Demigods Assemble (PJO/MCU)

Chapter 25

Percy

By the time they got back to the compound after visiting Camp Half-Blood, it was very late in the evening. Percy was grateful for that fact since it allowed him to tell the others that the demigods were on board and then go to sleep before Annabeth could interrogate him. He knew she would drag the truth out of him soon enough, but he needed some time to sort through it on his own first.

The memory of the green smoke spewing out of Rachel's mouth and her eyes glowing green unsettled him. The prophecy rattled around in his head on an unending loop. As he lied next to Annabeth in the dark room, he knew he wouldn't be sleeping.

"But only with the fall of Poseidon's son," Rachel had declared, before swaying and tumbling off her stool. Percy had been so stunned he almost hadn't caught her in time. She had asked what the prophecy said since she had no memory of it, but Percy couldn't bring himself to repeat it. He'd said goodbye and booked it out of her cave, trying to pull himself together before he saw Tony, Peter, and Steve.

Remembering the encounter outside the forges, Percy didn't think he'd done a good job convincing them that everything was fine. He was not looking forward to the conversation he would surely be having with them in the morning. He was curious how Tony knew Harley, though . . .

Percy had faced ominous prophecies before, but not like this. Both Great Prophecies had spoken of death, and the first one really had seemed like it would end in Percy's demise. But this one . . . it said "Poseidon's son." Rachel might as well have hissed "Percy Jackson."

Since that first dream, Percy has known something big was coming. But he'd survived so much, the thought of not making it out of this latest conflict hadn't even crossed his mind. He knew the fight would be tough, but . . . sometimes he still felt like he had the Curse of Achilles and that nothing could touch him. He'd been through so much, he thought he deserved a happy ending. There might be bumps on the path to that happiness, but he'd always assumed that he'd make it there . . . to the altar with Annabeth, to the big house with tiny children, to growing old and wrinkly and passing away peacefully in his sleep.

The prophecy had taken away all of that. His life was gone. As much as he wanted to wallow in self-pity, he knew he had to push through. If Echidna, Phorcys, and Keto were going to take away his future, he would be damned if he didn't give them the same courtesy.

Around eight o'clock in the morning, Annabeth woke with a quiet groan, rolling towards Percy. He smiled at her and brushed perfect blonde locks out of her face, kissing her on the forehead. She sighed happily, blinking her beautiful gray eyes open. Percy tried to memorize her face.

"Morning, Wise Girl," he said as she sat up.

Annabeth frowned at him, studying his face. "You didn't sleep last night." It wasn't a question.

Percy pulled back. "How did you notice that so quickly?"

Annabeth smirked. "I can't share all my tricks. Now tell me why you didn't sleep."

Percy shrugged. "Just worried about the coming fight. I feel guilty bringing everyone into this," he fibbed.

"They know what they signed up for," Annabeth assured him and narrowed her eyes. "But that's not it. There's something you're not telling me."

Percy tried to play it off with a smile. "What are you talking about? I've told you everything that happened at Camp Half-Blood."

"So it did happen yesterday while you were gone!" Annabeth exclaimed triumphantly. "I knew something was off with you when you got back. Tell me."