Archive of Our Own

The ship made a steady humming sound under Percys feet and creaked a bit every few steps he took. Annabeths yankees baseball cap made his hair feel itchy and Percy somehow felt that Athena herself made sure it would be as annoying as possible to wear. But he didn't have a choice, he needed to find Annabeth and stay under the radar while doing so. He peeked through a door in the hallway, but Annabeth was nowhere to be seen. He walked along, constantly turning and listening if there were distant voices. Nothing.

He reached the end of the Hallway, that must be it a grated door with a "Private, dont come in or I will stab you" sign. Percy carefully pushed the door open.
He made a few steps and then made a halt, on an improvised storage bed Annabeth was laying, tied to it at the wrists.
Percys first emotion was anger, seeing what Luke had kept her like, but it was washed over by relief immediately.

"Wise Girl" Annabeth opened her eyes, searching for the voice. Percy took off her hat, stepping closer to the bed.
Annabeth let out a gasp of relief and tried sitting up a bit more on her elbows.

"You okay?" Percy asked in the softest possible voice, while turning to see if anyone was coming. Annabeth didn't answer, due to her still being shook with happy shock.
"We don't have much time, gotta move quick" Percy said, already bending down to loosen the ropes tied around her wrists.
"Grover..." Annabeth then spitted out finally, not being able to form an entire sentence before Percys voice cut her off.
"We got him, he's safe. ...Your hats really itchy, is it itchy for you?" Percy asked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Annabeths first wrist was free when Percy turned after hearing a door in the distance. Annabeth freed her other hand.
"We gotta get off this ship, can you run?" Percy asked turning to Annabeth again.
"We cant just leave, what about the fleece?" Annabeth asked, now being able to fully sit up without her hands being tied.

"Clarisse is on it"
"So you guys are working together?"
"Not exactly" Percy took a breath before continuing "You ere my priority, the Fleece was hers"
Annabeth tilted her head at that, her eyebrows raised just a fraction but Percy still noticed. Running it back he didn't believe it was the smartest way to express it.
"Soo ahhh... back to my question, can you run?" Percy asked, a little worried that any moment one of Lukes recruits would walk in on them.

Annabeth didn't look at him, tried not to met his eyes. "Yeah, it'll work" she said way too fast then.
"Annabeth" Percy crouched down next to her again, looking her in the face, but not being able to make eye contact.
"Yeah, can you maybe just give me a minute?"
"I don't think we got that time... Im sorry but we gotta move."
"Yeah I know, alright. Can you help me just a sec?" Annabeth now took a second to meet his eyes, seeming almost stubbornly shy. Percy knew it wasn't easy for her to ask for help, meaning she must really be in need of it. The fleece must not work as well as it seemed if she still had trouble getting up without help.
"Sure" Percy said, voice cracking just a tiny bit. He stood up and held his arms out awkwardly, not quite reaching but also not not reaching out. (I swear Im the new Shakespeare)
Annabeth shot him a look, then she swung her legs over the edge of the bed frame and pushed herself up with her hands. That were the point were Percys help was needed. Annabeth got up too fast, stumbled a bit and caught herself by holding on to Percys shoulder with one hand. Percy quickly, almost out of instinct put his hands on her arms, pulling her up a little so that she didn't drop to the floor.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, yeah just dizzy."
"So, we gotta find a different way to get going"
"No it's alright" Annabeth not sounding convincing at all.
"Annabeth-"
"Percy we gotta move, now. Just make sure I don't pass out or something"
"Yeah, yeah okay"
Annabeth pulled herself up until she stood completely, still needing some support from Percy, guiding her at one of her arms.
They took slow, small steps, while Percy constantly looked around if someone would come, while still holding her arms. After about 2 Meters Annabeth stumbled over an uneven piece of metal in the floor and almost dropped to the ground. Halfway Percy caught her by the waist, getting pulled with her a bit till they both were sitting, Annabeth slightly leaned against the wall.
"Im sorry" Annabeth breathed out, scrunching her eyebrows in a hurt expression.
"Its alright, its not your fault... But we still have got to move. Faster." Percy looked around like a solution to this problem would just walk in the room. Then he got an idea, it was stupid and Annabeth would probably kill him for it but they had to get off this ship. Still, there had to be another way.
In that moment a shrill alarm sound started ringing in their ears.
"Clarisse must have gotten the Fleece"
"Okay, Lukes crew will be all over this place, they are maybe gonna lock the exists. We have got to move!"
"I know, I know Percy."

Percy closed his eyes for a short moment, overthinking every decision he has ever made, leading up to this moment.

"Okay, Annabeth listen. Im sorry but there is no way we are fast enough with you walking."
Annabeths head shot up and she looked him straight in the eyes.
"Im gonna carry you okay"
"Percy-"
"I know, I know. Trust me, this doesn't sound endearing to me either, but you cant walk. We have to get off the ship, before Luke or any of his ,servants' find us. So Im sorry but we are doing this." Percy spoke way to fast, he was nervous, not only because he had to carry Annabeth all the way of the ship, without her getting hurt even further, but also because Luke could be here any moment and the last time it came to a confrontation between the too, it didn't end all to well for Percy.
"Okay..." Annabeth said quietly now.

Percy looked at her again, just to be extremly sure that she was alright with the plan, not that they really had another plan anyway.
"Good..." Percy reached forward, hesitating shortly. Annabeth took that short moment of hesitation to shift just slightly, not sure what to do.
"Okay, lets um get up" Percy suggested, already helping Annabeth stand. Once they did he picked her up, narrowing it, to make the situation just a fraction less awkward.
"So, Im just going to pick you up, right" He stepped closer. "So first I will put my hand here..."
Percy put one hand on Annabeths back, while he laid the other to Annabeths knee, waiting a second before he finally lifted her. She ended up in Percys arms, right in front of his chest.
Percy adjusted his hold a bit, lowering the hand on her back, to hold her more steady. Annabeth raised her arm, gripping her fingers into Percys shirt, just a little under his neck.Her other one held onto his shirt at the front, her grip tight.
"You fine?"
"Yep, am I too heavy or something?"
"Nope, just right" Awkward silence settled over them like a thick cloud.

Then Percy started moving, his steps sounded heavy against the iron floor of the ship, only now Percy noticed that the alarm had shut off. Probably because his brain was occupied differently, like with the way he could feel Annabeths every breath and every tiny inch she moved in his arms. It made him feel giddy.
Annabeth gripped his shirt tighter when they reached the door, leading out of the large storage room. Percy peeked into the hallway, looking around if someone was there. When he neither saw, nor heard anyone he stepped through the door.
"Careful with your head" Percy warned.
"Thanks" Annabeth said, adjusting her head, so that it wouldn't bump against the door frame. In that movement Annabeths Head rested under Percys chin, tucked in a bit. Percy noticed and stiffened at the movement. Annabeth noticed, she didn't react.

The hallway was quiet, the only sound to be heard was footsteps from the floor above, rushing through the corridors. Percy decided to do the same, and started to walk as fast as possible with Annabeth still in his arms, toward the elevator. He turned at a corner and stopped.

Luke. Luke stood right in his way. Backbiter in his right hand, waiting.
Luke started observing them, his look flickering between Percy and Annabeth, taking in every detail. The way Annabeths head was just a little too close to Percys, how Percys grip tightened around her the second he saw Luke and the way Annabeth also firmed her hold on his shirt. Luke stiffened at the view. So did Percy and Annabeth looking at Luke.

"Where you going?" Luke asked, stepping closer.
"Oh, you know. Just getting some air" Percy took a step back.
"I think the air down here is pretty good"
"Well, another think we haven't got in common."
A smile tugged at Lukes lips.
"Sorry, but I cant let you do that" Luke said, raising Backbiter. "Are you planing on fighting like that? Btw Annabeth, Im surprised, so vulnurable? Just like when you were 7"
Annabeth stiffened in Percys arms, she would have never admitted it, but Lukes words hit her. They somehow made her nervous, a reminder of their time o the run. Of the Luke she knew before all this went down. She wished she would have been able to shoot something back, but her mind went blank. Thankfully Percy opened his mouth, even though the words that came out weren't what Annabeth would have went for.

"Oh Annabeth? Just a carry on" Percy started, ignoring Lukes comment and trying to ease the bitterness in his words. "You wont just let us go huh?"
"Sorry, cant do that."
"So, where are your little ,servants' ?"
"Oh, I don't need them for this. They would just hold me back."
Percy took a few steps back, Luke (probably out of respect for his and Annabeths history) let him set Annabeth down.
"Percy don't, we have no time for this."
"Then I will hurry."
She leaned back, resting her head against the wall. Percy took a moment to actually look at her and realized just how tired she looked. She had slight purple rings under her eyes and she flinched at every movement she had to make.

"Just stay back." Annabeth gave him a light nod, then Percy turned around and pulled Riptide out of his pocked. Luke immediately charged forward. He swung his sword, but Percy managed to dodge the attempt to stab him. Percy then lunged forward trying to stroke Luke with Riptide. Luke didn't see it coming and so he was able to strike Lukes leg. (Im really bad at writing fight scenes, so I gotta keep it short. Sorry) Luke feel to the floor, Backbiter sliding away from his hand, he made an hurt expression and held his leg with one of his hands, his jeans were starting to get a bit soaked through by the blood.
Percy didn't hesitate a second, put Riptide away and ran straight back to Annabeth.

"Is he okay?" Annabeth asked looking over to Luke weakly. How could she still care, Percy asked himself? After everything Luke had done, how could she still care?
"Yeah, he's gonna be okay" Percy answered, not being able to express criticism at the way Annabeth looked.
He picked her up, careful not to bump her against anything, putting a hand under her knees and one on her back again. Annabeth gripped his shirt again, but this time also rested her head against his shoulder a bit.
"You okay?"
"Mhm. Just getting a little tired. I have a headache." She said, her voice shaking a bit.
"Annabeth, for how long did you have the Fleece?"
"Don't know, maybe like 30Minutes?"
That was not enough to heal her completely, she needed some ambrosia. As soon as possible.

Percy started walking again, toward the elevator. He pressed the button and the doors opened. He stepped in with Annabeth, turned and pressed the button to the next floor. As the doors slid closed he saw Luke, already getting up again. The doors closed and the elevator started moving with a little shake. Percy stumbled a bit but caught footing pretty quickly again. Annabeth gripped his shirt a bit tighter. Percy noticed, but didn't say anything. He looked down on her, only to find her already looking at him. When she noticed she narrowed her eyes immediately, looking anywhere but his face.

.....................

When Annabeth and Percy finally reached the pier, after making it off the ship without another confrontation, Annabeth was wide awake in his arms, breathing in the fresh air, like it healed her completely. Percy walked across the decks, looking for Grover and Tyson. When he turned the last corner, leading to the parking lot, he immediately spotted his mom. He stopped.

"Mom?" Sally Jackson turned around, a thin smile on her lips. It spread a little wider at seeing Percy, but then disappeared fully, when her eyes landed on Annabeth.
"Percy whats going on? Is Annabeth alright?"
"Not really" Percy said, as Percy walked up to her. He gave his mother a fast kiss on the cheek, turning Annabeth away a little, so that he could reach her better. Then he walked around the car to the back.
"Can you open the door?"
"Sure"
Sally opened the door for him. Percy crouched down and his eyes immediately fell on Grover and Tyson, already waiting for them in the backseat.
"Percy" Tyson said with enjoyment "Whats wrong with Annabeth?" Now his voice wasn't so happy anymore.
"Im alright" Annabeth said, while Percy sat her down on the seat and then started his fight with untangling the seatbelt.
"You are definitely not okay if you let Percy carry you" Grover joked, but lost his smile when both, annabeth and Percy shot him a look.
Percy finally were able to untangle the seatbelt and wanted to buckle Annabeth up, but she took it out of his hands.
"I can do that... Thank you" Percy nodded and pulled his head out the door, shutting it behind him. But not before shooting one more look at Annabeth, she returned it, giving him a little smile, while she mouthed the word ,thank you' again.

After the door was shut close, Percy turned around to Sally.
"So thats Annabeth hm?"
"Yeah Mom, thats Annabeth"
Sally Jackson raised an eyebrow.
"She is cute you know" she said, a teasing tone.
"Mooom..." Percy groaned.

But couldn't help to think that his Mother was maybe onto something.