Mortals meet Percabeth (and others)

Percy Jackson meets: Ariel

Ariel

NO MIST:

Percy sucked in a breath as he walked through Atlantis, it wasn't like he hadn't been there before but it always felt like he was intruding like he wasn't meant to be there. He had always had a rocky relationship with his dad's side of the family because not only was he a bastard (that was the only time he had heard his step-mother swear) but he was also half-mortal which also seemed to annoy his step-mother, the Queen of the Seas to no end because it showed her husband had an attraction to a mortal woman and she felt like she couldn't compete with that

So when Percy did show up in Atlantis, he always felt like he was walking on eggshells. Always attempting to watch his tone and be as respectful as he could be. It wasn't his fault that sometimes he slipped up and his mouth ran away from him before he could even comprehend what he was even saying

It was a horrible habit...truly

One that often left him in trouble and pain in the ribs as Annabeth would often elbow him and hiss "Honestly do you ever learn?" But it was often paired with a small smile

It bought a soft smile to think of his gorgeous girlfriend, who he would gladly tear the world apart for teasing him. Currently, she was in California, on a family visit to see whether she could patch things up with her own family and explain what had happened to her the past few years and while it had been on Percy's encouragement she goes, he said he understood if she didn't want to and would support her in whatever she chose to do.

And that was what sparked the idea that maybe he should go and at least try to get closer to the godly side of his family because after all, that was what they were family and his mother had instilled in him the importance of being kind to everyone from an early age.

Apparently, everyone including screwed up centuries-old gods

Not that he minded, he was actually enjoying getting to know his family. Even Triton seemed to be warming up to him -- although if you asked either of them, they would both deny it. Of course, it wasn't just typical siblings dynamics because everything ran deeper when you were a God (or at least part God)

He was walking through the throne room having just arrived. He was planning on spending a couple of days with his dad, giving his mom and step-dad a bit of break so they could get used to having a newborn around and get some time together without an ADHD and dyslexic kid in the mix and screwing things up 

And since nobody had really been at Camp since the war...He decided to come here.

"Percy Jackson?' A voice asks and Percy tenses. Years of having to watch his back made him weary because it seemed every God and all supernatural creatures knew his name and although things had been quiet recently after the Giant War, something within him was telling him it was only a matter of time before he was dragged into some other crisis

"Uh yes?" He stated awkwardly, scratching behind his ear

A young mermaid with bright red hair and an even brighter smile swam closer to him and before she even opened her mouth, Percy knew that she would give him a run for his money with how much she could talk and he guessed that like him her mouth had got her in trouble more than a few times

"What's it like up there?" She blurts out before his brain has a chance to catch up

"Up...There?"

"Yes do people walk on land? Does it ever get tiring? How do mortals breathe underwater? How do people eat? The nyads say with something called a dinglehopper but dad said not to listen to the nyads because apparently they can't be trusted but I just want to know...You have no idea how badly I want to go up there to the mortal world but my father won't let me" A young mermaid said in despair as a million questions that were said a million miles per minute spewed out her mouth, faster than Percy's brain had a chance to catch up and well his brain was already going too fast like a rollercoaster and it wouldn't slow down or stop, it just kept going and going "Ooh and why does fire burn? My name is Ariel by the way I'm your niece...Well one of them"

"Nice to meet you, Ariel"

"Can you answer my questions please?"

Percy laughed at Ariel who looked not much younger than him (maybe sixteen at most) and answered all of her questions and liked the way her eyes lit up with childlike innocence and the way she was actually learning things. He hadn't seen that in such a long time because the Gods already act like they know everything having thousands of years on their side 

Even in most of the schools he had been to (and then kicked out of) the students didn't look excited to learn because the teachers never actually taught anything and even though the special education kids should be getting the most attention, they were always pushed to the back given some meaningless task or forgotten about

Percy should know, he's been through that system enough

So Percy took his time with Ariel explaining what each and every question meant and answering every question that arose from explaining another one, he wanted to give Ariel the time of day because she just seemed so incredibly lonely

Percy knew what that was like too

He wouldn't wish it on anyone

When he answered all the questions, Ariel demanded stories and so that's how Percy spent his afternoon, trading stories with an over-excited mermaid who seemed fascinated by his stories but concerned about him all the same which mostly he brushed off because there was nothing she could do

And maybe Percy found somewhere in Atlantis where he did belong