(no subject)

[kelpful]

Characters: Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase
Date: Throughout August
Location: Various
Situation: Catchall log for these two dummies
Warnings/Rating: N/A for now

Comments

[kelpful]

"No." He just shakes his head as she keeps blaming herself, like every fibre of his being is just denying what she's saying. He doesn't believe that. He can't; it's just not in him. "Arachne wrecked that cavern. And she dragged you in after her."

We're going to get through this, he wants to say, but the words stick in his throat. It's taken six months, but even Percy has reached the point where he doesn't know if they will, where he can't say it because he doesn't know if it's true.

It's such a small, simple faith. Something that's always seemed like the most obvious thing in the world to him. Losing it shouldn't feel like having the ground ripped from underneath him, like falling over again.

But the words just won't come. He chokes on a sob and kisses her, brief and messy and desperate. "I love you. So much, I love you so much."

It's all he can offer her, right now.

[sophos]

"Because of me!" Her voice raises a little when she says it. She's not sure if it's better or worse that he won't acknowledge or see it himself. "Percy, I had her." There were so many things she could have done differently, but she hadn't, and Arachne pulled her down because of it.

Annabeth clings to him, shaking as she sobs against him. Tartarus crawls and creeps through them both, even when they don't realize it. It's been months since she saw it, since Percy experienced it, and they can't do anything about it as long as they're stuck here with more and more time stretching between it. The pressure of it won't stop building up.

And right now, she sort of feels like collapsing with it. She's pretty sure he does, too. No amount of optimism feels like it'll work.

She kisses him back, the same way, choking on her words. "I love you, too." And then she kisses him again, roughly, desperately, lingering a little longer with a salty taste and the need to just be close. "I love you, Percy," and there's so much in the words, gratitude, fear, hurt, absolute love itself. It's the only thing she knows for sure right now: how much she loves him and how much he loves her.

[kelpful]

"No." It comes out forcefully this time, but it's all he can say against her right now. He wasted all his words getting mad at the gods, the only thing left in him to do is to deny what she's saying.

Percy hands move from her shoulders to her waist, and when he moves so his back is against the wall again, he brings her with him, tugging her into his lap as he kisses her back a little harder, needier. Both arms wrap tightly around her, and even if he's shaking, it's pretty clear he's not about to let her go any time soon. "I'm not leaving you." And maybe that's part of the problem, but right now it's the only solution. "We just have to stay together, okay?"

[sophos]

Annabeth wants and needs to believe him, but she can't. He must know, deep down, but he's being so Percy over it. She opens her mouth to argue again, but she can't do that either. Her energy is gone and she's too tired to be stubborn anymore, too tired to argue. Letting it slide for now won't do any favors in the long run, but she can't; she's not agreeing with him, at least.

He shifts, pulling her towards him, and she doesn't fight against it; she pulls herself closer as he kisses her, and she returns it, just as needy, if not a little moreso.

"Okay," she replies, hoarsely and appreciatively as the word catches. As long as we're together. And she lets herself get caught up in the selfishness of it, because if she doesn't, she really will fall apart. "We will. Together."

It's their mantra, and as much as it's hurting them, they need it all the same. He has no intention of letting her go, but she has no intention of letting him.