Percy Jackson : Gods Annihilation

Jason was feeling confused. Why? Because he honestly wasn't sure how to feel any more in regards to the woman in front of him. Anger was definitely there, it had been ever since that day and he still held some resentment for how everything turned out.

Sadness was there too, after all, the way they broke up was horrible and he had been heartbroken enough at the time to develop a keen distrust of the emotion known as love and even became somewhat biased when associating with love deities. Nervous, mostly because he sometimes doubted himself in regards to what he could say or if even his emotions would get the better of him.

As much as he hated it, he was still the son of Zeus and that came with a tendency to hold grudges do to slighted pride and pride in of itself, paranoia to varying degrees, and a temper with a naturally short fuse depending on the situation, and, thanks to Zeus's very well-known tendencies, lust.

Be it lust for power, wealth, knowledge, attention, or carnal, it was still there even if at the moment Jason had already reigned in his own desires for power both personally as well as socially. It was a highly volatile mix regardless of how you looked at it though and because of it he had nearly attacked Piper last time and only thanks to Percy's presence had he not done something that he doubtlessly would have regretted.

Being alone with said demigoddess now was basically putting him on pins and needles, mostly because he questioned his own self-control at times even if talking things out with Amphitrite and simply sparring with Percy to get things out of his system had done wonders.

Still, knowing that he had to bite the bullet, he waited to see if Piper would begin after the pair had moved off from the halls to a more private one leading to the back gardens. Having stopped under an arch and with the greens of the garden in sight Jason sighed softly as his attention centered on Piper.

She met his gaze with an intensity that he hadn't seen since being in the middle of battle during the Giant's attack, her entire posture seeming taller and prouder than he could ever recall. Whether this was the result of having taken Andromeda's oath or something else remained to be seen. Still, they stared at each other for several minutes, Jason idly noting that he would be late to the meeting at this rate but he knew the others would understand why. Then, in a nearly musical yet firm tone, she spoke two simple words.

"I'm sorry."

Jason stared at her in slight surprise, wondering if that was all she really had to say as if it was that quick and simple, even going as to blinking owlishly at her.

"What?" he replied eloquently.

"I'm sorry," she repeated to his inquiry.

"… That's it?" he asked, feeling even more confused by the second.

He wasn't really sure what he expected. Maybe a defense of explanation of what she did and why? Perhaps it blame shift that he, admittedly, carries for having failed to communicate properly with her or be more straightforward rather than allow that distance to grow between them?

"What's more could I say?" she asked as she placed a hand on her hip. "Start crying and apologizing for what I did, for even listening to that goddess at the time or letting her play me so easily, or being stupid enough to not even recognize the bastard, or maybe even not having more faith in you?" She shook her head as she sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as she gave him a tired glance.

"I already spent years just beating myself and drowning in a pity-party, throwing myself into work as my dad's agent, living the red-carpet life and just drifting by until I was basically stagnant. I might not ever forgive myself for what happened that night but it's pointless to harp on it and nothing can be done to change the past."

At her pause, Jason let his thoughts drift about as he absorbed her words. In the end she was right about that, what more could he expect and want? They had both been used and played in the game of the gods only to then leave rather than give said gods their satisfaction from their ploys.

Both of them had suffered for it, going as far as to leave and renounced their very blood, a rather distressing event that left him feeling weaker than he ever had before, and he could only imagine what it had been like for Piper who had no one save her father to support her when she did it. Hell, unlike him she didn't even have another offer for power to replace what she gave up. It was meant to be a permanent sacrifice as far as Piper had known at the time.

Looking again at the ex-daughter of Aphrodite, he could see that, even with two such measly words, it's their intent that they carried. They were honest and solemn and her lack of adding more to try and justify or seek reparation meant even more. She acknowledged that what they once were could never be again but she wasn't striving for it and, that in apologizing, she was doing it just as much for herself as it was for him. It didn't even matter if he accepted it or not in the end, she had done her part and was at peace with that.

Sighing softly to himself, he looked her in the eyes and spoke.

"I accept your apology," he started, pausing for a moment before nodding to himself and continuing, "I'm sorry as well, for my behavior during those years and for reacting the way I did when I saw you again. It was excessive and unjustified.

I know that I did my fair share of wrongs leading up to everything and could have done better but like you said, the past is just that, past. Holding a grudge to you even after you went out of your way to say sorry says enough to me … and I hope you can find it in you to forgive me as well…" he finished somewhat sheepishly.

"Apology accepted," she replied as her features softened with a small smile, the pair falling back into silence gain but with a more comfortable atmosphere between them this time around.

However, he then felt a mental probe giving him the impression that the others were still waiting for him back in the throne room. Glancing at Piper again he nodded before turning to leave but paused as he looked back over his shoulder.

"Thank you …" he said softly with his own smile before adding, "… and it's good to see you again, Piper."

"You too … Jason," she replied as he left, her last words being oddly soothing as his steps felt lighter as he left the hall to appear before the very doors leading into the throne room.

He quickly walked in, his size increasing with every step as he made it onto the floor and looked around to see the glances of his fellow council members. Giving a quick nod to the group he made his way to his throne and sat down to begin looking at the floating screens being projected by Phoebe this time around, making them look more like ghostly portals drifting about.

"Well, now that everyone is here," Percy began, shooting a heatless glare at Jason at the slight jab. "An update on the demigod forces and our o so precious Olympians." Taking a pause to glance around he then continued on. "From the looks of it the Argos are set to take off by noon tomorrow and will continue their trek to us though, considering the distance and metaphysical cut-off of the 'Land of the Gods' and the North, they'll probably land just a few miles short but within view of Mount Cartier."

"Think they'll actually try to personally attack?" Styx asked as a diagram of the area surrounding the mountain floated before her.

"Normally I would say no and that they would plan around sending the demigods as fodder to try and feel out our defenses," Nico spoke up as he tapped his chin.

"But then again we've aggravated them beyond normal levels and they don't have their calming factors. Athena is here, Hades and Hestia are already known as traitors to them, and they already suspect that Poseidon abandoned them.

Zeus is pulled thin trying to reign in Artemis and Hera, Apollo and Hermes have never been the sort to wait and strike in measured form, and Hephaestus generally isn't the type for front-line assaults. So far Bellona is their most leveled goddess and only one isn't enough to control an entire army so it's very possible they several gods will act independently, especially those foaming at the mouths for blood."

"Then you have to consider the newest problems coming in from New Rome," Hestia added as she seemed to stare into the hearth's flame, probably looking through into other hearths in said city. "Aphrodite is MIA now with every kind of theory being thrown around from her deserting to kidnappings and assassinations. She may not have mattered much in the organization of the city or war effort but the fact that as a god, her absence has been noticed and the reasons behind it could lead to their worst fears."

"And that unease is being relayed between the city and the army via IM's meaning that it's another blow to the morale of the army," Rhea surmised before frowning slightly. "But that might not be a good thing." At some of the interested looks, as well as a confused glance from Styx, Rhea elaborated further.

"It's true that with less morale they will be easier to defeat or even force into submission rather than killing them but the danger is if they already start turning on the Olympians before that. The gods are angry, scared, and feel cornered making them dangerous to not only themselves but their allies and children. I wouldn't put it past them to strike out and make examples of any demigod wishing to retreat or surrender."

"Several of the older demigods are of a similar opinion," Percy spoke up as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Some are really starting to consider what we said during our attack and many of the younger, less experienced ones don't want to fight. Period. But they are too scared to speak up and the demigods themselves are divided in that sense as well."

"Let me guess, those of roman origin are more aligned to the Olympians?" Thalia asked as she flicked a tiny bolt of lightning between her fingers.

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

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