Slowly but surely, I'm getting requests done. I swear.

Siblings: Thalia and Annabeth
Pairings (if any): Percabeth if you squint
Dedication: 27lablover
Time: Between SoM and TC

Disclaimer: Do you really still think I could own this?

Thalia and Annabeth

The Traitor

"Thalia?" Annabeth shifted uncomfortably at the door of Cabin One. The moonlight lit her from behind, making her blonde hair glow eerily, though she was otherwise just a silhouette. Thalia groaned, using her elbow to push herself up and peering through the darkness.

"What is it, Annie?" she asked, stifling a yawn with the back of her hand.

Annabeth moved into the cabin, shutting the door behind her. She scowled at the older girl, wrinkling her nose in dismay. "Don't call me Annie," she mumbled, padding across the room as moved to make space on her cot.

"Right, I forgot," Thalia teased. "You're Wise Girl now." Annabeth blushed, hitting Thalia's shoulder softly. She shook her head, muttering something under her breath that sounded distinctly like "stupid Seaweed Brain."

"Fun as it is to tease you," Thalia continued, disregarding Annabeth's annoyed glare, "there was a reason that you came here in the middle of the night. What's wrong?"

Annabeth frowned at her lap, gnawing on her lip as she collected her thoughts. Thalia waited, knowing from experience that you can't rush the daughter of Athena when she's thinking. After a long pause, Annabeth looked up. Even in the dim, flickering light from lightning bolts that flashed through the ceiling mosaic, Thalia could see the tears glistening in her friend's eyes. She opened her arms, letting her fall into them for a much-needed hug.

"How could he, Thalia?" she whispered in a choked voice. Thalia felt her heart sink, and she held Annabeth to her body a little tighter. She stroked the girl's blonde curls, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, before holding her at arm's length.

"Hey, look at me," Thalia said, wiping some tears from Annabeth's face. "Listen. Luke is an asshole. Okay?" Annabeth winced at the word, or really, the tone in the word.

"Don't-"

"No, Annabeth, you need to hear this," Thalia interrupted, shaking her head. She pressed her lips together in a thin line. "Luke told us we'd be a family. And he was right. We're a family. You and I and Chiron and Percy and all the other idiots in this place. But Luke? He's a manipulative asshole."

"But… He was so good," Annabeth whispered.

"You know better than I do that people aren't always who they seem to be," Thalia said firmly. Annabeth blinked back more tears, until Thalia continued. "After all, Percy seems like an idiot, but you like him, so he can't be completely stupid."

Annabeth blushed, pushing Thalia on the shoulder. Thalia pushed back harder, and they went back and forth until both girls had collapsed in a pile of giggles. After a long moment, Annabeth pulled herself up, starting for the door, when Thalia stopped her.

"Hey," she called back, running a hand through her short black hair. "Maybe you want to sleep in here tonight?" she asked, tilting her head. Annabeth nodded, hurrying back to Thalia's side and curling up next to the older girl under the blankets. As Annabeth fell asleep, Thalia pressed a kiss to her forehead, remembering a time when they slept like this every night. A time before Luke proved who he really is.