Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson
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Emerald Library: It is so big you can google it
Writer's Block: wttJDs62Dy
LAST TIME:
"Not again," he mumbled as the two of them circled the tree to figure out which demigod was about to be put on dish duty for the rest of the time here at camp. Annabeth began to wonder just who was daring enough to sleep outside their cabin. She and Chiron finally circled the tree enough to see exactly who it was.
Yet the moment Annabeth laid eyes on the person, her whole body froze, and the tiredness that filled her body was blown away. A moment later, her legs gave in as she fell to the ground, her body began to shake, and tears began to well up in her eyes. One hand grasped at her mouth while the other shakily extended toward the person in front of her. Yet it stopped a hair short of touching them as if the figure would dissolve into nothing at any moment.
"By the gods, this shouldn't be possible," Chiron whispered as his eyes widened.
"T-Thalia…" Annabeth managed to cry out, and even more tears and snot began to run down her face. Her hand finally touched the girl's arm. This caused the quietly sleeping face of the punk rock daughter of Zeus, Thalia Grace, to move as her eyes slowly opened, revealing their long-forgotten electric blue shimmer.
NOW:
TIMESKIP: 2 days later
PERCY POV:
As my hazy mind cleared, I slowly awoke from my peaceful and dreamless sleep. Yet my still sleepy half wasn't done just yet. I tried to force my mind to be quiet and go back to sleep. Sadly it was no use. The sweet scent of toasted marshmallows, which carried a hint of smoked wood, entered my nose and stirred my mind awake. It was then that I began to feel my body more and more as I realized the position I was in.
My arm was underneath the heads of two stunning hearth goddesses, and a pillow right above to provide support. Each head of wavy, mousy brown hair rested peacefully on my arm and the pillow as they let out gentle breaths. My other arm was busy resting on each goddess' bare and impeccably soft body. I had managed to spoon both, not one, but both Hestia and Vesta cuddled with one another in my arms.
Staring down at the two peacefully sleeping goddesses, I watched as they let out soft breaths in sync and cuddled closer with one another as Vesta buried her face in the crook of Hestia's neck. I couldn't help but gently play with their hair as I relished in the bliss of our morning afterglow. After a bit, one of the goddess before me began gently stirring from their sleep. I watched as Hestia's eyes slowly flickered open as she gently turned her head toward me.
"Good morning, love," I whispered as Hestia gave me a lazy smile that stunned me momentarily. My heart clenched in my chest. She was so cute that my heart wouldn't last at this rate.
"Good morning, love." She whispered back before tilting her head a little, allowing me to lean over and give her a soft morning kiss that sent a spark down my spine. After the last two days, my body still felt some aftereffects of what had happened. It was a combination of our soulmate link, the goddess powers, and my domain from Eros partially unlocking. All together, it made for an everlasting memory seated in my mind. After a little bit, I finally pulled away, and we both shivered slightly. It seems I wasn't the only one feeling aftershocks.
"You two get some more rest. I'm going to get something started for breakfast." I whispered to her as Hestia gave me a slight nod before closing her droopy eyes and yawning. A moment later, she was back snuggling against the sleeping Roman goddess after she helped me pull my arm out from beneath their heads. I hadn't even managed to sit on the side of the bed before I heard her breathing shift back to her sleeping state.
Glancing over my shoulder one last time, I admired the scene of both goddesses snuggling up against one another as the thin top sheet hugged their seductive figures. The thin sheet somehow enhanced each supple and enticing curve of their bodies. I couldn't help but let my eyes run up and down their Lilith-like bodies, from those long legs to their curvy butts to their slim backs that held their apple bosoms. Each body was thin but had the right amount of thickness where it mattered.
"Come on, you can stare later. Food first." I mumbled as I tore my eyes away from Hestia's back, where I noticed several hickeys dotting her supple neck. If I continued staring, I would probably jump back into bed for another round… or ten with them and continue laying claim to them. Thankfully my stomach protested my horny thoughts as it grumbled in demand for food.
That was enough to straighten out my thoughts as I quietly put on some clean underwear and shorts before stepping out of the master bedroom. With a light click of the door, I let the two continue sleeping. I let out a giant yawn and walked toward the kitchen.
"Food…" I mumbled as I found the fridge and opened it to find quite the surprise: it was empty. I couldn't help but stare for a moment before closing the door, waiting a few moments, and then reopening it only to find it still empty. Slightly stunned, I started to go through the cabinets in the kitchen as quietly as I could, and in the end, all I found were dishes and not a single food item.
'I mean… It makes sense. It is a cabin that hasn't been used in forever. Why would there be food here?' I thought to myself, staring at the bare pantry before me. Only some odds and ends were scattered on its shelves, but there wasn't even a single actual food inside.
'Still not to have any magical items to make food appear… a little unsuspected.' Barbatos' voice echoed in my head as I couldn't help but nod to his words.
'Are you two stupid? She is the goddess of home and hearth and can magically poof up food whenever she wants. That's like Demeter going to the store for fresh vegetables; it doesn't make sense.' Alpha said in a snarky tone as both Barbatos and I couldn't help but agree.
"Looks like I'm borrowing a cup of… everything this morning," I mumbled as I glanced out a window toward my mother's cabin just a ways down. Tracy and Phoebe were staying there, so they had to have something… right? It didn't help that I left my magical food-summoning backpack there after Tracy's incident. If I wanted food, I had to go over there regardless.
After a few moments, I decided to pull out a small piece of notepaper and quickly jotted down a few words for Hestia and Vesta. I then approached the coffee maker and started a pot for the goddesses. After many years of living together, I learned that both Hearth goddesses loved their morning cup of coffee. Thankfully, there was a bag of their favorite blend inside the pantry. I gave it 30 minutes, and they will be up and sipping a cup here soon. With that, I grabbed my magical hoodie and went off.
"That breeze feels divine," I said to myself as I enjoyed the calm wind on my skin for a few moments before hiding away my hickey-covered skin with my hoodie, which transformed into a shirt a moment later.
After being cooped up in our love cave for two days, the air inside had a particular… muskiness. Not that I minded, but fresh air felt divine in my lungs as I took a few deep breaths and continued my walk. After a little, I soon found myself before my family's cabin door and gave it a few knocks before rocking back and forth on my heels. Even though it was early, I still quickly heard the sound of people moving about inside as one approached the door.
Click
The door swung open, revealing a slightly messy and surprised Tracy in her music-themed full-body pajamas. As I laid eyes on her, I instantly noticed that her eyes were no longer as exhausted as they were a few days ago, and instead, she seemed to have a bit of liveliness to them. The forced cleaning from the goddesses appeared to set her straight… or help her with whatever she had going on. But the moment her eyes seemed to realize it was me, a grin slowly spread across her face as she leaned in the doorway.
"Well, I'll be damned, you're alive," Tracy said in a mischievous tone that told me all I needed to know about her current knowledge of the situation. All I could do was lightly cough into my hand and fight off the blush on my cheeks as she gave me a slight grin.
"Do you have to say it that way?" I asked her as Tracy pursed her lips as if contemplating my request.
"You're my little bro. Of course, I need to tease you about your excellent and healthy relationship with not one but two hearth goddesses. Please tell me how the nights treated you over yonder. Was it everything you imagined?" Tracy teased me as I rolled my eyes at her words while she giggled a little.
"First off, I'm the older one. We both know this, you little gremlin. Second… It was beautiful, full of new experiences, and love-filled. I'm happy my relationship with them has grown to this extent; they even helped me unlock some of the domains that Eros left me." I said in a matter-of-fact tone before suddenly diving into the details of my love life, catching Tracy off guard so much so she didn't even seem to retort back to her age joke.
"G-Gross! Don't tell me that stuff! I mean… good for you three and furthering your relationship. But don't go telling people that. Bleh! I don't want to know about your sex life." Tracy said as fast as she could, making a disgusted face that caused me to smirk in triumph.
"Don't you make bets on my love life and sex life all the time?" As Tracy made her disturbed face, I pointed out that she froze in place before sweat began to gather on her forehead. I quietly raised an eyebrow as Trace gave me an awkward smile before quickly rushing back inside.
"Haha, you must be here for your backpack. Come in and grab it so you can return it to your ladies." Like a jackrabbit, Apollo's daughter shot through the cabin into the living room where the mess once resided. I quietly followed behind the girl as she brought me to my bag, unmoved from where I set it down. With that, I effortlessly picked up the once unmovable backpack, at least to others, and glanced around the room before focusing on Tracy's music table.
"Mind me asking what all that mess was about?" I couldn't help but ask the embarrassed girl, who looked ready to kick me out at any moment. But upon hearing my question, Tracy quickly calmed down as she glanced at her desk and sighed softly.
"Recently… I began to hear things. I wasn't sure what they were at first, but soon, I realized they were bits and pieces of songs. It has probably been about two weeks since it started, but the noises grew so intense it nearly drove me insane. I only managed to find relief after writing down the notes and vocals I was hearing. After writing them down, they disappeared from my mind. Just before you arrived, I wrote down the final pieces that had built up inside my mind." She said in a worried and confused tone as I stood there silently and analyzed the situation.
"That sounds like a new power," I couldn't help but say. Trace nodded in agreement, though her eyes still showed confusion.
"I figured that out, but I can't understand what type of power it is. These bits and pieces of the songs are so scattered I can't make any sense of them. I found some matching pieces and combined them to get half of a complete song, but it still doesn't make sense. The song that I discovered doesn't exist. No matter what I try, I simply can't find the origin of that song." Tracy continued to spill out her worries confusedly before sighing again and plopping herself down on her desk chair.
I watched the girl lean back and let her head hang backward as she tried to clear her mind of any worries or thoughts. But at that time, my mind was going through all the possibilities that could have led to this situation. Thankfully, there weren't a lot of options to choose from. Picking through them was also quite simple, and in a full minute, I came to a… partial conclusion.
"I know this sounds a little crazy, but… what if it is a form of the gift of prophecy?" I said as Tracy paused momentarily before raising her head and staring at me. Her eyes narrowed in thought before a hint of clarity flashed across them as they slowly widened. In a split second, Tracy whipped back to her desk and started to rummage through her magical file cabinets before she pulled out several pieces of paper.
"That would mean…" Tracy started to mumble to herself as she was quickly lost in her own little world. Seeing that she was lost in thought, I smiled softly. If my hunch were correct, it would mean that Tracy was probably the most gifted child of Apollo in the world. Still, even if music-related, a gift of prophecy was bound to gather some attention. I made a mental note to speak with the girls about this, especially Artemis.
Thinking of the goddess of the hunt, I couldn't help but sigh a little as her soft, smiling face popped into my head. Unfortunately, she had been avoiding me after we returned from the quest. I didn't even know why. Every IM I sent her was met with a voicemail, and every sacrifice to fire was rejected. I simply couldn't get in touch with the goddess. I thought it had to do with her being thrown into the situation about the Tribulations I had caused.
According to Hera, this was partially correct. Artemis was tasked with tracking down the people in the USA who had gone through their tribulations, figuring out what was happening to them, and reporting back. This took her a week and a half to accomplish, according to Zoe, who was the first to see the exhausted Artemis come to the apartment, flop down onto the couch, and pass out. After that, Artemis stayed at our apartment with Zoe while remaining distracted and spaced out yet clingy to the huntress.
Zoe said she even saw Artemis instantly swipe through one and disperse the IMs I sent her when they came up. Her face was full of shyness and embarrassment, while her eyes had a hint of other emotions. I was at a loss at her explanation; I simply didn't know what I had done or what happened for her to act this way. I wanted to go home right then, but Zoe told me to hurry back once Hestia, Vesta, and I finished our adventure. She said she would handle the little goddess in my stead.
That had been a few days ago, and from the minor updates Zoe sent, Artemis had been better than the last few days. Depending on the hearth goddess' mood, we would all head home today or tomorrow. After telling them tidbits about what was happening, I was sure Hestia was also worried. All this went through my head as I rummaged around in the cabin's kitchen, picking up a few things for breakfast. Thankfully, Tracy and Phoebe were well prepared.
"Ah! Don't take the bacon. That is the only package left." A voice tore me out of my thoughts as I turned to see Phoebe walking into the kitchen. The huntress is in a shirt 2 sizes two big, even for her huge frame, baggy pants, and hair up in a towel. Her face was full of anger as she marched over and snatched the bacon from the pile of stolen… I mean borrowed items.
"You little thief, I expected this after last night," Phoebe grumbled at me and closed the fridge, cutting me off from my food source.
"Hey, now, I need that. No breakfast is complete without bacon." I argued as Phoebe stared at me as if I was stupid.
"Yeah, I know, that is why you can't take it. I need to make my breakfast over here as well. Tracy and I are still recovering from your goddess' little clean-up…" Phoebe started to complain but slowed her angry grumbles to a halt at the mention of the goddesses. She stared at me before she suddenly put the bacon back onto the pile of food I was taking.
"Take it, what else do you need?" She said in a firm tone. I had no words to say as my mouth hung open momentarily. Seeing my reaction, she snorted at me before reopening the fridge, pillaging a few more items, and throwing them onto the pile before giving a nod in satisfaction.
"What? You don't expect those two incredible women who put up with your stupidity every day to get anything but the best breakfast food after losing their… you know." Phoebe said seriously before faltering at the end as a slight blush painted her cheeks. I couldn't help but stare at the huntress as the image of the 'butcher' covered in blood and laughing as she slaughtered monsters dissipated into a carrying and perceptive 'young' woman.
"Thank you, Phoebe, how thoughtful of you." Was all I could muster as Phoebe made a sour face as if my words somehow poisoned her before waving me off.
"Shut your trap and go, don't keep them waiting, or I will kick your ass. Also, if I ever catch you stealing from my fridge again, I'll kick your ass!" Her eyes lit up with a new flame of anger. Her image suddenly took a quick 180 before she began ushering me out of the cabin with arms full of food. Before I knew it, I was outside with the door slamming behind me as she stomped away from the door.
'There's the butcher I know. Also, it's technically my fridge; I'm the only one making payments on this place. But she doesn't need to know that.' I thought to myself as I glanced back at the cabin, only to hear Tracy start to laugh at her girlfriend's antics.
LINEBREAK:
"I'm back!" I sang as I opened the door to Hestia's cabin, revealing two stunning goddesses in nothing but my oversized baggy shirts, quietly sipping coffee on the couch. They looked up from their drinks, and their faces lit up with loving smiles and small golden flushes. I couldn't help but smile back at them as I admired the two dark olive-skinned beauties who still had bedheads. Those mousy brown circlets almost look like afros.
"Welcome back, love," Their sweet voices filled the air as I nearly dropped my stolen… borrowed goods right then and there and rushed to them to pepper them with kisses. I managed to hold back for now, and breakfast was saved.
"It's good to be back," I said before walking over to each of them and sharing a short and loving kiss with each of them. Their soft lips had the taste of coffee, which enhanced the kiss even more as the bitterness mixed into their normal sweet taste. Ultimately, I was left with two giggling and smiling goddesses who quickly joined me in the kitchen by sitting on the bar that helped enclose it. I could feel both their gazes following me around the kitchen as I unloaded my goods, and their loving smiles occasionally hid behind their coffee mugs.
"So, who did you steal these from?" Vesta couldn't help but ask me, a small smirk growing on her lips as I shot her a confident smile.
"Tracy and Phoebe were nice enough to donate to my cause this morning," I said as Vesta laughed a little at my response, but it only made her smile more.
"How nice of them. I will repay them later as a thank you." Hestia said as I shook my head before heating several cast iron pans and prepping ingredients.
"Don't worry about it. Phoebe didn't seem so adamant about us paying them back. Also, how are you two… feeling?" I couldn't help but ask as Hestia instinctively reached down and stroked her stomach, and a sudden blush crossed her face. Even Vesta was brought to a golden blush at my words as her cinder eyes burned with fiercer light before Hestia spoke.
"It's worse than I first imagined, but it's a pleasant soreness. It has a very… fulfilling sense to it," she quietly said while holding her stomach before giving me a toothy smile that made my heart jump from love and cuteness overload.
"W-What she said." Vesta shyly mumbled a moment later as Hestia and I both turned to the Roman goddess, who hid behind her coffee mug as her golden cheeks grew brighter. Sensing our gazes, she quickly finished her sip as her eyes darted between Hestia and me before stopping on me as she pursed her lips.
"What? I lost my virginity to the man I love, and it makes me feel a sense of fulfillment I've never felt before. What else do you want from me?" Vesta grumbled in embarrassment as her usual bratty attitude was long gone… mostly.
"You are cute when you're embarrassed," Hestia said with a silly smile, causing Vesta to glare at her while unable to retort Hestia's words. All she could do was focus on her drink while ignoring our stares. On the other hand, Hestia turned to me and continued giving me a loving and confident smile like never before. I couldn't help but admire the switch of personas with the twin goddesses; Hestia's newfound confidence was delightful.
"I'm happy you two are feeling okay. I was a little worried after my new domain Eros left for me… activated." I said with a blush while flipping some bacon as the two blushed profusely at my words. Neither of them could say anything in response as images of the night flooded their minds. It wasn't until I served the two breakfasts that I got a response from Vesta as the goddess looked up at me.
"J- Just be sure to control it next time. The other girls won't be able to handle you in such a s- state. Even we are still recovering…" She barely managed to mumble out as her whole face turned golden. Hestia gave a shy nod while her eyes danced between me and her plate of food.
"Umm… note taken, I'll make sure to be careful," I said with a light cough as my face flushed red and scenes of the two goddesses from last flashed in my head. Eros' domains included desire, love, procreation, and the generation of new life. Ever since I turned 18, I have been vaguely aware of my attunement to his domains, especially desire and love. Yet after joining with the goddesses in bed, the other parts soon fell into place, and I had an epiphany and eventually unlocked half of his domains.
This gave me a specific 'boost' in the love-making department that seemed to provide me infinite energy while in bed, among other things—such as sensitivity-increasing aura, weak spot detection, boosted physical prowess, etc. The result turned me into more of a beast in bed than I had ever been before. I wasn't sure if this half unlocked anything else, but the domains were on lockdown until I could better grasp their power. As fun as it sounds, I don't think Zoe would be up for 48 hours of continuous lovemaking with no breaks.
"Quit thinking about something perverted and come and eat." Vesta snapped me out of my thoughts as she pointed at the third plate of food stacked with an array of food I had prepared for myself.
"How'd you know? I was just thinking about how to use my newfound power next," I said with a sly smile while taking my seat as Vesta's cheeks grew even more gold. Before I could continue teasing her, a coffee mug was suddenly pushed in my direction. Staring at the empty mug, I saw Hestia looking at me with a 'shut up and get me more coffee, handsome' look on her face.
"Haha, fine, fine, I'll play nice," I said as I grabbed her mug, causing Hestia to smile. While I filled her mug, she gave the ever-so-timid Vesta a triumphant smile, causing the Roman goddess to shoot her a scowl that only made Hestia's smile widen even more.
LINEBREAK:
THIRD PERSON POV:
"You know I've been thinking, why don't we move?" Percy suggested to the hearth goddess, standing by his side as she rested her head on his shoulder. Her eyes slowly opened, revealing a pair of heterochromatic eyes for a change. One was a warm cinder brown color, while the other was a fierce cinder brown mix. For a change of pace, both Hearth goddesses returned to their shared body to recharge on the way home. Even though their body was Hestia's, her eyes showed that both were in control. Percy wasn't sure how that worked, but they seemed to figure it out.
"What made you want to move?" the goddess asked in a tired voice with a cute yawn a moment later. The previous night's activities seemed to have taken more out of her than she first thought. Plus, the fact that she was recharging both forms of energy didn't help.
"Well… I don't feel the apartment situation is best for the kids. I know the magic around it makes it huge. Still, it just feels… off, especially after being out and about for so long, " Percy admitted as the Hearth goddess closed her eyes and hummed to herself for a little bit before opening her eyes just as the elevator dinged and started to open.
"I think I understand what you mean. You want to move to something more like a townhome a bit further from the city." She said as Percy nodded in agreement while the two began their walk toward their apartment.
"I can connect places with the Nest's spatial passages. Cammy's most recent report said we can now open up to 25 permanent passages with the recent population increase. She even mentioned that we can connect multiple passages so that you don't have to enter the Nest anymore, thus eliminating the need for extra commuting." Percy said as the goddess' ears perked up regarding the growth of the nest.
It had been a few weeks since she visited the Nest, and she was curious how much it had grown. Even Percy seemed to share the same thought as he realized that he hadn't visited since he was on Circe's island. Thankfully, Cammy always sent weekly reports on the growth and everything that had happened in and outside the Nest to everyone in the Harem. Recently, the population spiked up to 1600 people/beings, while the Nest expanded even further as Percy's strength grew. The mist around the mansion disappeared until it revealed a full-fledged town.
From what Cammy described in her reports, the whole nest experienced a massive change after everything at Circe's Island had happened. The original mansion now sat on the hill with its enormous garden and forest surrounding it. According to Calista, a river from nowhere surrounded both sides of the hill, giving it a majestic and ethereal vibe. The Tree nymphs, Nereids, Anthousai, and Nephele also pleaded with Cammy to live on the hill.
Being the 'generous' person she was, she allowed them all to live around the mansion, making nature abound in the building and indeed coming to life and blossoming. Other significant changes were that the main teleportation center had moved from the garden to the middle of the town square to make it easily accessible to everyone. A small teleporter did remain on the mansion grounds, but Cammy had managed to alter it so only Percy's friends and family could use it. Besides that, the Marble had also been duplicated, one residing in Percy's garden while the other was inside a small arena in town.
When the change happened, the buildings built in recent years were also transported and incorporated into the growing town. Schools, community buildings, residential homes, restaurants, etc., were all incorporated into the city, making it an even bigger, thriving community. Yet some things did concern Percy as things grew bigger and bigger. Thankfully, the management of the Nest and all its aspects were easily taken care of.
All concerns or wants were directed to the internal management group Percy and Cammy created. Of course, people were vetted properly with her Charmspeak and his Eyes of Chaos. Over the last year, they did a spectacular job. Everything was taken care of, from food, water, jobs, activities, education, and even the creation of currency, 'aka Nest bucks.'
Yet Percy grew a little concerned when he learned that the church had been renovated into a huge amphitheater-like building after running out of room for people. According to Cammy, 750 firm believers were part of the Church of Chaos, and 15 people were in charge of giving sermons at all times. At this point, he didn't know what to do with this growing religion. He knew they meant well and were upholding the rules he had set down when this started, but it was still a little too much for him.
"Hearth to Percy, do you come in?" Percy suddenly heard as he snapped out of his thoughts before gazing at his goddess, who stared up at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Sorry, I was just… wait, did you just tell a joke?"
"Huh? What do you mean? All I said was earth to Percy. You must be hearing things."
"No… I'm pretty sure you just-."
"Anyway, your idea about moving away from New York is smart. How about we all review some places we might have in mind? I can already think of several places we would all love. Oh! Do you think we should raise some farm animals? I've read in a few parenting books that it's good for children to help with such things."
"..."
"..."
"Fine, you win… Vestia. Also, your idea sounds good to me,"
"Of course it is! Wait… did you just call me Vestia?"
"Daddy! Mommy!" A pair of voices suddenly interrupted their staring contest as two figures rushed in their direction. One jumped right onto Percy, nearly throwing him to the ground. On the other hand, the goddess was treated more gently as the figure skidded to a stop right before her and then proceeded to wrap her up in a giddy hug.
Cough Cough
"How was your first day of school?" Percy asked after managing to catch his breath. Ryder looked up at him and gave him a toothy smile. Compared to his regular stone-like expression, this small smile was the equivalent of him jumping up and down in joy. Seeing Ryder give him such a wonderful smile, Percy couldn't help but snatch his son up and twirl him around as the boy let out a torrent of laughs.
"Sounds like it was a good day," Hestia said as she stroked Zora's head. The girl continued to gently hug her, a silver shark tail swishing back and forth as she buried her face in the goddess' stomach.
"Wait up!" A third voice suddenly came from the stairway not too far away, and everyone turned to see Calista and Cammy rushing around a corner. Upon seeing Percy holding up a laughing Ryder and Hestia petting a nuzzling Zora, their expressions were filled with surprise.
"That explains why they started to run," Cally said, trying to catch her breath. Cammy nodded in agreement while also trying to steady her breath.
"Dad, 2nd grade is so cool! The teacher gave us all these cool strawberries!" Ryder started to speak his little head off for once as Percy set down his energetic son. The boy even went so far as to open his backpack and pull out a few strawberries the size of apples.
"Their teacher is a son of Demeter." Cally explained softly as Percy took the giant strawberry and admired its size.
"What about you, sweetie?" Hestia asked Zora as the girl continued to snuggle the goddess. After a few more moments, Zora's 'Hestia cuddle' gauge filled, allowing her to pull away.
"Everyone said my tail is cool! There was even another girl in class who had gills! Her mom is a mermaid! Even some of my friends from last year were in my class," Zora explained in an equally excited tone as Hestia gave the beaming girl a brilliant smile.
"It sounds like this school was the right choice after all. It looks like I owe Chiron a big gift," Percy commented as he gave back the strawberry to Ryder, who gave his dad a confused look.
"What? If I eat it here, I will get in trouble with Mom. You best show her as well. I bet she will even prepare us a snack tray with them." Percy said while ruffling Ryder's hair, causing the boy's eyes to widen before quickly nodding and rushing inside the apartment door while he screamed the word mom.
"You best get inside unless you want to miss out on snacks. Also, tell Zoe we will be a minute," Hestia said before kissing Zora's forehead. The shark girl froze momentarily before quickly abandoning the goddess and rushing in after her brother. Percy, Hestia, Cally, and Cammy were left outside with the slam of a door as Percy's eyes turned toward his mother's.
When their gazes met, an awkward expression covered Cally's face. She seemed to want to say something but could not find the right words. On the other hand, Percy seemed lost in thought as his emotions twisted inside him. It was the first time he had seen his mother since he found out about her dating Athena. He had thought about what he would ask her frequently over the past few weeks. Now that he finally had an opportunity to talk with her, he couldn't find the will to speak.
He suddenly found his new domains from Eros passively activating as bits and pieces of information flooded his mind. The purple in his irises grew until they were fully transformed into a deep purple. It was only for a split second, but Percy was showered in a torrent of information as his connection with the river of love grew immensely. His understanding of desires and love skyrocketed. With a single blink, his domains settled down, and his mind was focused on the images and feelings swirling in his mind.
This event went unnoticed by everyone present, and the tension grew as mother and son still could not speak to one another. Hestia and Cammy looked like they wanted to step in but could not, standing by their partners' sides as they watched them struggle. Surprisingly, Percy was the first to speak as his mind finally digested the information bestowed on him.
"Hestia explained everything to me, including how Athena and you used her undeniable request and the favor it bestowed. I admit I was unhappy when I heard about you and Cammy dating Athena. Our past is a prime example of the worst that can happen when someone falls in love with a… god. It cost Sally her life and nearly mine." Percy said in a slightly irritated tone. Cally listened, causing her face to darken as memories of those times surfaced.
"I… I know, you're right. You have every right to feel the way you do. What happened back then was terrible, and the truths we both learned were even more awful. To this day, those memories are a constant reminder of what can happen. Still… I simply can't stop feeling the way I do about Athena." Cally said in a small voice while clenching her fist as her emotions seemed to conflict. Her memories of Poseidon and her recent experiences with Athena wage war with one another.
"Gods and humans are different, even if we don't want to admit it. Their love is different regarding mortals, at least most mortals. Your ageless immortality has bridged part of the gap between mortals and them." Percy suddenly said, dragging Cally out of her thoughts as she stared at her son, who had a thoughtful and sad expression. None of his previous anger could be seen as he continued to speak.
"This is one of the truths I have found after thinking for quite a while. The same pertains to me as well. I am not a normal mortal. I am only several steps away from achieving immortality. Even though I still think the ways gods love mortals are terrible and disgraceful. I can't judge every situation as the same. I must stop, think, listen, and then act." Percy explained as all eyes widened. Even Hestia seemed surprised about the words he had just said. Percy couldn't help but scratch the back of his head as he felt their gazes burrow into him.
'Look at this! The boy finally started to grow as a man!' Alpha's voice echoed in Percy's head.
'Such, a marvelous moment. I will note this for the history books. I am proud of you, boy.' Barbatos continued, and Percy nearly broke out in a blush as he ignored the two.
Cough
"At least I'm trying my best now to do so. Sometimes, my instincts and emotions get the better of me, but it's a step forward. I can't become the very thing I preach against." Percy finished after clearing his throat as all eyes stared at him in wonder. Seeing such surprise from them made him feel awkward, as he had to force himself to focus on the conversation again.
"May I ask you something?" Percy asked calmly as Cally looked up at her son to find him with a soft expression. Still caught in a daze from his previous words, she couldn't help but nod as Percy closed his eyes and further digested the information his domain had dumped on him.
"What do you like about Athena the most?" Percy asked, causing everyone to blink in surprise. His question truly came out of left field in this situation. Yet Cally was able to regain some of her thoughts back as Percy awaited his answer. Yet, as she tried to find her answer, Cally was… stumped.
"I'm not sure. I like many things about her," Cally said as Percy put on a 'come on now' face. Cally couldn't help but blush as she glanced at Cammy, who surprisingly had a similar expression to Percy's. Seeing that she had no allies, her blush grew before she finally let out a small sigh.
"I like how she treats Cammy and me. Our words are never all on deaf ears around her. She cares about what we say and how we act with her. She remembers things we like and dislike and always recommends things we enjoy," Cally started to say as she began to ramble on a little, her demeanor shifting to an embarrassed schoolgirl. Even Cammy was blushing at her words while nodding along in agreement. Yet Percy managed to keep a straight face while listening to her speak.
"Most of all, I feel a… spark between us. A realness that I've only felt with Cammy. I'm unsure what to call it, but my gut says I can trust her. Even so, my fears of the worst-case scenario still linger. It holds me back most of the time from doing anything apart from simple dates with her and Cammy. Yet she doesn't seem to mind one bit. She understands, and her patience is very appreciated." As Percy stared at his mom, Cally finished her piece with a soft smile.
"Plus, her grinning face is pretty cute, nearly as adorable as Cally's." Cammy suddenly cut in, causing Cally to blush up to her forehead. Then, she gently slapped Cammy's arm, and the demigoddess giggled at her reaction. Percy couldn't help but let out a soft laugh at their actions. Hearing him laugh, the two looked his way as Percy finally seemed to find his verdict.
"It seems my worries weren't necessary, even if I can't help but worry. Just… be careful, mom. I'm here if you ever need anything." Percy said with a loving smile as a small wave of relief washed over Cally and Cammy. At the same time, Cally couldn't help but smile back at Percy before rushing over to him and wrapping him up in a hug.
"If someone had told me I would be getting my love life approved by my son, I would have passed out laughing a few years ago." Cally joked while Percy continued to hug her, yet Percy joined in with her chuckle as he released her.
"Well, Chaos was single forever, and Sally… yeahhh. Kinda zero for two there." Percy crudely joked as Cally smacked his arm a few times and shot him a small glare his way, yet she couldn't help but chuckle a bit in the end.
"While you might be right, you are partly wrong. Sally did manage to find one amazing person." Cally said, eyeing Cammy as the demigoddess blushed at her words. Percy couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"You two are so cute." Suddenly, a new voice joined in. Hestia couldn't help but finally speak. She walked up to Percy's side and took his arm in hers. Her now singular color soft cinder eyes landed on a blushing Cally.
"Oh, hush. I could say the same for you as well. That reminds me, a little birdy told me that a certain event happened recently," Cally said with a knowing smile as Hestia's head released a puff of steam in embarrassment.
"Y-You don't have to say it!" Hestia nearly yelled back as her whole body heated up in embarrassment, causing Cally and Cammy to giggle at her reaction. The next moment, Hestia was snatched away from Percy as the two girls took both her arms and started walking inside the apartment with her.
"W-Wait! Percy!" Hestia tried to speak, but Cally and Cammy continued to giggle as they dragged her away. On the other hand, Percy couldn't help but give her an apologetic look.
"Come on, give us a little gossip. Of course, you don't have to get too explicit." Cammy said with a mischievous smile as Cally nodded as the door closed behind the two. Percy couldn't help but sigh a little as this ordeal passed like a raging storm. He couldn't help but close his eyes and think back to the information his domains gave him.
'Who would have guessed that the river of love was so generous to her in this new life.' Percy thought to himself as the image of his mother's connection to the river of love revealed itself in his mind. Hints of her emotions and feelings could be felt for her loved ones and the connection she shared with them and her soulmates. The image was faint but enough to see she had four soulmate slots. Three of which had already made their connection.
'Cammy… Medusa… and… Athena, I'm unsure if this is the dream team for anything Anti-Poseidon or something greater. Medusa and Athena's sparks formed the bare minimum connection while Cammy's connection was firm, ' he thought to himself as he understood as he opened his eyes. Though the information was minuscule, it was enough for him.
"So you're a good listener and have a cute grin, huh?" Percy asked before directing his gaze down the hall toward the stairwell door. Half of a figure's frame could be seen. The figure jumped at his sudden question as they turned their heads, revealing two powerful, stormy gray eyes framed with black-rimmed glasses. Seeing that she had been discovered, Athena cleared her throat before walking toward him.
"Well… this is awkward. I didn't mean to eavesdrop; I didn't know what to do when I saw you. Also, do you need to ask me that?" Athena apologized with a slight blush as Percy stared down at the goddess with a glint in his eyes. Even if he had given his mother his blessing, that didn't mean he entirely trusted the goddess before him, even if he had worked with her for several years doing all sorts of missions for her.
Her perfectly straight chocolate brunette hair was pulled into a ponytail, unlike her usual somewhat scary looks. But the regal and beautiful face of Athena had turned into an embarrassed beauty. The war goddess was nothing like he was used to. She usually wore stunning white gowns or majestic armor with various carvings. Right now… she was wearing a simple V-neck shirt, a cardigan, and jeans with sneakers that enhanced her figure to a normal degree. The change was so drastic that Percy couldn't help but stare for a moment. The goddess continued to stare right back at him.
"You eavesdropped… so I do indeed. I bet hearing Cally tell me those things felt pretty nice," Percy said with a grin as Athena's blush grew.
"Please… drop it," Athena begged me quietly as she tried to control her blushing cheeks. Percy scoffed lightly. Seeing the goddess get so worked up was worth every bit of teasing.
"Fine, fine… for now, at least. After that conversation with my mom, I feel better about this situation. Just remember…" Percy paused for a moment as his whole body suddenly radiated a bone-chilling, killing intent that froze the entire hallway. The air grew so heavy any average human would collapse while Percy's galaxy shined like a supernova, matching even a god's shimmering eyes. Yet his aura was never summoned as he stared at the wisdom goddess.
"If you hurt her… nobody will be able to save you from my wrath." Percy's voice fell from his lips like a deep, dragon's rumbling voice. Even with everything Percy did to Athena, she seemed unaffected by his pressure and killing intent. But she didn't react to it like she usually would, which would be blasting Percy to pieces with her entirely godly might. Instead, she gave him a slight nod with firm eyes.
"I get it, you overzealous momma's boy. Now, pull back your killing intent before you start annoying me," she said as Percy raised an eyebrow. His pressure continued for several more moments before finally receding entirely.
"I love my mom. What's wrong with that? Also, annoying you? I thought that was Poseidon's job." Percy said as Athena rolled her eyes as dramatically as she could.
"Please, that man may be a thorn in my side, but you seem to be the bigger issue as of late." She argued back, her fierce, war goddess-like expression returning. Percy couldn't help but finally feel a bit more regular now that she was like this.
"Really? After all the quests I've done for you? You make up 70% of my quests I'm on." Percy argued back as Athena simply snorted and crossed her arms under her… small chest.
"70%? I'll let you know that I make up 65.35% of your quests. All of which are very important to the structure of Olympus and the future of all demigods. Do I have to write it down for you again?" She said as Percy's eyebrows scrunched up. Athena was always like this with him. Percentages and numbers were her forte, and Percy didn't care enough to keep track even if he could, which frustrated the wisdom goddess to no end, much to his entertainment, which is part of why he kept doing it.
"Please, no more papers or exams. I think you've had me do enough paperwork for my entire life already," Percy said while waving his hand as the goddess' eyebrow twitched a little. Seeing her expression, Percy couldn't help but smirk inwardly. Riling her up was simply too much fun. Wait… did he have to start holding back if she was dating his mom? Or would this remain as casual banter for them?
"You are such a thorn in my side. You are always complaining about doing your reports for my quests. They aren't that difficult. I don't see how the other gods even manage without documentation of your quests. Ares would probably lose his mind if he discovered you owe him three favors." Athena mumbled while facepalming as Percy gave her a shrug while grinning.
"Anyway, it was nice talking with you, but I gotta go inside," Percy said, causing Athena to look up at him quickly.
"Wait… may I come in? I wish to discuss a few things with you, both personal and work-related," Athena said. Percy paused momentarily as the goddess' infinitely deep, stormy gray eyes spun around.
"What do you want to talk about?" Percy couldn't help but ask as Athena took a small breath to ready herself.
"Well, for one… my relationship with your mother. You must have a few questions for me, and I am still under oath to answer anything truthfully. There is no better time than the present, and I figured it would be best to get it out of the way so things may run smoothly. The second part is about your personal life. The last time I ran into Hestia was on a date with Cally. We made a few oaths about keeping things secret." Athena said as she stared at Percy, trying to see his reaction, yet he didn't seem to have any as she continued again.
"It isn't hard to see there is something special about your love life. Of course, I'm willing to swear any oath you may request to keep any secrets, but I simply wish to learn what is happening. Especially after seeing Hestia so… attached to you." She finished as Percy stood silently and thought over several things for a minute before finally nodding.
"I suspected something like this would happen eventually, especially since you started dating Cally and Cammy. I am willing to share my secrets with you and fill in any missing pieces you may have in the theory of my life. I suspect you have already put a substantial amount of thought into who I am already." Percy said as Athena's face turned into relief while her eyes shimmered in curiosity.
"I would be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it several times. Ever since your fight with Poseidon, I have only gotten more curious. Unfortunately, Zeus banned directly asking you anything until this war ends." She admitted in a frustrated tone as Percy chuckled.
"Best decision he has made this century. Otherwise, you would always have been breathing down my neck trying to dig out more info. Well, you and every other god." He said, eyeing the goddess as she rolled Athena but didn't deny his claims.
"You don't get just to say Order helped raise you and then not talk about it." She argued back as Percy shrugged a bit before grinning a little.
"If me saying Order raised me is surprising, I wonder how you will manage to process the rest of my story. I bet your brain short circuits like Annabeth's did." Percy teased the goddess before suddenly freezing as he realized what he just said. To his surprise, Athena didn't seem shocked; she just stared at him like he was stupid.
"That girl likes to wear her heart on her sleeve. I've known about her feelings for you long before you did. I even know you accepted her feelings recently, " she said in an all-knowing tone. Percy's face scrunched up a bit as several questions arose in his mind.
"Quit making such a stupid face. Annabeth is the strongest daughter I have had in centuries if not a millennium. Her food sacrifices to me at camp carry her thoughts far louder than her siblings. It is sometimes hard to hear the other's thoughts because of her. You have been the only thing on her mind for the last six months! How often has she asked me to give her the courage to confess to you? Far too many!" Athena quickly began to rant about Annabeth as Percy decided to listen to the semi-frustrated goddess simply. Yet her tone was never genuinely frustrated. Instead, it sounded like a mother complaining about her loving daughter.
"You know what else? After you returned, you never once paid her a visit to camp. I've received several complaints about this! She even said she was too embarrassed to call you through an Iris message and asked for help! Make my life easier and go see her." She finally finished her rant as Percy stared at the huffing goddess, who was busy straightening her glasses as she glared at him.
"Message received. I was planning to swing by after I handled some… personal matters. Also, do you not care that…" Percy tried to word his sentence properly but failed, causing Athena to raise an eyebrow at him.
"That you're dating my daughter while I'm dating your mom? Have you not seen Olympus' family tree? Mortal concepts don't apply to us." She told him as Percy opened his mouth, only for him to shut it a moment later, and he realized she was right. He even began to think about his current situation with his soulmates before quickly shutting down that train of thought. It was better not to think about it.
"Fair enough, never mind them. Anyways we should go inside. They are probably waiting for us." Percy redirected the topic as Athena nodded in understanding before following him. Yet a moment later, she paused as she seemed to remember something.
"Wait, I forgot the other half of what we needed to talk about the work-related side of things I mentioned." She said, causing Percy to pause. He turned back to the goddess, who put on a serious face.
"Something happened at Camp Half-Blood the other day." She said as Percy's eyes narrowed at the goddess' words.
"Nothing bad… for the most part. But according to the prophecy, it does throw a wrench into our plans." She said with a deep sigh as Percy's eyebrows furrowed further as his mind raced.
"What exactly happened?" Percy asked as Athena pursed her lips and let out a small sigh.
"The fleece worked far better than we expected it to. It completely healed Thalia's tree. The fleece kept working untilThalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, was revived." She said as Percy's eyes widened as he processed the words he had just heard. At that moment, the face of that punk rock girl he had met all those years ago popped into his mind.
"That's not the most important part, though." Athena suddenly continued as Percy snapped out of his thoughts and his eyes focused on her.
"We have four months until one of the big three's kids reaches the age of 16 now. Fulfilling part of the great prophecy." She finished as Percy's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a headache quickly form.
"Fuck me."
"Well… let's go inside, shall we? We have all night to discuss it after everything else is taken care of."
"... You can't just drop this sort of bomb and then demand my background info."
"We have four months for the prophecy. I've been waiting for this for years."
"..."
A/N: Sorry, no Thalia this time, my guys, next chapter for sure ;). But I finished up some fluff, created some plot points I needed to make for the future, and created Cally's harem hehe. I do apologize for the length of time it took to pump out. Even though it is taking a while, I am still working on my story! Even if I am slow as of late lol. Anyways, I hope you enjoy loves! Leave me a review so I know how you like it!
E/N: Are we back? Unlikely lol he is rather sporadic with his updates. Anyways let us know what you guys thought and like… review and stuff? You know the drill by now I don't know why I repeat it. Until next time losers - Sidus