Pairings: Dionysus/Percy
Challenge: He refuses to remember his name. He refuses to validate his existence. Because then he'll get arrogant and leave for better stars in the sky.
Word Prompts: Wine or Strawberries
Song Prompts: Waking Up in Vegas by Katy Perry

"Peter Johnson, your pigheadedness never ceases to amaze me," he drawls out, seemingly irate with the young raven. The young teen- no, man now- scowled at him, and retorted sharply at him with an insult. Never had he said the boy's real name.

At least, not intentionally.

Peter Johnson

Perry Johanson

Never did he dare say that name. Twice he slipped. He couldn't trust himself any more. Never.

*X~*X*~X*

Percy lay in the strawberry field, his dark hair around him. He kept his eyes closed. Dionysus watched him, hungrily. He came back. He returned his eyes to the pinocle game before him, to realize he had lost. Percy was waving to someone. Perhaps that Annabelle girl. While he purposely avoided saying campers names, hers was the one that irritated him the most. Annabeth. The only girl who took away his Percy. He refused to remember Percy's name. He rarely validated his existence. Percy stayed, to prove himself to the one god who refused to acknowledge his feats.

Maybe that's why.

He's afraid.

Once he's proven himself to him, he'll leave.

And when he leaves, he'll be like the stars.

Unreachable. Unattainable.

*X~*X*~X*

Percy sat quietly, watching Mr. D patiently. He was now twenty-one. He stepped up, his face bearing a tiny smile.

"Happy birthday, Mr. D," he whispered, laying the gift tenderly on his startled mentor's lap.

"Peter Johnson," He asked, picking up the box. "What in Hades is this?" as he began to slowly peel off the wrapping.

"A gift." Percy answered shyly, scuffing a shoe against the floor. Dionysus was stunned.

A small, beautiful rose, tinted peach, and clearly hand carved. How long had it taken the poor boy to make this? He may have not known the language of flowers, but he knew enough. A peach rose. An everlasting love.

A year had passed. Percy hugged Dionysus tightly. "Happy birthday."

He refuses to remember his name. He refuses to validate his existence. Because he thought that he'll get arrogant and leave for better stars in the sky.

He knows better now.