Percy doesn't know what to do.
Behind him he can hear the bustling of the hunters as they set up the camp, and a few feet away Grover talking with the siblings they rescued.
Well, ‘rescued’ is a loose term. Seeing as not only did they almost died, but now both Draco and Annabeth were captured, Thalia was out there picking fights with one of the hunters, Grover is busy with the two siblings, especially the hyperactive kid, and Percy-
Percy doesn’t know what to do.
Not one, but two of his best friends are gone, possibly dead, but he doesn’t want to think about that possibility becoming reality. Right now, he desperately wants to be back home with his mom, eating blue cookies as he and all his friends watch Pride and Prejudice as Draco always insists whenever they get to have movie nights.
He’d probably be ranting about all of his favorite scenes right now, nagging Percy to listen and how the 2005 movie is just amazing and Percy we got to finish the movie! You know I love the epilogue, it’s the best part-
A hand clamped around his arm, and he blinked as he was suddenly faced with Nico Di Angelo’s brown eyes and wide grin. The boy was waving about a handful of cards and asking questions about his surfing skills and riptide running out of ink.
“So is Annabeth your girlfriend?”
What?
“What!? No!” This kid, what the Hades!
Nico carried on, seemingly not sensing the sensitive topic, nor his plummeting mood. Grover on the other hand bleated, looking visibly flabbergast as Thalia paused in her mission of making an indent on the ground due to her continuous pacing.
“I mean with the way you’re worrying I just thought at least one of the people that fell was important to you.” Nico said.
“And didn’t you mention that they’re both children of Athena? Isn’t she the wisdom goddess? Shouldn’t they both know not to jump Dr. Thorn? Or am I overestimating the influence of a godly parent to their kid?” He asked rapidly.
Why this kid!
“I’m not dating Annabeth! And more importantly, they did know better! Draco just stepped in because he saw Annabeth getting overpowered! Of course he would jump in to help his sister!” Percy fired back.
Against my better judgment and protests, but the silver haired boy has always been stubborn.
Before Nico could ask more or Percy strangle him out of frustration, Zoe Nightshade approached the group, and soon Percy was in front of a seemingly 12 years old goddess.
↽
After the disastrous day he just had and an even more disastrous and life-threatening ride to Camp courtesy of Thalia and the god of the sun, all Percy wants to do is get a peaceful night of sleep before he figures out how to find Draco and Annabeth. But of course, his dreams and almost everybody else disagrees with this notion, the world even goes as far as making the Oracle of Delphi interrupt capture the flag. And then everyone once again proves that it’s torment Percy week as they refused to include him on the quest.
He just wants to find his friends and get them out of whatever the cave filled with fog and crumbling rocks is.
Especially since Luke managed to trick Annabeth into taking the mass of rocks and darkness and knowing Draco he’d be doing his damndest to get his sister out of it.
After probably fist fighting Luke, but yeah that's just Draco for you.
↽
After almost going insane thanks to Mr. D; a bunch of cute cuddly skeletal kittens; A Nemean Lion and a ransacked museum; getting chased by even more skeletal undead things- whatever they are; and a train ride accompanied by a terrible haiku later, they were stuck in the middle of nowhere.
Yup they were stuck in the middle of nowhere and somehow those blasted skeletons still managed to find them!
He just wants a break and a fast way to his friends, but no, even with a god helping them the skeletons still managed to catch up on them. Seriously, why does trouble always find them? He wants this all to end and be back at Hogwarts, he doesn’t care that exams are coming up and that he needs to deal with the whole Triwizard Tournament once winter break ends. All Percy wants is to be back in the astronomy tower with Draco getting all red and puffy as he makes him repeat yet another lesson. The Slytherin would probably be ranting to him about paying attention yet patiently repeating the lesson for Percy to better understand it. He misses him. He misses him so much.
But right now, Percy has to figure out what's up about Grover and the Wild Boar, and oh yeah Thalia’s scared of heights. And how in Hades did Bianca kill those skeleton warriors!?
↽
Okay his back and ass hurts, definitely rating the Erymanthian Boar zero stars for transportation. Percy and the others immediately leapt off the boar’s back before it could run off further and bring them gods knows where. As Percy sat on the ground, Thalia started interrogating Bianca about the skeletons and soon enough Zoe also joined. As their conversation continued, pieces started falling into place and an impossible and definitely out of this world theory started to form in his mind, and no matter how he denies it, the facts check out and this could be the only logical outcome.
Just as they were starting to piece everything together, and wow Bianca and Nico are almost seventy years old, Percy saw light from the corner of his eye. Turning to face it, he was met with the headlights of a car and as much as he wished it was Apollo, the figure stepping out and the sword that was quickly pointed to his throat said otherwise.
↽
The image of Aphrodite’s silver hair and matching grey eyes was ingrained in his mind as he left the car.
But as much as he loathes for the only reminder of Draco in the past few days to leave his mind, the towering figure of Talos as it descends upon them quickly gets rid of any thoughts besides survive.
A plan started to form in his mind, and he only hopes that this allows them to escape. But a quick discussion with Bianca later, he’s left with a figurine of the God of the Underworld as he watches Bianca’s figure run into Talos.
They will survive. He promised.
↽
She didn’t survive.
Bianca didn’t survive.
↽
Percy doesn’t know what to do.
He doesn’t know what to do, and all the thoughts crowding his head aren't helping. Everything is a mess. His mind brings him back to when all this started, when Draco and Annabeth fell, when Bianca accepted the offer, when he promised. He promised. And now Bianca is dead and all he can bring back to her baby brother is a figurine. He promised he promised he promised he promi-
The sound of the engine brings him back to reality, and as he takes in his surroundings, he remembers they’re on their way to find Artemis, Draco, and Annabeth. Percy slouches from where he’s seated on a corner of the back of the tow truck. He hears Thalia and Zoe talking upfront and sees Grover in a corner of his own, and once again he’s reminded of the missing presence among them, it’s just the four of them now.
And Percy’s back in his head again, incoherent thoughts began to jumble up with one another but one’s louder than the rest, screaming at him continuously.
He promised.
↽
Those dam skeletons, if not for the mortal redhead he’d probably be fighting off a hoard of them and being declared a terrorist again.
Percy ran past Rachel Elizabeth Dare, thankful for the distraction. He decided to forget the weird interaction for now, he needs to find the dam snackbar first and get out of here.
With Athena’s words ringing in his mind, he finally spotted Thalia and the others.
“Thalia! We need to get out of here!”
The girl faced him and replied back, “Percy, can’t you see we are eating here. We finally found the dam snack bar, hehe dam. And what do you mean we need t-”
Percy finally reached them and snatched their wrists screaming, “The skeletons are here! We’re surrounded! We need to leave. Now!”
That stopped the girl short, and next thing he knew a food fight was happening and the group was praying in front of statues with shiny feet. If Zeus doesn’t respond to their prayers, Percy doesn’t know what he’ll do with the god but he will definitely not like it.
↽
So, flying in the arms of metal shiny statues is a mode of transportation that he wouldn’t recommend, and from the looks of it, Thalia wouldn’t either.
Thankfully, somehow no one fell during the trip, and now Percy is being subjected to a trashy makeover. Seriously, equal rights! Why is it just because he’s the only guy (besides Grover, but he’s half goat) it means he’s the one appointed to wear clothes that are almost as worse as Smelly Gabe. He’s a feminist, has always respected women, and this is what he gets!?
A part of him thinks it’s a good thing Draco isn’t here or he wouldn’t be able to live this down. But a larger part screams, he would’ve taken Draco teasing him forever than possibly never seeing the silver haired wizard ever again.
Dispeling that thought, he focused on the task in hand, mainly finding the human —god— trashcan of the seas. Said task proved to be both easier and harder simultaneously. Following the vile scent easily led him to the god, the ensuing cat and mouse chase on the other hand was rather difficult. All he got was a possible concussion and a quick tumble into the water with a slippery eel, no big deal.
Having to sacrifice the Nemean Lion’s coat and wave Grover bye, and being cornered by Dr. Thorn was a big deal however. It didn’t get any better either after having to beg Mr. D for help and witnessing his powers at play. He’d rather live without having to see that, but they didn’t actually have much of a choice, and let’s not talk about Thalia’s hesitation when Thorn made his offer.
For now they’re on their way to Annabeth’s estranged dad’s house.
↽
After all of Annabeth’s rants about her dad, Percy was expecting to see someone that is visibly awful, a monster even if he’d exaggerate. The man facing them right now looks normal, so ordinary and far from the image his mind has made of the mortal, it was disconcerting especially seeing the male rant of battles, airplanes, and his missing keys. The man was as stubborn as his daughter though, if not for Mrs. Chase it's probably the male driving them right now to Mt. Othrys.
Percy will probably have to apologize to the mortal next time he sees them though, seeing the car they borrowed is now just a pile of sizzling scraps. Now isn’t that deja vu, what is it with him and cars that get struck with lightning?
Beside him Thalia was already losing her mind from what just happened, it did look like Zeus tried to kill his only daughter, which just leads to her doubting her father and believing Thorn’s words.
“Thalia, do you hear yourself!? You can't possibly believe Thorn! Do you honestly think your father will kill you off not even a year after you returned? He’s your father! Plus I doubt the King of the gods is the only one that can control lightning.” He just about stops himself from shaking the daughter of Zeus.
She looked at him shocked with unfocused eyes, before swallowing and replying, “I- Yes you’re right. But-but what if?”
“There is no what if’s. We can’t start doubting ourselves right now, especially when Annabeth and Draco are so near. So get your mind out of the gutter. We need to hurry and get to the top.” Percy said.
As much as he would like to tell his cousin this more gentler, they don't have time, it's a wonder Zoe is even letting them discuss this when Artemis is so near. With that thought he faced Zoe’s direction only to find nothing but air from where he last saw her.
“Zoe? Zoe, where are you!” He whipped his head in every direction but found nothing. Behind him he can hear Thalia also shouting.
A whisper of wind caught his attention and he looked at where he heard the sound originate, but there was nothing. A few seconds later Zoe’s voice reached his ears.
↽
This was never how he’d imagine facing Ladon would have gone, but then again he never thought he would ever meet the dragon either. And as they ran away from said monster he has never been grateful that he will most likely never see the dragon ever again. His only concern is Zoe, she denied it but he could’ve sworn that Ladon heavily injured her.
Percy was just about to ask again but his voice was cut short with the sight that greeted them. They had finally reached the summit, but a few yards ahead of them, dark grey clouds converged to form a swirling vortex that seemed to suck the very sky itself and at its very core the auburn haired figure of Artemis shoulders it all.
“My Lady!” Zoe screamed as she rushed past him, arms reaching for the goddess of the hunt.
Artemis’ voice stopped her from further advancing as she warned them, “Stop! It is a trap. You must leave now.”
Her voice was weak, and fatigue was visible in her face but her stance was firm as she warned Zoe. The goddess was clearly at her breaking point, the weight of the sky too much even for her. But Percy hardly paid attention to this as his eyes sought out the prone form of Draco laying down on one of the pillars near Artemis.
Ice grey eyes met his, hooded and tired but the defiant glint in them was still ever present. His eyes roamed around Draco’s figure, taking in his pale complexion –paler than normal, almost as white as a sheet– and his sweat drenched form which made the wounds that he can see stand out more. His knuckles were bruised an angry red, and in a corner of his mind Percy chuckled guess he did fist fight Luke.
Like Zoe he was about to ignore Artemis’ words and run towards the Slytherin, but a booming voice spoke behind them. He turned, the General was standing before them and at his side was Luke who had Annabeth hand-cuffed and at sword point. And behind them about half a dozen dracaenae hold up the golden sarcophagus of Kronos. Annabeth met his gaze, her message clear: RUN.
Besides him Thalia snarled, angered seeing Annabeth’s condition.
“Luke, let her go.”
Luke looked even worse than the last time they saw him, and considering that for Percy that was just three days ago that’s really saying something. Thalia and him continued to talk, but once the General –Atlas– butted in, the conversation turned even more incredulous. The most shocking thing though was Zoe’s words:
“Yes, Atlas is my father.”
↽
After the father and daughter talk, Percy noticed that Annabeth has a grey streak in her hair, which Thalia then clarified to be from holding up the sky. And as Percy bares the weight of the sky on his shoulders, he thought well at least his best friend won't be alone with the new hairstyle. His thoughts soon cloud over as the weight overwhelms him, he can distantly hear and see Artemis being a badass and fighting Atlas but that soon also fades as all of his attention turns into remaining upright and not falling under all the weight he’s being forced to bear.
A blur of white enters his vision, and muffled words soon reach his ears, familiar hands clasp his shoulders tightly and his vision clears enough to see grey eyes blinking at him.
“Percy! Percy hold on.”
He sensed movement at his side and next thing he knows the heaviness lessened, and a warm figure was next to him. All Percy can think is Draco Draco Draco-
A voice spoke in his mind, –Artemis– his mind supplied, and Percy’s mind finally cleared enough to see the goddess’ trick. With Atlas hurtling towards them, he used all his strength to shove Draco and himself out of the way. He curled around Draco’s form as Atlas screamed underneath the heavy mass of the sky, the titan finally back where he belonged.
Percy tried to stand up but his body ached with pain, he fell down again besides Draco’s heaving body. As he looked up he spotted Thalia cornering Luke at the cliff.
Thalia has tears in her eyes, her pain evident. Luke sported a nasty slash that spans across his chest, and his pale face a testament of his exhaustion. For one minute it looked like Thalia was winning but Annabeth suddenly screamed from the side.
“Don’t kill him!”
She, like him was obviously worn out, but regardless Annabeth continued to plead for Luke’s life, The daughter of Zeus seemed to be considering it but Luke spoke.
“Is that what you want Thalia? To go back to Olympus in triumph? To please your dad?”
And seeing her hesitation Luke lunged for Thalia’s spear, and without thinking she kicked him away. Percy saw the terror in his eyes as he fell and lost balance, Annabeth screamed besides them and rushed to the edge. Luke’s broken body greeted them, and the remaining monsters seeing this, began to attack with renewed vigor.
Finally gathering the strength to stand up, Percy pulled up Draco and took Thalia as a wave of javelins sailed over their heads. They ran past Atlas and towards Artemis and Zoe’s prone form.
Artemis’ grief stricken face looked down on Zoe, cradling her gently as if afraid the slightest of touch will harm her. He almost forgot about the injury Landon had given her, and with Atlas striking her down earlier it had only gotten worse.
“Nectar and Ambrosia,” Percy said desperately. “Come on! We have to get her some!”
He looked at the others but none of them moved. He could hear Kronos’ army near but none of them stirred. A hand clasped his, and he looked up to Draco’s tired face. At least he saved him. But none of that will matter with the army of monsters nearing, and Zoe’s labored breaths continuing to dwindle.
All hope was lost, and they might just meet their doom here. But then a buzzing sound made all of them look up and a Sopwith Camel came swooping down.
“Get away from my daughter!”
“Dad!?” Annabeth shouted; eyes wide.
↽
Nightfall came and all of them managed to escape.
But standing there in the middle of a field, grief cling to them as Zoe looks up to the stars.
Zoe faces her long time friend and asks, “Have I served thee well?”
“With great honor,” Artemis answers, gentle and lovingly despite the tears brimming in her eyes. “The finest of my attendants.”
Zoe’s face relaxed. “Rest. At last.”
Her next moments were spent talking to Thalia and him. A conversation that he will never forget.
Percy’s breath got stuck in his throat as Zoe whispered in her final moments.
“Stars, I can see the stars again, my Lady.”
A tear trickled down Artemis’s cheek, her grief plain to see. “Yes, my brave one. They are beautiful tonight.
“Stars.” Zoe repeated as she finally joined the sky.
↽
“I am honored that you carry this sword.”
↽
Tired from the party and even more from the mess that is the winter solstice, Percy sat down in a secluded corner, staring at the newest constellation.
Footsteps echoed and finally stopped at his side, as a weight settled next to him. Draco’s hair was shining under the moonlight, the grey streak in his hair prominent amongst his silver locks –they’re matching now– and his usual sarcastic and sassy remarks absent as they sat comfortably next to each other. No words were exchanged, the silence was enough. Maybe tomorrow they can share what happened from both sides but for now, Percy is content to just sit with him under the stars.