Climb (Percy Jackson x Reader)

forty-nine

✺ A SEMBLANCE OF HOPE ✺

(Y/N) takes a long breath, closing her eyes briefly as her cells warm with energy. The air tingles against her skin, power seeping through her body the moment she passes through Camp Half-Blood's barrier.

Feeling Percy's gaze, her eyelids flutter open. She turns, an eyebrow quirking as she looks at him.

"What?" he asks, lifting his hands in innocence. "I was admiring you. Sue me."

(Y/N) chuckles. Rolling her eyes, she bumps him with her elbow. "Well, I can't do that," she says as they begin walking into the camp. "You'd have fair grounds to sue me, in turn."

Percy's lips curve into a crooked smirk. He bumps his shoulder against hers in response.

Campers greet them while going about their business, although some cast disdainful looks over their shoulders (no doubt because of the camp's unfortunate outcome against the Hunters of Artemis in Capture the Flag). While sharing awkward glances, (Y/N) and Percy try not to react to everyone's disappointment.

Voices erupt somewhere close by, and (Y/N) tilts her head. Her ears twitch at the sound of a familiar tone. Atticus talks animatedly with a group of younger campers, his eyes glittering with excitement.

Curious, (Y/N) peers closer.

"Give it back!" one of the kids exclaims. His voice sounds almost shrill, tinged with traces of panic.

Atticus keeps talking, closing out a sentence with, "—and that's just how it works." His eyes remain bright.

But not with enthusiasm, (Y/N) realizes. Energy ripples gently in the air.

"Seriously, Atticus," the now-powerless half-blood says. "Give it back."

"All right, all right," Atticus obliges. The air stills, and his eyes dim. At the same time, the other boy's visage brightens.

Percy frowns. (Y/N) pats his elbow.

"I'll take care of it," she assures. Percy nods, pecking her on the cheek before walking off to find Grover. (Y/N) walks over to Atticus and his friends, trying to keep her tension from showing in her expression.

"(Y/N), you're back!" Atticus gasps. He closes the distance, squeezing her in a hug.

"Hey, kid," (Y/N) returns. Ruffling his hair, she waits for him to pull away. "Can I talk to you for a bit?"

"Sure." Atticus adjusts his weight, turning to wave at his friends before following (Y/N) to her cabin. "What's up?"

Holding her door open, (Y/N) motions for him to enter. Her lips purse slightly as the son of Apollo looks around her cabin with excitement, clearly unaware of her mood.

Huffing slightly, (Y/N) pulls the door shut. It closes with enough force to rattle the weapons hanging on the wall, and Atticus jumps. Warily, he turns to face her.

"Is everything okay?" he asks.

(Y/N) sighs. She rubs the bridge of her nose. "Sorry," she mutters, gesturing dismissively to the door. "But no, not everything is . . . okay."

"Why? What happened?"

"Attie," (Y/N) breathes, dropping her hand from her face and looking at him with a touch of exasperation, "it's because of what I just saw you doing."

His face falls. Curling into himself, he stares at her with wide eyes. "What?"

"Kid, do you really not see how it can be problematic to use your power like that?"