Mystery Iris Messenger

Eight

Percy woke up with the smell of salt water filling his nose. It wasn't any different than a normal day, but today, the smell was stronger. He opened his eyes slowly, seeing a figure next to his bed. A part of him hoped it was Lester, remembering how his voice was able to calm him down. Instead, though, it was just Poseidon.

"What are you doing here?" Percy asked. His voice wasn't cold or angered, it was a silent plea to tell him that his father cared. He knew that would never happen, though. The Gods never told their children they cared about them. Still, Percy hoped that it would happen just once.

"I came to check up on you Percy," Poseidon smiled sadly. "It scared me knowing that my only demigod child might die." It wasn't exactly what Percy had hoped for, but at least it was more than most demigods would have gotten.

They sat in silence until the newly repaired fountain began to glow, signalling an Iris Message. Percy got up and answered it. He was in pain, but he's been through worse.

Once again, Percy was met with a blank room with seemingly no one in it. "Hey, Lester," Percy smiled to himself.

"Hey, Perce," Lester chirped back. "Long time no talk, eh?"

"Been a bit caught up, I guess," Percy answered. He heard Lester chuckle. At this point, Percy forgot that he wasn't alone. Poseidon coughed, wanting attention. "Oh, sorry, Dad."

"It's perfectly fine," Poseidon shrugged. He knew who was on the other side of the Iris Message. He knew his nephew was talking to his son. It didn't take a genius to take in the hyperness of his words to know it was Apollo. It shocked him that Apollo was able to make Percy smile when he didn't even know he was talking to a God, whereas Percy hadn't smiled upon seeing his own dad. "Who are you talking to?"

"Oh, this is Lester," Percy said, smiling once again. "He doesn't show his face. I suspect he's shy." A gasp emitted from the other side. Percy knew that Lester was indeed not shy, but Lester was unlike anyone he'd ever met, and he knew he could make some jokes. "Yeah, sometimes his shyness amounts to the same as Nico's socialness."

"I'll have you know," Lester began, "that I am not shy. I'm perfectly capable with doing anything that an extrovert would do. Because I am an extrovert."

"Mhm," Percy hummed. "Whatever you say, Lester."

"I do say," Lester assured. Poseidon smiled at the conversation. He didn't know what Apollo's attentions were, but as long as they made Percy happy, that's all that mattered to him.

"Well, I've got to be on my way back to Olympus," Poseidon interrupted. "Get better, Percy. And don't listen to what the demigods are saying."

Percy ran up and hugged him. "Thank you, Dad," he said into his chest. Poseidon hugged back, smiling, not caring that Zeus will say something about him leaving Olympus. They were supposed to stay distant from their children, after all.

After Poseidon left, Lester and Percy began talking. Neither of them brought up what Percy had done. Both of them knew that it would put too much stress on Percy. Instead, they focused on happier topics to talk about. Percy ended up falling asleep after a couple hours.

Apollo smiled at the sight he saw, situating himself into view of the Iris Message. He knew he loved this boy, but he'd never be able to do anything about it. He was a God and Percy is a mortal. If only he had accepted immortality when it was offered to him.

Sighing, Apollo ended the Iris Message and walked back out to the Throne Room. Poseidon smiled at him, and Apollo returned the gesture, not putting two and two together that Poseidon knew that he was Lester.