We get some hugs and also Calypso and Bob meeting! Bob gets to meet his granddaughter, he is very happy.
Replies:
Jubby1905: Hugs are wonderful.
Undeath9087: Yeah, Bob and Damasen couldn't take him alone but they're okay with the back up. It's all good.
Drizzle: It's all good. I get why you asked lol.
Waking up was not a pleasant process for Percy.
She could remember the time in the elevator- twelve minutes had felt like a lifetime- and Percy had clung to Nico and Leo as they'd ascended, leaving the pit behind her. Then they'd felt it coming to a stop- and Nico and Leo had been dragging her up- which ouch, crushed legs were very much not fun. Zero out of ten, Percy wouldn't ever recommend.
Still, it was very reassuring to see Will's face looming above her- it was a familiar sight-and the son of Apollo laid a hand on her head, it was glowing she realised. And she could hear fighting. "Will-"
"Don't move yet. I can't heal you right now but what I can do is ease the pain-"
"Oh gods yes that would be fucking amazing." Percy gasped the words, "Thank you thank you-" she shifted and forced back a pained cry. "W-what about Nico and Leo- and gods Bob and Damasen are they all okay?"
"Nico and Leo are... busy, as are... the Titan and the Giant?" Will crooked an eyebrow at Percy and she let out a shaky laugh.
"We'll explain everything later- can I hear fighting."
"Yes." that was a voice Percy didn't recognise- she managed to turn her head and her gaze focused on a girl- she looked familiar, and it took Percy a moment before her eyes widened.
"Calypso! Oh I have so many stories I wanna tell you."
And that made Calypso laugh, the noise bubbling past her lips. "I am sure you do- but they can wait until we are out of here-" she turned her head to look towards the noises of the fighting- and Percy felt the pain easing.
Oh it was still there, it was still agony-but Percy actually felt like she could sit up- and she grinned at the sight that met her eyes- the Doors of Death were gone- that was a very, very good sign.
Her eyes shifted again and she beamed when she saw Leo and Nico, side by side, Leo sweeping away a strange looking black smoke with shadows of his own, Stygian Iron blade slicing at a dark Giants flesh every time the giant got to close to Leo, the shadows writhing around him, following his every whim.
Leo was just a living fire ball, sending beams of fire tinted blue with the pure heat of it at the Giant-and Percy was only slightly startled to see a hint of green in it.
There was a white mist swirling around Hazel's feet as the daughter of Pluto thought-and Percy wasn't sure who the woman by her side was but she didn't dwell on it.
And Bob and Damasen were there too, Damasen moving behind the other giant, arms locking his arms around the dark giants arms, holding him in pace as Leo sent a stream of fire at the enemies chest whilst Bob, Nico, Hazel and the woman struck at the same time.
The Giant didn't stand a chance.
He staggered backwards, and when Damasen released his grip he hit his knees as the woman stepped forward- and Percy felt her chest going tight when she saw twin torches floating in the air in front of her and the mist curled around the giant, hissing and bubbling as it touched his skin.
"And so it ends."
And for the first time Percy heard the Giants voice- though it echoed from somewhere above rather than from his lips, muffled and slurred as it was, "My brethren have risen. Gaea waits only for the blood of Olympus. Even with the traitors you struggled to defeat me. What will you do when the Earth Mother opens her eyes?"
"We will beat mother too." Bob declared loudly- and Damasen nodded.
"We have changed our fates. We will help our friends."
And the woman- the goddess, turned her torches upside down. She thrust them like daggers at Clytius's head. The giant's hair went up faster than dry tinder, spreading down his head and across his body. The giant fell without a sound, face first into the rubble of some kind of alter.
"He was a bad giant." it was Bob who broke the silence, patting Damasen's elbow gently, and Damasen nodded.
"How strange." that was the goddesses voice- and Percy felt the urge to run away as she turned- and Percy took her in, long golden hair, skin as pale as her sons, a dark dress, and- and those eyes. Emerald green, so familiar.
The goddesses eyes met Percy's- and they really were just like Alabasters- the last time Percy had seen those eyes they'd been begging her for mercy- and she could, she could see that the goddess knew. Maybe not the details but she knew her son was dead. And Percy swallowed hard.
"I don't regret it." her voice was quiet- but it sounded loud in the silence after the battle.
"No. I don't suppose you do." the goddesses voice was impassive, and Percy could feel everyones eyes on her.
"He got what he deserved."
"He was my son nevertheless."
"I know."
"Did he suffer?"
And Percy hesitated. But- the goddess had helped them. And- she didn't seem angry at Percy she seemed resigned- and at least she seemed to understand that Percy hadn't just killed him for no reason.
Alabaster hadn't deserved any mercy, but maybe his mother did. "It was quick." she lied softly, "And- he did have a moment of true happiness before I killed him." that part wasn't even really a lie. In the moment when he believed she chose him he had been happy.
She heard a few sharp intakes of breath- from Hazel and Will. Nico and Leo both winced at the confirmation. She doubted it really surprised them.
If anyone knew just what she was capable of it was them- they'd seen her, they'd had to stop her when she'd tortured a goddess after all.
Then Hecate turned to Hazel, an impassive look on her face- clearly she was hiding any emotions. "Your friends will rejoin you shortly." her voice was cool, "They had to come another way. You will need to lead your friends out of this place."
"T-that's it." Hazel was blinking rapidly. "I don't- no 'thank you'? No 'good work'?"
The goddess tilted her head and the- was that a polecat on Hazel's shoulder, leapt down and into the goddesses skirt.
"You look in the wrong place for gratitude," Hecate said. "I may not blame your friend for what she has done but I have lost a son to one of you seven. As for 'good work,' that remains to be seen. Speed your way to Athens. Clytius was not wrong. The giants have risen—all of them, stronger than ever. Gaea is on the very edge of waking. The Feast of Hope will be poorly named unless you arrive to stop her. Even with the help of a Giant and a Titan-" she cast her gaze over Bob and Damasen, "You will find it a difficult battle."
"Nothing new there then." Leo crossed his arms over his chest, "All of it's hard."
Then the goddess dissolved and the mist around her- which Percy was beginning to suspect was the mist dissolved with her.
"Well." Percy blinked rapidly, "That was awkward-"
Then Hazel was letting out a bright laugh, "By the gods you three." she yanked Leo and Nico into a tight hug before she whirled and rushed to Percy, dropping to her knees next to her- hugging her too. "You're really here."
And Nico and Leo were moving again as Will and Calypso rose to their feet, hugging their partners tightly.
Percy turned her gaze away from that, grinning at Hazel. "Are the others okay?"
"Yeah, it's been hard for everyone but they'll be so happy." Hazel told her, squeezing her hand tightly, "Uh- do you mind me asking about your new friends?"
"Hazel, meet Bob and Damasen. They're the reason we survived the pit-"
"Yeah!" Leo was suddenly grabbing Calypso's hand and dragging her towards Bob.
"Leonidas!" Calypso laughed, "What are you doing?"
"You have to meet Bob! Bob!" Leo was beaming, "I want you to meet Calypso." and Percy felt a wide smile crossing her lips at the way Bob's eyes widened, molten silver shining with clear joy as a smile split across his lips.
"This is Calypso?"
"What-" Hazel started to speak but Percy shook her head quickly- pressing a finger to her lips-and she could see Nico whispering to Will-and Damasen was smiling widely too.
"Leo-" Calypso shook her head, "I don't understand- why are you so excited."
"Calypso." Leo looked incredibly proud as he glanced between them, "Like I was saying, I want you to meet our friend Bob. He kind of saved our lives like, a bajillion times while we were down there. He's a good Titan. Before he was Bob he was Iapetus."
"Iapet-" Calypso paused, her brows furrowing before her gaze flicked to Bob- her eyes widening, "But Iapetus was my father's father-"
"Oh." Hazel blinked, "Oooh. I think I get it."
"I have a granddaughter." Bob's voice was so proud that it was adorable- and Calypso was staring at him stunned.
"I- I thought the only family I would get was Zoe-"
"Not any more." Leo declared, "Now you have Bob too."
"I- you are my grandfather-" Calypso's voice wavered slightly-and then she was moving forward and Bob instantly lowered himself to his knees, folding his arms around her tightly as the girl hugged him.
"Bob was kinda stuck in the Underworld for a while, he came to help Nico and I. And Damasen was stuck in Tartarus for a super long time. So they helped us get out and we jailbroke them. You guys mind if they stick with us."
"I- I mean-" Will blinked rapidly, "I don't mind."
"Neither do I." Hazel let out a shaky laugh, "Though the others may panic when they see them. I don't see how having a Titan and a giant on our side could possibly be a bad thing honestly."
"They're pretty damn good allies." Percy declared before pausing, talking of allies- I need to just send a quick prayer-"
"Who too?" Will's voice was curious- and Percy's lips twitched.
"We had some... uh, unexpected help at the end there-" And Nico and Leo both started to snicker, and Bob shuddered.
"She is scary."
"She is." Damasen nodded, "I do not know how you convinced her to help Percy."
"I-" Percy let out a slightly hysterical laugh, "I'm just skilled like that." she declared, "You either really hate me or you really like me- and apparently I managed to win her over. So I feel like I kind of need to thank her." if it hadn't been for Nyx then Leo and Nico would have forced her to leave the Giant and the Titan behind.
"Just do it." Nico shook his head, "Only you Percy."
"Shut up death breath." Percy took a deep breath, closing her eyes.
So, uh, I hope that you get this. I dunno if a being like you even really bothers with prayers but- I mean, after what you did for us I owe you- I owe you so much. You're the only reason we're alive right now. I have my brothers, I'm alive and Bob and Damasen get to see the sun and starts again.
She blinked rapidly, tears filling her eyes as she let out a shaky breath.
I don't think anything I could ever do will thank you enough but- thank you.
And she opened her eyes slowly, tilting her head back. "Thank you Lady Nyx." and that made Will and Calypso let out choking noises and Leo started laughing again as Hazel blinked rapidly.
"Did you just-"
"It's a long story."
"And- did you really kill-"
"Yes." Percy took a deep breath, "Yeah I did-" she paused, because a doorway seemed to appear in the air a few foot away- and four familiar people stepped through.
