Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Let’s make one thing clear before we start. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Remember when I told you to run? I meant it, because things only keep getting worse. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

~-~-~-~-~

The arai were flying around Annabeth and I. I could feel the curses start to build up, a layer of clothing that felt like it was tearing my skin off. I felt names rush through my mind, Phineas, Gregon, Kronos, Ares, Atlas.

I fell to the ground, the gorgon’s blood rushing up my veins. 

“Oh, poor little Perseus. Drowning in the pains of his past actions,” spoke the voice in the sky.

I heard Annabeth yell, but didn’t hear the words. All I could hear was the arai’s echoing voices, and all I could feel was the blinding pain of the curses.

Luke.

Pain overtook my senses, a sharp pain between my chest and my shoulder and a desire to do whatever it took no matter the cost to save what I loved most.

“The loyal son, fearing his own domain, finally taking on the repercussions of his actions.”

Why did that sound like Annabeth?

“When will he learn everything was for nothing? Give in to the consequences. Give in, just like as Alkhys gave in to your poison.”

More pain filled my senses, a burning feeling. I cried out but felt as if I was completely alone. As if my throat was taken out and vocal cords flayed, I remained in silence.

One last curse before Bob intervened. One last name, and the horrors of what came with it. Names have power, I’d been told this all my life. One last name.

Calypso

I snapped awake in a cold sweat, clawing at my skin that still felt like it was plagued with gorgon’s blood. I didn’t recognize the surroundings around me as my vision cleared. A man’s face entered my field of view. I did not recognize him, panic threatened to dig its claws into me.

And I let it. I was terrified, I couldn’t breath, and still felt as though I had never left the pit. I was alone. I was alone. 

”Hey, just breathe. You’re okay, just breathe with me. Two, eight, five, three, nine–” His voice was melodic, soothing even. 

Clouding over the terror in my veins, and I did my best to listen. 

“Six, one, seven, twelve, sixteen, fourteen.” 

My breathing evened and I felt my heart rate slow. The man slowly approached me as if I was a small animal. He communicated his intentions clearly, holding up his hands in a show of peace. He wasn’t going to hurt me, or even touch me should I communicate it. So I let him get closer.

“What is your name?” He asked,

I signed, P E R C Y. 

“Percy? That’s a nice name. I’m Telemachus. How old are you?”

Seventeen.. no… eighteen

”I’m eighteen too,” Telemachus sat down next to me. 

Five things I can see. 

I reminded myself silently, Telemachus, the walls, the tapestries, the door, my hands.

Four things I can touch.

My fingers, the blanket, I brushed my hand against the wall, then on the wooden post of the couch.

Three things I can hear.

My heartbeat, Telemachus’ breathing, and his voice.

Two things I can smell.

The sea, some sort of plant aroma.

One thing I can taste.

Bile building in my throat.

“Are you alright?” Telemachus asked, his silver eyes meeting mine.

I shrugged. I see the corners of his eyes crease with an unknown emotion. I tried to focus on how pleasant I felt. For once a constant worry wasn’t beating down on me. There was no judgement. No anger. Just worry, and a calmness I hadn’t ever had. I liked it. I didn’t want to break the silence, didn’t want to leave this behind. No one had ever helped me through a panic attack before, only ever brushing it off to the side. Brushing me off to the side. 

”Percy, you’re safe here. Breathe.”

My breath had become shaky again. I hadn’t even realized. Annabeth would’ve yelled, Chiron would’ve given a disappointed head shake. And Mom… no, don’t go there. It was strange to feel such comfort at a stranger's side.

Thank you, I signed.

“For what?” He looked at me confused.

Being caring even though I’m a stranger.

”Well you seem like a nice person and anyways, isn’t a stranger just a friend you have yet to meet?”

My mind laughed at that mentality. In my experience a stranger most likely meant a monster waiting to kill you.

“Where do you hail from?” He asked,

I blinked, mind catching up to everything strange about this place. Chiton, speaking in Ancient Greek, his name. Telemachus.

Ithaca. I was in Ithaca.

My mind raced to the final curse that had run through my head at the end of the nightmare. Was this that repercussion? Ancient Ithaca, talking to Odysseus’ son… what was this?

Across the Atlantic, far away from here. I responded in sign.

“And yet we found you on our shores. How did you get here?” Telemachus asked.

I forced myself to speak, “A curse of sorts, I assume. I am not sure.”

”Maybe I could help you?”

“I am beyond help.” I stood on shaky legs.

Walk away. Survive. Fight.

”No one is beyond help,” Telemachus argued patiently.

”I am,” I bit back. I walked towards the door, I needed to leave before anything else went wrong because of me. Always me, “You do not want me here, I assure you. I will take my leave, thank you, for your help.”

“Percy, I want to help you, trust me if not that.”

I didn’t turn back, “I can’t.”

I rushed quickly out the door of the room and through the palace, trying to find an exit. When I make my way into the main entryway to the palace I freeze in my tracks. I had forgotten something important about Telemachus’ story. The suitors.

Antinous, was his name. He blocked the way, and for a split second of pure terror everyone who had done something similar flashed into my mind.

”Who are you, boy?” Antinous spit at me. “What are you doing here, little coyote?”

My words felt locked in my throat, but I forced the lock open, “Let me through before you find out.”

“Like I’d be scared of a little kid like you.”

My fists clenched, one reached into my pocket to find Riptide, I flicked the cap off. Leveling the blade with Antinous’ neck, I smirked, “Why would you be afraid of Poseidon’s kid?”

“W-what?” 

His stutter would have been funny but I was too blinded by fear to laugh. Too long. All of this had gone on for too long. I couldn’t mess with the past, maybe, but I could put fear within them. I owed Telemachus that much.

“Percy!” Telemachus yelled, blocking Antinous from me, despite the fact I was armed, and he was not.

“Oh shit.” I muttered, dropping my blade.

Fun’s over, and I needed to leave. Telemachus followed me outside, and I ignored his questions somewhat guiltily. 

“Percy, just listen to the voice of reason. How are you going to get home by yourself? Let me help you.” Telemachus tries to reason.

“I am more than capable of finding my own way. I’ve done things myself my whole life, I don’t need someone else now.”

”You may have done it your whole life but you don’t have to anymore. Please, just let me help you. My dad may not have been able to make it home but I’m sure you can.”

”Those are two entirely different things, your dad is trying to come home! Mine is a fucking god! Your mother actually cares! Mine would rather me die in a ditch! So don’t you fucking tell me you know what my story can be. It is set and stone as it is.”

The prince of Ithaca froze, and I kept walking. Walk away. Survive. Fight.

“Did you just say my dad’s still alive?” Telemachus says, puzzled.

“Surely Queen Penelope hasn’t let you think he wasn’t.”

”Well—”

“Goodbye, Telemachus.” I cut him off, with a painful sensation, I was in my cabin again.

Gods everything hurt. Pain laced up my arms in a way I’d never felt. I thought I knew pain. Thought I knew how it felt. This was so much worse.

”Perseus Jackson!” Annabeth yelled!

Oh, gods, what did she want now?

”Where have you been? You said you’d help me demonstrate the climbing wall to some of the younger campers!”

I was in too much pain to speak let alone move so I just let her yell at me. Since Tartarus things have been different between Annabeth and I. Even before then, something had always felt off. More controlling in a way. I’d ignored it for a while, I didn’t intend to start now.

”Now you're pretending to be mute, gods Percy, are you really this pathetic?” 

I winced, looking away, “No, sorry, just.. overslept is all. I’m sorry.”

“Overslept? Really, do you expect me to buy this bullshit! Tell me where you were, or I’ll tell people what really happened in the pit.”

Everything froze, I staggered back, “Are- are you blackmailing me?”

She simply crossed her arms, “Well?”

I shook my head, “Get out.” I mustered what little courage was left in the vast void of fear.

“What did you say to me?” Her voice was dangerously low.

“Get out, we’re done, I’ve been done for a while.” I reaffirmed, “I’m not letting myself be stuck with another Sally Jackson.”

“That’s your choice then, don't say I didn't warn you,” then Annabeth stormed out of my cabin. I have the feeling I’d regret that.

I shut the door, pulling my knees to my chest and rested my head on them. Happy birthday to me.

Chapter Text

I’ll be honest I didn’t think Annabeth was going to make good on her threat. If anything I thought she’d be angry for a bit then move on. That was wishful thinking, and wishful thinking is not logical.

I remained in my cabin, preferring the solitude over anything that would come my way should I leave. Many times I felt the pain of my body trying to return to the past. I didn’t let myself, I thought it would be better if I stayed locked into the present. It just seemed to prolong the pain.

“Percy, can I come in?” Will Solace's voice came from outside.

“Yeah,” I responded, voice shallow.

Will walked into the room carrying a tray of food. 

“I thought you might need something to eat, you haven’t come to any meals today,” Will remarked, setting the tray down by me.

“Thanks,” I grabbed the sandwich.

Will and I sat in silence while I eat.

“Today’s your birthday isn’t it?” Will asks.

I nodded. 

“Happy birthday. I don’t know if you knew… but.. Annabeth’s saying some dumb shit about you,” Will remarked, my heart froze.

“What-” I took a deep breath. “What’s she saying?”

“Something about you killing a goddess down in Tartarus. How you shouldn’t be trusted. That kind of shit.”

”Oh,” I felt my heart rate pick up.

”Percy, just breathe. You’re okay. Anyone who believes her is dumb. Even if you did kill a goddess you had a good reason,” Wills reassurance temporarily calmed me down.

Thanks I signed. 

“No big deal,” Will shrugged. “I better go, Lacy is in the infirmary,” Will said, standing up and brushing his hands off. 

He grabbed my tray and left my cabin leaving me to my thoughts. Why did Annabeth have to be such a bitch? She was about to drag me into the dirt for what? To get back at me for not telling here where I am twenty four seven?

I suddenly feel another sharp stabbing pain coarse through my whole body. I didn’t bother to stop it this time. My vision went black, but when it returned I was in the room I had woken up in the first time I had gone back to the past.

“Percy?” Telemachus’ voice asked from the corner of my room. 

I turn around quickly, not expecting him to be there. 

“Oh, hey—” I tell him, voice wavering.

“What?” He asks, seeming at a loss for words.

”I- don’t even know,” I felt tears begin to well up.

“Percy? What’s up?” Telemachus walked over to the side of the room I was in. He shuffled awkwardly, which was fair considering I did just appear out of nowhere.

It seemed ironic. Every time I’ve come here Telemachus ended up comforting me even though I was the one intruding on him.

“My girlfriend, well, I guess ex-girlfriend is telling the whole camp that I’m untrustworthy. She’s using a true story to back her up but she’s not telling the reasons and the circumstances behind it. She’s going to turn everyone against me and I’m going to be outcast even if I won these guys two wars,” I probably shouldn’t tell so much about me if I don’t want Telemachus to find out I wasn’t from the past but maybe that was already ruined due to me disappearing and reappearing in front of him.

“That’s rough?” Telemachus obviously doesn’t know how to comfort people but I appreciate him for trying.

“Yeah,” I chuckle. “We went through Tartarus together, you’d think we’d have a stronger connection.”

Telemachus choked on air,

“Tartarus? Like the prison for monsters?”

“Yeah, it sucked. I fucked up and killed a goddess,” my filter apparently did not exist at the moment. Well shit.

“I- You- What?” 

“Shit, probably shouldn’t have said that,” I sigh. “Alkhys, the misery goddess tried to stop my ex and I from reaching the surface. I kind of… maybe.. drowned her in her own poison?” 

“Wait, you drowned her. In her poison. How did you do that?”

He seemed to be taking this rather well.

Well this was a grave I’ve dug myself, I sighed, “I’m a son of Poseidon. I apparently can not only control water but also anything in a liquid state,” I tell him.

“You're a demigod?! That’s so cool! Can you control blood?”

Where is this coming from, this is not the reaction I was expecting.

“Yeah, probably. I’ve never actually tried. I stopped doing that stuff after I killed Alkhys,” I admit.

“That would be a really cool power to have,” Telemachus told me. “If I had something like that I could take care of the suitors really fast.”

“If you wanted, I could help you,” I don’t know why I was offering. I probably shouldn’t seeing as changing the past could possibly change the future.

“Maybe. I don’t know if it would help though. My father’s been gone for eighteen years. The suitors now consist of almost half the population of Ithaca. It just sucks because I’m stuck with the stories about my father but I have no clue who he even is.” That meant there was still two years until Odysious came home. Sweet, I could check that obstacle off the list of things to worry about.

“I get that. I didn't know my father for the first twelve years of my life and even after that the only times I’ve really seen him are when the gods are deciding if I should die or not,” I admit. “Sometimes you just have to make your own family. Like my brother. He’s technically my cousin, son of Hades and all, but we’re brothers. His name is Nico and he’s not exactly welcome at camp,” I ramble. Telemachus relaxes beside me, I smile. Maybe this curse wasn’t so bad. 

“That sounds nice. You’re the only kid my age I know. It’s dangerous for me to go outside of the palace because of the suitors,” I melt into Telemachus’ side. 

“Well, I guess we’re just the danger friends because danger follows me everywhere I go,” Telemachus laughs beside me and I feel my heart flutter. A feeling I haven’t felt since I was twelve years old. Fuck

“Yeah, just from meeting you twice I can tell danger follows you.”

“You know, I think the world might be better off if I was dead,” I admit. I hadn’t told that to anyone, not even Annabeth.

“Percy, listen to me, the world would be a worse place if you left,” Telemachus told me. Gripping my shoulders, making my shirt ride up, exposing the scars.

Telemachus gasped and I quickly push my shirt back down.

“Percy,” he whispered, aghast.

“I’m sorry,” why was I telling him I was sorry. I wasn’t, not really.

“You… Can you try not to do that again? Promise?” Sometimes you have to make promises you can’t keep.

“I promise.”

“Anyways, where did you go when you disappeared?”

“The place where I live, I was cursed in Tartarus. I think this is the result of that,” I admit.

“Well, I like your curse,” Telemachus whispers.

“Me too,” I felt the arms of sleep fight to take me. And I let them. I felt safe here, I could sleep.

-~-~-~-

As I slowly came back to consciousness I realized I was wrapped in a comforting embrace. I sighed peacefully then quickly realized an issue. I was laying on top of the very hot prince of Ithaca.

Where did that come from? My face goes red as I try to sit up. Finding I can’t, I slump back down. Then Telemachus’ breath hitched. I closed my eyes again, with the hope he would think I was still sleeping. His body shifts and I could tell the moment he realized the position we were in because he froze. I slowly let myself ‘wake up’.

”Good morning,” Telemachus greeted.

“It’s the middle of the afternoon,” I snarked,

“You just woke up, so technically.” He smirked, why was he so fucking attractive?

I roll my eyes, Telemachus letting me sit up properly.

“Going somewhere?” He teased,

I rolled my eyes again, flipping him off, “I, unlike you, have shit I need to get done.”

That was a lie. I was just grappling at the straws at this point. 

“And how are you going to do that when you’re stuck here with me?”

I smirked, actually forcing myself to appear back in my cabin on the spot. Hopefully that fucked him up a bit. I cursed, fuck that hurt.

I laid down on the ground of my cabin, letting the pain fade away before I stood up and deciding it better to just face the music. As I walked outside I felt eyes on me. Just like when I was first claimed, if not worse.

“Jackson, come with me.”

Oh great. Clarisse La Rue came over and dragged into the woods.

“What the hell do you want?” I muttered.

”I want to know why Annabeth is spreading some shit about you killing a goddess.”

“Because it’s true.” I replied bluntly, “We done?”

“Why though, there has to be a reason.” Clarisse persisted.

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose, “Why does it matter? By my count more people believe her than don’t. Why do you suddenly care about my past?”

“It matters because you wouldn’t go do something stupid like that without a reason.” She snapped.

I flinched, closing my eyes, and refusing to lose my temper, “She was going to kill Annabeth and I, so I used her domain against her. Happy?”

“So why is Annabeth twisting the story?”

“Because she’s an ass.” 

”Understatement of the century.” Clarisse murmured. On a normal occasion I would have slapped her but at that moment, I appreciated it.

Clarisse was hesitant to let me go back into the camp. Worried about the campers she knew would act. I did not care. At this point in time my joy, any emotion other than numb, was in Ithaca. And there it would remain. So I went out to the crowd, it was as if walking to my own death.

My gaze hit Annabeth’s. That pride lighting up her expression. After all, look at what she’d done. I held her gaze, refusing to back down. 

There were many faces I recognized in the crowd. Voices I knew insulting me as I walked past. I entered my cabin with no shift in my expression. They would not win by knowing how it hurt me.

And gods it hurt me.

Chapter Text

Somehow I’d woken up just before all hell broke loose. Flickers of fire danced in the window panes, campers yelled outside. I froze, this camp was full of “murderers” why was the Alkhys situation different? It was near exact what Leo and Piper had pulled in the final stand against Gaia. The yelling rang in my ears, hearing becoming muddled with a high pitched buzz.

What were they doing?

I stumbled up, risking a glance out the window. Campers, it was all campers. I turned back to the interior of the cabin. How could I get out of this? I grabbed my old questing backpack, grabbing what I could, before slipping out the back window.

They’re yells were louder now. If I could make it to the Sound, I’d be safe. There was no possible way I could make it to Half-Blood Hill, too far, not covert enough.

Pain laced up my body like ribbons, I ignored it, I can’t be caught in stasis between times right now.

I could hear direct insults by now. They’d obviously made it inside my cabin just to find out I wasn’t in there. 

Just as I could barely make out the Sound in the dark I was tackled from behind. I barked a swear, the back of my head hit a rock as I was flipped over. Annabeth stood over me, two other campers I didn’t recognize held me down.

“What the fuck!” I yelled,

Annabeth grinned coldly, “Didn’t get very far on your own, did you, Seaweed Brain.”

I grit my teeth, “What is this, Annabeth? What did you do?”

Her grasp on the torch tightened, “I only spoke the truth.” She smirked,

“Bullshit.” I hissed,

The daughter of Athena’s smirk grew, “You know, I’ve always wondered what could take you down, Percy. Never crossed my mind the answer was as easy as it was. You’re a fish out of water here,” The evil glint in her storm gray eyes grew, “most fish die the second they leave the water.”

I twisted in their grasp, “People let fish go, fish end up escaping. It’s not a matter of you get caught you die, but of you get caught you choose to survive.”

She glanced at the torch, “Not today.”

I knew what was going to happen right in that moment. She lowered the torch and the heat licked at my left eye. Panic was fueling every inch of my body, when I reached out to the sea, it didn’t come.

The flame was pressed down right beside my left eye. I’d likely screamed but my mind was fogged with fear and pain.

Someone tackled Annabeth, another wrestled the two campers away. I couldn’t see out of my left eye and my right side vision was swimming. The first person started talking to me, I couldn’t hear it. Couldn’t make out who it was. I was simply bracing for more pain, the other one started putting up with my weight, hobbling towards the Sound, supporting me. 

I lost consciousness before I hit the water.

~Telemachus~

Everything had been weird from the second I’d appeared in some strange other building. I’d looked around and knew I wasn’t in Ithaca, Ithaca was nothing like this. The building was odd, but clearly dedicated to Lord Poseidon.

Easily the weirdest thing that had ever happened to me.

Someone else had stepped into the cabin. He was wearing a black jacket, pants, and a shirt. Not a chiton, but the things Percy had worn every time I’d seen him. His obsidian eyes glinted with a hidden danger.

“Who the hell are you, where is Percy?” He growled, hand resting on his sword’s hilt.

I blinked, “You know Percy?”

He scowled, “That’s not an answer, what are you doing in his cabin?”

Cabin. So that’s what this building was called. Not a temple, so why is it dedicated to Poseidon? It’s not a shrine either, people live in it. 

A scream rang out through the fields. Any curiosity I had was replaced by worry. Because that was Percy. The violent light in the other male’s eyes faded, he sprinted out of the “cabin” and I followed. He seemed to know his way around relatively well. We found Percy in a clearing in the woods. 

A torch was to his face. “Mine is a fucking god! I’m a son of Poseidon” Gods am I that fucking dense? I tackled the blond girl with the torch, the guy who’d interrogated me earlier handled the other two. 

When they were dealt with he started hobbling towards the beach, supporting Percy. To my surprise he submerged Percy in the water and the burns cleared up just slightly. He made eye contact with me.

“Nico di Angelo, please tell me you’re not here to hurt him more.” He told me, panic was lacing his tone.

I shook my head, “I am not here to harm him, I am Telemachus.”

Nico cursed under his breath, “Deal with that later.” He muttered, pulling Percy back up to the surface.

His mouth moved in a silent prayer, then a god appeared. Likely Poseidon purely due to the nature of Percy’s demigod..ness. The god 

“We need your help.” Nico breathed, looking the god dead in the eyes.

Eyes that were the same color as Percy’s. Like father, like son, I suppose. A sensation like seafoam brushed against my arms, and we weren’t on the beach anymore. It was some sort of hideout, blankets on the floors, bags of something that looked like a smashed cake, and water bottles were scattered around among other things. 

Nico grabbed one of the bags, force feeding Percy whatever was inside it. He bandaged the son of Poseidon’s wound straight afterwards. Nico sat back, looking up at me.

“What happened? I left camp for maybe a week and all hell breaks loose?”

I shuffled awkwardly, “I know very little.”

“Explain what you do know.”

I looked around, then at Percy, “He- he told me his ex was trying to ruin what he has. Described… the Pit a bit. But that’s all I know.”

Nico closed his eyes, “Di immortales Percy.” He muttered.

I sat down next to him, “What now?”

Chapter Text

~Percy~

Awareness came in bits and pieces. For a few moments I felt as if lava was coursing through my veins, in the next I was absolutely frigid. I slowly tried to open my eyes, my right eye just felt like a hundred pound weight was attached to it, whereas the left felt like it was a subdued forest fire. 

Everything felt strangely scattered and I found myself unable to recall why I’d passed out in the first place. Images flashed into my mind, but they felt almost like they were made of ash, one small blow and it goes everywhere, but it never really leaves an area.

Somewhere between those thoughts I’d lost consciousness again. While I don’t know for how long, I can tell you it was far from restful. 

I woke up screaming. I tried to sit up in a panic but the second I did violent flashes of pain struck me like a whip. I heard two pairs of frantic footsteps as whoever it was raced towards me. After a near heart attack I saw two people. Nico, as to be expected, but the other one wasn’t nearly as common.

“Telemachus? What the fuck?”

“Wow, the first words we hear out of his mouth after a full two weeks, and it’s a swear. His New York heritage truly knows no bounds.” Nico mused.

“How are you feeling?” Telemachus asked, distinctly in Ancient Greek, not English.

“Fine, why- how are you here?” I demanded, deflecting the seemingly concerned question.

“I’m… not entirely sure. I sort of, appeared, while you were being brutalized.”

“No sugar coating, huh?” I deadpanned, forcing myself to sit to spite the pain.

“Moving on, how much do you remember?” Nico asked, notably keeping it in Ancient Greek, likely for Telemachus’ benefit. 

I stayed silent, that was as good of an answer I could give. And it spoke volumes all on its own. 

I froze sharply, mind catching up with what I was feeling, “Nico,” I said, ice cold, “Why the hell is half my face bandaged like a fucking mummy.”

“I-um,” Nico stutters. 

I glared at him, his stuttering way too fast and desperate, he wanted to change the topic. It was evident in his face, while he jumped over hurdles in finding some way to respond to me.

“What happened?” I asked again, slightly softer this time.

Not one of them answered, I felt something settle inside me.

“Fine.” I muttered, trying to stand, “I’ll find out for myself.”

They shoved me back down, honestly causing more pain than the movement of me standing. I was seething, grinding my teeth.

“Let me go.” I said sharply.

Nico shook his head roughly.

“Your body went through a lot of stress, you need rest.” Telemachus replied.

“I can rest when I’m dead, dumbass, let me go.”

“Stop!” Nico shouted, “Percy you almost died you fucking moron! Just let us help!”

I stopped struggling, looking up at my pseudo little brother with a numb gaze, “Doesn’t matter, it’s happened a million times over.”

“Don’t.” Nico’s voice was dangerously low, “Don’t you dare say it doesn’t matter.”

I knew what he was referring to, even if he wasn’t trying to. I could see Bianca in him a lot these days.