Work Text:
Nereus had seen so many Godly children over the years. Hundreds came to him for information, though few walked away with it.
He was slippery and cunning, though didn’t always feel like putting up a fight. But today, today he put up a fight and was impressed.
The boy, Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, was interesting.
Nereus was prophetic, he knew anything he truly cared to, but he rarely cared to these days. Other Gods ruled, other Gods were there for knowledge and wisdom and to advise. He was fine lounging around a bit and leaving it to them.
Perhaps other demigod kids had been gaining power too, but last Nereus had heard… demigod children of Poseidon couldn’t breathe underwater.
His daughter had mentioned once how she’d had to allow Theseus to breathe underwater, she’d complained about how frail mortals were when she’d done so.
This boy though, this son of Poseidon, he’d not only breathed underwater… he’d thrived.
Nereus knew that wasn’t the norm, he would’ve heard the rumors. His daughter would have come to him to speak of it, angry and shocked.
This demigod child had more God in him than any other Nereus had ever met.
His power- it roared in defiance at Nereus twisting his form. It shone like the moon on a pitch-black night, nigh on blinding in the middle of the ocean. It raged like a storm within his skin, twisting and turning and hesitating, uncertain of which path to rage but willing to all the same.
Nereus eyed it with mixed emotions.
It was rare, power like that. It was exceedingly rare. Herakles hadn’t even held power of this nature, the true forces of nature compressed into mortal form.
It was as if Poseidon had taken a shard of himself and put it into this child, and then the child had blossomed, soaring to new heights with this small shard of power.
Nereus wanted.
Nereus craved learning more of this.
This was his grandson anyways, why shouldn’t Nereus be allowed to keep an eye on him? Why not follow that power and see for himself what vengeance it would wreck?
His form shifted and rippled, and he followed the boy.
He knew, he knew in his chest and body and watery form that this boy would have a troublesome Fate.
But that was okay, Nereus was curious. This boy was his new project.
OO OO OO OO
Nereus watched with narrowed eyes as the prophecy was fulfilled, the first prophecy. His grandson had acted as he’d expected. He wondered if his grandson realized yet the danger he posed.
He wondered if his grandson realized his options.
Those of such power, of such divinity- well it was no wonder the Gods had offered to make him a God.
The last demigod to radiate such divinity, to hold such power in his small little mortal body, hadn’t even been born mortal, not truly.
Dionysos had always been more God than Man.
He wondered if Dionysos recognized himself in this boy.
He knew the answer was yes.
The boy had turned them down, refusing them the chance to burn away the mortal form and settle the boy early. It would weaken his grandson, he knew it and so did they. But they weren’t willing to tip their hand on this situation, not yet.
The boy still had a role to play and Nereus wasn’t the only one who knew that.
Zeus offered him an out, it was a mercy as much as it was to prevent the danger the boy could become.
Such divinity only had two paths after all, and while they’d rather he not be a God… they preferred it over the alternative.
Nereus smiled as the boy left, still mortal in body.
His power had only grown since that day he had tackled and held Nereus. It would only grow further still.
OO OO OO OO
When Hera kidnapped his grandson Nereus was forced to make a decision. He could have interfered, he could have even allowed the boy to keep his memories.
But he knew also that things would change then.
And so, he said nothing, did nothing, and sat and watched as his grandson was swept away.
He still had a role to play, no matter how tragic and painful.
And Nereus knew that he himself did as well, and that role was fast approaching.
OO OO OO OO
He reminded Gaia, just once, that to kill the boy was to unleash him in death. Gaia wanted him dead, but not until she was ready.
And so, the boy lived. His cunning, his power, his skill all combined with Nereus’ reminder meant that Gaia could not and would not kill him. And none of those would wished to were able in the meantime.
He had to smile as his grandson demolished the glacier. He couldn’t help but laugh when his grandson battled to the bottom of the sea.
He wondered if the children realized who exactly had led the forces of New Rome to Alaska in the first place.
He wondered if they knew the name of Neptune’s son.
He wondered if they knew Percy had drowned him, then and there.
He doubted it, New Rome cared not for Neptune any longer.
OO OO OO OO
Their boat went over the sea and his grandson faced another like him for the first time in his life. A boy born of monster and God, a boy born more monster than God.
A boy who could’ve passed for mortal once.
Khrysaôr certainly saw himself in the boy.
Khrysaôr never did like mirrors.
But Nereus’ grandson was cunning and clever, and even if outmatched in skill and clashing in power, he was clever and cunning enough to bring himself a victory.
Nereus knew time was short now, he waited and watched as the ship passed along and reached Rome.
Khrysaor joined him, for a time, eyes lingering on the boy so like him.
Nereus already knew the path his grandson would take, he couldn’t wait for everyone else to realize.
OO OO OO OO
When his grandson ripped the Earth in two in the final battle Nereus flowed forward.
When his friends recoiled and screamed, his love dragged back as she called out his name, Nereus was there.
When one of those foolish demigods, more man than God, more mortal than Divine, dared to cry out, dared to speak the words Nereus had heard reflected in his grandson’s Fate… he was ready.
“You’re a monster!” cried one of those children whose names’ he cared not for.
Nereus cupped his cheek and coaxed the shuddering shattering mortal form to look into his eyes.
“A monster is not so terrible a thing,” Nereus said, rather than deny the truth. “From monstrum, a divine messenger of catastrophe, and monere, a warning of what is to come. From Téras, a divine sign, a marvel, a wonder. To be both shelter and storm, savior and ruin. Perhaps you are a monster, but as it was always meant to be, Téras.”
The boy’s eyes drifted to his friends, the world shattering less even as his form rippled with the storm under his skin, begging to be unleashed, to be remembered.
The boy was a monster in the making, the Gods would quake in fear if he turned his eyes upon them.
But that was not a bad thing.
“Forget them,” Nereus soothed as he drew the boy close. “They don’t deserve you.”
And as the boy’s skin split asunder, as the giants they warred with fled and scattered, Nereus stood firm and cradled the reborn calamity.
Why would he fear it? The ocean was full of monsters.
Just look at him.