The sun rose, casting long golden shadows across the camp, but for Theo, the light felt different today. It looked softer, warmer, almost precious.
He woke up with a heavy ache in his chest, but this time, it wasn't fear. It was realization and a constant reminder ticking away in his mind.
Twenty-four hours.
He had one day left before he had to make the choice. One day to live in this moment.
He got out of bed, careful not to make a sound. Nathaniel was already awake, floating gently beside him, his tiny form solidifying as he looked at Theo with those big, innocent honey eyes. He gurgled, reaching out small hands.
Completely unaware that today was different from any other day.
"Hey, little one," Theo whispered, his voice soft. He picked the baby up, holding him tighter than usual, burying his face in those soft black curls. "Good morning."
He had to be normal. He had to pretend. If he showed even a hint of what was coming, Percy would sense it. Percy, who could feel emotions like they were his own, would dig and pry and figure it out.
And Theo couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let Percy try to stop him. It would only make things harder.
So, he wiped his eyes, took a deep breath, and put on his best mask.
Usually, Theo tried to keep his distance. Usually, he tried to act cool, or busy, or like he didn't care that much. But today... today was different.
He didn't want to hide anymore. He didn't want to build walls.
If this was his last day here, he was going to spend it exactly how he wanted.
Close to the main character.
A friend to Percy.
Breakfast was the hardest part.
Percy arrived exactly as he always did, slightly messy hair, a sleepy grin, carrying two plates of food.
He slid onto the bench next to Theo, bumping their shoulders together casually.
"Morning," Percy said, shoving a plate towards him. "Got you extra toast. Figured you'd be hungry."
Usually, Theo would roll his eyes or make a sarcastic comment.
But today, Theo just looked at him. He looked at that sleepy grin, at those sea-green eyes, and instead of pulling away, he leaned in.
"Thanks, Percy," Theo said softly, his voice warm and sincere. He didn't look away. He held Percy's gaze, a small, genuine smile playing on his lips.
Percy blinked, surprised by the intensity, but he smiled back, his ears turning slightly pink. "Y-yeah. No problem."
They ate in comfortable silence for a while, but Percy, being Percy, couldn't stay quiet for long.
Percy started rambling about something silly that happened yesterday. Usually, Theo would pretend to be bored.
But today, Theo listened. Really listened. He laughed at the jokes, he asked questions, and when Percy got excited and started gesturing wildly, Theo didn't flinch. He just watched him.
"So," Percy started, mouth full. "What's the plan for today? Now that you're officially claimed, we gotta celebrate properly. Maybe we can go down to the lake? Teach Nate how to splash properly? I bet he'd be good at it."
"Sure," Theo said softly. "Sounds good."
He watched Percy talk, watched his hands gesture wildly as he rambled about something silly that had happened during sword practice yesterday. Theo listened to every word.
The way Percy laughed. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners.
The way he would occasionally reach out and touch Theo's arm or hand when he made a point, as if needing that physical connection.
It was so easy. It was so natural.
It felt wrong to be close to him, but just for one day, he wanted to enjoy this moment.
The day passed in a blur of warmth.
The day passed in a blur of bittersweet moments.
They walked down to the canoe lake, just as Percy suggested. The weather was perfect, warm but with a gentle breeze.
Percy sat in the grass, and Nathaniel immediately crawled over to him, as if drawn by a magnet. Percy lifted the baby up, making airplane noises, spinning him gently in the air. Nathaniel shrieked with laughter, the sound echoing across the water.
Theo sat a little ways away, his knees pulled up to his chest, just watching.
"Look at him go!" Percy laughed, looking back at Theo. "He loves it! Theo, come here! Throw some water with me!"
Theo shook his head, smiling sadly. "I'm good here. You two play."
He wanted to watch. It was wrong. It was beautiful. It was something that was never supposed to exist.
Percy frowned slightly, sensing something was wrong, but he didn't push. He just grinned and turned back to Nate. "Okay, okay, your dad is being boring today. Just us men then, huh?"
At lunchtime, they sat under the shade of a tree.
Theo had packed some food, but he didn't eat much. His stomach felt tight, knotted with anxiety.
Percy noticed immediately. He stopped eating and looked at Theo seriously.
"You okay?" Percy asked, poking Theo's arm. "You're quiet today. And you haven't eaten anything. Is it... is it because of yesterday? Being claimed? Are you nervous?"
Theo looked at him. Percy's eyes were so green, so full of concern.
"No," Theo lied smoothly, reaching out to brush a blade of grass off Percy's sleeve. His hand lingered there, on the fabric, feeling the warmth. "I'm fine. Just... thinking. It's a lot, you know?"
"Yeah," Percy sighed, leaning back on his hands, looking up at the sky. "I get it. Everything changes fast here. But hey..."
Percy turned his head, looking right at Theo. His expression was soft, sincere.
"Whatever happens, you're not alone anymore. Okay? You got me. You got Nate."
Theo's breath hitched.
You got me.
If only you knew how much those words meant. If only you knew that in a few hours, I won't have you anymore.
"Yeah," Theo whispered, his voice barely audible. "I know."
Percy smiled, that lazy, confident smile that made everything feel safe. And then, he started telling a joke. It was a terrible joke, a pun about fish, as usual.
Theo laughed. He laughed louder than he ever had before. Because he knew this was the last time he would hear these jokes. This was the last time he would get to laugh at Percy being an idiot.
Percy beamed, proud of himself, and Theo just looked at him, his heart swelling with an emotion that was deep and true.
The emotion that he thought he wouldn't feel since he arrived here.
'Thank you,' Theo thought silently. 'Thank you for everything.'
Afternoon turned into evening. The sun began to dip lower, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet.
Night fell, and the whole camp gathered around at the Amphitheater. The flames crackled, casting dancing orange shadows on everyone's faces. The air smelled of smoke and pine.
Theo and Percy sat side by side on a log, close enough that their shoulders touched. Nathaniel was invisible, curled up asleep between them, warm and safe.
Usually, Theo might have pulled away, or sat up straight, keeping his space.
But tonight, he leaned in. He let his shoulder rest fully against Percy's, soaking up the body heat.
He looked at Percy, really looked at him, with a softness in his eyes that he rarely showed.
Percy felt the gaze. He turned his head, catching Theo looking at him. He blinked, a little surprised by the intensity, by how open Theo's expression was.
Percy glanced over at the other side of the fire where Annabeth was sitting with the Athena cabin. He looked back at Theo, sensing the heavy, emotional atmosphere.
"Want me to leave?" Percy asked softly, shifting slightly. "I'll go to Annabeth. You know, give you your private moment for today? Since this day might be overwhelming to you."
Theo's eyes widened slightly. He immediately shook his head, his grip on his knees tightening.
"No," Theo said firmly, his voice low and quiet, but enough for the son of Poseidon to hear. "Stay. Today... just stay."
"You're letting me stay tonight. You're... really nice today," Percy said, sounding a bit dazed. "Did you eat something weird?"
"Shut up," Theo chuckled, shaking his head, the smile not leaving his face. "I'm just... happy. That's all."
Percy beamed, looking happier than ever, his face glowing in the firelight.
"Well, I like it. Stay like this forever, okay?"
Theo's heart skipped a beat.
Forever.
If only it were that easy.
Theo just smiled, a small, sad smile that Percy mistook for shyness. He nodded slowly. "Yeah. Okay."
After the campfire sing-along ended, they walked back towards the cabins. The air was getting cooler.
"Man, today is the best day ever!" Percy exclaimed, grinning widely. "I had so much fun! Best day of my life! We should do it every day, no quest, no monsters, just us!"
Theo's heart broke and healed at the same time. Hearing Percy say that made every second of pain worth it.
"Yeah," Theo whispered, his voice thick with untold emotions. "Best day."
They stopped in front of the Hermes cabin steps.
Percy turned to him. Nathaniel was now asleep, tucked safely against Theo's chest, invisible to the world but heavy in his arms.
"Well," Percy said, shoving his hands into his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels. "Goodnight, Theo. See you tomorrow?"
The word hung in the air.
Tomorrow.
There would be no tomorrow. Not like this.
Theo looked at him, really looked at him, trying to burn this image into his soul. The boy who changed everything for him.
The boy who, even though he tried to stay away, stayed stubborn and chose to befriend him.
"Yeah," Theo said, his voice trembling just slightly, but he masked it with a soft smile. "See you tomorrow, Percy."
For a moment, Percy didn't move. He just stood there, searching Theo's face, as if he could see the pain and the goodbye hidden behind those eyes.
A strange, heavy feeling washed over him, a sense of loss that he couldn't explain, like something important was slipping away.
He hesitated, his feet feeling rooted to the spot, not wanting to leave.
'Why do I feel like if I walk away now, I'll regret it forever?'
The feeling was intense, suffocating, but he couldn't understand where it came from. Percy pushed it down, forcing a smile, telling himself he was just being stupid. It had been a long day.
Slowly, he took a step closer.
And then, slowly, hesitantly, Percy opened his arms.
"Come here," he muttered, looking slightly embarrassed but determined. "Hug."
Theo froze.
"Come on, don't be weird," Percy grinned, pulling him in before Theo could refuse.
Warmth enveloped him. Percy's arms wrapped around his shoulders, strong and safe.
He rested his chin on top of Theo's head, holding him tight. It wasn't just a quick pat. It was a long, firm embrace between best friends.
Theo's hands came up, gripping Percy's shirt tightly, knuckles white. He buried his face in Percy's chest, breathing in the scent of sea salt and rain.
This was home. This was everything.
And he was leaving it.
"Thanks, Percy," Theo whispered into his shirt, the words muffled and broken. "For everything."
"Yeah," Percy mumbled back, holding him just a second longer before pulling away. He looked at Theo, his expression soft and fond.
Before turning to leave, Percy paused. That weird feeling of unease pricked at his chest.
Without thinking, he reached out, his large hand gently patting and ruffling Theo's soft blonde hair one last time, his touch lingering, warm and comforting.
"Night, Theo."
"Goodnight."
Percy turned and walked away, disappearing into the growing shadows.
Theo stood there alone, watching him go until he was completely gone.
The sun had finally set.
The twenty-four hours were nearing their limit.
Theo looked down, clutching Nathaniel tightly against his chest. The baby was fast asleep, oblivious to the heartbreak happening right above him.
Warm tears spilled from Theo's eyes, tracing silent paths down his cheeks, dropping onto Nathaniel's soft hair.
He didn't make a sound. He didn't shake or sob. He just stood there, frozen, feeling the emptiness spreading inside him like ice.
He didn't know why he was crying.
Was it because of regret?
Was it because he was leaving the only place that ever felt like home for a long time?
Or was it simply because... he was saying goodbye to the person who came crashing down his walls and made it his personal mission to care for him, until he forgot how to be alone again?
Someone who became important, but he never tried to acknowledge it.
He didn't know why, but he knew that it was for the best.
Theo took a shaky breath, swallowing the lump in his throat.
He wiped his face roughly with the back of his hand, trying to harden his expression, trying to be strong one last time.
"It's time," he whispered to the night, his voice steady but hollow.
Slowly, a soft, golden light began to rise from the ground, swirling gently around his feet, warm and inviting.
He took one last look at the dark path where Percy had disappeared.
And then, he turned away.