A/N:Hey! Sorry that took a while, but it seems I'll be a little slower on updating these days… And if you want to, you can follow me on tumblr at dude-whatjusthappened! Warning, my blog is multi-fandom so enter if you dare…

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Percy is so dead.

It was a stupid dare, but he didn't imagine things to get this intense.

A few days ago, Travis Stoll bet Percy that he wasn't brave enough to break Clarisse's second spear, Maimer. He had broken her first one a few years ago, and Travis thought it would be perfect if Percy was the one to break her second one. Another reason he was probably so anxious to break her spear is because he was knocked out by it in a past game of Capture the Flag. Percy agreed for some reason, got a little hyped up, and ended up flooding the Ares cabin. It turned out later that no one was in there but Clarisse. She didn't drown, but she was thrown into an absolute rage. She was storming through camp trying to find out who did it. Two of her siblings were sent to the infirmary trying to calm her down. Clarisse swore on the River Styx that she will get revenge, and frankly she was scaring Percy to death. Travis had been a good soul so far and didn't tell her, but it seemed that the secret was about to spill. Luckily, Clarisse wasn't the brightest girl you would ever meet, so Percy was laying low. That was until Clarisse took a hint from rumors spreading around camp, and confronted him.

He could smell the hot breath from Clarisse as she snarled, and grimaced. They were standing in the middle of an empty volleyball court, where Clarisse demanded earlier that they should have 'a talk.' Percy couldn't exactly not go, because that would just mean Percy was a wimp.

"You know what, runt? You thought I wouldn't find out, huh? Are you joking with me? YOU'RE DEAD, PUNK!" Clarisse screamed.

"Uh, Clarisse, I-" Percy was cut off when Clarisse jumped him, her bulky frame overpowering his smaller body. He expected this to happen, but that didn't mean he was prepared. She punched him over and over again, and Percy tried to uselessly wrench his body away from her fists. Percy groaned as the blows registered into his body, and blocked his face. In a way, Percy did deserve this punishment. He'll have to get back at Travis later for making him do this, but for now Percy could only squeeze his eyes shut and pray for it to end soon.

Out of nowhere, though, the heavy weight on him was suddenly lifted, and he saw Clarisse on her butt a few feet away. For a moment, Percy was fooled that the gods really did answer his prayers. Before he could ask himself how she really got there, he saw a familiar Yankee's cap Annabeth's hands, who was standing in between them. Her eyes had a dangerous glint in them, and her curly blonde hair bounced as she tilted her head. Percy tried to send her a silent question, but Annabeth wasn't paying attention to him.

"What do you think you're doing?" Clarisse roared.

"Clarisse! You should try and think before you believe any rumors going around camp and beating someone up!" Annabeth shouted. Percy wanted to correct Annabeth that he was the one that flooded their cabin, but Percy was still curled up on the floor recovering from the relentless pain wrenching in his gut.

"Shut up! What do you know, anyways? Trying to be the hero and save your little boyfriend?" Clarisse sneered. Percy and Annabeth both turned red at that comment.

Percy slowly got up, and managed to say, "Annabeth, this is none of your business. You don't have to-"

"I flooded your cabin, Clarisse! Not Percy!" Annabeth declared. What?

Clarisse looked as baffled as Percy, and said, "Don't be stupid, Princess. Who else could flood a cabin like the son of the sea god can, huh?"

Percy really appreciated and wondered why she would do this for him, but that was true. He was the only candidate that could really flood the Ares cabin.

"Simple mechanics, Clarisse. Only a brute like you wouldn't understand. It only took a little tweaking into your pipes, and the magic unraveled itself." Annabeth shrugged her shoulders like it was no big deal. Realization dawned on Clarisse's face, and it contorted into rage. She sent one death glare to Percy, and turned her attention back to Annabeth.

They had a short staring contest, until Clarisse let out an ugly scream and charged towards Annabeth. Annabeth already saw it coming, and tackled Clarisse back. They screamed curses, hit each other and wrestled on the floor. It wasn't a duel in any sort, it was just a catfight gone out of control. Percy didn't know what to do, and just stared at them from his position at the court.

Things were getting worse by the second, and they were both bruised and bleeding. Percy said something inaudible, and tried to move to stop but stopped abruptly. Percy was thinking that he cracked a rib or something, because it was painful to breath. It was lame to say he got his rib nearly broken by a girl, but this was Clarisse. He felt horrible because this was all this fault, and Annabeth took the blame for him. But why? Percy helplessly looked around for a little help, because even if he was in good condition he would not be able to take on both Clarisse and Annabeth.

Percy didn't know how long had passed until Chiron and Grover stumbled past them. Chiron had to call over five campers to pull the girls apart. They were both in an almost scary state by then, clothes tattered and black and blue was decorating their bodies. They didn't even have any weapons on them and they beat each other up pretty well.

Campers helped the three up to the Big House, and they had to use a cot for Annabeth and Clarisse. Annabeth was knocked out, but Clarisse was grumbling gibberish about revenge and blondes. Chiron gave Annabeth a look of worry, and trotted ahead. Percy had his arm around Travis for support. Percy settled for glaring at Travis instead of beating him into the dirt for now.

In the infirmary, Percy dragged a chair next to where Annabeth was sleeping. Percy only suffered minor bruises, and one of his ribs were fractured. Clarisse sprained her wrist, and had cuts everywhere. Annabeth nearly had a concussion, and twisted her ankle. It was nighttime, and everyone was gone except the patients, which all except Percy were asleep. Her face was peaceful, and strands of hair were stuck to her face along with dried blood. Percy brushed her hair out of her face, and let it linger on her cheek. Percy couldn't get over how Annabeth pretty much saved Percy's butt from getting kicked, but she got hurt in his stead. He cursed himself. Other people were always getting hurt because he was too weak.

He felt something move, and saw Annabeth's wide eyes staring at him. Percy realized his hand was still on her cheek. He quickly removed it, hoping the dim candlelight would mask his flushed expression.

"I was, uh, there was something on your face." Percy dumbly said. Annabeth raised an eyebrow, and lifted herself into sitting position. She winced, and Percy immediately aided her. "You should rest more," he softly said.

"No, I'm not that tired anymore." Annabeth looked tired, though. She also decided to slide back down to resting her head on the pillow, looking up at Percy.

"Not tired, huh?" Percy weakly joked.

"And whose fault is it exactly that I'm here?" Annabeth countered. Percy didn't have an answer for that. He averted his gaze, and eyed the scratchy blanket on the cot.

"Percy, it's fine. I was joking, it's okay," Annabeth assured.

"It is my fault. You know it." Percy said.

"Alright, so? Someone needs to look after your scrawny self."

Percy paused for a moment, and then asked, "Annabeth, why did you do that for me?"

"You would do it for me." Annabeth's murmured.

Percy didn't say anything, but he knew he would have done the same for her. Even if it was as stupid as taking a blame for some prank. Annabeth studied Percy's face a bit, and sighed. She rolled her eyes, as if Percy was the most stupid person she ever met. Percy watched as her eyelids slowly fluttered and closed. Her chest rose and fell in a soft rhythm, with small puffs of breath.

Percy put his head down on her cot, and settled in to sleep. He stayed by her side the whole night, because he knew she would too.