Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 55

Percy and Annabeth both nodded in agreement, but didn't say a word, too busy staring at each other. They really did look great. Silena had done a great job. Though, they were more entranced by what the gray streak symbolized.

Silena smiled softly and quietly slipped out, giving them privacy. Seeing them together made her want to be with her own boyfriend. Besides, Charlie was probably wondering where she wandered off to.

Annabeth watched, transfixed at how little droplets of water slid along his damp hair and down the minimal space between them. She wouldn't mind it if they re-dyed their hair every time the color grew out. And perhaps a bit, just a bit premature, but she certainly wouldn't mind it if they continued until their hair actually became gray.

Idly wondering when she became so soft, his smooth voice broke her out of her reverie.

"You look amazing, Wise Girl," Percy said, rubbing his hand along her waist and squeezing.

She sighed a little before smiling and bunching his shirt in her fist. "You do, too. This... this makes me really happy, Percy. Thank you."

"Thank you," Percy returned easily. At the confused quirk of her lips, he pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth, laughing softly when she chased his lips. She pouted when he stayed out of reach. "For being my girlfriend. For caring about me. For making every day something to look forward to."

She breathed an incredulous laugh and slapped his chest lightly. "So cheesy."

He grinned proudly. "I also really should thank you for letting everyone know that you're mine, visually and stuff. For, you know, when I'm not around."

Annabeth blinked and her heart beat a little faster. "Is that right?"

"Hell yeah." Percy reached up and tucked an errant curl behind her ear, letting his thumb brush along her cheek. "You don't see it? All these guys never stop staring at you even though everyone knows we're dating. Makes me wanna go insane sometimes."

She rolled her eyes. That wasn't the part she cared about, or even noticed for that matter. She was still caught up with him saying she was his.

"And you don't seem to mind all the girls looking at you," she returned, deflecting a little to stop her heart from reeling, but regretting it when a bubble of jealousy coursed in her. "Especially Calypso."

"Calypso?" He echoed her name with genuine surprise. "Seriously? I think we've only talked like once or twice. And it was about dueling!"

Annabeth sighed. That girl had the biggest crush on him since their fourth year. It was as plain as day to anyone who gave her a glance.

"Still didn't mind it."

He rolled his eyes.

"Oh, please. If my mum wouldn't kill me for it, I'd tattoo your name on my forehead." And then more gently, he took her hands, squeezing reassuringly, and told her, "You know I'm yours, 'Beth. Even if no one else knows why we did this, I want to show off how much we mean to each other just like the characters in your book. It's like our own little thing. It's not conventional, I guess, but when have things ever been, you know? We—I... because you, Annabeth Chase, are something else."

At that moment, Annabeth couldn't care less if an asteroid struck the Earth. Because the rest of the world was kind of moot when Percy Jackson was this close, speaking from the heart like only he could. And whatever he couldn't say, the blaze in his eyes recompensed.

He didn't say how much she meant to him, he said we. How much they mean to each other. And Annabeth couldn't have been happier. For as long as she'd known him, Percy had always subtly undermined himself, like he wasn't worth the same to her, and it drove her completely over the edge.

The corners of his mouth lifted as he gazed at her — tender, shy, and almost vulnerable. He was beautiful. It completely threw her for a loop that this boy, too kind for his own good, never thought he was worthy. Of her. Of anything in this world.

So now that he was referring to the berth of their mutual feelings, well, it struck deeper than he knew. All the time and words she'd spent stuck with him. She needed them to. Because he meant everything to her.

Her eyes welled with tears. "Percy... you're the only one for me."

Their foreheads touched, noses brushed, her fingers slid into his hair, and then they were kissing, feeling warmth spread from head to toe. A rush of breath left his nose and she tugged him closer. She could get lost in this feeling. Of peace, of hearth, and of home.

Home.

They were like puzzle pieces, sliding and fitting together like only the perfect compliment could. Annabeth had known this for a long time: she loved him. She was in love with him. And here, standing in this bathroom, she found herself falling just a little more.

Now for the simple matter of telling him that.

In retrospect, she knew that they both knew they loved each other. Even before they began dating, there was a change in their gazes, their expressions, and most importantly their touch; warm, lingering grazes that pulsed with unspoken endearment and something more. It was subtle, but it was undoubtedly there.

Though, neither of them had explicitly said it.

Yet.