Chapter Text
The sound of clashing swords echoed through the palace courtyard, the spectators gathered in a half-moon shape to watch the ensuing fight. The fighters fought each other vigorously, both with determined looks on their faces. Their movements carried with them almost a rhythmic dance, in which both anticipated and cut each other's moves faster than the audience could follow. It was not even close to the first time they had fought in this way, so seeing them in such harmony and ferocity became a frequent entertainment for those around them.
The youngest, a boy who seemed to be in the peak of adolescence, had hair as black as night, sharp cheekbones and eyes the exact color of the sea. He fought carefree, almost by instinct, with the subtle confidence of a person whose act of fighting for his own life has become as easy as breathing.
The age of the older could not be so easily determined, despite his young face. His eyes, which mirrored those of his opponent, his brother, betrayed the maturity and knowledge that only the weight of years could grant. He had a proud, noble posture, which reflected his heritage and his identity. In short, he could be none other than Triton. A god. The eldest son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. The crown prince of the seas. He wore a smile, moving his sword in quick movements.
And as for his brother... Well, there were many words to describe him. The offspring of the seas. The hero of Olympus. The most powerful demigod son of Poseidon since Theseus. He gave Triton's smile a suspicious look, already imagining what was to come. He narrowly dodged an elbow to the collarbone, only to fall with a last, calculated movement with his sword, in which the god stole the weapon from him, placing it at his neck.
"I surrender," he declared, frowning. "How do you always win? We've been fighting since I was nine! I should have at least one victory by now." He took Riptide back from the immortal's hands, panting. He stabbed it into the ground in search of support. The fight had lasted hours.
Triton laughed.
"No need to complain, Perseus. You're fighting a god, after all, with millennia of life and practice, you can't expect to defeat me in fencing with just a few years of training, especially without using your powers. But, I must admit, your skills are remarkable for a demigod. Kronos wouldn't be defeated by just anyone."
"You know that the one who made the decisive choice was Luke" Percy murmured, sheathing his sword that there, in his father's kingdom, was in its original form, as opposed to the harmless pen shape preferable in the mortal world. "I don't see why everyone acts like I defeated Kronos alone, it was a collective effort. I barely managed to survive, much less deserve to be declared a war hero."
"And you know that, despite your own struggles and sacrifices by your companions, you were the one who sacrificed the most, had to give up everything the most. You were the one who dove into the river..."
"I know, believe me. I know. But the way the rewards were given is completely disproportionate. The Olympians exaggerated my worth."
The eldest prince sighed, they had had this discussion countless times before.
"Percy..."
"No, brother. We've had this conversation before. It's just... It's best if we leave the matter as it is. I'm tired of trying to argue with immortals. Will you accompany me to the forge? I want to ask Tyson for a new shield."
The god raised an eyebrow.
"Another one?" He sighed "It'll be what... The third one this month? Perseus..."
"It's not my fault they keep breaking!" He shrugged.
"It's celestial bronze. It's not made to "keep breaking". If you were just a little more careful..."
"If fewer people tried to kill me..."
"It got a lot better after the war" Triton argued.
"Because the apparent title of "hero" makes them, at least, think twice before coming after me."
"After you ascend, everything will get better" His brother assured him, putting an arm around him. "You'll probably even miss these little fights."
"Little fights? Tri!"
He ignores him.
"Anyway, in two years you'll finally have peace."
"Ares could say otherwise."
"In that case it doesn't count" he rolled his eyes, leading Percy to the forge. "It would be a friendly dispute."
"I don't know what world you live in, brother, but there's nothing "friendly" about the god of war."
A commotion in the middle of the crowd interrupted their conversation, when a young mermaid, dressed in servile clothes and holding a pearl polishing pot, made her way through the crowd.
"Your Highnesses!" She approached, alarmed and breathless. "Forgive me for interrupting, but the king requires the immediate presence of both of you in the throne room."
The two looked at each other, startled. The last time their father had urgently summoned them, Kronos had resurfaced. Triton shot off, his blue-green tail stirring the water around him and driving away the people who were watching the scene, curious. Percy swam quickly behind, following the god as fast as his powers and his limited mortal legs would allow.
The courtyard opened onto a concave entrance that led to the entrance hall, which was guarded at all times by two mermen. The guards bowed in recognition and respect as they let the princes enter. The throne room was in the central area of the place, protected from all angles, it was the safest refuge in the ocean. It was no wonder that the other gods did not dare to enter the domains of the god of the seas, nor did they dare to venture into it, which made hiding Percy during his childhood something much simpler.
The throne room was no less impressive. It was adorned with a high dome and ivory tones, clearly referencing the ancient architecture typical of Greek temples. The light seemed to fade as they approached the thrones, where Percy's father and stepmother were seated. Poseidon was visibly restless, his foot tapping against the marble floor. Amphitrite looked at him with a reprimanding look, clearly bothered by her husband's rudeness.
Poseidon stopped with a sigh, finally looking up to face his children's curiosity.
"Father," Triton said. "What happened?"
"Sally Jackson, unfortunately, is what happened," Amphitrite said dryly. "I always said we shouldn't have left a task of this importance to a mortal. They are so fragile..."
"Amphitrite!" Poseidon scolded. He cast a worried look at Percy, who was paralyzed in the middle of the room.
"Is it over?" Percy whispered. "Is she really gone?"
His caretaker in the mortal world, Sally Jackson, had been fighting a particularly aggressive lung cancer for at least three years. She was Percy's legal guardian in the mortal world, serving as his "biological mother" in the eyes of all the other demigods and the schools he had attended. Percy spent the week at Sally's house and the weekends – besides American and Greek holidays – at Poseidon's palace, this being the only agreement the god could make with his siblings so that he could still care for Percy and not send him straight to his other mortal father or to an orphanage.
"Yes" His father confessed in a serious tone. "I'm sorry, Perseus. She passed away about two hours ago. Her body didn't resist."
Percy's legs suddenly felt like jelly under his feet.
"I..." He managed to say "I know it was expected, that her illness was too advanced for any medical or divine intervention to be effective, but even so..."
A hollow feeling took over his chest. He should have been prepared for this moment, after all, Sally's end was, at least in a way, predictable. Amphitrite, ever since the news of the mortal's illness reached her ears, insisted on the need to discuss the matter, to make plans, to plan and prepare for the worst possible scenario.
Percy didn't even want to know about any plans, he vetoed from his mind all thoughts related to the possibility of one of the only parental bonds, even if not biologically, from his human side ceasing to exist. He didn't want to think about the after. He didn't even want to think about the possibility of there being a after.
He was tired of changes, he just wanted to be at peace in Atlantis and in the house of his caregiver/pseudo-mother-figure, the only places in the world where he felt any sense of order. Even Camp Half-Blood, where he had once felt like he belonged, had become a bittersweet reminder of the suffocating responsibilities and turbulent experiences imposed on him even before he was born.
"I am sorry for your loss, Perseus." His stepmother once again took the lead, restless. "And I know that what I have to say is not fair, but we do not have much time to grieve. We need to make an immediate decision. Tomorrow is the solstice, and after the meeting of the gods, the agreement dictates that you must return to your usual routine and spend the week in the mortal world. We cannot let them drag you off to some orphanage. Those vandals..."
"Amphitrite!" Poseidon scolded again, tired. Triton and Percy just rolled their eyes, accustomed to the queen's manner. "They are innocent orphaned children..."
"They're mortals! Brats on top of that. Not to mention the disgusting caretakers. You may not have prepared yourselves for this... Incident with Mrs. Jackson, but I did my research. The system is horrible, super disorganized. My stepson won't even step foot in one of those juvenile centers. I refuse to allow such an atrocity. We have standards to maintain! He must be under proper care..."
"Mother!" Triton protested "You can't be suggesting..."
The goddess nodded.
"It would be a good option, son, you have to admit" Poseidon argued. "He deserves to know, even if it's sooner than we had originally planned. He'll be able to provide Percy with a comfortable life and routine during the week. Besides, I doubt he won't be favorable to the time allowed for Percy to stay with us."
"My mortal father?" Percy's eyes widened, finally realizing where this conversation was going. "But father... He shouldn't know until I'm 18. How are you going to explain..."
"I'll talk to him" The god reassured him. "In my other form. I'll tell him we had a son. He was out of town at the time, we had a big fight, I'll tell him I only found out about you when I got back to Greece. That, by then, I had already deleted his phone number and lost contact. I'll make up some excuses."
"I'm not sure if this will work" He frowned. "How are you going to explain the custody issue?"
"I'll tell the truth. I'll tell him I have an old agreement with my brothers, something related to religion, and that I can only see you on the weekends until you turn eighteen and take over the family business."
Percy thought for a moment, weighing his options. He had never thought about it... He didn't even know how to organize his thoughts in a situation like that.
"I suppose it could work. Where does he live? You never got to tell me."
"He lives in Gotham, New Jersey."