Chapter Text
Percy was five years old when his mother gave him his first book about Greek gods for his birthday. Previously, his mother told him many stories about them. Although he liked to listen to his mother tell him, he still wanted to read about them. So as soon as his mother taught him to read, which was a bit difficult because he found out that he had dyslexia. Percy knew that if he was determined, he could handle it, so he begged his mother to buy him plenty of books.
His mother, Sally, began her stories from the very beginning, with Chaos, until she finally transitioned to the Olympic gods and their era.
Percy quickly chose his favourites. Which wasn't very difficult.
Aphrodite because she was the goddess of love, and Percy really wanted to love someone. She was also a goddess of beauty and whenever his mother talked about her, he imagined her in her place. For him, she was the most beautiful woman and he was sure that Aphrodite was dipping her fingers in it.
Poseidon because Percy loved water and loved to swim. In the future, he would like to become someone who could swim all day long. According to his mother, he also had a similar sea colour of eyes, which he was very happy about. It was also another reason why he chose Aphrodite, after all, she was born from sea foam.
Hestia because when he travelled with his mother to the beach, they always lit a bonfire after a whole day of swimming. Then his mother told him that he could burn some food while saying the gods names so they will know that he prays to them. Since then, he has always done this just to be closer to them. He felt then that he belonged to their world and he was very happy about it.
Well little Percy didn't know yet.
The last god he really liked was Ares, he never said it out loud but he was his number one. He liked him for being brave. And he could also fight really good! Percy also wanted to learn to fight, and most of all with a sword. Unfortunately, his mother said he had to be at least ten years old, so he would have to wait a little longer.
♆
Percy was six years old when he first killed a monster. He was on the beach with his mother and saw little Lernaean Hydra crawling to bite Sally. He caught the Hydra and strangled it.
On that day, his mother offered an exceptionally long prayer while burning the food.
♆
Percy was seven years old when his mother married a monster. His name was Gabe Ugliano. He was a terrible man. He drank and played with his equally drunken colleagues.
He tried to ignore him, but after two months, he hit him for the first time. And then again. And again. He always beat in places where his mother could not see. He forbade him about telling Sally about it and told him that it was their male secret. He threatened that if he said anything, she would get beaten up too. Percy didn't want it, so he kept his tongue behind his teeth. He wanted to be brave like Ares, and he will protect his mother.
♆
Percy was nine years old when his mother had to stay longer at work. That's when Gabe put out a cigar on his hand for the first time.
Two weeks later, his mother found five traces of the extinguished cigar on her son's hands. The same day she signed the divorce papers, packed herself and her son, jumped into her car and moved forward.
They returned to their old apartment, which Sally did not sell. She knew that sooner or later they would come back.
That night, Percy found out that Greek gods existed. He also found out that he was Poseidon's son.
That night, his mother agreed for Percy to learn sword fighting. She said she would enrol him in learning some martial arts. She wasn't quite sure yet which would be the best.
After that, she told him to go to sleep. It was an long, emotional day, so there was nothing strange about it when he barely put his head on the pillow and he was already asleep.
He dreamed of an older man, he looked like Percy, just older, and with a beard. He stood on the beach in fishing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. He smiled gently at him. His eyes expressed concern, although there was anger in them.
"Don't worry, Perseus." He whispered. "I'll take care of it."
The next morning, Gabe Ugliano was found dead by one of his friends. He found him drowned in his own bathtub.
♆
Percy was ten years old when he discovered that he could control water.
He was taking a bath like any other day until he suddenly felt a pull in his hand. He lifted it and the water rose with the movement of his hand.
Since then, in his dreams, Poseidon taught him to rule over his power. And he could breath under water! So cool.
♆
"How was lessons, honey?" Sally asked. She was baking her famous blue cookies. And Percy was returning from his last sword fighting class. His coach has already taught him everything he could do. He just told me to keep practising so I wouldn't forget anything.
At the same time, he also began to learn boxing. He was pretty good at it and even won several competitions. He had not yet interrupted his boxing lessons because it was a good way to stay in good shape.
Once a week he also went to the pool with his mother and when she was sitting in the jacuzzi, Percy swam his lengths.
Sometimes Poseidon visited him in his dreams. He explained to him why they couldn't see each other in the real world and why he couldn't have seen it before.
He also told him what was happening in the Greek world. He also told him that a battle was approaching and tried to persuade him to join it.
Percy, despite many trainings, was not sure if he wanted to do it. His mother wouldn't be happy about it either if she found out. And he wasn't going to tell her.
"Good. Although I will miss the practises." Percy put his bag on the ground next to his shoes and put the sword in the cover on the dining room table. He approached his mother and kissed her on the cheek in greeting.
Although he was fifteen years old, soon sixteen, he was already taller than her by almost a head.
"We can go to the pool more often if you want. So you don't get bored." She giggled, putting the cookies in the oven and finally turning to it. She was wearing a yellow dress and even though she was wearing an apron, in some places there were traces of flour and blue paint.
"Ha ha ha." He laughed blankly. "I won't be bored, but I'll be happy to go to the pool." He went to the fridge and took a bottle of water out of it, opened it and drank it. "And where is Paul anyway?"
Paul was Sally's husband. They met when his mother started writing her book and he helped her with this and in getting Percy a new school. They made an appointment a few times and somehow it turned out that they started to be together and then the wedding. Percy didn't mind Paul, he liked him very much and was grateful that mom finally met someone.
"He went quickly to the store because we have nothing for dinner. He stated that he would do the shopping and he would cook for us." She sighed. Paul has already tried to cook several times. It didn't end too well for the kitchen.
"Can we order a pizza?" He asked with hope in his voice.
"I'll order a pizza." She nodded her head. "I would do it sooner or later anyway."
They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Go wash yourself already. You stink. And when you come back, we have two things we need to talk about." She was serious.
"I'm already scared. Okay, I'm going to wash. I'll be right back." He put the bottle of water on the counter and went to the room to get a change of clothes. As soon as he found some, he went straight to the bathroom.
When he finally came out of the bathroom clean, he heard his parents talking.
"How could you? You betrayed me and I trusted you." Perzy entered the kitchen and saw his mother holding a box of pizza and Paul who looked at her with betrayal in his eyes.
"Honey, you know very well that you can't cook. That's why I ordered pizza for dinner." Sally looked like she had already told him that once.
"You betrayed me!" He shouted, although you could see the corner of his mouth moving.
Percy snorted with laughter. "Can we eat now? I'm hungry." He went to the cabinet and took out three large plates from them and walked with them to the table.
Sally placed the pizza container on the table, and Paul, grumpy, sat down in his seat. (He wasn't bad at all, but he tried to pretend to be one).
They ate for a while and finally Sally put her unfinished piece of pizza back on the plate.
"Percy." She started. Percy muttered with a pizza in his mouth. "Your father was here today."
Percy choked on the food. Paul gave him water. He got drunk quickly.
"What? What for?" He was surprised. Putting down the bottle of water.
"He asked me to persuade you to help them." He said slowly. "I know and understand why you don't want it. I don't want you to have to fight myself. You know how he doesn't want it. But I also understand your father. He is sure that only you can help them. He is also sure that..." Here she stopped for a moment. She took a deep breath and finished. "He believes that you are a child in the Great Prophecy."
Great Prophecy. Percy, of course, knew its content. He also knew who others were thinking. Nico di Angelo, he was the son of Hades and he was the only child of the Big Three that both the gods and the demigods knew. Percy also knew what the stakes were with this prophecy and he didn't want to be responsible for anything in the world.
"Mom..." Percy began to resigned.
"Percy, I know. And I really understand. But please think about it. Your father suspects that it will happen on your sixteenth birthday, so you still have a few weeks to think about it. I won't persuade you and I asked your father to do it too. I love you and I don't want to lose you, okay?" Sally took her son's hand in hers.
"All right. The industry is." He agreed, smiling gently at his mother.
"Well, that's great. And now maybe let's talk about something happy." Paul clapped his hands. Apparently, his humour has already returned to normal.
"Indeed! I almost forgot to tell you." Sally smiled widely.
"About what?" He asked suspiciously.
Sally and Paul looked at each other.
"Well, maybe I'll tell you." Sally took a deep breath.
"Mom, you're scaring me." Percy straightened up in his chair.
Paul snorted with laughter.
"Don't laugh." Sally scolded him. "It's nothing terrible, honey. All right, then I'll tell you." This time it was Sally whe snorted. "I'm sorry." She covered her mouth with her hand. "I don't know why I'm so stressed."
"Mom?" Percy slowly began to panic.
"Already, now, calm down." She calmed him down with a smile on her lips. "I'm pregnant."
And there was silence. Percy didn't even flinch.
"Uh-huh." Percy was stupid.
His mother was pregnant.
His mother was pregnant!
Percy jumped up from his seat and threw himself at his mother, hugging her tightly. "You're pregnant!" He laughed.
Sally and Paul joined him. "Yes, you'll be an older brother." Paul patted him on the back.
"Wow. Awesome." Percy moved away from his mother and returned to his seat. "And which week is it? And how do you feel?"
"I feel great." She smiled even wider as possible. "And it's my sixth month."
"Sixth month." He repeated after her in a whisper. "Do you already know the gender or is it too early? I don't know. They will have to read some books about it. I don't know anything. Not good." He began to panic a little.
"Releat the cowboy. Almost eight more months. You will be able to read all the books in the world. At least only those how to be the best brother. Leave being a parent to us, you will still have your opportunity. All right?" Paul calmed him down.
"Mhm, okay." He nodded his head.
"And when it comes to your question with gender, we will be able to know it in a month or two. Maybe we can even arrange it for your birthday and then you'll find out. If you want, of course. I don't want you to feel rejected." Sally said.
"Are you kidding? This will be the best birthday present." He got excited.
Sally had tears in her eyes. "I'm glad you think so."
"A-a do you already have any names? Or is it too early?" Percy asked. "Because I can find some nice ones."
"I already have a few of my favourites, although I will probably change it a million times. If I'm sure, you'll be the second person to find out." He was comforted by his mother.
"Just the other one?" He groaned.
"All in all, it's the first because Paul will also decide." She stated.
"That's better." Percy agreed.
"Okay, okay, don't be such a hop forward young." Paul laughed. "Finish your food and go to bed."
"What? After all, even outside it's still bright." He was surprised.
"Paul was joking, honey. But when you eat, he will gladly wash the dishes and we will choose a movie to watch. What do you say?" She took her unfinished piece into her mouth.
"Hey!" Sally ignored Paul's protest.
Percy snorted but obediently turned to finish his food.
And at that moment, when he listened to his parents fake arguing, he knew it. He knew he would do anything so that his younger sibling could be born and live happily. So that they could live safely.