Work Text:
Every time Hades decided he wanted a new kid, all the Gods were on guard. Hades had a habit of “aggressively adopting” the other Gods children if they were left unattended for more than 20 minutes.
It was a pain, and any God within 10 degrees of separation from Chthonic Gods had to watch their kids to prevent the kidnapping (no matter what title Hades gave it). The Gods weren’t able to be in their kids lives, no, but those were still their kids damn it. Hades couldn’t have them.
Hades, naturally, did not care about what the other Gods wanted. He just wanted a new child.
And despite the prophecy in place, despite the oath made… Hades was once again hunting for a new child.
Poseidon despaired.
Poseidon despaired all the more when Hades sidled up to him after the Winter Solstice meeting (when Percy was twelve years old, spending the holiday with Sally, they were having blue cookies and trading small presents they’d gotten for each other, they were away from Gabe for the night) and informed him that he’d decided on who his new child would be.
His smile was sugary sweet and dripping with smugness as he declared that the child he’d chosen was unclaimed, and really could never be claimed.
He locked eyes with Poseidon and smiled all the sweeter, “It would put the child at risk to be claimed after all.”
Hades’ gaze turned to Percy and Sally.
Poseidon’s eye twitched.
“After all, it’s not like you have any kids,” Hades chirped, smile shattering from the mold of sweet and smug to display the malicious glee under the surface.
If Hades thought that Poseidon being unable to claim Percy would give him an opening, he was sorely mistaken. Poseidon was NOT giving up his son (who was laughing with his mother right then, she’d told a joke about birds, and he was smiling and happy and safe and free).
Fuck Hades and his kidnapping habit.
OO OO OO OO
The attempted thefts began in earnest mere days later, and Poseidon had to send two Kyklopes to guard Percy’s apartment while utilizing his own power to keep any monsters from their apartment. Hade’s hellhounds were giving it their best shot despite that, but Poseidon was not letting them in.
Then of course, the break ended, and Poseidon had to ensure Percy’s safe return to school. This was made more difficult by the accusations of theft being pointed at Poseidon, with all the attention that came with it.
But Poseidon managed, his agents working overtime to keep monsters and Hades from Percy, and to ensure Percy was safely at the school.
Only to discover that Hades managed to get an agent in the school.
Poseidon glared down on the Kindly One hanging around Percy.
That was Not Allowed.
OO OO OO OO
Poseidon kept half an ear on Zeus, who was demanding his attention because of… something. What was it again? Poseidon turned a full ear on Zeus-
“-think you can just STEAL-“
-oh right, the theft. Well, that wasn’t important at the moment. Poseidon turned his attention back to what was important.
That damned Erinyes that was stalking his son.
He’d managed to get a Kyklopes in as a “janitor” who kept an eye on Percy and got in the Erinyes’ way… but it wasn’t enough.
The Erinyes was eyeing Percy more and more as the day went on and Poseidon would not stand for it. Percy was his son, not Hades’. Hades could fuck off.
He shattered the sink in the teachers’ dormitory and smirked as “Mrs. Dodds” shrieked in rage, shaking out her newly soaked arms.
It was always satisfying to do that.
He was not letting these fools steal his son from him. Not the Erinyes, not Hades, not anyone. He would not allow it. If he had to break the world into pieces to guard his son, he would.
That was his son. His child. His beloved little pearl. Poseidon would never allow Hades to steal him. He would rage and rage before he’d let one of his children be stolen from him.
“Father,” Triton said, drifting behind him. “Los Angeles was not prepared for that Earthquake.”
Poseidon blinked, turning his gaze to Los Angeles which… was very much shaken. He soothed his rage for the moment, tucked it within his deep waters and settled his waters. The thought of losing Percy- no. He wouldn’t allow it.
As for Los Angeles…
Oops.
OO OO OO OO
Poseidon hissed in rage, ignoring the shaking Earth even as Triton tried to soothe it. The Erinyes had died, at last, and certainly not due to Poseidon, no Poseidon would never. This was definitely not something Poseidon arranged.
Hades smirked back at Poseidon, not standing before Poseidon, no, Hades’ was nowhere near Poseidon, and yet his smirk was palpable.
The Erinyes, already reformed as his enforcers were wont to do, glowered, from Hades’ side.
Poseidon and Hades locked gazes, across land and sea, through earth and sky, through shadows of Erebos and light of Aether. Poseidon bore a promise in his gaze, a promise of wrath and rage, a promise of living up to all his darkest names, a promise to keep his son in his grasp. Hades grinned, vicious and sharp and vengeful, a promise and a threat, a silent oath to sweep in and steal away that which was Poseidon’s.
Poseidon snarled and crashed with anger, currents swirling and winds whipping up and up and spiraling into a storm of rage and threat and mine my son that’s my son you will not touch hands off.
He’d stopped one kidnapping, but Hades wasn’t through yet, and Khiron was now definitely suspicious of Percy.
“If you’d just let me adopt him-“ Hades crooned, shadows and night and death reaching through the sea to whisper its promises.
“He’s till be a prophecy child,” Poseidon thundered in tune with the lightning flashing above. “Leave my son alone.”
“Oh, Poseidon,” Hades whispered, threading through the waters with the same deft skill that the storm above ravaged the ships. “He’ll be mine soon enough.”
The sky split open and the oceans roared in answer.
OO OO OO OO
Poseidon snarled as Hades snatched away his beloved Sally.
His Sally, his love, his mortal love for whom Poseidon would have stopped the tides. Sally, who he sought to keep safe, who he sought to respect and guard from afar. Sally, who had born him his precious previous son.
Hades had stolen her away, Hades had wrapped his golden golden threads around her and snatched her and her soul away. Hades had stolen her like a filthy thief.
She was stolen.
Stolen by Hades who couldn’t keep his damned hands off of Poseidon’s family.
Poseidon wrestled the storm from Zeus, whipped up storm winds and storm clouds and lightning and thunder from the waves and sea and rage he felt and spiraled it through Zeus’ storm until it was saturated and twisted and roared with Poseidon.
He drenched Percy in Power and Healing and Instinct. He draped his son in the fabric of the ocean, the lessons of water, the battles of the sea. He wrapped his son in all he could offer, in the storms wild nature, the rage that fueled its winds, the sharp striking lightning that carried its wrath, and he smiled.
His son swept through the Minotaur like the storm he was, Poseidon’s hands on his as his son finished it off.
He breathed a sigh of relief as his son entered the camp and pulled himself from the storm to let it work itself out. Hades couldn’t snatch Percy from the camp. Even if Poseidon couldn’t claim Percy, wouldn’t open him to this threat, he could be safe.
Poseidon grinned as he felt Hades’ rage rumble deep below. Hades could suffer, Percy was Poseidon’s son. Fuck Hades.
Zeus snarled above, suspicion raised higher with curling winds of wrath rippling the waves and whipping across the lightning barrier of his daughter.
Poseidon ignored him, even Zeus wouldn’t attack in the camp, no matter his suspicions. Percy was safe now.
OO OO OO OO
A hellhound in the camp, a hellhound that led to Percy bleeding and aching and in water to heal and feel better and recover because that was what water did, especially for its children, it healed and restored and purified.
Percy was healed but all had seen, and they knew and now Poseidon had to claim Percy, suspicion was now confirmed, even if Poseidon didn’t claim Percy he would still be targeted, nothing would keep Zeus’ gaze off of him now.
And so, Poseidon claimed him, claimed him in a splash of light and his symbol and strengthened Percy’s healing. The water rippled clear in a way the campers did not see, not in the dark, not with their eyes on Percy’s head.
The tides rippled as Poseidon watched, in and out, in and out, curling tight and washing forward in a crash.
Percy was claimed, Percy was moved, Percy was in Poseidon’s cabin now.
At the very least that meant that Poseidon could keep an eye on him, could keep him wrapped in his waves, could ensure Percy was safe and at home would be guarded fiercely in his cabin.
Nothing would touch Percy, not in his cabin. So despite the knowledge known, despite the threat, Percy was still safe.
OO OO OO OO
Poseidon was gonna fucking murder that damned Kentaur.
Percy had been safe and that Kentaur sent him out.
Sent him out where Hades’ gaze locked on him once more and fuuuuck Poseidon had hoped the claiming alone would turn Hades off of adopting his son.
But nope, apparently Hades was very determined to claim Poseidon’s son.
Not allowed.
Poseidon would not be able to act, not in all the quest, not in land locked fields, but he could interfere in other ways.
And he would.
OO OO OO OO
Percy fell and fell and fell and the Sea roared.
Percy would not reach safety, would not reach the waters of the river, not at his angle, not from that distance. And so, Poseidon lunged.
Winds howled and snatched at Percy, tugging him towards the river. The river rose up, crashing forward with a surge of current and trash and my son mine catch him he’s mine he’s safe he’s wrapped in our currents and he’s ours-
Poseidon wrapped Percy in his waters, in all the soothing coolness of the sea, of the ocean, of water. It purified his injury, the poison, the blood. It wrapped him in a safe embrace, a safe shell to shield the pearl he was. Poseidon raged as he cradled his son in gentle waters.
How dare Zeus send that beast after his son. He would personally ensure its death.
His son would never feel that poison again.
He snarled and snapped at Hades’ curls, reaching for Percy, reaching to tug him below. Thanatos raised an eyebrow, wings flared and dark, reaching and encroaching and collecting. Countless souls were folded into his wings, folded and tucked away, safe and soothed as he cradled each one to bring to Hades’ realm.
Poseidon soothed Percy in turn, his twining currents cradling and encasing and keeping him safe and healed. Thanatos did not speak to Poseidon, for all their gazes met, but instead simply collected the soul of the mortal woman who’d died from the crashing water and howling wind and the hard cement beneath her.
Poseidon cared not, simply tucked Percy deeper in his waters and kept Thanatos from him. Thanatos was fair, was gentle, was even kind at times, but Thanatos was still one of Hades’ subjects and Poseidon would give Hades no leave, not with his son.
He called for one of the Okeanids, one of the ones who resided in his court, and allowed her to speak to Percy where Poseidon could not. Had her pass his message even as he unfurled his waters and opened the shell, allowing Percy to return to land once more.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Metua,” Triton murmured to him, soothing the waters where Poseidon’s rage crashed and roiled. “Zeus will not be pleased.”
“I am not pleased with Zeus,” Poseidon countered.
OO OO OO OO
Poseidon remained displeased, and curled tighter and tighter, waves choppy and short and rapid despite Triton’s best efforts.
Percy crossed the land, and more land, and more land. He did not go into rivers, or lakes, or streams, or even a pond. He stayed on land and more land and entered danger time and time again.
The view of him on Hephaestus’ show was not pleasant. Or well, Poseidon was proud, Percy had showcased great skill in summoning the water from the pipes, but it was not pleasant. His son had had to risk his life again.
And of course, his son then got trapped in the Lotus Hotel. The Lotus Hotel. He was relieved his son escaped. Poseidon had been about ready to send an agent in to retrieve him.
And, on top of all of that, Hades was no longer reaching for him… because he knew Percy was going to him.
Poseidon also knew and was working on a contingency plan. He did not want his son going to Hades, but he couldn’t stop him.
Or well, he could, but Percy would probably be mad. And Poseidon did want Percy happy, even with everything else going on. But that meant a contingency plan to prevent Hades from keeping Percy in… and from keeping Poseidon out.
There were ways around the “only allowed in when welcomed”, they were sneaky and conniving, they trickled through cracks and flowed through holes. They were methods Poseidon normally wouldn’t use; he would normally hold his waters above… but not now.
Not with his son on the line.
He would do anything to keep his son with him.
OO OO OO OO
The pearls were held in his own Pearls pocket. Percy carried them down into the depths of the Underworld, and even to the edge of Tartarus.
Poseidon watched, waited, prepared for what was going to happen.
And it happened, just as he expected.
Oh there were the accusations of theft, which Poseidon was mildly surprised at. He hadn’t expected Hades to have been stolen from as well, but… the other stuff was more important.
Such as Hades leaning forward with that dangerous smile (dangerous for any wishing to keep their children) to offer Percy a place in his court, rather than continuing to risk his life.
The oceans roiled and Triton sighed. Poseidon snarled and glowered at Hades, whose eyes locked with his for a moment, an instant of death and oceans, of darkness and weight. Poseidon’s weight layered over Percy, a threat, a promise. Hades’ threads twined over Percy, light, claiming, determined.
Poseidon and Hades warred a battle the mortal children could not comprehend, even as the conversation continued.
Hades made promises, Percy backed away. Percy blurted out what he’d heard, Hades blinked in shock.
Poseidon took advantage of that moment, that second of what and seriously Kharon, his waters roiled and raged and threw off Hades’ shadowy presence, for a moment, an instant, a split second.
A moment in which Percy, his friends, Poseidon, smashed the pearls on the floor.
Hades reached, lunged even, his rage palpable as Poseidon’s pearls of power wrapped around his Pearl and raised them up up up, through the rocks, through the water, up and up and up until they popped in Poseidon’s waters.
The ocean currents swept around them, curled around Percy like the precious pearl he was. The shaking earth, the rage of the Underworld, none of that mattered. What mattered was Percy was away.
Hades could suck it.
OO OO OO OO
Fucking Ares attacking his son. His son was clever, and skilled, and Poseidon was proud. But he was still angry, his son should not have had to deal with this matter.
He aided his son, in the battle to follow. Curled water around him, pulled the currents back as Percy desired, tugged and nudged and crashed against Ares. He healed and restored and strengthened and guided Percy, every movement cradled with gentle currents, cradled in Poseidon’s grasp.
His son would be safe in his waters if he had to rip Ares apart himself.
And of course, understandably, his son was victorious. Of course, he was, he was Poseidon’s son. Not Hades, Ha.
Sucker.
Poseidon idly wove the mist in intricate layers, weaving and winding and twisting the mortals’ views, their beliefs, their knowledge, until Percy and his friends were cleared of all wrongdoing and indeed given what they wanted and needed.
And of course, that they weren’t held or supervised as the police very much wanted to do. That bit took a bit more work.
But the work was done, and Percy was safely on his way to New York.
OO OO OO OO
Zeus left, after they finished. It was his grudging mercy, his acceptance of Percy’s existence, his kindness he wished he himself had. Zeus wanted just a few moments with his own daughter, Poseidon knew. Poseidon felt for him, and in turn was thankful Zeus would grant him this.
It was a small act, but it was meaningful.
He did not get to speak to Percy much, it was short, and he was certain he’d fumbled it. It had been a long time since he’d had a mortal child. But he did ensure that he told Percy, that he locked eyes with him, held his gaze, and that he told him that he was his child, that he was a true child of the sea.
And he looked Hades dead in the eyes while stating it, looking through the shadows of the Underworld, through the mists of Erebos, through the walls of Stygian, to let Hades know that Percy was off limits.
Hades raised a glass, challenge burning in his eyes like the Spirit Fire that lit up his throne room.
The gauntlet was cast, and Poseidon would not lose.
Hades would just have to find another child to claim as his own.