I do not own Percy Jackson. That honour goes to Rick Riordan.

To those that followed/ favourited this story, thank you!

To the reviewers of the last chapter: Innoverse, April and Olympus Architect, this one is for you guys.

Because Normal is Without You

Percy was absolutely livid. It was rare the son of Poseidon got angry, but when he was people tended to stay away out of fear; Chiron was not one of those people. He was watching Percy, a look of sadness in his eyes as the young half-blood tore around the room in the Big House.

'You have got to be screwing with me,' Percy was saying, his shoulders tense and eyes dark. 'You cannot be serious.'

'I'm afraid I am my boy,' replied Chiron. He was folded in his wheelchair at the moment, having just sent a new recruit off for an orientation with Chris from the Hermes cabin. He would have sent for Travis and Connor, but seriously- who would trust them? 'They wish for you to leave at sun up.'

Percy scoffed, kicking a chair as he stalked past. 'Why me?' he asked. His voice was hard and low; he couldn't keep still. 'After everything I've… two weeks I've been back off my last quest Chiron. After being kidnapped and having my memory wiped clean; sleeping for four months and running from monsters for two to get to Camp Jupiter, where I'm there a week before being thrust into the second great prophecy, which I barely survive. I spent three weeks in Tartarus for the Gods, and once again save the world and their existence and how do they repay me? I refuse; get someone else to do it.'

'They asked for you specifically.'

'So?'

Chiron sighed. 'That means that you go, regardless of your feelings.' The trainer of heroes couldn't help but feel remorse as he watched Percy struggle with his thoughts. He knew the young boy had been through a lot; the seven had nearly failed to make it home. They had barely begun to enjoy the remainder of their summer and Percy had barely begun to heal. But the Gods get what the Gods want. Even Percy knew that.

'And if I don't?'

No-one could have missed the angry rumble of thunder or the flash of lighting in the clear skies outside. Percy made a noise of annoyance in the back of his throat. 'Alright I get it; you want to ruin my life.'

'Percy-'

The son of Poseidon stormed out of the room before Chiron could finish. He sighed wearily and wheeled himself out onto the porch of the Big House. He watched with resign as Percy stormed across the camp towards his cabin; the other campers steered clear, seeing the look on his face and his clenched fists. As he predicted, Annabeth, who had impatiently been waiting for his meeting with Percy to finish, ran up the stairs and stopped before him.

'Chiron what's going on?' she asked. 'What did you say to him?'

'I'm sure the weather gave you some idea,' Chiron said cryptically. Annabeth's eyes widened and she leapt down the stairs to follow Percy. Chiron watched her go. The God's weren't just playing with Percy's life; they were also playing with hers.

Annabeth paused for just a moment outside the door to Cabin Three, whispering a quick prayer to Poseidon before she pushed open the door. Percy must have been really angry; the blankets and pillows for the bunks lay on the floor. His suitcase had been kicked open and dented and there were various slash marks along the walls. Percy was hunched over the fountain in his room, a mini tornado hurtling across the surface of the water. She knew better than to disturb him when he was like this; the anger tended to cloud his mind and he lashed out if he wasn't expecting something. It took a couple of minutes leant against the door before he asked 'What?'

Annabeth ignored the tone of voice. 'What happened?'

Percy let out a short, sarcastic laugh. 'I'm officially Olympus's bitch, that's what happened.'

'What do you mean?'

'It means that I never get a break do I? I finish one job the God's should have done themselves and you'd think I was done but oh no. One little thing goes wrong in Olympus and they call in Percy Jackson to fix it.'

Annabeth's eyes softened. 'They haven't,' she said, the puzzle finally clicking into place. Percy was silent for a moment before pushing away from the fountain; it wobbled dangerously, water splashing onto the ground.

'Of course they have,' he replied.

Annabeth walked over, her hand resting gently on Percy's tense shoulder but he shrugged her off and walked across the room.

'Don't,' he said, 'I'm really not in the mood.'

'I'm only trying to help,' said Annabeth indignantly.

'You want to help? Go and tell the God's to stop screwing with my life!' He shouted the last half of the sentence towards the ceiling but he got no reply. 'I don't understand how it's always me.'

'It's not.'

'Yes it is.' Percy spun around to face her angrily. 'I got stuck with a douche of a stepfather for most of my life because I wasn't supposed to exist. I get blamed for stealing the Master Bolt before I even knew about being a demi-god and get thrust into not one, but two great prophesies. I have risked my life over and over again and for what? So the Gods can keep sitting on their thrones as lazy as can be, waiting for the next big crisis to occur so they can screw with me some more?'

'That's what comes with being a child of the Gods Percy.' Annabeth crossed her arms, watching as Percy pace angrily in front of her. 'There's nothing you can do. If the God's want something-'

'It's always if the Gods want something. You know, sometimes I think my life would be so much simpler if I wasn't me.'

That comment stunned Annabeth to a moment of silence. 'What does that mean?'

'It means that sometimes I wish I wasn't a child of the Gods.' Percy began pacing more fervently, his anger growing with each word. 'Think about it. I wouldn't have had an abusive step-father. I probably would never have been kicked out of all those schools and labelled a delinquent kid with no future. I wouldn't have been fighting for my life, or hated by the Gods at the age of twelve. I wouldn't have had to fight battles, and lose friends and watch my back every single second of my life just waiting for a monster to attack-'

'You never would have met me,' said Annabeth quietly. Percy just laughed hollowly, and ran a hand through his hair.

'This isn't about you Annabeth,' he said harshly.

There was a tense silence as Percy leant heavily against the wall, banging his head against the wood. Annabeth watched him, an uncertain feeling blossoming in her chest as he punched the wall. 'How is it not about me?' she asked finally. Percy groaned and pushed himself towards his bed. He reached underneath and threw a duffel bag onto the bare mattress.

'Because it's not you Annabeth. The God's are not screwing with you every step you take, you have it easy.'

'I have it easy?' That feeling turned quickly to anger. 'Really Percy, you think I have it easy?'

'Easier than me, yeah.' Percy started shoving various items of clothing in the duffel bag, his anger quickly getting the better of him as they wouldn't fit. 'Now if you don't mind, I have some packing to do.'

Annabeth didn't reply. She cast one more glance at his form, hunched over his bed before leaving the cabin, tears welling in her eyes.

It took Percy a few hours to calm down; he was still angry but that was now mixed with exhaustion, resignation and guilt. He knew he had upset Annabeth earlier, but he was too angry to care at the time. He was looking for her now as the campfire after dinner began. He knew better to check the Athena cabin. Not only would Malcolm refuse to let him in, it was too much of an obvious place for Annabeth to be. So he checked the archery range and the strawberry fields and the lava-wall. He made his way out to Zeus's fist and back into camp. It was getting dark as he made his way to the beach. He saw a lone form sitting near the water and immediately headed towards it. As the princess curls and sketch pad came into clear view he slowed, coming to a stop behind her.

'Hey.'

Annabeth paused whatever she was drawing for a moment, before continuing. 'I'm not talking to you,' she said, dipping her head down lower.

'That's fine, I'll talk.' Percy took a seat next to her and leant back against his elbows watching the waves lap gently against the shore. 'When I said all that stuff… I was angry.' She didn't look up and she didn't stop drawing but that didn't deter him. 'I've barely had a chance to live since coming back off the quest and I find out I'm getting shoved on yet another one? Being used like that, it doesn't sit with me when it's one thing after the other with no break, y'know? I took it out on you, and I'm sorry.'

Annabeth paused in her sketching, and rested the pencil against the paper gently. 'What's the quest?'

'Making sure the Key of Olympus or something is still where it should be. Nothing the God's can't do themselves, that's what makes this whole thing even worse.'

'And out of all the demi-gods in America, they picked you.'

'Because they hate me.'

'Because they trust you,' countered Annabeth. She added a few lines to her drawing, and made a couple of notes on the top of the page. She still wasn't looking at him; still hadn't forgiven him and Percy sighed before sitting up straight and turning his body to face her.

'I didn't mean to upset you,' he continued, clenching and unclenching a fist as he spoke. 'I was stupid when I said you have it easier. I know you don't, not after everything we…' he trailed off, unable to continue. Tartarus was not one of the things they spoke about. 'Remember that first night back on the Argo after the Doors of Death were closed? When you snuck into my room despite being grounded?'

Annabeth nodded, placing her sketch book on the sand. 'He should have known better than to try and keep us apart,' she said softly. Percy nodded, reaching a cautious hand out to brush against her curls. She didn't pull away.

'You were scared and crying and didn't want to be confined by walls so we went out and sat on the deck just watching the stars.' He glanced up at the darkening sky, still reassured by the pin pricks of lights dotting the darkness. 'Do you remember what you said to me?' He knew, by the drop in Annabeth's shoulders and the quiet sigh that she did remember.

'I said that I wished I was normal, even if it was just for a day,' she said. 'Because I was tired of fighting and dreaming and existing.'

'And what did I say?'

Annabeth twisted her body so she faced Percy. Her eyes were dark silver; Percy brushed her cheek gently and she nuzzled his hand before it swept into her hair. 'You said that you didn't because normal was boring. And that any time I needed to work off my frustration, to see you because you completely understood where I was coming from.'

'Because I felt that way too. And I still do. But no matter how frustrated I am and no matter what I say I will always, always believe that normal is boring. Because normal is without you.'

Annabeth's eyes softened. 'It still doesn't mean I don't want a normal life with you.'

Percy smiled and took her words as his cue to kiss her. She resisted slightly as his lips pressed against hers, clearly still a little upset but as Percy gently slid a hand down her waist to settle on her hip she relaxed and kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer. Since Tartarus, their kisses always seemed a little too desperate and intense, especially when either one was the slightest bit emotional. Percy sensed the change in Annabeth the second her fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck. She pressed herself closer, deepening the kiss and sliding a hand down his chest to slip underneath his t-shirt. He pulled away at that point, tightening his grip on her hips and kissing her forehead sweetly.

'Don't go,' she whispered and Percy pulled her into a tight embrace, pressing his lips against her neck.

'I'll be back,' he said. 'We'll have our normal. I promise.'