A/N: Hey guys, back with something different!
Note: This takes place after Battle of the Labyrinth and Before The Last Olympian
We're being chased by monsters. Again.
I'd like to blame it on Annabeth because she started the fight that probably drew their attention, but I can hear her voice now. You're the son of one of the big three, Seaweed Brain, of course they're going to come after you.
And well…she's not wrong, annoyingly enough. With the war with Kronos imminent, of course all the monsters are out to get me. Did I mention I hate prophecies?
And yet, Chiron had sent us out on an errand of all things. (I have the sneaking suspicion that he just wanted Annabeth and I to stop fighting, but honestly, it hadn't worked).
Speaking of Annabeth, she'd broken out into a sprint the moment the monsters found us, leaving me no choice but to follow. She turns abruptly into the entrance to an alleyway away from mortals and I almost stumble as I hasten to do the same.
But when I enter it, she's nowhere to be found, which can only mean that she's using her cap of invisibility. Or that I followed her wrong.
"Hey!" I yell drawing the attention of the monsters. I pull out Riptide, ready to fight, but I only slash once before one of them crumbles into dust, shortly followed by the others. I get a glimpse of Annabeth standing behind where one of them should have been as the dust starts to settle. But instead of disappearing, it turns into some sort of…fog?
"Annabeth?" I yell, running towards where I thought I saw her as the fog thickens. It's all-encompassing now and it's hard to see anything.
I keep pushing forward and somehow end up on the street again, completely clear of the fog from the alley.
"Annabeth!" I yell again, searching wildly for her.
To my right, I catch a glimpse of blonde hair and turn towards it, only to freeze in place.
The girl looking at me looks like Annabeth but…older? She's a bit taller with the same curly blonde hair, but she looks like she's old enough to be in college. She's also not wearing the camp t-shirt like Annabeth had been wearing, but her gaze is turned curiously on me, and I can recognize the analytical stare.
"Percy?" Even her voice sounds like Annabeth's but—
"Percy! Where did you g—" I spin around to see Annabeth, my Annabeth (well not that she's mine, she's the one my age who I'd been fighting, you get what I mean).
She's also frozen in spot, eyes looking past me to where older Annabeth is standing. (One Annabeth is intimidating enough, but two, staring at each other…it's a lot, even for a demigod).
This has to be some trick of the gods, right? Or the monsters? There's no way there's an actual other Annabe—
"Hey! Sorry I'm late, had to—" The sentence is cut off and I look back to see me.
But a me that's taller and older. His eyes lock on mine and it's strange to see the sea-green not reflected in the mirror. His eyebrows raise in surprise and it's strangest thing to see myself express something.
"What's going on here?" he asks. (He sounds like me too, with a slightly deeper voice).
Annabeth, his Annabeth (well, the one his age), responds. "Not sure…they might be monsters…" she trails off, looking at us with an exceptional amount of calm for someone who think we're monsters.
"We're not monsters," I respond. All eyes turn to me.
"Right," Annabeth says from beside me, rolling her eyes. "Like they're going to believe that."
I turn to her. "But we're not," I defend. It's a weird thought, but it's almost comforting to have Annabeth roll her eyes in that annoyed way. It assures me that at least she's herself.
"That's what a monster would say," she points out. She's…not wrong. I frown at her.
Percy, the older version of me, whatever, laughs. "I think they're real," he says with a smile. "That's the 'I hate that Annabeth is right' frown."
I gape at him, I mean me, (ugh, this is confusing) because he's spot on. It's something only I would know, which means… is that really me?
Old Annabeth, as I've decided to call her, nods. "I think you're right…"
Wait. Annabeth, agreeing with me? That easily? Never mind, this can't be us.
"The grey streaks," she continues, nodding at our fading hair. "From holding up the world?" She directs the question at young her.
Beside me, Annabeth nods. "But if you're us….then…how did we get here—" she cuts herself off and turns to me with wide eyes. "The fog! Did you see it?"
I nod. "Yeah, it got so thick I couldn't see anything until I got out of the alley."
We both turn to look at the alley behind us, completely clear of all fog.
"Maybe it's the Mist," she says, guard back up as she turns to the older versions of us. "This could be an illusion."
Old Annabeth raises an eyebrow. "What year do you think it is?"
I tell her.
She nods. "Well, you're in the future. I don't know why or how, but somehow, you're here."
Percy focuses back on me. "Wait, so you're actually young me?" He takes a step towards me, but his Annabeth grabs his arm to stop him.
"Wait, you shouldn't touch him, it might cause a paradox or something."
To my surprise, he nods and lets himself be pulled back. "Isn't them being here already a paradox?"
To my even greater surprise, Annabeth agrees. "Good point, but the world isn't ending."
We all turn towards the road where cars are still driving and people still walking around us.
"That's a change," Percy mutters under his breath, echoing my thoughts. I turn to see that Annabeth still hasn't let go of his arm. Instead, she seems to squeeze it…protectively.
He sighs. "I don't know what's going on here, but can we please eat?" And that's when I notice the picnic basket in his other hand.
Annabeth nods. "Yeah, let's talk in the park. Come on." She gestures for us to follow and I turn towards my Annabeth. Are we really going to follow these guys?
She must see the question in my eyes because she nods. Her shoulders are stiff, and I know she hasn't let her guard down as we begin walking.
They're ahead of us, giving us a chance to talk.
"What do you think is going on?" I whisper.
Annabeth's cloudy grey eyes meet mine. I can tell she's thinking of a million different things. "Not sure, but I think that is us. I don't know why we were sent here, though."
I look towards the sky as if the gods will send a sign, though they never do.
We stop by the base of a large tree and the older versions of us spread out a picnic blanket. We sit opposite of them as Percy begins to pull out sandwiches and chips.
"Do you guys want some?" Percy asks.
Before I can say yes (the food looks great) my Annabeth shakes her head. "I don't think that's a good idea."
I frown again, because she's probably right, but the chips look so tempting. Old me catches the frown and smiles. It's weird to see myself like that, but I can't help but smile back.
Old Annabeth looks up at the sky. "What's going on here?" she asks.
Silence.
She sighs, rolling her eyes. "Lord Apollo, if this somehow okay and not going to cause a paradox or a world-ending event, please give us a sign."
More silence.
"Lord Apollo," she continues. "A sign everything is okay, please! I'll sacrifice a haiku."
A sudden stream of light flashes in her eyes, causing her to shriek. "Okay, got it, thank you, Lord Apollo!" she yells, blinking rapidly from the light.
Old me turns towards the sun with a frown I'm used to seeing in the mirror. "You could've been nicer about it," he grumbles. The sun flashes in his eyes too.
"Percy…" his Annabeth admonishes. Now that's a tone I'm very familiar with.
Still blinking, he smiles at her and I think I get what everyone around me has always called the trouble-maker grin. It really looks like he's up to something. "What?" he says in the same fake innocent tone I like to use.
But instead of getting annoyed at him, Annabeth just shakes her head with a small smile on her face. She turns to us, holding out the bag.
"Chips?"
I nod and take the bag from her as she pulls out another. Beside me, Annabeth shakes her head at the offer. Instead, she watches as I pop a chip in my mouth as if she's ready to watch me combust.
They just taste like normal chips. I shrug and she rolls her eyes, pushing her hair out of her face.
"So, what happened?" Percy asks, turning my attention back.
I walk through the impromptu monster attack and the fog and how we ended up here. I don't mention the fight or the errand.
"Those monsters…" my Annabeth starts suddenly as I end the story. "And with us coming to the future…time…this could be Kronos."
"Kronos?" Old Annabeth says, looking at us. "So you're sixteen? I don't remember this happening…but maybe that's a good thing. It's dangerous to know the future.
"But I guess it's okay of you won't remember it," she continues.
"But what's the point of coming here if we won't remember it?" my Annabeth asks, which to be fair, is a good question. "And time is Kronos's specialty."
"Even if it is Kronos, what does he have to gain? Plus, Apollo just assured us that we're good. As for what's the point…" she pauses. "I don't know."
It's so candid that it surprises me. The Annabeth I know doesn't like to admit she doesn't know something.
"Well," Annabeth speaks up from beside me. She has a slight frown and I wonder if it's because of her older self's free admission that she doesn't know something. "It coul—AHHH!"
She shrieks, immediately ducking behind me as her fingers tightly grip my shoulder.
Before I can do anything, Riptide, not my Riptide, has slammed down on the ground beside us. Old me lifts up his sword grimly and I see the guts of what used to be a spider. (Which explains Annabeth's scream).
He wipes it off on the grass away from us and caps the sword.
Annabeth quickly lets go of my shoulder and I turn to see her red-faced as she settles back beside me.
In front of us though, old Annabeth is another story.
I think she flinched when young her had screamed, but now she just stares at the spot where the spider was with a vacant look in her eyes. Her knees are drawn into her chest and her hand comes to wrap around her own ankle.
It's a little scary seeing any version of Annabeth like that, without the intensity behind her stormy eyes.
Old me immediately shuffles closer to her, gently moving her hand off her ankle and replacing it with his. He lightly massages it, and it seems to jolt her back to the present. The two exchange a look I can't understand.
"It's okay," he mutters, letting go of her ankle to grab her hand instead. "We're okay…together."
Annabeth just nods, staring back.
It feels too tender, too intense and I have to look away. Beside me, Annabeth is also looking away and catches my eye. I mouth what? But she doesn't respond, just looks at me as if she's seeing me in a different light. It's clear she's piecing something together in her head.
"Anyway," Percy says loudly, interrupting our exchange. We both turn to look at the two. Annabeth is eating chips and old me is leaning back so his arm rests behind her.
Almost…protectively.
It reminds me of the way Annabeth had held his arm earlier, with the same protective air. It's clear that this Percy and Annabeth are close and fiercely protective. Not that we aren't. I glance at Annabeth sitting beside me.
We also work together, fight alongside each other...well, lately there's been more fighting with each other than alongside but…
Old me though had risked a god's anger to—
"Wait," I interrupt, finally remembering the thing lingering in the back of my mind. "How did you get an answer from the gods so easily?" If there's one thing I know about them, it's that they don't ever respond.
Percy's eyes are dark and angry, and if that's what Annabeth sees when I'm mad, then it's actually a little intimidating. "They owe us."
His voice is low and feels as dark as his eyes. I don't think I've ever been this way before.
Annabeth sets a hand on his arm, pulling him back gently and I see the anger drain out of his eyes.
I glance at my Annabeth, wondering if she's ever seen me like this but her eyes are zeroed on the spot that older her is holding on to Percy.
"How old are you guys?" she asks.
After a moment, old Annabeth answers. "Twenty-one."
Five years.
That's five years older than us...it seems impossibly far away.
"So…" Annabeth leans forward with wide eyes, staring at her older self. "That means he…"
Old Annabeth nods. "You really shouldn't know this but…yes, he does."
Beside me, Annabeth slumps down, letting out a sigh.
"Who are you talking about?" I ask, trying to figure out their half-sentences.
Old me, who'd been watching the exchange between the two Annabeths, turns towards me. "You."
It still doesn't answer all my questions, so I turn to my Annabeth, hoping she'll explain further. But she's just looking down at her hands.
"And you guys are…I mean," she continues, talking to her hands. "It's obvious."
I, for one, do not think it's obvious, whatever it is.
But before I can say anything Annabeth continues. "So, it means…he…" She glances at me quickly before turning to her older self.
Old Annabeth smiles. "More than you even know."
Old me, on the other hand, seem to be having a revelation of his own. "Wait a minute…you…" he looks at his Annabeth. "Since the beginning? I had no idea!"
It's the first time I see both Annabeth's blush in tandem. "Of course, Percy," old Annabeth responds.
He gapes and it's actually a little funny. (I wonder if I also look like that when my jaw drops)
"I thought I was the only one," he says.
At that, my Annabeth shoots her head up to look at him. Her eyes are wide. "Wait, hold on…you…"
He smiles at her. It's a warm smile that makes me weirdly uncomfortable. "Yeah…" he nods in my direction. "He's a little hopeless, but I promise you, since the beginning."
"Can someone please explain what's going on!" I yell, giving up on keeping up with their half-said sentences. Beside me, Annabeth is blushing a bright red and the older versions of us seem amused.
At my words though, old Annabeth laughs.
And then with two fingers, she pulls Percy's chin towards her and kisses him.
My entire face burns with heat as I look down, all the little moments I'd picked up click together.
Us, in the future, are dating. And in love.
(It also doesn't help that I remember the first time Annabeth ever kissed me. She thought I was going to die but still, the memory of her lips on mine is something I don't think I can forget.)
Which means that currently Annabeth must—
The two pull away and Annabeth looks at me. "That's what we were talking about," she explains.
"But…she hates me?" I say, glancing at my Annabeth who's still red and looking down at her lap.
"You snuck on a quest to rescue her," old Annabeth cuts in. "And you think she hates you, Seaweed Brain?"
It's strange to hear her call me that nickname.
Annabeth glares at her older self and old me shakes his head. "Hey, cut him—me—some slack." He turns to me. "I know I probably shouldn't give you advice but…"
"Maybe make it clear you're not into mortals, jealous Annabeth is only manageable when you can kiss her."
As if my face couldn't get any more red. He has to be talking about…Rachel. So does that mean Annabeth—
"Hey!" Old Annabeth cuts in. "Let's not forget the reason you were pouting either." She turns to young Annabeth. "He can get difficult if you don't remind him you only care about some people as siblings and nothing more," she says, rolling her eyes.
Luke?
"Hey!" Percy responds and the two turn to look at each other.
Am I really watching my own lover's spat?
I look away to find Annabeth looking at me. She has a permanent blush on her face that probably mirrors mine. "Um…this is weird," I whisper to her, not knowing what to say.
"Uh…yeah," she responds, just as awkwardly. "I guess that really is us?"
It feels a little like a question, so I glance at the older versions of us who seem to be having a discussion of their own. "I guess, but um…they are…uh…"
I see now why no one said it out loud earlier.
"Is that so hard to imagine?" Annabeth murmurs beside me. There's a hint of…anger, in her tone but the way she looks down makes me think it might be closer to hurt.
If all this is real and those two are really us, it means that just maybe, Annabeth might actually feel what I do.
"No," I respond truthfully. If there was ever a time to admit something, it would be now. "It's not."
Annabeth turns to me sharply, and her eyes swirl with a mix of emotions I can't decipher.
"Well, guess the cat's out of the bag," Percy says loudly, jolting me. I turn to look at him still leaning back with his arm behind Annabeth, but closer.
And Annabeth is clearly leaning back into him.
I wonder what it'd feel like to have Annabeth lean against me like that and once again flush red.
They look so comfortable together, as if being beside each other is all they need.
Before anyone can say anything, though, a loud voice to our right makes us all turn.
"Hey handsome!"
A very pretty girl in a cheerleading costume is looking at me with a wide smile, I'm almost compelled to smile back but then the mirage flickers and I recognize her as Kelli, the monster that tried to kill me.
"If." The word pierces the air, cold and hard, and I look to see old Annabeth standing up to face Kelli. Old me follows her lead, but she places herself in front of him. "You dare take a step towards my boyfriend..."
She glances at me. "Or the younger version of him," she adds, before turning back to the monster.
"I will obliterate you from existence."
The icy words send a chill up my spine, and it's not surprising that even the monster freezes in place for a second.
"YOU!" Kelli screams looking at the older versions of us. "But I thought I found…" she stares at us in confusion. "But you!" she screams again looking at old Annabeth. "You bitch!"
A second later a sword flies through the air and hits her in the stomach. There's an almost comical look of shock on her face for a second.
"No one calls my girlfriend a bitch," Percy says simply.
And then she explodes into a cloud of dust.
"She was looking for you two," old Annabeth immediately turns towards us, "she might have been from your time?" She mulls it over as if the literal monster attack that just happened didn't phase her.
"Maybe the connection is still open somewhere?" Old me agrees.
I just stare at the two of them with my jaw dropped. What in Hades?
"Something happened," Annabeth whispers from beside me. I turn to see her staring at the older versions of us. "Something really bad."
I turn back just in time to see the older version of me shoot us a wry smile. "You're too smart sometimes," he says in a humorless tone.
There's an…emptiness in his voice that scares me. What had happened to me?
"Percy." The word is a whisper, as Annabeth grabs his face and pulls him into a short kiss.
I see the way he softens and leans into her for the brief few seconds. I remember when the way my brain felt like it was melting after Annabeth had kissed me at Mt. Saint Helens, seems like that effect wasn't a one-time thing.
When they pull apart, he looks more like who I'm used to seeing in the mirror.
It's almost like Annabeth is his anchor, like without her, he would drown. (Not that it's possible for a son of Poseidon to drown…right?)
He meets my eyes, as if he can read my thoughts and says in a low voice. "Never let her go." He nods at the Annabeth by my side. "Whatever you do, never let her go."
I don't need to be him to know he's dead serious.
Old Annabeth squeezes his hand, turning towards us.
"Yes, it was bad," she addresses her younger self's question. "But it's going to be okay. It'll take some time, but it's okay. As long as you stay together."
She meets Annabeth's eyes. "Permanent," she says addressing her. "Percy is permanent."
I think back to the sea of monsters and the sirens' call. How Annabeth wanted to build something that would last. She'd seen it with Luke, but here…here it's me.
The older versions of us stand side by side, stronger and more powerful than I've ever felt. I turn to see my Annabeth already looking at me.
If there's one thing that's abundantly clear from this, we need each other. For whatever Kronos is planning, for whatever is going to come, we need to fight it together.
Annabeth nods, as if she's just had the same thought.
We both turn back to find our older selves smiling at us, light and happy (a contrast from before) and it gives me hope. Despite everything, they're okay.
I think back to all my worries about Annabeth.
Maybe we'll be okay too.
"You will be," old me says, once again reading my mind.
Out of nowhere, a fog starts to roll in and I know that our time here is up. Within seconds they're obscured from view and my eyes get too heavy to keep open.
The next thing is darkness.
-.-
"Percy!"
"Huh?"
I open my eyes to find Annabeth shaking me. I force myself up as she takes a step back and I recognize the alley we'd just killed the monsters in. But…
"What happened?"
"Monsters…but we killed them…" She sounds unsure.
"Right…"
I stand up, feeling a lot like I'm forgetting something important. It's slipped just out of reach but there's a lingering feeling of something in my gut. A sense of…hope?
Gods know this quest needs it.
Annabeth is looking at me curiously and the feeling in my gut intensifies. I try desperately to remember if I had a dream. (But normally, I have too-vivid dreams.)
I also wonder if she's about to pick up our fight and hope she doesn't. I really don't want to.
"You okay?" she asks, instead.
I nod. "You?"
"I think so…I feel…"
But she never finishes her sentence, just lets out a sigh. I wonder if Annabeth is feeling something similar to me. What did those monsters do?
"Ready to go?" she says instead.
I nod and fall into step beside her as we exit the alleyway.
The 'together' is left unsaid, but I feel it anyway.
A/N: So what did you think? This was kind of a self-indulgent fic for me to write and it worked out that someone sent a prompt on tumblr for pre TLO angst. It's also kinda a callback to old where these types of fic used to thrive.
I thought it'd be fun to do something a little different for the series and this was just a lot of fun for me to write so I hope you guys enjoyed it too!
Please Review! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
And as always, thanks for reading!
See ya! :)