Work Text:
Percy was turning twenty-one in two days. At that time, he had graduated from Stanford with a degree in international affairs and diplomacy, built his care from the ground up, and broke up with his high school sweetheart Reyna. It had been an amicable breakup; she had wanted to travel the world with her band and Percy wanted her to have all the freedom to go. It also helped that he had introduced her to her new girlfriend Thalia. Every so often he received a Postcard of their adventures. His mom also had been busy while he was away at school. She married his high school teacher, Paul Blofis, and they were currently expecting a baby. Percy was excited to meet his little sister. He and his mom had been alone for so long.
“Please fasten your seatbelt. We will be landing in Atlantis soon.” That was the other thing. When he was sixteen, he was visited by his father’s advisor and Prime Minister, Chiron. His father, the King of Atlantis. Yeah. Percy had put up quite a fight. Looking back on it now it was truly embarrassing.
He had yelled at his mom for lying to him. How could she not tell him he was royalty? His own mother had hidden his people from him for his entire life. He also didn’t want anything to change. They had just settled down in New York after moving around every four months. He wasn’t ready to give that security up. So, he kicked, and he cried, and he ran away. Of course, he came to his senses, and he accepted that he was royal.
Being royal was harder than Percy expected. He had to learn the names of everyone in his kingdom. He had to focus on meetings, and he had to deal with random family squabbles with the family he did not know he had. His father had permitted him to take his time, allowing him to finish high school and go on to college. He spent every summer and holiday in Atlantis. It had become his second home.
It was where he was landing now. Since his 21st birthday was approaching it was Atlantean law that he could take the throne. Percy did not know if he was prepared for that possibility. School had taught him much about diplomacy, but they had no lessons in being a fair and just King. His older brother, Triton, had decided he would guide him through lessons, but he was not eligible for the throne, nor did he want it. The crown was Percy’s burden to bear. Good thing he looked good in headgear. Mrs. O’Leary, his sweet mastiff, looked equally as good in her tiara. She was made for the royal life in a way that Percy wasn’t.
Upon landing, he was taken to the Palace. A party was waiting for him. As was his father. Poseidon held a regal air about him, which was appropriate since he was a king. It was weird for Percy though. Every time he had seen Poseidon his father before he knew of his birthright, he had been in a Hawaiian T-shirt and beach shorts. The man was positively laid back. That was in stark contrast to the way he was dressed now.
Poseidon was in a perfectly tailored black suit. On top of his head lay a crown. Or the crown. It was inlaid with twenty-five blue diamonds and plated with real gold.
“My Son. How was your flight?” Poseidon was typically never so formal with him, but they were in the presence of mixed company.
“It was fine, though I told you the private jet was too much. I feel weird about the emissions of the jet.” He really was concerned about it. He had gone from the slums of New York to the one percent overnight and he still could not get over how much they wasted. It was one of the things he wanted to focus on when he was crowned.
“Perseus, you are the crown prince of a sovereign nation. You can’t ride in economy. You could literally be assassinated.” Poseidon looked at him as if he had spontaneously grown another head. He certainly had the look in his eye that said, ‘You are so not ready to rule this kingdom yet’. Percy had become quite accustomed to that look over the past five years.
“That being said, there has to be a way we can be environmentally friendly about our travel. We are surrounded by the sea. We could charter more boats and--” His father waved his hand to signal for him to stop speaking.
“We will put your degree to use at a later date. Right now, you need to go and get ready for your birthday party.” He was still in his plane outfit. He also needed to shower.
“Don’t worry about timing. Your shower is already prepared and one of the Stoll twins has picked out your outfit already. The guests are arriving and then you will make your grand entrance.” Poseidon placed his hands on Percy’s shoulders and gave a reassuring squeeze. “Everything is going to be fine. This is your introduction to Atlantean society. It cannot go any worse than mine did when I was your age.” Percy didn’t truly believe him.
“Well. Let me go get ready.” He really didn’t want to stay under his father’s scrutiny any longer. He attempted to scurry out of the grand Foyer when his father stopped him.
“And Perseus, remember you have to dance with each eligible woman tonight per Atlantean law.” He had forgotten about that. His father knew that as well.
“Don’t worry son. All those ballroom classes they required at your college will come in handy.” With that Poseidon made his way out of the room. Percy distinctly remembered skipping most of those lessons. He was royally screwed.
The music filled the ballroom. Percy could feel the drums vibrating in the soles of his feet. It matched the racing beat of his heart perfectly. He stood behind two grand doors that were situated at the top of the grand staircase. His guard had given him the two-minute warning to gather his thoughts.
He didn’t have any luck gathering them by the time the horns sounded through the room.
“Presenting, his majesty Perseus Aegeus Thermopolis Jackson Olympiad, Crown Prince of Atlantis.” Percy hated his full name with a passion. It just didn’t seem to flow as well as just Percy Jackson. Granted he had known what his full name was his entire life, one would think he would have realized it is not exactly normal to have four names. He should’ve put two and two together a lot sooner.
He was interrupted from his musings by his guard clearing their throat. He needed to make his way down the stairs and to the women waiting on him. The first person he saw at the landing was not any woman at all. Instead, it was Frank Zhang.
“Frank! How have you been.” He hugged his friend. He had not seen him since his sophomore year of college. Frank was the Prince of Li Jeun and one of the coolest people Percy knew. They had been inseparably at Stanford, especially once they found out that Percy was technically his 100-time great cousin. It seemed that all Royals were related in some shape or form.
“Uncle Percy! I’ve been fine, traveling. I did want to introduce you to someone.” From behind Frank came a stunning young woman. She was about two feet shorter than Frank himself. She was adorned with golden jewels. Frank looked at her as if she hung the stars by hand.
“It is an honor to meet you…” Percy waited for Frank to give her name, but the woman spoke up for him.
“Princess Hazel of Orleans,” She held out her hand for him to shake, “Frank has told me so much about your adventures. I simply insisted that I meet the storm bringer in person.”
Percy was sure the heat from his face could be felt around the room. Storm Bringer had been his nickname in college because wherever he went a storm seemed to follow.
“As long as he told you all the good things. If you would not mind saving a dance for me tonight, Princess, I will give you all the embarrassing details of Frank’s time at school too.” Frank looked like he would rather die than let that happen, but Hazel was aflutter with laughter. She fanned her face.
“I will take you up on that offer, Prince Perseus. My beloved never wants to tell me the sordid details of his younger years.” And there it was. Percy had suspected that Frank had found love, but Princess Hazel had just confirmed it for him. He hoped the envy was not plain as day on his face. He wanted nothing more than the love his parents had, but one that was not torn apart by trifling things like duty. His father had ultimately had to choose his kingdom over his love for Sally and was forced to leave. Percy did not want to ever be put in a place to make that decision. He was not sure he would choose Atlantis.
The party seemed to drag on. He danced with the woman there. Most of them were uninteresting at best. At worst it was obvious they were dancing with him to get a chance at his crown. That was the opposite of what he wanted. He was just happy he had not trodden on anyone’s toes. That would have been a disaster.
His favorite dance of the night had been with Hazel. As promised, he regaled her with tales of his and Frank's misadventures in the dorms of Stanford. She was the only one who he felt truly relaxed with. He was sad when she had to go, and he was forced to choose a new partner.
Percy was about to beg his way off the dance floor when he bumped into his next partner. Literally bumped into her. Percy reached out to steady the young woman when they made eye contact. He was struck instantly by her eyes. They were a dazzling grey, stormy and dark. He knew he could find himself lost in her eyes.
“I am so sorry.” He truly was. He thought that by twenty-one he would have gotten his clumsiness under control. It was still as embarrassing as ever and now he was running down his own guest.
“It is okay Your Highness.” Percy did not want this gorgeous woman to call him by any formalities. He wanted to hear her say his name.
“Percy, I like to be called Percy.” He hoped she didn’t notice the desperation in his voice. He didn’t know why but he needed to hear her say his name.
“Percy.” The shape of her lips as she spoke was enchanting.
“And you are?”
“Annabeth. Just Annabeth.” Just Annabeth was a dream. He searched for a reason to elongate their time together when the band started to play again. Here was the perfect excuse.
“Will you allow me this dance Annabeth? To make up for almost taking your life?” She nodded her head and took his hands.
As they danced Percy noticed the little things about Annabeth. He liked how her blonde curls contrasted against her dark skin. She was wearing a cream-colored dress. It looked divine. She was also a sublime dancer. They glided across the dance floor. It was different from when he danced with Hazel. Then they were having fun. Here they were in a trance. They held eye contact the entire song. Percy had never looked at someone that long. He wanted to dance with her forever.
All too quickly the song came to an end.
“I am happy to see my clumsiness hasn’t affected your dancing. I’m sorry I bumped into you.”
“You can bump into me anytime.” She said it like she meant it. Like she wouldn’t mind if Percy bumped into her every day for the rest of their lives. Before Percy could comment on that, or process what that could mean; Annabeth curtsied and left his sight. He wanted to follow her, but he was distracted by another collision. This time into his own person.
His crown went flying. He also managed to lose his handkerchief and his contact. He’s not sure how much force he was hit with but now he could not see out of one eye. Percy cursed his past self for not taking his father’s advice on the Lasik surgery. Maybe if he never found his glasses he wouldn’t have to deal with everyone's stares. He got enough of that in high school thank you very much.
After five embarrassing minutes on the ground, he finally found his contact. He didn’t bother to pop it back into his eyes, he would just squint and this point. He stood up from the ground and came face to face with a man he had not met yet. Said man was holding his crown up for him.
“Be careful with that. Someone might want to take it from you.” The man who spoke to Percy was handsome, devastatingly so. Percy was glad he didn’t have one hundred percent of his eyes sight.
From what he could see, the man had a scar on the left side of his face and a wicked grin. Percy checked the crown for dings before carefully placing it back on his head.
“I sure hope not. Thanks for catching it.” He hoped he came off as charming and cool-headed and not like someone who had possibly broken million-dollar family heirlooms.
“The pleasure is all mine.” Had Percy been less frazzled he might have noticed the way Luke’s eyes coveted the crown. Or the way he seemed to already have ownership of the jewels. But Percy was not paying attention.
“Prince Perseus?”
“Yes, Chiron?”
“Princes do not crawl on the ground at their own ball.” Chiron was always full of helpful advice for Percy in times like these. Always such useful advice.
“Thanks a lot, Chiron.”
Percy woke up late the next day. He had not allowed himself to sleep in since he was in college. He knew he would need it. In the coming days, he would be having king lessons with his father and with Chiron. Percy typically loved to spend time with his father, but he was not excited for King lessons. He had to make sure the people of Atlantis knew he cared about them. That he was one of them.
When he chose to finally join the world of the living out of the half place between awake and sleep, he found a journal at his bedside. Attached to it was a note from his mother.
Dear Percy,
My sweet boy. I wish I was in Atlantis with you now as you prepare for this next step in your journey. I want to remind you that while some may see you are just an outsider or an interloper you are Atlantean through and through. It is in your blood and the crown is your birthright. I love you dearly. I hope that you may find love and a home in Atlantis but remember you are welcome back home in New York with me and Paul. This journal is to help you guide your thoughts. Perhaps it will become like a diary of the future king.
See you soon,
Mom.
P.S: We will try to come to visit after Estelle arrives. You are going to be a great big brother.
Percy clutched the journal to his chest. He did miss his mom, more than words could say. She had been his only constant when he was young. It's why her lying about his heritage had hurt so much. They never lied to each other. He was glad that was over, and he was happy to be a prince but every so often he missed the way things used to be.
Percy turned the television on as he prepared to write in his brand new journal. If his mom went through the effort of ensuring that he received the diary he might as well use it. Piper McLean of Piper’s Place was on his television. She was on his television, and she was talking about him. Oh, gods. His stint on the floor of his party was national news.
“Prince Perseus was seen sprawled across the floor. Perhaps the young Prince had a few too many to drink. What kind of King will he make if he can’t keep his American alcohol problems under control? We will talk about all that and more when we come back to Piper’s Place.”
Percy was pissed off when the Stoll twins found him a few moments later. How dare they run this narrative about him being drunk? If only they knew Percy had sworn off alcohol long ago. He couldn’t bear to ever lose control, not when he had seen firsthand what could and did happen when one was not in their right mind. He had the faded scars to prove it.
“Prince Perseus, your father, and Chiron are currently in a Senate meeting--” Connor and Travis had an annoying habit of stopping in the middle of their sentences and letting the other finish off the thought.
“—They sent us to tell you that you can use this time to explore the castle before you have etiquette classes.”
Percy hated etiquette classes. He didn’t understand why there were so many spoons and forks. Or why he needed three different types of glasses to take a drink. He knew that it was a necessary evil though. The last time he went to a dinner without brushing up on his etiquette he had caused an international incident. Luckily the visiting dignitary thought his burned jacket was charming.
Safe to say Percy was not allowed to any dinners without proper lessons first.
“Thank you, Travis and Conner. And you can stop bowing now.” The Stolls had taken to overly bowing whenever they finished talking around him. He knew they did it to make him uncomfortable, it always worked. Maybe he should go explore. He told the Stolls as much.
Exploring the Atlantean castle was akin to being on a treasure hunt. There were passageways and secret passageways and hidden staircases. Percy could imagine the mischief he would have gotten into had he been allowed to grow up here. He never allowed himself to get bitter, he wouldn’t have traded the time he had with his mom for anything in the world, but in times like this, he wished she had let him be with his father. The fact that it was the throne that kept them apart still stung.
A young, then prince, Poseidon had met Sally Jackson while they were in college. She had charmed him from the very beginning. He was suave and gentle. She was sweet and daring. It was a match made in heaven. They had eloped in New York and Percy followed quickly after. But Atlantis soon came calling for Poseidon and his duty to his kingdom pulled him away from their little family. Sally filed for a divorce soon after. She told Percy that she didn’t want to tie her father down. He was to be King soon and needed a suitable bride. Not a nobody from New York.
Percy was only told of his heritage when he turned sixteen because it was traditional for royal Atlanteans to be introduced to society then. His father had upended his life and now he was in the catacombs of his ancestral castle. He couldn’t really complain.
Percy was so lost in his thoughts about how he ended up in the castle he did not pay close attention to his surroundings. He only came to when he realized he was in an enclosed room with just a vent on the wall. He searched for an exit when he noticed that voices were coming from the vent.
Very serious voices.
He carefully peered through the slits and noticed he was right above Parliament. How the castle was big enough to hold all of the people Percy would never know.
“The prince soon approaches his twenty-first birthday. Are we sure he is ready to ascend the throne?” Percy did not recognize the member of parliament who was speaking but he knew it offended him.
“Yes, was he not just seen crawling around on all fours? At his own party no less. Is that the man we want on our throne?” He did recognize the voice of Duke Ares. He had met the man once and once was enough. They did not get along.
“He is more boy than man.” Murmurs of agreement could be heard throughout the room. Percy could feel the frown on his face deepen. Why was he not invited to the meeting if they were going to be discussing him anyway?
“Enough. It is Atlantean law that states at the age of twenty-one the heir to the throne could come into their title. I was married to Perseus’s mother when he was conceived and born therefore, he has the title by blood and by law.” Percy had never heard his father talk about him with such conviction. He understood for the first time how his father had ruled successfully for so long. He held authority in his voice that only came from years of ruling.
“Perseus has been training under the watchful eye of myself and Prime Minister Chiron. He will be ready to take the crown soon.”
Parliament seemed ready to allow this forward when a voice came out from the side of the room. A voice Percy recognized from the night before.
“Viscount Luke Castellan. What would you like to say?” Chiron had an edge to his voice. Like he knew whatever came out of the Viscount’s voice would not be pleasant to hear.
“Well, if it pleases the court I would like to point out one of Atlantis’ oldest laws. The heir to the throne must marry a person with a title to assume the Kingdom.”
“Why do you bring up this law Luke?” His father’s short temper was showing. Percy worried that he might call for Luke’s head on a plate.
“Well, is it not obvious? The prince is unwed. And he was not born on Atlantean ground. He only found out about his heritage seven years ago. No amount of “king lessons” will change what he is.” There was silence in the room. Percy could hear a pin drop. He was sure that Parliament would here if he so much as breathed too loud from his perch.
“There is one who could rule in his place. Someone who was born and raised here in Atlantis. Who is the great, great, great, great, great, cousin of the first King of Atlantis? The country is as much her birthright as his.” Percy did not know who it could have been, but they had never placed a claim to the throne before. Why now?
Chiron finally spoke up. “This is preposterous. Perseus is the rightful heir. He shall not be stripped of his birthright.”
The voices of the other members of Parliament began to rise. There was a gavel bang. Athena, advisor to King Poseidon finally spoke up.
“We will give Perseus thirty days to find a suitable spouse. Should he not find one, then we will give this other heir a chance to claim her title. All in favor please say aye.” A chorus of agreement was heard. Percy could distinguish his father's voice and Chiron’s out of the bunch.
The Viscount must have taken the parliaments assent as a win because his grin was wicked.
“Perseus must be married in thirty days. Meeting adjourned.” The aforementioned prince felt like the world was ripped out from underneath his feet.
He was to be married.
In thirty days.
Shit.
Percy passed in front of Poseidon. He could not even find words to express what he was feeling. He did not know what to say. He sat quietly and pretended not to already know what was happening as his father told him about Parliament’s decision. Shoving down his emotions only made him angrier until he registered the last thing his father said.
“You invited them to WHAT?”
“I didn’t invite them anywhere. I don’t trust the viscount in the castle. But I did invite the woman. Duchess Chase will be here in five minutes. Do try to put on your best face.”
“Dad this is my best face.” Granted he was sure he looked just about as pissed as he felt. He did not want some random person to be in his space.
“You invited the enemy into our home.”
“If the Duchess is up to something I would prefer for it to happen under my nose.” Poseidon had a don’t argue with me voice on and Percy was struck again by the fact that his father was the King here.
“She probably sucks. I bet she’s snotty and pretentious. And ugly too.”
“Have you ever even met her?”
“No.” He didn’t think he needed to. She was trying to steal his crown. She had to be at least a little hideous.
“Introducing Duchess Chase and Viscount Castellan.
He was wrong. He was very wrong. Duchess Chase was not hideous, and he did know her. Percy had seen those grey eyes and that blonde hair in his dreams. This was the woman he had danced with at his party. She had charmed him then. She was still charming now. She looked even more beautiful out of her formal clothes. Annabeth gave his father a dazzling smile, and Percy realized he had been played.
“Perseus, please greet our guests.”
“We’ve met.” He tried to come off as cold as possible. He wanted Annabeth to know he was hip to her game, and he would not be caught slipping again.
“Yes. We danced at his party. Percy here bumped right into me.” He did not like the way she said his name. It was too familiar. Too gentle. She didn’t deserve to know him like that.
“Only my friends call me Percy. You may call me Perseus.” This was a lie. No one called him Perseus except for the servants of his cousins when they wanted to bother him. Annabeth didn’t need to know that though.
“Perseus then.” She held out her hand. He shook it. He kept his face clear so that she would not know how her touch affected him. She had all the cards before. Percy didn’t even know they were playing again and now he had some catching up to do. She was not going to win any more hands by flashing him a smile.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have to go get married.” And with that, he turned on his heel and walked out the entryway.
Percy did not know the first thing about finding a bride. He was only twenty-one. That was basically just a child bride. Poseidon tried to make him feel better. They walked and talked for a while.
“Who even has an arranged marriage?” It seemed so outdated. This was the twenty-first century. Arrange marriages were things of the past.
Poseidon gave him another one of his looks. One he couldn’t interpret but didn’t like.
“Percy. I had an arranged marriage. It's why your mother gave me the divorce. She was a commoner and not allowed to be queen.” He stopped in his tracks. He had not been told this part of the story.
“What do you mean, not allowed to be queen.”
“Our laws ban fraternization with commoners. I broke that law when I met your mom. They wanted me to come home. I was betrothed before I left for college you know. But I was using my education to run. To hide. I never meant to fall in love. And every day I regret having to leave you and your mom behind. That is my biggest regret, even though I do love your stepmom Amphitrite. We grew together. You will see it in your marriage too. You need to just find a common ground.”
Percy had a lot to digest here. Especially since this was the first time King Poseidon had ever mentioned regretting not raising him. He had sent him a gift every year until they reunited but Percy had never fault like his father had wanted to be there until now.
Poseidon interrupted his attempts to process what was said then.
“That’s enough moroseness and pondering about what if. I have a surprise for you.” They arrived at a special blue door at the end of the hallway. “I have been preparing this room for years. I wanted it to be ready immediately when you got here but I hired your Cousin Hephaestus’s nephew to do the electricity and plumbing. Let’s just say nepotism should stay in the arts.” Poseidon opened the door to reveal a huge game room.
There were pool tables and air hockey. About every single arcade game, Percy could think of was featured in the room. He was even sure there were arcade games he had not heard of. “Is that Candy Rush? From that Disney movie?”
“Yes, it is. You get some perks as the king you know. Come over here and check this out.” Poseidon guided him over to a side of the room that was decked out with consoles. There was every single generation of PlayStation and Xbox known to man and some not even know to them. Percy was most excited about the Nintendo set up in the corner of the room. He hadn’t played the Wii in years. He could truly see himself unwinding her.
“There is one last surprise Percy. Look in the closest over there.” Percy opened the closet to find… nothing but wires.
“This is nice dad, but you know I didn’t go to school for wiring.”
Poseidon just grinned at him. “Look again.”
Percy looked again and came face to face with Grover Underwood. He was not proud of the way he squealed, and he will deny it to the ends of the Earth when asked.
“G-man! What are you doing here? I thought you were in the Amazon.” Grover squeezed his shoulders and pulled him into a hug.
“The forest can wait; I heard my best friend needed me. Of course, I had to be here.” Percy gave him another hug.
“How was your flight?”
“It was good. We actually just landed in Atlantis thirty minutes ago. I’ve been hiding out in this closest for the past twenty minutes.” At that, Grover shot Poseidon a withering look. His father had the self-awareness to look sheepish.
“We lost track of time!” Grover just waved him off.
“What’s new with you Perce, besides the whole impending coronation thing.”
“Well, first I have a question for you to answer.”
“Yes?”
“How do you feel about being my best man?” Percy squeezed his eyes shut so tight he saw stars.
“You’re getting married?” Percy nodded.
Grover’s face resembled that of a shocked fish. “To whom?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Next.”
Percy sat in the newly minted theater room, an offshoot of the game room his father had installed, going through a slide show of women. It was not nearly as fun or as creepy as it sounded. He invited Frank and Hazel to join himself, Grover, and his father to help him find his bride.
“Princess Rachel of the Dare family,” Chiron called out the names like he was giving a college presentation. Rachel was beautiful. Her green eyes were sharp throughout the photo. Percy was sure that she would be an excellent person to spar verbally with. But there was something about her that didn’t feel right.
“I think she’s pretty.” Hazel was the best sport here. Percy told Frank he invited her to get a female’s perspective but really, he just wanted to get to know the girl who had stolen his friend’s heart. Turns out she was secretly awesome. She was sweet and gentle, but she could make a sly joke that would then make everyone laugh.
“You know they say redheads can be quite the party.”
Percy’s face scrunched up in a grimace. “Dad, I do not want to know where you heard that, and I would prefer not to know.” He decided he could not pick Rachel. From her photograph alone she looked like she would hate being queen. She did not need to be tied down.
“Chiron. Next please.” Before Chiron could click the button for the following slide, Grover helpfully piped in, “She’s up for her own crown anyway. She’s only in the slide show because she wanted to be up for consideration. Apparently, you are a catch Perseus.” That was reassuring at least.
The next slide featured Duchess Calypso of Ogygia. She was gorgeous. She had stunning brown hair and kaleidoscope eyes. She had a magnetism about her through the picture itself. She was also the same age as him.
“This one is perfect. She is one of her own country's most eligible bachelorettes. She is the youngest of her siblings so she is not in line for her won throne and by all reports, she is a sweet girl.” Chiron read out her facts like he was bored with the whole ordeal.
“How soon until we can meet her?” Percy was anxious to meet her. Hopefully, they would hit it off and he can get engaged sooner. He did only have a month.
Calypso was even more gorgeous in person. She was soft-spoken and kindhearted. Unfortunately, she did not make Percy’s heart thrum a mile a minute. She didn’t leave him tongue-tied. She didn’t make his hands sweaty. She was not Annabeth.
But Percy didn’t want Annabeth. He wanted a bride. And Calypso would do. She would have to do.
They had their first date on the beach. They were tracked by cameras on all corners. It was a terrible way to try and get to know each other. However, Piper’s Place needed its news, and Percy was the only exciting topic.
He popped the question within a week of knowing Calypso. It was quick but it was necessary.
Their engagement was announced on Piper’s Place. It was her highest viewed episode. Percy was happy his misery was good news for others.
Another aspect of his misery was Annabeth herself. For the week he met and got engaged to Calypso she was blessedly absent from his life. Percy could pretend that she was not even in the castle. Until Calypso went home to reconvene with her family.
She found him writing in his journal on the foyer stairs. He was hiding from the Stolls, they had been coming increasingly more attentive since his engagement announcement. Chiron may have set them up to it.
“Already regretting your engagement, I see. Are you writing your will?” Her slight accent tickled Percy’s ears as she spoke. He didn’t let himself be endeared though. He decided to let it fuel his irritation.
“No, I am quite happy with my fiancé. I was just writing down what our future children’s names could be.” Percy stood up to be face to face with Annabeth. He hoped that his added height would provide some sort of intimidation to the blonde.
Instead, it had the direct opposite effect. Annabeth stepped right up to him and locked her grey eyes with his green ones.
“I didn’t know you were still in elementary school. Are you sure you’re old enough to get married?” She stepped closer into his space as she spoke.
“Are you sure you’re old enough to be coming after my crown?”
A step closer
“Are you sure it was your crown, to begin with?” Annabeth was breathing his air name. They were so close Percy could make out a small mole on the center of her bottom lip. It was cute.
He didn’t realize he had been staring at her lips until Travis interrupted them.
“Connor, I found him!” Percy swiped a hand over his throat and frantically pointed away with his eyes.
“Never mind Connor! It was a ghost in the castle.” Travis made ghost noises as he skipped off in the opposite direction. But it was too late. The spell Percy and Annabeth had been under was broken.
“I will leave you to your baby nomenclature.” And then she was off.
Percy was failing at shooting arrows. He had always been bad at archery, preferring swords as his royal weapon of choice. Unluckily for him, the coronation did not call for a traditional duel. No, things could not be that easy for him. The coronation called for a flaming arrow to be shot through a hoop to light his own eternal flame, whatever that meant.
He knew his archery teachers also regretted the choice of traditionally coronation events. He was sure Apollo and Artemis would be picking arrows out of the trees in the garden for the next couple of weeks.
He just couldn’t seem to guide the arrow through the hoop. Let alone do it while the tip was on fire. He wasn’t even confident enough to attempt it.
At least Calypso was there to cheer him on. She stayed quiet most of the time. She didn’t criticize him much at all. She even politely laughed when Percy had almost shot her head off with the arrow. He doesn’t know how he managed to shoot the arrow behind him, but he did.
He wished she would yell at him. He wished she would show anything other than gentleness at all.
At least they would not argue when they married.
Atlantean Independence Day was a big deal. It celebrated the day that Atlantis created its monarchy separate from Spain and England. It was the biggest party of the year. This year Percy was leading the Parade on his horse. He felt at ease for the first time since he arrived in Atlantis. He was comfortable on Blackjack. They were one.
Blackjack was a gift from his dad for his seventeenth birthday. He had been ecstatic and the two got along great. Percy swore that sometimes he could understand what Blackjack was saying to him.
Percy galloped to the front of the line. Lined up behind him were a marching band, traditional dancers, and multiple floats. His father was also in a float behind him, preparing to call for the start of the parade.
“Percy! Are you ready for this? This is how you can endear yourself to the public. Remember you are representing the future of Atlantis. You can do this.” He was happy to know he had at least his father’s support.
His eyes sought out Grover, but he found his friend flirting with one of the traditional dancers. Her name was Juniper and from what Percy remembered of her they would be perfect for one another.
Another one of his friends had found love before him.
Great.
He truly was happy for him, but there was something truly hilarious that he would be engaged without love while everyone around him found it.
He could not focus on the cruel irony of the universe now; the captain of the guard was waiting on his signal to start the parade.
“A-ten-hut” Percy’s voice rang out loud, strong and clear.
The parade started smoothly. He was imbued by the confidence that came from riding on his horse and feeling the love for his country. This was one of his first times directly in front of people. A part of him had always assumed that the people hated him for not being born there. That they thought him an outsider.
This parade proved otherwise. Percy could feel the love his people had for him. He felt it right down to his bones. He was home here. And he would protect his people.
It would not be an event where Percy was present if things did not go wrong at some point. It took thirty minutes this time, which was a new record at least.
Percy was confident on his way down the street. Everyone was watching him, and he felt himself begin to waver.
Everything was fine. Everything had been going fine. He only had a couple of miles left to go. Nothing could go wrong from on top of his horse.
That was when he noticed Annabeth in the crowd. Her blonde hair was alight in the sun, and her skin looked just as good if not better. She smirked at him and then gave her best princess wave from the crowd.
That should have been his warning that things were going to go wrong.
A little past Annabeth stood a building. It was old and rickety, but it held a proud sign that read “Children’s Home of Atlantis.” Percy had not known that they had a children’s home. He would have moved passed it except for what he saw there.
Multiple children were cheering on the parade but what stood out to Percy was a little blonde girl in the back. She was in the middle of being picked on. He heard two boys call her small and watched as they pulled her pigtails. And maybe it was a glint of the sun, but he thought he saw a bruise on the little girl’s arm. A bruise in the shape of a handprint.
Percy ground the parade to an abrupt halt. Blackjack whinnied angrily at him as his reigns were pulled in the opposite direction. He heard the bands crash, and the dancers fall. But he was one track minded. He needed to get to the home.
It took him a second to reach the kids. He sought out the nearest adult and questioned him.
“Who do these children belong to? Why are they all here?” He tried to keep his voice above a whisper so the kids would not hear him.
“Most of them are orphans, the others are foster children. We try to take care of as many of them as we can.” Percy had assumed as much on his way over. He just needed confirmation.
He scanned the group of children and found the little blonde girl with the pigtails. She looked even younger up close.
“And what is your name?”
“Rose.” He could barely make out her words around the thumb in her mouth. It was, quite frankly, adorable.
“I’m Prince Perseus but my friends call me Percy. I noticed that a couple of those boys were messing with you?”
“They mess with me because I’m tiny and they pull my hair.” The six-year-old looked like she would cry. Percy couldn’t have that.
“How about you show them by leading this parade huh?” He held out his hand to the child and she grabbed it tentatively.
Percy whistled for Blackjack to come back towards him. The horse complied. Then he lifted the girl up and into the saddle. He took the crown from his head and placed it in her blonde curls.
“Okay Rose, can you be brave and hold the reigns? You may need to use both hands.”
“I can use just this one.” She gripped the reigns with her left hand while keeping her right thumb in her mouth. Now that he was closer Percy could tell that she did have faded bruises around both of her wrists. He filed that away for later. He would talk to his father and his advisors. Perhaps he could build a new children’s home or repurpose one of his family’s castles. The kids deserved someone nice to play and call home.
“Would everyone else like to join in on the parade? We are going to lead the parade.” All the children cheered and followed him to the front.
The rest of the parade went off without a hitch. Percy felt warm all over. The children brought life and giggles to the route and Percy didn’t mind the way his feet hurt at the end of the day.
He did not want to drop Rose back off at the children’s home. In less than 30 minutes he had found himself attached to the young girl. He spoke with the owner when he dropped her off and requested that Rose never wanted for anything again. He would foot the bill.
As Percy made his way back to the castle on Blackjack, he noticed that Viscount Luke Castellan was riding in front of him on the trail. Annabeth was on a horse next to him. Percy truly did not mean to eavesdrop but he was there.
“Annabeth you cannot believe he was sincere. He stopped the entire show for twenty minutes to bring these children, these street rats into the parade. He must have seen something of himself in them. They are all scum.”
“I’m sure he did see something.” Annabeth sounded as if she did not truly agree with Luke. But she had not spoken out against his words.
“Of all the political schemes, he truly stooped so low as to tug on the heartstrings of Atlanteans with their cast-offs. Well, that will not work. When you are Queen, we will be rid of them all. A pox on this land the lot of them”
“Of course, Luke.” Percy did not know why her agreements hurt him, but he could not bear to listen to any of this any longer. He dug his heels into Blackjack's sides and urged him to fly past Annabeth and Luke.
He heard Annabeth call behind him, “Percy, Wait.” But it was too late. He was headed towards to stables.
Annabeth found him there later. She kept her voice gentle when she spoke. “For what it’s worth, I know the kids loved you. You were sweet to them. I don’t think they get much sweetness.”
“If you are just here to make things worse for me, please go away. I don’t have time for this. Or you.” Percy didn’t want her to see him so upset. He didn’t want her to see him be weak. He also didn’t want to see her at all.
“Percy.”
“Didn’t I tell you to call me Perseus? Prince Perseus.” He didn’t know where the vitriol in his tone came from. Maybe from the memories of seeing those kids brought up. Or seeing that little girl without a home or family. It shook him.
“Prince Perseus. I think you could do a lot of good. Don’t forget that.” Then she was gone. But in her steed came the Viscount. Luke Castellan looked positively pleased to see him upset.
“You know Prince Perseus; I don’t think an emotionally unstable king is what Atlantis needs. If you cannot handle a couple of roughed-up kids, how do you think you’ll handle a bruised country? How will you handle natural disasters? You won’t have to deal with any of this if you let Annabeth be queen. Why put all of this on your shoulders? You are not even an Atlantean.”
Every word Luke said sent Percy into a spiral. Was Viscount Castellan, right? Maybe he wasn’t strong enough for this job. He had stopped an entire parade because he saw bruises on a little girl. He thought he salvaged it by letting them walk but then everyone laughed at him.
Maybe Annabeth was better for Atlantis.
Didn’t a true royal act with what was best for their Kingdom, even if it wasn’t for them to be on the throne.
Percy would have spiraled further if Chiron had not stormed into the room. He was angry and his eyes found Luke Castellan.
“Get out Luke. Leave the Prince. It is my duty to protect the feelings of Perseus so I am telling you now to leave or I will make you go.”
Luke did not let Chiron intimidate him. “You will find that fear is not in my vocabulary, Chiron.” He said the name like it was a slur or dirt on his tongue.
Chiron was unphased. “But it is in your eyes.” If Percy was on the other side of Chiron’s glare, he was sure he would have turned tide and ran. To Luke’s credit, he only walked out of the room slightly faster than normal.
Chiron’s eyes softened when they looked at him. “Come along Prince. There is still a party to be had.”
The Palace was throwing a party. Not just any party, but the biggest party Percy had ever seen. Not only was it Atlantean Independence but it also doubled as Percy’s Bachelor party. He had invited all the princes in the surrounding nations and the little kids from the home.
He just wanted every to have fun, even if he wasn’t feeling it himself. He just couldn’t find it in himself to want to dance or sing. He definitely wasn’t going to drink with the others.
Frank found him moping in the corner of the game room.
“Dude it is your Bachelor party. Why are you hiding? You are supposed to be celebrating your last days as a single man. And your last days as just a prince.”
He appreciated what Frank was trying to do but it didn’t make him feel any better. Frank only tried harder. “You know Prince Jason is here. Remember how we used to rile him up in college? He’s still as uptight as ever.”
Percy remembered Jason well. He was a stiff member of their friend group. Jason was a stickler for the rules, but he always managed to talk them out of trouble when the adults showed up.
“Did he bring Piper? Are they even still dating?” Despite being a thorn in his side with her television show, of camera Piper was extremely nice. And her relationship with Jason helped loosen the blonde prince up.
“Nope. They got married.” Excellent. Frank, Grover, and now even Jason had love. Even now Grover was off with Juniper.
Frank let off a hefty sigh. He knew Percy too well to let him get away with his foul mood. “You should just go see her.”
“Calypso isn’t here. She’s throwing her own bachelorette party.”
“You know that’s not who I meant. I saw Annabeth out in the gardens.” Well, that would be the exact place Percy would avoid.
“I think I will just go and practice my archery. I need to be able to shoot a flaming arrow in a week and I hope I don’t take off anyone’s head.” Percy quickly made his way out of the room before Frank could try and convince him to visit the garden.
Percy’s archery had not gotten any better than it was in his first lesson. At least Calypso wasn’t here to be an accidental target. Instead, Percy just took his frustration out on every tree in the area.
“You’re holding it wrong.” Annabeth had spooked him but Percy did not jump. Instead, he just looked down at the bow and pulled the string back.
“What are you doing here?” He set the string free. The arrow flew into a nearby lake. Percy winced, hoping that he didn’t kill any of the sacred goldfish. Poseidon and Chiron would have his head.
“Well, I was trying to read in the gardens, until I was rudely interrupted.” She held her book up in the air. It had an arrow protruding from the spine.
“Apologies.” Percy still would not look directly at her. He didn’t want to think about how good she looked in the moonlight. He lifted his arrow again and reached for the quiver.
“Touch your mouth.” Percy did jump this time. Annabeth had come up behind him.
“What?” Percy tried hard not to breathe. His words were measured. He had to be on his guards around her.
“Touch your mouth with your hand when you pull back the string.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“I can’t bear to let you ruin any more works of literature. Plus, I am sure the trees and ponds could use a break.” Percy did not allow himself to laugh at her joke. He couldn’t let her get the satisfaction.
He pulled the string back again. This time heading Annabeth’s advice.
“Almost. Let me show you.” Annabeth came up behind him then. She demonstrated through her body how it was supposed to look and feel.
“Do you feel that tension in your body now? Focus it.” He definitely felt the tension. He felt it in his soul. But he didn’t think she was asking about that. Instead, he just nodded.
“Good. Now breath in,” Her hand came to his chest then. She instructed him on how to breathe.
“Now, release.” Her words tickled his ear. Percy was sure they looked strange, Annabeth guiding his hand and the path of the arrow. He felt the strength in her nimble fingers. He released the bow, and the arrow flew straight and true. Bullseye.
Despite the arrow no longer being notched they stayed in their semblance of an embrace. When Percy inhaled his nose was filled with Annabeth’s lemon scent. It was intoxicating. He never wanted to stop being in her presence.
That was when they were interrupted by Grover.
“Percy, do you want some ca—oh. Um, I’ll just go back inside. I think I hear Juniper calling me. Bye.”
The spell was broken. Annabeth took her hands off him and took several steps back. She looked frazzled. Percy had never seen her look anything besides calm and collected. He was pleased that she resembled how he felt.
“Let’s go for a walk.” Percy didn’t realize what he had said until the words left his tongue.
“What about Calypso?” His fiancée. Right.
“It is just a walk, Duchess.”
“Alright then. Let’s walk.”
And walk they did. They were silent at first. Walking at a snail’s pace. They kept their distance. Until like magnets they began to bump into each other.
The moonlight glinted off Annabeth’s hair. Percy had never seen someone look more beautiful than she did. He had never seen someone like Annabeth, period.
When they came upon a clearing near a pond the silence was broken by Annabeth. “I’m sorry about what you overheard. Luke has always been like that.”
“You didn’t disagree.” She looked guilty at least.
“I’ve never been good about disagreeing with Luke, even when he is wrong. Especially when he was wrong.”
“Why? Why do you allow him to run your life?” Percy wished his words came out less bitter.
Annabeth’s voice came out quiet. He had never heard her be quite so vulnerable before. “He’s all I have left. Luke’s been my only family since I was seven.”
“I’m sorry.” And he was sorry. “Do you know why I stopped the parade? When I saw Rose, I was reminded of myself.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” But Percy would not be stopped.
“When I was young after my father left, mom married my first stepdad. He wasn’t a good man. He was a drunk and he yelled but when he hit me that was when mom had enough. She left him and then it was just us. I was only twelve, but it stuck with me.”
Annabeth was silent. But she did lay a hand on Percy’s shoulder.
“Seeing all those kids abandoned like that, I don’t know it just struck a chord. Even in the worse times I always had my mom. They don’t have anyone.”
The silence of what Percy had just said hung between them. A slight breeze moved the air around them. The only sound was their breathing and the chorus of crickets and frogs.
“Dance with me.” Percy looked at Annabeth puzzled.
“We don’t have any music.”
“We don’t need it. Just hold me.” And he did. They danced together under the moonlight. The rest of the night faded into the background. They stayed in each other’s arms. Sometimes they spoke. Sometimes they enjoyed comfortable silence.
“I don’t want to be queen,” Annabeth whispered the words into his neck later in the night. He simply hummed to show his acknowledgment.
Daylight came all too quickly. But it also came gently, as if it didn’t want to disturb the two lovers. Instead of the sun, it was camera flashes that shattered the peace.
“What was that?” Annabeth’s voice was groggy. It was cute.
“We fell asleep.” Percy couldn’t take his eyes off the source of the sound. “And you set me up.”
“We fell asleep? And set you up?” The sleep was gone from her tone, replaced with familiar walls Percy thought he had torn down the night before.
“I see the camera’s Annabeth.” He kept his voice light and even. He didn’t need the press to get any more than they already had. “I sure hope Luke is proud of you. You got me alone and you go secrets out of me.” With that, he climbed to his feet and dusted himself off.
“Don’t speak to me again.” And then he was gone, leaving Annabeth on the ground. Despite it all, she was beautiful in the daylight.
Piper’s Place broke the news with class. It had been thirty minutes and his “scandal” was all over the Atlantean airways. They questioned if he was truly ready to take the crown. They blamed his American upbringing. Everything was destroyed.
Poseidon had never yelled at Percy like he did that morning. He told him that he was being reckless. He accused him of not caring. He yelled and he rampaged. Chiron just gave him the silent treatment. Percy took it all in stride. He had fucked up. He wasn’t thinking. His dad was right.
“Do you even care?”
“Of course, I care. I care a whole lot actually. More than you know.”
“Then what is this? You were caught on camera with a woman to whom you are not betrothed.”
Percy had nothing to say. He could feel his heart breaking. But he didn’t want to admit that. Instead, he said “I got played, dad. I thought she was someone different.”
Poseidon stopped yelling at him then. His eyes showed that he understood Percy’s heartache.
“I guess the only question that needs to be answered is, do we still have a wedding?”
Calypso ran out the front of the castle. She was angry. She was seething. Percy could understand, she had just seen her fiancé cuddled up with another woman. In the woods. At night.
“I swear nothing happened. We just fell asleep.”
“You just fell asleep?” Percy hated how hurt she sounded. He hated himself for making her sound like that.
“Don’t you understand? It’s that fact that you went at all. Do you know how this makes me look? Back on my island, I am a very eligible woman. I don’t need this.”
Percy couldn’t say anything because she was right. He had royally messed up. Calypso looked at him then. Like she had come to a decision.
Then she kissed him. It was perfectly fine, but it wasn’t special. She wasn’t Annabeth and that was always going to stop them.
When they pulled apart Calypso stared at him again.
“Well?”
He just shook his head.
She laughed at him. “Same for me. It was a perfectly nice kiss but there was just nothing.”
She came and stood next to him on the staircase. “What do we do now?”
“I guess we see this through? We made a promise to our families.”
“Then we are still getting married tomorrow?”
“We are still getting married tomorrow.” Gods save them.
Percy was getting married today. He thought he would be more excited on his wedding day but instead, he felt nothing. There wasn’t even dread. Just numbness. At least he wasn’t moping.
Poseidon entered his room that morning with his suit in his hands. “Before you get married, I have a surprise for you in the game room.”
Percy didn’t think he could handle any surprises, but he dutifully followed his father into the room. To find Sally Jackson waiting for him.
Percy burst into tears at that moment. He had missed his mom more than words could say. She carefully shushed him. “Stop crying before you wake your sister.”
“My sister?” Sally moved to the side to reveal a pink car seat on the floor. Inside was the tiniest little girl Percy had ever seen. She was precious.
“Hi, Estelle. Hi baby sister. This is exactly what I needed mom. You don’t even know.” Seeing his sister had given him a boost. He could walk down the aisle today. His mom looked him up and down.
“Percy, you know you can come back to New York. You don’t have to be King. I want you to follow your heart, and I don’t think it is waiting for you at the top of the aisle.” Once again, his mom knew him well.
“Atlantis needs its king mom.”
“But what does its king need?” Percy didn’t want to think about that question. He knew if he lingered on it, blonde hair would flash through his mind.
“That doesn’t matter.” And it didn’t. He would do what his duty called for.
“So much like your father. I’ll leave you to get dressed now, Estelle needs to eat, or she’ll be cranky during the ceremony.” She kissed him on his cheek and then walked out of the game room.
“Your mom is right you know. You don’t need to be King. You don’t need to make the same mistakes I did.” Percy had forgotten Poseidon was there.
“Things are different for you Perseus. I know you feel a sense of duty, but I never want you to follow in my footsteps and break your heart in the process.”
“I know dad. But I must do this. I need to do this.” Poseidon just nodded his head wearily. “I thought you would say that. I just want to let you know how proud of you I am. Crown or no Crown.”
Crown or no Crown. Percy could do this.
As Calypso came down the aisle towards him, Percy was filled with regret. She was dressed in white, all lace, and pearls. She was stunning. Her brown hair fell in loose curls down her back and her iris bouquet complimented the brown of her eyes. She was stunning. But it was all wrong.
When she stood across from him, Percy knew he could not go through with this.
“Calypso. I can’t” Her eyes held a breadth of understanding that Percy didn’t deserve. She just nodded her head.
“I can’t either.” And with that Calypso made her way back down the aisle and out the door. The quiet music that had been playing screeched to a halt.
Before Percy could say anything, before he could address his family and his country, the doors of the chapel slammed open again. And right before his eyes, Duchess Annabeth Chase marched towards him. Ironically she was wearing a white dress.
“I can’t let you do this.” Her grey eyes were ablaze with passion.
“Perseus you need to know that Luke set us up at the Lake. It wasn’t me. I wouldn’t do that to you. You have to know that.” He did know that. He had figured it out about twenty minutes after leaving her side. But he hadn’t known how to mend the gap that he had thrust between them.
“I don’t want the crown. But I want to be with you if you’ll have me.” She pleaded with him now. He could see that she wanted him to say something. Anything.
“You can call me Percy. Not Perseus. Percy.” Annabeth gave him a blinding smile. She jumped into his arms, and he could not keep himself from spinning her around.
“I loathe you.” He loved her. He loved her more than words could say.
She did not miss a beat in responding “I loathed you first.” He didn’t know who moved first but suddenly they were kissing. He felt like he was complete for the first time in years. He felt like he was home.
A clearing throat stopped their embrace. It was the priest. Percy had forgotten it was his wedding day. Wait, it was his wedding day.
“Oh of course. One second.” Percy leaned down and whispered into Annabeth’s ears. “I know you said you didn’t want to be Queen, but would you put that to the side and marry me today?”
“I guess I could make that sacrifice.” He kissed her again then. And continued to kiss her for the future they would have together.
The days after their wedding were filled with coronation preparation. He would receive his new title first; Annabeth’s would be directly after his.
Those days were also spent getting to know Annabeth. He grew to fall more in love with her mind, with the way she interacted with his mother, with how she held his baby sister. Percy loved everything about her.
There was also the fallout of their marriage. Luke had to be dealt with despite winning. He had gotten what he wanted. Annabeth would have the throne, but apparently, he had wanted to be behind her running the show. He had even gone so far as to threaten murder against the crown. Chiron quickly dealt with him, however. Luke was stripped of his titles and exiled from Atlantis. He would not bother them again.
When the day came for his coronation Percy was ready. He would lead Atlantis like his father had before him and he had the love of his life to take on the world with him. They would be okay. They would be better than okay. Miracles would happen in Atlantis as long as Annabeth was by his side.
Percy took his vows as king with joy in his heart. He could do this. He would make his kingdom better for his people.
The horns rang through the hall. The people cheered. A heavy crown was laid on his head.
“Presenting Perseus Aegeus Thermopolis Jackson Olympiad.” Percy took and deep breath and locked eyes with Annabeth.
I love you, she mouthed.
I love you, he hoped she could feel the truth in his words.
“The King of Atlantis. Long may he reign.”
Percy corrected the caller in his head. Long may they reign indeed.