[Third Person's PoV]
Everyone was gathered around the table, enjoying the vibrant meal laid out before them. Nearly every item on the plates had been dyed various shades of blue, giving the entire spread a bizarre yet oddly charming aesthetic. It looked like something out of a fantasy-themed cookbook, and the combination of aromas, colors, and laughter filled the room with warmth.
Throughout the meal, Lucian kept throwing the occasional glare in Sally's direction. However, each time he did, he was swiftly smacked—either by Thalia, Bianca, or both at once. It had become a quiet game of keeping Lucian in line.
Eventually, Sally gave him a peculiar look before asking, "You seriously cooked some of these dishes? They're unbelievable…"
Lucian blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting a compliment. He scratched the back of his head, a faint blush rising to his cheeks. "Alright, you're okay in my book again," he said bashfully.
The others rolled their eyes in shared exasperation, used to his antics by now. All except Nico, who had slumped back in his seat, lips covered in streaks of blue sauce, looking half-conscious.
"Is he alright?" Sally asked with genuine concern, her eyes on Nico, who looked like he might pass out right there at the table.
Nico weakly raised a trembling thumbs-up. "I'm... fine... ughhh. I can't eat another bite…"
"Really? That's a shame. We were just about to bring out the cake," Sally said, a note of pity in her voice.
"…"
"There is never such a thing as too much for a Son of Hades!" Nico suddenly roared with new energy, sitting upright like a reanimated corpse given purpose.
"Haha! Spoken like my brother, alright!" Lucian bellowed, laughing as he grabbed a napkin and gently wiped Nico's mouth.
Bianca, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but smile softly.
As Sally headed toward the kitchen to retrieve the cake, Percy sat back with a hand on his forehead, cringing slightly. "This is so weird… Why are you guys even here?"
"It was mostly Lucian's idea," Annabeth said, nodding in his direction. "He thought it would be a good idea to gather everyone and celebrate your birthday together. It was a sort of break for us."
"Speaking of everyone," Percy muttered, "has anyone heard from Grover lately?" There was a faint sadness in his voice. Of everyone in the room, Grover was the one Percy had known the longest—his best friend even before discovering he was a demigod.
Thalia sighed, leaning back. "Not since he left in July to search for Pan."
"I offered him a phone so he could keep in touch, but he turned it down," Lucian grumbled, crossing his arms. "Said being away from technology would improve his chances of finding the god of the wild. I even offered to give him some advice, but he said it was his job as a Searcher to figure things out on his own. Stubborn satyr…"
"I just hope he's safe out there," Percy said quietly, staring down at his empty plate.
"He is safe," Lucian said with a confident scoff. "I gave him that druid staff I forged for him. That thing is packed with enough power to take down a small monster army. He'll be fine."
Percy knew first-hand how powerful Lucian's creations were. The thought offered him some comfort, but before he could dwell on it further, the lights in the room suddenly went out.
Everyone looked around the room as they were plunged into darkness.
But then, the gentle flicker of candlelight drew their attention to the kitchen doorway. Sally stepped back into the room, carrying a blue-frosted cake, the candles casting a soft glow on her smiling face. She walked toward the table slowly and began to sing in a gentle, loving voice:
"Happy birthday to you~"
Percy's cheeks flushed crimson from embarrassment, especially as the rest of the group joined in, grinning and singing louder.
"Happy birthday, dear Percy~ Happy birthday to you~"
Sally set the cake in front of him and ruffled his hair affectionately. "Now make a wish."
Though still a little red in the face, Percy smiled faintly, closed his eyes, and thought to himself: 'I wish Grover was safe on his journey.' Then, with a deep breath, he blew out the candles.
Just as Sally was about to slice the cake, a sudden knock at the door made everyone freeze.
She paused, knife halfway down, then glanced toward Lucian and the others. "Did any of you invite someone else?"
Everyone shook their heads, equally confused.
Sally set the knife down and cautiously walked to the door. The room fell into tense silence as they watched her reach for the handle and slowly pull it open.
Her eyes widened.
Standing there, framed in the doorway with his sea-green eyes twinkling and an amused grin on his face, was none other than Poseidon himself.
"Surprise~" the sea god said cheerfully.
Everyone sat frozen in stunned silence.
Lucian slowly turned to Percy, eyes wide. "What the hell did you wish for?"
Everyone grew tense the moment Poseidon stepped into the room. The air seemed to thicken as the god of the sea entered, his divine presence undeniable—even to the mortals. However, what quickly helped ease the tension was his unexpected and casual appearance. Poseidon wore a bright, loud Hawaiian shirt dotted with sea turtles and coral reefs, paired with khaki shorts and sandals. He looked more like someone returning from a beach resort than an Olympian god making a surprise visit.
"Percy, happy birthday, son," Poseidon greeted warmly, walking forward with confident, relaxed strides. He placed a firm, yet gentle, side hug around Percy's shoulder.
"Thanks... Dad," Percy replied, hesitant at first. But despite himself, a smile slowly tugged at the corners of his lips. He couldn't help it.
That smile didn't go unnoticed. Poseidon's grin widened upon hearing the word Dad escape Percy's mouth. "So, what do you want for your birthday? I'm not really sure what kids your age are into these days. Toys?"
Clarisse snorted loudly, turning her head to hide her laugh. Percy's face flushed crimson, already mortified.
Lucian, meanwhile, was expressionless. His face remained a perfect mask of neutrality as he observed the exchange between Percy and his father. But Thalia and Annabeth—who knew him better than anyone—noticed the subtle cracks beneath the surface.
They watched closely as Lucian's hands clenched into fists at his sides, veins bulging across his forearms. His fingers dug so hard into his palms that his nails left crescent-shaped marks in the skin. They could see it clearly—Lucian wasn't holding himself back because he feared Poseidon, but because he didn't want to cause a scene. This was Percy's day. His first birthday with his father present. Lucian wasn't about to ruin that, no matter what inner turmoil he was suppressing.
Thalia, who stood closest to him, gently reached out and placed a supportive hand over his. She didn't speak. She didn't have to. The touch alone conveyed everything.
"I'm glad I didn't miss the cake-cutting part," Poseidon said, looking around with a calm smile. "Although I'm a bit disappointed I missed you blowing out your candle."
Sally, now slicing the cake into even pieces, handed out plates with a practiced grace. Meanwhile, Annabeth subtly whispered to the air beside her, "Distract him."
Almost instantly, her four spirits—Lucerna, Nox, Aerarius, and Nebula—fluttered toward Lucian and perched themselves on his legs. Nox and Lucerna immediately started bickering, and Aerarius curled into his stomach. Lucian, distracted now, blinked in mild exasperation and let out a small, faint smile.
He began to cut tiny pieces of his slice and fed them to each spirit, making sure no one was left out. The sight was oddly wholesome.
Annabeth sighed in quiet relief. 'Crisis averted… and new photo album entry saved!' she thought gleefully, secretly snapping photos of Lucian gently feeding the spirits from his plate.
'AHHHHHH! Stupid Lucian and his stupid rule of waiting until we're older! Take me now!' she screamed internally, her face a shade redder than usual.
Poseidon glanced around at the group and nodded with appreciation. "I didn't expect to see so many of you here today. It's honestly a pleasant surprise. Thank you… for being there for my son."
There were a few murmurs of modest acknowledgment. Slowly, the atmosphere began to relax as everyone grew more comfortable around Poseidon.
After a few moments of idle chatting and teasing, Poseidon clapped his hands together, looking at Percy. "So! Should we start with the presents? I want to see what the others got you first, so I can figure out what kind of gift you'd actually like."
"Uh, sure…" Percy replied with a sheepish smile. He could see how hard Poseidon was trying to be involved, and despite the awkwardness, he appreciated it.
Percy reached for the first gift, handed to him by Lucian. It was a simple box, unassuming in appearance. He opened the lid and blinked in confusion as he examined the contents: a few silvery-white hairs, a small vial of crimson liquid, and several white, iridescent feathers.
Lucian, not even looking up from the now-sleeping pile of spirits on his lap, said calmly, "Percy developed a hobby of collecting rare monster parts after our last quest. Think of this as an expansion kit. I'm his sponsor now."
Poseidon raised an eyebrow and looked at his son. "Monster parts? Seriously?"
But Percy's eyes widened in realization. He immediately recognized the components—exactly what he needed for his next potion. He had no idea how he was going to get them… until now.
"Yeah," Percy said, a genuine smile forming. "You could say that. Thanks, Lu. This is perfect."
Lucian lifted a hand and gave him a lazy thumbs up, still tending to his dozing spirit companions that have fallen asleep after getting full.
"Open mine next!" Annabeth chimed in, clearly proud of her contribution. She handed Percy a small, rectangular box with a neat ribbon on top.
Opening it, Percy found a pair of sleek, sea-green glasses. The tint shimmered slightly under the light.
"Are these—?"
"Yup," Annabeth said, unable to hide her smugness. "Enchanted glasses to help with your dyslexia. You're welcome."
"Awesome!" Percy grinned and immediately tried them on. "I've always wanted a pair like Lucian's!"
He looked around. "Alright, be honest. How do I look?"
"Like a total dork,"
"Four-eyes,"
"Pfttt—HAHAHA!"
"Someone's clearly feeling themselves,"
"Like you're trying way too hard to be cool,"
"Maybe… wear them only on special occasions,"
"YOU GUYS SUCK!" Percy groaned, ripping the glasses off his face.
The room erupted with laughter, and even Poseidon chuckled.
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