Jason's POV
Percy looked tired the next day.
His pale, haggard face was half hidden by a smile, but I could see right though it. He was avoiding Annabeth completely and making small talk with the seven and the councilers. I watched him stir his eggs dejectedly. He barely ate, and I wondered if he ever felt hungry. He mumbled a few gods while scraping his food into the brazier. He paused for a moment to smell the smoke and ran a hand through his messy black hair. Turning away from the flames, he walked back to his cabin. I stood up and scraped my food into the brazier and ran to him.
"Percy!"
He turned around and smiled, and I almost believed it was real.
"Yeah?"
"You know, we haven't been able to talk..."
His face fell for a moment, but it went back to it's regular state so quickly I barely noticed.
"Maybe later." he smiled.
I watched him go on to his cabin and he closed the door behind him. I pursed my lips. It did really feel like he was trying to avoid us somehow.
It went on the whole day.
"Percy, you know about the-"
"I'm sorry Jason, I need to go to the big house."
Something like that:
"About-"
"Victor?"
And he started to ignore me completely after about 10 tries.
Yep. Definately avoiding me.
"He won't talk to me either." Leo said, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Me neither." Frank said.
I rubbed my face. "He's ignoring us."
"I still can't understand." Frank mumbled.
"We can ask him."
I glared at Leo. "No. That's not right...."
He shrugged. I sighed.
"Lets leave this alone. He could just be busy."
The two looked like they highly doubted it. I did too, but I didn't doubt the fact that we could trust Percy. I walked out of Leo's secret room and was sure I saw a white cotton bra on the bed, but I knew it was just him and Calypso having a good time.
~
Percy's POV
I wished they would stop calling me.
It seemed like Frank, Leo and Jason were determined to talk with me. My mind drifted off elsewhere as Luke droned on about the state of the Chaos army.
"Commander?"
I snapped out of my thoughts. "Yes?"
He frowned. "... No... Everything's okay here. We'll be able to go back soon."
I nodded. "You should quickly. We don't know when he'll attack."
His eyes furrowed in worry. "Take care. We need you at these times."
I bit back my frustration at his sympathy and nodded. I cut through the connection and sighed.
"Is there anything wrong?"
Chiron clopped up beside me, his deep brown eyes worried. I relaxed when I saw my old mentor.
"No. They can come soon now."
"What troubles you so?"
I hesitated. "Just..."
"I'm guessing Annabeth."
The stubs that were left of my wings reminded me of that cold night. I shuddered slightly.
"... I guess so."
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"My boy, no matter how old you get, you will always be my student. You can tell me."
I knew he would know. And I knew what he would tell me.
You don't have to die.
Coward.
"I can figure out my own problems." I said politely. "Thank you though."
I left the big house, heading straight for my cabin. I was getting a migraine, and just wanted to find somewhere quiet to lay down now. My stomach was still knotted up, but better then yesterday night. I rubbed my arms.
Yesterday night....
I could only remember the pain, the pain tightening in my stomach and coiling up like a spring. I knew when I lost grip, it would explode and I would go boom.
Forget it.
I flopped on my bed, not taking my coat off. The blankets were cold anyway. I could hear the soft sounds of the waves and I closed my eyes, thinking of my father.
How would he react to my death?
I swallowed. I didn't want to imagine it. I didn't want him to be angry at the world again. I stood up and went out to the beach to realize it was snowing. I put on my hood and sat down on the cold sand, wishing I had brought a blanket or such. I closed my eyes, but I could faintly hear the sounds of laughing campers adding to my migraine. I took a deep breath. I massaged my temples, trying to make the sharp, prodding pain in my head go away.
"Percy."
I looked up and stood up when I saw it was Posiedon. I bowed my head respecfully.
"Father."
He sat down, and I sat down beside him. He was in thick clothes, a dark blue parka and thick pants. His green eyes twinkled at me.
"What are you doing out in this weather?"
"Thought I could see you."
"I thought you would go swimming in this weather again."
I bit my lip. "There was an accident."
He nodded. "You know, just in case."
This made me feel even worse. I swallowed.
"What would you do if I died?"
He stared at me. "What kind of question is that?"
"... Just."
"I don't want to imagine it." he said fiercely. I nodded slowly. We talked until our butts were freezing off, so we both stood up. I felt the least tiny bit better after talking to my father.
He grabbed my cold hands into his warm ones.
"Percy. You have to try to live you know. We all can't live without you." he paused. "Promise me."
I looked into his clear green eyes, wondered if they have ever been shattered and broken before.
I was pretty sure the pair had never been shatterrd to a hundred million pieces.
You don't understand.
I took my hands away.
"I'm sorry father."
980 words..