Chapter 21 – Reintroductions

"So what are you going to do? Hide in here all day? Okay, do that. But what about the day after that?"

Percy groaned and flipped over on the bunk so that his face was now directed towards the ranting Kai.

Last night had been horrible. He wasn't sure if he got any sleep last night… or the night before that. And right now, listening to Kai berate him was the last thing he wanted.

This was the second day of their arrival, and he hadn't left the cabin since he had collapsed on the bed after the horrible meeting in the Big House.

Food wasn't an issue. They still had their packs from when they were on the run, so it could keep them going for a while. Unfortunately, this made Percy less motivated to step outside again.

Being inside took a toll on Kai though. She was getting restless from being stuck in the confined space.

"You know, you can go outside if you want to, but don't expect me to follow," Percy pointed out.

Kai sighed, "I know this is kind of awkward Percy…"

"Just 'kind of,'" Percy muttered into the pillow, but loud enough for Kai to hear.

"Okay, very, a lot, enormously awkward," Kai snapped back. "But we can't live in here forever."

"Go outside if you want to," Percy repeated.

Percy knew Kai wouldn't do that. In here, she was her normal hot-headed, yet caring self (although Percy was starting to seriously doubt that last description). Outside, she jumped from defensive to offensive; her emotions became fragile and strained. She wasn't sure what to make of the strange camp just past the door, so as long as Percy stayed inside, she would not take a step beyond that threshold.

Kai sighed and Percy could hear that she had sat down on the bed opposite of his. He couldn't help but remember how this was what it used to be like. He would sit in one cage, while Kai would inhabit the other directly across from his own.

The memory of the cage itself wasn't all that pleasant, but it did represent the time where they opened up to each other. Nothing too deep was shared since they weren't sure if the Whitecoats were listening, but it had been their time to just talk.

"So when are you going to go out?" Kai asked, this time in a softer voice.

Percy sat up so he could face her. "I don't know. When I figure things out."

"You're not going to figure anything out stuck in here," Kai pointed out.

Percy shot her a mock glare, hating the fact that she was right.

Kai just grinned back and then melted back into a frown. "You had all of yesterday to think. You must have figured something out with all the thinking you did."

Percy groaned again. Why wouldn't she leave him alone? If he didn't know any better, he would have thought that she was the one with ADHD.

"Percy, come—" Kai suddenly froze.

Percy sat up, recognizing that look. Forgetting that he was currently in a safe camp and not being chased by Erasers, the demigod reached for Riptide. (1)

"Relax," Kai said. She walked towards the door just when a familiar voice called out.

"Percy?"

Annabeth stood nervously on the small porch of Cabin Three. Chiron hadn't really ordered her to do this or anything, but the way he had hinted and prodded was enough to get her standing in front of that familiar door again.

At least it was her and not Drew. Annabeth shuddered at that thought.

"Percy?" she called out. She hated that voice. It sounded hesitant and unsure, completely unlike the daughter of Athena that cut monsters down with nothing but a mere dagger.

But then again, this wasn't war. This was worse.

Not more than a few seconds after she first called out, the door swung open.

Immediately, Annabeth started talking, "Percy, I wanted to—Oh…"

The bird-girl—Kailani—stood in the door instead of her former boyfriend.

Annabeth couldn't hold back a scowl when she saw the girl standing inside Percy's cabin.

To her surprise, the girl just glanced at Annabeth and nodded as if the demigod's appearance was a good thing. She wasn't even scowling. Kai just had a thoughtful and slightly frustrated look on her face.

"You're here," she grunted. "Good. Maybe you can get him out of bed. He's driving me crazy."

And with that Kai turned and left a vaguely confused Annabeth in the open doorway.

Annabeth hesitated a moment longer before stepping inside. She hadn't been inside for almost a year. She had come in a few weeks after Percy's disappearance, but she had never found the comfort she had sought in the room so she never went back.

Standing in the cabin again she saw that nothing and everything had changed. Bunks still lined both wall; the abalone walls still shone; Tyson's "fish-ponies" still hung gracefully on the ceiling. But it had lost the certain sense of inhabitance. Even though two people now occupied the room, it seemed lonelier than when Percy had stayed in it a year ago. A year's worth of dust had settled over everything; the windows needed a bit of cleaning; even the "fish-ponies" could use some of polishing.

"Annabeth?"

The said demigod swung her gray eyes around to see Percy currently sitting atop his bunk; strangely enough, it was the same exact bed he had used a year ago.

Percy blinked at her and misinterpreted her silence.

"Um… is your name not Annabeth? I'm sorry…" Percy said uneasily.

That snapped Annabeth out of her silent musing. She hated how foreign her name sounded on his tongue, but she forced herself to talk.

"No. No, my name's Annabeth. It's just… it's been a while since I've been in here," Annabeth mumbled uncomfortably.

Once again, they were in an awkward silence.

"Sorry to interrupt this lovely conversation, but do you mind if we take this outside? I've been cooped up in here one day too many," Kai said, her impatience adding a sarcastic bite to her words.

Annabeth gave the girl a strange look. "Why didn't you go outside yourself? No one was keeping you in here."

Annabeth hadn't meant for it to be mean or anything, but something she said must have offended the bird-girl because she broke off Annabeth's gaze and started muttering under her breath.

"Let's just go outside," Percy announced, casting Kai an apologetic glance, which she returned with a scowl.

Annabeth had no idea what that was about, but she quickly obliged in a somewhat dazed state.

"So, um, Annabeth, did you need something?" Percy asked once they were standing on the porch. He still was not looking straight at her.

For once, Annabeth had not planned ahead, so the question had caught her off guard. What was wrong with her today?

Oh, yeah. Her boyfriend came back after a year, but he doesn't remember anything. What's more is that he come back with a girl who scowled at everything that breathed. Percy had wings and apparently had been tortured during the year he had been gone. And if that was not bad enough, Drew had basically set her claim on Percy. That was only naming a few things…

Outside her chaotic thoughts, Annabeth forced a smile and said the first thing that came to mind. "I was wondering if you would like to have a tour around the camp. Maybe it'll help your memory."

"Sure," Percy said so softly, Annabeth almost didn't hear it.

Annabeth studied Percy for a bit longer, noticing all the little details that had changed in the past year, inwardly and outwardly.

"Well, are we going to go?" Kai said, impatiently.

Annabeth swung her head to look at the bird-girl she had momentarily forgotten. Switching her gaze between the challenging gaze of the unwelcomed girl and the uncertain one of the amnesiac demigod, Annabeth couldn't help but groan inwardly.

This was going to be awkward.

"Tell me another one."

Annabeth laughed at the request, glad for the sudden change in the group's mood.

The first few minutes had been worst then getting trapped in the Labyrinth. Annabeth felt lost as she tried to navigate not only through the camp, but also through the gaps that had formed between her and Percy. This had consisted of awkward silences, sideways glances, and uncertain feelings.

Surprisingly, it was Kai who had initiated the abrupt change in the atmosphere. Seeing that the tour wasn't really going anywhere, she had asked Annabeth to tell a story about Percy.

The request had been met with a suspicious look, but Kai had only shrugged at the cold look and said that she liked hearing stories.

Annabeth was slightly taken aback by that statement. Kai didn't really seem to be the kind of person that would sit still to read or hear a story, but it turned out that she was a pretty good listener. She didn't laugh along with Percy and Annabeth, but her face had dropped the scowl to leave a more neutral expression.

So the three teens were currently sitting on Half-Blood Hill as Annabeth shared various stories.

Annabeth thought for a moment and then complied, "There was that time when you first came to camp, and Clarisse—the one with the sneer in the counselor's meeting—" Percy had a pained expression so she continued quickly to avoid that unwanted subject. "—she thought it would be funny to dump your head into the toilet as a sort of welcome."

Percy gave her a hurt look. "Funny? Are you guys normally this cruel to newcomers?"

"You were a special case," Annabeth teased back. "Anyways, she and her siblings were just about to dunk your head into the toilet when you started fighting back. I'm not sure exactly what happened but the next thing I knew you had somehow made the water in the toilets explode and Clarisse and her siblings were literally wiped out the restrooms. You, of course, were perfectly dry." (2)

Percy began laughing again and Annabeth noticed that Kai had actually cracked a smile as she stared down into the valley.

"Clarisse had most priceless expression when she had landed on her butt right outside the bathrooms," Annabeth laughed. "I'm pretty sure she still hasn't completely forgiven you."

The demigod paused to think about each story she had told so far. Most of them were events that had taken place inside the camp. They had ranged from just about everything—eating, training, capture the flag… The only two things she avoided were the Second Titan War and his love life…

"I wish I could remember that," Percy said wistfully.

Both girls stiffened, but then relaxed when no sadness was detected in his voice.

"Do you remember your powers?" Annabeth asked.

Percy nodded. "I kind of found out about them after we left the School. It was kind instinctual, I guess."

They sat for a while in the first comfortable silence before Kai's voice broke it.

"Well, I'm going to fly," she said, standing up.

Percy gave her an "are you crazy" look, but Kai brushed it off.

"What? Everybody already knows. And I'm not going to keep them cooped up any longer," she said.

With that, she let her jacket fall to the ground and before Annabeth could fully register the sight of the black wings, Kai was already in the sky.

Annabeth stared in awe. The girl had a certain grace in the air and seemed to move with the winds as her raven wings pumped powerfully through the empty space. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind.

"Are you going to join her?" Annabeth asked, barely suppressing her jealousy and disappointment.

To her surprise (and delight), Percy shook his head.

"To be honest, I don't really like flying," the boy admitted.

Annabeth stared at him strangely but let him continue.

"I don't know why, but even though I've had my wings for a year, I can't shake the feeling that I shouldn't be flying," Percy murmured, half to himself. "I guess that sounds kind of weird, huh?"

Annabeth shook her head. "That's actually normal," she said.

Percy sent her a questioning look and she elaborated.

"You're a son of Poseidon, one of the Big Three. Naturally the three gods stay out of each other's territory and that rule generally applies to their children. You've only been in a plain once because you can't risk Zeus's wrath." (3)

"That's a comforting thought," Percy muttered. "Why hasn't he shot me out of the sky yet?"

Annabeth thought about it for a moment. "Maybe it's like when you ride Pegasi. (4) It's kind of neutral territory between Zeus and Poseidon. Since your wings are obviously a part of you, I guess maybe Zeus can't completely justify zapping you with his lightning, especially considering that you're the Hero of Olympus."

A burst of laughter cut Annabeth off, and the demigod turned to give Percy an incredulous look as he struggled to regain his breath.

"Sorry," he finally got out. "It just sounded so weird to think that I could be a hero."

Despite the sadness over his lost memories, Annabeth couldn't help smile. "It's all true," she said, a small bit of pride for her friend bubbling inside her. "I could show you some proof if you want to."

Percy shook his head. "No, I believe you," he said, his smile starting to fade. "It's just that… I can't remember it."

With a sudden thought, Annabeth reached up to her neck and undid the second necklace.

"Here," she said, holding out the necklace towards him. "This is yours. Maybe it will help you remember."

Percy accepted the necklace silently and turned it over to inspect each one of the beads with unrecognizing eyes.

The reality of it once again crashed down on the two teens. Annabeth bit her lip and looked away from Percy's pained expression until his quiet voice caught her attention again.

"Um, how… how different am I?" he asked, hesitantly. "I mean, how different am I compared to when I last saw you?"

Swallowing hard, Annabeth considered lying. After struggling for a few more seconds, she relented to the truth. "Very," she barely whispered.

She instantly regretted the word when she saw Percy's face fall. His green eyes became dull and he quickly averted them from her face. Annabeth felt a wall slam down between them again.

They were able to talk for real this time, and that one question had immediately placed them on opposite sides of an abyss again.

Annabeth bit back a cry of frustration and instead steeled her resolve.

Scooting closer to him, Annabeth pushed at the imaginary wall, creating a crack in its solid barrier.

Percy didn't seem to notice and just continued staring at the ground.

The girl risked another few inches. The crack widened.

Annabeth hated that look on Percy's face. It looked lost and broken. Even in the hardest battle, Percy had met them with a determined face that declared his willingness to die for the cause. The boy in front of her now held no trace of the one she had fallen in love with, but that didn't matter.

Annabeth stubbornly pushed past the wall until it crumbled.

She wanted to take his hand, but knew that would be stepping over the line, so she settled for his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Percy," she said quietly, while her hand reached out.

Annabeth hadn't expected the flinch, not from Percy, but looking back, she should have anticipated this kind of reaction.

Her hand had barely brushed his shoulder when his body gave a sharp jerk.

Annabeth snatched her hand back as if she had been burned.

"I—I'm sorry," Annabeth stuttered. "I didn't mean…"

Gods, she sounded so retarded. In this past week, she had become more inarticulate than she had ever been in her entire life!

Percy stared at her hand in confusion as if the appendage was snake about to strike, but had withdrawn its attack at the last second.

His green eyes eventually met hers, and once again, Annabeth was left in a shocked silence as laughter echoed in the forest.

"No, no," Percy chuckled. "Don't apologize. Actually I should say sorry to you. I forgot for a moment who I was with."

Annabeth encouraged Percy to continue with her silence.

"I expected you to hit me," Percy explained.

"Hit you?" Annabeth asked when she finally found her voice again. Did he really think that badly of her?

Percy realized what he had implied and tried to amend it. "It's not like that. You see, when I get depressed, it really irritates Kai, and so she sometimes hits me."

"Wait a second, she hits you?" Annabeth said. She glared out at the distant black speck, her confusion turning to anger, but Percy's laugh distracted her again. Gods, she had really missed his laugh.

"Not hard or anything. Just a good whack to get her point across," Percy clarified. "I don't know why, but for some reason I expected you to react the same way Kai does, but you're a lot nicer."

"I'm a lot nicer?" she whispered. She hadn't meant to repeat those words aloud, but hearing Percy say those words made her previous doubts vanish, even though she had a clinging bit of guilt for all the times she had hit him in the past for being stupid.

"Don't get me wrong. Kai's nice too, but she more… restrained with it," Percy said, staring up at his friend in the sky.

Annabeth found that hard to believe. So far, all she had seen from the girl was a sort of animalistic behavior.

Percy slipped off his jacket suddenly, and all Annabeth could do was stare at them.

She hadn't seen the wings since the day they had left California, and it hit her in a new wave of wonder and sadness.

"Are you going to join her?" Annabeth again asked quietly, gesturing to the bird-girl in the sky.

Percy shook his head, which greatly relieved his fellow demigod. "I might fly later. I don't really feel like it now, but it's good to let them out to stretch." He glanced sheepishly at Annabeth, noting her gaping looks. "It's kind of uncomfortable keeping them under a jacket all day."

The daughter of Athena forced herself to look away from the gray wings. "You don't have to keep them hidden here all the time," she told him. "Everybody already knows about them."

"I know," Percy answered. "But I guess it's just a habit."

Percy didn't say he was self-conscious about them, but he didn't have to. Even now, Annabeth could read most of his emotions like a book. She was surprised that Percy felt comfortable enough to let his wings out while she was sitting next to him; it made her feel a little honored.

She couldn't help but stare at them again. Being a daughter of Athena, they were irresistibly interesting, and the ADHD and aviator dad wasn't helping her either.

"Can I… can I see your wings?" she asked.

Percy looked at her in faint surprise and then nodded his assent.

Annabeth scooted forward again, and he spread out his wings a bit more so she could see their full length.

Her eyes going over every angle of the wings, Annabeth took in each detail. Their colors were various colors of grey and even had dashes of black and white thrown in there. Mentally, she listed all the different types of feathers as her gaze fell on each one.

She couldn't help herself as her hand stroked the feathers. Percy didn't flinch away, but he did stiffen slightly, making Annabeth hesitate with her fingers just barely touching the silky surface. After a moment, Percy relaxed and Annabeth let her hand finish its journey down the length of the wing.

Leaning back, Annabeth took it all in again.

"They're beautiful," she murmured in awe.

Percy turned his head a bit so he could see her out of the corner of his eyes.

"You really think so?" he asked softly as if dreading and hoping for the answer at the same time.

Annabeth smiled at him. "Yeah, they're breath-taking."

Percy's lips twitched once and then a full grin spread across his features, lighting up his sea-green eyes.

And just for a moment, the world was alright again.

A/N: So just a little Percabeth for all of you people who keep asking about them. Will they get back together? Who knows… well, I do, but you all will just have to wait and see.

(1) Remember, Kai can sense different electric fields when they get close.
(2) From Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.
(3) Also from Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.
(4) I checked several sources and many of them said that the plural of "Pegasus" is "Pegasi" so that's what I'm going to use throughout my story.

~Bluesky21543