Percy blinked. Then he blinked again.

The apple…. She pulled it away before he could even sink his teeth in. Did he even want to take a bite?

He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. The lingering taste of heaven and sin lingered on his lips, making them tingle like static on an older TV screen. It tasted like—

"Perseus?" Starfire shook his shoulder gently. A wave of fire rolled through his veins, burning away the lingering chill and goosebumps Mother Night had left him with. "Are you okay? You looked as if you had seen a flumgorf."

Floomgorf? Percy blinked his eyes again, pushing away the frost upon his mind. What in the world is a floomgorf?

"Sorry," he mumbled. "I-I…. It doesn't matter." Percy met her curious look. "You are right. A bite at a time." He forced a reassuring smile, and it must have been satisfactory enough.

The superheroine smiled back, letting go of him, taking with her the unnatural warmth of her touch.

"You are well?" Starfire repeated her concern.

"Yeah. Well, as I am ever going to be." He took a breath and licked his lips. He could still taste the lingering taste of whatever that apple was on his lips. What he would give for it to grace his lips once more…. "One bite at a time, right?"

The alien nodded, stepping away from him. He watched her hair dance with her movement. "The universe is too big to try and look at all at once," she murmured, her fingers ghosting the back of his couch.

Percy half-chuckled, "Personal experience speaking?"

She gave him a slight shrug, "When my mind wanders, I find looking at the stars to be quite peaceful."

"Yeah…." he licked his lips once more, craving to hold onto that fading static. "The stars really know how to take hold of you."

Her eyes trailed out his balcony, staring at the horizon, "The quietness of space is like nothing else. All the noise of your cities falls away. It is just you up there, alone, basking in the solace of silence."

Percy watched her. A small, honest smile graced her face, but in her eyes, he could see the way they were unfocused, looking out at the blue sky but not seeing the clouds that danced in the winds. Her gaze was past the horizon….

"I wish I could experience it myself. You make it sound like heaven."

She turned back to him, "Maybe one day I can find a way for you to feel it."

"Maybe…." Percy shrugged, stepping past her and into his kitchen. "I doubt I'll get past the clouds, personally. One of my gods holds a grudge."

She cocked her head to the side like a cat, "Are your gods so cruel?"

"Some. Many." Percy shrugged again. "They are gods. The morals of men and heroes are not something they perceive. What troubles you or me does not conflict with them. They have that which they control and the power it comes with, and they'll keep it that way—kind of like dragons from fairy tales with the princess in the tower."

"I'm sorry. I am not familiar with this story."

"Really?" she shook her head. "Well, the simple idea is that a dragon takes what it wants, ensnares what catches its eye, and when someone goes poking round its keep, they lash out."

"And your gods see the sky as a princess?"

Percy laughed, "The sky is his keep, and the throne is his princess."

"And all your gods have princesses and keeps?"

"Yeah. Pretty much."

"Do you have a princess and a keep?" she turned the question on him.

"Huh?"

"You are half god, yes?" He nodded to her question. "Then would you not, too, be half-dragon in this comparison?"

"Huh, I never thought of it that way." Percy's eyes trailed over his spartan living room. Most of his actual property was still in a box in the spare room. It was mostly small things of little value, things he had decorated his old place with so as not to look bare. Sure, he had his knick-knacks, but he wasn't going to go crazy if they were lost.

In reality, he didn't have anything he would really wage a war for like Zeus almost did with his symbol of power so long ago. The two things Percy would have done it for, though, had long since become a faded dream, an untouchable garden.

"I-I think I lost mine," he admitted, avoiding Starfire's gaze.

The weight of his words crushed the air around them, birthing a tangible elegiac silence.

"I see," she whispered, her words weighed down by empathetic sorrow.

"I have my family, though, but I think everyone would wage a war for their family." He forced a mask of unbotheredness, trying to breathe fresh air back into his house. "Anyways, shall we get a start on the day? Head to your tower and meet the kids?"

"Yes, we shall." She mirrored his smile. "They are quite a delight."

"I'm sure. So, I'll meet you there, then?"

"Do you wish for my company on your journey over? I do not mind," she offered. "I can even fill you in on what the files would have told you."

Percy hid his grimace. She was only trying to help, and he was about to reject her. He never liked rejecting friendly people, but he needed a minute to breathe, to collect himself before the day at hand.

"Thank you, but I think I need some moments to myself before everything." He watched her shoulders slump, and her eyes dimmed. "It's no fault of yours," he quickly added, trying to tell her straight. Yet, he knew the words were already spoken, and her mind had already come to its own conclusion. This was why he didn't like rejecting nice people. They always felt at fault. "I am just having an off morning. I had some troubling dreams and reminders. You've been great, I promise," he still tried, almost reaching out to her but stopping as she looked away from him.

"I see…."

Percy tried to give her a reassuring smile, but he hated the silence that followed her words. He didn't know what to say beyond rambling some more about how she wasn't the problem, but it was him. Yet, maybe it was best to let the conversation end, let silence lapse, and start anew when he arrived at the tower. There was no convincing someone who had already made up their mind. The only thing left to do was to wonder why she fell into this mindset so quickly….

"I'll see you and the kids in a bit, yeah?" He prompted, concluding their meeting. "It's a short walk across town."

She nodded once before turning to his balcony.

Then she lifted off the cement floor while her hair began to turn into an ethereal fire. Greenlight warped around her purple armor as she drifted away from his apartment.

Right when he thought she would blast away, she hovered a moment longer, turning back to where he watched.

"If you need to talk, I am always willing to listen," Starfire offered, her eyes like embers.

Percy only nodded in response. He wasn't going to talk. He hadn't had to at any point in the last decade, and he wasn't going to start now.

Then, just like that, she left, gone and up into the sky. The green comet trail of her power ascended past the clouds, past a plane, and to what only Percy could assume to be into space.

As he watched her go, he regretted not extending the favor back to her in time.

Percy had somewhat arrived at his destination.

The Titan Tower loomed like a monolith against the backdrop of Titan's Bay. The tower's T-like silhouette stood tall and imposing upon its island, which was only connected to the mainland by the very cement beam bridge Percy walked across now.

As he looked around the sparkling blue bay, he did not see much of any boat traffic near the tower and its calm waters. As a matter of fact, he really didn't see anyone near the area at all. Even the bridge he walked on was empty. Not even a guard stood at the front of the bridge that connected to the city, telling people not to cross. There wasn't even a gate to keep the people out.

It was simply as if the tower and the nearby area were some sacred areas that people did not approach. Perhaps there was a different reason nobody was around that Percy didn't know of. Maybe in a few steps, he'd discover a troll under the bridge warding away people with riddles and a wooden club….

Until he found such answers, the son of Poseidon continued on, basking in the world around him and letting his mind be free.

Waves crashed against the supports below him, reaching for their prince. Seagulls above called out to him, squawking upon streetlamps that hung over the road like metal trees. The birds' eyes followed him, watching his every step against the cement sidewalk.

It was a little unsettling how they followed his movements. If he hadn't known the true origins of the ravenous sea birds, he could have been convinced that birds weren't real and that drones were secretly spying on him. However, in reality, it was probably Zeus being paranoid about seeing Percy going about his life.

So, they were still spies in either situation….

Percy turned away from the spies and back towards his grand destination. The wall of windows that created the face of the tower reflected Apollo's blinding smile back at him. In the second-hand light, Percy felt surprisingly comfortable despite being all alone. The light of day had become a comfort after the darkness of Tartarus. Though, he'd never admit that to Apollo's face.

Percy paused a few paces from the tower's front door. He stared at the one-way glass, wondering what was waiting for him on the other side. What path had Mother Night sent him down? Why did she put him on the path to help these teenagers? Would he ever really know?

The son of Poseidon took a breath, inhaling the salty air and feeling the ocean below him still. He exhaled and felt the waves resume.

Donning a mask of confidence and calm, Percy took the last few steps to the tower door, smiling.

The door before him opened, and out stepped a familiar face.

Cyborg, Percy recalled, looking at the hero.

For a Teen Titan, he looked closer to his twenties. At least, his human aspects did. The boy reminded him of a mix between an up-and-coming bodybuilder and a robot. Maybe he had played sports or wrestled?

Percy met the kid's gaze, half human and half machine.

"Did you get things sorted with the bank?" the teen asked, catching Percy off guard. He had mentioned having to deal with the bank when he left the teens in the street the other day, hadn't he?

"Yes, I did," Percy chuckled. "Cyborg, right?" He offered his hand to the kid.

Cyborg took it, "Yeah, and you?"

"Perseus Jackson, but I prefer just Percy."

"Perseus Jackson, huh," the teen said to himself. Percy watched as the teen's cybernetic eye pulsed, and his glowing blue robotic eye began to move from left to right. "You're a demigod?" the teen asked as his human eye remained locked on Percy.

"Did you just…?" Percy faltered. He just read my file. Has everyone read the files but me? "You have access to the files?"

"I'm a walking supercomputer. There isn't much I don't have access to in this world of technology."

"And you just read my file? Can everyone read my life story?" Maybe Ted was on to something….

"Nah, not everyone. I only read the age, species, and characteristics. Had to make sure it all matched with the you before me. I run the security around the tower."

Percy nodded, accepting his words at face value, but if another person admits to reading his file today…."Right, well, I am Percy. Been me for more than a couple years now."

"Sorry," the teen half-shrugged. "Come inside. I'll ping the rest of the team to let them know you are here." He moved out of the doorway, allowing Percy inside. "Green Bean has been excited to talk to you again. He was amazed by your power the other day"

"He's the green shapeshifter, yes?" Percy said, looking around the welcoming hall of the tower.

It was a very open room with a high ceiling and windows to match, stretching from floor to ceiling. A garden of trees, flowers, and vines decorated the surrounding area while water flowed in canals built into the floor. It was beautiful. It was a modern art garden where concrete met the blossoming green of life only to be cut through by the crystal clear running water that fueled the growing life.

"Beast Boy shifts into different animals," Cyborg said, pulling Percy's attention back to the conversation. "Personally, I theorize he could shift into more than the animal kingdom, but he isn't too pressed to find out."

"Neat," Percy offered, having only caught half the words just spoken. "I have a friend who can do something similar."

"Really?" Cyborg glanced at him. "Maybe you can get him to stop by and inspire the little runt. Anyways, to the elevator."

Percy shrugged. Frank had remained busy back in New Rome even after life settled down. He probably wouldn't be available on short notice unless it was an emergency.

The two stepped into the elevator, and Cyborg tapped the twelfth floor.

"Quick house tour," Cyborg began. "Gym and pool are on the top floor. Great view up there," he pointed to the fifteenth floor. "Our housing levels are below that on fourteen. Thirteen was the older group of Titan's rooms. We don't really touch that floor. Twelve is the common area, kitchen, lounge, theatre, and gaming room. If you want to kick back, you go there. Eleven is the library, which is mostly Raven's domain.

"Nine and ten are really one floor together. The ninth is the floor level of the training hall. Ten is the balcony around it, along with access to the control center and the training sim down on nine. Below those levels are relatively unimportant. Nightwing had his personal office on the third. Troia had a shrine on five to your gods if you needed one." Percy would not be needing it. "My garage is the basement if you ever need me. I spend most of my free time there if no one needs me."

"You know I am going to forget all that, right?" Percy chuckled.

The teen shrugged, "Beast Boy still doesn't know it, and he's been here longer than you. Maybe I'll just grab a label maker for the two of you."

Percy snorted, "That'll do."

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened.

The first thing Percy noticed was the ample amount of light streaming into the area.

Windows formed the majority of the side walls, letting in the unyielding shine of Apollo. Out the windows on one side was the endless stretch of the blue Pacific Ocean. Somewhere out there was the immortal realm of Atlantis, where his father ruled, separate from the mortal shell of the city in the Atlantic. Then, to the other side, there was the towering mass of man, which was the sea of concrete and steel buildings of Jump City.

Directly forward of the elevator was a series of couches, bean bags, and various chairs arranged around a center screen that was far larger than any TV Percy had seen before. He had seen trucks that were smaller than that screen.

"This really is the chill floor, huh?"

"Yup. This way," Cyborg nodded his head to the side, leading Percy behind the elevator. "The team should be making lunch right now."

Percy followed as his eyes drifted across every surface, taking in every detail he could. Photos hung from the walls, with a group of costumed young adults smiling back at him, frozen in time. Notably, they were not the ones he had seen in the street the other day, which likely meant they were the generation before.

Where their photos ended, sculptures and other displays of art took the stage. It looked almost like a miniature museum.

Are the Teen Titans secretly art collectors?

Percy turned his gaze back to where Cyborg was taking him. The corridor they traveled opened up into a large state-of-the-art kitchen with glossy granite countertops and a matte black backsplash. Around the room, various people were in different stages of eating, and they all paused simultaneously as they looked at him.

"Hello." Percy waved, glancing from each person to the next. Starfire was not present, he noted.

"Is this the guy?" the green kid asked, dropping his spoon into his cereal, milk splashing everywhere over the center island. The kid, uncaring of the mess, proceeded to morph into a parrot, fly over the counter, and unmorphed right in front of Percy. His white-gloved hand shot out for a handshake. "Nice to meet you, again," he said as Percy took his hand. "I'm Beast Boy, resident ladies' man."

Beast Boy is the animal shifter, Percy noted mentally.

A girl in a red and gold Wonder Woman shirt laughed from the corner to the right of where the boy once was. She sat with a dwindling salad in front of her. "Ladies man? Says who?"

"Uh, Jump Teen Mag. I have the copy in my room if you want proof," Beast Boy shot back at the girl.

"Oh yeah, because the gossip magazine targeted at young girls in puberty is the most factual piece of evidence one could have," she laughed with a roll of her blue eyes. Her laugh was familiar, a boisterous noise that sounded similar to Thalia's own laugh of all people.

"You are just jealous I was on the cover and not you."

"Please," the girl waved him off.

Percy watched as the gauntlet on her arm glimmered in the light during her movement. The golden hue struck the light into his eyes, causing his smile to falter for a moment.

He had seen similar-styled gauntlets before. Blondie was Greek and likely an Amazonian, if he had to guess. He knew Diana had prodigies. Wonder Girl should be no surprise there. He had seen her name on the file list, plus her obvious red shirt.

"Right," Percy cut in between the bickering children. "It is nice to meet you, Beast Boy. I don't know what you all know of me, but my name is Percy, and for better or worse, hopefully better, I am here to help you guys out."

"I'm Cassandra, but everyone calls me Cassie." The Amazonian spoke. "Can we spar? I heard you were able to beat back Cinderblock alone."

Yup. She's an Amazon.

"I only finished what you guys started with him, and as for the spar…." Percy looked to Cyborg, hoping for an escape from fighting the girl on day one. The machine-teen shrugged. Percy turned back to the girl. "Maybe in a bit. I'm sure there are some more pressing matters to deal with."

The blonde shrugged, turning back to her salad.

Percy turned to the last one in the room.

I've met every name on the files but you, so that must mean you are Raven.

It was the same girl who had sunk into the road the other day. She was draped in a navy blue, almost black robe that occluded most of her person. Her long obsidian black hair with hints of purple highlights cascaded down the front of her shoulders near a red gem that bound her robe closed. She looked young, younger than the Amazon and Cyborg.

A sudden chill went down his spine as he caught her eye.

The world flickered black in the daylight.

Yet, he did not see her.

Percy glanced out the corner of his eyes, trying to be discreet. No winged woman graced the corners of the room, but he could feel her all the same, stalking him. This girl was of interest to her, and by second hand, she would have to be to him.

Raven, from her corner of the kitchen, looked around as well, matching his corner checks.

Did she…? That's not possible. Not even the gods have sensed the primordial's presence.

Percy blinked, clearing his mind as best he could. He could dwell on things later. First impressions matter more right now.

"Hello." He gave a small wave, ignoring the way the hair rose on the outside of his arm.

The girl's dark, azure eyes matched his gaze. They reminded him of the depths of the ocean, of being under the waves and looking up to the blue light above as you slowly were dragged deeper and deeper.

A moment passed in silence, and she continued to stare, tilting her head to the side, studying him.

"You gonna say something, Rae?" Beast Boy called out to her.

The girl blinked, slowly shifting her gaze to the boy, "That's not my name," she shot back in a bored tone as if what was happening was the usual.

She tossed Percy one last look before she threw her hood up. A shadow quickly overtook her face, hiding her from the world. It was reminiscent of the way Nico used his own powers over the darkness to obscure Percy's face the other day.

Before Percy could say a word, Raven quite literally phased through the ceiling, glowing purplish-black as she did.

I should've read her file….

"Did I say something wrong?" Percy turned to the others, hoping they had an answer.

Cyborg patted him on the back. "Nah, man. She isn't a fan of new people. Don't take it personally."

Understandable.

"Any people, really," the Amazonian corrected.

"I don't know. She likes me," the green boy added.

"I recall her smacking you with a book this morning," Blondie once more corrected. "She was also threatening to send you to a different dimension."

A different dimension? Yeah, I really should've read her file.

"She doesn't just smack anyone with books. It's how I know she and I are cool."

Cyborg chuckled, "Green Bean, any girl would be happy to hit you upside the head. Especially if you were talking with them while they were trying to read."

The changeling nodded, too proudly in himself, "Like I said, ladies man."

"Right," Wonder Girl tittered. "Hey, speaking of ladies, anyone see Star? I needed to borrow something from her."

The teens looked at one another, shrugging, and Percy intervened back into the conversation.

"I think she went to space."

"Oh?" Cyborg raised his single brow. "You sure?" he asked as if this was an everyday situation. Maybe it was for them. After all, Percy was the one entering their lives.

"Well, that is where she went after leaving my place half an hour ago or so. She flew straight up into the sky. Not much upwards besides space."

"She went to your place this morning?" Beast Boy chimed in, groaning. "She said she was running an errand. I thought she was getting us groceries!"

"When has Star ever gotten groceries without one of us there to handle the money, BB?" Cyborg asked before turning to Percy. "She'll be back before sunset, knowing her. In the meantime, I think we all have some questions for you."

"Yeah, fair enough," Percy conceded. "Lay them on me, kids, and I will answer as best as I can."

"Why are you here?" Blondie asked first, standing up with an empty bowl in hand.

"I was asked nicely, and well, sometimes a path in life just happens for ya."

"So the JL thinks we need a babysitter?" Beast Boy groaned, rolling his eyes. "L-ame."

Percy sighed. He knew they'd think that. Kids never understood why adults worry. Even he didn't understand it when he was younger, as he does now. No matter how much power you have or assurances, the world is a scarier place than you think it is.

"Look, I know, I was a kid once," Percy started. "Adults are making choices without asking you, acting in what they call your best interest, and they are affecting your day-to-day, but that's out of our hands now unless someone can time travel here." Percy paused, looking at them, waiting for one of them to admit to it. When none of them did, he continued. "If it makes the adults feel better that I am here and they don't start pestering you daily themselves, I think that's the best you could get out of a situation like this.

"Plus, if I can help you in any way, I will. I have the time to help you, and I won't be too busy getting cats out of the tree. I know what it means to put the weight of the world on your shoulders so young. Sometimes, you spend so much time running around trying to be a hero and you forget you are a kid, that you deserve to have help if you want or need it. If there is one thing I want from you guys, it is to remember that. Be a kid. Ask me for help. Especially before you have to start worrying about taxes."

"Huh, you really aren't someone from the League here to micromanage us, are you?" Cassie asked, depositing her empty salad bowl in the sink.

"No. I'm not, but they did come to me and ask me for help."

"Wait, how'd you know he wasn't part of the JL?" Beast Boy turned to the girl beside him.

"He worried about paying taxes," she shrugged. "Batman doesn't worry about that, nor does Diana or even Black Canary. Only my mom worries about taxes, and she is a regular."

Percy let out a short chuckle, "When you put it like that, then yeah, I'm a regular."

"And you will respect him all the same," a familiar voice entered the kitchen from behind. Percy turned, looking up to meet Starfire's gaze. The two shared a nod. "You arrived faster than I had thought, Perseus."

"Fast walker."

"Indeed." She turned to the others. "Where is Raven? Has she made the greetings?"

"Kind of?" Beast Boy shrugged. "She floated out already. Probably salting her door so no demons can come or go."

Demons? Percy frowned. Just who are you, Raven?

"I see," Starfire hummed, turning to Percy. "She is not an open individual. Please excuse her for being so withdrawn. This week has already been hard on her."

Percy waved her off. He had dealt with kids like that when he was younger before. It was a game of patience and honesty with them. "It's fine. I'm sure with time, we will grow to be comfortable around each other."

"I wouldn't bank on it," Cassie snorted. "She still skirts out the room around us, and we've known her for a few months now."

Maybe I should introduce her to Nico.

"Well, she'll play by her own speed, but what about you guys?" he asked the teens. "This is a two-way relationship at play here. I'd rather not step on any toes if we can avoid it. What can I do for you all that is something simple you'd want? Or something you want to be respected?"

The three children looked at each other, shrugging at one another.

Had anyone asked what you wanted before? Percy wondered.

"You know how to grill?" Cyborg finally asked, and Percy blinked. That was not what he expected to be asked.

"Of course."

"Can you teach me? I mean, I can search and download a million tutorials in the blink of an eye, but it'd be nice not to have to do that for once."

Percy didn't hesitate and nodded. "I'd be happy to. I know how to make a mean smoked brisket." Percy turned to the green kid, "What about you? What's something you want?"

"Uh," Beast Boy looked around, still unsure. "Wanna play some video games? I'm not really sure."

Percy shrugged, "Sure. Never have before."

That brought him the gobsmacked stares of the two boys in the room.

"Wait, you've never played video games before?" Cyborg and Beast Boy gasped together.

"Busy life," Percy smiled at his understatement. "I'm down to learn, though."

"Sweet! I might finally be able to beat someone," the changeling laughed.

"We'll see about that," Percy shot back before turning to the Amazonian. He already had an inkling of what she would want based on her wanting to spar earlier. "And you?"

"I don't know." She shrugged, looking down and balling her fists. "You beat Cinderblock by yourself, so you must be strong." She looked at him. "I don't want to rely on these gauntlets to be my source of strength. Will you help me become stronger?"

Percy nodded. It was exactly in line with what he thought she'd ask. "I'll do my best. I'm out of shape as it is already."

That got him a laugh from Cyborg, "Looking at you, man, out of shape is the last thing I'd call you."

Percy smirked as he looked down and patted his stomach. He was lean, sure, but he had been way fitter when he was younger and when the world depended on it. "You just haven't seen me at dinner time yet."

The group let out a chuckle, and as it dwindled away, Percy turned to the last person in the room.

"What about you, Starfire? What can I help you with?"

She turned to him, her hair shifting like the flames in the Phlegethon moving downstream. He would not be drinking that fire.

"Nothing," she said, giving him a tight smile. He had given that same smile to countless customers back in Metropolis as he lied about how his day was going.

You are not great at lying.

Percy nodded back, politely accepting her words at face value. Trust wasn't earned in a single conversation.

AN: Join Discord link in bio! Follow, Favorite, Review!

(Revised Sept. 24th, 2024)

Hope all is well.

-Manke