CHAPTER ONE: Vocabulary

Song: Safe and Sound; Taylor Swift

"Don't give up."

The three words seem to echo in the still air. It's foggy, and cold, and shrouded with mist. Or is it just her imagination? Because she can't seem to focus on anything but the green-eyed, raven-haired boy lying on the floor, his body curled in pain, and the painfully bright liquid that was beginning to pool around him, the very liquid she's trying to ignore.

"I won't." His words were tight with pain, and his face showed immense unease. She's crouched beside him, ignoring all her surroundings. An explosion shook the ground nearby, and smoke billowed past - probably Greek fire, analyses her strategic side - but she's stuck in her own bubble.

"You can't. Don't you dare leave me now, Seaweed Brain." Her senses were numb, and she fumbled in her pouch for some ambrosia, holding it up to his lips in a futile attempt to save him.

The stupid, stupid boy shook his head, smiling weakly, something that looked more like a grimace. She cursed him for looking so content at the time of his death. "Save it," he croaked, and Annabeth can only stow the godly food away with a tiny nod.

She cursed the Fates for bringing the events upon them. They'd been through so much. Retrieving Zeus's lightning bolt, beating Polyphemus and reviving Thalia's tree with the Golden Fleece. Holding up the sky, navigating the labyrinth. Winning the final battle, against Kronos. Even now it pained her to think of the blonde haired, scarred teenager that had made the ultimate decision. She'd gone for so long without her Seaweed Brain. Hades sake, they had even travelled through the depths of Greek hell and survived. All to get to this final leg. The final checkpoint. The last stretch.

Slowly, she reached out to take his hand. "I'm sorry." Her voice was thick, but strangely she felt no tears running down her face.

"Don't be. I love you."

Those words were what cracked her. She bent her head over him, taking note of his sea green eyes.

"I love you too. We're going to win."

A small smirk managed to worm it's way through. "I know."

And slowly, painfully, she watched as his life began to ebb away. His breathing stilled, his chest stopped rising. And finally his eyes glazed over, and he was gone.

She sat there for a while, soaking things in. Thinking, like a good wisdom's daughter should. Knowledge always came at a price, but was this what it entailed? Because if so, she would gladly cast away her intellect.

"Annabeth." Frank's sympathetic voice floated through, and he's standing behind her, his clothes torn and looking tired. He looked saddened, and old, nothing like the proud son of Mars he should be. "We... Do you want to take Percy back? To the ship?"

The battle still raged on. She could hear it, faintly. And then she gets to her feet, drawing her weapons. Her face is strangely still devoid of tears. When she spoke, her voice was commanding, clear. "Iris Message the camps for reinforcements," she ordered, and before a reply could be heard, she turned tail and spun into battle.

And as she charged at the nearest monster, she felt a surge of longing for architecture once again. Because even after years of time, and age, and wear, it would stay permanent. Unlike the people who had walked into her life and then vanished, leaving a gaping hole in the place where they were supposed to be.

Because permanent isn't a word in Annabeth's extensive vocabulary.

A/N: So, this one was quite dark. Yes, in this one everything is canon, and they are at the final battle with Gaea (or Gaia, whichever floats your boat). Obviously, I don't actually know any of the settings, or anything because I'm not an Oracle and I can't foretell future books. Also, I'm sorry if Annabeth/any of the characters weren't to your liking, I can't really promise perfect impressions of them, unfortunately.

Thanks for reading, at any rate! What song do you think would suit this one best, and what would you like me to do for the next one-shot/two-shot, etc.