Homecoming

Chapter 5: Mapping the Future

The sigh slid past Percy's lips as he shoved his hands into his pocket, his fingers absentmindedly fumbling with the pen that he would always find there. The pen of course was a coping mechanism, a means to settle his often haggard nerves, yet it provided no comfort in this moment. It was bad enough he spent most of his waking hours in this school, now he was here after hours, preparing to attend a formal dance he had no interest in. "So, just curious, who's idea was this?" he asked as he stared at the entrance to Goode High School in the same way he would stare at the gates of Hades, his mind trying to rationalize why he had agreed to attend the Winter Formal Dance. With it being a Friday night, and only three days before winter break began, there were an infinite number of things he could think of he'd rather be doing.

In response to his declaration, Annabeth leaned in and nudged her shoulder against his while offering a wane smile, "Pretty sure it was your mom's. I kind of got the feeling she and Paul wanted to have a date night, and I'm thinking they wanted us to have some time together...try to be normal teenagers, you know?"

"Normal, yeah, because that's ever worked for us," he replied with his usual sarcastic bite before turning his attention to his girlfriend. If he lived to be a million years old, he would never understand how she could calm his entire being by her mere presence. There was no other way to put it, she was his everything, and despite all he had ever done for her, he could not help but feel incredibly unworthy of her. She was the bravest, smartest and most beautiful person he would ever know, and she often didn't even realize how amazing she was. He could only hope she knew how desperately in love he was with her. Given everything they have endured in the last year, they both deserved some semblance of security, and he was desperately hoping he could be that for her, just as she was for him.

Yet, in spite of his own reluctance to join the dance, he turned his attention to beautiful woman by his side, enraptured with the knowledge that every time he looked at her, she stole his breath. To be fair, she was always stunning, yet there was an exotic element to her this evening. It wasn't her attire, though that may have had something to do with it, but rather it was a confidence and happiness that flowed from her, as though she remembered what it was like to be on an actual date, and not spend their time together fighting the monsters who crawled up from the pit.

And so, here she was, standing beside him and adorned in an emerald green satin dress with a silver sash around her waist. She wore her hair pulled up in in an elegant bun and the lightest bit of make-up to accentuate her delicate features. She wore her silver owl earrings and upon her right wrist was a celestial bronze bracelet, two inches in length and adorned with intricate designs of all of the adventures the two of them had experienced. This was the first time he had ever laid eyes on the bracelet, and though it was beautifully crafted, he knew without question there was some secondary function to it. Apart from that, the only piece of jewelry she wore was a simple celestial chain around her neck, on which was strung a piece of red coral, given to her by Percy after they began dating. Other than her father's college ring, the coral was the only other piece she kept before she discarded her camp necklace.

As he stood there in awe of the knowledge that this most amazing young woman had given her heart to him, he could feel as if the world settled into place, as if right here, side-by-side, was the only place they belonged. Annabeth watched his features shift to an expression of absolute love and devotion, and she could not help the stirring of nerves within her stomach and the beat of her heart that intensified and flowed with the warmth of all they shared together. She seemed to know what he was feeling, what he intended to express to her without the need of words, and thus knowing all his deepest dreams for the two of them, she threaded her arm through his, and leaned close to deliver a gentle kiss against his cheek.

As for his own attire, Percy's suit matched Annabeth's choice of wardrobe, yet with an inverted color scheme. His pants and suit coat were a silvery gray, while the cummerbund, label flower and tie were emerald green. And although he attempted to brush his hair in something more than the usually windswept style, it proved little success, to which Annabeth showed no concern, making it a satisfyingly pointless effort regardless.

Laying her head against his shoulder and squeezing his arm in a show of loving support, she allowed a smile to fall upon her lips as she said, "we should probably go in there. I know you're not looking forward to it...we don't have to go if you don't want to."

"No, its fine," he replied, laying his head against the pillow of her golden locks. "We deserve a night out, you know, its just, why'd it have to be at school?"

The comment elicited a laugh as she moved her hand to lace her fingers through his. "We should probably go inside."

Regardless of the risks, this was a chance for them to just be a pair of love struck teenagers, and gods willing, to be normal, if only for tonight. So it was that Annabeth began walking towards the entrance, tugging Percy's hand lightly to encourage him to follow as they ascended the stairs. Handing their ticket to the attendant at the door and entering the gym, they began the evening with a quick sweep of the perimeter, walking the edges of the dance floor and greeting classmates as they passed.

This was a routine they had fallen into at any time they traveled together, clearing the perimeter and working their way throughout the room to categorize potential threats. No matter the day, the anxiety was never very far when it came to attending school. The glances around their classroom to see if there was any students they did not recognize, making an effort to skip class when an unannounced sub arrived. No matter how much they tried to convince each other and themselves of the needless precautions, the fear was omnipresent within their lives. Every hallway, every door, even every person they passed, there was never any difference. They felt exposed, vulnerable, as though waiting for the shadows to birth the monsters hellbent of destroying them.

They had temporarily stopped at the food table, though neither was hungry as they had eaten before leaving the house, but they still surveyed the cake and other appetizers offered. Still, it was apparent that the school had wanted to provide some relief to the students after the end of semester exams and of course before winter break began. The decorations, food and atmosphere were a testament to that, and as Percy and Annabeth moved to the dance floor, they fell into a steady rhythm as they swayed to the music.

When they had at last settled into each others arms, Annabeth rested her head against Percy's shoulder, her eyes closing in soft release of the safety and comfort she felt within his arms. From time to time he would kiss the curls of her hair before resting his cheek upon the crown of her head. His own eyes closing in quiet peace, for in a world so bent on driving them mad, this was his only sanctuary. Neither spoke for several minutes, they simply stood there, swaying in response to the beat of their hearts and their own synchronized breathing that played for them a music only they could hear.

After several minutes of this sliver of peace within their chaotic lives, Annabeth allowed a regretful sigh to part her lips. "Five exits," she stated candidly, her words coming as little more than a whisper as though the statement would tear them from this moment of tranquility. "The two along the west wall lead into the school, not the best scenario if we need to make a quick getaway. We'd get cornered there."

Percy never moved from his position, his arms tightening around her waist as he held her a little closer, as if together they could cause all the evils in the world to just agree to leave them alone...if only for tonight. "Cake knife on the table at my six, silver plated. It might not be the best weapon, but could do in a pinch. Also equipment room at 12 o'clock. Might find something useful if needed."

"You still have Riptide, right?"

"You know I do, I was speaking for you..."

"I've got it covered," Annabeth said quietly, moving her hand to take Percy's wrist and guiding it to the sash she wore around her waist. At the small of her back, the unmistakable shape of a sheath and handle of a knife could be easily felt beneath the silken material. As his fingers outlined the contours of the blade, she ran her own hand up the length of his arm until it came to rest against his chest, her fingers splaying against the fabric of his shirt and positioning themselves over his heart.

"New knife? When did you get that?"

"It arrived last week," she replied, her fingers drawing random shapes against his chest as she concentrated on her actions, trying and failing to ignore the reality that she even needed the blade at all. While the Drakon Sword was a brilliant weapon, she was merely an expert at swordsmanship, whereas she was a master with the knife. "I hadn't thought about it because we were too busy cramming for finals, but Leo sent it. He apologized for taking so long, but said he wasn't used to making weapons. This was his fifth one, the only one he thought was good enough for me. Still, I only held it a couple time. It's perfectly balanced, but...I'm really not looking forward to putting it to practice."

Percy fell silent, knowing the little white lie she told was for as much his sake as it was hers. She was a daughter of Athena, she would never 'forget' to mention the arrival of a weapon or that she was too preoccupied with finals to not think about it. She hadn't mentioned it because she wanted to ignore it, pretend it was not part of her daily life. For that purpose, he would accept the lie, if only to pretend along with her.

"So what about this?" he asked, his fingertips sliding from the small of her back, upwards toward her shoulder before he allowed them to trace a path down the length of her bare arm. The action sent a shiver through her body, eliciting a small smile to part his lips before his fingers finally settled upon the bronze bracelet that covered half of her forearm.

Pulling away to gaze into his emerald eyes, she smiled softly as she raised her right hand to cup his cheek, her thumb tracing the curves of his face. "It was a gift from Tyson. He said he was glad I was, and I'm quoting, 'not dead', and wanted me to have this so I could make sure you were 'not dead', either."

"Guessing it's a shield then, but...why is it on your right wrist?"

Leaning back slightly, Annabeth brought her right arm close to her chest while her left hand moved to the bracelet and pushed a concealed button as two crossbow arms extended from the casing. "Repeater crossbow," she said simply, pushing the button again as the arms retracted, appearing never have been extended at all.

"So, Leo makes you a knife, and Tyson makes you a bracelet that's actually a hidden crossbow...not really feeling the love here." Percy said, as his face soured, though the playful glint in his eye proved his words held no venom.

"I think I can take care of that," Annabeth responded, her hands moving to cradle his face as she drew him into a long, languid kiss that seared the very nerves of his being. As their lips fell into their practiced pattern, moving in their own dance of lingering embrace. As one, their lips parted, deepening the kiss in a hunger that was fed only by the desperate love they shared. After several minutes she pulled away, a dreamy smile adorning her features and reflecting the dazed look that painted his face. Offering one last nipping kiss to his lips, she returned her head to rest upon his shoulder while her arms returned to embrace him. "Feeling better now?"

"No," he answered as his eyes glazed at the affection poured upon him. "I think you're going to need to do that a few thousand more times." Laughing at his antics, Annabeth began gliding her fingers up and down the length of his back, smiling at the trembling form of her boyfriend.

"Still," he said softly, once more kissing her hair and letting his lips linger as he took in the lemony scent of her shampoo. "I'd still like a crossbow bracelet."

Laughing lightly at the comment, Annabeth shook her head against his shoulder. "Three things wrong with that Percy. First, you can't pull off the bracelet look no matter how hard you try. Second, giving you a crossbow is a recipe for disaster, you're a lousy shot."

"Am not," he protested before remembering the number of times he had nearly skewered his fellow campers on the archery range.

"Face it Percy, you couldn't hit the ocean if you were standing on the bottom."

"Fair point," he responded, shrugging his shoulders and causing Annabeth's head to rise in response. "It's cruel, but fair. So what's the third point then?"

"Something about Tyson already making you a gift, and that I'd be really happy when you gave it to me..."

"Okay, okay, enough," Percy replied quickly as the conversation touched dangerously close to the project he had been working on for some time.

The comfortable silence fell upon them again, the pair never moving from the safety of their designated bubble, spinning in a slow, comfortable radius. This moment of peace was so foreign to them, they almost felt as if it were happening to someone else. But it wasn't, because to Annabeth and Percy, no two people could ever love each other as completely as they did.

An unwilling lamentation slipped past Annabeth's lips as she was compelled to continue her assessment to assure their safety. "Bleachers are compacted, we can scale them easily enough, give us high ground if we need it. Also, I count 184 people..."

"Right," Percy said mournfully, feeling the same separation from the peace he felt just dancing with the love of his life. "I see five students I don't recognize, though I don't see any potential monster threat from them," he continued, his hand unconsciously moving in a circular pattern across her back. "Of the five chaperons, the heavy set balding man by the north-northeast exit."

"Why?" Annabeth asked for clarification as her back was to him, and did not want to risk looking over her shoulder.

"He keeps eyeing us, as if he knows what we are..."

"Is it hostile or just suspicious attention?"

Percy slowly rotated to allow Annabeth the opportunity to observe the target, "He looks scared of us."

"Then he knows who we are," he said in response as he continued to slowly spin their position so that he was now in line to look at the potential threat. "How do you want to handle it?"

Pausing for a moment to consider the options, Annabeth closed her eyes and leaned against Percy's chest, allowing herself a moment to relax against him. She didn't want to deal with this, she was tired of dealing with it. "Let's wait and see. If he's a scout and disappears, his brood will know something went wrong."

"And if he's a scout and reports back, they'll know where we are," Percy replied, the reality of what they had to do just to survive falling upon him like the weight of the sky.

"Fair point, dip me," Annabeth said, offering a slight smile as she felt Percy's arms focus on the small of her back and lean her backwards in a slow dip. Even though she was viewing the potential threat upside down, she extended the bracelet and launched a celestial bolt before Percy righted her position back against his body. "Well?"

"Four chaperons," he said regrettably. He watched the projectile with practiced ease pass through the mortal dancers who paid no attention to it before it struck the disguised monster, sending it to Tartarus in a shower of gold dust. He had so hoped he was wrong, that the celestial bronze bolt would have simply passed through him to no effect, but he and Annabeth were just not that lucky.

"Gods...is this going to be our whole life?" a manic laugh escaped Annabeth's lips as she fought against the fear of never having the opportunity to relax, to let her guard down, to just enjoy a simple dance with the man she loved without the fear of being attacked. As the laugh continued, it hitched into a sob of angry frustration as she squeezed her arms about Percy's waist, tightening her hold as if hoping contact with him would be enough to drive away the reality of their lives.

Nothing more passed between them for several minutes as he closed his eyes, unable to find any words of comfort. After all they've been through, it was impossible to rationalize the desire to live when the world tried so hard to see them die. He felt her breathing become erratic against him, and his fear she was having another panic attack narrowed his entire focus on her. "Annabeth," he began, his fingers finding her face and lifting it to stare desperately in her eyes.

"Just hold me Percy, please..." she begged as her eyes flowed with the regret of never having a moment's peace in this world. He needed no further incentive as he pulled her flush against his body while lowering his head so that his cheek rested against hers. They had no way of knowing how long they stood there, statues in the garden of Medusa, rigid and stock still as the world continued to spin around them.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take," she said, her voice a bare whisper, quivering with the mounting anxiety that tore at the pair of them on a daily basis. "The night terrors, the panic attacks, the constant fear, the...the survivors guilt. Five years of questing, wars, death...your mom said it best, the human mind can't snap back that quickly. It's like every step we take to get better is just getting harder," pausing for a moment as if considering whether or not to voice the idea she had been contemplating for so very long, she finally offered the question, "What are we even doing here Percy?"

His first inclination was to respond that they were dancing, yet something told him this wasn't what she was asking. The question itself was incredibly open-ended and he had no way of deciphering what context she was directing the inquiry, and thus waited for her to elaborate. At this point, he simply held her, believing that was exactly what she needed from him, as gradually, her breathing slowed to match his own, again synchronizing their essence with one another.

"Let me ask you Percy, is there any reason we're attending school?" She let the words settle between them, allowing the silence to stretch and giving him the chance to consider her words. "I mean, with everything we're dealing with now, the stress of every element of our PTSD, do we need the added pressure of attending classes here? Waiting to see if or when we'll be attacked?

"I-I don't know if Sally and Paul would consider it, but it would take so much stress off of us to just be home schooled for the Spring Semester. We're not coping well at school Percy, I mean, our first priority right now needs to be to get our minds right. If we're attacked in the middle of a panic attack...we'll you know how it is.

"Aren't you tired of looking over your shoulder at school, terrified that an unannounced sub is a monster in disguise...hell, we just killed one here at a dance," Annabeth fell silent as if contemplating what more to say. The issues were far deeper than the threat of being attacked on a daily basis. They had no friends at school, no commitment beyond classes, no loyalty to school itself. They were simply drifting through classes in a hopeless attempt to be a pair of normal teenage kids...yet, no teenage kids had ever experienced what they had.

Their inability to make friends was not for lack of trying, as, towards the beginning of the year, students had often approached the couple many times, seeking to befriend the two amazingly athletic teens, but regardless of their best efforts, it never stuck. Conversations would generally fall to movies that they had never heard of or were too busy to watch, recent concerns about which students were dating and who had broken up...it all seemed so superficial that any proposed friendships with their peers dissolved almost as soon as they began.

Regrettably, for Annabeth and Percy, being a demigod meant walking in both worlds, human and god, and yet, what human could relate to their experiences? What mortal understood the monsters that crept in the shadows, or contending with the earth destroying catastrophe that nearly eradicated all life on the planet. They experienced terrors the mortals weren't aware of it, and this created an unavoidable separation that the two heroes could not simply relate to those who lived in the envious ignorance of their human blindness to the world around them. A simple look around the gym proved that, as evidenced by the dancing and celebrating teens who were not even aware a monster was in their midst, let alone that it had been killed. For the pair of demigods, they had simply seen too much, done too much to ever feel they could relate to mortals.

And yet that same separation was also prevalent within the demigod world as well. Since leaving camp, they had been besieged by their friends, either through Iris Messages or written correspondence, asking how they were doing, how they were coping with everything, what they could do to help. These messages went largely unanswered. Not because they did not care to speak to the people they had trained with, fought and bled beside, and largely grew up with, but experience had shown them that these friends simply did not know how to talk to them anymore. History had shown that any conversation generally fell silent after a few moments, because most of their friends were scared of them. It was never openly stated, but many of their fellow campers, they ones they had known for all these years, would often look upon either Annabeth or Percy with an appraising eye, as if questioning what had change within them since their time in Tartarus. Were they really the same campers they had known, or were they beasts who had escaped the pit and merely wore their skins. The constant scrutiny and psychological dissection was too much for them to handle.

That notion, that no matter how much they may want it to be, no one could relate to their experiences left the pair feeling incredibly isolated, and incredibly vulnerable.

"I mean, it's just an idea really...but, I'm so tired of not finding any peace, always looking over our shoulders...always doing a threat assessment no matter where we are...god Percy, is it ever going to end?"

Her words were silenced by a gentle kiss to her temple, before sliding to her cheek until finally settling upon her lips. When she got nervous, she began to ramble as if trying to convince herself her idea wasn't worth trying. In those cases, it was Percy's job to remind her that whatever she planned, he would always support her. "Your idea makes a lot of sense. I mean, why are we here? To try to pretend to be normal? You and I both know that's never going to happen. I can't think of any reason why we shouldn't try this. Besides, Wise Girl, you had me at 'let's leave school'."

The use of his pet name for her caused an involuntary gasp to escape her lips, as though she was unaware she was holding her breath. It had only now occurred to her that during their entire time fighting through their demons, they had only addressed each other by their names, never by their designated nicknames. Her eyes shimmered in wonder as she looked at Percy, only now coming to terms with how much she missed that small part of their lives.

Immediately she laced her fingers around the nape of his neck and drew him into a kiss so tender and passionate that it was as if they were meeting again after eight months of separation. Percy's arms wrapped around her and pulled her close, his height lifting her a few inches off the ground as he responded to the kiss with all the passion that was buried beneath the fear. It was a fleeting moment, but a moment that captured who they were, and reminded themselves that they were still there, clawing their way out from beneath the pain that had buried them since they had returned from the pit. It was a moment that gave them hope that they would make it.

"Gods I missed you Seaweed Brain," she stated as she smiled against Percy's lips, her eyes shimmering as she held his attention before one of the chaperons tapped him on the shoulder with the clear sign that they should separate. A self-depreciating smile danced across his features as he lowered Annabeth back to the floor, waiting for the chaperon to leave before he put his arms around Annabeth and continuing their dance.

After several minutes of just holding one another, reconnecting in a way that went deeper than just using each other as support against the nightmares that invaded their life, they could not help but feel that maybe, just maybe, they had finally turned the corner. It had seemed sudden, this shift between them, but for just a moment they were reminded of who they were, who they still were. The Percy and Annabeth who were prisoners within their own minds, hidden and trapped beneath the horrors that plagued their thoughts. The discovery may have been fleeting, but it was there nonetheless. "What do you say we get out of here?"

"You know me too well," Percy replied, a smile parting his lips as he draped his arm over Annabeth's shoulder. However, before they made it to the door, Annabeth cursed herself, her eyes moving to her bracelet and remembering the bronze bolt she had fired and knowing the need to retrieve it, lest it lead to questions by school administration how a projectile had found itself in the gymnasium wall.

So, Percy agreed to stand by the door, his eyes never leaving sight of her she weaved her way around the dancing bodies to collect it.

"You're a lucky guy," the voice said to his left as he startled to see Paul standing beside him. "At least that's what the sigh you just exhaled said."

For a moment, Percy was startled to see his step-father standing at his side, knowing he was spending time with is mom at their house. Instinctively, Percy reached into his pant pocket, palming the ballpoint pen he found inside. Before he could decide whether the person beside him was a monster or something else entirely, a voice from 'Paul's' pocket spoke.

"Ooh...do you think he has a rat in that pocket?"

"George, hush..."

Realization quickly dawned on him as his eyes fixed on the person before him. "Hello Hermes, George, Martha..."

"Shh..." the disguised God of Messengers said, placing a finger to his lips, "I'm incognito."

Percy was about to ask incognito from what when a very non-Paul like smirk passed over his face. "I'm just here making a special delivery Percy." With that, he reached into his inside coat pocket and retrieved a beautifully wrapped package, adorned in blue wrapping paper. The small, rectangular parcel was passed to the young demigod who eyed it in a form of reverence before slipping it into is pocket. "Just to let you know, I was able to get all the blessing you asked for, and a few others, free of charge. Consider it...a gift."

Percy eyed him wearily as he turned his attention back towards Annabeth who was currently looking over her shoulder while attempting to extract the metal bolt from the concrete of the wall. He remembered so many instances when someone, usually Annabeth would warn him of the proverb "there's no such thing as a free lunch," and hesitantly wondered what strings were attached for the extra work Hermes provided.

As if reading his thoughts, which Percy rationalized he probably was, the god at his side chuckled lightly before shaking his head. "Don't worry Percy, there's no hidden service fees attached. I know your dealings with us Olympians hasn't always worked to your advantage," he paused as Percy snorted in response, an action that only had Hermes smile wider, "Okay, rarely worked out for you...but, whether you know it or not, we gods aren't as blind as you may think. While most won't admit to it, we owe you our...well, not lives...existence I guess?

"Not once, but twice you've saved us. That's a debt we can never repay, and...I don't think I've ever properly mentioned it, but I owe you more than that for what you did for Luke..."

Percy furrowed his brow as he turned towards Hermes. "It was Annabeth who never stopped believing in him."

"True," he replied as if considering how best to word his response. "But you were the one who had enough trust to allow him to redeem himself. Whether your trust was in Annabeth or in Luke doesn't matter. By giving him that knife and letting him do what he needed to do, you saved his soul. I will always be in your debt for that Percy. So, a few additional 'no-strings attached' blessings is a small price to help pay back, even a fraction of that kindness. The full list of all the little bells and whistles of what those little items can do is in the box.

"And one other thing," Hermes said, his eyes moving to watch Annabeth continue to struggle to extract the metal projectile before snapping his fingers and watch it pop free in her hand. Reaching to his right pant pocket, he retrieved two pieces of paper, notes written on a doctor's prescription pad. "Courtesy of Apollo, these notes will get provide you the medical excuses you need, if you and Annabeth are intending on completing your last semester at home, those will cover the medical requirements needed to satisfy the school's administration.

"And with that, I must bid you adieu," Hermes stated as Annabeth arrived to join her boyfriend, her brow furrowing in confusion as to why Paul was at the dance when he suddenly vanished.

She pursed her lips and looked to Percy for an answer, fearful they were being sent on another quest by another god for another stupid reason. Percy only smiled as he draped his arm once more over her shoulder and led her from the gym.

He couldn't quite rationalize the optimism he felt, but the very idea of spending the last semester away from the stressful environment of school and having the opportunity to just do the needed assignments while focusing on the specific mental health issues that were never-ending for the pair of them gave him more hope than he had in a long, long time. His biggest regret is that neither he nor Annabeth saw how stressful going to school had been on their emotional well-being. They would just convince his parents and Annabeth's father that this was for the best, but he had faith it would work out. Another feeling he had long since abandoned and only now felt his entire spirit lighter than it had since before falling into the pit.

As the two walked from from the gym and made their way to the waiting Prius, Percy's free hand fell into his pocket. Normally his fingers would lock around Riptide to give him some sense of comfort, but instead, his hand held the package Hermes had returned to him...a simple hope that he could not, nor would not deny represented every facet of his future with Annabeth.

He had pulled her close, allowing his lips to tenderly grace her temple before pulling his arm away to open the door of Paul's car for her. When she had settled into the passenger's seat, he made his way to the other side of the vehicle, a soft, genuine smile on his face as he could finally see the future laid out before him.

They still had a long way to go, but he had never felt as hopeful that they would make it through the horrors of their past than he did at that moment.

–

A/N: Okay, so I reread chapter 5 and absolutely hated how rushed it felt. Still not sure how well this turned out, but I'm actually excited for the next chapter, which will be a Christmas themed and despite how emotionally heavy this story has been, will actually be a nice, fluffy story of the love shared between Percy, Annabeth, Sally, Paul, and all the people just wanting to help save our two wonderful heroes from all their pain.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed. If you like the story so far, please drop a review, always love to know what I'm doing right and what I can do to make my writing better.

Thank you for reading