*Warning, this chapter contains explicit sexual content*

The sweat dripped down her brow, lips salty as her tongue swiped across them. Annabeth and Thalia had been sparring for the better part of the last two hours, drilling with swords, spears, and now finishing up with hand-to-hand combat.

Ever since the dragon incident, Annabeth had been working harder to stay in shape.

She dodged a swing, ducking down and swiping her leg across the floor. Thalia jumped backwards, flipping to the side as the blonde went on the offensive. Annabeth advanced on her friend with fists raised- they were both panting, circling each other on the mats, bruises blossoming across previously clear skin.

Finally, Thalia made her move. She lashed out at Annabeth's left side, knowing it had been weakened earlier. But Annabeth anticipated this, knowing her friend would try to take advantage of the injury when the chips were down- she grabbed Thalia's arm before her strike could make contact, flipping the girl over her shoulder and pinning her to the ground.

"Ow, fuck… best two out of three?" Thalia laughed, her voice breathless as Annabeth clambered off her back.

"Not today." Annabeth panted, grinning ear to ear as she helped her friend up. "I've got work to do."

"Right… you guys are doing one last push before the holidays, yeah?"

"Mmhmm." The campaign was gearing up to appeal to the masses once more, and Annabeth was swamped with preparations."Mom- Athena expects good news in time for the solstice, especially after-"

"After the Dragon thing, yeah. The vote is in February, right?" Thalia picked a spot on the bleachers and began unwrapping her hands.

"Yep."

"And you're sure you don't need more help?"

Annabeth laughed, "I'm sure- you've done more than enough."

It was true. Thalia had really thrown herself into the cause the past few weeks. Maybe it was her missing Reyna, maybe she just wanted to help Annabeth now that she knew about her secret text-friend, maybe the Dragon had shaken her up more than she let on, but whatever the motivation, she had been effective.

The punk in question shrugged, shouldering her messenger bag and standing once more. "Alright, but don't bury yourself in work, OK?"

"I won't." Annabeth promised, though they both knew it was an empty one.

She headed to the locker rooms to change, stretching her sore muscles, when she was reminded of her conversation with Seaweed Brain from earlier.

"I could definitely take you in a fight!"

And what followed was an idea. Perhaps a bad one. She faced the mirror in the bathroom, pulling out her phone and switching it on.

10:14PM WISE GIRL
Attachment: 1 Image

Annabeth bit her lip, studying the picture she had just sent. You could see… a lot. Long legs, muscular and tanned, leading to shorts that were perfect for sparring but perhaps inappropriate for most other situations. Toned midsection, bare, slim. Sports bra with just enough support to make her look… well, perky. Not that Annabeth cared for such things, but she thought it might have some effect on her Seaweed Brain. Her head was cut off from the image, of course. She couldn't have him finding out who she was, after all.

10:14PM WISE GIRL
Still think you could take me?

Percy was in his room, trying his damnedest to study, when the photo arrived. He stopped. He stared.

His eyes widened. His heartbeat picked up, as did his thoughts- holy shit, was that her?!

And the message that accompanied the image? Gods, he almost died.

He stood up and began to pace the room, phone in his hands which were growing slick with sweat. She sent a picture. She sent a picture.

And fuck, she was perfect.

He couldn't tear his eyes away. He poured over the photo, studying every detail he could make out, hoping for a clue as to what her identity was. But he kept getting distracted- her smooth stomach, multicolored with bruises (Had she gotten into a fight? Or were they just from training?) was particularly enticing, as were her long legs. Something about those legs was familiar, though he couldn't quite place what. And despite his attempts otherwise, his gaze kept falling somewhere around the chest area.

Percy froze. A thought occurred to him.

Did she expect a picture back?

He crossed quickly to his mirror, trying desperately to flatten his hair, before realizing how ridiculous he was being. She had already made it clear she didn't want to know who he was for now- he certainly wasn't going to be sending a photo of his face!

Back to pacing, then.

Okay. She had sent a picture of her body. She had attached a suggestive message. Was it…

Was it even meant for him?

Of course it was, she directly referenced their conversation!

But what to say back?

He usually didn't have a problem coming up with a flirty comeback for her, but with the image on his phone (and permanently burned into his mind) he couldn't think straight. Everything that came to mind sounded utterly, and completely stupid.

Annabeth was beginning to get nervous. It had been about half an hour since she had sent the picture, and had yet to receive a response. Had she gone too far?

Her gym bag was slung over her shoulder as she left the building, crossing campus to the dorms. She had long since changed, now bundled up in something more appropriate for the weather. The sky looked like it might snow soon, heavy with gray clouds. Her breath floated in little puff clouds as her gloved hands played with the phone in her pocket.

She'd never done anything like that before. Her past relationships weren't exactly something she had been invested in enough to send such things, and it wasn't like she made a habit of sending semi-clothed images to her friends. Thalia would probably hype her up if she did, and Luke…

Well, she didn't want to know how Luke would respond if she was being perfectly honest.

And she didn't want to think about him right now.

She wondered what Seaweed Brain could possibly be doing. Her message was marked as "seen", so it wasn't as if his phone was off.

Did he not like it?

Just as the thought crossed her mind, the phone buzzed and she fumbled to get it out of her pocket, removing a glove with her teeth to swipe up on the screen.

And her eyes widened.

10:52PM SEAWEED BRAIN
i can think of multiple ways id like to take u

She laughed, the sound dampened by the late night air. Despite the chill, her face felt hot, and she picked up the pace to her dorm, typing as she went.

10:54PM WISE GIRL
Oh?
I'll be very disappointed if that is all talk and no follow through

10:55PM SEAWEED BRAIN
trust me.
i have so many ideas.

10:55PM WISE GIRL
I'd like to hear them all.

10:56PM SEAWEED BRAIN
fuck
gods u make me nervous

Annabeth's own heart was beating quite rapidly as she pushed into her dorm room, dropping her things quite unceremoniously and eyes never leaving the screen. She flopped onto her bed, completely focused on one thing.

10:58PM WISE GIRL
You should be nervous.
I plan on holding you to your word.

Annabeth kicked off her shoes, then her socks, letting them fall to the floor.

10:58PM SEAWEED BRAIN
i think i can handle that

Next went her coat and scarf, her hat slipping off her head and onto the bed.

10:59PM WISE GIRL
But could you handle me?

Her jeans were last, leaving Annabeth in her shirt and little else.

10:59PM SEAWEED BRAIN
nothing would make me happier than handling u, wise girl

Her legs pressed together at the thought, shivers that had nothing to do with the cold outside rushing up and down her body. She imagined his hands on her thighs, spreading them as his head dipped and…

She lifted the phone, making sure her legs were arranged properly before snapping another photo.

11:01PM WISE GIRL
Attachment: 1 Image

11:01PM Seaweed Brain
shit
fuck
can i call u?

He didn't wait for her answer. The phone buzzed in her hands and she nearly dropped it, debating what to do. The last time they had spoken, she had been less in control of her faculties, and without the crutch of alcohol she wasn't sure she had the courage to talk to him.

But despite her misgivings, Annabeth's desire to hear his voice again overpowered any fear. She clicked the "answer" button and pressed the device to her ear.

It was silent for a moment.

"... Hey."

His voice was quiet, and she swallowed hard, mouth dry.

"... Are you there…?" he spoke up again, and she was struck once more with how familiar he sounded. Shaking the feeling off, she laughed, softly, as if afraid someone might hear her even in the privacy of her own bedroom.

"Aha, yes I'm… I'm here."

She could hear him suck in a breath.

"Are you… are you at home?"

"Yes."

"Alone?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" she laughed again, leaning back against her headboard.

"Maybe you have roommates?"

"I don't."

"Ah."

It went quiet again. Annabeth could swear her heartbeat was audible through the phone, and she held it ever closer, taking a deep breath.

"Did you like my pictures?" she ventured, voice cautiously optimistic, and he was the one laughing now, a strained sound.

"Gods- did I like your pictures?!" he repeated, sounding incredulous, "They were… I… I want to see more."

"There isn't much more I could show you!" Annabeth hugged her knees, grinning ear to ear.

"Of course there is!" he protested, and she could hear the sounds of him shifting on the other end, "I mean, I'm not asking you to send like… um…"

"Nudes?"

The sound of him taking another deep breath tickled her ear, "Those- yeah I…" he cleared his throat, "I just wish I could see your face."

Ah. She should have expected that.

"I can't."

"I know." He didn't sound upset, merely resigned to the current nature of their relationship, "Listen, I'm- I really… really liked those pictures."

"Oh?" she wiggled her toes, the sound of him making her whole body feel hot, "How much?"

He groaned, a desperate sound. "Too much. I liked them too much."

"What does that mean?" She wanted to press his buttons, push him to his limits.

"Ah… fuck, I…" he was shifting around again, and she wondered if he was laying in bed too- the thought made her pulse quicken in excitement. "I'm… I was very, definitely affected by them."

"Affected?"

"Wise Girl." he said the only name he knew her by, and a thrill shot up her spine. His voice was husky as he continued, "Do you really want to hear me talk about exactly what your pictures did to me?"

"Yes." She breathed into the receiver, too excited by the want in his voice to feel self-conscious about her request.

He laughed nervously, and she could swear he was gripping his phone tighter, too. "Gods you… you're really going to make me say it?"

"I'm never, ever going to make things easy for you, Seaweed Brain. Get used to it."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." His voice was low, "Gods, seeing you, I just-"

"Did you want to touch me?" she interrupted, breathless and eager to hear him say it.

"Yes."

"Where?"

He was laughing again, and she decided she loved the sound. "Where? Anywhere I can-"

"Be specific," she blurted out.

"Yes ma'am." His grin was evident in his voice, "I'd start with your thighs."

"Start?"

"Yes, start." he continued, voice growing softer again, "I want to grab them and drag your hips to meet mine. Wrap your legs around me. Leave bruises in the shape of my hands, maybe…"

"And then…?" she matched his volume, tracing circles on her bare skin with her fingers.

"Then I'd move up to your hips… feel their curves, maybe squeeze-"

"Mmm." Annabeth hummed at the thought, moving her hand up to squeeze where he described.

"Are… are you…?"

"Touching myself?" she teased, "Maybe."

The noise he made left her with goosebumps.

"Fuck."

"Don't stop now!" her own voice took on a sing-song tone, "I want to know where to touch next."

A deep breath, "Wise Girl… please I'm…"

"Where are you?"

"Home."

"Alone?" she repeated his earlier query.

"Yes."

"Do you want to stop?" she dropped her hand, worried now she may have gone too far.

"No!" he answered quickly, "No, no, absolutely not."

"Then…?"

"Like I said… you make me nervous!"

She picked at a thread on her comforter, "You make me nervous too." came her soft reply.

"Fuck." he groaned again, "Listen, just… are… are you still touching…?"

"I'm not."

"Can… can you-"

"Tell me where."

His voice was filled with surprise, "What?"

"Tell me where I should touch." She repeated.

"...Inner thighs?"

She did as told, using her free hand to brush her fingers against the smooth skin there. It sent electricity through her body, and she closed her eyes, imagining it was his hand instead. A soft hum escaped her, "Mmm…"

"Wise Girl," he breathed into her ear, "tell me what you're doing." He was practically begging.

"I'm moving my hand higher," she responded, tracing circles just beneath her underwear, "and higher." Her fingers pressed against the seam of her panties.

He sucked in another breath, "Have you reached-?"

"Yes." She rubbed slow, long circles against herself. "I'm… I'm thinking of you. Doing this, to me, I mean."

His breaths were heavy, "Are you wearing underwear?"

"Mmhmm."

"Take them off." It wasn't a request. She happily obliged, hooking her fingers in the waistband and slipping the offending garment off her legs.

"And now…?"

"I want you to rub your clit between your fingers, slowly." He groaned out the instructions, and the thought struck her that she wasn't the only one touching herself.

"Are you…?"

"Please... please Wise Girl, tell me what you're doing." He was begging again. Annabeth wondered if he was imagining her too, perhaps sucking him off, or riding him.

She obliged, describing her movements "I'm ah… imagining your fingers rubbing me-" she was interrupted by a moan.

"Fuck, go faster. Now."

Surprised by the sudden forcefulness in his voice, her movements quickened, sending zings of energy through her body.

"How do I feel, touching you?" His voice was low.

Annabeth panted, "You're rough… I like that."

"How wet are you?"

"Very."

Another noise of pleasure. "Can you… can you finger yourself for me, baby?"

It was the first time he had called her that, and the pet name made her weak. She slipped a finger inside herself and gasped, moaning into the phone, "Thinking of you… it makes me want-"

"I want you," he interrupted, "Right now."

Annabeth whimpered, working the single digit in and out now, "I want to feel you inside me so bad."

"Gods, I bet you feel amazing," he whispered, and she could make out faint sounds, the repetitive squeak of a mattress, the shifting of fabric, his rhythmic pants for air.

She slipped another finger in, thumb rubbing her clit slowly, "I- I want to feel your hands on my hips."

"Mm."

"Moving them back and forth… in and out…"

He swore, and she curled her fingers, whining as shivers shot through her body.

For a moment, there were just the sounds of two strangers getting off at the thought of the other touching them. Their breaths were heavy, skin hot to the touch, and Annabeth wondered (not for the first time) if she was out of her mind.

"Please… Please I'm so close!" His voice filled her up, and suddenly she couldn't care less about sanity. Annabeth found her fingers pumping in and out ever faster, drawing her closer to her climax.

"Fuck me!" she managed, gasping as her walls tightened around her fingers.

"Shit shit shit-!" He cursed loudly as he came. She wasn't far behind, crying out as she bucked into her own hand.

There was quiet as she collapsed back against her pillows, breathing heavy as she pulled out of herself.

"That… was…"

"Hot?" he finished, chuckling breathlessly.

She nodded in agreement, before realizing he couldn't see her.

Maybe he'd never see her.

Despite her self-promise of February for when they'd meet, anything could happen between now and then.

"V-very much so." she agreed, shaking herself from her thoughts.

They stayed like that for a few more moments, just listening to the other breath, then-

"I… I need to ah… clean up." He sounded sheepish.

She laughed, "Right. Um… Can I call you again sometime?"

"Of course."

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." He agreed.