Your faith walks on broken glass & the hangover doesn't pass, nothing's ever built to last [W6, Fri]

[hydrokinetics]

[He thinks of where she could be not long after he receives his letter from Hannibal. He remembers something Natalie told him not long ago, about how she and Jason came here once to drink away their sorrows and he finds it funny even now.

It's the only bit of humor he has left.

It's with this in mind that he enters the church quietly and shuts the door silently behind him. Churches are fake, he thinks, too boxed in and too reliant on only one god. Then again, it's not like the gods have ever helped him here, have they? And they won't help now.

Percy's spoken to Natalie before about losing friends. And his heart sinks as he realizes just how true those words are.]

...Natalie?

Comments

[robitussin]

...I don't know.

[Somehow, it makes her laugh.]

I've been planning yesterday and today out in my head all week. Guess I forgot about downtime.

[hydrokinetics]

Probably because we're not used to it. [A grin.] I don't mind staying here where it's quiet for a while if you don't. Give us time to get it together before we face the world.

[robitussin]

Yeah. That sounds good to me.

[She pauses for a long moment.]

Percy?

[hydrokinetics]

Yeah? [Even if she paused, his answer's immediate. Attentive, actually.]

[robitussin]

[She hesitates for another moment before shifting and leaning forward, wrapping him in a tight hug.]

...Thank you. For everything.

[hydrokinetics]

[Like usual, there's little hesitation as he pulls her close and returns the gesture. This is fate and this is what they have to accept. It's hard and it's heartbreaking, but it's how fate goes.]

Always. [This is all he can do. He can just protect her for as long as she can...and avenge her in the morning.] I'll bring you back. I promise.

[robitussin]

[She nods, even if she's kind of burying her face into his shoulder.]

I'll help you. I'll find a way to send you information.

[hydrokinetics]

Yeah, I know you will. I trust you. [He's resting his chin on her head to keep her grounded there.] I'll write to you first. Just to make sure the connection goes both ways. Let you know how the trial goes. We're still in this together even if you're on the train...don't forget that.

[He may also be saying that to her to reassure himself, but whatever.]

[robitussin]

...I imagine it'll be pretty easy to figure it out. Either way - even if it's not, you have to vote for Will. You have to tell everyone to vote for him.

[hydrokinetics]

I know. I will. [There's a sigh because he hates that it's come to this.] We'll take care of things on this end as long as you promise to be safe on the other side. If Will pops up on the train, too...

[robitussin]

[God, she hates this. Her fingers tighten slightly in the fabric of his shirt.]

It's not like he can do anything worse than what he's already going to do. Can't die twice, right?

[hydrokinetics]

[He's fine with that. He's still holding her and instead his hand starts to move in almost comforting circles just because he can.]

Do me a favor and don't try to find out, okay? We don't know how death works in this place seeing how we're not really dead at all.

[robitussin]

I wasn't especially eager to try it once, you know.

[God. She pulls back, though, taking a deep breath and rubbing at her face.]

Sorry.

[hydrokinetics]

[He shrugs.]

What are you apologizing for now?

[robitussin]

...I don't know. Just feels like I should.

[She knows he isn't mad, but.]

[hydrokinetics]

If anything, I should be apologizing to you. So...stop, okay? You've done nothing wrong.

[robitussin]

[That makes her laugh, even if it's more incredulous than amused.]

What would you even be apologizing for?

[hydrokinetics]

For not being able to stop this from happening.

[robitussin]

[A slow breath, in and out.]

Don't do that to yourself. There was nothing you could have done, stupid.

[hydrokinetics]

No, I know. ...I know. [An awkward smile.] It's just hero-instinct, I guess. But I know.

...how about this. You don't apologize, and I won't either. Fair?

[robitussin]

Yeah.

[She pauses, then reaches into her pocket with a wince to pull out a piece of paper.]

Read it to everyone after the trial, okay?

[hydrokinetics]

[He'll take the paper, looking at it before nodding.]

Sure. It'll help them understand. [And it slips into his pocket. He's decided he won't read it until then.] And hopefully...it'll help us find an answer faster.

[robitussin]

I hope it will, too. But no matter what... You guys can do this. I believe in you.

[She should have realized that sooner, admitted it sooner. She sighs.]

[hydrokinetics]

Thank you. [There's silence.] Just...take it easy for now, okay? We've got you.

[It's all he can do. Reassurance until Hal hits him with a bat, apparently.]

[robitussin]

[There's a nod, and then... God. She hates that she's asking this, hates that she's being so weak, but her fingers close over his hand and her voice lowers slightly.]

Do you think it's going to hurt?