Chapter Text
“Hello, little brother,” Triton’s head emerged from the sea foam, his grin sly, “How are you?”
“Fine,” Percy answered, kicking at the coarse sand. If his reply was terse, neither of them mentioned it.
“Father expects you at his birthday celebrations tonight,” he added, “You’re in charge of presents.”
Percy gritted his teeth; of course he’d be tasked to find a gift for the god who already had everything. “Fine.”
Triton nodded, sinking beneath the waves wordlessly. Percy sighed, breathing in the salt air of Montauk beach, tracing little circles in the sand. It was just before sunrise, and the coast was empty save for a few gulls hoping to score. He loved these empty mornings, savored them with all his being.
“Hey!” A bright voice jarred him from his thoughts, “You wouldn’t happen to have seen a neon yellow flip flop?”
Percy blinked at the girl in front of him, shaking his head with an incredulous glance. “Um, why would you own a neon yellow flip flop?”
She winked, giving him a small smile like his question was the silliest thing in the world. Instead she stuck out her hand, her dark hair whipping in the wind. “I’m Avery.”
“Percy.” He shook her hand, meeting her gaze. Her eyes were dark, but they flickered with mischief.
“Well, I’ll just have to go without it,” Avery crossed her arms, “Care for a walk? I’ll poke around some more.”
Percy, you’re a god. Fate has strung threads for us that can never be intertwined.
Stormy gray flashed in his mind, and anger with the intensity of acid rain. Percy glanced up again at Avery, warring with himself. It’s only a walk. I’m aiding a mortal with the search for her…lost flip flop. Quite a noble task.
“Okay,” he finally said, and her face broke into a grin. They spent the morning walking up and down the dunes, laughing and talking and staring as green met black (they never did find that flip flop).
“So,” Avery trailed off awkwardly, leaning against the door of her car, “You wanna grab lunch?”
I’m sorry, but I’ve given all that I have to give.
“Can’t,” Percy winced, “I have to go see my mom.”
“Can I give you my number?”
“I don’t really use cell-phones.”
“Are you staying with your mom this summer?”
“Uhhh.”
She froze, staring up at him in confusion. “So this was just a walk?”
It’s all just a fucking walk on the beach, isn’t it? You never take anything seriously, and I’m sick of you trying to crawl back.
“Yeah,” Percy paused apologetically, “A really good one, I swear. It’s just that…”
“It’s okay, I get it.” But she didn’t really, and she drove away with a hard lump in her throat.
He had only knocked once before the door flew open, and he was wrapped in a tight hug.
“Hey Mom,” he whispered, taking in her warmth. Her hair was streaked with gray, and her eyes were crinkled, and she smelled like his favorite cookies. Were those glasses she was wearing?
“You look well.” She beamed, gesturing towards the girl beside her, “Caught Estelle just in time, she’s getting ready to move back to college.”
Percy faltered staring at Estelle, his heart sinking. “College? I visited a few months ago, and you were going to start kindergarten.”
“I think it's been more than a few months,” Estelle scoffed, her eyes flashing, “Glad I caught you before I left.”
Percy stared in disbelief at her. “I didn’t realize–”
“You look exactly the same,” she mumbled, “It’s almost like I’m the older one now.”
Percy knitted his brows at that. He didn’t know why his godly form put him at sixteen forever. He didn’t know why it took energy to alter his physical appearance into something impressive. Poseidon hadn’t been worried though; sometimes godly power took centuries to master.
Percy had felt apprehensive though, like his inability to use his magic meant that there was something wrong with him. What if he wasn’t a real god? What if it had all been some sort of a trick?
“What…What are you majoring in?”
“Computer science,” Estelle snorted, “Mom and Dad were convinced I’d do English, though. You should have seen their faces.”
“Huh, I figured you’d be nerdy.” Percy tilted his head. “I was set on marine biology for a while.”
“But gods don’t go to college,” Estelle guessed.
“I actually didn’t think I would be alive,” Percy corrected her, “And college didn’t seem like it was for me, anyway. Annabeth was the one–”
He coughed, shooting a glance towards his mom.
“Why don’t you have lunch with us?” Sally questioned, “Paul’s away at a teaching seminar, but I can totally whip whatever you guys feel like eating.”
At Estelle’s farewell lunch, he realized, I haven’t even been a part of her life at all. He suddenly realized there were two placemats set up at the table, with uneaten sandwiches. Percy suddenly had a vision of her growing up, being told tales about a brother she’d never meet. Maybe Sally had even promised that Percy would show up, but they’d given up long ago. Even now, she was staring at him as though he were an alien. He might as well have been.
“I actually have to be somewhere,” he forced a smile, “I just wanted to drop by and check on you guys.”
“Oh, okay.” Estelle turned away, absorbed within the pages of a book, “We’ll catch you next time.”
Sally’s smile didn’t quite meet her eyes, and she lay a hand on Percy’s shoulder. He wondered how long she’d waited for him before she’d given up.
“You are always welcome here.”
“I know, mom,” he added, “I’ll visit soon, I promise.”
She frowned, silent for a few moments. “Well, you know Grover visited me a few days ago? Him and Juniper having kids! Oh, I still remember him from Yancy. I just can’t believe it.”
Percy didn’t answer, he’d fallen out of touch with Grover a while ago. Grover had been traveling the world, spreading Pan’s message, and they hadn’t spoken since.“I didn’t know that,” he finally said, clearing his throat, “I’m happy for him.”
“Percy–”
“It’s fine, Mom.”
Sally squeezed his hand. “Oh, honey. At least take some cookies before you go.”
Percy grabbed a bag, and disappeared before she could see his body shake with sobs.
“Annabeth.” Artemis’s voice was sharp, and she beckoned her forward.
“My lady,” Annabeth bowed low, feeling the radiating waves of power emanating from the goddess. It was always tricky, being so close to them, but Annabeth craved the electric feeling–as though her blessings of immortality grew stronger.
They were in a simple, straw hut, but the goddess was decked in a silvery cloak and gleaming tiara. Her fingers drummed against the side of her throne, one eyebrow raised in a menacing stare.
“Thalia wishes you might accompany her to Poseidon’s birthday soiree.” Artemis frowned, as though the word left a distaste in her mouth, “You are encouraged to bring gifts.”
“An honor,” Annabeth said swiftly, “Though I wonder if my lady might need my services elsewhere. I believe I might aid you better in another area.”
Artemis’s face darkened. “Patience, Annabeth. There are evil things stirring beneath the Earth, and I am called upon to investigate.”
“On Zeus’s orders?” Thalia stepped into the tent, the tips of her spiky hair an electric blue. Annabeth still marveled at the ease of her step, and the grace with which she had taken on the job. Zoë had been beloved among the other huntresses, but they’d accepted Thalia faster than she’d thought possible.
“Zeus believes we may lull the spirits to sleep,” the curves of Artemis’s mouth lifted, “I know better.”
“She’s sending us so Poseidon isn’t offended by her lack of presence,” Thalia explained, “We are to say she’s on a hunt.”
“Indeed,” Artemis said, “My lieutenant and her second.”
Annabeth furrowed her brows, letting out a little gasp. “You cannot mean–”
“Fifteen long years of service,” Artemis closed her eyes, “You have proven yourself, Annabeth. If Thalia should fall–”
“She won’t.” Annabeth said firmly, “I won’t let her. I cannot thank you enough, my lady. I will make you proud.”
Being Thalia’s second was an undisputed honor, and Annabeth could hardly believe it was being given to her. She had never dreamed that Artemis saw her as a potential lieutenant, and the thought made her insides swirl. Annabeth imagined telling her father of the news, imagined seeing his face light up even if he had no idea what was making her happy.
She remembered telling him that she’d been given the honor to redecorate Olympus, that she’d be the one to redesign the pillars.
“My name on all of Olympus,” she’d told him, “Something to last forever.”
“My Annabeth,” he’d said, like she’d brought him all the pride in the world.
It wasn’t too much after that she’d joined the Hunters. Her father’s stricken expression still floated in her mind, even if he had covered it up with a smile. She remembered waving goodbye as Artemis picked her up on a chariot, excited for a new life. But she missed them; she would always miss them.
She hadn’t seen her family in a long time, and she ached to rush to her father with happy news like a small child. To tell everything that she had been through since then. I’m Thalia’s second, she realized giddily, I’ve got everything I’ve ever wanted.
“Hmm,” Artemis hesitated, giving her a hard look, “I trust that Percy Jackson will not be an issue?”
If the mention of his name threw her off, Annabeth didn’t show it. “My lady,” she bowed again, her face glowing like the moon,“I have made my pledge, and I will fulfill it till the day I fall. Have I ever forsaken you?”
“Fine,” Artemis said, “Go, the soiree is tonight, you mustn't be late. And remember, you are not only representing a goddess, you are representing me.”
“Yes my lady,” Thalia and Annabeth received their blessings, deftly slipping out of the tent.
The tent had been lit by the blazing hearth, and Annabeth shivered as they stepped into the cool night air. The stars glittered like little diamonds, and she fell into sidestep alongside Thalia across the gravelly path.
“A soiree,” Thalia grumbled, “Of course we have to attend a soiree, gross.”
“We haven’t been to Olympus in a while,” Annabeth pointed out, “It might be fun. I do have to update a few buildings while I’m there.”
“Of course, you’re working,” Thalia suddenly stopped, and Annabeth glanced back. “Oh my gods, Percy is going to be there.”
“Okay.”
“Annabeth.”
“I haven’t seen him in fifteen years, Thalia.” Her voice was laced with frustration. “What do you want me to say?”
“He was your best friend.” Thalia waved down a cab. “It’s okay to feel…nervous. It’s okay to feel other things too, you can tell me.”
“I’m not nervous, and he isn’t my best friend anymore.” Annabeth plopped down on the seat, Thalia falling after her.
“But you’re still angry.” Thalia’s voice was quiet, as though she was bracing for Annabeth’s yells.
“I made a mistake, Annabeth.” They’d been at Olympus, hidden behind a tall pillar. “I should have been there, I’m sorry. I lost track of time.”
“I know you wanted to be there,” she’d choked out, her words bitter, “I also know that you weren’t there, Percy.”
“Look, I swear I’ll make it up to you. We can go to Paris, wherever you want–”
“My birthday,” she’d screamed, “You can’t make it up to me, it comes once a year.”
“Beth-”
“It isn’t just that,” she’d said coolly, “It’s everything else. You’re forgetting things, and I’m not a priority anymore.”
“Annabeth,” Thalia’s voice rang in her ears, “Annabeth, we’re here.”
She forced herself to the present, eyeing the Empire State Building, butterflies fluttering within the depths of her stomach.