VI.
Percy Lopez is eating a cookie at Annabeth's house as she goes over his maths homework. He's gotten most of it right, apart from a few silly mistakes that has her raising her brow. He watches as she carefully takes the red pen in her hand and circles the question number for him to look at later. It's not homework from school that he does in her flat, but questions she sets him.
She watches him solve them like he's a puzzle she's particularly fascinated by - or a building design she hasn't seen before. Or rather, an engine design. Her dark hair is in it's perpetual ponytail atop her head and spills down her back, swinging as she bobs her head to chew on the end of her pen.
"Good work, Percy!" She grins at him, setting the sheet down on the table. "This is pretty complex stuff."
"For a seven year old." He pouts.
Annabeth raises her eyebrow at him. "For a ten year old, Mr Genuine-genius."
Percy wrinkles his nose. It doesn't have quite the ring that Seaweed-brain does. "It's Pe-er-cy."
"Yes, Phoenix," she drawls with a laugh, brown eyes lighting up.
Percy scowls and opens his mouth to retort. Only the door bell rings before he can even muster a comeback. Annabeth laughs at his spluttering expression and hops off her seat, heading for the door. Her footsteps pad away as she trails down the hallway.
Is it cheating? To use Percy Jackson's knowledge as Percy Lopez? Percy knows that Jackson hadn't been stupid, but he certainly hadn't been as smart as Tabby at school. Not a genius, as people seem intent on calling him. It feels a lot like cheating. Percy prefers it when people just call him smart, or precocious. Genius - implies a rare talent, beyond what's normal. If he's just smart then it freaks people out a lot less. It freaks him out less too.
The sound of chatter in the hallway gets louder as a pair of footsteps approach. Percy glances up. Annabeth enters the room, a flustered look to her face, her fingers pushing back a stray lock of black hair. Following behind her is a taller Asian man, Chinese too by the language of their conversation, athletic looking and sporting a casual shirt and slacks.
"Percy!" Annabeth smiles approaching the table. "I hope you don't mind if Jonah sits in the kitchen while we finish up?"
Percy shakes his head. "Hi," He smiles up at the man.
"Nice to meet you, buddy," Jonah grins back, reaching a hand forward to shake. "Anna's always bragging about the smart kid in her neighbourhood." He shoots the woman a fond look, checking her in the hip. "Gotta be smart to keep up with our Anna."
"Jesus!" Annabeth blushes, her hand reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose, but Percy can tell she doesn't mind the teasing much. "Go and be embarrassing elsewhere, Jo!"
"Aye, aye!" Jonah chuckles, retreating back the way he came. "As my lady commands!"
They're dating Percy surmises, glancing between the two. The fond glances, the lingering touches. He feels like he should be feeling the jealousy any moment now, even as Annabeth gets her flush under control and sits back down, a picture of composure but for the silly grin on her lips. "Sorry about that, Jonah's a nice guy, I promise!"
He doesn't feel jealous though. And even as he wonders why, he feels like he knows the answer. Annabeth Tang is not Annabeth Chase. Oh they might share the same soul, the same passions, the same mannerisms; but Annabeth Tang has been raised by different parents, with different dreams and has lead a different life. And Percy's last name is not Jackson either, despite having once bared it. So, instead of feeling angry or upset, Percy feel happy that Annabeth is content.
"Is he your boyfriend?" He says slyly.
"My- my!" She splutters and flushes red from her face down to her neck. He can hear Jonah laughing in the kitchen. "No - I mean - he's -"
Percy bursts into laughter. She's content, she's happy. As long as his friends are happy, Percy doesn't mind how they live their lives. They deserve that much and more.
"Stop laughing at me! Both of you!"