another excerpt from my ancient fic that i never finished
She shrugged, “I mean, I could've let you confess to Annabeth on Olympus that one winter, but it would’ve led to a relationship between two pre-teens before they entered a war. It would not have lasted long. Another example, I could’ve made you accept your feelings early on and embrace them, but what would’ve happened when you landed on Ogygia? You would’ve been dead set on getting back to Annabeth, especially after that kiss, that you would’ve never noticed Calypso, never fell for her, and you would’ve been trapped on Ogygia for years and let the war destroy everything. That indecision saved not only your life, but all of ours.”
Percy’s eyes were slightly glazed, “So, you getting involved in my love life helped us win the war?”
Venus smiled, “Love and war go hand in hand. Just look at Mars and I.”
Percy made a face, “I’d rather not.” Venus laughed again and Percy shook his head, “You seem to know a lot about what I went through for a Roman goddess. I would think that you’d be more focused on the Roman side of the war.”
Venus picked up her mug and drank from it. It was still steaming. “My Greek and Roman forms have always been open, too alike to create a barrier between them. Love is universal, I even told your mother that.” Venus said with a chuckle, “Speaking of, that’s one of the main things I wanted to talk about.”
Percy tilted his head, “I thought you said you were leaving that up to her to tell me.”
Venus waved a hand around and set her mug down, “I am, I am. What I want to talk about is something we almost talked about and is something I was getting to. You got me off topic.” Percy held up his hands and sat back in his chair. “You and Annabeth already had feelings for one another before I got involved. I felt it before you two even knew it. I also had an idea of your fate, your destiny. Us gods don’t know everything, but occasionally we are privy to certain pieces of information.” She paused, “Well, anyways, you two caught my attention. I set up the occasional problem the two of you may have run into, such as the Thrill O’ Love ride from all those years ago.”
Percy blinked, “That was Hephaestus. Or Vulcan. Whatever.”
Venus smiled conspiratorially, “He may have set the trap, but I picked the location. Mars really had no say in it. He didn’t even know that was what was going to happen. He just knew Vulcan wanted to make a fool out of us again.” Percy made an ‘o’ with his mouth and nodded. “I also may have had a hand to play in Annabeth’s makeover at the resort you two visited. As well as the discussion you two had on the ship after the Sirens.” Percy stared at her, which she took as an invitation to continue, “Of course, the whole quest to rescue her from Luke and Atlas. Oh!” She clapped her hands together, “And that moment in her cabin before her quest when she looked to you for support. How adorable.”
Percy looked vaguely disturbed, “You watch us a lot or something?”
Venus sighed dreamily, “No, I have other matters to attend too, but you two are…special.” She finished off uneasily.
Percy squinted at her, “Special?”
Venus smiled reassuringly at him, “It’s not bad. Quite the opposite in fact.” She glanced at the sky and leaned forward to whisper, “Do you want to know what I know?”
“Will you even tell me?” He asked tiredly, “I know you gods like to keep things a mystery.”
She nodded, “Yes, especially when it benefits us, but truthfully, my dear, we have no use for you anymore.”
Percy raised an eyebrow, “I feel like I should be offended by that, but honestly that’s probably the best thing you could’ve told me.”
Venus reached out and grabbed his hands, “I can tell you something even better if you want me to.” She gently squeezed his hands, “And I’m really hoping you say you want me to.”
Percy looked down at their joined hands then up at her, “Will it send me into an existential crisis?” Venus shook her head. “Will I somehow end up on a quest?” Venus shook her head. “Will it blow my mind?” Venus hesitated before swaying her head from side to side in a maybe gesture. Percy sighed, “Sure, tell me.”
Venus let out a squeal, “Yay! Oh, it took me a while to notice this and I had to get confirmation from the Fates multiple times to make sure I wasn’t wrong.” She laughed easily, “I think after the fourth or fifth time of asking, they were tempted to cut my own thread.”
Percy’s brow furrowed, “Can they even do that?”
Venus shrugged, “I’d rather not risk it.” Percy nodded in agreement. Venus opened her mouth to continue, but nothing came out. She eyed Percy, “Do you happen to know the original form of mortals?”
Percy inhaled deeply, “Uh,” he elongated the word, drawing the sound out for a few seconds, “no. I don’t.”
“Really? I’d think that’d be taught, at least by my own children if no one else.”
“I haven’t heard of anything about original forms so…” He shrugged.
Venus blew a puff of air out and a few of her curls flew up before settling back down, “Honestly, I think…” Her form shimmered and her features began shifting between various features, “I think I’m better equipped to tell this story.” Aphrodite finished.
Percy exhaled, “Gonna be distracting, but okay.”
Aphrodite smiled, “Thank you!”
Percy nodded, a bit dazed, “It’s like fire.”
Aphrodite’s head tilted, “Like…fire?”
Percy didn’t answer for a moment, “The way your features shift. Like fire.”
Aphrodite’s smile turned even kinder, “Sorry about that, dear.” Percy hummed in acknowledgment and Aphrodite continued, “That old philosopher from way back when…Phineas? Portia?” Aphrodite glanced up at the ceiling. Her eyes lit up with realization, “Plato!” She chuckled, “He explained it quite accurately. When you humans were first created, you had four arms, four legs-”
Percy closed his eyes and shook his head, “You mean the soulmate thing. I thought you were talking about, like, Pokémon.”
Aphrodite’s lip curled slightly, “Pokémon?”
Percy opened his eyes, “Uh, nevermind. Continue.”
Aphrodite scanned him, “Well, you mentioned soulmates, so you obviously know what I’m talking about.”
Percy pursed his lips, “The Aph- er, your kids talk about it quite often. They dream about meeting their soulmate one day.” He tapped his fingers along the arm of his chair, “The story is that humans were first created with four arms and legs, like you said, and one head with two faces. Zeus feared their power, for some reason, and split them apart, dooming us to searching our entire life for our other half.”
Aphrodite’s face contorted, “I suppose that would be because of the millennia between it occurring and now.” She leaned forward a bit, “The original humans had two heads, allowing the two beings to see one another. Their singular body inhabited two souls. Perfect matches.” She let out a bittersweet sigh, “Us gods don’t have that. We are superior to mortals, powerful and everlasting. We don’t really have…souls in a sense. If we were to fade, we would simply cease to exist. You humans had someone who stayed by your side, loved every part of you including your flaws, who couldn’t imagine a world without the other.” Aphrodite fidgeted with the hem of her shorts, “Zeus didn’t fear you all. We were all…envious.”
She shook her head, “Us gods, the love we have, is short, but powerful. When we fall for mortals, we fall hard and the longer we stick around, the more powerful our children are. When we love our fellow immortals, it’s not quite the same. We are everlasting, the love we share is not the same as the love we share for those who live for such a short period of time.” She brushed her long brownish-red hair behind her ear, “We envied the love you shared, the strength of it. I suppose that’s where the idea that we feared them came from. But, really, since we couldn’t have what you could possibly share, in a moment of…selfishness, we split you up. Put one soul in one body. Scattered you across the world resulting in lower chances of you finding the soul you were destined to share a body with. Your perfect match.” She met his gaze and her blue eyes were filled with guilt, “A lonely life, like what we live.”
Percy was quiet for a while. He shifted forward and grabbed his mug which was miraculously still steaming. He took a long drink of it until there was only a little left. He placed it back down on the table. Percy sat back and looked over at Aphrodite. She was watching him with glittering eyes.
He cleared his throat, “I…can understand that.” Percy spoke carefully, “But, uh…are you leading up to what I think you’re leading up to?”
Aphrodite smiled widely, her teeth shifting in form and color every moment that passed, “Am I?”
Percy’s heart began to race and he wiped his palms on his sweatpants. He gave a breathless laugh, “Honestly, I wouldn’t be that surprised.” His head lolled to the side and he stared at the wall behind Aphrodite, “In, uh…in Rome, last year, I knew with absolute certainty that I would rather die with her, than live a life without her.” He was quiet again before continuing, “I knew before then, but that was the moment where I actually made the choice I always knew I’d make. I know she…feels guilt about what happened. How I had to make that choice. I’ve told her repeatedly that I don’t regret it.” His head jolted back up and he held up a hand, “Well, the only regret I have is that I wasn’t able to save her. That she had to fall as well.” He shook his head and his body went lax. His head lolled back and he stared up at the ceiling, “If it came down to it, I’d make that choice again and again. Without hesitation.” He chuckled and his whole body shook with it, “I would do anything for her.”
Aphrodite stared hard at him. “You know,” She shifted, “I may have fibbed a bit.” Percy’s head popped up and he waited for her to continue, “While we were envious, there was a hint of fear. Because of that.” She pointed at Percy.
Percy blinked, “Me?”
Aphrodite’s lips twitched upward. “That determination.” She corrected, “The willingness to do anything and the power to follow through.” She scanned his face, “You had the power to take on Titans and Giants at the young age of sixteen. You’ve had the power to go against gods since you were twelve. You battled Ares at age twelve and won. A mere child won against the god of war.” Aphrodite let out a borderline laugh, “Your father still brags about that, holds it over Ares’s head whenever he acts up. Artemis loves watching Ares’s reaction. She always gets a laugh out of it.” Percy snorted in amusement, “But Zeus knows. And Athena knows. Ares and Apollo know. And I know.” Aphrodite closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, Percy met her gaze and all traces of amusement were gone.
“We know, Perseus, that that makes you beyond dangerous.” She whispered to him, “We know that if any harm were to come to her from us, we would have a war on our hands.” Aphrodite held up a finger for silence when Percy opened his mouth. She held eye contact with him, searching and offering, “You know it’s true and I know it’s true. Don’t lie to me.” Percy didn’t respond. Aphrodite managed a tired smile. “As I said, I exist within you. And I know that there is no limit to how far you would go for her.”
Percy’s jaw clenched. His gaze shifted to the wall behind Aphrodite and he let out a long breath. He nodded minutely, “Then, does that mean that you all know to leave her alone?”
Aphrodite watched him. Percy’s gaze slowly shifted over to hers and met her eyes unflinchingly. Aphrodite tilted her head up and stared down her nose at him, “We are done here, Perseus.” She tsk-ed, “And to think, this was supposed to be a happy visit.”
The door to Percy’s room slammed open and he shot to his feet, Riptide at full length in his hand immediately. Annabeth stood in the door frame panting slightly. Percy relaxed and Riptide’s point dipped down to the floor, “Annabeth?”
Annabeth scanned the room multiple times over, “I got worried.” She whispered, “You were gone for a while. What are you doing?”
Percy paused before spinning around to find the chair across from him empty. He cursed under his breath and capped Riptide. Annabeth made her way over to him, still panting, and grabbed his arm. Percy looked over into Annabeth’s slightly panicked and worried eyes. He managed a small smile, “It’s okay.” He pocketed Riptide and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a warm embrace. She wrapped her arms around his waist, “We’re okay, we’re together.” He placed a kiss on top of her head.
Annabeth sighed into his solid black t-shirt, warmth spreading through the shirt to his shoulder, “Why were you taking so long?”
Percy glanced down at the empty chair, “I was having a conversation with a certain goddess.”
Annabeth pulled back and followed his gaze to the empty seat. Her eyes flickered around the room, “Hera?” Her voice was harsh and Percy’s eyes slid over to her.
“No, no,” He chuckled, “Different goddess.” He dropped one of his arms to wrap around Annabeth’s waist and brought his other hand to run through his hair, “Uh, Aphrodite and Venus, actually.”
Annabeth turned to stare at Percy, “Aphrodite?”
Percy grinned at her, “You wanna know what she told me?”
Annabeth narrowed her eyes, “Is it going to piss me off?”
Percy pretended to think for a moment, “Uh, maybe. I don’t know.” He shrugged, “Depends on how you feel.”
Annabeth’s face slowly relaxed and she smiled up at him, “Tell me.” She spoke softly to him, “But if I get mad, you’re sleeping in the lounge.”
Percy laughed softly, “Deal.” He leaned over and kissed her briefly, “I love you, you know that?”
Annabeth cracked her eyes open, “It seems like you’re buttering me up so I don’t get mad.”
“Really?” He asked, “Is it working?”
“Maybe,” She hummed.
Percy’s smile grew, “Well, she mentioned the story her kids are always talking about.”
Annabeth barely spared a moment to think, “About soulmates?”
Percy nodded, “That’s the one.” He paused, “They got a couple things wrong since it’s been millennia, but it was pretty much the same.”
Annabeth scanned his face when her cheeks suddenly colored and a wide smile graced her face. Her arms tightened around his midsection, “What did she tell you?” she pressed.
Percy brought one of his hands up to push some of her curls behind her ear, “You know what she said.” He said quietly.
“I wanna hear you say it,” Annabeth countered, her smile only growing as the seconds passed.
Percy chuckled, “Never gonna make things easy for me, right?” Annabeth shrugged and Percy continued, “I had a crush on you since I was twelve. When I was fourteen, I knew that there was no way for me to live peacefully and happily if you weren’t a part of my life. Under Mount St. Helens, I knew that I’d do whatever I could to protect you, even if I had to sacrifice myself in the process.” Annabeth’s eyes flashed with subtle fear and she opened her mouth to cut him off, but Percy spoke over her, “Under Rome last year, when I had to make a choice, there was no other option for me. There never was and never would be. I knew before then, in that moment, and now, that I would much rather die with you than live a life without you.” Annabeth swallowed and Percy huffed. He spoke in an over dramatic tone, “Preferably, you’d live, you know. But, you win some, you lose some. Like hell you’re gonna make me wait by myself in Elysium. I’d be bored out of my mind.”
Annabeth’s shoulders shook slightly. A shocked and wet laugh bubbled out of her, “You’d drag me to Elysium, so you wouldn’t be bored?”
Percy grinned, “Obviously.” He scoffed, “Also, could you imagine if one of us showed up down there alone. That’d be embarrassing. We’re, like, Olympus’s power couple right now.”
Annabeth placed her forehead on Percy’s shoulder and laughed, “That’s ridiculous.”
“You know what’s more ridiculous?” Annabeth sighed and nodded into his shoulder, “The thought of you living without me! Gods, what if one day you thought you fell in love with some ignoramus whose name rhymes with ‘Donner’?”
“Oh my gods,” Annabeth groaned as she pulled back from their hug. Percy’s arms didn't budge, however, so she couldn’t go far.
“No, seriously!” Percy defended, “It would be super embarrassing for you because who knew you had such low standards?”
Annabeth hummed, “Truly a surprising discovery.”
Percy shot her a look, “Watch it. I’ll make you sleep in the lounge.”
Annabeth met his gaze, “I’d like to see you try, pretty boy.”
Percy paused, “Pretty boy?” He asked quietly, almost quiet enough that Annabeth didn’t catch it.
She leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips, “Very pretty.” She kissed him again, “But that won’t make me sleep in the lounge.” She grinned at him, “Quite the opposite, in fact.”
Percy’s eyes crinkled shut as he laughed. He leaned forward and his forehead rested against Annabeth’s. She kept her eyes open to watch him with a soft smile on her face. Percy sighed as his laughter tapered off.
