A/N: Hey guys! Back again with a pretty highly requested prompt! Hope you like it!

You would think that going on a vacation to the middle of nowhere in a cabin by the lake would be pretty secluded…and private.

But he can tell from Annabeth's face that that is not, in fact, what's happening here. She's tugging his arm a little to roughly for it to just be pure excitement.

His hunch is corroborated when she leans in closer.

"We have to go," she says in a low voice.

"Why?"

But he follows her lead without waiting for her answer, picking up his pace to match hers as they walk along the lake back to their cabin.

"Because—"

"Annabeth Chase!"

Even he doesn't need to turn around to know that it's not a fan yelling her name. Annabeth doesn't say anything, just tightens her grip on his arm and quickens her pace.

"Annabeth Chase!" The voice calls out again, clearly following them. "And Percy Jackson! What are you two doing here? Vacation?"

If the guy knows they're on vacation, it's pretty fucking rude to keep pestering them. He looks for Annabeth's cue on how she wants to deal with this.

Evidently, she doesn't, so they just keep walking.

"Got to keep your man humble, I get it!" The guy calls.

Annabeth stops dead in her tracks.

Oh no.

"It's okay," he says quietly, putting a hand over her hers. "Don't give in."

The guy is baiting them, they both know it, but it's just as clear that Annabeth's resolve is crumbling.

"What's it like dating someone so exceptionally average?"

He hates this. Not because he's being insulted but because he's the thing being used to get under her skin.

He hates even more that it's working.

Annabeth whirls around, fuming. "I suggest you shut up and stop making assumptions about my relationship. And. Stop. Harassing. Us."

He can see the headline this guy is about to write, making Annabeth out to be a bitch just for defending her boyfriend. For defending him.

If it wasn't her name on the line, he would've punched the guy in the face.

"I'm just asking the questions that everyone wants to know the answers to." He holds up his hands in mock innocence but all it does is frame his fake tan and even faker hairline. What a douche.

Percy wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her closer out a deep-seated want to protect her from all this.

"Here's your answer," he speaks up for the first time. "Go away."

And with that he's tugging his girlfriend away, walking even faster down the path. It's easier to ignore him when they pass the threshold of their cab and Frank steps up.

He can tell Annabeth is livid by the way she slams the front door shut, finally free of the guy. Peering out the window he can see that Frank has progressed to manhandling the guy away.

There's a grim satisfaction in the sight.

He turns his attention back to Annabeth who looks like she's about to throw something. (He doesn't blame her.)

"Urrgghhh!" She finally screams. "I hate that them. I hate them all!" Her eyes flash at him and he has to remind himself that he's not who she's not actually mad at.

"Who the fuck says shit like that? I will end him! That was so uncalled for! And what purpose did it serve!"

"They'll say anything to get a response," he says quietly, speaking up for the first time.

"How are you okay with this?!" She turns towards him, throwing her hands up in the air.

He's not.

In fact, it just tugs at every insecurity he has about not being good enough for her. But, she's so upset that all he can really focus on is making her feel better, to remove the crease on her forehead and the frown on her face. (It's also probably best that he doesn't think too hard about it.)

"I'm not," he says, slowly moving towards her. "But I'm more worried about you."

She slumps into his arms as soon as he reaches her and he immediately wraps his arms around her, holding her tight.

"They're going to be nasty in whatever article they write," she mumbles into his shoulder. A pit forms in his stomach at her words. She's right, he'd even thought about it earlier, but the words weigh heavier spoken out loud.

"It's so unfair," she whispers. The defeat in her voice unravels him.

God, how he would fight the world to make people like that go away. He'd face off against every person who's ever hurt her, who's ever wronged her. It is unfair and he wants to make all of them pay.

But he can't…so he just holds her tighter, hoping that it'll be enough to shield her from the pain.

"It'll be okay," he whispers back, fighting the water starting to pool in his own eyes.

She doesn't respond, just burrows her face further and he runs a soothing hand up her back. It will be okay, he knows that, even if this guy prints a shitty article there will be people who will stand by them.

And he…well…

"Hey," he says gently, squeezing her a bit tighter. "No matter what, I'm going to be right here by your side."

He'll stand by her side forever. Her shoulders visibly deflate and he loosens his grip to drop a small kiss to the top of her head.

He can feel the smile she presses against his neck.

A/N: What did you think? Shoutout to anon on tumblr and a few people in the reviews and comments who've requested this prompt (bad paparazzi and angst), hope that it was what y'all wanted!

Please Review! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

And as always, thanks for reading!

See ya! :)