Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Driving around Manhattan in a beat-up SUV wasn’t exactly how Percy Jackson had imagined spending his weekend, but after everything they’d been through, it felt like a mini-vacation. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the city, and Percy was behind the wheel, navigating through the bustling streets.

Next to him in the passenger seat, Annabeth was fiddling with the GPS, even though she knew the city like the back of her hand. She glanced at Percy and smiled. “Are you sure you can handle driving in Manhattan, Seaweed Brain? This isn’t exactly the Long Island Sound.”

Percy smirked, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “Please, Wise Girl, I’ve fought gods and titans. How hard can a little traffic be?”

In the back, Jason and Piper were having a playful argument about music, with Piper insisting on playing something chill while Jason kept suggesting songs that were way too epic for a simple drive. Leo was sprawled across the last row of seats, tinkering with some gadget that probably shouldn’t be smoking. Hazel and Frank were sharing a bag of gummy bears, occasionally passing a few up to Nico, who was staring out the window, lost in thought.

Nico had been quiet for most of the trip, and Percy couldn’t blame him. He was still adjusting to the whole “trying to be a normal teenager” thing. Today was supposed to be about fun, about forgetting for just a few hours that they were demigods with the weight of the world on their shoulders.

“Hey, Death Boy,” Leo called from the back, breaking the silence. “What’s the first thing you’re gonna order when we get to McDonald’s? I bet it’s something super dark and broody, like… a black coffee and a McBurger of doom.”

Nico rolled his eyes but smirked. “Actually, I was thinking of getting a Happy Meal.”

Everyone turned to look at him, and Nico shrugged. “What? They’re good, and I like the toys.”

There was a brief moment of stunned silence before the entire SUV erupted into laughter. Nico’s deadpan delivery had caught them all off guard, and even Percy couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Alright, Happy Meal it is,” Percy said, grinning as he turned onto 5th Avenue. “But if you get the toy I want, we’re trading.”

Nico’s smirk grew wider. “Deal.”

Chapter Text

The McDonald’s was just around the corner, its golden arches gleaming in the distance. Percy parked the car with surprising precision, earning a playful eyebrow raise from Annabeth.

“Nice parking, Jackson,” she teased as they piled out of the SUV.

Inside, the group caused quite a stir. Ten teenagers, most of whom were carrying concealed weapons and wearing jackets that had seen better days, weren’t exactly a common sight at McDonald’s. But they were used to stares by now, and they ignored them as they lined up to order.

Piper and Hazel ordered salads (much to Leo’s dismay), while Jason and Frank went for the largest burgers they could find on the menu. Percy grabbed his usual, a double cheeseburger with extra fries, and Annabeth opted for a grilled chicken sandwich, muttering something about “keeping her strength up.”

When it was Nico’s turn, he confidently ordered his Happy Meal. The cashier, a girl about their age with bright pink hair and an eyebrow piercing, gave him a curious look but didn’t say anything. She handed him the box with a smile.

“Hope you like the toy,” she said, and Nico gave her a nod of thanks.

The group found a large booth in the back and squeezed in. Percy and Annabeth ended up sitting shoulder to shoulder, while Leo somehow managed to take up more space than anyone else. Nico sat at the end of the booth, carefully opening his Happy Meal as the others dug into their food.

Just as Nico was inspecting his toy—a tiny plastic dragon—Percy felt a familiar tingle at the back of his neck. He glanced around the restaurant, his eyes narrowing. The air had shifted, and it wasn’t just the smell of fries.

“Guys,” he whispered, leaning forward, “I think we’ve got company.”

Annabeth immediately stiffened beside him, her hand slipping into her jacket where she kept her dagger. Jason and Piper exchanged a glance, and Hazel subtly reached for her sword under the table.

“Where?” Jason asked quietly, his eyes scanning the room.

Before Percy could answer, the ground shook, and a low growl rumbled through the restaurant. The pink-haired cashier screamed as the floor split open near the soda machine, and a hydra’s head shot up through the tiles, snapping its jaws.

“Well, that escalated quickly,” Leo muttered, his eyes wide.

“Couldn’t we have just one normal meal?” Frank groaned, pulling his bow out from seemingly nowhere.

“Come on, let’s show this overgrown lizard why you don’t mess with demigods on a fast-food run,” Percy said, drawing Riptide.

The fight was chaotic, but the Seven were no strangers to battling monsters in less-than-ideal locations. Annabeth and Percy tag-teamed the hydra, dodging its snapping jaws as Jason summoned lightning to keep it distracted. Piper used her charmspeak to keep the panicked customers calm, urging them to flee while Frank shifted into a grizzly bear, pouncing on one of the hydra’s heads.

Hazel and Leo worked together to block the exits, making sure the monster couldn’t escape into the streets. Meanwhile, Nico slipped through the shadows, appearing behind the hydra to strike at its neck with his Stygian iron sword.

The hydra screeched as each of its heads was taken down, one by one, until finally, with a combined effort from all of them, the beast collapsed into a pile of dust.

Panting and covered in monster goo, the group slowly regrouped in the center of the restaurant. Nico picked up his fallen Happy Meal box, frowning when he saw that his fries had been spilled in the chaos.

“That was uncalled for,” he muttered.

Leo patted him on the back. “Don’t worry, Death Boy, we’ll get you another one.”

The pink-haired cashier peeked out from behind the counter, her eyes wide. “Is it… is it gone?”

“Yeah,” Percy said, wiping some goo off his shirt. “Sorry about the mess.”

She stared at him for a long moment, then shook her head in disbelief. “You guys really know how to liven up a shift.”

Annabeth chuckled. “You have no idea.”

Chapter Text

After the McDonald’s fiasco, the group decided it was best to hit the road again. The city was calming down after the battle, but staying in one place for too long was never a good idea when you were a demigod. They piled back into the SUV, everyone a little more subdued but still in good spirits.

As they drove, Jason finally got his wish and put on some epic tunes, filling the car with the sounds of battle music that wouldn’t have been out of place in a movie trailer. Piper rolled her eyes but didn’t argue this time, leaning her head on Jason’s shoulder as they cruised down the streets of Manhattan.

In the front seat, Annabeth glanced at Percy. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” he replied, though he could feel the familiar tension in his shoulders that came after every monster fight. “Just wish we could have one day where things don’t go sideways.”

She smiled softly, reaching over to squeeze his hand. “We’ll get there, Percy. Maybe not today, but one day.”

Behind them, Leo was telling Hazel and Frank about his latest invention—something to do with flaming robots and a remote control that he swore would work this time. Nico, still holding his toy dragon, was staring out the window, watching the city lights blur past.

“Hey, Neeks,” Leo called out, twisting in his seat to look at him. “You okay back there?”

Nico blinked, then nodded slowly. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”

Percy glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “About what?”

Nico hesitated, then shrugged. “Just… what it’s like. To be normal. You guys make it look so easy.”

The car fell into a thoughtful silence. It was Jason who finally spoke up. “It’s not easy, Nico. We just… pretend, sometimes. Try to grab whatever moments of normal we can.”

“Like a McDonald’s run,” Piper added with a small smile.

“Or a road trip with friends,” Annabeth said, leaning her head back against the seat.

Nico considered this, his fingers absently tracing the plastic dragon in his lap. “Yeah. I guess that makes sense.”

They drove in silence for a while after that, the city glowing around them like a sea of stars. Even though they weren’t exactly normal, they were together, and that was enough.

Chapter Text

It was well past midnight by the time they found themselves pulling into the parking lot of a tiny, hole-in-the-wall taco joint on the outskirts of Manhattan. The neon sign above the door flickered, and the smell of sizzling meat and spices filled the air. The place looked like it hadn’t changed in decades, but to the demigods, it felt like exactly the kind of low-key spot they needed after the chaos at McDonald’s.

Percy parked the SUV, and they all piled out, stretching their legs. The city was quieter now, the hustle and bustle of Manhattan replaced with the occasional distant car horn or siren. The taco joint was nearly empty, except for a couple of late-night diners, and the fluorescent lights inside cast a warm, inviting glow.

“Looks like we’ve got the place to ourselves,” Annabeth observed as they walked inside.

A tired-looking woman behind the counter greeted them with a nod. “What’ll it be, kids?”

They spent a few minutes debating their orders, with Leo insisting on getting the spiciest tacos on the menu, much to Frank’s horror. “You’re going to regret that, Valdez,” Frank warned, eyeing the menu skeptically.

Leo just grinned. “You underestimate my flame resistance, Frankster.”

Once they had their food, they pushed a few tables together and sat down, laughing and joking as they dug into their tacos. The atmosphere was much more relaxed now, and even Nico seemed to be in better spirits. He had ordered a plate of nachos and was methodically eating his way through them, occasionally glancing up to watch the others bicker.

As the conversation shifted from one topic to another, Hazel leaned over to Nico, a soft smile on her face. “You know, this is kind of nice. Just… being here. With everyone.”

Nico nodded, dipping a chip into some guacamole. “Yeah. It is.”

Percy, who had been listening to Jason and Piper debate the merits of fish tacos, suddenly turned to Nico. “You know, Nico, you’re really starting to come out of your shell. I mean, I’ve never seen you this chill during a road trip before.”

Nico shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Maybe I’m just getting used to you guys.”

Leo smirked. “Or maybe it’s the Happy Meal magic.”

“Or maybe,” Annabeth cut in with a knowing smile, “you’re just realizing that you don’t have to be alone to be strong.”

Nico looked down at his plate, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Maybe.”

The group continued chatting, the tension from the earlier battle all but forgotten. For a few precious hours, they were just a bunch of teenagers hanging out, eating tacos, and laughing about nothing in particular. No quests, no monsters—just them.

At some point, Leo decided to entertain the group by recounting one of his most disastrous campfire stories. His wild hand gestures and exaggerated voices had everyone in stitches, even Nico, who rarely laughed that hard. Jason leaned back in his chair, shaking his head in amusement. “I swear, Leo, if demigods ever got their own sitcom, you’d be the star.”

“Obviously,” Leo shot back with a wink. “I’m the whole package—brains, looks, and comic timing.”

“Debatable,” Piper teased, tossing a napkin at him.

“Hey! You’re just jealous of my charm and my flameproof tacos.”

Frank chuckled, shaking his head. “We’ll see how flameproof you really are when those tacos hit you later.”

As the night wore on and their plates emptied, the conversation drifted into a comfortable lull. The neon lights flickered above them, and the hum of the city outside felt distant, almost like a dream. This was what it felt like to be normal, Percy thought—at least for a little while.

Chapter Text

Eventually, they left the taco joint and piled back into the SUV. The night was clear and crisp, and as they drove away from the city’s lights, they found themselves on a quiet road with an unobstructed view of the stars.

“Let’s pull over,” Annabeth suggested, her voice soft as she gazed up at the sky. “It’s rare to see so many stars out here.”

Percy found a small clearing off the side of the road and parked the car. They all climbed out, stretching and yawning. The world felt different out here—quieter, calmer. The city was behind them, but for the moment, it was just them and the vast, starlit sky.

“Wow,” Hazel breathed, tilting her head back to take in the sight. “I didn’t realize you could see so many stars this close to Manhattan.”

“It’s beautiful,” Piper agreed, leaning into Jason’s side as they stood together.

They laid out on the grass, forming a loose circle around the car, their heads close together as they stared up at the stars. The chilly night air wrapped around them, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. If anything, it made them feel more alive, more connected.

For a while, they just lay there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Then, quietly, Nico spoke up.

“You know… sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if we didn’t have to deal with all this. If we could’ve just been regular kids.”

There was a pause, and then Annabeth sighed. “I think about that too sometimes. But… I don’t think we’d be the people we are today if we didn’t go through what we did.”

“Yeah,” Percy agreed. “But it doesn’t mean we can’t wish for it now and then.”

Jason nodded. “Maybe that’s what makes these moments more special. Because they’re rare.”

Leo, lying with his arms behind his head, snorted. “Leave it to you guys to get all philosophical after tacos and a monster fight.”

Piper reached over and lightly swatted his arm. “What, no deep thoughts from you, Valdez?”

Leo grinned, though his eyes were thoughtful as he stared up at the sky. “I don’t know. I guess… I’m just grateful. For all of this. For you guys. Even when things get crazy, I wouldn’t trade it.”

Frank smiled at that, his voice warm. “Same here. We’ve been through a lot, but… I wouldn’t want to go through it with anyone else.”

Nico didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. The slight nod of his head and the peaceful expression on his face said it all.

They fell into silence again, the weight of their words settling over them like a comforting blanket. The stars continued to shine above, distant and untouchable, but somehow reassuring in their constancy.

Chapter Text

Eventually, the night grew colder, and with a few reluctant groans, they decided it was time to head back. They piled into the SUV once more, Nico and Hazel taking the backseat this time, and Jason driving while Percy took a break in the passenger seat.

The drive back to the city was quieter, but it wasn’t the uncomfortable silence that sometimes followed battles. It was the kind of silence that spoke of contentment, of peace. Even Nico seemed more at ease, his earlier worries pushed aside as he listened to the soft hum of the engine and the occasional chatter from the others.

As they crossed the bridge back into Manhattan, the city lights slowly brightened the sky, washing out the stars. But none of them seemed to mind. The night had been an adventure, a break from their usual chaos, and now, as they returned to the familiarity of the city, they carried a piece of that peaceful starlit sky with them.

By the time they reached Camp Half-Blood, most of them were half-asleep. Jason parked the car, and they stumbled out, yawning and stretching once more.

“Alright, demigods,” Percy said with a grin, “let’s get some sleep before the next monster decides to crash our party.”

Leo mock-saluted. “Yes, sir, Captain Jackson.”

They exchanged tired but fond goodnights, heading off to their respective cabins. Nico lingered a little longer, watching as the others disappeared into the night. Percy noticed and turned back.

“You good, Nico?”

Nico glanced at him, then nodded. “Yeah. I’m good. Thanks, Percy.”

Percy smiled, clapping him on the shoulder. “Anytime. Get some rest, alright?”

As Percy headed off, Nico stood there for a moment longer, letting the sounds of the camp wash over him. The crickets, the wind in the trees, the distant waves on the shore—it was all so familiar now, comforting in a way he hadn’t expected it to be.

Finally, he turned and made his way to the Hades cabin, a small smile playing on his lips. Tonight had been different—chaotic, yes, but also full of those rare moments of peace that he had come to cherish. And he knew, as he lay down to sleep, that there would be more nights like this. Nights where they could just be teenagers, driving through the city, eating fast food, fighting monsters, and finding solace in each other’s company.

And that, he realized, was more than enough.