Coming of Age (Percy Jackson)

A/N: Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next four chapters are up on my Patreon for early access as well as the chance to vote on the direction of the story!

Bianca sees some things and develops a liking for it.

-x-X-x-

In the end, Bianca covers up Nico’s eyes, but doesn’t look away herself. Percy doesn’t even notice, mostly because he’s already leaping into action. He doesn’t wait for their attackers to come to him, nor does he check to make sure she’s followed his orders. Instead, the moment those words leave his lips, the young man with the glowing golden sword lunges forward, a snarl on his face.

What follows is an exercise in brutality. Percy is outnumbered three to one. His opponents are huge, hulking men who might not even be men, each of them wielding a massive iron club as long as Nico is tall. They seem to be quite confident in the violence they can inflict too, given the grins on their faces and the sharpened yellow teeth they’re sporting.

And yet… none of that matters. Percy darts under one’s swing and then stabs him in the gut with that sword. Then, he twists the blade counterclockwise and pulls it to the side, shattering ribs and ripping it out of the giant’s body the hard way. The first of the three thugs goes down, though much to Bianca’s shock, the initial spray of blood and gore isn’t followed by even more. Instead, the giant inhuman man… bursts into golden dust of all things, leaving Bianca to gape at the sudden lack of a body with a wide open mouth.

That’s just Percy’s opening move too. The other two men hesitate briefly, and for a moment Bianca wonders if they might run away. But neither gets the chance because Percy doesn’t stop there. He pushes off the ground and leaps higher into the air than Bianca had ever seen anyone leap before, only to land on the second of the three giants’ chests, his sword cleaving right through the man’s skull.

Bianca’s stomach turns a bit at that, but before things can get truly gruesome, the second turns to golden dust the same as the first. It leaves her wondering what the hell Percy’s sword is really made out of. It’s not gold, that much she instinctively knows. But what COULD it be, really? She honestly had no idea, only that it was like a fairy tale or something. This whole situation was rapidly becoming more and more surreal.

The final thug roars at the easy dispatching of his two friends, and rushes forward to swing his iron club at Percy recklessly. Bianca nevertheless feels her heart leap into her throat at the sight. While the giant man has absolutely zero technique, she can feel the power behind his swings from here and knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that if he manages to hit Percy even once, it’s not going to be good.

Fortunately, that doesn’t happen. Percy bounces back a few feet to dodge the initial swings, and then side steps around the bigger man, crouching low to slice his sword across the giant’s tendons. And then, when that sends the man toppling to the ground, Percy brings his sword down through the back of his neck, pinning him in place until his struggles cease and he disappears into golden dust just like the first two.

The maneuver leaves Percy facing her and Nico, which means once his last opponent disappears and he rises back to his full height, the first thing he sees is Bianca staring at him with wide eyes even as she makes sure to cover up Nico’s face so he doesn’t see a thing.

Percy freezes for a moment as they make eye contact, before frowning and shaking his head. It’s obvious he’s disappointed in her for not obeying him… but at the same time, he glances down to Nico a moment later and nods. It’s equally obvious he at least appreciates her making sure Nico didn’t have to see what he did.

Bianca feels strange at the juxtaposition of his approval and disapproval, gained barely seconds apart. She feels a little hot under the collar after what she just saw. It’s not like the violence itself was a turn on or anything, but she greatly appreciated a strong young man like Percy protecting them from… from whatever those men actually were. After all, if it wasn’t for him, they apparently would have EATEN them.

Was cannibalism a thing in this new, terrifying future? Did Bianca have to worry about more thuggish men with yellowed teeth coming after them going forward? She had to know, so that’s why she fixes Percy with a frowning gaze even as she finally lets Nico go so he can look around again.

“Huh? Where did they go?”

Before she can ask, Nico preempts her with a question of his own. One Percy is quick to answer with a lie.

“I got them to run away, Nico. It’s alright, you’re safe now.”

The look he gives her makes it clear he doesn’t want her to give the lie away. Who does he take her for, honestly? Of course she’s not going to tell Nico that they all died gruesomely. Her little brother doesn’t need that sort of thing in his head. That said…

“What were those things, Percy? Why did… they wanted to EAT us. Is that… normal?”

Percy’s eyes light up with understanding and he lets out a bit of a tired laugh as he rubs the back of his head.

“Normal as in ‘normal in the future’? No. Normal as in ‘normal for our kind’? Yeah, pretty much. Look, even if I can’t tell you who your father is just yet, I can tell you both this much… you’re demigods.”

Bianca and Nico blink in sync at that, causing Percy to smile wryly.

“I’m serious. The Greek Pantheon is real… and so are other gods and goddesses too for that matter, I suppose. You both were born to a Greek God. That’s your father. I was also born to a Greek God… my dad is Poseidon, the God of the Seas.”

Oh… wow. That was a lot to take in. Bianca doesn’t bother asking if Poseidon is their dad too. From context clues alone, it’s obvious he’s not. Also, she’s never felt any great affinity for the ocean or even water in general.

“The downside of being demigods is this… once you turn eighteen, monsters will start to hunt you. Actual monsters. Those in particular weren’t just cannibal thugs, they were Giants. Monstrous, man-eating giants. Fortunately, not the type of giant that grows to be taller than a building or anything. Not that they could have even then, probably. There’s this thing called the Mist and it basically prevents most mundane people from seeing our side of things as they really are. There are limits though…”

Percy trails off, seeming to realize he’s rambling a bit. Bianca though, she’s soaking up every word he’s said. And…

“S-So they were after you and me, right? Not Nico?”

Percy winces, but nods.

“Yeah. Though that just meant Nico wasn’t their original target. Once he was in their crosshairs, they wouldn’t have just let him go or anything like that. They were drawn to us because of our age, but Nico isn’t off-limits or anything like that.”

Well damn. That was a lot to take in. And yet, everything Bianca had seen so far… she couldn’t deny that it was true. That said, she couldn’t help but be worried about how Nico was taking all of this. She turns to her brother, ready to try and soothe him and calm him down if he looks upset… only to find him looking at Percy with an expression of rapturous awe on his face.

“… That’s so cool! It’s just like Mythomagic! Oh my god! All of my favorite cards from Mythomagic are based on REAL things!”

Both Percy and Bianca pause as Nico gushes over his favorite card game. Bianca finds herself coloring the more Nico talks, her face going bright red out of secondhand embarrassment. Ugh, she should have known… and maybe found a way to stop him from being so childish in front of the man who just saved their lives.

Fortunately, if Percy is put off by Nico’s behavior, he doesn’t show it. Instead, he has a fond smile on his face and even ruffles Nico’s hair as they all move back out of the alley together. Bianca’s eyes linger on what little remains of the gold dust that had once been the cannibal giants… but then they’re back on the main street, and she’s following after Percy as he leads her and Nico back to their hotel.

Honestly, even now she’s not sure how to feel about everything. But she can’t deny that part of her is starting to admire Percy quite a bit. And… well, he c-certainly seems like a good man, doesn’t he? A good, strong man who cares about and protects women and children with his life.

What’s not to like about that, right?

-x-X-x-

“Oh Percy, you’re okay! Good heavens, I’ve been worried sick ever since Tyson came back without you…”

Percy’s mother, Sally Jackson, is a very nice lady, Bianca notes. She’s relieved to have Percy back of course, and so is his half-brother Tyson. Though, Tyson doesn’t seem to be human… fortunately, Percy doesn’t try to hide anything from them. He explains that Tyson is a Cyclops, but he also is an actual kid as well. More than that, he’s apparently a Son of Poseidon too, so he really is Percy’s half-brother. Just not of the demigod variety.

After Percy explains the situation to his mom, she calms down a bit. Apparently, the attendant at the Lotus Hotel and Casino had managed to convince Percy to wait a full hour while she pretended to go retrieve Bianca and Nico. Seeing as nobody had so much as said anything to either of them, it was obviously just a trick.

However, an hour in the Lotus Hotel and Casino was a day outside, which had left both Sally Jackson and Tyson at wits end to where Percy could have gone or what might have happened to him.

Percy doesn’t mention the giants that attacked them, but in the end, Bianca isn’t sure whether that’s because he hadn’t wanted to, or because he just simply doesn’t get the chance. Instead, it’s Nico who excitedly tells Percy’s mother and half-brother about how he scared off the giants, and how the giants had talked about eating them before he managed to make them run away.

In the end though, the conversation eventually moves to the obvious pair of elephants in the room… her and Nico.

“So you were sent to retrieve these two, but… what now, exactly?”

Percy’s mother at least gives them both reassuring smiles as she asks her son that pertinent question, but it doesn’t make it any less relevant. Bianca had been wondering what would happen next as well, truth be told. Percy too grimaces as he crosses his arms over his chest and frowns.

“Honestly, I was kind of expecting Cha… err, someone to come take them off my hands by this point. But seeing as that hasn’t happened yet, maybe I’m supposed to take them with me when I go back to Camp Half-Blood? For now, I suppose they’ll just have to stay with us. Dad gave us enough money that an extra room for them shouldn’t hurt our expenses too much, right?”

Sally hums thoughtfully at that.

“It certainly wouldn’t… but I don’t know if an extra room is truly necessary. Bianca could just stay with me, and Nico could stay with you boys in your room.”

That would make the most logical sense, Bianca thinks to herself. Except for one thing. Even as Percy is mulling his mother’s idea over, Bianca clears her throat and steps forward.

“A-Actually… I think Percy and I need to share a room together. One far away from your original rooms.”

Needless to say, this gets some stares from pretty much everyone… and rightfully so. Bianca knows full well that what she’s suggesting is incredibly inappropriate. An unmarried young woman and man sharing a hotel room together? The scandal! And yet…

“It’s just… Percy was explaining to us why we were attacked by monsters while we made our way here. He told Nico and I that we were only attacked because he and I had come of age and started attracting them. That means… they might come here to the hotel and attack us as well. If I’m alone with you, Mrs. Jackson, I fear that I might attract a monster that would harm us both. But if Percy and I are elsewhere, not only will you, Nico, and Tyson be safe, but also, Percy can protect me in the event of an attack.”

She stumbles and hesitates in her explanation once or twice, but eventually she manages to get it all out. And she’s pretty sure her logic is sound. Monsters are real. Gods are real. Her and her brother are demigods. But Bianca is the only one who’s actually turned eighteen, so Nico is safe from the monsters… so long as he isn’t too close to her.

Sally Jackson doesn’t dismiss her idea out of hand, at least. She mulls over Bianca’s words for a long moment before looking at Percy.

“Percy? Do you think she’s right?”

Percy sighs and reluctantly nods.

“She might be. Even with just me, we’ve had our fair share of close calls as we traveled around this past year. Two adult demigods in such close proximity might be one too many. Better to have us far enough away from you three that any monsters that show up will be focused only on Bianca and I and nobody else.”

There’s another brief pause as Sally mulls that over as well. Finally, she nods.

“Alright then. But you better be a perfect gentleman, Percy. And Bianca, you let me know if I need to smack some sense into my boy, alright? He would never do anything inappropriate on purpose, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did some sort of social faux pas by mistake.”

As Percy squawks indignantly at that, Bianca can’t help but smile a little bit at the byplay. At the same time though, her heart is thudding hard in her chest and she’s barely able to keep her response off of her lips. Namely… what if she WANTS Percy to do something inappropriate on purpose? What if she doesn’t want him to be the perfect gentleman?

Soon enough, they’ve gone down to the front desk and gotten the room situation sorted. The five of them all have dinner together in the hotel’s restaurant, and then they go back to their rooms, with Bianca and Percy escorting Sally back to her room, and then Tyson and Nico back to their room so Percy can grab his suitcase. At which point, it’s just the two of them making their way to their new room.

Bianca can’t help but fiddle with her dress a little bit as they go. She probably shouldn’t make a move. But she didn’t think Percy would be the one to initiate anything, not after the warning from his mother. That meant, if she wanted anything to happen… she would need to start it, wouldn’t she?

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