Chapter Text
I was walking home taking my usual route with a pizza slice in my hand happily bubbling. It has been a while since I had my last pizza now that I think about it. And rule number one if you want to stay alive around me is to feed me pizza anytime you can. Write it down if you want, although I wouldn’t encourage anyone to be friends with me. But in case you do want me as a friend rather than foe, make notes and throw away your phone.
I take the last bite of my pizza when I hear a loud crash coming from an alley I was about to pass. Sounds like fun . I continue walking in that direction and before you ask, no I’m not one of those dumb horror movie protagonists or a psycho. Although the latter is debatable. I look into the alley with my hand under my jacket, my fingertips brushing against the cold iron hidden underneath my clothes. I see some monsters facing the other way from me. What a lucky day am I right? Anyway I can’t see who the monster is facing, but I can definitely tell that they aren’t fans of each other and while I seriously enjoy seeing the dance that the monster was doing trying to dodge hits I pulled out my gun and pulled the trigger making it fall apart and turn into this very hardly washable dust. My poor jacket I mumble frowning as I take in the damage that has been done to it.
I see two boys, one girl and a satyr standing there looking at me trying to understand what happened. Now don’t get me wrong thanks to my “unusual” way of killing monsters I got some time to look them up and down, but the tension was getting unbearable and I fucking hated it. I want to punch something. Suddenly the girl with grey eyes seemed to make a breakthrough in her staring, because there was a sudden change in her expression. She whispered something into the ear of a dark haired boy with sea green eyes. I’m really getting bored here guys, do something. I cry out in my thoughts.
“Who are you?” the boy with sea green eyes asked. Great question, man. I got exactly the same one.
“You answer that question first, will ya?” I reply looking directly at him, letting his friends out of my focus. Or at least I think they’re his friends. He seems a bit confused at first, but gains his composure back fast. I feel like we're two beasts waiting to attack the other. Wasn’t far from reality if you ask me.
“How do I know that you won’t attack after I give you my name?” he continues his battle to get through this conversation.
“If I wanted to kill you you’d be dead. A name doesn't change that.” I say. Same thing goes for torture obviously, but let’s not get into the details am I right? He’s just a boy. He finally seems to have made up his mind even though the girl with grey eyes is warning him with them.
“I am Perseus Jackson, son of-” he stopped himself suddenly
“Poseidon.” I end the sentence for him, “I am Athis Campbell, daughter of Ares.” I told him my name in return.
The only girl in their group seems to be ready to fire a ton of questions at me. A daughter of Athena I suppose then; strategic questioning, grey eyes, seems smart. However I’m more interested in the other boy. He also has dark hair but he’s a lot more pale and has eyes that are missing the light of life I’d say. Wait a damn minute. They are all dressed poorly with some minor cuts and bruises. Fucking GODS! I will murder them the moment I know how.
“Where were the 4 of you heading?” I ask.
“Why would we tell you that?” they all say in unison.
“Because I have very good persuasion skills, kids.” I remind them realizing I still have my gun in hand. For the safety of everyone I put it back under my jacket.
“Olympus, if you must know.” the pale boy says showing no interest in the conversation other than wanting it to end.
“Now why the hell would you wanna go there?” I ask rolling my eyes at the thought of willingly going to see Zeus.
“And why would you want to know?” the supposed Athenas girl asks.
“Because I don’t want to have three dead kids and their satyr friend haunting me till the rest of my days, now tell me why are you going there?” I say angrily losing my patience with these kids.
“We got something for them, now can we leave?” the satyr says trying not to sound scared. You know even though I love scaring people by my appearance, having a satyr be afraid of me doesn’t exactly give me pleasure.
“Sure you can.” I say and let them have their headstart on their way to the Empire state building. Don’t tell me that you’re that surprised by my decision to follow them around like a hound. I may act like a monster most days, but not after my pizza.
When they enter the elevator after having the usual chit chat with the security guy I get into the elevator straight away, before they can close the door. They all look rather annoyed by my reappearance. Gods know I hate this elevator. Too many memories.
“Didn’t you let us leave?” the pale one asks tiredly.
“I did. I never said I’m not going to Olympus though.” I say ending any small talk for the rest of the way up. Or so I thought.
“How old are you?” the daughter of Athena asks with the Poseidon's kid also looking at me intently, seemingly interested in my answer. The satyr just looked pained by the question looking at me with somewhat apologetic eyes. Oh, don’t tell me he bloody remembers me. Why do satyrs age differently?! Who’s idea was it? Neither of us would have to be troubled by this question if there was no past between us.
“Twenty-five.” I say looking away from the satyr.
The girl almost gasps at my answer. Am I really that old? Anyway the boys seem rather confused by the girls reaction but the green eyed boy - Percy I think? had a wave of realization cross over his face. Oh right, the usual lifespan of demigods. In that case I am definitely ancient.
The elevator makes a sound telling us that we’ve reached Olympus. I shouldn't have come…
The door slides open and I can already see all the fires and life that is flowing through here. As we walked towards the highest point of Olympus I could see all the people that waved and smiled at the kids. That was not completely the case for me though, the only people who had shown me at least some form of greeting were those with weapons in hand and those who were fond of Hecate. Weird, I know… although in my case, not so much.
I walked behind the kids following the path and upon seeing the twelve thrones of the twelve gods of Olympus I remembered the times my father asked me to come here announced for once instead of spying on their discussions anytime it was important for me. Well, let’s just say that this is the first time I have listened to him in that matter… well, at least partly. That’s still a lot more than I planned on doing this morning and all the mornings before.
I am ripped away from my thoughts when I hear the voice of that idiot who was chosen as king. Aka Zeus for those who haven't figured it out from my description. However I was standing behind the kids. To my surprise most of the gods that had their throne built here were actually sitting on them. I guess they do find the visit of the son of Poseidon important then. Interesting . I wasn’t looking anywhere in particular, I mean at the moment the most interesting place for my mind was the crack in the floor I was focusing my sight on.
Sadly for everyone, my inner peace - sounds weird and unlikely I know, but keep in mind that my inner peace is your minor anger. Unless you have IED or anything similar that is - was quickly destroyed.
“Who are you to dare come here unannounced and without your name to present to the gods?” asks the god of the sky. To be fair the kids came here unannounced too as far as I know.
“I believe it is none of your damn business to know my name and stop acting as if telling you my name is going to have any impact on the fact that I’m here and you don’t like it.” I say raising my head meeting his stare that was starting to make crackling sounds of pulsing electricity. Oh, don’t tell me Pikachu is already starting to get mad. Apologies to Pikachu, that was offensive of me to say about you. I hope Emma won’t hear about this, she’d murder me.
“Stop the crackling or it will soon turn into the cracking of your bones.” I reply, staring at him intently letting out all the fury from my stocks over the years claw back at him.
“You dare-” says someone in the room.
“YES.” I almost scream, my face matching my fury. “I fucking dare.” A look of disgust and anger takes over his expression. “Now, How do you bloody dare send kids on quests to save your own ass?!”
“The oracle and prophecies are responsible for that, not us.” Athena says.
“Do I look like someone who cares for something more than a recipe to cure your immortality? I don't want to hear your buts.” I say already smirking at the thought of them adapting to a mortal life. Wait... “Actually, I have a proposal which will give you some time without me here if its requirements are met by you.” idiots… I would´ve loved to add that, but sadly it wouldn't be true since not all of them are complete dumbasses.
“You-” Zeus tries to say, but is cut off by the one and only, Hera.
“Let's hear her out so that we get her and Jackson out of our hair, hm?
“Now, you sound reasonable ma'am. I want you to stop throwing problems in your children's way since you already complicate their life enough by your existence… Therefore, I want you to make me the guardian of travelers with Hermes´s blessing. With his blessing I would go on quests as their supervision. Now are you going to do that willingly or do you want me to help you?” I say with the sweetness of my voice making me cringe internally.
“We will meet your demands if you meet ours.” Says Zeus after a quick chit chat with his colleagues the words rolling over his tongue ponderously.
“Do tell.”
“You have to play Capture the flag and win by yourself against the hunters of Artemis to show that you are fit to be the guardian. You are also required to announce your arrival at Olympus along with your name from now on. If you meet our requirements and Hermes will like your performance in the game he will appear at Camp Half-Blood and give you his blessing.” Zeus ends his long monologue. You just could not make it shorter could you…
“Deal. It was a pleasure doing business with you.” Finally, let's get out of this place.
I turn around avoiding my fathers gaze to see the three demigods and that satyr standing there, some of them annoyed, some taken aback.
“Let's get out of here kids.”