Alternatively

Turn to the Sun

"Is that a knife in your shoulder?"

She smacked his chest with a dopey grin. "Maybe I'm just happy to see you."

"No," he said slowly, "That's a knife in your shoulder."

"But I am happy to see you!" She pouted.

Shouts and cheers echoed around them, the dark trees distorting the sources of any noise. People and creatures ran all around them but never close enough to see, which made Percy a little skittish. Games never stopped, even upon injury. In fact, the last time Capture the Flag had stopped was when he and Thalia tried to kill each other and thoroughly upset the balance of nature.

"Come on, let's get you out."

Annabeth's pout deepened and she slumped away from him. "No, no I'm fine."

"Seriously," he flinched as something crashed behind them. "You need help."

"Psshaw," she waved. "I'm good. So good. So good, I could probably carry you with these two arms."

She then fell over.

"Jesus," he lurched forward, pulling her to her feet. "You're terrible, let's go."

She nestled into him, completely ignoring the blade protruding from her body. "You know, I always hoped."

"Hoped what?" he grunted.

"Hoped you would like me."

He almost tripped.

She giggled, almost drunkenly, and wrapped her arm about his shoulders. "Sorry, sorry."

"You really lost a lot of blood," he muttered, sweeping her up so he could move more quickly.

It was certainly a good thing that he knew the woods so well, because she was being a gigantic distraction. She combed through his hair, flopping the fringe right in his eyes. She grabbed at branches they passed under, some snapping back into his face. And her babble, dear gods, her mouth was running faster than her blood. It wasn't so bad when she just talked to him, but when they passed a camper?

"This," Annabeth slurred. "This is my best friend, my coolest and bestest friend."

The two blue team members snickered, looking between her and Percy.

He glared, peeling Annabeth's fingers from their armor straps. "Come on, we've got to - stop it - go."

She muttered something in Greek and let her hand drop.

He wasn't positive when she was maimed; he had been on offense the whole night while she supposedly was on recon. The knife looked vaguely Ares, but he really couldn't be sure. Of course, she would take care of it when she was all healed, but that didn't stop him from developing a healthy vendetta.

They stumbled out of the woods, Annabeth still softly talking to herself as he jogged up to Chiron.

"She's been-"

"Directly to the infirmary," the centaur sighed. "The tent won't have enough supplies for that."

"Half-bloods," Mr. D tsked, draining yet another can of Diet Coke.

"You're stupid and terrible!" Annabeth sloppily pointed at him, nearly twisting out of Percy's arms.

The medic tent fell silent, healers and patients alike staring in horror. He had to hold in a laugh, noting the expression on the god's face priceless. It would be worth the severe damnation they both would now receive in the underworld.