My Older Brother is Loki, Figuratively

9

Percy POV, somewhere in Manhattan: 

Annabeth went back to her school Sunday night, leaving me alone and cold. I know that everyone says that boys are the ones who radiate all the heat, but maybe it's reverse in my relationship. I have that problem where I get used to my girlfriend sleeping next to me even if its for two nights every week or so.

I managed to get my job at the aquarium back with the help of Chiron. I never told him why I quit, nor did he ask me. And even though I technically wasn't supposed to work there because of my new job, they said I was just a consultant. Annabeth and I looked up Tony Stark was Iron Man while running a whole ass company before handing it off to his fiancé. I figured I could still work for the aquarium where I knew I would get paid. 

The last bell rang at school and I threw on all of my skate boarding stuff. I took off towards Central Park, earbuds blasting the very best of Imagine Dragons, and my backpack clipped around my waist so it wouldn't fall off. I swerved in and out of the people walking on the sidewalk. It seemed that four in the afternoon was one of the busiest times for people these days.

I skated up to the entrance of the aquarium and popped my board up. Walking inside, I was dropped into a sea of chattering voices, all of them saying 'the prince is back!' on repeat. I smiled with the secret that only I could speak to them. Most of my coworkers were pissed off that I could get them to do tricks on command, even the ones who were never meant to be trained. I paused to stuff my sweatshirt in my backpack to reveal my blue aquarium uniform over one of my grey long sleeved shirts.

"Yo Jackson! I had a feeling you'd be back so I kept your nametag." My friend, and coworker, Shaya said grinning. He held up a small golden nametag in his hand.

"Thanks man." I said taking it from him and giving him a fistbump in greeting.I immediately pinned it to the shirt.

"You're on dolphin duty today, and boy are we glad to have you. Since you quit, they've been freaking out and refusing to perform their show."

"I'll take care of it." I said, following Shaya to the dolphin tank. Aurora and Fin were swimming in circles as if they were bored. They quickly swam over when they saw me approach them.

"Hey guys. I heard you're refusing to perform for the visitors. I thought we agreed that because you can't be in the ocean with your kin, that you would make my dad proud that you're representing dolphins on land." I said quietly.

'That was before you left us!' Fin said in defense.

"I know and I'm sorry I did, but I'm back now."

'Will you be the one giving us treats then? The others don't give us enough incentive.' Aurora said. I chuckled at her complaint. 

"Yes. They put me on your guy's rotation today." Aurora and Fin did happy flips in the water. Shaya shook his head in bewilderment.

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When I got home, I peeled off everything and sat on my bed in a pair of boxers, trying to read and take notes on an article my mom had managed to convince my dad to translate into ancient Greek. Since the Second Giant War, my dad has been trying to spend more time with me. I guess it's because I'm his only human son. I had to laugh every time Jason called me up to complain about his dad popping by the camps to see his progress. I guess Jupiter was taking after my dad's paternal instincts. Though I did feel bad about the rest of the demigods who have so many siblings that their parent couldn't visit without making it look like favorites.

On Monday evening, my dad came over for dinner, which was when my mom convinced him to translate the article for me. I had to talk to him about what I had gotten myself into. It was awkward to say the least. I don't think Paul registered the fact that my dad still held a candle for my mom. I didn't mind as long as he didn't mess things up between mom and Paul. They were going to get married soon. Spring wedding next month. But my dad managed to keep things platonic by focusing on me.

I got so engrossed with the article, it was about the Civil War and surprisingly very interesting, that I didn't notice anything happening around me.

"Do you always chew your pencils and study like that?" I jumped at the sound of Loki's voice in my room. All my books and papers on my bed became a jumbled mess as I scrambled to put something on.

Loki was standing in my room observing everything that was going on. I threw a shirt and a pair of pants on before turning to glare at him. All he did was smile with mischief.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him. Last I heard from Nick Fury was that Loki was technically a prisoner and not allowed anywhere.

"Didn't you hear? That director assigned me to be your guardian of sorts." As he spoke, the Norse god morphed into a teenage boy a bit older than me. My jaw dropped.