𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍° ! percy jackson

𝐢.𝐯𝐢𝐢 - 𝐢 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 (𝐚)

Aurora jumped, her eyes wide at the sight of a panting Percy in front of her.

He stood, stooped over with his hands on his knees. Barely understandable words left his mouth as he coughed. "Quest... fourth person... you... I need..."

"Woah there, Shark Boy." Aurora offered him a hand as she sat on the steps in front of the Demeter cabin. She helped him gently lower his body down to sit next to her. "I mean, if you're saying shit about a quest, you need to get in better shape."

Percy didn't even laugh, which indicated that something was actually wrong. 

His eyebrows were furrowed together, a crease forming in the space between them. He looked cute, all worried and concerned like that.

"I came as soon as I found out." Percy started, his voice shaky. His hands were clasped together, like he was praying to the gods. "I mean, obviously Grover will come, and Annabeth is super smart and knows everything, but I need you. I need you on this quest, Aurora."

Aurora stood frozen, her widened hazel eyes reflecting disbelief, her mouth slightly agape as if trying to form words that wouldn't come.

Involuntarily, her hands started to tremble at her sides, her mind struggling to process the reality before her. A quest?

"I'm sorry, what the fuck?" She gargled, biting the inside of her cheek. "A... a quest? Like a real quest?"

Percy nodded aggressively, so hard that his curls on his head started to bounce.

"I..." She didn't know what to say. How could she turn a quest down?

Everything in her mind was saying no. She hated quests. She resented doing the gods work for them.

But this was every demigods' dream.

And Percy was here. Asking her, of all people.

Percy was annoying. He irritated the hell out of her. Although she loved Annabeth and Grover, she couldn't really imagine herself on the street with the sea spawn. He was sweet and had good intentions, but, like... come on.

She had just started to get to know him, and against her good judgment, she was kind of liking him, even though he was infuriating and exasperating and extremely bothersome. 

However, they were not friends. They were barely acquaintances. 

But then Percy stared at her, and her wall of stubbornness crumbled, just a little.

"What's it about?" She cleared her throat, trying to shake off how much Percy looked like he wanted this.

"Zeus thinks I stole his Master Bolt." Percy explained plainly, his voice small. He did a double take at Aurora's scrutinizing stare and shrunk a little, scowling indignantly. "Which I didn't. Chiron thinks Hades did it, so... well, we're basically trying to find him."

The mention of the god of the Underworld sent a shiver down Aurora's spine. Her heart lurched forward a tiny bit in her chest—it wasn't like she was scared of her stepfather or anything, no...—as it pounded against her ribs like a trapped bird. Her mind raced, searching for an explanation, but finding none.

Aurora opened her mouth to object, her voice ready to scream a steady "hell no", but, as if Percy was anticipating her rejection, he interjected. 

"Please, Aurora. I'm begging you. You're the best fighter I know. You're smart, and you're the only normal part of my life right now. You're consistent. You've taught me everything. I'm not ready, but you are. Please, come on this quest with me." His hands were clutched together, so hard that his knuckles were turning white. "It's the only way I can save my mom."