𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

05 - percy is already very attached to the pretty girl

˖*࿐ •*⁀➷

WHEN HAZEL TOLD FRANK AND PERCY THAT MABEL WASN'T IN HER BUNK THAT MORNING, the son of Neptune was really quite confused by the fact that the two younger kids didn't seem worried at all. 

After Percy woke up from some really strange dreams, Frank explained that they'd have a quick breakfast before attending the senate meeting to figure out the details for their quest. Luckily, he did not have to wear his bedsheets like Dakota, apparently!

Hazel stood outside the girls barracks, curly hair pulled up into a puff on the back of her head. Small curls fell around her face, catching the sun and shining like gold. She greeted Percy with a wave and Frank with a shy smile, wearing the purple camp shirt and a pair of light blue jeans. 

Percy nodded to the younger girl, his mouth opening before his brain could catch up. "Where's Mabel?"

The daughter of Pluto's lips twitched up at his words. "She wasn't in her bed this morning," she replied, brushing a curl from her face. "It looked like she hadn't been there for a while."

"What?" Percy paused, brows pulling down in concern. "Where is she then?"

Frank hummed to himself, his lips curving down slightly. "She probably couldn't sleep. We can go get her."

Hazel and Frank both turned, beckoning for Percy to follow them as they walked toward the principia, passing it and heading toward the building right next to it. The son of Neptune was slightly confused as his brain worked to decipher the Latin written by the door before he decided it said Praetor's Quarters. 

Percy studied both younger kids for a moment, before carefully asking, "Why would Mabel be in here?"

Frank chewed his lip, glancing at Hazel like he wanted her to explain. The curly-haired girl wet her lips, seeming to try and find the right words. "She heads here when she can't sleep. I... I wasn't here for long before Jason disappeared, but they were really close. From the little she's told me, he's like a brother to her."

For a half a moment, relief flickered in Percy's chest. Why was he relieved? He met her yesterday, fucking idiot. But the corner of his still lips curled up for a moment as he followed Frank and Hazel into the building. 

The door on the right with 'Reyna Ramirez-Arellano' printed beside it was closed, but the one on the left that read 'Jason Grace' was slightly cracked. Hazel paused, staring at the name before slowly pushing the door open and calling, "Mabel? It's time for breakfast."

As the three of them stepped into the room, Percy's eyes couldn't help but wander around. It was pretty standard (read: boring), but a desk in one corner was cluttered with all sorts of random things, unmoved and gathering dust like they hadn't been touched since their owner left. The wall above it was littered with photos held up by tape and pushpins. Percy saw a few familiar faces: Reyna, Dakota, Gwen. But the most recurring person was Mabel— but she looked a little different. Not bad different, just different. Younger, no scar across her nose, and a little more smiley. Percy couldn't help but wonder why that had changed; he liked her smile. 

Hazel looked around, not spotting the daughter of Trivia in the room. "Mabel?" she called, voice holding a bit more concern. 

A voice sounded from an open door across the room. "Yeah, sorry." Mabel stepped out of what Percy guessed was a bathroom, tugging at the toga wrapped around her body with distaste. "I don't know why the fuck I let Jason convince me to run for senator last year," she mumbled mindlessly, more to herself than anything. "They all hate me now and I look stupid."