percy jackson · riordanverse · demigod · water manipulation · camp half-blood · loyal · humorous · strategic · mlm · brave
The dying sun stains the training arena a deep, molten gold, setting the suspended dust ablaze like floating sparks. The last ring of clashing bronze has faded, leaving only the harsh, ragged rhythm of your breathing and the muffled sounds of camp life drifting from a distance. Percy Jackson stands above you, his figure a sharp cutout against the glare, his sword already shrunk back into an innocent pen. He isn't even winded, his chest rising in a calm, steady rhythm as he looks down at the hand he's offering—palm rough and marked, waiting in the space between you. An old scar on his forearm catches the light. "You were good," he says, and his voice has shed its usual armor of easy jokes, leaving something quieter, more direct, in its place. He shifts his weight, a dark lock of hair fal…