The Choosing (Percabeth AU)

19. Hold Her Close

"No...." Annabeth whispered, staring at her brother.

Her dead brother.

Her brother, her best friend.

Gone.

She felt hot tears fall from her face. Everyone was looking at her, sympathy clear on their faces.

But Annabeth didn't want their sympathy. Would it bring Malcolm back? No. So there was absolutely no need for it.

She looked around the room, she needed answers, !!! HOW DID HER BROTHER DIE?!

"How..how did he...die?" she whispered, glancing at Chiron.

"Poison," he answered with a slight shake of his head.

Annabeth couldn't reply, her tears had dried up too. She stared at the crimped body of her older brother, Princess Lacy crying next to him.

"How was he poisoned?" She asked, looking Chiron straight in the eye.

"We don't know yet" he replied, his eyes not meeting hers.
Annabeth glanced around the room, hoping for answers, an explanation, anything.
But no one dared to meet her eyes.

People came up to her and whispered things like "it's okay Annabeth" and "it's gonna be alright Annabeth".
Annabeth felt like time was standing still, people came and left but she couldn't understand what they were saying, the entire thing felt like a blur.
"Annie" Luke began as he placed a hand on her shoulder,
Annabeth shivered, his touch was so brotherly, she felt the bile rise to her throat as she began to cry again.
She felt the walls closing in on her,suffocating her.

She was surrounded by guards, by people, by royals by hundreds of people and not one knew how her brother died? How he was poisoned? What happened to him.

Without her brain's permission, her feet started moving. She found herself running as quickly as she could to nowhere in particular.

She heard her friends shout out behind her, but she didn't care, she couldn't keep staring at Malcom.
Her dead brother

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Percy was shocked, the date seemed to have been going well.

Now, his dates brother was dead and she just ran away, to Hades knows where.

He turned to follow her, when he felt a hand clasp around his arm.

He looked over to see a mount of red. Rachel, Percy realised.

"Percy I knew something bad was gonna happen, I could fee..." she began.

"Sorry Rach, tell me some other time," he interrupted, extracting his hand from hers "really sorry" he added, glancing back at her.

Where did Annabeth go this time?! He wondered.

Percy looked around the room, hoping to find Annabeth somewhere.
he dashed through the crowd of people, Percy just managed to catch a glimpse of Annabeth's blond hair turn the corner towards the stables.

He didn't want to invade her privacy, but he wanted to be there for her. So he followed.
He didn't know whether or not she would let him near herself, she pushed away Lukes hug, and clutched Thalia so hard that she had red marks.

Annabeth was leaning on Yankee, silent tears streaming down her face. When she saw Percy approaching her, she gave him a tiny nod.

Percy sat next to her and put his arms around her. He'd expected her to push him away but she curled up in his arms and said in a shaky voice, "If you're here to tell me it's okay, then you can leave."
He didn't know what to do, he never hugged a girl before, except his mom of course, but that was his mom so it didn't count.
So he decided to just hold her for a while.

He took a deep breath before replying.

"No, I know. I know it's not okay. We're still supposed to be on a date remember? This isn't one but at least we're together", he shrugged. "But I'm here mainly to be there for you."

"Thank you..."

"Come on, I want to show you something I discovered", Percy got up and pulled Annabeth behind him. They went out the back doors of the stable, and down a path which was almost completely hidden by bushes and trees. The small path widened into miniature multicolored beach, a magnificent lake in the center. There was a glass- bottomed boat too, at the bank.

He turned to Annabeth and said," Ta-da !!!"

To his surprise, she laughed. She actually laughed. It didn't reach her eyes, but he'd made her laugh.

"Percy I helped build this place. You'll have to try very hard to surprise me with things like this"
Percy pouted at her, "This is not fair !!"

Annabeth smiled and cupped his cheek, "later seaweed brain, I promise we can ride those boats together.....just not today" she finished, a new set of tears rolling down her eyes.

"Whatever you way to wise girl"

Annabeth nodded and removed her hand from his cheek.
Percy sighed, immediately missing the warmth of her hand.
He watched as she settled next to Yankee, lying her head down against her.
"Percy" she said, tilting her head towards his.
"Yes?" He asked as he settled down next to her.

Annabeth rested her head on his shoulder and sighed "can I talk about Malcom?"

"Yes Wise girl, anything you want"
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Annabeth woke up, her eyes were burning.
And.....there was a torch light pointing at her?
She looked up and saw prince Frank, a look of fear and confusion on his face.
Then she turned around and realized she was sleeping on Percy! Her head on his neck, and his head was probably on hers.
Yup
It was.
Annabeth got up with a start, knocking a Sleeping Percy down.
But a miracle happened.
He kept sleeping though his head hit the tiles below him.
"Percy wake up" Annabeth yelled, but he was still fast alseep.
She gave Frank a nervous glance and got down on her knees, shaking Percy awake.
After what felt like an eternity, he woke up.
"What" he said drowsily, pushing his hair off of his eyes.
Annabeth just looked at him in shock for a second.
Percy slowly turned his head over to Frank, "hi" he said, with a slight smile.

He shook his head "you two are in soo much trouble.

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---- S & D