Sleepless Nights | Annabeth | Completed

[PERCY JACKSON]

annabeth chase

It was strange to go to school and be in charge of everything himself. For so many years in the public school system he had done what other people had told him to do and now ... he got to choose if he went to class or skipped all of them or did his homework. He got to pick everything. Which was awesome.  Except for when it meant he didn't get to see Annabeth until after his and her classes were over. Since they both occured at the same time, he may as well go so he had something to do to pass the time. 

The moment his class was over he ran to the architecture building, he really needed to see her. He had had another dream last night, and it had not been a pleasant one. Now when he thought about it he could only recall the intense anger he had felt at Annabeth. Since he had never felt that in real life, it wasn't difficult to remember why. In his dream Annabeth had accused him of ridiculous things, insulted his mother, and then, to add injury to insult (literally) she tried to kill him, and so, in his anger, he had killed her first. That was what had woken him up. 

He waited anxiously outside of the building, tapping a foot as he leaned against one of the pillars. 

[annabeth chase]

Annabeth wasn't expecting to see Percy today. Not at all. They hadn't seen each other for two days now and why? Because they kept having horrible dreams about killing each other. Or at least trying to kill each other. Annabeth could only get a chance at sleeping well if she stayed away from him. It was hard, though, because she knew it was just someone messing with them... she couldn't afford to lose sleep right now, though! Neither of them could. They would figure this out though, hopefully.


Still, when she stepped outside of the archaeology building, she saw him standing there waiting- tapping his foot on the ground. She approached him, clasping the bag strap on her shoulder tightly. "Hey," she said, hesitating a moment before leaning forward and gently kissing his cheek. "It's good to see you," she said.


PERCY JACKSON

[PERCY JACKSON]

annabeth chase

She came out of the building looking well rested and gorgeous. And he felt that anger well up inside him. He ignored it, he wasn't really mad at Annabeth, just dream Annabeth. This one, this was the one he loved, the girl he would do anything for. So when she leaned up and kissed his cheek he wrapped one arm around her and pulled her into a hug.

But it didn't last long. He pulled away and looked at her, trying to separate Annabeth from his dream. His brain was having trouble processing that.

"I missed you." he told her, and that was true. He did miss her, all he wanted to do was to be with her, to just sit next to her while she read a book, to throw noodles at her to test if they were done. The simple stuff. But when he spent time with her, the dreams got worse. Well his dreams were always bad, but she said hers got better when she didn't spend time with him. Okay, she didn't say that but he could tell she slept better, he could tell as he looked at her now. A small piece of his heart deflated, how long was thing going to last?

[annabeth chase]

As he wrapped his arm around her Annabeth leaned into it, hoping that she could stay there. She knew she couldn't though and that was proved when Percy pulled back."I miss you too," she said, taking a step back to give them just a little bit more space. This was pathetic, in all honestly. The way that they were avoiding each other and unable to stay in contact for very long. It made Annabeth feel sick to her stomach. "So, why are you here?" he hadn't been there to meet her outside in... well, it had felt like forever. Maybe he had finally figured out how to put a stop to all this? The thought had her eyes widening for a brief second, the hope shining in them that he would be able to see. "Any news?"

PERCY JACKSON

[PERCY JACKSON]

annabeth chase

Percy smiled at her, but it wasn't his normal smile. He couldn't keep his thoughts from turning back to his nightmares. So when he and Annabeth's eyes met... He looked away.

"I missed you." he muttered. That was the truth. He had missed her. His memory dredged up another dream where Annabeth looked the same, but had been cruel and evil.

But that wasn't Annabeth. He knew Annabeth, knew her well. She wouldn't do that. And he wouldn't treat her like she would. Not anymore.

He turned back to her. And kissed her. " Annabeth, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I have been avoiding you. I'm sorry that everything is so confusing. I'm sorry." he hugged her tightly, but this time, he didn't let go.

[annabeth chase]

He missed her. She knew that. But could she trust herself with him? Could she trust him? Hadn’t they always promised they’d be together? Then what were they doing now? Apart? It felt wrong. It all felt wrong. As he kissed her and pulled her close she felt that familiar sob catching in her throat. She buried her face in his shoulder, holding her tightly to him. ”We have to fix this,” she muttered into the fabric before pulling back enough to attempt speaking clearly. ”We’re supposed to be solving this together, Percy. What are we doing?” she was talking quietly but loud enough that he would be able to hear her. She felt that sob in her throat wanting to escape and buried her face back into his shoulder.

PERCY JACKSON

[PERCY JACKSON]

annabeth chase

They were supposed to be together. Wasn't that what they had promised and done through everything before this? What made this different?

The dreams.

Something about the dreams was eating away at them. Percy could feel it inside, like he wasn't quite himself. When Annabeth buried her head in his shoulder again he held her tighter and pressed his face into the crook of her neck. Holding Annabeth could possibly one of his favorite things, next to blue candy. But these last three days he had realized how much he wanted and needed her in his life. He needed to know that she was going to be there for him, but more than that... he needed to know that he was going to be there for her.

"We're together now." he breathed. His own feelings mirrored her worry and concern. But those really never got anyone anywhere. "So all we have to do now is solve this before bed and we're golden." he teased gently.

[annabeth chase]

We’re together now. She nodded at theses words she tightened her grip on him. Then he teased that they had to solve this before bedtime and she laughed, pulling back a little in order to look at his face. ”So we have… eight hours about?” she gave him a skeptical look before smiling at him. ”It may take a bit longer than that,” she said.

Then her face become serious again, ”but really, where do we even start? I mean, Hynpos is a good place... “ she often came up with ideas while talking out loud and Percy was generally the best sounding board. ”Maybe we should go to Camp Half Blood but… when is the next moon cycle so the path opens?” as an ambassador, it was Percys job to know that.

PERCY JACKSON

[PERCY JACKSON]

annabeth chase

Percy breathed in the sent of Annabeth, holding her tightly as if letting go of her would break whatever tenuous hold they had on each other in this moment. She started talking about how to investigate this, he loved when she did that. He was her favorite sounding board, mostly because he loved to listen to her talk, so he didn't say things. Unless it was important.

"Actually, it opens up tomorrow night. And I have to go over anyway." Why did Percy Jackson, Ambassador of Rome, need to go to Camp Half-Blood tomorrow? To make sure some punk kid was treating his sister right. She wasn't his full sister, but that didn't matter. Mairin was his sister and nothing was going to change that.

Pulling away from her, only enough so that he could look at her, he pressed his lips to her forehead. "So 8 hours today... or we could just not go to sleep. I mean, I do have this homework that has piled up since no one has been breathing down my neck to do it." he said softly. People were passing them, a few people gave them dirty looks as if they had never seen romance before and it hurt their eyes to look at it. Percy didn't care about those people. It was the ones who knew who he was and were staring that really got to him. New Rome was a big place, a lot bigger then Camp Half-Blood. That meant that he didn't know everyone. That got weird when you saved the world. They could also be staring at Annabeth. She was a sight to see. He pursed his lips in thought. Should he do something about it if they were staring at his girlfriend?

"Annabeth, we can do this. Hypnos is a good idea. What about the Roman version? What was his name? Snorous? Something like that. We could talk to him today, see if he has any ideas. Oh! And there are sleeping pills, maybe we wouldn't dream if we took those!"

Roman Hypnos - Somnus

[annabeth chase]

The portal opened up tomorrow night. That was convenient. She smiled, nodding as he said it but her smile quickly dissipated into a look of concentration as he went on. He had a few ideas about staying up all night doing homework or doing some investigating while they were here in New Rome. "Well, it's happening to us here so it might be good to start here too. Also, homework is important and you should pay better attention to that," she said with a loving smirk but a stern look in her eyes and that stern tone he knew so well.

Then he went on to say they could do this and brought up Somnus. She nodded, "that's a good place to start. I'm not sure about taking pills. Plus," she moved even closer to him, if that was even possible, and brought her lips close to his, eyes still looking into his eyes. "We haven't seen each other for days, who says we'll sleep anyway?" she leaned in just a tad more so their lips barely brushed before smirking and pulling back completely. "His name is Somnus, Seaweed Brain. Come on," she took his hand pulled him away from the steps, toward Camp Jupiter. If anyone would know where to find a Somnus kid or a shrine or something it would be Reyna and Frank.

PERCY JACKSON
(BAHA)

[PERCY JACKSON]

annabeth chase

Some thoughts were pursing through his mind about how they could find some information about these dreams, if anyone else was having them, and where they could be coming from. but those thoughts scattered in the wake of annabeth pulling herself closer to him. He heard what she said, sure, but it was more of feeling what she said in this case. Her lips brushed his, just briefly and he leaned forward like an idiot as she pulled away quickly. Catching himself before stumbling forward, he gave her an annoyed look. But not too annoyed.

"Whatever, Snoring should be his name anyway." He let her pull him toward the camp that stood outside the city of New Rome. They walked along the paved road, hand in hand. Percy squeezed her hand tighter as he thought of the days that had lead to his moment. They had to get to the bottom of this, he wasn't sure he could make himself stay away from her any longer.

"Hey, Wise Girl." he mused quietly to her. "Why do you think the dreams are so violent? Wouldn't fear just be enough? Why do they have to put anger in them?" it was something he had been thinking about for a while. Fear was often a good motivator... but anger and hate? Why foster those emotions?

[annabeth chase]

Annabeth rolled her eyes and smiled as Percy spoke about 'snoring' and felt his hand tighten the grip on hers. She felt her heart beat loudly at that. She felt like it had been years without him, months, like when she had lost him to Hera . She felt like she was reuniting with him again, but also felt like she was losing him at the same time. She squeezed his hand too, as if doing that was going to glue them together, assuring that she wasn't going to lose him again. Still, she felt this sinking feeling that it wouldn't do any good. Something was trying to tear them apart, even as they were awake...

He seemed to be on the same track as she was, feeling doubtful and worried, as he asked his question. She turned to him, biting her lip in thought before turning away from him once more to keep her eye on the path ahead. "I think they want us to die, Percy. I think they want us to do to it to each other because that would really... freak everyone out," she nodded as she started to figure it out, at least what seemed logical to her, "if Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase murdered each other, both camps would go into chaos. Not that I'm saying we're oh so important, but it's enough so that it would still cause enough of an issue that the camps would be weak. We're not the main goal here, I don't think. We're just tools." She didn't know if that was it for sure, but she wouldn't be surprised if she was right... she was right too often for her own good.

PERCY JACKSON
(I'm a genius.)

[PERCY JACKSON]

annabeth chase

Percy stopped walking as the weight of Annabeth's words sunk in. Someone wanted him to kill Annabeth. He felt himself growing angry, his fists clenching. Seriously, could he not get a break?! One thing after another. At least he and Annabeth had made it to college. Now, in New Rome, they were supposed to be safe. Protected from this sort of stuff.

He pulled Annabeth to him and forced a smile onto his face. "Well, good thing we aren't about to let that happen, wise girl." He said with more confidence then he felt. "Besides, I don't like being called a tool." That was the truth. He and Annabeth were going to find this guy and take him down, just like they always did. And all this dying business? Well, he had cheated death before, like, at least once a year. Maybe more. This time wasn't going to be any different.

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