It was probably a week after the incident that he found it. He had been digging through his hamper, trying to find a passingly clean pair of jeans to wear to work (he forgot to do the laundry over the weekend, big surprise) and found it in the back pocket when he was rummaging for a pen.
It was a crisp, standard business card he didn't remember putting in his pocket. It was plain white with stark black text on it reading Olympus Records. Above it was a little cartoon of a record. They were a punk rock indie label that produced some crazy awesome music over the past five or so years they'd been in the business. Talk had it that they were opening up a new headquarters in like, Chicago or something.
So how did one of their business cards (with a phone number scribbled on the back with blue pen) end up in the pocket of some snot-nosed punk working in a music store?
Percy shoved it back in his pocket, but the thought of it lingered on the edge of his mind all day. By his lunch break he had already taken it out and put it back in four times. One of the edges was starting to fold.
Having forgotten his lunch that morning, he walked the couple streets to Rachel's tattoo parlor. He missed the feisty redhead.
She was sitting on the counter texting with her legs crossed when he arrived. She grinned when she saw him, and Percy felt himself automatically reciprocating.
"Well hello there Perce, what are you doing in my neck of the woods?"
"Woods?" Percy asked glancing out the window at the people streaming past on the way to their lunches, the buildings surrounding each side of the street.
"Figure of speech," she said loftily. "Anyhow, are we going out to lunch or what?"
Percy just shook his head and chuckled, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall as she got her stuff together. "That's probably not very professional, either," he pointed out as she scribbled BRB 3 on a postit note and stuck it to the computer moniter before jumping off.
"The hell you care about 'professional'?"
Percy shrugged. Girl had a point.
They ended up at a greasy (and he wasn't talking about just the food – he didn't think they actually cleaned anything at this place since 1948) pizza joint where Rachel watched as he scarfed down two slices at once and pretended she was still astonished at his eating habits.
Rachel spurned her heiress upbringing but it didn't mean she wasn't a total debutante when she was eating. It took Grover and Percy five years to get Rachel to even come to the particular pizza joint ("diseases, boys, diseases") and another three to get her to eat a slice. Say what you want, but they made it cheap and delicious. A college kid's dream – if any of them actually ever went to college.
"So how are you and the lovely Annabeth?" Rachel asked after swallowing her first bite and Percy was polishing off his third (slice that is).
He hesitated.
"Uh oh," she said ominously, raising her eyebrows. "Trouble in the genetic jackpot?"
"I think the phrase is 'paradise', Rach."
"Yeah, okay, but your green eyes and her curly hair? Your children will be beautiful. Anyway, you're dodging the question. Is something wrong?"
He wiped his mouth before answering.
"I kind of messed up," he sighed, slumping back in the vinyl seats. "You remember the party? At Beckendorf and Silena's?"
She nodded. "Yes, I hooked up with a guy wearing an Easter Bunny costume."
Percy paused, giving her a look before shaking his head and ignoring that tidbit. "Yeah, okay," he said. "Anyway, I kind of passed out and -"
"Oh, yeah! You met with that records guy."
His brow furrowed. "Records guy?"
"Yeah, don't you remember? Beckendorf really wanted you to meet this guy. He worked at some cool record label or something. He was totally hitting on you, by the way. What did you guys talk about?"
"I – what?"
Rachel winced, putting down her pizza and patting his arm sympathetically. "Oh hon," she murmured pityingly. "You really don't remember anything, do you? What was that you said about passing out? And you still haven't told me about Annabeth."
"I'll get to that mess in a second," Percy said with a cringe. "Tell me what was happening with the records guy."
"Well honestly, I've just about told you everything I remember. Hold on – I think I remember him mentioning the name of the label. Something Greek… or maybe that was the guy I took home." She tilted her head. "Hmmm. Oh, I know. Olly Records? Olympics Records?"
"Olympus?"
She snapped and pointed her finger at him. "Yes! That's totally it. And the guy was totally Lebanese."
"Lesbian?"
"Oh, Perce."
-x-
After Rachel repeated herself several times and at one point pulled out her phone and Google mapped Lebanon, they finally got to the part about Annabeth. Percy half-mumbled what he remembered and what Annabeth had to tell him, ducking his head and speaking essentially into his mug of beer the entire time.
"Percy," Rachel said softly. "That was… really douche-y of you."
He cringed, burying his face in his arms and moaning softly. "I have no idea how to do this dinner-art thing tomorrow night, Rach."
"Hey," she said, squeezing his hand. "Don't worry, I'll help you. I actually have something you can use. In the mean time, are you going to call this record guy or what?"
-x-
At the urging of both Grover and Rachel he finally called the number scrawled on the back of the card. It rang four times before anyone picked up, and a warm woman's voice filled the line.
"Mr. Helio's office. Who is speaking?"
"Uh, my name's Percy Jackson, I think we met at -"
"Please hold Mr. Jackson."
"Uh, okay," he said to a busy signal of one of their latest alt-indie records.
It was around a minute before the line crackled to life again.
"Percy, my man! I was wondering when you'd finally call."
"Uh yeah, bro. I was just suffering from some… memory loss I guess." Percy ruffled his fingers through his hair. "So Beckendorf introduced us, right? I feel kind of shit – er, I mean bad about taking so long to get back to you and totally forgetting what we even talked about so I guess… do you want to get a drink later or something?"
The guy made a noise of regret. "Ah, sadly not, although we totally could afterwards."
"Afterwards?"
"Yeah, after the job interview," he said slowly, as if wondering if Percy had lost more than just his memory at the party. "I mean you're a shoo-in anyway, but the interview's kind of mandatory and we have to do it at the city headquarters. We're not really supposed to meet the candidates for the job in casual settings before they're hired but I guess I kind of ruined that one already," the guy laughed heartily and Percy managed a confused chuckle. What even was happening? "Anyways, how does Friday at six sound?"
"Friday at six," he repeated, a sudden bubble of excitement forming in his chest. A job interview! With Olympus Records! "Yes, that sounds perfect! Awesome, awesome. Yeah, I guess I'll see you on Tuesday. Yeah – bye."
As soon as he hung up the phone he was jumping in the air, laughing in shock.
He owed Beckendorf big time.
In the mean time – he had a date to get to.
-x-
"What do you want – oh, my God Percy, is that you?" Thalia nearly doubled up in laughter as Percy sighed and gave his best bitch-face.
"Thalia, who's – oh, my God." Annabeth's hands flew up to cover her mouth as her eyes sparkled with mirth. "Oh, Percy, babe."
Rachel had lent him a suit (which was really a testament to how much he liked Annabeth and how much Rachel liked to torture him under the guise of helping him). It fitted him pretty well actually, and according to her it belonged to an ex who had a similar build. It was a little tight around the shoulders but hey, even he had thought he kind of looked good. A soul-sucking corporate conformist maybe, but at least a hot one.
Thalia obviously wasn't immune to the irony.
Hell, he was wearing oxfords. Oxfords.
He had drawn the line at a tie though (he only owned one and it had cartoon fish on it) and even Rachel couldn't do anything about his undercut aside from a toupee so.
He tugged the sleeves over the inky black swirls of his tattoos on his wrists and shuffled his feet. "Maybe I'm a little overdressed -"
"A little -" Thalia choked on her laughter and Annabeth silenced her with a look.
"You look," she shook her head, blonde curls bouncing as she grinned. "Wow. You look great, sweetheart."
Percy attempted to smother his grin at the compliment, scowling at the pavement as he tried his best to scuff the shiny shoes. Annabeth laughed and bounced out the apartment and down the steps to peck him a kiss. She looked even better than he did on his best day, of course, in a little black dress that uh, kind of made him crazy in the downstairs department.
"You are gorgeous, as always," he smiled down at her, pulling her in for another kiss. She surprised him by pulling him in by the lapels of his jacket, his lips immediately parting for her tongue. His hands may have done a little roaming.
After a moment, Percy groaned and pulled away, keeping his hands on her hips. "You know we could skip the whole dinner thing and go straight to - "
"I don't think so," she laughed, spinning out of his arms and leading him by his hand down the sidewalk. "You know, I'm really interested in the artist's metaphorism -"
Okay, Percy groaned again, but couldn't fight off his grin. Oh, she was totally going to forgive him after this night.
-x-
"Oh. It's - it's closed." Annabeth said as they approached the empty and dark gallery, her face falling.
Percy really, really couldn't stop grinning.
"Oh, would you pretend to be upset?" she scowled at him, whapping him in the abs with her clutch.
"Nope," he grinned. "Because they're not closed."
Annabeth eyed him cautiously. "What do you mean? All the lights are off and it's totally empty. Look, that couple was trying to get in, too." The couple was walking discouragedly away from the geometrically shaped building. Percy had the feeling even if the gallery was really closed she would still sit here and study the architecture.
"Well, you see the thing is," he started off, entwining his fingers with hers and leaning over to whisper conspiratorially into her ear. "That girl isn't dating me."
He stood back again and grinned smugly.
"O-kay, Percy Jackson," Annabeth said, still looking cautious, but grinning now. "What do you have planned?"
Percy was already walking towards the building, pulling her behind him. She laughed incredulously. "Oh, Percy love, what're you up to?"
He turned to grin at her as they reached the façade of the building. "The other couple already tried the doors, babe," she pointed out.
"We're not going through the front door," he said simply, slipping into the little side alley of the building and leaving Annabeth no choice but to follow. He stopped in front of a heavy metal door with red paint clearly stating NO ENTRY.
"Percy – we're not breaking in, are we?"
He feigned hurt and held up a little silver key that glinted off the street lights. "Now who do you think I am?"
She just gaped and laughed. "Where did you get that?"
He struggled with it for a second in the dim lighting before getting it open. The door opened with a great shudder and scraping noise. Annabeth looked around nervously, clutching onto her purse, and Percy just had to laugh.
"Annabeth, relax. This is totally legal," he promised.
She reluctantly bit her lip and followed him in. She stepped in and furrowed her brow in confusion. It was a large empty room with a singular bright light shining down in the middle. "Percy? Perce – where are you?"
Percy, who had been groping along the wall for the light switch, finally found it and the whole room lit up. Little fairy lights had been strung up all over the walls, casting a sweet, dreamy glow and illuminating the paintings on the walls. Music started from somewhere, a soft little French melody, and revealing the plush blanket and picnic basket (complete with Annabeth's favorite soup and sandwiches, unlit candles, and champagne).
"I know the paintings are great and everything, but I don't suppose you would mind dancing with me first?" Percy asked, approaching from behind her. She spun around, eyes glowing as he bowed slightly, his hand outstretched.
She took it with trembling fingers, sliding her arms across his shoulders as he wrapped his arms around her waist. She buried her face in his neck, shoulders shaking with incredulous laughter. "You did this Percy? How did you – I don't even -" She looked up at him again, her lips parted as her eyes widened.
"I did. Just for you."
"How though? And this is totally legal, right? Totally?"
"Completely," he assured her with a lopsided grin. "Rachel knows the artist and the gallery owner. It was just a matter of saying please. Also maybe some blackmail involving a Jamaican priest and a garter – don't ask, I have no idea."
She kissed him, passionate and gentle all at once. It was an apology – it was amnesty.
"I don't suppose you also persuaded them to turn off the security cameras?" she asked with a wink.
He blushed slightly, thankful for the dim lighting. "Why Miss Chase, are you suggesting something?" he asked, pressing her body against his. She wriggled delightedly, pecking a kiss at his jawline, and he really hoped she was.
"Depends on the answer to my question."
"Well, what if I told you I remembered to ask them to turn them off?"
She smirked. "Well in that case…" she took a step away from him and hooked two fingers in the waistline of his pants, leading him to the blanket and toeing off her heels on the way.
Oh God, he really, really liked this girl.
She lowered herself onto the blanket first, and he quickly followed suit, taking off his suit jacket on the way.
Her fingers easily undid the button of his shirt and the straps of her dress were already off her shoulders as he kissed a line from her jawline, down her neck and chest, sliding her dress off along the way. She lifted her body to help, tugging off the dress and throwing it on top of the basket.
His breath caught in his throat as he glanced down at her. Her hair, previously done up in a curly ponytail, fanned out in a golden halo around her sweet face and hard silver eyes. Smirking up at him, she undid her (lacy, black, extraordinarily hot) bra with one easy motion (he would never truly understand) and tossed it to the side as well and yeah, he was really glad he remembered the cameras. Before he could do much more than stare (and maybe drool a little, because wow), she was working on his belt.
"Is this okay?"
"Just take your belt off for me, and it'll be peachy."
In a matter of minutes they were naked, and Percy was feeling the sweet drag of her body against his, the salty taste of sweat on his tongue as it flicked against the spot on her neck that drove her crazy. She moaned as he moved, pressed desperate kisses in his hair. He could feel the pleasure building, little waves of ecstacy cresting over him as he pressed his body against hers. Faster, faster, faster… oh, God.
Galaxies painted themselves around her face as his vision flickered in and out, her pink lips forming a perfect o as her eyes squeezed shut and she tightened around him, dragged her nails against the skin of his back. She screamed his name into the empty building and he felt part of himself screaming too.
"Annabeth," he groaned in a broken whisper, still inside of her. She just whimpered in response, fingers forming fists in his hair as the aftershocks shook her. "Annabeth, I love you."
She froze underneath him, and for a second Percy couldn't breathe. He looked down at her, seeing warmth in place of alarm in her eyes and let himself melt into her.
"I love you too, idiot."
a/n: hey guys! I'm really sorry about that hiatus. i got hit with major writers block, but im back now! In addition to that excuse, i was abroad for two and a half weeks without my laptop and any way to really write.
please leave a review if you liked the update, and hopefully the next one will be up soon...
Anna x.
