Once again I hope you all enjoy this chapter, in which Annabeth is jealous and Percy is just an oblivious dumbass, but we all love her anyways, though she definitely likes jealous Annabeth just a little bit even if she's very confused.
"Then explain." Annabeth crossed her arms over her chest, a sure sign that Percy had done something wrong.
"We were there and there were these cheerleaders- Rachel obviously saw that they were monsters because she can see through the mist so we snuck out to try and escape
but they followed us."
"Kelli said they were empousa." Rachel piped up helpfully, "Percy killed one of them and the other burst into flames and disappeared."
"Pretty much." Percy nodded, "I was gonna head come because you said you'd meet me at home-"
"Are you okay?" Annabeth frowned in concern, "Did you get hurt-"
"Bumped my head but I took some ambrosia and I'll be fine."
"You promise?" Annabeth's voice was soft- she seemed to have forgotten about whatever had been annoying her, at least for now.
"Wise girl, I'm fine. I had backup anyway. Rachel totally saved my butt back there-"
"I didn't do much." Rachel's face flushed, almost red enough to match her hair.
"You stabbed her with Riptide-"
"Right." Annabeth interrupted, "Thank you Rachel. Percy if you've just been attacked we need to head to camp-"
"I know." Percy paused, "But we should go home first-"
"Percy we don't want to waste time-"
"I can go." Rachel offered, "I'll tell you mom what happened- and I'll help her lie to Paul. We can just tell him they're your stalkers sisters or something-"
"Paul doesn't even know I have a stalker-"
"Wait he doesn't even know that?" Rachel raised an eyebrow, "When do you guys plan on telling him-"
"Now's not the time for that." Annabeth's voice was sharp a touch too harsh, Percy gave her a soft frown. "You said you can go explain to Sally-"
"Of course." Rachel nodded, "I'll tell her everything-"
"Good," Annabeth turned to Percy, "We can go straight to camp then-"
"Annabeth-"
"Percy he's sending monsters after you again."
"Annabeth's right." Rachel said quickly, "Percy just go with her to camp." she smiled tightly. "I promise you, I'll tell Sally and Leo what happened and I'll help them come up with a lie to tell Paul."
"I-" Percy faltered before darting towards Rachel and hugging her tightly. "Thank you Rache."
"Hey, you went to that stupid party with me, this is nothing compared to that."
"You're an amazing friend." Percy declared before she pulled back and Rachel suddenly leaned in, pressing her lips to Percy's cheek before she was turning around and
sprinting off, and then Annabeth was grabbing Percy's arm and whirling around so that Percy was facing her girlfriend.
"What in Nico's dads name was that?" Annabeth demanded, her eyes narrowed.
"What- that was Rachel-"
"I-" Annabeth stared at Percy for a long moment before she threw her hands into the air, "Oh my gods you- you are so oblivious-"
"Oblivious- Annabeth what's wrong?" Percy shook her head, "It's been a long day okay you may need to spell it out-"
"Oh no." Annabeth snorted, "Nope, you can figure that one out on your own-"
"Figure what out-"
"Ugh! Why do I put up with you Seaweed brain?"
"I-" Percy was genuinely bewildered. "Uh, because you love me. I think-"
"Damn straight-" Annabeth grabbed Percy's tshirtand yanked her in, pressing their lips together, her other hand moving to the back of Percy's neck as they kissed, and as usual Percy felt herself melting into it. She could taste chocolate on Annabeth's lips, and she let out a yelp when Annabeth's teeth scraped her bottom lip and bit down lightly, pulling back with wide eyes.
"What was that for."
"That was because you're a dumbass." Annabeth's voice was matter of fact. "You deserve it-"
"I'm sure I do but I dunno why."
"Of course you don't." her expression softened, "C'mon." she grabbed Percy's hand, letting out an amused huff, "You're- gods Percy you just don't know huh?"
"Well if no one will tell me!" Percy was pouting, "C'mon Annabeth don't be mean- explain-"
"Nope. No way." Annabeth almost giggled as she kissed Percy's cheek, "I like watching you struggle trying to figure it out." she seemed more relaxed now- clearly Percy's obliviousness to whatever had annoyed her had acted as some sort of soothing balm on her temper.
"Mean." Percy tucked her hair behind her ear, "Well, I guess for now we should just get a cab and head straight to camp then."
"Sounds like a plan." Annabeth dragged Percy out into the street proper, waving down and cab and giving the driver the address they wanted to be driven too before she turned to Percy, "So, have you heard anything new from Nico?"
"Not since the last message." Percy sighed, "Which... is not something I'm happy about, I don't like going too long without hearing from him but I know Nico. He's... he's strong he'll be fine."
"He will." Annabeth's voice was instantly reassuring, "They're gonna find Clarisse I know they will. I just wish they'd let us know what their lead is- Chris is still being no real help from what Chiron says."
"Is Silena still looking after him?"
"Yeah." Annabeth nodded, "And Beckendorf is spending a lot of time there too- she's really worried about Clarisse and he's the only one who can make her leave Chris' side. She feels like she owes it to Clarisse to look after him."
"I'll bet." Percy leaned into Annabeth's side, resting her head on her girlfriends shoulder, "We'll find out more when we get to camp I guess." her brows furrowed and she bit her lip. "Kelli- the empousa said something about how soon camp would be going up in flames- that... that feels like they're planning an attack."
"We'll need to tell Chiron. We have to take any threats seriously." Annabeth shifted so that her chin was resting on top of Percy's head.
"At least we'll get to see Thalia and Luke again. I've seriously missed them-"
"So have I." Annabeth admitted, "At least you've visited camp once or twice. I was busy keeping an eye on Mount Tam."
"How bad is it there?"
"Ugh, overrun with monsters, no way was I getting close enough to check. But I doubt there's any serious planning going on there. I doubt he's there, if that's what you're worrying about."
"I always worry about him." Percy admitted, brows furrowing as she thought back to her and Rachel's initial run in. "But... he's probably on the Princess Andromeda right now." her nose scrunched up, "The nerve of him Annabeth, going on a boat in my dads domain-"
"Yes, because that's definitely the worst thing he's done." Annabeth snorted, "Honestly Seaweed brain."
"Oh hush." Percy shoved her shoulder gently, "So, we know Tyson should also be coming to camp this summer so that'll be awesome- what about Grover. Have we heard anything from him?"
"I have." Annabeth hesitated, "He was worried you'd freak out-"
"Freak out over what."
"He'll explain himself when we get to camp but he's having some trouble- he's not found Pan yet-"
"I could have guessed that." Percy gave a wry smile, "I'm pretty sure I'd sense his pure joy if he had through the empathy link."
"True." Annabeth let out a soft laugh. "Well, he'll explain when we get to camp, he should be there.
"It'll be good to see him again." Percy admitted "I've missed his furry butt-"
"I'm sure he'd be glad to hear that." Annabeth let out a snort of laughter before she softened slightly, "Gods you have no idea how glad I am to see you Seaweed brain. In person I mean."
"I know." Percy nodded, pressing a kiss to Annabeth's cheek, "I missed you too by the way. Six months is a long time even with daily IM'ing."
"I know." Percy pulled a face, "I have missed you so much." she let out a slow breath, "Just being with you I mean-"
"I know. Have you been sleeping okay?"
"Yeah, occasional nightmares but nothing too bad or I'd have told you. I was nervous last night- the whole orientation morning.. didn't want to screw it up."
"Percy it's never actually your fault when things go wrong,"
After the disaster that had been the run up to Christmas Percy and Annabeth had given themselves rules- one of which was that if ever they were struggling then they'd IM each other right away to talk- even if it was the middle of the night. And that had happened a lot for the first little while Annabeth had moved to live with her dad, Annabeth occasionally called but usually it was Percy- the two girls had gotten used to being able to sneak into each others rooms if they had nightmares- but still it was probably a good thing that they'd spent the time apart- they'd spent so long attached at the hip- and as much as Percy loved spending as much time as she physically could around Annabeth it was a bit ridiculous how hard it had been at first- which was a sign that it had been needed- they needed their own lives apart from each other too- which they'd both realized even if it did suck and they did miss each other every day.
Percy closed her eyes, her breathing evening out as she did, drifting off pressed close to Annabeth's side as they rode in silence. The city melted away until they were off the expressway and rolling through the countryside of northern Long Island, past orchards and wineries and fresh produce stands, Annabeth's fingers soothing through Percy's hair absent mindedly.
She let Percy nap for a large portion of the journey until the taxi exited on Route 25A. They headed through the woods along the North Shore, and Annabeth shifted, "Seaweed brain." her voice was soft, "C'mon sleepy head. It's wakey wakey time."
"Ugh." Percy lifted her head, pulling a face as she did. "Don' wanna."
"C'mon we're nearly there and we gotta hide the last part-"
"Fine." Percy straightened up, looking out of the window and watching as a low ridge of hills appeared on their left, familiar and comforting.
"Pull over on Farm Road, 3.141." Annabeth leaned forward as she spoke.
The driver frowned as he glanced back at them, "There ain't nothing here, miss. You sure you want out?"
"We're sure." Percy yawned, brushing her hair out of her face as she cracked her neck, "We need to go the rest of the way by foot."
"But you're both-"
"Don't argue." Annabeth held out a roll of cash and the driver very quickly decided not to argue.
Soon enough he was pulling up and Percy and Annabeth slid out of the cab and they watched him drive away before they headed up the familiar hill, Percy grabbing
Annabeth's hand as they did- smiling as she saw a heart achingly familiar sight.
The young guardian dragon was dozing, coiled around the pine tree, but he lifted his coppery head as they approached and he let Annabeth scratch under his chin. Steam hissed out his nostrils like from a teakettle, and he went cross-eyed with pleasure.
"Hey, Peleus," Annabeth said. "Keeping everything safe?"
The last time Percy had seen him- the winter before, he'd been six feet long. Now he was at least twice that and as thick around as the tree itself.
Above his head on the lowest branch of the tree the Golden Fleece shimmered, it's magic protecting the camps borders from invasion. The dragon seemed relaxed, like everything was okay. Below them the camp looked peaceful- green fields, forest, shiny white Greek buildings. The four story farmhouse sat proudly in the midst of the strawberry fields and to the north past the beach the Long Island Sound glittered in sunlight.
And yet something didn't feel right- it was in the air, a sort of heavy tension- they all knew what would be coming- they had just over a year before the war would truly be here, the predicted final battle. Percy wasn't looking forward to her sixteenth birthday at all- or her fifteenth for that matter. But she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind rather sternly as she stared down at the camp, squeezing Annabeth's hand tightly.
Even with the tension in the air, whenever they came to camp Percy always felt kinda like they were coming home.