Chapter 1: Pain
Chapter Text
Percy was walking in the CHB forest, head in the clouds. Although it wasn't the good kind of clouds. He was stuck in thunder and rain clouds of anxiety, panic, sadness, grief and less will to live than before, and it was already very little. His insomnia got worse since his mother's death. The lack of sleep was not helping him at all. He could hear his friends singing and laughing in the Dining Pavillon but it was like they were miles away. He wasn't paying attention to his surroundings at all, so it came at no surprise that he didn't notice the movements around him or quickly react when five men attacked him. In this state, both physical and mental, the strongest demigod was very easy to beat.
Percy woke up in a dark room. He could sense he was underwater, which was weird. His eyes always accommodated themselves to see even in the darkest parts of the ocean. Right now he couldn't see shit. He tried moving but that only caused him enormous pain. He realised that he probably has a few broken bones. The boy tried to move again, ignoring the fact that everything hurt. Something jingled and stopped his hand from moving forward. He was in shackles. He tried summoning the tides, breaking them, but nothing worked. He tried detecting where he is, talking to the nearby sea creatures, get water to heal him, but that didn't work either. As a last resort he tried praying to his father to contact him somehow or get him to help, but Poseidon didn't answer. Percy started panicking when he heard the door to the room opening. A bit of light went in and he saw a person entering. They said something in a language he couldn't understand. Someone from the outside shut the door and the light was turned on, blinding the son of Poseidon. He closed his eyes for a moment then blinked a few times. When his eyesight got adjusted he could properly look around the room. Metal walls, metal doors, no windows. Blood was lying around him. His blood - he thought. He looked up. The person standing in front of him was a man with long, grey hair, wrinkles on his face, dressed in a suit. Percy looked in his eyes. He saw something he knew very well- hate. But this hate was much stronger than the one he saw on the faces of his enemies.
"Who.." the demigod tried to speak but his throat was sore. He must have been here for a long time. "Who are you?" The man laughed. A scrappy, old laugh, like someone was moving a fork on a plate.
"Who do you think I am?" Percy's face did not change and when he didn't answer the man said "Pontus. Does that ring a bell?" It did not. Seeing the confusion on the boy's face, Pontus got angry, clearly insulted that he was forgotten. "One of the primordial gods? Son of Gaia? The first fucking god of the sea?" he practically yelled out the last sentence. The realisation hit Percy fast. He wasn't one to fear gods unless his friends were in danger, but Pontus was something more than just a god. Percy's beaten Gaia, sure, but barely and with help from greeks, romans AND gods.
There was absolutely no way he could beat the first sea god in a one on one combat. His fear was apparently very amusing for the old man. Despite his sore, hurting throat the demigod asked "And what do you want from me? Are you angry about me winning against your mother?" Mentioning Gaia maybe wasn't the best idea. Pontus' face twisted in anger. "I couldn't care less about that. She wouldn't lose if she had woken me up." Mommy issues. Can't relate - Percy thought to himself. If it was a different god he would probably say it out loud. Gods were such grudge-holders. "I don't have anything against you in particular. Your father on the other hand I despise very much." Dad. Of course it was something about him. But from what he heard, Dad never met Pontus. "Okay I know my dad's annoying and all but what has he done to you? You never met him, right?" Percy immediately regretted asking that. He felt warm blood on his face. Pain on his left cheek. He hasn't noticed the dagger in the man's hand before.
"Stupid boy. He and Ōkeanós took my waters from me. My powers." Right. Percy remembered that time when his dad was at war with Ōkeanós. The less territory you have, the less power. That's why this guy looked like white Thanos but seven times more wrinkly. Even tho Pontus was power less, he wasn't unarmed and Percy was in chains and weak. He was scared. But he needed answers. "Sooo.. You want to start a war?"
"Of course! But you see, I can't do that without power. That's why you're here. The strongest demigod in history. Your power will grant me enough strength to fight." Pontus said with a creepy smile. Percy couldn't help but let out a little snort. The smile momentarily disappeared from the gods face. "You think I will join you? Think how many tried to get me on their side and failed. Nothing you say or do will convince me." There was silence for a moment, then the man started laughing. "You misunderstood me. I will take your power from you. Then it will regenerate and I will take it again." Power absorption. Percy thought that was only possible when a god was fading.
"I'll warn you. It will be more painful than anything you have ever experienced."
Chapter 2: Panic
Notes:
I know in the books the gods switched who's older so that Zeus is the oldest sibling, but for me he's still the youngest with an only child syndrome.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Poseidon was losing his mind. His precious boy was missing and he couldn't reach out to him. He has been pacing around the throne room on Olympus for nearly half an hour.
"Should we do something?" Zeus whispered to Hades. Poseidon summoned them both but he hasn't spoken to them a word. Hades hadn't answered the god next to him, instead he got up and approached his distressed brother. He grabbed him by his arms and turned him around.
"What is the matter, brother?" the king of the Underworld said in a calm, firm voice, though his grip did not soften. He got even more worried when he saw that his younger brother was near tears. Poseidon wasn't one to cry, especially not in public. The last time he did that was when he was but a child in their fathers stomach.
Zeus saw it too and he was by their side almost immediately. Perhaps he didn't show it often, but he cared for his brothers (and Hestia) very much. He placed his hand on Poseidon's shoulder. Poseidon lowered his head. He mumbled something but neither of the brothers could understand him. "What was that? We can't hear you."
"Percy's gone!" said Poseidon, now louder, burring his face in Hades' arms. The two comforting brothers looked at each other, slightly confused.
"Whatever do you mean?" asked Zeus.
"I mean he's missing! I can't contact him, neither through mind or iris messages! What if he's hurt? What if he's in danger? I failed to protect him before, I can't make the same mistake again!" Poseidon was getting worked up again. He started mumbling and pacing again. It was obvious there was no calming him down unless Perseus was found. After about a minute Poseidon stopped. He stood still until he said "I have to find him" and disappeared, probably to Atlantis.
***
Triton has already gathered soldiers to look for his baby brother. As much as Percy annoyed him, he would hate anything happening to him. He was about to tell who's going to look where after discussing it with his mother when Poseidon appeared. He quickly assessed the situation and looked proudly on his son, though without a smile, opposite to usual. Triton didn't mind at all. He could't expect his father to smile when his son went missing. Triton quickly informed the king about the orders he was planning to give and, after his approval the soldiers scattered, determined to find their prince. In the war room were left only the royals.
They were discussing what more they could do when the door opened and a few people came in. They were not strangers, the family recognised them immediately. They were the prince and princesses Polyphemus, Kymopoleia and Rhodos.
"Hello dear family" said Rhodos "we heard Perseus has disappeared"
"Well yes but.." Poseidon, Amphitrite and Triton were all equally surprised and confused. As much as Rhodos caring for someone she never met was rather normal, Kymopoleia was rather fond of Percy, but Polyphemus? He absolutely hated him! Why in the seven seas was he here?
He seemed to notice the confusion was mostly because of him. "It doesn't mean I like him." he said, face flushed of embarrassment "He's family" That one sentence. It appeared many times throughout their lives. Every time one of them was in danger, the rest gathered to help them. That was the most important rule in this family.
"Vey well then. Polyphemus and Rhodos will look on the surface. Kymopoleia will go with Triton and Amphitrite." said Poseidon and began walking towards the door.
"What about you?" asked Amphitrite, grabbing his arm. Everyone was looking at him. No one thought he wouldn't look. They were only curious as to where their father/husband was going.
"I have somewhere else to be." it was obvious the family wasn't going to get anything more out of the god. Amphitrite let go of him and he left. Everyone else was standing in one place, without movement for about two minutes before Polyphemus broke the silence "I still want my bride back."
Notes:
I'm really trying to make the chapters longer :(
Chapter 3: Searching
Summary:
Polyphemus and Rhodos search the land for their little brother
Chapter Text
Polyphemus and Rhodos knew the surface best, so it was obvious why Poseidon told them to look there. Although they didn't know each other very well, they had gotten the exact same idea. Where else to look for clues than the place Perseus spends most of his time at?
The campers were having dinner at the pavilion like everyday. Everyone was laughing and talking. Annabeth and Piper were gossiping about something that happened that day like usual.
"Annabeth Chase" Annabeth - in reflex - turned around, pulled her dagger out and put it to the throat of the person behind her. She immediately regretted it. In the next moment she was choked against a wall, her legs not touching the ground. Many demigods have taken a fighting stance, some pulled out daggers or taken knifes from the tables but no one had an actual weapon. "Calm down everyone. We're not here to hurt anyone."
"Oh yeah? That's a cyclops! How did you even get past the border? And who in the name of Ares are you?" some Ares kid yelled out.
'I am a goddess, child. I can go where I want" the usual nice Rhodos was gone. She couldn't waste time on some mediocre demigods. Her face went from a calm smile to a rather irritated frown. Hearing the sentence most have put their 'weapons' away but remained on guard.
"Put her down" Clarisse was pointing her spear at Polyphemus. Rhodos nodded slightly at him to do it. Annabeth now standing again, holding her neck which she was sure was somehow internally injured. Despite the pain she asked "What do you want?"
"That's a simple question. I am Rhodos, sister to Perseus Jackson. Would any of you have any knowledge about his whereabouts?" she said, absolutely calm, yet you could still hear hurry In her voice. Polyphemus on the other hand was glaring around, ready to kill anyone who dared to move (preferably Annabeth, he's still holding a grudge against her). "Before you start asking more pointless questions and wasting our time, he's missing and father wants us to find him" he said angrily. It was clear to all that he is close to losing his patience. So was Rhodos but she hid it quite well, something Triton taught her.
"Why would you look for him? You're a monster" Annabeth said. For a child of Athena she sure didn't know when to shut up. Polyphemus was on the verge of lunging at her but he restrained himself. If he killed her, they wouldn't get any information from them he thought. He had to keep calm for a while longer. "but then again so is Percy"
The cyclops lost it. He pulled out a sword from who knows where and slashed the girls face so fast that no one was able to react. On Annabeth's face was now a straight line, going from the right of her forehead all the way to her left cheek, going really close by her eyes. Polyphemus sure hoped he had aimed it a little bit more horizontal, blind her like she blinded him. She was now covering the left side of her face. He raised his sword again with intention to not miss this time. Sadly, before he could do anything his sword vanished as fast as it had appeared. He turned around, facing his older sister who was holding her hand up in his direction. He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Rhodos said "Killing her is not our priority. We have a job to do" She turned to look Annabeth in the eyes "Once we find Perseus you will have serious problems with our whole family. Even your mother and Zeus know not to insult our father's children."
With that the two gods disappeared with a flash of their true form.
Chapter 4: Found
Summary:
Percy's found and escorted home
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
It did hurt. Percy was lying on the cold floor, unable to move from the pain. His whole body was on fire, it made it hard to breathe. He didn't know how much time has passed, days? Weeks? He lost track of time. There were no windows and no clocks, it was impossible to tell the time he spent captured. He has never felt so weak.
Pontus would come and go, every time taking some power out of Percy and occasionally bringing food. It was never a lot, always just scraps, and Percy rarely ate it. What was the point? He would still die in the end. The faster he does, the less power his captor will get. Less people will get hurt. He felt so tired, his eyes started closing, his heartbeat slowed down. This is the end he thought.
He started thinking. About his mom, how she would bake him cookies, how she would kiss his forehead every evening he was there, of all the years she spent taking care of him. About Annabeth, of the times they were happy together, how they met, how they started dating before breaking apart. About Estelle, how small she was, how many years they haven't spent together yet, how she won't even remember him, how he won't see her grow up.
But they would be safer.
***
Triton had gathered an entire army at Pontus' doorstep. Now he was only waiting for the rest of their family to arrive. After getting a message from one of the royal spies, he didn't waste a single moment organising everything. Kymopoleia at his side, also waiting, was swimming back and forth.
"We should be attacking already" she said, her patience running out. "He can be dying! Let's just destroy the place and get him out." Triton liked the idea, but he knew that if he didn't wait for father he would most definitely lose. Pontus might have still been weakened, but he was still much stronger than them. There was no way of winning on their own. "We need to wait" he answered "they will be here soon."
And they were. Six minutes later the rest of the army was marching (swimming) towards them, with their family at front. Everyone was in their battle armour, shining on them like it wanted to blind.
They swarmed the fortress immediately, not wasting anymore precious time.
***
Percy was barely conscious now. He could hear something happening, but couldn't make out what it was. Everything was like an annoying ring in his ears, making his head hurt. But the pain was slowly fading away as he slipped to the other side. He closed his eyes, ready to greet Cerberus at the gates of Hades when a loud bang was near enough he could hear it clearly. He opened his eyes to see a figure, running to him. He couldn't make out who it was and he didn't really care. The figure crouched beside him and picked him up. He was scared, sure, but he didn't fight. He didn't have the energy for that. Instead he just fell asleep and prepared for meeting his friend in the underworld.
***
Percy woke up, surprisingly not dead, in a bed. His father beside him glowed with happiness and relief. Soon his whole family came into the room, even Paul and Estelle. Everyone was happy he woke up. While being hugged by all of them at once and trying to breath, Percy realised something. His family saved him. They would always save him. For the first time since he was twelve he felt safe. He was safe.
Notes:
I know the whole thing was rather short but I'm much better at one-shots so I'll stick with those. Thank you for all the support!