Why is Everything so Loud?! (Fem. Percy)

Actions Beget Consequences

A few days passed and everything seemed to go back to normal. Chiron had stopped being overly concerned and Grover was the only one who actively sought out my company. We were sitting in front of my cabin, staring out at the other campers. It was nice.

But unfortunately all nice things come to an end.

Walking along the path looping their way around the cabins came Chiron and my dad. The two of them were talking to each other, but since neither of them seemed somber or serious I hoped they weren't talking about me. Dad laughed at something Chiron said and he waved his hand. All of the other campers stared, and all of them were smart enough to not get caught staring.

By Dad at least.

I caught several of them glancing at me before turning to their friends or sibling, whispering, and gesturing towards me. I sighed. Grover patted my hand. Comfort washed over me and I shook my head. 

"I'm fine, Grover," I mumbled.

"Yeah, that's why you look like my uncle Ferdinand."

"I'm not missing an arm."

He snorted and leaned against me. "Do you want me to leave? I'm not exactly sure what he's here about, but based on what I got through the link last week, things between the two of you aren't the greatest."

"That's...probably a good idea," I said quietly, as Chiron and Dad drew ever closer. Grover pulled me into a quick hug before scurrying away. By they time they reached me, I had forced a smile on my face, one so well practiced it looked just as real as any other I'd ever shown. "Hey Dad. Couldn't resist coming back to hang out?"

All he did was raise an eyebrow. Still, my smile didn't fade. I looked at Chiron for an explanation.

"Lord Poseidon had some things he wished to talk to you about, and this was the only place he could get Lord Zeus to agree to. I will leave you to it, my lord." Chiron ducked into a bow before trotting away.

I could feel Dad watching me, even if I didn't look at him. He didn't say anything, so I risked a glance at him. He had his hands shoved into his pockets. After a while, a sigh escaped him as long and drawn out as the waves over sand.

"Come on," he said. an impossible thing layer of water wrapped around my body and forced me to my feet. Eyes wide, I couldn't do anything. Each step wasn't mine. The water forced my body to follow after Dad. Every second spent in contact with the water took all of my willpower not to break down. When the water finally disappeared I collapsed to the soft, warm sand. My hands curled in it. Tiny divots appeared where tears dripped off my face.

"-ercy. Percy." Dad's rough and calloused hands slipped under me. I struggled to get away from him. He's going to tell Mom. He's gonna tell Mom. He's gonna- He's- He's gonna- "Sh, sh. It's okay. You're safe." He sat me on his lap, with my head resting against his chest. Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.

The sound of the waves faded away. Dad tried to pull me away from him, but my fingers gripped his shirt. "No." That single word was so pathetic, I thought he was going to disown me on the spot. Instead, his hand wrapped around mine.

"Okay," he said. "Okay, I'm not going to move you, but I need you to listen to me. Breath in. Hold it. Now breath out. Yeah, like that. There you go. There you go." His voice subsided into mumbles, not really saying anything important but just providing me with the gentle rumble of his chest. With time my breathing evened and tears stopped falling down my face. I didn't move off of Dad's lap though, instead resting more of my weight on him.

"Sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for, Percy." Quieter, he tacked on. "Can I see your arms?"

"I really don't want to."

He sighed. His lips pressed to the crown of my head. "You know I love you, right?" 

I didn't know how to answer that, whether to be truthful or lie, so I made a noise which could easily be interpreted as either. When Dad didn't make any further attempt at speaking, I closed my eyes. But low and behold, the second I did, he started talking.

"You're scared of the water." It wasn't a question, not this time. It was a statement of fact. "Why would you hide this from me?"

"I'm not." I shook my head. "I shouldn't be."

"Percy, there's a reason they're called irrational fears."

I bit my tongue. Don't tell him. Don't tell him that it's not irrational if I really have a reason to fear it. 

"Unless, there is a reason?" A hand under my chin tilted my face up. Dad's brow had knit together, a crease between his eyebrows. I closed my eyes. Better to stare at the back of my own eyelids than see his face when he decides he's had enough of my bullshit. I would've a long time ago. "Perseus."

"I'm fine, Dad. Just really tired." I mustered the best grin I could; it faltered quickly. "You should probably get out of here, before anyone starts getting suspicious. We don't need them thinking you're some sort of imposter."

He drew a sharp breath. "You figured out it was Hermes?"

"Wasn't hard to. I mean, I know how it feels when I'm around you. But I'm serious. You should probably go." As much as I hated to, I moved away from Dad. He stood up, and not a single joint popped. He rested his hand on my head.

"If you need me, Iris Message me. I can always make time for you."

And he was gone.

I only wish the consequences of his visit had followed.

As I walked back to my cabin, I could feel the eyes on my back. I could hear the whispering.

That went on, hour after hour, day after day, until at one point.

I snapped.

And it is 1 am and I'm gonna go waltz across the hall, brush my teeth and go to bed.

See yah