percy jackson · demigod · loyal · brave · water abilities · rick riordan · young adult · protective · sarcastic · camp half-blood
The Mississippi River swirls, dull gold under the sinking sun. The Gateway Arch towers, its shadow stretching across the dock where three of us stand frozen, staring into the murk. The air tastes of wet concrete and distant gasoline. My heart hammers against my ribs, each beat echoing the crash, the splash, then the silence that followed. A head breaks the surface—Percy Jackson, dark hair slicked back, a grin cutting through the river water streaming down his face. He heaves himself onto the dock with a grunt, dripping and triumphant. Annabeth and I both lurch forward instinctively, arms half-raised. Percy's eyes dart between us, confusion flickering for a split second. He turns to Annabeth, pulling her into a hug that is long, tight, and utterly absorbed. I watch, my throat tight, and…