My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Go Swimming With Evil Nymphs

"Percy, you did a good job."

"But, I lost."

"Yeah, you did. That was really embarrassing."

"Julie! Would you just...Okay?"

"What?" She asks innocently. "Are you trying to say that wasn't the most embarrassing thing you've ever seen in your life?"

Annabeth groans, pinching the bridge of her nose as Percy looks over at his sister with a scowl.

"This coming from the girl who got trapped in a magic fish net," He retorts.

Julie feels her face start to burn, especially when she hears Jason snort from where he's tightening down one of the side oars and pretending not to eavesdrop. "Oh, shut up! That net was celestial bronze!"

"They were going to sell you to a circus. In Tartarus."

"I'd kick ass as a circus performer, to be fair."

"Who knew they had entertainment down there?" Percy muses, kicking back to rest his arms behind his head.

Juliette snickers and joins him where he's splayed out on the deck to watch the clouds. Still typing away on her magic tablet, Annabeth sighs and shakes her head. "You two are idiots. Chrysaor was being sarcastic. He was going to give you to Gaea for the ritual."

Julie's face scrunches in thought. "No. No, I think he was serious. I mean, he said 'Heartbreaks always make a Headline.' That kind of alliteration screams ad-campaign to me."

Percy nods seriously. "It does. It's like...like 'the snack that smiles back,' or the 'badabuhbuhbuh' for McDonald's. What do you call those?"

Annabeth looks physically pained as she glances over at her boyfriend. "Slogans?"

"Yes! Slogans." Percy says triumphantly. "It's a slogan."

"Definitely," Julie agrees.

Annabeth looks over at Jason helplessly. He's very unsuccessfully fighting down a smirk as he tightens down a screw with a power driver. Juliette raises an eyebrow at his amused expression.

"What are you smirking at, Soldier Boy? Care to share with the class?"

He turns to her with a bemused look, early sunlight glinting gold off his glasses. Julie flushes and decides to focus on the oar he's working on instead. "Just imagining you jumping through flaming hoops in a clown collar."

Percy starts to cackle, and Julie flings out an arm to elbow him in the gut. He yelps and scoots away from her. "Why are you so violent?" He grumbles.

"Why are you so stupid?"

"I know you are, but what am I?"

"Dumb."

"I know you are, but what am I?"

"Annoying."

"I know you are, but what am-"

"OKAY!" Annabeth interrupts. She stands abruptly, left eye twitching. "I've had enough of the wonder siblings for right now. I'm going to my room. Where it's quiet. And peaceful. Don't follow me."

The three of them chorus mumbled farewells as Annabeth gathers her things, kneels down to give Percy a quick kiss where he's laying on the planks, and disappears down the staircase to her room.

Percy turns to Juliette with a shit eating grin. "So, what are you gonna do when we save Nico today? Gonna finally let him have that smooch he's been hoping for all these years?"