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Percy tilted his head to the side as he flipped a page in the book he was reading. For once, it was not a book on child care specifically, not even on their development, which had worried several of their friends that Percy wanted kids.
Annabeth had found it amusing, already knowing that she never wanted kids, and Percy had accepted that so easily. So he went to College for Child care. He was acing every class, especially with the experience of working with the Camp Half-Blood kids.
But he was reading a fantasy book, having picked it up and found he almost couldn’t put it down. The fantasy element in question? Pirates of different species, like Elves, Dwarves, and various water creatures that could survive out of the water, and even some that couldn’t. He’d found himself almost obsessed with it.
Which is where Annabeth had found him, hours later and a quarter of the way through the book.
“Seaweed brain,” Annabeth huffed in laughter, smiling fondly as he tilted his head to show that he’d heard her, but the book really did have his attention. She sat down next to him, kissing his cheek as she glanced at the pages. While it intrigued her, Annabeth didn’t necessarily read for fun, not recently at least.
“Hi, love,” Percy greeted, finally managing to tear his eyes away from the book, smiling softly at her as he marked the page with his finger and closed it. Even if something captivated Percy so thoroughly, she would always have his full attention.
“Hi, darling, why weren’t you at lunch?” She asked. They both knew she already knew the answer, she just wanted Percy to vocalize it so he realized himself, even if he already knew. He winced, apologetic as he opened his mouth to no doubt apologize. “Don’t, apologize.” She added. Percy’s mouth closed and he wilted a little bit, but her smile was kind and gentle.
“I was reading… But it’s not homework, so…”
“But you still missed lunch, come on. Bookmark on the bedside table, and come eat. Come see your friends and the kids. You have a sword lesson tonight, remember?” She instructed, and Percy pouted. She was, however, immune to the seal eyes, and Percy quickly did what he was told.
There were two people who could get Percy to listen, that was his mom and Annabeth.
“He lives!” Will exclaimed, to which Percy stuck his tongue out at him with a small shake of his head. He pouted when Annabeth pinched him lightly. “No, seriously though, were you just not hungry today?” Will asked, and Percy shrugged.
“If I was, I didn't notice it, but I was reading this really interesting book, a gift from mom, and it just… caught my attention.” Percy shrugged, smiling as he began to eat with the rest of them.
“What is it about?” Jason asked, appearing as he noticed Percy actually sitting at the Poseidon table, which caught most of their friends' attention, and soon the table was filled with his closest friends. The Son of the Sea felt warm as he was surrounded by his closest friends, all who held the title of his family. He was quick to answer Jason though.
“Fantasy and Pirates.” Percy responded. “Their captain is an Elf who specializes in like, navigation and tracking, and she takes no bullshit-”
“Oh, like Annabeth,” Nico muttered from where he sat beside Will. He earned a snort from both Will, Clarisse, and Annabeth, so he counted that as a win. The smile from Percy even more so.
“Exactly, except she’s a brunette-”
“Like Piper.” Leo added, snickering when said girl looked over with an unimpressed glance.
“Yes, but no,” Percy said after a moment. “Definitely more like Annabeth. But her girlfriend however, is a lot like Piper but she’s blonde, and she’s also an Elf, but like… a water one.” Percy’s eyes were bright. “And they have a vampire friend who helps when they need information, though he just likes traveling with them. And there are several dwarves.”
“Like Leo,” Piper smiled as Leo sputtered. He wasn’t offended, which they knew, but the reaction happened regardless. He hadn’t expected to be called out like that. Percy tilted his head debatably but nodded in the end.
“And The vampire is definitely like Nico,” Will smirked, kissing the back of Nico’s hand when the other made a noise of offense.
“Are there other Elves?” Jason asked, smiling fondly as Annabeth reminded Percy that he had to actually eat.
“There are, and there are sirens, and Mermaids, and a few other water creatures that can survive out of water, and hybrids of all the different species. I’m only a quarter of the way through the book, so I know we haven’t met everyone, and the plot is only stirring.”
“Well, keep me updated, who’s the book by?” Jason asked, and at this Annabeth smiled knowingly. Percy flushed as he quickly began focusing on eating. “What… Who’s the book by?”
“His mother.” Annabeth smiled, and Percy flushed a little darker. “The characters remind him of all of us, because they are based on all of us. Just as different sea mythical creatures.”
“And Vampire.”
“And Vampire, yes.” Annabeth snickered lightly as Percy continuously got redder and redder.
“I’ll have to read it then, if it’s got Percy so hooked.” Jason responded. Percy covered his face as he pushed his plate away and hid his face in his arms. The rest of their friend group laughed around him as Annabeth gently pulled him back up so that he could finish eating.
“Tease Percy later, eat now so that he doesn’t get any redder.” Annabeth responded, and Percy smiled at her thankfully.
He was very happy to run off back towards his cabin to finish reading before they could rope him in to going to campfire so that he could continue to read it. He pouted a lot when he had to go to campfire anyways because Annabeth had snuck his book in her bag.