PERCY (I) – I Have Dinner With Her Dad

You know how guys who are in relationships say meeting their girlfriend's parents is one of the scariest things they will do in their life?

Despite my average demigod life and the fact that I have lived through two wars, I can vouch for that.

I mean, Athena already scares the pants off me, and every time I see her I get hit with her fiercest glare, as if she wanted to personally pry me away from her daughter if I didn't do it myself. But I think she kinda gave up on me leaving Annabeth after all we've been through.

I hope.

But Annabeth's mortal dad is a different story. He does scare me, but not in the same way Athena does. When I first met him, back when I tried to save Annabeth when she was captured by Atlas (that huge jerk), Professor Chase had been really nice to me. He didn't have anything against me, but now that I have become his only daughter's boyfriend, well, it's understandable if he starts to be stricter towards me.

And this went through my head calmly even as he glared at me across the table when I took Annabeth's hand. I flushed and immediately let go. So much for calm.

Annabeth turned to me and frowned slightly, her eyebrows knitted together. She reached over and took my hand. 'What's wrong?'

I put her hand on my thigh, then turned to face her and blushed again. Man, she looked really beautiful tonight. Her blond curly hair was up in a bun, with some locks falling near her neck. She wore a checker white top and a black skirt, simple yet classy, as anything she wears. Around her neck was this silver necklace with a little blue gem. I didn't know what it was called, but I found it when I was down at my father's palace at the bottom of the sea, and I had one of the Hephaestus kids make it into a necklace, which I gave her on Valentine's Day. Sweet, huh? I think I'm getting better at this boyfriend thing, after 3 years of dating.

Unfortunately this 'good boyfriend' behaviour also meant that I had to agree when she suggested having dinner with her family before we went back to Camp Half-Blood. Which was fine by me, I mean, what better way to start our summer break than a dinner with my girlfriend's family?

Any other way, the back of my brain responded. Shut up, I replied.

So here we were, in fancy restaurant somewhere in San Francisco, I was having dinner with my girlfriend and her family. Minus her brothers, because apparently they had school activity and her stepmom didn't want them to cause trouble in an expensive place like this.

I mouthed 'nervous' to Annabeth, and she responded by giggling, before clamping her other hand over her mouth. Oh yeah, did I mention she thinks it's funny that I'm afraid of her dad?

But I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped me. I really couldn't help it. Her smile was so beautiful and her laughter was contagious and her happiness was infectious and-

'Achem!' Professor Chase coughed loudly and we both stopped what we were doing. I sat up straighter in my seat.

'So Annabeth dear, how was your first semester at New Rome? And what about you, Percy?' Annabeth's stepmom, Helen, asked from across the table, where she sat in front of Annabeth. I felt bad, but I didn't exactly pay attention to her presence, especially not when Professor Chase was sitting right across me. But for the first time since dinner started I realised how awkward the silence was after we had placed our orders.

But thank the gods she was there. Annabeth's eyes lit up and she started talking about how cool her courses have been, with so many opportunities she could take up and how many new ideas she has since gotten from studying different forms of architecture.

I smiled and listened to her talk. Okay, I was listening, but I wasn't comprehending. The only thing I knew was that I loved it when she talks about what she loved. She would have so much enthusiasm and excitement and she could talk for hours and I wouldn't get bored.

Somehow I noticed Professor Chase forgot about my existence, because he and Helen payed full attention to Annabeth, letting me off the hook and for the first time this evening, I breathed a sigh I didn't know I was holding.

Our food finally came and I was grateful for the distraction, and for my stomach's relief. The last time I ate was hours ago and I didn't know how long more I could hold out. Annabeth always laughs at me for being a pig, but I'm a growing boy, and she knows it, so she just cooks me more food.

'Percy,' Professor Chase asked just as I swallowed the first bite of my steak. 'Annabeth says you work for your father right now?'

'Um yes sir. I, uh, serve as an advisor to my father. I help him run errands, some of them like checking up on old sea monsters and other tasks resemble that of oceanographers, like exploring coral reefs and such.' I took a sip of my cider when I was done. The description I gave of my 'job' was pretty boiled down. What he didn't know was that I would probably work for my dad as a real job once I graduated. It wasn't bad really, considering the income my dad promised (being an immortal meant that he didn't really understand the concept of mortal money). I knew how much Annabeth worried about finances. But even now, working 'part-time' for my dad already got us enough dough for what we needed and wanted.

Annabeth watched as her dad nodded absentmindedly. She looked slightly worried, and I knew what she was thinking. There was a lot more that we haven't told him yet, some of which he might not be that agreeable with.

Ω

We were eating when a flash of movement outside the window of the restaurant caught my eye.

Monster.

We weren't on the ground floor, which meant this guy flew. Hurray for me.

I'd better go check it out. I stood up from my seat and tried to bow politely. 'Excuse me, I'm going to the washroom.' Annabeth looked at me worriedly, as if she knew I was lying. She probably did. But I smiled and kissed her hand, muttering 'I'll be right back' as I left my seat.

Once I thought I was out of their sight, I dashed down the stairs, almost colliding with a waitress. She giggled and winked at me as I apologized and ran off. What the Hades was that about?

I stepped out into the night and breathed in the cold San Francisco air. I dashed off to the alleyway on the right, where I thought I saw the movement. Quietly, I took out Riptide and removed the cap. Shink! Riptide grew into a well-balanced sword in my hand. I took comfort in it.

'Where are you?' I said under my breath.

I raised my head when I heard a screech above me. The screeching got closer and closer, until the monsters landed on the ground in front of me. There were three of them.

Up close, they looked horrible and disgusting. They looked like little green snakes, but they had an expandable collar of white spikes around their necks. Was that how they flew? I wasn't sure, but somehow I had the feeling I've fought these before, and they looked grossly familiar.

They took off into the air and circled me, as if deciding who would get the honour of attacking me first. The first one took a dive and headed straight towards me. I raised Riptide and got ready to slice it.

Then it spewed fire in my face.

I barely had time to curse before ducking out of the way and rolling on the floor. When I got up the front of my shirt was seared and smoking.

'Dammit!' I muttered. 'This was one of my best shirts!' I yelled at them, but I didn't think they'd care. Now I knew why they looked familiar, I have fought them before. They were basilisks, those things that grew out of Polybotes' hair. Just his name made me shudder, but I shook it off and lunged at the one flying the lowest. It squawked in my face before I slashed it with Riptide, my bronze blade being the last thing it would see. The other two screeched and flew to come get me. I figured since I killed their buddy, they would become twice as mad.

And I was right! Now they're spitting out their fire at a rapid speed.

'Percy?' Annabeth's worried voice came from behind the building. No way, I had to get them away from her.

'Get back in the restaurant!' I yelled as I slashed the air in front of me, trying to keep the basilisks' attention to me. I heard her gasp behind me, but to my surprise, she listened to me and ran back where she came from, hopefully, back to the restaurant.

I breathed a sigh of relief and dodged another blast of fire. They were really keeping up the attacks now. I kept dodging, rolling, but I just couldn't get a clean shot at either of them.

Suddenly, one of them stopped attacking and shifted its focus to something, or someone behind me.

It flew straight towards Annabeth and spat its fire at her. Thank the gods, she dodged it cleanly and got off harmless. I thought I told her to stay inside!

Then I noticed the sides of the building beside us were attached with water pipes. In the back of my head, I berated myself for not noticing them earlier. I yelled defiantly, and the pipes burst, all the water converging to blast both basilisks out of flight. I quickly slashed one of them down while it was still surprised by the water and it disintegrated with a sizzling sound.

I turned around to see Annabeth closing in on the grounded basilisk with her dagger. I didn't like that, she would have to be in close range to attack it.

Out of nowhere, Professor Chase called out to her. 'Annabeth! What is going on?' Annabeth turned towards her dad, incredulous at his obliviousness at the situation. I hate to say it, but Professor Chase has got really bad timing, because the basilisk shook off its shock and started flying, diving straight towards Annabeth, whose attention wasn't focused on it anymore.

I couldn't stand by and watch, so I lunged at Annabeth to push her out of the way.

Ω

When I brushed past as it flew by us, I felt a searing pain on my back as its tail hit me, knocking the wind out of me. We hit the ground, but the only thing I felt was the immense pain crippling me, and I couldn't get up. I felt my breathing become laboured, my ears started ringing and my vision went blurry. I could hear Annabeth screaming. The remaining basilisk was screeching and it got louder, but I heard the shink sound, which hopefully meant that she got it killed.

Annabeth started crying as she climbed out from under me and got her bag. She quickly pulled out a water bottle and flipped me over carefully. I was half aware of what was going on, because the only thing I could focus on was her crying. I couldn't really breathe, neither could I really see.

I felt the cold water touching my bare back, which didn't make sense because I was still wearing my shirt wasn't I?

'It looks bad. There's some ambrosia in the car, we'll go get it sweetie.' I heard someone talk, but Annabeth didn't respond.

I vaguely saw two figures running off.

'Percy, Percy, Percy.' She mumbled with a shaky voice. I wanted to tell her I was okay, but I couldn't open my mouth and my voice wouldn't work. I was feeling better though. The water was washing off the pain and it became less intense and more bearable, till I could breathe and see normally again.

'Percy?' Annabeth looked down at me with a worried look as the tears collected in her eyes. I was aware now: she was cradling my head in her lap while I laid on the floor. My bare back was cold from lying on the cement floor, but this position prevented my wound from touching the floor. She poured some more water down my back and I breathed a sigh. I smiled at her, but it probably looked more like a grimace.

'The touch of a basilisk is poisonous. Why did you have to go be such a Seaweed Brain to save me?' She cried softly. I took her hand and kissed it again. I didn't know what to say to her. That I couldn't let anything hurt her? No, I've told her that before and that made her both mad and upset. 'So you think it is okay for you to get hurt?' She had yelled at me in response.

'You know how much I hate it when you do this. I've watched you almost die too many times, and so many of those times it's because of me.' She whispered.

I tried to get up. Despite the burning feeling at my back and her protests, I managed to sit up. I took her head in my hands and kissed her lightly. 'You're okay and that's all that matters.' Her eyes were still bright with tears, and she frowned slightly again. Did I mention she looked really cute when she did that? 'And I'm okay too, so everything's alright,' I quickly added. I pulled her closer and kissed her again, deeply this time, enough to draw a sigh from her and for her to relax into my arms.

We only pulled back when we heard urgent footsteps coming towards us. Professor Chase and Helen came up in front of us. Helen was holding a clear Ziploc of lemon squares. Ambrosia? I guessed so.

Annabeth gratefully took the bag from her stepmom and carefully fed me a piece. Now that the pain had somewhat subsided, I realised I felt really drained and tired. She put the piece in my mouth and touched the side of my face while I chewed on it slowly. It tasted like that birthday cake she baked me so many years ago. The memory filled me with warmth and I must have smiled lightly because Annabeth mirrored me. 'What?'

I just shook my head. Gripping the sides of the building, I clamoured to stand up. Annabeth instinctively reached out to hold me steady. However my body dealt with that poison must have taken a lot of my strength.

'Oh dear,' Helen said. 'Do you want to come back to our place to rest?'

'No, that's alright, Mom,' Annabeth replied quietly. 'I'll bring him back home and see if we can drop by to get some medicine from the healer's'. She looked at her father and he nodded slightly.

'Um, Mr and Mrs Chase,' I spoke up with a surprisingly shaky voice. 'I'm sorry for what happened tonight, and that it ruined our evening.'

Professor Chase looked at me curiously. 'That's not your fault, Percy. And we would love to have dinner with you another time.' He said each word carefully, like he was pondering over what else to say to me. He hesitated, then turned to Annabeth. 'I'll go ahead and settle the bill. You two should get back as soon as possible. Drive safely, and Annabeth, I'll call you another time.'

'Okay, Dad. Bye, Mom' Annabeth said quietly. I watched as Helen and Professor Chase walked back to the restaurant together. Annabeth had both arms around my torso and she nudged me in the direction of the car. I followed her. My injury didn't hurt that badly, I thought, except for when I moved. Okay, it really hurt. That upper part of my bare back, I could guess, was probably some odd colour with some scratch marks on it. Gross.

As we got to the car (my car, really), Annabeth steered me towards shotgun, but usually I'm the one driving. As if she could read my mind, she replied 'There's no way you're driving in that condition.' She quickly got some bandages from the boot of the car, which she had filled with emergency supplies. Don't ask me what else was in there. She wrapped the upper part of my chest with bandages to cover my injury, literally stripping my upper half in the process. That was when I saw the back half of my shirt had disintegrated from the poison.