Disclaimer: I don't own any thing, Rick Riordan does.

Before: Annabeth and Percy have a fake relationship to help Annabeth's writing and make Percy think about something else then his violent father. They have a fight but they make up.

Cliche

A girl and a boy, dim light through windows. One still asleep, another already dressed. Two different rooms, one soon to be invaded by a guy with crutches, another almost silent but the continued noise of fingers hitting a keyboard. Annabeth and Percy, a red almost invisible bond, twisted and knotted, but not jet broken.

Annabeth was writing, fast and more than ever before. No other word document on her laptop contained as many words as this did. She wondered if she would meet Percy again today. She didn't really grasp the concept of relationships. Of course she'd read of so many, but when being in one herself she had no clue what to do. Could she just show up at Percy's apartment without invitation? She sighed, looking through what she last written down. Her characters had so minor problems compared to her own. What is saving the world against fake-dating one of your best friend?

When she had written another page she sighed again, and scrolled slowly trough the words she'd written. Letters, words, sentences. How could she be so happy to fill her time with things that weren't real? Inhale, exhale, inhale, slowly. This was no time for an existential crisis. She had a novel to write and a life to live. She could post-pone the crisis till she was fifty.


Her hair was flowing down her back when she knocked on his door. When no one came to open, she hesitated, and opened it.

"Hello?" No answer.

A series of voices came from the living room. It sounded like someone fighting. She gripped the nearest weapon. She busted into the room. An umbrella was raised above her head.

"Don't move! I'm armed!" But there were no burglars in sight, only Percy and Grover playing video games. Each of them was holding a console as they burst out in laughter. Eventually so did Annabeth.

"You planned to fight robbers with an umbrella?"

"And wearing a shirt?" Grover added.

"Just because I wear a shirt, don't mean I can't kick your butt." Grover looked slightly worried.

"That's not fair! I have a muscular disease in my legs!" But he was still smiling, just as Percy. Both of them where still clutching what looked like second hand Wii consoles.

"Well since you weren't about to rob anyone, can I join you?" Percy hugged her close, and gave her a quick kiss. It tasted like tooth paste, she probably did too. Annabeth smiled at him, taking in the way the faint light hit his nose. She had almost forgotten that this boy was her boyfriend. A kiss reminded her.


Another thing Annabeth needed to be reminded on was how bad a loser Percy was. He had lost his boxing match with her, and wasn't very happy about it.

"But I'm much stronger than you!" He made a pout.

"Maybe so, but it's all about tactics and talent."

"I command a rematch!"

So Annabeth, Percy and Grover played Wii. They yelled loudly and ate left-over brownies. It was like always, friends hanging out to play video games, nothing more. At one point Thalia called Annabeth, laughing upon hearing about her dramatic entry to her boyfriend's apartment. Thalia also wished her luck, and talked about how she and Luke had been together in the start. Annabeth remembered when how their eyes would start changing when they looked at each other. How Luke took Thalia's hand and how she didn't tell him to stop. How they were actually in love, not as she and Percy was, pretending.


Grover left and they were alone, sitting in an old tired couch. The TV was no longer on, both of them staring on an empty black screen. Dust was dancing before their eyes, like snowflakes that didn't melt. Percy had his hand over hers. His thumb was running up and down the side of her little finger. She leaned closer, tugging her legs under her and pressing her arm closer to his. He propped his other hand on the armrest and turned his head towards her.

"This is nice."

"I wonder if this is what people in relationships do. Sit together in silence and watch dust."

"Geez, I don't know Annabeth. I'm pretty sure we did stuff like this when we were friends too." He came closer, letting her see every detail of his face. The faint freckles on his nose, the acne between his eyebrows, the intricate pattern of his irises; and all the different tones of green mixed into only two eyes. Was he studying her face too? Noticing the spots in her hairline, the eyebrow-hairs she hadn't plucked, the little scar near her mouth, how her cheeks blushed. When their lips collided her eyes were still open. It was warm, calm, comforting like sitting close to a fire in the cold. If you got to close you would set on fire, see your skin melt while screaming in pain. She pulled away, feeling Percy's breath on her lips.

"We didn't do this though." Percy mused.

"Nah, we didn't. It's strange isn't it? That we're together now, and then we'll just break up, and go back to normal."

"What, will you miss kissing me?"

"You'd wish!" She shoved him away lightly, pushing him into the armrest, wondering if she might be lying. But of course not, how ridiculous, how cliche.


AN: So it's a little fluffy… But it is Percabeth shipweeks, so I'm going to assume it's okay.

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