Percy Jackson : Gods Annihilation

"I miss him man," Jason said softly after a waitress came and took his order.

"Most of us do," Nico agreed with a sigh. "We searched for years but he just up and vanished."

"Yeah and remember about his family. Jeez, do you think he even knew about them dying?" Jason asked as he looked at his own hands.

"… Even his little sister disappeared … she never got a chance."

...

At the mention of Percy's sister, Nico had to suppress a flinch as guilt welled up within him. Like Thalia, none of the others had been told the truth of what happened for similar reasons.

They could all be put in danger if they knew and worse if they acted rashly about it.

The group was already split up as it was and that made them vulnerable. Nico had his duties in the Underworld, Thalia was surrounded by obedient hunters at Artemis' beck and call, Frank and Hazel had moved upstate to the border of Canada together, and Annabeth was mostly on Olympus but then again, she would probably be part of the threat rather than be in danger.

"I know its hard Jason," Nico said softly as he set his drink down. "But we will just have to carry on and hope that he returns someday."

"But how can you be sure that he's even alive?" Jason asked dejectedly.

Nico's only reply was a raised eyebrow, as if asking Jason if he was really asking him, a son of Hades, if he knew if someone was alive or not.

Jason got the idea after a few seconds and the pair paused their conversation as the waitress arrived with Jason's drink, a loaded caramel macchiato with fudge and even a damn toasted marshmallow on top.

Nico stared at the sugary bomb, not noticing the ding of the bell as another customer, a girl with raven hair reaching her lower back, walked into the store while aiming a subtle eye at them before taking a seat just far enough to not draw attention but close enough to eavesdrop.

"So…" Jason started after taking a sip of his order, much to Nico's growing horror. "… Any news?"

"Hmmm," Nico hummed as he tapped his chin. "Not too much really. The Hunt has been rather silent and barely seen nowadays …"

"Barely seen?" Jason asked incredulously. "They haven't visited either camp in years or the one or two council meetings I've attended to add suggestions for camp, Lady Artemis barely speaks at all and mostly looks at the floor. Something has to have happened with them."

'Yeah, some girl and massive wolf arrived, ripped Phoebe apart and kidnapped Percy's sister,' Nico thought, recalling the Iris message he'd received days after it happened.

Sure, Thalia didn't know that 'Atalanta' was in fact Andromeda Jackson, but he'd been one of the few that knew what happened since the Olympians, again, were hiding any signs of weakness.

Their best equivalent to a special forces being so easily infiltrated, losing one of their best and oldest hunter, and it all happening without Artemis being able to do anything to stop it. That was a heavy blow to the entire pride of Olympus … and it scared them.

Thalia had told him that the Hunt hand been on a search for this 'Umbra' and the girl accompanying him ever since in thirst of revenge but every day without success Artemis gets more easily agitated and aggressive.

They also hadn't had any new recruits since and their numbers had fallen by five so far.

"Who knows, you know how secretive the Hunt can be, especially when concerning boys," Nico said with a shrug.

"Yeah I guess," Jason conceded while sipping at his drink. "What else?"

"Camp Half-Blood is busy as ever. Overflowing with demigods but no additions to the Big Three as of yet. The cabins are being expanded into several floor buildings and many minor god cabins have been completed.

Annabi-excuse me, Annabeth has been busy with helping the development and that gaudy statue as a monument was finished," Nico continued.

Jason grimaced at the mention of the statue. He had been one of the people against erecting monuments for them. If anything, there should be something to represent all the lives lost in the wars, not just celebrating the seven, especially considering that the seven had more than planned with Nico and Reyna's involvement.

"Let's see … nah, that's all I got at the moment," Nico finished with a shrug. "What about you?"

"Huh, where to begin?" Jason replied while rolling a shoulder. "Well, Frank and Hazel are doing well last time I visited."

"Takes guts what they're doing," Nico muttered to which Jason nodded.

"You have to admit though, creating a safe house with small barrier and everything for demigods in need while being guarded by two experienced, powerful, partially immortal demigods is a great idea," Jason added with a faint smile.

"True but they are a little out of the way," Nico pointed out.

"Maybe they'll move it to somewhere more central in a couple of years," Jason replied with a shrug.

"Maybe …"

"Anyways, aside from them, Reyna is doing fine as a senator for the council of New Rome and trainer for demigod arrivals."

"I hear she's brutal though," Nico chuckled to which Jason joined.

"No kidding. I'm pretty sure the new recruits are more scared of her than the monsters they're being trained to fight."

They both started to outright laugh at that for a good five minutes before settling down. Nico looked at Jason's smiling face but quickly grew concerned when Jason slowly started to frown.

"Jason, what's wrong?" Nico asked in a low tone.

Jason sighed before answering, "My father visited me again last week."

"Again?" Nico asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Yeah … he's … well," Jason leaned forward so Nico mirrored him to hear better, "… he keeps offering godhood."

Had it been anyone else they would have shouted something stupid like 'godhood, no way!' but this was Nico, so he kept his features schooled as he looked at Jason for further explanation.

"As you know, he wasn't exactly happy that I turned down the request. Stuff about I'm above such work and well, things are getting pretty rough between us lately. I almost lost it on him when he said that Percy didn't matter and that I was the real hero of Olympus and should be an Olympian."

"What happened then?" Nico asked while mentally cursing Zeus further.

"He stormed off and that was a week ago," Jason replied while taking a larger gulp of his sugary tragedy.

"Huh," was all Nico could say as he thought about the prideful bastard that is the king of the gods. Honestly, after what he learned about them, the only goddess he even acknowledged was Hestia and his father. All the other ones could go swim in the bowels of Tartarus for all he cared.

"And Piper?" he asked after a pause and grew even more worried when Jason frowned again.

"We've been … okay," Jason answered unsurely. "Things have been a little tense too. I mean, I get a mission once every month at least and am gone anywhere from a few days to a whole week.

I guess she's just getting bored being cooped up but I've suggested she go more often into the camp. Train or help with the new recruits but she doesn't really seem too interested in it."

"Odd considering she picked the job with you … it was a mutual choice right?" Nico asked after uncertainty flashed through Jason's eyes.

"Well, she asked me what I wanted to do after the war a few days before we got to Athens and I told her about my goal to keep helping demigods. I got a little too into it and then Piper just said it was nice but didn't tell me hers.

Then on Olympus I looked at her and thought she would want it too, that's why I asked for both of us to get partial immortality, so we wouldn't be restricted by the ancient laws,' Jason explained.

"But why are things tense then?" Nico asked.

Jason ran a hand through his hair before answering, "Well … I think it might have to do with the war being over. You have to remember, Piper was thrown into our world in the middle of war and stepped up to the role she needed to play but even before all of it, she just wanted a quiet life.

I guess that after the war ended, she was expecting more peace and quiet but then I got us this job that's constantly keeping me busy. She's complained about it a lot and how I'm hardly home."

"Damn," Nico sighed as he looked at Jason critically. "Well, do you at least keep her 'satisfied' when you are around? I know that helps with busy couples."

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