Chapter 1: Moving in
Chapter Text
The hallway smelled like fresh paint and cheap carpet cleaner. Jazz balanced a stack of boxes almost taller than her head, muttering about how the elevator was “out of order for the third time this week.” Danny trudged behind her with another load, jeans already dusted from the stairwell, his red Converse squeaking against the tile.
Danielle darted between them like a wind-up toy, pigtails bouncing as she poked her head into every open doorway they passed. “Is this our house, Mommy?” she asked for the third time.
Danny pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, Dani. That one has a cat staring at you like you’re a burglar. Keep moving.”
Jazz puffed, nearly dropping the box. “Why didn’t you tell her to call you ‘Dad’ years ago? It’s confusing.”
“She started when she was two,” Danny muttered in his usual flat, monotone drawl. “Tucker thought it was hilarious. Sam encouraged it. And guess what? Five years later—still stuck.”
Danielle twirled on the landing, arms spread wide. “Mommy, mommy, look! I can spin!”
“Yeah, yeah, great job, ballerina,” Danny said, setting his box down to steady Jazz before she toppled. His messy black hair fell into his eyes, eyeliner smudged faintly from the sweat of moving. He looked more like a dropout skater than a college freshman. Which, honestly, was fine by him.
He wanted quiet. No cameras. No screaming fans asking the same tired questions: What’s it like being half-dead? How do you feel about saving the world? Do you actually sleep in the Ghost Zone?
The world knew Phantom—the grinning, fearless hero. But Fenton? Just some kid moving into a crummy New York apartment with his sister and daughter. That’s the life he wanted.
“Okay, final flight,” Jazz huffed, nudging the apartment door open with her foot. Inside, boxes stacked up like miniature skyscrapers. Danielle ran straight for the window, pressing her nose against the glass.
“Mommy! There’s a beach!”
Danny wandered over, leaning lazily against the frame. “That’s the Hudson River, squirt. Don’t touch it. You’ll probably grow a third arm.”
Danielle giggled anyway, unbothered.
Cardboard scraped across the worn hardwood floor, followed by a dull thud as Danny Fenton dropped the last heavy box against the wall. His arms hung loose, fingers twitching from the strain, red Converse squeaking as he rocked back on his heels. His hooded eyes swept over the half-filled apartment with the same detached monotone he reserved for everything these days.
“Jazz,” he drawled, deep voice flat but carrying that familiar edge of sarcasm. “Next time, let’s just hire a moving company. Or better yet—why don’t we not move at all?”
From the kitchen, where she was already unpacking dishes, Jazz’s sharp voice carried back: “Next time, maybe you’ll remember we don’t have moving-company money, Danny.”
Danny gave a noncommittal shrug, then tugged his red graphic tee down over his black undershirt. His messy hair fell into his eyes, eyeliner smudged from sweat. It made his pale face look even more androgynous, lashes framing his half-lidded stare. He didn’t care.
What he did care about was the little voice echoing across the hall.
“Mommy! Look!”
Danielle—tiny sneakers slapping against the wood, curls bouncing—raced past him, clutching something shiny in her fist. A quarter, probably found between floorboards, her prize treasure of the day. Danny pinched the bridge of his nose.
He had given up correcting her years ago. At first, it had been Tucker and Sam’s fault—constant teasing, calling him “Mommy Phantom” after the clone incident. Danielle, barely talking back then, latched onto it like gospel. Five years later, she still refused to call him anything else.
“Uh-huh,” Danny deadpanned, crouching enough to glance at the coin. “Very shiny. Don’t eat it.”
Danielle stuck out her tongue. “I’m not a baby, Mommy.”
“Yeah, sure. Tell that to the sock you tried to feed applesauce yesterday.”
Her cheeks puffed, tiny arms crossed in defiance. Jazz walked by just in time to smother a laugh, balancing a stack of plates in her arms.
The apartment was small but cozy. Two bedrooms, cracked paint, a fire escape with questionable stability. Jazz insisted it was “perfect.” Danny thought it was “cheap and had walls,” which was close enough. They were here for her psychology program and for him to start his own classes at NYU—astronomy, physics, the whole NASA dream he’d never really admitted out loud. And, of course, to give Danielle a normal life. Normal kindergarten. Normal neighbors.
That’s when the door across the hall opened.
A woman with warm brown hair stepped out, balancing a laundry basket on her hip. Her eyes caught Danny’s for half a second—polite, tired, motherly—but before he could retreat into stoicism, Danielle launched herself forward.
“Hi!” the five-year-old chirped, waving the quarter. “I’m Dani and this is my mommy!” She pointed to Danny proudly, ignoring his choking noise of protest.
The woman blinked, amused. “Oh—hello there. I’m Sally. Sally Jackson. Welcome to the building.”
Danny froze. Jackson. The name pinged something odd in the back of his head, though he brushed it off. Just a name. Just a neighbor.
Except Sally’s eyes lingered on him longer than most strangers’ did, like she saw past the monotone expression and the slouching punk clothes. Past the mask.
He gave a lazy, sarcastic little salute. “Thanks. We’re, uh… trying the whole new-life thing. Quiet neighbors, no screaming, no blood sacrifices—basic apartment goals.”
Jazz groaned. Danielle giggled. Sally smiled kindly.
And from somewhere deeper inside the Jackson apartment, Danny swore he felt something—like the hum of a storm waiting to break. He shook it off, hauling another box inside.
For now, he reminded himself, the mission was simple: keep Danielle’s world normal. Keep the Phantom out of sight. Keep secrets buried.
But Danny Fenton had always been terrible at keeping things quiet.
“Mom, you seriously couldn’t wait until I grabbed the laundry?”
The voice carried before the figure stepped out—a tall, broad-shouldered young man with messy black hair, bright sea-green eyes that seemed alive even in the dim hallway light. He wore a loose blue-and-white jersey shirt, jeans that had seen better days, and a crooked grin that came too naturally.
Percy Jackson.
Danny caught Jazz stiffening beside him, her stack of psychology textbooks wobbling dangerously. She recognized that face from TV segments, online articles, even college brochures. The demigod son of Poseidon wasn’t exactly obscure. He was… well, everywhere.
Danny, on the other hand, didn’t so much as blink. He leaned against the doorway, expression flat, voice monotone. “Great. A local celebrity. Just what this building needed.”
Percy’s grin widened, unfazed. “Hey, I don’t bite. Usually.” Percy balanced a grocery bag against his hip, keys jangling as he reached for the door to his mom’s apartment. He was home for the weekend, and Sally had already filled his ear with a mile-long to-do list. Not that he minded. After years of gods, monsters, and near-death prophecies, fixing a leaky sink and carrying groceries was practically vacation.
He tugged the key free, glancing down the hall. That’s when he noticed the moving boxes stacked outside the apartment next door. New neighbors.
Sally’s voice drifted from inside. “Percy, could you—oh, they’re moving in now. Maybe say hello? Help them carry something?”
Percy grinned. “On it.”
He jogged over just as a tall redhead—clearly the sister—wrestled with a box labeled Kitchen. Behind her was… well, someone Percy didn’t quite expect.
A lanky teenager, maybe his age, with messy black hair that brushed just past his eyes. He had this lazy, stoic expression, like nothing in the world impressed him, eyeliner smudged faintly beneath his lashes. Red graphic tee over black sleeves, jeans ripped from either skating or life itself. He looked more like the guy who’d ditch class to smoke behind the cafeteria than someone lugging boxes for family.
Percy flashed his most easygoing smile. “Need a hand?”
The guy barely glanced at him. “Depends. You offering out of pity or politeness?”
“Both,” Percy shot back with a grin. “I’m Percy. Live next door.”
The sister exhaled in relief. “Finally, a friendly face. I’m Jazz, and this is my brother Danny.”
Danny gave a lazy two-fingered salute, monotone. “Yo.”
Before Percy could say more, a small shape bounded out from behind the boxes. A little girl, maybe five, in a red shirt and blue skirt, pigtails bouncing. She skidded to a stop right in front of Percy and looked up at him with wide, sea-green eyes.
His sea-green eyes.
Percy froze.
The little girl beamed. “Hi! I’m Danielle! Mommy says we’re neighbors now!”
“Mommy?” Percy blinked, glancing at Jazz, then Danny.
Danny groaned under his breath, rubbing his face. “Don’t ask. Long story.”
Before Danny could respond, Danielle ran forward again, pigtails bouncing, her little skirt swishing around her knees. She clutched her quarter in one hand, the other pointing directly at Percy.
“Mommy, look!” she squealed. “That guy has my eyes!”
Danny froze. Jazz nearly dropped her box.
Percy crouched down with easy warmth, sea-green gaze flicking between the little girl and her pale, eyeliner-wearing “mommy.” He laughed softly, the sound echoing down the hall.
“Yeah? You think so?” he asked, squinting playfully at Danielle. “Well, you’ve definitely got better pigtails than me.”
Danielle giggled, hiding her face in her hands.
Danny, however, stood rooted to the spot. Because—damn it—she wasn’t wrong. The kid’s eyes were a perfect match for Percy’s, bright green and alive, clashing sharply against Danny’s own muted blue-gray ones. And the skin tone—slightly tanner, sun-warmed—had always been something he couldn’t explain. He’d told himself a dozen excuses: clone mutations, Vlad’s weird science, some accident of ectoplasm.
But standing across from Percy Jackson, watching Danielle beam like she’d found her long-lost twin in a twenty-year-old surfer demigod, Danny’s stomach turned.
Jazz tried to break the silence with forced brightness. “Yes, my brother Danny, that’s his daughter Danielle.”
Percy blinked, glancing back up. His smile faltered for the briefest second. “…Daughter?”
Danny crossed his arms, voice dripping sarcasm to cover the unease curling in his gut. “Yeah. Shocking, I know. I’m nineteen, I dress like a Hot Topic clearance rack, and I’m apparently raising a five-year-old. Life goals.”
Percy raised his hands, laughing again, but softer. “Hey, no judgment. She seems awesome.” His gaze flicked back to Danielle, who was now tugging at his sleeve, demanding he look at the quarter again. Percy obliged, dramatic as if she’d just handed him pirate treasure.
Danny turned away, jaw tight. He wanted quiet. No drama. No exposure. But the universe—no, Vlad—had always had a sick sense of humor.
Because Danielle wasn’t just his.
And if those sea-green eyes meant what Danny thought they meant, then the neighbor he’d just met wasn’t going away anytime soon.
Danny scooped Danielle up, balancing her on his hip with casual ease. “Alright, squirt, inside. No harassing the neighbors.”
She pouted. “But Mommy, I like him.”
“Yeah, well, Mommy likes his personal space,” Danny deadpanned.
Jazz noticed the way Danny shifted uncomfortably and decided to jump in before her brother escaped entirely.
“We’re new to the city, so it’s really nice to meet a neighbor. You live here just with your mom?”
“my Steph dad Paul and My sister,” Percy said easily. “Estelle Jackson. She’s great. You’ll love her she’s five years old. And sometimes my girlfriend drops by to yell at me about homework.” He grinned again, boyish and charismatic. “Need help with the boxes?” He asked again trying to help around more, to ignore the awkwardness he could feel creeping up.
Danny opened his mouth to refuse, but Danielle beat him to it, tugging Percy’s hand.
“Yes! Mommy’s slow.”
Jazz’s laugh filled the hallway. Percy tilted his head, eyebrows raised in amusement. “Mommy, huh?”
Danny froze. For a second, his stoic mask cracked. A flush crept into his pale cheeks.
“She’s five. Don’t encourage it.”
But Percy just smirked, grabbing a box before Danny could stop him.
“No problem, Mommy. Lead the way.”
Danny groaned. This was already going to be hell.
Percy’s mouth tugged into a half-smile despite the confusion boiling under his skin. This Danny guy… he was hiding something. And if Percy had learned anything from a lifetime of monsters, gods, and secrets—it was that when things didn’t add up, trouble wasn’t far behind.
Chapter 2: Helping the neighbors
Chapter Text
The apartment wasn’t big, but it didn’t need to be. Two bedrooms, a living space that was more rectangle than square, and a narrow kitchen that could fit exactly two people before elbows started colliding. Cozy, Jazz had called it. Normal, Danny thought. For once, that was exactly what he wanted.
Except normal apparently came with an audience.
Percy had carried the first box in without hesitation, shouldering it like it weighed nothing. Danny followed behind, dragging his feet, already regretting ever leaving Amity Park.
Inside, Jazz had dumped her stack of books on the couch with a sigh.
“This is so much better than the dorms. Dani, you’ll have your own room here!”
Danielle squealed, darting down the short hallway to the smaller bedroom. Her voice carried back, muffled through the door.
“Mine! I call dibs!”
Danny smirked faintly. “Yeah, like I was really about to steal the pink unicorn wallpaper.”
He didn’t notice Percy glance at him from across the room, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
A knock at the open door made Jazz look up. Sally Jackson stood there, kind-eyed, curls tucked behind her ears. Beside her was a tall man with glasses — Paul Blofis, she introduced warmly — both carrying trays of snacks and offering neighborly smiles.
“We thought you could use a little help,” Sally said, setting down a basket of muffins on the counter. “Moving day is exhausting.”
Paul adjusted his glasses. “And heavy. Figured I could help with the furniture.”
Jazz lit up immediately, grateful. “Thank you so much. That’s really kind of you.”
Sally’s eyes softened as she took in Jazz and Danny, then lingered on Dani’s scattered toys by the couch. “She’s adorable. Reminds me of when Percy was small.”
“Small?” Percy coughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever been small.”
“Small and loud,” Sally corrected with a smile.
Before Danny could escape into Danielle’s room, a streak of motion zipped past him. A little girl with wild curls and bright eyes launched herself into the apartment.
“Estelle!” Percy yelped, scooping her up before she ran straight into the boxes. His kid sister wriggled out of his arms anyway and promptly made a beeline for Danielle’s door.
Within seconds, giggles erupted down the hall — Estelle and Dani meeting like they’d been waiting their whole lives to find each other. The sound of tiny footsteps thumping back and forth filled the apartment.
Jazz cooed. “They’re instant best friends.”
Danny rubbed the back of his neck, muttering, “Yeah, great, because my kid definitely needs more chaos in her life.”
Sally caught the tone but only smiled, patient. “Chaos is half the fun at that age.”
Danny opened his mouth to argue, but Percy clapped him on the shoulder, grinning.
“Relax, Mommy. They’re just kids.”
Danny shot him a flat look. “I will throw you out the window.”
Percy only laughed, grabbing another box and hauling it toward the living room.
The day fell into a rhythm. Percy and Paul carried in couches, the TV stand, and a bookshelf while Danny silently set about building them with a screwdriver and sheer stubborn speed. Percy teased every time Danny didn’t bother with instructions, but the furniture still came out straight, sturdy, and level. Jazz and Sally organized the kitchen together, trading tips about local grocery stores and the best coffee spots near campus.
Danny moved around them all with the same detached precision he always did — quiet but sharp, making sarcastic comments under his breath when Jazz overstuffed the cupboards, or when Percy nearly dropped the TV remote into the sink.
And Percy? He just laughed every single time.
By evening, the apartment looked lived in. The couch faced a mounted TV, the bookshelves were neatly lined, and Dani and Estelle had left a battlefield of stuffed animals across the floor. Jazz was sitting at the counter with Sally and Paul, smiling more than Danny had seen her smile in weeks.
Danny leaned against the arm of the couch, arms crossed, watching Danielle twirl around with Estelle, both girls laughing so hard they hiccuped. For the first time since he’d packed his old life into boxes, something in his chest eased.
A quiet, normal life. That’s what he wanted. That’s what he was going to fight for.
Even if his new neighbor wouldn’t stop calling him Mommy.
——
Danny knelt on the floor, screwdriver in hand, tightening the last bolt of the TV stand. Percy leaned against the arm of the couch, holding a dust rag in one hand and not doing much with it.
“So,” Percy said casually, “you from New York originally?”
“Nope,” Danny muttered, twisting the screw tighter.
“Where then?”
Danny shot him a flat look. “The past.”
Percy blinked. “…That’s not a state.”
“Sure feels like one,” Danny replied, standing and brushing dust off his jeans.
Percy huffed a laugh, undeterred. “You always this fun at parties?”
“I don’t go to parties.” Danny bent down to collect the discarded instruction manual, flipping it shut. “People.”
“That bad, huh?” Percy teased.
“That loud,” Danny corrected, stuffing the papers into a box.
Percy studied him for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Danny wasn’t just quiet — he was guarded, coiled like someone who expected every question to be a trap. It reminded Percy of Nico, if Nico had a skateboard and eyeliner.
Still, something nagged at the back of his mind. The slope of Danny’s jaw. The sharp lashes against pale skin. He’d seen that face before — not in person, but in grainy news photos and clips that still went viral online.
“…You know,” Percy said slowly, “you kinda look like—”
“Nope.” Danny cut him off instantly, voice sharp but steady. “Don’t say it. Not funny.”
Percy blinked, surprised at the sudden edge. Danny’s eyes were hard, a flicker of warning buried beneath the stoic mask. For the first time, Percy didn’t push. He raised his hands in surrender.
“Alright. Not saying it.”
Danny muttered under his breath, “Good.”
⸻
The apartment didn’t feel like a rental anymore. It was warm — not just because the late sun painted everything in amber, but because of the details. Soft earth-toned rugs across the hardwood. A couch that had clearly survived too many years but carried an air of comfort. The bookshelves weren’t bare: they were crammed with NASA manuals, astronomy guides, cookbooks, and a few sci-fi novels tucked sideways where they didn’t fit.
On the walls, NASA posters dominated — rocket schematics, photos of Earth from orbit, an old Apollo mission print. Between them, picture frames hung quietly: Maddie and Jack Fenton, smiling wide in every shot, usually with a gangly teenage Danny caught mid-eye-roll or Jazz pushing them all into line.
Danny’s gaze lingered on one frame longer than he intended. He still remembered the weight of their bodies, the way his hands had shaken, blood on his palms when he was fourteen. He shoved the thought away before it could spiral.
Percy followed his eyes but didn’t comment. Instead, he asked something softer. “So… Danielle’s room’s all set up?”
Danny nodded. “Yeah. Bed, desk, toys. She’ll redecorate it herself by the end of the week. Stubborn like that.”
Percy chuckled. “Kids are supposed to be stubborn. Comes with the job description.” He hesitated, then asked, “So, does she… have a mom in the picture, or—”
Danny’s posture stiffened, eyes sharpening instantly. “That’s personal.”
Percy held up his hands again. “Right. Got it. None of my business.”
For a moment, silence stretched, only broken by the sound of Estelle and Dani’s laughter echoing down the hall as they continued their stuffed-animal war. Danny exhaled slowly, shoulders loosening.
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “None of your business.”
⸻
Sally returned with Estelle just as Paul popped his head in, cheerful as ever. “Hey! Since we all survived moving day, how about we go out for dinner? My treat. There’s a great little diner down the street.”
Danny opened his mouth, already ready with an excuse. “I—”
“Perfect!” Jazz’s voice chimed from the doorway as she reappeared, smiling.
Danny shot her a glare. “Jazz—”
But Danielle tumbled out of her room hand-in-hand with Estelle, cheeks flushed with happiness.
“Dinner? Can we go, Mommy? Please?”
Danny froze. Her eyes were so bright, sea-green catching the light like glass. He sighed softly, the fight bleeding out of him.
“…Yeah, okay. Dinner.”
Percy grinned, clapping him lightly on the shoulder. “Knew you’d say yes.”
Danny muttered, “I hate you already.”
But his lips twitched, just barely, into the smallest smile.
By the time everyone was ready, the hallway was buzzing again. Danielle clutched her stuffed unicorn under one arm, Estelle bouncing at her side like they were lifelong best friends already. Jazz adjusted her purse, chatting with Sally about course loads and professors as if they’d known each other forever.
Danny, however, jingled his keys and headed for the stairwell with one goal: drive separately, maintain sanity.
Outside, the cool New York evening air brushed against his skin as he clicked the unlock button. The headlights of a sleek black 1967 Chevrolet Impala blinked to life. Danny opened the back door, strapping Danielle into her car seat with the practiced ease of a parent who’d done it a thousand times.
Percy stepped out behind him with Paul and Sally, stopping dead when he saw the car. He blinked, then whistled low.
“…Seriously? I was betting on a mom van. You give off strong minivan energy.”
Danny smirked, adjusting the straps on Dani’s seat. “Sorry to disappoint. I prefer my dignity intact.”
He slammed the door shut and slid into the driver’s seat, rolling down the window just enough to lean his arm out. With a smug tilt of his chin, he blew Percy an exaggerated mock kiss.
Percy snorted. “Wow. Romantic and terrifying.”
Paul, however, looked thoroughly impressed. “That’s a beautiful car, Danny. You restore it yourself?”
Danny’s lips twitched — the faintest trace of pride peeking through his usual monotone. “Yeah. Bought it as a wreck when I was sixteen. Fixed it up between… stuff.”
“Stuff” was as far as he went. Paul nodded with genuine admiration, and Sally smiled warmly before turning to buckle Estelle into their own car.
Percy was halfway into the backseat when movement on the sidewalk caught his attention. A dark figure in black jeans and a jacket was strolling back from the library, head buried in a paperback.
“Nico!” Percy called, jogging over before Nico could disappear upstairs.
The son of Hades looked up, expression flat. “What.”
“You’re coming to dinner,” Percy said, grabbing his arm without waiting for an answer.
Nico scowled. “Why—”
“Because you need to eat. And because I said so.”
Before Nico could protest, Percy had shoved him toward the car. Danny watched the entire exchange through the Impala’s windshield, eyebrows lifting slightly as Nico climbed in with the world’s most put-upon sigh.
⸻
The pizza place was one of those cozy neighborhood joints with checkered tablecloths and mismatched chairs, smelling like oregano and melted cheese the second they stepped in. They pushed two tables together to fit everyone: Sally and Paul took one side with Estelle and Danielle between them, while the college-aged crew spread across the other.
Danny slid into his seat with Dani snug beside him, helping her unfold a kids’ menu covered in crayons. His focus never wavered from her — answering her questions about toppings, helping her color in a cartoon slice of pizza, tucking a napkin into her collar so she wouldn’t stain her shirt.
Jazz, sitting diagonally across, noticed it immediately: the way Nico sat, shoulders hunched, dark hair falling into his eyes, his scowl a permanent fixture. Then her gaze slid to Danny, posture different but features… almost mirrored. The resemblance was uncanny. She blinked but said nothing, choosing instead to sip her water.
Percy, however, was not built for subtlety.
“You know,” he said cheerfully, glancing between the two, “you guys could be brothers. Like, actually. The same grumpy face and everything.”
Both Danny and Nico turned their heads in unison to glare at him. Identical scowls, same narrowed eyes.
Percy burst out laughing. “Oh gods, that’s even better than I thought.”
Danny muttered, “You’re insufferable.”
Nico grumbled, “Kill me now.”
Which, of course, only made Percy laugh harder.
On the other side of the table, Sally and Paul exchanged patient looks as if they’d seen this brand of chaos a thousand times. Estelle was teaching Danielle how to fold her napkin into a triangle, both girls giggling uncontrollably.
Danny softened instantly at the sound, brushing Dani’s bangs out of her eyes before she got tomato sauce all over them. His world shrank to that tiny bubble — her joy, her smile — while the others argued about toppings.
To anyone else, it was just dinner. To Danny, it was proof he’d done something right.
The table buzzed with noise and laughter. The smell of fresh dough and garlic butter clung to the air as two oversized pizzas landed in the center — one classic cheese for the kids, the other a half-and-half compromise between Percy’s demand for pepperoni and Nico’s quiet insistence on veggie.
Paul passed out plates with the steady ease of someone used to corralling teenagers. Sally leaned into Jazz, smiling as they swapped stories about campus life and the neighborhood.
Meanwhile, the kids had already launched into their own world. Estelle smeared marinara on her napkin art project while Danielle leaned precariously over the table to steal a breadstick, cheeks stuffed like a chipmunk.
“Dani,” Danny warned, tugging her gently back into her seat. “Chew. Swallow. Then talk.”
She nodded enthusiastically, muffled. “Kay, Mommy.”
Percy snorted into his soda. “Still not over that, by the way.”
Danny didn’t even look up from cutting Dani’s slice into smaller bites. “Good. Maybe if I keep hearing it from you, I’ll finally go deaf.”
Percy grinned. “Harsh. You’ve got jokes, though. Bet you’d kill it at open mic night.”
“I prefer my humiliation private,” Danny replied flatly, sliding Dani her plate.
Nico raised an eyebrow at the exchange, sipping his soda like it was wine. “You’re unusually… tolerable, Jackson. Usually you’re unbearable.”
“Thanks?” Percy blinked.
Danny smirked faintly. “Don’t worry, he’ll change his mind in ten minutes.”
“Already reconsidering,” Nico muttered.
Percy threw up his hands. “Wow. You guys are definitely related. The sarcasm gene is strong.”
Both boys scowled at him in perfect sync again.
Jazz, biting into a breadstick, nearly choked trying not to laugh.
⸻
“Anyway,” Percy said after a few bites of pizza, waving his slice dramatically, “what are you studying, Danny? Let me guess. Something broody. Like philosophy. Or, I dunno, cryptozoology.”
Danny leaned back, chewing slowly before answering. “Astronomy.”
Percy blinked. “…Really?”
Danny shrugged. “Space is quiet. Nobody bothers you there. Plus, rockets are cool.”
His voice was monotone, but his eyes lit just faintly, betraying the passion behind the words. Percy caught it and smiled.
“Okay, that is cool. Way cooler than my major.”
“What’s yours?” Danny asked, eyebrow raised.
Percy hesitated. “Uh. Marine bio.”
Danny smirked. “Wow. Fish boy studies fish. Groundbreaking.”
Even Nico cracked the tiniest smile at that.
Sally reached over, swatting Percy’s arm lightly. “Be nice.”
“I am nice!” Percy protested. “He’s just—” He gestured at Danny helplessly. “—so easy to mess with.”
Danny deadpanned, “That’s because you have the sense of humor of a seagull.”
Nico nearly choked on his soda.
⸻
While Percy sputtered, Jazz leaned toward Sally. “Thank you again for inviting us out. Dani’s been bouncing off the walls all week about starting school. Having Estelle already as a friend makes it so much easier.”
Sally’s smile softened. “Estelle needed a friend her age, too. She’s always stuck with Percy or us. I think they’re going to be inseparable.”
At the far end of the table, Dani and Estelle were already dunking crusts into each other’s drinks, cackling.
Danny sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She’s going to give me gray hairs before I’m twenty-one.”
“You’ll look distinguished,” Percy teased.
Danny shot back instantly, “You’ll look punched.”
Nico muttered, “I’d pay to see that.”
Jazz groaned. “Please don’t start a fight in front of the children.”
⸻
As the night wore on, the tension eased into something… almost comfortable. Plates emptied, conversations overlapped, and for a moment, Danny let himself relax. Watching Dani laugh with Estelle, hearing Jazz talk like a normal college student, even tolerating Percy’s nonstop banter — it all felt like maybe, just maybe, this whole “new life” thing wasn’t doomed.
Of course, that was exactly when Percy leaned closer, voice lowered just enough for only Danny and Nico to hear.
“You really do look like someone I know,” he said, eyes narrowing in thought.
Danny’s jaw tightened, his fork clinking against the plate. “Drop it.”
Nico glanced between them, curious but saying nothing.
Percy hesitated, then forced a grin. “Fine. Dropped. For now.”
Danny didn’t smile back.
Chapter 3: New morning new city, new school
Chapter Text
The apartment was still, shadows stretching long across the floor as the first light of dawn crept in through the blinds. Danny Fenton moved quietly, the way only someone used to living half his life at odd hours could. Jazz had left for her dorm after dinner the night before, leaving him alone in the apartment except for the steady breathing of his daughter down the hall.
He scrubbed his teeth, showered, and dressed for the day with his usual careless precision: baggy blue jorts, a white T-shirt stamped with a skull graphic, chain necklace glinting faintly against his collarbone. The initials DP caught the light whenever he moved. He slipped in his small gauge earrings, snapped on his spiky bracelet, and caught his reflection in the bathroom mirror. The pale face staring back looked tired, but the eyeliner under his lashes gave it just enough edge to pass for deliberate.
In the kitchen, he set to work. Pancakes hissed on the griddle, the smell of bacon filling the air. Danny worked with quiet focus, flipping each pancake with practiced ease. Cooking wasn’t just a chore to him — it was one of the few places his restless mind could settle.
By the time he’d plated the food, he was heading down the short hall toward Danielle’s room.
“Hey, little star,” he murmured, easing the door open.
Dani was a lump beneath a tangle of blankets, one arm sticking out limply. Danny sat on the edge of her bed, sliding an arm under her small frame to pull her gently against his chest. She stirred, rubbing her eyes.
“Mm… Mommy?”
“Yeah,” Danny whispered, rocking her lightly. “Time to wake up. Big day.”
She mumbled into his shirt, “Don’t wanna.”
“You say that every day.” He stood, carrying her toward the bathroom. “And then you eat pancakes and magically want everything.”
Her sleepy giggle bubbled against his shoulder.
He helped her brush her teeth, holding the tiny toothbrush steady when she got distracted humming some nonsense tune. Then came the battle with her hair. Danny sprayed it down with water, combing carefully through the knots while Dani pouted at the mirror.
“Why pigtails again?” she whined.
“Because they’re cute,” Danny said simply, parting her hair.
“They’re baby hair,” Dani argued.
“You’re five.” He twisted one elastic into place. “You are a baby.”
“Am not!”
“Fine,” Danny said with a smirk, finishing the other pigtail. “You’re an adult who still needs me to tie your shoes.”
She crossed her arms, sulking, but the corners of her mouth twitched.
He helped her wriggle out of her onesie pajamas and into her outfit for the day: a denim blue romper over a crisp white shirt, socks slouched at her ankles. Color-coordinated with him, not by accident.
When she was dressed, he carried her back to the kitchen and set her at the table. Dani dug in immediately, little legs swinging as Danny cut her pancakes into small squares.
“Mommy, guess what!” she said through a mouthful.
“What?” Danny asked, sliding her cup of juice closer.
“When I go to kindergarten, I’m gonna learn everything. Like dinosaurs. And math. And rocket ships! And I’m gonna tell everyone my mommy knows about NASA so they’ll know we’re smart.”
Danny raised an eyebrow. “We’re smart? Since when do you get credit for my brain cells?”
“Since forever,” Dani declared confidently. “We’re a team.”
Danny’s lips curved into the faintest smile. “Yeah. We are.”
He was about to tell her to slow down before she choked when a knock rattled the apartment door. Dani perked up, nearly dropping her fork.
Danny sighed, dragging himself up from his chair.
When he opened the door, Percy Jackson stood there in a blue hoodie and sneakers, Estelle bouncing excitedly at his side with a bookbag nearly bigger than she was.
“Morning, neighbors,” Percy said cheerfully. “School day!”
Estelle leaned around him, spotting Dani at the table. “Dani! You’re ready too!”
Dani squealed, bolting off her chair and into Estelle’s arms before Danny could scold her about syrup-covered hands.
Percy grinned at Danny. “So. Thought we could walk ‘em to kindergarten together. Then I can show you around campus. You’re new, right?”
Danny leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Hard pass.”
Percy tilted his head, amused. “What, don’t want a tour guide?”
“I don’t want your fan club,” Danny shot back, eyeing the mob of demigods already gathering across the street — Jason’s blond head, Piper’s laugh, Hazel and Frank waving. Too many people. Too much noise.
Percy followed his gaze and laughed. “What, them? They’re not that bad.”
Danny’s monotone never wavered. “I’d rather eat chalk.”
Percy smirked, unbothered. “Suit yourself, Mommy.”
Danny groaned, grabbing Dani’s bookbag. “If you call me that one more time, I’m switching seats at dinner.”
“Deal,” Percy said instantly, still grinning.
The hall smelled faintly of fresh paint and takeout from someone’s late-night dinner. Danny adjusted Dani’s bookbag across his shoulder, keeping her small hand locked in his. Estelle skipped ahead between them, humming some nonsense tune she and Dani had made up on the spot.
The elevator dinged when they reached it, doors sliding open. Of course, it was already half-full.
Leo and Piper leaned against one wall, Piper rolling her eyes while Leo launched into some dramatic retelling of their school’s latest gossip. Jason and Frank had a crumpled paper cup in hand, tossing it back and forth like it was a football, smacking each other in the shoulders every time they dropped it.
Danny’s jaw tensed. He stepped in anyway, lifting Dani up against his side. The space immediately shrank by half.
Percy slid in behind them, grinning, and launched straight into a conversation about practice with Jason. Hazel, Clarisse, and Thalia squeezed in next, chatting about some upcoming exam, their laughter bouncing too loud against the metal walls.
Then came Nico. He stepped in quietly, dark as a shadow, Will at his side. Will’s fingers slipped comfortably into Nico’s, and Nico didn’t shake him off. He just kept his gaze fixed on the corner, away from everyone else.
And finally — Annabeth. She stepped inside with the confidence of someone who always belonged, settling immediately at Percy’s shoulder. She handed him a notebook and started talking about their science project. Percy bent his head toward her, smile softening.
Danny’s chest went hollow. His grip on Dani tightened unconsciously. The elevator felt like a cage, voices loud, laughter echoing, Percy lost in someone else’s orbit.
Fine. Whatever.
Danny crouched slightly, resting his chin on Dani’s hair as he wrapped an arm around Estelle too, her tiny hand curling into his sleeve. He took responsibility for both girls, keeping them huddled safe against him while the rest of the elevator filled with chatter that didn’t touch him.
Estelle leaned into him without hesitation. Dani followed her lead, babbling softly about what kind of crayons they’d get in class. Danny answered her quietly, focusing only on their small bubble of calm.
Percy noticed. His grin faltered for half a second as his gaze flicked from Annabeth’s notes to the way Danny balanced both girls against his sides, shielding them with a kind of silent determination. But Annabeth tugged on his sleeve, redirecting him, and Percy let it go.
The elevator doors opened at last. Danny didn’t wait. He scooped both girls onto his hips — one on each side like he’d done it a thousand times before — and strode out into the lobby, shoulders squared, eyes set forward.
The others spilled out behind him, heading toward campus in a noisy wave of backpacks and chatter. Danny barely looked back. He cut across the lobby, straight through the glass doors, and into the opposite direction.
———
Across the street, the kindergarten building stood cheerful and bright, its windows painted with cartoon suns and stars. Dani and Estelle wriggled in his arms, laughing as he carried them up the steps.
He didn’t care about science projects. Or gossip. Or Percy’s ever-present smile.
This was where his day started.
The kindergarten building was painted in cheerful colors—bright reds and yellows, cartoon suns smiling down from the windows. For most kids, it was inviting. For Dani, it was overwhelming.
Estelle bounced on her heels, clutching her tiny backpack straps with both fists. “Come on, Dani! I’ll show you where the crayons are! And the block table! And the snack cart—oh, you’ll love snack time!”
Dani, however, had gone quiet. Too quiet. Her little pigtails swayed as she ducked behind Danny’s leg, fingers digging into his jeans. She pressed her face against his thigh, muttering, “Don’t wanna.”
Danny sighed. He knew this routine too well. New place, new people—Dani always went through the same stages: stubborn silence, tears, clinging like he was her lifeline. And honestly, she wasn’t wrong.
Kneeling down, Danny brushed a hand over her bangs, tilting her chin up gently. His voice dropped to that soft register only she ever got to hear.
“Hey, little star. You’re okay. You’re braver than this place, yeah?”
Dani’s sea-green eyes shimmered, wet at the corners. “What if they don’t like me?”
“They’d have to be blind not to,” Danny said without hesitation, pressing a kiss to her forehead. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re funny, and you’re smart, and you’ve got the best smile. You’ll knock them out in, like, five minutes flat. I promise.”
She sniffled, lower lip wobbling. Danny kissed her cheek, then the tip of her nose, then whispered against her hair, “And I’ll be right here to pick you up when the day’s over. Always.”
The teacher, a kind woman with laugh lines and a cardigan patterned with apples, came to the door. “First-day jitters, huh?” she said warmly. “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of her.”
Estelle stepped up with all the confidence of a seasoned pro. She reached out, grabbed Dani’s hand, and tugged gently. “Come on. I’ll show you the good markers—the ones that don’t dry out.”
Dani hesitated, eyes darting back to Danny. He smiled wide and gave her a little shooing gesture. “Go on, Dani. Adventure’s waiting.”
Finally—finally—she let go of his hand and let Estelle lead her toward the doorway. The teacher guided them both inside with a reassuring smile, her hand resting lightly on Dani’s shoulder.
Danny stood there until they disappeared down the hall, his chest tight, his fingers curling uselessly at his sides. He hated this part. Every single time. Watching her vanish into someone else’s care.
He waited an extra minute, just to be sure. Then he turned, jammed his earbuds in, and let the low hum of Radiohead’s “Let Down” sink into his bones.
Head down, hands shoved in his pockets, he crossed back toward campus.
The city was awake now—cars rushing by, students crowding sidewalks, voices too loud. Danny walked straight through it, his music building a wall around him. His face went slack, back to that lazy monotone expression the world knew.
Quiet. Detached. Safe.
He should’ve known better.
Because when he walked through the campus gates, pulling out his schedule, the first thing he noticed was Percy Jackson leaning against the building.
And when Danny stepped into his first class, there Percy was.
And the second class.
And the third.
Every. Single. One.
Chapter Text
Danny Fenton had walked into a new semester of college before, but never like this. Midway through the year, halfway into routines, halfway into lives already built without him. He knew stepping onto Olympus University’s campus meant instant observation, and he wasn’t interested in attention—not from anyone, not even Percy Jackson, his unavoidable neighbor.
Percy, of course, looked entirely unbothered. He was leaning casually against a railing near the entrance, blue and white jersey shirt crisp, his light jeans catching the morning sun. Annabeth walked beside him, her tablet in hand, scribbling notes faster than Danny could even process. Percy’s charm, natural and effortless, drew a small crowd even before the lecture halls opened.
Danny rolled his shoulders, hands stuffed into his pockets. Blue jorts, white skull graphic shirt, spiky bracelets, chain necklace gleaming faintly under the morning light—he felt more like himself than he had in weeks, despite being in the middle of this chaos.
As he walked toward the classroom, he noted familiar clusters of faces: Jason and Frank tossing a football between them, Leo and Piper bickering like they were still in middle school, Nico leaning against a wall with Will quietly at his side, and Clarisse and Thalia joking loudly across the quad. Danny let his eyes linger just a fraction longer on Nico—there was something magnetic about the way Nico’s dark brown eyes and emo aura contrasted with the clean, heroic world around him. They were quiet together in a way that didn’t need words, just understanding.
The classroom itself buzzed with chatter. Danny stepped in, quietly hoping to blend into the shadows. His timing was impeccable—or perhaps terrible. The teacher, an overly enthusiastic woman with glasses perched at the tip of her nose, clapped her hands.
“Class! Everyone settle down. We have a new student joining us today. This is Daniel—uh, Danny Fenton. And we are so proud to welcome him!”
Danny froze just slightly, then gave a faint shrug, his monotone voice already forming a witty, unamused commentary in his head.
“Oh! And—let’s see… here’s Craig Tucker! Craig, prime example of diversity in our school. Representing the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s all make him feel welcome!”
Craig rolled his eyes so hard Danny almost laughed out loud. Stan, of course, immediately burst out, leaning over Craig with a smirk.
“Yeah, Craig, everyone! Clap for yourself, man. The campus celebrity!”
Danny stifled a laugh behind his hand, watching Craig’s stoic, mortified expression. It was the perfect absurdity—the kind of ridiculousness that made college slightly bearable.
Craig muttered under his breath, “I swear, they’ve been doing this since I was a child…”
Stan just grinned. “Yeah, but this time it’s different. Danny’s laughing at you.”
Danny raised a brow subtly, keeping it casual, and noticed Stan’s lazy skater energy. He felt a faint tug of amusement—someone else who understood that sarcastic humor could survive the chaos of high school and college alike.
As Danny made his way to a seat, he passed Nico and Will. Nico gave the faintest nod, a small acknowledgment, quiet but enough to spark a tiny comfort within Danny. They both slipped into the same rhythm instantly—the quiet corner of the classroom, headphones at the ready, isolated from the social fray yet aware of it.
Percy, ever the charismatic center of attention, leaned toward Annabeth, whispering something about their science project. Annabeth nodded but seemed slightly distracted, jotting notes faster than Percy could speak. Danny observed this subtle tension, catching the tiny cracks in the “perfect couple” image Percy carried so easily. He wondered, briefly, if Percy noticed it too.
Danny’s eyes flicked back to the room, noting the social web: Jason tossing glances at Frank, Leo and Piper playfully arguing, Clarisse tossing teasing jabs at Thalia. Danny actually smirked at Clarisse’s comment about his outfit; she always enjoyed insulting people, and he could insult back without it meaning anything. That made her fun—honestly, the only one in this chaos who could keep up.
Then there was the matter of class. Danny tried to sink into the lesson, but fate—or coincidence—was already at work. Every class, somehow, overlapped with Percy. He caught himself sitting across from Percy, seeing his confident grin, feeling the faint, unavoidable pull of history—though neither of them knew how deep it ran yet.
And in the background, Stan and Craig whispered conspiratorially, clearly planning their commentary about Nico and Danny’s uncanny resemblance. The irony wasn’t lost on Danny; even here, in the middle of Olympus University, the similarities between him and Nico were fodder for gossip, though Danny was used to that kind of scrutiny.
He let himself relax a fraction, earbuds dangling in his pocket, a mental note forming: blend in, observe, survive. He didn’t need friends. He didn’t need drama. He only needed quiet moments and a path that let him keep Danielle safe.
But even as the teacher droned on about class rules, syllabi, and projects, Danny felt it—the subtle pull of inevitability. Percy’s eyes, the familiar social spheres, the tiny fissures in apparent perfection. Somehow, this new life was already colliding with the old secrets he’d been trying to protect.
And Danny Fenton, punk skater, secret hero, devoted “mommy,” could only steel himself. This semester was going to be… interesting.
——
The classroom buzzed as students shuffled to their seats. Danny slid quietly into a desk near the back, Nico already sitting there, arms crossed, dark eyes flicking up briefly at him. Will sat beside Nico, holding his hand, giving Danny a faint smile of acknowledgment.
“Hey,” Danny muttered softly. Nico nodded. That was their entire greeting. Sufficient.
Stan and Craig, true to form, plopped down a row behind them. Stan leaned back lazily, hair a chaotic black and yellow, smirking. “Finally, someone who doesn’t look like a walking trophy,” he muttered loud enough for Danny to hear.
Danny raised an eyebrow, suppressing a laugh. “Yeah, I don’t really compete in the weird campus popularity contest.”
Craig rolled his eyes. “Somehow I feel like that’s an understatement.”
Danny smirked faintly, letting the small group bubble form around them. Nico didn’t comment, but the faint ghost of a smirk appeared on his face. Will glanced down at his notebook, clearly just letting Nico do the talking by proxy.
Percy, meanwhile, slid into the front row next to Annabeth. “So… first day back,” he said, nudging her gently. “You ready for this?”
Annabeth didn’t look up from her tablet. “Always,” she replied. “But let’s focus. We have a group project today. You’ll need to pick partners.”
Jason and Frank, already joking about football drills, leaned over the front row. Piper and Leo bickered quietly about whose turn it was to present first last semester. The dynamic was fluid, comfortable—established.
Danny, however, stayed quiet, watching the teacher hand out papers.
“All right, everyone,” the professor announced, a woman with thick glasses and a booming voice. “This semester, you’ll be working in groups of four. Each group will have to present a case study on environmental sustainability within urban ecosystems. You may form your own groups, but diversity is encouraged. Remember, working together is part of your grade.”
She passed a stack of papers down the aisles. Danny accepted his quietly, unfolding it.
“Group of four,” Nico muttered under his breath. “Lucky us, I guess.”
Danny glanced at him, smirking. “Yeah. Sounds like my kind of torture.”
Craig leaned over, reading the sheet. “You think we can do something… interesting with this? Like, nontraditional?”
“Depends,” Danny replied, “if you want me doing all the math and logistics, I’m game.”
Stan snorted. “And I’ll sit back and do nothing except make fun of people. Perfect balance.”
Nico’s corner of the group stayed quiet, but the small smirk tugging at his lips betrayed amusement. Will simply held Nico’s hand tighter, letting him enjoy the moment.
Across the room, Percy noticed Danny sitting quietly with Nico and Stan. A small ping of curiosity hit him—Danny wasn’t trying to compete for attention, wasn’t trying to charm anyone, and yet somehow commanded presence just by being there.
He leaned toward Annabeth. “That guy… Danny. Did you notice him?”
Annabeth barely glanced up. “I see him. He’s quiet, he’s your neighbor right? The teen dad?.”
Percy chuckled softly. “Yeah… quiet, but not invisible. Weird mix but yeah, just neighbors….”
Annabeth rolled her eyes, returning to her tablet. “Don’t get distracted. Focus.”
Danny, meanwhile, was making small talk with Stan and Craig.
“So,” Danny said, tilting his head toward Stan, “any advice surviving this place without wanting to strangle someone?”
Stan grinned. “Rule one: avoid cafeteria rush hour. Rule two: ignore professors who look like they’re still in grad school rage mode. Rule three: actually, that’s pretty much it.”
Craig rolled his eyes. “You guys make it sound like we’re in some survival game.”
Danny laughed quietly, shaking his head. “Honestly, it kind of feels like it.”
Nico finally spoke, voice low. “And keep your headphones close. Music is mandatory therapy.”
Danny raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you read my mind. What’s your playlist?”
“Mostly horror movie podcasts, some old rock music,” Nico replied without looking up.
Danny smirked. “Nice. Thought I was the only one.”
The teacher’s voice pulled their attention back as she walked up front. “All right, choose your groups. Make sure you know your teammates and plan your work.”
Danny glanced around. Nico shrugged. “We stay here. Us four.” He indicated Danny, Stan, and Craig. Danny grinned faintly, feeling the first spark of belonging in the semester.
Percy, from across the room, watched quietly as Danny and Nico exchanged small, understanding glances. Something about Danny’s presence felt like a challenge and a puzzle all at once. Percy leaned back, giving Annabeth a sidelong glance—he knew this semester was going to shake up more than just classes.
The classroom hummed with low chatter as students leaned over their papers. Danny sat back in his chair, Nico perched beside him like a shadow, Stan slouched in his seat behind them, Craig meticulously organizing his notes. The four of them formed a small bubble of quiet energy amid the larger chaos of Olympus University.
“So,” Danny muttered, flipping his project sheet open, “environmental sustainability in urban ecosystems, huh? Fun.” He shot a glance at Nico, who gave a low hum of agreement.
Stan rolled his eyes. “Fun? Yeah, like watching paint dry fun.” He leaned back and smirked. “But we’ll figure it out. I’m good at… looking busy while everyone else does work.”
Craig pinched the bridge of his nose. “Stan, could you please pretend to care even a little? We’re supposed to get a grade.”
“Fine, fine,” Stan said dramatically, raising his hands in surrender. “I care. I care so much.”
Danny suppressed a laugh. “I like you guys already.”
Nico finally spoke, voice low but clear. “So what’s our angle? Are we doing urban gardens, renewable energy, pollution mitigation?”
Danny tapped his pencil against the desk thoughtfully. “Pollution mitigation. Urban waste systems. I can do the technical research, Craig can do… whatever you nerd out about, Stan can… entertain, and Nico… you can handle aesthetics. Make it look smart.”
Nico raised a brow, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “Fine. But I get final say on style.”
Danny grinned faintly. “Deal. But don’t let it get too cute. We’re punking this project.”
Craig finally gave a small laugh. “Punking a group project… yeah, only Danny Fenton would turn schoolwork into this.”
Danny leaned back, letting the small camaraderie settle around him. He hadn’t expected to feel this at home, not so quickly. But there was something about Nico, Stan, and Craig—they weren’t fake, they didn’t care about hierarchy, and they just… fit.
Across the classroom, Percy leaned over Jason, whispering. “Okay, so for the project, we cover energy conservation first, then urban green space, then—”
Annabeth, perched beside him with her tablet, interrupted softly. “Focus, Percy. If we want an A, we follow the plan.”
Percy glanced up briefly, catching Danny’s pale blue eyes across the room. For a moment, his thoughts drifted elsewhere. Danielle. The way her tiny sea-green eyes sparkled, her little hands tugging at Danny’s. Percy couldn’t stop wondering where that tanned skin and her eyes came from. Danny wasn’t tan. Danny’s hair, pale skin, and blue eyes clearly didn’t match. But the resemblance—the identical features—was undeniable.
Danny, of course, didn’t know Percy was watching—or thinking. His eyes had drifted out the window on occasion, catching the elementary school across the street where Danielle now sat among her classmates. His heart ached a little, a mix of pride, fear, and protective instinct. Every day, sending her into a world he couldn’t control felt like a battle he was barely surviving. Vlad’s meddling, the loss of his parents—it all came rushing back in these small moments.
Yet Danny kept his focus on the group around him. “All right,” he said quietly, tapping his pencil against the desk. “Let’s outline. First step: research phase. I’ll handle the data and technical stuff, Nico, you map out the presentation aesthetics, Craig… science nerd section, Stan… humor and… distract the audience?”
Stan snorted. “Perfect. Exactly what I was hoping for.”
Craig groaned. “Why is it always you two making me sound like the responsible adult?”
Nico smirked faintly. “Because someone has to balance Danny and Stan’s chaos.”
Danny tilted his head. “Sounds about right. Let’s get to it then.”
Across the room, Percy’s group was already planning their own strategy, energy bouncing off Jason and Leo, Piper whispering occasionally to Annabeth. Percy, though, kept sneaking glances at Danny, a quiet, uneasy pull tugging at him. He knew he would end up walking home with Danny later, picking up Estelle, but he couldn’t shake the nagging thought of Danielle.
For now, though, their worlds collided only in small ways—glances across the room, parallel planning, the subtle friction of new friendships forming.
Danny leaned slightly back in his chair, Nico quietly observing his ideas, Stan and Craig adding commentary, laughter, and sarcastic asides. It was… enough for the moment. Enough to remind him that he could survive here, at least until the bell rang and reality called him back to Danielle, the little girl who held all the stakes of his life in her tiny hands.
And Percy, across the classroom, could only watch, feeling the pull of something he didn’t yet understand, wondering how a quiet punk skater with messy hair and blue eyes could hold so much weight in the universe—and in his conscience.
Notes:
Haha just adding Stan and Craig for the random mix of background characters, don’t think I’d put them to much in the story unless everyone wants to see make of them
Definitely a rare pair ship, I just love them