A/N: Oh, yeah, I wrote until chp 154 and totally got stuck. By the way, if you'd searched for #hoo last week, my fic would've been on the first page, like WHAT!? When did THAT happen??
Percy's Flashback
SATURDAY, 21st January
After the fourth try, he squinted his eyes to try and see and was finally able to unlock his phone to answer an incoming call.
"What!?"
"Percy, you sound as grumpy as Peter in the morning."
It took him half a second to associate an identity to the voice.
Not again! He always does this! I'm going back to sleep...
"G, when you wake people up at ungodly hours, they get grumpy."
"9 am is not ungodly hours."
"It is on a Saturday where I went to sleep like, at 5."
"I wanted to let you know I've just arrived. And you said last time that we should meet up again. Want to get breakfast?"
"Yeah, call me in like, two hours."
"Oh! We could get brunch then!"
"Yeah yeah, I'll leave you to it, bye."
***
When Percy woke up to see Gregor leaning over and shaking his shoulder, he took one look at his friend, one at his phone on the nightstand, and scowled at the other guy.
Seriously!?
"Go back to the pits of hell, I told you two hours, not one!"
Ignoring the venom lacing his words, Gregor simply used his walking stick to poke Percy's ribs.
"Yeah, but if we want to find a table, we need to leave, so stop being lazy and get up."
Knowing it was a lost battle, Percy got up, shoving Gregor on his way to the bathroom, being careful to direct his fall towards the bed. Laughing, he called after the younger boy.
"Cranky!"
"Idiot."
It took Gregor less than three seconds to be back on his feet and wobble behind Percy.
"Violent."
"Annoying."
"Resentful."
"Infuriating."
"Pitiful."
"Abhorrent."
"Oh, taking out the big guns now?"
Annabeth?
Obviously.
Throwing a smirk over his shoulder, Percy entered the bathroom, closing the door behind him, laughing when he heard his friend's voice on the other side.
"Vexatious!"
I really miss this guy.
***
Still huffing after threatening to cut off their friendship when Peter asked it brunch wasn't a girly thing, Gregor led them through the streets he obviously knew. While they were still at a certain distance, Gregor saw a group getting close to the bakery and refusing to lose the last table, absolutely RAN all the way, making Percy work to catch up with him.
Poseidon's horses, he has a freaking walking stick!
Didn't you say Grover was fast?
Yes, but he's a satyr! He's half-goat, of course, he's fast! The crutches were just an excuse to his weird walking.
Yeah, well, in Gregor's case, food was at stake.
Still... a walking stick!
***
Gregor filled them in while waiting for their food. Of how their wedding plans were put in pause because almost half of June's family had absolutely no contact with technology – some even completely off the grid - and it was trickier than they thought to get a hold on them. And that the side they did get a hold on was arguing with his side of the family about the reception, mostly the blandness of a vegan menu her family defended against the debauchery of the amount of wine his own family wanted to include. While he whined how he just wanted to get married and not start a family feud – or put both families into alcoholic coma, like two of June's aunts have accused him - their food arrived, the table so full of dishes some weren't even completely within the table's limit's, threatening to fall overboard.
Sweet heavens, that's a LOT of food.
"Girly thing, huh?"
"Shut up, G."
Once they had cleared up half of the food, in a speed that earned them several impressed and frightened glances from patrons and staff, Gregor gave her a long look, trying to find answers to questions he hadn't asked yet.
Let's just get this over with.
"What?"
"First, answer me something."
"Sure."
"Would you do it again? Or do you hate me for convincing you to go to Greece?"
"100% would do it again."
"Was that Percy or Peter?"
"If someone hears you, they'll think we have a double personality."
Gregor sent them a quick smirk.
"If you keep using 'we', they most definitely will. So, which one?"
"Both, each for their own reasons."
Gregor waited until Percy finished the dish in front of him before continuing.
"How was your father?"
"He tried to wake us up at 4am to swim. In a freezing sea. Except that, he's cool. Oh, and he somehow thinks we're interested in dropping everything here, move to Greece and follow in his footsteps. But hey, it's cool."
Gregor's fork fell from his hand, along with his jaw.
"You want to go to Greece!?"
"No, we'll give him hell if he tries to make us go there, that's why we say it's cool."
Grover leaned back, crossing his arms, puzzled.
"... I don't feel irony coming from you, which is a first."
Percy shrugged, looking at the remaining food to decide his next target.
Do you want to answer that one?
Yeah.
"Like you said yourself, Peter was kind of lost, so knowing where he doesn't want to go kinda gave his life a direction somewhat. Even if he's still not sure what he wants, knowing what he doesn't want narrows the possibilities."
"How exactly did your father react when you told him this?"
Percy looked back at his friend with a pleasant smile and his voice was light, which Gregor correctly interpreted as fury raging below the surface.
"Oh, he did nothing because he never asked, so we never gave him this answer. We found out from someone else. Also, we have a brother."
"Triton, right?"
Gregor used a spoon to slap Percy's fingers away from his own dish.
"... Sure, him too, I guess. I'd forgotten about him, to be honest; I was thinking about Tyson."
"Oh, the... cyclops."
He looks... almost afraid.
"Was that... a shiver? Why would you shiver? I told you how Tyson is cool."
"I know, I know, it's just that... well, almost everyone in my family is like my size. Even my friends aren't that big. You could say that the idea of a big guy, cool or not, cyclops or not, makes me uneasy."
"I know this feeling, but Tyson is a tiny cyclops."
Gregor gave him a no-nonsense glare.
"You said he crushed a flaming bull's head with his bare hands."
He had to laugh at that.
"Bad Cow was trying to hurt his brother, he got angry."
"He led the other cyclops as his general, according to you."
Percy smiled in reminiscence.
"Yeah, even I didn't see that one coming. Still, he was very determined to save the world. Couldn't let peanut butter get destroyed."
They stared at each other for a second before exploding into laughter.
***
After swearing he would go back for a dinner, that Sarah had already invited him, Gregor hit Percy with his walking stick before laughing while quickly wobbling out of reach. Promising retribution at dinner, Percy took the road to Peter's house with a smile.
Random question, does Annabeth has a belly button?
... What?
Not Annie, Annabeth. Does she?
Yes, why?
I was thinking, didn't you say she was a brainchild? Then how-
See, that's the kind of question that would get you strung like a pinata mixed with a pin the tail in the middle of the camp.
Are you... speaking from experience?
Never went that far. Most technicalities are not worth thinking too hard. But that one, in particular, is HEAVILY discouraged.
So... you never insisted enough to get an answer.
No, I didn't.
But you've asked yourself this, no?
You know me better than that.
The answer is several times?
Several times.
SUNDAY, 22nd January
Entering the diner, it took him only two seconds to find the blond hair. Sliding to the booth next to her, he waited until they were all seated before starting the introductions.
"Gregor, this is my girlfriend Annabeth and her counterpart, Annie. Girls, this is Gregor"
She offered a hand with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, Gregor. It's interesting to see how Grover would look like if he actually aged like us."
"Nice to meet you too. And I have a proposition for you."
"A proposition?"
I don't like his face.
What do you want me to do?
Knock him out before it's too late?
Gregor gave Annabeth a blinding smile.
"I have several embarrassing stories about Peter."
No!
Annabeth's grin was just as excited.
"I have a near-infinite amount of those about Percy."
"You got yourself a deal!"
They shook hands, almost giddily.
What have you done!?
... Ops?
***
Please.
No.
Please.
No.
"-and when the teacher turned again, he was-"
Please.
No.
How many times do I have to beg before you kill me?
"Oh! That reminds of one time when Percy was-"
On the history of worst ideas in history, this is the winner.
Despite the feeling, embarrassment doesn't really kill you.
I would rather if it did.
"-I tried to help him stand, but then-"
Backstabbers, both of them!
Honestly, I'm not really surprised about Annabeth.
"You're kidding me?"
"No, I'm not! I swear on my life-"
... damn, I really hate Gregor. Where is loyalty when you need it?
***
"You seem to be in a good mood."
Annabeth laughed at his gloomy voice, hugging his arm while they waited for Gregor to return from the restroom.
"Well, it's good thing Annie doesn't have control of a physical body right now, otherwise she'd still be hiccupping from how much she laughed."
At least THEY are enjoying themselves.
"No loyalty, huh?"
She slid her hand down his arm until she grasped his hand, squeezing it lightly.
"That's your fatal flaw, not mine."
"Well, don't you two look cozy?"
Annabeth grinned at Gregor, but Percy only glared. When Annabeth started talking about her own trip on winter's break, Percy felt like being struck by lightning and gripped her hand tightly, effectively getting her attention and interrupting her tale.
"What is wrong, Percy?"
"Rachel."
"I'll get there, I'm still talking about Half-Blood Hill."
"No, not this. Do you remember why she fought so much with her father?"
Where are you going with this?
"She disagreed how he would buy lands and construct upon it."
Oh! Oh!
Now you caught up!
That's brilliant!
I don't know about brilliant, but it's our best lead.
"I'm sure she would've joined an NGO or another about protecting nature. And now..."
He turned to Gregor, grinning.
"... we know someone who's on the same field."
He could see the light behind Annie's eyes when she understood, while the man himself kept looking between them, still lost.
"I'm not following."
"We're trying to find someone. Rachel."
"Rachel? Rachel...? Wait, the oracle?"
"That's the one."
"How am I supposed to find an oracle?"
"Not an oracle, a girl. We will give you anything we think it might be useful. And you use your contacts to find out if she's associated with any of the NGOs you know."
"And if she is, if they can pass along a message from us. Percy, this is brilliant."
See, even she thinks it.
And you caught up to my idea before her or Annie.
Well, that DOES make me feel a bit better.
"It's at least worth a shot."
***
Percy reread the email he and Annabeth had written, gathering as much information and description about Rachel, along with their own theories about what might have changed in this reality, before hitting send and stretching his arms to relieve the tension on his shoulders.
I hope this works.
Me too.
You're cool, but...
I'm overstaying.
That's one way to put it.
Getting up to go steal something from the kitchen, he was somewhat surprised to find their mother in the living room, searching for something inside her purse.
Well, isn't she looking nice?
"Mom, where are you going?"
Probably out with her friends; wouldn't be the first time.
She was startled by his voice, quickly closing her purse.
"... Out, why?"
"You look nice."
She smiled and walked around the couch to close the distance and give him a kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you, Peter. There's food in the fridge."
"Is it a date?"
There was only the slight hesitation on her step back, but it was enough to raise Peter's suspicion.
"Excuse me?"
... Answer the question, woman.
"I just asked if it's a date."
"...Why are you asking me this?"
Holy... it IS a date! I didn't even know my mom dated! ... Are you saying that all those outings with her friends...
"No reason. Have fun!"
She watched him move towards the kitchen, something around her eyes showing her uncertainty.
"Sure..."
Hiding the smirk on his face behind the fridge's door while he checked what she left for dinner, he wasn't that successful to hide it from his voice.
"Tell him I said 'hi'."
"Peter!"
Red alert!
"Well, look at that, I think I have something to do in my room. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
"Excuse me!?"
Quickly retreating to the safety of their room, Percy waited until he heard the front door closing before laughing at her flustered face to his last comment.
How did you even know it was a date!?
Didn't I tell you that I have a step-father?
Yeah, Paul, I remember.
He didn't answer, waiting for Peter to realize.
You don't mean...
I don't know if it's him today. But I do know that she needs to... hm... be on the market? For that to happen.
Oh God, don't say that my mom in on the market ever again, I'll have nightmares for a week!
Flashback over, back to present
TUESDAY, 24th January
Jodi patted his shoulder with a smile.
"You'll do great, I know it."
"Steal it!"
"Crash it!"
"And then burn it!"
She rolled her eyes in annoyance, but he could see the smile she was trying to fight.
"I mean, as long as you don't listen to those two idiots."
You know what you're doing, right?
Again, yes! I already got my license; I'm doing you a favor.
"I mean, I already passed the written test, anything after that will be piece of cake."
***
He hit his head against the front seat again and grit his teeth to avoid strangling the person right in front of him.
Now Miss Nervous Laugh has two, against three from Mister Garlic Breath.
Is it that hard to NOT slam the brakes?
Don't worry, you'll have your turn to dazzle the tester with your skill.
You mean, if I don't get a concussion first.
That's a possibility, yes.
They had moved less than twenty yards when Metallica Shirt next to Percy cried out in alarm.
"Stop the car!"
Percy understood the reason a second later, thanking the gods the girl driving was an expert in slamming the brakes. He threw the door open and himself out of the car, followed by the other guy, and could see both the girl and the tester scrambling out of the car holding a hand to their nose.
Di immortales, what did this guy EAT? A rotten corpse!?
By his breath, we at least know garlic was one of the ingredients.
***
"How did it go?"
Without moving from the couch or taking his eyes off the TV, Percy raised his paper license so Sarah could see from her position next to the front door.
"I got it. And you have no idea the hardships I went through to get it."
She had a smile on her voice.
"Was the tester a perfectionist?"
"I think he was just grateful I didn't try to put his head through the front window not even once."
"Get up. Help me get dinner ready and tell me all about it. Are you going to tell your father?"
Are we?
I don't know. I mean, we could. I'd just send a picture of our license and call it a day.
"Maybe."
WEDNESDAY, 25th January
Walking to his next class, he was surprised to see Sirena with her friends next to a classroom door, actively trying to kill him with a glare.
Well, that's new.
I thought she had settled for ignoring us.
Sending her a glare of his own as a warning, she hesitated just a moment, before cutting the connection and focusing on whatever her friends were talking.
If I'm to be honest, when I first got here, I thought she would be a bigger problem, especially with our shared class on Friday.
Yeah, she could've been, but anyone with at least two brain cells would take a step back, especially after your frightening girlfriend almost destroyed her. In her vision, Annie pretty much went from nerd to a freaking wolf going for her throat in like, less than an hour.
I know, she's fantastic.
And you're lovesick.
"Well, that was impressive."
Percy looked up to see Jodi, staring Sirena at his back.
"What was impressive?"
"Your killer look. You got freakishly good at it."
"Thanks."
"What were you thinking so hard?"
"I'm just surprised that she left us alone so fast."
"Oh. That. Did you know that she used to bully Barbara before Annie came? And let's be honest, she never really stopped."
And...?
"Are you trying to tell me something?"
"Let's just say... that score is almost settled. Nothing obvious, of course, but I think she got the message to lie low."
There is... something else in her voice.
What?
I don't know. I mean, I knew Jodi wasn't Sirena's biggest fan, but I always thought it was something generic.
And now you don't?
Let's just say I'm bored enough to pay attention to details I ignored before.
"Do you have a score with her that I'm not aware of?"
She patted his cheek.
"Nothing you need to worry your messy bedhead about."
And she started moving away from him, he halted her with a hand on her arm.
"Jodi? Did something happen? About your mom, I mean. You look... better. Lighter."
She bit her lip and nodded; the smile on her face serene.
"... Yeah, someone helped me put things in perspective. Now go before you get late!"
What in the world happened between Sirena and Jodi?
And you think I know? Besides, should you be asking this question?
What do you mean?
Shouldn't you be asking yourself how you didn't see they had something between them? Or maybe why you didn't trust Jodi's judgment? Jordan's and Jay's too, while we're at it. Or why you thought getting a girlfriend that hated your friends was a good idea? Or how you didn't see Sirena's true nature?
Way to make me feel like an idiot.
Glad to help!
***
Percy opened their email, surprised to see one from Petraios.
I wasn't expecting him to answer that quickly, to be honest.
Maybe he's really trying.
Ignoring the attachment for the time being, his eyes skimmed over the email and what he saw that gave him pause.
What!?
My father's first gift for me was a sand dollar, and yours' is a car. That is so unfair.
Sand dollar? Why would you use that for?
To convince the rivers to fight by our side in the war.
... You know, you never got into details. Do rivers fight?
Meh, they helped a bit, I suppose.
The rest of the email was ordinary, telling about a fishing boat that went missing for almost a week, Octopus' reaction to learning that Peter had punched Theron, Petraios begging again to tell him how and when he had learned Greek. Aglaia asking him if his mother had liked her gift.
Oh yeah, we completely forgot about it.
Are you going to give the other one to Annabeth?
Of course not.
We won't be here forever, and I want you to choose who to gift.
Oh. Thanks.
The attachment was a picture of a handwritten letter from Tychon, about how much he missed his new friend but hoped he had arrived in one piece. It gave Percy a headache trying to decipher it along with Google translator, as Greek, either modern or ancient, was never his strong suit; but it was worth it. The rest of it was about working with Octopus, how his lessons were getting harder but Edna had offered to help him, to which he promised to teach her how to swim.
Go get her, boy!
And we honestly believed him to be shy...
They grow up so fast...
***
"Mom?"
Sarah raised her eyes from her book.
"Yes?"
"Eh... about Greece, there's something I forgot to tell you."
"Oh, no. Peter, what did you do!?"
"Nothing that deserves alarm! I just forgot to give you a gift!"
She motioned to the place next to her on the couch, closing her book and putting it aside.
"A gift?"
"Yeah, but it's not from me, it's from... Aglaia."
"Your step-mother?"
Too much!
"Wait, step-mother is a bit heavy. Let's say... dad's wife."
"Peter, that's the same thing."
"Not for me. Anyway, she sent you a gift. If you want, I mean."
He could see she was finding the whole exchange amusing.
"Why wouldn't I want it?"
"Because it might be weird?"
Duh.
"Peter, she received you in her home. For more than a week. Do you think I can't be mature enough to accept her gift?"
"That's not what I meant!"
"I know! I don't think you even know what you meant."
"...That might be possible."
"Peter, love, this awkwardness you feel on my behalf? It usually doesn't get a place in adult relationships. Older adults, I mean, not those in their twenties."
Seeing his hesitance, Sarah pulled him into a hug.
"Peter, I appreciate your willingness to spare my feelings and respect my wishes, but I promise you I'm okay."
If you say so...
He nodded into the hug and pulled away, giving her the pearl bracelet. She smiled and put it on, admiring it against the soft light.
"Thank you, Peter. I'm a big girl, you don't have to worry about me. Or about Aglaia. We talked on the phone, you know?"
Really!?
"What? When?"
"While you were in Greece. I needed to know if you were behaving. Care to explain why both you and your father decide to hide from me the fact that you fell while trying to learn how to ride a motorcycle?"
Her kind smile sent him into full panicking mode.
"Oh! Right. That."
We're soooo screwed.
A/N: Did anyone see Gregor (possibly) being the link to find Rachel!? No!? Well, join the club because not even I saw that one coming! Funny how things work out on their own!
And yes, I do remember I gave Gregor crutches in the other chapter, but I knew someone who had a problem on his legs and he could go from a walking stick to a wheelchair in the space of a week, as pain, patience, and tiredness are variables. For the purpose of having Gregor run, I gave him a stick for the day.
And I know that since PJO is mostly for youngsters, it doesn't get mentioned much, but satyrs are D's followers, which means that in ancient times, they're drunk 99% of the time and partied hard all the time, so yeah, Gregor's family is counting like, 4lt of alcohol per person.
This last conversation with Sarah was mostly inspired by my own family. Some members had (or have) years-long feuds or almost wars and they just... exchange gifts on Christmas, invite each other for dinner, while everyone is painfully aware of their dirty laundry. I can't say they forgive each other, they just accept the other's existence and role inside the family, treating each other with courtesy.
I do remember reading somewhere that since adults have to swallow a lot of insults and unpleasantness, we get to drink alcohol to help it go down. And wasn't that the truth in my last Christmas with relatives?