The city lights blurred against the windows of the train as it sped north, the night pressing in heavy outside. Percy leaned back in his seat, sword case resting against his leg like it was the most ordinary backpack in the world. He looked older than his years, exhaustion tugging at his features, but his jaw was set with determination.

When the train lurched and the doors opened, he noticed someone stepping in and scanning the car before walking down the aisle. They hesitated when they saw him, like maybe they hadn’t expected to find him here at all. Percy gave the faintest smile — the kind that carried both relief and weariness — and shifted his bag to make space beside him.

The train rattled on, the silence between them charged with the kind of unspoken things neither of them seemed ready to put into words just yet.