Loverboy (PERCABETH AU)

Chapter 18

Annabeth POV

I couldn't get the sound of Percy's voice out of my head.
It wasn't the usual joking, lazy, "I'll-get-to-it-eventually" Percy tone. This was cold. Flat. The kind of tone that made those guys at the café think twice about taking another step toward Piper.

And it worked.

I'd been right there, tray in hand, ready to step in — but he moved faster. Put himself between Piper and those jerks like it wasn't even a choice. Piper clung to his arm like he was the only solid thing in the room, and for the rest of the afternoon, she didn't stray more than a foot from him.

I wasn't jealous — not exactly. I know what Piper and Percy are. Not related by blood, but the way they move around each other, finish each other's sentences, tease like siblings — it's family. Still... there was this part of me that kept turning the scene over in my mind.

Because Percy didn't even think about it. He just stepped in like the idiot hero he is. And while I admire that — more than I'll ever admit to him — I also wanted to shake him for how reckless it was. Two against one, no backup. Typical Seaweed Brain.

That night, lying in bed, I kept replaying Piper's face when it happened — that flicker of fear before she masked it. And the way Percy's whole focus narrowed on her until she stopped shaking. He wiped her tears without even hesitating, like he'd done it a hundred times. Like he'd do it a hundred more.

By morning, the city noise outside my apartment window felt sharper, like everything was too loud, too bright. At school, Piper was at Percy's side again when I got there, her hand hooked into his elbow as they walked in. He was saying something that made her laugh — not a big laugh, but enough to tell me she was starting to feel okay again.

When they spotted me, Percy gave a half-smile. Piper mouthed a quick "thanks" from across the hall, and I smiled back.

By the time I got to my first class, Percy and Piper had already claimed their usual seats in the back. Piper leaned over to say something, and he grinned, shaking his head like she'd just dared him to do something ridiculous. It was... easy between them. Familiar.

I told myself that was good — Piper needed that after yesterday. She deserved to feel safe. Still, part of me kept circling back to the way Percy had looked when he stepped in. Not just angry. Determined. Like nothing else in the room mattered until Piper was okay.

It was reckless. It was unnecessary. It was... kind of admirable.

And it made me realize something I hadn't before — Percy Jackson was a lot of things, but indifferent wasn't one of them.

The bell rang before I could think too hard about it, and we all got up. Percy lingered for a second to grab Piper's empty juice carton and toss it into the bin, while Piper waited for him at the door.

I was about to follow Hazel when someone fell into step beside me. Black hoodie, earbuds dangling, hair a little messy from where it had been tucked under the hood.

Nico.

We didn't talk much outside of quests. Mostly because he didn't talk much outside of quests.

He glanced sideways at me. "You handled yourself pretty well yesterday."

It took me a second to realize he was talking about the café. "You were there?"

"I saw the end." He shrugged, looking almost sheepish. "Percy looked like he was ready to... well, you know. But you stayed calm."

"That's kind of my thing," I said, half-smiling. "You know, when he's being reckless, someone's got to be the sane one."

Nico gave a small, rare smirk. "Good luck with that. I've been trying to keep him out of trouble since I met him. Hasn't worked once."