Work Text:
Percy was bored. Not that that was unusual, no, just dangerous. Because when he got bored, he worked slower. And when he worked slower, Gabe got mad. And when Gabe was mad, well…
But he couldn’t help it! Making shoes, day after day, after day, after day, after day after- you get the point. He does the same thing every day, and literally nothing else. It would make anyone bored!
But if he ran the store, he would make it fun! Everyone could work on their own time, they wouldn’t be punished for getting distracted by cool things- because, as he very well knows, cool things can be very distracting- and they would get breaks! And during those breaks, they could talk about whatever they want! And he could also buy his own stuff, too! But he would ban alcohol.
Because alcohol was not fun to be around.
But he would also-
Suddenly, he was on the floor, cheek stinging in pain.
“PERSEUS! GET BACK TO WORK! This is your only warning!”
He stood back up as Gabe left.
He huffed.
Stupid human.
Stupid cobbling.
Stupid everything!
Maybe he should just run away.
He smiled at the thought.
Someone entered the shop.
Percy looked over and saw a guy who looked about his age, wearing green and brown colors that would probably blend in well with the woods just outside the town, he wore a hat, too, with his ears covered.
But Percy didn’t really care about that.
What he really noticed were the tears in the stranger’s eyes.
“Are you okay?” Percy asked.
The stranger opened his mouth to reply, but then they heard Gabe coming back.
“I’m sorry,” he quickly told Percy as he left.
Sorry about what?
Percy thought about the interaction as he quickly got back to work so Gabe wouldn’t see him daydreaming again.
––––
That night, as he was going back home, he saw the mysterious person in the distance. Mystery Guy made eye contact with Percy, beckoned him to follow, and turned towards the woods.
Percy followed.
Gabe would be furious if Percy didn’t return, but he was just too curious! And what was that old saying? Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back? Yeah, that’s it. So, screw the consequences! He wanted to know what was up with this Mystery Guy!
Lost in his thoughts, Percy didn’t realize he had made it to the edge of the woods until MG, who had waited for him, spoke.
“Come on,” he said. “We’re close.”
“Close to what?” Percy asked. “Oh, and what’s your name? I’ve just been calling you MG- for Mystery Guy- in my head.”
MG smiled. “Grover. And you?”
“Percy.”
MG- Grover turned back to the woods. “Come on Percy.” He started walking, Percy close behind.
“But where are we going?” He asked.
“You’ll see. Just be patient.”
“I’m not good at patience,” Percy huffed.
Grover chuckled. “Then you’ll fit right in. No one at camps likes to be patient.”
“Camps?”
Grover nodded. “Yeah, that’s where we’re going. The Camps of Olympus.”
“But why?”
“Because they're safe places for elves like you. Like us.”
“You’re an elf?” Percy asked in disbelief.
Grover took off his hat, and Percy’s eyes widened as he saw the pointed ears. Pointed like his own. He was an elf . And he was free!
“You’re an elf ,” he whispered.
“We all are,” Grover chuckled. “Like I said, the Camps of Olympus are a safe place for people like us.”
“But how…?”
“Two hundred years ago, when the humans first came and settled the place, some elves were suspicious of them. They started to sneak out at night to prepare a place for if they ever needed to evacuate. Then, the humans betrayed the elves, capturing them to use as slaves. And, well, some escaped. And over the years, Keepers- that’s what I am- we would be sent out to find others and to bring them to camp.”
“Woah,” Percy breathed. “That’s awesome.”
Grover nodded. “It is pretty cool. Anyways, there’s three camps. Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter, and Camp Olympia.”
“Why is it called Camp Half-Blood?”
Grover shrugged. “I don’t actually know the story to the names of the camps. Except Camp Olympia, which is where we’re going. It was named after the woods. The Woods of Olympus. Anyways, we’re going there and they’ll decide which camp you go to, HB or Jupiter.”
“HB?”
“It’s easier to say than Half-Blood.”
Percy nodded. “Fair. So, anything else I need to know?”
“Don’t anger the leaders. Especially Zeus, he’s a little temperamental. And, if you get sent to HB, don’t get on Annabeth’s bad side. She is scarily efficient with a blade.”
“Got it. Don’t anger the leaders or the scary girl with a knife.”
“Exactly.”