In which Annabeth looks up to Zia and Carter, they are all cute and Percy hates asshole tourists.
Undeath9087: Imagine Annabeth leading with a description including all the good stuff, which makes Athena just smile like 'Sounds like a good ally for you' and then Annabeth just dropping the bomb.
Guest: No, no she's a normal mortal. Just a wonderful one.
Walter Ha: Trains are good.
Guest: Ah they wouldn't have a bake off, they'd team up to feed all of the sweet polite children.

After the battle of the Loukoumades- which had no winners since by the time Carter and Sadie were done rolling on the sand there was only one of the delicious little honey covered balls left- since the others had taken the change to steal the rest.

Sadie did reluctantly give Carter the last one at Percy's urging, since she'd had one and Carter hadn't.

It served them both right for acting like children- as Percy had pointed out, though she was secretly very happy. It was nice to see Carter messing around like a kid- he didn't do it that often. And generally only when Percy and Sadie brought that side out of him.

In any case, once all the Loukoumades were gone Percy screwed up the box and shoved it into the bag they'd brought with them- a habit Percy had always insisted on over the years. She refused to leave trash on the beach, too many tourists did that already. So they always brought a bag with them which they could use to put their trash in it and then take it to a bin.

Once the food had settled Percy, Piper and Sadie all decided to go for a swim, Carter, Zia and Annabeth wanted to stay on the beach talking about their plans to visit the Acropolis the next day.

The blonde girl had been very excited to look at the brochures and start making plans for their visit- it was the first time she'd really talked to Carter properly- and Percy should have known they'd get along well once Annabeth had actually started opening up.

And she figured it was good for the girl to actually get to know people other than just Percy and Piper, as much as Percy didn't mind spending time with her.

Besides, Annabeth had lost someone who she'd looked up to. She could probably do with some one like Carter and Zia to turn to if she ever needed it.

Percy wasn't sure how long Annabeth would be with them- but she got the feeling that even if she decided she needed to go back to the camp or whatever in a few weeks she'd still come back to Brooklyn House from time to time.

As for Walt, he was taking the chance to just relax on the beach- and he was well aware that if he joined the three girls in the water he would undoubtedly end up being pushed under repeatedly by Sadie.

By the time they headed back to shore they'd been on the beach for a good few hours and Percy grinned as she dropped down onto the blanket, pulling her still wet hair over her shoulder.

She could just will herself dry of course but there was another group on the beach and she didn't want to get any awkward questions.

"Have fun?" Annabeth was smiling, "You looked like you were."

"Of course." Percy grinned.

"Did I see Sadie and Piper trying to push you under."

"It's a game we play." Sadie declared.

"One we never win." Piper huffed the words, rolling her eyes. "You guys enjoying yourselves?"

"Of course." Carter nodded, "Annabeth actually had some great ideas on our itinerary for the Acropolis trip-"

"She's very knowledgeable." Zia added. Which made Annabeth flush.

"I've dreamed of seeing it ever since I was a little kid." she admitted, "I tried to build a replica of the Parthenon with popsicle sticks when I was six."

"Awe." Percy couldn't help it, "That's kind of adorable."

"It really is." Piper agreed. "You like building stuff like that?"

"I want to be an architect." Annabeth admitted, "I want to build something like that. To design something that's going to last forever. To really leave a mark." she paused, looking down at her right hand.

It wasn't in a sling, but that didn't really change anything. "Or I did."

"You can still do that." Piper pointed out, "It might not be easy but you can learn how to do stuff with your left hand."

"I hope so." Annabeth gave a slight smile, ducking her head.

And Percy glanced towards Walt- who pushed himself up slightly and gave her a faint smile and a nod.

She'd asked him for some help- sure he could probably do it by himself but she wanted to try and make something that could help Annabeth's hand.

It wouldn't fix it of course. The damage was beyond repair, but if their plans worked she'd be able to use her right hand again, only when wearing the charms Walt had been drawing up, and it would become painful after an hour or two, but she would get some use back.

But they'd agreed not to tell the others. Percy didn't want to disappoint Annabeth if their plans failed.

Clearly Sadie noticed Walt's movement because a second later she was flopping on top of him- and Walt let out a laugh. "Sadie! You're wet get off of me!"

"Oh no! My legs are no longer working I can't move-"

"You're insane you know that?"

"Walt, my lovely boyfriend, I'm a Kane. It runs in the family."

"I would get offended but she's not wrong." Carter remarked, which earned him a kiss on the cheek from Zia.

And Percy turned her gaze back to Annabeth. "So, architecture. You like cool buildings." she grinned, pointing a finger at Annabeth, "I am going to figure you out one of these days Annabeth."

"Eh, I dunno, I think your mystery is part of the fun." Piper chimed in, a smile playing across her lips as Annabeth laughed and shook her head.

"I'm not that mysterious-"

"Hush now-" Percy clamped a hand on Annabeth's shoulder, "Don't ruin my fun."

"I apologise." Annabeth rolled her eyes fondly, shaking her head. "You know, I read the books and I always felt like I knew you, but I never realised quite how ridiculous you are."

"It's impossible to understand from the books." Piper declared, "She's much cooler on paper-"

"Piper McLean I will push you off a bridge."

"We're not near a bridge."

"I can bide my time McLean."

"She's telling the truth there." Carter piped up. "Once when Percy was eight and I was like, thirteen I annoyed her. So Percy told me that she'd steal my left shoes- all of them, and I told her she was being ridiculous. Two moths later I woke up, went to get my shoes on and all of my left shoes were gone."

"And he never got them back." Percy gave an innocent smile, "Carter didn't know it but I stuffed them all into the Duat. They're still in there."

"You-" Carter was lunging across the sand- and Annabeth had to throw herself backwards to avoid being hit.

Percy also shifted, laughing loudly as she dodged to the side, and Carter sprawled face first in the sand.

And Percy had to admit it was amazing. She had been stressed out since Walt had found the bag in her room, for the first time she was actually really relaxing- she'd been too worried about Annabeth to relax when they first got home. But she was doing well, she was happy. That was an amazing sign.

And her happiness lasted until Piper nudged her in the side, nodding towards the other group on the beach, and Percy's eyes narrowed.

There were four of them, adults, two men and two women, they were packing their things, and Percy's eyes narrowed.

They were clearly not picking up their trash, Percy watched as one of them men grabbed a beer can, pulled it out of the six pack rings and tossed the plastic towards the water.

She turned her gaze back to Piper, who gave a small nod.

"Excuse us both." Percy gave a fake cheery smile, "Piper and I have to go and teach some assholes a lesson-"

"Uh oh." Sadie snickered "You're in for a treat here Annabeth."

"Try not to inflict permanent damage." Carter piped up.

"What are you-"

"Asshole over there." Piper nodded towards the group, "Just tossed some plastic into the water."

"We don't allow that." Percy declared before she took off, bending down when she reached the plastic- which was just about to get swept out into the waves, and she scooped it up quickly, her eyes narrowed as she whirled around towards the four tourists- she highly doubted that the locals would treat the beach like that.

"Hey!" they'd just turned to leave, but they turned back to look at Percy as she walked towards them, hands behind her back.

"What is it kid-wait do I know you?" that came from one of them men, a fairly tall man.

"I don't know." she brought her arm out from behind her back, tossing the plastic in his face when she was close enough, "But you're gonna."

"Hey what the-"

"What the hell do you think you're doing brat?" that was one of the women, "You can't just-"

"I'm just returning your property to you. Bitch."

"Listen kid-" the other man tried to interfere but Percy shot him a dark look. "I'm sorry. Did I give you permission to speak?"

"What the- you don't get to talk to us like that! Haven't you ever been taught to respect your elders?" that was bitch lady number 2- the one who hadn't spoken so far.

"Hmmm, haven't you ever been taught not to litter? You give Americans a bad name-" and they were American, based on their accents alone she could tell that.

"Oh come on, it's not a big deal." that was asshole man number 1. "Go away and I'll forget all about this."

"Or what. You'll attack a twelve year old girl. Bet that makes you feel real manly."

"And uh, before you make any threats-" the voice came from behind Percy, "I will make you piss your pants if you you much as make to lay a hand on my best friend here."

"She's serious. Now pick up your trash, before I drag you over to the trash cans and shove your face in them just so that you understand where it's supposed to go."

"You do it if you care so much! 'Sides the locals always seem to pick up the trash so why should be bother with it. It's a waste of time."

"Do you know what can happen if a fish gets caught in one of this?" Percy demanded, pointing at the six pack plastic, "Or a bird? It kills them."

"Oh great, you're one of those weirdo-" Percy cut off asshole man number 2 by darting forward, fist smashing into his stomach- he let out a pained cry, doubling over and asshole man number 1 lunged to try and grab at Percy, but Piper was there in an instant, bringing her knee up between the mans legs.

"You four." Piper spoke up as the man staggered backwards, "Are going to pick up every single piece of your trash, and you're going to take it to the trash cans and put it all in there. And then you're going to take it in turns to shove your heads in the cans just like my friend here told you to."

And Percy could hear the power in Piper's voice, the confidence and that undercurrent of anger.

That undoubtedly came from the fact that one of them had tried to hurt Percy- even if he had only been defending his friend.

And Percy turned her head, grinning at Piper, high fiving her as the four adults started picking up their trash.

They linked their arms as they headed back to the others- and Annabeth was gaping at them both, her eyes wide. "Did you just- seriously? You just picked a fight with a bunch of adult mortals."

"Yes." Percy nodded, "Yes we did. They were assholes-"

"She didn't break the rules." Walt spoke up, "She and Sadie have rules-"

"No permanent damage." Percy and Sadie chorused the words together.

"Of course you do." Annabeth laughed softly. "But minor damage-"

"What's life without a bit of chaos." Percy giggled.

Sadie, Piper and Walt all laughed, Zia chuckled and Carter groaned.

"It'd be a lot simpler-"

"Rude." Percy picked up one of the bottles of water on the blanket and threw it at Carter's head.

He dodged it easily but he shot her a dirty look, "Have I ever told you I hate you."

"Yep. But you're lying." Percy declared chirpily. "Now." she clapped her hands together, "Am I the only one getting hungry here?"

"I could eat." Sadie declared.

"Let's go then."