Chapter Text
Look, Olympus was absolutely awful. But if Percy had to choose it over the sea, he would. Everything there was always controlled and monitored by his father. He couldn't even remove his circlet without the water coiling around him and forcing that stupid golden circle down on his head.
"It will be fun, my gup. I promise, your uncle has prepared a surprise," he had promised. A guppy was simply a small fish. And in the sea, it was also a siren/mermaid child.
In case you, dear reader, are wondering, then yes. All divine parents are just as embarrassing.
It wasn't much better here, with his cousins hovering over his head as if the annoying siblings he had in the sea weren't enough. Hermes would fly around Olympus like a prison warden. Searching for anyone attempting to leave without permission.
Once at 7, he had run after Hermes, thinking that was some kind of game or something. The memory of that grip on his hair would never fade away. His cousin did apologize later and kiss the same spot he caused pain on. Although Percy still didn't like to be hugged or touched by Hermes.
Another time, Perseus' older brother, Bellerophon (yes, that guy from the myth. Yes, he fell off his pegasus because Uncle Zeus was a little blind and mistook him for someone else.) The god of messengers had dragged him to Poseidon. Later, Bellerophon was seen with bandages covering his leg while he cried in Poseidon's lap. "Papa...?" A wide-eyed, young Percy had asked. The God of the sea had simply smiled sadly... But that wasn't important right now! Anyways...
To make matters even worse.
There were limited places to hang out upon Olympus. Anywhere you went would be crowded. Thanks to the Olympian's great self-control. If you know, you know.
But after one too many complaints from his children, Zeus created a big forest with a river for them to play in. And that was where Percy was. Jason to his right, and Nico to his left. Jason leaned in. "5 drachmas bet: who will pick you, Annabeth or Clarisse?" He wiggled his eyebrows at the mention of Annebeth. Nico gagged. Percy hit him with his elbow. "Don't even start..." he grumbled. He didn't even like Annabeth... well... maybe like a friend.
Leo appeared from apparently thin air and wrapped an arm around Jason's shoulder, bouncing up and down. "You guys, check out who Grandpa forced to watch us!" He laughed. Pointing at a man with long black hair sitting on a tree branch with a practically, barely‐on chiton. Dionysus. A satyr was draped across his lap. Someone whistled. The satyr tried to sit up. Dionysus, without flinching, forced the poor half-goat back down.
"Percy!" Annabeth threw a shield at him. Vines grew from behind and pushed him toward her. Almost making them crash. He heard Dionysus, or as all demigods liked to call him, Mr. D, snort. Asshole. She gripped his hand and pulled him toward her team. His heart jumped a little. Luke Castellan, Thalia Grace, the Stoll brothers, Bianca Di Angelo, and some others.
"Alright, Dwarves! I want a clean game! Tackling, hitting, burning, drowning, and killing will land you in front of a very disappointed Zeus!" Perseus shouted. No. Not Percy. The original Perceus. Yes, yes. They had the same name, and their deliveries always got mixed up all the time. Annoying.
You might wonder. What is this grown-ass adult demigod doing among everyone else? Well... sometimes, grown demigods came home for cuddles. That's not a joke. When that happens, their divine parents force them to stay for a few weeks. Percy couldn't remember the last time his brothers had come to visit free-willingly... maybe that was why no teen demigod seemed to like him? Because he didn't have any cool older brothers at home?
The Ares team lined up on the other side of the river. Clarisse was in the front with her siblings. A pig's head was placed on a stick. Barbarians... Leo stood there with his brother Charlie.
They all waited until Mr. D had given a thumbs up. Percy had gotten the ultimate job: stand on a rock and keep an eye over the place. Thalia was fighting off her brother, Jason, who had run over to get their flag. In case you're wondering. It was hidden in the most lovely place ever. Under Uncle Zeus' throne. It was cheating. But what they didn't know wouldn't kill them.
Annabeth and Luke were running for dear life with the other team's flag while Nico was summoning skeletons to hunt them down, and young Meg was throwing insults that would make Ares blush. Bianca shot arrows at Nico and Meg. Two at a time. Which wasn't practical. Apollo and Artemis would cry if they saw her. Even though it was only meant to scare Nico and Meg off. Bianca wasn't dumb. She knew hitting some of the youngest half-bloods would earn her the smacking of the century.
Wait a minute... Percy thought. Where is Clar— something sliced the air. Spear. Just two inches away from Percy's head. And now planted inside a tree. "Jackson! Away from papa?" Clarisse ran toward him, forcing Percy to sprint off.
He didn't know why they gave him such a stupid task. It did feel a bit like they didn't want him in the team. Annabeth and his friends probably did... everyone else... not much. Percy wasn't very famous among the half‐bloods. Thalia always argued with him, Luke always stood by her side, and Bianca thought of him as childish. Annabeth seemed to like him...
It usually didn't bother him. However, Clarisse was being her usual amazing self today.
Leo appeared from behind a tree. his hands flaring with flames. Percy yelped and ducked before the fire could hit him. "Valdez! You are standing 3 inches away from him; how the hell did you miss!?" Clarisse was coming.
Shit! Shit! Shit! Where to go!? Where to go!? Where to go!? The river! He turned left and ran through the heavy vegetation. There! The river!
He stumbled on something. Rope. He landed face-first in the water. A hand grabbed his hair, shoving him deeper into the water. Trashing around. Waves seemed to rumble in his ear: you won't drown.
While his siblings used to show off cool dolphin-like acrobatics when they still lived on Olympus. Perceus would often snuggle next to his father. Poseidon had been very... disappointed. When he found out that the apple of his eyes was afraid of drowning. Which... ouch. Even breathing underwater was too difficult for him to do on his own. No matter how much his father promised that Percy was just as special and amazing as everyone else. Percy couldn't believe it.
You won't drown, the waves repeated. He knew. That didn't calm down the panic twisting in his gut. Wasn't Mr. D supposed to keep an eye on them!? Why did father always drag him along!? He did like capture the flag when the teen demigods wouldn't play. They always ruined it. But no! Jason, Annabeth, Leo, and Nico would stare at the older demigods in awe. As if they all didn't get hurt at least once from playing with them. Damn it! Just let him go—! His throat felt so tight. He wanted up! Up! Up!
At 9, Perceus had tried to swim up to the surface when his father was in a meeting. As if made of ropes, the sea had curled around his ankles. Dragging him down to the darkest parts of the ocean. No light. No sound.
Get him out of here!
Suddenly, the water erupted up into a tidal wave, dragging Percy with it. It crashed onto Clarrise and Leo, making them just as soaked. Normally, children of Poseidon didn't get wet. That's what everyone thought. The truth was, they had to learn how to control that. Heaving over, Percy coughed and hugged himself. Water drops splattered onto the ground. Chilly air made him shiver. He almost sobbed. Almost.
Everyone had formed a crowd around them. Luke looked at Annabeth as if to say, see? I told you so; he's a total loser. Thalia was rolling her eyes. She knew children of Poseidon couldn't drown. Percy's face went red. Why did he always make a fool of himself? Annabeth wasn't amused. Her face went from shock to anger to sympathy. Jason was glaring at Leo disapprovingly.
Charlie Beckendorf, being the voice of reason, sighed and made his way over.
"What were you two thinking? Go change while I take Percy to his dad. Clarisse, com on, what are you? A child?" He ignored Clarrise's death stares and led Percy away. Percy appreciated the assistant. He didn't have any siblings close to his age to back him up like everyone else. For example, no one complained when they got Leo on their team because it meant Leo's siblings would join him.
Percy heard Dionysus threaten to 'burn that forest to the ground' if one more kid got hurt. He made a mental note to tell his dad about it later.