Cross-posted on FanFiction, AO3, and Spacebattles
With a click, her umbrella collapsed, dousing the stone floor with a deeper grey. Sally jostled it before approaching the entrance of the porte-cocheres. Two attendants in tailored jackets and white gloves stood guard. She passed them, exchanging simple greetings as the massive glass panned open for her entry.
The interior was like a different world. No longer did a heavy sheet of humidity weigh on her skin. Cool air and gentle melodies replaced the endless drone of steamy rain. It was almost too tranquil. Too pristine. She couldn't help but slow down, trying to control the squeak of her sodden sneakers on the polished floor. The spacious corridor only made worse the shrill echoes of her steps.
After a stroll that seemed more like a walk of shame, Sally finally arrived at the reception.
"Hi," she smiled, clearing her throat and, hopefully, the tinge of pink on her cheeks. There was no chance they hadn't expected her. After all, her shoes had deemed it necessary to shriek her arrival from the other side of town to here. "Sally Jackson, sixty-third floor, visiting the Dare residence, please."
"One moment, Ms. Jackson," the receptionist nodded in recognition and flipped through his spreadsheet. They were familiar with her from her recent visits. "Ah yes, found it. Let me inform the property of your arrival. This will be quick."
"Thank you."
"Hello, this is reception speaking. Your guest, Miss Sally Jackson, is here… Yes… Understood, sir. She will be there in just a moment." The phone hung up with a click. The man circled the counter. "This way. Please follow me."
They strolled through an archway that opened into a more secluded space. In front of them was a partnered sliding door in rose gold, separate from the lifts in the lobby. With a quick swipe of the card, the elevator opened. Sally strolled in like she had for the past week.
"Have a great stay, Miss Jackson," the receptionist bowed, his figure disappearing behind the closing doors.
The ride up had been quick, almost too quick, considering the lift could fit her entire bathroom and more. Sally wasn't sure if this said more about the Dare's wealth or the Jackson's frugality. Regardless, it certainly wasn't every day that one had the chance to befriend a billionaire family, and she could only be grateful that Rachel and Emiya were such kindhearted people. Even Jennifer, their mother, had been courteous on the rare occasions they had talked.
Squeaking with each step as she exited the elevator, Sally was greeted by the redheaded boy at the entrance of his penthouse. She was about to say hello when she caught his gaze lingering briefly on the damp hem of her jeans and soaked running shoes.
"Ah," she coughed into her fist, hiding the wet umbrella behind her back. "Sorry about all this water. The rain was quite big, and it was a bit difficult to stay dry."
Sally felt her face warm. The sense of mortification that had only grown since entering this luxury complex was now on the brink of blossoming into something larger—something that would consume her. However, before those spiraling thoughts could arrive at more unsavory places, they were abruptly dismissed by an amused huff.
"What are you acting all timid for? Don't stand there like an idiot. Come," the boy's mirthful beckoning snapped her attention back to him.
Somehow, that subtle smirk she would have found aggravating on any other person was the perfect expression to adorn his face. She felt the rushing blood in her cheeks simmer into a warm fuzziness as she let herself in; and the foyer sang with waddling squelches as she tailed after Emiya, leaving watery footprints in her wake.
"Here," the boy turned to face her as she removed her footwear and stood in soaked socks. A pair of folded sweatpants shimmered into existence in a wave of energy, distorting the air like heatwaves on sun-baked roads.
"Whoa," Sally felt herself say unintelligently.
Did she just witness magic?
She just witnessed magic…!
Sure, she knew that Emiya was one extraordinary boy. Maybe a god, even—albeit a very peculiar one. But it was one thing to know than it was to see. After weeks of interaction with the boy, with nothing to show since that night on the beach, Sally was beginning to forget that he was somebody special. He held powers well beyond her comprehension—like summoning a pair of dry, fluffy socks from nowhere, she thought, wriggling her cold, wet toes. The boy did just that, placing the garments with the sweatpants into her outstretched arms.
"Go. Change into these," Emiya shooed her along the lengthy corridors. "Meet me in the kitchen. And put those soggy articles in the washer. We've ample time for them to clean and dry."
A few minutes later and dressed in fresh, comfy clothes, Sally sauntered into the massive, multi-aisled kitchen with a satisfied stretch. Without a word, she fell into a comforting pace with the boy, laying out the ingredients for their baking session.
"Three hours," Emiya said from the sink, patting his hands with a towel after completing their preparations. "Two, if there's no hiccup. Another hour to rest, and we leave the cake in the fridge overnight."
"Two hours it is," Sally corrected with a barely kept snort in her throat. There were never "hiccups" when working with him. Unless, of course, she was the one to fumble. Which she won't. Not after the practices they've run over the past week. There was no chance that she would blotch it. Sally would make sure of that. After all, tomorrow was the most important day of the year.
"Confidence is good," the boy walked up the counter beside her with rolled up sleeves, "but let's not get ahead ourselves, now."
"Right," Sally rolled her eyes. While she considered herself a skilled home cook, Emiya was on another level.
His culinary abilities preceded him.
She had learned of his name through the macarons that Percy had eagerly offered. The girl had been hiding it under her bed, the phone call incident having postponed her plan to share the treats until the morning after—a suspiciously peaceful conclusion to a disaster that could have been. It wasn't until Sally had met the so-called "meanie" that had gifted Percy the treats that she suspected how they had passed that night unscathed.
Perhaps… the endless uphill battle that was life would finally change for the better.
Smiling at the thought, she opened the preheated oven and squinted as the hot air parched her skin. Sally carefully slid the crust-layered pan inside. Already, her mouth began to water as she observed the well-pressed mixture of graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar bake in the orange hue behind the glass. She could almost taste its caramelized crunch disintegrate into sparks of flavor on her tongue, an absolute delight she had experienced in their trial runs.
Cooking with Emiya was simply phenomenal.
The tempoed whispers of folding cream lapped at the room as Sally returned to the counter where Emiya stood atop a bench, working the filling for the cheesecake. She leaned against the marbled island and watched the boy stir at the large metal bowl. It was always a pleasure to see him work. His movements were almost methodic and slow. And slow was smooth.
And smooth was fast.
"Let me finish the mixing?" Sally offered as the boy unscrewed a vial of blue powder, pouring the perfect amount into a glass dish. It had bummed her out how he casually measured all ingredients with undeniable precision. His response to her amazement had been simple yet aggravating—just feel it.
She finally understood what Percy must have felt every time—watching with wide-eyed awe and curious fascination as Sally worked her magic at the stove. Whenever Percy asked about her cooking, Sally's answer was always smug and simple: your mom is a super chef who can grasp ingredients with unparalleled instinct. Her little girl's pout had always sparked a sense of amusement that tickled Sally's chest like butterflies.
Who could blame her for basking in the mix of admiration and the adorkable glare from her child? Especially when a sulky, pudgy-cheeked Percy looked so irresistibly biteable.
She could only wonder if it was the same for Emiya as the boy raised an eyebrow at her.
Oh, how karma had caught up.
"Please?" Sally thrust her arms forward, asking for the metal bowl. It only felt right for her to be involved as much as possible. It was for Percy, after all.
The boy deadpanned at her before shrugging. "Sure," he said, stepping down from his stool and nudging it to the side. "All yours."
Sally grinned while scooting up to him. "Thanks."
Emiya huffed but kept to himself.
The rest went according to plan. Baking the crust took about ten minutes. During that window, Sally busied herself with preparing the filling, folding in sugar and vanilla, then the sour cream, heavy cream, and eggs. The oven had rung midway, and they moved the spring foam pan that wafted sweet caramelization onto the side to rest. Meanwhile, as she continued to stir, Emiya had gradually dusted in the blue spirulina powder, turning the ivory white of the batter into an azure shade.
Sally set the bowl down.
It was perfect. Percy would be bouncing on her heels with this color.
"Hey, Emiya," Sally called to the boy, making small talk as he wrapped the crust-holding pan in aluminum foil, preparing it for the water bath and further baking. "I hope you and Rachel didn't get something too expensive for the presents."
The boy hummed as he set the tray beside her. "Do polaroids fall into that criterion?"
"That's…" She held her chin and considered the information.
They weren't the most affluent. Gabe did not spare a penny on Percy's education or family expenses. Instead, he had spent it on cigarettes, gambling, and his car. That left Sally to provide for the groceries and tuition, straining her meager salary as a candy shop clerk.
"…I guess not…? Wait," she blinked, catching onto his wording, "Polaroids? As in plural…? There's… there's more than one?"
"Well, yes," Emiya shrugged as he slid the pan in front of her. "It matters not, anyway. Rachel's proud of what she chose, and I doubt anybody could change her mind. She simply bought three in case any of them broke. Don't dwell on it too much."
"…Right," Sally found herself breaking into a chuckle. It was impossible to imagine the cheerful and assertive redhead to acquiesce, especially once her mind was set and the deed was done. The girl only caved in front of her younger brother. "That's definitely out of my control now, isn't it?"
"You don't say."
Sally poured the batter onto the cooled crust, sliding the waterlogged pan into the oven for a second run. It would stay in there for over an hour before they would remove the cheesecake for cooling.
In the meantime, they cleaned up and moved to the living room to wait with snacks prepared by Emiya.
"If you don't mind me asking," Sally almost moaned as she removed the chilled spoon from her lips, the strawberry ice cream melting on her tongue. With treats like this, she could sympathize with Percy coming home and bawling incoherently about their lost snacking privileges. "What did you get Percy? I have a feeling it's expensive, too."
The boy waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, don't worry. Nothing of that nature. It's just a simple locket for holding pictures—pairs well with the camera."
"Oh!" Sally tilted her head; she had not expected that from him. But it was a gift she was more comfortable with.
Over the short months Percy had befriended Rachel, they were already deeply indebted to the Dares with nothing to offer in return. Sally had only become more and more guilt-ridden with each act of their kindness. Of course, she wanted the best for Percy. But in doing so, it almost felt like taking advantage of another's generosity.
Perhaps the boy had read her thoughts and made his choice.
A smile danced on the corners of her lips. Sally took another bite of ice cream, letting the fruity creaminess explode in her mouth. "Thanks, Emiya. I'm sure Percy would love it."
It was August 14th, and the day had been great so far.
As always, Percy had woken up in the morning and went to Rachel's place. Despite the stormy weather that had persisted over the week, they had continued their adventuring. Percy did not mind in the slightest. She loved water, and rain happened to be just that—it only encouraged her to go out more. On the other hand, Rachel could not care less.
A teensy-weensy drizzle would not stop her greatness.
Her words, not Percy's. The redhead was a bit unhinged like that.
Percy rocked in her seat as Rachel sat beside her, oddly quiet. Outside the car, the dusk that should have stained the horizon red and purple was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the sky was dark as rain collected in waves that rolled down the windows. The glowing smudge of storefronts seeped through the glass, and her mind wandered to what cake and presents her mother had planned this year.
She had missed the opportunity to tell Rachel and Emmie about her birthday. Especially when it had been approaching so soon, it would almost seem like she was demanding presents had she informed them. And so, she had not. While it was a shame they would not celebrate with her, Percy was content that she had her mother to spend the night with.
Speaking of the night, she should have been at the Dare's, ready to return home after dinner. Yet, somehow, Rachel had received permission from Emmie to stay out a couple of hours longer. How she had managed was a mystery to Percy. But here they were, out later than normal, and Rachel had avoided the subject whenever Percy tried to breach the subject.
Very suspicious, indeed.
Percy swiveled around to stare at her friend.
Rachel fidgeted uncomfortably.
Letting a skeptical hum escape, the tomboy held her unwavering squint against the redhead.
Under her heavy scrutiny, Rachel shifted away, refusing to meet her gaze, and feigned interest in the blurry scenes outside. It was a shoddy performance, but Percy decided to let her off the hook... for now.
She would confront her when they were back at the penthouse. Nobody escapes Detective Percy's scrutiny! Rachel was most definitely hiding another secret that would land them in a butt load of trouble. And Percy is not so foolish to forget the four days they spent without treats!
Consequences.
Big word.
When they returned, Rachel even told her to wait before heading up the elevators. Percy had watched her friend like a hawk, the dubious glint in her eyes unwavering even as the redhead disappeared with an awkward laugh behind the sliding doors.
With a huff, the tomboy waited, tapping her foot until the lift returned to take her upstairs.
Let it be known that Percy Jackson will not suffer twice for the same mistakes! She has already seen through Rachel's ploys!
Pop! Pop! Pop! …Pop!
Or so she thought... until the rain of blue confetti showered her the moment her foot crossed the entrance.
"Wah!" She yelped, waving her arms frantically as strands of streamers doused her hair.
"Surprise and happy 10th birthday!" The combined voices of Rachel and her mother bombarded her.
Eyelashes shuddering, Percy brushed the waxy ribbons to the side. The once elegant decor of the double-height living room was plastered with banners and strewn in ribbons and balloons—all of which were in her favorite color: blue. Standing before her was Rachel, chuckling bashfully as she clutched a bunch of empty poppers. Her mother was beside her friend, holding onto another set of unloaded confetti with a big grin. Behind them, Emiya held up a banner all too large for his short stature.
"Happy birthday," the boy said with a subtle upturn on his lips, "Percy."
She blinked, still processing the scene before her. A warm feeling spread through her chest as the surprise sank in. She couldn't help but smile, her heart swelling with joy at the tiny crowd, at the three most precious people of her life banding together for her special day.
Rubbing her eyes, Percy beamed. "Thanks!"
"Wow…!" Percy lifted the hefty device from the confines of the cardboard box. With a satisfying flop, the container slid away and fell to the carpet.
Beholding her gift with delicate care, the tomboy peeled back the slippery plastic wrap to reveal the navy blue of the matt-shelled Polaroid. It was heavy—a weight that captured the significance of the present. It was the first ever she had received from someone besides her mom.
"So?" Rachel asked expectantly from the side. "How is it?"
Percy parted her lips and felt her mouth flop open and shut like those dumb fish feeding in the aquarium. Words failed to express how she felt. Words had been failing to express how she felt for the entirety of the night—from the moment she returned to when the candles on her blue cheesecake had flickered out, whittling into wisps of curling smoke. And her meager vocabulary did not help in that regard.
"Do you like it? Do you like the blue? Or is it too dark?" Rachel paused before jumping to an idea, hammering a fist into her palm. "Maybe we can paint it with a lighter color?"
"Rachel," a voice hummed.
"Oh, right," her friend chuckled awkwardly. "Take your time, Perce."
"I…" Percy rubbed her thumbs across the camera. The soft, pillowy warmth in her chest coaxed a happy, nasally purr from her. "Yeah, I love it, Rachel."
"You're happy with the color? Is it not too dark? Or bright? You wanted blue, right? Not another color—"
"Rachel," a voice admonished.
"Oh, right. Sorry, haha," Rachel scratched her hair as she scooted herself across the carpet, joining Percy and the litter of wrapping papers. "So! Wanna try them out?"
"Right now?" Percy asked. Learning how to operate such a complex device in such a limited duration seemed like quite the challenge. However, the excited tug in her stomach was undeniable. She had secretly glimpsed the commercials for the Polaroid while Gabe drank and smoked away on his reclining chair. The magical and near-instantaneous output of the photos had been forever seared into her mind.
"Yup! See these?" Rachel thrust her arm forward, fanning out thin, rectangular containers like poker cards and forcing Percy to lean back and blink. "These are the films," she emphasized, pushing the cartridges closer still. "So, basically, you take a picture, and they are the pieces of photos that the camera spits out. Super cool, right? Wanna give it a try now and put these in—"
"Rachel," Emmie reprimanded for the third time.
"Gah!" Her friend turned around, clutching her hair in frustration. "What!"
Percy hugged her gift to her chest and, slowly but surely, shifted to where her mother sat.
"Stop bossing me around!" Rachel threw her hands up. "It's a birthday party, right? And I'm older than you. I'm the big sister! I don't have to listen to you—"
The boy folded his arms.
Percy gulped and huddled into Sally's legs.
"—erm… for today…?" Rachel finished lamely.
Emmie raised an eyebrow, and Rachel mumbled incomprehensibly, chewing on her lips. "In any case," He shifted, and Percy felt the hair on her neck stand as his eyes fell on her, "you two can play with the camera later. For now, however, let's leave Percy the chance to open all the presents."
Relieved, Percy let an unconscious breath escape. Thank goodness she didn't get in trouble on her birthday. Emmie was scary. An Emmie that held authority over their treats was even scarier. She felt a hand settle on her hair, rubbing it gently. Percy looked up.
"Go on," Sally smiled at her encouragingly, "you'll have plenty of time in a moment to play with Rachel."
She opened two more presents, both occupying the exact dimensions as Rachel's gift. Turns out, they were the same things—polaroids identical to every detail. Apparently, her friend saw fit to prepare backups in case the machines broke down. Percy wasn't sure what to feel. On one hand, it was sweet of Rachel to be so thoughtful. On the other hand, it somehow made the gifts seem less… unique. Although, she supposed three is always better than one.
Moving on, the tomboy approached another ribbon-tied gift. This one was from her mom. It was huge, towering at an impressive height that rivaled her own. When the cardboard box fell away, Percy was smothered by a plush Orca her own size. She squealed, hugging the stuffed animal to her chest. Her mother returned her grin from the couch.
The last present was small—a neatly wrapped, flat rectangular case that resembled a book. Percy wouldn't be surprised if that was the case, given who prepared this gift. But its lighter weight offered her just the slightest hope. Maybe, just maybe, Emmie hadn't given her a mass of black-inked words on razor-sharp papers. Sneaking a suspicious glance at the boy, Percy undid the sheets slowly and agonizingly, fearing the worst.
What greeted her was a velvet box. She sucked in a breath.
She knew what this was!
The cover opened around the metal hinges. Her eyes turned into saucers at what lay before. Cradled in the soft fabric was an intricate pendant detailed in patterned waves of deep, lustrous blue—the most stunning accessory she had ever witnessed.
She heard tiny gasps. It sounded like Rachel and her mom. And Percy agreed. There was no way. It had to be a mistake. So, she swiveled around and stared at the younger boy.
He nodded, arms folded across his chest.
With lips beginning to wobble, she snapped her head back to the box cradled in her arms. Wavy, obsidian hair fell around her face, barely long enough to obscure her eyes.[PF1]
The beautiful pendant wobbled in her vision. The cool touch of metal tingled against her fingertips.
And now it was hers to own.
Red aviation lights blinked slowly on the railings of the helipad, bleeding into a scarlet hue against the puddled landing pad. Beyond the rooftop, the inky waters of East River rippled the golden reflections of Manhattan.
"Emiya?" Adjusting her umbrella, Sally brushed a tuft of hair behind her ear. She approached the boy with curious steps, the humid air billowing her shirt. "Um, is there something you need?"
The boy had called her here, leaving the girls playing with the Polaroid on the floor below. Now, they stood here, holding their umbrellas and staring into the rain-distorted image of the metropolis.
Facing the spires on the opposite shores, he spoke after a momentary pause. "Are you familiar with the legal process of a divorce?"
Sally blinked. "No? I've never considered it," she touched the bruise beneath her shirt. And for a second, the drizzling rain drowned out her sentence, "Not in any serious capacity, at least."
"I see," was his only reply, and, slowly, the world was drowned out by the pitter-pattering beats.
Trying to lighten the mood, Sally chuckled. "I kind of… well, you know… I need my husband to be around." She had a feeling that Emiya, despite his uncaring front, was the type to interfere. But it was wrong to leech off his generosity. Not that they weren't already—but she refused to encroach further than she already has. "It's not that bad. Really. He's tolerable."
"Is that so?" The boy pulled his phone out and began clicking through the buttons. "Well, we can come back to that later. In the meantime, I need you to do me a favor."
"Sure," she adjusted her umbrella. "What is it?"
"I need you to use your eyes and look." He raised the dialing phone to his ear. "Carefully."
"Okay," Sally nodded, turning left and right, scanning the area for oddities. There wasn't anything out of place. No shining chariots. No flying reindeer. No bearded men and braided women in white togas. Although she had to admit, the view from the high-rise was stunning with the wet sheen painted by the weather. "Um," she asked a moment later, her eyes continuing to wander, "am I supposed to… see something?"
"Not yet," the boy responded, tilting his head as the phone seemingly answered. "Rachel, is Percy wearing the locket?
Percy? Locket? That instantly gathered her attention.
The boy finally turned, and his amber gaze met hers through the screen of drizzle. "…No?" He asked, the device cupped against his ear. "Good. Can you put Percy on the phone?"
"What are you—" Sally swallowed her words at the raised hand of the boy.
"Percy doesn't want to?" He arched an eyebrow. The conversation kept on before he beckoned for her with a reassuring gesture. "Give me a moment, I'll have Sally on speaker."
Breathing out, Sally stepped forward, their umbrellas bumping as she reached for the phone. Pausing, she glanced at Emiya once more, his gaze calm as usual while tilting the device towards her.
She steadied herself. There was no reason to hesitate. He wouldn't hurt them.
"Percy?" She asked over the weather's drone, the device gripped in her hand. "Hey, sweetie?"
There was some shuffling on the other end.
"It's okay, you can talk," she murmured, leaning towards the speaker. "It's alright to talk this time."
A hesitant silence hung in the air, occasionally interrupted by snippets of Rachel's whispers.
"I won't be upset, sweetie. It's safe to talk now."
And it was. Sally had realized there were no safer opportunities to do so than this moment. Because—she lifted her gaze, observing the boy before her—the person who had helped them last time was here again.
The silence was finally broken after what seemed like minutes of hushed conversations from the other side. Percy's voice cracked through the thrumming of rain against their umbrellas.
"Um, mom?"
"Hey, sweetie—" Sally widened her eyes. She snapped her head to the side.
A mere couple steps away from them, on the wet-sheened concrete of the helipad that distorted the reflective pulse of the eerie red aviation lights, something almost... imperceptible... to her naked eyes was beginning to gather and take form.
It was a beam, invisible, like a shifting mixture of compressed and decompressed air, refracting and distorting the light passing through. If not for Emiya's reminder from earlier that nudged in the back of her mind, she would've dismissed what she'd presumed to be blurriness in her peripherals. Now, even as she centered her focus, she could barely make out the outlines of the transparent column.
"Mom?" Percy asked, her voice meek and distorted into a flat, electronic tone.
Sally blinked. She must've taken too long to finish her reply. Yet, despite opening her mouth to voice a raspy "Yes?", she refused to avert her gaze at what lay before her.
Staring at the ground paces away, where the beam had seemingly sprouted from, she craned her neck and peered into the murky night. From how it had emerged from the rooftop floor and beamed towards the sky until she could no longer keep track of it, it wasn't hard to guess what—or who—was the cause. It came from Percy. A consequence of one of the demigod taboos she had desperately taken to warn her daughter from—communicating through electronics.
But it was fine. Sally squeezed the phone after a shaky breath. It happened once already, and Percy came out unscathed. Nothing would change this time. Emiya would make sure of it. That, she was certain of. And the boy chose that moment to speak.
"Percy," he said while studying the invisible pillar racing towards the heavens, "can you wear your locket?"
"Um, okay?" There was some shuffling and a cheery "Here!" from Rachel before Percy asked again, "Like, wear it right now?"
"Yes."
The rainy drone ensued as they waited. Sally had a feeling something was about to happen. Following Emiya's gaze, she returned to staring at the transparent beam.
Then, not a moment later, the invisible column fluctuated. It struggled against the instability for mere seconds. And in one final shudder, it vanished into nothing as it collapsed into itself. Blinking, Sally stared at the spot where it once stood, and only dark puddles remained, rippling as they collected the endless shower of droplets.
Was this… was this what she thought it was? Sally looked at the boy with growing incredulity. That would mean—
"Okay!" Percy's voice cut through the rain, giddy and full of energy. "I put it on. What now?"
"Nothing for now. How does it feel?"
"How does it feel?" Percy paused on the other end, and some fiddling noises came through. "Um, well, it feels like metal? I don't mean it in a bad way! It feels nice, I guess. I mean, I've never gotten something this pretty before…"
Sally smiled at her daughter's words.
"So… um, thank you!" Her childish voice cracked through the speaker. "I love the gift, Emmie!"
The boy snorted. "You're welcome, kiddo."
"Hey! I'm older than you!"
"You sure don't act like it. Anyway, that's all," the boy took the phone from Sally's hand, his arm passing through the curtain of summer mist. "Your mom will be downstairs in a bit. You and Rachel have fun."
With that, Emiya ended the call, leaving Sally to stare at him in wonder.
The pendant. Now, she understood what it was for. The woman felt a blush blooming on her face. And there she was, yesterday as they baked the cake, thanking Emiya for thoughtfully preparing an inexpensive gift for Percy. It wasn't inexpensive at all.
It was priceless.
Sally parted her lips, words of gratitude on the tip of her tongue. But the boy spoke before she could, and Sally had to swallow her overflowing thanks for later.
"Seems like your eyes are keen enough to see magical energy. At least, those that are dense enough."
"I-I'm sorry?"
"That invisible pillar was a spell made of mana—a massive and complex spell cast by Lamia thousands of years ago. It's what signals the monsters to a demigod using modern communications," he pocketed his phone, making his way to the perimeter of the helipad, "and a variation of the spell that converts the magical energy of demigods into perceptible scent for phantasmal species."
"The locket that you gave Percy," Sally watched the boy intently as he stopped before the edge. "It negates those spells."
"Precisely," Emiya turned around, broken rivulets sliding from his umbrella and the glimmering city skyline a backdrop to his figure. His lips pulled into a smirk that she had grown to find endearing. Then, he continued, rehashing the question imposed on her when she had arrived on the rooftop, "I think…"
His voice soothed over her tired heart.
"…you should begin familiarizing yourself with the legal processes of a divorce."
Soft steps swished in the humid air.
And then, there she was, brushing her thumbs across his cheeks, having crossed the slick concrete surface without realizing.
Watching his brows arch in exasperation, Sally pulled him into an embrace and, slowly, knelt to the floor. She buried herself into the crook of his neck, clutching and bunching the back of his shirt. Shuddering breaths from afar mixed with the soft pelts against the taunt canopy. A hand, small and warm, rested between her back, and she realized she was the one whimpering.
Her knees darkened from the soaked ground. The dampened patches grew with each second passed. Yet, Sally refused to budge as she felt the shackles that had bound her for all these years begin to loosen.
She inhaled his scent—an undertone of sun-warmed wood overshadowed by the fragrances of morning dew and crisp linen. It was clean. A reflection of his way of life. And it reminded her of the better days without Gabe, of the days with only Percy and her.