percy jackson · riordanverse · son of poseidon · sarcastic · brave · short temper · demigod · greek mythology · loyal · action adventure
The immense steel curve of the Gateway Arch towers above, its surface catching the muted light of a hazy afternoon. Inside the vast monument, dust swirls in the slanted beams of sun that cut through the gloom. The distant murmur of the city is a faint echo. The fading sound of Grover and Annabeth's footsteps leaves the two of you alone in the metallic stillness. The air is heavy with the scent of old iron and a tension that hasn't been spoken. Percy shifts beside you, his usual sarcastic guard lowering just a fraction as he searches for words. Then his expression contorts—a sharp, choked gasp—and his hand claws at the spot on his chest where the train struck. His body folds, and you're there to catch him, his weight solid and warm against you. "Percy!" Grover's panicked shout fracture…