Pick Your Battles

The ending

An hour later, they were by the banks of the Seine, watching the first rays of sunlight yawning over the river, painting the buildings their signature honey-gold. Pandora had said she would find her way back to Olympus without them, and they were too tired to argue. Annabeth didn't know whether they could trust her or not, but she decided to inform Chiron of their adventure when they were back at camp.

Andre the Ice Cream man had been up early that day, and had been excited to find out that Percy and Annabeth were in fact a couple. He bestowed them with an esteemed pistachio and hazelnut ice cream, although was disheartened (along with Cat Noir) to find out that the superheroes were still just "very good friends." Annabeth didn't know what to make of that, but the ice cream tasted nice, and the view was beautiful, so she was happy.

Her friends congratulated her for her plan, though Cat Noir admitted he wasn't quite sure what she had actually done.

"How did you know the lucky charm meant we needed the miraculous of the goat?" he asked, peering over Ladybug's shoulder to look at her.

"Well, I figured using Pandora's jar would be a good way to lay a trap for him, but obviously I had no idea how to acquire it. I didn't know that the goat's power allowed the wearer to create any objects before." Annabeth smiled at Ladybug. "But I remembered Ladybug saying that the lucky charm was always the most crucial element to defeating the villain, so I knew it would be important."

Ladybug's smile faded. "You defeated Duel, pretty much all on your own. I guess I was a pretty useless hero this time."

Annabeth took her hands. "You were an amazing superhero, Ladybug. You put your trust in me. You let Cat Noir hide in the box instead of you. You let Percy hide you underwater in that bubble while the fight was going on, and you came out at the exact right moment. Being a hero is all about doing the next right thing, not doing everything yourself." She pulled her into a hug. Ladybug's fingers trembled on her back. "Thank you for saving our lives tonight, Ladybug."

She pulled away, putting her hand on Cat Noir's shoulder. "Thank you."

Cat Noir looked stunned for a moment, before his sarcastic smile came back into play. "Any time, Wise Girl," he kissed the back of her hand. "Saving lives is what we cats do best."

Percy cleared his throat, stepping forward to take Annabeth's hand. "On that note, we'd better get going. You said you could-"

"No need for that," a deep voice rumbled behind them. "I will make sure you get back home safely. It seems I owe you as much."

"Hermes," Annabeth breathed.

"Annabeth Chase," Hermes fixed her with a look she couldn't decipher, but it was the first time he had looked at her without that familiar glint of resentment in his eyes. That had to count for something. "It seems we have much to discuss."

Annabeth felt her ears turn red. "We do?"

"Oh, of course. But not right now. You kids need to go home and rest. Come along now, Mother Rhea does not have all day."

Annabeth hugged Ladybug again. Percy shook Cat Noir's hand, smiling at him a little less begrudgingly than earlier in the night.

"Come and visit us, okay?" Ladybug said.

"After all, we're only a couple tsunamis and underwater palaces away, am I right?" Cat Noir elbowed Percy, who stretched his mouth wide like he was advertising for a toothpaste commercial. Then he smiled, genuinely, his expression becoming mischievous as he whispered something in Cat Noir's ear. Cat Noir blushed, turned to Ladybug, back to Percy, then laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.