Chapter Text
Percy paused from where he was picking Estelle up from Daycare. Someone was watching him, and it was someone divine. He looked around, holding Estelle closer to him, to see if he could spot whoever was watching him. He found nothing and no one.
“Are you alright?” He flinched, turning and finding a man watching him in concern.
“Yeah, yeah, fine. Just… felt like someone was watching me, ya know?” Percy shrugged. The man nodded, though there was still a hint of concern on his face as he eyed both Percy and Estelle.
Percy got out of there quickly, though he vaguely heard the man ask a teacher about him. He didn’t stick around to hear what she said, as Estelle really wanted to go to the park with him and Jason.
“Park! Park! Park!” Estelle nodded firmly, getting a laugh out of Percy.
“Yes, little star, we’ll go to the park. But we gotta go home first so that we can change and then go find Jason.” Percy told her, bouncing her lightly as he walked. She nodded seriously, though quickly broke into giggles.
The entire walk back to the apartment that they lived in, Percy never once felt the watchful presence leave.
“Percy!” He stopped walking, turning and finding Jason jogging up from another direction, probably having begun to walk home from work. “Hi Estelle,” He spoke quietly to the toddler who giggled and waved at him.
“Hey Jase, how was work?” Percy asked.
“Park!” Estelle cheered, clapping her hands excitedly.
“Work… I hate the people that think they know everything.” Jason groaned, and Percy winced.
“Karens, yeah. I deal with them on occasion too.” Percy sighed, bouncing Estelle as she began to get a little impatient. “Park soon, Estelle, promise. Gotta change first, remember?” Percy reminded her, getting an impatient huff in response.
“The entitled people are called Karens?” Jason asked, and Percy nodded.
“Yeah, feel bad for anyone named Karen, but what can we do. I tend to let my co-workers deal with them unless they look uncomfortable or start getting emotional.” Percy nodded. “Can’t risk losing my job, ya know?” Percy brightened as he saw their apartment building come into view.
“Have you ever gotten one to back off? And if so, how?” Jason asked, and Percy snorted.
“My boss is understanding when it comes to… unreasonable customers. But we have to choose our battles carefully. I usually wait till they start screaming.” Percy responded as they started making their way up to the apartment.
Estelle giggled as they saw their apartment door come into view, and Percy smiled softly at Jason as he unlocked the door. He’d been living with them, officially, for the last four months, and Percy still smiled whenever Jason relaxed in the apartment building or when Jason relaxed at home.
“We’re home!” Jason called out as the three of them walked in.
“Oh good!” Percy relaxed at hearing his mother’s voice, she was in the kitchen and when Percy and Jason walked in, she was at the counter, cutting up some onions. “You both still plan on taking Estelle to the park, right?”
“Yup, just gotta get changed first.” Percy told her, walking over and kissing her cheek. She turned and smiled at him. “I’d give you a hug, but I have Estelle in my arms and it looks like you're cooking.” He smiled cheekily before quickly running off to get Estelle changed to play outside.
“Hi, Jason, How was work?” He could vaguely hear his mom greet Jason.
“Now, what to wear, what to wear, right Estelle?” Percy asked, looking at the almost two year old. Estelle made a face as Percy opened up her play shirts drawer, looking at the different colors before picking out a green one. “Green? Amazing choice.” Percy smiled, grabbing the shirt she’d pointed to before shutting that drawer and opening the one right below it. Estelle ended up choosing black shorts to go with the green shirt.
“Alright, let’s get you changed and our outside shoes on, yeah?” Percy asked.
“Park! Park! Park!” Estelle nodded excitedly. Percy was quick to change her, letting her get down to run out to the living room where he figured Jason would be as he went to his own room and changed out of his own uniform. Working as a busser was surprisingly his thing at the minute, though he knew it wouldn’t be his forever job.
And there was a reason they wouldn’t let Jason start in the Fast Food industry. Percy was used to people trying, and typically failing, to pull him down. Jason didn’t know how to handle that, so they started him at an easier job until he found what he liked to do best.
Percy grabbed his school bag and walked out to the living room, where Jason was waiting with Estelle, both with their shoes on.
“We’re heading out mom!”
“Grab a couple snacks, dinner won’t be done until seven.” Percy checked his phone, finding that it was currently two. He nodded as he wandered to the kitchen, with Jason and Estelle following him.
“What should we grab?” Percy asked her, getting a sad smile as she motioned to a basket sitting next to the fridge.
“Grab two each, at least please. And there’s some drinks set aside as well to bring with.” Sally responded, and Percy nodded. He pointed at Jason and then towards the snacks as he opened the fridge and grabbed the aforementioned drinks. A water bottle and soda can for Jason, a water bottle and energy drink for Percy, and a water sippy and juice sippy for Estelle. “Oh, and Percy, your sandwiches are in the white drawer if you want them instead of a snack.”
“Thanks mom,” Percy smiled as he found the mentioned sandwiches. He looked back as he felt his bag get opened and pulled slightly, finding Jason adding his two snacks and Estelle’s. He passed back the drinks and let Jason put them in a different pocket, before he added Percy's sandwiches. They’d probably be gone by the time they got to the park otherwise.
“Be safe,” Sally pointed at the three of them, and Percy saluted her. He got a giggle from Estelle, a snort from Jason, and a fond smile from his mom.
“Yes ma’am. We’ll be back around 5 probably.” Percy informed her, “Will text if earlier, later, or something’s come up.” Sally waved as the two demigods and mortal toddler left the apartment, locking the door behind them.
Percy smiled as he snapped a picture of Estelle sitting on the table with a butterfly on her nose. She had a flower in her hair and had Jason’s hand on her side because she was a little wobbly trying to look at the butterfly on her nose.
“But’erf’y!” She giggled, pausing as it startled the butterfly into leaving. “No!” She whined, looking at Jason with tearful eyes.
“It’s okay, star, Percy got a picture.” Jason mock whispered.
“Pic’ure! Pic’ure!” She turned towards Percy demandingly. “Please?” So Percy showed her the picture, getting a cheerful giggle in response. He sent it to their mom soon after.
“I’m gonna take her down by the pond,” Jason informed him.
“No worries, let me know if she falls in. She doesn’t like her clothes being wet, or her arms.” Percy told him, grabbing a textbook and finally opening it. He’d spent the last hour slightly anxious from the feeling of being watched, and half laying on the table watching Jason and Estelle interact. He also got many pictures, which were promptly sent to their mother, who no doubt saved every one of them.
They’d get sent to their friends group chat later.
So he watched as Jason and Estelle made their way towards the river, Jason walking behind the toddler and Estelle leading the charge as she tried to run. She wasn’t very fast yet, but she was definitely trying.
“Oh good, I was hoping to catch you alone.” And there went his homework, back in the folder Percy had just pulled it from. He sighed, though he smiled as he looked over and found a goddess sitting next to him.
She hadn’t really changed forms to how she looked at camp, nine years old with mousy brown hair and fire-red eyes. She was wearing her brown dress, though he almost thought he saw flower petals or butterflies hidden throughout in a slightly different shade of brown. And her hair was hidden back in her scarf over her head.
“Hello Lady Hestia,” Percy greeted, earning a smile as she turned to watch Jason and Estelle. “Were you the one watching me all day?” He asked, noticing that the feeling of being watched was gone.
“I was,” She responded. Percy nodded, waiting for her to tell him why she appeared to him, something she hadn’t really done in a while. “You know,” She started, catching Percy’s attention from where it had turned to reading a textbook chapter. “I never wanted to be a mother, never had any champions either, though I am particularly fond of kids.” She tilted her head to the side as Percy looked over towards her. She was still watching Jason with Estelle.
“Yeah?” He asked quietly, setting a piece of paper in place of a bookmark.
“Yeah,” She smiled at him before sighing a little. “But I also know you are… displeased at being connected to Hera by being her Champion.” She smirked a little as Percy made a face. It was true, he didn’t like being connected to Hera, he would leave that to Jason who seemed to actually like the goddess. “I have an offer to change that.”
Percy was immediately suspicious. He favored Hestia as a goddess, in fact she was his favorite goddess, and she was a saint compared to some of the other’s, and Percy could actually hold conversations with her. But when a god or goddess gave a suggestion, or offered to do something for them, it usually came with strings attached, and Percy was trying to separated from being attached to deities.
“That is…” She smiled sadly at him, before tilting her head.
“Be my champion instead.”
Percy blinked at her in confusion, tilting his head to the side as he considered her.
“What?”
“Be my champion instead.” Hestia repeated, an amused light in her eyes. “There’ll be nothing you have to do other than protect the children at camp, which you already do.” She continued when Percy continued to stare at her blankly.
“Okay… Anything else that I will need to know so I’m not blindsided?” Percy asked, glancing over and watching Jason, who noticed Percy talking to somebody. He was staring at Percy with concern on his face. Percy waved him off with a smile, so the blond went back to playing with Estelle. Though he occasionally glanced up to check on the Son of Poseidon.
“Just an oath to protect the children of camp. The children aged under 16.” She responded, “There will be… a few gifts, but they won’t be noticeable until you need them.” Percy eyed her with even more suspicion but tilted his head and shrugged with a nod.
“Okay.”
“Good. Repeat the following oath: You swear on the River Styx to always protect children under the age of sixteen, Mortal or otherwise, no matter their godly parent, relation, or aggressions to yourself, and will retrieve and protect any child or children that you are sent to collect by myself or by Chiron.” Percy listened to the oath carefully, listening for any traps that could end with him getting hurt or stopping any future plans that he’d made. When he found none, he repeated the oath back.
“I swear on the River Styx to always protect children under the age of sixteen, mortal or otherwise, no matter their godly parent, relation, or aggressions to myself, and will retrieve and protect any child or children that I am sent to collect my Lady Hestia or by Chiron.” He felt something inside him shift, and Hestia smiled at him warmly.
“Good, now, I believe that your mother will be needing some help with dinner, and Estelle is getting tired. She may need a nap soon.” Hestia advised, and Percy nodded as he looked over and found Estelle stumbling her way back, a cat following her curiously.
“Yeah, probably… Hope mom likes cats though.” Hestia laughed as she disappeared in a soft red mist.
“What was that?” Jason asked, getting to the table. He’d picked Estelle up, staring at the cat in despair. Percy snickered as he packed up everything, all snacks having been eaten and drinks mostly drinken, and smiled at Estelle.
“Just talking with Lady Hestia.” Percy responded.
“Cat… Cat… Sea… Cat.” Estelle pointed, looking at him pointedly.
“I see, are we taking the cat home?” Percy asked, and Estelle nodded determinedly. Percy bent down and scooped the cat up into his arms. A male calico, Percy noted, amused. “What’s the cat’s name, little star? It’s a boy.” He smiled as Jason groaned.
“Hmm… Rocky!” Estelle responded, and Percy nodded.
“Why are we adopting a stray?”
“Estelle would cry.”