Chapter 20: Premonition

Percy

When I woke from a brief nap on the couch while Annabeth used me as her lap pillow…

It was still in the middle of the night, I opened my eyes to the warmly lit cabin of the Poseidon pantheon residing in Camp Half-Blood.

However, that same girl who was peacefully asleep was already wide awake before me. For some reason, I wasn't surprised.

"Hey, wise girl?"

"Shh!" It was the same response I got after trying to catch her attention multiple times.

Sigh…

As it stands, I couldn't do anything else either.

Unable to catch a glimpse of her familiar gray eyes, I was at a loss what to do. Having met up in my cabin a few hours ago, I was currently being used as a cuddling object while she buried herself inside my lap and my body. Meanwhile, her face was buried in a resource book taken from the library. She was completely invested in whatever she was reading, each page flipped roughly with each passing second.

"Hey, wise girl…?"

"Shh!"

I bit my lips.

"H-Hey? Wise girl…?"

"Shh!"

I bit my lips again after it turned into a pout.

"Ahem, are you there, wise girl?"

"Shh-hh!"

Gone from my lap, I sat helplessly as she shifted expertly to lay on my chest in a sideways lean while sitting in the same fashion. In a sense, I could finally see her face, but of course, that damn book was in the way.

I felt something rising up my throat.

"Ahem… You gonna keep ignoring me or what?" I finally asked.

"Shh!"

I sighed, then gave up and gently pushed her out from above me. She landed on her butt and grumbled as I got up from the couch.

"Hey! Where are you going?"

"Shower, since you are so busy…" I gave her an annoyed look.

"Hey, wait… I didn't finish my—" She fanatically scrambled after me, but I didn't wait for her and disappeared into the bathroom.

"You promise you won't keep pushing yourself, didn't you?"

I could almost visualize her blinking and lips quivering behind the door, "D-Don't be mad, I am just reading up on some material about…"

I knew it was kind of mean leaving her alone when she was so comfortable, but after promising that she would relax, she rounded up focusing on our upcoming battle again. It was the first time I hated that meticulous, over-attentive side of her, the way she tried so hard to create the perfect counter plan at the expense of her own well-being.

"Look, I am going to take a shower anyway, but after I am done, the first thing we are going to do is get a full night's sleep, okay?"

"….." It was oddly quiet on the other side, but I let it go and retreated deeper into the bathroom.

Luckily, it seemed fresh clothes were already prepared beforehand, probably by the maids in the mansion. I had no worries when I removed my dirty clothes and step into the glass stall.

Tick-tick-tick….

Soaking up a cold shower, my thoughts wandered as aimlessly as lost souls traveling in an endless eternity. I lifted my hands, then watched as a mass of water gathered at my palm and swirled into a formless sphere. It only made me sigh, and I let go of my creation.

Am I really going to be able to do what needs to be done?

It was the same question that I had been pondering for three days straight. All of a sudden, I thought back to something that jolted me from head to toe. As innocent as our conversation was, that moment when the girl with long hazel-colored hair grinned at me.

"Oh? And if you tell anyone what I just did, I'll kill you."

Remembering her smiles, my whole body shook. Even with my best attempt, it was hard to forget that awkward sensation still lingering on my right cheek. I knew it didn't mean anything, but after how Annabeth reacted to my impromptu night with Thalia, this new secret was better to be taken to the grave.

And while I swore a promise to Annabeth, it wasn't like that would ever happen again, or at least… I really hope Piper wouldn't surprise me like that a second time.

Though from a certain perspective, I definitely lead that one on so one could argue it was more of my fault than hers.

Damn it! Why am I always getting into these situations when I already have Annabeth? Guh! But wait a minute, why am I even thinking about this- in the shower no less!

Ultimately running in circles about another girl, I smacked my face hard and shook with goosebumps on my arms, then turned the knob all the way to the end until freezing water spewed out from the showerhead.

Tick-tick-tick….

Shivering like mad, I sighed.

Ahh- b-better…err…

However, I nearly had a heart attack.

"Hey Percy," I heard a muffled whisper followed by a knock and the creaking of the door being opened.

Startled, I almost jumped and poked my head from behind the curtains, "Whoa! A-Annabeth-th… what do you think you are— Eeeek! Seriously, w-whuh-hh are you…?!"

Stunning me enough to have a nosebleed, I was suddenly facing a cute, adorable, perfectly blushing Annabeth who was wearing nothing else except for a huge bath towel wrapped around her slender body. Her current attire was literally increasing my blood pressure by a thousand index.

I gulped, desperately averting my eyes to anywhere but her welcoming figure walking closer to the shower stall. Her bashful intention made her alluring display even more lethal.

"C-Can… I join you?" It was so soft a whisper that the running shower almost drown out her voice.

Huuuhhh?!

Despite being soaked with wet hair, smoke fumed over my head as my thoughts went to overdrive mode. Calculations were rushed out the window as I tried to discern whether this was really happening or if somehow she found out what Piper did and this was her way of punishing me.

I couldn't speak.

She took another step forward and blushed, "Y-You don't want to…?"

Even though the water was freezing, I could feel us steaming the bathroom up just by our body temperatures alone. Quickly, I turned the knob and set it back to warm water, white steam seemed to immediately fill the small space while my body grew hotter.

"Annabeth…" I whispered her name.

It seemed I already had an answer for her, but words couldn't leave my mouth. Annabeth finally tilted her shy gaze at me and we met each other halfway. She couldn't say anything either.

But everything turned out fine.

I relaxed and reached out with a hand behind the curtains. She reached out and our hands touched as she let me pull her close.

Our shared instinct guided the rest that happened afterward.

…

Like all wonderful dreams, what's precious was that it would eventually end. The memories everlasting forever in our hearts, hoping that nothing could ever change them.

"Purr-purr…"

Smiling, I brought a finger to poke her soft cheek. She stirred, her nose scrunched into a pout and a cherubic face that could smooth my heart in nano-seconds moved across them.

I swallowed hard, then sucked in my lips and silently grinned.

Slowly lifting her sleepy gaze, she met my eyes. In an instant, I was greeted with a calm smile almost as if she was an angel from heaven, those flushed cheeks glowing a healthy shade of pink, relaxed grey eyes bringing a bubbly, lazy grin, and those peachy, damp, and soft lips on full display.

She parted them slightly and whispered like a kitten, "P-Percy-yy…"

Fingers pulling up the sheets on her body, she slowly stretched them out and brushed over my chest only to rest them near my heart. Faint blushes warmed her cheeks while she turned away in a moment of embarrassment.

Seeing her like this, I was almost overcome with a renewed urge to pin her down on the bed again.

"Hey," I brushed her loose blonde hair from her forehead and planted a gentle kiss there. She giggled in a girly manner, then immediately pressed a finger to her smiling lips as if wanting to quiet her own involuntary reactions.

"Did you dream?"

She nodded into my body with a smile pressed to my collarbone, "About you…"

I grinned, "What about?"

That same playful smile grew wide against my bare skin, "You already know what…"

It was completely silent, but the grin I held never left my lips. I knew she was embarrassed, but after a while of looking at her, I just couldn't resist.

"Was it that good?"

Whhuh?! Eeeeaahh? That was her only reaction.

Watching her gobble like a goldfish, I tried so hard to hold back the urge to smirk. Her cute fluster of confusion, the way she stammered indecisively as if choosing between hitting me or burying her face was the hardest decision of her life.

"Pfft, hehe…"

Gray eyes shot as wild as they could go, she was horrified because I couldn't hold back anymore.

"Muawhh! You are horrible Percy!"

Burning red like a ripe tomato, she looked so beautiful it was beyond my imagination. I wanted to treasure this moment forever and framed it in my room.

She'd kill you if you actually do something like that…

Babbling all nervously, it looked like she couldn't figure out whether throwing a tantrum or curling up into a ball while on the cusp of dying was the better option. It was as amusing as it sounded. I watched in delight as her many reactions reflected off the warm glow of a lamp nearby until she finally settled with an indirect sidelong look, that signature 'you are so annoying' pouty face.

"I hate you…" She grumbled.

I grinned in full.

Resisting all urge to throw myself above her, I reached out and pulled her close. Her body slid like feathers on my bed as I brought the sheet up our bodies.

Grumble... Grumble... Grumble….

"Come on, don't be mad, wise girl."

Grumble... Grumble... Grumble….

Left with a sigh, I put my hands on top of her head and brushed her hair, "There there… I am sorry for being mean."

That head pat seemed to have done the trick. Her glare soften but of course, she kept pouting, then with a voice even softer than a mouse, she whispered into my chest without looking, "You were good…"

I was the one left speechless this time.

Bashfully whispering her next words, I almost fall off this huge bed, "You made me feel like I was flying over the clouds… so,"

An indescribable heat was seeping into my body. I felt so warm it felt like I was burning up instead.

"A-Annabeth?"

She closed her fingers into a small fist against my chest, "You were amazing for me, Percy…"

I felt her close her eyes, both hands pressed to my chest while she planted a soft kiss over my heart. The passionate moment was soon too much to bear, and only at the cusp did I hear her whisper, "I love you."

Suddenly getting a renewed urge to do something that would ruin this moment, I pulled my innate instinct back as hard as I could and just wrapped her closer.

"I love you too."

She hummed, then without another word we let ourselves cuddle after enjoying our blissful peace. Sure, stuff like this was still new to both of us, but knowing how Annabeth felt about it, I felt happiness beyond any words could describe. Like her, I was on cloud nine.

Over ten or twenty minutes had passed. They only felt like seconds to me though, but getting to stay like this with Annabeth and not saying a single word was much better than any remedy at healing, even better than godly nectar from this world.

However, I suddenly sensed an uneasiness creeping into her heart next to mine. I pulled back enough to look at her face. They were filled with conflict like a battle was raging inside her.

"Percy…" She wrapped her arms around me instead, "To be honest, I am a little scared…"

"Annabeth," I gently played with her hair and brushed my fingers through them, repeating the process for every strand decorating the bed, "You know I won't let anything happen to you, right?"

Safe and comfortable in my arms, her response while nodding over my chest melted me with a warmth so wonderful I wanted to keep it forever.

"I know you'll protect me, Percy." She whispered lovingly, "I'll always protect you too."

After a few seconds, she continued, "But I have a bad feeling... something terrible that's going to go wrong if we went to rescue my mother. I just couldn't explain it."

"Is that why you've…"

She nodded into my chest, and this time, I could tell how vulnerable she felt.

"I don't want anyone to die, and because this is my request, I want to do everything I can to save all of us, or at the very least, keep our friends and everyone here alive."

That burden… I couldn't begin to comprehend that immeasurable weight. It was why she's been working so hard, trying to perfect what was already a huge advantage that she spent countless hours creating.

But…

"You should be proud of yourself, wise girl. No one could have survived this coming battle if you didn't create this gear. I know many others are already grateful to be given a chance to fight on equal footing, that's why you shouldn't doubt yourself anymore."

"But Percy…"

"Remember how I said I trust you? The same applies to everyone, whether they are our friends or our allies from Camp Half-Blood, so trust us too… You can't do everything yourself."

Annabeth lifted her face and blinked a few times.

"We all shared that burden, so it's okay. Whatever happens, we'll all help each other out. And don't worry, I am always going to be by your side, isn't that right?"

Finally relaxed enough, I watched as the girl in my arms drifted and slumped into my chest. Her breathing slowed and eased steadily. I smiled gently as her eyes fluttered, but she was doing her best to keep herself awake looking at me.

"Go rest, Annabeth… You won't fall too far." I brushed her long hair and reached up to pat her head with gentle strokes, "I'll be here when you wake up."

"Thank you, Percy." Her words carried a sense of calm sleepiness, "I love you…"

Within minutes, she finally fell into a deep sleep just as I wanted. Hopefully, she'll be recharged by tomorrow morning and spent our last day training before we headed out to battle.

"I love you too." I kissed her forehead.

Snuggling and keeping her protected with my arms, I smiled at her sleeping face and felt a renewed urge to sleep myself. I pressed my face to hers, enjoying her warmth and her sweet scent. My eyes closed on their own and soon…

"We'll be fine…" I whispered one last time before sleep took me away as well.

Surely, our plan to infiltrate and rescue Athena would not be an easy quest, but with Annabeth guiding us every step of the way, I had no worries.