28. Touch Deprived

Percy tucked himself into the corner of the open court, away from the many prying eyes that had watched him with interest over the last month he'd been living in his father's domain. Poseidon knew he was there. His father's eyes had found him that moment he slipped into the room. A ghost of a smile appeared on the lord of the sea's face but he didn't betray Percy's hiding place, continuing to serenely nod his head at a blue, three-tailed merperson with a dorsal fin sticking out of his back. Percy watched with interested at the comings and goings of Poseidon's court, catching tidbits of conversation as merfolk swam by his spot. It wasn't that he didn't like interacting with Poseidon's court but . . . it was just weird sometimes. Beyond weird, even by demigod standards. Everyone called him 'my lord' and bowed deeply and nodded seriously at every word he said. It was unnerving, and Percy usually preferred to watch it happen instead of being stuck in one of those uncomfortable conversations.

Across the room, a door suddenly flung open with such force that sand floated down from the ceiling, lazily drifting through the water as Triton swam into view. He gave their father a respectful nod but didn't pause to chat. Instead, he made a beeline for Percy.

"Aw man, come on, I was going to talk to people in a few—" Percy complained, sure a lecture was coming his way. He unfurrowed himself from his hiding spot, landing squarely on his feet to greet his brother.

"I just finished talking to a naiad I've been frequenting," Triton began without preamble, brushing over any niceties to get straight to the point, although what on earth that point was supposed to be, went right over Percy's head. He was pretty sure he wasn't getting yelled at for being antisocial. He was, however, a little worried Triton was trying to talk about dating.

To be safe, he clamped his hands over his ears. "Nope," he announced, his voice muffled to his own ears, "no, we are not at that level in our relationship—and never will be. Mortal brothers don't share those kinds of details, keep it to yourself, I don't want to hear—"

Triton's face twisted with annoyance, rolling his eyes as he batted Percy's hands away from his ears. "Quit being such a repressed prune, what century is this? That's not what I wanted to speak upon regardless. No, she was telling me about what mortals needed to maintain homeostasis."

"Huh?"

"Health."

"Oh," Percy said, relieved, letting his brother tear his hands from his ears. "Did you like have a question or something?"

Triton frowned at him. Actually, he looked a tad uncomfortable, which was weird. Normally Percy was the uncomfortable one in these conversations.

"She said that humans have physiological needs that must be met to maintain cognitive and emotional health," Triton paused, somehow managing to frown even harder. "She said . . . she said humans multiple instances of nonviolent, physical contact a day as one of these physiological needs. Is that true?"

"Huh?" Percy asked, not comprehending.

"A day," Triton repeated in agitation, as if Percy were purposefully being stupid. "You've been here a mortal month. We've only initiated physical contact with you a handful of times that entire period, much less on a daily basis. Have we been neglecting your well-being?"

Triton's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Percy's dumbfounded face. "Do you need more physical contact?"

"What—no, nope, I'm all good—"

"I know Tyson—"

"Yes, yep that's—Tyson hugs me all the time, so it's all good—" Percy tripped over his words in his haste to get them out, not liking where this conversation was going and trying desperately to uproot it before it took hold. From the look on Triton's face, he might already be too late.

"That's not enough. We have been neglecting your health—"

"Nope, I am perfectly alright, no neglect happening here—"

Triton ignored him, stepping closer. He hesitated as Percy continued to babble, not listening to a single word the demigod said, before slowly raising his hand and . . . placing it on top of Percy's head.

Percy stared at him in horror, unable to find words as mortification flooded his system.

"Is this sufficient?" Triton asked, looking as awkward as Percy felt. "I didn't ask what constituted adequate physical contact—"

"Yes, yes, I'm good, Triton this is so not—I'm fine, we're good, it's adequate."

"Alright . . . how long does—?"

"You're done, like five seconds that's all—"

"Good, okay," Triton said, looking relieved. He started to removed his hand, paused, then patted Percy on the shoulder before swimming away, blessedly not looking back at his mortified brother.

Percy eventually shook himself from his horrified and disbelieving stupor when a mermaid crept closer with a hopeful expression and he was forced to make conversation. At least that awkward moment was over, he thought, trying to focus on what the dark pink mermaid was saying, nodding whenever she paused to breathe, and hoped Triton would forget the whole thing.

He didn't.

Three hours later, Amphitrite, in the course of chatting with Percy, swam closer to him than normal, their shoulders occasionally bumping together. That was weird in and of itself. They normally kept a respectable distance between them, but the weirdness didn't stop that. She gave him a small fond smile when they parted ways, something she had been doing increasingly more the last few weeks. Then she leaned forward and kissed the crown of his head before swimming away, leaving a stunned Percy in her wake.

No, Triton hadn't let it go. Instead, it seemed Triton had taken the stupid naiad's words to heart and told the entire kingdom. Percy was suddenly bombarded with casual touches everywhere he went. Tyson hugged Percy no less than three times a day, taking great joy in this added duty.

It all culminated when Poseidon himself approached Percy that night. He smiled fondly at his son as he drew closer.

"My son," he greeted. "How did the day treat you?"

"Triton's gone mad," Percy informed him as his father drew even with him. It still didn't feel entirely real living under the sea like this. Casually talking to his dad at the end of the day, the lord of the sea just swimming up and smiling like this was some common occurrence.

Poseidon tried not to grin, but the statement startled a small twitch of his lips, his eyes sparkling. "Yes, I have heard. I wished to speak to you about that."

"Oh?" Percy asked warily.

"Yes." Poseidon's face grew serious once more. Percy tried not to shift, suddenly hyperaware of his own body and the swirling water around him as Poseidon's eyes bore into his.

"I do not want you to believe I am avoiding you or believe Triton's endeavors to be unworthy. Your presence here has been left unchallenged on Olympus and I would do much to delay the inevitable protest against it; if I were to touch you, Zeus would know at once, and your kidnapping would be questioned. I am too selfish to hasten that, but I will not have you believe that I am avoiding you."

"Oh," Percy said, and his throat felt tight. His voice sounded a little strange so cleared it, but it still didn't sound much better when he said: "Got it."

Poseidon smiled down at him, but it was a sad, wistful thing, like he knew what Percy wouldn't even admit to thinking. "I know. But if I cannot reassure you of your worth or the affection the ocean feels for you, at least let our kin do it for me."

Percy blinked at that, nodding once. He didn't trust his voice to betray all the silly emotions swirling inside him. He hadn't even realized how all day he'd been waiting for Poseidon to show up, to laugh at Triton's ridiculousness and . . . and he didn't know. Hug him? Ugh, how childish, and yet . . . Pat him on the shoulder? Ruffle his hair? Something at least. Some kind of fatherly gesture from the all-powerful god before him to assure and soothe the lingering needy, small child in Percy that demigod life hadn't stamped out as well as it should have.

Poseidon smile grew sadder.

"You are my favorite son," he reminded Percy, his voice fond.

"Stop saying that, Triton just started liking me," Percy muttered, proud that his voice didn't waver even if it was quieter than usual.

Poseidon chuckled, turning his head slightly to the side as if listening to something. "Triton!" he called, causing Percy to jump. "Hither and hug your brother for me."

"What, wait—" Percy watched in disbelief as Triton stuck his head around the corner, eyes narrowing at the demigod like he was looking for a physical injury.

"Does he need physical contact?"

"What—no—"

"Yes, come hug him," Poseidon overrode and the rest of Percy's protest fell on deaf ears as his half-brother chased him down as their father laughed.

A/n Hope you all managed to stay warm this last week. The next ficlet will be the last in this timeline. Hope you've been enjoying life under the sea haha. Thank you all so much for all your patience and support!

Up next: Exhausted