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I.
The first time Percy stood against a god and claimed their child as his was of course – Ares. He heard the yelling and demeaning before he even got to the arena; when he did, he watched the god of war raise his hand to smack the crying girl while telling her she was an unwanted accident of a daughter.
Not even a moment later Percy had the god’s hand in his and laid a punch to Ares’s nose – breaking it and knocking him over. The demigod leaned over the prone deity stepping on his neck and spoke with a snarl, “That girl is no longer yours -she’s mine. She is not an accident and if I ever, EVER, hear you speak about another child like this again Ares – I will end you.” Moving off the god’s neck Percy crouched down and spoke quietly where the crying girl couldn’t hear, “I’m not scared of you – but you should be frightened of me – I made the Goddess of Misery eat her own poison.”
Percy stood and turned to the child, “You ok my dear?”
“JACKSON!” Ares screamed as he pulled his sword from the either, “Shut that smart-ass mouth before I cut out your tongue.” The god of bravery stepped back as Percy turned and glared with a sharp, cold, smile.
“Try me, I beat you when I was twelve and untrained. Can you imagine with 2 wars, 5 years of training, and a walk-through Tartarus means I could do to you? I can do things that will make the ichor in your veins run cold.” Percy grabbed the girl and rolled away as Ares swung his sword; Percy came up from the roll, set the girl down, and uncapped Riptide as he did.
The two squared up and ready to fight when they heard clapping. Turning, “As entertaining as this is: the fact that the madness oozing from Perry is just divine, I don’t want to explain to Father why his god of War is laying in pieces in the pits of Tartarus.”
Ares rolled his eyes, “You think he could take me?”
“Yes – don’t poke the hero of Olympus, he’ll burn you.”
II.
The second time Percy told off a god regarding their actions toward the demigods was actually, “Back off Apollo! The Hunters are not here for you to oogle, they are here to hunt with Lady Artemis, to be safe from dicks who think women are for their use.”
Apollo sputtered wanting to be angry but by the fates Perseus Jackson was beautifully protective and as the Protector of Youth that meant something to him, “The girls know they have nothing to fear from me. A little flirting never hurt anyone. And most importantly why am I just Apollo and she’s Lady Artemis?” He fought not to step back as Percy bared his teeth and growled.
“For someone who has been catcalled, touched, abused, and all but raped – there is no such thing as a “little” flirting.” Percy smiled, shocking Apollo with the shift of attitude, “I can call you Lady Apollo if you insist.” Artemis appeared behind Percy and placed a delicate hand on the boy’s shoulder, making him relax.
“Peace, boy. Thank you for your fierce protection but my hunters can care for themselves.” Percy didn’t take his eyes off the sun god.
“I know, my lady. They are strong, loyal, and can down any threat that they cross but they don’t have to be strong when they come to my camp because here, they’re mine to care, protect, and kill for if needed. I do not presume to think they couldn’t care for themselves but here – they don’t have too.” Percy finally looked away from Apollo and bowed his head in respect to the goddess of the hunt.
The goddess rolled her eyes and stepped away from the boy when her Lieutenant came up and pressed a kiss to Percy’s cheek, “Thank you momma Percy. The hunters love you too.” She looked to Artemis, “Percy is a mother hen my Lady, he’ll protect his flock until his last breath and as his flock we will always be safe with him.” Her words made the boy in question blush and shuffle in step.
“I’m sorry if I overstepped Lady Artemis.” The moon goddess rolled her eyes and walked away leaving Thalia, Percy, and Apollo staring after her.
“Seriously why am I just Apollo and she gets the respect!” he whined making the two kids look at each other and chuckle.
III.
“Lady Aphrodite, let me be completely clear to you – in the most respectful manner I can be,” Percy ignored the choked off laughter from the demigods behind him as he faced off the goddess of love with his wolf glare, “Yes you are the goddess of love, beauty, and pleasure with lots of your kids embodying those aspects but don’t forget you were also worshipped as a goddess of war and you have kids who inherited that from you and they don’t care much for beauty. You will respect those kids; you won’t force them to be something they aren’t.”
Aphrodite crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes when Piper slid between her and Percy, “Calm momma Percy. She didn’t mean to disrespect us, she didn’t realize.” She held Percy’s eyes trying to Charm speak him to calm down.
Smiling at the son of Poseidon’s bravery, “My apologies Perseus; I haven’t been thought of as a war deity in some time – it didn’t occur to me that I would have children who would gain those traits. I see your love for the kids – I will endeavor to live up to that devotion you have for them.” Her words made Percy turn bright red.
IV.
“Why are you crying?” Percy asked as he knelt beside the small girl crying on the Demeter cabin stairs.
“Mother hasn’t come to take me on an adventure with her for my birthday. She told us at Solstice that she’d take us for a one-on-one adventure. My birthday was weeks ago, and she hasn’t come.” The girl hiccupped, “I’ve prayed each day and left offerings for her. And nothing.” The girl leaned into Percy’s chest and cried making Percy coo and pet her hair to calm her.
“I’ll talk to her, I’m sorry you feel this way. She does love you.” He wiped his fingers under the girl’s eyes, “I’ll be back later ok.” He waited for the girl to nod then stood to get permission to leave camp.
The council of gods jumped when the throne room door slammed opened and the ground started to rumble as Percy Jackson came into the room with his sword drawn and pointing at the ground. He found Demeter and started to move to her throne, “What is the meaning of this!” Zeus’s voice boomed.
Percy flicked his fingers toward Zeus and used his ichor to make the king of gods sit backdown, “Hush weather-boy; I’m not here for you this time.” The gods looked at each other wondering what Demeter had done to anger Percy. The goddess of agriculture swallowed and sat up straighter, trying to look secure and calm.
“With your actions just now, what makes you think I won’t smite you?” she ignored Poseidon’s glare but flinched slightly at the glare leveled on her by Percy. She knew the Hero of Olympus was dangerous everyone heard what he did in Tartarus; to Ares and all the other monsters he went against but she wasn’t going to let a half-blood see her cower to him.
Percy wasn’t taking anything Demeter said serious. Leaning in his sword,“Because I can freeze the ichor in your vains before you could. But you’ve broken a promise to the kids. And while Lady Styx can’t do anything to you, I can. We don’t break promises anymore.” His voice echoed through the chamber making all the gods squirm at the thought of Percy’s punishment- they saw what he did to Zeus walking in.
“I’ve not made any promises -” Percy raised a hand, forcing Demeter to stop speaking.
“You told the kids you’d take them on an adventure for their birthday and you’re oh like three weeks late for one.” He waited until Demeter nodded, “She’s been bawling her eyes out, thinking she’s done something to anger you. I know you’ve felt her offerings and prayers. You better get out of here and fix it before you become familiar with Tartarus.” The goddess didn’t say anything and just vanished from the throne room.
V.
The campers swarmed into the throne room, led by Annabeth, Will Solace, Nico, and Grover they had their weapons drawn and all were speaking over each other. .
“Don’t hurt Percy!”
“He’s super nice and caring”
“Percy’s mom!”
He protects us from monsters and bullies!”
The council of gods sat back into their thrones as the group of demigods talked over each other as they yelled at the sparking King of Gods, “He is too powerful! Did you see how he made me sit down! He cannot be left alive!” the king jumped to his feet to send a bolt at Percy when Poseidon, Artemis, Apollo, Hermes, Aphrodite and surprisingly Ares leapt in front of the demigod to protect him.
“Don’t father – it is not worth it. He’s on our side, he will protect Olympus because it means protecting his demigods. We force him to choose, we’ll lose every time.” Ares stated calmly making all the gods turn to look at him in shock, “What? I’m not stupid because I’m a war god.”
“Father, it wouldn’t be a good idea to speak like this about Perseus, he is one of the two males I can tolerate. My hunters also adore him.” Zeus looked at the demigods and the gods glaring at him and huffed and sat back down.