A/N: Once again, THIS STORY ISN'T MINE! I can't take credit for writing this masterpiece, I just copied and pasted it from tumblr so it can reach a larger audience! The writer of this story is tumblr user storiesoftheseven . Here's the link to the master post of Falling For the Devil : post/116271170930/fftd-master-post
Normal was a notion Annabeth Chase had abandoned months ago. When Percy had come barrelling into her life with no sign of stopping. She had convinced herself it was a beyond foolish notion, a dream she needed to let go of.
But, now, as they held hands on the sidewalk of Fifth Avenue walking in and out of boutiques with shopping bags for each of them in hand, she felt like normal was within her grasp. If not permanently, just for this afternoon.
Percy's fingers laced with hers, his smile lighting up his face. His eyes crinkled as he laughed, the way he took his sunglasses off when they entered a new store- all of it was making her heart constrict. All of it making her believe he could be saved, that he could give her more some day. That they could have more.
The thought made her smile as she glanced through more racks of summer clothing. She pulled out a sundress and turned around to show Percy, he was standing behind her. His hands settled onto her hips as she looked around.
They looked the very picture of a couple in love. Paparazzi had spotted them earlier, a few of them lingering outside the shop as they looked. It was rare to see Percy Jackson out and acting like a normal human being.
"I don't like that color." He said, frowning. She looked back at it, it was a light pink. Something she wouldn't normally pick for herself but it was summer and she could use all the casual dresses she could get in this sweltering heat.
"I suppose you're right." She said putting the dress back.
Percy looked over her shoulder, his hands leaving her hips as he riffled through the clothing on the racks. She watched the way his hands moved through the clothes, wishing- not for the first time- that they could be together again. She vaguely watched him pull out a couple dresses- in colors he liked.
"I think these would look beautiful on you." Annabeth rolled her eyes but smiled at him as she looked through them.
"They'll do." She decided. Percy smiled as he handed his credit card over to her. After an entire morning of shopping they deposited their shopping bags with Charles. Telling Charles to be on standby if they needed him to come pick them up. Percy led them on a walk through New York, Annabeth had lived in New York her entire life but she had never seen it through the eyes of someone else.
Percy pointed out things she had never seen before, places she had never been. They stopped at a small cafe for lunch and then resumed their walk. The whole time his hand never leaving her waist as he told her things.
Late afternoon they decided on ice cream, Annabeth laughed as Percy couldn't decide on which flavor he wanted. She had never seen him act so indecisive or childish. It was completely different than the way she had seen him in the Maldives. On their honeymoon he had only let his walls down a little bit, only letting a bit of his playfulness come through.
Today though, it seemed his walls were almost completely gone. He seemed genuinely happy to be able to show her a side of himself he never let anyone see.
When they were back on the sidewalk Percy found them a bench to sit on, they were quiet for a while as they ate their ice cream, a nice reprieve from the July heat.
It caught her off guard when he finally muttered, "I used to live in this neighborhood."
Annabeth started and almost dropped her ice cream. She gathered her wits about her and turned to him, "Really?"
He nodded but didn't look at her, he pointed to an apartment complex a couple blocks away, "Over there… fifth floor." She followed his hand and looked at the, now, rundown apartment complex.
She looked back at him, "I bet you were a cute child."
Percy -finally- looked at her, "Definitely."
Annabeth laughed and took another bite of her ice cream, silence filled the air between them again before he spoke, "I use to have this skateboard, I was terrible at it but all the boys my age had one. So, I got one too. My mom would freak out anytime she caught me trying new tricks without my helmet on."
She looked at him again, imagining him, this ruthless man, as a kid. A sweet naive child. It was hard but she could see the softness forming in his eyes, she could see the memories making that part of him surface again.
"I miss it sometimes." He said, looking at her, "I miss the ideas I had about life when I lived here…. I miss being that naive little boy. The one who didn't know his father was the biggest criminal on the Eastern seaboard."
Annabeth fought back a whimper as tears filled her eyes, she placed a hand on his knee and squeezed. Thankful he was sharing this with her, thankful he was opening up to her. This moment solidified her idea that he could be saved, he could. She just needed him to trust her.
She looked up at him, her own childhood flashing before her eyes. Annabeth never had the luxury of being naive. She had grown up in the ruthless world of business, of her mother choosing work over her time and time again.
"At least you had a chance at being the innocent little kid." She whispered.
Percy frowned at her, "I… sometimes forget that you didn't have a good childhood. I guess… I should be lucky I had the mom I did."
Annabeth nodded, "Yeah, I use to wish that my mother could be different. I long lost the dream that she would be but… it would be nice for her to see me as someone other than her successor to Olympic Industries."
Percy tangled their fingers together and kissed her knuckles, she sighed in contentment, "I can empathize," He paused, "After I came to live with my father he didn't see me as his son… he just saw me as someone to teach how to run everything."
Annabeth set her ice cream cup down, it long forgotten. She climbed into his lap, Percy seemed surprised for a half a second before his own ice cream cup was abandoned. His wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her face down to his.
She slid her hands into his hair as they kissed on the bench of an empty neighborhood in the middle of Manhattan. He pulled back first, leaning his forehead against hers.
"I mean't what I said earlier." He whispered.
She opened her eyes dazed, "Yeah?" She asked, not exactly remembering what he was referring too.
He kissed her again, his lips fitting so perfectly against hers. He pulled back a moment later and placed his thumb along her bottom lip, almost like he was trying to implant the feel of his lips onto hers.
"I can't give you more."
0-0-0-0-0
"Percy, you're very distracted today." Reyna said looking up from her laptop.
Percy arched an eyebrow at her, "Distracted?"
Reyna rolled her eyes, "Yes, you keep losing your train of thought, I know these meetings are just formality but I would like to atleast know you're paying attention and giving input."
Percy sighed and leaned his head back, "Everythings going to shit."
Reyna laughed as Percy felt his chest lighten a little, he had been distracted all week. He had been lost in his own thoughts of love and lust and their equal to one another. Percy had never really known love, never thought himself capable of it. And then there was Kronos' and his play for power. If he wasn't thinking about Annabeth, he was thinking about whatever Kronos had planned.
Percy didn't know much but he knew Kronos had a strategy to take Percy out somehow. He also knew that Luke was working for Kronos now. He didn't realize the idiot had a vindictive bone in his body when he went after him to punish Annabeth. But in retrospect, he brought Luke's revenge on himself.
But Luke was nothing he couldn't handle.
"Do you think that love and lust keep the same company?" He asked walking to his office bar.
"Is this about Annabeth?" Reyna asked.
Percy poured himself a small glass of bourbon before he answered, "Yeah."
Reyna nodded, pushing her laptop away, "Do you think you love her?"
Percy walked over and leaned against the desk in front of Reyna, "I never believed I was capable of it."
Reyna stood up, "Everyone is capable of love, Percy… you just have to believe it yourself…. and to answer your question… No, love and lust do not keep the same company."
Percy nodded thoughtfully and took a sip of his dark drink, "Think about all the girls you've entertained over the years."
He raised an eyebrow at her, "Would you classify Annabeth in the same category as them?"
Percy thought about it. Those girls had just been a way to pass the time, a way to get off and feel a moment of bliss before he had to feel the weight of his choices on his shoulders again.
Annabeth… was in a class all her own. He felt amazing anytime he was around her, like she could make it all better. She could make the wounds of the past feel like they had never happened at all.
"No." He said looking directly at Reyna.
She smiled, "Then you have your answer."
Percy shook his head, "It's not that simple, Reyna."
She shrugged, "I know it's not… trust me I know but just remember that when you see her next time. I know you feel something different for her, I can see it in the way you look at her. Now, whether that is a good thing or a bad thing that is yet to be seen."
Percy finished off his drink, "It's not good. Caring makes me weak, makes me vulnerable. It makes it easy for my enemies to exploit me."
Reyna nodded, "True, all of that is true… I guess you have to decide how you want to proceed from here. I think that realizing you have feelings for her will only make you stronger. Realizing you have that one person you trust inexplicably."
Percy shook his head, "That's the thing, we don't trust one another… we both know there are secrets we're keeping. We both know we have skeletons in our closet we're not willing to share."
Reyna nodded, "Well then, that's what you need to clear up first. Before you can decide if you care for her you have to trust her."
He nodded and set his drink down, "I think we're done for the day. I'll see you next week, Reyna." She nodded and packed up her belongings, leaving without sparing him a glance.
Percy walked out behind Reyna and ventured to Annabeth's office, somewhere he didn't usually go. He knocked on the door lightly, hoping he wasn't interrupting anything.
The door opened, "Oh, Percy!"
Percy smiled as Annabeth opened the door wide for him to come in, Percy looked around. For the most part she had kept the office the way he had it decorated but she had made little touches here and there. Pictures of her friends on her desk, art work she liked hanging on the walls.
"What are you doing here?" She asked. Percy turned to her, honestly unsure as to why he was there. He wanted to hash out where they stood with one another, he was tired of playing this tip toe around each other. He couldn't give her what she wanted. He couldn't give her love.
"Perhaps I just wanted to sit while you worked."
Annabeth raised an eyebrow at him, "You just want to watch me work?"
Percy shrugged, "I have an hour before I need to leave for my next appointment, figured I'd use it to spend time with you."
Annabeth smiled, it was beautiful, she was beautiful to him, "Lunch on the terrace sounds perfect actually."
Percy grinned at her, "That's something I can agree with." He held his arm out to her and she took it.
0-0-0-0-0
This was by far the stupidest thing she had ever done. Annabeth was so sure of it. She was following Percy, trying to find out the reason why he was so adamant about never giving her more than what they had. Which was a fake marriage and two nights of unbelievably amazing sex in the Maldives.
When Annabeth thought about it like that she was sure she was an absolute moron for throwing all of herself into this, into him, but she couldn't regret her decision. She couldn't shake the feeling that if he just believed more in himself then there was hope for him afterall. Annabeth was starting to see so much in him, things she hadn't seen before.
Things she hadn't been willing to see before.
Percy's car pulled over, beside a graveyard. She had successfully convinced Percy to let her drive into New York alone when they had lunch together, she had been ecstatic when he agreed. She couldn't remember the last time she had driven by herself in a car.
Annabeth drove around the block again, trying to not seem suspicious but Percy was already a suspicious person by nature. Annabeth was sure at some point during today she was going to get caught.
And the aftermath of that was not going to be pretty.
When she eventually parked off onto the side of the street, around the corner from Percy, she carefully scanned the area. There was another entrance to the cemetery to her left, the only problem with that was that it was a large cemetery. She didn't exactly know where he had walked to, she would have to walk around blindly. Too bad it wasn't raining, she could have used an umbrella to disguise her while she looked.
Annabeth kept her head down as she walked, thankful she had changed out of the heels she had worn this morning. She walked into the cemetery slowly, deliberately taking her time. She couldn't risk Percy seeing her. That's why she had changed out her outfit she had worn to lunch, that's why she had huge sunglasses on and her hair up and put in a hat. She looked like a jogger passing through the cemetery.
The walk into the cemetery was short because she spotted Percy almost immediately. He was crouched low in front of a grave, flowers in hand, several feet from her. He looked like he was talking to it, Annabeth wanted to get closer, wanted to hear what he was saying but couldn't risk being seen by him.
So, she settled for looking like she was visiting another person's grave until he finished. She stared down at the marked gravestone, waiting for Percy to finish. She wanted to get a good look at what he was doing.
Finally, after several more minutes she saw him walking out of her peripheral. She smiled and waited until she saw him walk out of the cemetery gates and heard the car cranking up before she started walking toward the headstone he had been crouched over.
She found it easily, it was the only one with flowers around it. Annabeth stared at it for a moment, it was a woman's name.
"I should have known you would follow me." A voice from behind her said. Annabeth continued to look down at the gravestone before lifting her head up and turning around. Percy was standing behind her with a grim expression on his face.
"You didn't really leave me much of a choice." Percy frowned and walked toward her, Annabeth stiffened on instinct for a minute before she relaxed. He wasn't as abrasive as he use to be toward her.
"Who is she?" Annabeth asked once he was beside her.
Percy looked at Annabeth before glancing down at the headstone, "My mother."
Annabeth frowned and looked at him, waiting for the whole story to unfold. Percy looked back at her and smiled sadly, "The reason I'm incapable of loving someone."
Annabeth sighed, "You're not incapable."
Percy shook his head and said pleadingly, "Listen to me."
Annabeth looked at him, "She was killed along with her husband when I was fourteen, she was pregnant at the time with my step brother. The reason, I was told then, was because of a car wreck, they died on impact. I went to live with my Father after that and he raised me to become what I am today. I found out when I was nineteen that my real Father, Poseidon, had my parents killed by disengaging the breaks in their car. He wanted me to live with him, he wanted me to eventually take over the family business."
Annabeth brought her hand to mouth as a gasp escaped, tears falling in a cascade down her face as she watched him look away from her.
A moment later her spoke again as he looked back at her, it was softer, "I killed him, the first person I ever killed was my own Father."
Annabeth had to look away from him as the information rattled around her head, "What kind of sick fuck kills their own Father, Annabeth?" She wiped the tears from her face and looked back at him. "After he died, I took over and realized I could never love anyone else. They could die because of me, simply because of who I am."
Annabeth shook her head and took a step forward, "Percy, you can't think like that."
Percy looked back at her with unshed tears in his eyes, "What am I suppose to think? I live in a ruthless world, Annabeth. You know this… I can't care about anything because the moment I do it will be torn away from me."
"Percy, please." Annabeth pleaded.
Percy ran his hand over his face, masking his emotions like the master he was at it. When he looked back at her it was with a blank expression, "Annabeth, I will never love you… So, stop with your mission of trying to get me to care."
"I'm not trying to get you to love me, I'm trying to get you to just show some emotion! Any emotion! Stop being a fucking robot all the time and care about something! Anything!"
Percy laughed bitterly, "Every person I've ever cared about has died, why would I willingly put myself through that again."
Annabeth stepped forward and placed her hand over his heart, "Because our emotion is what anchors us to the world… to each other… it helps us know what is right and what is wrong.. it gives us morals and balance."
Percy looked down at her, "I tipped the scales of balance a long time ago, Annabeth."
Annabeth ignored his comment and grabbed his hand, placing it over her own heart, "I'm here, Percy… I'm alive and I'm breathing."
"I can't, Annabeth… I can't." Percy said shaking his head.
Annabeth stood her ground though, "Yes… you can, Percy… you have to have one person."
Percy looked at her, cupped her cheeks with his hands and steeled his gaze, "Annabeth, I can't love you… but." He took a deep breath, "I will give you a way out, I'll give you a divorce and let you go completely." Annabeth started shaking her head, there was no way she was leaving him- not now- not when he was just opening up to her.
"But know that if you say no to my generosity, I'll never offer this again, I'll never give you this option again. If you stay with me, you stay knowing that I will never care for you as much as you care for me. I can never give you what you deserve. I can never give you a family or children. Any children that are conceived will be aborted, I will not subject any child to the life that I had."
He paused as more tears fell down her cheeks and onto his hands, "And I will always use you, Annabeth… that's all you'll ever be to me, a tool to get from one point to another."
Annabeth realized at that moment that this was his way of telling her that he did care. In his own perverse way he cared about her and Annabeth was more than determined to pull it out of him. Even if it was the last thing she ever did, Percy Jackson was going to tell her he loved her one day.
So, instead of answering him she leaned up on her tippy toes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Startling him for a minute before he returned it, probably thinking she was saying goodbye but far from it. Annabeth was saying so many things at one time with that kiss.
Hello, I love you, it's okay, I forgive you, I trust you… so many things could have been interpreted through the touch of their lips. Annabeth felt the saltiness of her tears on her lips as she pulled back.
He dropped his hands from her face, "If you think you can scare me off that easy you're sorely mistaken." Percy smiled slightly before his ever present scowl covered his face.
"Is this your decision?" Percy asked as Annabeth stepped back, she knew when their moment of being candid was over.
"Yes, I'm staying your wife." Annabeth responded calmly, the conviction of her decision washing over her- steeling her. She could have sworn she saw a ghost of a smile on his face when she answered.
"I hope you know what you're doing." Percy replied as he looked at her. Annabeth reached out and laced their fingers together. She felt more connected to him, she felt more hopeful than ever before.
He walked them out of the cemetery, "I should be angry you followed me."
Annabeth looked over at him, "But you're not."
Percy shook his head as he opened the car door, Annabeth stopped him, "I drove."
He laughed, "I know, I knew you were following me…. but I already had Travis take your car back to the mansion." She nodded but felt oddly happy.
He had known she was following him that meant he had willingly opened up to her. He had let her in, he had told her something he had never told anyone else before. Annabeth slid into the back seat, he got in beside her. She grinned over at him before kissing his cheek.
He laughed at her, "I have a few more things I need to do in the city, will you be fine waiting for me in the car?"
She nodded and felt the hope of the afternoon settle deep into her chest, "Yeah."
They still had such a long way to go but this was progress, he was trusting her with his most sacred secrets just like she had in the Maldives. Before she had even realized what she was doing Annabeth reached over to intertwine their fingers together. He complied, squeezing her hand a couple times.
0-0-0-0-0
It's amazing how a little bit of honesty can go a long way.
A week had passed since their day in the graveyard, since Percy had trusted her with his most intimate secret, since he had given her a way out of this marriage. A week had passed since she had turned it down.
She felt like that was how her life was categorized now, before and after that day in the graveyard. Things with Percy had gotten considerably better, he was more willing to show affection when they weren't in front of people. He was more willing to confide in her.
The precarious state they were in was more defined, more solid. They were slowly building a foundation for their convoluted relationship. Annabeth knew that whatever happened now would make or break the fragile footing they had.
Annabeth walked slowly down the hall, this week had been filled with meetings with New York's finest trophy wives. If they hadn't been planning several fundraisers to raise money for cancer awareness then Annabeth would have pulled her hair out. At least they were doing something semi good.
She barely had any time to cultivate the emotions she had stirring within her regarding Percy. The time they had spent together had been breakfast and a late dinner, if he wasn't working late. He had been working a lot lately, he wouldn't exactly tell her what was going on but she could read between the lines. Kronos had been giving him hell lately and it was taking it's toll on Percy.
She knocked softly on his office door, she didn't wait for him to let her in. She shuffled in softly and was surprised to find he wasn't alone.
"Oh, sorry." She muttered.
Percy looked up at her and smiled before the dark haired girl turned around, "Annabeth, come in."
She walked in slowly as Percy stood up and walked around his desk to greet her. He kissed her cheek as the dark haired girl stood up and turned to her.
"I'm Reyna, Percy's second in command."
Annabeth held her hand out, "Annabeth."
Reyna nodded, "I've heard a lot about you."
She turned to Percy with a sly smirk, "Oh really?"
Reyna laughed and looked at Percy, "I'll leave you two alone, I'll be back tomorrow though. We have a lot to discuss, Percy. I mean it."
Annabeth watched the exchange, she had never heard anyone talk to Percy like that. Reyna did it with such authority that it left no room for discussion.
Percy sighed, "I know, see you in the morning." Reyna left a moment later, leaving them alone. Really alone since that day in the graveyard.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, dear wife?" He asked turning to face her.
Annabeth shrugged, "I've barely seen you this week. Is it wrong to want to spend time with my husband?"
Percy chuckled, "No, do you want dinner? We could go-"
She stepped forward and placed a kiss on his lips, "Dinner sounds great but I was hoping we could have some alone time after dinner… watch a movie or just talk… I don't know. We haven't seen much of each other this week."
Percy smiled at her and took his jacket off and undid his tie, "How about we have dinner delivered to the theater room and we can watch whatever you want."
"That sounds rather perfect."
He laughed, "Good, I'll call the kitchen and you can change… meet you in fifteen minutes?"
Annabeth nodded and left the room, she changed quickly and was walking down the large corridor to the theater room they never used. This would be the first time in almost five months she had ever watched a movie in this large room.
The lights were already on when she walked in, the room had a large screen and several plush cushions and pillows covering the floor. She spotted a DVD collection by the TV and walked toward it. She sifted through slowly as the maids brought in dinner, they set up a makeshift picnic on the floor.
She found the movie she wanted to watch and gave it to one of the maids to put into the complex entertainment system. Percy joined her just as she was taking a sip of the wine the maids had poured into glasses.
He sat down on the other side of her, their food in the middle, "I never come in here." He said, breaking off a piece of bread. Annabeth shrugged and took in his appearance, he was becoming so much more comfortable in her presence.
He had on a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt. It was the most casual she had ever seen him outside the home gym they work out in every morning. When the movie started they ate in silence, halfway through the movie she grabbed a blanket and moved over to his side. He held his arm out for her, she gladly snuggled into his side.
She took in his scent as she laid her head on his chest, his chest taut- she could feel the way his muscles constricted with each laugh. Percy spent the rest of the movie running his hands up and down her back and playing with her hair.
She realized that this was the most intimate they had ever been. Sex hadn't been involved and neither had kissing but he was showing her affection. It made her heart swell as the credits started to roll.
Percy pulled her closer to him, "You asleep?"
She leaned her head up, "No."
He smiled at her, "Want to watch another movie?"
Annabeth shrugged and did something she probably shouldn't do, considering they were in a dark room with no one around but them. Considering she had promised herself that they wouldn't have sex again until he came to her. She leaned up and kissed him, he brought a hand up and tangled his hand into her curly frizzy hair.
He kissed her back gently, never getting rough.
A few moments later they were still kissing, she placed her hands on his chest and pushed up, getting closer to him. He leaned back against the pillows he had behind him and clutched her closer. Their kisses staying lazy, it made her smile because they were genuinely making out- like a couple of teenagers.
He pulled back, "What?"
She laughed and shook her head, "Nothing important."
He narrowed his eyes at her but she just shook her head again, placing her lips on his once more. Percy rolled them over and pressed her into the pillows, she could feel every achingly good inch of him. It was divine having his body pressed into hers, his shirt rode up as she placed her hands on his bare hips.
His hands stayed near her head as his lips moved down her neck but back to her lips a few seconds later. Annabeth felt intoxicated, she was dizzy but happy.
He kissed her again and then pulled back, leaning his forehead against hers. They were quiet for a moment.
"I don't think we should go further." He whispered.
Annabeth closed her eyes and felt like wiggling her hips a little, even though this had been sweet- she still had an ache in her stomach from the weight of him.
"Okay." She whispered running her fingers up his spine, bringing his shirt with her.
He shivered, "I don't know how to not fuck you…. I mean… thats what I do… I have sex, I don't make love or bring emotions into anything… I don't know how to do this."
She kissed him again, "It's okay… we don't have to do anything."
Percy sighed, "That's just it… I want to."
Annabeth smiled at his honesty, "But you're not ready."
Percy leaned up, "I don't know."
Annabeth leaned up with him, "Just do what you feel like doing."
Percy smirked at her, "What I feel like doing is fucking you on this floor until your a screaming mess."
Annabeth felt her heart skip a beat, "Percy." she warned.
He chuckled, "I know…. trust me I know."
Annabeth pushed him back and straddled his hips, he placed his hands on her hips. She grabbed his hands and tangled their fingers together, "Just follow my lead."
He closed his eyes as she leaned down and kissed him, his fingers kept squeezing hers. She knew it was probably killing him that he couldn't control what was happening at the moment.
Percy needed to pull back on the reins if he wanted to understand mutual intimacy. She leaned back and kissed his nose, then his cheek, his eyes, his forehead- making a complete circle around his face.
When she pulled back he was watching with barely concealed confusion, awe and affection.
"You can trust me." She whispered. Percy closed his eyes again, she placed a hand on his heart- it was beating rapidly.
After several moments he opened his eyes again, "I'm starting to believe that."
Annabeth smiled and kissed him again. She let his fingers go and he wrapped both arms around her waist- flipping them over easily, she laughed against his lips. His answering smile made her heart want to burst from her chest.
He was trying, whether or not he knew it- he was trying.
They kissed for a little while longer and then fooled around, because one doesn't make out with her (admittedly hot) twenty five (almost twenty six) year old husband and not get to third base.
As Annabeth climbed into her bed and cuddled with her pillow, a smile so big plastered to her lips, she knew that despite his claims of not being able to give her more- he was giving her more.
Percy just didn't understand the concept, he didn't understand that what they were doing was giving the other more- it was intimacy at it's finest. It was spending time with the other, it was acts of kindness, it was trusting the other with your darkest secrets.
And he was doing that, just unknowingly.