PARENTHOOD // PERCICO

prologue

//blame the lateness of this chapter on alex. (im just kidding, ilysm)//

"It's quite sad, isn't it?" Zeus spoke, his voice not actually showing any signs of pity.

"I'd say so," Apollo agreed. See, to bond with his father, Apollo would often times rile him up with a conversation about mortals. About their sorrowful lives that will end, and then they will be forgotten. He was quite delighted when Zeus had started up this conversation though, not him.

Delighted, not surprised.

The news of Zoella had began to spread, and was quite frankly, the talk up in Olympus constantly. There wasn't a single person who hadn't heard or said one thing about the new baby. It would range from the opinions, rather if it was good or bad, or they'd even talk about predictions of what would happen.

One time Ares had predicted one outcome, and let's just say Florida had to pay the price. A gods' awful hurricane stormed through it, leaving mortals without power for weeks upon weeks. Many people still aren't on their feet.

Zeus will never be able to understand his brother's infatuation with mortals and their lives- specifically his mortal family. They'll be gone so soon! Zeus would always say, but his brother was having none of it. Saying they've "done more for him then his godly family" has ever done. Ridiculous.

"And what's worse is that they think the worst parts over!" Zeus laughed. "They have no idea,"

Apollo was just about to chime in, because you know, bonding but Poseidon interrupted. "There has to be something! It's cruel! To watch a child slowly.. slowly-" He couldn't bring himself to say it.

"We've talked about this a many of times, Brother!" Zeus boomed, "We will not interfere in mortal affairs anymore!"

"You say that because it's convenient for you right now! But when something comes along, you'll be the first one to interfere just to make your life easier! So please, just let me help them, or warn them, something, I can't sit here and watch,"

"You can and you will," Zeus said. "No exceptions,"

"Brother-"

"No!" He shut down. "There is nothing you could say to change my mind,"

"You're one sick fuck, you know that, right?" Poseidon said.

"Oh, how will I sleep at night,"

"Hopefully with one eye open," Poseidon said, the serious tone making the room so quiet you could hear a needle drop.

"You're way too invested into this, so much as to turn on your own brother?" Zeus said, completely unphased by the obvious threat.

"I'd rather turn on you than my son,"

"Not with this nonsense again!" Zeus was growing increasingly frustrated. "What is it with you and that boy?"

"I can't have anymore, and unlike you, I don't stick it wherever and hope for the best-"

"Poseidon," Hera said, a warning, letting him know he was going too far at that point, and if he continued, he'd have everyone against him.

"You're being unjust," Was the last word the sea god spoke before sinking back down into his chair. "It's just wrong,"

"Are you done now?" Apollo said. "I was having a conversation with my father,"

"Apollo, please shut up," Artemis said. "It's not you he likes talking to it's the conversation topic he likes,"

"That's not true! Tell her it's not true!" Apollo said, turning to his dad.

"Hm? What, Oh, look," Zeus said, pointing to the mist screen at the table, showcasing the new family of three. "Look at them running around like chickens trying to care for a baby with such a short expiration date,"

Everyone cringed, even Apollo, and truth be told, he was a little upset at the di Angelo kid for doing what he did to William, but hearing the term Expiration Date described for a human, you'd be insane not to cringe.

Artemis gave her brother a look of 'I told you so' before also directing her attention to the screen. "It is cruel, Zeus," She said.

"Well, darling-" Zeus said, and Artemis cringed at the word. "-What would we do? The power she contains is going to tear her apart. And what should we do, tell them? Let them know that she doesn't have long until her powers manifest and literally destroy her from the inside? That would be a lot less fun, now wouldn't it?"

"It'd be more humane, and fun isn't a word I would ever use to describe this situation. She's a young girl, one with a future. It's wrong," Artemis said, trying not to become frustrated.

Zeus laughed. "And why would you say 'One with a future?' We all know she doesn't have long,"

Artemis avoided Apollo's eyes. Apollo stared at the ground.

"What?" Zeus's voice was sharp.

Neither of the two said anything.

"Clearly no one heard me...so I will ask again: What?"

"It's nothing, but any time she has is a future, we should do something, for all of them, the child and the parents,"

"Who have saved your life on multiple accounts," It was Hestia who spoke up. She was sitting cross-legged in front of a fireplace. She was calm and collected. She hardly spoke, but when she did, it was because she believed strongly in it.

"Clearly I need to restate what I've been saying all along, since apparently no one can see eye-to-eye with me. We will not interfere with the child of Percy and Nico. We will not interfere with Nico and Percy. And if I find out anyone does, they'll be banished from Olympus and sent to the depths of Tartarus to rot for eternity, no exceptions,"

For the second time that day, the room fell silent. Even Apollo didn't dare speak.

"Well, I think I have to excuse myself," Poseidon said, slowly standing up.

"You've got to be kidding me," Zeus said as Poseidon made his way out. "So sensitive, this one, what are you gonna do? Go throw a temper tantrum and go drown some tropical islands?"

Poseidon said nothing, and simply left, not being able to bear another word from his brother.

"I think I'm going to leave as well,"

"You're not mad at me are you?" Zeus asked. It sounded more like a threat than a question. "You all act like I'm the bad guy!"

"No," Artemis lied. "I just have other things to do rather than talking about ..." She trailed off her sentence and began following her uncle, who was quite a bit in front of her. "the death of a child," she said, leaving the rest of the Olympians with those words.

Because that's what they were doing. They were discussing the death of a child.

"Uncle!" Artemis called once out of earshot. Poseidon turned around, his expression blank, however, his eyes showing a hurricane of emotions. "Please don't fret, and tell your brother, Hades, this as well," Artemis knew the King of the Underworld was worried about this. He messed up with his son many of times, and he just wanted to help his son on this one thing, but everyone felt so hopeless. 

"No offense, but I don't exactly think telling him to "not fret" will work. We've been trying not to fret for a while now-"

"I know this, but trust me,"

Poseidon looked at her skeptically.

"Just trust me," She said, before she walked off, leaving her Uncle to think on those words.  

"Trust me," She mumbled to herself as she set off to leave Olympus for awhile. 

//Y'all got no clue what this book has in store and it shows//

-RF