PARENTHOOD // PERCICO

chapter seven - brewing storm

Percy probably had stared at where Nico had previously been for probably thirty minutes after they said goodbye. He was in complete and utter shock. How could this be happening... already.

He was pissed. He was angry. He felt hopeless. Was his whole life already planned out through prophecies to a point where even his child couldn't break free? He had always known the world to be cruel... but this was just a whole other level of fucked.

She wasn't even one and now the ingredients for a prophecy were slowly collecting.

It was hopeless.

After he had gathered his thoughts, he stood up. As soon as he walked out of the Hades cabin, he saw Annabeth rushing towards him. "Perce-!" she called, running up to him and wrapping him in a hug as soon as she was close enough. "It's going to be okay,"

Usually, when Annabeth comforted him, he assumed it's because she had a plan. After years of knowing the blonde, he knew she wasn't one for empty promises. However, he could tell by the tone in her voice. She didn't have a plan. And she didn't know if it was going to be okay.

"Reyna told me," She said against Percy's shoulder. "We're working on it." There was her usual reassurance. The one Percy was able to believe with a doubt in mind. "We're gonna fix this."

Percy nodded as he wrapped his arms around his best friend. "There's gotta be a way," He mumbled back, hiding his face in her shoulder to avoid stares from other unknowing campers.

Eventually, they pulled away. Annabeth placed a hand on his shoulder. "We've come this far," She smiled.

It was at this moment, Percy took a second to think about how much Annabeth had done for him. Despite how he literally fucking cheated on her.

She helped him in more ways than she had to, and here she was, still putting more of his problems onto her plate - which was already very full.

"Thank you," He said. They were simple words, but Annabeth was able to feel the weight on them. She smiled.

"Of course."

The moment was interrupted by a blond guy with grey eyes calling Annabeth's name. "Bethy-" She rolled her eyes, at what Percy assumed was her sibling. "Ray's wondering again!"

"What did I say about calling me that!" She yelled, annoyed, her fists balled by her sides. "I've got to go," She said to Percy, before giving him a last smile and heading to solve another problem.

Now, Percy was left alone, staring blankly ahead of him. Kids playing volleyball, others on the climbing wall, he saw the dining hall and two people looked to be about to get into an argument... but he'd let someone else sort that out.

He saw Chiron sitting as he usually did, playing that damned game with Dionysus. He went to walk over there, but stopped. Did he know? Usually the centaur knew everything... but if he knew, wouldn't he have already summoned him?

Or was he not supposed to know?

Percy decided Chiron wasn't the best option until he talked with everyone.

Instead, he headed to his cabin, where a certain someone should still be sleeping. He knocked on the door, but didn't get an answer. "Makayla?" He asked softly, waiting to see if she would respond.

She didn't.

Percy was just about to leave and let the poor kid sleep, but at the last second, the door opened, revealing, the now eight year old, girl.

"Percy..?" Came her tired voice. Every time he saw her, he got sad. He couldn't be around her all the time to help... but he could hear the strain in her voice that sounded like she was crying the night before. Her eyes were red, and her hair tangled together. She was seven years old, sleeping alone in a cabin, and from what he heard hadn't been doing too well lately.