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Chapter Text

  Amphitrite often finds solace in dealing with a problem face to face. She is the queen of Atlantis who sits at the right hand of Poseidon, Sea god, Storm-bringer, earth-shaker. Obstacles arise. (With him and his family they're inevitable.) But, she finds they ought to be dealt with quickly. Otherwise they're just a hindrance to what should be calm, blissful, eternity.  

The problem today, however, is not one so easily dismissed. 

Now, unfaithfulness is not something new. She and Poseidon are immortal beings. They get bored. Sometimes, eternity means they get bored of each other. Amphitrite herself has never quite crossed any marital lines, but she's not ignorant enough to pretend her husband has done the same. For a time Poseidon had a Cabin in the Demi-god camp overflowing with children. Children he never quite cared for. (Not to mention the other types of children he sired as well.)

While not exactly hurt, Amphitrite had never been alright with his escapades. But at least she knew he still favored the children she gave him. That their children were the ones that mattered most. Triton especially. Their son. The heir to Poseidon's throne. That was enough to keep her satisfied. She didn't have to care for the others, formed from lust more than anything else. Poseidon hardly cared for them himself. 

He only genuinely loved her children. All the others were consequences of boredom, it seemed. Mistakes that seemed to all die off, and then, subsequently, were forbidden from continuing to appear with an oath between Poseidon and his brothers.

That was sufficient.

But then, Poseidon disappears, and she just seems to know he's gotten bored of her again. 

She tries, futilely, to remind herself of the agreement between Zeus, Hades, and her husband. She tells herself this won't be like the times before. Not when he's made a promise.

Poseidon returns to Atlantis, to her, and she was right. It's not like the other times. It's worse.

The sea-god has an unfamiliar distant look in his eyes. A clipped tone. Seemingly no joy, where there would usually be. (Because despite the betrayals of past times, he'd always returned delighted to be with her again.)

Amphitrite may not govern a domain of wisdom, or logic, but she is no fool. Her husband has slipped up. Been foolish, once more. And this time he's broken an oath. He won't tell her, but she knows it. 

The sand feels odd on dry land, sticking to the feet of her mortal form where it would usually wash away. New York is not a place she'd imagine Poseidon spending his days. It's noisy, chaotic, and frankly.. smelly. But this is where her sister-in-law had pointed her. In fact, Hestia had been oddly descriptive with even where she should wash up on shore if she wanted to find the obstacle Hestia outright confirmed existed. (Family and Hearth. Only she would know for certain.)

From the shore she hadn't needed any extra direction. Poseidon's children are always easily identifiable by their scent. They are, after all, children of the sea. Amphitrite does not struggle in the slightest finding the rundown building the scent had led her to. (She worries, no matter how briefly, that if she could find this child so easily, Zeus and Hades could do the same)

The door is locked but Amphitrite is a goddess. Objects are infallible in comparison. She jiggles the knob, and with just an extra push, the door pops open, hinges seared from the force. Luckily, she hadn't made a sound. From the looks of it, somebody is home.

Amphtrite treks forward silently, sparing a glance into the partially closed off kitchen where it seems Poseidon's lover is. Pretty mortal woman with a beautiful singing voice. Nothing compared to what Amphitrite offers the sea-god. She scoffs at the sight of her before journeying further into the home, where the smell of sea is overwhelmingly present. 

This time the door is cracked open, probably for the mortal in case the child cries out for her. Amphitrite grazes the wood with her slender fingertips before entering quietly, careful not to wake the Half-blood. The room is small, unsurprisingly so. The walls are painted a soft baby blue, and despite the cracks in the wooden floor, and drywall peeling, the mortal woman seemed to have tried desperately to make the area presentable. That, at least, Amphitrite can respect. (Triton's nursery, as well as Kymopoleia's specifically, had been labors of love in their own right) 

Above the white painted (also peeling) crib is a canvas adorned with glued sequins and seashells. Amphitrite steps closer to see it better in the dim lighting and finds that a name is drawn out in semi-decent calligraphy. Hand-made. She bites back a hiss. Perseus. 

Perseus, as in Zeus' child? Before Amphitrite can scold herself she leans over the crib's railing, looking down to connect a name to an infant. Does this mortal not feel fear? Naming the boy after one of Zeus's dead children is a slight in of itself. But Perseus? 

She looks down at the babe, still baffled by the audacity of his given name- and oh. He certainly doesn't look like a destroyer. (Contrary to his namesake) The boy is small, and while Amphitrite guessed he would be considering how tiny even fully grown human's are compared to the people of Atlantis, she thinks he might be smaller than normal. He's clearly not a newborn, though. Not with the way his form is already fattened up.

He's just...well.. cute. 

Like a baby seal. 

It's only because she is a mature, ancient goddess, that she's able to tamper the coo's lodged in her throat. 

He looks like Triton, especially like Triton's mortal form, but even his natural self too. With a head full of sleek black hair, and tan freckled cheeks. Oh and not to mention the beautiful sea-green eye's that blink up at her- 

Wait. Isn't he supposed to be asleep? 

Amphitrite grits her teeth, running a hand soothingly on the babies stomach. He twitches, tiny fist shooting straight into his mouth while he stares up at her. It's as if he knows he's meant to stay quiet in her presence. Amphitrite lifts him, giving into a maternal urge she hasn't felt in ages. To hell with it. If he cries she'll just teleport home, no harm done. 

The boy, Perseus, is wearing a green outfit, plastered with artwork of fishes and waves. It's stained towards the collar, but not majorly. It's not exactly befitting for a Prince. But she supposes here in this apartment he's not one anyway. He gurgles, pulling on the shells sewn throughout her braided hair. "Hello, child." She mumbles, plucking his hand away. "You've complicated things."

Perseus smiles, and then, gingerly tugs on her hair again. Like he's teasing her. Amphitrite scowls, "Just like your brother." 

Triton was not always as poise and regal as he is today. When he was small he was loud-mouthed, naturally rebellious, generally free-spirited. Amphitrite recalls having to teach him to hold his tongue with important merfolk, having to drag him by the ear on the days he could not comply. Triton, originally, was the spitting image of his father. 

But then, with time, he learned what he could and could not get away with. As the heir, he was expected to behave a certain way. Even his father, ruler of their domain, can not always be sassy, or impolite. Despite it being in his nature to be so. So, Triton finally listened. He began to mimic Amphitrite's demeanor, falling into it naturally, because despite his father, he was and still is her son. 

The impertinence swirling in this child's eyes is familiar. It's the same type she scolded away so long ago. Amphitrite raises an eyebrow at the child. "You're going to be trouble."

She's hardly talking about the broken oath, or the Prophecy that lingers between the Big Three. (Again, she knows of it's existence, but Poseidon would not divulge the contents to her) Perseus grins, tiny Grecian nose scrunching happily. The baby, Poseidon's love-child, babbles softly patting Amphitrite's cheeks over and over. She's conflicted.

On one hand, she has the feeling that for whatever reason, this child will be her Husband's undoing. A new feeling, really, because he's never cared about his Demi-gods. Maybe the attachment has to do with the mortal, or maybe because for once he is being forced away. (With the others, his distaste was a choice, and generally mutual. He watched over them, but never cared.) With Perseus the threat of death lingers. 

Even now, as a carefree infant, Perseus causes her husband turmoil. 

She should hate him for that. Instead, Amphitrite places him back down in his crib, finger pressed over her lips in a shushing motion. The little Prince frowns, eyes going wide and teary, but he does not cry. Not yet. 

He really is an obstacle. One that, truthfully, should be dealt with. Why not let Zeus and Hades have their way? The boy will only cause trouble in the end, won't he?

Yet, Amphitrite thinks she knows why Poseidon refuses to let this one go. There is power here too. Too much to be contained in one tiny body. The boy flops backward, head landing on the crib mattress with a soft thud. He startles, but still he does not cry. Bravery. How odd to see it etched into a mortal being so small.

Perseus rolls, trying and failing to lift himself into crawling position. She doesn't help him, not even when he peers up at her with inquisitive eyes. Do it yourself. She thinks, fix the problem. 

The baby very obviously gets upset. At her or at himself, she's unsure. He grunts and groans lowly while Amphitrite turns her back to him. She's overstayed her welcome. Any longer and Poseidon will be suspicious. 

Before she teleport's away, though, Perseus lets out an angry little squawk. Unimportant, except this time, the ground beneath her bare mortal feet sways. Further down in the apartment the babies mother's music comes to an abrupt halt as she loudly curses, footsteps rushing in their direction. Amphitrite must go now, but not before she turns, spotting the child stood up on his little legs clutching at the crib railing. 

Brave indeed. Amphitrite can't bite back the grin that spreads across her face, seemingly against her will. Earth-shaker. Not all of Poseidon's Demi-gods inherit that. They are usually resigned to the sea. 

Perseus lets out a small giggle as Amphitrite leaves, the sound still echoing in her ears. 

"Mother?"

She tilts her head and rubs at her temple, still slightly dizzy from the rapid switch from land to ocean. "Triton," She greets, arms naturally beckoning her son's bulking form toward her.

"Where did you go?" He murmurs, voice dropped in a low whisper. From the sound of that Poseidon hadn't noticed her absence. Good, this'll be their little secret then. "I've been looking all over for you."

"I had duties to tend to."

Triton's brows furrow together, lips parting as he works out his next words. "It's late at night, mother." He says, "Is everything okay?"

Amphitrite reaches up, hands pressed onto each side of her son's face. She pulls him down toward her. "Triton." She murmurs, "I am going to tell you something, son. And when I do, I need you to promise me a word of it will never leave your mouth. Not to anybody."

"Not even father?"

Amphitrite scowls, "Especially not your father." 

A solemn nod of his head tells Amphitrite that he understands her. And if he understands, Amphitrite knows he'll obey. After all, his loyalties ultimately lie with his mother, not his father. 

"Your father has made a mistake," She says grimly, "tonight I went to see the damage caused." Triton's eyes go big, a twin expression she'd seen on Perseus's face not even a few minutes ago. "His error will cause us trouble, and when the time comes, it may mean the end of many things. But son, I want you to know now, for the future. I don't believe his mistake will harm us."

"Mother, what?" 

"A demi-god, Triton." Amphitrite clarifies. "A brother."

Triton inhales sharply, eyes flashing with hurt. No matter how many times Poseidon has done this, it always seems to upset their son. "A brother." Triton repeats, voice hollow. 

Amphitrite nods. He'll get over the infidelity. She knows she already has. "Yes. I fear there will be a time when your brother needs help. I don't know what the future holds, nor do I intend to find out prematurely. But there was a prophecy shared between your father and uncles. One that has to do with a child, this one, I think. When the time comes I doubt I'll be any help. Your father may be preoccupied. If that is the case, I need you to step in, son."

"To protect..Father's Demi-god?"

Amphtrite shakes her head. "No," She says, fingers brushing through his hair. "I'm asking you to protect your brother." 

Triton clenches his teeth, certainly weighing the pros and cons of debating the definition of brother with her. "Why should I?" He says hotly. "You said it yourself. The Half-Blood is a mistake. Why protect it?"

"Peace, Triton." She scolds. "You will do this because I asked you to." His eyes narrow with irritation. "But also because despite the hurt you feel. That I felt tonight. I went to see him." Amphitrite lay a gentle kiss on Triton's forehead. "He is just a child. You and I know it is in your nature to protect the young."

Her son sighs, tension releasing in his mother's embrace. "Of course, Mother." He concedes.

Satisfied, Amphitrite stands, brushing a hand through her (now) loose strands of hair. "He will be trouble." She says lightly. At Triton's deepening scowl she adds, "But so were you. Visit him when you can. I think you'll like him." 

"I was not-"

She sends him a bemused side glance. "Finish that sentence, child. Need I remind you of your first run in with Apollo at Mount Olympus?"

Triton winces. "No. I recall the occasion well." 

"I figured you would." 

Chapter Text

Life, it turns out, becomes one massive waiting game. As Amphitrite suggested, Triton did visit the pest. It took him a couple of mortal years, yes, but he saw him regardless. He was not nearly as impressed as his mother, but he suspects that she hadn’t expected him to be. 

No, she’d told him with reason. It’s not in her character to try condoning Father’s unwarranted infidelity. Mother wanted him to watch over the boy, not grow to care. 

He swings mortal feet off of the docks at Pier 25. From here he can see the great wonders of New York City- Or, well, one of them. That, being the grand One World Trade. The updated building the Nereids in the Hudson had been so thrilled about. 

Triton's mortal brother is not nearby. This place is much too far from his apartment, and he is only six. Triton is only here to clear his head. He’s seen the boy recently. His brother, who is so stupid that even now, Triton fights the urge to toss him into the sea and call it a day. (He’d be fine if Triton did so. The Hudson River spirit may not be fond of New Yorkers, but he’d at least ship Perseus off to their father.) 

When he’s not in classes, Perseus spends the majority of his days wandering filthy streets with his mother, who he constantly challenges. It’s obvious that the child is too far from the domain that belongs to the godly half of him, and because of it he acts out. 

(Though,Triton can see that Perseus does not enjoy upsetting the mortal who bore him.) 

It seems to Triton that Sally Jackson lives a sad life. She works hard and gains so little, all for the sake of sustaining the life of a Demi-god. An impossible task. 

Over the years Triton has learned to hate his father’s lover less and less. Really, Poseidon has shown her no kindness at all. He’s punished her. The child may be beautiful, but he is a curse like all the rest. 

Did she know who it was that she laid with? Did she think it was the gentle god of the seas? Or did she know that he is the Father of Monsters? 

How one decision can affect mortals so gravely is something Triton fails to conceive. For the gods, everything can be amended with time. Mortals do not have time. Really, Triton just feels sorry for her. 

Perseus, however, Triton is conflicted with. Amphitrite had been right. He is just a child. When they’d met, he had been a mere toddler, wading knee-deep in Manhattan beach. Now, he is just a kid, with scraped hands and tattered sneakers. 

But he is still just a burden. Triton is meant to be in the sea. Yet he is here, watching out for the boy in case he needs to intervene on his behalf like Amphitrite asked. Triton rises to his feet, brushing non-existent dirt from his thighs. 

Watching this brother of his has turned out to be a massive waste. As far as Triton has seen, the boy is not in danger. The creatures that trail after him are very efficiently dealt with by the few guards Poseidon has commissioned to watch. To send Triton, their heir, is baffling. 

For his mother, Triton will do it. But he doesn’t have to be happy about this rapidly approaching visit to Manhattan. 

(By the gods, he hates New York City.)

Speaking of rapidly approaching, Rather than teleport away, Triton finds that today he’s got enough time to actually make the long walk to the upper east-side before Perseus gets out of the mortal school he attends.

(Teleportation would be easier, yes but he’d rather be busy than wait outside the school for literal hours.) 

With all the hesitance he can manage, Triton bids a few little fishes goodbye, and begins his journey.

It’s an excruciatingly slow walk, but during it, A few mortals pause to gawk at a god in their vicinity. Clearly the mist conceals just how divine Triton really is, but at the very least they must find him attractive.

He scowls at the thought. How his fellow gods lay with these creatures is beyond the scope of his understanding. They’re foul things with zero manners. 

Exhausted, He eventually arrives in front of the school. There’s only a few more minutes before the terrible sounding bell rings.

(Over the past few months Triton has grown accustomed to human tradition, and their concept of time. He knows that the bell will sound the moment the clock in the storefront window reads three, and a stampede of children will emerge, his brother included.)

Triton sits on a vacant bench and conjures up a book to fake read. In the past he’d have leaned against one of those…poll things with lights, to watch. But he learned quickly that humans don’t take kindly to strange men eyeing their offspring.

Something about it being..creepy? 

When Perseus emerges, he does not walk out, so much as he is dragged out. Triton straightens immediately. Who is that? A fat, awful looking human, is holding Triton’s brother's hand harshly, yanking on him as if he were trash in need of discarding. 

Before he’s fully cognizant of his actions, Triton is marching toward the pair. That child is a prince. A bastard, yes. But still.

“Relinquish the child!” Triton barks. He doesn’t care that he’s not meant to show himself unless it’s a true emergency. For all he knows, this could be just that! 

The man, who Triton realizes immediately has the worst odor he’s ever smelt, reels backward. “The hell are you talkin’ about?! Mind your own damn business!” 

How Triton hates humans. “You are hurting that child!” He spits. Perseus to his credit is doing an amazing job keeping calm. His eyes are ablaze with curiosity as he scans who, unbeknownst to him, is family. 

Huh. Perhaps the child isn’t always stupid. 

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, man. He’s just fine. Right, brat? Tell him!” 

Perseus’ jaw clenches. He doesn’t seem afraid so much as he is annoyed. This must be a frequent thing, then. Triton intends on fixing that. 

“I’m okay,” Perseus grits out with rolled eyes. It’s odd how he doesn’t seem fazed by the possibility of help. Clearly the boy had needed assistance. Hadn’t he? 

“You were hurting him,” Triton repeats, now a bit unsure. “He was flailing.” 

“Kids are brats.” 

Pallas had not been a..brat. Not that Triton knows what that means. (The implications of the tone are enough evidence that it is not a compliment) Maybe this is some form of human discipline? Had Triton acted too hastily? 

No. Triton is a god, and this human is clearly scum. While Perseus does not look visibly afraid, he is also not content. Triton's brother does not like this man. 

(At the end of the day, Triton was told to protect this boy. No matter the circumstances.)

Triton bends down so that he and Perseus are level, completely ignoring the hog of a man beside him. “This man, does he bother you?” 

“Hey! Don’t ask him that! What's your problem?!” 

Triton spares a moment to glare. (And hey, if his eyes flash with images of just what the sea can do, that’s not Triton's problem.) He turns back to his brother and is suddenly thrown by how alike they look. 

That will…in Perseus’ case probably be more a detriment than blessing. 

“Who are you?” Perseus whispers. Sea-green eyes twinkle, and Triton feels like a fish out of deep waters. (Which, funnily enough, he is.) 

Perseus seems to…not recognize him, no. But he at least understands that Triton is somebody important. Triton shakes his head, remembering to regain composure quickly before the mortal, still standing there angrily, decides to intervene further. 

“Your mother sent me.” 

Not a complete lie. It was Perseus’ step-mother that sent Triton. “She wants me to take you to uh…”

The rancid man butts in, “You her ex or something? ..You here for collection? Cause let me tell you buddy, you can’t take this kid until you pay me some serious child-support money-“ 

Triton blinks. “What?” 

Perseus scrunches his nose, “He’s asking if you're my dad.” He whispers. 

“What? No! I’m not- I’m…”

The man waves his arms around, “You’re what?” He prompts. 

“I’m his brother!” And okay, yeah. Tact? Out the window, completely. But what was Triton meant to do? He can’t outright obliterate the man, and he won’t pretend he’s Perseus’ father either.

But Triton does need to take his brother somewhere safer. Surely Sally Jackson would not allow her son around such a pitiful human. The stench is awful. 

“His brother.” The greasy hog deadpans. 

“Yes,” Triton growls, “Do you not see the resemblance? There’s hardly anybody else here with our specific look.” 

“Man, this is New York. There’s always somebody that looks like- you know what, never mind. Why am I even entertaining this,” He grabs at Perseus’ arm again, tugging the boy harshly, “We’re leaving. Thanks for wasting my time, freak.” 

Triton's eye twitches, “Let the boy go.” He will obliterate if need be. At this point, Triton is just being stubborn. He could let Perseus go and pretend this didn’t happen. After all, his brother does seem to at least know the man. 

But also, he’s given this human orders. He’d be damned if he, the heir of Atlantis, doesn’t get what he wants. 

The man tugs harsher, beginning to turn as if he were leaving- which he will not be. “Ouch!” Perseus squeaks. That is pain in his voice! 

Triton moves quickly, slapping the man’s grimy hands from his brother. He gently pushes Perseus behind him. “He and I will be leaving. I will take him to his mother.” Triton spits. 

Later he’ll find it concerning just how easily Perseus seems to accept being taken from, who he’ll later find out, is his step-father. He’ll think it even worse that Perseus accepts a stranger as family immediately. For now, he’s oddly pleased with the way Perseus allows Triton to pick him up. The child even sticks his tongue out at his step-father for good measure. 

(He’s very quickly growing on Triton. Gods, This was not how he intended this visit to happen.) 

“Percy.” The man says in warning. 

Perseus smirks like the little imp Triton always knew he was. “Gabe.” 

The hog, or Gabe, stares for a few more moments before he throws his hands in the air. “Whatever, kid. Go with a stranger, I don’t care.” He turns to Triton, “If you kill him, bury his body real good. I don’t wanna be responsible.” 

“What?!” 

Perseus whispers in Triton's ear, “Don’t worry. Mama won’t let you kill me.”

Triton lets out a surprised laugh as Gabe storms away, “I’m sure. You know, you really shouldn’t trust strangers.” 

“But you’re my brother, aren’t you?” Perseus pokes Triton’s cheek, “Like Tyson?” 

Tyson? The little cyclops? “How do you know about Tyson?” By now the other children and their parents have fled the courtyard. Triton sets Perseus down on the ground. When he reports back to Amphitrite there’s going to be a lot of explaining to do. 

“Amphy sends him to play with me sometimes. She’s your mama, right?” 

So mother hadn’t let her initial visit be a one time thing. For some reason, Triton does not like that information. “Yes,” he answers, “Does she visit you often?” 

“Only when she brings Tyson. Or when baba sends a letter.” 

“You are in…you are in communication with Father?” To explain the sudden emotions Triton feels would be like explaining the Olympian family tree to an infant.

Impossible.

Is he…angry? No, not quite. Sad? Certainly not. 

…maybe this is what jealousy feels like?

“I’ve never seen him,” Perseus immediately amends, seeming to sense Triton’s turmoil. “I just get letters. Promise!” 

“I am not angry, child.” 

“You look angry.” 

“I’m not,” Triton snaps. As if that’ll help his case. “Now, help me find your mothers…what is the word-“ 

“Her job?” Perseus offers. “That's where she is right now. Do you wanna go there? I can take you! Let’s go, let’s go!” 

He’s a very…hyper child. Pallas was not like this. She had been remarkably calm. 

Triton bites his lips, “Settle, Perseus. Yes, that is where I would like to go. Do you know the way?” 

Perseus frowns, “I just told you I did! You gotta…you gotta use your listening ears!” 

“My what?” Humans do not have separate sets of ears, do they? Surely Prometheus would not have created a feature like that. 

“It means you gotta pay more attention, duh! Also, my name is Percy.” 

“Yes. Perseus. I’m aware. After the hero.” 

“Nuh uh! It’s Percy! Just Percy!” 

Triton scowls. Ew. A nickname. “It is not. Your given name is Perseus. Not any longer, not any shorter.” 

“Well my mama calls me-“ 

“I will not call you Percy.” 

“But that’s my-”

“No.” 

“But!” 

“I said no.”

“But why-“

“Perse-“ 

The child literally jumps. “Ha! You called me Percy! I won! I’m the winner!” 

Triton does not cross his arms and huff like a child. He does not. “I was in the middle of saying Perseus.” 

“No you weren’t! I won!” 

“There is no winning you little imp!” 

“I won!” He pauses, little sneakers skidding on cement, “Wait. What’s your name? I didn’t ask.” 

“It’s Triton.” 

Perseus tilts his head, “That sounds cool!” 

Oh. Well. That’s…flattering. Cool is a good thing, right? 

“Erm, Thank you?” 

Triton’s brother resumes his walking at a new, faster, pace. “You’re welcome! You should come steal me from Gabe more!” Perseus lowers his voice, “He’s the worst.” 

Said so easily that Triton feels a surge of sympathy. “That man will be handled accordingly. You will not have to deal with him again.” 

Perseus shrugs as if he’s heard this spiel before. “Sure. Hey, have you ever had blue cookies? My mama makes everything blue! Does Amphy make you Blue cookies?” 

Amphitrite is so busy she hardly talks to Triton at all these days, so the answer is a resounding no. Not to mention the fact that Triton doesn’t even know what a cookie is. 

Percy is arguably displeased by this new revelation. “I’m gonna make mama get you some blue candies before she leaves. And then, you can come to my house and we can make you cookies! Okay?” 

Triton finds that disagreeing will probably prove futile. This child is very adamant and clearly stubborn. That, he and Pallas share.

(Though the stubbornness seems to be a general trait of those born of the sea) 

“Fine. Does your mom do this..this job of hers nearby?” 

“It’s a few streets away,” Percy says happily, all traces of that stoic little boy he’d been around Gabe gone. Percy tugs on the edges of Triton's itchy shirt, (Chitons are much more comfortable) “Let’s go, slowpoke!” 

Triton huffs, “Yes, yes. Lead the way.”