With Friends Like These - Part 2

"Percy," Annabeth sighed, looking fondly exasperated with him. "You're drowning your pancakes."

"They can't drown," Percy gravely informed her. "They're mine." He searched out Kronos across the room, a plate of high-protein and horribly calorific foods piled high before the Titan. His eyes narrowed slightly when he saw that Kronos had one hand buried into the innards of the trireme, probably fingering the exposed electrical wires again.

The Titan seemed to become more energized from the electrics than he did a plate of ambrosia.

Bare-chested – he took any opportunity he could find to ditch the obnoxiously bright orange Camp shirt – he sat cross-legged on the floor against a backdrop of drapes.

Over the speakers, Buford the Wonder Table suddenly blared, "Put some clothes on!"

Everyone jumped, though not nearly as badly as Kronos. The blind Titan had still not managed to get used to the intercom or Buford and Leo had fixed the table up several times when he'd startled Kronos and the Titan had lashed out. He ended up jumping several feet and landing in the form of a lion, snarling at nothing. Once Kronos had calmed down and realised he was not under attack, he turned back and sheepishly reached for his shirt.

His horribly scarred and burnt body had slowly begun to heal over the two days since they'd left Tartarus behind them. And both Percy and Annabeth were able to catch up on much-needed sleep, knowing and trusting that the Titan was watching them – or at least alert and listening for any intruders.

Jason, with Piper playing nursemaid, sat at the very head of the table with his shirt rolled up to expose his stab wound to the air as Piper changed his bandages.

"You know," Leo said, "that probably wouldn't have happened if our immortal firecracker joined you."

"That's what I said," Kronos grumbled as he paused in shovelling food into his mouth.

"Yeah," Percy said, "but we discussed this."

Annabeth nodded in agreement. "Spirits are more likely to sense a Titan than they are a few demigods."

"You got noticed anyway," Kronos pointed out. "It would not have made a difference."

"We at least learnt something," Jason said.

"Besides," Percy added, "setting you loose on Ithaca would have been like firing a nuke at New York. Sure, you'll take out the enemy but there's a high chance for friendly fire."

"Olympia," Jason said to get them back on track. "We'll stay airborne. Juno said we have to subdue the goddess of victory."

"Isn't Nike a good goddess?" Percy questioned.

Annabeth nodded slightly. "Yes. So why subdue the goddess of victory?" Annabeth mused.

"Well all the gods are split, are they not?" Kronos questioned. The demigods turned to face him. Of course they could guess all they wanted, but Kronos was far more a part of the immortal world than they would ever be. He's seen empires rise and fall and probably assisted in more than one dynasty's collapse. "If the goddess of victory is split then she will be fighting with herself."

"He's got a point," Piper murmured.

"Ok, wait a minute," Leo said. "What about you? You've got a Roman form, right?"

"Saturn," Frank supplied.

Kronos' form flickered briefly, and he scowled in Frank's direction. "It is the demigods whom are fighting. Demigods do not affect me as they effect the gods, as I am not a god, not beholden to Olympus. Now if there happened to be Roman demititans around whom were fighting, then I may have a problem."

"But we want peace," Jason said, once again bringing them back on track. "And if victory's split between Greek and Roman then there won't be peace."

"What, like start a flame war on Twitter?" Leo questioned.

Kronos frowned deeply, looking immensely confused. "What is Twitter? How would one use it to start a war of fire?"

Percy shut his eyes.

"You don't know what Twitter is?" Leo asked in mock horror. "Allow me to educate you on mortal technology."

"No," Percy said. Kronos was bad enough. He didn't want the Titan to actually start a flame war against Olympus. That or he'd look at cat videos all day and they needed Kronos.

Frank frowned slightly. "That old sea god, Phorcys. He said Gaea's plans always have layers upon layers."

Kronos stirred. "Phorcys?"

"Yeah," Percy said flatly. "He got banished to Atlanta."

"Ah. Poor bastard."

"Right," Frank said, "he's your half-brother."

"I have lots of half-siblings," Kronos dismissed. "But yes, Mother taught me all I know about plans. Percy and Annabeth can tell you all about that."

Percy huffed. "Yeah. Kronos screwed around with us in the old days. The Golden Fleece, the master bolt. All of it."

"Anyway," Annabeth said, "a party of four. Two Romans, two Greeks."

"And me," Kronos added.

"Kronos, Nike will see you as a threat," Jason pointed out.

"If you are subduing a goddess then you need me." Jason mouthed help me at Percy, but Percy just shrugged. Kronos scowled. "Stop communicating so I cannot see it."

"Sorry," Percy apologised.

"That's scary," Leo muttered.

"Kronos-"

"You promised."

Percy winced. "Yeah, but Kronos you're the ace up our sleeve. I really don't think Nike will be happy to see you. We want to save you for when we need you."

Kronos scowled deeper, not looking pleased. "If you are in trouble-"

"I'll let you know," Percy promised.

The blind Titan sighed. "If you die, I will resurrect you and then kill you myself."

"Alright."

Percy didn't call Kronos. Nor did Annabeth call him in Sparta when facing the giant Mimas.

So, when Polybotes caught Percy and Jason at the bottom of the ocean with the assistance of Kymopoleia, Percy finally decided to call him. Gagging on poison and trapped in a net, Percy prayed to the Titan.

He arrived encased in a ventus, just like Jason. Ouranos' master bolt crackled wildly in his hand, streaking out towards the dozen basilisks in the area. Then a blast hit Polybotes in the middle of his chest. The giant roared, staggering back to leave some room between himself and his sudden attacker.

Over the past few days, the demigods had all worked on getting Kronos used to fighting without his sight. Somehow, the Titan could now sense their attacks before they would happen.

Jason lowered his gladius. "Good to see you."

Polybotes' eyes narrowed. "Kronos," he seethed. "Father warned us of your betrayal. Mother was rather distraught to hear you had made your decision."

"Yes, well, if she hadn't collaborated with him to remove my eyes I would have decided different."

"You will not reconsider?"

"That depends on if mother intends to back down or not," Kronos mused. "But, as things stand, no. These demigods are my friends. And you have no place here."

Polybotes sneered at his half-brother. "You will die beside them."

"It's better than dying beside you."

The giant lifted his trident, stabbing at the blind Titan, but Kronos twisted slightly to the side and the prongs stabbed the air a few inches from his face. Calmly, the Titan lashed out with the master bolt – now in the form of a wickedly-sharp spear – and thrust it up beneath the giant's breastplate.

Polybotes roared and Jason slashed his gladius along his dragon leg. "You will die for this!"

"I am sure," Kronos dismissed.

Jason glanced at the storm goddess. "Kym, would you care to do the honours?"

When the minor goddess hesitated, Kronos lifted the master bolt and she squeaked in fear. It seemed that the infamous Titan Lord was scarier to the minor goddess than the giant. She threw her metal Frisbee, and Polybotes lost his head.

Jason grinned at her. "Thank you," he said.

Kronos crossed the ruins to get to Percy, carefully skirting the poison cloud. He pulled at the celestial bronze netting, master bolt transforming to a sword and shearing through it.

"Thanks," Percy gasped out.

The Titan crossed his arms, expression dark despite the blank sockets. "I told you to take me with you."

"Lesson learned," Percy promised.

Kymopoleia couldn't seem to decide whether to stay or flee. Jason smiled at her. "Thank you, I'll make sure those temples are erected."

"I should have-"

"Dude," Percy said, "you're blind. We don't need you firing pot-shots at everything with that master bolt in the hopes you'll hit your target."

"That was one time," Kronos protested.

"Once is more than enough," Percy said. "But really, thanks to the both of you."

"I didn't do much," Jason said.

Kronos picked Percy up and slung him over his shoulder.

"Whoa, hey-"

"You have been poisoned." Kronos scowled. "You will not move."

"Dude, put me down!"

"I will," Kronos assured him. "Once we are back on the ship."

Jason grinned as they rose back towards the surface, a protesting – yet still green – son of Poseidon nearly being sick on the way up.

Annabeth's eyes widened as Kronos propped him up against the railing. "What happened?" She demanded furiously.

"Poison," Jason supplied. He noted that the storm had mostly smoothed over, a few lingering flashes of lightning and dark clouds, but looking at Kronos he assumed that the Titan was responsible.

"Did Polybotes recognise Kronos?" Piper questioned once she'd looked Jason over for any injuries, looking faintly surprised to see that his stab wound had healed.

"Yes," Jason said. "He did."

"So Gaea will know he's helping us," Annabeth said quietly. "Great."

"Yeah." Percy breathed out, still looking a little green. "But he saved my life – again – so it's fine. Sort of."

"Does this mean I can fight beside you now?" Kronos questioned, looking faintly excited at the prospect.

Percy snorted. "Yeah, sure. If you can keep up."

The Titan bristled. "Even blind I can be formidable, Jackson."

"Oh, I know," Percy assured him. "There's not many beings who can topple Tartarus." Kronos smiled. "But, Jason, what's a Pontifex?"

"A priest," Kronos supplied.

"They oversee all the sacrifices," Jason explained. "Make sure the gods won't get mad." He patted Kronos on his arm. "We'll make sure there are temples for you again."

"Also," Percy added, turning to Kronos. "Before you arrived, Kym was talking about the first Primordial to have been killed."

Kronos stilled. "I don't like talking about him," he said, crossing his arms like a petulant child.

"Really?" Annabeth questioned. "What about him?"

"Something about how it was done could help us," Jason said. "Maybe-"

"No."

"Kronos," Percy groaned. "Come on."

"No." The Titan reached out blindly for the railing of the Argo II, which he knew was somewhere in front of him. "Gaea by now will soon know that I am here, if she does not already. So she will know that I know how to take her down. She will make contingency plans to prevent me from doing so. And I am blind, so cannot assist. It is too dangerous, find another way."

Percy was getting suspicious.

It was small things. Refusing to take down Gaea was only the first sign. Kronos seemed withdrawn, no longer keeping so close to Percy and Annabeth. He disappeared occasionally in the night, flying off who-knows-where to do who-knows-what.

But Percy wasn't worried, he stupidly trusted Kronos right up to the point he woke to find a dagger at his throat.

He stared back, stunned, into eyeless sockets. "Kronos," he gasped out, eyes widening. "What – what are you doing?"

"It's nothing personal, Percy," Kronos promised with a crooked grin. "I just need your blood. The blood of Olympus."

Percy stared in horror at the Titan for several long moments, his brain struggling to process his words. "You… what?"

The dagger pressed against his throat didn't move, held in the Titan's firm grip. It was celestial bronze, the blade clean and gleaming wickedly in the faint light coming from the hallway. Percy swallowed and cleared his throat, about to yell for one of the other demigods – Kronos was still blind, maybe they could take him out – but Kronos realised his intentions and covered his mouth.

"I won't kill you," Kronos promised, grin widening. "I have a plan."

Percy's heart hammered in his chest, threatening to break his ribcage. He wanted to take out Riptide, but Kronos was leaning on him enough that he couldn't squirm to grab the pen. Foul names came to mind, but Percy couldn't say any of them with Kronos covering his mouth. He tried to yell for help, but the sound was far too muffled for any of the other demigods to hear.

Pain sparked along his throat, the dagger drawing out a few drops of his blood. Percy shut his eyes and turned his head as Kronos glowed, alight somewhere behind his skin, and then his weight was gone.

The son of Poseidon yelled for the other demigods on the trireme.

Kronos had a plan.

A nibble from a square of ambrosia had healed Percy's tiny cut, more like a papercut than a Titan slashing his throat. Across from him, Hazel nursed a similar injury.

But, Kronos had a plan – whatever that plan was – whether it was good or bad for the demigods remained to be seen. Annabeth was busy wiping away the little blood that remained as Percy glowered at the table as if it was the cause of Kronos' sudden decision.

"So did he actually say anything useful?" Annabeth questioned. "Before he cut your throat."

"He didn't – cut my throat, I mean. Not really. But no, only that he had a plan and that it needed the blood of Olympus," Percy said.

"Dirtface also needs the blood of Olympus," Leo noted.

"Yes, thank you, Leo," Percy said tiredly, "none of us knew that."

Leo scowled. "Just making sure that's clear."

"I don't think it's for her," Percy muttered.

Jason frowned. "Percy-"

"Just hear me out," Percy said fiercely as he leant forward, causing Annabeth to sigh. "I know what it looks like. Really, I do. But we saved Kronos down there, you don't know what it was like. We saved him, he saved us. It's more than what it seems, really. He's been helping us. I really don't see any reason why he would suddenly turn around and help his mother."

"Percy's right," Annabeth quietly said. "She blinded him. Why would he help her? It's a known fact that Kronos can be very bitter and hateful. He's prideful and he hates others thinking they can play him."

"His mother did all of that," Percy added. "She used him as her shock troop, crippling Olympus to set this war up. Everything that has happened to him recently is because of her."

"So this isn't for her," Hazel stated.

"No," Annabeth conceded. "But what could he use our blood for if not raising his mother?"

"The blood of Olympus is powerful, but we don't really know what it will do other than raising immortals from death," Jason noted.

Percy nodded slightly. "Yeah. So he won't be using it himself. There aren't many immortals that are known to be dead, but-"

"Percy," Annabeth said quietly.

"- it shouldn't be too hard to figure it out." Percy pressed his lips together, barely stopping to listen to Annabeth. "There's-"

"Percy!" Annabeth exclaimed.

"What?"

"What were we talking about – before he started acting odd?"

Percy blinked, recalling the conversation that Kronos had swiftly shut down about repeating the past. The blood all drained from his face.

"Ouranos," Percy breathed.

Annabeth nodded slightly. "Ouranos," she repeated.

Outside, thunder rumbled in the sky around them.

Five days passed quickly.

While Percy had been doubting Kronos' intentions, the Titan didn't emerge at the Acropolis.

"Percy," Annabeth muttered, her voice at his ear, "we should tell them."

"Brilliant idea," Percy said. "Just let me have a few days to flee first."

She huffed. "They need to know. Now."

"She's right, Percy," Jason said loudly, ensuring that Zeus overheard. "You should tell them."

Percy paled. "What? Why me?"

"Because you're the one who did it," Jason proffered.

"You all didn't disagree," Percy pointed out.

Zeus cleared his throat. "Tell us what?" He rumbled, his voice alone nearly causing Percy to hesitate.

But Percy had faced down Tartarus and he'd managed to talk Kronos down whenever he got angry or frustrated with his blindness. Compared to facing down his father, Zeus was a house cat with dulled claws. Percy straightened his back and lifted his head. "Kronos came with us when we left Tartarus."

For several moments it looked like Zeus didn't quite register Percy's words, but then thunder cracked overhead and lightning flashed above the Acropolis. "What?"

"He's blind, mostly harmless, but he did sort of take our blood and he may have Ouranos' master bolt-" The loud clap of thunder left Percy's ears ringing, and some of the gods also cast wary glances towards the sky. "We think he may be rising Ouranos to combat his mother," Percy admitted.

Poseidon sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Perhaps you'd better start from the beginning, Percy?" He suggested with forced cheerfulness.

"Later," Athena sharply interrupted, looking like she was judging Percy and intending to also be his executioner. "The Earth Mother has risen," she said. "We can discuss this later, if we are still alive."

"Athena-"

"Father," Athena said sharply, "we don't have the time."

Zeus looked like he'd rather press to find out about his father, but also knew that logically Gaea was a greater threat than one Titan, even if that Titan did have the blood of a female and male demigod. A Primordial could do a lot more damage than a Titan.

The Argo unfortunately did not survive the slap back to Camp Half-Blood.

While Leo stayed behind to attempt to fix the trireme, Frank dropped Percy and Annabeth with the Greek demigods. Percy grinned widely as they cheered and screamed before charging forwards.

Percy much preferred fighting to sitting around. While the common monsters he'd fought regularly before weren't much of a challenge, Gaea herself was entirely different. He remembered facing Tartarus down in the Pit, remembered dropping his sword as he'd frozen in terror, the oppressive power of the Primordial nearly forcing him to his knees. How could they face Gaea – a Primordial very alike to Tartarus – without doing the same?

He forced the thought away, determined to do what he could to help while Gaea wasn't there.

The last time he'd fought beside so many demigods as this was the Battle of Manhattan. It was horribly similar; screams and war cries splitting his ears and lit arrows carving a path through the sky overhead.

The Roman Legion marched as one in a strict formation, the discipline making them a stark contrast to the Greeks.

Percy wasn't sure how long he'd been fighting for; every sound and movement had merged into one and his head was ringing, he was covered in monster remains and dust and blobs of mud. Then, the ground shifted and tilted beneath his feet, turning to sludge. Monsters and demigods alike slipped, the earth sucking them down like quicksand. There was a slow ripple of the ground, a wave of soil and mud that rose and fell.

Beyond the boundary of Camp, the ground exploded up into the air, churning soil that twisted and turned, forming a vague figure. Mud melted into coffee-coloured skin, formed wavy strands of deep brown hair, and eyes as green as the purest of forests opened.

Percy swore under his breath.

The Primordial goddess sneered down at them. "Fools," she spat. "As if you can stand against me. None of you can even hope to stop me."

Percy tightened his grip around Riptide's hilt.

A stray twitch of Gaea's fingers, practically unnoticeable, caused the hillside to swell like a balloon. Half of the hill crumpled, swallowing monsters and demigods alike. Sharp green eyes flicked over the hundreds of demigods, searching – and then they landed on Percy.

Percy dropped another few inches into the earth as her formerly emotionless face twisted into a hateful snarl. "Perseus Jackson. I have heard very much about you."

"All good things, I hope?" Percy managed to force out. At his side, Annabeth looked utterly horrified by his words. But Percy wasn't about to sit back and let her destroy everything he'd worked so hard to protect.

"You murdered my children."

"The Titans?" Percy grunted. "They deserved it-"

"They are my children."

Percy let out a sharp laugh. "Even Kronos?" Thunder rumbled warningly overhead. "I guess that says a lot about how brilliant your parenting is. If you remove their eyes you've got to expect a little retribution. If there's one thing I've learnt from immortal families it's that you guys take getting even and grudges very seriously."

The other demigods were looking at Percy in utter disbelief.

The earth rumbled beneath them, a giant crack streaking across the battlefield.

"He understood the price of failure before I sent him after you," Gaea sneered as she stepped past the boundary and into Camp, "I warned him."

"And now Kronos wants you dead," Percy flatly said. "Because you blinded him."

The Primordial scowled and waved a hand, and Percy was bludgeoned in the side. It wrenched him from the mud and sent him sprawling several dozen feet away, Riptide landing out of his reach.

"You will die, Perseus," Gaea promised.

Percy spat blood onto the ground as both Roman and Greek demigods struggled to free themselves. He didn't reply to Gaea, instead he took a deep breath and prayed.

Kronos, I don't know where you are or what you're doing… but Gaea's awake. She's here. A little assistance would be appreciated.

He was expecting to have to wait several minutes, but even as he finished his final words, the clouds thickened and darkened overhead. A heavy presence dropped onto Percy's shoulders and time slowed to a crawl.

But Kronos did not appear inside the Camp limits. A single bolt of lightning dropped from the clouds and slammed into the ground amongst Octavian's onagers, causing them to explode one after the other. Percy couldn't help but smile as the dust cleared.

Kronos' expression was cool, holding his father's master bolt at his side. Thunder rumbled, and rain fell. It turned the mud into sludge, but some demigods were able to struggle free. Percy found the rain enervated him as he struggled to his feet.

But the Titan was not within Camp boundaries. Percy opened his mouth and yelled, "I, Percy Jackson, give Kronos, son of Gaea, permission to enter Camp Half-Blood!"

Percy avoided Chiron's horrified gaze, instead firmly watching Kronos as the Titan stepped forward. The wards around the Camp rippled and shuddered, a shockwave racing outwards as Kronos passed through.

Gaea's grip over the demigods loosened as she turned to face her son. "Kronos," she said warily.

Kronos' knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip on the spear-like master bolt at his side. "Mother," he greeted curtly.

The Primordial's expression softened, her eyes warming. "Don't. Kronos, I do not wish to harm you."

"A shame. I certainly do."

"You will force my hand," Gaea said warningly. "I don't wish to punish you any longer. Come, join me, and I will return you your eyes."

Kronos' jaw tightened and for the first time, he looked uncertain.

Percy hesitated. Of course, he hadn't been certain that Kronos would be able to go through with killing his mother when it came to it.

Several dozen feet from Percy, Annabeth saw Percy hesitating to speak. "Kronos," she called, managing to free herself from the mud and taking several steps towards the Titan. "What Percy said – about immortal families – sometimes you can't." She smiled across the battlefield at the Titan. "You're our friend, right?"

Saying that so blatantly in front of both camps of demigods seemed suicidal to Percy, but he staggered to his feet anyway and nodded. "Yeah," he agreed, "we're friends. I mean, we can't not be friends with the one whom stupidly attacked Tartarus for us, right?"

Kronos lifted the master bolt and blasted Gaea in the face with a concentrated bolt of lightning. "I don't want to join you."

Gaea's focus broke, her expression twisting in fury. Half of her face had been blasted right off her head, though her skin was bubbling and healing due to the earth at her feet. Demigods who'd still been trapped found themselves suddenly free. Percy dug Riptide from his pocket and uncapped the sword before yelling and charging at the closest monster. His cry galvanized the other demigods into action and the battle started up again.

Kronos closed the distance between his mother and him with startling speed, dancing through the battlefield with surprising grace considering his blindness.

While Kronos had taken rather quickly to fighting blind, perhaps due to some extra sense that immortals had, it didn't suddenly make him a match for a Primordial. The earth mother was screaming insults and threats at Kronos, but he didn't falter, even as earthborn broke away to charge at him – only to be promptly turned to vaporized ash – and arrows rained down upon him.

Percy had heard that Titans could be forces of nature, but watching one in action still astounded him.

No movement was wasted, each having an impact on either the battle around him or Gaea.

Even then, he could barely manage to keep Gaea occupied. Percy realised he was trying to buy the demigods time, trying to keep Gaea focused entirely on him whilst the demigods killed the monsters. After that, Percy didn't know what would happen.

Fortunately, he didn't have to think on it any longer.

Even while Kronos staggered back, ichor rolling from a gash above his right eye and a bruise already blooming on his cheek, a bolt of lightning crashed down before him.

The Titan was scowling before the dust cleared, glaring at his youngest godly child. Zeus looked as pleased to see Kronos as the Titan did him, blue eyes flicking to empty sockets. Kronos turned his head, evidently somewhat wary of allowing Zeus to see the new handicap.

"Zeus," Gaea seethed. "I will deal with you after I finish punishing my treasonous son."

Zeus snorted, eyes flicking towards Kronos again. The three formed an almost triangle shape, each wary of the other two. His lip curled in distain. "It seems to me as if he's been punished enough. Where's the glory in beating a blind old man?"

Kronos bristled, pulling himself up sharply. "If you still believe there's glory or honour to be had in war then I've evidently taught you nothing."

"The only thing you ever taught us was how to make people hate you and the art of cutting someone into millions of pieces with their own weapon."

Gaea laughed. "Whom are you here to fight, dear grandchild? It must be a difficult decision for you." Her expression twisted. "Let me make it easier for you."

The ground erupted beneath Kronos – the Titan's harsh cuss lost amongst the sound of something snapping – and curved to join overhead, creating a very effective cage. Lightning exploded out from Kronos, only to crackle and fizzle out as it touched the earth shell. He yelled furiously, slamming another bolt against the earth, then another and another and another.

Outside of the cage, Zeus had fired his own lightning at Gaea. The Primordial looked just as murderous as her caged son as she raised shields of mud to stop Zeus in his tracks. While he may have arrived without warning, Gaea was still more than capable of beating him into a pulp.

Percy tried to fight his way forwards, but Annabeth grabbed his arm. "Percy, no. You can't help here."

Kronos was still throwing everything he had at the earthen cage. Getting anywhere close to him would leave Percy fried. Getting near Gaea would leave him crushed like the dozens of demigods littering her path.

Zeus raised his hand and a rush of air momentarily lifted Gaea off the ground.

"You cannot defeat me," Gaea promised angrily. "I am the earth."

The earth. Percy's heart hammered fiercely. "Zeus!" He yelled, forgetting any term of respect in favour of speaking quickly. "Separate her from the earth!"

Gaea's expression hardened.

Rays of light split the clouds – the rest of the gods emerging. Sensing their imminent arrival, Kronos faltered in throwing lightning about and slunk back.

As the gods worked together to raise the furious Primordial, a ball of fire emerged over the horizon. Festus the reincarnated dragon bathed Gaea in brilliant flames.

As soon as Gaea's mud – her remains – settled over the battlefield, the earthen shell around Kronos crumbled. The Titan's body began glowing, an obvious attempt at flashing away before the gods could return to finish him off, but before he could go anywhere a lightning bolt dropped onto him.

His body went rigid and he crumpled to the ground as Zeus landed a dozen feet away.

Percy shoved his way forwards even as the god raised his master bolt again, the entire weapon glowing and crackling. He slid to a stop between Kronos and Zeus, raising his free hand towards the god. "Wait – please, don't."

Zeus' blue eyes crackled dangerously. "Move aside, Percy Jackson."

"Percy," Poseidon said carefully. "Move-"

"No," Percy said flatly. "No, I'm not moving." He defiantly glared back at Zeus. "You know we – Annabeth and I – went to Tartarus, right? Yeah. Kronos saved our lives down there, after we saved his. He's a friend. I'm not moving."

Annabeth shoved her way forwards to stand at Percy's side. "We're friends," she echoed.

Percy's eyes caught Jason's amongst the watching demigods. "Look – Gaea had him blinded because he failed last year. She sent him. He'd have been killed in Tartarus because he couldn't defend himself. He's part of the team."

The rest of the Seven emerged from the battlefield, looking worn and a few gashes, but nothing too serious. Jason crossed his arms, standing next to Percy. "He's one of us," he firmly said.

Seven demigods stood between the King of the gods and Kronos. The master bolt flared.

Zeus seemed to consider his options for several long moments, gazing past the demigods into Kronos' non-existent eyes. He glanced at Poseidon, the brother looking ready to leap to Percy's defence, and he sighed. "Hermes, get him to Apollo."

"What did you do with our blood?" The first words from Percy were accusing and furious. Percy crossed his arms, scowling down at Kronos. "You know, it's rude to take the blood of people without their permission, right? Also, I don't know who taught you your manners, but sleeping in other people's beds without their permission is also rude."

The lion merely grumbled and rolled over, sprawling across Percy's bed.

The sun shone in through the cabin windows, casting Kronos' fur a brilliant gold.

It had been a surprise to wake with a lion sleeping at the base of his bed, but Percy's honestly had worse before. He watched with a frown as fur shifted and bones cracked.

Kronos the man grunted as he stretched. "I suppose you want an explanation."

"Yeah. That would be nice. Then I'll decide whether to throw you out or not."

The Titan finally decided to sit up. "I needed your blood because I needed a power boost. I… may have gone to my… to Ouranos' resting place and stirred up some ghosts." He smiled crookedly at Percy, looking immensely pleased with himself. Bare-chested as he was, most of his wounds from Tartarus were gone and only a few burns remained as dark and twisted scars. He had dark bruises down his side and a several neat lines of stitches; one stretching from his collarbone to his shoulder and another twisting across his stomach. Percy leaned to the side to see Kronos' back, noting the third large stitch down his spine and the last large one across his shoulder blade – the worst injury he'd had in Tartarus.

"You done staring?"

Percy shoved him off the bed. "That's mine, go find your own." When the Titan stood and twisted to scowl at Percy, the demigod smiled. "It's good to see that they bothered to try to stitch you up. Why didn't they kill you?"

"Wishing they did?"

"I don't know. At least I'd have my bed back then." Percy's lips quirked up. "But really. You're starting to look like you've not got one foot in the grave still." He hunted through his drawers for a square of ambrosia which he tossed to the Titan.

"You noticed then."

"Not that I can blame Apollo," Percy shrugged. "If I were in their shoes I wouldn't give you ambrosia either. So what's their terms for keeping you alive?"

Kronos shrugged. "I'm blind, what can a blind Titan do?"

"A lot. Face Gaea."

"For five minutes."

"Still," Percy said quietly. "Thank you for helping. You didn't have to." When he saw Kronos hesitating he smiled sadly. "You're going somewhere," he guessed.

Kronos sighed. "I have many things to do. You'll pass on my greetings to the others?"

"Yeah. Sure, I will," Percy promised. He hesitated momentarily before raising his hand and curling it into a fist. "Friends?"

Kronos' lips twitched up. "This won't be the last you see of me," he promised. His fist was slightly off, blindness evidently still throwing off his accuracy slightly, but it still made Percy's grin widen. "Friends," the Titan Lord agreed.

"I'll look forward to it."

"Please don't. It's nothing to get excited about."

Did I purposefully leave it open just in case I find inspiration to add Trials of Apollo to this? Yes, yes I did.

Guest: Well, it's now a two-shot.

Sealure: Thanks!

LordBlack31: I have far too many stories going to do that :)

aRTsyisAwesome: They trust Percy and Annabeth. Besides, it didn't mean they'd let him do anything.

Lord Nitro: Well. That's how things end.

Colts12broncos18: Brilliant! I figure if Kronos was his normal, un-handicapped self he wouldn't willing go with them... not really. Well, who would ever pray to Kronos?

MafiaMarshMello: Yes! Exactly. He's a good villian, but not the evilest, if you get what I mean.

Nychta973: Well you have seen it.