Ryker was very nearly destroyed on the day his mom died.

That day in the rain must have been the most terrible day of his life.

He'd lost his mother.

He'd basically lost his father, too.

He'd punched his best friend.

He thought that was the lowest it'd ever be for him.

How small and innocent he had been.

On the day his father died he had gone crazy in grief stricken rage.

That was the day he had agreed to a destiny that he knew nothing about.

That was the day he'd become an orphan, no parents but the mystery woman in New York City and the god who was never there.

That was the day he chose his adopted sister over his best friend and his life changed forever.

He didn't have a word for Zoë.

She was more than a friend. After he'd gotten her to stop hating him she'd become far, far more than a friend.

Not romantically involved, of course, but you know what he means.

And so he decided she deserved more than a label.

When Ryker lost his... Zoë... he was numb.

She kept him together when he'd lost his family.

She kept him alive, if only to be able to kill him herself later.

She kept him sane. He was just a boy going through grief. He was just a boy, trying to get by in wake of the destruction life had left on everything he loved.

So he left his home.

Again.

He didn't even stay long enough to meet Artemis's new lieutenant, knowing that whoever she was, she was replacing Zoë. And he couldn't handle that.

He'd promised Artemis that Ally would get the choice to join the Hunt when she was fourteen. She was ten now, but he was leaving, and she would much sooner let some traitorous jerk of a demigod boy drag her off through the woods then leave him alone like this.

Milli was worrying. She knew this side of Ryker well. Too well, especially at only fourteen, when the closest a normal kid would get to this state was the furious indignation of a broken friendship or the striking pain of a failed grade.

This death he hadn't even been present to see. He didn't know how she died. He didn't know who she was fighting or who had been there when she'd passed into the stars. What he did know, though, was that he wasn't there for her when she needed him the most.

Another death would break him in the state he was in now.

With the way they lived, she honestly wouldn't be surprised.

And that's why it was her job as his best friend to fix him.

No matter what the Huntresses thought.

{Five Minutes Before Leaving}

Phoebe caught her in her tent packing.

"So you're heading out with the boy, huh?"

Milli smiled as she stuck her sword in her sheath and attached it to her belt, ignoring the bite in the other girl's voice.

"Yeah. Sorry we couldn't stay longer, but... oh, who am I kidding? You know how Ryker is, you've known him for two years. He just needs to get away. Zoë was like his best friend."

"But she wasn't," Phoebe finished, "She was just the next best thing."

"I'd only known her a couple of months, but she was a warrior. A hero. I'm sorry she didn't make it back."

"We could use a girl like you in the Hunters," Phoebe mentioned casually, "You're just like Zoë. She really liked you, you know. Ryker always spoke so highly of you. Ally, too. Stay. You don't need to keep picking up the pieces of a boy. You're no maid. You're not his babysitter."

"No," Milli agreed, "But I am his best friend. And I know he would do the same for me. If he'd been there when my father died he would have done for me exactly what I did for him."

"You still don't have to follow him around. In the Hunt you don't just have to be support."

"I'm not just a support character to him, either. And even if I was I do it because I want to. Not because anybody's making me. You know I could beat him up with my legs tied together, right?"

"Oh, yeah," Phoebe laughed, "Take care of the kid, alright? Gods know how much trouble he gets into without people like us to keep him in line."

Milli slung her backpack over her shoulder, grinning. "Guess next time I see you we'll be kicking butt on the battlefield, huh?"

"You know it."

_______________

"On your right, Shark Bait!"

A burst of golden dust.

"I said on your right! You can't make Ally do all the work for you!"

The residual electricity had his hair standing on end, but he said nothing.

"Ryker! Head in the game! Knock the salt water out from in between your ears and focus!"

His first thought was Why was Milli yelling?

"Ryker!"

Then, Oh, there's a monster barreling toward me.

"Ryker!"

Maybe this is how Zoë died.

He almost gave up, right then and there on the beach. But then indignant fury swept through him, hot and uncontrollable, so he switched his sword to his left hand, reversing his grip so that the blade ran up the length of his arm instead of out in front of him.

And he punched it.

It was a simple empousa, her fangs bared and fingernails ready for slicing. Ryker didn't care, though. All he knew was the thud of his knuckles against her flaming face and how his leg swept out to knock her to the floor and how within seconds he'd reduced her to golden dust in the sand.

He didn't even bother changing his sword back to his dominant hand. He was a whirlwind of pain, not just for the monsters, but for himself as he used his right forearm as a makeshift shield and demolished anything that wasn't Milli or Ally, unleashing his unsaid hurt and unused anger.

And when it was all over, when reality crashed down on him like a wave, he let the tip of his sword hit the ground.

And he collapsed.

_______________

His arm was shredded. He was bleeding nearly everywhere and he could barely register the thrum of the ocean over the howling in his ears that wouldn't stop.

It wouldn't stop.

He screamed, roared into the open air, as if he would be able to drown out the noise with more of his own.

It was too much.

There was too much.

Too much.

And then

Nothing.

_______________

"Styx!" Milli cursed, "We're out of ambrosia and nectar."

The hellhound came bounding up to her.

"Not you, buddy," Ally laughed, "But if you could get us some that'd be great."

Ryker was still unconscious, his breathing shallow and eyebrows drawn together like he was fighting in his sleep, too.

"Why'd he have to go and get himself killed on the one day we don't have the stuff to save him?" Ally ranted, "If he dies on me I'll... I'll..."

She faltered, not having the heart to finish.

"He's not going to die," came a new voice, "Not yet. Not if I can help it."

Ally turned to the approaching sea god, unimpressed. "What's that supposed to mean, huh? Not yet?"

Poseidon winced. "It's, ah, prophecy stuff. And, um, yeah I'll just keep my mouth shut."

"So are you going to save Ryker now?" Milli asked quietly, "Your son is bleeding out."

Poseidon flicked his wrist, making the tide rise. The salt water washed away the blood and both girls had to stare in awe as his wounds knit together until you could never tell they were there in the first place.

"My children have nothing to fear from the sea," Poseidon promised, "It gives them strength. It heals their wounds. And by the time I'm done with him, it will become an extension of his body in battle as well."

"By the time you're done with him," Milli repeated. "You're taking him again?"

"Stop worrying," the god laughed, "Though my palace is under siege, there is no safer place in the world for him. And if you don't mind, I'd like to take the two of you along as well."

"To your palace," Milli repeated again, "That's under siege?"

"Oh, you Athena children," Poseidon sighed, "You and your questions. And why is there an echo? We're out in the open on the beach."

"Maybe if you weren't so cryptic all the time we wouldn't have to ask for clarification!" Ally huffed.

"You don't need to understand," Poseidon replied, "Your time has not come yet. But there is war on the horizon and I need you where you will be safe."

Milli cast a sideways glance at the god before nodding. "Then take us there."

"Of course," he grinned.

"I hope you can breathe underwater."

_______________

Ryker still hadn't opened his eyes.

His wounds were healed and there was no lasting damage, but the boy must have been exhausted for him to still be sleeping.

That, or dead, but if you mentioned that in front of either of the girls they might spear you through the neck.

Poseidon knocked carefully on the Infirmary door. Both girls turned to see the Almighty God of the Big Three twiddling his thumbs and standing awkwardly in his own doorway.

"Why are you looking at us all scared like that?" Ally smiled, "We only bite a little. Promise!"

Despite her blinding grin and contagious enthusiasm, the god couldn't do much more than grimace.

"I-" he faltered, "I need to talk to Milli. When Ryker wakes up, you two can come along as well."

The blonde girl got up slowly and deliberately, her gray eyes flicking to the unconscious boy for a split second before taking a step toward the door.

Ally caught her elbow. "Is he gonna be okay?"

"Of course, Ally. He's survived much worse than this."

"Shouldn't he be better by now?"

Milli laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "How long's it been since your mother died?"

"Five years?" Ally guessed.

"And your dad?"

"Three."

"And Zoë?"

"It's August, so... a year and a half?"

"Ryker just needs time. I don't think he's allowed himself to rest like this in a long time. Not when every time he uses his sword he sees his mother and every time he fights a monster he's reminded of his father and then there's not being able to stand in the night without thinking of Zoë. You need to let him have this."

Ally let go of her, staring down at her feet and nodding. The daughter of Athena smiled softly, wrapping her arms around the younger girl for a moment and walking out of the room with the sea god in tow.

________________

The Child of Zeus had been watching Ryker for a long time now.

And she hated it.

She couldn't remember the last time he had been so broken. Him lying lifeless in the white cot was the most terrifying thing she had ever seen, topping even his near death fight with Heracles and his crazed rampage on the beach.

After what felt like days, he finally woke up.

And the first thing she did was yell at him.

"Ryko!" She squealed, only barely stopping herself from launching herself at him. "You stupid, terrible idiot!"

"It's nice to see you, too, Ally."

"It is not nice to see you. You're beat up, do you remember that? Just because Poseidon fixed your scratches and your bleeding doesn't mean you're alright."

His sea green eyes flashed dangerously. "Poseidon? What- Where am I?"

"In his underwater palace."

"What?"

"In the infirmary."

"What?"

He struggled for a second to rise before groaning and giving up, clutching at his arms in pain. "Why?"

"Because you're an idiot, I thought I mentioned that."

When he didn't respond, she felt herself growing angry, sparks beneath her skin itching to zap something, anything.

"Where do you get off thinking you can do something like that?" She shouted, "You almost died today. Why do you think you can take on a horde of monsters all by yourself after spacing out for the past three weeks?!?"

At least he had the decency to look shamefaced.

"I just-" he spluttered. "I was angry."

"And now you're half dead," she mocked, scoffing "Is that what you wanted to accomplish? Because boy, when that hellhound got its fangs into you I thought it was game over."

Ryker closed his eyes. "I'm alright now."

"Is that so?" She demanded, "Because you might be but I'm not. Milli's not. Poseidon's not. You just went bare knuckle brawling with three dozen monsters and didn't even stop to think of what that would do to anyone else who wouldn't be okay with you destroying your body. Do you know anyone who would sacrifice themselves like that?!?"

"Mom... Dad... Zoë..."

Something in Ally snapped.

"No!" Ally screeched, "Don't you dare compare yourself to them! They died fighting for something. Mom died for you and Dad and Dad died to give you the shove you needed to take your destiny and Zoë died to-"

"Wait," Ryker croaked, "You know how Zoë-"

"Yes. I do," Ally told him, "Because I cared enough to learn. I'm not like you Ryker. You're afraid of pain but you're willing to shred your arm to get it to stop.

"She died fighting her own father to save Artemis and the demigods of her quest. She got Atlas back under the sky! She died protecting everyone and you nearly lost your life because you were being stupid and you think you can be categorized with them. They were heroes and as long as you keep throwing the life they saved away, you won't be there yet.

"I'm eleven, Ryker, and contrary to popular belief, not an idiot. But do you think that's what they wanted? Do you think what any of them wanted was for you to drive yourself mad? For you to kill yourself? What they wanted was for you to stay alive and I would jump into the deepest pits of the Underworld before I let you let them down now, do you understand that?"

She was crying now, but so was he. She leapt on top of him, lanky limbs digging into aching pressure points all over his torso but he didn't care. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.

"You promised you wouldn't leave," she sobbed, "You promised."

He watched with widened eyes as she seemed to break, curling in on herself and collapsing onto his chest.

"Ryker, don't give up."

Don't die like this.

"Ally," he breathed into her hair, "Don't let go."

Don't let go of me.

She pulled away just enough to see his face and smile.

"Of course not, big brother."

Never.

_______________

The conversation in the throne room on the other side of the palace was far less intense, yet somehow Milli felt like jumping the sea god and smacking some sense into him, too.

"You're saying whether we all live or die or become forever enslaved to the Titan Lord of Time will be decided by your younger son in three days and unless you get up to the surface to help the other gods, it won't be much of a choice?"

"Yes."

"So if Percy doesn't pull through the world is basically doomed, and the next two wars that are supposed to occur are never going to get that chance."

"Precisely."

"Alright."

Poseidon's eyes widened. "That's it? You hear that your entire future depends on a boy you don't even know and all you can say is alright?"

"Well, what do you want me to say?"

"Seeing an Athenian Spawn freak out a little would certainly make me far less freaked out than I already am."

"Ahh!" Milli said in the most monotone falsetto the god had ever heard in all his millennia of existence, "Ryker's brother might make the wrong decision and I won't get to fight in three wars before I reach adulthood!"

"I don't care what Zeusy's Brain Baby thinks. You're perfect for my son."

"Is that all you brought me down here to talk about, or can I go see if my best friend is still alive or not now?"

"No," the god sighed, "I had much more important matters to discuss. I just didn't really want to discuss them."

Life altering, tear inducing, uncomfortable topics weren't things that ever really bothered Milli. The way she saw it, from the day Ryker's mother died and her life changed forever the first time, everything else was kind of just another... thing.

When Milli said nothing, Poseidon sighed again. "Look at me. Tell me what you see."

"You're older looking," she told him, "Haggard. Like you've taken on fifty years in the last week. No smile lines, your hair's gray and kinda thinning, but somehow you've got that beard, and your eyes are disturbingly dead."

"This is the state of the ocean right now," he said quietly, "This is how the ocean feels when it's being attacked on all sides."

"It's not something I can expect you to help with. If I were to leave like I need to, there would be no way for you to continue to breathe down here, not unless you're in the palace. But I need to leave, and I need someone to look after my realm and my citizens while I'm gone."

"You've got your wife, Amphitrite," Milli suggested, "And your son, Triton. Surely they can protect your realm until you get back."

"Typhon is not like your everyday monster. He's ruthless. One minded. He will trek his way from Mt. St. Helens to Olympus without stopping, wreaking havoc everywhere within a hundred miles of him. He's a hurricane, and right now the Olympians are just birds trying to stop the wrath of a relentless storm.

"But Oceanus is the Titan of the Seas. He is cunning and powerful. He would never choose a side unless he knew he could win and he joined Kronos. I hope you know what that means."

"We're fighting a losing battle," Milli reasoned, "And you need to choose between your duty to your subjects and your duty to your family. Both sides will face casualties, but now the question is which set of risks you're more willing to take, not whether or not you are willing to take them."

"Why do you have to be so right and calm all of the time?" Poseidon raged, "It's infuriating!"

Milli had nothing to say to that.

"It's selfish of me," Poseidon said out of nowhere, squeezing his eyes shut, "But I want all three of you to stay down here. I don't want you fighting against Kronos. I want you to defend my realm when I am not able to."

"You just told me-"

"I know what I said!" He shouted, interrupting her, "But there are ways you can help without even leaving. You've got a way with people, kid. Sometimes I don't even think you notice it, but you do. And I have a huge, selfish, unfair favor to ask of you that, if we weren't neck deep in the ruin of war, I wouldn't even dream of."

Realization dawned on her then, and she almost flinched at the sheer force of what she knew was coming. It made her wish she'd stayed in the dark.

"Poseidon-"

"I need Ryker with the ranks," he said over her, not even giving her the chance to protest, "One of my children in the ocean is worth hundreds of our normal soldiers. I always intended to join my Olympian brethren in their strides against Typhon when my palace was secure, but now I am not so sure if that moment will even come. I need him. And I need you to convince him."

Milli cast her gray eyes down at the floor, biting her lip. She knew Ryker would never go for it. He would be angry enough when he woke up and found himself in his godly father's infirmary, let alone being asked to fight in a battle he wanted no part of.

"Please, Milli. For the sake of the sea, I need you get Ryker to fight."

She opened her mouth respond, if not to agree then at least reach a compromise, but an angry growl came from behind her.

It was threatening.

It was familiar.

It was Ryker.

"You want me to fight your war for you?" He challenged, racing into the room with Ally trailing him. "Is that why you brought me down here?"

"Ryker," Milli said quietly, "Just hear him out."

"Hear what? That he wants to use me? He wants to use you? At the end of the day what are we to you, Olympian? Because it certainly doesn't seem like family."

Poseidon took a step toward him, holding his arms out in an attempt to placate his son. "Ryker, I just want-"

"You want, huh?" Ryker laughed scornfully, "You wanted me to leave home, you wanted me to abandon my friends, you wanted me to join the Hunt!"

"Maybe I don't want what you want," Ryker continued harshly, "Maybe I was just fine whittling down the number of monsters for the demigods on the surface so that they could end the war without having to worry about the little things.

"And maybe, just maybe, I'm not your little puppet you can drag around and expect to allow you to mess with my life."

He balled his hands into fists, trying to calm himself before water crashed into the room, swirling with his agitation.

"And if I want to walk out on you," Ryker scowled, his voice low, "Then I will."

And he did.

_______________

"Teenagers," Poseidon breathed, "Moodier than Zeus when Hera won't let him cheat on her, I swear."

He glanced over to Milli, who was standing silently, biting her lip and staring off after Ryker as if she wanted to chase after him like Ally had. Poseidon sighed.

"What are you going to do now?"

When she didn't say anything, Poseidon had all the answer he needed.

"It's funny," he chuckled humorlessly, "My son Percy was here three days ago asking if he could abandon the war against Kronos to stay and prove himself. His twin can't even bear to be in the same room with me without blowing a fuse."

"We have no loyalties to you," Milli murmured, "Not like him. You look out for both of them but for most of Ryker's life you couldn't reach him and the two times you do reach out you're ripping him away from his family or telling him to risk his life instead of asking."

Poseidon opened his mouth to protest but Milli just smiled softly at him.

"I know what you're doing is right. Deep down, Ryker does, too. You're sacrificing your relationship with him to keep him and the world safe and we know that, I promise."

Poseidon ran a hand through his gray hair, groaning loudly and staring at the floor. "Sometimes I feel like you like me more than he does."

"I know what you're doing is right," Milli repeated, "And I know everything you've ever done to him is also for him, and it's for that reason alone that I would lay down my life to help you."

Poseidon looked up, eyes shining in hope.

"It's for that reason alone that I will get Ryker to fight."

He gripped her hands, grinning broadly.

"Thank you, Milli. Truly."

_______________

Milli found him in the infirmary, lying on a cot.

For a long time, neither of them said anything. The daughter of Athena stood in the doorway, watching his chest rise and fall with every breath; An assurance he was still alive.

"How long are you going to stay mad at him?" Milli asked quietly.

"For as long as I feel like it."

"You're acting like a brat."

"Okay."

"Ryker, I'm serious," Milli insisted, "Your dad just wants what's best for you."

"Shocker. You're too nice sometimes, you know that?"

"Be glad I'm like this. Otherwise I wouldn't be here."

"Oh, like my father?"

"He's a god, Ryker. Ease up a little. He's made a lot of commitments."

"Hasn't kept them, though, so what's the point?"

"He kept the promise he made to me."

"Hasn't been there for me, though."

"He never said he would always be there."

Ryker sat up angrily. "He's my father, it shouldn't have to be said!"

"Well at least you still have him," Milli screamed back, "At least you know that he's near. At least you know that he's watching over you!"

"Milli..." Ryker breathed. This is what his best friend looks like when she finally cracks under the weight she took upon herself to hold, he realized.

"I have a mother I don't even know," She said quietly, shakily, "I have a father who walked back onto an island that would disappear. He's probably dead. He didn't die protecting me, like your parents did. My mom hasn't spoken to me, hasn't reached out to me. I don't even know what she looks like, Ryker!

"Your parents loved you enough to give you up. I don't know what mine were thinking."

"You love your dad."

"I do. But what kind of dad was he to send me alone across the country with nothing but a change of clothes and a wad of cash? What kind of father does that?"

"And what kind of father was mine to send me across the world with-"

"With what, Ryker?" Milli demanded, "Parents that you love? Onto an island that promised your safety?"

"With parents that he sentenced to death? Onto an island that only served to harbor the pain and labor I underwent?"

"So we both have messed up lives! Big deal. It happened. You're still healing, I get it. But Poseidon needs your help. All he's done is help you and now he needs your help and you're too petty to even look at him."

"It's not just you that's at stake, here, Ryker! It's all the inhabitants of the sea, it's your family, its Olympus, it's the world. What you're feeling is only human but being human in a time like this is selfish and I'm sorry for that, Ryker, I really am. But Triton and the ranks need you out there. Poseidon is the only one who can save Olympus right now and to do that he's going to need to give up some of his home.

"And you know what? He's not going to leave unless he trusts it won't be completely demolished by the time he gets back. And the only way to assure him of that is if you help out a little, too."

He was quiet for a second, properly abashed.

"Wait." Ryker said after a minute, "What did Poseidon promise you?"

"Well," she whispered, taking his hand, "That after you left, I would be able to see you again."

"Alright, then," he whispered back, swallowing hard.

"I'll help."

Aww, poor Ryker's just a little snippy cuz he keeps getting yelled at, he'll be fine.

On the bright side, character growth!