Gladiators

Chapter Twenty Six

Aphrodite walked up to the plain girl, clearly hesitant. Percy now realized that the girl was actually quite pretty- she had mouse brown hair, warm brown eyes, and a soft smile. She was different than the goddesses that had just left and Aphrodite- she radiated warmth, comfort, love, and hope. She didn't come off as cold or elusive. There wasn't any underlying hostility in her at all.

When the girl looked at Aphrodite, she smiled a genuine smile and stood up from the hearth. "Aphrodite, you finally found the one." She said happily, a dimple appearing on her cheek. "I did, and he's absolutely wonderful, Hestia." Aphrodite said, choking up as suddenly tears welled up in her eyes. Percy was a bit shocked he hadn't realized that the girl was Hestia sooner.

Hestia's eyes softened like melting chocolate, and she opened her arms to the crying glamorous goddess. Aphrodite launched herself at Hestia, crying so suddenly it gave the four men whiplash.

"Shush, it's okay, dear. Hush now." Hestia soothed in her calming, warm voice that could make anyone calm down. Aphrodite calmed down easily, and for a moment- just a moment- she looked disheveled, eyes red and puffy, her cheeks a blotchy red. Then, with a snap of her fingers, she was once again back to her beautiful self.

"Sorry about that. Now, Hestia, I wanted your approval." Aphrodite looked to the plain goddess, hope clear in her eyes. Hestia smiled and walked over to Kallias, staring him straight in the eyes with a hard expression. Then, she smiled once more, back to her normal self. "You'll make a great addition to Mount Olympus." Hestia said sweetly, smiling. Aphrodite squealed in delight, hugging Hestia tightly before hugging Kallias.

The happy couple walked out of the room, hand in hand; but before they left the room, Kallias gave Aphrodite a sweet kiss on the lips. In that moment- like a fluttering image, Aphrodite didn't appear like the gorgeous woman. She looked like a teenage girl- complete with a few zits, unruly curly mousy brown hair, and slightly overweight. She didn't appear curvaceous, like a tempting nymph, unnaturally beautiful, nothing. She looked completely normal. Like any girl you could find on the streets of Greece or Rome.

But as soon as the kiss was over, the image was distorted once more, returning to how Perseus saw her. A gorgeous goddess.

"Did you see it?" Percy asked, worried he might be seeing things. Jason nodded silently in shock, and Nico continued staring, dumbfounded, at where they had just left.

"That is how Aphrodite knows he is the one." Hestia said easily, as if it was obvious. The boys looked at her in confusion, not understanding what the goddess meant.

"He sees her for who she truly is. He doesn't see whatever he wants to see. Everyone sees in her what they find to be the most attractive- people who they are attracted to or have feelings for. But Kallias sees her for who she really is. That's how she knows he is the one." Hestia explained, sitting back down by the hearth.

The boys were shocked, not knowing what to say. They hadn't discussed what she looked like to each other- they hadn't realized that each saw her differently. Nico saw her with blonde hair and sea green eyes- a familiar look to her face he couldn't place. Jason saw her as a dark-haired, brown-eyed beauty. Jason could now guess who she was supposed to look like. They both could.

"So everyone sees her like that? Even you, Hestia?" Nico asked, turning to the oldest, yet youngest, daughter of Kronos and Rhea. She nodded in response, tending to the fire once more. "You boys better be on your way now. I wouldn't want you to be missed by your friends." She said warmly, turning to smile at them briefly before disappearing.

The three shared a look and began walking out, not sure what to do. Until a woman appeared with a puff of smoke in front of them, and Percy recognized her- Hecate, the goddess of magic.

"Good job, Perseus. I knew you would be able to restore what had been lost." Hecate said with a smile, an air of confidence around the woman. The hood of her black cloak was on, covering up the top of her blonde head. Her dress was red silk, and her dog leaned against her leg affectionately.

"Hecate, what are you doing here?" Percy asked uneasily, unsure of how to process her appearance. Last time he had seen her, she gave him an ultimatum that he had refused to take. Who knows what a dark goddess would do after someone refuses her?
"I'm here to tell you not to loiter here or tarry on your journey home. Go, now." She ordered sternly, sounding urgent and a bit desperate. Complete seriousness was in her voice.

Uneasiness seized Percy's mind, and he nodded to the goddess. "One problem- how are we going to get there quickly on foot? I can't fly us all that way." Jason stated.

Just then, Blackjack and the two mares walk into the palace, led by Poseidon. The boys stare at him, confused.

"What? I am the father of pegasi and horses. I can't talk to my grandson?" Poseidon responds, patting Blackjack. Hey, boss! Blackjack whinnies happily. Percy refrains from cringing at the thought that Blackjack is his nephew or his brother. Percy knew the story, but that didn't mean he liked it.

"You boys better get on your way." Poseidon said, smiling to his son. His son passed him, petting Blackjack gently. Once Percy couldn't see, Poseidon glared icily at the two boys. They seemed to shrink under his hard gaze. Poseidon rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed by his son's taste in boys. He was fine with his son being gay, but couldn't he have chosen a bit better? Well, that's how Poseidon felt at least.

Poseidon turned back to his son, anxious and depressed. He knew what would happen. He knew it just like humans know their past. But he could not interfere with the future, no matter how much he wished he could. Zeus had already decreed it- no God or goddess may interfere in mortal affairs, and this, unfortunately, is a mortal affair.

"Be safe, my son." Poseidon told Percy, squeezing the boy's shoulder. It may not always seem that way, but Poseidon loves his children. Other gods and goddesses don't always care for their children, most even just ignore them. But Poseidon is invested into his children's futures and happiness. That always leads to the god's sadness and rage.

Poseidon even loves his more monstrous children. To him, they aren't monsters. Just misunderstood, lost souls looking for love in a loveless, cold world. Most of his monstrous children's mothers don't even want them. Percy nodded to his father, smiling at the sea god.

Then, Poseidon and Hecate left the three, going back to their godly business. Jason and Nico went over to Percy, unsure and a bit uneasy, anxiety haunting their footsteps. They weren't sure how to broach the subject that had lingered on their minds. "Percy, we need to talk." Jason said, gathering his courage.

"What is it?" Percy asked, turning to them. "We want a relationship with you." Nico stated tentatively, afraid of the rejection he knew was coming. "I won't choose between you two." Percy growled adamantly, unrelenting in his decision. He didn't tell them of his idea- he wanted them to decide what they wanted.

"No, we mean all three of us in a relationship." Jason replied easily, not hesitating for a moment. Percy smiled, showing off a dimple. Nico smiled too, realizing that they weren't getting rejected. Jason smiled back. Percy then leaned in and kissed Jason, and before Nico could even pout, Percy pulled him into a deep kiss just like he had kissed Jason.

When they broke apart, Percy finally heard the words he had been craving. "I think I love you." Jason murmured into Percy's hair, pulling Percy into his arms while Percy pulled Nico along. "I've known that I'm in love with you since I thought Khione was going to kill you." Nico murmured, his head in Percy's chest.

"I love you both." Percy murmured with a sigh of contentment.