PERCY

III

I MISS MY MURDEROUS UNCLE!

PERCY WAS STARTING TO GET ANNOYED.

He'd never been the most patient guy around. Ever. Even as a kid, waiting around for stuff was hard. Almost impossible from time to time.

He blamed his ADHD. School was boring enough without it. With it?

Well, all Percy had to say on the matter was that he was glad Mrs. Dodds had turned out to be a bloodthirsty monster because the field trip would've sent him to the Underworld anyway if he'd been forced to look at more art.

Museums were boring with a capital B.

Oh, look! Bronze statues. Over here, you'll find a wax sculpture of a baby cherub floating around. Here's an acrylic painting of a vase. This one's a metal stele of your grandfather eating your dad and uncles and aunts.

Maybe he should've finished the job.

He was kidding! Kind of. Though, if Kronos had stopped the gods from existing, in some weird series of domino events, Percy would never have been sent here. Wherever here was.

Granted, he also likely wouldn't have been born, and if he had, it would've been under the crack of the whip—into eternal servitude to his titan overlords, forced to shuck corn and run a lumber mill and do whatever else they made people do back in the day.

Never mind. Maybe this isn't so bad.

After Aang's…episode (which Percy thought everyone had moved past rather quickly), the sand guys had been all too happy to personally escort everyone to the port authority, even throwing in some food and water for their trouble.

Most of them avoided Percy, which he was okay with. Holding up a lake and threatening to drop it on someone tended to garner that reaction from them. That weird guy who had admitted to stealing Appa—Gumdrop, or something—in particular looked at Percy as if he was a ticking time bomb, waiting for the right moment to explode and burn everything around him into smithereens.

Oh well. Percy was used to being skirted around, for one reason or another.

At camp, people sometimes skirted around him because of his dad. Out in the real world, people tended to skirt around him because of his 'delinquent' past. This was no different.

It suited Percy just fine. It meant they'd leave him alone and let him munch on his jerky in peace. He wasn't entirely sure what platypus-chicken was, but it tasted better than the nuts and acorns he'd been eating while under the 'hospitable' care of the Owl. He downed an entire bag of it on the bumpy ride over.

What he wouldn't give for a good ol' slice of New York pizza, though…

Now, the gang was waiting in line to buy some tickets to the ferry. They'd been waiting in line long enough for Percy to shift from casual impatience to full-on boredom. He glanced around, fidgeting with Riptide in his pocket, wishing for something—anything—to happen.

The line barely moved, and he found himself mentally counting the number of people ahead of them, estimating how many more minutes he'd have to suffer through this. He watched as they removed weird, square coins from their pockets and held them up in the light of the room.

A pick of ice formed in Percy's sternum. He didn't even consider the money aspect of things; he sure hoped the rest of his newfound friends had. Percy hoped they'd take IOUs from him. All he had in his pockets were Riptide, a stick of gum, and another pocket in case the first pocket tore.

It wasn't all bad, though.

As Percy stepped into the large room, he was vaguely reminded of a farmer's market, just smellier. The scent of brine and sweat enveloped him, mingling with the cacophony of voices echoing off the cliffs.

Merchants hawked their wares, their colorful banners fluttering in the sea breeze, while families huddled together, their eyes alight with both fear and determination.

The ferry itself loomed like a leviathan, its weathered hull creaking in protest as it bobbed gently against the dock. The salt-encrusted ropes groaned under the strain, tethering the vessel to the safety of the shore.

The architecture of the port bore the scars of countless voyages, its wooden structures weathered and worn, yet sturdy against the onslaught of wind and waves. The sea breeze floated through the air, settling on Percy's skin and rejuvenating him a bit.

He sighed.

Saltwater was always best. His little dip in the pool earlier had been helpful, but it wasn't enough. Now, though, he could practically feel the ocean calling out to him.

Maybe he could convince everyone to let him swim across? After a week of sleeplessness, no eating, and physical exertion, taking a dip in the ocean sounded amazing.

Thank Zeus for small mercies.

"You're not here anymore though, are you?" Percy whispered as he covered his forehead with his hand and stared up at the sky. Seagulls circled overhead, their mournful cries streaking through the clouds like streamers at a birthday party. "None of you are."

Percy was drawn out of his thoughts as a sharp voice pierced the air like a whip. Whoever it was sounded pissed. "I told you already, no vegetables on the ferry! One cabbage slug could destroy the entire ecosystem of Ba Sing Se! Do you want our people to starve? Our economy to fall?"

"No, ma'am, I don't want any of those things!" An old man in a faded green tunic hobbled in front of Percy, his steps slow and deliberate, as if each one cost him a little more effort than the last. His face was etched with deep wrinkles, and his watery eyes blinked, "I just want to stand up my cabbage business—"

"Humph. You would destabilize the entire city for your whims. Consider yourself lucky that I don't brand you as an enemy to the Earth Kingdom. Security!" The woman from before hollered, pointing her fingers, like wicked claws, at the man in front of them. The man shook his head fervently, pleas falling out of his lips like rivulets of water. The sight made Percy's stomach twist into knots. "Escort this man away from the premises! Now!"

A security guard began moving a cart of cabbages, when a wheel snapped, and the cart crumbled to its side, all of the cabbages tumbling down the cliffside and into the ocean below. Percy winced as the man sobbed, "Gah, my cabbages! "

"Next!" The stern woman turned her gaze to Percy and his newfound friends. She brandished her scroll of paper like it was a weapon, pointing its gleaming end at them. Percy was getting major Mrs. Dodds vibes as she snarled, "Well? Do you have hearing problems? I said next!"

"No!" Sokka replied, a bit too quickly. As what Percy assumed was the self-appointed leader of the group, he cleared his throat and stepped forward, a placid smile stretching across his face. Huh. He actually seemed professional. "Five tickets for the ferry to Ba Sing Se, please, madame."

"You want five tickets?" The woman looked unimpressed, her lips tightening. Her nostrils flared, and her fingers curled around the scroll even more. She looked like she'd rather give CPR to one of those cabbage slugs she mentioned than take Sokka seriously. "You?"

A knife of familiar embarrassment stabbed through Percy's chest. He had seen the look before.

It was the same look teachers back at Yancy used to give him when they'd had enough of his "antics" and were prepping to send him home for the week. It was the same look principals at new schools gave him after looking at his rap sheet—the woman had written them off already, without even bothering to hear what they had to say.

"Passports?" Percy blinked. Even though he was sure the woman was mentally checked out, she was being somewhat professional. "And would you like to be seated together, or separate?"

"Together," Sokka answered instantly. He blinked a few times and gave a quick look back at the group. He gave the woman a chuckle and leaned across the desk, "How, um, how required are the passports?"

"Are you playing a practical joke on me, boy?" The woman's goodwill had run out, apparently. There was this vein on her forehead that was pulsing erratically, and Percy honestly thought that given time, it would explode.

"Uh, no. It's just that one told us we had to have passports," Sokka recovered admirably. He grabbed Aang and pulled him to the forefront. "But, wait! Don't you know who this is? He's the Avatar."

"Ah, I see 50 Avatars a day," The lady chuckled, flourishing her scroll to the right. Percy followed the tip of her document to a gaggle of a dozen or so Aang-impersonators. Some of them even had pet lemurs, like Aang did. One had a stuffed dog. "And by the way, not a very impressive costume."

The Avatar must be famous around these parts.

"Katara," Percy whispered, tapping the girl on the shoulder. She leaned backward a bit, and he discreetly gestured to one of the impersonators. "That one in the front looks more like Aang than Aang does."

Katara snorted. She went to reply when Aang's pet lemur jumped into the air to chase a bird. The woman's lips tightened even more. She was one more distraction away from pruning up like a grape. "Besides, no animals allowed. Do I need to call security?"

Sokka covered Aang's mouth with his hand. Muffled yells leaked past his fingers as he smiled and backed up, dragging the boy across the cobblestone floor. "No, that won't be necessary. Thank you—did you just lick me—for your time!"

"Next!"

"I'll take care of this," Toph smirked, pushing past Aang and Sokka, and ambling her way over to the desk. She stumbled, and Percy took half a step forward to help, but Katara gently shook her head. Toph placed both her hands on the desk, fumbled around, and said, "My name is Toph Beifong and I need five tickets."

Percy blinked a few times. Her voice carried a tone of authority that belied her small stature. She pulled out a document—it looked like a green index card with a gold trim—and placed it on the countertop.

The woman began preening immediately, straightening up and bowing. Not that it mattered, since Toph was blind, but seeing the gesture was funny to Percy. "Ah, the golden seal of the flying boar. It is my pleasure to help anyone in the Beifong family."

"It is your pleasure," The vindicative side of Percy roared in approval as Toph out-snobbed the lady. The lady took it in stride, bowing even lower for Toph. Percy figured butt-kissing was the same in every world. "As you can see, I am blind and these four imbeciles are my valets—"

Hey. Wait. She's talking about me!

"But the animal—"

"—is my seeing-eye lemur."

The lemur, now with the dead bird in hand, floated down to Toph's shoulder and chattered excitedly. The bird's neck jumped up and down, limp in the animal's tiny hands. "Ah, yes, the kind woman is going to help us. Good job, Momo!"

Percy could see the woman's head swell up like a water balloon under a hose, "Well, normally it's only one ticket per passport, but this document is so official, I guess it's worth five tickets. My name is Keria—please make sure to mention my willingness to help and professionalism, Ms. Beifong."

"I will certainly do so. Thank you very much."

"All right! We scammed that lady good!" Sokka declared with a triumphant grin as the group walked away. He grabbed the tickets out of Toph's hands and waved them like they were hundred-dollar bills—which Percy figured they were.

People were eyeing them like hawks circling prey. Percy felt a twinge of discomfort creep into his chest, the same feeling he used to get at Yancy Academy when walking around in his stiff school uniform—like he was on display in some show with a giant flashing neon sign above his head screaming: LOOK AT US!

Some of the faces were etched with quiet sadness. A young mother clutched her daughter close, her lips pressed into a tight line as she watched the group pass by. Percy met her gaze for a brief moment, and in her eyes, he saw something hollow and worn, like she'd been carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders for far too long.

Others glared with barely concealed resentment. An older man in a threadbare jacket sat on the sidelines, his knuckles white as he gripped his drink. His eyes darkened with bitterness as he watched Katara and Aang high-five, his jaw tightening with every cheerful gesture.

Percy didn't need to be a mind-reader to know what they were thinking. But it wasn't just sadness or anger that hung in the air like smog. There was something worse, something that gnawed at his gut and made him feel like the worst kind of person.

It was despair—quiet, insidious despair. Some people didn't even bother to look up. They kept their heads down, their faces pale and drawn, like they'd given up on feeling anything at all.

A pang of guilt tugged at Percy's chest. The sight reminded him, oddly enough, of the Hermes cabin when he'd first arrived at camp. Back then, the cabins overflowed with kids who had nowhere else to go. They'd roll out cots and sleeping bags, makeshift arrangements scattered across the floor. But even then, at least it was safe. At least they had a place to belong, even if it wasn't perfect.

These refugees? They didn't have anything like that. No camp, no gods, not even a sliver of protection. All they had was each other, and that clearly wasn't enough. Not to workers like the desk lady who looked at them like they were in the way—like insects to be crushed.

A group of seedy-looking men lingered nearby, their eyes lingering a little too long on the group. Percy's hand instinctively found his pocket, fingers wrapping around the cool metal of Riptide. The pen felt reassuring, a familiar weight in an unfamiliar world.

Would Riptide even work here?

Probably not. But maybe the shock factor would be enough to keep any unsavory characters at bay. It's not like they'd know Percy was basically wielding a glorified glowstick.

Their small celebration was cut short when a stern voice interrupted. "Tickets and passports, please."

A guard stepped forward, eyeing the group with suspicion. She stood tall and unyielding in her uniform, the crimson and black fabric hugging her form in all the right places, the strength in her stance unmistakable.

Her auburn hair was pulled back into a tight bun, not a strand out of place, the sunlight catching on the coppery strands and making them glint like metal. Her eyes—sharp and focused—swept over the group, lingering a second too long on Percy before she barked, "Well?"

Sokka, ever the diplomat, quirked an eyebrow and asked, "Is there a problem?"

The guard crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Yeah, I got a problem with you. I've seen your type before. Probably sarcastic, think you're hilarious. And let me guess, you're traveling with the Avatar."

Sokka blinked, caught off guard. "Do I know you?"

The guard's expression softened just a fraction. "You mean you don't remember? Maybe this will help."

She leaned in and, before anyone could react, planted a quick kiss on Sokka's cheek. Percy nearly choked on his own breath.

Did that just happen?

Sokka's eyes widened in recognition, and he pulled the guard into a bear hug. "Suki!

The guard giggled and sunk into the embrace, her fingers curling around Sokka's nape. Her red, almond-shaped fingernails glistened like tiny rubies. "Sokka, it's good to see you! You look so different without your makeup and the new outfit."

"A friend of ours," Katara explained, smiling at Percy's look of utter confusion. A warm smile formed on her face, and her eyes grew distant for a moment. "They're a group of warriors from an island not far from here."

Percy whispered, "She looks like she's more than friends with Sokka."

Suki shrugged, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she disengaged the hug. "That crabby lady makes all the security guards wear them. And look at you, sleeveless guy. Been working out?"

Sokka, feigning nonchalance, replied and began flexing, "Oh, I'll grab a tree branch and do a few chin touches every now and then. Nothing major. Are the other Kyoshi Warriors around?"

"Yeah," Suki answered, her tone softening. Relaxing her posture a bit, she smiled at Aang, "After you left Kyoshi, we wanted to find a way to help people. We ended up escorting some refugees, and we've been here ever since."

Momo, perched on Aang's shoulder, chattered happily at the sight of Suki. She laughed, reaching out to pat the lemur on the head. "Hi, Momo. Good to see you too. So why are you guys getting tickets for the ferry?" Suki asked, her curiosity returning. She threw Percy a suspicious glance but didn't mention his presence yet. "Wouldn't you just fly across on Appa?"

Aang's expression darkened, his voice heavy with worry. "Appa is missing. We hope to find him in Ba Sing Se."

Suki's face softened with sympathy. Even though she was suspicious of him, Percy enjoyed Suki's presence so far. She was compassionate and expressive. Not a bad combination. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Are you doing okay?"

Aang, bristling at the concern, snapped like a mousetrap, raising his voice instantly, "I'm doing fine. Would everybody stop worrying about me?"

Right. Because that's the reaction someone fine would have.

The family they'd been traveling with met up with them abruptly, and the woman in the middle had tears streaming down her face.

What were their names again? So far, Percy had been mentally referring to them as Guy, his pregnant wife, and guy's friend.

Percy was beginning to regret staying in the water for so long. He felt like he was trying to make a puzzle out of pieces he couldn't see, for a final picture he couldn't completely visualize.

"Avatar Aang, you have to help us! Someone took all of our belongings, our passports, our tickets. Everything's gone!" The man's voice trembled, tears welling up in his eyes. "Please!"

Aang nodded, determined. The prospect of helping someone seemed to pave over the anger he had a moment ago. He surged forward, "I'll talk to the lady for you."

"Wait," Percy said, and everyone turned to look at him. Suki's suspicious look melted into an even more distrustful one, and Aang looked annoyed that he'd stopped him. "Don't do that."

"Why not?"

"I know that lady's type," Percy said, shifting his gaze back to the woman, who was yelling at another family. Spittle flew from her mouth like confetti, and Percy shook his head. "She's going to throw a hissy fit if you challenge her authority."

"But—"

"I've dealt with her kind before," Percy said firmly—and he had. The lady was like a weird culmination of every principal he'd ever had, mixed in with a little bit of Mr. D and Tantalus. "If you go to ask her, she'll say no. No matter what you ask, or how you ask it, she'll say no. What if we just gave them our tickets, and we went that other way Sokka was talking about?"

"The Serpent's Pass?" Sokka remembered dubiously, looking at Percy as if he'd suggested going on a date with the cranky desk clerk. "The super deadly one that only the truly desperate would ever take. Just want to make sure we're on the same page about this."

"Well, we have five tickets, right?" Percy said, glancing at the tickets sticking out of Sokka's back pocket. "Three for them, one for Aang, and one for someone else. I don't mind taking the Serpent's Pass or just swimming. I could always meet up with you guys once we're there."

"I agree with him," Suki said after a few moments. She was still sizing up Percy, analyzing him like a museum exhibit. A bit of warmth flickered into her irises as they made eye contact. "That woman isn't going to listen to anything you, or anything that anyone else has to say. I'm pretty sure the Earth King himself could come down here and order her to do something, and she'd still say no."

"Who should go with Aang, then?" Toph wondered. She pointed at herself. "I'd go, but Twinkle Toes needs someone responsible with him."

"Whoever it is, we need to decide fast," Katara muttered, her eyes widening. A loud horn blared through the room. "The ferry is leaving!"

AN: Oops! Apologies are in order, as well as some explanations. I did not forget about this story, as you might have assumed, but I did kind of take a break from writing in general. When I got back, this story wasn't much of a priority for me, but I've gotten around to writing this for one specific reason, and one specific reason only.

I'm revamping it! Well, not what's already happened, but what's going to happen. In all honesty, when I first began writing this story, it was just supposed to be a fun story where I was going to practice writing from a 3rd person's point of view. I have since reconsidered!

The story is still going to maintain its tone, of course, but I've come up with an actual plot and worked in what I'd say are some better story arcs for a lot of the characters. It's going to be more of a story, with long-lasting effects, than just something like "What if Percy was in Avatar?"

No spoilers, of course, but I'll give you some hints for things to look forward to: a 3rd POV (can you guess who?), some Percy/Azula, Katara embracing her darker side, Percy fighting Zuko, a Poseidon cameo—and so much more!

I'm more excited to write this story than ever, and I hope these new changes make it more enjoyable to read, too. This chapter was more of a filler/transition chapter so I apologize for that, but action should be picking up in a bit. At least now you see our first real canonical divergence—Aang and someone else will get to go on the ferry, while the rest of them take the Serpent's Pass!

Finally, FFN email notifications have grown to become unreliable at best. Furthermore, it appears the site itself has been going down semi-frequently. Amidst all that confusion, it's a bit tough to keep up, don't you think?

So, if you're truly curious about the development of this story, I'd recommend you follow this link to Discord and more. Just take the spaces out of this: Linktr . ee /maroooon

I'm going to be doing live writing tallies there to give full transparency into chapter development.

Also, I love talking to y'all about the story and getting your takes and whatnot. Plus, I run polls in there, let you guys decide how certain parts of the story unfold, show early chapter previews, and much more!

See you guys soon! For real this time!

- Maroon