"Percy?" Annabeth's angelic voice reached his ear. "I know you're in there."
Another knock on the door followed.
"Percy come on. Will you let me in? Please!"
He squinted his eyes, turning them into little slits. There it was, that name. Will Solace was the reason for all his troubles. The very thought of the other holding Nico's hand and being all lovey-dovey made his stomach twist and turn. He was such a bad friend. Why couldn't he be happy for Nico? The gods knew the boy deserved a break. He sank deeper into the tub. What to do?
"I need help," he admitted after a long pause, and that was his girlfriend's cue.
"Of course you do." She entered the bathroom with a smile and a towel in hand. "This is the pruneyest you've ever been."
Distractible as ever Percy pricked up, "I know, right!" He lifted his arm so she could admire the miracle that was his wrinkly skin. "I keep saying 'I love you grandpa' to my reflection."
"Get out of the water seaweed brain," Annabeth laughed and tossed his favorite Tortilla Towel at him. "You might wanna change out of your swim trunks too," she added.
"Oh you would like that, wouldn't you?" Percy winked, already using his powers to dry himself, but bundled up as a life-size burrito anyway. It was very cozy.
The daughter of Athena shrugged. There was no denying her bad taste in men. "What's bothering you?" She asked instead.
Percy frowned. "How do you know I am bothered?"
"You mean besides you wallowing in the ominous bathtub of sadness? The Water nymphs told me they had to kick you out of the lake cause and I am quoting 'He's polluting nature with his foul mood'," she chuckled. "Wanna talk about it?"
.
.
.
If Annabeth had known what kind of whirlpool she'd unleashed, she would have left her boyfriend to drown in his bubble bath.
"Ridiculous!" Percy kept repeating. He had been ranting for at least 20 minutes straight. "Nico is way too young to date. The audacity!"
Ding. Her popcorn was ready.
"What's Solace even doing? He tries to have his cake and also sets a house on fire! I mean we came for cake." Percy paced up and down while Annabeth put a buttery piece of deliciousness into her mouth. It was sweet and warm.
"I couldn't care less about his flimsy crush. Not that I think he's serious about Nico anyway. They don't fit at all - He's all smiles and sunshine and well," Percy made a very immature gagging noise.
"So, you're 'Team Jason' then?"
Percy stopped mid-sentence, gaping like the enchanted goldfish he was. "Wait, what now? Jason?" His eyes nearly bugged out of his head.
"Eh." Annabeth cursed inwardly.
"OH MY GOD!"
"Don't freak out!" Her attempt of calming him fell flat.
"I am not freaking out!"
"Then stop screaming!"
"Nobody tells me anything! I may not be the brightest spark in the book," Annabeth kept quiet. "But - Urgh!" He gestured wildly with his hands. "How long has this been going on?"
"There is nothing going on. I don't even know for sure," she dialed back, but the damage was done. "Percy, don't make it all about you. How about we don't mess with Nico's love life," she tried, if only for the record, knowing full well to which conclusion her boyfriend would come once his initial surprise wore off. Admittedly, it was very entertaining to watch his internal struggle and the wide array of emotions crossing his face. Denial, anger, bargaining, acceptance, mischief, depression… He looked like a child that found 50 bucks and was told to return them. Hilarious. Her poker face started to crumble till she couldn't hold it in any longer and gave in.
"Wanna mingle the shit out of our single friends?" Annabeth asked between waves of laughter. Her eyes gleamed with excitement. They reminded Percy of Nico's whenever he took his little deck of cards out and all the son of Poseidon could do was stare at her. "I love you woman," he found himself saying in wonder, "I hope you know CPR because You. Take. My. Breath. Away."
She rolled her eyes. "Stop ruining our moment."
"Very well. Let's make out instead and after tell me everything you know."
.
.
.
"Where were we?" Percy asked with swollen lips and a lazy smile. His girlfriend sat comfortable in his lap, arms wrapped loosely around him, and an empty popcorn bowl at their feet.
"Honest to god, I can't remember."
He kept nibbling along her neck.
"Probably something about the Apollo-kid," she moaned as his teeth scratched over her sensitive skin.
"I think you may have given me an idea." He said and kissed her again.
