There's a small voice in the back of his mind that points out that this is pretty much pathetic, and Percy just sort of lets that wash over him. There's no energy in him right now to fight that off.

Annabeth's arm comes around him, and he doesn't even need her to deny it, to tell him that everything will be okay. He just needs that, her presence, the confirmation that even though he's an idiot and possibly the worst person in the world, she's still there with him. He just kind of sags against her, into her, squeezing his eyes shut.

"I'm sorry," he says softly, and it's definitely clear he's still crying. "I didn't mean to take it out on you, I didn't mean--" to tell you. He just shakes his head mutely, not wanting to get into that again. "Annabeth, the last thing I want is to hurt you."

That's the crux of the matter, the reason why he's struggled with this for so long. The only option for not hurting her was keeping it all from her.