Work Text:
Aziraphale and Annabeth are busy talking about books they have read and authors they like, while their partners are struggling to find something to talk about.
“It’s not like I dislike reading, it’s just hard to read with dyslexia,” Percy says.
“Humans don’t write anything really worthwhile, except plant and astronomy books,” Crowley says.
Percy sits up at that. “You like plants? I never would have guessed.”
Crowley scowls at Percy in response.
“Actual, now that I think about it, it does make sense,” Percy says.
“How so?”
“Nico, a friend of mine, is the son of Hades and he knows a lot about plants despite being all doom and gloom. His attitude is similar to yours.”
“I don’t know whether I should be insulted or not.” Silents falls until Crowley asks Percy a question. “Say, you have been to the Greek version of Hell, haven’t you?”
“Yes, why?” Percy did not like where this conversation was heading.
“Well, I’m wondering how similar they are to each other.”
“Greek myth has the Underworld, but it is split up into three areas a soul can go. Elysium, which is like Heaven and a place where everyone good goes. The Fields of Asphodel, people that were never really good or bad go there. Lasty, the Fields of Punishment is similar to Hell, where all the evil souls go to receive endless torture and punishment. There is Hades’ palace down there as well as the entrance to Tartarus, but no human souls go to Tartarus for torture.”
“Hell has an area where humans are tormented and an area where us demons reside.”
“So, it is a combination of the Fields of Punishment and Tartarus then.”
“You’ll have to elaborate on what Tartarus is exactly.”
“I explained it before!” Percy said exasperated.
“Wasn’t paying attention.”
“Tartarus is where all the Greek monsters live and reform before popping back up to earth. I told you the story of how Annabeth and I survived that place.”
“I think I remember the story. You battled some goddess called Akhlys.”
“Yeah.”
“I guess Hell is a combination of Tartarus and Field of Punishment.”
“You can’t die either right?”
“Well, we can ‘die’ like any other human, but we are just sent back to hell similarly to your monsters. Though, we can be fully killed with holy water just like angels are fully killed by hellfire.”
“If only there was a way to permanently kill monsters,” Percy bemoaned.
They sit in silence for a little while before Percy speaks again. “Do you ever talk to the other demons?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, I have met the Furies and was wondering if you can interact with them in Hell or if you can go to the Underworld.”
“I’m willing to test this hypnosis, but first I want to know how you met the Furies.”
Percy sighs and gives up on the idea that Crowley had actually been listening when he had talked about them the first time. “I’ve met them multiple times, but the first time I met them was when one of them was my pre-algebra teacher when I was twelve. Hades thought I might have stolen his helm of darkness, spoiler I did not. Anyways, the fury was Alecto but the name she went by as my teacher was Ms. Dodds. On a field trip she attacked me, and I killed her with my sword, Riptide.”
“Interesting,” was all Crowley said before he disappeared.
A few minutes later, Aziraphale and Annabeth came over to make sure Crowley and Percy had not started any trouble only to find Crowley gone.
“Where did he go,” Aziraphale said worriedly.
“He just popped down to Hell to check on something. No need to worry,” Percy told him.
◊◊◊
Meanwhile in Hell…
Crowley barges into Beelzebub’s throne while Beelzebub is having a meeting with a few high-ranking demons.
“To what nuisance do I own this interruption to, Crawley,” Beelzebub says with a scowl.
“I’m looking for a Ms. Dodds, important business and everything,” Crowley says casually.
The room is silent for a moment while each demon tries to figure out who Ms. Dodds is.
Suddenly, Alecto roars, “That is not my name you bastard, it is Alecto!” Alecto realizes only one person dares to call her Ms. Dodds and so she asks, “That vile sea spawn scum! Where. Is. He.”
“Where is who?” Crowley replies calmly.
“Perseus Jackson!” Alecto spits out, venom dripping in her voice.
“Ohhh, you mean the twelve-year-old that beat you,” Crowley says in fake realization.
“I am a Fury, a tormenter. No puny kid could even defeat me,” Alecto defends.
“And yet he did,” Crowly says amused. Alecto growls at Crowley but does not continue to argue.
“Waz that it,” Beelzebub says.
“Yes, now excuse me ‘Lord’ Beelzebub,” Crowley says mockingly with a bow, before turning to leave.
“Sorry Lord Beelzebub but I have one more question for Crowley,” Alecto says, and Crowley pauses mid stride.
“Go ahead but be quick,” Beelzebub says tiredly but sternly.
“How did you meet Perceus because to my knowledge he lives in America and you are supposed to be in England,” Alecto smirks hoping to get Crowley in trouble.
“Oh, that is simple really. He is in London for vacation. Said something about needing a break after having to fight in two wars and falling in Tartarus, whatever that is supposed to mean,” Crowley says hiding the smirk on his face.
“Tartarus?” Alecto says in disbelief.
“Yeah, him and his girlfriend Annabeth,” Crowley responds.
“Impossible,” Alecto says.
“Why don’t you go down there yourself and ask Akhlys. I think she is still alive after that incident,” Crowley grins and has to stop from laughing as he watches the color drain from Alecto’s face. If demons or furies could faint, then Alecto would have but instead she just stared at Crowley in horror.
“Ciao,” Crowley says before finally leaving and heading back to earth. Alecto could explain to Beelzebub what exactly Percy and Tartarus were.
◊◊◊
Back in the bookshop…
Crowley saunters into the bookshop and retakes his seat. “Where were you darling,” Aziraphale asks worriedly.
“Hell,” Crowley answers.
“Sooo?” Percy says in way of asking if Crowley saw Alecto.
“Yeah, she’s down there. Doesn’t like you very much,” Crowley says.
“Figures,” Percy says and shrugs.
“What did you do now?” Annabeth questions.
“I asked Crowley to see if Ms. Dodds can be found in Hell,” Percy says.
“You really should stop calling her that, she might try to kill you again,” Annabeth says.
“So, is this ‘Ms. Dodds’ down there?” Aziraphale hesitantly asks.
“Her name is Alecto and apparently she is a demon in hell,” Annabeth says.
“But isn’t that the name of a Fury?” Aziraphale says.
“Exactly, that is why Seaweed Brian needs to stop aggravating her,” Annabeth says.
“I could easily defeat her again,” Percy says.
“Not like she will not bother you again,” Crowley mutters just loud enough to be heard.
“What did you do Crowley?” Aziraphale asks.
“I might have let slip that Percy and Annabeth survived Tartarus,” Crowley says, avoiding eye contact with Aziraphale.
“I don’t think that will cause any trouble. Might even keep the monsters away for a little while,” Annabeth says. The group moves on from the issue and instead discusses what they are going to do for lunch.