Origin of a Hero - [A Percy Jackson Fanfic]

"This rain is kind of depressing," Luke commented with displeasure as he watched through the closed car window at the raindrops sprinkling the small park they were near.

Seeing the rain that had begun to fall heavily as they drove down the road, they decided to stop and wait for it to calm down a bit. That suited everyone well, plus the rain carried their demigod scent with it, making it harder for any monsters they might encounter to track them.

Grover took the opportunity to nap after emptying his reserves of cans that he always carried with him.

"Full stomach, happy heart," were his last words before falling asleep in the back seat.

"Really?" Percy asked, sitting behind the steering wheel and munching on his beloved chips. "I think it's Thalia's music that's depressing."

She shot him an annoyed look from the passenger seat as she tried to find a decent radio station.

"Hey, it's not my fault they play garbage on the radio," she said in frustration. A station played pop music, causing Thalia to frown in disgust. "Pop is really terrible. It's like a unicorn ate magic mushrooms and pooped them out, and that mess was then used as fertilizer for a marijuana plant that was subsequently smoked by a fourth-rate aspiring musician."

Percy and Luke stared at their friend with blank expressions for a few seconds.

"There was no need to be so graphic," Annabeth commented from the backseat.

Percy lost his appetite for his chips... but only for a second, as he shrugged and went back to eating.

"Besides, pop isn't that bad," Luke said. "Michael Jackson was a great artist."

"Ah... yes, the pedophile who was black and then white," Thalia replied, still distracted by the radio. "I guess his music wasn't so bad. I liked 'Beat It.' "

He searched for a few more seconds through different stations until a broadcaster's voice caught his attention.

"Good afternoon to all our listeners," the jovial voice of a young man announced. "A rainy afternoon that not many expected, but nothing that a good classic rock song can't help us see this rain as a gift. So, Fedelobo, what do you think? Why don't you put something on to brighten the mood? In times like these, I would recommend Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?' And as you say, my friend, press play."

Percy laughed a little at the announcer's enthusiasm. A few seconds later, the sound of drums, guitars, and bass filled the car's speakers.

"Mmm, not bad," Thalia said appreciatively. "Classic rock is pretty good, though I still prefer punk."

"I like it," Luke said, bobbing his head to the beat of the drums. "But it would be better if it weren't raining." He became a little grumpy.

"Oh, you're getting on my nerves with your complaints about the rain!" Percy exclaimed as he finished his chips and did something no one expected.

He got out of the car, grabbed Luke by his shirt, and dragged him into the rain. Thalia, Annabeth, and Sammy watched in shock as Percy picked up Luke like a sack of potatoes and ran to a clearing in the park, then threw himself and Luke into a puddle, causing a loud splash.

"Are you over your fear of water, scaredy-cat?!" Percy asked as he stood up from the puddle.

"What the hell, Percy?!" Luke exclaimed over the sound of the rain, completely soaked in water and mud. "Are you crazy?!"

"Someone told me a long time ago..."

He tried to get up, but he didn't count on Percy's human spear attack, which knocked him back into the puddle.

"I am!" was his battle cry.

"The calm always comes before the storm."

In the car, the girls laughed loudly at the scene in front of them. Thalia was even holding her stomach from laughter, while Sammy had tears welling up in his eyes. All of this happened without Grover waking from his deep sleep.

"What are you laughing at?" Percy called from the passenger window of the car, startling Thalia. "Now it's your turn, Sparky!"

"I know, it's been coming for a while!"

"Percy!... No, please..." Thalia pleaded, trying to control her laughter. "I don't... AAHHH!" She let out a feminine scream when Percy grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her onto his shoulders.

"What do you mean? Get your freckled butt into the water!"

"My butt doesn't have freckles!" she exclaimed, her face red as a tomato.

"That's good to know!" Percy shouted before throwing Thalia into the puddle where Luke was still a little disoriented from Percy's earlier attack.

Thalia shrieked loudly before falling into the puddle, drenching Luke in water and mud in the process. Percy laughed happily before jumping into the puddle with his arms and legs spread wide over both demigods, further dirtying them.

The three demigods began to play in the rain in the puddle. If you saw them, they would look like simple teenagers having fun in the park.

"I want to know, have you ever seen rain?"

Percy was so wrapped up in his playful fight against Thalia and Luke that he didn't notice the two small figures that had stepped into the puddle. Annabeth and Sammy grabbed both of Percy's legs, pinning him in place.

"Now's your chance!" Annabeth shouted, clinging tightly to Percy's leg.

"I want to know, have you ever seen rain?"

"Take him down!" Sammy ordered, looking amused and excited.

"Falling on a sunny day?"

Thalia and Luke wasted no time lunging at Percy, seeking revenge for what he had done. The five of them fell into the puddle of water amidst laughter, giggles, and struggles.

"Yesterday, and the days before..."

Luke kicked the water, laughing loudly as he splashed Thalia, who tried to cover herself with her arms to avoid getting even more wet. It was kind of ironic considering they were standing in the rain, but that didn't stop her from smiling happily.

"The sun is cold, and the rain is heavy."

Annabeth and Sammy grabbed Percy's legs again and pushed him, causing him to fall onto his back.

"I know! It's been like this all my time."

Ms. O'Leary ended up dragging Grover by his shirt with her teeth, who was kicking in denial, and threw him into the water where the others were.

"Goodbye, keep going, keep going..."

Grover tried to get up but fell back into the puddle when Sammy energetically lunged at him.

"Through the circle, fast and slow."

Percy grabbed Ms. O'Leary by her front paws and began dancing with her in the rain, the dog hopping on her hind legs and wagging her tail happily.

"I know! It can't be stopped, I guess."

Luke lifted Annabeth onto his shoulders, and they began to spin around laughing until Luke tripped and fell into the puddle, causing them both to laugh even harder.

"I want to know, have you ever seen rain?"

Thalia lunged at Percy's back in an attempt to knock him down, but he didn't fall and grabbed her legs, starting to run with her on his back.

"I want to know, have you ever seen rain?"

Sammy and Annabeth held hands and began to spin, laughing in the rain.

"Falling on a sunny day?"

A strange group of seven members.

Four demigods

A mortal

A satyr

A hellhound

A curious but very close-knit group.

A group that only wanted to have fun like the children they still were, trying to forget for a moment how cruel the world they lived in could be.

A group that only sought salvation.

And they would find it within a week upon reaching a camp, but at a price too high for all of them.