Comforting Percy a Percy Jackson fanfic

Comforting Percy

Percy and Annabeth were at the swords station. As usual, Percy was being a goofball and Annabeth was trying to be serious. They were just about to switch partners when Percy began staring off into space. "Percy? You're with Jason now. Percy?" Annabeth said. She shook Percy's shoulder lightly. "Seaweed Brain. Percy!" She said. Percy let out a scream and jumped backwards. He tripped over a helmet and fell on his back. Everyone gathered around, thinking this was a joke and he was making a scene on purpose. But Annabeth could see something they couldn't. She saw genuine fear in her boyfriend's eyes-something Percy never shows willingly. "Percy..." She said softly, taking a step towards him. Percy scrambled backwards. "D-don't touch me!!" He yelled. Annabeth froze. The crowd began realizing, maybe he wasn't kidding around. "Perce, what's wrong?" Frank stepped forward. Percy moved backwards again. "Don't-S-Stop!!" He squeaked. Annabeth stare at him. She'd never seen Percy this scared before. He was always the one who was brave. If he was experiencing any fear at all, he was hiding it. But now, everyone knew. Percy Jackson was scared of something. But no one knew what.
"Percy. It's okay." Hazel tried. Percy shook his head. 'Are those tears in his eyes?!' Annabeth thought. "Percy. Can you talk to me?" Annabeth bent down to his level. Percy just kept shaking his head. "What's wrong with him?" Frank whispered. "Percy...What is it?" Annabeth asked, her tone laced with concern. Percy looked around. "S-Stop!" He said. "Stop what?" Annabeth asked. Percy's eyes darted around, he was beginning to panic. "Percy, calm down, alright?" Annabeth said. She noticed Percy's breathing was beginning to speed up quickly. Percy backed away again, yelling for the second time "Don't t-touch me!" Annabeth turned to Frank, Hazel, and Jason. Jason stepped forward next to Annabeth. "Hey, Perce. Try to breathe with me, okay? Follow me." Jason took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Percy at first tried to mimic Jason's movements. But he choked on his breaths and the lump that was forming in his throat. "Okay, okay. Just, calm down Percy." Jason said. Nobody had every seen Percy like this. The first and only time Annabeth had ever seen her boyfriend cry was his first day at Camp Half-Blood, when he'd come up the hill carrying Grove after defeating the Minotaur. He was brilliant at hiding pain, fear, and sorrow. But now, Percy was shaking violently, his chest rising and falling at a speed that couldn't be healthy. "Percy. Please, can you talk to me?" Annabeth said. Percy's face twisted with pain. He stood up and bolted from the arena. Annabeth took a step to follow him, but was stopped by Chiron. "Annabeth!" He said in his deep voice. Annabeth looked up at her trainer. "Stay here, my Child. I will talk to him." Chiron said. He began walking in the direction Percy had run in. Annabeth stared at him. Chiron walked back and touched her cheek. "Try to focus on your training, my dear. Percy will be alright." He said, before training and following the demigod.
Chiron hurried to the lake, where he saw Percy wildly pacing at the water's edge. "Percy?" Chiron said. Percy jumped and yelped at the sound of another person's voice. "It's alright Percy. Everything is fine now. It's just you and me here, okay?" Chiron took on his human form, walking on two legs closer to Percy. Percy backed away, and Chiron stopped. "Percy, look at me, alright? Look into my eyes, my son. You are alright. You're safe here, Percy. You're safe." Chiron said softly. Percy's eyes filled with tears. "W-Why won't they l-leave me alone?!" He said. Chiron moved closer slowly. "What?" He asked. "The memories!!" Percy yelled. "Okay, I'm sorry...I don't understand what you mean Percy." Chiron said. "I k-I keep seeing it! Everywhere I just-I see it. Those, things! Taunting me and Annabeth! I can't-" Percy stopped, wiping his eye harshly. "It's alright Percy. It's over now. That was a while ago." Chiron said. He was ten feet away from Percy now. "Then why c-can't I deal with this?!" Percy yelled. "Percy. What you've been through is not something easily forgotten." Chiron said. Eight feet. "I sh-Should be able to...I don't know!!" Percy said. "Percy, you need to try to calm yourself down." Chiron said, raising his hands up. "I can't!!!" Percy screamed. Chiron faltered for a moment, then continued walking towards Percy. He was shaking violently, he was sweating, and he couldn't breathe. Percy felt exhausted. He was really trying to breathe normally, but he couldn't. He really, really couldn't. He felt like he was going to die. Five feet. "Percy. Everything is alright now. Here, you're safe here. It's okay." Chiron said. Suddenly, Percy just froze up aside from the trembling. His face scrunched up. Percy fell to his knees at a speed that worried Chiron. Percy buried his head in his hands and sobbed.
Chiron was beside him now. He gently touched Percy's back. The boy jumped at the sudden contact, but he didn't move away or scream. "I know. I know how scary it must be for you." Chiron said. He began moving his hand up and down comfortingly on Percy's back. Percy removed his hands and looked at Chiron. Chiron read the young demigod's mind and opened his arms. Percy collapsed into him and cried into Chiron's shoulder. "I know. I know Percy. It's alright. It's alright, my son." Chiron continued rubbing Percy's back and speaking calming words to him until the boy's shuddering sobs began to subside. Percy pulled away and wiped at his face forcefully. "What is it?" Chiron asked, observing the act. Percy looked like a small child, lost in the dark. "H-heroes don't c-cry..." He mumbled. Chiron gave him a soft smile. "Then I guess Annabeth is no hero. Hmm? Or Frank, or Hazel. Or Jason, or Piper. Or even Nico." He said. Percy looked up at him. "Or Hercules? Or...Me?" Chiron added. Percy swallowed. He looked down, rubbing his eye. Chiron placed a hand in his shoulder. "Percy. There's nothing wrong with this. Don't think otherwise. Everyone has limits, including demigods. Even the gods themselves have breaking points. And what you've been through at such a young age is quite a good reason, if I do say so myself. And I do!" Chiron said. Percy cracked a half smile, which faded quickly. "But-I can't...I can't do this. I'm supposed to be strong. For Annabeth. For-For my mom." Percy's voice broke. "Your determination is something to be admired, I will say that. However, you are still a child Percy. You simply cannot stay strong forever. And I can tell you this much. I have seen you cross this campus with tears in your eyes. Rushing towards your cabin to hide from everyone else until they vanish." Chiron said. Percy immediately looked down. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. Pain is something we all feel. Demigods especially, Percy. You children go through things mortals cannot fathom." Chiron said. Percy frowned, looking up. "Fathom?" He asked. Chiron chuckled. "Understand or, comprehend." He said. Percy nodded. "There's nothing wrong with crying Percy. Nor is there anything to be ashamed of by the flashbacks." Chiron continued. Percy looked up.
"H-how'd you know it was a flashback?" He asked. "I have seen them before. Many young children come to me feeling scared or like they've lost their minds. They keep seeing or dreaming about a certain event that has scarred them. For children like you, I'm afraid it's not uncommon." Chiron explained. Percy looked to his left, back towards the camp. Through the brush and the trees, he saw kids running around. Some playing, or there training, and others still carrying weapons or equipment to a location. "Don't hide from them, Percy. They're your family. They will understand." Chiron said. Percy nodded. "Yes Sir." He mumbled. "Good. Now, calm yourself down and why don't you head to the cabin and lie down? Hmm? You've had a long day." Chiron said. Percy nodded, blinking. He took a few deep breaths, and Chiron encouraged him. "Good. Good. I will see you at dinner then?" He asked. Percy nodded. "Yeah." He said. "Very well. I will tell Annabeth you've gone to rest, then." Chiron said. "Oh, yeah. Thanks." Percy said, smiling. Chiron enjoyed seeing the boy smile. He'd been through Hades. Seeing him smile gave Chiron hope that Percy still had hope.
Percy walked to his cabin with his head down. When someone tried talking to him, he remained silent. This worried other kids. Percy was normally the life of the party. Why was he so depressed all of a sudden? Percy slammed the door to his cabin shut. He sat on the bed. The second he did so, tears gathered in his eyes again. Percy tried with all the strength he had to keep from crying again, but he failed. He was too emotionally drained to keep fighting. He broke into sobs again.
Annabeth saw Chiron walking towards the arena. She quickly tagged her partner with the sword. "I win!" She said, and she took off. "Annabeth?" Hazel said, quickly deflecting her partner's blade. Annabeth ran to Chiron. "I've sent him to his cabin to rest. He should be fine in a while." Chiron said. Annabeth was quiet, but she kept staring up at him. Chiron sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "Very well." He said. Annabeth quickly hugged him and ran. "Thanks Chiron!" She called, taking off her helmet and throwing it by the rack. She quickly took off her armor and rushed to Percy's cabin. When she got there, she saw Percy lying on his bed. He didn't appear to be sleeping, however. Annabeth let herself in as she'd done thousands of times before. "Perce?" She said. As she got closer to the bed, she saw that Percy wasn't sleeping. He was crying. Annabeth rushed to the side of the bed. Percy was lying with his face pressed into a pillow, a balled up fist over his eye. "Percy..." Annabeth said, frowning. She took his arm and helped him sit up. She then let Percy lean on her in a hug. Percy buried his face in her T-Shirt. Her shirt soaked up his tears, but Annabeth didn't care. She simply rubbed Percy's back and spoke calming words to him. Percy cried for ten minutes. When he was calm, he pulled back and looked down. "You okay?" Annabeth asked. Percy didn't answer. He took one of Annabeth's hands and fiddled with it. Annabeth let him play with her hand, smiling to herself at how adorable Percy was sometimes. Percy just stared at her hand like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Anything to avoid talking. After a few more minutes, she asked another question. "You wanna tell me what happened?" Percy shrugged. "I won't make you do anything." Annabeth said. Percy dropped Annabeth's hand, taking a shaky breath. "I-I saw it." He said, his voice shaky, broken, and hoarse. "Saw what?" Annabeth asked gently. "Tartarus." Percy said. Annabeth caught her breath. Percy just stared at the ground. "I'm so sorry." She said. Percy shook his head. He blinked, and another tear rolled down his cheek. Annabeth wiped it away carefully. Percy sniffled. "It's been so long. W-why can't I handle this?!" Percy spat. Annabeth swallowed. "It hasn't been that long. And, that's something that-I hate to say-we'll probably never get over." She said, choosing her words carefully. Percy looked up, eyes full of pain. It nearly made Annabeth choke up herself, seeing her boyfriend in so much agony. "You-You were so thin...You were starving. It felt like forever." Percy said. Annabeth used all her strength to prevent herself from gathering Percy in her arms again and hold him while she cried. 'He needs me right now...' Annabeth told herself. "I know it did Perce. But we're out. We made it out. And we're safe now. Okay? Look at me Percy." Percy glanced up at her. "We're safe. You're safe." Annabeth said. Percy nodded slightly. He sighed. "You're tired..." Annabeth stated. "Exhausted." Percy corrected. "Lie down." Annabeth instructed. Percy obeyed, lying on his side. "Come here..." He said. "Will you stay with me?" He asked. Annabeth smiled. "Of course I'll stay Seaweed Brain." She said. Percy gave a weak smile. Annabeth climbed in the bed on the other side. She wrapped her arm around him, and Percy flinched hard. Annabeth felt his whole body tense, and she quickly removed her arm. "It's okay...It's okay..." Percy mumbled, and Annabeth wasn't sure if he was talking to her or to himself. She wasn't sure, that is, until Percy turned slightly and repeated the statement a few moments later. Annabeth tucked her arm between them and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Are you gonna sleep?" She asked. "I-I don't know." Percy said in a small voice. "Try to get some sleep okay? I'm right here, Percy. Everything's fine." Annabeth said. Percy exhaled deeply. He closed his eyes, and realized just how truly exhausted he really was. "I love you." Percy mumbled sleepily. Annabeth chuckled. "I love you more, Seaweed Brain." She said. She pressed a kiss into the side of his hair, and closed her eyes. She lied her head back down, and fell asleep.

A/N; I've had the idea for this fanfic for forever!! So glad I finally wrote it! Hope you like it! <3