Chapter Text
A series of pitiful chirps and trills echoed around the area, coupled with the sound of softly splashing water from the pool at the far end of the deck.
A man stood at the side of the pool, watching the young harbor seal swim idly in circles, its cries continuing as it spiralled. His lips were pressed into a thin line and dark brown eyebrows knit together in confusion as he stared on at the animal.
The seal had been crying by itself for the past two days and very rarely stopping. Whether it be a few sad wimpers or the full blown sob-fest that was going on now, it always seemed to be crying in some way. It cheered up a little whenever one of the staff would come by to feed it or check up on its injuries, but it was very upset the rest of the time.
Jim’s research team had various theories as to what was making it so sad, but none of them had really been able to prove or disprove what they thought thus far.
There was only one person Jim could really think of that would be able to calm it down, but he had no idea where he was or how he would even be able to figure out what was going on-
A distant set of footsteps from behind startled him and stole his attention away from the seal and his own thoughts. He turned his back to the pool and saw the side profile of a familiarly exhausted and brooding face with sea green eyes and a mop of messy black hair passing by the main building's open back door.
Bingo.
“Oy, Jackson! Care to help me with something?”
If anyone on planet Earth could figure out what was wrong with the poor seal, it would be none other than Percy Jackson. Jim had only known the team’s biologist a short while, but the guy was incredible when it came to animal's emotions. As long as it was from under the sea, he could tell you anything and everything about it.
It almost scared Jim how accurate he was sometimes, but he was afraid he would sound a little crazy if he ever admitted to it.
Percy jogged over to Jim, although his focus seemed to be more on the seal behind him than the person he was supposed to be helping. His brows were furrowed and he had a small frown, like he already knew something was wrong.
Jim chalked it up to Percy just being smart enough to know that that a seal crying nonstop was, in fact, not good, although he could never really be sure with him.
“What’s up? Is there something wrong with Marcie?” Percy asked, his concern very evident in his voice.
Jim opened his mouth to respond, but hesitated. “Marcie?”
Percy nodded his head towards the seal, who’s crying and circling had stopped and was now staring at him, looking rather awestruck for a seal.
“That’s the seal. Is she okay?” He asked again.
Jim blinked lamely. Apparently Percy also had a thing for naming animals before anyone else could. Go figure.
“Well, she stopped right as you came over, but she’s been crying ever since we rescued her. I know you’ve kinda got a sixth sense when it comes to animals, so I was hoping you could figure out what’s been making her so upset.” He said slowly.
Percy nodded and stepped a little closer to the pool and stared at the seal for maybe 3 seconds before coming to an apparent conclusion.
“She’s lonely.”
“What? But you didn’t even-”
“I said she’s lonely, Jim.” Percy repeated resolutely, as if that explained everything.
Jim just stared at him.
“She had a little seal boyfriend or something back home, and she misses him and her friends. She was on her way to lunch with her sister when she got hurt and we picked her up. Probably.” Percy deadpanned.
Jim was confused, to say the least. He knew Percy was smart. He knew Percy was amazing with animals. He also knew that it was physically impossible for Percy to be able to figure out what the seal was feeling that instantaneously. However, Jim didn’t get to point all this out before the man beside him turned and walked back towards the building he had come from.
“I’ve gotta go finish looking over Elaine’s coral photos with her, but let me know if Marcie has any other problems. And maybe see if she’ll get along with one of the other seals, unless you’re a fan of her twenty four-seven crying.” Percy called over his shoulder.
“Um,” Jim said eloquently, “Are you sure?”
“Yep,” Percy replied brightly, popping the P before disappearing back into the building.
Jim turned back to the tank and looked at Marcie the seal, who was now staring at the spot his coworker had been standing just moments before with that same strange look of reverence in her eyes.
Percy Jackson truly was the oddest person Jim Elpool had ever worked with.