Is there a Percy Jackson fic where he doesn't care about the Olympians?
Basically everything is the same, at least at the beginning (and also because I read the books a long time ago and with the serie, the first one is the one I remember best), but instead of being angsty about his dad he just doesn't have a place in his mind for him.
Before, when he was a little kid, he wondered about his dad. Then, time passed and he was alone with his mom and things where good. He didn't really mind it being only the two of them, he kinda liked it.
Then, Gabe came in and he realised how much he missed the times when it was just him and his mom.
He saw other children with their fathers or heard the way they talked about them, and with some it was good, tough it was pretty much the same as it was for him with his mom. He could think, then, that having more of that would be good.
Then he heard others talking about their ever-working dads or their angry-dads and thought that, perhaps, he was better just with his mom, because now there was also Gabe, and what if angry-dads were like angry-Gabes?
So he tried to endure the torment that was Gabe's presence and enjoy what he could of his mom. They would go to the beach, cook blue cookies, fool around. Maybe watch a movie or read. Greek mythology, mainly.
These gods were crazy. And easily angered. And unfair. They didn't seem to care all that much about mortals either. Not even if they worshipped them or if they were related.
So, years later, Percy finds himself in camp-halfblood. He loses his mom, finds out his dad is a god and meets Chiron and Mr. D.
Mr. D is the first god he meets in person. Not very reasuring.
Then he goes around camp, being able to compare the different cabins. Hermes' is cramped. He meets Luke. He finds out about Thalia.
What other conclussion could he reach other than: "The Gods really don't care, huh?"
But then again, neither does he, when he thinks about it. Not really.
But the Olympians are dangerous when they get angry (and sometimes even when they aren't), so he resolves to play nice and do what he is told. He's always tried to keep himself out of troubles, he just hardly ever succeded. But now, knowing that there was a reason (mostly) for him always standing out in the worst way, he could try to stay under the radar.
And then he is claimed, accused of theft and sent on a quest.
Percy, Grover and Annabeth encounter the furies, and Percy thinks he doesn't want Hades as an enemy. He hopes he can get his mom back without things going sideways, but that seems more unlikely by the second. He doesn't really care that much about it.
And the bolt, right. Well... Annabeth can remember that.
Then there is Medusa. She was after him because of his father and after Annabeth because of her mother.
Percy wonders how many monsters are out for his blood because of his father.
There is another thought on the back of his mind, and he refuses to let it escape. But he can't help himself sometimes. The thought can benseen as twisted, but it could always be becuase, were he to fail, would he also be turned into a monster, cursed to forever to hunt those who were supposed to be his own kind.
They sever Medusa's head, but instead of sending it to Olympus, Percy covers her eyes and stuffs it in a bagpack, remembering the story of the first Perseus.
They find Equidna. The head comes in handy.
He meets Ares. The war-god doesn't remind him of Clarisse all that much. Kind of a jerk, but not as bad as Gabe's pocker buddies. Definitely better than the asshole himself (the bar is so low...)
Ares tries to make him angry the same way Aphrodite would lure in any other.
Gods, unlike what you'd think, can't truly create mortal's emotions. Not by themselves, at least. If they could, Eros wouldn't need his bow.
Gods, with nothing else to aid them, can enhance existing emotions. Ares would usually take people's anger or annoyance and multiply it.
But this dumb kid has none. No anger, no mild annoyance or even a little grudge that he could direct at himself. Not because of him being Ares, the war-god, not for being Clarisse's father or even an Olympian like Posseidon. There was nothing to work with. So he tried being a jerk, but it still didn't work.
Ares offered his side-quest and felt in the kid the desire to refuse. But it was put down before he could exploit it.
The quest was fulfilled and after giving the kids some useful stuff and planting the bolt on them, Ares recived a polite thanks from the kids and saw them go on that truck.
Percy, contrary to popular belief, knew perfectly well how to be polite and well manered. Actually, he was an expert. How many times do you think he had to swallow his tongue, his pride and thoughts just to save himself from detention, expulsion or a beating? No, this boy knew very well the rules of the game, especialy with adults. When an adult has power over you, you play nice. He knew that kind of people would never like him, and the feeling was mutual, but if he was polite enough, if he behaved, they would leave him alone, they would ignore him and he them. All would be ok.
Ares didn't get how a kid, a teenager at that, could simply have no anger. He knew half-bloods, he's felt their wrath. They all resent their parents, so what was different this time?
They get trough the Cassino and make it to the underworld. Caron is easily bribed and they get on the boat.
They all nearly fall to Tartarus. Then, they find the bolt.
Percy goes to Hades. He kneels and gives a polite greating. Hades tells him about capturing his mom, then asks for his helm. Percy doesn't have it, but says he knows where it is and asks for the opportunity to retrive it. After the young demigos swearsnon the Stix, Hades himself send them all out of the underworld. The bolt is never mentioned.
Percy is forced to leave his mother behind and then fight Ares for the helm and the bolt.
There are no jokes or taunts, just a fight. At the end, before Ares could curse him, Percy kneels and asks for forgiveness.
After winning, Percy could only thing about the consequences of what he'd done. He thought about Annabeth and Grover, who had come with him and would surely receive part of whatever the war-god sent his way, just for being there. And he thought about his mother, who Hades had taken away, who he couldn't save yet, because he had to prioritize the bolt to prevent a war. His mother, who had suffered a life with Gabe for Percy's sake, and who would surely be targeted, as the person Percy most loved, if the myths had anything of truth (which they apparently did).
Ares didn't really get it. Forgiveness for what? The kid hadn't cheated. As much as he didn't want to admit it, the fight had been fair. So he asked.
"For offending you."
Responded the kid, still not looking at the other in the eyes. Ares didn't really answer. That behavior wasn't normal. It was, admittedly, what he wanted. But it wasn't normal.
Ares left. The helm fell to the floor where he had stood.
Alecto, who had witnessed the fight, recived the helm to deliver. No threats, but a short look of understanding.
The trio then boarded a plain and went to New York. Annabeth and Grover went to camp. Percy, to the Empire State.
Tired and quite done with life, he sassed the guy at reception into letting him pass.
He walked his way into Olympus and reached the throne room where he found Zeus and Posseidon.
He knelt at the entrance, greeting both men at the same time, no difference. There were no complains about it.
Percy gives the bolt back and says what happened at the entrance of Tartarus. Then he tells them about Ares' involvement. His concerns are brushed aside and he doesn't push. He knows better. Besides, if things turned out bad, they would realize eventually and noone would be able to blame him for letting out something important.
Percy is dismissed. He kneels before turning to leave. He is called by Posseidon, so he turns once again. The god turned human size before Percy's eyes and walked until he was standing in front of the boy.
When Posseidon said he was sorry Percy was born, the boy felt offended, but not truly hurt. A part of him wanted to say: "Yeah, you fucked up." He obviously refrained. When Posseidon said that he was proud, when he talks about Sally being a queen amongst mortals, Percy refrained a disdainful scowl. He wasn't angry at the god, but he was exausted, and scared, and worried about his mother, and he didn't feel like listening to this stranger saying things that only friends and family should say. But Percy knew better than to anger strong people, so he smiled and nodded, unable to pretend and do more, but refusing to give anyone reason to punish him. When he was finally dismissed, he had to do his best to control his steps and not run to the elevator.
He goes home to his mother. Medusas' head is still on his pack. A very ugly statue is on the market by the end of the day.
Back at camp, is already nigth and Percy goes out to the forest with Luke.
When the blond tells him he is leaving, Percy says he understands. When Luke tells him to go with him, Percy refuses.
Luke asks him why, when the Olympians aren't worth it.
Then, where the blond expects refusal and denial, Luke recives a tired laugh. Percy is very aware of that, but he'd rather keep himself out of trouble. The gods are too powerful, and powerful people can be dangerous, especially if they consider you little more than pets.
Still, he wouldn't leave. Leaving would mean abandoning his mom, and he would never leave his only family for anything in the world.
When Luke reveals his crimes, Percy tries to reason with him.
"What do you think Chronos will do with us once he doesn't need us anymore?"
But Luke was already completely blinded by fake promises.
Percy is poisoned. He passes out and wakes up in the infirmary.
Summer ends and he goes back to his mom, a whole new word to fight for and against.
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Now, I like when Percy sasses the gods and is on good terms with them, but what about him being afraid and wary of them?
I want Percy to keep the Olympians at arm's length while they try to get closer. I want all the Olympians to deal with the rejection and emotional hurt they inflicted on each of their children, ok? Ok.