I don't own the song or the characters. Song Used: Say Something- Christina Aguilera ft. A Great Big World.
Say something I'm giving up on you...
Percy's black hair whipped around his face as a pain-wrenching scream was torn from his body. He swayed dangerously for a little, in shock, not noticing the slow, steady, mesmerizing patterns of crimson, almost scarlet liquid spreading across the belove orange fabric of the well faded, torn and bloody T-Shirt. His knees gave way as Riptide clattered to the floor, and he collapsed face-first into the marble floors, dangerously twisting the blade embedded in his chest and earning another scream from between the parched lips of the broken boy as it further opened the hole in his chest.
I'll be the one if you want me to...
He lay there, desperately trying to get air and force it into his lungs. He was vaguely aware of the blur of screaming and voices and battle that raged around him. He could only hear the ringing in his head and listened as it got louder and louder, the sweet, sweet darkness of silence and relief and death slowly creeping to the sides of the son of Poseidon's vision. He was so light, so why was he falling?
Anywhere I would've followed you...
Why was he falling when he should be flying? Flying through the air with his friends, flying through life with his Wise Girl, his Annabeth, and his mom and Paul...but he didn't regret his decision. He couldn't bear to be the cause of another's death. So he made an exchange. A life for a life. But in his heart, Percy knew he wasn't supposed to be there. Down, lying helplessly in his own crimson blood, painting the white marble floor with his red paint and his black death. He so desperately wanted to get up, but he couldn't. All he cared about was that Annabeth was okay. He'd made a stupid mistake and put people in danger, so here he was, dying as he paid the self-imposed price.
Say something I'm giving up on you...
His ribs were collapsed, his lungs bruised. His left arm had been snapped and his leg was broken. His back and his chest flared with pain. But Percy knew that pain was an unspecific and immeasurable tool. You could lie about it. You couldn't diagnose anything with it. But that doesn't change the fact that everything hurt anyways. His sword arm was fatigued, and his other leg was a blurry mess of tired. That was before his decision. Getting run through with a sword and falling on it hadn't improved it. The tin-like taste of blood filled his mouth and sweat poured down his face. His dark hair was matted down with blood and sweat and dust.
And I am feeling so small...
Percy had spent so much of his life looking up, looking ahead, donning a smile and helping others through the pain, through the fear. But now, he was scared. Terrified. Shocked. Horrified. He'd admit it. But for gods' sake, he was only eighteen. This wasn't supposed to happen. No, not now! It wasn't how it was supposed to end! So much he still had left...so much he could've done... so much... just too much... With him gone, who'd help protect the seven? Who'd lighten up the mood? Who'd give Annabeth the love and life she deserved? Who'd get turned to for any advice? Just...just who?!
It was over my head...
An explosion near him sent people flying and him smashing into a column, staining it red. The ringing in his head was louder. Where was everyone? His breath started to come in short, sharp gasps, but even so, he tried to stay. He felt like he was hanging over the pit of Tartarus. Helpless, useless, suffocating slowly. Panic and pain pulled him under and for one moment Percy was a good enough person to hope he'd already died and he didn't have to waste time being a limp rag doll in a battle, but as almost always, life and mind, he was dragged and left on the shore, the waves washing over his tired and damaged body and unable to drown.
I know nothing at all...
Another scream poured from between his lips as a misaimed arrow shot into his shoulder. Everything, every part of his body was screaming in protest, his labored breathing getting shorter and stuttering and he made the mistake of rolling over, accidentally pushing the arrow deeper into his shoulder. He bit his lip and spit out blood. It was a miracle he was alive, but the pain made his already incoherent thoughts blurry.
And I will stumble and fall...
"Anyone in particular?"
"You're laughing at me!" "Am not!"
"You are so not making this easy."
"I am never, ever going to make things easy for you, Seaweed Brain. Get used to it."
I'm still learning to love...
"Percy, let me go. You can't pull me up."
"Never. The other side, Nico! We'll see you there. Understand?"
"But-"
"Lead them there! Promise me!"
"I-I will."
"We're staying together. You're not getting away from me. Never again."
"As long as we're together."
Just starting to crawl...
"Annabeth?"
"Mhm?"
"You know I love you, right?"
"Of course, Seaweed Brain. You're the best boyfriend I could ask for."
"Okay."
"Why? You aren't planning on doing something stupid, are you?"
"No, I just wanted to know."
"Okay. I'm not losing you again. You're not allowed to die or go missing."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Love you too."
Say something I'm giving up on you...
How would everyone react to his death? Gods, he hadn't thought about that. His Wise Girl, Jason, Piper, Leo, Frank, Hazel, Poseidon, Paul, his Mom, his friends at camp... Would they care? Would they mourn? Would they throw him in the dirt and cover him like he was nothing? Percy's head spun as a chunk of rock came to skidding stop beside him, sending dust into his face, making him choke through gasps before he regained some control. How would his decision make everyone feel? If only he could explain to Annabeth why, because he loved her so much, and his Mom. Another kind of pain overwhelmed his nearly numb mind as he thought of all the things he'd leave behind in his ashes. Could those he left rise from it?
Anywhere I would have followed you...
A huge chunk of rock slammed into his side, sending the dying hero into another wall, making him dizzy. Percy's thoughts flashed back to a few minutes ago when he'd wished he were already dead. Suddenly, Percy wanted more time, more time for everyone. But most of all, he had a message to deliver. And it was the kind of message that had to be told, felt in person. No other person or recording could tell it. Percy squeezed his blurry eyes shut and breathed out. Some small part of him wished he would see a blonde haired figure leap down from above, and grey eyes meet his eyes to save him from the hell he was living. But no one came.
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you...
Percy felt selfish as he thought this, but he couldn't remember a time when anyone had failed to save him, no matter how grave the injuries. How many times had Annabeth, Clarisse, Jason, Leo, Piper, Hazel, Frank, Nico, Chiron, countless others saved him? From when he'd stumbled into Camp Half-Blood, dazed with the 'death' of his mother, to the nursing back to health from battles to surviving Tartarus. They had been his anchor, his life, his world.
Say something I'm giving up on you...
Was this how Leo felt when he'd faced his last moments, sacrificing himself last year to save them and the world? To stop Gaea? He'd come back, and everyone had been relieved, but Percy knew that if he left now he'd wander the Underworld for an eternity, walking across ground the dead did as his loved ones walked above.
And I will swallow my pride...
Beaten, broken, helpless? Begging silently but knowing nothing would change, nobody would come. They weren't coming?
Another enormous explosion finally let the column he'd slammed into fall, and Percy managed with his better hand to drag himself away from it, getting hit from behind by debris. Pain rioted through the boy's body as his beaten body and mind started to break and the glass he'd tried to keep smooth inside of him finally started to shatter. Percy gave another cry as another arrow pierced his other arrow wound.
You're the one that I loved...
Any pretense of strength left Percy, his body going limp as he lay helplessly in the third pool of his own blood and made another gruesome painting across the dusty floor. He held back his tears as best as he could. He looked away at the distant glow of the city and even camp. Percy bit his lip. His one chance, one hope of escape was gone. Percy felt as though the Fates had started to spin his future with thread, then barbed wire, then electrocuted, bloody barbed wire to see how much he could handle. Percy suddenly didn't feel so much pain anymore. His vision was either washed in light or darkness.
He felt a gentle shoulder on his hand. Then another, and more going up and down his body. The touch of friends. The touch of welcome and love. The touch of home.
"It's okay, Percy. You're a true hero. It's okay to let go." The voice of Luke Castellan rang in his already painfully ringing ears.
And I'm saying goodbye...
A warm, soft hand gently caressed the side of his face and he felt himself curling into the touch, desperate for any comfort. The hand passed over his face, wiping away the tears Percy had worked for years to hide, the tears Percy had finally let flow freely down his face.
"You can let go, Perce. ..We're here for you... We're waiting for you..." The comforting voice of Silena Beauregard met Percy.
Say something I'm giving up on you...
Another pair of hands clasped his. Dark, warm hands, promising that he wouldn't be alone. Hands that promised love and appreciation. Hands that were ripped away far too soon.
"You've done well, Perce...this fight- your fight is over." Charles Beckendorf...
And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you...
"Let go, Percy..."
"It's almost done, Perce..."
"You've done well, Percy..."
"Percy!"
And anywhere I would've followed you...
The flash of blonde hair blocked his view of the setting sun and blood red skyline, but the light only grew brighter. It blinded his sea-green eyes and his eyelids started drifting down of their own accord. Three comforting presences solidified as the pain slowly flooded from his body and his vision became brighter. Despite it, Percy felt his lips turn up into a small smile as he let loose one last tear from his losing eyes.
"I'll see you again someday...Wise Girl...I love...you...Annabeth..."
Say something I'm giving up on you...
"No, Percy! Stay awake! No..No..No..Percy! Don't close your eyes! Don't go! Stay with me! Percy! Talk to me! Percy! Percy please...
Say something...
All inspired by the book Say Something by HomidalLunatic, about the hero Nightwing in the DC Universe and their amazing writing.