The Last Part

Sparky

Percy's POV

   Even before Jason came to his room, Percy knew Jason was coming.
   He imagined Hawkeye at least tried to prevent Jason from coming, but Percy knew Jason. He wasn't going to take no for an answer. Like if Jason was in Percy's shoes, Percy wouldn't take no for an answer either.
   Either way, Percy locked the door. He didn't want to see anyone. He didn't deserve it. He got banned, he couldn't prevent Annabeth from dying. Percy wasn't worth it.
   There was a loud knocking on the door. "Percy, let me in!" Jason's voice was muffled, but Percy could still hear it loud and clear.
   "No, go away!" Percy yelled back.
   "You know I won't do that Percy."
   "I don't care! I'm not worth it, Jason! Stop wasting your time on me." Percy was sitting on his bed, and after saying that, he was close to tears. He had thought that he bad things about him, but he had never said it out loud, admitting it. It made Percy sick to his stomach.
   Jason was quiet for a moment. Percy almost thought he left, but he knew better. "Is this what Annabeth would've wanted? I know Annabeth, this isn't what Annabeth would've wanted." Jason asked quietly.
   Hot tears boiled up in Percy's eyes. "You didn't KNOW Annabeth. You never took the time to KNOW her. Out of all the members on this ship you and her were the most distant! Don't pretend that you knew her. You never knew her like I did."
   Jason's already had his counterattack. "Wanna know who also knew Annabeth? Piper. Piper knew Annabeth, maybe not as well as you did but they were friends. And what about Thalia? Thalia knew Annabeth longer then you did, so stop pretending like you're the only one who's suffering!"
   Anger swelled up inside of Percy. He wasn't pretending he was the only one suffering, he was acknowledging the facts. "You think," Percy was seething with anger. How whole body shook as he talked to Jason in a deadly quiet voice. "I'm PRETENDING? I know that I'm not the only one suffering, I know that. You think I ran away from Camp because I was the only one suffering and couldn't be bothered?"
   Jason didn't respond, so Percy kept going. "Hades, no! I was freaking banished by her Almighty Pain in the Butt Hera!! And SHE was the one who killed Annabeth! And I couldn't stop it. I wasn't fast enough. So just stuff it, Grace! You don't know what you're talking about, so just leave me alone."
   The words stung Percy's mouth. He wasn't able to stop Annabeth's death. He could've though, but wasn't fast enough. It was all his fault. His fault Wise Girl was gone.
   Jason didn't say anything. Suddenly the door was pulled right off its hinges. Jason threw it into the hallway and ran into the room. Percy wondered for a split second if Jason was crazy, but when Jason gave him a bear hug, it kind of cleared up.
   Jason was a little bit taller then Percy, and his grip was like iron. Percy couldn't pull away, but he tensed up, then relaxed. Percy had to admit, it was nice seeing someone familiar. "How are things at camp?"
   Jason let go and sat on Percy's bed. "Horrible. It scared everyone to find both you and Annabeth gone, and the pile of ashes in front of your cabin didn't exactly help. Some campers thought you just went away in a little midnight walk, and just hadn't gone back." Percy's face reddened. "But Chiron knew better. Suddenly, Hera appeared and explained of how Annabeth died because she was on her way to Bunker Nine to try something, a monster attacked, and Annabeth got horribly maimed."
   "That stupid, no good goddess..." Percy went on calling Hera some not so friendly names.
   "Either way," Jason continued smiling a bit. "Hera then said that you were so upset that you ran away. The ashes in front of your cabin were the things you burned."
   Percy was surprised at this. "Did anyone believe her?"
   "I don't think anyone did, but you don't just disagree with a goddess right in front of you. But things at camp are really bad. Suddenly losing your oldest campers? Losing some of your friends? That's tough. Piper's a wreck, not eating anything, having trouble sleeping, nightmares, we need you back."
   "I can't go back," Percy waved a hand in front of his face, "banished, remember? And why are you here instead of with Piper?"
   "Piper at the moment has Leo, Lacy, and Mitchell. And possibly Nico. You had no one. And a secret visit from Hermes told me were you were," Jason explained.
   "Thanks, man," Percy said. "I mean it, really. But I'm just not worth it. Go home, Grace, help Piper, help Camp, don't bother with me."
   Jason immediately stood up, put his hands on Percy's shoulders, and stared directly into his eyes. "You listen here, Jackson. I don't care if you think you're worth it or not. I think you're worth it. It's my time, I'm going to use it however I want. And shut up, talking bad about yourself. You are Percy Jackson, Savior of Olympus, the gods owe their lives to you, TWICE, you've saved billions of people, and you think you're not WORTHY? Cmon Jackson, you're better then that."
   Percy couldn't help it, he didn't want to cry in front of Jason. But Annabeth's death, being away from Camp, and Jason trying to help just pushed him over. "I'm not better then that," Percy said as a tear slid down his cheek. "I could've prevented other deaths. Bianca. Beckendorf. Selena. Luke. I even left Bob and Damasen down in Tartarus. I never gave Bob a second thought... The first time." Percy sat down on his bed and put his head into his hands. He didn't care if Jason saw him crying. Percy cried silently, with tears overflowing his eyes and getting the sheets wet. Jason just stood there, shocked.
   "Percy... I had no idea," Jason stuttered.
   "I know. And Zoë..." Percy voice broke.
   "Who's Zoë?" Jason asked.
   "Never mind."
   "Who's Zoë?"
   "I said never mind!" Percy shouted and glared at Jason, he saw Jason's hurt and surprised face, he softened. "I'm sorry."
   "Nah, it's my fault. And this is new for me too, I've never seen you cry before. Through everything, you always kept a straight face, it's really... Difficult to see you cry."
   "Difficult, huh?" Percy sniffed and immediately felt embarrassed, but Jason didn't react.
   "Yeah, difficult."
   Percy dried his eyes and stood up. "Well, thanks for visiting, I appreciate it, but I have to do some training now. Thor wants to see my 'moves.'"
   "How come you got to be an Avenger?" Jason fake whined.
   Percy let a grin slip. "At least you don't have to fight dangerous battles anymore, and I didn't ask for it. I was at Montauk and they showed up."
   "By the way," Jason said, remembrance clear on his face. "Hawkeye says he tried to stop me from coming."
   Percy snickered. "Yeah, I know."
   "Don't you want to come with me?"
   Percy sighed. "I don't know. All I know is that I'm banished, I can't go even if I wanted to."
   Jason looked like he wanted to argue but just said, "Bye Perce, just remember, it wasn't your fault."
   And with that, the son of Jupiter was gone.