Percy woke up to a cringing metal sound that made him alert and anxious. He snapped opened his eyes to find himself in his cabin, thankfully.
White ceiling, white cement walls encrusted with colorful mollusks, a fishing net that hung across from wall to wall, some crossed row boards high on the left wall and two old life buoys on the right, one from the USS Indianapolis and the other one from the Titanic.
He reached to his right to pull his girlfriend close but she wasn't there and the panic came back. She was probably in the bathroom but Annabeth never stopped giving him freak outs during the night, he just needed a nudge and to know she was going, he was not a heavy sleeper anymore.
He sat up and rubbed his eyes, clearing them from sleep and started breathing normally when he saw her.
Annabeth was standing, supporting herself on his desk looking out at the sea.
She had opened the eastern window and the summery wind was fluttering the white linen curtains and her blonde curls; his tshirt that she wore to bed barely covering her naked behind when it was lifted by the gush of fresh air.
His girlfriend was breathing hard, almost to the verge of tears. He could tell she was upset even though she wasn't facing him.
He stood quickly and went over to her.
"Hey..." He whispered, approaching slowly as not to scare her.
"Oh, hi." She swallowed and tried to cover her watery eyes by looking away "did I wake you?"
"No, the window did. I've been meaning to oil them like...since I was twelve"
She managed a small smile "Then I did wake you, sorry" she muttered.
"What's up?"
She shrugged and he pushed her bed hair away from her eyes.
He wrapped his arms around her from behind, his hands sliding up over her hips towards the middle of her stomach. She shivered and he saw over her shoulder how the light hair on her arms stood on end.
He loved the way she wear his t-shirts to sleep, they were too big for her and the collar left a lot skin visible. He kissed her bare shoulder.
"You're cold" he tightened his arms around her.
She shook her head still a little shaky, "I'm sorry" she repeated "I know it must be like...five"
"Doesn't matter. I wouldn't have seen that." He pointed at the sunrise where clouds were turning every shade of pink, purple and orange and there were pegasus far away over the sea chasing each other.
Percy saw how Annabeth's eyes followed the beautiful creatures as she was slowly calming down.
"It's pretty. I can't remember the last time I saw a sunrise."
"Yeah, me neither"
"So thanks" Annabeth nodded absentmindedly "wanna talk?"
She stayed silent so he stayed there holding her for a bit.
"Tell me what upset you" he said low in her ear. "Please?"
They stayed quiet until she turned and kissed him hard, pushing him back towards the bed.
"Wait Ann-" he tried
She made them crash against the mattress where Percy landed on the pillows with her on top of his chest.
"Slow down, tiger" he joked
"No" she smiled a little, part of her sadness gone from her eyes but he knew better but to be convinced
"Wait…"
"What, you don't want to be kissed?" she asked with a little flutter of her eyelashes and kissed his lips again.
He pushed at her, grabbing her shoulders "Annabeth…"
"Percy!" she replied playfully "Go down on me?"
He laughed into her next kiss and pulled away looking at her for a bit.
Annabeth Chase, the breathtaking beautiful strategist, knew exactly how to play her cards against him knowing that she was asking directly to be please and he wanted nothing else but to please her.
He knew exactly what she was doing but if she wanted this…how could he deny when it was going to make her feel better?
"That's direct and kinda rude" he said
"It's rude that I want my boyfriend to go down on me?"
He grinned "mmhm, you're missing the magic word."
"Please?" She amended with a little smile as she laid a kiss in his jaw. She knew she had him hooked, "Perseus, would you please go down on me?"
She was good. Real good…using the full name card when she knew it only made him squirm in delight for some stupid reason.
"Now you're asking nicely."
He kissed her now, really kiss her, using his tongue to show her what she was asking for. Annabeth gasped against his mouth and grasped at his hair.
"I need you to..." She started and the sentence was lost in a yelp when he turned them around.
He lifted her t-shirt revealing her stomach and kissed her around her belly button.
He put her hands on her tights and she parted her legs pushing his head down.
Percy chuckled at her eagerness and kissed down slowly.
She moaned as his lips grazed her very marked tan lines and Percy kissed her inner thighs and trailed around her perfectly trimmed pubic hair.
She pushed the back of his head against her, directing his mouth where she wanted it.
His cheek brushed against the apex of her thighs and she squirmed relishing the soft contact.
The first twirl of his tongue had her gasping his name.
He talked with his mouth against her folds "Tell me if you..."
"Yeah yeah." She nodded "just go ahead."
Percy murmured in agreement and sent a vibration her way making her toes curl.
He looked up and his gaze traveled all over her upper body towards her face. He caressed her thighs softly and smirked when she bit her lip.
He tried not to laugh as he positioned his mouth right over her and waited. He enjoyed this part, he loved doing all this for fun, to make her mad and beg for him.
"Come on!" Annabeth urged, her legs trapping him in place, and he chuckled again.
He let out a hot breath right over her which had her arching up to him.
"Oh please…Do that. Again"
He blew air against her again, deciding he liked what it caused in his girlfriend, making a mental note to remember.
He kissed around it, his lips ghosting right next to her clit, millimeters away from where she wanted his mouth; it had Annabeth groaning in frustration. Her nails dig in his lower back.
"You're mean" she complained, hitting the bed with her palm.
She hated him for it. How could he get her this wet without doing anything?
Percy smiled and kissed her right on the tip of her swollen round clitoris and she shuddered.
Her fingers threaded in his black hair and pushed his head against her.
He gathered wetness on the tip of his tongue and licked it with slow strokes.
"Yes..." She breathed relaxing her hold on his hair
His mouth worked in gentle circles. Tongue all over the place, trying to stimulate all the areas at the same time.
It was tricky; he had to pay attention to all her sounds and reactions, repeating those that had her gasping louder. He went as far to figure that her pushing herself against him meant harder and pulling away meant slowly.
sometimes the hair pulling meant get me off right fucking now and other times it meant please take forever never stop.
she was complicated like that.
"Mmm, you're good" she told him. "That way is good"
He liked to give her slow builds, so he started stroking her whole, spreading her wetness from her centre to the tip of her clitoris, slowly and evenly, applying the same pressure everywhere. Driving her closer to the edge with every flick of his tongue until he knew she was there by the way she breathed and how her fingers fumbled for the sheets and her legs weaken against his body.
She gasped louder when he dragged his bottom lip up and stopped on her tan lines, looking up at her with a little smirk.
"What" She asked breathless, lifting her head to look at him "why...would you stop?"
His fingers replaced his mouth; he used his forefinger to graze lightly over her.
"I just remembered–"
She panted and tightened her hold in his hair making him wince.
"What...could be so important that" she lost her air in the middle and took a break from talking "you decided..."
Percy laughed and brushed her clitoris with his lips making her shudder again "It's early. But I just remembered!"
"What?!" She asked impatiently in a low but wanting voice that made him wince again, this time at the press the bed had in his hard erection.
He moved his tongue over her bundle of nerves again "did you know..." He blew some air on top of it "that the clitoris has 8,000 sensitive nerve endings?"
"What!" she asked breathlessly.
He smirked and wrapped his lips around it and sucked trying to get her off.
Annabeth, still braced on her elbows, kept looking at him work her while trying to find meaning to his words. She hated when it got to this stage where she couldn't manage to get around his words because she was feeling numb.
When she did get his words she wished she could fight him.
Cocky Percy was the absolute worst (and best) while having sex and she wanted to get back at him for it. He couldn't comment something like that while having her at his complete mercy.
"You better..." She warned "oh! Make the 8000 work" the last word came all tangled in a moan.
She got comfortable in her upward position and watched him and he worked his mouth his best against her
"Ohgodsplease!"
Percy picked up his pace and dug his fingers on her thigh, breathing hard against her.
"Percy" she moaned "oh yes."
The last thing she moaned in complete ecstasy was his name.
She let herself fall against the soft pillows.
He moaned almost in pain against her bare thigh and she heard him curse and breath hard as he rested there.
How good could this get? She loved Percy and the way they could be together like this and make each other feel good.
Annabeth almost remembered how there was something that upset her before. That anguished her but as fast as it came to her mind the thought was gone when she felt his lips kissing her hip and leg while his hands brushing up and down her sides.
She sighed satisfied.
"You came" she whispered and moved her fingers to graze his messy hair
He made an affirmative sound and dragged himself up.
Annabeth sighed again, still numb and wobbly. Percy looked down at her absolutely in love. He was positive he would never get bored of seeing his perfectly reserved and thought through girlfriend get undone under his eyes when an orgasm hit her.
"That was probably...best I've ever..." She murmurred against his neck. He kissed her temple.
"That hurts me. All the others were crappy?"
"No" she said shaking her head. She kissed under his jaw "no. This one was just...so good"
"So the other ones paled in comparison."
She smirked "Mmm...Maybe you work better in the morning"
He cleaned his chin that was shiny wet with her juices with the back of his hand.
"I hope not! I'm not waking up at the ass crack of dawn for this."
Annabeth pushed his shoulder without force.
"Not even for me?" she locked eyes with him.
He absolutely loved that adorable blush she got when she reached her peak...he brushed her cheek.
"Maybe for you I'll think about it"
He smiled and then yawned and extended his arms up on the pillows.
"You have worn me out. I haven't recovered from last night that you wake me five hours later"
She smirked and slid herself all the way on top of him; she brushed her hands over his underarms all the way to his hands and intertwined their fingers.
"I guess that I'll have to do all the work...if you're that tired. I wouldn't want you to die of exhaustion" she smiled faking innocence.
"You don't have to. I already...you know, came" he blushed which made her laugh and kiss him.
Morning was already on the way. Sunshine streamed through his wide open window.
"I would have felt bad if you hadn't" she told him honestly.
He smiled and put his mouth to her ear "I couldn't help it, you have no idea how sexy you are while you..."
"Shut up!"
"It's true!"
"You got all cocky about it...down there."
He wriggled his eyebrows making Annabeth laugh again.
"Just something I read that made me think of you. Didn't I just prove it?"
She could already feel him inching up and hard against her thigh.
Annabeth rolled her eyes.
"Oh shut up!"
"Oh but Wise Girl, tell me you knew that one?"
He tried to free his fingers but she grabbed his hands tighter.
"Okay, you have your moments." She allowed and freed one of his hands and slid her hand inside his boxers grabbing his hot wet erection.
He breathed out "It's so sad I have only 4,000. Can you believe that? So unfair"
Annabeth laughed, "A pity."
Her thumb brushed his tip and she gave him a few good hand strokes to make him fully hard again.
He bit on his lip "I think it won't matter if you're doing that"
She let go to and together they moved his boxers out of the way
"Then I'll do all the work" She sighed as if it pained her. Her thighs found their way next to his.
"Oh you so love being in charge."
She grinned and moved to get the sun out of her eyes "Yes"
Her mouth found that one spot in his neck while she guided him where she wanted it.
They went back to sleep an hour before the alarm for breakfast was supposed to go off, they completely ignored it when it did; they were too tired because they spent the rest of morning gasping, moaning and sighing under the sheets.
"Tyson!" He exclaimed when he opened the door to his cabin after lunch.
"Brother!" The Cyclops hugged him tightly and he was temporally left without breath.
He breathed in deeply after Tyson let go "When did you came back?"
"Now!" His brother was already with a big flowery apron and a broom. "You and Annabeth, you two fine? Where is she?"
"She's–" He choked in his answer.
What he really did not expect to find when he side step him to enter the cabin was a beautiful display of a collection of things… over his recently made bed.
"I didn't know what to do with these things." He admitted nonchalantly and went to spray the windows with some cleaner "Should I put them in your closet?"
"Ah..." He started feeling his face hot, staring at the items. He could feel his brother's big brown eye watching him expectantly, a smile on his face.
They were mostly Annabeth's things...well, of course those sexy panties were hers.
Her cute little flowery panties...
They must have kicked them under the bed last night when they rapidly took their clothes off after the bonfire...no wonder Annabeth couldn't find them this morning, she hadn't slept with them on and well... she didn't need them this morning either.
He tried to push all thoughts about last night off his head. Or the night before last...
Or this morning.
But that bra? Since when had it been lying around? And that camp t-shirt? It was clearly too small to belong to him. It probably had been hiding under his piles of dirty clothes. There was a hair tie and a few bobby pins...
And that condom wrapper! They hadn't used condoms in months; Annabeth was on the pill, they didn't need them. He would have cleaned if he knew Tyson was coming!
He wasn't entirely sure if his brother knew what was going on. If he connected all the items to sex or if he even knew what sex was really. He surely didn't seem to be giving it away if he knew.
"You know what? Why don't you let me deal with these things?"
"Okay!" He smiled and dusted the hippocampus dangling from the ceiling.
Percy put the ripped tin foil package in his pocket...what to do with the rest?
He searched his desk and found a bright orange plastic bag that belonged to the camp store and stuffed the clothes inside.
"Tyson!" Annabeth marveled. He turned to find his girlfriend at the door with a big smile on her face.
"Annabeth!" Tyson went to hug her but Percy could tell he was gentler with her. "You're pretty"
"Thanks. Nobody tells me that, like ever" she eyed him for some reason and he just rolled his eyes
"What?! That's bull..!"
"Language" Tyson reprimanded.
"I tell you every day, Annabeth."
"Not even close." She snorted and addressed Tyson "Seriously, he never says anything." The Cyclops laughed.
"Percy!" Tyson reproached "you have to tell her she's pretty."
"I don't need to tell her she's pretty. She knows she is."
"Girls like reminders." Tyson offered and Percy laughed thinking it was weird to be getting dating advice from his Cyclops brother. "I tell Ella. Ella likes to be told" He blushed.
Annabeth crossed her arms and nodded with a smirk as if to say, you should listen to him, the guy knows.
Tyson turned and kept cleaning the cabin and Percy approached his girlfriend.
"Here Pretty Woman" he handed her the bag and she raised her eyebrow. He put his hands up and she took a look inside the bag.
"Ehem. What's this?"
"Stuff" he muttered "that Tyson found...around"
"Oh" she blushed too. "I see. Thanks."
Percy smirked noting that she was speechless for once.
"How is Ella by the way?" He asked Tyson without turning
"Ella is fine! Ella is pretty and pregnant."
"What?!"
"Ella is pretty and makes Tyson feel good" Tyson smiled
"Yes, but– you mean– I mean...what?"
Annabeth pinched him and smiled.
"Ella is pregnant with little baby!" Tyson clapped
"Right...so you mean–"
"Wow. Tyson, that's great! I'm so happy for you" Annabeth beamed at him.
"Tyson is excited for baby. I love baby."
"You sure are, that's great news" Annabeth said and nudged Percy in the gut, "babies are so cute."
"Yes. Yes, that's amazing big guy. You were really keeping a secret there."
He blushed and clasped his hands. "Tyson came back to tell the camp. Tonight at Camp Fire with Ella and friends."
"Everyone's gonna be so thrilled" Annabeth hugged Tyson and he laughed.
"Since when do you guys know?" Percy asked, still stun.
"Yesterday! She got pregnant yesterday."
"Wha–" Percy started.
"We're so happy for you two!" Annabeth said and Percy nodded quickly
"Percy's gonna be uncle and godfather to baby."
"Wow. Brother...that's–that's amazing. I'm honored. Thank you!"
"And Annabeth's gonna be auntie and godmother as well!"
"What, Really?" She asked, she expected they picked Percy for obvious reasons but her, it was a beautiful surprise.
Tyson nodded beaming
"Annabeth is kind, smart and pretty. Ella thinks so too."
"Oh, Tyson! I'm so flattered and ...excited, thanks"
He gave Percy another bear hug and Tyson smiled widely and took the apron off "I'll find Ella."
After he went away Percy turned to Annabeth horrified.
"What?! Is that even possible?"
Annabeth laughed at his expression "I don't know, I think everything is possible in this world."
"I'm serious Annabeth!"
"What, your brother has a girlfriend and she got pregnant. Is that so hard to believe? Not everyone uses birth control."
"Birth control...but-" her smirked assured him she was only teasing but it was too weird to him. Annabeth laughed again "how that's...how does it even work? Tyson's huge..."
Annabeth rolled her eyes "Seaweed Brain, you moron, stuff might not be the same way...what's the anatomy for a Cyclops and a Harpy? How should I know?"
"It's just..."
"Weird?"
Percy made a face and nodded, he couldn't help to be a little disgusted and horrified! Tyson was a baby...how was he, like, doing that. No, no. It was too much for his kelped mind.
Annabeth laughed again and put her arms around his neck.
"You're an idiot. Do you think it's weird when we do it too?"
"What?" His cheeks colored "No, but–"
"But but but. Percy, don't be like that. Just because they are not human doesn't mean they can't have kids or–"
"Have sex? That's my baby brother right there" he pointed outside the cabin, flustered "He's a baby, he's...he's baby innocent!"
Percy found it unpleasant and Annabeth was just smirking, he hated that she thought the situation was so amusing.
"Not everything is the same way...not with immortals anyway." She sighed "don't try to give it too much thought Seaweed Brain. You're gonna give yourself a headache."
"Dont tell me you don't find it remotely weird. This is Tyson for the gods' sake."
"Look, I told you not everything is the same way. Maybe there was no act involved; maybe it was just figurative love turning into a being. I was born out of a brain remember? My mom is a maiden goddess. Not once Athena, uh...touched my dad...or any man. How do I even exist?"
She scrunched her nose; Percy knew she didn't like talking about her brain birth.
"Still weird."
"You think I'm weird too, huh?" She punched him in the gut but then nodded "I guess I am weird...How am I suppose to exist if I'm just a thought?"
Percy smiled a little and wrapped his arms around her "Well, you look pretty solid to me. I'd say, you're a very solid and formed idea" he pinched her arm to make his point.
"Ouch!" She complained and pushed his hand away.
"Yeah, you're very solid indeed. And pretty, very pretty, too."
She raised an eyebrow "Are you taking your brother's advice?"
"I'm just making a statement. Athena has some very cool ideas." Thunder rumbled, "Hey! I'm saying nice things! Gods, we can't have a single private conversation?"
She laughed and Percy tightened his hug speaking close to her ear "you're not pretty, you're beautiful."
"Oh?"
His mouth brushed her cheek and went over to her lips. Annabeth felt those amazing tingles when their lips met, Percy's kiss started ghostlike, barely touching hers.
Annabeth decided she needed to look into how many nerve endings the lips had because his feathery kisses were making her breathless considering he was barely touching her. Warmth spreading through his lips to hers and to the tips of her being.
"Kiss me" she let out almost pleading. Percy chuckled against her mouth but responded, enveloping her mouth with his own, fitting his lips deliciously against hers... She pushed him against the post of his bunk bed "Harder Percy."
They kissed after that a little too passionately.
Her hands gripped the hair on the back of his head and his brought her closer by her hips.
A shiver went down her spine; he was fitting his lips every time with such care, spilling all his love into her. She gasped his name.
Annabeth nipped and pulled on his bottom lip trying to get back at him.
He tried to say something sassy but failed and a moaned slipped out instead "mmhn"
Annabeth suppressed her grin to keep kissing him like that.
He slipped his fingers under the hem of her camp t-shirt just an inch and Annabeth jumped forward at the touch.
A stomping of hoods over the wooden plank floor made them pulled away, breathless and flushed.
"Breaking that rule again, are we not?"
"Uh, Chiron..." Percy started; he had to swallow to get some air back. It wasn't doing much good to notice how Annabeth's lips were deep pink and a bit swollen. He wanted to slam the door and continue kissing her for three hours.
Annabeth opened her mouth to say something as well, to save him from the embarrassment.
The centaur held up his hand and gave them a side smile.
Really...they weren't supposed to. At least not in broad daylight. The little kids might see them, how was Chiron to explain that he left his two (favorite) students to be alone in a cabin, performing some not so PG activities.
"The door was opened?" Percy offered and brushed a hand through his hair. "We weren't doing anything."
"Come on, I have to talk to you two...about some recent events."
"Chiron" Percy tried, the centaur crossed his arms. "I thought we had...some kind of mutual understanding? Yeah? No?" He pulled a little at his beard, teasing him like old buddies, which they were, but he was still his teacher and an elder. Chiron watched him with an impassive face.
"Percy, shut up" Annabeth advised and pulled her boyfriend's hand away from the end of Chiron's beard.
"We never talked about any understanding."
"Chiron... We know we have been–" Annabeth failed to finish the sentence. Been what? Banging a lot lately? Missing on some activities because they found some other more interesting ones? Yes, that was it, plain and simple.
"We're not discussing this here. Both of you to my office" he tried to scowl at them but they weren't buying the supposedly angry face.
Percy tried to suppress his groan but Chiron caught him and turned with a small smile. He motioned for them to go before him and they started down the steps of the cabin towards the Big House.
Once inside the office they sat in the two old armchairs across his desk and he wheeled himself towards the other side of the desk, shuffling away reports and cards.
Chiron cleared his throat.
"I'm sure you guys heard about Tyson"
They nodded.
"Ella is going to be a mother, really?" Percy still couldn't believe that
"So it seems." He smiled
"To...what?" Percy asked in a lower tone, still absolutely perplexed.
"Gods Persues!" His girlfriend chided "we discussed this. Don't be a moron."
"I know Annabeth...its just–"
"Some kind and beautiful child" Chiron clarified "to what species, well the creature might be a harpy or a cyclops. As well as any other nature spirit. Harpies were wind spirits...originally, and Tyson is son to a nature spirit and your father"
"There are lots of possibilities, I told him that" Annabeth nodded towards Percy. "Now...?"
"Yes, we are not here because of the new baby. There are some other matters to attend to. I know that Percy has...some advantage, having the cabin to himself for most of the time"
Percy tried hard not to meet his teacher's eyes; he could feel them in his forehead.
Both teenagers stayed silent.
"And there's some notion that Annabeth's missing archery more often than not. And Percy completely stopped sword fighting in the arena, also...you guys seemed to be always missing, together"
Annabeth bit her lip when Chiron stayed silent waiting for a response, she thought Percy wouldn't speak up first, but he surprised her when he did.
"Sorry, time out, okay?" He made the sign and sat straighter in his chair "I need a break, can people let me be? Yeah, I've not been sword fighting every single day since the summer started and so what?" He pushed his hair back impatiently, the sign that it was too long and falling over his eyes.
Annabeth turned to him, he looked pretty pissed and she almost held a hand towards him but gripped her hands together in her lap, she didn't think he would appreciate that gesture right now.
"We need some time with the war going on and all that we were–We've been...to hell and back, alright? Freaking literally."
She tried to suppress the shiver that went down her spine but it didn't come unnoticed to any of them. His cheeks got hot, this time with anger. At Chiron for this talk, at himself for mentioning that. He hated making his girlfriend feel that way.
Chiron's face kept impassive. Letting Percy let it out before intervening.
"For what I know I'm better swordfighter than most. I won't lose my...skill" He always hated when people said he had skill for sword fighting...it was more of a need "because I missed a few times practicing or teaching...I don't want—I" he gritted his teeth, trying hard to not make this about Chiron, this wasn't his fault. That was just gossip. "I can't teach anymore. Let Jason take over"
"He has taken over."
"Good." he replied.
What about Jason and Piper... The guy has a cabin to himself as well, and they are there all the time. But maybe he and Annabeth know because...well, Annabeth told him because Piper told her. Jason never mentioned it to him, guys don't usually talk about that stuff and nobody at camp seemed to have noticed. And Piper is a daughter of the love goddess, parent to the most gossipy kids at camp.
But the unfairness of this conversation wasn't his real reason to be mad. He was kinda glad his friends didn't have to go through this when their relationship was so new. It would be rather (more) awkward for them if they hadn't done anything yet (not that he knew and if Annabeth knew she never told him about it).
He had another reason. Hiding away in his cabin all summer wasn't only because Annabeth was sexy (which she really was), it was because he couldn't stand it outside.
He couldn't go to the arena without getting angry and turning every single doll to pieces and every camper he faced got scared away.
The sword fighting started out okay, friendly swings of his sword but then something he couldn't exactly place took him back and he just got angrier and angrier and with that came the force, he forgot how to control himself.
It wasn't only sword fighting...it was most activities too. He couldn't climb the lava wall without getting flashbacks about climbing that cliff in Tartarus.
That left him riding Blackjack and walking at the bottom of the sea helping animals.
He couldn't do anything else without getting looks.
He couldn't face other campers knowing what they were whispering behind his back. Percy Jackson was not really back; this was some kind scary angry impostor.
Percy Jackson...that guy who went missing in November, he was lost still.
He sighed. "I...it makes me mad, I don't want to go. It makes me so mad."
"Oh Percy. It's okay" Annabeth said softly "you don't have to. You never have to" he wanted to hold her. To tell her everything was okay.
She looked at Chiron with that hard expression of hers, to see if he was going to disagree with her.
"We talked about that" Chiron reminded him "any improvements?"
Percy shrugged "I haven't been back."
"You can't run away from it. You have to face it and figure out a way to channel the ang-"
"And what if I don't want to?" He snapped regretting it after a second the words came out. "I don't need any practicing if this is about monsters outside...I don't–I don't want to go."
Annabeth took over when she saw her boyfriend's face "That's true. He doesn't need practicing, not more than I need to practice archery."
"And I know that–"
"And I'm my own counselor; I don't need to manage people around. Annabeth has Malcolm..."
"It's not like I haven't led my mother's cabin right. I take them to lunch and dinner, make them tidy up, I help the little ones with their picking interest in the best way that I can."
"That's right. She does. She taught herself all those stupid runes because that one of her siblings wanted to discuss it with someone. Have you seen those things? It looks like Chinese!" He looked at Annabeth and flashed her a big grin, his anger forgotten for a moment. He couldn't miss opportunities to compliment her "Did I tell you today that you're amazing?"
Annabeth rolled her eyes at him at the same time her cheeks turned crimson. She fiddled with the cushion on her lap and ignored Chiron's look.
"We have been teaching classes to the newbies and– I mean, other classes. We're both very good at crafts" he said, he didn't want to bring sword fighting again.
"And we're tired." She completed
"Damn right. We're tired." He agreed stretching his long lean legs on the old rug to make his point.
"I know all this." Chiron said looking sternly at both of them in turn, his eyes looked calm though (as always) and soothing in a way. And it did the trick to get them to shut up.
Chiron shook his head and sighed. Annabeth knew what was coming. She swallowed a curse.
"The rule still stands. Don't think for a minute that I haven't got a clue about what's going on in there. I've lived too many years, too many teenage heroes...I know how romantic relationships work and what they...need."
"Right" Annabeth muttered. She was trying to change the subject. This guy practically raised her more than her actual dad. He was the one Annabeth was embarrassed about opening up to say she was actually (more than) sexually active. She was surely blushing.
When her father asked about it (he sent his wife to question her first) she was more like 'yeah, of course I'm having (wonderful) sex.' She said it proud, stating a fact, standing her ground with her hands on her hips. Because it was none of his business what she did or didn't do with her boyfriend.
"Please don't talk about hormones. It's enough with my mother talking about it every time we're over." Percy pleaded looking up as if saying gods help me.
Chiron chuckled and shook his head again. "I've been a teenager myself" Percy raised his eyebrow. "Hard to believe Percy? I know about being young and full of...energy. Well, the hormones. They do wonders don't they?"
Shit. Annabeth couldn't say she didn't love them whenever she got Percy like...she blushed harder trying to get last night images out of her head.
"I know you need the time to be alone and–"
"We're fine" she said firmly. Chiron wasn't asking with so many words but the question was clear in his eyes as he switched them steady between them.
Percy went back to staring at the floor, trying to slow down the anger rising again. He felt this way whenever anyone asked them how they were, with almost a pitiful expression, he hated it. He knew they were being nice and they were concerned but...he felt weak under the pity eyes. The anger made his head pound and it hurt, he needed to suppress it...maybe a few hours in the arena would help. That was bullshit, it didn't. He knew how that ended. His anger only seemed to increase and scared people around him.
He needed...well, sex.
"I know you won't appreciate me asking."
"Then don't" Percy almost barked.
He looked at Annabeth, who was looking at Percy. He shrugged at her.
Annabeth breathed in "We–" she started but didn't seem to find any suitable words.
"Annabeth, my sweet girl...or should I say woman?" He smiled a little towards her.
Her cheeks reddened again. She still remembered first meeting him...10 freaking years ago.
She breathed, that was a long time.
"How are you two doing?" He asked and then chuckled to himself and Annabeth glared at him.
"What?!" She asked, why was he laughing at them?
Chiron shook his head and then raised his eyebrow "I mean how you are doing besides the not so extracurricular activities."
"Oh" she tried to avoid his eyes. The sex references where getting to her, she wasn't appreciating this in the least. "Fine" she repeated, grey eyes hard.
Percy shrugged when he realized Chiron was waiting for his answer too.
"Anything you'd like to talk about?" He inquired.
Tartarus, this was Tartarus talk. Annabeth didn't know if the sex talk was better.
"Not really" Annabeth replied monotonous.
"You need to keep talking to each other, if it helps" his teacher pressed.
"It helped-helps" Percy commented still not meeting his eyes.
Annabeth scoffed, it was like they were getting marriage counseling.
"You guys need to keep the communication flowing."
They were still freaking 18. (Well, Percy is still 17…his birthday is weeks away)
Percy nodded "Yes, we talk."
"That's good." He kept quiet after saying that.
Annabeth shook her head exasperated.
"Can we go?" Percy pleaded
"Not yet," Chiron sighed and gave them a kind smile "sex..." Percy swallowed another groaned; he couldn't believe this was happening. Even his mother kept her distance with the topic, teasing only a few times a day. "I know sex feels good..."
'You don't say...' Annabeth thought trying to keep her cool. Her cheeks were unnaturally hot.
"...but you don't have to, er, avoid certain...discussions." Even Chiron was having trouble saying this and he was the kind that said things straight to your face without hesitation.
Still Percy couldn't picture giving this lecture to Achilles or Patroclus, so maybe this was a first.
"Certain discussion?" Annabeth asked raising her eyebrows.
"Yes. With your past experiences it might be easier to...turn to something physical that turns out to feel good rather than talk it out. You know, talk about whatever it's bothering you. That's why I insist on the talking."
"We do talk to each other" Annabeth remarked defensibly. "Not everything is..." That. She stopped herself.
"That's good. I'm just making sure you understand that turning to an activity like that one when you're upset won't make you feel great after the effect passes."
Annabeth nodded, thinking about this morning.
Well, the effect doesn't pass when you do it repeatedly.
Chiron cleared his throat.
Percy wasn't going to care if he forbade them. They actually already didn't cared that it was forbidden. It's going to add to it, was all he thought. They were going to manage it even if it was forbidden. It was going to be sexier for it.
They were freaking teenagers, they had needs. It was stupid to even think so. They wouldn't ever stop it. Not when they finally figured each other out, not when it was so freaking good.
They were being careful, they were enjoying it. As their relationship went they only had a few things that were in the absolutely normal couple thing to do, this was one of them.
It was healthy for the gods' sake! And he was going to fight for it.
"Now, what you mention in your cabin, about a so call mutual understanding."
Percy nodded "People will comment if they knew...and they kinda already know."
"Comment, yes, these things...they spread like wild fire. I can't take sides or show favoritism, you know that, especially not with so many new campers. I can't take off this rule; we can't have...it would make everything complicated."
Percy grinned deviously, looking up for the first time. Of course a lot of teenagers running around in cabins with their partners was a complication.
"Well I'm sorry if we are your favorites, that's what I'm gonna say" He joked.
"I'm serious," Chiron replied "do you still have trouble sleeping?"
"I've always had trouble sleeping" Annabeth replied.
"You know what I mean." He nodded towards Percy.
"I think" Percy started "I…It's been less than half a year."
Everybody in Annabeth's cabin knew she slept with him and probably everybody in the other cabins knew too.
Chiron never authorized it; they just started because they couldn't bear it. It was too hard for her when she lie in bed for hours thinking that maybe he was being taken away again and seeing him almost dead after taking too many curses from the aria. And Percy couldn't sleep with his light off if she wasn't there to comfort him. He didn't even need to be sleeping because he couldn't close his eyes without seeing Tartarus there, without seeing the nightmares…the only thing that anchored him to reality was her, her voice, her smell and her lips.
They prevent each other from getting panic attacks, they just couldn't sleep alone.
Annabeth bit her lip, trying not to ask her next question.
"I can sleep in his cabin then?" She blurted out, this was important. He was letting them, breaking the rules with or for them.
He was the camp director; he shouldn't encourage them to this but in Percy's view you could be nothing but evil if he said they couldn't?
Chiron made a sound like tsk. Percy went back to staring at the floor.
The centaur stayed silent as if thinking for a minute. He looked at Annabeth then, boring his eyes that held eons into her grey.
Annabeth nodded. Not out loud, that was what it said.
Percy raised his gaze towards them, staring between the two like a tennis match.
"Okay, I'm still here, you know?" Annabeth tried to suppress her grin. He always hated when they did that "mind sharing?"
"As long as it helps." Chiron concluded.
There, he didn't exactly say it but it was more than implied. He didn't even need to nod to Annabeth or anything.
"It helps! We–I need it" she hated showing weakness but if they were banned (which they actually were) to sleep together she didn't know what she was going to do.
Chiron cleared his throat "As long as you're responsible about it."
"Oh, Please" Annabeth scoffed and Chiron smile bigger this time.
"I know, I know" he chuckled again "I'm not that old and I've already got grandkids"
"Oh gods" Percy commented with his hands covering his face. "We're not...having kids alright? Not yet anyway"
"Not yet" Annabeth agreed shaking her head with a small smile.
"Good. No comments about it. And do your activities, please."
"Will do" they said at the same time
"Good kids. Be discrete"
Annabeth nodded, stood and hugged Chiron's neck.
When she pulled away Chiron held her hands and watched her sternly.
"I'm serious, be careful..."
"Chiron...of course!" He patted her blushed cheek, smiling.
Chiron held her by the arms when she tried to walk away "Annabeth, you are sure you're alright?"
"We're…better" Annabeth concluded smiling a bit "right, Percy?"
Percy looked at them standing beside his seat with his hands in his jean pockets.
"It's getting easier" he replied shrugging.
"Better and easier is good." Chiron nodded "You two are so grown."
Annabeth laughed "You're not gonna start tearing up are you?"
Chiron chuckled
"Off you go now kids" Percy shook his head with a side smile.
"See you Chiron."
"Thank you."
He grabbed her hand and started walking towards the dock.
He didn't speak until they were there, looking down at the lake they had their first ever underwater kiss.
"Are you mad?"
He shook his head "No, I want to be mad at someone, but I'm not."
She made an agreeing sound.
"Is he right?" He asked
"You feel he's right?"
"I'm asking what you think. Do we do that?"
"I don't know."
"Come on Annabeth, you're smart. I'd trust your judgment blindly and..." She winced and looked away, "Shit sorry, not the best choice of words." He run a hand through his hair "do we turn towards it to avoid other stuff?"
"What I said is true. I wasn't lying when I told him we do talk to each other."
"I don't know."
"You feel like we don't talk to each other." she stated, not a question. She could feel his uneasiness, his doubt.
"Maybe not as much as we should."
"It doesn't always help," she remarked letting go of his hand. She was getting defensive but not knowing towards whom. Was she defending herself for not wanting to talk? Was she defending them as a couple, what she believed they were?
She hated when people talk about her relationship as if they knew. Like Chiron had done in his office. As if– their relationship only had two people, that was them. No one else could butt their way in.
But Percy was here discussing this with her and he made 50% of the relationship.
She could be 50% wrong.
If she had to take a step back and observe their relationship as an outsider...did they talk enough?
"It doesn't always help." She repeated.
"I know but maybe–"
"You're saying it about this morning, right?"
"What was your nightmare about?" He almost glared at her.
"Percy–I don't really...I–" She faltered and shook her head.
She hugged herself and looked the other way.
"Don't get upset" He whispered sliding his arms around her waist. He talked against her temple "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap."
She shook her head again. "We do that."
"I think so. I know I did."
"I did this morning." She confessed but he already knew "It helps me forget, it helps me sleep. I enjoy it, it is better than talking."
"I know."
She chewed on her lip. "We should—"
"Stop the other."
"Know when it's coming. You could tell this morning, why didn't you stop me?"
"I just–I just want to make you feel good. I don't want you thinking..."
He breathed in and pressed his forehead against hers "it got me so distressed to think that you...I want you to forget too."
She blinked the tears away. "That's one of my reasons too."
"You don't want me thinking and getting angry. You want to distract me, as well."
She nodded "I'm sorry."
"We both do it."
They stayed silent wrapped in each other's arms.
"I know" he said "let's get a safe word!"
Annabeth pulled away to see his face, light eyebrows furrowed "Seriously?"
"Yes, something like...peanut butter" she laughed
"I feel like we're stealing a battle cry from Tyson."
"Right. Gave me a word. The first that comes to your mind."
"Architecture."
He grinned "Oh gods, my girlfriend is such a nerd!" She rolled her eyes. "Another word that comes to your mind. Is that all you kind think of?"
"Mmm. Percy!" He laughed "What?! It's the first two words that always come to my mind."
"So I'm second to Architecture?!" He asked setting a hand to his heart. "That hurts."
She snickered "You're a close second."
"Oh, a close second, I feel so important now."
She pecked his lips and put her arms around his neck "You should be grateful for close second."
"Right..." He said and she laughed "Come on, give me another word."
She bit on her lip thinking. Pressing her face against his shoulder, his tshirt was soft cotton and it smell nice and she liked it...pressed into him the only thing she could see was..."blue"
"Okay. Blue. That's it" he nodded "I like blue."
"Every time there's something like this the other has to go 'blue'."
"No denying a talk."
"Never denying a talk." She agreed "No more kissing until we figure out what was wrong."
He nodded "Yes. And don't go playing tricks on me. I'm just a teenaged boy."
"Are you implying you can't contain yourself because you're a boy?" She asked, hands on her hips.
"No, but I'm weak when you kiss me...like this morning. I just couldn't say no."
She rolled her eyes "Okay, I promise to try."
"I promise to try too." He let go of her and backed a step at arm's length. He spat on his hand.
"Percy!"
"Come on." He held his hand towards hers.
"I'm not doing that."
"Come on! We need to promise we'll use blue whenever the other is using sex to cover issues."
"I promised already. I'm not shaking your hand."
"Oh come on. We used to do this!"
"We've never done that. You're mixing me up with Mrs O'leary."
"Come on Wise Girl, it's just a handshake."
"I'm not spiting on my hand."
"Then there's no promise" he spat on his hand again because it had trickled down to the dock. Annabeth look at his saliva grossed out. "Come on, don't tell me you find my saliva disgusting. I don't remember you say anything against it this morning when I use it to-"
She rolled her eyes "Agh. You're annoying, shut up."
He grinned and she spat on her right hand reluctantly.
He clasped her hand hard and shook it but didn't allow her to let go. He rubbed his palm and mixed their spits together.
"Percy this is gross."
"Just a bit of our precious saliva mixed up. They have mixed before."
He let go laughing and cleaned his hand on his jeans.
She pushed her palm against his mouth and rubbed it all over his face.
He sputtered and rubbed the back of his hand against his face.
"Betrayal!" He shouted and she backed away to the edge of the dock.
"What?!" She asked putting her hands up innocently "It's the lovely spit that sealed our promise!"
She laughed and tried to run forward towards the woods but he blocked her path.
"Do you want a taste?"
"Mmm, yum! can't wait."
He cornered her and she stood balancing on her feet at the edge.
"You're good." He complimented her balancing skills, she smirked. "Too bad you can't walk on water."
"Okay" she laughed, looking right into his mischievous green eyes. He was going to push her "just let me get my t-shirt off–" he pushed her, throwing him at least a two feet forward.
She shirked and hit the water. She came up sputtering, hair over her eyes. She pushed it away impatiently.
"Persues Jackson! You come here right now!"
He shrugged and jumped right beside her causing a big wave.
"Oh gods help you Persues!"
"Blue!" He squeaked when he saw her eyes, sparkling dangerously.
"No way!"
"I just blue-ed you. You have to stop, let's discuss this!"
"There's nothing to discuss."
She swam towards him fast. (Not really) she could feel the familiar tugs of the current against her body, helping her, pushing her forward towards him.
He grabbed her waist and she put her hands on top of his head and pushed him down.
He opened his eyes just below the surface, they were impossibly green. He smiled and went lower.
Annabeth suck in air when she felt his hand wrapped around her calf tugging down. She kicked his hand away and sank down head first using her hands and legs to get low.
She reached towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck to stay down; the air was slowly tugging her up again.
Percy gathered some air and formed a bubble for her to breathe.
"We promised Chiron we were going to do our activities." Annabeth reminded him "I don't know if that includes hanging out under water."
Percy checked his wrist for a nonexistent watch "I think we are good."
Annabeth rolled her eyes but grinned and let him kiss her underwater like he had done what it felt like a lifetime ago.
Hi guys, this is something I had checked by my beta and ready to publish a long time ago it was just sitting in my folder because I never got the time to do so.
I hope you liked it