#and annabeth snorts and rolls her eyes at him
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demigods-posts · 8 months ago
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imagine the whiplash of seeing percy and annabeth being affectionate with each other around camp after watching them beat around the bush for four years. you see annabeth working on her blueprints or some shit. and percy walks over to her from the nearby field. you're fully prepared to see them skirt around their feelings like usual. and then get taken aback when annabeth flirts with him like she enjoys watching the tide in his eyes change color. so captivated by the sea she'd willingly drown in. and percy just smiles and blushes, and stares at her with love in his eyes, not even daring to hide it. he kisses her on the mouth afterward like it's as easy as breathing and says something about meeting by the lake after the campfire. and you just have to reevaluate your outlook on life over the next few weeks.
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g1rld1ary · 11 months ago
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you never disappointed me ; luke castellan x aphrodite!reader
part one part two part three part four
➻ synopsis: charles beckendorf wants to go out with silena beauregard more than anything. one problem: she's not allowed to date until her shrewish older sister does, so he and percy come up with a plan. (10 things I about you AU)
➻ word count: 2783
➻ warnings: swearing ooc/kind of loser!luke, ooc silena, she/her pronouns used for reader
➻ this'll be a few chapter so this is p1!!!
════ ⋆★⋆ ════
Charles Beckendorf arrived at Camp Half-Blood when he was fifteen years old. It was a wonder he’d lasted out in the mortal world so long with his significant stature, height enough to attract monsters, but Percy — his tour guide — guessed it was probably his more reserved nature which had kept him under the radar.
“Thank God it’s you showing me around,” Was one of the first things he’d said, “When you start things like this it’s usually all the kiss-asses that greet me.” With six schools under his belt, Percy knew what he meant all too well.
“Nah man, we’re chill. And if we get this done quick then you can meet my friends, we know how to have the real fun here.”
And so they embarked on their tour, Percy dutifully pointing out all the most important places around camp. First was the Dining Pavilion, where they met Grover as he chewed on some of the tin-can remains of lunch. Then came Thalia’s Tree, under which Annabeth was drawing out a map that Charles didn’t understand in the slightest but Percy explained was a strategy for capture the flag. After that they walked past the sword fighting arena, where they caught a glimpse of Luke in the middle of a fierce duel. They both passed quickly, and Charles got the distinct impression that you weren’t supposed to interrupt Luke when he was fighting.
As the two got to the lake, Percy explaining it was where most people hung out when they had the time, Charles faltered in his steps. Percy looked back to where he was frozen and followed his sightline to Silena Beauregard and rolled his eyes.
“Who is that?” He breathed.
“Don’t even bother, bro,” Percy replied. “She’s off limits. It’s a well known fact that the Beauregard sisters aren’t allowed to date — they’re only here over the summers and their dad is crazy strict about it for some reason.”
“But she’s so—”
“Self-centred? Shallow? Silena is all looks no substance, dude. You can do better.” Percy ushered him away but Charles was still daydreaming about the beautiful Aphrodite girl.
The tour was just finishing up by the Climbing Wall when they first saw you. You held the camp record for it, and so had been delegated the responsibility of teaching the younger kids. Today though you’d had to rescue a cocky bastard from getting obliterated by lava, singeing the fabric of your camp shirt all over your left shoulder, and you were not in a good mood.
Just wanting to get back to your cabin for a change of clothes and some ambrosia, you were certainly not in the state of mind to stop and chat with a new camper. So when Percy and Charles came along blocking the whole fucking path, you didn’t hesitate to yell “Move!” Pushing past them in a huff. You wouldn’t usually be so rude, but you were pretty sure your shirt was fusing into your skin which was so not what you needed. Plus, they were in the way. Beckendorf’s bicep was warm from where you’d shoulder-checked him with your injury.
“That’s your dream girl’s older sister,” Percy snorted, used to your disagreeable personality.
“That’s Silena’s sister?” Charles asked incredulously, “But she’s…”
“A shrew? Yeah. I’d watch out for her, and kiss your dreams of going out with Silena goodbye. Now c’mon, I’ll show you to your cabin.” Charles followed mindlessly, still thinking about the two Beauregard sisters.
When people thought of you, the consensus was pretty much this: Silena Beauregard’s older sister, and the most heinous bitch at Camp Half-Blood, a title you were extremely proud of. Whilst you really didn’t think you were that bad — in fact, you considered your actions quite reasonable — younger campers cowered away when you marched through camp and the older ones rolled their eyes when you spoke. Just the way you liked it. It wasn’t exactly unusual, camp had all sorts of kids living there, not everyone was going to get along, but it was pretty unexpected for you as a daughter of Aphrodite.
You didn’t get along with most of your siblings, despite all your efforts as one of the elder campers. You thought it was ridiculous that they wouldn’t participate in camp activities, regardless of the reason. What good was having all that beauty if it was wiped off the face of the earth by a monster? There were a hundred rumours flying about to explain you and your attitude, the most popular being that you were the secret lovechild of Aphrodite and Ares, which explained your affinity for fighting and permanent bitch face. You knew better. For one you shared too many of your dad’s traits not to be his child. Plus, Aphrodite had a long history of being associated with war in Ancient Greece which everyone at camp just conveniently forgot in favour of writing her children off as useless and vain. You hated it, and you refused to be who they wanted.
Even your favourite sibling was the polar opposite to you. Silena was a few years younger than you, and by all accounts was the model of a perfect Aphrodite child. Gorgeous, of course, and usually kind and patient. In your opinion, she was kind of annoying and self-absorbed, but you chose to believe she meant well so you could keep tolerating her. You didn’t know how the only two blood-related siblings in your cabin could be so different from one another, but it had been that way since you were fourteen and she was twelve.
You had made it back to your cabin, and your shoulder was all bandaged up after your shower. You were just flipping through The Bell Jar, your latest novel, when Silena came stomping into the cabin, waving a letter frantically through the air. You could assume what it was about.
“This is so unfair!” Silena whined, “Daddy doesn’t even know Ethan!” Ethan was the new boy Silena had been obsessed with recently, writing incessantly to your father in an attempt to get him to take back the no dating rule.
“What, can’t go swap spit with the vermin of the earth?” You exaggerated a pout. She sneered at you in the mirror.
“Worse. Now he’s saying I can’t date until you do, so now I’m going to die a stupid old virgin because of you!” You rolled your eyes and sighed.
“Have you ever considered there’s more to life than finding a boyfriend? Or, big shock I know, maybe I’m just not interested in the sweaty, uninspired pigs that are supplied here?”
“You suck!” She huffed, turning on a kitten heel and barging out of the cabin.
“You suck!” You mocked, turning back to your book. You knew Silena was really pissed at you for being so stubborn, but you hated the thought of changing your opinions over a man of all things.
Silena, in her frustration, was wandering around Camp Half-Blood to let off some steam. Charles, fresh from a kayaking lesson, spotted her across the beach and scrambled to catch up to her. Remembering what Percy told him about her not participating in many of the camp’s activities, he came up with the idea to offer his help to finish a project in the forges to get Chiron off her back. Silena seemed surprised but happy enough to agree, and Charles was ecstatic.
“She’s agreed to go to the forges with me!” He told Percy excitedly, and Percy raised an eyebrow.
“Do you even know how to weld?”
“Well, no, but I will!�� As much as Percy liked the new kid, he was definitely a handful.
Charles’ first session with Silena didn’t go exactly as he’d hoped. She showed up already looking bored, and not keen to start off with a simple sword as he’d proposed. Soon he gave up with any welding, choosing instead to try and get her know better.
“If you’re not really into this we could try something else? I saw someone welding some metal flowers, you know, for like a date?” That caught her attention.
“Are you asking me on a date?” At his shy nod Silena couldn’t contain her slight laugh. “That is so cute! What’s your name again?” Charles told her quietly.
“Well, my Dad’s just changed our family rule — I can date when my sister does.”
“That’s great! So all you’ve gotta do is find someone who’ll date her!”
“One problem, Cameron-”
“Charles.”
“My sister is, like, totally antisocial?”
“Yeah, but people jump out of planes and stuff all the time! It could be, like, extreme dating!”
They both looked across the forge where you were working, fixing up your favourite sword after an Ares kid had done quite a number on it. You had on both your signature outfit and expression — long, practical jorts with your camp shirt tied in a knot and a dangerous bitch face.
“The oversized look is out, Beauregard, didn’t you read last month’s Vogue?” Ethan was hovering around you, trying his hardest to get a rise out of you in front of his friends.
“Run along, dickwad.” You refused to blow up at him, knowing it would only be used to make you look hysterical and unbalanced later. Plus, Ethan would get bored sooner or later and find someone else to taunt.
As Charles recounted this story to Percy later that night at the bonfire, all Percy could do was groan.
“Charles — Charlie — I really wanna like you, man, but this is probably the most stupid thing you could have done. I know they’re hot, but it’s not even worth getting involved with one Beauregard sister, and you’ve just gotten yourself tangled with both — and not in the way that most guys dream about.” Charles flushed at the innuendo.
“I think you’re wrong about Silena, I think she’s worth it. I just have to figure out how I can set her sister up with another guy.”
“Yeah, good luck with that,” Percy laughed, hitting Charles’ knee twice before turning away to talk to Annabeth. Charles spent the rest of the night trying to hatch a plan.
Early the next morning he got Percy on board, albeit very reluctantly. Percy brought Charles over to every single guy he could think of in your age range, begging them to take you out. The responses varied from a nervous shake of the head to Travis Stoll laughing in both boys’ faces.
“Why would I go looking for a kick in the balls?” He asked, still wheezing from his initial outburst.
They found themselves once again at the bonfire, both disheartened. Percy at having wasted a day all for this new guy he barely knew, and Charles that he was no closer to getting a date with Silena. Finally, somewhat eager to get this distraction over with, Percy came up with an idea.
“What about you just pay someone to go out with her?” He asked, and Charles considered the idea for a minute, it wasn’t half bad.
“I have literally no money,” He settled on finally, and Percy rolled his eyes.
“So you get someone else to do it for you,” He suggested, and Annabeth joined the conversation with suspicious interest.
“Like a backer?” She asked, at Percy’s nod she bit her lip, “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, guys, it seems like it could really backfire on you. I mean, what if she finds out? I heard she once tied a camper to the lava wall just for looking at her wrong.”
“She won’t find out! I mean she only has to date so Silena can, it doesn’t have to be a long term thing. She goes on enough dates for it to qualify, then they break up while it’s still casual and I can go out with Silena!” Charles explained excitedly, but Annabeth still looked skeptical.
“Plus, if we have a backer, none of the blame will go to my man Charlie here,” Percy added helpfully, which swayed Annabeth a little.
“Okay, well be careful,” She said, leaving for the dining hall to be distanced from the plot.
Percy thought the answer to who the backer would be was pretty obvious. Whilst most of the boys at Camp Half-Blood wanted to sleep with Silena, Ethan White was both rich and desperate enough to agree to it. Plus when Percy Jackson was telling you you’d look great with a girl, you generally listened.
All that was left was to find someone to set you up with. The boys used the bonfire to scope out their options, but it wasn’t looking good. For one, you didn’t even show up to bonfires if you could help it, and it was anyone’s guess what you did instead. Rumours said blood sacrifices but Percy was almost completely sure that was a lie. Truthfully you were sitting up on the roof of the Aphrodite cabin, enjoying the peace and quiet of the camp when no one else was around.
They were about to give up, Percy trying to find the right words to let Beckendorf down easy, when they saw Luke. Luke, with his brooding eyes and his cigarette, sitting on his own at the bonfire with headphones connected to a mortal mp3 player. Luke, who had never quite been the same since he returned from his quest — rumours swirling about the horrors he’d faced that he refused to speak on.
“I think we’ve found our man.”
It was easy to convince Ethan to get on board, he was so overconfident in himself and his looks he would never suspect that Percy or Beckendorf had any ulterior motives. It was equally enjoyable to watch Ethan try and approach Luke to get the plan in motion. Percy and Beckendorf were sitting with Percy’s friends on the beach the very first time Ethan spoke to Luke. He was all macho confidence, still trying to play the tough guy. Luke looked up at him from his place sitting on a rock, barely moving his head to give him any attention. The moment of eye contact meant Ethan knew Luke had seen him speaking, and the abrupt walking away communicated his absolute lack of interest. It took a gargantuan effort from Percy not to burst out laughing then and there.
The second conversation went a bit smoother. Ethan had a metaphorical tail between his legs, temporarily giving up his ego to be the smaller person in the conversation. That got Luke’s attention, having known Ethan and his antics for years at that point. And then Ethan explained his plan. Luke couldn’t contain his laughter — a sound Camp Half-Blood was rarely graced with anymore.
“Yeah sure, Sparky,” He laughed, almost wheezing in an uncharacteristic show of emotion.
“Look,” Ethan stressed, “I can’t take out Silena until her sister starts dating — their Dad is super strict and has this rule—”
“Touching story, not my problem.” Luke moved to put his earbud back in when Ethan stopped him.
“Could it be your problem if I provided generous compensation?” Luke had forgotten Ethan’s mother was filthy rich. He looked him dead in the eye.
“You’re going to pay me to take out some chick? How much?” He asked, entirely disbelieving.
“Twenty bucks” They both looked down at you on the volleyball courts, spiking a ball into a girl’s stomach with so much force she keeled over on the ground. You had the decency to look mildly apologetic while the opposing team glared at you.
“Fine. Thirty.”
“Let’s see,” Luke smiled something devious. “If I’m taking her out it means leaving camp. That’s a lot of risk I’m pursuing for you, plus the costs of taking to her somewhere — the movies maybe. And you know inflation lately, let’s say seventy-five bucks.”
“This isn’t a negotiation, burnout.”
“Fifty bucks and we’ve got a deal, Fabio,” Luke countered, knowing he had the upper hand. He had nothing to lose. Reluctantly, Ethan forked out a fifty. All that was left was for Luke to get you to go out with him, how hard could that be?
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7s3ven · 1 year ago
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DRIVING LESSONS. luke (pjo)
Normal! Au
( master list )
IN WHICH… Luke attempts to teach Percy how to drive and, in the process, almost crashes into Luke’s long time crush. But maybe he can spin it in his favor.
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Luke was like an older brother to many. He had warm and comforting aura that people seemed to gravitate towards.
“Don’t get hurt, seaweed brain.” Annabeth warned Percy, pointing a stern finger at him. Luke chuckled as he leaned against the hood of his shiny car. Percy needed driving lessons and Luke was more than happy to help. Though, he knew he was going to regret it. Annabeth and Sally were both too terrified to teach Percy but Luke was up for the challenge.
“Turn on your blinker, Percy.” Luke reminded the teenage boy for the fifth time.
“My what?” Percy only stared at Luke in utter confusion.
“Your turn signal. And keep your eyes in the road!” Luke exclaimed as another car whizzed past, narrowly avoiding crashing into them. Percy immediately glued his eyes back to the view in front of him, sheepishly smiling.
"Sorry." He whispered.
“Turn slowly here.” Luke instructed, nodding when Percy finally remembered to press his blinker. Percy turned painfully slow, matching the speed of a sloth, and Luke held back an annoyed groan.
“So, when did you start driving?” Percy asked. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Luke shrug.
“I’m not sure. Around your age or a little older.” Luke was in his twenties now, already having secured a well-paying job which helped pay for half of Annabeth’s tuitions. The other half was paid by a scholarship she earned.
“Have you met any cute girls?”
Luke lightly snorted, grinning in amusement. “Why are you asking me that, Percy? You know I can see how you look at Annabeth. I should be asking you how it’s going with her.”
Percy and Annabeth had always been stuck between friends and lovers and it was driving Luke insane. He wanted to shove the two of them together and demand they admit their feelings.
“Okay, but have you met any cute girls?” Percy was persistent, which suited his given name. Luke scoffed, tilting his head back. He had but he didn’t want to admit it to Percy. How was he supposed to tell Percy that he was still in love with the same girl from high school?
He thought he was over his feelings but he saw her in a coffee shop one day and everything came flooding back. Their playful flirting, their late night rants as they lay in each other’s arms while listening to Luke’s playlist, and that kiss they shared in their last year. Annabeth was already calling Luke a loser for liking her again, he didn’t need Percy doing the same.
“I guess.” Luke finally answered. “I’m not really attached to any of them, though.” Because his mind was always on Y/N, his high school sweetheart.
“Are you gay?” Percy asked out of the blue, causing Luke to choke in surprise.
“Am I- No! I’m not gay, Percy! I like girls but I wouldn’t date any of the girls I meet!”
“Is it because you’re still obsessed with her?”
Luke knew who he was talking about. He clicked his tongue, giving Percy the indirect answer that he needed. Percy wasn’t so clueless after all.
In all Luke’s years of babysitting Annabeth and Percy, he had only brought one girl over, who happened to be Y/N. They were working on a school project but Annabeth still liked to tease him about the way he gazed at Y/N.
Percy made the mistake of tearing his eyes away from the road again. “Percy!” Luke shouted as soon as he spotted someone walking across the pedestrian crossing, “Eyes on the road!” Percy, in a panic, slammed his foot against the break. The car screeched to an abrupt halt and both boys were sent flying forward. If it weren't for their seat belts, they would've crashed through the windshield.
There was a soft knock on Luke’s window and he turned his head, mortified to see the very girl he was just thinking about. The brunette slowly rolled the window down, thickly gulping.
“Hey.” Y/N greeted him, resting her arms on the sill, “You know, people usually stop at the crossing. They don’t almost run someone over.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. It’s his first time and he’s still pretty nervous.” Luke jabbed a thumb in Percy’s direction. The blond boy was sweating, gripping the steering wheel tightly. He sent Y/N an apologetic smile.
“Oh, Percy. I haven’t seen you in a while.” Y/N grinned at him, “You’ve grown up so fast. Last time I saw you, you were smashing into walls.” Percy’s cheeks heated up at the memory. “Glad to see you still have that habit. Though, instead of walls now, it seems you like to crash into people. You weren't thinking of committing a hit and run, right?"
“How have you been, Y/N?” Luke changed the subject to spare Percy from the embarrassment of Y/N’s teasing remarks. “You disappeared after high school. And the last time I saw you was in a cafe. I barely had time to ask.”
“I went to university in Europe.”
“And you got your law degree, I assume?”
“Conjoint, actually. I majored in law with a minor in psychology.”
Luke whistled, impressed. He barely passed university. “So, what are you doing now?”
“Well, I was taking a calming walk before I almost got killed.” She chuckled, an amused glimmer flashing in her eyes. Percy sank deeper into Luke’s leather car seat. “If you need help with teaching Percy to drive, I’d be happy to help. You look like you need it.” She fished out a card from her purse, handing it over to Luke. “I changed my number, by the way. That’s my personal one. Feel free to contact me, Luke.”
She bid the pair farewell and once she was out of earshot, Percy and Luke turned to face each other.
“Oh my gosh, she gave you her number!”
“Bro, I got her number!”
It was safe to say that Luke spent the rest of the terrifying car ride feeling elated despite being tossed around in the vehicle with Percy and almost throwing up once or twice.
Luke was dreading the next day with Percy because the young boy was not a good driver. At all. Not only had Percy narrowly avoided crashing into a pole and took off one of Luke’s mirrors in the process, but they also got chased by the cops for going over the speeding limit. Twice. And he couldn't forget how they almost killed Y/N.
Luke was thinking of ditching Percy but he was technically Annabeth’s boyfriend, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
His phone buzzed and his eyes darted to the screen for a split second. He looked back at the road, quickly stomping his foot onto the break. His heart sank for the second time this week. This was not how he wanted to meet Y/N again.
Y/N was teasingly grinning as she made her way over to his window. She knocked on it, bending down to match his height. “Hey, Luke.” She uttered, clicking her tongue. She playfully pursed her lips as she watched Luke sigh, his head resting against the wheel. “You and Percy seem to have one thing in common. Almost crashing into me.”
Luke’s cheeks flushed bright pink. “I didn’t mean to… I swear.” He uttered.
“It’s fine, Luke. As long as you don’t actually hit me. Because if you do, I will run you over too.” Y/N smiled, acting as if she didn’t just whisper a threat in Luke’s ear.
“I’m actually going to pick up Percy right now. Do you want to, uh, join me? I might throw up less with you around. Partly in fear of embarrassing myself.” Luke chuckled to himself while Y/N huffed in amusement.
“As long as I don’t land in hospital, I’m up for it.”
“No promises.”
Y/N climbed into the passenger seat, shutting the door behind her. She tilted her head to the side as she picked up a Lancôme lipstick. “I never took you as lipstick person, Luke.” She joked, holding up the tube.
“It’s Clarisse’s.” He said. Despite their differences, the two were quite close in high school. And they still were.
“You two dating already? Everybody shipped you two.” Y/N chuckled, turning her head to look at Luke.
“We’re just friends.” Luke said.
“Oh, come on. You must like a girl. Who’s the lucky one, huh?”
You, Luke almost said.
“I’m not interested in any girls right now.” He said instead. Y/N quirked an eyebrow.
“Are you gay? Wait, I kissed you while you were gay?!” Y/N gasped while Luke wildly shook his head.
“Why does everyone think I’m gay?!” He exclaimed.
"You've never dated anyone, Luke. It makes people think things." Y/N chuckled as leaned back in her seat. "I remember when everybody thought you and Chris were an item. Your fangirls were devastated. It was hilarious."
"What about you?" Luke asked, "How did... you feel?" Y/N faltered. She slowly turned her head to look at Luke before shyly diverting her gaze.
"I was more preoccupied with laughing over the sad girls with my friends." She uttered, "But I had a feeling you weren't gay. Your fashion sense back then was a dead give away that you were straight."
Luke clicked his tongue, "Was that meant to be an insult or a compliment?"
Y/N silently shrugged, flashing him a small grin. "A bit of both, I think."
Silence eventually settled between the pair. The car engine quietly hummed and Y/N glanced out the window as the radio played a soft melody. She thickly gulped as Luke pulled into Percy's driveway, a little disappointed they'd no longer be alone.
"Y/N." Luke quickly turned to her as soon as he pulled the keys out of his car. She met his gaze, confused as she gestured for him to continue. She watched as Luke took a deep breath. "Do you remember when I asked you if you had a partner for prom?"
"Of course. I went with Jake."
"I know that. But do you remember when you told me about Jake and I looked a little sad?" Luke was usually straight-forward with his sentences but he couldn't find the right words in this moment. Y/N slightly tilted her head.
"Yeah... you looked crushed." She said in a joking tone, causing Luke to gently chuckle.
"I looked sad because... I wanted to ask you out. Because I liked you. And I didn't ask anyone else out or accept any other offers because you were the only person I wanted to go with. And when you kissed me in our senior year, I couldn't feel happier, even if it was only because you wanted to feel a teen romance. And when you left... I didn't leave my room for ages. Annabeth had to drag me out. I was scared that you would find another person and I didn't want you to leave me behind."
Y/N gazed at him in silence. Luke cleared his throat, nodding his face. "I shouldn't have said anything... sorry. All those things were ancient history. I don't even know why I brought it up."
"What about you?" Y/N breathed, "Is there anyone else in your life?"
Luke pressed his lips into a thin line. "No... To be honest, I still haven't moved on from you." He turned his head to face Y/N, taken aback when she pressed her lips against his.
"I didn't find anyone else, Luke. I wanted to come back from university and run into your arms again, like old times." Y/N uttered as she pulled away. Luke cracked an ecstatic grin, pulling her back.
"Are you guys seriously making out in front of my house?"
Y/N and Luke jumped apart at the sound of Percy's voice. The younger boy was staring at them through the tinted window, face wrinkled up in disgust.
"I'll, um, get in the backseat." Y/N said, smiling before she switched seats, allowing Luke to sit beside Percy. The brunette gave the boy a subtle glare.
"Can I turn on some music?" Percy asked as he drove down an empty road. Luke had switched off the radio to allow the blond to concentrate.
"Only for a little while. Keep your eyes on the road so you don't almost kill anybody else." Luke snapped. From the backseat, Y/N lightly laughed.
Percy pushed a button and with a quiet click, Olivia Rodrigo started playing. "Really, Luke? Your sad playlist?"
"It's the only other tape in my car."
"I got my driver's license last week"- Percy sang along but he was cut off by Luke's stern tone.
"Percy, you won't be getting your license for ages if you don't focus on the road." The brunette warned. Percy frowned, going silent for a few moments before he parted his lips again.
"He used to listen to this playlist in his car while it rained. He was probably thinking about you." Percy said to Y/N, looking at her through the mirror, "I think he even cried at some point. Annabeth and I saw him one night, just sitting in the car and banging his head against the wheel."
"Percy!" Luke hissed, trying to shush the boy. But the damage was already done as Y/N diverted her eyes to look at Luke.
"Really?" There was an amused edge to her voice.
"Stop the car." Luke demanded, glowering at Percy. The young blond nonchalantly pulled over and stopped the engine. "You're dead, Percy. I'm going to tell Annabeth how you still drool in your sleep." Luke pulled out his phone, causing Percy to panic.
"I told her I stopped!" Percy reached for Luke's device but the brunette quickly stepped out of the car. He held the phone up high, away from Percy's grasp. Y/N watched as Percy chased after Luke, desperate to hide his drooling problem from Annabeth.
Luke turned his head to scowl at Percy. "It's your payback for telling Y/N that!"
idea from @emiliehornby !!
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ma1dita · 6 months ago
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luke castellan really likes to say “where my hug at” as an inside joke between the two of you, but he also just really likes hugs
luke 'where my hug at' castellan
love this dork. with arms like that and a gorgeous smile, it’s not thaaaat cringy
at first it was a joke, because the lingo you learned from being away from camp for most of the year already confused the fuck out of him (like what are these kids talking about eating?) so you had to catch him up
it made you laugh a lot in a way that got him feeling fluttery—and he wants to chase that feeling, so he says it whenever he sees you just to see you smile
truthfully, he just wants a hug. they’re rare between you two since y’all are not super close friends, and you’re not a year-rounder like him, but hey, let the man shoot his shot (no matter how awkward he can be)
you kinda always giggle and tell him he has cooties
he needs to stop asking in public he’s starting to look stupid
it pays off when he bumps into you while you braid Annabeth’s hair and his little sister’s just as awkward sooooo…
he stands in the doorway of cabin 6 with a crooked grin, knocking Annie’s trinkets off her sidetable to mess with her before nodding at you cooly— “where my hug at?”
you snort, continuing your work and Annie’s eyeballs swing back and forth between you two like pingpong balls
“well, aren’t you going to hug him?”
cue awkward shuffling and choked-out laughter when you roll your eyes and get up from the bed to throw your arms around his neck
he doesn’t know where to put his hands, wiping sweat off onto his cargos before they settle onto your waist
your eyes meet and you pinch his cheek.
“i can’t believe it, but i think that counts as rizz, Castellan”
“what?”
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charlietheepicwriter7 · 10 days ago
Text
Percy was left as the long guard of the creek boarder. One week into camp, barely any weapons training, and he was given the important job of stopping Red Team from crossing the boarder.
Something was off.
Studying the tree line, Percy discarded his shield - heavy, burdensome thing, it was more likely to get Percy killed than protect him - only to hear the sharp snap of a dead branch. He whirled towards the noise, back to the stream and hand on the pommel of his sword.
Someone was watching him.
But who? Percy's thoughts raced. He had very few allies here at camp; Grover, Luke (but he was going after the flag despite a loud argument with Annabeth that he overheard), maybe some of the other Hermes cabin kids? But he had made far more enemies than allies so far-
Unless... his eyes turned upward as he searched for a sign of an owl.
Percy always had weird dreams. Dreams of a breathtakingly sad woman he called Mother, a dark man in red he called Father, and a woman in armor who taught him to fight. For a long time, the dreams were vague, like he was peering through morning fog off the ocean. Then he reached camp, and the dreams were clear. He could see his Mother's face now, and dreamed about her chatting with his mom in the after life. He knew his Father's love, a father who'd been lost at sea for years before finally coming home. He knew his friend's name.
Athena.
There were no birds in the branches, nor any feathers on the ground. But he wasn't alone, because he could still hear the soft swish of fabric against fabric. Percy tightened his grip. "Show yourself," he demanded. The noise of the forest faded in his mind as Percy tried to triangulate the sound. "I know you're watching me. Show yourself!" A sharp gasp, quickly muffled. Percy glared in that direction. "I can see you..."
"What!?" Abruptly, Annabeth appeared. It wasn't like she jumped out of the trees, or a bush, but she literally wasn't there one second, and was there the next. Annabeth stormed over to Percy, scowling. "What do you mean, you can see me!? How did you do that?"
Percy stared back at her blankly, then snorted. "I was lying, and you fell for it." He held back from laughing in her face, but just barely. She wasn't his friend, but when she was angry like this, her eyes looked just like...
Annabeth reared back, a ruddy flush blooming over her cheeks and down her neck. "Well, good job! Liar." She sneered, slapping her baseball cap in her hand. "You're supposed to be guarding. What were you even doing, looking for me?"
"I wasn't looking for you- Actually, why are you here? I thought you'd be too busy micromanaging your plan to win-" Percy stopped, thought, and reassessed, coming to an unfortunate yet obvious conclusion. "...That's exactly what you're doing. I'm the plan. You're using me as bait." No wonder Luke was so mad!
Annabeth crossed her arms. "I am not!"
"You want those Ares kids to focus on kicking my butt instead of capturing our flag! You're practically sacrificing me!"
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, you're being dramatic. I'm not going to let them hurt you."
"You're not the one they want to kill!" Percy snapped.
Through the brush on the other side of the stream, five Ares kids, led by the big bully herself, Clarisse, crashed into their argument. Clarisse's ringing "Cream the punk!" signalling of his and Annabeth's very unfortunate team up.
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widodiangelo · 10 months ago
Text
Technically, they weren’t supposed to be in each other's cabins.
But after fighting in two wars in the last two years, Chiron had decided to let some things slide. And so the Poseidon cabin became the go-to meeting place for the older campers: mostly the seven and company.
As a result, the cabin had slowly begun accumulating various comfort items and was morphing into a strange college dorm room-thrift shop hybrid. There was an old, peeling leather couch Jason and Leo had dragged out of the big house a few weeks ago, surrounded by random folding chairs and an assortment of beanbags Nico had totally not shadow traveled in from an ikea in the city. There were two and a half mini fridges (two working, one broken), a strange assortment of video game consoles the stoll brothers had provided and quite a few puzzles.
Since he and Nico had started dating, Will found himself hanging out in Percy’s makeshift common room more and more. That evening, he had just finished a sing-along session with his siblings at the campfire and was making his way across camp to the cabins. The warm summer air was filled with the smells of campfire smoke and sea salt drifting from the shore. A calm smile on his face, Will strolled up to cabin three with an extra s’more in his hand.
The interior was lit up with fairy lights and a blue lamp in the corner: cozy and inviting. Leo and Piper sat in some beanbags, playing some sort of card game. Jason and Percy lounged on the couch, throwing blue jelly beans into each other’s mouths (or at least tried to) while they yelled at the video game on the large tv screen that sat on the floor, leaning against the far wall because someone had forgotten to steal a stand. Nico perched on the edge of a crusty armchair, a controller in his hands and gaze focused on the screen before him. 
Will stepped through the door with a soft wave, which Annabeth returned with one hand from where she was braiding back Nico’s hair as he played. Jason popped a jelly bean in his mouth as Will sat down at Nico’s side. “Holy shit. Nico, you’re sub 6 minutes and you’re already at Lernie? What even is this build?”
Nico smirked, not taking his eyes off the game, but leaning into his boyfriend as a hand carded around his waist. “I told you Grace, Beo is bugged on mirage shot. It’s totally OP.”
Percy tried to catch the blue projectile Jason tossed at him, almost falling off the couch in the process. “Yeah but even with the bug I’ve never been able to make use of hunter’s mark like this before. How are you even doing that?”
Nico shrugged, the silver chains that dangled from his ears glinted in the moonlight. “Practice.” He replied, taking down a hydra head in one blow.
Will took a bite of his s’more and squinted at the screen. “What even is this?”
“Hades.” All three boys replied, and Annabeth snorted. “It’s a Greek mythology game.” She supplied with a roll of her eyes. “Nico’s the main character.”
“I am not the main character.” Nico retorted, eyes never leaving the screen. He mumbled under his breath as the screen shifted, “fuck stupid room 34 witches. Dammit.”
Percy tilted his head in thought. “Actually Nico, you kinda are. I mean Zag is the son of Hades, his main weapon is a sword, you both look like you belong in a hot topic ad–”
“Fuck you, Jackson.” 
“I said what I said– oh shit smoldering air? No way!”
Jason almost choked on his food. “Dude you’re gonna go sub ten at this rate.”
Will glanced at Annabeth. “Do they always sound like they’re speaking ancient greek when they play this game?”
Annabeth pulled the hair tie around her wrist off with her teeth. “Yup. Hate to break it to you, your boyfriend’s a nerd.”
Nico scowled. “Am not.”
Will pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Oh you totally are.”
“Listen Solace– HA! 9:58!” Nico jumped up and tossed the controller on the floor in victory, flicking off the animated Hades he had just defeated. “Get fucked, dad.”
Will watched him fondly. “Of course you would be good at the greek mythology video game where you get to kill your father.”
Nico dropped back down on the chair and slipped into Will’s side, taking the s’more his boyfriend offered him with a grin. “I’m nothing if not on brand.”
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lafleshlumpeater · 7 months ago
Note
hi i’ve been trying to find someone perfect for my request cause tbh it’s one i’ve been thinking about for a while and i think your writing and style is absolutely amazing and idk i want you for my request. i understand you usually write fem readers but if you could please make like a gn!reader i would really really really appreciate it!! i was thinking a luke castellan x reader and everyone always jokes about you guys dating but you���ve never really had a crush on him. and then he suggests you guys just start fake dating just to make it better, and then you end up falling for him and just like yeah. fake dating to lovers yall please. thank you so much for even considering!!!
OMG. ANON. you flatter me too much, ilysm for this. i hope i did this justice and i'm so sorry for the long wait <3 (there will definitely be more than one part to this!!)
warnings: gn!reader (pls lmk if i accidentally used any gendered language so i can fix it), teasing, percabeth being 'that' couple- it's not really specified whether this is book!luke or disney!luke but for any future requests if you'd like a particular one don't be afraid to ask <3
luke castellan masterlist
“So,” Annabeth begins, clearing her throat, and just from the teasing cadence lilting her voice, you already know what she’s itching to comment on. You exhale, rolling your eyes and praying internally to every god in existence that you know of to spare you from this incessant battle. “You and Luke, training together.” She makes a pretence at nonchalance- you know her better than that.
“Yes, Annabeth,” you sigh as you take a sip of water. “Just like how practically everyone else in camp has also done. You included.” Excluding Percy, it was non-negotiable; Luke was the most experienced and skilled fighter at camp. Everyone was eager to learn a thing or two from him, and understandably so.
“Yeah, but, like- the chemistry.” The blonde counters, rubs her hands together deviously. “No-one else in camp has that with him.”
“You’ve been spending too much time with your boyfriend.” Percy; the main instigator of all of your friends, and even campers who you didn’t even know too well, encouraging the idea that there was something inexplicable going on between you and Luke Castellan. You couldn’t sympathise with the notion whatsoever- apparently, two people being of the same age and occasionally passing time together who also happen to be paired up with one another in most affairs (no doubt with the meddling of Chiron, which Luke himself seemed blissfully oblivious to), meant they were suddenly applicable for a relationship which goes beyond the boundaries of platonic.
You didn’t get it whatsoever.
“Speak of the devil,” Annabeth starts, the remnants of her scheming smirk blooming into something more genuine and pure at the sight of her boyfriend walking towards the pair of you. 
“I saw Luke just now.” The playful quip forming regarding the lack of greeting from him dies on your tongue. You couldn’t be dealing with this now- all you wanted was a productive day of training followed by a bitingly cold shower. Instead, you’re being verbally taunted- by your friends, no less- about how good of a match you are for the Hermes boy. It’s a painstakingly obvious reminder about how life never goes a demigod’s way.
The tall boy jabs a thumb vaguely behind his shoulder, his free arm sneaking around his girlfriend’s waist. Absently, she leans into him, the sickeningly sweet reaction automatic. “He was like, completely red in the cheeks. Blushing. And then he tells me the two of you were sparring just now?” His lips quirk into a grin, all teeth and mischief. “Very interesting.” You open your mouth again, with no particular retort in mind. “Oh no, but it’s all coincidental,” he continues, feigning a solemn tone. “Right. That’s my bad.”
Annabeth snorts at Percy’s antics as he holds his hands up as if in mock surrender when you swat at his shoulder. “We were sparring, Percy. Obviously he was going to be red in the face. Out of breath and all.”
He nods gravely, lips set in a straight line. You narrow your eyes, distrustful towards the mirth shimmering in his irises. “Out of breath from being so close to you.” He swoons as if imitating Luke, hands clasped together and batting his eyes up at an unknown entity- you correctly assume this imaginary being is supposedly you.
Before you can tell him off like you have oh-so-many-times in the past, he sobers up of his own accord, lips twitching from the effort of suppressing a well-humoured grin. His eyes flit to somewhere behind one of your shoulders. “Hi, Luke.”
You turn on your heel instantly. He’s standing in front of you, cheeks still tinted a delicate pink, a mere ghost of what Percy had sworn to, hair ruffling slightly in the breeze, the muted colour of his eyes a stark contrast to the startling neon of his camp t-shirt. You curse your friend to the high heavens, taking a mental note to throttle him later. “Hey.” 
He nods briefly to all parties, before redirecting his attention to you. “I forgot earlier. I’d like to talk to you about something.” He shifts slightly, repositioning himself so he looks less uncertain, back straightening and arms folded across his chest. “If you don’t mind.”
You glance behind you at the indiscreetly tittering couple, obviously amused at your expense. No matter how oblivious Luke may have been towards the magnitude of your mutual friends who were certain that the two of you were destined soulmates and it was just a matter of time and waiting, he wasn’t blind to the fact that the common belief was there. Especially now, with Percy and Annabeth whistling and hooting in a manner which was meant to be encouraging behind you. As if they didn’t take years to acknowledge that they had painfully blatant feelings for one another.
“No, yeah, we can talk,” you say casually. The two of you begin to walk, side by side, facing forward. For a few beats, there’s silence.
The quiet itself isn’t uncomfortable- the anticipation and tension of waiting for what he has to say, is.
“I want to say sorry,” Luke commences, simultaneously shattering the silence, previously only permeated by distant chatter and careless laughter. Fixing him with a befuddled frown, you rotate your head to look at him- he’s facing forward, hands are stationary in his pockets, side profile the only thing in your field of view. “I don’t know when or how, but for some reason everyone has the idea that I’m…” You watch him ponder for a moment or two, wondering how to phrase the predicament in a manner which isn’t too blunt. Dread climbs up your throat. “- romantically interested in you.”
Oh. So he isn’t as oblivious as you’d hoped.
“No, it’s all good.” You muster a polite smile, though you’re internally dying. Whether it’s from the fact that it’s being mentioned aloud, or him actually acknowledging it, or the way you can see two of your siblings brazenly ogling the interaction in your peripherals as you try to ignore them in vain, you’re clueless. “It’s not your fault… or anyone’s really.”
“I know,” he says, a tad quicker than you finish. He raises his eyebrows, suppressing a self-satisfied smirk directed in the distance. “But anyways, I think I have a solution.”
Your interest is piqued. Anything to stop the rumours that the two of you had kissed behind the Apollo cabin, to silence the snorts and innuendos thrown at you whenever Luke’s name was mentioned in your vicinity. “Really?”
He swivels to face you, halting the little stroll. You mimic his movements. “A possible solution. I mean, it would definitely work, but-.”
You tilt your head at him quizzically. “Then why is it only ‘possible’?”
He inhales. “It involves you. A lot. And you might not want to do this.”
“Do what?” Your impatience amplifies with Luke’s every ambiguous phrase. What is he thinking of?
He looks around, ensuring there’s no-one in earshot. “Date me.”
He says it so coolly, so quickly, you think you’ve heard him wrong. He must be talking about the weather, or about the arrival of a new camper, or-
Your eyes are fixed on him, jaw slack. “What?”
Eyes widening in understanding, he realises his mistake, backtracking quickly. “Not, like, dating-dating. Fake dating. Pretending to be in a relationship.” He lets it sink in for a second. “Everyone would shut up about how good we are for each other, and how we should start dating, because we actually would be. Or it would look like it, anyways. But it’s your choice.” He gauges your expression as you mull it over.
He has a point. Multiple, in fact. It’s not that you’re disgusted at the prospect of being paired with Luke- you’ve just… never considered it before, the thought foreign. The relationship between the both of you has always been friendly, borderline formal, even. So it would be nice to live your life without the unrelenting teasing and mocking from half the camp…
“Sure,” you say, attempting to mirror his casual demeanour. “I don’t mind.” His surprise directed at your compliance is evident; his eyebrows arch slightly.
He smiles at you, bemused, eyes reflecting the golden rays of sun beaming down from the summer sky. “Cool.”
An uncertain, electric thrill rushes through you. Nothing like this has ever happened before, and it’s so exhilarating already, and even more exciting. The pair of you shake on it- what’s the worst that could happen?
idk how to feel about this but i hope you like it<3
taglist: @doyouknowwhoyouare13 @explosiongamora @brutal-out-here @absolutely-existing @quickslvxrr @bibliophile-dendrophile
READ: this account stands with palestine, and so— i require everyone who interacts to educate themselves, and support/donate. READ THESE; 1 and 2, HELP HERE, BOYCOTT. silence is complicity, do not scroll past this.
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queenjunothegreat · 6 months ago
Text
Go For It, Jason!!
Excerpt from an abandoned HS AU
“Percy,” Jason hissed, clutching Percy’s hand tight in his own. “I do not got this!”
“Yes, you do!” Percy hissed back. “All you have to do is tell Piper and Leo that we’re having a little party at our place this weekend, and Annabeth suggested inviting them. It’s super easy, you just have to be normal.”
“‘Be normal!’ What kind of advice is that!?”
“It’s advice you obviously need on a daily basis!”
Jason groaned and slid down one of the sets of lockers. “This was such a bad idea,” he whined. “I can just go back to being obsessed with him from afar, right? I don’t actually have to talk to him.”
“So you admit it? You’re obsessed with him?”
“Obviously I’m obsessed with him, Percy! I drew our joint tombstone!”
Percy heaved a deep sigh and slid down the lockers to sit while Jason pulled his knees up to his chest and hid his face in them. He was suddenly reminded of when he and Percy were in elementary school and Percy had gotten in trouble for punching another kid who wouldn’t leave Jason alone during “egg time.” He pressed his face harder into his knees and tried to ignore the way he wanted to cry a little bit. He wasn’t a baby.
“Look, man,” Percy said gently after a few moments of silence, “I’m not going to sit here and tell you you’ve got to talk to him. Because you don’t. If you wanna just have a crush on this guy for the rest of the year without telling him then move on to college and find someone else to dump all your weird obsessive tendencies on, you totally can. People ignore high school crushes literally every day. It’s probably the most normal thing about you.” Jason snorted and he could hear the smirk Percy gave in reply. “If you really don’t wanna do this, I’m not gonna make you. It’s your call, Jace.”
“Thanks,” Jason mumbled into his knees.
“Buuuuuuut…” Jason groaned loudly, and Percy snickered. “I do think it’s a good idea. I mean, what have you got to lose? Either they say yes, you convince Leo to fall in love with you and you live happily ever after; they say yes, it turns out Leo isn’t your type at all once you get to know him, and you just move on; or they say no and you have a perfectly valid excuse to go back to your stalker status.”
“I’m pretty sure there’s more than just three outcomes,” Jason pointed out. “What if they just laugh at me?”
“Then I’ll kick their asses,” Percy scowled. “They can fuck right off if they’re going to act like that.”
“Thanks, man,” Jason smiled softly, leaning forward to headbutt Percy on the shoulder.
“So, what’s the plan?” Percy asked casually. “You want me to stick around here while you talk to them, or you wanna head to the cafeteria? I think I overheard one of the Stolls say that they had churros today.”
Jason considered that. He did really like churros. He shook his head. “Let’s get this done and we’ll get churros after.”
“You got it, bro.”
Jason stood, and led the way into the library over to where Piper and Leo had commandeered a pair of bean bag chairs and were building a very impressive house of cards out of an Uno deck. Apparently, Jason’s arrival shifted the airflow just slightly, and the house came tumbling down while Piper and Leo both swore at it in a fun mix of English, Spanish, and French. Jason winced. “Uh, sorry. My bad. I think.” Piper and Leo both looked up at him, wide-eyed and blinked. Obviously, they hadn’t noticed Jason’s approach. He smiled awkwardly and lifted a hand to wave. “Uh, hi.”
Leo scoffed and rolled his eyes and exchanged a look with Piper. “I got this, Beauty Queen.”
“Of course you do,” she hummed, rolling her eyes.
Before Jason could ask what they meant, Leo was on his feet, arms folded across his chest and giving Jason a very unimpressed once-over. “Look. Blondie. No, not Blondie. Superman? Yeah, I like Superman.”
“My name’s Jason.”
“Uh, sure. Okay. Anyway. Superman. She’s not interested.”
Jason felt his eyebrows knit together. “She’s not interested in what?”
“In you. Duh,” Leo scoffed. “I know someone who looks like you probably doesn’t hear that often.”
“I’m… confused.”
“Of course you are.” For some reason, Leo looked incredibly irritated, but Jason still wasn’t sure what he did wrong. “Look, I don’t know how much more plainly I can put it. She. Doesn’t. Want. To. Date. You.”
“Oh.” Jason blinked and cocked his head to the side. “That’s fine.”
At once, all the wind fell out of Leo’s sails, and now he was the one who looked confused. “That’s… fine?”
“Yeah, I don’t wanna date her either.” His eyes widened and he looked at Piper apologetically. “No offense. You seem nice, and you’re very pretty. Whoever you do want to date is probably very lucky.”
Piper snorted, but she was smiling, so it didn’t seem mean. “Thanks, Jason.”
Jason smiled widely at her, but Leo just looked even more baffled. “Then… what are you doing over here?”
“I did actually come to invite her to a party,” he admitted. “Both of you, actually.”
“A… party?”
“Well, kind of,” Jason said hesitantly. “The apartment complex Percy and I live in opened up the pool for summer last weekend, so we were inviting our friends over. Annabeth suggested that the two of you might want to come.”
Leo’s eyes widened, and he turned furiously on Piper. “You know Annabeth?” he hissed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it’s none of your business,” Piper told him, sticking out her tongue. 
“If I had known he had a mutual friend with you, maybe I wouldn’t have been a dick to him.” As if his own words just registered, Leo winced and ducked his head, looking up at Jason through his lashes. “Uh, sorry about that. By the way.”
Jason took a moment to reset his brain after it got fried, then smiled at Leo. “It’s cool, man. You were just looking out for your friend. I get that. I think it’s sweet.”
“You think it’s sweet. Cool. Coolcoolcool. I’m gonna go play in traffic now.”
Jason tipped his head back and laughed, probably louder than he should, but he couldn’t help it. He grinned so wide his eyes were squinting up, which made looking at Leo harder than it needed to be, which wasn’t ideal, but, once again, he couldn’t help it. “Please don’t. You’re probably going to traumatize the poor cars.”
“Nah, don’t worry, I’m too small to get hit by cars. I just lay down, and they pass right over me.”
Jason folded his hand over his mouth to at least somewhat muffle his giggles. “A very impressive skill.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m a special boy and all that.”
“I can imagine.”
Leo immediately turned bright red, and Piper tagged in, letting him hide his entire torso under a bean bag chair instead of talking more. She grinned at Jason. “So. You said there was a party? Where at?”
“Mine and Percy’s place,” Jason said distractedly, still observing Leo’s attempts to become one with the rug. “We’re over at Sunset on the Waves. There’s a subway station right across the street from us.”
“I think I know it. It’s over kinda close to Central Park, right?”
“Yeah, that’s it,” Jason said. “We’re all getting together Saturday around two, if you think you can make it.”
“We’ll definitely be there,” Piper agreed. “Do we need to bring anything?”
Jason shook his head. “Nah, we’ve got it. Just show up whenever.”
“Cool.” Piper turned and kicked Leo in the ankle. “Tell Jason thanks for inviting us out. Now we have an excuse to not watch those dumb soap operas with my mom.”
“Thanks, Superman,” Leo said, though his voice was muffled, almost indistinguishable, by the bean bag chair.
“Thanks for agreeing,” Jason replied earnestly. “Uh, I’ve got to go, though. The librarian kind of hates me.”
“You are a lot louder than you probably realize,” Piper agreed, then winced. “Sorry, that came out way meaner than I meant it to. You’re just a loud guy. It’s cool. I like it. Leo’s also super loud. You match.”
“Cool,” Jason agreed, consciously trying to lower his volume, which made Piper snicker at him. He grinned at them and waved. “See you this weekend.”
“See you!” Piper and Leo chimed in perfect unison at his retreating  back.
When he finally made it back to Percy’s side, he groaned and yanked his shirt up over his head. “Okay, I did it.”
“How did it go? They don’t look like they’re laughing. Well, actually, I think Piper is laughing, maybe.”
“Pretty sure she’s laughing at Leo,” Jason told him. “And it could have definitely gone… worse? They agreed to come.”
“Nice! That’s great, dude!”
“Leo did try to intimidate me out of asking Piper on a date, though.”
Percy snorted so hard it sounded like it hurt. “Well, he definitely doesn’t have to worry about that.”
Jason finally decided to emerge from his shirt so that he could grin at Percy. “Yeah. Tell me about it.”
Percy clapped a hand down on his shoulder. “I’m really proud of you, dude.”
“Thanks.” Jason took a moment to just bask in the praise before he frowned and tilted his head to the side. “Percy, am I loud?” Percy barked out a bright, friendly laugh. “Dude, you are so loud. Come on. Let’s go get some churros.”
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flower1622 · 5 months ago
Text
ANTI PERCABETH CONTENT!
Annabeth stares at the boy sleeping in the dark.
Annabeth: You drool when you sleep.
Annabeth: So, Percy may be the son of Poseidon? Interesting...
Annabeth takes the cap off her head and pushes Percy into the water.
Annabeth: I hate that new guy, Percy Jackson.
Hours later:
Annabeth stalks Percy.
Clarisse bullies Percy.
Annabeth keeps watching hidden.
Percy: Can i make a stupid question?
Annabeth: You already made one.
Percy: I really don't like when other people make fun of me. I feel very insecure and depressed. All my life i was abused by my ex-stepfather.
Annabeth laughs.
Percy fighting for his life against a god.
Annabeth hits her foot on the ground, pointing her fingers to her watch impatient.
Annabeth: What is happening to Percy down there? He is being so seaweed brain today.
Percy is hurt from another fight against their enemies and falls with his face to the ground.
Annabeth laughs.
Annabeth: He's such a seaweed brain.
Percy gets better grades than Annabeth at College.
Annabeth gets desperate.
Annabeth: I don't want to become a seaweed brain!
Percy runs to hug Annabeth because he missed her and she judo flips him.
Annabeth: If you ever leave me again, i'll fucking hurt you, seaweed brain.
Annabeth meets Rachel, who smiles at her and tries to shake her hand. Annabeth only looks at Percy.
Annabeth: Who is this stupid girl?
Percy says something good about Rachel.
Annabeth snorts.
Annabeth: She's just a useless human.
Reyna says something good about Percy.
Annabeth only laughs.
Annabeth: Seaweed Brain only followed my orders.
Jason and Percy fight for a chair.
Annabeth rolls her eyes.
Annabeth: Two idiots. I'll be the leader.
Percy complains about his problems and Tartarus.
Annabeth laughs and crosses her arms.
Annabeth: Who cares?
Percy wants to work and study near his mother's house.
Annabeth crosses her arms.
Annabeth: No. You'll go with me to New Rome College.
Percy cries over Annabeth's wounded body.
Percy: You saved me!
Annabeth: Of course! I needed to get your trust completely. I couldn't lose a powerful ally like you.
Percy only cries more and hides his face on her chest.
Annabeth rolls her eyes.
Annabeth: Idiot.
Annabeth and Percy are trying to decide with other campers what to do.
Annabeth: We'll go with my plan.
Percy: What about democracy? Shouldn't we vote?
Annabeth: I am the one who is daughter of the goddess of wisdom. So, shut up and follow what i say, alright seaweed brain?
Percy: I don't like this nickname.
Annabeth: I don't care.
Annabeth and Aphrodite watch Percy and Rachel having fun in the beach.
Aphrodite: If you convince Ares to be more romantic to me, i can take away Percy's memories and feelings for that girl.
Annabeth: Deal.
Percy and Annabeth are in Olympus. Zeus gets angry at Percy and sends a thunder in his direction, making Percy fly to the ground. Percy falls and winces from pain on the floor.
Poseidon: Zeus!
Annabeth: Does this mean you don't need my services anymore?
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thebigqueer · 1 year ago
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"Permanence" - Percabeth - One-Shot
Summary: Percabeth's first "I love you." Word Count: 1755 Read on AO3
“Annabeth?” a voice calls, and she turns in her seat, her attention abruptly snatched from her laptop. “What are you doing up here so early?”
When she sees Percy leaning against the doorway to the mess hall, his lips quirked in amusement, Annabeth smiles. “Early?” she asks. “I’m pretty sure it’s noon.”  
Percy snorts and walks over to the supply of breakfast items on the table, which is endless, thanks to Leo’s genius. He picks up an apple, throws it in the air, and catches it again, all the while saying, “I mean you rarely come up here at this time. Feels like you barely come out of your little cocoon now.” 
His tone is still light, but there’s a slight jaggedness to it. She stares at the shape of Percy’s back for a moment as he keeps plucking away for things to eat, then stands and joins him. 
“Is there anything, like, unhealthy?” Percy asks when she sidles up to him. She looks up and fixes him with an exasperated smile, and he laughs. “What? Leo had eight months to prepare this ship, and for all the fancy shit he installed, he couldn’t even think of adding, like, a pizza dispenser?”
Annabeth rolls her eyes and hands him a candy bar sitting in the corner of the table. When his eyes catch sight of it, he grins and nudges her with his shoulder. “You’re the best.” 
“Yeah?” she asks, and now she faces him, raising her eyebrows. “Let’s go back to what you just said.” 
As he works on opening the wrapper, he glances at her. “What did I say?”
“Something about me being in a cocoon.” 
“Oh.” His eyes darken, but then immediately brighten up again as he takes a bite off the candy. “Oh, wow, this is so good.” Percy holds it out to her. “You should try it. Wow. Thank you, Leo.”
“You’re welcome,” warbles a voice from the speakers, and Percy flinches.
“Jeez,” he mutters, lowering his voice. “He’s like Big Brother or something.” 
Annabeth takes the bar from him but doesn’t taste it. She just keeps looking at him. “Percy, come on. What did you mean?”
Percy heaves a large, heavy sigh, then takes the candy bar back from her. When he doesn’t immediately go back to eating it — instead opting to play with the wrapper — her heart slows in dread. 
“Okay, I know you’ve been busy, so I didn’t really wanna say anything,” he says. “But it just feels like since we’ve found each other and been on this ship, we’ve just been so busy in all different directions. And when we’re not busy, you’re in your room, fiddling on your computer or something.” He stops playing with the wrapper and puts the half-eaten bar on the table, and now she knows he’s being serious. He doesn’t put his food down for anything.
“Percy…,” Annabeth says. 
Percy sighs again, and now he puts his full plate — filled to the brim with whatever he could find — on the table. Annabeth has to resist the urge to raise her eyebrows. “Eight months, Wise Girl. We haven’t been together in eight months, and the only moment we’ve had to ourselves was in the stables.” He tilts his head. “I just missed you. Miss you.” Then he huffs a humorless laugh and looks up at the ceiling, as if embarrassed. “I don’t really know why I’m getting so emotional about this. It’s just been a weird year.” 
“Yeah, I know,” she murmurs. She considers telling him about her year, too — how she’d tossed and turned in bed, waiting for some sign that he was even just okay. How she’d go to his apartment every week just to meet his mother and convince the two of them he was still fighting somewhere. How she had to convince Mr. D with everything she had to keep sending scouts for him, all the while losing hope herself that he even was out there. But she figures he wouldn’t want to know that, not now, at least. So instead, she just leans her head against his shoulder. “I’ve missed you, too, Seaweed Brain. I’m sorry.” 
A beat of silence passes, and then he brushes his hand against hers, pulls her fingers into his. She lifts her head to look up at him. “I’m sorry, too,” he murmurs. “I know you have a lot going on. And if anything, I’m just glad you’re okay. That’s all that matters.” He squeezes her hand. “But can you promise me something?”
“What?”
“Don’t push me out, Wise Girl. You don’t need to handle this whole… daughter of Athena mission thing on your own. I know that’s kinda ironic, coming from me, who went missing for eight months and basically left you alone” — he smiles nervously — “but I’m serious. I wasn’t there for you then, but I’m here for you now. And if I had any say in the past eight months, I would’ve been with you every moment.”
Annabeth wants to say something, but all her thoughts tangle up in her brain and her words form a knot at the back of her throat, too large to tumble out. And a part of her feels guilty, but in all honesty, all she can feel is a subtle warmth at the core of her heart. The way he’s talking to her, his voice oozing with genuine eagerness to spend time with her… it makes a warm flame burst to life in her chest, thawing the ice that had grown inside of her the past year.
She spent so long waiting for someone permanent, and each time she thought she found someone, they inevitably left her. Luke, Dad, Thalia, and even Percy for a while. But now, staring at him, letting his existence embrace her skin, she realizes something. Maybe she and Percy won’t be together every moment. Maybe she’ll be the one to go away next, whisked away on some petty quest for the gods where she may not even be able to see him for months. Maybe their futures hold completely different fates for them. But she knows now — completely, utterly, truthfully knows — that it doesn’t matter if they get whisked away to different ends of the world again. Because right here, in this moment, she knows he’s really with her every step of the way. He’s subtly eroded his way into her heart, has permanently carved his smile into her mind. He’s left something eternal, even if he isn't. And that’s good enough for her. 
“I’m sorry,” she finally manages to push out. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way, Percy. I’m so sorry for shutting you out. I didn’t even know I was doing it.” 
“It’s okay,” he promises, and he tugs on one of her curls. “I believe you. Just keep me in the loop as much as you’re comfortable with. And promise me we’ll tell each other when things are getting weird.” He squeezes her hand again. “If these eight months have taught me anything, it’s that it’s important to keep the people you care about the closest.”
Something burns around the edges of Annabeth’s eyes, and she realizes with a start it’s tears. Of all the things she'd been through the past few months, just a few pretty words from Percy are enough to make her want to cry. “I promise,” she breathes. 
Percy smiles. “Good. Now I can enjoy my food in peace.” He picks up his plate again, and then his candy bar. “By the way, the invitation to enjoy this is expired. Only for me now.” 
Annabeth laughs, and she expects Percy to move to take a seat at the table, but he doesn’t. He just keeps standing in front of her, smiling elatedly, and she realizes with a start that he’s waiting for her. 
And she’s not sure she can remember the last time someone did that for her. Which is maybe why she blurts the next words: “I love you.” 
For a second, Percy doesn’t react. Then his eyebrows rise, and his mouth slowly opens, and his eyes shimmer with surprise, but Annnabeth is pretty sure no one is more shocked than her. 
“What?” Percy asks, slowly setting his food down again. 
“Nothing.” But Annabeth is trying to hide her face.
He laughs and punches her arm playfully. “You got something to say to me, Wise Girl?” But if the sparkle in his eyes or the grin on his face have to say anything, he’s bullshitting her. 
“Say what?”
“Nooo,” he groans. “Come on, Annabeth.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Please. I’ll let you have my candy bar if you say it.” And she still doesn’t relent, but when he wraps his arms around her shoulders and leans in, his eyes close enough to shatter her resolve, his irises blades of green piercing through her shields, he says, “I love the way you say it.”
So she relents. And she says it again. 
And again. 
It’s only three words, but they ring in her head a million times, and the taste of them — like candy, like sugar, like clouds — bounces over her tongue a billion more. 
Percy keeps smiling, but it’s not a joking grin anymore — there’s something deeper, more soulful in it, his skin glowing with a warm undertone. “I love you, too, Wise Girl,” he whispers. 
And with those words ringing in her ears, echoing all the way down to her heart, making her blood glow, she doesn’t know if she has the ability to say anything else. She doesn’t even know what she’s supposed to say next. 
The silence begins to stretch on, cools the room around them. Suddenly the air around them feels too gooey, too heavy, too sweet, as if someone had spilled a whole bottle of rose perfume in the room, and Annabeth aches for their familiar banter, if only to calm the growing uneasiness in her. 
She runs her fingers up his hand.“You know what else I love?” she murmurs, trying to rein control of the moment.
“Me again?”
“Wrong.” She rubs Percy’s knuckles, then snatches the candy bar from his hand. “It’s making things hard for you.” 
“Hey! Give it back!” Percy cries, snapping his arm out to catch her, but she’s already out the entrance, onto the mast, waiting for Percy to come after her.
And he does. He follows her every step. 
It isn’t until later that evening that she realizes she left her laptop in the mess hall.
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reddamselette · 6 months ago
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“So what would you do if I were to ask you how does one go about, uh, possibly wooing a best friend of yours? It’s for…” Piper trailed off to think of something, any sort of excuse but as her eyes dart around the pavilion, obviously ignoring the looks of an Aphrodite daughter sitting at the table of Zeus, she scratched her head to look back at Jason. “Science?”
Next to him, Percy snorted and quickly covered it up with a cough. He doubled over dramatically, drawing more attention to them than ever as Nico covered his face with his hand and a quiet murmur of “Smooth.”
Jason chewed thoughtfully as he carefully regarded her question. The only other best friend he had was Reyna and although he and Reyna haven’t spoken in quite a while, he was still able to recall some things about her like what she liked and what she wanted to do but couldn’t because of her Praetorship. “Your best bet, Pipes, is to just be yourself, you know. Leo didn’t try any grand schemes or what— Actually I’m lying to you, that’s a lie. He did.”
“Will didn’t have to woo me,” Nico chimed in as he switched trays with Percy to take his apple and the second slice of pizza.
“That’s because you two were making googly eyes for, like, ever. We were just waiting for one of you to man up,” Percy spoke through a mouthful of pizza. He hovered over his seat to take Jason’s napkin and sat back down, wiping his mouth from any sauce or grease in the corner of his lips. “I just so happened to charm Annabeth with my good looks.”
“No you didn’t. You were as oblivious as Jason,” Piper interrupted with an eyebrow raised which effectively made Percy narrow his eyes at her before waving his hand with a roll of his eyes.
“Anyway…just be yourself.” Jason patted her shoulder and she smiled at him.
But Piper wasn’t worried about that specific detail. She was worried about fucking it all up, ruining her chances. In that moment, she wondered if asking her mother for help would be worth it but something told her deep down, she was already walking the path Aphrodite set her on where Reyna was concerned.
part two
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ghostlyloversworld · 1 year ago
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**•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚*
𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙤 𝙙𝙞 𝘼𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙡𝙤 𝙭 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧! 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧
✒- 𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙤 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙤 ' 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙮' 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧
𝙎𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚> 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜
𝘼/𝙣↪️ 𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮, 𝙢𝙮 𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙄'𝙢 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣. 𝙎𝙤 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝.
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𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜- 𝙀𝙡 𝙟𝙚𝙁𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙩 𝙁𝙪𝙚𝙧𝙯𝙖 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙙𝙖!
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7:30, ha sonado la alarma Yo con ganas de estar en la cama Pero no se puede Llevo a los niño' a las nueve El mismo café, la misma cocina Lo mismo de siempre, la misma rutina Otro día de mierda Otro día en la oficina.
(7:30 the alarm has sounded I want to be in the bed but you can't I take the kids at 9 the same coffee, the same kitchen the same always, the same routine another shitty day, another day at the office)
She sighs as she was ready to give up she had asked Annabeth for help but she had let her down gently by saying ' Sorry.. I promised Mr d I'd help him today'. So she asked Grover and he had told her ' Sorry.. I told Juniper I would hang out with her today.. I haven't been able to hang out with my girlfriend since I was trying to find Pan to prove I was right..'
She drags her feet she stopped to ask Percy " hey can you help me.. Uh build um.. A Lego flower set?... " Percy who was helping a little kid practice with a sword " oh! Hi!.. Um.. After I'm done helping this kid " he smiles sheepish. Which would take up to hours before he finished she sighs and nodded "alright "
She kept walking looking down. It was like no one had time to do something so small with her. Until she heard behind her " what's got you so down? " she turned around to be face to face with the boy who's barely there at camp who people know him as the loner boy with only a few friends she sighs " it's nothing " he rolls his eyes " It's Something if it's bothering you that bad" Nico shoved his hands into his pockets
Tengo un jefe de mierda que no me paga bien Yo llego caminando y él en Mercedes-Benz Me tiene de recluta El muy hijo de puta, yeah.
( I have a shitty boss who doesn't pay me well, I arrive walking and he Mercedes Benz, he has me. As a recruit, The son of a bitch, yeah)
Estás soñando con irte del barrio Tienes todo pa' ser millonario Gustos caros, la mentalidad Solo te falta el salario.
( You are dreaming of leaving the neighborhood, you have to be a millionaire, expensive tastes, mentality, you only need the salary)
Nico grabbed the little clear shell like Lego snapping it on the other Lego he was careful as he does so ".. " a for minutes go by ".. So uh.. How is.. Yours and uh.. What's his name?.. " "who? " she asked
" the boy who.. Controls water.. Uh.. The son of p-" " Percy? " she cuts Nico off and he nodded causing his Raven hair covers his eyes " yes "
"Ohh.. We aren't dating" she laughs Nico looks shocked at this news " oh?.. But every Aphrodite kid thinks you two are perfect for each other "
She snorted " a boy who controls water and a girl who can manipulate and create flowers " she laughs ".. I don't see it to be honest" Nico said She shrugged " eh I don't either "
Se acumulan las facturas, ser pobre es una basura Mamá siempre me decía que estudiar todo asegura Estudié y nada pasó, maldita vida tan dura Trabajo más que un cabrón, pero follo menos que un cura Qué ironía, qué locura, esto sí, es una tortura Te matas de sol a sol y no tienes ni una escritura Dicen por ahí que no hay mal que más de cien años dura Pero ahí sigue mi ex-suegro que no pisa sepultura.
Tengo un jefe de mierda que no me paga bien Yo llego caminando y él en Mercedes-Benz Me tiene de recluta (te tienen de recluta) El muy hijo de puta (el muy hijo de puta)
( Bills accumulate being poor is rubbish mom always told me that studying everything ensures I studied and nothing happened damm hard life, I work harder than a bastard but I fuck less than a priest, how ironic, how crazy this is torture you kill yourself from dawn to dusk and no you don't even have a writing they say there is no evil that last more than a hundred years but my ex-father-in-law is still there that does not step on a grave)
She sighs after two hours they finally finished the cute Lego flowers sat on the coffee table in the cabin her hands hurting so is his " this is worth the pain " she said with a stupid grin being held proudly on her face making the Raven hair boy laugh his first actual laugh
Tengo un jefe de mierda que no me paga bien Yo llego caminando y él en Mercedes-Benz Me tiene de recluta (te tienen de recluta) El muy hijo de puta (el muy hijo de puta).
( I have a shitty boss who doesn't it pay me well, I arrive walking and he in Mercedes-Benz he has me as a recruit (he has me as a recruit ) the very son of a bitch (the very son of a bitch) )
Estás soñando con irte del barrio Tienes todo pa' ser millonario Gustos caros, la mentalidad Solo te falta el salario.
( You are dreaming of leaving neighborhood, you have everything to be a millionaire Expensive tastes, mentality you only need the salary)
She held her hand up for a high five and he laughs before giving her a week high five " you could do better then that " she teased he rolls his eyes and gave her another high five this time a little more stronger she grins " yeah "
Tienes un jefe de mierda que no te paga bien Tú llegas caminando y él en Mercedes-Benz Te tiene de recluta el muy hijo de p- 'Toy soñando con irme del barrio Tengo todo pa' ser millonario Gustos caros, la mentalidad Solo me falta el salario Lili Melgar Para ti esta canción, que no te pagaron la indemnización Otro pedo, como siempre, a la ve-
( you have a shitty boss who doesn't pay you well, you arrive walking and he in Mercedes-Benz, he has me as a recruit the very son of a p-)
As they laugh the door to the Demeter's cabin open and Percy looks at the two " oh??. " he ran his hand through his Raven hair that was wet both Nico and her look at each other before laughing she asked Percy " did you fall into the pond or something " he grins " no.. I slipped and fall in the water " they all laugh together
Estás soñando con irte del barrio Tienes todo pa' ser millonario Gustos caros, la mentalidad Solo me falta el salario.
( toy dreaming of leaving neighborhood, I have everything to be a millionaire Expensive tastes, Mentality I only need the salary)
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a-french-coconut · 6 months ago
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Drew Tanaka (Part 9)
"Peace at last ?"
"I wouldn't say peace," Drew says as she struggles to put reins on Porky, "it's more like a truce."
"Why's that ?" Connor asks her, leaning on Porky's stable.
"Well," she grunts as the pegasus moves his head again, "I talked to her about Silena and she understood, but she seemed kinda nervous about the whole thing."
"You think she's hiding something ?"
"I don't know-stop moving your damn head- no, not you Connor, the horse."
"It's unlikely, though." Connor says as he hands her the saddle pad, "she's too new to this world to be involved in something."
"Thanks, I wouldn't so sure about that. Remember her quest, a giant kidnapped her father ? It's the first time monsters use our mortal links to threaten us."
"Maybe she's got a really good relationship with her dad," Connor shrugs, "and we, a whole generation with parental issues, don't get how someone could use our mortal parents to blackmail us." He snorts, "If someone told me they had my mother, I would offer them a gift."
"Give me the saddle. Piper didn't seem on good terms with her dad. Famous actor, Tristan Mclean ?"
"I've been at camp since I was a child Drew, I have no idea who that is."
"Anyway, she told me they didn't speak a lot." She adjusts the saddle, give Porky an apple to distract him while she mounts him. "I think the whole story is fishy."
"Are you sure you like Piper ? Because you sure seems to try to find her problems."
"I'm not trying" she rolls her eyes, "but one disaster was enough, I don't need another Silena."
"Drew," Connor says softly, "Silena is dead, the war is over. Don't you think you're searching with something that isn't there ?"
"What ?" She snaps, "you think I'm crazy ?"
"I'm not saying that, but you've been so obsessed with "Piper being a new Silena" thing-"
"I wasn't obsessed, Stoll," she grits, "Piper thinks like Silena, she has charmspeak just like Silena, what else does she have in common with her too ?"
"What ? You think she's traitor ?" Connor cackles, "please, Drew, it's ridiculous."
"Listen, Stoll," she hisses, gripping Porky's mane tightly, "if all you are going to do is laugh at me, you can go. There is something weird with the whole quest. Piper insisted on going despite having no training whatsoever, and oh ! Her dad is kidnapped !"
"Coincidence !" Connor says with an infuriating flippancy, "they wanted leverage, and Jason's mom and Leo's weren't exactly available were they ?"
"Why ?" Drew frowns.
"They're dead."
"How the fuck do you know that ?"
"Annabeth told me about it after Thalia told her last summer and Leo talks a lot."
"Fine, but it doesn't change the fact that it's weird."
"Drew," Connor sighs tiredly, his smile a bit more strained, "I thought you wanted people to like you. You are not going to achieve that by accusing your new sister with no proof at all."
"Oh please, they'll get over it !"
"Accusing someone is big deal," Connor says bitterly, "trust me, it's no fun."
"Connor, it's not the same situation-"
"Except your own suspicions, do you have any concrete proof ?"
"No, but I can find-"
"Did she told you anything that might make her a traitor ?"
"I told you, she looked nervous-"
"Drew !" Connor snaps, "you can't go around telling people Piper is a traitor just because you think she is one !"
"Why not ?" She refutes hotly, "you turned out fine in the end !"
It's not right and she knows it.
She knows the nights Connor spent awake, cursing the campers who accused him, cursing Luke for being his brother.
She knows he doesn't trust people like he used to, not after the Titan war.
"I didn't mean it. Connor, I'm sorry."
But he's leaving.
"Connor !" She yells as he leaves the stables, "I'm sorry !"
Cursing, she dismounts Porky, and runs after the son of Hermes.
"Connor, don't you dare run !"
He runs, fast as a dryad.
"Oh for the love of gods." She groans, picking up speed, "Stoll !".
"Catch me and we'll talk !" He screams, going even faster.
"And no charmspeak !" He adds.
As if she could speak after chasing him for a good solid hour.
She's panting, her legs are aching and burning and they are probably the main show of the afternoon but she keeps running.
She has to apologise because she can't lose her best friend.
"Still there ?" He taunts her, the bastard still breathing perfectly, "Because I can keep going for a long- SOLACE PUT ME DOWN !"
As they pass in front of the infirmary, Will catches Connor and picks him up, bridal style.
"Will, you're the best !" She says when she arrives at their level.
"Don't listen to her, you're the worst." Connor pouts in Will's arms.
"What's been going on between you two ?" The son of Apollo asks sternly.
Drew's sure he would cross his arms if it wasn't for Connor.
"I messed up." She admits.
"She thinks Piper is a traitor." Connor says.
"That's not where I messed up." Drew clarifies.
"Oh yeah, she basically said that you can go around calling people traitors."
"And I'm wrong, I know."
Will sighs, obliged to free Connor to pinch his nose.
"First of all, apologise to Connor."
"Already did."
Will looks at Connor for confirmation and the son of Hermes nods.
"Great, second of all, what the fuck Drew ?"
"See ? It's ridiculous !" Connor exclaims.
"It's not !" She argues, "I have reasons !"
"What are they ?" Will sighs.
She tells me the same thing she told Connor, Piper's weird attitude and the mystery of her dad being kidnapped.
"Nonsense." Connor rolls his eyes.
She's ready to throttle him when Will talks.
"No, there's something weird about Piper's dad."
While Connor's jaw drops to the floor, Drew whoops.
"See, Stoll ? I'm not crazy."
"Wait, I'm not saying she's a traitor." Will warns, "but if her dad was kidnapped, then the giants knew about her."
"But she's new to this world !" Connor protests, "they certainly didn't get the information from here."
"Then it was from before."
"I don't know, Drew, even if the giants knew about her dad, what does it change ? They still saved Hera in the end and nobody died." Will points out.
"Yeah," Connor presses on, "if she was a traitor, she would have sabotaged the quest."
"That ends your theory, Drew." Will smiles, "congrats, your sister is not a traitor !"
"Yeah," she sighs, "I guess so..."
"The normal reaction would to be happy." Connor states.
"I know but you guys didn't see her when we talked about Silena, she looked uncomfortable when I told her she reminded me of her."
"As would anybody when you tell them you remind me of my dead sister." Connor mimics her voice.
"Shut up," Will hits Connor, "you almost had a panic attack when you saw Jason."
"Really ?"
"It wasn't a panic attack," Connor rolls his eyes, "I just freaked out a little when I saw blonde hair and glacial blue eyes."
"He stayed in the infirmary for two hours." Will adds.
"What happened to doctor-patient privacy ?" Connor complains.
"You didn't told me that." Drew frowns.
"Sorry," the son of Hermes says, "I just thought you had enough with your plate with Piper."
"Now that all the skeletons are out of the closet, come in." Will cheerfully push them in the infirmary.
"Why ?" They both ask.
"I need help classing the files."
They both groan.
----------------------------------
Turns out the three of them have very diverse manners to sort things. While Will does it by alphabetical order, Drew tries to create the best colour pattern and Connor ranks it from younger to older.
Will kicks them out rather quickly, as they messed up more his files than actually help him, and Drew wanders back to the archery range, for once empty from any Apollo's children.
She grabs a bow and a quiver, sets the moving targets and begins her training.
Look. String. Shoot.
Black circle.
Both her friends agree, Piper is not a threat.
Patience, follow the target's path.
Shoot, blue circle.
She's a new demigod, a new sister with who Drew got off on the wrong foot.
Two arrows at once, two different targets.
String the bow, bowstring cutting her fingers because she forget her gloves.
Black circle, miss the other.
Too long since she practiced, too long since anyone bothered teaching her.
They relaxed and Percy disappeared.
They thought the war was over and a new one fell upon them, catching them by surprise.
Last arrow, make it count.
Farthest target, moving between trees.
She can't have another Silena, and maybe Connor is right, maybe she's just a lunatic broken by war, a paranoid girl seeing Silena where she isn't.
Breathe, in and out.
Bowstring next to the ear, arrow ready to fly.
Wait for the target.
But Piper was nervous, and she needs to be sure, otherwise the worm of doubt will rot her from inside until it consumed her entirely.
Breathe, steady the arms, don't let them shake.
One last despicable act, one last sister under charmspeak.
Are you a traitor ?
Piper will say no, as Connor and Will say, and Drew will be free from Silena.
No more nightmares.
No more seeing her where she doesn't belong.
Target in front of her, shoot.
Red circle, not yellow.
Drew sighs as she lets down the weapon.
She really needs to practice more.
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zeezed01 · 2 months ago
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Chapter Six - First Impressions
The morning was cold, the kind of chill that seeped into your bones and refused to leave. Percy tightened the straps of his pack, his fingers brushing against the worn leather grip of his pistol at his hip. Beside him, Leo adjusted his jacket, which had more patches than original fabric. The two stood just outside the hospital, their breaths misting in the early light. Behind them, Annabeth and the others lingered, their faces a mix of caution and hope.
“Stick to the route we planned,” Annabeth said, her tone sharp, but her eyes softened as they flicked to Percy. She stepped closer, handing him a folded map with marked routes and landmarks. “Avoid the main roads, stay quiet, and don’t do anything stupid.”
Percy smirked. “You make it sound like I’m prone to reckless heroics.”
Annabeth didn’t smile. “You are. Just… don’t this time, okay?”
Percy nodded, his usual humor fading. “I’ll be careful.”
Leo, standing off to the side, looked between the two and rolled his eyes. “Okay, mom and dad, we get it. Be safe, don’t die. Let’s hit the road before someone decides to start with the long goodbyes.”
Annabeth shot him a glare, but Leo’s quip had broken some of the tension. Piper handed Percy a spare knife, its blade gleaming dully in the light. “Just in case,” she said. “And if you run into trouble…”
“We run,” Percy finished. “I know.”
With that, the two set off, leaving the hospital and its familiar ruins behind.
The streets were a graveyard of civilization. Broken storefronts lined their path, their shattered windows gaping like empty mouths. Cars were abandoned in the middle of the road, their frames rusted and interiors stripped. Overhead, the skeletal remains of skyscrapers loomed, their jagged edges piercing the overcast sky.
Percy’s boots crunched over the uneven asphalt, the sound unnervingly loud in the stillness. His boots were sturdy but not comfortable—the soles thin from wear, letting him feel every sharp edge beneath his feet. Leo didn’t fare much better, his sneakers duct-taped at the seams, their worn treads offering little grip.
“What do you think this place used to be like?” Leo asked, breaking the silence as they passed a toppled traffic light.
Percy glanced at him, scanning the empty street ahead. “I don’t know. Busy, probably. People rushing to work, grabbing coffee, honking at each other in traffic. Normal stuff.”
Leo snorted. “Bet it didn’t smell this bad, though.”
Percy smirked, but his focus stayed on the road. He was keenly aware of the weight of his pistol against his side, the way his hand hovered near it with every step. The air felt heavier the closer they got to their destination, and the stillness carried a tension that set his nerves on edge.
“What do you think this camp is like?” Leo asked after a moment.
Percy shrugged. “No idea. Could be a group of friendly survivors. Could be another pack of psychos.�� He shot Leo a sidelong glance. “You still good with this?”
Leo’s grin didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You kidding? I love walking into potentially deadly situations.”
After hours of walking, the first signs of the camp came into view. Smoke curled lazily into the sky, the faint scent of burning wood carrying on the breeze. Percy motioned for Leo to crouch behind a row of rusted-out cars, and the two of them peered over the hoods.
The camp was enclosed by a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. The fence itself was reinforced with wooden panels and sheets of corrugated metal, a makeshift fortification that looked sturdy enough to keep out the dead—or anyone unwelcome. At the gate, two men stood guard, rifles slung casually over their shoulders. They looked relaxed but alert, their eyes sweeping the road ahead.
Inside, white canvas tents were arranged in neat rows, their pristine appearance starkly contrasting with the filth of the outside world. Men—most of them white and dressed in military-style clothing—moved with purpose. They carried rifles, pistols, and the occasional machete, their weapons a natural extension of themselves. Women were present too, though fewer in number, tending to communal fires or moving supplies. They seemed quieter, their interactions subdued.
“Damn,” Leo muttered. “These guys look… well-fed. And armed. A little too armed.”
Percy nodded slowly, his eyes scanning the camp. “They’re organized. Military maybe. Or something like it.”
“Yeah, but they don’t look like they’re starving.” Leo gestured toward a man unloading crates of canned goods from a truck near one of the larger tents. “You think they’d be willing to share?”
Percy didn’t answer right away. Something about the place felt off, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. The people inside the camp moved with a kind of discipline that suggested they weren’t just surviving—they were thriving. And yet, the sight of so many weapons made his stomach churn.
“We’re going in,” he said finally.
Leo looked at him, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. “You sure about this?”
“No,” Percy admitted. “But we need to know what we’re dealing with.”
The guards stopped them at the gate, their rifles raised but not aimed. Percy raised his hands slowly, his tone calm. “We’re not looking for trouble. Just passing through and heard there was a camp.”
The guards exchanged a look before one of them disappeared inside. Moments later, a tall, broad-shouldered man emerged. He wore a black vest over a gray shirt, a handgun holstered at his side. His sharp blue eyes studied them like they were specimens under a microscope.
“I’m Davis,” he said. “You’re lucky we’re feeling generous today. Come on in.”
Percy and Leo exchanged a glance but followed him inside.
Up close, the camp was even more impressive. The paths were swept clean, the tents pristine. There was no trash, no sign of decay. Men worked methodically, reinforcing parts of the fence or patrolling the perimeter. A group practiced at a makeshift firing range, their shots cracking sharply in the air.
The women were quieter, tending to a communal kitchen or sitting in small clusters. Their interactions were subdued, their laughter rare. Percy noticed one of them flinch when a man barked an order nearby.
“What’s the deal with this place?” Leo whispered.
“I don’t know,” Percy said, his voice low. “But keep your eyes open.”
Davis led them to a large tent near the back of the camp. Inside, a folding table was set up with clipboards, pens, and stacks of papers.
“You’ll need to fill these out,” Davis said, gesturing to the forms. “Basic information. Name, age, skills. Standard stuff.”
Percy picked up a clipboard, scanning the questions. Most were simple—name, age, useful skills—but as he read further, his stomach tightened. Some of the questions were strange: Do you have military experience? Do you have children? What are your views on community loyalty?
Leo raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment, his pen scratching against the paper as he filled out his form. Percy followed suit, though he hesitated over some of the stranger questions.
When they were done, Davis collected the forms without reading them. “You’ll stay the night. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
As they were led to a small tent near the edge of the camp, Percy couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the camp in shadows. Despite the glow of the fire pit and the distant hum of conversation, the unease in his chest only grew.
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cherrywrites626 · 3 months ago
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HFOBG Chapter 18 Sneak Peek
By the time they made it back outside, the sky was already streaked with hues of orange and pinks, the sudden lateness of the hour surprising to him if only because it meant they’d have to postpone much of the plan until the following morning when visibility and overall alertness would be key to their impending success.
Not that he wanted to wait another twelve-or-so hours to get the show on the road.  If left up to him, he would have marched right out those gates and set everything into immediate action—but something told him the greater majority of those who stood up and backed him only minutes prior would turn on him the moment he suggested engaging a horde of zombies in less-than-ideal conditions.  Especially if it meant forgoing dinner.
As if it heard his blasphemous thoughts and disapproved of their conjecture, Nico’s stomach let out an angry growl of protest loud enough he felt his face burn with embarrassment when several pairs of eyes turned his way, the people attached to them sporting varying expressions of outward amusement.
“I guess that answers the ‘what’s next’ question,” Percy quipped, sidling up to him from behind and clapping a hand down onto his shoulder with enough force he nearly winced.  “I’m sure everyone here can agree with that sentiment.”
“Not all of us were stupid enough to skip lunch,” Piper countered, appearing on his left and linking their arms together—effectively swapping who was encroaching far too close when it dragged him out from underneath the other’s grip in a move that was easily disguised as nonchalant.
Likely so that he wouldn’t have to glare daggers up at the guy until Annabeth stepped in and physically extracted her touchy boyfriend from his personal space—although it hadn’t even crossed his mind to care about the point of contact the way he might once have.
“I could go for a quick meal,” Frank agreed from where he and a handful of others were already standing at the bottom of the short staircase, rubbing his stomach for added emphasis as a sheepish smile tugged the ends of his mouth.  “But I’m always starving.”
“Let’s go get you some food,” Hazel murmured as she took his free hand and entwined their fingers, golden eyes flicking his direction in the next beat with a look that said she was still contemplating locking him outside their home that evening as punishment for their earlier tiff.  “We can all discuss the specifics of what to do after everyone’s blood sugar is back to normal levels.”
“Shall we,” Piper said as she tugged him along in the same general direction without waiting for a response, allowing the remainder of people filing out of the building the freedom of unobstructed movement.
Sparing a glance over his shoulder, his gaze locked onto the person he was most certain would help with his current plight.  “Actually,” he mumbled, letting the word hang out in the open for the other to finish his train of thought.
Will only smiled and gave a noncommittal shrug.  “They won’t mind having to wait for us a little while longer,” he reminded him, having correctly distinguished the cause for his initial hesitation.  “We haven’t exactly eaten anything ourselves since early this morning.”
“Who,” Percy asked, frowning at the two of them curiously.
Nico heaved a tired sigh, returning his neck back to a less awkward position and addressing the obvious with a small pout.  “Our friends,” he replied, gesturing off toward the northern end of town.  “We promised them we’d be back ‘soon’ several hours ago.”
“You left your friends outside of town with a pack of zombies on the loose?”
“Seriously,” Annabeth groaned in unison with several other audible sounds of pained disbelief, expression caught somewhere between incredulity and fond exasperation at the stupidity of the question.  The guy only seemed to grow even more perplexed at the collective response to his inquiry the longer it remained unanswered, grey eyes rolling with a derisive snort before she acquiesced with a small smile.  “The zombies are the ‘friends’.”
“Oh,” Percy agreed, nodding along as if he finally understood his initial faux pas.  A beat passed, and his frown returned once more.  “Wait.  We can make friends with the zombies?”
------------------------------
Go read the last update here and don't forget to check back next Friday for this one to drop!
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demons-and-demigods · 10 months ago
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Demons and Demigods Part Five: Written Scene #3: Hercules
Alright, so this scene stars more hand-wavey transition bs than proper writing, but it's so short it doesn't warrant its own post. Now, as mentioned in my pinned post, I love me some dark!percy. This is where it begins. Justice for Zoë 😈
They reach the Mare Nostrum, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Pillars of Hercules.
The seven debate who should go talk to him, Jason and Piper insisting it should be them since Jason is a fellow son of Jupiter/Zeus and Piper has her charmspeak.  
Percy says that he and Annabeth will be the ones to go but offers no reasoning as to why it should be them. When Leo asks for said reasoning, Percy just glares him down. Frank and Hazel agree that it should be Percy and Annabeth, and Leo, cowed, does too. Piper decides she really does Not want to deal with this nonsense and doesn’t actually care. So Percy and Annabeth end up going.  
Percy torpedoes him and Annabeth through the water and deposits them on the beach.  
And there he is, the Dickwad, the Douchebag, the Motherfucker himself: Hercules.  
“Who are you?” Hercules demanded, crossing his arms and glaring at them as they stepped out of the water. Percy glared right back.  
“My name is Annabeth. I’m a daughter of Athena. This is my boyfriend, Percy, a son of Poseidon.” Annabeth said, laying her hand on Percy’s arm to keep from flying at Hercules immediately. “We came to request passage to the Mare Nostrum.”  
Hercules snorted and rolled his eyes. Percy bit back a snarl. Annabeth tightened her grip on Percy’s arm. She knew why Percy was so angry; he’d told her about Zoë and what Hercules had done to her, about his time with her on the quest to rescue Artemis. And she was angry too. Part of her wanted to let Percy at him right here and now, part of her wanted to join in. But she also knew that they should at least gain passage to the Mediterranean first before she let Percy unleash himself on Hercules. So she held him back and waited for the right moment.  
“And just why should I let you through, hm?” Hercules said, sounding unbothered. Percy opened his mouth, no doubt with a smartass retort on the tip of his tongue, but Annabeth spoke first.  
“The Earth Mother is waking. Her children, the Giants, congregate in Athens, preparing to raise her on the Feast of Fortuna. It’s unsafe to travel over land, so in order to stop her we must travel by sea. This is the fastest route to where we need to go.” Annabeth explained, even though she was sure that Hercules already knew what was going on, there was no way he couldn’t.
Hercules scoffed and shook his head. “I’m well aware of what Gaea and the Giants are up to. I asked why you think I should let you through. Not why you wanted me to.”  
Alright. Annabeth was going to give him one last chance to do this the easy way. And then no more playing nice.  
“Either you let us through, or we make you.” She let go of Percy and crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow at the cocky son of Zeus. She felt Percy tense beside her and struggled to bite back a smirk.
Hercules just threw his head back and laughed. “I thought Athena’s spawn were supposed to be smart,” he said, leering at them. “Even with the sea brat, you can’t hope to ‘make’ me do anything. Maybe if you ask very, very nicely, I’ll send you two on a quest and consider letting you and your ship pass if you succeed.”  
Annabeth sighed. She thought he’d say something like that. She looked at Percy and he met her gaze with a shark-like grin. Oh, this was going to be good.  
Before Hercules could ask what was going on, Percy was on him.  
It was sad, almost, how Hercules didn’t put up much of a fight.  
Percy took them both to the ground, slamming his fists into Hercules’ not-so-smug face. Hercules threw him off with an angry roar and stood, stumbling, before Percy was on him again. Hercules threw a punch, but Percy ducked under his arm and buried a fist in his sternum.  
Hercules doubled over, gasping, as his breath left him in a whoosh. Percy brought his knee up in a swift jab that broke the god’s nose with a resounding crack. Hercules howled and stumbled back, finally drawing his sword as he glared at the son of Poseidon.  
“You’re going to regret that, you little brat,” he hissed.  
Percy met his eyes with a feral grin as he uncapped Riptide, twirling his blade once, twice, at his side before brandishing it in front of him. Hercules’ eyes widened as recognition dawned. Percy’s grin grew sharper.  
“Recognize it?” he taunted. “I’ll bet you do. I met her, you know. Zoë. I know what you did to her. Just before she died, she gave me her blessing to wield this sword, told me she was honored that I carried it.” Percy let out a low, menacing growl from the back of his throat that made even Annabeth’s hair stand on end. “And now, with this sword, Zoë will fight alongside me as I finally give her the revenge she deserved.” 
Now, Hercules may have been good with a sword back when he was a demigod, but his time as a god had either dulled his skill or revealed that their standards for ‘good with a sword’ used to be very loose.  
Hercules never stood a chance. Really, he hadn’t had much of one when it was just a fist fight, but as soon as he drew his sword, it was over.  
It was clear to Annabeth that Percy was just playing with him, drawing out the fight to appease his own whims. Hercules, however, didn’t seem to realize this. Not that Annabeth could blame him for that, per say; he didn’t know Percy at all, let alone as well as she did. Also, he was never exactly portrayed to be the sharpest sword in the armory. So.  
Still, Annabeth stood back and watched with a fond smile as her boyfriend goaded and tricked one of history’s greatest demigods into thinking he was winning their little fight. Now, she always found Percy attractive, but watching him fight never failed to make her go a little weak in the knees. Every movement was smooth and sure, his sword acting as an extension of him. His attacks graceful as they were deadly. He somehow managed to turn a bloody fight into a dance, each flawless move looked choreographed rather than spur of the moment. It was mesmerizing.  
Percy twisted and turned, weaving in and around Hercules as he lured the god further down the beach, closer to the water. Percy swung his sword in a slow-moving, clumsy arc, easily parried and leaving an obvious opening for Hercules to attack his wide-open right side. Hercules took the bait, a triumphant grin spread across his face as he lunged forward. Annabeth almost laughed as he fell right into Percy’s trap.  
Percy sidestepped Hercules’ rather uncoordinated swing, moving faster than he’d let on he was capable of up to that point, and brought his blade down in a swift, brutal strike.  
Hercules’ sword hit the wet sand with a dull thud, his hand still wrapped around the hilt.  
Hercules roared, dropping to his knees and cradling his weeping wrist to his chest. Golden ichor soaked into the sand and dripped off the edge of Percy’s sword as he brought the tip up under Hercules’ chin. The god glared up at him, lightning crackling just behind his eyes as thunder boomed despite the cloudless sky. Percy’s sharp, feral grin spread unnervingly wide as he leaned in close, meeting the god’s eyes unwaveringly.
“Pray that I never see you again,” Percy whispered, voice as deep and dark as any trench yawning along the ocean floor. The ruthless, savage rage of the storms of the open sea, relentless and unforgiving in their violence, swirled in his eyes. “Gods can’t die, but they can still feel pain.”  
The waves crashed, roaring up the beach to slam against Percy’s back. He stood in the surf, unmoving against the water’s unrelenting force. The silence stretched as the two stared each other down. Annabeth waited patiently, curious as to what Hercules would do next.  
“Now,” Percy said, the smile dropping from his lips. “I’m going to put my sword away, and you are going to let my friends and I pass through into the Mediterranean. Okay?” Percy raised an eyebrow.  
Hercules said nothing, but he dropped his gaze to the sand.  
“Good.” Percy grinned and nodded once, pulling out the pen cap, touching it the tip of his sword, and then returning Riptide to his pocket.  
Annabeth walked over and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend’s waist from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder and kissing his cheek. “I love you, Seaweed Brain,” she said, lips still pressed against his skin. He hummed and leaned into her slightly, bringing a hand up to gently run his fingers through her hair.  
“I love you, too, Wise Girl,” he muttered, and turned his head to capture her lips with his own in a soft kiss.  
“Mm, good,” she hummed, pulling back to smile at him with hooded eyes. “Because you are never getting rid of me.”  
He laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”  
“Now, take us back to the ship, would you?” she asked, nuzzling into the crook of his neck.  
Percy twisted in her hold until they were facing each other, then slipped his arms around her waist as she moved to clasp her hands behind his neck. He smiled, and fell backwards into the water as Annabeth laughed.  
Moments later, a spout of water deposited them safely back on the deck of the Argo II. The others, who’d been lounging around the deck while they waited, all jumped when they appeared. Leo, who’d been in the splash zone, squawked indignantly when he got soaked during their entrance.  
“Oops, sorry,” Percy grinned mischievously, not sounding very sorry at all, and dried Leo off with a flick of his wrist.  
“What happened?” Hazel asked curiously. “Is he going to let us through?”  
“Yeah, it looked like something was going down over there.” Piper hopped down from where she had been sitting on a crate and walked over.  
Percy shrugged. “Eh, nothing to worry about. He didn’t want to let us through at first, but we came to an understanding.”  
Frank whistled. “Nice. How’d you manage that?” he asked.  
Jason squinted suspiciously at them for a moment before his eyes widened almost comically. “Dude, is that—is that ichor?” he asked incredulously and pointed.  
Percy glanced down at his left hand, then stretched out the bottom of his shirt to inspect it before dropping his gaze to his pants leg. “Huh. Yeah.” he said and shrugged again.  
“H-how did you get ichor on you? And why?” Leo asked nervously, taking a step back.  
Once more, Percy just shrugged and waved a hand dismissively. “He's a dick. Broke his nose, that’s how it got on my knee. I also cut off his hand and I guess it splattered. It’s not a big deal, it’ll wash off.” 
“YOU CUT OFF HIS HAND?” Jason screeched, all the color draining from his face and looking about to faint.  
“Whoa, dude, do you need to sit down?” Percy asked, startled, and stepped forward, reaching out to steady Jason as he wobbled.  
Hazel and Piper leaned in to get a closer look at the golden ichor splashed along his sword hand and shirt.  
Frank wheezed like all the breath had been stolen from his lungs. “Percy, why the hell did you cut off his hand?” he said.  
Percy gave him a confused look. “Because he’s a dick,” he said slowly.  
“So you cut off his hand?” Leo cried.  
“I mean, yeah? He deserved it. Honestly, he deserves worse if you ask me,” Percy said nonchalantly, and jumped when Leo let out a shriek and started muttering in rapid-fire Spanish. Jason squeaked and dropped to the deck, burying his face in his hands. Percy shot Annabeth a bewildered look.  
At that, Annabeth finally lost it. She started laughing, which just confused Percy more and made the others look at her like she was crazy. She waved them off, clutching her stomach as she doubled over.  
“Percy,” she gasped as she tried to get herself back under control. “Most demigods aren’t gonna choose to go toe-to-toe with a god just because they were being rude.” She rolled her eyes fondly at his baffled expression. “And they’re definitely not going to chop off their hand! Also, babe, most people think Hercules is like, the golden standard of heroes, the greatest demigod to ever live.” She shook her head as she laughed again. “You’re kinda the weird one here, Perce. I mean, one of your favorite hobbies is mouthing off to random gods, including the entire Olympian council. Shit, you’ve had beef with Ares since we were twelve, Seaweed Brain. That’s not normal demigod behavior.”  
“Hey, the Ares shit is not my fault. He started it! He’s the immortal god of war, why the fuck did he decide to pick a fight with a twelve-year-old?” Percy huffed, crossing his arms. “He started it, and it’s not my fault that I finished it.  If he didn’t want to get his shit rocked by a twiggy pre-teen, he shouldn't have picked a fight with one!”  
Annabeth snorted. “I guess you have a point, but mine still stands. You’re the outlier, Percy. Not many demigods would turn down immortality to instead tell the gods to be better parents.”  
The others’ heads whipped back and forth between Percy and Annabeth like they were watching a tennis match, all with gob smacked expressions on their faces.  
“Okay, I’m pretty sure anyone would have done the same thing in my position,” Percy protested.  
Annabeth shook her head. “History literally says otherwise. Also, back to the point, may I remind you that your thing against Hack-ules is personal? These guys are going off the impression that you and I went over there, Hercules was being a typical arrogant, egotistical god, and you just decided to cut off his hand.” Annabeth raised an eyebrow as Percy’s eyes widened in realization and his mouth formed a little ‘o.’  
He turned to their friends and held his hands out placatingly. “Okay, so I definitely see why you guys were a little freaked out, now, but I promise my actions were justified. Annabeth is right, my beef with Dick-ules comes from some, uh, rather traumatic personal history that I kinda don’t wanna get into right now?” he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and dropped his eyes to the deck. “If you want to know, just ask Annabeth, I guess. She knows the story. I’m just gonna, uh, yeah.” He gestured vaguely and turned to head below decks, then paused and faced them again. “Oh, and we should be good to sail through the Pillars, now. If we want to get moving,” he said quickly, and spun back around to disappear down the stairs.  
Everyone watched him go then turned to stare at Annabeth with wide eyes. Annabeth laughed and shook her head. “Oh, no. I’m not doing this right now. Right now, I’m going to go kiss my boyfriend stupid because watching him beat the shit out of a god was really fucking hot.” She spun on her heel to follow Percy, waving over her shoulder.  
She bounced down the stairs to the sound of Piper’s uproarious laughter and everyone else’s startled sputtering.  
(She does, in fact, go kiss Percy stupid.) 
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