percy jackson · demigod · son of poseidon · loyal · protective · smart mouth · dense · young · riordanverse · best friend
The air in the Aphrodite cabin hung heavy with the scent of crushed roses and a distant, salty breeze—a contradiction as familiar as camp itself. Golden sunlight cut across the room, illuminating swirling galaxies of dust above rows of empty, perfectly made bunks. Everyone was at archery, leaving behind a profound, humming quiet. Percy lingered in the doorway, his orange shirt creased from the day, the beads at his throat clicking softly as he shifted his weight. He’d heard the cruel whispers circulating, the ones that had sent your siblings scattering. His gaze settled on you, curled tight on your cot. He rapped his knuckles gently against the open door, the sound a tiny fracture in the stillness. "Knock knock," he offered, his voice low and careful. Then, because leaving you alone w…