He lightly pushed her against the kitchen counter. "Percy, oh my gods-

He kissed down her jawline, and he left heat with each time his lips touched her skin. "Yes, darling?" Percy asked innocently, letting his teeth scrape against a spot at the base of her neck. She gasped and shivered involuntarily. "Are you alright, love?"

"Percy, we've only been here for two goddamn minutes," she barely got out between kisses. His hands lightly skimmed her thighs, pushing up the hem of her dress. She made a noise that she'd never heard from her mouth (seriously, he didn't know half of what he did to her) and it made him press closer. Guess I shouldn't complain, she thought.

"All the reason to get started then," Percy said, smirking against her mouth. She rolled her eyes.

"Fuck you."

"Ah, I'm sure you will."

She snorted, a noise which soon disappeared into her throat as he took her by the hips and lifted her onto the counter, kneeling down, then tracing the lines around her underwear (Sundresses give unfair access, she thought. Maybe some nice long jeans next time?). Percy was lightly mouthing at a point on the inside of her thigh as she half-whispered, "Gods, Percy, such a tease-"

There was a slam behind them. "Oh, shit," Percy muttered against the fabric of her dress, then quickly got to his feet, hurriedly flattening his hair and pulling her skirt down.

A small woman walked into the kitchen, hips swinging, clad in paint-splattered shorts and a green tank top. Her arms were full of grocery sacks, and her curly, bright red hair spilled out of a makeshift bun onto freckled ivory skin. She set the bags down on the counter opposite the guilty-looking couple, then swung around to face them, hands on hips.

"Perseus Jackson, you told me you'd introduce me when you weren't having sex in our apartment," she told him sternly. Annabeth gathered quickly that Percy didn't rule the roost around here.

Percy's face turned the shade of the girl's hair. He sighed, shifting awkwardly, crossing and uncrossing his legs, muttering, "Every time… Rachel, this is Annabeth. Annabeth, this is Rachel."

Rachel grinned at Annabeth, coming over and holding out her hand. "Nice to meet you." Annabeth shook it, still sitting on the counter and returning the smile timidly. Percy, still looking mortified, excused himself, almost running out of the kitchen to the bathroom. "No need to wonder what he's doing in there," Rachel muttered, snorting. Annabeth's eyes widened. …Oh.

"But anyways, yeah, I'm Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Percy's roommate. We met in, like ninth grade and even though I push him around a bit, he still likes me. I think," she grinned, and Annabeth smiled, comfortable once more.

"Ahh. He's mentioned you a few times," Annabeth said. Percy'd referred to Rachel a few times, though Annabeth hadn't pushed the envelope (they apparently didn't always get along well). "You guys have a really nice place."

And it was. Annabeth had quickly noticed the high ceilings, large bedrooms, and a huge wall of windows in the living room, showcasing the beautiful skyline. A roomy loft was a great find in New York, and Annabeth knew Percy was a college student- not exactly rich. "Thanks!" Rachel said, putting away groceries. "My dad practically owns half the city, so I mooch off him a lot, but Percy contributes with food and bills and stuff. But it's in a convenient spot and I love the view. Percy also lets me decorate too, and most of the art is my own crap."

"Practically owns half the city?" Annabeth asked, interested. Rachel didn't look wealthy- the pink paint on her cutoffs weren't really a mark of fortune.

Rachel laughed. "Oh, yeah, my dad's the owner of Dare Enterprises, if you've heard of it. He's the idiot destroying the forests and nature - but he's got a shitload of money, so it's not like he cares."

Ah. Instant recognition. Annabeth had seen the logo everywhere- cars, billboards, even a goddamn helicopter. "Wealthy" didn't even seem to cover it. She was surprised she hadn't caught that Rachel's last name was connected to the famous businessman. "So… wow. That's pretty crazy."

Rachel nodded, putting eggs in the refrigerator. "Yeah. At least I can be a starving artist without the actually starving part. And Percy's great to live with, he doesn't complain when I bring Nico around and he's pretty easygoing. He's actually never brought a girl here before. He must be infatuated with you, I'm as tough on him as his mother."

Annabeth blushed, smiling at the floor.

"Seriously! It's, what, the fifth date in three weeks and you guys get coffee together all the time. He's, like, never been this crazy about a girl… But you two totally have a future together, I can totally see it. I'm like the fucking Oracle- you can ask Percy," Rachel said, grinning, placing a bag of apples in a fruit bowl.

"Oh gods, not the psychic thing again," Percy said, walking into the kitchen again, looking marginally less embarrassed. Turning to Annabeth, he said, "Rachel has these ridiculous 'notions'"-he air quoted-"and she tries to pretend it's all real. I'm pretty sure it's all bullshit." He pointedly rolled his eyes at Rachel.

"You'd better watch yourself, Percy Jackson," Rachel said, pointing at him as he walked over to Annabeth and hopped up on the counter next to her. "At least I don't send your math grades to your mother."

"And thank the gods you don't, Rachel. She would murder me."

Percy wrapped his arm around Annabeth and she rested her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead. He was so comfy. And muscular, at the same time. He even smelled good, like soap and sea salt and a little of sweat. He smelled like Percy. She couldn't stop sniffing him. Was that weird? Annabeth sighed. Oh well.

"Okay, okay, I get it, lovebirds. I'm interrupting on your absolutely valuable alone time," Rachel said, rolling her eyes at them and grabbing her keys. "I have a movie to see with Nico anyways- that new Superman thing, I think. He's a nut about that crap. I'll be back around ten thirty, okay?"

She swung a hipster around her shoulder and repinned a piece of hair into her messy bun, walking out of the kitchen. "See you idiots later! Be safe! Use protection!"

Percy shouted, another blush in his cheeks, "Leave, Rachel!" while Annabeth called, giggling, "Nice to meet you!"

Almost immediately after the door slammed shut and the lock clicked, Percy turned to Annabeth and pressed his lips to hers. She closed her eyes while her hands crept up to tangle in his hair.

Breaking the kiss, he whispered against her lips, saying, "Finish what we started?"

Annabeth laughed as his hands slowly pushed up her dress. "You're ridiculous, Percy Jackson. Absolutely absurd. Completely crazed. Definitely daft… mmm…" she trailed off as his hand traced her through her underwear.

"Ridiculous now?" Percy grinned against the base of her throat, and she laughed, gasping a little as he deftly unzipped her sundress and threw it on the floor of the kitchen.

"Idiot."

"I'm a cute idiot, thank you."

"I hate you."

"Mmhmm."


sorry for the lapse in updates- summer's been busier than i thought it'd be. at least i've been reading more- i'm starting "the lover's dictionary" by david levithan (and i'd absolutely love to write a percabeth version. i suppose we'll have to wait and see what inspires me!)
thank you dearly for reading! i might do slight montages of their relationship from now on- small scenes of dates and maybe even past that.
i ADORE comments and favorites and please, tell me what you like and what you want more of! rachel or thalia or percabeth (i could even do a nico intro, eep). but your feedback is love!
thanks again!