Stepping in yet another cow patty was not how Annabeth wanted to start her day but at this point, she was considering carrying extra shoes in her backpack at all times.
This happened nearly every damn day. A constant reminder that one goddess is still petty about something Annabeth said when she was barely fifteen. Now she was a twenty year old college Sophomore still suffering the consequences.
Percy was leaning against a pillar just down the steps outside of her dorm building. The dorms at New Rome University weren't co-ed so every day, Percy would patiently wait outside to walk her to class. One of his many small gestures Annabeth found so adorable.
"I'm going to kill her," Annabeth said as she approached Percy.
"What?" He looked down at her shoes, "Oh… Do you need to go change?"
"No. We can't be late for class. We have a test today, remember?"
"Wait, are you serious?"
Annabeth laughed, grabbing his hand and pulling past him, "Come on, Seaweed Brain."
"Annabeth, I'm being so serious right now. Are you for real?"
She answered with an eye roll as she pulled him along the sidewalk.
The test went better than he expected, given that he didn't study a single bit. Turns out he's pretty decent at environmental science.
Hand in hand, they walked back to Annabeth's dorm so she could go change shoes.
"This is so stupid," Percy complained.
"I know. I hate that bitch."
"You would think being immortal gods, they'd have better things to worry about but they're too obsessed with making our lives miserable."
"Percy, shush, the last thing we want is for more gods to be pissed."
"Bring it on."
"Percy-"
"I'm the one they should be afraid of."
"Don't start this again!"
"Why not? You know it's true. I don't know why I'm not allowed to talk about it. The gods suck and I'm not going to kiss their asses by-"
"You just can't, Percy! We don't need anymore problems right now. We've talked about this."
"Have we? Because all I remember is you shutting me down."
"You just can't be thinking like that, ok? It's freaky and I- I just can't, ok? Just cut it out."
"Is this about Tartarus?"
"I don't want to talk about that place."
"Well, maybe we should. We can't just pretend it didn't happen. I think it's hurting our relationship and I don't want that."
"Well, it's not about that anyway! Well, maybe it is, kind of, but- Ok that thing with Akhlys really freaked me out and we never really talked about it and I can't just forget it happened," Tears that had been waiting to come out for years started building in Annabeth's eyes.
"Well, let's talk about it. I think we should. Here," Percy patted a spot at the base of a pillar, gesturing for her to sit by him. Annabeth obliged.
"I just can't do it again. It's not worth it," Tears were dropping down Annabeth's cheeks now, "I'm not just going to stand by when you finally snap and decide you've had enough just because I have some stupid crush on you I…" she trailed off.
"Annabeth," he took her hands in his, "I'm not Luke."
"Are you sure? Because sometimes you sound an awful lot like him and I know the warning signs now and I don't want to lose you-"
"You're not going to lose me."
"And I don't want to get dragged along because if it's between losing you and getting dragged along, I honestly… I'd just have to get dragged along. I know that and I hate that and I don't want that. I just want to be happy and peaceful for once ever and…"
"The only thing I want is for us to be happy, I promise. Yeah, the gods fucking suck but you know what? So do mortals."
This got a little chuckle out of Annabeth, which made Percy smile.
"So you're not going to do anything stupid?" Annabeth asked.
"Well, I can't promise I won't do anything stupid but I won't try to take down the gods if that's what you're thinking. Honestly, I'm just over it. I'm over all the fighting. I don't care if they're terrible anymore. Maybe at a time I did, but I love our life now and I love you more than I dislike them."
"Ok. Thank you. I appreciate hearing that."
"But you already knew that though, didn't you?"
"Excuse me?"
Percy looked away as if he was thinking carefully about his words.
"I'm saying…" he began, "you already knew how I felt about these things and it never bothered you until… until your falling out with your mom-"
Annabeth dropped his hand. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Are you really afraid of me turning into Luke or are you afraid that you're turning into Luke?"
"What in Hades are you talking about?"
"He was right and you know it and that scares you."
"No he wasn't and I'm not and I don't-"
"And I know that's hard to think about because it complicates things-" and you'd have to admit you were wrong Percy thought, but he didn't say that.
"I can't do this right now."
"Annabeth-"
"Just… give me a minute"
As Annabeth walked up the steps back to her dorm, she thought that Percy was more observant than she tended to give him credit for. How long had he been thinking about this and not saying anything?
She shook the thought from her head. It didn't matter. He was wrong… wasn't he?