What If...?

What If... Percabeth Got together Mid-Mark Or Athena?

Percy's POV

As I saw Annabeth get dragged over to the edge of Tartarus, unable to untangle herself out of Arachne's web, I was hit with immense deja vu.

The manicore. Annabeth. The cliff. Losing her. Annabeth...

No. I was not going to lose her like that again. Not after all we'd been through.

'Annabeth!' I shout, and run over to her.

'Percy!' She was inches from the edge.

I reached her, just as she got pulled over the edge, and was able to grab her hand just in time.

But I underestimated the force with which she web dragged her, and lost my balance, getting dragged closer and closer to the endless depths of Tartarus as well.

I grabbed onto a ledge with my other hand and yelled: 'Annabeth! Hold on! I'm not losing you like this again!'

'Percy, it's no use! Just let me go, you need to save the world!'

My muscles ached, and I started trembling.

'No! Not before I save you!'

'Percy...' Her stormy grey eyes were fixed on me, their usually intimidating stare replaced with fear, but also determination. 'You have to let me go.'

'No!'

My body was wet with sweat and tears, my muscles burning, but nothing was going to stop me from saving Annabeth. I was not going to watch her go without putting up a fight.

'Percy, please, otherwise you'll fall too,' Annabeth pleaded. But I didn't care.

'So be it! I'll never let you go Annabeth, I can't lose you. I don't know what I'd do without you...'

I didn't even realise what I was about to say, until the words were out: 'I love you.'

I smiled a weak smile at her, even more tears streaming down my face.

'Percy!' This time it wasn't Annabeth who said my name. It was Nico. 'Percy, the Doors, they... they must be closed from both sides... I-'

'Nico, don't worry,' I cut him off. I knew what he meant, and dreaded what would come next, but I wouldn't let Annabeth go alone. Or even anyone else. 'We'll see you on the other side.'

Then I let go of the ledge, and felt the air wrap itself around me.

I pulled Annabeth close to me as we fell, and she said: 'Percy, I love you too.'

My breath hitches at the back of my throat when she returned my feelings. 'Oh-'

But before I could even form a proper sentence she pressed her lips against mine, and for a moment, I forgot we were literally falling through Hell.

When we pulled back, she said: 'Whatever will come at us next, we'll get through it. Together.'

How was it?