Notes: This project sort of took priority for me after I took a trip to New York and explored the city to try and find some places that Calypso, and eventually Percy as well, could visit together. It was an awesome experience; I wish I had a few extra days to explore some more places, but hopefully I'll be able to do the city justice next chapter. And if not, well, there's always time to go back.
oOo
A Part of Her
Calypso could feel her breathing quicken when she caught sight of land. Everything looked quite unfamiliar to her. The beach was nowhere near as pristine as the beaches of Ogygia. It was dirty; there were aluminum cans and plastic bags littering the sand. She wrinkled her nose at the unpleasant smell. It gave off a foul, rotting odor. This was nothing like the world that she had known before her exile.
Where were the trees? The vast forests? The scent of flowers and other natural aromas? What had happened to the wild?
She slowly wandered up the shoreline, wondering if the scenery would change for the better, but there was no forest to be found. It was as if Pan's domain had nearly completely disappeared.
There was a slight breeze blowing as she continued inland, but the air was warm. So it was summer, she mused. It was likely past nine in the evening then, for it was completely dark, with only the dim light of the moon to guide her through this unfamiliar world.
At one particular turn in the path, she took a moment to look up at the sky and was comforted by the familiar glittering of the stars. At least the constellations were a constant for her; something familiar to ground her.
As she continued on the relatively worn path, following it inland, her heart began to beat faster.
Was this Manhattan? Was this where she would find Percy Jackson?
He'd been offered immortality. Immortality, a gift so rare from the gods that only one hero had ever received it from them. Heracles, the oft-considered greatest of all heroes.
And instead of celebrating such a gift, he'd given it away to help her in a way that even she dared not dream of.
She desperately wanted to see him again.
Calypso was brought out of her thoughts by the appearance of cabins in the distance. It seemed as though she had finally reached civilization, although the town, if it could even be called that, looked more familiar than anything that she had seen up to this point. She had been led to believe that modern technology had completely changed the world from Hermes' stories. Perhaps he had been exaggerating things?
She found her pace quickening as she approached the cabins. For all she knew, Percy could be living right here, perhaps only a scant few meters away from her. Unconsciously she smoothed down her dress and tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. She wondered if the journey had messed it up, and resisted the urge to go looking for a mirror.
"Excuse me. Haven't seen you around before. Are you new here? Did you need help finding your way around?"
Calypso turned to find a tall, brown-haired boy giving her a curious look.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed, taking in her appearance and holding up his hands. "I apologize, I didn't think you were an immortal. Did you need something from Chiron?"
"Ah- I'm sorry… this is in fact my first time here. Could you perhaps introduce me to… did you say Chiron?"
The boy gave her a suspicious look. "Is this really your first time at Camp Half Blood? Aren't you immortal?"
Were all heroes so rude these days? She remembered from ages past a time when she sat in the court of her Uncle Kronos. Mortals bowed and scraped in fear and rightly so, for they were considered lucky to make it out of an audience with the Titan King alive.
"I am indeed immortal, and I would like to speak with whomever it is that runs your camp. Please take me to him."
"Riiight," the boy said warily. "You're not someone evil that's about to attack us right? There should've been no way to get past Ladon if you were."
Calypso sighed in annoyance.
"If I truly wished to do you harm, we would no longer be having this conversation."
He must have heard the edge in her voice, because he finally took the hint and led her to a building that was much taller and larger than the cabins she had seen earlier.
The room inside was lit by a fascinating light source that hung from the ceiling. Most of the space in the room was occupied by a large table which, rather oddly, had a net erected in the center that split it into two equal halves. Perhaps it was used for a game of some sorts?
There was a small box in the corner that was displaying a moving image of a hero fighting what looked to be a massive hellhound. She approached it, wondering how it managed to show a moving picture. She had heard of the concept of storytelling through recorded performances played on what Hermes had called TVs and movie theaters. Was this what that was all about?
She was interrupted from her musings by the entrance of a man she hadn't seen in a long time. If he could even be described as a man.
He was in a wheelchair, but that couldn't fool her. For despite his rather disheveled and weathered face, he had barely changed over the millennia.
"Chiron," she greeted him with a small smile.
"Calypso… it is a surprise to see you, although I suppose that it is to be expected from what happened at the end of the war. Congratulations on your release."
"Thank you. I didn't realize that you had your own little town now, Chiron."
He shrugged, "The Gods decided that it would be for the best for a safe haven to exist for their children to train and grow stronger. And as their instructor I am of course duty bound to oversee their growth."
"How… how many years has it been?" she asked, a little hesitantly.
Chiron shook his head, "I'm sorry, my dear, but I honestly do not know, other than the fact that it has been a very long time since we last met."
"So…my father…"
If there's someone in particular that you were searching for from the old days, they were likely imprisoned by the Gods, or long gone. I'm sorry."
"I expected as much," she brushed it off. It wasn't as if she had many particularly fond memories of her father or the old days. But he was still her family.
There was a pregnant pause.
"What about…" she hesitated and Chiron gave her an encouraging smile.
"What about Percy Jackson?" she asked.
"So he did wind up marooned on your island," Chiron said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "He never did say where he went when he disappeared, but I had guessed that he stayed with you."
"He didn't mention me? At all?"
"I'm afraid not. I think, with everything going on at the time, he could not afford to be distracted."
"But the War is over now, yes?"
"Of course. It has been months since the War's end."
"And- and what of him? Is he living here, at this camp of yours?"
Chiron heaved a great sigh at her look of expectation.
"I'm sorry my dear, but I'm afraid that I am as knowledgeable about his current whereabouts as you are. He has disappeared since the end of the War."
"So he is really gone then? Would it be impossible to find him again?"
Chiron slowly rolled his wheelchair over to the window, gazing out at the night sky.
"He is still alive, if that is what you're asking. So it is, of course, possible to find him again. But, my dear, I do not know if he will want anything to do with us. With this world. Since young Annabeth's death, he has avoided everyone. Even his best friends have heard nothing. It's… it's happened to many a hero in the past. They lose something that they couldn't afford to lose, and all of their drive, their motivation disappears. They either return to the mortal world, or wander off to die alone."
Calypso clenched her fists.
"He saved me. At the very least, I need to thank him for everything he has done for me. And if he's in trouble, if he's hurting, then I need to see him. If there's one thing I know, it is how to heal wounds, especially the ones that can't be seen. So please Chiron, if you have any idea, even a hint, of where he might be…"
Chiron spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness.
"I wish I could help you, my dear. I think that Percy would be happy to see you again. But I'm afraid that you might be a little too late."
"Don't say that. How could you give up hope so easily, Chiron?"
It wasn't until that moment that, contrary to her initial impressions of him, Chiron had changed.
He looked old. He looked as though he'd seen a thousand heroes pass by the walls of Camp Half-Blood and never return.
Somehow, he looked very familiar to her; as though he'd sat by that very fire for aeons, waiting for someone that never came back.
"I don't ever wish to abandon my charges, Calypso. But I've seen this story one too many times to maintain my faith. I'm sorry, my dear. I'm afraid that the only thing I can offer you is shelter within Camp Half-Blood."
oOo
"Welcome back," the little girl said as she poked at the glowing coals of the campfire.
"Lady Hestia," Calypso inclined her head. "I did always appreciate our conversations."
"As did I, Calypso. It is just a shame that I did not have the chance to visit you more often. I wish that others would take the time like you do to sit down and have a conversation, rather than always rushing about. But that doesn't matter, since you are here now."
Calypso hummed in agreement, picking a blade of grass and folding it carefully between her fingers.
"I suppose you're here to talk about young Percy Jackson then?" Hestia's eyes had a knowing look to them that Calypso wasn't entirely sure she liked.
"I… how did you know?"
Hestia laughed. "He was the one that freed you from your curse, after all. I don't need to be Athena to understand how you feel, at this moment."
Calypso blushed. "I- is it that obvious?"
Hestia simply smiled. "Is that such a bad thing?"
Calypso covered her face with her hands. "I don't want the whole world to know! That's…- it's….!"
"My dear Calypso, with all of your history together, I'm afraid that even Hephaestus could see your feelings for him."
Calypso groaned, and Hestia could only chuckle at her plight as she continued poking at the coals.
The laughter quickly died though and they were left with silence.
"Why did he leave?" Calypso broke it with a whisper. "Why didn't he wait? Is he avoiding me?"
Hestia regarded her with sympathy.
"He's hurting, Calypso. The War did indeed take some of his closest friends from him. But more importantly it also took away his first love. He has withdrawn away from the world; whether to heal or to forget is impossible to know. I'm sure that you of all people would understand."
She did understand. Of course she did.
"Why must Odysseus leave?" Calypso's arms were crossed defiantly as she stood across from the God of Messengers. "He is happy here, with our family that we've built together. Why must the Gods interfere and take him away? Tell me Hermes. You Gods have already entrapped me here. I can no longer visit my father, my sisters, or my home. I know that I did not support Olympus in the War, but I did not fight for my father's side either. But because I could not go against my family, you must exact your revenge? You would take away what shreds of happiness that I cling to on my pathetic little island? What have I done to deserve this punishment?"
Hermes looked at her with a pained expression on his face.
"I am sorry, Calypso. I understand-"
"No, you do not. What could you know of my situation? You are free to wander the world, to visit your family, and to finagle your way into the heart of any blushing maiden that you take a liking to. You have never experienced what it feels like to be truly alone."
"Enough," Hermes replied, his tone stern. "I sympathize with you and your plight, Calypso, but ultimately it is only that. Sympathy. That does not change the fact that Odysseus must leave. It does not change the fact that he has a kingdom to return home to; that he has a different Fate in store for him than living out his days here."
"And if I refuse?"
"There is no choice in this matter," Hermes said, and his tone brooked no argument. "My Father's decision is final."
She could feel her heart sink, and her unperturbed facade crumble. The tears that she had held back for so long began to fall. Even after all those years together… ultimately even he would not…could not stay.
Hermes' face softened.
"I know that you loved him. That he was the only source of companionship for you these past few years. I know that it's not much, but I promise to visit more often."
He tried to reach out a hand, to comfort her, but Calypso took a step back. Then another. Her shoulders shook with muted sobs.
"Don't touch me."
She turned around and ran as hard and as fast as she could. Maybe it'd let her outrun her Fate. Maybe it'd allow her to run away from her curse.
"Are you alright, Calypso?"
Hestia's voice jolted her out of her memories.
"Yes! I was just… never mind."
Hestia studied her, and those red eyes seemed to stare right through her deflections, but thankfully she didn't pry.
"In any case," Hestia continued as if there had been no interruption. "For his heroic defense of Olympus, Zeus offered him immortality, but he declined it without a second thought."
"Hermes mentioned as much. Did he…-was this when…-"
"Was this when he saved you from your exile?" The knowing smile was back on Hestia's face.
Calypso could feel the heat rise once more on her cheeks, but she buried her dignity nonetheless and nodded.
Hestia considered her for a moment and then asked, "Would you like to hear what he said? I can show you, if you would like."
"I would be very grateful if you would be willing to show me."
Her eyes glowed a deeper, darker red, and suddenly Calypso found herself elsewhere.
He looked empty and disheveled, kneeling before the Gods, and Calypso's heart broke a little bit, seeing him look so defeated. It was a sharp reminder that, to Percy Jackson, she was only a blip; a two week dalliance that he'd given up to be a hero, with all that entailed. And the girl that he really loved, the one that he'd chosen, was gone.
Zeus was speaking.
"-so long as the Council agrees, we will grant any reasonable request."
There was no visible reaction from the young man kneeling before them. He simply began to state his wish in a flat, emotionless tone, almost as if he were performing some sort of an obligation rather than receiving a reward.
"My wish is this: The Gods must properly recognize the children of the Gods. All of the children of the Gods. No more unclaimed. No more excluding the children of minor gods and goddesses. Camp Half-Blood should be a safe haven for all, and it should be a place where everyone feels they belong. If this had only occurred earlier, there would have been no war in the first place."
Zeus's nostrils flared in anger as he leaned forward. "You dare presume to blame-"
"No." Percy interrupted, without even a spark of emotion despite the dangerous tension in the air. "There is no point in placing blame. I am simply stating my wish, which is well within your capabilities to grant."
Zeus's glare did not lessen, but he leaned back once more in his chair.
"Was there anything else?"
Percy paused, as if lost in thought.
"We don't have all day, boy," Zeus rumbled.
"Calypso," he whispered.
Even though she knew what was coming, it still surprised her. Her name passing his lips.
"What was that, boy? Speak up."
"Calypso." This time, his voice was clear and firm. "I want her to be pardoned. And all of the other peaceful Titans as well. But if that's not possible, then at the very least, I'd like you to release Calypso. She did nothing wrong in the previous war. And she helped me. She gave me the strength to fight Kronos last summer. She deserves her freedom from her curse."
Calypso felt her heart swell. She had always wondered whether the heroes that had visited her island were impacted by their stay. And here was proof that, at the very least, Percy Jackson thought of her fondly. He still remembered his time on Ogygia with her. He wanted to save her.
Not for the first time, she wished that this was real, that she was standing before Percy Jackson. There were so many things she wanted to say and do.
Thank him.
Hug him.
Grab him by the head and kiss him with all her might.
But before she could so much as blink, Percy was no longer there before her.
"You seem happy." Hestia was smiling at her as she returned to the present.
"I-well-"
Hestia cut her off.
"In many ways, you two are quite alike. Perhaps you may be able to fix him," she mused thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?"
"To help him heal from his loss, of course. After all, you love him, do you not? And I believe what he needs most now is love."
"I don't- I'm not," she stammered.
"No." Hestia's eyes fixed onto hers. "You left Ogygia for him, did you not? You left your home so that you could see Percy Jackson again. And now that the opportunity is here, are you really going to run away?"
"But nobody can even find him!" She burst out.
Hestia gave her a look. "Come now, Calypso. You are well aware that that is only an excuse. You know the capabilities of the Gods. Do you really believe that if the Gods put forth everything they had to search for Percy Jackson that he would be able to remain in hiding?"
"...I suppose not."
"His whereabouts remain unknown simply because the Olympians will never be able to swallow their pride and search for a 'mere mortal.' But if one was really determined to find him? I'm sure that it would not be too difficult of a task. After all, he doesn't have many places to go."
"Do you- would you know where he is? You would know of the place he calls home, right?"
Hestia's eyes studied her carefully.
"I'm afraid that the Ancient Laws prohibit direct interference. But Calypso, I think that if you look carefully enough, you'll find him."
"But I don't even know where to start," she protested. "I thought that someone in this Camp of his would at least know where he lived. But I've figured out nothing since arriving here."
But Hestia shook her head.
"You need only to look for him and you will find him," she insisted. "After all, he still holds a piece of you with him.
"A-what?"
"A piece of you. A piece of your goodbye."
She didn't understand. What was Lady Hestia saying? She opened her mouth to ask, but Hestia shook her head, indicating that she had nothing more to say.
They sat in companionable silence for a time, each lost in their own thoughts, until Calypso heard the curfew warning.
"I suppose that since I do intend to stay here that I should abide by the Camp's rules," she said as she stood up and stretched.
"That would be a wise decision. I have seen the harpies in action; it was quite an unpleasant sight."
"Well, I suppose this is goodnight, Lady Hestia. And thank you…for everything"
"Anytime. Please come by again and have another chat."
oOo
Calypso had settled into life at Camp Half-Blood rather quickly. Chiron and Lord Poseidon both gave their permission for her to utilize the Poseidon cabin. She was grateful for that, since it did make her feel a little bit closer to Percy, especially when she found a few of his belongings still stored away in the cabin itself. There were a couple of photos of him standing arm in arm with a blonde girl with stormy grey eyes with a giant smile lighting up his face. The girl was trying and failing to hide her own smile, half-heartedly pushing him away.
Those pictures were a bit of a difficult pill to swallow. She had to admit that they looked perfect for each other. Did he look as happy as he once had in those precious days with her on Ogygia?
She couldn't remember. Or maybe she didn't want to remember.
There were a few other knick-knacks lying about. A necklace with four beads strung on it, and a fifth lying not far away on the desk. She found a couple changes of clothing in the wardrobe, along with a weathered Yankees cap.
But none of the belongings were particularly special. And it was clear by the dust layering over top of everything that nobody had lived here in a very long time.
It didn't deter her though. She immediately set about tidying the place up. Her schedule was simple and almost never changed, so it was easy to find the time. During the day, she helped the Demeter kids tend to the strawberry fields. They were quite nice, although they could be a little overbearing when it came down to the actual gardening aspect. She wished she could show them her garden in Ogygia. It'd probably make them shut up about how she was watering the plants too much.
The nice thing about making friends with the Demeter kids was that they could provide her with a few seeds and sprouts of some of her favorite plants. And with a little bit of hard work, she managed to get a small garden started in the patch of grass behind the Poseidon cabin. She didn't have the easiest time getting permission to dig up a rather large patch of the ground behind the cabin. Poseidon kept mumbling about how he didn't want a bunch of plants growing over his cabin.
But she persisted, and he eventually gave up trying to stop her.
Weeks passed in the blink of an eye, and the leaves on the trees had started to turn golden. Autumn was in full swing. Life at Camp Half-Blood had slowly turned into routine for her. She even participated in a few camp activities, although she stopped singing at the campfires. It felt extremely awkward when she finished a song only to find everyone staring at her as if mesmerized.
She wasn't that good of a singer, okay?
That was pretty much her day-to-day life. She'd wake up, get ready for the day, work in the strawberry fields in the morning, tend to her own garden after lunch, and then participate in any of the various camp activities after she was finished.
And then, on Sundays, she'd ask Argus to drive the van down to the city of New York and he would always acquiesce with a simple nod. His silence had been quite disconcerting in the beginning; the first time, she had tried a couple of times to strike up some conversation, but he had remained silent, only responding with gestures. She gave up eventually, but she was still thankful for his company. It made the long walks feel a little more bearable, and these trips quickly became their Sunday routine. Argus would take her to some parking lot in the city. They would leave the van there, and then wander around the city aimlessly for hours. Yet, no matter how much they explored, it seemed as though there was always someplace new that they hadn't checked. An unfamiliar corner of the city that they hadn't visited.
New York was huge, after all. She still remembered the first time that she saw the city.
It was awe-inspiring. She had thought that Hermes had been exaggerating the extent of human innovation since she had last seen the world, but in reality he had been understating just how far mortals had come.
Buildings that reached so far into the sky that they nearly touched the clouds dominated the horizon. Flashing signs and bright boards filled with moving pictures were everywhere. And perhaps most jarring of all was all of the people, congregated into one place. They were everywhere, The city was a giant mass of life, and she had never felt quite as small or as insignificant as she had that first time she had seen New York City.
Central Park was their destination today. It was a little windy, and the weather was getting quite chilly. She'd stolen one of Percy's hoodies that he'd left in the cabin. As the days had gotten progressively colder, she'd found herself wearing it more and more. It was quite soft and warm.
Despite the weather, the park was still full of people. It made sense, the trees in the fall were beautiful; a whirlwind of red and yellow hues that filled her surroundings with color and took her breath away. It was easy to lose track of time here, sitting on a bench by the lake, listening to the street musicians playing a melancholic tune and admiring her surroundings.
She didn't really think that she'd necessarily find Percy wandering the park at the same time as her. That seemed like a coincidence that would be too good to be true. Thousands of people passed through the park on any given day after all.
But she really did love the park. It was probably her favorite place to visit in New York. And as the search for Percy dragged on without results, she found herself here more and more often. It wasn't as though it was out of the question for him to one day visit the park. And even if he never came… well, at least her trip wouldn't be completely wasted.
She and Argus got a couple of weird looks as they sat by the lake. Sometimes, she'd forget that, to the mortals, Argus looked like a hulking bodyguard dressed entirely in black, which made him stand out painfully obviously. But she ignored all of the curious glances, singing softly to herself, while carefully observing her surroundings.
She wasn't too embarrassed to admit that every time she saw a shock of jet black hair she'd almost instinctively lean forwards to try and get a better view.
After a couple of hours of waiting, she decided to walk around the city some more. She hadn't been on the East side in a while.
A flower shop caught her eye as she was walking along the streets of the Upper East Side. It looked rather plain, but the window was filled with a colorful array of flowers. On a whim, she decided to enter with Argus wordlessly trailing behind her.
It was a small, but well-lit room. Everything was carefully and neatly placed along small shelves that went all the way around the shop. She was the only patron, and the elderly woman whom she assumed was the owner murmured a quiet welcome as they entered.
Sprouts, saplings, and flowers of all sorts lined the walls. She spotted roses, tulips, lilies, and carnations. There were a couple of cypress seedlings that she considered buying for a moment, but then realized that while Poseidon had been more than tolerant of her gardening hobbies he likely wouldn't be as understanding if she started growing trees next to his cabin.
There were some nice honeysuckle plants that were just beginning to bloom. They were a pretty violet color and wouldn't be too difficult to tend to. Perhaps she should-
"Do you like to garden, young lady?" She jumped. The shop owner had wandered over while she had been bent over the honeysuckle plants.
"I do," she replied awkwardly, unsure of what to say.
A smile bloomed on the shop owner's face.
"I'm glad. There's not that many people that really take an interest in horticulture anymore, especially in the city. My kids keep telling me to close up shop and just find something else to do in retirement. There aren't going to be customers. You're losing money. It's the 21st Century, nobody gardens anymore." She snorted with derision.
"That's rather upsetting. But I suppose they've never really properly gardened before then?"
The owner's smile grew even bigger.
"You're right on the mark, dearie! Tell me, what's your name? And how old are you? It's quite rare to get customers around your age here."
"Err-"
The old lady must have mistook her hesitation for embarrassment.
"Aw, don't be shy! Like I said, I think it's great that you've got this hobby. Don't be ashamed of it."
"Ah. My name's Amelia and I'm… 17."
She wasn't sure where the white lie came from. But it felt wrong to tell the truth. Then again, it wasn't as if the old woman would have believed her anyways if she gave her true age.
"Seventeen! That's quite young indeed, why, you must still be in high school!"
"Ah…I guess."
The old woman didn't seem to notice her hesitation.
"I saw you were looking at the honeysuckle. Things must be getting pretty serious with your boyfriend."
"B-boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend!" she protested weakly.
The old lady laughed.
"Whatever you say, sweetie. Young love really is so sweet. I do miss those days."
"I'm serious! I don't have a boyfriend."
"Well, I'm sure that an expert gardener such as yourself knows the meaning behind the honeysuckle flower. So I hope that whoever that special someone might be will appreciate all the work you're putting in for him. It's rare to see someone devote so much of their time to romantic gestures nowadays." The old woman was smiling softly at her, as if she really truly did wish her the very best.
"I-thank you. I'm hoping that it will reach him, as well."
The old woman clapped her hands together.
"That's the spirit! Now then, since you're growing it for your lover, I'll give you half off of the honeysuckle."
"Oh, I couldn't accept that. Especially since business seems so slow."
"Oh, don't worry about me, I'm actually quite well off. I've opened this store because I love gardens and flowers. I want more people to see the value and beauty in nature. This shop's primary goal is not to make money. So take it!"
She protested again, but it was only a half-hearted effort and after a few more minutes she wordlessly handed over some money and accepted the pots.
She exited the quaint little shop quite pleased. The honeysuckle plants that she cradled in her arms were perfect. She didn't even mind the fact that she would probably have to carry them all the way back to the van.
It wasn't until she stepped out on the street, however, that she realized how dark it was getting outside.
"Let's head back," she murmured to Argus, who nodded and set off towards the parking lot where they had left the van.
Another trip to the city, and she still had yet to find even a hint of the son of Poseidon whom she was searching for.. She sighed. Of course it wasn't going to be easy. But she wasn't about to give up. She would comb through the city, street by street, for years if need be.
She carefully readjusted the pots in her hands, and Argus wordlessly offered to help. She smiled at him gratefully and handed over a couple of the plants, already thinking about how she was going to make some space in her makeshift garden for them. They'd grow perfectly next to the roses, she decided. It was how she planted them on Ogygia, after all. Thinking of her home brought a sense of melancholy. She didn't realize how much she would miss Ogygia until she had left. But still, she persevered.
It was as they were waiting on a street corner for the lights to turn green that she saw it out of the corner of her eye.
The silvery glow of moonlace.
It was right there, growing out onto the balcony of the second floor window of one of the red brick apartment buildings. She thought it was a dream, at first. A hallucination brought on by her nostalgia for home. She hadn't seen that particular plant in months, but she still recognized it instantly.
And her heart skipped a beat.
He still holds a piece of you with him.
This must have been what Lady Hestia had meant. This building must be where Percy Jackson lived. Nobody else had ever taken moonlace with them from Ogygia.
Her heart swelled. He must have remembered, even after all this time. He had started a garden, right in the middle of Manhattan, of New York City. It was growing beautifully; the glow emanating from the flowers bathed nearly the entire block in lustrous silver.
She took off at a brisk pace towards the apartment buildings where the flower was growing, barely mindful of the honeysuckle in her arms.
It wasn't until she was standing at the entrance to the building, staring up at the makeshift garden above her, that her excitement shifted to nervousness.
She had been anticipating this moment for months, after all.
This meeting. This reunion.
But now that it was here, what would she say? What should she say?
Argus caught up to her. She noticed a few of his eyes also glance up at the flowers, although his two normal ones were giving her a questioning gaze.
"I… I need to see him."
Argus tilted his head in a confused manner.
"The person I've been trying to find. Percy Jackson. I think he's here."
Argus glanced up at the flowers again, before shrugging and moving forward to press a button at the front entrance of the apartment building.
"Wait!" She yelped.
His finger paused inches from the gray button.
"I just… what do I say?"
She couldn't see his face, but she could've sworn that the eye on the back of his neck rolled itself in derision. He pressed the button, despite another protest.
"I'm not ready! I don't even know how to greet him. And thank him for everything! And, and…"
She was cut off by a buzzing sound.
Then the door swung open, and Argus beckoned her inside.
oOo
