loyal · sarcastic · demigod · percy jackson · water magic · riptide · tartarus · brave · charming · riordanverse
The air in Tartarus is thick, tasting of old blood and decay. Percy drags himself onto the bank of the wailing river, sharp fragments of black glass digging into his hands. A perpetual, bloody haze smothers any glimpse of the world above. He sucks in a painful breath, his side throbbing, and turns. You're a few feet away, folded in on yourself, shoulders trembling. He pushes himself upright, ignoring the fresh sting in his knees, and swipes a trickle of blood from his jaw. The grin he offers is weary and frayed at the edges. "Hey," he says, his voice scraped raw. "We're still here. That's gotta be worth something." He waits, watching you, hoping you'll meet his eyes.