The New Trinity -- Percy Jackson Batman Crossover -- The Olympian Heroes Book 4

24. Annabeth

Oh gods oh gods oh gods! I thought as I sprinted through the corridor. What was I thinking? I just kissed Percy! And then left him with essentially no chance of survival. Why hadn't I stayed? I skidded to a stop and grabbed the metal spider from my pocket with a shudder.
'i have a plan' Percy had said
A plan that would get him killed. I had to go back and help.
You'll do him no good if both of you get killed. Get the info back to Hephaestus. Logic spoke into my mind.
But Percy! I argued back
'ill be fine' he said
"I'm sorry Percy" I muttered before setting the small spider on the ground as soon as it hit the ground I heard a rumbled from the cavern just a few yards away. The rumble seemingly jumpstarted the spider which began scurrying into the tunnel.
I dove into the nearest tunnel right as I heard the explosion behind me. The metal spider scurrying ahead of me.
My thoughts raced. Was Percy okay? Odds were most definitely not in his favor. I blinked back tears and ducked around the corner following the spider and I realized, for the first time since I was little. I was alone. No friends, no family around me. Just me, the dark, and the spiders. And I felt like a little kid again.

I knew the spider wasn't taking me back towards Hephaestus's workshop when I saw light filtering in from a small crack in the ceiling above me. The spider stopped and seemed to look at me before launching its self up into that day light.
"No there's something there!" I heard a voice hiss as I pulled myself up "it might be Luke or-"
"It's not Luke" I said my voice foreign to my own ears "it's me"
I poked my head out the small cave opening in Zeus's fist.
"Don't shoot!" I said as I saw an arrow pointed at me.
"Annabeth!" Jake Mason said jumping forward to help me navigate around the trenches and spikes they put up.
"Where's Grover, and Tyson?" He asked "and Percy?"
Beckendorf hit his brother.
"Are you alright?" He asked
I looked at him then to the ground not quite sure how to answer.
"Do you have water?" I asked finally "mine ran out and i-"
"C'mon let's go to the Big House" Beckendorf said beginning to lead the way. "Annabeth?"
I realized I had been staring at the opening in Zeus's fist.
"He's out there" I mumbled "he has to be"
"Who?"
"Percy" I mumbled "he can't be d-de"
"C'mon let's go" Beckendorf cut me off from saying it. I wiped my tears off of my face and followed him to the Big House.

"Chiron?" Beckendorf called into the quiet house
"Yes my boy-" Chiron asked entering the room and seeing my tear streaked face and grimy hands. "Oh no"
Chiron took a few steps forward before wrapping me in a hug that only a father could give. I cried into his shoulder for I'm not sure how long before finally he asked
"What happened Annabeth?"
I took a shaky breath "P-Percy is..."
Chiron nodded "why don't you go have a shower and get a change of clothes. Then come back and we can talk."
I nodded numbly before he led me out of the Big house and towards my cabin.

I lay curled on my bunk even as the dinner horn sounded I didn't move.
After I had told Chiron what had happened I went back to my cabin and froze up.
"Annabeth?" Tim asked "we brought you a plate we thought you might want to eat"
"I'm not hungry" I muttered turning my back to them
"Annabeth please try and-" Tim started
"Tim" Malcolm said "it's fine she needs to be alone"
I could practically see Tim's face as Malcolm dragged him out of the Cabin back to the pavilion.
The rest of my siblings tried later that night as well. Even Clarisse came in and tried to talk to me. Finally the third morning after I got out of bed, showered, and got dressed before heading for breakfast. Though I didn't eat much of anything.
When I entered it got quiet and then whispers started. I ignored them and sat down with my siblings, putting my head down.
"Annabeth good to see you up" Selina said tapping my shoulder. I looked up at her "if you need anything just let me and my cabin know and we'll-"
"Thanks Selina" I muttered she nodded. Through out breakfast a few others came to talk to me: Will Solace and Michael Yew from the Apollo cabin, Katie Gardner from Demeter, and then Conner Stoll who offered to steal me a new t-shirt from the camp store. But I think he was just trying to make me laugh.
Finally I stood and walked to the table at the front where Chiron sat.
"I'm going" I said
"Where?" He asked suspiciously
"To find Percy" I answered
"Anna-"
"I'm going with her" Tim stood beside me
"Me too" Clarisse joined us at the front I stared at her and she blushed slightly and very quietly added "it's not for the runt. You helped me with Chris and I... I owe you one"
It sounded like those words were extremely hard for her to say.
Chiron sighed "I understand you want to save him maybe even blame yourself."
I looked down a little the truth was I kind of did. If I hadn't been a coward he might be here right now. And there's no way I could face Cass if because of me he was dead. Or Bruce.
"Chiron I need to...please" I said
He sighed "I suppose I'll give you a week. Though if you plan on going to Mount St Helens then I don't really have an easy way to get you there"
"I think I got this one covered" Tim said

A few hours later we were in the Drake private airplane hanger.
"So Tim how did you get your parents to literally let you take the jet?" I asked
"This is really your family's?" Clarisse asked in disbelief
"Uh yeah" Tim said running his hands through his hair "they um...don't know I'm taking it?"
"Tim we cant-"
"It's not like they'll notice!" He said "they're too busy to even check up on me when I'm at home"
I sighed so it was either steal from one of the richest families in Gotham or just go back to camp.
"Fine" I said "but you do realize we'll need a pilot right?"
"See that's the other thing I forgot to tell you" Tim said "the only pilot that I could convince not to tell my parents well. He's..."
"Dad?" I asked as he entered behind Tim
"Yeah exactly" Tim said "hey Mr. Chase"
"Dad what are you doing?" I asked
"Well I thought I was taking you to St. Helens but if you have a different pilot then we can-"
"No" I said sighing "it's fine." I glared at Tim and he shrugged
"Sorry it was the only way"
"Oh c'mon Annabeth this'll be fun" Dad said "now I can finally someone of your friends besides Percy."
"That's what I'm worried about" I groaned "Dad this is Tim Drake he's uh..."
"Your mother's son?" Dad asked
I nodded. At the house we never mentioned Athena. I had heard my dad say her name once. And last time I said her name June had a fit.
"A-and this is Clarisse La Rue" I said
"Good to meet you Mr. Chase" Clarisse said
Huh Clarisse being good manorred? This was new.
"You too"
"We should probably get going" I said after an awkard silence spanned on.
"Yeah let's go" Tim said leading the way into the private jet.

"Hey it's time to go" Clarisse said
I wiped my tears out of my eyes
"Oh yeah...I'll be there in a second"
We had searched Mount St. Helens and surrounding areas for three days before we decided it was no use and my fears were confirmed. Percy was dead.
I tapped my watch "h-hey Babs can you tell Bruce I need to talk to him"
Static on the other end. I sighed and turned off my mic. She'd get back to me as soon as she could. I closed my eyes and lay my head back. How was I gonna do this? To tell Bruce that Percy was dead and it was my fault for not going back. He'd never forgive me. I'd never wear the cowl again.
"You have to do this" I told myself

I stood in front of the giant double doors of Wayne Manor for about five minutes working up the nerve to even knock.
When I finally did, no one answered.
"Babs are you sure they're home?"
"Yeah" she answered over the Mic "try again"
I knocked again and waiting for about a minute before the door opened a crack.
"Annabeth!" Cass held out her hand for me to shake.
I smiled a little bit "Cass you don't have to do that every... nevermind. Is Bruce around"
"What's wrong" she asked
I took a shaky breath "just is Bruce-"
"Annabeth, I was told you need to talk to me"
I gulped when I saw him. He was dressed for a party in a suit and tie.
I nodded silently.
"Let's go to my office"

He took the news silently, not even flinching when I said it.
"I'm sorry Bruce" the tears in my eyes dropped "I tried...I should've gone back and helped I should've-"
Then he did likely the last thing I expected. He stood from the chair and crossed the room to where I was standing...then he hugged me.
"It wasn't you're fault" he said "Percy really...he really cared about you. I'm sorry you had to be there when he... Thank you Annabeth"
"I..i-"
"I also owe you an apology... I've been..." He was still hugging me which surprised me even more than the initial hug.
Neither of us moved or said anything for at least five minutes until Alfred cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry to interrupt Master Bruce. But Ms. Kyle is here"
Bruce straightened his tie "thanks Alfred. I'll be right there"