Pick Your Battles

The secret chamber

Athena had always been a woman of her word. It came with the territory - after all, no one trusts the wisdom of liars. And so, just as she had promised, Annabeth told Cat Noir as much as she could about her demigod life as they cruised over shut down stores and silent parks, always travelling a few more kilometres per hour than she would have liked. She hoped Percy was doing the same for Ladybug, but if she couldn't take in the information seriously while his arm was around her shoulders, she supposed she couldn't blame him for that.

For all his mischief and capriciousness, Annabeth found Cat Noir to be a surprisingly good listener. As she spoke of Camp Half-Blood and the gods and some of her and Percy's adventures, he listened intently, offering words of sympathy whenever she had to mention something quite upsetting.

He got a faraway look in his eyes when she told him about how her parents' neglect had forced her to run away from home at the age of seven. Annabeth was good at reading people. She knew she had touched on a relatable topic, but she didn't press further. Another thing that dawned on her: when she had been a young hero their age, she was never forced to be so secretive, she had no double life she needed to protect at all costs. She wondered what that was like, having to lie to everyone around you in order to protect the people you cared for.

When they arrived at the Grand Palais, Ladybug ducked behind a pillar to feed her kwami again. Cat Noir had belatedly explained that after they used their special power i.e. lucky charm or cataclysm, they only had five minutes left before they transformed back. Percy had stifled a laugh at that, before Annabeth elbowed him in the ribs. Cat Noir said he was going to patrol the perimeter while they waited for Ladybug and leaped off.

For a moment it was silent. Annabeth's hair had come loose from the elegant and absurdly complicated knot it had been in when Hermes had transported them to Paris. It coiled around her throat and nose, drifting in the chilly wind. Percy turned to her. "Did he give you any trouble?"

Annabeth felt herself get defensive over the heroes, though she didn't understand why. Perhaps she related to Cat Noir, being young and going on life-threatening adventures with your closest friend, trying to build a cage around your heart so your feelings would never interfere with a mission.

She remembered the pain of being fourteen and being Percy's best friend all too well.

"He's not so bad," Annabeth shrugged. "I mean, they're only fourteen. They seem to have a lot of responsibility."

The corner of his mouth twitched. "Do you remember what I was like at that age?"

Annabeth touched his chest. He'd discarded the suit jacket and tie, so she ran her fingers over the buttons of his loose white shirt. "You mean apart from chronically hopeless?"

"Hey, I saved the camp from invasion, didn't I? During the Battle of the Labyrinth."

She swatted his arm. "That was Grover's doing and no one else's."

"True," Percy admitted. "And if it weren't for Chiron I'd probably be in Kampe's intestines right now."

Annabeth shuddered, recalling them lying side by side in the dirt, the hideous monster lady leering down at them. "You and me both."

"Where's Cat Noir?" Ladybug asked, jogging up to them.

"He went on patrol," Percy said absentmindedly.

Her eyebrows shot up. "Now?"

"You guys coming or not?" Cat Noir's voice sounded impatient, coming from inside the building. The door swung open, Cat Noir was leaning on the frame, a hair clip spinning through the gaps in his fingers.