Favorite : Change for the both of us

Chapter 4

Percy's POV

Poseidon was...well, he was nice. He was a bit quiet and awkward at first, like me, but once the conversation got going he was cool. I still can't believe he owns an aquarium at his age. Gracie's dad was twenty six when he died, and a lot of the time he'd just hang out with his friends and go partying every weekend with other young people. But it's a good job, none the less. What I wouldn't do to just spend my day surrounded by gorgeous sea creatures. I'm still buzzing with excitement nearly twenty four hours later because Poseidon is actually taking me to go see it.

It's kind of bad that I'm already so eager to see Poseidon. I shouldn't. All that will happen is he'll forget about me – he'll get bored and leave me. Hugh told me so. Every parent gets bored eventually. Just like mom. That's why she allowed herself to get thrown in jail and killed herself while she was in there.

Poseidon picks me up at noon. Hestia isn't with him, but there's enough to talk about for the car ride not to be weird. Poseidon tells me more about the aquarium – the layout of the place and stuff like that. Despite that, when we arrive, I'm still shocked.

"It's big," I comment, pursing my lips to stop myself from saying more.

"I know," Poseidon says, obviously holding back a smile. "C'mon, we'll go through the back. Saves us having to go through the lobby of tourists,"

There's a door at the back of the aquarium next to the parking lot that Poseidon opens with a swipe of the card on his car keys. Poseidon leads me through the space at the back until we come to an open terrace. There are a couple of tanks built into the floor, each filled with different creatures.

"Whoa," I breathe, staring at them.

"C'mon," Poseidon urges, smiling at the look on my face. He places a hand on my shoulder and I flinch away instinctively, taking a long step away. Poseidon stares at me for a second, a little shocked at my reaction, his hand slowly lowering to his side. I look away awkwardly and follow him to one of the tanks.

"Nereid," Poseidon says to a young woman who is leaning over a tank, tending to the creature inside it. She looks up and smiles.

"Hi, Poseidon, I didn't think you'd be coming in today," the woman, Nereid, says. She looks at me. "Oh, who's this?"

"This is Percy," Poseidon says. "My, uh, my son,"

Nereid blinks. I wave sheepishly. "Hi,"

"Oh, hello," Nereid replies. "Well, uh...you certainly do look like each other..."

Poseidon smiles. "So I've been told. How's Glimmer?"

Nereid climbs out of the pool and I catch a glimpse of the animal inside – a chubby sea lion baby. I bite my lip to stop myself from cooing.

"She's alright," Nereid says. "A little bored, though. I bet she can't wait to get back out into the ocean,"

Poseidon looks at me. "Would you like to meet her, Percy?"

My eyes brighten. "Can I?"

"Yeah, of course. Come here,"

Poseidon kneels at the edge of the pool and motions for me to kneel too. He reaches into the water and Glimmer the baby sea lion swims up to nuzzle into his hand. I glance at Poseidon nervously as I reach towards the water. He nods encouragingly and takes his hand out, allowing Glimmer's attention to focus on me. Her soft, rubbery skin prods my hand and I let out a little laugh.

"She's fat," I say fondly, stroking Glimmer's head.

"Blubber," Poseidon says and from the corner of my eye I see him smiling. I laugh again at the stupid name. "It should keep her warm during the winter,"