#and percy having TEARS IN HIS EYES AND REASSURING HER AS HE SACRIFICES HIMSELF | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

crow-in-a-teapot · 3 years

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tower of nero spoilers

i have just finished the tower of nero. and before i go searching for other people’s thoughts and art and more of the characters i love so much, i want to write down some of my own thoughts because i know as soon as i delve into that ‘ton spoilers’ hashtag there are going to be complaints and criticisms and so much that i don’t want to hear, or essays that’ll make me upset, or things that’ll change my perception on the book (because on this website people really love to hate the trials of apollo).

i want to start with: i loved it. it didn’t feel earth-shattering or huge and momentous like some of my favourite riordanverse books (house of hades, the blood of olympus, the last olympian and maybe some of the magnus chase books take those pedestals for me) but it was satisfying. and i think it was satisfying because it in no way felt like an ending. whether because eventually rick will write that will-and-nico-go-through-tartarus-and-save-bob novella, or because we (or at least i) will continue writing and imagining and creating for this world i don’t know. he didn’t wrap up the story in a perfect little bow like ‘nineteen years later’, he simply put it on pause. gave us a glimpse of where every character was at at the end.

the only thing that makes me so angry and upset is that i did manage to get some spoilers for moments that i know would have been so good to experience for the first time if i hadn’t been spoiled for them. the moment where rachel mentions penguins in a mansion near her house, nico getting mental health advice from mr d, the fact that will and nico were going to be in the book for so much of the story, but the big thing was literally spoiled for me two days ago, it was the reason i sat down to read it as fast as possible because i was terrified of getting more spoiled and not being able to experience the moments for myself, was that piper had a girlfriend. i know that reading that for the first time would have been so cool and surprising, and the fact that when it came up for a moment in the last couple pages all i felt was disappointment because it was spoiled for me and because it was now tinged with whatever that person was saying about her having a girlfriend.

but i still had some warm fuzzy moments, the two parts where apollo thinks he’s going to die but nico comes up behind him - so good. impeccable.

Leader Guy spat. ‘Now, I kill you.’

He raised his sword... and froze. His face turned pale. His skin began to shrivel. His beard fell out whisker by whisker like dead pine needles. Finally, his skin crumbled away, along with his clothes and flesh, until Leader Guy was nothing but a bleached-white skeleton, holding a sword in his bony hands.

Standing behind him, his hand on the skeleton’s shoulder, was Nico di Angelo.

and

Nero raised his hand, ready to give the kill command, when behind me a mighty BOOM! shook the chamber. Half our enemies were thrown off their feet. Cracks sprouted in the windowsand the marble columns. Ceiling tiles broke, raining dust like split bags of flour.

I turned to see the impenetrable blast doors lying twisted and broken, a strangely emaciated red bull standing in the breach. Behind it stood Nico di Angelo.

gods. poetic brilliance. i can’t believe i’m still a nico di angelo stannie in the year 2021. in five years i have not changed (ever since the tv show announcement last summer i have managed to morph into myself from 2017)

from here i’m not sure where to go next i kind of want to go through everything, except it’ll be more difficult than my tyrant’s tomb reaction because i wasn’t reading on a kindle and thus can’t just do funny little reactions to screenshots of quotes, so i’ll just skim through the book page by page and see what i can comment on (i’m not planning on doing analysis today, no thank you, just enjoying the end of my childhood and trying to squeeze as much out of it as possible)

i have an emotional attachment to mr. snake from the very first chapter, and am very upset that he’ll never get off on his baltimore stop and get to see his wife, lu had no reason to shoot and kill him like that.

that brings me to lu, i liked her, it was interesting to see how rick kind of brought in not only the overarching theme of abuse, but also people who let the abuse happen, i have more i could say on this i’m too lazy to right now, and i promised no analysis - or the fact that Lu had conspired to make the show non-lethal to spare Meg’s feelings rather than - oh, I don’t know - refusing to do Nero’s dirty work in the first place and getting Meg out of that house of horrors.

And are you any better? taunted a small voice in my brain. How many times have you stood up to Zeus?

Okay, small voice. Fair point. Tyrants are not easy to opppose or walk away from, especially when you depend on them for everything.

the parallels to meg and lester heading to percy’s apartment, and then to camp half blood to the hidden oracle was so cool to read, every callback to the hidden oracle just there to remind us readers exactly how far apollo has come and how he’s changed; the entire chapter with sally, paul and estelle just felt sickly sweet, it just didn’t seem real how wholesome and good that family is, like i get why apollo broke down and just sobbed in that shower.

also rick really saying acab again in toa, i thought he was done after that elf cop chapter in magnus chase (the magnus chase series is a masterpiece) but apparently not, with A ‘good cop’ is still a cop... still a part of the mind game.

the grey sisters, i forgot about them completely but this threw me back into was it the sea of monsters when annabeth summoned them? i’m not sure, it could have been the lightning thief either, they really remind me of the disney hercules movie. the whole ganymede paragraph was gold, i love gods being canonically confirmed lgbt in the riordanverse. i also love the whole eye-tossing part -

‘He will crush our eye,’ Anger cried, ‘if we don’t recite our verses!’

‘I will not!’

‘We will all die!’ Wasp said. ‘He is crazy!’

‘I AM NOT!’

‘Fine, you win!’ Tempest howled.

also, the explanation for why dionysus chooses to look the way he does was perfect, because it was something i often wondered about and wasn’t expecting to get an explanation for, and i imagine the whole mythological dionysus to look like.. well like a more feminine apollo i guess, beautiful in a gender non-comforming way.

Other Olympians could never comprehend why Dionysus chose this form when he could look like anything he wanted. In ancient times, he’d been famous for his youthful beauty that defied gender.

...

In retaliation, Dionysus had decided to look and act as ungodly as possible. He was like a child refusing to tuck in his shirt, comb his hair or brush his teeth, just to show his parents how little he cared.

every scene with nico at camp just BREAKS ME, i would throw in screenshots of every damn quote but unfortunately, as said above, cannot and would rather not type every one; we’ll start with, obviously apollo confirming to him that jason is dead.

He didn’t look angry exactly. He looked as if he’d been hit in the gut not just once but so many times over the course of so many years that he was beginning to lose perspective on what it meant to be in pain. He swayed on his feet. He blinked. Then he flinched, jerking his hands away from Meg’s as if he’d just remembered his own touch was poison.

ugh then will talking about how nico’s doing, confirming that he’s suffering with ptsd, mr d giving him advice, helping him sort though what voices in his head are real and which ones aren’t, then the paragraph that just recounts every horrific thing poor nico has been through, how will has to reassure him that he’s okay and ‘with friends’ when he wakes up after shadow travel

will’s kindness to apollo, buying him clothes, and apollo finding seymour the leopard’s head in his bed, put there by mr d aaaa AAAA A A A A A THE ORDINARY, EVERYDAY CAMP HALF BLOOD THINGS..

i could go on for years and years about how much i appreciate rachel having a big role in this book, and the visit to her apartment, everything, her art, the fact that she got what she wanted, she’s going to PARIS to study ART, she isn’t forced to be someone she’s not by her dad, and gets to be a big part of a demigod mission and not stand on the sidelines for once.

i love that her landscapes are still visions, that she still paints the quests demigods go on - the burning maze, jason’s funeral pyre, caligula’s ships; and how nico ~appreciates art~

‘And, hey, di Angelo -’ she pushed him playfully away from the canvas he’d been ogling - ‘don’t brush against the art! I don’t care about the paintings, but if you get any colour on you, you’ll ruin that whole black-and-white aesthetic you’ve got going.’

i. love. rachel.

WILL GLOWS!! THE HEADCANONS FROM LIKE FIVE YEARS AGO THAT YOU’D SEE FLOATING AROUND ABOUT HIM MANIPULATING LIGHT!! CONFIRMED!! CANON!! AMAZING

I AM OBSESSED WITH THE TROGS, I LOVE THEM, THEY ARE GREAT, not gonna lie, i was expecting something more dramatic and spooky with how worried will was and how dionysus was going.. visiting the cavern-runners isn’t ♫ good for your mental health ♫ but the little hat frog gremlins were a good addition. i like them very much and their funky little soup shenanigans. quoting the ghost king himself: trogs good. nice hats. (IM SORRY I KEEP MENTIONING HIM BUT I JUST) also how apollo starts wishing for breadsticks a s ajoke and theY STRAIGHT UP HAVE BREADSTICKS? HUH? WHERE DID THEY GET THE BREADSTICKS FROM??

yeah, i’m also still very much upset by every mention of jason grace, it’s funny how ever since his death in the burning maze i have grown to love him more and more and that’s not fun for me, for that boy to become one of my main comfort character’s and have his death and sacrifice and nobility mentioned every few chapters. i’m pretty sure i cried when he appeared to talk in apollo’s dreams, and this time the tears weren’t from the effort of keeping my eyes open and working for hours straight reading this book (i remember staying up until 2am to finish the sequel to beautiful, broken things, it was very much worth it)

‘All right, Jason. We miss you, though.’

ALSO. THE FACT THAT THIS KID. THIS CHILD. HAD TO THINK ‘BUT IF A HERO ISN’T READY TO LOSE EVERYTHING FOR A GREATER CAUSE, IS THAT PERSON REALLY A HERO?’ A KID ISN’T SUPPOSED TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND BE READY TO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES FOR THE GREATER GOOD,, i,, ugh,, he’s supposed to be finishing school and designing temples not being the perfect hero and soldier,, spain without the s,,

as @couldnt-think-of-a-funny-name said: ‘thinking about how ghost! Jason didn’t seem to understand why Apollo was so upset about his death because he’s been raised to believe a hero’s sacrifice is noble and his life doesn’t matter in the grand scheme and also if he doesn’t understand why the person who watched him get horrifically killed is so torn up over his death he probably doesn’t even realize his other friends are grieving him..’

IM SO UPSET THE ARROW OF DODONA IS DEAD D: IT WAS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS ALL THE FUNNIEST MOMENTS WERE BECAUSE OF THAT ARROW AND IT'S DEATH WAS SO SAD WTH LIKE WE FIND OUT HOW USELESS THE ARROW FELT AND HOW THE GROVE OF DODONA ALL THOUGHT IT WOULD BE CRAP AND WOULD FAIL APOLLO AND THEN ONCE WE FEEL BAD FOR IT, IT DIES??

the entire python battle was pretty grim, there is a part of me that's like because this is the last book series i would have loved say the magnus chase and kane chronicles gang in a giant battle with everyone like the battle of manhattan but even more dramatic, but even so, i did appreciate that python battle and the whole almost-falling-into-the-depths-of-tartarus thing.

him talking to artemis was cool, but JESUS: 'I turned and strode out of my room, trying to recall how the god Apollo walked.' like that HURTS. it was such a huge culture shock for apollo to go throught this huge character arc and be so human and understand the pain of others, to be around gods again who are so.. apathetic. also, zeus. 'Interesting how he put that: I had done him proud. I had been useful in making him look good. My heart did not melt. I did not feel that this was a warm-and-fuzzy reconciliation with my father. Let's be honest: some fathers don't deserve that. Some aren't capable of it.'

OKAY OKAY SO THE END?? CHIRON TALKING TO A CAT (BAST) AND A SEVERED HEAD (MIMIR) ABOUT SHARED PROBLEMS WITHIN THE PANTHEONS!! WILL AND NICO RECEIVING A PROPHECY FROM RACHEL TO GO TO TARTARUS AND SAVE BOB!! THE HUNTERS OF ARTEMIS, INCLUDING THALIA AND REYNA BEING BEST FRIENDS (qpr.. qpr..) HUNTING THE TEUMESSIAN FOX!! PERCY, ANNABETH AND GROVER, THE ORIGINAL TRIO, GOING ON A CHAOTIC ROAD TRIP TOGETHER!! - SO MANY STAND-ALONE SET -UPS PFSJSJSJ

okay quick word on the reunions at the end: funny little elephant visitation program with livia and hannibal. love that for them. calypso and leo's relationship seems rocky and complicated, but that's to be expected, i think even if they do get properly back together again it might not last long, because it does pretty much feel like a teenage relationship where the two aren't very compatible, but we'll see. hazel and frank are so funny with their gold plated necklaces. lavinia - tap-dance icon. almost cried at the mention of jason's temple-extension plan again. percy not being sure about what he wants to do in college is accurate and i like that that's left to be up-for-interpretation (rick does THE MOST for the fanfic writers pfsjsj). i am OBSESSED with aeithales, like i hate deserts so the burning maze setting is not my favourite but GOD that HOUSE, the vibes are off-the-charts. i'd love a house made of living trees that's also a greenhouse filled with dryads. meg gets a unicorn. that is so great.

i kind of wish the book hadn't ended with 'Call on me. I will be there for you.' because every time I imagine the friends theme song and i don't think that's the vibe he was going for, BUT i do love him talking to meg, that was genuinely emotional - 'You'll come back?' she asked. 'Always,' I promised. 'The sun always comes back.' ; i really wish it had ended with that, but i guess apollo does tend to break fourth walls and talk to the readers, like a lot of the protagonists of riordanverse books.

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hadesglance · 5 years

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All hail the new queen... - 25

You fought your way through the maze of the underworld to make a deal with the King…intrigued the lonely king listens…

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five Part Six Part Seven Part Eight Part Nine Part Ten Part Eleven Part Twelve Part Thirteen Part Fourteen Part Fifteen Part Sixteen Part Seventeen Part Eighteen Part Nineteen Part Twenty Part Twenty-One Part Twenty-Two Part Twenty-Three Part Twenty-Four

Hades smirked keeping his hands over your eyes, “Just a few more steps…”

“Hades!” You held onto his wrists as he pushed you forward, “I’ve been to Olympus, what makes this time so special?”

He spun you around pressing his forehead against yours, as his eyes locked with your surprised look, “You have been to the ballroom, a room, and Apollo’s garden…but you have never seen Olympus my love.”

You blushed when he used the term of endearment, “Okay…so…”

“So…” He stepped aside watching you face change instantly to wonder as he revealed the city of Olympus, “we have time to explore today.”

The city line rested before you on the golden streets. The buildings reflected the sea cascading iridescent colors across each one. People… gods… creatures of all kinds roamed the streets in the distance.

You took a few steps forward before putting your hands to your mouth, “Hades…”

“Yes?” He stepped back to you taking one of your hands as you lowered them.

“Is this a dream?” His eyes widened shocked as you went on, “This is all so perfect…it has to be a dream.”

“It is perfect…” He smiled before leaning in kissing you until you were breathless, “but it’s not a dream.”

He wrapped your arm around his and began pulling your dazed form along. He couldn’t disagree with you. It was perfect, and he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. It always dropped.

He watched as you marveled at everything, commenting that it reminded you of their trip to the Bay of Kotor. It had been a long time since he walked the streets of Olympus and he had to agree with you. The structure of the buildings were reminiscent of theirs.

You walked up to a stall ran by satyr. He was selling wreaths and crowns from his garden, “Well this is a rare sight…a human in Olympus.”

Hades hung back wanting the satyr to remained relaxed with you as you smiled up at him, “I suppose it is, isn’t it? Did you make all of these?”

“I did, as did my daughter.” He leaned down looking into your eyes, “You are very kind.”

“Oh? Why would you say that?” Your eyes widened hearing such a declaration.

The satyr smiled and waved a hand over his wares, “Pick one?”

“I couldn’t…I don’t have any money.” You shook your head smiling.

“Nonsense, for the Queen of the Underworld, it is a gift.” He smiled as you blushed, “So please pick one.”

Hades’ interest peaked hearing that the satyr knew who you were. His attention moved back to you as you began to look over each wreath and crown until you landed on a flower crown with little blue and yellow flowers. The satyr smiled as he lifted it up looking at it with a big smile as if he knew something no one else did.

“In my family, we have a gift.” The satyr told you as he moved the crown around in his hands inspecting it, “We can look at a person and see their aura, and the more we interact with them the more we see their true nature, which may take us to some hints of the future.”

Your eyes were alit with fascination, “Really? And you just saw that I was kind because of my aura?”

“Yes, but…” He leaned forward placing the crown on your head, “I sense that it brings you trouble from time to time. Make sure you use all your tools to guard yourself.”

“Tools?” You stared up at him, “What tools?”

“Your eyes, your ears, your hands,” The satyr smiled as he listed everything off while his hands began working on something, “above all your mind. Your heart can decide many things for you, and it should, but it can make you sacrifice a great deal if you’re not careful.”

“That…is…” You swallowed looking down to your hands, “exactly like me.”

“Don’t stress, it’s just an observation.” He told you as he reached for your hand placing what looked like a boutonniere of flowers matching your crown into your hand, “No matter what, be true to yourself, your majesty, and everything will be fine.”

Hades watched as you thanked him again before turning and walking back to him. Your face was flushed as you stopped before him, “Everything alright?”

“Just…the your majesty thing…” You rattled off as you put the boutonniere on his jacket, “I am not royalty…not really…”

He took a deep breath holding it before letting it out slowly, “You know my answer to that…but I feel like it might be something else that is bothering you. Did the satyr upset you?”

“No! Oh no!” You shook your head quickly looking up to his face smiling, “He was very kind and surprisingly insightful…sometimes it’s just hard to look into a mirror.”

Hades could relate to that he thought as he looked at the flowers in the crown. They were tight a moment ago, but now they bloomed. He glanced up at the satyr who simply smiled in acknowledgement.

“I hate to pull you away from here, but it’s time for the meeting.” Hades told you taking your hand in his, “Are you ready?”

“Too be apart of a council meeting full of gods who are angry and upset that balance is being shifted, entirely not!” You squeezed his hand, “I don’t know what use I’m going to be…I’m mostly the problem.”

“You are not the problem.” He spoked quickly as you both walked, “We should have never locked him away…”

You stopped looking at him as he trailed, “Hades…he…”

“We need to go.” He didn’t want to talk about him, and he knew you were going ask questions or reassure him of their decision.

It was a quick journey the castle with Hades around. Guards simply opened every door immediately at the sight of him. When they reached the council chamber opened the door watching you nervously step in before him. Everyone was standing around a large table talking and drinking. He shut the door getting several people’s attention.

“Y/N!” Hades looked over with you as Persephone ran up to you throwing her arms around her, “It’s been too long! I had hoped to see at the Spring festival, but I…understand.”

As you blushed when she made eyes at both of you, Hades turned his face away clearing his throat as you spoke, “I’m sorry Percy, I wanted to see you too. Things...got out of hand…”

“I don’t blame you in the least. I’m very proud of you though for standing up to that witch.” Percy beamed looping her arm with yours, “Your crown is beautiful…”

Hades excused himself leaving you securely in Percy’s capable hands. He walked over to Zeus who was finishing up a heated discussion with Hera, “Brother, everything alright?”

“Hades, good, I’m glad you’re here.” Zeus pulled him out to the balcony worry filling his face.

“Zeus, what is it?” He watched his brother take in a deep breath looking out over the city, “Zeus…”

“I can’t reach Athena…or Ares…” He leaned forward gripping the railing, “and they were not in attendance last night…”

Hades felt his chest tighten, “Ares has always been defiant…It would be like him to not respond and try to push you by not attending the celebration.”

“And Athena…” Zeus looked at him worry filling his eyes, “She is the wisest of us…strategic and would not miss her sister’s celebration. This is him…this is Cronus…taking the strongest of my children first…”

Hades frowned stepping to him, “What do you mean?”

“I went to Tartarus without your permission…” Zeus spoke after a moment of silence with tears in his eyes, “He’s not there. I wanted to believe that I could make this all disappear…I was a fool.”

Hades turned around balling his fist up as he shut his eyes tightly. No one was to go to Tartarus without good reason or without his expressed permission.

Opening his eyes he saw Poseidon looking at them a rage building behind his green eyes, “Gentlemen…”

“Poseidon…” Zeus didn’t get a chance to explain as he was pushed over the railing. Hades yelled grabbing hold of Zeus with one hand and pushing against Poseidon with the other.

“When did you go?” Poseidon glared at him pushing him further over the side gripping his shirt tightly, “When!?”

“Stop!” Hades shouted at him.

“How long has he been out polluting the world with his vileness!?” Poseidon boomed.

Zeus stared into his brother’s eyes swallowing the down the knot in his throat, “The last council…”

Hades felt as if he was punched in the gut, “The one you specifically told me not to got to Tartarus alone…sweet Gaia, Zeus…that was almost two months ago.”

“And from what I could tell…he’s been out longer. The guards we’re dead…but everyone else was secure. I gave life to our soldiers again…” Zeus stared into Poseidon’s eyes still, “Push me over if you must…I’d certainly welcome the pain that comes with the fall.”

“And you’d deserve every ounce of it you little prick!” Poseidon pushed him further as Hades called for him to halt again.

“Whoa whoa whoa!” They all froze looking over to you walking with your hands held out and eyes wide, “Stop stooping to a mortal’s standards. You’re all better than that…”

They all stared still confused as you spoke softly as you stepped closer, “You know, pretty boy being held over the ledge while other pretty boy who’s more athletic holds him over the ledge because pretty boy did something stupid. All the while a very handsome attractive man who is the more logical of the three attempts to get both parties to stop and see reason…it’s usually over a girl, but I’m thinking the stakes are higher because you’re gods…”

They all stared for a moment longer before bursting into a fit of laughter. Poseidon pulled Zeus back over the balcony before looking at Hades, “You have certainly been blessed by fate when they decided to have her line tie to yours.”

“I’m not going to argue with you.” Hades nodded at his brother before looking to you making you smile at him.

“Why was he the only man in the scenario?” Zeus pointed at Hades as he looked at you.

“Because he’s the oldest and it’s a fact that he’s handsome and you’re pretty…” You smirked a little putting your hands behind your back.

“Well, I for one am fine being the athletic pretty boy.” Poseidon shrugged a little.

Hades watched as his brothers began to bicker as if a moment ago had never happened. He looked across to you seeing you smile at them, but there was concern in your eyes. He pushed through the pair making them fall silent, “What’s wrong?”

“Its nothing really…” You shook your head a little looking away from him.

“No, no…” Zeus stepped over a crease forming on his forehead, “What’s wrong with my favorite sister-in-law?”

“Yeah, sis, what’s up?” Poseidon also stepped in looking down to you.

You stared at all three of them tearing up a little, “It…it was my fault, wasn’t it? When I got hurt…and we came to Olympus… that’s why Cronus broke out…that’s why you’re fighting?”

Hades had wondered how long it would take for you to work out the prophecy. He was about to console when Zeus stepped in, “No, dear, that falls to me. Come, let’s start the meeting and I will explain to everyone why that is…”

Zeus explained everything. The real prophecy, the fact that he changed it, and his deliberate disobedience by entering Tartarus. The original six were a mix of emotions ranging from fear to anger. Hades understood, when he found out he was angry that Zeus chose to keep him in the dark and afraid that the man who tortured him for years was out. He would have reconsidered so many things had he known.

For the rest in the room, they had only heard stories of Cronus’ cruelty. He wasn’t as real to them. It was Artemis who spoke up first. Her eyes were focused as a hunter’s should be, “Do we have any idea what to expect? What we should be prepared for?”

Zeus swallowed looking at everyone, “The worse…expect the worse and prepare for it…I think everyone should move here. Limit your time on Earth.”

“And what about her?” Hephaestus pointed toward you making you perk up, “Isn’t she the reason the chains are broken? She could be the key to solving everything. Maybe we just give her to Cronus.”

“Out the question.” Hades glared across the room at him.

“Is it? Olympus and it’s inhabitants are in danger and every time you brought her here you brought Cronus’ return closer until it happened.” Hephaestus retorted staring at Hades with intensity, “I know you care for this mortal but she-”

“She is my wife,” Hades stopped him, “and if you think…”

“Hades…” You stopped him by putting your hand on his arm. He looked down at you leaving his sentence unfinished. You were giving him a small smile before you looked at everyone else, “I don’t know if I’m allowed or have the right to speak at this…”

“Of course you do.” Zeus nodded waving for you to continue.

You looked back to Hades for a moment before looking at every at the table, “I can’t claim to understand what’s all going on. You all have more experience and abilities that I can only dream of.”

“But I am also afraid of Cronus…” You frowned seeing people flinch at his name, “My Papa and Gigi would tell us all the story of the Titanomachy…The creation of the world…the Titans…their war, to your war…I’m not just a random mortal. I came looking for Hades…I believe in all of you, I always have.”

There was a surge from your belief that rippled through each of them in the crowded room as you went on, “I would understand if you didn’t want me here. I’m a liability having no powers, no gifts. However, I don’t want you all to do this alone…there has to be something for me to do. Whatever it is I will do it. I’m not just…a mortal anymore…I’m an ally.”

“And speaks like a queen.” Poseidon raised his glass toward you, “I will vouch for her, and anyone who speaks against her speaks against me.”

“I second that.” Apollo raised his glass winking toward you.

Hades watched as several others nodded agreeing. Others were still hesitant and still not convinced. His attention was pulled back to Zeus leaning on the table looking at everyone, “We need everyone together on this. Right now, our focus needs to be on finding Media…Gy…”

Everyone looked at the young god hiding amongst the rest of them. He shifted his glasses nervously, “Yes?”

“You are the best at what you do…” Zeus looked at him seriously, “and the closest to our missing friend…I think it’s time you start letting us know what you know…”

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romioneflufffest · 5 years

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Sitting Here

Title: Sitting Here

Creator: @insufferableknowit-all

Prompt: The Burrow, middle of the night

Description: It’s the night before the seven-Potter plan to retrieve Harry from the Dursley’s, and Ron Weasley can’t sleep. How could he, when everything is about the change? Lucky for him, the one person in the world who is able to calm him down, also can’t sleep.

Rating: G-PG

Warnings: N/A

It was the middle of the night and Ron Weasley could not sleep.

How was he expected to? It was the night before everything was going to change. In less than twenty-four hours, he'd be flying on a broom disguised as his best friend. Seven of them would be disguised as it best friend. And despite reassurance from all the members of the Order, Ron thought the plan was absolutely barmy.

Of course, he wouldn't dare say that aloud, and especially not in front of Hermione. Every second word from her mouth over the past few weeks had been laced with worry and doubt. "What if something happens to us?" "Oh, you know that Harry is going to absolutely hate this plan." Ron tried his best to reassure her, but that was proving rather difficult, because 1) It was Hermione Granger, the queen of worrying, and 2) He was starting to doubt the plan himself.

Ron knew that he needed sleep. His body was practically begging for it - he had spent the entire day bidding his mother's housework, and then was persuaded into a Quidditch match with his brothers and Ginny in attempt to distract themselves from worry. He had even enjoyed some of the chores during the day – along with Ginny, he taught Hermione how to de-gnome a garden, which resulted in the Weasley siblings laughing hysterically, mostly at Hermione's offense.

Hermione. His chest warmed as he thought of her, the way she tried to keep her expression stern while he and Ginny were laughing, the way she tripped and stumbled into his arms after one of the gnomes nearly bit her finger off. Ron had been savoring the past few weeks. He knew that once Harry arrived, everything would be different. Not that he didn't want Harry to arrive - he knew that the wizarding world was breaking at the seams, and they had a job to do - but the hours he'd gotten to spend with Hermione, alone, had felt sacred. And soon, they'd be gone.

"Ron?" He almost thought he was imagining the sound of his name, but then Hermione's voice squeaked again. “Ron?” Slowly, she nudged his bedroom door open. "I can't stop worrying about tomorrow," she whispered, her voice barely loud enough for Ron to hear.

He was worried too. But he knew if he admitted that to her, it would only make her worry increase exponentially, so instead he sat up and patted the spot next to him on his bed. "C'mere."

Her eyes were damp, just barely, and her hair stuck up in more directions than usual, likely due to sleepless tossing and turning. She sat cross-legged on his bed, her skin just inches away from his, and then pulled her knees to her chest.

"Were you asleep?" she asked.

"Nah."

"Are you worried too?"

Ron didn't want to lie to her, so he simply shrugged, and tried his best to smile at her without giving himself away. "'M alright."

Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to bother anyone, it's just, you're the only one who...who can calm me down." Even in the dark, Ron could see her cheeks turn pink. He scooted towards her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, trying to ignore the burning feeling in his ears.

“It’s gonna be okay,” he told her, and he meant it. He meant it with every ounce of his being, because if there was one thing he could say for sure, it was that he would make sure things were okay. For her.

Hermione shook her head and sniffed. “I don’t mean just tomorrow. I mean…everything. Even if tomorrow goes to plan, what happens next? With…with the horcruxes, and V-Voldemort – oh, don’t wince every time I say his name, Ronald– and even if Harry defeats him, what…what about my parents? What if I made a mistake?”

Hermione began crying in earnest, though she tried her best to wipes the tears with the hem of her shirt. “Here,” Ron said, grabbing an unfolded shirt off the ground and handing it to her, “Use this. It’s clean.”

She stared at him for a moment, something in her eyes that Ron had never noticed before – was it affection? He couldn’t tell – and then she took the shirt from his hands and used it to dry her eyes. “You should really invest in a handkerchief. Or at least some tissue.”

“Only you would find a way to chastise me while I’m comforting you,” Ron smirked. Hermione giggled in response, and Ron added, “You know, I’m sure I’ve got a handkerchief somewhere. Just gotta dig it out of my mess. I’ll find it, just for you.” He squeezed her shoulders and winked at her (which surprised even him), and she shook her head and smiled, then leaned against his shoulder. He was glad she couldn’t see how red his cheeks had turned.

“I wish we could just stay here,” she whispered. He wasn’t sure wheether she meant here as in the Burrow, or here as in with him, in his room in the middle of the night, but either way he replied, “Me too.”

“It’s all going to change after tomorrow, isn’t it?” she whispered.

“Probably,” he said. He turned towards her and took her hands in his. “But I’ll tell you what. I promise you, if I make it out of this madness, we can stay here all we want. We won’t have to be anywhere, or do anything, and you can come in here and sit with me like this. Er, I mean, you know. If you want to.” Silently, he cursed his burning cheeks.

She squeezed his hands and smiled, then suddenly, her smile turned to a frown. “What do you mean if youmake it out?”

He grimaced. “Well, you know…you’re better at magic and stuff than me, and if anything happens, I’ll…you’re more…more important, right?”

Her frown turned into a glare. “Don’t you dare say you’ll sacrifice yourself for me in this war, Ronald Weasley.”

“Erm – ”

“How would you feel if I said I’d sacrifice myself for you?”

“That’s not the same!”

“It’s exactly the same! And you know it!”

They glared at one another for a few very long seconds, and then Hermione flung her arms around Ron’s neck and buried her face in his shoulder. “Nothing will happen to either of us,” she whispered, although her voice shook with worry and Ron knew better, “We’ll get Harry tomorrow – even though I think the plan is absolutely ridiculous, it’s really not safe, and – ”

“Your point?”

“Right. And…and we’ll make it out of this war, with Harry too, and then we’ll come right back here and everything will be okay.”

Ron wanted to believe it. He needed to believe it. “The first step in all that is probably to get some sleep,” he whispered.

She laughed and released him from her hug. “I’ll get you some tea,” he said quickly, because he was afraid of what would happen if he sat there, looking into her eyes, any longer. He was afraid that he might kiss her, and if he kissed her, then he could throw out all hope of being any use during the war. He was already hopelessly distracted.

By the time he came back to his room with a piping hot cup of tea, Hermione had already fallen asleep, curled up on his bed. He pulled a blanket over her and climbed into the camp bed that had been waiting for Harry. He fell asleep to the sound of Hermione’s quiet breathing. It was the only thing that could calm him down.

Several months later:

It was the middle of the night when the Weasley family finally returned home. The house was empty and quiet, yet loud with grief. Around every corner was a memory of someone they lost in the battle. Slowly, members of the household dispersed – George walked straight to his room, like a zombie. Percy paced in the kitchen, trying to put together something to eat. Arthur took Molly by the arm and led her upstairs. Their sobs echoed through the thin walls. After hours of talking, eating, and crying, Ginny bid Harry, Ron, and Hermione goodnight. The three friends hadn’t left one another’s side since the battle. They shared a bond that nobody else could understand.

Harry fell asleep instantly – he had already slept in the Gryffindor Common Room the day before, but that had been no cure to the exhaustion that had accumulated from months on the run. Ron and Hermione sat, late in the middle of the night, listening to Harry’s snores from the camp bed. “Don’t know how we survived eight months in a tent with this,” Ron whispered.

“I don’t know how you shared a room with him for six years,” Hermione whispered back, and they tried their best to stifle their giggles.

Hermione snuggled into Ron’s chest and closed her eyes. He buried his face in her hair and let her curls tickle his nose. “I told you we’d come back here,” he whispered into her ear.

“Hmm?”

“That night, before we went and got Harry. I told you, after it all, we’d come back here and just sit for as long as you want.”

“Are you trying to turn this into an I-told-you-somoment?”

Ron smirked. “I can’t let you have all of them.”

“Well…can we do more than just sitting? Here?”

Ron didn’t even care how red his face had turned. He kissed her on the lips, and then added, “Maybe when Harry isn’t snoring below us.”

She laughed and kissed him again. “We’re okay,” she whispered, the statement still unfamiliar after the horrors of the last months.

“We are,” he said, “And we will be.” And he meant it.

#romione #ron and hermione #romione fluff fest #romioneflufffest #fic #submission

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