Percy PoV

*****Flashback *****

It was after the Second Giant War. Me and the rest of the Seven (minus Leo), plus Nico, Reyna, and Coach Hedge were all hanging out at Camp Half Blood. Nico was in charge of burning the shrouds. There was too many. Too many deaths. Too much grief. And all for what? The gods that abandoned us, left us to do all this ourselves?

I have to admit. I was bitter. Bitter and angry. At who? I'd tell you, but I don't know myself. Kronos. Gaea. The gods. But most of all, myself, because I failed, I failed everyone that died. Bianca. Zoë. Lee. Castor. Beckendorf. Silena. Michael. Luke. All those innocent, young souls who never got a chance to have a life. And then there was Leo. Oh gods, Leo. I think his death (AN: This is before he rides in on Festus with Calpyso to save Apollo's butt) hit me, Piper, Hazel , and Frank the most. Hazel and Frank knew he was going to sacrifice himself, but didn't say anything.

I'm pretty sure I'm a major part of the reason why.

They thought that I would try to stop him and sacrifice myself instead.

They were right, obviously.

I would've given anything to take his place. To get him back. People have started avoiding me, saying they need time to cope with the losses.

Pretty damn (AN: Dam) sure they just don't wanna see my sorry ass.

Oh well. I guessed it was only a matter of time before they got sick of me.

-Line Break-have some blue cookies-

Frank, Hazel, Reyna, and the rest of Camp Jupiter are leaving today. Unlike most people at Camp Half-Blood, most people at Camp Jupiter seems pretty ok with me.

That's bound to change.

Frank, Hazel and me were talking like old times. Ah yes, the good old times hiding under giant blue butts in Alaska. Fun.

Reyna's beginning to see through my mask. I don't know how, seeing as nobody has ever done it before, but she somehow is. She's asking me if I'm okay constantly. I guess she's hiding a good amount of pain and tragedy in her past as well, and is hiding it as well. I guess it does take one to know one, after all.

She even offered for me to come to Camp Jupiter with her. I politely refused, but I almost regretted it, because I felt like her eyes could stare into my soul, examine my past and memories. Creepy. I think she's been hanging around Nico a little too much.

She reminded me of Chiron, with those X-ray eyes that seem to know everything.

Except Chiron bought my innocent act. Reyna's seeing right through it.

Reyna didn't want to leave me here. But she had her praetor's duties. Hopefully, she would just forget about me like everyone else has. Well, not everyone...

Annabeth, Travis, Connor, Katie, Chris, and surprisingly Clarisse are the only ones that acknowledge I exist.

Travis and Connor try to cheer me up by playing pranks on others. Katie gave me some flowers and told me "They made their choice, Percy. Don't dwell too long on it." Annabeth still hangs out with me like normal. But she's been sending me nervous glances, like she's scared of me. She's also been getting increasingly distant lately. Again, not surprised. Chris just is there to talk to me like normal, which I greatly appreciate, having someone treat me like a normal human being, like I won't shatter any second, like I'm not a monster.

'Monster' the voices whispered.

'Shut up' I thought back.

'Your fault. All of it. Your fault.' They hissed at me.

I didn't bother to argue. They were right, after all.

Clarisse wanted to fight. Or spar. Constantly. "Come on, punk," she would yell, "show me that you're the hero of Olympus!"

But I was thankful. She kept my mind off of things, while we sparred.

-Line Break to when Apollo showed up on Percy's doorstep-

Apollo showed up on my doorstep a few minutes ago.

Fuck my life.

He showed up in- was that blood? Yeah, that was blood. He looked horrible. And very, very mortal. He was a Caucasian male, about 16. He also showed up with a girl dressed like a stoplight, she looked about 12, with glittering rhinestones on her glasses. She was definitely a demigod. the question: Of who? And what in the actual Tartarus was Apollo doing on my doorstep with a demigod, covered in blood, looking like his face has been stomped on?

Apollo greeted me and requested my assistance. 'Oh fuck no,' I thought.

I was tempted to yell 'NOT TODAY, SUNSHINE!' and slam the door in his face. But I had a feeling he was here for a good reason.

"Why?" I asked. Was here to tell me what a failure I was? That I was no longer welcome on Olympus or in the camps? I forced my tears down. I couldn't look weak, especially not in front of a god, that probably wouldn't know what the heck I was blubbering about. No, I could not, I would not show weakness. In front of anybody.

I gestured for him to come in. I said "I said C'mon in then. And please try to keep from destroying anything. I just fixed this wall 15 minutes ago." It was true. A hellhound had crashed through the wall 15 minutes ago. Defeating it was easy. Duct taping the wall? Not so much. I had used the Mist to cover up the temporary fix. You never would've guessed there was damage in the first place. Yes, I could manipulate the Mist. Not much, but enough to hide... certain things. He explained to me about him being turned into a mortal, and the incident in the alleyway. (AN: Sally was out with Paul in my version. She was not there when Apollo came knocking. I'm sorry, I hate changing the story so it fits, but I just had to. You'll understand. Also, yes, Percy can manipulate the Mist in this fanfiction. You'll find out why soon enough.)

He told me about Meg's- that was her name right?- ability to control garbage. Weird. I had never heard of a god/goddess with a garbage domain. I asked, "Any other skills we should know about? Summoning lightning? Making toilets explode?" Meg smiled hesitantly. "That's not a power." "Sure it is," I said, "Some of the best demigods have gotten their start by blowing up toilets." She giggled.

I didn't want to help with their quest of doom and glory. I had had enough of those. My mom was also pregnant with my baby half-sister, Estelle. I knew ,she would kill me, if I wasn't here for her birth. And I really just didn't want to put up with a grumpy, self-centered, mortal, ex-god. So yeah. Forgive me, but saving Apollo's butt wasn't on my "To Do List" right now. I also figured Zeus wouldn't be very happy with me if I helped his exiled son. And I didn't really wanna deal with a grump Thunder Pants.

I decided to take them to Camp. Just because I felt bad for them.

I was also bored out of my fucking mind, and I wanted to get out of studying.

Mom: Hey Percy! Why did you not study while I was gone?

Me: Apollo showed up on my doorstep begging me to help him with his suicide mission.

You know, normal conversations between child and parent. Don't you have them?

We were chased by those weird shiny blobs Meg and Apollo mentioned, who turned out to be Nosoi. Disease spirits. I got a stupid head-cold. And I crashed Paul's Prius. Pretty sure he's not gonna be letting me borrow the car anytime soon.

After my narrow escape with the mortal police, (I had manipulated the mist to make it seems like there was a huge branch in the middle of the road, and said I couldn't stop in time, so

My mom stood there in the doorway, fuming. Apparently the mortal police had contacted her.

"What were you THINKING!?" She yelled. I gulped. It was well past dark. "I-I u-um.." I stammered. "BED EMPTY! NO NOTE! CAR GONE- COULD HAVE CRASHED- OUT OF MY MIND WITH WORRY- DID YOU CARE? NEVER AS LONG AS I 'VE LIVED- YOU WAIT UNTIL PAUL GETS HOME! YOU COULD'VE DIED! YOU COULD'VE BEEN SEEN! YOU COULD'VE LOST PAUL HIS JOB!" She roared. (AN: Anyone who knows what this is from is my new best friend and gets a shoutout next chapter.)

I hung my head in guilt. I had already caused enough trouble. I looked at her, and my expression must have been really vulnerable or something, because her gaze softened. She began, "Look Percy, I-I don't want to lose you again, and I-". I cut her off. "It's fine mom. I just had to help a... friend of sorts out. Don't worry. I'm fine. I'm not leaving you, not ever again." I smiled at her. She crushed me in a hug to rival Tyson's. "You better not." She warned. She turned around and walked off. "OR ELSE." She whipped around and glared at me. I gulped. "Yes ma'am." I saluted. She laughed and said "Come on, I made cookies!" I smiled.

'Maybe things are going to get better' I thought.

Boy, was I wrong.

YELLO! This is really long! I am proud of myself *puffs chest*. Sooooooo about the Percy ships I was thinking. Pertemis is out. Sorry. So is Perstia. Neither of them fit. There is a 0.1% chance of it being Percabeth. I am leaning towards either Perluke cause it fits or sexy loner Percy. I like both. Suggest some ships below! And remember... SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK!

And now for the disclaimer!

Me: ahem-

Percy: You didn't get to the betrayal on this one either.

Me: I know

Percy: Then why are there two chapters with the name "The Betrayal"?

Me: Because there can be. Now as I was saying-

Percy: All rights go to Rick Rierdon

Me: HEY! THATS MY LINE!

Percy: Fuck this shit I'm out *runs away*

Me: GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE, KELP HEAD!

"Fighting external monsters is easy in comparison to how we fight those within us."

~Jeffrey Fry