Chapter Text
Perseus Jackson could have sworn that he was doing his homework…or at least he was, until he fell into a rabbit hole learning about sharks. Did you know that sharks can lose more than 30,000 teeth in a lifetime? But that’s besides the point. He had homework to do. He checked the time in the corner of his mom’s laptop.
Shit had it been an hour already???
Percy scrambled to close all of the shark-related tabs, leaving only the one with his essay about the American Civil War open. The courser blinked halfway across the first line.
Today I will tell you about the Civil War, which was important because
Percy sighed and lowered his forehead onto the key board with a dull clack. Maybe he could just submit the resulting keysmash. Or he could tell his teacher about the greek and roman demigod side of the story. But he doubted his teacher would have the humor to give him a decent grade on it. And he really really needed to pass sophomore year. Annabeth would kill him if he didn’t, and he didn’t survive the Titan war only to die at the hands of his homework.
Percy looked away from the words, which had begun to blur and scramble before his eyes. His rabbit hole about sharks–shark hole?–had been enough reading to give him a headache. His dyslexia and ADHD seemed to be teaming up to make sure he would never get to his damn essay. Percy tilted his head back and closed his eyes, exasperated. Did he take his meds this morning? He couldn’t remember. Probably not.
He looked out of his window next to him, watching rain pelt the glass. The beads of water collided into each other, swelling and rolling down the window pane, leaving trails of baby droplets in their wakes. It was strangely calming. He absent-mindedly wondered if he was hardwired to find water soothing because of his dad, or if other people found rain this peaceful too.
Percy raised his fingertips to the glass, the December chill biting his skin. Droplets coalesced around his touch on the other side of the glass. Rain seemed to hit that spot more frequently, and beads of water rolled towards him in greeting as if to comfort him. He imagined each droplet had a tiny little voice and they were all cheering “We hate essays too! But we love you Percy!” He trailed his finger along the window, and the droplets followed. Percy chuckled to himself.
The weird part was, he wasn’t sure if he was moving the droplets. He wasn’t trying to right now. Obviously water didn’t normally do that, but he wasn’t sure if he was making the water do that, or if it was simply responding to him because he was the son of Posiedon, regardless of his intent. That line had always been a little blurry to him, mostly because in a fight, it didn’t matter. Water would respond to him if he called for it. And sometimes it would respond even if he didn’t consciously call for it, reacting to his emotions alone. But he’d never spent time training his powers, honing it with intention and focus. Water just kind of… did things around him. It wasn’t super precise. If he wanted it to explode, it would explode. Broad and big commands like that were his specialty. He’d gone through a whole Titan war without really understanding the shape of his power; he just trusted it would be there when he needed it. He was a little too focused on surviving to find out. But now, bored and no longer in imminent danger, he wondered what he was capable of. To what extent could he command water?
Percy pulled his hand away and tried to hone his focus in on one droplet. He wanted it to do a little anti gravity thing, rolling up the window instead of down. That was pretty focused and simple, right? Should be doable. He squinted at the droplet, trying to project some anti-gravity thoughts at it. It rolled down a little. Percy frowned. He tried to sense the water droplet, to connect with it, to become one with the water drop.
Roll up, Percy thought, and something in his core pushed.
At once, every water droplet on the window rocketed up. A sheet of rainwater waterfalled in reverse up the window pain. Percy jerked back in surprise, and his focus shattered. The water came splashing back down.
So much for small, precise movements. Percy sighed. Of course. He was the water explosions guy. Precise and focused wasn’t anywhere in his skill set. What had he been thinking?
There’d been something satisfying about trying, though. There was a brief moment where Percy felt connected with the water in his core, and he felt grounded. Whole. Powerful in a steady kind of way. Percy knew Nico tended to get exhausted after using his powers, but Percy hadn’t felt that way at all. He’d felt exhausted before, after big demonstrations of power like creating hurricanes, but smaller things, just being in tune with water…that felt different. If anything, it was refreshing, like drinking a glass of water after being dehydrated all day. He wondered what it would be like to actually train his water powers instead of just letting things kind of happen to him.
The blank computer screen stared up at him, blinking accusatorily. Right. Essay. Come on, Percy.
He twirled his pen in his fingers. It wasn’t Riptide– last time he fidgeted with Riptide while working, he absentmindedly bit on the cap and nearly chopped his own head off. Annabeth would have confiscated the pen if it wouldn’t have just returned to his pocket seconds later. He has since learned his lesson not to fidget with it, and he promised Annabeth as much.
Gods he missed Annabeth. It had only been a week. It was midterms, so they were both (supposed to be) busy studying. They hadn’t been able to Iris-message because of it. Besides, Annabeth was kind of frightening this time of year. He feared she would bite his head off if he tried to bother her while she was studying. But a week of focusing on exams felt like forever. Thank god it was Friday. This essay was his final midterm, and of course, he didn’t start it until the last minute.
He felt like one of those puppies with separation anxiety ever since they’d gotten together after the Battle of Manhattan. Four months later and he still felt like he was waiting for the ball to drop. He’d survived his sixteenth birthday. But the constant anxiety sitting on the backburner of his mind couldn’t seem to shut off. The Great Prophecy had defined his teenage years; it was hard to come to terms with the fact it was all over. His anxiety urged him to make sure Annabeth was safe and secure. That she hadn’t been taken or stabbed when he wasn’t looking. He just wanted to be next to her, to smell her lemony shampoo and feel her calloused fingers brushing in his own. He needed her by his side just to convince himself he could let go of his worries.
Percy was kind of pathetic about her and he knew it. He didn’t really know how to be a boyfriend, but he was pretty sure you weren’t supposed to be clingy.
When Percy checked the time, another 10 minutes had gone by while he thought about his girlfriend. He groaned. This essay was due tonight. He had 4 hours to finish it. At this rate, he might as well take the deduction for a late submission and call it quits.
Percy fought monsters and battled Kronos himself, but a godsdamn essay was what did him in. This was so stupid.
He stood up and walked over to his bed, face planting into the pillows. He was too tired for this. Also he missed Annabeth.
Maybe Annabeth could help him finish his essay.
He’d read somewhere that body-doubling was helpful for kids with ADHD to get their stuff done. He’d done homework with her plenty of times, and it actually did kind of help if he thought about it…when they weren’t distracted kissing or cuddling. But that's besides the point.
Also is it really such a crime that he wanted to see her? After all they’d been through, he at least deserved a See Your Girlfriend Whenever free pass.
Percy rolled over and switched on his humidifier which was rigged with a flashlight to make a rainbow. He rummaged through the drawer in his bedside table to find a drachma amongst the packs of gum and random knicknacks he probably should throw out. He flicked it into the rainbow.
“O, Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, accept my offering.” The rainbow rippled and swallowed the drachma. Percy smiled. This would never not be cool. “Annabeth Chase.”
Annabeth’s face came into focus in the twisting colors of the rainbow. Her brows were scrunched as she sat hunched over something. She was nibbling at the eraser of her pencil, totally in the zone. She didn’t notice Percy’s floating head appear beside her.
Percy smiled, propping his chin up on his folded arms while he lay on his stomach. “Annabeth.”
Nothing.
“Annabeeeeeeeth.”
Annabeth had a tendency to concentrate a little too hard. She didn’t even have headphones on, and she was oblivious.
“I’m pregnant,” Percy said, just for kicks. Still nothing. Percy wondered if she was intentionally ignoring him, but he doubted it. This was fairly standard stuff for them.
“What are you working on, Wise Girl?”
“Hm?” Annabeth finally looked up. “Percy! How long have you been there?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“Be serious.
“Like thirty seconds.”
“Oh, good, that's not so bad. Sorry for ignoring you.” Annabeth brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and sat up straight, trying to make herself a little more presentable.
Percy wanted to tell her that she didn’t have to do all that–she looked the cutest when she was in concentration mode because that was just so quintessentially Annabeth that he couldn’t help but love it. But he kept the thought to himself. He wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear that.
“What are you working on?” Percy asked again.
“My redesigns for Mount Olympus. I’m still working on concept sketches.”
“Have you had any water today?” Percy asked. He knew she was liable to forget when she focused like this.
Annabeth pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes at him. “...No.”
“You should probably get some water. Hydration is important.”
“Shouldn’t you be working on an essay right now, Seaweed Brain?” Annabeth shot back.
“How did you know about that? We haven’t talked in a week!”
“Sally told me.”
“When did you talk to my mom?” Percy asked incredulously.
Annabeth shrugged. “We text sometimes.”
Percy blinked a few times, waiting for the moment she said sike! He forgot that she had a phone sometimes (it was mildly safer for her than it was for him, since she wasn’t the child of one of the Big Three). “Oh. You’re not kidding. Well that's terrifying. What do you text about? Please don’t tell me my mom is telling you stories of ridiculous things I did as a child.”
Annabeth laughed. “No, nothing like that. Usually I just text to make sure… well, that you’re okay. It’s kind of stressful having a son of Posiedon for a boyfriend. You’re a monster magnet. I can’t always be around to protect you, so Sally gave me her phone number a few months ago so I didn’t have to worry as much.”
“Oh.” Percy’s heart ached in his chest, like it had been suddenly pumped full of a heavy metal. On the one hand, he hated that Annabeth felt like she needed to protect him. He didn’t want to be a burden on her like that. Besides, he felt the same way towards her. He wanted to protect her from all the monsters and evil forces out there. When she’d taken that knife for him on the Williamsburg Bridge, he’d been distraught. He never wanted her to be in a position like that again.
On the other hand, it was twistedly comforting that she was concerned for him in the same way he was for her. Their care was a two-way street. Percy knew he shouldn’t doubt that, but at least once a day, a thought of disbelief crossed his mind. Why would a girl as talented, beautiful, and smart as Annabeth like an idiot like him?
“I’m sorry,” Percy said on reflex.
“For what?”
“For…I dunno. Stressing you out. Being me.”
“Percy, you can’t help that you’re a son of Poseidon."
“I know, I know.”
“No, seriously. Listen to me. It’s not your fault. I don’t blame you at all–gods I hope it didn’t come across like that. I just meant that this is a fact of our lives. I wouldn’t change it for the world. Don’t ever feel guilty for the fact I have an anxiety problem.” Annabeth was looking at him seriously now through the Iris message, eyes wide and a crease between her brows, as if trying to read him.
Warmth rose to Percy’s cheeks. He ran a hand along his neck, at a loss for words. He wasn’t great at all this “letting go of guilt” stuff. He literally held the world on his shoulders once, but in a way, he didn’t think he had ever set it down. The weight was familiar. He wasn’t sure how to take that burden off himself.
“I worry about you too when we’re not together, you know,” Percy said softly.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“I can take care of myself,” Annabeth reminded him, although it wasn’t indignant or defiant.
“I know. So can I.”
“I know.”
“I wish we didn’t have to worry,” Percy said.
“Me too. I think growing up in a war messed with us a little.”
Percy snorted at that. “Understatement of the century.”
“Shut up, Seaweed Brain,” Annabeth said. Percy loved the way she smiled when she rolled her eyes at him. The eyerolling he was used to, but he wasn’t quite sure when the smile was added. Last year? Two years ago? Regardless, it was a specific expression she seemed to save just for him.
“Yes ma’am.” Percy mimed zipping his lips shut.
Annabeth laughed. “Okay but seriously what happened to that essay? Did you finish?”
Percy looked over his shoulder at his mom’s computer sitting open on his desk, courser blinking expectantly. He winced. When he looked back at Annabeth, she saw the answer written all over his face.
“Perceus Jackson,” she chided.
“Ouch, not the full name.” Percy raised his hands in defence, as if the hologram Annabeth was going to pull her dagger out on him.
“Hang up and write your essay!”
“Wait, wait,” he cried before she could hang up for him. “That’s kind of why I called. Could you. Um. Do you want to come over and help me? I’m really struggling with it. I can think better when you’re around.”
“It’s already eight pm…” Annabeth said hesitantly.
“You can sleep over, it’s not a problem! Tomorrow is Saturday anyway!”
When Annabeth blushed a little, Percy did too. They’d slept in the same room several times because of quests, but this would be their first true sleepover, especially since becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. And boyfriend-girlfriend sleepovers had a certain connotation Percy only realized the moment after the offer slipped from his lips.
“I didn’t mean like– you know what I meant. Only if you want to stay, of course. We can set up the couch for you.”
Annabeth thought for a moment. It was the longest moment of Percy’s life, and that was coming from someone who had gone toe to toe with the Titan of Time.
Eventually, Annabeth said:
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Yay!” Percy pumped his fist.
“On a few conditions.”
Percy’s fist fell back to the mattress and he rolled over dramatically. “Fiiine. Name your price, Chase.”
“One: I am not writing your essay for you. I will help brainstorm and edit, but you have to actually do the work.”
“My plans have been foiled!” Percy said, placing the back of his hand against his forehead like a Victorian lady in distress, even though he was expecting as much. Annabeth did the smile and eyeroll thing again, which made him grin. “Don’t worry, I figured as much.”
“Two: You have to actually finish the essay tonight. You are not getting a late deduction on your grade. We can’t get distracted.”
“Yeah that’s fair, if you’re coming all this way to help me,” Percy conceded.
“Three: I’m going to bring my sketches for the Mount Olympus redesign so I can keep working while you write.”
Percy shrugged. “Fine by me!”
“Alright, I’ll see you in thirty minutes. Try to have a thesis done by then, at least.”
Before Percy could say anything more, Annabeth waved and cut off the message. Percy flopped back on his bed, a dumb grin of victory on his face.
A few minutes later, Sally poked her head into Percy’s room. “Oh! Annabeth’s coming over? Wonderful! I’ll make up the couch.”
Percy sat up, confused. “Did you overhear our conversation?”
“No. Annabeth just texted me.” Sally winked and ducked back out of his room.
Percy groaned, running his hand over his face. It was really sweet that his mom and girlfriend kept a regular communication through text, but Percy really hoped this fact didn’t bite him in the ass. The number of embarrassing stories about him those two could share with each other was frightening.
Percy sat back down with the computer and began typing away again, working the swimming words into something that resembled a thesis by the time Annabeth knocked on the door.
“I got it,” Percy called, jumping up.
He ran to open the door, revealing a somewhat soggy Annabeth. She must have gotten caught in the rain. Percy, never one to fear a little water, immediately pulled her into a hug. She was a good bit shorter than him now that he’d had his growth spurt, so it was easy to envelope her in his arms. He didn’t realize how loud the hum of anxiety was until Annabeth was with him, and suddenly, it went quiet. A quiet sense of safety settled around his heart.
“Thanks for coming,” Percy said, pulling back slightly. He wasn’t damp whatsoever.
There was a brief moment after they pulled away where they both stalled. Percy’s gaze flicked to her lips and back, shoulders tense. In the movies, this was the point where couples kissed in greeting. And they were a couple now. Which was kind of wild. Four months was probably way too long to still be awkward about kissing, but Annabeth had been his best friend for four years first. Also, he wanted to make sure he was doing this whole boyfriend thing right. What if she didn’t want a kiss? He tried to read her expression. Annabeth also looked a little confused with wide eyes and a small smile dotted with pink cheeks.
Then, thank the gods, Annabeth took the lead. She put her hands on Percy’s shoulders and stood on her toes to place a quick, light kiss on his lips.
If Percy hadn’t dedicated his entire teenage life to trying to live, he would have died right then and there. The tension fled his shoulders and he smiled. Annabeth blushed and rolled her eyes a little, standing up straighter.
“Of course. I’ll always come when you need my help.” She clutched her bag full of papers to her chest. “So, where’s this essay?”
Percy laughed. “Straight to business.”
“We’re on a time crunch. Show me what you’ve got.” Annabeth held out her hand for Percy. Percy took it, lacing their fingers together, and led her to his room, grinning the whole way. Gods, it was so nice to be around her again.
He winced at the mess in his room, wishing he had thought to tidy up the already-cramped space before she’d arrived. But he did have a thesis to show her at least.
Annabeth’s hand was cold and kind of clammy in his. He felt a shiver go through her, and remembered she was soaked and wouldn’t dry off the same way he did. That’s another reason he should learn to hone his powers. It would be so cool to dry her clothes for her, but he couldn’t be sure he could remove the water without something exploding. So he would have to go with the next, significantly less cool option.
“You’ve gotta be cold. Here, do you want to borrow some dry clothes?” Percy dropped her hand and dug a sweatshirt and shorts out of his dresser.
Annabeth blushed. “Oh, uh. Are you sure?”
Percy wasn’t sure why she was hesitating. She had to be freezing cold. “Yeah! If you get hypothermia because you came to help me write an essay, I’d never forgive myself. Here!”
Annabeth accepted the clothes. “Um. Thanks. I’ll be right back in that case.”
When Annabeth returned from changing in the bathroom, Percy understood why she’d been blushing. Seeing her in his clothes…maybe asking her here to help him finish his essay while on a deadline was a terrible idea. She was so cute. The sweatshirt was a light blue and engulfed her. She had bunched the sleeves up, and still, only her fingertips curled around the sleeve hems. A poof of wet hair collected in the neckline.
Percy realized he’d been staring when Annabeth’s smile turned sharp and teasing.
“Sorry it’s just…I could totally kiss you right now.”
“No more kissing until after you finish the essay.”
Percy groaned. “That’s torture. The Furies should be worried you’re coming for their jobs.”
Annabeth laughed. It was the best sound in the world. And before the past four months, rare too. Percy treasured it.
“Alright, Seaweed Brain. Essay. Now.”
Percy groaned, but he sat back down in front of the computer and pulled up the essay. “So bossy.”
“I can leave, you know.”
“Did I say bossy? I meant so kind and beautiful and smart and–”
“Percy. Focus.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Annabeth flicked his shoulder.
“So what’s the essay topic?” She asked.
Percy told her his topic and his working thesis. Annabeth helped him create a detailed outline based on what he told her. They brainstormed quotes and topic sentences. Once Percy was set up, he moved to sit on his bed to type while Annabeth borrowed his desk to get back to drawing. They worked side by side in silence for a while.
The knowledge that Annabeth would get on his case if he got sidetracked kept Percy focused on the task at hand. Plus, just being near her calmed the restless anxiety that lived in his bones. The constant, underlying sense that danger was lurking finally quieted in her presence. He was able to think clearly without wondering how soon he might die. With a clearer head and calmer nervous system, Percy was actually able to finish his essay an hour before midnight. This whole body doubling thing might have some merit after all.
When he finished, Annabeth moved over to his bed to read over it and suggested edits for clarity. His bed was small, so they were curled up close, her right shoulder overlapping with his left. She caught his grammatical errors, although they both had to trust spellcheck and autocorrect with their lives.
By eleven thirty, Percy was satisfied. Also his head hurt too much from the block of swimming text to really care anymore. This was already the best essay he’d written all semester.
Annabeth chewed on her lip as she looked over it, not quite satisfied with it herself. She peeled a flake of dry skin off her chapped lips with her teeth, and when Percy saw a hint of blood well up on her lips, he decided it was time to call it quits.
“Okay, I think that’s good enough, Wise Girl.”
“Wait, don’t submit it. I still think this ending sentence could be reworked to be slightly more punchy just let me think…”
“Nope, enough thinking, my head hurts and you’re bleeding.”
Annabeth looked up, brows furrowed. “I am?” She licked her lip, tasting the blood. “Oh. Whoops.”
“See? Too much thinking. We’re done.”
“But–”
“No buts.” Percy clicked submit before she could nitpick his wording anymore. A burst of confetti appeared on his screen when he hit the button. Percy waved his hands jazz style for added “Hooray” effect.
Annabeth pouted a little. Percy could see the gears in her head still turning, reworking his essay. A smile tugged at his lips. He bent over and kissed her forehead to bring her out of her thoughts. “Thank you for your help. You saved my butt tonight.”
“Of course I did.”
Percy leaned and grabbed something off his bedside table. “Do you want some chapstick?”
“Thanks,” Annabeth said, accepting it.
“Don’t mention it,” Percy said, attention drawn to her lips as she slid the balm over them.
“Minty,” she commented when she put the cap back on.
“Why do you sound so surprised?”
“I figured you would have like, blue raspberry flavored chapstick.”
Percy laughed. “I don’t want my lips to be blue! But that does sound delicious. Do they sell that?”
Annabeth shrugged. “No idea. You’ll have to let me know.”
“I’ll have my mom text you as soon as I find some,” Percy promised with a teasing sincerity.
He wrapped his arm around Annabeth and pulled her closer. She snuggled against him, her whole body seeming to sigh in contentment as she relaxed into him. She hugged his arms tight to her chest. Percy kissed the top of her head, the familiar scent of her sweet, lemony shampoo greeting him. She’d been using the same hair product since they were thirteen, and now, comfort smelled like lemon bars.
“Now that I finished my essay, do I finally get a kiss?” Percy murmured into her hair.
Annabeth hummed like she was already half asleep. “I don’t wanna move. I’m comfy.”
“Come ooonnnn, you promised.”
Annabeth shifted in his arms so she could turn around to face him. She had one eyebrow raised and a smirk on her face.
“You don’t actually have to! I don’t want to pressure you or anything–”
“Percy?”
“Yeah?”
“Kiss me.”
“Okay.”
And so he did.
They were still learning how to do this, but they’d gotten pretty good in four months. The kiss was in the sweet spot of familiarity and discovery. New because it was them kissing, but old because it was them. They knew the shape of each other, they’d learned how they fit together, both in the kiss and as people. But it was still thrilling. The gentle push and pull, questions and invitations and pauses for breaths and giggles. It was innocent and still a little messy, but so fun. Percy was learning that Annabeth was ticklish behind her ear, and where she liked his hand to run through her hair when they kissed. He was learning what made Annabeth smile against his lips. He’d never been good at studying, but studying Annabeth was easy. She told him exactly what she wanted, what she liked.
So, while Percy Jackson was still a little awkward figuring out how to be a good boyfriend for his girlfriend–his best friend–he was getting the hang of kissing. They were getting pretty great at kissing.