Bab 201: Falling For You by 1967HogwartsGoddess (Percy Jackson)
Summary: In an alternate series of events, Percy saves Annabeth from falling into Tartarus. Too bad he can't save himself. As Annabeth leads the Seven on a treacherous quest to meet him at the Doors of Death, Percy fights through a wasteland of pain, torture and difficult choices. Surrounded by monsters, alone in the darkest corner of the underworld, he starts to question whether he's a good kid anymore.
Final chapter is an AU following on from chapter 66.
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26200348/chapters/63760795
Word count:269,696(COMPLETE)
Chapters:69
Chapter 1
Annabeth I
For Annabeth, nothing was more satisfying than watching a giant spider fall down a pit.
Whole chunks of the floor had just caved in around them. The assembled group watched, grimly interested, as the hulk of Arachne flew down into the black and empty space, of Tartarus below. Hazel was dabbing at a wound on her arm, Frank watching closely with worry. But out of all of them, it was Annabeth especially who breathed a sigh of relief.
No more spiders.
Thank the Gods.
And they had the Athena Parthenon, finally in their grasp. They could unite the camps, stop at least one of the brewing wars that threatened them. Annabeth was actually surprised that things had gone so smoothly, excluding her broken ankle, but she just dismissed that.
She had taken some ambrosia, warming her up from the inside with the taste of the Jackson's blue chocolate chip pancakes, but it still twinged, despite her makeshift cast. Turned out bubble wrap didn't work as well as she had hoped for supporting broken bones.
The area around them was a wreck. Cracks crept up the grey walls, parts of the ceiling completely missing, revealing the Argo II hovering above against the blue sky. The brightly coloured tapestries around them were torn and some were quietly burning. Annabeth's gaze wandered amongst them, frowning as she saw Percy in quite a few of them, a tsunami at his back in one, a strange sword in his hand in another, burning green eyes trained on her from every viewpoint. It was slightly unsettling. The remaining floor had spiderweb cracks covering every inch, and Jason seemed to be hovering slightly, the tips of his trainers barely grazing, uneasy of the fragile surface. Percy stood next to her, his calloused hand holding her own. He was also watching the giant spider plummet, glancing back at her occasionally. Each time he did, she fell a little further for him.
She watched the way his cheek creased when he smiled out the corner of his eye at her, which made his irises swirl with humour, and Annabeth couldn't help but reciprocate, squeezing his hand. She'd gone too long without him.
She surveyed the rest of the group as they began to walk to the ship; they seemed fine, just a little tired, only a few of them in their armour. They'd been in a rush. Piper had her cornucopia swung victoriously over one shoulder and Jason's hand tightly in her own. Frank and Hazel were walking closely together too. A spike of pain shot up her ankle, and she shook her head to try and clear her mind. She probably needed medical attention, to actually set the bone right, and she filed it away in her mind under 'Things to Do Later'. She glanced up into the sky, or more importantly, the huge floating blob in the middle of it. The giant doors of the ship closed around the imposing statue; the Athena Parthenon was loaded up and ready to go on the Argo II, courtesy of Nico and Leo.
As much as she wanted to keep watching Arachne fall, Annabeth knew she had to tear her eyes away, and turned to walk back to the ship.
Around her, coils of spider silk span round and round madly in their piles, disappearing down into the pit as if being sucked into a massive hoover.
A sharp pain shot up her bad leg again, and she gasped, stumbling slightly.
"What is it?" Percy glanced around from where he was walking slightly in front of her, his expression concerned.
"Nothing." Annabeth said, but it came out as more of a question.
She tried to stagger toward the ladder, but felt a resistance. Why-?
There was a jolt, and suddenly she was staggering backwards at an alarming rate. Her pace got quicker, almost running. Unable to stay upright any longer, Annabeth's head blared with alarm as her legs yanked out from under her. She yelped as she fell on her front, pausing briefly.
"Her ankle!" Hazel shouted from the ladder. "Cut it! Cut it!"
Annabeth's mind was woolly from the pain. Cut her ankle?
Apparently, Percy didn't realise what Hazel meant either, judging by his twin look of both panic and confusion.
There was another strong tug backwards.
Then something began to drag her toward the pit.
Annabeth scrabbled on the floor for a hand hold, digging in her nails like claws, sliding rapidly backwards, panting in pain and panic. She left scratches in the floorboards, friction burning her fingertips.
It was like it was in slow motion; everyone had turned to watch in terror, frozen at the sight.
Everyone except Percy.
An inch before she would have been dragged off of the edge, Percy had desperately snapped into action and sprinted towards her, diving forwards at the last second.
She saw a flash of bronze, Riptide automatically in his hand and he slashed through the thick webbing. The pulling ceased, and Annabeth clung to the floor, her heart pounding wildly. Next to her, she watched in horror as Percy fell on the ground with a hard thump, Riptide flying out his hand across the ground, and her eyes widened as she saw the arm Percy that had flung out to catch himself seemed to bend in what was decidedly the wrong angle. A crude snap filled her blood with ice.
But his momentum was too difficult to stop.
As Annabeth hung on to the frightening edge, legs close to dangling in the black abyss, Percy tumbled over it.
Annabeth heard distant screaming before realising a second later it was her own.
"Percy!" she screamed, almost involuntarily.
She scrambled wildly to turn around, her head dangling over to see. Everyone had already begun to run forwards to try and help both of them, and they caught up seconds later, hands on Annabeth's shoulders just in time to stop her leaning body from falling in too. Their hearts stopped at the horrifying sight below them.
Percy was far down into the pit, too far away, clinging by his raw fingertips to a small ledge. Annabeth choked a sob as she saw the unnatural way the skin on his arm poked out, clearly broken and causing the heavy pained pants she could hear rising up. She stretched her arms fruitlessly towards him and darted her head about, searching desperately for some way to get to him.
Even from her relatively secure position above, she could feel the unnatural gravity from Tartarus, dust from the stones around them being sucked over the precipice like a black hole. How Percy could hold on, she had no idea.
He was clearly having trouble- his broken arm was locked painfully, his face shadowed, shaking and gasping as he supported his full weight. His legs scrabbled madly against the walls, trying to gain leverage. But the once rugged stone was now smooth, like black glass.
Tartarus wanted Percy.
"Percy!" Annabeth shouted down to him.
"Annabeth." Percy grunted loudly, face purple with pain and exertion.
Annabeth wracked her brain, come on, come on- she was supposed to be smart, wisdom and logic, a daughter of Athena, dammit-
A rumble echoed up from the void making them all flinch. A snarl and a dark laugh mixed together. Percy shuddered with fatigue. And Annabeth's heart broke.
"Percy, just hold on, just please hold on-"
She was begging, hot tears sliding down her cheeks and dripping off her nose into the darkness. Was there any more silk they could use as a ladder? She looked about madly, cursing again and again. It had all fallen down the hole. Next to her, Nico also leaned over the edge of the chasm, thrusting out his hand, but he was much too far away to help.
Her breathing was fast and erratic.
Percy tilted his head upwards with what seemed like a lot of effort, and she realised that it was all he could do not to black out. His face was gaunt, scraped and bloody, his hair dusted with cobwebs, but when he locked eyes with her, she thought he had never looked more handsome.
"Annabeth!" he yelled and painfully redid his shaky hold "Nico."
His voice came out louder and stronger and she gulped down her sobs to listen. Nico leant his head over. His face was filled with a childlike fear Annabeth had never seen before.
"The Doors of Death!" Percy shouted to them.
Nico's eyes widened, and Annabeth began to shake her head from side to side in denial.
"Per-!" Nico started.
"I'll meet you there! I'll cut the chains!" Percy continued, his voice getting weaker, trailing off.
She saw his broken arm start to tremble, and he withdrew it towards himself, tucking it to his torso with a soft groan, as if he was trying to keep it attached to him. But now he was only supported by one stretched and desperately shaking arm, knuckles stark white and sticking out. He didn't have long. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Get them to the Doors, Nico. Promise me!"
"Per-"
"You have to promise me!" Percy yelled determinedly, his voice cracking. Nico nodded, tears of his own also falling, his hand still outstretched as if he had forgotten it was there, hanging in the dead air.
"I promise." he whispered, not that much louder than the hissing from the pit.
Percy nodded jerkily, his face tight.
Annabeth still had a cold hand extended towards him.
"Percy." she stuttered, not fully coherent.
"I love you Annabeth. I'll come back. I'll find you again, no matter what. I promise." Percy gasped the last part out, legs still weakly kicking.
Annabeth's breath hitched.
"I love you too, Seaweed Brain." she sobbed. An oath to keep with a final breath- this had to be part of the prophecy.
Percy tried to smile reassuringly, even as he relaxed his wrenched fingers, and they slipped off the ledge. She heard Nico and Hazel still screaming for help. She saw his glinting eyes far, far below, helplessly aware that this could be the last time she would ever see them.
He made no sound as he fell.
Tartarus. Not even the Gods went down there. And Percy was alone.
She couldn't help it. She broke down into heart wrenching sobs as he disappeared into the black, hunching herself over as a howl of rage tore out of her. Part of the floor broke away on the other side of the void, the room starting to shake. A trembling hand entered her blurry vision, and patted her heaving shoulders. She saw blonde hair through her tears. It was Jason.
"Annabeth-" he started, still staring blankly at the abyss. He appeared to be struggling for words, and Annabeth felt like scoffing. Of course he was. What do you say to someone who just saw someone they love fall into literal hell? Annabeth wouldn't know what to say either. She didn't even know what to say now.
She started crying with more vigour, unable and unwilling to hold it in anymore. She heard Jason try again, his voice wobbling.
"Annabeth it, it isn't safe. The floor- we, we need to go."
Annabeth could hear the sense, could hear the logic, but shook her head. She couldn't leave Percy. He could still come back. She couldn't leave him.
"Oh Gods." breathed another voice, Piper.
Annabeth looked up shakily through spiky eyelashes. She followed a pointed finger towards the floor and inhaled sharply.
Riptide.
Percy's sword. It should have reappeared by now. The magic must not work in Tartarus. He would have needed to have fallen with it on him. It couldn't transport over the domains. A tear dropped out of her eye straight onto the dirty floor.
Percy was unarmed.
Alone. Injured. Falling.
Into Tartarus.
Hazel and Jason had to help her to her feet. Normally, she would push them off, do it herself, but Annabeth felt as if she had just reached her breaking point. She'd just got him back, after eight months of searching, she'd had him in her arms. She could still feel the ghost of his hands in hers. And now he'd been taken from her again. She had reached the point that her head hurt from crying, and knew she was dehydrating herself, she knew it and she hated it. She couldn't turn her thoughts off, her brain reminding her of facts and figures, stuff she knew about the place.
She wished she didn't know a goddamn thing.
They practically carried her compliant body to the waiting ship.
Leo I
Leo shifted uncomfortably by the ladder. He darted forward and picked up Riptide. He would keep it safe for Percy, when he got back. If he got back. No, no. He would. Leo shook his head, still not quite comprehending what he had just seen; he couldn't believe it. Percy seemed like the type of guy who was polished, indestructible. He could make it through Tartarus. He was the son of Poseidon, for Hades' sake. Kid of one of the Big Three. That had to mean something.
He tried not to think about it. He couldn't help but feel guilty. Leo knew it was his fault. He should have gotten everyone safely on board the Argo II before he started securing the statue. He should have realised the cavern floor was unstable.
He stood back and watched as Jason used his air powers to support a crumpling Annabeth on the ladder. She looked devastated, and Leo truly felt sorry for her and Percy. Seeing how she was when she was searching for Percy the first time had been bad enough.
Nico followed her, refusing help with a death glare. It would have been effective if he wasn't crying too. Silent tears fell down his face, and he brushed them off roughly with his jacket sleeve. He looked a lot younger than he acted, and Leo felt a little of the animosity he felt for the son of Hades slip away.
Hazel nudged him; her eyes glassy. Leo snapped into action. He bypassed the ladder to reach his own private ladder, summoned by a device on his tool belt. More of the floor was cracking away- it was about to collapse, and the further they got away from a massive hole leading to certain death- Leo winced; not certain, he amended- the better.
Grabbing a Wii nun chuck, he jerked it upwards, getting the heavy ship away from the floor and away from the whole building. Frank and Piper came to stand by him. Both looked in shock, and sniffed occasionally, but otherwise remained silent, as they flew away. Until:
"Annabeth passed out." mumbled Hazel, stumbling through a doorway. "Nico's with her."
Leo wasn't surprised; she had looked dead on her feet from the moment they had seen her. Coach Hedge looked miserable. He kept pacing the deck with tears in his eyes, pulling at his goatee and slapping the side of his head, muttering, "I should have saved him! I should have blown up more stuff!"
He looked terrified at the thought of Tartarus.
Leo remembered Nico's words about Tartarus and the Doors. He had said that Gaea's minions were at their strongest in Tartarus and could reform extremely quickly after they were killed. He frowned. That would be a big problem, if Percy even survived the fall. Oh Gods, the fall. How would he break his fall? Wouldn't he just…splat? Leo winced. Maybe he'd create some water to guide himself down, landing at the bottom, preferably near the Doors. Nico had told them, that in order to reset the Doors of Death, so that monsters couldn't just come straight back, someone must physically go into Tartarus and cut the chains on that side, as well as their side. It had seemed impossible, and nobody had had any idea of where to even start. They hadn't even considered going down there. Nico said it was practically impossible as even he, a son of Hades, had barely survived Tartarus. None of the Gods, including Thanatos, the God of Death himself, would go there.
But now Percy was down there, facing the task.
Although he had huge respect for the guy, Leo couldn't shake the feeling that they wouldn't see Percy again. It bugged him from a little corner of his brain. It was Tartarus. The hell of hell, the pit of the pit, the deepest and darkest part of the Underworld, et cetera, et cetera. And he was still just a teenager, despite how powerful he was. Nico nearly went insane in Tartarus. He told him that time moved differently- there wasn't really a way to keep track. A day up here could be a week, a month, a year down there. He kept his depressing thoughts to himself though as more people came onto the deck a little while later.
Frank wrapped Hazel up in a bear hug and she burrowed into him. Piper rested her head on Leo's shoulder as he got them flying at a slightly quicker pace.
"Where are we going again?" he asked.
"Back to Camp Half Blood," Annabeth answered from the door. Everyone turned around as she stepped through. Her face was blotchy and her eyes were still wet, but she had that determined look back in her eyes. Leo thought that she could do with going back to sleep. "We need to get as much help as possible for the Doors of Death. And we need the Gods. Now we have the Parthenon, we can unite the camps." she continued.
"Won't we run out of time?" Leo said. "How long until Gaea is supposed to rise?"
"I don't know. Maybe a month? A couple weeks, max?" Annabeth rubbed her temples.
"Otis said Gaia would rise on August first." Jason stated. "So we have a month."
"We just have to form a truce between Romans and Greeks so that the Gods won't have their identity crisis anymore." said Annabeth, "They can help us find Percy and close the Doors of Death."
"Easy, then." Leo said dryly, trying to add some light to the day. No-one laughed. Typical. Though even he didn't feel like laughing. "Anyway," he added hastily "Where are these Doors of Death then?"
"Nico went looking for them, didn't he?" responded Piper. Hazel raised her head in the corner of Leo's eye, looking like large weights were clinging to her eyes.
"I know where they are." Hazel said. "They're chained down in the House of Hades. It's an underground temple in Epirus."
Leo blinked. "And where's that?" he whispered to Piper.
"Greece." Piper told him quietly.
Leo pulled a screen out from nowhere- it was always handy to have a spare screen for whatever use. He typed in the co-ordinates quickly, fingers tapping soothingly against the thick glass, or at least that was what Leo thought. It was probably annoying to the others. It loaded for a few seconds before results flashed up.
"From where we are now, Rome, to New York is about- yikes, seven thousand kilometres. That means, travelling at our current pace..." Leo tapped a few calculations out on the interactive glass. "We should arrive in just over a week."
"But then we've got to come back as well." Piper reminded. She was chewing on her lip.
"Double it- just under three weeks. Then add how long it takes to get from Rome to Epirus…"
More tapping.
"…add another day or so. Overall, it'll take us quite a bit of time to grab soldiers, get the Gods, and then fly back across the ocean to meet Percy at the Doors of Death."
"There's got to be a better way." Frank said, running his hands through his hair. Leo frowned. Why was he suddenly in charge? Gods, he missed Percy already. Annabeth turned to him with a glint in her grey eyes that Leo knew by now meant she wanted something from him.
"Okay," Leo held up his hands in surrender, "Theoretically, we could go faster. But we got some serious hits to the ship. I'll get to fixing it straight away, but I don't think we can suffer too many attacks without parts starting to break."
"We don't know long it will take Percy to reach the Doors." Hazel added sadly, looking like she was trying to remember everything Nico had told her
Annabeth bit her lip, torn. "I mean, I'd like to go straight to the Doors to get him. But logically, we'd better have the Gods on our side before rushing in there. We might get trapped or overrun, and we can't help him like that. The more people the better, even if there's only seven of us in this stupid prophecy."
Leo was slightly confused at everything going on, but threw everything aside to focus purely on the numbers and the mechanics. That's what he was here for, after all. They had to get back to Camp quickly. Okay. He could do that.
With a flick of a button, a side-step of a dance mat and a swish of a Wii remote, they shot back across Italy, heading for Camp Half Blood in silence.
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26200348/chapters/63760795
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Monsterb620
Monsterb620 This story has a cool idea where every chapter or so, they change POV’s. You can tell because whose POV because the chapter name is usually character then Roman numeral.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone