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The Poseidon cabin was quiet, the only sound the soft rise and fall of Annabeth’s chest as she slept, curled close against Percy under the thick blankets. The events of Tartarus still lingered in their muscles, in the ache that ran through them from endless climbing, fighting, and running from monsters. But here, in the safety of the cabin at Camp Half-Blood, there was a fragile, welcoming peace.
Percy stirred, letting a hand drift over her back, feeling the warmth of her body against his. Brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. As she groaned, nuzzling closer, and clutching her stomach.
“Whats wrong?” he whispered.
“Mmm… my stomach hurts,” she murmured sleepily, her voice low and rough with lingering exhaustion. Percy frowned, his instincts kicking in. He shifted carefully, hands gentle as they slipped under her shirt, rubbing her lower stomach in slow, soothing circles.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” he said. His thumb traced gentle patterns, his hand steady, reassuring. She sighed, relaxing against him.
Hours passed, and the morning sun filtered in through the cabin windows. Percy, knowing the camp would need him to oversee training, slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake Annabeth. The quiet of the morning was a fragile thing, and he moved like a shadow, already thinking about the day ahead.
Then he noticed it.
A dark stain on his pants. His heart froze for a moment, and he looked down to see it had spread to the sheets, and—oh gods—onto Annabeth’s pajama bottoms.
“Annabeth…” he whispered, voice tight, gently shaking her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open, sleepy and confused.
“What?” she mumbled.
“You’re… bleeding, baby” he said carefully, keeping his voice soft. He touched her thigh gently, expecting a wound or injury from Tartarus, but quickly realized what it was. Her eyes widened, and a flush crept across her cheeks.
“Oh… gods, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, mortified.
Percy shook his head with a gentle reassurance, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Hey, it’s okay,” he said. “I’ve seen worse. It’s normal. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Her embarrassment softened in the warmth of his reassurance. She let out a shaky breath and relaxed slightly.
“I’ll get you cleaned up,” Percy said, standing and grabbing a warm washcloth. He helped her sit up, guiding her with gentle hands, his eyes never leaving hers. He handed her the cloth, helping her clean carefully, quietly, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Then he stripped the sheets from the bed, tossing them gently into a laundry basket. “Here you can change into these; they might be a little big though.” He handed her a pair of his black sweatpants. She took them kissing his cheek as she slipped past him to the bathroom.
By the time he finished putting new sheets on their bed, Annabeth had emerged from the bathroom, his sweatpants hanging off her skinny hips. She looked so beautiful; she always did, but seeing her bony hips from being starved in Tartarus hurt his heart more than anything. She cuddled back into his bed, freshly cleaned and feeling a little more like herself. Percy watched her smiling softly. He helped her settle back under the blankets, arranging everything so she was comfortable.
“Do you need anything before I go?” he asked, brushing her hair back.
“Can’t you just stay a little longer,” she whined, pulling him back in bed and snuggling close to him again.
Percy held her close, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. “I have training to teach,” he said, but there was hesitance in his voice, and she knew if she kept pushing, he would relent. She looked up at him with big sad eyes. “but I wont be able to go to sleep without you.” her voice was soft and pleading. “and just tell them you where tired they will understand.”
He sighed “Yeah, whatever you say, wise girl,” he laughed, a tired thing. As she pulled her tighter to him and kissed along her neck.
She giggled softly, a sound of relief, and rested her head against his chest. “You’re too easy,” she murmured, her fingers tangled in his hair.
“Mhm…you got me wrapped around your finger,” he said, on the verge of sleep. “And you know it.”
“I do,” she whispered, a soft little thing.
And as she drifted back to sleep against his chest, Percy held her tighter, knowing that after everything they had endured, the simplest moments of care and comfort were the ones worth fighting for.