Our Fates Were Intertwined Long Ago

Am I A Man Or Am I A Monster

Percy had always considered camp his home yet as he awoke today he suspected something would occur. A normal person would write it off as a coincidence but he had lived through far too much to ignore his gut. Rolling out of his bed he began his morning rituals to prepare himself for breakfast.

Heading to the Pavilion, he offered a nod to his Aunt Hestia who sat tending to her hearth. A warm, comforting trill passed down his spine at her motherly smile making him feel less weary.

Arranging a plate of the offered food, he filled his with eggs, toast, strawberries and walked to the golden brazier to offer his father some strawberries. Afterwards, he sat at the Poseidon table and consumed his breakfast with a glass of orange juice.

Observing the other tables, he considered the fact that even after the Giant War II (or the Terran War as Camp Jupiter was more fond of ) the 12 tables set for the Olympian Gods were still the most prevalent whereas more general tables were added for the children of 'Minor Gods'.

When the Second Titan War had finished, Annabeth wanted to fix Camp Half-Blood first. However, her mother had informed her that rebuilding Olympus was more important. Her easy acceptance had made Percy avoid her for days.

 'Of course!', he had thought, 'Annabeth has always desired to build something that would immortalize her name. Her hubris was her fatal flaw after all' he thought feeling betrayed. She had tracked him down to confront him until he had confessed what was actually wrong. 

How could he tell her of the rightful fury that bubbled in his chest when Athena demanded her daughter tend to Olympus first before their own. Who may he add were their children. He could not justify his irrationality but logic was not his life ideology. Percy always reacted emotionally like the Sea.

He had admitted he was not angry at her but the Gods and simply needed someone to blame and he apologized. Annabeth was not the enemy. They had been through too much. He loved her romantically. Didn't he?

While he was not truly angry at her, her lack of presence while she built the temples made them grow apart. They had tried to stay together. Yet, he had been stolen and they were unable to rectify the issue.

After his disappearance and Olympus' closing while the Gods split, Annabeth threw herself into designing cabins. Then the 'Prophecy of the Seven' happened and they fell into Tartarus together.

Following all the drama with Gaea they had finally gotten the chance to talk and decide. 

Annabeth loved Percy but she could not love his demons.

Percy loved Annabeth but he could not love her apathy.

They loved each other and were still best friends who wanted the best for each other. Thus, it was decided. They would break up and remain friends. However, their loss of each other still hurt. And well they were both teenage war veterans, nobody said they coped healthily.

Therefore, Annabeth who had left building the 'Minor' Gods cabin building to Jason as he was already creating temples in New Rome and she threw herself into her work on Olympus.

Percy however? He returned to Camp Half-Blood and vigorously began training as the sword instructor to ensure the next age of heroes would not be so unprepared.

Ending his reminiscence he trekked to the 'Sword Fighting Arena' to begin his class. He had planned to teach them a few tricks today and then duel Clarisse. While the daughter of Ares did not put up much of a fight in a death battle, this was a duel so not only was Percy limited to non-fatal moves, but Clarisse would also still fight dirty.

Finishing the class and observing the sweaty students he motioned for them to take seats as Clarisse approached him.

Clarisse held a spear in her hand reminiscent of the one during his first summer while Percy held Anaklusmos loosely in his right hand.

Clarisse approached and struck downwards and slant-ways to have slashed Percy's chest with her spear if it had landed. Moving quickly, Percy used the side of Anaklusmos to directly impact the spear with enough strength to push Clarisse backwards.

Proving true that she was a Child of War, she recovered near instantaneously and instead changed to a constant motion of slashing downwards and then upwards while Percy used Anaklusmos to parry her movements.They both ignored the loud cheering of the campers lest they be distracted. 

As Clarisse grew annoyed, her movements became more rigid and definitive. Therefore to Percy's eyes predictable. Moving to a crouch to duck under her spear and bringing Anaklusmos into an upward arc to her stomach as he sprung to take advantage of the weak spot left unprotected.

Clarisse in an attempt to protect herself and to at least bring the duel to a draw changed the motion of her spear mid strike which only grazed Percy's arm.

Percy however was undeterred and brought his sword hovering to her chest and knocked her spear with his left hand. His sea blue-green eyes were filled with joy as he began to smile upon his victory yet he stopped as he finally took more than subconscious notice of his surroundings.

Obviously, it was not destroyed as if Percy had rampaged then Clarisse would have had far more trouble. Yet what troubled him was the weary and terrified look on the faces of their audience. Even worse was Clarisse who was looking downwards in a mix of emotions Percy could not begin to decipher.

Glancing down at the cut formed from Clarisse's spear, Percy observed with horror that his arm was not covered solely in red of human blood. 

But dotted with the gold of the Ichor of the Gods.

'Well', Percy supposed. He had always been a freak even among demigods. It was only a matter of time before the cause showed its roots.

'How fittings that I be born of the one considered the Father of Monsters', he thought bitterly.