Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Percy is trying REALLY hard to like Thalia.

Well, it's more like, he's trying to accept the fact that she's here and back and no longer a tree- and that yes, she was Annabeth's friend first. Her family first. She was Grover's friend too, but Grover is his best friend. Plus it's easier for Percy to tell that Grover remains a little scared of Thalia (because of their empathy link, that's probably the reason Percy can tell). For self-preservation or something. She consistently calls him "goat boy" and gives him these super intense, totally unimpressed stares.

So he's been walking on Percy's other side. Annabeth is next to Percy, in the middle of their sidewalk group, at least until they have to split into pairs. And then every time, without fail, she's walking next to Thalia. Thalia throws an arm around her, holding her close, and... Okay, Percy wasn't planning on doing THAT, but.

Look, Tyson isn't here, and Grover is, but in the Sea of Monsters he and Annabeth had...well, they had a lot of good one-on-one moments. They'd gotten - close. She had told him at the start of summer that she was trying to reach out, and she still is. Sort of.

She just likes for Thalia to be around. Seems to want her and Percy to get along, which, sure. Great. They're cousins, right? Or whatever the word is. Their godly parents are brothers, even though Annabeth had told Percy that gods don't have shared DNA, or anything like that.

"Probably makes Zeus feel better about everyone he's ever slept with," Percy muttered. He knows enough about Greek mythology to know waaaay more about Zeus than he ever wanted to.

In any case, it's after Thanksgiving break and mercifully everyone in the city survived weather and potentially fraught family time, but now it's early December and snow is coming. School got out early, and the place he, Annabeth, and Thalia have been going to is in Midtown. So they're headed to his mom's place in Upper East after the early release.

"It's gonna be bad," Thalia says.

"Y-yeah, I agree," Grover adds, wrapping his arms around his torso and seeming to want to disappear in his fluffy jacket as wind blows along the street.

"C'mon guys, it's the city. We might be out of school for a day. And if it lasts for more than a day, well, winter break will just be happening early!" Percy rubs his hands together before he offers a smile to Annabeth, adding "-you won't have to be bored at school for two more weeks then."

Annabeth catches his eye with the slightest upward curve of her mouth, and he feels his heart leap. Which he knows is crazy, come on, Percy - but "and that means we can watch movies!"

Annabeth closes her eyes.

"Unless the power goes out, Percy," Grover says, the tapping of ice pellets hitting streetlights and cars and the sort of hiss that means it's striking bodies and streets has Grover pull down on his knitted cap. Percy zips up his coat and reaches over to pull Annabeth's hood up for her when Thalia's hand tugs at it first.

Percy offers a flat smile as Thalia drops her arm around Annabeth's shoulders and the shorter girl leans into her friend's side. "Thanks, Thalia," she says.

"You're so welcome, 'Beth."

Percy raises his eyebrows and mouths 'Beth'?! Incredulously at Grover, who shrugs before tucking his chin down into the collar of his coat. His hindquarters jerk as he walks, staving off the clopping by use of the Styrofoam inserts in his shoes. "Oh man, I'm gonna need snow boots," he moans.

"Oh we'll have to pop down to the store and get you some, Grover," Thalia says. Grover blinks and smiles slightly, seeming touched.

"Really? That'd be-"

"Yeah and I've got some pairs of boots at home," Percy says. "We can get those to fit him."

"Well all right, Percy, but maybe Grover wants his OWN shoes," she's got her brows rising with eyes narrowed as she catches her tongue between her teeth.

Percy bites down the instant comeback he wants to make, which he dilutes by grumbling "...I never thought I'd have anything in common with Biff Tannen, but his tree comments I now get."

"Biff Tannen?" Annabeth asks.

"Yeah, he's from a movie. Well, a trilogy of movies, technically, but that's - I'm mostly talking about the first one. Back to the Future," Percy explains when both Annabeth and Thalia look confused. Although on Thalia's face, the expression reads more like unimpressed. "-we can watch it," Percy offers. "It's a good one. Not horror, so."

"Okay," Annabeth nods.

"We should probably focus more on what's required for this storm that's coming, surely," Thalia says, her shoulders dropping in an exaggerated sigh. "Rather than discussing the plots of movies."

"I wasn't even -"

"Oh look!" Grover bleats loudly, indicating Percy's apartment building. "We're here! You're going to love Sally," he adds to Thalia. "Percy's mom. She's the greatest."

Annabeth nods again, this time more emphatically, which warms Percy with pride. "She really is."

"Oh, well. It'll be interesting to meet her then, since what greatness has passed down to her son still remains to be seen."

Percy honestly didn't know that anyone could tick him off as easily as Thalia Grace. He always feels like he should apologize to Clarisse the next time he sees her, because if he irritates her as much as he gets irritated by Thalia, that's... tough.

"Well I'd say we've already seen YOUR greatness, Thalia -which will probably end up being the most important thing in case the power goes out in this storm," Percy announces as he moves around her and Annabeth to go up the steps and open the door to his apartment complex.

"Oh yeah?" Thalia's brow raises. She cocks her head. "Of course, what would that greatness specifically be?"

Percy turns back to her with a brilliant smile as he pulls open the door. "With all those lightning powers, you'll be the perfect generator!"

Her eyes narrow, and a crackle of power snaps across the steadily lightening street as ice pellets continue to fall, now mixed with softer flakes of snow.

Chapter Text

"Mom," Percy doesn't care what anyone thinks when he sees his mom, or who's there to see him hug her. When she sees him and smiles, looking back and forth but then coming to give him a big hug, he practically leaps forward to wrap his arms around her after taking off his backpack and dropping it beside the door.

"Percy! You're home early, hi Annabeth, Grover."

"Hi Sally,"

"Hi Ms Jackson," Grover and Annabeth say at practically the same time.

Percy, shrugging off his coat, says "yeah Mom, school got closed early today 'cause they're worried about the storm that's coming. Did you get a call or anything?"

"N- well no, not one that I heard." Sally is still smiling but it's smaller, her fingers twisting around each other as she steps back after giving Annabeth and then Grover hugs as well. She looks at Thalia, who nods at her with hands folded in front of her body and wearing a very close-lipped smile. "Who's this? Hi, I'm Sally," she puts out a hand.

"It's -" Percy rolls his shoulders and head back around as Thalia introduces herself.

"Thalia Grace, good to meet you, ma'am. Nice place you got here."

"Oh, thank you Thalia." Their hands meet and a blue-white spark springs from Thalia's thumb. Sally catches her breath, but Thalia keeps smiling. "And- there's someone I want you to meet, Percy." She clears her throat and he spins as from the kitchen comes a figure with dark hair that falls across forehead, slight scruff of almost a beard, and the same height as Percy.

Percy turns, one shoulder facing this person, his farthest arm out, hand turned to grab hold of his mom and keep Annabeth and Grover - and even Thalia - behind him. "Mom, who's -"

"Percy, this is Paul," Sally says. "My friend, Paul Blofis."

He's stepping closer with a smile of his own, wearing a collared shirt underneath a sweater, and slacks. "Hello Percy, it's great to meet you."

He's extended a hand, and Percy flicks his gaze up and down before slowly extending his own to shake this guy's. "Hey. Your last name's Blowfish?"

Sally blinks. "Percy..."

"Blofis. Pretty close, just without the w and the h."

Percy mouths letters, blinking and shaking his head. "... okay, so. What're you doing here, Paul?"

"Percy," his mom says with tone quieter but firm.

"It's okay, Sally, it's a fair question. I'm a teacher," he says "and my school let off early today too, so I came over to see if Sally wanted lunch. I was about to head to the store, so I can pick up some things for her. And you and your friends too."

"Thanks," Percy says, tone deep as he draws up his head and studies this guy. Paul nods back at him.

"Of course, I'm happy to help and to get your mom anything she needs."

"Cool, so, uh. Paul." Percy licks his lips and steps forward. Paul stays where he is, and his posture remains relaxed. Percy lowers his chin and raises his eyebrows. "How long have you and my mom been -" he pauses before he adds "friends?"

Annabeth reaches out, her fingers brush Percy's wrist. She says his name quietly, in close to a hiss. His eyes shift and his shoulders drop a little, though there remains some tension in them. It's a good thing he doesn't have his sword out, Annabeth decides; and Paul just keeps being nice, answering Percy's questions.

"We met about six months ago." That tracks, Percy thinks. When Grover and Tyson called, his mom was at the beach...but she never really went there without him. But that time... the car. That blue Prius she came and got them in, that she never answered him about whose car it was.

"You've been to the beach with her, right?"

Paul blinks and then nods, his smile getting a little bigger. "That's right! So you did tell him about me, Sally."

Percy drops his head and it's a rough tone subsequent to silence that he uses as he nods, saying "...yeah." he swipes his thumb across his lower lip before dropping his hand.

Annabeth has moved to actively wrap her hand around his opposite hand. She squeezes it in hers, and then

It's Thalia who says "So! Now that we've all met, what was that about lunch? And do we need to go out to the store as well? It seems like we may be having to hunker down here in a little while."

Sally Jackson, who had been looking at her son with some aching warmth and fondness and also the expression Annabeth has actually seen on a parent's face, although it had been her father's, and he was begging her to understand where he was coming from. She thinks she could understand this better than what she dealt with from her father, although... maybe not.

Because her father had chosen someone else, that was what he was doing. With his wife. Sure, this is newer, and Sally is NOTHING like Annabeth's father, but. She sees Percy's shoulders drop. This is a predicament.

"That's right, we might be. Paul, I should come with you to the store to get things for the kids - Grover, you're vegetarian right?"

"Oh yes, but don't worry about me, Ms Jackson, I'm fine."

"Yeah, if we get stuck in here too long, Grover will just chew up all the cans."

There's silence when Percy says this. Grover's eyes get big and Annabeth nearly puts her face in her hands. Leave it to Percy to just meet somebody mortal and then immediately out Grover as having goat-like eating tendencies.

"Wh- Percy," Grover's mouth works over words he doesn't manage to fully form, and it takes another second for Percy to raise his eyebrows and respond

"Mm? Oh, shoot, my bad, G-man."

"It's okay."

"Okay! Paul and I are going just down the street to the bodega, ready Paul?" Sally is moving, getting her coat and purse and a scarf and gloves, putting her hand on Paul's wrist and not quite pulling him out the door of the apartment. "Percy, see what your friends want to drink, honey. And call me if any of you want something, I'm taking my phone." She gives a head bob and smiles at the teens again before telling Paul to "Come on."

Thalia's eyebrows go up as the door closes after the pair, then, Paul grabbing his coat out of the closet where Percy had hung his, and now Percy is just standing, muttering that "his coat was in the closet. In the closet. How long has - is he living here?"

"Well," Thalia says suddenly. "That was highly awkward, but your mom's cool, Percy."

Percy snaps his head up, staring over as if expecting something other than a compliment, and then blinking.

"I don't know if he agrees..." Grover says. "At least right now."

Annabeth watches Percy, still standing next to him. One more time she squeezes his hand, and it's like that brings him back. He exhales.

"Okay, yep. My mom's dating a blowfish, and just introduced me to him, that isn't weird. Okay, come on in, I'll actually get you guys drinks," he sniffs and swipes at his nose, moving on into the apartment with purpose. Annabeth looks from Grover to Thalia, the former who blows air from his cheeks and the latter who shrugs.

But they follow, all crowding into the kitchen as Percy lists out and in several cases picks up or points to the types of beverages his mom has. "Do you want anything specific from the store? Because I know my mom's serious about buying stuff," Percy leans his elbows on the counter for a second and then turns and goes over to the TV, shifting things to find the remote. "I should probably put the news on to find out more about this storm...unless your wild magic can tell us something," he turns around with a snap of his fingers to point at Grover.

"What? Oh, I mean, I know the animals are taking shelter due to the temperature dropping, but I'm not a weatherman."

"Nah, 'cause you'd be a weather-goat, right? The goat of weather?" Percy winks. Annabeth strives to stop a smile. Thalia sighs heavily.

Grover just stares at Percy, attempting to appear unimpressed.

Chapter Text

"I bought hot chocolate," Percy's mom announces when she returns with Paul behind her carrying most of the grocery bags. "And I got blue marshmallows, Percy," she adds.

"Yesss," Percy instantly pushes himself off the counter that he had sat on to see from the kitchen area over to the television. "Thanks Mom," he goes for a saucepan and pulls milk out of the fridge.

"I've decided what to have for lunch," Sally announces. "I'm making grilled cheese sandwiches with different kinds of cheese, pickle spears or tomatoes if anyone wants, and ham or turkey if you are so inclined to have those. Otherwise, there's milk, tonic, and the hot chocolate I got. Percy,"

"Already have the milk boiling, Mom," he says, and she smiles as he brushes his lips infinitesimally to her cheek.

Annabeth feels a tightness in her chest as she watches Sally and Percy. She's gotten to hang out with him and his mom a couple of times so far, and even though she's not made it a habit to agree with Percy - or at least, tell him that she agrees with him - he is right that Sally is incredibly cool.

She finds herself watching Thalia, who leans against a wall across from everyone with a rising eyebrow and folded arms. She hasn't let her guard completely down, but she isn't rubbing her bracelet or moving for her weapons, so Annabeth can tell she isn't completely on-edge.

She also thinks Thalia is warming up to Percy a little by seeing the way he acts with his mom. Annabeth understands. There's something - like the way he always checks on her, especially when they get out of a vehicle, Percy waits until she is on the sidewalk with him after exiting. He's a gentleman, is the thought that crosses her mind, unbidden, and that she nearly curses. Because this is Percy! Percy Jackson, seaweed brain, the son of Poseidon and... He's looking at her. Leaning closer across the kitchen table. His curls have gotten darker, more brown than blond, and his eyes look almost grey today. She guesses because of the reflection of what is now a crust, probably soon to become a blanket of, snow.

"Annabeth, what do you want on your sandwich?" Percy is asking her. His voice has dropped- she noticed it somewhat when they were sailing and fighting their way through the Sea of Monsters, but it didn't send a warm feeling down her spine then. She doesn't know what's happening now...snap out of it, wise girl!

"Uh, I'd like the cheese and pickle spears," she says. Receiving a look from Thalia, along with a disbelieving noise, she defends "what? It sounds like it'll be good."

"Oh it is," Percy says before Thalia has a chance to respond with anything. "Trust me, the way the salt and brine of that pickle soaks into the bread and the cheese?" He kisses his fingertips and brings them away from his face. "Chef's kiss. Or mine, since I'm cooking," he smiles, and Annabeth can't help but smile in return even as her face feels slightly warm.

As he turns away though, going to the stove, a rainbow catches the light from a window in the room with the TV, and suddenly Annabeth is standing up from the table, staring at the view of a familiar face that calls to her.

"-Chase! You hear me?! Are you still in the city?"

Dark eyes burn through the arc of the little rainbow, and Annabeth hopes the Mist works at least on Paul - she's aware that Sally has a particularly strong ability to see through it.

"Clarisse," Annabeth hisses, trying not to move her mouth too much "Yes, I'm in the city, why?"

The daughter of Ares tosses her long hair with a sigh before dragging another person, bright blonde hair and perfectly rounded cheeks, flushed and offset by a pointed chin and enormous eyes "-Silena here needed to get some SHOPPING done, so I came with her and now the snow's coming so thick we can't catch a ride." There's crunching from her boots in the snow then. Then a swooshing sound and Silena lets out a shriek "AND" Clarisse grunts "-it's getting slick. Where are you guys?"

"I'm with Thalia and Grover, and we're all at Percy's mom's place," Annabeth offers, having a feeling she knows what Clarisse's response will be.

She isn't disappointed, Clarisse stops and bares her teeth. "Jackson," she practically hisses, and then sighs. Closing her eyes for a second to fortify herself, she opens them again to say "you think he'd let us come hang? Not that I want to, but Silena's getting cold."

"I sh-should be fine, Clarisse, don't be s-silly!" As if proving her point, Silena appears again, now waving. "Hi, Annabeth!"

"Hi Silena," Annabeth says, and that is when both Percy and her sandwich appear. Percy smiles at her, the soft smile that against her will makes her stomach flutter. But he's going to lose that smile very shortly, she's sure.

"Annabeth, what's going on?" He sees the look on her face, and she sighs. He's observant.

"Percy..." Annabeth clears her throat and picks her sandwich up. She takes a bite, chews and swallows.

"You like it?" He asks, earnest and happy, and she manages a smile with her nod.
.
"It's really good. But Percy,"

"Awesome, that's great. I'll get you some hot chocolate, the milk's done boiling, and-"

"Listen, seaweed brain!" She doesn't mean to shout. And she doesn't, quite - but she snaps, and Grover's eyes are wide, Paul has popped his head around the wall, and Thalia lets out a low whistle. "Um, I just need to know, heh. How do you and your mom feel about a couple more guests?"

"...A couple more?" Percy's eyebrows scrunch together. "Who else is in the city today besides us?"

"Oh, only two campers," Annabeth says, effecting nonchalance.

"They're absolutely welcome," Sally Jackson says.

Paul who's been pulling the blinds away from the window, adds "it looks like the snow is really coming down outside!"

"Do they know how to get here?" Grover asks.

"I'll give the building address and landmarks, but we may need to stand outside when they're close. It's Silena, from Aphrodite cabin," Annabeth tells Percy. "And Clarisse."

There's a moment of silence before Grover says tremulously "Oh, joy."

Chapter Text

Percy checks with his mom if it's okay for two more people to visit, and he half-expects, or rather hopes, that she'll tell him there isn't enough room, but she doesn't. She hears the words "from camp" and decides here is the safest place for them to wait out the storm.

She's right, of course; and besides if somehow a monster appears, honestly, Percy almost feels sorry for it.

He shoves his own sandwich down as Annabeth tells him that Clarisse and Silena will need someone to flag them down "and actually let them in, yeah," he sighs. "Can I let Silena but leave Clarisse? ... kidding," he adds, but Annabeth only gives him a Look as she sighs. "I haven't actually met Silena, right? What's her cabin?"

"Probably not, and she's a daughter of Aphrodite."

"Cool so what is she doing with Clarisse, exactly?"

Annabeth rolls her eyes.

Percy grabs his coat and a scarf and can immediately tell the temperature has dropped when he steps out onto the stairs. There's ice, or snow with a crust, on the railings which he registers as he puts his hand against it and immediately swears as his hand falls through the surface and immediately gets that burning feeling from cold. He doesn't get wet as his dad's powers apparently still work on frozen water, thanks Dad - but snow cold is evidently at least enough different from water cold that he feels it stinging his face.

The thing is, the city is pretty much never quiet. There's always a horn honking or the whoop WOOP of a siren, but there is some sort of silence in falling snow. It's like .. a blanketing sort of silence, Percy guesses would be the word; even as the wind gusts there's still quiet save for the sort of tinkling hiss of falling icy pellets.

The sky is that low light gray of snow clouds, and Percy figures this is nOt Zeus, that guy doesn't have anything to do with snow, and personally based on meeting him, Percy doesn't think he has it in him to have FUN. At least not the kind of fun that snow days are.

Thinking of that, Percy stoops and grabs some snow, hands stinging and burning from the cold he shapes and squishes it into a snowball, and then chucks it over top of a car down the street. Or he intends to miss it, but the ball somehow bounces on the roof of the vehicle and an immediate wrow weeoo weeoo of a car alarm blares down the quiet street.

"Way to go, Jackson," Percy hears, and his shoulders jerk upward as he turns with a smile that nobody can prove is anything but genuine. And it isn't fake, exactly; she just always seems to catch sight of things that give her the excuse to rag on him. Although he's pretty positive she would do that anyway, no matter what.

"Clarisse," he says, tone somewhere between a groan and a sigh, but then he catches the giant smile of the girl next to her, and is struck by the fact that Clarisse is very clearly walking with her arm around this girl who's like four inches shorter than her and has this smile.

"This is Percy?" She asks, and Clarisse scoffs.

"Yeah. Unfortunately."

"Hey," Percy says "that's hilarious. Just like it's hilarious that you're not gonna be invited inside in a minute, Clarisse."

Wrinkling her nose and drawing her face back, Clarisse says "that's fine, Jackson, I don't have to come in, just let Silena warm up."

The other girl tilts her face up to look at Clarisse and says "no, I don't want you to stay out here in the cold. We can head back to camp in -"

Clarisse closes her eyes. "The ferries aren't running, Beauregard. There's ice and look at all this -" she waves her arm in almost a windmill motion, which has Percy biting back a laugh. "Ugh, shut UP, Jackson!"

"Fine, but are you both coming inside then?" He turns and goes back up the steps to open the door. "Because I'm only holding this for forty-five seconds."

Silena and Clarisse slip and slide and start moving, Clarisse giving Percy a glare as she passes him, Silena saying "hi Percy, it's nice to finally meet you. I've heard things."

"Oh yeah? If they were from Clarisse don't listen to any."

She laughs, and Percy finds himself blinking over how genuinely nice she seems. Aphrodite kids seem to like gossip and makeup, but this girl also seems to not only like being here, she thanks him for hosting them.

Well. "It's sweet of you to host us," Silena says, and Percy raises his eyebrows.

"Thanks. See, Clarisse, that's how you show appreciation for something. Your turn."

"Eat it, Jackson."

"Nice, really nice. You should've eaten some snow outside, oh but speaking of eating, I have some sandwiches if you actually WANT to eat this time," Percy says to Clarisse. She stares at him without blinking for a moment as he opens the door to his mom's apartment.

"Hey Clarisse,"

"Hi Silena," there are greetings from Grover and Annabeth, and Silena lets out a little squeal and goes over to give Annabeth a hug, which Percy notices she takes a lot better than the hug she'd been given by Alison Simms back on Luke's ship.

This Aphrodite girl already gets points for that.

Chapter Text

"All right, kiddos, we have sandwiches and chips - Grover there's also celery and carrots and a few other vegetarian snacks too... Percy the milk has a film!"

"Oh, crap, I'll get it- hot chocolate is coming for everyone, blue marshmallows included."

"Blue marshmallows...?"

"What in Erebus are you on, Jackson?"

"Hey don't knock it till you try it, and Clarisse" Percy pauses as he gets down a bunch of different mugs, a few from the candy shop, one each from all his previous schools- his mom showed spirit by getting a mug to drink from and think about him every day. She didn't exactly say that to him, but there's too many of them to be a coincidence. Giving the dark-haired girl a significant look, he jerks his head towards the door. A nonverbal addition to "I can put you face-first in the snow again."

"Try it, Jackson."

Grover has located a blanket and wrapped it over his horns and ears as he's shuffled over to the couch. Annabeth joins him after finishing the remainder of her sandwich. A cold blast of air goes through the apartment and Paul moves to each window. "-did we latch your office window, Sally?"

"I'll check," Percy's mom moves and Thalia immediately steps away from her spot leaning against the wall in response. "Oh you're okay, honey." Passing by Clarisse and Silena with a smile and pat or squeeze of the shoulder "You two make yourselves at home as well, okay?"

"Thanks Ms Jackson," Silena says instantly, her eyes filling as she says to Clarisse "isn't she so sweet?"

Clarisse grunts in reply.

"So what do you do on snow days? Watch the news, everyone pelts Percy with snowballs or what?" Thalia asks.

"Hey," Percy says "I have the hot chocolate and we can watch a movie. As long as the power stays on, you can help with that, right Thalia?"

Thalia makes a face as Percy stops beside and hands a mug of hot chocolate to Annabeth.

"Marshmallows?" He asks her, and she pokes herself forward to take as much as look at the hot chocolate.

"Sure," she says, and he grins.

"Say when." He starts shaking the mini blue marshmallows out of their bag, and gets zealous in the attempt.

"Whoa, seaweed brain!" She calls out as abruptly a mountain of marshmallows covers the surface of her hot chocolate.

"Sorry," Percy scoops a couple off the top of the mound and pops them into his mouth. "-but I know you're gonna love it," he tells her.

"Okay," Annabeth says, and blows away some steam before raising the mug to her lips, both hands wrapped around its sides. The froth from milk marks her upper lip along with the already-melting marshmallows, but it's sweet and warm and "that's really good," she says with shocked eyes. Percy smiles.

He as if automatically reaches - is it to touch her cheek? "That's good," he says, and then Silena giggles. Percy jerks and then waves his hand as if only just registering that he's moved it. Annabeth looks over at the daughter of Aphrodite who has lifted her eyebrows and wears this knowing expression- what she knows, Annabeth has a guess, but Percy only encourages her to "Have more," and then he's practically bouncing back to grab more mugs, filling and handing one to Grover

"without marshmallows," Grover yelps. "They're made with pork!" Annabeth's brows wrinkle just the slightest, and Clarisse widens her eyes.

"Not the pork," she says.

"Listen, gelatin is a pork by-product, and it's in a lot of things!" Grover defends his choice with his whole chest.

"It's okay G-man, I have blue M&Ms for yours," Percy promises. "The question is if Clarisse can get out of her own a-"

Clarisse practically snatches a mug from him with a glare. "You're already on thin ice, Jackson."

"No I'm pretty sure that was you, outside," he says.

"Okay, golly, the road's getting bumpy, I've got some friends who just can't get along..."

"We're not friends," Clarisse says.

"Wow, Clarisse, after I helped you with your quest? That hurts," Percy gasps and puts his hand against his chest. "Oh well, just means you don't get input on the movie."

Her eyes narrow at him. "WHAT movie?"

"The movie we watch until the snow stops and sticks enough for snowball fights, duh."

"Oh if there's a snowball fight you're going DOWN."

"I kinda figured. You know, maybe we should watch something that gives you some ideas for more creative ways to threaten me."

"What about that movie you were talking about earlier, Percy?" Annabeth asks.

"What was that, Chase? The Cat in the Hat?"

"Ooh already she's already coming back with something different!" Thalia claps.

"She's evolving," Annabeth says, and Percy moves but she quickly adds, reaching out to touch his arm. "It was that one- you talked about a character... Buff? Was that his name?" Of course her hand is around Percy's forearm when Annabeth asks this, and she can feel the definition of his muscles; even though that isn't the point, gods, and anyway...

"Oh, Biff! You want to watch Back to the Future?" Percy asks, and he has no right to get that smiley and excited. "Sure! We have that one. We've actually got the whole trilogy I think. Everybody else good with that?" He turns to look around, but nobody really expects any alternative film choices.

Nobody else who's listening to the conversation, anyway.

Chapter Text

Something about Marty's parents having so little in common, but he, even with things not happening according to plan, was able to help them get together (or back together before he went back to the future, haha) it's... nice, to Percy. It may even be a comfort, the idea that different people can connect. People who on the surface might have nothing in common but can find common ground in caring about each other.

Maybe he likes it because he imagines what it could be like for his mom and dad, if his dad was around-only difference is, Percy knows he definitely isn't as cool as Marty.

But as he sits beside Annabeth on the couch this time, Percy's ear is caught by his mom's voice. She's being quiet, sitting at the kitchen table and talking with her friend Paul "So all you kids can be closer to the TV for the movie" she told them. This has Thalia leang on the wall of the living room rather than the hallway.

Clarisse has sprawled out on the floor and Silena sits in the easy chair behad her- it's a little ragged but good and comfortable enough. Percy, sitting on the side of the couch closest to them, has a view of Silena patting Clarisse's shoulder and seeming to encourage her to lean against her legs.

It turns into what seems like Silena smoothing back Clarisse's hair, which fair enough, Percy thinks; an Aphrodite kid would know about hair care, making it look good, fall right and whatever. He can't stop a smirk, and must chuckle a little, or raise his eyebrows, because suddenly Clarisse says "shut UP, Jackson" and sends her left arm, bent with the lowest amount of space to swing but greatest force into his leg.

"Ow, damn!" He yelps and then hisses, instantly dropping his voice on the swearword. He presses his lips together and pushes her with the side of his foot, grimacing as his calf muscle seizes up from the punch.

Clarisse's jaw tightens and she brings her hand down to slam into Percy's foot. He slides it back quickly, slapping at her upper arm and getting her hand on his arm instead.

~"It's a blues riff in B. Watch me for the changes, and try an' keep up, okay?"~

"Percy," Annabeth says, her eyes widening as she turns to look at him, just as Marty McFly starts strumming his guitar to the strains of 'Johnny B. Goode'.

~"Way down in Louisiana down 'n New Orleans, way back up in the woods among the evergreens- there was a log cabin made 'a earth and wood where lived a country boy name 'a Johnny B Goode!

He never ever learned to read or write so well, but he could play the guitar like he was ringing a bell. Go go, go Johnny go, go!"~

Only for Clarisse to take the second that Percy turns his head back towards Annabeth to explode out of the lounging seat she had taken on the floor. She wraps her arm around his neck and yanks him off the couch. He jabs his elbow into the left side of her abdomen, which makes her gasp and cough as he bares his teeth and rolls over her. She grabs a blanket from the couch and off of Annabeth, who lifts both of her arms away from her lap.

Clarisse flings the blanket over Percy's head, grabbing the ends and with her arms and core strength flipping him onto his back. Percy flails his arms and legs like an upturned beetle. "Ah! Clarisse, let me out!" He sputters.

"Say I got you," Clarisse hisses. "Say it, Jackson."

"What? That's stupid. This isn't even a fight!"

"Yeah, because you can't admit that I would win."

"Uh, who says, pft" Percy spits and shakes his head, curls escaping from the blanket and he pokes his face through the sides. "Aah," he gets his head out completely only for Clarisse to press her forearms tight to both sides of his head.

"Give up yet?" Clarisse asks, as onscreen behind them Marty is whipping his guitar around doing a crazy solo.

"Nope," Percy grunts, and then he rears back, knocking his head into her chin.

For the second time "Ow!" Percy blurts out. Clarisse completely lets go of the blanket and him, her hand snapping up to press against her face.

"Percy!" Annabeth says. Grover yelps.

"Damn it Jackson!" Clarisse snaps.

~"Well, I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet. But your kids are gonna love it."~

"Woo! All right!" Thalia cheers, clapping her hands. "That's it Marty, give 'em something to talk about. Holy, whoa. What did I just miss here?" She catches sight of Clarisse glaring with hand clapped over her mouth and nose, Silena leaning close to catch her wrist as Percy is wincing and rubbing his head, curls frizzy and sticking out everywhere. Thalia laughs, incredulous at first, and then as Percy's eyes crinkle and widen, with sheer, utter mirthful joy.

Chapter Text

Percy first registers shock, the shock that Thalia has not only been paying attention to the movie, but that she likes it, and then he feels a pain on the top back part of his head where he'd smacked into Clarisse.

Clarisse is sniffing and lifting her head as though reluctantly for Silena to check her nose and mouth, her whole face, Percy guesses - "If she's looking for why you're ugly, the answer is your dad," and then

"Percy!" Annabeth's voice acts as the grasp of her hand would. She had physically stopped him from saying too much to Dionysus back at Camp, and she's doing the same thing right now.

Which has him swallow and try for a smile, adding "I'm just kidding, Clarisse, you're not- I mean, you definitely don't look like your dad. You just..." Act like him? That's not true either. Clarisse is brave. She doesn't hide her insults behind ragebait posts on Twitter. Or whatever it's called now. Percy doesn't really care.

"I hate you," Clarisse grumbles, her tone low. She blinks and drops her chin now, shifting back as Silena nods to her and squeezes her shoulder. And then she turns around and seems to deliberately sag her body against the daughter of Aphrodite, who in turn wraps her arms around Clarisse's shoulders. She rests her chin on one, and Percy blinks.

"Do I have a concussion, or-"

"Let me see, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth sighs. She's moved over on the couch to get closer to him, and she's reaching out towards his head. She stops with fingers curving as if hesitant, her eyes flickering up and down. She doesn't verbally ask, but she's checking whether or not he's all right with that.

And he is. He presses palms to the floor and scooches over, tipping his head towards her and saying "I think it's near the back, Clarisse has such a hard head, that's totally the thing she gets from Ares -"

"Shut UP, Jackson!" Clarisse says, and Percy actually closes his mouth, staring at her. She's whipped her head around to stare at him, her eyes dark and fiery but also...it's as though they contain something else.

Something like - that seems almost like pain.

She presses her lips together. "He came to see me, to start me on my quest," she says. "To give me the ship and the crew, but also to-" she stops, working her lips. Her hands grasp opposite arms, nails digging into her skin. Silena shifts and keeps her arms around Clarisse's shoulders. She actually seems to tighten them.

Clarisse exhales, looking down rather than at Percy as she continues speaking. "After he showed me, told me about the ship and the men, he said...he told me that I'd better not let anybody - ALLOW anybody to take this quest from me."

"So that's why you kept on saying it was your quest like you had a quota of lines?" Percy asks.

"Ssh!" Annabeth says.

But Clarisse lifts her eyes and nods. "Yep. That was- part of it. But also he- he said to me 'You let that sea-twerp kid break your spear. How do you think that made me feel?' Just- and then that made me angry, so he was like, he- he dared me. Said 'Punch me in the stomach. Come on, do it. Don't be scared, do it. You know you want to, kid.'"

She unclenches her fingers from around her own arms, slowly putting her hands into her lap and opening fingers as if relinquishing her hold on something she'd crushed. She shakes her head, exhaling a breath that almost shakes.

There is silence. Silena rests her head against the side of Clarisse's, Grover makes a sound that's almost like a whimper, and Percy doesn't know what to say. He'd known that Ares was a jerk before, but... He hoped, he guesses. Hoped he wouldn't be as much of a jerk to his own kids as he is to everybody else.

So much for that.

"Shit," Thalia speaks. Percy looks up to see her eyes burning, there's a feeling like lightning in the room. Like that or really strong static electricity. She comes around the couch and continues "that's bullshit, you know that, yeah? It's manipulative. And gross. You didn't try to punch him after he told you to, did you?"

"...no." when Clarisse next speaks, she sounds - small. Something Percy never expected, not from her. But then she looks up at Thalia and repeats in a flat sort of way "No, I didn't."

"See," Thalia smiles in a way that's almost manic. "There you go, girl! That means you didn't let yourself be manipulated. It means you did the right thing. The BETTER thing."

"It felt like I was a wimp, or a coward," Clarisse's voice is quiet.

Percy can't stand that. "What? No way, Clarisse- you might be a bunch of things, but you're no coward. You fought your way all the way through the sea of monsters and then through Camp when you got back! Chiron put you in charge of protecting the border. That's like, the bravest job option ever."

"Yeah," Annabeth speaks now. She had run her fingers gently through Percy's hair and now taps his cheek with her hand, getting him to look at her. She looks in his eyes for a few moments and then clears her throat and says "I mean, you saved me on the ship when it was almost getting taken apart by the winds. You fought off all those- the people on the cruise ship to protect me, too." Her voice gets a little quieter then as well, and Percy can tell she avoided mentioning the name of the Princess Andromeda. And talking about Luke. It makes something painful flare up in his chest, but he sees the way Clarisse's expression changes. It doesn't soften, exactly, but she nods and her eyes don't seem so angry anymore.

"Thanks," she says, her voice rough. She turns to face them and says "so are we watching the rest of these movies? You said it's a trilogy, right?"

"What -" Percy blinks. First Thalia, now Clarisse actually likes this? Wow. "I mean, I guess since the power isn't out...sure."

"Do you have any more snacks?" Grover asks.

"Seriously, Grover? You just join the conversation to ask about food?"

"So weird," Clarisse says. Silena giggles but lightly shoves her.

"Show love," the daughter of Aphrodite says.

"And I uh-" Percy twists, and his mom looks up from her seat at the kitchen table.

"We have popcorn, chips, and pretzels, and I can make a mean seven-layer dip," Sally says. Percy's jaw jumps and there's a gurgling from the fridge and sink before suddenly water explodes out of the kitchen faucet.

"Oh, geez-"

Sally gasps and Paul is up moving to turn the water off, saying "Well I hope that doesn't say anything bad about the pipes."

Percy swallows and breathes. He focuses, and the water recedes. Annabeth has dropped her hand to his shoulder, and he focuses on that, the steadiness and warmth.

"Well!" Sally smooths her hair, wiping her hands on sopping wet clothes. "I'm going to change, but I'm sure Percy will grab the snacks, won't you, honey?" Percy nods, wincing as he pushes himself to his feet.

"Yeah, sorry, Mom." He says the second part softly as he gets closer to her, adding "it's just, your seven-layer dip... you always had to make it for him-"

Sally sighs. She nods, dropping her head. "I know, honey." She lifts her hand to touch his cheek. "It's okay. I'm sorry for bringing it up in a way that was so -sudden."

"I just - you always deserved better," he feels a burning in his throat as he says this to her. He'd said it before, after his first quest. When he had met his dad.

"Poseidon called you a queen." He had told her that, too. And as he watches Paul come over with a towel to clean up the water, no explanation needed, without even being asked, Percy thinks, well. Some of them have shitty dads, and shittier step dads, but this Paul guy is okay.

And if anybody deserves the good luck of finding an actually decent guy, it's Percy's mom.

Chapter Text

Percy pops some popcorn and mixes it with blue M&Ms, a little bit of garlic salt, and butter. He has a giant bowl and a couple smaller ones "because honestly, Clarisse, I don't know if you want to share with me."

"You're right. I don't," she instantly takes a handful and throws it back, crunching between her teeth and staring at Percy with a raised eyebrow.

"Okay, well that's - unsettling," he clears his throat and nods before sitting down on the couch again. "Cool. Here Thalia," he hands her another smaller bowl.

Thalia's eyes flicker as Percy holds the largest bowl and then offers it to Annabeth and Grover. "Oh, we're staking claim this way now?" She inquires, although when Percy slightly narrows his eyes and asks

"What?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing." Scooping some popcorn and then tossing it in the air and catching a piece in her mouth, there a beat, a moment where she's silent.

"...Thalia?" Annabeth asks. "Are you okay?" and Percy wants to yell, to say of course she's okay!

"Why wouldn't she be? Has she never had popcorn before?"

Thalia gives him a cold stare.

"Wow, uh, have you actually - not had popcorn before?"

"No, I've had it. Just - not like this."

"Ah. The blue M&Ms are a Jackson specialty." Percy smiles.

Thalia sighs. "No, that isn't what I meant." Not exactly, anyway. She drops her eyes and scoops another bunch of popcorn into her hand, shifting her wrist up and down as she looks at it. The popcorn she had before had most often been stale, set to be thrown out at a movie theater where she and Luke had to lay low, taking some time in the dark to rest and regroup. And eat crappy theater food like stale popcorn. They would take Annabeth to the movies too, once she was with them. She could always fall asleep, and often did; Luke would nod off as well once in awhile, but Thalia couldn't. She would sit up straight, eyes on the door. Barely paying attention to the screen.

So being here, being able - and FEELING able, feeling safe enough to watch and actually like a movie, and then eating non-stale, actually pretty decent popcorn that someone cared enough to make and give to her... Thalia's hand shakes just a little as she pops more pieces in her mouth. As she says "thanks," her voice is rough, though Percy doesn't realize it, or doesn't comment. He seems surprised by her thanking him, actually, and that kind of makes her want to demand to know what his problem is. Why would he assume she wouldn't thank him?! But maybe he has a reason that doesn't have to do with her.

He says "you're welcome, Thalia." And he sits and watches the movie without making any sarcastic remarks, at least for the moment.

Silena is apparently allowed to share with Clarisse, because she doesn't come over to grab any popcorn.

But when his mom comes back after changing due to Percy's sink-water explosion, she does come over to snag some. And completely ignores the "hey!" Yelp from her son.

Chapter Text

They're into the second movie when Clarisse says, scoffing at the screen with an extended arm and gesturing hand (while simultaneously crunching popcorn) "Look at him in that dumb hat and ridiculous shiny black jacket sneaking around and knocking people out." Marty had just decked Biff outside of his mom's car for the second time.

Percy glances over at her. "Jealous, huh Clarisse?"

She stares at him and blinks slowly. "No, because I'd just go right up to someone like that and punch him out. How's your head, Jackson?"

It's Grover beside hom who winces and Percy who now blinks, lifting hand to touch his forehead.

"Um, in this case, isn't it for the best that Marty is - for lack of a better word, sneaking?" Grover asks.

"It's just too bad he doesn't have your hat," Percy says to Annabeth.

Clarisse sighs. And Thalia from her place now leaning against the back of the couch with elbows at rest on the top, says "I agree with Clarisse. I mean, this kid has already messed with space and time like crazy, right? It's his fault in the first place that Biff is rich because he HAD to bring that copy of the - what was it?"

"Sports almanac, for betting." Percy explains. He looks past Annabeth and over his shoulder at Thalia. "...I kind of can't believe you're into these movies," he says.

Thalia raises her eyebrows. "Why not, Percy?"

Somehow the way she says his first name seems like a threat. But he can't help responding like "Well you were a pine tree for five years, I figured you might be more into nature documentaries or something."

Thalia, flicking her index finger up, says without missing a beat "No, that's Grover. And you forget I didn't wAnt to become a tree." Her gaze moving to Annabeth and softening a little "...but I'm glad that doing so created protection. You got to Camp."

"Yeah," Annabeth smiles this warm thing as she twists around to look at Thalia. "I got to camp." The older girl smiles back and squeezes Annabeth's shoulder. Annabeth wraps her arms around Thalia's as if automatically, and something in Percy's chest aches as he watches them hug.

"Okay," he clears his throat, looking down at the bowl of popcorn that's been pretty much completely devoured. "Let's, uh..." His voice cracks a little. Dam puberty. As well as the-

Suddenly the TV blips off and there is a distant though loud BEEP as the kitchen lights to the right side of them flicker. Oh boy.

"You know, if I went into some ugly-ass house and saw a creepo guy having women in a hot tub and doing what this Biff bastard did in his future to MY mother -" Thalia's voice has hardened "-or to any of my family," she catches Annabeth's eye again and adds darkly "he would pay dearly."

It's almost fitting for the sound like static preceding a POP on the TV as the power in the apartment to officially go out after Thalia said that, Percy thinks.

Chapter Text

"All right, you kids have been here more than three hours," Sally Jackson says.

Her friend Paul whistles "And wow, look at the snow out there!"

"I'm Mister White Christmas, I'm Mister Snow," Percy sings, standing up and doing a sort of tapping dance as he takes hold of Annabeth's hand and pulls her up before he spins around "I'm Mister icicle, I'm Mister ten below..."

"Oh my gods, Percy," Annabeth says. "You're ridiculous!" But she can't help but laugh. Thalia watches them with brows furrowed and gaze sharp. She stomps over to look out the window, pulling the blinds apart. Then she claps her hands.

"All right, let's do this. We have to go out there."

Grover seems slightly quizzical, but bleats immediately when Clarisse puts a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Yep, we're having a snowball fight- it's on! You're going down, Jackson." Going for the coat that she had been wearing when they'd arrived at the apartment building, her fingers flash as she extends them to grab the garment. Percy hadn't seen before - but he notices now a bright red sheen on her nails. And his ADHD catches that sight and doesn't let go.

"Hey Clarisse, what's that on your fingernails?"

"Shut up, Jackson."

"What? I'm just asking -"

"And I'm just telling you to shut up."

"Oh, golly," Grover whimpers. He gets his own puffy jacket and pulls out a beanie that he carefully settles over his horns. Annabeth is basically swallowed up by her coat. It has fluff all around the inside of the hood so her eyes sparkle out from what looks almost like a puffball. Thalia's coat is navy blue and fitted rather than puffy like Grover's and Annabeth's. Percy, meanwhile, tugs on a couple of hoodies before he pulls out a windbreaker that he's had since ...he isn't exactly sure. Maybe fifth grade? It's definitely too short on the arms and right across his shoulders at this point, but it does still zip and has a hood which he can cinch a little tighter around his face so hopefully no snow or slush gets in. And he's got the layers underneath.

Silena seems to be helping Clarisse tuck her hair into the back of her coat and pulls a hat down over the daughter of Ares' ears. Their interaction is interesting to Percy. He expects Clarisse to tense up and move away or tell the other girl to back off, but Clarisse clearly trusts Silena. Or at least accepts her. He realizes he really hasn't met a whole lot of campers yet. Clarisse had made herself known to him because she wanted to prove to him that he wasn't special. Joke is on her, though; Percy doesn't think he's special. Being the only son of Poseidon was lonely at first, and confusing once he got a half-brother. But Tyson is the best, and he's got friends.

The thing is, Percy is locked and loaded with sarcasm and the ADHD impulse to say what he thinks. The sarcasm mixed with a rebellious streak (which he inherited from his mom) is what makes him stand out, he thinks. But Thalia is sarcastic too, although he thinks her sarcasm is more ...harsh than his. Thinking of that, he thinks of what he said about boots for Grover, and how she scoffed at him having them, saying "maybe Grover wants to have his own" and it felt like you're not good enough, Percy. Not even your clothes, and Annabeth doesn't need you as much as she needs me

The thing is, Percy knows he's not the best - he's even more sure now that he's seen the way other campers treat Thalia. With something like fear and awe, while with him there was the confusion and shock, sure. There was also Clarisse, who swore he didn't do anything to the minotaur other than make it fall down because he was so stupid-looking. That's fine; he's never thought he was special anyway. There's always been something wrong with his brain, at least in school settings. Being a demigod didn't fit him perfectly either, at least, not immediately.

But he's figuring it out.

"Hey, G-man," Percy jogs out of his room with a pair of boots in hand. "I uh, don't know if we have Styrofoam -"

"I can fit these for you," his mom speaks up, and with how quickly she does so, and how she moves over to take the boots makes Percy register what he should have before, that her ...friend Paul probably doesn't know about demigods. Or at least that Grover is a satyr.

"Thanks, Percy," Grover says. "And thank you too, Sally."

Percy smiles, or tries as his mom does. And he pulls on hat and gloves before she comes bay and says "Be safe, okay? I love you."

"Love you too Mom," Percy says. "And I'm sure it'll be okay - snow is just solid water, right?"

Sally hands the boots to Grover. "Right. Just solid water." She gives her son a look. "Be careful."

Chapter Text

Silena with her light pink seemingly super fluffy coat is the first one out of the building, Clarisse looking like her military escort, apart from the sparkling red fingernails. At least until Silena hands her a pair of black gloves that she takes out of somewhere.

Thalia's got her eyes panning across the buildings and the snow blanket covering cars and the street. There's a hush over the area, something Percy rarely, if ever, hears in New York City- there's always the woop-WOOPS of multiple sirens, a fire truck backing out of its station, cop cars pulling up to disperse unlicensed street performances in places like Times Square, and people talking. People are always talking, or yelling to be more accurate. The low-grade (or higher grade) sounds of cabdrivers driving and honking at work trucks and on the days they are actually active, the trash guys.

Grover is bleating and his teeth chatter slightly as he looks around as well. And Percy instantly registers Annabeth as she stops beside him, the charcoal-grey of her coat practically swallowing her. But her eyes gleam as she looks at the sparkling snow. "This doesn't usually happen in Virginia. Well, not where -"

Not where her dad lives. "You've seen snow before though, right?" Percy asks.

He's rewarded by Annabeth rolling her eyes. "Yes, Seaweed Brain, I've seen snow. Camp lets a little bit through the borders."

"...but that doesn't mean you've ever gone sledding before," he replies, and a big smile spreads across his face. "Wait a second, Wise Girl." He moves down the steps to the big bins that, though they sometimes hold trash for the complex, have clean lids- which Percy ensures by pulling one off and concentrating. Ice nearby cracks and a jet of water that smells like salt sprays the entire lid. Percy slides back and has to move his feet quickly so he doesn't fall, but he manages not to. He runs back to the stairs, waving the lid he cleaned. "Watch this!" With nearby cars covered in actual snow mounds and momentum from the snow itself, Percy jumps with the lid on top of a car and careens off the front of it, sliding with a very loud extended whiSSSHHHH from ice along the road. "The sea doesn't- aaah!" His curls fluff up and flatten in the movement that speeds him directly into a second snow pile about fifty feet down the street.

Percy lands with a flump! And Grover is clattering down the steps. "Percy!"

Annabeth moves too, her boots slipping on ice, but she catches herself with one hand gripping the closest railing. She keeps that in a death-grip as she moves as quickly as she can down to street level.

Clarisse laughs, a sound that travels in a boom and at the same time is swallowed up by the blankets of snow. Thalia's eyes glitter, but she watches closely as Annabeth and Grover reach Percy's side.

He's splayed out like a starfish, teal-green of his coat the brightest part of the nearby landscape. At least until a clump of snow falls on him from the side of the car he evidently hit, and exposes a flash of red.

With a groan, blond-brown curls falling across his forehead, Percy blinks his eyes. Annabeth is hanging over him, her hood pushed back enough for him to see flakes of snow catching and melting into her braids. "...well that went great. Totally how I planned it."

"Your mom told you to be careful, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth says to him. His eyes flicker down and then back up to hers as he pushes himself into a sitting position. He looks at his legs, half-covered by fallen snowdrifts.

"Well I'm okay, I promise," he looks up and raises his eyebrows at her. "So what do you think? Does sledding look fun or what?"

Annabeth laughs. She's startled into it, although she probably shouldn't be; this is Percy, who deals with situations either by joking or actually being incredibly sweet about them. And this is- a bit of both, honestly, because he was trying to show her how great playing around in the snow is. She puts out her hand, which he takes. She pulls him to his feet with Grover pushing and then brushing some snow from Percy's back.

"Thanks, G-man," Percy says. He turns back to face the others and waves, calling "Okay you're next, Clarisse!"

"In your dreams, Jackson!" Clarisse retorts. "You looked completely stupid crashing!"

Now Percy laughs, and Annabeth realizes at the warmth she feels, that he hadn't let go of her hand. He squeezes and looks at her with this brightness on his face. Happiness. Even whilst getting grief from the daughter of Ares. And then he asks "What do you think this time, Annabeth - who's more stupid?"

As she looks at him, suddenly a bunch of snow splats across his chest, a second bit across his face. He staggers with genuine surprise.

"Ah-hah!" Thalia crows. "Eat it, kelp head!" Silena squeals and Percy spits snow out of his mouth and shakes his head.

Annabeth reaches up and wipes Percy's cheek with her glove as Grover ducks behind him. Then she drops and scoops up some snow of her own. She pats it quickly into a duo of snowballs and passes one to him.

"It's still you," Annabeth says, but with a smile on her face and her eyes shining, Percy can only consider her answer to be a victory.

Chapter Text

After running through the street and ducking behind cars to avoid getting pelted with snowballs to the face, Percy had stood and registered a frozen missile coming for Annabeth and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her behind him as well as behind the nearest car.

"Percy!" She yelled, as he ducked and snow whizzed over his floppy curls. His head now bows low over hers, and he holds her against his chest, wrapped up in his arms as though the snow is a weapon of destruction rather than frozen water. Annabeth, with her face pressed against his chest, registers the warmth of him as much as how tall he actually is compared to her. It makes her think of the way in which he wrapped himself around her to pull her away from the sirens and their song. She registers a feeling of... safety in his arms, and as Percy twists his head to look over the car that they've crouched behind, Annabeth studies him, trying to understand.

The way he's acted today, how focused he was on her and the way he seemed ecstatic to give her hot chocolate and blue marshmallows, how he seems to fire at Thalia a lot more of his sarcastic zingers even than he gives to Clarisse.... It strikes Annabeth the way Percy is protective of her, how he moved in front of her even in his own apartment when first catching sight of his mother's friend Paul. But the way he stood near her with Thalia, how he's been so quick to be snippy - she thinks he might be feeling not simply protective, but jealous. And that emotion is something she hasn't dealt with, at least not her-inspired. (She admits even if only internally to feeling jealous of her father's mortal family, of the fact he seems to settle in with them.) But the thought, the fact of someone else being jealous because she, Annabeth Chase, is dividing her attention - she doesn't understand. She has been a nuisance or a burden, the best at Camp in a way that is isolating rather than jealousy inducing. She works...well with her half-siblings, but none of them have any reason to be jealous of her intelligence or skills, as they each have wisdom and skills of their own.

But Percy has made his way into her world and her heart - not like anything other than he's made, in a way forcibly built their friendship. In spite of their parents' feud, in spite of Annabeth's own attempts to keep herself closed off, to retain the emotional walls she's carefully built to keep herself protected... Somehow, Percy Jackson has scaled them. Or sailed over them on a giant wave.

"You're going down, Jackson!" Clarisse yells.

And Thalia, spinning a snowball in her hands, says "surely this can be made a little bit more fun?" A tiny bolt of lightning hits the snow and then shoots like a scene from the movie they'd just watched.

"Whoa!" Grover yelps, rolling and kicking his booted hooves around like some spinning satyr top. He makes it behind the car Percy has gotten Annabeth behind, wrapped her up in his arms and

"Percy," she says, shifting and shoving lightly at him.

"Yeah?"

"You can let me go now."

"Oh." There's something in his face, as if he fully registers for the first time that he'd basically picked her up in his arms and carried her, ducking behind this snow-covered car like she's his partner, but it's not like that, exactly. It's like in one of those movies where two people are solely concerned about each other because they're married.

So- is Percy thinking as if the two of them are some sort of battle husband and wife? That wouldn't make sense here, then; this isn't a battle, it's only a snowball fight.

A snowball fight where, when Percy lifts his head he's buffeted by a pile of snow that was thrown into his face by the wind, rising from Thalia's lift of her arms and grinning like some maniacal wind spirit. (There are such things as wind spirits, though Thalia being maniacal is new to Annabeth. Or at least, not something she has seen outside of battle frenzy.)

But there's something about a snowball fight; Clarisse has started running with snowballs in arms, pelting them at Percy as Silena follows, maybe gathering snow, or just ducking behind Clarisse. Either way, Percy lifts his arms and sends shoots of slushy snow into the air back at the three girls, even as he groans, lying on his back in snow with curls plastered to his forehead and splayed around in a ragged halo, as if he's some bedraggled version of the Love god.

Annabeth scoops snow of her own into ammunition beside him, calling "Grover! Help me out here," as the satyr's impression of a top has ceased and he crouches behind whilst trying to peer around icy hubcaps.

Suddenly a low sound, totally unlike shouts of derision or calls of challenge by demigods, sends a whoosh of wind along the street as it also shakes the pavement. Annabeth stands, offering Percy her hand. He also stiffens as he rises up, rubbing his head and asking "What the heck was that? Don't tell me there are such things as snow monsters." At the look on Annabeth's face, Percy groans.

"There are two forbidden children, plus three additional half-bloods using powers on a street in the city," Annabeth readies her knife. "I should've thought of this. It's dangerous."

"What's dangerous is Clarisse's desire for violence," Percy says, adding "ow!" As Clarisse comes up behind him as he has turned towards the direction of the monster sound and smacks the back of his head.

"This means we won the snowball fight, right?"

"No way, it's a draw until...we figure out whatever this is. I was distracted." Percy protests.

"Sounds like a tactical error to me, I think it means you lose, coral boy," Clarisse says flatly.

"CORAL boy?!"

"Maybe I should just call you Reef."

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"Wow, after you hear yourself talk, Jackson? Amazing."

"I can't believe I actually helped you with your quest."

"Believe it, algae boy."

"Okay that's just messed up, how many ocean and water life words do you know? Did you learn them just to do crap like this??"

Meanwhile Annabeth is looking in the direction of the noise. "Percy," she says, grabbing his arm. A shimmery sort of shape that's kept from being wholly visible by the Mist ripples in front of them.

And then there's an impact, screeching metal, and a blaring of car horns before one vehicle along with pounds of snow comes spinning at the pair like some demented giant version of frisbee. If frisbee entailed lumpy heavy objects being hurled across the street to try and kill you.

Chapter Text

"Aegis!" Thalia yells, and Percy can hear the shhhink sound of magical metal expanding. He flings his arm towards the car as it flies through the air in the direction of Clarisse, Silena, and Thalia. A sort of hissing whoosh of snow precedes two jets of water flying into the undercarriage of the car, causing it to flip a few times more before the jets become one and send it down the street behind them.

Thalia's head is cocked and her eyes widen and then narrow as she says "What the fuck is that?"

Percy gets the impulse to grab Riptide, and is glad for it because there is a heavy thudding BOOM that happens twice before the shimmering outline becomes a huge blue and white tinted guy. His skin is white as faces look when frozen under ice in movies but his eyes are bright blue. His hair is sort of spiked up, and seems a little fluffy as well. Percy wonders if this giant's hair is soft, because he's a giant, clearly. His shoulders are almost four stories up the brownstone he has materialized in front of. (He was already there, or moving this way while being concealed by the Mist, Percy thinks. The Mist is weird - he feels like he could more easily see through it when he was younger, or maybe the mythical creatures LET him see. But now it's only after he and his friends dodge thrown cars that he's able to see something.) Speaking of which

"Hey, car throwing isn't really a New York City pastime," Percy says. "I mean we DID just watch some movies with a flying car, so points for realism, but uh. Not cool." Bracing his feet apart as he puts his arms and himself in front of Annabeth, Percy adds. "I also remember being told heroes are the ones who can challenge but seems like you're already fighting. What's up with that, man?"

"I am Hyperborean," the big guy rumbles. His voice kind of sounds like the cracks in ice, or the way a tree breaks if it's been encased. It's like the creaking snapping sounds before the fall.

"I'm kinda bad in English class, so you might have to give me a definition-"

"Percy," Annabeth says. "He's a Hyperborean giant."

"Nice. Um, let me guess, Hercules fought those? Sorry, Herakles."

"Percy. Focus."

The Hyperborean guy frowns, his eyebrows scrunching up. "You throw snow at me, that start fight."

"What? We were having a snowball fight, giant! That's -" Clarisse yells. She doesn't appear to have any weapons, but Percy figures he shouldn't be surprised when she pulls out and strikes a match. The fire becomes a line that forms a spear. He wonders if that's her usual one just modified, or new and improved.

He doesn't really have the chance to ask about it before the giant says "Fight with snow is still fighting, demigod. I join your - snowball fight."

"With a car," Clarisse says.

"Yes!" The giant seems excited, like she's finally getting it. "Big fight, make big hit! But you made water throw away." He frowns, almost as though he's pouting. "Water mess up fight."

"Ah gee," Percy says. "I stopped the car from smashing all of us. Silly me."

"Is okay!" The giant grins, and his teeth look like giant icicles, thin and pointed. Also kinda look like the Winter warlock's teeth in that old Rankin Bass movie, the one with paper animation and clay animals and puppets. It's not the same one that song about Mr icicle was from, Percy doesn't think. But now the giant just hops from foot to foot and says "I throw another one!"

Annabeth clamps her arm on Percy's and he grabs her, ducking and rolling even as he calls to Grover.

Grover stays low but runs towards Percy and the giant grabs up a car next to him, hefting and then heaving it as Clarisse yells "oh great, nice GOING, Jackson -!"

Percy wants to ask what the hell did HE do, but suddenly the hair on his neck stands on end.

Then, BOOM!

The car, rolling in the air, gets hit with a blue-white burst of lightning and explodes.

There's a fizzling sound and Thalia stands with her arm outstretched, eyes huge. Her arm is extended, fist clenched around her own spear. Tiny pieces of metal hiss and clatter to the surface of the road, and the giant stands there blinking. Percy figures he and Annabeth are going to have to charge and try to stab him, when suddenly with a flash of pink and raised head, coming forward to step between the two of them and the giant is Silena Beauregard.

"You don't need to keep fighting with us," she says. Her voice is friendly but also somehow... smooth in this way that sounds almost syrupy in Percy's ears. Or like something is buzzing.

The giant blinks. His fingers flex and then he slowly moves his hand down. "Don't - need to fight."

"Right! It's such a beautiful snow day. I imagine you've already caused the power to go out, right?"

The giant chuckles, and then bounces like some little kid. "Yes! Practice, find way to stop things when time comes."

"Well you had a very good practice, I think," Silena says warmly. "-good for you."

Something pings in Percy's head. What does the giant mean, stop things when the time comes? "Did someone tell you to knock the power out?" He asks. Annabeth tightens her grip on his arm.

Thalia has come closer to them, stepping beside. Grover seems to be vibrating on Percy's opposite side, trying desperately not to bleat. Clarisse has come closer as well, her legs bent and spear pointed up. She hisses "Shut uP, Jackson," at him.

The Hyperborean giant narrows his eyes and starts to tilt his head. "Why did-"

"Why did you take out the power, because you're so good at it!" Silena interrupts the giant. Percy waits for her to be smashed into a bloody paste under the ice guy's foot, but she must have some kind of power she's using, because the giant doesn't move. His cheeks get a little purple, and - is that a blush? Percy wonders. He catches Clarisse's scoff and the sight of her rolling her eyes. "I don't think you need any more practice," the daughter of Aphrodite says. "I think you can totally go back to your...lair. Job- well done."

Her tone of voice remains rich, but she seems shaky, suddenly. And then Clarisse is standing next to her, one arm snaking around Silena's lower back. Holding on to her. Keeping her up.

She still has her own spear directed towards the giant, though. Leveled at him.

The daughter of Ares isn't taking any chances. And honestly, Percy understands.

Chapter Text

"Have a fun rest of your day in the snow, Mister Hyperborean!" Silena calls. Clarisse holds onto her side tighter, fingers gripping onto the other girl's coat as the giant hesitates and then turns, starting to lumber back closer to the buildings after pushing between parked cars. Well, mostly between them - he hits and knocks into a few, which makes horns start blaring. One vehicle sort of tips on its side, two wheels in the air and Percy wishes Tyson could be here. His Cyclops half-brother would probably set the car back upright and trick it out with a fancy paint job, some new celestial bronze components and a new transmission or something.

Percy wonders how Tyson is doing under the ocean working in Hephaestus' forges. He misses him. Wonders what kind of boss the god of smithing and machines is. Tyson got so excited making compasses and building with the Laistrygonians on Luke's cruise ship. Even though he had been building a bomb. That gets Percy thinking about what this giant had said about taking out power when the time comes. He looks at Annabeth, who is standing beside him with her knuckles clenched around her knife, the skin of them bulging pale. "... You heard that too, didn't you?" Percy says to her. "That thing about when the time comes-"

Annabeth jerks her chin, eyes flickering over and up to meet his. "I heard it."

"What do you think it means?"

Annabeth presses her lips together so hard they become bloodless. She gets a look in her eyes. Angry, wounded. Sad. She drops her head with a sharp, noticeable breath. She shakes her head. "I can't be sure, Percy."

"But you can guess," Percy replies. "It's Luke, isn't it? He's been gathering the giants, like the ones that were on his ship- the ones he doesn't want to call monsters. Because he's working with them."

Annabeth jerks her head. "We can't be sure -"

"Oh I think we can totally be sure of that," Percy says. He pans his gaze around the area to ensure the giant is actually gone. "And... whatever Silena just did was awesome, but he's just one guy who's learning how to take out mortal communications. If he can cause a power outage, he can probably figure out other things. And you said that mortals would be collateral damage -"

"I know what I said, Percy!" Annabeth snaps. Her eyes are as dark as thunderstorm clouds. Cumulonimbus, Percy suddenly remembers the name from a science lesson. He wonders if saying someone has eyes like cumulonimbus clouds would be a compliment. Percy looks at her and Annabeth takes a deep breath in, holding it before exhaling. "Let's just- I think we should take Silena back inside," a sudden blast of wind, frigid cold seeming to go through their very bones, hits the group. Grover makes a sound that's halfway between a whimper and a yelp, and sparks of electricity seem to jump around Thalia.

"W-we should go back in too, brr!" Grover speaks up. His teeth chatter, and Percy thinks wow.

"That must have been some seriously strong wind to make you want to go inside, out of the Wild, G-man."

"Blah! The st-streets of New York City are far fr-from the Wild, Percy."

"Fair enough," Percy replies. "What do I know?"

"That's too easy," Clarisse grumbles. "Nothing, because you're stupid."

"Hey, you want to see my flinging cars away from you with water trick again, Clarisse? Or should I just shoot the water at you this time?"

The daughter of Ares makes a face. Percy can't help but smile, and then catches sight of Annabeth's movement over as Clarisse and Silena turn around and walk with the rest of them. His eyes stay on Annabeth as she says "That was some impressive charmspeak, Silena."

The daughter of Aphrodite smiles. Her face seems pale, her skin a little sweaty. But her smile still appears genuine. And something Percy notices about Silena is- she's nice. Kind. "Thanks, Annabeth," she says. "He was - bigger, had a larger mind than I'm used to."

"So you're saying he had a big head?" Percy asks. Thalia snorts, Annabeth sighs, and Clarisse glares Percy down like what he said and everything about him is personally offensive to her. Silena laughs, though. Or actually it's more like a giggle.

Her eyes flick to Annabeth. "I see what you mean. He's funny."

Wait. What? Annabeth seems to be even more focused on getting back inside than before, her eyes are on the snowy street as she turns and starts back towards Percy's apartment building.

"Just - c'mon."

Chapter Text

It's definitely hot chocolate time, part two, only there's still no power. Luckily the buildings still operate with keys at the doors if the buzz-in system isn't working, or if somebody isn't upstairs to buzz you in. Percy has dealt with this once or twice since his old stepdad passed on.

Not that he's complaining.

Because it's amazing, actually, coming home and knowing he doesn't have to, but most importantly his mom isn't going to have to deal with that jerk. And this time as he leads the way, Clarisse with Silena and Thalia bringing up the rear, her eyes sharp and searching for any other possible threats or assailants, Percy comes into the apartment to hear ... laughing. His mom is laughing at something her friend Paul clearly said, even as there's the flickering of candlelight around the kitchen table.

"You're back!" Sally smiles, and she asks if they had fun. Her eyes going from each of them to the others and then landing on and studying her son. Her smile stays, but slips the slightest bit. She knows immediately that something happened; something is different, if not wrong.

But she doesn't say anything about it. Doesn't call attention, which Percy appreciates more than he's probably ever said. His mom is super aware of what's happening, pretty much all the time, but there's this thing she says sometimes. The better part of valour is discretion. Which is apparently a quote from something that other people always say wrong, they flip the words around. Which Percy gets, try flipping letters and having them float everywhere whenever you attempt to read! Anyway. His mom is discreet. She just says "Paul, I think we need your hot plate."

"Say no more, Sally," Paul says, and Percy is ready to go at him with Riptide and demand to know what the hell is a hot plate, but then he remembers his mom sort of wistfully telling him what she wanted to get use of in college. Cooking on hot plates was somehow involved. He guesses there's a reason for her being so into making grilled-cheese sandwiches, other than the fact that they're really good.

Paul pulls out this thing that somehow makes Percy think of those burner things in science lab that he's been prohibited from touching, although in his defense frying the wiring wasn't because he turned it up too high or caused a spark when he wasn't supposed to.

It was actually because he doused the wires in saltwater and caused a short. Not intentionally, he was just focusing so hard on nOt blowing something up since there was a precedent- a bunch of presidents, too, but that's something he had to talk about in social studies class.

In any case, he stops himself from lunging at Paul and his hot plate, which is good, because the guy somehow has one that can be lit with a match and isn't just electronic. (Or maybe that's the cool thing about every hot plate. It's not like Percy knows anything about them.)

"We'll get you all one more round of hot chocolate. Percy, why don't you pull out the chips and the rest of the M&Ms? Once the hot plate is warm enough I can make some real food as well."

"What do you mean? M&Ms are real food, Mom," her son says to her, grabbing a bowl. "Especially if they're blue." He smiles, and she does as well. The tension in his shoulders seems to be easing a little as Clarisse, Grover, and Silena head back to sit down somewhere. Thalia does as well, though she pauses for the tiniest bit as Annabeth happens to pass close to Sally.

"Annabeth," Percy's mom says her name softly, and the girl turns. She doesn't quite jump, but there's a sharpness in her gaze. An awareness. She's always thinking, and even if Sally Jackson wasn't aware of her parentage, she would notice that. But she also notices other things, so asks "are you all right, hon?"

Hon. That word has never been used towards her except by Percy's mother. She figures that Sally must refer to all of her son's friends this way, but since told (by Percy) that she and Grover were his first friends, that hasn't been a high number of people. And it's not something Annabeth has expected to hear from anybody else. No; she never expected to be referred to in such a way, by anyone. But- Percy has learned sweetness and care from his mom.

If she was anyone else, she would try for a smile, but she sniffs and shakes her head a little, wrapping her arms around herself. "No. I don't know," with a glance up at the woman who sees things so clearly. "Percy sees things this way or that way. Because of how strongly he feels about what happens, you know? What people do. And I just..." Rolling her lips and rubbing at her upper arms as though to stave off the cold that is already receding "I don't want to believe some things. Not that I don't think he's right about them," about Luke, her mind adds. "It's just - I worry. And I wish I could figure it all out so that everyone- everything will be okay. Because no one deserves to have a horrible Fate. To suffer because of- how they feel about the gods, or because of prophecies." Annabeth shakes her head in frustration. "I just wish -" Luke would come home. That he wouldn't continue this war. That Kronos would just stay in Tartarus.

Sally nods. "You have so much to carry," she says softly. "I said that to you and Grover and Tyson, but I had the feeling then that a lot of weight will fall on you. Because you take it on, which is so brave. And I know you can, but ... there's always the question of whether or not you should." Sally bites her lip and pushes one hand through her hair. Annabeth hadn't noticed before, but amongst the light brown are streaks of gray in there. "And I know you might think you have to. But you have friends," her eyes go to Percy as he tosses popcorn and then holds his arm up to block the onslaught of foodstuffs being pelted back at him by Clarisse and Thalia. Sally huffs out a laugh. "Including my son, who I know will do whatever he can to help you." She turns to and brings her eyes back to Annabeth's. "And I want you to let him," Sally says firmly and quietly. "Let him help you carry some weight."

Annabeth blinks, stunned. "Are - do you mean that? He already has a lot to deal with, Sally."

"And he will deal with it. Percy is - better than he knows at rising to the occasion." She offers a fond little smile. "He cuts up and acts out, but he's a good kid. And yes I'm saying that as his mother, but I also know you're a good kid who deserves to have help when you need it." Putting a hand on Annabeth's shoulder, Sally squeezes it. "So I'm just saying, you can let him help when things are..." Lifting her eyes and blinking, Sally pushes her lips to the side. "Overwhelming. You all have to deal with so much, it's important to do it together." She swipes her hair back and looks at Annabeth with a cocked-up eyebrow that makes her look so much like her son. Or he like her. "Got it?"

"Yes," Annabeth nods, and somehow feels a little less tense, almost... lighter. She now does look at Percy's mother with a smile. "Thank you, Sally."

Looking over once more at her son, who happens to look back with a smile, and then a wave to Annabeth before he beckons at her, Sally speaks in a fervent manner. "Oh, Annabeth, thank you." She adds softer "for more than you know."