Mark of Athena
They sat on the bay doors with the world passing by, a shifting scenery beneath them but Percy's mind was focused on only what Annabeth had just said-Jason.
The name clung to his mind…she told him how it had happened, she told him how she had sought comfort in him. It was only lust only an urge to satisfy "a gaping hole". It meant nothing to her. Or so she told him.
Percy's mind shouted "slut" but he held his tongue, he remembered immortality, he remebered the fates and he remebered Luke. He had always held a grudge against Luke eventhough Annabeth had admitted that she saw him as a brother. Now his mind said something quite different. These memories came flooding back but he still held his tongue. Percy remebered how Annabeth had attached herself to Luke and then himself. Annabeth had sought a strong man who could lead, someone to guide and mold as her hero. She had picked him up at a young age and molded him to be the hero the prophecy demanded. He felt like a dog who had been trained to fight for the Gods, Annabeth was merely the trainer.
He stared into her grey eyes and knew what had to be done. He pushed his anger down and forced him to see her tears and hear her story. He knew what had to be done even though he didn't know if he had the strength to do it. He had a plan and he was shocked at his own cunning. He couldn't be this cold. He knew it was Lupa. Lupa had taught him to detest weakness. So, he sat their and took her in his arms. He heard her story and struggled to control the surge of anger. The Gods knew that if the Argo had been in the ocean then the ship would have drowned but Annabeth had planned this assault well…She had certainly caught him off guard. The wisdom goddess was nothing if not cold and calculating and Annabeth had all her skill.
Jason had come fresh from his quest and he had described his adventures with the other two. Annabeth had known that Percy was well and alive, yet she had taken him into her bed. "WHORE" his mind screamed but Percy held her in his lap as she continued to tell her tale. Jason had her for the months while she was "broken without, Percy". His mind's eye could only show him how Jason had ravaged her but he pushed the thought aside.
"How many time did it happen?" He finally spoke at the end of the story.
"I don't know" She replied meekly, perhaps sensing the anger in his eyes.
"When was the last time you did it?" he continued on calmly, as if reading from a questionnaire.
"The day before I met you at camp Jupiter."
"Why?" at this point his resolve and his voice both broke as sadness dwelled in his eyes and his lip began to quiver.
"It just happened Percy, we were discussing the layout of the Roman camp when…we just began to, well kiss. I didn't know what came over me!"
"What about all the other times? Did you not remember me? Did you lose your memory too perhaps?" He was trying not to cry even though sarcasm dripped from his words.
"He was different Percy, our time together was different from him…for Jason and me it was just mindless sex"
He was fuming at this point, he felt as if his life had just turned into a joke. "What about Piper? Did she know about this? Or did you guys cheat her too?
"She knows, and she approves, she is a child of Aphrodite you know."
He let the words wash over him like the cold current of the ocean at home.
He let the silence creep on them, but the silence must have weighed a ton because Annabeth spoke again.
"Percy I didn't mean for it to happen, it just did! I am very sorry! Please just forget it, I still love you!" His heart fluttered as if waking up from hibernation. She loved him! Annabeth loved him!-"FOOL", his mind shouted listen to her, she is guilty, she must suffer. Yes, Yes but why. Why couldn't he let it go. He realised that he loved her too. But he owed her a debt and debts must be paid.
He willed his eyes to blink back the tears and he forced his lips to tighten into a small smile. He would play the part of the hero, he would save Olympus again. Loyalty was a bitch but he promised that he would pay his debt to Annabeth and Jason. Forgive but never forget.
Finally he asked her: "Will it happen again?" Will you leave me for him…again?"
"No, Never" She replied earnestly but Percy felt sceptical of her claims.
They fell asleep there that night, he hugged her and snuggled closer to her warmth. They thought he was oblivious and dumb but he would teach them otherwise. They teach them what fear meant what the price of betrayal was. Perseus Jackson would collect his debt, even if it was the last thing he ever did.