Note: Happy holidays everyone! I wasn't expecting to put out another one so soon, but here's a bit of a shorter one just in time. Hope you all enjoy and expect more coming soon! Thank you again to everyone who reads this. It really does mean a lot to make something you all can enjoy. -SH
Percy bolted upright, his head swiveling from side to side trying to comprehend his surroundings. He blinked rapidly to clear his blurry vision before bringing his hands to his face to rub them. Just before he could put his hands back down, a gentle shush and a pair of hands pushed him softly back into the massive cloud of wool and leather he was lying in. Annabeth looked at him with kind gray, watery eyes and smiled.
"Am I dreaming?" He instantly vocalized.
Annabeth chuckled and patted his chest. "No, you're not. Relax, it's all right, here."
She offered him a bowl of soup with some form of mystery meat that, was it glowing? Whatever it was there was a lot of stuff in there that did not seem trustworthy. Still, he was very hungry, and his body made that known as his stomach began to groan. Sheepishly, he accepted the warm meal and took a small spoonful. It was delicious. Perfectly season and the meat was falling off the bone. It warmed him to his core, and he couldn't help but smile as he devoured the entire thing in a matter of minutes.
"I'll take it you liked the soup?" A massive voice asked, a large hand reaching down for his empty bowl.
How could he not have noticed the giant sitting but a few feet away from him the entire time? Percy's eyes went wide and all he could do was nod silently as he watched the massive stranger refill and hand him a new serving. He took the bowl back and returned to eating, but more slowly as he continued to eye the giant.
"It's okay," Annabeth reassured. "That's Damasen. He's peaceful and the anti-Ares. He saved your life."
His spoon dropped into the bowl as it came rushing back. The arai, the curses, the running, the misery. Percy turned away, unable to bring himself to look at Annabeth. How could she even stand to be here with him after everything that happened? He hadn't just failed her; he'd failed Bob and Calypso and nearly gotten them all killed.
"How?" He croaked out, his voice still weak.
"Bob came back," She replied matter-of-factly.
Bob popped his head out with Small Bob from behind the giant and waved. "Hello!"
"Bob?" Percy asked, he couldn't believe it.
"Yes," Bob said proudly.
"But why? After what I did to you…"
"Percy is very brave," Bob said. "But also not very smart. You tricked Bob, but then almost die for Bob. Bob is immortal, not very smart, but Bob knows now that you are friend."
"Not very smart is an understatement," Damasen added. "Gorgon's blood and a dozen other injuries and ailments. What kind of suicidal mortal charges a horde of arai?"
"You remember?" Percy asked, fearing what the answer may be.
Bob nodded solemnly, petting Small Bob. "Bob remembers Iapetus, but chooses to be different. Titans never help Iapetus, but Percy, Nico and Annabeth help Bob. When we are done here, Bob will take you to the Doors of Death."
"Thank you," Percy said.
"Damasen, is there a safe place we can speak privately?" Annabeth asked, pointing at herself and Percy.
"No need," Damasen replied. "The drakon has revived. Bob, come with me to forage."
The two beings lumbered out of the hut, cat in tow, leaving the demigods to their affairs. Percy still couldn't bring himself to look the daughter of Athena in the eye. His hands fiddled with the now empty soup bowl and spoon, soft clattering sounds echoing in the large abode. Annabeth readjusted herself on the bed as she to fidgeted with her fingers, unsure of how to broach the subject.
"Percy, I'm okay now," Annabeth started. "This place is evil. The things it can make you do… it's not your fault."
"No, you don't understand," Percy said, shaking his head. "It is my fault."
"Then help me understand," Annabeth pleaded, putting her hand on Percy's and taking the bowl away.
Percy hesitated, then took a deep breath. "What I did to you… I heard voices in my dream. They didn't make me do anything, they just dug up what I already felt."
He shuddered and took a few more deep breaths before continuing. "What do you remember from the arai?"
"Not much after I lost my sight," Annabeth said. "Everything went black and when I came to, Bob was there. He healed me and took us to Damasen to get you fixed up… and you said 'I love you' before you lost consciousness. Was it about Reyna?"
Silence permeated the air after that. Percy's hands were clasped together, his shoulders slumped. Annabeth wasn't sure if she should say something, but soon, Percy responded. "No, it wasn't."
"Okay, then—"
"You," Percy interjected, his chest heaving under heavy breaths. "It was about you."
"What?" Was all she could manage, her mind reeling from those words.
"After Manhattan, after Olympus, after…Luke, I wanted to tell you. But I saw how you looked when he died. That was when I knew it was never going to happen. Still, I just couldn't let it go. I thought, maybe with Reyna…but I guess not huh?"
Tears streamed down Annabeth's face as she blinked profusely to clear her vision. "Not going to tell me I'm wrong?" Percy asked.
Annabeth shook her head. "No, no you're right. But that doesn't make anything we've been through less real. We fought together, survived together. We battled through the Labyrinth together. We held up the sky together. Now we're here. Together. You're my family. I need you, but I can't give you what you want."
"But the fact that I couldn't let it go and that it led me to hurt you; that's what I can't forgive myself for. I failed you and Bob, but that's not even the worst of it. You don't remember what the arai did, but those curses came from somewhere. After you went blind, it was Calypso that cursed you."
"Why would she?" Annabeth asked, her eyes red and puffy.
"Because I failed her. I promised she would be free, but she must still be on that island. Just another person I let down. Her, you, Rachel, Luke, it's all a string of failure. Why did I ever let myself think that things could work out with anyone?"
"Seaweed Brain," She muttered.
"What?" Percy asked, confused by the sudden response.
"Bob was right, you are an idiot."
"I don't think that was exactly what he said—"
"No! Listen here," Annabeth demanded angrily, tears rolling. She grasped his hands firmly and got up close to his face. For the first time, he finally looked her in the eyes, his own watery and red.
"You think and say all these things, but after all of it have you ever considered how things have worked out? Did I enjoy being nearly suffocated? No! But I understand where that pain comes from. You did something awful, but that doesn't mean you're an awful person. It means you made a mistake. Making mistakes means you're human. Bob forgave you, Rachel chose to be the Oracle, we made it to Damasen because of you and Luke… he got to choose his own destiny because I trusted you with my knife just like you trusted him to do the right thing."
"I don't deserve this…" Percy squeaked, his sea-green eyes glassy.
"Yes, you do," Annabeth said confidently. "You helped Frank and Hazel make it to Alaska. You brought back the Legion standard. You defended Camp Jupiter from the giants. My mother said your fatal flaw was being too loyal to your friends, but you managed all of this by being a loyal friend. That's why I, why we will always be there for you. You keep your promises. Reyna is expecting you to come back; are you going to break that promise?"
"I'm broken," Percy finally admitted. "What if I can't love her the way she deserves?"
"You need time, you're in pain. These things don't fix themselves over night. It's okay to hurt and feel bad. What's important is how you overcome it. So, I'm only going to ask this one more time, Perseus Jackson. Are you going to break that promise?"
He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He was still doubtful that he could do it but having everything out in the open was like having a weight lifted from him. While he was wild and changing like the waves his father controlled, Annabeth was like a finely carved and placed marble column. In his darkest moment, he'd hurt her badly, and forgot the kind of person he was. She stood steadfast to remind him that good people can still do bad things just like bad people can do good.
"No," Percy finally replied, staring Annabeth right in the eye. "I'm going to make it back. I'm going to see Reyna again. And I'm going to work to prove myself to her, to you and to everyone else."
"Good," Annabeth said, smiling. "And when you see her, you can say it to her."
Damasen, Bob and Small Bob had returned with fresh drakon blood caking them and supplies. They appeared dour and dropped what they had, Bob clutching his broomstick tightly. Small Bob paced impatiently at the feet of the Titan and the demigods imagined if it had fur, it would be pointing straight up.
"We must go," Bob said.
"Go where? Why?" Percy asked, wiping his face of any leftover tears.
"My brother Polybotes had picked up your scent, son of Poseidon," Damasen explained. "He is close."
"Come friends," Bob said, ushering them outside. "We're going to get you killed."
Annabeth looked back at Percy and grabbed his hand. "Together."
"Together," Percy nodded.