Confidence & Pride// [Percy Jackson OC]// Book 5

{Chapter Twenty-One}

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With shortness of breath/ I'll try to explain the infinite
And how rare and beautiful it is to even exist

- Saturn (Sleeping At Last)

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ACHILLES AND PATROCLUS

"BEFORE EVERYTHING GOES DOWN, We need to be on the same page." Arya said, sitting next to Percy on the empty cot.

"I take it this is about Luke." He sighed, and Arya nodded, slightly ashamed of herself.

"You saw the same visions I did, Percy. You saw how this all was fated, Luke didn't have a choice in the matter, you saw him trying to fight. He's made really bad decisions, and I'm not going to sit and defend him because I can't."

"But you want to try and save him." Percy finished for her.

Arya licked her lips. She was thinking Percy would sound disappointed, but instead he sounded like he had already thought about it.

"I spent a year convincing myself that he was gone so that I could build up the courage to face him in a battle. Then I find out that he's been fighting it this whole time, that he's still in there. I can't just let it slide."

Percy looked tired and worn out. Being the leader was hard, being the invulnerable one was even harder. He needed a rest. Arya just had to make sure they went into the final stand in an agreement.

"I'm not asking you to go out of your way and risk your life to bring him out. All I ask is that if you see an opportunity, you try. I just want to talk to him again." She was well aware her voice sounded defeated, but she didn't have the energy to hide anything right now.

"Do you still love him?" Percy asked, catching Arya off guard.

"I don't know." She answered honestly. She had spent the last year thinking he was gone, moving on from death and moving on from heartbreak were two very different things. "I've been trying not to think about it."

Percy took a deep breath and fell over onto the cot. His body finally gave out. Arya let out a sigh and stood up.

"I promise I'll try." He said, before his breathing got heavier signaling that he was passed out in sleep.

Arya felt a sense of relief wash over her and had a newfound confidence to herself. Now that was over, she could move onto her next order of business. Arya walked into the bathroom and filled the sink with water before digging a drachma out of her pocket and flipping it into the mini pool, and prayed to the goddess Iris.