Chapter Text
Surprise isn't something that usually comes for him. Having been alive for several millennia, tending to the children of gods, Kheiron was pretty good at not being surprised by his charges. So he was caught off guard when Grover brought the demigod they had been tracking to his office late at night.
Kheiron was expecting Grover for their weekly check-in. What he was not expecting was for their shared ward to come with him. The ward they had decided — well, Kheiron decided; Grover had no choice but to agree — to keep in the dark regarding their world, and specifically the relationship between him and the satyr.
Keeping his expression schooled, he beckoned them in. Whatever reason Grover had for bringing Perseus with him — and he was sure there was one, Grover was not one to go rogue —was not something to be discussed in public.
As they closed the door to his office, Kheiron was glad he had decided to wait before he got out of the wheelchair. Uncomfortable as it was to restrict himself in such a manner, it was better than the alternative of being exposed as a centaur. While the mist could cover a lot up. It won't fool the demigod for too long.
As he waited for them to settle down, Kheiron went through the events of the past week. He was not sure why the monster left as soon as he came to see where Percy was. If he was correct about the monster's identity, not that he got more than a glimpse, but it was a pretty recognisable one, so he was pretty confident about her identity. It was very strange that she left like that
Thankfully, Perseus seems to have bought into his mist manipulation and let the matter rest. Although.... that wouldn't explain why the two were in his room.
Kheiron had a foreboding feeling that things were about to change, and he didn't know whether that would be a good thing. The boys seemed hesitant to start talking and were exchanging glances, perhaps to prompt the other to begin.
Deciding that whatever had brought them here was best expressed, he took control. "Mr Underwood, Mr Jackson, what brings you both here at this late hour? I hope it is something important. I do have some assignments to grade, so please move this along so I can get back to my work."
No need to mention that the assignment in question is Underwood's protection of Perseus, none at all
The two seemed to still be in the throes of indecision on who should speak first. Apparently grover was the first to break and say, "Kheiron, I think we need to reconsider our plans, Percy knows. Not everything, but enough so that our earlier plan cannot work."
Kheiron realised that his earlier feeling was probably his old mentor Apollon giving him a warning. He wasn't sure he had it in him to be that grateful for it since it wasn't particularly useful. Deciding to figure out exactly what went wrong and how to proceed, he probed further.
"What do you mean, Mr Underwood? What does Mr Jackson know and how does he know it?"
This time, it was Perseus who answered, seemingly tired of being talked about and not to. "I know the Greek gods still exist, so do the monsters. I also know that I am the son of a god and was almost attacked by a monster."
He was a several-thousand-year-old immortal trainer of heroes. He certainly was not panicking. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar and should not be trusted.
"Mr Underwood, I thought I had made it clear that it was not time yet to introduce Mr Jackson to our world"
"Yes, Kheiron, but I didn't tell him anything; he figured it out on his own."
"What do you mean he figured it out? How???"
"Well, apparently, there were enough clues for him to figure it out. I hope you agree when I say that the how is not what matters. He knows that means his scent will grow. We need to make plans"
"Yes, you are right, we can figure out the how later. We must contact his mother. She seemed hesitant to send him to camp. Talk to him about camp, convince him it's the right choice. We will have to leave soon. I would prefer if we left tomorrow itself."
Persueus interrupted, "Hold up, why do we have to leave so soon, and what do you mean by scent? Do I smell that bad? Should I take a shower?"
Kheiron couldn't help but let out a light chuckle, "All will be explained in time, my child. For now, go back to your rooms. Grover will tell you the basics, and we will give you the usual spiel once you're in camp".
With that, he ushered both of them outside his office and let them return to their room. After that, he packed up his belongings and locked the office behind him. He needed to get to camp and prepare. Perseus's coming to camp will change things. Fates alone knew whether they would survive what was coming. But first, he needs to prepare the child for what is coming.
Realising that the child is not armed, he went to their room. The boy's parentage was not confirmed, but he wasn't the trainer of heroes because he was stupid. He could recognise the signs of his half-brother's lineage in him. Even if he could ignore everything else about the child, his eyes betrayed his lineage. Green eyes that never stayed a single shade, always changing, always adapting, like the sea herself. Yes, anaklusmos would suit the child nicely. Even in the very unlikely situation that he is not a son of the sea god, his brother would not be cross with him for keeping a child of the sea safe, even if it is with a blade that he entrusted to him for his children only. He is only loaning the sword to the child anyway.
Reaching the boys' dorm room, he knocked. Persues came to the door and opened after a few moments." Mr Brun – sorry – Kheiron! What are you doing here? Did something happen?" At the mention of his name, Grover got alarmed and came to the door.
"Do not fret, child, nothing dangerous. I need to go to camp early. I have been away for too long, and if we are about to get a new camper, preparations need to be made. But I cannot leave you defenceless as you make the journey to camp." Bringing out an anaklusmos in pen form, he gave it to the demigod.
"Ummm... Kheiron, this is a pen! How is this going to defend me? Is it a metaphor? Is the pen mightier than the sword sorta thing? Still doesn't explain how this helps me, though?"
Exchanging an amused glance with the satyr, he continued, "Uncap it, Perseus."
The demigod complied and watched with unrestrained awe as the pen grew into a sword. " That is one wicked sword. So ig in this case, the pen is a mighty sword." He laughed to himself.
"It is only a loan child, do not lose it and use it only in case of emergencies. And I hope it goes without saying, use it only against monsters. It won't work on mortals, but even then, keep care not to attack them since that can attract the wrong kind of attention. Mr Underwood, stay by him at all times. I must leave now. Take care and stay aware, both of you." Kheiron finished, turned, and left.
Onto camp to prepare for Perseus's arrival. Although he will be placed in the traveller's cabin to begin with, he knew it would not be a matter of time before the child was claimed. The sea is possessive about its own, and that extends to the sea gods claiming their children within the first week. And the king of the seas had already decreed that any child of the seas would be welcome in his cabin as long as his children were given the final say. Not that there have been many children of the seas who have come to camp for a long time, so the campers weren't aware of this.
Kheiron wasn't even sure if all the Olympians were aware of this arrangement. The only one he knew for certain was aware was the eternal one, the eldest daughter of the Titan King. She spends the most time at camp out of all the immortals except him and the god of madness, who was the camp director. And the youngest Olympian has only been camp director after the children of the sea stopped coming. The king of the seas never hid the matter, but Kheiron wasn't sure he was open about it either. Only time will tell.
As he reached camp, he went to the harpies to instruct them to keep cabin three prepared in case the child is claimed immediately on arrival. And then he went to the god of wine to bring him up to speed as well. As he went to bed, he hoped the children would make it to camp all right. He wished he could escort them to camp. But that would sow doubts of favouritism, and that is not something Kheiron could afford. Additionally, the children should learn to survive on their own. As he prayed to the gods for a peaceful night's sleep, he was unaware that it would be the last night of peace for him before things went very wrong.