—𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐌 is one of the things that is subject to humans and half-bloods.
For example; Nefeli completes a Prophecy and Percy holds up his end of the deal by defeating the Chimera, that makes them the heroes of the day. However in the eyes of the humans it makes them wanted crooks for damaging the arch and apparently wrecking a train cabin. The thanks she got for doing what she did? A tote bag with the words "The Arch" in a blue that resembled Percy's eye color.
When they had turned on their heel to find Percy an officer was waiting to take them down to where everyone in the building was being questioned. This time Annabeth didn't say anything to the officer like she did back on the train. On the bright side, Echidna was nowhere to be seen.
Per usual Nefeli tried to keep all of them positive thoughts in her head, all of the bright sides, but a storm cloud cast a grey tint on all the good things. The storm cloud was named 'Percy is still missing'. Wonky name, I know.
"We should get out of here." Grover suggested looking around at all of the people he felt were staring right at him. Annabeth was still being questioned by an officer which was a dead end for the officers. She wouldn't dream of snitching.
Nefeli had her eyes on the three old women who where staring her down hard. One held a light blue roll of yarn, while another held up scissors, pulled a piece, then smiled snipping. In an instant Nefeli felt her heart drop, she felt the air in her lunfs get vacummed out.
"Nefeli," Grover waved a hand in front of her face to gain her attention. Nefeli nearly slapped it out of her way but instead turned around to see Annabeth standing behind Grover, "Annabeth thinks we should leave before the officer comes back."
"We still need to find Percy." Nefeli forgot about the three women for a second because that could mean anything, three old women can crochet together it's not a crime as far as she knew.'
Annabeth nodded her head and the four who became three split up to cover more ground. Grover went left, Annabeth went right, and Nefeli went straight forward.
She couldn't explain why there was a bottomless pit where her stomach once was- scratch that she knew exactly why there was a bottomless pit where her stomach once was. It was because she hoped Percy was okay, after he plunged to his death then got pulled into the water she expected him to resurface fast. He did not.
Even though she knew she was supposed to maybe try calling out his name she didn't. Every time she opened her mouth to speak, to say his name, she forgot how to.
At the sound of a splash she whipped her head around fast. If she wasn't so worried about Percy she would be focusing on the beautiful beach in front of her, all the hot sand, the pretty clouds and blue skies-
"Eli?" Percy's voice calmed her nerves, which she half thought she was imagining it, "I got you something-"
His voice trailed off for a moment as she turned back around to see a soaked-from-head-to-toe Percy standing awkwardly with the tower clock that Nefeli had smiled at on the top of the arch.
"Well I just thought since you know it's your first time outside and all-" Percy fumbled over his words, not understanding why but the way Nefeli looked up at him left him speechless.
"Percy!" Nefeli remembered how to speak just fine as she took cautious steps to him, and when she was close enough for the tips of there shoes to touch, she went on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
The weight of worry was lifted off of her shoulders as she rejoiced in the fact that he was alive. Her smile stretched from ear to ear and the smell of salt was never so sweet than this moment in time that they shared. With her arms outstretched over his neck he wrapped his arms around the middle of her back.
"Your lucky I trust you." Percy mumbled into her strawberry scented hair, it made sense why Luke enjoyed hugging her for a long period of time.
Realizing that she needed to let go to hear him better, she backed away for a moment, saying something about her being grateful he trusted her but Percy didn't hear anything she said.
"Thank you Percy, eww there's seaweed in it." Nefeli smiled taking the clock tower and shaking it out, laughing when the water accidentally got in her mouth.
Percy looked at her like he had a million times before, he examined her smile like a million times before, her laugh was the only sound making it though to her ears like a million times before, however something new happened. Looking at her he came to the conclusion that if she asked him he would move the heavens and the earth where she saw fit or die trying. He looked at her and knew he would answer every question she ever had about the outside world with a smile because he could never get enough of the look she got in her whiskey colored eyes when she was curious about something.
In that moment he realized he didn't just like the girl, but was slowly falling in love with her. And he also knew he'd ruined any chance of gaining her love because of what he said earlier that day.
Oh come on.
"Percy!" Grover's cracking voice brought Percy back from his thoughts. Percy tried his best to plaster on a smile at the sight of his best friend, but he really wanted to turn his head to see what Nefeli was doing.
"Finally." Annabeth shook her head when she came into view for the three who where standing waiting for her.
"Please don't be mad- okay it was Eli's plan and-" Percy quickly tried to justify what happened at the top of the Arch. Nefeli was too busy trying to dry the clock so she could put it in the fashionable bag she took.
"We're just happy you're okay." Annabeth rolled her eyes with a smile tugging at the end of her lips. The group had never been happier to see each other, "What happened?"
"Short version," Percy felt his fathers presence just thinking of what happened under the water, "We need to go to Santa Monica."
"Isn't that the fat dude the Christians believe in?" Nefeli raised a brow looking at the three with genuine concern for why Santa would be a woman named Monica and a place they need to head too.
"No this is a place..." Grover paused, "A place we can't get to fast."
"The police think we destroyed the train and the Arch." Nefeli clicked her tongue placing the semi-dry clock into her bag her feelings about the gift were unclear. Well more so the gift giver than the gift itself, she loved the gift.
"So we can't get a ride anywhere that requires a ticket." Grover finished Nefeli's thought catching Percy up to speed with what happened under water.
"What option does that leave us with?" Percy looked at Annabeth, the woman with the answers most of time.
"Taking turns giving Nefeli a piggy back ride because we're hitchhiking." Annabeth shrugged, "I still have a map in my pouch."
"More walking." Nefeli groaned as everyone started to walk to Santa Monica, "This quest can suck a butt."
Percy and Nefeli walked behind Annabeth and Grover who naturally fought over navigating. Grover has the calling and Annabeth had the facts- not such a great mix but it was entertaining at least.
The two who were walking slow had their minds racing. Percy stressed over the never before felt feelings he was devolving for Nefeli, the shocking realization was more uprising than him getting poisoned, falling from over five hundred feet in the sky, and meeting his father. He couldn't imagine liking her because she was so easy to like, it was a trap to fall for her. It was so easy with her but at the same time it was hard.
She wasn't easy to like in the way Percy had pretty much shrugged off her feelings the entire quest.
Well the princess of drool had a lot on her mind as well, somewhat Percy related. The three women on the bench with the yarn had started to ring a bell.
The fates.
Growing up being able to tell prophecies she started to read about other Mythological people who could do somewhat the same. It wasn't long before she came across the fates.
One of them was going to die, it was set in stone the moment the rusted scissors snipped. But who was the lucky person?
a/n
I know it's short but I needed you to marinate with all that happens here.
schools back in sessions 4 me so if i don't update each day that's why 😞
yes I will be adding the Lotus scene. POKER FACE POKER FACEEEE
unedited per usual