Chapter Text
Malcolm hadn't seen Annabeth or Percy since they went up.
They were both probably dead.
Don't cry, he told himself as he climbed onto the long island strawberry bus. Don't think about how they needed four to bring everyone here and now they easily fit in one. Don't think about how your probably the only Athena camper left.
He slumped down beside someone, not caring to look who.
They had won. The Gods had arrived and announced their victory. A very nervous Clarisse and a few others were summoned to Olympus. Everyone else was sent home.
There had been maybe 50 campers a few days ago. They were down to 20, maybe.
They hadn't found all the bodies.
A exhausted looking Will is wandering around the bus, almost in a trance, checking injuries, making sure they were putting pressure on wounds, making sure they weren't gonna bleed out in the next five minutes.
Eventually he made his way over to Malcolm, lifting his hand off his stomach which he'd been clutching. He mutters something about making sure it wont get infected and hands him a wad of bandages to press against it, then muttering an apology about not having ambrosia. And it strikes him just how young the kid is. And he's the only one left in his cabin. Twelve, and the head-councilor. The only healer in the whole camp now.
"Are you okay?" He asks Will before he moves on to the next camper.
"Sorry?"
"You're not injured or anything?" He asks again.
He's caught off guard for a second, then shakes his head. "I-I dont think so. I'm fine." He mutters.
Malcolm nods, satisfied. "Just make sure to get some sleep, okay?"
He nods and turns to check on a very dazed looking Connor.
Honestly, everyone looks kinds dazed. Or maybe just shell-shocked or something. They all have that dead look in their eyes. Malcolm wonders if he looks like that.
Probably.
A few people are crying.
Some in grief ir shock, others from injuries.
The pain from his injury had hit him yet. Deep enough slash from a sword.
Once the shock wore off it'd hit pretty soon. And the grief too.
He doesn't remember the ride to camp.
When he's back he beeline for his cabin.
The infirmary will be over run anyway and he has some emergency ambrosia in his bunk.
Not much Will can do right now that Malcolm can't do for himself, honestly. He'd made sure to educate himself on first-aid so he could deal with stuff like this. Especially when poor Will was going to be so overwhelmed for next few days.
He slumps down on his bunk, grabbing a first aid kit from on top of one of the presses and a chunk of ambrosia.
He shoves it in his mouth and takes off his breastplate and shirt, carefully cleaning and sticking the wound, biting his lip the whole time and then bandaged it.
Eventually he collapses into bed, not bothering to put the stuff away.
"MALCOLM!"
He sits bolt upright in bed looking around for the source of the scream.
"Annabeth? Oh thank the gods!"
He stumbles out of the bed, crossing the room th her. She sobbing.
He cups her face in his hands examining her for wounds.
"Are you okay? What happened? Why-"
"I-I'm fine. I didn't know if you were alive. I just got back, and Rachel she- she stole Blackjack, cause the orcal, and-"
He pulled her into a hug, not really understanding what she was saying but not really giving a shit. She was alive! Usually if anyone tried to hug her, sibling or not they were at risk of being punched. Or bit. Annabeth wasn't great with emotions. But now, she crumpled into him, sobbing and gasping.
"I'm so sorry about Percy." He whispered.
"What? No- no, he's okay. Well, kind of. Uninjured. The prophecy, it's- 'hero's soul cursed blade shall reap' it was Luke. Luke was the hero." She said, voice breaking. He died himself, Malcolm."
He was relieved for a second, then guilty. Sure, Luke was on Kronos's side but so was Chris. So was Silena. They were manipulative. He was possessed. And now he was dead.
Annabeth sobbed into his shoulder
"I mean, I'm so happy Percy's alive. All the years I thought he wouldn't make it last 16, but- I mean Luke... he died a hero Malcolm, okay?" She said, pulling away and holding him at arms length.
He nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, okay." He muttered.
She sniffled, wiping her eyes.
"What happened?" She said, pointing at his stomach.
"Oh, it's pretty shallow. And I got some ambrosia so it'll be fine in a few days."
She nodded. Then frowned.
"Get some clothes on. We should probably go and help out. With everything."
"Yeah. Okay."
Later that day, he's with a few of the uninjured campers when suddenly, Clarisse puts a finger over her lip, grinning.
Then he hears it faintly, "I'll never make things easy for you, seaweed brain."
He glanced around to see Annabeth and Percy sitting together.
Annabeth and Percy were making out. Percy seemed shocked or surprised or something. He was frozen where he sat while Annabeth had her hands in his hair, leaning forward.
Most of the campers had assumed that they'd been dating in secret for a while. Well until they knew the prophecy. Then it made sense why she wouldn't want a relationship. And this, atleast by Percy reaction, seemed like a first kiss.
Clarisse was grinning and Connor whispered something to her.
Then she jumped out from where they hid.
"Bout time!"
Everyone else joined her, picking them up and carrying them towards the lake.
The two of them were bright red and laughing. They held hands the whole way.
They didn't come up for air for like, 20 minutes.
"I think we forgot he's like, a fish." Travis muttered.