Percabeth Oneshots

The Heart Of A Hero/ Tides Of Vengeance Pt.5

Prompt Credit: Aumplayz
Written by me.

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The world blurred around Percy as he stood at the threshold of the Doors of Death, cradling Annabeth in his arms. His chest heaved from exhaustion, but the sight of her alive—safe—pushed him forward.

His hands trembled, not from fear, but from the overwhelming rush of emotions that threatened to overtake him. He had done it. They had all made it.

Behind him, the others stirred, groggy but coming back to their senses. Jason was the first to stand, shaking off the remnants of the shadowy chains. His face was pale and his expression wary as he glanced at Percy.

Piper and Leo were next, both glancing at Percy with something between awe and concern. Frank and Hazel exchanged silent looks, their eyes darting between Percy and the now-dormant Doors of Death.

“You...you good, man?” Leo asked hesitantly, his voice uncharacteristically quiet.

Percy didn’t respond at first, his focus still on Annabeth, gently adjusting her in his arms as he helped her stand. Her legs wobbled, but with his support, she stayed upright.

Finally, Percy looked up, meeting Leo’s eyes. “Yeah,” he said, his voice rough but steady. “I’m good.”

But something had changed. Even Percy could feel it. His body felt heavier, not with exhaustion, but with the weight of what he had done. What he had become.

Without another word, Percy led the group through the portal, the Doors of Death sealing behind them with a heavy, metallic clang. They stepped out into the mortal world, the chill air of Greece hitting their faces as the familiar sight of the Argo II came into view.

The ship floated peacefully above the ground, and as they approached, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the deck.

The gangplank lowered, and Nico di Angelo appeared at the top, his expression shifting from relief to shock as he caught sight of Percy. He froze, his eyes narrowing as if trying to make sense of what he was seeing.

"Percy...?" Nico called, his voice tinged with confusion.

The others on the Argo II soon joined Nico—Reyna, Coach Hedge, and the rest of the crew. They all stared, wide-eyed, as Percy and the seven boarded the ship. Annabeth leaned on Percy for support, but she managed to give Nico a small nod of reassurance. “We’re back,” she said softly.

Nico didn’t say anything. Instead, his gaze shifted to Percy, scanning him from head to toe, as if searching for something out of place. “You’re... different,” he muttered.

“Yeah, he is,” Jason added, stepping cautiously beside Percy.

There was a tension in the air now, a collective unease. Percy could feel their eyes on him, as if they were waiting for him to snap, for the fury they had witnessed in Tartarus to resurface.

He felt the power still humming inside him—the primal, unstoppable force that had helped him defeat Moros. But it was more than just power. He could sense their fear, their wariness. They weren’t looking at him as their friend anymore. They were looking at someone dangerous.

Percy shifted uncomfortably under their gazes, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Look, I know I might seem a little... intense right now,” he admitted, his voice low. “But I’m still me.”

Jason raised an eyebrow. “You just took on Tartarus, defeated a Titan, and saved all of us. You don’t seem like the same Percy.”

For a moment, Percy’s face fell. He didn’t want them to see him like this. He didn’t want to be something they feared. But before he could respond, Annabeth tightened her grip on his hand, her soft voice cutting through the tension.

“He’s still the same Percy,” she said, her tone firm but gentle. She looked at him with those stormy gray eyes, filled with unwavering trust and love. “I was with him the whole time. Yes, he’s stronger. He’s been through Tartarus. But at his core, he’s still... well, the same seaweed brain.”

Percy smiled faintly, grateful for her words.

Leo, always the one to break the tension, cocked an eyebrow. “Alright, then. If you’re still Percy, do you still trip over your own feet when you walk?”

Percy rolled his eyes. “You know, Leo, I saved your life like... two hours ago. You could at least pretend to be grateful.”

“Oh, I’m super grateful,” Leo shot back with a grin. “Just making sure our fearless leader hasn’t turned into some almighty god or something.”

Piper snorted. “Honestly, Leo, if Percy was a god, I don’t think he’d be much different. He’d still have the same horrible fashion sense.”

Percy glanced down at his battle-worn clothes, stained and torn from Tartarus, and grimaced. “Hey! These are—well, yeah, okay, they’re terrible. But cut me some slack. I just crawled out of the pit of doom.”

Everyone chuckled, and just like that, the tension seemed to evaporate. Jason shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Alright, I guess you’re still the same Percy.”

Hazel, who had been quiet up until now, gave Percy a gentle nod. “We’re just glad you’re back,” she said softly.

“Even if you did turn into a Titan-slaying, door-destroying maniac,” Frank added, grinning.

Percy shook his head, chuckling. “You guys make it sound way cooler than it was.”

“Trust me, Percy,” Annabeth said, leaning into him with a small smile, “it was pretty cool.”

Percy blushed slightly, rubbing the back of his neck again. “Well... as long as I didn’t embarrass myself too much.”

“You’re Percy Jackson,” Nico said dryly, crossing his arms. “You’re bound to embarrass yourself at least once.”

Everyone laughed, even Percy, and in that moment, he realized something. No matter what had changed in him, no matter how much stronger or more dangerous he had become, these people—his friends, his family—saw him for who he really was.

Clumsy. Modest. A bit of a goof.

And most importantly, still the same Percy Jackson.

As the sun began to set on the horizon, Percy glanced around at his friends, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. Despite everything, despite Tartarus and the battles ahead, he had them. And that was all that mattered.

“Alright,” Percy said, a grin spreading across his face. “Who’s ready to get back to saving the world?”

The cheers from the crew echoed across the ship, and Percy knew that no matter what came next, they would face it.

Together.
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Here's the question for this oneshot:

8. In The Battle of the Labyrinth, what specific item did Hera give Percy and Annabeth to help navigate Daedalus's Labyrinth?