Chapter Text
The Campers from the Titan War,The Sev Six, Nico, Thalia and Reyna were gathered around the campfire. The party had ended an hour ago but the Stolls had suggested that they play a few campfire games before heading to bed. But when they got there Connor and Travis had told them to wait here, then retreated to the Hermes cabin, presumably looking for something.
At long last, the brothers emerged, one carrying a large bottle of a strange golden liquid, while the other carried a stack of plastic cups.
“So,” Travis began, giving everyone a plastic cup, while Connor poured a bit of the liquid into each cup, “me and Connor did a favour for our dad and in return he gave us a truth serum.”
Katie snorted and deadpanned, "The God of Lies gave you a truth serum. "
"Oh be quiet Katie, do you not understand the power we have in our hands.” Travis replied dramatically.
"Yeah, we can use this to our advantage. We can use the truth serum on our enemies to gain information. And we could also—” Annabeth gushed excitedly. But she was interrupted by Connor before she could go any further.
“That's cool and all. But Travis and I were thinking more along the lines of Truth or Dare."
"Really, Connor?"groaned Malcolm, “All the things we can do with it, all the good and you want to play truth or dare with it?”
“Malcolm, I love you but we deserve to have some fun. And honestly I don’t even want to think about a new enemy.”
By now they had finished pouring the drinks and the only sounds left were the fire crackling and the sound of Nyx as Artemis drive her chariot across it, as everyone considered what Connor had said.
After a few seconds everyone (including a blushing Malcolm, an amused Reyna and a hesitant Annabeth) all made murmurs of agreement.
“Fair enough.” conceded Percy “Since it’s you guys, I’m assuming we’re not talking about the normal Truth or Dare?”
“You would be correct Percy.” Connor began, “Me and Trav have prepared ten questions as they are all we will have time for, since the serum only lasts for 30 minutes. You must answer every question, however you are allowed to skip one question but if you skip one that means you will have to do a dare.”
“I don’t wanna find out what kind of dares you have prepared.” Leo shuddered.
“Nico definitely knows.” Thalia giggled as she said this. Nico suddenly paled.
“What are you guys talking about?” asked Reyna
“Our dear, Nico chose dare when we were all playing once and let’s say he ended up having to confess his feelings to Will in a poem.” Answered Clarisse.
“Boy of sunshine,
Boy of my—“ Will began to recite.
Before Nico cut him of blushing bright red as he said, “That’s enough of that.”
“While I am curious to hear the rest of the poem, Nico’s right we need to start now or we won’t have time to do all ten questions before the harpies come out.” Piper said while fiddling with the two beads on her necklace.
“I guess you’re right Beauty Queen.” Leo sighed.
“So what’s the first question?” asked Chris.
“We decided to go easy on you, for the first one.” said Travis.
1.What is your favourite fizzy drink?
“Oh that’s an easy one.” said Percy when Travis finished reading out the question.
Percy: Blue Cherry Coke
Annabeth: Sparkling Water
Leo: Dr Pepper
Piper: Ginger Ale
Frank: Root beer
Hazel: Cream Soda
Nico: Coke
Will: Lemonade (it counts, ok?)
Thalia: Mountain Dew
Reyna: Club soda with lime
Malcolm: Orange Fanta
Connor: Vanilla Coke
Travis: Cherry Dr Pepper
Chris: Sprite
Clarisse: Diet Coke
Travis is about to read the next question, when Leo yells, “TREMBLE BEFORE THE HORRORS OF DIET COKE!”
Everyone stares at Leo confused except those that were on the Argo are cracking up. They are laughing so hard that they can’t breathe. Meanwhile, Percy has turned a dark shade of red.
“Umm guys what’s so funny?” asks Clarisse feeling confused.
Annabeth wiped her eyes. “Okay, so basically — when we were on the Argo, Chrysaor invaded our ship and captured us. Percy fought him and lost. And then Chrysaor realised his crew were the guys Mr. D turned into half‑dolphins. So Percy tells them Dionysus is the captain of the ship. They ask for proof, and Percy goes to our cooler, pulls out a Diet Coke, and says—”
Percy groaned.
Annabeth continued anyway:
“‘Behold the god’s chosen drink. Tremble before the horrors of Diet Coke!’”
“And I kid you not,” she said, laughing again, “the entire crew jumped overboard and Chrysaor fled.”
Everyone burst out laughing. Some clapped Percy on the back.
“I guess you’re not as much of a Kelp Head as I thought,” Thalia teased.
“Can we continue?” Percy muttered, mortified.
“Yeah, yeah,” Connor said, still amused. “Let’s continue. This is another easy one. We threw it in just to ease you into the questions coming up next and I know it’s worded weirdly and that’s because of the fact of past experiences. Don’t ask.”
“Anyways, the next question is…”
2.What was your birth gender?
“Let’s start from Clarisse this time.” said Travis.
“ Sure, easy enough.” said Clarisse.
Everyone agreed while Percy shifted uncomfortably.
Clarisse: Female
Chris: Male
Travis: Male
Connor: Male
Malcolm: Male
Reyna: Female
Thalia: Female
Will: Male
Nico: Male
Hazel: Female
Frank: Male
Piper: Female
Leo: Male
Annabeth: Female
Percy(taking a breath before he says): Female
“Okay then next question is— wait Percy did you say female!?” exclaimed Travis.
Everyone realising what Percy asks Percy the same thing.
Percy refused to make eye contact with anyone as he replies, “Yeah, I’m trans. I promise I was going to tell you guys but I just wasn’t ready.”
Noticing his discomfort Annabeth tells Percy, “You don’t owe us an explanation but I’m glad I know.”
Everyone else follows Percy’s lead and comforts him. Feeling better Percy asks, “So what’s the next question?”
“The next question is…”
3. What is your biggest fear?
“This one is a bit deeper so if you want you can add an explanation or not.” said Travis
“I want to go first again.” said Clarisse.
Clarisse: Losing a battle I should’ve won
Chris: Failing the people who rely on me
Travis: Being forgotten
Connor: Being alone
Malcolm: Letting everyone down
Reyna: Losing control
Thalia: Watching everyone I love die. Because I know it will happen. I’m immortal so one day you all will leave me and I’ll be stuck in the past. I kinda get why gods distance themselves because it’s so dam painful to get close to someone only to know you have to watch them die. After she says this Percy gets up and walks over to her and hugs her and Nico joins in.
Will: Losing a patient
Nico: Losing the people he loves
Hazel: Going back to the Underworld
Frank: Fire
Piper: Becoming like my mother
Leo: Being left behind
Annabeth: Failing my friends
Percy: Suffocating. When we were in Alaska I was drowning in a muskeg and I’ve been afraid of suffocating ever since. But it’s nut just in the literal sense I feel like I’m suffocating in expectations and not meeting them is me failing you guys.
At this everyone shoots pained looks towards Percy but nobody comments.
Annabeth squeezes Percy’s hand as Connor reads out the next question.
4. Name all the step‑parents you’ve had.
Clarisse: None
Chris: None
Travis: None
Connor: None
Malcolm: None
Reyna: None
Thalia: None
Will: My dad’s boyfriend, Mark
Nico: None
Hazel: My step‑dad, Mr. Levesque
Frank: My mom’s boyfriend before she died
Piper: My dad’s ex‑wife, Marie
Leo: My mom’s boyfriend, the mechanic guy
Annabeth: My dad’s wife, Helen
Percy: Paul and then before him there was Gabe.
“You never mentioned a Gabe.” said Nico.
“That’s because he was,” swallowed Percy “he was abusive, used beat me up and the stuff he used to do with me while I was asleep. It was part of the reason why I became a guy. I never wanted to be that helpless little girl again.”
When he finishes all the people from the Argo, Nico and Thalia, all walk over to Percy and hug him.
Sensing that this was a personal thing, Travis decided to read out the next question.
5. What are your plans for the future?
Clarisse: Become a drill sergeant at camp. I like training people and I’m good at it.
Chris: Open a demigod‑friendly restaurant. Camp food is great but we deserve options.
Travis: Start a prank supply business. Might as well profit from my talents.
Connor: Same as Travis. Someone has to keep him from burning the place down.
Malcolm: Become an architect. I want to design buildings that don’t collapse during monster attacks.
Reyna: Join the Hunt. I want a purpose that isn’t tied to leading or politics. I want peace.
Thalia: Stay with the Hunt and protect younger demigods. It feels right.
Will: Become a doctor for demigods. I want to help kids like us survive.
Nico: Travel with Will and maybe help lost spirits find peace. I don’t want anyone to feel alone.
Hazel: Learn more magic and help rebuild New Rome. I want to make it a home for everyone.
Frank: Stay a Peaetor and help train the next generation. I want to honour my mom and Mars.
Piper: Do charity work and help kids with messed‑up families. I know what that feels like.
Leo: Build things that actually help people. Maybe open a workshop with Festus.
Annabeth: Rebuild Olympus properly. And design cities that protect the people living in them.
Percy: I want to be a social worker. I want to help kids who feel helpless or scared like I used to. I don’t want anyone to go through what I did alone.
6. Are you currently in a relationship?
Clarisse: Yes, with Chris
Chris: Yes, with Clarisse
Travis: Yes, with Katie
Connor: Yes, with Malcolm
Malcolm: Yes, with Connor
Reyna: No
Thalia: No
Will: Yes, with Nico
Nico: Yes, with Will
Hazel: Yes, with Frank
Frank: Yes, with Hazel
Piper: Yes, with Shel
Leo: …No. We broke up.
“Wait, actually?” questioned Piper “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“We broke up this weekend, I just wanted to stay in one place but Calypso wanted to travel.” tears filling his eyes as Leo replied
Wordlessly, Piper moves to hug her best friend and Percy gives him a look of understanding. And Annabeth decides to continue to take the attention of off Leo.
Annabeth: Yes, with Percy
Percy: Yes, with Annabeth
7. Who was your first kiss?
Clarisse: Chris
Chris: Clarisse
Travis: Katie
Connor: Malcolm
Malcolm: Connor
Reyna: A girl from New Rome
Thalia: Luke
Will: A boy from school
Nico: Will
Hazel: Sammy
Piper: Jason
Leo: Calypso
Annabeth: Percy
Percy: …skip. I’ll do a dare.
Travis’s head snapped up so fast it was almost inhuman. “Ohhh, a dare? From us?”
Connor grinned like he’d just been handed the keys to Olympus. “Percy Jackson, you’ve made a terrible mistake.”
Percy groaned. “Why do I feel like I’m about to regret this?”
“Because you are,” Travis said, already rubbing his hands together. “Alright. Dare time.”
Annabeth narrowed her eyes. “Travis. No.”
“Travis, YES,” he shot back immediately.
Connor leaned forward, eyes sparkling with pure chaos. “Percy… hand over your phone.”
Percy blinked. “Absolutely not.”
“You skipped,” Travis reminded him, smug. “Rules are rules.”
“What does my phone have to do with anything?” Percy demanded, clutching it like it was a life raft.
Connor smirked. “We get to pick one photo from your camera roll and send it to the camp group chat.”
Percy’s soul visibly left his body. “WHAT— no. No way. No chance.”
Leo burst out laughing. “Oh, this is gonna be GOOD.”
Nico winced. “I’m scared for him.”
Will muttered, “I’m scared for all of us.”
Annabeth looked horrified. “Travis, that’s basically social murder.”
“Exactly,” Travis said proudly.
Percy groaned into his hands. “I’d rather fight a hydra.”
“Then you should’ve answered the question,” Connor said sweetly. “Phone. Now.”
Percy glared at them, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like a prayer to every god he could think of, then reluctantly held out his phone.
Everyone leaned in like they were watching a live execution.
Travis and Connor immediately huddled over Percy’s phone like two vultures who’d just spotted a dying rabbit.
“Okay, okay—camera roll,” Connor said, scrolling with the confidence of someone who had never feared consequences in his life.
Percy lunged. “DON’T SCROLL TOO FAR!”
Travis shoved him back with one hand. “Sit down, Jackson. If you interfere, we get to pick two photos.”
Percy froze. “You’re monsters.”
“Thank you,” Travis said sweetly.
Annabeth pinched the bridge of her nose. “If you two send anything inappropriate—”
“We won’t,” Connor said.
“We might,” Travis corrected.
Leo leaned over the back of the couch. “Please let it be something embarrassing. Please let it be something embarrassing.”
Hazel whispered, “Should we… stop them?”
Frank shook his head. “No. This is a lesson.”
Reyna muttered, “A lesson in what? Suffering?”
Thalia patted her knee. “Welcome to Camp Half‑Blood.”
Suddenly, Travis gasped. Loudly. Dramatically. The kind of gasp that meant someone’s life was about to be ruined.
“Oh my gods,” he whispered, eyes wide. “Connor. CONNOR. Look at this.”
Connor looked—and immediately burst into hysterical laughter. “No way. NO WAY. Percy, what is THIS?”
Percy’s face went pale. “What did you find?”
Travis turned the phone around just enough for the group to see—but not Percy.
Annabeth choked. “Oh gods.”
Leo fell to the floor wheezing. “I CAN’T—PERCY—WHY—”
Reyna actually covered her mouth. “That’s… wow.”
Thalia snorted. “I’m saving that to my memory forever.”
Percy was practically vibrating. “WHAT IS IT?!”
Travis grinned like the devil himself. “It’s a picture of you… wearing Annabeth’s camp shirt… that goes down to your knees… holding a spatula like a sword… and yelling at a raccoon.”
Percy slapped a hand over his face. “I CAN EXPLAIN.”
“No explanation needed,” Connor said cheerfully. “This is art.”
Travis hit send.
A chorus of notification pings echoed from every phone in the room.
Percy let out a noise that could only be described as a dying whale.
Annabeth patted his shoulder. “It’s okay. At least you look cute.”
“That makes it WORSE,” Percy groaned.
Leo wiped tears from his eyes. “Best. Dare. Ever.”
“Please, can we continue?” Percy practically begged.
“Fine we will give you mercy.” Travis replied.
8. What is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do?
Clarisse: Admitting I cared about people. I spent years pretending I didn’t need anyone.
Chris bumps her shoulder, and Clarisse looks away quickly.
Chris: Getting better. Fighting my own mind was harder than any monster.
Clarisse leans into him just slightly.
Travis: Watching my siblings get hurt in battles I couldn’t stop.
Connor’s grin fades, and he leans lightly against him.
Connor: Owning up to something I did wrong. Being honest is harder than pranking.
Travis gives him a proud nod.
Malcolm: Letting go of perfection. I can’t fix everything, even if I want to.
Connor squeezes his arm.
Reyna: Stepping down as praetor. I had to choose myself for once.
Everyone shoots her a respectful, pained look.
Thalia: Leaving my mom behind. I still think about it.
Reyna rests a steady hand on her shoulder.
Will: Losing patients. Sometimes doing everything right still isn’t enough.
Nico shifts closer, their shoulders brushing.
Nico: Letting people in. It’s easier to be alone, even when it hurts.
Will wraps an arm around him.
Hazel: Coming back to life and facing a world that moved on without me.
Frank pulls her into a soft hug.
Frank: Accepting my fate. Knowing my life could end at any moment changed everything.
Hazel squeezes his hand.
Piper: Leaving my dad. I had to choose safety over family.
Everyone gives her a sympathetic look.
Leo: Letting Calypso go. Loving someone doesn’t always mean staying.
Tears fill his eyes, and Piper hugs him tightly.
Annabeth: Surviving Tartarus. And choosing to keep going after.
Percy shifts closer, their knees touching.
Percy: Leading people into battles they didn’t come back from. They trusted me, and I failed them.
Percy stared into the fire, jaw tight. He didn’t look at a single person.
Annabeth squeezed his hand. “Percy… that’s not true.”
Clarisse leaned forward, voice firm. “You saved us. All of us.”
Chris nodded. “We wouldn’t be here without you.”
Travis’s expression was unusually serious. “Dude, half the camp is alive because of you.”
Connor added quietly, “You didn’t fail anyone. You did everything you could.”
Malcolm shook his head. “You carried us through things no one else could’ve.”
Reyna’s voice was steady. “We followed you because we trusted you. And you never betrayed that trust.”
Thalia crossed her arms. “If you failed, we’d all be dead. But we’re not.”
Will’s voice softened. “You saved more people than any healer ever could.”
Nico looked at him with something like understanding. “You didn’t lead them to their deaths. You led them as far as anyone could.”
Hazel’s eyes shone. “You gave people hope.”
Frank nodded. “You gave us a chance.”
Piper’s voice cracked. “You saved my life more times than I can count.”
Leo wiped at his eyes. “Man… if you failed, then what does that make the rest of us?”
Annabeth shifted closer, her knee brushing his. “You didn’t fail them, Percy. You didn’t.”
Percy still didn’t look up. His eyes stayed locked on the flames, shoulders tight, like if he met anyone’s gaze he’d fall apart.
The whole circle went quiet, the fire popping softly between them.
9. What is one thing you wish you could change?
Clarisse: I wish I hadn’t pushed people away for so long.
Chris gives her a small, understanding smile.
Chris: I wish I could take back the moments I scared the people I love.
Clarisse nudges his arm gently.
Travis: I wish I’d taken things seriously sooner.
Connor bumps his shoulder.
Connor: I wish I didn’t hide behind jokes when things get hard.
Travis’s expression softens.
Malcolm: I wish I’d told my siblings I was proud of them more often.
Annabeth shoots him a sad, grateful look.
Reyna: I wish I’d learned how to choose myself earlier.
Thalia nods like she understands too well.
Thalia: I wish I’d tried harder to save my mom.
Reyna squeezes her shoulder.
Will: I wish I could save everyone.
Nico shifts closer, brushing their arms.
Nico: I wish I’d asked for help sooner.
Will wraps an arm around him instantly.
Hazel: I wish I could undo the pain my curse caused.
Frank hugs her gently.
Frank: I wish I’d been braver when it mattered.
Hazel squeezes his hand.
Piper: I wish I could’ve protected the people I loved better.
Everyone gives her a soft, understanding look.
Leo: I wish I hadn’t left so many people behind.
Piper pulls him into a tight hug.
Annabeth: I wish I could erase the moments Percy suffered because of me.
Percy shifts closer, their knees touching.
Percy: I wish… I wish I’d gone with Apollo instead of Jason.
He doesn’t look at anyone. His voice is quiet, almost flat.
“If I’d gone, Jason would still be here. He trusted me. They all did. And I keep thinking—if someone had to die, it should’ve been me. My life isn’t worth more than theirs. It never has been.”
He stares into the fire like he’s trying to disappear into it.
“I should’ve been the one who didn’t come back.”
The entire circle goes silent.
Annabeth squeezes his hand so tightly her knuckles go white.
Everyone looks at him with the same horrified, heartbroken expression.
Percy kept staring into the fire, shoulders tight, eyes fixed on the flames like they were the only thing holding him together.
Annabeth shifted closer, voice soft. “Percy—”
He cut her off instantly, still not looking at her. “We can… we can do this another time. When we’re not all under truth serum.”
The whole circle froze.
Annabeth’s mouth opened like she wanted to argue, to pull him back, to make him look at her — but he didn’t give her the chance.
Percy shook his head, eyes still locked on the fire. “It’s fine. Really. I’m fine. Let’s just… move on.”
His voice was too calm. Too controlled. The kind of calm that meant he was barely holding himself together.
Leo frowned. “Perce—”
Percy didn’t look up. “I said I’m fine.”
“Don’t think we’ll forget about this Kelp Head.” replies Thalia “there’s only a few minutes left anyway.
10. What is your biggest secret?
Clarisse: Skip.
Chris: Skip.
Travis: Skip.
Connor: Skip.
Malcolm: Skip.
Reyna: Skip.
Thalia: Skip.
Will: Skip.
Nico: Skip.
Hazel: Skip.
Frank: Skip.
Piper: Skip.
Leo: Skip.
Annabeth: Skip.
Percy: Skip.
“Bro… you already skipped.” Travis says.
“Shoot, I did. Can we at least do all your dares first?” Percy begs.
“Sure.” replies Connor
Percy suddenly looks up mischievously, “And since I’m the only one not doing a dare I guess I get to choose.”
Everyone collectively groans. But no one can think of a good reason for him not to do it.
Percy looked around the circle, the firelight flickering across everyone’s nervous faces. “Alright,” he said, voice flat. “Dares it is.”
He pointed at Clarisse first. “Clarisse — you have to let someone here read one message from your drafts folder. No deleting.”
Clarisse’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding.”
Percy didn’t blink. “Nope.”
He turned to Chris. “Chris — you have to tell the group the last person you cried over.”
Chris swallowed hard.
“Travis,” Percy said, “you have to let Connor post one thing from your Notes app. Anything he wants.”
Travis groaned. “Dude—”
“Connor,” Percy continued, “you have to hand over your camera roll. One photo. Annabeth gets to pick.”
Connor went pale.
“Malcolm,” Percy said, “you have to admit the worst thing you’ve ever said about a sibling behind their back.”
Malcolm stared at the ground.
“Reyna — you have to tell the group the last time you almost left camp for good.”
Reyna’s jaw tightened.
“Thalia — you have to call someone you hate and tell them one nice thing.”
Thalia looked physically ill.
“Will — you have to let Nico read your journal. One page. His choice.”
Will’s face drained of colour.
“Nico — you have to tell the group the last person you wished you could bring back.”
Nico froze.
“Hazel — you have to summon something from the Underworld you’re scared of.”
Hazel’s breath hitched.
“Frank — you have to shapeshift into the animal you’re most embarrassed to turn into.”
Frank winced.
“Piper — you have to charmspeak someone into admitting their crush.”
Piper groaned into her hands.
“Leo — you have to give someone here your real, unfiltered opinion of them. No jokes.”
Leo looked like he wanted to run.
“Annabeth — you have to tell the group the worst thought you’ve ever had about someone you love.”
Annabeth’s breath caught.
Percy paused.
Everyone stared at him.
“Hey don’t look at me like that,” Percy exclaims “if you guys get to now my biggest secret then you guys have to do something nearly as bad.”
After everyone does their dares they settle down again to hear Percy’s answer.
Percy: My biggest secret is how close I’ve gotten to taking my life. Everyday I wake up and uncap Riptide and I nearly do it. I nearly use it to kill myself. I also use the blade from my razor to cut myself for every death I could have prevented, every person I let down.
Everyone gasps at that as Percy rolls up his sleeve to show them his bruised arm filled with tiny scars most of them healed up.
“Percy,” Annabeth says tears filling up her eyes “I love you, we all love you. And I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t in our lives.”
Everyone agrees with Annabeth and is sure to tell Percy that.
“Look as much as I wish we could help you with this Kelp Head I know we’re not the best people for that.” Thalia says
“There are many therapists in New Rome or even New Athens for you to go to.” Reyna said
Percy just nods not looking at anyone.
Everyone moves to hug Percy and they stay in a big group hug for a while.
Maybe they’d be alright after all.