Percabeth Oneshots

Waiting On The World To Change

(A/N) By me. The title is also a name of a song. I'll accept a prompt from the person who tells me the singer.

Sally Jackson was peacefully stirring spaghetti sauce in the kitchen when Percy burst through the door like a hurricane, his backpack hanging off one arm, his shoes squeaking across the floor.

He didn’t bother with greetings. He didn’t bother with shoes. He didn’t even bother with the glorious smell of dinner. Instead, he beelined for the calendar hanging on the wall like his life depended on it.

Sally glanced over her shoulder, amused but not entirely surprised. "Rough day at school?"

"Mom," Percy said gravely, grabbing a marker and dramatically uncapping it. "Every day at school is a rough day. But this... this makes it worth it." He crossed out today’s date with the flourish of a man signing a peace treaty.

Sally wiped her hands on a towel, leaning against the counter. "Alright, what’s this calendar obsession about? Please don’t tell me it’s a countdown to the next apocalypse. I just bought groceries."

Percy turned to her with the most self-satisfied grin she’d ever seen. "It’s a countdown to Annabeth, Mom."

Sally blinked. "Annabeth?"

"Yeah. Annabeth. My wise girl. My partner in crime. My other half. The one who—"

Sally held up a hand. "Okay, okay, I get it. You’re counting down to see Annabeth. When, exactly?"

Percy turned back to the calendar, his finger tracing the days like he was mapping out a battle strategy. "Thirty-six days. Thirty-six long, grueling days until I see her again."

"Grieving like she’s been gone for years, huh?" Sally teased, her lips twitching.

"You don’t understand, Mom," Percy said, spinning dramatically. "This isn’t just about seeing Annabeth. This is about surviving until I see Annabeth. School without her? It’s like... like..." He waved his hands in the air, searching for the words. "It’s like camp without monsters. Sure, it’s peaceful, but it’s also boring as heck."

Sally snorted. "I’m sure your teachers would love to hear that analogy."

Percy crossed his arms, feigning seriousness. "I’m telling you, Mom, if I don’t keep crossing off these days, I’ll forget what hope feels like."

"Hope?" Sally repeated, eyebrows raised. "Percy, you just got home, and you’re already this dramatic?"

"Mom, this is the kind of drama that wins wars."

She bit back a laugh. "This is the kind of drama that gets you grounded."

Percy gasped. "Grounded? For loving my girlfriend? Is this what tyranny looks like?"

Sally shook her head, turning back to the stove. "Alright, Romeo. If you love her so much, how about you go finish your homework so you don’t look like a clown when you tell her how emotionally stable you are?"

"Mom," Percy said seriously, grabbing the marker again and twirling it in his fingers like a sword. "This is my emotional stability. This calendar is the only thing keeping me from losing it."

"That explains so much," she muttered under her breath.

Percy ignored her, dramatically crossing out the same day again for good measure. "Thirty-five days, seventeen hours, and... wait, what time is it? I need to be precise."

Sally turned and gave him a look. "It’s dinner time. That’s all you need to know."

Percy frowned. "So... not precise. Got it."

"Sit down before I cross you off the calendar," she said, barely hiding her smirk.

Percy sighed and plopped into his chair. "Fine. But you can’t stop true love, Mom. This countdown is happening whether you approve or not."

Sally leaned over the table, grinning. "Oh, I approve. I just think Annabeth should see how much effort you’re putting into avoiding your homework."

Percy groaned, letting his head fall dramatically onto the table. "She doesn’t need to know that part. You’re ruining the romance, Mom."

"I’m enhancing it," Sally countered, placing a plate of spaghetti in front of him.

Percy poked at the food with his fork, mumbling, "Thirty-five days and seventeen hours, Mom. Thirty-five days and seventeen hours."

She patted him on the head. "And one long, painful lecture about procrastination if you don’t finish that science project tonight."

Percy sighed. "Truly, you are the bane of my existence."

"And you’re the joy of mine," Sally said sweetly, ruffling his hair.

He tried not to smile but failed miserably. Thirty-five days and seventeen hours. He’d survive.

Probably.