Chapter 4 - Heat

It was Athena's idea.

With Apollo patching up the injured demigods with the assistance of his kids, by midday the demigods were impatient and ready to move. So while the monsters were unprepared and weaker in the day, she suggested that they directly strike the United Nations building.

Kronos' army was losing the traction it had gained and that night had been fought to a stand-still. The gods were expecting Oceanus to be in the area, so they could take down him and potentially also Kronos – if Percy couldn't keep him preoccupied again – and Prometheus, along with any other unexpected Titans.

So the demigods moved. The gods locked down the Empire State building, and the demigods marched straight up Fifth Avenue, and down Forty-Second Street. At mid-afternoon, Percy and a few other stronger demigods – Nico di Angelo and Thalia Grace included – led the charge straight into the United Nations building.

Percy very quickly realised there was a problem – the sheer number of bodies in the area and the confined corridors made it next to impossible to get a whiff of Kronos' scent. He told Annabeth so, and she nodded grimly in response as she finished gutting a dracaenae.

Kronos' army hadn't been expecting a counter-attack. Percy could hear the odd explosion from outside and assumed that the gods were driving back the Titans, since they seemed further and further away.

Clearing the building took less than two hours. Those of Kronos' army whom remained alive either ran or surrendered, dropping their weapons, and Percy set himself onto the task of hunting down their King.

"He wasn't fighting outside," Zeus said when he stalked into the main atrium where everyone had gathered. "Anyone see him?"

"Nothing," Percy muttered. "Where is he?" He tried to think back to his dream, when Kronos had tried to get Percy's Achilles Heel's location out of Ethan Nakamura. But no – that had been at Medusa's old place.

"He's got to be in the building somewhere," Athena said flatly. "He wasn't with the rest of the Titans when they left. Oceanus-"

"He tried to get back in," Poseidon cut over. "Multiple times."

"To come back for Kronos," Percy guessed.

Poseidon shrugged loosely. "Who knows? But that would be the logical assumption."

"Search the building," Zeus ordered. "Spread the word. I want him found."

Heart hammering in his chest and wondering why the hell Kronos hadn't joined the battle – surely he would if he were able, no way would he miss out on a fight – maybe he was more badly hurt by Percy than it had seemed. Then again, Percy had pretty much run him through with Riptide.

"We'll help you, Percy," Thalia decided, Annabeth at her side.

The beta nodded slightly. "Of course," Annabeth smiled. "We'll find him."

Percy found that he was more attuned to Kronos' scent than all of the others, managing to find the area of the compound where it was strongest.

Abruptly, when he opened the door to a room beyond he first noticed the scent before realising which room it was. The scent in the room which had him freezing where he was, and next to him Thalia swore loudly before grabbing him and pulling him back out – but not before Percy saw the golden eyes in the centre of the room.

"Wait – no, I've got to-" With the scent lingering in the air around them, Percy struggled against the other alpha. "I've got to get in there."

"No," Thalia snapped at him. "You don't."

"Percy, listen to me," Annabeth said fiercely, not looking nearly as affected as Percy or even Thalia. "You go back in there and he'll probably try to kill you."

"He can't," Percy grumbled at Annabeth.

"Not from lack of trying," Annabeth said pointedly.

When Percy lurched towards the door, intending to open it again, Thalia slammed him against the wall and promptly slapped him, only to swear again under her breath, tenderly moving her wrist. "Okay – oww."

Percy blinked. While the slap hadn't hurt, it still managed to snap him out of it. "Ah, what was – what was that?"

"Thalia," Annabeth said, "can you go tell the gods?"

"Of course," Thalia nodded grimly and turned down the corridor, only to look back at Percy before she disappeared around the corner. "Don't go back in there for now – got it? With him like that now, he'll try to rip your face off."

"What – why?"

Annabeth looked Percy over curiously. "I didn't expect your reaction to be that… intense."

"Reaction?" Percy echoed. "What – what's happening?"

"He's in heat," Annabeth quietly said to Percy. "An apparently unmated omega in heat… and a strange alpha enters his safe haven. Put it together, Percy."

"He's…" Percy took in a hesitant breath through his nose, again breathing in Kronos' lingering scent. "Gods."

"You actually genuinely want to mate him, don't you?"

"Yes," Percy groaned. "That's what I was trying to say."

The sound of thundering feet echoed down the corridor towards them, and Thalia careened around the corner with the gods and Chiron at her heels. "In there," Thalia said. "It's the-"

"Security Council chamber," Percy supplied. "He's in the middle of the ring."

Chiron was the only one to move forwards, being the weakest and hence least threatening omega present. When he opened the door, Percy leaned to the side to try to peek in, but the centaur blocked his view.

The centaur backed up and shut the door. Looking rather exasperated, he turned to face the gods. "He's in heat," he confirmed. "We'll have to block off the corridor."

Zeus smiled grimly. "Well, Jackson, it looks like you may get your wish."

Percy lifted his head. "Huh?"

"In you go," the king of the gods prompted with a wicked smile.

Realisation dawned in Percy even as the god nudged him forward towards the door. He hesitated before glancing back to Poseidon. His father looked rather concerned for him, but only smiled slightly.

"Good luck, son."

Percy stepped into the UN Security chamber, hearing the door gently click shut behind him. The lights were on, throwing Kronos' sprawled figure into sharp relief. The Titan's back was to one of the semi-circles. Curled slightly into himself, he nevertheless managed an impressive glare in Percy's direction.

"Have the gods forgotten to tell you the rules regarding omegas in heat?" He growled darkly.

"I mean… they told me to come in here, so… I guess so, yes," Percy said, tilting his head to the side. "Why? What are the rules?" He didn't get too close, wary of the omega in his current state – he knew enough about heats to know that, at least. Unmated omegas could be incredibly violent in their heat. While Kronos had probably been formerly mated to Rhea, he wasn't then.

The omega launched himself from his nest, vaulting the Council's seats and leaping at Percy in one smooth movement that blurred, too fast for the demigod to see much less react. All the oxygen was forced from his body as he landed heavily on his back, slamming his head onto the floor beneath him.

Percy gasped for breath, winded, and immediately breathed in the sharp scent of the Titan omega.

"Well," the Titan growled, and Percy had to remind himself that his Achilles Heel was beneath him – Kronos couldn't hurt him. But still, he was heavy. Percy noted that his side had sealed over through the day. "One is that stupid alphas have no right to enter a nest under any circumstances. Especially when the omega is in heat."

Percy took in a deep breath, then realised that it was a struggle to get air into his lungs. While Kronos couldn't break the skin, he could sure as Tartarus asphyxiate Percy.

"In fact," Kronos continued idly, "alphas have been killed for less by me."

Percy's vision darkened at the edges and he wildly flung out his senses – water, where's water – and made a pipe in the ceiling above them burst open. Water from the sprinkler system rained over them, and Percy used both it and his impenetrable skin to knock the already off-balanced omega to the side. That was obviously what had been putting Kronos off over the past few days, his heat starting would have provided a nearly-fatal distraction, and it made no difference now that it was in full swing.

The demigod alpha smirked. "You were saying?"

Kronos it seemed was a contradiction himself when pinned beneath an alpha. Even while he glared up at Percy, he rolled his head to expose his neck and hence the faded mating mark from Rhea. Barely controlling himself from making his own mark as most other alphas would at such instinctive submission, Percy instead only pressed his lips against the mark before swiftly backing off as Kronos stiffened sharply – making it distinctively clear to the omega that he wanted him, and yet also that he wouldn't push further than he was comfortable.

Percy wasn't sure how it usually worked between alphas and omegas, but he did know common courtesy. Even so, he made sure that he backed up as the Titan did so, giving him space.

Kronos seemed only confused as he observed Percy.

The demigod figured that this was new for the omega. He took several paces back, keeping his distance. Percy knew why Zeus had ordered him into the room – in heat, Kronos' reluctance would be far less pronounced than otherwise.

Still looking thoughtfully at Percy, Kronos tilted his head to the side. "Have you ever heard of a Hunt? I believe the gods prefer to call it the Night."

Percy slowly shook his head. "No," he admitted.

Golden eyes gleamed. "It's an old traditional way for an alpha to… convince an omega."

Percy lifted his head, eyes widening slightly. "You're giving me a chance?" He asked in disbelief.

"Once agreed to, you can't back out," Kronos warned him, looking more amused than not, which really should have warned Percy what he was getting into in advance. "So – agreed?"

The demigod nodded. "Yeah," he said, his pride swelling. "Yes, definitely."

"Good," Kronos said with a wicked smile. "Return at sunset. Ensure the gods prepare you – this is to be done properly."

Percy left the Security Council chamber feeling pleased, with a dopy grin on his face.

"Well?" Zeus prompted as soon as the door closed behind Percy. The demigod noted that Hestia – the only omega of the six siblings, not including Chiron – was the closest to the door. There were four omega demigods seemingly guarding the door.

Percy lifted his head. "Kronos said something about a Hunt – a Night – tonight?" He was oddly confused when the ichor drained from Poseidon's face, along with all the immortals in the corridor. "What?"

"Please tell me you didn't agree," Poseidon said sharply. "Percy-"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Poseidon turned on his brother, looking utterly furious. "This is your fault!" He boomed. "Percy," he said, his hand fisting. "Go back to Kronos and back out."

"He can't," Chiron quietly stated. "An agreement to a Hunt is binding."

"What's going on?" Thalia frowned. "What's a Hunt?"

Poseidon's jaw tightened. "That's what the Titans called it. We call it a Night."

"And?" Percy prompted.

Chiron sighed heavily. "Percy… essentially, the alpha has the duration of the night to convince the omega to mate with them. But… there are terrible loses during these nights. The omega – if they decide that they do not wish to mate – has every right to kill the alpha. The alpha – if they decide they aren't going to manage to mate – will often kill the omega to prevent any other alpha from mating with them."

"But… I'm invulnerable," Percy said slowly, "he can't kill me."

"Do not forget your mortal point, Percy," Chiron warned him. "Do not lose track of what anchors you to mortality." He grimaced. "But that's where this is exceptionally dangerous for you. All of us have an… animal that best reflects us. You've seen Kronos' form – as a black panther. These animals are a reflection of inside us. For the Night, alpha and omega spend the time in these forms, a way to show what they're like without having to do anything. Percy, inside, you are still mortal. You will be vulnerable in this form – you can be killed, very easily."

Percy realised then that Kronos had practically tricked him. He'd have the entire night to slaughter the alpha. "Is interference allowed?"

"No," Poseidon said curtly. "It is not."

"As far as we're aware," Zeus said, "Chaos laid down the Laws so that there would be fewer disputes between alphas and omegas."

Percy took in a deep breath. "Okay," he said, nodding slightly. "Okay. I can do this." He turned to Chiron, since the centaur seemed to know the most about this. "How do I get my… animal form? And please don't tell me that we have to mate in those forms too, 'cus that's just disgusting."

"I'll prepare you," Chiron promised to Percy. "I don't want to hear that he's killed you tonight. And no, the omega makes it exceedingly clear when they're willing to mate by transforming back."

The alpha looked at his mentor thankfully, realising just what he was getting himself into.

"He's not back," Poseidon fretted, pacing on the United Nations plaza.

"I prepared him as best I could," Chiron muttered, scanning the streets below for any sign of the demigod returning. The Night had started off well, at least while Percy and Kronos were still in the building. But then Kronos had made a run for it, bounding from the building and disappearing amongst the streets with Percy doggedly following at his paws. At the same time, the magical barriers on the island had collapsed to no one could follow them, suddenly too busy with the waking mortals whom were staring around at the destruction in disbelief.

Neither had been seen, even then – two hours after sunrise and after the Night had finished.

"Maybe we should search the city," Poseidon muttered. "Try to find Percy."

"Poseidon-"

"We may only find a body, but at least we'll know that-"

"Poseidon!" Chiron exclaimed.

The sea god twisted around, about to snap back at the centaur, until he saw the limping demigod approaching the UN building. "Percy," he muttered, immediately dissolving into sea spray and forming next to his son. "Percy – by Chaos."

The demigod had blood splattered down his side and streaks across his body. Poseidon snapped clothes onto him – had Percy really walked through Manhattan like that? – and carefully controlled some water to wipe away all the blood, noting with curiosity that there was also ichor mixed amongst the blood.

"Percy! – What happened?" Annabeth demanded furiously as she ran over to enclose him in a bear hug now that he was clean.

Percy looked incredibly tired, and wet. He also looked very wet, which was odd. "He's violent," Percy mumbled, rubbing at the side of his neck and accidently drawing attention to the still-healing wounds on his throat. When he saw Poseidon's narrowed eyes, Percy looked slightly sheepish. "I wasn't fast enough at one point – he got me round the throat, just about tried to rip it out." Blood was swiftly seeping into his new jeans and darkening them. "And he got my leg. A couple other injuries, but I tried to heal everything in the reservoir before coming over."

The god looked like he was ready to commit murder. "You're alive, Percy. That's all that matters. Now – where is he?"

Percy blinked, looking rather confused. "Uh – I left him in Central Park. He didn't look like – hey! Where are you going?"

Poseidon frowned down at Percy, hand tightening around the shaft of the trident he had just summoned. "Go inside and get Apollo to check you over, son. I'll deal with him."

"Deal with him?" Percy demanded sharply, his voice rising. "What – why?"

Poseidon looked confused now too. "Why wouldn't I?" He asked slowly. "We can't have him running around."

Percy snorted. "Oh, I don't think you'll have to worry about that." He grinned across at his father. "In fact, I'll be surprised if he gets up to walk anytime soon."

The god stilled, looking Percy over. "You…"

The demigod tilted his head to the side. "What? Oh – right. Yeah. I did it." He smiled and shrugged nonchalantly, as if it meant nothing, but inwardly he was utterly ecstatic. "He's my omega now. So… how about you don't deal with him and let him be, yeah?" It was said uncaringly, as if it were a suggestion. But it wasn't, not to Percy. If Poseidon tried to go after his omega in revenge for the injuries that he'd inflicted on Percy… the alpha would not be happy.

"But don't worry. Like I said – I left him unable to walk properly on the bank of the reservoir. He'll be good for at least another hour." Percy smiled crookedly. "So," he said, "is there any food? I caught a rabbit overnight, but didn't really have much of it. Kronos sort of stole it off me after I stopped him from eating a few mortals."

Poseidon let out an exasperated sigh, but Percy was smiling at him, so he banished his trident and nodded. "There's a few snacks left in the cafeteria. Help yourself."

Next chapter will detail the events of the night between Percy and Kronos. So yes, that includes the poor rabbit's death, Kronos trying to attack the mortals, Percy's animal form (though there's a hint towards that in this chapter) and their actual mating... which will be interesting for me to write, because CbT's separate scene was actually half-written by one of my friends...

ShadowsClaw: Ha, not quite. It was the heat.

Maya21098: Thanks!