Keeping the pressure high enough to make sure she couldn't move but not too much so she could speak, her spoke in a low, icy voice.
"Tell me goddess, why are you here, truly? What could possibly drive you to come alone, almost begging for my help when you know you don't even deserve my help?"
...
Annabeth steadily looked at him, a new wetness in her eyes that he could tell weren't faked as she gingerly moved slightly under his foot before trying to slowly reach into her shirt. Seeing that he lowered his foot just enough and watched closely as she reached into her shirt before bringing out a small golden locket, disconnecting it from a small chain, and tentatively offering it to him.
Silence lasted between them for nearly a minute as Percy weighed his options, his sword at the ready in his right hand while his left remained open, icy claws also at the ready. Then, internally sighing, he slowly took the locket and glancing at the goddess again before opening it.
Inside was a single picture of two blondes that could have been mistaken for twins save for the eyes and ages, one being an adult and steely grey eyes while the other was a toddler with greyish blue eyes. The happy smiles and the background of a park behind them completed the scene of mother and daughter spending time together.
"I came for family," Annabeth said softly as she slowly sat up after had removed his foot, being more focused on the picture presented to him. Seeing as he had calmed if only barely, she continued on. "I need to speak to the council because I want my siblings spared. Most are only fighting because they want mother back but also because they're unsure what else to possibly do and are too scared of the Olympians."
"We get prayers so there is no need for you to come personally and my offer from before still stands for them," he replied as he took his eyes of the picture to look at her.
"And they aren't so quick to trust. Me coming here and then returning ads credit to your offer. Even if it was a risk to me, I rather take the chance with myself if it saves my family from pointless death," Annabeth countered with more energy to her before lowering her gaze for a moment before looking at him. "And there is another, more personal reason for me seeing you directly."
Percy felt a knot form in his gut as he saw the way she was looking at him. He just knew whatever that was, he was probably going to come close to going ballistic again and with the goddess being the only target in current range, and that was a possibility best avoided. Still, taking a steadying breathe he gave a small nod for her to continue. She nervously squirmed under his gaze for a while, the atmosphere becoming tenser all the while until she finally spoke in a small voice.
"I need you to help in keeping her safe," she started only for Percy to interrupt.
"Why? She's only a godling so she shouldn't even be close to any battlefields."
"Maybe so but …" Annabeth trailed off for a moment before steeling herself as she met his gaze. "With this war, I'd rather not take the risk so I decided to ask for the help of the one person that could keep her safe, you."
"And why me?" he asked, that feeling of dread growing.
"Because … you're her godfather …"
Shocked disbelief looked on at steely, honest grey eyes. His jaw felt almost unhinged as he looked incredulously at the goddess. Did he hear her right? Did she truly just tell him that he was the godfather of the child born from the affair that began the true breaking of his loyalty and trust? He wasn't petty enough to hate the kid considering she was innocent of any happenings between them but that still didn't mean that he wanted to really even know her, but this?
"W-what?" he asked, his fists clenching as a miasma of darkness started to radiate around him.
"That you're her godfa-ah!?"
She was cut off as an unholy amount of pressure and power bore down on her, the ground beneath her and Percy starting to crack as pebbles began to float around the enraged primordial to the point his wings also materialized. His entire demeanor became frigid as his eyes narrowed with rage at the sheer gall of the goddess before him.
Slowly he raised his hand and by his will, the shadows writhed around before forming tendrils around Annabeth with points and edges sharp enough to cut even drakons to shreds and each one was pointed at the immobile goddess.
He looked down at her with a blank face, only his narrowed eyes even hinting at the rage underneath even as she looked at him with actual fear and tears in her eyes. His anger was a veritable tempest mixed with confusion as well, constantly questioning this situation and how he would proceed.
Why was his question above all? Why him of so many others, especially when he was practically dead to Olympus less than six months ago and yet here he was, just learning that he apparently had a goddaughter born to the woman who claimed his heart first only to break it. But he couldn't bring himself to ask, not right now at least.
He knew there had to be more to this, Annabeth was not someone who acted on mere whims and he doubted naming him godfather was brought through a fit of nostalgia. There was more to this but at the moment he knew he was too angry from the surprise involved, too volatile to even consider a civil discussion at the moment.
So, with just a thought the shadowed blades slowly retreated as the pressure around them gradually lowered as the goddess nervously looked around her. Then her gaze turned to him, still holding some fear even as a pang of hope showed through, possibly thinking that he was coming to accept his apparent role. Sadly for her, he couldn't be farther from accepting at the moment and honestly, seeing her so hopeful about it only angered him more.
"Per—"
"Silence," he growled out, the pressure returning with a vengeance for all of a second but it was enough to freeze the goddess.
Taking another breathe as he slowly sheathed away Purgatory, he looked down at the goddess again with indifference. Then, with a sharp whistle, three shadows condensed around them before three hummer sized, obsidian black wolves with clear blue eyes stalked out, their growls thrumming through the very earth as their teeth laid bare to the goddess.
"I'll humor you goddess and let you pass on. They will escort you to the mountain and you shall speak before the council then," he said in a clipped tone before turning his back. "You had better have a good reason for choosing me, otherwise I might not even be your biggest concern."
With his part said, he stepped away without a backward glance. He couldn't look at her or so much as be in her presence any more, not when he was like this. There were few people that were safe around him in such times and so, with another step he was swallowed in darkness. The shadows and void swirled around him for all of two seconds before he stepped out again, this time in a familiar room, at the foot of a king sized bed.
Within the silky black sheets two beauties stirred at his presence, one pair of crimson flame eyes and another of gold with hints of emerald looked at him in clear worry, probably after having felt his momentary lapse in control. Just seeing them and their concern for him worked to steady him, his claws reverting to nail and his fangs receding to their shorter size as the darkness calmed around him.
Without a word they sat up as he stepped closer, his blades and most of his clothes save for his boxers disappearing in a burst of shadow. None of them spoke, there was simply no need for it now. Their trust and understanding of each other communicated all that was needed between them.
As he set one knee on the bed Rhea came closer before giving him a soft kiss full of warmth and reassurance, easily dousing the earlier torrents of rage clawing at his mind. His body relaxed against her, relishing in her presence before she pulled back only for Hestia to take her place. Another warm and gentle kiss, this time while pulling him farther onto the bed was dealt out as the last of his anger seemingly melted away.
He sighed, feeling so tired all of a sudden as he slumped down into the bed, Rhea and Hestia each soon taking their claimed spots at his sides clutching at him like a big plushy.
Smiling tenderly at them, he was about to move to give them their kisses goodnight but was interrupted when their door slowly opened. All three looked to see Andromeda having come to join them, dressed in one of Percy's shirts and panties as opposed to his queens with their nightgowns.
Silently she closed the door and joined them, crawling onto him until she could give him a kiss as well before shuffling down just enough so that her head rested on his chest while Rhea and Hestia took his shoulders. He smiled down at all three of his wives as he willed the light to dim, leaving them in soothing darkness as his wings curled around all three of them.
Tonight he would simply spend his time and focus on them and in the next few days he would face that goddess again…
===================
Don't forget to throw some power Stones, to keep the story going.
...
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