Hello cupcakes! ;) I'm really sorry that I didn't update this series of oneshots earlier. I was having trouble with the two linked oneshots I originally planned to upload next (they're coming soon, I think) and I was at camp for eleven days (we even played Capture the flag! :)). Then, I stumbled over this song and kind of fell inlove with it and decided to write this short song-fic. It takes place after "The Lost Hero" but before "The Son of Neptune" and is basically just Annabeth listening to this song and missing Percy. Let me know what you think (and if you like the song). :)
DISCLAIMER: I'm not Rick Riordan and thus don't own the characters or places he invented or any other part of the Percy Jackson series.
The songtext (written in italics) is from australian singer/ songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke. It's the lyrics to her song "The Last Day On Earth". I don't own the song or songtext either.
MISSING HIM
Look down, the ground below is crumbling
look up, the stars are all exploding
Hey yeah, hey yeah oh oh
hey yeah, hey yeah
Annabeth stared at the radio which Nyssa from Hephaestus Cabin had borrowed her, originally so she'd be able to keep track of the mortal news for the improbable case they mentioned anything that would give her a hint as to where Percy was.
By now, two months after Jason, Piper and Leo had arrived at Camp Half-Blood, and she was almost sure where Percy was, the radio had become more of a distraction. Waiting was cruel.
The words of the song spoke to Annabeth. It was exactly how she was feeling: As though everything was falling apart. Her world, that had only recently begun to feel complete, was slowly crumbling to dust.
It's the last day on earth
in my dreams, in my dreams
it's the end of the world
and you've come back to me
in my dreams
Memories flooded Annabeth's mind, memories of a day that – if Kronos had succeeded – probably would have been her last. It had been a day of battle and loss but also of a cupcake with blue frosting and an underwater kiss, the day she and Percy had started dating.
Since he had disappeared, Annabeth kept dreaming about this day whenever the nightmares left her alone.
Between
the dust and the debris
there's a light
surrounding you and me
Hey yeah, hey yeah, oh oh
hey yeah, hey yeah
Even though going on quests and fighting monsters was dangerous and exhausting it had been mostly great with Percy by her side. Not only did they trust each other with their lives but they were an excellent team and he also almost always managed to cheer her up.
Most of the time it felt like it was them against the rest of the world and Annabeth didn't mind one little bit.
It's the last day on earth
in my dreams, in my dreams,
it's the end of the world
and you've come back to me
in my dreams
Every time she woke up from her dream about the day of Percy's sixteenth birthday Annabeth felt more shattered. She just couldn't take it anymore. The realization that he was gone hit her harder every time.
It felt like a part of herself was missing. Her feelings for him had grown slowly over the past years but his disappearance had really shown her just how deep they where and how much she needed him.
And you hold me closer than I
can ever remember being held
and I'm not afraid to sleep now
if we can stay like this until
it's the last day on earth
in my dreams, in my dreams,
it's the end of the world
and you've come back to me
Annabeth knew that she wouldn't be able to completely calm down until she saw Percy again. He had become the person she went to with everything. One of the things she missed most were his bear hugs with his chin resting on her head.
Annabeth had never been a touchy-feely person but with Percy everything was a little different. After all, he was the one person who had stayed, a rare constant in her chaotic life. He understood that she needed exactly that – something permanent – and not only was he loyal to a ridiculous extent but he also seemed to care about her enough to put up with all her flaws. This was something Annabeth still sometimes found difficult to wrap her mind around.
Hey yeah, hey yeah oh oh
hey yeah, hey yeah
In my head I repeat our conversations
over and over 'til they feel like hallucinations
you know me, I love to lose my mind
Annabeth was a girl who was led by her head. Normally, she appreciated this but with Percy gone it was slowly driving her crazy. She couldn't stop thinking, constantly worrying about him being at the Roman camp.
Not knowing was always hard for her, but in this situation it was particularly awful. Annabeth couldn't be sure that the Romans wouldn't change him or – the most terrible uncertainty – if Percy even remembered her. Jason hadn't remembered anything, at least in the beginning.
The worry was consuming her and the only person who could have calmed her down was the one missing.
And every time anybody speaks your name
I still feel the same, I ache, I ache, I ache inside
She had hoped she might get used to him not being around, at least a little, especially since they were almost sure where he was by now. This wasn't the case. Instead, it had gotten worse.
In addition to feeling hurt she was incredibly angry with Hera. Without the goddess interfering she'd most likely consider herself a lucky girl right now.
It didn't seem fair that after all she and Percy had done for the Olympians, after all they'd gone through, they still didn't get their happy ending.
In my head I repeat our conversations
over and over 'til they feel like hallucinations
you know me, I love to lose my mind
Annabeth clung to the happy memories she shared with Percy. Their bond had been so deep and true. The vividness of her own memories gave her hope that maybe, with a little luck, he hadn't forgotten everything. She didn't think she'd be able to cope with it if the person she relied on most didn't recognize her anymore.
And every time anybody speaks your name
I still feel the same, I ache, I ache, I ache inside
Every time someone asked her about him, even though most of the campers seemed to avoid it, Annabeth's heart broke all over again.
She had been sure that she cared deeply about Percy. Now she was sure that she loved him.
And she missed him terribly.
I ache, I ache, I ache inside
I ache, I ache, I ache inside
I ache, I ache, I ache inside