Until Dawn
Or, Percy and Annabeth talk after a particularly exhausting day.
Annabeth shifted her backpack from one shoulder to the other as she went inside Percy's room with him. The day had been one of those days when everything seemed to go wrong. They had bombed their history presentation, missed the bus home, and had to endure an impromptu thunderstorm on their walk back. Yet none of it felt so bad when she was with Percy.
Their day had started early, with both of them groggily meeting up at the school gates, yawning and nursing decently large cups of coffee. They had hoped for an uneventful day, but fate had other plans. First, their history teacher had moved their presentation to the first period, catching them off guard. Despite their late-night preparations, their minds went blank, and they stumbled through their slides, earning sympathetic smiles from their classmates and a mildly disappointed but sorry frown from their teacher.
"At least that's over," Percy had muttered as they walked out of the classroom, attempting to lighten the mood.
Annabeth had nodded, squeezing his hand reassuringly, though she couldn't shake off the sense of embarrassment. "We did our best," she said, trying to console her best friend and also partly herself. "Next time, we'll be more prepared."
"Come on! It wasn't our fault!" Percy groaned in mild exasperation, as he hip checked her playfully. "It's not like we could've even predicted that Mr. Brunner would adjust our presentation to first period."
Annabeth sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know, I know. It's just frustrating. We put in all that effort, and then…"
Percy chuckled softly. "Well, at least we'll have a good story to tell when we're old and gray."
She smiled, unable to resist his infectious optimism. "Yeah, I guess so."
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of textbooks and lectures. In English, they were assigned a surprise group project, which meant partnering up with students they barely knew. Percy ended up with Clarisse, who was more interested in doodling on her notebook than discussing Shakespeare, while Annabeth found herself paired with a quiet girl named Katie, who seemed nice but hardly spoke a word.
As they trudged to their next class, Percy glanced at Annabeth. "Could this day get any worse?"
Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "Don't jinx it, Percy. You know how our luck usually goes."
He groaned in response, but couldn't help but laugh. "You're right. Let's just get through the next few hours."
In math class, their teacher, Mrs. Dodds, decided it was the perfect time for a pop quiz. Annabeth, usually a whiz with numbers, found herself struggling to focus, her mind still reeling from their disastrous presentation. Percy, on the other hand, did his best to recall last night's hurried study session, but he could feel the answers slipping through his fingers like sand.
When the bell rang, signaling the end of the quiz, they exchanged weary glances.
"Did you manage to answer number five?" Percy asked, stuffing his quiz paper into his backpack.
Annabeth shook her head. "Not a chance. I couldn't even remember the formula."
They headed to the cafeteria, hoping for a brief respite from their chaotic day. But as luck would have it, Percy's lunch tray tipped over just as he reached their table, sending a cascade of spaghetti splattering across the floor.
Annabeth winced, rushing to help him clean up. "Guess I should have seen that coming."
Percy sighed, accepting a handful of napkins from her. "I'm starting to think the universe is out to get us today."
Their lunch period passed in a mixture of laughter and exasperation as they recounted their morning mishaps. By the time they left the cafeteria, both felt a bit lighter, despite the lingering frustrations.
However, things hadn't improved much during the rest of the school day. In gym class, Percy accidentally got hit in the face with a basketball, leaving a red mark on his cheek and adding a touch of physical discomfort to his already rough day. Meanwhile, Annabeth managed to trip over her own shoelaces during the game, earning her a scrape on her knee and a good-natured round of teasing from the other students.
Next came science, where their teacher announced a lab experiment that required precise measurements and steady hands. Of course, the stress of the day had taken its toll, and Percy ended up mixing the wrong chemicals, causing a minor but pungent explosion that filled the room with an awful smell. Annabeth, trying to salvage their grade, meticulously noted down the incident, hoping for some leniency from the teacher.
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Percy and Annabeth trudged to their lockers, only to face one last obstacle. Percy's locker refused to open, no matter how many times he twisted the combination lock. After a few minutes of futile attempts and a growing line of impatient students behind him, a passing teacher finally helped him out with a spare key.
"Just perfect," Percy muttered, slamming his locker shut once he had retrieved his things.
Annabeth patted his shoulder sympathetically. "At least it's over now. Let's just get out of here."
They walked towards the school gates together, their steps heavy, but their spirits slowly lifting at the prospect of leaving the day's troubles behind. Percy looked over at Annabeth, his expression a mixture of fatigue and relief. "I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a serious nap."
Annabeth laughed, linking her arm with his. "Agreed. Let's just hope tomorrow is better."
"Fingers crossed," Percy replied, smiling. "But hey, at least we survived."
Annabeth nodded, checking the time on her watch, only to see they were running late on the school bus. They were off with a sprint.
Too bad the universe wasn't done with them just yet. They ran to catch the bus, only to watch it drive off as they neared the station. With no other option, they began the long walk home, hoping to avoid the dark clouds gathering overhead.
"Of course," Percy muttered, watching the bus disappear down the street. "Just our luck, right?"
Annabeth sighed, but managed a small smile. "Looks like we're walking…"
Percy tried a grin, nudging her with his elbow. "Hey, at least we'll get some exercise, no?"
Annabeth rolled her eyes, but his attempt to lighten the mood wasn't lost on her. They started walking, their pace slow and steady as they talked about nothing in particular. Percy tried to cheer her up with jokes and stories about his time with Jason, Leo, and Nico during their band practice. He recounted the time Leo accidentally set off a small firework indoors, causing a minor explosion that nearly gave their neighbors a minor heart attack, and how Jason's attempt at a high note ended up shattering a window.
"Seriously, it was like a scene from a cartoon," Percy laughed. "You should've seen the look on his face. Pure terror!"
Annabeth chuckled, shaking her head, "Sounds like a typical day for you guys."
"Pretty much," Percy agreed. "We're like a walking disaster zone. "But, you know, it's fun"
Despite their less than stellar day, she found herself smiling more often than not. Percy's ability to find humor in even the worst situations was one of the things she admired most about him.
Their conversation was interrupted when the first drops of rain began to fall. Percy glanced up at the sky, a frown tugging at his lips. "Really? Now?"
Annabeth shared a resigned look with him, both sighing before breaking off into a sprint. The rain, thankfully, didn't intensify as quickly as they thought it would, giving them a little more time.
Percy's house was only a couple of blocks away, but with the rain now picking up slack, it felt like miles.
"Come on!" Percy shouted over the slowly intensifying tapping of the rain, a crooked grin playing on his lips as he grabbed Annabeth's hand. "We're almost there!"
They sprinted down the street, the rain drops now making their clothes feel cold. Annabeth's hair clung to her face, and she could barely see through her newly found bangs, but Percy's grip on her hand was steady and reassuring. They turned over the corner, finally spotting Percy's house as the 2nd house nearest to them.
"Almost there!" Annabeth gasped, pushing herself to run faster.
As they reached Percy's front door, Annabeth stood there in front of him awkwardly, right where he dragged her to. He fumbled with his keys, hands slick with rain, while doing his best to shield his best friend from the rain. Finally, he got the right key and the door swung open. They stumbled inside, breathless and soaked
"Home sweet home," Percy panted, slamming the door shut behind them, crooked grin still in place.
They stood in the entryway for a moment, dripping water onto the doormat and catching their breath. Annabeth looked at Percy and couldn't help but laugh. "We look like drowned rats."
Percy grinned grew larger, brushing his wet hair out of his eyes. "Yeah, but at least we made it."
They dried their selves off a little more before rushing to Percy's room. It was a mix of organized chaos, with framed pictures of Percy with Annabeth or Sally, sometimes with both, lining the walls and atop almost everywhere a picture frame could be placed on. His bed, unmade, was piled with books and clothes, as well as a guitar, making their nights spent together evident.
Annabeth found a clear spot on the floor and practically collapsed, leaning against the bed frame. "I need a shower," she declared, stretching.
"And a nap," Percy added while chuckling, plopping down right next to her and picking up his guitar, strumming it absently. "We've earned it after today."
Annabeth opened one eye, watching him with a soft smile.
They shared a smile, and for a fleeting moment, the weight of the day seemed to lift, replaced by a sense of tranquility. Their shoulders were touching, she noticed, and for a while, they simply basked in each other's company. The soft hum of the air conditioner, the distant, muted sounds of the city outside, and Percy's guitar strumming created a cocoon of comfort around them, making the world feel like a distant memory.
After some time, she got up, finally deciding on her next course of action. Percy pouted at her, playfully holding onto her hand and refusing to let go.
"Don't leave me here!" he whined, his voice tinged with mock distress.
"Oh, quit acting like a baby," she giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "What? Do you want to come into the shower with me?" she asked teasingly, raising an eyebrow.
Percy, she noticed, suddenly had his cheeks sporting a deep blush, but then, it disappeared, being replaced quickly by a rapidly deepening pout. "Must've been my imagination," she thought, but as quickly as she said that in her mind, Percy spoke. "Maybe I do," he said, half-jokingly, but there was a something telling her -she couldn't pinpoint what- that suggested he wouldn't mind the idea.
She shook her head, blushing from Percy's reply, and gently extricated her hand from his. "You're impossible," she said, giving him a fond and almost shy look before grabbing a towel from the back of Percy's desk chair, and began getting some clothes for to change into after her shower.
"What do you want to do now? We could watch a movie, order some pizza…" She asked while rummaging through Percy's drawer.
Percy leaned back, thinking. "Pizza sounds perfect. And maybe we can finally finish that movie we started last week."
"Deal." Annabeth replied, as she closed the door behind her. She heard Percy settle back down on the floor. The soft sounds of the shower starting to fill up the apartment, mingling with the comforting background noise. For a moment, she simply enjoyed the peacefulness, the knowledge that he was close by, and the shared warmth of their connection.
As she stepped under the warm spray, she let the water wash away all the grime and tension of the day. She could faintly hear Percy ordering a Pizza on the phone, and from there on, thoughts of Percy flooded and lingered in her mind. His silly pout and playful eyes, a constant reminder of the joy he brought into her life.
While inside, she heard some noise from outside, wondering what Percy was doing. She brushed it off soon enough and continued on with her shower.
After a couple more minutes, she emerged from the shower, refreshed and rejuvenated. Annabeth found Percy back lounging where she'd left him, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her.
"Pizza will be here in about 20 minutes," Percy informed her, smiling widely. She felt a surge of affection, grateful for everything he has done for her.
While drying her hair with the towel, she smiled at her best friend. "Your turn to shower," she said, her tone a blend of teasing and something most definitely more than just plain and simple affection. She tossed the towel over her shoulder, watching as Percy stretched and reluctantly got to his feet.
He gave her a mock-salute, his eyes twinkling with playful defiance. "Yes, ma'am," he replied, trying to suppress a grin. Annabeth couldn't help but laugh, shaking her head at his antics.
As Percy made his way to the bathroom, Annabeth took the time to get her laptop and settled comfortably on the bed, only now noticing that it was neatly made up with fresh sheets. As she took a moment to survey her surroundings, she realized that the entire room was much cleaner and more organized than before she had taken her shower.
She did enjoy long showers, but she hadn't realized she'd taken long enough for Percy to do a quick clean-up. "Must've been all the noise earlier" She said to herself.
While walking, she saw Percy suddenly pause at the doorway, just catching him turning to look at her with a soft smile. "Don't leave after, alright?" he said with a bit of hesitation, his voice warm and sincere.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Annabeth replied, her heart swelling with affection.
With one last glance, Percy disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Annabeth to her thoughts. She settled back into the cozy bed, the soft hum of the air conditioner and the distant sounds of the city providing a soothing backdrop.
Before long, she noticed Percy emerging from the shower, now dressed in a sweatshirt and sweatpants, staring at her adoringly. She understood why as soon as he flopped down beside her, almost immediately grabbing her and cuddling her tightly.
"You wore my shirt again!" he said, his voice a mix of mock annoyance and affection.
Annabeth laughed, trying to wriggle out of his embrace playfully, and as always, she failed. "What, you've only noticed just now?" She asked teasingly.
"Hey! We both know I'm tired," He pouted at her.
"In case you didn't notice, I was with you every waking moment of today, Percy," Annabeth giggled out.
Percy just hugged her even tighter, his arms holding her, giving warmth and security that she had always wanted. She sighed, giving in to the comfort of his hold, resting her head against his chest. The rhythm of his heartbeat was soothing, grounding her at the moment.
They lay there in a companionable silence for a while, the intimacy of the moment enveloping them. Annabeth thinks and Percy just stares at her, her obviously not knowing.
Soon enough, the moment was interrupted with the doorbell ringing.
Percy got up to answer the door, while Annabeth prepared the movie on her laptop.
Not but a minute later, Percy entered the room again, Pizza and some drinks in tow. "Dinner is served," he announced, setting the box on the bed and the drinks on the nightstand.
She hit play on the movie, and the two settled in, comfortable and relaxed. What was left of the stress of the day started to vanish as they got lost in the film. Occasionally, Percy would make a comment or Annabeth would point something out in the movie, and they'd share a laugh.
Time passed unnoticed as the movie neared its end. The screen flickered with a scene of two characters sharing an intimate moment, their emotions laid bare. Annabeth felt a lump form in her throat, the scene striking a chord deep within her. The room seemed to grow quieter, the soft hum of the rain outside adding to the sense of stillness.
"Hey, Percy," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course," Percy replied, looking over at her with a hint of "eagerness?" in those familiar sea-green eyes that always seemed to calm her nerves.
Annabeth hesitated, gathering her thoughts. "What do you think love looks like?"
Percy tilted his head, considering her question, movie completely forgotten. He looked away, a thoughtful and curious expression crossing his face. "Love, huh?" He paused, as if searching for the right words. "I think love looks like someone who makes you want to become the best version of yourself. Someone who gives you love even when you don't deserve it. Who stays with you and supports you through everything."
Annabeth listened intently, her heart pounding louder with each word and even more butterflies fluttering in her stomach as he stroked her hair gently. Percy continued, his voice growing softer, "Someone who you always want to be around. Love is someone who keeps choosing me, over and over, even when I know that I don't deserve it at all. She's someone I trust with my whole being, and I think she trusts me the same way."
Annabeth felt a lump form in her throat. She hadn't expected such an answer. It was almost as if Percy had described her deepest, unspoken feelings. Trying to steady her voice, she said, "So it is a someone, then?"
Percy nodded slowly, his gaze fixed squarely on her, mouth starting to open as if he's about to ramble on and on about- Annabeth's heart hammered in her chest as she took a deep breath and plunged. "Tell me," she urged, her voice trembling slightly. "What does she look like?"
Percy hesitated, his face turning a shade redder. He opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again, struggling to find the courage. The seconds stretched into what felt like hours, each one filled with anticipation and anxiety. Annabeth watched him closely, noticing the subtle shifts in his expression as he gathered his thoughts. She could see the conflict in his eyes, the way he was wrestling with his emotions.
Finally, Percy looked up, meeting her eyes. Annabeth's gaze was filled with an emotion he couldn't quite discern, while his own eyes were full of vulnerability. "I guess… I could say love looks like you," he said softly, his voice laced with a mix of hesitation and determination.
Annabeth's breath caught in her throat. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. She searched Percy's face for any sign of doubt, but all she saw was sincerity. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as a wave of emotions crashed over her. She had always known that there was something special between them, even before she started getting that fluttery sensation whenever she was around Percy. Hearing him say that was both a confirmation and a confession, and it made her heart swell with a warmth she would never forget.
Her mind raced through countless memories—every shared laugh, every comforting hug, every single moment that had led them to this point. She felt as though she was seeing Percy in a new light, yet it was the same light that had always been there, just waiting for this moment of clarity.
"Percy," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I… I think love looks like you, too."
A slow, relieved smile spread across Percy's face, and he reached out to take her hand. As their fingers intertwined, Annabeth felt nothing but gratefulness and relief. The exhaustion of the day completely melted away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace and joy. This was what she had always dreamed of, even if she had realized it only just now.
Suddenly, just like that, tears began falling from her eyes before she even realized they had formed.
"Remember when we first met?" Percy asked, his voice heavy with emotion and nostalgia.
Annabeth chuckled, her smile spreading wide. "How could I forget? I was so lonely on the swings, and you… Silly boy, you could've played with the other kids, but you chose to talk to me instead."
Percy's smile matched hers, perhaps even larger. "Well, how could I just leave you alone? You looked so sad," he said, his voice tender.
He hugged her as tightly as he could, and Annabeth melted into his embrace, feeling his warmth envelop her completely.
They stayed there on his bed, talking about everything and nothing, all at the same time, as the moon climbed higher in the sky, everything else completely forgotten. Midnight came and went, and still, they talked. They spoke of dreams and fears, of memories and hopes. The hours slipped away unnoticed, and by the time the first light of dawn began to paint the sky, they knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.
As the first rays of morning light filtered through the curtains, Annabeth made another playful attempt to get out of Percy's embrace, but it ended in failure as always, with him hugging her even tighter than before. They laughed again, the sound blending with the city's awakening chorus. At that moment, everything felt just right, and Annabeth knew that they had taken a significant step forward together.
Until Dawn
Or, Percy and Annabeth talk after a particularly exhausting day.
Word Count: 3,651
Author's Notes
Heyya there people! Hopefully, there aren't too many mistakes and the story makes sense.
Anyway, thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! Please do review, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
If you'd like, you can give me some ideas for more stories in your review! ;)
If there are anyone here from Anachronistic Forest, lemme know, I'll ask some of y'all for some ideas for the fic. I might just rewrite it as a whole instead of continue from where I've left off.
I'm gonna be posting my stuff here now instead of the one where my very first fic is posted.
And yes, I'm Ashurahhhhh
— Tenkoraa