PERCY

Percy stared at his face in the mirror, examining himself closely. And it seemed like the more he looked, the more flaws he found. Tons of battle scars, blemishes, and aggravatingly small problems he knew he could do nothing about.

He felt self conscious. He suddenly cared very much about his appearance, and how he was as a person.

Why the sudden change? Blame Nico. Ever since Nico had confessed to Percy, then followed up by saying he 'wasn't his type,' Percy had grown incredibly self aware of his imperfections. At first he was too shocked to say anything, but now that the comment had been left to simmer he was more than distraught about it.

How could I not be his type? He thought to himself.

...Does everyone think of me this way? Am I... ugly? Am I bad person?

Percy knew he was overreacting just a tad to such a slight comment, but it had done more than just rub him the wrong way. He was completely uprooted by Nico's statement.

You're not my type.

If he wasn't his type, was he anyone's? Who else secretly didn't like him? Percy had always thought that the others had looked up to him and admired him, but that thought was obviously erroneous.

But what bothered him most of all, was his desire to prove Nico wrong. He wanted to show him that he could be anyone's type, no matter how he did it. At least for the sake of his dignity.

"Percy?" A voice called, shattering his thoughts.

He cleared his throat and forced himself to tear his eyes away from the mirror. He turned to see Annabeth standing in the doorway of the bathroom, looking slightly concerned.

"You've been staring into the mirror for quite a while Percy. Did you even notice me come in?"

Percy flushed with embarrassment as he averted her gaze. Honestly, he had been so preoccupied with his reflection he never heard anyone approach. Thank the gods Annabeth wasn't a monster, because he'd be dead tenfold.

Annabeth slid onto the bathroom counter to face him. She frowned. Percy automatically knew he was in for a lecture.

"Are you okay, Percy? You've been looking into mirrors a lot these past few days. You seem really... worried... about how you look."

Percy shifted his weight nervously. So she had noticed. Then again, nothing could get past Annabeth. He should've known that. But still, he couldn't help the way he felt over Nico's comment.

He looked back into the mirror, at a reflection he realized he didn't like.

"Annabeth..." He began, "do you think I'm a good... I don't know... type? For someone to like? I mean, I know I'm your type, I'm not worried about that, but what do you think the others feel about me?"

Annabeth sighed. "Is this about what Nico said?"

Percy frowned. "How'd you know." It wasn't really a question; as stated before, nothing, nothing, got past Annabeth.

"You seem really messed up about that. You know he didn't say that in a mean way, right?"

"Yeah," he replied, "I just... I thought everyone liked me."

"Not everyone in the world will think you're their type, Percy."

"Well, yeah," he grumbled, frustrated, "I just... What does he mean by that? What's wrong with me that makes me not his type?"

When he received no answer he turned from the mirror to see Annabeth staring at him with obvious suspicion.

"Are you bi, Percy?"

He sputtered.

"What? No, I'm not... bi. Why would I be?"

"Why don't you kiss him and find out," she said flatly.

Percy couldn't believe she had just said that.

"And you, my girlfriend, are okay with that?"

"You know I'm down for anything Percy. I think it'd be nice if he joined us."

"Well... What if he really meant that he was over me? Wouldn't I just be toying with his heart? That's kinda... harsh... I mean, the kid's been through a lot."

"By the way he looked when he said that to you, I highly doubt he meant it. He probably just said that to try and move on from you; he thinks being with you is impossible. I think you should show him that it's not," she said with sincerity.

"I guess... but what about you? If he becomes a part of our... relationship... you'd be left out. I don't think he likes girls," he replied skeptically.

"We'll just have to find out then. For now just stick with what I said: kiss him, see if you're bi, and ask if he'd want to be with us."

Percy looked extremely uncomfortable with this plan.

"What if I don't like guys after all?"

"I know you do, especially him. I can see it. I'm just telling you to kiss him for your own confirmation."

With that she hopped off the counter and left without waiting for his reply. He huffed indignantly.

Pfft, what does she know...

Oh yeah... everything.