Percy awoke to screams in the night.
He crawled out of bed slowly.
Gabe's bloody switchblade on the ground told him all he needed to know.
The seven year old said nothing as he was picked up from behind.
Slowly, the man added to the panoply of scars covering him.
All Percy could think, was one word.
"Dad."
Suddenly water pipes burst and formed into staves of sorts.
The water beat up Gabe with unbridled fury.
Percy watched in grim satisfaction.
"I have you, little brother," said a voice.
Percy looked up inquisitively.
"I am Triton, little brother. You are a demigod. Our father is Poseidon. He didn't know what happened here. He wasn't allowed to come, so he sent me."
Percy nodded in understanding; he knew all about not being allowed to go. Gabe had taught him that.
The contempt he felt for his stepfather changed into affection for his brother and father.
"So," said Triton, "I can't help you much. But I can teach you.."
That was seven years ago.
Percy was smarter than most demigods. He had an all encompassing knowledge of obscure mythology, and connections with multiple pantheons.
He had met a Valkyrie, been subjected to a prophecy by Annunaki, and helped an Egyptian magician fend off a sacred crocodile, earning him a khopesh.
He was trained to survive on his own and with others. He had fought with Romans and Greeks.
His main weapons consisted of a golden gladius, bronze xiphos, and bronze sickle.
The last of which was a truly beautiful weapon, resembling a crescent moon set on a seven inch handle.
He also had some scimitars, khopeshes, pilums, and his favorite weapon, though not most used.
His bow. Ivory and ebony decorated it, while the yew gleams through its polish.
He cared for Avgí meticulously.
He wasn't the most emotional thing out there, but his weapons were on the receiving end of most of it.
So, in December 2007, he caught wind of a powerful monster.
Triton, his favorite person in existence, had given him some instructions: befriend the two demigods that the monster hunts.
So, he ambled down to Maine and saw a fight. Two demigods, his charges, and two more. A large son of Hephaestus or Kratos, most likely. And a daughter of Zeus in punk clothing.
He felt a presence tackle the wyo demigods in question into the snow,
The punk girl charged, her shield terrifying and her spear extended, yelling "For Zeus!"
A sleek Black Hawk with laser guided munitions approached the cliff, ready to take away the children and Thorn.
A hunting horn sounded.
He jumped in immediately, firing an arrow into the Manticore's jaw.
Nearly two dozen more came down on the same beast.
The invisible thing from before became visible. A blonde girl tackled the thing.
It jumped over the cliff, before vanishing.
He simply walked over it to now screaming and restrained daughter of Zeus.
"She disappeared."
"What do you mean, disappeared?! You don't survive a fall like that!
"She didn't fall."
"Rest assured," came a voice behind him, "your friend may well be safe."
Percy studied her closely before dropping to a knee as the distraught Thalia yelled at the goddess.
Finally she noticed him.
"What're you doing kneeling? Cat got your tongue?"
"Watch who you're speaking to, Ms. Grace," said a cool tongue, "before I—"
The goddess waved her off before looking at Percy.
"And what might we have here?" She said. Her voice did not seem happy.
"One of your heritage in my domain…I will not harm you, but do not expect anything from me." The goddess stalked off like a panther.
The lieutenant, who had rebuked the daughter of Zeus, stared at him for a long time.
He introduced himself to the four demigods and a satyr.
He filed away the names, but followed Triton's advice. He talked about family with the two.
"Bianca Di Angelo…and you, Hunter."
He shrugged off the blatant animosity from the lieutenant. He'd dealt with worse.
He entered the tent cautiously.
Totally anti-PETA. Pelt everywhere. In other words, Percy's Paradise.
He whirled lowly. The lieutenant whirled on him only to find him staring in awe at the trophies.
"Come join us, Bianca Di Angelo, and.."
"Perseus Jackson. Percy."
"Percy Jackson. Bianca, this is important. What did the manti— the
man, say?" The goddess queried.
'Good with kids. I guess maybe a better goddess, at least to Thunder thighs.' Though Percy.
The goddess read his thoughts and emotions carefully.
"I hate middle school dances," said Bianca. "And that there was a great stirring, that It had reformed."
Artemis offered Bianca a place in her hunt.
"Free of worries," said Bianca dreamily.
"What about your brother?" Said Percy, "He can't be in the hunt as well."
"No. He can go to Camp. It is the best for boys, unfortunately."
"There is always the legion," said Percy without thinking.
"…I'm sorry, Percy Jackson?"
"Uhh, forget it actually.." he said nervously. He stretched and the goddess caught a glimpse of his arms under his jacket and hoodie.
White scars, deep and shallow, ran throughout.
They were obviously intentional.
Sighing she looked into his memories.
She didn't see, so much as feel, what had happened to him.
Every time his stepfather tortured him, he had simply closed his eyes and thought of his mother.
Until the last time. When he had thought of his father.
She saw his step father choked to death by Triton.
Triton raising Percy, as the boy scavenged and hunted.
When Percy turned ten, Triton had had to leave and only visited occasionally.
The boy was a survivor, and she could respect that.
She closed off of his memories.
Still in shock, she could most feel the knife cuts all over him as they were being carved.
The boy got up silently and left.
Bianca pledged herself to the goddess, who still had her mind on the boys stepfather.
Slowly her head turned and she looked Zoë and the now entered Phoebe and Eurynome in the eyes.
"The boy, Percy Jackson. He is a worthy hunter, treat him well. Consider him under my protection," said Artemis.
The three bowed stiffly and relayed her instructions.
Percy sat next to Nico and told him of his sister's decision.
The boy cried a little then fell asleep against his back.
Percy sat there, serene and content, giving extremely gentle care to hsi treasured bow. Avgí's gentle black and white over summer brown glinted softly in the moonlight.
Percy fell asleep as well. Before he passed out, the son of Hephaestus and the daughter of Zeus fell asleep there as well, joining the four's backs together.
The last thing he heard was Artemis.
"We sit till dawn. He is always lazy in the winter…"
The goddess seemed to have forgiven her original grudge against him, whatever it was.
He could live with that, or maybe he couldn't.
Whether he woke up in the Elysian Fields or not was not his primary concern. His primary concern was improving himself in self control and combat.
He had served two years with the Twelfth Legion of Rome, earning three marks.
He had felt at home but his free spirit protested.
So, he wandered around the United States fighting the battles of the gods.
Hermes in particular, and Apollo as well.
It started off as retrieving children, until it became more.
With a start, Percy woke up.
He was in a clearing. Four backs leaned against each other.
The demigods around him stirred.
"Bianca? Is that—oh. Hello, Percy."
Percy nodded at the boy in acknowledgment.
The ten year old snuggled into Beckendorf.
Percy didn't think having a little brother would be so bad.
Maybe, Nico could become a hunter like his sister.
The burly son of Hephaestus smiled, flashing his pearly whites. It was so friendly Percy nearly jumped back with his startled he was.
Thalia woke up as well.
"I'm sorry about exploding at you yesterday. Who's your godly parent?" She went straight to the point.
"Percy Jackson," he said, "Son of Poseidon."
She grimaced at that.
"We could've used you, these past two years. First year, because Apollo has a big domain and is friends with Poseidon, a new Apollo camper named Austin had to retrieve my dads sparkler. Than, Clarisse La Rue and Annabeth lead a quest into the sea of monsters and reawaken me. There is no clear cut leader except for me," she said the last bit rather pridefully, "I hope you understand that."
He said nothing.
Charles grimaced and shook his head at Percy. Thalia seemed like a nice gal, but damn did that fatal flaw need work.
Percy's flaw was under control because he had only two close friends. Both were at Camp Jupiter.
Which might end up changing soon.
Artemis warned them.
"My brother is coming. Close your eyes until he parks."
Apollo hopped out of his Maserati cheerily.
"Little sis! You never call, never write~!" Then his eyes fell on Percy. His form flickered into a taller version with more muscle and an Air Force medic uniform.
"I take it that she's…?"
"No worries, lord Apollo," said Percy, saluting with his activated Gladius, "she is safe and sound with a new family. Unfortunately, her mortal stepmother may not receive from her wounds," he said darkly. It didn't take a genius to figure out why.
"She will not be healed. I wonder why…" Apollo returned the dark grin Percy gave him.
He flickered back into Greek form and wiped dirt off of his Jordans.
"He's hot," whispered Thalia conspiratorially.
"He is one; the sun god, and two; your brother," whispered Percy back.
"So, these pretty ladies need a ride, Arty?"
The lieutenant held her head up high. "We will take the bus to Camp Half-blood."
'Damn,' thought Percy, 'she is kinda hot. I should probably erase myself before I think too much and Artemis does it for me.'
The goddess clearly heard his thoughts but only snorted and looked at him in amusement.
The lieutenant was having similar thoughts.
Apollo looked straight at Percy.
"Your life of monster warbands and hunting beasts is close to over. You are now entering a war. Be careful, Percy."
The boy was startled but didn't fret.
'At least Thalia has the you're gonna die prophecy. I should be grateful even if she isn't doing it for me.'
Artemis smirked at him from across the clearing. The hunters noticed and one questioned it. The goddess merely replied, "Of course I am laughing. You would be too, if you heard the thoughts he and another are having at the same time.
'He is abnormally quiet,' thought Zoë.
They boarded the bus. Apollo had been un flashy and without Haikus since his conversation with Percy about his Roman daughter.
The son of Poseidon was once again oiling his bow lovingly. Phoebe nearly laughed aloud when she saw the look in Percy's eyes when he looked at the bow.
Avgí was probably the best kept weapon in the world.
Unfortunately, Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, was afraid of heights.
She ran across the sky at incredible speeds, torching New England and landing with a crash in Half-blood Lake.
Percy had a field day trying to calm the naiads.
Chiron greeted them.
"I take it your mission was a success?" He asked, eyeing Percy suspiciously.
"Ye-Yeah," said Thalia, "but we lost Annabeth. The girl joined the hunters as well, so we come back with nobody to add to our numbers."
"Nobody to add?" Asked Chiron. "And who might you be?"
"Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon," the boy responded.
Chiron raised an eyebrow at the bow on the boys back.
"We didn't really count him because…and there you have it."
Over Percy's head was a shimmering green trident. Next to it was a smaller black bident and a crescent moon bow.
"All hail Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon, Legacy of Zagreus. Protected by domain of Artemis."
Chiron knelt.
"Is that a big deal? Because Dad had like 100 kids running around in the Age of Heroes."
"The big deal here is you are protected under the Domain of the Hunt by Artemis, Kelpie," Said Thalia.
"Now, Perseus, if I may have a word?" Said Chiron.
The centaur brought him around a corner of the big house.
Zoë saw the boy and the centaur making for the big house, and on impulse followed them.
"Perseus, you're hiding something. That I maybe should know."
"Nobody has asked anything about me, Chiron," said the boy, "why exactly would I need to hide something?"
"Not a secret or something, I can tell you're innocent. But your entire demeanor and personality is fake. Artificial. Your jokes are dry and you talk in an attempt to us thy you do not want to talk."
Zoë turned away then. She was almost to Cabin 8 when she heard a voice.
"Annoying, isn't it?"
She whirled around to find herself face to face with Apollo.
"Lord Apollo," she all but growled, "what dost thou want?"
"Artemis shared the boy's thoughts with me." Said the god matter of factly.
"It is quite disturbing, to see a mortal so unenchanted by life." He continued.
"What wouldst thou want with me?" She asked, irritated.
"He needs a companion spirit, at least to open him up a little. He is a hunter through and through, and is in need of company which he has lacked this past year."
"What dost thou mean? I thought he was always solitary?"
Apollo vanishes with a smile before she could react.
She was at the door of her cabin when the dinner horn sounded.
Percy had no idea where to sit, so he sat at Table Three.
Thalia talked animatedly with him but he ignored her.
His talk with Chiron was fresh in his mind.
'Your mother was likely a demigod child of Zagreus.' The centaur had said. 'Rest easy, Perseus.'
He was in cargo pants, hiking boots, and a short sleeve shirt.
When Chiron had asked 'any questions?' He had raised his arm, only for the people to notice the Roman tattoo.
Oh, deep shit.
"Can we kill those damned harpies?"
Chiron sighed. "No. That'll be a month of dessert privileges if you do.
Thalia groaned in frustration at Charles Beckendorf.
"I can't tell if he is completely closed off or overly open…" she complained.
The burly son of the forge nodded. "It's the first one concealed by the second one," he said.
Percy sat on the side of the lake, enjoying the weather and oiling his bow as usual.
He felt an unfamiliar presence.
He leaned back on the dock and someone sat next to him.
They sat there for a little, saying nothing.
"Why does Artemis favor thee?" Zoë asked.
The son of Poseidon merely shrugged.
Zoë grumbled under her breath about mute boys.
He chuckled at that. "Why are you talking to me?"
That elicited no response from her so he merely lay back, cradling his bow almost obsessively.
Soon she nodded off a well, and Hypnos blessed them happily.
With the same nightmares.