Why is Everything so Loud?! (Fem. Percy)

Doll-like

As much as I hated it, Dad was comfy and warm, and it felt nice knowing I could fall asleep on him like that. Sure, it didn't help that itch inside my brain that said something was off, but it soothed that part of me that was still a scared twelve-year-old being told I might never be claimed. 

He had me, loved me, and wanted me---for now.

I woke up to Triton holding me close, and he pressed a kiss to my head when I shifted.

"Where's Dad?" I mumbled. My eyes didn't want to stay open.

"Had some council stuff. He'll be back in a few hours, if he doesn't chew Kym out some more." He ran a gentle hand over my spine to keep me from pushing away. I didn't mind the way his aura seemed to grasp at me. If felt like he was. doing. . . something nice? Or trying at least.  "She's going to get her ass handed to her if she comes near you."

That's nice of him. I frowned. As if sensing the churning thoughts in my head, Triton tucked my blanket around me and continued,

"You almost killed yourself because Kym pushed you over the edge, honey. Dad's--"

"Honey?" I scrunched my nose.

"I'm kinda pulling from having daughters here, shush."

"Mom calls me that."

"See? Perfectly acceptable choice."

"For a parent." I laughed.

Triton's lips pulled into a thin, watery smile. He brushed his fingers over my cheek, tracing the bones and ridges of my face. He had that look Mom did when she was about to cry, and I wondered what I did wrong. 

"Dad's worried," he said, "and pissed that Kym hasn't left yet."

"She's his daughter too."

He sat up suddenly; I clung to him. "You want to go down there?" He nodded to the blanket pile. "It looks comfy." Not a choice. No, because he got up and carried me there anyway. Arranged me in the stuffed animals and blankets.

I didn't mind. The haze of Dad's aura lingered, and I grabbed a stuffed animal to bury my face into.

"Soft," I mumbled. Like this, it was easy enough to forget about my half-sister. Nothing bad could happen if I'm warm and cozy--except it could, and it would. How much longer could I keep doing this? How much longer would I get before Dad pulled away or ignored me?

How long would I last after that happened?

"Do you want more soft stuff?" Triton asked. "Dad didn't give you much choice, and I should probably get you a present or something. That's what mortals do, right? Stuffed animals? Or do you want something else?"

"I think I have enough stuffed animals."

"Well, I could give you a sheep. Those are soft. Do apartments allow sheep? You could keep it here though. . ." Triton wrapped his arms around me and pulled me onto his lap, as he kept rambling off ideas: sheep went to blankets, blankets went to clothes, clothes turned to him resolving to get me some big sweatshirts.

I pushed at him. "I'm too old for this."

"Hasn't stopped you from wanting me to carry you." I flinched, and Triton sighed. "Percy, this... this is a normal thing for us, okay? There's nothing wrong with you doing this. We're possessive, and family is included in that. I want to hold you, as much as you probably want to be held.

"You're a baby, and I'm not saying that to be mean. You're so young, and we just want to protect you. To keep you safe and happy. Don't you feel better when one of us has you like this? Isn't that why you've asked me to carry you before?"