Cabin 13

45| Blood and Tears

Percy stroked her hair, "I'm so sorry," he whispered, holding her tightly, "Please stop crying, I promise everything seems worse than it really is."

His words only fueled her tears. All she could do was bury herself in his shoulder, her anger dying away, she'd done this to him...

"Jason--" She choked out.

"He's fine. He'll have nothing worse than a headache when he wakes up." 

Piper shook her head, hot tears still streaming down her face, as she pushed herself off his shoulder until she had enough space to see the hole in his shirt. Then she saw it, the raw scar left by Jason's lightning bolt.

"Oh, Percy--" her voice caught in her throat.

"Don't worry about that, I'm fine," he quickly dismissed the wound, "Now, come on. I'll help you down."

Percy held her waist and her trembling hands as they walked down the stairs into the arena, where Jason still lay on the ground.

Halfway down, she let go. Taking a few deep breaths, "I'm so sorry Percy."

He calmly smiled, "It's okay. You have every right to melt down. But I promise he's fine."

She nodded, "Thank you, but I meant for making you fight in the first place."

Percy stopped, "Wait, what?"

Piper wiped her eyes, "Yes, we made a deal with Eros, and didn't even ask you. I'm sorry."

He rubbed his neck, "Piper, is all this because I'm... different  now?" He sighed, "Because you know I can't help it, right?"

She blinked, "What? How did you-"

"Tartarus was hard on me, Pipes, I had to do things I'm not proud of to survive. And I guess some times I revert back to those times, but I'm trying to put all of that behind me, okay?"

Piper frowned, "You're talking about Tartarus..." then she slowly put it together, "Because you went by yourself- Oh, Percy!"

He grabbed her hand, "Let's just put this dumb fight behind us and save your friend from the Netherland, deal?"

She had no words, still a little shocked, so she just nodded.

"Okay, good. Now let's check on that boyfriend of yours."

Jason looked alright, a little pale, but Will had stopped the bleeding on the cut Percy had given him on his cheek.

"I'm just waiting for him to wake up before I try to give him any Ambrosia," Will told Piper, giving Percy questioning glances as he spoke, "...so, is everything resolved now?"

Percy just nodded, "Strictly business now. Let's just finish this quest. So, where's Eros?"

Eros appeared behind Percy in an instant, "I believe I held up my end of the bargain."

"Ah!" Percy turned, "Jeez! Come on, man! Really?"

Nico rolled his eyes, "Yes, the deal is over, Eros."

"Wait, one question," Percy said.

There was a small moment of silence.

"Is this permanent?" Percy held up his forearm, a detailed trident with a broken handle depicted in black ink.

In all the recent events Piper had totally forgotten about those, she lifted Jason's arm, finding a similar tattoo. A black night with a lightning bolt flashing through it.

"Well they are gladiator marks, they are made to fade away after the battle, but since technically neither of you died..."  he shrugged halfheartedly.

"Cool," Percy muttered, running his thumb up and down the mark.

"Use the mark wisely."

"Use?" Piper questioned.

"Now, off you go,"  Eros concluded, his sharp eyes narrowing. 

And with a flourish of his hand, they all fell into the darkness, "Good luck in the Netherland young demigods. May Thanatos take mercy on your souls."