Secrets

His attempt at humor did not work, Percy knew. He could hear his own bitterness in the way he spat out the phrase 'bastard kids.' Then again, he was indeed bitter about his heritage, or rather what was entangled with it. The reasons why he was torn from his loved ones. Why they were torn apart. Why he was torn apart himself, into so many shreds. He then realized how stupid he had been. What difference would it make that Hermione was a witch and knew of magic?

Learning the truth will endanger her - and consequently the relationship between them - the same. Yes, he would hurt her. She had just learned to trust him, and he was about to throw that trust away. Still, a broken heart was better than a non-beating one. Percy wanti to end this on his term, an acceptable term for both him and Hermione, before he tore her apart as well.

"You know what? Today's not the day for the beach. The wind is blowing really hard right now, and I think we might get caught in a really bad storm if we stayed any longer. Why don't we just go home?"

And a lot of what he said was true. The wind was nearly howling as it whipped through the streets and different objects outside tumbled down the road in chaos. Percy could feel the heavy moisture condensing above them. It was definitely going to rain soon. He wondered briefly as to whether the brewing storm was influenced in any way by Zeus or Poseidon.

The former could have heard the 'bastard kid' comment and was now angered, and the latter could be simply trying to help Percy accidentally show his increasing abilities in front of Hermione. Neither mattered much at this point.

Hermione was remorseful. She did not think Percy's secret to be so terribly heartbreaking. Her much earlier comment about how his life seemed to resemble that of TV shows now felt very careless, and it must have wounded Percy, Hermione thought. She felt shameful of herself to have pried into his life like this.

The shame was still there, in fact, because even now her curiosity had not died away. Though Hermione was sorry, she was so very curious as to what made Percy's involvement in his family that dangerous. Did she have to reconsider her choice in man? Was Percy a member of mafia or of its sort? The cruel shadow of her own history with Death Eaters and their supporters resurfaced in her head, and she struggled to keep it away from affecting her.

Raising her head, Hermione watched Percy's fingers twitch on the table, not quite grasping the fork but also not quite leaving it alone. His eyes were fixed on the ketchup bottle in the middle, and Hermione caught a smell of ocean once again. She realized how it resembled the air outside, the salty breeze of Brighton, but Percy's scent was much more raw, untamed.

That was when she noticed it. A prickle and another. Then another. Soon, her whole body tingled with the sensation of something she was most familiar with: magic, and it was erupting from the man before her.

The humidity in the air was revolving around him like tides, and the force that revolved them was just simply there in front of her, sitting unawares, expecting her opinion for his previous suggestion. Or was he really unaware? Her old paranoia prodded again. Stop. Stop. Percy had more than proven himself a good man. I will not give into these doubts. Hermione told herself, scolding her weakness. She tried a little smile.

"That sounds good. But let's finish our food before we leave. We paid for them, after all. Afterwards, I can Apparate us out of here in seconds."

Percy cringed but nodded. "That could help, but I gotta say, I'm not looking forward to Apparating."

It made Hermione giggle a little bit. "It does take a while for one to get used to it." In her small fit of giggle she missed how Percy's face darkened a little at the mention of 'a while.'

"Where should we go? We still have the whole afternoon to ourselves." Hermione asked as they stepped out of the pub. The wind was gentler now but nonetheless bitingly cold. Percy wrapped his arm around Hermione, and they both began to walk back up Queens Road.

"I don't know, honestly. It's my first time in England. And I mean, to be really here, you know, to enjoy being here. Do you have any recommendations?" Percy replied.

Hermione pondered for a moment before looking up to face him and answered, "Well, have you been to the National Gallery? It's got all kinds of things around it, and we could easily hop around from a place to another. Albeit there are going to be tourists."

His hair ruffling by the breeze, Percy looked down and smiled with much fondness. "I haven't been to the National Gallery. Let's go there."

"Well, then," Remarked Hermione cheerfully, glad to put the previous gloomy conversation behind them, "let's find a place where we can Apparate without being seen!"

Percy nodded to her suggestion but very soon tensed up by her side. Questioningly, she looked up and found him grimacing again.

"What's wrong?"

He groaned a bit in response, "Just a bit of stomachache. Must be that burger. Do you mind if I stopped by the bathroom?"

Instantly Hermione's brows knitted together in concern.

"Of course, I'll look for a place we can Apparate. Take your time."

So they entered the Brighton station, and Hermione watched as Percy briskly walked away and disappeared around a corner before she herself began to search a good spot for discreet Apparition.

"Father." Percy bowed.

The sea god, his hair rippling like black stream and eyes glistening with the depth of ocean, nodded in acceptance of the address. He stood tiredly, one leg carrying more weight than the other. His lips were angled down wearily as well.

"Percy, I thought today was the day." He began. "What's happening, son?"

Averting his father's stare, Percy pursed his lips rigidly.

Poseidon sighed. "Don't tell me you're doing it again."

"Do what?" Percy asked, his eyes fleetingly looking up before diving down again.

"Blaming yourself. You've done it with Annabeth, your mother, and now her. Percy, you have to know they weren't your fault."

"Could very well be," Percy muttered. He paused for a while before continuing, "Sometimes I wonder why I had even been born."

At that, Poseidon's eyes flared up, "Don't you dare go that length! You are a treasured child of mine, of your mother's."

"And I'm grateful that I received such treatment from you, unlike many others, but I do doubt whether the cost of being your son is worth it all. You know the Fates will never leave me alone."

The last remark left Poseidon speechless, not so much from shock or anger, but from helplessness and defeat, as it was the truth. Fates would indeed never leave Perseus Jackson alone. Ever. Percy only bobbed his head at the following silence. Wordlessly, he bowed farewell to his father and left their corner, back to Hermione.

When Percy returned, he looked worn out. Hermione assumed that the burger he ate must have gotten him very badly. He still offered her a loving smile, and she returned it with the same kind of affection. She grabbed his arm as he approached near.

"You look awfully tired. Still sure you want to go to the Gallery?"

Percy nodded slightly, "yeah, I'm sure. Did you find a spot?"

"I did! Come on, over here!"

Hermione grinned excitedly as she tugged Percy toward the said spot, and Percy, chuckling, followed.

After the show at the gallery the evening was wrapping up they decided to walk around the city a little. Hand in hand they walked in silence for the most part, giving Percy time to think about his visit with his father. It was nice seeing him again, he still didn't know what to do about becoming a god but regardless it would mean his entire world be changing.

Percy was interrupted from his thoughts when he saw a small bodega and he dashed inside with Hermione running in after him.

"What do you like to drink?" He questioned grabbing a coke from the small fridge.

"I don't know." She replied still stunned by his actions. Rolling his eyes he asked again what her favorite drink was.

"Why do you want to know so badly?"

"Please just tell me" His lips formed a pout and his eyes widened a bit, he looked like an adorable baby sealion, she sighed grinning.

"Well, my favorite drink is only sold in the magical world. It's called 'Butter beer' But I'd settle for a Coke"

He gave her a lopsided grin "Butter Beer?" his face scrunched up a little at the name. After a few it returned to normal before grabbing a second can from the fridge then going over to the cashier and handing him a pound and a bit of change.

Hermione giggled at him "It's better than it sounds." She said cracking her fizzy drink open.

"We should try it later, maybe with Harry and Ginny" she said before taking a small drink.

"I would like that" He said giving her a sly grin before grabbing her waist and turning her towards himself, giving her a deep kiss he tasted the lingering flavor of the coke.

He had been looking for the right words to tell her about his pending godhood... but he had a hard time wrapping his head around the idea himself let alone telling her. Damn, here goes nothing...