I?? updated??? Well, hello there. Sorry for the wait, but the few classes of university I've been taking have been kicking my ass and I had no energy for anything else. I hope you don't hate this too much. My writing is simply awful, but it's Percy's angst time.

The song is so good. Just saying.

******************************************************

"I'm not sure how you did it," said Will once he stepped out of the infirmary hours after the incident, his gloves no longer bloody, "but, somehow, you accelerated Dante's scabbing process."

Percy's eyes widened. "He'll live?"

Will sighed. "Yes, but I need to know why I had him almost on his deathbed before 10 am, alright? The others told me a little but... it's kinda hard to believe."

"You know that we were fighting?" Percy asked in a small voice. Will nodded. "Well, you know that recently I seem to have anger issues that I swear I have been trying to fix but it's not as easy — never mind, it doesn't matter. The thing is, Dante wanted me to fight him with a special technique... the one I demonstrated some days ago? In training is easier to do it safely, but he wanted me to do it in a real fight." 

Percy paused, took a shaky breath, and continued, "I said no, obviously, then he convinced me and everything was fine because I held back, but he wanted me to seriously fight him. Again, I said no because I only fight like that with Annabeth who can predict my every movement and keep up with me, and with monsters that I aim to kill! So it was clearly the worst idea ever! And Dante would not stop pushing! He kept on rilling me up until I snapped... but he didn't move... I am not making excuses, I swear I am not. I know what I did is... inexcusable, but I didn't mean" —he stifled a sob on the base of his throat— "to hurt him like this and..."

"Calm down," he instructed him and Percy tried to regain control, breathing deeply and releasing the tension off his shoulders. Will furrowed his brow and nodded. "If anything, Dante is fast. I don't know if you aimed straight at his artery or not but your sword barely even touched him there so I think he tried to dodge. That's good. If you had punctured it deep enough, he wouldn't have made it."

"Can... can I see him?"

Will pursed his lips, thinking, before shaking his head. "He is asleep right now and very weak, it'd be best to let him rest. He'll probably be discharged after dinner anyway. His vocal cords are the most damaged so don't force him to talk, a'right?" Percy nodded. "You should take a shower."

"Fine," he conceded. "Just... tell him I am sorry."

"I can do that." He paused. "You should consider talking to a therapist."

"And tell them what? That I fought a mythological being?"

"You can always say you prefer to talk in themed metaphors. Plus, I'm sure there has to be a demigod therapist in the romans' city."

Percy tried to chuckle lightly but could only offer a grimace. He walked away towards his cabin, slightly concerned that the few campers that were on his way bolted away from him, but did nothing about it as he didn't have the energy to inquire further.

The Poseidon's cabin was eerily empty as he made his way to the mirror, reminding him of his mistake. He had blood all over his face, t-shirt, and even on his hair — it had probably got there while he anxiously fidgeted with his hair, waiting for any news of Dante. To pass the time and avoid losing his sanity, he had resorted to pacing, rubbing the blood off his hands into whatever was near.

A dark chuckle bubbled in this throat. At least he could understand the campers' reaction now. He looked like a part of a crime scene — like a murderer. Dante wasn't dead, but that was no thanks to him. He should have kept his temper in check, maybe even attend one of those therapy sessions his mother, Annabeth, and now Will kept insisting on.

The older cabins didn't have the luxury of having their own showers that Annabeth implemented, but there was no way Percy was going to walk out looking like this, so he decided that the fountain had to be enough, for now.

He didn't take long, and he did feel much better when his reflection didn't look like a character straight out from a Stephen King's novel.

He checked the clock on the wall. It was already 1 pm, the campers should be going to the Dining Pavilion for lunch. He didn't feel like eating nor putting himself in the spotlight, but staying here a minute longer was not an option with everything of Dante scattered through the floor and his bed.

An idea struck him — he could go to see Annabeth in the Athena cabin. Nowadays, she would prefer to grab something to eat in her cabin while she went over new architecture plans and blueprints. They were not as close as they used to be — he was unsure if she was ignoring him on purpose with all the dates he planed postponed — but he still loved her with all his heart and soul. If anyone would know what to do, it would be her. His wise girl always did.

Letting a small lovestruck smile cross his lips, Percy ventured outside of the Poseidon cabin and made his way across to cabin six.

One of her siblings greeted him, pointing at the back where Annabeth's spot was. He was not cowering in fear, so Percy supposed he had yet to hear the news of his almost murder of his brother. He tried to remember the feeling of feeling as normal as a child of Poseidon could get and replied with a quick thanks to the guy who dashed at the pavilion.

His head turned to Annabeth's crouched figure, holding a rule with her left and a pen with her right, sticking out her tongue in deep thinking. He could not help but smile.

"You look adorable, you know that?" he said, trying to keep his internal nervousness and despair off his voice.

Annabeth's whole demeanor changed abruptly, looking like a deer in headlights.

"What are you doing here," she said coldly to him. "G — get out, Percy."

It would be an understatement to say he was surprised.

"What?"

"You heard me perfectly well."

"W — why?"

"Do you think I want you near me after what you did to Dante?" she said with a wavering voice. "He was your own brother! I saw you try to kill him!"

He tightened his jaw. "If you really saw it, then you would know I made a mistake!" spat he as he tried not to sob there and then, awfully aware this was not how the conversation was supposed to go. "I — I didn't mean to hurt him! It — it was an a-accident."

She looked at him dead in the eyes before closing them slowly as a tear went down. "I know, but you are dangerous. You hurt everyone in your life, Percy, don't you get it? You are reckless and never back down from a challenge, and I used to love those things about you. But I... I can't be happy with you, not anymore, not after what you did with the poisons!"

Percy froze, pretty sure they were not only talking about Dante's situation.

Annabeth was breaking up with him.

"Anna — "

"I know you didn't enjoy what you did to Dante," she interrupted him, knowing well what he was going to say. "Obviously you didn't. But you enjoyed t-torturing Akhlys. If it had been any other person in Dante's place, you would have reveled in their suffering — especially if they were one of your enemies." She paused and shook her head. "I can't be with someone like you... someone whom I feel scared every second instead of feeling safe. Whether it is by mistake or not, I won't turn out like Dante with a cut on my throat.

"Please leave."

*****************************************************************************************************

So! what do you think? What will Percy do? How did he save his life? How will Dante react once he wakes up? And, can you really blame Annabeth? The poor girl is scared for her life if she tickles him the wrong way. Obviously, Percy would rather be dead than hurt her, but as you saw in the last chapter... mistakes were made. Also, yes, Percy's anger is a symptom of his PTSD (it is a thing, I looked it up). He does need a therapist, you know? So sad he will have to make due with what he has for now :(

Hope you liked it. Comments are always appreciated!

If I make any spelling, grammar, etc. mistakes, please tell me right away.