So We're Not Joining the Mafia?
To most, Annabeth was as unreadable as a book with small words to dyslexic kids. You'd take one look in those steely grey eyes, and she could be plotting murder for all you knew. Not to me though - over the time I'd got to know her, I'd been able to work out a fool proof guide to cracking the Annabeth code. A twitch of a lip here, a raise of an eyebrow there; I could always tell what was going through her mind.
At that moment, the skill felt more like a curse than a blessing. She was pissed.
Gravel dug into the small of my back as Annabeth's hand gripped the front of my shirt. The ground was damp and scratchy, and an unpleasant cold had begun to seep into my jeans.
"What the hell are you doing?" Annabeth hissed, dropping her hand, letting me flop against the floor.
"Would you believe me if I said I was joining the Mafia?" I said, rubbing dirt off my hands.
She let out an exasperated sigh as I lifted myself up to face her. "Perc-"
"Annabeth wait. I..."
I...what?
What did I want to say to her? That I just wanted an excuse to hit someone? That I needed to prove I wasn't a failure? That this kid represented everyone that died on my watch?
The words hitched in my throat. I realized they were all true.
"I... I need to so this. I need to save him. I can't... I can't let anyone else... I can't..."
I didn't even notice the tears running down my face until I felt arms close around me. Annabeth squeezed my midsection so hard I couldn't breathe. I leant into her, trying to get a handle on all my repressed emotions that had for some reason decided to pick the worst moment to un-repress themselves.
"Percy, it's okay, I-"
"Please Wise Girl, I have to do this. Don't... Don't try and stop me. Please."
"Perc-"
"Please, Annabeth, I-"
"Percy."
She clasped my shoulder with one hand, and gently lifted my chin with the other. Her eyes were full of fiery determination.
"I didn't come here to stop you."
Oh. Oh.
It hit me like a truck that I hadn't considered Annabeth's feelings about this - not really. She always seemed so strong, so calm. I knew she was dealing with the same trauma I was; that she was suffering just like me, but I guess I didn't realize how similar our emotions really were. She needed to help this boy just as much as I did.
"I knew something like this would happen eventually," she said softly, "I... We're demigods Perc. Warriors. Saving people is in our blood. Especially after Gaea... All the stuff you're feeling, I understand it Percy. I understand because I feel it too."
I leant forwards, touching my forehead to hers; clasping her hands in mine. She responded in the traditional manner by thumping me on the chest.
"Hey!"
"Don't think I'm not still mad at you for not telling me."
I let out a laugh at that, "That's fair. I promise I won't make the same mistake again. Now," I held out my hand with a flourish, "Would you do the honours of helping me beat the shit out of some guys?"
Smiling, she took my hand, "I would love to."
I quickly ran through my scraps of a plan, outlining the positions of the guards and the water tower. Annabeth nodded as I finished up.
"Okay, yeah, that all sounds good. Oh, wait!" She reached into the pocket of her hoodie, "I almost forgot." She pulled out two black pieces of cloth and held them out.
"They're your mom's neck scarfs. I thought we could use them as masks. You know, so we don't get arrested."
I smiled. She really did think of everything. As I went to take one, she reached back slightly.
I sent her a quizzical look, "You okay?"
She swallowed, running her free hand through a lock of blonde hair, "Yeah. I just... Last chance to back out now. You sure you want to go through with this?"
I could hear the doubt in her voice - I felt it too. But I knew that backing down now wasn't an option.
"What, you getting cold feet?"
Annabeth smirked, "Absolutely not." She tied one of the scarfs around her lower face, and handed one to me to do the same.
"Let's go."