Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Gentle chapped lips pressed against his head. "And I am very lucky to have him." Vesperae hummed. Their gaze focused on the little body they held. "I believe we weren't properly introduced. Who is this little one?"

"My name's Percy."

Ulysses tangled his hands in Perseus's soft white hair. "They are....our child."

Nails paused for a moment. "Ours?"

Ulysses slowly breathed in and out. Eyes firmly shut. "Yes."

Silence pressed against them. Growing heavier and heavier with each second it wasn't broken. It pressed his chest. Until gentle fingers lifted his chin. And another kiss pressed his lips.

"My love, this is the most wonderful gift you given me."

Ulysses's cheeks warmed. A warmth that settled in his heart as he watched Vesperae cradled Perseus closer. A soft lullaby hummed barely above a whisper. Perseus snuggled closer and looked up. " Are you Mister Ulysses's Vess?"

"Oh, Mister Ulysses's Vess?" Vesperae smiled widely at Ulysses. Chuckles caught just behind their teeth. "Yes. Yes I am little one."

"Oh." Perseus glanced back to Ulysses. "Do I call both of you Dad?"

Ulysses smiled. "Only if you're comfortable my boy." He ruffled their hair. "I'm alright either way."

"Though, I suppose" Vesperae interrupted. One hand rifled through their pockets. "It's high time I gived you something."

Ice blue glinted in the starlight. Purple ribbon wound tightly on a carved blue stone. Each mark etched on with evident care. Ulysses felt his heart stopped as Vesperae offered him the necklace. "Is....is that?"

Vesperae only smiled. A soft, gentle smile. "Will you allow me to put it on you?"

Chapter Text

The faint roar of water grew and grew. Rae paused his ramblings. He turned to look at Icarus. Smile wide and eyebrows raised. Race?

They smiled back and shifted lower in their seat. You're on.

A beat. Tough muscles bundled below them. Then exploded into motion. Laughter bubbled from their throat as they weaved through the trees. Rae matched pace for pace. His own laughter light and loud. Their hair whipped away from its perfect placement. Faster. Faster. Faster!

Leaves rustled and scattered as they burst through to their alcove. Their lizards halted at the edge of the lake. Icarus wrapped the rough leather lead on the nearest tree. Rae grinned as he finished tying up his mount. "Think they already spotted us?"

"Most definitely." Icarus pulled out their riding clothes. "Going to change real fast. Let me know when they get here?"

Rae murmured an affirmative as they dipped behind a tree. The stiff cloth replaced quickly with soft and breathable. Icarus let a breath escape as they reached out for their bag...that jumped away from them. They blinked. And tried again. But it jangled away once more. A soft rumbled echoed from above. "Quixsis!"

Leaves trembled at Quixsis's laughter. Their head dipped below the canopy as they carefully held the bag with their pure white tail. They laughed again and slithered away towards the lake, bag still firmly wrapped around their tail. Icarus shouted and raced after the white dragon. Rae looked up from greeting his own dragon, Void feels slightly uncreative but whatever, laughter bubbled out at the sight. Void let out his own chuckle as Quixsis hovered just above Icuras's reach.