Chapter Text
Years seemed to have passed slower than ever before in his immortal life as Poseidon waited for the truth to come out. As they slowly ticked by breaking that vow became meaningless anyway with Zeus’ Roman son coming to return his Greek sister to human form and Hades finally releasing both of his Greek children from that blasted casino to be companions for their sister, Hazel, when both factions united as Hera willed them to do so. All the drama of each day that passed was largely irrelevant to him, because all the sea god cared about was reuniting with his son.
Every August 18th haunted him as time kept marching on without providing any answers about how his boy was doing. He still loved Sally, truly he did, but never could he resent more promising to let her keep custody for as long as possible now that his boy was about to turn twenty somewhere in the world. Never had he imagined Percy making it to adulthood with no concept of who his father was or his powers’ origins. It was their reality though as many of Greek mythology’s most dangerous beings surfaced to be fought back by their queen’s conglomerate of Greeks and Romans without ever knowing that one of his lineage should have been walking amongst them.
The youngest of the Big Three quickly came to resent that oath taken upon Styx and seemingly upheld by his brother stuck in the middle, because with no children at risk rarely could any crown move him to be helpful to their family as a whole. Only global threats like Gaea rising and knowing that would affect Percy wherever he was out there persuaded him privately. And now it seemed that another such threat was trying to rise in the form of their own father.
Poseidon wasn’t really paying any attention to his rival as the Goddess of Wisdom described demigods' resentment of them for being absentee parents and Kronos’ attempt to stage a return through that vein. He was too busy thinking about Percy waking up to his big day as dawn approached. It was only as she segued into discussion of dissolving those laws and their oath after such a near catastrophe which mandated everyone on their divine council tune in.
“What do you mean, Athena?” The King demanded of his only solo child and favorite daughter. “He has not managed to claw his way back through the half-bloods?”
“Not only did he fail, but he has been banished for a generation.” There was another side to that coin, of course there was. They were Greek and never believed in all news conceivably being just good. “But, not by one who claims us, nor will he ever as long as those laws are in effect.”
“What in the world happened?” Lady Demeter stepped up to demand details, never more envious of her daughter out enjoying these final days of summer with the Autumn Equinox now a mere month away.
Signaling to Apollo, the God of Prophecy conjured a vision center stage of their throne room for all to see, featuring a mortal nightclub in full swing just a few short hours ago. Lord Poseidon actually turned in as the most handsome version of himself, only two decades younger than he was currently presenting, came into view on a gray leather sofa chatting up three near identical girls. He knew without asking any stupid questions or formal introductions. Despite sneaking to see him when Percy was a baby it still shook how little of Sally had appeared with time, because glancing around it actually offended when no one was shooting accusatory looks at him already. That boy was perfect as he smirked at something the girl closer to him on Percy’s right said.
All the thoughts flowing through his head were a world apart from everyone else watching as they definitely failed to even notice his youngest on the outskirts, all the other Olympians taking in a random party goer stumble forward amidst an obviously forced possession, because their mortal body was rapidly deteriorating. Sitting back on his throne Lord Poseidon took in the larger scene conjured as that boy’s grandfather gave his damndest to persuading Percy to accept a possession himself, mostly by talking shit about them and impacts had on demigods not only known to their council, but who acted as Camp Half-Blood’s current leadership. Scaring him most as a father was when the near twenty year old got up and moved closer appraising that offered hand.
When it was snatched in a firm hold though, control of their situation was never ceded for one moment.
In fact, that same smirk came back when Percy Jackson squeezed the remaining husk’s hand effectively bringing Kronos, Titan of Chaos, to his knees. It was what he said next effectively making the ichor in every one of them turn to stone, even while banishing that bastard for a generation, if not several. "Human beings in a mob. What’s a mob to a king? What’s a king to a god? What’s a god to a non-believer, who doesn’t believe in anything? There’s no sacrality in the wild.”
There was something beyond satisfying to hearing their old man scream in pain none of the younger gods would ever understand, but even more than that he resented his first glimpse of Percy in twenty years disappearing with Apollo’s vision. Staring as if a hard enough look would make his son’s visage come back, it was certainly felt more than seen when Zeus’ eyes came right to him and bore into the side of his brother’s face first. All these years later, the King knew before asking for formality’s sake.
“Yours?”
“Yep.”
Truthfully, the Big Three’s youngest was expecting more. It was out, those laws having been all but dissolved by these last few years already, not to mention their collective now owed that boy for their very existence, as well as the lives of their children. He did his best to not huff as loudly as he wanted to before prompting, because Pose couldn’t seem to break his concentration on where that mirage had been. “You raised him in secret? Kept him from camp for insurance? Give me something, brother.”
“No,” Poseidon shook his head and finally attempted to rejoin the discussion, “His mother demanded custody for as long as she could maintain it. I snuck over to see him once as a baby, otherwise that was my first opportunity.”
The Olympians sat frozen like ice sculptures after that revelation.
Lady Demeter spoke up first, “Why would he defend us with no knowledge of you at a minimum? How did he even know what to do?”
The sea god was horrified to admit, “I have no idea.”
“Immortality is the least we can offer; he prevented several wars,” Zeus acknowledged, but his daughter was also right, “If he acknowledges us.”
“A big ask with your laws still on the books,” His big brother named distractedly, lost in thoughts of his only son, not immortal or a monster, walking this world at the moment.
“Who among us would object to their dissolution?” He wondered pointedly, before quickly getting rid of rules made when they were at their lowest place with demigod children as a ruling triad. Honestly, Zeus was getting worried about him as a brother though, because Pose just looked so damn lost right now. “Do you know anything about him?”
His sun-kissed face fell and the Lord of the Seas shook his head confessing, “When my ex, Sally, demanded custody for as long as she could keep it, I wasn’t expecting it to take this long.”
“Oh.” The King was surprised. Most of their demigods were so difficult to maintain mortal parents couldn’t wait to unload them onto the Greek side of their lineage. Despite a nefarious reputation, he did try to help as a brother. “Do we have any more information on this fringe based demigod?”
“His name is Percy Jackson, son of Lord Poseidon and Sally Jackson,” Athena elaborated, closely watching her rival’s reaction to all of this, “He graduated early four years ago to go work for his stepfather full time.”
“Are they close?” Poseidon demanded, attempting to ignore the knot forming in his stomach.
“Very,” Aphrodite broke in honestly from her spot between Hephaestus and Ares. “After Sally’s first husband died on a trip to Vegas before Percy turned four, he was raised by round two. They’re best friends; some even claimed that he was more in love with being a father, than a husband.”
That hurt as he imagined Percy having no room in his life for an absentee father with constant obligations elsewhere. “Who is this guy?”
“Richard Sands III.”
“Your ex bagged Little Richie?!” None of them were expecting the Goddess of Love to be cut off by Dionysus descending into hysterical laughter at her revelation.
His brother glanced at him confused and Zeus was quick to demand, “You know who that is?”
“Sure! The Sands patriarch, Marvin, made me millions back in the day and left his shares to his two boys, Richard and Robert,” The God of Wine divulged chipperly. “Rich never wanted kids, so Robby named his first boy with wife number one after his big brother. I heard Richie was too much for Jennifer to handle, even for that gold plated child support, so she shipped him back to Daddy.”
“Any idea who he became as an adult?” His father probed.
“Too much energy to balance books his whole life, I heard he took over the family’s businesses surrounding horses,” The younger god shrugged, “And I never lost a penny betting on him.”
That was certainly an in.
It looked like his little brother was about to be merciful and end the meeting by sending Poseidon off on a mission to get his son to acknowledge them, but he wound up cut off by his own first born.
“Sandstorm? He is your kid?!” All eyes flew to Ares as he was studying his uncle. “That makes too much damn sense!”
A dark brow dusted decoratively with silver moved up in his nephew marked by war’s direction, “You know Percy?”
“Sure! I guess you could say he uses a different sort of horse power in our circles!” He declared with a loud laugh at his own joke before gesturing to the long gone vision, “I wouldn’t even put my ride up against him, but I’ve managed to get myself invited out to The Wild a couple of times after races.”
His son was a racer by nature then, he could definitely work with that. Triton might even enjoy having an excuse to attend more variations of his favorite activity; he hadn’t had a little brother in a very long time.
“Do either of you know where they live now?”
Ares shook his head. “He races before going to The Wild in the city though. Does it most nights.”
“Sands Steed Stables is Richie Boy’s estate in Saratoga Springs.”
“Would you introduce me?” The sea god asked D. “This is likely to go better, if I warn Sally and make nice with Sands.”
His liveliest nephew shrugged, “Sure.”
The meeting was dismissed quickly then with word of this new development spreading as fast as chattier gods could tell such a tale. Poseidon just wanted to be introduced to his son. So, he hurried to follow where Dionysus led.
He spent two decades worrying about his son going without because Sally didn’t come from money and she certainly wouldn’t take it from him. Although he had held himself back from checking in because she asked him hoping Percy would stay safe longer, seeing the size of this estate demonstrated, circumstances had clearly changed.
The main home they arrived outside of was composed by nine or ten wings with stone exterior and beautiful archways mixed nearby regal balconies. It took even Poseidon a moment to realize it was all done in sandstone, with accents of ocean blue quartzite. Decorative vegetation included Atlantic white cedars, black cherry trees, and scarlet oaks, as well as shrubbery artistically organized bayberries which just felt like Sally’s design. The final thing to catch his eye was a large fountain with a trident in the middle surrounded by seashells leading to their entryway, while it was divine nature which forewarned this estate was built around some of the hot springs Saratoga found itself known for.
“Huh…”
“What?”
“They designed this place to keep Percy comfortable.”
“Did they?” Dionysus looked around, but didn’t have the same predispositions and just shrugged, only noting that fountain as an obvious tribute, “Figured she just didn’t want you to get fed up and take him for good, especially as more years ticked by.”
“Sally is a good woman,” The older god insisted, “I would never just take him from her.”
“It’s your call.” Emerald green eyes studied him as both gods approached the front door.
“What?”
“Just never thought I’d see the day you took a backseat with any of your kids.”
“As I said,” It took everything in him not to hiss, “It never occurred to me a reunion would take this long.”
“Right.” An attendant answered the rung doorbell and his nephew got them in quickly, “Mr. D and Mr. P, we’re here to see Mr. and Mrs. Sands.”
They were shuffled into a parlor with a full and manned bar likely paying tribute to how the patron god quick to partake insinuated this family made their money for three generations, four if Percy counted. Once he was situated with a suicide, Poseidon asked for rum; Caribbean based if they had it. Taking a sip, he was still surprised to taste his favorite so far from its place of origin or at home in Atlantis.
“This is Ronrico.”
“If you have another preference, sir-”
“Please,” D dismissed their attempt quickly, “I’ve seen him behead people for dropping that stuff before.”
Even as the mist was already weaving its way in to make it seem like he said ‘fire,’ Poseidon still shot that one a dirty look for his big ass mouth. After the correction though that young man behind the bar only giggled and revealed, “It’s the young master’s favorite as well.”
“Young ma- You mean Percy?”
“Yes! Are you acquaintances from the racing circuit?”
“No, they’re family as a matter of fact, Benedict.”
He was not expecting Sally to appear so suddenly, nor for her voice to still have that effect on him. By the time Poseidon turned she was right behind him and went up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek before going right back to her explanation.
“This is Percy’s father.”
“O-oh.”
“I know. Should prove an interesting birthday.”
“I should have realized. He couldn’t deny that one in a court of law.”
Both of them were giving him a once over, but it was Sally who descended into a giggle fit. “You’re not wrong.” The mortal woman quickly nodded for them to follow and led both gods into a common room gloriously absent of eavesdroppers with one exception. “Queen Hera warned me you were on the way.”
Her dress of peacock colors shimmered as sunlight cascaded through a wall of glass which featured stunning views of the large waterway out back and its hot springs within. “Perseus is my champion and has been for several years, despite not advertising his knowledge.”
“He knows?!”
The question was directed at Sally and she hurried to assure, “Of course he does, Pose. I could only hide it until his powers got to a certain point.”
“How long has he known?!”
“Since he was thirteen.”
“Seven years?! Why hasn’t he gotten in touch?”
“Percy is quite fond of you regardless of any distance,” Hera jumped back in cutting to the point as she always did. “He wouldn’t have gotten you in trouble prior to making sure those laws were being revoked.”
“I’ve been in trouble with your old man since we rose to power.”
“True as that statement is,” Hera agreed, “It does not negate my own.”
“Does he know I’m here?” His attention moved back to Percy’s mother knowing the Queen of Olympus was right as she so often found herself.
“Not yet, but he tends to get horses for his birthday,” Sally disclosed before encouraging, “We can track him down at the arena.”
“Give Richie my best regards,” Dionysus attempted to quickly extricate himself, “But I think my time is best spent getting to know Benedict better.”
Sally looked up at him confused and he introduced through an eye roll, “My nephew, Dionysus. He’s an old friend of the Sands family.”
“Oh,” She remarked, moving them toward a back door when he was already moving back towards that bar.
Instead of following them, Hera called out a request before teleporting away, “Tell Perseus that I will see him tonight.”
“Of course!” Sally turned back to promise, but she was already gone. The mortal shook her head and offered him a preliminary glimpse inside that pretty head without other gods lurking about. “Why, out of all your siblings, did our son have to take up with the scariest one?”
He chuckled, but wouldn’t dare argue. “Probably because she remains the only one willing to keep her mouth shut standing toe to toe with Bolt Boy.”
“Pose!”
“I speak only the truth,” He swore as they loaded up into a red Ridington MAX-R from parking which seemed to usually house five with only one already missing. “What’s happening tonight?”
“I’m sure they’re meeting at The Wild after his kick-off was ruined last night.” Big doe eyes found his cautiously as she maneuvered them around the large natural water feature to take several acres behind their house. “What happened?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“Only that he had to handle business for Auntie and it managed to ruin his birthday’s kick-off party after dragging his butt home.”
Sighing heavily, he hated having to be the deliverer. “My father attempted a comeback tour through Percy. Thought him ignorant of his heritage and easily resentful of an absentee father the same as me.”
“He does not resent you. Worries about making your life difficult and, perhaps, you resenting him for that-”
“I would never!”
“I’m glad.”
“Did you think I would?”
“A lot can change in twenty years and I didn’t know the status of things with your brothers.”
“They both have a few demigods to their name running things these days.” Appraising the stunning mortal still in possession of his heart, Poseidon searched for a topic not heavy handed too soon. “What’s The Wild?”
“It’s the nightclub where Richie and I met, plus being Percy’s favorite hangout spot.” She disclosed for her only son’s father conspiratorially, “It’s likely to be signed over as his birthday present next year.”
“Sands is very generous.”
Sparkling blue eyes judged him gently, “You have nothing to feel jealous about, Pose. He loves Richie a lot, but he’s wanted his daddy for years.”
“He has always had me. I’ve done nothing but worry about him for twenty years.”
“I wasn’t expecting to keep him for this long either,” Sally revealed, catching him off guard even when she shouldn’t, because this mortal had always taken the words right out of his mouth far too often.
“I just want a place in his life despite him being grown,” The sea’s master confessed, “Even though he’s already got a father who raised him and clearly loves him very much.”
“You will have it. He’s going to be so happy to finally meet you,” She promised. “Richie has always known this day would come and very similarly he just doesn’t want Percy to forget about him. You’re not wrong about how much he loves our kid.”
“Even more than he loves being a husband?” The question popped out before he even realized Aphrodite’s comment hung around.
Luckily Sally just giggled before divulging, “I thought your sister would hate us for having an open marriage, but she was cool since we took no vows of fidelity.”
“She’s full of fine print surprises like that.” He had known Sally was bisexual since she’d been dating his wife, Amphitrite, at the same time as him, but learning that the second of hers ascribed to a matching orientation was quite the revelation. They settled into comfortable conversation about his royal sea family back in Atlantis until firmer ground and stampeding hooves in the distance forewarned their time alone was coming to its inevitable end. “Sal…”
“Hmm?”
“Olympus is offering him immortality.”
“Just for getting rid of Grandpa?”
“Of all our enemies, he’s the one who most personally offends,” Poseidon assured from the bottom of his heart. “None of my children have ever made me prouder than he did last night.”
“That will be the best birthday present he could ever get,” Percy’s mother shared before going quiet. After thinking for a moment Sally wondered, “Would we ever see him again, if he accepts?”
“Yes. It’s very difficult to keep gods from going wherever they want… Especially when they’re of my line.”
Sally snorted, “I hope your family has thought this through. Percy could probably give you a run for your money.”
“Good. I can shake him up and point him in his uncle’s direction.” He didn’t get to continue as they drove up a hill’s ridge, because all the land beyond its descent was breathtaking even for him. Most of it was fenced pasture where several large herds were running together in glorious tandem while back dropped by an intricate series of stables, training arenas, and even a racing track. It looked like all of Sands Steed Stables’ workers were gathered around the largest round pen cheering as his son worked with a young stallion with tunnel vision on challenging the youngest of his master’s like while fourteen other stunningly marked horses of a similar quality waited their turn. “Wow.”
The mortal giggled, “Don’t go giving either of them a bigger head, Pose.”
“Sorry,” He offered distractedly, but sea green eyes were already scanning the gathered mortals, having to know, “Which one is Sands?”
Mischievous blue eyes rolled knowing he couldn’t quite let it go, but Sally was sure she could get them on the same page even faster by pointing her husband out and quickly scanned the ranch’s work crew. Once he was spotted, Percy’s mother gave her ex a headway, “He’s over there cleaning and refilling the water troughs."
Following her index finger to the only man working instead of hollering at Percy. He was grateful for godly sight, if ill prepared for Richie Sands to be six foot four, two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle, with long blond hair thrown back in a low ponytail and striking blue eyes above a sharp goatee. “Damn.”
“I’ll allow it,” Sally teased. “Let’s head down and I’ll introduce you.”
They drove down and parted next to the matching buggy of green near Percy’s stepfather, but his back was still to them as a large cheer erupted from the pen suggesting that their son finished with his first horse. As they were getting out that seemed to be confirmed by him going for a second stallion, but he never made it as Sands perked up and bellowed in his direction, “You get water first, or I’m gonna-”
“Kick my ass, put your foot up my ass, turn my ass into a hat,” Percy sassed with his back to all of them not missing a beat even as his changed course for the water stand, “Yeah, yeah, yeah!”
His stepfather gestured to him with a sarcastic scoff, “And I didn’t think you were listening!”
“Their favorite television show is ‘That 70s Show’. They quote it all the time,” Sally informed him before her attention shifted to Sands. “You really do ride him, babe.”
“Someone has to,” The blond man insisted, going back to work without looking in their direction, “Otherwise he’d keel-over from dehydration by lunch, or worse we’d have a repeat of that harpy incident.”
Sally Jackson’s pout was nothing to take for granted. It was so damn adorable, proving the god was still as hardwired to respond to it as her current husband when she muttered, “There are worse things still.”
Both of them gave a quick search to determine the problem was Percy being surrounded by around ten female farmhands at that watering hole. Luckily, Poseidon not having the authority to send them running here didn’t stop that boy’s stepfather from releasing a sharp whistle. “Was a national holiday declared and I didn’t know about it? Get back to work!”
Sally preened just a bit and enjoyed watching them scatter. Poseidon couldn’t really be surprised by her bond with Hera; they had a lot in common. Their son taking up with her wasn’t even that surprising given his clear inclination to mind his mortal mother demonstrated by Percy quickly straightening up and ceasing any flirtation when he realized she was present.
Which happened to be the first time his youngest son saw him as well. And Sally spoke the truth, because at first glance he obviously knew who Pose was and froze. Nervous eyes glanced back to his mother, but rather unmercifully she just gestured to the god in human form indicating their son should come over.
It was his stepson freezing which drew Sands’ attention their way. The god thought himself prepared for any reaction, but thought predominantly the other man would feel as territorial over that boy as Poseidon was right now. Least expected on his list was for him to bust a seam laughing.
“Richie!” Sally scolded.
“I’m so sorry,” He insisted first, trying to catch his breath. “When you said they looked just alike, I didn’t think you meant copy and paste!”
Realizing what tickled his funny bone, Poseidon couldn’t even take offense. He’d changed from his typical beach themed outfit coming to a ranch, so well fitted denim jeans, a black t-shirt under a flannel of black, green, and white already had them matching pretty damn well. And the wardrobe didn’t take into account that Percy got his eyes, hair, facial structure, and build.
When he got over to them matching his father in everything but that white t-shirt it was so strange to see one of his kids be bashful with him. “Hi Dad.”
“Hey sport. Come give me a hug,” The Earthshaker encouraged. Getting that moment meant more than anything to him after two decades of waiting and worrying. “Thank you for last night. I’m sorry the old man ruined your birthday kick-off.”
“It could have gone a lot worse,” Percy acknowledged.
“Why don’t we go back up to the house and talk,” Sally suggested to remove prying eyes.
When their son’s face fell and eyes mirroring his own darted back to those horses, the sea god quickly played his hand. “Let him finish what he was doing, I’ll ride back up with Percy. I’d be wary of leaving Dionysus near an open bar for too long though.”
“You left D in our house unsupervised?’ Sands perked up.
“Yes?”
“Please let it still be standing,” The mortal begged, hurrying for the red cart.
“Of all the gods, you’re telling me that one can’t hold his liquor?” Sally demanded, following him in a hurry.
“Not as well as you’d think,” Was the last thing they heard declared before the married couple tore off leaving them alone.
His son chuckled and nodded him over to address the multitude of eyes staring them down, starting with the humans, and more specifically an older man with a mustache, western styled cowboy hat, and one deep southern accent when he spoke. “Dad, this is my horse racing trainer, Bill Mott. Coach, this is my father, P-”
“Paul,” He quickly jumped in with the name that was most often used when walking among mortals these days, offering his hand. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“Pleasure’s all mine.” His attention swung back to Percy for a moment, “Best get back to it if you want to beat last year’s record, kiddo.” When nervous eyes appraised his father, this gently aged mortal was quick to reassure, “He’s with me. Get!”
That instruction made Percy laugh and quickly agree, taking off for his new horses. As Bill was watching him depart, Poseidon subtly gestured for the horses to be cool. They listened, but barely.
“He says trainer,” Mott made conversation after glaring all the younger years back to work and claiming observation’s most ideal spot for them, “But I don’t think he’s ever had to be taught a thing about horses since Sally started bringing him around.”
“No, our family tends to be naturals in that arena.”
“So Sally always claimed,” He chuckled. “She used to keep him from competing; luckily Richie put a stop to that mess when he married in.”
“Good. When does he race again?”
“Next Thursday through a week from today.” The mortal shrugged, “He got lucky it was rest week this weekend.”
“It’s a big year,” He recognized.
“You should come. He’d love it.”
“I’ll ask. Hopefully he won’t mind if his stepmother and siblings come too.” Amphitrite was already going to have his ass for not getting to come today.
“He’s never lost. It’s always a run weekend.”
They watched him get all his new horses ready to ride while making smalltalk. A few bolder mortals invited themselves over for an introduction and a few Motts even deemed worthy, but most were just glared away. It was so odd to learn that Percy had known about him for years and everyone in his life was so quick to name their relation.
Getting to watch him with horses was the most mesmerized Poseidon had been in a couple of decades. Calling him a natural didn’t begin to cut it. It was so much fun just getting to cheer him on. All fifteen of his gifted horses were unique and each presented him with different challenges.
Once they were all changed from training equipment and introduced to a compatible herd, then this adoring crowd finally started to break up around them. Percy came trotting over to get him as Mott was excusing himself, only leaving behind a hope that boy had a good time tonight. Poseidon quickly took to that buggy with his son driving them back toward their house.
Quickly he filled the silence by singing like a canary. “Those laws were repealed today and you’re being offered immortality after taking action last night.”
“If?” Percy guessed.
“If you acknowledge your Greek family.”
“I’ve always acknowledged you,” The young adult reminded, “That just wasn’t a two way street.”
“Fair enough.” Poseidon still had to insist, “I would love it very much if you accepted.”
“What about the rest of our family?
“Everyone would love it. We would also love to see you race next week.”
“Come then.”