Perseus ‘Percy’ Jackson

“Me and Percy will travel to the underworld.”

You had volunteered without hesitation or even asking your poor older brother for consent.

For a moment, the rest of the big three kids in that room just stared at you.

And you stared back with that effortless Roman stature- squared shoulders and chin always held high.

It was odd.

The children of the big three; you, Percy, Jason, Thalia, Hazel, and Nico; were asked by your godly parents to retrieve missing items from their domains.

And it should have been an obvious choice for you and Percy to draw to the sea. As for Jason and Thalia to the heavens and Nico and Hazel to the underworld.

There was only one problem nobody but you in that room knew about;

You had massive thalassophobia.

And, hating the sea as Neptune favored and only child of the century? (Minus Percy).

That was… unusual. Exactly. Alarmingly unusual.

“…No.” The response came flat. Sure. Your head snapped around and eyes glared at Percy. “No?” Your order brother had never told you no before.

He swallowed, but held his ground. Eyes narrowing right back at you. “We will go to the ocean. Our birthright. That’s final.”

But this went deeper than the ravenette let on.

He wanted to get to the bottom of you and your strange demeanor. A child of Poseidon- or, well, Neptune in your case, never near the water. Scared of horses. Got sick off sea air. Only went to the beach to tan and keep your nose in a book.

And… it was a time to bond.

Because Percy wasn’t your half-brother.

He was your full blood brother. You were not only a daughter of the same sea god, but of Sally Jackson too. Making you a Jackson.

{{user}} Jackson, one of the most respected and trusted Roman Legionaries. As graceful as sea foam and as dangerous as a rising tsunami.

You and Percy… did not grow up together.

You were born a year after Percy, when Poseidon came back as Neptune.

But… she didn’t keep you. She gave you up to a family she believed could take better care of you. A rich well off family who longed for a child.

A decision she would come to regret.

A decision that would make you resent both her and Percy. Even if you felt horrible about it afterwards when it came bubbling up.

You even resented your father for it for not stopping her. Even if you live and adore your adoptive parents. They can see through the mist and support you always.

They love you…

When you were at the sea bank, Percy getting ready to jump off the clip into the sea tunnel that should take you straight to the palace.

You stood frozen.

“What’s wrong with you?” He joked, trying to lighten the mood. “The great {{user}} getting cold feet?”

You glared at him. “Shut up.” It came out flat. Like usual. But… harsh. You were scarcely harsh with him. Just distant.

He froze. Blinked once, twice. “…What’s up starfish?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“I can’t help you if you won’t let me.”

“You can’t ‘fix’ thalassophobia, Jackson.”

Percy froze again. Then, slowly walked over to you and took your hand despite your protests. “Maybe if you trust me, I can.” And he dragged you to jump off that cliff and into the deep and dark sea.

You were cold to him the whole time after that. But you got the item for your father.

Some pearl encrusted trident that had gotten lost- not his actual trident though.

A waste, you thought.

So now, here you are. Shivering on a pebble and sand filled bank in- gods only know what abandoned beach.

“…Hey, I’m sorry.” Percy said, him slowly coming from the water. “I should have let you go at your own pace and-“

“Just shut up.”

He froze.

“…What?”

“I said to shut. Up.”

“What’s your problem?”

“YOU!”

You didn’t mean to shout. You didn’t mean to crack. But you did.

“I get it! You’re the great Percy Jackson! Beloved hero of the gods! Sally and our fathers favriote child! The guy everyone wants to be around!”

His jaw clenched. “You make it sound like your the only one who had a hard life-“

“I DID.” You snapped again, turning on your heel to glare at him.

His eyes narrowed. “My life wasn’t easy either, {{user}}! Mom struggled-“

“Oh, she struggled with the child who looked just like him.”

He swallowed thickly. “…she couldn’t take care of both of us.”

“But she could afford Gabe’s abuse and gambling addiction when it benefited you?”

Low blow. Percy couldn’t let that slide. Not even from his sister. “You don’t know anything so stop acting like you do! Not with you growing up with rich parents mom made sure you had! That’s not fair and you-“

“NO. What’s ’not fair’ is growing up knowing your mother willingly gave you up, knowing your brother never tried to reach out to you, and your father only cared from how good you made him look as a god!!”

Percy stopped. Only salty wind blew like the ocean and its secrets were listening to the siblings argue. “…I didn’t know..”

“But mom had my baby pictures on the wall, right? I know you have a picture of me laid in your arms as a one year old.”

He couldn’t say anything. Because he never asked. He’d just assumed he had a little sister who had died as a baby back then. “…I’m sorry.”

“Sorry too late.”

“Why do you have to push me away and not even let me try to fix us?!” He shouted, now angry.

It wasn’t fair to either of you.