Chapter Text
Percy's Perspective:
I had a secret. A secret I kept from everyone. A secret that not even my mother knew. This secret caused my girlfriend to break up with me. Although she never knew the secret(and still doesn't), so it wasn't the secret it's self that caused her to break up with me.
I don't want to rewind the clock to remind myself of that moment however, I think it's important that you know what happened. So please... stay with me as I recount this.
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August 17, 2011-
Long Island New York-
Camp Half-Blood-
I was returning to my cabin after training with Clarisse. She's honestly the best sparring partner I have here at camp. Sparring with Annabeth does work, but there's plenty of problems with that. But me and Annabeth were planning on going to the beach after. I reached my cabin and went inside. Where I saw Annabeth and she looked pissed.
I asked, "Annabeth, are you alright? Did something happen on Olympus?" She became the architect of Olympus after the second titan war. So of course, my first thoughts would be did a God piss her off. After all, that's where she was before coming down here, so we could spend time together.
She looked to me and she looked even more pissed off somehow. And that's when I saw what was in her hands. You don't have to be a genius, or a child of wisdom, to see where her mind went. "Annabeth... that's not what you think it is. Please let me ex..."
Annabeth exploded before I could finish. "EXPLAIN WHAT!? I'M NOT STUPID PERSEUS JACKSON! YOU BEEN CHEATING ON ME! WHO WAS IT!? PIPER!? RACHEL!? REYNA!? HAZEL!? THALIA!? DREW!?"
I tried speaking, "Annabeth please Listen to me. Those aren't..."
She exploded again, "NO PERSEUS WE ARE DONE! YOU MAKE CLEAR THAT YOU DON'T LOVE ME! SO WE'RE DONE! I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE! WE ARE NO LONGER BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND! I FUCKING HATE YOU!!! I WISH YOU WOULD HAVE DIED INSTEAD OF LUKE!!!"
I must've looked devastated because I saw her squint ever so slightly. All I could say, no it barely came out as audible, "my fatal flaw..." I close my eyes to hold my tears from gushing as I turned and ran as fast as I could. I didn't care where I was running to. I just ran as fast as I could.
I don't know how long I was running, but I know that I was crying the whole time. How can I not she ripped out my heart, and tried to force it down my own throat.
Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin-
Artemis' Perspective:
"I accept your oath. Welcome to the hunt Sophie." That's our seventh Huntress. I fucking hate Orion. He wiped out most of the Amazons and everyone but Thalía in my hunt. Rebuilding the hunt has been difficult. We haven't been able to go after monsters because I do not feel comfortable with our low numbers to do that.
I knew my lieutenant Thalia and former Praytor Reyna are capable but I want to make sure that our huntresses are trained and we have at least 15 in number just so they can back up their sisters in the hunt. We had just set up camp, when we came across Sophie. Tarina had dinner duty and had just started to make the deer Emma cough when I was so thoroughly overwhelmed.
I felt myself drop to my knee, as Thalia instantly ran over. She spoke as I clutched my heart, "My Lady What's Wrong?!" I slowly answered, "A maiden... a maiden in great distress..." Bless my Lieutenant because she continued, "Where is she? We'll go with you!" I shook my head, temporarily unable to speak from the flare in my domains.
"No... she's within the borders of Camp Half-Blood. I can go alone to make sure that she's safe. The rest of you focus on protecting your fellow sisters. That's an order Thalía." She spoke, "My lady I..."
I cut her off, "Thalia this has nothing to do with Orion. You did everything you could. I don't blame you for that. The maiden is at Camp Half-Blood which means she's relatively safe and not being attacked by a horde of monsters. You and Reina are my best, but the rest of the hunters aren't as experienced as they need to be for us to go hunting anything big. Stay with them, they need you Lieutenant."
She nodded almost reluctantly, but I could see that her shoulders looked a little lighter.
Camp Half-Blood-
Middle of the Capture the Flag field-
I instantly started running in the direction I felt the maiden. her distress is great, I've haven't felt this much of a flare in my domain in a very long time.
After not too long, I came across Perseus Jackson crying. That's weird why the hell would he be crying? Did he just find out about my lieutenant's brother? Did he lose another friend of his? I go to walk away, but for some reason my domain is calling where Percy is.
I scan the area around him, perhaps looking for a nymph or a dryad in distress but there's nothing but Perseus. It wasn't too long before the second boy showed up. Nico if I remember correctly. He was Bianca brother. He walked up to Perseus and cradle him, pulling Perseus' head into his shoulder.
Perseus held onto Nico tightly as he cried his eyes out into Nico's shoulder. And the boy Nico spoke, kind words into Percys ears. But not in the way you were to a friend. At least not to a male friend.
Perseus spoke, and his voice sounded unusually fragile. Like not just I lost a friend fragile but something deep or something I couldn't quite grasp. Like it felt like something was off with his voice, as if I wasn't hearing it, right.
Percy spoke in a fragile voice, "Nico... I'm... is the mist acting your eyes?" Nico shook his head. Nico said, "No Percy, The mist never hide who you truly are from me." Percy continued voice, still broken, " I never corrected you when you miss gendered me and I never corrected anyone when they corrected you... you can see why... when I was four years old, my mother married Gabe... he tended to drink a lot...
"When I was five... one day he came home really drunk... and I mean really drunk I could smell it on him... but he hi... he hit me... he knocked me around a lot... and then he took off his belt... he wasn't planning on using it to hit me... he tried... he tried to assault me..."
I felt myself peaked to shake with anger as I could tell Nico had a similar expression. Percy lives in Manhattan, he's about nearly 18 years old. So 12 years ago... that can't be the reason I...
Percy continued through a bit more tears, "I just barely managed to get away from him... I ran as fast as I could, as far as my legs would take me... after what felt like forever, I collapsed in the middle of Central Park. My legs unable to take me any further... I met a woman there, and... I don't remember much of the interaction, but... I gained her favor, it has Hecate...
"She found me in the park, and I somehow gained her favor, and she did something to protect me... she coated the mist so thick around me... when I got home, Gabe had no memory of hitting me or trying to... take advantage me... even my mom was calling me by Percy. And I would later learn that she could see through the mist. But apparently not through this much mist...
"The mist was so thick that fooled everyone. Even lady Artemis... until you... when, me, Annabeth, Thalia, Grover, and the hunters saved you and Bianca at Westover Hall... you were the first one to ever refer to me with my true pronouns... your sister and everyone else used what they saw me as but you were the first one to ever see through the mist... not even my father who saw I was his daughter saw me as anything other than his son."
Oh my fates, Perseus is a maiden... he is the reason I felt the urge to go to Central Park... or she is... Geez, I wonder what Aphrodite would think? I walk forward silently, allowing them to see me.
The boy Nico was the first one to speak. "Lady Artemis." Percy's head shut up as she wipes away her tears before saying, "Lady Artemis... what are you doing out here?" I speak softly, "What name would you prefer that I use darling?" Percy's eyebrows knit as he(sorry she) asks, "What do you mean?"
I answer, "I overhear your Conversation. I know your maiden and I figured Perseus isn't your real name. So I would like to know what name you'd prefer me to use." She nodded before responding, "Steph... Steph is the shortened version of my actual name and I like to use it."
I nod as I continue softly, "Alright Steph, would you mind if I got to see your true form, darling?" She nodded and whispers to herself. I could tell it was a prayer as I could feel the nature of it. It also didn't help that there was a golden glow that started to admit next to me as both Steph and Nico close their eyes.
As the Golden glow dissipated into nothingness, Hecate stood beside me. She saw Per... Steph's vulnerable states spoke in a soft, kind voice(which was rather uncharacteristic of her), "My dear are you alright, what is wrong?" Steph answered, "Annabeth broke up with me... she found my real clothes and thought I was cheating on her... I... I'm ready to live without the vail."
Hecate nodded. As she slowly walked to Steph and grabbed the air under her chin. She slowly pulled the air up and over Steph's head(as if removing a vail) as the light around Steph shimmered.
Her hair slowly growing to the bottom of her shoulder blade. Her waist pulling to a perfect hourglass shape. Her bust grew to a perfectly proportioned endowed sized. I don't even notice her face change.
Her face rounded out perfectly with beautifully long and luscious eyelashes. Lips ever so slightly plumed and her eyes... those sea green eyes could make even the most aro-ace people want to date her. She could easily give nymphs, naiads, and dryads a run for their money. If it was three thousand years ago I would be worried about of a repeat of Psyche and Aphrodite. And... no... I wouldn't?
Steph's Perspective:
When Hecate removed the mist... I felt so vulnerable... I instinctively tucked under Nico's arm. He pulled me into his arms holding me with surprising protection and care. I felt myself nuzzle my cheek into his chest.
I could hear Nico's heart beat a little faster as nuzzled into him. I felt myself starting to relax in his arms like I was truly safe. Even though I could see Lady Artemis considering her vow... no...
I buried my face in Nico's chest. If I could make someone that aro-ace second guess her maiden vows... Please Fates don't let the rest of this family see me...
I'm pretty sure Hecate smacked Artemis because I heard someone get hit, and then Artemis cleared her throat. Artemis apologized, "I'm sorry my dear... your appearance could easily rival that of a naiad. I know that's no excuse to goog."
I pulled myself out of Nico's chest as I nodded slowly, looking at her. I spoke, "Hecate... what are the... consequences??? of the vail of mist being removed." She shifted but answered, "The mythological world will always remember the hero of Olympus Perseus Jackson. And when they see you, they will not put two and two together, unless you tell them...
"You're mother will be the only one to look at you and see you as if she raised you as her daughter. All the memories of Percy being replaced with what you should've had as Steph. But whenever she speaks to people who do not know that you are Percy and Steph, she will simply refer to you as Percy and not Steph. Obviously, the three of us with you will be the only ones who remember that you were both unless you tell people." She finished.
I nodded and said, "Thank you my lady. Thank you for protecting me these past 12 years." She nodded before turning to leave. Lady Artemis also turned to leave.
And I just sat there in Nico's arms as he rocked me in a protective embrace.