Chapter 44 - Bound

It was an odd reunion. When Poseidon dropped Percy off, it was in the infirmary where Annabeth was already sitting on the end of a bed, dried tears on her cheeks and red-faced.

Poseidon nodded briefly to her, before turning to Percy. "I cannot linger," he warned Percy. "If you want to say something, best say it now."

Percy glanced over to Annabeth, before returning his gaze to his father. "What's going to happen to Kronos?"

His father let out a heavy sigh. "He has been spying for the Earth Mother, he raised the Moly, he has been killing some of our supporters without us noticing, and more importantly, he hurt you." Poseidon pressed his lips together. "I don't know what's changed for Zeus to want to keep him alive, but I do know that it can't be good." He squeezed Percy's shoulder. "You don't need to worry about him any longer."

Percy firmly shook his head. "What if I want to?" He asked tiredly. "What if I want to be with him still?"

Poseidon seemed surprised. "Percy, he's never going to be a good Omega. It's best to–"

"I don't want a good Omega," Percy said sharply, feeling a lot like a child having a tantrum. "I want him."

His father just shook his head. "It can't work, Percy." He took a step back. "I'm sorry." The sea god dissolved into sea vapour and floated out the window.

Annabeth stirred, her eyes hollow and broken – a reflection of Percy's own. "The other's said what happened," she said quietly. "How are you?"

Percy ran a hand through his hair, knotted and sticky with dried blood, and grimaced. "Fine," he said shortly. "What about you?" Percy lowered himself to the bed opposite her. "How are you feeling? Tartarus… what was it like?"

Annabeth shuddered. "Fine," she said. Percy's lips twitched, Annabeth's doing much the same.

The door burst open, a bundle of demigods practically falling through. "Percy!"

Percy huffed as he felt multiple arms wrap around him. He smiled, patting Hazel on the back as she hugged him. "We were so worried," she said. Leo hovered behind her, nodding a greeting to Percy with a smile. Jason was more dignified, simply stepping through the door after the others, his smile reaching his eyes. Nico was half-hidden behind him, and Percy was surprised to see Reyna too. All of the demigods squeezed into the infirmary, sharing the unused beds or – in Nico's case – lingering by the door.

The son of Poseidon pointedly gestured Nico further in, pleased as he did so. The group probably seemed complete to the others, each of them looking content with everyone there. But Percy was missing both Grover, and his Omega to make the bundle complete. He wanted Kronos to be sprawled out next to him, with that stupid smirk on his face.

"Good to see you alive, bro," Jason said.

Percy smiled tiredly. "Good to be alive," he said. "There were a few moments… well, I'm glad the gods turned up." He sighed. "So, what did I miss?" He asked.

Jason took a deep breath. "We met Rhea," he said. "She was… interesting."

"I don't think she's quite all there," Leo added helpfully.

"Not surprising if she had to put up with Kronos for however long," Nico muttered under his breath. "Just the short time he was at Camp was a nightmare."

Percy's hands fisted and he bit his tongue. "Right," he said. "Look, I think I need to get some rest," he said. "I don't know how long I was… there for, and I wasn't sleeping very well."

That had everyone quiet. Jason nodded firmly. "We've got to let them both rest," he said, glancing between Percy and Annabeth. There were reluctant mumbles of agreement.

Percy smiled thankfully at Jason. "Thanks," he said.

Jason nodded. "No worries," he said. "I'll make sure you two are left alone."

"Percy," Annabeth quietly said once they were all gone. "Kronos… where is he?"

Percy swallowed. "Apollo took him to Olympus," he murmured, turning over to avoid facing Annabeth. He didn't want to talk about it with her.

The son of Poseidon drifted off into a fitful sleep, dreams full of Porphyrion, Kronos and Zeus crashing through the roof of the cavern he'd been kept in. Golden eyes haunting his dreams just as they have the past few weeks.

He jerked upright when a hand touched his shoulder. Percy swore, blindly reaching out for Riptide, but a warm hand closed around his wrist. "It's alright, Percy," Apollo said, smile as bright as the sun. "It's only me."

"Lord Apollo?" Percy asked warily, propping himself up on his elbows. "What… what are you doing here?"

Apollo's gaze was surprisingly serious. He glanced over to the soundly sleeping Annabeth, holding his hand out to Percy. "I think you'd better come with me."

Apollo took Percy aside once they'd landed in the pristine white infirmary on Olympus. Percy's eyes furrowed. "What?" He asked as Apollo manhandled him down onto a chair.

"I wanted to get you in private for this," Apollo said. "When was the last time you and Kronos had sex?"

Percy blushed straight down to his toes. "What?" He demanded.

The god raised an eyebrow. "You heard me," he prompted. "When?"

"I don't see how that's any of your –"

"He was pregnant," Apollo said.

Had Percy been standing up, his legs would have crumpled beneath him. "What?" He whispered in horror. "Kronos… how?"

Apollo shook his head. "I'm sure, since Kronos was pregnant in the first place, that I don't have to explain it to you." He observed Percy closely for several long moments, before sighing and sitting opposite him. "So?"

Percy cleared his throat. "We… the night he kidnapped me –"

"Too late," Apollo said. "About a month ago? Perhaps two?"

Percy slowly nodded. "Yeah," he mumbled. "We… we did. Around then."

"And at several other points too I'm willing to bet," Apollo mused.

Percy blushed, and then Apollo's exact words sunk in. "Wait – was?" Percy's head jerked up, staring in disbelief at Apollo. "Was?" He repeated in horror.

Apollo took a deep breath, and slowly nodded. "Yes," he said. "Was. I'm sorry, Percy. Far enough along that he was starting to smell… off. Probably what set Porphyrion off in the first place." The god pressed his lips together. "I managed to save Kronos, but not your kid. Porphyrion… his spear went straight through. I had to cut it out to save him. Either you'd have lost just the kid, or both of them."

Percy swallowed. "How…?" How hadn't Percy noticed? He felt sick, like he wanted to give up and curl into his bed back in Poseidon's cabin, grab a blanket and cry and never leave. "I… is he alright?"

"As good as he can, considering the circumstances," Apollo said. He smiled tiredly. "I don't think that Kronos, the devourer of children, is all too upset."

Percy shook, dropping his head into his hands. "But… how didn't I notice? Why didn't he… I don't understand," he whispered, voice breaking. "How could he…?" The thought that the entire time Kronos had been pregnant, that he'd fought Porphyrion while pregnant, kidnapped Percy and nearly killed him while pregnant. That he'd hidden it from everyone, and not trusted Percy with that knowledge, hurt the most. Percy shook his head. "I –" Percy threw up, all over the pristine white marble floors.

Apollo sighed, snapping his fingers to vanish the vomit. He gripped Percy's shoulder. "He's alive, Percy," Apollo said quietly. "Focus on that. Despite Porphyrion shattering a few of his ribs, he's alive."

Percy shut his eyes, wiping at his cheeks. "Right," he whispered. "Right." He took a shaking breath, accepting the glass of water that Apollo handed to him. But to know that he'd been going to be a father… and that Porphyrion had murdered his unborn child. Percy fisted his hands, torn between breaking down into a heap on the floor and bawling, or hunting down the giant and killing him with his bare hands.

Apollo took the glass back once Percy had drained it. "Now, I think you'd better go see him." He said. "We've put him in a room alone, just for security reasons." He paused briefly. "And cuffed him to the bed."

Percy glared at the god, but nodded slightly. "I get it," he whispered. He couldn't imagine that Kronos had been on his best behaviour.

"You feeling well enough to see him?" Apollo asked. "If not we can wait until tomorrow. I'll take you back to the trireme and –"

"No," Percy said firmly, clearing his throat and hoping that he didn't look ready to vomit again. He felt as if he was. "I'll see him," he added. Percy pushed himself to his feet, and Apollo guided him through the infirmary to a locked door.

There was a sign stuck to it that read:

NO ENTRY
INJURED GOD TITAN

Percy raised an eyebrow, and Apollo shrugged as he unlocked the door, handing Percy another glass of water at the same time. "No point getting a new sign made. He won't be here long before Zeus has him moved to the cells." The god nodded to the water. "That's for him, see if you can convince him to drink. He's been refusing for us and Zeus is considering having water forced down his throat."

The demigod froze, hand on the door. "Cells?" He asked, taking the glass of water. He didn't even want to consider Zeus forcing Kronos to drink – didn't want anyone else touching his Omega.

Apollo frowned at him. "What do you expect? He's a hostile immortal who's already killed several natures spirits over the past day – it was a fight to tie him down despite his injuries. He's dangerous, entirely uncaring about hurting anyone, and he'll no doubt find a way to break out of here if he's left to his own devices for too long. We're not about to let that happen. You'll still be able to see him," Apollo added. His lips twitched slightly. "Give him a few years, and he'll be hanging onto your every word and falling over his feet to please you." He chuckled. "I don't think it will take very long to have another child with him."

Percy swallowed. "Right," he muttered, entering the room and shutting the door behind him. He didn't want to talk to the god. Apollo seemed to care, but Percy doubted he had Kronos' best interests at heart. Percy, on the other hand, had already seen what happened to Kronos in captivity. The kind of captivity that the gods seemed to be intending, sticking Kronos in a cell and leaving him to be cared for by Percy, as if he were nothing but a pet they'd picked up and given to the demigod… Percy almost threw up again at the thought. He couldn't let that happen to Kronos.

Kronos' wrists were cuffed, tight enough that he could barely move his arms where they were locked securely to the sides of his bed. He was bare-chested, a gold-tinted scar stretching neatly across his stomach, and another that marked the near-circular point of Porphyrion's spear. His chest and sides were mottled with golden and near-black bruises from where he'd been flung into the walls, or Porphyrion had kicked him. Despite all that, he didn't look nearly as sickly as he had the last time Percy had seen him. He seemed to be dozing lightly, taking deep shuddering breaths as his chest rose and fell.

Percy shifted forwards, dragging a chair to Kronos' side and dropping himself down into it. "Kronos?" Percy asked, putting the water on the bedside table.

Pointless, since when he returned his gaze to the Titan, he found a pair of dark molten eyes watching him. Immortals don't sleep, Percy recalled. "Hey," Percy quietly greeted.

Kronos was stiff, his muscles taught. If he wasn't chained down Percy imagined that he'd bolt, take a running jump out of the only window in the room and plummet down to Earth, all in an attempt at getting away. The Omega bared his teeth at Percy. "Still alive?" He rasped, voice hoarse. "Here I thought that Porphyrion would kill you."

Percy shrugged, letting Kronos' biting comment pass over him. "You alright?" He asked, glancing Kronos over briefly. He swallowed thickly when he saw those new still-healing scars, but shoved the thoughts away. It was done, it was over. Kronos was safe… for now.

Kronos' jaw tightened, and he turned his head away. "That's not your business," he growled.

The demigod sighed, gaze on the glass of water. "Apollo told me," he said finally. "Why didn't you say anything?" His jaw tightened. "How long have you known?"

The Titan licked his lips, but stared determinedly at the wall away from Percy. "I don't have to tell you anything," he said, voice low.

"You don't," Percy agreed. "But I'd like to know anyway. How long were you keeping it to yourself for?" He pressed his lips together. "I get if you don't want to say… but I want to know how long I've been completely oblivious for. How long I've obviously been the worst Alpha in the entire freaking universe for."

Kronos let out a short breath. "I… found out when we met Chiron's brothers," he slowly admitted.

Percy's breath caught. "You…" he sighed. "Right," he said. "Okay." He leant towards Kronos, and Kronos immediately tensed. Percy's eyes furrowed and he shifted back again, pointedly relaxing back into his chair. He didn't want Kronos to be tense. "I… I'm sorry," he whispered, rubbing at the palms of his hands. Kronos eyed him out of the corner of his eyes. "I'm the worst Alpha possible." He shut his eyes, unable to meet Kronos' sharp gaze with his own. "I was supposed to protect you, but I didn't. Instead I let you be touched and hurt by other Alphas, and I'm sorry." Percy trembled. "I get it if you don't love me, but I know that I love you, and I'm sorry for just screwing everything up so badly that you felt the need to do… all of this. I'm sorry for not thinking that you might want me to accept immortality, I'm sorry for just being… me." Damnit. Percy shook his head, feeling his eyes tear up again. "I should've been better. Should've done better for you," he whispered.

Kronos seemed completely astonished, his eyebrows all but escaping into his hairline. The Titan swallowed. "That's not–"

"And I'm sorry that I still can't protect you, but I'm going to try. I don't care if you think we're mated or not, to me we are. To me we always have been. Maybe you don't want that, which is fine, but at least let me make it up to you for completely messing everything up." Percy took a deep breath. "The gods plan to keep you locked up in a cell, for the rest of eternity, with your sole purpose being there as an Omega, and nothing more." Percy's hands fisted, and his weren't the only ones. Kronos growled fiercely, trying to jerk up, but the chains around his wrists screeched as he dragged them down the connecting metal, and held him firm. The Alpha swallowed, unable to watch. It tugged at his heart as Kronos tried to tear himself free. Percy lurched forward, grabbing Kronos' arm. "Don't," he said. "You're injured enough already, you don't need to shatter your wrists trying to get out."

"I won't have it," Kronos finally growled, expression fierce. Yet his gaze lingered on the cuffs, fear marring his eyes. "I'm not going to become that–"

"I know," Percy said, his own tone firm. He rubbed his thumb, hopefully soothingly, up and down Kronos' straining bicep. "And I won't let them. I'll figure something out," he promised. "Something that won't mean you have to hurt yourself." He picked up the glass of water, offering it to Kronos. "I promise," he quietly added. "On the River Styx I promise that I'll get you out of here before that happens. You have my word, Kronos."

The Titan's jaw clenched and he reluctantly nodded slightly, staring at his wrists. Little rivulets of ichor trailed down his arm, dropping from the crease of his elbow. Kronos looked back to Percy. "I'll hold you to that one," he warned, jaw tight and expression wild. "If you break it, forget the Styx wreaking her vengeance on you. I'll be the one doing so."

Percy smiled wryly. "I'm sure you will," he said agreeably. Percy held the water carefully out to him, and Kronos drank. Percy wouldn't be able to get Kronos out alone. Hopefully, Poseidon would be willing to help him – would he if Percy insisted? The demigod didn't know, but he had to try.

Yes, Kronos was pregnant. Yes, he knew (the asshole). First hint was in chapter 30 (I think that's it. When Kronos ate all of those brownies). Lots of different hints scattered around since then.

1234booklover: Yeah. Deep trouble for Kronos. Zeus deserves more credit XD. He is the King of the gods. Thanks :)

Thatgremlinbitch: More was he though.