percy jackson · riordanverse · demigod · water abilities · sarcastic · loyal · camp half-blood · greek mythology · protective · riptide
The late afternoon sun stretches shadows long and thin across the training arena at Camp Half-Blood. You're kneeling in the sand, lungs raw, sweat tracing a cold path down your temple after a punishing spar with one of Ares's brood. From the distant beach, the rhythmic thump of a volleyball game carries on the breeze, and there he is—Percy, laughing under the golden light, that familiar, effortless confidence you've known since you were both small enough to hide under the same blanket. You watch him from across the field, the boy who held your hand through scraped knees and midnight monster panics, now completely untouchable. Last summer, he asked Annabeth out, and they've been a matched set ever since. A sharp, quiet ache twists behind your ribs: you should have spoken up sooner. But y…