This is a 'happy' version of the battle and reunions- meaning no deaths. Maybe I will make a part 2 that will be more 'realistic' of battle. But for now… R-squared owns and I simply give my view J
Safe: Sally's Little Hero.
The day the last monster died, the hour Gaea lost power, the minutes leading up to the drop of blades, those were the best seconds of the seven's life, and Nico's. Greece was saved, and so was Olympus, and Annabeth, Percy thought triumphantly. Gaea had fallen as all the demigods took their own elements into Hers, using the good power of ancient Greece together, along with the anger from Tartarus, the unsettling of being alone in the world, even the sheer pain of rejection and loss- that was what was defeated her for the demigods. The gods- still Roman/Greek disappeared in several flashes of light after Greece glowed dimly with fading power and stabilized. Hestia lingered to look Jason and Percy in the eyes before fading in a 30 foot flame.
Any onlooker would have been scared for life, not like Percy, Nico, and Annabeth after Tartarus, but still. Nico, Jason, and Percy were terrifying-and now they were dead on their feet, like the others. Nico and Hazel kept to themselves, and watched everyone's back while fighting- the jewels of the earth, skeleton warriors, and shadows morphed out of anger from the two children's life screw-ups. The demigods- Roman and Greek- still endured a time change that linked them, and they smiled mid battle as Hazel's cursed rubies and diamonds few out of the ground with power. They aged beyond their years, like Leo. The Greek demigod had build endless amounts of swords to prepare everyone, and identified the chinks of several armors, while setting dozens of monsters aflame. He was a leader- prominent- on the ship after Percy and Annabeth fell and became more serious if necessary. Though, he and Nico would always be the comical relief if Percy was smart for a chance. Piper and Annabeth worked alongside each other for the end of the battle- they both started out back to back with their boyfriends, for lack of a better word. They were so much more than that, but even the daughter of Aphrodite wouldn't be hokey enough to call Jason her soul mate or chosen one.
Annabeth and Percy spent the night in Percy's room the night before, to make this day of war less difficult, but as the certainty of a decent outcome came, they gave each other a wary grin and moved different positions. The same went for Piper and Jason- though not the night in each other's room, because Jason still had Roman standards in him- and they realized they needed to be sure of each other and fight long and hard. Piper charmspeaked half the monsters into attacking each other and used Katopris to see future moves of monsters. Annabeth told everyone the game plan once she arrived back with Percy- though days later because of the adjustment from pure black darkness to a wonderful, blue world with friends. Frank fought as many animals and himself, while shooting arrows with the precision of Artemis herself. His baby face had been etched into a determined, dirt and sweat covered reflection in the days before the war. Even more so as the Athena Parthenos exploded next to Athena herself.
The gods and goddesses fought with the demigods, but never next to them. It was if Olympus' blockage still applied in the middle of their thrones literally crumbling apart. Poseidon's only communication was a gentle and subtle thumbs up the Percy, next to Annabeth, as the monsters flooded in initially. Jason never met Jupiter/Zues' eyes at all. But the boys fought a noble fight and tore the elements around. them. up. Water flooded in as Percy unleashed his fear and anger. Thunderbolts from Jason shock the ground at the right time Poseidon and Percy created an earthquake. Though Poseidon worked with the gods on fighting Gaea directly, he still worked with his son in some concept- they held a strong bond, surprisingly. …Well as strong as it could get. Everyone fought for the cause…and won. Although Greece had some mean floods and cracks, it was safe- and so was the world.
It was an unbelievable thing as they all stared at each other. People yelled around as they woke and emerged from houses. The group had learned that many people could see through the mist here, do to it being the original home of all this real mythology. So… a quarter of the crowd could really see what was happening, but had never saw it to comprehend. But that could be settled later, it didn't matter to Annabeth or Percy that a couple stared, terrified, at the dust and blood on Riptide and its holder. They were the first to get up.
It was a terrible and touching site, equally. On one hand, you saw the pure relief and love emitted from the two. It was beautiful. But you couldn't ignore the black eye Percy had, along with scratches and blood from him and others all over him. Annabeth didn't have the black eye, but her ankle was definitely fractured in one way or another. They both had a limp but it was enduring, along with the pain, just to witness the other breathing an alive.
Annabeth started crying before Percy could- they were both just so relieved they would live past this. Their hug was short, just like their kiss, but they returned to holding each other and gazed upon the others, all sharing a short lived half smile before crawling to the Argo II and passing out on the deck. They stayed there for a few hours letting out snores and covering the wood with drool.
Once everyone woke and could stand for more than five minutes they realized the pain now that adrenaline was gone. Annabeth could barely hold the tears back from her ankle, Percy and Hazel were wheezing due to monsters slamming their chests. Leo and Nico were laying in chairs, trying to feel accomplished. Piper and Frank were in the best shape and were in the lower deck to gather medicine and supplies, Frank wondered how they would get the necessary ambrosia and nectar for them. Coach Hedge was still out for the count, not even snoring or singing a twisted Pokemon theme song.
After the hour passed everyone was functioning properly, bandaged and temporarily fixed.
"Where to?" Leo asked. They all thought about that. The Roman camp was Jason, Frank, and Hazel's home, but could they go back so soon after war? Camp Half-Blood needed to be visited before the other camp, they all thought. But was it needed to see the gods now that the war was over, just like the Battle of Manhattan? They discussed for a while until Percy finally spoke his thoughts.
"New York's Upper East Side," he said loudly, like he was asking Fleecy to do him a solid.
"Where is that?" Jason asked.
"My mom and Paul's place." The demigods smiled. If Percy was… well him, his parents had to be the best and most comforting people in the world. They wouldn't mind a pick me up.
After they ate, they retired to their bunks, passing out in one night of dreamless, and nightmare less, sleep. Percy walked into Annabeth's room around 3, to see her in the hall on her way to his. They simply looked at each other- knowing the other could comfort them, even though no screams passed their lips for one night. (due to no nightmares) He walked up to her and grabbed her hand. They both closed the door and walked to the bed, just to cuddle and kiss. They held each other, and tonight Annabeth was there for Percy- he was more affected than he let on.
He and her were still the same person, essentially. They didn't go all 'Peeta Mellark' after the Capital, but they did get screwed-up. Percy was still loyal, caring, loving, breakable and ignorant, but his stress piled on him as his drowning fear slowly dissipated- he had met the expectancies. She still was strong, more breakable emotionally, but not clingy. She just… needed Percy. Missing him became effortless as a job. But tonight she learned especially what just being there meant. Percy gave her this amazing amount of trust and belief as she went solo and accomplished finding the Athena Parthenos and she was happy to show him she loved him equally.
Sometimes she felt she wasn't there for him enough, especially the days leading up to her quest, as she became distant. He visited her bunker several times and brought her food. He trusted her and let her leave when in Rome, to go solo. She realized over that lunch how she acted, and thought about how he overlooked it just to be happy with her. He fell into hell with her. He was perfectly flawed. She couldn't be happier to return comfort as his eyes went red with tears and he hugged her tightly. His pet peeve of her rubbing his back even became enduring as she brushed the faded point at the small of his back.
Few days passed until the demigods parked the ship and climbed into the parking lot of the apartments. Anxiety passed through Percy as he thought of seeing his mom after about 7-8 months. He needed to see her and Paul to fully confirm the war was over, it seemed fleeting but necessary for him as closure. Jason felt the same way, and wanted to see one caring person that knew honestly what they had endured. He and Percy talked about it the dinner before, and started their budding bro-mance over again, to much humor of Piper and Annabeth.
Percy ran ahead to the elevator, pausing to relish the sight of Macy, the door greeter who went wide eyed.
"Percy?"
"Long time no see," he grinned. She and him came to first name bassists because of seeing the other so much. He smiled again and ran inside.
The elevator wouldn't go fast enough. It binged as the others scrambled to keep up with ADHD boy with a desperate need for his mommy. They jam packed and Leo and Nico snickered: "Need your Mommy?" Leo asked with a grin. They cracked up, clutching their bruised chests, when he responded seriously with yes.
He ran to his door as Annabeth stayed behind to guide the others, beside Nico, to the apartment. He knocked on the door to no avail: No response. The door was locked and he pounded it again. The worry etched on his face as his hands started shaking- this could not be happening. Annabeth looked on worriedly while putting her hand out for their friends not to pass him yet. He dropped to the ground suddenly and flipped and mouse hole shaped curve at the floorboard; a secret hole. He grinned as he put the key in the lock. And from there everyone rushed into the door with Percy as they tried to get a good look.
"Mom?"
"For the last time Paul, I did send it off-" She started casually while walking out from her bedroom with a laundry basket. She looked up and stopped completely, dropping the basket while Percy dropped the key, and just stared.
"Percy?"
"Hi mom," he grinned. She ran to give him a hug and held back tears of relief like the strong woman she was. Her circles under her eyes were worst than ever before, she looked thinner-but not anorexic- and her hair was almost as salt and peppered as Paul's. She pulled back for only a second to disturb the neighbors for sure and call Paul: "Paul! Get in here!" He bounded into the room wearing his jeans and button up, complimenting his salt and pepper hair.
"Holy… Percy? Annabeth?" Annabeth grinned and nodded while walking forward to hug him, before the parents switched demigods, and laughed.
"Don't you ever do that to me again! Your grounded from your cellphone!" Sally scolded jokingly, using Percy's fake argument every time she scolded him. In normally went like this:
Sally: "Percy if I find one more candy wrapper on your floor your grounded."
Percy: "From what? My cellphone?"
She normally smacked his head and told him to pick it up from there. But this time everyone laughed.
Jason was surprised Percy lived in this small and cramped apartment, he expected a decent sized house because of the praise. But to find out the 'savior of Olympus' lived in a two bedroom, two bath apartment was shocking. And how did Annabeth come over so often when they all were mildly fitting in the living room? Though it was unexpected he smiled at Piper and Leo, they could see how cozy and home-ish it was.
"Who are your friends?" Paul asked.
"Their the other saviors," he laughed.
"I'm Jason, son of Jupiter." He said, starting introductions.
"Son of what?" Paul said, confused. Percy laughed and nudged his shoulder a bit, like Sally and Annabeth did; they looked like a happy family.
"Jupiter, um he…"
"I'm joking, Jason," He said, holding out his hand for him to shake. "I've heard about you, it's good to finally meet you. I was told you treated camp good." The demigods unfamiliar with the Jackson- Blofis household were surprised. Paul was as accepting of demigods and mythology as Sally- they respected them and actually cared. Tristan was the only other parent heard of from the eight in the room, excluding Sally and Paul.
The others followed suit and met Perce's parents with acceptance and ease as they all laughed about old jokes and Percy's baby stories. He acted embarrassed, and once he really was after his mom told them about Percy sitting her down and explaining that he and Annabeth started dating- and how happy he was after that, always getting dressed nice for a date. Annabeth had heard the stories plenty of times, but hearing of his joy comforted her. She then asked if anyone was hungry, to which Percy answered immediately and walked to the kitchen, making all the boys laugh. After he started searching the cabinets for blue cookies, the boys started talking again to Paul about what they had done over the months-strategies, advances, and adventures.
"You don't have blue cookies?" Sally looked at Annabeth sadly while Frank questioned about blue food.
"I haven't made them since Annabeth was over," she said getting her chocolate chips, blender and blue stained dishes out.
"When was that?" Percy asked, knowing he probably didn't want to know the answer. Piper and Hazel's conversation about his apartment faded out while they stopped in front of a framed picture of Percy, Annabeth, and Grover from years ago.
"Remember when you left me a voicemail from Alaska? Well I told Annabeth right after that; she visited us for a while." Annabeth looked down and preset the oven while Sally worked.
"I'm sorry, Mom," Percy said dejectedly.
"It's not your fault honey, gods…goddesses-they just need you, regardless of what has happened. You're a great hero, and that's what they need, so I can't be truly mad at them; it's a job that needs to be done, regardless of our feelings." Everyone in the room was silent. "But I will forgive you if you go put some normal clothes on, I need my little boy for a moment, my hero has done enough." Percy grinned and kissed his mom's cheek while blushing bashfully in front of his friends. As he walked into his room everyone looked to Sally and Annabeth- Percy's most important ladies- and gazed in disbelief. How could Sally be so accepting of.. Well, the truth? Percy emerged from his room with the same jeans, but a plain white shirt and flannel, holding a hoodie in his hand. Everyone looked away from the two girls in the kitchen while Percy handed the hoodie to his Annabeth. She only smiled in return and pulled it over her head.
"See? That's just adorable; Percy decorating his lady," Nico grinned. It lightened the mode significantly until another question came up.
"Why do you wear a full t-shirt under that flannel? The wife beaters are comfortable and better for when monsters attack." Frank didn't mean harm by it- just trying to give useful information, but Smelly Gabe flashed in Percy's mind.
"I don't like wife beaters." Sally and Annabeth understood the double-meaning and the other half bloods could only try to discern the look on Percy's face as he sat down.
"Well Mrs. B I bet those cookies are going to be delicious!" Jason stopped the awkward conversations by walking over and preparing to scoop cookies after he washed his hands.
The cookies were done and everyone liked them, to put it simply.
"Holy shit!" Nico yelled, only remembering the taste of sweets from Percy's 15th birthday.
Piper jumped when he yelled it started on her own cookie to exclaim: "Oh my gods…"
This continued throughout all the kids as the mini-family (Sally, Paul, Percy, and Annabeth) grinned at the others compliments.
"While you enjoy my cookies we all need to know what you are doing. Have you thought of a game-plan for the next 24 hours?"
"Not really," Leo and Nico said. Their bro-mance was strong and only grew more with every fist bump.
"I thought we should go to Camp and then travel to Olympus by the camp van." Annabeth spoke up, Frank 'mmhmed' to that with his mouth full of cookies.
"Well it's late already," Sally said as she read 8:24 on the clock. "We need to think about sleeping arrangements." Percy felt warm and fuzzy just thinking about sleeping in his home again while his mom and Paul across the hall.
"Um, we have the Argo II in the parking lot. We don't mean to impose after all that's happened," Hazel said out of pure etiquette. She and the others would love to sleep in a real home, regardless if it was theirs or not, but they still held manners after the war almost ended.
"Thank you honey, but you are all welcome here… we just need to find space. The girls can take Percy's room. Um Leo and Nico can take the couches. Percy-floor. Jason, hun, would you mind the floor?"
"Yes, thank you mam," he replied in his Roman manor.
"Now Frank…"
"The floor is fine with me, Mrs. B. Can I take kitchen floor?"
"No, that's nonsense. Oh I know! You and Jason can take my room. I'll bunk with Paul on the floor." Everyone looked uneasy at that until Frank spoke up.
"Mam, I don't think that's necessary- I'll sleep as a mouse."
"A mouse?" Sally wasn't told of his shape shifting.
"I can shape shift into different animals. I am fine- please just keep your bedroom."
"Oh… that's something even I haven't seen."
"It was a talent of my mom; hereditary."
"Well with that… let's sleep!" The lights all went off simultaneously after 15 minutes of gathering blankets. Instantly Annabeth and Percy stumbled to the nearest lights. Nico was so attuned to the dark it didn't bother him- it was the dimly lit and cramped spaces that scared him.
"What are you doing?" Paul asked before Sally could exit the bedroom.
"I forgot about the night lights," Percy said while holding Annabeth's hand. Paul looked to the others only to see them looking around guilty. They knew the screams would haunt Mrs. Blofis and her husband in the night; they were terrified the first night Percy and Annabeth were back.
"Night lights?" Sally walked in, horrified, because realization had dawned as soon as the light switch flickered.
Tartarus may not have changed Percy in his actions, but the night would be a hard limit for him and his best friend. While he grew up she became accustomed to walking into his bedroom to find him wondering, fidgeting, or even pulling at his hair in frustration. But this, this was horrible, uncalled for, and monumentally torment for her. Sally Blofis could only hope to help her son now.
"I have some in that drawer," she said soberly as her voice cracked. Annabeth could only hide the haunted look on her face as she remembered the first fall into the hell. Percy cracked ribs on rocks and a monster; she rubbed his chest now in memory as he tried to put her behind him gently because he knew she looked worst than him at night, but they have yet to decide who's nightmares were worst.
Sally handed over the two plug ins to Percy, who took them with only one hand, as his other was in Annabeth's tight grip.
"Sleep well," Sally said before she walked back into her room, followed by Paul. He glanced back to see the couple standing in the kitchen, Percy trembling in regret for making his mother realize the truth.
The screams that night woke the neighbors, as well as the whole apartment. Annabeth woke first from the nightmare, only for Percy to stumble into the room as fast as he could without tripping over Hazel, who was now wide awake. He held her hands down as she fought him off in fear; the shadows tricked her mind. She jumped on Percy in relief as she came to terms with her surroundings. She wasn't in Tartarus any longer, Percy and herself were okay, just like the others. And as Sally bounded into the room to witness Annabeth straddling Percy-who was barely on the bed- in relief she knew the other one of them was the only remedy. And her little hero was home, he was safe.