Work Text:
I thought about the Three Fates, and the way I'd seen my life flash by. I could avoid all that. No aging, no death, no body in the grave. I could be a teenager forever, in top condition, powerful, and immortal, serving my father. I could have power and eternal life.
Who could refuse that?
Then I looked at Annabeth again.
I thought about my friends from camp: Charles Beckendorf, Michael Yew, Silena Beauregard, so many others who were now dead. I thought about Ethan Nakamura and Luke.
And I knew what to do.
"Yes," I said.
Annabeth had her hands over her mouth. Her eyes were shining with unfallen tears, and I could tell that I just broke her heart. It was unforgivable.
But my father was smiling, and Tyson was grinning, Ares and Athena looked pissed off, and Hera was rolling her eyes.
I felt numb. I felt ready. The gods came down from their thrones, one by one starting with Poseidon. Zeus spoke.
"Very well. Perseus Jackson, Son Of Sally Jackson and The Earthshaker Poseidon, I, Lord Zeus, King Of Olympus, Grant You The Gift Of Godhood."
One by one, each God and Goddess repeated the phrase, until only one was left.
"I, Lord Poseidon, Grant You The Gift Of Godhood."
The effect was immediate. As soon as the words left Poseidon's lips, I felt the incredible pain of the universe pressing down on me. It was about twice as bad as lifting the sky, and I probably cried a little bit. I fell over, and I saw Annabeth rush to my side, I saw Tyson being held back by my father, saying "Don't interfere, this is a critical time," but Annabeth was holding me, and calling me stupid, stupid Seaweed Brain I never should have done this to myself. And I remember Zeus solemnly saying, "It is done."
When I woke up next, I was someplace sunny and bright, in a bed that smelled like lavender with the most beautiful girl in the world in a chair by my side.
She would've looked like a stereotypical California girl if her eyes weren't that startling storm of color, her hair didn't have that streak of grey, and her body wasn't covered in fresh cuts and old scars.
"Sorry, I've been told I drool when I sleep."
Annabeth's eyes shoot up, filling with tears. She puts her head down and sighs, and lies down on the covers next to me.
"Hi Percy," She says, voice wobbling in a way I never thought it could.
"You're a god," It washes over me. I'm a god. I'm sixteen years old, I've fought thousands of monsters, I'm still alive, and I've fallen-
"I love you Annabeth." I've fallen in love.
She starts crying, really crying, and hugs me tightly, as if she's afraid I'll let go. I could never.
"It's okay. I love you, I love you Annabeth, and I'll never give up on you."
She looks up, eyes red and lost.
"I never thought that this would happen. I thought that we would be able to spend our lives together, best friends... and maybe-"
I can see her cut herself off. I knew what I had to do. This was the moment.
"Annabeth. Do you want to be my girlfriend?"
I can see the cogs turning in her head, and I can see them stop. She sighs, and starts laughing.
"Annabeth? Is that a yes or...?"
She turns her head and smiles.
"What the hades could go wrong from here? Yes. You can be my boyfriend Seaweed Brain."
Five hours later, Full of blue cake and adrenaline, Annabeth and Percy were thrown into a lake.
It was pretty much the best underwater kiss of all time.