Percabeth Oneshots

Fading Shorelines

By me.

The ocean had always called to Percy, but tonight it was louder than usual—like it knew something was wrong.

He sat on the edge of the camp's dock, staring at the waves as they lapped against the wooden beams. The sky above was heavy with storm clouds, reflecting the turmoil brewing inside him.

He clutched his fingers together, his knuckles turning white as he fought to keep his emotions in check. It wasn't working.

Annabeth was leaving.

Not just for a few weeks or months, but indefinitely. She had accepted an offer to study architecture abroad—something she had always dreamed of—but in accepting, she had put an ocean between them that Percy wasn't sure he could bridge this time.

He didn’t want to stop her. He couldn't. This was her dream, the culmination of everything she had fought for. But the idea of being without her, of facing the endless days alone, felt like drowning in slow motion.

"Percy?"

Her voice cut through the sound of the waves, soft yet sharp, and he felt his heart clench painfully. He didn’t turn around, too afraid that if he saw her face, he wouldn’t be able to hide the storm raging inside him.

Annabeth stepped forward, her shoes softly tapping against the wooden planks as she sat down beside him. She was silent for a few moments, both of them watching the waves. She looked so calm—so sure—while he felt like he was breaking apart.

"You're really going," he finally whispered, the words tasting like salt and bitterness.

She didn’t deny it. Instead, she took a deep breath, her voice steady. "I have to. You know that."

"I know," he muttered, his throat tight. "I just—"

Percy couldn't finish. How could he explain that every time he thought about her leaving, it felt like the ocean he loved so much was pulling him under, drowning him in fear, regret, and loneliness?

Annabeth’s hand reached out and found his, her fingers lacing with his. "We’ll make it work, Seaweed Brain. We always do."

He wanted to believe her. He wanted to trust in the strength of their bond, the years they had fought and bled together.

But this time, it felt different.

It felt final.

It felt like the world had shifted, and no amount of power from the gods could put it back the way it was.

"I don’t know how to do this without you," Percy admitted, his voice cracking. "We've been through everything together. The wars, the prophecy...everything. And now you're just—" He shook his head, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill. "Now you're just going."

Annabeth's grip tightened, her face softening. "You’ll be okay, Percy. You always are."

"But I don’t want to be ‘okay,’" he snapped, surprising both of them. His voice rose as the dam broke, his emotions flooding out. "I want you here, Annabeth. I need you here. We’ve been through too much for it to just end like this."

Her eyes, usually so strong, wavered for a moment, and Percy saw the pain she was holding back. "It’s not ending, Percy. This...us, it’s not ending."

"It feels like it is."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken fears. Annabeth looked away, her gray eyes fixed on the horizon, but Percy knew she was fighting the same battle he was.

They both knew that long-distance relationships rarely worked, especially not for demigods. The gods were never kind enough to allow them simple happiness.

"I love you," Annabeth whispered, her voice trembling. "I’ve always loved you."

Percy let out a shaky breath. "I love you too."

They sat there in silence, the waves below the dock mimicking the crashing storm inside Percy’s chest. He knew they couldn't stay like this forever—at some point, she would have to leave. And he would have to let her.

"I’ll visit," she said softly, but Percy knew she was trying to convince herself as much as him.

"Yeah," he murmured. "We’ll figure it out."

But they both knew that nothing was certain. The world was unpredictable, especially for them. Wars, monsters, prophecies—Percy had always known their time together could be fleeting. But he never thought it would end this way, in the quiet suffocation of a goodbye neither of them knew how to give.

The sun dipped lower, disappearing behind the clouds, leaving them in the growing darkness. Percy stared at the horizon, at the place where the sky met the sea, and wished—just for a moment—that they could freeze time, that they could hold on to this sliver of peace.

But the world kept turning, and so did Annabeth’s plans. Eventually, she stood, her hand slipping from his. The loss of her touch felt like a physical blow, and Percy had to bite his lip to stop himself from calling her back.

"I have to go," she whispered.

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

She lingered for a second longer, her eyes searching his face for something—reassurance, maybe, or permission to leave. Percy wasn’t sure he could give either.

"I’ll see you, Seaweed Brain."

And then she was gone, her figure retreating into the distance. Percy watched her go, his heart sinking deeper with every step she took away from him. He turned back to the sea, the water no longer comforting but cold, empty.

For the first time in a long time, Percy felt like he was truly alone. And he wasn’t sure how he was going to survive the storm without her by his side.

--------------

Here's the question for this oneshot:
First to answer can give me a prompt for the next one-shot.

9. What is the official name of Dionysus' son who makes a brief appearance in The Trials of Apollo?