The Pink Flamingo Tradition
percyjacksonheadcanons #2044

It was that time of year again. Annabeth threw on a grey jacket, pausing at the door to pull on a pair of sneakers before grabbing her box and heading out.

She checked the real time, glancing at the clock that hung on the door. (A weird piece for Cabin Six, but it was very, very useful. It kept the Athenians on time.) It was a few minutes to five, meaning she had the next thirty minutes as a free activity.

"Hey, Annabeth!" Leo called, jogging over. He was covered in motor oil as usual, streaks of grime running across his face. A pair of welder's goggles was perched on a head of curly black hair, though it didn't exactly go with his outfit - a sweater and neoprene jacket over jeans.

"Hi, Leo," she said, smiling at the other boy. Annabeth tucked a curl of hair behind her ear and adjusted the box by her side so it was only slightly uncomfortable pressed against her ribs.

"What's the box for?" Leo asked, already pulling out scrap metal to fiddle with. She hefted it higher and grinned.

"It's the Pink Flamingo Tradition, see," she told him, heading towards Cabin Ten, her fingers drumming against cardboard in anticipation. Up ahead, she saw Percy already standing next to the monstrous thing, posing goofily and waving.

A smile tugged at her lips at the sight. She walked faster.

"What's the Pink Flamingo Tradition?" Leo asked, assembling a mini helicopter and letting it loose. The small machine whirred to life, hovering in front of them for a few seconds before dropping. He sighed, catching it and tucking the creation back in his pocket.

"Ooh, you don't know what the Pink Flamingo Tradition is?" Percy cried, having heard their conversation. He took the box from her, setting it next to the one he'd brought. Before Leo could respond, Malcolm bounded towards them, a few of their siblings behind him.

"Am I late?" Malcolm asked, having brought his own box.

"Nah," she told him. "Just in time." They exchanged wide grins and glanced at Leo and Jane, who was nine. The two of them had never experienced the holidays here at Camp Half-Blood.

"Let's get this started!" Percy yelled suddenly, pulling out tinsel and throwing it in the air. The silver plastic went everywhere, and she laughed as strands got stuck in her hair and clung to her clothing.

"Seaweed Brain," she groaned, but opened her box anyway.

"Alright, newbies, here's how it works," she said, pulling out a ridiculous-looking, ugly Christmas sweater her stepmother had sent her. She had appreciated the gesture, but it wasn't the most fashion-forward or eye-appealing thing out there. (Meaning: Annabeth had saved it from last year for this very reason.)

"The Aphrodite Cabin, as you see here, sets up this pink flamingo outside during the holiday season every year. For just about every holiday. I don't know why. They just do - it's a tradition. So this one year," she was cut off by Percy.

"The Stolls decided it would be a great idea to prank them by decorating the flamingo hideously."

"Cabin Ten completely freaked out," she said, smiling at the memory. Drew in particular had gotten into quite a tantrum. "but everyone else realized how fun this was, so we've been doing it ever since. The end."

Leo rubbed his hands together and attacked their supplies. "Looks like my kind of thing."

The campers alternated between decorations. They appeared at random times to add their own touch: some candy hot-glued onto the beak (which would make clean-up harder, ha), a permanent marker message, ornaments, sequins, slimy stuff, and everything in between.

She smiled with satisfaction, having tugged the sweater on the thing.

"Looks perfect," Percy said, wrapping an arm around her. This year, he'd chosen to stick a festive yarmulke on the flamingo's head and a polka-dotted bow tie to complete the look.

Leo laughed and snapped a few pictures. "I'm sending out my next holiday cards with this."

Piper, who had just walked out of her cabin to see what the fuss was all about, groaned and facepalmed. "Leo."

"What?" he asked, grinning.

She sighed, pursing her lips. "Just don't send one to me."

Amused, Annabeth piped up. "Me either."

Leo gave a fake gasp of horror, looking to Percy for back-up. She looked up at her boyfriend, who grinned and shrugged.

"Why not," he said, laughing. "It won't hurt."

"Yes!" the other teen cried, punching the air in victory. He then proceeded to dance around in his happiness. Piper snorted, snatched the camera, and took a picture of Leo.

She huffed again. "Maybe I'll put you on my holiday cards," she teased before shaking her head and disappearing back into the Aphrodite Cabin.

Annabeth looked back at Percy, smiling as she looked at the flamingo. "Perfect, huh?" she asked, reaching out to straighten the bow tie on it.

"Maybe not," he admitted. "But you are."

She rolled her eyes and punched his arm, still smiling.

percyjacksonheadcanons #2044 - The Aphrodite Cabin has a lawn flamingo that the campers dress up on holidays.

Hi? Ha, this was going to be a Christmas ficlet, but it's.. now February, so there's a little Valentine's thrown in but not much. I'm going to be posting this a lot more often.

Valentine's is coming up - you got headcanons, send 'em in! Don't forget credit.

achieving elysium