Percabeth Short Stories

Tear In My Heart

Yes, as the title suggests, this is kinda based on a song by Twenty Øne Piløts (listen to it while you read). Otherwise, enjoy! 😊

TRIGGER WARNING: abuse, cutting, suicide etc

Even from a young age, Percy had adored his best friend Annabeth's smile. He saw it nearly every day, and it was the main thing which kept him going.

But even if her smile lit up his world, there were things which darkened it.

It had first started when his mother began dating Gabe Ugliano shortly after Percy's tenth birthday. Their relationship was fine at first, but a few months into it, Gabe moved into their apartment to help pay the bills. Percy knew that money was tight for him and his mother, and so was ready to accept Gabe into his life with open arms. But that feeling was short-lived.

To cut the story short would be just to say that Gabe and Percy didn't mix very well. Their first conversation ended with Percy narrowly dodging a beer bottle.

As the years went by, the old family photos of Percy, his mother and Percy's dead father disappeared. The house became surprisingly messier and Percy started to be concerned for his mother who followed Gabe around like she was his slave.

And that wasn't even the start of what changed. Percy's tone went from upbeat and child-like to sarcastic and bitter. His back slumped. He became less and less popular at school. Until Annabeth came along.

They met when Annabeth moved to New York and became a permanent resident in his class. She arrived a week before Percy's thirteenth birthday. Percy hated the fact that Annabeth was so nice to him. He didn't want to be her friend; he already had Grover and was completely fine with that.

But Annabeth slowly grew on him. After knowing him for just a week, she made him a thirteenth birthday cupcake complete with blue icing.

When she had given it to him, Percy just stared at it, then at her. His walls began to crumble.

"I - I don't know what to say." He said, and for once his tone didn't make him sound like he didn't mean it.

"Then don't say anything, silly." Annabeth smiled, giggling a little bit as she did so. "Eat it."

"How did you know I like blue?"

She gestured to his backpack which was a bold, bright blue.

Nobody except his mother had ever made him something like this before, and Percy had to admit, the cupcake was pretty tasty.

The pair chatted and Percy immediately regretted his decision to hold back. He had a feeling in his stomach which sent sparks of electricity coursing through his body whenever they talked.

But that night would also be a first for Percy. When he came home from school, feeling happy all over, Gabe was sitting in the living room watching TV. Percy had gone around to Grover's house to celebrate his birthday and had arrived home a bit later than what had been originally planned so it was dark.

"You're late." Gabe said as Percy tried to creep across the room to the hallway.

"Where's mom?" Percy asked, straightening up.

"In bed." Gabe stood, his bulging stomach hanging over the top of his jeans, a beer bottle in hand.

"What did you do to her?"

"Nothing, kid." And before Percy could react, the beer bottle was spinning towards him. It hit him face-on, shattering on his nose.

Blood poured down his face. Percy gasped, stumbling backwards. Big mistake, as pieces of glass fell into his mouth.