A/N: Hello everyone! Here is chapter 7 for you all. BUT I HAVE A DEMAND. An amazing reviewer of mine, Tina Daughter Of Poseidon 23, gave me the idea for the end of this chapter. You, in your reviews, AT LEAST have to say thank you to her. Without her, I'd be completely stuck and have an awful writer's block. I did move, tweak, add and change somethings that she said, but again… thank her! K J That's all
Disclaimer: Since I haven't done it in a while, I don't own anything. I like… wow… I own nothing...
Chapter 7
~Percy's P.O.V~
Two weeks. There were two weeks of absolutely nothing happening at all. Percy would go to work with his father, shadow him, and have nothing to report. Those from the second base in Barcelona, excluding Thalia who decided to stay behind and help home base more, traveled back to Europe and made a trip to Paris, securing the other hide out. They were put in the charge of a girl named Katie, a small yet cute girl they Percy guessed could pack as much of a punch as the rest of the girls around here. They headed out a day or two after Thalia's grand party, wanting to get back to Europe in order to watch Ronos's movements up close. Annabeth was skeptical at first, not wanting to risk it, but she was eventually persuaded by Thalia and Clarisse who teamed up for once. They both wanted the place secured by their people. It was the best option.
Percy continued his end of the bargain by going to Poseidon Enterprises and shadowing his father, trying to learn anything he could. Nothing was coming up. Reports on shipments, documents to sign for the shipments, thanks for the shipments. It was all boring and pointless information that Percy couldn't care less about, and he didn't both even reporting it to the Revolution. It was starting to look like his father wasn't even close enough to Ronos to be use full.
Along with the scoping out at the office, Percy had started training with Beckendorf in order to be ready for any fighting that might happen at their base or other locations. Percy could admit to anyone that had he no fighting training at all. That was pretty obvious if you could look at his back ground. Percy wanted to be ready for anything at anytime, and training both hand to hand and shooting was the only way he was going to be ready.
The blade slammed against Percy's, the loud clang ringing out in the training grounds, and Percy helplessly watched as his sword skidded across the dirt floor. He laid on his back, body sweaty and muscles screaming in tiredness. Beckendorf's foot pushed into his stomach, the air struggling to get inside of him, and the blade pointing at Percy's neck not helping the matter of breathing easy. He was taken down… again. Percy was seriously growing tired of losing consistently.
Charles's big hand swooped down, perched out to help Percy up. His foot left Percy gut, a chuckle filling the air.
"You did better that time Perce!" He complimented, patting his shoulder, "It took like ten minutes for you to hit the ground this time." Percy rolled his eyes. Yeah, Beckendorf was really helpful.
Walking back over to his sword, Percy bit down a groan as he bent over, his side stinging like crazy. Beckendorf snuck on a round house kick along with the swings, and Percy KNEW he was going to feel it in the morning. Not that he wasn't already feeling it now.
The fight wasn't a complete failure, however, and looking at Beckendorf, Percy could tell that. The was a small slice on Beck's exposed arm, a small trickle of blood moving down his dark skin, and the left side of his face was a bit swollen from Percy hilt-butting him near the beginning of the fight. Percy himself had a good sized cut on his ribs, the cut from opening up his stance, and he could already feel the bruise forming on his shoulder when Beckendorf slammed his long forgotten shield, which sat across the arena, into the spot.
They were the only ones training, it being around two in the afternoon, and Percy was glad to be practicing after a long day at the office. His father had let him go early from shadowing, Poseidon having a meeting that Percy just could not attend. At first, Percy was going to go home and sit around till later in the afternoon, but when Beckendorf called saying he was free; Percy took that perfect opportunity to get more practice in.
"You want to go again?" Percy asked, ignoring the sting in his side and gripping his sword, looking half fight ready and half ready to pass out. He was not letting getting beat go that easily.
"I'd love to."
Percy stopped, a new voice entering the arena. Both boys looked confused, neither one saying the words. They turned, the entrance on their left, and eyes fell on the new person entering the place.
Annabeth strolled in, hand on the dagger strapped to her hip, and smirk clear on her face. She wore a tank top with a light jacket over it and a pair of jeans that fit her well. Her hair was up in a casual ponytail, her figure relaxed and confident, and Percy just knew he was about to get his ass kicked.
Not just kicked… Pulverized.
"Thank you for getting him warmed up for me Charles," Annabeth praised, slipping the jacket off and tossing it to the giant, smirk growing as she slid out the dagger, "I've need a good fight."
Percy's head snapped to Beckendorf, disbelief in his face.
"You knew she wanted to fight me?"
"Oh no," Beckendorf laughed, shaking his head and walking towards the side, "But there is no way I'm missing this fight. If you thought I was mean, just you wait."
Again, super supportive Beckendorf.
Percy watched her and Annabeth watched him back. His grip was wavering a bit, his confidence going down. He had never seen her fight before. He didn't know her weaknesses, her strengths, or even how she fought. To say Percy was scared was an understatement, but that wouldn't stop him from trying.
"Go ahead Wise Girl, make your move." Percy instructed, circling the girl. She equally followed the steps, their pace slow and graceful.
Her head shook, smirk lingering, "Be my guest Seaweed Brian, show me what you can do." Her grey eyes sparkled and leaked with challenge. She was ready, and so was he.
Percy moved towards her, sword swinging with fast precision, aimed straight for her shoulder. Her dagger intercepted the blade, hooking around his sword, and she pushed him off, her hand jabbing into the small of his back as she pulled him away. Stinging pain shot up his spine, Percy was surprised at the quick reaction, and he turned back to her, cautious to try again.
Annabeth's dagger swung at him, his foot stepping back before the blade took off his face. His fist connected with her ribs, a grunt leaving her mouth, and Percy felt a jerk up his hard as she gripped onto his hand. She twisted it, a groan ripped from Percy's throat and the next movements were in total slow motion.
She dropped her dagger, it hitting the floor with a ring. Annabeth pulled his twisted arm behind her head, foot lining up with his shin. Her free hand shoved his gut, all air leaving Percy, and her foot tripped the leg from out from under him. Gravity kicked in. Annabeth flipped his whole body, the sensation whirling and rocking Percy's brain. He felt the dust and air kick up when his back slammed into the ground, his entire world spinning. His senses were gone; all sense but one. He felt her body above his, her foot still touching him. His own foot pushed out, sweeping her legs, and earning a winning gasp from her lips. If he was down, she was coming with him.
It took about five seconds for Percy to realize what he did, and about seven seconds for Annabeth's body to land on top of his. Simultaneous groans filled the air, pain shooting up Percy's body. Her hips slammed into his and her knees almost stabbed into his thigh. Two bodies colliding never felt good, and Percy could now put that down on the record.
His eyes opened slowly, her eyes squinting in pain like his. Sea-green mixed with grey. Percy's pain washed away almost instantly when he realized their proximity, and his once pained senses woke up to the fullest extent. Her breath was slightly labored and her eyes were wide in shock. Her hands were on his chest, legs tangled up in a mess, and Percy smelt her faint perfume under the dirt and his own sweat. She was intoxicating.
Her eyes looked into his, face an inch away. Their noses skimmed each other, shocks flying up to Percy's brain. She was so close; Percy was tempted like never before. He had behaved for two weeks. He left her alone for two weeks after their kiss, and he was burning for something more. He really did feel something for her. He wanted to go father with her, at least just a little bit, and he was getting a tad impatient.
Percy moved forward a bit, stopping short of just her lips, wanting her to finish the connection. If she wanted it, she needed to show him. He didn't want to push himself on her nor did he want to be led on. He just wanted something… anything.
After a brief moment, hesitation clear in that inch between them, Percy felt her lips against his. The sparks flew again. Just like the night at the dance. Tingles ran over his spine and his entire being was warming from the inside out. Her fingers touched the side of his face, soft skin brushing over his jaw, and he held her close to him, embracing the moment as long as he could. He knew it was going to be short, and he didn't want it to end.
They stayed connected, lips moving together perfectly. Percy's arms held her waist close. Annabeth's fingers grazed down his neck and she kissed him back, fire behind the kiss and flowing from her lips to his. She fit perfectly in his arms. She caused all negative feelings to leave his body. She was perfect.
Their lips broke, air gasping in both of their lungs, and their eyes opened to each other. Their foreheads were pushed against each other and their noses brushed together. Touches were light and the space didn't grow between them. They stayed perfectly still.
"I think…" Annabeth breathed, voice quiet, "we should go and… get cleaned up."
Her suggestion brought reality back into Percy's head, his breath following back into a regular pattern, and his brain snapping back on. They were on the arena floor, alone. Percy didn't notice when Beckendorf slipped out, his being no longer there, and Percy had a hunch Annabeth didn't know either. It didn't really matter to Percy, but he was just glad he wasn't around to make everything awkward.
Percy nodded a bit, eyes still tangled with hers, "I think you're right."
It took them a moment, separating and gathering their things, but they were eventually on their way out. They walked in silence, it not awkward but calming, and eventually came to a split road. She was going back into the apartment; he was going to his car. The two stared at each other for a moment, then a smile slipped onto Annabeth's face.
"Nice fighting Seaweed Brain," she complimented him, turning to go, "we'll fight again, I can grantee that."
A smirk crossed Percy's lips, an impulse crossing his brain.
His arm reached out, gently turning her a bit. His lips traveled over her cheek, a light blush appearing on her face when he pulled away. His hand let go of her arm slowly, the smirk still on his face.
"Thanks for the fight Wise Girl, I'll see you later."
He turned, facing his car, and his insides buzzed with electricity.
He didn't know how, he didn't know the exact moment, and he didn't know why, but everything changed. He and Annabeth weren't teasing with each other anymore, but they weren't love birds either. There was something there, Percy knew that. Whether or not Annabeth felt the same too, Percy's didn't know. But what they both knew was that everything changed, and things were starting to look a bit better.
~~~~~Break~~~~~~~~~
"Royal flush. Pay up you rebels." Percy announced, cards fanned out on the poker table and hands behind his head. Groans echoed from the surrounding chairs, all others playing regretting their decisions to put more money in, and the grin on Percy's face only grew. Oh yes, he wasn't only winning in poker, he was wiping the floor with everyone against him. Percy's arms swept the money towards him, fingers carefully counting his gain, and his total was brought up to a flat fifty bucks. Yep, it was a good day for Percy Jackson.
"How exactly did you learn to play this well?" Charles questioned, shaking his head as he handed out another deal of cards, "This is just unbelievable."
"When your intelligence level is lower than normal, you're better at games like this."
Percy's eyes rolled, Thalia's voice coming over his shoulder. Of course she'd jab at his intelligence, he wouldn't expect any different. It was Thalia after all.
A slender hand with black finger nail polish leant over his shoulder, swiping up his money, and taking it for itself. Percy's head snapped back, looking at the Goth, and an expression of 'are you kidding?' crossed his face. The punk folded the fifty dollars, making a nice and tight pile.
She held it out to Percy, teasing, "You want it?"
His hand reached stupidly, thinking it could take it back. She pulled it back just in time, slipping it into the left side of her bra, and shrugging at him, smirking while an eyebrow spiked up in a challenge.
"Come get it."
She turned around and walked towards the elevators, Percy's money still with her. He groaned, knowing there was no easy way to see that money again. He stood, grabbing his leather jacket from the back of the chair, and followed the girl, Nico trailing next to him. The boy was in another one of his half formal/ half dark outfits, and he smiled slyly, patting Percy's chest as the three stepped into the elevator.
"Don't worry bro, I've got this." Nico smugly assured, stepping closer to Thalia.
Percy watched from the other side of the elevator, head turned just enough so he could see without his entire body facing them.
Nico stepped up to Thalia, bodies much closer than normal contact. She was leaning against the back of the elevator wall, azure eyes trained on Nico, and smirk still on her face.
"You have something that is not yours." Nico playfully reprimanded, hands gliding over her waist as his chest lightly pushed against hers. Percy didn't really want to watch where this was going, but he couldn't pull his eyes away.
Thalia's smirk grew bigger, arms crossing, and head tilting to the side a bit.
She spoke with confidence, words dripping with tease, "Well then you should take it back, shouldn't you?" Her eyes stayed connected with him the entire time, confidence not wavering.
Nico's hand reached in the side, their gaze still connected, and Percy staring in slight amazement and slight unhappiness. Great, he was really thrilled about where his money had been. That really made him want to celebrate his winnings.
Percy's eyes went to the number count, watching the floors go up slowly, until he saw Nico holding out the wad of cash out the corner of his eye. Percy stood still for a moment, arms crossed and glare aimed at the red neon numbers, but then he quickly reached out and took the money, sliding it into his back pocket as he continued to pout like a child.
"Told you I'd take care of it," Nico chimed, arms fully around her waist and head facing Percy. The two watched Percy with amusement as he shook his head, closing his eyes.
"Why do I hang out with you two again?" He questioned, glancing at them, arms still crossed.
"Cause you love us." Thalia piped in, smiling brightly.
"Oh yeah, I forgot," Percy joked sarcastically, a smirk forming on his lips, "Hey, where are we going anyway?" He watched the elevator stop at its correct floor, and the three stepped out after the ding.
"We're going to pay Annie a much needed visit," Thalia smiled, practically skipping down the hall towards the front of Annabeth's office. It was an odd sight to see, but it got Thalia where she needed to be. A small smile formed on Percy's lips and he caught up with the girl, happy to see Annabeth. He hadn't seen her since their sparing match, and it'd be nice to see her again.
Thalia shoved the doors open and stepped in, yelling at the top of her lungs.
"ANNIE! WE'RE VISITING!"
Percy would've laughed, the sight truly entertaining, if what he saw inside the office hadn't upset him like it had.
Annabeth sat at her desk, one hand covering her mouth and the other hand against the side of her head, holding it up. Her expression was pain filled and she looked crushed inside, like some sort of news got to her. She looked like the weight of the world was on her shoulders and it was about to be passed onto them as well.
Thalia's flamboyantly thrown in the air arms fell, her body gaining both rigidness and worry, and he spoke softly.
"Annabeth… what happened?"
~~~~~Break~~~~~~~~~~(Tina's idea happens now :3 Most, almost all, of the dialog is hers)
They sat there in absolutely silence, the air thick and words that came out of Annabeth's mouth heavy. Annabeth was at her desk, eyes down at some folders and maps stacked there. Thalia was sitting against the door, eyes staring at the carpet in disbelief. Nico stood in the corner, an angry yet defeated look aimed at his shoes. Percy sat in the corner arm chair, head in his hands. Ronos had attacked their second base in Paris. He had found them. After all the effort to try and keep it hidden, it was easily found out and attacked.
Annabeth stood abruptly, swiping all of the folders and maps from her desk into one big pile, and tossing them into her trash can, the force behind then causing a pretty loud noise compared to the silence that was just hanging in the air.
"How… How did this even happen? How did he find us?!" Annabeth fumed, hands on her hips and head shaking in anger, hands almost transforming into fists. The anger and utter shock was leaking from her, so much so that Percy could feel it.
"I don't know." Thalia calmly replied, eyes still trained on the floor as the anger slowly dripped into her. Thalia was calmer than Annabeth, and Percy knew that was not a good sign. If Thalia was calm, then something was most defiantly wrong. "Did you already check and see about Katie and anyone else who survived?"
Annabeth nodded her head, body still stiff and seething.
"Um question," Percy spoke hesitantly, wondering aloud, "Did we lose the whole base? Like it is completely gone and everyone taken out?"
"No, we didn't lose it all," Annabeth answered, eyes locking with his for a moment, fear evident in her eyes as she spoke, she starting to pace behind her desk, "But we have to get them out of there before Ronos's men move again and come back stronger. We can't afford Katie's or anyone else's safety. But like how? How is that sick, evil bastard even finding our camps? One after one! This has never happened before."
"I don't know bu-" Percy tried, standing, about to move to comfort Annabeth, but she cut him off with her ranting, one hand running through her bangs.
"-I mean it all started when…" She completely froze, face transforming all of its features. Were the confusion, anger and fear once was, doubt and sadness lay on her face. Her eyes turned and planted on Percy, both starting to brim with red and her brain turned and turned in thought.
"When?" Thalia prodded, just as scared as the others to know the answer that was causing this much of a reaction out of Annabeth.
"When you joined the Revolution." She finished, eyes trained on Percy, who she was obviously addressing. Her fingers were trembling and her breath was a bit uneven, the redness spreading across her eyes and she put the false puzzle pieces together.
Percy was absolutely floored, a ton of bricks hitting him with a muting force. She thought he was a traitor? The girl he was kissing not ten hours earlier was now accusing him of spying and lying to them?
"Wait… what?" he asked confused, the breath and words finally returning to his throat. This girl, this girl who was the only girl he's ever fallen for before was calling him a traitor? "You think I'm a traitor?"
"Percy," her voice was shaky, fire and emotion flaring up in it, "our base in Barcelona was destroyed with one and seventy casualties. Then, miraculously two weeks later, our Paris base was found out and gods know how many were killed there. All of it happened after you joined the Revolution."
Percy was once again stunned, his own anger starting to surface in him, "I-I can't believe it! You-you… Annabeth just because I joined the Revolution around the time you started losing bases doesn't mean I'm a traitor! It could be a freaking coincidence! I would never betray you! Never!" Percy tried, arms jerking and moving to exaggerate his point. He felt his own eyes stinging from the hurt he felt of her accusation.
"Or, you know what, you may have decided to be Daddy's little boy after all!" Annabeth yelled at him, hands fists and a tear leaking down her face. Her breath was deep and emotions high, and Percy could feel his own passion screaming to get out.
"You of all people should know that what you just said isn't true!" Percy retorted, pointing sharply at her, anger and defense rising out of him. He would never be a daddy's boy… never.
Nico took a step forward, one of his hands on a shocked Thalia's shoulder, the other held out in reason, "Hey guys-" but his attempt was useless. Annabeth couldn't be stopped.
"Really?" She almost laughed, hands moving up then down in exasperation, " Ya know a lot people say things to get others to trust them, but they fail in the end. They're always found out. Why wouldn't you do the same?"
Her question caused one single statement to buzz in Percy's head, longing to burst out. He didn't want to say it, his logical part of his brain saying no, but it was quickly silenced by the emotions and agony flooding his body from his heart. The words ripped from his throat, hands in fists and eyes tearing up, voice breaking with raw emotion.
"I AM NOT LUKE."
The silence that followed the comment was like a slap to the face, it causing both Annabeth and Percy to recoil. Thalia had let out a small gasp after the words popped the hot tension, and tears streamed down her face as one hand covered her mouth, the other gripping onto Nico. Percy's eyes were looking straight at a tear stricken Annabeth, his heart throbbing in sadness and pain. He was so hurt that she thought he'd just use them and betray them. He couldn't even explain the hurt.
"And… how do I know that?" Annabeth asked quietly, her eyes shifting to the floor, body losing all the fiery momentum that possessed it an instant before, "I thought… we…"
"Don't you trust me?" Percy asked just as quietly, body shifting a bit, wanting to make eye contact with her again. He wanted to see what those grey eyes were thinking, but they refused to look at him.
Annabeth didn't reply, eyes still aimed at the floor. Total despair was setting in, her body was clearly showing it, and Percy's back straightened, the silence once again like a slap the face.
"You don't trust me." Percy deducted, body almost falling over from the clear shock of it, "You. Don't Trust. Me." The words caused the stinging to grow, wetness threatening to appear. His body became stiff with hurt and betrayal, the fact she didn't trust him swinging and poisoning his veins, his heart crying out in misery and distress. He wanted the pain to go away, but he knew that wasn't happening anytime soon.
Percy grabbed his jacket, the leather one he had left perched on the chair, and he turned to look at Annabeth stiffly one last time, addressing her in a hash and broken tone, before storming out of the door and towards his car.
"I guess since you're so convinced I'm a traitor against the cause, Captain Chase, I might as well go and be one."
He practically ran from the place, getting into his car, and he drove home. He parked quickly, ignoring the questioning look he got from his butlers, and he marched into his house, heading right for his father's study.
He opened the doors, his father sitting in the desk as Percy knew he would be. Poseidon, only slightly annoyed at Percy's rude entrance, his attitude towards his son improving since Percy was shadowing him at work, slid his reading glasses off his nose and onto his desk.
"What is it Percy?" Poseidon questioned, glancing over his son.
Percy took a breath in, hands still fists at his side and anger moving through him like fire.
"Dad, I have something to tell you."
PLEASE READ! A/N IS IMPORTANT!
A/N: AND BAM! There you go J What will Percy tell his dad? What will happen next? How are you going to survive until the next update?! Oh you'll be fine J Anyway, three things lovely people.
1. Remember! Thank Tina! If you don't I'm not writing anymore. Be nice, if you have any flames direct them at me and not her. She had the idea, but she had the idea of the argument. I ENDED IT differently than she said J So the evil cliff hanger was me, not her.
2. I want you all, in your reviews, to tell me your favorite line in it! Please humor me, I'm curious!
3. And finally, school starts this Wednesday, and when it does, idk how quickly I'll be able to update. SCHOOL COMES FIRST. Haha, just remember that! If I don't update for a while after Wednesday, well then you know why.
THANK YOU ALL I LOVE YOU ALL! 3