The Chosen One (Earth 7)

CXXIX) L(Over)

"It's hard to sing along to songs that people sing when they're happy.. I could win a Grammy."

***

They walked back to the common room. Though Percy had originally intended to tell Annabeth everything right then and there, seeing how worried she seemed without knowing the truth felt like a dagger through Percy's heart.

He knew he was doing the one thing Annabeth told him not to do, but it was doing to to protect her.

He also knew full well that if he survived the whole ordeal, he would probably get murdered by Annabeth, but he didn't let it stop him.

He spent the rest of the night with his friends, talking to his kids; he still felt like the concept was weird, but he didn't know if he was gonna survive this.

He knew the river Lethe would wash away his memories, and he was even more sure that Zeus would make sure his powers won't get used at all.

But he had to do it.

Calypso was still on her island, growing more and more lonely with each passing day. As someone who had severe attachment issues, he didn't know how he would survive that at all.

"You okay?" Annabeth asked, squeezing his hand.

"Just thinking," he said.

She looked at him curiously. "About what?"

He shook his head. "It's just nice, I guess. I'm happy.."

"You should be," she said.

But he, of all people, knew that happiness wasn't really a thing that lasted as a demigod. You may think that it'll never disappear, never leave you, but the second you let your guard down – Hades, you don't even have to let your guard down – it'll get ripped out your life like a bandaid.

Despite not being surprised at all, he was still really pissed about the whole situation.

Though he didn't want to admit it, he felt like this would just be a constant in his life, lying to Annabeth. He hated not fulfilling promises, and hoped to anyone who would listen that he would survive the quest just so he could fulfill it.

The rest of the night went by like that, and people had started picking up on how jittery Percy was being.

"Dude," Ethan said. "I get that you're excited to get in bed with-"

Matthew nudged him in the gut, groaning. "Could you shut up?"

"No," Ethan smiled at him.

Percy let out a nervous chuckle and they turned to him.

"Seriously, what's up with you?" Ethan asked.

"Did Athena say something?"

Percy looked over at Annabeth, who was across the room, before sighing. "You could say something like that."

Matthew's gaze softened. "Don't worry about it too much, and don't leave her again, I don't think she can handle it- but don't tell her I said that either."