A Son From Lands Unknown (PJO x Male Reader)

The Council in Winter

It was after nightfall when the group arrived at Crissy Field.

As soon as Dr. Chase stepped out of his Sopwith Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a big hug. "Dad! You flew... you shot... oh my gods! That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

Her father blushed. "Well, not bad bad for a middle-aged mortal, I suppose."

"But the celestial bronze bullets! How did you get those?"

"Ah, well. You did leave quite a few half-blood weapons in your room in Virginia, the last time you... left."

Annabeth looked down, embarrassed. Dr. Chase had been very careful not to say ran away.

"I decided to try melting some down the make bullet casings," he continued. "Just a little experiment."

He said it like it was no big deal, but the good doctor had a distinct gleam in his eye. Such curiosity and drive made it clear why the goddess of crafts and wisdom had taken a liking to him. He was clearly an excellent mad scientist at heart.

"Dad..." Annabeth faltered.

"Annabeth, Percy, (Y/N)," Thalia interrupted. Her voice was urgent. She and Artemis were kneeling at Zoe's side. Thalia was binding her wounds, while Artemis looked unsure.

Annabeth and Percy ran over to help, but (Y/N) stood where he was.

"Can't you heal her with magic?" Percy asked Artemis. "I mean... you're a goddess."

Artemis looked troubled. "Life is a fragile thing, Percy. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try, beyond the apparent 'deal' I made with your friend."

Artemis tried to set her hand on Zoe's side, but Zoe gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Have I... served thee well?" Zoe whispered.

"With great honor," Artemis said softly. "The finest of my attendants."

Zoe's face relaxed. "Then... what deal has been made?"

"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one."

"No..." Zoe declined. "What deal has been made in my name."

"Meet the new boss," (Y/N) said, adjusting his cowboy hat, "not quite the same as the old boss."

A look of slight horror crossed Zoe's face. "My lady... you- you didn't, right?"

"I did, Zoe," Artemis admitted. "He... he offered me a guarantee. A guarantee that you would be invisible to the Fates. That you would not die here."

"And- and you took it?" Zoe asked. "Why?"

"Because you deserve... so much more," Artemis sighed. "So much more than I could ever offer you, than the Hunt could ever offer you."

Zoe looked down for a moment, unsure how to respond, before turning to Thalia.

"I'm sorry we argued," Zoe said. "We could have been sisters."

"It's my fault," Thalia said, blinking hard. "You were right about Luke, about heroes, most men- everything."

"Indeed, though certainly not all men," Zoe murmured. She smiled weakly at Percy. "Do you still have the sword, Percy?"

The son of Poseidon couldn't speak, but he brought out Riptide and put the pen in her hand. She grasped it contentedly. "You spoke the truth, Percy Jackson. You are nothing like... like Heracles. I am honored that you carry this sword."