Me: Ah the plot bunny that started it all. A forewarning now: this will be part of a mini-series as the story goes on.
This is: Seeking Solace
Percy, Rachel, Annabeth
I most certainly do not own Greek Gods nor their children.
Summary preview: Not even he could fight all of her battles.
-100DIWPJ-
Ten minutes. Percy had left for ten minutes to go buy flowers. Simply because he had noticed the others were looking worn and he disliked the idea of death being present anywhere in that room.
And what had it cost him? Missing out on the last moment's of his wife's life. Oh sure, he had given her a kiss and a promise to be back soon, but what did that matter when by the time he had gotten back the room was in a flurry of panic and despair and that horrible monotone beep and- no. No.
This wasn't happening, it couldn't be happening. For surely his heart would stop too, and perhaps that was the most damning evidence as he couldn't tell. The panicked nurses were fleeing from the room with static following them in their wake and Percy just stood there in a limbo.
Hearing Thalia's screeches finally brought him out of it. "No, stop it, fix this. She's my best friend you can't just- No!"
Percy found himself standing in her room, surrounded by sorrowful doctors as he stared at Annabeth's exhausted expression.
The cancer had been a terrible one and selfishly Percy had felt irrational anger that Annabeth had gone and got herself killed by something he couldn't fight.
It wasn't fair. She had been doing so much better and the doctors themselves were pleased with her progress and she couldn't just be gone.
Annabeth Jackson couldn't be dead. Not after everything they had faced and survived. Not to this.
He would never recall leaving the hospital or the drive home, but he did remember Thalia helping him inside his house, only to turn her back and leave. He vividly recalled the fit he had thrown, tossing things at the walls, screaming at the gods, even going so far as to threaten Apollo's life. He remembered the grief finally settling in as he broke down.
Not long after, fiery red hair and emerald eyes clouded over with grief found him.
"I'm so very sorry, Percy." Rachel told him wrapping her arms around him. Percy clung to her because he was seeking solace and while Rachel wouldn't understand completely, she was there and that meant so much to him.
"I didn't think to tell her I loved her. She had told me, but I was already out the door and I just assumed.. She had been doing so well. Oh gods, Rachel, I didn't tell Annabeth I loved her before she died. Oh gods oh gods oh gods." Rachel didn't say anything else, just held him and made sympathetic noises after a while.
After the tears had stopped and all that was left was a deep-set numbness, Percy set up a place for Rachel on his couch before slipping off to his room, to at least give the pretense of sleeping. As he laid there, staring at his ceiling, Percy was struck by the bitter irony of the situation.
Years ago, Annabeth had made him promise to never leave her. Percy had never thought to make her do the same.
-100DIWPJ-
Thoughts?
Next chapter: Breaking Away
~ Anna/Booklover98