AN: Behold, pre-SoN that should've been written a year or two ago. Dedicated to ExceedinglyPeculiarChick because I can.


everything's happening

so quick

so fast

you can barely keep up

::

slash strike stab

::

your enemy is getting the ^upper^ hand

but you've been doing this for so l-o-n-g

[nine years]

it's not even second instinct

it's first

::

slash don't trip strike stab

::

you (circle) each other like

two wild animals

-waiting-

for the other to attack first

::

so you leap

knife ready to pierce his flesh

and he has the nerve to block

::

they're staring at you

[you know they are]

heated gazes digging into your back

waiting for you to mess up

::

you've stayed /alive/ for so long

surely you would've c.r.a.c.k.e.d by now

but you won't because you are Annabeth

and you can't because you are calm&cool&collected&Annabeth

::

slash strike spin stab

::

the battle rages on

blonde hair whipping around your face

sweat dripping |down| your brow

will he finally be the one to take you down?

[blue eyes wonder the same]

::

slash block strike stab

::

people are yelling

people are screaming

they all expect you to win

little miss i-saved-olympus

but what can you do?

all you have is a cursed blade

and a stupid hat that doesn't even work

[don't forget about your m.i.a boyfriend who probably doesn't even remember who you are]

::

slash strike wow that was close stab

::

stupid thoughts

they're /distracting\ you

he's distracting you

someone who's not even here

::

slash you better win strike stab

::

you hate to admit it but you're l.o.s.i.n.g

you know you are

he's pressing in closer and closer and you're letting him

you're letting him in

he sees the quiet storm brewing in your eyes

his mouth opens as if to ask

hey are you okay?

[you sure as Hades know you aren't]

so you grunt and push back

::

slash strike roll stab

::

his steps are /m/e\s/s\y/ and his sword paints a wobbly arc

you are clean and |precise|

and that is how it is supposed to be

you smirk and take a daring step /forward/

catching him off guard

[you forget all about black-hair-seagreen-eyes]

[and welcome blonde-locks-skyblue-orbs]

::

slash strike you already know how this is going to turn out stab

::

he's on the ground and your foot's on his chest

he coughs and you smirk

a daughter of athena always wins

he chokes out a "nice match" as he grabs your hand

you brush yourself off as if to say

what? that was nothing

but there was something

[you know there was]

::

somewhere in california, a certain son of poseidon wakes up


AN: There we have it, my very first freeverse thanks to the help of the extremely lovely Empty Thoughts. Remember, this is a companion fic with "even if the house has fallen down".

You don't necessarily have to read it... actually you should because a) it's a companion fic and b) it's by Empty Thoughts and anything she writes is amazing.

So go on my little llamas. Review because first ever freeverse and read the other fic.

even if the house has fallen down and we still stand strong.

~Taffeh

PS: Did I unknowingly make this a bit jasonxannabeth? Wow.