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hotpotrandomfics · 11 months ago

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PJO Ciel AU: Stowaway into War Pt. 1

Summary: Ciel has only been aware of his demigod status for less than two years, so he's learned to be more cautious. Though the cries of war thrust him into joining the fight in Manhattan even if he ruffles a few feathers with a fellow stowaway. Will he die in battle or will he survive the horrors to come?

Part 2: PJO Ciel AU: Stowaway of War Pt. 2

Disclaimer: The characters of Justin Colby Peters and Clara Atalanta Ostá are intellectual properties of @mastrmiscellaneous, please follow them for more content on those characters and their creator's brilliant content.

Word Count: 3,345

It was the dumbest idea in his twelve years of life, that of which his father would throttle him upside the back of his head. Laying inside of a duffle bag with little room to move, clutching his bow, and hoped he wasn’t caught.

“THUCK!” His body made as it whacked against the back of the rear seats of the Camp Half Blood van. “Ow…” Ciel murmured before covering his mouth to not give his position away to the campers sitting in anticipation of the coming battle.

“What was that?” One demigod said, scanning around the van.

“What was what?” Another questioned.

“I thought I heard- never mind.” The demigod focused on the road ahead.

Taking a deep though slight breath, Ciel felt the tension release slightly. However, as time progressed the tension, fear, and worry began to bubble in the pit of the stomach. It was as if ice began to creep throughout his body the closer the van got closer to the final destination: the Empire State Building.

An hour and a half later, the vans arrived at the Empire State Building. The doors of the van opened as each of the demigod teams began their short meeting with Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase.

As Annabeth gave out orders, the demigods began unloading the van with their equipment, including the bag that Ciel had stored himself in. Being pulled out, by a camper and with a loud thud the boy gave his position away.

“Ow!” Ciel yelled as his body hit the asphalt road. After a brief moment, someone opened the bag and met the gaze of the boy. “Uh, hi!”

“Silverstein?!” Annabeth Chase turned to see the boy with a frown that could petrify him like Medusa. “What in the gods' name are you doing here?!”

“I…” Ciel shimmed out of the bag. Dressed in hiking boots, jeans, a camp shirt, and a military jacket that may or may not have been “acquired” from the camp store, and his armor. A black bow, quiver, and sword were pulled from the duffle by one of the campers. Some could state the obvious but did want to hear what he would say.

Standing up, he looked over the other demigods. Some with glances of annoyance, humorous (mostly the Stoll twins), but a majority irritated of stares made it hard to speak.

“Ciel?” Percy's voice called to him with a stern stance though a calm gaze was enough to acquire a response. Ciel and Percy were not super close, but they had a cordial relationship a mentor and mentee. “Why are you here?”

“I wanted to help. To fight…” Ciel gripped his bow firmly as he looked at the rest of the campers. “I can’t just not help! Kronos is on the way, and I-“

“Isn’t your mom against Olympus?” A son of Hephaestus stated with a hint of hate.

They weren’t wrong, Ciel's mother was the goddess of magic, Hecate, and one of the greatest betrayers of the former Titan army. A number of his siblings were claimed during the Battle of the Labyrinth, in which they sided with Kronos and Luke's forces in the hopes of gaining the favor of their mother and recognition. Ciel wasn’t one of them, though just because one could join others who are in the wrong doesn’t mean all should.

How could he not want to have considered the possibility of joining the other side? Having siblings who were willing to switch sides was not something he’d care for because he couldn’t imagine betraying others, especially because he was taught that letting his anger over not receiving prayers and love was worth it. The blood of those who fought and died to the Titan Army. Having a mother’s love? Hecate never stepped in or cared for him for twelve years so why would she change? No, just because he was claimed does not mean she gets to act like he owes her a pegasus fart from him.

“So?” Someone spoke up. Justin Colby Peters, Ciel's best friend for the past year in a half. Cladded in his own attire, faded jeans, a camp hoodie, armor and bow in hand. Never did Ciel feel more thankful than in that moment.

“Ciel is one of our best archers and he doesn’t need permission to do the right thing. Right?”

Some of the demigods grumbled while others nodded at the facts before Annabeth spoke up clearly annoyed.

“Fine. But you’re stuck with the Apollo cabin.” Annabeth said in a stern tone, Ciel nodded in acknowledgment as the rest of the demigods continued clearing the vans of their gear.

“For Olympus' sake!” A hunter pulled out a girl dressed in armor, jeans, a camp shirt, and a dark blue hoodie. “We got another one!”

“Hey, let go!” The girl growled, her eyes a fierce deep blue like the sky at twilight.

“Clara too?!” Percy said as she glanced between her and Ciel. “Are there any more stowaways?”

“Just us, Percy,” Ciel spoke as he walked over to Justin, glancing at Clara before beckoning her to them. “She can help with our assignment.”

“You’ll need me on the battlefield, Jackson,” Clara stated boldly as she cycled her bronze coin through her hand. A statement that couldn’t be argued as Clara is a prodigy in the field of swordsmanship, if he wasn’t mindful of her potential, then Percy would be obliterated during training. This though was not training and there was no chance of a second chance or luck on their side. Clara Atalanta Ostá is someone you could rely on in a pickle and given their limited numbers who could argue?

With little choice in the matter, Percy nodded as the trio smiled. Michael Yew looked at the three before rolling his eyes and taking charge of his cabin and the two stowaways as they made their way to the Williamsburg Bridge.

At the Williamsburg Bridge…

Michael Yew, son of Apollo, began setting up a series of archers between every few cars that sat on the road. In some of the Apollo cabins, the more experienced were in front while Ciel, Justin, and Clara made up the rear guard. The trio went over their gear respectively, ensuring their straps were secure on their armor, counting their munitions, first aid packs, ambrosia, and nectar supplies.

“So… you guys didn’t want to tell me why you hitchhiked all the way to the war zone?” Justin asked as he tested the drawstring of his bow.

“And risked being told no?” Clara countered was she flipped her coin a couple times as she glanced from their position. Scanning for the coming of Kronos forces.

“I could have vouched for you and you could have sat comfortably,” Justin stated a bit irritated given his view of the two. “It’s not like we aren’t close to each other and aren’t friends.”

“Justin,” Ciel spoke up. “It was my idea that we sneak up to join the fight. I… I can’t stay at camp knowing I could help fight against them.”

Ciel stood as he looked out to the East River before turning his gaze to Brooklyn. The thought of not helping his best friend, the camp that made him feel not so alone? To him, the answer was easier than throwing a spear into the ocean.

“Ciel, why didn’t you trust me to tell the truth?”

“It’s because-“Before Ciel could decipher an explanation an explosion and the roar of the Titan Army began to march down the Brooklyn end of the bridge shifted his attention. “We’ll get back to that.”

The three took up positions, Ciel behind a Jeep Cherokee with his bow at the reading an arrow housing Greek fire. Launching his arrow at a great angle, Ciel and a few others Apollo created a steady wall of Greek fire to slow the charge. Justin holding a position in the bed of a Ford F-150, knocking an arrow down the bridge and hitting a hellhound in its forehead. Justin and Ciel continued in intervals while Clara headed forward line with more combat-oriented Apollo kids.

The few demigods and hellhounds that were past the line of fire engaged in a melee with the Apollo kids. Clara raised her sword as she countered a demigod who raised an axe. Siding stepping and slashing towards the enemy's stomach, Clara followed with an elbow strike into their left bicep. Duck, dodge, and parry are all Clara could do against a demigod twice her size before she slipped under their swing. Clara then kicked their knee in before following a hilt strike to the left temple.

Another demigod aimed their shield to bash at Clara, lucky an arrow flew by and struck the demigod in the shoulder. Glancing back, Clara saw Justin giving her a wink before he continued aiding with the volley of arrows. Afterward, Ciel pushed forward as one Apollo kid fell down due to a spear on their leg. Will Solace, another son of Apollo helped pull his sibling to the rear with Clara and another Apollo kid serving as a set of escorts.

The metallic scent of blood and flames carried throughout the zones of the defensive perimeter as more combatants fell. The clang of swords, axes, and shields collided with a thunderous boom as the fever of the Apollo cabin stood holding the line. This was war and they were aiming to win this battle, but the forces of Kronos began to push the forward line back into Manhattan. Apollo kids conducted a retrograde of their forward line while the left and right flanks covered the retreat. Yew ordered them by section to ensure there wasn’t chaos amongst them, and so his siblings could get out of the line as fast as possible. Though it was difficult for them to buy time for those who were injured, that was until Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase arrived to even the odds.

Percy, Annabeth, and Michael discussed the current circumstances while the Apollo kids continued to hold what they were able to. Ciel caught a glance as Percy charged into the fray, followed by a few of the Apollo kids and Clara. Percy fought back demigod after demigod, turning the tide of the battle in their favor with the aid of a few Apollo kids who were skilled in close quarters. The Minautor made a b-line for Percy, and the two enemies engaged in brief combat before Percy eliminated his first feat.

Clara was keeping up with Percy though by a lesser margin possibly due to their height and age difference by taking on her own share of demigods with a fury not seen in training. Ciel along with Justin pushed forward with a few of their comrades, Michael calling out their orders for their shots as they blanketed the battlefield with a hail of arrows.

“We have a chance.” Ciel thought as he kept lining his shots up for the most accurate hits. Though the son of Hecate saw a spear going for Justin, without thinking he tackled his friend but received a graze to his left shoulder.

“Shit! What hell- Ciel, oh gods!” Justin sat up as he looked at Ciel clutching the fresh would.

“I’m okay, it’s just a scratch!” Ciel said in a lightly pained and angry tone. “Gods, that hurt,” he stated as he covered his wound with gauze and medical tape before taking his position again to aid the line.

“You’re stupid!” Justin commented as he took his place firing arrows. “Like who takes an arrow on purpose?!”

“You can complain and tell me how stupid I am when we get outta here!” Ciel shouted with a hint of venom.

“You’re not allowed to leave me alone,” Justin said as he readied another arrow. “Got it?!”

“We’re best friends, so we aren’t allowed to.”

As the battle on the Williamsburg Bridge drew closer a domino effect took over the entire flow. Ciel couldn’t tell much as a storm conjured by Percy took hold of the bridge, on the order of Michael the rest of the Apollo team ran. The crack of the asphalt, wires, and creaks of metal trembled in the demigods' hearts as the bridge fell into the East River, some not making it off or being swept away by the currents. Ciel was bringing up the rear of his comrades, ensuring Justin and Clara made it off but the structure underneath their feet collapsed.

“AH!” Ciel grabbed a piece of rebar as he fell his feet dangling and his grip ever weakening. The violent waters once calmed were disturbed by the falling bridge, metal, and cars that flashed before dimming out to nothing as if Charybdis was making an appearance from the Sea of Monsters.

“Ciel!” Justin and Clara both divided down onto their belly to the remnants of the bridge, reaching out for him. The pair inching closer to him to grab their third member. “Hold on!”

“I’m trying!” Ciel trembled in terror trying to tighten his grip. The fear sank in his stomach as he stared up at his friends pleading for them to help him up.

They inched closer and closer until they were but a hand length away.

“Ciel, you’re gonna have to pull yourself up!” Clara barked as her hand reached for him.

“I… I…” Ciel shook as his grip felt as if it were loosening. He either pulled himself up or fell to his death.

Though the injury from saving Justin made his left arm wail in agony, sapping away at what energy remained shortened the ability of what could have been easy. Nevertheless, he couldn’t blame himself for trying to protect the closest person to him like a brother. Mustering what strength he had left and with a loud yell, he pulled himself up as Justin and Clara clamped their hands on his arms and quivered, pulling him to safety.

“I hate heights,” Ciel said as he crawled on his knees. “Thanks, guys.”

“Don’t be a crybaby,” Justin said with a light jab at Ciel's shoulder.

“Ow!” Ciel rubbed where he was hit in the shoulder. “Mean!”

Justin rolled his eyes as he took a step up, his prosthetic leg being slightly banged up but manageable once they got back to the Plaza Hotel, the headquarters of Camp Half-Blood forces. Clara sighed in relief before glancing at the disaster of what came of the bridge and Percy's rage.

“By the gods…” Clara muttered.

“We have to regroup!” Will Solace shouted to the three and the others lagging behind. With no room to stay in their stupor, the trio followed the rest of their forces back to the Plaza Hotel.

At the lobby of the Plaza Hotel…

The silence that rippled through the dead streets of the Big Apple lingered, only emphasized by the steps of the members of the Camp taking spots to rest. Ciel, Clara, and Justin had just barely gotten through the lobby before they saw the carnage of their casualties. Some kids they fought with during Capture the Flag, some they raced with by the lake, and others barely held to life as medics tended to their wounds.

Ciel didn’t know if it was eyes playing tricks on him. Whether the battle on the bridge, fear of falling to his death, or the heavy exhaustion he felt he could have sworn he saw lights on each of his comrades. Whether they were bright in sold shades of different colors felt odd, unnerving would be more precise as he watched one of the mortally wounded camper's lights seem to flash dimmer and dimmer until there wasn’t a light.

“Hey, you alright man?” Justin asked as he pulled Ciel from his daze. “You, um, got a tear running down your…”

“Oh,” Ciel said in a monotone voice before wiping it away. “It’s… it’s nothing, J. Promise.”

“If you’re sure. Well, we get a chance to rest for a while. We will probably be called to take up guard in a few hours.”

“Alright,” Ciel responded.

That night was the worst sleep Ciel ever had up to date. What he hoped was a dreamless, dark, and silent mind where his thoughts could just stop. On the contrary, his thoughts were rampant as his dreams were filled with the campers who fell today in the defense of Olympus.

A boy from the Hephaestus cabin's stomach was slashed open by what can be assumed to be claw marks. A daughter of Aphrodite clearly speared through her chest as her wound sucked air, but her face is what cemented the terror in Ciel. Her eyes and the eyes of his fallen comrades pleading to be saved as if he could have saved them. How could he have though?

Maybe if he knew magic or was better at first aid he could have helped Will and the other medics. Right? Sadly, he wasn’t skilled at magic if at all. Whether it was Hecate doing or not wasn’t for him to say but one thing was clear: more lives will be lost before the end of the night.

His dreams pulled him to what seemed like the Titan army base camp. A boy in black armor and what appeared to be Greco runes carved into his armor. He stood around six-foot-two, his eyes glimmered a deep green like that of Greek fire. He stood with a woman in a royal purple gown and silver armor. The woman’s features shifted to those of the one Ciel met the day his dad told him of his origins. The way she carried herself was dignified and regal but there was something else about the air around her, it was something akin to a gentle breeze in a quiet evening. A presence Ciel often felt walking the streets of St. Augustine during its nights where the spirits would often walk amongst the living but not able to be seen except by him and those privileged to see into the Mist.

“Mother, it seems that the forces of Camp Half-Blood were able to turn us away.” The boy said as he pointed to the sections of the invasion attempt on a map.

“Prometheus is making his way to the Half-Bloods, if they give up after his talk then we will secure victory-“

“Do not get cocky, Alabaster.” The woman said in a firm, almost parental tone as she spoke. “We have not won this war. Your siblings who you lost in the invasion…”

“I’ll avenge them. I’ll avenge every single one and we will win. My blood is your blood, mother.” Alabaster retorted as he shuffled a set of cards in his hand before gazing at his mother.

“Hm. We still have some time before Prometheus reaches Jackson’s forces. His love for mortals will be his undoing if he steps out of line with Kronos.” The woman claimed as she scanned the map before looking up.

“You’re watching me, aren’t you?” She smirked before reaching for a handout. “There is still time to bend the knee. Join me, son.”

“Mother?” Alabaster questioned as he looked around before realizing his mother wasn’t focused on him.

“Seems one of your siblings can’t help being nosy. You have one chance, join us and you. Your father. Will be safe. I can swear this.” The woman's face though it was stern began to soften, almost pleading, as she tried to convince Ciel through his dreamscape to fall in line.

“If you don’t I’ll drag you here,” Alabaster stated as he marched towards Ciel's direction with a hand reaching out.

Ciel shook as he felt their combined gazes weren’t that of comfort did not make him want to join, especially with Alabaster threats towards him. He looked around to find an exit but was jolted awake and away from the Titan camp. His body shook violently as wind chime during hurricane season, drenched by his sweat as if he rose from the fresh surf.

“Ciel?” Justin questioned worriedly. “We got our shift. Are you alright?”

“I saw my mother. Hecate…”

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pjo-tvs-version · 2 months ago

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I know that no one asked but I just wanted to add my two cents to the current pjo era we are having right now...

First off, I love Rick and the books he has written but honestly tsast and wottg aren't some of his best works. That's not the problem because yeah not all books can be amazing but the problem is that they are his most recent ones. Cotg was better than these 2 but it too had it's drawbacks. Now I have this thing where if I like something then however bad it it, I try to make myself enjoy it. It's like a coping mechanism- delusion. But with wottg, I actually sat back and thought. Since when did I take a week to finish a pjo book? I am the person who finished Hoo in like less than a week and I took a week to finish wottg which took me aback. The characters were very oc. Grover was perhaps the only character close to his actual well character. I don't usually nitpick but like I had said in a post earlier, continuity and callbacks in a book series are what make them extremely enjoyable and small textual errors are like pricking needles to me.

My main issue was Annabeth and then Percy. Look in know in this fandom there are many Annabeth antis and that's fine, I accept that. But now the worst part is that what they have said about Annabeth is to some extent true in this current Annabeth version we have. Look Leah is great and I love her with all my heart but Rick please don't mingle both of them together. Let show cannon be separate and book cannon to itself. Let Annabeth in wottg be her book character like please. She has friends? Great! The main thing we know about her friends are that they think Percy isn't GOOD ENOUGH for her? Awful! She is the mom friend? Okay(though I personally believe it should be Grover but fine if people are okay with it this is just a personal opinion guys)! BUT that should not make Percy 'alley boy.'

This brings me to the second part. We love Percy and love his humor. Well I recently reread the Battle of the Labyrinth (don't ask why I don't know I just had the sudden urge to read it). He isn't very confident and does underestimate himself often but it wasn't taken this FAR. Every single next line was describing how Percy sucks at everything while Annabeth is here in all her perfect glory and believe it or not this is coming from me, who loves Annabeth. I love Percabeth because it's a balance. They balance off each other soo well. They both comfort each other. They both know that they are smart. They both know that the other person has flaws. But in wottg it's just downright annoying because the dynamic is just "ooh look my gf is soo amazing, totally flawless with no error and here is me who sucks at any and every thing possible." This isn't the Percy we know nor Annabeth nor Percabeth.

LET ANNABETH BE IMPERFECT! AND PLEASE GIVE PERCY THERAPY because he needs it. For the next book Rick please just hire a better editor because I am not going into the MISTAKES in these books. You can hire me if you want because I swear I can do a better job than your editor. Seriously literally any pjo fan would do a better job. Wottg felt like maybe the second draft of the work which required maybe 3 more drafts to be published. It felt like an unchecked fanfiction and believe me that I have seen better fanfictions on AO3. The pjo fandom is an extremely loyal fanbase which is an extremely cool thing. But the problem here is that people like m even though I didn't really enjoy wottg, I would still hope for a better sequel because gaaahhhh optimism. I am actually wary of the sequel to tsast but that's for another post.

Whew! Talking so negatively about something was a new experience for me because I absolutely love pjo and will always keep it close to my heart. Rick please for the sake of advertisement please don't publish uncooked gibberish because it actually breaks my heart too see the hate and for once I understand it. Anyway, wottg wasn't all that bad. To balance out this post, I'll make one on the portions I liked because there were a few moments that were worth reading. Extremely sorry for the scattered thoughts and the rant but thank you and have a great day everyone !

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