A week later, Theo was sitting on the sidelines again. He wasn't even holding a weapon; he was just watching.
He wasn't allowed to hold weapons anymore.
Not that he cared, though.
He actually preferred it this way. It was much safer sitting on the grass, watching everyone else run around and swing their swords.
No risk of getting hit, no risk of embarrassing himself, and honestly? It was way more entertaining than actually fighting.
'Look at them go. Clang clang clang. So much noise. So much effort. Meanwhile, I'm over here, safe, sound, and weaponless. Perfect strategy.'
Theo leaned back, crossing his ankles comfortably.
Yeah, being benched was fine by him. He had the best seat in the house.
Meanwhile, Percy was in the middle of the arena, sparring with someone.
'Oh, look at Percy, go! Spin! Slash! Wow, very dramatic. You're gonna trip over your own sword one day, dude. Also, stop showing off, Annabeth isn't even watching right now. Look left! No, your right!'
Percy literally stumbled mid-swing, nearly taking off his sparring partner's head. He felt his face go red. He wasn't showing off!
"Whoa, Jackson! Watch it!" the camper yelled.
"Sorry! Reflexes!" Percy shouted back, glancing over at Theo. The boy just raised an eyebrow slowly, took a bite of an apple, and looked away innocently.
'Smooth. Real smooth. ADHD really said zoom zoom today. It's okay, we all have our moments.'
Percy let out a quiet breath. It was nice, actually. Usually, everyone expected him to be the big hero, to be perfect all the time.
But in Theo's head, he was just... Awkward teenager. A guy who made mistakes and tripped over his own feet. It made him feel more normal.
Though, sometimes he was called "main character" and super distracting.
That evening, Percy found himself sitting near the lake, the cool water lapping gently at the shore. A short distance away, Theo lay sprawled on the soft grass, his gaze lost among the thousands of stars twinkling above.
Other campers were scattered around them, each lost in their own thoughts or quiet conversations.
The camp was unusually still tonight, wrapped in a rare, soothing silence.
Just the calm rhythm of the night.
A fleeting, precious moment where everything felt right. For once, no quest, no world-ending prophecy, and no giants waking up from sleeping too long.
It was quiet, even just for a moment.
'It's so peaceful here... beautiful, really,' the voice echoed softly in Percy's mind, 'I was terrified at first, thought I'd fail or get eaten. But it's not bad at all. Everyone tries so hard, even Percy with his clueless moments. They're good people. I'm just glad to be here, witness all of it.'
Percy felt a warmth in his chest; it wasn't just from the thought; it was a realization.
He wasn't the son of Poseidon, or the hero of Olympus right now. He was just... Percy. And sitting there, listening to the chaotic but sincere thoughts of Theo.
He looked over at said boy, who was still staring up at the stars, looking surprisingly peaceful for someone who usually thought like he'd rather be anywhere else.
'Also, wait a second,' Theo's voice piped up again in his mind, sounding genuinely confused. 'Shouldn't Percy and Annabeth already be dating?'
Percy scratched the back of his neck, looking a little sheepish.
Truth be told, ever since he discovered he could hear Theo's running commentary in his head, his brain had been occupied with something else entirely.
He'd been so busy purposely hanging around the boy, trying to catch his next thoughts, that he hadn't even thought about asking Annabeth about their relationship.
'Dude! She obviously likes you! And you like her, I promise she doesn't bite! Well... okay, maybe she does if you're being annoying, but still!'
Percy chuckled softly, shaking his head.
He decided he would keep this secret for the meantime. He wouldn't confront him, yet.
It was nice having someone loud around in your head when the world is silent and suffocating.
Percy looked at the distance between him and Theo, and felt a sudden urge.
He wanted to say something. He wanted to actually talk, properly. Not just listen in secret. He wanted to become friends with him.
So he did.
Following his impulse, he got up and walked towards the boy sprawled on the soft grass.
"Hello!" He called out, injecting every ounce of brightness and cheer he could muster into the single word, making it sound warm, welcoming, and undeniably friendly.
Theo's eyes snapped open.
His whole body froze for a split second, like a deer caught in headlights, before he schooled his face back into that bored, unbothered expression.
He slowly turned his head to look at Percy standing right there.
'Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods! Why is he talking to me?! I didn't do anything that would make him notice me! I stay on the sidelines! What did I do?!'
Percy stopped right in front of him, hands in his pockets. "Hey. Mind if I join you?"
Theo blinked rapidly.
'No! I mind very much! Please go away! I am busy! I am doing important nothing! I am a background character, NPC number 459. Do not interact.'
But outwardly, Theo just shrugged lazily, trying to look cool.
"Uh... sure. Whatever."
'Act natural. Be a rock. Be invisible. Just be boring and he'll leave.'
Percy sat down cross-legged next to him, grinning. "Nice night, huh?"
Theo turned his head back to the stars, avoiding eye contact.
"Yeah. It's... dark."
'Generic answer. Good. Boring answer. He hates boring. He'll leave now.'
Percy just smiled, leaning back on his hands.
'Okay, he's not leaving,' Theo panicked internally. 'Why is he not leaving?! Does he want something? I swear if he asks me to go on a quest I will fake my death.'
He stayed perfectly still, radiating vibes of 'I am very tired and want to sleep', hoping Percy would take the hint.
Percy opened his mouth, ready to drop a conversation starter that was definitely cool and definitely not awkward.
He was going to ask about the stars, or the weather, or literally anything that didn't involve monsters or prophecies. Just normal people talk.
But before Percy could even make a single sound, Theo's internal panic seemed to physically manifest.
His brain was basically waving red flags and sounding air raid sirens.
'Oh no. Oh no no no. He's opening his mouth. He's gonna say words. He's gonna make conversation. I can't do conversation! My social battery is at 1%! I need to exit the stage now!'
Theo shot up from the grass so fast it looked like he was being pulled by invisible strings.
He brushed off his clothes with aggressive efficiency, as if the very blades of grass were contaminated.
He gave Percy a polite, distant nod.
"Well, I need to go, good night," Theo mumbled quickly, his voice an octave higher than usual, already turning on his heel.
He didn't wait for a reply. He practically speed-walked back toward the cabins, his posture stiff like he was escaping a monster attack rather than a friendly chat.
'Goodnight, Main Character. Sleep well. And stay on your side of the camp, please.'
Percy sat there, mouth slightly open, watching the retreating figure speed-walk into the distance. He blinked once, twice, and then a slow, lopsided grin spread across his face.
He let out a short laugh, shaking his head.
"Wow," he whispered to the empty air. "Rude."
Percy was now really enjoying every second of it. He could practically hear the alarm bells ringing in Theo's head.
'He runs faster when he's panicking than when he's training,' Percy noted amusedly. 'Note to self: Theo is a flight risk.'
Watching him walk away, Percy lay back on the soft grass, crossed his arms behind his head, and stared up at the stars.
A small smirk forming on his face.
Challenge accepted.
The next morning.
If Theo wanted to keep his distance, thinking he could just hide in the background like an extra in a movie, he didn't know what was coming for him.
And sure enough, right after breakfast, Percy found his target.
Theo was sitting under his usual tree, leaning against the trunk with his eyes closed, seemingly trying to recharge his social battery before the day even started.
'Peace and quiet. Just what I needed. No drama, no monsters, no heroes...'
"Morning!"
Theo jumped slightly as Percy plopped down right next to him, practically invading his personal space bubble.
Theo opened one eye, looking unimpressed.
'Oh no. Jesus Christ! Why? Why are you here? Go annoy Annabeth! Or go to your best friend Grover! Do anything but sit here!'
"Nice weather, huh?" Percy said cheerfully, pulling out a sandwich.
Theo sighed internally.
'Okay, don't panic. If I ignore him, he'll get bored and leave. Just... don't make eye contact. Pretend to be asleep.'
Theo closed his eyes again, leaning his head back.
Percy just smiled, took a bite, and waited. He had all day.
Later that day, during weapon practice, Theo was sitting on the sidelines, sneakily munching suspiciously honey-flavored cookies.
'Okay, nice charge, but predictable. Percy is gonna disarm you in 3... 2... 1... There it is! Boom! Owned again. Poor Ares cabin, never learns,' Theo thought amusedly.
Clang!
Percy indeed disarmed his sparring partner in one move. But instead of celebrating, Percy's eyes immediately darted to where the kid was sitting.
Theo was nodding to himself, looking proud. 'My boy is improving. Maybe I should name myself his guardian angel. Though I do nothing. But still.'
Percy marched over towards him. Theo didn't move, just continued eating.
'Oh no, he's coming this way. Act natural. Don't look suspicious. Just a normal guy eating a cookie.'
Percy stopped right in front of him and sat down firmly right beside him. "Hey."
"Hey," Theo replied casually, lifting his gaze.
'You are doing this on purpose, aren't you!? Please, stop it! Go bother with your supposed girlfriend. I am a background character, NPC 459!'
Percy suppressed a grin. 'What's up with NPC number 459?' he mused internally.
"Not in the mood to talk today?" Percy asked casually, his eyes drifting curiously toward the golden cookies resting beside him.
'I am talking to myself, thank you very much!' Theo thought intensely, finally turning to look at Percy with a strained, forced smile. "I'm just tired, Jackson."
'See? Polite but distant. Professional distance maintained. Good job, me,' Theo praised himself.
Percy's smile turned downright mischievous.
His eyes locked onto the golden treats like a shark locking onto its prey.
He leaned in even closer, completely ignoring the "professional distance" sign Theo was mentally holding up.
"Can I have your cookies?"
"No," Theo immediately replied.
"Come on, Theo," Percy drawled, his voice dropping to that persuasive, charming tone he usually used to get what he wants, "Just one, let me taste it. They smell amazing. Like actual sunshine and nectar."
'He knows my name! He actually knows my name! Wait, no, focus! The cookies!'
"I said no, Jackson," Theo repeated firmly, though his heart did a weird little flip when Percy looked at him like that.
"Please?" Percy blinked, putting on his best kicked-puppy expression. "I'm starving. I haven't eaten all day. I'm literally wasting away here."
'Liar! I saw you devour your food hours ago!' Theo screamed in his mind.
"I didn't spend hours begging dryads to bake them just to feed you," Theo said quickly, clutching the cookie pouch like it was the Golden Fleece itself. "Besides, you might not like its taste. Wouldn't want that, would we?"
'I am a genius. Perfect excuse. Now retreat, retreat!'
"We won't know until I taste it, right?" Percy pouted, actually pouted, looking like a kicked puppy. "I'm hungry. And you have, like, seven of them. Sharing is caring, man."
"They are not for you!" Theo stressed, clutching the box tighter.
"I'll be your best friend then," Percy offered.
"No."
"I'll do your chores?"
'Tempting, but...' Theo felt his resolve wavering. But then he thought about his special cookies. "No!"
"I'll owe you a favor. A big one." Percy bargained, leaning forward even more, practically invading his personal space entirely.
"Still no!"
Percy sighed dramatically, then suddenly clasped his hands together in front of his chest, jutting out his lower lip. "Come on. I'm begging you nicely here. I'm throwing my dignity out the window just for a taste! Have a heart!"
"It doesn't matter how much you beg!" Theo squeaked, hugging the box to his chest. "It's strictly not allowed! These are my favorites! You can't have any!"
Without giving Percy a chance to pull out the 'waterworks' or something worse, Theo scrambled backward, and standing up abruptly.
"Stay there!" he ordered, pointing a finger. "Don't you dare follow me! These are for me, not for your stomach!"
And with that, Theo turned and practically sprinted away, saving the precious cookies from the hungry shark in front of him.
Leaving Percy standing there, he chuckled as he watched the retreating figure.
"See you later, Theo!" Percy called out. He whispered silently to himself, 'See you later, NPC 459.'
Theo stumbled slightly but didn't look back.
It's fine, because Percy is nothing but stubborn.
Later that afternoon, Theo was trying to enjoy some peace and quiet in a secluded part of the woods.
He had a book (a Muggle book that Hermes campers had smuggled in) and was just chilling.
'Finally. Peace. Away from the protagonist energy. Honestly, Percy is like a black hole. If you get too close, you'll get devoured. Not today, Satan,' Theo thought comfortably.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him.
Theo didn't even need to look up. He sighed deeply. 'Of course it's him. Does this guy have a tracking chip in me? Does Poseidon control air currents too? Go away!'
"Nice book," Percy said, sitting down cross-legged right in front of him, blocking the sun. "What's it about?"
Theo closed his eyes. 'It's about a main character who leaves innocent people alone! That's what it's about! Can you please leave this poor kid alone?!'
"It's... just a story," Theo muttered, not looking at him.
"Cool. Can I read it with you?" Percy asked innocently, his head tilted slightly, an easy smile playing on his lips.
Theo's brain short-circuited. 'This is Forced Coercion, I am being bullied by the protagonist. This is abuse of power. I am reporting this to the camp director. Where is Dionysus when you need him?!'
"Uh... it's not really your type of book, Percy," Theo tried to deflect, hoping his tone conveyed a subtle warning.
"That's okay," Percy said, smoothly leaning back against the tree trunk, already settling in as if he belonged there. "I don't mind. I'll just hang out here. It's quiet."
'It's not quiet for me! You are sitting right next to my peace!' Theo wanted to scream out loud, but he just gritted his teeth.
He considered every possible escape route: feigning a sudden illness, pretending to be called by Chiron, even attempting to phase through the tree trunk like a confused ghost.
None seemed plausible, or at least, none seemed worth the effort of explaining to a completely oblivious Percy.
He glanced at Percy, who was now humming tunelessly, occasionally tapping his foot against the forest floor.
Percy wasn't even trying to talk to him, oblivious as ever, just settled deeper, a comfortable weight against the tree.
And, he was just... there.
Theo sighed, a long, defeated sound that went unheard by the demigod beside him.
He turned back to his book, but the words still blurred, his eyes scanning the same paragraph for the fifth time, none of the words truly sinking in.
But maybe, a tiny, grudging part of him admitted, a little bit of company wasn't the absolute worst thing in the world. As long as Percy didn't ask him to go on a quest. Or share his book.
He knew, with a sinking feeling in his gut, that his quiet afternoon was officially over.