Fair warning, this chapter will reference MoA and HoH but takes place after HoO. Let's be real I'm mostly warning myself.

I got this idea after reading The Quantum Entanglement of the Almost-Kiss. Great book, if you're interested.

Story #15: The Traumatic Entanglement of the Interrupted Kiss

"You know we can't be out here for much longer," Annabeth whispers, leaning into Percy with a soft smile.

His blue-green eyes glow in the moonlight peeking through the greenery enveloping the campgrounds like a dome. Bright stars litter the sky as they sit against the trees bordering the cabins. The last few campers say their goodnights as they head into their cabin, lights from inside turning off once the front door closes.

"No one will notice," Percy says back, bouncing a curl by her ear as he speaks, "I run my own cabin."

"They'll hear us."

"Because you're talking."

Annabeth narrows her eyes but grins. "And what are you going to do about it?"

"You know."

"I do."

Percy leans into her and she pulls him by his shirt's collar to kiss him. Still sitting on the ground, Annabeth lets go of one hand to rest behind her to keep her balance so she wouldn't fall back on the grass, still holding onto him with her other one. She crumpled his shirt tightly when she pulled him in but her grasp loosened as she kissed him harder. Percy has one hand on the ground beside him and another wrapped around the small of her back so that she didn't have to balance herself but she did so anyways.

They've been together for a while but with Hera snatching him away, they've lost so much time. They cherish every moment together because it could be their last, every quest and battle has taught them that lesson. People could say that so much time together is boring, that kissing will make the relationship feel like a chore because it's no longer as interesting and fun as the honeymoon phase. But they have to work on it, experience it, learn from it, enjoy it.

Her gut twitches and she sucks in a breath, opening her eyes. She doesn't break from the kiss and Percy doesn't notice her mind wandering elsewhere as he continues holding her close and starts kissing down her neck. Annabeth's eyes flicker past Percy towards Camp. Maybe someone's coming to send them to their cabins? Then something in her peripheral vision moves, glistening a beam as the moon reflects on it. Annabeth's eyes look towards it and her heart drops into her wrenched stomach.

A spider is making its way down from the stable's rain gutter, twirling on its web like an acrobatic performer. Annabeth's eyes widen, not wanting to blink or else she might lose sight of it. If only she had her dagger. She should be relieved it's moving slowly because if it was skittering along a wall or just appeared on either her or Percy, she would've lost her mind. Any spider she sees reminds her of Arachne's bulbous self, taunting her until Annabeth could outsmart her.

And then she thought she won.

Until a cobweb still tangled on her foot started pulling her down to Tartarus with Arachne and her trap. Then Percy - backed away from her, looking at her with concern. He must've noticed she wasn't reciprocating. Annabeth doesn't want to take her eyes off the spider and her skin has gone cold. She only knows that because when Percy touches her shoulder to ask what's wrong, the part where he touches her skin is warm.

Annabeth tenses when the spider slides down closer. She swears the tiny vermin is making eye contact with its many beady eyes. She resists the urge to scream her guts out.

Finally, she breaks eye contact when she notices Percy turning around and seeing the spider. He wraps his arm around her waist, holding her against his warm body.

"Beat it," Percy swats the spider away. "What a jerk."

Annabeth didn't see where it flew off to but she doesn't care. Forget the potential revenge of the spider crawling back. It's gone and she can finally breathe again. Her body trembles because she didn't want to rethink hanging off the edge of Tartarus, looking up at Percy who was covered in cobwebs and blood, face scraped, tired, strained, and panicked. Now that his face is clear and relaxed, more so now that the spider is gone on her behalf, he slips his hand into hers.

Still a very handsome face. The strength he used to hold on to the ledge is the same he used to let himself go and hold onto her.

"You're okay," Percy whispers, resting her head on his shoulder.

Annabeth nods, leaning into him. He continues whispering sweet nothings into her neck. If his words left their mark, there'd be no space left. There's a difference between saying you'll be okay versus you're okay. Possible future versus a definite. She needed the certitude.

What, no, I'm not crying you are.