Entry 054

(Written in 08.2016)

Percy Jackson and the Olympian Fanfiction – PJO Word Challenge 11: Tissue

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Annabeth pushed open the door that separated Percy’s bedroom and the hallway. Oh Gods, the contrast was so unbelievable. The hallway was clean and tidy as ever under Sally’s watch, but Percy’s room was…as she would put it, so messy as if a hellhound just went scavenging in there. His clothes were everywhere, a sock here, a T-shirt there. But Annabeth has figured as much from his days in camp. As she recalled, he always waited until the last minute before shoving all his clothes and stuff under his bunk for cabin inspection. What she wasn’t expecting was all the used tissues that crowded the bin and continually spilling from his bedside table.

She knew he was sick and in bed. That was the reason she came here in the first place, but she didn’t know he was that uncomfortable. She had thought it was just a small fever.
“Percy?” She walked into his room as he snatched a tissue and blew the hell out of him.
“Um, Annabeth, stop. Don’t come any nearer.” He raised his head to look at her. He did sound very sick, she noted.
“Don’t be silly.” She kept walking despite Percy’s warning and sat down on the side of his bed.
“Annabeth, I don’t want to infect you.” He added. “I’m pretty sure this disease is contagious.”
“And I didn’t come all the way to stand at your doorway, Seaweed brain.”
“I told mom not to tell you.” Percy sighed.
“You really think she would listen to that?” She smiled and brushed Percy’s hair out of his eyes. “Besides, I still would have known otherwise.”
“I guess so.” He murmured, almost grumbled.
Her smile widened and she kissed his cheek. His slightly pink face now flushed to a brighter shade of pink. Sliding off his bed, she pulled the quilt up to his chin and tucked him in.

“Get some sleep, Percy. Then you’ll be good as new.” She said, caressing his forehead and looking into his puppy dog eyes.
“Will you stay?”
She thought of all the work that was waiting for her back in her dormitory: her homework, the Olympic Sketches, the Student Council Proposals. For a second, she hesitated but then she answered, “Of course.”
At the moment she said it, she almost laughed at the brilliant smile that bloomed on Percy’s face.

* * *

It was a few hours after Annabeth has come through the front door into the Jackson household and Sally was a little worried that she would miss her dome’s curfew, so she started up the stairs towards Percy’s room.

She knocked on the door and listened. Not a single sound. Trying her best to be as quiet as possible, she slowly turned the doorknob and slightly opened the door. Inside was Percy’s usual mess, a whole lot of tissues and two sleeping teenagers. Her son was fast asleep on his bed while Annabeth was sleeping on the ground and leaning against his bed, his hand intertwined with hers.

Sally chuckled silently, waving at her confused husband down the hall.
“Look.” She whispered, smiling. “Aren’t they adorable?”
“Let’s not disturb them. They deserve some well-needed naptime.” Her husband’s warm smile was as wide as hers. “What do you say we give Annabeth’s dorm administrator a call?”

She nodded and closed the door soundlessly, being extra careful so as not to disrupt the peaceful sleep the heroes so undoubtedly deserved.