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Annabeth sighed as she pushed the button on the washing machine. The machine beeped before roaring to life, the loud hum of all the mechanical parts inside working flawlessly. The small digital screen situated right above the glass display was pain on her eyes but she could just make out the time, she was going to be there for a while. She figured she would, she’d fallen behind on laundry, especially after her unwanted trip through Tartarus.
Looking around the room, she spotted a set of folding chairs nestled neatly in a corner next to a cabinet. She walked over and grabbed one, setting it up right in front of the laundry machine. She wasn’t worried about anyone coming in and replacing her load, there were four washing machines there for a reason. She also wasn’t worried about anyone stealing her clothes, well, except for Percy who might’ve had a keen interest in her bra.
Frankly, the only reason Annabeth wasn’t headed back to her room was the simple fact that she really didn’t have anything to do. She’d burned through most of the books she’d brought along and watching documentaries on the TV alone in her cabin didn’t sound all that appealing. Her mother could smite her for all she cared.
She was still in shock in a way, it was unbelievable to think that only days prior she was trapped in hell itself. Part of her was still wary, like everything that had happened was all one big illusion and that any moment she’d wake up and find herself in the pit again. She was just waiting for the pale scars streaking across her skin to open up, for her golden blonde hair to become messy with blood and grime.
Crossing her legs, Annabeth stared at the washing machine. Part of her cursed Leo for not making magic closets that did all the laundry for them but another part of her thanked him. It was small daily chores that kept her sane. If she had to spend hours doing nothing, alone with her thoughts, she would’ve gone insane.
Despite the rough metal frame of the chair, she found herself nodding off to the hum of the washing machine. For some reason, the laundry room was one of the warmest rooms on the Argo II. Leo surely had the answer as to why but she never really cared to ask.
The door to the laundry room clicked. Annabeth’s head snapped to look at the door and her hand drifted to her side where her sword would be. She cursed when she realized she didn’t have it, she’d left it back in her cabin since she figured she wouldn’t have to defend herself.
Instead of some monster, the door swung open to reveal Piper holding a basket full of clothes. She clearly wasn’t expecting anyone to be in the laundry room judging from the way her eyes widened with surprise.
“You’re doing laundry too?” Piper said as she walked in, shutting the door behind her.
“Yep.” Annabeth said, turning back to the machine.
Piper nodded mutely before opening one of the other machines. Annabeth watched her every move like a hawk. She hated the fact that she was doing it, especially to someone who she considered a close friend, but she couldn’t help it. After Tartarus, it was hard to trust anyone that wasn’t Percy. She knew she’d have to work through it eventually but it was too soon.
Piper shutting the machine’s door nearly made Annabeth jump. Most loud noises did. Even before Tartarus, loud noises always caused her heart rate to spike. Unlike certain campers, her cabinmates were a quiet bunch. Someone was always studying and she made it a cabin-wide policy that disruptions were to be kept to a minimum.
“So, how are you holding up?” Piper asked, pulling a folding chair over next to hers.
“Huh?” Annabeth raised an eyebrow.
“Are you feeling okay?” She elaborated, “Do you need to talk about anything?”
Annabeth sat there for a moment, unsure of herself. There were plenty of things that she needed to talk about but not to Piper. Only Percy could understand, he’d been there. Anyone else and she would’ve felt like they were just giving her false sympathy and pity. If there was one thing she hated, it was pity on her behalf. When she took over Cabin Six as their head counselor, she swore to show as little weakness as possible and she intended to uphold that.
“I’m fine.” She decided, “I…just need to talk to Percy, that’s all.”
“You sure?” Piper asked, “Because if you need to, we’re all here for you—”
“I’m fine, Piper, thank you.” Annabeth said, her tone a little firmer.
Piper seemed to realize how close she was to stepping into a minefield. Instead of pressing her, she simply nodded and looked back at her laundry spinning away in the machine.
A few minutes of tense silence passed before Piper broke it with, “Tell me about him.”
“What?” Annabeth asked, looking over with a confused look.
“Percy. Tell me about him. Ever since you two escaped Tartarus, it’s like you’ve been hiding. I’m not going to ask what you guys talk about, that’s your business, but I do want to know more about the guy who you trust so much.” Piper said.
Annabeth chuckled humorlessly, “Where do I begin?”
“From the beginning would be nice.” Piper teased.
Annabeth rolled her eyes, obviously she’d start at the beginning. However, she wanted a reason to spill her guts out. “First off, why do you want to know in the first place? You do realize he’s on the ship too? You can just go talk to him and see why I trust him so much.”
“Not really.” Piper said, rubbing the back of her neck, “Listen, you’re a smart girl and all but that guy has always struck me as nothing but trouble. I don’t get this connection between you two.”
Annabeth smiled and leaned back in her chair, “Well, you’re not wrong. Percy is trouble but he’s the best kind of trouble. As for the whole connection thing, aren’t you a daughter of Aphrodite? That kind of stuff is your specialty.”
“You’d be right but what’s going on between you two is a lot stronger than love. I have no clue what it is but whatever it is, it’s much stronger.” Piper said.
Annabeth nearly scoffed. If Piper was alluding to them being soulmates then she could forget it. She didn’t believe in soulmates or anything like that. It was a wonderful thought, her and Percy’s souls bonding together, but she doubted that such a thing could even happen. The universe was welcome to prove her wrong.
“Okay, seriously.” Piper said, “Girl to girl, tell me everything you like about him. I’m trying to see what you see but I just can’t see it. I can go talk to him all I want but I’ll never be able to see why you like him so much.”
Annabeth sighed, she hadn’t had a conversation like this in a while. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d even had a conversation like this. “He’s loyal.” She started, “He’s never betrayed me before. Even before we were dating.”
“Really?” Piper asked, “He never tried dating anyone else before you?”
“Well, there was Rachel.” Annabeth murmured, “But I don’t think they were really dating. They kissed but from the way they both describe it, it was more her kissing him than him kissing her.”
“But they still kissed.” Piper pointed out, “That doesn’t bother you that you weren’t his first kiss?”
“I was his first kiss.” Annabeth grinned, “Rachel was about a year too late if she wanted to steal that. I was a first for a lot of things for Percy.”
“Name one.”
Annabeth smirked, this wasn’t even a challenge. “I was his first human best friend. He had Grover but he’s a satyr. Satyrs form bonds with half-bloods so much easier. Half-bloods on the other hand? There’re hundreds of reasons they won’t get along and that’s before you take any parental history into account.”
“Hm. What else do you like about him?” Piper prodded.
“He’s hot.” Annabeth said plainly.
Piper pushed her while rolling her eyes, “Alright, that’s on me. I should’ve seen that one coming.”
Annabeth chuckled, “I’m not wrong and you know it.”
“We aren’t going down this rabbit hole.” Piper declared, “Besides, I doubt looks are anywhere near as big as a reason for you to like him. There’s gotta be something else.”
Annabeth’s smile faded as she looked away. There was one thought poking at her mind but she wasn’t sure if she was brave enough to say it. Finally, she swallowed and said quietly, “He makes me feel safe.”
“What was that?” Piper asked. Annabeth wasn’t sure if she was trying to annoy her or if she genuinely couldn’t hear.
“He makes me feel safe.” She repeated, “It doesn’t matter where we are, I can always count on him to be there for me.”
“How does he make you feel safe?” Piper asked, “I mean, if I’m being completely honest, I didn’t think he was all that special when we met him. At least, compared to Jason.”
Annabeth looked at her critically, “That’s because you don’t know Percy like I do. I know what he’s capable of. He’s a lot stronger than you’re giving him credit for.”
“Oh yeah? How?”
Annabeth’s ego felt directly attacked. She wasn’t even sure why, it wasn’t like Piper had said anything bad about her. In fact, she was sure Percy would’ve been flattered to know that Piper saw him as a normal guy considering all the times people looked at him like he was some sort of freak of nature.
“Jason’s abilities. He can fly and shoot lightning, right?” Annabeth asked, “He might rule the skies but I’m telling you, Percy is far more destructive.”
“Way to simplify but pop off.” Piper said.
“You’re not getting it.” Annabeth sighed, “Jason’s powers might be good enough to win a battle but Percy’s powers are strong enough to destroy an entire city. He hasn’t done it yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was able to now. He summoned a whole hurricane once against Hyperion. Not to mention, he also caused Mount Saint Helens to explode.”
“Wait, Percy caused that?” Piper asked, “That was all over the news!”
“I’m surprised you didn’t hear about it sooner. Everyone at camp knows he was the one who did that.” Annabeth said, “But regardless, it’s not only his powers that make him so strong.”
“Let me guess, he’s a good swordsman?” Piper suggested, “I saw him fight Jason, he’s good but I don’t think either of them are better than the other in that department.”
“Maybe.” Annabeth hadn’t seen that fight but she was still willing to bet on Percy anyways, “But that wasn’t what I was going to say. I was going to say will.”
“Will?”
“Yeah, will. Percy has the will to push his powers to their limits and to use them in any way he wants. I’m willing to bet that Jason wouldn’t use his powers in certain situations because of his moral code. Percy? I know him. He’d destroy the whole world by any means necessary to defend the people he loves. If he had to sink an entire city just to have a chance at protecting someone he loves, he’d do it.” Annabeth said.
Piper crossed her arms, “And that makes you feel safe? Doesn’t that make him sound like a loose cannon at all to you?”
“Don’t get me wrong, it does scare me. Just knowing that Percy can roll over the edge at any moment, that he’d commit that kind of violence scares the shit out of me. At the same time, it comforts me. I know that if it ever comes down to it, Percy will do whatever it takes to make sure I’m okay. I can’t say that I’ve met anyone like that before.” It might’ve sounded selfish and it probably was but Annabeth didn’t really care anymore. She’d seen how far Percy was willing to go on her behalf.
“You’re not worried that he might go off on you?” Piper asked.
“Nope.” Annabeth said, “Percy would never hurt me, not without a good reason.”
“I’m glad you trust him like that.”
“I’m glad just to have him. Whether the Fates meant to or not, they gave me the best hero I could’ve asked for.” Annabeth said, “Now all I have to do is make sure no one ever takes him away again.”