Chapter song: Welcome home- Radical Face
Disclaimer: I am but playing in the sandbox of Rick's awesome creation
Percy misses home, deeply, achingly.
You'd think after spending weeks drinking fire and being almost constantly perused by every angry monster they've ever killed and their mothers, this would be the least of his worries. But in this moment, it's the only thing on his mind. It's funny how when you're hurting, it's the only thing that exists in that moment-nothing else. It consumes you, slowly, like the ocean; an ocean of grief. At first you're only ankle deep and then before you know it, you're in way over your head. But he's in Tartarus now. He's taking the first watch while Annabeth gets some rest. She's deep asleep which isn't surprising considering their utter exhaustion from spending every minute of every day just trying to survive long enough to make it through the next twenty-four hours. In fact, exhaustion doesn't even begin to cover it anymore. He'll gladly take any of his all-nighters over this- it's doubtful either of them will complain about simple fatigue ever again. And it's certain that Annabeth feels the same way too. Reminded of her, he looks down once again at her sleeping form and smiles. It's awful here, but there's no one else he'd rather have by his side. With her there, he's sure he can get through this. Leaning down, he brushes a stray blonde curl behind her ear and let his gaze linger for a moment, before focusing back on the horizon.
It's empty, has been all night, but he can't let his guard down for even a moment. So he focuses on the barren landscape and settles back in for the long-haul.
And as soon as he does, he starts thinking all over again. It's the same as always; about New York, his mom, Camp Half-Blood- it's been happening a lot lately, probably one of the many side effects from being in this pit of eternal damnation- but his mind is especially loud tonight. Percy just can't seem to get it out of his head. He thinks about the good old days, about his mom's gifts of blue candy, his mom, Montauk, Paul. About his school hopping and the original prophecy group; just him, Annabeth and Grover. What he wouldn't go back to the old days...He'd never asked to be a half-blood; none of them had, and it wasn't easy when his entire world, his entire short life, got turned upside down. It'd never been easy, but he hadn't known true fear until this. He'd done his time with the whole saving-the-world-from-Kronos thing, even though he's never realised it up til now.
What am I doing here? What is Annabeth doing here?
They need a break, he decides. Hell, they've earned it.
He places his hand firmly on the warm earth, eyes fixed on the black emptiness far into the distance, almost as if addressing it, "If- no, I can't afford to think like that- when we get out of here, I'm done. I'm getting out of Tartarus, I'm finishing this Gaea thing and then, I swear it on the River Styx, I'm just done. No more. I'm going to New Rome with Annabeth. I'm taking hold of my own future- not leaving it up to the Fates. I'm done being a pawn of the gods. I'm done giving my mom a heart attack. I'm done."
He stares into the depths for a few lingering moments, then nods with a new determination.
"I'm never letting you get away from me, Wisegirl, never again.
Not quite sure what that was, but oh well. A short oneshot idea I couldn't get out of my head.