νεκρός || Annabeth Chase x Fem!OC

Vol. 4-27: Rachel does more dumb shit

ANNABETH

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I could barely focus on the rest of the Olympian council. It took Percy barely two seconds to decide he didn't want to be a god. "I'd hate to peak in my sophomore year." That's what he said. But I think we all knew he was thinking about Tempest, and Luke's final words, and he forced the gods into a vow. Now, they had to claim their kids.

We were on our way out when Percy spotted Hermes in a side courtyard of the palace. He was staring at an Iris-message in the mist of a fountain.

Percy glanced at me. His eyes were a little puffy. "I'll meet you at the elevator."

I hesitated, glancing at Hermes briefly, but I saw the confidence on Percy's face. "Okay."

He turned and began approaching Hermes, and I continued my path towards the elevator, but was stopped suddenly by a goddess standing in the middle of the road.

My breath hitched. "Aphrodite."

Her dark hair shimmered in the light as she smiled at me. "Annabeth Chase."

I looked at my feet. "You were comforting Tempest."

"Of course," Aphrodite said. "I'm not as vain as they say, you know. I can understand when someone is distressed. Unloved. When they feel like they're not worthy. When they feel ashamed, or... disgusted. Unfortunately, Tempest has felt like that for a very long time, even before she realized she liked other women."

"That's because her pain doesn't just stem from romance," I said, my throat tightening.

Aphrodite nodded morosely. "Yes. I'll have you know, Annabeth, that you have helped her overcome that. Others have, too. But you were the first." My face started burning. "And she chose you. She chose others, too." She smiled knowingly. "But you were the first name in her mind."

I looked away. "I don't know why. She- She's been wanting to die for so long-"

"Because she felt like she had nothing to live for."

That was so weird to hear. Tempest isn't even alive. She's been wanting to truly die for decades, now, but she chose not to. Instead, she chose to have one more day with her family. Just one day. Then, she'd stay here. With me. With Percy and Grover. At Camp Half-Blood. Maybe she felt like she had something to stick around for, then. Maybe she hadn't realized it for a long time.

Aphrodite cupped my cheek. My breath hitched and I looked at her red eyes carefully, like I was afraid she might do something to hurt me. Maybe I was still keyed-up from the battle.

"Be gentle with her," she advised. "But don't be afraid to push her if you need to. She loves you. And you need to remember that."

Then she turned and walked away, leaving the scent of roses behind her.

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Percy finally met me by the elevator.

He wrinkled his nose. "Why do you smell like roses?"

"Long story." Together we made our way down to the street level. Neither of us said a word. The music was awful- Neil Diamond or something. Percy should've made that part of his gift from the gods: better elevator tunes.