Percabeth Oneshots

Dinner Date Disaster (not)

By me.

"Percy, I don’t know why I let you talk me into this," Annabeth muttered, adjusting the strap of her dress for what felt like the hundredth time.

Percy, sitting beside her in the car, shot her a grin. "It’s just dinner with our parents, Annabeth. What’s the worst that could happen?"

Annabeth narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms. "You’re asking that like you’ve forgotten who we are."

Before Percy could respond, the car pulled into the driveway of the Jackson residence. The evening was supposed to be a casual dinner, a chance for Annabeth’s parents—Frederick and Helen Chase—to finally meet Percy’s mom, Sally, and Paul. A simple, pleasant evening.

Yeah, right.

Percy hopped out of the car and walked around to open Annabeth's door, giving her a dramatic bow. "My lady, your chariot awaits."

Annabeth rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "Keep that up, Seaweed Brain, and I might just forget how nervous I am."

They walked up the steps and knocked. Sally greeted them with a warm hug, Paul not far behind, holding a casserole dish.

"Come on in!" Sally said cheerfully. "We’re just about ready."

"Great! Nothing can go wrong tonight," Percy said, and Annabeth subtly elbowed him in the ribs.

Inside, the Chases were already sitting in the living room, looking as stiff as cardboard. Frederick was awkwardly adjusting his glasses, and Helen kept smoothing out her dress, eyeing the various knickknacks in the room.

"Uh, hi, Mr. Chase, Mrs. Chase," Percy said, a little too loudly. Annabeth shot him a look as if to say, tone it down, but Percy just grinned like everything was going perfectly.

"Percy," Helen said with a forced smile. "Lovely home."

"Thanks!" Percy said brightly, while Annabeth mumbled something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like, You’re going to jinx us.

Everyone sat down for dinner, and for the first few minutes, it was... surprisingly civil. Conversations flowed. Sally complimented Helen on her earrings, Paul made small talk about teaching, and Frederick didn’t frown once. Annabeth started to think maybe it wouldn’t be a disaster after all.

Until Percy decided to bring up that story.

"So," Percy began, leaning back in his chair, completely oblivious to the impending doom, "did I ever tell you guys about the time Annabeth and I got attacked by giant chickens?"

Annabeth's fork paused halfway to her mouth. "Percy—"

"I’m serious!" Percy interrupted, already far too deep into the tale to stop. "These things were like the size of SUVs, and they were mad. Apparently, we wandered too close to their nesting grounds. Anyway, Annabeth here—"

"Percy, no—"

"—thinks it’s a good idea to charge them with nothing but a bronze knife, while I’m stuck trying to use my powers to…"

Annabeth buried her face in her hands. "Kill me now."

Sally was chuckling, used to Percy’s wild stories by now, but Helen looked horrified, glancing nervously at Annabeth as if to say, Is he serious?

"Oh, totally serious," Percy continued, completely misreading the room. "We were covered in feathers for days. But Annabeth was great! You should’ve seen her take them down. Chickens never knew what hit ‘em."

"Percy," Annabeth said through gritted teeth, her face flushed red, "that’s enough."

Frederick, ever the stoic scholar, raised an eyebrow. "Chickens?"

"Yep!" Percy replied, oblivious. "Although I’m pretty sure they were part dragon—"

"Percy," Paul interrupted, trying to save the situation, "maybe you could pass the bread?"

Annabeth sent him a grateful look, and Percy, finally catching on, sheepishly handed the breadbasket across the table. "Sorry. Got carried away."

As the meal progressed, things smoothed out again—until Percy, once again, jinxed it.

"Hey, Mom, didn’t you want to show the Chases those photos of me in kindergarten?" Percy asked, shoving another forkful of food into his mouth.

Sally lit up. "Oh, I almost forgot! Annabeth, you’ll love these. Percy had the cutest little—"

"Mom!" Percy whined. "Not the embarrassing photos!"

Annabeth smirked, leaning over to whisper, "This is what you get for the chicken story, Seaweed Brain."

Frederick leaned over to Paul, who was watching the chaos unfold with an amused smile. "Is it always like this?"

Paul shrugged, chuckling. "More or less. You get used to it."

Sally returned with a photo album, and sure enough, there was baby Percy, grinning with missing teeth, covered in spaghetti sauce. Helen chuckled softly, and even Frederick cracked a smile.

"I should’ve brought Annabeth’s photos," Helen commented. "I have a whole album of her dressed as a pirate."

"Mom!" Annabeth groaned, burying her face in Percy’s shoulder.

"Aw, come on, Wise Girl," Percy teased, "I’m sure you were adorable."

Annabeth glared at him, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "This isn’t over, Jackson."

The evening ended in laughter and stories, and as they stood by the door to say goodbye, Frederick clapped Percy on the back. "You’re an interesting young man, Percy."

Percy winced slightly at the strength of the pat but smiled. "Thanks, Mr. Chase. I think."

Annabeth and Percy exchanged glances as the door closed, the chaos finally winding down.

"See?" Percy said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "That wasn’t so bad."

Annabeth gave him a long look, then smirked. "Seaweed Brain, I’m going to show your mom all of your embarrassing moments next time."

Percy paled. "You wouldn’t dare."

She raised an eyebrow. "Just watch me."