Chapter Text
Annabeth sat cross-legged in the new Jackson-Blofis apartment. With Sally’s new book blowing up and Paul’s promotion to the English Head of Department, they had enough money to buy a new house which was insanely good news.
After the two wars and Tar- that place, her and Percy couldn’t physically stay away from each other. Every time they weren’t with each other, it felt like the whole world was going to collapse. Its better now, allowing them both to go to different universities but it used to be harder. The new house made it easier for Annabeth to move in the house. Sally and Paul were angels through all this.
Annabeth grinned at Sally as she placed a mug of coffee in front of her. She usually woke up before Percy and sometimes helped with making lunch and breakfast. She practically inhaled the coffee, the hair rising at the back of her neck as Paul came into the kitchen, carrying the newspaper.
“Morning.” She hummed, nodding at him as he sat in front of her.
“Good sleep?” Paul asked, opening the paper.
“I’d say so.” They all knew what a comparative good sleep meant for her and Percy.
They settled into a comfortable silence after that, the only noise being the sizzle of the pan as Sally made pancakes.
Annabeth squinted at the first page of the newspaper, barely making out the words ‘Jason Todd-Wayne’, making her heart race.
“Paul,” She started, earning a hum in response, “Can you read the first news?” She asked, her voice shaking making Sally look at her concerned.
“Uh.. yeah. Jason Todd-Wayne to appear in his first ever Wayne Gala on…” Paul continued but all she heard was static.
Jason. Her Jason. Her brother… was alive?
Everything rushed past her. His funeral. Dick not being there. Dick and Bruce's fight. Jason’s smile. Him reading to her. His dead body she saw through Bruce’s mask, sitting in the Cave with Alfred. Jason. Dick. Bruce.
“...Hey. Wise Girl. Come on. Come back to me. We’re in our home. Safe. “ A hand on her neck and a forehead touching hers helped her come back to herself.
Her eyes refocused to find sea green eyes staring back into hers. Her mind seemed to settle as her breathing calmed down. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, just focusing on the salty sea breeze that always wafted off of Percy.
“You with me?”
Her body relaxed as she opened her eyes again, nodding to let Percy know that he doesn’t need to keep holding her now. He hesitates but lets go eventually and Annabeth realizes that Sally and Paul had left them to their own devices, probably to go check up on Estelle, wanting to give them privacy.
“Jason… he’s alive.” She whispered, looking at the newspaper as if it had personally scorned her.
“Jason? That's your… brother right?” She nodded.
“Damn…” She scoffed.
“Yeah…” She trailed off, looking in the distance. “I… I should go back home.” She muttered, looking back at him.
“Back to Gotham?” At her nod, he sighed and nodded.
“Okay. We'll go.” She looked up, smiling softly.
“Who said I wanted you to come with me?” She joked and he gasped like a drama queen.
“I'm offended, Wise Girl, truly. You've hurt me more than you can imagine. I don't know how I can recover from this.” He put a hand to his forehead, making her laugh harder.
“Shut up, Seaweed Brain.” She smirked, pecking him on the lips before standing up. “Come on. I gotta tell Sally and Paul and call… call Alfie.“
She held out a hand for him and pulled him up.
“How about this, I tell mom and Paul and you call?” He offered, making her heart melt.
“That is actually… yeah. I'd like that. Thanks.”
“No worries, babe.” He winked, walking off to the living room.
Annabeth turned in the other direction and started for their room. She sat on their bed, heart hammering as she picked up her phone.
Leo and the other Hephaestus kids, with some help from Athena and Hecate kids, had worked day and night to make demigod friendly phones and were finally successful a few months ago. It just made things easier for all of the demigods but especially The Seven and Nico, Reyna and Thalia.
“This is stupid. You’ve fought Titans. It’s just a phone call.” She muttered as her hands shook, trying to type in the number Alfred had made her remember ever since she could talk. She still remembered it, but by this point, it was muscle memory by how many times she wanted to call her grandfather but never went through with it.
She pressed the call button, raising the phone to her ear as the dial tone played.
As she waited for him to pick up, she was minutely aware of the smallest thing. The glass of water next to their bed, half empty, the small night light that was still on because Percy had forgotten to turn it off, how her throat was so dry.
“This is Alfred Pennyworth. How do you have this number?” A hauntingly familiar voice tore her from her thoughts and for a minute, she didn’t say anything, making Alfred repeat the question.
“Hey, Alfie. I-It’s me. Annabeth.”