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Chapter Text

Triton’s office had become a sanctuary for him in the last few months, even more so than when Pallas passed. Percy’s visit to Atlantis had turned into a more permanent arrangement two months ago thanks to an ill-timed threat from Zeus and the demigod was driving Triton slowly insane.

He wasn’t hiding - that was beneath his station as both a god and crown prince - but taking his time to go over his work and following up with the artists and writers he patronised that he’d been neglecting during both wars. It just so happened to keep him away from the demigod and their little bashful hero routine. It also served to keep him away from his mother, who, having seen the relationship between Perseus and their half-sister, Estelle, have wanted to try and improve her family ties.

Triton was reclining on his shell-encrusted winged chair when the door groaned open, the currents shifting, ruffling the scrolls and gold-gilded books on the shelves in the room. He tensed as only a handful of entities would barge in without knocking and most of them were people he didn’t want to see right now. Unfortunately, his father was obsessed with the little demigod and his mother was obsessed with healing the fractures that have grown into chasms over the previous millennia. His surviving children were … currently, the only sentient lifeforms that didn’t annoy him.

Triton sat up regardless and attempted to emulate his cousin with a disinterested, bored expression - no time to grab a book or magazine - just in time for the door to reveal who exactly came to bother him. 

His father swam in, looking younger than he had in years, with an easy smile on his face for once.

Triton’s stomach sank. The last time that smile was directed his way, he ended up delivering a missive to Zeus personally and was so traumatised by his uncle’s subsequent explosion that he refused to meet Hermes or his daughters outside of the ocean for a century.

“Ah, there you are,” Poseidon nodded as if he didn’t know the exact location of every creature, god, and mer in the ocean at any one time. Even if he didn't, Triton had been stubbornly here or in his bedroom for weeks. “I have an assignment for you.”

Triton raised an eyebrow, “An assignment?”

“Yes, an assignment. It is a security issue and there are few I trust with this,” Poseidon said. He waved his hand, letting an equally ornate seat appear opposite Triton, and sat down. He readjusted his shirt and turned his tumbling-wave eyes onto his eldest son, “Someone has been stealing from the palace. It has been brought to my attention by a loyal member of our staff earlier today and needs to be handled delicately .”

“Theft?” Triton asked, ignoring the implication behind Poseidon’s emphasis, instead, he focused on the alarm running through him. It was concerning, the punishment for stealing from the royal family was severe but that’s not the perfect deterrent. Triton’s mind raced as he tried to catalogue the most important and expensive items within the palace. He was sure he hadn’t noticed anything out of place, but then again, it’s been almost three months since he properly left his rooms.

Poseidon nodded, leaning forward. His brows were drawn in as his lips twitched, into a frown or smirk, Triton couldn’t tell. “The palace kitchens are apparently missing items.”

Triton sagged like a marionette whose strings had been cut. “Father, I really do not think this is a reasonable use of my time.”

“I would give it to Lord Delphin,” Poseidon shrugged, a careless action he definitely didn’t do before Percy entered the Greek world, “However, Delphin does not have your skill nor your motivation.”

“My motivation?”

“Oh, did I not mention it? Quintus has been taking an inventory nightly when he thought something was amiss. One of the items that has been consistently taken is that mortal chocolate from Belgium that you like. What was it called again?”

“Cote d’Or,” Triton answered monotonously. His daughter, Calliste, had started giving him them as Winter Solstice presents and it had become habitual over time.

“Yes, that one,” Poseidon nodded. “Anyway, your mother and I are too busy to investigate. Lord Delphin is busy working towards completing the last of the war rebuilding in the southeast district. So that leaves…”

“Me,” Triton supplied when Posiedon trailed off and almost facepalmed when his brain caught up with his mouth.

“Yes, you. I am so glad you have agreed to this,” Poseidon said, disappearing chair and all before Triton could protest.

Triton glared at the space his father had been in, he was mostly annoyed at himself for falling for a pretty obvious trap but he wasn’t going to verbalise his irritation. There was always the chance his father would still be listening.

The currents in his room shifted again at the sudden absence of the god and the scrolls finally fell from the shelf.

Triton sighed as he put his head down on the cool surface of his desk. It was just a simple case of finding a thief who’s stolen some chocolate, how bad could it be?

-

Triton eventually emerged from his room. He decided that instead of groaning into his varnished desk for the rest of the day that he should at least get the full itinerary off the chef and start accumulating lists of staff, contractors, and deliveries over the past few months. It was better to do this quickly and identify the thief before his actual work piles up.

With the remodelled palace, the fastest route to the kitchen was now through a walkway that wraps around the statue garden. His mother frequently hosted small gatherings in that particular part of the palace. It was her baby, gifted to her by Poseidon upon their marriage and then their move from the Adriatic to the Atlantic. A mix of talented master sculptures and ancient corals interspersed with seating areas and mosaics, as a result, it was not uncommon for laughter and chatter to echo through the waves.

He swore as he realised the laugh seemingly shaking the walls around him belonged to his younger sister. Memories of the last time Kymopoleia and he had last been left alone in each other's company flitted through his mind. The mortals told stories about that storm for centuries. 

He attempted to swim faster, just enough to get away from an unpleasant encounter. If he could just reach the doorway that lead to the kitchens he'd esca-

"Triton!" Amphitrite called out.

Triton straightened immediately, stopping his dash along the corridor. He turned towards his mother with what he hoped passed as a polite smile.

Next to his mother floated two of his least favourite entities at the moment: Kymopoleia and Perseus Jackson. 

"Mother, sister, Perseus," Triton nodded, now swimming towards the trio. Hopefully, this will be brief.

"Tri," Percy nodded in acknowledgement.

Triton did not twitch in response.

"Brother," Kymopoleia said, and if the Arctic was warmer at that precise moment everyone politely ignored it. "What brings you out of hiding?"

"Kymopoleia-," Amphitrite began.

"It is true," Kymopoleia snorted, cutting her mother off. 

And Triton could admit - to himself - that Kymopoleia did have a point. Percy had somehow managed to convince Poseidon that bringing Kymopoleia back into a welcoming family would stop her from defecting to their enemies again. Triton didn’t know nor care what Percy had managed to say to Kymopoleia to get her to agree but she had come in the end. She had been visiting for the last two weeks in an effort to improve relations with her parents and siblings and Triton had managed to only speak to her twice.

Percy - the brat - for all their worth did not engage with the current conversation for once. Merely traced their fingers along a polyp with a small smile curving their lips before the smile melted into a frown and chaotic green eyes focused on him. "Is everything okay though?"

Triton swallowed the urge to ignore them. It was tempting but Amphitrite would take a dim view and the last thing he needed was to be paired with Perseus Jackson for a theft case.

"Father has tasked me with following up on a concerning report from a member of staff," He said diplomatically, hoping that that would stop this from spiralling into a discussion.

Percy's eyes hardened fractionally and the waves stilled but it was gone so fast Triton thought he'd imagined it. 

"Hope that goes well," Percy smirked as they spoke. It seemed to be almost impossible for them not to. "We're discussing whether to host a family event next month."

"Oh."

"Indeed," Amphitrite smiled.

"Any suggestions?" Kymopoleia prompted.

Triton watched as a tiny fish got a little too close to Kymopoleia's hair. For a moment the mer held his breath and waited for the unenviable proneness and glassy gaze from electrocution but it never came. Percy had reached out and scooped the little fish in a little water ball away from the jellyfish tentacles of Triton’s sister and pulled them close to their chest, soft smile back.

“No,” Triton shook his head, eyes snapping away from the child and towards his sister. He swallowed at the matching frowns on Kymopoleia’s and Amphitrite’s faces, “I mean, I would rather be surprised by what you two can come up with.”

He watched with growing dread as Amphitrite went to speak, her gaze falling on Percy, but a servant zipped through the garden and Amphitrite’s mouth snapped shut with an audible click.

Triton followed her gaze to see Percy was still whispering softly to the fish that had now been joined by two others. He had a sinking feeling that in the weeks he'd been holed up Percy had been … helping.

"Dinner's at seven right?" Percy asked after a pregnant pause. They looked up from the fish as the trio swam off. At the queen's stiff nod, Percy turned to Kymopoleia, "And you'll be there?"

"How could I refuse?" Kym grunted, subtly glancing at her mother.

"Cool, see ya then," With that, Percy swam off in the direction of the city.

Triton raised an eyebrow, the brat didn't have any duties in the palace or city and he doubted that would change. So where were they disappearing off to so quickly? His face must've given him away as his mother murmured, "They've been visiting the southeastern district. I believe they volunteer with one or two of the centres and shelters."

Triton tried to ignore what could almost be described as pride dripping from his mother's words. He couldn’t accept that his mother may be warming to the demigod, after all their existence had put them all in danger multiple times over. Never mind his father's favouritism that could easily compromise his and his sisters' place in the royal court if Percy ever ascended.

Chapter Text

Triton mercifully slipped away as Amphitrite continued to chat with Kymopoleia, the slip up temporarily forgotten.

The kitchens were relatively quiet; there were only three prep cooks, the head chef and Poseidon's personal chef, Anya, in the entire area. 

Quintus was the head chef for the majority of the kitchens, the only part of the operations he didn’t directly meddle with was Anya's daily responsibilities. Even then, Anya had to coordinate with Quintus for inventory purposes. 

He wasn’t particularly large by mer standards but he was broad and his hair was tied back in a tight bun. As he spotted Triton’s approach his fingers twitched nervously as he started smoothing out his jacket.

“My lord,” Quintus bowed and several of the prep cooks at the back dropped into a bow.

“Quintus,” Triton nodded, “My father indicated that there was a problem I needed to address, regarding an issue with the kitchen inventory?”

Quintus licked his lips nervously, nodding. “May we speak in my office, my lord? I…” He trailed by the way the prep cooks had yet to chop anything despite trying to look busy spoke volumes.

Quintus and Anya shared an office as it was mostly for them to file inventory, keep a record of banquet and party catering over the years and - Triton assumed - take a break from the heated vents and scrambling staff when they needed to. It also seemed to be home to a board with a timeline and blown up sections of the inventories with highlighted rows.

Anya looked up  from the corner desk as they came in. Unlike Quintus, she was about the same height as Triton, her hair was braided behind her and she looked angry. Triton wasn’t surprised, from the start of Anya’s tenure - and probably why Poseidon had hired her - she had never suffered fools lightly and was very protective of the kitchens.

“My Lord,” Anya said, the unspoken about time clear.

“Anya and I only noticed the discrepancies last week and have spent our afternoons going through both our inventories, orders and incident reports to see the extent, sir,” Quintus started, indicating the two rather large folders on the table below the board.

“We had hoped,” Anya spoke up, “That it would be explained by an accident in the kitchens or maybe an error in the order forms. Something annoying but easily explainable.”

“However?” Triton asked although he had a feeling looking at the timeline that this wasn’t going to be explained away by a simple miscommunication with the suppliers or someone accidentally spilling a crate of ingredients into one of the vents.

“We have a thief - ” Anya said.

“I wouldn’t say we have a thief per say but -” Quintus interrupted looking panicked.

“- we’re missing basic supplies and some treats such as my Lord’s chocolates consistently for over a month . What else was it going to be?” Anya concluded, ignoring Quintus.

"Have you been able to narrow down when the thief is actually stealing?" Triton spoke a little louder than necessary. Quintus and Anya looked far too likely to spiral into an endless argument if he didn't cut them off before it started.

He swam forward to look closer at the timeline. The two mers around him had been meticulous, but the inventories were only taken every other day with deliveries twice a week. There were gaps. Spaces. Opportunities.

"There are… well, the latter half of the week and the weekend," Quintus volunteered.

Triton hummed in acknowledgment, "Send me the files of everyone who works from Wednesday onwards. I will start interviewing the kitchen staff. Have either of you reported this to the guard?"

He felt Anya shake her head, little wakes spiralled through the currents. "Not yet. We thought approaching our Lord’s so you could determine who should and shouldn't know would be better."

"Thank you. You have both done well," Triton turned and smiled cordially at the pair.

Quintus looked like he'd swallowed something foul. 

Anya looked delighted.

"I'll get the staff list, sir," Quintus bowed his head before delving into a filing cabinet, presumably for the staff rotas.

Triton settled into Anya's old chair as the mermaid slipped out of the office. He winced as it creaked and groaned in protest.

"If any of the staff are in today, start sending them in," He said as he accepted Quintus' rotas and hunkered down. After Quintus left, Triton groaned; this wasn't going to be quick.

Triton left after four useless interviews with rotas, staff lists, inventories and delivery lists bundled up. He would normally just will them to his office but he needed the time to think that came from manually delivering them.

He still wanted to interview one of the wait staff, however his father’s definition of discreet was flexible but it wasn’t so flexible as to accommodate serving dinner late when there were guests coming to dine with the family. Even if his fathers did, his mothers certainly didn’t.

-

Triton should have known the minute he swam into his bedroom and spotted his personal servants had laid out his most luxurious outfit and crown that the visitors wouldn’t just be squabbling, disgruntled lords they needed to placate. He should have known when he was collected by the Lord Delphinus, who was in human form and wearing equally ostentatious clothing with a dolphin engraved armband, that something was amiss. 

But he hadn’t and he was starting to wish he could “pull a sickie” as he’d heard Percy say once weeks ago.

At the table, looking far too at home, was Apollo and Hermes. Apollo was fusing over Percy's golden laurel crown whilst Hermes leant against the marble table watching the pair. Percy for his part looked somewhere between irritated and abashed, a light blush stained his face which deepened as he noticed Triton and Delphinus had entered the private dining room.

Triton wasn’t sure what to feel - pride or concern - when he watched Percy literally bat the Sun God’s hands away. But he was definitely concerned at the disgustingly clear amusement danced across the gods face, it was a little too familiar for comfort. Triton didn’t exactly want Percy smited by an irritate god since Poseidon’s wrath would lead to another war probably however he didn’t like the idea of any of Zeus' broad being that friendly.

Triton felt an old anxiety try to dislodge itself.

"Triton!" Percy shouted, suddenly appearing at his side.

Triton really hoped he'd just been too busy worrying about potentially caring for Percy to register their movement.

"Perseus," Triton responded, "Apollo, Hermes."

"Hey Triton," Apollo greeted, though his eyes didn't leave Percy's frame.

Hermes just nodded, finally putting away his phone.

"Uncle P, let us come and spend some time with our dear cousins," Apollo eventually explained unprompted.

Percy snorted and Triton swore he heard the demigod mutter, "Ya mean terrorise."

Apollo pouted.

Triton’s stomach turned as the God of Youth looked at Percy like a kicked puppy. He didn’t think after being handed an objectively useless task by his father and the run-in in the gardens that he’d be this desperate to see the rest of the family, but as he watched Percy with a shadow of a smile playing at the corners of their mouth and Hermes floating infinitely too close to his very mortal sibling? He wanted everyone in the hall, preferable in between the two sky gods and Percy.

“But Perce,” Hermes spoke up, his eyes now fixed on the demigod. He looked a little too much like one of Triton’s pet sharks. “You’ve been down here for ages . What were we meant to do without you to terrorise our father?”

“So, you’re just bored,” Percy choked on a laugh, looking between them. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I didn’t say that-” Hermes was interrupted by the sudden temperature change in the room. He threw an annoyed look towards Apollo before murmuring, “Really?”

“It wasn’t me!” Apollo squawked.

Triton almost sighed with relief as the water bent and warped and suddenly Rhodes materialised next to him.

“Good evening everyone,” Rhodes smiled, looking as radiant as ever. A pendant from her husband from millennia ago shone around her neck, heat radiated outwards and leached into the currents. She smoothly looped her arm with Percy’s and tugged them away from their cousins, “Percy! It’s lovely to see you. I was thinking of taking you and Calliste out to replace these.” Triton watched as Rhodes fingers toyed at an earring he had never noticed before.

Percy blushed bright pink; the seas had washed away their tan weeks ago. “They were a gift from some camp friends,” They defended.

Rhodes hummed, “But I think something that fits with your crown would be better for formal events.”

Percy blushed darker, if that was even possible, at the reminder of their coronation. That had come two months ago with Percy surrounded by sea turtles and practically glowing as the mers cheered. Poseidon and Amphitrite had beamed at the little prince. Triton stood behind his parents, their siblings lined the steps upto the base of the thrones. All memories of the multiple heated arguments over the coronation in the family rooms long forgotten as they shone, blessings pouring back towards Perseus and the surrounding crowds.

Even Triton who scowled the whole day could admit it had felt like a return to their zenith.

“I agree,” Apollo spoke up, interrupting Triton’s musings. He elaborated when three sets of curious green eyes landed on him, “Perseus, you should have more jewellery than just one or two cheap, if thoughtful, pieces.”

Hermes snorted and threw Apollo a knowing look.

“I think Percy should choose,” Hermes said then turned and smiled at the doors, “Uncle! Aunt! I was starting to wonder if we had caused offence.”

Poseidon’s chuckle cut through the water, echoing off the carved-coral columns and opalescent walls.

“Nephews, as if you would whilst in the palace,” Poseidon smiled in acknowledgement. He looked around and raised an eyebrow, “I think we are still missing a few -”

“Big brother Percy!” Tyson bellowed, speeding past Poseidon to scoop Percy up.

Percy laughed and smiled a little too wide, a little too wild, as they were practically crushed by Tyson. “Ty! I didn’t know you were back!”

“Yeah, Ella’s in charge of the shop. You okay?” Tyson asked, pulling back and inspecting the demigod.

Triton watched in mild concern as Percy wiggled their fingers and scrunched their nose and breathed out a, “Yeah, you?” He absentmindedly wondered if they’ve had to prove they hadn’t been mutilated often before stamping on the thought. Percy was after all the cause of most of his annoyance over the last months years.

“Ella finished my tattoo,” Tyson beamed shifting so Percy could see the top of it that peaked out from underneath his clothing.

“Cool.”

“Tyson, it is wonderful to have you home,” Poseidon spoke up interrupting his youngest two. “Shall we all sit?”

Amphitrite had fallen into conversation with her nephews, directing them towards the end of the table she normally occupied. Rhodes had snuck between Tyson and Percy and pulled them towards the table as well.

Triton followed the others to avoid his Father’s eye, the last thing he needed was an extra ridiculous task. As he sat down, the sound of the waves curled louder and louder in his ear until something clicked in place. His eyes slid to his cousins, brown curls and shining blue eyes focused on the Queen.

“Where’s Kym?” Percy asked as they found themselves opposite an empty chair and between Apollo and Rhodes.

“She is running late,” Amphitrite said.

Percy and Triton snorted.

Triton glared at his younger sibling, annoyance replacing the humour.

Percy ignored him, instead saying, “But she was with you.”

“Indeed, but -”

“Who was with whom?” Kymopoleia interrupted, appearing in the empty seat. Her dress was the same as earlier and her hair was curling in the water like inky tentacles. She looked wilder than usual but as she threw her exasperated parents a sweet smile and then winked at Percy, it seemed deliberate.

The servants flooded the room moments later armed with platter after platter of food. 

Triton glowered at the trays. He ignored Apollo reciting stories and Percy and Tyson talking about the surface. He ignored Poseidon talking to Rhodes, and Kymopoleia trying to spread as much chaos as possible. Instead he focused on Hermes.

He attempted to run through the past months comings and goings of his cousin. Hermes and he had weekly meetings in order to sort through the mess that was Olympus, Atlantis and Hades communications. They attempted to unravel the knot that was an intricate trade, communication and legal framework, complicated by centuries of traditions and exceptions, passing fancies and multiple wars. He was one of the few Sky Gods Triton remotely trusted and that was only because he knew his cousin better than most. Endless weekly meetings for millennia had that effect.

And the one thing he knew about his cousin was he’s a thief.

The god of thieves.

Triton’s gaze kept falling back towards his cousin. This time not in concern at the way Percy seemed overly familiar with the god but because his mind was racing to form a timeline of Hermes visits. A theory that could see his cousin banished, if he could prove it. Maybe he could tie this all up quickly and in such a way as to remove Hermes from Percy’s presence?

Before Triton knew it the servants flooded the room once more to remove the dishes.

“Triton? Triton,” Rhodes called to him.

Everyone’s eyes were on him. Hermes eyebrows had crept up his forehead the longer Triton had openly stared.

Triton hummed, trying to look neutral. 

“Are you coming to the games room with everyone?” Poseidon asked, seemingly taking pity on his son. Although, he looked as confused as everyone else.

Triton shook his head. He disappeared back to his room abruptly and pulled out the stack of papers Quintus and Anya had collated, he had work to do.

Chapter Text

It took another two days for Triton to go through all of the information Quintus handed him and check with the palace guard for incidents and rotations around the kitchen area of the palace for the past month. It narrowed down the period a thief could have made their move unnoticed considerably, much to Triton’s relief.

And annoyance. It cleared Hermes. 

Well, it mostly cleared Hermes unless there was more than one thief. Hermes’ visits were exclusively on Fridays which overlapped with about a third of the thefts when the palace guards were taken into consideration. As much as Triton wanted to corner his cousin at their next meeting, Hermes had quickly fallen to the bottom of the list of potential thieves.

Eventually, he had three (more likely) names - the dessert chef, Maxi, a waiter, Lily and a delivery boy, Andre - who were on shift during every window. Triton almost felt gleeful when he realised they’d all be in that afternoon; he could interview them, hopefully, find it was one of them and get back to what he’d rather be doing.

Triton ignored the fluttering of disturbed papers as he scrambled for the door. Hope that he’ll be done with this quickly made him sloppy. He was sure there was a dull thud! as a heavy book sank to the seafloor.

Hope evaporated the moment he opened the door to come nose to chin with Rhodes.

Triton pulled back and looked up to meet the bemused, steady gaze of his older sister. 

“Good afternoon Triton,” Rhodes smiled and it felt like it should feel nice - comforting even - but the hope that had made Triton giddy, had quickly turned to ashes and he could almost convince himself that he smelt blood in the water. “We need to talk.”

“Right now?” Triton asked, suddenly aware that he hadn’t even retired to his bedroom last night. His normally ordered office looked more like a madman’s tinpot theory in paper and string and blurry photocopies. Testimonials from his subjects he’d interviewed flooded his desk and overflowed onto his floor.

“Yes. It’s about Percy,” Rhodes sniffed and walked past him. Her feet rooted to the ground. She was wearing mortal clothing from the surface - presumably, the shopping trip she mentioned had been and gone - and always seemed more solid than the rest of them. 

She reminded him of his Calliste, steady, substantial, like the islands they embodied.

Maybe he should arrange a trip to the surface to visit his surviving children after this was all over.

Rhodes looked around the room, her nose wrinkled and she moved towards the seating area in the opposite corner to the desk and Triton's haphazard investigation. She slipped down into the chaise lounge, her shoes tapping a beat on the shell-embossed feet of the chair.

Triton was still by the door, contemplating the ramifications of leaving his older sister in his office. It wouldn't take Athena or Apollo to piece together where this conversation was going to go.

Rhodes turned and raised an eyebrow at him.

Triton closed the door and headed towards the armchair near Rhodes.

"What about them?" Triton sighed, hoping this'll be over sooner than later.

"Why do you hate them so much?" Rhodes asked in the same tone as someone discussing the weather.

Triton waited for her to continue, the way their parents tended to as they attempted to answer all his potential answers before he even answered. But Rhodes just stayed silent, her eyes tracking his movements.

"I-," Triton started and stopped himself. "They are obnoxious."

"When you first met? They were fifteen and had almost been blown up having watched an older comrade blowing themselves up," Rhodes countered, evenly, "Now they're older, mellowed a little. A little less frazzled with a prophecy looming."

"It does not change that they were overfamiliar," Triton sniffed, "Anyway, Father-"

"Don't blame the child for anything Father does or did," Rhodes cut him off this time. "We all know Father will do as he pleases, it may be easier to pass all your … emotional response onto a mortal child. But that neither changes whose fault things were or is fair on Percy."

"And what would you suggest instead, sister?" Triton ground out. He might not have any issues screaming at Kymopoleia until they've destroyed half the known world but Rhodes was older than him and kinder than most after Pallas. It was easier to hear her out and then ignore the answer than scream.

"Therapy?" Rhodes snorted.

"I think you have been spending far too much time amongst the mortals," Triton sniffed.

"Mmm, it is undoubtedly far too late for that. We should save Psyche and Asclepius from the trauma… Seriously though, brother, get to know Percy. They're not like Heracles or Theseus. Hades, they're kinder than Bellerophon and Pegasus," Rhodes shrugged, "Look, Father has plans - don't give me that look! He always has plans - but Percy just wants siblings. Preferably, and I quote, of the 'non-Percy-eating-and-or-smiting variety'."

"Why do I feel like this is a warning?"

"Because if I have to listen to Percy fret about making you, the several thousand years old god, feel uncomfortable in the palace again, I will personally dangle you over Chaos. Understood?" Rhodes smiled, overly sweet and all teeth, before hopping up and marching towards the exit. 

-

Triton shelved the conversation with Rhodes away. If not for the threat, he would have ignored it completely. Rhodes had always taken a greater interest in mortals - their bastard siblings, clear-sighted mortals, priests and completely ordinary inhabitants of her island - and had always been more forgiving of their oddities. A softer heart but he knew his sister; he hadn't seen her make a threat she wouldn't carry through. Ever.

At least with the thefts he had some excuse for why he didn't immediately act on her request.

So, he went looking for the servants, Lily and Andre. Maybe a little less enthusiastically than before.

He stumbled onto Lily in the dining room. She was helping arrange the great hall for the ball at the end of the week. They were all hurtling towards the Atlantean summer ball, which aligned with the Summer Solstice.

"Lily Adriatico?" Triton called, looking upward towards the mermaid tying wreaths of plaited seaweed around a column.

She gave the wreath a small tug to make sure it wouldn't float off before floating down towards Triton. 

"M'lord," She bobbed her head, settling just below Triton's chin. Neon pink eyes peered up at him.

Triton glanced over her head, trailing over the other mers. "Follow me," Triton said, glancing down at her finally. His father's words about delicacy echoed in his head as he led her towards a spare office. 

Lily paled as she followed. Her shoulders rose almost to the little fins where ears would be on a mortal. As the office door slid shut behind her, her tail kept a deliberately steady pace.

Triton dismissed the whispers from her too-loud thoughts. They weren't actually relevant yet.

"I am sure by now you know about the recent thefts in the kitchens," Triton said, his tone negating any possibility that that was a question.

Her thoughts stuttered to a shrieking halt. Their spiral into how to get another job freezing in place. Unfortunately, her thoughts didn't jump to guilt, just remained quiet. Holding their breath almost.

Triton almost sighed.

"You normally work Fridays through Sundays, correct?" Triton asked, he knew the answer already but he needed her calmer. At least calm enough she'd actually recall something useful.

"Yes, m'lord."

"And you do the same jobs each day?"

"Mostly, m'lord."

"What are they?"

"The j-jobs? Erm, I start after breakfast is typically served so I help clear and redress the private and public dining areas. Serve lunch to the Lords that are at court currently and their retinues… Take the plates back to the kitchens. If y-your sibling, Prince Perseus, requires a snack either I o-or Anya brings that to them. If n-not, I help in the laundry rooms on Saturdays and Sundays or take in the kitchen's delivery on Friday…" Lily rattled off before tacking on a small, "M'lord."

Her thoughts had slowed enough that Triton caught more than whispers. She was nervous about losing her job but she now had a manageable level of nervous.

"Whilst on shift have you seen anything suspicious recently?" He asked.

"No, m'lord," Lily said, a few curls coming loose as she shook her head.

"Have you recently helped with the deliveries?"

"Twice," Lily said slowly.

"Anything strange happened? Missing items? Being told to turn a blind eye to anything?" Triton tilted his head, listening to her thoughts that seemed to teeter on the edge of something . "Anyone say anything?"

"Well…" Lily trailed off, eyes widening. But her thoughts repeated a word - a name - Andre. 

"Go on," Triton coaxed softly.

"It was probably nothing, m'lord," Lily tried. 

At that Triton just raised an eyebrow.

"It's just that Andre," She eventually started, "The delivery mer always brags about stupid things. Worse at drinks in one of the nearby pubs, normally everyone ignored him, m'lord."

"However?" Triton prompted.

"He did suggest he knew a 'damaging secret,'" Lily shuffled awkwardly.

"Anything else you wish to report?" Triton smirked, when she mutely shook her head she dismissed her. "Thank you, Lily, you may return to what you were doing."

-

The concept of Andre annoyed Triton. Well, not the concept of a mer named Andre, the concept of the delivery mer being the thief. Quintus and Anya's inventories implied that the food had at least made it into the palace before it went missing. Although that could be because they assumed the initial order checks were done properly. It would also put the thefts at the very start of the timeframe where they went missing more often than not. Almost too early in some cases unless Andre returned at some point over the weekend that is.

Regardless, Andre would be coming to the Palace later that day. It made more sense to let him wander blindly toward his quiz.

In the meantime, Triton chose to create a fail-safe. Insurance. Reassurance even. Even if it meant he had to voluntarily enter Atlantis’ forges, one of his least favourite places. The blistering heat washed over him as the world around him changed from blues and corals, opalescent and bioluminescent, to red and steel-grey, celestial bronze and dark.

He came eye-to-rib with the head smith, a towering ancient cyclops that Triton had long forgotten if they were siblings or not.

“Marin,” Triton acknowledged, “I have a … rushed order for you.”

“My lord?” Marin’s deep voice vibrated the very shell that Triton wore.

“A trap suitable for capturing a mer, something entirely mechanical, no magic,” Triton mused, he knew that if it was one of the mers employed with the Palace that it was unlikely that any of the courts would say a word against the deployment of magic for a thief but it would not fair well in his image behind closed doors. He’ll use magic but only if he must. “How soon can this be ready?”

If Triton had his way, he’d catch the thief this weekend before the Summer ball the following week.

-

Andre wasn't much to look at. At all. Average in everything, including the silty-coloured tail. If it was at all possible, he paled further as Andre’s eyes fell onto Poseidon’s heir and the King of the Mers leaning casually against the staff entrance as a handful of prep cooks and servants slipped past Triton with the boxes Andre had delivered.

“Come with me,” was all Triton said as he turned to use the kitchen’s office. One of the palace guards, Kai, stood outside the office if, by some miracle, Andre confessed.

Quintus and Anya had left it earlier to give him privacy.

The Prince summoned a pearl-encrusted throne and lounged in it. Resting his elbow on the arm of the chair and his chin in his palm.

"It has come to light that there had been some irregularities that I have been led to believe you would know about,” Triton said, reaching out to rack across the mers thoughts.

Andre kept his face carefully blank, his thoughts annoyingly still.

“M’lord?” Andre eventually asked, his gaze flickered from one side to the other, “I’m not sure I know exactly what you mean?”

Triton raised his eyebrow, he dug a little deeper. He frustratingly couldn’t find a thread or memory that fit.

“You do not?” Triton smirked, enjoying the way the mer finally fidgetted under his gaze. “Do you know the punishment for theft? Theft from the gods at that?”

Andre’s mouth dropped open, eyes popped. His thoughts suddenly raced, sporadically. Triton only managed to hear “-nononononon-.”

“I take that as a yes?” Triton eventually volunteered, “As I said previously one or two of the servants have told me interesting things about you.”

“No, m’lord,” Andre licked his lips nervously, “Please, I swear I have never stolen anything let alone from the gods.”

The mers thoughts began to give Triton a headache.

“Then what?!” Triton snapped, he contemplated just throwing Andre into the cells for being annoying at this point.

The mer stilled looking terrified and Triton realised his aura had bled through his shell.

He pulled back enough that the mer’s chest heaved as his gills worked overtime. Andre’s skin became more solid, less like he was about to turn to foam.

“The little lord,” Andre finally gasped, blood painted his lips blue, “I saw the little lord with a god, m’lord.”

Triton almost turned him to seafoam right then and there but the memory of a face in Andre’s mind caused him pause. A shaky memory of Hermes and Percy slipping from one shop to another whispered between Andre’s panicked thoughts continually.

“There are many gods,” Triton shrugged, “So he was with one of my siblings, and?”

“No, no, m’lord,” Andre shook his head, shivering, “One of the sky gods. They were sneaking through the city.”

Triton doubted that they were truly sneaking. Poseidon would have known, although why he’d allow it Triton couldn’t say.

“He, the god, handed my lord a bag,” Andre stumbled. “I’ve seen it thrice, m’lord.”

Triton raised an eyebrow and grunted, “Off you go. And, Andre? Say nothing.” 

That might be interesting, Triton thought, but is it relevant?

-

Marin and his workers' contraption was beautiful, just as everything the forges produced. The old Cyclops did offer to install it himself however Triton preferred to do it himself. The fewer people who knew about exactly what he was doing the better.

It wasn’t exactly difficult, he didn’t want the trap to rely on magic to capture his thief but to set it in place. No problem at all. 

The only difficult bit was working out where to actually lay the trap. The servants did still have to access the kitchens and the pantry so he couldn’t just put it in the most obvious place. He eventually chose to use the entrance that the guards tend to miss and the servants rarely used as it lead to the old, disused part of the palace.

He notified Quintus and Anya just in case. Before he left their office, he turned remembering the last servant on his list. One he hadn’t spotted on his swim through the kitchens.

“I noticed Maxi, the dessert chef, is absent?” Triton raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, my lord. He hasn’t turned up for work today,” Quintus tried to lay his hands flat on a desk but they twitched every so often.

“Is that a normal occurrence?” Triton asked.

“No, my lord,” Quintus winced.

Triton hummed, filing away that information before heading back through the palace towards his office. He’d spoken to more people in the last couple of days than he had for months. He’d slipped through his mother’s gardens and two corridors undisturbed before he heard the last person he wanted to speak to practically squeaking.

Triton didn’t know why but as he swam closer to the doorway Percy’s indignant noises echoed from and leaned against the stone wall to watch.

Percy was standing on top of a podium, most mers didn’t use one but the seamstress was clearly concerned about Percy being uncomfortable holding completely still as they tacked and cut and pinned. A sea nymph was slipping gold earrings out of Percy’s ears and replacing them with pewter ones.

“This is just to settle on your favourite design, your Grace,” the nymph murmured, “Once you have selected one, the forges will produce a more fitting one.”

Triton raised an eyebrow at that, normally he and his family wouldn’t have bothered with a pewter duplicate. It also didn’t sound like something his mother would have insisted on with her current views on the little demigod.

“I think the first ones are okay, do we really have to keep trying new ones?” Percy pouted as the nymph continued changing them out. Seals replaced hippocampi, replaced seahorses, pearls, replaced their original golden snake earrings.

“I rather think,” Triton interrupted, ignoring how the others jumped, “Until you have your sigils and regular motifs it will be easier to choose outfits. It is more attempting to give you all the options and … respect your station is due.”

The nymph and mer scrambled to bow and collect their items, ready to be dismissed if necessary.

Percy blushed and offered both servants an apologetic smile that didn’t fit their station at all. “Thanks,” Percy said, “I- I think the hippocampi ones were my favourites and the robes are perfect.”

There’s so much work to be done with this one, Triton thought as he watched the servants beam at the youngest member of the royal family and then leave them both. His thoughts wandered towards Hermes again and why he was sniffing around Percy.

“Sorry, I- Did you need something?” Percy asked, licking their lips nervously.

“No,” Triton said, his gaze finally settling on Percy. “I had just left the kitchens and happened to hear you.”

“Oh,” Percy said, the sound echoed as they floated there in silence. 

Triton almost turned to leave, wondering if that was sufficient to satisfy Rhodes, when Percy called out, “Are you ready?”

“For?” Triton sighed asked.

“The ball.”

“I have not started,” Triton conceded.

“They haven’t forced you into being turned into a pin cushion?”

Triton didn’t bother to clarify who they were. 

“No,” He responded, elaborating when he saw Percy’s mouth tighten and his eyes flickered, “I will most likely wear an older piece with one of my offerings from the Ancient Lands.”

“Right,” Percy nodded repeatedly, looking like wanted to say something but Triton couldn’t pry apart his sibling’s thoughts like he had done Lily.

“Out with it,” Triton sighed.

“Well, it’s just that, the cor-coronation had been a little… much,” Percy winced, “Will the ball be as…”

“Overwhelming?” Triton guessed when Percy trailed off.

“Yeah.”

“Perhaps,” Triton conceded, “It depends on what you mean by ‘a little much.’” 

“Loud,” Percy started immediately, “There were so many people who wanted to meet me and so many customs and … it’s … just a lot.”

“You have saved Olympus twice,” Triton reminded them.

“And?”

“Most in your shoes would enjoy the attention,” Triton conceded, watching Percy carefully. Rhodes’ words haunted his thoughts but it’s one thing to hear second-hand how Percy felt and another to watch the demigod’s genuine reaction. 

Percy looked like they’d be sick.

Triton really hoped they weren’t actually going to be sick; their family would kill him.

“That’s not … I don’t-,” Percy cut themselves off and looked down at their feet before trying again, “I just did what would keep my friends alive. I don’t want the-the…” They stopped waving their hand in the direction of the hallway to sum up everything.

Triton realised with growing horror that Percy talked like Tritea had when they were very young and would prefer the training ground to the court. Shit.

“But you spent so much time arguing with our Uncles?” Triton decided instead, trying to remind himself of all the things that were dissimilar to his eldest.

“I don’t like bullies,” Percy shrugged.

Triton blinked slowly. There was no clear lie. The bashful hero routine might not be a routine… It’s not enough for Triton to suddenly adore his bastard sibling but it was a start.

“If you feel overwhelmed at the ball, there’s a balcony nearby that the guests barely ever use,” Triton said. He felt a little overexposed, having just divulged one of his own hidey-holes. This was more intimate than he imagined his first proper and private conversation with Percy to go.

“Thanks,” Percy smiled. They let Triton leave this time, their eyes tracking him until he rounded a corner.

-

Triton had settled back into his office. The clutter from the investigation disappeared and several thick binders appeared on his shelves as he sighed. 

He settled into the armchair by the mortal-style fireplace, Greek fire flickered away in the hearth. He only wore his loosely tied robe, his hair unbraided for once. Anya had come and gone, leaving behind a tray with a warm drink and - thankfully, unliberated - chocolates.

This week had been socially draining in comparison to the previous few months. He hadn’t realised how much he needed to just relax until he found himself - an hour or two after the chat with Percy - with nothing to do.

Triton’s tails slowly unfurled, and his head thumped against the high-backed chair as he rolled his neck. He sipped his drink as he pulled one of the books his daughter, Tritea, had sent him with the oh-so-elegant “READ IT” scrawled on the front in thick black ink.

When he unwrapped the book, the title made him snort; Our Wives Under the Sea announced itself in bold serif font. His fingers trailed over the beautiful cover as he took another long sip.

Triton flipped past the acknowledgements, determined to finish the book so he had something to discuss at their next meetup.

Chapter Text

His relaxed mood survived long enough to book a restaurant for three in half a week’s time when he knew he'd need to escape the palace. He sent his own book recommendation bound in parcel seaweed with a note saying "READ IT" to Tritea as well. 

His relaxed mood lasted throughout breakfast. He decided to have it with the rest of the family in the private dining room when he normally would shove some ambrosia down at his desk and begin working. Triton found his siblings' presence that morning a little less aggravating than before although he ignored the glances Rhodes sent his way throughout.

As the leftover breakfast items were taken into the kitchens and the family disbanded to actually get on with their days, Triton decided to check on his trap.

The kitchen staff looked up as Triton entered, all bowing their heads before returning to work. It seemed that in less than a week, the entire gaggle of chefs, wait staff and guards had gotten used to his presence. 

Triton’s relaxed mood lasted until he saw the trap, a net similar to the one Hephaestus had caught his ex-wife and Ares in, swinging back and forth in the currents.

It had been sprung and whoever the thief was, had slipped through his fingers.

Triton almost threw caution out the window and set a trap to behead the thief immediately. Anyone with any level of ill-intent… or anybody who looked at him funny at this point.

"My lord?" Quintus' called out nervously from behind him.

Triton twitched and took in a deep breath. "Quintus, when did this happen?" He turned so he could see the nervous mer in his peripheral vision.

"When did what…" Quintus moved closer as he trailed off. His confusion and surprise were clear as he spotted the net. "That's not what-This morning - It was fine before we served breakfast, my Lord."

"And during?" Triton ground out.

"I'll check with the staff and see if anyone saw anything of note, sir," Quintus winced, turning to leave.

"Wait," Triton's eyes were fixed on the net, "Did the pastry chef come in today?"

"Erm, Maxi? No sir," Quintus said before rapidly swimming away.

Triton waved a hand, the net disappeared into a cloud of bubbles. He needed to rethink this. He needed a trap, a non-lethal trap, but an entirely mechanical one was not an option.

He decided he should add an interview at the chef's home to his mental to-do list. It looked unlikely to be them however Triton wanted to be thorough. The sprung trap had irked him. He may not have been as egotistical as some other gods but it was still there.

"Son," Amphitrite called out, stopping Triton in his tracks.

He turned to face his mother, only to see her leaning against one of the balconies. Atlantis glittered behind her. She looked like she was between appointments and prepared to visit Sally and Estelle Blofis on the surface.

Triton still found his mother’s mortal form, jeans and all, a little strange. He absentmindedly wondered whether Rhodes considered their mother’s mer form strange having spent so much time together on her island. Regardless he joined her on the balcony and peered down at the gardens and sprawling city beneath them.

“Do you really think we have not noticed you have been secluded lately?” Amphitrite asked eventually.

“I have been busy," Triton shrugged, his eyes tracking Percy swimming back towards the palace.

Amphitrite hummed.

If it had been anyone else, the conversation would have stalled and that would be that. But he was never very good at being indulged by his mother.

"I have been," Triton insisted.

He turned to look directly at her as Percy disappeared inside. 

Her eyes danced as she watched him.

"Triton," Amphitrite said, leaving so much left unsaid. "You have always been good at finding ways to stay busy. Granted you do have a lot of responsibilities, to us, your domains and to the mers however the timing however betrays you."

They fall into silence again, Triton breaking eye contact first. He wondered if he stayed quiet for long enough his mother would leave for her reservation with the Blofis'.

"Why are you alright with them?" Triton blurted. "No, not alright with them, why do you like them?"

"Perseus?" Amphitrite clarified, unnecessarily. They both knew who he meant.

Triton hummed. Not trusting himself not to rant.

"They are…," Amphitrite trailed off, looking for the right words. It's odd enough that Triton’s interest trumped his mortification that he'd asked in the first place. "Percy has managed to be the best part of your father and their kindness was encouraged by their mother despite the terrible example school set them.

"I did not wish to see it initially, but they woke up in the middle of the night to rescue the Ophiotaurus. He is not the only creature that fell under my domain that they've helped." Amphitrite continued. Her fingers curled and unfurled as she paused, "They are not their father. They are unlike you or your siblings. Speaking with their mother and Percy themselves, it gave me a perspective I … did not see initially."

"But they shouldn't…" Triton trailed, pulling a face. He was old enough to know that the fact Perseus did exist meant he was meant to. The Fates gave them over seventy years grace for the Great Prophecy linked to the Second Titanomachy but it was always going to be fulfilled. Someone to fulfil that was always meant to exist. He knew several of the council had said that but it was a frankly childish thing to say in Triton's opinion. Yet the word still teetered on the tip of his tongue.

"They exist. They are here and they are trying to fill the role they have been barred from since birth," Amphitrite all but snorted when she added, "They fit the role of Prince of Atlantis at court better than Kymopoleia and they have a cumulative total of four months training."

Triton gave a short laugh despite himself. She had a point about Percy and Kymopoleia. 

"Υἱός, I am not offended by Percy's existence. I am not angry at the child. Your Father…" She frowned, "Having gotten to know Sally Jackson, I understand better. We are also bullying him into couple's therapy since he still keeps secrets that are unwise to keep." The after 9000 years goes unsaid.

Triton cringed at the "we," it implied more about his parents and Percy's than he needed or wanted to know.

He kept quiet, letting the knowledge that his mother wasn't hurting wash over him. That she even sounded happy.

“Come into the games room, your siblings are there,” Amphitrite smiled. “Give them a chance to have their brother back.”

“I never left,” Triton groused.

Amphitrite said nothing but the look in her eyes told him that she disagreed.

The games room had been their father’s mortal obsession for the past hundred-or-so years and was quickly rebuilt after the war with Oceanus had damaged that part of the palace. It had also quickly become Perseus’ home away from home. The little demigod had lost almost an entire day in their the first time they wandered off by themselves.

At the time Triton hadn’t fully paid attention to what Percy had said as they sped from one corner of the room to another but looking back, the demigod had mumbled a lot about seeing other children with these consoles, the game selection et cetera. There were very few mentions of themselves playing with them.

And they were utterly shit at almost anything that required a controller.

The thought niggled as he remembered all of his children and grandchildren. He felt a little uncomfortable comparing them. Partially because they’re different species mostly and raised in completely different eras but also because it brought his half-sibling into focus with pieces that he… had ignored in favour of gossip and assumptions.

When he entered, shoving the discomfort deep down, his mother stayed back. She shooed him when he turned to raise an eyebrow at her with an indulgent smile before she disappeared to the surface.

Percy and their sisters giggled at an image on Percy's phone as they leaned against the pool table.

Triton’s irritation sparked and burnt hot. He turned, words bubbling up and scorching his tongue.

"Tri! Look!" Percy sniggered, flipping their phone around.

Three unhappy faces covered in what looks like bright blue paint posed for the camera. The caption underneath was more or less a string of expletives.

"What am I looking at?" Triton frowned, white-hot rage disappeared as quickly as it came.

"These are the Stoll brothers and Cecil, sons of Hermes. They got caught out with some dye packs," Percy explained.

"Looks like squid ink to the face," Kymopoleia cackled behind them.

"What exactly is a 'dye pack'? Nobody's dead."

Kymopoleia snorted like an angry hog.

"Dye as in ink not kill," Percy smiled that crooked smile they'd almost all inherited. "Banks put them amongst the money someone's trying to steal. They open the bag with the money in it and splat." They mime an explosion toward their face with light dancing in their eyes.

"So…" Triton drawled. He tried to keep his face disinterested as his mind started to race.

"So, the cops can spot them and-or follow them," Percy shrugged.

And just like that Triton had a plan.

He didn't immediately throw his goblet at his siblings and swam off. He didn't just dissolve into water and reappear in the kitchens. Instead, he waited an appropriate length of time, let a servant take his wine and then dissolved into water and reappeared in the kitchens.

It took a matter of seconds to will it into position.

He sighed, aside from collecting information and interviewing Maxi there was little else for him to do until the thief returned.

-

Triton groaned, he could only wait until the newest trap was tripped and try his best to avoid the preparations for the Summer Ball. It was safe to say he was antsy and bored by the day he was due to meet with his daughters.

He wanted to just fall asleep in Santorini or one of the little islands littering the Aegean with wine from Dionysus' cellars and the knowledge his daughters were well. But that was six hours away at least, until then he was making his way towards the district his sickly dessert chef was hunkered down. 

It was halfway between the palace and the poorest district that Percy tended to frequent. The damage from Oceanus’ army swarming the lower parts of the city was mostly cleared up. The homes were now a mismatch of older buildings that were just repaired and new buildings that were built from the ground up.

Coral trees lined the main road through the area. Bioluminescent fish swam through the streets like birds in a surface city.

Triton was wearing as understated an outfit as he could, but the inhabitants of the street still paused. The concern seemed to ripple through the slowly growing crowd as he swam up to the building Maxi lived in according to their files.

The building that Maxi lived in was squat. Older than the ones on either side but clean of all barnacles. Seagrass covered the roof of the building and Triton thought he could spot the odd fish living within.

He knocked. He knew he could simply appear in the front room and demand the attention of every being within a hundred meters. He knew he could remind his subjects that the king who ruled them was also their god, his father their creator. He knew this but he also thought of his image that was in dire need of rehabilitation, Percy’s efforts further afield in an area of the city that was far worse. He thought of his mother’s words and Rhode’s - albeit out of context - about coming back to be who he used to be, giving things a chance.

So he knocked.

So he waited for presumably Maxi’s mother to open the door.

By tomorrow it’ll be in the papers that the Crown Prince of the Sea and King of the Mers showed respect to a humble family who served their gods well.

Inside was no less clean than the outside, it was also no less old. A couple of family heirlooms from better times glistened in the living room and one of the sleeping areas that he was directed through until he was left in front of a young mer.

“Maxi?” Triton asked.

“M’lord,” The mer said jerkily, his face was washed out and his hair was braided to stay entirely out of his face. “I-”

Maxi attempted to rise from the bed of seagrass he was resting in but his arms shook, face contorted in pain. He looked incredibly young.

“Stay where you are,” Triton said softly, “I just came to ask you a couple of questions.”

"Thank you m'lord," Maxi sighed as they fell back against the woven pillows and seagrass bed.

"You work as a dessert cook at the palace, do you not?"

"Yes, m'lord."

"How long have you worked there?"

"Almost a year, m'lord."

"Have you noticed anything suspicious over the last couple of months?"

"I don' thin' so, m'lord," Maxi frowned, his mouth working silently as if he was debating voicing something. 

Triton avoided prying through Maxi's thoughts. It was something he normally did without pause however Maxi looked so fragile he didn't want to risk damaging the mer.

"What is it, Maxi?" Triton asked instead, eyes boring into the young mer.

"Well, I have seen Prince Perseus wandering in and ou' of the kitchens bu' tha's probably unrela'ed," Maxi mumbled. "Lady Kymopoleia too but tha's only when she's lookin' for the little Prince, m'lord."

Triton twitched.

Chapter Text

Despite desperately wanting to corner his two younger siblings and grill them, preferably literally, Triton took a deep breath and reassured Maxi that his job was safe. He sent a message to the palace healers (usually there for the courtiers and army officials) to visit the young mer. Whether that was out of kindness as the mer was a slip of a thing or because he potentially needed a proper statement out of Maxi, Triton wasn't sure yet.

Triton blinked, one moment he was facing an ill mer and the next he appeared in Calliste’s kitchen where the nymph was trying and failing to neatly cook something that vaguely resembles a cake.

“Tell me: It would be exceedingly stupid to murder my father or his favourite or my sister, ” Triton said, eyes boring into the weirdly solid porridge-cake thing his daughter placed, still in its glass dish, onto a wire rack.

“It would be exceedingly stupid to murder grandfather, Uncle P or my Aunts,” Calliste laughed, the sound dying in her throat as she met his gaze. A frown wrinkled her brow, “Dad? What’s happened?”

Triton groaned, slumping into one of his daughter’s bar stools. The sigh he let out was a little high-pitched and a little strangled. The heels of his palms dug into his eyes and he hated that he’d picked up the very mortal stance from his very current problem, aka Percy.

Before he could form a response to Calliste’s question, someone sets a steaming mug of coffee and a terracotta plate filled with biscuits down in front of him. Someone else sat next to him.

“Dad?” Tritea asked. “You’re sort of scaring Calliste.”

“Tia,” Triton breathed out, smiling at his oldest daughter.

“Calliste panicked,” Tritea explained, waving her hand in a dismissive gesture.

“I asked my big sister to come. I was nice about it too, nice little text. I didn’t panic,” Calliste huffed, stealing a biscuit. “What’s the Terrible Trio done?”

Tritea snorted but said nothing. She poured herself coffee from a cafetiere that Triton was sure hadn’t been there earlier.

“The Terrible Trio?” Triton humoured his children, trying the coffee in front of him.

“Grandfather, Uncle P and, I’m going to guess, Aunty Kym?” Calliste hummed.

“Don’t call Perseus, Uncle P,” Tritea smiled.

“They may have sent me on a wild goose chase,” Triton frowned. “Alternatively, I am about to swim into a minefield."

His daughter's patiently waited for him to elaborate. Tritea adjusted her ponytail and picked at the biscuits every so often, glancing at him in between bites, whilst Calliste played with the ring on her finger as she quietly hummed.

"There is a potential lead in a theft that would, if handled poorly, incriminate Perseus Jackson and my younger sister," Triton said slowly, treading carefully like a mortal slowly crossing a frozen lake. Any misstep would send him plunging to a painful death.

Tritea froze and Calliste’s humming died in her throat.

His girls looked at each other.

"Are… Are there any other leads?" Calliste asked at the same time as Tritea blurted, "Maybe they're a witness?"

Triton shook his head. His tongue felt heavy.

Eventually, his mouth unglued itself enough to elaborate, "I have set a trap but it has not been triggered. It is unlikely that they are a witness, neither approached me earlier."

"True," Tritea tapped her worn nails along the counter and tipped her head with a smile, "But then again Father, you can be intimidating."

Triton frowned.

"They don't know they've been implicated yet do they?" Calliste asked.

"They do not."

"Good," Calliste nodded almost to herself, "Then we'll go and have dinner. You can formulate an action plan that doesn't end in Grandfather's ire or you testing the limits of gods being incapable of having heart attacks."

Triton glared at his mug until the liquid sloshed back and forth in a rhythmic pattern, like the tide rolling up and down a sandy beach.

"I think that sounds like a plan," He smiled as the pseudo-tide in a mug died down.

Tritea was oddly quiet until they left Calliste's.

-

Triton raised an eyebrow as the maître d' when he was informed the reservation had been changed from three to four.

Calliste and Tritea looked just as apprehensive as they followed him. 

The restaurant was one they frequently used and the maître d' barely needed to lead them to their seats. The dining room was painted in soft rainbows as the dying sunlight poured in through stained glass windows. Seashells lined the skirting boards. Double doors were thrown open with white curtains billowing in the wind, leading to a balcony with grape vines wrapping around iron. Their table was in a corner, with a view of the sea just beyond the grape vines.

At their table was a familiar goddess. A linen green dress, a wild mane of curls and a smirk underlined by the rim of her glass.

Triton’s rage returned tenfold. He had wanted one night to enjoy being a father and relax before approaching a powder keg of a situation. He had not wanted to come face-to-face with Kymopoleia.

"Good evening everyone," Kymopoleia said, lowering her drink. A bead of red wine clung to the end of her mouth.

Triton thought of older, more savage times, of bloody offerings and bloodstained clothes, as he watched.

Tritea and Calliste sat down without greeting. Their eyes tracking every movement of their Aunt, Triton knew they'd jump to his defence, and each other's, if need be.

Triton sat opposite his sister without a word. He didn't trust himself to speak just yet.

“Good evening, Aunt,” Tritea spoke first, calm and collected. Her gaze was fixed on her aunt instead of on the menu in front of her.

“How have you been, child?”

“Well enough,” Tritea glanced at Triton out of the corner of her eye.

Triton met her gaze and her hesitation regarding what Kymopoleia was playing at almost made him laugh. It was the same look she had when she was five and trying not to call Apollo and Hermes ridiculous.

“I am happy to hear that,” Kymopoleia smiled tightly as her gaze slipped from Tritea and returned to Triton, “It has really been too long, do you not agree brother?”

“What do you want?” Triton hissed.

Kymopoleia didn’t answer initially, choosing instead to take another sip of blood-red wine. She still didn’t speak as she set her glass down and turned it slightly by the base. 

The silence became heavier and heavier.

"I wanted to know how far you have gotten in your investigation," Kymopoleia eventually said, she spoke slowly, clearly measuring each word carefully. 

But not carefully enough. 

Triton's eyes narrowed and rage surged up, burning in his chest. In his throat.

"I cannot tell if you are being unfathomably stupid or delusional," Triton ground out, "Did you really think that was going to work? Did you really think I would not know what you have done by now?"

Kymopoleia twitched, eyebrows drawn in confusion, "What exactly are you referring to?"

He hadn't been expecting her to roll over and admit to everything. He hadn't been expecting her to apologise even. He had known her for too long, knew her too well despite his best efforts. But he had thought she'd manage more than that. Credit him with more than that.

He leant over the table and lowered his voice. There was no guarantee that this conversation was 100% unobserved. 

"You have been careless, sweet sister . You were spotted," Triton whispered.

"Spotted?"

"In the kitchens. Now. What. Were. You. Doing. There," Triton growled.

"Looking for Percy," Kymopoleia hissed back. "Mortals need food, so when they disappear it's one of the first places I check."

Triton snorted. "Or you have been stealing."

"Why would I have?" Kymopoleia asked, her frown deepening. The sunlight started to fail as storm clouds gathered towards their mistress.

That threw the rational part of Triton slightly because why would she? She gained nothing ultimately. But the annoyance of being trapped in his rooms to avoid her and Percy was fueling his current rage. Kym encroaching on his time with his daughters compounded the problem. And the near-endless stress bearing down on him made him careless, made him sloppy. This is what he'd tried to avoid.

He choked the rational voice in his head and spat, "It would not be the first time you betrayed us because you were bored. Just to have a little bit of fun for yourself."

"I did no such thing," Kymopoleia barked, "It does not even make sense to be me! What would I need-"

"You have always been difficult. You've always made trouble, big or sma-small," Triton tripped over his words as he felt a phantom flame burn his palm. 

The alert for the trap had gone off. 

Triton glanced at his sister. They're gods, there's no guarantee she wasn't both opposite him and ransacking the palace kitchens… but Kymopoleia was never the best at compartmentalisation and there was no indication that she knew why he'd stopped speaking. 

He sent a portion of his consciousness down to the Palace kitchens immediately. The atmosphere for dinner had cooled dramatically, the argument stopped abruptly. The conversation jerkily shifted to Tritea's thoughts on Triton's book selection from the previous week just to fill the awkward silence.

Below the surface, Triton slowly approached the pantry door. He could feel a tugging in his palm that led towards the door leading out of the palace but Triton just wanted to check there was no damage.

The pantry door was cracked open, and inside a handful of ingredients were missing, but aside from that nothing else looked disturbed.

Triton finally followed the tugging in his palm. He swam through the delivery yard and passed the stables. He slipped through one of the exits that only a handful of individuals knew about, his eyebrow raised and a sinking feeling deep in the core of his mer shell.

He moved faster when the burning lessened until it felt like his palm should crack and peel under the magic’s heat. He twisted between alleyways and shot across forums until he found himself surrounded by towering, teetering structures that made up the poorest district in the city. The wealthiest that couldn’t escape stayed in the upper levels, moving from the top of one building to the top of the next, the poorest crawled, swam and scuttled along the floor and bottom levels. In the bioluminescent streaked darkness.

Triton seemed to be pulled along the middle. Subjects peered upwards suspiciously, despite him swapping his normal court attire with a plain tunic. Subjects above ignored him, not noticing the god within their midst.

He eventually found himself peering around the corner of one block built from a shambles of coral, wood from shipwrecks and woven seaweed.

Before him was a building that looked better maintained than the rest, with a small sign in the window had “τροφή” scrawled in marker. Triton assumed it was a food bank given how few residents had the funds for meals out in this section of the city.

But what caught his attention was the figure knocking on the door as it wouldn’t open for business for another hour. Said figure slipped inside as a worn-down mer cracked the door open.

Oh, Percy… Triton's mind shuttered as he saw the demigod slip inside. Prophecy may not be his and may never be, but the dead leaden feeling of knowing how this was going to play out coursed through him all the same. He didn't feel surprised, so much as resigned, as he'd known since speaking with Maxi and Kymopoleia that he'd always end up here. The only thing left really was to decide how to avoid being the centre of a scandal.

Chapter Text

Percy woke up to the still-strange sight of fish gliding overhead. There’s a crick in their neck and a barrage of ‘ Hey little lord! Hi!’ in their mind as they slowly sat up. They had fallen asleep in one of the oversized sea anemones that crept up the oldest parts of the palace - the ones untouched by the war with Oceanus. Pink and yellow tendrils tickled their skin as the roar of the currents filled their ears.

Waking up to the shafts of Apollo's light reaching unreasonable depths due to Poseidon’s will and the darkness just beyond it would never cease to amaze Percy. Their eyes tracked creatures slipping in and out of sight, tracked by blood and errant thoughts more than by sight. They could stay here forever - or more likely until one of the royal family realised Percy wasn’t with any of them - and that thought more than anything brought a small smile to their lips. It’s been months since they first came down here when only a few short years ago, they’d never even seen the sprawling city and glimmering palace. Hades, a few short years ago they’d been sure they’d die before finishing high school. So, the knowledge they had time to just be in Atlantis was a little overwhelming and a little bit awesome.

They pulled themselves from that train of thought; as much as sitting in quiet contemplation would be a novel experience for Percy - both in terms of actually doing it and having the luxury of the time to do it - they left the soft comfort of the anemones and found their rucksack. They had mers to visit today.

-

Percy slipped the last item on their list into their rucksack before slipping out of the palace kitchens and making their weekly trip to the food bank. They'd found it accidentally within the first couple of weeks in Atlantis with barely half the shelves full and had been regularly visiting since.

Now they could make the journey blindfolded as they swam through the streets of the city. They passed through the sprawling, spacious boulevards lined with wealthy villas. Slipped along the rows of dazzling and bright theatres and amphitheaters and swam through the alleys in increasingly ramshackled and towering structures until he found the southeastern district.

The locals were used to his visits now - that they brought much-needed food and help - and stayed away unless in need mostly. No one wanted to be dragged before Lord Poseidon, even with the public perception of Lady Amphitrite, Lord Triton and Percy's relationship was still somewhere between nonexistent and horrendous.

Percy knocked, they didn't have to as the mer who ran the food bank had given him a key two weeks earlier but it still seemed polite.

"Morning, Ala," Percy smiled as the mer opened the door.

"My lo- Percy ," Ala grunted before letting the door creek wide enough for Percy to slip inside.

The inside of the shop was worn down, Octavius' tentacles tumbled down the side of the shelves she's wedged herself above and played with some of the stock already out.

He smiled and pulled the bag around to start putting things on the back wall, “I brought extras because I’m not sure if I can come back next week.”

-

Triton had half a mind to storm in the moment Percy disappeared into the store. He also had half a mind to swim a mile in the opposite direction and pretend he'd faded. The prospect of telling Poseidon that the thief was his favourite child aged Triton nine-thousand years in a matter of seconds.

Instead, he looked past the food bank and explored the handful of bars and shops.

He needed more information on exactly what Percy was doing in this area before hauling the child before their father.

Triton paused in front of a bar, bioluminescent slime proclaimed this to be "Marcus'" as he entered the cracked, rotting café.

-

There had been a steady trickle of customers all morning but Percy was relieved that the numbers had noticeably declined as Tyson and the other Cyclops put on the engineering teams had completed rebuilding the key parts of the district's infrastructure.

It was a little after lunch when Percy looked up from the tablets Ala used to keep track of stock. Octavius was sweeping the floor between the morning rush and the evening one. Ala was upstairs. And there was a random person in the middle of the room who appeared from seemingly nowhere.

“Hermes?” Percy asked, taking in the bright blue hood, messenger bag, and hiking boots.

“How did you know it was me?” He grumbled at the same time as George asked, ‘ Can we now ask about rats? ’

“Just a hunch, and the lack of tails,” Percy shrugged, leaning on the counter between them. “What’s up?”

"Well, your mother is terrifying," Hermes said, moving towards the desk and Percy. 

"Mom's great," Percy nodded, watching the god twitch. They missed their Mom, and Paul and Estelle keenly no matter how packed they made their time down here.

Hermes didn’t respond, instead, his phone stretched and morphed until it was a stylus and tablet showing a signature box. 

“So… your usual order is here,” He announced as a box appeared between them and he held the tablet out. “Just sign here please or your mother will try to kill me.”

Percy snorted. “I forgot to ask,” They said as they started signing his name, “Are you coming to the Ball?”

“As much as I’d love to, Percy,” Hermes smiled sadly, “I don’t think I’ll have the opportunity.”

Percy nodded, they understood but they missed familiar faces.

“Don’t look too down, I’m sure Apollo will be there,” Hermes smirked.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Percy blushed.

Hermes just gave him a look, shrugged, and then start to glow.

Percy closed their eyes.

"Hermes?" Percy called out, when they opened their eyes to see themselves alone save for Octavius but their gut said Hermes was still listening, "Thank you."

The energy that had lingered after the god pulsed before disappearing completely, leaving Percy be.

-

At Marcus' he'd been bombarded with praise for Percy from an elderly mermaid who'd come in for breakfast. Marcus and his son had been tight-lipped.

At the launders, Triton heard about Percy pulling a young family out of the rubble when one of the poorly constructed makeshift homes had collapsed. How the young demigod had negotiated housing in a safer part of the district whilst Tyson’s engineering team reached that tenement.

Percy playing with the local children.

Percy bringing food into the district so the inhabitants could do more than just survive.

Percy. Percy. Percy. Percy.

On every corner and street, every business, the upper levels and lower, Triton found someone who would since his sibling’s praises. And much to his growing panic, he realised, all of them meant it. There were no lies told because it was the son of Poseidon they were speaking about. There was no indication they knew they were speaking to Lord Triton either.

He slowly came to the realisation he'd stumbled onto a dozen more reasons to avoid letting Percy actually face the legal punishment for taking the food from the kitchen.

-

Percy smiled as the last mer left and they flipped a sign from open to closed.

Pearl handed over a broom made of driftwood and seagrass. They cleared the space, keeping track of what needed replacing and what didn't from the inventory.

"If there's anything else…" Percy trailed, this was always the most awkward bit since Ala blew hot and cold regarding their help.

"I will send your word, my Lord, thank you," Ala nodded before shooing them out the door.

The entire way home, Percy kept thinking there were eyes on them but they weren't sure. But every time they turned around, the street behind them was empty.

With a sigh, they made their way back through the kitchens and picked up a couple of bags of krill, and slipped upstairs to their room.

-

"Father?" Triton called, entering the dark office Poseidon used.

His father's taste for the melodramatic was no less obvious within the privacy of his office. The waters were dark, the walls a sleek deepest black like a Pacific Blackdragon, and Greek fires burn brightly in periodically placed braziers.

Slowly moving towards the desk, Triton wondered how anybody could forget who his father used to be. The domains he'd gifted, leant and walked away from. Just because his father chose to reflect the kindest waters and laziest of summer days of late did not mean he put aside the rest of him.

"My Son?" Poseidon's voice echoed, reverberating through the room as the god appeared on the other side of the desk. 

"I have located the thief, Father," Triton said, eyes focused on the old dagger Poseidon flipped between his fingers over and over again.

The dagger paused in the middle of a rotation, Poseidon's eyebrows twitched possibly in interest or surprise. Possibly in amusement?

"Oh?"

"Before I tell you… I would like to say, I do not believe the party responsible should be punished. Their actions seem to stem from a lack of knowledge and informing the correct individuals rather than malice," Triton paused, mentally running over his words. He could appreciate Percy's actions if he only wished the child appreciated that the palace was as much a work environment as it was a home so they couldn't just take and say nothing.

“Oh? Are you advocating for them to not face the courts?” Poseidon raised a single eyebrow, a talon-like nail tapped a steady beat on the guard of the dagger.

“I am.”

“Despite the penalty for stealing from the palace, from the gods , being death?” Poseidon continued.

“I am.”

“And who would you possibly go to such lengths for?”

“They have been protecting and sustaining our poorest whilst the southeastern district was being repaired, Father,” Triton winced at his phrasing. “I see no reason to harm someone who was only attempting to do good.”

“Had Prometheus not attempted to do good when he gave the surface dwellers fire?”

“Whether that was benevolence on his part or arrogance that is not the same as what is happening here,” Triton huffed.

“Countless I believe would have said the same. It does not change the charges,” Poseidon sighed. “Who are you protecting Triton?”

“Percy.”

Poseidon was quiet, but he wasn’t anywhere near as still as Triton thought he’d be. When his father is truly surprised, Triton had learnt over the years, the older god tended to freeze as if time itself had stopped.

"I see… Go prepare for the Summer Ball, you've done well," Poseidon dismissed him, letting the dagger drift down until it rested on the desk.

Triton bowed, concern for Percy warring with delight at the compliment. He hoped he'd done enough.

Chapter Text

The ball made the normally beautiful palace resplendent. Poseidon reclined along a throne made of coral and sunken wood, shells and bone, at the head of the room. His children, wife and himself were all raised above the level the mer lords and ladies, the ambassadors from other kingdom's and minor gods mingled. 

Along the ceiling, above them all, was shimmering gold that flowed and circled the roof like ichor. Servants lined the balconies dotted sporadically throughout the ballroom. They threw petals into the water. It was unnecessary but Percy insisted that the staff feel included in the celebrations and not just the horrid slog in the run up.

Regardless as to Poseidon's opinion on that, the smile on his baby's face at the sight of two of Anya's children throwing petals in fat clumps made it worthwhile.

Speaking of Percy, Poseidon tracked their movement as the demigod swam from one end of the platform to the other to pick up a daughter of Galateia. The little mer's tail swung happily and slowly behind her as Percy took her towards the buffet.

"- Would you like to handle this, my Lord, or should I?" Amphitrite murmured as she leant into his space.

Poseidon felt himself soften further as he took in his wife's smile; it's been a long time since she looked so relaxed.

She glanced to one side in the direction of the royal apartments.

Poseidon split his consciousness without thinking about it. A version of himself immediately appeared by Percy's room just in time to hear the clattering of something hitting the wall near the door.

"I will," Poseidon murmured back in the hall.

Poseidon entered Percy's rooms quickly, he knew just appearing would only startle the creature on the other side. As he shut the door behind him and peered up at the calf throwing a fit, he wondered if Triton had noticed that Percy had been stealing a little more than they took regularly to the food bank. 

He shrugged, Triton also hadn't noticed that Poseidon had been increasing the orders for most of Percy's regular choices already.

He refocused on the little orca - Mandy - in front of him as she knocked over the dresser near in her haste to turn towards him. The room hadn't been completely destroyed as the bed was still untouched but the desk, chair, dresser and part of Percy's seating area that they never used were in disarray.

Sowwy, my lowd, said orca calf whined. Miss Mama.

Poseidon made a note to let Percy leave early as he was hardly a substitute. However, he merely stroked Mandy's head, humming low.

"It's alright Mandy," Poseidon hummed, "Let's clean this place up before Percy gets back."

Zeus was the melodramatic drama queen of the three and probably would have put everything back with a shower of golden light, wave of his arms and a smug smile despite having no audience. Poseidon was a little more restrained - he only did that with an audience - so the room righted itself from one moment to the next. No lights. No booming noise. He didn't even raise his hand, he just kept soothing Mandy.

Back in the hall, Percy had returned to the platform with Galateia's spawn. The pair had enough desserts that Poseidon genuinely worried that he'd need to ask Apollo if demigods can develop diabetes.

Poseidon hid a smile behind his kylix as he watched Triton settle next to Percy. His eldest son murmured something that made Percy laugh.

Finally, Poseidon thought, ignoring the knowing look Amphitrite was giving him from next to him. She knew, of course, how dearly he wanted his sons to get along.

As Triton laughed and stole a bun from Percy's plate, Poseidon wished he'd thought earlier that sending his heir on a wild goose chase would work. He'll send Percy back to his 'secret' pet later.