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Percy loved the beach.
The soft white sand, the sound of waves crashing together, the warm sun soaking in your skin, the beach was perfect. It was his favorite place to go in the summer.
And here he was.
He sat in the middle row of the car squished between Hazel, Bianca, and Nico. Yes, that’s right, four people crammed in the backseat of a car that was supposed only to hold three people. It didn’t help that Hazel was hunched over, her face flushed and moaning about a stomachache. Bianca didn’t look too good either. She was frowning, covering her face with the sunhat she was wearing. Percy wasn’t quite sure why she was wearing the hat inside of the car but he didn’t want to ask her. Nico sat on the edge, basically on Bianca’s lap, and he stared out the window with a stoic look on his face.
Thalia was driving and Jason sat in the passenger seat. He didn’t know how lucky he was.
Thalia drove about thirty miles over the speed limit as they headed toward the beach.
They arrived at the beach and Percy felt like he could finally breathe again. It felt nice to not be stuck in a human sandwich with his cousins.
“I don’t feel well…” Hazel mumbled as she stepped out of the car. She trembled like a leaf and Bianca wrapped an arm around her.
Bianca rubbed her shoulder reassuringly, “It’ll be okay, Hazel. You can just stay on the sand and stay with me, it’s better than the yucky ocean!”
“I love the ocean,” Percy smiled. He took off his shirt and then stretched, now wearing only his green swim trunks.
Thalia walked past him and shoved him playfully, “Yeah, we know. Don’t get a boner over it.”
“What’s a-“
“Whoever is asking that. Don’t.” Thalia cut them off and made her way toward the sand. The rest followed suit. Jason carried his chair and towel, Percy carried his towel and the cooler filled with drinks, and Nico being the big, strong man he was carried his stuff and his sisters’.
They walked in silence before Nico spoke up, “Okay, I’ll ask. Why are we at the beach if no one besides Percy likes the beach?”
“You’re saying that as if you don’t know how annoying Percy can be,” Thalia remarked. Percy let out an offended scoff.
“Plus, I wanted to take cute pictures,” Bianca chimed in with a smile. She held up her pale-green Polaroid, “Like with the sea and rocks in the background. It’ll be cute!”
“I want to get a tan,” Jason said, looking up toward the sky.
Nico snickered, “A tan or a sunburn?”
“A tan,” Jason pouted, glaring over his shoulder at Nico.
The group of six found a spot on the beach and set up. They brought a huge blanket for everyone to lay on, a cooler, a basket for snacks, a beach ball, a net, and some umbrellas. Percy and Thalia did most of the setting up while Jason and Nico watched. Hazel and Bianca were off trying to figure out how to use Bianca’s new Polaroid.
Hazel posed, her purple sundress with flowers blowing in the wind. Bianca pursed her lips, “Move your hands to your lap. And look toward the sea, somewhat dreamily.”
The younger girl tried to follow those directions. She put her hands in her lap, gripping her thighs weirdly, and her foot stance seemed twisted in the sand. She squinted at the camera instead of the sea and raised her eyebrows.
Bianca made a face, “Why are you standing like that?”
“Like what?” Hazel asked innocently.
The older girl shook her head, “Never mind, are you sure that’s how you want to pose?”
“Yeah!” Hazel smiled, her gold eyes seemed to shine in the sunlight, “Now take the picture, please.”
Bianca sighed and positioned herself, trying to get a good angle. Once she was satisfied she snapped the photo. It printed from the bottom and Bianca held it delicately in her hands and smiled. Even if she was standing weird, her sister looked so pretty with her dark curls with golden highlights, and her purple sundress that flowed perfectly in the wind.
Hazel ran up to her excitedly, leaning over, “I wanna see the photo!”
Bianca reached out her hand to give the photo to Hazel, but the wind picked up and the small picture blew straight out of her grip. It flew in the wind all the way to the ocean where it fell into the water.
Both girls stared, stunned and confused.
“It’s… Okay…” Bianca said, her voice sounded spaced, “Let’s just take another one.”
Hazel went back to her spot and posed even weirder. Bianca raised an eyebrow but didn’t question it. She snapped the photo and it printed. The black-haired girl made sure to have an extra tight grip on the photo this time.
She reached out to give it to Hazel, who dropped the photo and it flew into the water again.
“Third time's the charm?” Bianca suggested. Hazel nodded and got back into positron. Every time she posed it got weirder. Bianca wasn’t sure how she was capable of doing that.
She snapped the photo and it printed. She gave it to Hazel, who successfully held it. Hazel looked at the photo and smiled, “It looks so good!”
“Hey guys!” Jason approached the two quite loudly, smiling cheerfully. He clapped the both of them on the back which startled the two, causing Hazel to drop the photo in surprise.
The sisters stood defeated as they watched the photo blow into the ocean. Jason stood confused and guilty.
“Jason! Come over here, bro!” Percy called. Jason came over and tilted his head like a puppy. The older boy held up a bottle of sunscreen and pointed, “Don’t want you getting burned.”
“Oh! Right, thanks, bro. Want me to call over Bianca and Hazel too?” Jason asked, pointing to the girls.
Percy bit back a smile, “Nah. Nico or Thalia can do them. Now lay down, let me get your back while you sunbathe.”
Jason laid down and let Percy apply the sunscreen on him. It felt nice to have the cool sensation against his skin. He swore he could hear Percy snickering behind his back, but Jason didn’t pay any attention to it.
“Okay! You’re all set. Gonna go in the ocean, bye!” Percy stood up and stretched, giving Jason a smile before racing off. He went over to Thalia and Nico who were having a conversation about whatever, Percy didn’t care. He grabbed both of their arms, “To the ocean!”
“No,” Nico shook his head. He glared at Percy, “I’m not going in there.”
“To the ocean!” Percy cheered, picking up Nico and slugging him over his shoulder. Nico squealed, kicking his feet in anger. Thalia snickered at the sight, he looked like a little kid who didn’t want to go to school.
Percy jumped right into the waves, rushing toward the deep end. Nico fell off his shoulder, falling in the shallow end and right onto the pebbles and seashells. Thalia trekked more carefully, not being the biggest fan of the waves. She watched as Nico drowned in the shallowest part of the water. She wasn’t sure how that was possible.
Thalia turned to see Percy already far out in the ocean. Farther than anyone else was. He splashed around like an idiot, but at least he was having fun, unlike someone.
Nico was still drowning.
Percy looked over at Thalia, his sea-green eyes shining brightly, “Let’s have a water fight! Three, two, one, go!”
He splashed a huge wave at Thalia that knocked her over. Thalia looked up, her eyes wide. She cracked a grin, “You’re on!”
She didn’t even splash him, she pushed him under the water. He popped back up, hacking up his lungs. The saltwater burned in his chest. He relentlessly splashed Thalia in the face, making it hard for her to take a breath.
Thalia splashed back but the water didn’t seem to bother Percy. The boy turned around and saw Nico still drowning in shallow water. How was he doing that?
Percy swam over to Nico and picked him up. The younger boy coughed violently, shaking as he struggled to regain his strength. He had a nasty cut on his forehead from probably a rock or seashell. Percy gasped, “Nico! What happened to you?”
“I- I…” Nico struggled, feeling extremely weak.
“I think you need a little taste of the ocean,” Percy smirked. He threw Nico into the deeper part of the sea.
Thalia gasped as she watched Nico flail around and then eventually sink, “Percy… I don’t think he can swim.”
“Skill issue.”
Meanwhile, Hazel and Bianca were still trying to take photos.
“Okay, now take photos of me,” Bianca requested, giving the camera to Hazel. The younger girl nodded excitedly. Bianca took steps back and posted, her braided hair flowing in the wind as she held onto her hat.
Hazel snapped the photo, “Okay! What do you think?”
The older girl looked at the photo. She frowned, looking at Hazel, confused, “Your thumb is in the frame.”
“It is?” Hazel looked at it. To her horror, her thumb was covering half of the photo. She frowned, “I’m so sorry, Bianca! Here, let me take another one.”
“It’s okay, Hazel. Just be mindful of where you’re placing your hands,” Bianca smiling reassuringly at her. She then got back into position, posing for the camera. Hazel snapped the photo and it printed. Bianca rushed over to see the result and then frowned, “Hazel…”
“I’m so sorry! I-”
“Hazel, Bianca, we’re going to go get ice cream now. C’mon!” Percy waved them over. Bianca sighed and muttered something under her breath. The two girls joined Percy (who was carrying Nico on his back), Thalia, and Jason who was already turning red.
They walked over to the boardwalk where there were rides, games, and booths filled with overpriced food. The group made their way over to the ice cream spot. Jason offered to pay because he felt on top of the world with the new job he had just gotten. It was nothing special, only working at a local Wendy’s. Jason liked Wendy’s.
“I’ll have six cones, please. One vanilla, one vanilla with chocolate sprinkles, one mint chocolate chip, one rocky road, one chocolate, and one cookie and cream.”
“That’ll be $54.”
“What the fuck,” Thalia muttered behind Jason’s back. Jason happily paid the seller, not even realizing how overpriced the ice cream was. He was handed the ice cream and then distributed the cones to each person.
They made their way back to their spot on the sand and ate their ice cream. Percy kept throwing bits of his at Jason, just to annoy him. Thalia was practically done with hers after three minutes. Nico was having a fun time eating his plain, vanilla ice cream. He deserved it after being tossed around by Percy all day!
That was until he dropped his cone.
The group stared at the cone.
“It’s okay, you can have mine. I’m feeling a little queasy anyway!” Bianca offered with a smile on her face. Nico thanked her and then began eating her ice cream. He didn’t notice her hurt stare.
That was until he accidentally dropped the ice cream. Again.
“...It’s okay! Here, have mine,” Hazel offered, handing over her cone to Nico.
Nico frowned, “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, are you sure?” Percy snorted, giving up on throwing bits at Jason and just chucking the whole cone in his hair. Jason screamed and desperately tried to get it out but it was too late. The seagulls were coming for him. Everyone ignored his distress and Percy kept talking, “What if he drops that one too?”
“He won’t,” Hazel said, confident.
You’ll never guess what happened.
***
Thalia and Jason entered their house after dropping everyone else back home. Jason put his stuff down on the couch, taking off his shirt that he was wearing, “I call dibs on the shower first!”
The older girl raised an eyebrow, “You might wanna look in the mirror first. Something is on your back.”
Jason, confused, grabbed his stuff and went off into the bathroom. He ran the water and while he waited for it to get hot he checked himself out in the mirror. He had barely tanned, well, he was mainly sunburned. He frowned, he thought Percy put sunscreen on him.
He turned his back and then saw it.
A huge, drawn penis was imprinted on his back. Every part of him was red beside the outline of the penis.
Fucking Percy Jackson.