Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Playlist Part One: 

No Deeper We Can Fall - Elias

Drama King - Matti Bye

~*~

When Percy woke up, he was in bed. Which, on its own, shouldn't have been weird, except for the fact that the bed wasn't his and he was pretty sure the last thing he remembered was Kronos slamming the end of his scythe's handle into his Achilles' heel.

Slowly, Percy pushed himself up to a sitting position, his eyes flickering warily across the room. It reminded him of the rooms from the Plaza Hotel that Camp Half Blood had overrun during the second Titan war, four years ago- everything was finely polished wooden furniture, the comforter on top of him was of very obvious high quality, and there was a large floor-to-ceiling bookshelf pushed against the wall to his left. Stuff like that made it really evident that wherever he was was a pretty nice place.

An abrupt shiver wracked through Percy's body, and he stiffened, tenderly brushing the small of his back where Kronos had struck him. The skin there was raw, and Percy pulled his hand away, trying not to think about how he was wearing a chiton and that somebody must've changed his clothes while he slept.

Suddenly annoyed, Percy flung the comforter back and pushed himself out of the bed, stalking over to the door and tugging it open. He was expecting it to be locked, so when the sight of an equally extravagant-looking hallway greeted him, he was taken aback, wavering in the doorway for a beat and unsure of what to do next.

"Oh. You're up," somebody to his left observed.

Percy's head jerked toward the voice, and he immediately recoiled away from the sight of Hyperion. "You." The single word dripped with poison, and Percy's eyes narrowed as Hyperion shot him a bored glance.

"Me," Hyperion agreed easily, before reaching forward and grabbing Percy by the arm, tugging him down the hallway. Percy at first tried to wrench his arm away, gritting his teeth as his skin grew warmer under Hyperion's firm grasp.

"If you don't want some serious burns, I'd suggest you behave," the Titan of the East said as he pulled Percy round a corner.

Gnashing his teeth into his lip, Percy let his arm go limp. The heat cut off immediately, and Percy let out a grunt of relief. "Where are you taking me, anyway?" He grumbled, nearly tripping over his feet as Hyperion yanked him along a bit faster.

"The throne room." There was a gleeful smile stretched across the Titan's face, and Percy blanched, his fingers twitching as he resisted the urge to reach for Riptide- wouldn't do him any good in this situation, most likely. The Titan dragging him along could probably incinerate him with a thought.

They rounded one more corner, and Percy sucked in an irate breath- At the end of the hallway, standing in front of two giant wooden double doors, were Iapetus and Oceanus. Once Percy was within five feet of the former, he sprung forward, kicking out at Iapetus as Hyperion heaved him back. "YOU!" Percy screamed, grimacing as Hyperion's hand blazed red-hot against his arm. "I TRUSTED YOU!"

It was months of anger, of something beyond rage that bled into Percy's voice, that clouded his vision red and had his pulse pounding behind his eyes whenever he even thought about the Titan of the West- the type of ire that made the third-degree burn Hyperion was leaving on his arm feel like nothing if it meant he could land one good, hard kick on Iapetus' stupid, fucking shins. That was the absolute least the traitor deserved, after he'd been revived and joined Kronos' ranks without skipping a fucking beat.

Iapetus, unphased, simply regarded him coldly. "And that was your mistake," he replied, his voice calm, before he and Oceanus pushed the doors open, revealing the Olympians' former throne room.

Hyperion dragged a furious Percy about ten feet toward the thrones, before finally shoving the younger forward, sending him sprawled down in a heap on the gold-paneled floor. Dizzily, Percy stumbled to his feet. Everything hurt- the burn on his arm, his half-effective Achilles' heel (bathing in the Styx for a second time hadn't worked as well as he'd hoped), his head; he felt like he was going to throw up. Through the spots clouding his vision, he noted that the room had been fixed up since he'd last been here, the gaping cracks in the ceiling vanished and his own blood wiped away, leaving the place unnaturally clean, polished white marble and gold grinning eerily back at him from all sides.

Percy jerked his head back at the sudden sound of the doors slamming shut behind him. His eyes widened, and he scrambled back, nearly tripping over his feet and slamming his shoulder up against the wood, crying out in anger. "WHA- HEY!"

The door shuddered dully against the frame, and Percy descended into frustrated cursing, raking his hands up into his hair as he took several shaky steps back. His footsteps echoed unnervingly off the walls, and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to think. What did they want? To kill him? They didn't need him in the- the throne room to do that. Hyperion could've killed him easily the whole way here. Fuck, Kronos could've killed him when they fought, however long ago that had been.

Dazedly, Percy's hand dropped down to his stomach, pressing lightly against where Kronos' stupid fucking scythe had gouged him. It was all healed up now, no blood, no pain, nothing. Clearly that meant something, that they needed him alive, that they- that they had a plan for him. And- that didn't sound good, especially judging by the grim satisfaction glinting in Hyperion's eyes the whole walk over here. Whatever made that guy happy wasn't anything that was going to make Percy feel the same, especially since Percy was partially responsible for turning the guy into a maple tree a few years back, and he figured that wasn't something the Titan of the East was going to forget anytime soon.

Heaving a sigh, Percy spun on his heel, dragging his hands down his face in frustration as he stalked up toward the Olympians' empty thrones. They loomed up before them, humming with power, waves of energy arching off them and reverberating deep into his bones. Jerking his head to the side, he narrowed his eyes, squinting off at his father's throne, mouth twisted up in distaste. If the Olympians had been here, then maybe his friends would be safe. Maybe-

Behind him, the doors to the throne room burst open, and Percy jumped about three feet in the air, spinning on his heel with wide eyes. There- There- striding into the room, flanked by Hyperion and Oceanus, was- was-

"Kronos." The name fell from Percy's mouth like a curse, spat out, his eyes narrowed into thin, poison-green slits. "I should've fucking known."

Casually flicking his wrist, Kronos arched a brow, a thin smile spreading across his lips as the doors thudded shut behind him. "Yes," he agreed, his golden eyes glinting mirthlessly, "-you should've known, dear Perseus."

Percy stiffened, a cold, uncomfortable feeling settling in his stomach. "Don't call me that."

Laughing harshly, Kronos' face twisted into a sneer, the Greek fire burning in the braziers on either side of the room casting dark shadows over his olive skin. "I do believe you'll find that I can call you anything I like, dear Perseus." He enunciated the last two words slowly, smirking at Percy's half-put-off, half-fearful expression, before stalking forward, unhurriedly closing the space between him and the demigod.

Warily, Percy held Kronos' gaze from his place by his father's throne, his throat working thickly and his eyes latched onto the Titan King. His hands were clenched into tight fists, his nails digging so harshly into his palms he was sure he was bleeding, sure red, hot, blood was dribbling down his fingers and onto the marble floor.

Like he had every other unfortunate time Percy'd seen him, Kronos seemed to prefer taking the form of a well-built man in his mid thirties. The Titan King had a cruelly handsome face and black hair that curled down to the nape of his neck, a complete one-eighty to the drawings and sculptures Percy'd seen at the MET. He was tall- probably about six foot two or three- and still wore his golden armor, speckled with ichor and blood, over his white chiton.

Kronos had always looked dangerous, ancient, not to be messed with, but now- now he looked downright lethal.

Percy arched his head back, refusing to break eye contact as the Titan King came to a stop less than a foot in front of him. "Then you won't mind if I do the same. Asshat."

Sneering, Kronos leaned forward, his hand jerking up to firmly rest on Percy's throat. He didn't say anything, only tightened his grip minutely. The corners of his lips twitched up at the way Percy's jaw clenched, before his hand was dropping away, smoothing down to Percy's side, exactly where he'd gouged the younger with his scythe. "I must admit," he said quietly, his voice deep, and smooth, and enough to make Percy shudder, "-I'm quite impressed by your fearlessness."

Gnashing his teeth together, Percy wrenched back. "What are you doing-"

"Quiet, Perseus." Kronos rumbled, his eyes flickering like ichor and a heavy power arching out of him, heat radiating from his skin and causing Percy's eyes to water.

Against his will, Percy snapped his mouth shut, settling for glaring up at the Titan King as the older pulled back, slowly circling around him. Back by the entrance, Hyperion and Oceanus were leaned up against the doors, their arms crossed as they watched on with smug, satisfied smirks twisting up their faces. Of course they were happy- they'd won, and now they got to watch Kronos toy around with Percy, with his friends, with the Olympians. By Hades, they must've been waiting their entire miserable lives for this gods-damned moment.

"You know," Kronos' voice bit through the silence, "-I wasn't lying, when we fought. You truly have caught my attention."

"Gee, thanks, Gramps," Percy deadpanned, his eyes flicking over to Kronos as the older stalked back into the corner of his vision. "That's just what I wanted for Christmas. Your stupid fucking approval."

Something flickered in Kronos' eyes, his jaw clenching like Percy'd struck a nerve. Percy had exactly one second to feel good about it, before Kronos was carrying on, his brow furrowed with obvious aggravation: "Be that as it may," the Titan King gritted out, taking a step back from Percy and folding his hands behind his back, "I have won. And while many of my brethren hate you for your miserable warring, we also... Respect you. You fought well, valiantly, and, as much as it pains me to admit, defeated us once before." Kronos' lips twisted up like the words stung the inside of his mouth, before he sucked in a deep breath. "Even now, Prometheus, my sister Phoebe, and Menoetius are reforming in Tartarus... While the Olympians struggled to slay Typhon and Python, you in turn slew three of my own single-handedly. It's commendable."

Kronos then took a step forward, and Percy's legs tensed as he resisted the urge to take another step back. His palms were sweating, and he wiped his hands off on his chiton anxiously, not knowing where Kronos was going with this. All the compliments, back-handed as they were, were seriously throwing him off. He'd been expecting Kronos to, well, publicly execute him or something, not stand here and run his mouth about how strong and cool Percy was.

"I have an offer for you, Perseus." Kronos' voice lulled Percy from his confusion, the older's golden eyes flashing as Percy's own narrowed.

"...An offer..." Percy drawled. "Awesome. And here I thought you wanted me dead."

Scoffing, Kronos shook his head. "Be quiet and listen. It's a very generous one. One that, should you not accept, you won't see again during your time with me." He made firm eye-contact with Percy before continuing on. "Marry me, Perseus."

Absolutely baffled, Percy let out a nervous laugh and blurted out the first thing he could think of: "You're joking."

"I do not joke about things of this nature." Kronos' obvious anger had vanished, his expression instead completely impassive, golden eyes boring unblinkingly down at Percy. "Rather-"

"How is that a good offer?" Percy derided, cutting the Titan King off and wanting very much to march right over to Kronos and give his head a good knock to see if anybody was home. "Are you serious?!"

Kronos pinched the bridge of his nose, looking annoyed. "If you would stop blabbering and listen to me, you'd understand."

Percy glowered, spreading his arms out in invitation. "Well then go on." Looking affronted, Kronos' hands gripped together a bit tighter, such that his knuckles turned a dull white. "Perseus. If you swear your complete loyalty to me upon the River Styx, and marry me, thus becoming a Titan, I will do several things for you. Firstly," he held up his pointer finger, before gesturing at the Olympians' thrones behind him. "I will not destroy the Olympians' thrones unless they attempt to escape. They will not fade. Rather, they will remain imprisoned here for as long as Chaos decides to let this universe live, and they will be treated well. Except for Zeus. He, regardless of your choice, will be cut up in the manner that I was, and spread so thin that he will not be able to reform. Ever." For a beat, Kronos' attention was fixated on Zeus' throne, his golden eyes half-lidded and considering. And then, he was turning back to Percy, crossing his arms over his chest as he took another step forward.

"Secondly," the Titan King continued, raising his arm and holding up another finger. "-I will spare not only Camp Half-Blood, but also Camp Jupiter. Your friends will be allowed to live and continue on as they were, unless, of course, they rebel. There will be rules that I will strictly enforce- they will no longer be allowed to visit Olympus, nor will they be allowed to visit Othrys, for example."

Kronos held up one more finger, speaking a bit quicker and eyeing the probably-annoyed-looking expression on Percy's face like he knew the demigod wanted to interrupt. "Thirdly, I will grant you two wishes, within reason, of course. Simply to, as you mortals say, sweeten the deal."

It was silent for a long moment, Percy's eyes flashing back and forth between Kronos' and the older's raised hand, before he warily took a step back, his throat working thickly. "It doesn't really sound like much of a choice," he finally bit out, letting his hands drop limply to his sides as he warily studied Kronos.

"You're right," Kronos admitted simply.

Percy squinted at him for a second longer, before crossing his arms and shifting his weight, anger and disbelief building up at the back of his throat. What sense did this make? What the fuck was going on? He- he had to marry Kronos to keep his friends safe? Didn't the guy already have a wife, or was he that fucking lonely?

None of the justifications Percy could even begin to string together even started to make sense, so, sighing, Percy sucked in a shaky breath, forcing himself to respond. "Let me get this straight. If I refuse your deal, you'll kill the gods permanently, along with all of my friends?"

Kronos smiled thinly. "Yes, that would be correct." He didn't offer anything else. Nothing to even hint at if he had a plan beyond this, if he had thought up some other crooked use for Percy aside from his fucking company.

"...Right," Percy muttered, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to focus. "And if I do- dear gods- marry- agree to this, then they won't die? And neither will anybody at the camps?"

"With the exception of Zeus, yes." Kronos was smiling like he knew he had won, reveling in Percy's growing trepidation.

Swallowing anxiously, Percy rubbed his hands together. "And I guess I can't use one of those wishes to make you spare Zeus?"

Kronos let out a biting laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly. "Dear Perseus, that wouldn't be within reason." He strode past Percy then, pacing across the room toward Zeus' throne and resting his hand on its arm with his back facing the demigod. His body was tense, like he wanted to squeeze the stone seat before him, to set it aflame. To tear it apart brick by brick.

"My youngest," the Titan King finally breathed, his voice deadly calm as Percy forced himself to think beyond the ringing in his ears, beyond his heart thudding unsteadily in his chest, to try and figure out what the Hades Kronos was playing at, "-was prophesied to kill me painfully. He was prophesied to bring an end to my Golden Age, and cut me to pieces like I had done to my own father." He turned around then, glaring down at Percy with his face twisted up in thinly-veiled rage. "Zeus is a liability. While he lives, I will never truly be free of him and his sickening audacity." He spat the last word venomously, before stalking angrily back toward Percy, who took a quick step backwards at the livid fury blazing in Kronos' golden eyes.

"So?" Kronos pressed. "Your decision, Perseus?" His voice was tense- bitter- and he gestured violently over his shoulder, a quick flick of his wrist causing the room to rumble. Percy planted his feet apart to keep steady, his eyes widening as, just in front of Zeus' throne, the floor buckled, a giant obsidian throne rising up from the ground. It caught the glint of the Greek fire braziers eerily, green reflecting over the smooth black stone.

Percy was visibly shaking, his hands wringing together and his palms slick with sweat. He stared unseeingly up at the throne before him, before casting his gaze up to the vaulted ceiling far above them, murmuring a silent prayer and letting out an uneven breath.

In front of him, Kronos had crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes lidded as he stood there, staring at- studying Percy. The corners of the older's lips were quirked up ever so slightly, like the longer Percy stood there, the more panicked his expression grew, was another notch carved out of Percy's shaky resolve, another notch carved on Kronos' side of the board.

In growing desperation, Percy turned his attention back to the Titan King. "Why would you even want to marry me, anyway?" He asked, grasping for straws and ignoring the way Kronos' eye twitched in irritation. "I'm a twenty-year-old pain in your ass." Percy let out a strained laugh. "It doesn't make sense. I thought you were smart. I thought you remembered what happened four years ago."

Kronos gritted his teeth. "I do remember, Perseus."

"So why?" Percy wondered aloud. "Why is marrying you part of this deal? You could just force me to swear my loyalty to you, so why-"

"I respect you," Kronos cut him off bluntly, his voice taut with an emotion Percy couldn't quite place. "When I first reformed in Tartarus, I was enraged. I wanted to kill you as slowly and painfully as I could. But then, as more Titans were dispatched, and then the Giants, and then eventually my own mother, it became progressively more intriguing. It became, how do I say, arous-"

"Okay," Percy held up a hand, looking nauseous. "I, uh-" He broke off, looking to be a mixture of terrified and sickened. "Okay," he repeated, taking in a deep breath. He brought his hands up, rubbing violently at his face and trying to calm down.

Kronos watched on with those all too-knowing golden eyes of his, his lips quirking up at the corners as Percy slowly straightened and squared his shoulders. "Kronos," he began, his hands clenched in fists so tight his knuckles had turned bone-white.

"Perseus," Kronos responded amicably.

Percy grunted, throwing one more longing look over at the doors and immediately glowering when his gaze met Hyperion's endlessly amused one. After a beat, Percy glanced back at the Titan King, his green eyes meeting Kronos' gold ones.

"Just to be clear," Percy began. "Even if I- if I marry you- I'll still hate you." Something tightened in Percy's stomach, and he clawed his hands into fists. "I'm still going to fucking hate you."

Kronos' grin broadened. "You say that now, Perseus, but all things are possible."

Percy squinted up at Kronos, a burst of disgust shuddering its way down his spine as he tried to swallow down the lump burning the back of his throat. "Fine. Fine. Swear on the River Styx that you won't kill my friends. And- And then I'll-" Percy broke off, squeezing his eyes shut like he was trying not to cry. "-I'll accept your offer."

The throne room suddenly seemed too hot. An acrid taste stung at the back of his mouth, something bitter and oppressive, like the whole of Mount Olympus was silently judging him, fear and wrath thrumming deep in his head and leaving black splotches in his eyes. Across the room, he could feel Oceanus' and Hyperion's smirks searing into him. He felt sick. He felt like there was ice in his gut, like his hands were burning, like something was pounding behind his eyes, and- ­and- he felt like a traitor.

"I swear," Kronos began, a victorious smile flicking across his lips. "-on Chaos and the River Styx, to uphold the three promises I have made to you, once you, in turn, swear to follow through with the three requests I have made of you."

Thunder boomed overhead, and Percy warily wiped his sweating palms off on his chiton. "I-" he gritted out, forcing the words up his throat. "-I swear... On the River Styx to- to pledge my loyalty to you, t-to become a Titan... and. And- t-to marry you." Percy gnashed his teeth together as thunder sounded again, sucking in a deep, unsteady breath and trying to stay calm, trying to ignore the buzzing in his ears and the way Kronos, Hyperion, and Oceanus suddenly looked beyond pleased, their eyes boring into him and a heavy pressure shifting through the room, like the power of the Styx was a tangible thing. Like something important had just happened.

Kronos' lips tugged up into a crooked grin, his arms crossing over his chest and his eyes crinkling with satisfaction. "Well then, Perseus," he all but sang. "You swear to follow my orders?" He jerked his chin toward the front of the room. "Then take your throne."

There was a sudden tugging in his gut, and, like he was moving on his own, Percy was pushing past the older, climbing up the stairs to the obsidian throne. He could feel Kronos' eyes boring into his back as he stared down at it. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore; he turned around rigidly and all but collapsed back into the seat, grimacing as arcs of power shivered off from the stone into his skin. He could feel his blood bubbling, feel it as it split and re-split, melting into ichor. Pain shuddered through him, and he gasped for breath, bright spots dancing in his eyes. "Ugh-"

Kronos' hand gripped his shoulder, and blearily Percy glanced up, watching as the older leaned down and whispered harshly in his ear. "You shall be more powerful than you ever dreamed."

Percy's vision blurred, and his hands gripped the throne's arms in a vice. He was vaguely aware of Kronos' hold falling away before his blood burned like Greek fire and he let out a scream of pain, everything going black.

...

Chapter Text

Playlist Part Two:

Danse Macabre in G Minor, OP. 40 - Camille Saint-Saëns

Run - OneRepublic

~*~

When Percy woke, everything was too bright. His arms were too bright, his legs, his chest, the palms of his hands. Everything was shining and flaming and hot. Not knowing what was happening, what was wrong, Percy let out a panicked cry, trying to take a step backwards, or forwards, or something- anything- when a set of strong hands gripped his shoulders.

"Perseus," a vaguely familiar voice yelled out. "Calm down."

Percy stilled, his eyes wide and frightened, flashing back and forth and trying to find the person holding him. "I can't," he sobbed out finally. "I- I don't- I-"

"Deep breaths. Imagine your body. Imagine sinking back into it, calmly, gently, Perseus."

The voice seemed to know what it was talking about, so Percy took in a deep, albeit shaky breath, letting his eyes flicker shut as he imagined the light slowly going out, and the molten heat making up his body cooling back into skin.

And then, he was opening his eyes, only to find himself face-to-face with Kronos, Krios, and Perses. They all had varying wary expressions lining their faces, Kronos' gold eyes lidded in consideration.

Hesitantly, Percy cast his gaze past the Titans, eyeing the throne room. Everything was covered in a thick layer of soot, aside from a few sets of footprints scattered about the floor before him.

Kronos pulled away, crossing his arms over his chest. After a tense moment, he let out a barking laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly. "I don't know why I even bothered to promise not to destroy the Olympians' thrones when your divine form very nearly did it itself."

Percy blanched. "I- What?"

Rolling his eyes like what he had said was obvious, Kronos reached forward, tugging Percy out of the throne and to his feet. All of the blood in Percy's body rushed to his head, and he grimaced, pressing a hand to his forehead and stumbling, falling against the Titan King.

Too nauseous to care, Percy took in a deep, shaky breath, his hands clenching into fists as he felt Kronos reach forward, one of the older's hands settling onto Percy's shoulder and the other tracing circles on the small of his back.

"Looks like your little prize is nothing more than a clingy child, Lord," Perses remarked from somewhere behind him.

"Quiet," Kronos replied shortly. "He's just had his blood melted. I dare to say you too would be clinging to me for balance if you had just been through the same."

Percy let out a grunt of pain, lurching away from Kronos and catching himself on the arm of the throne. His knees shook, before giving out, and he fell back into the seat again, squeezing his eyes shut against the pounding headache shuddering through his skull.

Sighing, Kronos reached forward, gathering Percy up into his arms and beginning to make his way down the stairs. Krios and Perses trailed behind them, a scowl etched onto the latter's face, his fingers tapping against the hilt of his sheathed sword like he wanted to cut something- or someone- in two.

There was a squirming, unsettled, shiver of revulsion curled around at the base of Percy's stomach, and it grew the longer Kronos held him. Percy wanted nothing more than to shove the other away, strike him through the skull with Riptide, and run for it. But- that just wasn't viable. Percy could hardly stand, much less kill Kronos, and he was pretty sure the oath he had sworn prevented him from doing that anyway. Regardless, Percy's skin was crawling under Kronos' touch, burning uncomfortably where the older's fingers bit into him.

His vision swam as they rounded a series of unfamiliar passages, everything black at the edges and moving oddly like he was underwater. Dizzy, he squeezed his eyes shut, his chest heaving uncomfortably as he tried not to be sick. Could Titans get sick? He didn't really want to find out.

And then, Kronos was setting him down, Percy's feet gently hitting the smooth stone floor beneath them. "Krios," Kronos said, gesturing to the doors just in front of them.

"Don't let them goad you into any rematches," Krios said dryly as he stepped forward, his eyes half-lidded. "This isn't episkyros. It's not a game."

Kronos scoffed, irritated. "Don't tell me things I already know."

"Well, then, you shouldn't have gotten into that pissy fight with Ares earlier." Krios' gaze bored into Kronos'. "I don't want your anger to get the better of you, brother."

Percy watched on warily as the Titan King's eyes blazed a dark, dangerous gold. After a moment of tense silence, Kronos' shoulders drooped slightly, and he nodded his relent. "Very well," he said, instead of the screaming Percy was expecting.

Krios simply bobbed his head, before pushing open the doors to what Percy now realized were two long corridors of cells, each one imprisoning one of the Olympians. At the end of the hallway, he could also see Hades, and a sinking feeling burned in Percy's stomach, the demigod-turned-Titan wondering who else the Titans had thrown into the prisons.

"Come, Perseus," Kronos said without looking back, like he sensed Percy's hesitation.

Like his legs were moving on their own (which very well might've been a result of that damned oath, which Percy was realizing with a sinking feeling could quite literally make him do anything Kronos wanted), Percy followed the Titan King down the hallway, his eyes staring straight ahead so he didn't have to see the horror he was sure was rimming the Olympians' eyes.

His head was still clouded, and he still felt sick, but Kronos' direct order kept him moving forward, only coming to a stop in front of the cell that held Zeus.

It was sizable, about the same as the apartment his mother and Paul lived in. It didn't look like a prison cell at all- there was a bed, an attached bathroom, some furniture- Not the medieval, torture-chamber-esque layout Percy had been expecting. The walls, ceiling, and floor, along with the observation window through which Percy and Kronos were looking, hummed with power, and Percy assumed it was that which kept Zeus, or any of the other Olympians, from escaping.

Once Zeus met Percy's gaze, his eyes narrowed. "Perseus," he grumbled. "You're looking... Powerful."

Percy took a step away, guilt bubbling up at the back of his throat. "I-" he broke off, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to ignore Kronos standing just to his right. "He promised he'd spare the camps. If- If I..." He trailed off, gesturing vaguely and not wanting to finish the sentence.

Zeus' expression darkened, but he didn't say anything to Percy. Rather, he let out a huff and turned to his father. "So, Kronos. When are you planning on chopping me up?"

A sneer spread across Kronos' face, his eyes crinkling in glee. "Very soon." He reached toward Percy, his arm snaking around the younger's waist as he pulled him flush against his side, his fingers pressing firmly into the fabric covering Percy's upper thigh. "Perhaps... As entertainment at the wedding? What do you think, Perseus?"

Zeus' eyes widened minutely, and Percy grimmaced, a sick, embarrassed feeling forcing its way up into his lungs. "I think I want you to let go," Percy deadpanned, keeping his gaze firmly on the floor.

Vexed, Kronos let his hand fall away, his brow furrowing. "Regardless," he carried on, a hungry glint in his eyes as he peered at Zeus through the glass. "It will be soon. Enjoy your final days, my son."

Zeus shook his head in annoyance, his glare following Kronos as he led the demigod-turned-Titan back towards the doors. Percy came to a quick stop, however, at his father's voice suddenly ringing through the aisle:

"PERCY!"

Percy jerked his head to the side, his eyes wide as he wrenched his arm away from Kronos' grip, coming to a quick stop at the window of Poseidon's cell. "Dad," he breathed. "Dad, I-"

He could feel Kronos' presence appear beside him, and he clenched his teeth as he shot a quick glance at the other's sneering face.

"Well," Kronos drawled, tucking his arms behind his back and casting an appraising, vaguely interested gaze from Percy to Poseidon, "-how touching. The powerful Olympian crying out for his mortal son."

Poseidon's face contorted in fury. "NOW YOU LISTEN HERE," he bellowed, his voice sounding and resounding off the walls. "IF YOU LAY SO MUCH AS ONE FINGER ON MY SON, I SWEAR ON THE RIVER STYX THAT I'LL-"

He was cut off as Kronos, very deliberately and while maintaining eye-contact, raised his pointer finger and squished it against Percy's cheek.

Percy cast his eyes up to the ceiling in thinly veiled rage while Poseidon watched on, too angry for words.

"Anyway," Kronos said, letting his hand fall away. "It's been entertaining, my dear son, but now Perseus and I must be off." He reached forward, gripping Percy's wrist in a vice and tugging him away. "We have much to accomplish- A wedding to plan, throne rooms to redesign, laws to draft. All very exciting- yes, Perseus?" His gaze flashed up to meet Percy's, and the younger dry-swallowed, staring back silently.

Kronos shook his head with a half-smile as they brushed by Krios, who slammed the door shut behind them. "You'll give in eventually." His lips quirked up then, something flashing in his eyes as he held Percy's gaze. "It's only a matter of time."

Percy ground his teeth together. "If I do, it'll be because you've driven me insane."

Kronos' smile spread into a wide grin. "I hope to, my dear. I most certainly do."

~*~

"I've decided on my first wish."

It was about three weeks after the Third Titan War, and Percy was standing tiredly in front of Kronos' chair in the war room. A tactical meeting on how to deal with the sheer amount of weaponry the demigods possessed had just finished, and all of the Titans except Kronos and Percy himself had left, off to do... Whatever Titans do in their free time.

At Percy's statement, Kronos set down the papers he was looking over and placidly clasped his hands on the table before him, his gold eyes flicking up to bore into Percy's green ones as the younger sat down beside him. "What is it?"

Percy sucked in a deep breath. "I'd like permission to visit my friends and my mom."

Letting out a derisive laugh, Kronos leaned forward, brushing a bit of Percy's hair back behind his ear. Percy let him, having grown used to how... Touchy, for lack of a better word, the Titan King had proven to be.

"That's not a wish," Kronos retorted after a beat, his hand trailing away from Percy's ear to smooth against his cheek, his thumb ghosting Percy's bottom lip. "That's just something you're allowed to do."

Percy stared incredulously. "You- You mean- These past weeks I've just been allowed to- to go? Whenever?"

"Well, of course." Kronos, looking bored, pulled his hand away and turned back to his paperwork. "You've already sworn your loyalty to me. It's not like you can run away, my dear."

In complete exasperation, Percy shook his head, widely rolling his eyes. "What even counts as a wish then, Kronos?!"

"Hm," Kronos hummed, his attention obviously elsewhere as he set some papers aside and pulled Hyperion's report toward him. "I guess I'll know it when I hear it."

"Know it when you- my gods, you're impossible." Percy rose to his feet, making to turn away, only to draw to a quick stop when Kronos' hand closed around his wrist. Jerking his head to look back at the Titan, Percy's gaze narrowed. "What?"

"Your gods have been imprisoned to the end of time," Kronos said slowly, like he was explaining something to a child. "Thus, saying 'my gods', doesn't make much sense now, does it, Perseus?"

Percy shrugged, resisting the urge to yank his hand out of Kronos' firm grip. "Geez, sorry, love. I haven't been thinking too much about semantics these past few weeks."

Undeterred, Kronos' eyes lidded slightly. "'By Chaos' is a good substitute," he said simply, without acknowledging Percy's sass, before letting Percy's wrist drop and turning back to his work.

Percy stood there for a beat, before letting out a sharp laugh. "I thought for a second you were going to make me say something dumb like 'dear Kronos', or 'oh my Titans'."

Without looking up, Kronos scoffed, marking something down in the margins with a fancy-looking pen. "It'd be nice if you said 'dear Kronos' every once in a while," he muttered.

"It's not happening," Percy bit out, his voice holding an undertone of warning. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to visit my mom." Percy spun on his heel, stalking toward the door and shoving it open, his footsteps falling heavily on the marble floor beneath him.

"Don't forget to invite her to the wedding!" Kronos called cheerfully as the door swung shut, sending Percy into a vicious torrent of particularly wrathful curses.

"Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you," Percy grumbled as he continued marching down the hall, his fists clenched at his sides. "Fuck you and your stupid wedding and your stupid oaths and your stupid prison full of gods."

Over the past twenty or so days, Percy's fear had steadily subsided, giving way to a progressively more intense blend of annoyance and downright anger. There were still the tense exchanges he and Kronos had, where Percy worried he had gone a step too far with his withering remarks and deadpanned insults, but aside from that, Percy was dishing it out as best he could. His sarcasm and sass were quickly becoming his only weapons, and there were no limits to what he would say to any Titan aside from Kronos.

The other day, for example, Hyperion had, for the umpteenth time, brought up how Percy had stumbled into Kronos after being turned into a Titan (an anecdote which Perses had reveled in spreading), telling him 'he might as well bend over and take it at this point'. It had been in the middle of a meeting pertaining to the security of the oracles, and which ones should be moved, and as such was not at all related to the topic at hand. Percy, with lidded eyes, had leaned from his own chair across the table toward Hyperion, not caring about the papers crumpling beneath his hands, and said, loudly enough for everyone to hear: "Didn't my friend kill you with a motherfucking maple tree four years ago, you little bitch?"

Hyperion had sputtered, all but scrambling to his feet so he could glower down at Percy- Hyperion was nearly seven feet tall to Percy's six feet, so probably anybody else would've been intimidated by the sun Titan looming above them.

"You may have won the battle," Hyperion growled, his eyes narrowing into sharp slits. "-But Othrys won the war. You would do well to remember that, spawn of Poseidon."

It was quiet for a beat, before Percy gave a sharp laugh. "You're right," he breathed, leaning forward further and grabbing Hyperion by the front of his chiton, yanking the other down so they were eye-to-eye. "I may have lost, but at least I went down fighting. You can't say the same, syrup-breath." Percy smirked then, his lips quirking up at the corners. "I don't think I even saw you once during the battle. Were you hiding under your bed, afraid of a few nature spirits? Have some maple tree PTSD, huh?"

An expression of astounding rage flashed across Hyperion's face, his skin glowing molten-red as he reared his hand back to strike Percy. Percy didn't move, bracing for the impact, when all of a sudden Kronos flicked his hands, sending both Percy and Hyperion falling back into their chairs. "Be quiet. We have work to do," Kronos had gritted out, a warning flickering in his golden eyes as he looked back and forth between Percy and Hyperion.

Hyperion had opened his mouth to argue, but the look that Kronos gave him was enough to shut him up before the first word had fallen from his lips.

It was at that moment that Percy knew he was pretty much safe to do whatever. So long as it wasn't to Kronos. He wasn't delusional, after all- he knew that if he challenged Kronos' authority, especially in front of dozens of other Titans, he'd probably pay for it by means of some exceptionally painful punishment. So, he mostly settled for antagonizing everyone else. Which, oddly enough, was fun in a sadistic sort of way.

Percy chewed on his thumbnail as he neared the entrance of Olympus, lost in his thoughts. So lost in them, in fact, that he didn't notice Janus until he had nearly walked into him.

"Percy!" The god sang, his two voices overlapping as he slammed his hands down on Percy's shoulders. "How are you, my boy?"

Grimacing, Percy just shook his head. "What do you want?"

Janus let out a chattering laugh, pulling his hands away from Percy and crossing them over his own chest. "Do I have to have an excuse to say hello to an old friend?"

Percy's eyes narrowed. "We met once and you tried to kill my girlfriend," he deadpanned.

Snickering, Janus gave Percy two toothy grins. "A girlfriend, Percy? And here I thought you were getting hitched next Saturday?"

Percy ground his teeth, his hands clenching into shaking fists at his sides. "...Fuck off," he finally said. There was no emotion in the insult, though. It was plain, helpless, like the weight of the situation had finally fully settled on Percy's shoulders. Even if he was allowed to see Annabeth, they could never... They could never-

Janus guffawed loudly, clearly enjoying Percy's pain, before taking a step away from the younger and gesturing to the elevator. "I won't keep you; I know you have places to be. Just, remember this-" Janus reached forward, tapping Percy's chest, just above his heart. "Dualities, dualities. Love and hate are a lot more similar than you'd think."

Percy saw red once he realized what the god was implying. Without thinking, he lurched forward, slamming the god into the wall of a multilevel garden beside them. "And you remember this," Percy hissed, anger thrumming through his veins. "-watch your fucking tongue before you say anything else about me and Kronos. Or else I'll-"

"You'll what?" Janus asked, his expressions both looking bored. "You'll kill me? It's been less than a month, and you're already ready to kill somebody just because they annoy you?"

Percy blinked, his grip loosening on Janus' chiton. "I-"

The god tossed his heads back and laughed, before flashing away, leaving splotches of divine light staining Percy's vision.

Blinking away the spots, Percy sucked in a deep breath, trying to clear his head, before turning back to the path and pushing open the ornate door leading to the elevator. He despondently clicked the 'first floor' button, watching as the numbers flashed by, the elevator humming as it descended.

After another minute, the door was sliding open, and Percy was stepping out onto the first floor of the Empire State Building, flashing himself into a shirt and some jeans before anybody could notice his chiton. Running a hand through his messy hair, he heaved a shaky sigh, before cutting past the crowds of people milling about, each living their own oblivious mundane lives, and headed towards the doors.

...

Paul, Estelle, and Percy's mother lived in a nice apartment on the Upper East Side. It was on the seventh floor of a well-kept apartment complex, with a lot of natural light and an open floor plan. Percy had spent August there, thinking that in September he'd be heading back to the University of New Rome for the next year of college.

His past self had never expected this.

Heaving a heavy sigh- something he'd been doing a lot as he trudged toward the apartment- Percy hesitantly knocked thrice on the door. It was a Sunday, so he assumed they'd be home- a suspicion which was confirmed once he heard his mother's voice call: "Coming!"

Percy hadn't realized how much he'd missed her until that moment- he hadn't seen her since early October, and it was already January. Estelle had been born on October fifteenth, and he'd missed it. He felt guilty just thinking about it, that his sister was already nearing three months old, and he didn't even know what she looked like.

So, when Sally opened the door, with Estelle swaddled in one arm, the first thing she saw was Percy standing there with tears streaking down his cheeks. Her eyes widened. "Percy- darling- what? Are you okay? What happened?" She ushered him in, her eyes still impossibly wide as she quickly led him over to a couch in the living room. "Sit, sit, come on, dear."

Recoiling, Percy took a step back. "Don't call me 'dear'," he said, his eyes flashing with reproach.

His mother frowned, her gaze quickly flickering over her son, only to come to a hard stop at his right ring finger. Her face went white. "Percy-"

Percy knew what she was looking at. The gold band wrapped round his finger, marking his engagement to Kronos. He remembered how, after he had seen his father and Zeus in the prison, Kronos had led him back to the throne room, producing a celestial bronze knife from out of nowhere, and pricking it against his own finger. He remembered how golden ichor had sprung from the incision, and Kronos had demanded Percy's hand, which Percy had no choice but to offer. And, he remembered how Kronos had traced the line of golden blood in the shape of a ring across Percy's skin, and how immediately after Percy had been ordered to do the same to the Titan King.

Percy's engagement ring was made of blood.

He'd tried to wash it off. Immediately after Kronos had left him there, striding off to accomplish whatever twisted activity he'd planned next, Percy had rushed back to his room and held his hands under near-boiling water in the sink, scrubbing till his finger was raw, his teeth gnashing together in livid fury. Kronos had fucking branded him. Branded him like cattle.

Tensing, Percy quickly tried to cover the ring by clasping his hands, but his mother batted his left hand away, snatching his wrist and tugging it up so she could better see the ring. "What is this." It wasn't a question. Her tone was dangerous, all but daring Percy to lie to her.

"An engagement ring," Percy answered after a long moment of silence.

Percy's mother dropped his hand like it was hot acid, her already pale face taking on a green tinge. "Please tell me you won," she all but pleaded. "Please tell me that everything's okay." She cast her gaze downwards again, staring anxiously at the gold band. "Please tell me that you're engaged to Annabeth, and-"

Percy shook his head, taking in a deep breath. "Mom," his voice cracked out. "We lost. It's over."

His mother wavered there for a moment, her eyes staring unseeingly at Percy, before all but collapsing onto the couch behind her. In her arms, Estelle babbled, her little hands reaching out toward Percy. She had green eyes, Percy realized in a daze. Green eyes and salt-and-pepper hair.

"Tell me."

Percy glanced back toward his mother at her voice, taken aback by the fury blazing in her eyes.

"Tell me everything," she repeated, bouncing Estelle absently in her lap.

Percy looked at her silently for a moment, before sinking down to sit on the couch next to her. "He took us by surprise," Percy whispered. "And after the whole thing with Gaea... Honestly, camp still wasn't back to normal- we already had had so many casualties. Not enough people to fight." Percy reached forward, brushing Estelle's hair back lightly, his eyes softening as his sister smiled.

"He came out of nowhere. In just a few weeks the camps were surrounded. Typhon and Python were keeping the Olympians busy, so it was up to us... To defeat him..." Percy trailed off, staring at his hands.

"Who's 'he'?" His mother asked, her voice barely audible.

Ignoring her, Percy carried on. "Typhon and Python defeated the Olympians and captured them. And I lost to K- him- in the throne room on Olympus. I was exhausted, injured, I-" Percy hunched over, rubbing at his eyes with the heels of his palms. "I lost. A-And, he offered me a deal. He swore on the River Styx that if I took it, he would spare all the Olympians and the campers, everyone aside from Zeus. I had to, Mom," Percy's voice cracked out. "Dear go- by Chaos- I had to."

Sally was visibly terrified. Her eyes were glassy, and her hands shook around Estelle. "What was the deal, Percy?" She finally whispered.

It was quiet for a beat. Percy rubbed at the golden band round his finger, wincing as it sent sharp little pricks of heat threading through his skin. "I had to swear my allegiance to him on the River Styx." Percy's voice was so quiet that it almost faded beneath the sound of the AC unit outside the window beside them. "I had to... I had to become one of them." He avoided eye contact with his mother, not wanting to see what he was sure would be a look of pure loathing. "A-And, I-I have to marry him."

"Who?" His mother demanded, her voice shaking. "Who is this conceited ass-hat?!"

Finally meeting her gaze, Percy set his mouth in a thin line. "Kronos."

Sally looked like she was both going to faint and angry enough to kill. "KRONOS?!" Her voice dripped with poison and fear, her glassy eyes rimmed red. "He- You're-" She pressed her free hand to her mouth with a sob, squeezing her eyes shut to keep from crying. After a moment of silence, she straightened, trying to collect herself. "Has he hurt you, Percy?" She asked, her eyes boring into his and her tone deadly serious. "Has he- has he-"

Percy quickly shook his head. "I- no. He hasn't." Staring down at his hands again, Percy's shoulders sagged. "But if he wanted something like that, he could just order me. The oath I swore to him can literally make me do anything he wants. Speaking of-" he glanced up again, the words spilling from his mouth before he could stop them: "Kronos told me to tell you that you're invited to the wedding."

His mother blinked, before her eyebrows wrinkled, irked. "This is going to be like a party?"

Shrugging, Percy let out a disheartened huff. "Sounds like it. I think he wants to embarrass me as much as possible. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes me dance with him." Percy glowered. "If he does, I'll step on his feet."

Sally let out a strained laugh. "And kick his shins. Make his life a living hell."

"Oh, I already am," Percy replied, leaning back against the couch. "I'm as obnoxious as I think I can get away with already. His brothers- they hate me. I called Hyperion a 'little bitch' at a meeting yesterday."

Sally tensed slightly, a flicker of unease flashing through her eyes. "Be careful, Percy," she warned, her voice laced with worry. Her brow furrowed. "If your safety is at risk, then maybe-"

"I'm not worried about my safety," Percy cut her off. "They made me a Titan. If they killed me, then I would just respawn in Tartarus. They can't do anything to me." He scratched at his cheek, his eyes flicking from his mother to Estelle. "Mom, I came here to tell you what was going on, so you wouldn't think I was dead or something. Not stress you like this."

"H-How can I not be stressed?" His mother stood up quickly and without warning, bouncing Estelle in her arms as the younger began to cry at the sudden movement. "You've been forced into an eternal oath to Kronos, the Olympians have been imprisoned, I-"

"You're not in any danger," Percy tried to console her, reaching forward and taking her free hand. "Kronos has no interest in killing any mortals. You, Paul, Estelle, everyone down here-" he splayed his hand toward the window, gesturing at all the cars and people bustling by on the streets down below. "-you're all gonna be okay."

Sally turned her teary eyes up to Percy. "But what about you?" Her voice cracked out, sounding tight and close to breaking down. "Percy, you're up there all alone, forced to do whatever he says." She shuddered. "Isn't there any way you could... You could disappear?"

Percy stared at her, before ducking his head, running a hand through his messy hair. "No."

"But why? Percy-"

"I can't!" Percy exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. "I can't let my friends or the Olympians die. Me staying with Kronos is the only thing keeping him from killing everyone, Mom." He turned his gaze to his mother again, before blearily staring past her out the window. "If me... Doing this... Is what keeps everyone pretty much safe, then I can't complain, can I?" He smiled sadly at his mom, his hands dropping down limply to his sides. "I... I can't complain at all."

...

Chapter Text

Playlist Part Three:

Time Will Catch Me First - Peter Crowley

~*~

It was late when Percy got back to Olympus, probably about midnight. As Percy walked down the long corridors in the Olympian gods' former palace, he didn't run into anyone, and assumed all the Titans were asleep or something. Did Titans even sleep? Percy did, so they all would too, right?

So, when Percy shouldered open the door to his room, the last thing he expected to see was Kronos sitting on the edge of his bed reading a book, his golden eyes flicking across the words tiredly.

He looked up as Percy entered, setting the book on the nightstand. "Perseus," he greeted, his voice warm.

Warily, Percy wavered by the door, before sighing and stepping all the way into the room, shutting it behind him. "Kronos," he said, crossing his arms. "What are you doing in my room?"

"Reading," Kronos replied, gesturing to his closed book resting on the nightstand.

Percy's eyes lidded, and Kronos' lips quirked up into a smirk.

"How is your mother?" Kronos asked, his eyes following Percy's movements as the younger pulled off his coat and hung it on a hook by the door.

"Why do you care?" Percy bit out, before squeezing his eyes shut and taking a deep, calming breath. "...She's fine. Peachy."

Kronos leaned back against the bed, with his arms folded on his lower chest and his feet just brushing the floor. "Is she coming to the wedding?"

Percy, who had moved over to his dresser to gather up his night clothes and a few other things to take with him into the bathroom, glanced up, meeting Kronos' eyes in the mirror in front of him. "She is. Now, why are you really in my room, Kronos?"

Kronos, who had simply turned his head to face Percy rather than sit up again on the bed, let out an annoyed huff. In the dim light of the bedroom, the Titan King looked like a figure out of a renaissance painting, all olive skin and taut, lithe muscle, his black hair curling against the back of his neck and falling haphazardly in front of his eyes. The gold rimmed chiton and traditional strapped sandals he wore added to the illusion that he was just a very good looking thirty-something-year-old man from the seventh century B.C. Athens, off to sell some fine vases or olives at the market.

And then, a feeling of overwhelming abhorrence was curling in Percy's stomach, because, fuck, he had just thought of Kronos as 'good looking'. Kronos was a genocidal monster, he wasn't supposed to be attractive. He was supposed to look like the sinister, decrepit old man that those paintings and statues portrayed of him eating his kids alive.

Percy could see the smirk that spread across Kronos' face in the mirror's reflection, like he had just bore witness to the younger's horrified thought process. "Perhaps-" The Titan King's voice was low, teasing even, and he sat up, carefully crossing the room towards a completely still Percy. "-I came to see you."

Gently, he reached forward, pulling the tense demigod-turned-Titan against him by the waist so that Percy's back was flush against the other's chest. Kronos' fingers dug into Percy's skin firmly enough to bruise, before he let one hand trail up, skirting over Percy's chest, and brushing against his neck and jawline, thumbing the younger's bottom lip thoughtfully. After a beat, Kronos' hand fell back to Percy's chin, and he tapped a finger beneath it, guiding the younger to look forward so their gazes were locked in the mirror.

Percy's jaw was clenched, his mouth dry, and his head pounding. So this was it. This was when Kronos was going to demand that he go to bed with him. The first of probably an infinite number of times. Letting out a half-frightened, half-angry huff, Percy cast his gaze helplessly up to the ceiling, taking in a shaky breath and preparing himself for the worst.

And then, Kronos was letting him go, stepping away and walking over to the nightstand, where he had left his book. Percy's vision wavered, and his shoulders drooped in visible relief once he realized Kronos was leaving.

Once he was at the door, the Titan King turned back around, meeting Percy's gaze. "I'll send somebody to wake you up early tomorrow, Perseus. It's going to be a big day." Kronos smiled thinly as he spoke, and Percy's heart dropped to his stomach.

"Tomorrow-"

"Tomorrow I kill my miserable child Zeus," Kronos' upper lip curled in a sneer as he cut Percy off, his eyes flashing with glee. "And you, my dear, will be in the front row."

~*~

The next day, the sky was overcast. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and snow covered the world in a thick, frigid blanket.

The Titans, including Percy, had flashed to Camp Half-Blood before the sun had risen, lined up at the border separating the camp from the outside world like malevolent ghosts. Krios and Perses each held Zeus firmly by one shoulder, and the Olympian's hands were bound by enchanted celestial bronze cuffs.

He still didn't look afraid. He just looked mildly put-off.

Zeus' disregard for his death had Percy respecting him more by the minute. Zeus knew he was going to die, and that there was no way to stop it, so he was going down with as much dignity as he could. Why he had been named King of the Gods was finally making a bit of sense.

After they had arrived, Kronos had held his hand out, his eyes flashing with primordial strength as he tore a wide door in the barrier surrounding the camp. The campers, who were all watching, having been alerted the second the Titans flashed into existence by that past night's scouts, simply stepped back and allowed them to walk in unopposed. Defeat radiated off them in overwhelming waves, and it took all the self control Percy had to keep walking, one foot in front of the other, as he silently drifted past his friends.

He didn't even know if they were still his friends.

They probably thought he was a traitor.

Swallowing anxiously, Percy clenched his hands into fists, biting his tongue. He wanted to yell out that it wasn't what it looked like, that he hated Kronos, he hated the Titans, that he had sacrificed his freedom for eternity just so his friends might live.

He felt eyes on him as they continued to walk toward the Big House. He felt them boring into him like sharpened knives, stinging his skin and causing his Achilles' heel to ache painfully. He almost wished somebody would say something, cause a scene, so he could have the opportunity to explain himself.

But, no. Nobody said a word. Nobody said a damn thing.

The group finally made it to the Big House's wrap-around porch. Chiron stood there, his bow in one hand and a quiver of arrows slung over his shoulder. He looked older than Percy had ever seen, like the weight of the world had been dropped atop his shoulders.

"Father," Chiron greeted warily, his fingers fidgeting against his bowstring.

"My son," Kronos replied breezily, his eyes lidding in contempt. "I never cared for you, but I suppose you have not been as meddling as my other children, so I shall let you live. That and-" he gestured toward Percy. "-my dear Perseus here probably wouldn't like it if I were to behead you. Would that be right?" He turned to glance at Percy, who stiffened under the sudden attention.

"Correct," Percy replied hollowly, not offering anything else.

Kronos cocked an eyebrow, his eyes lidded as he smirked at the younger. "Hmm. Anyhow-" he turned his attention back towards Chiron. "I've decided that I would prefer to have an audience while I kill Zeus." He held one hand out, and his adamantine scythe materialized, its wicked blade reflecting the dim light of the partially-obscured sun as it slowly rose over the lake. "When I disposed of my own father, my dear mother and brothers were the only witnesses, and, years later, when my son last cut me up, I do believe only the Olympians were present." A muscle in Kronos' jaw tightened slightly, rage flashing in his gold eyes like the memory was dancing behind them. "While Zeus' final death will not be recorded by Hesiod, I hope it will be very clearly remembered by your miserable camp as nothing less than the fruition of a new Golden Age."

Just behind him, Zeus scoffed. "Enough with the propaganda. If you've brought me here to kill me, just get on with it, you senile old fool."

Kronos turned faster than Percy thought was possible, and in one fluid movement, he had lifted Zeus up from the ground by the throat, his fingers squeezing the Olympian's neck so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Insubordination," Kronos breathed as Zeus choked. "-will only make your death more painful, my son."

Percy watched on, unable to do anything, as Kronos continued to let Zeus hang. Any mortal would've died on the spot; Percy couldn't even begin to imagine how painful Kronos' grip must've been. Finally, Kronos let go, and his son crumpled to the earth before him in the snow.

"Get him up," Kronos ordered Perses and Krios, who quickly bent down, dragging Zeus back to his feet. After a beat, Kronos turned away from the Big House, his golden eyes flashing as he took in the view of Camp Half-Blood sprawling out before him. He raised his right hand, and with a flick of his wrist, where previously there had been only grass, a giant coliseum of stone rose up from the ground, climbing higher by the second.

With a grunt of aggravation, the Titan King snapped his fingers, and all of a sudden all of them were inside the coliseum; the campers up in the stands, and the Titans, including Percy, down in intricately carved thrones on ground-level. Percy sank down in his own throne, slightly curling in on himself and wanting to die of embarrassment. His friends were probably looking at him-

"Hyperion," Kronos' voice, like knives dragging over stone, called from the center of the coliseum, where he, Krios, Perses, and Zeus were standing. "Oceanus, Iapetus, Koios... Along with any others that wish to help. Come here."

Quickly- each overly-eager- the four Titans Kronos had called up, along with Theia and Hecate, strode over to Kronos, eyeing Zeus, who was already being held down in the dirt by Krios and Perses, their grips vices. They had taken off his cuffs such that they each held one of his arms.

"Hold him down," Kronos instructed as he twirled his scythe in his hand. He hesitated then, scowling up at the stands. "I've forgotten about the little Roman mongrels," Kronos mumbled to himself. Annoyed, he flicked his hand again, and the stands were suddenly twice as full, several hundred frightened-looking Romans filling up the stadium. Not one of them made to stand up, all watching on in horror as Kronos, looking satisfied by the size of his audience, turned his attention back to Zeus.

"I could make this go on as long as possible," he mused, his eyes lidding in mirth. "Start with the inconsequential bits, save your life force for last..." He let out a hum, sharing a look with a few of his siblings. "Or, I could end it quickly." He crouched down then, jerking Zeus' face toward him. "Recognize me as your king, and I'll end your life mercifully."

Zeus screwed up his features in fury, before spitting on Kronos. "Go to Tartarus," he bit out, not at all disconcerted by the dark look flickering in the Titan King's eyes.

"Very well," Kronos announced as he stood back up, stalked to Zeus' legs, and drove his scythe through the other's right foot, hacking off everything past the bottom half of the Olympian's foot in one blazing gold arc of light. Zeus' throat worked, but to his credit, he didn't react beyond then. Subconsciously, Percy reached up, touching where Kronos' scythe had sliced his cheek, recalling how painful just a scratch had been. To have half of your foot cut off would be-

Kronos had already moved on, eyes blazing with focus as he flicked his scythe up, ichor splattering against the sand. Beneath him, the Olympian was visibly shaking, his chest heaving and his arms straining against the many Titans holding him down.

"THIS," Kronos roared, his eyes blazing so bright that Percy had to look away. "-IS FOR THOSE THOUSANDS OF YEARS, LOCKED AWAY IN TARTARUS, SUFFERING BEYOND SUFFERING AT YOUR HANDS." His voice echoed unnervingly off the stone walls, and from behind him, Percy could hear some of the campers crying. His hands clenched against the arms of his throne, and, beside him, Tethys threw him a look.

Before he could stop himself, Percy launched out of his throne, quickly striding towards the Titans in the center of the coliseum. As he approached, Kronos glanced up from his work, leaving half of Zeus' right ankle dangling by fractured bone and torn ligaments. "Perseus," he said levelly, swiping his scythe to the side to rid it of ichor. "Go back to your throne."

Gritting his teeth against the power of Kronos' direct order, Percy stood his ground, clenching his fists at his sides as thunder boomed warningly overheard. "For my first wish," Percy spat out, his vision going red as he stared down at Zeus's ichor pooling beneath his feet. "I wish for you to kill Zeus right now. With no suffering." He jerked his gaze back up to meet Kronos' irate one. "Is that within reason, your majesty?"

Above them, lightning cracked, as Kronos and Percy stood locked in a silent battle of the wills. Finally, without saying a word, Kronos brought his scythe up, before driving it back down and cleanly decapitating the Olympian beneath him.

"Now sit back down." Kronos' voice was deadly calm. "Unless you have any other wishes to make."

"None," Percy said with disgust, before turning on his heel and stalking back to his throne, rigidly sitting on its obsidian seat. Beside him, Tethys pursed her lips, looking annoyed.

"You've ruined all the fun," she commented after a moment, turning toward the younger and making full-on eye contact with him. "I wouldn't be surprised if my brother takes his anger out on you when we return to Olympus."

Percy scowled. "I don't care," he snarked, his fingernails digging into his thighs.

Tethys just sighed, rolling her eyes widely. "You should."

...

After Kronos had finished chopping Zeus' corpse up into fine golden dust, the remains were handed off to Krios, who was meant to scatter them across the earth, such that they could never reform.

Kronos had stood there for a beat, in the center of the coliseum, swinging his scythe in nonsensical patterns, before jerking his head toward Percy and meeting his gaze. There, burning in his eyes, was a wrath so powerful, so ancient, that it had Percy pressing his back against his throne in a desperate attempt to put even an inch more space between himself and the angry Titan King.

Kronos' lips curled up at Percy's evident fear, and he strode forward, his scythe still in his hand. Once he was close enough, he stooped down, whispering in Percy's ear: "Before we leave, you shall select one of your friends to accompany us to Olympus."

At those words, Percy's heart dropped to his stomach. Already, even as Kronos had turned to the demigods and was shouting out orders, Percy was trying to remember the specific wording of Kronos' promise. He'd said none of Percy's friends were going to die, he'd sworn, so why-

"Go. Right now." Kronos' voice left no room for argument, and Percy stiffly stood up, meeting the Titan King's menacing gaze.

"Why'd you promise me wishes if you were going to punish me when I used them?" Percy spat, thinking that this wasn't the smartest thing he'd ever done, and it was certainly a remarkably weird hill to die on.

Glowering, Kronos reached out, grabbing Percy by his chiton and yanking him forward, so they were eye-to-eye. "This is punishment for ignoring my instructions, Perseus. You sit when I tell you to sit, and you go when I tell you to go. You lick the soles of my shoes if I tell you to, dammit. Now, go find a friend, Perseus. Find a friend and bring them to me."

...

Chapter Text

Playlist Part Four :

Last Words - Darren Korb

~*~

And so, that was how fifteen minutes later Percy found himself sitting with his friends around the ping-pong table in the Big House, anxiously tapping his fingers against its wooden surface.

His friends, along with Chiron, were all staring at him- Grover, Annabeth, Thalia, Jason, Nico, Hazel, Frank, Piper, Leo, Reyna, Rachel, and nearly a dozen other people all just looking at him.

Finally, Percy squeezed his eyes shut and took in a deep, unsteady breath. From behind him, he felt somebody gently rub his shoulder. "It's alright, my boy," Chiron comforted. "Just tell us what happened, and we'll do our best to assist you."

Taking in another breath, Percy nodded his relent, his eyes sweeping across the room, before falling back on his clasped hands. He couldn't bear to look at them a second longer.

"Kronos offered me a deal," he began, his voice cracking at the immediate uproar that filled the room. Wincing, he ran a shaking hand through his hair as he waited for the talking to subside.

"What kind of deal, Percy?" Annabeth asked, leaning forward and taking his hands. She didn't seem to notice the gold ring imprinted onto his finger, which had Percy heaving a silent sigh of relief.

"He... He swore to spare all the Olympians except Zeus, along with all of you guys- everybody at both camps- if I- I swore my allegiance to him." Percy's voice was bland suddenly, his eyes going dull. "There were a few other logistics, but-"

Reyna held up a hand, cutting him off. "Percy. Give us all the logistics right now." Her words left no room for argument, and quite frankly solidified Percy's suspicion that the trust for him at both camps was deteriorating quickly after the spectacle in the arena.

Scratching at his cheek, Percy nodded quickly. "In exchange for agreeing to his deal, Kronos swore on Chaos and the River Styx not to destroy the Olympians' thrones, and to treat them well unless they try to escape. They're not being tortured,- they're being kept in locked apartments on Olympus. He also said that you guys wouldn't be killed unless you tried to pull anything, and then, Chaos knows why, promised me two wishes, that have to be within reason." Percy made quotes with both his pointer and middle fingers at the last two words, his expression growing sour.

Something flashed in Reyna's eyes, and she marched forward, grabbing Percy by the shirt and heaving him up. "Perseus Jackson," she said, her voice deadly calm. "What. Did you. Agree to?"

"I had to," Percy's voice cracked out, his gaze skittering away, "-Or else he was gonna kill-"

He broke off as Reyna's expression darkened, and, nervously, held up his hands in relent. "I swore my allegiance to him. He turned me into a Titan. I'm- I'm a Titan, Reyna. I'm a Titan who has to marry him this Saturday."

Reyna dropped Percy like he was hot acid, and Percy fell back into his chair, his cheeks flaming gold in a mixture of rage at Kronos and embarrassment. It was quiet for a moment, just a moment, before the room erupted into a cacophony of fury. The shadows were all slinking towards a vengeful-looking Nico, Leo's hands were burning, Annabeth pulled out her knife and marched toward the door, only to be yanked back by a worried-looking Thalia, the lights above them flickered uneasily, before bursting as Jason paced back and forth underneath an unusually subdued Seymour, tapping his sword against the palm of his hand.

Percy was vaguely aware of Reyna grabbing his right hand and yanking it up, examining the gold ichor band burned into his skin. "This can't be real," she finally reasoned, her voice shaking dangerously. "You? You're marrying Kronos?"

The room had fallen into silence again, everyone frantically turning toward Percy, their expressions pleading, as if begging him to burst out laughing and yell 'Got you! Good joke!'

But no. It wasn't a joke. Percy was quite literally being forced to marry the King of the Titans.

"Y-Yes," Percy's voice cracked out, wincing at how nauseous a few of his friends looked. "Guys, I- I'm so sorry." Hot tears streaked down his cheeks, and he wiped at them with his free hand. "I'm- I'm so sorry I wasn't strong enough, I-"

"Percy," Nico murmured, suddenly appearing at Percy's side and gripping his hands comfortingly. "You're- you were only human. Nobody can blame you for not being able to take on a monster like Kronos. It's not your fault."

Blearily, Percy turned his gaze to the younger boy. "If I had just held out a bit longer, then-"

"Then what?" Jason suddenly cut in, squinting over at him. "The Olympians had already been defeated by Typhon and Python. What would've happened if you had killed Kronos, huh? We would've all fought Typhon?" Jason shook his head, incredulous. "This isn't your fault at all, bro. Not at all."

"You saved us," Annabeth declared, reaching forward and cupping Percy's cheeks. "You literally saved all of us. We don't blame you, Seaweed Brain." She gently wiped away his tears as they dribbled over his eyelids, before pressing a kiss to his forehead.

Suddenly feeling guilty, Percy quickly stood up, taking a few steps away from all of them. "You should blame me," he breathed. "Because, down in the coliseum, I- I disobeyed Kronos. He told me to sit, and- and I didn't." Percy made wary eye contact with his friends, one by one. "I used one of my wishes to keep him from torturing Zeus to death."

Hazel cocked her head to the side. "I don't get it. That sounds like a good thing-"

"Yeah, well it's not," Percy bit out. "Kronos is pissed. He- He told me I have to choose one of my friends to bring to him. As punishment for my disobedience." In front of him, Percy's hands began to shake. "I think one of you is going to die because of me."

...

After thirty minutes of much deliberating, Thalia, Nico, and Annabeth were still arguing amongst themselves over who was going with Percy.

It had become evident from very early on that Percy was hindering their conversation- each time somebody declared that, fuck it, they were going to go, Percy tried to shut down the idea. So, after about five minutes, he was kicked out of the room, along with Chiron to watch over him. To the best of the nearly thirty occupants in the war room's knowledge, Percy was asleep on some couch, with Chiron pacing beside him.

"Annabeth," Nico gritted out, slamming his hand on the table. "Listen. You're needed here. You and Jason- you're basically the leaders of camp. You have to stay."

Annabeth frowned, anxiously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Nico, that's-"

"Besides," Thalia cut in, crossing her arms. "Let's say he doesn't kill whoever goes with Percy. Do you really want to be there and watch your boyfriend marry somebody else? Come on, Annabeth, back down. Percy wouldn't want you- especially you- to get hurt." She reached forward, her electric-blue eyes pleading as she gripped Annabeth's shoulder gently. "Do it for Percy, Annabeth. Stand down just this once."

Annabeth's gaze flicked back and forth between Thalia and Nico, and she opened and closed her mouth a few times, before tears welled in her eyes. Dropping her head in defeat, her shoulders shook slightly.

"It's okay, Annie, it's okay," Piper murmured, rubbing Annabeth's back. "Come on, let's go find Percy. You can hang with him while these two talk, okay?"

Letting out a helpless, strangled sob, Annabeth nodded, allowing herself to be led away by the daughter of Aphrodite.

The two girls made their way past the kitchen and into the sitting room of the Big House. Percy and Chiron were there- the former laying sprawled on the couch, his sea-green eyes boring up at the water-stained ceiling above him, and the later, sure enough, pacing, his hand beneath his chin. He looked to be deep in thought, and every once in a while his tail flicked anxiously.

Chiron glanced up as they stepped into the room. "Ah, girls." He frowned. "Is one of you accompanying Percy?" His voice was a bit tense, and his gaze flicked back and forth between the two of them.

"No," Piper replied, her voice soft. "Nico and Thalia are duking it out right now. They said that Annabeth should stay to help run the camp with Jason."

"They're right," Percy's subdued voice drifted over from the couch. "Annabeth has no business coming with me. I- I couldn't-" He sat up, rubbing at his eyes, before throwing the three others a helpless look.

"We'll leave the two of you to talk," Chiron said, before gesturing for Piper to follow him back to the war room. Piper trailed behind him, not before giving Annabeth a quick hug and Percy a wave. Percy dully waved back, before turning his attention to Annabeth.

"Annie," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "I'm so sorry, I-"

Annabeth held up a hand, shaking her head. "Stop apologizing. I mean it, I'm not listening to another word." She gazed levelly at Percy for a beat, before striding over and plopping down next to him, wrapping him in a hug. "Percy, you deserve so much better. Is there- is there anything I can do-"

Percy was already shaking his head, cutting her off. "No, Annie. Even for a Wise Girl like you, I think this problem might be a tad too big." He cracked a bit of a grin as he said her nickname, before his smile faltered. After a moment of silence, he whispered: "If- if things were different... And I had proposed to you, would you have-"

"I would have," Annabeth hummed, her smile sad. "Absolutely."

Percy gave her a weak smile. "I love you," he said, reaching forward and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"And I love you," she replied. After a tense moment, she quickly leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss against Percy's lips, before breaking away just as fast. "Give him Tartarus, Percy," she instructed, almost exactly like Sally had, her eyes flashing with anger. "You go, and you give that monster Tartarus."

Percy gave her a soft grin. "Did you expect anything less?"

Annabeth opened her mouth to reply, when the front door to the Big House was thrown open, and Kronos stepped in. He gave Annabeth and Percy an unimpressed look, his left eye twitching at how close they were sitting. "Saying goodbye to the girlfriend, my dear? Or is she, perhaps, coming with us?"

Rising to his feet, Percy crossed his arms. "Annabeth is staying here," he said pointedly. "Sorry to disappoint you, love." He all but spat out the last word, like it was a bug that had flown into his mouth.

Looking vexed, Kronos arched a brow. "Well, then, who did you choose, Pers-"

"Me," a voice announced from the doorway leading to the kitchen.

Percy, Annabeth, and Kronos all glanced in the direction from which it had come from, Percy's and Annabeth's eyes widening upon seeing Nico di Angelo standing there and glowering at Kronos. "Percy chose me. I'm the scapegoat, you sadistic fuck."

Kronos blinked, before turning back to Percy. "He's as respectful as you, my dear."

Scoffing, Percy shook his head. "Yeah, well, he gets it from the best," he snarked, standing up and straightening out his shirt.

Nico looked like he was trying to decide between ripping out Kronos' throat and throwing up. "I can't believe he calls you that," he said to Percy. "I'd want to slit my wrists."

Ignoring him, Kronos beckoned Percy forward. "Oh, don't be upset with me, Perseus," he chided as Percy fixed him with a glare potent enough to curdle blood. "You did this to yourself."

"Because you were slowly chopping somebody up alive," Percy deadpanned as he stalked toward Kronos. "Of course I stepped in."

"It was a waste," Kronos retorted, his hands curling around Percy's wrists. "He was going to die anyway. You could've kept your wishes for something important."

"We have differing definitions of important." Percy's narrowed eyes met Kronos', and he clenched and re-clenched his hands into fists. "In fact, I think that our differences are completely irreconcilable. We should probably just not get married." He raised his eyebrows at Kronos then, as if to say 'your move'.

With a mirthless chuckle, Kronos yanked Percy against him so they were pressed flush together, one hand on Percy's lower back, atop his Achilles' heel, and the other thumbing at his jugular. Leaning forward with a dark look in his eyes, Kronos whispered very quietly in Percy's ear: "Shut up."

Percy jerked his chin away, his vision going red with rage as he glowered down at the ground. His lips pursed like he badly wanted to throw a barrage of insults Kronos' way, and his fingers flexed at his sides, his knuckles cracking.

"And, now that that's taken care of," Kronos drawled, letting his hands drop away from Percy, watching in amusement as the other quickly took three wide steps backwards. "We'll be off." He pointed at Nico. "Perseus, take di Angelo with you to the throne room. The order I just gave you stands until I tell you otherwise." He sneered at Annabeth then, as if just remembering her presence. "And, Annabelle-" his voice was low, taut with warning, like a thinly-veiled threat. "-Mind yourself."

With that, he flashed away in a burst of gold light.

Wordlessly, Percy shot a wide-eyed Annabeth a nervous, apologetic look, before gently taking Nico's hand and flashing the two of them to the Olympians' throne room.

"What'd he tell you?" Nico demanded the second they re-materialized at the stairs just in front of Kronos' and Percy's thrones.

With a strained expression, Percy mimicked zipping his lips shut and tossing away the key.

Nico's eyes narrowed. "You're not allowed to talk now?" His nose wrinkled in disgust. "You're not his fiancé, you're his fucking slave."

Nodding his head in agreement, Percy flinched as the doors at the front of the throne room burst open, and Kronos strode in, Iapetus and Hyperion flanking him. The Titan King's golden eyes flicked back and forth from Nico to Percy several times, before resting on the later. "Perseus, go sit in your throne."

Like his feet were moving by themselves, Percy turned away from Nico, his hand falling from the other's wrist as he slowly walked towards his obsidian throne, shakily lowering himself into it as he watched the three Titans approach his friend, not unlike a pack of wolves stalking their meal.

"Nico di Angelo, spawn of Hades," Kronos all but sang, his eyes flashing. "It's very lucky that Perseus chose you, considering I have a few questions about your father's domain." A celestial bronze knife materialized in the air beside him, and he snatched it up with a flick of his wrist, spinning it over his fingers as he considered the boy before him.

Nico simply watched on, looking unbothered. After a beat, he said, "Do your worst, Kronos. And then fuck off."

To Kronos' right, Hyperion let out an incredulous laugh. "Demigods these days have no respect. Back in the Golden Age, I would've crushed you like a bug-"

He broke off as Kronos held up a hand, silencing him. "Most assuredly, Hyperion," he drawled. "The halfbreed will pay for his disrespect. As will Perseus." His eyes flicked over to meet the demigod-turned-Titan's, lidding as he sneered up at the other shifting uncomfortably in his throne. "Did you hear that, my dear?"

Across the room, Percy's eyes narrowed, and Kronos let out a biting laugh. "With no voice, you can hardly use that pesky last wish to save your friend. And, besides-" Kronos sneered, tapping his finger below Nico's chin and forcing the other to look up into his eyes. "-you only have one more, Perseus. One more wish, and so many friends. You can't protect them all."

Glowering, Nico jerked his face away. "You promised you'd let us live," he snarled, his eyes flickering like black fire. "Even you can't break an oath like that-"

"I'm not breaking it," Kronos said simply. "I'm not here to kill you, but I am here to hurt you. So, tell me Nico," he breathed, spinning his knife once more before grabbing it in his fist in a vice. "How did that miserable goddess Persephone blockade the Underworld?"

Nico was silent for a beat, before he burst out into sharp laughter. "You mean you still haven't gotten in? Some all-powerful Titan Lord you are."

"That's not an answer," Kronos remarked, before, faster than Percy could even process, stabbing his knife deep into Nico's gut.

Percy's face contorted in fury as he watched Nico crumple down to one knee, the seventeen-year-old's hands pressed against his stomach. When he pulled them away, his shoulders heaving, they were slick with red. Probably against his will, Nico let out a whimper as blood pooled out of his abdomen and down to the marble floor beneath him.

Hyperion, Iapetus, and Kronos all watched on despondently while Percy sat, visibly shaking, on his throne. In his head, he was screaming at Kronos, even though he knew the other couldn't hear him. You said you wouldn't kill him! You fucking promised, you sadistic, fucking son of a-

Kronos' gaze briefly flicked up to meet Percy's before falling away as he lifted his right hand, his pointer and middle fingers raised. In a motion that mimicked a clock's hand spinning in reverse, Kronos flicked his wrist, and suddenly Nico was gasping for air, quickly scrambling backwards from Kronos. Despite the blood soaking his clothes, he looked to be completely healed, and a sinking feeling churned in Percy's gut as he realized what was happening.

"That's right," Kronos breathed, his eyes shining with delight as he stalked toward Nico. "I can send you to the brink of death, heal you, and then do it all over again, so long as you refuse to assist me." He knelt down, holding the knife to Nico's throat. "Your move, spawn of Hades."

The younger boy was shivering, and although Percy couldn't see his face, he imagined that there was a mix of irate rage and fear in his eyes. After a moment of silence, Nico lifted his chin, giving Kronos better access to the veins trailing through his neck. "Go for it."

Bitter fury flashed across Kronos' face, and, with blinding speed, he grabbed Nico forcefully by his hair, slamming his head back into the floor with a sickening crack. "Tell me. Tell me where she's moved the entrances."

Nico responded by spitting bloody saliva at Kronos, who viciously backhanded the younger across the face. The son of Hades let out a pained cry, and Kronos gestured over his shoulder for Hyperion and Iapetus to approach. With mirroring impassive expressions, the two Titans stooped down on either side of Nico, forcefully gripping his arms while Kronos rose to his feet, his eyes meeting Percy's. "Come here, Perseus."

Shakily, Percy stood up. As he approached Kronos, his heart drummed louder and louder, his vision wavering at the sight of Nico drenched in blood. From the floor, Nico met his eyes, and Percy was slightly taken aback by the defiance burning in them.

He felt one of Kronos' arms sliding around his waist, and the other pressing the celestial bronze blade into Percy's hand. "It's your fault he's here, Perseus," Kronos whispered in his ear. His words were triumphant, and Percy could hear the smirk in the other's voice. "-so, for every minute your friend refuses to answer my questions, you shall carve one of my brethren's names into his back." Kronos' gaze flicked over to Hyperion and Iapetus. "Flip him over."

The two Titans did as they were told, easily flipping a struggling Nico over onto his stomach. Nico jerked his head to the side to stare with wide eyes over his shoulder at Percy, who was glaring silently at Kronos, his hand tensing around the knife.

Kronos simply studied the younger in amusement, before bending back down to Nico and yanking up the hem of his t-shirt. "I'll ask you again. Where did Persephone move the entrances?" Kronos paused then, tilting his head in consideration. "Or, an easier question. Where is Thanatos? And where did he hide the Doors of Death?"

Nico feebly kicked out at Kronos, who huffed, shaking his head. "And here I thought Hades had been the most cooperative of my sons. Perseus, carve your name here." He tapped the top of Nico's left shoulder blade, his smile tightening into a grimace. When Percy made no move to kneel down next to Nico, the Titan King turned his expectant gaze upwards. Upon seeing the pained look on Percy's face, he gave a short laugh. "Yes, Perseus. Your name. You're to blame, so it's only fitting we start with you." He patted the marble floor beneath him. "Sit and begin."

Throwing another noxious expression at Kronos, Percy rigidly dropped to his knees. Using one hand to brace himself beside Nico, his other hand quivered as he brought the knife down to his friend's skin. Just before the blade met Nico's shoulder, the younger boy met Percy's eyes again. "I don't blame you Percy. Not one little bit."

"Quiet," Kronos snapped, and Nico scowled.

"Fuck off." His curse turned into a hiss of pain as Percy scraped Kronos' knife across the younger's skin, shakily carving the first letter of his name. Nico was squirming underneath him, his breath hitching as he tried to muffled his sobs, his arms straining against Hyperion's and Iapetus' grips.

Percy was crying, too; silent tears that dribbled down his cheeks, diluting the blood on the floor as he worked, trying to make the cuts as shallow as possible.

About halfway through his name, it became too much. Percy gritted his teeth, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to collect himself. He was vaguely aware of a tugging feeling in his gut, like when he summoned waves and storms, but he didn't really know what it meant, and it was so faint that he was content to ignore it. That was, until Kronos drew in an angry breath from beside him.

"Who's doing that?" The Titan King demanded, and Percy's eyes flickered open again.

At first, he wasn't sure what Kronos was talking about- nobody had moved, and Nico remained on the floor, trembling under the Titans' grips. That was, until Percy thought to look down at Nico's back- the younger's skin was stitching itself back together all on its own, Nico himself visibly relaxing as the gaping strips of flesh that had been gouged out of him faded into nothing more than slightly red skin.

Livid, Kronos rounded on Percy, grabbing him by the shirt and dragging him forward. "Perseus, I swear on Chaos, that if-"

He broke off as Percy quickly raised his hands in relent, shaking his head. 'Wasn't me,' he mouthed, and Kronos arched a brow, his gaze flashing over to Hyperion and Iapetus, both of whom also shook their heads.

"Perhaps it is because his father is nearby," Iapetus offered after a moment. "He could be helping his son."

"Perhaps..." Kronos breathed. He was quiet for a moment, before shaking his head. "Nico di Angelo. If you do not swear your allegiance to me right now, I will order Perseus to torture that Annabeth girl until she has lost her mind."

Percy stiffened, the knife in his hands clattering to the ground, splattering droplets of blood across the marble. Shivering, Nico ducked his head against the floor, taking in a deep, shaky breath. The muscles in his shoulders tensed, before relaxing as he seemed to cave in on himself in defeat.

"I swear my allegiance to you on the River Styx," Nico all but spat, his fingers curling into fists and scraping into the skin of his palms. "Happy?"

Kronos smirked. "I will be once you answer my questions. And, Perseus?" He glanced toward the demigod-turned-Titan with a triumphant grin. "You may speak now. I'll call for you once this is sorted out. You're dismissed."

Shaking with rage, Percy rose to his feet. "No wonder Rhea hated you," he seethed. Without waiting to see Kronos' expression, he spun on his heel and strode angrily to the throne room doors, throwing them open as he stormed down the hallway, back to the minimal privacy his room provided him with.

~*~

Chapter Text

Playlist Part Five:

Prodigal - OneRepublic

Czardas - Ksenija Sidorova, Nicola Benedetti, Petr Limonov, Tamas Andras, and Thomas Carroll

~*~

It was hours later when Kronos finally pushed open the door to Percy's room. The younger was laying in bed, curled up on his side with the sheets partially covering him, his back facing the door.

Without looking up, he snapped: "Get out."

Kronos wavered in the doorway. "Is that a wish?" He asked after a beat. When Percy remained silent, Kronos simply sighed and shut the door behind him, crossing the room over to the bed and sitting beside Percy's feet. The demigod-turned-Titan pulled his legs up away from Kronos, caving in on himself and becoming little more than a lump under the covers, just his shock of black hair and hunched shoulder peeking out.

Clasping his hands between his own knees, Kronos glanced over at Percy, who was almost completely motionless, before letting out a perturbed huff, running a hand back through his own hair.

"I have a nephew named Atlas," he began after another moment, his voice soft. "I remember when he was born... He was so small. Had he not been a Titan, I would've feared he'd not make it to see his first birthday."

Tapping at the golden band round his right ring finger, Kronos frowned, his eyebrows furrowing and his lips turning down at the corners. "He helped me during the first war. Said he owed it to me. Wouldn't take no for an answer, so I set up a front for him, gave him a legion, a sword, armor... When we lost, he wasn't condemned to Tartarus like the rest of us. No- Zeus thought, for some reason, that having my nephew, cold and alone and separated from his family, hold up the weight of the sky for eternity would be a fitting punishment."

Kronos' gaze lidded. "...And I never understood why. You'd think, Perseus, that I would've been the one to shoulder that load, but no- my innocent, helpful nephew was condemned to a fate some might even say was worse than Tartarus. And for what? Being loyal to his family? Supporting us during a war that we didn't start? It was barbaric."

Kronos turned his attention back to Percy, who had shifted slightly, his tired eyes watching the Titan King as he spoke. After a beat, the younger muttered: "What's your point, Kronos?"

"My point is that this is war, Perseus," Kronos asserted, his expression strained. "This is a war fueled by millennia of hatred and pain and suffering. What I've done- killing Zeus, hurting your friend- it's not without reason. All of this isn't just happening in a vacuum."

Scowling, Percy sat up, pushing the covers back with an angry swipe of his wrists. "You're not the victim, Kronos. You ate your kids. No wonder they wanted to see you dead. Plus," Percy continued on, talking right over Kronos as the other opened his mouth to say something else. "-you didn't have to start two other wars. You didn't have to kill Zeus, you didn't have to make me hurt Nico- something I will never forget, by the way." Shaking his head, Percy tsked, gritting his teeth in vexation. "You're a bad guy, Kronos."

"And Zeus wasn't?" Kronos asked, leaning forward slightly so he was staring directly into Percy's eyes. "Who's to say that Zeus is any better than me?"

Shaking his head, Percy let out an irritated sigh. "Zeus never made me mutilate my friend with a knife," he retorted.

"But he did want to kill you when you were twelve for a crime you didn't commit," Kronos pointed out. "And he's done much worse than that, I can assure you, Perseus."

"I don't want to talk about this," Percy spat. "I want you to get out of my room so I can sleep, and then preferably not see you until my arranged marriage, which, funnily enough, is another thing Zeus wouldn't've made me do." Percy then turned his fierce gaze up to meet Kronos'. "Zeus may not have been perfect, but at least he wasn't you."

Kronos stared back for a beat, his golden eyes boring into Percy's. As if the product of some off-topic train of thought, they flicked down to Percy's lips, before flashing up again to meet the younger's gaze. Finally, he pulled back, rising to his feet and taking a step away. "I'll leave you be for now. But, remember this, my dear." Kronos' eyes blazed as he stared down at the younger. "You're not a saint, either. I have a sister and two nephews suffering in Tartarus at this moment because of you."

"It was their choice to fight," Percy snarled, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "They were trying to kill my friends. I don't regret killing them at all, I only wish I had killed you, too."

Spreading his hands, Kronos cocked his head to the side. "And that's where we have our interesting moral dilemma, Perseus. We were both fighting for our lives. Had Zeus won, then we would've been subjected to another several thousand years of pain in Tartarus."

"Which you deserve." Percy's voice dripped with venom. "What you did to Nico today alone earns you a one-way ticket to Tartarus in my book."

Suddenly looking annoyed, Kronos took a step toward the bed, glaring down at Percy. "If I deserve to lay in Tartarus, then my son does, too. In case you conveniently forgot, Perseus, Zeus consumed his pregnant lover for the same reasons that I consumed my children. Zeus did this, and did not rule during a Golden Age. Rather, he hindered human growth at every turn, until my poor nephew Prometheus took pity on your apathetic race- something he was punished for most horribly," Kronos bit out, his hands clenching at his sides. "So you can pretend all you like that your gods were the epitome of goodness, and that the Titans had no such empathy or humanity, but I'd argue that pity is most certainly a good emotion to be capable of, and it was Prometheus who displayed it, not your bygone king."

Kronos bent down then, jerking Percy's chin toward him, and harshly whispered in the younger's ear: "And if I too were not capable of pity, you would not be alive."

Percy wrenched his face out of Kronos' grip, his hands fisting in the comforter atop him. When it didn't look like the younger was going to say anything, Kronos turned away, silently stalking to the door and throwing it open, only to slam it shut behind him, leaving Percy burning with incandescent rage.

~*~

Until Friday, Percy pretty much stayed with his mom.

For some reason that he didn't understand, Kronos let him, not so much as saying a word about Percy's sudden absence at Olympus. Rather, he allowed Percy, along with Nico, surprisingly, to commute back and forth whenever they pleased, content with knowing that the oath they both had sworn to him was more than enough to keep them from trying to flee.

And it most definitely was.

Even when Percy was lying in his old bed in his mom and Paul's apartment late at night, he would have trouble sleeping, his thoughts turning back to Kronos both without his consent and much more often than he'd've ever liked to admit.

Nico, however, didn't seem as bothered by the whole thing, and always fell asleep impossibly fast on the air mattress that Paul had picked up the first day they both showed up, exhausted and defeated, at the apartment.

"I'm not running," Percy had clarified to his mother as she had sat both him and Nico down at the kitchen table, along with a concerned-looking Paul (who had been filled in by his wife several days ago). "-I just. I need these few days. To process all of this."

"I'll bet you do," Nico had all but growled, the dark bags beneath his eyes so prominent they looked like they had been smeared there with sharpie. "Kronos is a fucking douche bag."

As the two had told Sally and Paul about the trip to camp, and Zeus, and what had happened to Nico, both Percy's parents had steadily grown more and more pale. By the time they had finished, Sally was furtively rubbing at her eyes and letting out soft sobs. Paul, on the other hand, had his mouth twisted up like he had just finished a really bad book. Finally, he turned to Sally and said: "Wait, what?" Which was almost enough to make Percy laugh. Almost.

Any how, it was Thursday night now, about four days after Percy had dragged a tired Nico with him to his mother's doorstep. He knew he should be trying to relax, trying to get the last bit of sleep he could, before... Before what he was anticipating would happen on his wedding night... But he just couldn't. The situation had quickly become too much, and Percy, well... Percy was drowning. Fast.

...

The next morning, while Percy, Nico, Paul, and Sally were all eating breakfast around the small wooden table in the kitchen, there was a knock on the door. For some reason, as his mother rose from her seat and walked over to answer it, an uneasy feeling tugged in Percy's gut. He frowned, slowly standing up. "Wait, Mom-"

His mother was already pulling open the door. "And who are you?"

There was an irritated sniff. "You know quite well. Now let me in."

Wordlessly, Sally yanked the door open all the way, allowing none other than Iapetus to enter. He was wearing a suit, and had shrunk down to a size that passed as human. The only give away was his eyes- they were a steely silver, the color of liquid mercury. Those same eyes flickered, completely unimpressed, across the apartment's layout, until they landed on Percy and Nico. The former was still wavering by his seat, while the later, immediately upon seeing Iapetus, had let out an aggravated grunt, before slamming his forehead down beside his breakfast plate, causing the glasses on the table to shudder violently. Paul just looked uncomfortable.

Glowering, Percy collected himself, straightening his shoulders as he rose to his full height. "What do you want?"

Iapetus rolled his eyes widely. "It's time to begin your wedding, Percy," he said, sounding exasperated. "Otherwise, believe me, I wouldn't be here, in this..." he glanced around, his nose wrinkling. "... Mortal abode."

Looking annoyed, Percy tapped at the calendar hanging on the wall across from him. "Bo- oh sorry, Iapetus- fun fact. It's Friday. I have one more day of freedom. Go away." He made a shooing motion with his hands, walking forward and holding the door open for the Titan, gesturing to the hallway with raised eyebrows.

Scowling, Iapetus reached forward, slamming the door shut with a reverberating thud. "The gamos is tomorrow. The proaulia, however, is today. So stop messing around and sit down." Iapetus crossed his arms expectantly as Percy warily glanced at Nico and mouthed 'What's proaulia?'

Nico shrugged. His chin was propped up on the table, and his eyes were half-lidded as he stared over at Percy and Iapetus. "Dunno."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Iapetus sucked in a deep breath, casting his eyes to the ceiling and muttering a curse. "Ouranos above- proaulia is the first day of the wedding, Percy. It's when-"

Percy's eyes bulged in shock. "There's multiple days of this nonsense?!" He interrupted, shooting his mother a helpless look. "Just when I think things can't possibly get any worse, you damn Titans pull shit like this."

Iapetus closed his eyes and counted to three before continuing, trying not to blow up the apartment complex. "Percy. Listen. There are three days. The first, today," he said, holding up his pointer finger. "-is proaulia. Both parties spend the day with their family, and burn offerings to beings of higher power- Gaea and Chaos, in this case-"

Percy held up his arms in an 'x'. "Time out. I'm not offering so much as a crumb to that lady. Sorry, Bob."

In exasperation, Iapetus threw his hands up in the air. "I don't care! Sacrifice some of that blue junk you eat to Thor, for the love of Chaos! Just do it, shut up, and listen!" He waved his hand, and Percy's legs gave out, the younger forcefully plopping down onto the couch.

Looking scandalized, Percy crossed his arms and glared up at the other, but, to his credit, remained quiet.

Heaving a sigh, Iapetus rubbed at his eyes. "Okay. So. Tonight, you feast with your family and sleep here, but tomorrow, you, along with whoever else is attending the ceremony from this house, will come to Olympus in the morning. Once you arrive, gamos will start."

"What is gamos?" Percy asked warily, his voice drifting over from the couch, slightly muffled by the pillow he was resting his chin on.

"The ceremony part," Iapetus said simply.

"Okay, but, I'm gonna need to know a bit more than that," Percy rolled his eyes. "I may be a demigod- Titan- whatever- but I'm not exactly up to date with how you guys got married thousands of years ago."

"Basically," Iapetus began levelly, his eyes lidded in annoyance like he couldn't believe he was explaining something so simple. "Gamos is a day long event. First, both parties take ritualistic cleansing baths. Then, there is a traditional wedding ceremony and reception. And then, after that, one party is led to the other party's home, and the marriage is consummated."

There was a very long silence. Nico scowled down at his half-eaten, cold scrambled eggs. Sally looked like she wanted to throw up. Paul looked mortified. Percy stared blandly down at his hands, before glancing back up, his face expressionless. "And what happens on the third day?"

"Epaulia," Iapetus hummed. "A ceremony during which gifts are bestowed to the couple. It marks the end of the wedding."

It was again quiet for a beat, before Percy rose to his feet, clapping his hands together. "So, what I'm hearing, is that you should go," he said, his voice bordering on aggressive. "If this proaulia thing is supposed to be celebrated with my family, then I sure as Tartarus don't want you here." He crossed the room then, yanking the door open and jerking his chin to the hallway. "Leave, Iapetus."

Sneering, Iapetus stepped toward the door, his eyes narrowed to thin slits. "If you were anybody else, I swear-"

"But I'm not, so shut up," Percy replied airily, before slamming the door in Iapetus' face and locking it with a twist of his wrist. He stood there for a beat, his forehead rested against the wood as he took in a deep breath.

Hesitantly, Sally stepped forward, resting her hand on Percy's shoulder. "Percy," she breathed. "I-"

Percy straightened, turning around to face her and gently shrugging her hand off his shoulder. "Well," he announced, clapping his hands together and not looking anybody in the eye. "Looks like we have an excuse to go out to eat tonight."

~*~

It was much later that night, maybe 1:30, that Nico found Percy sitting on the balcony by himself. The older was staring up at the skyline, his legs dangling off in between the metal rails. He had a cup of tea in his hands, and a blue blanket draped over his shoulders.

Nico wavered for a beat, before pulling open the sliding door, and quietly sitting down next to Percy. "Hey," he said, his voice a lot softer than usual.

Percy glanced at him, before quickly turning his attention back up to the buildings rising up above him. "Hey." He took a sip of tea, so he could stall for a moment before talking again. "...Uh, why aren't you asleep?"

Nico bunched his lips to the side. "Contrary to popular belief, I don't like sleeping. It's a waste of time."

"A waste of- Nico, you really are a son of Hades, huh?" Percy grinned, leaning forward to nudge his shoulder against the younger's. His expression turned serious, then, his eyebrows furrowing. "I wanted to thank you," he offered slowly, his eyes flicking over Nico's face. "-for what you said."

Nico frowned. "What'd I say?"

Percy took another sip of his tea. "That you wouldn't blame me. When I was-" he broke off, gulping down a mouthful of the still-scorching drink. Wincing, he waving his hand dismissively. "...You know... The order... Kronos gave me..."

Nodding, Nico set his mouth in a thin line. "It's true," he mumbled. "I don't. And, besides-" he flicked his gaze up to meet the older's. "The cuts all healed up. So it doesn't really matter."

Percy set his cup down, tapping his fingers against the metal landing beneath them. "How'd you do that by the way? Heal the cuts?" Percy chewed at his lip, squinting out over the city-scape. "It doesn't really seem like a power Hades kids would have. Healing."

"It wasn't-"

He was cut off by the door opening behind the two of them. Both Percy and Nico craned their necks to glance back, and Percy's gaze softened at the sight of his mother holding Estelle. "Hey," he said, rising to his feet with a huff, before stooping back down to quickly grab his mug. "Did Estelle wake up?"

Sally nodded, looking half-asleep. "She started crying a few minutes ago. Fresh air helps her calm down."

Percy leaned forward, grinning at his younger sister. "Are you keeping Mom awake, you little gremlin?" He ruffled her hair, before his smile dimmed slightly, and he let his hand drop away. Estelle, however, cooed, reaching out toward Percy's hand with a grin on her face.

Sally looked a bit relieved. "She likes you. That's good."

"Of course she likes me," Percy huffed, sounding a bit affronted. "I am her older brother, after all." He put down his cup and held out his hands hesitantly, glancing up at his mother. "Can I hold her?"

"Mhm," Sally hummed tiredly, handing Estelle carefully over to her son, who gingerly adjusted the infant's blankets, a smile flicking across his lips.

Bouncing Estelle lightly in his arms, Percy's smile grew a bit strained. He took in a sharp breath, his brow furrowing as he averted his gaze away from his sister, blinking quickly.

"Ugh- sorry-" Percy muttered, raising one hand and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Sorry, I-" he broke off, grimacing. "I- uh- sorry."

"Don't apologize," Nico grumbled, rising to his feet and crossing his arms. "Honestly- I'm surprised you haven't been more upset."

Percy set his lips in a thin line, before quietly handing Estelle back to his mother, who looked physically pained. "It's just," Percy whispered, after a moment of silence. "I guess I just realized... That I'm never gonna be a dad. I'm never gonna... Have that."

"Percy..." Sally whispered, her expression saddened. "Darling, it's-" she was cut off by a sharp laugh, like nails raking over a chalkboard.

"Oh, I wouldn't say never," called a lilting voice from a few balconies over.

Percy immediately tensed, jerking his head to the right. There, partially obscured by darkness, stood a tall, pale man. He was lithe and wiry, and wore an off-white chiton that fell down to his ankles. Behind him, seemingly flickering in and out of existence, white feathered wings rose up out of his back, curling around him like some sort of decorative shield.

While Percy couldn't discern the man's face, for some reason the name of the entity before him tumbled out of his mouth, like, somehow, he could sense it. "Eros."

Beside Percy, Nico clapped the older on the shoulder. "I'm gonna head to bed. I can't deal with this guy," the son of Hades said soberly, before ducking past Percy and Sally back into the apartment and sliding the glass door shut behind him.

Laughing, Eros reached up, and Percy assumed he was tapping at his chin. "Little Nico was quite amusing to tease," he hummed. "But you, Percy- this has simply got to be the most fun I've had in centuries!"

Percy ground his teeth in his mouth angrily, gripping the metal balcony railing in a vice. There was a loud snap, and he startled, glancing down to see that he'd mangled the metal. Taking in a deep breath, Percy reverted his gaze back to the Primordial, lidding his eyes. "Fun?" He spat. "You think making Kronos f-fall in love with me is fun?!"

"Well, that's only half of it, but yes." Percy could hear the smirk in the other's voice. "I do think this whole thing is quite fun." He vanished then, and Percy's shoulders went rigid as he felt the Primordial's presence directly behind him. Eros leaned down, whispering in Percy's ear: "Although, it's the other piece of the puzzle that I'm really excited to watch fall into place."

Percy's stomach churned. "You're sick."

"Maybe," Eros agreed, taking a few steps back and perching on the balcony railing. "Maybe not." He drummed his fingers on the metal as Percy turned around to face the still-obscured Primordial. He was aware of his mother still standing beside him, her breaths short and bated.

"Why?" Percy finally asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "Why would you do this?"

"Hmm," Eros hummed. "Why, why, why, indeed. Percy-" the elder began, readjusting himself in his precarious seat. "-have you ever heard of the Golden Age?"

"The Golden Age?" Percy echoed.

"The Golden Age," Eros repeated in agreement. "From all those millennia ago. Food and drink were abundant. Man never had to work, and lived until incredibly old ages whilst maintaining their youth."

Percy scowled. "Is that that dystopian thing Kronos was telling me about?"

"Dystopian," Eros scoffed, shaking his head. "You're spoiled, Percy. No- it's not dystopian. It was, in all seriousness, a utopia Kronos gave to his creations. Do you know what Kronos' creations were, Percy?"

Percy shook his head, his brow furrowed. After a beat, he offered: "... Monsters?"Eros let out a giddy laugh, crossing his legs and causing his chiton to crease. "No, no, no, no. Humans, Percy," the Primordial corrected. "Kronos created your very species. Not Prometheus, as many myths say, but Kronos."

After a bewildered moment, Percy pulled a face, cocking his head to the side. "Is that supposed to make me like him? Sorry, Eros, you're gonna have to try harder than that."

The Primordial simply let out a bated laugh, and Percy could practically hear the leer in his voice. "You misunderstand, Perseus." The elder's tone was dangerously low, like he could rip Percy limb from limb with the barest thought. "What I've just offered you is an answer to your very dense, very dumb, and very human question." Eros paused, his breath catching in his throat, before rising to his feet atop the balcony's ledge. "And now, I must say goodnight. Until next time, Perseus, consort to that little upstart Kronos."

"HEY!" Percy exclaimed, stalking toward the elder. "Don't call me th-" He broke off as Eros flickered away, leaving only the faintest scent of roses in his wake. Letting out an enraged growl, Percy raked his hand back through his unruly hair, before turning around to look at his mother.

Sally had her lips pressed together in a tight line, her eyes glassy. After a beat, she sighed, ducking her head to peer down at Estelle as she bounced the infant lightly in her arms. "Percy," she murmured after a moment. "You know... If you... Eventually fall in-"

Percy stiffly held up a hand, a sickened look flashing across his features. "Don't finish that thought, Mom," he said.

With a strained nod, Sally stepped to the side as Percy brushed past her, sliding open the glass door and disappearing inside. Once her son had drifted back down the hallway to his room, she sighed, casting her gaze up toward the Empire State Building rising up off in the distance. "Poseidon," she whispered. "What's going to happen to our boy?"

~*~

Chapter Text

Playlist Part Six:

Arranging Marriage - Kris Bowers

Epitaph of Seikilos (Complete Ancient Greek Melody Composed by Seikilos, Son of Euterpe, 1st Century CE - Arranged For Replica Lyre) - Michael Levy

Sorrowful Stone - Akira Senju

~*~

"This is dumb," Percy announced as he stared out at the bath chambers, his arms crossed in annoyance.

Nico lidded his eyes, before stooping down to poke at one of the rose petals floating languidly in the cream-colored water. "Yep."

The two of them were standing awkwardly before one of the largest tubs in the guest chamber's bathrooms, their gazes visibly exasperated. Before them, covered in roses and jasmine flowers, stretched a bathtub nearly the size of a small swimming pool, inlaid in the marble floor. It smelled richly of honey, and the water was white, like somebody had mixed a couple cubic liters of whole milk in with the actual water.

"I hate this, I hate this, I hate this," Percy grumbled under his breath as he stripped off the bathrobe he was wearing, taking a few hesitant steps down the stairs and into the water so it covered up to his chest. "If Kronos doesn't show up smelling like roses, and instead it's, like, dark pine and musk and angst, I'm gonna get mad." He absentmindedly batted at a few petals, his eyebrows furrowing. "How long until I'm cleansed?" He whined, already bored as he craned his neck back to look at Nico.

Nico shrugged. "Don't ask me. I probably cursed that whole bath just by poking at one of those stupid roses."

Percy studied the bathwater in contemplative silence before letting out a laugh. "Perfect. There's no better way to start off a marriage, I guess." He was quiet for a moment, before dunking his head under the water and popping back up with a huff. Scowling, he wiped at his eyes. "This is literally just watered-down milk and honey."

"Then get out," Nico suggested, reaching a hand down toward Percy. "You're probably as cleansed as you're ever going to get."

Wordlessly, Percy accepted Nico's hand, allowing the other to guide him out of the murky water and back up onto the slick marble floor. Percy grabbed his towel from a hanger on the wall beside them, rubbing at his face angrily. After another moment of covering his face, he let out a sigh, letting the towel fall down to just in front of his waist. "This is really something, huh?" He muttered, to which Nico carefully nodded.

"It is..."

"I keep remembering what I'm gonna have to do tonight," Percy said, his voice soft. He hesitated for a beat, before glancing up at Nico. "...I'm..."

Words Percy was too brave, too stubborn to admit passed silently between them. Afraid. Scared. Terrified. He'd already cried more times than he'd like to admit in the past three weeks- verbally confessing his emotions was just a step too far, something that couldn't be taken back. Something that made the next few hours seem too real. Too much, too much.

Nico's brow furrowed, and he turned to meet Percy's eyes. "If there was anything I could do-" Nico began, but Percy just shook his head, his wet black hair sending little droplets of the bathwater to his shoulders.

"You don't have to say anything," Percy said. "I just- I guess I'm saying as much as I can right now, 'cuz I don't really think I'm gonna have much freedom of speech once I'm a married man."

Frowning, Nico followed along behind the other as he wrapped the towel around his waist, stalking back to his bedroom. "What- You think you're just gonna be Kronos' trophy wife, or something?"

Percy shrugged as he pulled the door open. "I'm just saying I wouldn't be surprised." He turned his gaze to Nico, his eyes dark. "Kronos isn't marrying me for the conversation, Neeks. He's marrying me to show everybody that he controls me. That the Hero of Olympus-" Percy made quotes with his fingers, his expression derisive- "-has been conquered."

Nico swallowed, not knowing what to say. Finally, he scratched at his cheek, ducking his head. "I think 'conquered' is the wrong word, Percy," he whispered.

"Hm?" Percy hummed. He wasn't listening anymore. Rather, he was staring down at the clothes left out for him on his bed. An ornately embroidered sea-green chiton with gold trim, beside which was a flowing gold and white cape and a pair of traditional sandals.

Stepping up to Percy's side, Nico cast his gaze down toward the formal wear laying on the bed. "It could be a lot worse," Nico said after a beat. "You could be wearing a white dress and a veil. That would be pretty fucking emasculating."

Percy wrinkled his nose, before stooping forward to lift the chiton up, inspecting it thoroughly. After a beat, he sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Yeah. Could be worse, I guess." He turned away from Nico then, tossing his towel on a chair and pulling on a pair of briefs before yanking the chiton over his head. After smoothing out the fabric, he spun around, holding his hands out at his sides. "How's it look?"

"You look good," Nico offered. "I don't know if that's what you want to hear, but you do."

"I don't know what I want to hear." Percy's voice was strained, and he turned away, staring at himself in the mirror in front of the bed. He turned from side to side, scrutinizing the way the chiton fell over his body, before grabbing the cape from his bed and sweeping it over his shoulders, buttoning the celestial bronze clasp with a satisfying snap.

Nico watched as Percy wavered for a beat, before slumping back on the bed to tug on his sandals. "There's so many straps," the older muttered. "Feels very BDSM."

"Maybe Kronos is into that."

Percy glanced up, giving Nico a look. "...I guess I'll find out tonight."

Blanching, Nico shook his hands quickly, his eyes widening. "I- I wasn't trying to-"

"I know," Percy sighed. "I know, Neeks. I know."

It was quiet for a moment, and then Percy was standing up, resting his hands on his hips as he glowered at himself in the mirror. "It's missing something," he hummed, setting his lips in a thin line as he considered his outfit. After a beat, his eyebrows raised slightly, like he had gotten a good idea, and he waved his hand with a flourish. At his side, a dark brown leather scabbard materialized. Percy held out his hand, and Riptide, in its pen form, appeared. The demigod-turned-Titan twirled the pen over on his fingers, before uncapping it and slinging the blade into the holster. Jerking his chin toward Nico, he cocked a brow at the younger's wary expression. "Kronos castrated his dad," Percy said lightly. "-I might as well warn him that I'm bringing a weapon to the bedroom."

"Might as well," Nico repeated, the words sounding muddled and thick on his tongue.

Percy bobbed his head, half to Nico, half to himself, before turning on his heel and striding over to his bedroom door. Pushing it open, he smiled tightly at the sight of his mother waiting outside. "Hey, Mom," he greeted, reaching forward to give her a quick hug.

Sally had the ghost of a smile on her lips, and there were dark bags beneath her eyes. "Percy," she replied, hugging him back, before placing her hands on his shoulders and stepping back a pace to study his outfit. "You look very handsome," she said after a moment, her voice cracking.

Percy's brow furrowed slightly, and he crossed his arms self-consciously. "Thanks, I guess." He cleared his throat, before taking in a deep, unsteady breath and squaring his shoulders. "I guess... I guess we should get going, then." He held out his arm for his mother to take, before glancing back at Nico. "I won't be offended if you don't come," he said. The expression on his face was anxious, though- like he really needed Nico there.

Nodding quickly, Nico paced toward Percy. "I'll go," he said, a tight smile on his face. "So long as you don't mind me attending your wedding in this-" he gestured down at his ripped black jeans and skull graphic t-shirt.

Percy laughed, leaning forward slightly to study the graphic. "Nah, man, it's perfect." He clapped Nico on the shoulder, before quickly shutting his eyes and taking in a deep, calming breath. "...Time to get married."

"Time to get married," Sally echoed, her voice hollow. She and Percy shared a glance, before the younger turned to the right, leading his two guests down the halls to the throne room.

Once they were just in front of the wooden doors, Percy spun around in alarm. "I don't know how to dance!" He exclaimed, his voice a bit too high.

Nico rolled his eyes widely. "You're minutes away from marrying Kronos the motherfucking Lord of Time, and this is what you're worried about?"

Percy considered the question, before nodding vigorously. "Yeah."

Cursing under his breath, Nico pinched the bridge of his nose. "Geez- I guess step on Kronos' toes as much as you can? I don't know what to tell you, Percy."

Beside him, Sally was nodding in agreement. "Don't just step on them," she instructed, reaching forward to cup Percy's face with her right hand. "Stomp on them. Crack his nails. I want to see blood on the dance floor."

Nico's eyes widened. "My gods, Mrs. Jackson."

Sally gave a sort of half-grin, half-grimace. "I'm very petty," she supplied.

Shaking his head in wonder, Nico whistled. "I can see that."

Giving a sharp laugh, Percy clapped his hands together. "As much as I'd like to stay out here together and maybe convince you to adopt Neeks, I've got a sadistic Titan King to marry." He gestured toward the doors, before glancing back and forth between his mother and Nico. "Put on your party faces."

Nico flipped him the bird, and Percy made a face, before waving his hands. In front of them, the doors rumbled, slowly parting and revealing the crowds already gathered in the throne room. Every head swiveled toward Percy, Nico, and Sally, their eyes boring into the three of them. Percy glowered, before sweeping forward, down the Persian carpet lining the middle row, his footsteps echoing loudly off the vaulted chambers. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nico and Sally slide into two empty seats in the back row, quickly vanishing behind the many Titans and other beings in the room.

As he approached the front of the throne room, his eyes fell on Kronos. The Titan King was kneeling at the top of the stairs on a gold silk sheet. He was facing an empty blue-green silk sheet- where Percy assumed he'd probably be sitting- but his head was turned to watch Percy as the younger skimmed up the stairs. Kronos was wearing an embroidered gold and cream-colored chiton, with a cape matching Percy's. His sandaled feet were folded underneath him, and he wore small golden hoops on his ears.

Percy's stomach churned uncomfortably as he knelt down in front of Kronos, disgusted with his own betraying thoughts- no matter the way the chiton and cape folded over Kronos' smooth olive skin like something on one of those fashion magazines Piper left everywhere, no matter the way Kronos' curly black hair framed his face, no matter the way Kronos' golden eyes flickered and burned straight into his soul- Kronos was not somebody Percy was ever allowed to find attractive. If he ever started to, then it would be all too-easy for Eros to toy with Percy's emotions and tug him along like a dog on a lead.

As if knowing what Percy was thinking about, Kronos smirked, before leaning forward slightly. "You're late," he hummed passively, to which Percy sneered.

"I was taking that damn cleansing bath, love," he snipped, his hands curling into fists and his fingernails leaving grooves in his skin.

"Hmm." Kronos flicked his eyes over Percy, before pulling away, his gaze casting out over the audience. Somebody was walking up- somebody Percy was highly upset that he recognized.

Percy's lips tugged into a downwards frown as he lidded his eyes up at the Titan. "Prometheus," he glowered. "You're back from Tartarus already?"

Prometheus looked vaguely offended. "Is that it? No hello? No how are you?"

The questions caught Percy off-guard, and he opened and closed his mouth a few times, blinking his eyes incredulously. "Uh," he finally managed to say. "-no?"

Giving an oily smile, Prometheus stepped past the two Titans, dropping down to his knees so he was knelt facing both them and the audience. He clapped his hands, and with a warm orange glow, a scroll appeared in his hands.

Kronos rolled his eyes, looking a bit exasperated. "You and your dramatics," he muttered, to which Prometheus just gave a lopsided grin, adjusting his glasses as he carefully unfurled the scroll.

"It's been such a long time since anyone got married," he hummed. "-so you'll have to excuse me if I feel the need to do it by the book." He cleared his throat then, and the mumbling carrying through the throne room abruptly ceased. "Under Ouranos and atop Gaea," he began, his voice carrying across the throne room and reverberating off the stone walls and vaulted ceilings. "-by Chaos' will, by Erebus' dark, and by Aether's light, two divine souls shall merge and become one. It shall be so." Prometheus paused, and Percy watched as the Titan flicked his wrist, summoning a small white satin package.

With fluid, graceful movements, Prometheus unwrapped the parcel and laid it with a flourish on the ground before him. There, sitting atop the fabric, were two small golden rings, each inlaid with what looked to be a diamond.

"Please remove your engagement rings," Prometheus instructed.

Percy frowned, his left hand quickly jerking over to his right ring finger. "I can't-" he began, but Kronos cut him off by reaching forward and tapping the gold band.

"There," he breathed as he gently pulled the ring off, and then set both it and his own down between them.

Percy rubbed at his right ring finger, reveling in the sensation of having it free of the dried ichor. His hand felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted.

"Please select a ring, Perseus," Prometheus directed, drawing Percy out of his thoughts.

Flinching slightly, Percy turned his gaze down to the satin sheet to his right. Both rings looked exactly the same, so he just pointed at the one closest to him. Prometheus nodded, picking up both of the golden bands, and handing the one Percy had chosen to Kronos, before offering the other to Percy. The demigod-turned-Titan slowly took it, turning it over in his hands and staring suspiciously at the diamond-shaped thing inlaid in the gold.

As Prometheus droned on about loyalty to one's spouse, and trust, and all of that nonsense, Percy hesitantly tapped his finger against the diamond. Almost immediately, a shiver curled down his spine. The diamond wasn't a diamond- it was somehow, some way, a frozen drop of water from the River Styx.

The very river which oaths were sworn on was inlaid in his wedding ring.

The symbolism wasn't lost on him.

Percy's eyes flicked up to find Kronos' already boring into him. The Titan held his gaze levelly for a beat, before his lips quirked up, like he had realized that Percy had caught on.

"-and as it shall be forevermore," Prometheus was finishing with a flourish, as Percy finally turned his attention back to his own wedding ceremony. The Titan's eyes cast over both Percy and Kronos, before he held out both of his hands, a small piece of parchment appearing in each. "These are the traditional vows," he explained as he handed them forward. "Perseus, please read yours aloud. His Majesty Kronos will read his next."

Percy cast his gaze down to the paper, his hands gripping the parchment so tightly he was expecting it to rip. "I, Perseus Jackson, by Chaos and Styx, accept Lord Kronos as my eternal partner. Wherever he is Gaius, I am Gaea."

Thunder rumbled in the sky above them, and Percy stiffened, feeling the power of the oath he had just sworn coursing through both him and the ring he still held in his hand. In front of him, he was vaguely aware of Kronos reading his own vows:

"-by Chaos and Styx, accept Perseus Jackson as my eternal partner. Wherever he is Gaius, I am Gaea."

Lightning cracked overhead, thunder shuddering through the room. The crowd shifted, as if they could also feel the oath's aftershock hanging in the atmosphere. The tension in the throne room was a real, palpable, thing.

"You may now exchange rings," Prometheus said, raising his voice to be heard over the thunder.

Kronos reached forward, firmly taking Percy's left hand in his own. The younger bit back a hiss at how cold the other's hands were, but allowed Kronos to gently slide the simple golden band onto his ring finger.

With shaking hands, Percy reached for Kronos' left hand, taking it in his own as he pushed the ring onto the other's finger. He had no idea what was going to happen next in this ceremony. To the best of his knowledge, in human ceremonies at least, this was the part where-

"You may now rise and seal your vows with a kiss." Prometheus' voice was slightly teasing, and Percy jerked his head to the right to glower at the Titan, at which the other smirked. In front of him, Kronos rose to his feet, before stooping back down slightly to offer Percy a hand. The demigod-turned-Titan ignored it, standing up stiffly and meeting the Titan King's gaze with an unenthused expression.

After a moment, when it was obvious Percy didn't plan on initiating any sort of kissing himself, Kronos leaned forward, tilting Percy's chin up with a soft tap of his finger, and pressed his lips lightly against the other's. It was the barest brush of a kiss, as diplomatic as a kiss could be, but it was more than enough to send the crowd before them into a frenzy of whooping and cheering.

As Kronos pulled away, he locked eyes with Percy for a beat, as if searching for something. He turned away after a second, whether he found it or not, and clapped his hands together, a smile spreading across his face. "My family- let the festivities begin!" With a flourish of his hands, several massive tables lined with food and drink appeared on either side of the throne room. From some hidden alcove, Percy could vaguely hear music begin to play- ancient music, the type of thing he suspected was new thousands of years ago.

"And you, my husband," Kronos whispered, his voice sending a shudder down Percy's spine. "-will be coming with me."

Percy swallowed thickly, warnings blaring in his head as Kronos took his hand and led him down the steps, brushing past the milling Titans and other deities filling the room.

"Where are you taking me, Kronos?" Percy asked, his voice sharp as the Titan King led him out of the throne room and towards the entrance of the main palace.

Kronos' grip on Percy's hand tightened slightly, and he glanced back, a surprisingly soft look on his face. "To a friend," he replied, his voice light.

Percy furrowed his brow, but didn't say anything else, allowing himself to be led along in a daze of anger at himself and disbelief at the fact that he was now married. Married at twenty. Married to Kronos, of all people.

They walked out the main doors, and the cool night air and scent of eucalyptus swept up against Percy's face. The knots in his shoulders relaxed slightly, as did his hand in Kronos' grip. The other looked back at Percy, before slowing his pace so they were walking side by side. "Hold on," Kronos instructed after a beat, and Percy turned to him with a confused expression, his mouth opening to say 'what?', when Kronos snapped his fingers and flashed them away.

Disoriented, Percy's grip on Kronos' hand tightened into a vice, and his eyes flickered, trying to figure out where the fuck they were. Upon seeing the run-down blue beach house, and hearing the waves lapping up on the sand just beyond the dunes, he stiffened, both nostalgia for Montauk and anger at Kronos for taking him here waging war in his head.

Settling on the later, Percy turned on the Titan, wrenching his hand away from the other's grip. "You-"

"Ah, so you finally made it," an unfamiliar voice sounded from behind them.

Kronos' expression settled into a smirk as he took in Percy's confusion, before he turned to address the older man ambling toward them. "Indeed, old friend," Kronos replied, holding out his arms and walking forward to embrace the other.

After they pulled apart, the newcomer patted Kronos firmly on the back, a soft smile on his face, before turning his attention over to Percy. "Your husband, eh?" He took a few steps forward, his gaze casting over Percy, scrutinizing him. "I'd heard you'd had a bout of good luck, but I certainly never thought that the child-savior of Olympus could be so attractive."

Percy frowned, already not a fan of this guy, and took a step back. "I'm not his fucking trophy. And I'm not a child," he spat, revolted. "Who do you think you are?!"

"Perseus," Kronos warned, his voice tense. "Behave."

Scowling, Percy took another quick step away from both Kronos and the strange man, who- Percy hadn't noticed it before, but his aura alone was enough to make Percy want to drop to his knees. It was similar to Gaea's- all too ancient, all too powerful, all too intimidating.

The man, as if sensing Percy's apprehension, boomed with laughter, his shoulders shaking and his sea-green eyes flashing with amusement. "Not to worry, not to worry. Child- as that's what you are to somebody as old as I-" his aura seemed to thicken, and Percy took in a shaky breath, struggling to breathe. "-I am Pontus. I was the first guardian of the sea. It was I who shaped its tides, I who breathed life into its water, I who capsized the first boats your ancestors built. Your young father, and even that upstart Oceanus hold no sway compared to me." He took a few passive steps toward Percy, his eyes blazing with primordial power. "Think wisely before you make an enemy of me, spawn of Poseidon."

Swallowing thickly, Percy gritted his teeth, before jerking his eyes away. "I... I'm sorry," he bit out.

"Apology accepted," Pontus replied lightly, and the tense atmosphere immediately lifted. Beside Percy, Kronos ever so slightly relaxed, his shoulders drooping in something akin to relief. "-anyhow, Kronos, you said you had a... Bargain of some sort?"

"Yes, my friend." Kronos crossed his arms pleasantly in front of him, his lips quirking up in a smile. "In two weeks time, I will have control of the Underworld. You see," he hummed, flicking his wrist casually as he shifted his weight to one leg. "-I've recently gotten my hands on a wealth of information- a bratty spawn of Hades. I know where to find the entrance to the Underworld. I know where that nuisance Thanatos has hidden himself. And, most importantly, I know where the Doors of Death are located in both Tartarus and in this world." He hesitated then, before his smile tugged into a wide grin. "I will gladly give you all of this information, dear friend, in exchange for... A few simple things."

Pontus crossed his arms, his gaze flicking back and forth between Kronos and Percy. "That information would be good to have," he grunted grudgingly after a moment of silence. "Those Doors of Death have always been a bane of mine, what with Tartarus thinking he's so clever, cloaking them in his magic." He wavered, his eyes going a bit distant. "It would be good to know, if I, Chaos forbid, ever found myself down there." His gaze snapped back to Kronos. "What are these things you wish for?"

"If I cannot have your allegiance, I would at least like a promise that you will never side against my reign," Kronos said smoothly. "I don't want to find myself waging a war against you, not now, and not ever."

"You have my allegiance," Pontus replied almost immediately. "While I will not swear an oath that puts me in this boy's shoes-" he gestured at Percy, who glowered in annoyance, "-I do swear upon Chaos and Styx that I will support your reign so long as you never seek to hurt me, my children, or my domain in any way. Is that good enough?"

Kronos considered the oath, cocking his head to the side, his gaze lidded in concentration. "...Yes," he hummed after a moment. "-and thank you."

Pontus inclined his head slightly, before continuing on: "And what of your other requests?"

Kronos made a soft noise in the back of his throat, like he was still slightly surprised that Pontus was being so agreeable. "Well-" he reached toward Percy, gripping his shoulder. "I've gifted my husband with Titanhood, but his domain exercises no control over the sea. I'd very much so appreciate it if you could bless him, now that his father holds no sway in Atlantis."

Frowning, Percy side-eyed Kronos, his lips pursing slightly. He wanted to argue that he didn't need some random Primordial's blessing, and he was already plenty fine with what he'd inherited from his father, but a sharp look from Kronos had Percy swallowing down all of those remarks, and he settled for staring at his shoes and wondering when he'd become such a fucking pushover.

Regardless, he could feel Pontus' eyes boring into him. "He's already quite powerful," Pontus mused, stepping forward, his bare feet shuffling through the sand. "I suspect he's capable of more than you realize, Kronos."

Kronos' eye twitched, his knuckles turning a bit white. "So you won't-"

"Oh, I will," Pontus cut him off, and Percy glanced up as the older took his hand. "-I'm just warning you that it might be a bad idea. With my blessing... I imagine he could boil the ocean if he so desired."

"Then don't give him your full blessing," Kronos replied. "Just enough such that the new domain exists. That is all I request."

"Fine." Pontus' grip tightened on Percy's hand, and he stooped forward, peering into the younger's eyes. "You must need him a great deal, to ask this of me," he muttered grudgingly as he pressed his hand to Percy's forehead.

Kronos said nothing, merely watched on with those all too-knowing golden eyes as Percy felt new power flood through his veins. After another moment, Pontus nodded, pulling away. "It is done."

"Thank you." Kronos inclined his head, reaching forward to push Percy into a bow when the other appeared not to be going to. Once he had risen back up to his full height, he squared his shoulders. "I swear on Chaos and Styx to provide you with all of the information I promised, once I see for myself that it is true."

Pontus shrugged. "Fair enough. I expect to see you in no more than half a year, young one."

Kronos bristled at that, and Percy set his mouth in a straight line, trying not to laugh.

"...Of course. I wish you good health," he reached forward to shake Pontus' hand, and the other obliged. "Until then."

"Until then," Pontus repeated, before letting his hand drop away.

Percy felt Kronos wrap his hand around his waist, and as quickly as they'd arrived, they were all of a sudden back at Olympus, standing in the gardens just in front of the main palace. Quickly stepping out of Kronos' reach, Percy glared, his hands curling into fists. "What was that? What are you doing?"

"It was a gift," Kronos said slowly, taking a few steps toward Percy, his eyes locked on the other's as he closed the distance between them.

"A gift," Percy drawled. "Are you trying to buy me, Kronos? You think if you give me gifts, I'll accept what- whatever this-" he gestured back and forth between himself and the Titan King, "-is?!"

Kronos' brow creased, and he spread his arms, before schooling his face back into indifference. "You're my husband now, Perseus, whether you like it or not. And, as such, you can expect me to treat you well." He strode forward, and reached a hand out, gently cupping Percy's cheek. "I hope that, even if you loath me, you can understand that, at least."

Percy ground his teeth, casting his eyes up to the sky above them. It was true night now, and the stars burned through the blackness. A twinge of pain seared through his bones- memories of people now gone, or changed- Zoe, Bob, Damasen.

At a loss for words, he turned away, pushing Kronos' hand aside as he stalked past him, headed back to the throne room. He could hear Kronos walking a few paces behind him, his footfalls echoing lightly on the marble floor.

There were a few things Percy knew for certain: Kronos was a master manipulator. He'd been at this for millennia, and was much more experienced than the Olympians could ever hope to be. If he were so moved, he could have Percy on his knees or in his bed with but a thought. He was entirely at Kronos' mercy.

Percy knew that his own emotions stemmed from this, coupled with Eros apparently having the time of his life stringing both the Titan King and himself together. He knew that Kronos was evil, had seen him chop Zeus to pieces, had seen him torture Nico, had seen him when they fought a month ago, seen the glint of malice in his eyes.

He also knew that Kronos was trying to make up for all that now. By allowing him to see his mother and stepfather and sister. By allowing Nico to stay with him. By giving Percy gifts that demigods could only dream of. Percy knew all of this, was entirely aware of it, but could not for the life of him understand just exactly what Kronos was trying to accomplish.

They rounded the last corner, turning into the throne room. It was much more crowded than before, and almost immediately Percy darted away from Kronos, making a beeline for his mother and Nico at the far end of the room.

"Mom," he greeted upon reaching them, giving her a quick hug before snatching a glass of nectar off a tray as a server bustled by.

"Oh, Percy, darling," Sally exclaimed, hugging him back in surprise. "Where did he drag you off to? I've been worried sick!"

"Does it have anything to do with why your aura is twice as big now?" Nico asked innocently, taking a sip of his drink as Percy shot him a warning look.

"Uh," Percy began, fumbling with his words. "Nothing. Nowhere. It's fine. Anyway-" he hurried on, cutting off both his mom and Nico as they both opened their mouths to call him out on his bullshit, "Nico, Kronos is planning to invade the Underworld next week, I don't know anything else, but-"

"Perseus," a voice from behind him cut him off, and Percy stiffened as the Titan King slung an arm over his shoulder, his fingers digging into his skin harshly enough to bruise. "I do hope you were merely informing Nico about the expedition, and not... Something else?"

"Like I could be doing anything else," Percy retorted, agitatedly crossing his arms. "Nico went into Tartarus by himself, before I did, and found the Doors in half the time it took me and Annabeth," the demigod-turned-Titan smirked at the irritation that flashed across Kronos' face at the mention of Annabeth's name. "-His information could help to... Limit causalities," Percy finished carefully, making meaningful eye-contact with Nico.

Kronos looked a bit annoyed. "...On all fronts, you mean." He scowled, narrowing his eyes. "I suppose you want that wretch Persephone and that nuisance Thanatos to be captured alive?"

In front of them, Nico snickered into his cup, his lips quirking up. Kronos arched a brow at him, and Nico took a sip, before calmly saying: "You're a fool if you think you can capture Thanatos. Persephone, yeah, you probably could. But Thanatos? He's a Primordial, with an aura strong enough to knock my dad out for a few days." Nico shook his head, muttering something that sounded like: "Delusional."

With a dark expression, Kronos took a step toward Nico, pointing his finger at the unimpressed son of Hades, who simply took an indifferent sip of his drink. "Mind yourself," he warned, his voice low enough to be a growl.

After a moment, Kronos stepped back away from the now-silent Nico, his attention flicking over to Sally, who was standing there with a very obviously fake smile plastered across her face, gripping her wine glass like it was a weapon. Kronos' gold eyes flickered as his gaze bored into her, before his lips tugged upwards in a sideways sneer. "You're the woman my son seduced. How quaint."

Sally's gaze lidded, her smile a touch shy of a grimace. "And you're the man who ate him. How lovely."

Percy's eyes bulged, and he hurriedly stepped in between a now-fuming Kronos and his mother, who had seemingly lost her mind. "Uh," he stammered, trying to block his mom from the Titan King's irate gaze. "My mom is drunk."

Kronos clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked, before heaving a sigh, his shoulders drooping. "I can see where Perseus gets his wit from," he said mildly as he craned his neck slightly so he could see Sally, rather than blasting into his divine form and roasting everybody in the room, like Percy thought was going to happen.

Sally took a sip of her wine before responding. "Absolutely right." She reached forward, pulling Percy toward her slightly. "I may be just a pesky mortal in your eyes, Kronos, but you should know that my rage at this situation is no small thing." Her eyes flashed angrily, and Percy swallowed, looking nervously over at Kronos.

Surprisingly, the Titan King looked unbothered. "How interesting that my mother-in-law is so young," he mumbled, half to himself. "Why, my last mother-in-law was also my own mother." He shook his head. "I must say, I suppose that I prefer this to that."

Percy frowned. "Wait- I just realized-" he turned his attention to Kronos, his fear and anger evaporating into confusion. "-how are you marrying me when you're already married?"

The atmosphere darkened, and around them, a few Titans glanced over nervously as Kronos' bitter aura seeped toward them. "My marriage to that miserable bitch Rhea ended the very second the idea of betraying me sprung to life in her mind," Kronos spat, his golden eyes flickering with ancient wrath. He rounded on Percy, taking a few steps toward him so their eyes were locked. "Any more questions, Perseus?"

"No. Not one," Percy replied, holding his hands up in relent, his voice anxious as his gaze flicked from Kronos to the Titans inching away from them. "Not a one."

Kronos held his gaze for a second more, before taking a step away, the fire burning in his eyes dimming. "Very well. Anyhow," he reached forward, gripping Percy's wrist and tugging him away. "The ceremony traditionally closes with a dance. The sooner we get it over with the sooner we can go to bed."

Percy blanched at how casually Kronos had said that, tripping over his feet as Kronos continued to tug him forward. Rather than replying to the bed comment, though, Percy said, probably much louder than necessary: "I don't know how to dance and the last time I tried I was attacked by a manticore and I got stung."

Kronos came to a quick stop, turning around to stare at Percy. "I'm sorry, what?"

Percy opened his mouth to give a better explanation of- whatever he had just said, when Kronos held up a hand, shaking his head in a mixture of disbelief and disdain. "You know what, never mind. Here-" he reached forward, smoothing Percy's hair back from his forehead and gently resting his hand there, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

"What are you doing?" Percy asked after a beat, his voice tense.

"Teaching you how to do this damn dance so you don't trip and embarrass yourself," Kronos supplied, letting his hand drop back down. "-because, if you do, believe me when I say that Hyperion and Krios will not let you forget it for at least several millennia."

Percy ground his teeth together, annoyed. "I hate them."

Rolling his eyes widely, Kronos offered his hands to Percy, his eyes lidded. "You'll get used to them. Now, take my hands."

Doing as he was asked, Percy hesitantly slipped his hands into the Titan King's grasp, allowing himself to be tugged forward to the center of the room. Around them, the crowds of Titans and other deities stood in a wide circle, their eyes boring into Percy and Kronos.

Percy swallowed stiffly under the scrutiny, his wide eyes flashing up to meet Kronos', before skittering away.

Once the chattering in the room had stopped, Kronos clapped his hands twice. Immediately, music began to play- up in the rafters, wafting down to Percy's ears as if strung along by a breeze. He recognized a few of the instruments- a lyre, a cithara- something else that sounded vaguely familiar, something he couldn't quite place; it was ancient music, neither slow nor fast, with an irregular, lilting rhythm that left Percy dizzy. He was suddenly very aware of Kronos- of the other's golden eyes, and dark hair and olive skin and cream-colored chiton. Little details kept popping up in Percy's head- the little freckle at the base of Kronos' throat. The wine-colored tint of his lips. The fact that Kronos was actually probably only four inches taller than him and not six.

The music swelled suddenly, and Percy's body was moving on its own- he took two steps forward and Kronos did the same, such that they were standing with only the barest suggestion of space between them. Already, the dance felt too sensual, too intimate, and Percy's jaw tightened as he wished to be literally anywhere but there. Tartarus, he would rather be back in that cursed private school upstate, at the Winter formal where he'd first met Bianca and Nico and gotten stung by that damned manticore. He'd rather be an awkward, too-small, dim-witted thirteen-year-old boy again, not here, with his body moving of its own volition, with Kronos' hand pressed against the small of his back, with their eyes locked and their lips too close for comfort.

The dance was a slow, calculated thing. Each step weighed heavily on Percy, and he swallowed thickly as one of his hands lifted up to press against Kronos', such that their hands were clasped in the air between them. He was sure that the motions told a story, something ancient and romantic and most assuredly tragic, since the dance was Greek, but everything was going over his head. He found himself thinking about Annabeth, and how she probably knew what this dance was called, probably knew the story behind it, and would probably make fun of him for asking. He could hear her: 'you'd better not want to do this at our wedding, Seaweed Brain. It's not happening.' Suddenly, he was back at that Winter formal, and he and Annabeth were awkwardly dancing, one foot forward, one foot back, and he was tripping over her feet, and he was staring at her because he was just realizing how beautiful she was and suddenly he was aware that he might like her and all of those emotions were shooting through his brain and churning in his stomach and fuck he missed when his biggest problems were puberty and how pretty Annabeth looked with her hair down and the moon shining in on her face.

Percy tightened his grip on Kronos' hand, trying to school his face into indifference as the dance continued, Kronos dipping him low enough that he could see his mother and Nico just behind Koios and Lelantos. His gaze locked with his mom's for a beat, and he tried for a reassuring smile, but the dance had already carried on and he and Kronos were again pressed together, the older's hands digging into the fabric of Percy's chiton in a way that would've sent a shiver down his spine had his body not been moving on its own.

And then, finally, the music stopped, and Percy's body was his own again. He stumbled slightly as he disentangled himself from Kronos, all but launching himself away as all around them the Titans roared with approval.

"Good job," Kronos called out to him over the noise, his eyes crinkling in perhaps the most content expression Percy had seen on the other's face.

Not knowing what else to say, Percy shrugged awkwardly, muttering out a stiff: "Thanks."

Kronos then held out his hand, and Percy took it, wanting to just get what he knew was coming next over with, rather than drag it out. The crowd parted as the Titan King led Percy to the main doors and out into the hallway, before following along behind them in a rambunctious, rowdy mess. Somebody, probably Perses, called out in a sing-song voice: "To the extremely happy couple!" and the crowd began to whoop and cheer. Percy ground his teeth, hoping Nico had the common sense to lead his mother back to the elevator, and that they weren't caught up in the mess of a parade trooping along behind them.

They turned a few more corners, and suddenly they were in a part of the castle that Percy had never seen. The rooms here were beyond grand, with intricate paintings and frescoes lining the walls and ceilings, the gold-studded doors thrown open to reveal lavishly decorated chambers. At the end of the hallway, they came to a stop, and Kronos glanced back, a tired grin on his face. "The part of gamos which can be celebrated with family is over, my friends," he called back to the crowd behind him. "I thank you all, deeply and sincerely, for celebrating with both myself and my husband." Another cheer went up over the crowd, and Kronos' expression softened. "I look forward to celebrating epaulia with you all tomorrow. Until then, good dreams." He inclined his head slightly toward the crowd, and Percy, feeling awkward at the thought of just standing there, did the same. And then, Kronos took his hand and pulled him into the chamber, shutting and locking the door to shut out the collective 'oooh' that went up outside.

Kronos' personal chambers were massive. They were the most extravagant, most luxurious rooms Percy had ever laid eyes on in his short twenty years. He could've spent an hour just standing there, taking in the vaulted ceiling, and the golden chandelier, and the furniture carved of rose-tinted ebony wood, and the display case filled with the most beautiful swords Percy had ever seen.

The spell, however, was broken when Kronos stepped past him, walking over to the bed on the far side of the room. It was a giant bed- big enough to probably comfortably fit five fully grown men, with a large canopy sweeping down around it. Kronos tiredly flicked his wrist, and the curtains parted with a satisfying swish of fabric, before he all but collapsed onto the mattress with a huff, burying his face in a pillow.

Percy wavered by the door, unsure of what to do. His hand rose up to the hilt of his sword as Kronos shifted up into a sitting position to tug off his sandals.

"I'm exhausted," the Titan King huffed as he unceremoniously dropped one of his sandals onto the floor with a clatter. "I don't understand how my children were able to have parties like that weekly."

Percy didn't offer a reply, quickly letting his hand fall away from his sword as Kronos turned his gaze to glance over to him.

"What are you doing, just standing there?" The Titan frowned, his eyes squinted slightly as he reached up to unclasp his chlamys.

Taking in a deep breath, Percy crossed his arms. "If you're going to order me to have sex with you, could you just get it over with?"

Suddenly alert, Kronos' fingers dropped away from the chlamys' clasp, his golden eyes boring into Percy's. "What are you talking about, Perseus?" He asked in a low voice, his expression guarded.

Scowling, Percy took a few steps forward. "Iapetus told me, Kronos. So, if you're going to fuck me, I really want to get it over with."

Kronos rose sharply to his feet, and Percy swallowed stiffly as the other drew closer, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Tell me, Perseus," the other breathed once he was just a few feet away. "-what gave you the idea that I would take you against your will?"

The question stumped Percy for a moment, and he opened his mouth to reply, but Kronos cut him off, looking almost offended. "Rape is a deeply contemptible offense among Titans, Perseus. I don't think you understand how despicable I view it to be."

"I thought we had to consummate the marriage, though," Percy breathed, still trying to process his good luck.

Kronos nodded in agreement. "And we will, at some point. But that will not be tonight."

Percy frowned, his eyes darting up to meet Kronos'. "But-"

The other surged forward, pressing Percy up against the wall behind them. He had one hand braced against the door, and the other tilting up Percy's chin so they were making firm eye contact. "Percy," he breathed, and Percy shivered at hearing Kronos say that and not 'Perseus', "-I know quite well that you are attracted to me, no matter how much you hate yourself for it, no matter how much you try to hide it." He hesitated, waiting for the other to deny the accusations, his lips quirking up when Percy made no move to. "As such, I have no doubt that, at some point, we will wind up in bed together. That point, however, will come only after you ask. It will only come," Kronos hummed, leaning forward to whisper in Percy's ear. "-after months of you begging for it." His hands trailed to Percy's waist, and he pulled the other flush against him, digging his fingers into Percy's skin. "After months of you pleading with me to touch you-" his hands pulled up Percy's chiton, and he gripped the other's legs, pulling them up so he was holding Percy up against the wall "-after months of you throwing yourself at me." His voice was husky in Percy's ear, and the younger ducked his head against Kronos' shoulder to hide his flushed face.

After a tense moment, Percy's breath caught in his throat, and his hands darted down, settling atop Kronos' for a second too long, before pushing them away. "It's not going to happen," he gritted out.

Kronos simply responded by ghosting his lips against Percy's neck, causing the other's whole body to tense up. The Titan King chuckled against Percy's skin, and Percy could feel him smirking.

"I give it two months," Kronos hummed.

"And I give it two millennia," Percy spat, wrenching himself out of Kronos' grasp, his feet hitting the ground harshly.

Kronos' grin widened. "So you admit that it will happen?"

Percy blanched, before jerking his face away, bending down to yank off his sandals. "Shut up."

Kronos only laughed, watching in amusement as Percy trudged over to the bed, curling up as far as he possibly could from the Titan's side.

"You know," Kronos drawled, and Percy could hear his slow, deliberate footfalls as he approached the bed. "-If I were my son, Zeus, you would've found yourself in my bed the night you lost the war."

Percy stiffened, but said nothing. Rather, he busied himself with unclasping his cape and tugging it over himself like a blanket. Behind him, he felt the bed dip as Kronos sat down.

"Or," the Titan King hummed thoughtfully. "Even if I had been Poseidon. He took many against their will, as well."

Furious, Percy rounded on Kronos. "He didn't-"

"Oh, but he did," Kronos cut him off, his eyes flashing. "Caeneus, the great warrior of Thessaly. Demeter, in the form of a horse. Medusa, upon the floor of Athena's temple. He raped them all."

Percy stiffened as he felt Kronos' hand on his shoulder.

"Something which," Kronos breathed, "-I will never do to you."

"Am I supposed to say thank you or something?" Percy mumbled after a beat, shrugging away from Kronos' hand. "'Cause I generally don't thank people for doing the bare minimum."

"...Say what you will," Kronos replied after a long moment of silence. "So long as you don't compare me to my children. I am not Zeus, Perseus, and I do not intend to rule like he did."

With that, Kronos pulled away, drawing the covers up over him and slumping down onto his pillow on the opposite side of the bed. Hesitantly, Percy glanced over his shoulder, staring for a beat at Kronos, whose eyes were closed, his brow slightly furrowed, and his black curly hair spilling out over the fine cloth pillowcase beneath his head. And then, Percy averted his gaze, worried Kronos would open his eyes and catch him staring. He flicked his eyes shut, flashing away his sword and chiton, replacing it with night clothes, and bundled up beneath the blankets. He fell asleep staring at one of the paintings on the far wall, an ancient rendition of Othrys stretching up into a cloudless sky.

~*~