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"Really?! Merpeople do not have razor sharp teeth?" the princess gasped, practically plastered to his side.

He nodded, trying to find the words, or atleast signal how preposterous that whole idea was.

"And how do you know all this again?" she asked again, a question Percy realised had become quite hard to avoid.

He settled for the explanation that his friend was a merman, whom he spent a lot of time with. The princess seemed to have bought that explanation, for the time being at-least.

She moved closer to him, her shoulder grazing his, furiously writing down what he was saying. They realised that Percy could simply draw what he wanted to explain as well, which seemed to work for the most part. However, being a creature who lived underwater didn't serve his art skills well. He was not particularly gifted at the drawing.

A long beat of silence passed between them as Annabeth studied him, her eyes steadily on him as his heartbeat increased.

"Looks like your wound is healing properly," she said, her fingers splaying on his face, tilting his head up. He was drawn to her eyes, he always was, those as beautiful as a storm and as dangerous as one too.

He found himself leaning into her touch, she didn't make move her hand either, instead caressing his bruise carefully with her thumb, running a circular motion over it.

The world silenced around him and all he could near was the waves of the ocean, splashing against land as the princess took a step closer to him. He could feel her warmth.

"You know....I was thinking," she began, her voice a quiet echo. Immediately, there was a clang and the princess jumped apart from him, circling towards it.

"I'm...I'm quite sorry, princess," a young servant boy curtsied, holding a tray with trembling hands, "The Queen requires your presence."

"It's...quite alright," Annabeth said, shifting away from the prince,"Inform my aunt that I shall be there immediately."

The boy nodded, scrambling away in a hurry as the princess turned to face him, her face red.

"I suppose I must be going .....my aunt rarely summons me," she explained before she left, leaving Percy all alone in her chambers.

It took him a while to calm down. To get the thundering roar of the ocean out of his ears.
It was always the case around her, he noted. She had the aura of the ocean.

The prince of the seven seas thought it a good idea to take a walk. He had been sequestered in these chambers all day, the princess busy with her lessons until a few hours ago.

Nightfall was about to arrive soon. And he watched the dazzling orange sky as he made his way down to the  beach.

The ocean welcomed him, it's waves beckoning him into his embrace. Percy almost found himself drawn towards it, his feet dangerously close to the water.

"Brother," a quiet voice sounded from within. Percy blinked in shock, did he finally get his gift....?

"Brotherrrrrrrr," the voice called again, and this time Percy recognised it.

He opened his mouth to respond and as usual no sound eliminated from it.

Percy kicked the sand in frustration. This whole 'no voice' thing was getting incredibly difficult to bear, and not to mention frustrating.

"Brotherrrrrr," the voice sounded again, and Percy threw a rock in its direction. It fell into the water with a plop, from the ripples rising his brother, Tyson.

"Why did you do that?" he asked, rubbing his head. Underneath him, Percy could make out the colour of blackjack, swimming to and fro.

Percy grinned, happy to see his brother again. He was  younger than Percy by quite a few moons, he was merely a child of 14.

Percy tried to sign to Tyson that he lost his voice. But the boy just made a peculiar face.

"Have you gone mad, brother?" he asked innocently, before Percy threw another rock on his head.

"Ouch alright, wait," he said, shutting his eyes. When he opened them again, there was silence all around.

Hello, brother. What's going on? Tyson's voice echoed in Percy's head.

Telepathy.

Only the senior members of the royal family could do it. Or even merpeople with special bonds or true love matches.

Tyson! How have you been? I missed you. Gods I'm starving. Percy replied.

Brotherrrrrr, just tell meeeee

Alright alright. Take an oath that you will tell no one else.

After Tyson agreed to the oath and Percy oversaw him taking it, he told his younger brother everything. Almost everything.

He did omit a couple of details.Such as the princess. Or how beautiful she was. How her presence was enough to-

Father would be very angry if he found out, Tyson giggled.

Which is why, you shall not tell him. I will be back in a while and all will be forgotten.

I don't know brother....what if it's not? Father's been tearing the ocean apart in search of you. Auntie Sally has been sad. It's not the same without you.

Percy's heart fell. He hadn't stopped to think about what his departure would do to those he loved. He hasn't even said goodbye to his mother.

Can you tell my mother the truth, Ty? he asked. She would never put me in harms way. And she deserves to know.

Okay, brother, Tyson nodded, Be careful on land. I heard some of them eat each other.

They don't eat each other

Then they...I heard they sometimes become monsters and ransack the kingdom.

That's not true either.

Percy chuckled, imagining his princess as a fearsome monster.

Tyson gave Percy a list. A list of every terrifying thing the land dwelling people do. And he found himself realising how neither races knew much about the other.

He understood that years of no communication between them led to such fear and distrust in the first place, and to remedy it....they must be more open.

The merfolk should be allowed to swim out in the open sea and the sails of the land-people should be allowed to flow wherever they desire without the fear of being destroyed.

He was sure he heard the ocean hum in approval of his sentiment.

Father is keen on starting a war. I think he's going to attack the land people,brother. Tyson warned.

I will be back by then. You know father, he's ever the drama king.

I suppose you're right. But here-

Tyson dove underwater, returning to the surface with a semi-large shell, a stunning red colour. He threw it at his brother's feet.

So we can talk. I enchanted it.

Someone's been taking his classes quite seriously. Any reason?

None. I'm just a wonderful student.

It doesn't have anything to do with the new student in your class, does it Ty? The older prince had a smug smile on his face, What was her name? Ella?

Tyson dove underwater again. And this time stayed for longer and Percy remained on the surface, feeling quite proud of himself.

Why are you staying on land,brother? Does it have anything to do with a princess?
Tyson asked, still underwater.

I must depart. I shall talk to you soon. Take care, brother. Percy replied, picking up the now dry shell and returning to the palace hastily.

He hoped Tyson hadn't seen the crimson red his face certainly was.

He hid the shell in his own quarters before returning to Annabeth's chambers.

Having a medium to talk to his brother would be quite useful.....
He only hoped his brother wouldn't be caught.