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

[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?

[hydrokinetics]

[He tenses up, if only because the question makes him sick. Dying...would dying hurt? He could lie. He could lie to her and tell her it'll be quick, lie to her and tell her it'll be okay...but this is Natalie and he refuses to lie to her. Not knowing what she's up against. Instead, he just rotates his hand to hold on.]

...I don't know. [It's very honest, at least, in the way that Percy's capable of. Blunt and honest but still sure.] Dying is a weird experience. Or the feeling you have before you die. I can't predict what Will will do, but...I pray it doesn't. [A huff of a laugh, incredulous and annoyed.] We're in a church and I don't even know if praying to a different god would do shit.

[robitussin]

[She doesn't remove her hand from his, but as she looks up at the ceiling, she tips a little so her head is resting on his shoulder again. This time she's not crying. She's still frightened, but it's more subdued.]

Doesn't seem like praying at all has really helped any of us. [Inhale.] This sucks.

[hydrokinetics]

[He can deal with that. He'll let her stay there, more or less.]

Sometimes it does. In this place, it hasn't. I've never been sure if it's because I'm so far away or my dad's too split between his Greek and Roman aspects to talk to me. [But he shakes his head.] It definitely, definitely sucks. But...I think there's something good on the other side. Annabeth's almost calm in her letters which is pretty impressive for her.

[It's a vague little bit of comfort, he hopes.]

[robitussin]

Maybe it's the whole pocket dimension thing.

[She shifts slightly, trying to make herself comfortable on the pews.]

It's more the whole getting there thing I'm worried about, but... Maybe I'll get lucky and he'll make it fast. Who knows.

[hydrokinetics]

[He shakes his head.]

I hope so. Will will be focused on the end goal. [This is depressing and he hates thinking of the topic.] Will you fight back?

[robitussin]

[She kicks her legs idly, still staring at the ceiling.]

It won't really matter if I do.

[But.]

I don't know if I'll be able to stop myself.

[hydrokinetics]

...see on the one hand, I'd say don't struggle. On the other hand, I'm Greek. [A shrug.] Fighting is sort of in our genes and I'd be a really huge hypocrite if I told you not to when I know I'd fight back like crazy.

I think when the time comes, you'll know how to handle it. You're still one of the strongest people I've met here.

[robitussin]

I already know not struggling is the best way to handle it. I guess it's just a matter of making sure I don't.

[She's not sure what she'll do when she gets that panicked. Either way, she forces a smile.]

You're going to make my head swell.

[hydrokinetics]

Like I said...you'll make the right choice when the time comes. I know that.

And anyway, I've had enough regrets in my life. I don't need withholding my compliments to you to be another one. So shut up and take it.

[robitussin]

[That manages to make her smile, fond and sorrowful all at once, before she nods.]

Percy?

[hydrokinetics]

[It reminds him of someone, a smile like that. He's seen smiles like that before. Somehow it never gets easier, but he can try.]

Yeah?