Percy could barely focus on work. But, honestly, he wasn't sure how much longer he would keep this job. He felt like hunting monsters was what he was really supposed to be doing - not tech support.
Instead of doing any work, Percy kept a loose eye on Chris Rodriguez. But Chris didn't seem to be doing anything different from his normal job.
An hour later, Percy returned to Annabeth's office. She had the bronze paneling behind her desk. Percy asked to borrow the screwdriver.
Annabeth waved at him to keep at it. She was focused on her quarterly planning report. But she watched as Percy worked on the bronze paneling. At first, he tried to bend it with his strength. Yeah, that didn't go well. Annabeth almost snorted. But they only had a half-hour before the meeting.
"You should know that bronze is a strong metal. It isn't just going to bend because you pull it."
"Yeah, I'm getting that," Percy muttered. He pulled out his lighter.
"Whoa! No fire in my office." Annabeth said.
"What other options do we have?" Percy asked.
"Alright, just be careful." Annabeth let him do it. She looked away. Whatever he was doing, she didn't want to watch.
"Hey, can I have some of that water?" He asked gesturing to the pitcher on her desk.
"Go for it," Annabeth said. She wrapped up her report and started watching him work. Wait, was he moving the water? He appeared to be using it to heat and cool the bronze.
Percy managed to cut out a piece and shape it into a dagger. He presented it to her, "For you."
When he was done, they still had ten minutes to get to the meeting. Percy returned to the tech support floor, and Annabeth waited on the floor the meeting was on. She tried not to look conspicuous.
Percy discretely followed Chris to the meeting. Once he was inside, Percy and Annabeth exchanged a nod, before going in themselves.
"Stop!" Percy yelled as he walked in. Then he realized it may have been a little premature. Mrs. Dodds sat behind a desk, no wings, talons, or fangs in sight.
"Percy? What are you doing here?" Chris asked.
"You!" Mrs. Dodds screamed out in anger, clearly, she was looking at Percy.
"Have we met before?" Percy asked.
"Percy Jackson," She said angrily, practically snarling. Then she transformed before their very eyes. Okay, now she had wings, talons, and fangs.
"My name is Johnson," Percy said.
"Percy, not the time. Chris, let's get you out of here," Annabeth said.
"Don't have to tell me twice!" He said and hightailed it out of the room.
"Percy, keep her focused on you. I'll work around and get to her." Annabeth said quietly as she began skirting around the perimeter of the room.
"How do I do that?" Percy whispered back.
"Figure it out, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said.
"Hey, big ugly! You want a piece of me?" Percy taunted her with his arms spread wide.
Mrs. Dodds screeched. She started flapping her wings and flying. Annabeth was almost to that side of the desk when Mrs. Dodds turned directly toward her.
"And what do you think you're doing?" She said.
"I'm going to stop you from killing anyone else in this building," Annabeth said confidently. Where did that come from? Best to just go with it.
When Mrs. Dodds swooped down at her, Annabeth swung with the dagger. It caught Mrs. Dodds' talons. Annabeth pushed up, and Mrs. Dodds retreated slightly.
Percy further away. "Hey! What about me? Aren't you busy chasing me?" Percy yelled.
Mrs. Dodds turned away from Annabeth. But Annabeth wasn't deterred. She climbed up on Mrs. Dodds' desk to get a better vantage point. Then she jumped on the fury's back.
Mrs. Dodds tried to throw her off. But Annabeth held tight. Once she had a good grip, she raised the dagger and slammed it into Mrs. Dodds' upper back.
Unfortunately, they were in the air when Mrs. Dodds turned to dust. So Annabeth started to fall, and Percy dove to catch her.
She landed on him, not lightly. Letting out twin groans, they slowly got up.
"That was incredible! How did you know to jump on her back?" Percy said.
"I don't know! I just had an instinct that I needed to stab her between her shoulder blades - or wings, I guess." Annabeth replied.
"So what? Do we just go back to work now?" Percy joked.
"Yes," Annabeth said.
"Wait, really? I was kidding." Percy said.
"We have jobs to do," Annabeth said as she swiped any extra dust off her pantsuit. But she kept the dagger.
"Alright."
