The silence was deafening between the two of them as they sat side by side on the bed. They could have been screaming at each other, arguing all afternoon, but no.
This was worse. What was there to say.
After days of waiting for him to talk to her, Percy finally showed up outside her cabin, asking if they could talk. For a room of organized, intelligent children of Athena, the cabin had never been cleared so quickly, all of them making their excuses with just a look as they left the two to talk in private. She didn't say anything as he stepped inside, placing the plant pot he'd brought with him on the nearby desk, sitting cautiously on the bed with her. She didn't trust herself to speak. What could she say.
She hurt him. Hurt him badly. What can I possibly say.
So instead she listened as he told her what had happened. How he went to the bar, called Nico...and everything that came after. All of it. He explained how must he was hurting, how he wanted to hurt her back, how he cheated on her to spite her. Then he explained how horrible he felt the day after, and realized he didn't want to be that guy. That's why he came here, to explain, to tell her how he felt, what he'd done. He talked, she listened.
When he was done, he waited for her response, but she couldn't give any. She just lowered her notepad aside and sat there. She couldn't bring herself to say anything. What could she say? He told her the truth, that he did exactly as she had done as payback, but he told her. She cheated on him twice and couldn't even bring herself to be honest until it was too late. He did the same but immediately came clean.
Does that make it right? Or our we both just horrible people?
She looked up at the plant pot, the plant she had Piper make for her after their affair, the one she took to Percy's to...why do she take it? To apologize? To show "it wasn't me, it was the plant"? The one she left behind after her second affair, with her own mother. Didn't she seduce me? But did I even stop her? Now he had brought it back to her. Why?
"Its over, isn't it?" She asked quietly, her words shaky as they finally left her mouth. She didn't want to ask, but the answers were there. She saw the patterns, the signs...it was clear to her what was coming. She looked across to the young man beside her, looking down at his lap, his expression full of sadness. "We're over?"
"I think we are" he replied solemnly, his voice cracking. How close to tears was he? How long until I start crying? He looked up at her, his sea green eyes staring at her like she was the only girl in the universe. Please don't look at me like that, her mind pleaded, the guilt crushing her heart. "I don't know what else to do" he told her.
She opened her mouth to answer. But answer how? Ask him how she can fix this! Explain why she slept with Piper! with Athena! Tell him it was a mistake! Tell him she loves him! But none of that would change what they both did, so she stayed silent.
"I'm sorry" was all she could offer.
Now they sat, silently on the bed in the empty cabin, in the deafening silence. It fell over them like a blanket, enveloping all the space. Annabeth felt her heart grow heavy, the dread sinking in. It over.
Shaking her head she stood up, walking over to her desk where the potted plant was, ignoring it. This is all your fault! She searched through her books, her papers, her notes. Find something to do! Anything to keep your mind busy. Don't think about anything else. Don't think! Stop thinking! Her lungs gasped for air. When was she holding her breath? Tears were in her eyes.
It's over.
She froze as a gentle hand touched her elbow, stopping her from overthinking, the way he always does. Please don't. She glanced behind her, finding him standing there, looking at her with those sad eyes. Please don't be kind. He waited for her to turn around, taking her by the shoulders as he slowly embraced her. She let him hug her, sobbing silently into his chest. Please don't be kind.
The silence was deafening as the two of them stood there, holding each other sadly, one last embrace. He let her go to look down at her, her grey eyes looking up into his. Neither said anything, because there was nothing to say. And yet everything was being said in this moment. He brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, wiping away her tears, his thumb stroke her wet cheek tenderly.
Please don't be kind. I don't deserve your kindness.
They looked at each other, and everything was being said.
I don't deserve you.
The silence was deafening as they kissed.
Percy's lips were salty, his breath tickling under her nose as he made to pull away. She caught him, her lips holding on. Don't leave. He stayed. They kissed. Their tongues met, dancing in their mouths. Their arms held each other, their bodies melding together, fitting perfectly with each other. Annabeth rose onto her toes, deepening the kiss. Don't leave.
He pulled his orange shirt over his head, revealing his toned, muscular torso. Her gaze drifted over it, her hands brushing across his chest, trying to remember every curve and shape. He lifted her chin with a finger, pulling back her gaze so he could kiss her again. She sighed longingly, her hands circling around his back, touching the sensitive part at the base of his spine. He sighed into the kiss. He remembered why that spot tingled, from when he bathed in the river Styx.
So many memories together.
He tugged at the helm of her shirt, looking into her eyes. She smiled, lifting her arms so he could lift it off her body. He dropped the clothing away before running his fingers down her skin, stroking the tender spots under her armpits and down her sides. She let out a shaky breath, a tear falling down her cheek as he touched her. When would he touch her like this again?
The silence was deafening as they kissed.
The heat between them grew as they made out in the cabin, embracing each other like two lovers, exploring their bodies. Annabeth sighed as he rubbed his thumb across her bra. Percy exhaled as she gently dragged her nails down his back. Neither said anything, because nothing needed to be said.
Annabeth stumbled back against the desk, pulling herself up to sit against it as Percy kissed her, their hands combing through their hair. They didn't want to stop. Don't leave.
The silence was deafening when the vines wrapped around them.
They both stopped as the felt the plant touch them, breaking apart to see the vines stroking their exposed skin. The wrapped around Annabeth in a loving embrace, cupping her breasts as she looked back at Percy sadly. I'm sorry. He didn't speak as the vines embraced him too, coiling around his arms and stroking his back and chest. He kept his gaze on her, a pained expression across his face. Too many memories.
I'm sorry I hurt you.
They both stared at each other, neither saying anything as the plant pleasured them. And yet everything was being said. She reached out with her hand, taking his with hope. Don't leave. He didn't let go, but he still looked sad. I'm sorry. She gasped as the vine found her crotch, fighting the instinct to moan. This isn't right. He fought the same urge as the vines pressed against his groin, his trousers tenting outwards. Their eyes met, and everything was said.
The silence was deafening as they removed each other's pants, dropping them to the floor as they embraced. They ignored the vines as they made love, kissing passionately in their underwear on the desk. I'm sorry I hurt you. Annabeth sighed as he held her boobs. When did she lose her bra? Does it matter? He kissed them sweetly, she bit her lip. I don't deserve you. She pulled him back up to kiss his lips. They tasted salty.
She dropped herself back onto her feet as Percy guided her away from the desk, away from the plant groping them. She swatted the vines away. She didn't want them. Only him. He kissed her grateful, holding her close. I don't deserve you. Her hands pressed against his toned stomach, pushing him away as he fell onto the bed. She looked down at him, her eyes full of sadness. I'm sorry I hurt you. He reached up and pulled her on top of him, brushing a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. They didn't say anything, but everything was being said.
The silence was deafening as they made love.
She didn't notice when her panties were pulled away, or when Percy discarded his boxers. All she saw was him, his body, his lips, his hands, his eyes. Those sea green eyes, full of pain and sadness. I'm sorry. They kissed on the bed, their bodies fitting perfectly together. His erection prodded her entrance. She didn't hesitate to let him in. Don't leave.
He rocked into her gently, his hips thrusting slowly between her legs as she held him. Her chest pressed against his as she embraced him, moaning wordlessly into his neck, fingers tangled in his black hair. I'm sorry I hurt you. They rocked together gently, the act more passionate, sensual, loving. I don't deserve you. He kissed her neck, stroking her hair, making her feel special. Making her feel worse. Please don't be kind. She cried into his shoulder quietly as he made love to her, trying to remember every motion. Every moment.
Don't leave.
He kissed her again, muffling her sobs as she quietly climaxed, her walls hugging him tightly. Don't leave. She embraced him lovingly, desperately, deepening the kiss. They both rolled over so she was on top of him, looking down at his face, seeing the pain and sadness. He brushed away a tear, his thumb stroking her wet cheek. She kissed him. I'm sorry.
She froze as the vines returned, wrapping around her body to pleasure her. She opened her mouth to scream, tell them to leave her alone, but no words left her mouth. She couldn't speak. She just stared down at Percy. She needed to apologize, to explain.
He didn't say anything as he looked up at her, but everything was said. He didn't resist as they wrapped around him, didn't object when they coiled around his cock, didn't stop them as they pulled the two of them closer together. He kept his focus on her, made her feel special. Made her feel worse. Please don't be kind. She felt his cock prodding her entrance, but it was thicker, wrapped up in vines like a cocoon, massaging him as they pushed against her entrance.
The silence was deafening as they fucked, the combined size of Percy and the rapevine burrowing into her core, deep inside her as she slid over it like a glove. She moaned into the kiss, clinging to his hair. He was so strong, so passionate. Please don't be kind. The vines wrapped around her, coiling around her breasts, stroking her neck as his hands traced along her back. Her hips bounced on his cock, green arms hooking around her thighs to increase her pace, further appendages fondling his balls beneath her. They kissed. They fucked. They moaned. She cried. Don't leave.
They climaxed together, sharing a passionate embrace as the orgasm washed over them. Her head flung back, her mouth agape in silent escasty, her cum drenching him. He ejaculated inside her, his cock poking at her cervix, feeding into her womb. She felt him fill her up. Then she felt the plant do the same. The vine exploded alongside him, mixing with his cum as sap poured into her. Don't be kind. She groaned as Percy grabbed her waist, holding her down to plunge to the hilt as he filled her, her stomach blowing up like a balloon. Her fingers dug I tot he bedsheets, holding on for dear life. She came again, the fire burning her alive. Don't be kind.
She managed to breath again, looking down at herself in a daze. She was sweating, her body aching. She looked seven months pregnant, her belly heavy with was fluid. Percy held her up as the vines left them, satisfied with their fill as they pulled out of her. Sap poured out slowly, soaking the sheets, their legs, their bodies. She fell into his arms as he supported her, kissing her forehead. Please don't be kind.
He held her for a moment as she recovered, gazing up at her sadly, eyes full of pain. I'm sorry I hurt you. She collapsed onto her side beside him, too weak and tired to say anything. Yet everything was said. He lay next to her, looking down at her naked form, his fingers brushing over her stomach as the sap emptied from her. He waved his hand and the fluids flew, retreating from her bed to fall down a nearby sink. He was the son of Poseidon, it's what he can do. I don't deserve you. After a few minutes the bed was dry, allowing him to pull up the covers and cover them both. He kissed her softly. She kissed him back. Don't leave.
The silence was deafening as they fell asleep. Percy put his arms around her as she lay there, pain and sadness in his eyes. She wept silently, huddling into his warmth, trying to remember his curves, his shape. She knew not why he was still here. But she knew why she was crying.
It's over.
A few hours later Annabeth's eyes fluttered open to find her bed empty. She was alone, almost. She turned her head slightly and saw him, putting his shirt back on as he stood in her cabin silently. He didn't want to disturb her, so had left without her waking. He noticed when she had awoken though, but didn't speak. Neither did she as she pulled herself up to sit upright, wrapping her arms around her legs as she watched him get dressed.
Neither said anything, yet everything was being said.
"What happens now?" Annabeth found herself asking, her voice wavering. She wanted to cry, but not yet. Soon though.
He glanced back at her, his sea green eyes full of pain and sadness. "I don't know" he answered solemnly. He finished putting his clothes on, looking around her cabin, her room, unable to look at her. "I think...I need some space. Some time alone. Some time..."
He didn't finish. He didn't need to. Some time away from me. "I understand" she said sadly, despair threatening to burst her into tears. "I'm sorry" she said, hoping it'd make a difference. Please don't leave.
He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. "So am I" he said finally, but the words sounded forced. Please don't be kind. "I'm gonna go now. Take care Annie." He turned to leave, leaving her alone in her cabin.
She called out to him as he opened the door, her desperate voice full of remorse, of hope; "I love you."
He paused, only briefly, before he left, the door sealing shut behind him.
The silence was deafening as Annabeth wept alone in her cabin. She fell to her mattress and sobbed into her pillow, tears streaming down her face as she cried. She didn't know how long she cried for. An hour? Hours? More? Why hadn't anyone returned to the cabin? She didn't care. She wept, her heart shattered, her pain real.
It's over.
Her ears picked up a sound over her sobbing, bringing her grey eyes up to see the potted plant on the desk as it rustled of its own accord. She stared at it from her bed, through a haze of tears, staring transfixed. Percy had left it for her. He didn't want it. She thought back to when she'd found it in Pipers cabin, how it made her feel. How it made love to her in a way she'd never experienced. She loved it. She craved it.
She remembered everything that came after, and her heart broke once more. She knew what she had to do.
The lake at the camp was deserted as Annabeth walked up to the water bank, barefoot and dressed in her orange camp T-shirt and a pair of tight blue panties, a light grey gown across her shoulders to cover herself as she carried the plant with her. No one was around to see her. No one was around to stop her.
She looked out across the water, the glinting surface reflecting the setting sun. The water made her think of Percy, how they met, their first kiss, their last kiss. She wanted to cry, but this time she held the tears back. She held the plant up in front of her face, staring at the green vines and pink petals fluttering in the breeze. She didn't say anything as she stared at it, thinking of Percy. Their last kiss. A small vine reached out to her, reaching for her, calling to her...
She knew what she had to do.
Without another thought or emotion, she pulled her arms back and flung the plant as far out across the lake as she could, using every ounce of strength she had. She finally let out a harrowing scream as she threw it away, all the pain and torment enveloping her as she watched it sour over the water, crashing through the surface with enough force to shatter the plant pot, pounding the rapevine into the depths.
She collapsed to her knees as she cried, screaming in agony as the pain returned. Her heart broke, her thoughts all of Percy and what she didn't to him. What they did to each other. How she betrayed him. Hurt him. Disappointed him. Now she'd lost him, and may never get him back.
The lake was anything but silent as Annabeth wept alone by the lake.
Below the surface of the water, the rapevine fell into the inky darkness, adrift alone as landed on the bottom of the lake. Without its pot, the roots were left to flounder free. Free to burrow into the earth below the lake, spreading its roots across the camp as the plant grew.
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