Part 1 Here! / Part 2 Here! /Part 3 Here! / Part 4 Here! / Part 5 Here! / Part 6 Here! / Part 7 Here! / Part 8 Here! / Part 9...

Part 1 Here! / Part 2 Here! /Part 3 Here! / Part 4 Here! / Part 5 Here! / Part 6 Here! / Part 7 Here! / Part 8 Here! / Part 9 Here! / Part 10 Here! / Part 11 Here! / Part 12 Here! <This is Part 13!>

A/N: any extra validation you guys can provide is appreciated!

* You hold the silky shroud in your hands, your thumb brushing over the embroidered pomegranate.

* “The Ares Cabin really knocked it out of the park with your shroud.” Luke whispers from beside you. His own shroud is just as impressive, wings embroidered into his light blue fabric. Annabeth’s is gray with an owl on it, and Clarisse’s is cool enough to wear as a scarf in New York, it’s totally graffiti style artwork all along her bright red shroud.

* ‘I’m not sure if I should be happy they put so much work into mine, or if I should be offended that they thought I had such little survival skill that I couldn’t make it two weeks on my own.’

* Either way, it feels like a waste to toss it into the fire.

* You watch the others laugh and celebrate, everyone’s here at the campfire where the party is in full swing.

* But the only person you want to talk to isn’t here.

* “Aren’t you supposed to be the god of festivities and alcohol?” He turns from the sound of your feet tapping against the deck. “What are you doing all by yourself?” You ask as you settle beside him.

* Dionysus may be a god, but he looks almost bashful, his bare feet dipped in the cold ocean water, fingers wrapped around a can of Coke.

* “I’m also the god of madness but people prefer to forget that bit.”

* From a god like Circe you would have thought it was a threat, but the sheepish way Dionysus’s feet sway in the water seems about the furthest thing from menacing.

* “Dionysus—“

* “You can just call me Dennis.”

* “—are you here as a punishment?”

* It feels silly to ask. Dionysus, or Dennis as he wants to be called, who cheerfully greets campers, who patiently tells campers which strawberries are ready to be picked, who laughs with so much joy as he sits beside campers making friendship bracelets.

* “I am.” He confirms, a sad smile creeping onto his face as he looks up at the star studded sky. “I know I promised you some answers.” He sighs, for once he has the weary expression of a god.

* “I was once a Demi-god as well.”

* He was born to a mortal royal, Semele who was the princess of Thebes, and Zeus king of the gods—

* “As you know.”

* Semele may have been his biological mother but she had no hand in raising him.

* “Why was that?” You ask, he gives you a half hearted bruh in response.

* “Who can say, some people say that Hera planted seeds of doubt in her mind, others say it was her family, either way the story ends the same—she asked Zeus to show him her true form, and unable to go back on his word he relented, her mortal flesh burning into cinders.”

* “But I never wanted for a mother.”

* He was raised by a revolving round table of goddesses, he spent autumn with Demeter, winter with Hera, and Spring with Persephone.

* “With Persephone?” He nods earnestly.

* “You know Persephone and I, I think we’re only about thirty to forty years apart in age. It felt like spending time with an older sister.”

* ‘Well that explains all those talents he seemed to pick up.’

* “What about summer?”

* “I got traded around a lot in summer, in those days everyone was short handed, some days I would get sent with Ares to induce hysteria into an enemy camp, others I would help Hermes deliver letters, sometimes I’d help Hephaestus with his technology development, and others I’d accompany Hebe to any formal events.”

* You’re starting to notice a certain lack of presence in this boys life from a certain parental figure.

* “I…” he stops, eyebrows threading as he stares at the sky. “I didn’t spend very much time with my father in Olympus, I mostly spent my time in the mortal realm.” He chooses his words carefully, each said with caution.

* “I guess that’s why we came to think so differently on certain matters.”

* Spending so much time in the mortal realm, being half mortal himself, Dionysus found himself seeing mortals as equals, even after he became a god, he found his demigod half-brothers to be true family.

* “And, at the time, I never imagined he would feel any different…we’re all family after all.”

* But Zeus didn’t feel the same way.

* “When I voiced my concerns, that maybe this mentality that a Demi-gods worth — that their sole purpose — is tied to their ability to be a hero…he didn’t take it well.”

* “So you had a political disagreement and he put you here?”

* ‘That seems unnaturally harsh.’

* “Zeus is known for harsh punishments.” Dionysus shrugs.

* “But that’s it? You’re stuck for a lifetime—“

* “Only a millennia.”

* “—in a routine of monotony because you had a disagreement over politics?”

* That seems incredibly harsh, and for what? A basic disagreement over politics that happens in every family.

* “Zeus holds his olympians to a high standard, and he expects absolute perfection and obedience from his children.”

* “Why here though?” Sure summer camp isn’t the most interesting place, and yeah taking care of a bunch of kids must get really annoying, but it’s not the worst place.

* “Because it’s the worst place for me—time and time again I’ll watch god's call upon their children. Watch them be used as mere pawns for power or amusement, and know I can do nothing to stop it.”

* ‘Oh.’

* “I’m not going to say it’s not borderline neglect—”

* ‘It might even be child abuse, I can’t think child protection services would look kindly on four children under the age of 15 crossing the country alone or sleeping in a riverbank all night.’

* “But it wasn’t so bad.”

* You actually enjoyed visiting Circe, and if you can you’d like to go back sometime.

* “They don’t.” He whispers, you feel your eyebrow raise.

* “What?”

* “They don’t usually come back.” He says in a louder firmer voice, his eyes averted. “It’s always just one, maybe two.” His gaze rises to meet yours. “You’re the first time everyone’s come back alive.”

* You’re not sure what to say. Dionysus may feel human but he’s a god, he’s lived hundreds—if not thousands of years, how can you possibly begin to understand the pain he’s felt of watching the same children he cared for get thrown into mortal peril time and time again.

* “I guess now that I’m here we’re going to have to change that.” You know how audacious you sound, you—a twelve year old child, who’s most likely riding the high of surviving their first quest— look like you’re talking nonsense.

* ‘But I’ve done it before, sure my old opponents weren’t as old as the gods, and it mostly required brute strength and technology…but who knows, maybe political drama and strategy can be fun too.’

* You’re expecting to get laughed at, or maybe a patronizing smile, but instead Dionysus looks at you with dazzled eyes, stars glimmering in his eyes, his rosy cheeks darkening.

* “Maybe if it’s you…maybe you can.”

* It’s awfully convenient of him to dump these millennia old problems onto the 12 year old shoulders of a Demigod, but for now you just revel in the fact that he trusts you.

* ‘Looks like I have an ally, now just twelve more to go.’

* The days after seem to fly by in general ease, a handful of campers still seem wary of you, but most of the welcome you now.

* “Hi (Y/N)!”

* “Oh, hi.”

* “Good Morning!”

* “Good…Morning?”

* You ask Luke what’s up with everyone here.

* “Oh them? Clarisse overheard some of them talking about how you probably weren’t coming back and set them straight.”

* So tales of your grand adventures have reached eager ears, huh?

* ‘Though I wouldn’t call sleeping on a River bank and completing chores for Circe a ‘great adventure.’

* It was closer to going to something like visiting your aunt's house for a few weeks during summer vacation.

* You use your newfound popularity to see if any of the kids can help you figure out how to use your magical sorcerer staff.

* The kids from the Hermes cabin tell you to try using it to enchant things so you can use the to fly.

* “Uhhh,” you have flashbacks to flying through underworld and stunning to the ground. “I’d rather not.”

* Then a son of Apollo suggests seeing if you can use it to harness the power of the sun.

* But that ends in a colossal failure.

* You’re about to see if anyone from the Hephaestus cabin might have an idea, when Dionysus approaches you.

* “Why don’t you try using your powers instead.” You blink, looking from the staff to the man next to you.

* ‘That should have been obvious, maybe my brains are starting to turn twelve years old too.’

* You try his advice focusing on a remote area in a field, you’re not sure what you’re vying for, it looks like you have a handful of talents this time around.

* You’re not all that surprised when a black hole shoots out from the staff, a swirling vortex that spans five feet sitting on the ground, before a white light blinds you and leaves a crater behind.

* “We’ll need to find a, uh, more remote area for you to practice.”

* ‘Maybe my Dad can buy a chunk of Central Park with Hades fancy diamonds.’

* The days pass in relative calm, and you start to think maybe this is a life you could get used to too. Waking up every morning, eating a lean breakfast, training your new powers and trying to increase your stamina until dusk, eating a nice meal with your friends and falling asleep as soon as your head hits your pillow.

* It’s not the most glamorous life, but it is a peaceful one, filled with laughter and small moments of joy.

* You’re sitting under Thalia’s tree, alone for once, struggling with weaving a friendship bracelet thinking ‘how does Dionysus make like twelve of these a day.’ When you see him.

* Your hands go slack and your mouth hangs open, the clumsily woven bracelet falling to the ground when you launch yourself into the air using your arms, breaking out into run.

* He stumbles back a step when you throw yourself at your father, laughter bubbling past his lips when two arms hoist you into the air.

* “Who told you to do something so dangerous?” He pinches your cheek teasingly as you shriek in joy.

* “Pot meet kettle, who told you to go to Tartarus alone?” You pinch his cheek, garnering a hearty laugh.

* You’re not sure how long you stand at the edge of the hill, teasing each other like that. Just that it feels like he was never gone, like maybe you really did go to summer camp and he’s just here to pick you up. You allow yourself a moment to bask in the fantasy, only letting it slip away when a handful of words bring you back to reality.

* “Why didn’t I see it before…” Father and child immediately turn to a wide eyed Dionysus, his hand pressed flat against Thalia’s tree for support.

* The truth is, you don’t look a thing like Hades.

* And you don’t look much like your mom either.

* Now that he’s better; that the bronze tint has returned to his skin, the dark circles have faded from underneath his eyes, and his face is full with rest, it’s easy to see.

* You’ve always looked just like your Father.

* “You’re Zagreus’…”

* To your surprise, Zagreus looks at Dionysus with warm eyes, setting you down.

* “Hey Dennis, it’s been a while.”

* “Only about thirty years or so.”

* It’s like he’s greeting an old friend, you watch in subtle amusement as they exchange gossip.

* “So your lightning daddy still has you teaching kids how to pick the best grapes huh?”

* “Would you quit calling him that, despite how we feel about him he is still the king of the gods…and we grow strawberries not grapes.” Zagreus lets out a low whistle.

* “He doesn’t want you to have even a flicker of power, huh?” You feel your eyebrows furrow, what’s that supposed to mean?

* “We can’t all have an underworld daddy who lets us frolic around the mortal realm as we please.” You don’t miss the teasing grin that twitches on your fathers lips when he hears his own vernacular thrown back at him.

* ‘He looks good like this, happy even.’

* The thing about your father is, even though he might appear complacent—happy sometimes even, he always has a morose look in his eyes. But now, he’s laughing with an old friend, completely rejuvenated and happy.

* You’ve never thought about who your father might have been before you were born, you’ve always figured he was about the same—a tired young man with perpetual bags under his eyes. But now you’re starting to get a glimpse of the god he was.

* ‘I’d like for him to be this happy and healthy all the time.’

* “Thanks for looking after (Y/N) by the way,” A heavy hand is set on top of your head, patting you affectionately. “I don’t appreciate you sending them all the way to Florida by themselves.”

* Dionysus scoffs.

* “I don’t appreciate it either, blame your father—I had a panic attack when he sent that dog of yours with a contract. You know most gods just send a cryptic note or a phone call these days.”

* “He probably just wanted to make an impression. You know how he is.” Zagreus says with a wave of the hand.

* “No, unfortunately I don’t know what the king of the underworld is like.” Your father is taken aback by that.

* “You’ve never visited?” When Dionysus gives him an incredulous look Zagreus laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well I guess it’s too late now, maybe in a few hundred years when you’re done with this.”

* He says it so casually too like it’s nothing to him.

* ‘Maybe for them a hundred years really is nothing.’

* “(Y/N) is that all you brought with you?” He asks, raising an eyebrow at the clothes on your back. You shake your head. “You should go get your things, we can head back home now.”

* Home.

* Home has always been a penthouse that overlooked Central Park on the upper-west side of Manhattan, laced with willowy white curtains and the scent of the best chocolate chip cookies in new york.

* ‘But now it feels like home can be somewhere else too.’

* Home might be an island off the coast of Florida, with a small rustic cottage and about a dozen lions.

* Home might be a small white house, with a kitchen that overlooks meadows and water falls, and cliffs embedded with crystals.

* It might be a summer camp with roaming strawberry fields, a cabin that looks like it was plucked out of harry potter, and friends who laugh with you over ridiculously nutritious meals.

* It doesn’t feel like four separate roads, each path parallel to the other. Instead they all feel linear, each place connected to the last, like they’re apart of the same journey,

* Maybe you’ve known this from the start, that there’s no turning back.

* ‘Looks like I still can’t seem to avert my eyes.’

* “I’m going to stay for a little longer dad.” You feel a pang of guilt at hsi hurt expression, panic filling his eyes, but you don’t waver.

* “Darling, I know it might have been extremely validating to go on a quest…” Your father’s gaze flickers to Dionysus who shares his expression.

* “Chiron…he speaks in ways that can be incredibly persuasive.” Dionysus admits, kneeling beside you. “But being a hero…it isn’t as glamorous as you think. For every hero there’s hundreds that have failed, and there’s never been a happy hero, not really.”

* “I don’t care about being a hero.”

* You’ve conquered dozens of worlds, served as a royal and even changed the world a few times.

* Being a so-called hero is not a new and exhilarating experience, quite frankly you don’t care for it.

* But what you do care for, are: Talia who was transformed into a tree just for existing, Grover who got blamed for it and had his life set back, Luke and the sad look on his face when he told you about his mom and how his father basically abandoned them both, Annabeth and Clarisse who have parents they can’t understand, Circe who was confined to an island despite never doing anything wrong, Dionysus who was punished to see his worst fear constantly, and even your grandfather who’s only compassionate because he’s been alone for so long.

* ‘I’m not doing it for glory, I’m doing it for the people I care about.’

* “I feel like there’s something I want to do here, something only I can do.”

* They’re big words, even if you weren’t twelve years old. For one you’re outnumbered, who knows how many gods are out there, and for once you’re out powered. It’s rare but you’ve seen people not be affected by your despair.

* ‘But I still want to try.’

* Dionysus fidgets, looking to your father for a social cue. But your father looks at you, cupping your cheek in his hand.

* “When did you get so big?” He whispers, squeezing warmly. “Alright, we’ll support you.” Dionysus nods eagerly beside him.

* “But there will be some rules.”

* They’re mostly basic things like keeping your grades up and cleaning your room.

* “And if you need help, despite the politics, you know you don’t have to tap the ground three times for help.” You smile wrapping your arms around his neck.

* “Yeah, I know dad.”

* You spend a few more weeks learning all you can, sighing when you finally pack your bag, shuffling on your denim jacket. Watching Clarisse, Annabeth and Luke in the distance waving goodbye, knowing that just like that you’ll be back soon.

* ‘It still feels a little lonely though.’

* You think when you slide into your dad’s car, watching the two hills shrink in the rear view mirror.

* “Is that my jacket?” Your dad asks

* ’I guess I’m busy enough here.’

A/N: as a reminder please comment on this (or the most latest part if you want to be added to the tag list. If you have asked to be added to the tag list and have not been that means your account is not able to be tagged pls contact tumblr support

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