The Road We Travel
Chapter II: The Path to Normalcy
College was a new experience for Percy and Annabeth. No curfew, no chaperons, no schedule to speak of, save the classes they were required to take, and yet even then, the responsibility to show up and attend said classes fell solely upon the student. Teachers would mark students absent and give detentions for missed classes if it was determined they were skipping, professors, for the most part, would deduct a letter grade if too many classes were missed, and that was the end of it.
That level of trust and responsibility were immensely liberating for the pair of demigods who found themselves in an equal status as their peers. After countless quests, often times sleeping in the same sleeping bag for warmth, comfort and protection, fighting in two wars, falling into Tartarus and saving the world more times than either could count, it always seemed ridiculous that they still had a curfew at camp or a chaperon on their way to Athens. In the midst of saving the world, Chiron still felt it best to ensure the crew of the Argo II slept in their own cabins, as if they all didn't have more important things to occupy their mind.
Still, the change and freedom had been intoxicating. Often times Percy and Annabeth would stay up until the early morning hours, talking long into the night about things that mattered, things that didn't and everything in between. It was in these moments that they reflected most on their trauma, the nightmares and PTSD that horded in on so much of their sense of security that they had the chance to unravel so much that burdened them.
Here, within the borders of New Rome, they were safe and protected, and for the first time in their life their dreams of a future together were more than just a blinding hope, but a very tangible reality that eased so much fear.
Not to say that their time in New Rome was perfect. They both acknowledged the long road of emotional recovery still before them. So many who had known them prior to their fall now looked upon them as fractured and broken, and the reality was simply that they could not ignore what so many others saw. The evidence of this was the night terrors that still tormented their dreams.
The flip side to this however was that their fears, at least for the most part, centered upon them at night. During the day, the ever present anxiety of an attack seemed to be slowly dissolving into the ether of their fears, allowing them to venture forth from their little cottage and explore the city properly.
The moment however, when it all fell upon them how different college in New Rome was to anything they had experienced prior was when they were choosing their classes for their schedule. They pair had chosen to pick all the same general studies classes, most of which would cover two general studies requirements, which Percy was exceptionally vocal of how stupid it was to take classes that were technically the exact same courses taken in high school just to pad out the specific bachelor's programs.
Regardless, the pair were happy however to know they could take general studies courses together for at least the next two years. While their fear of being attacked during the day was beginning to be less prevalent in their daily lives, the truth was that neither were capable of functioning on their own, be be without the other for any given amount of time. Percy's abduction coupled with Annabeth's abandonment issues would terrify the young woman anytime he was out of sight, and for Percy, the absence was just as great. After his awakening in the Wolf House, and to an equal extent, when she had gone on her solo quest, he felt as though the greatest part of him had been scooped out, leaving him feeling hollow and empty.
So, they had elected to take their general study classes together. They knew the joint classes could not last. At some point their schedule would need to deviate, when they went into their own majors and more to the point, began their careers. But that was in the distant future, and for the time being, they were simply trying to make through the day.
And as they were working on their class schedule, the debate began as to what schedule would be best for them. Taking classes on Monday, Wednesday, Friday would be a shorter class schedule and could end their day sooner, yet attending classes on Tuesday and Thursday would allow them to effectively have a four day weekend, despite finishing in the evening with appropriate breaks between classes.
Naturally, to attack this crisis of schedule, Annabeth pulled a piece of paper from her notebook and began constructing a pros and cons list of each option. She had begun formulating a plan, devising ending day class requirements compared to each component, even creating a third list of taking classes on all five days until her face twitched with the realization of what she was doing and, lifting her eyes from the page to lock onto Percy's concentrated express, she burst into a fit of giggles she could not contain.
Percy, taken aback by the sudden explosion of hysteria by his fiance, furrowed his brow in confusion as Annabeth, between gasps of air submerged within full laughter, told him how incredibly normal it was that their biggest concern at the moment was not planning on how to defeat an army of unkillable monsters, but how to schedule their classes. Despite all they had been through, they should not be stressing over this, the explanation causing Annabeth to redouble her laughter, which only resulted in Percy joining her; not fully on board with her declaration, but just elated that she could find so much joy in the mundane stress of college prep.
That being said, they had finally settled upon their classes, submitted them to the administration office and then purchased their books.
Classes within the university had both good and...less than good points. On the plus side, it was refreshing to be taught by professors who understood not only the difficulty with dyslexia and attention disorders that plagued so many demigods, but how to specialize in teaching to a class of so many who dealt with those issues. Learning in this fashion had been amazing for not only Percy and Annabeth but other students in the class, however, many of the students having grown up in New Rome were already accustomed to being taught in such a manner with a full school system in place. This of course was another point of frustration for Annabeth, who would often find herself lamenting the advantages of New Rome as opposed to Camp Half-Blood.
Still, it was not without its own complications. Since arriving in New Rome, the celebrity status of the pair of demigods was beyond their ability to rationalize. Many times classmates and fellow students they did not even know would come to talk to them, ask about their history or story, and at times ask for an autograph, which was very uncomfortable for the modest pair of heroes. They had come to New Rome to live a life of peace, and yet, in doing so, had inadvertently drawn attention to themselves as celebrated heroes that were already having entire classes devoted to their accomplishments alone.
The reality of that was staggering for the pair, made all the worse when it extended to their professors as well. In more than one of their classes, their professor, when asking questions, would, without fail, target either Percy or Annabeth for the answer to their question. This became so tiring, and the pair began feeling a general sense of resentment from their classmates, that they approached their professors to point out the undue attention given to the pair. As such, the situation then reverted itself so completely that said professor would refuse to call on Annabeth or Percy for any questions.
Neither were completely sure how to handle the attitude and treatment they received. Professors, so giddy at having the Heroes of Olympus in their classroom would offer special attention or accommodations. This was never more relevant than in their grades.
For one exam, Percy and Annabeth studied furiously for their upcoming test, Annabeth scoring a 98 and Percy a very respectable 86. However, when they compared their tests to one another, Annabeth had discovered that several questions Percy had answered wrong were marked correct.
The true grade he should have received was a 74, and the inconsistent favoritism led the young man to an existential crisis, if such a thing could be given with exam scores. On one hand, Percy believed he should have received the grade he earned, not given a higher score because he saved the world. The situation would have been laughable if not for his frustration over the situation. He, like Annabeth, only wanted to be treated as anyone else in the city, and yet, they were constantly being given attention they did not want.
Annabeth, as always, supported whatever decision Percy would make about the grade, yet the fear from the young man was much the same as the professor who had all but stopped talking to them when they asked him to call on other students, a complete reversal of his attitude towards them. In the end, Percy had Iris Messaged Paul, asking his advice who, in his usual manner, told Percy he should do what he felt was right because, more often than not, Percy's instincts were usually right. Regardless however, his stepfather did point out that Percy already knew what to do, but was just looking for confirmation that it was the right choice. Regardless, Percy's family would always support him.
So it was that Percy and Annabeth had scheduled a meeting with the professor to debate the grade and ask that the right grade be given. Annabeth, for her part, remained silent through the meeting, only there to offer her support Percy. In the end, the professor responded that the grades had already been recorded and were fixed, and in all his years of teaching, he had never come across a student who asked for a lower grade.
This experience frustrated Percy to the very core of his being. He had never been given anything in life, nor had he asked for it. He only wanted to get what he earned, and yet, so many people seemed to be telling him that due to his heroics, he deserved so much adulation and worship, which he neither wanted nor felt had any place in his academic career.
Lost and not knowing what to do, he spent the night on the couch, wrapped in Annabeth's arms as she told him all the things he needed to hear. How proud she was, not only for his devotion to his academic success but his honesty as well.
Perhaps, this was another bite of fame that neither he nor Annabeth wanted, but was thrust upon them regardless of their desire to just live a normal life. If they were to stop and analyze the situation, they would realize how surreal it all was. Two heroes, fighting to survive and in the process of doing so, become the most legendary heroes of the age.
It seemed as though, despite their desire to live a normal life, no matter how they tried, it was not within the weaving's of Fate's tapestry. And that reality only further escalated their feelings of separation from those around them and if not for each other, they were sure they would be crushed under their isolation.
A/N: So yeah, always fascinated by the idea of how Percy and Annabeth would cope in college. I mean, lets face it, they've collectively accomplished more than any hero in the Greek or Roman history, and given how so many people flock to hero worship celebrities, the citizens of New Rome would surely treat them with the same worship and admiration of movie stars or sports icons, they wouldn't be able to go out with the public flocking them.
Anyway, one point in this story, I referred to Annabeth as Percy's fiance, in my head canon they're engaged, this occurred during the Homecoming story. Mostly to combat the trauma, they decided to get engaged as a means to have something to live for, a future they could share despite all the struggles they were trying to overcome. So, as this is a continuation of Homecoming, that's why they're referred that way.
Next chapter will start being lighter, being with Thanksgiving at the Chase's residence, then Christmas for a couple chapters and moving on. I don't see much in the way college as being that interesting to write about, so want to focus on the more intimate parts of their life as they work to heal and put each other back together.
As always, if you're kind enough to read, please be kind enough to review. Thank you