Percy wrapped his arms around Annabeth, creating a barricade with his limbs. She buried her face in his chest, breathing deeply in her slumber. Percy brushed a blonde strand from her face. He held her, as if he let go she'd disappear from him forever.
They never let go of each other in Tartarus, even when he spoke of suicide, Annabeth didn't let go. The topic of Percy's ramblings usually landed on dying or no hope. By then he had given up, he was blind to what mattered most, Percy saw no use in fighting. Especially when he truly believed they were gonna die. He thought back, back to the time when he'd begged Annabeth to kill him.
Percy rubbed his face, staring down at Annabeth, then glancing at his reflection in Riptide.
"Kill me," he whispered.
Annabeth turned her wide eyes to him, almost cause him to flinch away from the shock that filled the grey, "What?"
He handed her Riptide, "Kill me. Please. I'd rather you do it then anything else."
"No! Percy! Don't talk like that!"
He sobbed, "Annabeth, I'm begging you. Just end me. I can't go on like this"
She tightened her hand around his, " No. You promised me, you promised me that we'd stay together. How dare you say that? How dare you expect me to follow through ?" Annabeth's voice was sharp and bitter.
Percy's mouth gaped open, the realization of what would happen if he died hit him heavily in the chest, sinking into his heart. He stopped, stepping in front of Annabeth. He imagined her without him, broken, wounded, alone. The thought made him shudder, made his heart ache.
Percy opened her fingers, taking Riptide from her hand, "I promised I know," he kissed her, the fact that her suddenly wanted to live made it the best kiss they'd ever shared. "I will never break that promise. I love you Annabeth Chase."
She payed her head on his shoulder and released a heart breaking moan, crying into his tattered shirt, "You don't know how long I've waited for you to say that," she drew in a sputtering gasp, speaking again with a hint of humor lacing her voice. "You're such a Seaweed Brain Percy."
He held her tightly, "Do me a favor, next time I start rambling like that, just smack me on the back of the head."
Annabeth laughed, for the first time in days, she was halfway happy. Just that made everything worthwhile.