Chapter Text
The warmth hit him first, crisp but beautiful. Percy took it all in, the groups of students at park benches and in the grass, even- was that Nico? He was… running from- WAS THAT AN ARROW!? Oh. It missed him. What a shame, Percy thought. And then some blonde kid chasing after him, then a girl with orange and green hair chasing after him… eh, Percy didn’t care.
”Hey, Percy!” Jason called from across the yard.
Percy walked over to the table, where Jason was sitting on the table bench, wearing a coat despite the heat. Next to him- sitting on the table, unsurprisingly- was Leo, wearing a stained white shirt, half tucked in, half sticking out. On the opposite side was Shel and Piper, Shel sitting on the table, feet resting on the bench where Piper sat.
”You wanna come to the park with us after school?” Jason asked, absentmindedly touching the scar on his lip.
”What are you, a first grader, Grace?” Percy teased, patting Jason on the head.
”You have the mentality of one, Jackson.” Shel said, ruffling her hand through Piper’s short, shaggy hair.
”Whatever, but I actually have to pick up my sister. Mom’s getting some stuff sorted in the art room.” He shrugged, readjusting the straps of his backpack.
”Wait, your sister goes to school?” Leo asked, looking up from the small music box he was tinkering with.
”Yeah she-“ Percy was cut off.
”She goes to NRE.” Annabeth said, walking by with Thalia. Percy gave her a suspicious look.
”How do you know that, Wise Girl?” He said, putting a hand on his hip.
”I’ve seen your family before, Seaweed Brain.” She said, rolling her eyes as Thalia walked over to Jason.
”We gotta go, dude. Lupa’s gonna be super mad at us if we don’t go soon.” She picked Jason up by the ear, despite the fact he was nearly half a foot taller than Thalia.
”Ow, jeez Thalia,” he said, batting at her arm. “I’m not a kid anymore.”
”Couldn’t tell the difference,” she said, sneering. “You act exactly the same”
Everyone was startled by the music box making a noise and Leo dropping it.
”You break it more, fire boy?” Piper jokes, as Leo tried picking up the pieces.
As Percy turned, he noticed Annabeth had mysteriously disappeared. She was already halfway across the field, Thalia dragging Jason about 50 feet behind her. In place of Annabeth, Nico was in her place. He had a weird tendency to do that, appearing from out of nowhere in a matter of seconds.
”JESUS!” Percy scrambled backwards. “Do you do that for fun you twisted mind?!”
”Precisely,” Nico smirked. “Just to scare you, in particular.” At that, he walked away.
***
”Hey, Stelly!” Percy said, as his sister Estelle came, running into Percy’s legs.
”Percy!” she yelled in response, smiling up at him. “Where’s mama?” she asked, looking around.
”Still at my school, but we’re gonna head over now.” Percy said, right as he walked into Reyna. Reyna had… an interesting reputation. She’d beat people up if they were beating younger kids up, but was always quiet, docile, and respectful. In turn, she got respect, but people always joked and called her “Preator Reyna”.
”Jackson.” Reyna said, holding her hand out as he tripped.
”Ramírez-Arellano.” Percy said, looking her in the eyes. They were piercing, alright. Her eyes almost reminded him of Nico’s, seeing as they were both dark brown.
”Are you ready for tomorrow?” She asked. Estelle looked at Percy, scared.
”Are you gonna fight tomorrow, Percy?” Estelle’s asked, fear evident in her blue-green eyes.
”What? No, Estelle?” Percy said, shocked his sister’s question.
”Why would you think that?” Reyna asked, bending down to be eye-level with Estelle.
”Mama says when someone asks that, they’re talking about fighting,” Estelle said, matter-of-factly.
Percy almost laughed. “No, Estelle, Reyna’s talking about the performance we’re doing tomorrow.”
”What performance?” Estelle asked, looking back at Percy.
“It’s just a little gag me and my friends are doing,” Percy said, picking Estelle up. “You remember the musical me and mom were talking about?”
”Epic?” Estelle asked wonderously, as Reyna stood back up.
”Mhm. We’re doing a song called God Games.” Percy responded, taking Estelle’s backpack off her with his free arm.
”Well, see you tomorrow, Ody.” Reyna walked off, laughing quietly to herself.
***
”Mommy!” Estelle called, running into Sally’s classroom.
”Hi, Stelly!” She responded, picking Estelle up as she ran up to him. “Hello, Percy.” She smiled at Percy as he walked into the room.
”Mommy, Percy said he’s gonna get into a fight tomorrow.” Estelle said, grabbing Sally’s face with her little hands and looking her in the eyes. Sally turned her head and looked- mad? confused?- at Percy.
”What does she mean, Perceus?” Okay, now Sally was definitely staring daggers at him.
”Estelle misunderstood when Reyna told me if I was ‘ready for tomorrow,’” Percy said sheepishly. “She meant the little God Games performance we’re doing tomorrow.” Sally laughed as Percy told her this.
”Stella, why don’t you help me organize these paints,” Sally said, putting Estelle down and pointing to a small table that had paint bottles and other assortments of paint on it.
”And Percy,” Sally started. “Next time tell me when you’re gonna be accused of fighting by your sister.”