The night before the battle, Annabeth couldn't sleep. The camp was alive with activity, everyone preparing for the fight ahead—making last-minute adjustments to armor, sharpening weapons, and going over strategy. Despite the overwhelming sense of purpose in the air, Annabeth found herself pacing outside her cabin, her thoughts running in circles.
She hadn't spoken to Percy since their conversation. He was with Grover, likely preparing to lead their group of satyrs into the frontlines, but Annabeth couldn't shake the feeling that there was something unsaid between them—something that lingered like a storm cloud waiting to burst.
She was snapped out of her thoughts by a soft voice behind her.
"You okay?"
Annabeth turned to see Piper standing in the doorway, her expression open but concerned. Her hair was tousled from the wind, and she looked like she hadn't slept either.
"I should be," Annabeth said with a wry smile. "I'm just not great at sitting still."
Piper stepped closer, her eyes searching Annabeth's face. "You're worried about Percy, aren't you?"
Annabeth hesitated, her gaze drifting down to her hands. "Yeah. I don't want to hurt him. But I know things have changed between us. And I'm scared of what that means for everyone."
Piper's hand brushed against Annabeth's, offering quiet comfort. "You're not the only one who's scared. But we'll get through this, Annabeth. We'll make it out alive, and we'll figure out the rest after. Together."
Annabeth looked up at Piper, their faces just inches apart in the cool night air. For a moment, everything else faded—the battle, the monsters, the war with the gods—and all that mattered was the feeling of Piper's presence beside her.
"You make it easier," Annabeth murmured, her voice soft. "To believe in something. In us."
Piper smiled, her thumb brushing across Annabeth's knuckles. "Good. Because I believe in you. And I believe in us. We've got this."
As the night drew on, they stood there together, the weight of the coming battle hanging heavy in the air. But for now, they didn't need to talk about the fight. They just needed to be.
