Percy Jackson : Gods Annihilation

Steely grey eyes met black and icy blue, barely a few meters separating them. One armed and practically humming with power, the other coursing with adrenaline, taking in every detail around her.

Percy looked at the goddess before him, the girl turned woman that had meant so much to him, had been his reason for bearing through every struggle and day of suffering, and even passing the very pits of Tartarus for.

The girl that broke his heart and ran away.

Just looking at her made his emotions conflict and rage beneath the impassive surface of his face. This was no longer a larger battlefield where she was merely a minor force and of little concern. Right now it was only her to take his focus and with no clear objective, he was oddly unsure of what to do.

He hadn't come for any particular reason. Sure, he'd known she was approaching, after all, he'd gotten her brother's prayer and he'd watched her travel. Honestly he'd wasn't planning on confronting her like this but after sensing the arrival of the cyclops, he had been more curious to see why they were here. It had also been entertaining to see her dispatching them so easily, even if the last commander would have taken some more effort than usual but nothing special all things considered.

Still he did intervene, slicing past the cyclops with little to no resistance. Then again, he'd gotten used to fighting top tier monsters in the pits, all being stronger, faster, and tougher than anything short of beings like Elder cyclops, major deities, and other ancient monsters would seem like small fry. Still, even as he briefly glanced at the monster remains, he kept the goddess within his sight as he released a tensed sigh.

Unsure of how to proceed, he opened his hand in the direction of her sword, a tendril of shadow condensing, grabbing the blade, and tossing it his way. Catching it swiftly, he tossed it, handle first, to the goddess. Annabeth looked at it and caught it easily enough before strapping it into her sheath at her hip.

With the sword away Annabeth returned her attention to him, looking far more timid than he could ever remember from her. The awkward silence crept on for some time, neither really speaking up and Percy was seriously considering just turning around and walking away but before he did Annabeth finally broke the silence.

"Per-" she started.

"Why are you here, Chase?" he cut her off, the depth and growl within his voice causing her to flinch slightly and glance away.

She raised her head again even as her fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly at her sides. Taking a deep breath to calm down before leveling her eyes with his.

"I came because I needed to speak with the new primordials … and I needed to see you too," she said, her voice becoming softer at the end.

"Why?" he asked, the growl in his voice becoming more prominent even if he already had an idea.

"I needed to ask about my mother," she replied, glancing away for a moment before looking at him again. "Is … How is she being treated?"

'Is she suffering like Ares was?' Percy mentally added for her as he looked into those grey eyes, seeing the worry beneath as clear as day.

"She's safe," he replied after a minute or so of silence. "A rough week but she came out in decent shape and now just needs some rest." He then turned around, his back to her as he prepared to walk away, otherwise he risked the irritation growing into more the longer he stayed looking at her.

"So you're not going to …?"

"Torture and execute her? No, but she still has a small hearing before the council before the official decision for her fate is taken though things seem to be looking up for her," he answered much to her visible relief when he looked over his shoulder though he did question himself on why he was being so forthcoming. For all intents and purposes she was still an enemy goddess at the moment. He was broken out of his thoughts however when Annabeth spoke up again.

"W-would it be possible…"

"Don't even think about it," he interrupted again, this time a scowl visible on his face.

Looking her in the eyes he slowly drew his katana again, seeing the tensing of her arms. Then, with equal parts grace and skill, he spun on his heel in a full circle while slashing down at the ground in front of her. She squinted her eyes as a sudden blast of air buffeted her as the earth was ripped in front of her. As the dust settled a clear cut running through the earth and out of sight in both directions divided them.

"You aren't an Olympian," he spoke again as he sheathed his katana, back to her again. "Therefore you are not a target but you are still affiliated with Olympus. You are nearly in our territory and we won't let you pass as you please so turn back … otherwise I'll be taking you in. If you know what's good for you you'll turn back now."

Silence was all that answered him so he started to walk, his left hand clenched and resisting the urge to attack like Jason nearly had when he first saw Piper again. This wasn't good though, he knew his temper was flaring again and he would either need to head to Tartarus and cut down entire legions of monsters or spar with his fellow council members to get rid of his frustrations. However things didn't go as planned once he sensed the goddess actually moving forward.

"I'm sorry Percy but I can't just-"

Clang!

He had to admit, he was slightly impressed. His katana had been drawn and slashed while closing the distance in a fraction of a second but the blonde goddess managed to draw her own blade and narrowly block, even if the force made her buckle down to one knee, her left foot being clearly past the line he'd carved.

Her arms and sword were trembling as he slowly upped the pressure, looking at her with narrowed eyes as she looked back at him almost defiantly, sweat starting to gather on her brow.

He internally smirked as he started to lean forward, pushing the goddess back even as the ground beneath her feet started to crack. Then, before she could react he pulled back causing her to stumble forward but then he flipped his katana around to the blunt edge before swinging it again like a bat. The blow caught her along the flat of her sword, the force blowing her back until she slammed into and through a tree behind her.

He watched silently as the tree fell and the slight dust settled, observing as the goddess shook herself before slowly getting back up. He didn't show it but he approved of her getting back up. If that blow alone had been enough to truly keep her down, he would have simply cut her down just to end her misery. Still, he was annoyed with her tenacity as well, especially since she was walking back towards him again.

"Has becoming a goddess done away with that wisdom you were so proud of?" he asked in an icy tone as the flames of his eyes writhed more while his pupils narrowed to nearly slits.

"No," she replied with a shake of her head. "But it need to keep going and see my mother and make sure she really is safe before I speak to them."

"I already said she was fine," he said as he kept his sword level at his side.

"And you'd take me for a fool if I just believed it at face value," she retorted sharply before raising her sword and looking directly into his eyes.

"And you're not being a fool right now? You won't get passed me so just turn and run, you're good at that last time I checked," he said scathingly making her wince before her eyes hardened. "Last chance or I cut you down."

As he said that he took some steps back, being able to see the line and her, as if daring her to continue even after he already gave her more chances than she deserved in his opinion. She glanced between him and the line, her grip on her sword tightening as she took a deep breath.

"I'm done running," she said as she walked again, stepping fully passed the carved line.

He grit his teeth, a growl breaking free as he looked at the goddess before biting out, "So be

it."

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Don't forget to throw some power Stones, to keep the story going.

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