Let the minific begin!
Percy was warm and comfortable. She didn't want to move.
It had been a bad night- unfortunately that hadn't been unexpected.
But much more fortunately Percy didn't have to deal with it alone. Piper and Annabeth seemed to have developed a sixth sense. Where once they'd been the ones to come to her for comfort after nightmares- given her gift with those, they now were coming to her to offer comfort. When she woke up gasping and crying after a nightmare, after seeing Desjardins reaching towards her and watching the life fade from his eyes they were somehow there, knocking on her door and slipping into her room.
Percy was so painfully grateful for that. They didn't make the grief disappear, but they were anchors, warm and familiar in a way that Percy could never, would never let herself take for granted. They slipped into bed with her, arms sliding around her and sandwiching her between them both, whispering soft comfort to her as she cried.
She could cry in front of them. In front of Piper and Annabeth she allowed herself to be weak, allowed herself to show the grief that threatened to tear her apart.
And in return they held her and they soothed her- as Annabeth had softly pointed out, Percy had done it for them often enough. Piper over her father and Annabeth in the aftermath of her run in with Luke. As far as they were concerned they were simply returning the favor and it was the least they could do under the circumstances.
Christmas day had been… difficult. Percy hadn't wanted to leave her bedroom, she'd wanted to stay there all day and wallow. But Sally had set Alex and Estelle on her so she'd let herself be dragged out.
As the day had went on it had gotten a little better but there was still a weight on Percy's chest and a pain in her heart that just refused to fade.
But Percy couldn't spend the rest of her life wallowing, so three days after the funeral she'd quietly told Sally that they'd be going to camp the next day- a distraction would be good for her. It would help her pull herself out of her melancholy state and she'd be able to enjoy herself amongst the other demigods.
Besides- it was important that she spend some time in Camp, so Sally called Chiron who was more than happy to hear that they'd be visiting. Though Percy may have led him to believe they'd be arriving the next day- just for her own amusement.
Luke would stay at Brooklyn House of course- the camp needed a bit longer before they'd welcome him back without glares and anger. But Thalia, Bianca and Nico would be travelling with Percy, Piper and Annabeth.
It would be nice for Nico to meet more Demigods- the boy had been pouting non-stop about missing out on an adventure.
In any case Percy was- well, if not looking forward to her trip to camp she was at least optimistic. They'd be arriving Thursday evening. Annabeth had insisted that they try to be there for the Friday- Capture the Flag day. She planned on talking to Chiron about teams- something about thinking it would be fun for the big three kids to go against the rest of camp. There had been that gleam in her eyes- Percy was pretty sure that if Annabeth had it her way she'd pit the entirety of camp against just Percy as a way to show off the daughter of Poseidon's strength- and because it would be funny.
Still that was a little overkill. Four big three kids though? That was more reasonable, Percy would enjoy it she was sure. She had gotten used to working with Bianca and Thalia as a team, they'd bonded during their quest, and she was very fond of Nico too even if she wasn't directly responsible for his training. She knew he'd been doing really well. Walt couldn't praise him enough.
And she was willing to admit that the day was starting off well. Percy couldn't ask for a better wake up than she was getting, soft and warm and comfortable.
She shifted slightly, pressing her face into Piper's shoulder, letting out a soft noise as she felt Annabeth pressing closer to her back, felt soft lips pressing against the back of her neck.
"We don't have to wake up for at least three hours." Annabeth's voice was low. "Sally said we could have a lie in today."
And that was right wasn't it? Because the girls had all packed their bags and they wouldn't have to leave or anything until late afternoon. And Sally had been worried about Percy for the last few days since Carter and Sadie had brought her back after she'd walked out of the funeral.
"Hmmm." Percy nuzzled closer, "I guess sleeping a little longer wouldn't do any harm."
"If you guys don't shut up I'll charmspeak you back to sleep." Piper's voice was a grumble and Percy's lips twitched.
Well, her girlfriend definitely wasn't a morning person that much was ridiculously obvious.
"Just a little longer-" Percy's murmur was cut off by an excited hammering on the door and she let out a low groan.
What was it this time?
"Who is it?" her voice was a little muffled from where she pressed her face into Piper's shoulder.
"Percy!" that was Alexanders voice, all eager excitement, "Percy mommy sent us-"
"There's a-" that was Estelle- and she paused, clearly taking a moment for some reason before, "A- a monster here. Outside" No fear. There was no fear in her voice. Okay then that was… curious.
"A monster." Percy pushed herself up, ignoring Annabeth and Piper's grumbled complaints as she squirmed her way out of the bed. "Gimme a sec- what sort of monster."
"He's not scary!" that was Alex, "He's gots one eye."
One eye- "Oh my gods." Percy was at the door in seconds, the suddenness of her movement startling Argos awake and onto his feet from where he'd been sleeping in his bed at the bottom of her bed.
When Piper and Annabeth didn't slip in he tended to sneak onto the bed while she was sleeping but when they were there there wasn't enough space so he did use the bed.
Even as Percy slipped her feet into her slippers he was rushing after her, yapping happily as he followed her down the stairs.
She did receive several confused looks when she vaulted onto the railing and slid down it, practically flying off and rushing towards the door, where her mom was stood with Carter, looking outside with a soft frown on her lips.
"Hey baby. Sorry to wake you but this seemed like a Greek sort of problem-"
"No apologies." Percy yelped the words, "I completely forgot." She felt a little guilty for that.
She wondered what had taken him so long to arrive. But then he'd likely had to travel across the country on foot, she doubted he had money for public transport.
"Forgot what?" Carter raised an eyebrow, "What's got you so excited-"
"If I'm right his name is Tyson and he's my half brother. Seemed really sweet when I met him on Mount Tam- just scared and lost with nowhere to go. He told Artemis and I that we should run."
"Oh." Sally blinked, "Oh my goodness. You told him to come here?"
"I did. Mom he's big but he's like a baby he- the way he talked reminds me of Alex and Estelle. That innocence."
"I suppose we have room." Sally looked faintly amused and Carter chuckled.
"So Brooklyn House is basically turning into a house for strays from the Greek Pantheon huh?" he didn't seem too put out about it. "I can get behind that. Go on."
So Percy took off, scrambling outside and down the metal steps that led up to the entrance- and she smiled brilliantly when her gaze focused on Tyson, who was sat on the dock tossing a ball of crushed metal into the air and catching it.
"Tyson!" Percy called the name quickly, "Tyson!"
"Percy!" the smile that broke out across the Cyclopses face lit it up and he looked like a little kid at Christmas as he rose to his feet, "And a puppy!"
"Yeah, yeah this is Argos-" who was at her feet, barking excitedly. "He's a good boy. My hellhound. I'm glad you made it big guy."
"You told me to come." His expression was solemn. "So I came. You said I could be safe from the mean monsters."
"Yeah you can bud." Percy held out a hand to him, "Come with me. I'll formally invite you in. Mom says you can stay with us and so does my brother. After all I can't leave my baby brother on the streets."
"Baby brother?" Tyson blinked, looking confused for a long moment in a way that made Percy giggle, a smile in her eyes.
"Yep. You told me that your daddy was Poseidon right?" Percy raised an eyebrow as he nodded.
"Yeah."
"Well he's my daddy too. So that makes you my brother- and you might be bigger than me but I think you're younger so you're my baby brother okay Ty?"
"Cyclopses age slower." Tyson told her very seriously. "I am 14."
"Well, if you age slower that doesn't matter." She watched Tyson crouch down to pet Argos, smiling at his giggles when the puppy licked his hand excitedly.
"It tickles."
"That means Argos likes you. He's a good boy isn't he."
"He is." Tyson's voice was very solemn. "He is good boy. Tyson likes Argos."
"Good." Percy smiled, holding out a hand to Tyson. "Come on. Let's get you inside and warm okay bud? It's cold out here."
"It is." Tyson agreed with a nod, slowly taking her hand, and Percy gave a reassuring little squeeze, pulling Tyson with her as she made her way back up the stairs to the entrance to Brooklyn House- she couldn't help the little grin on her lips as she saw Annabeth and Piper, both still wearing their pyjamas, Piper looking much less awake as she half leaned on Annabeth, her hair all messy from sleep. Which was honestly just painfully adorable. Annabeth's was pulled back into a braid to avoid that so she looked much more composed.
"Do we want to know why you're bringing a Cyclops here?" Annabeth asked slowly.
"Everyone meet Tyson." Percy spoke firmly, "My baby brother. I met him on Mount Tam. He tried to help me and Artemis by telling us to run away instead of capturing us. He was a little confused and lost but I found him."
"Ah." Annabeth nodded. "That makes sense." She took a deep breath, "Well, I was a little scared of Cyclopses in the past but you seem pretty sweet Tyson. I'm Annabeth, one of Percy's girlfriends and one of her best friends."
"Piper." Piper's voice was still low and a little grumbly. "Same. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Sally, Percy's mom." Sally stepped forward, "Welcome to Brooklyn House Tyson. You're welcome to come inside now."
"Carter, the big brother." And as Percy pulled Tyson inside the introductions continued, not that everyone was even awake for introductions.
Still, Tyson was beaming as Shelby rushed up to him and started babbling at him excitedly, grabbing his hand and whisking him off to introduce him to the others, leaving Percy blinking in her wake, watching as Tyson's face lit up at the lack of fear.
But that made sense. Percy had brought Tyson in, and Percy was one of Shelby's favorite most trusted people in the world. The nine year old would never be afraid of someone Percy brought in. And neither would the twins Percy realised as she saw the two four year olds go rushing after Shelby and Tyson.
"Well." Sally looked like she was trying to hide her smile. "I'll make sure he settles in fine. You girls should go and get dressed for the day since you're awake. And you can make sure Thalia, Bianca and Nico are all ready for your trip to camp."