NICO
Nico sat on the grass beside the other seven and Reyna while coach Hedge went to his room to "pack his stuff".
He looked around and realized he and Leo were the only people lost in their own thoughts, while the others discussed not-so-end-of-the-world stuff. He didn't know what was wrong with Leo but Nico couldn't bring himself to look at Percy and Annabeth. But for some reason he could feel piercing grey eyes at him from time to time, and the gaze didn't feel friendly.
Nico got up and walked into the woods, twisting his Stygian sword in his hand, distractedly.
Suddenly, his sharp ears picked up muffled footsteps behind him. He spun lithely and the tip of his sword was blocked by a pale white sword. Nico could tell it was made of a bone.
Stormy grey eyes stared at Nico's black ones.
"What are you doing here?", Nico asked roughly, pulling back his sword, though he didn't like it one bit.
"I was worried about you", Annabeth answered but her glare seemed more calculating than concerned.
"You needn't be concerned about me", said Nico turning to walk away.
"Something has changed, Nico", Annabeth murmured. "You had a crush on me didn't you? You were worried about me. That's why you asked Bob the titan to help us"
Nico gritted his teeth, trying to control his anger. "Tartarus changes people. And some people are too important to this war, to be changed. We need to win this war", he growled. Annabeth was making him uneasy. He could feel the coldness of each dying spirit in a 500 mile radius. His ADHD was acting up.
"Tartarus does change people," Annabeth said slowly, as if each word hurt. Then she quickly regained her composure, "And you seem changed too."
"I was always like this, okay? Just go now, I need some time alone before we shadow travel back to Camp Half Blood", Nico snapped irritatedly.
Annabeth took a step towards him, her eyes dark and stormy, her mouth pressed in a straight line.
It was hard for Nico to look at her mouth, because, well. Percy.
"It better not be what I'm thinking, Di Angelo", she warned and walked back to where the others were sitting.
Nico's knees buckled and he fell to the mossy floor. His palm touched the green ground and the entire flora around his hand died.
There was no hope for him. The son of the god of the underworld, where all beautiful things died, should be nowhere near the beautiful ocean. He should just stay away or he'd mess everything up. Annabeth was perfect for Percy.
But one line, that he'd heard before gave him hope and stopped his heart from shattering and breaking his very spirit.
'The sea doesn't like to be restrained, Nico. It has various forms, each very beautiful in different ways. Don't take the sea to be unchanging. There's always hope, even when all seems lost.'
These were the four lines that his sister had said to him when she found out Nico's feelings for Percy.
Anger filled Nico. His sister hadn't told him she was trying for rebirth. She had deserted him, left him alone in this world cruel to the children of Hades. A wave of emotions broke free inside Nico and he cried.
PERCY
"So Octavian is in charge?", Percy asked Reyna.
"Yes", Reyna replied, shifty.
"So, you left that cracked up augur in charge and he will probably, most definitely, destroy my camp?", Percy asked feeling helpless.
Sure he wanted future in New Rome for him and Annabeth but Camp Halfblood would always be home and he wouldn't let that mad stuffed toy murderer destroy his home.
"Well, I had no other choice!", Reyna exclaimed. "I must get back as soon as possible"
"Yeah, you must", Annabeth came out of the forest and sat beside Percy. "You must stop Octivian and reunite the Roman and Greek counterparts of the gods"
Percy looked at Annabeth. The fact that he had left a giant and a titan, and maybe the only two good ones, to die because Annabeth and he had to leave, tore his insides into pieces. He was sure the trip to Tartarus had broken something deep inside him. The last string had snapped. He wasn't what he was before. But looking at Annabeth he couldn't tell how she felt. Her eyes were dark and stormy like they usually got when she's angry or plotting the best way to take down their enemies. It seemed that Tartarus had changed her in ways he didn't know. Yet.
The others discussed light things, avoiding the grave topic of reaching Athens and stopping Gaia. Percy guessed they were trying to be a group of teenagers having a picnic and truthfully, Percy couldn't blame them.
Percy looked into the woods from where Nico and Annabeth had left but only the latter had returned.
He worried about Nico. About four years ago, Nico's sister had given her life trying to get a gift for Nico and also protecting Percy. He would never be able to forgive himself if something happened to Nico. He had disappointed Nico by letting his sister die; he couldn't disappoint Bianca too, even if Nico made things really hard by pushing Percy away. And truthfully, Nico was the only demigod Percy was scared of. Nico was very powerful and it was probable that he didn't know all his powers yet. So he had to be dealt with caution and understanding and love.
Love.
Percy didn't think Nico was used to being loved. Bianca loved him, but she left him to be a hunter and then died. Nico's mom died because his father's brother was a nutjob. Hades, Percy was sure, wasn't the affectionate come-here-let-me-hug-you-and-make-you-feel-better dad type.
A warm hand jerked Percy out of his thoughts.
"Do you think we should rest for a day before we leave?", Reyna asked, shaking Percy's arm.
"Uh", Percy suggested very intelligently.
"We must get the Athena Parthenos to camp Half Blood as soon as possible.", Annabeth interrupted. "It's our only hope of reconciling the Romans and the Greeks. And until we do, the god can't help us either"
Jason cleared his throat, and Piper sat up straight and Leo looked up from whatever he had been fidgeting with. Even Frank and Hazel looked at Jason expectantly.
"Nico got us all here today. Shadow travelling with all of us must have taken a lot of energy. I think we should let him rest for a while, even if he thinks he doesn't need rest", Jason stated.
Everyone looked like they were having a hard time letting this matter wait but Jason's second comment wiped all their uneasiness out.
"It's not like the gods have helped us anyway. We're doing their dirty work. Nico deserves some rest"
"I think Jason is right", Percy said finally, finding his voice and recollecting his thoughts, "Let's just go back to the ship for today. I've missed the ocean"
Annabeth reached out and took his hand and pulled him to his feet. "Let's go swim, Seaweed Brain"
ANNABETH
Annabeth held Percy's hand as they walked back to the ship. The others stayed back to stay out a little longer.
"What's up, Seaweed Brain?", she asked, concerned. Percy was still lost in his thoughts. The scary part was that she could still see the hint of the Percy she had seen in the underworld. And that worried her.
But they'd be alright, right? They were Percy and Annabeth, they had been through different kinds of crap and would probably go through more and still come out intact.
Tartarus changes people, the thought floated inside her head.
"Just thinking about cheese burgers", he replied, smiling faintly. The smile Annabeth had come to love so much. She stood on her toes and kissed him.
They took a dip in the ocean, and messed around playfully, a ghost of their previous selves, if only for a while. The ancient waters seemed dangerous but Percy kept anything unwanted at bay.
After a while, they went back to the ship and dried themselves off. Then they went back to Percy's cabin and curled up on the bed.
Annabeth rested her head on the crook of Percy's neck. He smelled of the salty sea wind and felt cool under her touch. He was quiet and she realized Percy had never been this quiet before.
"Sleep, Seaweed Brain, you deserve it", she whispered against his neck.
Percy turned and kissed her forehead and whispered against her hair, "You too, wise girl. I'll hold you till you need me too"
With that Annabeth closed her eyes to sleep in peace.
But obviously, Demigods don't sleep in peace. At least not Annabeth and her company.
She was back at camp Halfblood and it was the day Luke, Thalia and she had reached the camp with Grover.
"Go! I'll buy you guys time!", said Thalia, raising Aegis to face the hellhounds.
"Thalia!", Luke shouted, before a flash of lighting struck Thalia, travelled through her and hit the hellhounds. But Thalia wasn't Thalia anymore. Where she had been standing a minute ago, stood a tall pine tree.
Seven year old Annabeth tugged at Luke's arm as tears streamed down both their cheeks.
"Annabeth..."
A familiar voice whispered in her head.
She looked around and the scene had changed. It was camp Halfblood but it was full of happy campers going about their activities. Nobody seemed to notice Annabeth.
"Annabeth..."
She reached for her dagger but found the drakon bone sword instead. She pulled it out and scanned her surroundings.
"You look pretty", said the voice just as she turned and came to face with the owner.
Luke.
He looked just like he had before he went psycho. Handsome, even with the scar on his face. Eyes twinkling and a gorgeous smile.
Annabeth's face must've twisted in a mixture of emotions because Luke said quickly, "Hey, hey, I'm not hitting on you, I'm just saying. You've grown into a good person, Annabeth. Percy is lucky to have you"
Annabeth struggled with a smile. She had never dreamt of Luke before and obviously demigod dreams weren't just dreams. If Luke was here, that meant that his spirit was actually visiting Annabeth.
"What are you doing here, Luke?", she asked and wished her voice didn't quaver that much.
"I just have some things to do around here", he said distantly. He no longer had his sword, Backbiter with him anymore. He was fingering the beads on his necklace. "I need to set things right"
"It's all over, Luke!", Annabeth exclaimed, "there's nothing to set right."
"Oh, but there is.", Like replied, his blue eyes piercing Annabeth's thoughts together. "Wake up and there's a gift for you"
Luke clicked his fingers and Annabeth's eyes fluttered open.
Somebody was thumping on Percy's door and Percy was still out like a bulb.
"Hey, oiii, get up", Annabeth shook Percy and went over to open the door.
Leo stood at the door, his hair ruffled and bags under his eyes.
"Uh, guys", he started, "Just thought I should let you know that Lord Hermes is here"