Disclaimer: I don't own any characters; they belong to the one and only Rick Riordan.
A/N: This is my very first one-shot! It's based on an idea that came from the Mark of Athena, but don't worry, because there are 99.9% no spoilers. Enjoy ;)
Looking into the glittering lake, I finally had some time alone. I used to like alone, but being alone with my thoughts nowadays was almost too much to handle. My mind mixes up concoctions of terrible memories and scenes I didn't want to see ever again. It creates unreal ideas of each one of my friend's deaths and makes me uncomfortable around them, as if they could see what I had thought of.
But, something about today was special. The fresh water and crisp summer air cleaned my head free of the awful thoughts, but only for a moment, because as I predicted, the bad ideas came back. This time it was different, though. A strange realization socked me in the stomach.
Percy could control almost any type of water at will, and created hurricanes so powerful they could knock a Titan off his feet. Thalia could shoot lightning along with Jason. Plus, Jason could fly. Piper could charm-speak. Leo could control fire. Hazel could sense underground passages. Frank could shape shift. Even Grover could make plants grow. What could I do?
My mother always told me that my wits were my powers, that many people didn't have them. Like Percy, she ever so kindly added. But all I thought about was that I didn't have anything special. All I had was a limp invisibility hat that hardly worked anymore. I was completely, and utterly powerless.
Footsteps crunched behind me. I swiftly turned to see my handsome boyfriend, Percy Jackson. "Hello, Annabeth." he chirped, "What's going on?" I sighed. "Nothing." I huffed. Sadly, Percy knew me too well to know that "nothing" was always a something. He wrapped his arm around me.
"C'mon, you can tell me." he insisted.
"I really don't want to talk about it." I grumbled.
"Ple-e-e-e-e-e-a-a-a-a-a-s-s-s-s-e-e-e-e!" he sang while giving me his puppy dog eyes.
"Alright, fine." I groaned, finally giving in.
"Yes!" he cheered.
"Have you ever realized that I have no powers?" I asked him.
"Um, no, not really. You have the hat, though. That's something." he replied.
"It barely works anymore, and that's not a power." I explained.
"Being smart is your power. It's gotten us out of some sticky situations." he acknowledged.
"But I can't control water, or fly, or strike lightning, or catch my hand on fire at will, or-" I complained before Percy cut me off.
"Those are hardly powers. Those are special skills. We all have them, even mortals. Annabeth, just because you don't have "powers" doesn't mean you're any worse than other demigods. I don't care if you can't shape-shift or make it rain. I love you just the way you are." he soothed.
That would be the point where I kissed him.
A/N: I hope you liked it! NOTE: Have you ever realized that Annabeth's character kind of looks like Taylor Swift? Curly blond hair, grey eyes? Ringing any bells? Anyway, I love you, goodbye!