Climb (Percy Jackson x Reader)

twenty-four

✺ LOST TO THE TREES ✺

Sunflowers.

Percy tilts his head.

Sunflowers. Turned towards the son of Apollo, whose brow crinkles as he sleeps. Brightening the small corner of the infirmary.

The son of Poseidon peers closer.

Sunflowers. Somehow emitting sunshine of their own.

Light bounces off of the golden accents that spatter the petals and stems, scattering around Will as they refract in the textured glass vase.

Will shifts, his lips curled in a frown. His hand appears to open and close under his blankets.

And (Y/N) was nowhere to be seen.

— x —

Something was building in his chest.

Bubbling in his stomach, rising through his airways until his breaths sting and bile burns his throat.

Heated and raging and untameable, it sends the focus of his mind into shadows and the control of his muscles out of reach. His heart wrenches, the corners of his vision blurring out of perception; his fingers tighten their clutch around the book in his hands, the leather cracking under his skin.

It was terror, and panic, and dread—rolled into one, destroying every emotional foundation he thought he had.

"Annabeth!" Percy calls, storming across the training field.

Campers scurry out of his way, shaking with the tremors that roll under the ground. Clouds darken overhead, mimicking the ferocious grey of his irises, thunder rumbling in his chest as he approaches the daughter of Athena.

Annabeth gulps, her eyes wide. She tightens the grip on her sword, gesturing for her training partner to move back.

Percy stops in front of her, his chest rising deeply with each of his seething breaths. "Where is she?" he asks, his voice anything but friendly.

Annabeth grits her teeth, glancing at the thick book that Percy holds at his side. "Seems like you already know," she says.

"I know why she's gone; I don't know where she is. But I'm pretty sure that you do." Percy takes a step forward, and Annabeth shuffles her feet, leaning back slightly.

She holds her chin higher. "And why's that?"

Percy huffs a bitter laugh. "Chiron pointed me your way. Annabeth, he says that she's gone on a suicide mission."

Annabeth scoffs, crossing her arms. "She's capable, Percy. She knows what she's doing."

"Does she?" Percy's voice rings, incredulous and disbelieving. "Because it seems to me like she's single-handedly decided to go headfirst into a dangerous situation. But it's fine, right, because she's doing it for the camp? We both know where that's gotten her before."

Annabeth takes a deep breath, folding her lips inward as her eyes flicker with terror.

Percy sighs, his shoulders loosening. The clouds lighten overhead. "Please, Annie. I know she trusts you. I know she told you. But I need you to trust me, now. You can't tell me that you really believe she's going to be okay on her own."

The daughter of Athena weakens, her lower lip trembling slightly.

"Let me help her," Percy pleads, his eyes lightening with desperation as the sky clears.

Annabeth stares at him, her gaze unfocused while her throat bobs. Her brow tightens in the middle, just slightly, as the seconds pass. Sunlight streaks into her eyes, revealing the glimmering sheen of tears at her lids.