Diedre promises that he didn't mean to die so early in his own universe, he promises. But he did and by far, he got reincarnated in the worst possible, most dangerous books he had ever read and it was stupid, really.
Long before monsters, prophecy, or swords, there was Percy and Diedre.
They were two scrappy kids in New York City, dodging bullies and authority figures alike. Percy was the reckless one; Diedre was sunshine and trouble rolled into one, with eyes the colour of amber glass and a grin that could convince teachers he'd done nothing wrong.
When Percy accidentally flooded the boys' bathroom in fourth grade, Diedre claimed responsibility.
"He's my partner in crime," Diedre told the principal. "You can't separate us."
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Diedre was the first to notice something was off about the field trip.
It wasn't just Nancy Bobofit being louder than usual or Mrs. Dodds glaring at Percy like he'd committed a war crime. It was the feeling—the hum in his bones, the pull of fate.
He remembered it all. From another life. A reader's life. The stories weren't fiction here—they were prophecy.
When Mrs. Dodds turned into a Fury, Diedre reacted before Percy could scream. He grabbed a piece of piping and jabbed it toward her face, just enough to distract her while Percy tossed Riptide mid-air. Diedre caught it on instinct.
"You owe me," he muttered, driving the blade into her chest.
From that day on, he never left Percy's side.
When the Minotaur attacked, it was Diedre who dragged Percy and Grover toward Camp Half-Blood, who bought them time by stabbing the monster with its own horn. He remembered reading this scene with trembling hands—and now, he was rewriting it.
He didn't know why he'd been reborn. He only knew he'd never let Percy suffer alone again.
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Annabeth met Diedre in battle first—sparring in the arena, both of them cocky and fast.
"You're not as clever as you think," she snapped.
Diedre parried, laughing. "But I am exactly as fast as I know I am."
They became reluctant allies, then teasing rivals, then something quieter. After all, no one challenged Annabeth like Diedre did—and no one besides Percy made Diedre lose his rhythm.
