Hey, sorry about the long break. We were drowning in homework, yet again and it doesn't look like it'll be letting up for a while. But ignoring how school is trying to murder us, on with the fic! It's kinda angsty here, but nevermind. We struggle to write fluff, so anything remotely fluffy is instantly turned to pure angst. Oops.
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Sierra Delta (Guest): That's impressive that you like this fic enough to feel like that. But that's nice for us to know that you like it so much. We hope you enjoy this (angsty) chapter.
Annabeth POV
I leaned into Percy and grabbed his red-raw wrist (the Stolls had made short work of the manacles). "What did she do to you?"
Percy closed his eyes and let out a long breath. "I knew you'd ask at some point." His breath came short as I ran my hand down his leg, inspecting the damage. My hand hit a deep gash on his thigh. Percy hissed, "Schist."
"What did she do?" My words also came out as a hiss, but this time angry rather than pained.
"Daggers." Percy winced again.
"Where?" I pulled his shirt up to reveal his stomach. There was another gash that was healing there.
"Shoulder as well."
I ended up pulling his shirt off completely to reveal the largest of the gashes, which was deep and clearly painful, right under his collarbone. "Hades." I flinched at the sight of the blood-stained skin. "That's it! I'm getting Will. Solace!"
Percy sighed. "He knows it's there, you realise."
"Yes, but I'm still getting this checked under my supervision. Will, get your damned butt in here!"
Will poked his head through the door. "What?"
I almost felt bad about yelling for him then, because Will looked absolutely exhausted: bags under bloodshot eyes, the works. I pointed at the wound on Percy's shoulder. "Have you seen this?"
Will looked at me (no, I literally mean he gave me the look. The 'I'm honestly so done' one). "Yes. Did you wake me up from the first ten minutes of uninterrupted sleep I've had all flipping week to ask me this?"
It was then my turn to glare. "Is that a problem?"
Will just sighed, apparently too tired to argue. "No."
"Can you do anything about this?"
"If I could, I'd already have, Annabeth. Going anywhere near it is really painful for him. If I was able to do anything, I'd have done it when he was still asleep."
I sighed. "Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"That's not good enough." My voice cracked. "We have to do something."
Percy grabbed my hand from behind me. I spun to look at him. "Don't yell at Will. It's not his fault."
Something inside me cracked at that. "No? It's not his fault?" But then whatever dam had been holding my emotions in check splintered and fell down. I felt tears springing to the corners of my eyes. "Of course it's not his fault. It's mine, isn't it?"
Percy looked genuinely shocked. "No, Annabeth. Why would you think that? Of course it's not your fault. How could it be your fault?"
"Because I goaded her into taking you! I didn't think it through! If I'd only done something instead of just trying to save myself then none of this would have happened!" I felt close to tears and clearly both Percy and Will weren't sure what to do about that. I wasn't, either.
I knew I'd done a bad job of keeping my emotions in check the past couple of weeks.
I'd snapped at people who hadn't done anything wrong.
I'd refused to let anyone else share my emotional burden; tried to take it all on my own shoulders, but ended up collapsing under the strain.
I'd just been a really horrible person.
But this?
This was everything I'd felt and bottled up over two whole weeks of mental pain, all coming to the surface.
And for once in my life, I had absolutely no idea what to do.
So I didn't lash out at Will when he took me by the shoulders and sat me back in the chair.
And there was no way I'd have been able to contain the tears any longer, anyway. A sob wracked my body.
Percy jolted up in his bed, probably realising how stressed I was. I could barely see what was going on, but I think that Percy tried to get out of bed and Will stopped him.
"No! I have to help her." Percy sounded close to frustration. "Please."
Will forced him back. "You'll pull your stitches. Stay there."
"I have to, Will. What if Nico was going into another of his moods? Would you really let me stop you?"
"Percy, this is really not the time."
"Isn't it?"
Will gave up, and let Percy get up with a groan. He rushed over to me as fast as he could with stitches in his collarbone and leg, and grabbed me by the shoulders, kneeling down in front of me with a barely audible hiss. "Shhh... It's alright. It's not as bad as holding up the sky, is it?"
I shook my head silently, tears running down my face.
Percy shushed me gently again. "I don't blame you, Annabeth. I don't."
I slowly lifted my gaze to meet Percy's and sniffed miserably. "But it is my fault," I whispered defeatedly.
Percy shook his head determinedly. "It's not. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. For trying that stupid move in the first place. Annabeth, don't give in to it. This is what Nyx wants! She wants you to blame yourself, to separate yourself from everyone else. It makes you an easier target. But you're stronger than her. Aren't you?"
I dropped my gaze again.
He was just so wrong. I wasn't strong like he thought I was. I couldn't do this.
Percy squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. "Annabeth? Come on, Annabeth. I believe in you. Even if what happened was your fault, which it wasn't, that doesn't mean that I'll hate you. It doesn't."
A tiny spark of hope flickered inside me.
I took a deep breath and turned to look at Percy again. He smiled gently, then pulled me into a hug, even though the action must have pained him.
I appreciated the gesture and didn't push him away.
We stayed like that for a few seconds; just enough time for me to control my sobbing (aka turn it down from uncontrollable flood to quiet-ish sniffling).
Percy gently pulled away, but kept his hands on my shoulders, asking me silently if I was okay.
I nodded.
Percy gave a small smile and made as if to stand up, but as soon as he tried to put weight on his injured leg he collapsed with a curse.
Will had been awkwardly standing in a corner for our exchange, but bolted upright and dashed over. He slung Percy's arm over his shoulder and supported most of his weight as he staggered upright, both of them cursing fluently.
Will managed to help Percy back over to the bed, onto which he fell heavily, still swearing.
"You idiot," Will was saying. "You absolute gods-damned idiot. I told you. Now look what you've done!"
I grabbed Will's med case from the corner of the room and took it to him.
"Thanks, Annabeth. Um… You might not want to stay for much longer."
I nodded, getting the hint. "That's alright. I'll come back in the morning. Percy, you're not allowed to die before then. Is that clear?"
"Crystal."
I smiled wanly and turned, somehow managing to forcing myself to leave the room.
I didn't want Percy to be in pain because of me.
But, somehow, I knew that he would be more upset if I stayed in the infirmary for another night and refused to look after myself.
So I went to dinner that evening, and slept in the Athena cabin.
Thanks for reading, reviewing and (hopefully) enjoying this fic. See you whenever we can, especially as NaNoWriMo is starting and we both have original works to write this month, but we'll try.
StormSunfire and AHermioneH
