Mark of Athena Ch. 3
Disclaimer: I do not own the Heroes of Olympus, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, or any of the characters in these combined series. I wish I did, but I don't.
Percy
After the meeting I walked calmly to the Greek's side of the room, grinning like an idiot. A few faces I expected: Annabeth, Jason, and the other two campers who were going on the quest with us; while some surprised me: Grover, Katie Gardner, Clarisse, the Stoll brothers, and a few semi-familiar Hephasteus boys. Most surprising of all though, was my cousin of sorts, Thalia Grace, Lutinent to Artemis.
I grinned and threw my arm around her, "What's up cuz? Why aren't you with-"
Thalia cut me off, "Wow, Fish Bait, You haven't changed at all! Eight months in this boot camp and your still a moron!" She smiled to show that she was joking.
I opened my mouth to defend myself but was cut off by Annabeth, "Perc, what are you doing- Oh! Hey, Thals." She smiled and turned back to me, "I'm gonna go talk to the others going on the quest.
"Okay, I'll be right there," I leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. She blushed but smiled and went over to talk to Frank and Hazel.
"You are lucky to have her." Thalia stated, her face suddenly more serious.
I chuckled, "I understand that better than anyone else."
She nodded and her face lightlened, "Good. And if you hurt her, I will castrate you with a pair of rusty scissors." Then she smiled as if she had not just threatened my manlyhood, "I have missed you, Kelp Face, and I am happy to see that you're safe."
I nodded and mumbled, 'bipolar' under my breathe.
Thalia laughed and pushed me away from her roughly, "Go find your girlfriend."
Well, She didn't have to tell me twice. I hurried over to where Annabeth was standing and wrapped my arm around her waist. She leaned into me slightly and grinned, but otherwise ignored my presence.
I mostly tuned out their conversation, choosing instead to play with Annabeth's hair like a little kid. I did, though, hear Annabeth tell Frank and Hazel that she would talk to them later.
"Let's go, Seaweed Brain." She commanded, grabbing my hand when it fell from her waist.
"Where are we going?" I asked, curiously.
"Someone wants to see you," She answered with a happy smile. I leaned down and kissed her forehead; I couldn't help myself. When she smiled it was like I had to kiss her.
She pushed me away and glared at me. This probably would have been more intimidating if she wasn't still grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey, Grover." Annabeth greeted.
Grover turned around quickly, almost falling on his furry butt, "Hey Annabeth!"
His eyes zeroed in on me, "Hey, Perc." He said, watching my face for a reaction. It was obvious that he still thought I had magic amnesia.
Oh, I thought, This could be fun.
I scrunched up my face in confusion, "Do I know you?" I asked.
Grover's face fell, and I saw Annabeth roll her eyes.
"Um... I'm Grover. Your best friend."
I swear, I almost lost it there, but I controlled myself, "You're my best friend?" He nodded glumly and I continued, "My... very gullible best friend." I couldn't hold it in anymore. I folded over, holding my stomach because I was laughing so hard it was starting to hurt.
Understanding flooded his face, "Man! You're such a jerk, Perc! You almost made me cry! You gonna embarass your friend like that in front of all these nice-looking Roman girls?" He couldn't hide his smile, though, and when he gave me the biggest bear hug he could muster I knew I was forgiven.
He started backing away, "I'll catch you later, Perc," He started, "The blonde over there is giving me the look. It's time to move in." And with that and a quick grin, Grover was gone.
He will never change, I thought.
"You know if you did that to me, I would have stabbed you, right?" Annabeth stated behind me.
I grinned, "That's why I didn't do it to you," I stated and gave her hand a gentle squeaze.
I looked down at her and she looked like she was trying not to smile. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer to my side. So close, but she still refused to smile. I leaned down and kissed up her neck to her jawline and mumbled, "I really missed you."
I looked at her expectantly, but she was still standing straight-faced in front of me. I huffed. She was so stuborn.
"Smile for me?" I asked quietly.
Annabeth rolled her eyes but flashed her perfect smile.
"1397 William Shofler poked a Chinese emperor in the eye and was sentenced to death shortly after. Decrease in infant death rate since May 1, 2007. 2007 top ten songs include, Big Girls Don't Cry, Souja Boy, Girlfriend, Umbrella-" Ella flew bove our heads sprouting useless information until I cut her off.
"Ella, Do you knw the lyrics to all of thos songs?" I questioned.
The small red bird nodded her head furiously, "Yes, Ella knows every word. Big Girls Don't Cry: The smell of your skin lingers on me now. You're probably on your flight back to your home town. I need some shelter-"
"That's great," I interupted again, "I think Tyson wants to hear them."
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, Ella shot out of the building in search of my giant cyclops half-brother.
"Now, where were we?" I turned back to Annabeth, and grabbed both of her hands.
Annabeth smiled, "You were just about to show you girlfriend where her bed is, because she is exausted."
I nodded and pulled her out the door, "Right this way, Miss," I said in a horrible British accent.
Annabeth laughed and pushed me with the hand I had released.
On our way to the fifth cohort I told Annabeth about my quest to Alaska with Hazel and Frank. I only left out the part about Sammy/Leo Valdez-that was not my story to tell. Annabeth nodded the whole time, but I could tell something was wrong. I was used to Annabeth's facial expressions, but I wasn't sure about this one.
"What's wrong, Wise Girl?" I asked, my voice thick with concern.
She looked up at me and gave me a weak smile, "It's stupid, really. I know it is." She said, rather unconvincingly.
I took her other hand and stopped us from walking, "Your feelings aren't stupid," I disagreed.
She looked like she was having an internal battle, but after a minute she decided to tell me , "It's just that... the only real quest I ever went on without you ended with you having to come rescue me from an evil Titan. I need you, but you can save the day just fine without me."
I almost laughed. I would have never, in a million years, have expected Annabeth to say those words. Yet, here she was. It was, simply, too unbelievable.
"That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, and I have heard some pretty far-fetched things," I managed.
Annabeth opened her mouth to object, but I was right back to the point before she could force out a syllable.
"Of course you don't need me. It is necessary for our survival that we don't need anyone, but if I could choose any person on the planet, dead or alive, to have my back, it would be you, Annabeth. I may not need you all the time, but I will want you until the day I die. I hope the feeling is mutual, because I think that is why we make such a great team."
"I will always want you, Seaweed Brain." She dropped my hands, but secured my face in her hands, "Get used to it."
She smiled and leaned in for a kiss. Needless to say, I happily obliged.
Hazel
Frank held my small hand in his bigger one. Why was I so miserable when I should have been so happy? I got my first quest and defeated Polybotes, got my dream horse, cheated Death...again, and got the guy I had been crushing on since the day we met.
With all that going for me, it might seem ungrateful to be so bummed, but I just could not get one thing off my mind.
"Nico is going to be okay," Frank squeazed my hand in another weak attempt at cheering me up. Of course, it wasn't Frank's fault. He didn't even know. I considered telling him, but that would mean putting the weight of my past on his shoulders, when he already carried so much of it.
Not to mention the awkwardness of that conversation. 'Hey Frank, I forgot to mentioin that my old boyfriend has a doppleganger and he is going on the quest with us. Hope that doesn't make you as uncomfortable as it makes me.' I could never tell Frank.
Frank looked down at me, "Please be happy," He begged.
I tried to smile convincingly and remind myself that he didn't know that there was no way for me to be happy. Not with my past staring me in the face. Every what if I had displayed in one boy. No, I could never be happy with Leo Valdez around.
AN: Some Percabeth fluff cause I wanted to. Hope you enjoyed. Review! Love, Jess
