The Winds Against the Ocean (Percabeth)(Jiper)

--> Chapter 10

Piper woke up, her head throbbing. She touched her head and felt a bandage around it. She tried sitting up but then a jolting pain shot through her and she fell back against the pillow.

She sighed. She closed her eyes again, catching her breath. She opened her eyes again. Then she used her arms to push herself up, seething from the pain. She pushed herself against the headboard.

She threw the covers off and began scooting to the edge of the bed, wincing. She realized that she only had a robe on. The door opened and Jason rushed to her side. "Why didn't you stay in bed?" He said, holding her arm.

"I didn't want to," Piper said simply, her voice hoarse.

Jason handed her a cup of water and she took a sip for her parched throat. She gulped the rest down.

"How long was I asleep?" She said.

"Two days."

"Two days?!" Pain shot up from her stomach and she doubled over.

"Try not to move, your sides are still sore from the kicks. They kicked you pretty hard."

"Twice," Piper muttered.

"Hazel tried to numb the pain as much as possible. But I see they hurt you pretty badly."

"I'm fine," she said curtly. Then she realized her rudeness. "I'm...sorry. I'm just tired that everyone has to keep on taking care of me. I wanna defend myself."

"Me and Hazel, or Reyna, can teach you how to fight."

"And I can't even move without doubling over," she said bitterly. "I just hate feeling so...."

"Helpless? Weak?"

She nodded.

"Piper, you're the strongest person I know. Don't say that about yourself."

"Jason, were you thinking of letting them take me?"

Jason hesitated and her heart dropped. "I....I. The stone, my father sent me to get it and I can't disobey him."

Piper nodded. She felt betrayed. But at least he didn't leave her. He could have easily just left her and she was thankful for him not doing that but she couldn't help it.

"I understand. I don't blame you. But, thank you for not leaving me." She forced herself to smile sweetly at him.

That just made Jason feel even more guilty. "I'm sorry if I broke your trust. I knew that you were scared of becoming a slave again but..."

"You did not want to disappoint your father."

He nodded, guilt evident on his face. "Piper, I'm really sorry. I should have left the stone, what has my dad ever done for me? I should have-"

"No, no, no," she said, looking into his eyes. "It's alright. It's not your fault. It was Dombolio's fault for thinking that I was something he could buy. It was my fault really, telling Dakota to sleep and bringing it myself."

"It's not your fault, Piper. It's mine. Don't blame it on yourself. I shouldn't even have been thinking of leaving you."

"Alright, fine. It's both of our faults, how about that?"

"But-"

"Can you help me get some fresh air?"

He nodded. He held onto her arms, since he didn't not want to hurt her stomach. They carefully went outside and up the stairs. It was nighttime and the moon and stars were up.

"I feel like an old granny who has back problems," Piper said with a chuckle.

A beautiful old granny, Jason corrected in his mind. They went to the quarterdeck. He nodded at Hazel who was keeping watch. "You can go sleep, I'll take over."

Hazel nodded, smiling at the two and then left as she told Piper to feel better. Jason left Piper holding on to the railing, "Be back in a second."

He got a blanket and returned, spreading it on the deck. Then he helped Piper sit down. "You can lean on me- if you want, of course," he said as he dropped down next to her.

She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder as the two stared up at the stars. She shivered as the night wind blew, a silk robe wasn't very warm.

Jason noticed her shivers and wrapped his arms around her as gently as possible. He had really felt guilty about almost leaving her to Dombolio.

How she tended to his bullet wound despite her slight concussion and her own wounds. And the way she forced a smile when he admitted he was thinking of leaving her, it almost made him drown himself.

She even blamed it on herself. She called herself weak and helpless! Gods, if only she saw herself the way Jason saw her. She absorbed years of slavery and torture. She suffered from the hatred of her sister. She was anything but weak and helpless.

He remembered the way she looked at him she Dombolio requested her. Those changing colored eyes were staring up at him with anticipation. No, not anticipation, with worry that he'll betray her. And he almost did. He had seen the way her hands shook and the way she grasped her dress. It haunted him while she was unconscious.

He himself told her that she could trust him and she did. And then he broke that trust by almost sending her off again to do a cruel man's- no, a monster's bidding.

"The stars are beautiful," Piper said, her voice a whisper. She held her hand up as if to catch a falling star. "I wish I was a star. I could just come out at night and drift around. Nothing to worry about. I could have all my friends around me, safe and serene."

Her words stabbed right through his chest. Another wave of guilt wash over him. "I'm sorry, Piper. I'm so sorry."

Piper sat up at him with some difficulty but she managed, glaring at him. He couldn't help but notice how their lips were centimeters apart. His eyes flicked back and forth from her eyes to her lips. "Will you ever stop apologizing? It's getting really annoying. I told you, it's not your fault. And if I hear that 's' word again, I will permanently mark you as my arch nemesis and ignore you."

Jason chuckled. "Alright, it's just that I feel really guilt-"

"And if I here that 'g' word coming out of your mouth, I will drag you all the way to Tartarus."

"Ok, ok. Fine."

"You idiot," she said. "Just kiss me already!"

"What?"

"You heard me."

Piper could not believe she just told Jason to kiss her but it already came out of her mouth and she was going on with it.

Jason leaned in and their lips touched gently, but firmly. She felt like Leo had just set her on fire from inside of her. She felt warm.

Then they parted, both staring into each other's eyes. Both of their cheeks were pink and they could hear the waves crashing into the ship's hull.

They both were smiling and Piper kissed him again, this time more firm. He kissed back.

Then they heard a clap behind them. They quickly parted again and turned to find Leo with an elfish grin.

"It took you that long to realize that you were soulmates?!" Leo said. "Both of you are blind and idiots. So is it official, or does Repair Boy have to make a few tweaks in your relationship with his screwdriver? Namely, hit you guys on the head to knock some sense into you."

Piper laughed behind her hand. Jason looked at her with a smile. Then their hand intertwined. "I guess we are," Jason said.