Love Against All Odds

Percy - Mr D's Interruption

Percy watched as Annabeth meticulously cleaned the monster slime off her knife, a routine she had performed countless times before. Despite witnessing this ritual on numerous occasions, he had never paused to contemplate its significance for her.

"At least your mom is okay," Percy offered, attempting to inject some semblance of reassurance into the conversation.

"If you call fighting Typhon, okay," Annabeth replied, her gaze locking onto his with intensity. "Percy, even with the centaurs' help, I'm starting to think—"

"I know," Percy interjected, sensing the moment's gravity. He harboured a sinking feeling that this might be their final opportunity to converse, leaving countless unspoken sentiments lingering between them. "Listen, there were some . . . some visions Hestia showed me."

"You mean about Luke?" Annabeth's inquiry cut through the tension, suggesting a keen understanding of the secrets Percy had been withholding. Perhaps she, too, had been plagued by her own nocturnal musings.

"Yeah," Percy affirmed. "You and Thalia and Luke. The first time you met. And the time you met Hermes."

As Annabeth slid her knife back into its sheath, Percy observed a flicker of emotion pass across her features. "Luke promised he'd never let me get hurt. He said . . . he said we'd be a new family, and it would turn out better than his."

Her eyes mirrored the turmoil of a vulnerable child—tinged with anger, fear, and a desperate longing for companionship. Percy couldn't help but recall the haunting image of a seven-year-old girl he had once encountered in a desolate alleyway.

"Thalia talked to me earlier," Percy disclosed. "She's afraid—"

"That I can't face Luke," Annabeth interjected, her tone heavy with despondency.

Percy nodded solemnly. "But there's something else you should know. Ethan Nakamura seemed to think Luke was still alive inside his body, maybe even fighting Kronos for control."

Despite Annabeth's attempts to conceal her reaction, Percy could almost discern the wheels turning in her mind, contemplating the myriad of possibilities and perhaps, against all odds, daring to entertain a glimmer of hope.

"I didn't want to tell you," Percy confessed, his voice carrying a weight of reluctance.

She glanced up at the Empire State Building, a silent sentinel against the shifting skyline. "Percy, for so much of my life, I felt like everything was changing all the time. I didn't have anyone I could rely on."

Percy nodded in understanding, recognizing the familiar sentiment that resonated with many demigods.

"I ran away when I was seven," she continued, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "Then, with Luke and Thalia, I thought I'd found a family, but it fell apart almost immediately. What I'm saying... I hate it when people let me down when things are temporary. I think that's why I want to be an architect."

"To build something permanent," Percy acknowledged, understanding the desire to leave a mark that endured through time. "A monument to last a thousand years."

She held his gaze, a silent acknowledgement passing between them. "I guess that sounds like my fatal flaw again."

Years ago, in the Sea of Monsters, Annabeth had confided in Percy about her biggest flaw—pride, the belief that she could mend any broken thing. Percy remembered the glimpse he had seen of her deepest desire, unveiled by the Sirens' enchantments. Annabeth had envisioned a reconstructed Manhattan adorned with her architectural marvels, and in her fantasy, her parents stood together, with Luke by her side, redeemed and welcoming her home.