all for nothing at all (ii)

Notes:

another short chapter this time. I'm not sure when my next one will be out but expect more down time between the events of BotL and TLO (partly to build tension and partly so i can continue to indulge in my percy nico brother dynamic)

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

"Enough with that face, Perseus. We're your family. And we only want what's best for you."

Percy's jaw clenched. His years of putting up with godly meddling almost compelled him to start spitting swears, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

A hand fell on his shoulder. The corner of his mouth peeled back in a snarl before he realized it was his dad. Percy's expression fell. His dad said nothing, but his touch was enough.Not yet. Stay calm.

Thalassa let go of him and Percy stayed put.

Good.Chaos said,Let us begin.

More than one excited smile was shot Percy's way.

"You've had plans for Percy for quite some time, from what I've heard," Poseidon said. To his dad's credit, Poseidon was shockingly unperturbed being surrounded by beings who could only be described as his enemies. Or he was just very good at hiding it.

Chaos had no mouth but the corners of their eyes creased the same way Poseidon's did when he smiled.

He has only been alive for fifteen years, that's not much time at all for your or I.

"It's his whole lifetime," Poseidon said.

And?Chaos asked.Perseus has already come into his godly powers so wonderfully.

If there wasn't a table between them, Percy was sure the power of those empty eyes would have dragged him closer and closer until he was swallowed whole.

"Are you ever going to call me Percy again?" he asked.

His dad inhaled sharply, aghast. A low thrum of hushed whispers cluttered the air. Chaos put up a hand and silence was restored. They used the same hand to gesture at Percy.

I might have indulged in that name when our bond was still forming, but it is beneath you now. You are Perseus, and it is quite clear your name matches your greatest strength. While so many beings create, you erode. You take.

Chaos leaned forward and it took every ounce of Percy's resolve to not lean back in his chair, to retreat.You destroy.

They tilted their chin up, as if to make sure Percy knew that Chaos was looking down at him.

Tartarus, if you could.

Percy blinked. "What-"

Without warning, Tartarus picked up his unused dinner knife and threw it.

Percy's heart jumped in his chest as he threw himself backward. All he could see was a blur of movement hurtling toward him—

Then it stopped.

He blinked again. Percy's eyes focused on the knife right in front of his face. And the hand that caught it. Poseidon slammed the knife down on the table with enough force to make their cups and plates rattle.

The first bit of throbbing pain made Percy figure out that he wasn't quite unharmed. He brought his fingertips to his cheek and a tiny jolt go through him when he felt the cut. It was small, but it still stung.

When he pulled his hand away, his blood came away golden. It was the same almost-ichor as before and the sight of it made Percy's throat tighten.

What a shame. I was hoping you would erode it to dust. You've done such a thing before.Chaos said.Though stubborn and obtuse at times, you are no fool, Perseus. You know what's coming, why hide any longer?

Maybe because you just ordered a guy to stab me,he wanted to say. But Percy held his tongue. He pressed his napkin to his cut while his father sat on high alert with the same venomous gaze as an angry snake. Thalassa pushed her glass of nectar toward him and he ignored it.

Chaos continued,You have little regard for the gods, yet you're so childishly dependent upon your father here.

Poseidon bristled. "Try anything again and I will-"

You'll what?Chaos asked.You are outnumbered here. We are older, stronger. You, Poseidon, have nothing to offer us. But perhapswecan enticeyou.

Chaos motioned for the left side of the table, the primordial sea gods, to speak up.

Tethys gave Percy a small wave. "Oceanus has sided with Kronos for now, but I can imagine it would be awfully nice if I convinced him to revoke his aid. As it is, I believe he's currently laying siege to one of Atlantis' outer encampments."

Percy could feel the godly fury coming off his dad. It wasn't tangible or audible or visible, it was just the terrible knowing that his father- one of the most powerful Olympians there were- was slowly losing his temper.

"Old Pontus here would be willing to do the same, if we could all remain civil," Thalassa said, putting a hand on her husband's arm.

Pontus grunted, as if he also wasn't very happy with this arrangement. Chaos gave him a pointed look, one that sucked up what little warmth there was in the air, and the old sea god relented. Pontus cleared his throat and sat up a little bit straighter. "Yes, yes. No need for us to quarrel with each other. Whether it's Zeus or Kronos on the throne, I'll still be the old man of the sea."

Thalassa patted his hand, as if telling him he did a good job. Percy narrowed his eyes at the ocean deities. Pontus and Oceanus were both going to turn neutral? It was too easy, too convenient. Tethys must've mistaken his attention for interest and gave him an encouraging nod.

"A very nice offer," Poseidon said, "But none of you have specified what you want in exchange. And I fail to see how this has anything to do with Percy."

It has everything to do with him.

Percy focused on Chaos. He wondered how they gathered so many primordials in one place and could think of only one answer; maybe Oceanus and Pontus would still very much love to grind his dad into dust and help put Kronos in charge again. But they couldn't, because their fear of Chaos outweighed their desire for power.

Chaos continued,Perseus' largest distraction at the moment is that petty war going on. So I am offering to diffuse it, at least in terms of your domain, Poseidon. Doesn't that sound rather nice? Kronos can overthrow that bothersome brother of yours, but the seas would still belong to you.

Percy's eyes widened. No way. It was a fucking bribe.

Poseidon didn't budge. He asked again, "In exchange for?"

Chaos let out an amused sound. Not a laugh, but something close.For the help I asked of you earlier. When I spoke to you in your domain. You remember, yes?

"Dad?" Percy asked softly. No answer. He set his bloodied napkin on the table."Dad?"

It's why we're even here, after all.Chaos said.This is just as much for you as it is for Perseus.

Poseidon leaned forward, ready to speak out. But Percy beat him to it. He stood up, his chair scraping against the floor.

"I, um…" What the fuck was that term? "I call to adjourn!"

No one knew what to make of his outburst. Percy motioned to his dad. "You both just showed up to whatIthought was going to be a family get-together. I want a ten minute break to play catch up. Is that alright?"

Chaos did not seem happy with him.Now, Perseus…

"Please?"

Was the gravity in the room broken? All the attention was being bounced back and forth between Chaos and Percy. And it really felt like the whole fake restaurant began closing in on him with all those eyes watching his every minute movement.

After a brief staring contest, Chaos sighed.Ten minutes.

Percy didn't hesitate. He grabbed his dad by the arm and hauled them out of the restaurant. Oddly enough, Poseidon didn't pull himself out of Percy's grasp until they reached a secluded spot behind a cluster of cypress trees.

The first thing his father said was, "I cannot believe you did that, Percy."

"Well I was desperate!" He threw his hands into the air. "They were going to force you to take a bribe to… what? Cut out the part of me that's still mortal? Is that what they were talking about?"

Poseidon stared long and hard at the restaurant some distance away. Despite looking like a healthy guy in his forties, he just felt so much older. He hadn't tried it on the primordials but if Percy squinted and focused, he could see a faint glowing aura around his dad. A pale gray one, as if signifying his stormy mood.

"Dad?"

"Yes." Poseidon said, still staring at where Chaos waited for them. "They want me to help sever the tie to your mortal blood."

Finally, he focused on Percy. "I was being truthful before. Chaos created this meeting and brought me here so we could define your ascension to godhood."

Percy couldn't afford to lose himself to the onslaught of emotions trying to cloud his judgement, but that didn't stop the anger and anxiety in him from swelling further. He only wished he had Annabeth with him. Percy so desperately wanted someone well-versed in keeping a level head. She was also so good at arguing. She'd have the primordials bent over backwards by now, surely.

A hand fell upon his shoulder, steadying him. Poseidon said, "But before I came here, I spoke with your mother. She's worried for you, Percy. And she wants you back."

Percy's breath caught in his throat. So she knew he fled from camp? Again?

"What… what did she say?"

Poseidon raised a hand toward the water and the beach shifted. It became more familiar, less lined by trees. The ocean turned a darker shade of blue.

Percy would recognize Camp Half-Blood's beach anywhere. A mirage of his father stood knee-deep in the water with his mother. Percy watched the image of his dad brush his mom's face. He heard her voice say,"I don't care what form he takes, just keep our son safe for me."

Did someone just punch him? How else could all the air be forced out of his lungs?

The mirage dissolved and the beach returned to its former state. Percy wanted to cry. He probably would've if he weren't in such dire circumstances. His mom would want him back, even if he was a god?

But his growing powers made hurting people so easy. Too easy. What if he hurt her worse than he already had?

Percy took a long, slow breath. He wiped his eyes on his sleeve and steeled his nerves. He needed to see his mother again. He needed to protect his camp. And he had a war to end.

"I don't think the other sea gods are going to keep their word once Chaos gets what they want."

His dad ran a hand through his hair. "No, I don't think so either."

"Then…" Percy had an idea. It was maybe a way to get everything he wanted in one go. "I think I have an idea."

"Oh?"

He nodded. "I'm going to agree to whatever Chaos wants."

That fuzzy aura around his dad grew sharp and bright and turned a bright, piercing blue before setting down again.

Poseidon asked,"What?Percy, what are you talking about? Why would you do that?"

Because they didn't have a choice. Not Percy, not his dad. Not any primordial present at this meeting other than Chaos.

Percy simply said, "We won't get out of this otherwise."

"But what if they try to force domains on you that you don't want? Percy, this idea of yours is too reckless."

Somehow, a laugh escaped Percy's throat. Dry and sharp and resigned to his inevitable fate. He buried both hands in his hair and tried to keep his chest from shaking. "Don't worry, Dad. I-"

Even with his feet on solid ground, Percy felt his stomach drop like he was in freefall. He let out a short cry as the world around him melted and rematerialized. Percy blinked, trying to calm his haywire sense of gravity.

He was back in the restaurant. He was sitting at the table once more.

I believe that's time.Chaos said.Now, back to the matter at hand.

Percy bit the inside of his lip. He made no move to object. With a nudge of his hand against his dad's wrist, Poseidon also remained quiet. And Chaos seemed pleased that neither of them were about to interrupt.

Chaos spoke.It is quite clear that Perseus' domain over destruction will be his most prominent one. Ordinarily, we primordials refrain from directly interfering with the realm of lower gods and mortals.

Percy dug his nails into the table and focused on the swirling mass of galaxies that compressed themselves to make Chaos' physical form. Anything to save him from looking into those eyes again.

But in Perseus' case, that is indeed the world ripest for ruin.

"The power to destroy… imagine the empires that could fall…" Gaea said.

"The thrones collapsed," Pontus suggested.

"It would be a magnificent sight to behold," Tartarus said, staring right at him.

"Yes, I agree. But Perseus does not have to be in a constant state of decay," Ananke said, voice cutting through the air, "It should also fall within his domain to decide when something remains intact. Just as I choose the procession of fate, this does not mean I enact every available outcome. Pardon my language, but imagine the chaos that would ensue if I were so reckless."

Percy didn't dare hope that he had a real ally among the primordials, but Ananke made a very compelling point in his favor. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and he inclined his head in thanks.

Then as you exercise restraint, I suppose we should extend the same liberty to Perseus,Chaos said. With the way they said it, Percy would've believed it was a challenge. After all, the sea did not like to be restrained. Neither did Percy. But he stayed quiet, refusing to take the bait.

"Okay." Percy heard himself say.

The table held its breath, but he didn't add more. He made a gesture at Chaos, a splayed-hand movement that silently asked,What more do you want from me?

Even his dad was giving him a funny look. Percy was just thankful the primordials couldn't tell how fast his heart was beating. Probably.

Another beat of tension-filled silence.

Following that,Chaos said,I suppose we should address the gifts you have given him, Poseidon.

They manifested something in their hand. It was a bit of green sea glass, small and oval shaped. Chaos held it up to the light as if it were a diamond.

You see, I must admit that I admire the ocean. Water is such a wonderful destructive force. It can flood and wash away cities, recede and crack the dying earth, and turn sharp glass smooth. It's a wonderful addition to his power.

Chaos set down the tumbled stone.However, I find his ties to your sea creatures, horses, and whatnot unnecessary. I believe we can cut those parts out of him, no?

Percy bit down hard on the inside of his cheek to keep from speaking up. Blackjack was the first thing that came to him. His second concern was that Percy actually liked being able to talk to animals. He found them easier to get along with than most demigods or deities, anyway.

"What purpose would there be in limiting his power?" Poseidon asked. "It seems counterintuitive to me."

Percy's plan to stay quiet for now was already being met with plenty of resistance. His dad was speaking for him, but he wanted to defend himself as well. Because what good did it serve to take away the parts of Percy that he actually liked? What if he wanted to do more than just ruin things?

But that was the summary of his life, wasn't it? Even before finding out he was a demigod, Percy was always seen as a bad kid by everyone other than his mother. He skimmed over Tartarus and Gaea and thought of how the two of them held so little regard for life they deemed as below them. Hell, Percy met his fair share of shitty gods, too. And he did not want to be anything like them.

Percy wanted to do good. Tobegood.

Chaos interrupted his thoughts.Like many of your siblings, you have the potential to be a fearsome force of nature. You were raised to be a warrior after all, to help your loved ones by defeating your enemies. It goes hand in hand with what I want for you. I know you will not miss the smaller parts of your father's heritage if given enough time.

"How can you know?" Percy snapped. He spoke before he could stop himself. "You say you want the best for me, but you're taking away what little about myself I actually like!"

Chaos did something that curdled his blood. They laughed.

As I said. So, so stubborn. I suppose it is a consequence of youth. Oh, how you remind me of Tartarus when he was young.

They snapped their fingers and the world around Percy dissolved into dust. He jumped up to reach for his father but Poseidon wasgone.Simply gone. As was the table and the restaurant and the world Percy was stuck in. He was alone in an empty void without even Chaos.

From the quiet dark, a new world rose up around him.

Percy found himself standing mid-air, a frothing and turbulent ocean far beneath his feet. Rain was falling in dense sheets as wind strong enough to fell trees deafened him. Percy couldn't feel the rain or cold but instinctively raised a hand to protect his face. He squinted through the darkness and saw the edge of a cliff just a few yards away. With a boy sitting at its edge in a white chiton.

His breath caught in his throat. This boy was completely dry, unbothered by the raging storm around him. He sat with an elbow propped on his knee and watched the ocean below them seethe.

It was him. It was Percy, but he knew immediately that it also wasn't him. It was the thing he became without his memories of being human; the boy watching the world drown was Perseus. And he was witnessing waves hundreds of feet in height weather away islands with nothing more than a mildly fascinated expression.

Percy felt like he was going to be sick. He squeezed his eyes shut as bile rose up in the back of his throat.If he had a choice, he'd never go back to being Perseus.

"Percy?"

A breath escaped him. He opened his eyes and winced. It was so bright. It was so quiet. The world snapped back into focus around Percy, as if he'd wandered off into a daydream without knowing it. He was still sitting at the table. There was no endless ocean surrounding him. His father was still at his side. It was like he never left.

Something tugged at Percy from across the table. Chaos sat with their hands folded together.

Oh.

Chaos had spoken to him alone, temporarily tuning out the rest of the conversation around Percy in order to show him that vision. Under the table, he dug his nails into his knee.

What's wrong?Somehow, Percy didn't jump out of his skin at the sound of a foriegn voice in his head. It was his dad's voice.Why was everyone staring at him?

Percy blinked and thought another drop of blood was rolling down his face. He wiped his cheek with his palm and found no blood. With a hot flash of embarrassment, Percy wiped his eyes to erase any other tears.

He couldn't bring himself to answer his father. Percy didn't think he could speak if he could. His eyes skittered across the table for some kind of reprieve and found it in Ananke's curious stare. Without any words at all, she conveyed a simple message.

You know what you have to do.

And Percy did. But that didn't mean he wouldn't put up a fight. He thought of his mother; he imagined her cookies and the baggies of candy she used to bring home for him. A warmth flowed through his veins and Percy clung to the few fraying threads he still had that connected him to his mother's blood.

Would you like us to go over the details of your godhood once more?Chaos asked, as if they didn't just doallthatto Percy.

"No, thanks. I got the gist of it." he said. Percy stood up and planted his hands on the table. Leaning forward to meet his maker's eye, he said, "I know what I want doesn't matter. So I'll become whatever you want me to be."

Dad quickly interrupted him, "Percy-"

He raised one hand and Poseidon paused. Percy held up three fingers. "I'll be a god or primordial or whatever, I don't care anymore. But on three conditions."

No one voiced their objections. Chaos gestured for him to continue.

"One, all the sea gods pull their support from Kronos."

Naturally,Chaos said.

Percy ignored whatever expressions the sea gods were giving him. He followed with, "Two, after I ascend… you don't mess with my memories ever again. I want to beme."

Only Chaos would understand this condition. But Percy could feel the coiling wave of fear, concern, and fury emanating from his father. He also felt the eyes of both his godly parents boring into him, but Percy didn't waver. In his lifetime already, he'd fought gods, Titans, monsters, and Clarisse without flinching. He pictured Annabeth and did his best to stay focused.

Chaos relented, feigning nonchalance. Or maybe this truly wasn't as big of a deal for them as it was for Percy.Very well. What is your final request?

Percy said, "You let me turn into a god on the dayaftermy sixteenth birthday. No forcing it beforehand."

That got a genuine reaction from Chaos. They seemed surprised, brows raising just a touch. From the corner of his eye, Percy saw Ananke watching him. She had an elbow on the table and was hiding a smile behind her hand.

Why wait?Chaos asked, face returning to the image of perfect poise and confidence.

"Why rush?" Percy asked in turn. He knew Chaos well by this point. His final condition was a last-ditch effort to make sure the primordials wouldn't go back on their word as soon as Percy became one of them. And it wasn't like he was trying to make the Great Prophecy happen, he already broke his own fate. But one way or another, Percy was going to end the second Titanomachy before he became too dangerous to be near his loved ones at all.

The corners of Chaos' eyes creased again.If you can keep your mortal side intact for that long, then I agree to your conditions.

In half a second, the world around Percy warped again. The table vanished. The air grew cold as Chaos manifested right in front of him.

I believe we've come to an agreement, my child. But only if you accept a condition of my own; after your year is over, you swear your loyalty to me. Wholly, permanently.

So you can keep me in your realm if you wanted to?Percy asked in his head.

Chaos nodded their head just barely so. How long have they been reading his thoughts?

"Percy," his dad spoke softly, "We can still reach a fair compromise."

He wished that were true. But no, thiswasthe compromise.

Chaos extended a hand.

Percy mentally asked,After I'm… like you, are you going to make me hurt the people I care about?

The nebulas and stars that made up Chaos' body sparkled.As I said before, you will bear the full responsibility of your domain.

Not a no, but also not a yes.

With no other options left, Percy shook their hand. An icy shock passed over him, making him shudder. It felt like making an oath on the Styx but multiplied by one hundred. Percy tried to let go, but Chaos held on tight. They pulled him a step closer and it took everything in him to resist tumbling right into Chaos.

I look forward to this childish stint of yours being over soon. Go on now, the waking world is waiting for you.

They let go of him and this time, it felt like Percy was the one dissolving into dust. The world stayed still as he became weightless and translucent. His vision blurred until he couldn't see anything at all.

Notes:

something minor but in case some people r still confused, my version of Chaos goes by they/them thank u