Hey guys. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Sorry it's taken so long to post it!
Replies:
DualEquinox: I hadn't even thought of that though it is an interesting possibility.
RuthTheRavenclaw: I fear your guess may be wrong :D
Undeath9087: Honestly Mr. D would fucking love Percy after that. They'd sit there sharing drinks and bitching about the shitty heroes they both hate. And you shall have to wait and see what I do about Calypso.
Annabeth's statement was followed by a long moment of uncomfortable silence- which was understandable really, before Chiron firmly told them that he wanted some time to think on what to do next, though he did agree that it was probable that they'd need a quest.
He also agreed with Percy and Piper when they said that Annabeth should lead it. No one could be called an expert on the Labyrinth of course, but Annabeth was probably the closest thing they had.
After a long discussion they all agreed that they wouldn't tell anyone else what was going on until the morning.
It was highly unlikely that Kronos had the string already. Chris hadn't been found long ago and it was likely that part of his mission had been seeking it out.
That meant that they had some time. Panicking everyone before making firmer plans would do no one any good. They had some time, so the small group headed their separate ways- Luke into the Poseidon Cabin- he tended to stay there with Percy and the others since he was no longer welcome in the Hermes Cabin, and Clarisse back to the basement to look after Chris.
And Percy had to admit that her heart ached for the other girl. It was clear that she cared about the boy a lot. And she knew from experience how painful it was feeling helpless watching someone you loved fade. And she'd had hope with Carter that time. Desperate hope that Sadie would somehow be able to fix him.
That thought made her scowl slightly, even as she walked through the camp with Piper and Annabeth.
That had been too close. Because of Apophis. Looking back on it it was easy to realise that he'd done something to make Sadie sleep longer, so that she'd be forced to use the potion. To try and trick her into believing that voice wanted to help her.
She was lucky that she'd had that support network around her to confide in. Luke had that now at least, mostly in her though he did talk to Jaz about stuff now. Still, she could remember the fear of losing Carter well enough.
It was a special kind of torture. She wished she could help somehow but she really wasn't a healer. She could cast a spell to cause a dreamless sleep. She could do calming spells but there was nothing more she could do really, other than some very basic stuff.
"You okay?" Percy felt an arm sliding around her waist, and a chin resting on her shoulder- that was Piper, bending down a little so she could do it.
"I'm fine." Percy shook her head, "Just thinking."
"Now that's just dangerous." Annabeth twined her fingers with Percy's, which made Percy grin, an almost giddy little thing. "You don't want to overheat that pretty head of yours."
"Oh now that's just rude." Percy shot back, a smile playing across her lips.
They always knew how to pull her out of her head.
Gods but she loved her girls. Could they get any more perfect? Percy doubted it very much.
"Hmmm… I dunno." Piper hummed thoughtfully, "I mean, I remember that time with that math question. You did get pretty heated about that-"
"Okay, okay but I'm just saying who needs algebra?" Percy would have waved her arms dramatically if she wasn't being held by both of her girls. "I mean, really what use is it? And math in general! Who invented it? They must have been truly evil-"
"Well the father of Mathematics was Archimedes." Annabeth remarked lightly, "He was a genius. But uh- sweetheart as a future architect I feel the need to point out that I in fact will be using math."
"What?" Percy gasped in exaggerated horror, pulling her hand free so that she could throw herself back against Piper, flinging her hand to her forehead as she mock fainted. "Oh the shame! The shame! My own girlfriend how could I have such terrible taste! A math user! Piper whatever have we done to deserve this?"
"I don't know what I did but you're a gremlin who has committed many crimes and sins so I mean…" she snickered, "The list is probably pretty long. Sorry."
"Oh fuck you." Percy straightened up, pulling herself free, pulling a face and brushing her arms off as if wiping away some imaginary dirt. "How could you call me a gremlin! I am not a gremlin- I can go out in bright light, I love water and I can totally be fed after midnight! I love midnight snacks don't you try and take my midnight snacks from me!"
"I dunno, it might make you tamer if we take the midnight cookie-" Annabeth screeched, mainly because Percy had tackled her. Thankfully they'd reached the beach so the fall wasn't a hard one, and Percy was sitting on top of her.
"Take it back! Take it back right now oh evil cursed traitor-"
"You freak!" Annabeth let out a wheezy laugh. "Get off me-"
"Neve-ACK!" Percy flailed as Piper was suddenly behind her, her arms hooking under Percy's and hauling her up and off of Annabeth. "Hey! Hey put me down ye devil woman!"
"Awe- look at her." Piper was shifting her grip and lifting Percy up as high as she possibly could, gripping her by the back of her dress. Which meant that Percy was a little off the ground. "You know for someone so strong and badass you would never believe that she weighs so little!"
"I'm gonna kick your ass Piper!" Percy was glaring, her arms crossed. Though… if she was being honest it was kind of hot that Piper could lift her up like this. With one arm. And those muscles really were working Percy could see them.
"Oh I know. But this is just funny."
"Piper stop teasing our shortie girlfriend-"
"Oh come on, you'd do it too if you got the chance."
"I mean… okay yes but- Percy? Percy are you okay?" because Percy had gone quiet, her eyes wide and distant. "Percy?"
"Sea Star?" Piper's voice was hesitant, "Hello? Earth to Sea Star?"
"Anyone home?"
And then Percy shifted her body weight, swinging herself so that she could wrap her legs around Piper's waist, which made her let out a startled shriek, toppling backwards, and Percy was on top of her, pressing her lips to Pipers- and in a blink Piper was wrapping her arms around Percy in return, letting out a surprised but pleased noise as she kissed back.
And Percy could hear Annabeth bursting out laughing behind them.
When Percy pulled back, panting a little Piper managed to breathe out. "I'm not complaining but what was that for."
"You have pretty muscles."
"Ah." Annabeth nodded, "I can understand that. Your brain switched off huh."
"Oh yeah, big time." Percy's grin was goofy, and Piper's face was a bright shade of red. "I mean holy crap Pipes you can hold me up with one arm-"
"You are literally tiny."
"Okay, okay but still, still you are so strong and pretty and I am a poor simple girl with simple needs and desires. And that is to kiss my pretty strong amazing girlfriend."
"Does that mean that if I did it I'd get gremlin kisses too?" Annabeth had an eyebrow raised, an amused smile flitting across her lips, "Because I mean, let's be honest Seaweed brain I could also pick you up one handed- Oof!" Annabeth's last noise was a startled exhale because Percy was on top of her, kissing her, knocking away her breath, and Piper startled cackling with laughter at that as they made out.
Eventually Percy had to stop to breath again and she rolled off Annabeth, flopping back into the sand, a goofy smile spreading across her lips. "I have the best girlfriends in the whole universe."
"Well I won't argue with that." Piper's voice was amused, "And I personally enjoyed that view very much. Just for the record. Ten out of ten I would enjoy staring at any time really."
"You're terrible." Annabeth snickered, "Careful, if you say anything too naughty then Lord Poseidon might hear it from the fishes and have you punished for disrespecting his precious angel daughter."
"Annabeth." Percy sat up, slapping Annabeth's arm. "He would not."
"He does adore you." Piper remarked, her tone teasing. "I remember that time you took us down there to see him."
"It was not that bad." Percy felt her face flushing as Annabeth snickered.
"Seaweed brain, I say this with love but it was that bad. I mean your dad approves of us. I think. But the looks he kept giving us whenever we got too close and kissed you or anything were just... oh he hates the idea of his precious baby being... you know." She snickered. "Well, anything other than a baby really. He's proud of you for managing to get us but at the same time he doesn't want us corrupting you."
"I mean, Annabeth is Athena's daughter, and I'm Aphrodite's, we could be bad influences." Piper winked teasingly as Percy snorted.
"I don't need any bad influences I'm bad enough myself. Or that's what mom says. She says I'm a bad influence on you guys-"
"To be fair most people do believe that you're pretty sweet and innocent-"
"Yeah, I remember that guy we found on youtube who went on a half an hour rant about the Queers corrupting a national treasure." Annabeth snickered at that.
"Oh yeah, he had a ten minute segment dedicated to my piercings and why that made me a devil worshipper." Piper smirked rather devilishly.
"Oh gods." Percy snorted at that. "I remember sending him Jane's number anonymously and telling him that she'd be sure to tell him all about your disgusting evil ways."
"You didn't." Piper's eyes widened, "But that guy was crazy he-"
"I know." Percy gave an evil grin as Annabeth snickered, "I got a phone call complaining about it from Jane. Apparently she got fifty calls within three days."
"Oh that's hilarious." Annabeth practically cackled, "Oh see, see I can use this as an example to show off how brilliant you are to mom. An amazing way to get revenge on both of them for talking shit."
"Have I ever mentioned that I am in love with you." Piper beamed, "Completely and totally in love with you."
"Maybe I should get some piercings too." Annabeth hummed thoughtfully, "Just to stir up the assholes even more. Though you'd think they'd have realised that you're not all sweet innocence after you swore on live TV."
"Most people thought it was understandable." Percy remarked, "Anyone who didn't is probably a moron so their opinion doesn't matter."
"You could probably kill a man on live TV and people would find a way to make you innocent." Piper gave a wry smile, "There's just something about you. A goodness. People sense that."
"I am Chaos I'm not some sweet innocent little thing-"
"But you are good." Annabeth shrugged her shoulders, "Piper's right. It draws people in. They fall for you. They can't seem to help it. We couldn't."
"You make it sound as if I'm a siren or something and that's pretty rude since we've all met the Sirens-"
"No, no but there is something." Piper and Annabeth moved so that they were both sat next to her, staring out at the sea. "You're just… special."
"You guys are special too."
"Oh no doubts about that." Annabeth shrugged, "Piper and I are special but… not in the same way. Not like you."
"I-"
"She's right." Piper pressed her lips to Percy's bare shoulder. "You're too good for this whole damn world Percy. You really are."
"Not to good for you."
"Fine." Annabeth chuckled softly, rolling her eyes, "You're not too good for us."