Chapter 10 - Welcome Home

Percy's vision slowly swam back into focus.

He groaned, rolling his head to the side.

"Percy?" Kronos asked fiercely. There was immense concern in his eyes, enough that Percy grunted in response. When he saw Percy focus on him, Kronos exhaled sharply in relief. "Chaos be good," he gasped out. "Don't do that again," the older Titan fiercely scolded. "You scared the Tartarus out of me." Something flickered in his eyes as he said that, a passing of silver across the gold.

"Sorry," Percy mumbled. He blinked, peering up at Kronos. "You're okay?" A frown formed on his face as he eyed Kronos. The Titan looked completely freaked out.

Kronos swallowed. "Fine," he assured Percy, reaching out to help him to his feet.

"What happened?" Percy questioned worriedly. "I… the hellhound."

"Gone," Kronos said fiercely.

"Yeah, I can see that. But what happened with you? Tartarus-"

"We talked," Kronos cut in. "That's it."

Percy's frown deepened, and he reached out to gingerly touch a finger against Kronos' cheek. He blinked at the ichor caking the side of the Titan's face. "Sure. I believe you." He really didn't, he thought as he wiped the ichor off his finger.

Kronos turned away from him. "Come on," he muttered. "The Doors aren't far now."

Percy blinked at Kronos' back. He bent down to grab Tsunami before chasing after the other Titan. A sudden change from before, any monsters that they passed shrieked at the sight of Kronos, swiftly scampering in the opposite direction. Percy had a sudden horrible feeling in his gut. "Hey, Kronos," he called as they approached the Doors. "Maybe we should wait here a little. I have a bad feeling about this."

Kronos turned to grin back at him. "Why would we do that?" He questioned. "This is going to be fun."

The former demigod frowned at him. "I – what happened between you and Tartarus, Kronos?"

"I told you. We talked."

"Yeah, and that's a load of bullshit," Percy snapped, his temper flaring. "Damnit, Kronos, why won't you tell me?"

"Because I don't want to?" Kronos proffered. "Because it was personal." He slipped a foot inside the Doors, stopping them from sliding shut. "Ladies first," he said, echoing Percy's earlier words.

"Someone has to hold the button-"

"It'll be fine," Kronos huffed, grabbing Percy's arm and tugging him into the elevator. "Honestly," he said as the Doors slid shut, "you worry too much." Then, with a crooked grin, he added, "Let me have some fun for once."

Percy knew it was a bad idea. He could feel it. And the feeling only grew as they rose towards the surface. He half expected the Doors to open and spill them out into Chaos, but Kronos was right. It was fine.

Kronos stood almost completely still in the middle of the elevator, the only movement his hands flexing at his side. That alone was odd. Their eyes met across the confined space, and Kronos rolled his eyes at Percy when his own narrowed suspiciously.

Then, with a horribly loud happy little ding, the Doors opened.

They were underground in a cave. Percy had absolutely no clue where they were in the world though, until Kronos murmured, "Cape Matapan. It's the most southern point in Greece."

Percy frowned heavily. "Why here?"

"It's one of the Gates to the Underworlds anyway," Kronos explained. "Here Heracles raised Cerberus from Hades, and Orpheus attempted to resurrect his wife." He abruptly smiled, eyes flashing a cruel silver. "It's fitting." Then the Titan strode forward.

Percy's eyes widened. "Whoa, Kronos – wait."

"What?" The King grumbled.

"It might be a trap."

"There's no might about it. Of course it's a trap."

"So…"

"We spring it," Kronos said cheerfully.

As soon as they emerged from the caves, Percy paled. He lifted Tsunami before him. "Hey," he greeted Zeus. "Nice seeing you again."

"Perseus," Zeus said, his tone utterly flat. "Kronos."

Kronos didn't waste time with any pleasantries – he summoned Backbiter and charged straight at the King of the Gods. Zeus seemed stunned as his recklessness, but swiftly recovered and met Kronos' fierce attack.

Percy yelled, and the ground rumbled beneath them. Those whom were able to rose into the air, but as the ground split beneath their feet many tumbled into the depths of the earth. Percy pointed Tsunami at Ares, smirking as a tornado formed around him and tossed him back from Kronos by several dozen feet. Then, confident that Kronos would protect his back, Percy turned around to face the sea.

He shut his eyes and concentrated, stretching an arm out. As a demigod he'd summoned small waves, nothing too large or destructive. As a Titan, he was only just starting to test his boundaries.

When he opened his eyes again, it was to see the force of nature that his sword was named after.

The wall of water was at least fifty feet high, towering over all in the area. Percy twisted, searching for Kronos and found the King busy beating Zeus back. Poseidon met Percy's gaze across the field, something horribly similar to disappointment in his eyes, and slammed his trident down. The water parted, passing harmlessly by all of those fighting. Percy ground his teeth, and then he gestured sharply with his hands, slamming the water back together.

He didn't bat an eye at the screams, even as he circled a finger in mid-air and formed a tornado overhead. The water rose up in a funnel, swiftly forming a waterspout.

Kronos seemed to just appear silently beside him. He let out a low whistle. "Nice."

"Titan of Natural Disasters," Percy reminded him.

"I remember," Kronos promised.

Percy dropped his control over the water, letting it splash back down and retreat back to the sea.

"Percy," Poseidon growled at him. "What have you done?" Percy barely glanced at his father, simply brushing past him. Poseidon grabbed his shoulder. "Percy!"

Before Percy could even decide if he wanted to speak or not, Backbiter emerged from the front of Poseidon's chest just as swiftly as it retreated.

Ichor bubbled from Poseidon's mouth, and he grabbed at his chest. Percy's eyes narrowed sharply as he watched. "Immortals can take far more damage than that."

"Percy," Poseidon gasped out. "What – why?"

Percy's green eyes glowed like radiation, poisonous to any whom came near. "You abandoned me," he said simply, before turning and striding away.

A demigod was still alive, struggling to pull themselves up. Kronos passed by Percy's ear. "Do you want this one, or shall I?" He murmured. The demigod was unfortunate – Percy could see several more on the field of the massacre, only they weren't directly in the path of the Titans.

Percy just shrugged.

Taking that as a go ahead, Kronos strode forwards. Backbiter bit into the ground at his feet as he advanced. He toed the demigod over onto his back and smiled wickedly. "A lovely welcome home party." Slowly, Kronos pressed the point of Backbiter into the demigod's throat.

The demigod's struggled gasps became pained cries, until the black sword passed into his windpipe. Kronos withdrew Backbiter, watching in fascination as blood welled from the demigod's mouth and slit throat. He crouched beside him.

Percy frowned lightly as he watched Kronos, noting warily how the other Titan reached out and pressed a finger against the blood that trickled down the demigod's throat. His finger brushed lightly against the demigod's artery in his neck, before Kronos pressed down against it.

Percy moved forwards, taking Tsunami and driving the point into the demigod's heart.

Kronos scowled up at him, looking highly unamused with his actions. "Ruining my fun," he sighed as he rose from his feet.

"Torture isn't necessary." Percy wiped Tsunami's blade off on the demigod's clothes.

The Titan frowned slightly. "I'm sorry," he said, sounding astoundingly genuine. "That upset you."

"I'm not upset," Percy corrected. "Just… confused."

Kronos quickly pressed his lips against Percy's. "Come on," he murmured. "Let's go home."

While I was writing this, a certain song played on my playlist. And it fitted really well... so, Thus Begins the Indo-Rapture if you want a song to listen to that represents the chapter.

So I actually originally intended to reveal what happened to Kronos in this chapter, then go back to Percy at the end... But on second thought... nah. Figure it out yourselves :p. But I will say that you were all concerned for Percy... none of you thought about what could be happening to Kronos. You should have been far more concerned about Kronos. If anyone wants to know, PM me and I'll send you a very small excerpt from the original chapter 10... you can guess from that.

thegoldraven: Thanks! I feel like it was a nice return to the story. Percy's fine. Kronos... not so much.

PjoHpThgFangirl101: Percy's fine. Don't worry about him xD

Matt: Infinity War was sad in a few places and I'm sorta confused as to what can happen next. TW/PJO will be updated soon. Rehab... I'll be leaving until one or more of the stories I'm currently writing is finished. Thanks :)

tiwari2041: Tartarus got what he wanted. I'm not saying what, because otherwise that will ruin the story.

fanoffantasyandplenty: Thanks!

Ester Shadow: Ha that was what I was aiming for.

Alwaris: It's short because I had my exams and only just finished. I put fanfiction aside for my exams. It will be atm, because my exams are now over.

ShadowsClaw: Thanks.

Grace: Nope. They're not dying, Tartarus doesn't want that.