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It isn't fair. Frederick isn't so oblivious to not notice his marriage crumbling over the years but the final nail in the coffin is currently wading his way out of the sea, form fitting swim shorts leaving little to the imagination and water dripping down taunt tanned skin. Frederick raises his coffee to partially hide the way he's drooling over his daughter's boyfriend as Percy slowly approaches bathed in the soft morning light.
The not-so-little brat finally reaches Frederick - mercifully dry now - spins around on his toes before dropping down onto the bench next to him. Sprawling out in the available space and Frederick does not stare at the way Percy's shorts hug his thighs.
Frederick couldn't help but think it's not fair as Percy smiles, wide and toothy, a rumbling hey fills the air before he steals Frederick's drink. This is meant to be the family holiday to save his marriage but that lopsided grin and hypnotic eyes that flare golden in the sun haunts his every waking moment. Threatening to undo him. Devour him and have him happily smiling all the while.
Frederick's fingers twitch as he watches Percy gulp down the dregs of his drink. Adam's apple bobbing.
He can't help where his mind drifts off to, in these quiet moments where it’s just the two of them and gently tumbling waves. It feels like all Frederick needs to do is sink his fingers into those inky black curls and pull, and Percy would be his and the greatest worry he’ll need to have is if he can make those pretty eyes glaze over. He watches as Percy puts the empty mug down, stretches until his back pops and the yawn that slips past his lips has Frederick pressing his own thighs together. Fuck this is getting ridiculous.
Before Frederick could work out how to pull himself together, let alone actually do it, he’s jolted fully into present-ness when Annabeth shouts, "Morning!"
His head snaps up, and his heart freezes, as he watches her descend the steps from their little holiday rental to the beach. Bag overflowing with books, wide brim hat flopping as she walks.
For a moment panic grips him that somehow she’ll look and just know . She’s so like her mother sometimes, he just expects her to be able to read his mind. Pry secrets from him, until she’s completely solved the puzzle that’s Dr Frederick Chase. But then Annabeth’s kissing his cheek in an attempt at mending a fragile bridge he's steadily setting on fire, and standing by Percy’s shoulder in order to run her fingers through Percy’s chaotic curls.
Percy had jumped almost as badly as Frederick when Annabeth called out. But the easy smile that stretches across Percy’s face looks natural and a jealousy starts to grip Frederick. Squeezing his heart and throat just so as he watches Percy lean further into the embrace, eyes catching the sun as they meet Frederick’s brown ones.
Frederick feels like he’s falling and he can’t even brace for impact. Can't stop the jealousy or the feelings that simmer away under the surface.
His early morning daydream bursts as Annabeth drops a kiss onto Percy’s lips before heading off to her usual spot.
Percy says a small, "See you in a bit," before dashing towards the waves again.
Frederick watches him go, wishing he still had the energy to follow. How much he would give to just follow his little siren out to sea. If he drowns, so what? The last thing he'll have seen are those gorgeous eyes.
Before Frederick can think to chastise himself, he hears the boys and Julia making their way towards him from the house. He sighs. It's time to wake up from his day dreaming now and play the dutiful husband once more.
-
It’s not fair, that Percy’s gay awakening is his girlfriend’s father. It’s ridiculous. He shouldn’t be lounging on a beach, watching Dr Chase work a barbeque like a person who didn’t know what one was ten minutes ago and thinking about walking up to him and pressing himself up against the man’s back. He shouldn't want to loop his arms around that paler man’s waist and place kisses along the length of his neck until he could nip Dr Chase’s ear. Nevermind where his mind wonders in the shower in the evenings.
Instead he goes over, brushes past Dr Chase to grab the tongs which would be much easier to turn sausages with than the spatula the older man is gripping.
“Mom and I used to go to the beach as much as possible, you get used to BBQ’s,” Percy says gently, quickly saving their lunch.
Annabeth has fallen asleep under an umbrella. The boys are racing up and down the surf whilst Julia’s off running errands before they run out of breakfast and suncream. So if Percy stands maybe a little too close, nobody has to know.
He thinks he can feel eyes on him, when he turns, half expecting to see Hermes with a quest or prank idea, he locks eyes with Dr Chase.
“Thank you Percy,” Dr Chase smiles.
Percy’s throat goes dry. Cheeks heating.
“It’s alright, er do you want to grab the buns?” Percy murmurs, biting his lip as he feels the blush spill down his throat and start to paint his chest red.
He’s not sure if he feels more self conscious or powerful when the older man’s eyes drop to his lips. It shifts to power as Dr Chase pauses for too long so Percy has to release his lip, lean close, “For the sausages? And maybe grab the salad too?”
Percy curses his emotions then and there as he watches Dr Chase scamper away to collect the other supplies for lunch. It would be so nice if his emotions didn’t tumble and clash, torn between overwhelming lust and overwhelming guilt as his gaze skitters away from Dr Chase’s back to Annabeth’s sleeping form.
Percy can feel Dr Chase’s eyes on him throughout lunch and the rest of the day. His gaze burns into Percy's skin, more so than the sun above. And Percy can't help but think how unfair it is that no matter what happens - him and Annabeth breaking up or getting married with kids, Dr Chase becoming a bachelor again or saving his marriage - there's no universe in which Percy gets to do more than look and be looked at. Or at least doing so and not getting burned horribly.
There's no winning.
He'll always be Annabeth's first relationship.
The remainder of the holiday drags by with stolen glances, and overheated skin brushing against overheated skin. Every time they’re left alone, pressure would build in Percy. He’d wonder if this would be it, if this would be the moment they’re building upto. But then the moment would pass; someone would come running around the corner screaming, “ Dad ” or the timer would go off for dinner.
The last moment comes when Annabeth and Percy are bundling themselves into his little beaten up truck to make the short trip from Dr Chase’s house to New Rome. It’s brief, they linger in the doorway as everyone else is gathered by the truck.
“Thanks F-Frederick, it was fun,” Percy says suddenly, more anxious than he’s been in recent memory.
“No need to thank me Percy, it was a pleasure having you there,” Dr Chase says, his tone is light but Percy catches what he thinks is an edge to it.
They’re standing too close and Percy thinks for a wild moment that maybe just maybe he should lean up.
Just for a moment.
And then he turns back to the truck, walking away one last time towards his girlfriend waiting by the truck.