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

I can't think

Triton lingered at the edges of my room. He didn't say anything, and Dad's words faded in and out.

"---too much--- calmed her---" The rest of the sentence was lost in a veil of static. I shifted, irritation spiking. A wave of peace washed over me. Dad smoothed his hand over my head. "It's nothing important, little one."

"You feeling okay?" Triton asked. Blue hands reached out and cupped my face. He frowned. My eyelids fluttered. "Percy?"

"Tired," I mumbled. Dad tensed, then relaxed.

"Well, I'm sure Daddy will keep you safe if you want to sleep."

"Stop talkin' to me like I'm a baby."

He shrugged. "Mortals respond better to familiar terms, and--" He leaned forward conspiratorially. "I don't think he cares what I call him."

"You've called me worse," Dad said.

"It's rude to eavesdrop."

"Both of you." I managed. Even if Dad's lap was comfy, even if Dad's arms were warm, and even if his heartbeat was soothing, it felt wrong. Everything kept blurring and hazing. My head swam. It wasn't coincidence that whenever his attention fell back on me was when it got worse.

I always said gods had control over our lives. I didn't realize that extended to our emotions.

Dad hummed. "You are my baby." He shifted me and kissed my head. With the affection came a gentle push towards sleep, and a spike of terror. He paused, sighed, and wrapped me a little tighter. No thoughts. No feelings. Just existence. "But your brother is right. I'm more than capable of protecting you."

I nuzzled against his soft shirt. Blinking, I turned my head. There's something... Dad dropped the horse in my lap, and my hands moved to run through its fur. The bubbling thoughts were washed away.

"I'm just glad she's talking again," Dad said softly when I'd almost drifted off. His fingers caressed the back of my neck. "She stopped for a bit." 

"I'd believe it." Triton sighed. "She was practically screaming to get out of there. Gave me a migraine."

Dad made a noise, concern weaving through his aura. "Are you okay?" He moved but froze when I shifted. "Sh. Daddy's got you." Warmth. Comfort.

Amusement leaked in from Triton. It twined around my limbs like a cat.

"I'm fine." Soft, gentle fingers brushed my cheek. "Very glad Athena doesn't do that, but things probably would've been worse if I didn't pick up on it."

"You shouldn't have to. I'm the parent, and if I hadn't--"

"Father, respectfully, shut up," Triton said. His hand slid to my shoulder, and I couldn't help but melt under the touch. "If I get told not to blame myself for what happened to Pallas when that was so, so much worse, you don't get to fucking blame yourself for this." Triton's voice wavers. "She's---She's still alive. At least you have that."

Sighing, Dad laid me on the my bed. "I need to have a word with your sister. Stay with her." The door shut with a soft click.

As soon as it did, Triton pulled me close to his chest, wrapped me up in his arms. "I know you're still awake," he said.

"Sorry."

"If it's about the migraine, don't worry about it. You can't...you can't help it. You're quieter now, but I don't know how much of that is from Dad. He can be-- What's wrong?"

I burrowed closer to him. Triton was safe, far more so than Dad. His aura dusted over my skin, barely offering me hints of emotion. There wasn't a risk of him overwhelming me and dropping me back into the damned floating state.

"Do you..." He hesitates. "Not like Dad?"

Silence.

"He'll keep you safe," Triton said quietly. "And if you don't want him here, just tell me and I can stay. You deserve to feel safe here. This is your home."

It wasn't. Not...not in the way Triton meant it. Home is where my room is mine, and where I don't want to scrape my skin off.

"I shouldn't need you here for that," I said.

"You shouldn't, but none of this should be happening, and I-- Do you want Athena to stay with you?"

My breath caught, and I pushed against him, shaking my head. He was better. Even Dad would be better. Athena...Athena knew about it. "Dad's fine."

"I can make sure he leaves you alone if you'd prefer me."

"He won't." I was sure Dad could brush Triton aside easily. We're both his children. Children who belong to him and who he's possessive of.

"If I can get Athena to look like a five year old, Dad will melt. It's easier to redirect him than it is to stop him," he said, drumming his fingers against my back. He didn't fight me when I decided to sit up.

"He's just...loud." I shook my hands, realized what I was doing, and stopped.

"I'll tell him to be a little quieter then, okay? But what do you mean by loud?" The bed creaked as he pushed himself up. Blanket after blanket ended up wrapped over my shoulders.

"His aura it's--it's too much sometimes. Like when you're in a room trying to concentrate and everyone is having six different conversations around you." Triton's aura gently wove around me. I whined and pushed into it. Soft. Not too warm.  "I can't think." 

He sighed and gathered me up. "He unfortunately has that effect sometimes." His fingers brushed over my cheek in a soothing rhythm, and it wasn't long before I began to drift off. It was nice: existing with a soft undercurrent of warmth and care.

Unfortunately, it had to end.

"Is she sleeping?" Dad asked quietly. I felt him use his aura to poke and prod at me. The strands slipped through Triton's with ease, and when I shifted in discomfort, they only persisted. Only when Triton growled did Dad back off with a chuckle. 

The bed creaked under Dad's weight. He tried to pull Triton away, like he had the last time. No. A small growl of my own slipped out, and I grabbed Triton's arm and tugged at him, trying to keep my little island of safety. I failed; Dad laughed.

"Little one," he cooed. "There needs to be room up here for both of you."

"I can sleep on the floor." The bed didn't feel right, and I was sure I'd only be able to twist and turn. The ground would be better. After all, I'd slept in worse places. Plus--I eyed the pile of blankets--it wasn't like I didn't have options.

"I'm more than capable of holding both of you." Dad nudged me until I lay half on him. Gingerly, I settled my weight with only my head and shoulders against his chest. He blew out a breath. "You can lay fully on me if you want. You're...not very heavy."

"I'm fine."

"We both know you aren't. I just want you close to me, okay?"

I shifted uncomfortably. There wasn't really a choice. He was just trying to seem nice. Slowly, I pulled myself onto Dad. My body rose and fell with each deep, steady breath he took. His heartbeat was at a comforting pace, and the material of his shirt didn't scratch my skin.

Even without his aura, it was clear this was the calmer side of the sea.

"Do you want another blanket? Or do you want one of your stuffed animals?" he asked. Triton blindly slapped at Dad.

"...Blanket."

He wrapped me tight without fuss, and I let out a little sigh at the pressure. Dad smiled at me. His hand slipped up to my hair and gently rubbed my head. My eyes fell shut, and then numbness set in.

Apparently, me writing a crap ton of present tense stuff means my past tense writings going to suck. And yes the title of this chapter also applies to me

Anyway, I hope you guys likes this chapter, and if you haven't, maybe check out Under the Water? I've been pumping out pretty much a chapter a day for the last week so I'd appreciate it

See yah