Work Text:
“My lord,” Thanatos bowed before Hades and Persephone. “My lady. You summoned me?”
Hades looked extremely annoyed. “Yes. Due to the indispensable decision making of my brethren on Olympus, you are getting an assistant.”
He blinked slowly. “I – Begging your pardon, what?”
“Olympus has been known to grant gifts to mortals who have pleased them, as you well know,” Persephone replied, when it seemed her husband wasn’t able to form the words.
“Yes, but how does that translate to me getting an assistant?”
“The mortal in question is dead and needed something to do because apparently Elysium isn’t good enough,” Hades grumbled. “Will the insults never stop coming from him?”
“Hush,” Persephone chided. “He’s close friends with two of your most recent demigods.”
“Nico and Hazel have no taste in friends,” Hades rolled his eyes. “Percy Jackson, really?”
A jolt ran down Thanatos’ spine. “Perseus Jackson? He’s the. . . Assistant?”
The demigod had always been intriguing from the glimpses Thanatos had gotten of him due to his many near-death episodes even before he had been one of the three who had rescued him in Alaska.
“Yes,” Persephone smoothed her dress down. “Unfortunately, as it has been decreed in Olympus, there is little we can do to argue it. But if it is entirely unacceptable to you—”
“It’s fine,” Thanatos promised. “But how is a dead mortal supposed to help me work?”
“I’m sure the headache has his own ideas about that,” Hades said unhappily. “You’ll have to meet him sooner or later,” he added, when he saw Thanatos’ surprise.
“Of course,” he nodded. “I may as well do so now. Where is--?”
“Oh, you sound so enthusiastic about it,” came a chuckle from the figure suddenly leaning against the pillar closest to the thrones. “Hi. Percy, as you probably know.”
Percy Jackson looked very different from the only time Thanatos had seen him in corporeality, which was to be expected since he looked to be somewhere in his forties. He had a little white in his hair, was a little more round in the middle, had stubble and laugh lines that crinkled, but his eyes were the same shade of bright green as they had been when he was a teenager.
He nodded politely. “Well? What do you think you can possibly do as my assistant?”
Percy looked thoughtful. “You escort souls to the Underworld, right? Figured I could help with that. Or managing this place. Or helping Charon. Anything, really. I’m bored.”
Bored in eternal paradise. Something only Percy Jackson could manage.
Thanatos sighed. “Very well. You may accompany me as I go on my jobs now.”
He suspected the demigod would have problems with a lot of things and he both looked forward to it and did not.
On one hand, it would be fun to have a challenge, a new perspective, someone’s company to shake the monotony. At the same time, it would be quite tedious and new, the prospect of which was intimidating.
Percy grinned. “Awesome.”
To Thanatos’ surprise, the demigod was not a hinderance to his work. He was, in fact, a rather pleasant companion to have through the long, never-ending hours of thankless work. He soothed and scolded in equal measure, able to relate more acutely to the dying than the god was, having died himself, though at the age of eighty-three and in his sleep – not the violent deaths that needed Thanatos’ messenger abilities most.
“Doesn’t Hermes also help in guiding souls to the underworld?” He asked curiously, as they awaited the end of a violent gang confrontation.
“He does,” Thanatos confirmed. “But he is a messenger and travel god. He only helps those who are entirely lost, or are dear to him or. . . who are in special circumstances.”
“Like?”
“You’ll see, if you continue.” Thanatos peered at him, and the mortal smirked
“Oh, there’s no if. No way I’m going back to sitting around in Elysium.” A wistful look passed over his face, but it cleared before he could ask, and he jumped to his feet. “C’mon. We have souls to reap!”
The warm feeling that spread through him at the ‘we’ lit him up from the inside, as though he were made of bones and blood rather than golden ichor and divinity.
Trouble came less than a week into Percy working with him. For the first time, they were on his turf – out in the wild open sea, in a ship that had crashed. Tension was clearly visible in his tightened shoulders as he took in their surroundings, the shouts of the frightened passengers and the frantic motions of the crew as they tried desperately to prevent the inevitable sinking.
Percy opened and closed his fist, looking concentrated, and Thanatos could not do anything but feel sympathy – an emotion rather foreign to him, despite the numerous pitiable sights he had to see in his line of work. “Why--?” The demigod started, before realizing his helplessness due to being dead and incorporeal, and slammed the same fist into a wall in frustration.
“You cannot interfere anymore,” Thanatos said quietly. “It is not your place. This is the natural order, it is undeniable.”
“It’s not fair,” Percy whispered, looking at a little boy who was crying into his mother’s shirt. He was apparently only just coming to terms with his death and the job he had undertaken, been gifted. “I don’t— this isn’t—”
“There is no fairness in Death,” Thanatos repeated his words from all those years ago, their first meeting, sadly. He couldn’t take his eyes off the dead mortal, who even in his distress practically glowed with power and humanity as he swiped his bruised fist over eyes that were tearing up.
He was so incredibly beautiful. Not wanting to deal with that revelation, he reached for Percy’s hand, healing it with a touch of his own. “Thanks,” Percy said, looking up at him.
Thanatos didn’t let go. “Do you wish to continue with this?” He asked gently. “This is not a punishment – it is a godly gift. It can be taken away if it—”
“No.” Percy shook his head, taking his hand away.
“You have not seen the worst of things yet. This will not be the last gruesome sight we happen on,” he warned. “Empathy and responsibility are as much curses as they are blessings for this work.”
He pursed his lips, turning away. Thanatos waited, unsettled. He didn’t want to go back to working alone, he realized belatedly. Without Percy’s chatter, the insistence on mortal refreshments, the reassurance and support of his constant presence. But failing to remind him of his responsibility and that he could give it up would be a terrible thing to do – certainly beyond Thanatos’ capabilities, no matter that doing so might mean something he wished fervently would not happen.
And thankfully, it didn’t. “No, I need this,” he said with his usual insistence. He had to wonder why the demigod wanted this so badly. “How – how do you deal with it? All the horror and—” Percy waved, indicating the world in general.
“I am a god,” Thanatos reminded. “I do not comprehend emotions the way you do.” He looked disappointed, startled as though he’d been corrected regarding something. “But. . . Time will help. After you get accustomed to it. And focusing on the better parts – that they are hopefully going to a better place, that you are helping people at one of the worst – if not the worst – times of their lives.”
Percy exhaled, chewing on his lip. “Yeah. Yeah, okay. Thanks, Thanatos.” He smiled faintly. “You’re definitely the person I’d have wanted around during the worst times of my life.”
Thanatos opened and closed his mouth. Was he flirting?
“Come, we must help the girl,” he said hurriedly, not wanting to touch on just how flattered he was, and how much he wanted to respond in kind, except that he had no experience with such matters. His last mortal lover was almost half a century ago, and they hadn’t inspired the kind of giddiness and stammering Percy did.
Anyway. Thanatos glanced at Percy’s left hand, to the golden wedding band that still glittered thanks to Hazel Levesque’s powers, even past death. Annabeth Jackson would not appreciate her husband being flirted with, even if he had started it.
The days passed smoothly, tumbling into one another in a way he was not used to. He was not used to being happy, to having someone else beside him, to being supported the way Percy did. To the warmth the man inspired in him, the exquisite sensation of wanting, needing someone.
The married Hero of Olympus was not an ideal person to desire.
The little girl – Ashlynn Kasios, according to the list – stared down at her body, lips trembling. She clearly had no idea what was going on. Reaping younger kids was always a trial – they were always sad and confused more than anything. Adults tended to be angrier, self-righteous. That was easier to deal with it.
“Hey,” Percy knelt down in front of her, speaking gently. Thanatos was more than happy to let him handle this. “It’s alright.”
“I – I’m – what’s happening?” The spirit swayed, looking terrified, eyes darting from Percy to the surroundings to her hands, apparently now unable to look at her body.
“You’re dead,” Percy broke gently. “But it’s okay.”
“The truck,” she whimpered, not listening – “And then it hurt. It hurt so much, and oh god, Math. Matthew, my brother. Is he? I want my dad! Daddy!”
Percy turned to him, raised an eyebrow. Thanatos shook his head and could see the mixed relief and sorrow in Percy’s eyes. “Your brother’s alive. Hey. Ashlynn. Come here. It’s okay. It’s not going to hurt anymore, and Matthew’s fine.”
“How do you know? Who are you? Are you sure?” She swung between relief and trepidation jarringly.
“I know ‘cause I’m dead too. And I have the Death himself here, and he says Matthew’s alive.” Percy promised, his voice confident.
“You’re – dead?” But finally, Ashlynn walked towards Percy, eyes trusting and hopeful.
“Yeah. And I promise, it’s not as bad as people say it is. It can actually be really nice, like how I’m getting to spend time with you.” He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ears, making her giggle even through the tears. “But we have to go now.”
Ashlynn frowned. “But what about Math and my dad and aunt? Will they be okay?”
Thanatos would’ve lied. But Percy just sighed. “I don’t know.”
“Then I want to stay here and make sure!”
“You can. But—” he added when she perked up. “It’s not such a good idea. You’ll have to see them be very sad, and then go on without you.”
“So let me go back,” she begged, and Percy’s eyes closed with pain.
“I can’t. I’m sorry. Once you’ve died, you can’t go back. It isn’t right, and it will make things hard for all of you.” It was an oversimplification for someone who was friends with so many people who had come back from the dead and demigods who were capable of and had brought people back, but it was true. “You’ll be okay,” Percy continued tenderly. “And they’ll get a chance to live their lives and be okay too.”
“Will I see them again?” Ashlynn put her arms around Percy and buried her face in his shoulder, her words muffled by the cloth, even though she was a spirit.
“You might,” Percy smiled. “I saw my sister Estelle again, and she died more than twenty years after I did. It’s all nice down there. No growing up, no school unless you want to.”
“All art and no science?” She asked hopefully.
Percy laughed and bopped her nose. “Whatever you want.”
She nodded, but turned back to the site of the accident, flinching. “Can I see Math again before I go?”
“Will you be ready to come if you see him?” Percy challenged gently. She pursed her lips, looking at the ground. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, sweetheart.”
“I’ll come, I swear. Please. Just one last time.” She begged.
“Percy,” Thanatos warned.
“Come on, Thanatos.” He cajoled. “Please? She just wants to see him. We’ll take her if she doesn’t want to come after that.” He didn’t look pleased at having to say that, but it was only that compromise that made him sigh and give in.
Ashlynn stared at her golden-haired brother, lying unconscious. “He’s really alive?” Her voice trembled and broke at the end.
“He is.” Thanatos said, observing carefully. He wasn’t sure if that was an answer she liked or not. She only nodded and clung to Percy. “Let’s go.”
“She’s going to be trouble,” Percy warned him, as they watched Ashlynn’s spirit stand in line for judging. “I could see it in her face when we saw Matthew.”
Thanatos let his wings unfurl, rolling his shoulders. They were far too stiff. He saw Percy’s eyes dart to them and away, looking as shy and uncertain as Ashlynn had when she’d first seen the two of them. He wondered what was going on. “Perhaps if you hadn’t indulged her so much.” He said flatly, knowing the man wouldn’t take it the wrong way.
“What, force her to listen to us? Yeah, that would’ve given us so much more points.” He rubbed his forehead tiredly. “I hope we don’t have to hunt her down like we did Carmichael.” His lip curled in distaste.
“I don’t think she’d be that bad,” Thanatos laughed. “You like her. There’s some hope for her, then.”
Percy turned to him, a soft look in his eyes. “Just because I like her?”
The god licked his lips, unable to bear the spirit’s gaze, the tenderness and the question in it. But the answer still came to him instinctively. “Of course. I believe in your judgement above anything else.”
His eyes widened. “Anything else?” Thanatos was helpless to do anything but nod. “I – why?”
He turned away. “You know why, I’m sure.”
Percy laughed softly, taking Thanatos’ hand. “Annabeth says I’m an oblivious Seaweed Brain – so no, I’m not sure why, actually.”
“Because these past months have been the best in millennia,” Thanatos rushed, wanting to forget the mention of Percy’s wife. “Because your compassion touches me and your companionship invigorates me and I adore working with you and I never want to be without you and I—” He cut himself off, furious at losing control. “You’re married. I apologize.”
The demigod was quiet for a long moment, and Thanatos was terrified he had ruined this and lost Percy. “Your wings are beautiful,” he reached out to stroke a feather gently, and Thanatos moaned – the feeling was the most soothing touch he’d ever felt and yet lit a fire in his veins that could not be extinguished. “I’ve wanted to do that since I first saw them – when we were chasing that gangster who was trying to escape last week.”
Thanatos blinked. “I remember that,” he said weakly. Did this mean what he thought it did?
“Do you know why I wanted this job?” Percy started suddenly, looking intently at his face. “Why this was the godly gift I asked for after everything? Because Annabeth’s on Olympus, designing and renovating the place, again. Because I love my parents and sister and friends and having them there, but without her, I was lonely. I needed something to do, a purpose other than sitting around in artificial happiness. I needed to help.”
“You are,” he said quietly. “I’m glad you got what you wanted.”
“I got more than what I wanted. I got you.” He laughed, a little disbelievingly. “I mean, a crush on a god? My boss on top of that? Didn’t exactly expect it to go anywhere. I liked working with you, and when I started wanting more, I mean. . .” He shook his head, and if Thanatos needed to breathe, he’d be holding it. He stared at Percy. “I am married, yes. But Annabeth’s and my vows were til death do us part. And we’re dead. We still love each other, we always will, but she’s on Olympus, I’m here, and you’re here. We agreed we’re open to other partners. So, uh, if you wanna continue that speech you were making. . .” He ended teasingly.
“My opinion is that there are better ways to express my feelings than finishing that,” Thanatos said, and after months of agonizing finally leaned in and kissed the spirit.
Kissing mortals was strange enough. A dead mortal, a spirit. . .? Someone who wasn’t even corporeal? That should have been even weirder.
But this was Percy Jackson. He kissed back, and it was right and perfect and beyond anything Thanatos could have ever imagined.
“You’re impossible,” he couldn’t hide the affection in his voice if he tried. “This is impossible.”
“I mean, the first time we met I called you a really buff Cupid,” he laughed, eyes sparkling. Thanatos admired the utter greenness of them. “I feel like we should have kind of seen this coming.”
He made a derisive noise. “No one could’ve seen this coming. Certainly not me, or any of the gods who agreed to give you this boon.”
Percy hummed in agreement, running his fingers gently through his left wing. Thanatos closed his eyes, relaxing in the demigod’s arms, turning to press kisses on his jawline, enjoying the roughness of the stubble. “I should definitely thank them for this. First time any godly gift has actually been nice.”
“Impertinent as always. I’d love to see their response.” He said amusedly.
“Eh. You love me anyway.” Percy grinned, utterly confident in himself.
“I love you because of it,” he corrected adoringly, laughing. His tablet beeped, and he reluctantly pulled back to look at it, ignoring Percy’s annoyed sighs and valiant attempts to get his attention back, though they were extremely persuasive. “There’s work for us.”
“There always is,” Percy nuzzled his chin. “Alright. Let’s go. And then afterwards. . .”
“I’ll show you the true benefits of godly gifts.” Thanatos smirked. “Come, my love. The mortal world and the recently dead await.”