Chapter Text
Annabeth had to admit, when she was climbing up the ranks, she never expected she would have the honor of receiving the famous actor Percy Jackson as her target. It had been about a year since she completed her mission but she still couldn’t get the event out of her head. Maybe it was because it was longer than usual.
It all started when she coincidentally ran into her target. She was supposed to meet him after scoring an audition to be on the same show as Percy. But fate had other plans. And so, she bumped into him while trying to get a donut. Wow, who could’ve expected that?
As she hastily walked into the cafe like she was coming into work late, a man that had to be above 6’0 bumped into her.
“Ow!”
“I’m so sorry,” he apologized. Annabeth looked up and tried to contain the emotions bubbling up in her stomach. There he was Percy Jackson, her target, standing right in front of her.
Annabeth tried to go for the casual fan response. “Oh, it’s okay! I’m fine, promise! I have to say though, you do look a little familiar.”
He looked at her with an amused smirk. “Really?”
“Truly.”
“Well, don’t tell anyone this, but I’m Percy Jackson.”
“So that’s why I recognize you!” Annabeth was already starting to get tired of how she sounded.
“Yeah. Say, how about I buy you what you were planning to get? Since I bumped into you and you caught me.”
Annabeth shrugged. “I was just going to get a donut.”
“Then, let me get you a donut!”
“No, you really don’t have to!” she called out, but Percy was already on his way inside.
“What do you want?” he asked as Annabeth made her way closer to him. There was a short line, so she guessed there would be time for a quick chat.
“Vanilla donut—can I have sprinkles with it too or is that too much for the celebrity?”
“Trust me, I think I can pay for a vanilla donut with sprinkles.”
“Okay so, what were you planning to get?”
“Sugar cookie.”
“That’s so boring.”
“But, they're so good!”
Annabeth ignored him until the two made it to the front. The worker beamed at the two with a grin. “Hi, welcome to Auntie Em’s Cafe, how may I help you?”
“I’d like to get a sugar cookie and the young lady next to me would like a vanilla donut—with sprinkles.”
“Coming right up!”
“I was sure you almost forgot about the sprinkles for a second,” Annabeth whispered.
Percy dramatically gasped. “I would never! ”
“You have got to be the most annoying celebrity I’ve met so far,” she giggled.
“Here you go! Your total will be $9.89!”
As Annabeth took the bag, Percy offered his hand to her. Did she take it? Possibly. For the record, she wasn’t falling for him…yet.
He led her to a table in the back corner of the room.
“So, what’s all this for? We could’ve just sat near everyone else, you know.”
She was teasing him. She had a feeling the man was going to say something dramatic about the paparazzi and how they’ve been spotted together. Whether Percy noticed that, why, she could tell by the look on his face. Which to her was looking particularly flustered.
Although, he managed to keep his cool while he spoke. “Look, I know we just bumped into one another, but I made it a lot worse by doing…well, everything I just did a few seconds ago. Now, knowing the paparazzi, they’ll make it seem like you’re some mystery woman.”
Called it.
Annabeth decided to finish the rest of his thoughts. “Especially if we leave together. And even if we don’t, they’ll still call me one. So, you want me to be your fake girlfriend or something?”
Percy rubbed the back of his neck. “Basically. Look, I’m not good with this stuff. Just work with me here.”
“No, no! It’s all good, trust me. But the thing is, you don’t even know my name,” she continued to tease him. Annabeth always figured that was the best way to make somebody crack: to tease them until they can’t take it anymore.
“Well, you could tell me your name now.”
Annabeth would’ve stopped in her tracks right then and there, had she just been a Cinderella wannabe. But fortunately, she was an assassin. And so she answered, “Leah. It’s Leah. Unless you need my last name in case we have a fake wedding too?”
Percy looked at her with a stern expression, causing her to giggle like a schoolgirl. “Sorry, I’m sorry, but do you?”
“I mean you can tell me if you want,” Percy had a teasing gleam in his eyes. He was definitely trying to make Annabeth aware that he found her match. She could respect it.
“It’s Brown. My name’s Leah Brown.”
“Your last name is Leah Brown?”
Annabeth jokingly punched his shoulder. “You know what I meant.”
“Yeah, yeah, but there can be two comedians in this fake couple, right? Speaking of which, I probably need your number if we’re supposed to go on dates—for the paparazzi, of course.”
“I’m starting to think this is damage control—I have to pretend to be your girlfriend because you’re too scared to admit that you bumped into a girl you immediately wanted to go on a date with,” This time it wasn’t teasing. Annabeth just wanted to make fun of him a little bit.
“It’s not like that.”
“Are you sure?”
Percy rolled his eyes. Definitely yes.
She gave him her number anyway. She would have rejected him and killed him in her usual way, but Annabeth chose to do things differently this time.
The pair had finished eating and headed out together.
“I suppose this is where we depart for now?” Dramatic ass. Annabeth—or well, Leah—didn’t mind it, though. He was an actor.
“Yeah, see you later?”
“Definitely.” Percy bent down, grabbed her hand, and kissed it.
“Oh, wow, such a gentleman.” The sentence was sarcastic, but Annabeth—no, Leah—delivered it with a soft tone. Leah was the one falling for Percy Jackson. Not Annabeth; she was the one who had to kill him.
Percy walked Annabeth to her car while he was going to his own. Halfway there, he turned back and blew her what Annabeth decided was the most dramatic kiss of all time. She went along with it, putting her hand over her head and acting like she had been shot with one of Cupid’s arrows.
As she hopped in the car, she made a call to her boss.
“Annabeth, nice to hear from you! How’s your mission so far?”
“I met my target, Mr. Castellan. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t get the mission done as quickly, I want to play with my toy for a bit before I ruin them.”
“I’ll give you the go ahead, Ms. Chase. I’d like to see what you accomplish. Just know, if you end up becoming a suspect, we’ll cover you.”
“Thank you, Luke.”
“Anytime, Beth.”