Zagreus stood alone, taking up one side of the throne room of Olympus, human sized, as were his father and uncle and the two half-bloods who stood with them. Nico, hand gripping Percy's like it was his lifeline, Percy trying to step between Nico and the threat. The threat that Zagreus posed. Zagreus smiled his twisted smile at them. He would let them decide for themselves what that smile promised.
"My son," said Zeus.
"Zagreus," said Hades.
Two of the elder gods, both staring at Zagreus with doubt. The tiny, insignificant, small-minded beings that stood between Zagreus and ultimate power. It was Zagreus' right to take it. He was the heir of the earth and the sky and the seas, of the realm of his mother and his grandfather and every other creature to grace the world and its parts, magic and mortal, Greek and Roman. He was made to own it.
"My father," he began, "Lord of the Sky. King of the gods of Olympus. Do you think you are a good ruler?"
Zeus laughed. A deep rich sound that reminded Zagreus of his first life, his first chance. "A good ruler?" Zeus cried, between his peals of laughter, "Wherever did you get such an idea from? A good ruler?!"
Zagreus shrugged, "It is what the humans speak of," he said, giving Percy and Nico a significant look. "They choose their leaders with a vote, you know? Well, some of them."
"Oh, that guff is all very well for humans!" said Zeus, "they live such short lives! And they're all basically the same. They can all do more or less the same stuff. They're not like us, Zagreus. Our rulers are obvious! Strength is the only decider!"
Zagreus nodded. It made sense. Strength was the only quality a leader had to have. A ruler had to rule, to impose their will on those around them. Humans were so numerous, their strength came from numbers and wealth and a hundred other things. Gods were different. Gods had only themselves. Strength came from the individual and their knowledge, wisdom and power.
Zeus stepped forward, "But my son, why have you attacked my brother? Did he hurt you? Attack you? Do you believe him to be a threat?"
Zeus was stupid. A yob, when it pleased him and blind when it he didn't want to see.
"He is a threat to me," said Zagreus, calmly.
Zeus frowned, "The fiend!" he cried, "I shall tear him apart!"
Zagreus smiled, "Your concern pleases me," he told Zeus, "Your righteous anger for my cause is touching."
His steps carrying him closer and closer, but still at a slow speed that implied he was more wary than his words suggested, Zeus nodded, "Of course, my son! I love you more than anything! Of course, your enemies are my enemies! I shall smite any who dare to threaten you!"
Zagreus heard Jackson snort with disdain, but the boy somehow managed to hold his tongue. Maybe he'd grown from this experience.
"Again, my father, I thank you for your care and attention. Your love is a valuable thing. You must never think that I do not feel the proper gratitude for your good wishes and affection."
If he squinted, he would probably see a tear in Zeus' eye, as the King of the gods told him "Gratitude is not necessary, my boy."
Zagreus spread his legs a little, finding his own best stance, adopting his best appearance of strength and power as he replied, "No, but I do not wish for you to die thinking me ungrateful."
The effect of his sentence was powerful and instantaneous. Not a one of them failed to notice his choice of words. Jackson edged further in front of Nico, while Nico tried to edge in front of Jackson. He allowed himself a fraction of a second to envy them. To feel so about each other and it be mutual. To love someone enough to take a death intended for them upon yourself, and have someone who would do the same for you had to be the most perfect sort of love. Euphoric and magical. Magnificent beyond any temple.
"You wish me to die, my son?" asked Zeus. His voice was quiet and broken. He was far from unmoved, but not with the terror that Zagreus had intended to illicit.
"I'm afraid you must, Father," Zagreus explained, "You are standing between me and my destiny."
Zeus's face twitched, but it was quickly blank. "And I cannot step aside without dying?" he asked. The words were delivered almost casually, if it weren't for the slightest hint of a crack hidden deep within his voice.
It took effort for Zagreus to shake his head and maintain his own façade of calm.
"Might I ask why?" Zeus said, in that same voice.
With a sigh, Zagreus pondered his answer, "You will never step back without ambition for yourself," he told the old king quietly, "You will want and lust and crave your former power. This is a kindness. Thousands of years as king will not leave you easily. You want to rule."
"I want you more," said Zeus, quietly.
"That is not true," said Zagreus.
Zeus seemed to consider his response. It took him time. "No, it is not," he said. "My son, I do put you above my Kingdom."
Zagreus kept watching him, waiting for his truth. At the end of his life, Zeus had to speak the truth.
"But I must put my own life over all," he said.
Zagreus smiled. It was a sad truth. Maybe it was a selfishness born of immortality. Never really watching the death that the humans saw so frequently, made them fear death even more than a human. He spared a glance once more at Nico and Percy, so willing to give up their lives for each other. While Zeus would do no such thing for anyone. None of his lovers, and none of his children. Nico and Percy would both die one day, but it felt to Zagreus that somehow, they would still win over the gods.
"Of course," said Zagreus. "Then we battle."
He didn't give his father the chance to agree to the terms before he started his attack. The only thing he did do was throw Nico and Percy out of harm's way.
It was a choice that confused even him. It did not really matter if some humans died. Nico and Percy were both in their twenties. People died younger than them every day on Earth. People cried, but not the gods. Gods saw humans come and go like humans saw flies. They were an irrelevance. As a group, they probably served some sort of purpose for the life cycle of earth or the furthering of godly power, but as individuals they were insignificant to the extreme.
Zeus answered Zagreus' attack with a blast of his own. Pure power, deflected easily and designed to wound. The fool. This was a battle to the death. Had Zagreus not already made that clear?
Zagreus replied in kind, and then showed Zeus what a real fight should look like. Violent and powerful. He aimed to kill. The god should expect nothing less.
It seemed that Zeus was taken aback. Zagreus smiled, sadly, as Zeus stumbled in his evasion.
He thought of Jason. Of how he'd left the beautiful blond boy asleep in a hotel room in San Francisco. Somewhere that Jason would recognise when he awoke. His face had looked so peaceful, calm with sleep, lips full but manly, classically handsome features, stormy eyes hidden behind bright skin and fair lashes.
Zeus countered, getting the picture now, seeing for the first time that Zagreus was his end. Zagreus was the next great era. The doom of the age of the gods. But it wasn't enough. They were too far from the final blow.
Zagreus danced and fought and danced and fought. His sword arched, his power fizzing through the air. He hoped he'd put the half-bloods far enough out of reach. And Zeus was tiring. Zagreus could see it in his eyes.
He noticed that Hades was standing back. Maybe through fear, maybe through ambition. If he stood back, he could discover who was the strongest, and know who to ally himself with. Or maybe he stood back through some sense of chivalry. This was Zeus and Zagreus' battle. Others were not a part of it.
He wondered, briefly, if he should have brought followers to watch this final battle, to witness the final outcome. But he knew at once it was unnecessary. The victor of this battle would not keep it secret.
Zeus' hand reached for his master bolt. With sadness, Zagreus' eyes traced the move. He kept up his assault, delayed Zeus' use of his weapon of power.
He played with time, he played with strength, he threatened Zeus with eternity. And Zeus cowered, shielding himself. Once more the king's fingers itched towards his master bolt, his natural instinct, his response to any threat. Once more he held himself back.
Zagreus raged. He thought of every injustice he'd suffered. His first death, and its monstrous sadism, his captivity for millennia in the cold and darkness with only madness for company, Nico choosing his love over his brother, Jason choosing rhetoric and high minded concepts over real love and immortality. He let the anger brew, grown, swell, and attacked once more. Zeus could not mistake him. Death was the only possible outcome.
It was clear when the king of the gods gave up his attempt to hold back. His hand didn't hesitate this time on its journey to the master bolt.
Zagreus didn't cease his attack. He sent blow after blow. He knew he couldn't give an inch.
He saw Zeus raise the master bolt.