as you would've been called to the school. I just accidentally slammed my locker shut on it."
The lie rolled off his tongue easily. He didn't rehearse the lie as he didn't expect his father to take notice of his appearance.
"How can you accidentally shut your locker on your hand?"
"It just happened. I was on my caffeine crash, and wasn't paying attention. Am I free to go now?"
His father nodded and released him, Triton made his way over to the cooler to help feed the animals that haven't been fed.
He put a jar of food in the octopus's tank for the octopus to solve. It was Triton's favorite activity to watch at the aquarium. It fascinated him to no end how the eight legged creature could open a jar with its tentacles.
His phone buzzed and he reluctantly looked away from the tank and on to his phone. He held his breath as he saw an email come in from the college he applied to.
It was from James Cook University in Australia. Triton didn't know why he applied to such an egregious school when he was sure he would get denied.
He opened the email preparing for it to be a rejection letter, but to his surprise it was an acceptance letter.
He almost dropped his phone into the tank in shock. He hurriedly collected himself before anyone saw him in his state of surprise.
He never believed he would be accepted into the world's best marine biology school. His parents would be ecstatic with the news, and he would tell them at the right time.
Bessie - the sea cow from The Titan's Curse.
Nancy Bobofit and the catastrophe field trips are in reference to chapter one of The Lightning Thief.
The sky being lifted off from Annabeth's and Percy's shoulders are in reference when they actually held the sky in The Titan's Curse.