Time Running Out

When Annabeth finally woke up she was shaking uncontrollably. She was still shouting and she was hitting something too. She knew it had been a dream, she knew she was awake now, but that didn’t mean she felt safe.

It was like she was in a bubble. She could see Percy in front of her. She could see him grabbing her fists trying to stop her. She could see his lips moving, screaming her name. She could see the tears in his eyes and the terror on his face. But she couldn’t stop and she couldn’t hear him. He was there right next to her, but they were still separated.

That was until she saw the bruises and scratches that covered his arms and face, the way he winced and cringed every time she fought against him. And she snapped back.

“Percy?” She cried. “Oh my gods! What’ve I done?”

“Annabeth!” He sighed, clearly still in an immense amount of agony but more pleased than anything else. “Thank gods you’re okay!” He leaned forward and squeezed her, so much relief in that simple hug.

She hugged him back as tightly as she could, until he gasped in pain. She could feel now, every scratch and mark she’d left on him. She pulled away quickly, horrified by the damage she’d made.

“Percy…I…” She couldn’t believe what she had done. And him! Why is he smiling? She thought. He was already in an awful condition, and she, the person who was supposed to love him, had only hurt him even more. “I…I can’t believe this! I’m so sorry!” She broke down crying, hugging her knees. She wanted to hug him, but she would only end up hurting him more.

“No, no Annabeth!” He just shook his head frantically. He still didn’t make a start towards her though. “No, look, I’m fine! I’m alright!”

“Look?” She repeated back to him, shouting, while still crying. “Percy I am looking! And I can see what I’ve done, how I’ve…” She trailed off, not even being able to bring herself to say out loud that she had hurt him.

“This? A bit of ambrosia and nectar and I’m fine! Well, as I was before at least.” He admitted. “I was terrified…” He said. Her heart shattered, had she really been that bad, to the point of scaring her boyfriend. “…I was so worried about you.”

“W…What?” She asked, completely confused. “You were worried for me...Not of me?” It just didn’t make sense. She hurt him, why was he scared for her? “I don’t…I don’t understand.” She said between sobs.

“Annabeth,” He whispered, pulling her closer into a hug, “I could never, ever, be worried that you would do something to hurt me.” He gave her a sad smile and leaned back only enough to wipe the tears off her face. “Well, I say that but, I mean, I’m always terrified after I say something stupid that you’ll judo-flip me again.”

She laughed with him; an honest, pure, heartfelt laugh. And she smiled, genuinely happy in that moment. They just stayed there in each other’s arms blissfully unaware that it was almost dawn, almost time to leave, almost time to walk into Tartarus. And, of course, Annabeth had completely forgotten to pack anything.

Her head jerked up from where it was comfortably rested in between Percy’s neck and shoulder. “Percy!” She whisper-shouted, “Percy, it’s almost dawn!”

“So?” He asked, yawning and stretching.

“The quest, Seaweed Brain!” She shout-shouted this time.

“Oh gods!” He said, dread appearing all over his face. “With all the drama of this morning I kind of just…forgot.” He muttered a curse under his breath then turned to Annabeth. “You don’t have to leave, do you?”

She looked up at his partially battered face with a less than hopeful look plastered across it. “Sorry, Perce.” She sighed. “It won’t take long, promise. I’ll just grab some things from my cabin. I would grab some from yours but you kind of cleared it out.” He looked guilty. “Don’t worry,” she kissed the top of his head, “I’ll grab some things from the camp store. Be back before you know it.” She said with a small smile, which he gratefully returned.

It had been barely five minutes when Annabeth walked back in with two bags. One backpack over her shoulder, and another in her hands. She dropped them next to Percy’s bed before climbing back on to sit next to him again.

There was a smile on her face, but they sat there in uncomfortable silence. He wasn’t looking her in the eyes and his hands were fidgeting.

“Annabeth?” He asked with caution in his voice. “What happened in you dream?” Her breath caught.

Looking back, she isn’t sure whether she would have answered him or not. Reliving what had happened didn’t really seem like something she wanted to do at that moment. Fortunately, she was spared a decision by a grim looking Nico walking into the room.

“Ready?”

Notes