"You're fucking with me right?" Percy rubbed his eyes, clearly annoyed or exhausted. Maybe both.
"That's what I said," She had time to come to terms with the "task". Well, not really. It still bothered her, and she almost felt embarrassed to share it with him.
"I mean I guess that explains why she wouldn't give the task to some of the younger demigods."
Annabeth raised her eyebrows, nodding her head. She hadn't shared the more personal side of the conversation with Aphrodite. She wasn't ready to share that yet.
Percy's shoulders slumped. He sat down on the edge of his bed and rubbed his chin, where a patch of stubble fought valiantly against his shaving routine.
Now that it had been pointed out, Annabeth saw just how much of Percy's frustration bubbled under the surface. Could she really be the cause?
"Just us? Quests have always been done by a group of 3," He held up his three fingers as he said it.
Annabeth shrugged. "I don't know. Aphrodite made it seem like it was more of a couples task. But I do like the idea of having a third wheel, just to spite her."
Percy snorted. "Who are you thinking of?"
"I don't know. How do we even ask our friends to get involved with this?"
Percy shrugged. "Come stop mass murder with us, oh and by the way we're gonna need to make an Aphrodite's Secret run while we're at it."
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Something like that."
She had been standing in by the door but now moved to sit next to Percy on the bed. He took her hand. "You know, if I'm being honest, I do think maybe it would be nice to get away for a bit. Not that I'm wishing for some 'fate of the world hangs in the balance' quest."
Annabeth nodded, she knew how he felt. They had had so many adventures together, it was nice to settle down, but she had also felt like something was missing from their lives. Although, she wondered if the missing feeling was from lack of something else…
"Piper?" Percy asked.
Annabeth considered this, of all their friends, Piper may just be the only person who could stomach coming with them. "I mean, what's the worst she can say? No?"
"Yeah, but please don't make me ask her. I'll come with you but…"
Annabeth nodded sympathetically. "I'll do the talking."
Percy stood up and began packing a bag. "How do you lose your…?"
He trailed off.
Annabeth's cheeks turned a shade pinker. She stood and stuck her hands in her back pockets. "I don't know… and I'm not sure I want to know. Best case scenario she lost it at the laundromat, but something tells me gods don't need to utilize a public laundry facility."
"So, we're gonna need gloves and a biohazard bag."
"Yeah…. Touching it would not be wise," she crossed her arms, she suddenly felt self conscious. "You'd be driven mad with love… or more likely…"
Percy shuddered. "Yeah, I think I got it."
He stuffed one last item in the bag and zipped it up, then tossed it in unceremoniously next to the doorway.
"Well," he said, closing the distance between them. Annabeth again felt extra conscious as he leaned in. "It's a good thing I'm already mad in love with you. When do we leave?"
They sat with Piper for breakfast. Piper eyed them as she ate. Annabeth held her gaze for a moment and a silent conversation passed between them. It went something like:
Piper You okay?
Annabeth Not really but I'll tell you about it later.
Piper you guys fighting?
Annabeth no, tell you after.
Piper shrugged and went back to her oatmeal. Percy seemed to stack more blueberry pancakes on his plate than usual.
Annabeth finished the last of her scrambled eggs. She didn't have much appetite but made herself eat the small serving.
She put down the fork and cleared her throat. "We have… a quest."
Piper's eyes moved back and forth between the two of them. "You need a third?"
Percy nodded without meeting her eyes. He stuffed another bite of syrupy pancake in his mouth.
Piper cautiously watched him. "What's the quest?"
Annabeth looked around the dining pavilion. "It's from Aphrodite…"
Piper raised her eyebrows.
Annabeth continued. "We have to find something of hers… a, um, personal item."
Piper stared at her for a second, then glanced at Percy. She laughed.
"Yeah, she would. Wouldn't she?" Piper raised her eyes upward. Piper sighed, then returned her gaze to Annabeth. "Yeah I'm in. But we need to chat."
Piper stood and Annabeth followed. They made their way to a more private area.
Piper crossed her arms. "You guys still abstinent?"
Annabeth nodded. "Yeah."
"You know that's why she's doing this?"
"I had my suspicions."
Pipers eyes narrowed. "Then You know it's probably not a good idea for him to come?"
Annabeth shrugged. "Yeah, but Aphrodite was pretty insistent."
"Yeah, I'm sure she was!"
"Pretty sure she wanted it to be just the two of us."
"So-" Piper shook her head. "You know what this is really about. Are you sticking to your goal?"
Annabeth closed her eyes. "Yeah."
"That's going to be almost impossible on this trip."
"I know," Annabeth said.
Piper thought for a moment then smiled. "I'll go pack my bag."
Annabeth returned to her spot by Percy.
"She's coming?" He asked.
"Yeah, she'll come," Annabeth frowned thinking of the quasi-warning Piper had shared with her.
Percy looked at her and smiled. He must have sensed her worry because he said, "Hey we're gonna be fine. We've done plenty of quests before. This'll be a piece of cake."
Annabeth smiled at his optimism. "Yeah. I'm just a little worried that… well, maybe we should talk about it later."
Percy stood and offered her his hand. "Or, we can head out and talk about it now. I'm done eating."
She took his hand and stood. They left the dining area together.
They walked in silence, making their way toward a shaded walking path near the little tiber. Annabeth could hear the sound of running water and birds chirping in the trees above.
Before him she could speak Percy squeezed her hand and broke the silence. "I think I know why you're nervous."
"Do you?"
"Um.. well, I think so, but if I'm wrong it's probably gonna sound really bad."
A single jogger headed toward them from further up the path and they continued in silence until the runner was far behind them.
"Your goal," he said hesitantly. "To make it to 20 before.. you know. And this whole situation… it seems like its really… tense. And you're worried about… me… if I can keep it in my pants."
Annabeth took a deep breath. Sometimes she forgot, Percy was smart- he just acted like an idiot. She realized she was holding her breath and exhaled.
"Yeah," she stared at the ground as it passed under her feet. "I know it's probably stupid."
"It's not," Percy said. She looked at him. He wouldn't meet her eyes. "Why invite me then?"
"She wanted us both. I think… well, I think she wants to push us," Annabeth shrugged. "She said you're miserable. That I'm making you miserable.."
Percy stopped walking.
Annabeth released his hand and crossed her arms. "It's true isn't it?"
Percy thought for a moment, his expression unreadable. "No," he finally said. "It's not true."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you lying to me?"
Percy shook his head. "Look, honestly? It does suck, but no I'm not miserable. Actually, when I'm thinking clearly, it makes a ton of sense. So, I'm glad that you're doing it- that we're doing it. Or," he laughed lightly. "Not doing it."
She laughed and they resumed their walk. "Thank you," she finally said, reaching for his hand again. "It means a lot to me."
"As for the trip, It sounds like things are going to get…" he grinned as if he were thinking of an inside joke. "Um… hard."
Annabeth pushed him. He laughed and she had to smile.
"But look," he stopped again turning her to face him. He put both hands on her waist. "I promise you this: I will not pressure you into anything you don't want to do. Because I love you. And there's no way I would hurt you."
Time seemed to freeze. Annabeth felt her insides beginning to liquify. She wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him, completing the liquefaction, her body melted against his and she let him pull her close.
The rushing sound of the river turned to a low roar and she was pulled back to reality.
"Percy," she said. "I love you too. More than ever."
"We are going to have fun on this quest. Even though it's going to be…" he grinned again. "…difficult. Even though her mcguffin is ridiculous. She wants to torture us? We won't let her win."
