Work Text:
Percy and Annabeth found themselves sitting on the fire escape outside his bedroom. It became their solace ever since the crazy summer they had the year before. Now, after completing three quests for recommendation letters, they would be heading to New Rome for college. Tomorrow, Grover would join them on a road trip to California.
It was bittersweet for Percy. On one hand, he was going to miss his family in New York. He was going to miss his mom, Paul, and taking care of his baby sister, Estelle. But on the other hand, he was ecstatic to be with his girlfriend. To finally escape monsters, and have the chance of living a somewhat normal life.
"You okay, Sunshine?" Annabeth nudged his shoulder.
Percy raised his eyebrow amusedly. "Sunshine? You haven't called me that since we were like, twelve."
Annabeth shrugged. "Thought I should bring it back." She ruffled his blonde hair.
"I think I like Seaweed Brain better, thanks."
"Whatever," Annabeth rolled her eyes. "What's going on in that seaweed brain of yours, Sunshine?"
"Nothing, it's just...it's been a wild ride for us, huh?" Percy said. "Quests that felt endless, me disappearing for like half our relationship," Annabeth elbowed him hard for that reminder. Percy smiled sheepishly, and continued. "Tartarus, fighting in wars, then those dumb letters of rec. I just can't believe we're actually going to college."
Annabeth grabbed his arm, and wrapped it around herself. Then she rested her head on his shoulder. "I can't believe it either. We've been through a lot together."
Percy nodded, pulling her in closer. He then noticed Annabeth chuckling about something. "What's got you all happy?"
"I was just remembering something you said on our first quest."
"There were a lot of dumb things said on that quest."
Annabeth smiled at him. "No, this moment is kind of funny thinking about it now. Remember when you said that you couldn't imagine us being friends?"
"I didn't mean it like that," Percy immediately shook his head. "I regretted it as soon as I said it."
"Mhm," Annabeth said simply.
"Look, you were this intimidating, stuck up, bossy twelve year old," Annabeth snorted. "and I thought you hated me. We constantly fought. But deep down, I did want to be your friend, though."
"I didn't hate you, Percy," Annabeth chuckled. "I wanted to be your friend too. But I just... didn't really know how to make friends. So I just basically acted like I didn't care. Even though I really did,"
Percy nodded. "I still remember seeing the look on your face after I said it. You looked so hurt, and I wanted to take it back so bad."
"I get why you said it," Annabeth told him comfortingly, grabbing his other arm to hold his hand. "You were stressed with quest, and the prophecy. You needed to snap eventually. I wasn't surprised, since I didn't really do anything to make you want to be my friend. But it still kinda hurt, because I was just starting to realize something. After you killed Alecto."
"Realize what?" Percy questioned.
Annabeth smiled. "That I had a crush on you."
Percy's eyes widened. "That early on?"
Annabeth chuckled. "I didn't want to—believe me. I tried ignoring it for as long as I could, since I was so convinced you would—you know, die because of the prophecy." Percy squeezed her hand.
He pressed a kiss on the side of her head. "Twelve year old Percy had no idea what was coming."
Annabeth laughed. "I wonder how he'd take it. Falling in love with the same girl he thought would never be his friend. What a loser."
"I think he'll be alright," Percy smiled. "He'll realize just how much that girl means to him. How she becomes his best friend—"
"I thought Grover was your best friend," Annabeth teased.
"You're different, you know that." Percy glared at her playfully. "As I was saying, how the girl will be his anchor to mortality, how he'll see her while looking at Aphrodite—"
"You saw me while looking at Aphrodite?" Annabeth interrupted, lifting her head up to look at him in shock.
Percy laughed, realizing he never admitted that to her. But he continued. "She'll be the only thing he'll remember when he loses his memories, how she'll be the only one who can really pull him together, and put up with him. That kid is really lucky."
"That boy must really love her," Annabeth murmured, and wrapped her arms around him.
Percy nodded, wrapping his other arm around her, enveloping her in a hug. "Much more than he ever thought."
Annabeth snuggled closer to him. "The girl is really lucky too. She gets to be with the boy who she was terrified of falling for, and spend the rest of her life loving him."
Percy smiled affectionately at his girlfriend. He pressed a kiss on her forehead. "He'll spend the rest of his life loving her too,"