Annabeth sat, trying to control the shivers that ran through her entire body. It was after a particularly terrifying nightmare that Percy had come to comfort her, and they now sat in silence.

His arm was draped across her shoulders, rubbing the one furthest from him. Annabeth's head lay on his chest, having missed his shoulder when she had leaned over for his support. It had become a routine: one has a nightmare, neither of them get much sleep that night.

“This isn't going to work,” Percy murmured, burying his tired face into the mass of blonde curls atop Annabeth's head.

She knew he was right; they were both running on low after countless of these occurances, and couldn't be separated for long periods of time. It was a ridiculous way to live, an unfair consequence thanks to the horrors they'd been unwillingly thrown into.

Annabeth took a small, shaky breath, but couldn't force any words out. The grim images would not leave her mind, replaying over and over. It seemed Hypnos was trying to drive her mad.

Percy pulled his face up and glanced at the clock. He too knew the kinds of things Annabeth was enduring, the thoughts and memories going through her head. He regretted his earlier statement – this was anything but Annabeth's fault, and he didn't want to make her think she was in the wrong in any way.

But even he couldn't deny the exhaustion he was feeling, a kind of exhaustion that ate away at his energy and took a toll on him.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked softly.

Annabeth took in another breath. “I don't know,” she muttered.

Percy looked down at her, concern evident in his eyes. He understood the answer, he truly did, but something that messed Annabeth up this drastically must've been gruesome. She was never one to be at a loss for words, and I don't know wasn't something he heard her utter often.

“I'm sorry,” he whispered. “You don't deserve this.”

Once again, Annabeth couldn't find the words nor the strength to answer him.

Percy struggled to find something to reassure her, to bring her back to reality. To bring her back to him.

“I know you're tired, Annie. I'll stay right here.”

Annabeth shook her head despondently. “No.”

Percy kissed the top of her head. “It's okay, Annabeth. Just close your eyes.”

Annabeth felt hot tears well up in her eyes, though not quite sure why. “I can't.” Her voice broke.

And then the burden of her dreams escaped her, coming out in the form of relentless sobs. She grasped Percy's shirt tighter, cursing herself for being so vulnerable, but finding no way to stop it.

Percy's heart felt as if it were being stabbed. He gathered Annabeth in his arms and hugged her tightly, whispering reassurances into her hair.

When her body calmed, and the shaking slowed, he didn't let her go. He was at a loss for words himself, completely unsure of what to say to help her get through the night.

So he just held her, for what felt like hours.

The night was a restless one, yet the following morning, they both woke up more refreshed than they had been in weeks.

a / n

hey demigods ! here's a fresh, new, and depressing oneshot, straight from the depths of tartarus (;

jkjk, but it was 1am and i was sleep deprived lol. but no need to worry ( eek alden has joined the chat ) i slept in this morning.

yours in demigodishness and all that,

~ grace 💙🍪💙🍪💙🍪💙🍪💙