81 “people just don’t like me” and/or 87 “oh my god, i love you” (i’m thinking sometime with a love confession but it’s up to u! love u bestie)
In which Annabeth’s in love with her best friend, and Percy’s a pretty good date,, percabeth
Annabeth has never been one to become distracted by people around her, but Percy Jackson seems to be an exception.
There’s something sinful about the way he looks at her when they’re working at separate tables in the chem lab. He’s meant to be paying attention to the reaction before him, but instead, his eyes are on her. He’s not particularly hiding it, and she thinks that’s what makes it so much more intriguing.
Percy Jackson holds no shame for her, and it makes her want him that much more.
Annabeth isn’t one to talk; her eyes are glued to him too, far more than is acceptable when she’s also so focused on her grades. But she’s not complaining. She likes his gaze, the sea-green irises that hold pure, unadulterated want, promise, passion—
Annabeth hardly hears Piper’s scolding when she nearly drops hydrochloric acid. Instead, her ears zero in on the low laugh she swears Percy gives out as she shakes his head at her, adoring, and gets back to the task at hand. She already knows to expect his appearance later that day, once they’re both done with class and ready to continue on with their game of advances, to see who will fold first.
It’s exactly what happens, and she has to smother a smile when she catches him waiting for her after the lab, leaning against the outside wall with his leather jacket thrown over an arm, prepared for her to shuck it on like she always does on Tuesdays while they walk to find somewhere to eat lunch.
Percy holds open the jacket while Annabeth steps into the sleeves, and then he moves to pull her hair from below the collar.
“You sure look comfortable,” Percy comments lightly, his stride matching hers as they walk. His fingers pinch her elbow gently. “Enjoy stealing my jacket, don’t you?”
“It’s not stealing if you give it to me,” she reminds. “And I seem to recall you offering it to me when I forgot my own.”
Percy snorts. “Two months ago.”
“Two days, two months. What is time, anyway?”
Percy sighs, but she can hear the amusement in his voice. He’d let it slip one night that he likes seeing her in his jacket, and she’s made it a point to do it every chance she can, if only to see that subtle grin on his face that he always tries to hide.
“You’re a thief, you know?”
Annabeth smiles sweetly as she links her arm through his, pressing her cheek to his shoulder. “Is it theft if you willingly gave it to me?”
“You’ve stolen more than my jacket.”
“Wasn’t stealing.”
“My heart, for example.”
Annabeth coos and drags them to a slow stop. He ends up cornering her against the brick of an English building, and she lets herself be pressed to the wall, delighting in the way he towers over her and looks at her like she’s the only person in the world.
When Percy just looks at her accusingly, she snickers and says, “You willingly gave me that, too.”
“It wasn’t so much willing as it was unpreventable. I didn’t really get a say in the matter. And besides, it’s not officially yours.”
Annabeth’s hands rub at his arms when they press to either side of her, trapping her in the moment. She doesn’t object; she wants him in the same way he wants her.
“Why don’t you make it official, then?” she teases.
“I’ve tried,” he says, moving his face away when Annabeth tugs lightly at the ring on his lower lip. “But you like to mess with me, and then give me oogly eyes across the room.”
“Oh, but it’s so much fun. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You know what’s more fun?”
“Hm?”
“Going on a date with me.”
“I don’t hear a question there.”
Percy rolls his eyes fondly, but he’s smiling. “Will you go on a date with me?”
Annabeth already knows her answer, but she can’t help but make this moment last longer. She wants to stay here forever.
“A date with me? Aren’t there a million other girls that want you?”
“People just don’t like me,” he says, grinning. “Not in the way that you do.”
It goes unsaid what he really means. She knows plenty of people like him, but that’s the difference. Where others like him, Annabeth loves him. She loves the gold ring on his lip, the sparkle in his eyes, the gentle caresses he gives her when it’s late and she falls asleep in his arms while they’re watching a movie. She loves what other people like, and that’s exactly why they are where they are, together.
“Where would we go on a date?” she asks, looking him in the eyes. He matches her gaze, and she could look at him all day.
“Anywhere you want.”
“I want you to choose,” she says, a finger poking lightly into his chest. She feels a shiver run down her back when he bends down to kiss her hand.
“In that case…” Percy leans in closer to whisper in his ear, and there’s no way he doesn’t know the effect he has on her. “I want to take you to a museum.”
“You hate museums,” she muses.
“But you like museums, and I like you.”
Annabeth thinks that’s a date-worthy response.
“But I would take you out to dinner first. There’s this place I want you to try—it reminds me of you—and then since the museum closes at ten, we could go to the beach. That’s where we met.”
She kind of wants to cry at his words. Percy’s always been like this, considerate, and she wishes more people knew this side of him, but at the same time, she wants to keep it all to herself.
“But really, I don’t care what we do,” Percy says. “As long as I have you, I’m happy.”
And Annabeth melts.
“Oh my god, I love you,” she breathes.
Percy smiles, his laugh bright as the sun. “Yeah?”
Annabeth can’t wait. “Kiss me.”
And he does just that.
It’s short and sweet, but it’s so reminiscent of the two of them, how they’ve always been the other’s soft spot, and it’s exactly as should be.
Annabeth never did imagine herself getting distracted in class, but she never imagined herself ending up with someone like this, either. She supposes not everything has to be expected; she’s glad that the unexpected exists, because without it, she would never be here.
“So is that a yes?” Percy asks, pressing his lips lightly to the corner of her mouth.
Annabeth rolls her eyes and kisses him once more. “It’s a yes.”
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Remember that whole “what if someone sees me” thing from when Annabeth and Percy went on that love ride when they were 12? Percy does and sets out for revenge when he and Annabeth start dating.
Annabeth: I want to go to the restaurant-
Percy: but what if someone sees me with you?
Annabeth: what?
Percy: that would be so embarrassing
Annabeth: you just told the barista we were dating unprompted
Percy: so embarrassing. Like how you didn’t want to be seen with me on that love ride when we were 12-
Annabeth: oh my gods
I love petty Percy. Let him remember all his girlfriend’s slights against him.
Annabeth: why are you being weird? Just hold my hand, you dweeb-
Percy: but IF SOMEONE SEES ME-
Annabeth: I’ll tell them that you got lost and we’re looking for your real girlfriend
I just enjoy him teasing Annabeth tbh
Percy: you have to sit over there
Annabeth: why
Percy: Piper might see us sitting next to each other-
Annabeth: not this again
Percy: -and that would just be so embarrassing
Piper: wat
Annabeth: stop it. we were 12
Percy: my reputation is on the line
Annabeth: you know I was right, though? do you remember that part?
Piper: what’s happening
Annabeth: they literally filmed us on that ride and broadcasted it on Olympus. You can’t be bitter when my concerns were literally-
Percy: you dare underestimate my bitterness?
Piper: you two are the weirdest couple I know
Don’t let him ever forget this sin committed against him lol
Annabeth: are you ready?
Percy: I’m so nervous. What if someone sees us and thinks we’re together?
Annabeth: that would be a shame
Annabeth: for that to happen
Annabeth: on our wedding day
Percy: maybe we shouldn’t have invited so many people
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