★ 。＼｜／。★

𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖎𝖙𝖗𝖊 𝖖𝖚𝖆𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖊-𝖉𝖊𝖚𝖝:
TALE AS OLD AS TIME

★ 。／｜＼。★

THE QUIET WAS almost a little too deafening. Of course, there was nothing quite like being back in Cabin Four. Belle couldn't even begin describe how much she had missed her bunk surrounded by her siblings and the way soil and seeds were scattered around the floor. And as much as she loved to be back at Camp Half-Blood, she also missed the life she had become adjusted to the last couple of months. She missed the Romans, especially Frank, Hazel, and Reyna. She missed the quiet hum of the Argo II and how the lamp had projected constellations onto her ceiling. And most of all, she missed Leo. Who was to say if the physician's cure worked? If it hadn't . . . she didn't want to think about it.

And so there Belle sat there by herself on the steps of the Demeter Cabin, staring up at the actual constellations above her. As she always did, she recited under her breath that Bob said hello to them. Saying hello to the stars definitely didn't even compare to his and Damasen's sacrifice, but . . . they had risked their lives so Belle and Percy could live to see another day. It was the least she could do to honor them.

Nobody else was awake. At least not that she could see. Belle let out a quiet sigh and pulled the blanket that rested on her shoulders around her a little tighter. She absentmindedly ran her fingers against the pages of the book in her lap. Funny enough, it was the one story she had always tried to separate herself from. A copy of Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve's Beauty and the Beast was the first book she had reached for when she left the Cabin.

She didn't know why. Maybe it was a reminder of the girl she used to be. Two years ago, people saw her as nothing but a princess. A girl with a dreamy, far-off look and her nose stuck in a book. Belle didn't realize how much her life would change the second she fell into the Labyrinth with Percy. But now, after being in the Labyrinth, fighting in the Battle of Manhattan, surviving Tartarus, and helping to defeat Gaea . . . she had changed drastically. She was still that same girl who loved to read and was the closest to Katie, Connor, and Travis, but she wasn't shy anymore. That princess stereotype that had been placed on her was suddenly ripped away. Her powers had only grown and she wasn't afraid to use Sunflower anymore.

Her experiences had changed her. Not for the worst, no. In fact, Belle liked to think that she had only grown more into herself. The shell that she had been in her entire life was broken. Belle Adair was still Belle Adair, just . . . different. She had been through so much the past couple of years that she was bound to be altered by it. And maybe that was a good thing. Changing was just a part of growing up.

And then there were the people she mad met along the way. Katie, Connor, and Travis were always number one on her list. The four of them had stuck together through it all. Then there was Percy, her rock, her heart and soul. There was Annabeth, the girl who had grown to become her sister. And there was Jason, Piper, Frank, Hazel, and Leo . . . members a group of eight who had been brought together because of a Prophecy but had formed a bond closer than most. Eight Half-Bloods shall answer the call. After what they had been through and now with Leo being gone . . . never would they ever forget it. Leo's sacrifice had helped them defeat Gaea once and for all.

There was a lot to think about. Too much, in fact. That's why Belle couldn't sleep. With everything going on she just couldn't bring herself to close her eyes. She would definitely have to readjust to Camp Half-Blood's environment, but for now, she just sat by herself underneath the night sky with the waves distantly crashing against the shore.

It was strange how serene the environment was. After months of worry, chaos, and monsters, Belle finally felt for the first time since last December that she could relax. The literal weight of the world had been lifted off of her shoulders, yet left behind a lot of baggage she would have to deal with. It would be a long time before Belle would be able to truly process everything that had happened. Life wouldn't ever really be the same, and she knew that. It was just hard to come to terms with.

But there was the prospect of her future. Back in the stables on the Argo II, and even down in Tartarus in the River Cocytus, Percy had mentioned he envisioned the two of them going to New Rome together, and Reyna and Frank had even said anyone from Camp Half-Blood were allowed at Camp Jupiter any time. Now that Belle was actually back home safe and sound, that future was only getting brighter. Maybe her and Percy could finally move forwards in the direction of a normal life with all of their friends right behind them. Camp Half-Blood was their home. It was where their relationship had grown. And now, they had two homes. New Rome was the goal. Belle and Percy were going to reach it.

Belle sighed and tucked some of her hair behind her ears. She really didn't want to leave the porch, but she decided that she should at least try to get some sleep. An hour was better than nothing. Belle was just about to gather her things when the door to Cabin Three opened from across the way. She looked over to see Percy step out and shut the door behind him.

Their eyes locked momentarily. Belle could see even from so far away that something was bothering him. His shoulders slumped like he was exhausted. Of course he was. They all were. But Percy had gone through the same thing Belle had, with the added weight of the many other quests he had completed over the years. Belle couldn't leave him like that. In fact, she wouldn't leave him, ever. Percy needed someone right now. She had leaned on him so much. Now it was time for Percy to lean on her.

She held onto her blanket and book as she made across the common area. Belle walked up the steps and joined his side. Percy was sitting on his own steps now, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared out at all of the other Cabins. Belle sat down next to him and placed her book down. They sat there in silence for a moment before Belle was the first one to break it.

"Couldn't sleep either?" Belle asked quietly, careful not to wake anyone else.

Percy shook his head. "Nah. Usually my Cabin can knock me right out, but . . . something's different."

"Yeah, I get that," Belle replied, holding onto her blanket as the August late night chill whipped throughout the air. "I couldn't even tell you how long I had been sitting outside."

"Did you say hello to the stars?"

"Mhm," Belle hummed in response. She paused for a moment. "Hey, have I ever told you my middle name?"

"No, not that I can remember," Percy answered.

"It's Andromeda. Supposedly it means ruler of men, but I like to think that my father and Demeter chose it because of the Andromeda galaxy, which is next to the Milky Way." She smiled lightly. "So that way I carry around enough stars to say hello to for a lifetime."

"Ruler of men, huh? Makes sense."

Belle rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the side. "Shut up."

"Uh, I was actually coming to find you," Percy admitted, glancing over at her. "I couldn't be alone with all that's on my mind, you know? Usually I would just look over at you and remember that you're there, and everything would be okay again."

Belle shrugged. "Maybe that's why we can't sleep. We've been stuck by each other's sides ever since we got out of Tartarus and now we have to try and readjust to being in separate Cabins."

"At least you have all your siblings."

"I guess," Belle responded. "But I don't think Katie or Miranda would exactly understand the extent of my nightmares."

Percy frowned. "You still having the bad ones?"

Belle shook her head. "Ever since Piper, Annabeth, and I visited the Temple of Fear and Panic back at Sparta, they've calmed down a lot, but some of them are still enough to wake me up. But now that I've gained so many new siblings, I don't want to scare them off by me waking up in the middle of the night crying, especially the young ones. They deserve to live a blissful life here as long as they can and realize the world is a lot harsher when they're older so they can handle it better."

"Have you made a bond with any of them yet?" Percy questioned.

Belle smiled a little. "Yeah, one. Her name's Lavender. Kind of fitting for a daughter of Demeter, but she's four. She has these big green eyes that get really bright when she's excited. Her and I talked for a really long time about our favorite plants."

"That's really amazing, Beauty."

"What about you?" Belle inquired. "Have your nightmares calmed down at all?"

Percy shrugged. "I'm afraid to go to sleep. I don't want to find out what they're like now." He paused for a moment. "Do you think they'll ever stop?"

"I'm not sure, Percy," Belle revealed. "We went through a lot down there. That damage is enough to last us our entire lives."

He sighed. "I wish it would all just go away."

"I know. Me too." Belle then held out her hand to him, and Percy took it and laced their fingers together. "But within that, we also have our entire lives to grow and heal." She then held up their interlocked hands. "And we also have each other."

"Oh, definitely. I promised you two months ago that you wouldn't get away from me ever again. And now that we're actually going back to school, we have a clear shot at going to New Rome University together. Best. Surprise. Ever."

Belle grinned. "I'm really excited for it. New Rome University sounds amazing. As long as I'm with you."

Percy opted to let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulder instead, pulling her in close to press a kiss to her forehead. "You and me against the world."

The two of them sat in silence for another couple of minutes. Belle let out a breath of content and tucked one of her knees into her chest. She leaned her chin on top of it and stared out in front of her, her eyes fixed on Cabin Four. The grass on the roof rustled in the wind and the flowers in the plant boxes were drooping slightly, only because there was no sunlight on them. Maybe, just maybe, one day she would be able to be apart from Percy in that Cabin, but she didn't see that happening anytime soon. They both needed each other right now, and that was all right.

"Can I tell you something?" Percy suddenly inquired.

Belle's eyebrows knit together. "Perce, you can tell me anything. You know that."

"Back by Greece, when we got attacked by that storm Goddess Kym . . . you know how Jason and I told you that Polybotes made me choke on poison?"

"Yeah."

"Well . . ." Percy trailed off, his fingers tapping nervously on his thigh. "When I was choking, I couldn't help but think that it was payback for Akhlys. I thought the Fates were letting me die the same way I tried to destroy her, and honestly, I felt like I deserved it. Belle, I scared you back by Chaos. I know I did. And it tears me apart everyday."

Belle looked over at him. Even in the dark, Belle could see underneath the twinkling stars and the shine of the moon that tears were beginning to gather in his sea-green eyes. She suddenly had a chilling realization inside of her. Never in the two years that she had known him had she ever seen him fully break down in front of her. Sure, he had shed a couple tears here and there — in front of Luke's dead body, when they got out of Tartarus, that discussion about Leo . . . but never had he full-blown cried. Yet here he was, almost breaking down over the fact that he had scared her back in Tartarus.

"Percy," Belle said seriously, reaching up a hand and placing it on his cheek, making his teary eyes meet hers. "You scared me. I'm not going to deny it. But baby, you cannot keep beating yourself up for that. I understand why you did it." She wiped away a fallen tear on his cheek with her thumb. "And if you feel like you need to cry it out, then do it. I'll be here. You don't have to be strong anymore. Not in front of me."

His bottom lip quivered. "Please don't go."

"Never," she promised. Belle moved her hand to brush some hair away from his forehead before cupping his cheek once more. "I'll be yours forever, remember?"

Percy's eyes then scanned over to the book next to her, and he sniffled a little. "Hey, Belle? Can you, um . . . can you read to me?"

She smiled softly at him. "Of course I can."

Belle dropped her hand from his cheek and got her book. Percy rested his forehead on the top of Belle's head, and every so often, she would feel a tear drop down onto her shoulder. She didn't mind. Belle had expressed her crying to Percy many times before. He needed her, too. And if Percy's way of asking her to stay with him and comfort him was through reading a book together, then so be it.

She opened up Beauty and Beast to the first chapter. "Chapter One — A Tempest at Sea. Are you ready?"

Belle felt Percy nod. Somehow, she could hear Mrs. Potts from the Disney movie sing the song in the back of her mind. And for the first time in Belle's life, she didn't hate it.

"In a country very far from this is to be seen a great city wherein trade flourishes abundantly," Belle read off of the page. "It numbered amongst its citizens a merchant, who succeeded in all his speculations, and upon whom Fortune, responding to his wishes, had always showered her fairest favors . . ."

The two of them sat there on the steps of the Poseidon Cabin, wrapped up in each other's arms as Belle read to Percy, who had indulged in crying for a little while until Belle's soothing voice ultimately calmed him down. Neither of them knew how long they had been out there, but it didn't matter. All they needed was time with each other, and that was what they got.

Belle Adair and Percy Jackson would need time to heal. Of course they would. But as they sat there underneath the rising sun, listening to how Belle fell in love with the Beast, they couldn't help but realize that they were always meant to be. Just like Demeter had said, and even without their swords, the Fates had intertwined their strings in a beautiful color combination of blue and gold. Who knew when they would be cut? That was the least of their worries. Because if they went down, they went down together — till forever falls apart.

After all, they were Beauty and the Beast. Their tale was as old as time, but just like the Gods were eternal, so were they.

— [ ♡ ] —

𝓛𝓐     𝓕𝓘𝓝     𝓓𝓔     𝓛'𝓐𝓒𝓣𝓔     𝓣𝓡𝓞𝓘𝓢

I already cried this morning over hsmtmts and now I'm crying over this chapter. I've been awake for only two hours. it's 11 am. I'm not doing well.

I need therapy.

ANYWAYS three bonuses coming soon :)

gifs by 1-800-SIMPINGFORSEB !