Percabeth Oneshots

The Flirt That Failed

Based on an incorrect quote I read.
Written by me.
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The sun was setting over the Argo II, casting golden hues over the deck as the seven demigods lounged around after a particularly grueling day of training. Exhaustion hung in the air, but it was the kind that came with a sense of accomplishment, and everyone seemed to be in a lighter mood.

Percy Jackson, however, had something else on his mind—something much more nerve-wracking than any monster they’d ever faced.

He glanced over at Annabeth, who was sitting on a crate, flipping through a book, her blonde curls catching the dying sunlight. She looked so effortlessly beautiful, and Percy’s heart did that little flip it always did when he saw her.

Alright, Jackson, now’s your chance, he thought to himself, determined to sound cool for once. He took a deep breath and strolled over to her, leaning casually against the railing of the ship. He gave her a lopsided grin that he hoped was charming.

"Hey, Wise Girl," he began, trying to inject some smoothness into his voice.

Annabeth looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Hey, Seaweed Brain," she replied, her tone neutral but amused.

Percy cleared his throat. Come on, you’ve got this, he encouraged himself, feeling the eyes of the rest of the seven on him.

Hazel, Leo, Jason, Piper, and Frank were scattered around the deck, all clearly watching, even if they were trying to be discreet about it.

"I uh, I just wanted to say," Percy stammered, mentally kicking himself. He was supposed to be smooth, not a fumbling mess. "I really like your name."

Annabeth blinked at him, clearly caught off guard by the random statement. She tilted her head slightly, her gray eyes narrowing with amusement as she studied him.

"Thanks," she said dryly, not missing a beat. "I got it for my birthday."

There was a split second of silence. Percy stood there, stunned, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a witty response—anything, really—but all he could manage was a blank stare.

And then, the deck erupted in laughter.

Jason was the first to crack, nearly doubling over as he clutched his stomach. Piper snorted, covering her mouth with her hand, while Hazel giggled uncontrollably beside her.

Even Frank was shaking his head, a broad grin on his face. But the loudest of them all was Leo, who was practically rolling on the floor, laughing so hard that tears streamed down his face.

"Oh gods," Leo wheezed, "she destroyed you, man!"

Percy could feel the heat rising to his face as he stood there, still frozen, while Annabeth casually returned to her book, the smallest of smirks playing on her lips. She hadn’t even tried to embarrass him—it was just effortless.

"You… got it for your birthday?" Percy repeated weakly, still processing.

Annabeth looked up again, this time with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Yeah," she said, her voice completely deadpan. "You know, like most people."

The laughter around them intensified, and Percy could feel himself sinking deeper into the deck. He was the son of Poseidon, for gods’ sake—he’d faced titans, giants, even the literal embodiment of the earth herself! But one smart remark from Annabeth, and he was completely undone.

"Man, that was brutal," Jason gasped between laughs. "I didn’t think it was possible, but Percy just got outsmarted in a conversation."

Piper wiped away a tear, grinning at Percy. "You’ve got to admit, it was a solid comeback."

Hazel nodded, still giggling. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen Percy so speechless."

Leo, who had finally managed to pull himself together, walked over and patted Percy on the back.

"Don’t worry, dude. You’ll recover. Eventually."

Percy sighed dramatically, running a hand through his messy black hair. "Thanks for the support, guys," he muttered sarcastically, though a smile tugged at his lips despite himself.

Annabeth closed her book with a soft thump and stood up, walking over to him. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, the smirk still in place.

"You’re not going to stop trying, are you?" she asked, her tone teasing.

Percy shook his head, his confidence slowly returning as he met her gaze. "Nah," he said, grinning now. "You’re worth the effort."

Her smirk softened into a smile, and Percy felt his heart skip a beat. There was that feeling again, the one that made him feel like the luckiest guy in the world, even if he was the one getting laughed at.

"Good answer, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said softly, before turning and walking back to her spot leaving Percy with a triumphant look.

He watched her go, a goofy smile on his face, and then turned back to his friends. "Yeah, laugh all you want," he said, shrugging. "I’m still dating the smartest girl on the ship."

Jason gave him a playful shove. "That’s true, man. But you’ve got to step up your game."

Leo grinned, leaning against the railing. "Or, you know, maybe just stop trying to flirt entirely."

Percy chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I’ll think about it."

But as the laughter died down and the sun finally dipped below the horizon, Percy couldn’t help but feel like, despite the embarrassment, things were exactly the way they should be.

He and Annabeth were always going to be teasing each other, always challenging one another—and that was just how he liked it.

Even if it meant getting shut down every now and then.