i have nightmares all the time, so i stay awake, so i stay awake, so i stay awake all the time

“luke…”

as you were on the cusp of sleep, the name that slipped from your boyfriends drowsy lips startled you awake. it was barely a whisper, almost imperceptible, but then percy said it again.

you hadn’t heard that name in months. no one in camp dared to speak of what happened in the war, of those who’d been lost, or those who betrayed them.

“stop, luke,” he murmured, his voice growing more agitated. he was tossing and turning on his pillow, clearly trapped in a nightmare. “don’t touch…them…”

then, without warning, he began to tremble, his body wracked with shuddering breaths as he let out the most heart-wrenching sounds you’d ever heard. “please…”

“no, no stop!” he cried, his voice rising in panic as he jolted awake with a sharp intake of breath, violently thrashing around in your arms. hyperventilating, he was still lost in a memory that seemed to bind him tightly in its grasp.

it took a moment before he realized where he was, and slowly, his frantic movements stilled as he began to cling to you as tightly as he could.