Hardest Story that I've Ever Told ((TRIANGLE))

[Ψ ADMIN SUSHI Ψ]

((continued from nothing will ever be the same))

Percy began to jiggle his leg up and down out of nerves. He had never been so paranoid and doubtful before and he wasn’t sure why it was starting now. After the Battle of Manhattan Percy had forgiven Luke for all he did. He knew that there were many campers who still didn’t and he had even stuck up for Luke after the Battle. Why, now that Luke was back, was Percy playing the paranoid selfish protectively jealous boyfriend? He hated hormones and growing up. Annabeth was with him and only loved Luke as a brother. She said so herself. Wake up Seaweed Brain, he though, she digs you not the blue eyed blond.

His thoughts swam around in his head hardly making sense at all. He went over everything at the lighthouse. Percy cursed himself silently, he could have done more to help and he probably could have saved Riley. Dwelling on the “what if’s” wasn’t the way to go. Percy sighed and shut his eyes tight. He attempted to block out everything.

I will break you.

Percy’s eyes shot open. The rogue voice inside of his head was all too familiar. With out a doubt the eerie menacing voice was Phobos. Anger accompanied by fear built up inside of Percy as he thought about Phobos penetrating his mind. Percy hadn’t been asleep just now and he still heard Phobos’ voice clear as day. He knew it wasn’t a memory it was honest to Gods Phobos.

Another voice rang in Percy’s ears that jarred him from the previous moment. It was Annabeth. He turned to look at her for a second but faced forward again. He wanted to take Annabeth and just hold her but something held him back. This wasn’t normal or right. Percy would have given anything to just stand up and hold Annabeth, but he just couldn’t do it. He hardly glanced at her as she sat down beside him. Percy folded his hands on his lap and gave a small sigh.

“I thought you’d still be by Luke’s side. I mean, he’s alive aren’t you just the least bit excited?” His tone was dripping with jealousy and bitterness. It was so thick even Percy noticed. He swallowed and his face softened a little. “Sorry.”

He sat there in silence for a moment wondering if he should tell Annabeth about what had just happened. There was a time before this quest that he could tell her anything at anytime. Percy decided it was time to just suck it up and turn and kiss Annabeth and just apologize for everything and for being a complete and utter Seaweed Brain. Just as he turned to Annabeth with a look of determination the voice spoke clear as day inside of his head again. It sudden noise caused Percy to shudder.

She is lying to you. Her feelings are with Luke. They always have been.

For some unknown reason Percy believed what Phobos was saying. His eyes hardened and narrowed on Annabeth’s face and his blood began to boil. He licked his lips and he glared at Annabeth.

“If you want to help just go away. We both know you’d rather be with Luke. I was doing just fine out here by myself, thanks Owl Head.” Percy stood up and walked to the bottom of the steps. He was ready to head back to the cabin but he stopped himself. He thought back to what he had just said and was in shock he actually said it. Percy turned to face Annabeth no readable expression on his face. He wasn’t sure what emotion to portray at the moment, anger, confusion, or regret. Percy merely stood there staring at Annabeth in the aftermath of a terrible mistake.

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"Can you believe it?!"" I dont know, maybe it is some kind of trick. You dont usually get to come back from the dead.." "Do you think he will work for Phobos like he did Kronos? "Probably." This was the first conversation that registered in the Son of Hermes mind as he started to regain consciousness again. His bright blue eyes shot open rather quickly and he heard a small scream beside him. He looked up and saw a healer who had been looking him over staring at him. Did he seriously scare some people around here so much...? Though when he really thought about it, he would be jumpy around him too if he had been here during the time Kronos was trying to rule. He looked at the two healers as they started to come into focus, once he could see them clearly he sat up though possibly a little to fast because it made his head spin.

" Um...Hi could you two stop looking at me like that? I'm not going to try and destroy you all or anything.." He said as he looked at both of the healers, he really wasn't in the mood to deal with them right now. They looked at him like he was crazy for a moment but then nodded, forcing themselves to look normally again."You should layback down.. so we can look you over." One said but Luke shook his head." How about I don't and say I did? I'm fine really...I'm not dead so that is definitely a general improvement." Before they could argue he did his best to get to his feet without swaying. Last thing he wanted to do was to give them a reason to keep him there, he wanted to find Annabeth, Percy and The Russian to make sure they where all alright.

As he walked down the row of cots he found the one with The Russian, a healer was looking him over and a blonde was sitting by his side. " He going to be alright?" The healer nodded " Yes, but you may want to close the door on your way out, we have to reset some ribs." Luke winced inwardly and nodded as he headed out of the big house, closing the door on his way out. Though he still heard a muffled yell of pain and he couldn't keep a wave of guilt from falling over him. Should he of helped figure out a different way for them to get home? Some way that wouldn't of hurt Nick as much? But no.. they had needed to get him back quickly and if they had taken the long way home they would have had trouble taking Riley home. Riley...Gods what had that kid been thinking? He could still see his cold and pale face as he carried him from the lighthouse, and what about Sami? Who was going to tell her that her brother wasn't coming home, and that it was all Luke's fault..

Luke reached the porch just in time to hear the last thing to come out of Percy's mouth, and right away he felt his blood boil and his fists clench. However he kept his cool, for now.." There is no need for name calling Percy." He said threw gritted teeth as he walked up from behind Annabeth to take a place beside her." If Annabeth had wanted to be with me she would of wouldn't she? But she came out here to check on you, cause she cares." He said before looking at Annabeth out of the corner of his eye, right now all he wanted to do was hug her close and tell her that everything was going to be okay. Just it seemed their official reunion would still have to wait a little while, however Luke had been waiting for it for almost eight years...he could wait for her a little while longer.

[Annabeth Chase]

Annabeth didn’t find it very reassuring when Percy only managed a glance at her. He didn’t even look at her when she sat down right next to him. Her heart sank. And then he spoke. She winced internally at the tone of his voice, so horrible bitter and hateful. His apology didn’t even sound completely true, though he at least looked a little sorry for having said it, so she had to give him some credit. “It’s alright… It’s going to take a lot of getting used to on all of our parts…” she said softly, then finally allowed her gaze to drift to the ground at the bottom of the steps.

A little purple flower, some sort of weed, was blooming just at the base of the stairs and for a moment she watched it. It seemed so out of place, so innocent and cheerful, reaching up to the warm sunshine. Even though it stood alone in the rough terrain of the gravelly dry dirt, it was beautiful that it could survive and flourish against the odds.

Annabeth looked up when she saw Percy look to her out of the corner of her eye and for a minute it seemed things were starting to head back to normal. And then everything went wrong. It seemed completely out of the blue that Percy should suddenly look at her like some horrible hateful creature that had just insulted him. It was his words, though, that stung the worst. She was speechless for longer than she could guess, a chill running down her spine. He was happier without her here? Finally, she found her voice, but it was meek and timid, “Percy…” On a normal day, she would have been disgusted with herself for sounding so weak, but this wasn’t any sort of normal day. She was still trying to take in what he had just said. And when he turned to look at her, completely blank, she almost cried.

The only thing that pulled her out of it was a voice behind her: Luke. She couldn’t take her eyes of Percy though, just willing him to show some emotion on that blank face. Anything. Preferably something that boded well for her, like an apology, and that he didn’t mean it and that he loved her. But anything. The fact that he didn’t even look like he cared at all was the worst.

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[Ψ ADMIN SUSHI Ψ]

Percy had no idea why he just said those awful things. He certainly didn’t mean it, did he? He closed his eyes and tried to think but there was distant laughter in his head. There was something wrong and Percy knew he had to tell Annabeth, she would know that this wasn’t him. Right?

Face it Percy, you’ve just lost faith in Annabeth. And Luke is cause of it all. You’re better off without them there.

He barely heard Annabeth’s voice but Luke’s rang out louder. His eyes shot open. Percy glared at Luke his jaw set. He shifted on his feet and scoffed, it was unbelievable at how Luke was already butting into a conversation where his advice wasn’t asked. He was listening and hanging on every word that Phobos was saying as if they were his own thoughts. A part of Percy knew not to listen but that part was miniscule compared to the other.

“You think she’d still be with me if you hadn’t died?” Percy spat. He had never been so angry before and such hateful words had never left his mouth. He felt the way he did whenever Ares was around. He wanted to punch Luke right in his newly resurrected face. He continued to talk as if Annabeth wasn’t there. “I watched her heart break because of you and what you did. And that day in the throne room of Olympus I saw it all. I denied it but I know what I saw. You love her Luke and not as a sister. And had you survived I doubt she would be with me. I was second best compared to you I always was. I was a fall back because she didn’t have the guts to say something to you.”

Percy took a deep breath his face was beat red. He had no idea where that temper came from. Sure he had thought about that in the back of his mind but it never honestly bothered him to the point where he would shout it all at Luke. His expression softened to confusion. There was a dazed look in his eye for a moment. Fight it Perce. He thought, don’t let Phobos get to you. Percy looked over to Annabeth his eyes full of remorse. “Annabeth, I’m sorry.” He said, his voice was hollow and dry.

You’ll fail them all. You failed to keep a hold of Annabeth.

Percy closed his eyes and rubbed his temples for a moment. Man, did Phobos love the sound of his own voice. The God of Fear needed to have his tongue cut off and shoved down his throat. If he had to listen to him speak one more time and continue saying the things he was saying Percy was going to lose it. It was driving him crazy. He looked back to Luke, “Why are you back Luke? You should be dead and that Riley kid should still be alive!” There he said it. Another terrible thing that was running around in his mind and didn’t need to be said. After Percy said that he stared at Luke almost shocked at his own words.

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Luke didn't really take it to heart that Annabeth's attention was mostly on Percy, he couldn't blame her. However as he looked at her face and saw that she was easily on the verge of tears. He found that his hold on his temper was wearing a little thin, what the hell was Jackson's problem? Annabeth hadn't done anything to him, he could see that in the confusion in her eyes. He also couldn't see her doing anything to deserve this kind of treatment, he knew how much Percy meant to her. She had chosen him after all, right? Like he had read his mind, Percy's words hit like a smack across the back of the head.

He couldn't keep his eyes from darting to the girl next to him for a moment, expecting her to give him a look that confirmed his thoughts. Jackson had lost his mind. Of course she would of still chosen him if Luke had lived, after all the crap he had put her threw. Not to mention she only loved him as a brother, the look in her eyes and her words when she said it would be forever etched in his mind threw this life and the next."..Of course she would be with you, dont be insane. She chose you Percy, look at her face and tell me she doesn't want to be with you. If you can't see that she does....Maybe you don't know her as well as you thought." He really wanted Percy to just get a grip, he hated that he was upsetting Annabeth. Well, 99.99% of him wanted him too, the other really small, selfish part of him wanted Percy to make the biggest mistake he could and ruin things with Anna so he could try and show her how he did feel. Just he wasn't going to listen to that part, he was going to do all he could to knock some sense into the son of Poseidon.

However when Percy brought up how much he himself had hurt Annabeth with what happen with Kronos it felt like he had stabbed him inside with a knife, but he tried to keep his face neutral. Except Jackson decided to twist the knife while he was at it. You love her Luke and not as a sister

What really sucked, was the fish was right. He did love her, had since before he had even joined Kronos. Not that he knew it then of course. Just he knew now, by the gods did he know." Didn't have the guts? She told me how she felt that day. She chose you! " He then gave Annabeth a look for a second that pretty much said Didn't you? Great! Now even Jackson was messing with his mind. What was the world coming too?! His shoulders, which he hadn't even noticed tense up lessened a little when he heard Percy apologize to Annabeth. However his relaxation didn't last long, when Percy looked back at him Luke snapped. Mostly because he had been wondering the exact same thing since he had been brought back. He stepped off the porch and walked forward until he was standing right in front of Percy, the fact that he was around five inches taller then the other demi god allot more obvious now." You don't think I have been wondering that since that bad excuse for a god brought me back?! I had absolutely no plans on being brought back! Especially at the cost of another one's life. Believe it or not, I'm not the same guy who you fought for all those years. I wouldn't have someone else pay for my mistakes! Would sending me back to the underworld make you feel better? Because it wont bring Riley back, trust me I've thought about it, but if it will keep you from being an ass to the best thing that has happened to you go right ahead!" He said as he opened his arms, staring Percy down. Not really expecting him to do it, but if he did, it would suck though he probably deserved it...But he just hoped what he said would snap him out of it.

[Annabeth Chase]

If it weren’t for the special circumstances, Annabeth would have been really annoyed at being treated like she wasn’t there. Not one of the things she was terribly fond of whenever it did happen, and usually ended up with the culprit learning quite quickly and quite definitely that she was not pleased, to say the least. But, again, this was not a normal situation. This was a nightmare. A living, breathing, nightmare. She thought what Phobos had shown her was bad: the thought of losing everything and everyone she cared about, especially Percy. But now, she was being reminded the hard way that death was not the only way to lose someone. She felt like she was losing Percy right now.

She tried to ignore the fact that Luke was acting the same way. That Percy was doing it was bad enough, but Luke too? But she was paying more attention to what was being said. And what she was hearing just didn’t seem real. That Percy would say such things… how long had he kept all this inside? She thought they could talk to each other about anything. So much for that idea.

“Percy, stop it…” But her voice died in her throat when he continued. How would he know if Luke loved her? She glanced at Luke as if to ask if it was really true. For so long, she’d guessed he didn’t really care much at all, even as a friend, considering all the stuff that had happened (seriously, who leaves their friend, much less someone they love, alone to hold up the blasted sky, for one). But was it possible that Percy had seen something she had just given up looking for? Her attention snapped back to Percy when he went on. He honestly thought he was second best? He sounded honest, at least. This was getting way too far. “Percy, stop it! That’s not true!”

Finally he seemed to notice she was there, and his eyes spoke his apology so much more earnestly than his voice. Nothing was making sense anymore. It was like part of him was sorry, but part really didn’t care that he was crushing her with every word. He sounded like he truly meant everything he was saying, every horrible little thing. Everything except what her Percy would say.

Annabeth was horribly tempted to reach out to hold him when he rubbed his temples. It was like he was in pain, something she never could stand to see. But then he ruined any feelings of sympathy with his outburst. She was nothing short of stunned he would even suggest that Luke should be dead. Sure, it wasn’t really natural, what had happened, and Riley’s death was unfortunate, but that comment was completely uncalled-for. Luke seemed to think so too.

She watched, not sure what to do, as Luke towered over Percy and, in no uncertain terms, shared his opinion on the matter. But then he took it too far. She stood up in one swift movement and jumped the last couple steps, pushing herself between Luke and Percy. “Both of you, stop it right now!” She didn’t even notice the tears that had found their way down her cheeks. This couldn’t be happening. She would not let this get any worse, as if things weren’t going badly enough.

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Percy’s head was starting to feel like it was going to split right down the center. It was like he was Zeus and he was about to give brith to Athena. How weird would that have been? Also disturbing, it would have made Annabeth his grandchild. He shuddered at the thought. His ADHD took him away from the situation for a moment in time but with Luke practically shouting back at him it was hard to stay away. He avoided making eye contact with Annabeth hearing her pleas hurt him and as before he wanted to go over and take her back into the Lake, where they shared their first underwater kiss. His head throbbed and Luke’s words were making everything worse.

He massaged his temples his face tightening with pain. Phobos was laughing inside his head and there were frequent images that replayed his fear of Camp Half-Blood burning and all of his friends begging for his help. He glared as Luke through the haze; everything he was saying was starting to jumble together. Then Luke snapped. Like Percy had just flipped the crazy switch on Luke from the off position.

As Luke approached him Percy did his best to puff out his tiny chest. Even after all the training he had done since coming to camp, Percy still found himself the most scrawny invincible demigod in the history of ever. For a second Percy was afraid of Luke, after all the guy had a good five inches on him easy. Plus, Luke was buff and could probably kill him three times before he hit the ground, with nothing but a rubber band and a post-it note. Percy had bathed in Styx, not the most pleasant bath in his life, and had come out invincible. While Luke was intimidating it was reassuring that Luke couldn’t kill him. He swallowed and tilted his head back keeping his tiny chest puffed out, his shoulder drawn back in an attempt to make himself as tall as possible short of standing on his toes.

Percy only said the last jab at Luke because of Phobos floating around in his cranium. Of course Percy was too terrified to say anything about that. He just ignored the God’s laughter and it soon died. It was all Percy now, but there was a still anger in him. Pent of rage and aggression toward the half blood who had caused Annabeth so much pain and torment years ago was staring him down, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. He had wanted to take out his anger on Luke in past for many reasons. Almost destroying the world, almost killing him a number of times, the deaths of so many demigods but most of all breaking that promise to Annabeth.

Percy didn’t even feel his hands clench into fists or the fact that his nails dug hard into his palm that he might have broken skin if he was a normal half-blood. Percy didn’t want to hear that Luke was a self claimed, “different guy”. No. Right now Luke was harboring Kronos, at least in Percy’s mind and this was his chance. He didn’t reach for Riptide safely nestled in his pocket. Instead Percy drew back his right fist and let it fly at Luke’s jaw.

In hind sight hitting Luke probably wasn’t the greatest idea Percy had ever had. He looked over to Annabeth and shook out his hand, he saw her tears and there was a twisting feeling in his gut. He realized in that moment that the reason he had hit Luke was all screwed up and backwards. He hit Luke because of how he had hurt Annabeth, it wasn’t for loving Annabeth as Percy had accused him. Ironically Percy was now hurting Annabeth with everything he was saying and doing. He almost regretted punching Luke. Almost. Percy felt a little better but it wasn’t that he hit Luke it was that he hit something. He could have punched anything and felt good about it at this moment.

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If his self control hadn't been slowly getting smaller and smaller since he had taken his first breath back at the light house, Luke may have noticed the fact that Percy holding his temples seemed a bit odd. Or the fact that when he rounded on him he puffed out his chest and did his best to look bigger was pretty amusing. Though he knew he could hurt Percy, he was pretty close to trying. It was one thing to accuse him of something, he probably deserved most of it. It was his fault Riley was dead, he had no business being alive when his brother wasn't. He knew that, even if he didn't enjoy having it rubbed in his face he knew that.

Just standing there and taking all of this out on Annabeth was just not cool. He was going on about how much he had hurt Annabeth in the past, but there Percy stood saying things that Luke could tell where tearing her up inside. Not to mention the fact that nothing he was saying about her could be true, she loved Percy not him. She chose Percy....not him, because he was the monster that nearly helped destroy the world. Even if Annabeth had said that all was forgiven, did that heal the scars that he had left? Unfortunately, he doubted it.

He tried his best to convince Percy that he was off his rocker, that the stress was getting to him and that he was saying stuff that he would regret later. Okay he probably could of said it better, but he wasn't exactly thinking straight either. He didn't even try to dodge when he say the smaller boys fist coming right for him, it connected with his face and his head went back and it caused him to bite his lip.

Luke lifted his head again, one hand on the hilt of the dagger that was in his belt out of reflex. He had not intention on using it, and the other touching his lip where a few drops of blood where visible. He looked at the blood on his finger tips for a moment. He would have to get used to bleeding again...He was about to say something to the son of Poseidon when Annabeth got between them and he looked into her eyes. When he saw the tears that where there he felt like he had been punched in the gut." Anna, I'm sorry.." He rarely had actually ever called her Annabeth before he left, it was Anna." Maybe I should just go, I seem to be doing more harm than good..." Hell, Percy was right on one thing. Luke wasn't even supposed to be alive! let alone standing there. Right now all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and tell her it was all going to be fine, like part of him had been wanting to do for six years now. Just he doubted him hugging her would sooth the angry green monster in Jacksons chest any.

[Annabeth Chase]

And that was when all Hades broke loose. Annabeth let out a gasp and stepped back just in time that she was able to get out of the way of Percy’s haphazard punch. Sure, she knew Percy wasn’t himself right now, but to start a fight? That is, without Ares around. “Percy! Get a hold of yourself!” When he looked at her, she could hardly read his expression - something she usually wasn’t too bad at doing - at all. But, to her great fear when she realized it, she didn’t fully care what his expression said anymore. He’s told her so many hollow apologies during this lame excuse for a conversation; they didn’t mean anything when he said them, and she was starting to wonder what of the few more Percy-like things he said had any meaning either. Probably none. It seemed like the Percy she knew and loved was getting buried under gods only knew what and this cruel, jealous person was coming out instead.

She looked to Luke instead. At least he was a bit more predictable, honest. And hurt. “Luke, are you alright?” She was about to continue, to tell him he had nothing to be sorry for, that this wasn’t his fault, when he went on and she stopped short. “…Go? Luke, this isn’t your fault that Percy,” she jerked her head towards her recently bipolar boyfriend, “is being a jerk.” She rounded on Percy. “And you need to chill out, though I doubt it matters what I say because you seem to enjoy twisting every word into whatever you want to hear, and it’s always against me recently.”

This was miserable. Part of her just wanted to walk away and end it, but she knew she couldn’t. If she was nothing more, she was loyal to her friends. She just needed one heck of a plan to sort this one out. Honestly, if love was a battlefield like they often said it was, why was she having so much trouble with it?

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Percy flexed his hand. He may have been invincible but it didn’t mean he couldn’t feel pain. It was stupid to hit Luke. Percy saw that now. Annabeth looked more hurt than Luke, and he was the one with the bloody lip. Even Percy knew he had acted out of line but still Phobos laughed away inside of his head. Percy felt his jaw quiver and tears of frustration began to well up behind his eyes. No. He wasn’t going to lose it here. He swallowed and fought back the tears but looking at Annabeth almost brought them to the surface again.

Luke’s apology caught Percy off guard. What did he have to be sorry for? Sorry that Percy punched him? Was he apologizing on Percy’s behalf?

Luke is playing himself to be the victim. But really, he is the cause of this. He’s turning Annabeth against you.

Holy Hades did Phobos like to hear himself talk. Percy rubbed his temples again and shook his head. “Just shut up already.” He mumbled. Percy took a deep breath and looked to Annabeth hoping she would prove Phobos wrong. But her words cut like ice. They reaffirmed what the god of Fear was saying. In what crazy half-baked world was Phobos right about something? Percy’s head began to throb.

He couldn’t take standing here any longer. He needed to lay down and just mull things over. Percy refused to believe the voices inside his head. Oh Gods, he was one fruit loop shy of a full bowl wasn’t he? Phobos was driving him insane. If Percy played into the fear he would only be giving that psychotic Napoleon complex D-list demigod what he wanted. He needed to further himself from Annabeth and Luke. He didn’t want to chance hurting Annabeth even more than he already had. Percy turned without a word and began to walk away.

Oh no you don’t. Look at them Jackson. She stood up for Luke after all he did. Are you going to stand for that?

He couldn’t take the voice any longer. Percy jerked his head back over his shoulder as if the God was standing there. “Just go away and leave me alone!” Percy blinked and the laughed died completely. He was starring at Annabeth and Luke. He scoffed and scratched his neck. “If you want me I’ll be in cabin three.” He grumbled and sauntered off.

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Lukes crystal blue eyes had fire behind them as he stared at Percy, what the hell was wrong with this guy? Yeah they didn’t really have any serious guy bonding time over the years but Luke was pretty sure that this was not normal for the son of Poseidon. Where did he get off going at them both like this? Especially Annabeth. Though in the back of his mind he kept telling himself that he deserved anything Percy could throw at him.

He wasn’t pulled out of his thoughts until he heard Annabeth talking to him. He looked down at her, putting on a fake smile that he hoped would be a little reassuring.” Yeah Anna, I’m alright…. I’ve had worse.” He said as he reached up and touched his lip, but then winced a little. He hadn’t really expected it to hurt, he also wasn’t used to physical pain again yet. Though he doubted it would be long before he regained his old resistance to it. However when he suggested he go, he found himself rethinking it the moment he saw that look in her eyes.” I know but….It is kind of easy to see-“ He was about to say that it was easy to see that he was the main reason Percy seemed to be freaking out on her but that was when she rounded on her boyfriend. Standing up for them both..

If it wasn’t such a serious moment, Luke may of actually taken the time to realize how beautiful, and scary Annabeth was when she was mad. Just this was defiantly not the time to think on that, he was her ex dead best friend and that would all he would be in her eyes. This whole Hades of a conversation only seemed to prove that to him.

Percy’s outburst that they should go away and leave him alone even made him blink in surprise for a moment. Maybe if he left and got to get his head together he would come back and apologize to his girlfriend. At least Luke hoped that was what would happen, most of him did…When he stalked off, the tall blond quickly grabbed onto his friends arm gently, expecting her to go after him.” Let him clear his head, this is probably just all the stress getting to him….With time he will be back telling you what an idiot he was.” He said with a weak, bloody smile. Hoping that he was helping her feel better at least a little. Though in the back of his mind he was wondering what the heck was he standing up for a guy who had just decked him one? Because you’re a decent guy? And possibly more of an idiot than him. A little voice in his head said.

[Annabeth Chase]

Well, Hades was about to get a new hand basket, it seemed, chock full of everything going on right now. Things certainly weren’t getting better. Though, looking back on her words, Annabeth wasn’t really sure if she should have expected anything else. She’d spoken out of anger and was already feeling a bit bad for it. She nodded absently when what Luke said registered finally. He was fine. That much was good, right? She’d be hard-pressed to find something else to call ‘good’ right now though. Luckily for her she didn’t catch what Percy had mumbled.

Unfortunately, Percy turning and walking away was much harder to miss. “Percy, wait! I’m sorry…” she called after him. He didn’t stop. She didn’t even know if he heard. Though for a brief second he started to look back and she thought maybe he had. Maybe he would come back, listen, apologize for real and forgive her words. Then he spoke. And she could almost feel another piece of her heart ripped away.

The ignoring stung horribly, but she could deal with it. At least he was there. And he had grudgingly shown signs that he knew she was there now and again. The insults burned like coals, but she could survive them. Him walking away, shouting at her to go away and leave him alone? She watched him, as he made his way back to his cabin like it didn’t hurt him at all. Maybe this was a downfall of an invulnerable boyfriend: he didn’t realize, or care, how bad this was hurting her. Because, for all show, it wasn’t hurting him at all.

She vaguely felt someone grab hold of her arm and remembered that Luke was there. As surreptitiously as possible, which wasn’t much, she wiped away the fresh tears that had only just escaped before she turned to look at him. His words sounded nice, sounded like what she wanted to believe. But with how Percy had been acting, she wasn’t so sure. And that was the hardest part. She held back a wince at the blood that tainted Luke’s usual smile, and the obvious signs that this was getting to him too. She nodded though. She couldn’t let him know that his efforts where virtually useless. He was trying, and that was what mattered.

Word Count: 404
Song: Tears of an Angel