Percy hated to admit that he was finally able to understand Luke. He still rejected what Luke had done, how he had turned away from everyone that had cared about him and twisted his anger and his hate into something that had hurt everyone else around him, not just the gods, but he understood why Luke had done it and more frightening, he found himself wondering if there was some kid out there who would feel the same way that Percy had felt when Luke had turned on the gods. Wondered if at that very second Rachel was receiving another prophecy of the end of days.
Annabeth drew him back, as she always did. The sound of her voice and the feeling of her lips against his own. He found himself grounded back in reality, back in the world that he shared with the girl that he loved, that he had always loved and would always love. Percy wrapped his arms around her shoulders the, holding her close, the taste of her lips still lingering upon his own as she turned her face into his neck.
“Leo’s with her,” Percy said, voice thick as he caressed small circles over Annabeth’s shoulder with his thumb, “they took him back to Camp Jupiter.” to be honored like a Roman. Piper had told him, though Percy had no idea what that had meant. New Rome had sent word that anyone from Camp Half-blood who wished to attend would be given permission and Percy knew that most of them would.
“Piper and Leo said they’ll be back at Camp soon,” Percy said, he didn’t quite want to move yet, simply wanted to stand there with Annabeth in his arms for just a little while longer. “we should all go over together.”
Annabeth may not be speaking about it, but she and Percy share the same thought. She thinks of Luke, wonders if this was how he felt when he finally decided to turn his back on Olympus. A part of her even wonders whether things would’ve been better had Luke succeeded back then. She and Percy were so young back then -- too young for war -- and she couldn’t have understood Luke fully back then.
Now? Things are different.
Time continues to flow, just like the everything else. Whenever a wave hits, it only ever cripples the mortals -- gods remain unfeeling and out of sight.
When Piper returns with Leo, Annabeth finally lets go of Percy’s hand to hold her friends. Just as they think they are out of tears, the tides swell and prove them wrong. She is drained, like a towel being wrung so tight so the very last droplet falls.
The road to Camp Jupiter has never felt so long. Arriving there, more broken hearts gather. Reyna, Nico, Frank and more... all of them looking ghostly and distraught. Annabeth doesn’t remember how many times they hugged each other and said sorry, over and over again, apologising for someone else’s crime. In fact, she barely remembers any detail of the funeral.
Her mind has moved past denial and latched onto vengeful anger. It’s not that she cannot accept their loss -- that acceptance simply sets her rage aflame. Piper notices the heat in her occasional words, yet Annabeth dismisses her concerns easily, shifting the centre of concern on Piper herself instead.
It’s not until the day is over when she sheds her carefully maintained composure. “ I’m so tired, ” she mumbles lowly in the privacy of only her and Percy. Grey eyes glisten with overwhelming grief for a wound still raw, billowing over. Jaws set and her gaze steels, forcing vulnerability quiet.
“ We need to find a place, ” she whispers, hinting at something only Percy will understand. “ A very quiet place. ”
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