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How?
How?
How?
That had been Luke’s response when Percy and herself had told him that they’d found who stole the lightning bolt. A monosyllable, simple answer. Unworthy of any suspicion. Especially since their logic had been sound. And yet–
The word kept ringing in her mind when they rode all the way to Las Vegas. After meeting Hermes, them failing to meet the quest’s deadline and an amnesiac Grover had been enough of a distraction for Annabeth to focus on something else. The confrontation with Ares had almost been enough for
her to almost forget.
Almost.
Annabeth’s always been described as the most formidable demigod of her age. The pride of Athena.
Always six feet ahead of every one else.
And yet–
She couldn’t move past that response. Her brain nagged at her that Luke’s logical, automatic answer should’ve been ‘who’. Consider the circumstances, the priority should’ve been to discover who stole the lightning bolt, not how they did. Luke shouldn’t have been worried about how they’d found out the thief’s name. He should’ve been overjoyed, relieved at the very least.
Her heart scolded her for even doubting Luke.
Something’s wrong, her brain insisted.
Something’s wrong.
Alarms kept ringing in Annabeth’s head as soon as they had crossed the camp’s borders, Grover a few feet behind her. She had stopped to lean her forehead against the pine’s trunk, sending a promise to Thalia that she’d come back later. She’d hoped it would help alleviate some of the anxiety she felt, if not most of it.
Adrenaline, Annabeth thought to herself, that must’ve been it. She nodded, letting out a slow breath. That had to be it. Percy’s absence was another factor of her anxiety. Though both him and Grover had assured that he would be fine, Annabeth still regretted letting him go to Olympus by himself. They had retrieved the bolt too late. The summer solstice had passed. The Gods were preparing for war. And yet, camp was strangely quiet.
Something was wrong.
Annabeth startled when she felt Grover’s arm brush against her. Turning her head to the side, she was met with concerned eyes. Annabeth plastered a smile on her face and knocked her shoulder into his. He returned her smile and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, bringing her closer to him as they delved further into camp. It helped, Annabeth found herself thinking as she sunk in the half-embrace. Around them, the trees were still, quiet.
She scrunched up her nose and looked up at Grover, wrapping an arm around his waist. “You stink of barnyard animals.”
He gasped, falsely outraged. “Well, you don’t smell like a fresh bouquet of roses either.”
Annabeth snorted and he squeezed her shoulder in response. She briefly wondered how they’d look to the others. Their bodies bore new scars and their belongings had gone through Hell – literally – and back, before emerging from the ocean.
They barely had had the time to search through the Jacksons’ beach cabin for fresh clothes before Percy had offered to attempt drying their clothes. Key word being attempt. Grover had been able to find a pair of old sneakers that somehow fitted his hooves while Percy had given her one of his mother’s worn-out buttons up. Annabeth had to roll the sleeves several times for it to fit her, much to the boys’ amusement.
“Tiny,” Percy had whispered to Grover, earning a stifled chuckle from the latter. She’d glared at him and he had smiled back, unfazed. “You can keep it. She wouldn’t mind,” he said, his smile dimming.
Annabeth scoffed, tying the ends of the shirt around her waist. “Don’t be silly, seaweed brain. I’ll wash it and give it back to her before the end of summer.”
The underlying meaning hadn’t been lost to any of them. They may have failed their quest, but he wouldn’t fail to get his mother back. There was no doubt in it. Percy’s smile widened and he stood taller, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“Have it your way, wise girl.”
“You okay?”
Annabeth snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Grover’s voice, the latter glancing down at her. They had stopped walking at some point. She blinked at him before she took in their surroundings. Annabeth frowned when she realized they’d walked past the strawberry fields and Pegasus stables. Had she been that out of it?
“Annabeth,” Grover called her name again, his tone more urgent.
Get a grip, Chase.
She hummed and started walking again, making Grover’s arm slide off her shoulders. “Tired.”
“I can give the report to Chiron and Mr D by myself, y’know,” he proposed, his brow furrowed as he caught up to her and linked his arm with hers.
Annabeth rolled her eyes and pinched his side, smirking at his yelp. “Stop acting like an old mamma goat. I’m a big girl, I can handle one debriefing session.”
“I know you can,” Grover sighed, “just saying that you don’t have to. They can drag out.”
Annabeth frowned at his insistence, protests dying on her tongue as she came to the realization that Grover was offering her an out. She took in the resigned look on his face, his clenched fists and tense set of his shoulders.
They’d failed their quest. Mr. D wouldn’t miss the opportunity to rag on them for hours for it, nitpicking every choice they had made out there. Percy not being here would lead to more questions.
Grover was the protector that had, once again, failed to return to camp with his charge. Annabeth was the bright daughter of Athena, the youngest cabin counselor and the de-facto second-in-command of Camp Half-Blood.
Everyone expected failure from Grover.
Grover was used to it, Annabeth wasn’t.
Once a protector, always a protector.
In the distance, she could see the roof of the Big House, smoke coming out of the chimney. If she focused hard enough, Annabeth could hear hammering noises that everyone had come associated to the armory and Hephaestus kids. Classes and training should been done for today. Each camper would be heading to their cabin to wash up or rest before having to regroup and go to dinner.
Annabeth pushed back her shoulders and let her hand down slide to Grover, intertwining their fingers together as she began leading them again, their pace slower.
"No one's getting left behind, all right?"
Grover's brows furrowed. "Annabeth, I-"
"I know what you're trying to do," Annabeth interrupted, squeezing his hand, "but we're started this quest together and we're ending it the same way."
You didn't fail again.
You brought me back to camp, unharmed.
You're a good protector, Grover.
You're not alone.
More words hung over their heads, unsaid. He didn't mention Percy's absence, even though they both felt it as they stepped further into camp. And yet, Sally's flannel on her shoulders and Percy's shoes tied on Grover's hooves were a stark reminder of his presence. Of a promise.
All of us are making it home together.
I'm not leaving your side.
Grover stopped, halting Annabeth in her stride and forcing her to turn his way.
His eyes were wide and fixed on her, as if trying to confirm that she was still here. His chin was wobbly, in a way that was reminiscent of uncertain and painful times.His palm was sweaty against her, his hold tight.
And despite all that, Annabeth could see the beginning of a smile form on his face.
"Together," he said, his voice soft and barely audible over the noises surrounding them.
Annabeth nodded, staring back as she wrapped both of her hands around his.
"Together," she confirmed, her tone firm and confident.
They both startled at the sound of a horn being blown. The woods around them fell silence before chaos erupted in the background, calls of their names only confirming the inevitable.
They had been spotted.
Annabeth found herself holding her breath as she turned back around. She was vaguely aware of the campers cheering, announcing their arrival and yelling questions. Chiron's outline was visible at the doorway of the Big House. She couldn't tell if he was trying to rein them in or let them celebrate thier return.
She tried very hard not to look in the direction of the Hermes cabin.
Annabeth felt a wave of calm came over her body as Grover stepped next to her, his shoulder brush hers. They're still holding hands -- she wasn't sure if it was for her or his sake -- as they walked into the crowd, their heads held high.
Whatever the outcome might be, they'd face it together.
Annabeth gazed at up at the sky. Stormclouds lingered.