#7 What if...
Kronos was a somewhat good grandpa?
Percy couldn't say he was relieved when Luke took that knife to himself, there was too much pain in death for that to be the case.
But nonetheless, in that deep seated exhaustion that wove in his very bones, Percy just wanted everything to be over.
Then, as Luke lay dying, his bright blue eyes seared into Percy and made him promise to not forget about the demigods, to make the gods be better.
Percy knew his job wasn’t yet done, because as Luke took his last breath, the shadows overtook the throne room. The hearth just mere embers, and a magical laugh echoed around the chambers.
Annabeth was crying over Luke’s corpse and didn't seem to notice anything wrong in her grief, but Percy did. He always noticed, even though Annabeth would most likely disagree. She does call him Seaweed Brain after all. But just because Percy doesn't speak up about what he notices doesn’t mean he's dumb.
It's why, when his instincts screamed at him, he raised his sword just as a great metal scythe came sweeping down at him.
“Oh, grandson. I long since outgrow that boy's body, but you fought brilliantly. But now I am back at full power, you will not be able to stop me as you are. Still, for you to not only sense my strike, but stop it… I knew you were special. You really should have joined my side,” Kronos says, his words like honey, as he presses his scythe down upon Percy’s sword. Golden cracks were seeping from Kronos’ bronze skin, showing his divinity leaking through.
Percy snarled, his green eyes blazing with fury, “I'd rather die!”
And Percy looked over to Annabeth for help, but she was not moving, her tears frozen in time on her cheeks.
Percy froze in fear, his heart pounding. Kronos was no longer in Luke's body and his powers restricted. Kronos had his own body now, and his abilities were restored.
However, Percy’s freezing was a fatal mistake, as Kronos pressed on with more force forcing Percy’s sword from his hand.
Percy looked up, his eyes wide in fear as he stared in Kronos golden orbs.
Except as Percy’s sword came clanging to the ground and Kronos swung his scythe. The titan leveled the blade just against his throat.
Kronos croons, “Don’t worry grandson. I couldn’t possibly kill you when I see so much of myself and Rhea in your eyes.”
Percy startles and flinches as Kronos touches Percy’s face gently, pulling black strands behind his ears.
“Hmm?” Kronos hums, “Don’t worry you’ll understand in time. For now just sleep, and we’ll celebrate later when I discipline my kids.”
“Stop-” Percy says, but then he feels a pinch on the back of his neck, and everything fades to black.
The last thing he hears is Kronos’ voice comforting him…
~~~
Kronos at first hated all these mortal pests that had the blood of gods in their veins.
Mortals weren’t worthy of such a gift.
Unfortunately, Kronos needed to play along with the pests' plans in order to revive.
However, how he started to view these pests, or rather just one pest, changed when he met the son of his Poseidon, his grandson, Perseus Jackson.
Perseus was different then the other pests - demigods. He was just twelve when Kronos first slipped in his dreams, and already Pereus was powerful, defiant, but then Kronos saw his eyes, Rhea's eyes. Kronos could barely stomach it when he swallowed Poseidon, his son with Rhea's eyes.
But now it seems that another inherited her eyes. The one who would be the doom or savior of Olympus. And should die when he was sixteen.
No, this one would not be the one to fulfill the prophecy. He couldn't be.
Kronos sent the boy nightmares, hoping he would pray to his father. That Poseidon would scue the boy. Except that never happened.
And so the next thing that Kronos could do was set his vessel to poison the daughter of Zeus, so a quest would be sent and the Golden Fleece would be retrieved to not only help heal him, but the daughter of Zeus as well, so she would be the one to fulfill the prophecy.
Of course, everything went downhill from there and that daughter of Zeus ran away from the prophecy and gave it to his grandson.
Huh? When did Kronos start thinking of Perseus as his grandson? From the moment he saw Rhea's eyes.
And after his grandson saved Artemis and by holding Atlas’ weight the gods voted to kill his grandson!
As if he hasn't already saved them and proven himself before!
It made Kronos resolve to tear Olympus down all the more.
And so, even as he had to fight his grandson to do so, he would, for Perseus for power.
Of course no one but Kronos himself knew that he would never mortally injure the boy. It's why when his scythe, which is said to suck the life from one's soul, struck, Perseus was merely fatigued.
And Kronos regularly asked for updates on how Perseus is doing from that daughter of Aphrodite.
It's how he found out Perseus’ powers were growing every day, he was long on his way to ascending.
Oh, and how that daughter of Athena was trying to shackle his grandson to mortality by seducing Perseus of all things. As if that girl would ever be good enough for his grandson! She, he always calls him stupid, and tests him at every opportunity. No! Kronos would not stand for that!
Then, the final battle came. Unfortunately his spy turned traitor and died, but it didn't matter because the battle lines were drawn. And Perseus was practically glowing in his divinity.
It would be soon!
Perseus made his choice, but it was too late to stop Kronos, for he was already healed.
And Kronos fought Perseus one on one. The boy didn't even notice that he glowed, his veins golden. Too fueled by anger to stop and think why he could still move when Kronos stopped time, and that daughter of Athena did not.
Unfortunately, when he noticed that time was stopped all around him, the boy froze, and Kronos took the advantage.
And when Kronos saw the wide eyed fear in those green eyes he reassured him that he would not kill him. How could he, when he came to care for the boy?
However, Perseus startles and flinches as Kronos goes to comfort the boy by face gently, pulling black strands behind his ears.
“Hmm?” Kronos hums, knowing the boy is too brainwashed by the gods and too young to understand, “Don’t worry you’ll understand in time. For now just sleep, and we’ll celebrate later when I discipline my kids.”
“Stop-” Perseus says, but Kronos swiftly pinches a nerve on the boy's neck, and the boy slumps forward into his open arms.
Kronos whispers to his grandson comfortably and holds him like a little one to his chest, “Don't worry, I'll take care of you, my grandson.”
Notes:
Whelp! At least Kronos doesn't want Percy to die. Maybe he'll even do alright with being the new prince of the Titans.
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