Chapter 28
*doors here refers to the Doors of Death
Previously: Percy's eyes widened, "You knew this would happen?" The faint accusation was not missed by Poseidon who hurriedly explained.
"No, I did not know about the attack on Camp but there is some troublesome news from the underworld which is backing up Kronos' warning. I'm afraid you might not like it, Percy." Poseidon looked hesitant but Percy asked, "And what is it dad?"
Posiedon replied his voice grim, "The Giants are stirring once again Percy, it seems that the pit had decided to help them once again, though this time the doors will stay closed so once killed the Giants cannot return again. Zeus thankfully has recognised the threat and is calling an emergency council meeting soon. There are defences being set up on Olympus, as we speak. We will be in touch soon Percy. Take care of yourself."
Percy only had time to say, "Yeah" before his dad swiped through the message. It stung a little but Percy knew he was probably busy with the preparations. Which reminded him that he himself had a meeting to get to and hurried out of the room, his mind still processing the new information.
The Giants were back and this time they would not kill anyone. Not under his watch.
"Hey Percy, you alright now?" Was the first question Thalia asked her cousin as soon as he entered. Percy looked up and gave a small smile, "Yeah, I'm fine," then his tone darkened, "But we have a huge problem. Is everyone here?"
He spotted Thor, Tony, Steve, Clint, Natasha and Bruce, Chiron, the Roman praetors and centurions, the Camp counsellors and some of the senior campers. He nodded and sat down at the head of the table, Chiron beside him.
He gave a warm smile to his mentor and began, "So Kronos is planning to attack directly on Olympus." He raised a hand for silence and continued, "Before you ask let me finish. There was a curse placed on Arius which sort of connected my mind to Kronos' and well he can speak to me. He said that this was a test and that we have but I believe the final battle will be on Olympus, also I talked to Poseidon, he said that there was disturbance in Underworld too, namely Giants. The Gods too are having an emergency council, Olympus is being evacuated, defences and traps are being set up as we talk."
As Percy finished speaking there was a heavy silence which settled around the table, no one dared to speak, until a camper asked, "But how do we know that you aren't doing this for Kronos or working for him." Everyone in the room winced.
Percy gave a bitter laugh, "Kronos killed a lot of my friends in the first war, and I'm well aware of his manipulative ways, I'd rather kill myself than ever go against my family, my fatal flaw is loyalty after all."
He then raised an eyebrow at the camper who just nodded and fell back. Silence descended on the room once more till Reyna asked, "How long?"
Percy stared straight at her face which was set in a stone hard gaze and replied, "A week."
Reyna nodded and immediately stood up clapping her hands, gaining everyone's attention, "Well until we get word from the Gods, everyone rest up, I'm sure you are all tired, we need to be in top form if we have to fight soon." Percy nodded his head dismissing them, most swept out of the room wanting to check up on friends and siblings. Only Percy, his cousins, Chiron and the Avengers were left. Percy braced himself from the incoming storm.
"Perseus Jackson, when were you going to tell us!" Thalia screamed at him her eyes flashing.
Percy simply sighed and replied, "I did not want to worry you guys."
Thalia sighed in exasperation, "Percy when are you going to realize you don't have to bear everything alone, let us help."
Percy exhaled heavily, locking his eyes on her electric blue ones, "Tell me Thals, would telling all of you have changed anything, except you fussing unnecessarily? Prophecies can't be avoided Thalia, you of all people should know that." With that he left the room, feeling the weight of the gazes upon him. He hated doing this but he couldn't have them looking after him constantly.
He gazed around the Camp, there were thankfully no major injuries, and very little damage to the buildings. He walked further to the beach in an isolated corner, he took Arius out of it's sheath, he hadn't used it today, for some reason it didn't quite feel right. He ran a hand over the blade gazing at his distorted reflection for a minute before walking to the dummies he'd placed there.
Even though he was tried from the battle, he felt frustration building up inside him and started slashing the dummies to pieces, he kept at it until his body finally got tired and he dropped down on the sand, burying his sweaty head in his knees.
He looked up though when he heard rustling and a smile crossed his face when he saw that it was Tony.
Tony relieved to see Percy smile, smiled back and then looked around. When he caught sight of the dummies he whistled impressed, "Woah, what did those dummies do to you kid?"
Percy simply shrugged not quite meeting his eyes. Tony plopped down beside him, and tossed an apple to him which Percy reflexively caught.
"Eat." Tony ordered then continued, "After we get back you are getting a whole meal in your skinny ass."
He smirked at the end, causing Percy to roll his eyes fondly, "It's still better than your short self."
Tony fake gasped, "Hey rude!" then asking seriously, "But really kid, what's going on in that water logged brain."
Percy retorted, "Well not all of us are geniuses but..." He shifted slightly so he was leaning against the older man, who put an arm around him, and continued,
"I'm just frustrated, now they're constantly going to be fussing all over, never leaving me alone. Don't get me wrong I know they do it because they care but sometimes the fussing can be too much."
Tony gently replied, "Well Perce you know what? If it ever get's too much just signal me or tell me and I'll get you away to someplace quiet, and don't blame yourself, everyone needs some down time, when people get too much I escape down to my lab, it's my place, I totally get it, now let's get some food in you, I'm not in the mood to drag a very heavy and tall teen through the Camp."
Percy groaned but got up and the both of them walked up to the Dining Hall for dinner, Percy felt much better than before. He spotted his cousins already seated at the table, Tony gave him an encouraging look and they both piled some food on their plate, Percy sacrificed a portion of his meal, praying to his dad and sat back down.
The table was quiet for a moment before Thalia spoke, "I'm sorry for that Perce. It's just that we care for you and then you don't-"
Percy cut off her rant, "Don't apologize Thals, I should've told you guys earlier but I just hate people fussing over me, although I know why you guys do that. Let's just forget this, alright?"
Thalia gave him a glare, "We are not forgetting about this but if anything happens you will tell us."
He agreed and Thalia sighed in relief, she felt he'd be too stubborn, she spied Tony giving him a proud smile and Percy returning it back. It hadn't escaped her notice how close the two had gotten, and judging by the other's expression she could tell the others spotted it too.
Soon the table fell into it's usual chatter, Percy was talking to Thor about the different realms, Thor was excitedly answering back describing everything in great detail. Steve who had already finished his dinner was drawing what Thor described, he often popped in with a question.
Tony had migrated to the Hephaestus table and they were excitedly discussing some new traps, sometimes Percy wondered if he had made a mistake in introducing them, they got along like a house on fire, literally, just the past weeks he had to put out fires in the Hephaestus cabin at least once a day, when he had asked them what they had been doing, they had all answered with the same evil grin and in creepy unison, "Building stuff!"
Percy decided after that to never ask. Natasha, Clarisse, Thalia and Reyna were engaged in a heated discussion about something. In all honesty they could be planning world domination and everyone absolutely believed that they could easily do it in a day.
Nico was sitting at the Apollo table with his boyfriend, Will Solace, no one had seen it coming but once Nico had kissed him in front of everyone they were the favourite camp couple. Thalia, Percy and Reyna had quickly shut up the few homophobic campers. Anyone who messed with their baby cousin would not live.