Chapter Text
Percy was finishing up some homework for his English class when a loud pop and a salty scent filled his bedroom. He tried to ignore the presence of whatever nereid or sea nymph had just appeared behind him in favour of the homework. Annabeth was coming over to watch Luca with him and Estelle later on and he’d promised her that his homework would already be done when she got here.
He was almost finished his essay on Frankenstein – having had Annabeth explain to him multiple times that Frankenstein was the scientist and not the monster – writing about how Viktor had essentially created his child and promptly abandoned it. Go figure, shitty parents was sort of the cornerstone of half-bloodedness.
Splotchy, wet sounding footsteps made their way next to him, and Percy prayed to the Gods that there wasn’t seawater all over his new rug. Still intent on ignoring whatever odd request came from what Percy decided must be another nereid here for a signature (apparently being a Prince of Atlantis made him a celebrity in their eyes), he continued to stare frustratingly at the laptop screen in front of him. No matter what tricks Leo could perform on a laptop, it still ran much slower than it would for a mortal.
“Ahem-hem” a loud voice boomed beside him. Okay, not a nereid, Percy thought. He spun in his chair and was faced with his half-brother, and a God of the Sea, Triton.
Percy froze momentarily. Yes, the two of them had been getting on much better recently given Poseidon’s mandatory family bonding dinners in Atlantis, but Percy assumed that, even his half-brother, a God never likes to be ignored.
He looked up to Triton and smiled, “Oh, Lord Triton, I didn’t see you there. What’cha need big bro?” a casual initiation to conversation seemingly the best route to take.
“Brother Perseus, you know father and I have both told you that you need not address us as such. We are family. To you I am simply your brother,” A slight grimace told Percy that perhaps Triton was not as happy as Poseidon was about being referred to in such a casual way. But Triton was also likely aware that Poseidon would soon as cast him down if he were to make Percy feel uncomfortable.
“Gotcha,” Percy swung side to side in his desk chair, “So did you need anything?”
“Father sent for me to ask you a question. But it is not urgent enough to pull you away from your studies, our father and sister would curse me if I were to derail your efforts in school,” Triton backed away slightly form Percy, “I can simply wait.”
Triton sat down on Percy’s bed and tapped his fingers on his knees, glancing idly around Percy’s bedroom. He had to stop himself from laughing at the sight of a bored God sitting in his room.
A small cry could be heard from the baby monitor sat on the desk and Percy quickly grabbed it and stood up, Triton was rather alarmed at the start and too got to his feet.
“Where is the danger brother? It seems a child is in need?” In the blink of an eye Triton’s trident appeared in his hands and he poised himself for battle.
Percy stifled another laugh, “That’s just my little sister Estelle waking up from her nap,” he motions to the baby monitor, where on the screen both he and Triton could see Estelle rolling around in her crib making small crying noises, “She’s probably hungry. I just need to get her some food.” Percy made for the door but was stopped by his brother.
“Nonsense, you must study! I’ll care for the child,” Percy raised his eyebrows, “I did have a daughter once you know,” Triton was adamant, so Percy relented.
“Fine, I’ll get you all set up, but you guys stay in here, Mum and Paul would kill me if I let a God babysit and Estelle got hurt,”
“Surely they would not kill you? Father speaks of them very highly. Would you like me to have a conversation with them about their homicidal tendencies?” Percy again had to laugh and shook his head.
“I’m exaggerating, it’s like sarcasm,” Triton looked too confused for Percy to bother continuing.
Percy led Triton through the mid-sized apartment across the hall and into Estelle’s room. Opening the door, he could see his younger sister pulling herself up with the crib spindles and hear her babbling at Percy and Triton as they came in.
“Hey Stella,” Percy cooed at the baby, picking her up and moving over to where Triton seemed slightly frozen, “She doesn’t bite Tri.”
Triton shook his head slightly and reached out to the girl, who was rather enamoured with the shells and pearls intertwined with Triton’s braids. He took her from Percy and into his own arms where Estelle began to tug on his hair and giggle softly, “Young Estelle, sister to my brother, you are truly a wonder,” his eyes shone brightly as he rocked her gently.
Percy beamed, proud of how gentle his normally stern and closed off brother was being, and how well behaved his little sister was being. He led them into the kitchen, grabbed a premade bottle for Estelle and began to warm it up in the microwave, checking to make sure it wasn’t too hot by dabbing some on his inner wrist. He offered it to Triton to feed Estelle, who eagerly wrapped her chubby fingers around the bottle as it was presented to her. The small group wandered back into Percy’s room, Triton moving slower than Percy had ever seen him do as not to interrupt Estelle’s meal.
Percy continued on with his essay, honestly thinking it may have been easier to just write it in ancient Greek and then throw it into google translate than deal with words jumping back and forth on the page. But the ever-present Triton sat on the bed behind him kept him focused on the task at hand, that and his promise to Annabeth.
“Seaweed Brain?” Speak of the devil, Percy heard the front door close and lock behind his girlfriend, and her light footsteps travelling towards his bedroom, “You ready for- Oh, Lord Triton,” Annabeth bowed her head to Triton and sent a confused look to Percy.
“Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, one of The Seven and girlfriend to Percy I presume,” Triton held his free hand out to a confused Annabeth, the other still cradling Percy’s younger sister, “My young brother here has told me much of you.”
“Thank you,” Annabeth said slowly, reaching out to shake Triton’s hand with confusion written on her face.
“I’ve just finished my essay Annabeth, good timing.” Percy again noticed his Godly brother sat on his bed, “Oh Tri, what was it that you needed me for?”
Lord Triton stood up, passing Estelle off Annabeth and looking towards Percy, “Father has heard from your mother that you have joined your mortal school’s swim team,” Percy nodded, “He wishes to know when the first race was, he would like to attend.”