25. Kidnapped

Percy wasn't really sure how it happened.

One moment he was ducking into Paul's office to hide out and skip geometry, the next, something was thrown over his eyes (he was like ninety percent sure it was a hand) and the world spun. Percy barely had time to think oh no not again before a coolness pressed against his skin, affirming that yes he was being kidnapped again.

"What's the big idea?" Percy demanded hotly, Riptide leaping into his hand as he prepared to buck off his captor.

Only his captor had already released him and was moving out of his personal space, the hand over his eyes falling away to reveal . . . Poseidon sitting on his throne, a smug grin on his face.

Percy blinked.

Poseidon's grin grew wider.

Feeling like he was on the Olympian version of Punk'd, Percy spun around to face his would-be captor. His half-brother Triton scowled at him, arms crossed. Percy blinked at him as well, half-expecting Apollo to come bursting into the room shouting 'gotcha!'; he didn't and Triton's scowl grew deeper with every passing second so Percy was forced to return his bewildered stare to their father.

At the return of Percy's attention, Poseidon's grin widened even further. The sea lord spread his arms wide, trident grasped firmly in his right hand as he boomed: "Welcome, my son."

It was an admittedly impressive sight but the majesty of the moment was lost on the overwhelming sense of what the hades running through Percy's head.

"What?" he asked, brain lagging behind as he blinked at his father's grinning face. The grin didn't dim for a second. Instead, it appeared to widen even impossibly further, the lord of the sea taking great pleasure in the confusion he caused.

"Am I even allowed to be here?" Percy was like a hundred and ten percent positive he wasn't but sometimes things like consequences went right over the gods' heads so he wanted to make sure they were on the same page so Zeus didn't blast Percy where he stood. Because that wouldn't be a great end to this bizarre Tuesday.

Poseidon stood, his manic grin softening as he towered over his sons. Even with the weird double fin thing he had going on, the sea god cut an impressive sight, pure power and authority rolling off him like waves against the shore. Poseidon reached out and grasped Percy firmly on the shoulder. Percy tried to school his expression so he didn't look a small adoring child starved for affection. His confusion and mild apprehension of being struck by lightning from an irate Zeus hopefully succeeded to that end.

"Peace my son," Poseidon assured, his grin returning to full magnitude. "You've been kidnapped."

"Come again?''

"You've been kidnapped," Poseidon repeated with a deep-bellied laugh that filled the throne room, the sound reverberating through Percy's very bones. "By your angry and jealous half-brother who hates you."

Percy couldn't help throwing a glance over his shoulder to where Triton stood with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. He wondered if Poseidon was joking. Because judging by the strength of that scowl, Percy had a feeling the sentiment wasn't far off the mark. Poseidon continued in a carefree jovial manner as though Triton weren't trying to drill holes into Percy's head with his eyes.

"And I don't think he's going to let you go any time soon, he rather gets his temper from me. I'll try my best but who knows how long you'll be stuck down here."

The puzzle pieces finally clicked. Percy's eyebrows rose until they all but disappeared into his browline. Poseidon continued to grin down at him, looking inordinately pleased with his little scheme.

"Zeus won't buy that."

"I daresay you've been kidnapped so many times it might take him a moment to figure it out," Poseidon smoothed over, which only made Percy snort in disbelief. "Besides, it is not unheard of for immortal children to grow envious of their mortal counterparts. No, I think anybody will question it too much—"

"Are you sure—"

"Peace my boy, come, I'll show you where you'll be staying "

Triton met Percy's eye briefly as their father swept him from the room and, for a heartbeat, they shared a heartfelt moment of our father is crazy before Poseidon swept Percy from the room and the door shut on his brother's reluctantly amused face.

A/n Sorry for the long absence, sickness and school have not been kind. I hope the rest will be out shortly they are mostly finished but need to be edited and looked over. Hope the new year is treated you better than I. Thank you for all your patience and kindness!

Up next: Thrown Against Something

ps to SundayPopTarts: it's meant to be interpreted either way: that Hades either released Percy because he knew Poseidon would look back or he didn't even give Poseidon the chance because he knew he wouldn't look back.