Chapter XV
Is That a Sword in Your Pocket or Are You-No? Okay, Ow, That Hurts

Percy was bathing when Thalia IM'd him.

He didn't notice her at first, rinsing off his shampooed hair, suds running down his body when a voice coughed. Percy brushed shampoo away from his eyes and squinted. A misty image of Thalia floated, a foot away from his face. Her eyes were steadily cast on his face, slightly blank and glossy. Percy raised an eyebrow, closing his eyes once more and continuing to rinse off. He didn't know if Thalia would remember this when the dust wore off, if the dust wore off, but that didn't really matter to him.

"You have something promising to report, I hope?" Percy began casually, running his hands through his hair.

"Artemis is dead." Thalia said monotonously. Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so? When did you vanquish her?"

"Not a moment ago. My hunters are dousing the fire as we speak."

"Did you use all of it?"

"Yes. I wanted to be cautious."

"Good. Wait for my orders then, be ready to leave at a moment's notice. If you encounter anyone, don't be stupid, act like you're upset. I'll contact you when I have come up with our next line of action." Percy murmured, yawning as he poured body wash onto his loofa. Thalia gave him a short nod, slashing her hand through the image.

Percy squealed and jumped around once she was gone. He could feel Nightshade roaring in his chest, cheering alongside him. Percy quickly finished his shower, mindful that it was nearing curfew and that Jason would need the shower soon. He finished quickly, passing Jason on his way out. A playful smirk on his face, Percy shook his hair violently as he passed, splashing Jason. He heard Jason gasp in shock. Percy laughed, looking over his shoulder at a tense roman. Jason shook his head playfully, beginning to charge. Percy turned around and held his hand up, stopping Jason dead in his tracks.

"You wouldn't attack someone naked, would you?" Percy asked, smirk never leaving his lips. He watched as the emotions on Jason's face changed, from confusion, to embarrassment, to exasperation.

"I'll get you for that later, Jackson." Jason swore, a playful smile on his lips as he walked into the bathroom. Percy chuckled, getting ready for bed.

He awaited the screams. He knew they would be coming soon. Moments after Jason stepped into the shower, he heard them. Smiling, Percy looked down at himself. Shrugging, he grabbed riptide and ran out, shirtless as he had been in the middle of dressing. He came to a halt in front of the artemis cabin, capping riptide. Stunned campers stood about, not knowing what to do as the cabin erupted in bright flames. "Percy! Put it out!" Conner shouted. Percy blinked. Oh. He was the one that could do that, wasn't he?

Percy cast his eyes around, under of how to do this. Pull the water from the lake? The lake wasn't nearby, it might take more energy than necessary to pull it over. Pull water from the air? That would be difficult as well. Letting out a sigh no one else noticed, Percy tensed himself. He felt like Katara from The Last Airbender, a show he watched when he was with his mom when he was younger. The thought made him smile, but he let the expression drop. Streams of water, moving like snakes in the air, floated overhead, whizzing by to douse the flames that covered the entirety of the cabin. Other people ran around to get pails and buckets of water, while Percy did his best to transport it and quickly put out the ever-growing flames. Eventually, Jason appeared. He did what he could, flying back and forth to get large buckets of water, and grabbing buckets other people had gotten and letting them crash down from overhead. Soon enough, the whole cabin had been put out, but was little else than charred wood and ash.

Percy let himself droop to his knees. He wasn't tired, that had done nothing to him, but he didn't want many to necessarily know he was getting stronger, and how strong he already was. Jason landed softly besides him, putting an arm under Percy's and hoisting him up to stand. "C'mon Percy, you can do more than that, I'm sure." Jason said, a small, slightly worried smile on his face. Percy chuckled.

"You aren't wrong." Percy agreed, but neither leaned away from Jason, nor removed his arm. Instead, he leaned heavily on the other man, who easily took his weight.

"How much room his there in the Hermes and Hera cabin?" Jason called out. Campers exchanged looks.

"You know, my cabin isn't ruined. It's got beds. It's just a bit drafty, most likely. I just...really don't want to sleep in there." Percy murmured softly, causing Jason to lean down to hear him. Jason bit his lip.

"That's true…" Jason sighed. "Would you all be willing to sleep in the Poseidon cabin? It has beds." Jason called out. More looks were exchanged, many people looking over to the cabin. It had been cut in half completely, but the top half had only slid down around and inch. It was completely sturdy still, and useable. Reluctantly, nods were given. "Alright. If anything in there is retrievable, I suggest you get it, then head over quickly. Curfew is soon." Jason called out. Many groans and sighs were heard, but Percy didn't get a chance to continue looking at the campers, as Jason turned him around and began to fly slightly, a mere hover from the ground. Percy yelped, clinging to Jason tightly in fear, arms around his neck and legs somehow managing to wrap around his waist mid air. It wasn't anything to be scared of, but he hadn't been expecting it.

"You did that on purpose." Percy glared heatedly. Jason lost it, bursting out laughing as they flew swiftly back to the cabin.

"Told you I'd get you back." Jason smirked.

"Meanie." Percy grumbled. He held tighter to Jason, adoring the feeling of the body heat coming off him.

"Meanie? What are you, five?" Jason snorted.

"Mentally." Percy admitted, letting his feet reluctantly unwind as they touched the ground. He started to walk away, but Jason yanked him back, making Percy lean on him.

"I also did it because you seemed to have worn yourself out and it wouldn't be good to strain yourself further." Jason said as Percy opened his mouth, cutting him off. Percy rolled his eyes and allowed himself to be lead to his bed.

"My prince charming." Percy murmured as he laid down. He heard Jason give a nervously-toned chuckle, before the lights went out. He waited for awhile, tossing and turning in bed. After curfew had passed and Jason had fallen asleep, Percy snuck outside. He wanted to go for a walk. He hadn't gone outside after curfew without malicious intent in the time he had been at Camp Half-Blood, and he wanted to try something new. He made it out with no problem, not bothering to use Nightshade to make his way out. He could feel her unpleased ruffling, but he ignored her. He went straight for the forest, creeping around cabins to and making sure Terminiousesness didn't see him. He made it to the safety of a trail within the forest, letting out a breath when he was out of direct line of the camp. His shoulders relaxed, his breath became calm and steady, his head clearing from the slight headache he had been nursing all day. Nightshade even became silent, docile.

Percy continued to walk for almost an hour, just walking back and forth when the trail ended and reached the borders of the camp. He didn't plan on leaving any time soon, intending to stay out until the sun began to brush against the horizon. He enjoyed this immensely, and wasn't ready to leave. Unintentionally, his mind turned to Thalia. She and the Hunters were ready, prepared to lead whatever attacks he wanted them to, to kill whomever he requested. Now he just had to figure out what he wanted to do next, out of the complicated mess of plans in his head.

There were several things he could do. All of them eventually lead to a path of success, in one way or another. Percy just had to figure out which-
"You shouldn't be out here." A soft voice spoke. Percy whirled around, hand lurching to his pocket and Nightshade shifting. The dainty figure hopped down from a tree, standing a few feet away from him, the only thing separating them being a few bushes.

"Juniper?" Percy whispered. He hadn't seen her in so long, since Grover. He had forgotten about her, as she wasn't someone he needed to worry about. Now, he could see, she looked awful. Dark bags hung low under her eyes, her hair being a knotted mess, not a single petal from the bunches of flowers she always wore in her hair in sight. Her skin was a sickly green color, unflattering and unappealing. Her eyes were dull, except for the heated glare that was directed at him.

"Leave, Jackson. Get out of my forest." Juniper ordered, a growl in her voice.

"Juniper, what's-"
"You have no regard for anyone, do you, Percy?" Juniper cut him off. "You've changed. You aren't good anymore. I can sense it."

"I don't know-"

"Leave my forest, Percy Jackson. You do not belong here. You don't belong anywhere." She whispered, walking backwards, voice growing faint. Eventually, she disappeared in the pitch blackness of the night. Percy quickly walked back to the cabin, not bothering to stop and see the damage to the Artemis cabin that there would surely be, as he had planned to before. He laid down quietly, troubled. It took him an hour of tossing and turning to finally fall into a restless sleep, Juniper's words echoing in his mind on a repeated loop.

The next day, Percy still couldn't shake the chilling feeling of forebode. It clawed at him, sinking it's teeth into his skin and latching on, refusing to release him. He tried to go about his morning normally, unable to stay truly focused on his surroundings, even as he trained or conversed with any of his fellow campers. He dimly noticed Jason almost hovering over him, and Percy could only assume it was because of his 'weak' act yesterday, and with how reluctant he had been to wake up that morning. Every once in awhile Percy or even Leo would make a joke about his hovering, but he would just brush it off with a smile and a laugh, a small blush occasionally decorating his neck. Eventually, Percy was able to take his mind off the incident, but was never able to fully shake off the sense of dread that nagged the back of his mind, that made Nightshade restless. He was able to quieten the two to a certain degree, and by the time night came along, Percy fell asleep almost soundly, listening to the sound of Jason's steady breathing.

Several hours later, Percy awoke, a searing pain in his stomach. Percy gasped, eyes opening as he heard a pained scream. "Nightshade, stop!" Percy shouted. Nightshade had lashed out on her own again, Percy could feel it. He could feel her rage, could feel how enraged she was that someone tried to hurt him. She snarled at him, the first sound he had ever heard her made, but he coughed up blood and repeated the order weakly, staring down at the figure on the ground.

"Percy?" Jason called out, having been woken up. The figure on the ground screamed again as Nightshade slashed him, before she vanished. Percy grabbed Riptide, clutching the wound in his middle. "Percy!" Jason shouted, jumping up. Percy couldn't see him, but he heard Jason's intake of breath, his footsteps stuttering. He felt Jason's hands on his shoulders, pushing him back onto the bed from his half-sitting position, and pulling his hands away from his wound. "Percy, you have to let me see the wound." Jason ordered, but Percy refused to move his hands.

"This is nothing, I'll live, take care of him." Percy coughed. The pain and confusion clouded his brain heavily. He was supposed to be immortal. Why was this happening? Why did it hurt so much? Why could he feel his own blood drenching his fingers?

"Percy, you are not oka-"

"I'm immortal stupid! Restrain him before he gets up!" Percy glared at Jason through his blurry vision. He could see the blond biting his lip, thinking, before he finally stood with a jerky motion. Percy dropped his sword, using his hand to cover his wound atop the other. He didn't watch as Jason hauled the groaning figure on the ground up, ignoring the ichor covering his hands from the wound that had been slashed across his upper torso.

Pain wracked his system. How was that possible? He shouldn't have been able to be injured in such a way. He didn't feel very immortal at the moment. He attempted to listen for Jason over the sound of his own labored breathing, but Nightshade fighting valiantly within his mind to be released, to be able to kill the person who had dared hurt him, distracted him over all else. He spent all his will on forcing her down. She needed to restrain herself. She needed to be reminded only to attack when he told her to.

You need to listen to me. You need to listen for orders. Silence met him. He sighed. He heard the door open, finally able to divert his attention from Nightshade. Jason walked in, Leo and Will in tow. Will immediately moved to his knees next to Percy's bedside, shoving ambrosia in his face.

"Eat." He ordered. Percy didn't hesitate. Percy finally let his hands fall to his sides, letting Will treat him. He looked to Jason, who was worriedly biting his lip, to Leo, who was shuffling around.

"Why'd you bring Leo?" Percy asked weakly, ignoring Will when he told him to be quiet.

"Percy. Did you see who attacked you? Besides, we're the ones running the camp, so I thought we should all be here to make the decision. Even if it was just some normal camper, you got stabbed, Percy. And obviously it wasn't a normal weapon if it hurt you like this." Jason said, running his tongue over his scar as he finished, a small habit Percy had noticed he used when he was stressed. "Is he going to be okay?" Jason asked, a small pause in between his sentences that was hardly noticeable.

"I'll be fine." Percy said, stressing the words as Will glared at him. "I've suffered a lot worse. Ask Will." Percy gave a small smile. Will snorted, shaking his head.

"You're only alive because of me."

"That's true."

"How many times have you almost died in my infirmary?"

"A lot." Percy admitted, laughing slightly. Will gave off his own small smile. Leo chuckled, but Jason only looked even more concerned. "Chill out. What'd you do with him, anyways?"

"Hog tied him up with some of the rope that was salvaged from the Artemis cabin, stuck him in a chair in the Big House, knocked him out." Jason answered, a savage smile on his face. Leo snorted at the look.

"Protective, much?"

"He tried to kill Percy in his sleep, Leo."

"You aren't wrong."

Jason rolled his eyes. "How's it coming, Will?"

"Almost done, stop your mother henning. And back up, I can't work with someone breathing down my neck. Percy, I'm gonna need you to sit up so I can wrap your torso." Will said. Percy gave him an exasperated look. Rolling his eyes when Will shrugged, Percy moved his arms to push himself up, but suddenly there were strong hands grabbing his shoulders and propping him up. Seeing Jason look down at him worriedly filled his stomach with butterflies. Percy fought a smile, but soon he didn't have to as he winced in pain. Soon he was propped up, Will wrapping a bandage of sorts around his torso for several minutes, making sure to cover the whole wound and to overlap it several times. It was a slash, almost half a foot long, going down slightly diagonally from around his diaphragm to below his navel. It didn't look very pretty, but Will had patched it up decently.

"Do you think you can walk over to the Big House so we can talk to him?" Leo asked as Will stepped away.

"I don't think he should be walking just yet." Will said.

"He wont be. I'll carry him. Percy, will you be okay around him?" Jason asked. Percy gave a small smile.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. And do I have to be carried?" Percy looked to Will. I mean, I'd love to be carried by Jason again, hopefully in a proper bridal style, but, you know. Tough guy act. Percy gave a small, mental sigh. Nightshade was finally calming down fractionally, which was a relief.

"If you're going to go interrogating the guy who attempted to murder you, then yes, you should be carried, and you should not be allowed to sit or stand on your own. You might go into shock." Will said.

"Not a problem." Jason said.

"Yeah, alright." Percy heaved a dramatic, playful sigh. Jason gave a small smile, while Leo and Will rolled their eyes at them. Jason picked Percy up gently, mindful of his wound. He walked easily to the door, as though Percy weight nothing. Percy winced occasionally, the jostling of Jason's footsteps disturbing the wound. Jason noticed almost immediately, and as soon as they were outside Jason changed to a very small hover.

"Why don't you two fuck already?" Leo asked from the back. While Jason spluttered, blushing, Percy smiled at Leo over Jason's shoulder.

"We have been." Percy smiled widely. Leo burst out laughing while Jason spluttered.

"That isn't true!" Jason said, looking at Percy with an affronted expression. Percy pouted.

"Aw," was all he said. Jason didn't know how to respond, instead looking ahead steadily while Percy laughed and stared at the blush on Jason's face.

They arrived at the Big House, half of it still caved on itself. They had removed Chiron's body some time ago, giving him a grand pyre that the centaur deserved. Still, no one went near it. No one wanted to walk by the place where Chiron had died.

"We should have the campers fixing this. Or at least turning what's not ruined into bed areas." Percy murmured sadly. Jason and Leo gave shallow agreements. They walked in, Jason transitioning gently back to walking, holding Percy close to him as he went up the stairs. Leo opened the door and walked in first. They only had to walk a few feet to reach the man who had attacked Percy.

Terminous smiled at them from where he was bound to the chair, covered in ichor from the wound in his torso, much more severe than Percy's.