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Percy was walking along the beach of Camp-Half Blood, thinking about the last war that they fought a week ago. The Second Giant War had made a huge impact on both Camp-Half Blood and Camp Jupiter. Friends were made, but friends were also lost.
Percy stared at the waves lapping at the sand. His thoughts immediately went to his dad, whom he hadn’t seen since they fought the giants together. The gods were still stuck on Olympus, as per Zeus’ orders. He wondered if his dad missed him, or if he was enjoying life on Olympus.
‘Probably not,’ Percy thought when he remembered the many times his dad told him that the sea didn’t like to be contained.
Ever since the Second Titan War, Poseidon had made sure that he was more present in Percy’s life. That was until Percy was kidnapped by a crazy goddess. His dad would sometimes pop up in his cabin and they would have a little chat, maybe mess around and joke with each other.
Percy started to miss those days. He missed his dad.
Without thinking, Percy clasped his hands together, intertwining his hands in a praying position.
“Hey dad,” Percy whispered to the waves, hoping that his dad was listening.
Poseidon was sitting by a small lake on Olympus. He had his knees drawn up to his chest with his arms around his legs, hugging them close.
He was bored.
Zeus had forbidden him to return to Atlantis until Olympus was officially open. He missed his home, his people.
Poseidon continued to stare glumly at the water, his thoughts wandering. He started to think of his son, whom he hadn’t seen since the fight with the giants, whom Zeus had forbidden him to contact.
He missed his son. He missed the bright smile every time he visited, the sarcastic grin and sassy comebacks that would make any prideful god smite him down.
But overall, he missed being a father. Sure, he had immortal children, but gods don't need a father to take care of them. They saw him as a King of the Ocean first, as a god that they should respect, not as a father. Percy saw him as his father, his dad. How long was it since any of his children had called him 'dad' and not 'My Lord'?
He wanted to see his son. He knew that the war had taken a huge toll on him, especially Tartarus. He wanted to make sure that Percy was still Percy. He knew that Percy would be traumatised and haunted by the war and his quests. He knew that his son won’t be okay, and that made him want to be there with him even more. He wants to be there to help his son pick up the pieces.
Poseidon was stirred up from his musings and worry, when he heard a whispered “Hey dad,” in the back of his mind. Poseidon couldn’t fight the smile that curled on his lips at his son’s voice. Poseidon stood straighter as he continued to hear his son talk, his concentration only on Percy’s voice.
“I- uhh,” Percy stammered. Poseidon heard Percy sigh before a long pause.
“We won,” Percy whispered, “The camp is being rebuilt, and the both camps are uniting. The Romans are helping with the rebuilding.”
Poseidon noted that Percy’s voice was tired and hoarse. This didn’t help the sea god’s worry.
“Ummm… the satyrs are regrouping. They will start to search for other demigods when the camp is fully rebuilt. There have been no other monster sightings… yet. I- we’re doing okay.”
Poseidon didn’t know why Percy was giving him a report on what was happening at camp. He already knew most of it since Hermes had taken it upon himself to update the gods on what was going on and on how the demigods were doing. But he still listened, glad to hear Percy's voice.
“I don’t… I don’t know why I’m telling you this, you’re… you’re probably not even listening.”
Poseidon recoiled at the accusation. Sure, he didn’t usually respond, but that doesn’t mean that he wasn’t listening. He always listened, from the ‘morning dad,’ that started his day, to his son’s midnight rambles when he couldn’t sleep. Whether he was in a meeting, doing work, or enjoying his free time, Poseidon always listened to Percy.
Poseidon willed the waves of the beach of Camp-Half blood to pull and tug at Percy’s feet to show him how offended he was by the accusation. Percy stumbled and nearly tripped, just about saving himself from eating sand.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to offend you,” Percy chuckled.
“Hey dad,” Percy said again, but this time it had more of a cheerful tone to it. Poseidon sent a sea breeze that ruffled Percy’s hair, forgiving Percy.
Percy continued to walk along the shore, ankle deep in the sea. Poseidon preferred it when his son was in the water, it made him feel more connected to him.
“We had a capture the flag game against the Romans. We won of course. Hard to beat us in our own game," Percy chirped.
Poseidon chuckled, he recalled that Percy had beaten the Romans in their war games. Although, he was fighting with Neptune at that time, so he wasn't so sure what happened.
"I visited mum two days ago, but I had to come back to help the campers," Percy continued, "She's okay, she's doing good. I'll probably visit next week, when I have some free time."
Poseidon couldn't help but smile. He waited for his son to continue, but Percy had fallen quiet. He could feel Percy shuffle his feet in the water, as if working up the courage to say something.
"I … I miss you."
Percy's words were softly spoken, but they filled Poseidon's heart with warmth. A blinding grin made its way onto his face. Part of him felt relieved to hear those words. He knew that Percy loved him, but that little doubt had always crept in his mind, but those words removed any doubt that he ever had. It took all his will power not to go next to his son and hug the living life out of him there and then.
"I- I have to go…" Percy's voice trailed off, but it brought Poseidon back from his mindless grinning. His grin faltered. He didn't want his son to go.
Without thinking, he willed the water of Camp-Halfblood's beach to wrap around Percy's ankle, keeping him from leaving.
"Dad! Dinner's in ten. I need to go," Percy exclaimed, albeit reluctantly. He didn't want to go himself.
'Then you can stay for a few more minutes,' Poseidon thought. He took a look at his surroundings, just to make sure that Zeus wasn't around or keeping an eye on him, and pulled Percy into the ocean.
He heard Percy yelp out in surprise as he dragged Percy down to the sea floor. He made sure to keep the water around his son warm and comforting, putting his presence around the boy (not too much to be noticeable by Zeus, but enough for Percy to feel it). Poseidon knew that the experience of falling down into Tartarus (and the journey through the pit) would be traumatising for Percy, so he didn't want his son to feel like he was falling again.
When Percy reached the bottom, Poseidon willed the currents to wrap around the demigod, encasing him in a soft embrace and caressing him. Poseidon wished that he was there in person, hugging his son himself rather than the currents.
Percy laughed when the currents ruffled his hair. Poseidon's heart swelled with that laugh that he missed so much. Sue him, he missed his son. He missed the mischievous troublemaker with the biggest heart in the world.
"Okay, now I really need to go. People might get worried," Percy said.
Poseidon huffed. He didn't want his son to go. To show his disapproval, Poseidon dragged Percy a bit further out in the sea.
"Dad," Percy huffed, trying to swim against the pull of the currents.
Poseidon sighed but let Percy go, still sometimes pulling him a bit back as Percy swam to the surface.
When Percy emerged from the water, he lingered for a few seconds, feet still in the surf.
"See you, dad."
"See you, Perce," Poseidon whispered as he felt Percy leave the water.