Had the Death Lived

by Starry is here don't freak out

Bianca di Angelo sacrificed herself to save Percy, Grover, Thalia, and Zoë. But what if Percy was 3 seconds quicker and went first? What would it mean to Annabeth, Nico, the Great Prophecy, and the whole world? Titan's Curse AU. House of Hades spoilers. Pairings are undecided, most likely none.

-The Garage of the Gods-

Bianca's POV
"What did you take?" Percy demanded.
Before I could answer, I heard a huge metal noise and a shadow against the sky.
"Move!" we both tumbled down the hill, defective Talos's foot stamping on the ground right where we've been. Grover did a little melody on his pipe and a live wire curled around one of the giant's legs.
"Come on!" Percy told me, but I was thinking. It was for Nico, the statue. I reached into my pocket and took out a metal figure. I'd abandoned Nico for my own wants, and I was only trying to make amends.
"It... it was for Nico. It was the only statue he didn't have."
"How could you think of Mythomagic at a time like this?" My sight went blurry. "Throw it down. Maybe the giant will leave us alone." I dropped it, but nothing happened. In the background, Grover tumbled over a pile of scrap. Thalia lightning-shocked the giant, but it was soon up. It looked about as ticked off as any defective metal giant could get.
"Crazy-idea time." Percy said suddenly.
"Anything." I replied nervously.
"There may be a way to control the thing. Switches or something. I'm going to get inside." Yes, just as crazy as when he told me and Nico to jump off a cliff.
"How? You'll have to stand under its foot! You'll be crushed."
"Distract it." said Percy. "I'll just have to time it right."
"Percy, wa-" but he was already gone, running up to the giant.
"What are you doing, foolish boy?" Zoë yelled.
"Crazy idea, but-" he avoided a foot. "Get it to raise its foot!" Zoë looked uncertain, but whether fortunately, or unfortunately she shot arrows at its face. Grover fell, and Thalia ran to get to him. The two of them were about to be crushed, but then the giant paused. It cocked its head to the side, then did the Hawaiian Hula dance. Thalia dragged Grover over to us.
"Of course Percy would do that." I said.
"Percy's inside?!" Thalia freaked.
The giant was now punching itself. Then it slowly began to fall apart at the joints while still running. Worrying for Percy, the rest of us chased the giant, but arms and legs and other pieces got in our way. Just when we thought it was okay, a live wire wrapped around the remaining parts and the whole thing was electrocuted.
"It's light now, maybe we can go look for him." I suggested through a feeling in the back of my head.
"No. He's gone." Grover said sadly. "The prophecy. emOne shall be lost in the land without rain/em."
Oh no. Why did I let him go instead of me? We were in the desert, and Percy Jackson was gone. It was all my fault.