Set during the spring between Titan's Curse and Battle of the Labyrinth
You come around and the armor falls
Pierce the room like a cannonball
Now all we know is don't let go
We are alone, just you and me
Up in your room and our slates are clean
Travis's sword clattered to the ground with a clang that rang through the sparring arena.
Beckendorf blew his whistle, signaling the end of the round. "Another point to Jackson," he drawled in a bored voice.
Percy grinned, wiping sweat off his brow and extending a hand to Travis, currently sprawled on the ground, "Good game, Stoll."
Travis grumbled, taking Percy's outstretched hand and tugging himself to his feet, "Really, dude? You had to kick my ass in front of Katie?"
"Sorry, buddy." Percy wiped the edge of Riptide's blade on the hem of his camp shirt, "Who's next?" He looked around the pick-up spar group that had gathered on the lazy weekend afternoon at camp.
He was met with averted eyes and mutters of "Yeah, no I'm good." A new Hermes camper, a scrawny boy no more than ten, squeaked and hid behind his sibling when Percy met his eye.
Beckendorf clapped Percy on the back, "Think we're done watching you annihilate everyone—"
"I'm up, Jackson."
Percy turned to see his best friend, Annabeth Chase, storming into the arena, her bronze knife glinting in its holster.
The group of campers that had begun to disperse was abruptly brought to attention once more.
Percy grinned, uncapping Riptide, "Sure thing, Chase. Ready to kick your butt any day.
Annabeth's mouth was set in a hard line as she unsheathed her weapon, "Rules, Beckendorf."
Charles eyed her cautiously, "Uh, not to the death?" He cleared his throat, "We'll do first to disarm wins."
Percy stepped into the ring, twirling Riptide, "You good, Annabeth? I thought you were busy packing today—"
"Enough talking, just get ready to fight," she cut him off, tightening her ponytail and sinking into a fighting stance.
His eyebrow furrowed as he stared at his best friend, frowning and her shoulders tense, and mirrored her defensive stance. Percy took a deep breath, feeling Riptide's familiar weight in his palm.
Beckendorf blew the whistle, "Begin!"
Annabeth lunged first.
Clang!
Percy faltered back, instinctively blocking her attack, "Whoa." Annabeth never initiated the first strike. Like a cobra, Annabeth struck again, her blade slicing through the air before Percy even got his footing.
He parried, wincing as Annabeth's blade dragged across Riptide.
"Don't go easy on me, Percy," Annabeth muttered through gritted teeth, pressing forward.
Annabeth was all strategy, always two steps ahead of her opponent. Training alongside her summer after summer, Percy knew her moves. He knew which arm she favored (her left), how she preferred to fight close to her opponent, how she exhaled right before she struck...
He'd been her battle partner for almost three years now. They fought together effortlessly, like a well rehearsed dance. Their kind of harmony when they were fighting on the same side led to a thrilling challenge when they were opposed.
That's why Percy loved sparring with her. He had been going easy with Travis, Michael Yew, and Miranda, who he'd beaten earlier. His best friend gave him a real fight with her quick, precise strikes, the way her nose scrunches up when she's strategizing, how her curls start to slip out of her ponytail when they get into it…
Percy felt sweat drip down his back. He was breathing hard through his nose now, as Riptide arced through the air straight for Annabeth's crown. He expected the clash of their blades as she blocked his sword.
It became a game of outwitting and instinct. Percy stopped thinking, knowing Annabeth would know what his next moves would be and let his primal side take over.
The spectators ooh-ed and gasped when Annabeth's knife sliced the sleeve of his shirt.
"Watch it, Percy!" Connor stoll yelled from the sidelines.
"Almost got me there, Wise Girl," Percy panted, circling Annabeth.
She scoffed, but didn't reply, instead lunging toward him again.
"Let's go, Annabeth!" Malcolm, her brother, cheered from the group.
Percy noticed the sheen on her face and how hard she was breathing. For a stakeless game, Annabeth looked too serious. Nothing like their typical sparring sessions, full of banter and witty remarks. In Percy's opinion, he and Annabeth had their best conversations while sword-fighting. When they trained, it was more for a chance for them to try new moves, have fun, release some pent up tension.
He'd been disappointed when she turned down his offer to spar earlier that day because she still needed to pack. Spring break was coming to an end and the non-year rounders would return to their mortal parents' homes or boarding schools.
The air left Percy's lungs as Annabeth elbowed him in the ribs, taking advantage of his stumble to twist her arm around his and disarm him. Riptide clattered to the ground.
Beckendorf blew his whistle, and the campers cheered, "Annabeth wins!"
Percy rubbed his rib, turning to shake Annabeth's hand, but she was already stalking out of the arena.
Percy pushed open the screen door to Cabin 6. He appreciated how airy and bright the Athena cabin was, although he always felt slightly unwelcome and awkward there (he figured the goddess didn't want Posideon's spawn in her cabin.) The late afternoon rays cast long beams of gold across the rows of bunks and shelves of books.
He found Annabeth hidden in her bunk, back against the wall and knees to her chest.
"Hey."
Annabeth said nothing, instead gently patting the spot next to her.
Percy's face reddened as he sat on her bed, scooting beside her.
It was a big camp no-no for boys and girls to be alone in other cabins, Percy couldn't imagine the amount of stables Chiron would make them clean if they were caught alone together on her bed. The thought alone made Percy blush even harder.
"I'm sorry," she finally said, cheek resting against the arm hugging her knees.
"For?"
"Kicking your butt."
"It's fine," he shrugged, "Something going on?"
Percy noticed her duffle bag at the foot of her bunk, empty, and the camp t-shirts and clothes still in her full trunk. "I thought you were packing this afternoon?" he said after a moment of no response.
Annabeth sighed, a really sad, defeated sigh that made Percy want to reach over and hug her (if he could get his arms to move, which was unlikely).
"I finished packing. And then I unpacked."
Percy shot her a confused look.
"I got a letter from my step-mom this morning," Annabeth said, not meeting his eye. She fidgeted with the corner of bedspread. "I didn't exactly tell you everything that happened before I left."
Percy had arrived at camp a week prior. Over an Iris message, he'd learned that Annabeth's spring break lined up perfectly with his at Goode High School. He squashed down the butterflies and nervously agreed when Annabeth suggested they spend spring break at camp together.
Percy hinted at a couple's getaway to his mother and Paul, and they dropped him off at camp on their way to a bed-and-breakfast upstate. Annabeth flew in from San Francisco the next day.
Percy always got butterflies whenever he saw Annabeth after a long time. She made him so nervous sometimes. But of course, they melted right back into their easy friendship right away during their week of sing-a-longs, training, and catching up with the year-rounders. Break flew by — Sally and Paul were picking up Percy in the morning and Annabeth was supposed to fly back to California.
"What happened?" Percy nudged her leg with his knee.
"My dad and I were spending the day together — got lunch, went to a museum, we were actually bonding. We decided to go watch Matthew and Bobby's soccer game, and their coach was a manticore," Annabeth grumbled. "He attacked during half-time where my step-mom had set up snacks and stuff for the players, but of course with the mist, it just looked like I wrecked it all."
Percy nodded, he'd been in that position many times, blamed and deemed a troublemaker for the havoc monsters left behind.
"My dad tried to explain to her that I didn't smash the table with her plate of orange slices on purpose," Annabeth continued, "But she was still so angry that I embarrassed her in front of the other soccer moms." She looked at him, that sad look in her eye, "It was her idea for me to spend the break here. We were supposed to go on a family road trip to Yosemite. They just went without me."
"I-I'm really sorry, Annabeth." Percy remembered what it felt like when his mom would send him away before he knew it was only to protect him. It was awful. "What did the letter say?"
Annabeth's lip quivered, "She said she'd think it'd be best if I just spend the rest of the semester here, and she'll have my dad ship me whatever I left in San Francisco."
Percy's chest felt tight. He hated hated seeing her like this. Without thinking, he put his arm around her shoulder. And to his surprise, Annabeth leaned her head on his shoulder. His heart raced, he hoped she couldn't hear it.
"Well, hey, at least you don't have to do finals anymore," Percy said, nudging her arm. She shot him a look. "Oh, that's right. You like finals, you big nerd."
Annabeth actually cracked a smile. Percy rolled with it, "There were only a few weeks left in the semester anyway. So you just get a head start on summer, I'm jealous. And-and, since you'll be here in New York we can hang out on the weekends now."
"You want to hang out on the weekends?"
"Well, uh, duh," Percy's blushed, "You can come into the city and we can go see a movie or I could show you the skate park."
"I'd like that. The people at my school were snobby anyway."
"Come on," Percy said, standing up from the bed, "They're going to ring the dinner bell soon. And we have a sing-a-long tonight." He held his hand out.
Annabeth took his hand, pulling herself up, "How about a solo tonight, Seaweed Brain? To cheer me up."
"In your dreams, Wise Girl." Percy could've sworn she was blushing.
Annabeth let go of his hand, "Come on, that's the dinner bell." She pushed open the screen door, stepping outside. Percy followed her. He'd follow her anywhere.
a/n: probably canon-divergent! I do not remember the PJO timelines. Taylor Swift and percabeth is just chef's kiss. Please leave a review :) (I'm also taking commissions/prompts via review!)