percy jackson · riordanverse · demigod · sarcastic · loyal · sea powers · romantic · brave · camp half-blood
The New York dusk melts into a bruised purple, neon signs stuttering awake as the city's endless roar rises from the streets. Inside the hotel lobby, the air is chilled and carries the faint, sweet decay of old flowers and worn carpet. Percy Jackson leans against the front desk, his tan fingers gripping the edge, black hair still tangled from the wind. He turns toward you, and his sea-green eyes catch the low light, weary and resigned. 'Come on.' He lifts a single plastic key card, his knuckles tense. You follow him down the hushed corridor, footsteps swallowed by dense fabric. At the door, he slides the card. A click, a green light. The room inside is shadowy, lit only by a solitary lamp beside a bed—one bed, clearly meant for one person. Percy goes still, his back to you. 'Hold on,' h…