Percy felt like punching something.
After all the years they'd spent together, Annabeth just casually mentions the possibility of them breaking up like it's nothing. Percy kicked the wall of his cabin. He had jumped into Tartarus for her for the gods' sakes. He took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair. Maybe it wasn't her; maybe it was him. Maybe he was just more attached to Annabeth than she was to him. He shook the idea out of his mind.
'No, Annabeth loves me.' He thought. 'Right?'
Percy found an old Camp tee-shirt and slipped it on. He headed out of his cabin, to the dining pavilion. He glanced at the Athena table, but Annabeth wasn't there. There was only one other place Annabeth would be to let off steam. Percy made his way down to the sparring area. Sure enough, there she was, hacking away at a dummy like it just killed her grandmother. She didn't look very fearsome in her fuzzy green pajama pants, but the look in her eyes was murderous. Percy came to a halt a few feet away from her. She didn't stop to look at him.
"What-do-you-want?" She asked between blows to the dummy's head.
"I want to talk." said Percy.
Annabeth stopped and shot him a look.
"I don't really feel like talking." she said.
Percy watched her strike at the dummy for a moment. He uncapped Riptide and spun his sword around in his hand.
"Well let's go then." he said. She raised a warning eyebrow.
"C'mon." He said. "I know you want to."
A smile tugged at Annabeth's lips. She swung her sword so suddenly, Percy was almost decapitated. He blocked her blow at the last second, and counterattacked with a swipe to side. Annabeth blocked him.
"I'm sorry." He blurted out.
Annabeth swung her sword down. Percy side stepped before she cut him in half.
"I am too." She said.
They both lowered their swords. Annabeth ran a hand through her frizzy hair.
"I didn't mean to upset you-" she started
"It's okay." He interrupted. Even though it wasn't okay.
Annabeth stared at him sadly. "You did know what I meant, right?" she asked.
Percy paused.
Annabeth sighed. "When I said 'We're still teenagers,' and 'Something could happen' I meant.." Her voice grew quiet.
"I meant if I ever died, I wouldn't want you to have a glaring reminder of me. I would want you to move on." She said quietly.
Suddenly, it all made sense. Percy was so relieved, he felt like crying. Annabeth was trying to protect him in all of this. He felt like a jerk. How had he not seen that? Percy dropped his sword and threw his arms around her. She squeezed him tightly.
"You didn't think I meant-" Annabeth started. She pulled back to look him in the eyes.
"Did you think I told you not to get the tattoo just in case we ever broke up?"
Percy smiled sheepishly. Annabeth rolled her eyes and punched him in the arm.
"You're such a Seaweed Brain." She said.
Percy laughed.
"Yeah. I know."
The next day, Percy drove Annabeth to the tattoo parlor. As they sat in the waiting area, her leg bounced up and down. Percy took her hand.
"Are you nervous?" He asked.
Annabeth shook her head. "Of course not." she said.
"If I can survive Tartarus, I can survive this." She sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than Percy.
A very tattooed woman called Annabeth's name and led them into room with a large chair. Annabeth sat down, biting her lip. The woman started cleaning her tattoo supplies.
"So," she said. "What would you like, and where?"
Annabeth showed the woman a picture on her phone then pointed to her wrist. The woman nodded and popped her gum.
"Alright sweetie," She smiled. "Just relax, and put your arm up here."
Annabeth put her arm facing up on the arm rest.
The woman drew an outline of something on a piece of paper, then put it on Annabeth's skin. She peeled the paper off to reveal a small trident. Percy furrowed his eyebrows.
"But you said-"
"Oh shush." She cut him off and smiled.
Percy smiled back. He held her hand as the woman tattooed Annabeth. A few minutes later, it was finished. Annabeth smiled at her new tattoo.
"What do you think?" She asked Percy.
Percy smiled and looked at the woman. "I think I'll get that owl."
As they walked back to the car, both with bandaged wrists, Percy spoke.
"So what made you change your mind?"
Annabeth looked at him with a small smile.
"Remember in Tartarus when you promised me we'd make it out and we did?"
Percy nodded.
"Promise me you'll never leave me." She said.
Percy knew what she meant. Promise not to die before she does. He knew it was an impossible promise, but then again, so was the promise to make it out of Tartarus.
"I promise." He said.
Annabeth smiled, and he kissed her.
Hope you enjoyed it :3
