Work Text:
Thanatos was gazing at his tablet to see who was next on his list when he halted, weariness flooding his ichor. He banished the device away without so much as a spare thought. He then took a short moment to think back to the many, many, MANY stories he had heard over the last few years. The god blinked hard before shaking his head in the negative, there was no way.
He disappeared from his current location (Boise, Idaho) and reappeared in the Underworld with a set jaw.
"I quit," Thanatos announced determinedly as soon as Hades came in to view.
"You're a god, you aren't allowed to quit and no, I am not giving you a pay raise," Hades rolled his eyes, not sparing the god a glance from the large pile of paperwork in front of him.
"Oh no I don't think you understand Lord Hades. I don't care about the rules. I quit. If that means I will vanish into chaos, so be it. It is probably a mercy in comparison to any other fate that will await me," Thanatos said with an edge to his voice, trying to keep the image of the tales he was told out of his head.
Hades looked up now, eyeing Thanatos wearily. With everything that had happened recently, Hades couldn't afford to overlook something like this, Thanatos was spooked which didn't happen; Hades prayed to Chaos that this wasn't another war brewing.
"What has prompted you to be so dramatic?" Hades questioned after a moment, meeting Thanatos' gaze with an analyzing stare.
"I am not being dramatic. I am exhibiting self preservation. I heard the frantic whispers from monsters who have emerged from the Pit, they have warned of what happened to Akhlys and this is not worth it. So you will either have to take it up with the Fates or find someone else to handle this because it will not be me," Thanatos said definitively.
"I do not even know what you are talking about, Thanatos. I don't understand what your sudden issue is," Hades leveled the other god with a sharper gaze, determined to figure out the threat.
"I'm serious, Hades, make me vanish into Chaos, I don't care. I am not doing this," Thanatos said as he conjured his tablet with the list of names still on the screen.
"What? You're job? If you don't stop messing around and get back to work..." Hades started in with a menacing voice, now positive the god was wasting his time.
"Read it. Read the list," Thanatos said in a matching tone as he handed the Hephaestus branded technology to the king of the Underworld.
Hades ran a hand down his face tiredly but did as told. He read through about a hundred names, getting more agitated with each one as he saw nothing was wrong or concerning, especially nothing that would illicit such a response from Thanatos. Then he saw it, just as he was about to curse Thanatos.
Staring inconspicuously at him was the name Sally Jackson. Oh. Oh. This was not good.
Perhaps not the threat Hades was imagining but definitely still a threat nonetheless. Multiple threats if Hades knew enough about Sally Jackson.
Hades took a steadying breath before looking at Thanatos who was nodding his head vehemently as if to say "I told you so."
"How old is she? " Hades asked, trying to rationalize this. If her death was simply an old age situation perhaps they could continue as planned, Percy would surely understand... Poseidon too.
"She's only forty-one," Thanatos said with that same sharp edge to his tone.
"Well then why is she dying?!" Hades practically growled at Thanatos.
"Heat stroke," Thanatos said as he looked back down at the list and selected the name.
"Well then call Apollo and tell him to cool it!" Hades hollered, his stress getting the best of him.
"I won't reap her soul, Hades. I will most certainly not be taking her here. So you need to tell the Fates they are not snipping that cord. Percy would make us wish Olympus fell those few short years ago, if only to escape his rage," Thanatos said wearily.
"Now you are being dramatic, Thanatos," Hades said, desperately hoping he was.
"Have you heard what he did to Akhlys?!" Thanatos demanded, he looked so crazed that Hades paused uncertainly.
"No... anyone who knows about his trip through Tartarus has been very hush hush about it. Why, what have you heard?" Hades asked, although he feared the answer.
"Only that Percy had Akhlys begging for him to kill her while using her own domain against her. He only stopped his actions because the daughter of Athena asked him to. Do you know what it is rumored he said to a primordial goddess who he was torturing with- again, I feel I must stress this -their own domain?!" Thanatos said manically, pulling at his hair.
"...What did he say?" Hades breathed hesitantly, he really wasn't sure if he wanted to know.
"It has been told that he said: let us see how much misery, Misery can take. So that's a no, Hades. I refuse to see what he would do to me if I tried to take away his mother while he is still only eighteen years old! I heard she has a toddler now, too, you know? I refuse. He'll burn us all to the ground- no -he'll drown us with our own ichor!" Thanatos grabbed at his head harsher in horror, looking like a godly version of The Scream painting by Edvard Munch.
As Thanatos spoke, Hades was brought back to the boy being fifteen and decimating 200 undead soldiers in under five minutes. Hades was not known to be a god that feared others, but he was also not so stupid as to underestimate potential threats.
It did not make matters any better that Hades was aware that Percy's mother took care of Nico. Hades knew how much Nico cared for Sally Jackson, and if he wasn't mistaken, several other demigods as well. No, Hades did not want to start another war.
"Wait here." Hades demanded before disappearing from the Underworld.
—————
When Hades reappeared he was next to Apollo on Olympus. By the looks of the ornate walls and the decadent marble, they were in Apollo's temple.
Apollo startled, jumping several feet in the air from where he was speaking to one of his muses, Calliope, and turned to his uncle with wide and uncertain eyes.
"Uncle? What are you doing here?" Apollo narrowed his look in confusion while Calliope, who sensed the tension rolling off of Hades, quickly made herself scarce from the temple.
"Apollo, you need to make it cooler, turn down the sun, hell make it night at noon for all I care just make the sun less scorching!" Hades said scathingly.
Apollo bristled in anger, his eyes changing from his normal blue to a liquid gold, "How dare you come here and demand me to lessen my sunshine, my domain!"
"Apollo if you don't make it cooler and quickly, a certain Sally Jackson will be dying from heat stroke today," Hades impressed the severity of the situation to the sun god.
Hades apparently didn't quite realize how much Apollo had liked Sally because he was not expecting the grief stricken look to paste itself onto the younger gods face.
"No. You're lying. Say it isn't so Uncle! I- I kill Sally?" Apollo questioned a bit breathily as his emotions got the better of him.
To Hades, Apollo looked as if he were on the brink of a panic attack. The king of the Underworld had to actively fight off the look of confusion from forming on his face.
"Yes... So you'll lessen the sun, correct?" Hades questioned.
"I just.. I can't believe that I could've killed her! Me! After everything she has done to help me and this is how I repay her?"Apollo began to cry, which Hades did react at (seriously, what the hell was going on?) with wide eyes.
"I- I didn't realize you were so close to Percy's mother," Hades noted, his curiosity finally getting the better of him.
"When I was... Lester... I went to Percy as fast as I could and Sally was the first person who I could feel comfortable around despite being mortal. Sally reminded me of my own mother and she treated me kindly in my time of great need. I truly cannot believe that I could repay her kindness by killing her!" Apollo was now full out sobbing, Hades looking at him in confused horror.
"You can uh, handle this, right? I'm kind of busy and..." Hades tried to escape but found Apollo throwing his arms around him in a hug, sobbing on his shoulder.
Hades groaned, this was becoming a truly terrible day.
—————
Meanwhile, Thanatos was currently working on another backup plan to ensure he did not have to go anywhere near Sally Jackson's soul today.
Thanatos appeared next to Hermes who, judging by the raised eyebrows and sharpened gaze, was somewhat surprised to see him.
"Thanatos? Is there something you need? I am quite busy today, Aphrodite wants me to pick up this package for her and Ares does not want me to deliver it so you see I really do not have the time to chat," Hermes chattered hurriedly.
"Well actually, Hermes, I came with an offer to take the weight off of your shoulders for today," Thanatos said with a smile.
Hermes wasn't fooled, his already sharp gaze narrowed to analyze Thanatos presence, "why would you want to do this?"
"Well truthfully I am a little bored and I was feeling up to a challenge. You're one of the hardest working gods I know and you have experience with my godly duties... so I was wondering if you would want to switch for the day. I would settle for even a few hours," Thanatos said with the charm only he could quite perfect.
"What exactly brought this on?" Hermes questioned, used to Thanatos' charm and knowing this behavior wasn't normal for the god.
"Okay, I wasn't supposed to tell you this but the truth is that Hades thought you looked a little spread thin lately. I just want to help you, we were once friends weren't we?" Thanatos said, lying sweetly through his teeth.
Thanatos didn't care what sucking up, groveling, or lying he had to do to get Hermes to agree to his proposal. There was no way Thanatos was going to make himself an enemy of Percy Jackson today.
Hermes looked angry for a moment before exhaustion seemed to take over. The messenger gods shoulders hunched over and a sigh emitted from him. In that moment, Hermes didn't look like a Greek God. No, he looked much more like a father who had still been struggling with the death of a beloved son.
"Is it really that noticeable?" Hermes said dejectedly.
"I don't want to offend you by telling the truth," Thanatos placed a consoling hand on Hermes shoulder.
It was quiet for a moment before Hermes took a deep breath and his eyes locked on Thanatos once again, "this won't be a terrible imposition on you?"
"Switch with me for a day, at least a few hours... listen, Hermes, I think you need less responsibilities for a minute and allow yourself to breathe," Thanatos said compassionately. On the inside however he was ready to throttle Hermes into agreement.
Hermes nodded then, "yeah okay, thanks Thanatos. I'll keep this in mind next time you need someone in your corner."
Thanatos didn't let his face waver, "anytime, I'll just leave you with my tablet and take yours?"
Hermes nodded, looking relieved beyond belief as he took the tablet out of his pocket and handed it over along with the parcel Aphrodite had requested, taking the tablrt from Thanatos in exchange.
"No take backs!" Thanatos yelped as soon as he disappeared.
Hermes was immediately on alert, eyes going infinitely wider as he clambered to pick up the tablet.
As he gazed at the next name on the list, he felt the last remaining bit of his stability waver.
"Oh, you got conned," Martha hissed in sympathy from the caduceus that remained in his left hand.
"Oh rats," George hissed despondently as he too saw the name.
"I am going to incinerate Thanatos' essence until nothing remains but a puddle of ichor and golden dust," Hermes snarled angrily.
"Kind of embarrassing for the god of thievery and cunning," Martha hissed.
"If you do not shut up this instance I will have Apollo do worse to you than he did python," Hermes growled.
How dare Thanatos use Hermes' grief against him. Allow for Hermes to expose his deepest unhealed wounds and finally trust someone enough to let his guard down. To weaponize his exhaustion to trick the mighty messenger god, one of the twelve Olympians, into doing his dirty work. Hermes' eyes flashed red hot in his anger. He would not betray Percy Jackson, not after everything that has happened.
Hermes decided the best route to go through in order to resolve this matter would be the god who held the most power in this situation: Poseidon.
—————
Arriving in Atlantis, Poseidon blinked confusedly at Hermes.
"Hermes, I didn't believe we had any matters to discuss as of late... is all well?" Poseidon questioned as his green eyes pierced Hermes.
Hermes looked at those green eyes that he was reminded of every time he visited Percy. Instantly he was fueled with even more rage toward Thanatos.
"Thanatos has tricked me," Hermes spoke lowly and evenly making Poseidon even more on edge.
"In what way, nephew?" Poseidon asked wearily.
"I come to you as a friend of Percy-" Hermes began.
Poseidon was on his feet in an instance yelling in a deep demanding baritone, "what has happened to my son!?"
"It is not Percy who is in danger this time. Poseidon, someone anticipates to kill Sally Jackson. Thanatos, in a true act of cruelty, has tricked me into having to bring her to the underworld. However I do admit, I am unsure of his involvement in the matter on the whole. I must impress upon you how seriously I speak when I say that despite these orders, I simply will not do it. I blatantly refuse. I cannot do it, not after everything else that has happened in the past years, I couldn't do that to Percy."
Percy, who had been a true friend to Hermes after the Titan War. Percy, who was the first to assure Hermes that Luke was the hero; that his son hadn't died believing Hermes was worse that Kronos. Percy, who would talk to Hermes whenever he needed to rant. Percy, who Hermes neglected to be there for after Tartarus. Hermes owed Percy a lot, he would not add to that pain.
Poseidon had been silent in his rage as he listened to Hermes' explanation. Information was important, he needed to know where to point his trident after all. By his assessment, it was very clear that it was not Hermes. So, he allowed a few seconds of precious time to gather clues on who the true culprit was.
"Do you have any idea who plans this act against me?" Poseidon interrogated calmly like a tide receding before the tsunami hit.
An act against Sally would truthfully be an act against Poseidon just as what had happened to Maria those years ago was an attack on Hades. Aha, Poseidon's mind jumped at the correlation, white hot anger taking over and clouding all judgement.
What Poseidon did not remember in his blinding anger was that correlation did not equal causation, this would come back to bite him much later.
Poseidon disappeared from his throne within a mere moment. As soon as Hermes understood Poseidon was not going to come back and he would most certainly not have to reap Sally's soul, he left with his own simmering rage off to find Thanatos.
—————
When Hermes appeared in front of Thanatos, he also appeared in front of Aphrodite and Ares. The three were apparently already in an argument, so Hermes had no problem integrating in.
"How dare you try to interfere with my domains, Ares! You know that saying all is fair in love and war got old in the early 16th century! I cannot believe you would actually pull something like this!" Aphrodite screeched in anger as she glared at the box in Thanatos' hand.
"Thanatos I am going to sever the wings from your body feather by feather until you are dripping enough ichor to fill the Seine!" Hermes bellowed as he appeared.
Ares turned to Hermes in interest and relief as Aphrodite cut herself off in blatant shock at the outburst.
"Ah...Hermes," Thanatos winced.
"I just thought I would be the first to inform you that I told Poseidon about your plan to kill Percy's mother," Hermes grinned dangerously.
"You did what?!" Thanatos cried out in alarm, panic flooding his being.
At the same time Aphrodite gasped in terrible offense, "Thanatos, how dare you!"
"Why do you care about the Jackson brat?" Ares scowled indignantly.
"He is supposed to have a happy ending!" Aphrodite had tears of fury in her eyes as she glared at Thanatos.
"Poseidon seems to wonder if it was your plan all along," Hermes lied as silkily as ivory.
Hermes really wanted to watch Thanatos squirm under the thought of the Mighty Poseidon bringing down his fury upon him. The thought of it almost made Hermes feel better... almost.
"What!?" Thanatos repeated in increasing alarm, "No! I tricked you into switching duties with me for the day so that I didn't have to reap her soul! So that I did not have to face the wrath of Perseus! I heard what he did to those he met in the Pit! He even bested Ares here when he was a barely trained twelve year old! I refuse to be humiliated in such a way! I figured you could handle it!"
As Thanatos spoke, Ares and Hermes both got angrier for different reasons.
"Bold words for a god who seems to be afraid of some meek demigod being mad at him," Ares said darkly.
"You want to go piss Percy off? I seem to remember that not going so well for you the first time," Thanatos countered as he raised a brow.
Aphrodite laughed lightly as she looked at Ares in challenge.
It was no surprise that the four deities had descended into an intense screaming match. Before long threats weee made and the four joined Poseidon and Zeus in the throne room, which only added to the complexity of the arguments.
The tsunami approached Olympus.
—————
"Zeus!" Poseidon's voice was an earthquake personified as he approached his brothers throne.
Zeus looked at his brother in defensive rage, how dare he come into his throne room and scream at him so.
When Zeus repeated his thoughts to Poseidon, he was met with the tip of a very particular three pronged trident.
The tsunami hit shore.
—————
When Camp Half-Blood was suddenly aware of the water edge receding out miles, they clambered away from the beaches many had occupied on that hot and sunny summer day.
Will ran into Cabin Three and upon seeing Percy napping assumed he was having a terrible nightmare based around Tartarus that was causing a tsunami. If Annabeth were here, Will wouldn’t be as worried, but as it were; Annabeth was visiting her father and would not be able to solve the problem. So it seemed it was up to Will to calm Percy down.
"Percy! Percy!" Will shook the son of Poseidon in alarm.
Percy sat upright withdrawing riptide and mumbling sleepily, "where's the monster?"
"Percy, it's Will, we're at Camp Half-Blood, remember? Listen, there's a Tsunami outside," Will chattered worriedly as the sky began to crackle with lightning.
Percy blinked twice as sleep cleared from his brain and he rushed to the cabin window.
"Will, that's not me, I'm not doing that!" Percy said frantically as he pulled a shirt on.
Will's eyes practically doubled in size as the terrifying reality of their situation settled in.
"Well can you... stop the tsunami?" Will said pleadingly.
"Not if it's my dad's, Triton's, or Kymopoleia's. I'll pray to Triton and see if he knows what's going on. It's not normal for dad or Triton to send them to camp... Kymopoleia does get into moods sometimes and she might also just think it's funny. One second," Percy paused his nervous rambling to send an urgent prayer to his brother.
Triton was more than surprised to receive the urgent words from Perseus. Especially because only minutes before, his mother's eyes had grown wide in alarm before Amphitrite disappeared from the room.
This did not bode well in Tritons opinion. Something was happening. Without so much as a second thought the god followed his brothers prayers back to Camp Half-Blood.
When he arrived at the beach he immediately understood the dire situation. The tide was receding more than Triton had ever seen without causing mass devastation. As the god of tides, the only person who could have disrupted his domain in such a way without gaining his attention would be his father. That made Triton even more on edge. Additionally, the sky still held the burning, blistering sun yet clouds rushed nearer every second. The wind made trees sway threateningly. Yes, something was very, very wrong.
"Triton!" Percy called from the edge of the beach where the sand met the grass.
"Perseus, this isn't me, tell Chiron and Dionysus to assume the camp’s emergency protocols and to get all of the demigods to safety!" Triton yelled over the wind that was whipping so hard sand began to swirl.
Percy gulped and steeled himself, he has walked through literal hell, he can evacuate camp without breaking a sweat.
When Percy ran back into the cabin where he left Will, Percy was sporting an intense look that brought Will back to a couple short years ago when Percy was commanding them into a battle that felt hopeless. Will did not like seeing that same look again.
"Will, I want you to go to every cabin and get everyone. Direct them to the amphitheater since it has some overhead covering and the seats are higher off the ground. If Chiron, Dionysus, Triton, or I are not there within three minutes after you finish grabbing everyone, I want you to leave. Take everyone and go as fast as you can, okay you are going to get to the highest ground that you possibly can. Don't let anyone bring anything that will bring them down while running. Go. Now!" Percy instructed clearly but his hands were trembling.
Will nodded while trying to keep tears at bay before he turned on his heel and took of in a sprint towards the Demeter cabin across from Percy's.
Percy exhaled in stress as he wiped a hand down his face, "Gods, Annabeth, of all the weeks to go visit your father."
Percy didn't stay still though, he glanced back to see Triton trying valiantly to disperse the Tsunami with no luck.
"What in Hades name happened?" Percy thought in confusion before he ran out of his cabin towards the big house.
He didn't bother to knock or even make his presence known properly, instead Percy began screaming for Chiron and Dionysus as soon as he was close enough to be heard.
"Chiron! Mr. D!" Percy screamed gutturally as he threw open the door in a panic.
"Pedro! What in my name are you doing causing all this ruckus?!" Dionysus was clearly unimpressed by the bored sneer on his face.
"There's a tsunami outside... and the Sun is literally scorching... and there's heat lightning and wind and," Percy heaved in breaths as he tried to explain.
"Percy, what's going on?" Chiron said as he came from around the corner.
"Triton can't even dispel the tsunami, Chiron. I think something bad is happening on Olympus," Percy said.
Dionysus looked a million miles away for a moment before he suddenly refocused with set determination that Percy was unfamiliar with.
"Does anyone else know what's happening?" Dionysus questioned.
"No! Not anyone here at least," Percy said rapidly.
"Chiron, take the kids and-"
"I have Will rounding them up now, they're heading for the amphitheater and I told him to run as far away from the shoreline as possible if no one is there to help them within three minutes," Percy impressed the time severity to the room.
"Very well," Chiron nodded, "I will head over there now and wait for further instruction, Dionysus."
"Percy, that tsunami; it has to be Poseidon's. If Triton can't stop it then there's nothing I can do besides create a personal barrier of protection around the campers. But the camp will be completely destroyed. Hold my arm and close your eyes; I'm going to take you to Olympus and hopefully you can talk your father down before the entirety of New York is decimated." Dionysus explained quickly.
Percy knew from the first word, Dionysus meant business. He reserved using Percy's actual name for severe situations. So, Percy simply nodded and grabbed onto the gods arm before closing his eyes.
—————
On the East side of New York City, in a respectable apartment, Sally Jackson was sweating.
Estelle was sucking on her tenth popsicle of the day and sitting in a plastic play pool splashing in the cool water. Sally had not purchased the baby pool, not for escaping the heat, but instead to remain filled with salt water at all times, hidden in the closet in case of emergencies. Sally's worst fear was Percy coming stumbling into the apartment with serious wounds that could only heal so fast with fresh water. Poseidon had explained once that while fresh water would work, salt water worked faster. Thus; tiny pool of saltwater in the closet.
But today it was 107 degrees in New York City. So around noon she had bit her lip and dumped the salt water into the tub- with the drain plug down of course, Percy coming back injured still haunted her mind despite the heat. Then she filled the pool up with cold water and ice cubes, asking Estelle if she had wanted to play in a pool.
Of course the answer was yes, Estelle knew somehow that Percy had a special connection to water and thus the toddler also loved the water. The sentiment warmed Sally's heart to no end.
Paul was currently off at some school lecture that all teachers had to attend, who knew three day training was required to learn how to use a new projector. Sally didn't mind the time alone with Estelle, though. Just as Sally debated what could have Apollo so hot and bothered to make all of New York suffer, a loud pounding was heard on the front door.
The panic that never truly went away every time Percy was away from home increased tenfold. Sally picked up Estelle out of the pool and peaked through the eyehole in the door only to step back and blink in confusion. Shaking it off, Sally opened the door with what she hoped was a welcoming smile, "Lady Amphitrite, is everything alright?"
Amphitrite took in Sally's very alive form and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sally Jackson," Amphitrite smiled.
Sally blinked, was this normal of the wives of gods? A hundred different myths in her head told her no, it was not.
"Mommy, another pop?" Estelle asked as she held up the bare wooden stick.
"Oh, I'm sorry baby, that was the last one, after I talk with Amphitrite we'll walk to the store okay?" Sally promised the toddler in her arms.
"No!" Amphitrite yelped in alarm.
"I'm sorry Lady Amphitrite, I think I'm just a bit confused. What is it you needed? Is Percy alright?" Sally asked as politely as possible.
"Percy is fine... I think?" Amphitrite tilted her head in thought, "Anyways, Poseidon asked me to check on you, this weather is dangerous to say the least."
"You're pretty," Estelle said with a mostly gummy smile with only a few tiny front teeth.
Amphitrite softened, "You're very pretty too sweetheart."
"Please do not take this the wrong way, Lady Amphitrite, but I still don't understand why Poseidon would have you check on us. It's only a heat wave, those aren’t entirely uncommon. Apollo's probably just in a mood, he's had more of those since his time as Lester," Sally said conversationally.
"Poseidon cares for Percy greatly; thus he cares for you and Estelle. He just got worried is all, truthfully I think he is having a bit of a tiff with his brothers at the moment," Amphitrite explained.
"Oh, well, you could come in if you'd like? I assumed you were very busy but it sounds as if you have been asked yo watch over us. I am very sorry about that. I told him I could take care of myself and-"
Sally cut herself off as she had a dizzy spell, her vision going black for a moment and she stumbled a step backwards.
"Oh dear," Amphitrite said in a panic, "Sally have you had water?"
"Yes, a few hours ago, we only had a few bottles left and I was putting off going to the store."
"Well lucky for you, a water deity is in your presence, so drinkable water is in constant supply." Amphitrite said before adding, "If you would prefer it, I'll go to the store for you. I think I can manage getting some water and a few popsicles for Estelle."
"You would do that?" Sally asked as she sat on the couch unsteadily after setting Estelle in her jumper.
"Besides the fact that Poseidon asked me to take care of you, I do care for your son as well. You raised a good boy, I don't think Percy would appreciate it if I didn't take care of you when I was able to," Amphitrite said empathetically.
—————
When Percy opened his eyes he saw the desolate streets of Olympus.
"Go, Percy. Quickly," Dionysus said before leaving once more.
Percy ran, he only hoped he was running faster than a tsunami.
When Percy finally made his way to the throne room he was taken aback by the volume at which the several gods were screaming at each other. Percy was also surprised by the amount of gods in the room.
After a couple minutes of trying to get the gods attention and failing abysmally, he climbed back on top of his fathers throne like he had when he was fifteen, except now his father seemed so focused on screaming at Zeus that he didn't even notice his son on the throne.
Standing on the armrest, Percy brought his hands to cup his mouth and screamed, "Hey!" at least the top of his lungs.
The gods went silent in their shock and someone screamed in fright causing Percy to arch a brow of confusion.
"I don't know what you are all fighting about but your domains are going crazy! Dad there is a tsunami forming on Long Island! Zeus there is lightning frying the electric grids! Apollo there is a heat wave so bad its causing an energy and supply crisis!"
"Oh no, the heat wave!" Apollo burst into tears. He and Hades had been drawn into the throne room by the harsh screams that surrounded Hermes and Thanatos and within moments they too had found themselves immediately pointed at and accused.
Percy’s confusion shook him out of his rant, "uhm, are you okay, Apollo?"
"Oh good going idiot!" Aphrodite screeched at Apollo.
"I am not doing it! I won't!" Thanatos shook his head resolutely.
"I will turn you into confetti before you manage to force me to do it you-" Hermes began to threaten Thanatos.
"Hey, what the actual fuck is going on right now?" Percy yelled again.
Poseidon looked at his son with pain in his eyes, "Son."
"No, don't tell him!" Hades said warningly.
"Someone is trying to kill your mother," Poseidon spoke over Hades.
It was silent for a single moment before the floor of the throne room began to tremble.
"Who?" Percy said bitingly, his vibrant green eyes looking hauntingly dark.
"Well- I'm pretty sure it's Zeus."
"Ares of course!"
"Thanatos planned it!"
"This has Hades written all over it!"
"Oh please, this is Hermes' plan!"
The room erupted into overlapping screams all over again as Percy's whole body shook in rage.
Percy couldn't move, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't think. After everything, the gods would really try to take his mom from him. After he saved their asses time and time again this is how he is repaid?
Suddenly, that fragile glass within him fractured just a little more. A horrifically dark look on his face was noted by a few of the gods, who immediately stepped back.
"Uncle Hades, I think you can attest to the fact that I defeated you and your army alone at fifteen. Ares, I was twelve and practically untrained when I first bested you in battle. I have have held the sky with my bare hands. I have walked through Tartarus. I have made Goddesses plead for mercy. And someone here thought it wise to test me now, with my mother as the catalyst?" Percy questioned as he stepped closer.
Zeus was going to say something back about the boys audacity, however it died on his tongue when he saw the boys eyes looked much less like Poseidon’s and much more like mother Rhea's. Whoever this was, he couldn’t see the frail boy who returned his bolt, he saw something much more powerful. It frightened him.
"I can feel the ichor running through your godly veins. I can feel it pulsate with each thrum of your now anxious being. All it would take is a squeeze of my fist and I could have you on your knees begging for me to make it easy on you and turn you to a pile of golden dust. But I wouldn't, no if you achieved your goal and have killed my mother, I will make you wish Kronos had gotten to you those years ago." Percy was practically glowing as he got closer with each agonizing step that shook the throne room.
"I told you! I told you, I wouldn't do it! I knew when I saw the name on the list; I said; you can't kill Percy's mom or Percy will do much worse to you. I told you fading into Chaos would be a peaceful alternative!" Thanatos cried out, interrupting Percy.
"Now this has gone on long enough!" A voice commanded over the chaos.
Standing at 4'11", Hestia walked through the throne room doors with a fire poker in her hands and flames in her eyes.
"I should have known something was wrong the moment the hearth acted up. Alright, all of you settle down! One at a time! Aphrodite: what happened?" Hestia prompted impatiently.
"Well, it all started when Ares sent me this awful package! I mean I warned him that the saying all is fair in love and war only goes so far! He is the one who made that up, by the way not that writer a few hundred years ago; but as I was standing there taking my package from Thanatos-" Aphrodite was interrupted by Hestia's small hand going up, thus halting her from continuing.
"Thanatos what were you doing with the package, that's Hermes' domain," Hestia said with questioning eyes.
If Percy didn't love his Aunt Hestia and truthfully believe that she could put a stop to this whole matter, he would have went on a full blown rampage until the culprit choked on their ichor.
"I had nothing to do with this! Percy, I swear I had nothing to do with this! It's all Apollo's fault!" Thanatos said, avoiding the question and pointing to the Sun god.
Apollo was sitting on the floor in front of his throne sobbing.
"Phoebus Apollon, get off of the floor. Come here," Hestia beckoned him over.
Apollo wiped his tears and stood in front of Hestia, hiccuping as he tried to force down sobs.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't know! It's all my fault!" Apollo choked on his words.
"Apollo, if you are this upset, then I truly believe you didn't do anything like what is being accused. So, why do you think you are to blame?" Hestia said softly.
Percy was about one second and one wrong word away from letting the fragile glass within him fracture and break once more.
"Hades visited me and told me that I am to kill Sally today, but, I didn't.. I don't... Sally is good!" Apollo broke off into sobs again.
Hestia didn't get the chance to speak up again.
The tsunami was approaching shore.
Poseidon spun from where he was glaring at Zeus to furiously analyze Hades.
"Brother, how dare you! After Maria you would-"
Hades took a steadying breath, “Poseidon I am not to blame. Thanatos came to me this morning to say Percy’s mother was on his list of the day. I decided to seek out Apollo to try to prevent it occurring. I don’t know if what I did saved her life, Apollo’s been so distressed since finding out that his domains couldn’t be controlled. I wouldn’t hurt her; though I know in the past I have done her a grave disservice by capturing her when I believed Percy had taken my Helm. Nico cares for Sally, perhaps you can understand why I would try to protect one of the few people who cared for my son when he needed someone.”
As Hades spoke, Percy felt the anger and fight leave him. The glass within him smoothing over once more. Why did gods always make everything so difficult?
“Why didn’t you say that in the first place. I’m not so naive as to think my mother will live forever. Yes, she’s still young but things happen… I don’t understand how this got so out of hand?” Percy said just above a whisper.
Hestia turned to Percy, “I am sure you know that gods tend to act on first instinct. It sometimes leads to trouble. That is the main reason why I remain as the peacekeeper of the family, just as I tend to the hearth. It takes patience, which can be quite the hardship for a god.”
“Aunt Hestia, is my mom…?” Percy trailed off afraid of the answer.
“Perseus, I think you will find your mother to be in great health,” Hestia informed softly.
“I don’t understand, though, if she was on Thanatos’ list then why…” Percy trailed off again, not wanting to say the words.
“Fate is much more complex than anyone can predict. That is because there will always remain a balance between Fate and free will. Sometimes one will test the other and undetermined ends are weaved by the fates as we make our choices. Does that make sense?” Hestia was smiling softly at Percy as she spoke.
“Uhm, I guess?” Percy said appeasingly as he tried to make the words make sense.
“Then I believe the issue is resolved, yes? Can we all get back to our own duties and halt the tsunamis, lightning storms, and extreme heat?” Hestia gazed at Poseidon, Zeus, and Apollo with raised brows.
Poseidon and Zeus nodded slowly and Apollo holding back the last of his tears mumbled, “yes.”
The tsunami becomes a gentle wave caressing the shore.
—————
Triton was standing on the beach of Camp Half-Blood, trying with all of his command over the tides to contain the tsunami.
One moment he was grunting, exuding all godly force possible as he fought his fathers waves. The next moment he had fallen face first into the water, as the tide came back in normally.
Triton got to his temporary human formed feet unsteadily before he looked around in shocked relief. Percy did it.
—————
Will was clutching an emergency medical bag to his chest, ready at any moment to run when Dionysus and Chiron made their appearance.
He was somewhat numb to their instructions, most of the demigods were. They had been through the horrors of war as teenagers, some even as children, which skews the way you perceive life threatening events.
All Will knew was that one moment he was mentally preparing to run or be killed and the next the sky stopped crackling, the heat stopped being so suffocating, and Chiron had deemed it safe to return to the cabins.
Will couldn’t quite remember how he got to his cabin, he couldn’t recall if anyone tried to speak to him, all he knew was the second his head hit his pillow; he cried.
The fear he had been carrying for what felt like an eternity reached a breaking point and Will broke down. He cried for his siblings he lost in the last few years, he cried for every time a new camper asked him if they were going to die during their first visit to medical, he cried for the world he lived in that held such severe consequences for the whims of beings who often acted carelessly. Will cried and cried and cried until he had fallen asleep.
—————
When Percy and Poseidon appeared in front of the apartment, no time was wasted before the door was flung open and the two entered the home.
No one was home.
This did nothing to calm Percy down. Hestia had promised that his mother was alright, so where was she?
“Perhaps she’s in another room?” Poseidon questioned uneasily.
“Dad the apartment is not that big, she would’ve heard the door open,” Percy said in worry.
The two immediately looked around the apartment, Poseidon opened the bathroom door in confusion.
“Percy!” Poseidon called.
“Yeah Dad? What did you find?” Percy asked as he approached his father.
“Does your mother usually have a bathtub full of saltwater?” Poseidon questioned in confusion.
“A what?” Percy asked, just as confused.
Before they could try to find a reason for saltwater to be in the bathtub, the noise of the front door creeping back open caught their attention.
“Alright darling lets get you your ice pop, yes?” Amphitrite said with a smile as she unwrapped a blue ice pop.
“Thank you so much for coming with us,” Sally smiled at the goddess.
“It was my absolute pleasure, I really should get out of the palace more,” Amphitrite replied.
Percy and Poseidon shared a look before they came around the hallway corner and Sally jumped in shock.
“Percy! I had no idea you were coming to visit today!” Sally said gleefully as she picked Estelle up.
“Mom,” Percy breathed in relief as he gathered his mother and sister in his arms, squeezing her tightly.
“Percy!” Estelle squealed happily.
“Is everything alright, darling?” Sally questioned her son when he finally let go, before she turned a raised brow to Poseidon, “Hello Poseidon, you know you really do worry too much if you are force your poor wife to spend her busy day with me.”
Poseidon chuckled, “Percy would never allow for me to let you waste away in Apollo’s heat.”
“Oh, is Apollo alright? I was telling Amphitrite that ever since Lester he has been quite emotional,” Sally said empathetically.
“Apollo will be fine, Mom,” Percy smiled contently before his mind wandered back to the bathroom, “Hey, Mom, why is the bathtub full of saltwater?”
Sally froze for a moment, before a bright red blush creeped over her cheeks. She supposed she would have to admit just how overly protective and worried for Percy she was.
Sally just wished she didn’t have to admit that she collected a small pool sized amount of sat water every week in front of Poseidon and Amphitrite… oh well.