Fate (PIPABETH FF) ✔️

What They Don't Know

A N N A B E T H

The warm rays of the sun felt nice on my cheeks as I arose from my sleep, stifling a loud yawn as I glanced across the room. Unsurprisingly, I was one of the first ones awake– but judging from the clear, sunny skies, there was no better time to start the day than now.

Like usual, I walked outside for breakfast, knowing that my siblings would trail behind sooner or later. My eyes were peeled, though, for the sight of someone familiar. My eyes darted across the campground as I searched for a mess of raven black hair, calming, sea green eyes, and chiseled but soft features. 

Of course, I would never ever admit these descriptions out loud. He would have to work for it. Most preferably without the use of his "sad puppy" eyes, because, for all I knew, that was cheating.

Recently, Percy had seemed occupied with multiple things at once. Every time I tried to subtly reach out to him in hopes of catching up or at least hanging out together, he would just nod at me with an apologetic smile, "sorry, maybe another time?" being the last things I heard before he headed out, a quick peck on the cheek being the only thing that lingered. Even early in the morning, he had been leaving his cabin early, always excusing it as "morning exercise" or "a morning dip nearby", as if we didn't all already have a schedule packed with physical activity.

Of course, I had my suspicions, but I only brushed it off. Percy was too... loyal to do something like that. It was crazy that the thought even made its way in my brain. I must still be a little tired, I thought, rubbing at my eyes with my hands. 

An idea popped into my head. If Percy was too busy to check up on me, why couldn't I just check up on him myself? Before breakfast, I'd just look for him, greet him, and hopefully leave him back to his devices. If I'm going to be a girlfriend, why not be a good one?  I couldn't help but smile incredulously at my own ridiculous thought before heading out, passing the arena as I trekked towards the North Woods, red speckles of the strawberry fields dotting the corners of my vision as I hurried on forwards.

Approaching a clearing that had revealed after a few minutes of walking through the woods, I came to a halt as I began to hear quiet voices. Stiffening, I turned to leave, because truly, this was probably none of my business.

Until I heard a familiar laugh. My ears strained as I recognized Percy's laugh, my back relaxing as I exhaled in relief. It's about time, I thought, a smile beginning to make its way onto my face. He wasn't kidding about the exercise, huh? This is pretty far for a normal outing, anyway. 

If this were anyone else, I would almost be ashamed at how fast I felt my ears focus in on the voices almost immediately. After all, how couldn't they? I'd gone through so much, staying alert and taking note of anything and everything was basically my forte. 

"Are you suggesting I lose the hair?" Percy's voice rang out, as well as a laugh. Percy.

Another voice that I recognized suddenly came out. "I wasn't saying anything like that, dude, you know that. That's dumb."

Has Jason always been this much of an early bird? I tried my hardest to shrug off the strange feeling that had arisen in my chest as I continued my trek forwards. I don't know when or how my footsteps began to turn silent, but I kept on walking. As a child of Athena, my curiosity got the best of me. 

"Is it dumb or is it just you?" Percy's voice was deadpan for a moment, and I couldn't help but let my guard down. It's fine, I'm just being paranoid.

I heard a small laugh. "Quit self projecting, bro." Jason audibly snorted.

Laughs arose from the pair as they continued to utter pointed jokes and banter, some so oddly specific that even I had no idea what they were referring to. Inside, I could feel my gut churn in unrestrainable envy as I got closer and closer– it was like they were both hidden in their own world, with no worries to face. In turn, I couldn't stop my nose from scrunching subconsciously, both equally from confusion and slight bewilderment. 

Gods, I need to check up on them for my own sake. I laughed to myself uneasily as I headed out into the clearing, clearing my throat quietly, a "morning, Seaweed Brain" already prepared to leave my mouth.

I don't know what prompted it, but something caused me to stop in my tracks, forcing me to wait in growing anxiety. There was a deep pit in my stomach, and it churned unsettlingly.

The gleeful chattering of the two men came to a soft fade, and nothing else could be heard other than heavy breathing and the crackling of leaves as they were being trampled over. The silence stretched out painfully until I suddenly heard the painfully specific sound of passion– quick, ragged breaths alongside the rustles of clothes brushing against each other. 

What?

That can't be right.

I narrowed my eyes, feeling my throat rise up with bile. I shook my head slightly in a desperate attempt to clear my head. My vision was getting blurry, but I knew I couldn't jump to conclusions right away. I couldn't confirm anything, couldn't jump straight to conclusions. That was not what a daughter of Athena did, and that surely wasn't what I was going to do now. 

Peeking my head from the stump of a tree, I felt my stomach plummet as I saw what I had hoped not to be true.

Percy's back was backed up on a tree and Jason was kissing him passionately on the lips, and even I could see how much love was poured into it. 

I must've made some sort of shocked noise, or maybe I stepped on a twig, because they heard me and their lips disconnected. "Annabeth?" Percy asked desperately, his head whirling around in shock. It was almost cruel how quickly I'd been identified by him– and by all means, it was too much for me. I heard Jason turn to my direction, but it was only faint as I was already biting my lip, tasting the familiar taste of iron on my tongue, vision blurring slightly as I hurried back to camp. I ignored the sting of the plants and branches that whipped my limbs as I ran past. The heavy, crushing weight on my chest was enough to cancel them all out.

However, only one strange thing was ringing in my mind as I ran. I was not alone in this situation, and never truly would be. Surely the gods were watching... right? Were they not usually so gracious as to deliver punishment onto those who deserved...? For once, I ignored how wrong I was as my mind echoed thousands of possibilities in my head. What now? What would I do?

And... moreover, what would I tell Piper?

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oh dear. i've come to fix this again. when will i ever be satisfied

-june 10, 2020

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haha... ha.... definitely did not edit this just to revise it again

-mar 22, 22