February 23, 2038

The New Year passed and with it became more work for Percy Jackson. He had to stop nightly-meetings with Elijah had his place and instead, spent many sleepless nights just getting the aquarium ready.

There had apparently been something wrong with the shark exhibit, and as a result cracks had started in the foundation.

Percy was pissed, but more importantly was worried that one of the days the cracks would break under pressure and harm the sharks.

So he had to go about moving the sharks to another tank, then calling in repair men, finding those expanse to pay for the repair, and then actually refilling the tank up with water that the sharks thrived in.

It took far too many weeks for Percy to be happy with, but as long as the tank in the end be fixed, then he couldn't complain too badly.

Though, he would say he was having a bad week. Because after the tank got cracks, some of the live penguins ended up getting sick.

So trying to figure out what was wrong with them was difficult, especially as the android ones seemed fine and couldn't offer more help expect watching over the penguins to make sure they didn't get worse or if they ingested something they shouldn't have.

Then the veterinarian for the penguins canceled on him.

It just wasn't his week.

Which made it far more interesting when Elijah showed up out of the blue which he was talking to Lucas about the repairs and getting another veterinarian to come check out the penguins.

"Did you really forget what day it was?" Elijah asked as another man rolled beside him.

The face in the wheelchair flickered a lightbulb in Percy's head, "Oh, shit, today's the twenty-third isn't it? Damn, sorry I forgot. Hello, Carl, Elijah,--and Markus." Percy stumbled over slightly over Markus name.

He's heard his voice before, but dammit why did Elijah have to make all androids look hot. It was borderline-sadistic of just how hot they had a habit of looking.

As if reading his thoughts, Elijah just smirked while Markus looked slightly confused from where he stood behind Carl, but didn't seem to think over much of Percy's stumbling.

Carl himself looked amused but then concerned as he stared at Percy. "It's a pleasure to finally meet the elusive Percy Jackson, but I must ask, when was the last time you slept?"

"Lucas, when was the last time I slept?" Percy asked as he scratched the back of his head.

"The last time you slept for more than eight hours would be three days ago, between then and now you have napped a total of 12 hours and 38 minutes."

"Huh," Was Percy's comeback. The lack of sleep explained why he was tired all day.

"What has gotten you so worked up?" Elijah asked, smirk no longer on his face but rather a frown as his eyes showed his own concern.

"There was apparently a problem putting in the original glass for the shark tank, and as a result there is now a crack that is dangerous. We're getting the repairs done today this evening or tomorrow morning. Now the non-android penguins are getting sick and my normal veterinarian cancelled on me. So, we're trying to find another one. Honestly, pretty sure this is my hell-week."

"Anything we can do?" Carl asked kindly as he wanted to decrease some of the stress on the young man in front of him.

"Unless you know a good veterinarian within price range, probably not," Percy replied back as some tension he held over the week released from his shoulders. Just talking to his friends seem to help calm him and his stress down.

"I can make a few calls, allow me to," Elijah expressed with a tone in his voice showing that Percy better not argue.

Hesitating, but mostly just tired and ready to sleep for a day, Percy nodded slowly. "I suppose. In any case, you guys came here to look around, might as well still do that."

"After the tour, might I suggest a good meal and then sleep?" Markus commented but had a slight urgent tone in his voice, "going so long without a proper meal or sleep is very unhealthy."

Percy held gazes with Markus for a few seconds before looking away and tried to stop the blush that he knew was dusting his cheeks. "I suppose it would probably be a good idea," he muttered and waved for Lucas to come to them from where he had been watching the jellyfish.

"Will you be good in taking care of the other stuff for the day? I'm going to give Elijah, Carl, and Markus a tour and then get some sleep."

"All will be fine, Percy," Lucas said earnest, "Should anything cause trouble, I still have Mike's number and will call him. You need rest and proper food that doesn't come from the vending machine."

"Thank you, Lucas," Percy said and with a small wave, dismissed Lucas to finish the other tasks of the day like checking on the other animals, making sure the water temperature is right, and making sure no one missed a feeding.

"Alright, shall we start near the front of the aquarium and work our way from there?" Percy suggested.

"Sounds like a great plan," Carl commented and allowed Markus to wheel him as they followed Percy.

The rest of the day was spent having Percy show the three people everything about the aquarium, and seemed very enthusiastic even though he was clearly exhausted.

Markus showing interest probably raised the enthusiasm, which was noted by Carl and Elijah who shared an amused look as Percy continued to ramble about each species and Markus nodded along with him as though he was storing every word Percy had been saying.

When they finally got toward the end, it was the last exhibit that Percy was most excited to show. "Dolphin time!" he said as he ushered them into the training area.

"Do you guys want to see what they know so far?" Percy asked as all four dolphins quickly crowded around the glass by Percy, making small tweety-sounds of greeting. You could tell both android and non-android dolphins loved Percy.

"I think that would be lovely," Carl commented as Elijah nodded in agreement.

"Sweet, I'll be right back then. If I'm going to be showing them, then I need my wetsuit. Won't take me longer than five minutes."

Barely three minutes passed before Percy was back, this time in his wetsuit. "Alright, ready?" Percy asked them.

As they nodded, Percy slowly started the show, starting with basic tricks and his 'presenter voice' as his sister dubbed it.

It was all going smoothly until he completed all the tricks and attempted to leave the small side where the water barely reached his ankles.

"Good work, I gotta go now," Percy said softly as he rubbed his hand against Amia.

Though, it seemed she had other plans, because before Percy knew it, when he stood up a flipper knocked into the back of his legs softly, but with enough power to send him straight into the water.

The four dolphins seemed to find it hilarious as they pushed softly against Percy, cooing slightly like saying they were sorry before trying to antagonize him to play.

"Percy! You okay?" Elijah asked concerned as he appeared by the ladder to get out of the dolphin exhibit.

"Yeah, they just wanted to play. I swear, if I gave them the chance they wouldn't let me leave the water," Percy commented with a smile.

Amia tweety-bird him once more before letting him grab onto her fin and bring him back closer toward the ladder.

"This is why I grabbed my wetsuit," Percy joked as he went up the ladder.

"Yes, they seem like such a hazard," Carl teased as the smile spoke how Percy didn't really mind being dragged into their games.

Percy grinned and grabbed the towel by one of the chairs just for these occasions, drying his hair Percy felt at peace that he hadn't felt all week.

"Are you sure you are alright, Percy?" Markus questioned as his system seemed to be scanning Percy for any signs of damage or hurt.

Percy grinned at the androids concern. "I'm perfectly fine, Markus. The girls just have a habit of wanting to play. You should've heard Artemis, she was disappointed over the fact that the show was over, I reckon that she enjoyed showing off just a bit."

"In any case, I suggest a change in clothes and to finally get some rest that your system needs," Markus commented, his inner physician coming out.

Percy gave Markus a smile, and after changing his clothes, found that Carl and Elijah had ordered take-out and practically forced Percy to actually eat dinner.

From there, Elijah got Percy's address, said goodbye to Carl and Markus, and promptly drove Percy home and made him sleep.

Percy was a bit bothered at the fact both of his friends seemed to be 'forcing' him to do things, but in the end, he had been tired and hungry so he indulged them.

And should they start to regularly meet up for dinner and occasion lunches, well no one really needed to know except the small group. After all, Percy and Elijah had the habit of forgetting what time it was and working through food breaks.