Heh, in which we have people with no freaking clue how to react to the Giant/Titan in the room. Also- Percy is still madly in love.
Replies:
Thickneck: No, no not scared of seeing them. She's still madly in love with them both and she's currently thinking that 'I don't care what else happens I need them' which might not be smart since she's still a mess, but it's understandable.
Drizzle: Grover was cagey because they mentioned Alabaster and he knew the bastard was in the pit with her and he didn't want to say because he knew it would worry Rachel, and yeah the Empathy link is important!
Undeath9087: Yep. Fun stuff!
JjlovesPJO: I get what you're saying entirely. They definitely should be waiting- but I will point out that they're teenagers and they are also very messed up. And also, Percy knows she's not better but a part of her does think she should be because Alabaster's dead, and also Annabeth and Rachel still don't really understand and they're just desperate for her back. But don't worry it's not all going to be easy sailing.
Percy was willing to admit that she couldn't help but laugh as Jason, Bianca, Frank and Piper piled through the doorway, clearly ready for a fight- and if it wasn't for Nico and Leo diving between the four new arrivals and Bob and Damasen there might have been one- because Jason raised his sword ready to charge, Frank had his bow out and Piper's dagger was at the ready- but the two boys were yelping and waving their hands frantically, "No! No don't attack!" Leo called quickly, "They're friends-"
"What-" Frank started before-
"Bob?" Bianca yelped the name, her voice was incredulous- but Bob beamed widely at her.
"Bianca! You stopped visiting me- but it's okay. I am happy now."
"What in Hades name is going on here?" Piper demanded, though she lowered her dagger and the others lowered their weapons- and then she was rushing forward, hugging Leo tightly and Leo hugged her back.
"Nico!" and then Bianca was clinging to Nico tightly and Jason was joining the hug with Leo and Frank blinked slowly.
"Uh- so- is anyone going to explain the literal giant and the Titan here?" he asked after a moment.
Percy gave a soft laugh at that, "Uh, that is a long story."
"Gods I can't believe you're all here." Jason spoke up as pulled away from Leo, "You guys actually made it-" he paused, "Why are you sat?"
"I can't actually stand." Percy snorted, "My legs are sorta fucked right now-"
"We can explain later." Nico spoke up. "We all need to get out of here. Like, as soon as possible." he glanced towards Bob and Damasen, "Can you guys help us out a little here? With Percy I mean." "I will carry Percy." Bob offered quickly, moving towards Percy and carefully scooping her up.
Percy gritted her teeth, forcing down a scream of pain- even with how Will had eased her pain it was still a horrifically agonising pain to be picked up like that.
"Is there even space on the Argo II for a Giant and a Titan?" Jason asked hesitantly.
Leo frowned, "Well- I mean probably not below deck but the ship should be strong enough to carry them if they stay above deck until with figure something else out."
"Right." Jason nodded- and as if on cute the ceiling shuddered, cracks appeared in the remaining tiles, columns of dust spilled down. "Time to move, Uh Frank can you-"
Frank shook his head. "I think one favor from the dead is all I can manage today."
"Wait, what?" Hazel asked.
Piper raised her eyebrows. "Your unbelievable boyfriend called in a favor as a child of Mars. He summoned the spirits of some dead warriors, made them lead us here through…um, well, I'm not sure, actually. The passages of the dead? All I know is that it was very, very dark."
To their left, a section of the wall split. Two ruby eyes from a carved stone skeleton popped out and rolled across the floor.
"We'll have to shadow-travel," Hazel said.
"Hazel-" Nico winced, "I don't- I mean I could maybe take a two people but- I can't manage all of us."
"And I'm not as skilled with shadow-travel as Nico is." Bianca admitted.
"I'll help." Hazel promised them.
And so all of them gathered around as a section of tiles peeled loose form the ceiling.
"Everyone grab hands." and they did, making a rather hasty circle, and Nico gripped Bob's janitors uniform and Damasen gripped the giants shoulder tightly-since he had his hands full carrying Percy.
And then the cavern was collapsing- but they were gone- Percy closed her eyes tightly- she didn't usually mind Shadow travel- it could be pretty fun, but not right now, it made her stomach twist uncomfortably- and then they were on a hillside overlooking a river.
Percy sucked in a sharp breath of clean sweet air-so different from what she'd grown used to. And the sun was just rising, making the water glitter and the clouds glow orange- Percy managed to shift enough to look at Damasen, who was staring at the sky with open awe in his eyes.
Percy smiled softly. "How d'you like the sunrise?"
"It is beautiful." Damasen whispered the words- and Percy could see that Bob was smiling widely as he stared at it too.
The gentle moment was interrupted though- Percy heard a loud cry and she twisted to look at the ship floating over the river a few hundred yards away.
"Giant! And holy fuck a Titan!" that was Annabeth's voice, and then-
"I'll get the weapons-"
"Wait!" and that was Thalia, "I know that Titan! BOB! Holy fuck he's holding Percy!"
"Put me down!" Percy slapped Bob's arms gently, "Put me down-"
"But you are still hurt-" Bob frowned.
"I don't give a shit set me on the ground-" and she could see that the Argo II was moving towards them- and Leo let out a whoop.
"My baby! You best have looked after her Annabeth-"
"Of course she did!" That was Luke's voice- he sounded very happy-and as they got closer it got easier to see- and Percy felt like she was about to explode at the sight of Annabeth and Rachel, side by side- she almost didn't notice Reyna- though she decided to deal with that shortly, and Bob was lowering her to the ground and Annabeth was leaping over the railings of the Argo II, Rachel just a step behind her, the two girls sprinting towards them.
"PERCY!" Annabeth was screaming her name- tears pouring down her cheeks. "Oh my gods what happened to you?"
"Are you okay?"
"My legs are mush but I'm fine- I'll be fine." because the two girls were skidding to a halt next to Percy, dropping to their knees-and Percy did notice Nico and Leo hissing at the others to get back onto the ship quickly- and dragging Bob and Damasen with them but her focus was all on the two girls crouched on either side of her.
She drank the sight of the two girls- she hadn't drank fresh water in- well, she wasn't sure how long, it had been impossible to keep track, but if she was given the choice between water or the two girls in front of her she'd choose them. She'd chose them every time.
They both looked tired- Annabeth was pale, with bags under her eyes, her familiar golden curls were a mess- she hadn't brushed them lately Percy was sure- her gray eyes were shining with tears that she was clearly fighting back- and Percy could see that she was shaking slightly.
And Rachel looked just as rough, her hair was even more of a mess- and was that a stick in the red halo around her head? And there was a scratch on her cheek, some bruising on her jaw. Her forest green eyes were shining with relief.
There were several long moments of silence as they all just stared at each other before Annabeth broke it "Percy-" her voice cracked, "I'm- I- I'm so sorry I- it was-"
"Annabeth-" Percy reached out, grabbing her hand, "Shut up. Just- shush for a second okay." took a deep breath, "Gods- gods you guys I-" she took a deep breath, and Rachel was grabbing her hand.
"Percy- Percy you don't have to say anything." Rachel said quickly, "It's- you don't have to. You don't have to say it Percy-"
"I missed you so much." Percy whispered the words, "I missed you so fucking much." she swallowed hard. "Gods I-" she pressed her hand over her mouth, trying to force back the little sob that wanted to slip out, and Rachel was shifting, her arms gently wrapping around Percy- and Annabeth did the same on her other side- and Percy let out the sob, let the tears fall as they clutched her close.
"You fell because of me." Annabeth whispered, "Percy-"
"No-" Percy pulled back slightly so that she could look at Annabeth- and gods but she hated the guilt in the other girls eyes. "Don't you fucking go there. Don't you dare take that from me. I chose it Annabeth. I knew that someone had to go down there- to close the Doors on the other side. Yes I did it saving you but I made that choice and you do not get to blame yourself for it do you hear me?" she reached out, pressing her hands to Annabeth's cheeks.
"She's right." Rachel spoke quietly, "Annabeth I've been telling you over and over-"
"I- I thought we lost you again." Annabeth sniffled loudly, "We'd just got you back and then I just lost you all over again because of me-"
"Not because of you. And I'm here you guys."
"You are." Rachel gave a shaky smile, "I think I need to paint this- you, right here, like this. So I can remember this moment forever- the moment you came back from the pit."
"Well the actual moment I came back from the pit I kinda passed out- so this moment is much nicer." Percy conceded.
"Gods I wish I'd been down there." Annabeth shook her head, "I- I should have been down there-"
"It is fine." Percy spoke firmly, "I was fine- kinda. Other than the legs-"
"What's actually wrong with your legs?"
"Well-" Percy took a deep breath, "I killed an arai and received the curse of a monster I killed- and the curse was that my legs would be crushed like hers were-"
"Holy shit." Rachel's expression was horrified, "Percy how are you not screaming?"
"Will eased the pain a little." Percy said gently, "And it's somehow not actually the worst pain I've dealt with recently."
"That is not comforting." Annabeth pressed her face against Percy's shoulder. "Gods this doesn't feel real. You're really here?"
"I'm really here." Percy promised softly, "And- as horrible and traumatic as my time in Tartarus was-" she let out a shaky breath, "It actually- gods I'm gonna sound crazy-"
"No." Rachel's voice was firm, "No Percy- whatever happened- whatever you've gone through- whatever you're feeling it isn't crazy okay?"
"She's right." Annabeth lifted her head, "Most people wouldn't survive what you've been through- you're allowed to feel whatever you feel-" And Percy was reached out, grabbing the neck of Annabeth's tee, yanking her in close, pressing their lips together.
It was rough and messy, but it felt amazing- Percy felt alive- and she pulled back, turning her head- and Rachel was leaning in slightly, gaping. "Did-" and Percy cut her off too, pressing her hands to Rachel's cheeks as she kissed her- it was slightly softer this time.
And when Percy pulled back there was a long silence- Annabeth and Rachel both looked slightly dazed, and despite the sheer amount of pain she was in Percy couldn't help but smile rather smugly at that.
"W-what-" Annabeth swallowed hard, "Percy- I- I know you kissed me before you fell but I thought- I thought it was just because you thought you were going to die-"
"It kinda was." Percy said honestly, "I also kissed Rachel right before too." she shifted as much as she could, grabbing both of their hands again. "Listen- I am still fucked up beyond all reason, I am still screwed in the head. I might always be screwed in the head. But-" she swallowed hard, "But I love you both so much. And- and gods but I just- I missed you so much down there." she admitted, "And-" and gods but how twisted was it that she'd gotten closure while in the pit? "and I'm not sure what happens next. What happens with us but- I don't want to-" she shook her head, "Gods I don't- my heads a mess and explaining things is so hard. And I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing here because I- I learned things about myself down there that I'm not so sure about-" she'd enjoyed hurting Akhlys. She did have a darkness inside of her. "But- I want to be happy again. I want to- for the first time I feel like I might actually have a future. Like a shadows gone. And- it might not be easy but I don't- I don't think I want to do it alone."
Then Annabeth and Rachel were both hugging her again. And Rachel was whispering into Percy's ear. "We'd have waited until the end. You know that right."
"Always." Annabeth added, "Whatever happens it's the three of us together. Like it was always supposed to be. We don't care about easy- we'll do whatever you need, whatever it takes to help you-"
"It's not like we're not used to messy." Rachel added.
"I-" Percy could feel the relief flooding through her.
"Messy works for me."
