Chapter Text
Another summer had begun at Camp Half-Blood. You stayed all year long because your father had passed away, and you had nowhere else to go. So whenever Percy wasn’t around, it hurt more than you liked to admit. Today was no exception—Percy had sent you a letter saying he would arrive today, but it was already five o’clock and your impatience was eating you alive.
You went to practice archery with one of your closest friends, Will Solace, bored and with nothing better to do. Just then, you noticed Percy had arrived, smiling brightly. You would never admit it out loud, but you loved that smile.
Ever since you had arrived at camp, Percy had grown very close to you—almost as close as you were to your sister, Annabeth.
“PERCY!” you shouted excitedly as he ran toward you to greet you, something clutched in his right hand while he waved with the other. On his way over, he almost tripped, but he kept running anyway. You walked quickly toward him too, leaving the archery range behind.
When you finally reached each other, you shared a hug—“just best friends,” supposedly.
“Hey, y/n! How have you been?”
Percy was still panting from the run.
“Really good! I missed you a lot.”
Percy smiled and pulled something out of his pocket.
“Look what I brought you!”
He opened his palm, revealing a woven bracelet.
“Um… I know it’s not a big deal, but my mom started a bracelet-making class, and I asked her to help me make one for you and—”
Your heart was racing. Not only had your long-time crush brought you something, but he had made it himself—with help from his mom.
“Thank you so much, Percy. I love it.”
You hugged him tightly and happily put the bracelet on your wrist.
---
It was dinner time, and you were sitting next to Annabeth, as always.
“Look, Ann!”
“Ann” was a nickname Annabeth had only let you use after you’d insisted countless times.
“Wow, it’s really pretty. Where did you buy it?”
“Percy gave it to me…”
Your cheeks flushed as you whispered it, making sure no one else could hear. Annabeth had known about your crush on Percy for a long time—she was the only one who knew—and she was always insisting that you confess.
“I’m telling you, he likes you too! You should go tell him right now,” Annabeth said, the last part dripping with obvious sarcasm, all whispered.
“Of course not!” you laughed, then lowered your voice. “We’re just friends.”
“Sure… friends who can’t go two minutes without each other and keep staring awkwardly…”
“Enough! Let’s just eat…”
“I’m just saying, you shouldn’t be afraid of rejection. It’s better than keeping your feelings bottled up forever. Besides, imagine if he dies! How would you tell him then?”
You laughed out loud.
“How is he going to die? Just shut up, Annabeth!” you joked.
---
The beast attacked first. Its claws slammed into the ground where you had been standing just a second earlier. The impact sent you both flying in opposite directions. Percy rolled, sprang to his feet, and counterattacked, but the blade only sparked against the monster’s body.
“It doesn’t hurt it!” you shouted.
As if it understood, the creature roared and struck a column. The ceiling creaked, and dust and chunks of stone rained down around you.
You no longer even had the advantage of clear vision—the debris filled the place with dust. You could only hear the beast moving aimlessly. For a moment, you managed to spot Percy, Anaklusmos drawn, ready to keep fighting.
Your plan was to distract the creature so Percy could strike. You moved closer, but just before you could act, the monster’s tail slammed into you, knocking the air from your lungs and throwing you against the wall, breaking several of your ribs.
“No! No! No!”
Percy was distracted, desperation taking over. It was clear the monster was far stronger than either of you—and now you were injured.
The beast continued advancing toward you, ready to end your life, while Percy ran toward you both.
With the little strength you had left, you rolled across the ground and pulled out a gift your mother Athena had given you: a ring similar to Percy’s, but one that could create a protective field for a few seconds.
You activated your mother’s shield, and when the monster attacked again, you ran toward Percy. He pulled you into an embrace, his gaze filled with determination.
“Don’t move,” he ordered, stepping in front of you.
The creature advanced again, looking more worn down now, moving more slowly.
Percy tightened his grip on Anaklusmos, waiting, analyzing the surroundings.
“The columns!” you realized, forming a strategy. “Look at the ceiling—it’s about to collapse.”
Percy nodded. He understood immediately.
He ran straight at the monster, not to wound it, but to provoke it. He struck the ground with his sword, shouted, forced it to turn. The creature reacted just as he expected, lifting all its weight to crush him. Percy slid beneath the attack and drove Anaklusmos into the base of a damaged column.
The sound of the columns collapsing was deafening. The dust forced you to close your eyes. It seemed like you had won.
But from the rubble, the same creature rose again, now showing no mercy. It took advantage of how badly injured you both were and grabbed a rock from the ground.
“PERCY!”
That was the last thing you managed to say before Percy was struck.
---
All you knew afterward was that, thanks to the empathy link between Grover and Percy, Grover had sensed that things were going wrong. A group of demigods—including Annabeth—had snuck out of camp to help you.
Now Percy was in intensive treatment.
---
Annabeth sat beside you in the infirmary, wiping your tears and listening.
“It was my fault, Ann. If I had just thought of something better… if I had been stronger…”
You couldn’t stop crying. Your words caught in your throat, and your broken ribs made even breathing hurt. Annabeth hugged you tightly, unable to hold back her own tears. She had almost lost both you and Percy.
“No, it wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It was that stupid mission.”
“How is he, Ann? What if… what if he doesn’t make it…?”
Now that you had known Percy, you couldn’t imagine a world without him. You couldn’t let him be taken from you—but there was nothing you could do.
“No! Percy is strong. He’s survived worse. I promise you he’ll make it, and you’ll get to tell him how well he fought.”
You stayed wrapped in each other’s arms a little longer until sleep finally claimed you.
---
Several days passed, and Percy still hadn’t woken up. You didn’t want to imagine the worst.
Once you had partially recovered, you visited Percy every day, bringing his gift—the bracelet.
On one of those visits, you saw his eyes begin to open. Without calling anyone, you rushed to his side, emotion flooding your chest, your love for Percy only growing stronger.
Percy opened his eyes, confused, when he felt your tight embrace.
And it was there, in that moment, that you decided you wouldn’t wait for a sign anymore. After hearing a soft “hey,” you pressed a kiss to his lips.