as if the stars had aligned ━ percy jackson¹

𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄.

✩ ━━━ epilogue: the birthday of a broken-hearted (pretty) boy. ❝I want in fact more of you. In my mind I am dressing you with light; I am wrapping you up in blankets of complete acceptance and then I give myself to you. I long for you; I who usually long without longing, as though I am unconscious and absorbed in neutrality and apathy, really, utterly long for every bit of you.❞

PERCY JACKSON WOKE UP WITH A SENSE OF DREAD SO IMMENSE THAT IT FELT LIKE A HEAVY WEIGHT PRESSING DOWN ON HIS CHEST. Still, he sat up from his corner of the room and forced himself to go through his morning routine, no matter how subhuman and detached he felt. He folded his blanket and moved his pillow off the shikibuton, the traditional Japanese mattress he slept on, rolling it up before storing it in the closet full of unworn children's clothes. The prospect of a shower felt too daunting at that moment, so Percy settled for splashing some water on his face. And as he gazed into the mirror, he hesitated for a moment before attempting to tidy his hair—his mom would probably want to take pictures later on, so he attempted to downplay the greasy, matted mess that it had become.

It was his birthday.
Percy couldn't think of a day less deserving of celebration.

When he walked out of the bedroom, he found his mom drinking tea with Hisa Matsuoka—the two women seemed genuinely content as they sat on the circular breakfast table, a serene expression on Sally's face as she laughed at something Hisa said. It was good in a way that nothing else had been recently. So, he pressed a kiss on her cheek as she turned to face him, her eyes filled with happiness as Sally gasped, "Oh, Percy, you're awake! Happy birthday, honey!"

Naoki barely looked up from his breakfast, chewing absentmindedly with a blurred look in his eyes. "Happy birthday, bro," the twenty-two-year-old croaked, his voice still stained with sleep. He lifted his hand as if to pat Percy on the shoulder before realizing that he was too far away to reach him. He settled for a lazy thumbs-up.

Percy breathed out a quiet laugh as he joined them at the table, sitting next to his mom. Hisa poured him a cup of tea—bright blue, made of butterfly pea flowers and dried lemongrass—as she explained, "Sally informed me of your preferences, Percy. Don't be shy about asking for things. We are family."
She began to serve him a plate from the choices set out on the table—pale blue rice, which he had never seen before, with bean sprouts and cucumber, salted boiled eggs, and salmon. "I prepared Nasi kerabu, a Malaysian dish. I felt that you might enjoy." Hisa regarded him with a gentle kindness, her eyes resembling a deep, endless abyss as she spoke, "Happy birthday, Percy Jackson. May this day bring you joy, and may the year ahead be filled with blessings and happiness."