June was asleep in Hazel's arms. Black curls whisped around her face, ruffling in the breeze. Her chubby toddler arms were slung around Hazel's neck, her round cheek resting on her shoulder. She looked like an angel, and Percy could hardly tear his eyes away. He barely felt Annabeth tugging impatiently on his arm. He hummed in response without looking away. Annabeth sighed, an impatient but fond noise.
"Come help me fold up this umbrella," she said, amusement in her voice. Percy finally glanced back at Annabeth, chuckling sheepishly.
"Right," he said, flushing. "Sorry."
The wind was beginning to tug at everything, now that the sun was nearly even with the horizon. Hazel watched them struggle helplessly, trying to get the umbrella into it's little compartment slip despite the wind. She looked on with a little bit too much amusement for Percy's taste a little too happy about being able to use sleeping June as an excuse to get out of work. Hazel gave them an apologetic shrug and a smug grin. Percy could hardly help the glare he leveled at her as he got smacked in the face with one end of the umbrella.
She mouthed a mocking apology, smothering a guffaw.
He stuck his tongue out at her.
Narrowing her eyes at him, Hazel huffed before turning to Annabeth with wide innocent eyes.
"Could June and I go get smoothies at the hut?" Hazel asked as they battled the umbrella away from the wind. Annabeth nodded, and Hazel's face lit up as she walked towards the beach's bar with a spring in her step. Percy pretended not to see Hazel's smug little dance behind Annabeth's back.
He made a face and returned to tugging at the umbrella but Annabeth, who had, unbeknownst to them, seen the entire exchange with all the fondness of watching two puppies wrestle over a chew toy and all the exasperation of trying to teach a monkey how to drive, yanked it away.
"Oh for God's sake -" she snapped, shoving it into the bag by herself. Percy gaped at her. "You took too long," she explained, sniffing. Her haughty expression turning into a shy grin as he raised an eyebrow.
"Annabeth Chase," he drawled, teasingly. "A world wonder."
She tossed back her hair, the curls catching in the sunlight. "The one and only."
Her shoulder bumped into his as he laughed and they walked towards the Hut. Her grin contorted into a grimace as she adjusted the large beach bag on her shoulder. Frowning, he quickly swiped it away from her, hauling it over his back without breaking stride. She startled at the sudden movement, glancing around confusedly for her bag. Once she found it over his shoulder, she scowled. "I can handle it," she protested.
Percy shrugged, smiling. "I know."
She huffed indignantly. "So give it back!" she reached for it, and Percy yanked it out of reach just in time.
"Nope!"
Annabeth growled, frustrated. Her adorably sunkissed face scrunched up in irritation, and Percy's insides turned to goo at the sheer cuteness. "Percy Jackson! Give it to me!"
Percy held it far above her head and howled with laughter as she jumped for it. "Percy!" she cried, stamping her designer sandals in the sand. "You're awful!"
She lunged for it, and all three of them – Percy, Annabeth, and the poor beach bag - were sent tumbling onto the hot Australian sand. Percy, entirely caught off guard due to his incessant laughter, yelped in surprise, the air knocking out from his lungs as he hit the sand with Annabeth sprawled on top of him.
Oomf. Percy glared up at the sun at Annabeth, who winced as she struggled up onto her elbows. "I'll accept your apology now," Percy teased pointedly.
She rolled her eyes at Percy's accusingly raised eyebrow. "You should've just given me the bag."
"What -!" he spluttered. "I – you're the one who -!"
Percy gaped at her as she smirked. A sharp pain shot up his wrist as she got up, accidently pushing on his hand. He hissed, clenching his fists.
This did not escape her notice.
"Percy," she said, her voice strange. She grabbed his hand before he could snatch it away. "Why are your knuckles scabbed over?"
Percy snatched it out of her grip, not meeting her eyes as he got up and dusted himself. He could feel himself getting warm. He bent over to start picking up the things that had spilled out of the bag when he dropped it on his fall. "I fell," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Annabeth frowned. "No, you didn't idiot. You punched something. Didn't you?" she inquired, eyes narrowed. He glared at the ground.
"Maybe," he muttered under his breath, scowling fiercely at nothing at all. Only people with death wishes lied to Annabeth twice in one conversation.
She sighed, half-exasperation and half-worry. "When?" she asked. Percy said nothing, shoulders tight with tension. Finally, she shook her head. "Fine. Don't tell me."
She turned to walk away but Percy reached out to grab her before she could take a step. "I'm sorry." All the tension went out of the air. Percy sagged with shame.
"It was the morning after I found out," he said softly.
He couldn't bare to see Annabeth's expression. Here he was, trying to pretend he was fit to take care of himself, let alone a child, and doing stupid shit that he used to do when he was a teenager. It was impossible, trying to convince Annabeth of something he wasn't even sure was true.
His palm stung. He glanced down and realized he hand been clenching his fists again, his nails breaking skin.
Annabeth said nothing. Then, to his surprise, she leaned over and kissed him once on the cheek. "Percy," she said softly. His skin tingled where her lips had brushed against it, his heart skipping a beat. "Look at me," she demanded. Grudgingly, he complied. Her eyes were soft, molten silver and compassion. "It's okay. Do you think you're the only one who freaked out when they realized they were a parent? Trust me, I was not rational when I found out."
He laughed, a strangled, choking sound. "You? Not rational? That's a first, isn't it?" She smacked him on the shoulder, a soft smile on her lips. Percy felt his gut twisting. He still couldn't meet her eyes. Here she was, Annabeth picking up his pieces like always. When was he going to grow up? A bubble of frustration burst in his chest.
"Percy," she murmured, sensing his pain. He startled to feel her cold fingers sliding around his fist – the one with the scarred knuckles. She held it gently, like one would hold a broken bird, and brought it carefully to her mouth. He stared at her with wide eyes and uneven breath as she brushed her lips against his knuckles. "It's okay," she whispered against his skin.
His heart felt like it would explode, shattering his ribcage and sending him to his knees.
Annabeth had that effect on him.
His eyes fluttered closed, his head leaning against hers as his fingers unfurled from hers, stroking her cheek and brushing a thumb against her lips.
He could nearly hear her heart speeding up.
It was her who broke away first, and the moment shattered like a plate slipping between clumsy fingers and crashing into a thousand pieces, swept into the ocean breeze like dust.
Her cheeks were alight with a hectic glow, her hands shaking at her side. She choked out an excuse, her eyes never meeting his, but he didn't hear it.
Only the roaring in his ears.
A/N:
I AM SO SO SORRY THIS IS LATE. I have nothing to say for myself. I've been better but y'know. Spotty.
I'm leaving this weekend for Austin (Yoooooo), and then next week for regionals. Ahhh!
So anyway, I hope to have new stuff out soon.
I wrote a one-shot while I took a break from looking over this. I kind of like it?
I used to think I was incapable of writing anything under 10 chapters but hey looks like I can!
Anyway, please review if you liked it!
Love,
Anna x.
