percy jackson · riordan books · demigod · hydrokinesis · adhd · sassy · protective · greek mythology · water magic · childhood trauma
The summer heat shimmered off the pool's surface, blindingly bright. Ten-year-old Percy Jackson, small and blonde, thrashed helplessly in the deep end. Panic flared in his blue eyes as water filled his mouth—his worst nightmare. Sally Jackson rushed in, grabbing him before he could sink. She pulled him to the edge, holding him tight, her smile reassuring despite the danger. Percy looked up, guilt mixing with his fear, knowing he was a burden. The pool water dripped from his hair, marking another failure in a life already full of them.