A/N: Prompt 5: Outsides! Percabeth because I've never tried it before! I hope you enjoy it!

Out of the frying pan

It felt like they had been walking for years. Percy glanced over at Annabeth who had a steely expression on her face. It had been almost a year since they had fallen into Tartarus, he presumed. They had fought their way through the place but he knew something had changed in both of them. Seeing things not even meant for the eyes of gods will change you. Limping slightly, Percy jogged to catch up with Annabeth who had stopped ahead, breathing heavily.

"Sit down," he instructed and Annabeth obeyed. She had been badly injured when they had first fell and the wound (three long gashes across her back) was refusing to heal. Percy unwound the makeshift bandages and bit his lip when he saw the shredded flesh. Calmly, he tore a strip of his jacket and using the water they had collected yesterday, he cleaned and redressed the wounds.

"All done?" Annabeth asked. Percy responded by walking around and kissing her lightly on the forehead.

"All done. Come on, we haven't got far to get to the gates." Helping her to her feet, Percy intertwined their hands weakly, Annabeth smiled. Trudging forward again, they kept their weapons out. Riptide was going to need some care after this; it was bent slightly and nicked in several places. Annabeth's knife was almost blunt and stained with monster blood, a testament to the amount of time they'd spent in this fiery wasteland, fighting and destroying. Ahead, the smoke and mist shifted and Percy caught glimpses of a pair of huge wrought-iron black gates.

"Look, Annabeth. The gates of Death." She raised her head and looked up at the swirling mists. As if the sight of the gates had given them new life, Percy and Annabeth picked up the pace and within half an hour, they stood before them. Towering well over 30 feet, the gates of Death loomed ominously over them. Percy touched the centre of the gates and was surprised when they shifted. Annabeth came over to help him and they both pushed until the gates opened enough to allow them passage. As they slipped through, a white light enveloped them and fearfully, they grasped each other's hands. Then they heard a familiar voice calling for them.

"Percy! Annabeth! Hold on! We're coming!"

"Nico?!" asked Annabeth and there was a tug on Percy's wrist. He squinted against the light and he could make out the faint outline of a small skinny boy. Pulling Annabeth along, he walked towards him and Nico grabbed his arms. He yanked on a rope and the three of them were hoisted into the air. Crashing down, Percy looked around. He saw the smiling faces of his friends; Nico, Hazel, Frank, Leo, Piper and Jason. He looked over at Annabeth who was smiling as well.

"Out of the frying pan," she quipped.

"And back into the fire," he replied, grinning as they stood up. The sun rose over the Argo II as the reunited friends hugged and regaled tales of the last year. They were together again. Ready to save the world another time.