Percy Jackson reaction

by Jokiba

Random reaction

Reading The Books- Percy Jackson The Lighting Thief by

Mirzamsaiph

Summary:

Demigods from the future are sent back to the Ancient Greek Era to read books about a certain someone that could help change their time, and hopefully for the better.

Come with the Demigods as they navigate through the times were the gods weren't as lenient and friendly, and the mortals knew about them and worshipped them.

(Also lets hope Percy doesn't get blasted for his attitude)

Chapter 1: Prologue

Ancient Greece, A place that modern demigods could only dream of ever seeing. A place that had a motto of 'The Beauty of the Land and its Gods.' The place where mortals worshiped the ground demigods walked on, the place the Gods were the most powerful. A place before Christianity took over and made it illegal to worship the Gods, before they destroyed the temples, the statues, and burned and killed the priests.

A place where at the moment, the start of Yule was being celebrated. The longest day of the year, and the celebration of the reappearance of the sun.

While at the peak of Mt. Olympus, 14 Gods were standing and or sitting around their thrones, either talking quietly or waiting for the meeting to start. While minor gods and goddesses were standing outside the throne room talking amongst themselves. When a blinding light that could rival even Apollo and a loud crack, took over the room.

Immediately every God in the vicinity was on their feet. Weapons all around were out, ready to strike down anyone who'd dare threaten the gods on the solstice or just threaten them at all.

Three older women were standing there in the throne room, well more like they were floating. The one on the left had a distaff in her hand, while the one in the middle was spinning a thread and muttering, the last one on the right had scissors in her hand.

It was immediately known who they were. They were radiating old divine energy, certainly older energy than the Gods. Many Minor Gods and Goddesses bowed as soon as they realized who these divine beings were.

The Olympians put down their weapons carefully not wanting to anger the beings, especially with whoever string they were weaving.

" The Moirai." Hades acknowledged, slightly bowing his head, with the rest of the Olympians following in suit.

They nodded slightly, the one on the left stepped forward and grabbed the attention of everyone.

"I am Clotho, I decide when you start your life as a young babe as you may know." She said, while looking around at everyone.

The one in the middle, weaving a bright sea-green thread stepped forward, "I am Lachesis, I decide how your life goes and how long you spend your life on Gaia's earth." Her eyes narrowed on the gods, looking around, nodded and went back to muttering.

The last one, the one on the right stepped up, "I am Antropos, I decide how you die,

I am the one who cuts your thread." She smirked at the slightly off-put faces on the Gods.

The Gods were looking at each other, of course they knew who the Moirai were. You'd be very unintelligent to not know.

Athena stepped up hesitantly, "We are very aware of who you are, Lady Moirai's, may I question your reasoning for showing yourself to us?"

Clotho nodded, "In the future, Two wars start to happen that will kill many of your children, They happen within a span of two years."

Lachesis looked up, "Your incompetence messed with fate, with destiny!" She spit.

The Gods all looked slightly put-out by being on the wrong side of the anger of the Moirai. They were all slightly confused on how they could have messed with fate so badly, badly enough to have the fates come back from the future to say something.

Antropos nodded, "You messed with a great prophecy, one that should've come millena's before it actually came to be." She turned her eyes to Apollo, who shrunk under her gaze.

"You out of every one should know how dangerous it is to mess with fate, Phoebus. But I digress since it has not come to be." Antropos sighed.

Apollo nodded, he knew very well the price of messing with fate, messing with the way of the world. He wonders what he could have possibly done to forget that. Many of the Gods were now staring at him, with confusion on their faces. Before he could say anything Lachesis cut him off.

"Two great prophecies came within a year of each other, both causing much death and destruction of your children. One certain demigod is the reason that Olympus still stands, the reason you still stand." She glared around the room, making sure everyone was understanding.

"If I may, where were we, during this?" One of the minor goddesses said she was so confused. Why would they leave their children to die? Why would they let this one demigod have the weight of Olympus in their hands?

"You'll find out later why you were absent." Clotho nodded at her, then looked back at the Olympians.

"We are going to send demigods from the year 2010, this is after the first prophecy has come to pass, two of the children we are bringing will not know anything about this world, and before you ask questions it will be explained later. They are recovering from a war. We want you to know that these demigods are not to be harmed." She said, firmly.

"Of course, can I ask why exactly do the demigods need to be here?" Zeus spoke up for the first time since the Moirai got there.

"You'll be reading books, the first five will be from the child who was the center of the first great prophecy, they'll center around his quests and then the war. The next five will have different points of views, there are different demigods involved in the second great prophecy, it will show you their journey up until the second war." Lachesis said, glaring at anyone who looked annoyed.

Zeus nodded, he wasn't the happiest they'd have to listen to demigods stories, but if it will stop the deaths of their children and even keep Olympus up, he'd do it.

"May I ask when they'll-." Hermes was interrupted by a flash of light again, and children standing in the middle of the throne room.

The God's surveyed the children, they wore different clothes, there were scars on many of the children's faces. They could all tell they were young, most likely the youngest being eleven and the oldest being nineteen. They looked tired, worn, like they had seen all the horrors the world had to offer.

Many of the children bowed immediately, while a handful stayed standing. A girl with golden curls and a scar on her shoulder elbowed a boy with black hair and green eyes, who had been one of the ones standing and or glaring.

The boy was.. something. He gave off an aura of power, one that could almost rival a minor god, he had windswept black hair that had a messy look to it, his eyes were as green as the Voidomatis river that runs under the village of Vikos. He was taller than most of the demigods in the room. He had been glaring at the gods as soon as he had appeared in the throne room.

Now usually Zeus or any of the Gods really would have struck him down for that, but they all respected the Moirai wish to keep the children unharmed.

After slightly glaring at the girl who had elbowed him he gave a short bow, most of the Gods could tell it was a mocking bow.

"We have already informed the children why they are here, they will introduce themselves then the books will appear. Remember, we will be watching." Lachesis looked around and they disappeared in a flash of light.

The boy looked around and muttered, "Well, that wasn't creepy at all."

"Be careful what you say boy, they are in charge of your fate, you would do well to not insult them." Hades reprimanded harshly. The other Gods nodded.

The boy looked surprised, there was a tick in his jaw but nodded his head.

Zeus cleared his throat, "Alright, step up and introduce yourself, if you'd like there will be a seat next to whoever your parent is, if you are mortal or wouldn't like to sit with your parents their will be seats for that."

The children looked at each other as if they were debating something, a girl with short black hair looked at all of them, she was also radiating a lot of power, maybe not as much as the boy but it was there. She held herself with confidence, surprising many of the gods, many women didn't do that.

"Cowards, all of you." She got glares from everyone for that. She stepped up, bowed and introduced herself.

"Thaila Grace, Daughter of Zeus, Lieutenant of Artemis." Many of the gods nodded, that explained it. That also got Zeus a glare from Hera but she nodded. She bowed to her father than to Artemis, she hesitated before stepping over to Artemis and the couch next to her. Artemis looked confused, if it was from Thaila asking to sit with her or if it was Thaila being a Lieutenant, no one knew. She nodded and Thaila sat down.

Another girl stepped up, this was the one who elbowed the strange boy. She bowed and then talked. "Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena, Architect of Olympus." That got confused looks from everyone, though no one said anything.

Athena nodded at her, and summoned a couch, the girl also hesitated before going and sitting down.

"Katie Gardner, Daughter of Demeter." Persephone looked intrigued, and Demeter nodded and conjured a sofa.

Two identical boys stepped up, and every one heard slight groans from the demigods. The boys rolled their eyes and started introducing themselves.

"Conner-

and Travis Stoll!"

"Sons of Hermes." They Finished. Hermes gave a slight smile and conjured a couch.

"Clarisse, Daughter of Ares." Ares surveyed his daughter and nodded approvingly.

"Will Solace, Son of Apollo." Apollo raised his head and looked him over, the kid looked tired and two seconds from falling over. He conjured a couch and some Ambrosia and said nothing else.

"Chris Rodriguez, Son of Hermes"

The next two that came up looked out of it, surprised if anything.

"Piper McLean.. Uh, Daughter of Aphrodite." That was believable, she was very beautiful, and had the aura around here, like she could make anyone do anything.

"Leo Valdez, Son of.. Hephaestus." The boy had pointy ears and looked as if Dionysus had given him most of his alcohol stash.

"Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Mortal." That got looks, why was a mortal a part of a group of demigods?

"Grover Underwood, Satyr." He moved to sit by the mortal

The boy that came up next had an aura of death around him, making it obvious who his parent was, he was also obviously very young. Most likely the youngest of all the demigods.

"Nico Di Angelo, Son of Hades." Hades got a glare from two goddesses that he very much ignored. He looked at his future son and nodded his approval.

Then the strange boy came up and introduced himself. "Percy Jackson, Son of Poseidon, Hero of Olympus."

That also got a lot of looks, he must be the boy that the Moirai were talking about. It would also explain his aura.

Poseidon looked up at his future demigod son, surveyed the boy long enough for the boy to shuffle his feet and start to look uncomfortable. He nodded slightly and conjured a couch.

The boy looked at the couch and then where the mortal and the satyr was and started moving towards them.

Which earned him a few glares at the blatant disrespect and a raised eyebrow from Poseidon.

Zeus cleared his throat and nodded to where the books had appeared. Apollo slowly got up to look at them and raised an eyebrow.

"Percy Jackson and The Lighting Theif." Apollo read allowed. There was a groan of pure annoyance from the couch where the boy, Percy was sitting and snorts across the room.

"Alright, I'll read first." Hermes Piped up.

Chapter 2: I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher

Summary:

Percy... Why are you Vaporizing teachers?

On 1/12/24 the first half of this chapter was edited.

Notes:

Y'all are just going to have to deal with my long chapter notes.

I want to say I have an actual PDF open bc I cannot for the life of me find my physical copy of the book.

I have a certain way I'm taking this fic so bare with me soldiers, also PLEASE tell me who to ship Percy with I DONT KNOW WHO?? I love percabeth absolutely but there's somethings wrong with it and I want DRAMA, so pleaseeee. give me suggestions.

Also I know I said the romans would appear in the 2nd chapter but honestly I realized its not going to go with the plot SO they'll come later. I PROMISE!!!

Im absolutely doing this instead of my exams.

ALSO I need someone to tell me is it like when something takes over a room. does it like enlope the room? Like I can not find the word for it. SOMEONE HELP.

Also yes I am trying to figure something out with certain gods and how they'll evolve per-say. I dont know how to really explain it. BUT please comment I love to read comments.

Just please no mean comment, I'm a very sensitive person. My feeling get hurt very easily :)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

A bright light engulfed the room once again, revealing a gathering of demigods and gods who stood there awkwardly, seemingly unsure of their purpose.

Zeus sighed in annoyance. "Introduce yourselves quickly; we'd like to get through this book. I'm sure the Moirai already informed you why you're here."

Nodding in acknowledgment, the first to step forward was Triton. Floating with a tail and a disdainful expression, Percy recognized him and winced, sensing impending trouble. Glancing at Grover with a 'help me' expression, Percy received a chuckle and a shake of the head in response.

"Triton, Son of Poseidon and Amphitrite," Triton announced. Poseidon nodded, gesturing to a vacant spot on the couch beside him.

"Rhode, Daughter of Poseidon and Amphitrite."

"Kymopoleia, Daughter of Poseidon and Amphitrite." Poseidon acknowledged both his daughters as they joined him on the couch.

"Amphitrite, Wife of Poseidon." Percy cringed at the emphasis on 'wife,' particularly noticing Triton's glare. He scooted closer to Grover, who seemed thoroughly amused.

"Pollux, Son of Dionysus." Dionysus looked intrigued and conjured a couch, nodding in approval.

Hermes cleared his throat. "If I may start now?"

Zeus nodded.

Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood.

Raised eyebrows and questioning looks circled Percy, all of which he promptly ignored.

If you're reading this because you think you might be one...tell you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life.

"Not the worst advice you've ever given, Jackson," Thalia said approvingly.

Percy rolled his eyes. "I never give bad advice, for your information, Grace."

Snorts echoed through the throne room.

"Oh, shush, all of you," Percy quipped.

Being a Half-blood is dangerous.

Nods all around.

It's scary.

More nods.

Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways.

"You're on a roll, Perce," piped Travis.

The gods exchanged glances, perplexed by the change in their children's attitudes. They were supposed to find honor in being demigods. What had occurred to make these children now despise it?

If you're a normal kid...Don't say I didn't warn you.

Nico raised an eyebrow, "You didn't warn me, Jackson."

Percy glared at him, "I was a bit busy, Di Angelo."

Hermes glared at the both of them, "I'd like to get through the book this millenia, if you don't mind. I'm not sure what it's like in your time, but most sane people don't interrupt Gods ."

"Now Nephew, I'm sure some commentary won't hurt. Especially if the Moirai want us to change the future, these demigods' input will be needed." Hestia said, giving a look at anyone who looked like they were going to disagree.

My name is Percy Jackson. I'm twelve years old.

Will gave a hesitant look at Hermes before speaking, "Was this when you first got to camp, during-."

Percy cut him off and nodded, "Yes, it was during that."

A huff before Hermes continued

Until a few months ago…In upstate New York

"New York?" Asked Persephone, with a confused glance at the other gods.

Nico looked up at her before answering, "It's a place that hasn't been discovered by mortals yet, I'm sure more about it will come up later." He said that last part with a glance towards Percy.

Percy nodded.

Persephone and some other gods looked like they wanted more information but just nodded.

Am I a troubled kid?

"No one says a word." Percy glared at every demigod in the room who opened their mouths.

Yeah. You could say that.

Most demigods were trying to cover their laughter now, while Percy had his head buried into Grovers shirt.

"All of Poseidon's children are troubled." Dionysus said, before shrinking down into his throne at the glare he was giving.

"Careful, Nephew ." Poseidon shot at Dionysus.

I could start at any point in my short, miserable life...Metropolitan Museum of Art to look at ancient Greek and Roman stuff.

Annabeth gave a questioning look towards Percy, "Roman? I didn't think any Roman things existed anymore."

"Excuse me?" One of the minor Goddesses said. Percy was almost sure she was Psyche.

"What exactly do you mean by that, girl." Maybe-Psyche said.

"I-" Annabeth was cut off by Nico.

"I'm sure that will also come up later, My lady." He said with as much confidence as one could with a goddess glaring at him.

Hermes was now glaring at everyone, " Can I continue now?"

No one said anything so he continued

I know-it sounds like torture.

"Many children don't get education, boy, you should be grateful for any chance to learn." Artemis was now glaring at him.

Percy was about to say something back before he was cut off by Hermes.

Most Yancy field trips were..so I had hopes.

"Chiron?" Annabeth mouthed at percy.

He nodded.

Mr. Brunner was this middle-aged guy in a motorized wheelchair…didn't put me to sleep.

Percy was now getting glares from many people in the room.

Poseidon was raising an eyebrow which made him shrink even further into the sofa.

I hoped the trip…boy was I wrong.

"Percy, you absolutely jinxed it." Christ said, looking at him with an amused expression.

"Yeah, Yeah, I know." Percy said, rolling his eyes.

See bad things happen…I got expelled anyway.

No demigod could stop themselves from laughing at that.

"What exactly is a Cannon?" Ares questioned, intrigued.

Leo piped up for the first time, "A large gun that fires heavy metal shells or other projectiles, like a grenade but a lot bigger, with a bigger explosion."

Athena looked put-out, "Why exactly were children even around that."

Percy shrugged, heck if he knew what went on in the school board's mind.

That also earned him a glare.

What was it with gods glaring at him today?

And before that…Well you get the idea.

That set the demigods off again.

Kymopoleia looked intrigued, of course she had demigod siblings that caused much trouble, maybe this one wouldn't be different. But it did intrigue her how much this child caused chaos.

Hermes cleared his throat rather loudly, his eyes flashing, promising a very bad day if anyone continued laughing. Of course this child was rather amusing, but it was getting out of hand how disrespectful these demigods were when he was trying to finish this.

All the way into the city…-Ketchup sandwich.

No one wanted to piss off Hermes any further, so the glares being thrown at the book were enough for them.

Grover was an easy target…enchilada day in the cafeteria

"Percy!" Grover bleated, while he threw a pillow at Percy's head.

"Now hold on, why couldn't he see that you were a satyr?" Dionsyus asked, before Percy could reply to Grover.

"Better yet, why were both of you with mortals?" Dionysus asked, looking at them suspiciously.

They looked at each other debating if to tell them, which was starting to make the Gods annoyed.

"I'm sure it'll come up in a few chapters, Lord Dionysus." Conner piped up, saving the both of them.

He glared at them and was about to demand answers before Hermes cut him off.

Anyway, Nancy Bobofit..had threatened me with death-

Raised eyebrows from most Gods in the room, who'd dare threaten a child with death, much less a demigod child from one of the big three.

By in-school suspension.

They all nodded that sounded better.

"I'm going to kill her." I mumbled.

Artemis looked even more angry at this, so did most women in the room.

"You'd lay your hands on a girl?" She phrased this as more of a threat than a question.

Percy very much did not want to be turned into a fruit and or a animal. "I-." Was all he could say before he was cut off by Thaila

"If I may, My Lady, but I know Percy would never lay his hands on anyone, much less a girl." Thaila said, trying to help Percy.

Artemis nodded but continued glaring at him, Percy saw that as a win.

Grover tried to…like peanut butter."

"In your lunch?" Katie questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Gover shook his head, "I was more or less trying to calm Percy down."

He dodged another…compared of the mess I was about to get myself into

There was a slight scoff coming from Kymopoleia, of course this child was just like the others. Easy to anger, and the first instinct was violence.

Rhodes elbowed her and flicked her eyes to their father who was studying Percy. They didn't want to anger him by offending their demigod brother.

Mr. Brunner led…Survived for two, three thousand years.

"Longer than that, Percy." Annabeth said, giving Percy a look.

He Gathered us around…because it was kind of interesting.

"Really, you found it interesting?" Thaila questioned.

Percy huffed and nodded, he wasn't as dumb as they made him out to be. Grover gave him a questioning look but Percy shook his head.

But everyone around him was talking…give me the evil eye.

The Gods were slightly annoyed, the demigods weren't answering any of their questions, they were confused on how any of this will help them in the future. They were especially annoyed at how incompetent the mortals seemed to be about their world.

Mrs. Dodds was this…our last math teacher had a nervous breakdown.

Percy snorted, "Nervous breakdown my butt."

Everyone gave him a questioning look but he ignored it.

From her first day…and I knew I was going to get detention for a month.

"I despise teachers like that, they always make us out to be the bad guys, just because of our ADHD and Dyslexia." Thaila said, annoyed.

Most of the demigods nodded.

Athena raised an eyebrow, "These teachers are there for your learning, why would they single you out."

"They just don't like us, Lady Athena, I'm not sure there's another answer for that." Will said, speaking for the first time since the beginning of the book.

Athena looked confused but nodded at Hermes, who looked minutes away from blasting the next person who spoke.

One time, after she made me…real serious and said, "you're absolutely right."

"Grover!" Everyone groaned.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Grover said annoyed

"So it's a monster." Muttered Triton

The gods sitting on the couch with him nodded.

Mr.Brunner kept talking…I turned around and said "Will you shut up!"

"Really Percy?" Pollux was watching him with an amused expression.

"I was annoyed! I was trying to listen to the teacher." Percy groaned out.

"Well at least you were attempting to learn." Annabeth conceded.

It came out louder than I meant it too.

"Of course it did Percy." Laughed Rachel.

He just pouted in return.

The whole group…"Mr. Jackson", he said. "Did you have a comment?"

"Why do teachers do that, just single people out?" Questioned Nico.

My face was totally red…"Perhaps you'll tell us what this picture represents?"

"I got three guesses on what it is." Bet Clarisse.

"Quiet!" Hermes yelled, effectively shutting everyone up.

"Let me get through at least a paragraph, before you children interrupt me again ." He glared at all of them.

I looked at the carving…eating his kids right?"

The six original gods all cringed at that.

"Be careful of the names you use, boy." Apollo said, talking for the first time, giving Percy a look.

Percy flinched back in surprise. He forgets that these Gods aren't the gods from their time. These are much crueler and strict, especially a certain few. He nods at Apollo and looks away.

Hermes just sighed in defeat while giving Apollo a nasty look.

"Yes." Mr. Brunner… "Kronos was the king God-"

"Here it comes." Percy muttered to Grover

Many of the gods, including his Father were now staring at him in disbelief.

"Excuse me?" Hades said dangerously.

Percy shrunk into the seat and looked at Hermes pleadingly.

Hermes stared at him and then looked at the book.

"God?" Mr. Brunner asked.

"See?" He tried, effectively getting more people glaring at him.

"Titan."...Eew! Said one of the girls behind me.

Now the Gods were glaring at the book, now why were these mortals so utterly dumb.

"-and so there was this big fight… and the gods won."

Now everyone was just staring at him in wonder.

"...and the gods won. You just summed up a ten year war of destruction and death into "and the gods won." Apollo said with a raised eyebrow at the unusually strange boy.

"It got the point across?" Percy said.

"Children." Amphitrite muttered.

Behind me Nancy…'please explain why Kronos ate his kids.'

"Would someone like to explain why exactly these mortals are acting like we don't exist and why we haven't struck them down for it." Psyche said. Percy was certain this was Psyche.

"Because they don't know you exist, and or they don't know this world exists, and that's all I can really say without giving away too much." Rachel Explained.

The gods looked stunned. Why on Gaias earth did these mortals not know they existed. One of the gods was about to question more when Hermes cut them off.

"And why, Mr. Jackson…matters in real life.

"Busted." Muttered Travis.

"Busted." Grover Muttered.

"Shut up." Travis said to Conner before he could say anything.

"Shut up!"..."I don't know sir."

"See i don't know what he wanted me to say, I obviously didn't know i was a demigod, and even if i did I wasn't going to say it infront of mortals." Percy looked around making sure everyone agreed with him.

The gods looked confused. Who was this teacher?

They nodded.

"I'm not sure what he wanted you to say either." Said Katie.

"I see."... On that happy note, It's time for lunch."

"Happy note?" Zeus questioned.

The gods shook their heads, what was it with the future?

The class drifted off..acting like doofuses.

"Boy's." Thaila muttered.

Grover and I were about to leave…thousand years old and had seen everything.

He got confused looks for that but Percy just smiled and nodded.

"You must learn…Oh"

"Oh." Nico mocked.

Percy threw his hands in the air, "what else should i have said?"

No one had an answer for that.

"What you learn from me…from you, Percy Jackson.

"That's.. a lot of pressure." Noted a minor god from the back.

Percy nodded, "It was, but I completely understand why he did it."

They raised an eyebrow but nodded

I wanted to get angry, this guy pushed me so hard.

Poseidon gave him a look, "Whoever he is, I'm sure he has a reason to push this hard, son, don't disrespect the people who are supposed to help you."

Percy jumped, his father hadn't said a word to him since he got here, he nodded slightly then turned towards Hermes.

Percy had heard all the old stories about his father, just like he had for Apollo. Percy doesn't know if he's ready to deal with that just yet.

I mean, sure,... god they worshiped.

Will groaned, "I wish I had him as a teacher."

Many of the other demigods nodded.

Percy just smirked.

But Mr. Brunner…i couldn't just learn all those names much less write them.

"Having dyslexia makes school so much harder." Percy said.

Every demigod nodded.

I mumbled something about trying harder…Overhead a huge storm was brewing.

That got a lot of weird looks towards Zeus.

With clouds blacker…i wouldn't have been surprised if a hurricane was blowing in.

Now Poseidon was getting the looks.

Hades raised an eyebrow, "Now why are you two fighting?"

Poseidon and Zeus looked at each other and shook their heads.

Grover and I sat on the edge of the fountain…school for loser-freaks.

"Jackson, I will smack you if you call yourself that again, you too Underwood." Clarrise glared.

Poseidon frowned but said nothing.

"Detention?" Grover Asked…I mean I'm not a genius.

A few people snorted, making Percy sink lower, which no one thought was possible.

Grover didn't say anything for a while… "Can I have your Apple?" he said."

"...Grover." Will said flatly

"I Know!" He said annoyed.

I didn't have much of an appetite, so I let him take it.

Now everyone was looking at Percy concerned. He was always hungry.

I watched the streams of cabs…I wanted to jump in a taxi and head home. She'd hug me and be glad to see me, but disappointed, too.

Percy was now smiling sadly, his mother had been very protective these last few days after the war. He missed her already.

"Mrs. Jackson is the best that I will give Percy." Thalia said.

Many of the demigods nodded.

Zeus raised an eyebrow, "Have you all met this woman?"

"We have, her house is kind of like a safe haven for demigods on the way back to camp." Annabeth said.

The sea family minus Percy all raised an eyebrow but said nothing else.

She'd send me right back to Yancy…I wouldn't be able to stand that sad look she'd give me.

The demigods sent sad looks towards Percy, which he very much ignored.

I was about to unwrap my sandwich…dumped her half-eaten lunch in Grover's lap.

" I'm Going to murder her." Katie grit out.

"Get in line." Thalia said.

"Oops." She said.. But I was so mad a wave roared in my ears.

Kymopoleia looked intrigued, had this demigod just unknowingly used his powers.

Many of the other gods were also listening intently.

I don't remember touching her, but the next thing I knew, Nancy was sitting on her butt in the fountain, screaming, "Percy pushed me!"

Everyone rolled their eyes.

"Get what you deserve bi-." Thaila was cut off with a glare from Artemis.

Mrs. Dodds materialized next to us.

"Monster." Most demigods said.

Percy glared at them. "Ohh, thank you for telling me four years later."

They had enough sense to look sheepish.

Some of the kids were whispering: "Did you see-.. -It grabbed her."

Poseidone smirked slightly, at the display of powers.

I didn't know what they were talking about… "I know." I grumbled "A month erasing notebooks."

The glare Percy got from three Hermes kids was enough to make him mouth 'sorry'.

That wasn't the right thing to say.

"Duh, Perce." Pollux said with a raised eyebrow.

"Come with me." Mrs Dodds said...I pushed her. "

Percy smiled, "Thank you for trying G-man."

"You—will—stay...I'll-kill-you-later stare.

"You do not want to be on the wrong side of that." Nico shuddered.

Everyone nodded but looked at him strangely.

"If it's anything like Poseidons, then I can understand." Hades said.

Poseidon glared at him but said nothing.

Then I turned to face Mrs Dodds...How'd she get there so fast?

Percy glared at everyone, "If any of you say anything you will have a sword at your neck."

I have moments like that a lot...brain misinterpreting things.

"Definitely does not seem like it this time little brother." Rhode said, scaring everyone who forgot she was here.

Percy looked up exasperated, honestly! This was four years ago. But he nodded slightly not wanting to anger his half-sibling.

I wasn't so sure

The gods nodded at his instincts.

I went after Mrs Dodds...Mr. Brunner was absorbed in his novel.

"He has to be someone important, so why is he ignoring this." Hephestus asked, also scaring everyone who had forgotten about him.

I looked back up... except for us.. the gallery was empty.

"You seem to attract trouble, child." Noted Apollo.

Percy nodded, "It does seem to gravitate towards me."

Mrs. Dodds stood with her arms crossed..."You've been giving us problems, honey," she said.

Psyche looked over at Thanatos, "Does she seem… familiar to you."

He nodded, he had been thinking the same thing.

I did the safe thing. I said, "Yes, ma'am."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, "Really, that's new"

The gods looked at eachother, that didn't sound promising, especially for someone who was supposed to save Olympus.

She tugged on the cuffs of her leather jacket. "Did you really think you would get away with it?"

"With what?" Hera muttered.

The look in her eyes was beyond mad...Thunder shook the building.

Zeus looked confused. He had nothing against this demigod, nor did it seem the demigod had done anything to offend him… well at least in the future, so why was he doing this?

"We are not fools, Percy Jackson...I didn't know what she was talking about.

"You wouldn't child, you seem to know nothing of this world, meaning whatever has happened in the future, you seem to unknowingly be in the middle of it." Athena said.

Percy looked surprised at how she guessed it, but slightly nodded to her.

All I could think of was that the teachers must've found the illegal stash of candy I'd been selling out of my dorm room.

"Percy!" The Stoll brothers cried, "Why didn't you tell us you were good at that stuff."

"Uh- Uh, keep Percy out of your shenanigans." Annabeth said, glaring at the brothers.

Percy winked at them and they grinned.

Or maybe they'd realized I got my essay...and now they were going to take away my grade.

There were snorts heard from all across the room.

Or worse, they were going to make me read the book.

The snorts turned to full laughter.

"Exactly what is so wrong about reading a book, boy." Artemis raised an eyebrow.

"My dyslexia makes it almost impossible to be able to read anything that's not Greek, Lady Artemis." He replied.

She nodded.

"Well?" she demanded...she was about to slice me to ribbons.

Shock radiated throughout the throne room, while most gods turned to look at Hades, while the demigods turned to look at Percy.

The demigods were shocked that the minotaur wasn't Percy's first monster, he hid his face into Grover attempting to look away from all the stares.

Poseidon looked annoyed, he let his children fight their own battles, but really? A Fury, that's a bit far, especially since it was sent by his brother.

Before anyone could say anything Hermes started reading, eager to finally let the chapter be over.

Then things got even stranger...Mrs Dodds lunged at me.

All the demigods flinched.

"I am literally right here." Percy said, but it fell on deaf ears.

With a yelp, I dodged...which he always used on tournament day.

Artemis looked at the boy annoyed, it was very obviously anaklusmos, and yet the boy probably had no idea of the history of the sword.

Mrs. Dodds spun towards me…I swung the sword.

"How exactly is that natural, Perce? Katie said.

Percy Shrugged, "it was just instinct and swinging it felt natural."

"...That makes no sense."

He shrugged.

The metal blade hit her shoulder...as if those two glowing red eyes were still watching me.

" Did you just take out my Fury in one hit, boy?" Hades said, staring at Percy.

"I.. Luck?" Percy tried which earned him snorts and disbelieving looks from around the room.

Poseidon looked at Hades and smirked before sitting fully back against his throne.

The Children on Poseidon besides Percy were all looking at him approvingly, they may not like the boy, but he definitely had good instincts.

I was alone...magic mushrooms or something.

"Before anyone asks, the mist was still affecting me and yes it'll be explained later in the books." Percy Explained, which earned him glares from the gods.

Had I imagined the whole thing?...Mrs Kerr whipped your butt."

" ...Who?" Most of the demigods said.

"Who?" I Asked

Chuckles were heard from around the room.

"Our teacher. Duh!"...I thought he was messing with me.

Percy patted Grover's back. "You're still a horrible liar." Which got him a punch and a glare.

"Not funny, man," I told him...He stared at me blankly. "Who?"

"Now he can lie." The stolls nodded approvingly.

Percy huffed, "made me think I was insane."

" Alright! I am finally done with this bloody chapter, someone talks this before I go against the fates and murder the next person who talks during this." Hermes did not look like he was lying, he actually looked annoyed.

Thalia got up, "I'll take it, Lord Hermes." He nodded at her and she took and sat down.

Notes:

If y'all could see me writing this.. I was so done trying to introduce everyone. Lets just say there was a lot of huffing especially when it wouldn't come out the way I wanted.

So with that I want to say, I absolute hate the start of this chapter. Please ignore it.

HERMES WAS SO DONE WITH EVERYONE THIS CHAPTER. He honestly was about to blast anyone who talked. This guy was cutting everyone off.

Also I know there wasn't much Percy & Poseidon BUT its coming.

I started this at 9:30pm it is now 2:46 am. im dying.

This will be updated somewhere between 6:00-10:00pm Central Standard time, On March 26th!

Chapter 3: Three Old Ladies Knit The Socks Of Death

Notes:

So, it is 7;02pm, I'm writing this while there's a tornado watch, a 4/5 tornado chance, severe weather outbreak. so if I die let my legacy live on.

y'all its the curse of the ao3 authors, its coming for me.

why study for my exam, when I can just write fics

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUGGESTIONS, so here Is what we have so far.

1 for Percy/Hermes

1 for Luke/Percy

4 for Percy/Apollo

1 for Jason/Percy

1 for Rachel/Percy

So please vote! Just so everyone knows, if Percy/any god wins, it will not happen till after the charcheter development, I do not see Percy getting with a god as cruel as they are now.

I also want this to be out there, there will be no Percy/Annabeth, nor wil there be any Percy/Thaila. It will be explained in the fic why there's no percabeth, and for Percy and Thaila, I physically cannot see them as anything other than a brother sister relationship.

also I know there's a lot of words for this chapter, I had a lot of time on my hands.

also I promise Apollo will not stay exactly like this, I just needed drama.

Chapter four will be out before Thursday of next week!

I need friends, add me on tumblr @Mirzamsaiph and dm me or something

ill stop ranting now and let y'all get into the fic!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

"Three old ladies…" Thanatos muttered.

"There's a lot of those in our world." Psyche chuckled.

Everyone looked confused at the title and a little amused.

"Percy, what is it with these titles?" Chris inquired, with an amused expression.

Percy shrugged, "I didn't write this."

I was used to the occasional weird experience...was more than I could handle.

"Yeah, that's gotta suck." Pollux grimaced.

Percy nodded, "It was horrible, I thought I was going crazy."

Grover had the decency to look sorry.

For the rest of the school year…trick on me.

"The whole school?" Travis questioned.

"Eh, it was the only thing I could come up with." Percy shrugged.

The students acted as if…pre-algebra teacher since Christmas.

Percy leaned over towards Grover and whispered, "How did that woman even appear? Was it the mist?"

He raised an eyebrow, "No, it was a spare teacher chiron had just in case something happened. You really think the mist created a whole new person?"

Percy just rolled his eyes, it wouldn't be the weirdest thing that has happened.

Every so often I would spring Mrs Dodds...Almost.

Thaila looked at Grover who looked sheepish, "Really Goat-boy?"

Grover shook his head, "You don't understand how hard it is to lie to him, it's like he sniffs out the lies."

Triton looked up at that with a intrigued expression, "What do you mean, satyr."

Grover looked startled, "I just mean, it's very hard to lie to him, anytime I ever tried he'd look at me weirdly and shake his head, I could tell by his emotions he knew i was lying."

Annabeth nodded, "I've tried lying to him a few times and I could tell immediately he knew I was lying, if it was his facial expression or something else, I gave up after the first few times failed."

Percy threw his hands up, "Stop lying to me then!"

The sea family all looked at him then looked at eachother, the sibling's started muttering to each other.

But Grover couldn't fool me...But I knew he was lying, something was going on.

"Are you descended from me, child?' Apollo questioned.

Percy shrugged, he wasn't completely sure. He'd have to ask his mom about that.

His eyes flashed with annoyance, "I asked a question, I expect it to be answered."

Percy glared, "I would've said something if I knew it." He snapped.

Apollo started to stand with an aura of anger surrounding him, he was about to say something, most likely a curse before Poseidon stood.

Grover had an arm in front of Percy as if protecting him.

Percy appreciated the thought, but he didn't think that was going to work. Especially against an angry god.

"How dare y-.' Apollo was cut off by a hand being held up by Poseidon.

"Yes, Apollo. I understand that, that was extremely disrespectful." The last part said with a look thrown towards Percy as if reprimanding him.

"I will say something to him about it, but I will not let you attack my son, nor do you want to anger the Moirai any more than you apparently have." Poseidon conceded.

Apollo glare didn't soften, sadly enough for Percy, "Be careful who you make an enemy, boy."

Thalia looked between them as both Apollo and Poseidon sat and hesitantly started reading again.

I didn't have much time to think about it...would wake me up in a cold sweat.

Katie shakes her head, "Nightmares suck."

Most of the demigods nodded.

"Most of your 'nightmares' are dreams sent to you by me, usually a warning to help you." Hypno's glared

The freak weather continued...sudden squalls in the Atlantic that year.

"You two are hopeless, what would make you fight this bad? Why take it out on the demigod, no matter how disrespectful he might be?" Hades raised an eyebrow at the two of them.

Percy opened his mouth to defend himself before many glares, demigod and god alike, were sent at him.

He shut his mouth.

I started feeling cranky and irritable most of the time.

"I'm not sure if you remember but you snapped at anyone who talked to you. It was slightly off-putting." Grover said, looking at him.

Percy cringed, "I wasn't meaning to, At that point I wasn't sure why I was annoyed, which was only making me more annoyed than anything."

Athena nodded, "You seem to be intune to your Fathers emotions, it was most likely why it was happening."

Percy nodded.

My grades slipped from Ds to Fs.

"Percy!" Annabeth glared.

"Sorry!"

I got into more fights with Nancy Bobofit...it sounded good.

"He deserved that. Don't glare at me, he was purposely calling me lazy knowing I had dyslexia and ADHD." Percy shot at Annabeth before she could say anything.

"I'm more on the fact you called him a 'drunk', perce." Pollux said, looking far too amused.

"No, correction. An 'old drunk'." Conner corrected.

"You really do tend to insult your superiors, boy." Ares said.

Percy cringed thinking about the quest in this book, "I would like to apologize for any thoughts that are read aloud in this book about y'all, I never thought they would be read aloud which I feel is a completely solid reason. I would also like to apologize for some of the things I know I say later in the book, I know it will probably make many of you mad."

Many of the gods looked at the boy and shook their heads. They could already tell this boy would probably at least insult each of them once.

Poseidon was just thinking about how much he would have to stop gods from blasting his son. He may let his children fight their battles, but not against gods he knew they wouldn't win against.

The headmaster sent my mom a letter...I wouldn't not be invited back to Yancy Academy.

Percy shrugged. "It was my sixth school I had gotten kicked out of, at that point I didn't really care."

Fine, I told myself. Just fine...and his stupid poker parties.

Nico raised an eyebrow, "Paul doesn't play poker, does he?"

Percy shook his head, hoping they wouldn't mention Gabe after this.

Everyone looked at him but said nothing.

And yet. . . There were things I'd miss at Yancy...I'd miss Grover

Grover smiled.

who'd been a good friend, even if he was a little strange.

Grovers smile turned into a frown.

"Love ya, G-man." Percy tried, with an amused look.

He got a pillow thrown at him in response.

I worried how he'd survive...faith that I could do well.

"He still believes in you, Perce. He just already knows how well you can do." Travis smiled, being one of the few people who knew who it was.

Percy smiled.

As exam week got closer...I'd started to believe him.

Everyone nodded.

The evening before my final...across my dorm room.

"Really? What is it with you throwing books?" Annabeth inquired.

Percy blushed and looked back to Thalia.

Words had started swimming off the page...as if they were riding skateboards.

"...That's a weirdly good description of dyslexia." Chris said, surprised.

Nico snorted, "Loved the water reference, Percy."

Percy grinned at him.

There was no way I was going to remember the difference between Chiron and Charon,

"Well I definitely know the difference now." Percy shuddered, "Never will I make that mistake again."

Hades looked at him, "I'm hoping you only know that because you know Chiron, child."

Percy looked at him then looked back at Grover, who shook his head.

Hades sighed.

or Polydictes and...Forget it.

"Ah, yes. Latin isn't very easy." Thalia nodded.

"But you can speak Greek, can you not?"

Thaila looked over at a girl she didn't recognize, "Can you not?"

She shook her head, "I only just learned I was a demigod."

Percy looked at her, "How old are you?"

"15."

Percy sighed and looked away, Of course the gods wouldn't keep their promises.

Thaila nodded at her, "When we break, come with me and I'll show you some ancient Greek and we'll see if you can."

She nodded.

I paced the room...he could give me some pointers.

"You went and asked for help?" Apollo asked, sadly the glare was still there but at least he wasn't trying to blast Percy anymore.

Percy, not wanting to make him any more mad than he already was, just nodded.

Most of the gods raised an eyebrow. Many demigods were too prideful to ask for help.

I walked downstairs to the faculty offices...best friend talking about you to an adult.

"Percy! You really listened to this whole thing?" Grover bleated.

Percy glared, "You were talking about me behind my back, of course I was going to!"

Most of the demi-gods nodded, they would've done the same thing.

I inched closer..."We need the boy to mature more."

Nico chuckled, "That may take long."

"Shut up." Percy stuck out his tongue at him.

"But he may not have the time...enough to convince him of that."

Percy huffed, "It would have been nice if someone had told me what was going on."

Grover gave him a look that mostly said 'sorry.'

"Sir, I . . . I can't fail..."You know what that would mean."

Thaila cleared her throat and set the book down.

"Should I be concerned about how she's walking towards us?" Grover asked, a bit nervously.

Percy looked at him then looked at Thaila, gave him a sorry look and got up to sit closer to Rachel.

Before Grover could say anything Thaila was in front of him.

"You absolutely stupid goat, It was my choice! !" She said as she wacked him with a pillow.

"Ow! OW!, Okay! I get it!"

She huffed and turned around and picked up the book again.

"Ouch, that's gotta hurt." Percy looked like he was trying not to laugh.

"Shut up, Percy." Grover shot.

"You haven't failed...hit the floor with a thud.

"You're horrible at sneaking around." Conner shook his head sadly.

Percy glared at him.

Mr. Brunner went silent...then moved on.

Chris raised an eyebrow, "He didn't sense you?"

Percy shook his head, "I'm almost positive he sensed me, he just didn't want to scare me."

Grover nodded.

A bead of sweat trickled down my neck...haven't been right since the winter solstice."

"That's been mentioned a few times, what exactly happened at the solstice?" Kymopoleia questioned.

Percy shook his head, '"I'm sure it'll be explained later, but it is the center of this book I'm pretty sure."

She sighed but nodded.

"Mine neither," Grover said...like he'd there all night.

Percy muttered something about lying goats.

"Hey," he said, bleary-eyed...so he couldn't read my expression,

Before anyone could say anything Percy raised a hand, "I know now he can read emotions, at the time i didn't."

and started getting ready for bed...as I was leaving the three-hour Latin exam,

Will grimaced, "That's just cruel."

Everyone jumped, "Goodness, Will! Talk more, you just scared everyone." Travis said.

He shrugged, "I'm just listening, not interrupting like you people."

Everyone just rolled their eyes

I mumbled, "Okay, sir."...It was only a matter of time."

"Ouch, Yeah, that would hurt my feelings too." Rachel said.

My eyes stung...telling me I was destined to get kicked out.

Grover shook his head, "You know now that's not what he meant right?"

Percy nodded.

"Right," I said, trembling...That's nothing to be—"

Most of the demi-gods had figured out who it was now, and were shaking their heads.

"Would anyone like to help me give him pep talk lessons?" Travis asked.

Most demi-gods raised their hands.

On the last day of term...I was a nobody, from a family of nobodies.

"...I'm going to let that go, just because it seems you didn't know your heritage." Hades glared.

They asked me what I'd be doing this summer and I told them I was going back to the city.

"At least they asked, that's nice." Nico stated.

Percy shook his head, "Wait for it."

What I didn't tell them was that I'd have to get a summer job walking dogs or selling magazine subscriptions,

"Perce, that's not your job, you're twelve!" Annabeth looked at him questioningly.

Percy just looked at Thalia.

"Oh," one of the guys said...as if I'd never existed.

Percy nodded, "There it is."

Triton rolled his eyes, "Mortals," He muttered

The only person I dreaded saying goodbye to was Grover...heading into the city.

"How convenient, Grover." Travis said, raising his eyebrows.

"Oh shush, you're horrible." Grover quipped.

During the whole bus ride...there was nobody to tease him on the Greyhound.

"Percy what are you about to do?" Will asked.

Percy chuckled and looked at Thaila, who was staring at the next line laughing.

"Oh, gods, this is why I tolerate you, Jackson." She said.

Finally I couldn't stand it anymore. I said, "Looking for Kindly Ones?"

That set all the demigods off.

Weirdly, even the minor gods had amused looks on their faces.

"I Love the tact on you, child." Psyche said sarcastically.

Thanatos snorted, "More like the lack of tact."

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't give the satyr a heart attack, boy." Hermes glared.

Grover nearly jumped out of his seat...the night before the exam.

Travis and Conner shook their heads at the confession.

Grovers eye twitched...hallucinating about demon math teachers..."

"Thals, i'm going to take a note out of your book real quick." Percy snickered

Thalia looked at him questioningly

Percy picked up the pillow Thalia had dropped earlier.

"Made. Me. Think. I Was. Crazy. You. Goat." Percy hit him with a pillow every time a word came out.

" Hey!, For your information Chi- Mr. Brunner made me." Grover pointed out.

Percy just huffed and stuck out his tongue.

"Grover—...you're a really, really bad liar."

Percy nodded very quickly.

Grover groaned, "You're just hard to lie to, we've had this conversation!"

Conner shook his head, "You're just a bad liar Grover, but I will say Percy is also very hard to lie to."

Triton looked over to his siblings and they nodded as if agreeing on something.

His ears turned pink...which was murder on my dyslexic eyes,

"We really need to get Mr. D to change that, I'm almost positive he does that on purpose." Percy pointed out.

"Mr.D?" Hebe said, talking for the first time, her being the goddess of youth, she had just been enjoying the aura of happiness of the demigods talking with each other.

Percy nodded,"Yes, my lady. I'm sure he'll come up later!"

She smiled at him and nodded.

"Okay," I said..."Why would I need you?"

"Perseus Jackson! Mrs. Jackson did not raise you like that." Katie Told him, looking disappointed.

"I know! I know! I was just in a bad mood, I am sorry Grover." Percy said.

He waved it off.

Ares cleared his throat, "Perseus?" he inquired.

Percy blushed, embarrassed, "Yes, that would be my full name. People just usually don't call me that."

Zeus sighed, "You didn't think to say your full name when introducing yourself?"

Percy shook his head, "It wasn't meant to be disrespectful or anything, I just usually don't."

He just sighed.

to his Adam's apple...beaten up next year without me

"You should have told me! I didn't know you were losing sleep!." Grover bleated, annoyed.

"I didn't want to worry you." Percy answered.

Grover shook his head.

Aphrodite looked at the boy appraisingly, he seemed to have extreme loyalty towards his friend. You don't see many male demigods with that.

And here he was acting like..."What exactly are you protecting me from?

"Gods."

"Monsters."

"Tripping over your own two shoes." That one came from Thalia, which got a pillow thrown at her.

"With how disrespectful you are, I wouldn't be surprised if one of us has tried to blast you." Apollo shot at him.

Percy cringed, he'd have to apologize to Apollo during a break. He didn't need to have a god mad at him this early in the reading.

There was a huge grinding noise...to the side of the highway.

That's not good." Leo said, frowning.

After a few minutes...biggest pair of socks I'd ever seen.

Silence echoed through the entire throne room. This child had seen the Moirai at age 12, how was he sitting before them? Seeing the Fates always meant certain death if you were mortal, even a half-mortal.

Percy sighed, this is why he didn't tell anyone. He didn't want the demi-gods coddling him. He knew whos string it was, and it surely wasn't his.

I mean these socks were the size of sweaters...they seemed to be looking right at me.

"I can't read this." Thalia choked out.

Artemis softly pried it out of her hands, and started to read.

I looked over at Grover...You think those socks would fit me?"

"So not the time Percy." Will whispered.

"Not funny, Percy. Not funny at all."

Everyone nodded.

The old lady in the middle..."It's a thousand degrees in there."

"For god's sake Percy, get on the damn bus." Annabeth whisper-yelled.

Poseidon was holding onto his wife's hand, why were the fates doing this? If the fates snipped his string, he would've died. Why was his child sitting right in front of them unharmed?

He may not know this child yet, like he did his others, but he did care for his children. He just was never sure how to show it, especially to his demigod children.

"I want to point out, I am right here." Percy reminded them.

They ignored him.

"Come on!" He pried open the door...hear that snip across four lanes of traffic.

A choked sob was heard from Annabeth, it was seconds before she threw herself at Percy.

Everyone was silent and Percy took the opportunity to speak.

"It wasn't mine, I know who it is now," Percy quietly said.

Everyone's head snapped up to him.

"Why would the fate's show you someone else's string being snipped, child?" Thanatos interrogated.

"Our fates were intertwined, it's a long story that I'm sure will come out." Percy nodded to him.

Poseidon sighed, this child was going to give him gray hairs. Especially with his disrespect in the mix.

At the rear of the bus...the engine roared back to life.

"Now it works." Piper snorted.

Leo and Piper may not have known much about the Greek mythology world, but they knew who the fates were enough to be silent during that.

The passengers cheered...as if I'd caught the flu.

Poseidon nodded, "That would be from you seeing someone's life be cut either in half or someone dying, I'd be more concerned if it didn't affect you at all, child."

Percy nodded slightly, he was probably going to have to talk to his father during the break too.

Gods, why did his life have to be so complicated.

Grover didn't look much better..."What are you not telling me?"

Percy huffed, "Oh you know, just everything."

He dabbed his forehead with his shirt sleeve...Mrs. Dodds, are they?"

"You may be disrespectful, but you do have good instincts, boy." Persephone nodded at him.

He smiled slightly at her and nodded.

He closed his eyes and made a gesture...It was something else, something almost—older.

"Goodness Percy, how are you guessing any of this?" Pollux looked surprised.

Kymopoleia leaned forward, "Are you always this perceptive? Just like with the lying thing, the Satyr was talking about, has that always happened?

Percy was railing from the questions thrown at him, right as he was about to speak, Poseidon held up his hand.

"You can ask him later, Kymopoleia, let's get this chapter over with."

She nodded and leaned back slightly.

He said "You saw her snip the cord."..."I don't want this to be like the last time."

Thalia and Annabeth were glaring at him now.

It was more intimidating now that Annabeth was sitting on the same couch now.

"What last time?"...Promise me."

Percy whistled, trying to look innocent while Grover was glaring.

Annabeth snorted, "I'm guessing he ran off?"

Grover huffed and turned around.

This seemed like a strange request...Does that mean somebody is going to die?"

Kymopoleia looked like she was going to interrogate him again but stopped at the look Poseidon sent her.

He looked at me mournfully, like he was already picking the kind of flowers I'd like best on my coffin.

"You definitely scared him off Grover." Pollux said.

Grover huffed again.

"Well after all those interruptions, the chapter is finally done. Who'd like to read next." Artemis looked relieved to get the book out of her hands.

Athena nodded to her and picked up the book.

Notes:

Go follow my Tumblr @mirzamsaiph I post updates and sneak peaks!

I want to take this time right here and say something.

It doesn't matter if your christian or not, however you pray, send your prayers to, Rolling fork, MS, Silver City, MS, Winona, MS, and Amoury, MS. Thousands of people are homeless, 23 are dead, and many more are missing after a devastating EF3- EF4 tornado rolled through there from 8:30pm to 10:00pm. It tracked 100 miles and in doing so ruined many peoples life.

it has been a day since this happened, and the wreckage breaks my heart. My heart goes out to everyone who lives were it hit and the family's of people waiting to know if their family is okay.

I won't rant down here because I want this known, anything you can do to help these people do it.

Chapter 4: Grover Unexpectedly Looses His Pants

Notes:

I'm not dead. YAY!

THERES A PASSING THOUGHT ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THIS CHAPTER, HERE IS YOUR TW.

Y'all my life is crazy.

ANYWAY.

I do hope y'all like the apology-ish thing between Apollo and Percy, I tried my hardest I'm still trying to get good at describing thing.

I don't think people who don't write don't know how hard it can be to try and spell these gods names?! Kymopoleia, Amphitrite, Hephaestus. Like dude, why is your name so hard to spell. I have many tabs open with their names spelt right, just because I don't know how to spell them 90% of the time.

I did just get my formal autism diagnosis, so that's been fun working around. My insurance is also refusing to approve my depression meds/anxiety so I'm fighting with them at the moment, so I am sorry with very late update. I will always update at least once a month most of the time it will be twice a month. Every other week most likely.

I added a good few minor gods/goddess to this chapter, I hope you liked it.

Y'all I just realized I didn't introduce Rachel as the Oracle of Delphi, welp. I have no idea how to correct that. Maybe it will happen this chapter, im writing this while im in the middle of writing.

My Tumblr is Mirzamsaiph btw.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Travis coughed, "No offense Lady Athena, but we are demigods with ADHD, can we have a five minute break?

Hestia nodded at the demigods, "Go break for a few minutes children, and then in a few chapters we will break for lunch."

The gods huffed slightly but got up nonetheless, to take a quick break.

The sound of feet hitting the ground took over the throne room and the demigods were immediately out of sight.

"Those children are nothing like how our children are now." Demeter said as soon as the demigods were out of earshot.

Zeus nodded, "They seem to definitely be different, more disrespectful, they don't seem to be meaning to be, more it just comes out."

Apollo snorted, "I could very much debate that Father, specifically for a certain demigod."

" Nephew. I'd appreciate it if you didn't insult him." Poseidon gave him a look.

"Ok both of you, let not. Especially when the children could walk in at any second." Hestia pointed out to them.

They nodded and silence reigned in the throne room. It wasn't uncomfortable or awkward, it was more thinking silence.

These demigods had come from millena's in the future, they most likely knew of wars that were coming. They for some reason didn't know they were demigods until they were told at camp. It was an utmost honor to be a child of a God, and yet these children didn't act like the children now. Sure, it could be because times changed. Even then, why were these demigods secretive, why were they so disrespectful? Surely the gods didn't change enough to where they would strike someone down for the insolence. They were gods! They were meant to be respected, even by their children. What could have changed this?

Before anyone could say anything a scream was heard from outside.

Zeus sighed, "Let's go check what's happening, we can talk about the children during the lunch break."

They walked out of the throne room only to be greeted by a laughing Percy Jackson and a glaring Annabeth Chase.

"Would someone like to explain, what exactly happened to make someone scream?" Hades sighed.

Perseus cleared his throat, obviously attempting to get his laughter under control. "Of course, It was a spider. It scared Annabeth, and no I'm not laughing at her because she got scared. Some of the… profanities that came out, are the reason I'm laughing."

"Shut up, Jackson." Annabeth went red in embarrassment.

Once again, interrupting the gods from saying anything the other demigods came in looking confused and some ready to fight.

They looked warily at the gods, before looking at the two still having a stare off.

"What exactly is going on?" Conner inquired.

Percy shook his head and snorted before turning to them and explaining it again.

The gods shook their heads before turning to the now chuckling demigods.

"I'm going to murder you, Percy." Annabeth said, attempting to glare holes in his head.

If looks could kill, he'd have dropped dead minutes ago. Honestly, with how much the boy pissed off demigods and or gods, it's a miracle he hasn't been stabbed or blasted.

'I wonder if I've blessed him, that kind of luck can't be normal. Though being blessed with luck does come with a price, It would explain his obvious bad luck with fate.' Tyche thought.

"If that would be all, children, We need to get back to the book. Hopefully finishing it this century." Persephone sighed.

Percy cleared his throat awkwardly, "Actually, before we do that can I talk to Ap- Lord Apollo." He corrected himself after an elbow got launched into his stomach.

Apollo raised an eyebrow and looked back to the gods before nodding, and started walking with no warning.

Percy huffed, "I'll be right back I guess." Before jogging to catch up with Apollo.

"Well!" Will clapped his hands together cheerfully, "Let's all hope my father doesn't blast Percy."

When they stopped walking, it was in a hallway, if you want to even call it that.

It was beyond words beautiful, Percy guessed since it was ancient Greece things would be different but this hallway, something he had walked through many times in his time on Olympus. But this was so much different, it was lined with jewels Percy was sure even Annabeth couldn't name. The light coming through the windows wasn't in your face, it was calming in a weird way. It was humming with life, birds were chirping, butterflies were flying around if you looked close enough. Nymphs were running around. It was the most beautiful sight Percy had ever seen.

A cough interrupted his thoughts, right. Apollo was here.

Percy turned towards him, he was obviously beautiful, but honestly so were most of the gods. Even if Percy wouldn't say it to their faces

RIght, shouldn't be thinking about that, Percy cleared his throat. "Right, I wanted to apologize."

Apollo raised his eyebrow but said nothing, he raised a hand as in a 'keep going' motion.

Percy resisted the urge to roll his eyes, "I'm going to be honest, I am completely used to the future gods, I have met you in the future so like I said, I'm used to the future you, not ancient greece you. I won't say I wasn't meaning to be disrespectful, because it does just slip out. I wasn't in the best mood due to my thoughts being read out and people asking me questions about stuff that happened years ago, I can't promise that it won't happen again so i won't but, I am sorry, honestly." Percy took a deep breath, gods that was a lot.

It was quiet for a few seconds before Apollo spoke, "You're not used to apologizing to gods, are you Perseus?"

Percy sighed, "Not really, I've had to few times but not much."

Apollo rolled his eyes, "Well that's surprising, seeing as disrespectful you are. I'll say that was a half apology, seeing as you can't even say it won't happen again. So I'll half forgive you, though next time it does happen, even if you didn't mean it, not even the fates will be able to stop me from at least cursing you." and with that he walked off.

Percy groaned in annoyance once he walked off, "You've got to be kidding me." He mumbled.

Apollo walked back into the throne room ignoring all the looks sent his way before sitting in his throne.

"Apollo, tell me you didn't kill the child." Aphrodite looked at him, disappointedly.

Before Apollo could even say anything Percy came walking in, looking annoyed but said nothing as he walked over to the couch where Rachel and Grover were sitting.

"Right, well I'll start now." Athena said.

Confession time: I ditched Grover as soon as we got to the bus terminal.

"Of course you did Percy." Annabeth shook her head.

"Hey! You would've done the same thing if he looked like he was planning your funeral." Percy pointed out.

She couldn't argue with that.

I know, I know. It was rude..."Why does it always have to be sixth grade?"

"At least you knew it was rude." Hypno said.

so I wasn't surprised when, as soon as we got off the bus...and caught the first taxi uptown.

Conner raised an eyebrow, "You felt comfortable taking a taxi? In New York ?"

Percy shrugged, "not comfortable per say, but it was better than walking."

Hermes sat up slightly, "Why wouldn't you feel comfortable taking a… taxi? Whatever that is."

Percy grimaced, "New York is a very criminal area, many things happen. Especially where I lived at the time, it wasn't particularly safe, but it was the only thing I could use."

Hermes tilted his head slightly, confused but said nothing else.

"East One-hundred-and-fourth and First," I told the driver.

The Stoll's looked up immediately.

"I don't live there anymore!" Percy said, hurriedly.

Their smiles dropped, "Where do you live now? I'd love to see Mrs Jackson."

"Absolutely not." He glared.

A word about my mother before you meet her.

"Lovely women." Thaila nodded.

"That's two words, Grace, but I agree." Percy smiled.

"She is lovely, that's for sure, Sally is the sweetest woman to anyone." Nico said.

Hades looked down at Nico, "You've met this woman?"

Nico started, "I have, many demigods have."

Practically every demigod in the room nodded.

The gods looked at eachother but said nothing.

Her name is Sally Jackson...her own parents died in a plane crash when she was five,

Thaila huffed, "Of course it was a plane crash."

"What exactly is a plane?" A goddess Percy didn't recognize said.

"It's something that flies practically, it goes through the air at a quick pace." Piper explained.

She nodded, "Meaning a wind or sky god knocked it out of the sky." She looked towards Thaila, "What exactly do you mean 'of course'."

"Well, Lady… I'm sorry, I'm not sure who you are." Thalia cringed.

The goddess didn't look offended, thankfully, "Eileithyia, Goddess of Childbirth and Midwifery."

Thalia looked surprised but nodded, "Well, Lady Eileithyia, when it comes to planes many times it's, well it's my father who tends to knock them out of the sky, With them being Percy's Grandparents it makes sense why their plan got knocked out of the sky."

"Why exactly would I do that? I have no qualms against any of Poseidon's Lovers nor anyone related to them." Zeus questioned.

"It's a long story, Lord Zeus, which I'm sure will come up later. It's a big part of the story I'm sure." Percy explained.

Poseidon looked over at Zeus, "You would do well to not have any qualms against anyone I take as a lover, unless they were to insult you directly which I'm sure they did not."

Zeus opened his mouth but Hades cut him off, "Let's get back to the reading, thank you."

and she was raised by an uncle...she was left with no money, no family and no diploma.

"Really? But she seems to be doing well now?" Annabeth questioned.

Percy nodded, "With me being kicked out of so many schools, and well my old stepfather, she wasn't doing well financially meaning she couldn't go to school to get a diploma."

"Old stepfather?" Katie pushed.

Percy looked at her and shook his head before looking back towards Athena.

The only good break she ever got was meeting my dad.

Aphrodite smiled while Amphitrite grimaced.

I don't have any memories of him, just this sort of warm glow, maybe the barest trace of his smile.

Zeus rolled his eyes, "You do realize Poseidon those laws are there for a reason."

Poseidon raised an eyebrow, "Do not act as though you do not visit your children."

Zeus huffed.

My mom doesn't like to talk about him...Not dead. Lost at sea.

"That's a very good lie. While I may not understand why they need to lie, I will say it is a very good one." Hermes approved.

Apollo nodded, "Not a lie but not the truth."

She worked odd jobs, took night classes...But I knew I wasn't an easy kid.

"She sounds amazing, Perce." Pollux whispered, he was happy for Percy of course, if anyone deserved to have someone that amazing it was Percy. But he just wished his mother could've tried for him and Castor.

Percy smiled at him.

"Percy when he had you I'm sure she knew that with you being a demigod, nothing about raising you would be easy." Grover said.

Percy nodded at him, "I know that now, but back then I didn't."

Finally, she married Gabe Ugliano...reeked like moldy garlic pizza wrapped in gym shorts.

"While I'm concerned about how you know what that smells like, I've never heard you talk about him?" Annabeth looked at him questioningly.

"I have my reasons, It's not something I like to go around proclaiming." Percy snapped.

Annabeth flinched back and sat back fully in her seat.

Athena glared at him.

Percy sighed, "I'm sorry, I'm sure you'll understand later. Gabe just isn't something I like relieving."

Clarisse looked at him understandingly, they may not get along but she wouldn't joke or say something rude about this, if it's what she thinks.

Between the two of us, we made my mom's life...Chips and beer cans were strewn over the carpet.

"Disgusting. It seems as though males get worse throughout time." Artemis sniffed.

Hardly looking up...You got any cash?"

"I'm sorry, he asked you for money? A twelve year old!" Annabeth whispered, dangerously.

"Drachma." Will told the gods, who looked confused.

Poseidon's mouth turned into a slight sneer, "Mortal's."

That was it. No welcome back. No good to see you...as if that made him handsome or something.

"I'm sorry, but that's disgusting." Chris imputed.

Percy nodded, "Trying being around him for days at a time."

Chris cringed.

He managed the Electronics Mega-Mart...he expected me to provide his gambling funds.

"That's why you needed a summer job, wasn't it?" Hestia softly asked.

Percy nodded, "It wasn't that bad, if anything I was very thankful to get out of the house."

Athena looked at the book before looking at Percy, "Child, I'm not sure if you'd like to hear this next part, It seems like a very private thought."

Percy raised an eyebrow before thinking, if this was talking about Gabe there were many things wrong with him, He did a lot of things Percy wouldn't like to be read out loud. He looked at Athena.

"Whatever it is, it was most likely bound to come out. I'm fine with you reading it, My Lady." Percy nodded at her.

Percy was very much not ok with whatever it was, but he had absolutely no choice.

He called that our 'guy secret.' Meaning, if I told my mom, he would punch my lights out.

Silence reigned throughout the throne room, you could probably hear a feather drop.

Percy knew in ancient Greece children were treasured, they were a blessing from the gods and many mortals had horrible punishments if they laid their hands on a child. Maybe Percy was hoping it would be anything but that, that would come out, Percy really needs to ask Tyche if she hates him.

"Excuse me?" Percy didn't know who said that, he was a bit too busy panicking.

"I do hope that means something completely different from what I am thinking." Nemesis said, right, that was a goddess who hadn't talked at all Percy thought.

"No. It doesn't. Percy, Gods, You could've told us, none of us would've ever judged you." Annabeth whispered.

"He put his hands on you?" Triton asked, the edge to his voice made Percy want to bolt, Honestly! Triton hated him in his time, can't he go back to doing that?

Percy cleared his throat, "Honestly, it was nothing. It happened sometimes, but not a lot. I dealt with it."

That just made everyone more mad.

"You don't just deal with things like that, son. He put his hands on a child, a demigod child, My child at that, no mortal ever has a right to lay their hands on a child, Perseus." Poseidon carefully said.

Percy didn't know what to say to that, his father had barely addressed him these past chapter's and then just proclaimed him as his child, loudly at that. So Percy didn't have much to say.

Many demigods were silent, Percy was someone many of them looked up to even if they would never admit it, they sometimes forget that he's just like them. A demigod child, someone who went through traumatic situations.

"Can we please just forget about this. There was a reason I didn't want anyone to know." Percy tried.

"Absolutely not. Percy, I understand why you didn't tell us, but we can't just let this go. We will talk about this later." Thaila said, with no room for argument.

"Fine. Just please read Lady Athena." He said as respectful as possible.

"You took a taxi..."The kid just got here."

"He can do math, that's surprising." Will bit out.

"Fine," I said..."Your report card came, brain boy!"

Percy flinched enough for Rachel to notice. She put her arm around him trying to give him at least some comfort in this.

But as soon as I thought that...pounding its way up the stairs, growing long, horrible talons.

"Yes, Many demigods' first monster will always be hard for them." Melinoe said.

Then I heard my mom's voice...and my fears melted.

Percy smiled, "She really is the best."

My mother can make me feel good...or say a unkind word to anyone, not even me or Gabe

"I see where you get it from Percy." Annabeth smiled.

"What?"

"Your mothers patience, and the niceness, you have it. I rarely hear you curse, much less say something rude towards someone in a non-joking manner." Annabeth explained.

Dionysus rolled his eyes, he very much doubted the demigod was that nice.

"Oh, Percy." She hugged me tight. "I can't believe it. You've grown since Christmas!"

"Adults always say that!" Pollux complained.

We sat together on the edge of the bed...Was her little boy doing all right?

Psyche smiled, "She sounds like a wonderful mother, there's not many like her."

Percy nodded, "She's one of a kind."

I told her she was smothering me...I gritted my teeth.

"When we get back, I'm murdering him." Annabeth abruptly said.

"Get in line." Thaila shot at her.

"You guys, he's dead. I promise you." Percy smiled at them, he can't believe he has such good friends sometimes.

"Did it hurt?" Rachel asked.

"Not exactly, I'm sure you'll see at the end of the book." Percy smirked at her.

My mom is the nicest lady in the world. She should've been married to a millionaire, not to some jerk like Gabe.

"Paul may not be a millionaire, but he's good for her and that's all I care about." Percy grunted.

For her sake, I tried to sound upbeat...Even Nancy Bobofit didn't seem so bad.

Travis raised an eyebrow, "How'd you do that?"

"Lot's of thinking and lying,"

Until that trip to the museum...but I thought it would sound stupid.

"Percy!" Most demigods groaned.

"I thought she'd think I was crazy!" He defended.

She pursed her lips...My eyes widened. "Montauk?"

Grover glared at him, while Percy just smiled.

"Three nights-same cabin."...Gabe said there wasn't enough money.

"Nope, I'll bring him back to life just to kill him again." Nico finally said.

"Please do not son, I'd rather not have to deal with that as horrible as he may be." Hades sighed.

Nico looked at him and slightly huffed but nodded.

Gabe appeared in the doorway and growled. "Bean dip, Sally? Didn't you hear me?"

Many people, demigods and gods alike were muttering under their breath.

I wanted to punch him,

"Do it!" Clarisse encouraged.

Percy shook his head, "That wouldn't have gone over well at all."

Clarisse now looked like she wanted to punch him even more.

but I met my mom's eyes...You mean you were serious about that?"

"Does this mortal have a brain?" Rhode whispered to her siblings.

"I'm wondering the exact same thing." Kymopoleia agreed.

Amphitrite looked at the two of them and shook her head with amusement in her eyes, she didn't get to see her children much. So seeing them interact was beautiful to her.

"I knew it." I muttered. "He won't let us go."

"He better, or I will find him." Annabeth muttered.

Percy thought about telling her again he was dead but decided against it.

"Of course he will...Sour cream. The works."

"Beautiful bribery, shouldn't be necessary but still beautiful." Conner nodded.

Gabe softened a bit. "So thus money for your trip...it comes out of your clothes budget, right?"

"Disgraceful." Charis muttered, if Percy wasn't mistaken he read about her in the odyssey. Goddess of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility. Percy was very happy he remembered that.

"Yes, honey...if the kid apologies for interrupting my poker game."

"Interrupting?!" Thalia exploded.

Many were heard muttering around the throne room.

Maybe if I kick you in your soft spot, I thought. And make you sing soprano for a week.

Rhodes snorted, "As nice as that would be, brother, like you said I'm sure it wouldn't go over well."

Percy startled and looked at her. She was smiling slightly at him which Percy found very weird , he hadn't met Rhodes in his time but from his time spent with Triton he honestly thought she wouldn't like him either.

But my mom's eyes warned me not to make him mad.

"She knew, she knew he was violent didn't she." Artemis looked at the boy.

Percy nodded, "I'm almost positive, My Lady, that he put his hands on her."

"He did what?" Hebe said, dangerously.

Even many of the gods look annoyed, Percy was annoyed by that. Most of these gods had put their hands on a woman, even going as far to sexually assault them. It's not like Percy wasn't mad about it, but these gods had no room to talk.

He of course kept that to himself but still said nothing and just nodded.

Why did she put up with this guys? I wanted to scream. Why did she care what he thought?

"I understand why now." Percy sighed.

"There's a reason?" Thanatos asked, talking for the first time in this chapter.

"I'm sure it comes up, Grover tells me why." Percy explained.

He nodded.

"I'm sorry. " I muttered...His tiny brain was probably trying to detect sarcasm in my statement.

The sea siblings looked at each other with amusement, they had practically just said the same thing.

"Yeah, whatever," he decided.

"I'm sorry, did he really not detect the sarcasm in that?" Annabeth asked, surprised.

"Like I said, he's not the brightest." Percy snorted.

He went back to his game...whatever you've forgotten to tell me, okay?"

"She's a very perceptive woman." Apollo interrupted.

Percy narrowed his eyes at him but nodded nonetheless.

for the whole weekend..."Not one little scratch."

Hebe blinked, "You're what? twelve summers in this Perseus?"

Percy scrunched his nose at his full name but nodded at her.

"From what I've been told about 'cars' from you demigods, it seems unsafe for a child who's twelve summers to be using this contraption." Hebe said with widened eyes.

"I wouldn't be driving it, but if anything had happened to it he would've blamed me anyway." Percy explained.

"Mortal's disrespecting demigods, disgraceful." Kymopoleia bit out, quietly.

Like I'd be the one driving. I was twelve.

Pollux snorted at the coincidence.

But that didn't matter to Gabe...he'd find a way to blame me.

"Yeah, the car was the least of our problems." Percy told Grover.

Grover glared at him.

Watching him lumber back towards...as if he'd been shot from a cannon.

Thanatos looked over at Psyche who also seemed confused, "If Pan was here he'd be freaking out." Thanatos told her.

She snorted and nodded, "Definitely, at first I was confused why we were learning about a demigod's life. I know the fates told us he was important to the apparent wars coming up, but beside the fury this demigod didn't seem like much. Using Satyr when he is very obviously not a satyr is, while slightly off putting, also means he is very powerful."

"How'd you do that?" Grover interrogated.

Percy flinched back in surprise, "Goodness, G-man, get up and personal why don't you."

"That was Satyr magic Percy!" He exlamined.

"He's right child, I've never seen a demigod do that. Well, except for Dionysus over here." Hermes pointed at Dionysus who glared at him.

"I'm not sure how it happened." Percy shrugged.

The gods looked at him for a few more seconds before Athena started reading again.

Maybe it was just the wind, or some freak accident with the hinges, but I didn't stay long enough to find out.

"As much as the mortal seems horrible, I wouldn't do that." Zeus said.

Our rental cabin was on the south shore...and spiders in the cabinets,

Annabeth shivered, "Absolutely not."

Percy smiled at her in amusement.

and most of the time the sea...I loved the place.

"You would, many of the times demigods thrive in the domain of their godly parents." Paean said.

The demigods nodded.

We'd been going there since I was a baby...It was the place where she'd met my dad.

Thaila looked surprised, "Really? Honestly most mortals are bitter when a god leaves them they try to avoid anything to do with that god."

Percy raised an eyebrow, "And you know that… how?"

"I had a mother, Jackson. Just because she's dead doesn't mean I didn't know her." Thaila shot at him.

Percy's eyes widened comically, "Thaila! You know that's not what I meant."

Thalia finally burst out laughing, "Your face, Jackson." She breathed out between laughs.

"Is it concerning to you that they're joking about death?" Tyche asked Thanatos.

Thanatos looked just as confused as she felt. Zeus looked constipated, whether it be his future lover is dead or the fact they're joking about death, who knows.

"You two are horrible, you know that." Nico said, amused.

Before they could answer, Athena cut them off to read.

As we got closer to Montauk...Her eyes turned the color of the sea.

"Neriad?" Amphitrite guessed.

Percy looked confused, "Not that I know of, My Lady."

She raised an eyebrow at him, "Her eye's changing color, that's not normal from what I understand of mortals."

"I'd have to ask her, I'm not completely sure." Percy explained.

I guess I should explain the blue food...She did have a rebellious streak, like me.

"So that's with the blue food!" Conner jumped up.

"Gods, Conner, You could've just asked why I ate blue food." Percy looked close to bursting out in laughter.

"Annabeth told me not to ask because anytime she asked you, you ignored her,so I figured you would ignore me too, but we finally know!" Conner exclaimed.

Percy nodded, he probably actually wouldn't have told Conner.

Annabeth glared at Percy, " That's the reason?"

Percy held up two hands, "Look I just wanted it to be between me and my mother, it was an inside thing."

She huffed but said nothing else.

When it got dark, we made a fire...but I never got tired of hearing them.

Piper nodded, "My dad has a game with me, he'd ask me a question and then I'd ask him one about my mother. It's hard growing up without a parent and another parent who doesn't like talking about them."

Thalia looked at her with an unreadable expression but said nothing.

Percy nodded, "It is, than finding out who they are can be even harder, you're taking it better than I would've."

Poseidon looked at him with a frown before turning away.

Piper smiled at him. She was having an internal battle, but she was trying her hardest to hide it.

"He was kind, Percy,"...you know, and his green eyes."

"She's right, you look almost identical. If I didn't know better I'd say you were him in his teenage form." Hephaestus told him.

"Many of our children look like us but not how you look that much like Poseidon." Aphrodite imputed.

The sea siblings peered at Percy curiously, what made this demigod so special to where he looked almost identical to their father.

Mom fished a blue jelly bean…A warm glow, a smile.

"You have an astronomical memory, Perseus." Ieso said. Percy was positive she was like a granddaughter of Apollo, She'd heard them talking earlier.

Zeus just shook his head and muttered something about laws.

I had always assumed...I felt angry at my father. Maybe it was stupid,

Percy cringed, "I have some pretty bad thoughts in this book, I can already tell im either going to offend him or make him mad." He whispered to Grover remembering their talk after the Medusa incident.

"Boy, It is not our fault, we are gods, we have other things to do than be around our children." A minor god whom Percy did not know the name of shot at him.

And well, that made him mad. "It doesn't matter if it's your fault or not, there are demigods who turn away from the gods, do horrible things. Children are growing up without their parents, and another parent who a lot of times does not like them because they are a product of you guys." Percy was standing now, glaring at said minor god who had backed away from the very mad demigod.

Maybe Percy was still bitter about it, but he wasn't going to admit that.

All the gods in the room were now looking at him, he was breathing heavily. He hadn't expected himself to go off like that. He breathed out trying to calm himself.

Conner coughed making everyone turn to him, "He's not completely wrong, many demigods are bitter about it, they just usually don't say it to you guy's faces."

Thalia and Nico were now standing beside Percy talking to him.

"I'm fine! I just got wound up." He whispered-yelled.

They both rolled their eyes at him and pushed him down back on the couch before sitting right next to him.

Poseidon was staring at Percy, he could very well hear the bitterness in Percy's voice. He wasn't just talking about everyone else. He was including himself in that. Poseidon may not know anything about his child just yet, but it didn't mean he didn't care about him. He was never good at showing his emotions towards his children.

Athena carefully started reading again.

but I resented him...now we were stuck with Smelly Gabe.

Poseidon slightly cringed at that. He still wasn't over that someone put their hands on his child.

"Are you going to send me away..."Because you don't want me around?"

That got him a slap on the head from Thaila.

"You know I liked it better when you were not sitting beside me." Percy glared.

She smirked at him.

I regretted the words as soon as they were out...I thought you'd finally be safe.

Percy snorted, "That's never going to happen."

"Safe from what?"...right in the middle of his head.

"Really, a cyclops, Poseidon." Zeus sighed.

"The ancient laws say we can't visit our children." Poseidon told him.

Hades raised an eyebrow, "he's got you there Zeus."

Zeus just rolled his eyes.

In every single school, something creepy had happened, something unsafe, and I was forced to move.

"Yeah, that was never fun." Percy muttered.

I knew I should tell my mom...end our trip to Montauk, and I didn't want that.

That got him smacked by both Thaila and Nico.

"Really?!" Percy glared.

"I've tried to keep you as close...about a summer camp?

All the demigods smiled.

And if it was so important, why hadn't she ever mentioned it before?

"That is a good question." Chis said.

"Im sorry, Percy...might mean saying goodbye to you for good."

"If only you did stay year round, then I could pulverize you year round." Clarisse sighed.

"Really. That's all you care about?" Percy looked at her like she was crazy

She shrugged.

"For good?...goading goading animals to fight harder.

"Honestly, Hades, must you join in on their little fights." Hestia said, disapprovingly.

Nico huffed, "Must you automatically blame him."

Hestia raised an eyebrow, thankfully she didn't find it as disrespectful as some of the other gods did.

I ran toward them...and I screamed, No!

Zeus smirked at the both of them.

"You're an absolute child." Poseidon huffed.

Zeus glared.

I woke up with a start...But the ocean seemed to have forgotten.

"Seems as though the fight made Poseidon mad." Athena said, mostly to herself.

Triton looked at his siblings, "Honestly, what could make Father this mad, to the point he's making hurricanes and fighting with both of our uncles."

They shrugged.

Over the roar of the wind...he wasn't exactly Grover.

"That's what you're focusing on? Not the random hurricane out of nowhere." Annabeth snorted.

Percy just smirked innocently.

"Searching all night," he gasped. "What were you thinking?"

"That you were creeping me out!" Percy explained, slowly.

Grover reached over Nico and smacked him.

"What's with you people and smacking me today!" He cried.

My mother looked at me in terror...What didn't you tell me?"

"Just about everything." Nico muttered.

I was frozen, looking at Grover..."O Zeu kai alloi theoi!" He yelled.

That got Grover quite a few glares from the gods.

"Must you children curse by our names?" Psyche sighed.

They all just looked sheepish.

"It's right behind me!...where his legs should be…

"Goodness Percy, get to the point." Katie sighed.

"I was in shock!" He defended.

My mom looked at me sternly...There were cloven hooves.

"Finally." Conner exclaimed.

"Like I said, shock." Percy sighed.

Annabeth slightly coughed, "I can read next, mother."

She nodded and handed the book to Annabeth.

"Just so you all are aware, if you interrupt me too many times, I will throw this book at your head, or a dagger at your face." She glared.

Notes:

Well this chapter was actually really fun to write, Im going to be completely honest I have no idea when the next update is going to be, besides the fact it will be before may.

Y'all I really wanna write a Merlin or Harry Potter fic. Like I'm so close but I need to finish this before. :(

I'm going to say this once. Do not give me criticism if I don't freaking ssk for it in the chapter notes. It has been said my feelings get hurt easily, I have my reasons for putting things down and I honestly don't need your rude comment ruining my day. All it makes me want to do is not right. Saying "Oh well I don't understand this and this." Or "Well, Technically." Please stop, I have my reasons for writing it and there is no reason to comment rude things.

Chapter 5: My Mother Teaches Me Bullfighting

Summary:

Percy, Bullfighting isn't fun.

Notes:

HI!

MY MEDICINE WAS APPROVED. HAHAHAHAHAH FINALLY.

Y'all I know who I'm choosing to pair Percy with, so no more suggestion cause it won't be taken into account. Can't wait for y'all to see who it is. Though I do still need a beta reader so comment if you'd like to be it!

I was listing to so many songs that reminded me of the Percy Jackson Universe while writing this, it was great. Also have any of y'all noticed the friendship between Thanatos and Psyche?

My birthday is in a month a half and im so excited, hopefully by then I can be already on the sea of monsters. Though I will say that just so everyone is aware, SoM is my least favorite book out of the series, I've read it twice I think, when I've read the rest like hundreds of times. So Once this book is done im probably going to take like a three week break to read the book and then outline it so I know what I want to do.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

"That sounds fun!" Leo piped up.

Percy shook his head quickly, "Definitely not."

Leo deflated.

We tore through the night along dark Country roads...but she kept her foot on the gas.

"Yeah, Definitely never want to experience that again." Grover shivered.

Percy rolled his eyes, "It wasn't that bad."

Grover looked at him incredulously.

Every time there was a flash of lightning...if he was wearing some kind of shag-carpet pants.

The Stolls and a few others bursted out laughing, "Oh that's great Perce." Travis choked out.

"Shag-carpet pants?" Thanatos said, slowly.

"I don't even know, I just wish Pan was here for this." Psyche breathed out in disbelief.

"Percy!" Grover shouted.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know." He defended.

But, no, the smell was one I remembered...the smell of wet barnyard animal.

"Percy. I'm going to murder you." Grover calmly said.

Before Percy could respond to that Hermes cut him off.

"I would kindly appreciate it if you stopped insulting my son's creations." Hermes gritted out, annoyed.

Percy put his hand up in surrender, "I can't help my thoughts, I already said this earlier!" he complained.

Hermes glared.

All I could think to say was, "So, you and my mom...know each other?"

"Oh my gods, Percy." Travis coughed out in the middle of his laughter.

"What else was I supposed to say!" He whined.

"Literally anything else." Thaila said, looking at him like he was crazy.

Grover's eyes flitted to the rearview mirror...But she knew I was watching you."

"Ok, I'm done waiting for it to come up in the books. Why exactly were you watching him, why are you with mortals? You've told us they don't believe we exist which is absolutely dumb in itself, so explain ." Dionysus snapped.

Percy snorted quietly, "Impatient" He muttered to Nico.

"I heard that, boy , be careful. You've angered many gods already, you don't want me as an enemy." He glared at Percy, who in turn returned a glare.

Right before Dionysus could say anything about Percy's glare or the fact that no one was answering his questions., Hestia held up her hand, which in turn silenced everyone.

"Now Dionysus calm down, I'm sure the Daughter of Athena can look through the book to see when it is explained." After that she turned towards Percy and shot him a disapproving glance. "Peresus, I ask that you stop angering god's, while it may or may not be intentional your glaring and attitude is disrespectful towards us all."

Percy's face skewered in annoyance, "While it may seem like a foreign concept to you gods, Respect isn't a given, it's earned and very few of you have earned my respect, and the ones that have in my time, havn't in this time." He pointed that last part towards a certain few gods. Specifically, Apollo, Hermes, Poseidon and even a little at Hades.

That had both god and demigod staring at him in absolute disbelief. The demigods have of course heard him be disrespectful once or twice, but to tell the olympian council that they have to earn respect to their face was a whole other thing, especially an olympian council that was from ancient greece where respect was always given no matter the circumstance.

The gods on the other hand couldn't choose between being furious and surprised. They had never met a demigod this disrespectful, someone who would say to their face they didn't just deserve respect because they were gods. This boy wasn't scared of them at all, he himself had the aura of a minor god, maybe he knew that and that was why he disregarded any types of manners while speaking to gods, because he thought he could take them if they tried anything.

Zeus breathed out, this demigod was going to anger him many times he already knew this, but he couldn't believe he would say this. He was slightly impressed that this boy had the bravery, but he also knew it could be an ego making him say this. He'd have to talk to his brother about having Poseidon reigning that boy in.

"I just can't even." Thalia breathed out, right before slapping Percy straight in the back of the head.

"OW!" He cried.

"Are you trying to get blasted!?" She inquired, innocently.

"No! I'm just pointing it out. And stop hitting me!" He glared.

"Definitely doesn't sound like that." Rhodes muttered in complete disbelief. Kymopoleia snorted right next to her and nodded.

Triton shook his head, this child reminded too much of one of his own children, Pallas. She's not afraid to speak her mind around anyone either, she was also annoyingly reckless when it came to fighting, just as this child seemed to be.

"Alright, everyone, let's calm down. We can talk about… whatever this is later. For now let's just get back to the book." Poseidon attempted, holding a hand up.

Annabeth nodded, and slowly but surely started reading.

"Watching me?"..."I am your friend."

"The best one I could ask for G-Man." Percy smiled.

Grover smiled back, gratefully.

"Urm . . . what are you, exactly?"

"Percy! That's rude." Annabeth reprimanded.

" That wasn't the offensive part." Grover huffed.

Percy whistled innocently.

"That doesn't matter right now...my best friend is a donkey—"

"Oh, yeah that's not the smartest thing to say." Travis winced.

"Be glad that wasn't coach Hedge." Clarrise grinned.

"I'm not even going to ask who that is, due to the fact I'm sure he would trample me, if you're grinning like that." Percy cringed.

Many of the demigods nodded.

"You just try to annoy people don't you child." Melinoe muttered.

Percy put his hand's up, "Not on purpose!"

"Ah, I say again, If only Pan was here." Thanatos chuckled.

Grover let out a sharp, throaty...it was more of an irritated bleat.

Snorts were heard.

"Goat!" He cried...from the waist down."

"Didn't you just say it didn't matter?" Piper questioned.

Annabeth snorted.

"You just said it didn't matter."

"See, he agrees with me." Piper nodded.

Grover huffed, "I wasn't going to let him call me a donkey!"

"Blaa-ha-ha. There are Satyrs who would trample you..."So you admit there was a Mrs. Dodds!"

"That's what you're focusing on." Annabeth raised an eyebrow.

"I spent months thinking I was insane, excuse me for wanting some clarification." Percy glared.

No one had anything to say to that.

"Of course."...like that should be perfectly obvious.

"Honestly, for a good fifteen minutes, I thought this was a weird dream." Percy shrugged.

"We put Mist over the human's eyes...You started to realize who you are."

"The Mist?" Dionysus questioned, would they finally be getting answers?

Grover nodded, "It's why the mortals couldn't see I was a satyr, the mist was covering their eyes. It should come up most likely in the next chapter or the chapter after that."

"Who I- wait a minute...the Lord of the Dead and a few of his blood-thirstiest minions."

"Grover!" The demigods yelled.

"Blood-thirstiest minions, huh. Never thought of the fury's like that." Psyche muttered.

"I'd like to know why I'm wasting my time attempting to kill Poseidon's spawn?" Hades rubbed his hand over his face, annoyed.

"I'd like to know that too." Poseidon glared.

My mom made a hard left...Try to understand. You're in danger."

"Aren't I always?" Percy sighed.

"Because some old ladies cut yarn."

"That's exactly why!" Will rolled his eyes.

'I know that now." Percy stressed.

"Those weren't old ladies." Grover said...when you're about to...when someone's about to die."

"Grover, we need to teach you how to lie." Conner shook his head.

"Absolutely not, you two stay away from me." Grover scooted back.

Rachel snorted, "I can see it now, Conner and Travis kidnapping you, just to teach you how to lie." She made dramatic motions with her hands.

"See! Even our favorite oracle says it's going to happen!" Travis exclaimed.

Rachel rolled her eyes, "I'm the only oracle."

Apollo sat up, "That's why you're here? You're the oracle?"

Rachel started, "Did I not introduce myself as the oracle?" She looked at everyone incredulously, "You guys just let me forget that!?"

Percy shrugged, "We thought you just wanted to have them wait until you became the oracle in the book."

Rachel stared at him for a moment before shaking her head, "No, I'm sorry I completely forgot. Yes, Lord Apollo, I'm the oracle. Though It didn't really happen until a few weeks ago."

"I'm so confused." Hermes muttered, "You're a mortal, so that in itself is weird for you being an oracle, but how do you know we exist then? I thought the mist or whatever that is blocked you from seeing us."

"I'm one of the few mortals that can see through the mist, Percy's mother could, but that's really all I know about who can see through the mist." Rachel shrugged.

Dionysus shakes his head, "That makes me think you must have some godly blood in you, whether it be from one of us, or even a nature spirit, it would make more sense, than just mortals randomly seeing through whatever the mist is."

Percy whispered to Thaila, "You think my mother was descended from Apollo or even was half-nereid?"

Thaila shrugged, "Could be, it would make sense."

"Whoa. You said you."...I said someone."

"Liar." Percy coughed.

"You meant you...Not you, you."

"That hurt my brain." Katie muttered.

"That was a lot of words." Chris nodded.

"Boys!" my mom said.

"Sally is a life-saver." Nico said.

She pulled the wheel hard to the right...She'd really meant to kill me.

"I feel as though that was very obvious." Ares said, slowly.

"It didn't feel real for a lot of it." Percy shrugged.

Then I thought about Mr Brunner...and our car exploded.

Percy shuddered, phantom pain sucks.

Thalia threw an arm around him in comfort.

I remember feeling weightless...Lightning.

Zeus huffed, "Now why am I after this child, What did you do to incite the anger of the both of us, that was not mentioned in the book, nephew?"

Percy's jaw dropped in disbelief, "I obviously do not know what's going on, I didn't do anything! I was being wrongfully blamed."

"We don't just wrongfully blame someone, without an investigation into the person to make sure they actually did it." Hades raised an eyebrow.

"Well not this time." Percy dropped back against the couch in defeat.

That was the only explanation. We'd been blasted right off the road.

"That would've had to hurt, it explains the injuries you had when you got to the camp." Will winced in sympathy.

Percy nodded.

Next to me in the backseat...you're my best friend and I don't want you to die!

"I'm flattered." Grover said, flatly.

Percy grinned.

Then he groaned "Food," and I knew there was hope.

Percy's grin grew.

"Percy," my mother said...made it look like he had horns.

Poseidon sat up in disbelief, "You two are absolutely children ! The minotaur after a twelve year old?"

"Don't even Poseidon, Don't try defending him when you don't know what he's done. And you created the beast, if you want to be angry at anyone be it yourself." Hades held up his hand.

"I didn't do anything!" Percy exclaimed.

I swallowed hard...White House Christmas tree sized pine at the crest of the nearest hill.

"It's me!" Thalia clapped.

"Excuse me?" Zeus asked.

Thalia eyes widened, "I'm sure it'll come up, but in technicality, i'm the tree."

Percy shook his head, "If only you had stayed a tree."

That got him hit with a pillow, and looks of disbelief from the gods.

"I have so many questions." Hebe muttered.

"That's the property line...Don't stop until you reach the door."

Annabeth shook her head.

"Mom, you're coming too."

"Fatal flaw?" Athena guessed, surprised.

Percy nodded, "Excessive Personal Loyalty."

Apollo eyebrows raised, "Would've guessed recklessness."

Percy huffed, "It's the loyalty that makes me reckless."

Her face was pale...And the points that looked like horns…

"Gods Percy, you're slow." Clarrise huffed out.

"He doesn't want us," my mother told me. "He wants you. Besides, I can't cross the property line."

"Comforting." Thalia muttered.

"But. . . "...I got mad then-

"As intimidating as you are when you're mad, you would never get mad at your mom." Travis said.

Percy nodded, "First off, not intimidating, second, your right I wouldn't ever get truly mad at her, just heat of the moment type of thing."

Travis rolled his eyes.

—mad at my mother...Help me with Grover."

"You really are the best Perce." Grover sighed.

"Grover, I wasn't going to leave you, I hope you knew that." Percy sighed.

Grover shrugged, "You never know."

I didn't wait for her answer…horns with points you couldn't just get from an electric sharpener.

Laughter was heard from around the throne room.

I recognized the monster, all right..."Pasiphae's son." my mother said.

"She's a smart woman." Athena approved.

"I wish I'd known how badly they want to kill you."

"Yeah! For being alive ." Percy stressed, to any god who looked at him.

"But he's the Min—"..."Names have power."

"Something, someone I know has never understood." Annabeth glared.

"No idea who you're talking about." Percy looked away, innocently.

"The Pine tree was still too far away…not a scratch, I remember Gabe saying.

Travis laughed, "Finally! Karma!."

Oops.

"I love your humor." Nico chuckled.

"Percy," my mom said...I was selfish, keeping you near me."

Percy shook his head, "No she wasn't, I understand why she did it."

"Keeping me near you?...He reeked like rotten meat.

That had a lot of noses wrinkled.

He lowered his head and charged...at the last moment, I jumped to the side.

"Good instincts." Nemesis nodded.

The bull-man stormed past...trying to lead the monster away from Grover.

"I'm sorry Percy." Grover whispered.

Percy shook his head, "It was my choice to lead you to the camp, don't blame yourself."

"Run, Percy!"...He lifted her as she struggled, kicking and pummeling the air.

Percy swallowed hard, he didn't want to relive this. He had felt so helpless the whole time and he couldn't even save his own mother.

"Many of y'all said you've met her, so she couldn't have died." Kymopoleia said, quickly.

Amphitrite shook her head, she may not like the child because he's a symbol of her husband's adultery, but no child should ever have to watch their mother be killed.

"Mom!"...A blinding flash, and she was simply . . . gone.

Thalia swallowed, harshly. She heard of Percy's first quest but hearing it first hand like this made her want to puke.

"Mortal's don't die in a flash of light, meaning" Aphrodite trailed off, looking to Hades.

"I have absolutely no idea what my future self is thinking, or what he's trying to accomplish but kidnapping this boy's mother." Hades shrugged.

"I need both of you to know, you have absolutely no reason to go after who I call a lover and if you do in this time." Poseidon let the warning go unsaid.

"No!"...couldn't allow that.

Clarrise clapped her hands together, "Finally get to know how this went down."

Percy rolled his eyes, "I can assure you it wasn't all that great."

She waved him off.

I stripped off my red rain jacket..."Hey, stupid! Ground beef!"

"Horrible insults, I'll teach you more later." Clarrise said off-handedly.

"Raaaarrrrr!" The monster turned towards me...But it didn't happen like that.

"If everything happened the way we wanted it to, life would be too easy." Rachel sighed.

The bull-man charged too fast...turning in midair, and landing on his neck.

"The questions I have are doubling by the minute." Hebe whispered.

"How in the Had- heck did you do that?" Travis corrected after getting a sharp glare from Nico.

Percy shrugged, "it was raining, could've been that."

Poseidon shook his head, "The rain isn't my domain, Perseus, It couldn't have been that."

Percy shrugged again.

How did I do that?...the impact nearly knocked my teeth out.

"And that explains the concussion you had." Will nodded.

"Must you go straight into my tree?" Thalia sighed, dramatically.

"It's not like I chose too!" Percy cried.

The bull-man staggered around...I put both hands around one horn and I pulled with all my might.

"No offense, child, but I very much doubt you're going to be able to do that." Charis said with a raised eyebrow.

The monster tensed, gave a surprised grunt, then—snap!

"How in the.." Thanatos trailed off.

"Should we be concerned about how strong the child is with no training?" Hera muttered to her husband.

Zeus considered for a moment then shook his head, "The Moirai said this demigod is the reason Olympus is still standing. He may be bitter and disrespectful, but I'm not worried about his strength. If loyalty is his fatal flaw, and he's loyal to his friends and they're on our side, then he's loyal to us."

The bull-man screamed and flung me through the air...the same way Mrs Dodds had burst apart.

"You killed a minotaur with no training, just how good are you?" Paean questioned.

Percy shrugged, "Not that good, I'd say it was pure luck."

Rhodes looked at him in disbelief, "Twice?"

He shrugged.

The gods just looked at him in disbelief, a demigod saying defeating someone was luck? Didn't even have slight pride about defeating a monster; some of the best have gone after, with years of training and died, and did it at twelve with no help.

The monster was gone...but there was Grover, needing my help,

"Loyal to a fault." Artemis muttered.

so I managed to haul him up...a pretty girl, her blonde hair curled like a princess'.

Annabeth blushed.

They both looked down at me..."Silence, Annabeth,"

" 'The one' Is he Annie." Thalia teased.

"Shut up I was twelve!" She hissed.

the man said. "He's still conscious. Bring him inside."

"Yeah, conscious and in pain." Percy muttered.

"That's the end of the chapter." Annabeth clapped together and shoved the book away from her.

"I know we took a break last chapter but you all seem hungry and we seem to have much to talk about. Let's break for lunch, we'll come back and read five or six more chapters than go to bed." Hestia got up and motioned everyone to follow her.

Notes:

I Just want to point out at this point in time, Pallas had not yet been killed nor had the competition between Athena And Poseidon happened.

YALLLL this is the shortest time its ever taken me to write a chapter so tell me if it seems rushed. I do know why it took me two days to write this.

HOPE YOU ALL LIKED IT.

Chapter 6: Intermission (Or percy pisses off another god)

Summary:

Percy, really, must you?

Notes:

I KNOW I KNOW. I TOOK FOREVER. I HAVE EXCUSES.

SO, I was very focused on school, so I started taking a STEM class (Fundamentals of Design.) I have been so focused on that, i have also been really focused on my math and science classes, so thats one reason.

The next thing is, if you are on my tumblr you already know this but i ended up injuring my wrist pretty badly during a soccer game. It took a week-ish to heal, so i haven't really been able to type. So i know this chapter isn't long nor is it very good. but i promise the next break we have will be much better.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Follow me, children," Hestia announced as she got up and mentioned for the kids to follow her.

They all looked at her and then at each other and immediately jumped up, they followed her out with the gods also getting up and following close behind. The big three kids, Nico, Percy, and Thalia all sat down at the very end of one of the four tables in the room, muttering quietly to each other. While others paired up with their friends and sat closely together, none of them were too far away from each other. The gods hesitated slightly, looking around before Hebe slowly, but surely started making her way toward where Katie, Clarrise, Annabeth and Rachel were all sitting. The gods looked towards each other before nodding and spreading out around the children.

Hermes sat with Apollo and Hephestus, across from some of the girls and the Stolls, who were muttering about something Hephestus did not want to think about. While Hades, Hades' Wife, Zeus, Zeus's Wife, Poseidon, and Poseidon's wife and children sat a few seats away from Thaila, Nico, and Percy. The others spread out near their children not saying anything just listening.

"You can't avoid this forever, Percy." Poseidon heard, said from Zeus's spawn he thinks.

"I can very well try," Percy muttered, honestly could people not leave him alone when he said he didn't want to talk about something? His thoughts were already on display, he didn't need to talk about feelings that were most likely already going to come out.

"Fine, but we will talk about this later, understand?" Nico whispered, low enough to where Poseidon had to strain to hear it.

"Fine! But not now and not in the middle of a dining hall." They nodded and fell into silence for a moment before Kympopoleia broke first, and finally asked her questions.

"So, little brother, I have many questions for you." Kymopoleia inquired, quickly. Gods she had been waiting to ask her questions forever, finally she could. Poseidon gave her a disapproving look but said nothing else.

He was startled but nodded nonetheless, and made a 'go ahead' motion with his hand.

"What exactly do you mean by 'feelings' Is this like an instinct in your gut or does it feel like someone is whispering to you? And the lies, from what I've heard you are easily able to find out if someone is lying to you, is it something you always have been able to do or something that happened as you became a demi-god." She shot at him quickly.

"Goodness, the feelings I'm not sure about it, it's kind of both, it kind of feels like a sixth sense, like someone is shouting "danger is coming" at me. Before it even happens I tend to tense up like I know something is going to happen even when I don't know, but it's also a feeling in my gut, instinct per se, so I can't say one or the other. And the lies I don't even know, I guess it's always happened. If some people would stop lying to me we wouldn't have the problem of them being caught." Percy shot that last part toward the two demigods sitting next to him.

They looked away from him in innocence, he rolled his eyes but nodded to Kymopoleia once he was done, Kymopoleia wasn't looking at him anymore, she was very lowly muttering with her siblings.

"Right." Percy drawled, confused but shrugged nonetheless, he'd figure that out later.

"Is it just me or are they staring us down?" Thalia whispered after a few moments of very awkward silence. She wasn't wrong, out of the ten or eleven gods sitting at the table seven were staring at them, it was very creepy. Maybe the ancient Greeks had staring problems?

Percy nodded, "Nope, they are. I'm slightly uncomfortable." His laugh was strained when it came out.

"Should we… stare back?" Nico questioned, confused. That just got him weird looks from the two demigods next to him. He rolled his eyes at them. It was just a suggestion.

Thankfully Piper came up at that exact time, "I'm sorry I hope I wasn't interrupting anything." She said.

"Not at all! What do you need?" Percy smiled at her as much as he could at the moment.

"I was just wondering if me and Thaila could talk, I know she told me she'd show me some Greek. If not, that's fine." Piper rambled, quickly.

"Oh of course! Sorry, I forgot, follow me!" Thila jumped up as if she'd rather be anywhere else but the table, Percy didn't blame her.

"Dang, why didn't I promise to show someone something," Percy muttered, watching the two walk off.

Nico snorted, "Well I have anywhere else to be but here." He announced as he got up.

Percy grabbed his arm and glared, "You are not leaving me here Di Angelo." He hissed, quietly.

Nico glared right back, "I'm not staying here either, I'd rather not be stared at like a zoo animal attraction." He whisper-yelled.

'Actually Perseus, I'd like to talk to you." Poseidon said, watching the two's interaction quietly.

Percy's eyes widened comically, while Nico's showed pure amusement as he pulled out of Percy's grip. He bent down and whispered in Percy's ear, "Good luck, my annoying friend, you will be dearly missed." The glare Percy sent him as he walked away was a glare Nico was fine never seeing again.

"Of course." Percy strained out, oh this was the worst day of his life. He swore either the fates hated him or Tyche did. He was going to have a conversation with her. Percy slowly got up, the passing thought of running was sounding very good right now.

Zeus nodded at Poseidon, they had been having a mental conversation while the demigods were talking with Kymopoelia, it mostly consisted of back-and-forth arguing, but eventually, Zeus had gotten to the point. He needed Poseidon to reign the child in, he was going to anger many gods and honestly, Zeus didn't want to have to deal with that.

He needed Poseidon to do something about it, to at least talk to the child. If anyone was going to be able to get through to him, hopefully, it would be his father.

Percy had a sneaking suspicion about what this was about, but he had enough sense to keep his mouth shut. His father was slightly like Apollo in Ancient Greece, horrible as that sounds to him. They both were annoyingly temperamental and were very strike-happy. So Percy was going to wisely keep his mouth closed.

They had been standing in the middle of the hallway for a good minute and, gods was Percy starting to get uncomfortable, the staring and the silence were going to be the death of him. He shuffled his feet slightly, trying not to fidget.

Poseidon sighed, "Perseus, I have many things to say to you. The most important one is your disrespect."

Percy's shoulders dropped, sure he knew that was going to be brung up but it being most important slightly hurt. This was his father and sure, he was a god, but maybe in the back of Percy's mind, he was hoping that his father just wanted to ask him if he was okay. The fury, Gabe, his mother being kidnapped, the Minotaur. That didn't worry his dad at all.

Percy bit the inside of his jaw, trying to keep his anger and hurt in check. This was not the dad he knew in his time, nor would it do him any good to lose his temper. He had been easy to anger since the second titan war, the stress and the deaths had put too much on him. So he had started snapping at everyone, at every turn. Doing it to his father probably wouldn't end well for him.

He nodded at his father and waited for him to go on.

"I'm not sure where the disrespect comes from, or what exactly you have against certain gods, but you have to remember they are gods. They are not someone to test yourself against." Poseidon stressed to him.

Is that what he thought Percy was doing? Testing himself against gods, seeing if they would take his disrespect. Just for fun? Was he not listening to the book? He was twelve getting dragged into a godly matter already, he wasn't doing it for fun, the gods had shown that they couldn't be responsible nor respectful. They had shown pure rudeness even after Percy had done everything for them.

Percy breathed out in absolute disbelief, this couldn't be happening. Wasn't this book supposed to show the gods how to be better parents because stuff like this happened to the point it pushed so many demigods to Kronos' side? He considered walking out, just going straight back to the dining hall. But instead, he breathed and looked back at his father who had opened his mouth to speak again.

"It is important you understand that, Perseus. You may come from a different time where we may be different but different or not. You shouldn't be disrespecting gods so blatantly, with no understanding of the consequences that could come after it." He was talking quickly, but sternly.

"I need you to assure me, son, that you won't antagonize any god anymore," Poseidon asked, he was trying his hardest to keep his son from the danger of the gods. He didn't want to see him hurt. He cared for his children, demigod, or god.

He wouldn't take another of his children dying at the hands of a god. He needed this child to promise him that he would be safe near the gods. Wouldn't do anything to antagonize them. He didn't know if he had ever met his son in his son's time, but either time he'd hoped his future self would do the same.

"No." Percy simply said, shrugging as if this was just a normal conversation.

Poseidon blinks, he's not sure he heard that right. His son did not just… Poseidon took a deep breath. "Say that again for me, Perseus."

"No. I can't promise it. Listen, Da- Father." He corrects himself quickly before speaking again. "I can't promise it, I won't let people disrespect me, I'll always have respect for people or gods at first but once they show me they can't respect me, I don't respect them. I've done so much for the gods and no I don't disrespect them because I think I'm better, I do it because I refuse to let them push me around." Well, there goes the plan of keeping his mouth closed and not angering his father, and with that Percy bowed lightly and walked off, if he was going to anger his father he'd at least bow.

Poseidon watched him walk off, he didn't know whether to be proud or furious. He wanted his child safe from the rest of the gods, he wanted Perseus to be safe. But it seemed as though Perseus got his best and worst qualities. The stubbornness and the refusal to follow orders, and the kindness and loyalty. Poseidon rubbed his forehead. This was going to be a very long reading. He needed to try to talk to Perseus again. This time without either of them angering each other.

He decided he was frustrated, he wasn't going to lose his temper over this.

Percy walked back into the dining hall, and many of the gods' eyes went to him curiously, Percy was attempting to calm himself from his rant, but at the same time trying to understand what his father was saying.

Percy slowly walked over to where his siblings were sitting and where the gods had been sitting earlier. He stopped right next to his sibling and grimaced, they didn't like him. He knew that but he still spoke, "I fear I may have angered our father, per se." He cringed as the words came out of his mouth, and all the gods at the table turned to look at him incredulously.

"You did what, child?" Persephone asked as if she was hoping she was hearing things.

"Angered him, It wasn't on purpose if it makes you feel any better." He strained for a smile but it came out as a grimace.

Rhodes stared at him for a long second before turning at her siblings, Percy didn't know if she was trying not to laugh or cry.

"What exactly did you say to him?" Zeus questioned.

Percy grimaced, "You have to understand, the war in our time made many people bitter, and as much as I hate to say it. It made me just as bitter as many of the demigods, I don't have a brain-to-mouth filter many of the times and I'm aware of that, trust me."

Percy saw Poseidon come out from the doorway and looked at the table of gods staring at him, he flashed them a smile and took off towards his friends.

"I have just done something incredibly stupid," Percy said the demigods at the back of the room..

They sighed.

Poseidon watched as his son saw him and practically ran off towards the bean bags in the very back of the room a few demigods were sitting at. He shook his head before sitting down next to his wife. It was quiet around the table, he looked up to see everyone at the table staring at him.

"Hello to you too, Why are you staring at me?" He sighed, looking at them.

"Your son came over here saying he thought he angered you, We are merely wary of what exactly he said to make him think that," Hades said, slowly.

Poseidon shook his head. "He did not anger me, just frustrated me. I do not understand where his anger comes from, he has been relatively calm and nice this reading, besides angering Apollo and slightly Dionysus. I'm annoyed, but not angry." Poseidon looked over where Percy was sitting and shook his head, what exactly had he done to make his son that angry?

"I'm not sure either, we all are slightly concerned and confused about these demigods. Though as weird as this sounds, have any of you noticed no Romans are here?" Persephone questioned, attempting to stir the conversation away from Perseus and let Poseidon think in peace.

Zeus nodded, "I have, there has been no indication they know about Romans, but at the same time we can't say they don't know about them either."

"Why wouldn't they know about Romans? There's no reason they shouldn't." Hades raised an eyebrow.

They shrugged.

Poseidon heard a loud laugh coming from the beanbags his son was at, it seemed Aphrodite's spawn was laughing at something his son said. Looking at the demigods all around his son, they all looked amused, some even incredulous.

His son was attempting to hide a smile from them, his eyes were shining in happiness and Poseidon's lip quirked upwards at the sight.

"I find it… I don't know how to put it. Weird. Maybe? That there's only one of each of your children here, Poseidon, Zeus." Hades told them, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Especially since neither of them seemed to be talking about siblings. Of course, no offense to you Sister, and you Amphitrite." He pointed the last point towards the two wives of his brothers.

Amphitrite sighed, "No offense taken. I understand." Hera copied Amphritrite's sigh and nodded.

"It is odd, Isn't it?" Aphrodite startled everyone, they all slightly flinched and glared at her.

"Must you, Aphrodite?" Hera glared.

"I apologize. But I agree with Hades, it is slightly odd they have no siblings. Or at least none they talk about. They don't seem like the type to forget about siblings." Aphrodite answered, she had a slight frown on her face as if thinking hard.

Poseidon sighed, coming back into the conversation. "These demigods are different, I'm not sure if that's good or bad just yet."

"I have so many questions, Percy." Thaila shook her head, this boy was something else completely.

"Look, I didn't mean to!" He defended, honestly. It just came out, he has to work on a filter for his mouth.

Annabeth shook her head, "That wasn't smart of you, Percy. You've already angered Apollo. Maybe, Mr. D., You don't need to anger your Father. Apollo is a temperamental god. I'm sure you've heard the stories. Or do you need a refresher?" He shook his head. "Alright, Your father isn't much different. Maybe not as dramatic as Apollo, but your father has wiped out islands because one person offended him. You better hope you didn't actually anger him."

Percy sighed, he knew this of course. He couldn't help it sometimes.

"Let's move on to another topic. Gabe." Nico Said, swiftly ignoring Percy's grimace and glare.

"Must we?" He sighed, he didn't want to go there. He just got out of one fight, he didn't need another. Especially about Gabe.

Thalia nodded, "Yes. He hit you." It wasn't phrased as a question. More of a fact.

He sighed. Welp not getting out of this now. "Yes. It was only once I got older. It was nothing horrible. Just a few beer cans were thrown and maybe a few hits." He maybe was sugarcoating it slightly, but they didn't need to know every little detail about Gabe.

Thaila didn't look convinced, and neither did Annabeth. He always thought they were too smart for their own good. "I understand you want to know more, I do. But my thoughts have been read out for the last few hours. I honestly do not want to go more into it. Yes, he hit me, but that's as much as you're going to get out of me." He sighed.

Thaila sighed, she wanted to know more. She wanted to help Percy with whatever he was going through. She knew Gabe would've had to made a mark on Percy's mental health. Her mother did the same thing whenever she was drunk. She wouldn't push though, she"d wait till he was fully ready to talk with them.

"Fine, just know if you'd like to talk.." She left the ending off, hoping he knew what she meant.

He nodded and gave her a smile, "Of course, Thals."

Will slid in next to them, "What are we talking about?"

Percy jumped and glared, "Really Will? Your worse than Nico at randomly popping up out of nowhere." That got him a rude gesture from Nico.

Will shrugged, "I needed to get away from them." His head nodded barely to the gods that were sitting at the table he had come from. "I was being questioned about things in the future and i didn't want to spoil anything or stop a huge war from happening."

Percy raised an eyebrow, "That's weirdly specific? Did they interrogate you randomly about future wars?" His eyes flickered over towards Ares suspiciously, as if he was specifically asking if it was Ares.

Will snorted, "Something like that, and weirdly no it was not Lord Ares." He stated, seeing Percy's eyes flicker.

Percy didn't look convinced but nodded.

"So Percy, you said I looked like a princess right?" Annabeth smirked, teasingly.

He groaned.

"Alright children, let's go ahead and finish these next few chapters and then we can all sleep," Hestia called out as she stood from the table the gods had gathered around.

Most of the demigods nodded and stood up. They were muttering amongst themselves as they followed Hestia back into the throne room. Many of the demigods went straight back to where they had been sitting. Grover went and sat with Hermes, as he had asked him to. Rachel, Percy, and Thaila all sat on the spare couch with Nico trailing behind them.

Demeter picked up the book and read out the title of the next chapter.

Notes:

I PROMISE the next chapter will be much better. PINKY PROMISE.

Chapter 7: I Play Pinochle With A Horse

Notes:

Honestly I didn't know geese could fly.

OKAY ANYWAY, THIS PAGE IS NOT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT READ THE SUN AND THE STAR FRIENDLY CAUSE IM ABOUT TO GIVE SPOILERS SO SCROLLLLL!

SPOILERS FOR THE SUN AND THE STARS! SPOILER FOR THE SUN AND THE STARS! SPOILERS FOR THE SUN AND THE STARS!

OKAY! First off I absolutely love Mr.D and Nico's relationship, like the nightmare help and the POPCORN stuff, that was so cute. And then at the end, he's like "My two favorite demigods are back." and OMG will and Nico are SO cute, the backstory we got more of them. During the first kiss, Nico asks Will out. THE FLOWER CROWN? THEIR FIRST MEETING IN TTC.

AND OMG the Cocoa Puffs. I wanted to cry. THE PERCABETH AND SOANGELO PARRELS. When their allthing and they say together and then them both whispering I love you into the other ear while they fell. WTF I was absolutely crying.

Chapter Text

"I have a few questions about that title," Tyche muttered.

Thanatos snorted and nodded, "Definitely, the first one being what is a Pinochle?"

She shrugged.

I had weird dreams full of barnyard animals. Most of them wanted to kill me. The rest wanted food.

"Pretty normal now!" Percy grinned.

"Of course they are, I wouldn't doubt it from you," Thalia muttered, amused.

I must've woken up several times...she scraped drips off my chin with the spoon.

"Why exactly aren't my children doing that," Apollo questioned, with a slightly confused and annoyed look on his face.

"We were! At that point in time, the infirmary was overwhelmed by people with capture the flag, so Annabeth offered some help." Will explained, quickly to his father.

Apollo didn't look completely convinced but nodded, his son had no reason to lie.

When she saw my eyes open, she asked, "What will happen at the summer solstice?"

" Now , I'm believing she just wanted information and didn't actually want to help." Will glared.

Annabeth raised her hands in surrender, "I'll be honest, I did just want information. But when i ask to help now, It's to actually help."

Apollo sat up and slightly glared, "The infirmary is for the sick and the healers, its to make sure people get better, not to stress them out with hundreds of questions."

Annabeth slightly shrunk, "I understand that now, Lord Apollo."

Athena spoke up, hoping to spare her daughter Apollo's annoyance, "I'm guessing we finally get to know what happened during the summer solstice."

Percy nodded.

I managed to croak...We've only got a few weeks!"

"I will ban you from the infirmary if I hear you doing that again." Will snapped, before calming, he knew she was just an excited twelve-year-old who wanted answers.

Hermes' eyes were looking at the book, "Something was… Stolen?"

Zeus gave Hermes a slight glare, "If I find out it was you who stole whatever has me and Poseidon, and apparently Hades fighting. There will be consequences."

Annabeth, Grover, and Percy all looked at each other. "He's not going to be happy when he figures out is was a god," Percy whispered to Thalia.

Hermes shrunk slightly and nodded, "Of course, Father."

"I'm sorry," I mumbled...filled my mouth with pudding.

Thalia chortled, "That's one way I guess."

Annabeth grinned.

When I finally came around for good...my mouth felt like a scorpion had been using it for a nest.

"Should we be concerned on how you know that?" Conner said, his eyes to bright for Percy's liking.

"It was a metaphor!" Percy exclaimed, slightly moving closer to Nico.

My tongue was dry and nasty...a paper parasol stuck through a maraschino cherry.

"Honestly not what I was expecting." He shrugged.

My hand was so weak I almost dropped the glass...Just plain old Grover, not the goat boy.

"You have some of the best thoughts, Perseus." Psyche raised an eyebrow at him.

Grover slightly glared, " Goat-Boy?"

Percy grinned, "Your my best friend, you know that?"

He huffed.

So maybe I'd had a nightmare...Reverently, he placed the shoebox in my lap.

" A spoil of war, then?" Ares asked, intrigued.

Percy's nose scrunched at being addressed by him but nodded.

Inside was a black-and-white bulls horn...The Minotaur. Half man, half bull."

"Do you just not listen when people tell you that names are powerful, child?" Persephone raised an eyebrow.

Percy smiled, "I've been told I don't listen to people when it comes to that."

"Ain't that the truth," Annabeth muttered.

Grover shifted uncomfortably...He looked down.

Percy sat back uncomfortable.

I stared across the meadow...huge pine tree on top. Even that looked beautiful in the sunlight.

"Excuse you! It always looked beautiful." Thalia said with a teasing smile.

Percy chuckled, "Definitely not, it was disgusting." She smacked him with a pillow.

Kymopoleia smirked, "You do know a pine tree is fathers sacred tree?"

Percy stopped laughing and looked up, "I… definitely knew that?" It came out more of a question than anything.

Triton rolled his eyes, of course, the child didn't know.

"The real question is why did he turn you into a pine tree instead of his sacred plant?" Percy turned the conversation away from his obviously unknown knowledge of his own father's sacred things.

Thalia shrugged, "Heck if I Know."

"I'd still like to know why you're a tree?" Ares asked, confused.

Thalia grinned.

My mother was gone. The whole world should be black and cold. Nothing should look beautiful.

"Usually I'd say that's dramatic but it's completely necessary, without Mrs. Jackson the world would be black and white." Rachel agreed.

Many of the demigods nodded.

"I'm sorry," Grover sniffled. "I'm a failure. I'm- I'm the worst Satyr in the world."

"Grover if you weren't over there i'd hit you with this pillow." Thalia glared.

"She's right, well without the violence part. You did what you needed to do, you got him to camp. It's his fault for running off." Hypnos piped into the conversation.

"Hey!" Percy defended.

He moaned stomping his foot…"Oh Styx." He mumbled.

Styx groaned from the back, "Really, must you children do that?"

Grover cringed, "Sorry, My lady."

Grover was a satyr…I was ready to bet that if I shaved his curly brown hair, I'd find tiny horns on his head.

"No! Absolutely not!" Grover glared, immediately scooting away from the Stolls who were grinning.

"I wouldn't actually do it, it was just a passing thought." Percy laughed.

But I was too miserable to care...dissolved into yellow light.

"Perc, why exactly didn't occur to you that mortals don't disappear in a flash of light?" Katie questioned.

He shrugged, "I had just found out Satyrs existed and so did Gods, I thought maybe it happened in the Greek Mythology world."

I was alone. An orphan. I would have to live with . . . Smelly Gabe?

"Absolutely not," Thalia answered, immediately.

"That's honestly what would've had to happen, if I had gone to the police about him they would've looked at my record and labeled me as a troubled kid trying to get his stepfather in prison." Percy cringed, he would've hated that. He shivered in disgust.

"You could have stayed a year-rounder at camp." Demeter answered, she had a look of disgust on her face, she honestly couldn't believe a mortal would put his hands on a child.

He thought for a second and shrugged, "Maybe."

No. That would never happen...join the army.

"I mean this is the nicest way possible, Percy, but you were way too scrawny to join the army. They never would've belived you were eighteen." Annabeth was definitely trying to keep herself from laughing.

He glared at her, playfully, "Whatever." He looked around the room at the other demigods, hoping one of them would defend him.

All the campers that were there during his first year looked away innocently.

"You all are absolutely horrible to me." He threw his hands up and chuckled.

I'd do something…I suddenly felt dizzy, my vision swimming.

"I'm ignoring the water reference just because you're about to pass out." Annabeth rolled her eyes.

I recoiled at the taste,

"Why? Its nectar, it shouldn't taste bad unless your mortal." Apollo instantly stated.

"It looked like apple juice, so I was expecting apple juice I guess," he explained, quickly.

because I was expecting apple juice...with the chips still melting.

"Great, now I want some of Mrs. Jackson's cookies." Travis groaned and sat back.

Conner and a few others nodded, "That sounds amazing." Pollux agreed.

Percy raised an eyebrow, "I can make some later, she taught me how to."

Every demigod in the room perked up including Rachel, "Really!?" Annabeth asked.

He nodded. The demigods all immediately nodded and he smiled.

Drinking it, my whole body felt warm and good...told me everything was going to be okay.

"God's, Percy, you've got some sad freaking thoughts for a twelve year old." Will shook his head.

"I thought my mother had died! I'm allowed to have sad thoughts." He rolled his eyes.

"That's good," He said..."Come on. Chiron and Mr D are waiting."

"Someone wants to tell me who Mr.D is?" Hera asked.

She was pointedly ignored.

The porch wrapped all the way...I'd paid for that souvenir the hard way. I wasn't going to let it go.

Travis snorted, "Good idea, honestly any of us Hermes kids would've stolen it." Conner nodded.

As we came around the opposite end of the house...unless I was hallucinating, some of the horses had wings.

The campers all smiled at the description of their camp.

Percy rolled his eyes when the pegasi were mentioned, "Blackjack's been annoying me recently for some sugar cubes because, and this is in his words, 'Boss, I had to deal with your antics during that war, I deserve some sugar cubes.' " He explained when he got questioning looks for his eyeroll

Thalia laughed, "He's got a point, give that pegasus some sugar cubes."

Percy rolled his eyes again, "He's had enough, he knows they're bad for him."

Rhodes smiled at him, "Your pegasus, im guessing?"

Percy smiled back at her, "Yep, he kind of flocked towards me a few years ago and never left."

Down at the end of the porch...He looked like a cherub who'd turned middle-aged in a trailer park.

Many of the god's eyes went to Dionysus confused, "That can't be D over here?" Hermes asked.

"It had better not be me." Dionysus's eyes flashed purple dangerously, they had a type of flame in them that made even Pollux scoot away.

He wore a tiger-pattern Hawaiian shirt...this guy could've outgambled even my stepfather.

Dionysus's frown became even more pronounced, as the aura around him became even more dangerous.

"Thats Mr. D," Grover murmured to me. "He's the camp director. Be polite.

"Mr.D… Dionysus, I'm almost positive that's you." Hermes muttered lowly towards him.

Dionysus was quiet, he was obviously very annoyed. He was giving the book a death glare, many of the kids near him had slightly moved over. They sometimes forgot he was a very powerful god.

The girl, that's Annabeth Chase. She's just a camper,

She rolled her eyes, "Just a camper." she mocked, amused.

"Ah, good, Percy," He said...Now, don't expect me to be glad to see you."

"Dionysus, that sounds exactly like you." Apollo pointed out.

"I get that, Apollo." He snapped.

Apollo sat up and glared, "I was pointing it out because you seem to be in denial about it."

Dionysus opened his mouth, probably to curse him out or to just curse him in general before Zeus raised his hand stopping it, "You two stop, we don't need fighting. Let's first find out if its him and why he's there."

Percy looked shocked at Zeus de-escalating a situation, "Did you see that?" He mumbled to Thalia.

Thalia nodded just as confused.

"Uh, thanks."...If Mr D was a stranger to alcohol, I was a satyr.

Thalia looked at him, did Percy actually feel uncomfortable around Mr.D because of Gabe at first?

With her deep tan and her curly blonde hair...except her eyes ruined the image.

Annabeth glared at Percy.

They were startling gray...analyzing the best way to take me down in a fight.

Her glare softened into a smirk, "Your not completely wrong there."

She glanced at the Minotaur horn...or 'Wow, you're so awesome!' or something like that.

Artemis rolled her eyes, of course, this boy thought she would.

Instead, she said, "You drool when you sleep."

Percy went slightly red as most of the demigods burst out laughing.

"To be fair, he still does." Grover snorted.

Percy threw a pillow and stuck out his tongue.

Then she sprinted off down the lawn..."Not Mr. Brunner," The ex—Mr. Brunner said.

"It does make sense that it's Chiron." Demeter nodded.

"I'm afraid that was a pseudonym...You don't just go around using them for no reason."

Dionysus spoke for the first time since he was mentioned, "If the book does not explain why I am at a demigod camp within the next page." he left the threat hanging, and for once the demigods didn't think it was an empty threat.

"Oh. Right. Sorry."...I'd hate to think I've wasted my time."

"I still wonder whether or not I should be offended by that?" Percy voiced.

"House call?"...keeping a lookout.

"Was he being dramatic, when he said every school?" Percy asked, looking over at Grover.

"Nope, mostly every school throughout the US." He answered.

But Grover alerted me as soon as he met you..."You came to Yancy just to teach me?" I asked.

Nico raised an eyebrow, "Don't get an ego, Percy."

Percy stuck out his tongue.

Chiron nodded...you made it here alive, and that's always the first test."

Thalia grinned, "I'm guessing I didn't pass that test?"

Grover snorted, "No, you didn't."

Thanatos looked up, "You couldn't have not passed that test. You are very much alive, child. If you weren't I would've claimed your soul and if you were a spirit I would be able to tell."

Thalia grimaced, "I'm ignoring how creepy that sounded, but I'm sure it'll come up."

Thanatos rolled his eyes, it wasn't creepy, he was explaining what would've happened. Honestly, these demigods shouldn't find him being a personification of death 'creepy,' they're almost dying every day.

"Grover," Mr. D said impatiently...pudgy little man in a tiger-print Hawaiian shirt.

"I hope you say that to my face, Perseus Jackson." Dionysus glared, he was clearly immensely furious, but he was trying to maintain a calm persona in front of the demigods.

Percy cringed, he definitely wasn't going to be happy when he learns Percy blew up on his a few years ago.

"You do know how to play Pinochle?"...I was liking the camp director less and less.

Dionysus didn't look offended by that, he just slid his sunglasses down, if they could even be called that, and looked at Percy, "Trust me, Perseus the feeling is very much mutual."

"Him calling me Perseus is very weird," Percy whispered to Rachel.

"Well," he told me...Grover flinched every time on his pile.

"Dionysus, you better not be laying hands nor using your powers on my son's satyrs." Hermes scowled.

Dionysus immediately sat up, "How dare you imply I would do that." He was very close to Pan, he would never put his hands on satyrs nor would he ever use his powers.

Zeus glared at the both of them, "Didn't I already say to not fight with each other."

They both slightly shrunk down, "Yes, Father." They replied.

Chiron smiled at me sympathetically..."Did your mother tell you nothing?

"Absolutely nothing." Percy rolled his eyes.

"She said . . . " I remembered her sad eyes.."That's how they usually get killed.

Percy had to refrain from glaring at Dionysus, it wouldn't do him any good to annoy someone who was already mad.

Young man, are you bidding or not?"...our usual orientation film won't be sufficient."

"That makes so much sense!" Annabeth cried in annoyance.

Conner shook his head, "Be glad you didn't." He shivered in slight disgust.

Percy gave him a weird look.

"Orientation film?...I waited for somebody to yell, Not!

"Well, we are sitting right here so I would hope you know we exist," Nemesis said, slowly.

Percy groaned, "I was in shock!"

But all I got was Mr. D...the immortal gods of Olympus. That's a smaller matter."

Hermes coughed, "Should we be offended?"

Zeus rose an eyebrow, "I'm sure he didn't mean it in a degrading way."

"Smaller?"..."Hera, Apollo. You mean them."

There were some people slapping their hands on their heads in exasperation with him aimlessly saying out names.

Hades raised an eyebrow, "You didn't even say your own father's name?"

Percy frowned, "Honestly those were the first to come to mind, they are the most spoken about."

Apollo smirked before Artemis and Poseidon glowered at him.

And there it was again...They're what people believed before there was science."

"Oh, wrong words, Perc." Conner and Travis shook their heads.

The gods looked at each other confused, they knew what science was, but how exactly could people believe it? It was just a myth to mortals.

"Science!" Mr. D scoffed...Existing, just as you are, for all time?"

Percy shivered, "Absolutely not."

The gods gave him a weird look, "It's immortality? Existing forever, living a life with power. Who exactly wouldn't want that?" Demeter sighed, looking at the strange boy.

Percy raised an eyebrow, "Exactly, living forever , watching everyone who's not immortal die around you, your loved ones included. Powers that, if lost control could cause mass destruction. Killing so many, having to watch anyone you get close with die if they're mortal. People fearing you because of just how much power you have." He trailed off slightly, obviously deep in thought before blinking and speaking again. "I don't understand why anyone would want it, but apparently that's an unpopular opinion."

The demigods were looking at him, clearly, they had wanted to know why Percy denied immortality when the gods offered it. But even with Percy's explanation, while it was such as Percy answer, many of them didn't know if they would still deny it if offered.

The gods were just looking at him as though he was from a different planet, everyone wanted immortality. Mortals begged and prayed over and over wanting it. Even the demigods here looked a little incredulous at his answer.

I was about to answer...to explain how little boys can get over losing their mothers?"

Conner winced, "That's harsh."

My heart pounded..."Before one of them incinerates you."

Poseidon sighed and rubbed his temples. This was going to be a long reading.

Psyche snorted, "That's almost happened already."

Grover said, "P- please, sir."...working with boys who don't even believe."

" Confined?" Dionysus sounded angry, if you could call it just angry. He sounded furious.

He waved his hand…More thunder.

Silence reigned throughout the throne room, the gods looked incredulous and confused, except Dionysus who just looked even more furious if that was possible.

Most of the demigods who had been sitting anywhere close to him had moved over to the couch with The big three kids and Rachel, Including Pollux, The Hermes kids, and Grover.

Dionysus stood up, you could feel the fury radiating off of him.

"You think we should move farther away?" Travis muttered.

Percy's eyes flickered around the room and shook his head, "This is the farthest couch from him."

" Restrictions? You're restricting my powers? My Domain?!" His voice was like the calm before the storm, which in a way was weird because Percy usually only described his father like that.

Percy cleared his throat, "I'm confused, how is that a bad thing? I mean sure we've all seen you complain about it but we didn't think it was a big deal, just… dramatics. No offense."

Dionysus's glare turned towards Percy making him shrink down, "No, it's not 'dramatics' Perseus, him restricting my power and domain weakens me. With me being demigod turned god it weakens me sometimes to the point that I could have the same power I did as a demigod. It's the reason even when the gods have been turned mortal they at least have access to their domain. Like Poseidon, he still had access to the sea when he was turned mortal."

"Why… if it's that bad why do that? Would it be damaging to your powers when you become a god again?" Percy was genuinely curious and slightly worried. Mr.D had been helping him since the war ended with nightmares and PTSD, he may be slightly rude to him sometimes, but most of the time it didn't come from a bad place, so he was worried for him.

"It is damaging to their powers when it comes to them becoming a god again. That's the reason I don't do that. I don't know why I would do that to Dionysus." Zeus looked slightly worried when he was talking.

"Well, you apparently did there better be a good reason behind it," Dionysus said, his aura flaring in both irritation and annoyance.

Zeus gave him a warning look but it didn't hold much anger behind it, "I'm sure there is a good reason." But he didn't look fully convinced.

Mr. D waved his hand again...who had been declared off limits."

Hera sat up and glared, "Why exactly was the nymph declared off limits?"

Zeus looked both sheepish and confused, "I'm… sorry, my wife. But I'm confused, thats not a good reason to take away his domain, off limit or not."

All of the gods in the room looked incredulous at this and confused. "No. It's not a good reason, and you stuck me with these brats?!" Dionysus looked annoyed.

"Hey!" The demigods called out, mock offendedly.

One of the demigods huffed, " You used to be one of these brats." Making all the demigods cover their mouth and turn away trying not laugh when he turned arounded witha raised eyebrow.

"Ignoring that." He rolled his eyes, but he surprisingly didn't look annoyed by that. "Let's continue before this gets out of hand." He breathed out attempting to calm himself. He'd talk with his father about this later.

Zeus nodded.

Chiron winked at me..."Father loves to punish me."

Zeus sighed, "I do not."

The gods looked at eachother with raised eyebrows.

The first time, prohibition...Be a better influence he told me.

"Twice D, really?" Hermes sighed, slightly annoyed.

He sighed, "The nymph had better been worth it."

Work with youths rather than tearing them down.

The same demigod huffed out, "You literally used to be one of us?"

He glared, "I'm going to find out who's saying that." He looked around the room but here was no real heat behind his eyes.

Ha. Absolutely unfair...like a pouting little kid.

"I can't control my thoughts!" He defend when Dionysus gave him a look.

"And . . . " I stammered...Did you think I was Aphrodite, perhaps?"

Aphrodite rolled her eyes and sniffed, "You wish, Dionysus."

"You're a god."..."A god. You."

"You're pissing me off, kid." Dionysus sighed and pointed a finger at him.

Percy grinned.

He turned to look at me...wearing a strait-jacket in a rubber room for the rest of my life.

"Sadly, as annoying as you are, I think father and your father would be slightly annoyed if i turned you insane." He sighed as if it was a bad thing.

"Would you like to test me..."No. No, sir. "

"Smartest thing you've done yet, child." Dionysus said.

The fire died a little. He turned back to his card game. "I believe I win."

Chris shook his head, "Not possible."

"Excuse me?" Dionysus said, slightly offended.

Demeter snorted and held up a hand as she continued to read.

"Not quite, Mr D," Chrion said. He set down a straight, tallied the points and said, "The game goes to me."

Chris sat back, "There we go."

The others nodded.

I thought Mr. D was going to vaporise...used to being beaten by the Latin teacher.

Katie laughed, "He is, I don't think i've ever seen Mr.D beat Chiron."

He got up, and Grover rose too...less-than- perfect performance on this assignment."

Percy huffed slightly, "You did just fine Grover."

He didn't look convinced, but he didn't want to get hit with a pillow so he nodded.

Hermes blinked, "Why are you all over there.. and on the ground?" He asked looking at Pollux, Grover and his kids who were sitting on the ground because the couch was full.

Travis looked up and grimaced, "He was angry and we were all a little concerned for our safety." He explained to his father.

Dionysus rolled his eyes, "Get back over here if you'd like, i'm sadly not going to blast you."

He's been . . . ah, grounded..."And then they died."

"You just met Mr.D?" Annabeth raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Died? No. Did the West die?...Let's meet the other campers."

"Chapters over," Demeter announced.

"I'll take it, Mother." Katie said. Demeter nodded her head and handed Katie the book.

Chapter 8: I Become Supreme Lord Of The Bathroom

Notes:

Remember! Ancient Greece and gods not knowing how to treat their children. That's why Hermes is a bit of an asshole atm.

I honestly do not feel like typing much out, my head hurts too much for this. So I hope you enjoy the chapter. Thank you for all the nice comments I love reading and replying to them.

Chapter Text

"Why me, I haven't done anything." Clarisse groaned.

Percy laughed, "Feel my pain, Clarisse. This is your fault."

She gave him a finger that had many of the demigods chuckling.

We passed the...flip or something.

Conner grinned, "Can you?"

"I'm not sure." Percy shrugged

I looked back...being watched.

"It moved that early?" Thalia questioned, confused.

"Seems like it did. Both times it moved Percy was there." Annabeth answered.

"Lucky me." Percy sighed.

"Whats up there?"...living thing."

"In technicality he wasn't lying." Will shrugged.

"Come along, Percy,"...grew strawberries instead.

Dionysus jaw ticked slightly, he gave a glare over to Zeus, "Really? All my powers?" He huffed.

I watched the...magic with music.

"Not back then, G-Man." Percy laughed. Grover stuck his tongue out at him.

I wondered...protector. Really."

"I really wasn't but thank you, Perc." Grover smiled.

He went to protest before a god Percy didn't recongize spoke, "You weren't great, to be completely honest." He was almost cut off by many angry demigod voices, he raised a hand in a peace-making gesture. "Let me finish. But you were also far too young, you shouldn't have been sent off on a protector quest. So if anything, it was Dionysus and the council of elders fault." He finished.

Thaila looked slightly confused, "He was, I think in satyr years, 28. He was even younger when he found me and Annabeth and Luke." Her voice went slightly soft at the end before she shook out of it.

The god raised an eyebrow, "He shouldn't have even gone out until he was around forty summers and seeing how you apparently didn't even make it back, well I think that speaks for itself."

"The council of elders sent me out." Grover told the god, who had seen the confused looks on the demigods face.

The god rolled his eyes, "Like I said, satyr, it's not your fault. It's the councils and D's fault for sending you out."

"Your blaming me for this, Silenus?" Dionysus sighed.

"Yes." Silenus answered without a hint of hesitation.

Chiron sighed…and brining them safely to Half-Blood hill.

Grover rolled his eyes, "Thanks, Chiron." He muttered.

"But he did that!"

"As happy that i am that your defending me, Perc. I did not." Grover sighed.

Katie cut Percy off as soon as he opened his mouth, " Please , stop arguing and let me finish this gods-forsaken chapter."

"I might agree...in New York.

Percy shrugged, "Not his fault, I ran off."

"Not your faut either, Perseus, You were young and obviously scared." Eileithyia told Percy in a way a mother would tell her child that blaming themselve wasn't the answer.

Then there's...your mother."

Percy coughed, this was obviously still a sore spot for him, "I do hope you know, G-Man, I don't blame you for that."

Grover smiled and nodded at him.

And the fact...on Grover's part."

Percy rolled his eyes, "The Council can shove it up-" Grover slapped a hand over Percy's mouth.

"Percy!" Grover hissed, most demigods were covering their mouth trying not to laugh.

Tyche rose an eyebrow, "Whilst I agree with your comment, Perseus, do try to be more respectful."

Percy huffed.

"He'll get...won't he?"

Grover, Thaila, and Annabeth grimaced.

Chiron winced...five years ago.

"Why send practically a babe Satyr out on a rescue mission." Silenus shook his head.

Olympus knows...Oh, twenty-eight."

The Stolls grinned, "Grover how old are you right now?"

Grover gave them a anxious look, "Im thirty-two, why?"

The grin turned bigger and they whispered to eachother, Grover gave them a look, "Don't get me involved in your shenanigans."

"What! And...past six years."

The demi-gods cringed.

"Thats horrible...woodland magic.

Grover flushed, embarrassed.

"You've gotten much better, Grover." Thalia told him, with no room for argument.

Alas, he was...other career..."

" I feel as though, Chiron, didn't believe in me?" Grover groaned.

"That's not fair...shall we?"

Thaila snickered, "Yeah, it was really that bad."

"Alright, I'm way too curious." Melinoe sighed, "Is whatever happened the first time the reason you were… turned into a tree?"

Thaila grinned and nodded, "It was, It was actually very traumatizing but it's more fun to make jokes out of it."

Pollux and Will both sighed, "That's not healthy." They syncronized even though they knew it would fall on deaf ears.

But I wasn't...in my mind.

Hades sat up, "Don't you dare, boy." He glared.

Styx snorted, "He wouldn't."

Annabeth cringed, "He would." Percy grinned at them before many demi-gods shot him glares and the grin dropped.

Poseidon stared at his son and ran a hand down his own face. Both Hades and Zeus were looking at him as if this was his fault.

"Chiron," I said...is real, too?"

"If this book shows you anywhere near my domain, I don't doubt my future self wouldn't hesitate to strike you down where you stand. You demigods need to stay away from my domain." Hades had a look on his face that had many demi-gods cringing back.

Percy cringed, the looks on the Chthonian gods were looking at him as though they expected an apology for him wandering near the underworld. Which they were not going to get.

Chirons expression...of your mind."

"Please."

"What do you...and shield?"

"Why would you have your own shield, you just figured out that you were a demi-god? Psyche inquired.

"I'm not completely sure." Percy answered.

"My own—?"...like very much),

Demi-god and god alike all slapped their foreheads in disbelief. "Percy… of course he wouldn't like the stables." Annabeth shook her head, incredulous.

"It was a simple observation." Percy snorted.

the javelin range...the mess hall."

Apollo shook his head, "I've been telling Chiron since that accident last century that they need to be supervised during these types of fights. I'll talk with him again." His voice showed he wouldn't be nice about it. "I'm sick of my children being injured."

The other demi-gods looked slightly offended that he only cared about his children but said nothing.

The gods all cringed about the incident he talked about, that little incident caused almost half of Greece to be wiped out by Apollo's anger.

Will shrugged, "We try not to get involved in the petty fights, though it happens from time to time."

Chiron pointed to...a little weird.

Percy threw his hands up, "It was legitimate concern!"

Leo looked confused, "Does it not rain?"

Annabeth laughed, "Not unless a god is angered by us. Which to be fair has happened once or twice in our lifetime."

Clarrise snorted, "Both of those times being caused by, Prissy over here."

"Hey! Neither of those times were specifically my fault." He huffed, getting raised eyebrows from the demigods and most of the gods which also annoyed him.

A minor god from the back looked like he didn't believe a word Percy said, "I doubt that, you've annoyed three gods here already. You've been here half a day."

Percy flushed with embarrassment and looked away.

"We still have to eat, don't we?" I decided to drop the subject.

Annabeth shook her head, "I Understand now why you were so confused when you first got to camp."

Finally, he showed...I'd ever seen.

The gods huffed, "Excuse me?" Hephestus raised an eyebrow.

Except for the...like a tiny factory.

Hephestus nodded his approval.

Number four had...of real grass.

Katie grinned.

Seven seemed to...to look at.

Apollo looked slightly proud and Will had a smile.

They all faced...more my speed).

Persephone tilted her head, "A bit different from how it looks now, but with years come change."

In the center...with a stick.

Everyones head went towards Hestia who only smiled at them.

The pair of...his-and-hers mausoleums,

Thaila shivered, "It's creepy if anything." She whispered to the people on the couch.

Zeus nodded, "i'm sure my children love it, it's the nicest cabin there."

That got him looks from everyone in the throne room.

Cabin two...cabins look empty."

The gods furrowed their eyebrows, "That's weird?" Hermes muttered.

Hera huffed, "Well I think it's great, all of the married people here should have empty cabins." Everyone ignored her.

Aphrodite rolled her eyes, "Maybe the children of his cabin are just out and about." She shrugged, but she didn't look convinced. She had brought this up during the lunch break, so she was leaning towards her theory that she was right.

"Several...cabins are.

Hera looked delighted, "Does that mean that the married gods here stopped cheating on eachother with mortals ."

Pysche blinked, "I mean no offence, Lady Hera, But sitting in this room there are, at least five children here that are the children of married gods." The way she said it was as if Hera wasn't the brightest, making many of the braver demigods snort.

Hera huffed.

That's true...some be empty?

Ares shook his head, "Some are maidens who don't have children, others don't bed mortals." He explained, patiently. He nodded to certain gods and goddess in the throne room when speaking.

Percy blinked, he was officially creeped out.

I stopped in...cabin three.

Percy grinned, how he missed that cabin during the war. The rest of the sea family all looked at him and the book. Kymopoleia and Rhode had a soft smile on their face. Poseidon just nodded.

It wasn't...wouldn't do that!"

Poseidon raised an eyebrow, "Unlike some gods, I wont blast children who aren't mine for looking or going into my cabin." His emphasis on some, was pointed towards Hera and Artemis.

Artemis rolled her eyes, "My cabin is for my hunters only." She didn't explain anymore and left it at that.

Before he could...sheets turned down.

No god looked confused by that, most of their children always kept cabins cleaned.

A few demigods smiled, "It is nice in there, I'd call it peaceful. Kind of like the lake at the camp, sitting there when everything gets to much in the infirmary and its just calm and peaceful." Will sighed, leaning back against the couch.

Percy smiled at him, "You're always welcome into the cabin, I know the infirmary can be overwhelming at some points in time. And by the way that goes for all of you, as long as you don't steal." The last part pointed at the Stolls and even Chris, "Then the cabin door is always open for you guys, even if I'm not there. I know since the war and everything it's been stressful and I've had many of you in and out of the cabin, yes I know what y'all are doing. You're overwhelmed by people so you hang out in my cabin to get away." He rolled his eyes goodnaturedly, "So if you want, you guys are always welcome." He finished, looking at the demi-gods who were now smiling at him.

"That's good to know, I'm slightly tired of having to make up conversation when I'm in your cabin just to get away from people." Katie snorted.

The gods were all slightly staring at him in shock, "This is by far the weirdest demi-god I've ever met." Hermes whispered. Demi-gods, especially the big three demi-gods, always kept their cabin doors shut from everyone else beside their siblings. They didn't like people coming and annoying them, they never had any slight niceness to other demi-gods trying to talk to them.

Poseidon stared at his son for a good moment before letting a smile onto his face, many of his children were selfish when it came to their space or helping anyone. If his son was really as nice as he's let on, then Poseidon is already proud.

Poseidon was always alright with other demi-gods coming into his cabin, as long as they didn't disrespect him or his children and their space, then he was okay with it.

But there was...ever slept there.

Silence took over the throne room, the gods with baffled expression, even Poseidon looked confused.

Aphrodite spoke first, "Perseus, how many siblings do you have."

Percy took a second and thought about telling them before sighing, "I'm technically the first child of Posiedon in at least almost seven decades, I have a brother but he's a baby cyclops and I didn't even meet him till the summer after this one."

And if that didn't baffle the gods more than anything. "Seven decades!?" Ares didn't look convinced but at the same time knew Percy wasn't lying.

The sea family minus Poseidon and Percy didn't know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing. Poseidon shook his head, "That means when I claimed you, you didn't have any siblings to show you how things worked or how to use your powers?" He questioned, concerned. If his child didn't know how many powers he had or how he could use them, that could be a diaster both figuratively and literally .

Percy looked both startled and confused, now his father was worried? Where was this worry when they had read out what Gabe had done? Percy took a deep breath, calming himself. "No, I didn't. I had to learn by trial and error." He didn't mention exploding a volcano and killing and injuring hundreds of people, and making millions evacuate, but his face showed that he regretted something.

Many demi-gods in the room who knew what happened, cringed. "I wouldn't call what happened trial and error but sure." Travis muttered, getting a rather nasty glare from Percy.

Poseidon saw the looks around the throne room from the kids and sat back in his throne, if his child did something that all the demi-gods knew of and apparently wasn't good. Then he needed to talk to Perseus and help him as much as he could.

The gods around the room also looked worried but for different reasons. They had seen a few children of Poseidon lose control of their powers, if this demi-god had then that was something they needed to know.

The roof was...rock music blared.

Ares shook his head, amused whilst Clarrise grinned.

The loudest was...me of Nancy Bobofit,

Clarrise glared, "I'll get you for that one, Prissy."

Percy held up his hands,"Sorry, Sorry." He honestly wasn't completely wrong but Clarrise wasn't as much of a bully as Nancy was.

though the...and tougher looking,

"You better believe it." She huffed.

and her hair...I observed.

"Party Ponies!" Travis and Conner yelled, a bit loudly. Getting them many glares from the gods. They were sadly getting used to the behavior of these demi-gods, they didn't have to like it though.

"No," said Chiron...see any here."

"It was cool of them to help us out during the war." Annabeth remarked, thoughtfully.

"You said your...you be dead?"

Thalia shook her head, "Percy- I just can't, do you have any tact?" She questioned in disbelief.

Percy rolled his eyes, "I do, thank you very much." He glared slightly at the demi-gods who looked at him like he was lying.

Hypnos rose an eyebrow, "I definitely don't hear any tact coming from you." Which just made Percy huff.

Chiron paused...Wish For list.

Nico snorted, "Mine either." They high-fived.

"Doesn't it..."Why depressing?"

"Where is the tact?" Annabeth muttered.

Chiron seemed to…waiting for us."

Annabeth and Percy smiled at eachother.

The blond girl...much I drooled.

Annabeth laughed, "No not really, but it was for the capture the flag later that week." She grinned at Percy.

I tried to see...an architecture book.

She looked surprised, "It was an architecture book." She nodded her conformation.

"Annabeth," Chiron said...brown paint peeling.

Hermes shook his head, "My cabin has always been more modest than the other gods, but it should not look like that." He sounded both worried and agitated.

His kids cringed, "It looks better now, but back then… well theres a reason it's so bad." They all looked sadly at the book but gratefully at Percy.

Over the...A caduceus.

Percy grinned, ignoring the weird looks the gods were giving him.

Inside, it was...an evacuation center.

Hermes looked livid, "I better be told why my cabin is packed. Tell me they are not sending unclaimed children to my cabin." He remembered at the end of last chapter Dionysus said to bring Persesus to his cabin, but he thought it was just for an orientation.

Travis sighed, "They are."

"What happened to the unclaimed cabin? Why is my cabin being used." He turned to the gods now, "Why aren't you people claiming your children."

Chris huffed out a slight distraught laugh, getting sympathy looks from the demi-gods. Hermes looked at him confused, "You didn't even claim me for years, I sat in that cabin for years wondering why I wasn't being claimed, and then when I am claimed its by the same god whose cabin I stayed in for years ." Clarrise stood, glaring at anyone who looked at them as she sat down next to Chris.

Hermes both confused and slightly annoyed at being told off, he slightly scoffed. "I always claim my children, at most it'll be a month before it happens." He didn't see the glare he was getting from Percy and his other children sitting on the other side of him.

Annabeth spoke up, "There is no unclaimed cabin." She answered Hermes first question, getting surprised looks from the gods.

"Well i'm apparently not your child then." Chris stood and immediately looked at the couch were The big three kids and Rachel and Grover were sitting. Percy gave him a sad smile and scooted over, making enough room for him and Clarisse if she wanted to move over.

Hermes looked more confused now, he didn't know what to say for the first time and just sat back in his throne.

Zeus coughed slightly, drawing everyones attention to him. "Why is there no unclaimed cabin?"

The demi-gods shrugged, "Never knew there was one." Thaila answered.

They were staring...from the campers,

Thalia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "You tripped ?" The stolls on the other couch grinned and nodded at her.

Percy glared.

but none of...Everybody groaned.

"Sorry, Percy. We were just annoyed that we had another unclaimed camper." Travis gave him a sympathetic smile.

Percy nodded, "I understand."

A guy who...rest came forward.

Most demigods flinched back, Annabeth and Thaila and the Hermes kids developed a sad smile at the mention of Luke.

Percy's shoulders dropped at the mention of him too.

"Now, now, campers...old knife slash.

The demigods all turned to Percy with different looks, some of disbelief, others with amused looks. "Percy, dear, are you checking Luke out?" Katie asked witht he most baffled expression.

Percy looked up with a surprised expression "No?" He didn't like guys like that , he knew it wasn't wrong. The greek gods and many demigods had relationships with the same gender, but Gabe had drilled it into his head that it was wrong and he made sure even now that Gabe was gone that he never liked guys. A voice in the back of his head told him differently but he ignored it.

Thaila raised an eyebrow, "Percy, that very much sounds like it. None of care if you like dudes but Luke ?" Percy shook his head immediately going to defend himself.

"Annabeth was the one who liked Luke not me." He defended.

Annabeth glared, "Really?" Thaila chuckled and looked at with a knowing look.

Hermes cleared his throat, "A child of mine?" He asked speaking for the first time since Chris had moved.

The demi-gods nodded.

"This is Luke," Annabeth said...she was blushing.

Percy grinned over at her. She gave him a finger.

She saw me...god of thieves.

Hermes smiled a little whilst his children smirked, "We were so hoping you'd leave it out." Conner smiled innocently at Percy.

"How long will...The campers all laughed.

Poseidon sighed, "Son, how long did it take me to claim you?" He asked, he hoped it wasn't any longer than a few months.

Percy thought for a moment, "I'm not sure, it was at the most two weeks maybe? If anything it was a few days, four or five." He answered.

Poseidon sighed, relieved and nodded at Percy who eyed him and looked away.

"Come on," Annabeth...better than that."

Annaeth cringed, "Your going to have to excuse my behavior for the next few chapters. I wasn't the nicest nor the most mature."

"What?"..."Whats your problem?"

Piper looked at Annabeth, "That's a good question."

Thaila shook her head, "Really, Annie?"

She glared at Thaila for the nickname but shook her head, "Like I said, I wasn't the friendliest person back then."

I was getting...had your chance?"

Annabeth put her head in her hands and groaned at her younger self, "I'm so sorry, Percy."

He chuckled, "it's fine, Annabeth, you were young."

Chris raised an eyebrow, "I can't say I particularly want to fight the Minatour."

Some gods where looking at her with a look the demigods couldn't place, Psyche shook her head, "Your fatal flaw is hubris, isn't it child." She asked.

Annabeth looked up and nodded.

"To get killed?"...we train for?"

Dionysus rolled his eyes, "You sound just like some of the prideful demigods of this time." He looked at her with a slight sneer sitting back in his throne, ignoring the glares of the demigods.

I shook my head...But they don't die."

Percy rolled his eyes, "Oh yeah, that makes so much sense." He drawled sarcastically.

Leo and Piper looked confused, "They can be killed but can't die, how does that work?" Piper questioned them.

"Annabeth explains it." He smiled at them.

"They don't have...if you're lucky.

"Which i'm obviously not." Percy shot a look at Tyche who raised an eyebrow at him.

But they are...very, very mad."

Percy shook his head, "Alecto hates me still, doesn't she?" He asked Nico.

Nico gave him a amused look and nodded his head, "She tends to plot your death whenever i'm down there."

He sighed, "That's comforting."

"How did you know about Mrs. Dodds?"

"That's a good question, how did you know?" Nemesis blinked.

"You talk in your sleep."

Grover snorted, "Ain't that the truth." He shook his head, amused.

Percy looked at them confused, "I don't do it anymore." Many of the demigods gave him a look that said 'yes you do.'

"You almost called...them at all."

Percy rolled his eyes, "They're not kind at all." He huffed, gaining a look from most of the underworld gods.

"Their my torturers for a reason, boy." Hades told him, while Persphone nodded next to him.

"Look, is there...I didn't care.

"Trust me, most of us would've been whiny if we went through all of that and didn't get any answers." Pollux told him.

Zeus rolled his eyes, "Also no, I use thunder to stop you demi-gods from saying powerful names and invoking them." He looked annoyed, he does it so these demi-gods wont endanger themselves by invoking something by their name.

"Why do I...for me to get it.

Will sighed, "Annabeth." He said dryly.

"I know, I had thought he watched the orientation film." She shrugged, looking apologetic at Percy who waved it off.

"No, of course not...one of us."

"You make us sound like a cult, Annabeth." Thaila snorted.

"It did cross my mind actually." Percy grinned.

"You don't know...Probably ADHD, too."

"Child, he is obviously in denial. You aren't helping by pointing out things mortals see as flaws." Styx sighed, this boy was probably more confused than they were hearing.

Annabeth huffed, "I know! I was just annoyed he wasn't understanding anything I was saying."

Percy shook his head, "Imagine how I felt."

I tried to...for ancient Greek.

"Which still is horrid to read." Conner sighed, annoyed.

And the ADHD...them are monsters.

"Not all of them, but some." Nico rose an eyebrow, obviously remembering the principal from his school.

They don't...kids here did."

Chris shrugged, looking over at Annabeth, "Well we didn't fight the Minatour but I understand were your coming from."

"You're a half-blood."

Percy cringed, "Couldn't you have said demi-god?" Annabeth gave him an incredulous look.

"That's what your focusing on?"

A half-blood...where to start.

Athena shook her head, "This is why children are told the moment they can understand that their a demigod. Once their around this age, they've grown to much into mortal customs." The gods in the throne room nodded in agreement.

"It's just the way it is in our time, My Lady." Grover told her.

The gods looked annoyed, why did these mortals completely forget they existed? At the very least the mortals they had the children with could tell them. But it seems they don't.

Then a husky...looking like her,

Clarisse groaned, "Gods, this is going to be horrible." She muttered, getting confused looks from the gods, a nasty glare from Annabeth, and a grin from Percy.

all wearing camo...than it sounded.

Athena gave her a stern look.

Ares rolled his eyes, "Don't curse at my kids, girl."

She turned toward...the war god?"

Clarrise rolled her eyes, " The war god, Jackson."

Percy gave her a finger.

Clarisse sneered...the bad smell."

Ares blinked, "Really? That's the best insult you got? It doesn't offend me, but honestly." He looked amused more than anything, he shook his head. "Though i'd appreciate it if you didn't insult me or my kids."

Percy looked so confused by this Ares, gaining amused looks from many of the demigods.

Clarisse growled...wise girl."

Katie blinked in shock, " That's where you got the nickname, Percy?"

Percy grinned, "Apperantly, sorry wise girl i'll find you another that doesn't come from someone like Clarrise." He told Annabeth.

Clarrise glared, "You wanna go, Jackson?"

"Alright you two, calm down." Ares said sternly too the both of them.

Annabeth shook her head, "I forgot that's what Clarrise used to call me before you took the name and ran with it." Percy grinned at her.

Annabeth looked pained...my own rep.

The gods all nodded whilst Will shook his head, "Really Clarrise? What have I told you about that. I'm tired of kids coming into the infirmary after meeting you." He sounded so done.

Ares looked at her disappointedly, and shook his head.

I handed Annabeth...hands like iron.

Clarrise grimaced, "Yeah, you punched me in the stomach."

Percy gave her both a 'sorry' and a 'you deserved it' look.

She dragged me...afford classier johns.

Clarrise smiled like it was a fond memory, "Ah, it was so easy to drag you when you were that scrawny." Her smile dropped when she got glares from both her father and a few certain other gods.

Clarisse's friends were...big three material."

Percy snickered into his hand when Clarrise glared at ayone who looked at her.

Ares shook his head, "Really, child? The first thing my children are told when they come into camp is to never underestimate someone. I also had hoped my children were smart enough not to be bullies." Clarrise shrunk down slightly.

"Sorry, Father."

The big three were also looking at her with different expressions. " 'Big three material.' I'm surprised I didn't strike you or curse you then and there. Don't insult my children, they can fight there own battles but you insulted me in the process." Poseidon gave Clarrise a warning look before turning back to the book.

Percy sighed and shook his head at Clarrise mouthing 'sorry.'

Her friends snickered...through her fingers.

Annabeth blushed in embarrassment and glared at Percy.

Clarisse bent me...I won't.

The demi-gods grinned, "Oh i'm going to love this." Conner breathed out.

Rhodes looked slightly amused, she leaned back towards her sister. "That sound like anyone to you?"

Kymopoliea snickered, "Yeah, I got a few people in mind who are that stubborn." Both of their eyes went to Triton who was leaning back on the couch not noticing their stares.

Poseidon caught their eyes and rose an eyebrow making both of them turn away making sure he couldn't see them snickering. Amphrtrite rolled her eyes at her children.

Then something...of my stomach.

Everyone sat up, many of the gods were listening intently. They wanted to know just how powerful this demigod was, even without knowing who he really was.

The demigods just wanted to know how this went down.

I heard the...onto her butt.

The demi-gods couldn't stop themselves from bursting out in laughter. Even Chris looked slightly amused.

The gods sat back, the minor gods nodding at the display of powers. The boy didn't seem like he was that big of a threat. He was disrespectful that was obvious but he seemed like a relatively nice kid if he wasn't around the gods. It could be an act they knew that but it didn't seem like that. If he had more control over his powers they could see how he saved Olympus.

The Olympians seemed more wary, this boy had no one but Chiron to teach him about his powers. He seemed like a good kid near his friends. But they couldn't trust it. He could easily lose control of his powers and hurt someone. From the looks of the demigods faces earlier it was possible it had already happen. They needed to know more before they said anything, but they'll have to see if anyone could teach him more about his powers.

The godly children of Poseidon all looked amused, sure the boy didn't know what he was doing but the Ares spawn deserved it. You don't bully a sibling of theirs even if they weren't the biggest fan of them.

Ares sighed, "That's your fault, daughter." Clarrise sighed and nodded.

The water stayed...being washed away.

The demigods all burst out in laughter again before they were all silenced by Ares raising his hand effectively silencing them all. "I understand this may be funny to you children, but do stop laughing. We need to get through this chapter."

As soon as...hadn't been spared.

Annabeth glared.

She was dripping...me in shock.

"Question, how exactly didn't it click who my father was then." Percy asked with a raised eyebrow. The campers who were there that year blushed in embarrassment.

Katie quickly started reading again, ignoring his question.

I looked down…my clothes. Nothing.

Percy grinned, he loved that power.

I stood up...You are totally dead."

Apollo raised an eyebrow, "You attempted to-" He cut himself oof with a sigh, "Whether or not on purpose, you attempted to injure him, i'd be concerned if he didn't fight back."

I probably...Close your mouth."

"Now that was just you being rude." Rachel rolled her eyes, amused.

Her friends had...for dousing her.

"Both." She admitted.

"What?" I demanded...capture the flag."

Percy gave her an annoyed look, remembering what happened during that.

Katie sighed in relief, "The chapters done finally."

Dionysus shook his head, "Give me that, I'll read next." he grabbed the book from Katie earning a glare from Demeter and Katie

Chapter 9: My Dinner Goes Up In Smoke

Notes:

Took me only 4ish, 5ish days! Look at me! I really like this chapter so I hope yall like it too!

Tumblr is Mirzamsaiph

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Styx rose an eyebrow, leaning over to Thanatos, "Offerings?"

Thanatos nodded, "Probably."

Word of the...much dripping wet.

"Both, It was pretty amusing." Conner chuckled before stopping and grinning at Annabeth's glare.

She showed me...their own swords),

Leo perked up, "Really?"

Percy grinned and nodded, "It's awesome, when we get back to our own time, I can show you around the cabin?" He paused, "Or you could of course have one of your siblings do it." He continued sheepishly.

Hephestus looked up at the both of them before looking back down at what he was doing, "No, I'm cool if you want to do it!" Leo grinned. Percy kind of realized he had some sort of elf-shaped ear. He decided to just nod, smile, and not point that out.

the arts-and-crafts...top fast enough.

There was a mutter from a certain god about the dangers and health risks of that.

Percy grinned, "I love that, though the satyrs are sadly the best at it."

Grover snorted and rose an eyebrow at Percy, "Most satyrs are the best at it." He corrected, smiling sweetly over at Grover.

" You like it 'cause you're fireproof, Jackson." Clarrise glared.

Percy rolled his eyes, "The lava still hurts, La Rue . And technically, I'm not fully fireproof. I can still get first, second, and third-degree burns." He explained in a wise manner gaining weird looks from the demi-gods.

Hephestus paused, "How are you fireproof?"

Percy looked up and shrugged, "I think it has something to do with being a child of Poseidon. I'm not completely sure, but I learned the hard way that I was somewhat fireproof, but it may have something to do with the situation I learned it in."

Poseidon furrowed his eyebrows both concerned and slightly intrigued, "Being my child doesn't make you immune to fire, maybe slightly resistant due to you having more water in you than most but it doesn't make you fireproof." He hoped his son would elaborate on the last part of his sentence.

Percy shrugged, not interested in having a debate with his father who he's still slightly annoyed at. "Then it was situational, I guess."

Finally we returned..."Whatever."

Annabeth sighed, moving over to the couch with Percy, muttering a 'sorry' to him.

"It wasn't my fault."

Everyone looked at him like he was insane, he rolled his eyes.

" Technically I didn't know I was the one who did it." He pointed out.

"You still did it!" Annabeth cried.

She looked at...with the plumbing.

The demi-gods burst out laughing, ignoring Dionysus's glare for interrupting him. Even the minor gods had some smiles on their faces.

Enki, the god of water, knowledge, crafts, and creation was the one smiling the most, "You would be great if you had full control over your powers, Perseus."

"You need to...Annabeth said.

"Why would he need to speak to you?" Apollo raised an eyebrow over to Rachel.

Everyone cringed, "I wasn't an oracle when Percy was there for the first few years, Lord Apollo." Rachel explained.

His eyebrows furrowed, "How old are you, Rachel?" He questioned.

She raised an eyebrow, "I'm seventeen." She almost asked 'why' but she decided this Apollo wouldn't like to be questioned.

"My oracles should be chosen when they're fourteen summers and then they should be oracles until they're killed." He explained, "Meaning if Perseus is twelve in this book that makes you thirteen when this takes place." She nodded in confirmation. "So you come up in the second book then?"

There was a mutter from Percy about 'too many books.'

"No, I don't even meet Percy till he was fourteen. I didn't even become an oracle until a few weeks ago." Rachel told him.

Apollo furrowed his eyebrows again, "So you didn't become an oracle nor were you chosen until you were seventeen? I also understand we aren't in Greece anymore, but you still have to be a type of oracle. Are you the oracle of Delphi or the oracle of Didyma or something else?"

Rachel blinked slightly confused, "Oracle of Delphi, and yes I was seventeen when I became an oracle."

Dionysus glared when Apollo opened his mouth again getting a nasty glare from Apollo.

"Who?...ask Chiron."

"Excuse you, girl. My oracle is definitely a who." Apollo glared at Annabeth who cringed and gave a look over to Rachel.

Rachel also grimaced and shrugged.

I wasn't expecting...long-lost friend.

"In technicality, you are not wrong. They can immediately tell who you are by your blood." Rhodes told him.

I didn't know...are terrible flirts."

Triton shrugged at his siblings, the girl wasn't completely wrong. "They're gossipier than anything."

Thaila grinned, "Jealous, Annie?" She blushed and flipped her a finger.

"Naiads," I repeated...go home now."

Nico rose an eyebrow, "That's what did it in for you?"

Percy gave him a playful glare, "Just because you were excited to learn you were a demigod doesn't mean I wasn't even in a little shock." Nico flushed in embarrassment.

"I was ten , Jackson." Nico glared back.

Will grinned, "And you were the cutest ten-year-old."

Nico glared.

Annabeth frowned...You are home.

Percy shook his head, "My second home. I love all of you, but that raggedy apartment is my home." He smiled over at the demigods who nodded in understanding.

This is the...mentally disturbed kids?"

The demi-gods burst out laughing, "You're not completely wrong there, Perce." Will chucked looking over at the Stolls.

"I mean not...about my dad.

"These feelings you get are so weird yet can be so helpful." Annabeth shook her head in amazement.

The sea siblings looked at each other, it looked like they were having a competition with their eyes. Rhodes won obviously from her face, "When we end for the night, Perseus come talk with us." She told Percy, it wasn't her asking, but she said it trying to be nice.

Percy looked over at her for a second before nodding. He looked over to Annabeth and let his head fall on her shoulder in pure annoyance so no one could see his face.

"God," I said…a sensitive subject.

The girls and goddess all glared at him, "You just automatically assume they're a god?" Aphrodite asked with a raised an eyebrow.

Percy groaned, "Everyone was talking about gods, my mind automatically went to males, and everyone I had met had a father that was a god, not a mother."

Their glares softened only a little bit.

"My dad is...How sexist is that?"

Artemis' eyebrows furrowed, "What's sexist?"

Annabeth was startled, "It's characterized by or showing Prejudice , Discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of gender." she shrugged, "It was a word that was made back in nineteen-sixty-five."

The gods cringed at the year she said, it was weird to hear that these children are so far in the future. "There are words in the future to describe the prejudice against women?" Artemis asked. The gods raised an eyebrow, they had seen how different women were in the children's time, they spoke out and were respected which is way different from their time.

She nodded, "Women are more respected and have more rights than they do in you guys' time." She shuddered, whilst she always wanted to see how Ancient Greece was, she never wanted to live there. How a woman was treated in Ancient Greece was horrible.

"Who's your..."Cabin six."

Piper raised an eyebrow, "How is he supposed to know that."

"Meaning?"...reveal their identities."

Annabeth rubbed Percy's back, "I didn't know that she could see through the mist, so of course, she knew." She looked down at Percy who still had his head buried into her shoulder, she snorted when he looked up. His face showed that he was so done with everything.

"My dad would...sometimes it doesn't?"

The gods shuffled uncomfortably, Hermes eyes flickered to Chris who was still sitting on the couch with the big three kids and Annabeth.

Annabeth ran her...They ignore us."

They flinched. Dionysus sighed, he'd thought the same thing when he was a demi-god but he completely understands now why the gods stay out of their children's life. It's also a reason he tries not to have children.

There was uncomfortable silence around the throne room, whilst the demi-gods avoided the god's stare, the gods just shook their heads. They were busy, they had domains to take care of. They didn't want to sit back and watch their children die all the time.

I thought about...deal with them.

Rachel and Piper sighed, "Yeah, I mean my dad loves me but he just couldn't deal with me anymore." Rachel sighed

Piper looked over to her, "My dad is the same, I know he loves me but he just couldn't do it anymore."

But gods should behave better.

Zeus glared but there wasn't much heat behind it, "Don't tell us how to behave, child."

"So I'm...of my life?"

The Stolls grinned, "It isn't horrible, we're awesome to be around." Travis grinned over to him.

Percy shook his head, "Absolutely not."

"It depends,"...real powerful force.

Both of the goddesses glared at her, "Excuse me, my children are very powerful. Have you seen their powers with vines and others?" Demeter stood. Aphrodite gave Annabeth a warning look.

"My children are very persuasive, I recommended not offending them. They know everything." Aphrodite told her.

Piper froze, "Persuasive? Like having people do whatever I want them to do." Her voice was slow as if she was hoping she was right. Like she finally had an explanation.

Aphrodite smiled down at her, they hadn't talked this whole time, "My children don't need charm to speak to do that but some of my children do have that power. Why do you ask, daughter?"

Percy smiled over at Piper, "One of my friends, she would've been your sister, she had charm speak. She was one of the sweetest people I knew." His eyes were sad but he kept his smile on her face.

Everyone noticed the past tense wording in his sentence and Aphrodite hoped that just meant that he was talking about their time in the past tense. Piper stayed silent, "I just- well it's a long story that involves me talking someone into giving me a car and letting me joyride it." The Stolls stared at her before letting a grin take over.

"Your name's Piper, right? I think we could be great friends." Conner told her.

"Not. Don't listen to them, Piper." Annabeth told her. Piper smiled over at her.

"That does sound like charm speak, but you'd have to try it out. I recommend it on the Stolls." Thaila grinned over at her when the Stolls protested.

Hermes gave both of them a glare, "Do not charm speak my children, we have things here in Olympus that you could try it out on."

Piper nodded.

Annabeth nodded over to Demeter and Aphrodite, "I am sorry to both of you, by the way."

They gave her a look and turned away.

The monsters might...Practical jokes."

Apollo's jaw twitched, "They're not practical jokes if they get our children killed."

"Practical jokes?"...I was seven,"

Piper shook her head, "That's awhile."

she said….all in college."

Thalia and Percy looked at each other and nodded before switching seats. Percy was now sitting beside Nico whilst Thalia was beside Annabeth.

"Why did you...I wanted to?"

Pollux looked over at him, "Did you really debate on trying to find out how to leave?"

Percy flushed, "Maybe."

"It would be...hadn't gone well.

The campers stiffened.

"Back in the...do know something?"

"I wish, it would've made that whole summer a whole lot easier." He sighed.

"Well. . . no...you are a New Yorker right?

Percy glared, "That doesn't mean I knew where Olympus was. I thought the empire state building had one hundred floors." Annabeth blushed in embarrassment.

"The orientation film showed it." Annabeth pointed out, sheepishly.

"The Empire State Building?" Zeus questioned.

"It's a building that houses Olympus, since you guys aren't in Greece anymore but you still needed an Olympus you chose one of the tallest buildings in New York," Annabeth told them.

"Right after we...rivalry with Poseidon.

The three gods mentioned in that blinked in confusion, "I get along with Athena just fine?" Poseidon rose an eyebrow. Ares shrugged, he had his rivalry with Athena but it wasn't horrible.

The children froze, "Do you know a city named Athens?" Percy questioned.

Athena raised an eyebrow, "In Greece? No, there is no city named Athens"

The campers all looked at each other before Percy just snorted and then burst out laughing, he put his head onto Thalia's shoulder trying to muffle his laughter.

The campers all looked away from him trying not to laugh, "Percy, please stop laughing." Thaila's voice cracked in between, she had a hand over her mouth keeping her from laughing. Percy had the most contagious laugh and it was not helping that this was slightly serious.

He coughed attempting to calm himself, "You're right, this isn't funny at all." He bit his lip and turned away from the demi-gods trying not to laugh again.

Nico looked at him and shook his head, "You are horrible."

Annabeth shook her head, "It involves a city, that I believe before it was called Athens it was called Aktaio. It caused a… fight between you and Lord Poseidon." She explained.

Poseidon rose an eyebrow, " Aktaio is the 'capital city of Greece, while we gods have fights it must have been a bad one to cause such a rivalry so far in the future." Percy snorted before being elbowed in the stomach.

"That's one way to put it." Thaila nodded.

The gods started at them waiting for them to elaborate on it but they all stayed quiet, "I'm sure I say something about it later. It should be in three or four chapters." Percy told them gaining annoyed looks from all the gods.

But, I mean...me the problem..."

Thaila gave her a disapproving look.

I could smell...a battle plan.

Percy threw her a glare and huffed.

Back at cabin eleven...the stealing part.

Travis chuckled but it was strained, "I doubt he was lying about that."

I said...get any easier."

Percy shook his head, "It really doesn't."

The bitterness...who he sponsors."

The demi-gods sighed, "It was right there, why didn't I say something?" Percy groaned, annoyed.

Thaila shook her head, "You didn't know, you didn't know he'd become what he became." She whispered.

Thanatos and Psyche looked at each other, they're sure they weren't meant to hear that. But it explained the demi-god's reactions wherever this boy came up. He wasn't as good as he let on.

I figured...me a nobody.

Percy frowned and let his shoulders shrink slightly, "He probably did mean to, honestly."

He just had...got his scar.

Hermes gave Percy a look but turned away.

Luke looked up...of each other."

Katie shook her head, "I like it better when that sentence comes from Percy, it doesn't sound the same coming from him."

Percy raised an eyebrow, "You do realize I got that 'speech' from Luke right?"

"I'm ignoring that."

He seemed to...me all day.

The campers stayed silent for a second, was Percy really that close with Luke before everything happened? Did he look up to Luke like the younger campers looked up to him? It hurt slightly that it was obvious Percy felt safer with Luke than anyone else at the camp.

Annabeth wondered if this was why Percy looked so sad and emotionally drained when Luke went after him with the scorpion. Luke was the closest person besides herself and Grover to him, she didn't realize that when they were younger.

"Were you really that close with him, Perce?" Conner asked.

Percy bobbed his head, "He was the nicest person to me that whole time. The only person who even tried to explain things to me." Hermes smiled, it seemed like his child was someone this boy looked up to. Though he was wondering why the demi-gods sounded so bitter talking about him.

I decided to..."I hate prophecies."

"Praise that," Percy muttered.

Apollo glared and Rachel snorted and gave him a more playful glare, "I don't blame you honestly, from what I heard, before me, the Oracle loved you for some reason and loved to give you prophecies." She paused, "Percy, how many Prophecies have you been a part of?"

He groaned and held up his hand in a 'wait a minute expression, he counted slowly on his fingers, muttering to himself gaining weird and amused looks from the gods. Even Apollo's glare had softened into one of a more incredulous and amused expression as he counted.

"I've been a part of five prophecies, one of them being a great prophecy." The gods raised an eyebrow at that, great prophecies were rare, the only one out right now was the prophecy of seven and that one was only told a few weeks ago for them.

Apollo's eyes squinted at him before his eyes flashed gold, not figuratively. His eyes literally flashed gold making Percy flinch back. The other demi-gods on the couch scooted closer to Percy. His eyes went back to their regularly yellow eyes with gold specks all around them.

Percy coughed, uncomfortable. "What exactly did you do?"

Apollo raised an eyebrow, "I can see how many prophecies are attached to a person, you have more than five prophecies attached to your person, I don't know what the Prophecies say but it does show more than five."

Percy started at him before opening his mouth to either curse someone out or scream, no one knew because both Nico and Thaila slapped a hand on his mouth. "Whatever was about to come out of your mouth, throw it back into your brain and say it to yourself later." Thaila glared.

He glared at both of them slapping their hands away from him, gaining glares. "You've got to be kidding me? I just got done with a war and your telling me I have more prophecies that I'm involved in?!" He sounded so defeated, before flopping back against the couch and covering his face.

Apollo looked at him, slightly annoyed at how the boy snapped at him but kept silent at Poseidon's glare.

"What do you mean?"...heard one before.

"Because it's from the sea," he said, muffled by his own hands. He felt everyone's eyes on him when Dionysus read it out.

Luke yelled...the sun went down.

Artemis and Thaila smiled.

We marched up…butt hanging off.

The Hermes kids sighed in sync with Hermes.

I saw Grover...being hosed down,

Clarrise sighed, "I was not over it." She threw him a glare.

He grinned over towards her.

because she was..."Blue Cherry Coke."

Some minor gods and all the demi-gods smiled, knowing what Percy was thinking about.

The soda turned...then someday…

Hades threw a glare at Percy who still had his head in his hands, before looking over at Poseidon in disbelief, " Get your child, Poseidon. Keep him out of my domain ." He telepathically told Poseidon with an annoyed tone.

Poseidon glared before looking back over at the book, his son being so rebellious isn't only his fault.

"Here you go…"Your kidding."

Hebe rose an eyebrow, "Why would he be kidding?" Obviously guessing what they were talking about.

Everyone jumped, "Oh my gods, I forgot all of you were here, none of you have talked." Katie told them, looking over where most minor gods were sitting.

"It's slightly weird to offer food." Percy shrugged.

The gods sent each other looks, why was the future so different?

His look warned..."Hermes."

Hermes smiled.

I was next...tell me. Please.

Percy finally looked up, "Yeah, that didn't take long." He snorted.

Kymopoleia glimpsed at him, "How long did it take after that."

Percy thought for a second, "It took maybe a week after this." He told her.

I scraped a...off that smoke.

Apollo furrowed his eyebrows, "I'm not sure." He looked over to the other gods and sighed, "Please don't try it. If you end up in my infirmary I won't help you." He gave a glare all of them.

When everybody had...from the Ares table.

Clarrise nodded in approval.

"Personally,"...Peter Johnson."

"Dionysus." Poseidon threatened.

"This isn't me!" He defended himself.

Chiron murmured something...a sing-along.

Will grinned, "You have a great singing voice, Percy. I'll one day get you to help in a sing-a-long." He threw a look over at Percy whose eyes widened.

"Absolutely not. How do you even know what I sound like singing!?" He cried.

Will grinned, "I've heard you softly singing when you're around the infirmary helping out."

Percy groaned and shook his head, the looks he was getting from other campers and some gods made him think he was going to be pulled into singing.

We sang camp...my new home.

"Way to be ominous, Perce." Conner snorted.

Dionysus sighed, "This chapter is finally over. Who wants the book?"

Pollux smiled, "I'll take it." He opened it and began reading.

Notes:

Tumblr is Mirzamsaiph

Chapter 10: We Capture A Flag

Summary:

Poseidon just wants to know why these children are set on trying to kill his child.

Notes:

Canada, me and you are about to fight. I don't even live near you and yet WHY IS THERE SMOKE EVERYWHERE???? LIKE I'm over 1000 miles from you.

I'm a long-haired Percy believer and I will never back down from that.

ALSO my birthday is this Saturday and I'm like so happy.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Percy sighed and threw Annabeth a glare.

The next few...too much headache.

"Are you not fluent in Greek?" Thanatos asked.

"I'm better now. Back then though, Greek wasn't the easiest. Honestly, it's about as easy as Latin, which is saying they both are annoyingly hard." Percy told him with an annoyed look.

All the gods gave him weird looks, "You're not Roman, of course, Latin is hard for you. Greek should be easy." Apollo told him with a look that said 'duh.'

Percy resisted the urge to flip him a disrespectful finger, "That's because you guys are in Greece, we aren't."

Chris shrugged and looked sideways at Percy, "It's easy for me."

Percy glared, "I get it, I'm weird. Let's get back to the book. Please."

The rest of the...teach me archery,

Will shook his head quickly, "Please never go near a bow, we'd all like to keep our body parts." He grimaced.

"Okay, I'm not that bad, Solace," Percy told him dryly..

Every demi-god gave him incredulous looks, "With that shot every single sibling of mine immediately knew you weren't a child of Apollo. Even the people in cabin seven who don't have powers that have anything to do with archery aren't that bad." Will cried with a wide-eyed look.

Pollux shook his head, "Poor Chiron."

Poseidon raised an eyebrow, "It has to do with my brother not liking my children doing anything that involves the air or wind. With archery comes wind and needing to use it to their advantage, my children can't do that."

Zeus rolled his eyes, "It's my domain, keep your children out of it." He told Poseidon.

He gave Zeus an incredulous look, "I don't drown your children for going into my domain, brother."

Thaila snorted, "No, Percy does that." She huffed.

Percy groaned, "It was once and it was an accident."

Poseidon and the rest of the sea family gave him slightly confused looks.

but we found...of his tail.

Everyone cringed, "Okay, maybe I'm not great." He admitted.

Artemis and Apollo cringed, "I don't even think that had anything to do with Father not liking you in his domain, that's just bad." Apollo furrowed his eyebrows in confusion on how exactly someone could be that bad. Artemis nodded in agreement albeit hesitant to agree with her brother.

Foot racing?...lovesick gods.

The demi-gods snorted, they turned away from the gods. Attempting to not laugh in their face.

But still...than a tree.

Chris sighed, "Yeah, it is slightly humiliating."

And wrestling?...pulverize me.

Clarisse grinned, "You were a scrawny kid, Jackson. It was relatively easy." Percy stuck his tongue out at her.

"There's more...the Minotaur.

"How exactly didn't we figure this out?" Conner rubbed his face in embarrassment.

Triton looked at the demi-gods with a bit of distaste, "How exactly do you not realize who his father is?" The demi-gods shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the minor god's face.

Katie shrugged, "We had our reasons."

I knew the senior...master of none.

Hermes raised an eyebrow, slightly offended. "I'm sure he didn't mean that rudely, though I have more domains than practically any other gods." He huffed.

The demi-gods gave each other looks, Luke definitely meant that rudely.

But I got...of his smile.

Annabeth shook her head, "For someone with an apparent good memory, enough to remember something from when you were an infant, you don't remember anything I tell you." she gave him a half-hearted glare.

Percy grinned over at her, "I do remember usually, I just act as though I don't."

I tried not...his father, Hermes.

The godly Poseidon children and Amphitrite gave Percy a look that had him grimacing. He raised his hands in slight surrender, knowing it was probably a good idea to point things out to them or pick a fight. Especially with gods who already aren't his biggest fans.

Percy groaned, "Here we go." He gave Chris a look of despair and annoyance knowing he would somewhat understand, "I would like to point out I was twelve and a rather bitter kid." He shook his head, "I was actually really resentful this whole summer." He cringed and looked over at Grover who gave a short nod.

Hermes gave Percy a look that could be described as acceptance, "By how you are portraying my son, something has happened that made him resentful towards me. It seems to be a big part of who he is." Hermes didn't look sad per se, he just had a frown on his face.

Percy didn't say anything which confirmed his suspicions.

Zeus gave Percy a reapproaching look and then shot Poseidon's look, "Your child shows a lot of bitterness, do you remember what happened the last time one of our children was resentful?" He asked Poseidon in a slow voice.

Poseidon shot Zeus a warning look, "My child isn't like that other boy. If you don't remember, he saved Olympus twice . He may be resentful but I hope to change that by being able to civilly talk to him. If you can't see your daughter is purposefully avoiding you. Maybe you should worry about your own child, brother." He snapped at Zeus.

The gods all looked at them slightly as Zeus opened his mouth, usually, they fought privately and definitely never in front of demi-gods. "I was merely pointing out, brother , that he seems very resentful, I recommend watching him. Do not fight me on this." Zeus told him as calmly as possible.

Percy coughed, "I'm not that bitter anymore, I'm also right here. You don't have to act as though I'm not sitting right here." He shuffled uncomfortably when everyone's eyes went to him.

Pollux slowly started to read again.

So okay, maybe...or something?

Styx shrugged, "We are gods, we have a bit more important things to do than talk to our children."

"Then stop having kids." He shot at her, it was directed toward everyone but since she said something he looked at her while he said it.

Dionysus could...a phone appear?

Aphrodite furrowed her eyebrows, "We have no idea what a phone is."

Thursday afternoon...work for me.

Poseidon nodded, "None of my children can use a regular sword, Most of them are made under the sea. Others don't use swords."

Percy paused and finally addressed his father without being addressed first for the first time, "What did they use?" He asked, hesitantly.

Poseidon looked over at him and raised an eyebrow, "It varied, spears were common amongst my children. Many of them preferred tridents over anything else."

Percy's eyes lit up slightly, he had always loved tridents. Even when he was younger before he knew he was a demigod, he'd read stories about tridents and heroes with them and always wished he could have one. When he learned he was a demigod and who his father was, he researched a bit and attempted to see if any tridents were available but they had all been either destroyed or put away for good because of no demigods using them besides Poseidon's children. And at that point in time there hadn't been any children of Poseidon in decades.

He bit his lip to stop questions that threatened to pour out of his mouth, he nodded at his father and sat back. Kymopoleia saw the look on Percy's face whilst their father talked and raised a curious eyebrow at him.

We moved on...on me," I said.

Ares shook his head, "No, you wouldn't learn anything then."

Percy shrugged, "I was twelve, and as much as I hate to admit it, I was scrawny, he could've knocked me over at any time. I was hoping he'd take it easy at first."

The camper snorted...feel so awkward.

Many gods sat forward to see what would happen now. Hermes shook his head, his son was about to be beaten. Even he knew that.

The sea family all looked slightly intrigued and sat up to see what would happen.

"Okay, everybody...Percy get pounded.

Clarisse snorted, "If only that had happened, I would've loved to see it."

The Hermes guys...master this technique."

"It's advanced, I wouldn't doubt it." Ares nodded.

He demonstrated...undefended chest.

"That's… actually very impressive." Ares looked surprised but nodded with a smile.

Conner's draw dropped, "You cheated! You used water to your advantage when we didn't know that water strengthens you." Travis nodded quickly in agreement.

Percy laughed, "I didn't know, you two."

The other campers..."Um, sorry."

Everyone blinked, "Why are you apologizing?" Tyche asked, slowly.

He flushed, "Everyone was staring at me, I had thought I did something wrong."

Conner, Travis, and Chris snorted, "No, we were surprised. We hadn't ever seen anyone disarm Luke. Especially someone as young as you were." Chris told him.

"And scrawny." A demi-god that sounded strangely like the demi-god who had told Dionysus off said.

"Hey!" Percy cried.

This time...balanced sword..."

Thaila muttered under her breath, "He could kick your a-." Nico slapped a hand over her mouth, before getting a glare from her and Artemis.

Friday afternoon...off my forearms.

The demi-gods winced in sympathy.

We sat on...searchers license?"

"I'm still confused about what a searcher's license is?" Dionysus muttered.

"Well. . . no. "...job complete."

Grover smiled, "I still haven't said thank you to Mr.D for that." He told Percy.

My spirits lifted...want me along?"

Percy rolled his eyes, "Of course, There's no reason I wouldn't want you going with me, G-Man." He shot Grover with a slight smile.

Grover shrugged, "You never know."

"Of course...the different gods.

Katie grinned, "Pros and cons? Who were the gods you thought it could be?"

Percy chuckled, "Honestly, I knew for sure it wasn't Lord Apollo. I had been informed that it couldn't have been a big three god." He grinned over at the demi-gods who flushed. And pointedly ignored the confused looks from the gods. "I had crossed out many other gods, so it had been shortened down to Lord Hermes or a minor god." He always said Lord as if he was slightly mocking them, gaining glares from many gods.

Hermes scanned Percy and raised an eyebrow, "Most of my children have brown hair and many times brown eyes. You look nothing like them. You're a carbon copy of your father."

Percy shrugged, "Honestly I was sure at that point in time it was a minor god that had something to do with water. The only reason I knew that was because usually fish didn't talk and I definitely heard fish and many other sea creatures talking when I was younger and at camp." The sea children looked slightly amused at that, whilst they were confused about the whole 'no big three children' this child seemed to provide some amusement to them.

Chris gave him an incredulous look, "You couldn't have said anything about fish talking whilst you were unclaimed?" Percy grinned and looked away.

Finally, I asked...she'd be mad."

She rolled her eyes, "It's for my hunters."

"Yeah, okay….her husband's job.

Many of the minor gods chuckled whilst the Olympians had amused smiles.

Zeus sighed and looked Grover in the eyes, making him shrink slightly. "It is not my job, I'd appreciate you toning down the disrespect."

Hera rolled her eyes, "You act like it is sometimes."

When we say...Let's leave it at that."

Hades leveled Grover with a glare as well, and Nico threw a pillow at him.

"I'll have you know, that since cabin thirteen has been built not one person complained about it being 'off-putting.' As you so gracefully put it." Nico glared, looking scarily similar to Hades at that moment.

Hades blinked confused along with the other gods, "Cabin thirteen?" He inquired.

Nico's eyes widened as he realized he said, "Spoilers?" He attempted an innocent smile gaining looks of disbelief from the gods.

Percy snorted, "Cabin thirteen is your cabin, It was built after the war." He told Hades.

Hades paused for a moment before nodding in approval with a slight look gracing his face.

"But Zeus and Poseidon – They both had, like, a bazillion kids in the myths. Why are their cabins empty?"

A snort came from a minor god, "Kid, I'm positive that they didn't have that many kids. But I understand the confusion."

Poseidon and Zeus rolled their eyes, "Child, whilst we'd like to know the answer to that too. We did not take lovers that much." Zeus sighed, his face showed no anger though.

"But Zeus and...the River Styx."

Silence took over the throne room. The first one to speak up was Ares, "World war two? " He questioned.

Percy cringed, "Yes. That's a story for another time, but in short, a child of Hades ended up committing crimes that in the modern day are considered crimes against humanity or war crimes. Causing mass destruction of a place that we call Germany and Poland. A genocide of an ethnicity of people. And for people who practiced a certain religion. Both a child of Poseidon and a child of Zeus teamed up around nineteen-thirty-nine and six years later the child of Hades ended up committing suicide to stop himself from being imprisoned. World War two was a bloody war that ended thirty-five to sixty million people's lives. The child of Poseidon and Zeus ended up dead if I'm not mistaken. But the power the three of them had was too much according to you guys." Percy took a deep breath after that explanation. The silence had become louder, Hades had a slightly constipated look on his face as he leaned back on his throne, rubbing his face.

"So that's why we have no children, it does make sense. I would do the same thing if something of the sort happened today's time." Zeus sighed, running a hand over his face. Poseidon nodded in agreement.

Styx sighed, "You three brought a terrible fate onto your children, It explains Perseus's horrible luck. Thaila being turned into a tree." She gave Thaila a look with furrowed eyebrows who in turn chuckled. "I'm not sure about Nico Di Angelo but I'm sure something happened with him."

Nico shot her a grin, "I was born before the oath. I'm biologically older than every demigod here but I'm mentally and psychically younger than everyone too." Styx blinked, obviously confused, Whilst Hades sat up slightly in his throne eyeing his son, warily.

Poseidon and Zeus sighed, "We will talk about this later, there's no need to get into a discussion like this in front of the children." Poseidon told the gods.

Thunder boomed...word—no kids?"

Thaila, Percy, and Nico grinned at each other slightly lowering the tension in the room. Thalia and Percy high-fived.

Hera, Persephone, and Amphitrite shook their heads.

Grovers face darkened...couldn't help himself.

Thaila's grin slowly faded into one of both sadness and anger at the mention of her mother.

When their child was born, a little girl named Thaila.

Annabeth smiled at her and Thaila pulled her into a hug.

When their child...on his daughter."

Zeus sighed and shook his head, his face had a slight guilty look on it as Styx stared at him.

"But that...little girl's fault."

Thaila shrugged, "It's just what happened. It may not have been my fault but I was the one who had to be punished. Since a broken oath couldn't go unpunished."

Apollo looked at her, "Are we finally going to get to know how you were turned into a tree?"

A slow grin appeared on her face, "Probably."

Grover hesitated... to torment Thalia.

Hades looked at the book confused, "I understand being angry that he broke the oath, but sending the worst monsters after a child? I don't understand why my future self would do that." Persephone furrowed her eyebrows, also confused.

Thaila sighed, "I wondered the same thing too, I still do. But it's how it happened, nothing we can do to change it." She frowned and sat back against the couch.

A satyr was...horde of hellhounds.

Zeus blinked, "What exactly is wrong with you?" He asked, looking Hades in the eye. Despite his voice which seemed curious, his voice showed that he was not happy at all. It was said as if he was asking Hades if he had a wish to be turned mortal.

Hades sighed and gave Zeus a look, "You act as though I know what my future self is thinking. I'm sure I had a reason to send them after your child." For the first time, he sounded as though he didn't completely believe what he was saying though.

Thaila looked slightly offended at the implication that she had done something to deserve what happened to her.

They were about...Half-Blood Hill."

Thaila sighed, she didn't look as upbeat as she usually did when she joked about this, "Grover was right, I didn't want to spend my life being hunted for something that wasn't my fault. I envy you Percy for being able to do that." She looked constipated as if she hated admitting she was envious of a boy.

Percy chuckled, "Don't envy me. If I had been in your situation I would've done the exact same thing. You were brave for what you did." He gave her a smile when she returned.

Zeus and Hades were having a glare-off from their respective thrones. In the end, their glare-off came to an end from Hestia giving the both of them looks that had them giving her an apologetic look.

Zeus sighed and sat up fully in his throne, "What you did was brave, daughter. Though the question I have for you is most mortals and or demigods who are turned into non-human things usually do not come back from it. How exactly are you sitting in front of us?" He inquired.

Thaila looked a bit taken aback by the fact that Zeus had called her brave, even Percy was squinting his eyes as if he could see into Zeus's brain and figure out what he was thinking. She cleared her throat and spoke, "Percy." That is all she said before and looked at a now confused Percy Jackson.

"I had help?" He blinked, looking over at Grover, Clarisse, and Annabeth.

Clarisse glared at Thaila, "Yeah, It wasn't just him. If I hadn't been issued that quest you wouldn't be here." She told Thaila with a threatening glare.

Thaila rolled her eyes, "I heard the prophecy, you wouldn't have completed the quest if Percy's determination and stubbornness weren't there with you." She drawled looking back at a now flushed Percy.

"It was not stubbornness." He tried, weakly. Gaining raised eyebrows from many demigods and glare from Clarrise.

Zeus nodded and looked at Percy, "I thank you, Perseus."

Percy cringed, "Please don't." He muttered, quietly. He was completely weirded out by this whole exchange. The demi-gods who heard his mutter all chuckled quietly.

I stared at...saved my mother?

"Whilst I am flattered by your thoughts about my 'braveness,' No you couldn't have done anything. You had just figured out about our world, nothing you could've done would've changed anything. The only thing that could have changed was you dead and not sitting here with us right now." She shrugged, giving Percy a strained smile. Percy looked at her and sighed but nodded.

"Grover," I said...seriously thinking—"

Hades muttered the names and stored them in the back of his mind, making sure to remember them for when they were born and to either strike them down or make sure something stopped them from coming into his domain.

Grover sighed, "You were." He shook his head.

"No," I lied...guard a demigod?"

"What kind of topic change was that? " Travis looked slightly offended by how bad that was.

Percy stuck out his tongue, childishly.

Grover studied...really huge problems."

Thaila rolled her eyes, "We've never caused problems." She grinned at Nico and Percy who returned it.

The gods and demigods gave them incredulous looks.

"And you found...god of revenge.

Nemesis blinked from the back, "Excuse me?" She asked, her voice showing the offense she took.

"I apologize, my lady. It was a slip of the tongue." Grover cringed.

Don't worry, okay?"...more than me.

Grover shrugged and nodded, "You wouldn't be wrong. I was." He sighed.

That night after...capture the flag.

All the demigods sat up to listen more intently, whilst the gods looked more intrigued at this unknown game the demigods seemed interested in.

When the plates...boar's head.

Ares nodded in approval at his Clarrise.

I turned to..."But often."

Ares and Athena smiled, "Makes sense, we are both war gods and are good at battle strategy." Athena nodded.

"So, if another...something I didn't.

"He knew, didn't he?" Percy glared at Annabeth, who in turn gave a slightly guilty smile and nodded.

"Knew what?" Tyche asked, scaring many of the demigods who kept forgetting the minor gods were there.

"I'm sure it'll turn up." Percy huffed.

The scar on...the torchlight.

Hermes shook his head disappointedly, the obvious pointing out Persues continued to with his son showed that something was wrong with his child. There was also the fact the children also seemed to not like his son at all or at least they weren't his son's biggest fans.

"We've made a...two of them.

Pollux swallowed thickly and cleared his throat, turning away from the demigods and gods to rub any tears out of his eyes. Dionysus saw this and the grim expressions on the demigod's face and just sighed and shook his head. He thought about putting a hand on his son's shoulder to comfort him before deciding not to.

Demeter's kids had...very aggressive.

Demeter chuckled softly and nodded, whilst Hades gave a slight cringe, "I don't doubt it." He muttered, gaining an amused look from Persephone.

Aphrodite's sons...hair and gossiped.

Aphrodite frowned, "I'm positive that's not all they did, child." She told him. Piper frowned and looked over at the other demigods who all were looking at each other like they were having a silent conversation.

"They couldn't be just like that, I'm sure." Piper's eyebrows were furrowed in confusion.

Hephaestus' kids...four of them,

Leo sat up, "Are they at least nice?" He inquired, curiously.

Percy grinned and nodded, "They are, I'm not close with any of them but I have met and talked to most of them and they're quite sweet, just introverts." He explained to Leo who just smiled and nodded.

but they were...be a problem.

Percy chuckled and nodded.

That, of course...on the planet.

Ares rolled his eyes, "This is… what? Your fifth time insulting my children, and you have only been at camp for two chapters?" He raised an eyebrow at a very amused Percy Jackson.

"You know, I would apologize but then I would just be lying to your face and I feel like that would get me in more trouble." Percy grinned before it dropped because of the glares he was getting from a few gods.

Chiron hammered...maiming is allowed.

Percy glared at Clarisse and the others that were in on the plan, who all had enough brains to look sheepish.

"We've apologized for this so many times, Percy." Annabeth groaned.

"I could've died! " Percy cried out with a glare toward her.

"Excuse me?" Poseidon questioned, giving Percy and the rest of the demigods looks.

Percy's mouth immediately shuts and he looks towards Annabeth whose eyes widened and she stayed silent as well.

Poseidon raised an eyebrow and sighed, "There has already been an argument about not answering someone when asked a question." His eyes flickered towards Apollo who pursed his lips and gave a slight glare towards Percy, "I recommended you answer my question." Poseidon's voice implied he wasn't actually recommending anything, he was demanding an answer.

Annabeth finally spoke up, "It was something that happened during capture the flag, the first part of it being slightly my fault." She told Poseidon. Percy rolled his eyes, it wasn't 'slightly' her fault, she planned the whole thing.

Poseidon was slightly disappointed that Annabeth had spoken up and not his son but he just nodded instead, even though he wasn't fully satisfied with the answer.

My helmet...She kept marching.

"Are people at the camp usually that rude?" Leo asked, looking slightly off-put by Annabeth's behavior.

Annabeth sighed and shook her head, "No, back then I was just needlessly rude to Percy, Which of course I am sorry for Percy." She gave Percy who returned it and waved off her apology.

"So what's the...I'd stolen something.

She grinned over at Percy, "Didn't know who your father was, thought you might be a Hermes kid."

Hermes just shook his head, "He looks nothing like my children." He muttered to Apollo who nodded.

"Just watch Clarisse's...have a plan."

"That was not a plan," Percy grumbled, glaring at her half-heartedly.

She pushed...the dust.

Styx and Thanatos both furrowed their eyebrows, "How did you two even become as close as you are now?" Thanatos questioned both of them.

Annabeth grimaced, "It took a good while, but it eventually happened. It took some conversations and actually talking with each other civilly." She explained.

"Okay," I mumbled...an idiot.

"You looked like one too." Travis and Conner told him at the same time.

The bronze sword...liability issues, right?

The demigods burst into laughter, "Please start saying your thoughts out loud, Percy, I beg of you." Chris coughed out through his laughter.

"I feel as though I might get blasted if I did that.' Percy grinned.

"You would." Many gods told him, including Apollo and a few of his half-siblings.

Far away, the...enemy territory.

Will cleared his throat, "That might have been Lee, I'm not sure." He tried for a smile at Percy but it was more strained.

Great, I thought...as usual.

Percy shook his head, "Wish I had missed the fun." He sighed.

Then I heard...close by.

The demigods all furrowed their brows and looked at Percy, "It was there that early?" Katie asked him with a tilted head.

" What was there that early?" Rhodes asked, giving Katie a questioning look.

Percy chuckled, "Something that attempted to kill me, no big deal really. It happens all the time." He smiled, sweetly at Rhodes gaining a rather reproachful look from Rhodes and his other half-siblings.

I raised my...of the dark.

Ares paused and looked at Clarisse disappointedly, "Really, child? Petty revenge?" Clarisse had enough sense to look somewhat sorry. Ares then looked over at Percy, "It was also your fault, Perseus. You antagonized them, don't get cocky." Percy looked slightly offended but said nothing, just huffed.

"Cream the punk!"... with red light.

"Damn, that spear hurt," Percy grumbled.

Her siblings had...the Ares cabin.

Clarisse rolled her eyes, "That's dramatic, it wasn't half of our cabin, it was maybe four or five of us."

Percy looked at her dumbfounded, "Like that makes it any better?!" He cried.

I managed to...was electric.

Many of the gods were looking at Clarisse like she was insane, "At this point, I'm more surprised Poseidon hasn't struck you down. I've never seen anyone disrespect his children that much." Apollo said, shaking his head.

Clarisse cringed and took a brave look over towards Poseidon and the other part of the sea family, who were all giving her rather terrifying looks. The siblings might not like Percy much, due to him being a symbol of their father's infidelity but he still had their blood mixed within him. Poseidon wasn't happy someone was disrespecting his child.

I fell back..."Grab his hair."

Many of the demi-gods' mouths dropped open, "His hair!?" Thaila cried, dramatically making Clarisse roll her eyes.

"How dare you!" Annabeth dramatically gasped, copying Thaila. The Stolls followed suit.

"You people are so dramatic. This is why I keep my hair short by the way Clarisse, I loved my long hair, but now I keep it short so people won't go after it." Percy sighed and shook his head just as dramatically as the others.

"You used to have long hair?" Aphrodite inquired, curiously.

Percy nodded, "I did, up until I turned thirteen then I kept it short because it kept getting in my way. And people weirdly enough kept going after it when I was fighting." He shook his head, sadly.

"You know, it would make him look even more like Poseidon if he still had longer hair, which I didn't think was possible since he's already a carbon copy." Persephone muttered to Hades who nodded.

I managed to...out that way.

"You gave up the flag?" Chris asked.

Percy shook his head, "I was pointing the wrong way."

"Yeah," one of... I told them.

Ares sighed, "You're doing that yourself." He muttered, obviously not happy with his children.

Rachel looked at Percy like he was insane, "You're antagonizing four people who have weapons and are trained in combat?" Percy shrugged.

"He's not right in the head," Kymopoilea muttered to her siblings before getting a look from their mother. Many other of the minor gods were thinking the same thing.

It probably... thing to say.

"Couldn't have thought of that before you said it?" Annabeth asked with a raised eyebrow.

Two of them...a good-size cut.

Poseidon's jaw ticked and he shook his head, "How old were you during this and your siblings?' Poseidon 'asked' Clarisse.

Clarisse looked up, "I was probably the same age as Percy, maybe a year older. My siblings were probably fourteen to sixteen around that time." She told him.

"Sixteen-year-olds attacking a child?" Dionysus muttered, obviously disgusted Poseidon didn't show it but he agreed.

Seeing my own...my dessert privilege.

Apollo looked terribly angry at the fact that was the punishment, "Honestly, you'd think Chiron would make it to where the punishment was much worse after what happened to my child. But it seems I'll need to have another conversation with him."

"Uh, actually. It's Mr.D who makes the punishments for things and you'd honestly be surprised at how many people try not to maim because they actually want dessert privileges." Nico shrugged, "I've refrained from maiming someone because I wanted dessert." He seemed so calm whilst talking about how he actually wanted to maim someone.

Hades blinked, slightly concerned that his child had refrained from maiming someone because of dessert .

"Then I'll talk to him," Apollo muttered, giving Dionysus a look who in turn just rolled his eyes.

He pushed me...They all laughed.

"Oh, you're done for." Thaila grinned, high-fiving Percy.

"Shut up," Clarisse grumbled.

Many gods sat up in interest. How good was this demigod with the help of his father's domain?

I figured as...into the water.

Triton whistled quietly, "That's rather good, especially since he has no idea what he's doing." He said to his sisters who nodded.

"Dang, I don't get a power boost from breathing air." Thaila huffed at Percy who stuck out his tongue.

Ugly Number...like a twig.

"That was you?!" Will cried out and shook his head, "I had to deal with her threats and curses when she came into the infirmary after the game, she was absolutely cursing someone out because they broke her spear. That was you ." Will gave him a glare that didn't have much heat behind it.

"She deserved it" Percy exclaimed to a now offended Clarisse.

"I did not! Sure, I was rude but you destroyed a gift and one of my only good weapons." Se shot back at him.

"Ah!" she screamed…A trick!"

Percy rolled his eyes, "No one told you to go after me."

Psyche blinked, "You set him up." She looked at the Athena spawn and gave the girl a rather nasty look. "It wasn't a plan, he could've died. Especially because he had no training and it didn't seem like those Ares kids were close to stopping."

Poseidon just shook his head, he was slightly shocked. These kids were dead set on getting his child killed.

They staggered after...off her hat

"Okay, I'll admit that's kinda cool." Piper sighed.

I felt myself getting angry.

Hebe tilted her head, "I don't blame you, child."

I wasn't even...as I could.

Nico snorted, "Nice come back, Percy. 'A plan to get me pulverized.'" Percy grinned over at him.

I was about...didn't need help."

"Yeah, If I had well i guess I would've just been dead." Percy huffed.

Clarisse rolled her eyes, "We weren't going to kill you, Jackson." Ares gave her a look, "No, Just seriously injure it seems." He said making Clarisse cringe.

Then she noticed...and disappeared.

Chris shook his head, "That's awesome." He muttered to his siblings.

"I wonder if you can heal others with that?" Will frowned.

Percy shrugged, "I'm not completely sure, to be honest."

Poseidon shook his head, "He shouldn't be able to."

"I—I don't get it,"...the gears turning.

"You've obviously figured it out by now I hope?" Aphrtrite inquired at Annabeth, scaring many others who had forgotten she was even there at all.

Annabeth flushed in embarrassment, "There really wasn't any other god it could be."

She looked down...Annabeth steadied me.

"I'm glad it doesn't do that unless I exhaust my powers, which I rarely do," Percy said.

"Oh, Styx,"...would be Zeus..."

Zeus looked slightly amused, "Most of my children look nothing like him, and even at that it would've been obvious if he had been my child." He explained.

Before I could...drew her sword.

"Is that what you heard earlier?" Apollo asked.

Percy nodded, "It was." He confirmed.

There on the...like daggers.

Hades looked so confused, Percy almost felt bad, "Why exactly is a creature from the underworld in camp without my clearance."

Percy looked a bit confused as to how he knew it was without his clearance but shrugged it off and answered him, "Someone in the camp had summoned it to kill me." He said rather too calmly for Poseidon's liking.

It was looking straight at me.

Amphitrite shook her head, "You attract too much trouble." She told Percy who flushed red.

Nobody moved...after the other.

Everyone tensed up including many minor gods, "I'd like to point out that I'm right here." Percy spoke up before getting shushed by many people. His mouth dropped in shock, were they really shushing him?

Poseidon's eyes flickered back to Percy for a moment as if making sure he was still there before looking back at the book.

From the hounds...his face grim.

Poseidon nodded in approval. Percy smiled and looked over at Will, "I guess I should also thank you for that, I know you and your siblings helped." Will smiled at him and nodded, "It's no big deal." He told Percy.

"Di immortales!"...inside the camp."

Many of the demigods shook their heads sadly.

Luke came over...Percy summoned it!"

"I was like thirteen, give me a break." Clarisse sighed at the looks she received.

"Be quiet, child,"..."Im okay."

Pollux looked at him with an incredulous look, "You were practically bleeding out!" He said, shaking his head.

"Okay, that's a little dramatic," Percy told him gaining wide-eyed looks from many demigods.

"Percy it almost tore your face to shreds," Will told him, gaining surprised looks from the gods.

"That bad?" Thanatos asked.

"Oh yeah, it was like that hellhound was on a mission to kill Percy," Will responded.

"So you definitely weren't okay and we should never believe it when you say you are?' Rhodes questioned, making Kymopoliea snort from next to her.

Percy stuttered, and Will and many other demi-gods nodded, "Never believe him when he says he's okay or that he's fine." Annabeth told them.

"No, you're not,"...the campers gasped.

"It was terrifyingly cool," Conner told him. "Just it meant that Lord Poseidon had broken the oath that's why we gasped."

"Look, I—I don't...above my head.

"Goodness, do you always apologize this much?" Demeter muttered at Percy.

"I was sadly used to apologizing this much," Percy told her making many of the people in the room gain annoyed or angry faces knowing what Percy meant.

"Percy," Annabeth said...a trident.

"Took me long enough," Poseidon muttered.

"Your father,"...happy about it.

"Oh we were pissed, but we had some sense," Clarisse grumbled.

"My father?"...the Sea God."

Percy grinned, "Damn, I didn't get that dramatic of an entrance." Nico muttered, gaining amused looks from Thaila and Percy. "Don't look at me like that, both of you had dramatic entrances to camp. Thaila apparently had two." Thaila grinned and high-fived Percy.

Hades rolled his eyes at his son.

"I'll take the book." Triton offered, getting weird looks from his siblings but he ignored it.

"After this chapter, we will be done for the day," Hestia announced.

Notes:

Someone save Poseidon from a heart attack and grey hairs.

Chapter 11: I Am Offered A Quest

Summary:

There is way too much dolphin talk in this chapter. Blame Dionysus.

Chapter Text

"Already?" Thanatos inquired, curiously.

"Already." Percy sighed.

The next morning...absolutely miserable.

The demi-gods cringed, "We really do apologize for that, Perce." Katie muttered, guilty.

Percy shrugged, "Long time ago, doesn't matter much anymore." He told them with a smile.

Rhodes rolled her eyes at the obvious lies, "What did you insolent demi-gods do?" She asked, her voice bored but with a slight tinge of curiosity.

Triton muttered a curse at Rhodes that got him glared at, "If you'd let me finish the paragraph you'd know." He shot at her.

Just when I'd...some rare disease.

"You shunned him?" Hermes raised a disappointed eyebrow at his children. Sure he didn't like the disrespectful boy and sure Hermes would love to blast him but shunning a child of the big three was dangerous. They tended to be more snappy, more power-happy. He's seen more than enough big-three children go insane and power-hungry due to being shunned by their peers and instead of asking for help, they retreated into themselves and the only thing that kept them company was the feeling of familiarness of their father's domains. So instead they experimented with their powers. Specifically Hades children, but he's seen one or two of Poseidon and Zeus' children do the same.

The children all looked down disappointedly, except a certain few who hadn't been there when this had happened. The Sea-Children - Percy, gave all the demi-gods nasty looks, they had the same thought process as Hermes minus the blasting.

Percy shrugged, "Honestly, it doesn't bother me much as it did back then." He smiled at the demi-gods who all gave him tight and strained smiles.

Amphitrite raised an eyebrow, "It should, boy. Many things could've gone wrong." She told him to which he in turn shrugged, obviously unconcerned. Amphitrite huffed and gave her husband an annoyed look. This boy was going to annoy her if he kept on not answering to hers and just being disrespectful in general.

Thaila looked at Percy and shook her head, "No offense Percy, but I'm really glad I didn't have to go through that." She told him, to which he rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue.

Nobody mentioned...been considered safe.

"To be honest, we were definitely talking about you, but we knew monsters couldn't invade the camp." Travis paused before slowly continuing, "Many people thought you summoned it." He grimaced and many demi-gods in the room slowly nodded.

Percy furrowed his eyebrows, incredulous, "Why would I do that?" He huffed, annoyed.

"To prove yourself, or even to show you were better than us because you already knew your heritage." Katie drawled with a roll of her eyes, "Obviously untrue but many people were talking." Percy threw his hands up and fell back against the couch dramatically.

The other campers...in the woods,

Said cabin eleven campers flushed in embarrassment, "We apologize, Perce. We were wary but unfair towards you." Chris stated at Percy. Travis and Conner nodded in agreement.

"It seems you demi-gods are just rude and insolent. None of you seem to have any sense." Kymopoleia voiced her annoyance, before she could say anything else she was shut down by a stern glare from her Father.

Percy huffed and gave Kymopoleia a look, "They were nervous, I was the first big three demi-gods to make it to camp in almost a century." He paused, "Sorry Thaila." Thaila grinned in turn and waved it off.

"Anyway, they had a reason to be nervous. Sure they were a bit rude, but people make mistakes. No need to be rude to them," He said, his voice was more impolite and tactless as he spoke. It was short and snappy as he spoke to Kymopoleia, gaining nasty looks from his siblings. His mood was rapidly declining, he wasn't going to like this chapter and he didn't want to relive any of this.

"I was defending you, Perseus. I'll make sure to not do it again in the future." She snapped at Percy. She leaned back in her seat, of course, her half-brother wasn't as nice as he made himself out to be towards the demi-gods, She was naive for thinking so.

As Percy opened his mouth Poseidon cut him off, "Both of you, cut it out. Now." He told them. Percy huffed but didn't say anything else.

Triton slowly started to read again.

so my lessons...he promised,

Ares nodded his approval, "That's a good way to train a newbie."

Percy muttered to Thaila, "Yeah, well he wasn't exactly wrong when he said I would need it in the future." He said, bitterly. Thaila's shoulders dropped as she nodded sadly.

as we were...Fifty more repetitions."

Conner whistles lowly, "Wow, that's a lot."

Annabeth still taught...between the eyes.

Thaila gave Annabeth an amused look, "Why exactly were you that angry?" She mused.

Annabeth blushed, "He was a son of Poseidon, I was mostly just blinded by our parent's feud."

After lessons...be ignored.

Clarisse gave him an incredulous look, "I would've gladly fought you, prissy. Damn you, you could've asked." She looked very put out that she wasn't able to pulverize him when he was younger.

Percy grinned at her, "I'm quite alright, now. Thanks." She glared at him and huffed.

I knew somebody...feet before exploding.

Everyone blinked confused, "Why would someone put that there?" Katie whispered, leaning over to Travis who shrugged, just as confused.

Mother and son...in black marker.

Everyone was silent for a moment before Nico spoke up, "Was that… you know who?" He questioned.

Percy grinned despite the situation, " You know who? " Percy asked, his tone dispelling all the tension in the room. Nico flipped him a finger, "You know what I meant, Jackson." Nico huffed.

Percy chuckled and shrugged, "I'm not sure, I never found out who put it there but I would guess it was them." He said.

"I'm actually very curious to know who this person they're talking about is, but I know they won't say anything," Psyche muttered, gaining a few nods from a few other minor gods.

I wadded up...worst dream yet.

"Ah, if only it had stayed that way. I've sadly had much worse 'dreams'."

I was running...the wind rose.

Demeter and a few other goddesses paused and shook their heads, "You two are absolute children." Demeter told them, her nose turned up.

"What exactly is this fight over? What makes you two act like actual children." Hades asked, mostly muttering to himself.

I had to stop...over a toy.

The demi-gods snorted and the goddess all looked slightly amused, "I wouldn't doubt that's what they sounded like." Aphrodite chuckled.

Zeus turned to Poseidon with a rather annoyed look, " Give it back ? You stole from me, really?" He looked calmer than many of the demi-gods thought he would be, he was obviously still annoyed and a bit angry but he wasn't yelling. "Petty theft. I thought that would come from Hermes, not you, brother." Hermes looked slightly offended but he didn't deny it.

Poseidone glared, "I do not resort to petty theft. You have obviously wrongly accused me of something, just like it seems you have done to my son." Poseidon shot back at Zeus.

Percy threw his hands up, "Finally, someone finally is on my side that I didn't do anything." He whispered-yelled, he was heard by a few minor gods and the demi-gods on the couch with him.

Zeus rolled his eyes, "We've already talked about this, I don't wrongly accuse people of things without an investigation. You have obviously done something." He drawled at Poseidon who opened his mouth to probably go and defend himself again.

Hestia sighed, "We will talk about this after this chapter during the break, like the other four things we need to talk about." She told them and gave Trition a look who started reading again.

The waves got...blood to ice.

Everyone turned to look at Hades who was frowning.

He saw everyone's eyes and rolled his own, "Just because something comes from the ground does not mean it is me." He snapped at them.

Percy snorted, "No offense, but it wasn't you at all. Your voice is not like how he was." Percy shuddered slightly.

The gods paused and many paled. Zeus took a breath, he didn't know if he was going to make it through this book at this point. This boy just kept saying the most jaw-dropping things like it was absolutely nothing. If Zeus was understanding the meaning behind the boy's words… well it wasn't good. "Perseus, we gods can't have heart attacks, but if you continue implying things like this I think we might figure out how to have one," Zeus told him, slowly. In reply, many gods nodded, especially a certain sea god whose head was leaning back against his throne as if he was praying.

Percy looked at Zeus weirdly, "I was merely pointing out it wasn't Lord Hades, and that maybe it was someone else." He shrugged, completely unbothered by the god's incredulous and pale looks.

"Oh us." Apollo breathed.

Hades cleared his throat, "Actually, you know what. I'd be completely okay if that was me." He announced.

Come down...I was falling.

The demi-gods shuddered, "Gods, I hate that feeling." Chris muttered.

I was still...Grover trotted inside,

"And if a Satyr banging their hoof on your door doesn't make your heart jump, I don't know what will." Percy huffed, giving a half-hearted glare at Grover who chuckled

looking worried...wants to kill…

Poseidon gave a warning look to Dionysus who raised his hands in surrender, "I'm sure I wouldn't actually kill him." He huffed.

I mean...in huge trouble.

At the weird looks Percy received he rolled his eyes, "I'm always in trouble, I figured this wasn't any different." He snorted.

For days...to be alive.

Apollo nodded, "You wouldn't be wrong." The demi-gods glared at him, "Not helping, father. Not helping." Will muttered.

The other gods...me for existing,

"I'm concerned for the way you view us, we wouldn't be debating on killing you. It's not your fault you're alive." Aphrodite attempted to comfort him but Thaila and Percy looked at each other and she got the feeling she didn't know something.

and now...want it to."

"At least you answered me," Percy muttered, annoyed to Grover.

I pointed at...always does."

"Hm. Does it really?" Percy asked, feigning innocence.

"Oh shush, Percy." Grover huffed.

I realized he...the satyrs.

Grover muttered something rude about Apollo's children and cheating.

Dionysus' twins...the plants grow.

Pollux smiled sadly.

Everybody was..."Our little celebrity."

Percy huffed and muttered, "You know, what I don't understand is why you hated me and acted like I had killed your cat. I mean I understand why the demi-gods were but you ?" Percy asked Dionysus who rolled his eyes.

"Why exactly would you care about how I felt about you? You don't really seem to care about literally any other gods' opinions, so why mine?" Dionysus drawled, he was rather curious about why this demi-god seemed actually annoyed.

Percy puffed out a breath, "I didn't care about your opinion of me, I was just wondering why exactly you didn't like me. I was curious." Percy explained to him, slowly as if he wasn't bright.

I waited...is your father."

"I recommend you never call me that, Dionysus. Otherwise, even the fates wouldn't be able to stop me from cursing you so far into the ground." Poseidon's eyes flashed dangerously.

Dionysus grimaced, "What is wrong with the future me." Dionysus muttered

A net of...of the house.

Apollo looked weirdly intrigued, "I'm more surprised, it didn't attempt to strike you down, god or not. I'm sure Poseidon would've found a way."

Poseidon raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes at that but said nothing, whilst Dionysus glared at Apollo.

"Blah, blah, blah,"...erupt in flames.

Poseidon's expression goes back to its unfriendly demeanor as he leaned back on his throne. The other gods looked at Dionysus with raised eyebrows, "Now I feel as though you're just pissing the other gods off just because you're in a bad mood with the punishment you had." Hermes murmured a look of enjoyment at the tension in the room.

Dionysus glared, "You'd be annoyed if you were stuck with children for a century for something minuscule." He huffed.

"But angering Poseidon? At that point, it sounds suicidal even if we are gods." Apollo whispered, his voice teetering on the edge of amusement.

Aphrodite looked rather put out by Dionysus's actions, "Is this a regular thing? Does he tend to threaten our children?" She inquired at the demi-gods.

Percy rolled his shoulders, leaning back on the couch. "Honestly, he does threaten us but we all know he won't actually kill us." His lips curl into a delighted smile when a few other demi-gods nod.

Nico shrugged, "No, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he's actually turned someone into a dolphin and then turned them back to human." Nico said, his eyes actually twinkling . Making a few demi-gods take a second look to make sure they were seeing things correctly.

Percy rolled his eyes, "I don't think that's helping, Nico." He grinned at Nico who in turn rolled his eyes. "Honestly you all might have to get used to it, he tends to do it a lot," Percy told them.

We'd sweep up...brats safe from harm."

Leo blinked confused, "Isn't that spontaneous combustion? I feel as though that is a form of harm." Percy looked at him weirdly.

"Why do you know that?" He chuckled, his eyebrows raised.

"I know many things," Leo said mysteriously. Piper rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Nevertheless, I've...to your father."

Percy leaned forward with a grin, "Honestly if you did turn me into a dolphin I wouldn't argue."

Thaila and Nico sighed in sync with exasperation, "Percy. Stop telling gods to turn you into something, please. It would take forever to get you back human." Thaila groaned.

Dionysus blinked, "You're a weird kid, Perseus."

Poseidon shook his head, "Firstly, you cannot turn any of my children into anything and send them to me. I would figure out a way to strike you. Second, Perseus. The daughter of Zeus is correct, it would take too long to turn you back to human. I'm sure many gods here would be happy to turn you into something, so do not ask them too." Poseidon blinked, he couldn't believe he just had to say that. What had godly life come to?

"Mr. D—" Chiron...Atlantic bottlenose.

"I sense I should probably know what that is," Percy muttered, unconcerned that Dionysus had once again threatened him.

Triton flickered his eyes at Percy, "It's a type of dolphin. He once again threatened to turn you into a dolphin." Triton said, his voice teetering on amused laughter, gaining an elbow from Rhodes who also seemed amused but was hiding it better.

Percy rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in exasperation, hitting Nico in the process. Gaining a hit in the back of the head for that. "First off, ouch ." Percy glared, "Second, what is it with you threatening to turn me into a dolphin!?" Percy cried.

Dionysus shrugged, "I don't blame future me in that regard, you seem rude and abrasive. I'd do it now if I thought your father wouldn't figure out how to kill me."

Percy cringed, "Well, at least you're blunt."

Do you understand?...you must do."

"You know, it might have been the better choice actually." Percy thought out loud, gaining furrowed eyebrows from the demi-gods.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Percy, it was not the better choice. Now please let's stop the turning you into a dolphin talk."

Kymopoleia held up a hand, stopping Triton from reading, "Actually, I'd be happy to turn you into a dolphin." She said, weirdly ecstatic about it. Obviously still not over him snapping at her earlier.

Amphitrite ran a hand down her face, " No. No turning anyone into a dolphin." She muttered, at this point, she wanted to be anywhere else.

Chiron smiled at...gotten to use.

The demi-gods grinned, "Chiron is never going to lose, is he?" Chris chuckled. The demi-gods nodded.

"Tell me, Percy,"...for breakfast.

"Chiron probably would've known if you had been lying," Annabeth said.

But I didn't feel like lying.

Apollo nodded, approvingly.

"It scared me,"...you're done."

"Ah, Chiron is back with his very comforting pep talks." Conner smirked.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Chiron was attempting to prepare him for the future of the summer."

"Done . . . with...you accept it?"

Apollo arched an eyebrow, "He hasn't even told you what the quest was?"

Percy shrugged, eyeing Apollo warily, "Well to be fair, I don't know if I'd have accepted it if he had told me outright."

I glanced at...aren't they?".

"You know, even I'm surprised I guessed that." Percy frowned, "I wasn't completely right, but I was close enough."

Grover nodded, "Trust me, you surprised me and Chiron."

Triton paused at the next paragraph and shook his head, this wouldn't go over well.

Chiron and Grover...lightning bolt."

The god's eyes widened, many of their eyes flickering toward the lighting bolt that Zeus was now gripping rather harshly. Poseidon didn't look fazed as he met Zeus' eyes that were swirling with power.

"You know, I really don't want to be anywhere near this throne room when Triton reads out the next paragraph," Percy muttered to Grover who nodded.

"Poseidon. Don't even attempt to defend yourself, we've gone over this twice. I don't falsely accuse someone. Especially in situations such as these. You've changed over the years, resorting to petty theft I see." Zeus bit out, his voice calm but his eyes showed different feelings.

"I have absolutely no reason to want that bolt. My trident is perfectly fine. I have no need for the master bolt. It seems like you have let your mind go astray over the years." Poseidon shot back, the insult clear in voice and words as he spoke.

"Astray? That's all you could come up with, brother ? You've tried many things, I wouldn't put it past you to attempt to resort to stealing to get what you want." Zeus told him, rising in his throne.

"How dare you. Not once have I stolen from you, you would have no reason to blame this on me?" Poseidon said, his voice and aura growing darker. And a bit more suffocating to the demi-gods.

"Hey. Children in the room, there is no need to have a go at each other while the children are here." Hera snapped, her eyes flickering to the children who had all backed as far as they could from where they were sitting.

The glares never left the two gods' faces but their insults did stop.

I laughed nervously...god-level explosives."

Leo looked intrigued but had enough sense to stay quiet.

"And its missing?"..."By you."

"See before you get mad, Lord Zeus. I didn't do it." Percy raised his hands in surrender as soon as Zeus's eyes went to him. "You've been reading my thoughts and you know my actions from the middle of my school year till now." Whilst Percy may be rude and tactless, he did have enough sense to be respectful when a very angry big three god was looking ready to blast him to pieces.

Poseidon cut in immediately, he wouldn't allow Zeus to kill his child, rude or not. "He's correct. Blame me all you want but you have proof Perseus hasn't stolen it. He had no idea he was a demi-god. There would be no way he could have stolen your precious bolt." Poseidon told Zeus, his voice a bit mocking.

Percy chuckled, nervously. "I could swear it if you'd like me to. But I do assure you whilst I know I'm disrespectful. I'm not dumb nor mindless. I wouldn't do that." He promised.

Zeus glared at the both of them but breathed and leaned back closing his eyes for a moment, "There is no reason for you to swear, Perseus. I have proof you didn't steal it." He said, shooting the end part at Poseidon who rolled his eyes in exasperation.

My mouth fell…Zeus is crazy!"

Zeus blinked, slightly offended. Never once had a demi-god called him crazy. Poseidon shook his head.

Travis grinned, "Perseus Jackson, insulting powerful gods since 2005." Travis and Conner high-fived. Thaila and Nico shook their heads, Annabeth following suit.

"That's his motto. We need to get a shirt and stick that on it and make him wear it." Thaila offered making every demi-god nod in agreement besides Percy.

"No?!" He cried out.

"No, No. I think that's a great idea, we should get started on that." Clarisse agreed, making Percy's mouth drop open. She definitely wanted to embarrass him.

Psyche chuckled at the demi-god's antics, "I can help if you'd like?' Psyche inquired making the demi-gods grin.

"Please." Annabeth agreed.

Chiron and Grover..."Perhaps paranoid,"

A few gods snorted quietly.

Chiron suggested...getting busted.

Many of the gods and all the demigods scowled. For many different reasons, The demi-gods mad because the scum of a man put his hands on Percy. The gods because not only had this man put a hand on a child but a demi-god child. Their priorities were a bit skewered.

"Correct," Chiron said...at the accusation.

"I'm sure I did. I don't like random accusations of things I didn't do." Poseidon bit out.

The two have..."But I'm just a kid!"

Ares shrugged, "I'm slightly confused about that too. Why are they sending a child into this? We don't know, obviously. But if Father really thinks you stole his lightning bolt or you helped then there's nothing you can really do even if you are a kid." He explained to Percy, a few other gods nodding along.

"Percy," Grover cut...in your toga?"

Thaila blinked, "I'm literally older than this boy, no offense but that's hypocritical." Percy snorted into his hand, an amused twinkle in his eyes at Thaila's words.

Zeus pursed his lips, "It doesn't matter, he still technically broke the oath. No matter if I did it first." Zeus told his daughter, his tone a bit short. He still seemed rather annoyed about the stolen bolt in Percy's opinion.

"But I didn't...not Poseidon's style.

Poseidon and his children and wife all nodded. "Exactly, I'm not the type to steal. If anything you should've been blaming Hermes." Poseidon muttered the last part to himself, only the gods sitting on the couch next to him heard it.

Zeus has demanded... brothers see sense.

The three goddesses mentioned shook their heads sadly, "Once they're fighting, there's nothing we can do." Demeter muttered.

But your arrival..."Bad?" I guessed.

Tyche tilted her head, "That's a small way to put it." Thanatos and a few other minor gods snorted in agreement and amusement."

"Imagine the world...water-balloon fight."

A good few gods shivered at the picture, while the demi-gods cringed, "Yeah, like Tyche said. That's a very small way to put it." Melinoe muttered.

"Bad," I repeated.

The gods facepalmed and the demi-gods snickered.

"You sure have a way with words, Perseus," Aphrodite told him, her eyes shining with amusement.

"And you, Percy Jackson...because of me.

Percy scowled, "There was absolutely no reason for you to do that, it was dramatic." He huffed out, gaining incredulous looks from some gods and the demi-gods.

"You've got some courage kid, I'll give you that," Hephestus told Percy, shaking his head. He was very surprised that Zeus hadn't gone against the fates and blasted the boy yet.

Zeus mirrored Percy's scowl, "It was not dramatic, child. It was to show you that if you did have the bolt, I knew and it was more of a warning." Zeus told Percy, a slight glare going at Percy's direction. He was holding back striking the insolent child down.

Percy opened his mouth to refute that statement before Triton sent a blast of water at him. Percy coughed and choked, not expecting the wave of water. He cursed under his breath, waving a hand at himself. Quickly drying himself off. When he finally looked up he saw Poseidon glaring at Triton and many others looking at him like he was insane.

"What the hell was that for?" Percy yelped out, his voice sounding a bit hoarse. He shot an annoyed glare at Triton who didn't seem fazed about it. He was really trying not to send a wave of water right back at the smug looking god.

"Shutting you up so you wouldn't get blasted. You're welcome." Triton told him. Poseidon's glare softened a bit into a disappointed look. He was still rather annoyed Triton had done that but if it really was to stop his son from getting himself killed. He was okay with it.

Percy let out an annoyed breath, Annabeth could practically read his mind when she sent him a shake of her head. Showing him that it was probably a bad idea to send a wave of water at Trition.

He pursed his lip in annoyance and sat back, his glare never softening.

I was furious.

No one said anything about that like they usually would. Percy didn't look exactly very happy right now so they instead just stayed quiet.

"So I have to find the stupid bolt," I said.

Zeus rolled his eyes, "It's not stupid. It's one of the most powerful weapons in the world. If not the most powerful." He told Percy who in turn rolled his eyes and nodded, not trusting his mouth right now.

"If Poseidon..."I believe I know."

Nico scowled and glared at the book, "Must my father always' be you peoples first assumption." He muttered. Hades silently agreed but stayed quiet, shooting his son a warning look.

I swallowed...wanted to kill.

Grover cringed, "Sorry, Perc." Percy shook his head, waving it off.

"All right,"...into a dolphin."

Percy's annoyed look turned into a slow grin, "Would it be worse though?" He said, making many demi-gods groan.

"No Percy. No one is turning you into a dolphin." Rachel groaned into her hands.

"Then its time...will talk more."

"The sane part wasn't necessary. My oracle doesn't make people go insane that much . It'll just scare the child." Apollo muttered, his eyes glinting a bit more gold.

Dionysus rolled his eyes, "One person, is one person too much."

She wore a...dead a long, long time.

Apollo looked up, "That's not my oracle. It can't be my oracle. My oracles are alive ." He gestured to Rachel. His lips were pursed in annoyance, his eyes glinting dangerously.

I am the...the mighty Python.

Artemis rolled her eyes at the boasting language of the Oracle but didn't say anything. Mostly due to the fact her brother looked murderous.

"What exactly happened to my oracle?" Said brother gritted out as he stood out of his throne. HIs body was practically glowing. And not in a figurative way. He was actually glowing. Making most of the demi-gods look away or shield their eyes.

"Lord Apollo, it's a long story. That we can't say. But it does come up eventually if I'm not mistaken Percy figures it out." Rachel stressed the part of the fact that they can not say why in hopes it might calm the angry god. When in fact it only pissed him off more.

Apollo held up a hand at Rachel, "Shush, mortal. Talk, Perseus." He bit out harshly, making Rachel flinch back and Percy glare at him.

"We can't say anything like Rachel said. Don't be rude to her because you're pissed off." Percy shot at him, a protective touch to his voice as he defended Rachel.

Apollo laughed, it wasn't a happy laugh nor was it a funny laugh. It was a laugh of pure disbelief, this demi-god had a lot of nerve. "I don't really care, my oracle should be alive and I want to know what the hell happened."

Thaila stood, stepping in front of both Rachel and Percy, "I mean absolutely no disrespect, Lord Apollo." She started, obviously meaning all the disrespect that was about to come out, "But there is no reason for you to be rude to them. We can't say anything because the fates will take us out from the reading or either mute us enough to where you can't hear. So there is no point in trying." Thaila breathed out, her chest heaving a bit from the long rant.

Artemis took a deep breath, glaring at her breath, "If you disrespect my hunter, brother. This won't end well for you. I understand you are furious but calm down. You can't do anything to them nor can you force them to talk." She told him, his voice loud and left no room for much argument.

The demi-gods nodded, Artemis turned on the three that had spoken, "And you three, do not antagonize him." She held up a hand at their protests, "Im more or less talking to Perseus, but it does go for you two girls too." She told them, making Percy huff but nod.

Triton slowly started to read.

But not particularly...me, either.

Percy grinned, "Always nice to know that something doesn't want to kill me."

I got up...and his buddies.

Poseidon frowned, why exactly had the oracle chosen to show his son those despicable mortals?

My fists clenched...who has turned.

The god's eyebrows furrowed, "This is in a place you demi-gods call 'America' Right?" Demeter inquired, in turn, the demi-gods nodded in confirmation.

She nodded, "What exactly would be considered west for you?" She asked.

Percy thought for a moment," Well technically, everything . We are in the very east of the country. So most of everything is west of us. But we had a suspicion of a certain god that resided in the west." Percy's eyes flickered over to Hades who sighed in annoyance. He waved off Percy's mouthed apology.

His buddy on...safely returned.

Zeus nodded in approval.

The guy on...you a friend.

The gods frowned in confusion whilst the demi-gods looked both surprised that Luke had been mentioned in Percy's prophecy and pained by even the slightest mention of him.

Finally, Eddie...in the end.

That made most of the people in the room look at Percy in confusion, in turn, who ignored the looks of confusion.

The tail of...anything else.

Apollo slowly nodded in agreement, not exactly happy at the moment.

"Well?" Chiron asked..."That's great!"

Grover shook his head, "I do wish you had told us everything but I understand why you didn't."

"What did...look satisfied.

Rhodes snorted, "He knew you were lying."

"Anything else?"...that many.

The few demi-gods that were there during this time cringed, "Sorry. Again." Katie told Percy, which Percy waved off.

How could...double meanings.

"By often, you mean, almost always," Clarisse muttered.

Dont dwell on...me feel better.

Grover nodded, "He was."

"Okay," I said...stands to gain?"

Hades shook his head, "Only thing I gain from a war is more paperwork from the surge of souls." Hades explained to really no one but the demi-gods nodded as they listened.

"We understand that now, but back then not really," Annabeth told him.

"Somebody else...the ground. "Hades."

Percy shrugged, "If it makes you feel better, I know the voice wasn't you." He told Hades who in turn leaned back in his throne.

"It doesn't. It does not help at all." He drawled.

A scrap of...one lord: Hades."

Nico tilted his head, "Whilst true, he could've sent them after Percy because of the broken oath."

Percy snorted, dryly, "Like that's my fault."

He must suspect...to kill me."

"We have a list!" Conner shouted, pulling a… notebook out of his pocket. Where did that come from, Percy really wanted to know. That had not been there earlier.

"You have a list of gods who want to kill me? Please tell me you are joking." Percy groaned, falling back into the couch in disbelief.

"We will show you all later." Travis grinned, making the more curious gods nod knowing they were going to either eavesdrop or sit down with the demi-gods when the two boys showed the list.

"But a quest to... time of year."

A few people snickered.

A strange fire...and the hellhound.

Hades blinked, "Only one of those was technically my fault." He drawled towards Percy who flushed in embarrassment.

It was his...take him on.

Hades smirked and snorted, "I'd love to see you try, child."

Besides, if my...Hades is a god.

Kymopolioa smirked and leaned over to Rhodes, "Would you look at that? Our reckless half-brother has some type of self-preservation." Rhodes snorted into her hand.

Grover was trembling...This was suicide.

The gods nodded in agreement.

"Look, if we...bust some heads."

Before anyone could explain Triton started reading louder.

"Besides, even if...have certain privileges.

Hermes nodded, he was one of the few who was allowed in the underworld due to him being the messenger god.

They can go...being used."

Poseidon grimaced, he didn't really want his son thinking like that. But technically he wasn't wrong. And Poseidon hated that.

My dad needs...he needed me.

Poseidon sighed and shook his head. He wanted to say something. But what could he say? That he was sorry? He hadn't done this yet. He couldn't apologize for something he had no control over nor would he. He didn't know what to say to his son who was obviously very bitter even if he wouldn't admit it. His son who was currently scowling at the book in Triton's hand.

but I decided...of the Dead."

"And that's the easy bit," Percy muttered.

"Check," Chiron said...in ten days."

Percy pursed his lips, "Sadly didn't work out like that. Was not as easy as it sounded." He muttered.

Conner looked at him like he was insane, "I assure you Percy, it doesn't sound easy at all."

"You don't...let you down."

Grover smiled at Percy who smiled back.

I wasn't sure...its in America."

"Obviously," Percy muttered sarcastically.

"Oh," I said...on a plane—"

"You really are insane, aren't you? Or just suicidal. You know my father would shoot you out of the sky so quickly." Thaila muttered, shaking her head.

Poseidon glared at Zeus. He still wasn't very sure what a plane was but he knew it flew in the air. It wasn't like Poseidon drowned Zeus' kids whenever they got in the water.

Overhead, lightning crackled...quest like this?"

The demi-gods snickered while Annabeth glared at Percy.

The air shimmered...messing up."

Poseidon frowned, "There was no reason to insult him." Poseidon told Annabeth. He wasn't sure why his son liked this girl. She seemed rude and hadn't said one nice thing to his son.

Percy frowned but Annabeth talked before Percy could, "I promise you, Lord Poseidon I was just teasing him." She told Poseidon who didn't look satisfied but nodded.

"A trio," I said..on your own."

Percy nodded, it hadn't been easy but it eventually worked out. Eventually.

Lightning flashed...all get packing."

Triton sighed in relief, "Chapters over." He announced, putting the book down beside him.

Hestia nodded and stood, "Alright. We are done for the day. For the rest of the day do whatever you'd like as long as it doesn't cause any type of destruction. We will show you to where you are sleeping before you go to sleep. For now, we need to talk." Hestia told the demi-gods with a smile before gesturing at the door.

Percy looked around and shrugged and nodded, walking out with everyone following behind him, whilst the god's stayed in the throne room.

Chapter 12: Break For The Day

Notes:

WOW. I'm alive I promise! Some things happened within the last two weeks and it took me a moment to start on the chapter but I'm BACK! (If you look at my Tumblr which is Mirzamsaiph you'll find sneak peeks and the reason I haven't posted

Ignore the spacing mistakes I made!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

As the demi-gods made their exit, a hushed stillness fell over the throne room. Following their lead, numerous minor gods also departed, realizing that their presence would not be required for the future discussions.

Hades let out a weary sigh, his hand instinctively moving across his face in a tired gesture. His gaze followed the departure of the demi-gods and minor gods from the throne room, acknowledging the eventful nature of the moment. Settling back into his throne, a myriad of thoughts flooded his mind, overwhelming him with numerous pressing matters to consider.

Poseidon was trying not to leave and go after his son for a talk. He was a god, he had more pressing matters to attend to he reminded himself. He glanced over at Zeus who's expression still was etched in annoyance. Well, maybe not pressing but it would anger his brother if he left right now.

Poseidon's thought process was mirrored by many other gods. Whether it was exhaustion from continual responsibilities or simply a desire to connect with their offspring, they found themselves inclined to either seek respite or engage in conversations with their demigod children. Normally, such interactions were rare, but given their prolonged confinement in each other's presence, the gods acknowledged the necessity to eventually initiate dialogue with their child.

Zeus took the lead in breaking the silence, his voice laced with irritation. "Let's address the most pressing matter first - the stolen bolt," he asserted, fixing his gaze on Poseidon. It was a rare sight to witness Zeus losing his composure, even in the midst of heated disputes with his brother. However, the gravity of the situation pushed him beyond his usual calm. While Zeus couldn't be certain if Poseidon was indeed responsible, he couldn't dismiss his future self's accusations without reason.

Poseidon lifted his gaze from his throne, meeting Zeus' accusing stare. "I fail to see what you expect me to say, Brother," he responded, his voice tinged with a false sense of calmness. "You have no concrete evidence to support your accusations against me. Throughout my existence, I have never resorted to theft, and I am confident that my future self would uphold the same principles." Poseidon's words carried a hint of defiance, his certainty challenging Zeus' swirling doubts.

Zeus, brimming with self-assurance, asserted to Poseidon, "My future self would not level accusations against you without cause." Poseidon silently yearned for a glimpse of humility in Zeus, even if it were just a slight reduction in his ego.

Poseidon confronted Zeus with conviction, emphasizing, "You unjustly accused my son without valid grounds. Perhaps your future self has lost sight of reason." His words carried a palpable insult, evident in the tone of his voice.

Zeus eyes flashed a stormy blue, power radiating in them. "This is the second time you have insulted me, brother. I recommend you tread carefully with your words." His words carrying a hint of caution.

Taking a composed breath, Zeus collected himself before speaking once more. "I acknowledge that my future self may have unjustly accused your son," he admitted, his tone more composed. "However, I remain certain that there must have been a valid reason behind it. Nevertheless, I assure you that I would never falsely accuse another god."

Hestia interjected, her soothing yet firm voice serving to silence both Zeus and Poseidon. "Poseidon, cease your insults directed at our brother, and Zeus, I implore you to refrain from provoking Poseidon," she addressed them both. "I understand your frustrations, but we cannot ascertain the reasons behind the future until we conclude reading the book. Once we have accomplished that, you may revisit this conversation. Is that clear?"

Both gods pressed their lips together, visibly displeased by the reprimand, yet comprehending the wisdom in Hestia's words. Reluctantly, they nodded in agreement, albeit with a hint of hesitation.

Experiencing a deep sigh, Hestia's gaze roamed the throne room, observing the weariness etched across the gods' immortal faces. Although immune to physical exhaustion, they appeared drained. "To quicken matters, let us wrap our ongoing conversations promptly," she proposed, her tone firm yet with a subtle softening. "Afterward, each of us may depart and reconvene tomorrow morning." Despite her unwavering resolve, Hestia's voice carried a gentle understanding, acknowledging the necessity for rest and rejuvenation.

Dionysus, wearing an expression of both annoyance and exhaustion, found his voice. "Though I grasp that what I am about to mention occurred thousands of years from now, Father, I would still appreciate some form of understanding," he requested, seeking clarification. "There is no justifiable reason for me to have been stripped of my immortality for such a trivial matter, correct?" His inquiry, dressed in a calm demeanor, subtly concealed a simmering anger beneath the surface.

Zeus's lips tightened, his expression morphing into a faint frown. "Although you did indeed defy my commands, there was no valid reason for my future self to render you mortal," he acknowledged, his voice betraying a hint of weariness. He rubbed his temples, attempting to alleviate the headache that seemed to grow alongside the mounting tensions in the room, he was starting to wonder if he had been turned mortal by the way he actually felt a headache.

Hermes concurred, offering a nod in agreement. "Indeed, it may have been a rather severe consequence, D, but let's not forget that you did it twice," he remarked with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. However, he quickly averted his gaze, sensing the piercing glares from Zeus and Dionysus directed his way.

"I give you my word, Dionysus, that I have no intention of emulating the actions of my future self by rendering you mortal, unless it is absolutely warranted," Zeus reassured, leaning back in his throne. While he refrained from offering an apology, as he had yet to commit such an act, he acknowledged, "Depriving you of your powers entirely was indeed harsh. However, I want you to understand that such a fate will not befall you unless it is deserved." With a nod directed towards his son.

Dionysus responded with a nod, acknowledging the honesty in Zeus' words, though his annoyance still lingered.

Apollo contemplated raising the matter of his oracle, which was in the form of a mummy rather than being a mortal or one of his children. However, he opted to address it directly with the demi-gods, determined to demand answers instead of allowing them to evade explanation once more.

As Zeus prepared to broach the topic of the oath, Hestia swiftly intervened, shaking her head and raising her hand in a gesture of restraint. Recognizing that discussing the oath would entail a lengthy and complex conversation involving all the gods, she realized that the present moment was not ideal for such a discussion. Judging from the expressions on their faces, she surmised that none of them would be pleased about engaging in that conversation at that very moment.

"We will address this matter again tomorrow morning. For now, you are all free to leave," Hestia declared, her voice carrying a firm undertone. She cast pointed glances at a few select gods, allowing her words to sink in. After a moment's pause, she continued, her tone emphasizing a crucial point, "I expect each and every one of you to exercise self-restraint. Under no circumstances are you to threaten or harm any demi-god." Poseidon's lips tightened with understanding, the identity of the demi-god in question crystal clear to him. "Go speak to your children, do not avoid them. They will be here for a while."

As the gods' conversation drew to a close, the demi-gods found themselves enjoying a pleasant time outside the throne room. The minor gods mingled with eachother while the demi-gods stood in groups, each group dispersed in various rooms. Conversations abounded, ranging from discussions about the camp to reflections on the ongoing reading. In the secluded corner of the garden, Conner, Travis, Thalia, and a select few minor gods huddled over a T-shirt, its words concealed from prying eyes, known only to them.

In the dining hall, Percy found himself cornered by his godly half-siblings amidst the ongoing conversations. It seemed as though he couldn't catch a break. They had initially instructed him to meet with them later, not anticipating that they would corner him instead.

Percy's words stumbled out of his mouth, caught in the grips of his own nervousness. He couldn't understand why he was stumbling over his words like a twelve-year-old meeting his father for the first time all over again. It was as if his composure had evaporated, leaving him feeling vulnerable in the presence of his newfound siblings. The weight of their intense gazes pressed upon him, intensifying his discomfort and muting his voice. He struggled to find the right words to bridge the awkward gap that separated him from the others, fearing that the wrong choice of words could unleash a storm of hostility upon him, one that his siblings, with their godly powers, were fully capable of summoning.

Percy had originally intended to bake cookies, finding solace and distraction in the activity. However, finding himself cornered, realizing that there was no way to escape the impending conversation. He had entertained the idea of formulating a plan to evade them, hoping to approach them at a different time instead of waiting until the end of the day, as they had requested. Or just, not approaching them. Ever.

A heavy silence settled in the air, the intense gazes of his siblings drilling into Percy's mind. He pressed his lips together, nervously shifting on his feet. The weight of their scrutiny made him feel vulnerable, reminiscent of a timid child. It was far from a pleasant sensation, one of the most uncomfortable he had experienced.

"Okay. This is weird." He finally said after a moment, his voice hesitant as he did so. "Is there something specific you guys needed?" He asked, he was trying to be as nice as possible, he knew they weren't his biggest fans and it would do him no good to have them as enemies. See, Annabeth. He did know how to be respectful.

Kymopoleia snorted, "You're amusing, Perseus." She told him, shaling her head, with a look he couldn't decipher on her face.

Percy pressed his lips together, responding with uncertainty, "Um, thanks?" His eyebrows furrowed as he observed Triton rolling his eyes, clearly showing his disinterest in being near Percy or witnessing his sisters' antics.

"We're not here for pleasantries, Kymopoleia. Quit behaving like a child," Triton asserted, earning an annoyed glare from her and a disapproving expression from Rhodes.

Percy clenched his lips once more, a habit that seemed to be a recurring theme throughout the day. Patiently, he awaited an explanation from one of his siblings, hoping they would clarify the reason behind cornering him. It was evident to him that their behavior since the beginning of the reading, as well as Kymopoleia's probing question during the lunch break, played a role in this confrontation.

"Anyway," Rhodes drawled, offering Percy a brief nod of acknowledgment. "Do you possess any knowledge about our father prior to Apollo's birth?" she inquired, motioning for all of them to take a seat. Percy cast a wistful gaze towards the oven where he had intended to bake cookies, a sense of disappointment evident in his expression.

As Percy sat down across from them he shook his head, rather confused by the question. "Not really, I'm not fully educated in the history of the gods to be completey honest." He shrugged, ignoring the look Triton gives him that has some disdain to it.

Kymopoliea tilted her head, "That's alright, contrary to what Triton has to say." Giving Triton a sideways look that he returned. "Most demi-gods don't really care about the gods' history, just the basics." She shrugged, leaning back in her chair.

He nodded slightly, confusion colouring his face still as she continues, giving a raised eyebrows as his confused look. "The oracle came to be long before Apollo did." She told him, Percy hummed, nodding still not completely sure were this was going.

She continued, "Before Apollo, Gaia held it." Percy interrupted her, "Wait, you mean Gaia as in like before the gods, before the titans Gaia. Like the earth goddess?" He questioned, before muttering a quick apology at interrupting her.

Kymopoleia shot Percy an irritated glance, yet acknowledged his comment with a nod. "Indeed, it was the primordial Gaia," she confirmed, her voice tinged with thoughtful consideration. "She maintained control over the oracle through a Python, the very same creature that Apollo would later confront and defeat." Percy's eyebrows arched in surprise, realizing he had been unaware of this information. However, he remained perplexed as to the relevance of these details and how they connected to him.

Percy nodded slowly, his confusion lingering. "Okay, but I'm still not sure why you're telling me all this," he queried, aware that his question might not be well-received.

Kymopoleia and Triton exchanged irritated glances in response to Percy's question, while Rhodes shook her head. "Allow her to finish, Perseus," she admonished, her tone calm yet firm. Her expression carried a semblance of Hestia's, prompting Percy to promptly close his mouth, realizing the need to let Kymopoleia continue without interruption.

"Continuing." Kymopoleia muttered, "Our father alongside Gaia was sacred to the temple. Our father was worshipped at that temple due to him being scared piece of the temple." Percy nodded, listening intently. "He had some powers due to it. Not many, but there were some. Its why him and Apollo work together so much. After Apollo defeated the Python him and Father decided they would work together, Apollo giving authorization for quests through the oracle and Father watching over them and giving them lustral water for fountain sacrifice."

Percy didn't know any of that, he knew during the trojan war his dad and Apollo were on differing sides, his father choosing the greeks and Apollo choosing the trojans. Though the trojan war having not happened yet with how far back in time they were, he guessed his father and Apollo still were rather close in working together.

"Now, as for why we're sharing this with you," Rhodes interjected, a faint smile gracing her face, "Your friends have consistently mentioned your exceptional instincts, which you may have considered normal, given your experiences. However, it's not something common." She paused, taking a breath before proceeding, "The ability to detect when people are lying, a gift that Apollo acquired upon assuming control of the oracle, was originally bestowed upon our father."

"Perseus, it is unexplainable why you possess any of those abilities," Rhodes stated, her words drawn out deliberately. "None of our father's demigod children have ever displayed such powers, as they were not born during the time when our father was venerated alongside the oracle." Percy blinked in confusion, finding it difficult to comprehend. To him, it was not a matter of possessing powers; rather, it was simply a set of peculiar instincts he had developed over time—nothing unusual or unnatural about it.

"Listen, there's nothing strange about it. It's my ADHD that gives me heightened instincts compared to others," Percy explained, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration. "As for the ability to detect lies, it's simply a matter of reading people's body language—I've become adept at it. It's not some power." Standing up abruptly, he emphasized his point. Being labeled as abnormal or weird was something he disliked, as it was a sentiment expressed towards him all too often. He could discern the exchanged looks among the three of them, further adding to his growing unease.

"Perseus-" Rhodes held her hand up in an attempt to calm his down, she looked at Triton for help who looked just as lost as she did. Kymopoliea shook her head, realizing that they would have to re-vist this and come back to it another time, or even have Apollo or their Father talk to him.

Kymopoleia stood, "When you asked about tridents to our father, you looked interested in it. Would you like to train with one, or I could teach you if you don't know how to wield one." She said out of nowhere, catching Percy off guard. She was obviously attempting to stir the conversation away from the powers and she had definitely caught his attention.

Percy's throat tightened, his gaze momentarily shifting towards the oven where the ingredients he had prepared earlier lay waiting. "I..." He paused, collecting his thoughts. "I would actually be interested in that, but I have something I promised to make for the others," he murmured softly, before turning away and walking off, leaving his siblings behind.

Triton pressed his lips together, "Well, that went well." He drawled, sarcastically.

"I don't understand why he got so defensive." Rhodes muttered, running a hand warily down her face. She understood that he could be surprised but she didn't think he'd take it like that, there was no reason for him to do that. They hadn't called him weird, or anything else it was just abnormal. "We can talk to Apollo or Father. Or for our sake, even Dionysus." Rhodes told them, shrugging as both Kymopoliea and Triton nodded.

Triton finally gave Kymopoliea a weird look, "Why exactly did you offer to train him? I don;t understand why'd you wan't to be near our bastard brother?" He inquired, leaning back against the back of the chair.

Kymopoliea rolled her eyes, "Unlike you, Triton. I actually would like to get to know him better. We are reading at the very least five books about him and the other five very well could be about him too. We will be surrounded by him for probably months. There is no point in actively avoiding him." She paused as a slow smirk formed on her face, "Plus, after him snapping at me, maybe I want to show him up with a trident."

Rhodes snorted, "There it is."

Triton stood, his eyes shining with a slight annoyance, "Do whatever you'd like, Kym. I'm going to go talk to Dionysus and our father. I don't think Apollo cares much for Persues, so no point in telling him." He told them, before striding out of the dining hall.

Rhodes rolled her eyes, "I'll tell Apollo." She muttered, before slowly following Trition out.

Percy found himself resorting to stress-baking as a coping mechanism. The pressure was mounting, exacerbated by the fact that his siblings had effectively cornered him. Nevertheless, he took solace in the knowledge that, at the very least, the cookies he was making would turn out delicious. He had been at it for about an hour, finding solace in the act of baking while anxieties continued to weigh on him. Surprisingly, no one had interrupted him during this peaceful, albeit stressed, baking session.

As Percy heard the creak of the door, he couldn't help but let out a quiet groan inwardly. He had jinxed himself by assuming he wouldn't be interrupted. Turning his gaze, he saw Pollux entering the dining hall, a surprised expression momentarily crossing his features as he laid eyes on Percy. "Hey," Pollux greeted, blinking before offering Percy a small smile, settling into a chair nearby.

Percy nodded in recognition, acknowledging Pollux's presence. He couldn't help but sneak a glance towards the mouth-watering sight of the fresh, warm cookies beside him. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he raised an eyebrow at Pollux and extended his hand, offering a cookie to him. "Want the first one?" he asked, a playful undertone in his voice.

Pollux hesitated for a moment, considering the consequences. "I have a feeling Thalia, the Stolls, and a few others might challenge me to a duel if they found out I got the first cookie," he confessed, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he suppressed a laugh.

Percy grinned knowingly. "Most likely," he agreed, leaning closer to Pollux and winking mischievously. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." He handed the coveted first cookie to Pollux, sealing their unspoken pact.

Pollux eagerly high-fived Percy before taking a big bite of the cookie. However, as he chewed, the soft and crumbly texture caused a few pieces to cascade onto his lap. Surprised, he quickly covered his mouth to stifle laughter, trying not to make a mess.

Percy glanced over, his eyebrow raised in amusement. "Good?" he inquired, unable to contain a grin as he observed Pollux's unintentional cookie mishap.

"Percy. This is the best damn cookie I've ever had in my life," Pollux declared with absolute conviction, a look of pure satisfaction on his face as he finished the last bite. He quickly wiped the crumbs from his mouth, his gaze fixed on Percy who couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Well, thank you," Percy responded, still chuckling. "I'll be sure to let my mom know that my cookie-making skills have surpassed hers." As Percy's words sank in, Pollux's eyes widened comically, disbelief written all over his face. The idea of outdoing Percy's mom in the realm of cookies seemed almost inconceivable.

Just as Pollux was about to protest Percy's audacious claim, the arrival of a few gods interrupted their conversation. They walked into the area and found Percy comfortably perched on the table instead of sitting in a chair, which elicited curious glances from them. Seizing the opportunity to grab another cookie, Pollux swiftly swiped one from the plate before anyone could notice.

As Pollux gleefully snatched another cookie, Percy couldn't help but give him a playful, sideways glance. Suppressing a laugh, he cautioned, "You might want to leave some for the others, or I think Thalia and Nico might actually challenge you to a duel." Percy's lips twitched, his attempt to stifle his laughter evidence.

Hermes blinked in surprise at the sight of Pollux and Percy, particularly when his attention shifted to the cookies on the counter. His gaze fixated on the unusual blue hue of the baked treats. Confusion evident on his face, he pointed a finger at the cookies and asked, "I'm sorry, what are those and why are they blue?"

Dionysus, raising an eyebrow at his son sitting next to Percy, before nodding in agreement with Hermes' question, directing his gaze towards Percy, silently prompting him to provide an explanation.

Percy smiled slightly at the gods' reactions and nodded. "They're cookies. It's my mom's recipe, and I think they're pretty good," he replied, gesturing for them to help themselves. He didn't particularly mind if the gods tried them or not.

However, Hades blinked in disbelief at Percy's statement. "Those aren't cookies," he remarked, his eyebrows furrowing as he examined the treats. "They're... a poor excuse for dough." His critical assessment seemed to catch Percy off guard, but he couldn't help but grin in response.

As other gods filled in, their eyes flickered to Percy and Pollux in surprise and then to the cookies sitting on the stove. Most of the Olympians were standing in the dining hall while many of the minor gods had also filled in.

Percy snorted in amusement, unable to contain his grin. "Feel free to help yourselves. I'll go fetch the rest of the demigods before they come after me for withholding the news of cookies," he quipped before swiftly exiting the room. Remarkably, this was one of the rare occasions where Percy displayed a hint of kindness or even respect towards the gods during his time on Olympus.

Pollux's grin widened as he playfully shouted after Percy, emphasizing his words with enthusiasm. "Make sure you return in one piece, Percy! It would be a shame if we lost such a talented cookie-maker!" The jovial tone in his voice echoed through the room, conveying both amusement and teasingness.

After a brief moment, a group of six energetic demigods burst into the room, agilely maneuvering past the gods in a display of parkour. They wasted no time in grabbing a cookie each, their enthusiasm evident. Within seconds, the rest of the demigods followed suit, their entrance slightly calmer but no less excited as they too grabbed a cookie from the counter.

The gods pursed their lips, never having been one to eat a mortal's food. Even a demi-gods food. It was beneath them and even if the cookies looked good, they wouldn't lower themselves to that, even the minor gods didn't touch the food.

Percy raised an eyebrow at them, shrugging. "Your loss." He told them, chuckling slightly as he slid in next to Annabeth.

Kymopoliea shook her head, her expression filled with a mix of amusement and determination. She directed her gaze towards Percy and gestured towards the door, a challenge echoing in her voice. "Kid," she addressed him, "if I recall correctly, you promised me a training session. And don't worry, I won't hold back. Prepare to be knocked down a few times. Let's go." Poseidon glanced at Kymopoliea with curiosity, but his disapproving gaze indicated his concern for Percy's safety, even if he wouldn't fully say it out loud.

Percy's curiosity was piqued as he glanced at Kymopoliea, realizing that she intended for their training session to take place immediately, contrary to his assumption. He shrugged his shoulders at the demigods, a teasing look in his eyes. Standing up, he addressed them, "Save me some cookies, will you?" With a mischievous grin, he gave them a playful yet pointed look before following Kymopoliea, leaving the gods behind and the temptation of cookies in their wake.

As Percy and Kymopoliea walked quietly, a group of gods followed closely behind them. Rhodes, Triton, Amphitrite, Psyche, Thanatos, and a few other minor gods silently trailed into the training room. The minor gods found a bench and sat down, positioning themselves at a comfortable distance to watch the training session unfold.

Kymopoliea's eyes flickered with interest as she sifted through the bin, searching for a specific weapon. Finally, she found what she was looking for and turned to Percy, her gaze fixed on him. "Have you ever used a Trident, Perseus?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Percy felt a slight irritation at being called by his full name again, but he decided not to make a fuss about it. Instead, he shook his head in response. "No," he answered, his tone slightly disappointed. "There weren't any tridents available during my time." He couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret at missing out on the chance to wield such a unique weapon.

Kymopoliea gave him a sharp grin, "Alright. Then this may take some getting used to." She told him, handing him what looked to be a paperclip. Though if it was, it was definitely a weird-shaped paper clip. "It's like some swords, if you twist the bottom of it, it'll pop out into a trident." She told him, her voice more patient than he thought it would be.

Kymopoliea positioned herself behind Percy, guiding his hand into a firm grip while ensuring his arm was straight and his feet were slightly apart. As she held his hand, a serious tone crept into her voice. "Remember, never twist the bottom towards your face," she warned him sternly. "Unless you want to risk ending up in the infirmary with half of your face missing." Her words carried a weight of caution, emphasizing the potential danger involved.

He nodded, "Understood." He acknowledged. He had to do the same with his sword, he had almost taken a sword to the face a few times because he uncapped the pen and when it transformed its blade had almost sliced his face.

Kymopoliea gave a decisive nod of agreement, acknowledging that while there were differences between wielding a sword and a trident, the basic stance remained similar. As she patiently explained the correct position to assume while wielding a trident, her demeanor transformed. Gone was the fiery and unpredictable goddess that Rhodes and Triton had known. In her place stood a calm and composed teacher, guiding Percy with careful instruction.

She spoke with a measured tone, ensuring that every detail was understood. Her patient approach allowed Percy to grasp the nuances of wielding a trident, even as he compared it to his experience with a sword.

Thanatos eyes brows furrowed as he leaned over to Psyche, "I'm getting really weird deja-vu right now." He told Psyche, his gaze focused on Kym and Percy. "He reminds me of two different gods. Is it just me?"

Psyche nodded in agreement with Thanatos, sharing his confusion and noticing the resemblance Percy bore to two different gods. "Definitely Poseidon," she confirmed, her eyes narrowing in thought. "There's this uncanny similarity, as if Poseidon saw his younger self in Percy and decided to imitate it."

Thanatos's observation about Pallas resonated with Psyche as well. "You're right," she murmured, her voice laced with recognition. "The stubbornness, that refusal to conform or follow orders. It's like Pallas's spirit has been infused into Percy." She recalled Kymopoliea's previous boasting about training Pallas with a trident, secretly proud of her accomplishments as his teacher.

Curiosity piqued, Thanatos leaned in closer to Psyche. "Do you think Kymopoliea sees a bit of Pallas in Percy too?" he pondered.

Psyche's gaze turned back to Kymopoliea and Percy, a contemplative expression crossing her features. "It's possible," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Kymopoliea may be drawn to those qualities, to the independent and fierce spirit that both Pallas and Percy possess. Perhaps she sees something familiar and captivating, something she can't help but admire."

"If Pallas was here and not under water right now, I have a sneaking suspicion, he and Pallas would get along quite well." Thanatos muttered, Psyche nodding in agreement.

As Kymopoliea finally stopped explaining the workings and ways of a trident she stepped back, a smirk on her face. "You ready, Perseus?" She questioned, a trident glimmering in the air before appearing in her hand.

He let his lips tighten into a straight line, "If I win this, you have to call me Percy." He said, an amused smirk playing on his face.

A quizzical eyebrow arched on Kymopoliea's forehead at Percy's proposition, while a snort from a minor god in the back of the training room transmitted their amusement. Kymopoliea's chuckle filled the air as she nodded in agreement. "Very well," she conceded, adjusting herself into a defensive position.

As Percy went into the stance she had shown him, he felt a surge of power through him. It felt like a rejuvenating dip in the ocean after he had been injured. It felt like the trident was radiating power into him. He had to blink out of the daze he had fallen into for a moment.

With precise agility, Percy effortlessly evaded Kymopoliea's charging attack, narrowly escaping the path of her oncoming trident. His movements flowed with fluidity and grace as he instinctively sidestepped, adjusting to the weight and shape of his own trident. It would take some time to fully acclimate to the weapon's heaviness, but he remained unfazed.

Recalling Kymopoliea's guidance, Percy swiftly executed her technique, pushing his trident upwards and angling it sideways to intercept Kymopoliea's charging attack. The clash of their weapons reverberated in the air, a testament to Percy's quick adaptation and growing proficiency.

Kymopoliea looked taken aback for a moment, before she smirked. He was a natural with a trident, this would be good. He automatically knew what to do and she knew he would pick more of it up rather quickly.

Kymopoliea quickly recognized his quick master in using a trident, she stopped pulling the strikes she aimed at home, and used more of her force and training behind it.

Percy used his training with a sword in his spar with Kymopoliea. Whilst the Trident was heavier than a sword he was still able to duck and dodge the strikes she sent his way. He finally was able to start going into a more offensive position as he started his attacks on her, her defense with a trident much better than Percy's.

A surge of power coursed through Percy once more, as the trident's enchantment exerted its influence, causing his concentration to waver. In a momentary lapse, Kymopoliea's trident connected with his own, the impact sending him stumbling backward, albeit only slightly. Percy quickly regained his footing, determined not to let the distraction hinder his focus any further. With renewed resolve, he squared his stance. He'd figure out what was happening later.

As the spar progressed, surpassing everyone's expectations of Percy's endurance, the sporadic surges of power from the trident continued to catch him off guard. Despite the challenge, Percy valiantly held his ground, matching Kymopoliea move for move. However, after an intense ten-minute duel, Kymopoliea's expertise shone through. With a skillful maneuver, she expertly locked the tips of their tridents together, overpowering Percy and forcing his trident out of his hand. The weapon clattered to the ground, leaving Percy momentarily disarmed and vulnerable, a trident now pointed at his chest.

His chest heaved up and down for a moment as he nodded, his hands raised to show he surrendered. Kymopoliea smirked but also had an impressed look on her face. Percy slid a hand through his now damp hair with sweat. You'd think with him being a son of Poseidon he wouldn't sweat, and yet he sadly does

Kymopoliea nodded in approval, "That was good for your first time wielding a trident, Perseus. " She told him, drawing out his full name with an amused hint to her voice.

Percy looked up with a small smile, "Thank you." He told her, looking away before he could see the surprised look on her face as her eyes flickered to Triton and Rhodes who had differing looks.

Kymopoliea quickly composed herself, nodding in acknowledgement, "Every night after the reading we can train your ability with a Trident until you can put up a good fight." She told Percy, a stern note to her voice that showed he could deny it if he wanted to.

Percy nodded, agreeing. He paused for a moment, close to asking about the power surges in the trident before deciding not too. He didn't want to look like an idiot. He ran a hand through his hair again, thanking her again , before he quickly walked out and back into the great hall.

"I think I might actually die."

Percy's comment about potentially dying was met with groans from his companions, Will and Pollux, who were seated on a nearby couch. They attempted to push Percy off them, but their efforts proved futile as Percy collapsed against them, causing all three of them to tumble onto the couch in a jumble of limbs. Their feeble attempts to disentangle themselves ended in comedic failure, leaving them all entwined in a heap of laughter.

Poseidon watched with a raised eyebrow brow where he sat next to Apollo, "If Kymopoliea hurt you intentionally, Perseus. Let me know." His voice stern and firm as he spoke, his eyes unwaveringly watching Percy.

Percy's eyes flickered over to him as he sunk further into the couch, ignoring the protests of Will and Pollux. "No." He said, quickly before being elbowed by someone which he took as a sign to probably be more respectful, "No, Father." He corrected, wincing at the pain whoever's elbowed inflicted him with.

Poseidon watched intently before nodding slowly. Before anyone could say anything Thaila had moved from her seat next to Annabeth to shoving a cookie in Percy's mouth. "If you're dying then that cookie will help either suffocate you or heal you." She shrugged, giving him a grin as she made her way back over to Annabeth ignoring the incredulous looks she got from the gods.

Percy coughed, partially due to surprise and partially due to swallowing the rest of the cookie. He cast an annoyed, yet amused glare at Thalia. "Killing me is illegal, Grace. Don't test me," he retorted, a playful tone lacing his words. With a pointed finger, he jokingly scolded her before readjusting himself on the couch, paying no mind to the ongoing protests from Will and Pollux.

It had been a few hours since Percy had returned from his training session with Kymopoliea. Eventually all the minor gods who had gone into the training room with him and Kym eventually all filed out into the great hall. The gods talked amongst themselves whilst the demigods mingled.

As Hestia rose from her seat, the entire room fell silent, every demigod and god turning their attention towards her. She cleared her throat, her gentle yet commanding voice cutting through the quiet. "It's time for the night to end," she announced, her words carrying authority and finality. "You will sleep in your parents' quarters that are on Olympus." Hestia's voice remained soft, but the firmness behind her words left no room for argument. "If you do not have a godly parent, you will spend the nights in the guest chambers." Her instructions were clear, leaving no room for confusion or debate.

As the gods began to make their way towards their children, a palpable sense of unease filled the air. Their postures appeared slightly awkward and their words carried a hint of uncertainty. It was evident that many of them were not entirely comfortable conversing with their offspring, as if they were unsure of how to navigate this new parental territory.

Despite their immortality and divine status, the gods seemed to grapple with the unfamiliarity of parenting mortal children. It was as if they were clueless about the best approaches or strategies to interact with their demigod offspring.

Percy watched as his father slowly approached him, Percy at that moment may have been wishing to be in a position like Rachel or Grover who were speaking to Hestia about the guest quarters. "Perseus." His father nodded, a slight tense part in his voice. Percy understood, last time they talked one-on-one, Percy almost got himself blasted.

Percy met his fathers gaze with small nod of acknowledgment, "Father." He muttered, he couldn't believe he was thinking this but he wished he had his dad from his time at this point. Because calling him 'father' was going to get old and annoying, quickly.

Poseidon nodded, "We will speak in the morning. For now, follow me." He told Percy. Percy was now hoping, slightly, he wouldn't wake up tomorrow morning. The dread that filled his stomach as he thought about it made him nauseous.

As Poseidon led Percy towards his temporary quarters, Percy couldn't help but admire the magnificence and beauty that surrounded him. The halls, adorned with intricate seashell motifs and shimmering aquatic murals, exuded a sense of power and grandeur. The sound of gently crashing waves wafted through the air, creating a serene and calming atmosphere.

Percy gazed around in wonder as they entered the main chamber, which overlooked a mesmerizing underwater panorama. The walls were made of large, transparent panels that revealed a breathtaking view of a bustling underwater city, illuminated by bioluminescent creatures that danced through the deep blue.

The room itself was adorned in shades of oceanic blues and greens, elegant yet striking in its simplicity. The furniture was crafted from polished coral and seashells, perfectly harmonizing with the surrounding marine aesthetic.

It reminded Percy of cabin three, the calmness and peace he felt as he entered, almost all of the tension disappearing from his shoulders.

Poseidon turned to him and gestured towards the door, "In there is where you will be sleeping for the time being. I'm sure the Morai will provide clothes from your time." His eyes watched Percy's every move as he spoke. "If you need anything do not hesitate to let me know or let anyone else who resides in this chamber know." Poseidon told him. Percy nodded, knowing he was never going to ask for anything. He didn't want any of them not liking him more than they already do.

"Thank you." He muttered, before giving a quick bow and slipping into his temporary quarters. He breathed in the peace and the smell of waves as he walked in, closing the door behind him.

As he quickly grabbed a change of clothes that were sitting on his bed, he grabbed a hair-tie and quickly got ready. It was a huge difference from what he was wearing when he got to Olympus.

When Percy arrived in Olympus, he had been wearing his usual attire of a camp half-blood t-shirt and ripped jeans. However, in his hands, he held a set of clothes from his own closet back home - a cozy baby blue hoodie and a pair of comfortable gray sweatpants.

Percy's hair had grown out slightly since the labyrinth quest, with untamed strands falling into his face. Although not as long as it used to be, it was still long enough to be bothersome. With a rubber band in hand, Percy quickly pulled his hair back into a makeshift ponytail, temporarily taming the wayward locks.

Feeling a sense of relief as his face was no longer obscured by his hair, Percy climbed into bed, the events of the day weighing on his mind. Soon, sleep claimed him, and he drifted off into a world of dreams.

Roused from his slumber by a flurry of commotion hours after he had fallen asleep, Percy groggily rubbed his eyes before briskly exiting his temporary quarters, only to be met with a scene of numerous children congregating in the heart of the dining hall. Confusion lacing his question, he inquired, "Um, excuse me? Who are you all?" His words, laden with curiosity, drew the attention of the group, causing an eerie hush to blanket the room.

Percy looked like a mess he knew that, his hair had probably half come down from its pony-tail whilst he was sleeping, strands falling in his eyes. His hoodie was ruffled and his sweatpants were lining his waistline, he looked like a mess but it was still quite rude to stare.

A male voice, accompanied by a head of blond hair and piercing blue eyes, cut through the silence, demanding, "Where exactly are we?" Standing steadfastly beside him, a girl exuded a certain air that reminded Percy of the enigmatic hunters of Artemis.

Clearing his throat, Percy mustered an explanation, "You have found yourselves in Olympus. I can only guess that the fates have summoned you all for the reading." Chaos erupted anew as the room erupted with frenzied chatter.

The girl's eyes sparked with exasperation and promptly silenced the raucous gathering with a cutting command, "Everyone, quiet now!" Instantly, mouths clamped shut, prompting Percy's lips to curl upward in a modest smile, tinged with amusement.

"I apologize," she uttered, her gaze drifting over Percy in a manner that sent a shiver down his spine. It was a gaze that signified recognition, yet without the ability to attach a name or a place to it.

Her introduction resonated with Percy, as she revealed herself as Reyna, Praetor of the Twelfth Legion and daughter of Bellona. Nodding in acknowledgment, Percy couldn't help but feel a tinge of confusion. "Praetor? I'm sorry, I'm a bit lost here," he admitted, attempting to offer a friendly smile, only to receive a reproachful glare from one of the boys holding a stuffed teddy bear.

"Praetor of Rome," chimed in the other boy, as if Percy were expected to understand the significance of the title. "Who are you?"

Percy frowned, his lips pursed. "Sorry, still drawing a blank," he confessed, perplexed. "But I'm Percy Jackson, Son of Poseidon." Before he could delve further, the room once again erupted into a cacophony of noise. Some individuals regarded him with wariness, whilst others resorted to yelling.

The blond boy, seemingly more amiable than his counterpart, cast a stern glare at the crowd. "Reyna said quiet," he admonished. "Unless you all fancy challenging the fates and their choices, I suggest you silence yourselves."

The other blond boy opened his mouth, honestly Percy needed names so he could stop referring to them as blond boy. "He's a… graecus , Jason! You can't just let that slide. And a son of Neptune." The boy yelled, well whilst Percy didn't know what that meant he was glad he got a name to place the blond boy as.

Percy nodded as the other blond boy, Jason, provided him with a name—Although he didn't fully understand the implications of a graecus he was grateful for the identification. "Poseidon," he corrected cheerfully, earning a disapproving glare from Reyna.

Realizing the need for more information, Percy decided to seek out someone who could better explain the situation. "I'm really confused right now, so I'm going to find someone who can give us better answers," he announced, taking a step back. Reyna and Jason nodded in agreement, understanding his predicament.

As Percy hastened towards Annabeth's location, his brisk pace began to slow. His mind was filled with the knowledge that there were no Romans as far as he knew. They had perished in the first civil war, a fragment of information he gleaned from Annabeth's detailed lectures. The Greeks and Romans had enjoyed a peaceful coexistence for a few years until the Romans launched an attack. The war was a gruesome affair, with many Greek lives lost and cities reduced to ashes. If there were indeed surviving Romans from those wars...

His anxiety mounting, Percy quickened his footsteps, eager to find Annabeth and hopefully receive an explanation for this baffling situation.

He glanced around for a moment before knocking on the door of Athena's chambers, hoping to find Annabeth inside. To his dismay, Athena herself answered the door.

Percy winced. "I apologize for knocking so early, Lady Athena, but is Annabeth available? It's quite urgent," he asked, his words tumbling out of his mouth at such a rapid pace that it momentarily startled Athena.

Athena blinked and took a moment to gather herself. "Alright, Perseus. Take a breath. You look like you're about to pass out from lack of oxygen," she advised, opening the door a little wider. "Secondly, what has happened?"

Percy inhaled deeply and finally found his voice. "There are some demigods standing in the middle of the dining hall claiming to be Roman, as far as I understand," he explained, his words more measured this time. "I introduced myself, and they just went into a frenzy. To put it mildly." Athena's confusion mirrored on her face.

"I'm sorry. They 'claimed' to be Roman?" she questioned, seeking clarification.

Percy let out a groan of exasperation. He ignored Athena's disapproving look at his dramatics, He didn't want to delve into the complexities of the situation. "I'm sure Annabeth can explain better, as she knows more about this than I do," he offered. "But those demigods seem on edge, and I'd rather not have any reckless actions on their part. Can I please get Annabeth?"

Athena paused for a moment, then nodded, briefly closing the door before reappearing. "She will be here shortly. Meanwhile, I will inform the other gods. I request that you ensure these 'Romans' do not cause any harm to each other or anything else," she instructed.

Annabeth came out of the door a few minutes later looking much better than Percy did. He was kind of jealous, why couldn't he look that good waking up?

"My mother explained to me some things, but I need you to tell me again." Annabeth said, her voice tinged with sternness but confusion as she spoke. Percy quickly explained to her about the so called 'romans' standing in the dining hall, the Greeks demi-gods had started to file out of their temporary quarters at the commotion.

Annabeth and Percy quickly stopped them to explain things and finally they all went back to the dining hall where the gods were situated in front of some very nervous and tense looking demi-gods.

Travis's smile turned sarcastic as he clapped his hands together while gazing at the Romans. "Well, isn't this just great? Turns out the Romans are alive, and all this time we've been fed lies," he remarked, disbelief evident in his voice.

Annabeth let out a sigh, running her hand over her face in frustration. "Definitely not the way I envisioned starting my day," she muttered under her breath. Thalia, standing next to her, nodded in agreement, sharing the same sentiment.

Zeus wore a pained expression, as though he would prefer to be anywhere but here. He reluctantly shifted his attention towards the Greek demigods, his voice conveying a mix of resignation and disbelief. "According to the Romans' account, they have been in existence since the time of the Civil War," he revealed. The gods visibly shook their heads in response, their expressions reflecting profound shock.

In that moment, Percy's realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. It dawned on him that their Roman counterparts might not currently exist, given how far back in time they are.

"I know this may be a shock to everyone here. But I insist there will be no fighting or any verbal spats." Hera said, her voice showing that she wasn't just instant but demanding. The gods nodded, their eyes flickering to the Romans. Everyone nodded, the Roman's hesitation showed but they were much more disciplined than the Greeks when it came to the gods.

As the Roman's slowly started to introduce themselves, Percy was rather confused. The first one who came up was Reyna, having already introduced herself Percy gave her a slight nod which she hesitantly gave back. When she introduced herself as Praetor, Conner spoke up first.

Conner raised an eyebrow, curiosity getting the better of him. "What exactly is a Praetor?" he asked, noticing the furrowed brows and perplexed expressions on the faces of the Roman demigods.

Annabeth, not missing a beat, rolled her eyes slightly before offering a quick explanation. "A Praetor is a high-ranking Roman official, similar to a consul in the Roman government," she clarified, her tone laced with a hint of impatience but also had the spark in the Percy knew whenever she found something interesting.

Conner blinked, looking at Reyna. "Huh, Cool." He said, shrugging. Reyna blinked, a tinge of amusement flickering in her eyes as she nodded at him stepping back before the guy, Jason stepped up.

"Jason Grace, Praetor of Rome, Son Of Jupiter the Roman counterpart of Zeus." He said, nodding at them. The gods had told them to introduce themselves with Roman than the Greek counterpart. Zeus looked intrigued at him, giving Jason a slight nod of acknowledgment.

The Greeks blinked before slowly turning their heads to Thaila who looked close to tears. And wasn't that a sight, Thaila Grace, Lieutenant of Artemis, close to tears.

"Jason?" Thaila's voice came out in a hushed whisper, softer than Percy had ever heard from her. It held a mix of disbelief and hope as she gazed at the boy.

At first, Jason didn't seem to recognize her, his expression one of confusion. But then, something clicked in his head. "Thalia?" he questioned, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and recognition.

The confusion was palpable among both the demigods and the gods in the room. Percy's brow furrowed, mirroring the bafflement of those around him.

Thalia couldn't contain her excitement and rushed over to Jason, almost tackling him in a hug. The Romans nearby instinctively tensed, their hands reflexively reaching for weapons that were no longer present, hoping to defend their praetor from a Greek. However, Reyna swiftly intervened, raising a hand to halt their actions.

After a moment, Thalia and Jason separated, and Thalia cleared her throat, subtly regaining composure. "This is my brother, Jason Grace," she introduced with pride and a touch of relief in her voice. Percy blinked, alternating his gaze between Annabeth and Thalia, trying to process this new information. He could almost hear the groan from Hera.

Notes:

I absolutely adore this chapter, I know I left it on a cliff hanger but my thumbs hurt from typing on my phone when I'm usually using a computer.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

Tumblr: Mirzamsaiph

Chapter 13: The Morning After

Summary:

Yo, really quickly I want to say that Nico has not gone to the Romans and made himself known to them yet, but he has brought Hazel back. It's very confusing and I am changing the timeline just a bit, but don't worry everything will come together.

Anyway's I present The demi-gods being confused and the god's just wanting to figure out a way to blast every single one of them:

Notes:

So to be completely honest this was going to be "the Morning After & I Ruin A Perfectly Good Bus." But after a while and a vote from my followers on tumblr we decided I was just going to post this!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

It was silent for a while, everyone staring between Jason and Thaila. Even Zeus looked a little putout, but that very well could be because Hera was glaring holes into his head. It took a minute for anyone to speak, even the Romans looked a little put out by this new revelation. Maybe it was because their praetor had a sister? Honestly, Percy still was confused about what a praetor was but he figured it was something big.

The first person to speak was Annabeth who looked just as confused as Percy felt, which surprised him. If anyone knew anything about Thaila having a brother it would've been Annabeth. "I- Why didn't you tell me, Thaila?" She muttered, her expression held a bit of hurt as she spoke.

Thaila looked at her with a small sad frown, "It's a really long story. I just didn't want to relive it. It had nothing to do with you, Annie. I promise." She furrowed her eyebrows, hoping Annabeth believed her.

Conner interjected first before Annabeth could reply, "I'm confused, how is he a son of Jupiter but you're a daughter of Zeus? That makes no sense." He told her, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Thaila rubbed her temples, "In short, I was born almost a whole decade before Jason by Zeus. Seven years later after I was born, he came back to our mother as Jupiter, not Zeus." She held up a hand silencing the Greeks from asking questions, "Let me finish. I don't know exactly how that works so that is a question for them, not me." She pointed a finger at the gods as she spoke, "Jupiter appointed Juno, Hera's Roman form as the guardian for Jason from what my mother told me." She gave Hera a rather nasty glare.

"Well having a god come back to you twice apparently does something to your ego and my mother… well let's just say she thought she was better than most people because of that. So eventually I guess Juno and or Jupiter got fed up and decided… Well, I'm not completely sure, seeing as I thought he was dead." She turned to Jason, who looked like he was as confused as Thaila.

"I can't say I know for sure what happened, but if I had to take an educated guess, I would say that Juno had me go to Lupa early." He told Thaila, which in return gathered a lot of confused looks from the Greeks.

Before anyone could talk Zeus held up a hand, a weary expression on his face. "Let's not go into this anymore. There will be time to discuss this later. For now, let's continue the introductions." He told the demi-gods, gaining annoyed looks from the Greeks and nods from the Romans.

"Of course, Lord Ju- Zeus." Reyna nodded, she turned to the demi-gods behind her and gestured for them to start introducing themselves. The next kid to step up was taller and had a bit more muscle, Percy could tell just by looking at him. He had curly black hair and blue eyes that could rival Thailas. He also looked drunk, Percy found that a bit off-putting seeing as the kid looked like he was Percy's age.

"Dakota, Son of Bacchus, the Roman counterpart of Dionysus and the Senior Centurion of the Fifth Cohort." The boy said, bouncing on his heels as he grinned. Pollux blinked in surprise as he slowly made his way through the crowd of Greek demigods to the front. Dionysus also looked slightly surprised but nodded at the boy who immediately looked a bit more calm but also shy and nodded back. Pollux quickly introduced himself to the Romans before giving Dakota a look that asked if he wanted to come over towards him. Dakota looked hesitant, his eyes flickering to Reyna who slowly nodded.

A girl who had darker skin, and beautiful dark gold eyes, looked rather shy as she stepped forward. Percy's eyes slowly trailed to Nico as he saw Nico's eyes widen and he took a slow, rather guilty in Percy's opinion step back. "Hazel Levesque, daughter of Pluto, the Roman counterpart of Hades." She muttered, almost instantly whispers broke out from the Greeks. A boy who looked rather buff stepped in front of Hazel protectively as he watched the Greeks whisper.

Weirdly, Thanatos spoke first. "You're supposed to be dead." He said bluntly, making the Greek's mouths snap shut and all turn to Thanatos in confusion. The Romans gave Hazel rather rude looks and then turn to Thanatos, Nico on the other hand pursed his lips, before slowly starting to speak.

Taking responsibility, Nico mumbled, "It was my doing. I may have resurrected her." In an instant, the focus shifted from Hazel and Thanatos to Nico, causing everyone to blink in surprise. Percy could almost hear Hades facepalm in exasperation. Sensing the confusion among the Romans, Nico promptly introduced himself, causing some of them to instinctively step back. Percy shot them a stern look, causing them to retreat even further. Percy rolled his eyes, he wasn't that scary . Gods.

Hades fixed a disapproving gaze upon his son, and declared, "We will be having a conversation, son." The stern and irritated expression on Hades' face brought back memories for Percy, reminding him of the time Hades had given him a similar look after he had impulsively thrown a pomegranate, fearing that Hades was about to kill him.

Nico nodded, a frown on his face as he did so. "Yes, Father." He muttered, slowly stepping up towards Hazel, extending a friendly hand out to her. Many of the Romans flinched back as Nico stepped forward, making Percy want to smack all of them in defense of his cousin. The boy standing in front of Hazel gave Nico a look but it wasn't as unfriendly as the others, just a protective look as he slowly looked back at Hazel.

Hazel gave Nico a small smile as she nodded at the boy in front of her. Travis spoke next, shaking his head and looking at everyone, "Anyone else has any more siblings that they thought were dead or brought back from the dead." He clapped his hands together, his eyes slowly going to Percy as everyone else did the same.

Percy blinked, "No! Wha- No!" He told them, his hands in a surrender position. Amphitrite sighed in relief as the sea siblings nodded in approval. The Romans actually looked relieved, they knew they didn't have a child of Neptune in their camp and were perfectly fine with that.

Conner shrugged, "We're just making sure. Apparently, there are already two more big three kids. What's one more apparently." He snorted, leaning back against the wall. A few Romans shuddered, "We are good thanks, we don't need a child of Neptune here." A boy in the back snorted, gaining stern looks from Jason and Reyna as their eyes flickered to Percy then to Poseidon whose eyebrows furrowed.

"Pardon me?" Poseidon inquired, his voice resonating with a tranquil aura. He did not exhibit anger, yet the remark did not evoke joy within him either.

Percy didn't immediately perceive the remark as impolite, but the boy's visibly shrinking demeanor made him pause, hinting that perhaps the boy had indeed intended it rudely.

"My sincerest apologies for him, Lord Poseidon," Reyna quickly interjected, her posture tensing as the god's gaze shifted from the boy to her.

Poseidon raised a hand, swiftly silencing her. "I don't believe I addressed you, praetor. My inquiry was directed at him," he stated, his tone signaling he had no intention of engaging in an argument. Percy observed a flicker of annoyance in Reyna's eyes before she restrained herself, nodding firmly while giving the boy a stern look.

The boy appeared to shrink back even further, a feat Percy didn't think was possible. He stammered slightly, clearly caught off guard by having to explain himself. "I, um... Well," his voice betrayed his lack of preparedness for such a situation. "I just meant that the last time a child of Neptune was at our camp, it didn't end well for the camp," he informed Poseidon. This remark prompted a facepalm from Reyna, and an audible sigh from Jason, and even Dakota seemed exasperated.

Poseidon didn't seem like he was satisfied, Apollo spoke next. "You are not telling the full truth, boy. You are summarizing it. I don't believe that is what was asked." He addressed the boy, honestly, Percy was growing tired of referring to him as 'the boy'

"If I may, my Lord," Jason winced, feeling rather ignorant about the identity of the god present and not eager to face any consequences for it.

Apollo, on the other hand, appeared pleased to be addressed properly by a demigod for once. He harbored hope that the Romans were as respectful as they appeared to be, or at least more respectful than their Greek counterparts. Nodding firmly at Jason, he gave him the signal to elaborate further.

Jason ended up addressing both Apollo and Poseidon, "Romans have different views than the Greeks do. We have bad experiences with certain demigods that have clouded judgment when it comes to those demigods' godly parents. Many are prejudiced and also don't know when their mouth needs to snap shut." The last part was directed more towards the boy in the back who seemed to try to infuse himself in the wall.

Poseidon's calm expression had seemed to slowly grow into an annoyed frown. He had read between the lines and inferred from the boy's earlier statement that one of his sons had done something horrible, bad enough to warrant prejudice towards him. Then it also seemed to click that they held a grudge not just towards him as that child's godly parent, but towards his other children. His eyes flickered to Percy who had seemed to come to the same conclusion and slowly backed away, standing behind Annabeth.

Demeter rubbed her temples, this was going to be a very long reading. "Alright, the other two who haven't introduced yourself. Do it." She told them, a weary note to her voice as she gestured to the two boys who haven't done an introduction.

The boy who apparently was just rude and hated Percy's father stepped up, "Octavian Simmons, the legacy of Apollo, the same name as the Greek counterpart. Augur of Camp Jupiter." The boy, Octavian said. And wow, did that boy have an ego. He said it so confidently and proudly. It wasn't bad to be proud of what you do, but the way he said it made it seem like he thought he was better than everyone. Apollo looked hesitant but nodded nonetheless.

The boy who had seemed protective of the dead girl, Hazel stepped up. "Frank Zhang, I don't know who my godly parent is." He shrugged, his eyes went to Apollo but instead, a wolf appeared over his head. The Greek demi-gods blinked in confusion but the boy looked ready to almost cry in annoyance as the Romans looked rather surprised.

"Frank Zhang, Son of… Mars. The Roman counterpart of Ares." The boy, Frank, sighed. He looked absolutely put out and rather annoyed, and to be fair, Percy didn't blame him. He'd be rather upset too. But they very well could be because Percy hated Ares with his whole being.

Clarisse judged the boy before nodding in approval, stepping up, and introducing herself. Gesturing for him to come to stand with her, the boy hesitated. Looking as though he'd rather do literally anything else. Percy totally sympathized with him. Ares also seemed to look over at Frank before nodding too.

The Greeks slowly started introducing themselves once again, and the Romans all seemed rather tense throughout the introduction. Then Annabeth came up and introduced herself and that set a few of the Romans off. Annabeth rubbed her temples as if she knew the reason for this reaction, which she probably did.

Athena didn't look happy at the reaction and some of the things she heard from the Romans. She looked ready to throw curses before Annabeth stepped up, "From what I understand, Minerva had no Roman children, but Athena does. Yes, she is still a virgin goddess." She shot a glare at Octavian who had brought that up, which had his mouth slam shut, Percy smirked, this was why Annabeth was his best friend. "Her children were born from her head just like she was, If you have a problem with that please take it up with my mother," Annabeth told them, her chin tilted up as her eyes flickered to Athena.

No one questioned it.

Hermes clapped his hands together, gathering the attention of all the demigods. "Now that that is settled, children. Breakfast is in the dining hall, there are also copies of the book sitting at the table. I'm sure the Morai placed them there. The Romans will read up until chapter nine then we will continue with the next chapter. Sounds good?" He questioned, knowing no one would go against it seeing as it was framed as a question it wasn't one.

Slowly, everyone started to file out into the dining hall, most of the Greeks split into their regular group as the Romans all stayed together and sat at the table that had the books laid across it.

As Percy deftly weaved through the bustling crowd of demi-gods, eagerly anticipating the breakfast ahead, a familiar voice called out, "Perseus." The sound of his father's voice tugged at Percy's heartstrings, knowing he would have to put his meal on hold for a moment. With a slightly exasperated sigh, he turned around to meet his father's expectant gaze.

He muttered something under his breath before he weaved back through the demigods to slowly start walking behind his father. He had no idea where he was being led, but he did hope it wasn't to his death. Maybe he had finally pissed his father off too much?

As they walked, silence overtook the halls, it was the quietest Percy had ever seen Olympus. That was saying a lot. Percy had been here right after the war had ended and it had been louder than this, so it was off-putting to hear absolute silence throughout the entirety of Olympus. "Da-" Percy coughed, correcting himself quickly, "Father." He corrected, slowly trailing behind his father.

"Perseus." He answered as he continued his walk down the hallway before they came to a stop in front of a door, he held up a hand before Percy could talk. He waved a hand, the door clicking open and a… beach appearing.

Percy took a surprised breath, it was beautiful. The sun rose majestically over the horizon, its golden rays gently kissed the pristine shore of the beautiful beach, painting the sky in hues of pink, orange, and lilac. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shoreline provided a soothing melody. Turquoise waters sparkled like gemstones, shimmering in the sunlight as they ebbed and flowed, leaving behind small pockets of foam on the shore. The gentle breeze carried the tangy scent of salt, mingling it with the sweet fragrance of tropical blooms that adorned the edges of the beach, lending an air of enchantment to the surroundings.

Percy had no words, the beauty of the beach knocking all the air out of him. Poseidon chuckled, Percy blinked out of his stupor, his eyes flickering confused to his father. "It's beautiful, isn't it, Perseus?" He inquired, turning slightly on his heel to face Percy.

"Yeah. Yes, it's… wow ." Percy muttered, slowly tearing his eyes from the beach to his father.

Poseidon chuckled, "I made it as soon as I chose the ocean, made it before I made Atlantis or my commons." He told Percy, his eyes flickering over the beach, a nostalgic tint to his words and his face. Percy nodded, he could definitely see it being made that long ago.

He didn't know quite what else to say, nor did he know why his father had brought him here, sure it was beautiful but there was no reason for them to be here.

As if Poseidon could read his mind, which Percy was actually starting to think he could, he started to speak. "This is only the place very few gods know of, including my godly children and they wouldn't come here without my permission besides your siblings and my wife." He told Percy. Percy nodded slowly, he was actually slightly flattered but confused at the same time, why would his father ever show him this? If it was that important to him.

"It's the most secluded place in Olympus, so you have no need to worry about someone coming in when you're here." He continued, "You have free reign over here, I ask you don't show anyone this." Percy nodded, agreeing. He let a small smile onto his face.

"Of course." He said before slowly adding, "Thank you."

Poseidon nodded, "Apollo, Hades, Artemis and your siblings, and my wife know about this." He said, before finally turning to fully face Percy, "Now for the real reason I brought you here." Percy blinked, that was rather blunt and out of nowhere. Slowly nodding, indicating he was listening Poseidon continued.

"I'll be honest with you Perseus." Poseidon started, making Percy cringe, this could go two ways and Percy honestly didn't know which way he wanted it to go. "I don't talk to my demi-god children much. I keep my distance as do many other gods." Percy nodded, he knew this. His father kept his distance in his time too. "I won't apologize for things I have yet to do, but I will tell you that if our earlier conversation made it seem like I only cared about the disrespect you show," Poseidon stated. Percy nodded, rather slowly, showing that's exactly how Percy had taken it.

Poseidon gave Percy a sideways look but continued, "I thought so. It wasn't the only thing I was going to talk about but you-" He paused, attempting to find the right words that wouldn't annoy his child.

"Stormed off? Had a tantrum?" Percy offered, a small smile playing on his face. Percy recognized he had been a bit dramatic earlier and he knew how to admit it.

Poseidon's mouth shut, a silent amused look passing over his face as he slowly nodded, "But you stormed off." He conceded, "The reason I brought up the disrespect is that my brother was-" He paused, slowly gathering his words, "I won't say worried, Zeus would hate that. But concerned that some gods might attempt to take revenge on you after you angered them." Poseidon continued, fully facing Percy now. "Zeus will say he doesn't want to do the paperwork if a god tries something when in reality I'm sure he cares."

Percy didn't look convinced, Zeus would never care about Percy. Not once throughout the time, he knew he was a demi-god had Zeus ever shown an ounce of emotion besides anger and disgust. Percy almost believed that was all Zeus could show.

Poseidon didn't seem to notice Percy's inward battle as he continued to talk, "For now I won't say anything about the disrespect, but we will come back to it. Do you understand?" He gave Percy a warning look, one that showed he wasn't going to joke around when it finally came down to actually talking about it.

Percy didn't answer, just robotically nodded his head as he listened.

It was quiet for a moment, the only thing they could hear was the soft sound of waves crashing against the shore. Poseidon spoke again but this time his voice wasn't as stern, "I've been told that I don't give the best pep talk-" Percy cut him off with a rather loud snort. He covered his mouth, "Sorry." He muttered, hiding the amusement flickering in his eyes and the smile on his face.

Poseidon doesn't look offended, a small smile curling onto the corners of his lips. "So you've been on the side of my pep talks it seems." Poseidon chuckled slightly. Percy tried to ignore how weird this whole conversation seemed. Throughout the entire time that Percy has been here, Poseidon had been cold and distant. Maybe not on purpose but still, now here he was smiling and actually having a civil conversation with Percy.

"Like I was saying, I've been told my pep talks are bad so I won't go and give you one. But I do want to say something about your stepfather." Poseidon said, his face showing no signs of his earlier amusement, just a small smile that tried to urge Percy to speak.

In response, Percy's smile dropped. Wasn't this what he wanted? For his father to actually care and make sure he was alright after reading about Gabe's abuse. Maybe it was something Percy had made up in his head, the confirmation Poseidon did care but they never actually talked about it. He almost walked off again, but instead, he stood firm nodding slightly.

Poseidon's initial surprise at Percy's response gave way to a solemn acknowledgment. "Good," he began, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "I'll be one of the first gods to say it—I don't condone mortals laying their hands on children. When it comes to my own children, it's an entirely different matter," Poseidon stated firmly, disregarding any sense of possessiveness that his words might imply.

Percy tried his best to ignore the possessive undertone and focused on where the conversation was heading. The sea god continued, revealing a side of his protective nature that Percy had rarely seen before. "I've unleashed my wrath on mortals who dared to harm my children before. If I were present in your time, I'd do the same to your stepfather." And wow. Wasn't that unsettling?

The gravity of Poseidon's words sank in, leaving Percy feeling both uneasy and conflicted. The idea of his father going to such extremes for his sake was both comforting and frightening. However, Poseidon seemed to understand Percy's independent nature. He acknowledged that Percy preferred handling his own battles and that interfering in such a way might push him away.

Yet, Poseidon wanted to establish something unequivocal. He was willing to restrain himself for the time being, allowing Percy to navigate his own path. But there was a warning in his tone that sent shivers down Percy's spine. "Let it be known," Poseidon declared, "If I find out he ever lays a finger on you again, I won't care about your wishes. I'll erase him from existence without a second thought."

Percy's mind raced, searching for the right words to respond to his father's intense declaration. But before he could filter his thoughts, the words slipped out, "Well, that's a bit dramatic." Instantly, he regretted his bluntness and covered his mouth with his hand in surprise at his own words. His father, turned to him slowly, blinking in a way that suggested disbelief at what he had just heard.

The tension in the air was palpable as Poseidon fixed his gaze on Percy, and the silence between them seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Percy held his ground, refusing to falter under the weight of his father's intense stare. But to his surprise, instead of anger and admonishment, Poseidon's expression softened, and he leaned his head down, bursting into laughter.

The unexpected sound of his father's laughter caught Percy off guard, almost making him recoil. He had braced himself for a lecture or a show of anger. not anticipating this lighthearted response. Poseidon's laughter echoed like the rolling waves of the sea.

Percy resisted the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth, settling for just staring. Poseidon's laughter slowly died off and he turned to Percy, amusement twinkling in his eyes as he smiled. "You have a way with words, my son." He conceded, tilting his head at Percy.

"I'm sorry, It's just a lot," Percy muttered, his face flushing in embarrassment.

Poseidon shook his head, a small smile still on his face, "I understand. I just want you to be aware of that. Do you understand, Perseus?" He questioned, the smile still on his face but his showing some sense of seriousness.

Percy nodded, "Yes, I do."

Poseidon gave Percy a small smile, turning back towards the waves that continued to crash on the beach. "I do hope Kymopoilea didn't attempt to injure you when you and her trained last night?" Poseidon said, his eyes flickering to the side to look at Percy.

Percy laughed, albeit a small one but Poseidon's lips curled up at the sound. "No, not at all. I sadly didn't win. Obviously, she's more trained than I am but she didn't injure me." Percy hesitated, he wanted to ask about that power surge in the trident and he even wanted to conversate about it more. He slowly decided he wouldn't, he still wasn't fully comfortable with this version of his father. He'd ask maybe a minor sea god about the trident.

Poseidon nodded approvingly, a hint of relief in his expression. "That's good to hear. I was genuinely concerned that Kymopoelia might seek petty revenge for your rather blunt statement yesterday, Perseus," he admitted.

Percy cringed, "Percy." He blurted out.

Poseidon blinked, "Excuse me?"

"Percy. Call me Percy. Well- I mean if you want to. I just- even your future self, the few times I've met him he's mostly called me Percy. Perseus just sounds weird to me, I usually only get called it when I'm in trouble-" He rambled, his words stumbling over each other.

Poseidon hesitated before nodding, "Percy, then." He acknowledged, a small smile before he turned away.

Reyna wanted to bang her head against a table and strangle Octavian. She hoped Jason shared the same thoughts. Instead of doing either of those she kept her head high and walked next to Jason as they both moved behind the Greeks towards the dining hall.

Despite her lingering doubts about whether this was real, she couldn't dismiss the surreal scene before her. It was like a strange dream come to life, witnessing two sons of Hermes exchanging grins as they conversed, while a daughter of Athena cast a stern look their way.

They entered the dining hall with the Greeks and the Gods. Gods, with a capital G. She rubbed her eyes, this was going to be really long reading if there really were ten books. As they entered all the Romans sat down at a table, she had Jason grab Octavian and push him down into a chair next to her. She couldn't trust the boy not to run up to a Greek and start spewing hate. And as much as she hated to admit it, some of these Greeks looked like they could take Octavian down easily.

Everyone was silent until Frank turned to Hazel and started interrogating her, Reyna would have to take Frank aside and ask what he learned. She was in slight disbelief that Hazel was technically dead, but she had stopped being surprised as soon as the son of Nep- Poseidon , had come out and caused chaos.

Most of the other Romans had picked up the book that was sitting in front of them labeled, "Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief." They were obviously reading about the strange boy who had disappeared earlier.

She glanced up every now and again to see the Greeks who had also separated from the gods into their own little groups, conversing with each other. Many looked laid back and not nervous even though they were in the presence of very powerful gods. She caught a few of their eyes but immediately turned away, she wouldn't acknowledge them for now.

After some time, Percy distanced himself from his father and made his way to the dining hall. As he entered, he noticed a few Romans staring at him curiously. However, the Greeks in the hall immediately called him over and gestured for him to join them at a table.

He quickly sat with Annabeth and Nico, Conner on the other side of Annabeth while Will was next to Nico. He gave both Nico and Will a sideway look, he had seen those two getting closer since the end of the war. He was glad Nico could find a friend in Will, even if the rest of the camp still seemed to be a bit weirded out by Nico.

They stayed like that for a while, talking and laughing until they heard a book slam shut, silencing the entire dining hall. Percy's head slowly turned towards the table the Romans were situated at to see the boy that had introduced himself as Dakota staring at Percy. "You are absolutely insane." He finally said, rubbing his head. Dakota seemed to be ignoring the looks of exasperation and warning looks that were being sent his way by Reyna and Jason.

Percy grinned in turn, "So I have been told."

Hestia stood, "Have you Roman's finished the first twelve chapters?" She asked, her eyes flickering over to them. Reyna looked around and then nodded, confirming that they had indeed finished. "Good. Then let's all get back to the book." She smiled at everyone, quickly shooing them all towards the throne room. The Greeks once again led the way.

As everyone settled back in their seats, the Romans looked confused as to where to sit. Percy came up beside them, smiling. "Sit next to your godly parents. If you'd rather not or don't have a godly parent here then sit over on the couch with Rachel and Grover." He told them, gesturing to the room.

They all looked at him warily, Octavian who Percy was standing by, quickly moved himself next to Frank even if he didn't look happy about it. Reyna slowly nodded, making her way towards Rachel and Grover. Jason's eyes flickered over the throne room to see Thaila gesturing for him to come sit.

With the Roman's praetors sitting down, the Romans followed their lead quickly. Octavian decided to sit on the couch with Reyna, though he sat on the edge as far away as he could. Dakota made his way to Dionysus and Pollux. He smiled softly at Pollux and sat down. Hazel hesitantly looked between the couch with Reyna and the couch that had NIco on it next to their father. She eventually decided to sit with Nico, though she didn't look the most comfortable. Frank saw Clarrise raising an expectant eyebrow at him and he slowly, very slowly, made his way over to her sitting on the edge just like Octavian.

Percy who was still standing, hesitated. He had that talk with his father and everything seemed fine but he didn't know how his siblings and stepmother would react to him sitting with them.

Zeus raised an eyebrow at Percy, and Percy made his decision. Quickly making his way over to his father, ignoring the looks he was getting from the demigods. He stood in front of the couch, giving his siblings a small smile. "Can I sit here?" He asked, fidgeting with his hands.

Rhodes smiled at him, giving a sharp jab to Triton as she moved over. Triton huffed before unwillingly moving, making more room on the couch. Percy gave them a muttered, "Thank you." Before giving a nod towards Amphitrite and sitting down.

After a moment of silence, Travis clapped his hands together grabbing the book and opening the book to the right chapter. " I Ruin A Perfectly Good Bus." He read outloud.

Notes:

Tumblr: Mirzamsaiph

Chapter 14: I Ruin A Perfectly Good Bus

Summary:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PERCY JACKSON.

YOU'RE... SEVENTEEN STILL!

Notes:

WOW, can I just say this took me forever to get out and I'm so sorry. But this is Percy's birthday present!

Chapter Text

After a moment of silence, Travis clapped his hands together grabbing the book and opening the book to the right chapter. " I Ruin A Perfectly Good Bus." He read out loud.

"Now why would you do that, Percy?" Conner shook his head, disappointed.

Percy rolled his eyes, "To be fair, I didn't mean to ruin the bus."

"Yes, you did." Annabeth dryly said.

It didn't take...in my cabin,

"Probably a good idea." Conner told him, "It would have been pointless to take the horn on the trip and take up needed space." Percy nodded in agreement.

which left me…used less than pure gold.

"There is no reason for us not to," Apollo told him, giving Percy a sideways look.

Chiron said the...whatever that meant.

Everyone blinked, their eyes slowly moving to Percy in exasperation, "I believe he meant it was for non-mortal interactions." Conner said slowly, blinking at Percy as if questioning his intelligence.

Percy flushed in embarrassment, "Shut up Conner." He said, covering his laugh.

He gave Annabeth...us up, literally.

"Love the 'literally' in there, Perce. Just had to make sure we grasped that it wasn't metaphorical." Pollux chuckled, as he glanced teasingly over at Percy.

Percy grinned back, "Just had to let you guys know that you would burst into flames." Percy told him, before adding, " Literally." He reiterated.

Will scrunched up his nose in thought, "In reality, there'd be no spontaneous combustion. It'd be a gradual process—a slow burn if you will. The ambrosia would initiate its effect within your organs, ramping up the heat until they're simmering like a pot about to boil over. The torment would be unrelenting for the next..." He paused, his brow furrowing in thought, then continued, "...let's say nine hours or thereabouts. By that point, the cascade would have reached your brain. Your vital organs—the liver, pancreas, appendix, kidneys, and such—would practically be on the verge of melting. You'd be teetering on the brink of death by the time it inevitably reached your brain." Will's explanation trailed off as he became aware of the stares he was drawing from every corner of the room.

A hushed silence hung in the air momentarily; even the gods themselves appeared somewhat taken aback by Will's detailed description. The Romans seemed more cautious, their wariness heightened, while the Greeks exhibited a mixture of disgust and a strange sort of fascination. The fact that Will possessed this knowledge at the age of fourteen was mildly concerning.

"Will." Conner said, his eyebrows furrowing, "That was the creepiest yet most fascinating thing I've ever heard." He finished, his face twisting into an amused look, Travis not far behind him.

"He's not off the mark, though I might have added a touch more vivid detail. Still, that's a fairly accurate explanation," Apollo chimed in, appearing to align with his son's rather elaborate explanation.

Percy blinked, "More detail?" Percy cried, his face skewering in disbelief, "I think that was a bit too much detail in itself. There is no need for more." Percy shivered in disgust, his face showing how he felt about the explanation.

Jason spoke next, his words hesitant but also one of the first Romans to speak, "Why exactly do you even know that?" He asked, his head tilted in confusion as he levelled Will with a baffled look.

Will flushed, "I've seen a lot, it's the side of healing most people don't see." He explained.

She carried a...on reed pipes.

Grover shot an irritated glance, retorting, "It wasn't that terrible." He exhaled in frustration.

Percy's expression contorted, reflecting Annabeth's puzzled look, her nose wrinkled. "Grover, I don't want to sound harsh," Annabeth began, causing several Greeks to avert their gaze from Grover, not wanting to burst into laughter in his face.

"Enough, everyone," he protested, a playful glint in his eyes.

The Romans raised their eyebrows in confusion. "You're a fawn. Why are you even joining the quest?" Hazel inquired, her head tilting quizzically.

Grover's brow furrowed, correcting her, "I'm a satyr, not a fawn," he clarified, sidestepping her question.

Hazel cleared her throat, her face reddening. "Right, yes. My apologies."

We waved...daughter of Zeus.

Thalia let out an amused snort, remarking, "You just had to bring me into this conversation, didn't you?"

Percy's smile widened, "How could I ever leave out the fearless kid who, at my very age, made the ultimate sacrifice?" Percy formed a hand-heart gesture in a mocking way, causing Thalia to erupt into laughter.

"What ever , Jackson. I was a hero." Thaila stuck out her tongue, making Jason who was next to her chuckle.

Percy rolled his eyes but stayed quiet, he was of course he was just kidding. He knew well that Thaila really was a hero, she had indeed saved three people by sacrificing herself. Even if one did end up becoming the host of Kronos in the end.

Chiron was waiting...the sick room.

Annabeth snorted, "Surfer dude, I'll tell Argus you said that." She grinned.

According to Grover...eye on things."

A majority of the Greeks snickered at the pun, while the Romans displayed a hint of amusement, managing to maintain their composure.

Apollo shook his head, suppressing the amused smirk that tugged at his lips. "I do believe that might just be the most wretched pun I've ever had the misfortune to endure," he remarked, his mouth turned into a disdainful frown.

I heard footsteps...basketball shoes.

Hermes looked up at the mention of his son, leaning back in his throne as his other son read.

"Hey!" he panted...Luke was around.

Annabeth huffed indignantly, casting a sharp glare in Percy's direction. "I most certainly did not."

"You absolutely did," Thalia and Percy chimed in simultaneously.

Conner snorted, "Don't be embarrassed, Annabeth. Practically everyone did." Conner told her, a grin on his face.

"Just wanted too…"Maia!"

Hermes chuckled slightly, nodding in approval as he listened.

White birds wings...turned sad.

Hermes slowly frowned, he understood that his son wanted to be nice. But it was rather rude to give away a gift from a god, much less their godly parent.

I didn't know...much as Annabeth.

Nico looked up, surprised. He remembered Percy denying, not that long ago, that he didn't like guys. But this was telling a different story. From the looks Percy was getting from most of the other demi-gods in the room, Nico wasn't the only one who came to this conclusion.

Thaila chuckled, "You know Percy, from these last three chapters. I'd say that Luke was your awakening." She grinned over at him before it dropped at the look on Percy's face. "Are you okay, Percy?" She asked, her head tilted.

Percy coughed, "Thaila, I didn't like Luke. I'm not gay, I assure you." Percy flinched back at the looks on the demigod's faces, which ranged from disbelief to concern.

Apollo frowned, "What is 'gay'?" He inquired, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Annabeth mirrored his frown, "There isn't an ancient Greek word for it since it was so common in ancient Greece. The closest thing to it would be pederasty , but that was between an older man and a younger boy." Annabeth explained, before continuing, "That nowadays is seen as disgusting and is called paedophilia, and you can be jailed for it." She rambled before flushing and steering back towards the original point, "Gay, in short, is the relationship between a man and another man, it could also describe a woman and another woman but usually, that's called being a lesbian." She finally finished.

The gods' faces twisted in bewilderment, and Ares expressed his confusion, saying, "So, there's a distinct word for that? Why? It's such a common occurrence; a dedicated term seems unnecessary. Many of us gods have engaged in those kinds of relationships. In your future, though, you make it sound... abnormal, which is quite uncivilized." His understanding was still limited.

Annabeth cringed, "Many people in our time seem to think it is a sin, that it will condemn you to the Christian form of the fields of punishment which they call 'hell'." She explained, "There are laws in many places, prohibiting it. Or making it hard for them to marry. Christianity is such a big influence in our time that most Christians seem to all be agreeing that being homosexual or 'gay' will condemn you to hell." She told them, asking many of the gods to scoff in disbelief.

Apollo rolled his eyes before turning his gaze towards Percy, who indeed looked uncomfortable, "So why exactly, Perseus , did you act as though you were disgusted by the idea of being… gay?" Apollo questioned. "Or shall I remind you, that most of the gods here have participated in the act?" He drawled, leaning back on his throne.

Percy flushed, "I'm not disgusted at all!" He defended, "I'm just not… gay." He said, he didn't want to go into detail about how Gabe had once heard Percy tell a guy that he looked pretty and afterwords had screamed and thrown things at Percy in return. Telling Percy about how 'disgusting' and had thrown slurs at Percy. It was that day that Percy had promised himself that he wouldn't ever say out loud how he felt about guys.

Sure, Percy knew that probably every god in the throne room had indeed had a homosexual relationship besides a select few. But he didn't actually know how they'd react. The smart part of his brain told him that they wouldn't care. They'd just nod and go about their business. No one would bring it up. The other part of his brain told him they'd react in the same way Gabe had and Percy didn't want to have to experience that again.

From beside him, he got a sneer from Triton which in turn made Percy shrink a bit, "I'm not lying!" He defended, pointing to Apollo as if trying to get Apollo to confirm that he really didn't care about others being gay,

Apollo seemed to hesitantly nod as if hating that he had to agree with Percy. "He's telling the truth." Apollo muttered, before pointing a rather annoyed look in Percy's direction, "I'd appreciate if you didn't randomly point at me just so I could prove a point for you." Apollo shot at him making Percy throw his head into his hands. This chapter was going to suck, he could already tell.

"Hey, man," I...might pass out.

Annabeth glared, "Literally shut up, Percy. I was not going to pass out." Her cheeks slowly turned red as Percy raised an eyebrow at her.

After Luke...the flag didn't you?"

The camper's jaw dropped, " Please tell me you did not." Chris huffed out, an incredulous look on his face as he watched Annabeth sink in her seat, shooting a glare at Percy.

"This is your fault, Jackson." Annabeth huffed.

Percy gaped, his eyes wide, "How's this my fault? I didn't choose for my thoughts to be read aloud."

"Oh . . . why do...these, will I?"

Hermes pursed his lips "Absolutely not, with father already angry at you, you'd be knocked out of the sky faster than you could think." He levelled Percy with an impressed, surprised that the boy had caught on that quickly.

He shook his...magic item?"

Grover glared at the floor, muttering something along the lines of, "Damn shoes." That had Conner beside him giving him a weird look.]

Hermes nodded, "That was a rather nice thing for you, Perseus." He told the boy hesitantly.

"Practice," Chiron...possessed lawn mower,

Thanatos frowned, "I don't even want to know what that is."

Psyche nodded.

heading toward the...got more training."

"Heros of the future, I assume?" Ares inquired.

Percy blinked, "It's so weird you don't know who Hercules or Jason is." He scrunched his nose before nodding, "Yes they are both major figures in history."

"That's okay...Annabeth's invisible cap.

Annabeth blinked, "You're twelve, you wouldn't have sounded like a brat at all. I would've probably done the same thing." The demi-gods all nodded even the Romans, albeit a bit more hesitant.

Kymopoliea shrugged, "No, you probably would've sounded like one, but you would've had a reason. jealousy happens." She told the boy to her left. The sentence gained stern looks from her parents and an incredulous look from Rhodes and a few demi-gods.

"Kymopoliea," Poseidon said, a sharp look towards her.

Instead of looking offended, Percy laughed, "Well thank you for your honesty." Percy told her, smiling at her which in turn gained him confused looks from his father and his siblings even a few other minor gods.

"What am I...cost thirty cents.

Percy grinned.

"Gee," I said... into a sword.

Travis tilted his head, "Can you write with it?" He asked, looking at Percy intently.

Percy hesitated before reaching into his pocket to see if his sword was there, grinning when he found it there. As he reached into his pocket, grabbed the pen and inspected it. On his right, Rhodes seemed to be looking at the pen with furrowed eyebrows. While on his left, both Triton and Kypnopoliea seemed to be looking at it the same way Rhodes was.

For a moment Percy fiddled with the pen, ignoring the exasperated looks he was getting from the gods. After a second Triton grabbed it out of his hand making Percy protest before shutting up when Triton uncapped it and the pen transformed into his sword.

"In the most respectful way possible, what the Hades are you doing?' Percy asked, ignoring the sharp glare he got from Hades and Nico.

Triton ignored him and inspected the sword for a few seconds before pressing the cap to the hilt of the sword and the sword transformed back into the pen with a pen tip.

Percy blinked in surprise, "Cool." He said, "Thanks."

Annabeth snorted, "Took you that long to even ask that question?" She shook her head, rolling her eyes.

Triton rolled his eyes and handed the pen back to Percy.

Could this be...name is Anaklusmos."

"Riptide." Percy smiled, fiddling with the pen in ihis hand.

"Riptide," I translated...against monsters."

Rachel huffed, "Yeah. Monsters only." She told Percy, grinning at him as he glared at her.

"Don't sneak up on me when I'm fighting a monster!' He defended.

She glared, "I was blowing my nose."

And I should...as vulnerable."

Katie snorted, "Yay for us."

"Good to know...losing pens at school.

Dakota snorted, speaking up for the first time, "We've all sadly lost pens, it's a skill of us demigods and or mortals." He said, a small smile on his face as he gestured to Rachel when saying mortals.

"You can't,"...he said.

"It's so creepy, It's like Chiron can see inside our minds." Percy shivered. The Greek demigods nodded vigorously.

"It is enchanted...pen was there.

Percy chuckled, "Saved my butt a few times."

I put Riptide...of the Dead.

Rhodes tilted her head, "Not exactly, you'll have your powers. You'll have Athena's spawn smarts and the Satyr's pipes and nature. You had a pretty good chance." She told the boy beside her, "You're just pessimistic."

Percy's jaw dropped, "I- No." He stumbled over his words in a lousy attempt to defend himself.

"Chiron . . ."...before them, right?"

The gods tensed, Zeus scowling, "Now, boy. What was the motivation in asking that question?" He gritted out, a sharp look towards Percy.

Percy grimaced, shrugging, "You should find out within a few paragraphs."

Zeus frowned but said nothing else.

This, the time...fire to mankind,

Zeus grimaced at his old friend's name.

Zeus punished him...up everything, right?"

Eileithyia's brow furrowed, displaying her concern. "It seems like you're placing an immense amount of pressure on your shoulders, Perseus," she remarked with a worried expression, redirecting her gaze towards the boy comfortably seated on the couch.

Percy nonchalantly raised his shoulders in a shrug. "The idea got hammered into my mind repeatedly—that I was somehow responsible for all of this, and it boiled down to me either resolving it or watching the world descend into chaos."

Hades wrinkled his nose slightly, his expression skeptical. "Well, that does seem quite theatrical. It's evident that you're connected to this situation in some way, or else you wouldn't be in the middle of it. As we discussed earlier, baseless accusations, especially against children, aren't our way of doing things."

Percy's jaw dropped for what felt like the hundredth time today already, "Even Ze- Lord Zeus can admit that he doesn't think I did anything seeing as my thoughts are on display !" Percy cried, gesturing to the book.

Hades gave him a piercing look, "That doesn't mean much to me, You've done something and this book at the end will tell us what exactly it was that garnered our attention so directly." He told Percy before rolling his eyes, "And close your mouth before you catch something."

Percy glared harshly in Hades' direction before being elbowed, rather harshly in Percy's opinion, in the stomach. He gave a sharp glare to Triton who gave Percy one right back, "Watch how you talk and look at gods, they'll blast you one day." He told Percy before turning back to the book, ignoring Percy's incredulous look and Kymopoliea's amused look.

"Protective already, dear brother?" She said, tilting her head at Triton even as he ignored her.

or that we...biggest war in human history."

"Yeah, so helpful, Chiron," Percy muttered.

"Relax," I said. "I'm very relaxed."

"Real convincing, Percy." Annabeth snorted.

Percy grinned.

When I got...daughter of Zeus,

Thaila groaned, "Are you always going to say my full title when referring to me?" She asked.

Percy shrugged, "You kind of just stuck with me, so probably."

Argus drove us...and shopping mall.

"Yeah, it's jarring going back to the mortal world." Thalia agreed.

"So far so...a single monster."

The demi-gods groaned, "You completely jinxed yourself." Nico said, shaking his head in a disappointed way.

Percy sighed, "Yeah, I know."

She gave me..."I don't hate you."

"Could've fooled me." Percy snorted.

Travis grinned and read louder before Annabeth could reply.

"Could've fooled me."

The Greek demi-gods snickered, Percy rolled his eyes, "See even my twelve-year-old self agrees with me."

Annabeth groaned into her hands, "I'm sorry!" She exclaimed, muffled by her hands.

...Our parents are rivals."

Poseidon furrowed his eyebrows, "That doesn't excuse your rudeness, child."

Annabeth resisted the urge to groan louder, "I understand that, Lord Poseidon. I was blinded by the feud. Percy understands I don't hate him." Percy nodded, smiling over at Annabeth who returned the smile lightly.

"Why?"...hugely disrespectful.

The demigods cringed at that, if Athena and Poseidon's feud hadn't started yet did that mean that they didn't know about the Medusa incident? Though by the looks of it, it seemed maybe they already knew it just was newer. Percy sighed, this was so confusing and he personally didn't want to remember that his father had indeed assaulted Medusa.

Amphitrite sighed, rubbing her forehead. Athena didn't look quite happy, in-fact she looked beyond mad at the reminder of the last decade, Artemis didn't look far off. The other gods in the room tilted their heads, they very faintly remembered that fight of last decade. It had been the one that caused many floods and Athena's anger had induced a very short-lived war.

The girl demi-gods in the room didn't look quite comfortable, instead, they looked very uncomfortable. A few had shifted around a bit as Athena and Poseidon glared at each other.

"And you guys said you didn't have a feud." The mysterious demi-god snorted, it sounded closely like the one who had been telling off the gods the past few chapters. Percy snorted, he had started calling them 'mysterious demigods.'

Both of their head's snapped up, their eyes glaring holes into the demi-gods, "That is one brave demi-god." Percy whistled, lowly. Even he wasn't that bad.

Some of the god's eyes snapped at him, confused. Percy blinked, offended. He knew they were thinking it was him and his earlier remark showed it was indeed not him. "Okay, rude. Just because I'm disrespectful doesn't mean I'm that type of crazy." Percy snorted, Travis snorted picking the book back up to read.

My mom created...really like olives."

The demi-gods snickered while a few gods shook their heads.

"I said, forget it!"...starting to rain.

Reyna shook her head, speaking up for the first time, "That's never a good start to quests." Percy shook his head sadly in agreement.

Argus dropped...Grover could notice.

Grover and Annabeth cringed, "We both saw it, we figured you didn't want to talk about it." Annabeth told him, giving him a sympathetic look.

Percy frowned, he had hoped either of them had just not seen it. He didn't want their pity.

Argus unloaded our...the parking lot.

"At least he made sure you got the bus," Travis said.

I thought about...even missing her.

Percy's face skewered in anger, he hated admitting it but he was glad that Gabe was dead. He never had really felt guilty about Gabe's death as he should've, but it made him feel accomplished. He had made sure that the monster had never hurt his mother again.

You were thinking...to tell me.

Percy snorted, "Most things." He told his twelve-year-old self, ignoring Grover's bleated noise of annoyance.

"You call him...nearest shower?"

There was some strained laughter.

"You should be grateful, Percy.

"I can't explain how sorry I am, Percy. I shouldn't have said that." Grover bleated out as soon as Travis read that out.

Percy smiled at him, "It's completely fine, Grover. You didn't know."

Grover sighed, "But I should've." He muttered.

Your stepfather smells... feel any better."

"Thank you for trying, G-man," Percy said, tightly.

I was glad...this crazy quest.

Annabeth chuckled, "We figured it out pretty quickly, You weren't very subtle with the way you were talking." Grover nodded his agreement.

The truth was...Zeus' lightning bolt,

Zeus pursed his lips in annoyance, tightening his grip on his bolt. Oh how hard it was to not strike this insolent child down.

or saving the...a job done.

Percy pursed his lips, "I hate this dam book." He said, leaning back on the couch with his arms crossed.

Poseidon mimicked Percy's expression, he attempted to open his mouth but again came to the same conclusion. What exactly did he have to apologise for? He hadn't done this yet, if anything his older self needed to apologise even though Poseidon himself knew that wasn't going to happen.

Triton furrowed his eyebrows, "You're bitter over that ?" He questioned, his expression seemingly judging Percy.

Percy's expression skewered and annoyance flooded his face, " Yes! Gods , I have feelings I'm allowed to feel bitter about the fact I grew up without a damn father, I was the weird kid in school. The one who had no parent's who cared enough to do anything." Percy snapped at him. Percy loved his mom, but he and had rarely got to see her when he was at school. The few times were when he was being suspended and had to have a parent pick him up. He breathed out for a moment, well he hadn't meant to say that in front of his father but things seemed to come out of his mouth without permission.

Percy attempted to stand, trying to go sit back with Rachel and a few of the Romans before Kymopoliea seemed to get annoyed and pushed Percy back down on the couch. He sputtered, "Excuse you?"

"Sit down. Talk about this later, let's just get this chapter over with." She muttered, keeping a hand on Percy's shoulder. He was slightly surprised by how strong she seemed to be. She was keeping him seated, Percy didn't feel as though he could move.

You will be...you a friend,

Apollo seemed to be attempting to put together the Prophecy, he had a look on his face that Percy was officially naming 'the prophecy thinker' look. He seemed to go into that look anytime the Prophecy was mentioned and Percy found it widely amusing.

The game ended...core, stem, and all.

The demi-gods burst into laughter as Grover went red, even the Romans seemed a tiny bit amused.

Finally the bus...Maybe it's nothing."

Everyone seemed to stop laughing as Travis read the next paragraph out loud.

Percy sighed, "I'm glad you got better at trusting yourself and not brushing it off like you used to do." Grover nodded in agreement, shooting a smile a Percy who returned his own.

Annabeth kept...skipped a beat.

Poseidon sighed, "Why are you angry at my son, Hades? Zeus whilst he is being unreasonable, he seems to think he has a reason to be furious at my son. You do not, but you've kidnapped his mother, and sent a fury after him twice now." Poseidon questioned a curious and confused Hades.

"I'm unsure as to why, though I know I do have a reason. I wouldn't do it without one." Hades insisted Percy had officially given up on defending himself at this point. He realized there was no point.

It was Mrs. Dodds...more old ladies:

Persephone rose an eyebrow at her husband, "All three? He really must've done something. I've seen worse people get better punishments." Hades shrugged, seemingly just as confused.

one in a green...Triplet demon grandmothers.

Nico snorted, shooting Hazel an amused look who returned one.

They sat in...nobody leaves.

Leo cringed, "That doesn't sound fun, That makes it definitely sound as though they trapped you." He grimaced, being trapped in places always made him shiver.

The bus pulled..."You're obviously not."

Percy cocked his head at Tyche, remarking, "You hold a grudge against me." Tyche's gaze lifted with a hint of amusement, her lips curling into a chuckle. She exchanged an amused glance with the deities beside her.

"I don't hold a grudge against you Persues, I assure you." She told him. Percy rose an eyebrow not convinced in the slightest but didn't say anymore.

"A back exit?"...There wasn't one.

"That's the faultiest type of bus I've ever heard, that shouldn't even be on the road at that point. It's completely dangerous." Leo said. Percy nodded in agreement, "It was pretty bad."

Even if there..."Will they?"

Percy sighed in a dramatic way, "Sadly they didn't care." He muttered.

"Their brains can...won't they?"

"Actually it came out on the news, 'Delinquent Percy Jackson and his two accomplices the missing Annabeth Chase and an unknown boy blow up a New York bus after fighting with three elderly ladies. Is Percy Jackson a terrorist?! And why is Annabeth Chase the girl who went missing five years ago with him? Find out later!'" Percy said, making dramatic hand moves.

The demigods couldn't help the laughter that came after, even a few minor gods looked mildly amused.

"A terrorist?" Poseidon lowly muttered to his wife, he didn't seem quite happy about his child being hailed a terrorist.

They all started...and get away."

Apollo nodded, "He's the leader of the quest, making him the most important." He seemed to agree with Annabeth's choice of trying to get Percy to leave.

Percy shook his head, "Absolutely not, I wasn't going to let my friends die just because I was supposedly more important. It was a quest, we were all equal." He told them. The gods at this point had nothing to say, this was the most bizarre child ever. Not just that but the most humble big three demigod child, many of them thought it was an act but a few seemed to think it was genuine.

"But you guys—"...be overpowering."

Grover bobbed his head so quickly it looked like it might fall off, "Percy's scent is much stronger than any other demigod I've ever met. It explains why he runs into so many monsters." A few gods gave Percy curious looks but nothing else was said.

When I looked...there anymore.

Percy grinned, "Yeah, that was really cool."

I started creeping...kept going.

The demigods all leaned in anxiously, Percy almost pointed out that he was sitting in the same room but remembered the last time he said anything and decidedly stayed quiet.

I was free….get any uglier—

The Greeks snickered.

but their bodies...into fiery whips.

A few certain demi-gods tensed up at the mention of the whips. Thaila pursed her lips, shooting Hades a quick glare before turning her attention back to the book.

The Furies...Where?"

Hades looked even more confused, "Where is what? He muttered to himself. Was he helping Zeus get the bolt back? That didn't make much sense, he had no reason to help Zeus and Hades doubted his future self had a reason either. Meaning either that his future self was attempting the find the bolt and steal it, which made him cringe at the thought. The other option was something of his was missing and his future self thought Persues had it, which would make more sense.

Annabeth drew...to throw it.

The tips of Grovers' ears went red as a few people gave him weird looks. A tin can was a great weapon, they didn't know what they were talking about.

What I did...of the year.

Grover and Annabeth glared at him, "I felt sick for hours after this." Grover huffed.

The bus driver...against the windows.

"No. It was us hitting the window." Annabeth glared.

Percy grinned, shrugging.

Somehow the driver...toward the river.

"That's not good," Will muttered.

Another great...the emergency brake.

Annabeth and Grover looked like they were having flashbacks, even holding their stomachs. Percy rolled his eyes, "You guys are dramatic." He told them, ignoring the glares he got in return.

The Furies regained...threw tin cans.

A few more laughs.

"Perseus Jackson,"...You shall die."

Percy snorted, "It was two gods at that point I had offended, by my sixteenth birthday it was a lot more." He said, ignoring the wincing expression of his father and the incredulous looks from the gods.

Apollo tilted his head, "How old are you?"

Percy blinked at the random question, "Sixteen, I turned sixteen a week ago in my time." A few gods cringed at that, a sixteen-year-old with four years of training leading a war didn't sit right with them but none said anything.

Travis blinked, "Oh, Happy late birthday, Perc." He said, grinning. Many of them had forgotten that the war had ended on Percy's birthday and none of them besides a few had wished him a happy birthday. Many of the demi-gods echoed Travis's words.

Percy grinned, "Thanks, guys."

"I liked you...She growled.

Nico chuckled, "She hates you so much."

"Submit now,"...eternal torment."

Percy snorted, "I'm sensing a lie here." He said, grinning at Nico who nodded back.

The gods beside him seemed to tense up at Percy's words, remembering the conversation they had with Percy about his ability, Poseidon shook his head. They had enough sense to keep quiet about it even as Apollo and Dionysus seemed to also look a Percy with an unknown expression.

Mrs. Dodds lashed...to drop Riptide.

Ares nodded in approval making Percy cringe, he couldn't tell if he hated or liked this Ares.

I stuck the...exploded into dust.

Hades sighed, he really needed this demigod to stop killing his fury's.

and yanked her..."Ow! Hot! Hot!"

Nico rose an eyebrow at Grover in a 'duh' way. Percy was really confused about how different Nico had been acting since they got here. This was nothing like the Nico of their time.

"Zeus will destroy...I yelled.

None of the Romans could help the laughter that busted out between them, even Reyna seemed to be smiling.

The Greeks and the Gods seemed to be a little confused, for different reasons. The Greeks had no idea what came out of Percy's mouth and the Gods wanted to know why a Greek demigod had shouted out Latin instead of Greek.

Poseidon tilted his head at his child, this was certainly a different type of child than the rest of his kids.

Thunder shook the...back of my neck.

Poseidon looked annoyed, he didn't fight his children's battles but this was getting out of hand.

A Hawaiian-shirted...recap my sword.

Rachel grimaced, "I'm guessing that's the picture that ended up on the news." She inquired. Percy nodded.

"Our bags!"...Lightning

Poseidon's face turned from annoyance to anger, this wasn't just an attack on his child. This was an attack on him and he wouldn't stand for that. He went to grab his trident before Amphitrite sighed and moved the trident. "Calm down, talk with him later." She muttered, lowly enough so only he could hear. Poseidon took a breath and leaned on his throne, a piercing glare that could rival anyone's shooting at Zeus.

We have to...but darkness ahead.

Travis sighed in relief, "It's finally over. Who wants the book?"

Apollo thought for a moment before taking the book from the outstretched hand.

Chapter 15: We Visit The Garden Gnome Emporium

Summary:

Ft: The gods being assholes for the whole chapter

also ft: Me wanting a dramatic ass chapter

Notes:

HAHHAHHAAH

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Percy's first thought was: 'What the Hades just happened.' There had been an immediate shift as soon as Apollo had touched the book. It felt like the room had dropped and gotten a few degrees colder, all the demigods looked much more uncomfortable but the gods hadn't seemed to notice.

In fact, it just felt off to Percy. Percy's eyes went to Apollo who was shifting to the correct page. Percy had noticed it as soon as Travis had let go of the book and Apollo had touched it. Had Apollo read yet? If he had, this hadn't happened before.

It had seemed as if the room had grown darker, the aura's of the gods seemed to have snapped into a different type of power. Sure, Percy had been around the gods of his time and their power and aura had been different to these Gods but this just seemed weird to Percy. There had been no warning whatsoever for this type of change.

When Percy thought of Ancient Greek gods, this aura is what he thought. The dark and rather intimidating, even for Percy, air that surrounded him just screamed at him to run. The gods' eyes seemed to be devoid of any emotion that had once been in them, it made a shiver run down Percy's spine.

His mind raced for an explanation, his thoughts flickered to the Fates telling them they were going back in time, the anger in their words as they spoke of Apollo. Percy had been slightly nervous at first, he'd heard of such horrifying stories about the ancient gods that he had expected the worst.

Sure they were much different from the gods of his time but they weren't as bad as Percy had thought. But this , this is what he expected and he didn't know how he felt. Even his siblings next to him seemed to have changed.

Percy wanted to snatch the book from Apollo's hands, if it would stop this. Whatever this was. He couldn't even come up with any kind of remark, this intimated him even if he wouldn't admit it aloud.

He locked eyes with Annabeth and her eyes showed the exact same reaction, she didn't know what to make of this sudden change and that made him uneasy. Annabeth, his best friend. The person who he tended to look towards in moments like this, didn't know what to do and Percy decidedly didn't point the change out. He had a feeling this was fate and he also didn't want to know what would befall him if he attempted to point something out.

The fates had a twisted sense of humor, especially because Percy knew this would be the Medusa chapter. And he definitely hadn't made the best of choices during this time. He for once, actually feared that he might not make it past this chapter.

Apollo cleared his throat and started, and Percy's attention was rampt upped. He didn't know what would come out of this chapter and at this point, he'd meet it head on.

In a way...out there,

"Of course, one would expect nothing less, for we bestow upon you mere mortals far more than warranted," Hermes said cooly, their attention all snapped to him after his words.

Yeah, something was definitely wrong. Sure, Hermes hadn't been nice this reading but he'd never really said something like that. By the way none of the gods were denying or saying anything against it, even the minor gods, Percy came to the conclusion he'd better keep his mouth closed this chapter.

He also decided not to point out they were demi-gods, not just mere mortals .

because you...things go wrong.

Anger seemed to flash in Apollo's eyes that Percy had seen when he had snapped at Percy a few chapters into the book. It seemed that many of the gods had turned towards Percy after the paragraph and he was on the end of many angry stares.

"We provide so many things to you, We have tolerated too much disrespect these past few chapters but I will not hesitate to find a way around the fates if you continue your rudeness." Apollo started, "I will demand respect or I will take it." He told Percy and for a moment Percy expected his father to say something, or defend him but when he looked beside him it seemed his father agreed and that was when Percy decided that something was not just different, something was wrong and in more ways than one.

Percy also didn't want to know what 'taking it' meant, and he personally didn't want to find out. Percy didn't get to respond before his father started talking. "He will learn, Apollo." It sounded more like a threat than anything, a threat towards Percy. His father's voice sounded nothing like it had this morning. It didn't sound like gentle waves crashing against the beach the smoothness of a breeze when a rain shower was blowing in, or the eye of the hurricane. The hour of calmness and gentleness.

No. This sounded like a tsunami, he imagined that if a twenty-foot wave could talk, it would sound like this. The moment a hurricane made landfall and the darkness of the sky took over, the roar of the wind and the sharpness and preciseness of when and where a storm hit. It was exactly how his father's voice sounded at the moment.

Percy didn't feel like he was being dramatic when thinking that. Plus his father just threatened him, right after Percy had slightly started to like him. Damn, Fates.

"Right." Percy coughed, sinking into the couch.

For instance...up your day.

Grover gave Percy a sharp nod from across the room.

If it had been any other time Percy would've grinned and made a joke about how many gods attempt to mess up their days. Percy decidedly didn't do that. He had a feeling no one would protect him if he did.

So there we...All three at once."

Hades frowned, that still angered him. How dare these demi-gods kill his furies. No matter if they were chasing the demi-gods. They obviously deserved it. The boy had done something.

I was pretty...Everything."

"That must have sucked." Leo muttered, making everyone's head snap up towards him. Him being the first to talk since the obvious change in the room.

After no god made the move to strike him, Grover, Annabeth, and Percy slowly nodded.

"Well, maybe...into the fight—"

The demi-gods all looked at Annabeth like she was insane, making her flush and roll her eyes.

"What did you...been fine."

"In pieces, but fine." Thaila muttered.

"Sliced like..."but fine."

Thaila and Grover grinned at each other.

"Shut up, goat boy," said Annabeth.

Annabeth cringed, mouthing 'sorry' over towards Grover, in turn who waved it off with a small smile.

Grover brayed mournfully...of tin cans."

The Romans all turned towards Grover, giving him a weird look.

"What is it with you and tin cans?" Octavian asked, his mouth in the form of a disgusted sneer.

Grover gave him a side-eyed look, "It's my food."

Before Octavain could reply, Apollo shot his legacy a harsh look. In turn making Octavian quiet immediately.

We sloshed...really brave."

Annabeth and Percy smiled at each other.

"Were a team... the real world."

All the demi-gods gave Annabeth a look. Even the Romans seemed a little offended by Percy. Poseidon seemed to look inches away from cursing Annabeth into the ground.

Percy really needed his father to pick a side and stick with it.

"What the heck, Annie?" Thaila asked, her eyebrows furrowing.

She flushed, her neck and face becoming a concerning color of red, "I'm sorry, Percy. That was really rude of me." She apologized, Percy smiled at her, waving off her apology with a hand.

Poseidon gives Percy a sharp glare, "What is wrong with you, boy?" He asked, making Percy flinch back in shock. "If you ever speak like that towards my son again, I will not hesitate to turn you to ashes." Annabeth copied Percy's flinch, flinching harshly enough as she sunk down in her seat.

He turned to Percy, "I will strike you as well if you continue to let people speak to you in such a way, I will not let my children let themselves be disrespected by a young girl who has no self-respect. It's a disgrace to me." Percy's mouth dropped in shock.

Okay, now Percy was pissed. His father had absolutely no right to speak to Annabeth that way nor talk about her like she wasn't in the same room. Before he could start cursing out his own father, which he knew wouldn't go over well Apollo started to read.

Percy was getting off this couch as soon as the book was out of Apollo's hand. He had attempted to be somewhat of a respectful son, but now he was absolutely over it. Once he was sure he wouldn't be blasted into little Percy pieces, he was moving.

"You're pretty...okay by me."

Annabeth sniffed, her eyes shining in amusement. She gave Percy a small strained smile who returned one of his own.

I couldn't...might've smiled.

She nodded.

"You know,"...owl being tortured.

Grover gave Percy such a blank look that if Percy wasn't afraid he'd be blasted, he would've burst into laughter.

"Hey, my reed pipes still work!" Grover cried.

The Greeks snickered, whilst the Roman's save for a few all smiled.

"If I could...on my head.

The snickers turned into laughter that had to be covered by the demi-gods hands so they wouldn't piss off any other god. Specifically Apollo and Poseidon who looked very blast-happy at the moment.

After tripping and...double cheeseburger.

Thaila, Nico, and Percy all sighed. Looking at the book as if it were going to pop out food at any given moment.

It wasn't a...ATNYU MES GDERAN GOMEN MEPROUIM.

Apollo blinked, re-read it and blinked again. Giving Percy a weird look before continuing.

Percy decidedly ignored all the looks he was getting at that very moment.

She loved...Gnome Emporium."

The trio winced.

Flanking the entrance...their picture taken.

The trio winced again.

I crossed the..."Are you two crazy?" Grover said.

Thanatos sneered slightly, "Usually the girl has more good ideas than this but it seems that she has adapted the stupidity around her."

Percy and Annabeth sighed. Honestly with how much these people were sneering Percy was going to start calling them Snape.

"This place...ignored him.

"You both are absolutely disgraceful to the demi-god name." Dionysus said, his brows frowning. "You are ignoring the satyr that can sniff out monsters?"

Percy bit his lip to the point of breaking the skin to attempt not to say anything back to him. He hissed under his breath, gods that hurt.

The front lot...my Uncle Ferdinand!"

Grover winced, rubbing his face wearily.

We stopped at...Annabeth told him.

She copied Grover's wince, "I'm so sorry." She mouthed over to him. He waved it off, leaning back against the couch.

"All I smell...I reminded him.

Grover huffed, "That wasn't the point." Percy grinned over at him.

"Those are vegetables.

"They are not!" Grover defended, glaring at him.

Percy shook his head, Thaila and Annabeth following. "Grover, I assure you they are not vegetables." Thaila said slowly, raising her eyebrows over towards him.

Conner grinned, "No, No. I agree, they are definitely vegetables." Grover nodded.

Apollo expressed his exasperation, his eyes rolling dramatically as he casually flicked his hand. Instantly, the room was bathed in an intense, blinding glow, causing the assembled demi-gods to instinctively recoil and shield their eyes. "Have you four quite finished?" he inquired, his gaze sharp enough to pierce through them.

Percy grimaced as the light fully evaporated, though it seemed like he was still having trouble seeing. "Yep, quite done." He grit out, his voice sounding ruffled and exasperated.

Come on...a beautiful lady.

Percy continued to rub his eyes, attempting to bring his vision back to it's original sight as the demi-gods started to slowly understand who it was.

Her accent sounded..."Were orphans," I said.

Will titled his head, "Not the worst lie I've heard from you." His eyes pierced Percy worriedly as he continued to rub his eyes.

but he may...food I smell?"

The demi-gods snickered through the tension in the room, many of the gods slowly understanding who it was.

"She is enchanting them." Ares stated, his eyes burning the book with a curious glint in his eyes. "With the food." He explained, more to himself than anyone else."

"Oh, my dears,"...strategy, right?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes, "That wasn't a strategy." She muttered, her eyes glinting in amusement even as she looked on towards Percy in the same way as Will.

"Your head is full of kelp."

She decidedly didn't say anything about that, still slightly intimidated by Poseidon.

The warehouse was...all life-size.

Athena blinked, finally realizing who it was. "Gods damn that woman." She whispered under her breath, fully leaning into her throne as she shot Poseidon a harsh glare in which he seemed to ignore.

But mostly, I was thinking about food.

Thaila snorted.

Before anyone could say anything about that. Percy seemed to groan in annoyance, his head pushed into his hands. It seemed only the demi-gods and few minor gods noticed as Apollo continued to read.

Go ahead...door behind us.

Hypno's, seemingly the only normal god at the moment, frowned.

Everything you...nice orphans."

"Free food didn't scream 'trap' to you guys?" Clarrise inquired, her tone seemingly mocking them.

Ares snapped his fingers and Clarrise seemed to immediately shut up, "I already said they were enchanted, no need to continue mocking them."

"Thank you, maam,"...been my imagination.

The siblings beside Percy all looked at eachother. Triton seemed ready to shake Percy into oblivion just so he'd realize that that wasn't normal.

"Quite all right...never introduced ourselves.

Percy frowned, annoyed, he still couldn't believe he let himself be enchanted like that.

I was halfway...nervous to eat.

"It seems the only knowledgeable one is the satyr." Hermes sneered towards the demi-gods.

Percy resisted the urge to point out once again that they were enchanted and had absolutely no control over the fact they couldn't do anything. Though he seemed to be in a bit too much pain to do that.

"Whats that...For my ears."

Dakota looked like he was close to interrogating Grover but decidedly not doing anything. Pollux snorted under his breath at his half-brother though a sad expression was on his face as he looked over Dakota.

"That's admirable,"...sound interested.

Annabeth and Grover shook their heads, "He failed. Horribly." Annabeth chuckled, though it still sounded strained.

She gave Will and Grover a concerned look as she glanced over towards Percy. Will sighed, his eyes piercing into the back of Percy's head.

"You make these..."Two sisters?"

Anyone who was confused as to who the women was immediately figured it out, their mouths thinning into a concerned line for the trio.

"Its a terrible story,"...I was young.

Athena looked like she was having a hard time keeping herself from blowing the book to ashes. Though Annabeth had a hard time believing it would stay in ashes. Knowing the fates it would probably turn right back into the book.

I had a...us apart.

"I did not want her in my temple committing acts such as she did." Athena scowled.

I wasn't sure...will be waiting."

"She's focusing on the boy. She realized that Athena's spawn figured her out and is using all her energy on Perseus." Thanatos spoke, his voice layered with conviction.

"Such beautiful... Annabeth's cheek.

Annabeth shivered in disgust.

But Annabeth..."We really should go."

Nico nodded.

"Please, dears,"...for a pose?"

If Percy wasn't in pain at that moment, he would've felt horrible for almost getting his friends killed. If only he had been able to throw off Medusa's enchantment. Maybe they wouldn't have gotten in the situation they had been in.

"A pose?"...Everyone loves children."

The demi-gods snorted in amusement.

Annabeth shifted...us for free.

"I mean, at least you had manners?" Pollux attempted, his eyebrows raising in amusement.

"Now," she said...I remarked.

The demi-gods tensed.

"Oh, enough,"...like Uncle Ferdinand."

Conner grimaced, throwing an arm over Grover's shoulder.

"Wrong?" Aunty Em said...off the bench.

"That was very close." Thaila breathed out, her hand seemingly gripping Jason's arm.

More rasping... flying sneakers.

Hermes smiled slightly.

I couldn't move... been so stupid?

Apollo snorted, "It seems like it's regular for you." He said, leaning on his throne comfortably.

Percy really wanted to curse him out but once he raised his head, he groaned and laid it back down into his hands. It felt as though he had developed a migraine, but Percy had had those before and they didn't usually feel like this.

Think, I told...open my face.

Rhodes, who was still beside him blinked. She seemed concerned but hid it behind a veil of disillusion.

"The Gray-Eyed...woman into this."

Athena glared holes into the book as Apollo paid her no mind and continued to read.

"You see why...need not suffer."

Percy almost rolled his eyes, he really wasn't liking whatever was happening to him. It was stopping him from being rude.

"No," I muttered...my dear.

The gods all rolled their eyes, "They are not pawns, but they're our children. We need not to do any mortal tasks that the demi-gods can obviously do." Zeus said, rolling his neck as he ignored the glares he was on the end of.

"Maybe that's why the demi-gods from all sorts of times resented you." Mysterious demi-god said.

Zeus eyes flashing anger, seemingly gripping his bolt tighter. This seemed like the first time any of the demigods had seen him angry since they got here. This was the Zeus they knew from their time.

You would be...and nose alone.

The Stolls grinned, "Flying goat-boy." Travis snickered under his breath.

"Duck!" he yelled...and nail me.

Grover rolled his eyes, "Thank you for the vote of confidence." He muttered, though not with a lot of bite. His eyes seemed to still be trained on Percy's hunched form.

I dove to... roared with rage.

The demi-gods grinned.

"You miserable satyr,"...Grover yelled back.

Conner gave Grover a small smile who returned one right back.

"Jeez! Don't...out of here."

Many of the demi-gods seemed to agree with that as they nodded harshly.

Rachel sighed, she understood but it still annoyed her that Medusa was turning Mortals to stone and Percy wanted her to continue that.

Besides, I'd...into statues?"

Nico frowned, "That was slightly rude. There was no reason for you to guilt trip him." Nico muttered to Annabeth who sighed.

"It was the only way we could kill her, I'm sorry Percy." She said, turning to Percy who didn't respond.

Will furrowed his eyebrows and quickly got up, sliding over to where Percy was sitting. He muttered something to the sea siblings and they reluctantly moved over. Even if they seemed pretty annoyed by it.

He put a hand on Percy's back, rubbing it hoping to get a word out of Percy as he kept his head in his hands.

Annabeth grabbed...a factor of—"

The demi-gods blinked in confusion.

"Would you...at her directly."

Frank chuckled softly, "That makes a bit more sense." He muttered under his breath.

"Hey, guys!"..."Roooaaarrr!"

"Okay, I'm guessing she wasn't?" Travis snorted.

Grover rolled his eyes, "What gave it away?" He said sarcastically.

"Maybe not,"...eventually crash."

Grover huffed, "You guys are so rude."

I took out...a painful "Ummphh!"

Grover winced, "That was very painful."

I advanced on...defending myself.

Thaila and Nico grimaced.

But she let...it look worse.

Grover cringed, "No, she really was that ugly."

Annabeth frowned, "It also very well could be we cut her head off, Grover. She was bound to be a little ugly." She muttered.

A few demi-gods snorted at the bluntness of her words.

From the cement...monster disintegrating.

The demi-gods cheered, 'Yes!" Leo pumped his fist. Piper chuckled but she looked pretty happy too. The rest of the demi-gods even a few Romans seemed happy.

Percy wanted to celebrate too but between his head and his eyes, and knowing what was coming next he couldn't come up with the energy to.

Percy lifted his head up a little bit, whispering into Will's ear. Will's eyes seemed to widen before he pursed his lips, "Sometimes, Percy. I really want to smack you."

Percy attempted to chuckle before grimacing and lowering his head back down. Will sighed and stood maneuvering his way back to his seat next to his father.

Annabeth came...head evaporate?"

"Spoils of war." Clarrise said.

Grover moane..."Good job, man."

Grover smiled, nodding.

But crashing..."Your dad, actually.

Percy winced as he heard his father rise from his seat. This was bound to end in disaster, and Percy desperately wished he could intervene, but even uttering another word felt like it might cause him to faint. Oh, how he longed to unleash a tirade of curses directed at Apollo for putting him in this situation.

Will scanned the room briefly before mounting his couch, drawing everyone's attention to him. In one swift motion, he snatched the book from his father's grasp and retreated hastily as the room's atmosphere shifted once more.

The tension that had been steadily building since the outset dissipated. The once-clouded eyes of the gods gradually blinked and regained their focus. So, it was Apollo clutching the book that had triggered this chaos. Percy noted that piece of information for future reference. However, even though the book was now gone, clarity still eluded his vision, and Percy's head continued to throb.

Yet, a new predicament arose: a good number of gods in the room seemed poised to unleash their fury on Will. To be fair, Percy wouldn't have blamed them. Even he possessed a modicum of self-preservation. Among the demigods present, gazes of incredulity were fixed on Will, as if he had suddenly gone mad.

The sheer absurdity of the situation almost drove Percy to laughter as the room gradually returned to its usual state. He couldn't help but feel relieved that his father was no longer hell-bent on eliminating his best friend.

Will winced, breaking the silence. "Glad to have you all back," he mumbled, earning incredulous looks from nearly everyone in the room. Percy managed to lift his head slightly, giving Will a look that spoke volumes.

"You're out of your mind," Dakota marveled, his voice oozing pure astonishment directed at Will.

Reyna blinked in disbelief and muttered something that sounded remarkably like "Greeks."

Apollo appeared primed to unleash his fury on his son for snatching the book. Will, with a look of genuine concern for his safety, retreated from his father's vicinity and moved closer to the couch where many of the Romans were seated.

None of the Romans seemed eager to attract Apollo's wrath, so they shuffled to the edge of the couch, putting some distance between themselves and the seething god.

"If you ever pull a stunt like that again, my child or not, I'll unleash my wrath upon you so intensely that nothing will remain," Apollo's voice dripped with cold detachment as he pinned Will with one of the harshest glares that many of the demigods had ever witnessed.

Wincing, Will nodded meekly. "Understood."

Travis cleared his throat. "So, are we just going to ignore the fact that all of you suddenly went full ancient god mode on us and basically scared the living daylights out of everyone?" His innocent inquiry prompted a mixture of perplexed and amused looks from the demigods.

Hermes seemed to finally snap fully back into focus, as did most of the gods. "I'm not entirely certain what transpired, but remember, we are ancient gods. Don't underestimate us just because we appear to be laid back." Hermes gently rebuked his son.

The other gods nodded, snapping fully out of their daze. "We're laid back around you demigods due to the consequences foretold by the Fates. Now, let's move on from this topic," Zeus muttered, his gaze flickering towards Apollo.

The demigods exchanged glances that collectively conveyed that this scenario was far from what they considered "laid back."

Will cleared his throat. "I surmised that the change occurred when my father picked up the book. So, when he put it down, I assumed the tension and differences among you might revert back to normal." He mumbled as he perched on the edge of the couch among the Romans.

All eyes shifted from Will to Apollo, who appeared lost in thought. "The Fates were displeased with you, son, during their initial appearance. For now, let's abstain from further discussion until the break," Zeus declared, observing the agreement among the gathered individuals. "Don't touch the book again until we understand more."

Grover cleared his throat, concern etching his tone. "Uh, can someone check on Percy? Ever since Lord Apollo unleashed that blast of light a little while ago, he hasn't been himself." The attention of the room pivoted from Grover to Percy, who cradled his head in his hands, ignoring the stares that seemed to bore into his skull.

A hand landed on Percy's shoulder, accompanied by a gentle finger that lifted his chin. He winced in response, his eyes clamped shut in agony as an overwhelming pressure seemed to constrict his head the moment he attempted to raise it. Even when he strained to open his eyes, the world remained a blurry, unfocused mess.

"Open your eyes," a man's voice urged.

Percy grimaced, his own voice strained. "My head feels like it's splitting apart. If I open my eyes, I might just black out." Or scream his lungs out, he added mentally.

"What did you do to the poor boy, Apollo?" A voice, possibly Aphrodite's, hissed accusingly in Apollo's direction.

There was no immediate reply, but a hand clamped onto Percy's jaw, causing him to wince from the discomfort. " Open your eyes ," the voice repeated, this time more authoritative than suggestive. "You won't lose consciousness."

Percy took a shaky breath, mustering his strength to force his eyes open. He couldn't help but hiss at the increased pounding in his head caused by the light filtering through his eyelids.

His gaze fell upon two gods standing before him, while the collective attention of the room was directed at him. The figures were his father, Poseidon, who had a firm grip on Percy's jaw as he examined his son's head, and Apollo, positioned a step behind his father. Apollo's eyes glowed golden once again, likely an attempt to understand what had occurred.

Percy felt the sting of tears in his eyes due to the pain, but he willed them away. This situation wasn't worthy of his tears; he had endured far worse.

"He's gone so pale, Apollo. What was that light you shot at him?" Poseidon's voice held a mix of concern and a hint of threat. Apollo's usual cockiness seemed to have faded, especially as Poseidon cast a severe glare in his nephew's direction.

"It's still a bit hazy, Uncle," Apollo replied, moving past Poseidon to rest a hand on Percy's forehead.

Apollo's expression contorted into a grimace, and he shot a glance at Poseidon before muttering something that Percy couldn't quite catch. Then, everything faded to black before him.

Many of the demi-gods immediately all sat up, "What the hell," Annabeth cursed, gaining a firm look from her mother that she ignored.

"Do not curse at me, Annabeth Chase," Poseidon warned as he turned towards the girl, "What Apollo shot at him requires him unconscious for him to heal." He gave a harsh glare towards his nephew before grabbing his son's limp form from Apollo and laying him back against the couch.

Before Annabeth could say anything else Grover coughed, "Annabeth, maybe it's a good idea for him to be out for the rest of this chapter?" Grover said, his eyes flickering to the book, knowing that if Percy was conscious for the next part he might just be blasted.

Annabeth grimaced and leaned back.

Will coughed, "Should we continue?" He asked, holding the book up.

Zeus sighed, "Yes, we will stop for a break after this chapter."

Clarrise grabbed the book from Will's hand, flipping to the right page and starting up again.

Annabeth straightened...Whats the harm?"

A few demi-gods chuckled, though a lot of it seemed strained as they all still seemed worried about Percy.

"Forget it,"...get migraines.

Grover shook his head, "I had to deal with you two for years before you finally got along. And even then, you two still fight like cat and dog."

A few demi-gods chuckled in amusement.

What are we...out from camp.

"Oh no." Chris muttered, "He's about to do something completely and utterly stupid. Isn't he?" Chris asked as he glanced over towards Percy's unconscious form.

Annabeth and Grover grimaced, seemingly wanting to be right next to Percy to protect him from what was next. "Can I just say, what Percy's about to do is going to anger every god in this room. Laid back or not. I hope you understand he was an angsty twelve-year-old and that you don't blast him." Grover said, his voice a bit meek, "Please."

The gods all seemed to be exasperated, specifically a sea god and a sky god. Zeus really didn't want to have to stop anyone from killing this child. Poseidon wanted to shake some sense into his child and some self-preservation.

and some...right-size box.

"Oh gods , Percy." Katie muttered.

Hermes blinked, this boy was not about to make him deliver what he thought.

I went back...a delivery slip:

Many of the demi-gods had caught on, the Romans were astonished by the pure audacity that Percy seemed to have.

A few minor gods caught on and just shook their heads, oh this boy was in for a ride when he gained consciousness.

The Gods...PERCY JACKSON

A heavy silence blanketed the throne room, the air tense with fury. Among the gods, those who appeared most incensed included Hera, Hermes, Apollo, Artemis, and even Zeus, whose clenched hand suggested he was gripping his lightning bolt tightly.

"Poseidon," Zeus's voice dripped with a cool, controlled edge, his fingers seemingly itching to unleash his power.

"Zeus," Poseidon's retort was laced with a bristling energy as his hand subtly gravitated toward his trident. His gaze flickered toward his unconscious son.

"Talk to him. I care little for the specifics, but if he ever dares to pull a stunt like this again, I won't hesitate to strike him down," Zeus's declaration held no hint of jest. Though he had maintained a more relaxed demeanor through much of the proceedings, he was now shedding that attitude in favor of stern authority.

The boy was fortunate that the Fates had ensured his survival. Luckier still, he was currently unconscious, shielded from the searing glares that bore into his being. Zeus suspected that not a few curses had been hurled at the lad in his absence.

Anticipating the boy's eventual awakening, Zeus braced himself for the storm that would undoubtedly follow. The boy's chances of making it out unscathed were uncertain at best, but Zeus had reached a point where he scarcely cared.

"None of you will lay a finger on my son, nor wield any power or weapon against him. I will have a word with him, and if I catch wind of any of you resorting to force against my blood, you will long for a swift end before I'm through with you," Poseidon's threat cut through the room like a blade. His fury was palpable, though it seemed to stem from a different wellspring than Zeus's anger

Clarisse slowly started to read, her voice a bit hesitant.

"They're not...you're impertinent."

"The boy is more than impertinent." Athena scoffed.

I poured..."I am impertinent," I said.

"At least he can admit it." A demi-god muttered.

"Come on," she muttered. "We need a new plan.

Clarisse dropped the book onto the couch, "It's done." She muttered.

"Alright. Everyone out. We need to speak." Zeus said, ushering the demi-gods out with a wave of his hand.

Notes:

I find this chapter absolutely amusing and refuse to back down from that.

Tumblr: Mirzamsaiph

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Chapter 16: Break & We Get Advice From A Poodle

Summary:

Wait- is that Eros?

Notes:

I amuse myself so much, I enjoy this chapter so much too. It's late for many reasons including, a dislocated kneecap, a hair appointment, a car getting stolen, and me not having my medicine! :) Also broke my leg 3

Been chillin' at my sisters for the past few hours writing this so it is NOT beta read and to be fair may have grammar problems and spacing problems.

Shameless promo: I have another fic out (also Percy Jackson) about him travelling back to the past to the Trojan War era. It has a weird pairing but I think y'all will like it! : Those eyes add insult to injury (and it hurts so bad)

yes, it's a Taylor Swift title but it's absolutely relevant.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Annabeth appeared to pause while standing among the demigods, her gaze shifting toward the unconscious boy sprawled on the couch. She quietly inquired, "What about Percy?" It was evident that her concern for her best friend's well-being weighed heavily, especially considering the tense atmosphere in the room with displeased gods.

Poseidon lifted his gaze, his eyes sweeping over Annabeth. His displeasure regarding her previous insult to him and his son remained evident. In a short tone, he stated, "Perseus will be in good health. None of the gods will harm him. By the time you demigods return, he shall have regained consciousness."

Annabeth hesitated, her gaze locked onto the unconscious Percy with deep concern. Pollux discreetly approached her from behind, murmuring something in her ear. Though still uncertain, she reluctantly complied and began to exit the throne room, leaving Percy unconscious amidst the gods.

A profound silence descended upon the throne room, with many pairs of eyes fixed either on Perseus or on Zeus and Poseidon. The latter two appeared to be engaged in a telepathic exchange, their mutual scrutiny noticeable.

After a while, Aphrodite broke the silence, her unwavering gaze alternating between Perseus and Apollo. "I inquire once more, what have you done to the boy?"

Poseidon's discourse with Zeus came to an abrupt halt, replaced by a stern glare directed at Apollo. "Indeed, Nephew. Enlighten all present about your actions regarding my offspring," Poseidon asserted, his voice taking on an increasingly authoritative tone.

Apollo let out a weary sigh, a rare sight for those who were not gods, witnessing him age before their eyes. For the demigods accustomed to Apollo's perpetually youthful appearance, this transformation would have been a peculiar spectacle.

All the gods in the room fixed their piercing gazes upon Apollo as he began to speak, their scrutiny unrelenting. Apollo embarked on an explanation, though it quickly turned into a ramble. "Ah, you see, I lack precise knowledge of the exact events that transpired. Whatever enchantment ensnared us evidently clouded our perceptions. So—" Apollo's words were abruptly interrupted by Zeus, who raised a commanding hand to silence his son.

"The Fates explicitly cautioned us against harming the boy, a warning you have evidently disregarded. I have no tolerance for excuses from you. You are fully aware of your actions," Zeus thundered, his voice growing increasingly potent. If gods were still capable of growing to twenty feet in stature, a power they had once possessed, Zeus would have already manifested such a formidable presence.

Apollo appeared to shrink back slightly under the synchronized scrutiny of Zeus and Poseidon, while the sea god's family, particularly Triton, sent him harsh glares. Triton held Percy, who remained unconscious, against him. It was uncertain whether Triton's anger was directed at his brother for causing Percy to pass out or at Percy himself for passing out on him .

"As for the light I discharged at him, it seemed to have afflicted him with some form of plague. The puzzling aspect is that this outcome shouldn't technically be possible. Normally, the light would have blinded him, not bestowed an enigmatic ailment upon him," Apollo began, growing increasingly anxious with each passing moment. "I suspect the Fates may have played a role in the nature of the light I unleashed. Given my disobedience of their directives, it wouldn't be surprising if they are now exacting retribution upon both me and Perseus," Apollo concluded.

With each word that Apollo spoke, the gods' eyes widened in astonishment. Zeus began to open his mouth, presumably to admonish Apollo, but Poseidon swiftly interjected, asserting, "I believe I can address this matter, brother." His voice left no room for dispute, and his expression conveyed an unyielding resolve that was unanimously supported by the gods in the room.

Zeus let out a sigh and relented, saying, "Very well."

In a matter of seconds, both Apollo and Poseidon vanished from the throne room, leaving many of the gods with grim expressions. Hades, however, displayed an amused countenance, as much as a god of death could.

"Considering Apollo disappeared before providing the means to awaken the boy, Hypnos, would you kindly rouse the lad from his slumber? We must prevent any uproar among the demigods when they return," Zeus declared in a resigned tone, gesturing toward Percy, who remained unconscious.

Triton appeared visibly relieved as he carefully adjusted Percy's position to facilitate Hypnos in awakening him. To Triton's left, Kymopoliea and Rhodes displayed an inexplicable amusement that seemed out of place given the circumstances.

Hypnos stepped forward and stood before Percy, placing his hand on the boy's forehead. His hand emitted a soft, glowing light as he muttered incantations under his breath.

A palpable tension filled the room as everyone's gaze remained fixed on Percy, awaiting any sign of him regaining consciousness. Just as Zeus was about to speak, a gasp and a cough emanated from Percy, indicating his return to awareness.

"Oh that motherfu-" Percy started, coughing as his voice muffled through his hand. "Oh I'm going to find a way to kill that fuc-" A hand slapped over his mouth as he continued to curse out Apollo. His eyes adjusting to the bright light from the throne room.

"Half of these gods are already incensed with you. Refrain from further provocation within their halls," Triton hissed, his gaze piercing Percy with stern disapproval. His words silenced Percy momentarily.

Percy retaliated with a glare that could rival even his father's infamous scowl. Triton, though taken aback for a moment, did not yield ground until Percy resorted to an unorthodox method of expressing his frustration—by biting him.

Triton withdrew his hand with a sharp intake of breath, inspecting it while the other gods, including some Olympians, struggled to stifle their amusement. They watched as Triton restrained himself from retaliating against Percy, resisting the urge to unleash his powers or devise a way to submerge him.

"Rhodes," Triton uttered through gritted teeth, fixing a piercing gaze on Percy. Rhodes, her eyes sparkling with suppressed laughter, nodded in response. She rose from her seat, swapping places with Triton so that she now sat beside Percy.

Percy, still nursing a pounding headache, voiced his disbelief, "He nearly killed me?!"

"To be fair," Thanatos interjected slowly, arching an eyebrow at Percy, "you did commit treason. Have you forgotten about your involvement in sending Medusa's head to Olympus?"

Percy let out an exasperated sigh, "Okay, but he shot the light at me before he knew about that." He took a deep breath and leaned against the couch. "Also, would it make any difference if I offered my apologies for that?" Percy tentatively suggested, raising his eyes to gauge the incredulous expressions on the faces of the gods.

Hermes struggled to find words, his dry and perplexed expression mirroring the disbelief shared by the other gods. After a moment of internal turmoil, he finally managed to utter, "I—You—No!" His eyes conveyed what his words couldn't express, a profound sense of incredulity.

Zeus sighed, shifting against his throne as he observed Percy. "No, it would not make a difference. Regrettably, we cannot resort to the same measures that many gods here would dearly like to employ at the moment. Allow me to offer the apology that Apollo refuses to provide. We do believe that whatever he did, the Fates are exacting punishment upon both of you," Zeus explained to Percy, awaiting the demigod's response.

Percy's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Why me? He's the one who nearly killed me! In case you've forgotten," Percy exclaimed, gesturing emphatically to the now-empty throne previously occupied by Apollo.

Zeus maintained his silence, his patience seemingly wearing thin. It was a rare occurrence for a demigod to question him so persistently.

Percy took a moment to steady himself before opening his mouth to speak. However, a sudden flash of light erupted within the throne room, causing Percy to shield his eyes. When he could see again, both Apollo and Percy's father, Poseidon, stood before them. Apollo wore the countenance of a chastised child, which Percy found rather amusing. He couldn't help but prefer the other Apollo, and he felt no remorse in drawing the comparison.

As soon as Percy was able to open his eyes again, he shot Apollo a harsh glare—one that surpassed the intensity of the one he had directed at Triton. "Didn't the Fates explicitly tell you not to attempt to kill me?" Percy complained, running a hand through his hair, which had fallen out of its ponytail when he had collapsed.

Apollo retorted with a glare of his own. "You were being disrespectful," he asserted, seemingly disregarding any admonishments Poseidon had delivered.

"I was talking," Percy retorted, his frustration evident as he refrained from stomping his feet like a petulant five-year-old demanding something. "Just like the other four people who were engaged in conversation with me! Yet, they're perfectly fine!" Percy huffed.

Poseidon raised a hand, effectively quelling their petty argument. "I have already addressed the matter with him, Perseu—Percy," Poseidon began, catching Percy by surprise with his use of the nickname. Percy had forgotten that he had asked his father to use it. "There is no need to engage in another altercation with another god," Poseidon admonished.

"I will also speak with you later," Poseidon added, giving Percy a stern look that caused the demigod to shrink back slightly. Percy couldn't help but think he preferred his version of the gods over this one.

A demigod, Leo burst into the throne room with a mischievous grin on his face. "Excuse me," he declared, his grin widening. Percy hadn't interacted with Leo one-on-one yet, but he could sense that Leo had a demeanor about him that Percy would like.

"I've been informed that I need to rescue Percy before someone decides to blast him, so if you'll excuse us," Leo announced, maneuvering through a few of the gods and seizing Percy's elbow to lead him out of the throne room.

Percy reciprocated Leo's grin and promptly followed him, leaving behind a gathering of exasperated gods. He had plenty of questions about what had just transpired, but for the moment, he pushed them aside.

Waiting outside the dining room were all the Greek demigods, appearing anxious as they eagerly anticipated Percy's return. As soon as Percy emerged, he was engulfed by a group of demigods, including Annabeth, Thalia, Grover, and even Will.

Percy laughed as he hugged them, assuring them, "I'm fine, just a bit out of it." His words went largely unnoticed as his friends continued to scrutinize him, their eyes seemingly examining every inch of him to ensure he was truly unharmed.

As Percy expected, the moment he tried to downplay his condition, he received a swift smack on the back of his head from the four demigods in front of him. He winced in pain, shooting them an annoyed yet playful look as he massaged the back of his head.

"You absolute dimwit," Thalia and Annabeth declared in unison, their stern gazes piercing into him. Both of them grabbed one of his arms and guided him into the dining room, with the rest of the Greek demigods following closely behind.

Inside the dining hall, many of the Roman demigods sitting there turned their attention toward Percy, shaking their heads in utter disbelief. They had been conversing for the past hour, but Percy's arrival still seemed to leave many of them either awestruck or thoroughly bewildered.

Triton let out a huff of exasperation as he watched the two boys make their exit from the throne room, disappearing behind the imposing doors.

Shaking his head, Triton reclined against the couch, observing the gods in the room, who had fallen into a tense silence. His gaze shifted toward Kymopoliea, who sat between him and Rhodes. She appeared to be contemplating the situation, her attention alternating between Apollo and Poseidon, both of whom seemed locked in a glaring standoff. Poseidon's gaze bore holes into Apollo's head, while Apollo struggled to contain his anger, evidently not wanting to incur further wrath from Poseidon.

Triton leaned closer to Kymopoliea, raising an eyebrow as he ventured, "I assume we're not planning to address Apollo again regarding Perseus's... abilities?" He looked between his two sisters, Rhodes and Kymopoliea.

Rhodes shook her head. "Right, so instead, we'll consider speaking to Dionysus? That's our plan, and Father? Perhaps even Aletheia. She's the goddess of truth, after all," Rhodes mumbled. "Think of her as the second-best option after Apollo," she added.

"Well, we've already approached Father and Dionysus. While we can certainly speak to them again, Aletheia does appear to be our best alternative after Apollo," Kymopoliea concurred with a shrug.

"I don't think Aletheia would appreciate being called an alternative." Triton snorted, raising an eyebrow at the both of them who shrugged.

A moment of eerie silence fell over the throne room until a sudden flash of light and a piercing scream echoed from the hallway. Every head in the room snapped up in bewilderment, and a sense of confusion gripped the gods as they exchanged uncertain glances.

They swiftly rose from their seats and moved toward the hallway to investigate. There, they found Perseus standing, facing three newcomers who appeared to be gods. All three had their hands resting on their weapons, though they had yet to draw them. They seemed disoriented by their surroundings.

Triton, Hermes, and Dionysus blinked in surprise, and Triton, recognizing one of the newcomers, managed to cough out, "Daughter?" He raised an amused eyebrow at Pallas, who was staring at Perseus with a similar expression of surprise.

Pallas blinked, her gaze shifting from Perseus to her father and her aunts and grandparents standing nearby, all wearing matching expressions of astonishment. "Father!" She smiled warmly, giving Triton a nod of acknowledgment before her eyes returned to Perseus.

Dionysus spoke up next, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. "Hello, Pan," he murmured, while Hermes echoed the greeting to the satyr, Pan, who was leaning against a wall. Pan responded with a small smile and a respectful nod of his head in greeting.

Aphrodite chuckled and offered a firm nod to the last of the three gods, who was grinning broadly against a wall. "Eros," she greeted with a smile, to which Eros responded with a nod of acknowledgment. His gaze, however, remained fixed on Percy, a raised eyebrow suggesting he was sizing him up.

Percy blinked in mild confusion and quickly apologized, "Oh, sorry for threatening you three." The gods in the hallway responded to his apology with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Percy then shifted his attention to Eros and questioned, "Also, I didn't realize you were a god?" His gaze bore into Eros, who appeared to find the situation rather entertaining, though Percy remained oblivious to the facepalms from the other gods.

"I'm not," Eros replied with a thoughtful hum, tilting his head curiously at Percy, who still seemed somewhat sheepish about his earlier threat. "I was born from Chaos. My birth among mortals may vary, but I did indeed originate from Chaos, classifying me as a primordial," he explained.

Percy nodded in acknowledgment. "Huh, sounds complicated," he remarked casually, his eyes wandering over the three gods.

Poseidon let out a sigh of exasperation, rubbing his temple as he gathered his composure. He took a deep breath, hoping Eros wouldn't take a special interest in his son. Percy already had enough challenges to contend with, and Poseidon didn't want any further complications.

Pallas, however, had no qualms about taking an interest in Percy. Her eyebrows raised in curiosity as she turned to face him, a grin forming on her lips. "You hail from the sea, don't you?" she inquired, her gaze briefly flickering back to her family members who were attentively observing the interaction.

Percy winced slightly but couldn't help but smile. "I'll never quite get used to gods instantly figuring that out. But yes," he confirmed, grinning in response to her.

Pallas nodded, her smile warm. "Clearly, you are Grandfather's child. You bear a striking resemblance to him," she remarked, her tone amused as she took a glance over him.

"Right," Percy said with a casual drawl, his eyes briefly flickering to his father before he shrugged. "I'm sure my friends are worried, so I'm just going to..." He pointed toward the dining hall and then swiftly darted off.

Pallas and Eros exchanged grins. "I quite like the boy already, even if he did threaten us upon our arrival," Eros murmured, a small grin playing on his lips as he observed the dining hall door closing.

Poseidon leveled a stern gaze at Eros. "I strongly advise, Eros, that you keep your distance from my son, especially given your abilities," he warned, his voice taking on a lower, more menacing tone as he monitored Eros's reaction to Percy's departure.

"Of course, Poseidon," Eros replied with a smile, though there was a mischievous glint in his eyes that left Poseidon with a lingering sense of unease. He hoped the primordial would heed his warning and stay away from Percy.

"Very well, everyone," Hestia said, entering the dining room with a warm expression, though her raised eyebrows indicated her curiosity about the divided arrangement of Romans on one side and Greeks on the other. "All the gods have convened in the Throne Room, and the three newcomers have been briefed on the events of the past eleven chapters. Let's proceed with the twelfth chapter, and afterward, we can break for lunch following the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters," she announced, offering a reassuring smile as she gestured for the demigods to follow her back to the throne room.

The demigods nodded in agreement and promptly followed Hestia out of the dining hall and back into the throne room.

Upon their return, most of them resumed their previous seating arrangements. The Romans gathered on the couch with Rachel, while the Greek demigods clustered around their respective parents on their designated couches. However, a few exceptions stood out. Will, still harboring concerns for his safety, opted to sit next to Rachel. Grover appeared to be in awe of Pan and was momentarily lost in thought while observing the satyr, prompting Percy to chuckle and nudge him. Grover snapped out of his reverie and slowly made his way over to join Travis, Connor, and Chris, who were similarly fascinated by Pan.

Percy found himself torn, caught between the knowledge of his father's earlier threat against his best friend and the understanding that Poseidon had been under the influence of some strange spell. He pressed his lips together in contemplation, his gaze drifting toward Rachel, who appeared puzzled by his hesitation.

Before Percy could decide on his course of action and whether to approach the Romans and Rachel, Pallas flashed him a grin. She was seated next to Triton on the couch, which seemed to have expanded to accommodate the four gods along with Percy.

Pallas waved at Percy to join her, and though he hesitated for a moment, Pallas shot him a look that left him with no choice but to walk over and take a seat beside her. The look she gave him bore a striking resemblance to the one his father wore when he had had enough of Percy's antics.

Percy settled onto the couch next to Pallas, leaning back comfortably as he observed Clarisse pick up the book again. Her reaction to the chapter was less than enthusiastic. She glanced at the title and let out an exasperated sigh. "Of course I get stuck with this boring chapter," she grumbled, clearly less than thrilled with her chapter.

" We Get Advice From A Poodle, " Clarisse read aloud, eliciting raised eyebrows and puzzled expressions from those around her.

Travis blinked in confusion. "A Poodle?" he questioned.

"A Poodle," Percy confirmed with a resigned sigh.

We were pretty...fast-food wrappers.

Grover scowled, he had always harbored a strong dislike for the litter scattered in the wilderness, convinced that if the gods were aware of such debris, they would surely be outraged.

We'd taken...attract anything else.

"Seems like a wise decision," Thanatos agreed, as he reclined on the couch that the minor gods had managed to secure. "You've already managed to draw the attention of three Furies and even Medusa."

We decided to...take first watch.

"You shouldn't have done that," Hypnos chided, "as the leader of the quest, you actually need more sleep than anyone else." In response, Percy just shrugged nonchalantly.

Annabeth curled...hit the ground.

The girl in question huffed indignantly. "I do not snore, excuse you," Annabeth defended, shooting a sharp glare at a chuckling Percy.

"To be fair, Annie, you do snore a bit," Thalia remarked, provoking Annabeth to respond childishly by sticking her tongue out at them.

Grover fluttered...this stupid quest?"

Zeus pursed his lips, arching an eyebrow. "I wouldn't label it as 'stupid.' You have the honor of returning one of the greatest weapons of all time to me," he remarked, paying no mind to the collective eye-rolling from Percy and a few other gods.

"No. This makes...be a satyr."

Pan and Artemis wore expressions of disapproval, their eyes narrowing in disgust as they looked at the books.

"Oh, yeah. I...wouldn't be.

Rachel huffed in response. "Excuse you," she defended herself. "I'm an environmentalist, and I'm certain that many of Lady Demeter's children are too." Katie nodded in agreement with Rachel.

"Well, I meant more like full mortals, but you're certainly a unique exception," Grover shrugged, leaving Rachel to raise an eyebrow, uncertain whether that was meant as an insult or a compliment.

Your species is...find Pan."

Pan raised an eyebrow, and so did Silenus, Dionysus, and Hermes. They all turned to Grover with expressions of confusion, but it was Pan's curious gaze that seemed to make him shrink the most.

Percy shook his head and reassured them, saying, "It'll be explained in just a few minutes." Grover, meanwhile, continued to stutter under their watchful gazes.

"Pam? Like the cooking spray?"

Pan appeared offended, clearly not appreciating being compared to something he obviously didn't understand. He continued to wear a look of offense as he watched Percy shrink back under the incredulous looks he was receiving.

"Pan!" he cried...I'd never known.

Pan raised an eyebrow and commented, "A blessing or a way of showing you two that I was paying attention." He spoke with a hint of surprise, leaning back against his own couch, situated next to the one where Grover and Hermes' children were seated.

"Tell me...just making fun.

Percy shook his head and stated firmly, "You know I'd never do that, right? At least not on purpose." He looked to Grover for confirmation, who responded with a smile and a nod.

"The God of...he told me.

A moment of silence fell over the group, with everyone's eyes turning toward Pan. He was deeply engrossed in the book, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Pan seemed oblivious to the concealed expressions of concern exchanged between Hermes, Dionysus, and Silenus.

"A sailor off...ever since.

Pan's expression appeared to be a mix of hurt and fury, as if he were juggling the realization that he could've faded away and the fact that mortals had seemingly begun littering and polluting his domain in his absence.

The three gods who had been observing Pan managed to conceal any emotions they were experiencing by leaning back in their respective thrones and couches, maintaining a stoic silence.

But for the...that he died.

Pan's gaze shifted toward Grover and the sons of Hermes, all of whom were fixedly staring at him with various expressions. He nodded sharply at Grover, saying, "I thank you." This took Grover by surprise, and after a moment of shock, he returned the gesture with a firm nod and replied, "Of course."

In every generation...to return alive."

Pan's hurt appeared to be intensifying, overshadowing his anger. "Ever?" he questioned, maintaining a neutral tone.

Grover sighed deeply and affirmed, "Ever."

"Hang on—the first?"..."No."

Dionysus let out a sigh, understanding now why Grover had been denied a searcher's license. It would undoubtedly be a suicide mission, and it was evident that his future self was trying to protect the satyr from meeting the same fate as those who had come before him.

"And your..."None."

The Roman demigods appeared genuinely surprised by the revelation. They hadn't known that Greek satyrs had so many dreams. Reyna found herself wondering if the Roman fauns were the same way, perhaps having similar dreams but choosing to keep them to themselves.

"But you still...still be awakened."

Hermes, Pan, Dionysus, and Silenus all seemed to approve. If the small smiles on their face were anything to go by.

I stared at...against a god."

Hades raised an eyebrow and stated firmly, "None. You will lose, and I am pleased that you appear to comprehend that fact." He wore a self-assured expression as he observed the trio's exasperation, while Persephone seemed to find the situation more amusing than the circumstances warranted.

"I dont know…it all out."

Annabeth shot a glare and retorted, "That was rude," as she huffed and reclined in her seat.

Percy winced and admitted, "I'm sorry. I was just angry," looking genuinely apologetic. In response, Annabeth sighed and offered him a warm smile, which he gratefully returned.

"Don't be so...voice faltered.

Thalia and Annabeth both groaned in unison. "Don't make me come over there with a pillow again," Thalia warned, pointing a finger at Grover.

Grover quickly raised his hands in surrender, saying, "Sorry! Sorry!"

"What do you...that went wrong—"

"I can't stand it when you do that. It's unnerving how quickly you catch on," Grover grumbled, shooting Percy a playful glare that lacked any real heat.

The children of the sea exchanged glances but opted to remain silent.

"I can't talk...that Hades took."

The demigods chuckled at Percy's straightforwardness, except for Nico, who directed a sharp glare at Percy.

Hades shook his head and muttered to himself, "I see the habit of blaming continues into the future," as he observed Percy grinning at Nico.

"That's not...holding back.

Piper and Leo exchanged raised eyebrows. "That didn't appear to be holding back, in my opinion," Piper commented.

Then on the...could've been."

Percy rolled his eyes, "They were plenty aggressive."

"Maybe . . . but...make sense."

"Nothing seems to make sense," Percy sighed, paying no mind to the amused expression on Pallas' face.

Dakota tilted his head, "If Lord Pluto- Hades." He corrected, "If he doesn't have it, who does?" Dakota slowly inquired, still seemingly hesitant to speak up.

No one immediately responded to Dakota's question, but Annabeth and Percy exchanged knowing glances, sharing a similar understanding.

"I know. But...didn't have any.

"Worth the shot." Grover shrugged.

I thought about...back my mother."

Zeus didn't appear as offended as Percy had expected him to be. In fact, he barely reacted at all. The most he did was roll his eyes and then resumed watching Clarisse read.

Hera nodded in acknowledgment. "You possess a deep love for your mother, something that many mortals and even some gods need to learn," she remarked, though the gods in question remained silent.

Percy nodded slowly, his primary concern being Amphitrite's reaction rather than Hera's annoyance at his lack of response.

Grover blew a...care about him."

A collective cringe rippled through the room as all eyes shifted from Clarisse to Percy, who had visibly shrunk down in his seat. "Okay, I absolutely hate this book," Percy groaned, his voice muffled as he buried his face in his hands. He ignored the intense stare that felt like it was burning a hole in his back.

Triton wisely kept his mouth shut this time, partly because Rhodes appeared ready to slap him if he spoke out of turn. Kymopoleia, on the other hand, maintained a neutral expression. She didn't seem offended on her father's behalf; instead, she appeared somewhat sympathetic.

Allowing the silence to linger for a moment, Percy eventually broke it with a soft whistle and stood up, only to be abruptly pulled back down by his hair , yelping in disbelief. " That's precisely why I keep my hair short," Percy cried, looking incredulously at Pallas, who simply shrugged and settled back against the couch.

Poseidon's expression appeared strained as he spoke, "I hold affection for all of my offspring, whether they be monsters, gods, or demigods. While they may not harbor the same sentiment towards me, their feelings regarding my existence do not 'hurt my feelings,' as mortals might phrase it," Poseidon stated formally. However, Percy couldn't shake the sense that there might be a slight untruth in his words, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why he felt that way.

"Um, yeah... Sorry," Percy stumbled over his words, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks as he tried to make himself smaller in the couch.

You're glad...what you'd done."

Most of the gods in the room responded with snorts or amused smirks, and even Poseidon appeared slightly more entertained than he had been just moments ago.

"I'm quite certain that's true. I believe any of us would have noticed if our child had sent Medusa's head to Olympus," Aphrodite chuckled, reclining gracefully in her throne, with Eros beside her sharing a laugh.

Poseidon let out a sigh of amusement, and his wife, Amphitrite, sitting next to him, couldn't help but smirk. Despite her disapproval of the demigod being a symbol of her husband's infidelity, this particular demigod seemed to be causing Poseidon just as much stress as she occasionally did. The recklessness evidently had been passed down to Perseus, and that made Amphitrite feel a slight fondness for this demigod.

"Yeah? Well maybe...Whatever."

Percy sighed in relief, "Thank you for letting that go, G-man."

"Besides, I haven't...no way west."

The gods and demigods present blinked in disbelief, with Hephaestus in particular eyeing Percy as if he had lost his sanity.

"He's joking, right?" Hephaestus questioned, his gaze unwavering as he observed Percy.

Percy, however, simply shrugged and replied, "It's nothing to brag about. The original Perseus killed Medusa, and I'm sure others have done so as well. Plus, the Furies were pure luck, and Theseus killed the Minotaur, so it's not like I did anything particularly original." Percy explained, not realizing the confusion he was about to cause.

"What did I say wrong?" Percy asked immediately, noticing the bewildered expressions on the faces of the gods and the astonished looks on the demigods.

Ares, after shaking his head, began, "First of all, you're way too humble. I'm inclined to think it's a ruse because no one is that humble," he commented. "Second, there's an original Perseus, and who's Theseus?" Ares questioned, leaving Percy perplexed.

Annabeth interjected to clarify, "I forgot, neither of them has been born yet. Yes, there was an original Perseus, the son of Zeus, whom Percy is named after. And Theseus is Percy's half-brother," she explained, causing Percy to look slightly sheepish for momentarily forgetting that detail.

The children of the sea rolled their eyes collectively, not particularly surprised that their father had yet another child. What seemed to catch most off guard, however, was that a son of Poseidon had been named after a son of Zeus. Poseidon himself appeared slightly put-out by the revelation.

Poseidon directed his gaze down at Percy, shaking his head before stating, "Call him Percy, all of you. I do not want to hear the name Perseus come out of any of your mouths." He then sent a sharp glare in Zeus's direction, who shrugged and remarked, "I will not call my son the same name as a child of my brothers." Zeus rolled his eyes, appearing slightly offended but ultimately content. He had no intention of sharing his apparent future son's name with a child of his brothers.

Percy tilted his head, unsure whether he should be offended or pleased by the whole exchange. Instead, he let out a sigh and shrugged, not wanting to make a fuss about it.

In my dreams...of the chasm.

Zeus let out a pronounced and forceful exhale, causing many gods to fall into silence. "If this is indeed the individual I suspect it to be, it does not bode well for us," he remarked gravely.

Percy shook his head, finding it difficult to get accustomed to a Zeus who appeared to be accepting rather than in a state of denial, which had been the usual demeanor of his Zeus.

Looking down...huge and evil.

A minor god from the rear of the assembly breathed out in disbelief, "Oh, us." The room fell into a heavy silence as no one dared to speak, collectively holding their breath as they anxiously waited to confirm if their suspicions were correct.

Pallas shook her head and inquired with a hint of curiosity in her voice, though her gaze remained fixed on Clarisse. "Why are you not afraid, Percy?" she asked.

Percy shrugged and replied in a subdued tone, "I didn't know who it was, so I didn't see an immediate reason to be fearful."

The little hero...what you want.

Jason let out a breath and shook his head as he whispered, "I doubt that," his eyes briefly meeting Thalia's in understanding.

The gods in the room collectively held their breath, filled with anticipation, as they wondered whether Percy would believe the mysterious voice. Given Percy's current anger toward his father and the gods, could the voice persuade him to negotiate?

A shimmering image...pleading: Go!

Percy swallowed harshly, shaking his head as a weird feeling came over him. The same fear he felt when he saw that. He shook out of it quickly as he waited for Clarisse to continue reading.

I tried to cry...treacherous gods!

The Greek demigods shook their heads. If Percy really had joined the titans, they never would've stood a chance against them.

The spirits of...No! Wake!

Nico nodded in agreement, and it appeared that Hades shared his sentiments. "Please," Nico muttered, his voice filled with urgency.

Good, it murmured...I asleep?"

A collective sigh of relief swept through the room as Percy woke up, with even some of the gods visibly relieved by his awakening. The Roman demigods appeared just as relieved as the Greeks

"And Grover...pink stuffed animal.

Grover huffed, "Gladiola wasn't a stuffed animal, Percy," he retorted, shooting Percy a glare.

Percy raised an eyebrow and replied with a smirk, "The poor thing could've passed for one," with Annabeth nodding in agreement.

No. It...pink poodle.

The girls displayed looks of disgust, and a few nature gods appeared to share their sentiments. "Who would do such a thing to a poor dog?" Rachel huffed, her eyes filled with indignation as she glared at the book.

Grover simply shrugged.

The poodle...that thing?"

Grover rolled his eyes and corrected himself, saying, "He wasn't an 'it,' Percy."

"He!?" Katie and Rachel exclaimed in synchronization, causing Grover to cringe and quickly nod in acknowledgment.

Grover ignored...Gladiola, Percy."

Percy shook his head, that poor dog.

I stared at...to the poodle."

The Stolls couldn't contain their laughter, and Conner chimed in, saying, "Well, Percy, you should at least say hello to the poodle. I know your mother taught you manners." He snickered, completely ignoring Percy's glare.

The poodle growled...to the poodle.

More snickering ensued.

"How does..."Silly me."

The snickers were slowly turning into laughter.

I thought about...leaves at noon."

"What a helpful poodle." Chris snickered.

Clarrise rolled her eyes, "Chapters over, finally." She huffed.

Rhodes nodded, quickly standing to grab the book.

Notes:

Yes, if you didn't guess Apollo cursed Percy to feel whats happening in the books. (It was voted on my tumblr if they wanted that to happen and everyone voted yes)

Tumblr:Mirzamsaiph

Chapter 17: I Plunge To My Death

Summary:

IM ALIVE!

Notes:

Hahah, Hello :)

Not the best chapter i've written, may have some spacing, spelling, and other mistakes. Please forgive it!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Rhodes choked on her words as many people looked over towards Percy with incredulous looks.

Percy shrugged, "A bit dramatic of a title but true nonetheless." Percy paused as many went pale, "Well not the death part- just the plunge!" He stumbled as many more people went pale.

Rhodes choked again, "Percy, it might help if you just stopped talking." She finally said, giving him a look that had him finally closing his mouth as he flushed a bright red.

We spent two...attacked once,

"You jinxed-"

"Myself, yes I know." Percy sighed, giving the room a small glare. He didn't exactly know who said that but he figured it was that demigod. The mysterious one who seemed to continue to yell out things.

but I didn't...from above

"Definitely, if Father is angry at you, he's watching you. Waiting for you to mess up once so he could-" Apollo started, his voice drawing as he leaned back on his throne. However, his sentence was cut off by his father who ran a hand down his face.

"Apollo. No. He was talking about a monster, not me. He obviously didn't steal it." Zeus murmured, though didn't fully believe that Percy wasn't talking about him, he just didn't need Apollo angering anyone else.

and maybe from...the Greyhound bus.

Percy sighed, "That wasn't fun. Knowing my face was practically everywhere, and there was such a big bounty for me, it was a lot more stressful." Percy murmured, his eyes watching Rhodes as she continued to read.

The pictures...two weeks ago,

Percy scowled, "Like I would ever hurt my mother."

Annabeth chuckled, "We know, Perc."

is shown here...female passengers.

Percy rolled his eyes, "They accosted us ." He cried, leaning against the edge of the couch.

The bus exploded...to his capture.

"Captured?" Poseidon asked dangerously, his head slowly turning towards Percy who looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"Ah-" He laughed nervously, running a hand through his hair, "They probably worded it weirdly, don't worry," Percy muttered, slowly turning back to Rhodes who snorted at his expression and continued to read.

"Don't worry,"...sound so sure.

Annabeth shrugged, "I was more or less attempting to convince us both the police wouldn't catch up." She hummed, a small smile on her face.

The rest of...and waved.

Conner and Travis grinned, "Party Ponies." They muttered, high-fiving each other.

Its fur glinted...next to me.

Annabeth grinned, "Thanks, I don't think I could take a drooling Percy, it's where I draw the line." She said, laughing as Percy flipped her a rude gesture while grinning back.

Grover kept snoring...waking me up.

"Sorry, Perc." Grover grinned sheepishly.

"No worries." Percy laughed.

Once, he shuffled, his fake foot fell...passengers noticed.

Grover flushed, "I'm sure the mist would've covered me." He huffed, his face red as the demigods grinned at him.

"So," Annabeth...he never laughs."

Hades raised an eyebrow but stayed silent.

"I guess . . . if...already has it?"

Hades sighed, "Most likely because I do not have it, It is why I fully believe Perseus had something to do with it." Hades murmured, ignoring both Poseidon's and Percy's glares.

"I can't wait until you figure out I am innocent !" Percy muttered, giving Hades a side-eyed look.

I shook my...turned his head.

Everyone snickered and Grover blushed a little.

Annabeth readjusted...and greedy.

It was silent for a moment as many gods stared at Annabeth for a moment, the first to speak was Apollo, "Why hasn't anyone blasted her yet," He finally said, his eyes glaring into Annabeth who sunk down on her couch.

Percy glared, "She was twelve! She had bad experiences with Had- Lord Hades, she may have been rude but give her a god's damned chance!" Percy cursed, his eyes attempting to burn a hole in Apollo's head.

Apollo laughed a bit hysterically, a shocked laugh, "Next question, why hasn't anyone blasted him ? He's going to end up angering me to the point I'll do it."

The glares he got from both Zeus and Poseidon shut him up.

Percy attempted to smirk, instead, he got harsh glares from the siblings on his couch and his father whose look shut him up good.

Annabeth cleared her throat, "I'm sorry, Lord Hades. I was blinded by my own feelings." She muttered, giving both Hades and Nico a sorry look.

Her hand crept...for your mom."

"Of course, he'd be tempted. She's his mom." Nico huffed, his eyes watching Annabeth.

"As long as he didn't make a deal." Annabeth shrugged.

"What would...him to rot."

Annabeth cringed, "Yeah, I love my dad but he deserved my anger." Percy nodded in agreement, giving her an encouraging smile.

"You're not...with his work.

The demigods sneered, their eyes glaring into the book.

Percy's glare was probably the harshest one, if looks could kill, the book would be in pieces.

You'd think...to him.

Athena frowned and Annabeth sunk lower in her seat.

When I was...about Athena.

Rachel shrugged, "That's to be expected. I wouldn't know personally, being the only mortal and whatever." She chuckled, "But, I feel as though they need to eventually move on and not mourn over a god or goddess that's not coming back."

Annabeth shrugged, "It still was annoying."

He got a...didn't exist."

Thaila paused, "You're telling a boy you've known for maybe a week or two about this? It took me forever to convince you to open up to me!" She huffed, her eyes giving both of them playful glares.

Annabeth shrugged again , "He's weirdly easy to open up to, It's like you can tell he won't judge you. He just listens and annoyingly enough it helps to talk about it with someone like that." Annabeth told her, ignoring her jaw-dropped expression.

Percy chuckled, opening his mouth to say something before being cut off by Thaila, "He has charmspeak! He's charming you into speaking your background, he did it to me!" Percy sputtered in disbelief.

"I did not! You did it willingly."

"Liar!"

The sea-siblings looked at each other while Pallas tilted her head confused, furrowing her eyebrows. Opening her mouth to say something before her father shook his head.

I stared out...know how.

Ananbeth smiled sadly, "You didn't have to say anything, I knew you listened. That was fine by me."

"He doesn't care...I ran away."

Thaila sighed, standing up, giving Jason a small smile before walking quickly over to Annabeth, giving Athena a small bow of her head before slipping onto the couch next to Annabeth.

Her hand wrapped around Annabeth, pulling her into a side hug as she nodded at Rhodes who continued.

"How old were...Seven."

A few Romans raised their eyebrows but stayed silent, most had been for the past few chapters.

They were attempting figure out the Greeks, making sure they weren't going to be attacked verbally or physically. A few were more distrustful than another.

I wanted to...on the city.

Some demigods rolled their eyes at his description of the arch but said nothing.

"I want to...An architect?"

Hermes raised an eyebrow, "He doesn't judge does he?" He drawled, watching Percy flush in embarrassment as the incredulous looks he was getting.

"Continue! It'll say why I laughed." He pleaded, looking at Rhodes.

I don't know...could mention."

Poseidon didn't look offended the way Annabeth or Percy though he would be, instead he raised an eyebrow and Annabeth had aplogized immediately.

I watched...Poseidon ever cooperate?"

The two gods mentioned raised an eyebrow, "We work together a lot, not only that she is in Atlantis most days to spar with Pallas." Poseidon hummed, watching the two demi-gods as they looked at eachother.

Percy chuckled, "Yes well, we forgot about that." He murmured.

Annabeth had...too. Right?"

Athena shrugged, "That too, though that is less known than other things."

We rode into...for Denver.

"Three hours. Thiry-minutes could mean life or death, three-hours is much longer." Thaila hummed.

Grover stretched...he said, "Food."

The Greeks snickered.

Grover shrugged...without monsters."

Thaila grinned, "Was it a dam snack bar or just a snack bar?" She questioned, watching Grover and Percy snicker.

"It was a just a snack bar." Percy replied with a dramatic sigh.

"You two are insane." Annabeth murmured

It wasn't all...I was okay.

Annabeth rolled her eyes.

Percy huffed, "I said the facts were interesting!" He defended.

I kept looking...mean anything."

Grover grimaced, "Yeah, I wish I wouldn't been a bit more assertive, probably would've saved us."

Percy gave him a small smile, "We were young." he waved it off.

But something...be here.

Apollo looked ready to scream something out, instead he breathed out, attempting to keep some of his pride without being glared at by his Father and Uncle, "You should trust your instincts, Perseus , it'll keep you alive." He said smoothly, intentionally drawing out Percy's full name.

"Guys," I said...friend downstairs?"

Most of the demigods began snickering but Nico glared at Grover.

"Um, right,"...hat like Annabeths?"

Hades hummed, "It does make me invisible, but it is nothing like her hat. I also wouldn't spend my time watching two rather insistent demigods and satyr attempt to fully blame me for something I'm positively sure I didn't do." The last part was drawled out, watching in silent victory as the three stammered out an apology.

He was still rather confused, he had been attempting to figure out why he was so focused on Perseus, he had a slight feeling that just maybe, Perseus had nothing to do with this yet his future self though so.

At the same time, He doesn't just go out on a whim and blame someone for something.

"Thanks, that...make me nuts.

Pallas hummed in agreement, offering a nod of understanding. "Constricted spaces pose inherent challenges for any child of the sea, and particularly for the offspring of grandfather," she asserted firmly, giving Percy a resolute nod before continuing.

"The sea doesn't like to be restrained," she added, her words stumbling slightly as Percy instinctively synchronized with her sentiments.

Percy couldn't help but chuckle. "I've heard that sentiment expressed on numerous occasions," he quipped, oblivious to the alternating expressions of surprise and amusement that played across the faces of his father and siblings.

Percy sat back against his seat, ignoring the weird and anxious feeling he had at that moment. Shivering ever so slightly.

We got...word about it.

Dakota grimaced, "Sounds like a monster," he whispered to Pollux who nodded.

"No parents?"...of heights."

Travis and Chris nodded, "That's a better lie than the circus." Travis chuckled, making Percy grin over towards him.

"Oh, the...everything up.

Percy felt a wave of anxiety nausea, turning away from Pallas towards the edge of the couch, clearing his throat as he layed his head down on his arm.

Gods, what was this?

A few demigods raised eyebrows at the book, just who was this monster?

At the top... feet in the air.

Percy and Thaila shuddered, a few other demigods copying them.

I was ready...No room for me.

A few minor gods smacked their hands against their heads, Tyche being one of them, she had to figure out what she had against this child in the future or if it reall was just the oath going after him, due to his father breaking it.

The park ranger...at the bottom."

"Percy!" Nico complained.

"It was a good thing they weren't there, it wouldn't have gone over well." Percy shrugged.

Kymopoliea eyes flickered to Triton, "That feels me with optimism." Triton snorted, ignoring the curious look from their mother.

Their car...between her teeth.

The demigods groaned, Will rose an eyebrow, "That's not good." He muttered to himself.

"Doggie!" said...to make."

Rhodes once more found herself at a loss for words, her voice faltering as she directed an incredulous and wide-eyed gaze at Percy. However, she wasn't the only one reacting in such a manner; a number of demigods had turned their attention in astonishment, their eyes resembling saucers.

"A Chimera!?" Katie gasped, her mouth agape in sheer disbelief.

In contrast, Poseidon leaned back against his throne, a hand passing wearily over his face. He paid little heed to his two brothers, who were engaged in a telepathic exchange within his mind.

This child could be the death of him.

"It gets worse, give it a moment," Percy told them.

Nope, nevermind. This child would be the death of him.

She rolled up... like a reptiles.

"Echidna." Aphrodite muttered, making everyone go silent.

" I've never met a demi-god this troublesome." Hades telepathically hummed through Poseidon's mind, Zeus agreeing a few moments later.

The Chimer...EXT. 954.

The gods raised an eyebrow, since none knew exactly a phone was it was slightly confusing to hear about the tag on the dog.

Chris tilted his head, "I'm actually really curious if that's true or not-" Before he could fully finish Clarrise was glaring at him, effectively shutting him up.

I realized...Lord Zeus

A sharp intake of breath was heard from Zeus and Poseidon, neither were saying anything but if the looks they were giving each other were anything to go by, then Poseidon definitely wasn't happy.

Percy sighed, this man really needed to pick a side. Was his father on his side or the gods side.

rarely allows...of anteater?"

Persephone opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again, "I feel as though you aren't the brightest when it comes to keeping your mouth shut." She breathed out finally.

Nico covered his mouth when he snorted, attempting to not offend Percy, which didn't work if Percy's betrayed look was anything to go by.

Thaila snorted out right, "That was stupid." Ignoring Percy huff of annoyance.

She howled...destroy you!"

Percy rolled his eyes, "Mhm."

The Chimera...dodge the bite.

A surge of adrenaline coursed through Percy, quickening his heartbeat by at least twenty palpitations. He muttered to himself, "Gods," as he felt a peculiar sensation creeping over him. His body tingled with restlessness, an inexplicable urge to stand up and run laps coursing through him. He also noticed that his temper seemed to be growing shorter, an unsettling sensation that felt foreign to him.

This felt horrible when he wasn't fighting, what was happening to him?

I ended up...them get hurt.

Hermes blinked, no other demigod of their time would've cared about the mortals in that moment.

He shook his head, he should be used to this child sixteen chapters in by now.

I uncapped my...my eyebrows.

Percy's breath caught in his throat as a sharp pain lanced through his head, causing him to press his hand against his furrowed brow. The sensation felt like a scorching and intense heat, making him wince in discomfort.

As he grappled with the pain, a disconcerting thought crossed his mind. No one had ever given him a clear explanation of what Apollo had shot at him. The silence that had shrouded the incident left him with a sense of unease. Observing the way everyone intermittently glanced in his direction, as if anticipating some impending eruption, Percy couldn't help but bite his lip.

It dawned on him that they might not be aware of the precise nature of what had occurred, but Percy had a growing suspicion. If it was indeed what he suspected, then this reading would suck .

Where I had...the edges.

Though the pain had subsided, Percy had to snort, "The first national monument I blew up." He wiped an imaginary tear, "Oh how the years flow by." Annabeth grinned and rolled her eyes at him.

Great, I thought...at its neck.

Ares smacked his head, "That's not smart."

That was my fatal mistake.

" Fatal ?" A few demigods screeched, making Percy wince.

"I'm very obviously alive, my twelve-year-old self is slightly dramatizing it." He told them, huffing when he was waved off as they stared at the book.

The blade...into my calf.

For a moment it was silent throughout the throne room, Percy was glad for it. He was hoping this would prove his theory wrong. If it didn't then… well, this would hurt like hell.

He was ignoring the looks he was getting, gesturing for his half-sister to continue.

My whole leg...the Mississippi River.

Percy screamed, which it was a very manly scream, thank you very much.

And it wasn't loud, but it was a scream nonetheless. Holy gods, he hated being right some times. This hurt, really fucking bad. Wow, how did he survive this again? How could he concentrate through this? He could see and very slightly hear Pallas to his left, a hand on his shoulder attempting to talk to him.

To his right, Poseidon had moved closer to the couch, and if Percy had been able to look up, he would have witnessed the sheer intensity of the glare that Poseidon directed at Apollo. Instead, Percy had his hand firmly pressed against his mouth, eyes squeezed shut, and he used his free hand to urgently beckon Rhodes to coninue their reading.

I was...in pen form.

Annabeth opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it as she saw Percy clench his fist in pain, gods she was going to kill Apollo.

Apollo spoke quickly, "The… curse should wear off by the end of the book. I know that for sure." He attempted to say something again but Percy had been able to raise his head, giving him a glare that rivaled his fathers.

This time Apollo did indeed shut up.

I didn't know...used to, eh, son?"

Percy winced.

The monster...was scared.

"I'd be concerned if you weren't!" Will breathed, his eyes wide, "How are you even forming thoughts-"

Percy groaned, "I'm not." He interrupted.

"If you are...splatter on impact.

"This is why there needs to be someone to teach him about his powers." Triton muttered, before blinking, when did he start caring about this annoying child?

Kymopoliea smirked but nodded nonetheless.

Better you...even the gods.

"Well, they could, they just won't." Rachel grumbled.

I backed up...as his son.

Amphrtrite ran a hand over her face but said nothing, watching her husband glare at Apollo as her daughter read,

But this...Sea God here.

"It's water. It doesn't matter." Pallas muttered, knowing Percy was to focused on the searing pain.

"Die, faithless...I prayed.

Poseidon looked up for a moment, giving a curt nod before going back to his glaring.

I turned...the river.

Rhodes practically dropped the book on the floor as Percy coughed, lifting his head up. "GIve me a moment." He held out his hand as half the demi-gods started to open their mouth, most likely to bombard him with questions.

Apollo opened his mouth for a moment, "I'll say it again, it'll be gone by the end of the book." He was shushed by Poseidon who was watching his son.

Everyone had practically come to the same conclusion. Percy was feeling the pain of the book, no one was happy.

"Yeah, alright." Percy muttered, running a hand through his hair, his face was rather red, his hand was shaking ever so slightly but he shook it off. "Let's just get the next few chapter over with, it should be done with now."

Will grabbed the book off the floor, flipping the next chapter.

Notes:

Tumblr: Mirzamsaiph

Chapter 18: I Become A Known Fugitive

Summary:

Challenge: How many times does Mirzam use the word obviously in the chapter?

Misson error: TO MANY DAMN TIMES.

Notes:

Yeah yeah, it's been a while, I'm mentally ill, almost killed myself, all that good stuff.

HOPE YOU LIKE THE CHAPTER!!

Yes I know its short, I'm sorry!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Percy let out a small cough, he hadn't noticed the concerned stares he was getting at that moment. He was trying to get the horrible burning feeling out of his mouth.

Nor did he notice his father who had slid off his throne and sat beside Percy, the first god to move off of their throne towards their child. Percy would be flattered if he wasn't in pain.

"Ow."

A few demigods snorted, even if it was a little hysterical, "You good over there, Perc?" Conner chuckled, a sliver of worry in his eyes.

Percy held up a thumbs up as he groaned into his hand, "Doing great, Stoll." Percy huffed, fully sitting up this time.

Clarisse rolled her eyes, "Very manly scream you let out," She snorted, leaning back in her seat as she ignored that annoyed glares she got from the other demigods.

Percy smirked, "It was very manly, thank you very much, La Rue."

"Keep lying to yourself, Jackson."

Percy found it hard to believe, but in that moment, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude towards Clarisse. Despite the worried stares from everyone else, she seemed to be the only one bringing a semblance of normalcy, irritating as she might be.

Though there were still lingering tears in his eyes, Percy wasn't accustomed to crying. It wasn't that he thought there was anything wrong with it; he usually managed to push through. This time, however, it felt more challenging than he had anticipated. While he wasn't exactly ashamed, a slight embarrassment lingered, though thankfully the pain had started to subside.

"I'm okay, just a bit of pain, nothing serious," he fibbed, though Percy had a nagging feeling that no one would buy it.

He proved to be correct as the incredulous expressions directed at him confirmed the skepticism regarding his lie. Annabeth, spoke up, "You screamed, like actually screamed." She deadpanned, "I once saw you get literally stabbed , and you barely winced."

Percy couldn't escape the scrutiny, and he grimaced at the raised eyebrow from his father. Trying to deflect, he offered, "Adrenaline," to Annabeth, deliberately ignoring his father's piercing stare.

"Getting stabbed still hurts, adrenaline or not," she countered, raising a challenging eyebrow.

Regrettably, Percy found himself without a comeback

"Alright, yes," he drawled, "It hurt. But that's not the point; I'm fine."

Hazel, the girl Percy hadn't had a chance to speak to yet but who had been one of the first Romans to engage with him, chimed in, "A chimera bit you. It would have to hurt, and lingering effects would still happen if you're feeling everything from the book," she explained.

Percy blinked at her, causing the girl to flush. "Sorry—" she began, but Percy shook his head, saying, "You're okay, but I promise I'll be fine," and giving her a small smile.

"No. Get up," Percy's father instructed suddenly. Percy blanked, asking, "What?"

An eyebrow raised, Poseidon remarked, "I don't believe I was asking Perseus," in a drawl. "Stand."

It struck Percy as hypocritical, considering his father had explicitly told everyone not to call him Perseus. It felt akin to his mother using his full name when he was in trouble—an experience he didn't particularly enjoy.

Percy wasn't a fan.

Judging by his father's expression, he sensed that not complying might just result in some form of divine retribution , despite being Poseidon's son. Pallas practically forced him to stand by giving his shoulder a push.

Had Percy not risen, he might have found himself on the ground or colliding with his father.

Neither appealed to him personally.

Steadying himself, Percy shot Pallas a sharp glare. She responded with a nonchalant shrug, while Triton, on the other hand, looked proud of his daughter. If Percy hadn't been facing his father at that moment, he might have huffed in annoyance.

"Apollo," Poseidon declared, and nothing else needed to be said. In an instant, Apollo was beside Percy. Trying not to show it, Percy tensed in surprise, managing not to jump.

Apollo winced under Poseidon's glare, and Percy couldn't help but be taken aback. He hadn't known his father could be this imposing, and he wasn't sure whether to be relieved or not about that realization.

He probably should've realized his father wasn't always laid back, it just never passed his mind.

Percy didn't know what was going on, all he could think was they were having a mental conversation, one pertaining to Percy which definitely didn't make him feel better.

Apollo's eyes glowed for the third time since Percy had been there in the past two days, for a moment it was completely silent.

All the demigods were watching Apollo and Percy intently, a few, Annabeth, Thaila, Nico, and a couple others were watching Apollo so close Percy felt like he might explode at the angry stares directed at him.

A few gods, minor and olympians were all looking either warily or in amusement.

Percy didn't want to know why.

After what felt like hours, Apollo finally said, "He's fine, no lasting effects besides the ones that will happen in the book," Percy sighed in relief, "If we stay on the same schedule for reading as we did last night, it should wear off by the time this book is done."

Poseidon nodded, "Good, I'd be… concerned if it didn't."

Percy felt as though the concern wasn't for him, he was slowly understanding that this wasn't about him and more about how pissed off his father was.

Why?

Percy had no idea.

Percy was perfectly fine, he would've told someone if he didn't feel right. Actually, no he wouldn't have, but that wasn't the point.

He felt perfect! Maybe a little lightheaded but that was probably the shock of the situation wearing off, he was fine . Everyone was being dramatic.

He plopped back down on the couch, giving Pallas a dirty look before turning to the book,"Can we please get back to the book?" He pleaded as Apollo fell back to his throne, Percy was sure he saw Hermes give Apollo a pitying look.

Which, really? Percy was so done.

Aphrodite picked up the book, "I guess I can,"

" I Become A Known Fugitive."

"Because that makes total sense," Someone muttered.

I'd love to...Aaaagggghhhh!

Thaila looked like she was going to be sick in a moment's notice.

Everyone else was giving Percy sympathetic looks that he was pointedly ignoring.

The river raced...of my vision.

Thaila covered her mouth, "That sounds horrible, falling that far I mean," She muttered, shaking her head, looking a bit too green in the face.

Percy grimaced, "It was, but I quickly got over it, to focused on the burning in my leg, which thankfully I haven't mentioned," He grimaced again, "And which hopefully I didn't just jinx."

A few demigods chuckled.

And then...lost forever.

"Well not forever, you'd have suffocated first," Thanatos hummed.

The minor gods had all migrated to a couch, farther in the back, but close enough to hear the book nonetheless.

"Lovely." Percy huffed.

But my impact...all around me.

None of the nature gods looked very happy about that, Percy had a small feeling that if that had happened in a time where their powers weren't being threatened by the fates, they'd have gone and killed the mortals to stop them from polluting everything.

Percy had never been more grateful for the fates than he was at that moment.

At that point...a pancake.

Travis grinned, "Always a lovely realization."

I had not...which was good.

Percy's love, the mystery demigod made a noise in the back of their throat, "Now you're just stating the obvious. Of course it's good you're alive, my gods you're dim."

Percy took it back, he didn't like the demigod anymore, he liked them better when they were going after the gods.

"Thanks," He said flatly.

Second realization...perfectly dry.

Dakota whistled, "That's so cool, is it just water or any liquid?"

Percy tilted his head, "I don't actually know, I believe it would only be water." To his left Pallas and Kymopoleia nodded, "Should only be water," Kymopoleia hummed.

I looked at...of the Mississippi.

"I didn't know the Mississippi River hit St.Louis, don't know how, I feel like it should be obvious," Chris chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck

Clarisse sighed, muttering something that didn't sound very nice.

I grabbed a...breathing normally.

"Don't mortals drown underwater?" Amphritrite hummed, in her spot beside Percy's father who had migrated back to his throne.

Percy slowly nodded, Amphrtrite sighed, "So shouldn't that have been your first thing to notice, besides being alive, was knowing you weren't going to drown," Percy felt a little offended, to be completely honest.

"I didn't think about that.." Percy flushed.

Amphitrite sighed making Percy flushed, ignoring the chuckles of the demigods around him.

I stood up...Father."

Rhodes tilted her head thoughtfully. "While it wasn't solely Father's responsibility, I comprehend the gesture of expressing gratitude to him; it is a mark of respect," Percy began to nod before Triton interjected, "I wasn't aware he possessed the capability to do that."

"Triton," Poseidon drawled, prompting Triton to clear his throat and sit back.

The more I...the bottom feeders.

"Gods," Percy muttered underneath his breath, "I hate this book."

"Perc, that's not true and you know that," Thaila said firmly, "anyone else in your position would've taken the same way out."

Annabeth nodded fiercely, "I promise any demigod would've done the same," She shook her head, "Hell, I would've jumped the moment I heard her name." She assured him.

"Language, Annabeth," Athena reprimanded, speaking for the first time since that morning, "Ladies do not curse." Annabeth tried to nod respectfully, her face showed what she thought.

Percy sighed, rubbing his head. The moment he saw his dad open his mouth, obviously not believing Percy was taking them seriously, Percy cut in, "I understand, honestly, just being a depressed twelve year old."

Literally no one looked like they believed Percy, gods did he hate this book.

This time...green like mine.

Zeus sighed, realizing that he would eventually have to address the interference of his siblings and children in their offspring's affairs. He was aware that the impending conversation would likely be met with disapproval, but he was steadfast in upholding his rules and would not permit them to be disregarded anymore.

A lump formed in my throat. I said, "Mom?"

Leo and a few other demigods grimaced, "that's cruel," someone muttered.

Poseidon displayed no signs of being perturbed; however, Percy had not anticipated otherwise. "I believe it would enhance his response," he mused in a composed manner.

Percy agreed with both sides, it was quite cruel, he would've still listened to another nymph but seeing his mother definitely pushed him harder.

"But . . . "...her, anyway.

Percy grimaced, it definitely hadn't been his mother, yet it made him wonder just why that women looked so much like his mom.

"Who—how...trust the gifts…

"Gifts?" Pallas murmured.

She made one...lost her again.

He ignored the pitying looks he was getting from the other demigods, he didn't want pity, he had already gone through this. His mother was fine!

I felt like drowning myself.

"Here we go," he muttered, running a hand down his face as a moment of silence settled in the room

"What," Annabeth said slowly, her voice more of a whisper than a regular speaking tone. Percy was surprised he could even hear her. The siblings and his half-niece beside him wore varying expressions—none seemed like pity, thankfully. Their looks ranged from surprise and confusion to other emotions Percy didn't care to delve into.

Could they just go back to hating him? Part of him hoped that what he was seeing was just disgusted surprise on their faces. He didn't want any concern directed towards him.

This was over three years ago! In his opinion, they had no reason to be acting like this.

"Look, I was in a bad place; it was just a passing thought. I assure you I'm not going to drown myself, not that I even could," Percy tried to reassure them, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.

His father locked eyes with Dionysus, and Percy imagined they were engaged in a mental conversation—one he probably didn't even want to guess the contents of. Eventually, Poseidon turned his gaze toward Percy. If gods could look uncomfortable, his father definitely did.

"It is still not normal to even have a passing thought about wanting to rid yourself of this world, no matter how your emotions felt," he said slowly, as if Percy were some fragile thing about to break.

If that didn't infuriate Percy more than he could explain.

"I'm fine," he tried to convey it convincingly and respectfully, but it ended up sounding through gritted teeth with a touch of annoyance.

Fortunately, his father didn't appear disappointed, though there was no sign of being impressed either. "Your father doesn't believe that, and neither do any of us," Psyche chimed in from the back.

Percy shot her a flat look before facing everyone again. "Can you all just, like... go back to hating me? This concern is really weirding me out," he attempted, an uncomfortable laugh escaping.

"Don't attempt to divert us with humor, Percy. You can't deflect something like this," Thalia asserted firmly, with Nico nodding right behind her.

"Goodness, could we revisit this at a later time?" Percy inquired, rubbing his eyes. "During the next break or something?"

Poseidon took the initiative to respond, "Indeed, Percy. We shall discuss that matter privately, not with the demigods. A splendid suggestion." He conveyed to Percy, who widened his eyes the moment Poseidon turned away.

Thalia, the traitor, allowed a smirk of amusement to grace her features, although a hint of concern lingered in her eyes.

Pallas tapped Percy's shoulder, her expression serious. "In Atlantis, any contemplation of causing harm, whether to others or oneself, is treated with utmost gravity," she informed him. "While my father and aunts may appear indifferent to your well-being, or indeed may not hold any genuine concern for you, they will nonetheless take any such thoughts seriously. Be prepared for a challenging discussion as soon as we find an opportunity for a break."

"That's just great," Percy sighed.

The only problem: I was immune to drowning.

Everyone stayed quiet this time, though a few demigods were nodding in approval.

Your father...the catfish.

"I don't think she'd be calling a catfish brave," Travis tried, obviously trying to lift the mood.

Percy gave him a quick grin, "Catfishes are brave, don't shame them," He told Travis.

Then I kicked...the ambulances.

Rachel sighed, these mortals weren't helping her case that mortals were okay. She hated being mortal sometimes, especially a mortal who saw through the mist.

"But he's...nice, dear."

Rachel shook her head, "That will never fail to annoy me, these poor children are being brushed off, thought of as crazy," She sighed.

Hermes leaned back, his curiosity evident. "I remain intrigued by the reason behind your ability to see through the 'mist,'" he mused. Rachel refrained from shrugging, recalling the last instance when Percy had casually shrugged at a god, and instead, she shook her head. "I don't really understand it either," she replied.

Dionysus hummed thoughtfully. "I maintain the belief that there may have been a demigod ancestor in their lineage. The theory suggests that the parent with the demigod ancestor then had a child with another individual who also possessed a demigod ancestor," Dionysus explained in a somewhat languid tone. "This could provide a plausible explanation."

It was weird to hear his camp director speak in such a way, not just in a smart way, but in a more formal way. A thing Percy had noticed with all the gods, they tended to speak in a way that Percy had originally thought they would when he was twelve.

Formal and like a rich, preppy, adult. People he had interactions with on a daily basis at nancy.

A news lady...were okay.

Grover shook his head, "My goodness, you fell over six hundred feet and you were worried about us, " Percy flushed and nodded.

Hard to... confirmed fatalities…"

Percy smiled, "hearing that made me more relieved than you'd believe."

I backed away...hard way!"

Any death god in the room, and Nico, gave Grover a blank look, "That would've been the easier way, satyr, you three are going the hard way," Thanatos drawled.

Grover jumped, "Y-yeah, I understand."

Annabeth stood...What happened?"

"I was so worried, I knew I had seen someone fall," She gave Percy both a relieved and sad look.

Percy gave her a small smile.

"I sort of fell."

Marcaria, a goddess Percy had a very vague idea of, goddess of some type of death, spoke, "You jumped, I believe," She told him bluntly.

"Percy! Six hundred and thirty feet?"

He shrugged, "Could've been worse," Annabeth gave him an incredulous look, " No , It couldn't have been!"

Behind us, a...fire-breathing Chihuahua—"

"Oh dear," Piper muttered.

"Okay, ma'am,"...That's the boy!"

"Yep! Time to go, go, go," Thaila muttered.

I turned quickly...lady's message.

"I told you the important parts!" He defended the moment he saw his friends' faces.

"You so did not," Grover muttered.

We ducked...behind us.

"That is the end of the chapter," Aphrodite hummed, giving it to a demigod who grimaced and handed it to Chris who gave the demigod, Will, a dirty look.

"Thank goodness, please read Chris," Percy pleaded the moment he saw his father open his mouth, probably about to call a break.

Notes:

Tumblr: Mirzamsaiph

Updates about everything there!

Chapter 19: A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers

Summary:

Merry Christmas Eve Eve everyone!

Notes:

I literally can't promise the Odysseus and Polyphemus lines were completely and utterly correct. Just humour me. I wanted to get deep and personal and if it's not correct its not correct. I'm not changing it, I put effort into it.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Zeus gave an annoyed sigh, "This is the only time I will say this, If I am the one to find out if one you does this in our time, continue to interfere, the punishment will be severe, I hope none of you need that reminder," He drawled out.

It was a calmer anger, one Percy rarely saw with Zeus. Honestly he thought Zeus was incapable of being calm, it was a surprise.

No one responded, but the expressions of many gods, minor or olympian's faces showed they understood quite well..

The next afternoon...was obvious.

The demigods wrinkled their noses, "You guys probably stunk, besides maybe , Percy, who, well, you know, took a quick dive of the St. Louis Arch into the Mississippi River," Pollux offered.

Grover rolled his eyes, "Yes well, wasn't our fault, not like someone was going to offer their shower up to two twelve-year-olds and a supposed looking twelve-year-old with a limp," He drawled.

"Let's try to...car wash.

No god questioned what a car wash was, instead Iris herself tilted her head, "By the sound of it, I'm guessing you are going to use my system, if this 'car wash' has water like I believe?" She inquired, smiling when the trio nodded at her.

"What are you...half-bloods."

"She allows us through most of the time, the only time I was ever denied was, well, during the war," Will hummed.

Reyna shook her head, "I wonder if that'll work for us?" She muttered to Rachel beside her, who shrugged.

"I don't know if her Roman counterpart would still do it, we could ask, but I doubt the gods even know about their Roman counterparts fully yet," She murmured.

"You summon...make a rainbow."

"Makes it quite annoying sometimes, I'm not complaining though," Percy sighed.

"That's literally what complaining is!" Chris rolled his eyes, before adding, "You have water powers, if anything you should be the last person saying anything," He cried.

Percy flushed, turning away.

Sure enough...in the distance.

"That's just… Godly facetime?" Piper said.

Percy shrugged, chuckling, "glorified Skype, is what I thought."

Annabeth rolled her eyes.

We seemed...I called.

Percy scowled. It baffled him, still , how Luke could lie to him and everyone else like that.

Percy couldn't even begin to form thoughts about what would make him turn like Luke did. Kronos couldn't even turn Percy.

Sure, his fatal flaw being loyalty played a big part in his reasoning for staying at Camp. He could admit that. Yet, even the thought of having to betray Annabeth, Thaila, and Grover, made him want to puke.

The demigods in this room had become his family. The people he could turn to when no one else would listen to him.

They'd be the one sitting there, listening to him rant about everything he thought could or would happen. They would take him into account, his thoughts and feelings. They could joke around as much as they wanted to, but in the end, Percy knew they all cared for each other.

Percy knew that Kronos had influenced Luke a lot, but Luke also was a very strong and capable demigod. Not even Kronos could've turned him if Luke hadn't wanted to turn.

It was always on Percy's mind and even now and in the future, Percy didn't know if he'd ever fully understand Luke's reasoning.

He turned...of her face.

"Must you notice everything , Percy?" Annabeth scowled.

He held up his hands, "In my defense, I don't exactly mean to notice it," He paused before chuckling, "Yet, when certain people make it very obvious, My brain merely takes it into account," He hummed innocently.

She flushed, "Shut up."

"We thought...with the campers.

"Issue with the campers?" A god in the back of the room questioned.

Chris and Travis winced, "With the God's arguing, the demigods were arguing as well, picking sides." Travis explained.

"Chiron had to...out of sight.

There was some muffled snickering.

"Grover...Oracle at Delphi,

The guys in the room seem to all agree with the sentiment, their faces all turning away from the girls who were staring Grover down. The girls seemed rather offended, specifically Annabeth who was now giving Grover a look Percy was fine with never having it directed at him.

then he handed...the hellhound.

Percy scowled, he had more hate for Luke than everyone else seemed to understand. He had taken Percy's trust and crushed it within minutes.

The first person Percy had given his trust to fully at camp had balled his heart up and had thrown it into the lake like he had with the trash.

Treated Percy's trust like trash.

Like Odysseus and Polyphemus, Odysseus never had any good intention toward Polyphemus, yet had used charm, warmth, sympathy, and understanding. Had acted nice until Polyphemus had fallen into a drunken stupor, becoming blind to how Odysseus really felt.

Then attacked when Polyphemus never expected it.

Just like Luke.

Ironic wasn't it. Hermes himself had favored Odysseus somewhat and Polyphemus had been Poseidon's son, monster or not.

Brothers hate the fact they were like each other, but always fell for the same things, someone had once said to him. It made a lot of sense now.

Now the campers...more or less.

The Greek demigods flushed in embarrassment, "In our defense," Will started before pausing and rethinking whatever he was about to say, "Nevermind, We don't know what were talking about." He finished lamely.

Clarisse rolled her eyes, "I do," She huffed, "We were influenced by our parents, the Gods were obviously picking sides as well, I don't doubt that, just like how Percy is influenced by his fathers anger, we were influenced as well," She attempted to explain.

The God's didn't look convinced. Percy didn't blame them, he wouldn't be completely convinced if he was them. It seemed completely and utterly absurd to think your children could feel or be influenced by something you did.

Actually, no it didn't, it didn't at all. Maybe Will was right; they had no idea what they were talking about.

Or thinking about apparently.

Athena is backing Zeus."

Athena nodded proudly.

I told him...items directly."

Hades nodded, "Makes perfect sense to have a demigod still it for a God," He hummed, his eyes slowly drawing to Percy who had slouched back against the couch.

Percy met his eyes in annoyance, resisting the very fair urge to flip off the God. Which, thinking it over fully, that probably wouldn't actually go over very well. The thought did make him chuckle in his hand.

Flipping off the God of the Underworld, ha , his face would be absolutely worth whatever would happen afterwards.

"Forgive me, Percy Jackson," He started, "am I missing some important humor?" He questioned, leaning closer. Would he finally get the boy to admit that he had some part in whatever was happening?

Annabeth shot him a puzzled glance, echoed by several other demigods. Percy realized that laughing might not have been the wisest move, especially when a god had once again leveled an accusation against him. "Nothing at all, Lord Hades," he responded, attempting to keep his voice smooth, even though a laugh was bubbling in his throat.

"Excuse me, brother," Poseidon interjected, casting a brief glance toward his son before joining the conversation. "Do you have something to address? I may be mistaken, but it sounds as though you are insinuating that I orchestrated the theft by a demigod on my behalf. Is that your implication?"

"Of course not, Poseidon," Hades said, clearing his throat.

"Good."

"That's true,"...be invisible."

Thaila shot up in her seat, her eyes going a color that looked unnatural. In Percy's defense, he didn't know Thaila's eyes could even change .

"How dare he even imply that!" She said through her teeth, Annabeth looked down, rubbing a hand down her face.

"It's fine, Thaila, you shouldn't be surprised," She breathed, wiping her eyes as she looked back up at Thaila, who shook her head in despair, "Thaila, It's fine," She said again.

"No. Do not pull a Percy and say you are fine," Thaila said sharply.

"Hey!" Percy protested, not even caring that he was purposefully annoyed.

Annabeth chuckled wetly, "Alright, I'm not fine, but still It'll be okay."

Hermes observed them keenly for a moment, his gaze carefully analyzing their postures, words, and the subtle nuances in their voices whenever his son was mentioned. As a god, he was not oblivious to signs of trouble, and it was evident that something was amiss.

His son had evidently done something to irk the girls present, as well as Percy. The restrained glares Percy directed at his son did not escape Hermes' notice. There were biting, bitter tones whenever Luke was brought up, clenched fists from Percy, and a noticeable aversion to discussing the thief whenever Luke's name was said.

Hermes appreciated his son's ability to distance himself from personal relationships and form unbiased opinions. However, there was an unspoken tension surrounding the identity of the thief, with demigods avoiding direct answers and, more telling, casting glances in Hermes' direction.

Oh.

The realization hit Hermes harder than he'd like to admit.

It wasn't just that these children hated his son for something minor. No, his son very obviously had done something horrid. Betrayed these children's trust in a way that couldn't be regained.

Recollections flooded Hermes's mind—his son's presence on Olympus during the winter solstice, his encouragement of Percy to embark on a suicide quest, and the subtle blame he cast upon those he had considered 'family.' His son, who had not hidden his disdain for the gods and had dropped hints about being perfectly content never encountering them again.

His son was the thief.

We were both...sister to me."

Annabeth grimaced.

I wondered...the car wash.

Reyna raised a curious eyebrow, "What exactly did you do to the man?"

Annabeth chuckled while Grover shook his head, "Trust me, you do not want to know," Grover shivered.

"I kind of do now," Reyna muttered under her breath.

"Really?"...if he just—"

Grover cringed as Thaila looked ready to explode again, "We were supposed to be his family," She gasped out, "how dare he now accuse you."

Percy sighed, "Not like it worked, I trusted you two with my life." He meditated, holding a hand up to Thaila who sat back glaring.

But the mist...What did Luke say?"

"Too much for his own good," Thaila hissed.

"Not much,"...order dinner."

"You guys have no money," Conner pointed out.

"And are literal fugitives," Travis added helpfully.

Percy rolled his eyes, "Did you not hear the title," He huffed out.

"Also, to be fair, Percy was the only fugitive, me and Grover could've gotten out of there with a few tears and said Percy was forcing us to be with him," Annabet smirked, ignoring Percy's harsh, annoyed, yet friendly glare.

"You kids have...to the curb.

"I think we are about to find out why no demigod seems to respect us," Thanatos hummed under his breath to Psyche who nodded.

"It might do us some good to know why we've obviously changed so much," She responded.

All conversation...Caucasian human skin.

"Really , him ?" Chris said, saying what mostly every Greek demigod wanted to say.

The Romans and Gods had not figured it out yet, Percy could tell by the furrowed eyebrows and the creased lines in some of their faces.

The guy on...I guess,

That didn't seem to help the Gods, they all thought themselves handsome, so Percy pointing it out wasn't anything new to them.

Percy shrugged at Annabeth's amused look. He wasn't blind, Ares was rather good looking, most of the gods were. Annoying beyond belief, yes, but still they had rather good looks.

Not that he was staring or anything. He just noticed when someone was handsome.

And beautiful. Of course. The goddesses as well were beautiful.

but wicked—...against the window.

If anything, the Gods were increasingly becoming more perplexed. Yes, they could be rude and assertive and even arrogant sometimes. But they were rather against abusing children.

It was obvious it was an Olympian God that usually took a male form, which narrowed it down very little to them.

If this is how they acted, a few, very few, Gods could somewhat understand Percy's frustration with them. Yet it was mostly the minor Gods who had come to that understanding. Many olympian Gods still too focused on the book.

He looked up...Seaweed's kid, huh?"

Poseidon's head snapped up, as well as his godly children and wife.

What had become of the Gods? If they had resorted to this? Petty insults to arguably one of the most powerful olympian Gods. One who always took insults to his reputation seriously. One who had made punishments for Gods that had even Hades cringing at some points in time during their early years.

That seemed to be the thought going through many of the Gods' heads at the moment.

I should've...head off.

Many of the Gods seemed very offended by the comparison, none truly knowing who Percy was specifically talking to in that moment. So instead, they all seemed to be taking the insult to heart.

Did Gods even have hearts? Percy truly didn't know and now he had a very pressing question.

"What's it...little cousin."

"Ares." Apollo spoke for what seemed like the first time in forever, "It's Ares."

Ares eyes shot over to Apollo in both confusion and offense, Hermes interjected before Ares could say anything, "Makes perfect sense, Ares is the only God who could make someone that angry with their presence if he's doing on purpose of course," Hermes shrugged, "Also would make sense why Perse- Percy seems to dislike him so much."

Percy blinked before shrugging, it was a fair observation, "Yeah, not the whole reason why I… dislike him, but part of the reason, sure." Dislike was too soft a word in Percy's opinion.

Now the Gods seemed to be staring in disbelief toward Ares who had shrugged back against his throne, running a hand down his face.

You know...Clarisse's spear."

" 'tis was your own fault," Percy drawled at Clarisse's glare.

"She was..."Probably.

At Least his future self agreed with him on that. Ares couldn't even begin to believe this is what he turns out to be. Some… gods he didn't even know a word to talk about himself.

He was supposed to be the protector of women, yet here his future self was, pushing a twelve-year-old girl against a window and reminding a boy of his stepfather who laid hands on his mother. What he would give to go to the future and blast his future self.

That's cool...proposition for you."

Ares shook his head, grimacing at the sharp glare he was getting from his uncle, "They are on a timed quest, and you want them to do something for you?" Poseidon hissed.

The question was rhetorical, Ares didn't answer.

The waitress...with the gold.

Hestia gave Ares a sharp look, before letting it soften slightly at Ares' abashed expression.

Artemis on the other hand spoke, her voice smooth, "You are the one God that is supposed to be somewhat good, and this is what you become?" She grits out, "A God that terrifies mortal women ?"

"You can't do...for a god?"

"Nothing that would keep you alive," Nico muttered.

"Something a...it for me."

Aphrodite frowned, there was something to this. She wasn't falling for her lover's plays, she knew when he was tricking someone, and she was sure this was one of the times.

"Why don't...my Harley?

"Would you though," Poseidon said calmly, inclining his head in a manner that had Percy tilting back in his seat on the couch.

Because I don't...Percy Jackson.

Kymopoleia frowned, "I believe he has done more than enough to prove himself, more than most demigods of this time could ever hope to accomplish," She said, sitting up in her seat.

Pallas nodded, "I agree, he needs to do no more to 'prove' himself."

Percy flushed, as thankful as he was that they were defending him, it was a bit much.

Will you prove...can protect you."

Poseidon raised an eyebrow, "If i'm not mistaken, he did not need my domain when he fought the Furies, or Medusa." He hummed, "Now I can't say the same with the Minotaur, I do not know for sure if he used the rain to his advantage." Poseidon said calmly, "Though it does not matter, my son has proved himself more than enough, nephew."

Ares sighed, "I understand that, uncle, I agree, I do not know why my future self is acting like this."

I wanted to...him the satisfaction.

The minor Gods nodded in approval, "Good, giving into Ares aura will not help you. While he may be… different than he is now, he is still a God and can still curse you or hurt you." A goddess, Soteria said.

Percy nodded, "I understand-" Annabeth cut him off, giving him an unimpressed look, "No you don't, at least not then," She said flatly.

"We're not...got a quest."

"See what I mean?" Annabeth grinned.

"Shush, Wise Girl."

Ares's fiery eyes...him hungry.

Hermes' forehead creased, that didn't make sense. It was his son, it made sense it was his son. Ares never crossed his mind.

Zeus' head tilted at Ares, his eyes shooting from Chris who was reading to Ares who seemed to be cursing something under his breath. Zeus sighed, this book was going to cause a lot of problems for him.

He knew for sure it was Perseus, that wouldn't make any sense. The boy was oblivious to everything going on. Nothing was making sense, it was starting to grate his last nerves.

"Question, if Percy is feeling everything in the book, why is he not angry?" Pollux questioned, pointing to Percy who was slouched back, comfortable on the couch.

Percy gave a small, strained laugh, "I am, I've just become a bit better at hiding it since I was twelve. It's easier to be calm when I'm in his presence when I think about certain things that keep me calm." Cursing him out, or punching him, to be fair Percy thought.

"Well ... if I...Corpse Breath."

"I'm exerting every effort to restrain myself from obliterating you this very instant, Ares. If I catch wind of another word spoken in this manner from you, I won't hold anything back. Is that perfectly clear?" Hades declared, his tone laced with an warning.

"Of course," Ares agreed.

"You told him...little quest."

"I think I have you to curse for the quest," Percy muttered under his breath.

Pallas lodged her elbow into his ribs, making Percy wince, "Really?" He hissed, bringing a hand to his aching abdomen.

"Thanks,"...our own."

"Not really, you guys were, and pardon my language, but you guys were fucked," Dakota murmured.

"Dakota," Reyna and Jason hissed simultaneously, clearly disapproving.

Dakota held up his hand, "Hey, I was just saying," He defended.

"Yeah, right...about your mom."

"That's one way to get his attention," Pan shrugged.

"A crude way, but a way nonetheless," Hebe agreed.

"My mom?"...was nervous.

Athena shook her head in disagreement. "It's a ruse. There's a clear motive for his decision to send you instead of handling it personally. I don't believe he'd dare to risk enraging Poseidon or myself by orchestrating your deaths, but causing injury is an entirely different matter."

"Judging by his manner of speaking in the future, I fear he might indeed be comfortable with provoking either of us," Poseidon remarked, a deep frown etched across his features.

Percy shrugged, he didn't think at first that Ares had wanted to kill him, merely embarrass him, yet by the end he had changed his mind. Maybe it was Kronos' influence, Percy didn't know.

"You're lucky...as I am.

Apollo chimed in with a hum of agreement. "I concur with his assessment. I have a strong feeling that any one of us would have unleashed our wrath for anything said against us. I'm certain of it."

Percy snorted, "Keep thinking that," He said under his breath.

I'll meet you...me otherwise.

"We were a little freaked out," Grover huffed out, "Sue us."

"Not good," Grover...people's emotions.

Ares let out a thoughtful noise, "Not particularly, when it comes to war, absolutely, messing with emotions is something that works in my favor, but to a child, I usually would not."

That was...Let's just go."

Poseidon gave Percy a stern look, "You don't ignore a God, I hope you have learned that not just from your time here," His eyes flickered to Apollo, "But in general."

Percy cleared his throat, "Well, honestly," He started, quickly correcting himself at his siblings incredulous looks, "Of course I have," His father did not look convinced but instead of interrogating Percy he turned back to the book.

"We can't,"...bad fortune.

"It would do you well to remember that," A god in the back said.

He wasn't...so appetizing.

Nico raised an eyebrow, "He put you off of food, a miracle, truly." He hummed.

"Shush," Percy huffed.

"Why does he...wisdom sometimes."

Annabeth hummed, "I need that tattooed, that was actually rather wise of me to say."

Percy rolled his eyes, "You say you want everything tattooed," He chuckled, "You find a book quote you like and you say you want it tattooed."

"Be quiet and let me dream, Jackson," She glared.

"But this...like that?"

Hephaestus paused, taking a moment to think before releasing a deep sigh. "Truly? You're dispatching demigods into a trap specifically crafted by me for you," he huffed, lifting a disapproving eyebrow.

Ares hesitated. "That... does clarify why I'm not going, but it still doesn't add up to send all three of them."

"Doesn't make sense to send them at all, to be completely honest," Demeter hummed.

Annabeth and...sad and creepy.

Piper wrinkled her nose, unknowingly copying her mother, That place just sounded disgusting.

"If Ares brings...looks like."

Percy's hands were up in a moment's notice, "I didn't know! I wouldn't have said that if I had known that his girlfriend was the Goddess of Love," He defended quickly. He wasn't okay with getting on the Goddess of Loves' bad side, that wouldn't go well for him.

Aphrodite gave him an unimpressed look but said nothing.

"Percy," Annabeth...still a god.

"He does not seem to care, stupid in my opinion, no demigod in their right mind would disrespect a god," Octavian sneered. Percy then decided he liked the guy when he wasn't speaking.

Before his father could curse the guy, "Aren't you like… a legacy ? How would you know about demigods and their minds?" It came out before Percy could fully go over it in his mind. He slapped a hand to his mouth, his eyes widening.

Everyone slowly turned their head toward him, the Greeks looked flabbergasted , The Romans looked torn between amusement and being offended. The Gods looked like they were attempting to solve a puzzle while looking at Percy. Something he was not comfortable with.

"Percy," Annabeth hissed, her eyes just as wide. Clarisse was covering her mouth, turning away so no one could see her, yet Percy saw her body silently shaking.

Shit, if Clarisse thought it was funny then it was probably a bit much. "I'm so sorry, I don't know what I'm talking about," Percy apologized.

Reyna opened her mouth to speak for Octavian, she didn't trust whatever he had to say, "You are fine, Percy, just be careful with your words," Percy nodded in agreement, shrinking down on his couch.

And his girlfriend is very temperamental."

No one had anything to say, all still too focused on Percy and not really on the book.

"You don't want...Echidna?"

That caught Aphrodite's attention, "Excuse me?" She said slowly, tilting her head in a threatening manner.

"I'm really sorry," He felt like he was saying this way too many times today, it was truly getting on his nerves.

"Goddess of love."...he asked.

"She is," Heaphestus sighed. "I don't care as much as I used to, yet apparently I seem to care in the future if there is a trap for them." He shrugged.

"Oh." I suddenly...the opposite side.

"It really wasn't that graceful," Percy chuckled, ignoring Grovers puff of annoyance.

The shadows...Where's My Swimsuit?

Piper grimaced, "That really couldn't have looked good," she muttered to Annabeth who raised an amused eyebrow. "It didn't," She affirmed.

No monsters..."Watch me."

The Stoll's grinend, "Now that's how it's done," The synchronized, high fiving each other in the process.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Whatever, I needed it, don't get your hopes up that I'll help you two with any of the pranks you do," She told them.

A Waterland...theme park.

There was some sniggering from the demigods at the image.

"That's old...by Zeus.

"It was mother, actually, but yes that's about right," Hephestus sighed.

So he isn't...you know?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"She likes bikers."..."Whatever."

"You were not happy with me that day," Percy snorted.

"I wouldn't say that, we actually became 'friends' like two hours after this," She shrugged.

"Hephaestus knows?"...places, like ..."

"I find it amusing how you three are just gossiping about olympians like they are regular people," Conner grinned.

She stopped...TUNNEL OF LOVE!

Chris looked ready to puke while ready that, "Ew," He muttered, the guys in the room muttering the same thing.

"I'm very glad this place is abandoned," Will mumbled.

Grover crept...get it?"

"Yeah, no, even I can say this is a trap, I know it's already been confirmed, but that should've been your first thought," Clarisse huffed, giving them a disapproving look.

Percy rolled his eyes.

"Grover," I said...really nothing?"

"Okay, that was just mean Percy," Thaila glared.

"I know, I was just annoyed, you know I didn't mean it that rudely Grover," He asked, raising an eyebrow, smiling when Grover nodded.

Grover looked...in St. Louis.

Percy winced, "I'm an ass, I'm sorry." He moaned in annoyance in his hands.

Grover chuckled, "You're fine, Perc, I understood."

"No," I told...something goes wrong."

"Probably a good idea," Nico agreed.

Grover puffed...go wrong?"

"You jinxed it," Most of the demigods said.

Grover huffed, "I know."

"I don't know...bright red.

Aphrodite and Eros chuckled, "I don't believe the boy was fully thinking through what he was saying," Eros hummed under his breath.

Percy and Annabeth flushed, "I hate you," Percy huffed, "I was not thinking about it like that at all, and there you go automatically assuming it," He puffed in amusement, ignoring his flaming cheeks.

"Shut up, Seaweed Brain," She hissed.

"What's the...somebody saw me?"

"You're in an abandoned waterpark, Annie," Thaila grinned at them.

" Shut up ," Percy and Annabeth said together.

"Who's going...everything complicated.

"Excuse you!" She huffed, "I was not making anything complicated, you were the one who suggested it, I just interpreted what you said."

"This is the best thing I have seen from the two of them in a while," Will grinned, covering his mouth. "I'm so surprised these two have not, well you know, gotten together yet," He grinned as he leaned over his couch to speak to Pollux.

Pollux grinned, "They're amusing," He agreed.

The Gods just looked torn between being confused as to why they were so embarrassed, to being amused at the arguing. Though the latter was mostly just the minor gods.

We reached...themselves.

"Oh my gods, Percy, I beg you to say all this outloud, please ," Chris begged.

"I don't want to be blasted," Percy snorted.

I picked...mountain laurel.

"Put that down," Triton snapped.

Percy responded with a quick roll of his eyes. "You're talking to a book," he snapped back.

"Oh, no you...A trip wire.

"Lovely," Will muttered.

"Wait,"...is a trap."

"Finally, someone noticed," Thalia murmured to Jason.

He chuckled softly. "He does seem to have a penchant for trouble, doesn't he?"

Thalia sighed. "You have no idea, dear brother."

Noise erupted...making a net.

The minor gods and a few Olympian gods rolled their eyes collectively. "A net? Again?" muttered one of the gods, clearly unimpressed.

"We have to...his hands.

The Greeks winced, "C'mon Grover," Pollux murmured.

The Cupids'...fifty-eight ..."

For the first time, Apollo covered his mouth, genuinely and audibly laughing—a cold, bitter sound. Percy, though visibly irritated, found himself in the midst of a situation that had the majority of the gods astounded by the unexpected turn.

"I'm... that's just so unfortunate," Hermes blinked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "How does this seem to happen to you, Percy Jackson?" Percy fought back a retort, settling for a disgruntled glare.

He had hoped to bury this memory, a deeply embarrassing incident from when he was twelve, but now it resurfaced, broadcasted to all of Olympus. Percy bit his tongue, attempting to forget the humiliation.

Suddenly, everyone's attention shifted when a loud pop echoed through the room. All eyes turned toward the wall that cracked and popped. "Oh no," Percy groaned, "no, no, no."

A projected screen, displaying a countdown.

Percy couldn't fathom why fate seemed to have it out for him. First, his thoughts were broadcasted, and now the entire embarrassing situation was about to be showcased on a projector on the wall. It made no sense—this was ancient Greece; how on earth did they even have a projector?

There was a moment of silence before Annabeth let out a groan, just as loud as Percy's, obviously reaching the same conclusion.

"Oh, this is going to be good, hell yeah," Clarisse exclaimed, a grin spreading across her face before it faltered under the stern look from her father. However, she still shifted on her seat to get a better view of the screen.

Beside him, Pallas covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, Percy, but this is just too good. I have to watch," she said apologetically, patting him on the back before maneuvering to see the screen. Many minor gods followed suit, turning away from their previous focus to catch a glimpse of the unfolding display.

His father looked somewhat sympathetic, as did a few other gods, but literally everyone had turned their attention to the screen.

"Hephaestus!"...absolute fools!"

"Should make our day better in the future, as well as right now," Apollo mused thoughtfully, showing no hint of remorse as he observed the countdown on the screen.

We'd almost..."Spiders!" Annabeth said.

Annabeth cringed visibly, appearing just as queasy as Percy felt. It was unclear whether it was the mention of spiders or the imminent broadcast that caused her discomfort.

"Sp—sp—aaaah!"...we weren't gods.

Kymopoleia and Rhodes cringed simultaneously.

Annabeth and...surf shoe.

Travis grimaced, "That's not good at all."

Grover hovered...come from?

Pallas nodded in agreement. "Good thinking, water will help."

"Are we even going to be able to see this before they figure everything out?" a god at the back grumbled in frustration.

Percy honestly didn't know. His focus had been on Annabeth and getting out of there, so he wasn't entirely sure if the broadcast had reached Olympus before they managed to leave.

Then I saw...out of there.

A few Gods raised their brows, "Is he even going to be able-" Thanatos started, Psyche shrugged, "No clue." She answered before he could finish.

Grover was...way to Denver.

"There is absolutely no way you can do that," Reyna breathed, "Denver and the Mississippi are so far apart, that shouldn't be possible."

"Two, one, zero!"

The attention of everyone present was now fixated on the screen, displaying two unmistakable pre-teens—clearly Percy and Annabeth. Clarisse was the first to react, snorting as she spoke. "Oh my gods, look at him! I forgot just how scrawny you were, Jackson," she laughed, her hand covering her mouth.

Nico raised his eyebrows, chiming in, "You know, I thought they might be exaggerating, but gods, they're right. You were tiny," he grinned.

Thalia couldn't contain her amusement, grinning over at Annabeth. Before she could utter a word, Annabeth shot her a glare. "Don't you dare," she warned. Ignoring the warning, Thalia exclaimed, "Little Annie!" clapping in crude joy.

Pallas and Triton simultaneously turned away from the screen to glance at Percy. "Mortals are so peculiar. How does one transform from looking like that to this?" Pallas muttered to her father, who responded with a helpless shrug.

Poseidon tilted his head, a slight curve forming on his lips as he reclined on his throne. He couldn't deny that his son looked incredibly small. The broadcast paused, freezing Little Percy's image on the screen. Poseidon noticed the youthfulness and innocence radiating from his son's face. There was a faint frown on Little Percy's lips, accompanied by a direct and intense glare at the screen, almost as if he wanted someone to notice.

The small, dried red blotches on his son's face caught Poseidon's attention. It seemed to be dried blood, a troubling sight. Little Percy had a firm grip on the young Annabeth's arm, almost as if he feared she might fall or vanish if he let go.

Observing the younger version of his son, Poseidon couldn't ignore the concern about Percy's skinniness. However, his focus remained fixed on understanding how the younger Percy figured this out.

"You really think that boy stole something, husband?" Persephone chuckled, her eyes locked on the screen in front of her. Hades was silent for a moment, "I'm… not sure." He murmured.

Spotlights glared...Valentine's Day stuff.

As everyone watched, the younger Percy appeared to instinctively pull the younger Annabeth closer, using his own body to shield her. His gaze remained fixed on the water before him, one hand firmly holding onto the girl while the other reached out.

Eros chuckled softly. "He cares deeply for her," he whispered to Aphrodite, who nodded in agreement. "Yet, I don't sense romantic love between them," Eros remarked.

Aphrodite nodded once more. "Indeed, it's a pure platonic bond—a familial love. They care for each other immensely, but it's purely platonic, not something often witnessed between a man and a woman," she mused.

"You two are adorable," Thalia exclaimed, grinning. "Look at little Percy's focused expression!" she cooed.

Beside her, Jason chuckled in amusement.

Athena observed with great interest. If the boy truly cared for her daughter as he appeared to, she would approve. She sought someone capable of providing and caring for her daughter in a way that most men couldn't. If he demonstrated that capability, Athena would give her approval.

Apollo was equally absorbed in watching. He sought proof that this boy wasn't all he appeared to be. Dionysus, too, was scrutinizing the scene. However, it was challenging to find fault—Percy seemed genuinely invested in his friends, displaying a sense of care and what appeared to be considerable power. Nothing they observed contradicted the way the boy was behaving.

Then we...in the pool.

Reyna's expression shifted abruptly, her smile fading into a steely resolve. Recognition dawned upon her as she realized where she had seen them before: Circe's domain. These two individuals were the cause of her and her sister's months-long ordeal, the reason they had been stranded.

Glancing back at them, she noted their obliviousness to her identity. Of course, they wouldn't recognize her. They had callously destroyed her home without a second thought. To them, the people within her former home were inconsequential.

Oblivious to Reyna, Frank spoke, "You two have such different voice's now," He chuckled, "Your voice's were so high."

Percy and Annabeth flushed, "This is the worst possible thing that could've happened," Percy groaned into his hands.

"No! On..."On your mark!"

Everyone chuckled, "Look at you two, the early stages of Percy learning to listen to you," Thaila grinned, fistbumping Annabeth from over the couch.

He rolled his eyes, he didn't need to learn anything from Annabeth. He just tended to when he knew he wouldn't win against her,

She hesitated...we needed.

Poseidon winced as he witnessed his son's ordeal. Hearing about it was one thing, but observing his very small son flying uncontrollably through the air was more disconcerting than he'd anticipated. His wife shared his concern, grimacing as she murmured, "He's worryingly small, navigating through the air must be challenging. A strong gust could easily send him tumbling over."

Poseidon nodded in agreement, observing how his son maintained his grip on his 'friend,' their forms buffeted by the winds as they tumbled through the air, never letting go despite the unpredictable winds.

Annabeth yelled..."We're going down!"

Poseidon's sentiment resonated with everyone present. Hearing about the situation was one thing, but witnessing it unfold brought a different level of concern.

As for Percy, the experience was nauseating. The sensation of wind whipping past him felt real, and he could feel the pain from Grover's attempt to catch them, the slicing of nails down his back. It was a discomforting ordeal, yet one that he endured, determined to fight through it.

We spiraled...trying to be No-No the Friendly Whale.

There was a lot of snickering.

Annabeth and...my arm.

Mostly everyone breathed a sigh of relief, watching as the screen flicked off, "I never want that to happen again," Percy and Annabeth said at the same time.

Chris snorted, flipping the page to continue.

"Show's over!" I yelled. "Thank you! Good night!"

The gods collectively rolled their eyes. Despite the boy's disrespectful behavior, they came to a collective realization that he was undeniably on their side. Oddly enough, witnessing the situation on the screen had solidified their trust in him. While there might have been doubts before, the broadcast had provided a genuine glimpse into Percy's true character.

Unbeknownst to Percy, the inadvertent broadcast had genuinely worked in his favor, dispelling doubts and affirming his loyalty to them.

The Cupids...been any good.

"I'm sure your ratings were excellent." Hephaestus said.

"Oh good." Percy said sarcastically.

I hated...being tricked.

Nico whistled, "Do we get to see you curse out a God this early, Perc?' he questioned.

Percy rolled his eyes, "Nah, wait until… the third book." He said, grinning.

And I...with Ares.

"I'd be conceded if I were you," The mysterious demigod laughed, an obvious smirk and amusement in the man's voice.

The mysterious demigod's chuckle echoed from the background, prompting Ares to sigh, running a hand down his face. "I apologize for my future self's actions, Percy Jackson. It was uncalled for," he hummed, giving Percy a small nod.

Percy offered a forced nod in return. "Of course, all's forgiven," he uttered, though the furrowed expression on his face betrayed his true feelings. Ares remained unconvinced but opted to let it be, observing as Hestia rose from her seat, signaling for silence.

"We've covered six chapters now. I believe lunch is in order. Everyone, please proceed to the dining hall. There are discussions to be had," her gaze flickered briefly to Percy and Poseidon, causing Percy to inwardly groan. "And I'm certain everyone is hungry. Now, get out!" Hestia commanded, urging everyone to move.

The demigods sprang to their feet, swiftly filing out of the room. The Greeks were the first to rush out, their eagerness for food evident in their hurried departure. Behind them, the Romans followed, more organized but still eager to join the meal.

The minor gods also rose from their seats, casting glances toward the Olympians, who were now standing as well. Some Olympians engaged in conversations among themselves, while others lingered a bit behind the minor gods, preparing to leave the room.

Notes:

Literal question, I like, really want to do Jercy, how would y'all feel about that? Apollo and Percy would still be very close, it would just be different. I feel like there are already enough Perpollo fics.

Wow, this is literally 7000 words, I am astounded.

Chapter 20: Break (Could Also Be Titled Percy Jackson Avoiding Everyone)

Summary:

This is a cliff hanger, I'm so sorry but I needed a chapter out this month and if I didn't stop it here, it most likely would have gone over 10K words. Love y'all!

Notes:

Also HELLO, yes tags have been updated. The little projection in the last chapter shows Walker in the Adams project as Percy and Annabeth as Leah in a show name I forgot (it's in the tags)

These allergies are beating my ass, literally dying over here. Thunderstormed today and now they're saying it's supposed to SNOW Monday?? Big questions right now as to how it goes from 50 degrees to -1 in two days.

(as of a week after this, schools have been closed for over a week)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Percy found himself deliberately avoiding his father. Despite a twinge of guilt, he knew what awaited him—interrogation. It was something he couldn't handle at that very moment, and he opted to keep his distance.

Distance meaning, hiding.

As soon as he had walked out of the throne room, he had diverged from the demigods quietly. Not wanting anyone to question him. His father wasn't the only person he was worried about interrogating him.

He didn't want to admit it, but he had absolutely gotten lost.

Olympus was huge .

Percy had never truly seen Olympus in its full state. Even when he was here for the first time when he was twelve, he had been focused on one thing. Getting out of Olympus actually alive .

Then when he was fourteen, he had been here when the Gods had debated on killing him.

Fun times, of course.

The after-party took place in a specific room on Olympus, and demigods were strictly prohibited from leaving until it was time to return to camp. The room was heavily guarded by nymphs and others, and Percy, respecting the rule, had stayed close to his friends for the duration of the event.

Then just a few weeks ago, when Olympus had been fully destroyed.

Ruins everywhere. Littering the streets, golden streets of Olympus. Pieces of history thrown around on the floor like it had meant nothing. Thrones of Gods' on the floor, portraits and statues, broken and falling apart.

Blood, golden blood on the streets. Blood of the most powerful beings had been on the ground.

It really had been a symbol for Percy. Had shown him he wasn't as weak as he felt at the moment. If the most powerful beings in the universe could be injured and take it in stride, he could as well. If they could look death in the face, or whatever they called it, in the face, then he could as well.

It was weird. Percy didn't respect them, not after they had shown him that they didn't respect him. Yet, the fact that he gained strength both physically and emotionally from knowing that if they could do something so could he, it made him grimace.

Yet throughout all the times he had been in Olympus, he'd never had the actual chance to look around. Even when he got here he had been in too much of a shock to fully go exploring. Whenever he did look around, it was usually because he was following someone somewhere.

He had taken a few turns, just to distance himself as far from the demigods as he possibly could've.

Looking back, it probably hadn't been his best decision.

He was somewhere.. breathtaking at the very least.

The area was draped in dark red and purple, covering walls, floors, and ceilings. It conveyed a sense of calmness akin to Percy's demeanor in battle—violent yet composed, a paradoxical combination that held true. Two things no one thought could be put together yet they were.

The view seemed to overlook a city, one that certainly didn't belong there, positioned beneath Olympus. It was likely a result of godly magic, but Percy couldn't help but look. Lost or not, he was calmer than he had been earlier.

The setting was undeniably ancient Greece. The city showcased people adorned in battle armor on one side, mirroring the dominant red and purple hues of the room. It was evident that the city's inhabitants most likely worshiped the deity associated with the room Percy found himself in.

On the opposite side of the city lay villages, where people bustled about within their homes and around the shops. Percy found it hard to fully comprehend that these individuals were living, breathing beings.

Hearing about ancient Greece was one thing, but witnessing it in action was an entirely different experience. These people had their own minds, families, thoughts—a life.

It was a weird realization for Percy. Impossible as it was, he couldn't help but want to go down there, to see for himself, to observe the stark differences in people's behavior, mannerisms, smiles, faces, speech, and their way of worship.

The fascination was overwhelming.

And now he was sounding like Annabeth–Okay too much time in this room and he was actually going to turn into his best friend.

When he spun around to leave he came face to face with Ares.

Well, at least he could confirm the Fates hated him.

Not that he hadn't already figured that out. This whole book-reading situation had really solidified it for him.

Percy hadn't realized Ares's towering presence before. It dawned on him that although the Gods' powers had diminished, they hadn't been fully taken away. Clearly, they still retained the ability to grow tall if they desired.

As he tilted his head up to get a better look at Ares that clicked.

He shook his head, flinging the thoughts out of his mind. So not the time for him to go over the Gods' heights, Percy.

"Perseus Jackson," Ares mused, his eyes sweeping the room, a glint of amusement flickering in the corner of his eyes. Percy had no idea why, like usual, he thought.

"... Lord Ares," Percy strained out.

"So this is where you have disappeared to?" Ares questioned, tilting his head downward toward Percy. His voice carried that drawl that never failed to irk Percy's soul.

In the back of his mind, Percy knew that he might be slightly unreasonable. This version of Ares hadn't actually done anything to Percy besides sit in his throne and speak.

He had an annoying voice though.

Okay, maybe he was being more than just unreasonable. But he had a very good reason, or at least that's what Percy told himself. In his defense, if future Ares wasn't such an ass, maybe Percy wouldn't have a problem with him.

"Yes," Percy huffed, "Is there a problem? I obviously came here to look at the city, is that a problem?" Percy knew he was talking out of his ass, and he was pretty sure Ares knew it too, judging by the raised eyebrow on the God's face.

"Of course not, Perseus," Ares replied, though his eyes were cast downward, beneath Percy, fixated on the city below them. "Do you know whose domain you are in at the moment, or the city you are looking at, Perseus?"

Damn, no one listened to his father, because not one of these Gods' were calling him Percy.

See, usually Percy would be honest and say he had no clue, and that he had just gotten lost on his way. But, and there was always a but when it came to this God, but it was Ares and Percy's pride would hurt if he said no.

"Of course I do, this is…" Now, really? He thought to himself, this was the dumbest move he could've possibly done. At this point Percy just needed to say an ancient Greek city and hope to Tyche he was correct, "Sparta."

Ares eyebrows shot up, "That would be correct, Perseus."

Hell yeah, Percy smirked.

"But whose domain?"

Percy's smirk dropped, and Ares's lips curved upwards, eliciting a scowl from Percy in return.

"Lady Athena's?" Percy tried, his voice coming out hopeful but strained.

The God in front of him laughed, a quiet and calm one, as a smile formed on his lips, "No, weirdly enough, she is over looking another city, as well as these aren't her colors," He replied, his eyes glancing over the walls, "They are mine, you are in my domain, Perseus."

Oh.

That made more sense, also totally ruined his mood, even though he wasn't in a good mood in the first place. "Lovely," He sighed, "I guess you'd like me to leave?"

Ares raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "I do not believe that is what I said," Percy met his gaze, a curious glint in his eye. "I sensed someone in my domain and was merely curious about the intruder, that is all, Perseus."

Ares tilted his head downward. "It would be wrong to not advise you to leave soon, though. You've been here for quite a while," Ares' eyes flashed momentarily, sparking Percy's increased curiosity. "Two hours, I would estimate. Your father isn't a patient God; he is rather annoyed at the moment."

Percy sighed, rubbing his eyes. It was something he knew would happen regardless of the timeline; even in the future, his father wasn't patient, so he expected the same in the past.

Also, two hours? Had he really wandered around that long?

"I know. I'm just... trying to get one last moment of peace before I'm bombarded with people," Percy said slowly, choosing his words carefully. He was talking to a God, so he still had to be cautious.

Ares seemed to ponder for a moment before nodding. "That is understandable. Many of your friends are quite worried. I may not know you well, but I can believe that you do not want people all around you asking questions." Percy nodded slowly, in agreement.

"How about this, Perseus," Ares said slowly, his eyebrows furrowed, "I have a training room, just to our left, you could blow off steam for another hour and I will act as oblivious as I can, but you have to be out in an hour and in the dining hall?" He looked more sure of his words, "Can you do that?"

Percy's eyes crinkled in confusion, he gave Ares a curious yet suspicious look, "Why? Why are you helping me, when I've been nothing but cold and rude to you?"

"I have my reasons, Perseus Jackson, take my offer or don't, just realize I am trying to help." And with that Ares turned on his heel and walked out of the room.

Percy debated for a moment, it would help him blow off some of the anger he had gathered over the past day. It would also stall him, keeping him from everyone's questions for a while.

Percy pursed his lips and slowly made his way to the room on his left, slowly stepping in.

Nico found himself in the dining hall among the other demigods. Typically, this would entail Nico being able to sit quietly in a corner of the room, often listening to Thalia ramble about something a few seats down from him.

Sadly, that wasn't the case this time.

Everyone was being absolutely insane, searching for Percy, who had disappeared a few hours ago. The hall was abuzz with loud chatter, and no one seemed to shut up for a moment. Nico sometimes wondered how they even won the war when they were this disorganized.

Oh, did he forget to mention the sunshine son of Apollo sitting next to him, talking his ear off? No? Well, there was one. It was taking everything in Nico to not strangle Will Solace.

Nico had a soft spot for the boy, somewhat. Will was a year older than Nico, with a smile that made Nico's heart skip a beat. But goodness, the boy didn't stop talking.

"-crazy!" Will grinned, "honestly, they are being a bit dramatic, poor Percy probably disappeared because he knew that everyone would be trying to talk to him, it's like they all forgot Percy absolutely hates it when people bombard him," Okay, well Nico agreed with him there.

Percy wasn't anti-social by any means. He was quite social actually.

Yet he wasn't a fan of being the center of attention, he wasn't okay with pity being thrown his way. Nico understood.

"It's insane they think doing this is going to make Percy want to reappear, because then they are just going to be in his face more than they were already planning," Will said.

That was true as well . Okay, Will may talk a lot but he did actually make some good points in Nico's opinion.

"You're not worried?" Nico said quietly.

Will looked up with a raised eyebrow, "Of course I am, Percy showed he wasn't in a good place mentally, yet at the same time, I understand how overwhelmed he must be right now and this isn't going to help." Will gestured to the chaotic room.

Nico nodded, biting his lip he asked the question in the back of his head, "You think he'll be okay?"

Will gave him a long knowing look before nodding, "I do, it's Percy, he always bounces back, this isn't an exception."

They sat in silence for a moment, the chaos around them becoming background noise as they watched everyone.

It was sadly interrupted by a God that Nico had been trying to keep a distance from.

Thanatos.

Now, Nico didn't have a huge problem with Thanatos, but the God was creepy. That was definitely saying something coming from him of all people, Nico could deal with a lot of things. Thanatos.. was not one of those things.

"Nico Di Angelo," The God said, his voice rumbling, "Your father would like to speak to you."

Nico debated on saying 'I'm good!' and instead said, "I'll be there in a moment."

Thanatos gave him a suspicious look, "Lord Hades is not as patient as Poseidon is, he won't wait for his son to come to him, he'll find you. I recommend not stalling," With that, Nico's nightmare walked off in an annoyingly graceful way.

"I wouldn't say Lord Poseidon is 'waiting' for his son," Will snorted under his breath.

That was also true, Percy was being hunted and not just by the demigods, Nico and Will were both almost positive that Poseidon had sent out Gods' to hunt his child down.

Nico did not envy Percy at all, Poseidon looked beyond mad, though he was rather good at keeping it under control on his face.

"You should go, You don't want to be hunted down like Percy," WIll chuckled, pushing himself up from the bench. He offered Nico his hand, extending it downwards.

Nico debated internally about whether to turn his head or stand up himself, but Will's puppy-dog-eyed look had Nico grimacing and finally taking the boy's hand.

He regretted it the moment he did so.

Will's hand felt warm against Nico's ice-cold one. It was soft yet firm as it pulled Nico up from his seat.

Nico cleared his throat, "Thanks," He muttered, immediately turning away to walk to his father instead of standing there to ogle the son of Apollo any longer.

WIll blinked in confusion before rolling his shoulders and turning around.

Percy was acutely aware that he was currently the target of angry demigods.

For the past hour and a half, he had been annihilating training dummies, ignoring the calls of demigods scattered around Olympus. Annabeth's voice was the closest, and it never failed to bring tears to his eyes.

Hiding away from them didn't sit well with him. In fact, he felt horrible about it.

However, he needed his space. If he stepped out at that moment, he was likely to be swarmed by at least ten demigods and three gods.

He truly didn't want to bother anyone with his problems, everyone was already reading his quite depressing thoughts. Why make them listen to his problems even more?

He needed to leave though.

Despite his disdain for Ares and his numerous wishes for the god's demise, Percy grudgingly respected Ares' instructions. The god had given him an hour, at most, and had allowed him to use a training room to avoid everyone.

So, he felt a twinge of gratitude toward Ares.

Only a small twinge, though.

He knew he would have to eventually make his way out of the training room, he hoped he could just sneak past everyone, get into the throne room and wait for the break to end so they could start the next chapter.

However, he was also aware that his father would likely be furious if Percy avoided him.

The demigods, too, would cast him that disappointed look that never failed to induce overwhelming guilt.

He wanted his mom.

It made him feel like a little boy again, but the overwhelming want for his mother to just hug him. To assure him that it would be alright. To tell him that it was okay for him to be afraid, that he was brave enough to do this.

That all he needed to do was hold fast and brave the storm .

Brave the storm that was his father, the harshness of his father, his words like the sea clambering on the beach side. The whipping of the wind, just like his fathers aura, whipped around Percy when he was around Poseidon.

He knew that's what his mother would tell him, to face his father and be brave. Percy knew deep down he could.

But it would be nice to genuinely hear it from his mom.

He rubbed his eyes, this was about to be the worst evening of his life.

Maybe he could slip into the kitchen and make cookies? Is what he thought to himself as he walked back towards the dining hall.

It had taken him a good twenty minutes to figure out where he was but eventually he got the hang of it after mindlessly wandering.

"Poseidon's ire is not something you want directed at you, Perseus," A voice next to him spoke.

He didn't look to his side, he didn't need to, he had heard that voice on and off throughout the reading, "Lady Tyche," He acknowledged.

"Perseus."

Nothing else was said. Did anything else really need to be said?

She was right, he thought. He genuinely didn't desire his fathers wrath. That had never been his end goal. He respected his father as a god, just not as a father.

Of course he respected his father as a god, he knew the stories. Everyone knew of them. Though most of them hadn't happened yet, his father was ruthless. Beyond what Percy could even imagine. His father was a cruel god.

Percy understood that being Poseidon's son held little significance when it came to his fathers anger; Poseidon probably didn't care about that.

Very few truly cared about him.

The gods didn't care. That much was evident to him. As long as he continued to perform their dirty work and refrained from demanding anything of them, they'd persist in using him like a puppet. He had come to terms with that long ago.

It didn't faze him much when the gods halted him in the midst of something important. He'd argue occasionally, but he never outright refused. Maybe it was guilt, or perhaps it was fear? He couldn't be certain.

These days, he found himself not knowing many things. Information wasn't shared with him; conversations about him occurred behind his back. Whether it was gods or demigods discussing him, no one cared enough to involve him, even when it concerned him directly.

He was "too young," ironic considering he had led at least one hundred demigods through a war that rarely any God helped with and yet he was too young to know why the Gods' had closed Olympus.

He blinked, wiping his eyes, surprised to find tears forming. It wouldn't serve him well to start crying before having the chance to speak with his father.

He didn't want bloodshot eyes; the demigods would notice immediately. The gods wouldn't be far behind. That wasn't something he wanted to deal with at all.

He felt grateful for Tyche's silence. Her presence was firm, akin to a god's, yet it wasn't overpowering. She had witnessed his tears and he noticed her eyes, but thankfully, she didn't say anything. Percy didn't know if he could keep his tears in check if she had acknowledged the way he was breathing heavily, biting his lips, and staring straight forward, unblinking.

They walked in silence for a while, and Percy hadn't realized how far he had wandered from the demigods. The details were fuzzy; he didn't remember getting this far. Taking a few turns away from the demigods, everything beyond that was a blank.

Zoning out tended to happen to him.

There was a time he ended up sitting at the bottom of the ocean a few nights after the war had ended, with no clue of how he got there.

A shark had discovered him, letting him know that sea creatures had watched over him overnight, as the shark put it, because he had been "in the depths of his own mind."

Percy had apologized, but the shark had smiled and reassured him that he had nothing to worry about. They were always happy to watch over the child of their lord.

Percy had felt even worse afterward.

"Perseus." A voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and his eyes focused on Tyche.

"Right, uh, sorry," he apologized, his hand running over his face tiredly.

She gave him a curious look but didn't press. Instead, she said, "It's been three hours since you disappeared. Go speak to your father before he somehow figures out a way to have a heart attack."

Percy forced a chuckle. "Of course."

"I wish you luck."

"Aren't you luck?"

Tyche smiled and waved him off, turning away.

Percy pursed his lips, rolling his tongue over them to wet them. He truly didn't want to do this; he'd prefer to go to the Underworld again and toss himself back into the Styx. It might yield a better result than whatever was about to happen.

"Father," Percy murmured as he approached Poseidon from behind. His own voice sounded weak, even to him.

It was as if Percy had just announced the winning lottery numbers.

The entire dining room fell into silence. Every demigod present swept their gaze towards him, pivoting on their feet almost instantly.

The gods, on the other hand, reacted as if he had committed treason. To be fair, he had been hiding from them. Could that be considered treason in their eyes?

Some gods let out sighs of relief for some reason, while others merely cast him pitying looks.

Well, lovely, that didn't bode well for him.

If he died, Percy hoped that Annabeth would tell his mother that he did so while staring a storm in its face. His mother would probably bring him back from the dead (somehow) and then proceed to kill him again for his stupidity.

Literally, staring a storm in its face.

Percy was genuinely scared. He wouldn't usually admit this, but his father was genuinely terrifying. Percy wished he would yell, throw something, do anything – at the very least.

This calm anger never failed to shake Percy.

"Perseus," Oh yeah, Percy was done for. "I believe our conversation is overdue."

So , Percy wanted to be buried at sea. He would leave everything to Annabeth and Thaila, the very few things he had. His mother could have his sword as a remembrance of him. He'd like to be as far away from Atlantis as when he was inevitably thrown into the sea after this conversation.

"I can explain, father-" Percy was cut off by a sharp hand cutting through the air, effectively silencing him.

"There is nothing to explain, Perseus," Hypocrite was what his father was, honestly! Couldn't someone call him Percy like they were asked?!

Percy pursed his lips. Fine then, he wouldn't speak.

"Follow."

Percy did.

Being told that Percy had been found was probably the best news Annabeth had heard in hours.

She had teamed up with Thalia and the girl from Hades, Hazel. The younger girl was genuinely sweet, a few years younger than Annabeth—thirteen, if she remembered correctly. Thalia had already taken the kid under her wing, reminding Annabeth of their younger days.

It brought about a strange sense of nostalgia, watching Thalia immediately bond with a kid younger than her.

It was oddly endearing; Hazel looked like she didn't exactly know what to say whenever Thalia fretted over her, especially when the fact that Hazel was supposed to be dead came up.

It might have been even cuter if Annabeth wasn't fretting herself. They had been searching for two hours for Percy. Normally, she wouldn't be this worried. Percy tended to disappear when things got too much, just so he could release his anger.

She wasn't being rude when she suggested that. Annabeth had told Percy that it was good for him. If he could find a way to release his anger, preventing him from snapping at her or any campers, then he should do whatever helped him cope.

But they were on Olympus , and this was different. He had gods who were already after his blood, just two days in. It was different from being at camp, a safe haven for demigods, even from gods. No matter what may Mr. D say.

She was worried beyond belief.

She wanted to lash out at Thalia, make her focus . They needed to find Percy before a god did.

When Connor came up to them, out of breath, leaning against a wall, Annabeth feared that someone like Apollo or even Zeus, who had been somewhat agreeable these last two days, might have already found Percy.

When she heard that Percy had been the one to approach a god, anxiety shit through her even more.

Did he disrespect one in the process? Is he okay? Where did he go?

All Conner told her was that Percy had gone to Poseidon, who definitely hadn't been happy. Still, Percy seemed perfectly fine, if not a little emotional.

It did little to soothe her anxiety, but Conner seemed calm, despite being completely out of breath.

"Where did he go?" she asked, her voice soft.

"No idea," Conner breathed, his chest heaving. "Poseidon practically dragged him away. I almost thought it was godly magic, but Percy's eyes were clear, so he wasn't being forced to move," Conner shrugged.

Gods, she was afraid for her best friend. He didn't know how to control his mouth most of the time, offending gods whenever someone wasn't there to rein him in.

He had done it not even a whole twenty-four hours before, yelling at Poseidon. Percy had already angered Apollo and Dionysus more than once as well.

She didn't want him to get hurt. As if reading her mind, Thalia placed a hand on her shoulder. "He'll be fine, it's Percy ," Annabeth sighed.

"I know, that's what I'm concerned about," Annabeth replied.

Thalia gave her a strange look. "He's smart; he knows what he's doing most of the time," she told Annabeth firmly.

Annabeth bit her lip. "I know he's smart, but it doesn't mean I'm not worried about him," she retorted, giving Thalia a sharp glare. "I know one of my best friends, I know how he thinks."

"Do you, Annie?" Thalia asked softly, her eyes displaying sudden sympathy. "Did you know how he felt during this quest? Did you know about Gabe? Do you truly know him as well as you think you do?"

"Apparently, I don't know anything about anyone," Annabeth exclaimed, her voice growing louder. She turned on her heel to face Thalia directly. "Who's Jason? I didn't even know you had a brother. There's no reason I shouldn't have known," she cried in frustration.

Conner looked back and forth between them and quietly slipped away, muttering something about 'women.'

"Don't turn this on me, Annabeth," She warned, "I already told you, Jason was a sensitive topic for me, I didn't tell anyone about him— not you, not Luke, no one but my mother and father knew about Jason, and apparently Hera," She huffed out.

"You didn't immediately open up to me either, and in case you forgot Annabeth, I got turned into a tree , I was planning on eventually mentioning it when I was ready, I kind of got distracted by being a tree," Thaila spat out, spinning on her heel and walking out of the room.

Annabeth ran a hand over her face, she didn't want that conversation to end like that. That was the last thing she wanted.

She was stressed , why couldn't anyone see that? She wanted to make sure Percy was okay, she wanted to be told why things were being kept from her.

Did Percy truly not trust her enough with his feelings? She was sure she had been a great friend to him over the past few years. She was his anchor, his mortal anchor . That had to mean something for gods' sake.

She was his best friend. Annabeth told him everything , rarely keeping something from him, and when she did, she believed it was for a good reason. Why would he keep something as important as this away from her?

She loved him, in a purely platonic way, contrary to what most demigods assumed. She was sure he felt the same way.

So why didn't he come to her when he was having thoughts like drowning himself? She would've been able to help him. She was strong enough; did he not think she was?

Out of everyone he could go to, why not go to her unless he thought she was too emotionally weak to handle his emotions?

She didn't come off that way, she hoped. It was Percy , like Thaila had said, he would never think of her as weak. In any way.

She hoped so at the very least.

Percy had always, secretly, wondered how far he could push a God before they snapped. He had subtly tried it with Zeus but that ended up getting the Gods to vote on how he died when he was fourteen.

So obviously it hadn't truly gone well.

He had pissed Hermes off only just a few weeks ago, but thankfully he had been forgiven for that little outburst. Hermes hadn't even truly threatened to kill him.

He was flattered.

Then Dionysus when he was fourteen, but Chiron and Nico had saved him from being either turned into a dolphin, which sounded like a fair want at this point or going insane.

Percy knew which one he preferred.

Hades had happened more than once, when he was twelve, when he was fourteen though that was kind of iffy, then when he was fifteen and sixteen, which happened within the span of a few hours.

Then there was the whole Ares thing that he didn't even want to get into, even in his brain, that would give him a headache.

Hera was Hera. So of course she hated him, he had no reason to push her further. She might just do something insane.

Could he say, Apollo? Technically he had pissed the God off but it was also technically not in his time so he wasn't going to count Apollo. He actually liked the future Apollo.

So truly, Percy had a record. He was making his way around the Olympians at this point. By the end of the year, he'll have pissed off every Olympian.

The only one he was truly trying to refrain from making mad was Aphrodite, that woman was scary. The things she could do to his love life made him shiver.

But the only other one he sometimes made an effort to stop offending was his father.

His father had never really given Percy a reason to hate him in his time. Sure he could be a deadbeat at some point in time, but all the gods' were. Poseidon had protected him throughout most of his encounters.

Even with the whole 'voting to kill him' thing, his father made a point to vouch for Percy.

Protected him probably without Percy even knowing many times.

Percy wasn't blind, he knew there were times he wasn't around when the gods' had probably held another vote to blast him to smithereens.

The only reason he could say he was here at this point was because his father wasn't the worst godly parent to have.

So as he followed his father, he tried to keep himself as calm as possible.

His father wouldn't kill him, he reminded himself as they stepped into the beach room that Poseidon had shown him earlier.

"This ends now," Poseidon said abruptly, his voice like the earthquake before a tsunami, a warning.

Okay, maybe Percy was a little scared.

Notes:

I have a headache :(

Chapter 21: Break 2.0 Percy Dies (Maybe?)

Notes:

We hit 100K words! As well as almost 4k Kudos' I love you all!

Chapter Text

Percy survived!

Hooray! Or something like that.

That entire encounter had probably been the most terrifying experience Percy had ever experienced.

Truthfully, it had turned out much better than Percy had initially anticipated.

That did not make the horrifying experience any less petrifying.

The words that had spilt from his father's mouth the moment Percy entered the beach room had sent a chill down his spine.

After the words, "This ends now," nothing was said for a while.

They stood in silence, with only the sound of the beach waves crashing into the shore, echoing within the imaginary walls of the room.

Percy had considered speaking once or twice, but each time he was deterred by his father's tense posture and sharp glances whenever Percy attempted to open his mouth.

His father stood there, shoulders squared, gaze fixed on the sea ahead.

He saw, each time he attempted to speak, he noticed his father's jaw tensing, causing him to cringe with each attempt.

In the end, Percy turned on his heel, disregarding the eyes that shot over to him, the intense stare piercing the back of his head.

Now mirroring his father's tense stance, he stood, also staring into the sea ahead.

It wasn't as calming as he had hoped.

His mind, still reeling from the last three hours, was beginning to throb with a headache.

Demigods rarely fell ill; the divine genes prevented that. The ichor flowing through their blood kept sickness at bay, including headaches and body aches.

Seemingly, he was too overwhelmed for even the ichor in his blood to stave off his headache.

Them standing there should've been the end of it, but Percy never knew when to stop talking.

"Father," Percy began, persisting even as Poseidon raised his hand in a brief attempt to interrupt.

Perhaps he was a little bit insane.

"I'm going to be completely honest, and please let me speak. I'm really tired of being interrupted," Percy said, mustering much-needed courage from who knows where.

"Perseus," Poseidon began, his voice carrying a warning tone.

But Percy pressed on.

"My thoughts are being spoken aloud, everything personal to me is laid out in front of everyone. My feelings, thoughts, opinions. It may not mean much to you gods, but it means everything to me. Things I've never intended to share with anyone, things I've kept secret for a reason," Percy started, his voice trembling, "Yes, my thoughts might be deemed 'treasonous,' but I don't care! I never expected to have every god known to man present here to hear my personal thoughts. I don't care what any of you think about my feelings! My opinions are mine alone. My thoughts are meant to be private, not paraded around like it's some sort of circus," he exclaimed, breathless.

His father's reaction.. well he didn't know.

Poseidon remained still, not releasing his wrath upon Percy, so he took it as a cue to continue.

"You're my father, yes, and I respect you, it may not seem like it, but I respect a lot of you, Lady Artemis, Lord Hades, Lady Hestia, gods forbid, even Mr. D." His father made a weird face, the first look Percy had gotten since the start of his rant.

"I hate, absolutely despise , being told that I'm being disrespectful for my thoughts. If you had come to me in a nice way, hell , just a slightly polite way, and asked me to not be so disrespectful, if you hadn't demanded it maybe I'd have been better." Maybe that was unfair to his father, Poseidon hadn't technically demanded anything of him, Percy was just being emotional.

"Maybe if your children weren't cornering me at every given moment, asking me just–- dumb questions," He stammered, "maybe if the gods weren't glaring at me at every word in the book, maybe if the demigods stopped harassing me, maybe I would be better!" Percy clenched his fists.

It was silent for a moment.

"...Maybe if everyone here was even a little respectful to me, maybe we wouldn't be having this conversation." Percy took a deep breath, his chest heaving.

His father had averted his gaze, fixating on the sea once more.

A surge of anger coursed through Percy.

Having just bared his heart for the first time in what felt like years, he couldn't bear being ignored.

Percy opened his mouth, most likely to curse out his father, anger blinding any self-preservation.

"You truly are a child of mine," Poseidon remarked.

Percy recoiled.

"What? I– what ? Of course, I am?" Percy stammered, eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Poseidon let out a deep chuckle, turning his head to glance at Percy.

Standing awkwardly in the middle of the beach, hands by his sides and head tilted upward toward his father, Percy felt a mix of confusion and slight anger. To avoid facing his father's expression, he turned to gaze at the sea.

However, his pause was immediate.

His father hadn't been ignoring him, not by any means.

The sea was roaring, waves crashing louder and farther on the shore, their fury evident as they rose taller than Poseidon's stature—eight feet, at the very least.

Percy hadn't noticed before, but the wind was whipping around him. His hair flew wildly, and he felt a slight fear of being picked up and thrown.

The ground beneath him rumbled audibly, combining with the sea's roar. Palm trees bowed to the will of the wind, their fronds screeching against the force pushing them down.

The door behind them, the gateway to Olympus, shook violently. Though lacking hinges in ancient Greece, if it had them and wasn't held together by godly magic, Percy was sure it would have flown off.

Noticing that Percy had taken notice in the change of the weather, Poseidon gave him another rumble of a chuckle.

"Did–did I do this?" Percy asked shakily, taking a small step back.

Poseidon seemed to soften ever so slightly at Percy's distressed tone. "This isn't a bad thing. I have known since you stepped foot into my domain how powerful you are," he admitted, turning his head towards Percy.

"The sea reacted to your emotions," Poseidon's lip twisted upwards, "When Kymopoliea was just a babe, the sea had the same reactions, though hers were always a little… destructive," Poseidon recalled, his eyes lingering on Percy.

"It's not something to fear," he reassured, "It is power, power that someone like you should wield. I do not foresee you using it for dishonorable purposes."

Percy felt the tell-tale signs of tears welling up in his eyes, whether from his earlier rant or his current distressed body posture wasn't entirely clear.

Percy's nails dug into his skin.

He wasn't just scared of his powers.

He was terrified.

Percy knew he could harm someone.

The idea of injuring someone like Annabeth or Grover made him feel sick to his stomach.

"You will only worsen it if you continue to worry," Poseidon warned.

"How do I make it stop ?" Percy interjected, his voice boarding on hysterics. This couldn't be happening. What if everyone on Olympus could feel this right now? What if he had caused destruction to something? What if he had harmed someone?

The ground beneath him began to fracture, cracks forming around him in jagged patterns. Behind him, he heard what could only be described as the slam of a door.

His body wouldn't stop shaking, his hands now adorned with irritated red, jagged scrapes and torn skin from his nails digging in so deeply.

He didn't know why he was reacting so intensely.

He's used his powers like this before.

Mount Saint Helens, those weird flesh-eating horses stables, the hurricane he had created only just a few weeks ago.

He held the sky not even a full two years ago!

He was stronger than this.

He knew he was.

If he could bring down a titan in two weeks, even four years some could argue, that had taken gods themselves ten years, then he can overcome his powers.

In the back of his hazy mind, he could hear someone talking.

He could still feel the wind whipping his hair over his face, still hear the ground creaking and shaking under the strength of the earthquake. The way the winds were crying out under his powers.

That sensation lingered, etched into his memory.

But that was all he needed.

He just needed to focus.

To brave the storm, the one he himself was making.

He was his own storm. He needed to overcome himself.

He clenched his fists together.

" Breathe , Percy."

The mantra echoed in his mind, halting the fuzziness that clouded his thoughts.

Breathe .

He could make out the voice, or voices, more distinctly now. Four.

Breathe .

The wind no longer whipped against his face, his hair ceased its frantic dance, settling down on his shoulders with a pressure he couldn't discern.

Breathe .

The ground beneath him stopped its trembling, and the telltale signs of the cracking earth faded away.

Breathe .

He focused on his breath, and everything came to a standstill.

There were hands on his shoulders, the same pressure he had felt only seconds earlier.

The silence enveloped them, becoming absolutely deafening.

Then, a voice broke through from behind him.

"Excuse my language, father, but fuck , that was probably the most amazing thing I've ever seen one of your demigod children do," Kymopoliea's voice rang out, tinged with unmistakable amazement.

Another voice followed, more hesitant this time. "Are you quite alright, Perseu—Percy?" Triton corrected himself, stepping up beside Percy.

Just breathe, Percy.

"I—don't, what was that," he asked, breathless.

"Your powers," Triton explained, his eyes flickering around the now calm beach. "It's… understandable that you might have trouble controlling them."

"Excuse me?"

A flash of anger flashed over his half-brothers face but it was gone almost as quickly as it had come, "You have no siblings to teach you, gods do not interact with mortals anymore as it seems, so in turn your powers are uncontrollable, angry even at being held back." Triton told him.

"Let's talk about that later, Triton," Poseidon said, not unkindly, just stern.

Triton nodded instantly, stepping back.

Percy didn't want to talk about it later, he wanted to know now .

But Percy understood that he had already pushed his fathers limits to the point Percy was boarding on life and death, so he shut up. Something he truly didn't want to do at that moment.

Kymopoliea glanced back towards the door at the end of the beach, the door standing open, "We have our training session tonight, don't be late." She told him.

Percy bit his cheek, shooting her a harsh glare. "I'd appreciate it if you said it more politely and didn't demand it," he managed to say, his tone respectful despite his anger.

"I said it—" Kymopoleia began.

"Kymopoleia," Poseidon interjected slowly, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Percy.

Confusion, anger, and shock mingled on Kymopoleia's face as her gaze remained fixed on her father. Poseidon shook his head slightly, his eyebrows furrowing, before redirecting his attention to his son.

"We have a training session tonight, Percy . It would be greatly appreciated if you showed up," Kymopoleia said, biting her tongue as she observed her father and Percy.

"Before you go, daughter," Poseidon said, raising a hand to signal Kymopoleia to pause. She immediately turned her attention to her father.

"Tell Rhodes and your mother to meet me here tonight after we finish the reading for the night. You two will be here as well," Poseidon instructed, his tone carrying a hint that Percy couldn't fully grasp.

"Of course, father," Kymopoleia nodded, offering a respectful bow of her head. It was the calmest, the most compliant, Percy had ever seen Kymopoleia.

Kymopoleia disappeared moments later, Triton not far behind with a bow of his head as well.

"Triton will come to you after the reading and the training," Poseidon began, pausing for a moment before continuing, "Of course, if you even choose to go to the training. You seem to have... strong feelings against your siblings."

Percy flushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I was just…"

Poseidon raised an eyebrow, and Percy fell silent.

"You are not the first of my children to have or feel annoyance against my godly children, jealousy so I have heard effects even demi-gods."

Percy blanched. Jealousy ? "I-I'm definitely not jealous, I didn't once imply that I was." Percy said through gritted teeth.

"I'm angry, dad, beyond angry, why can't anyone see–" Percy stopped himself, he could feel the pulling in his stomach again and he calmed it, calmed himself.

Poseidon didn't blink at Percy's slip up, smoothly transferring the conversation, "I will speak with the other gods, I did not see how this was affecting you and I apologize for that." He hummed.

He glanced down at Percy's hands, offering a sympathetic cringe. It was the most emotion Percy had seen his dad show since he had arrived on Olympus.

Poseidon took Percy's hand, flipping it over, palm up.

"I will bring you to Apollo," at Percy's incredulous look his father frowned, "do not argue with me on this Percy, you are toeing a fine line that I recommend you do not cross."

Percy let his lips tilt downwards, "Apollo hates me." He stated bluntly.

Poseidon didn't grace him with an answer.

Instead, his father gently rubbed a thumb over Percy's raised scratches, pulling back when Percy hissed in pain.

"Mortals," His father muttered, "I do tend to forget how fragile they are."

He dropped Percy's hand, only a lingering hint of concern on his face.

One that Percy might have thought he was imagining if he wasn't studying his father's face so closely.

"Can't I heal them with water? It always works for me," he shrugged, glancing towards the ocean behind them.

Poseidon shook his head, "No, I do not want to risk them closing the wrong way and blemishing your body with a scar." He answered.

Percy resisted the urge to roll his eyes, one more scar on his already scar-ridden body wouldn't hurt.

"Before I lead you to Apollo," His father started, looking wildly uncomfortable, "I believe we need to speak of some thoughts."

Percy's head snapped up, his face immediately mirroring his father's uncomfortableness.

"We don't have to—" He stopped at his father's stern look.

"We do."

"You do not deserve to die, Percy Jackson."

And that shut Percy up rather quickly.

"I heard Pallas inform you of Atlantis' protocol for this," Percy nodded slowly, "She was right, it is not taken as lightly as the mortal world seems to hold it."

Percy glanced down at his feet, the conversation already heading in a direction he did not like.

"I have listened throughout the entire reading, you have done remarkable things, son," Poseidon remarked.

Son.

It was a hard thing to grasp being called.

He was Poseidon's son. The Poseidon of the future had called him 'son' more than once.

Maybe it was the way this Poseidon said it that brought the edge of tears to Percy's eyes.

His shoes were becoming much more interesting by the second.

"Things not even the greatest of this time could accomplish," He said, "fighting the renowned torturers of the underworld is not something to brush off."

Poseidon glanced at the beach, "You were a strong child, you are a strong child."

Percy fought back a choked cry. He hadn't been called a child in years, it did something to him, things he wouldn't admit aloud.

Maybe it was the years of pressure on top of him crumbling in that moment, maybe it was the pure confidence in his fathers voice, or maybe it was the way all the walls of hidden away emotions he had built over the years coming down, that had tears already trickle out of his eyes.

"You have earned my respect, you are truly a child of the ocean, and I am proud to call you that."

Using two tender fingers, his chin was lifted upwards, while a thumb gently brushed away the tears that had escaped from his eyes.

He met the startling eyes that resembled his own, they didn't hold much emotion within them as Percy saw in his own eyes when he looked in a mirror.

Yet, they were firm, unwavering, showing the confidence he held in his words.

Besides his mother and a couple demigods, Percy couldn't think of anyone who had so much belief in him.

He swallowed back the emotion that threatened to overwhelm him at the thought.

"Remember that the next time you feel as though you do not believe you can continue," Poseidon said.

His eyes locked onto Percy's face.

"You are the pride of the sea, in all of its strength and weakness, you are within it as much as it is within you."

He didn't know what to say and thankfully it didn't seem as though his father wanted him to say anything.

Percy stepped back as Poseidon withdrew his hand from Percy's chin, hastily wiping his eyes.

Embarrassment surged through him, twisting into a painful knot in his stomach. "Sorry," he sniffed, attempting to keep his voice steady.

Poseidon didn't seem to look affected, "No need," his eyes flickered back down to Percy's hand again.

"You cut into them more." Poseidon reprimanded, grabbing Percy's wrists to examine his hands.

Percy grimaced.

His hands were now leaking blood, crimson red soaking the sleeves of his hoodie.

His favourite hoodie.

He frowned, pushing back an annoyed huff that threatened to make its way out.

"Apollo. Now."

Ares hummed, watching as the demigods slowly sauntered back into the dining hall. His talk with Poseidon's spawn had been quite revealing, more so than Perseus might have realized.

The child was–interesting to say the least.

He didn't like Ares and Ares didn't blame the kid.

He needed to speak to his daughter, as well as his lover. It might do him so good to know why he changed and how they could stop it.

He anticipated that his future actions would displease his lover and sister, Artemis. As a male-presenting God, he already faced Artemis's scrutiny, who monitored him closely despite Ares' assurance that he could manage without her constant hovering.

Aphrodite was already quite emotional without knowing anything about the future. THe knowledge he was now abusing a mortal woman would not do him any good with his lover.

He could not completely understand Perseus' anger at the book, but he could understand the frustration at every action being read aloud.

He had sympathy for the boy, no matter how much the kid may hate him.

He glanced to his left. He could feel his child's eyes staring into him. When he turned his head, his child immediately turned away.

His daughter was someone he also needed to speak with.

She was tense around him, never fully meeting his eyes.

He never wanted his children scared around him. Especially his daughters .

His children were always comfortable around him.

At least his children of this time were.

That didn't mean some fear wasn't necessary when they got disrespectful, or when they decided they were too good to speak to a god.

It didn't happen many times but the few times it did he was always quick to put them in their place.

He wanted his children comfortable, not egotistical.

Clarisse La Rue, however, showed neither quality. She was distinctly uncomfortable, unlike Will Solace, who seemed at ease with Apollo, of all gods.

Among the gods, Apollo interacted the least with his children, only speaking with them when he required something.

Maybe, just like him, Apollo changed in the future as well.

Apollo who had also disappeared moments ago.

Either way, whilst Clarisse was not at ease with him, she was not egotistical.

At least, not now.

Maybe in the past, as the books showed. But he believed she had matured, he believed in his daughter.

He would absolutely love to speak to his daughter, though he did not believe his daughter would like to speak with him, and he would not force it.

Maybe he could have his sister, Eris, speak with her.

A yell of frustration broke him out of his thoughts, the Romans were seemingly fighting amongst themselves. The blond one, who always had an edge to him that Ares had never liked, was yelling at his superior.

A girl.

A smirk gave away to Ares' face.

Women were not allowed to be in positions of power such as praetor, at least in Greece.

Seeing it now, being allowed, brought more of a smile to his face than it did his sister who was watching the interaction carefully.

"Centurion Octavian," The woman–Reyna, if he remembered correctly, "You will desist this immediately, I will not have you provoking our Greek–acquaintances," She strained out.

Ares raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"They are graecus, Reyna," The boy started, his fists clenching by his sides, "They are the reason so many of our demigods died in the war," He hissed out.

"You do not address her like that, Centurion," The other Praetor–Jason Grace, said from his spot at a table near his sister.

Octavian sneered in a sickly sweet way, "Apologies, Praetor," He corrected, "They are graecus , e ."

"I'm really trying to figure out how offended I'm meant to be at this moment," remarked one of the twins, children of Hermes—were they twins?

The other twin, "I think he's just calling us Greeks in latin, is it like–a slur?" said, his head tilting in confusion.

"I might just pretend to be offended just to stir something up," Ares sighed at the child's words. Did these children only want drama? Had Apollo somehow cursed all these children to want drama in the future?

"No you will not," Ares told them sternly, his eyes looking onto the children of Hermes who looked as if he had caught them plotting a murder of a king.

"Right, sorry," the taller one said, his eyes wide.

Ares nodded curtly, his eyes going back to the tense argument.

"Stop," the Praetor commanded, her eyes shooting daggers at the boy before her. Despite her warning,

Octavian persisted, seemingly indifferent to his tirade in the presence of gods and the Greeks around him, as well as disregarding his praetor's authority.

None of the gods appeared inclined to intervene.

The girl appeared capable of defending herself if necessary. Her co-praetor also seemed poised to intervene, his gaze unwavering from the escalating argument.

The Greek demigods all seemed to have their eyes locked on the argument as well, having been pulled from their conversation by the yelling.

The boy continued to rant.

Every god, though reluctant to step in, appeared visibly annoyed.

Even the Greeks had refrained from having arguments in the middle of the dining hall, showing respect for the gods and the few rules they had established for the demigods.

They had thought the Romans would be the ones who were respectful of their rules to be honest.

They had shown as much respect for the gods' as possible. Hadn't interrupted the reading as much as the Greeks had. Ares had seen every single Roman bow their head when passing the gods.

Something most people of their time would do, but after being with the Greek demigods for a day, the gods had given up on trying to insert that respect onto the demigods.

The Greeks appeared just as irritated as the gods. They had only just returned to the dining hall after searching for Perseus, likely hoping for a quiet discussion among themselves, only to be interrupted by an argument.

Hermes would probably deny this until the end of time if Ares ever brought it up, but as Perseus Jackson entered the dining hall, Poseidon not far behind him and Apollo now far behind him, Ares was a hundred percent sure he heard a: "I don't think I've ever been so happy to see him."

And that sentence was because as soon as the boy and his father entered, the entire hall went silent.

The two arguing quickly snapped their mouths closed not before the girl shot a quick glare at the boy and a, "We will speak later about this." Before turning away.

Perseus pursed his lips, a slight flush taking over his face as he realized everyone was watching him.

He gave the gods a short wave before rushing off towards a table.

Dionysus let out a snort and a mutter of, "That boy," and that was that.

Ares sighed, this reading was becoming a much bigger headache than anticipated.

Instead of confronting his friends, Percy straight-shotted towards the blond boy Percy had been meaning to speak to.

"Jason, right?" Percy inquired, sliding into the seat next to the blond-haired boy. "Thalia's little brother?"

Jason paused, glancing up at Percy. "Jason's just fine. Being called 'Thalia's little brother' is a bit weird," he replied stiffly.

Percy grinned. "Figures," he said, lowering his voice. "If I were you, I wouldn't want to be connected to Thalia through anything."

A choked noise echoed from the other side of the hall. "Screw you, Jackson!"

Percy smirked, giving Jason a mischievous grin. "Anyways," Percy laughed.

"Praetor of Rome?"

"Praetor of Camp Jupiter," Jason corrected, sitting a bit straighter. "New Rome is what the city is called." He explained.

Percy leaned forward, "New Rome, Now if you don't mind me asking, what is that like? Do you guys have schools? Colleges? Shops? Apartments? What is it like, it sounds amazing. Also you guys have legacies? Like they've been in the city for centuries, since their great-whatever went to the camp?" Percy shot questions at a speed that had Jason reeling.

"Give the man space to breathe , Percy, oh my goodness," Pollux laughed from his spot a few seats down from the table.

Percy blushed, leaning back a bit, "Sorry," He chuckled.

Jason blinked, a hand swiping through his hair, "You're good," He assured Percy, a small smile taking over his features.

"Yes, we have schools, Kindergarten through Senior year, as well as NRU, New Rome University," Jason explained, "It is amazing, it's about as big as cities like Capitola, California. Which is to say around ten-thousand people. We have families like Octavian's, who are legacies of Lord Apollo who go back centuries." Jason nodded to Octavian who was holded up as far away from everyone else.

"Then we have families like Gwen, who whilst a child of Lady Venus, is also a legacy of Lord Mercury, so I'd steer clear of annoying her if I were you," He warned with a smile.

Percy grinned, nodding.

"Unlike the Greeks, we have no children of Lady Minerva or Lord Neptune," Jason grimaced.

"I do mean this as respectful as possible, I do not wish to offend you, but we Romans do not have a good relationship with either god, their children–Lord Neptune's children, as we have never had children of Lady Minerva, are not treated well within in our camp. Do not be offended if a few of my cohorts seem weary."

Percy nodded, "I understand, well not really, but you know what I mean."

Jason smiled, "Good, the only person you might meet like that is Octavian, he is–well, not the biggest fan of Greeks." Jason cringed.

Percy snorted, "Trust me, I could tell, we could hear the argument from the infirmary." Percy laughed, watching as Jason's face contorted with horror.

Percy continued to chuckle as Jason apologized, his face going through so many stages of embarrassment, horror, annoyance, among other things.

"You're fine dude, if anything I think my father found it more amusing than offending, and Apollo, well, I can't tell you how he felt but he most likely didn't care," Percy chuckled, and to be fair he had made it his mission to not look Apollo in the face the whole time his hands were being bandaged.

Apparently, the fates had taken Ambrosia and done god knows what with it. And after the whole, almost killing him thing, they had taken most of Apollo's powers away, including his healing.

So instead, he had to be bandaged which had made him quite annoyed.

"Perc!" A voice called.

Percy turned around, his eyebrows raising when he saw a grinning Will Solace gesturing for him, Percy sighed, "Well, I'm being summoned apparently," Percy huffed.

"Me and you will have to talk again, I like you Jason, much more than Thaila," he grinned, slipping out of his seat.

Jason laughed softly, "Of course." He agreed.

Percy hated Will Solace. Percy hated Apollo's children in general.

"No, absolutely not," He huffed, shaking his head.

Will mirrored his huff, "It will keep you away from the demons– your friends, from overwhelming you with questions, at least until the next break," He reminded, a small grin taking over his face.

"I am not singing, Solace," Percy glared.

WIll let out a dramatic sigh, "Alright then, I guess you can go over to Annabeth then who was very mad when you disappeared and let everyone yell at you instead of just having fun and singing with your friends if that's what you want," Will shrugged, leaning against the couch.

Percy frowned, "You can't guilt trip me, Will Solace."

"Percy!" Annabeth called from the other side of the hall.

Percy blinked, "Nevermind, yes you can. Want to go make a bonfire until we can get everyone outside?" He urged immediately, grabbing a laughing Will.

After what felt like a grueling century, they had finally pulled every demigod, including the Romans, outside, making them sit around the fire.

It felt right.

Weird. Definitely. But right.

Gathered around a bonfire, everyone smiled and laughed, pretending nothing was amiss, just being carefree. The gods had also migrated outside, though they maintained their distance.

The minor gods stood closer, just a few feet away, engaged in conversation with each other and a few nymphs who had appeared earlier during the break.

Further back, the Olympians and some of their minor god offspring spoke in hushed tones, occasionally casting glances at the demigods.

No one mentioned anything though, which Percy was beyond grateful for.

He was not ready to discuss any of his earlier thoughts after the last conversation he had with his father.

And no one pushed him thankfully.

The grin Will kept giving him made Percy regret his decision more than he was willing to admit. Eventually, when he was pulled into the middle next to the bonfire, he regretted everything that had led up to this moment.

"Alright, alright, shut up you loudmouths," Will huffed, giving everyone a playful glare.

Everyone went quiet.

"Now, let's get some suggestions going—songs!" Will announced, his gaze shifting over to the Stolls, pausing briefly. "Travis, keep it clean, and Conner, nothing utterly ridiculous," he huffed, earning mischievous grins from the duo.

"Don't Let Me" Morningsiders," Pollux suggested.

"Forever" by Noah Kahan," Katie chimed in from the back, her gaze flickering to Will. "Gods knows I've seen it on your playlist more than enough."

"Inertia, AJR," Chris yelled out, a smirk on his face.

"No," Will declared firmly, his glare sweeping over Chris. "Absolutely not. If I have to hear that song one more time, I will go insane ."

A few more suggestions were yelled out, some immediately shot down by Will or Percy, specifically the ones called out by Chris or Leo.

Finally Annabeth and Thaila both called out, "Believer, American Authors," Percy's interest shot up immediately.

He hadn't heard that song since he went out on his first quest, the night before most demigods gathered around and had just sung, it was probably the first family experience Percy had felt at the camp.

It was also just a song in general that Percy loved.

Especially since the war.

Percy looked at Will who shrugged, "yeah, I'm cool with that as long as you weirdo's stay on beat with the claps, I might try to kill you guys if you don't." Will huffed, glancing at everyone who smirked but nodded.

"Damn, I was going to say "Hold Back The River," since Percy is singing, you all are assholes for speaking over me," Rachel glared.

Grover perked up, "I've heard him sing that, I think if we get through this one we can strangle Percy into another one," he whispered, leaning over.

Rachel grinned, Percy glared.

Will rolled his eyes, gesturing for everyone to start clapping and they did, immediately.

It was genuinely remarkable how seamlessly all the Greek demigods could synchronize. Strangely enough, the Romans weren't far behind, catching onto the Greeks' rhythm and gradually adapting.

"I'm just a believer, that things will get better

some can take it or leave it,

but I don't wanna let it go."

Will initiated the singing, causing the gods around them to fall silent, their attention now fixed on the demigods. Percy grinned, he didn't enjoy singing in front of others, but he always loved this song, regardless of the circumstances.

Percy noticed Will's nod and took a breath.

"I'm a little bit sheltered

I'm a little bit scared

I'm a little bit nervous, I'm going nowhere."

Travis whistled loudly, grinning at Percy. Percy heard a few cheers from around them and offered a small, albeit nervous, smile.

Will grinned as well, taking over the next part.

"I'm a little bit jealous

I'm a little bit slow

I'm a little bit hurtful, and I don't wanna let it go."

The cheer's started up again at the pause, a few whoops and jeers coming from each side of Percy. Will gave him a playful nudge, an 'I told you so' look on his face.

Percy rolled his eyes.

"Maybe when I get older

And I'm in the ground

The weights off my shoulder it was bring me down

I've never been that lucky, I've never tasted fame

I'm always looking for something, but I hate changing."

As Percy and Will synchronized with the chorus, the demigods slowly joined in as the bridge approached, their clapping matching up with the rhythm.

Percy grinned, okay, maybe Will had been right, he did love this.

Apollo watched as the kids' singing ended and after a few jeers and yelling another one started up, this time only Perseus singing.

The kid was a mystery.

Apollo harbored no fondness for him. Why would he?

Perseus appeared disrespectful, brash, self-centered, among other things. He held no respect for Apollo or the power that Apollo had.

He strolled about Olympus as if he owned the place, making demands in their home! Yet, Apollo was labeled the villain for wanting to strike against the boy?

Yet, watching as everyone, including the gods' themselves entranced themselves in the singing, he felt a small nudge against his brain that told him maybe he had judged the boy too early.

He shook it off quickly as the goddess beside him, Kymopoleia, gave a short laugh, "Add siren voice to his list of powers," She muttered to her sister.

Rhodes tilted her head, "I don't know, this genuinely just could be how he naturally sounds, they don't seem… their eyes aren't glazed over as someone with a siren voice would usually have others." She hummed.

"Well, if that is his regular voice, even I have to admit, it's quite good." She murmured.

Apollo could grudgingly admit they were right, he had a good voice.

The god resisted the urge to just facepalm at that moment, this boy was going to find a way to give him a headache. He had already practically pushed his father to that point, now Apollo was next.

Lovely.