Can Be Both (A Percabeth AU)

Chapter 13

"Yeah, hey," he answers, tightening his grip as a particularly brutal wave sweeps over them. He purses his lips to keep the saltwater out of his mouth. "How goes it?"

"It's good," Annabeth replies, eyes lighting up at their small talk. One of her hands latches onto his wrist beneath the surface, and she uses it to steady herself. "How are you?"

"A little cold," he admits, chin shaking as proof. "Warming up, though."

"Yeah?" she asks.

Percy nods sharply. "Yeah."

Annabeth looks at him in a way that makes his stomach turn over. Her lips have water droplets clinging to them and he wants to kiss them off. "Having fun?"

"Tons," Percy tells her with honesty. He always has fun with Annabeth. "And you?"

"Could be better." She lifts one shoulder, and Percy walks them backwards a little to get steadier footing, hands still resting in the curves of her sides. She steps on his feet, her grip on his wrist tightening and loosening when she maintains balance, still not letting go. He feels what's hopefully a seashell beneath his foot, fruitlessly attempting to grasp it with his toes. "Luke called me last night."

He knows it would be too obvious if he jerked away, so he forces himself to keep a steady hold on her. Annabeth looks upset, too, like she would rather talk about anything else. He knows she always feels better after she talks something through, no matter how stubborn she can be about it during, so he responds with an unassuming "Yeah?"

"He was a little drunk, I think. Mostly just sad, rambling on and on about us." Percy feels undeniably guilty again, almost as if the separation is his fault, even if he was barely involved. "Kept asking if we're going to get back together."

"Are you?" he questions, hesitantly, glancing at the light freckles clustered beneath her eyes. Percy isn't so sure he wants the answer, not anymore.

Annabeth bites the inside of her cheek, holds onto his wrist that much tighter. He reciprocates the action by gripping her sides a little more firmly. "I don't know."

Percy nods, staring down into the water. He can see Annabeth's toes where they're pressing down on his, if he tries hard enough. "Do you want to?" And this is the answer Percy definitely doesn't want, especially if it's affirmative. He knows he would be fine if Annabeth went back to Luke. He was only her best friend once and he's positive he could go right back to it, if needed. The 'what if's would probably kill him in the end, sure, but he'd rather play the part Annabeth needs him to than be assigned no role at all.

A wave momentarily drowns them, eliciting a short coughing fit from both of them. "Do I want to what?"

"Get back together with him," Percy clarifies, eyes watering from all the coughing. His voice sounds far away. It's a high probability that there's water in his ears.

Annabeth looks away, expression fading from strong and determined to conflicted and nearly fragile. If Percy were brave enough, he'd hug her. It's intoxicating as it is, just touching this much skin. "I don't know," she confesses. "I don't know anything."

Percy smiles and laughs, drumming his fingertips against her back. Slowly, he lets her go, allowing a wave to shift him further away. She doesn't release his wrist, so he grabs onto hers too, keeping them connected in the rolling waves. "I bet you know 40 times 62," he says, trying his best to keep the saltwater out of his mouth and nose. "And what the capital of Idaho is."

"It's 2480," Annabeth says, then huffs out a laugh. "Does anyone know the capital of Idaho? Even I can't remember."

He laughs with her, squeezing her wrist before pulling out of her grasp entirely. "C'mon, I bet Mom's here."