This was really just an idea I had last night, and I actually like how it turned out. It's a three shot, and I'm just warning you again. There is slash. Percy and Leo slash. The title was based off P!nk's song, Just Give Me A Reason. Which, is this chapter here. There'll be two more, not necessarily related to songs, but this one is. It's special.
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson, or anything associated with him...well, three of the books, but they don't count.
She'd been in love with Percy since she met him eight years ago. They were twelve, and back then she couldn't pinpoint the feeling, but by the time they had their first kiss at sixteen she knew exactly what that feeling was.
He was there for her weakest moments, and her strongest, just as she was there for him. They helped each other, healed each other's wounds after the war. Then a couple winters ago he had disappeared out of the blue, kidnapped by the goddess Hera, and three demi-gods, Jason Grace, Piper McLean, and Leo Valdez took his place.
For half a year, her heart was broken in millions of pieces. Then she found him. Together, with Jason, Piper, Leo, and two other demi-gods named Hazel Levesque, and Frank Zhang, they traveled to Europe in search of the Doors of Death on a quest to close them. Together, she and Percy fell into the depths of Tartarus, and together they made their way through the dangers of the pit and made it out.
Nightmares of the monsters in Tartarus plagued them for years. When one of them woke up, the other was there to comfort them. They loved each other. At least, Annabeth thought they did.
One of the nights she couldn't sleep, she rolled over to watch Percy as he drooled, and listened to his snores. In between the snoring, she heard him murmur something. It was quiet, but she was just able to make out what he said.
"Kiss me, Leo." He said quietly, and Annabeth frowned. Clearly she heard him wrong. Annabeth knew that Percy and Leo were getting closer, they were practically brothers and they did everything together. But...Percy wasn't gay. He loved her, didn't he?
She shook her head. 'Dreams are crazy things. They're misleading.' Annabeth thought, 'but they also reveal some of your deepest desires.'
The next night, she still couldn't sleep, and like the day before she listened to Percy's snores. Again, he said something that unsettled her. 'Leo.' he said, and Annabeth could feel her heart breaking again. Two nights in a row he has said his name. Leo's name.
That day, after a completely sleepless night, Annabeth was watching Leo and Percy interact. She was looking for any clues that Percy might like Leo more than a friend, and sadly, she saw evidence everywhere. It was so obvious they liked each other, and she wondered why she didn't notice sooner.
Oh right, she loved him. She didn't want to see it. Seeing Percy and Leo so obviously flirting, and mutually oblivious to the other's feelings, she knew she needed to do something. As much as Annabeth wanted to deny it, she didn't hold the green-eyed boys heart any longer.
That night, Annabeth approached Percy, her eyes a little puffy from the tears making the decision cost.
"Percy," she said, realizing how difficult breaking up with him would actually be. As she said his name, she could feel the lump in her throat growing larger, and tears once again threatened her eyes. "Percy. You know I love you right?" The son of Poseidon nodded, and then he moved his head, Annabeth knew he was confused. "That's why I need to do this. Percy, I'm breaking up with you." She managed to choke out, tears starting to fall.
"What? You're...why?"
"Percy, I love you so much, but I don't hold your heart. I know that now. I can see it. The way you look at him, how he looks at you, how you act around each other. You love him, he's the one you love. I should have seen it sooner, but truth be told, I didn't want to. That's why I can't stay with you Percy." It took a lot longer than it should have to make the speech, but when she finally finished, there was a feel of clarity surrounding her. She stepped close to Percy and hugged him like she did back when they were only friends. She got onto her tippy-toes and kissed the dark haired boy on the cheek, and then she left.