Chapter Text
The wars had really messed up Percy’s life, if he’s being totally honest. Particularly the war with Gaea. Was it really necessary for her bovine majesty to kidnap him and put him to sleep halfway through his Junior year of high-school? But no, that was how his luck worked. He’d ended up having to repeat his entire Junior year while Annabeth was a senior and applying for college. Then the whole fiasco with Apollo being turned mortal. Yes, fiasco. Did Ares get disciplined for being a pawn of Kronos when he kept the bolt and Hades’ helm from the Olympians when Percy was 12? No, no he did not. Did Hermes get blamed when his son facilitated Kronos’ rise and nearly ensured their destruction? Again, rhetorical, the answer is no. But when one of Apollo’s legacies goes off the rails and tries to cause war between Greek and Romans, Apollo is still the one who gets punished. (Even if the oracles needed sorted, surely there was a better way to handle that?)
But, that has nothing to do with Percy’s currently neglected psych homework that he zoned out on now for the hundredth time. He drank the last of his coffee and continued down his odd memory lane, deciding he could neglect it a little longer. Annabeth had gone off to college in New Rome the next year while Percy had had to stay and complete his Senior year in New York. Which he was totally cool with as it gave him the time he wanted to spend with his baby sister. After a few months, Percy knew that he and Annabeth, mentally, were doing better than they had in a really long time. Apparently the separation helped them heal from what they endured in Tartarus. Most of Annabeth’s nightmares were of what Percy was capable of, anyway. It wasn’t healthy. When Annabeth came to visit over the fall break, they’d decided to end the relationship and try just being friends again.
Percy smiled remembering it. They’d gotten a few tubs of ice cream and a bunch of 80’s movies and spent the whole weekend getting back to being friends. Grover was there and complained about the lack of tin cans, but they caught him tearing up several times. He kept saying it was allergies but Percy could feel through the empathy link that Grover cherished the friendship they all had and was just really touched at how they fell into it together again.
A shutter click brought Percy’s attention back to the present. He looked around the cafe he worked part time at and, though there weren’t any new customers, the one who had an expensive camera was pointing it at him and taking pictures. Percy raised a brow, but decided to ignore it and stood to refill his cup. More camera shutters. When he turned around the photographer was smiling while checking his display screen as if he was excited about something. Percy checked on the few customers he had, refilling their coffee or drinks or clearing their dishes, before returning to his own cup. He had intended to sit back down and continue trying to do his homework, but the camera shutters never stopped. He sighed heavily and pulled the chair opposite the photographer out and sat down.
“Something catch your eye?” Percy asked, nonchalantly, one eyebrow quirked up. The man didn’t even startle and instead captured another picture.
“You, young man, are absolutely gorgeous. Breathtaking. Has anyone ever told you that?”
Percy grinned a crooked, mischievous grin before answering, “a time or two.”
“Well, you should believe them. I didn’t mean to interrupt your studies, but I have to ask, since you are here, if you’ve ever considered modeling? Or just doing a photoshoot? I have a shoot I’m doing and you would be perfect.” He smiled brightly at Percy who just stared back at him blankly.
“What?”
“I’m a professional photographer, obviously,” he noted holding up his expensive looking camera, “and I have a shoot I’m trying to schedule. I’d like to shoot you. It’s good money, a couple hundred bucks for an afternoon.” The man looked at him pleadingly.
“You’re serious?” Percy asked, and the man nodded. “Well, I have swim practices most afternoons, and then work here. But … I have Sunday afternoon off.” Percy wasn’t sure why he was considering this, but a little extra money never hurt.
“Perfect! Here’s my card, the address for the shoot is on the back. I’d like to start by 2, but you can text me when you get there and I’ll make sure to get you in ok.” He looked at the nametag that Percy was wearing and grinned looking up, “Percy.”
“I don’t know anything about modeling.” Percy blurted out.
“You don’t need to. It’s mostly going to be just standing around while I snap pictures. Pretty simple.” Percy mulled the idea over and drank some of his coffee, which the man snapped a picture of, go figure.
“Alright. I’m Percy Jackson, just in case you need the full name for anything. I’ll, uh, I’ll see you Sunday.” Sue him, he does impulsive things sometimes and this seemed like it would be an interesting break from the monotony of school, swimming, and work.
“Fantastic! You won’t regret this! I promise!” The man beamed at him so brightly Percy couldn’t help returning the gesture. He dropped a $50 bill on the table and left, still glancing at the images he’d captured.
Weird. Percy shook his head then cleared the table and returned to his homework hoping to make some headway since he’d apparently made weekend plans now. Styx. How was he going to tell Annabeth and Connor that he couldn’t hang out that afternoon? He could either lie, which he was terrible at, tell the truth and have them in giggle fits for hours, or … stretch the truth. Hmm. That might work. He sighed and focused on his paper, determined to get something done before the dinner crowd started showing up.