Chapter 20
It wasn't long before they had reached Athena's cabin,
"Wait here while I get a med kit" she said, she was about to enter when she turned back to him "Don't disappear again"
"I won't" he swore
She disappeared for less than a minute before exiting
"Let's go back to your cabin, it's quieter" she said, taking his hand once more
Markos opened the door for her and the two of them entered the small room
"Take a seat" Annabeth released his hand and disappeared into the bathroom, Markos began to unbutton his shirt removing it and using it to wipe up the blood on his skin.
He heard footsteps and looked up to see Annabeth standing in the doorway with the first aid kit and a small flask of nectar, her eyes raking over his chest and the scars that covered him. She blinked away the tears that started to form and began to set up her kit,
"You okay?" Markos asked after seeing Annabeth rub her eyes subtly, she nodded but did not return his gaze, he stood coming to stand behind her
"Annabeth…" he placed a light hand on her arm, turning her slowly to face him, he lifted her chin with his finger so she looked him in the eyes "Tell me"
"The scars are a reminder of what I did to you" she tried to break his gaze "And what you went through to save me, it's all my fault"
He would not allow her to look away, instead he leant down the few inches and pressed his lips to her forehead gently
"Without you I would be dead, I don't regret the scars, I would do it all over again if it meant saving you" this made Annabeth smile a little, she caressed his rough face, "You have encaptured what little soul I have left Annabeth Chase"
The statement had Annabeth blinking away more tears and the only ones to escape were caught by Markos's rough fingers
She glanced down at the blood still trickling down his stomach, she turned grabbing a cloth and pressed it against his bare skin, his firm muscles under her touch
"Lay on the bed" she instructed, Markos gave her a look and smirked at what she could have suggested, Annabeth took his meaning and rolled her eyes "Oh behave"
Markos complied and sat on his bed, laying back with his arm above his head, so Annabeth could access his wounds easier. Annabeth sat beside him and began to look more closely at his wound, the healing process had been ripped back open somehow and just needed to be closed with stitches and for him to drink some nectar
Without another word Annabeth started to work on him, he said nothing nor did he flinch, not once. She finished quickly and wiped up the last smear of blood from Markos's body, after she was done Annabeth crawled up onto the bed and laid beside him, her head resting on his arm, she was surprised about how much heat radiated from his body,
"I'm glad you're back" Annabeth whispered, closing her tired eyes
Markos felt his heart beating faster and was sure Annabeth could hear it, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders so her head rested on his chest
"I'm glad you are safe" he replied and soon Annabeth had fallen fast asleep
Markos just watched her all night, gently stroking her blonde hair, admiring her peaceful face as she slept