(Fem.) Percy meets Spidey

29

Tremors shook the palace. My nails dug hard into my skin as I curled up, my hair forming enough of a curtain to shield me from his view. He's pissed. I was so, so prepared for the strike that never came. And so I waited. Each moment made my breathing a little harder. Made my heart beat that much faster. I gasped for air, only to release it right after. Pain shot through my chest.

"Fuck- I didn't- Come here." Hands cupped my elbows, pads of fingers soft where they pressed into my skin. "My anger has nothing to do with you, foal. None of this is directed towards you. I need you to breathe with me, okay? Remember the breathing technique Ares talked about?"

I didn't, but it didn't matter. Dad coached me through, mumbling words of encouragement and letting the water swirl around me. I slumped back against the couch and groaned. All the energy I had was sucked out of me. The cushions dipped. My eyes flickered towards Dad before I was leaning sideways. His leg was a good pillow, even if he tensed and stared down at me. I stared back. 

"I thought," he began slowly, "you didn't want to be touched?" 

"Certain things aren't as bad." I waved one of my hands. Would I have to ask him to mess with my hair? I didn't want to, that seemed like too much, but if he did it on his own... "Hugs are usually the worst." 

When his fingers pressed against my scalp, tension drained from my body. I pressed my head further into the touch, all but purring. Dad seemed satisfied by this, since whatever residual stress in his frame vanished. "We can go surface side for a bit. Get something to eat and get you far, far away from those nobles." I blinked. There was a hard glint in his eyes that made me snort. His hand slipped down to cover my eyes. "I protect my own, seahorse. You're my foal, and they'd do well to remember that."

I sat up and leaned back against Dad. What only could be called small chirps left my throat. He sighed and kissed the side of my head. 

"My foal," mumbled Dad. 

"Being a bit possessive?"

"We sea gods tend to be. Where do you want to get food at?"

Before I could get a chance to answer, Triton swam into the room, saw me, and sighed. Still, and to my immense surprise, he didn't leave. I guess that had to count for something, even if he did sit as far away from me as physically possible, tucked into the opposite corner of the couch.

"Should I ask why you aren't out there entertaining our guests?" asked Triton. "Or should I just assume you abandoned-"

"They're creeps," I said. I shifted, so I was pressed more firmly against Dad. "Did you want to get something to eat with us?" 

"Me?" 

"No, the plant." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you."

"No. Someone has to give the appearance of caring about the council." 

Dad sighed and he draped his arm over my one shoulder. "A few hours won't kill them."

"Tell that to Makai. He looks like he's going to drop at any minute." Triton ran a hand through his hair, tails twitching in the water. "I really can't care less about what you do, just stop ditching the council. I may be your heir, but that doesn't mean you push all your work onto me." He got up and swam out, before poking his head back in. "If you go to that one place, bring me back ice cream." And then he was gone. 

Dad brushed his hand through my hair again. I looked up at him. "McDonald's sound good?"

"If we go, I am legally required to buy Nico a Happy Meal and make fun of him."

"How did you inherit so much from me?"

"Apparently annoying overpowers loving." 

"Ouch." 

I laughed and turned so I could kiss his cheek. "You are a better parent than your brother, so you've got that going for you. And you actually seem to care about me, more than I can say for some of you guys." My arms tucked close to my body, I leaned against him, head propped against his shoulder. He didn't wrap his arms around me. "Can we just sit here, please? I'm really tired." 

"Take a nap, we can go get food later." 

I grumbled. I didn't want to sleep, because that would mean he's wasting his time. There's a difference. It's small, but it's there. I didn't want him to waste his time because of me, if I'm awake than it's really not that, right?

"You deserve to rest, Percy. You do, seahorse. I don't care if I have to sit here and hold you." One of his arms fell around me and I tensed, fighting back my want to pull away. Dad dropped his arm. "If you want to lay down, that's fine." I shook my head and wrapped one hand in the fabric of his shirt. Ares said textures might help ground me. Maybe...Maybe if I fall asleep like this?

One of Dad's large hands cradled the back of my head. Slowly, he shifted us to lay down. My grip remained on his shirt. The...whatever it was made of was soft. Dad kissed the top of my head. The only thing I could hear was our breathing and his heart thudding in his chest. And then a soft lullaby drifted through the water. A smile tugged at my lips, and I pressed myself closer to Dad. It's safe here. 

I'm safe here.

Welp, hope you enjoyed, I'm off to draw and probably eat

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