Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or Heroes of Olympus.
Percy wasn't sure what to say.
He was speechless for a moment, just lying there. His mind raced with thoughts, lies he could tell her. But, with her glancing down at him like that with her analyzing, beautiful grey eyes, he knew he couldn't lie. He couldn't lie, not after just kissing her for the first time in years.
"Yeah, we have," he admitted hesitantly.
Her frown grew deeper. "W-why didn't you tell me?"
Percy sighed, propping himself up on his elbows. "I couldn't, Annabeth. I didn't think you'd appreciate me messing with your mind when you don't remember a thing."
"So you lied to me when I asked you what you knew about me?"
Percy closed his eyes and faced the ceiling. "Listen, I know you're probably mad, but I was honestly afraid that you wouldn't believe me or that you'd take advantage of me to get out."
Annabeth stood up, staring down at Percy. "You lied."
Percy nodded slowly. "Yeah, but only-"
Annabeth shook her head quickly, stopping Percy momentarily from talking. "Messing with my mind, Perseus?"
Percy flinched at her use of his real name. "Annabeth-"
"If anything, what you told me, your lie, is what is 'messing with my mind.' It doesn't help that you lied to me; it's worse, because if I ever get my memories back, I will have two contradicting memories."
Percy winced. He got up and grabbed Annabeth's shoulders. "Annabeth, I thought it would be better if I didn't mess with your feelings."
She hesitated. She finally ripped herself out of his grasp and shoved him away from her. "I wish I knew what the old me saw in you," she sneered.
Percy's facial expression hardened and he took a step closer to her. "I saved your life," he reasoned.
"I think that's all, isn't it?"
"Shut up," Percy growled.
"If you can't think of anything elseā¦"
"I listened."
Annabeth stopped in her tracks. Percy stared at her coldly. "I listened. Gods, Annabeth, I listened to you talk about your family and architecture. I offered advice, even if I couldn't do the same for myself. I tried to make your life easier. I tried to help, to listen, to love you as much as I could. I always wished you were never a demigod, even if I would've never met you, because your life would've been way better without this stupid world we have to go through."
Percy ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. "Annabeth, I was always there for you. You've got to believe that. This scar, the scar on my arm, this is from Atlas. I came there to save you from the burden of the sky."
He pointed to the fading grey streak in his hair. "This is for taking the burden of the sky to save you."
He turned around. He lifted up the back of his shirt and revealed charred skin in the small of his back, both from the telekhines in the Labyrinth and losing the curse of Achilles. "This is from getting burned with lava and the curse of Achilles."
He turned back around and held his arms out to an open-mouthed Annabeth. "I have always been there for you."
She hesitated. Finally, though, she sprang forward, encasing him in her arms. "I'm sorry," she muttered.
A grin spread through Percy's face. "What was that?"
She rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry," she repeated loudly.
He cupped his hand around his ear. "What?"
"Shut up, Perseus."
He shrugged and laughed. "Oh well, a guy can try."
"What I meant to say was, shut up and kiss me."
"That'll work."
He leaned forward and his lips met hers. However, the door subsequently opened, revealing a light figure.
"Percy?" it gasped, and Percy pulled away from Annabeth to study the figure.
He cocked his head and frowned, his sea green eyes examining the figure, much like Annabeth's grey eyes examined everything.
"Acacia?"
Woot! Percabeth moments galore! Percabeth lovers, you owe me. Big time. I wasn't planning on having Percabeth until later on in the story, but you guys were all, "GIVE US PERCABETH OR YOU DIE." Literally, someone sent me that, haha.
Hope you enjoyed the latest chapter,
Peace out,
~TRIDENT
