Born a God

Chapter 18 :

Artemis POV:

I woke up in cold sweat, jolting upright in bed, screaming at the ghosts of the past.

"Im okay. Im okay." I whispered in the dark, knowing that I was safe, or at least as safe as I could be right now.

I heard someone stumbling and cursing in the hallway. Percy came into my room, his eyes covered by his disheveled hair.

"Artemis! Are you alright?" Concern laced through his voice as he held the door open, looking at me with wide, yet bleary eyes.

"S-sorry. A nightmare. I had a nightmare," I said, my voice wobbly.

"It's okay. I get them too..." his voice trailed off, seemingly deep in thought.

Percy brought his hand up, combing through his hair. He seemed lost, unsure of what to do next.

"Well, glad youre alright," he mumbled and turned to leave.

"Wait. Percy, will you stay with me?"

As he laid beside me, I shifted closer to him. Heat radiated from his body, instantly warming me up. I snuggled into his arms, content with the sound of his heartbeat and the feeling of his arms around me. Now, I understood what he meant by calming.

"Always," he said as he kissed my forehead, rubbing circles at the small of my back. His small displays of affections sending tingles all throughout my body. He took his hands off my back and slowly laced his fingers with mine. We slowly drifted off into a quiet and dreamless sleep.

Nights passed and he would be there to defeat my every woe. I would wake up yelling, frantically pulling the sheets almost every night, but I was yet to wake to Percy and his own stream of nightmares. I felt his arms around me as his chin rested on my head. Alone, I was so vulnerable, but in his arms I felt so safe. Still, I had to ask.

"Percy," I asked, looking into his deep, sea green eyes.

"How come I never know when you're having a nightmare?" I continued.

He stared into the distance, thinking.

"I don't know. I don't think its my thing to scream or trash about. I just come to, paralyzed with fear," His brows furrowed.

"You should wake me," I nuzzled into him, my fingers laid across his chest.

"It's not necessary. My nightmares are usually about losing you, and I'm usually alright once I realize you're here, safe with me," He said kissing my forehead.

Timeskip

Percy's POV:

Annabeth was hanging around the deck of the ship. The wind sprayed her blonde hair into a twisty yarn of curls. Her calculative eyes scanned over maps of Olympia, finding the perfect route to our unseeming success.

Sorry. Never in the past, present or future will I ever love you.

As I neared, I tried my best to muster up my courage. My mouth opened as I stumbled through the five words, "Annabeth, we need to talk."

Her head tilted slightly, "What is it, Percy?"

"Be honest with me, were we even together?" I questioned.

" O-of course we are! Don't be silly seaweed brain," Annabeth said with a stutter in her voice.

"I dont think this," I gestured to the empty space between us, "will work out for the both of us." I tried to look as determined as I could, even while silently hoping for this torturous conversation to end.