The fourteen year old boy awkwardly caught himself staring at the raven haired teen every once in a while. She'd occasionally meet his gaze and give him a soft smile making him blush and look away. He couldn't help himself, the girl had grown from pretty to beautiful, from watching her age progression for two years the boy had noticed how...pretty she was at age thirteen. She had never not been pretty, he just hadn't noticed that much before, but as they turned fourteen it just kind of hit him.
Whoa. So that's what a girl looks like. Of course he had seen girls but never in this light and never at his age. He noticed girls on the street occasionally but it was a quick glance and he'd continue walking, he never studied them, nor had he cared to do so. But he lived with a girl, a girl who wasn't his sister, and sure he had lived with Annabeth but they had been mere children. He was a teenager now, with unpredictable and annoying hormones, and she was teenager as well and dang was she gorgeous.
Her dark eyes were somewhat memorizing and alight with mirth yet held caution. Her skin was still smooth as ever, her dark hair had grown and framed her face perfectly, her smile was one of shyness making the girl look adorable, and her laugh was just great. He loved making her laugh. The two had bonded very well over the past two years. Bianca and Percy were nearly inseparable and Percy rather liked that.
She and Nico were his best friends. He started to treat Nico like he did Jason, coddling him occasionally like he would a little brother, but also treating him like he would a friend and never hid a thing from the boy. Nico and Bianca always deserved the truth and nothing less.
"You okay Percy?" Bianca asked and the boy blushed when he realized he had once again been staring at her.
"Erm...yeah. Sorry I was just thinking about school...which is tomorrow." He laughed sheepishly and Nico huffed as he made a face.
"Do we have to go to school!" He whined and Percy smiled down at the eleven year old in amusement. School used to be Percy's only escape from his mom, but at the same time it was another hell for him, but this time he was determined to be top dog. He wouldn't draw attention to himself but he'd make sure no one picked on him or Bianca or Nico. He was strong now.
Bianca spoke first,"Nico how old are you?" She asked patiently and the boy huffed before looking up at his sister in annoyance.
"Eleven." He grumbled grumpily and Bianca smiled slightly while ruffling his hair fondly.
"Exactly. If you want to be a big kid so much then act like one." She said sternly and Percy nodded in agreement. Nico was much more than the average eleven year old, the kid had a wicked shot with pistols, he could turn anything into a weapon, he was a son of Hades, and he was extremely fast. Bianca on the other hand was all power, she could use a weapon pretty well, but she could manipulate the dead far easier than Nico ever could. She shadow travelled easily and she learned her powers easily.
Percy had taught Bianca and Nico like he taught Thalia, Jason, and Annabeth. The three knew everything about each other, they were best friends, and Percy had another family again and he loved every second of it.
Nico sighed loudly, always the drama queen, and nodded,"Fine!" He mumbled and Percy grinned at him.
"Besides we wouldn't want you to grow up stupid like your sister." Percy teased and Nico smirked while Bianca whirled on Percy.
"Yeah! Bianca's stupid!" Nico cheered and Bianca narrowed her eyes at the son of Thanatos.
"Don't encourage Nico's poor behavior!" She smacked Percy on the side of his head making him chuckle before rolling his eyes.
"Sorry mom." He mocked and she smiled slightly before pushing past him making him stumble backwards.
"I'm going to bed!" Bianca yelled in mock anger and Percy smiled as he watched her walk away. Bianca was comfortable enough to joke around with Percy but she didn't do it much, she had a quiet personality, but her intuitiveness made up for it. She was so smart. Not Annabeth smart, she wasn't all calculations and history facts, she was good at reading people and situations. Knowing precisely when to leave someone alone or comfort them. Bianca helped Percy through night terrors he occasionally had of losing Thalia and Jason, she was calm with him and rarely did she lose her temper but when she did it was terrifying, she was extremely protective of Percy and Nico. Percy had appreciated Bianca and was so glad he hadn't shot her when they first met.
"Night." Percy called after her and smiled at Nico,"You should go to bed too buddy." Buddy, a pet name he had frequently used for Jason, the first time he called Nico buddy he had freaked out. He had thought he was beginning to replace Jason with Nico and didn't want that, but soon he gradually eased into calling Nico buddy, all while managing to see Nico as Nico and Jason as Jason.
Nico huffed,"I miss the shack Percy! Why are we starting school! We lived on the streets and stole everything, we got in fights, you taught us everything. Why couldn't we keep doing that?" Nico asked in genuine curiosity and Percy sighed, Nico was always one or action.
Percy had managed to convince Athena to get them a small apartment room right across from their school. She had gone in, used the mist, and took care of school and everything else. She even took the liberty of getting them food, a new wardrobe, and enrolled in the junior high. Bianca and Percy would just be going into eighth grade while Nico was old enough to go to sixth grade. Percy had wanted to get the kids back into a sense of normalcy, also because the monsters continuously found them at the shack, at least at school it wouldn't be so easy to find them. Sol stayed in Percy's room where he was currently sleeping and Percy had managed to smuggle all their weapons into the apartment.
Percy smiled at Nico,"It's best for everyone. We need to stay away from monsters and school will better disguise us. Don't worry, just because we're here doesn't mean I'll let you get rusty with your fighting skills." Percy assured him and Nico sighed in relief before walking towards his room.
"Okay...okay good night Percy!" He called as he jogged to his room and Percy said good night as well before looking at the apartment. Three bedroom apartment with a small kitchen, a TV, two couches, and a bathroom complete with a shower. It was the nicest place Percy had ever lived and he loved it here. It was clean and he could stay clean as well as safe. He didn't need to do first watches anymore.
Percy waited a moment before walking to the window and throwing it open. He launched himself out of it, he unfurled his wings and flapped away from the apartment, the wind rushed through his spiked black hair. He smiled up at the moon and flew closer to it as he marveled at it's light. It was a bright white color and Percy took it in for a moment longer before flying to a near by vacant wooded area and landed with ease. He looked around momentarily before stomping his foot roughly into the earth.
A transparent man appeared and saluted the son of Thanatos,"What can I do for your sir!" He asked respectively and Percy chuckled. His power over death had far surpassed Bianca's and Nico's. He controlled spirits of dead men and women rather than skeletons. He found that he could literally rip the life force from any elderly person or infant. He was like his father. Except he didn't unpredictably take life from others, he never wanted to do that, so he refrained and left mortals alone. He didn't know if such a power worked on people around his age. He never tried and he never wanted to.
"At ease Jackson." Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, lowered his arm,"I need to check up on the underworld." Percy swallowed nervously,"Is there any signs of Thalia Grace and Jason Grace?" He asked hopefully and he stuffed his hands in his pockets to keep their shaking under control.
Jackson hesitated before standing straighter,"I'm sorry sir...they're still not...in Elysium." He mumbled and Percy nodded vacantly but felt a million emotions inside him burst.
"Thank you, you're dismissed." He croaked and Jackson nodded to him before vanishing. He was used to such a report. His siblings never found in Elysium an his summoning of spirits was pointless. Tears filled his eyes, his sweet little Jason and Thalia weren't in heaven. Then where were they? He knew for a fact Jason and Thalia were dead but he had no clue where they were which was infuriating. He bet Hades put them in punishment! The thought normally made his blood boil except at that moment. He was too busy trying to fight the overwhelming numbness that swept over his body. If the spirits weren't in Elysium then he wouldn't be able to talk to them...of course he could never be this lucky.
He was blessed to see fourteen, Thalia and Jason didn't make it to his age, every day of their lives had been a constant battle of survival. And only one sibling survived. But with the weight on his chest, the crushing guilt, was tearing him apart. Knowing he was the last one alive and his childhood was burned before his eyes. Thalia was so close to seeing her dreams and a coward took her away from him. And gods only knew who killed Jason, who ever did was a monster, a terrible monster. The little fun the trio had stopped once Jason died. Percy and Thalia had been emotionally unstable, their days filled with tears and anger, and when Thalia died Percy had just been numb and utterly emotionless. He was in disbelief, kept up by nightmares, and losing his mind.
He had gotten some sleep thinking Jason and Thalia were finally at peace. No more fighting, poverty, running, or monsters. But it was all some sadistic joke. Hades wouldn't even let his siblings die in peace? He couldn't believe it. He just wished he didn't have to lose Thalia and Jason through the struggle. He could look back on that tragic day of finding Jason's blood and tufts of hair in the alleyway and having to tell Thalia that their baby brother had to go home.
He remembered the withdrawals he was going through, he wanted Jason by his side more than anything, he wanted to laugh with him, hug him, play with him, and be with him again. The same went for Thaila. There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't think of his siblings and wondered how their afterlife experience was going. He'd try to talk to them but would soon give up when he felt that dull ache in his chest at reminding himself that they were dead. Oh how he craved to see Thalia and Jason again. But Hades took that chance from him as well. Even after he saved the god's children and took them in...Hades still resented him enough to prevent him from seeing Thalia and Jason.
So the heartbroken boy stood there for gods knows how long wondering why everything he went through was so freaking difficult. He let the cold air envelope him as he tried to wrap his mind around the fact that Thalia and Jason hadn't made it to Elysium. Even in death they weren't at peace. He knew they weren't alive. There was no possible way that they were and it hit him hard.
"Hello son." Percy whirled around to see a man with electric blue eyes staring at him. The man was tall and extremely muscular, he wore a business suit, his hair was short and a dark grey, he was handsome and he had a black beard that adorned his face. He stood proudly and crossed his arms over his chest as he looked the boy over stoically. Percy recognized the man who kidnapped his siblings before knocking him unconscious.
Percy narrowed his eyes,"You're the man from the alley...the one who kidnapped Thalia and Jason-" He froze and looked at the man wide eyed,"You're Zeus." Percy could feel the raw power emanating from the man, his aura was a bright blue, his tie was blue as well and he adjusted it slightly before smiling.
"You're a quick one aren't you?" There was surprisingly no sarcasm in his tone and Percy bristled before taking a step back.
"What do you want? Are you here to turn me into a tree like you did Thalia?" He snarled as he balled his hands into fists,"Or knock up my mom again even though it's forbidden?" He felt himself tremble in slight anger. This man had done him no favors.
Zeus narrowed his eyes,"Watch your tone boy. I adopted you and gave you power, now I came for one thing, and it was to check up on you and see your power progression." He said in his deep voice and Percy's fingers sparked with electricity and soon consumed his entire arms.
"Oh you want to see my power old man?" Percy laughed darkly and Zeus sighed before stroking his beard, a nervous tick of his, he stared at the boy curiously. Every demigod would be flattered and honored to see him but not this one for whatever reason. Sure the old man comment made him slightly miffed but this was his adopted son and he'd respect and overlook such a comment.
"Perseus...please...you have to understand why I did that to Thalia-"
Percy felt more anger erupt within him,"SHE COULD HAVE MADE IT!" He screamed and his face turned red as even more rage filled him. He pictured the eleven year old choking on her blood, her dull eyes, her ashen skin, her brave smile, her tears at the prospect of dying such a cruel death. It wasn't fair! And then Zeus took her from him! He could have saved her or better yet, died with her, but no Zeus wouldn't allow that.
Zeus softened and his hands fell to his side,"You and I both know she wouldn't have survived-"
Percy shook his head vehemently,"NO! You're lying! I know I could have saved her!" He was tearing up in anger now,"She was my responsibility! I love her and I know I could have saved her!" Zeus looked down at his feet uncomfortably, surprisingly not angry, he fiddled with his hands and tried to think. Percy was blaming him because he was confused, hurt, angry, and utterly broken because he felt he had failed. And Zeus knew he hadn't. Percy was the most powerful demigod he had seen and he knew that even the strongest couldn't save everyone.
Zeus sighed,"Perseus please listen to me-"
"YOU TOOK HER FROM ME!" Percy wailed in utter ire as he blasted lighting at the god,"SHE WASN'T YOURS TO TAKE!" He continued to fire lighting at Zeus who easily avoided them and Percy soon felt his legs give out as tears rushed down his cheeks. Thalia died over something so petty and so small, she died due to the pride of two gods, she died because Hades craved revenge. And now she was a tree. A stupid tree. "I had nothing to bury." He spoke softly and stared down at his knees as numbness replaced the anger. Gods he hated feeling numb. He relished anger to keep the depression at bay, but mostly to rid himself of emptiness, he hadn't felt such a sharp pain in his chest since he and Bianca had their heart to heart at age thirteen.
Zeus looked away before bucking up, he had to be a man, a father. He had to get Percy to like him, he needed such a powerful asset by his side. Power mainly fueled his quest to garner Percy's affection but a small part of it was that he actually wanted a child to love him. Sure he had his immortal children but it wasn't the same. He wanted...something human...something normal. He wanted a son who loved him unconditionally and was loyal to him like Poseidon's daughter was to him. He wanted so desperately to tell the child that both his siblings lived but he knew he couldn't. He was already risking too much by visiting the boy.
He stepped forward and placed a hand on Percy's shoulder,"I am sorry for everything Perseus, I really am...but the death of Thalia was that of Hades. And I have noticed you're staying with his children..." Zeus smirked, thinking he would connect with Percy,"Make Hades pay for his wrongdoings." Zeus said and felt proud for his thinking.
Percy was on his feet in an instant and there was a loud crack that made Zeus stumble back from he force of it. Percy's hand was throbbing severally but his anger made him completely forget his pain. Zeus looked at the boy in shock and utter rage, Percy had white shadows surrounding him, his eyes turned a milky white and the ground trembled slightly.
How dare this pathetic punk strike him! Thanatos's punk of a son was lucky that Zeus even looked at him! And now, when he offered parenthood, the boy hit him! He offered sweet vengeance and release of such pain! He offered justice and in return he was punched in the face! This was unacceptable! He would show the boy true power!
Zeus noticed the sky turning darker and he felt electricity dancing in his palms,"HOW DARE YOU-"
"I AM NOT LIKE YOU!" Percy roared, his voice sounding like death and became raspy, Zeus got chills,"I won't kill innocents like you and Hades do! I know about Marie, I know what you did! I won't be like you and Hades, I won't destroy a family like you two destroyed mine!" The hands of spirits erupted from the ground as did skeletal animal claws,"I won't be the monster you are!" Percy snarled as he took another threatening step towards the lighting god.
Zeus looked at him, baffled by his audacity,"Look at you Perseus! You are a monster! Without me you'd be an outcast! You're lucky I adopted you!" Lighting streaked across the sky and Percy laughed a chilling laugh.
"You made me even more of an outcast!" He sounded as if he was possessed by multiple people,"And you will never touch Bianca and Nico!" He wouldn't lose anyone else. There was no way he'd allow another death.
Zeus trembled in rage but froze once he saw the angel of death appear behind Percy, Thanatos was here, with a surge of panic Zeus vanished leaving Percy alone with the man. Zeus was no fool, he knew Thanatos was there to back up Percy, with anger he stomped around in his throne room. He'd win that defiant boy over if it was the last thing he did. And he'd once again take what belonged to Thanatos.
Percy felt his anger ebb away once the god vanished, good, Zeus was scared. He calmed and the spirits and skeletal animals slithered back into the ground. His eyes turned back to their blue color and he let out a breath. The sky lightened slightly and lightning ceased. Feeling physically and emotionally drained he sunk to the ground once again only to feel a hand grab his shoulder gently. He whirled around to see...his father.
"Perseus...I hope you don't mind if I sit with you." Thanatos spoke softly and looked down at his son with bright, onyx eyes. Percy shrugged indifferently though he was slightly annoyed that Thanatos appeared again. His deadbeat father. Thanatos sat beside him and sighed heavily,"I understand that I owe you an explanation-"
"Save it." Perseus mumbled quietly,"I'm not in the mood." And so Thanatos sat quietly beside his child before a wide grin split across the soul reaper's lips.
"That was one impressive punch." He enthused and Percy smiled slightly at the man.
"Thanks...he deserved it."
The raven haired man nodded in agreement,"He always does...I would have intervened sooner but I knew you could handle it. I'm proud of you." Percy remained quiet though he secretly loved the man's praise. Percy was just so tired of being angry at Thanatos but his stubbornness wouldn't allow him to forgive the god just yet.
"Yeah." Percy shrugged and the two sat quietly together for the remainder of the night, Thanatos appreciating Percy's presence, and Percy tolerating his.
-Line Break-
"Okay class! Who knows what happens when we mix oil with water?" The teacher asked and Percy and Bianca looked at each other knowingly. School had started, Athena had made sure to have Bianca and Percy in all the same classes, and she also insured Nico would be near by since he wasn't their age. Everyone looked at the two, boys adored Bianca's slim form and long hair, and girls ogled Percy's broad shoulders and brilliant blue eyes. They were the talk of junior high and Percy absolutely hated it.
Percy and Bianca didn't really listen to the teacher, they sat in the back of the classroom and whispered amongst themselves, they didn't care for the lesson too much. Percy and Bianca knew they should be paying more attention but they were just kids and wanted to act as such. It felt different not having a responsibility, and at school Bianca absolutely loved being free of having to parent Nico. She adored Nico but watching him was taxing.
"Oh I'm sorry! Class we have two new classmates who have joined us. Would you two stand and introduce yourselves?" The man asked with a wicked smile. His bald head shined, and his tall form made him look gawky and awkward.
The two stood up sheepishly,"Uh I'm Percy." The blue eyed boy muttered and scratched the back up of neck in embarrassment making the girls giggle loudly. He blushed heavily, he was so bad with girls, he choked up and was just utterly stupid around them. But apparently they thought this was adorable and they talked to him even more much to his embarrassment. He could kill people, summon the dead, shoot lighting from his fingertips, and fly but he couldn't talk to girls...except for Bianca. But she was different. She was so different from the other girls.
"And I'm Bianca." The girl grumbled while keeping her eyes lowered and Percy smiled down at her. She was adorably shy. Shut up Percy. Goodness her blush was so cute. Shut up Percy. He wanted to give her a kiss on the cheek and see how red she got. You're an idiot Percy.
"Nice to meet you two. I'm Mr. Thorn and we're all glad to have you two in here." He said respectfully before he continued with his lesson. Percy and Bianca listened to the rest of class, slightly excited to be with other humans for a bit
When class dismissed Percy had noticed that Mr. Thorn had been following them for a while.
With a huff Percy looked at his friend warily,"I think we already have a monster on our heels. You have your knife right?" He asked quietly and Bianca smirked slightly.
"I'm many things Percy, but an amateur isn't one of them." Percy rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile and inwardly think about how hot her smirk was.
"Okay big head. Let's just go grab Nico." He suggested and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Percy stop with the immaturity! Goodness you'll rub off on Nico-"
"Then stop being our mom!" Percy countered,"Take a couple jokes, Nico will be fine, I swear to you he'll be fine." Percy said seriously and Bianca bit her lip, regretting snapping at Percy, she just wanted the best for Nico and she sometimes forgot that Percy was the best thing for Nico. He needed a male role model and Percy fit the bill. He was someone she'd love Nico to grow up as, he was funny, hard working, family oriented, kind, determined, and smart. If Nico grew up like Percy he'd be just fine.
She sighed,"Sorry! I just get so motherly sometimes!" She blushed, she felt somewhat humiliated that she snapped at Percy like that.
Percy smiled knowingly at her,"Trust me, I understand the feeling."
Bianca laughed,"Of being motherly?"
Percy scowled,"No! I meant...being like a parent." He muttered and she laughed.
"Okay mom." She taunted and Percy rolled his eyes.
"Jerk."
The two appeared at Nico's locker and Percy approached him,"Come on buddy, we gotta go." He murmured urgently and glanced behind him to see Thorn staring at them. Nico nodded and the trio began to walk through the empty halls. Thorn was picking up the pace and Percy gritted his teeth.
"Bianca." He didn't have to say another word as she flipped a near by fire alarm making kids and teachers pour out of the room. The daughter of Hades grabbed Percy and Nico before shadow traveling them out of the school. Percy was infuriated, the first day and there was already a monster after them, of course that happened with his luck.
"Hoods up." Bianca instructed and the three flipped up their hoods which covered their eyes. They needed to evacuate immediately.
"Sol." Percy called out and the eagle cawed loudly, telling him he was on the look out.
They made it to the wooded area near a cliff. They were almost home,"Hey it's them!" A familiar voice bleated out and Percy cursed loudly under his breath. He knew that voice.
"Nice spotting Grover." Annabeth oh gods,"Hey kids wait up!" She called after them and Percy froze as Bianca and Nico looked at him questioningly. There was no point in running, he always knew he'd have to face these two again, but it'd be a short catching up before the three left again. He wouldn't go back to camp with them.
He slowly turned around to see...three people? Annabeth, Grover, and a black haired girl who looked so familiar. Oh so familiar. Her electric blue eyes stared at him, her hair had grown out extremely long, and she had grown taller...Thalia...oh gods she was alive? No it was delusion. It had to be. So Percy refused to feel hopeful as he stared at the girl from beneath his hood. There was no way she could be here. It had been two years. She was thirteen now if it really was her.
Nico spoke up,"If it's a fight you want then bring it!" He declared and made a move to pull out his knife but Percy placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him. Nico looked up at him and Percy quietly shook his head making the son of Hades frown in confusion.
Grover took a step forward, he looked exactly the same as when he last saw him,"Sup guys! I'm Grover Underwood and-"
"There!" A group of girls covered in silver appeared from the woods with their bows pointed at the demigods. Percy narrowed his eyes at them and stood protectively in front of Bianca and Nico. The girls trained their bows on him but ceased when a girl with the tiara stepped forward.
"We seek the manticore!" She said as she stood proudly,"We are the hunters of Artemis and we request that you all leave immediately. A manticore is about and we'd hate to accidentally kill you." She said with a voice filled with superiority.
The raven haired girl stepped forward,"Look princess! There's no manticore here and we're just-"
Annabeth interrupted her,"Thalia, please be quiet." She chided and Percy froze while staring at her. He thought it had been some sick trick, some delusion, he had had illusions of his sister. When he saw raven haired girls with blue eyes he had hugged them, thinking some of them were his Thalia, but they never were.
"T-Thalia?" Percy whispered and Thalia turned to him with narrowed eyes.
"Yeah? You gotta problem with my name emo boy?" She snapped in annoyance and Percy thought he might faint. Tears fell from his eyes and he felt weightless as he pulled his hood down revealing his face to his sister. She was alive. She was here. She was well. How was this possible? He wanted to scream and cry in happiness because his sister was alive! She was alive and she had grown beautifully since he saw her two years ago. He hadn't failed her! She was breathing, dripping with sarcasm, smirking, walking, being Thalia Grace. And he absolutely loved that.
"Thalia." He repeated and he saw her being to cry as well.
"Percy...Percy...PERCY!" She yelled at the top of her lungs as she tackled her brother in a hug. He squeezed her tightly and cradled her in his arms, too afraid to let go, fearing she'd disappear if he did. He buried his face into her shoulder and inhaled her ozone scent while tears made her shirt wet as her tears did his.
"Thalia." He couldn't believe it. Was he dreaming? He began laughing loudly and pulled away to examine his now puffy eyed sister,"You're here...you're here." He whispered and she nodded before sniffling.
"I'm here...I won't leave you again I promise." She breathed and she embraced him again. They didn't say a word, Thalia had thought Percy was either dead because he was gone for so long, or he totally forgot about her and abandoned camp. And she had never felt so happy. She had felt so alone without him, she had lost Jason and Percy, but here was her older brother who longed to hold her again.
"You better you not you little brat...oh you wonderful wonderful brat! You're alive!" He exclaimed as he pulled away and kissed her forehead,"You came back to me." Their reunion was everything Thalia dreamed. It was warm, teary eyed, and utterly amazing. She couldn't believe she found him again. And Percy couldn't believe his beloved sister was alive. The daughter of Zeus had missed her brother's soothing voice, his embrace, his dotting, his comforting, his jokes, his smile, everything. She missed everything about her caring brother. He always made her feel good and he always kept it real with her. And she was so euphoric to see him again.
If there was one thing about Thalia that Percy always recognized it was that she never let him down. Even through death she got him through the long nights cold and alone. And she even beat death and she was here with him! It was utterly amazing and he felt his childhood return to him. He had his baby sister back and he's never felt happier.
"PERCY!" Grover bleated and the muscular satyr jumped on the boy as well and Percy laughed in better spirits.
"Hey G-man." He said fondly. He actually missed the guy and he couldn't deny that.
Grover pulled back and chuckled,"It's great to see you...you've gotten so big!" He exclaimed and punched his arm fondly while Percy grinned widely at him.
"Thanks," He looked up at Grover's significantly larger horns,"and your horns are huge! You're looking good buddy." He complemented and Grover grinned before thanking him.
Annabeth was the last one to remain as she stared at Percy wide eyed. She wanted to be angry at him for leaving for such a long time but she had no right to be. That was her fault. But he was back now. Did he even want to see her? Oh gods she was so happy to see him again.
Percy stared at the girl for a moment. The girl who stole his first kiss, was his best friend for years, who fought alongside him no matter what. The girl he had the biggest crush on. My had she grown to be even more beautiful than he remembered. Her princess curls sloppily fell out of her ponytail and got in her grey eyes but she looked adorable nonetheless. He stared into her grey eyes that once drove him crazy and made him blush. They didn't make him blush anymore but they were still gorgeous. She had grown in all the right places and he smiled slightly at the sight of her. It felt good to see her again, especially since he was no longer filled with such anger towards her, gods he forgot how much he loved his friend, he forgot how important she was to him.
Her grey eyes filled with tears and Percy smiled at her softly before holding his arms out,"Come here blondie." He murmured and she ran to him before hugging his torso tightly. She clung to him as if he was her life line and he held her back just as tightly. He had missed Annabeth. Not as much as Thalia but regardless he missed her company. Bianca scowled at how close Percy was to the blonde. She knew Thalia was his sister but this Annabeth chick was holding him too tightly for her comfort.
The tiara wearing huntress huffed in annoyance,"As disgusting as this is we need to-"
"I thought it was sweet!" A voice crooned mockingly making them all turn to see Thorn. He stood there smiling maliciously,"But I'm rather hungry and you all look so delicious." His body trembled and he shifted into a giant lion with a large spiked tail, the only thing that remained was his face and his neck was covered with a bushy mane.
"GET DOWN!" The hunter yelled and they dove as Thorn threw his thorns at them.
Percy pulled his knife out and approached the beast slowly with Bianca at his side,"Nico." He spoke calmly and the boy sprinted at the beast with his knife raised. Thorn laughed and swatted at the child with his giant paw. Nico rolled to the side and managed to slice the manticore's leg making him roar in pain. Nico was on his feet once again and easily dodged another swat from the beast. Knowing what Percy would do Nico fled from the monster making Thorn yell angrily.
Percy's wings appeared and Bianca vanished in the shadows of the trees. Percy rushed towards the manticore and fired lighting bolts at the beast with one hand while flying in the air. Thorn was quick and dodged his electricity with some effort. Percy swooped down and unsurprisingly Sol flew beside him. Both scraped the beast's skin with their weapons, or Sol's talons, before flying upwards.
"FIRE!" The tiara wearing huntress yelled and her hunters fired silver arrows at Thorn, which he dodged by hiding behind a tree. He shot his thorns and a girl screamed, obviously hit with the thorn, and Grover let out a yell as he ran to the monster. He wouldn't let another demigod die on his watch. He dodged a claw and delivered a hard punch to the monster's face making him rear back and attempt to strike Grover again only to be hit with a dose of lighting.
Thalia was firing lighting bolts with one hand and rushing towards the manticore with her spear. Percy landed beside her, tucking his wings in, and charging with his knife poised to strike but at the last second Thorn fired his thorns again. Percy and Thalia barely managed to get out of the way but Grover wasn't so lucky. A thorn sent him flying backwards and Annabeth jumped into the fight as well and the hunters rushed towards the monster, not daring to try to shoot their arrows in case they hit their allies in combat.
Thorn narrowed his eyes before he felt someone land on him. Bianca. With a mighty heave she shoved her blade in the monster's tail where the tail met his rear. He screamed in pain, his tail severed, and he could no longer use his thorns as a weapon. He bucked the girl off making her go flying. Percy was quick to race after Bianca as was Nico.
Thorn let out a roar and bounded to Grover before anyone could reach him, he picked up the unconscious satyr by his leg with his teeth, and threw himself off the cliff. Silver arrows chased him as did screams of terror and anger.
"Sis are you okay?" Nico asked urgently before grinning,"You are so cool!" Bianca had a large cut across her face and blood covered her knife. She smiled faintly as Percy helped her to her feet. He checked over her worriedly and began dotting like crazy.
"No fatal wounds? What were you thinking? You had me worried sick! That was so dangerous!" He scolded as he gently cupped her face in his hands and examined her wound. She blushed heavily and she chuckled slightly despite the blood seeping from her head. Percy was so cute when he was worried,"This isn't funny!" He snapped,"You're supposed to leave the dangerous stuff to me!" He sighed heavily as he tore off a piece of his hoodie and gently applied it to her forehead to stop the bleeding. Annabeth felt jealousy spark within her at how close Percy seemed to the daughter of Hades. But she remained and watched the two with narrowed grey eyes.
Bianca rolled her eyes,"Can't let you have all the fun Sparks." Her fond name for Percy. He smiled at her and neither payed attention to their proximately before Thalia rushed up to Percy urgently.
"Perce!" He jumped away from Bianca,"The manticore got Grover." She hissed and he winced before smacking his forehead. Crap! As long as it wasn't Thalia he could manage this.
"He's not all the manticore has!" The tiara girl yelled,"He has Artemis and you idiots ruined everything!" She screamed and Thalia bristled angrily.
"Oh really! Well guess what? You incompetent arrow shooters didn't do crap to take that monster down! We did your job for you and now we lost one of our own!" She roared and Percy placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her.
Nico nodded angrily,"You guys are stupid!"
Bianca grimaced,"Nico hush...not now okay?" She murmured and he sighed in annoyance before nodding grudgingly.
The huntress was so angry she turned red,"I am Zoe Nightshade, lieutenant of the hunt, and we were trying to save our goddess! Now we haven't a clue where he's gone with her!" She growled and Annabeth pinched the bridge of her nose angrily.
"Instead of yelling at each other why don't we all go to Chiron. He'll know what to do." The blonde said logically and Zoe's beautiful features twisted into a bitter scowl before shrugging.
"Fine. But don't expect us to sit with those boys." She spat and before Thalia or Annabeth could jump to their defense, good ole, quiet Bianca spoke up first.
"These boys helped to rid everyone of the manticore! You should be honored to even be able to look at them!" She wrapped her arm around Nico's shoulders and Percy's waist. "And if you have a problem with them then maybe you should blindly go look for your goddess somewhere else without a lead! Because we don't take sexist pigs here!" She snarled heatedly. Her onyx eyes somehow darkened in rage,"No one can talk to my boys like that but me, you tiara wearing brat!" She growled and Zoe met her cold glare with one of her own. How dare she talk to her like that.
Nico grinned as he wrapped an arm around his sister's waist,"YEAH!" He cheered defiantly.
Percy smiled at her defense and wrapped an arm around her shoulders,"That was so awesome...so awesome. You're amazing Bones." His nickname for Bianca was Bones because she could summon skeletal warriors. It worked well.
She beamed at him,"Sorry! Didn't mean to lose my temper. But thanks Sparks." She kissed his cheek without thinking making them both turn a bright crimson color. Percy thought he'd explode from happiness. She kissed his cheek. Oh gods. This was friggen awesome! Bianca meanwhile was berating her action, she had kissed his cheek only once before, and it was merely a joke that Percy had laughed at. But this was different. It wasn't like Bianca to be this impulsive.
Meanwhile Annabeth was absolutely steaming. Deciding she didn't like Bianca at all. And Thalia was smirking at her brother who glared at her in mock anger in return.
Nico spoke up,"Hey guys...do you want to go swimming sometime?" He asked Percy and Bianca,"We don't swim that much and it seems nice. You know what else seems nice? Ice-cream! OH! What about Chinese food! Or Spongebob! Oh man oh man could I go for some Spongebob! Or maybe some-"
"Let's go to camp." Annabeth intervened before angrily walking off with the hunt in tow. Percy raised an eyebrow at her disappearing form before going to Thalia and introducing her to his new family as they followed.
And for the first time in a long time Percy felt truly at ease.
Guys...this is 7,168 words. If this isn't love I don't know what is. And sorry for grammatical or punctual mistakes. I'll fix it later...guys I'm so tired right now.
And my lips are chapped...they're as dry as Anaklusmos sense of humor...OHHHHHHH YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT WASN'T A GOOD JOKE! TAKE NOTES PEOPLE! ANAK WAS JUST ROASTED!
TheWombatBox: I haven't ever sent one of these 'Reviews' is that what the kids call it now? Anyways all I have to say is the fact that every time I get a notification that you posted a new chapter, I nerdgasm. I nerdgasm really hard, then I get real comfy and read through the chapter then after that I have to reevaluate what to do with my life now. Anyways you are amazing keep doing what you do. (Ps I am a male.) :D
Okay I'm sorry but when you said nerdgasm I just burst out laughing and my mom looked at me like I was crazy and that was awkward. Thanks for making me laugh, thanks for this review, and I'm honored that you nerdgasm and that you used your first review on my story. Thanks man that means a lot. (Ps I am a female.) :D Thanks for being awesome.
The Werewolf Assassin: Just so you know facial expressions plus birds equals a cringe. Why? Because that belongs in a cartoon and when I read I imagine real people and not cartoons or anime. Love Sol though.
I'm guesting that this story is a BxP. But you could also be going down the road where Percy has several love interests, but never gets into a long term relationship because he is afraid of loss or something. He would be like James Bond in that respect.
Most wouldn't try taking that long, but effective route but if you do then you have my full support because its something that I can't find anywhere and want to read.
Also once this story is done its going straight into my community.
Haha because I have the imagination of a ten year old and I'm not going to be ashamed of my childishness. Sol is pretty FLY! HA GET IT! FLY! Oh goodness I am a hoot! Anyway I thought about making him scared of commitment or whatever but ugh those characters kinda piss me off. Like, they have no chill dude. They're all GIRL GIRL GIRL! And I'm like -_- your southern region needs to calm down! Not you...the characters that just hit it and quit it. Oh goodness I'm so done and I'm so sorry you had to read this. Anyway, thanks! Means a lot my friend!
Duskrend14: Great one! I wonder if Bianca secretly liked that Hades killed Thalia... huehuehue.
Are you going to ever rename the story? I believe "Recovery" was just because you're recovering the story or something.. pretty recovered already imo haha. Time for a discharge?
I don't really like Sol.. dunno why. He just seems so.. bland. He's supposed to be fun and energetic, but I just don't see it in an eagle honestly. I like the fact he disapproves of Hades's children (for now) though. I sense the pairing.. it's so close nao.
P.S You misunderstand! Hahaha! I meant in a motherly way! Though, it's not so bad in THAT way either.. ;) jk.
What! BIANCA WOULD NEVER! Eh no because I mean, this story is a recovery of Soul Reaper's Son but I actually like the name much better, it'll all make sense later I...I hope at least. Well Sol doesn't like you either hater! Oh haha...EW ATHENA AND PERCY! WHAT NEXT POSEIDON AND ANNABETH! I would rather shoot a bunny than read that Poseidon x Annabeth...Athena x Percy doesn't sound as bad though...hmmm...
And I'd do more reviews but I'm pooped out. My Easter sucked because I wasn't able to celebrate it because of the stupid National Qualifier which is a big volleyball tournament. But whatever. I hope you all had a rockin Easter! Jesus is the bomb! So review!