The Animal Within

Chapter 47 - Shattered

Percy was expecting the questions. He knew they would come eventually and he'd avoided them long enough. He was glad that the other demigods had leapt to his defence, he really was. But as soon as Poseidon had left they had turned expectantly towards him, making it more than clear that they knew something was wrong even if not what it was.

Percy pointedly ignored them, sinking back into his seat and picking at his waffles instead. "Please keep in mind I'm not currently wearing armour," Percy said flatly as he cut up a waffle. "And words can hurt." He glanced up, taking note of the silence before shrugging at them. "But sure, go ahead."

Annabeth opened her mouth, then hesitated and closed it again.

"Percy, we're just worried about you," Jason said instead. "There's a lot... well, we know that that Titan isn't the best of beings, and definitely not the best of mates."

Percy clenched his fist. "He's fine."

"But he's not," Hazel quietly said. "Percy, you have to see this-"

"He's fine," Percy angrily repeated. "Stop going on."

"Percy, he's not fine and you know it," Nico snapped at Percy. "You can't keep thinking he is. Everything he's done-"

"He's done nothing," Percy exclaimed, head jerking up and around towards Nico. "It's all my fault."

"It's not," Annabeth finally whispered. "That's Kronos talking. He managed to get into your head," the daughter of Athena said. "Percy, please think about it."

"I am," Percy snapped. "I have." He grabbed his plate, shaking his head. "None of you know," he growled under his breath. "None of you understand!"

"Then help us to understand," Piper pressed. "You refuse to say anything about it and then shout at us for not understanding."

Percy clenched his fists. "It's not that easy," he snapped. He felt as if the world was closing in on him, everything over the past few weeks was catching up to him and he just wanted to have some time to himself – was that too much to ask. "We've still got a job to do," Percy said flatly. "We've got to stop the Giants... and the Titans. We've got to stop them and save Olympus – we don't have time for this."

Jason' eyes furrowed. "We're thousands of feet above the ocean heading towards Athens," he pointed out. "If anything, we have the time for it now."

"Enough!" Surprisingly, it was Nico whom spoke up. "All of you, just – shut up." The son of Hades shook his head. "Look, think about what's happened from his side for a little," Nico said to them. "Percy's betrayed by his mate and captured, and who knows what happened there?" Percy clenched his fists, and Nico glanced towards him with a small smile. "Then, not only that, but he finds out his mate was pregnant and lost both of them in the same day? What in Hades do you all expect?"

Percy swallowed, turning his head away. "We need to get to Athens," he repeated.

"We're already moving full speed ahead," Leo grumbled. "I don't know what else you expect."

The son of Poseidon just groaned, leaning forward slightly and gripping at his hair. "I just want this over with," he whispered. He hadn't seen his mother in months and maybe he was being stupid, but he just wanted to plant face-down onto the couch and never move again. He couldn't see the point.

"We all do," Jason said, his tone firm. "And we will."

"I can't do this anymore," Percy murmured, his throat tight. "I'm not even seventeen yet," he groaned, his voice breaking slightly. He shouldn't have to worry about this – gods what would his mom say when she finds out what had happened lately? He'd be grounded for eternity.