Hello everyone! I'll try to be more consistent with my uploads. I'm really sorry this came out later than usual. I've been having a hard time trying to progress the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or HoO
Annabeth Chase was slowly falling in love with Percy Jackson.
It did not happen instantly, like those soap operas she despised or the romantic comedies she would tune into if she had nothing better to do. It was a slow-moving process. It had taken her nearly a month before she even realized that the way she looked at him might not have been the same as the way she looked at Jason or Nico.
It wasn't like she had much experience with the notion of love either. She never paid attention to her handful of suitors and the two boyfriends she had prior to her kidnapping did not hold a special place in her heart. Love seemed irrational to her, a waste of time that foolish girls in high school gushed over because their minds were clouded with false admiration. Her attention was in her studies, hobbies that furthered her intellect. She had no time for love, yet here she was.
Since that dreadful Wednesday afternoon when Russia decided to initiate nuclear war, countries from around the globe joined in the warfare with the intention of ending it. Alliances have been made, lives had been taken. Some unfortunate countries were swallowed by water from the brunt of the impact of the missiles. Disease was widespread and, if a common bystander did not die from the war, they would eventually contract cancer or some other terminal illness from the poor environment. The streets were littered with protestors and victims. World leaders would be found trapped in heated arguments instead of making negotiations and compromises. The world was definitely falling apart.
Yet, their little island in the Pacific still stood.
In the beginning, it was easy to reject the events as false. Technology nowadays made it quite simple to create fake broadcasts for the interest of the powerful. However, when they've felt a tremor throughout the facility once a missile hit the coast of Hawaii, they no longer doubted. Everything they were seeing was true. How Eden managed to obtain such information, they will never know. What Annabeth did know was that even if she escaped this prison, she had nowhere else to go to.
He had been there through it all. Percy Jackson, the beautiful, kind-hearted man that he was, never once allowed her to feel alone in a situation where every man was for himself, where the desperation for one's own survival surpassed moral judgment, where bodies of murder victims littered the streets alongside the corpses of those taken by the war. He was there. He was the only constant thing.
Maybe her affections were misplaced. He was there because they were forced to be together. The Eden Project, after all, collected the world's most talented young individuals for the sole purpose of having them parent the next generation of humans. She was his mate and he, hers. Maybe she had been with him much too often that she was beginning to believe what she was feeling was love instead of tolerance. She was not sure.
However, what she was sure of was that she held very strong emotions for her mate. Since their first night where they had spent until the crack of dawn talking about their pasts or the dreadful doomsday when he held her until the bombs stopped dropping, she could not deny her slow descent to blissful insanity.
Annabeth was already hearing tales of sexual activity around the facility. It won't be long until children would be running around the pristine white halls making messes and causing trouble. It must have been a coping mechanism for them. They sought comfort from each other, just like how she had practically attached herself to Percy. The sole difference was that her mate was a gentleman and refused to do anything she was not comfortable with. For that, Annabeth was grateful.
She was already bonding so well with the heirs. It was strange to think that if it had not been for the circumstances, she would never have met these wonderful people with different personalities. Thalia was a strong, reliable figure. Annabeth found herself seeking the older female for comfort on the rare occasions Percy was away. In the thirty or so days they had spent in each other's company, she could almost call Thalia Grace her best friend
That morning, she had awoken with an arm around her mate's torso. He was still blissfully asleep and she could not blame him. The night prior had been their commemoration night for the loved ones they had lost in the war. Though they had not cried, a somber atmosphere was still present. She did not drink much. She never did see the appeal in burying all of her problems in alcohol.
She began sharing a bed with Percy Jackson on the second day, the night of their makeshift memorial. She had been plagued with nightmares since her arrival and her every attempt at sleep was futile until she shared a bed with him. Since then, they made sure to sleep in the comfort of one another. It was innocent. She would know if he made any attempts in the middle of the night as she was a light sleeper. Any unusual behavior would not get past her. After approximately four weeks or so, he kept his hands to himself unless it was to pull her closer to his warmth.
They've had their fair share of awkward mornings also. The first time she learned that Percy mostly sleeps topless caused her face to stay red until she had woken up the following morning. She had gotten used to it since, though she had to admit that she still felt embarrassed seeing him in such a state. He refused to meet her gaze one particular morning when she felt… something… poking at her thigh when she woke up.
His cousins laughed about it when they found out. They've had their fair share of encounters. Jason and Piper had openly divulged about their relationship not too long ago. Seeing the usually confident heir blushing like crazy was just a source of amusement for them.
Annabeth knew Percy had no control over his, well, reactions to her presence. He was just as affected by her as she was him and it was quite flattering had it not made both of them uncomfortable. She tried consulting Piper regarding what she should be doing to bridge the gap between their comfortable friendship and a proper relationship. How she was ready to openly participate in a mutually beneficial, probably permanent, romantic relationship, she was not sure. She had trust issues, after all. It was not in her personality to go as far as commit herself to man she's only known for a month.
Yet, she found herself doing exactly that.
Percy stirred beside her. He must have noticed that she had woken. He cracked a single, mesmerizing green eye open to adjust to the morning. The glass window across them was shrouded by a curtain, thus the light was not as painfully blinding as it should be. She propped herself by her elbow, greeting him with a smile. He returned it before allowing a yawn to escape, stretching his arms above his head. His hand settled on the small of her back afterwards, his nose nuzzling the base of her neck.
"Come on, Seaweed Brain." She urged, smiling fondly at her nickname for him. "We have a session with Dr. Brunner in an hour."
He groaned, tightening his grip on her. Her heart fluttered in her chest when she felt the slight brush of his lips on her collarbone. "Five more minutes." He replied like the child that he was.
It was little moments like this that made her forget the gravity of their situation. The world was still in shambles outside but she didn't have to think about that. In Percy's arms, she was safe. He kept her safe. Earth be damned. She never continued that train of thought. Here she was, perfectly happy and blissfully content, everything she could possibly need to live for the next decade being provided for her without limitations while the piles of corpses only grew higher and resources were wasted on meaningless warfare. Why had the government turned on each other again? She had forgotten.
She found herself staring at his face once more, his perfectly proportional, god-like handsome features. They had kissed once, just once, when guards stormed into their suite to take Percy away for something he did not do. She had done it in the heat of the moment. For the first time since she was born, she did not think. Her lips had pressed insistently over his and he was ripped away from her the next moment later. He had returned the afternoon of that very same day. How could he possibly be part of the riot when he did not even leave the room while the riot was occurring?
They did not speak of the incident. It was an unspoken agreement between the two of them. However, since then, they had grown exceptionally more affectionate. He held her hand whenever he pleased and she found herself seeking his warmth even in the presence of other people. She would smile when his lips connected with the crown of her head or when his mouth brushed at her cheekbone when he goes off to enjoy the pool. They haven't shared another proper kiss since, though.
They enjoyed holding each other. It was comforting.
Just as he requested, she gave him five more minutes before she used all of her strength to shove him off the bed. He protested with a string of curses, giving her a playful pout. She laughed as she, too, stood. They could not afford to head to the dining hall for breakfast thus they settled for a rushed meal instead. He made coffee for the both of them and she produced a substantial snack consisting of toast and fruit.
Dr. Chiron Brunner was the only employee of Eden who was generally tolerable. He was a kind, middle-aged man with graying hair and laugh lines on the corner of his eyes. He was the facility's resident psychologist. All the participants of The Eden Project were required to meet with him once a week for an hour. While other people of authority eyed them warily, Chiron always managed to give them a smile.
His office was a quaint little area found at the end of the hallway on the first floor. It was nothing extravagant and that in itself was refreshing. Despite living a lavish lifestyle, Percy was not one for glamour. The very thought of possessing unnecessary expensive items made the man uncomfortable. Annabeth found this slightly amusing. The thought made her smile slightly, just as they assumed their positions on the sofa facing the worn brown armchair he usually occupied during their sessions.
Annabeth was apprehensive when she was first introduced to the idea of meeting with him. She did not want to talk to a shrink about her problems after she was kidnapped and forced to watch the world end, especially not one employed by her captors in the first place. Percy had managed to convince her to cooperate with them, else she would be dragged down the hallway anyways.
Of course, the man could not change Annabeth's opinion of the company. Evelyn Rose was still the devil incarnate and she still felt like a prisoner. However, he did manage to make her stay with Eden more tolerable. He recommended activities that better suited her tastes, like the design class she had fallen in love with or the library she had spent most of her spare time in. He had given her names of other intellectuals currently within the facility, children of scientists and philosophy majors she could have reason-filled, harmless debates with. She could say that she did not dread leaving the bed every morning anymore.
If it had not been for Chiron, The Eden Project would still be in shambles. The hallways would be filled with violence and chaos. It would be no different to the world beyond their white walls. He gave all of them something to do, to keep them occupied from thinking of their current situation more than they should have.
The doctor wheeled into the room, his eyes bright as he greeted them. He had transferred himself easily from his wheelchair to the armchair. "Good morning, Percy, Annabeth." His deep voice was warm and comforting.
Annabeth smiled at the man. "Morning Chiron." She returned with a grin. Percy did the same.
He began the session just as he always does. He asked them how they were doing, if they were enjoying their activities or if they've made new friends. They replied honestly, for the most part. Percy had joked, saying that there were only forty-eight other people here. He's met everyone. Then, he proceeded to more personal questions. He asked about how they were coping or if their feelings of captivity had gone. He asked about nightmares, if they were still as prevalent as before.
Annabeth's persistent, vivid nightmares had been quelled dramatically since she spent the nights with Percy, however that did not mean they were completely gone. She did not have difficulty falling back asleep anymore, not like before where her terrible dreams returned over and over again.
Percy was different. He was assaulted by his nightmares more violently than she was. She would wake sometimes feeling cold from the lack of his warmth and she'd see him seated on the armchair positioned by their large window, staring at the stars. It would take hours before he returned to bed, terrified of the distorted, gruesome images he knew he was going to see.
It had been the only thing Chiron could not find a solution to. He had Percy take sleeping pills for a week but to no avail. He recommended activities that would tire him out to the point of passing out until the morning. At some point, the doctor had even suggested sex as a solution. Percy had immediately rejected the idea, quicker than Annabeth could even process what the man had just said.
"Why don't you try hypnotherapy?" Chiron suggested weakly, having run out of ideas. Annabeth had raised an eyebrow at this.
Her mate frowned, "I don't think it's necessary, Chiron, really. I'll be fine. They're just nightmares, after all." The dark circles under his eyes screamed otherwise.
Once their session had ended, they returned to the suite. Percy remained silent during the trip, his jaw set and eyebrows furrowed. He seemed upset and Annabeth knew why. It must have been terrible finding out he had a condition that could not be cured. She had to walk twice as fast just to match his hurried steps.
The door slid shut behind them. Their suite was, unwillingly, starting to feel like home. It was an organized mess. The books she had collected from the library were arranged by genre on the bookshelf, alongside few other reading materials present when they were transferred. His discarded clothes were in a pile near the bathroom door, just missing the hamper located right beside it. She had gotten most of their clutter items from the storehouse. If Annabeth were to stay in a facility located in the middle of nowhere, she might as well make it less barren.
"What's wrong?" She asked the moment they were settled. He refused to meet her gaze and that was indication enough that something was bothering him.
"Nothing." He lied, his voice soft and laced with sorrow. "I'm fine."
Annabeth inched closer to him, "You're not. Let me help you." She placed a hand on his forearm, squeezing gently.
"You can't help me." He snapped, finally looking up at her. "Not even the damned doctor can help me." She was surprised by his outburst. It was only then she finally saw how exhausted he truly was. Last night must have been the only proper sleep he received in days.
She kneeled before him, taking his hands in hers. "Of course I can. I thought we were in this together." She tried to sound as soothing as she could. She noted how his body trembled under the stress. He had always appeared so strong, just for her. He would never allow her to see his weakness because she relied on him to support her. Her heart ached.
"I'm fine, Annabeth." His voice was firm though his eyes were glistening with tears he could not shed. "Don't worry about me." He took a deep, shaky breath, managing a weak smile. "Why don't we go to the dining hall? We didn't really eat much before we went to see Dr. Brunner."
She opened her mouth to protest but he was out the door before she could stop him. She frowned, following after him.
He wasn't any better as he ate. They were joined by Leo and Calypso, a couple she had only met because of Jason and Piper. Leo had a habit of fiddling with miscellaneous items to create small working gadgets. At that moment, he seemed to be playing with tin foil and a paper clip, his discarded plate was collected by his mate.
"Is something wrong, Percy? You don't seem well." Calypso had asked sweetly, her melodious voice filled with concern. Annabeth often found herself jealous of how easily the beautiful girl with braided caramel-colored hair interacted with the green-eyed man. She almost always pushed the thought away, knowing that Calypso was hopelessly in love with the mechanical engineer she was paired with.
"'M fine, Cal." He replied smoothly, tossing around his omelet with his silverware. "You meeting with Chiron today?"
The actress shook her head no, "Our schedule's tomorrow, before lunch. I'm guessing it didn't end well?"
Percy managed a bitter laugh. "What do you think?"
The interaction sent an irrational anger coursing through Annabeth's veins. She knew that Calypso was a sweet girl genuinely concerned for her friend. She knew that had it been any other girl, she would have been perfectly fine. Annabeth had no right to be jealous. Percy was not hers to begin with, thus she can't go around glaring at women who showed him the slightest bit of affection. Why was she so mad, then?
Then, she realized why. When she had shown concern for the heir, he had brushed her off and had gone as far as avoided the topic completely. He pushed her away as if what little help she could offer him did not matter. However, the moment Calypso asked about it, he provided a reply? Was another person's mate more worthy to answer than the girl he sought to hold?
"Excuse me." She muttered, standing abruptly. Leo finally looked up from his invention, only then realizing the tension between the three. "I'll go ahead." Immediately, Percy made a move to leave as well. She shot him a glare. "Alone, if you don't mind."
Annabeth felt a pang in her chest at his confused and hurt expression. She did not dwell on this further, storming out of the dining hall. She was vaguely aware of Thalia calling out to her after she had walked past them. She ignored it.
She found herself running, tears streaming down her cheeks as she cut corners. She did not know where she was heading and she did not quite care enough to stop and check if she was still in a place she recognized. She did not know how to feel, how to react. She was not some teenager with a schoolgirl crush. She was a young adult forced to act older than she actually is. She was given the responsibility of rebuilding the world. She would not let her feelings cloud her judgment.
She had stopped running once the hallway began to darken. She lifted her gaze from the floor, noticing that she was at an unfamiliar location. Everything seemed more sinister here, with dim fluorescent bulbs lighting her way. There were no windows on either side of the hallway, merely white painted walls and metal doors. She hugged her jacket closer to her, suddenly feeling cold.
Evelyn's voice suddenly came back to her. Due to unfortunate circumstances, those who instigated the riot were detained in an isolated area in the facility. Though not completely inaccessible, the area leading to the location was unwelcoming and usually kept the residents away lest they were curious. She must not have realized that she entered a more dangerous location. This was where Eden housed the clinically insane.
She cursed herself for being so stupid. How could she have walked herself into such a dangerous situation? Her mother would be disappointed. Not wanting to encounter the three captives damned enough to reside here, she turned and walked the other direction.
A figure stood at the end of the hallway, a tall man a few years older than she. His build was large and muscular, his sandy blonde hair covering his face. All she saw was the sadistic face-splitting smile that graced his handsome features. Annabeth tried to recall what little she knew on self-defense. Maybe if she was lucky to throw a punch in, she might daze him long enough for her to escape.
He closed the distance between them, ice blue eyes staring deep into her soul. She steeled herself, not once allowing him to see her fear. She did not want to appear weak before someone who could easily empower her. He noticed her bloodshot eyes and the tear tracks staining her cheeks. "Going somewhere, little one?" He mused, his voice barely above a whisper. A shiver was sent down her spine.
"I got lost." She was surprised how steady her reply had come out. "I'll leave now. Sorry for bothering you."
His grip on her arm was tight as he held her in her place. She knew there would be bruises there tomorrow morning, if she even lived to see the day. "No, you're not bothering me." His grin widened, eyes flashing. "What's your name, beautiful?"
She averted her gaze, keeping her mouth sealed. He did not seem to like her response as he had shoved her, hard, against the wall afterward. The air left her lungs. "I'll say that again. What's your name?"
"Annabeth." She whimpered, barely managing the strength to stand.
His lips brushed her ear, "Hmm… Annabeth." His voice was deep and sinister, hiding behind a world of pain. His intentions were clear though. She would not leave this place alive. "Annabeth you're such a pretty girl." His fingers trailed up her arm before his hand clasped at her neck.
Instinctively, she moved to relieve her windpipe from the pressure. Tears trailed down her cheeks. She kicked at him in an attempt to free herself. She must have been a foot off the ground now. "Please." She choked, her face turning blue.
"Don't worry, darlin'." He chimed, "I'll take good care of you."
He removed his grip on her throat, causing her to crumple to the ground heaving and coughing. She crawled away from him, fighting for as long as she could. She would never let this bastard have his way with her, not when she still had the energy to move away from him.
"Oh, we have a fighter here." He mocked with a snicker, slowing his pace as he followed her. "I've always loved a challenge."
With all the strength she had left, she screamed. "Percy!" Her voice felt raw, her throat not quite recovering from being suffocated. Still, she continued. "Percy!" It was louder this time, more desperate. Nothing.
She sobbed as he dragged her back, pinning her to the cold tiled floor. "You know, sweetheart, this is the first time I'm doing this." His lips were at her neck, fingers tracing bare skin and holding her in place. "World's pretty fucked up, might as well be fucked up with it." He placed a kiss on her forehead, what should have been a comforting gesture felt disgusting as she squirmed. His pelvis pressed flushed against hers and she managed a whimper. "Now be a good little girl and keep quiet for me."
A quick hit to the side of her head sent her in a daze. Her arms suddenly felt heavy. Everything was a blur to her as she fought the darkness.
The last thing she felt before she lost consciousness was a rough, calloused hand trailing up her thigh.