In which Percy hates Juno, Jason wants to cry, and Will knows how to handle Jacksons.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Yeah, I meant that she was getting between Percy and Juno, and Kym will be involved.
rage2091: Yep.
Guest: I know right? And honestly I think it's great- as long as the actors can portray the characters well I don't give a crap about race or anything and the only one I've seen in anything is Walker and me and my brother both said he's perfect. And I'm more than willing to give the other two kids a chance. And anyone who isn't can catch my fists because fuck racism. Rick himself approves.
"Now is not the time for your self righteous anger girl." Juno snapped the words, glaring at Percy. "You waste time and irritate me-"
"Awe, that's sweet, you irritate me too."
"As I was saying," Juno turned her head away from Percy to focus on Jason, "Fortunately for you this place is sacred to me. By clearing away those ghosts, you have purified it and given me a moment of clarity. I will be able to speak with you – if only briefly."
"Why is it sacred … ?" Piper's eyes widened. "Oh. The marriage bed!"
"Marriage bed?" Annabeth asked. "I don't see any –"
"The bed of Penelope and Odysseus," Piper explained. "One of its bedposts was a living olive tree, so it could never be
moved."
"Indeed." Juno ran her hand along the olive tree's trunk. "An immovable marriage bed. Such a beautiful symbol! Like Penelope, the most faithful wife, standing her ground, fending off a hundred arrogant suitors for years because she knew her husband would return. Odysseus and Penelope – the epitome of a perfect marriage!"
"Really?" Percy raised an eyebrow at that, snorting, "I like Odysseus- he's generally a good guy but he outright told me that he fucked- OW!" Percy yelped, shooting a glare at Jason, who was giving her a warning look- and okay maybe it wasn't the time to point stuff like that out but come on! Juno was delusional.
"Can you advise us at least?" Jason asked quickly, "Tell us what to do?"
"Sail around the Peloponnese," said the goddess. "As you suspect, that is the only possible route. On your way, seek out the goddess of victory in Olympia. She is out of control. Unless you can subdue her, the rift between Greek and Roman can never be healed."
"You mean Nike?" Annabeth asked. "How is she out of control?"
Thunder boomed overhead, shaking the hill.
"Explaining would take too long,' Juno said. 'I must flee before Jupiter finds me. Once I leave, I will not be able to help you again."
"And wouldn't that be tragic." Percy and Annabeth spoke in unison- and Annabeth shot Percy a small grin.
"You both irritate me. That is never a good idea demigods-"
"Do I need to ground you again-"
"Percy-" Jason cut over her, "We get it you guys hate Juno- can you maybe not right now? Lady Juno what else should we know?"
"As you heard, the giants have gathered in Athens. Few gods will be able to help you on your journey, but I am not the only Olympian who is out of favour with Jupiter. The twins have also incurred his wrath."
"Artemis and Apollo?" Piper asked, "Why?"
Juno's image began to fade- a definite improvement in Percy's not so humble opinion. "If you reach the island of Delos, they might be prepared to help you. They are desperate enough to try anything to make amends. Go now. Perhaps we will meet again in Athens, if you succeed. If you do not..." the goddess trailed off as she disappeared and Percy let out a huff as Annabeth groaned.
"Why do you sound so annoyed?" that came from Piper, "They're usually fairly helpful right?"
"Apollo is a flirt." Annabeth grumbled the words, "A terrible, terrible flirt."
"It might be bearable if he was actually good at it." Percy snickered, which earned her a dirty look from Annabeth, of course that just made Percy giggle and she shifted slightly so that she could stage whisper "She gets jealous. It's cute." to Jason and Piper, who were clearly trying not to laugh.
"At least we have Will and Rache with us." Annabeth huffed, "Maybe their presence will make him behave."
"Not likely." Percy couldn't help her laughter, "But hey if it makes you feel better-" she paused, because she could see movement from the shadows of the ruins- they darkened.
And then Nico was stepping out of them, sprinting towards Percy with wide eyes, "Fuck- fuck Percy are you okay? Leo told me you're hurt."
"Nico-" Percy shifted slightly before hissing in pain as she did, "I'm fine, breathe-"
"We shouldn't have let you go without us." Nico's voice was panicked, "I knew this was a bad idea I knew-"
"Nico!" Percy shouted over him-if only because there was no other way for her to get a word in edgewise. "I'll be fine I've had worse-"
"I fucking know." Nico almost shouted the words back, "I have fucking nightmares of you with worse! Gods you're way too used to being hurt I hate this so fucking much." he crouched down next to her, sliding his arm around her quickly,
"Annabeth, Jason, Piper, I'm going to get her back to the Argo II." His voice was firm, "Will can fix her up right away."
"We'll meet you there." Annabeth pulled away, her expression pained at the idea of being away from Percy. Which, yeah was kind of sweet but honestly, she and Nico were freaking out far too much in Percy's opinion- the daughter of Poseidon had had much worse over the years- though- the wound was still smoking beneath the bandages- ah well it wasn't hurting so much any more- though that could be the shock talking too.
"Good." Nico nodded, making sure he had a firm grip on Percy- and then they were sucked into the shadows- and Percy almost screamed.
Usually she quite enjoyed shadow travel- it was like the most intense roller coaster a person could imagine. But the wound in her shoulder screamed in protest at the rushing tumbling sensation of travelling through the shadows themselves- and when they arrived, in the middle of the little med bay of the Argo II she bent over instantly, twisting away from Nico as she heaved.
"Oh that is not good." Will's voice was startled- and then he was in front of her, "Nico, help me get her on the bed."
"'M fine." Percy tried to push herself up- but the world spun around her and she blinked rapidly, falling back down, into Nico's arms. "Or not. Whoops."
"I am going to have a heart attack with you Jacksons." and Percy grimaced as Will and Nico managed to pick her up and get her onto the bed, hissing in pain as Will pulled the bandages away from her shoulder, his expression serious as he pressed a glowing hand over the daughter of Poseidon's wound.
"Awe, you love looking after us Jackson's Willace-" and Will's lips twitched at Percy's words, "I mean- you're literally in love with a Jackson so like- you chose to be a part of the family."
"Ah yes." Will nodded, "Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking-"
"Hey!" Nico poked Will's shoulder, "You love me and you know it Sunbeam."
"I'm sorry, do I?" Will gave him a look. "I still haven't forgiven you for the whole apple thing-"
"Okay, okay but I think I was real funny-"
"You were." Percy told her brother, "Leo agrees-"
"Yes, but you three are all ridiculous." Will's lips twitched.
"Speaking of Leo." Nico's brows furrowed, "Where is he?"
"He was getting panicked so I sent him to go sit with Bob and Damasen."
And that made sense- all of the Tartarus trio were attached to Bob and Damasen, they owed the Titan and the Giant- and their friends were going to help them stop the Giants and Gaea- as if they hadn't already done enough.
So they spent a fair amount of time with them, Leo was working on fitting out the engine room so that it would be more comfortable for their friends.
Bob could shrink himself to a more reasonable size- which meant that he could get around the ship easily enough, but Damasen was a giant- and a big part of that was, well, the fact that he was giant.
And Bob tended to like to stick with Damasen so he spent most of his time below deck- though at night times he'd sometimes come up and stare at the stars.
It didn't help that the others were still slightly cautious around the Giant and the Titan, other than Thalia who had been there when Bob had lost his memories in the first place.
And Will too, who often spent time talking with Damasen about medicinal herbs, exchanging tips and advice.
"Good." Nico was nodding "They'll help him calm down- he's been working on making stuff better for them a lot lately." he paused, "Not that I'm sure that's all he's doing."
"Think he's up to something?" Percy tilted her head before yelping in pain when she felt Will pressing something into the wound on her shoulder and holy shit but that burned- "What the fuck Will-"
"It's a poultice that'll heal your shoulder." Will's tone brooked no argument, "I have to get it into the wound because someone, not naming names, decided to get stabbed through and through. Normal nectar and Ambrosia only does so much with wounds like this Percy you know that."
"It hurts!"
"Oh, weren't you saying you'd had worse before." Nico snarked- but the way he was gripping her hand was a very clear display of his anxiety at what had happened- that made Percy feel kind of guilty if she was behind honest. She hadn't meant to worry anyone.
Ugh, she was real good at making the people she loved worry wasn't she?
"Shush." Percy hushed him, patting his shoulder gently, "Don't talk logic at me Neeks, you know it never words."
"Something we can all agree with." that came from the doorway to medbay. Percy turned her head, her gaze instantly focusing on Luke, who crossed his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow, "Do I even want to know?"
"Well, it turns out that Michael Varus is even more of a little bitch that I had thought." Percy declared, "Which like- he's a little bitch."
"I have no clue who he is but I take from your tone that he wasn't a friend."
"Not even a little bit. Are the others on their way back?"
"Yeah." Jason nodded, Thalia and Rachel are keeping watch on them. I figured I'd come and check in on my tiny terror of a sister-"
"I am not tiny." Percy pouted.
"But you are a terror."
"I've never claimed not to be." Percy snickered slightly, "I take pride in it." she gritted her teeth when Will's fingers pressed into the wound again.
"Am I going to have to fix up any of the others?" the son of Apollo asked, "Just so I can set up the beds."
"Uh- Jason broke his arm." Percy said after a moment, "Or- I broke Jason's arm but I was saving his life so I mean, worth it."
"You- what did you do?" Luke's expression was incredulous and Percy gave a one sided shrug. "Varus tried to attack from behind, I spotted him, pushed Jason out of the way, saved him from getting stabbed in the back. Then I got stabbed myself."
"Okay." Will gritted his teeth, "You're ridiculous Percy you have the worst luck you know that-"
"I've been living my life for years, of course I know I have the worst luck."
"Any other injuries?"
"Annabeth was limping." Percy offered, "She said her ankle sometimes plays up when she's stressed so I dunno if she's actually hurt but-"
"It does." Luke nodded, "Thalia and I noticed it a lot when Rachel left to get Reyna." he told them, "I doubt there's much you can do Will."
"I'll see when they arrive." Will gave a tight smile, "It's what I'm here for after all." he moved, grabbing a little bottle from in a drawer, moving towards Percy. "But for now you're going to drink this."
Percy took the bottle, opening it and taking a swig before asking, "What's it do? Speed up healing?"
"Yes." Will nodded, "Also, it'll knock you out-"
"What?!" Percy's eyes widened, "You sneaky little-"
"You are the worst patient I have ever had to deal with and if you're not knocked out you'll be running around within an hour and you need to rest so shut up and go to sleep."
"Traitor." and Percy could feel her vision going fuzzy, the world almost blurring around her.
"Hah." Nico was laughing, "I thought you only did that to me."
"No, only to idiots."
