Chapter Text
Date: 07/01/24 - 20/01/24
Time: 10:52 pm - 7:40 pm
Gabe come home from a day out with his friends to find a black haired man wearing a pale yellow shirt with blue anchors and black shorts sitting with Sally at the dining room table. Sally had some tea and there was a pot bubbling on the stove with some sort of seafood in it. The man got up to stir the pot.
“Sally, who is he and what is he doing here?” Gabe demanded. Sally froze, going very still but didn’t turn around. Gabe somehow didn’t notice how the room got. Sally stared at the table, clutching her cup.
“I…ah.” Sally said, the man turned around and stared at Gabe
“I’m Don. I’m an… old family friend. I come every other week to check on Sally and Percy as a favour to his father.” the man said. The man - Don gave Gabe a too wide smile. It made Sally think of a shark and had her suppressing the sudden urge to laugh.
Gabe was clearly scared of Don. There was something about him that made Gabe wary, Percy heard about Don and the things they had gotten up to over the years. Percy was surprised when he met Ryan - Don’s son.
“Hey Percy. My Dad mentioned you a lot. He would have come today but he was needed on the boat” Ryan said. Ryan was tall and had dark wavy hair and bronze skin and bright eyes that couldn’t decide if they were blue or green. He looked like he wasn’t used to being on land.
He had mentioned he spent more time on his Father’s fishing trawler than he did on land.
“Nice to meet you. Mum mentioned you. Do you know anything about the effect Sea Urchins have on reefs? It's for an assignment.” Percy asked, bouncing on his toes. Sally watched, hiding her grin in her tea.
“Of course. Show me what you have so far.” Ryan answered, Sally was glad her and Don’s plan worked and the two were spending time together. It was Don’s idea for Percy to ask Ryan for help with his assignment. Percy happily ate the cajon seafood rice Ryan made.
It was his wife’s recipe. He even got Ryan to talk about Pallas, the daughter he had lost. She was glad Percy was healthier now he was eating seafood.
Percy was sad when Don and Ryan couldn’t visit. He was startled when another man visited instead. He introduced himself as Benjen Dameron - Mr D as Percy had taken to calling him, he didn’t really mind that Mr D called him Sea Child. It made something in him settle.
He was embarrassed when Mr D walked in on Gabe yelling at him while he was drunk. He challenged Gave to a game of Poker, Percy was scared what Gabe was going to do to his mother if Mr D won so he begged him to let Gabe win, even if it felt wrong to do so.
Mr D winning would only make things worse for them. Mr D agreed - reluctantly and lost the game... well Gabe thought he won the game when he really didn't. Percy was startled, he wasn't sure how Mr D had won and yet made Gabe think he had won.
Mr D taught Percy how to win a game of Poker and any other card game he thought useful or at the very least, not losing while playing cards. Percy was delighted when the money Mr D won went into a jar for his mother.
Mr D also taught him how to read a room and how to get people to do what he wanted.
Percy was a little startled at how often coins would appear in the jar. Apparently the rest of his family would drop any money they found into the jar. It was enough that his mother had a little extra money, it wasn't enough for Gabe to notice but enough for his mother to have a little freedom.
Percy got very good at covering his bruises so his mother, Don, Ryan and their other friends noticed.
Dionysus' POV
Dionysus had only gone to check on Sally and Sea Child only because Poseidon was worried about them. He had every right to be worried as Dionysus learned when he walked into the home Sea Child shared with his mother to find the six year old boy being yelled at by a detestable man.
He had very much wanted to beat the man in poker, there was no way this man could beat him. He had only allowed the man to 'beat' him because Sea Child had begged him to let his Step-Father win because he was concerned what the horrid mortal would do to his mother.
Once the mortal was unconscious and Sea Child had been fed a simple seafood soup and cold seafood stock. It was the strangest food requirement. His children had to eat a great deal of fruit and drink wine, though watered down. He went about teaching Sea Child any card games he could think of.
At least this way he could assure his the boy wouldn't lose at cards and over the following weeks how to read a room and get mortals to do what he wanted, not something.
He come to enjoy Sea Child's company and his questions about how to lessen the impact on the environment. He seemed distressed by how much pollution there was not just in the ocean but in the forest as well.
He had planned on going to visit Sea Child after his museum trip. He was very alarmed when the child he had taught cards to, how to read a room, get people to go what he wanted and quizzing him on the different gods the week before turned up at camp after defeating the minotaur.
Needless to say he was concerned.
It was strange when he learned Sea Child's name was Percy Jackson. He intentionally misnamed Percy who he knew understood why he didn't use his name. Percy was staring at him with wide eyes, he only knew him as Benjen Dameron/Mr D. He was still likely in shock over losing his mother to tell Chiron or Annabeth he already knew about the gods.
[Chiron of course noticed how unusually patient Dionysus was with Percy. The Wine God usually wasn't this patient with newly arrived Demi-Gods as he was with Percy. It was another point to him being special.]
Normal POV
No thought much of Percy already knowing who they were and knowing about them and what they'd done. They assumed Annabeth or one of the other Campers filled him in on everything they had been up. They didn't know he'd heard it from their parents and Mr D.
Percy knew the Gods cared about their children, they just weren't sure how to show it given the example Zeus and Hera had been to them and because the lives of Demi-Gods were so short, they have to have some degree of distance between them and their children. They started paying a lot closer attention when Percy started asking about their children after Aaron (Aries) made an off hand comment about one of his children at camp.
Percy was startled at how many children there were in Cabin 7. Something he knew Harrison would be bothered by. He goes to Mr D and asks about it, completely ignoring the attempts from the Hermes children (his actual children) to stop him from talking to Mr D.
"Why not put them in Cabin 3? There is plenty of room. Some of the campers are sleeping on the floor. Hermes can't have that many children. D...Poseidon would probably be happy to have his Cabin full again." Percy said, staring at Mr D, everyone was staring at him, wondering what on earth he's talking about.
"That's disrespectful Percy." Annabeth said, Percy turned to stare at her, a puzzled look on his face.
"How? Poseidon has always been welcoming to the children of the other gods, as long as they are respectful. If you're so hung up about it why not have Mr D ask him about it at the next Council meeting." Percy turned back to Dionysus.
"Could you ask if it would be okay for them to stay in Cabin 3. There's more than enough room." Percy asked, Annabeth (and the rest of the campers) were startled when Mr D nodded. No one questioned how he knew there would be enough room for everyone in Cabin 3.
The Next Council Meeting
Dionysus waited until Hera, Athena and Zeus had left the council room and well out of earshot before he addressed the real reason he came to the meeting. Those three never stayed for the meeting between the gods after Zeus had said everything he had wanted to.
"Sea Child made it mostly safely to camp. Need to talk to Hades about what actually happened. In other news, Cabin 11 is apparently so full that some of the children are sleeping on the floor. I didn't realise it had gotten so bad. You need to start claiming your children over the next few days to weeks." Dionysus stated. Hermes looked startled and very concerned.
"Sea Child suggested a solution for those who don't have a bed to move into Cabin 3. He was sure there was enough room." Dionysus turned to Poseidon who looked a little startled. "Ms Chase was worried about it being disrespectful so Sea Child had me ask if you would be alright with it" Dionysus almost wanted to laugh at the look on Poseidon's face.
"Why would it be disrespectful? Of course there's enough room. I don't mind at all. It'll be nice to have a full Cabin again." Poseidon said Dionysus was surprised by the pleased little smile on his Uncle's face at the thought of having children in his Cabin again. It was startling how well Percy knew his Father. There was always something special about him.
He was never wrong about these sorts of things. Dionysus had expected Percy wouldn't get along with Ares children but was surprised that they got along really well, Percy didn't treat them any different than he would their father though he was careful with his strength outside of Capture the Flag, both because the Ares Children weren't as strong and because of his own strength.
Shiny Things
Percy liked collecting Shiny things, specifically rings, necklaces and bracelets, any jewellery really. He's very good at finding lost jewellery at the beach. He put them in a jar along with the sea glass he collected. The campers notice the jar and ask what it's about. They only get a blank stare.
One of the Aphrodite girls went into the lake with their necklace/ring/bracelet on while Percy was swimming as well. The jewellery disappears and the girl panicked. It was a gift. She was angry when she saw Percy admiring the piece of jewellery.
Percy stared at her with a blank look on his face when she demanded it back.
"You gave it as an offering. You can't have it back. If you want it back then trade it for something." Percy said, his voice sounded different somehow, less human almost. Grover had gone very still on the other side of the table and was staring at the Camper and Percy with wide eyes.
"Why would I give someone like you something? Give it back." The Camper yelled and tried to take it back. Percy, unexpectedly hisses at her, his eyes glowing a bright blue green. He didn't look quite human anymore and his fingernails looked sharper. His teeth were definitely sharper.
The low hissing growl he made, the hand holding the small jar held tight against his chest.
"What's going on?" Luke demanded, Clarise sent one of her siblings to get Mr D and Chiron, this was going to be messy. She could feel the tension building in the air. She was going to step in but something stopped her, like a hand on her shoulder telling her to wait. Some things had to happen.
"He stole my bracelet," The Camper snapped, glaring at Percy, the growling got louder. Luke stared at Percy with a raised eyebrow, like he was a child who had stolen another child's toy.
"Give it back Percy, the bracelet isn't yours. None of those things are yours, you need to give them back." Luke demanded, Grover started to inch further down the table, Luke paid him no mind, he had always been rather skittish.
[They really should have paid more attention to Grover. He was only ever skittish when there was a good reason to be].
"You don't make your siblings give back the items they’ve stolen. They are mine now. A gift given can't be taken unless a trade is made." Percy snapped again. Clearly very upset, the waves in the bay got much rougher not that anyone noticed. Grover was the only one who noticed the way the ground started to shake ever so slightly. Percy slashed at Luke when he tried to take the jar.
"LUCAS CASTELLAN STEP AWAY FROM HIM IMMEDIATELY." Mr D yelled louder than they thought possible, vines wrapped around Luke and pulled him back just in time. He only ended up with a light scratch. Mr D looked far from pleased with the blonde haired counsellor.
"Are you trying to close a hand? Do not antagonise the child with Siren blood." Mr D snapped. They stared at him wondering what was going on and what the god was talking about.
"A gift given can't be taken unless a trade is made." Percy said again. It sent cold shivers down their spines. He had only been claimed for two days, they had no idea what was going on or why their Camp Director was so angry.
"I know. It has apparently been too long since we've had an Atlantean at Camp. They will learn the Rules, what would an acceptable trade be?" Mr D asked, keeping a very tight grip on Luke and pushing the Camper out of the way.
"Silver, gold, green bottles and glass jars are acceptable. That behaviour is not. You gave the gift, you do not want to trade, you do not get it back," A deep voice said, they turned and saw a dark haired man, with green eyes and bronze skin wearing a simple shirt and blue pants, leather belt and no shoes.
Percy hissed and growled at him, Clarise wasn't sure how she knew Percy was unhappy and very upset. The man hissed back softly and made a strange humming sound. The Camper opened her mouth to argue but closed it when she saw the look Mr D was giving her.
"You will collect sea glass from the beaches nearby along with any jewellery you come across. You will be done collecting the sea glass and jewellery when he deems the trade acceptable. Apologies for the lack of respect, Lord Triton. We will educate them on the Rules." Mr D stated, he was very serious.
They soon learned Percy was a very good singer, he could sing anything though clearly felt the most comfortable singing Sea Shanties and what they came to learn were Atlantean songs. He seemingly wasn't aware of just how good of a singer he was. The more alarming talent, however, was his ability to mimic voices like the Cyclopes.
There were times where he wouldn't look quite human but they just assumed it was a tick of the light. He was just as upset at them as the Naiads were when they littered.
Mr D had put all of them through a crash course in the very long list of Rules that come with one of Poseidon's children being at camp. It was an extensive list. Most of them had ignored the list and were alarmed at just how unhappy Percy had become.
A lot of them had to collect sea glass and jewellery because they had forgotten not to take off their jewellery before going into the lakes. They quickly learned their lessons though.
They had all noticed how uncomfortable Percy seemed to be around Luke, he had gotten even more tense after he had beaten Luke at sword practice, he wouldn't say where he had learned how to use a sword. Clarisse could tell he had training, it was obvious to her and her siblings but not anyone else for some reason.
It was obvious he clearly had some natural talent but he had gotten much better with a trainer. She couldn't help but wonder who had taught him because there was certainly something familiar about his fighting. It wasn't strictly Greek and he was comfortable fighting with other people and even knew how to use other people. It was certainly interesting.
He was surprisingly bad at Archery, Clarisse wasn't sure how he had even gotten a thirteen point ricochet. He looked really embarrassed. Clarisse was sure Mr D was going to start laughing as he looked down at the arrow piercing his coke. He pulled the arrow out and plugged the holes like it was a perfectly natural thing to do.
"Please don't tell Allen. He'll never let me live it down. I apparently can only use Allen's bow or the one he gave me." Percy said, he looked embarrassed. "Allen Jackson, my cousin, was the one who taught me how to shoot. He was apparently as good as Apollo, he insisted on teaching me." Percy grinned a little. Mr D looked like he wanted to laugh again.
Clarisse felt like she was missing something.
Percy could happily spend hours in the ocean and spent just as much time cleaning up the rivers and the lake around the Camp. It was a little alarming at just how much rubbish he pulled out of the ocean, and just how much jewellery there was.
Percy always looked so pleased when he found a single piece. The way his face lit up when Grover, Clarisse or one of her siblings gave him jewellery or sea glass always left them feeling warm.
Percy had no idea why everyone was surprised he got on so well with Cabin 5. Of course he did, he adored Aaron, the man was the reason he was such a good swordsman and tactician, he had run him through what he knew to be simulated war games now but just thought were fun games when he was younger.
Gabe had always gotten angry when Aaron was around.
He wasn’t sure why Luke looked so surprised that he was such a good swordsman, there was something about the older teen that made him really uncomfortable.