Summary: The forest in summer is something close to magic. (Percy and Annabeth by a lake, watching fireflies under the moonlight.) — Percabeth.
A/N: I've written many stories for PJO before this and none of them have been Percabeth. Don't worry, I'll be back on my Valdangelo nonsense soon.
The Ones That Glow
It's become a tradition of sorts.
The hiking trail leads deep inland, a canopy of leaves overhead that arches above the entire forest. It's not an easy path to travel, but they've walked through this particular area so often that Annabeth knows all of the hidden routes and wildlife here like it's a second home.
Along the way, Percy picks up a long stick, marching forward with renewed energy while pretending that he's a real adventurer. He points out the various insects and fungi they pass by, making commentary on each of them, and Annabeth humours him because it's rare that either of them get to be so carefree.
For them, the journey is equally as important as the destination; this hike, this forest, is something they cherish deeply. Something they find themselves coming back to, year after year.
When night falls, they are exactly where they need to be.
.
By the lakeside, the sky is dark and the air is cool. The reflection of the moon on the clear water glows silver, illuminating the plants nearby in an ethereal light.
Sitting under a tree, Annabeth looks to the side where Percy is approaching, following the path that leads to the lake. She waves at him, sees a smile spread across his face, and thinks, this is what love is.
The forest in summer is something close to magic. Annabeth can feel the quiet presence of life thrumming beneath the soil, among the trees, buzzing in the atmosphere—nature running its course through every living creature. It isn't very often that she feels so connected to the world around her, but each year, in this corner of the earth where wilderness runs strong, her heart sings in her chest without fail.
Percy joins her on the ground, holding a clear jar in his hands with pulsing yellow lights flickering on and off erratically within the glass. When he passes it to her, it's as if he is gifting her a collection of stars pulled straight out of the sky.
"Ready?" he asks, and Annabeth doesn't hesitate to nod her head. Percy rests his hand on top of hers and together, they unscrew the lid of the jar, releasing a dozen fireflies out into the night.
The small insects disperse all at once, hovering close and just above the lake. They move in slow, languid movements as they float through the vast open space. Annabeth takes everything in, mesmerized, as glowing bulbs of light land on blades of grass and cattails that surround the water.
Percy raises a hand and draws up a thread of water, weaving it in the air among the fireflies. It startles them for a moment, but they adjust quickly, dancing around it until their movements are synchronized.
Resting her head on Percy's shoulder, Annabeth watches the swirl of magic in front of her with awe. She doesn't need to look at Percy to know that he's smiling, too. "You're such a show-off, Seaweed Brain."
He laughs but doesn't deny her words. They fall into a comfortable silence and Annabeth thinks she could stay like this the whole night, lulled to a peaceful sleep by the gentle waves in the water under a moonlit sky.
Beside her, she senses Percy shifting, leaning over to press a kiss against her forehead. The pressure is light but it makes her feel loved, and she sighs softly, content. It's another few minutes before Percy stands up suddenly, stretching and turning to face her.
"Want to swim?"
Annabeth breaks away her gaze from the fireflies in front of them to glance over at Percy, wondering if she had heard correctly. One look at him tells her that he has already made up his mind.
"Percy Jackson, don't you dare—" Annabeth shrieks as he picks her up and walks over to the edge of the lake. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he tosses her into the water, laughing and raising an arm to shield himself from the splash.
As she resurfaces, her first instinct is to yell at him because the water is freezing and she's sure that she's going to get sick after this and he seriously had the audacity to just throw her in, but her breath hitches when she sees him. Standing under the moonlight, Percy's hair glows, the smile on his face absolutely vibrant, and—he's beautiful, she realizes. The sight of him itself is enough to make her forgive him. At least for now.
Splashing water at his feet, she gestures at him to join her. "You better get in here too or I'll drag you down myself."
"I'm coming, I'm coming," he laughs, taking a few steps back before breaking into a run toward the lake.
Percy lands in the water like a cannonball, ripples erupting all around him, and he emerges with a kind of happiness that Annabeth has only seen when he's surrounded by his element. His entire face lights up as he grabs her hand, pulling her along to navigate through the lake together.
Swimming with the fireflies is different than simply watching them from afar. Annabeth finds that they are just as much attracted to her as she is to them and they draw her in easily, inviting her to partake in their dance. She circles around the lake with Percy, cold temperatures now forgotten. Some of the fireflies flutter down closer to them and one lands on her finger, bravely, creating an instant bond. It only lasts a second, the firefly's tail flickering restlessly, but it's enough to send warm vibrations all throughout her body.
Lying on her back to float on top of the water, drifting along to the gentle ebb and flow of the lake, Annabeth takes in the world around her. There are stars shining high above and fireflies glowing just below them and everything together creates a mystical kind of atmosphere that rivals the existence of gods, giants, prophecies. A quiet reminder that there is something to be appreciated in the mundane, too.
.
When they leave the lake at well past midnight, clothes wet and dripping, they bid farewell to the fireflies that scatter into the trees before following the trail back out of the woods.
It's dark now and they stumble awkwardly as they walk through the uneven soil, tripping on tree roots that are hard to see without a proper light source. They take twice as long going out as they did coming in to the forest, but neither of them mind.
Annabeth links her hand in Percy's and smiles, knowing that they'll be back again next summer.