59

Annabeth

All things considered, things seem to be going well, She thinks. Almost too well. It's like a honeymoon phase.

She sits on the end of the bed, watching him thoughtfully. Percy stands in the bathroom, removing his colored contacts and placing them in a saline solution.

"I should check back in with my mom," he says As he exists the bathroom, flicking the light off. "I kind of ran off on her just as she was learning I was a back."

"Do you want to go together?"

"Yeah that would be great," he sits down on the bed next to her. "She actually slapped the shit outta me when I told her- well at the time I didn't think you needed me back in your life- so I told her I wasn't sure if I was gonna see you."

"Ah! so I have her to thank then. I'll have to make her some cookies."

He smiles. "I'll help you."

"If you help we'll have to make a triple batch- you're a cookie thief ." She pokes him in the belly.

"Well obviously, nothing beats a warm chocolate chip cookie." Percy leans over and kisses her, then stands. "I think I'll make some tea- something herbal before bed, you want some?"

She smiles and nods. "Yeah that would be great."

He leaves the room. Suddenly she hears a shout. "Fuck!"

Startled she runs out and down the hall to the kitchen where Percy stands against the counter, knuckles white from gripping it so hard.

"Everything okay?" She asks tentatively. He looks back at her.

"Oh!" He shakes his head breathing hard. "Yeah yeah yeah, we're good everything's fine."

Annabeth frowns. He's lying. "You sure?"

He nods and smiles. "Yeah I'm fine."

She doesn't want to press him too much, so she turns away with a small, "okay then".

She listens carefully as she slowly makes her way back to the bedroom. She can hear him moving around in the kitchen, and more she thinks she hears him whispering.

She can't tell for certain and can't make out any words.

The oddity of it weighs on her mind as she washes her face and changes clothes. When she returns to the kitchen he seems less pained.

"I stubbed my toe," he says.

"What?"

"Earlier. I thought I saw something and got distracted, stubbed my toe."

"Oh!"she feels better. That makes sense.

"Chamomile?"

He offers her a warm mug. She accepts it, staring off into space. "What if we ran away? I mean sold everything and just eloped to some island and started over."

Percy grins. "I had thought of that."

She shrugs. "Well we could stay here and constantly lie about ourselves to people we know or we could go somewhere beautiful and lie about ourselves to people we don't know."

"Alright, let's do it," he says.

"Mhmm," She finds herself zoning out. Her thoughts on beautiful beaches and palm trees, she can practically feel the warm Sun and ocean breeze.

She can imagine herself sitting in a each chair, a cold drink in hand, completely relaxed.

"What are you thinking about?" His voice pulls her back to the present.

She smiles. "The beach."

He places a hand on the small her back. "We'll have to avoid Cuba… and all the surrounding islands."

She laughs. "Yes. Are you ever going to tell me what happened?"

"I probably shouldn't," he shrugs. "All though, my keeping secrets kind of got us into this mess to begin with… so maybe I should just tell you everything."

Annabeth faces him; she places a hand on his chest. "When you're ready I'm ready."

He nods and kisses her. She sits at the dining table and he sits across from her. She blows on the tea before taking a sip.

Several moments of silence pass before he speaks again. "There is something. Something I should share sooner rather than later. But please understand i don't like talking about it… I only feel like I should tell you because of everything thats happened."

He's quiet for a minute, staring past her off into space and Annabeth absorbs this. Her heart begins to pound a little faster than normal, the anticipation exciting her imagination.

Percy looks down at the cup of tea in his hands. "I've never talked about this. I probably should have… but i don't like thinking I need help. Or that somethings wrong. I especially don't want you to think that i cant take care of you. Its just sometimes I-" his voice brakes off and he rubs his face. He's quiet, unsure of how to begin again.

Annabeth takes the seat across from him and reaches over to touch his hand. "Hey, nothing you can say will change the way I feel about you."

He takes a deep breath. "Sometimes I see things… hallucinate I guess… people… that aren't there. Dead people. That I… killed.."

She uses her free hand- the one not holding his- to sip at her tea. It was quite the revelation, she wast sure what even to feel or think, let alone how to respond.

"I think…" he continues. "I only see what I feel regret about. I mean the people I feel really really terrible about. Which is most of them, or maybe not most but a lot… although there are a few I haven't seen that… well, I guess it doesn't matter…"

Annabeth looks at him, studying his face. He doesn't meet her eyes; body language suggesting discomfort, he traces a shape on the table in a rogue drop of water.

"How long?" She asks. "When did it start?"

"A few years. I saw them occasionally- mostly in reflections. But I started seeing them in other places later. About the time we started dating. I've mostly ignored it. But to be honest I'm getting really tired of seeing ghosts."

"You said sometimes… how often does it happen?"

He takes a deep breath and lets it our slowly as he considers. "Maybe once or twice a week. It used to be less. A lot less."

"That must be really hard."

"Yeah," he frowns. "For a little while they kind of stopped but then they came back recently. Really since I've been back."

"Why the change? When they stopped I mean. What happened?"

He smiles but only slightly. "We were planning our wedding."

Annabeth stands and moves around the table to sit right in his lap. She holds his face against hers and kisses him.

"Mmmm," he mumbles as he places his hands on the small of her back.

"Let's go get married," she says.

He laughs. "Are you proposing to me?"

"Do you want me to get down on one knee?"

"Nah I like you right where you are," he says and kisses her again.

"Its not so much a proposal though," Annabeth stands. "Its more like picking up where we left off."

"I thought we were starting over," Percy holds her hand.

"Yeah," Annabeth sighs. "I've been thinking about that. With everything we've been through i think its impossible to start over. We can't re-do those same firsts- and we already know so much about each other… maybe a little less on my end though."

Percy releases her hand and adjusts the way he's sitting to face her more fully.

"Well, starting now I can promise to tell you everything. I'm done keeping secrets. Even about, you know, my old job. But I'm still worried that you'll see me differently."

"You're probably right. So don't tell me all at once. Give me time to absorb each new revelation."

She smiles at him. "And maybe think about seeing a psychiatrist about the, uh, hallucinations." It was still quite the shock to say out loud. He had hallucinations. She almost couldn't wrap her head around that idea. But she supposes it makes sense. Percy was a good man, he always did the right thing. And murder was wrong. So of course his own brain would fight against him. He wasn't conflicted per say, he knew and had always known right from wrong, but his actions had been- for good or for bad- wrong. And he couldn't justify it, even to himself.

"Yeah thats probably a good idea," his voice pulls her out of her deep thoughts.

"Maybe I'll regret asking this… do you see anything right now?"

His eyes flick to Annabeth's left before going back to her face. He clears his throat. "Um no not anymore. But I did earlier."

She can't help but look over her shoulder. There was nothing out of the ordinary.

"You mean while we were having this conversation?"

He nods. " 's'why I stubbed my toe earlier."

"Oh," Annabeth yawns. "Sorry, I think that chamomile is kicking in."

Percy stands. "Well. Shall we then?"

Percy

It meant everything that she trusted him. It meant everything that she loved him. He knew she struggled to voice it and how big of a deal it was for her to open up to him.

They lay together in her bed, the small mattress forcing them to lay so close they were nearly on top of each other. Soft lamplight illuminated the room. Percy softly massaged her bare shoulders. She seemed to be asleep.

He sat up, quietly removing his arm from around her and swinging his legs off the bed. He rolled his head around, stretching his neck to relieve the tightness there. He glanced back at Annabeth and adjusted the blankets to cover her.

He picked his clothes up off the ground and began dressing. He left his collar unbuttoned and decided against putting his tie back on. He gazed at Annabeth's sleeping form for a moment, then quietly slipped out the door.

He checked his phone, and then checked the tracking beacon. Thomas was at a bar not far from his location. It was, in fact, within an easy walking distance.

I can use the exercise and fresh air, he thought as he began walking up the street.

What was he going to do? What was he going to say? He wasn't sure. He had to take care of this now. That much he knew. Especially since he would be leaving on Monday for Cuba.

Oh shit, he thought. I forgot to tell her.

He stopped at a crosswalk, pushing the button to signal pedestrian crossing. He didn't have to wait long. The light changed and Percy walked quickly across the street glancing both ways.

He turned down the corner and walked past a group of women, clearly drunk- they laughed and chattered as they past him. As he made his way further up the street, he past more people- groups, couples and individuals.

There it was. He opened the door and walked into the taproom. It was pretty crowded, but given that it was Friday night he wasn't surprised.

Percy looked around the room, there he was- sitting alone at the bar. Percy recognized him from pictures, though he hadn't previously met the man.

He made his way over, casually sitting next To him and ordering a light beer. He looked up at a Tv playing the local news. He considered how to strike up a conversation with the man next to him, but he didn't have to. Annabeth's Ex-boyfriend leaned over. "Rough day man?"

Percy looked over at Tom. He scoffed, playing the part of a disgruntled man. "Yeah, you got no idea."

"Women or work?" Tom queried.

Percy rubbed his eyes. "Well at least I get paid to work."

Tom nodded in agreement. "I'm with you there."

Percy sipped at his beer and rolled up his sleeved. "You? Trouble of the female variety?"

Tom laughed. "Oh yeah."

"What's her name?" He knew the answer if course but had to be sure they were on the same page.

"Annabeth."

Percy took another drink. "So what happened with her?"

Tom gestured for the bartender to bring him another drink. "She's cheating on me," he said, and sounded sincere. "Or at least I'm pretty sure she's seeing someone. I've been away for a while and I saw her for the first time today since. Well we had this fight last time we were together. And anyway later that night she went to the hospital because she fell down the stairs. But she blamed me for the accident. Which is what it was- accident you know. And I mean we've had our on and off moments- you know ups and downs- but I never thought she would cheat on me. And today she totally acted like I'm the one who ruined our relationship."

If Percy didn't know better he might have even believed Tom, and felt bad for him. In their five minute conversation Percy understood how manipulative and narcissistic Tom was. He suddenly felt angry- angry that Annabeth had dated this guy.

"Well, here it is," Percy said, his tone becoming serious and his body turning in the barstool to to face him fully. "She's not your girlfriend and she never will be- again. You're never going to contact her again, and if you do- well I can be a lot less nice."

Percy stood and turned to go.

"Was that supposed to scare me?"

Percy walked away. He exited the building and began walking back down the street the way he had come.

"Hey!" He heard Tom calling him from the doorway. Percy stopped but didn't turn around.

"You should take your own advice, Annabeth isn't in the market. I'm not ready to sell."

Tom approached him and put a hand on his shoulder, Percy turned to face him, ready to call out the injustice of viewing any human being as property- to be sold and purchased.

As far as rear hooks went, it wasn't bad- it was by no means good, but it wasn't bad. Percy had taken worse hits. His nose stung a bit but overall he felt no worse for the wear, a little exhilarated even.

"I was hoping you'd try that," Percy returned the blow, solidly clocking Tom in the jaw.

Tom stumbled back and fell. Percy grabbed him and yanked him up and sideways, thrusting him against a wall.

"Listen to me very carefully," Percy spoke softly, coldly. "I have done and seen things you can only imagine. I have killed dozens of men- all of them- a thousand times more frightening than a narcissistic abusive piece of trash like yourself. So believe me when I say I haven't a single compunction about ending your miserable life."

Percy leaned close and whispered in Tom's ear. "I can make it look like an accident… I could make it slow and painful- and I could make you completely disappear. No one would ever find a shred of evidence you even existed."

Percy released Tom, straightened his shirt and backed off. A couple of bystanders watched from a few yards away. Percy waved at them nonchalantly before turning to go.

"Do try it though - speaking to her," Percy looked back at Tom once more. "Because I would really enjoy a world in which Thomas Zeising doesn't exist."

Bianca

What the hell am I doing? She stares up at the ceiling, not quite sure what emotions she felt. I'm a horrible person.

An uncomfortable silence lies between her and Jason.

"That shouldn't have happened," she says.

"You started it."

"Yeah well you finished it," she sighs.

"Did you?" Jason's turns his head to look at her.

"No."

"Now I feel like a failure," he looks back up at the ceiling. "Well give me a few minutes and we can go again. Maybe."

"What part of 'that shouldn't have happened' do you not understand?"

He snorts. "Oh I understand. Doesn't change the fact that we did and if we do again it's not gonna rectify that mistake. Might as well make the most of it."

She doesn't answer. He has a point, and it would be good for her- physically not emotionally. But she cant go there. She gets out of bed and walks to the closet. She begins dressing, "You can let yourself out."

"What's your problem? Why do you hate me?" Jason sounds sincere. "I thought it was all a game at first but- I mean come on. And don't say it's because I kissed Annabeth, because this started long before that."

Bianca shrugs. "You're annoying."

"Oh bull shit, that's not it. You don't hate people because they're annoying."

Jason stands and puts on his pants. "Is it because we dated? Come on you and I both know neither of us could take it seriously. And we didn't even try to."

He was right. They had dated exclusively- but neither of them had really been looking to settle down- neither of them really desired a loving relationship. Or that's what she had told herself.

In reality it wasn't so simple. With all the time they spent together, and sex they'd had, she realizes she was bound to become emotionally emotionally attached.

They'd made a clean brake, for a dating relationship, and each went their own way. It wasn't until they'd found each other again, moved near enough to each other- she had wanted to be close to her sister and Jason worked with Percy- that she began to feel continually annoyed at him.

"I don't know," she said. "Maybe you bring out the worst in me."

Jason laughed, it wasn't a happy laugh. "Oh shut up. That's not answer.

"You know you could be a little kinder."

"You're right , I could be but so could you."

Bianca rolls her eyes. "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Jason huffs and crosses his arms. "Did I do something to hurt you?"

Bianca shakes her head. "No."

"Does it have to do with what happened when we were dating?"

"You're still on this?"

"So it was."

She faces him. "What? No."

"Okay what did I do? Or say?"

"Nothing!"

As he presses her for an answer, Bianca has a realization- one that she hadn't even thought of before.

Jason shakes his head. "You weren't annoyed at me before- I thought we had a pretty good friendship. I guess even a pretty good relationship. So what did I do? Or not do! Did you want or expect me to do something that went unfulfilled?"

"It's-" Bianca laughs, scornfully. "It's because I loved you…. Love." He's quiet and she continues. "I don't know, I can't believe I'm saying it. I only just realized it… god, this is so stupid. So yeah, maybe. Maybe I did have some stupid subconscious expectation that you and I would have the same thing that Percy and Annabeth had. And maybe that same part of me- that unconscious part of me is- was always a little bit jealous of my little sister. Maybe I always stayed so close just to feel a little of that romance vicariously. Because the truth is people like you and me like don't deserve love. People like us will never have that expectation fulfilled. Not like that anyway."

Jason bows his head in contemplation. Now that she had poured out her deepest emotions, Bianca realizes she's not angry at him any more. She had spent so much time on edge every time they had been around each other- and now she felt at peace on his presence.

Finally, he steps foreword, looking at her curiously. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize- I didn't know.."He takes her hand. "And I think I know exactly how you feel. I always thought it was stupid to want that romance- to give up the bachelor lifestyle.. and it probably is my fault that we never worked out. I wasn't ready to see…but now, to be honest I'm tired. Tired of being alone. Maybe that's the real reason I kissed Annabeth. But you're right- it's not in the cards for us."

"Did you ever love me?"

He presses his lips and sighs. "I don't know. Maybe."

"And now?" She's not sure she wants the answer but asks anyway.

Jason releases her hand and looks away, it tells her everything she needs to know.

"Its alright," she smiles sympathetically.

"Bianca… im sorry-"

"No, its fine. Seriously. I hope you find someone that completes you."

Jason nods and begins to leave. "I do care about you. I always will."

She nods in acknowledgement and he leaves without looking back.