Percy Jackson One-Shots

Percabeth: I Don't Dance

         Annabeth sat in the passenger seat in Percy's car, tapping her foot to the beat of the music and Percy drove down the highway. She wasn't smiling, but she was content, and she hoped Percy knew that. She had noticed that he seemed to think she was upset when her face was nutreul, but Annabeth had inherited her Mother's stone cold face. And she hated it. So much.
          Percy didn't notice though because he was wrapped up in his own thoughts. He was also humming along to an All Time Low song on his playlist. He smiled slightly, thankful his girlfriend had similar music taste. She was tapping her foot on the floor along to the song and her face was expressionless, but Percy wasn't worried. His mother had explained that  just because Annabeth didn't smile, didn't mean she was upset. Percy was grateful to his mother for explaining, otherwise he was sure he would have pushed for information until she really did get upset.
            He had planned to go to a quiet coffee shop tonight with Annabeth. It had live music and he hoped he could get her to dance with him. He had never seen Annabeth dance in front of anyone, and to be completely honest, Percy wasn't sure she ever had. Even at campfires during the summer when everyone was up and dancing, she would sit in her seat with a small smile on her face and 'people watch' as she called it. She had always said she enjoyed observing people and that they were much more interesting than participating in the activity herself.
          This Percy didn't understand, and Annabeth knew this. She was an introvert by nature, and while her boyfriend had his quiet moments and didn't want to go out some nights, he was still an extrovert practically trying to burst out into the public. This always made Annabeth uncomfortable. People made her uncomfortable. But she did like to go to quiet places or small businesses, she wasn't antisocial, she enjoyed being around pleasant people.
          She didn't know where Percy was taking them but she hoped it wasn't a loud place. She didn't really think they'd go somewhere extremely loud and obnoxious, if she wanted to go somewhere like that she would go to an All Time Low concert. She chuckled to herself at the thought.
             She smiled as Percy turned onto a small road that had a few cars lining the sidewalk. She knew this place. She had only been a couple times, and only to get coffee and study for exams in the mornings, but the staff at the coffee shop was nice and the people were pleasant. Percy seemed to notice her change in mood as he glanced at her and gave a slight smile as he tried his hardest to parallel park. She giggled as he struggled but eventually he had them parked straight and in between two other good sized cars.
          Percy stepped out onto the street and shut the door gently because he knew how much Annabeth hated slamming things unless it was her doing so. He walked around the car and opened her door for her. He held out her hand and she took it as she stepped out of the car and into the chilly night. Percy took out four quarters and handed them to his girlfriend who smiled eagerly because she loved putting the coins into the machine. Percy found it adorable how Annabeth could get so excited over simple things such as that, and giggled as she put them in the machine, all while smiling, looking back between him and the coin slot.
          "Two hours," she said and took his hand gently.
            He nodded and led her into the small coffee shop which had an acoustic band with two members and a guest drummer playing up on the stage in the far side of the room. The lights were low, but not so low that it was hard to see. There was a good amount of people in the place, but Annabeth didn't seem to mind. She swayed slightly to the music as they travelled deeper into the place, finding a table next to the wall, close the both the band and the bathrooms, but far enough from both to avoid the smell and quiet enough to talk. They ordered drinks and talked about Anmabeth's new designs and Percy's new job. He had gotten a job working to rescue sea creatures. He was especially good at his job being the son of Posedion;talking to all the creatures and often was somewhat of a phycologist for them. Some of the animals had been through so much trauma just from being caught in a net. Most everyone thought he was crazy because he would often talk out loud to them, comforting them and occasionally asking them to "continue, I'm listening."
            Annabeth giggled and placed her hand over his and blushed slightly when he explained how he had told his coworkers about her.  He excused himself to go to the restroom and she took the time to look around the room. Her mind seemed to slow everything down and the music mixed together making a numbing buzz in her ear. The people were dancing in slow motion, drinks in hands and arms draped loosely around the necks of others. Lazy smiles and soft whispers filled the place with a sense of contemptment. She was so focused on the people that she didn't realize Percy had sat down, staring at her, trying to figure out her emotions. She was looking at a particular couple who were swaying lazily back and forth to the beat of the drums, forheads pressed gently against each other. The girl's arms were around the guys neck, smiling with her eyes closed as the guy rested his hands above her hips, talking slowly and quietly.
            Annabeth looked at them like she wanted to do that. And so that's exactly why Percy stood up and grabbed her hands, pulling her up from her seat and out of her daze. She looked at him questioningly, almost sad he'd broken her out of her thoughts. He grinned at her and pulled her out on the floor a bit.
            "Come on, dance with me Wise Girl," he said and chuckled spinning her slowly and then pulling her gently to his chest.
            "But Percy, I don't dance,"Annabeth countered in a whiny tone, kind of desperate.
            She never danced in front of anyone, she never danced at all. It's not that she didn't know how, it was that she wasn't comfortable in her body to move like that. Sure she could sway to the music, but she never really danced. She and Percy had skipped prom; they'd stayed home and ate pizza while going on Neflix to benge watch one of Annabeth's favorite anime series. Percy had been fine with it, never really liking the idea of prom.
           But now she was here, already swaying back and forth, wrapped up securely in Percy's arms and finally she melted into the idea of dancing. The music slowed down as they made their way into the middle of the dance floor, Annabeth always being sure to hold on to her boyfriend's hand as he pulled her along. He stopped and gently wrapped his arms around her waist as she sighed and leaned into him. She placed her arms on his shoulders, sitting loosely as if they could completely go weak and drop at any second.
          And each minute they spent there swaying and moving their hips to the music, Anmabeth grew more and more comfortable with the situation and completely melted into Percy. He took the opportunity to lift her chin and place his forhead against hers. She smiled and closed her eyes, focusing on the music and Percy's heartbeat which thumped along to the music which Annabeth found extremely calming.
         When she finally opened her eyes at the end of a song, she looked up to see her boyfriend's green eyes staring back at her with such admiration and affection.
          Percy saw Annabeth look happy, actually happy, smiling and calm, he saw her eyes were lazy but at the same time lit up with happiness. And he loved it. For a moment, their lips met and they stopped swaying and stood there. It was just a sweet kiss, nothing more, nothing less. And when they pulled away Annabeth whispered an almost inaudible "thank you" and smiled up at Percy sweetly.
           Percy nodded and pulled her in for a gently hug. She hugged back, resting her head on his chest.
           "Are you ready to go?" He asked. "Because I have something else planned for tonight."
           Annabeth looked up and nodded and silently they left the coffee shop, hand in hand, out into the night, even cooler then when they had come. It was cool yes, but it was comfortable. Annabeth slipped into the seat of the car and they drove off into the city. Percy turned on soft music, Sleeping With Sirens, but he made sure to play their slower songs, he didn't want to kill the mood. Annabeth was happy. She would have been fine with a song from Sleeping With Sirens that was upbeat and loud, but she appreciated how Percy kept their songs soft and slow. She hummed along to Roger Rabit as Percy parallel parked again, this time in front of a tall building. Annabeth got out of the car and looked up as she slid on a jacket (which was Percy's) and took her boyfriend's hand once again as he got a key out of his pocket and unlocked the doors of the building.
            She gaped at him,"Uh, Percy? How did you get a key to the building?"
           "Owe it all to Grover,"he said, smiling as he opened the door and held it for her as she stepped inside. "He knows a guy."
            She giggled as she stepped inside   As he followed. He led her to an elevator on the other side of the lobby next to a round desk with a note on it.
         Percy,
              My friend gave me until tomorrow night so if you want to come back in the daytime then no one will be here. Lock up tonight when and if you go.      
           Your bro,
                             Grover
        Annabeth giggled as she read it. Percy had booked the entire place for them. He smiled at her and the elvator dinged as the doors slid open. He pulled her  inside and pressed the button for the top floor.
        "Where are we going Perc?" She asked with a puzzled look in her eyes.
          He just smiled at her. "I want you to see the beauty of the sky."
           Then the elevator soared up to the top floor and Annabeth sighed as Percy put his arm around her waist. When the elevator doors opened again, Perch led her down a hall to a door with a sign that said roof.
           Percy smiled as he pushed the door open and quickly pulled her up the stairs excitedly. He had set up everything and didn't expect them to go back to the apartment tonight, the sky was too pretty to go home tonight. He got up to the top and pulled her to the middle of the open roof. There was a matress with fluffy blankets and pillows on it, a telescope at the edge of the roof where the rail was, and a small side table next to the matress with water and small snacks Grover has supplied. 
            Annabeth gasped when she looked up at the sky. "Oh Percy, it's beautiful." She shook her head in disbelief.
            The sky was full of stars. The moon shown so brightly and Percy loved the way it lit up Annabeth's face. He pulled her into him from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist.
          "It's perfect," she whispered as she leaned against him, still staring at the bright night in front of her.
           He chuckled and pulled her towards the mattress. He sat down and pulled her down with him as he unfolded the blankets.
          They didn't go home that night. Percy and Annabeth stayed on the roof, talking and admiring the sky and stars and the city lights of New York City. They eventually fell asleep in each other's arms, but not before Annabeth repeatedly thanked Percy for getting her to dance.