A/N: For some reason, I absolutely adore the idea of other characters viewing Percy and Annabeth and taking note, so I made a fic about it. If you want to see a specific moment or a specific character, be sure to comment!
It is a point of pride for Malcolm of his abilities to think quick and act fast. In most cases, they've had some pretty good results. If anything, it's kept him alive for the time being. But there has been many a time when he had to diffuse some awkward moments he had gotten into or mediate some argument in between his siblings and he's always managed to find a way out better for everyone than when they got in.
But this time?
It didn't take long to assess the situation, but Malcolm has yet to come up with how to deal with it. The situation of course is that in his search for his sister Annabeth he has found her in their cabin alone… with Percy Jackson. And they were holding each other. In a very close and passionate embrace.
Oh gods.
It could've been worse, Malcolm tried to reason. They could've been kissing, like he thought they were when he first walked in. That would've been awkward to walk into. Or even more embarrassingly… Malcolm had to force out that thought before it continued.
Malcolm was neither blind nor deaf, so he wasn't at all ignorant of what was growing between Annabeth and Percy. In fact, the entire camp was well aware of it, except for the two in question. And he'll admit it, whenever they have one of their moments, something in him kinda gets excited. He's pretty sure at this point, everybody does. Not to the extent of Silena of course, who frantically jumps up and down and squeals at a pitch that he's pretty sure only dogs could hear.
But did they have to have this moment now, when they were alone in a cabin? And did he really have to be the one to witness it?
"This is different", Annabeth said, voice wavering like she was scared. "I don't want anything happening to y - any of you."
Percy was patting her back kind of awkwardly in an attempt to comfort her. Not exactly romantic, but it's not like it can't be.
Malcolm really only had three options here. There was option number one: bring attention to himself and break whatever's happening here, making the situation a lot more awkward and possibly invoking Annabeth's wrath. Next there's option number two: sneak out with hopefully none the wiser and wait until Percy walks out and tell Annabeth about archery practice with no indication of what he had just witnessed. A solid plan but not infallible, as he wasn't sure when Percy would leave and that would just give them more time and chances for them to do something more romantic. Plus it would cut more time into archery practice. And lastly there was option three: find a way to have the ground swallow him whole and let everybody else decide what to do. This was undoubtedly the most desirable solution for Malcolm but unfortunately also the most impractical.
He cleared his throat.
Annabeth and Percy jumped apart and turned their heads towards Malcolm. Their eyes were wide and their faces were beet red, which Malcolm was pretty sure was also the same expression that he had.
"Um, sorry", he wanted to go into this like nothing was happening, but this was already a lot more awkward than necessary. "Archery practice is starting, Annabeth. Chiron said to come find you."
Percy stepped even farther away from Annabeth.
"We were just looking at maps." Percy grimaced at his own words, completely unconvinced at his own lie.
"O...kay", Malcolm stared. He would've commented further but Annabeth has started to glare daggers at him, and besides, this situation was already awkward enough.
"Tell Chiron I'll be right there," Annabeth said. And with that, Malcolm bolted out of the cabin, knocking into a few tables and the door along the way.