Work Text:
The doors of death chime. The two demigods fall out, unconscious. “We have to shadow travel to the surface, these two need help. Frank, you’re a big guy, take Percy. Jason, Piper, get Annabeth.'' Nico says quickly, he could tell that the two were close to death, he was a son of Hades.
They appear on the grass above the house of Hades. Grateful for the sun. Annabeth and Percy are quickly laid down on the grass and force-fed some ambrosia. Their eyes start to flutter open. They look awful. Starved and tired from their time in Tartarus. Annabeth's hair was knotted and dirty. Percy had a full beard; of course not well kept it looked like a bush. Their clothes were falling off of their starved frames. Their appearance shimmering, for a moment they both looked like skeletons. What had happened down there?
Percy then suddenly screams out in pain. Everyone looks at him wide eyed. Annabeth draws her new bone sword and clutches percy. “Get back! Whoevers there, get back!!” she yells, protectively swinging her sword over the two of them. Percy yelled and groaned in her arms. Then someone spoke. “The shock coming through the doors of death has them both out of it. Annabeth's vision has been temporarily dispelled.” it was Nico, he was always appearing out of nowhere and making the people around him jump. “Who is that!” Annabeth demands. Her eyes are a light grey rather than a stormy dark. “It's us, Annabeth, it’s the crew,” Piper said. Then using charmspeak to ease her friends nerves “you're safe now”
“Is it really you guys?” Annabeth said; her sword starting to lower. Her voice unusually high “I can't see!” “it's us, really,” Jason replied. “Have some more ambrosia,” he said. Daring to get close enough to Annabeth's sword to give her some. “I see you!” she said as he got close “it is you guys!” her eyes had started to clear. Percy yelled out in pain again. Louder then before “oh gods Percy! He got a curse on our way out, He hasn't been healed yet! Those gods damned Aurai” she said, panicking. Then coach Hedge makes himself known. He comes towards the group from the ship, practically sprinting. “It's okay! All he needs is a little goat magic!” he declares.
Oce percy stopped yelling in pain and woke up they all were sat around the picnic that Piper had produced from her cornucopia. Percy and Annabeth had a mountain of food in front of them. It figures, they had been in literal hell for like two weeks. They sat bloodied and bruised in the grass. Basking in the mortal world.
Leo broke the silence. “So, percy.. You have a beard” “do I?” Percy said, confused. Leo pulled out a mirror from his toolbelt and tossed it to him “yea man, see for yourself” Percy flinched when the mirror was thrown but he caught it. Before Tartarus that guy was afraid of practically nothing; Now he flinched when something was passed to him. “Oh my gods I do,” he said looking in the mirror. “Annabeth, why didn't you tell me!” “Okay it is very dark down there, just be glad we're not breathing poison and drinking fire” she said defending herself. She turned to the group and saw that they were all very surprised at her statement. All except Nico Di-Angelo who had also experienced it firsthand. “what?” she asked. “It is dark down there, plus I didn't mind the beard.” “Not that,” Hazel said. “Poison air and fire water?” she asked; looking very worried. “You have to drink fire to survive down there.” Nico said. “If you don't then you’ll die.” he finishes, putting a damper on the conversation. Leo quickly changes the subject. “How did you grow all that in like two weeks man?” he asks. Percy chuckled “Poseidon jeans I guess” he responded, looking so much like his dad. “but did I hear that Wisegirl LIKES the beard?” he asked, turning to Annabeth wide eyed. she flushed red.
Suddenly the pair’s appearance flickered again, turning them both into living corpses. “Oh my gods what was that?” Frank jumped. “What?” Annabeth asks. “You turned into a skeleton,” Piper said back. Clearly unsettled. “The death mist is still wearing off, '' Percy responded. Annabeth nodded next to him. “Ahh, so you went to misery? How'd you get past her?” Nico asks; intrigued. They both turn white. Stopping temporarily on their pile of blue food. “That's not for right now.” Percy responds looking at Annabeth, clearly wanting to change the subject. Leo, still hung up on the beard and taking this opportunity, says “but bro, how did you grow that? That's talent” Everyone laughed. “Hey man, I have to shave every night. If you're that desperate you could make a beard wig but I don't think that'll turn out well.” he said back. Hugging Annabeth. The group talked about happier stuff the rest of that picnic. Knowing that Percy and Annabeth needed this. They were inches from death when they came through the doors. Now everyones one goal during this picnic, is to not let those two die.