Percabeth One Shots💅🏻✨

107. Breathe

TW: Panic attacks mentioned and described

Annabeth and Percy, having Reyna on their side, were able to move into their dorms early, like July, after Annabeth's birthday early. They were a good five blocks away from each other. Not too far, but not close enough that it wouldn't be a problem if their nightmares picked up again.

With therapy, and seeing each other every single free second they have, they're able to manage pretty well. On the other hand, this doesn't apply to panic attacks. Except Percy hasn't been having Tartarus panic attacks, he's been having school panic attacks, and this is the worst one yet—

He never thought he'd make it to college, let alone graduate high school. But here he is. Sitting in his dorm room, trying the breathing exercises their therapist gave them to get through a Tartarus nightmare and or panic attacks.

Especially now that Annabeth is so far, she can't be there twenty-four-seven to help him. Besides she'll be finally taking classes that challenge her appropriately, and academically stimulate her brain, so she'll be extra busy with studying and homework, and she'll probably break up with him. She'll realize how stupid he is, despite what she's said in the past and break up with him for some smart legacy or something. He'll be all alone, because who would want to date an idiot? Who would be there for him? He should just go back to New York. There he can go back to walking dogs, he might even get to know his baby sister, and... Annabeth would kill him, broken up or not she'd kill him if he dropped out. (Before classes even begin too).

Maybe he just needs to see her. Yeah, her face, her face is special and has a calming effect on him. He'll just run five blocks to go see her— despite having just gotten back from helping her make decisions he had no part in making. (They did other stuff too...)

Standing outside her dorm room door, he wasn't sure if bothering her was a good idea or not. Did he really need to bother her over his stupid little insecurities about college? She'll think he's even more stupid! He'd just give her more reasons to break up with him!

He couldn't get air in his lungs. He was hot but he had chills. His neck was sweating and his forehead had droplets of sweat beading on him. His hands were clammy and he just could not get air into his lungs. It was like there was a hole in the tube that got air to the lungs. He thought that maybe just dying wouldn't be the worst thing. Though, that would be an awful thing for Annabeth to see as the first thing when she steps out of her dorm. He needs to get away from her door so to save her from that pain. Because oh gods if he saw Annabeth dead in front of his door he'd— he'd probably just die too. Though he's already dying, or so he believes. This is what happens when you cheat death too many times. The gods get you with a panic attack. They curse you with a permanent panic attack and just watch.

He cursed the gods in his heads. Fuck you Zeus, trying to kill me so many times, you too Mr. D, threatening to turn me into a dolphin— he couldn't breathe. He only saw red. His vision was decreasing as he tripped down the stairs, and landed on his ass against the wall.

Far enough he thought. At least she'll eventually find his dead body—

"Hello?" Her voice rang in his ears, bouncing for each ear until settling in the middle of his head, ping ponging around his brain. "Percy?" There was that voice again! He heard the door to the stairwell open, and quickened footsteps down the stairs. "Percy, oh gods, are you okay?" She rushed to his side, and felt his forehead. "Is this as far as you got?" She laughed lightheartedly, which actually helped a little in calming him down.

He tried to explain that, no, actually, he returned to his dorm, had a panic attack and thought that maybe she could help him before realizing she'd break up with him for panicking about school. He swallowed, it was coppery, he'd bit his lip and now it was bleeding, great.