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He hated it.
What Tartarus did to him. What he did in Tartarus. What he became.
It started with the poison. What was the harm in trying? They were about to die anyway. And as it was mostly liquid, it was only natural that Percy could exert some control over it. But to use a goddess’s own poison against her? Forcing her own poison against her? The power Percy had was as vast as the oceans. What he had used against Akhyls barely took anything out of him. He could have kept going, using more and more of his power until he reached his unknown limit. If he had one that is. He could have drowned her if he wanted. Suffocate her with her very domain.
But he didn’t. Because he had terrified Annabeth.
After that, Percy had sworn to himself that he would not do anything of the sort again. Annabeth’s face when he had used his powers—the fear, fear of him —was forever ingrained in his mind. Annabeth saw everything analytically, calculating a way to win. She was fearless. And to see her afraid of him , when she had never feared any monster? Percy swallowed roughly just thinking about it.
So he kept to the obvious water around him. Oceans, lakes, rivers. All of it under his control, all of it normal . And it had been working. Had.
Despite his vow, Percy felt liquid calling out to him. He was more in tune with the bodies of water that surrounded him. It wasn’t as hard to pull them under his command. Whenever he ordered a drink, the liquid drew his attention, and if he really wanted to, he could control it. That was tame, but as the days passed, the weeks passed, Percy couldn’t help but notice more and more.
It happened everywhere he went now. He was distinctly aware of the water residing in plants, just waiting to be pulled out and used. He could easily drain plants of their water and control it. Percy couldn’t even stop himself from feeling the blood rushing through people’s veins. It wasn’t just in people, but also in animals. The blood ran through his ears, roared in his mind, begging him to take control.
And he could. All it would take would be a bit of concentration, a quick flick of his wrist, and he’d hold complete control over someone’s movements.
Percy didn’t even realize how easy it would be until he was angry. He couldn’t remember the circumstances of the fight, but he had gotten into one with some Ares kid. Maybe they were more powerful than they realized, using Ares’s ability to make those around you angrier and angrier. Whatever the case was, their verbal fight had turned into a physical one, blades clashing against each other.
At some point, the Ares kid had disarmed Percy, Riptide flying a few feet away. That should have been the end of the fight. But of course, it wasn’t. The kid has swung at Percy, celestial bronze glade glinting in the light.
And Percy was angry. He was so angry.
So he threw his hand out, a feral look crossing his face. He wasn’t thinking, but he grabbed control of the kid’s blood, using it to fling him backward, crashing into a tree.
It wasn’t until some younger camper ran forward, calling for help, that Percy realized what he’d done. His hand dropped limply to his side as he stared in horror at the crumpled form of the Ares kid. And then he did the only thing he could think of. He grabbed Riptide and ran, jumping into the lake and sitting for who knows how long.
By the time he had resurfaced, the sun was setting, and Annabeth was sitting on the edge of the dock, her feet swaying in the water. Percy had felt when she first touched the water hours ago.
He swam towards her, resting his head on her bare legs. She carefully ran her hand through his dark hair, occasionally playing with the small gray streak.
“Wanna tell me what happened, seaweed brain?” she mumbled, breaking their comfortable silence. Her hand scratched lightly at his scalp.
Percy treaded the water as he traced random patterns into Annabeth’s thighs. “I lost control.”
Annabeth hummed at his answer, looking down at him and cupping his face. He met her gray eyes.
“I didn’t mean to, Beth, I swear.” His voice was soft, rough from hours without use. “I just—I could just feel his blood and I was so angry and I just acted. I didn’t mean to do it.”
She let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his cheek with her thumb. “I know, Percy. I know you didn’t mean to.”
“But,” Percy hesitated, looking away, “I don’t feel bad about it.” Annabeth’s hand stilled. “I didn’t like doing it, but I didn’t dislike it. Controlling his blood just felt like another aspect of my powers. It felt natural . I can’t focus half the time because of how easily it calls to me.”
Her eyes pierced him. They were as calculating as ever but warm as she gazed at him. She bit her bottom lip. “I—Percy. Your power is your own, seaweed brain. Use it however you want. I just…I hope, I pray to the gods , that you’re responsible with it.”
They sat in silence after that, Percy in the water, Annabeth on the dock, as the sun set.
In the days following the incident , many campers steered clear of Percy. And he couldn’t even blame them. What he did was horrific. And his lack of regret even more so.
As he lay in his bed, wallowing, the door to his cabin burst open. Percy raised his head, finding Annabeth entering his cabin. Her eyes were blazing, a determined look on her face.
“Wise girl?”
“I’m going to help you with your powers.”
Percy shot up at her words. “Huh?”
“You control of blood. I’m going to help you because I trust you and I love you.” She crossed her arms, looking at him expectantly. “Come here , seaweed brain.”
Percy scrambled off his bed, standing in front of her nervously. “Are you sure about this?”
“Of course. I want you to become more comfortable with the feeling of blood around you. So start with me.” Percy stepped closer to her, taking her hands in his own. “Get used to feeling my blood. I want you to feel as comfortable as you do in the water.”
Silently, Percy nodded his head, stepping even closer and closing his eyes. He inhaled deeply, and the steady pumping of Annabeth’s blood echoed in his ears. He breathed in deeply, feeling it pulse through her veins and spread through her body. He could control it if he wanted to, she was practically offering herself up. Percy let out a shuddering breath.
“Something wrong?” Annabeth asked, making him open his eyes.
His eyes met her own. The flow of her blood was all he could hear for a moment. And then, it quieted and he could focus on her concerned look. He nodded gently, closing his eyes once more as he refocused on the flow of her blood.
It told him that she was alive, that she was safe . Perhaps Percy’s evergrowing abilities weren’t all bad.
Percy pressed a kiss to Annabeth’s forehead. “I’m all good.”