"This is it, Percy. The potential end of the world."
Percy nodded as he turned toward Leo with a soft smile. They had been working together throughout the final stage of the quest. They knew it'd come down to them.
To fire or storm the world must fall.
No one else knew what they were up to, in case they failed. The crew of the Argo II was battling the Giants together with the gods, while the Roman and Greek demigods left at their respective camps were holding up the borders of said camps, fighting off the armies of monsters with the aid of the Amazons and the Huntresses of Artemis. The war was going smooth, Romans and Greeks and gods united thanks to Percy's efforts and the help of the Argo II's crew.
"Let's do this together", whispered Percy and took Leo's hand.
A major storm was brewing up above them as they climbed onto Festus and flew right ahead toward Gaia to deliver the hopefully final blow with a little fire and explosives from Leo before literally drowning her out with the help of Percy's water. It was Leo's and Percy's masterplan and even though they would have a hand full of angry lovers at their asses afterward, they'd at least not risk the lives of anyone else they loved this way. It was up to them, to fire and storm, to end this.
/flashback|end\
"Percy, honey? Are you coming? It's your big moment, no time to space out."
Percy blinked slowly and turned toward his smiling mother. Shaking his head, he tried to rid himself of the flashback. The heat and pain had been unbearable, but Percy had managed to keep a protective layer of water covering both him and Leo from the worst damage. It had taken everything out of Percy and he had been unconscious for days to recover fully, but it had worked. They managed to knock Gaia back to sleep together. When Percy woke up, he was a bit fuzzy, but he was told that they had managed to save the world. Again.
While Percy had been asleep, everyone had gotten their rewards. Special weapons and blessings, favors from the gods to be caught in at a later point in time, any such thing. Leo had been offered godhood for his role during the war and he had accepted it – had become the god of fire, seeing as that had so far only been a minor part of Hephaestus' realm but it deserved its own god.
"Right. Yes. Coming", nodded Percy absentmindedly and stood.
Sally smiled at him as she walked over to straighten Percy's robes. Beautiful blue silk and velvet with silver embroidery, held together by the same purple brooch he had gifted to all his lovers.
"Everyone came to watch", pointed Sally out fondly, grasping his face and leaning in to kiss his forehead. "I am so proud of you, Percy. Of everything you did and the person you've become."
Taking a shaky breath, Percy threw himself at his mom and hugged her like she might disappear the next moment. All those months alone, not remembering her, not having seen her. Tears gathered in his eyes as he clung onto her. The decision he had made, the first time, he had chosen differently because of her, because he wanted a normal life with his mom and his stepfather. But reality had come crashing in and showed him that he didn't have this luxury. He would never have a normal life. The best he could do was chose the path with which he'd be best suited to protect all those he loved and that path included inevitably godhood.
"I love you, mom", whispered Percy into her curls.
"I know, Percy", assured Sally, squeezing him reassuringly. "And... And I'm sorry you can not have the life you wanted, finishing high school and going to college, but... I know, I know, you will have a good life this way too. You have a responsibility now, toward your son. He is your priority."
