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Percy would never get tired of looking at her.
Judging by the way he had been drawn to her that first day they met and never looked back, he didn’t think he would ever be able to. When her eyes would be narrowed and focused in battle, his would follow her every move. He’d grown used to finding her everywhere, identifying her form in any crowd. As if she were surrounded by some kind of glow that made her anyone and anything around seem blurrier.
“You’re staring.”
Percy startled at the sound of Annabeth’s voice, almost kicking the glass of cherry coke by his foot. Clicking his tongue, he moved it to his – tidier-than-usual – night table. Until then, the only noise filling his bedroom had been the ticking of the clock above his bed and the constant noises of the New York traffic coming from outside.
Percy had offered – like the gentleman and awesome boyfriend that he was – Annabeth his bed while he had chosen to take his place on the floor, now littered with opened textbooks and uncapped highlighters.
Annabeth sat on his bed, note-cards covering most of it, and chewed on the end of her pen as she read and re-read his latest attempt at maths. Cowry beads hung from her braids, clicking together at her every move. The upper half of hair was twisted in a messy bun while the rest of her braids hung down her back, some covering her face while she bent down her head. She would mindlessly push them, huffing in irritation, before returning her attention to her notes.
For the better part of the last hour, Percy had watched, with a growing smile, as she’d push her braids behind her shoulders again and again, her frown deepening each time she had to repeat the motion. Which explained why he hadn’t made any progress on his homework.
“Still staring,” she mumbled, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Percy hummed and propped his elbow on the mattress, his head resting on a closed fist.
“I think ‘admiring’ would be more appropriate.”
Annabeth scoffed, her smile widening as she turned to look at him. Percy tilted his head to the side, batting his lashes at her. Leaning forward, she flicked him on the forehead and rolled her eyes when he rubbed the area with a pout
“What would be more appropriate would be you focusing on your maths homework,” Annabeth batted his hand and kissed the wounded area, “you’re the one who asked for my help.”
The rational part of his brain relented, admitting that she was right – as she usually was.
With the gods being their annoying selves and declaring that he should pay for being born, Percy had had to readjust his school schedule around godly quests. And while he prided himself to be somewhat good at multitasking, his ADHD liked to remind him otherwise. Percy soon found himself drowning in missed assignments, impossible deadlines and other responsibilities. Annabeth – like the absolute real-life angel that she was – had helped him set a work schedule that made actual sense and offered to review any work he’d struggle with.
The other part of his brain – the one that kept his gaze focused on Annabeth, on her every move, on how her eyes would shine whenever she solved any puzzle laid in front of her, on her laugh, on her voice, her face, her hair–
The braids that Annabeth had furiously – repeatedly – tucked back behind her ears for the last hour now covering her face. Percy watched as she blew an annoyed breath and jerked her head to swing her back. Before she could untie her top bun, he gently grabbed her chin in one hand and tilted it downward, towards him. Using the other hand, he tucked the offending braids behind her. Big brown eyes blinked back at him in surprise, a soft gasp escaping her lips.
And Percy couldn’t not kiss her. Annabeth was close, and she was so pretty, and he loved her so much, and he couldn't not kiss her. Both of his hands rose to cup her cheeks as his lips found hers, sighing in satisfaction when she kissed him back. Percy sat up on his knees so she wouldn’t slide off his bed, her arms anchoring themselves around his shoulders.
Percy would never get tired of kissing her. Of the way she smiled into it, her fingers finding the hair on the back of his neck and wrapping themselves around it. Of the lingered taste of shea butter on his lips and her laughter whenever he’d bring her face back to his, pecking her mouth, her nose, her closed eyes. He moved back to her mouth, his thumbs caressing her cheekbones as he deepened the kiss.
Percy pulled back, leaning back on his heels as he took in the awed look on Annabeth on her face. She blinked again and he snorted. Without looking, he grabbed a hair-clip, previously discarded on his night table and slid it on her hair, kissing the side of her head.
With a hum, Percy reached over her to grab a stack of flashcards and stole the pen hanging from her fingers. He quickly skimmed through it before looking back, to find Annabeth staring at him with a dazed look. Leaning forward, he used the end of the pen to poke her cheek. She recoiled back, the sudden contact seemingly bringing her back to her senses.
“Wha–”
“You were staring,” Percy said, tapping his pen against the stack of notes, “Okay, now what were you saying about– hey!” he dodged a well-aimed pillow, frowning at her, “I’m tryna focus here!”
Annabeth shook his head at him, an incredulous laugh spilling from her mouth. “You’re insufferable.”
Percy hummed, the words and formulas – what purpose did words have in a mathematics assignment – blurring together as he tried to make sense of it.
“I think you’re meant to say irresistible.”
She grabbed the second pillow, raising it above her head as a threat. “Delusional.”
“Delightful.”
Percy was smart enough to grab his glass off his table before Annabeth sent her new weapon flying toward his face. He caught it with one hand and threw it on the other side of his room, a grin taking over his face as a pout formed on her face.
“You’re annoying.”
Percy winked at her. “Too late to get rid of me now.”
Annabeth narrowed her eyes at him and leaned forward, her head tilted to the side as she gave him a quick once-over. He found himself holding his breath when her cheek – deliberately – brushed against his. Percy barely had the chance to lean his head back before she was gone, her arm swiftly reaching over him to grab his discarded glass. He gaped as he watched her drown the rest of the drink and tilt the glass towards him, a satisfied smirk plastered on her face.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, seaweed brain.”
Percy restrained the urge to pinch the top of his now-warm ears or rub the back of his neck. His notes laid, forgotten, on his lap as he found himself transfixed by her. Their eyes locked in a staring battle, Annabeth’s smile softening. He crossed his arms over his bed’s ledge, resting his chin on his joined hands.
Percy would never get tired of looking at her.