A/N: Just a little something that happened at two in the morning when I couldn't sleep. I'm still not sure it makes sense, but it seemed to have nice reviews on tumblr! Anyone else excited about Mark of Athena?


"It won't kill you."

"I know that."

"Then just do it, Annabeth!"

They'd been at it for an hour, eyes flickering back and forth between them and the thin piece of wood atop four wheels. It was Saturday afternoon, which meant the two had leisure time in between training and dinner. Percy had insisted on teaching Annabeth how to skateboard, but she was convinced that stepping on top of that thing would result in complete and utter humiliation. It wasn't as if she could allow Percy to know he was better at something than her, could she?

The answer was, undoubtedly, no. Even at twelve years old, Annabeth contained the most pride in the entire camp. The blonde had made quite the impression on Percy, what with being his accomplice in saving the world. He'd thought she was single handedly the coolest girl he'd ever met, even if she did get on his nerves a hundred and five percent of the time they were together. He didn't understand how she'd had the courage to face the things she did on their quest, yet she couldn't bring herself to ride the darn skateboard.

Defiantly, she shook her head of blonde curls. "No," her voice was firm. She had no intention of giving in, despite how she was growing tired of arguing over the same thing for an hour. Still, no matter how long she had to stand there, she wasn't going to give in. With her hands on her hips, she raised her eyebrows at the slightly shorter boy, waiting for his protests.

When they didn't come, she became a bit worried. Had she finally won? No, of course not. She may have been the one with hubris as the fatal flaw, but Percy didn't back down that easily, even if she did intimidate him. Her gray eyes, wide with disbelief, watched as he marched straight up to her. She took a step back, but his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. "Percy, what are you-"

Her protests were cut off as he lifted her, placing her on the skateboard. He stepped up behind her, balancing the two carefully. The blush that crept to both of their cheeks was as red as the strawberries in the field not too far from them. Although his actions were hesitant, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pushed off the ground with his foot.

Her hands gripped his arms tightly as their speed increased, her hair flying freely behind her. She'd deny it if you asked, but not a second passed on top of that board when she didn't have a smile on her face. She felt as free as a bird, whereas most of the time she felt constricted by her armor. But this, this was a new euphoria... And she loved it.

Neither of them spoke the entire ride to the big house. They just basked in the wind, his arms around her waist, her hands on his. They ignored the glares from the Ares cabin as they passed, and the giggles and pointing from the Aphrodite cabin as well. Nothing else existed but the two of them, and that darn skateboard she wouldn't have even been on had he not picked her up.

Four years later, they found themselves in the same position, speeding down the street in New York city on a motorized vehicle. This time, her arms found his torso, his hands gripping the handles. Her chin was resting on his shoulder, and had they not been in the middle of a war zone, she no doubt would've sustained the smile that crept to her lips just four short years ago.

Never did she thank him for the ride on his skateboard, or for putting her on it against her will. He never mentioned how natural it felt to have his arms around her, she never told him how even in the middle of a battle, she appreciated the time she was able to hold him.

Because both of them were too stubborn to say it back then, almost too stubborn to say it now; We're meant for each other.