Final Decisions

disclaimer: Surprise! I now own Percy Jackson.

lol jk, please don't sue me I'm broke as fuck.

a/n: sorry I'm getting super lazy in terms of editing so I only read through half of this but I promise I will later.


Annabeth walked into Percy's building the following morning with dark dread boiling in the pit of her stomach. Given the prior knowledge of her business partner she could only assume she'd spend all day being forced to perform dark and demeaning tasks.

She quietly rode up in the elevator, sipping at her dark coffee, looking forward to the end of the day. It would all be over at five o'clock. Then, at 5:30 pm, after escaping Percy's ghastly clutch she'd rush to her favorite coffee shop to watch Leo quit his job in a stunt he had described as 'a disaster of epic proportions.'

She strode past the receptionists desk, noting the absence of a small red head, and into Percy's office just as the clock ticked past 8:59 am. Annabeth mentally scolded the girl who was seconds from being late.

"Right on time," Percy remarked as she boldly opened the door and stepped inside.

"I always am," she answered simply as she hung up her blue coat. She smoothed out her skirt and faced him, sitting in one of his seats and crossing her legs primly, one over the other. Her gray eyes peered at him expectantly and he replied with a mischievous smile.

"Let's take a walk," he advised, pushing his chair back and standing up.

"But I just sat down-" Annabeth began to protest as he advanced towards the coat hook.

"Don't argue," he instructed, handing her her jacket before slipping on his own. Annabeth rolled her eyes and quickly pulled the wool over her body. "Don't bring your briefcase," he added as he sauntered out his office doors. Annabeth sniffed in disdain and, in an act of insubordination, picked up her briefcase before following him out the doors.

"Your secretary is late," Annabeth commented, her eyes lingering on the empty chair.

"She called me this morning to inform me she'd be taking a brief vacation," Percy explained shortly, a smile plastered on his face. He glanced over at her and noticed her baggage. "Not a very obedient slave, are you, Ms. Chase?"

"Well- wait!" Annabeth shouted out as he rapidly pried the case from her hands and walked it back into his office.

"You won't be needing it anyway," Percy educated as he reentered the waiting area.

"Where are we going?" Annabeth inquired, ignoring his comment as he leaned forward and pressed the elevator button.

"That's for me to know," he turned to her as the lift sounded, "and you to find out." Annabeth huffed at his dismissal and pushed past him into the elevator.

"Are we gonna get any work done today?" Annabeth questioned as the doors closed behind him and he slipped an arm around her, his hand sliding to the small of her back."Don't touch me!" She snapped at his actions though she couldn't say the warmth radiating off of him felt entirely unpleasant.

"Tsk, tsk," Percy scolded, keeping his hand in place, "today I don't want to hear the words 'don't' or 'no' come out of your mouth."

"What purpose could that task serve?" Annabeth pursed her lips as his hand barely skimmed her ass.

"It makes you more pleasant company," Percy shrugged, checking the floor indicator to see why the elevator was moving so slowly.

"You- Shit!" exclaimed Annabeth as the metal machine lurched forward, throwing her into Percy arms. She jumped back quickly, withdrawing from his grasp and unevenly stumbling away.

"What the hell was that?" Percy asked frantically, his eyes darting around their enclosure for some kind of clue.

"Hello!" Annabeth voiced cautiously, hoping someone would hear her distressed call, "help!" She leaped forward and began banging on the metal doors, imagining someone might pick up the desperate bangs.

Percy, for the first time being the more rational one, calmly pressed the emergency button and spoke, "Hello? This is Percy Jackson, my colleague and I are stuck in this elevator."

Annabeth held her breath, waiting for an answer. She let out a relieved sigh when a man's voice appeared on the other end.

"Mr. Jackson?" the voice breathed in seeming disbelief.

"That's me," Percy chuckled and arched an eyebrow cockily, though the gesture looked more strained than he'd meant it to.

"We'll call for help," the man informed and the receiving end went dead.

Percy turned to Annabeth, a sly smile. "You didn't plan this, did you?" he asked, his bright eyes narrowing suspiciously. The male security guard returned to the line before Annabeth had a chance to answer.

"Help is on its way," he told them in a breathless voice that was nowhere near reassuring.

"How long will they be?" Annabeth demanded, elbowing Percy aside to speak through the intercom.

"Probably an hour or two... maybe more"

"What?" Annabeth gasped, her eyes widening at the ghastly prospect of spending over an hour trapped in an enclosed space with Percy Jackson, the arrogant man she positively detested.

Percy slumped down the wall, sitting on the floor with his legs outstretched before him.

"What are you doing?" Annabeth questioned, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"Sitting," Percy shrugged but Annabeth's look warranted more than the one worded explanation, "he said it's going to be a while before they can get the elevator working again so why wouldn't I get settled?"

"This is ridiculous," She huffed, crossing her arms across her chest and pacing angrily in the small space.

"I thought you'd be pleased," Percy reasoned, peering curiously up at her.

"What exactly about this situation could appear pleasing?" Annabeth quipped, wishing she'd brought her briefcase so they could get some margin of work done.

"It seems we'll be spending the majority of the morning here," he gestured to the elevator, "therefore my great plans of humiliation have been temporarily thwarted."

Annabeth refused to see any validity in his statement and retorted, "you should fire your elevator… people." Her eyes desperately raked the series of dim buttons for anything that might assist her.

"Stop overreacting," Percy rolled his eyes, leaning leisurely back against the elevator wall, "countless women would be dying to be in your position."

"That's the problem isn't it," Annabeth snapped, turning around swiftly to face him, "I'm not one of your crazed admirers."

"No," Percy replied thoughtfully, "I suppose you're not… but you will be." Annabeth sighed, also falling onto the floor to sit with her legs crossed daintily over each other. "Don't you want me to elaborate?" Percy asked.

"I didn't think I had a choice," Annabeth breathed, closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the cold metal wall.

"You're right," Percy nodded in agreement and tilted his head as to join hers against the elevator's interior, "you don't. A small portion of our day was to consist of you posing in front of several magazines, billboards and buildings, all while affirming how great I am both as a lover and an architect." Percy's eyes fluttered shut as all fantasies of Annabeth horribly publically embarrassing herself seemed to fade.

Annabeth snorted loudly as she considered his suggestion. He certainly knew how to hit her where it hurt. She was suddenly grateful the elevator had malfunctioned, even if it meant she was forced to spend time with Percy. At least then he would be able to damage her pride

"Do you doubt my skills, Ms. Chase?" Percy inquired in response to the noise she had released, whether it origin was disbelief or distaste he wasn't sure.

"What you've shown me had come nowhere near skillful," Annabeth replied, letting her body relax against the hard surface behind her.

"If I have no skills how do you explain the pitch meeting?" Percy challenged, peeking an eye open only to see hers remained shut.

"I cannot attempt to explain Zeus's diluted thought process," Annabeth retorted, "but I can only assume the daft CEO was caught in your clever web of sales tactics."

"Did you call me clever, Ms. Chase?" Percy closed his eyes again but raised his eyebrows in amusement, "because I believe that in itself qualifies as a talent."

"You're right," Annabeth agreed leaving Percy momentarily stunned, "I retract my earlier statement." Annabeth eyes slanted open as she looked to her partner's face for an answer to the follow stream of consciousness. "You possess one single skill, you can sell. And despite your lack of expertise in all other sectors you have done incredibly well by relying on that one skill. You sold your idea to Zeus even though we both know my blueprint was more thorough, prepared and, simply put, better." Percy scoffed quietly but refrained from further commenting, letting her finish. "Everyday you manage to sell yourself to women as a prized specimen, the greatest man alive. How do you do it? What's so special about Percy Jackson that you've successfully conned your way through life?"

"I'm not a con man, Ms. Chase," Percy rejected, "I-"

"But you don't deny your sales tactics have been extremely fruitful?" Annabeth interrupted, truly interested in how he'd managed to so quickly reach the top of the socioeconomic sphere. Even if, as she suspected, nepotism had played a large part in his rise to power the sheer velocity by which it occurred was certainly... interesting.

"I supposed I've never thought of it that way," he pondered, eyes still closed, head tipped back.

"Oh, please," Annabeth exhaled sharply through her nose, mimicking his position, "your attitude is as much a conscious decision as putting on socks." I know first hand what that's like, she thought to herself, a grim smile sliding across her lips.

"Why are you suddenly so desperate to get to know me, Chase?" Percy mouth quirked into an amused expression, "finally noticed the Jackson appeal?"

"Dropping the Ms. now, are we?" Annabeth dismissed his question with a distant wave of her hand that he didn't see.

"I prefer to reserve the honorary title for ladies," Percy quipped, "and, from what I've seen, you're no lady."

"Tone down your ego, Jackson," Annabeth recommended, "don't be a fool. I'm not desperate to get to know you. I'm simply curious to how someone as incompetent as yourself has managed to prosper in this business."

"Incompetent? Really?" Percy repeated back, "I've had people say godly, gorgeous, irresistible even, but never incompetent. Are you quite sure you don't mean confident?" Annabeth rolled her eyes forcefully behind her closed eyelids, "opulent perhaps?"

"I'm waiting," Annabeth drawled, "What makes you so exceptional, Percy Jackson? Why do women throw themselves at you? Why do business deals seemingly fall effortlessly into your lap?"

"The answer to the first and second question is easily visible before you," Percy gestured to his handsome face. "As for your final inquiry… well," Percy chuckled, "I never thought I'd see the day Annabeth Chase begged me for business advice."

"I never beg-"

"Sh," Percy placed a finger to her lips, briefly silencing her, "if I am to reveal Percy patented secrets of the trade I think I'll need some sort of compensation."

"My slavery isn't enough?" Annabeth questioned pointedly, the gray of her irises reappearing as she peered intensely at his face.

"Your submission, though certainly pleasant, is of little use to me within this enclosed space." Percy, as if sensing her gaze, opened his own eyes to face her. "What else would you willing to exchange?"

"I've already given you my freedom," Annabeth smiled tightly, eyes flashing coldly, "what else do you suggest I part with?"

Percy thought for a moment. Millions of naughty possibilities running through his head but he knew she'd never agree to any of them so he went with a lighter request.

"A kiss," he stated simply.

"A kiss," Annabeth mocked then broke into a brief chuckle as a patronizing smile crossed her face, "could you be more cliche?"

"It's what I want," Percy shrugged nonchalantly. Their faces were a little less than a foot apart when he leaned forward a bit, hoping to tempt her, "is that so hard to believe?"

"Yes," Annabeth cruel dubious smile remained but Percy swore he saw something dark flitter across the gray of her irises, "because I seriously doubt all Percy Jackson wants is a simple innocent kiss from rival Annabeth Chase."

"What do you say, Chase?" Percy sighed, unable to keep his eyes from straying to her lips at the close proximity, "You keep rambling on and I think I've found a much better use for your lips." He placed a finger below her chin, tilting her face so the seam of her lips were perfectly aligned to his, "not to mention you'll most likely enjoy it more than I will." Annabeth scoffed quietly. Her breath washed over his lips, igniting his sensing the way a new conquest always did. "It's a win win."

"What do I say?" Annabeth repeated back to him, roughly yanking herself out of his grasp. She let out a loud arrogant laugh, "simply put, no."

"No?" Percy asked, his eyes narrowed in a lazy expression."

"No," Annabeth confirmed, "I will never kiss you, Percy Jackson. Not here, not there," she pointed to another corner of the elevator, "not anywhere."

"Who are you?" Percy laughed, crossing his arms across his chest and once again relaxing against the elevator, "Sam-I-am?"

"What?" Annabeth shot him a severe glare, "Who's that?"

"Green Eggs and Ham…" Annabeth shook her head, indicating her cluelessness. "Dr. Suess." Percy offered then chuckled when she still looked confused, "Hades, didn't your parents ever read you bedtime stories?"

"As a matter of fact they did," Annabeth snapped, "but they didn't read me silly tales about oddly colored food instead they raised me reading smart savings books," she continued to lie, wondering how realistic it needed to sound for Percy to eat it up, "and nonfiction novels surrounding the great depression."

"Mm," Percy mused, "I didn't know boringness was genetic."

"Shut up, Jackson." Annabeth snarled, "like your sleaziness wasn't passed down to you from your father."

"I never said it wasn't," Percy answered simply. Annabeth, eye still shut tightly, clenched her fist besides her, frustrated that he got the last word. No, she decided abruptly, I will not allow it!
"... Gods, you're such an ass!" Annabeth barked. Reflecting on the statement she realized it may not have been her most eloquent moment.

"And you're a conceited bitch," Percy conceded calmly, "I'm sure it's not new information."

"You're right," Annabeth grumbled, crossing her arms across her chest, "it's not." She felt a weight settle into her heart at her own words but refused to acknowledge the added pressure in her chest. She merely breathed in deeply, laxed her pursed lips and enjoyed the well earned silence, relieved to have a break, even if it was against her will.

-0000000000000000000-

Annabeth's eyelids fluttered open. She attempted to raise her hands to rub her eyes only to note one of her limbs was pinned down by a dark haired man. Annabeth, still slightly delirious from sleep, raked her surroundings, trying to identify her location despite her fuzzy vision. She crushed her eyelids shut then opened them again, her slightly improved eyesight allowing her to remember where she was and why she was there.

Annabeth sighed and rest her head back against the metal wall, reminiscing on the perfectly dreamless nap. She, being Annabeth Chase and all, knew fully well she hadn't actually not dreamed, she simply was unable to recall the reviere.

Annabeth was second from discovering the contents of her dream when something wet lapped at her shoulder. Confused, she turned to see the source was no other than Percy Jackson. He'd fallen asleep on her shoulder as was consequently drooling all over her.

"Ahh," Annabeth was jerked back into reality and roughly shoved him away, more because it was him rather than the drool. Percy jolted forward, his eyes shooting open as his slumber was interrupted.

"What happened?" he inquired groggily, subconsciously wiping at the damp corner of his mouth.

"You drool in your sleep," Annabeth answered, a frown etched into her features as she rubbed the slobber off the shoulder of her coat and onto the elevator wall.

"Oh," Percy nodded, obviously still sleep dazed, "cool." As Percy slowly regained full consciousness Annabeth continued attempting to clean her coat, 'attempting' being the key work. She huffed in frustration at the wetness that seemed to permeate the wool clothing no matter how hard she tried to brush it off. She huffed and threw the jacket off, folding it neatly so the drool covered shoulder was not exposed to her skin.

"Mr. Jackson?" A voice appeared over the intercom. Annabeth's eyes widened as did Percy and they both leapt towards the buttons.

"Yes," Percy answered, his voice still slightly husky from sleep.

"It will only be a few minutes now," the man informed, "the fire department is working on with the mechanics as we speak."

"Great," Percy intoned, "in the future the mechanics of the building should be trained to handle this type of situation without the assistance of a dozen firefighters."

"Y-yes sir," the man finished. Percy and Annabeth, both now standing upright, sighed, stepping to opposite sides of the lift.

"It's almost noon," Annabeth informed, checking her phone. She still had no service. Damn elevators and their surrounding thick metal structure.

"At least your day of servitude won't be completely wasted," Percy remarked, glancing at his watch to confirm the hour. She rolled her eyes, did he seriously think she'd lie to him about something he could so easily disprove.

Annabeth didn't respond, instead, she stared up at their distorted reflection in the ceiling. She looked strangely pale, maybe a little sickly, and Annabeth was forced to wonder whether it was truly the surface's effect or the way she actually looked.

"Have you reconsidered my offer?" Percy questioned smoothly, his voice a soft blow to her heart as she blinked slowly and slanted her eyes to look at him.

"Excuse me?" she clarified in a quiet tone, attempting to match note.

"Have you reconsider my offer?" Percy restated the question. Had it been anybody but Annabeth they would have continued to misunderstand.

"I've informed you of my position," Annabeth answered diplomatically as her eyes darted to the elevator doors, willing them to open, "and my decision is fin-"

The floor gave out beneath Annabeth as the elevator dropped what seemed like several floors. She let out a squeal of terror and dropped the coat she was holding to her chest as she was thrown onto the floor. Annabeth tried to regain her balance and gasped when a body landed on top of hers.

The elevator swiftly came to a stop, allowing Annabeth to catch her breath. She heard a loud groan escape Percy's lips which had conveniently landed directly above hers. Annabeth felt a wave of heat repeatedly wash over her body and adrenaline rush through her. She accounted it to the fall and closed her eyes, attempting to steady her heartbeat.

"Are you hurt?" Percy questioned, lifting so his elbows were balanced on either side of her body.

"No," Annabeth breathed, suddenly aware of every spot where his body touched hers.

"Let me help you up," Percy swallowed tightly and stood up, reaching out a hand to pull her up with him.

"Thank you," Annabeth acknowledged, accepting his assistance. She steadied herself on her, still slightly unstable, legs.

"What were you saying?" Percy asked, a hand helpfully gripping her waist to keep her upright.

"Oh," Annabeth recalled breathily, "that my decision was fin-." Once again the elevator jolted back to life only to subsequently die. Even with the brevity of the movement it, nevertheless, shoved the pair across the enclosed space.

Annabeth felt Percy's breath, hot against her skin, and opened her eyes to find they'd been pushed against the elevator doors. His hands were splayed on either side of her head and he was leaning into her. She knew she should feel disgusted, violated even but despite her better judge hemt she felt strangely… safe.

"It sounds like the universe doesn't like your decision," Percy teased, humor laced through his strained voice.

"I don't think it's the universe," Annabeth remarked, "it's your mechanic."

"Hugo?" Percy chuckled lightly and the sound was surprisingly pleasant to Annabeth's ears, "maybe I should fire him, after all." His words tickled her lips as he spoke.

"Maybe you should," Annabeth agreed, trying not to get lost in blue green of his eyes. Up close she could not deny his handsome features. His sharp cheekbones and chiseled jawline were certainly appealing. His lips were full and his eyes, veiled by a thick layer of dark lashes, were near perfection.

"Either way," Percy husked and Annabeth gasped silently as he dipped his head, his mouth ghosting past the column of her neck and along her collarbone, "your decision doesn't appear so final anymore, does it?" He questioned, nipping lightly at the smooth curve of her neck for emphasis.

"I suppose not," Annabeth eyes fluttered shut as she involuntarily tilted her head to the side to give him better access.

Percy growled at her admission and just as he roared to life...

so did the elevator.


a/n: okay so I know a lot of you were expecting a lemon but 1. their day is not over and 2. I've already written the scene of their first lemon and its like 10 pages (there's story in there too, I didn't write ten straight pages of smut) and it's too much work to change it at this point.

spoiler: Percy fires his mechanic