Chapter 2: I Get Offered Godhood Again?!

Percy Jackson awoke that morning feeling oddly refreshed. He groaned as the rays of the sun's light shone through his window and peered down onto his face. He reached upwards with his arm to cover his eyes. He hadn't particularly remembered falling asleep the night before. All that he could recall was that Piper had come into his cabin, she had found him crying. She knew. He wasn't sure how, but she did, and Percy, exhausted from continuously putting on a show, broke down in front of her.

Percy hadn't had a proper night's sleep in weeks, and yet Piper comes along, and all of a sudden he's easily able to fall asleep. Percy groaned as he ran his hands down the sides of his face. Piper must've charmspeaked him to sleep. He couldn't really be upset with her for it. He assumed it was merely because she was trying to look out for him.

With a sigh, Percy sat up in his bed, running his hand through his hair as he glanced around his cabin. He was alone now, he noted. Piper must've left in the middle of the night. Percy slowly climbed out of his bed, and he slipped his feet into his sneakers. After making sure he had Riptide in his pocket, he made his way to the mirror in his room, to ruffle his hair to make it as presentable as possible. Once he was satisfied, he slipped out of his cabin, shutting the door behind him.

"Morning, Percy!"

Percy jumped as Piper, Hazel, Frank, Leo, and even Calypso appeared out of seemingly nowhere in front of him. A frown took over his features at the sight of his friends, his brows furrowed in confusion, "Uh, morning, guys," Percy rubbed the back of his neck, "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing much, we decided to head to breakfast with you," Piper grinned as she grabbed ahold of Percy's arm to drag him towards the Pavilion, the others all trailing closely behind them.

"All of you?" Percy frowned as he glanced around at his friends, "Weren't you two on some kind of vacation?" Percy motioned between Leo and Calypso, "And you two were at Camp Jupiter," Percy turned to look at Frank and Hazel.

"We were," Hazel nodded her head, "But Piper said you needed us here."

"You told them?" Percy frowned as he turned his head to look at Piper, who was purposefully avoiding his gaze.

"We're your friends too, Perce," Leo spoke up now as he shifted to stand on Percy's other side, "We were worried about you. You haven't been looking too hot for a while now, and when Piper explained to us what happened, we finally understood why."

"I never liked that Spawn of Athena," Calypso scoffed with a roll of her eyes, "You deserved so much better, Percy."

"Calypso's right," Frank chimed in, "We're sorry about what happened, but don't worry, Piper has a plan that will take care of everything."

Percy's head was swimming, and he was feeling slightly overwhelmed, "W-what plan?"

"I'll explain during breakfast," Piper insisted, "Come on, I'm starving," Piper tugged Percy into the Pavilion, and she shoved him towards the Aphrodite table. The rest of their group had dispersed to their own tables with promises to meet up with Piper and Percy after they ate.

"Um, I'm not sure I can sit here," Percy said as he glanced over at Piper, "Won't your mother strike me down or something?"

"Please," Piper resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "You're my mother's favorite demi-god. Now sit and eat," Piper insisted as she pushed Percy down into a seat before she took the seat beside him. If any of the Aphrodite kids had anything to say about Percy sitting at their table, they kept their mouths shut about it. Percy assumed it was in fear of feeling Piper's wrath.

Percy frowned for a moment before he finally relented and turned to focus on the food in front of him. Piper smiled when Percy finally ate, and she turned to focus on her own plate. Breakfast was a silent affair, but Percy was happy for it as it gave him time to think. Something was obviously going on, something that Piper wasn't telling him. He decided to ignore it for the time being and hoped that Piper would tell him once they've eaten.

After finishing half of his plate, Percy rose to his feet to carry his plate to the pavilion's fireplace, tossing it inside as a tribute to his father. Piper had followed him, almost immediately to pay tribute to her mother. Soon the rest of Percy's friends had risen from their own tables to pay tribute to their parents.

"Come with me," Piper said as she grabbed ahold of Percy's arm yet again, dragging him out of the Pavilion, with the rest of their friends following closely after them.

"I can walk on my own, ya know?" Percy rolled his eyes, "What's going on, Piper? Seriously."

"I can't tell you here, too many prying ears. Just wait a second," Piper insisted as she led Percy back to his cabin. It was the most private cabin at camp since Percy had the cabin to himself. Once within Percy's cabin, Piper forced Percy to sit on his bed.

Piper, Leo, Hazel, Calypso, and Frank all remained standing, and Percy's brows furrowed silently, "Why do I feel like this is an intervention?"

"It isn't," Hazel insisted.

"Then what is it? What's going on?" Percy frowned as he crossed his arms against his chest.

"We obviously know about what happened between you and Annabeth, Percy," Frank chimed in.

"We also know that you're basically kicking your own ass over the whole situation," Leo continued, "Piper was really worried about you last night. She said you were borderline suicidal."

"Okay, so this is some kind of intervention?" Percy stated simply, "Whatever you heard me say last night, Pipes, it was just the exhaustion from hours of crying talking."

Piper rolled her eyes, "Don't lie to me, Percy. I know what depression and suicidal thoughts look like," Piper huffed, "Annabeth cheating on you caused you a lot of pain. Which makes sense, since your fatal flaw is loyalty. But we all care about you, Percy, and none of us here want you to die. So I prayed to my mother," Piper explained, "I asked her for help. She went to the other Gods, and they decided that you need to get away."

"What?" Percy frowned, "B-but what about the camp?"

"We'll protect the Camp for you, Perce," Leo insisted, "You've been the hero for eight years straight. Not once have you ever gotten a break, and when you finally do, this goes and happens. It's honestly fucked."

"We refuse to allow you to sit here and pretend that everything's alright," Hazel frowned.

"Honestly, Percy, self-pity is not a good look on you," Calypso quipped.

"Gee, thanks," Percy couldn't resist sassing, "I thought I pulled off blue bags and puffy red eyes."

"Hate to burst your bubble, Pal, but you don't," Leo jumped in.

"Anyways," Piper interrupted before Percy and Leo could continue, "My mother is sending someone to retrieve you soon," Piper continued, "She's giving us time to say goodbye because she's not sure how long it will be before we see you again," Piper sighed before she approached Percy's bed, sitting down beside him, "It's time for you to focus on yourself, Percy. For the last six years, it's been what everyone else expected of you. It's been protecting everything and everyone. You've hidden how you felt about the whole Annabitch situation in fear of what others would say or do. In order to protect everyone, to protect Annabeth. But that's not your job, not anymore. You're just a man, Percy. A man with feelings that should be expressed, a man with a chance to start over. Take this chance, Percy. This is your chance to focus on your own self-healing."

Percy debated on his friends' words, and he frowned softly. They were right, of course. He had spent far too long playing a hero, protecting and serving, never worrying for himself. It was his fatal flaw, of course. His unending loyalty. It was why Annabeth's betrayal had hurt him so much. He was a shell of a man now, and maybe this could be his chance to be able to find a new normal, a new him.

Percy nodded his head slowly before he looked at Piper, "Thank you...for being such an amazing friend."

Piper waved her hand dismissively, "Don't get all sentimental on me, kelphead."

Percy snorted in amusement as he tossed an arm over Piper's shoulders and pulled her into him, "I'll miss you, Pipes."

"Um, hello, your other friends are here as well," Leo chimed in, waving his hand around. Percy laughed softly as he rose to his feet to approach Leo. He grabbed Leo's shoulder and pulled Leo into a hug.

"I'll miss you too, ya little firestarter."

"One time!" Leo pushed away from Percy to throw his hands up into the air in exasperation, "It was one time!"

"It happened multiple times over the course of 2 years, but who's counting," Hazel snorted, and Leo turned to glare at Hazel.

"Watch it, Death Breath," Leo shot.

"Real original, Arsonist," Hazel quipped back.

"Guys!" Frank interrupted before Leo could shoot another insult, "We're supposed to be saying goodbye to Percy, remember?"

Leo's glare never faltered, and his gaze remained on Hazel, "This isn't over."

Calypso rolled her eyes at her boyfriend before she approached Percy, pulling him into a hug, "Thank you for everything you've ever done, Perce. I hope you find yourself again wherever the Gods decide to send you."

"Thanks, Calypso," Percy smiled weakly as he returned her hug before he turned to look at Frank. Though the pair had never been really close, Percy still did see Frank as one of his best friends. Percy held his hand out to Frank, and Frank's hand clasped around Percy's forearm. Percy did the same before pulling Frank into a bro hug, "Take care of things for me, yeah?"

"Of course, Perce," Frank smiled softly as he looked at Percy, "You just take care of yourself."

Percy nodded his head as he stepped away from Frank before turning to look at Piper, "So when's your mother's errand boy coming?"

Before Piper could respond, a flash of pink light shone in the room. The demi-gods and Titaness all covered their eyes as the light blinded them. As the light dimmed, the mortals opened their eyes to see Aphrodite standing in the middle of Percy's cabin. She appeared as beautiful as ever before the mortals in the Cabin. She smiled warmly at Percy, "A pleasure to see you again, Percy, are you ready?"

Percy frowned for a moment, "One second," he said before he turned to his friends, he opened his arms. Almost instantly, the Saviours of Olympus moved into Percy's arms for a group hug, "Promise to take care of each other, alright? And the camps."

"We promise, Percy," Piper said softly as she lifted her head to look at Percy, "You just take care of yourself. IM us whenever you get a free chance."

"I will," Percy nodded, "I promise. Be safe," Percy released his friends before turning to look at Aphrodite, "I'm ready."

Aphrodite smiled before she held her hand out to Percy, "Come then. It is time."

Percy glanced at his friends one last time. Leo offered Percy a thumbs up, Calypso and Hazel smiled warmly, Frank offered a nod of his head, and Piper's eyes shone with tears that never fell, a soft smile on her features. Piper nodded once to Percy in reassurance. Percy smiled weakly at his friends before he stepped towards Aphrodite and placed his hand in hers.

"Close your eyes," Aphrodite sang giddily, and Percy opened his mouth to question her, but before he could a flash of pink blinded him and soon he felt himself being pulled. He quickly clenched his eyes shut. A musical giggle filled Percy's ears, "You can open your eyes now, Percy."

Percy did as he was told, and his eyes widened when he saw that he was within the Throne Room on Olympus. The other Olympians had been gathered, all sitting upon their thrones, and all of them wearing matching warm smiles. Percy had never seen the Gods appear so…caring before. Well, minus his father. The only Olympian who hadn't appeared to have been smiling had been Athena, whose glare pierced into Percy's very being.

Aphrodite left Percy's side to rise to her full height and take her seat in her throne. Her eyes trained entirely on Percy as she crossed one leg over the other in her throne. Percy shifted from one foot to the other awkwardly as he glanced around the throne room.

"Perseus Jackson," Zeus boomed, causing Percy to jump a bit before turning his attention to Zeus.

"Lord Drama King," Percy greeted, and he swore he heard Apollo and Hermes snort in amusement from their thrones. Percy wanted to slap himself. Annabeth always told him his sarcastic nature would get him killed one day. The thought of Annabeth sent a sharp pang to his heart, but he chose to ignore it and instead focused on Zeus who stared at him for a moment.

Then to Percy's surprise, the corners of Zeus's lips tugged upwards into a small smile, "I am glad to see that what has transpired in your life has not quite destroyed your usual charm."

"Charm?" Percy's brows furrowed, "Are you alright, Lord Zeus? You're usually threatening to kill me right about now."

Zeus waved his hand dismissively, "Time's have changed, Perseus."

"It's Percy," Percy deadpanned.

"Of course, Percy," Zeus nodded, "As I was saying, time's have changed. You are the Saviour of Olympus. You have saved Olympus not once, but numerous since you have been claimed."

"True," Percy nodded, "But it wasn't just me. I had help."

"Of course you did," Zeus nodded, "And the Council has honored those we lost during the Wars, and those we still have. We have granted every last wish and request of our heroes of Olympus. Including your own," Zeus continued, "You gave up my offer of immortality twice, to better the lives of those around you."

"You are selfless, Percy," Poseidon took over now, and Percy turned his attention to his father, "Selfless, brave, loyal, and powerful. You are the embodiment of what it means to be a hero."

"We had wished to allow you to live a peaceful, normal life as you requested after the Giant War," Hera took over now, "We reunited you with the daughter of Athena, and we gave you your wish."

This time it was Aphrodite who spoke, "We never expected Annabeth's greed and pride to ruin your relationship," Aphrodite frowned, "You two were always my OTP," she huffed as she crossed her arms against her chest, "Now I'll have to curse her love life."

"Aphrodite's daughter called to her last night and informed us of the transgressions against you," Zeus continued, "She told us that you were becoming a shell of yourself, and that just cannot be. You are a hero of Olympus, the Son of Poseidon. And we have decided to offer you a new title, a new place in the world, and a new home away from the pain of your past."

"I'm not sure I'm following," Percy lifted an eyebrow silently in question.

"We are offering you Godhood, Percy," Poseidon answered.

"This again?" Percy rolled his eyes, "What makes you think I'll accept it this time?"

"You have nothing holding you to the mortal world, any longer," Zeus stated simply.

Percy frowned. Zeus was right. Annabeth had been his reason to decline Godhood both times, but Annabeth had made it obvious that she no longer wanted Percy. Of course, he still had his friends, but they had sent him away to get better. Surely, they knew that this would be the Gods' way of "helping" him. They had said goodbye, as if they were expecting to rarely see Percy, or ever see Percy again.

Percy sighed as he looked at Zeus, "I accept…"

Zeus grinned at Percy's words, "I knew you would."

Percy doubted that entirely, but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut for once. A flash of blinding white lights appeared, and Percy turned to see the three Fates standing in the center of the throne room, a string in their hands. Percy watched as the string turned Gold, "All Hail, Perseus, Son of Poseidon, Olympian God of Darkness, Loyalty, Battle, and Heroes, minor God of the Sea."

"All Hail, Perseus," Zeus chorused, and soon the other Olympians were echoing the King's words.

Percy frowned as he glanced at Zeus, "What's with all the domains?"

"You're the most powerful demi-god to walk the Earth, it shouldn't be that surprising," Poseidon snorted in amusement.

"And the Olympian part?" Percy questioned.

"That was agreed on by the council," Zeus said, "It was decided that a fresh perspective could be used on the council. And since you seem to never be afraid to call us out, you were the best option. Hephaestus will have a throne built for you before the next council meeting."

"Alright," Percy nodded slowly in understanding, "What's next?"

"Apollo will be your mentor. While your palace on Olympus is being built, you will be staying with Apollo," Zeus began, "He will show you how to protect and watch over your domains, how to use your powers, and what it means to be a God," Zeus explained, "We hope that you find your peace here on Olympus, Percy. Welcome to the start of the rest of your eternity."