#frtt

For Real This Time // a Percabeth AU by @captain-jackson and @timelesslords

Annabeth breathed a small sigh of relief as the plane jolted onto the runway. 

The bumpy landing didn’t matter to her as long as they were finally solidly on the ground. She hadn’t quite been able to believe this was happening until she’d gotten on the plane, and even now that the flight was over she still couldn’t entirely process that she had made it. People around her were already starting to stand, anxious to get off the metal tube they’d been trapped in for the past nine hours, and Annabeth followed them listlessly, her brain still a bit foggy from disbelief. 

For Real This Time // a Percabeth AU by @captain-jackson and @timelesslords

Annabeth awoke to the sound of keys jangling against a lock. 

She blinked her eyes open, disoriented by her surroundings. She’d gotten pretty used to waking up in the house, but it took her a few seconds to place herself in this new bed. Then the woodsy scent filled her nose, and the events of the previous evening came crashing down. 

Annabeth was in Percy’s apartment. In Percy’s bed.

For Real This Time// a Percabeth AU by @captain-jackson and @timelesslords

In accordance with the rule that she and Piper had made up half a decade before, Annabeth was allowed ten minutes to feel sorry for herself. After that, she would have to get up and do something. It was a tradition that had started in college and had served them both well in adulthood.

So, after ten minutes of lying on the bed and staring up at the freshly painted beadboard ceiling, Annabeth got to her feet. She could be angry all she wanted, but it wouldn’t change the fact that she was here now. It had taken all of her savings and a generous donation from Piper’s emergency fund to get her to Italy in the first place, nevermind the fact that she had nothing to go home to.

She’d set fire to her old life — not that she wanted to return to it anyway — and there was nothing left to do but figure out the next steps.

For Real This Time // a Percabeth AU by @captain-jackson and @timelesslords

Something strange was touching Annabeth’s face. 

It was wet and a little scratchy. She tried to move her hand to push it away, but everything felt sluggish and slow. It took her a few more seconds to realize that her ears were ringing, but underneath the tinny sound there was the unmistakable undertone of something high pitched, loud, and overall unpleasant.

And then something much louder and much more familiar cut through the din.

For Real This Time// a Percabeth AU by @captain-jackson and @timelesslords

With the signing advance from Proserpina having finally cleared, Annabeth knew exactly how she was going to be spending her day off. The morning train to Rome left a little bit later on the weekends than it did on weekdays, but she still arrived at the station plenty early— there was no way she was going to miss the chance to venture into the city.

For Real This Time // a Percabeth AU by @captain-jackson and @timelesslords

“Percy?” she said softly, her shoulders relaxing as she looked up.He turned his head toward her slowly. “Annabeth,” Percy answered, swallowing hard.  The intensity of the stare pushed every thought from her mind except for him. Her pulse quickened.