Chapter 19
Natasha came downstairs next morning to find Percy and Tony passed out on the couch, with Percy's head on Tony's chest and Tony's arms around Percy, his head resting on top of the teen, both sound asleep and if she took a picture no one had to know.
Shaking her head she headed to the kitchen trying to make breakfast as silently as she could but despite her best efforts it woke them both up. Turns out both were light sleepers. Percy woke up feeling warm arms surrounding him, he silently opened his eyes to find that it was Tony who was holding him. He looked towards the older man to find him already looking at Percy with a soft smile on his face.
Once again right on cue his stomach grumbled, he blushed and looked down again, Tony merely smiled and said, "Come on let's get some food in you."
Tony stood up heading to the kitchen and Percy followed suit, his mood dropping as he remembered yesterday's events. He looked up when he entered the kitchen though. "Morning Nat." He greeted as he spotted her sitting at the kitchen island.
He sat himself down on a barstool as Nat slid a plate of pancakes towards him. In his mood he didn't even notice that they weren't blue. Nat noticed his mood and exchanged a concerned glance with Tony, who simply shrugged then sat down beside her. Percy quickly ate his fill and excused himself to the bathroom. Sometime during the breakfast Steve had come in. Even he saw the mood Percy was in and as soon as Percy was out of earshot both turned to Tony.
Tony immediately raised his hands in surrender and lowered his voice saying, "Look I don't know much just that the kid was really upset last night he came back at 2 in the morning. He didn't even talk just said a greeting so I know as much as you."
They all exchanged worried glances even though Percy had just joined them, they'd become very protective of him, because even after all he'd seen and done, he still was just 17. (I was so tempted to write 'I'm only 17 and I don't know anything' here somewhere. Write in the reviews if you get the reference ;P)
They decided to discuss this later. Percy came out freshly showered and looking slightly better, he still didn't say much except a little small talk. Currently they were all sitting on the living room each engrossed in some work. Percy surprisingly had his nose buried in a book muttering something to himself from time to time paying no attention to the rest.
It seemed to be some book about weapons though. Percy was scanning through it completely. Finally about half an hour later he slammed the book closed. Let out a frustrated groan burying his head in his arms. Above him the rest once again exchanged worried glances.
Cautiously Tony started, "Percy, what-"
Percy cut him off saying, "Sorry guys, I promise I'll explain this later right now I have a meeting at Camp to return too." He slowly looked around, the looked worried but nodded. He gave them a thankful look promising to be back soon and vapour travelled away leaving them in a state of shock.
*At Camp Half-Blood conference room*
Everyone was once again like yesterday gathered in the conference room. Tension was thick in the air, you could cut it with a knife, Clarisse was sitting close to Percy one hand draped around his shoulder and the other entwined with Chris. It was clear to the others that whatever she had heard yesterday with Chiron had shaken her up. Badly. Chiron himself looked shaken. The campers didn't dare to ask what had been revealed.
The silence continued until Percy spoke up, "I did some research." At this Thalia snorted Percy swiftly flicked the back of her head eliciting a shout out of her, just as she reached over to hit him, Chiron cleared his throat and they settled down still glaring at each other. But it was in a playful way.
Percy then continued with a pointed glance at Thalia, "As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, the only Titans who would want revenge from us are, Atlas, Hyperion, Krios, and Kronos. Firstly, Atlas is still holding the sky, Hyperion and Krios are reforming so that just leaves Kronos. Then the second line tells about a weapon, now out of these four only Kronos has a signature weapon which is his own like Riptide for me. So that just conforms that it's Kronos, it says he's backed by revenge, which definitely means the Pit. His remains must have gone back there so it would've taken him much longer to form a body but with Tartarus' help it could be much faster."
A stunned silence follows this. Everyone is genuinely surprised except Nico who always knew Percy was smart and that he just hid it.
Travis lets out a low whistle, "Damn Percy when did you get so smart?"
Percy's face hardens but he smooths it out and replies, "I've always been, you guys never noticed. I was always smart I just hid it with obliviousness. It was drilled into me as a child that opening my mouth meant trouble and beatings and so I learnt how to put on an oblivious mask. If you were a tad more observant you'd notice that more than half of my fights were won because I'd outsmarted my opponent, not because of my skill."
Dropping this bombshell he then continues, "Relax guys it's all in the past. Now let's focus on the prophecy. So we know the Titan, we know who's backing him. His weapon is the scythe, which means we have to retrieve it, a quest, but where will it be?"
"Somewhere in Olympus where he was defeated?" Percy shakes his head, "If it was then it would be throne room, where the Gods would have already found it."
Everyone starts thinking of possible places. Then Malcolm suggests, "What if it's in a place where Titans had the power?"
Thalia nods her head, "Yeah that could be it, like the weapon would return to the master's place of power. But where will this place...Percy Mount Tam! That's it. The Titan's place of power."
Percy nods as realization crosses his face, "Yeah, Reyna and Jason had taken down the palace during the Titan War hadn't they?"
"Yup," Nico says, "Now we just need three people to go, right Chiron?"
Chiron then loudly announces, "A quest has been declared, Percy choose your companions."
Percy instantly turns to Nico and Thalia asking silently, they both agree. Percy then turns to Chiron, "Nico and Thalia have agreed to come with me."
Chiron looks troubled as he says, "But your scent would be too strong, all the three children of the Big Three together would be very dangerous."
Nico, Thalia and I exchange looks. Finally Nico answers, "That won't be too much of a problem, I can shadow travel, Thalia can travel by lightning and Percy can vapour travel." Everyone including Chiron looks shocked at this proclamation of our powers.
I roll my eyes at them, some look sceptical of our powers still. I grin at Thalia and stand up and will myself to turn to vapour and reappear at the center of the room.
There are gasps all around suddenly there is a loud crack of thunder and then Thalia stands beside me, there is a slight smell of ozone in the air. We both give a dramatic bow which breaks the tension and has everyone laughing. Chuckling, we return to our seats.
"So that's decided then, when do you leave Percy?"
"Tomorrow morning, what do you guys say about that?" Percy asks Nico and Thalia.
"Fine by me." Nico answers happy that he'll be able to spend time with Will before he leaves tomorrow.
Thalia simply shrugs saying, "Sure I have to inform Lady Artemis of this and leave someone in charge of Hunters too, I'm going now, see you guys tomorrow."
She exchanges a few words with Chiron before leaving. Next one to leave is Percy, "Well I'd better go now, I have to pack, bye guys, see you Chiron. Oh and Chiron start preparing, I'm afraid we have another war on our hands."
Chiron gives a grim nod and small smile saying, "You focus on your quest Percy, I'll take care of everything here."
He gives his mentor and friends one smile before leaving too.
Percy doesn't return to the Tower immediately instead he goes to the graveyard, and talks to Annabeth's headstone. After about 2 hours he returns to the tower with a heavy heart.
Once again scaring the crap out of everyone present. He plops down on the empty couch staring at the people in front of him with sadness in his eyes. Finally Steve asks, "What happened Percy?"