A World of Monsters

|Separate| Pick up the phone, it's my only hope

Percy was sat, drumming his fingers lost in thoughts of his past.

Hazel and Frank were sat at the other end of the table, pouring over a map, concocting a plan. Percy knew he should be right next to them, helping them plan but he was too absorbed in his memories to try and help.

It felt so good, to remember. To not have a blank mind, to not feel so confused at who he was.

He thumbed one of the beads on his necklace and looking down to he saw he had grabbed the one with the Empire State Building on it. He took a closer look and his eyes caught on a name.

Luke.

More memories slammed into him. Goldeyes turning blue, a knife being pressed into bloody hands. The same knife meeting skin, and an ear-piercing scream that has Percy wincing.

Hazel notices the wince and asks him if he's alright. He nods, pressing his mouth into a thin line. The message is clear, he doesn't want to talk, so Hazel turns back to the map.

His eyes catch on something, and his heart skips a beat. A few feet away, there's a telephone, and he can remember something, a phone number. Annabeth's phone number.

He excuses himself then, running to the phone. He can feel his companions eyes on his back. He rummages through his pocket and pulls out a handful of quarters. He gives a smile.

He first feeds the machine a quarter, and he punches her number in, his hands shaking more with each number.

He brings the phone to his ear, and it rings, once, twice, three times, she's not going to pick up, four times, five times, and then there's a click, and she's picked up the phone.

"Look, whoever is calling me, it's one in the fucking morning, so can you just-" He lets out a sob at that point, already overwhelmed by the sound of her voice.

She pauses, and her tone is softer when she speaks, "Hello?"

"Annabeth," comes his breathless sob.

She's silent. He can hear her breathing, and can almost picture her face right then and there. "Percy?" Her voice is quiet, almost breathless, and he's already sobbing on the other end.

"Oh my gods, Percy." her voice cracks at his name, and he can hear her sniffles.

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry, Annabeth, I'm sorry," He's suddenly rambling, tears still running down his face.

She's openly crying at this point, and its almost humorous, their sobbing together, unable to speak, but wanting nothing more than to hear each other's voices. "Don't be sorry, don't be, it's not your fault."

"I was gone, and then I was asleep, and when I woke up, and I was so scared. Annabeth, I could only remember you, and I just wanted to be with you, and wanted to hold you, and hear your voice again." He can't help but let out another sob and briefly wonders if Hazel and Frank are seeing this.

"You remembered me?" She says.

"Yeah, I did, I did. And then I got to the Roman Camp, and Juno was there, and there was this river, and she said it would take the curse away. And I almost went in, but I was so scared Annabeth, and I rose the water, and-"

"Shh, shh, it's okay, Percy, it's okay. I love you, it's okay." Her voice was still pained, and she was sniffling, but she sounded so perfect, so gods damned perfect.

Percy is still crying, and Annabeth's hushing him, telling him it's okay, she's here, she loves him. And then Percy's repeating three words to her over and over again, "I love you, I love you, I love you."

"Percy, I know, I know," she cuts him off, "Where are you, honey? Tell me where you are, okay?"

And he does, telling her about the quest and everything he's gone through these past months. He tells her about Hazel and Frank, and how good they are, how patient and understanding.

He tells her about Nico, and he's no longer angry, he's just scared. Nico went out to find the doors of death, and he doesn't think he's okay, he's scared that Nico's dead.

He's rambling on about where they are, explaining everything when Annabeth cuts him off, her voice the most gentle he's ever heard it, "That's enough, Percy, it's okay, you don't have to tell me more. I get it, I get it."

He nods along, and manages to catch his breath then, "Are you coming for me? Are you, Annabeth, am I going to see you again?"

"We are Percy, we are. You're going to see me again, and we'll share a hug and a kiss, and it's going to be okay. You hear me, a hug and a kiss."

"Yeah, a hug and a kiss. I love you Annabeth, so so much." He glanced at the sky, noticing how far the sun was sinking below the horizon. "I have to go soon, I'm so sorry."

"Hey, hey, don't be sorry. Go save Thanatos, and kick some ass for me, okay?"

"I-I can do that. For you."

"For me. I love you so much, Percy. I'll see you soon."

"I love you more." And the line went dead.