Hey guys, hope you enjoy this chapter, some more serious interactions but also, Annabeth and Percy are cute and Luke is an awesome big brother, and big brothers are pretty much obligated to mess with baby sisters, though sometimes they also need their baby sisters to offer some wise words and reassurance.
Luke clearly sensed that Percy and Annabeth needed some space, because as soon as Percy had gotten Annabeth sat down by the table he was ducking out of the way down into the cabin beneath the deck.
They sat in silence for some time, Percy's arm wrapped tightly around Annabeth as she shivered.
It was some time before the blonde spoke.
"I'm sorry."
"Annabeth-"
"I nearly ruined everything." Annabeth's breath hitched, "Just because I wanted to hear them sing-because I thought it would make me wiser. I didn't realize how strong the temptation would be."
"I..." Percy hesitated, "I saw-what they showed you-"
"You did?" Annabeth blushed, looking down. "What did you-"
"Your parents, Thalia and me. The rebuilt skyline-"
She pulled her blanket around her. "My fatal flaw. That's what the Sirens showed me. My fatal flaw is hubris."
"Hubris?" Percy's brows furrowed, "I know I've heard it before but I dunno what it is-"
""Hubris means deadly pride, Seaweed Brain. Thinking you can do things better than anyone else … even the gods."
"You feel that way?"
She looked down. "Don't you ever feel like, what if the world really is messed up? What if we could do it all over again from scratch? No more war. Nobody homeless. No more summer reading homework."
"I'm listening." Percy shifted slightly as she considered it. "The no homework stuff sounds good-" that made Annabeth laugh weakly and elbow her.
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah. Yeah I do." Percy admitted, "The Gods aren't exactly the best at running the world you're not wrong about that."
"I mean, the West represents a lot of the best things mankind ever did—that's why the fire is still burning. That's why Olympus is still around. But sometimes you just see the bad stuff, you know?" Annabeth looked down-and somehow she looked so very small, and Percy hated seeing Annabeth like that. "I hate him, but sometimes I do kinda get why Alabaster is so angry."
Percy sucked in a sharp breath, forcing down the instinctive urge to snap before she gave a small tight nod, "Yeah. A bit. Only a little bit." because
she did get some of it-the Gods were pretty shitty parents for a start-though things had gotten a tiny bit better in Camp after she'd told people there would be two new Cabins.
Still she should have never had to ask for the extra Cabins-and the Gods should acknowledge their kids, she knew that much of course, she could understand why some kids were angry with them-she felt angry with them at times. Just never at her dad who she knew did his best, who she knew loved her. But most of the kids didn't have that. Annabeth didn't have that-her mom's only ever gift to her was her cap.
Still, she hated the thought of Annabeth agreeing with Alabaster at all. She couldn't imagine what it would feel like if Annabeth had gone the same way as the son of Hecate had-that betrayal still stung even a year later. How would it be if Annabeth changed sides?
"I mean I don't agree with what he's doing." Annabeth grabbed Percy's hand quickly, squeezing it, "I'd never even think about joining him-"
"Would you have if he hadn't-" Percy hesitated and Annabeth suddenly looked uncomfortable-which was understandable, they both hated thinking about that day.
"If he hadn't hurt you? I..." Annabeth looked away, "I don't agree with how he's going about things but my fatal flaw is Hubris Percy. If he figured out how to play on that-on the idea that I could fix things, make it all better then maybe I guess. I dunno. But after what he did to you... not even then. I'll never forgive him." she looked back at Percy, a gleam in her eyes, "You're my best friend and I know you still have nightmares about what happened, about what he did-about him and I'll never forgive him for it." and Percy surged forward, hugging Annabeth tightly, closing her eyes.
"I don't blame you for being tempted." Percy said softly "I don't think I would have been but I don't blame you after what happened when you were younger." and Annabeth might have been tempted once but she wouldn't be now. She wouldn't abandon Percy.
"Thank you." Annabeth let out a breath, "You... you're my best friend you know that right? I love you."
"I love you too Wise Girl." Percy's voice was soft, "They showed me there too. The Sirens I mean."
"Duh." Annabeth rolled her eyes, as if it should have been obvious that Percy would be someone that the sirens used to "You're so dumb sometimes Seaweed Brain."
That made Percy flush and smile slightly, "Uh huh Wise Girl. Whatever you say." she felt her face burning as Annabeth laughed softly-and that was a good noise. It was nice to see that her friend wasn't quite so burdened by everything as she had been, that their talk had helped.
Then Annabeth was leaning in and the other girls lips brushed against Percy's cheeks-which suddenly burned fiercely, and Annabeth was on her feet, wrapping the blanket around herself tighter, "I'm gonna go get changed-I'll tell Luke he can stop hiding."
And all Percy could do was gape as Annabeth almost skipped away, heading down into the Cabin below.
Her mouth was still hanging open and her cheeks were still bright red when Luke emerged, and he raised an eyebrow, "Do I want to know why you look like you're in shock?"
"I-she-" Percy flopped onto the seats, groaning, "Ugh!"
"Yeah I don't want to know." Luke snorted, shaking his head, "Well whatever happened, you guys are okay right?"
"Yeah, yeah we are." Percy nodded quickly, pushing down the sudden mass of confusion in her belly.
It was just a friendly peck on the cheek, there was no reason for her to be all... all dumb about it.
"What even happened? One second you were there, then I looked back and you were gone-I've never been so scared in my life." Luke shook his head, "I didn't know what to do-I couldn't see either of you so I didn't even know which way to swim if that would even help."
"Annabeth got free and jumped, I had to follow her." Percy shook her head, "It was not fun for either of us but it was pretty hard for her. She knows her fatal flaw now."
"I won't ask." Luke shrugged, "But you got to her and she's going to be okay which is what matters, right Sephie?"
"Right." Percy nodded with a small nod, "Right." she shifted slightly, "I was so scared when I realized what happened-"
"Of course you were. But you got to her." Luke pointed out, "It happened, but it's over now and it's gonna be fine-admittedly I don't even want to think about what would have happened if you hadn't noticed her, but you did and you saved her and that's what matters-though from now on we don't take anymore risks like that-"
"I think even Annabeth would agree with you."
"Yes, well-" Luke shook his head, "The plan did backfire badly-how did she even get out of the ropes?"
"She forgot to tell you about her dagger. Annabeth never goes anywhere without it, she keeps it strapped to her thigh."
"Ah." Luke winced, "I didn't even think to check her for weapons. Some leader I am-"
"Luke-"
"My first quest and Annabeth nearly dies-and that's not mentioning the disaster with Circe. Doesn't look good does it? My dad's probably so
disappointed." Luke shook his head, a guilty look on his face, "I'm sorry Perc-"
"Luke this quest... it's going surprisingly well all things considered." Percy laid a hand on her big brothers arm, "Listen, during my first quest we got attacked by the Kindly Ones and the car was destroyed, then we blow torched a national monument and I lost our tickets and half of our supplies-and there was Ares' interference which just- I mean it was disastrous. And then..." Percy looked away, "We got to LA and Alabaster literally freaking kidnapped me and dragged me to the Underworld-if it wasn't for Annabeth and Grover..." Percy looked away, and Luke frowned.
"You won't ever talk about what happened down there." his voice was quiet, "He... kidnapped you?"
"He'd split ways with us before. He wanted to be away when we met Ares." she looked down, "We got to LA without him and he was there. Grabbed me when we were walking-Annabeth and Grover were ahead of me, they didn't notice right away, by the time they did-he was already taking me to the Underworld."
"You can talk about it with me y'know." Luke's voice was soft, "I won't freak out. I know that whatever happened down there scared you."
"I really don't want to talk about it. But my point is that yeah there's been issues but honestly I don't think anyone gets a quest that doesn't have stuff go wrong."
"Thanks Sephie." Luke reached out, ruffling her hair, "That does make me feel better about everything honestly."
"You're doing okay Luke. Don't be so down on yourself big bro. That's against the rules-"
"What rules are those?" Luke raised an eyebrow, "Do enlighten me Sephie."
"The rules that say that you're not allowed to beat yourself up over anything." she grinned, "As your baby sister that's my job." that earned her a loud laugh and Luke lunged at her, "Just for that I'm gonna get you-"
"Oh Hades no." Percy laughed as she ducked away from her big brother, "I'm not a baby anymore Luke you can't do that-"
"Sephie, I say this with love, you will always be the baby of the family-"
"No, that's Nico now! And Tyson's younger than me."
"Yeah, but you're definitely my baby sister-always have been always will be-I still remember the day you were born, you were so tiny."
"Luke!" Percy flushed, diving at him, knocking him over, "I was not-"
"Adorable and tiny-"
"Shut up!"
"Never-" their laughter filled the air around them as they rolled around, playing like they used to when they were little kids.
That was how Annabeth found them perhaps half an hour later, Luke sat on top of Percy crowing at his victory as Percy tried to squirm out from under him.
She blinked slowly as she stared at them, raising an eyebrow as she crossed her arms over her chest and coughed loudly to get their attention.
Both Percy and Luke froze, their head snapping to the side to look towards the noise-and Percy's face went bright red when she saw Annabeth, who'd gotten changed into a pair of jeans and a Camp T-shirt, her hair tied back out of her face into a ponytail.
"Do I even want to know?" she asked with a shake of her head. "Or should I just back away slowly and not question the insanity of the Jackson family?"
"That's probably your best option." Luke remarked lightly.
"You guys are insane." Annabeth let out a laugh as Percy slapped at Luke's leg.
"Get off of me asshole-"
"Can you hear that Annabeth?" Luke raised an eyebrow, "I can hear something but it's just an annoying buzzing-"
"LUKE!" Percy shrieked, "Get offa me-"
"I don't know." Annabeth pressed a hand over her mouth to stifle her own giggles.
"Okay that's it!" Percy closed her eyes, and a moment later a wave surged over the side of the boat, soaking Luke and Annabeth, making Annabeth shriek and Luke yell as he scrambled off of Percy.
"Hey!"
"You had it coming." Percy leapt to her feet, grinning widely as she looked at her friend and brother.
Annabeth gave her a dirty look, brushing her wet ponytail over her shoulder. "Seriously?"
"You didn't help me." Percy gave a smug smirk before whirling to look at Luke, who was stood glaring.
"We're drenched."
"You're right." Percy nodded before almost skipping to her best friends side and laying a hand on her arm, drawing the water away from her and sending it back into the sea, "There, are you dry now Annabeth."
"Yep." Annabeth smiled brightly, "Thank you-"
"What about me?" Luke almost yelped the words, "I'm wet too."
"You sat on me." Percy poked her tongue out, "You totally had it coming-"
"You're ridiculous." Luke rolled his eyes-but a smile played across his lips as he shook his head, "Abs-"
"I will drench you again." Percy threatened with a laugh-"
"Yeah I'm not touching all this with a ten foot pole." Annabeth remarked, holding up her hands "I'll leave you guys to bicker-"
"Oh come on!" Luke laughed as Annabeth almost sprinted around to the front of the boat, laughing as she went-and Percy found herself smiling as she looked after Annabeth.
Of course the distraction gave Luke the perfect chance to grab her from behind, swinging her around. "HEY!"
"Tough luck, you let yourself get distracted Sephie." Luke was smirking, a gleam in his eyes as he tossed Percy onto the seats, "You never used to be so easily distracted."
"What's that supposed to mean."
"Oh you'll figure it out." Luke rolled his eyes, shaking his head, and he might have said more if it hadn't been for Annabeth.
"Percy! Luke I see land again!"
