Percy has never looked like this before, Annabeth decided. He lay sprawled across the floor of his room; socks, lolly wrappers and bits of armour strewn around him. His normally tanned face seemed pinched and sickly pale, the rings around his eyes looked like they'd been painted on by Nico di Angelo. Percy looked like he was sleeping, his chest rising and falling quite rapidly.
When he hadn't shown up to dinner, Annabeth had become worried and been instructed by Chiron to find him. So she'd searched everywhere, even going to the extent of swimming to the bottom of the lake to find him. Her eyebrows creased together and she stepped further into the room, closing the door behind her.
"Percy?" she whispered, taking another step closer. Something wasn't right.
His eyes snapped open, and he was in his feet in instant, eyes frenzied and feverish. For a moment they just stood there, staring at each other, taking in the one before them and then, before Annabeth could demand to know why he missed dinner, he was standing in front of her.
"Annabeth," he latched on to the front of her shirt and pulled her close, so his nose rested on her cheek. She could feel his feverish heat through the two layers of clothes between them. He was burning up. Reaching out, Annabeth placed her hands over his; trying to loosen the death grip he had on her shirt. He just clutched it tighter, squeezing his eyes shut. A small sob-moan escaped his lips and Annabeth's heart sank. What the hell was wrong with Percy?
"Seaweed brain, what's wrong?" she aimed for her voice to be happy, but it came out as a croak. He just nuzzled her cheek, skimming his lips over her skin looking for her mouth. He never did that, ever. She tilted her head towards his so he had better access, and immediately his hot breath blew across her lips as he captured them with his own.
This kiss was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. It was deep, and hot, and passionate, and messy, and Percy never kissed her like that. Ever.
Annabeth pulled back, and was startled at the prickling sensations behind her eyes. This never happened, and it was dead scary. He pulled her close then, dragging her into his arms and resting his cheek next to hers.
"Percy, please, what's wrong?"
He shook his head, and held her closer. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her hands on his back, trying to feel as much of him as possible.
"Annabeth," his voice shook, "my mum…"
She twitched, as if planning to pull back, but thought better of it. Percy wanted her to stay where she was, Annabeth was sure of it, because the big bad demigod she was holding, never ever showed weakness.
Except for now, she reminded herself.
"Perce, what about her? Aren't you going to see her tomorrow?" she asked, remembering the conversation they'd had this morning on the way to breakfast. Both were to be visiting their parents for a few weeks and then meeting at Percy's place before heading back to Camp Halfblood.
Percy clutched her tighter, if that was even possible, and buried his face in her princess curls. She swore she could feel something warm dripping onto her head.
"She," he began again, and Annabeth was absolutely shocked to hear he was crying, voice thick, "she's not there. I just tried to Iris message her. Annabeth, someone's got my mum."