It had only been a day since he gave that speech to the surviving demigods. Only a day when he announced that they would undertake rebuilding their world, a task that would be one of the most difficult things they'd ever partake in—two days since the Gods had faded back to Tartarus. And two days since…she died.
Just thinking about her caused his heart to squeeze painfully beyond what he thought was possible. He couldn't shake the feeling of just wanting to give up and go join her in the underworld. It would've been far better than living alone without her. But he knew he couldn't do that. She'd hate for him to do that and leave everyone else behind to pick up the shattered pieces of the world.
Percy sighed to himself as he thought of her smile, almost believing that he could hear her distant laughter echo in the corners of his mind. What'd he give to truly hear that again.
"Percy, can you give me a hand with this?" Katie Gardner's voice broke his reminiscing, pulling him back to reality. He blinked, realizing that he had been standing there staring over the isles of food items on the shelf like a starving, crazy person. That's right, he remembered where they were now. They were in an abandoned grocery store, gathering supplies for their upcoming journey.
"Yeah, sure, sorry." He replied, moving toward the daughter of Demeter, who was struggling to lift a huge box of canned food from a sagging shelf. He slid his hands beneath hers before picking it up with ease, setting it down gently in a cart they had managed to salvage.
Katie gave him a thankful smile but he could see behind her features that she was worried for him. He'd been acting like that ever since she died, staring out into nothing for minutes on in. If one didn't know better, he could've practically been one of Medusa's statues.
"You okay?" She asked softly, idly rearranging some of the items in the cart.
Percy hesitated before he could answer, glancing down at the floor as if the cracked tiles could hold the answer. Perhaps they did seeing as he felt he would crack at any moment. "I'm fine." He said, his voice holding no confidence. The words felt hollow even as he said them and he knew Katie didn't believe them for a single second. Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded, leaving the matter at that. There was no point pushing the subject if he wasn't ready to talk about it yet.
Watching her push the cart toward another aisle, the son of Poseidon took a deep breath and steeled himself. Mentally slapping himself for allowing Katie to see just how broken he was feeling, he straightened his shoulders and forced his legs to start working, helping her pick out whatever they needed. They worked in silence after that, the faint drum of rain hitting the roof and the murmur of other demigods in the store with them being the only background noise. It was hypnotic in a sense, allowing him to work without the deafening silence that drove him mad. He could hear the chatter between Nico and Will drift through the air at the pharmacy, bickering about what they did and did not need. Their subdued conversation was a stark contrast to the usual chaos that accompanied demigod missions, especially the quest he had been on. It was nice for a change, especially after all they'd been through these past months.
A sudden crash echoed from the back of the store, breaking up their work and sending everyone on high alert. Immediately, Percy pulled out Riptide and scanned for any sign of danger. He should've known better than to think things would go smoothly. Pushing Katie behind him since she didn't have a weapon, he raised Riptide and waited for whatever would come out of the shadows at the end of the aisle.
Expecting one of Gaea's leftover minions he was relieved to suddenly see Will and Nico appear a moment later, a sheepish look adoring their faces.
"False alarm." Will said, holding up his hands in a calming gesture. "Just an overzealous shelf deciding it was funny to drop and scare the life out of us."
The son of Poseidon sighed in relief, putting Riptide back into his pocket. Katie on the other hand was furious, letting the two boys know that they should've been more careful and that she almost had a heart attack.
"We're finished up with the medical supplies. Got enough to help Reyna and last us a good while." Nico said, his dark eyes lingering on the windows that contained a view of the rainy streets outside. "But we need to start heading out. The mortals will start coming back to the city now that the brunt of the storm is over."
Percy nodded, more than happy to leave the dark, cramped store. Taking the carts outside and loading them into a truck the Stoll brothers had managed to break into and hotwire, they soon made their way back to the Empire State Building, their temporary headquarters. The drive back was quiet, the rain tapping rhythmically against the truck's roof. Sitting in the passenger seat, the green-eyed demigod stared out the window at the crumbling remains of the city. The New York skyline, once teeming with life, was now a graveyard of broken glass and jagged steel. It was such a painful sight seeing his city destroyed.
Behind him, the others chattered softly, their voices blending with the hum of the engine. Will was explaining something about antibiotics while the Stolls were mapping out other stores to loot later on. Leaning his head back, he was comforted by the familiar banter of his friends. It reminded him of their time back at Camp Half-Blood sitting around the campfire. But despite that, he still felt an emptiness in his chest, aching beyond repair. It was her voice he longed to hear, her laughter that used to make any worry fade away from his mind. Now that she was gone, he supposed that emptiness would never truly be filled. He'd forever be haunted by her memory.
The truck suddenly jolted as it hit a pothole, causing Percy to blink away his inner thoughts. He was doing it again, zoning out for minutes on end. That was a dangerous thing to do, especially for a demigod. Forcing himself to focus, he realized they were now only a block or two away from headquarters. Looking out the window, he caught a glimpse of a black mass the size of a car running past them a few meters away. Rubbing his eyes, he looked back out only to find nothing but empty streets with empty cars.
"Percy?" Katie grabbed his shoulder from behind, sensing his curiosity.
"It's nothing, I think." He replied, taking one last look before focusing on the road in front of him. After a few more minutes of driving, they eventually arrived at the Empire State Building which loomed overhead. Parking in front of the main doors, they began to unload the supplies they managed to find. Quickly trying to finish so they could get out of the rain, the son of Poseidon was beginning to haul the last of supplies inside when he felt a disturbance in the wet air. Stopping just at the main entrance of the building, he cocked his head to the side and closed his eyes, trying to figure out exactly what it was. There were a lot of them. He could feel their presence, whatever they were, surround their building, slowly encircling them.
Whatever they were, they weren't human. There was too little water in them for that. He clenched his jaw and slowly set down the crate of supplies at his feet.
"Percy?" Katie turned around, noticing his odd behavior. The green-eyed demigod put a finger to his lips, silently telling her and the others not to make a sound. His hand drifted into his pocket for Riptide as he continued to make out the situation they were in. Heightening his senses even further, he could hear the faint shift of movement in the shadows of looming skyscrapers and feel the disturbance of rain in the air. He counted twenty. Listening closely to pinpoint their exact location, he suddenly heard the twang of an arrow being released behind him, sailing through the rain directly at them.
With inhuman reflexes, the son of Poseidon outstretched his hand and caught the arrow in the blink of an eye, just before it could hit the daughter of Demeter square in the face. The glint of the arrowhead glimmered menacingly mere inches away, rain droplets dripping onto her skin causing her to shakily take a step back. Turning around, Percy shattered the projectile in his hand as he pulled out his sword, ready to take on the attackers.
"Go grab anyone that can fight. Make sure the wounded are protected." He ordered her, watching in grim determination as the enemy began to pour out of the shadows. Hellhounds and Dracanae seemed to make up the majority of their little warband which eased his worry somewhat. He could take these guys on, especially with the rain aiding him.
The daughter of Demeter hesitated for a moment, her wide eyes scanning the group of monsters before them. She didn't want to leave Percy to fight alone but with one last sharp look directed at her, she dared not to listen to his command.
Percy adjusted Riptide in his grip, the bronze blade gleaming in the dim, rain-soaked light. The monsters snarled as they slowly began to approach, their red eyes glowing like embers in the fog. Despite their numbers, he held firm and prepared for a fight. His heart raced and his eyes darted rapidly, surveying which monster he should kill first.
It seemed, however, he wouldn't have to pick as the first Hellhound lunged at him, its massive jaw opening to bite his head off. Sidestepping, Percy quickly swung his sword in a clean arc, slicing through the beast's neck. Something was off about it though he suddenly realized as he watched the monster collapse onto the ground. It didn't dissolve into a golden mist like he had expected. Instead, it stayed dead on the ground, black ichor seeping out of it mixing with the rain.
"What the–" He exclaimed. He'd never seen anything like that before. It wasn't supposed to happen. Monsters didn't just die like that. They always dissolved into a mist and returned back to Tartarus. Looking up quickly from the Hellhound's corpse, he knew he wouldn't have any more time to examine it because the other monsters were already on the attack once again. One Dracanae hissed, raising its spear, and charged at him. Dodging the weapon easily, he spun around the monster and slit its neck. Again, the body didn't dissolve. It just collapsed with strange black ichor oozing out of it.
"Okay, this is new." Percy muttered under his breath, raising his sword defensively as the warband tried to encircle him once more. He dared to glance at the entrance doors, hoping that help would soon arrive. Bad idea. Three arrows suddenly darted his way, forcing him to dive to the side. Rolling back on his feet, he raised Riptide just in time to deflect a spear aimed at his chest. The Dracanae hissed in frustration as the demigod slashed upward, splitting its skull open. Once again, it didn't dissolve, only spraying its black ichor directly in its face.
Not having a moment of reprieve, the remaining monsters decided it was best to come at him all at once. He barely had enough time to think as the hoard rushed him, their snarls and hisses blending in with the relentless rain. He tightened his grip on Riptide as he shifted his mind into battle mode. Nothing else mattered now except survival. Raising his free hand, he summoned a wave of water from the puddles around him. It surged forward like a living creature, abiding by his will, and crashed into the oncoming monsters. Despite the force of the attack, the monsters regrouped fast, as though they didn't feel pain.
A Hellhound leapt at him from behind, its claws outstretched. Spinning around just in time to catch the jaws in his hands, he grunted in strain as the mass of black fur pushed down on him. Gripping the monster with all his might, he crushed its jaw with his bare hands before twisting its head at an odd angle, a resounding snap echoing throughout the air. Panting, Percy shoved the lifeless body off him and rose, not giving himself a moment to rest. He lunged forward, cutting down the next monster that dared stand against him. Black ichor coated both his blade and skin, its texture slick and unnerving. He didn't pay much attention to it though, he had worse in Tartarus. Minutes passed, each one a blur of violent motion, until finally the last of the monsters lay dead at his feet. The rain mixed with the black ichor, forming pools of thick, unnatural liquid on the pavement. The streets were eerily silent, save for the steady beat of the rain and his labored breathing.
"Percy!" A voice shouted from behind him. Turning around, he watched as Nico, Will and a few others came running out of the building, their weapons drawn and faces tense. They came to a halt quickly however when they saw him covered in a black substance and the monsters still lying there.
"They're…still here." Nico said, his voice laced with confusion and unease.
Percy silently nodded, leaning on Riptide for support. His chest heaved the rain did little to wash away the ichor staining his skin and clothes. "Yeah. They just…died."
Will approached cautiously, his bow still in hand. He knelt next to the nearest corpse–a Dracanae with its skull cleaved in two–and inspected it. He didn't touch the body, as if afraid it might spring back to life. "This isn't normal," he murmured. "Monsters don't leave behind bodies."
"No shit," Percy said dryly, wiping his brow and capping Riptide. He felt exhausted but the adrenaline kept him on edge. "Something's changed."
The son of Hades expression darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. He extended a hand, summoning a faint shadow that wrapped around one of the Hellhound's corpses. The shadow probed the body, searching for traces of magic or connection between the Underworld and Tartarus. Not a moment later did Nico yank his hand away as if it had been burnt.
"These…These aren't monsters from the Underworld or Tartarus." He said, his voice low and ominous.
"What do you mean?" Katie came onto the scene, eyeing each monster that was sprawled out with disgust.
Nico's dark eyes flicked upward, narrowing as he scanned the skyscrapers looming over them. "I mean that these monsters aren't from there. There's no influence from my father's or Tartarus's domain. They were created somewhere else."
The demigods went silent, the rain pelting down on them as they tried to process Nico's words. There were endless possibilities as to what exactly these monsters were and where they came from, none of them good. Percy shook his head, feeling the weight of uncertainty settling down on him once again. He couldn't shake the feeling that something big was unfolding behind the scenes. He hated to think that, especially after dealing with two wars but this, these monsters, there was no other possible explanation in his mind.
"I don't like this," He said over the increasingly heavier rain. "Let's head inside and we'll figure out things from there."
None had any objection to that. Taking one last uneasy glance at the fallen monsters, their bodies now matted with ichor and rain alike, they began their way back inside the building. As the doors closed behind them, they were met by the remaining demigods who had stayed behind, their voices rising in a flood of questions. The moment Percy appeared, however, the questions died on their lips. He stood there silently, drenched from head to toe in the black substance, his face expressionless. His sea-green eyes glowed with a cold, unsettling intensity in the dim light, like the calm before a storm. The air around him felt heavier, charged with something dangerous, and for a moment, the room fell silent, the weight of the scene settling over them.
"What happened out there?" Piper quickly approached, her eyes scanning for any injuries on him. Her voice was soft but urgent, as if afraid of what he might say.
Percy forced a fake, tight smile, his voice tired and hollowed. "I'll explain soon. For now, just let me wash up. Shouldn't take long." Without waiting for a response, he walked past the gathering crowd of demigods, ignoring the questions that hung in the air like thick smoke. His footsteps were heavy as he moved toward the bathroom, the weight of exhaustion pulling at him. Once inside, he locked the door behind him and leaned against it for a moment, letting the silence settle. The shower was a relief, its steamy warmth cutting through the chill that had settled deep in his bones.
With a groan, he peeled off his drenched clothes, the gooey substances clinging to his skin. He stepped inside the shower and twisted the knob, allowing the warm water to cascade down his skin and wash away the ichor. Closing his eyes, he leaned his head against the wall, the memory of the battle flashing through his mind. He remembered each strike of his blade, each monster that refused to dissolve into dust, and the unsettling realization that something was very wrong. The thought of what exactly those monsters were and what created them gnawed at him.
As the black ichor swirled down the drain, Percy couldn't help but feel a pang of loss for the simplicity of life before. Before the wars, before Gaea, before all the death. There had always been a sense of something bigger, something darker lurking in the background, but this…this felt different from Gaea or Kronos. He couldn't explain it. Maybe it was because the Gods weren't around or because Annabeth wasn't here. He didn't truly know. All he did know was that he was alone and scared of what was to come.
He leaned against the cool tiles, eyes closed, trying to silence the internal storm. Annabeth's laughter echoed in his mind again, sharp and bittersweet. A pang of longing shot through his heart, causing him to bite the inside of his cheek. How much longer could he bear this? How much longer could he go on before his mind broke or everything he was fighting for came crashing down around him?
The sound of the shower curtain rustling snapped him out of his thoughts. He hadn't heard anyone come in, but the faint shift of movement made him tense. Reaching instinctively for Riptide, he chided himself as he realized the door was still locked and he was alone. He exhaled sharply, irritated with himself for zoning out again for what felt like the umpteenth time. Minutes passed before he reluctantly stepped out of the shower, his body relaxed but his mind still racing.
"Fuck." He muttered lowly, remembering that he had forgotten to bring a towel and an extra set of clothes. Thankfully, drying off was the easy part considering his could just flick his finger and make himself dry. Clothes on the other hand would be a little bit more difficult. Sighing, his eyes drifted to his reflection in the mirror. It seemed like it had been an eternity since he had last seen himself. He couldn't remember the last time he actually did. The reflection that stared back at him was not the Percy Jackson he used to recognize. He could see the weariness in his eyes, the emptiness that had been haunting him for days.
The war, Tartarus, Annabeth, all of it seemed to have done a number on him. Leaning closer to the mirror, he couldn't help but see his mother in his features. She always told him that he had her smile. Attempting to force a smile, hoping that he could get a glimpse of his mother, he realized how foreign it felt. The curve of his lips was unfamiliar, as though he'd forgotten what it was like to smile genuinely. His mom's smile had always been warm and welcoming but what he saw in the mirror wasn't hers. It was empty–shadowed by the weight of everything that had happened to him.
Percy sighed, rubbing a weary hand over his face as he pulled his gaze away from the mirror. He didn't get much time to compose himself before he heard the bathroom door creak open. His eyes widened in shock—he had no time to react before Piper stepped inside, holding a fresh set of clothes in her hands.
She froze the moment she saw him, both of them caught in an awkward, silent stand-off. Percy's gaze darted nervously, unsure of what to do or say, but he could feel the tension in the air thickening.
"Uh... do you come here often?" Percy stammered, attempting to break the silence with a half-hearted, awkward grin.
Piper didn't answer immediately. Her eyes lingered on him, tracing over the muscles, the scars, and... well, other things that Percy desperately wished she hadn't noticed. Her cheeks were flushed a bright red, and Percy's own face turned a deep shade of crimson as he realized what had happened. He cleared his throat, a silent plea to get her attention back to his face.
"I'll, uh... I'll just—uhhh…" She stammered, fumbling for the words as her eyes continued to dart up and down his body. "I'll leave these here."
Without another word, she set the clothes on the counter and dashed out of the bathroom, leaving Percy standing there in the awkward silence she left behind. He let out a low chuckle to himself, shaking his head as he tried to regain some sense of dignity.
"Well, that was mortifying," he muttered under his breath. Not allowing the awkwardness to settle in any longer than necessary, he took a deep breath and began to put on the clothes Piper had unceremoniously dropped on the counter for him. A black T-shirt and dark blue jeans. Once he was finished, he stepped out of the bathroom and found Katie standing there with a flicker of amusement in her eyes. That look told him everything he needed to know. She was the one to unlock the door.
"You good?" She asked lightly, failing to hide the smile.
"Really, Katie?" Percy replied, looking down at her with an exasperated look.
Katie's smile widened and she raised an eyebrow. "Hey, it's not every day we get to experience that," She teased, her tone soft and playful. However, Percy didn't fail to notice the heat in her eyes as she quickly glanced downward, eyeing what Piper saw in all its glory.
"Gods, why is everyone in this fucked up family so horny all the time," Percy muttered as he stepped past the daughter of Demeter.
"H-Hey!" Katie replied indignantly, following close behind. "I'm not horny!"
"Yeah, and I'm not a son of Poseidon!"
Ignoring her quips, he walked into the main room that held a long table and noticed that everyone was already there seemingly awaiting him. Nico stood near a window, looking out over the destroyed city, while Will was going over medical supplies with one of the Stoll brothers.
"Good, you're here." The son of Apollo said, his voice firm. "I just gave Reyna some of the medicine we've managed to scavenge. She's going to make it."
Percy exhaled a sigh of relief, happy that was the case. Sitting down at the head of the table, he noticed Piper sitting on the opposite side, her gaze directed at the tabletop. She felt his gaze on her and briefly looked up to meet his eyes. Her face suddenly exploded into a blush again as she brought her eyes back down to her lap. He sighed to himself, hoping this wouldn't be a recurring theme between the two of them.
"Good to know Reyna's going to be okay," He replied, forcing his attention back to the task at hand. "Now onto the more pressing matters."
"The monsters?" Nico asked, turning away from the window.
"The monsters." Percy nodded.
"I can feel them all around the city," The son of Hades said, closing his eyes. "I can feel the normal monsters and the ones that you faced out there."
"How many?" Katie questioned.
"Too many."
A cold silence fell over the group at that revelation. It wasn't the first time they had been surrounded by hoards of monsters but with their limited numbers and the wounded they had to protect, there wasn't much they could do.
"Great," Connor muttered, rubbing his hands together in frustration. "We've got a city full of monsters and we're all stuck in the middle of it."
"I say we stick with the original plan. Take a couple of trucks and get the hell out of dodge." Travis pitched in, the others seeming to agree with him.
"We only have enough supplies to last us a couple of days though," Will assessed the boxes that were stacked in the corner. "You think that'll be enough to take us where we need to go?" He asked, looking to Percy who was looking down at a map of the east coast.
"No," He sighed, looking up from the map. "That's why we need to stop at camp."
"Are you sure it isn't too risky?" Piper finally spoke up, her eyes meeting his without embarrassment this time. "Camp was destroyed and flooded with monsters when we were too busy fighting Gaea's main force. Is there anything back there worth risking for anyway?"
The son of Poseidon paused, unsure if it was risking their lives for. Piper was right, the place was most likely destroyed. Then again, it might've been their only chance to gather more supplies, weapons, or anything that could help them find a new home.
"It's our best shot." He said, his voice heavy. "We don't have many options left, guys. It's either that or take the trucks and drive off west toward Gods know what."
The group was silent as they contemplated his words. It wasn't until Nico spoke up that they were resolute at the idea of heading back to camp.
"I agree with Percy. It's our only chance. It's the only place where there might be something useful for us there." He glanced at Will.
"Have to agree." Will shrugged, always the optimist. "It's risky, yeah, but the payout could be much greater. If there's any supplies for us there, who knows how long we could survive."
Soon enough, everyone else agreed with the plan, filling the room with tension but anticipation in the air.
"Alright, we leave at first light," Percy said, standing up from his seat. "Get some rest while you can."
After that, everyone began to disperse, muttering in hushed whispers about the day ahead. The son of Poseidon elected to stay behind, going up the window and looking out at the darkening sky that continued to pelt rain. Looking out at the destroyed buildings that loomed like silent sentinels, he couldn't help but be reminded of how this city used to be so vibrant and alive. He didn't know how long he stood there, lost in thought, but it must've been a long time considering the moon was beginning to dip toward the horizon, signaling the beginning of a new day.
"Percy?" A voice broke through the silence.
It was Katie standing a few feet away, watching him closely. It seemed she had just woken up, judging by her bed hair and squinted eyes. She was only wearing a long white T-shirt, her pale legs exposed to the cool night air. The soft glow of moonlight poured through the window, casting a pale light across the room and across her. Percy didn't seem to hear her, continuing to stare out at the horizon lost in the haunting image of the crumbling city.
Kaite cleared her throat, her voice softer than usual as she took a step closer to him. She quickly noticed how muscled and broad his back was. How he towered over her. "Percy…you should get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be tough."
He didn't move at first, still too deep in thought to acknowledge her presence fully. But when a soft, slender hand rubbed the back of his shoulder, it felt like a lifeline had just been thrown his way.
"I know." He said quietly, his voice rough from exhaustion. He finally turned around to face her, his green eyes meeting her hazel eyes.
Katie hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to push or to let it go. She studied him closely, noticing the hollow look in his eyes, the weight of the world pressing down on his shoulders. She couldn't pretend to know exactly how he felt, but she understood loss in a way few others did. Her heart twisted as she thought of how much he was carrying.
"You're not fine, you know." Her words hung in the air, and Percy tensed, not expecting her to say that. He had gotten so used to her and others drifting around the issue that hearing her confront him about it hit harder than he expected. "You're hurting."
Percy let out a low bitter chuckle. "We're all hurting, Katie." His mouth was dry, causing him to lick his lips. He couldn't bring himself to explain just how he was feeling. How could he tell her that every time he closed his eyes, he saw the dead? How could he explain to her that every moment spent alive without Annabeth exhausted him?
Her heart broke for him. She could see the pain in his eyes. He was drowning yet he didn't seem to want to be pulled out. She knew he wasn't ready to let anyone in, especially not this soon, but she couldn't stand seeing him like this. This wasn't the Percy Jackson she had grown up with.
"Percy," she whispered, her hand brushing his arm, "It's okay to not be okay. We're still here. You're still here."
"What if I don't want to be here?" He whispered back, his eyes staring deeply into hers.
Katie felt her eyes water as she felt the raw emotion pour out of him. Cupping his cheek, she brushed her thumb softly against his skin. The touch was hesitant at first, unsure if he'd pull away. But he didn't. He didn't even flinch. For a long moment, neither one of them spoke. It was as if the world had stopped and they were the only two people alive.
"I don't know how to keep going," Percy admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Piper told me to take it one step at a time but I just don't know. I don't know how to be…me, without Annabeth."
Katie's thumb moved slowly along his jawline, a tender motion that almost made him close his eyes. She stepped closer, her presence a comforting weight against the emptiness that seemed to have spread through him like wildfire.
"You don't have to have all the answers right now," she said softly, her voice a calm, steady anchor. "Just... don't shut everyone out. Don't shut me out. We need you, Percy. I need you."
Percy's breath caught at her words, his sea-green eyes locking onto hers. The vulnerability in her voice, the way her hand lingered against his skin, stirred something inside him that he couldn't quite name. He hadn't realized just how much he needed to hear that—how much he needed someone to remind him he wasn't alone, even if he felt like a ghost of himself.
Her hand began to pull away, as though she realized she might have crossed a line, but Percy instinctively caught it, holding it in his own. His grip was firm yet gentle as if grounding himself to the moment. He hadn't felt this type of warmth since Annabeth. The touch of a woman. He had forgotten what it felt like. He had forgotten how addicting it was.
Katie didn't move, didn't look away. Her hazel eyes searched his face, reading the pain and hesitation etched into every feature. And then, so softly it felt like the rain outside might drown it out, she whispered, "Come to bed. Let me help you get some rest."
Percy's throat tightened. He didn't know how to respond to that request. He wanted to but it felt like a betrayal to Annabeth. She had only been dead for a couple of days now. Could he really tarnish the memory of their relationship so suddenly? But he hesitated as he felt the warmth of her hand caresses him. It was so soft, warm, and painfully human–a tether to something real in a world that felt like it was slipping away. His lips parted, the words forming on his tongue before he even understood what they were.
But before he could speak, a door creaked open, and Will's voice called from the hallway. "Hey, Percy. You good?"
They immediately stepped back from one another, giving space. But the moment had already been broken, and both of them felt the weight of what was unspoken between them.
"Yeah," Percy replied, his voice low, but unsteady. "I'm good."
The two of them waited for the door to close and once it did they both let out shaky breaths. Katie glanced at him, silently wondering if they could continue where they had left off but Percy was already broken out of the moment. The daughter of Demeter nodded silently, understanding that things didn't need to be pushed along any further…for now. Her hand lingered by her side as if resisting the urge to reach for him again.
"Goodnight, Katie," Percy whispered, giving her a grin that didn't fully reach his eyes.
"Goodnight, Percy." She replied breathlessly, staring into his eyes one last time before turning, her bare feet padding softly against the cold floor as she disappeared into the dimly lit hallway.
The son of Poseidon sighed as he tried to desperately quell his racing heart. Silently walking over to an old sofa, he immediately dropped down onto it, letting the old leather take him into the realm of Morpheus. It seemed it had only been a few minutes of his eyes being closed when he was softly shaken awake.
Peaking through half-lidded eyes, he noticed Nico standing above him, dressed for the day ahead.
"It's time." The son of Hades said, the dawn's light just beginning to illuminate his face.