Chapter Text
Annabeth hung back in the narrow alley, the thread bare patched skirt of her dress clung to her legs crocheted down as she was. Her mind was racing. This was it. Their last chance to reconvene, according to Jasson anyway. She looked ahead at Jason, Piper and Leo where they hunched over in a ring Leo’s hands moving a mile a minute with a small (definitely legally obtained) telescope slipping a different lens in before standing to look over the stack of creates they were hiding behind. It felt odd to rely on and consider others in her strategies and ideas. But it also meant pretty much everything she did felt safer and or at least a lot less lonely and that was something she could get used to.
It was and she hoped would continue to be a very different experience from her last group. The thought brought up the ever present was of familiar bad memories to her. Leo thankfully cut through her thoughts with a whoop of joy.
“There she be lads” He cried, turning with a trumpet grin.
“You’re kidding!” Piper exclaimed
“Oh you better not be” Jason said, taking the telescope to look over toward the docks. “Nope” Leo said, “plan as day Grace”
“By the gods he’s right!” Jason shouted
Annabeth came forward to crane her neck for a look, she followed Jason's gaze to where sure enough among the other ships of the harbor where the tan and orange sails as they had described them. She caught her breath. This was it. The moment they had been seeking for six weeks or at least six weeks with her, almost nine weeks if you count the two weeks they had apparently been separated from their crew before meeting her.
That had happened when she and their little band had by chance stowed away in the same fishing boat to cross some length of water. Where Annabeth had been held at three sword points with nothing to defend herself but her dagger. She had with quick words talked them down from killing her -in an attempt to preserve their ailment of surprise they needed to take the small ship- by explaining that she too was a stow away, albeit a less violent one out of necessity. And that she would gladly assist in taking the ship if it meant she could continue to breathe.
It was through that granted opportunity and respect they gained at her skill that she learned they were pirates and not only that but pirates in the crew of Captain Perseus Jackson the arguably most feared name in the lands Annabeth knew so well.
And what was more contrary to all tales she had heard of him and his crew he was one of the rare few among pirates or men of the time in general, to allow and respect women in his crew. Piper serving as living present proof of the fact. Annabeth had asked with real hope for the first time in a long time if he might allow her to join his crew.
And against all odds Annabeth had been given a chance to have a home for the first time she could remember, there was hope to leave the dangerous run she had been on for eight years for the chance at something better.
Now looking toward the sails she felt the old sense of trepidation; What if The Caption turned her away? What if this was somehow a trick? What if it ended like the last time? What if it was worse? She blinked quickly. No. The fears had run their course already prepared her, she didn’t need them right now.
“Come on” Piper cried with a laugh “Stop standing around we can thank the gods and shit later”
“I second that” Leo said hopping the creates “Lets move blondy”
Annabeth followed him not too distracted to bite back for the nickname
Piper and Jason followed and they split in the familiar way they had done for the past weeks, Leo and Annabeth one way and Piper and Jason the other. Weaving through the thick jostling crowd on the docks.
They had barely gone a few paces before the sound of coin bags drew Annabeth's attention. She and Leo had been by far the best pickpocketers in the group with his quick hand and her years of practice. She shot him a look to see him smiling back, she smirked back meaningfully and they turned away from each other disappearing into the crowd in opposite directions.
She cut her second leather string slipping away from the figure she had, still unbeknownst to him robbed. Turning she spotted another bag and moved forward. This one turned out to be a mistake however, one she really should have seen coming.
Annabeth was normally one to assess her targets carefully and use as much caution as she could allow herself but right now she was rushing. The last thing she wanted to do was for her pockets to appear as poor as her person. This was likely the most important first impression she would make and she was not at all dressed for the occasion.
So she didn’t look very closely at the clothes, feathered hat, or perhaps most telling the space the man created around him. All she saw was the heavy jingling bag at his side as she crept toward him, head low blending with the few that passed close to him. Holding her knife under her clock that she wore over her dress, she looked up only long enough to be sure that he was distracted with talking to the owner of the stall he was visiting. Before cutting just above the bag only to find a steel chain there. Though surprised Annabeth didn’t miss a beat cutting again at the top of the bag itself, grabbing it in her palm of the same hand before swiping it under her clock and turning to duck behind the stall just as the man turned, eyes snapping onto her.
She caught the movement out of the corner of her eye and had only time to turn before a sword was at her throat. Her chest ross and fell fast, with the sun in her eyes and clock pulled up, she couldn’t see much of the man’s face but one thing was all too clear too looking at him now. That Annabeth Chase had just stolen from a pirate and been caught red handed.