Perhaps Percy doesn't have the right group of friends to play poker with. If his friends are all into different kinds of activities, like studying magic or fighting monsters, there may not be anyone around to initiate a poker game. So, he just never gets into it.
It could be because Percy is different. If he comes from a different background or has a unique personality trait, the bullies might target him. In the fanfiction, if Percy is from a different race or has an unusual way of speaking, the bullies might pick on him for not being like them.
One reason could be his regret over his past actions. For example, when he distanced himself from his family to pursue his career at the Ministry. He might realize later how wrong he was and cry out of remorse.
Maybe it's part of a plot to have Percy gain some sort of power or knowledge. In many fictional stories, a character has to go through great pain and suffering before emerging stronger or wiser. The torture in Tartarus could be a way to set up this transformation for Percy.
One reason could be to create drama. Writers often like to shake things up in the relationships of well - known characters. Another might be to explore different sides of Zoe's character, perhaps showing her as more complex or flawed than she appears in the original work.
Perhaps it's a symbol of his new - found independence. After leaving his family and then potentially coming back, he might be exploring new things. Smoking could be part of that exploration, something that he wouldn't have considered before. Also, it could be used to add an air of mystery or edginess to his character. Fanfiction writers often use such elements to make a familiar character seem more complex and interesting.
Some fanfiction writers may do it to stand out. Since the Percy Jackson series is so well - known, creating a version where he is a devil can attract attention. Also, it could be a way to explore darker themes. The original series has a lot of heroic and positive elements, but in fanfiction, making Percy a devil allows for a look at the other side of the coin, like how his powers could be used for evil instead of good.
It could also be that in the fanfiction, Percy is given a new power or ability that Annabeth sees as a threat. Or perhaps Percy is made to side with someone Annabeth dislikes, causing her to 'hate' him in that fan - created story. This shows how different plot elements in fanfiction can change the dynamics between characters.
It could be due to physical injury. Maybe he got hurt in a battle or an accident within the fictional world of the story.
Perhaps there was a curse or some dark magic at play. A curse that made the hunters see Percy as an enemy when he was actually an ally, leading to his untimely death.
It might be that in the fanfiction, Calypso represents something that Percy has come to dislike. Maybe she is associated with a force or an idea that Percy opposes, like a form of confinement if she tries to keep him on the island in a more extreme way than in the original tales.