Chapter Text
I had been many things. First I was a god over music, archery, healing, the arts and much MUCH more. In the original tales I was a god of light but after old Helios kicked the bucket I took the mantle of sun god however my looks were made for the role anyways. Then I was a mortal… three times. The first two were… okay. However the “Lester experience” as my companion Meg so kindly dubbed it was less kind to me. And after that dilemma I couldn’t consider myself much of a god anymore, I had changed too much for that mantle.
But in the last 4000 years or rather (I'd lost track at some point recently or my current dilemma took away my ability to care for my age) had I used the title of a Child. Yet after being completely humiliated by Hebe here I was… well… sort of.
But I'll get to that eventually, once I can put together all the pieces myself. Even I'm still foggy on what exactly happened. But the first thing I can remember was the time pockets.
Or at least that’s what they got dubbed. Tiny areas of concentrated… residue all around America however most common around new york for one reason. These pockets were the result of Kronos.
That fuckass great grandfather of mine even in death found a way to mock the gods. They weren’t causing any harm, in fact no one even knew about the time pockets until they were brought up in the council.
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The loud boom of my fathers voice echoed through the chamber, the reverb only adding to my growing migraine. Some would argue that gods couldn’t have head-aches unless there's some sort of godling in there so it was definitely whatever… habits i picked up as a mortal that caused the incessant throbbing.
And the talk oh gods the TALKING. If I had to listen to my father prance around in his suit with grey hair storming behind him for even one more minute then I'd almost BEG to be mortal again.
But fate saved me finally as the golden doors swung open slightly with a very late and very much in trouble Hermes. Our fathers eyes glowered at the intrusion and I couldn’t resist the urge to shrink back in my throne just the slightest. As much as I was relieved for the change of pace I prayed my younger brother wouldn’t be on the receiving end of the King’s wrath.
“My Lord- I apologize for my… tardiness and my intrusion.”
Something was definitely wrong. If Hermes was late by mistake he would just shrug it off and try to go to his seat, maybe with a few jokes and then cower away. Formalities weren’t insane but they were definitely an indicator.
“Fine Hermes, you are lucky I am in a more pleasant mood today or I would have you stricken for your entrance.”
Bodies around the room shrunk away at the threat including Hermes from where he was standing. It was good the king was being merciful and everyone understood they should be grateful for his mercy however he was still a dangerous god.
“Excuse me my Lord, however I am late because I was called to inspect some anomalies that I have reason to believe are the cause of the odd… effects of Kr-... the Titan Lord’s death.”
A few murmured whispers rolled around the throne but no clear fear or worry was on any faces. Already plenty of reports from demigods, creatures and even other gods have come in saying strange energy signatures have been spotted with things seeming out of place. However my brother kept speaking, somehow not put off from the lack of reaction.
“In one of the areas I was monitoring it got into contact with some sort of godly substance- I'm still unsure what but it caused some sort of reaction which caused the area around it to change in age, either die suddenly or revert to seeds. No animals were around but if another surge happened with some…”
Hermes shifted awkwardly from foot to foot. The situation did indeed seem to have escalated yet still very few people seemed to care. That’s what being a god really meant didn’t it. Apathetic towards life.
And yet they bicker and wonder why I want to be like a human. Why I want to remember.
“Dismissed. The matter will be dealt with, I'll consider some demigods looking at it.”
The answer seemed to relax Hermes but it pissed me off. Luckily I'd gotten better at not showing my anger. A short temper around the king only meant a quick punishment.
Still the idea unnerved me, risking more demigods' lives for godly matters? Maybe it would be worth a talk to father…
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Footsteps and flashes filed out of the room with the flap of wings echoing slightly in the clutter. But my feet did not follow. Instead I approached where my father sat at his throne. Expression didn’t show much but he had mentioned his spirits were higher earlier so maybe a civil conversation would be possible.
The darkness over his face was normal, however it always made him look much older than he already appeared, unlike the other gods and goddesses who look youthful and clear. It was an odd thing yet the others had gotten used to it eventually.
“Father?”
He turns to face me with his head in his hands slightly. It’s unnerving but he tries for a slight smile which fills me with nothing but hope. Father rarely smiles so even a fake one, in just the presence of me it meant something.
“I believe Hermes may have had a fair warning and sending Demigods could result in many losses of life or worse, we do not know what could happen-”
His glare cut me off but I stood my ground, despite the shadow that seemed to have set over the room. He wasn’t the king- he was my father still and I knew how to convince him.
“And if those surges could do such things to mortal life, what could they do to godly life… these… ‘Time pockets’ could eliminate whole gods.”
The subtle shift in Zeus’ face shows all. It wasn’t just mortal life at risk, it was his life. And if there's one thing Zeus values more than his power, it’s his life. Still the hesitance is there, his laziness is still there. But there's a counter for everything Zeus does, always something to go against it, always a better idea.
“I will personally oversee the closing of these pockets and remove the burden from your hands… my lord.”
My words are chosen carefully and each thought planned out, each syllable uttered in my head before out my mouth. One can not simply be careful with what you say around Zeus, I learned you need a whole harness, a whole contingency plan.
But Zeus wasn’t an idiot. The threat of Kronos could be eliminated for good and he wouldn’t have to oversee anything, not like he did anyways. The dead beat would rather care about watching his son get brutally pummeled by a roman emperor instead of helping guide children. It was a perfect deal.
The perfect deal.
At least if everything went smoothly.
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The dust of the library was a familiar feeling yet strangely odd. I hadn’t explored the Waystation library until today, let alone searched through the books and maps. The knowledge was rather extensive and no doubt courtesy of my twin. Her brother is the god of knowledge after all and I do tend to talk a lot (or so I've been told).
Still, the warm yet cosy atmosphere was tranquil. I said that I would oversee the task however I never promised how. So if it just so happened to mean I would spend time with my demigod friends and others.
However considering it’s me who’s helping it also meant I didn’t wish for them to have the weight of godly responsibilities on their shoulders. Which meant I was still standing over this table, mapping every known time pocket that had been recorded. Only seven were known and were mainly concentrated near New York. Obviously, it’s where Kronos died.
As far as knowledge however I was sorely lacking. This was a new and, albeit, odd scenario and not even the Waystation’s extensive library had any answers. In fact the best luck I had found was probably from comic books.
I was a god however, I couldn’t be exhausted even though it was… three am. Time was irrelevant when you were- well- studying basically time travel at this point with the amount of rabbit holes.
But a pair of warm arms draped over my shoulders suddenly sends me on high alert, I almost grab the arms until I feel the rough scars coating it and lean back into the body behind me. The dark curls brushing against my chin extract a small sigh for me and I can’t resist relaxing.
“ὁ ἥλιός μου…” (my sun)
The thick Greek accent reverberates against my neck as the language rolls off his tongue perfectly and beautifully. The dead language simply revived with every word he spoke despite the tens of people I saw that spoke ancient Greek anyways. The way he spoke it was so refined I could listen to the sound on repeat.
And then when his rough lips pressed a soft kiss to my cheek I resisted the urge to just fall asleep in his arms even if I had no need for sleep.
“You need to get some rest darling.”
The exasperation was evident but even he couldn’t hide his care underneath the thick exterior. I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck preparing to say a counter argument when he pressed another kiss to my lips, effectively shutting me up.
“Your boyfriend’s got a point ese.”
The familiar and annoying voice of Leo Valdez pulls me away from Lit as my boyfriend has the audacity to chuckle at the situation. But why were they here anyways, it was late at night.
“It’s 7am darling.”
Lityerses’ voice almost cuts through my thoughts. 7 am already… maybe I did need a bit of rest…
Not right now though. Maybe later I could convince Lit to let me curl up with him as he took care of the baby gryphon Astrolabe. The little cutie had an obsession with Lit that didn’t just involve eating him luckily. He suggested it’s because he “still tastes like gold” which is sad but honestly… likely true thought.
“Can you two just help me with this map? I’m trying to figure out which pocket is most promising to look at. If you’re going to help me investigate, you can start now.”
Lit walked by my side with a hand around my waist, sending a small but not unwelcome chill through my body while Leo walked to the other side. Lityerses seemed more focused on me but Leo pointed directly at one area I had circled.
It was at the front of a store called… oh no.
“Hebe.”
The tone of annoyance in my voice is clearly visible. Hebe was one of those goddesses who was always being dramatic and made their job their whole personality and thought they were soooo great…
Okay I see how that sounds but Hebe was worse than me. A lot more short tempered.
“Percy went there once. Hebe is uh- childhood right or something? Maybe she could help us deal with all these time thingies?”
Leo continued circling the area with his finger before I shoved it away so he wouldn’t crumple the map.
“Youth, Valdez. The goddess of youth but fine it’s close enough. Sunshine?”
I looked to Lit, then back at Leo before a nod.
“First stop, Hebe Jeebies.”