A Time In the Stars

Heartbreak

Percy breathed a sigh.

The almighty primordial of the earth had been put to rest again, for the foreseeable future and years of fighting and travelling all across the world ended with Olympus prevailing once again.

After years of fighting, the demigods fortunate to survive the bloodshed were honoured with a celebration hosted by the Olympian gods. A small gesture for all the sacrifices the demigods made on behalf of keeping their kingdom safe.

As demigods were scattered around waiting for the ceremony to start, a hand nudged Percy's shoulder from behind.

"Percy, can we talk?" Annabeth said, her piercing silver eyes looking at the sea-green eyes of the son of Poseidon.

Percy had an uneasy feeling in his stomach, but he chalked it to just overthinking. He and Annabeth had gone through everything together. From partaking in the most dangerous quests to fighting the most feared figures in history, to being surrounded by insurmountable odds, they had quite literally been through hell and back.

"Sure," He said gesturing for her to follow him to the gardens of Olympus, where they could have a moment of privacy.

Percy and Annabeth walked in silence, with Annabeth's glaze not being able to meet him as they walked.

"Anything on your mind, wise girl" He said looking up with a soft smile as they reached the gardens.

The place was almost dead silent, you could here the commotion of the throne room but they were surrounded by eerie silence.

"Percy, before we got here, I had a conversation with my mom" Annabeth said speaking softly.

Percy looked up, raising an eyebrow. 

"She offered me the position as the official architect of Olympus, as well as being a minor god" She said in a level tone

"Wise girl, I am so proud of you" Percy said in a genuine tone, as he wholeheartedly believed she did deserve the honor, however he did expect her to soon tell him she declined the role, just as he declined godhood when it was offered to him years ago.

"Percy, I accepted" Annabeth said after taking an exasperated sigh.

Percy did not clock it in, his body almost went into a state of shock, almost as if someone dropped a hammer in front of him.

"Percy?" she said waiting for a response to the bombshell she dropped/

"I, I don't know what to say" He managed to muster after taking a couple seconds to process what she said.

"I know its going to hurt you Percy, but it has always been my dream to do this. Working alongside my mother, having the honor of designing the most prestigious palace for the gods themselves, I just couldn't turn it down" She said, with a glint of pride and ego in her eyes."

"What-What about us?" he managed to say.

"Percy, as much as I love you and everything we have, I feel this is an opportunity I just could not pass on, it has always been my dream, and as much as I would love to continue being with you, we both know it is not practical for me to be committed with you while having this duty hang over my head" She said as she tried to reason.

Percy shook his head, looking at the ground. Although he masked his emotions well, he felt hurt and betrayed.

Truth be told, he did not believe what she said, it felt like a blur. Picture falling in love with the one girl you have gone through everything with, laughed, cried and fell into literal hell with, tell you in a few simple sentences that she did not value you and the relationship, and a mere job offer and the chance to be immortal was all it took for you to dump the man you loved.

"I understand, I would never want to come in the way of your dreams" He said, offering a slight smile.

Annabeth bowed her head as she reached in and hugged him one final time. Percy reluctantly did as well as she pulled away and walked out to the throne room.

Percy could not manage to process the news, as he took a seat and put his head in his hands. He had still not overcame the shock.

"No way, there is absolutely no way" he said quietly as he stared at the ground. How could she, after everything we have been through.

He continued to stare in absolute shock, until he was interrupted after twenty something minutes by a voice.

"Percy, man I have been looking for you, ceremony is about to start" Jason said in an exasperated tone. 

He was as jubilant as ever, finally defeating Gaea and having such a huge burden of this whole war being lifted off his chest. However he felt unease, as Percy did not manage to even acknowledge his presence.

"Hey, you good" he said sitting beside him.

"Yeah, lost in though, he said offering a smile, which Jason did not buy

"You sure, I mean-" Jason said as he was interrupted

"Trust me I'm good, he said in a slightly frustrated and level tone as he walked past the son of Zeus, leaving him with more questions than answers.