Heavens fallen to the sea

Chapter Five: The Weight of Expectations

Back at camp, the air felt thicker, the night heavier with tension. As Brandon and Percy emerged from the woods, they were greeted by dozens of eyes turning toward them. The warmth of the campfire cast flickering shadows on the surrounding faces, but it didn't ease the pressure that settled on Brandon's chest. He could feel the weight of their stares like a physical thing, suffocating.

Whispers started up again, quiet but unmistakable.

"That's him. The son of Hera."

Brandon kept his head down, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. Percy was beside him, walking with that same easy confidence, but there was an alertness in his posture now, like he was ready to defend Brandon if anyone said something out of line.

The two of them reached the edge of the fire, where Annabeth, Chiron, and a few of the senior campers were gathered. Annabeth's sharp gray eyes flickered with curiosity, but her expression was calm, calculating. She was always good at reading people.

Chiron, standing in his centaur form, watched Brandon closely, his face impassive but his eyes filled with the wisdom of centuries. He knew more about what this meant than anyone else here, except maybe Brandon himself.

"Brandon," Chiron said in his deep, steady voice. "I'm glad to see you've returned."

Brandon nodded stiffly, still too rattled to form words. He wasn't sure what to say anyway. What could he say that would make any of this better?

Chiron's gaze shifted to Percy, and he nodded approvingly. "Thank you, Percy."

Percy shrugged like it was no big deal, but Brandon could feel the intensity radiating off him, a quiet protectiveness that made Brandon's throat tighten. He didn't deserve that kind of loyalty, but Percy was giving it to him anyway.

Annabeth stepped forward, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Brandon. "I take it you're okay?" she asked, her voice careful.

"Yeah," Brandon muttered, not meeting her gaze. "I'm fine."

Annabeth exchanged a glance with Percy, and there was an entire silent conversation in that one look. Brandon knew Annabeth was skeptical—she always was. But she wouldn't push unless she thought it was necessary.

Chiron cleared his throat, drawing the campers' attention back to him. "Campers, it's late. I suggest everyone return to their cabins for the night. We can discuss the implications of this new development tomorrow, when heads are clearer."

There was some grumbling from the crowd, but no one dared argue with Chiron. Slowly, the campers began to disperse, though Brandon could still feel the lingering glances in his direction. He knew what they were thinking—what *everyone* was thinking. Hera was not popular among demigods, and now one of her children was walking among them.

"Brandon, a word," Chiron said once most of the campers were gone. Percy and Annabeth remained by his side, clearly not going anywhere either.

Brandon's heart sank. He nodded, bracing himself for whatever was coming next.

Chiron gestured for them to move toward the Big House, away from the campfire. When they were a little more secluded, he spoke, his voice low but calm. "I know this must be difficult for you. Being claimed by Hera is... unprecedented."

Brandon's fists clenched at his sides. "You think I don't know that?" he snapped before he could stop himself. "I didn't ask for this."

Chiron gave him a long, steady look, his face still unreadable. "None of us ask for the circumstances of our birth, Brandon. But how we handle them is within our control."

Brandon opened his mouth to respond, but Annabeth cut in, her voice quieter but firm. "He's right, Brandon. I can't imagine what it's like for you, being Hera's son. But you're not alone. We've all had to deal with expectations that feel impossible. You have a place here, no matter who your godly parent is."

Brandon wanted to believe her, but it was hard to shake the feeling that he would always be an outsider now. Even here, where every demigod had their own burden, his felt different. More complicated. More dangerous.

"And what if people don't accept me?" Brandon muttered, not looking at any of them. "What if they never do?"

Percy, who had been quiet up until now, stepped forward, his voice steady. "Then they'll answer to me."

Brandon blinked in surprise, his eyes snapping up to meet Percy's. There was no hesitation in Percy's face, no uncertainty. He meant it.

"You don't have to prove yourself to anyone here," Percy continued. "You've already survived more than most of these campers could imagine. That makes you one of us, no matter who your parent is."

Brandon swallowed hard, the lump in his throat returning. The truth was, he wasn't sure if he believed Percy. Not yet. But hearing those words, knowing that Percy believed in him, even when he wasn't sure he deserved it—it did something to him. It made him want to try. To stick around, even if everything felt impossible.

Chiron's voice broke the silence. "Tomorrow, we'll need to address the other campers, and there will be questions. But for tonight, you should get some rest. This revelation will take time to process."

Brandon nodded stiffly, feeling more exhausted than he had in a long time. His body felt heavy, like the weight of his secret had been replaced by something even heavier—the responsibility of being Hera's son, of living up to expectations he wasn't sure he could meet.

But at least, for now, he wasn't facing it alone.

---

Later that night, Brandon lay in his bed in the Hermes cabin, staring up at the ceiling. Sleep wouldn't come, no matter how much he willed it to. His thoughts were too loud, too restless. He kept replaying the events of the night in his head—the campfire, the symbol of Hera, the looks on everyone's faces when the truth came out.

He still wasn't sure what tomorrow would bring. He wasn't sure how the other campers would react, or what his place at camp would be now. But there was something else gnawing at him, something that had been quietly growing in the back of his mind ever since he had arrived.

What did Hera want with him? Why had she claimed him *now*, after all this time? She wasn't known for being sentimental, and it wasn't like she had a reputation for loving her demigod children. There had to be a reason. A purpose. And whatever it was, Brandon had a feeling it wasn't something he could just ignore.

The door to the cabin creaked open, and Brandon glanced up to see Percy slipping inside, trying (and failing) to be quiet.

"Hey," Percy whispered, making his way over to Brandon's bunk. "Couldn't sleep either?"

Brandon shook his head. "Not really."

Percy sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at him with a small, reassuring smile. "Look, I know today was... a lot. But you handled it. And no matter what happens next, we'll figure it out together. I've got your back."

Brandon felt a warmth spread through his chest, something he wasn't used to feeling. Trust. It was a foreign concept to him, something he'd never been able to afford. But with Percy, it felt real. It felt like something he could lean on, even if it scared him.

"Thanks," Brandon said quietly. "I... I appreciate it."

Percy nodded, his smile widening just a little. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be another wild ride."

Brandon watched as Percy stood and quietly left the cabin, closing the door behind him. He lay back down, staring at the ceiling again. For the first time in a long while, he didn't feel entirely alone.

And that, more than anything, made him want to believe Percy's words. That somehow, they'd figure this out together.

As his eyes grew heavy and sleep finally started to take hold, Brandon couldn't help but wonder what Hera's next move would be—and how long it would be before she made herself known again.