Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

She saw the same scene playing over and over again in a loop every time she closed her eyes. Heard her own screams split the air making her ears pop. Some days she didn’t even remember anything, only pain. Heart-wrenching, skin-clawing, throat scratching pain. Pain that had her screwing at her own skin just to ground herself to reality. 

Other days she’d lie in bed, numb and so detached from the world she couldn’t feel where her body began and where it ended. So detached that she couldn’t remember who she was as she curled up on his bed burying herself deep into the cool covers until she was drowning in his scent. Until all she knew was his name as she unwillingly replayed all their moments together, most had her shouting and hackling in fear. 

Today was one of those days.

She couldn’t remember her name; couldn’t remember his either. Just that she loved him more than anyone else, more than herself, more than anything else. Loved him so much that she couldn’t help but start rotting herself to death with every second spent apart. It hurt. He could be dead. He was unarmed. Injured. Starving. Tired. 

And so, the precious memory reared its ugly head. Snap.  

They had won. The giant war was over. Gaia was dead. Annabeth couldn’t believe it. There was a deafening blanket of silence before cheers erupted. Loud and unrestrained. Annabeth felt a grin stretch her cheeks as his eyes found hers, wild and filled with untamed pride. 

Pride at her she realised. In one motion, Percy swept her off her feet and spun them both around in circles while laughing,“We won! Annabeth, it's finally over. It's actually over!” He sounded so happy, so relieved. 

Annabeth’s own cry of victory was muffled by his neck. She pulled away to kiss him, to see that triumphant joy in his face and bask in that proud smile of his. But a shout halted her, “PERCY!” It was Nico. 

She watched as the beautiful crinkles around his eyes faded and his pupils dilated in fear as he stared dazed at a spot beyond her. Annabeth felt the ground shake and for a moment, she felt the world halt, holding its breath. Then she heard the sound of cracking and forced herself out of an unfocused Percy’s arms; turning around. 

She stopped breathing as the earth tore itself open, so close to her feet. A shadow flew from the giant hole that formed and before she could react, something threw her to the side pushing her far away from the void that now looked all too familiar. Annabeth helplessly watched as the tendril wrapped itself around her boyfriend…and took him.

It was the sound of a horrifyingly familiar cackle filling her ears that made her understand far too late. She barely registered Percy's plea for her to not dare follow him over the rush of her blood. No. NO. 

No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.

“N O! ” Her screams of agony so loud, so painful, so unbearable making her fall to her knees clutching and clawing at her chest and back. 

Nonononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononovnonononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononovnonononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononono. 

“NO. NO. PERCY!” Tears streamed down her face. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t breathe. She didn’t register the warm blood that began coating her skin, nor the faces of the hands that tried to pry her open. She tried to breathe, gasp, suck in a little air to ease the squelching in her chest that sealed her lungs close.

The world blurred and changed and molded itself. She heard none of it. Just him …

‘ I ’ll make sure to relay to him your goodbyes, little demigod. ’ menacing laughter washed all black.

Chapter Text

Everything hurt. 

Percy groaned and grunted in pain as he pulled himself up. Fingers scrapping and bleeding as he dragged himself out. He willed himself somewhere, anywhere other than here. He had to–

–

Percy leaned against the metal surface as that gods awful noise blared through the speakers. Though he heard not of the odd lyrics nor the out of tune music. It was too loud. 

Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud.Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud. Too loud.

The elevator jolted to a stop. 

–

Screams. So many screams. Percy limped towards a large set of doors. He knew. He just knew that there, he would find solace. People screamed and screamed and screamed. It was too much. 

Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. Too much. 

His hands met gilded doors.

–

The door was heavy. Too heavy as Percy leaned all his body weight and pushed. Metal screeched and scraped against each other. He ignored it all and kept pushing.

And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushing. And pushed . 

The door flung open.

–

Blood dripped to the ground. Painting the crystal clear walls in crimson. Percy lifted his head begrudgingly, his eyes meeting electric blue ones. He grinned and spoke, voice scratchy but strong, “Missed me?”

Chaos erupted and the world went black. 

–

He had made it out. 

Chapter Text

A few weeks before Percy’s abduction anniversary, Annabeth dragged herself out of bed and wobbled out of Cabin 3 for the first time in many months. She was greeted by a ridiculously clear sky and the fresh smell of strawberries. The camp’s always-a-bright-sunny-day gift (curse) suddenly gave her the irrational urge to punch the sun and sky god in the face. 

The heavens should be weeping.

Shaking the thought away, she began walking in the direction of the Big House. Inside Chiron, Dionysus, Apollo, and Aphrodite were playing Pinochle with their head counsellors. With a soft knock on the open door, Annabeth let herself in. Chiron was the only one to bother looking at who had come in and immediately at the sight of her his cards dropped with a gasp, “Annabeth!” 

Heads snapped in her direction at that and Piper flew out of her chair to throw herself at her, “Oh my god Annabeth, come come! Play with us.”

She hated it. 

Annabeth hated their cautious smiles and sneaked up glances at her like they were waiting for the glue holding her broken shards to give away. With a nod, she pulled out a seat to get comfortable in. She ignored the side stares and watched as they resumed playing. 

She would stay strong. She had already cried her eyes dry. 

When the round was over, Apollo slammed his hand on the table, startling everyone and heaved out a loud sigh, “Ok, so for the…” a tentative glance at her, “event in two days. Has everyone prepared?” Corus of mumbled agreements echoed. She tuned them out, lost in her own thoughts until a hand covered her own and a soft voice lulled her back to reality, “Annabeth, darling?” 

Annabeth raised her gaze to meet the woman and immediately regretted it. Beautiful sea green eyes stared at her with a touch of concern. They were so achingly familiar but also extremely foreign with their softer edges unlike his stormy ones filled with determination and dare she say unconditional love that always managed to make her feel so special. 

She swallowed hard and refused to meet the love goddess’ eyes before answering, “Yes, my lady?” 

Aphrodite shook her head and gently squeezed her hand before smiling, “Why don’t you check if Olympus is ready for the Funeral?” Annabeth swallowed again and bobbed her chin lightly. With one last reassuring squeeze, the Goddess of Love flashed her to Olympus. 

In two days time, a funeral in Percy’s name would be held. That is unless…he came back. Annabeth quickly stomped on the spark of hope before it could catch fire. Such thoughts were extremely dangerous. If he was alive, he would have returned by now just as the prophecy stated. No way he was going to come back just at the nick of time…at least that’s what she tried to tell herself to avoid disappointment. 

She could clearly remember the day those few lines of the future the fates whispered ignited deadly hope in her. Hope that had died in pain she didn’t want to relive any time soon. 

Annabeth barged into Rachel’s cave without any sort of knocking on the pathetic excuse of a door. The oracle’s eyes went wide when she saw her bloodied clothes and almost weeping injuries. Setting her paintbrush she asked worriedly, “Annabeth–” 

“Where is he?” She was roughly interrupted when Annabeth grabbed her collar. When Rachel didn’t answer, she shook the poor girl, ignoring Piper’s protests behind her, “I said, where is he?!” 

Rachel stared at her friend in disbelief and when she opened her mouth to explain, green smoke instead of words poured out. Annabeth quickly dropped the girl and backed away. Green fumes surrounded and overwhelmed her, nearly distracting her from Delphi’s words. 

“Do not venture down, wisdom’s daughter,

For the sea will rage in slaughter.

A full turn in time,

A complete cycle of prime, 

If he returns not, 

Olympus may chime.

In Tartarus' grasp,

A fate untold, 

Where shadows reign and dreams grow cold.”

Annabeth stood, frozen in shock and horror as Rachel crumbled to the ground like a puppet whose strings were cut. Annabeth felt her breath catch in her throat and delicious hope flooded her senses. He was alive. Percy was alive and although she clearly was not allowed to go save him herself, there was a chance he would come back. He would come back to her.

That night, Annabeth watched as Rachel drew her visions. They were vague and dark but it was there. Deep down somewhere, her Seaweed Brain was alive…he would come back.

But, he hadn’t. After 363 days with only around 48 hours left for a full year, her Percy had not. She hadn’t seen his sea green eyes, hadn’t fallen asleep in his strong muscular arms that made her feel safe in the most dangerous places, hadn’t raked her fingers through his black messy mane and watched him nearly purr in pleasure in such a long, long time. 

She realised that, if not for the near photographic memory she got that came in a package deal with being a child of Athena, she would’ve surely started to forget how he looked. In fact, she already felt the edges of her memories ever so slightly, almost unnoticeable, begin to fuz. 

Well, another reason that Percy still looked like she only seen him a few weeks ago instead of a year was probably because of her near regular visits to the Hypnos cabin to ensure she relived every single moment without twisting the truth since she now had no Percy to make sure she remembered everything right. 

Chapter Text

*dreams/flashbacks in italics *

It had been four days since Percy finally evacuated everyone out of Tartarus safely. Three days since Will Solace was sent with them. Two days since Nico, with a lot of persuading and convincing from him, followed his boyfriend out. And one day since he had been willingly left in the literal oven the treacherous pit was all alone. 

Well if a curse counted as willingness. 

But soon, he’d make it out too. He’d reunite his people and give them the home they deserved. And…and see her. Annabeth. Just the thought of her pushed and fastened his slowing blows at the monster hord in front of him. His body ached horribly from a curse an aria had given him as if the hundreds of ugly gashes and weeping wounds weren’t enough already. 

He kept killing and killing and killing until he couldn’t feel the Sword of the Blessed (the fates he had met a year ago were the ones who called it that, not him) in his hands and blindly swung the onyx blade around instead of taking proper aim. Slashing through a chimera, Percy glanced up at the hole in the walls of the pit where light streamed from. 

Tartarus had kept his promise. His tattoos (blessing marks? Brands?), the one tartar sauce gave him in particular, throbbed and pulsed while trying to heal his all too many injuries. Godsdamnit, couldn’t this cursed place be as friendly (if he could even be called that) as the deity himself? Stupid ancient laws. Gave him a fucking headache. 

Side-stepping the giant foot of a cyclops, he continued to run (fight) towards the growing beacon of light. Oh, he had to make it, four years in Tartarus, no matter how not-as-bad-as-he-had-feared it had been with his people and old friends, was just too much. How much time had even passed up on Earth? He still looked like he was around 17 to 19, so maybe a year or two?

Never mind that he would make it and he would see the love of his life, go to New Rome for an education, talk with his mom, and figure out all the shit that was going on in his longer-than-he-had-expected life. 

He would make it…

—xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx—

Annabeth checked, then double, then triple-checked that everything was in place. Everything had to be perfect. It was the least the greatest and strongest and best-boyfriend-who-fell-into-hell-for-you demigod in history deserved. She made sure there was not a single speckle out of place. 

The flowers were arranged in patterned spirals around columns and pillars, all in intended order. Bundles of Sunflowers, lilies, hydrangea, tulips, carnations, anemones (red and blue), chrysanthemums, forget-me-nots, columbines, salvias, black-eyed susans, hyacinths, gladiolus, daffodils, king protea, and many, many baby’s breaths woven in between. 

It was extravagant but no one even dared, would not even dare to try and tell Annabeth that, at least as long as they valued their lives. Glancing around one last time, she walked out of the ballroom to ask Dionysus if he was done picking out the drinks and setting the bar up. 

Annabeth took a deep breath. 

Annabeth straightened out her clothes. 

Annabeth covered her ears as screams split the air.

—xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx—

Poseidon sat up high on his throne looking like the closest thing to death. Bags were under his lifeless sea-green eyes while his once black now white hair blanketed his hunched shoulders in wilted waves. His face was sulking and he looked so weak . The mighty earthshaker was nowhere to be seen.

He was so far gone that when Zeus and Hades began to argue about who was their mother Rhea’s favorite, he merely nodded! This surprisingly worried the thunder god so much that he started to shower Poseidon with gifts! The things that boy changed! Even Athena stopped glaring! 

Hestia, although extremely saddened at her brother’s state, had to admit that she liked the change in Zeus. The guy went around building the sea god temples and offering him the most lavish gift while taking care of him like a mother hen! It was completely unheard of! Hades wasn’t any better!

It was almost cute. 

Hestia would’ve laughed at the state of the king of the gods and the god of the underworld if the cost of such improvements wasn’t the disappearance– the death of the greatest hero she had ever seen. Percy Jackson. Oh, how he had flipped Olympus upside down. 

Aphrodite was crying with the heartbreaks she felt. Hermes wasn’t much better. Apollo ever since he had been turned mortal a while ago was more human than ever. Ares even was muttering around how he couldn’t kick the boy’s bum. And Athena. Oh, dear Athena, she would never admit it, but she was the second most saddened after Poseidon.

Hestia wiped away a few stray tears of her own at the train of thoughts and continued to tend to the burning hearth, it was stronger despite the sea god looking like he was about to fade. Percy had strengthened their bonds with each other especially now with the gods visiting their children more often, increasing their worship. 

The goddess of the hearth glanced up to find Zeus trying to gain Poseidon’s attention again when suddenly the hearth trembled and flared as screams erupted from right behind the gilded throne room doors. All the gods snapped towards the noise when they began to open. 

Creak.  

They flung open. 

Hestia’s fingers began to tremble at the sight in front of her.

Tears pooled in her eyes. 

A face covered in blood, gold, and grim smiled a wicked grin as if he wasn’t painting the floors with his gore and asked,“Missed me?”

He dropped to the ground. 

Chaos erupted amongst the Olympians and the next thing Hestia knew, Poseidon had Percy's bloody body in his arms, shouting, “APOLLO!” The sun god immediately flashed the boy away, leaving the sea god whose eyes for once were filled with something, fear. The goddess of the hearth rushed towards her brother and tried to calm him. Zeus along with Hades were beside her a second later. 

Everything was happening too fast.

Her brother’s eyes kept flailing around as he attempted to get up, “My son. My Percy.” 

“He’s alive brother. He will be fine. I’ll make sure of it. I swear it on the River Styx,” promised Hades, calming the sea god down a tad. 

Zeus grabbed Poseidon’s arm and heaved him up, “Come now, it’s unsightly to be seen like this.” Together they flashed to Chaos Knows Where, leaving Hestia to deal with the whole commotion. Hopefully, everything will be alright with Percy. Poseidon had drowned nearly all of Odysseus’ ships when he turned his son blind. Hestia didn’t want to know what he would do if his favorite son died . 

Hestia turned around to find that thankfully, it seemed that Dionysus had pretty much taken care of the chaos. Hestia was about to return to the hearth when something crashed into her. Annabeth. Aphrodite grabbed her before Hestia could and twirled the girl around while screaming, “Oh he's back! He’s really really back!” 

Annabeth pushed her off and demanded, “Who? Who’s back?” 

Aphrodite smiled and flung herself at Athena’s daughter once again, “Oh my dear, Perseus has returned!” 

“What?! What do you–”

“Annabeth!” The girl whipped around to find Athena clad in full armor with a frown on her face. “Come, you should not be here for now,” Wisdom made to grab her child but she couldn’t.

“Mother, what does she mean he’s back?! Please tell me!” Tears streamed down her disbelieving face. 

Athena pursed her lips, “Apollo’s tending to the boy’s injuries at the moment. You cannot see him.” 

Hestia quickly held Annabeth as she swayed on her feet, “Mother, please! Please I need to– I need to make sure myself. Please.” She was full-out sobbing right now. 

Athena opened her mouth to tell her off when Hermes popped up, “Let’s go, kid.” 

“Hermes!” Protested Athena but it was too late. Both her daughter and brother were gone.

Oh how deeply Hestia prayed that the boy would live. 

—xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx—

Alive.

Alive.

Alive.

Alive.

Alive.

Annabeth kept repeating the mantra as she watched Apollo heal Percy’s injuries. They were bad. They were so brutal and horrid that Annabeth couldn’t stop the sob that tore itself from her throat. Percy. She held his hand tighter as Apollo held his glowing hands to a particular wound.

It was oozing a dark, acidic poison mixed with his blood, gory and covered in puss. She couldn’t look without bile rising up her throat. He was alive, she kept repeating to herself, hand firmly pressed against his slow but strong pulse. Alive. Alive. Alive.

She couldn’t believe it. 

“Done.” Apollo’s voice made her snap her eyes open. The god gave a wry smile and got up from his seat only to drop back down. 

“Apollo!” Annabeth moved up to help the sun god who only waved her away.

“I’m fine. Just need rest. You can stay with him, but be careful alright?” He snapped his finger making some food and nectar appear on the table in the centre of the infirmary. 

Annabeth nodded once and looked away as Apollo flashed off. She glanced down at Percy and brushed away long black curls from his eyes, letting her finger linger on his cheek. His hair had gotten longer. His cheeks were hollow. Lips cracked and pale. His tan was practically gone. He looked older. Bigger than she remembered. More muscled, arms and legs thicker and more toned. Even the hand in hers swallowed her own now. 

And he had tattoos . Annabeth frowned as she traced them. On his left arm to his chest were stars . Small little white star that glowed slightly. On the same arm, through the stars was a shadow circling up his arm like a whip. It had swirling colors of violet and indigo mixed with void black. The shadow licked as far as the center of his chest and with a start, Annabeth realized they were moving. 

The stars and shadows and the tiny pink and white flowers she saw when she looked close enough, they all moved. They were beautiful. Annabeth traced every single one and every single new scar while marveling at how the tattoos glowed and his injuries healed faster than normal. 

A blessing. They were blessing marks. 

Her eyes went wide, what had happened down there?

Her head was starting to pound.

She would ask him when he woke up. Annabeth leaned her head into the crook of her arms and as she stared at the shadows cast by his long lashes, she began to drift off until sleep finally took her.

Chapter Text

There was a blanket of warmth draped over him. Heat so delicious travelled up from his hand and spread throughout his body. Despite the ache in his bones, he felt at peace. The fresh scent of lemons and dew calmed him even more. Percy shifted in the cool sheets, furrowing deeper into the soft pillows, and turned onto his side sighing in contentment. He hadn’t felt this comfortable and safe in such a long time. Tartarus was always so hot and never warm and– 

His eyes flew open but immediately squeezed shut when the sunlight stung them. What the fuck? There was no sun in Tartarus. Where in hell was he? Was this some joke from Tartarus? Was it a dream? He tried to feel his surroundings, starting with his own body. He was curled up on his left side while something– a hand, a warm and small hand held his own in a loose grip. 

Slowly Percy brought his other hand over his eyes and carefully peeked out through his finger. He was met with a wave of thick strands of hair. Long blond curls that caught the bright morning sun. Percy froze as he watched the person turn his way and an absolutely gorgeous face took his breath away. 

Staring at the familiar face that he couldn’t pin down, Percy was content with staying in this little dream, watching the light pout of her lips and counting the small freckles that dusted her cheeks. 

Bringing up the hand that was currently not in the clutches of the beautiful girl, he brushed away a lock of hair that had fallen on her plump lips. Gods, was it even possible to be this divine-looking? Shaking the thought away, he carefully tucked the strand behind the angel’s ear. 

The angel’s eyes flew open. Sleepy and grey like storm and grey like her eyes. They were so familiar.

The eyes widened and suddenly the girl jolted up, startling Percy. He held her gaze as she swept a worried glance at his injuries. There was something rather familiar about her that he just couldn’t shake off. He knew this woman. Before Tartarus. It was Percy’s turn to bolt up, except well, he nearly pulled a stitch. 

Hands immediately grabbed him as he groaned in pain pushing him down gently. Right, you could feel pain in dreams, but was it always this bad? “Oh gods, Percy, don’t move ok? I’ll call Apollo in a minute” The girl spoke, her voice soft yet strong. Laced with foreign concern. Percy nodded and did so as the angel grabbed something from the stand beside him and held the end of a straw to his lips.  

It wasn’t the angel’s words that had him calming, but the use of his name. No one other than Luke and a few others in his inner circle called him that, so whoever this woman was, she wasn’t an enemy. Plus this was a dream . Percy closed his lips around the straw and took a sip. Warmth immediately flooded him and he tasted his mother’s chocolate chip cookies in liquid form.

Too vivid. 

Percy shook the thought away. 

He let out a jagged breath as his body ached less and throat felt less dry. He turned his focus away from the nectar slowly and nearly cried when he saw the fully gilded room and the light morning sun painting the angel’s face. The bright flowers and the soft sound of rushing water.

Dreams were never so real and detailed. 

This wasn’t Tartarus. 

Memories began rushing.

Everything was in shambles with flashes of him riding an elevator, screams, pain and pushing doors and a slightly more vivid vision of him looking into electric eyes. Nothing else. 

Percy whimpered in pain as his head felt like someone had reached inside and was squeezing his brain. A hand touched his head and suddenly the pain was gone, though so were the shards of memories. He looked up to find those oh-so-familiar eyes filled with concern. That was new. No one ever looked at him like that. Maybe a very long time ago, but not since– he couldn’t remember…

Oh…he couldn’t remember . 

Tears burned his eyes. The hand on his forehead slid to cub his face. Staring at those beautiful grey pools he thought if anyone had ever held him so gently. Luke certainly hadn’t. Zoe would kill him before she did so. He and the others weren’t even that close. Bianca maybe, but never like this. 

There was something about the touch. Something so tender and raw. Something so familiar. He knew this girl. Knew her like the back of his own hand. Knew her better than he knew himself. But he was scared– no, terrified that he would turn out to be wrong. 

Reaching a hand to touch her face he wondered out loud, “Annabeth?” 

That face broke into a beautiful smile and tears streamed down her face, “Percy.” She flung herself at him forcing his breath out of him, “Your, ok. Oh gods you're ok!” She pulled away to hold his face and laughed. He decided it was his favourite sound. 

Percy could now die happy. 

“Annabeth,” he whispered, eyes racking over her face. Cheeks sunken yet beautiful. He wrapped his arms around her frame. She was smaller than he remembered, felt so frail. There were bags under her eyes, looking darker than they were supposed to with the shadows cast by her lashes.  

She was as pretty and even more than he remembered. 

“Hey.” 

She smiled at him again, “Hey.” 

He couldn’t help but trace her face with his hand, “Annabeth.” 

“Hmm?” She closed her eyes as he grazed her lashes with his thumb. 

“Are you real?” 

She nodded. 

Percy dropped his face to the crook of her neck and took in her scent. Lemons of her shampoo and a distinct scent of books and paper. “Annabeth,” he couldn’t help but mutter against her skin. He felt the tears in his eyes fall and his breath turning ragged as sobs began to wreck his body, “My Annabeth…” he croaked out. 

He felt one of her hands going up and down his back as her other hand scratched his head trying to calm him down, “Shh, I’m here. You’re out. You’re ok.” 

Percy didn’t know how long he stayed there in the love of his life’s arms crying like a new born baby, but when he was done, the sun was beginning to set and he felt even more exhausted than before. Yes, the lump in his chest was gone, but now his eyes were stinging. 

“Annabeth,” he called out. 

“Yeah?” She answered.

Percy smiled at that, “Nothing, I just like saying your name.” 

Annabeth snored, “Since when are you such a romantic.” 

He ripped himself away from her and feigned hurt, “Hey!” 

She giggled and grabbed his face, “You should sleep now, Romeo. Wait a bit, I’ll grab you some water and come back, ok?” With a nod from him she left and he lowered himself into the bed once again. 

“Hey, man wassup?” The voice startled him, making him reach at the sword mark right on his side but then he stopped when he saw who it was. 

“Apollo.”

The god grinned, “That’s me. You’re healing surprisingly well, you know.” 

Percy raised an eyebrow, “And?” 

The guy shrugged and pushed off the wall he was leaning on when Percy felt Annabeth walking back in, “Welp! I’ll check up on you tomorrow. Cya! And, I’d be careful about all those… tattoos if I were you,” with a wink and bright golden light, he left. 

How peculiar. 

Percy grimaced at his choice of word, he had spent too much time around Zoë.

Annabeth walked in with a questioning look and a cup of cold water with her. Pushing the glass into his hand she asked, “Apollo?” 

Bringing the glass to his lips he muttered, “Yeah,” and drowned the cool liquid in one go. He gave the cup back to Annabeth who set it aside on the stand and sat on the edge of the bed.

“You should sleep, seaweed brain,” she brushed a too long hair strand out of his eyes. Percy smiled at the nickname and leaned into her touch.

Percy fell asleep and began to remember…

Chapter Text

Percy jolted upright, his skin searing as if flames licked at his every nerve. He tried to force air into his lungs, but it felt like it was choking him from within. Everything felt wrong. It was too dark. Too hot. The ground beneath him was hard—too hard to be his bed. Panic clawed at him. Had it all been a dream? Had nothing been real?

His hands trembled as he instinctively reached for his sword. It wasn’t there. His heart got stuck in his throat. How? How could it be gone? He never let go of it. He struggled to his feet, only to crash into something. He heard the sound of shattering glass, and suddenly, it was too bright.

Percy groaned, squeezing his eyes shut as cold hands touched his back and grabbed his face, their touch almost shocking against his overheated skin.

“Apollo!… Fever!… He’s burning up!”

The voices around him were disjointed, muffled like they were underwater. He tried to cover his ears, but the ringing was relentless.

——————

There were screams muffled behind trembling hands as they tried to stay quiet. For years they had suffered enough of Tartarus to built up walls impenetrable by the horrors. Except, for the more recent part of those years, they had found a sanctuary, a safe place in the lands deep within hell cleared by the blessings humming inside the Son of Poseidon. They had forgotten. Remembering only just enough to not be driven to insanity.

Percy clutched an impossibly plain black sword in his bleeding hand. A blade that never felt quite right but one he’d grown an attachment to. He sensed detachment. The familiar dissociation that came with killing. He imagined a threnody bouncing out of the people he ushered on towards a frantic Nico in the distance.

The Ghost King glanced at him over his shoulder, a silent question knit into the crease between his brows. Percy was far too busy to reassure him that he was fine. Other than the fact that the powers he had started to consider almost one and the same as the ones he had been born with having been sealed away—Godsknowhow—he was faring pretty dam well.

That reminded him of Zoe; he wondered what she was doing right now.

He couldn’t exactly see what was in front of him though the lack of the familiar buzzing in his veins was slightly off putting. It resurfaced memories best lift to form cobwebs in the cupboard under the staircase at his mom’s apartment building. Memories that made big ol’ nostalgic embrace him.

A soft susurration in his ears, “Seaweed brain.”

A flash of gold pulled him away from the marinating emotions. Will’s glow-in-the-dark hair waved like a beacon in the darkness caving in on them. He had reached Nico. Finally. Percy’s senses were filled with the burning scent of hell and the deafening noise of monsters shrieking. With a familiar tug in his gut, the dark waters of Acheron exploded. Moans of sorrow distracting the inhabitants of hell as they lost themselves in laments for most only knew pain.

“Percy!” Nico’s chocked off warning came too late.

———————

“…Percy!…” A familiar voice called his name, soft and comforting. He wanted to reach out, to hold onto that voice.

“Breathe, Percy… Breathe…” This voice was deeper, like the warmth of the sun after a long winter. Summer. Percy distantly thought that he probably hated summer now.

Suddenly, air flooded his lungs, and he inhaled desperately, a choked sob escaping his lips. The oppressive heat faded, replaced by cool, fresh air. It wasn’t dark anymore. The suffocating pressure that had wrapped around his chest was gone.

Someone pulled him into a hug, strong arms encircling him. Percy didn’t resist. He buried his face in the crook of their neck, inhaling deeply. Lemons and paper. His heart steadied. It hadn’t been a dream.

“Percy?” The soft voice again. Annabeth.

“Hm?” he managed, his voice raspy and raw.

Annabeth sighed, a sound of relief that melted some of the lingering tension in his chest. “By the gods, Percy. You’re okay. You’re safe.”

“Not…”

“What?” She tried to pull back, to see his face, but he clung to her tighter, as if letting go would send him spiraling back into the nightmare.

“Not Percy,” he mumbled against her shoulder.

“What do you mean by—oh. Seaweed Brain?”

He couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. His wise girl was so smart. “Mn.”

Annabeth’s fingers brushed through his hair, grounding him further. “Are you hungry?”

His stomach growled in response, and she chuckled softly. Gently, she pulled him away just enough to look into his eyes. “Hey, Seaweed Brain.”

Percy blinked, still half-dazed, but he managed a lopsided grin. “Hey, Wise Girl.”

“Alright, alright! Of course, please ignore me. Your savior,” Apollo’s voice cut in. Annabeth rolled her eyes and glared at him. Apollo’s expression turned more serious as he addressed Percy, “Your father wants to see you.”

Percy blinked. Once. Twice. And before he could respond, the fountain beside him erupted, sending a cascade of water into the air. Calloused hands grabbed him, dragging him towards the water. He remotely heard Annabeth screaming his name and water enveloped him, the world dissolving into the familiar embrace of the ocean.

The panic that had gripped him earlier dissipated completely as the sea surrounded him. Here, in the depths, he could breathe again. He relaxed, letting the current carry him into the dark, cool safety of his father’s arms.

—————————

Percy just floated in the endless abyss; his mind blissfully silent. The water was a pleasant cold and rush in his ears. He just took in a deep breath. Closed his eyes. He had the distant thought of crying in relief. He hadn’t been submerged in such friendly waters in such a painfully long time.

Somehow, he felt himself get cradled into a chest. Broad, powerful. He felt like a child all over again. He felt small. Safe.

Yeah, he was definitely gonna cry at this rate.

“Perseus,” the sound rumbled from the chest his ear was resting on and the ocean vibrated with the voice. Percy felt too tired to open his eyes or be bothered by the use of his full name.

His father sighed and stroked his hair. Percy didn’t know what made him let his father hold him like a baby. He was too tired to question it, and plus it felt nice to be held by someone bigger and stronger than him. A lump got stuck in his throat. He bit his lip to prevent a sob from escaping but he was so tired. Why was he suddenly so emotional?

His body trembled slightly. He didn’t remember being this close with his father, would it bother him if he broke down?

“Percy. Look I know you probably don’t really feel like it’s true, but…you’re safe. No one can touch you here.”

Percy didn’t register the crash of strong waves of emotions finally bursting through his carefully constructed dam. It wasn’t like the silent tears he had shed with Annabeth, no they were loud, ugly, and desperate sobs. His father caressed his back and held him through it.