Percy Jackson & Annabeth Chase: Parental Approval [Completed]

13: Percy Confronts Athena

Percy:

It seemed my heart had stopped beating. The world went to a quiet numb in my ears, and my breathing ceased.

I turned around and faced Athena's smug face.

"What. Do. You. Mean."

Athena raised an eyebrow. "Well, let's see, shall we? You first questioned me about the duration of the trials which was just... annoying—"

Bewildered, Percy began to speak. "That's not a fair argum—"

"—for hesitating when choosing Annabeth to be your companion—"

"—Oh come on!"

"—taking too long to fight the hellhound, relying too much on Annabeth's help," Athena drawled. She rolled her eyes at that one. "Failing to pick up your child from school—"

"No, that one I deny completely! I deny it more than the others! There was no child even—!"

She continued, blatantly ignoring him. "For almost taking advantage of Annabeth—"

"You said it yourself, almost—"

"For being too slow under pressure when the child was about to hurt itself on the spikes—"

"Yeah, that was a bad trial. I'll admit I was too slow, but—"

"Oh! And the monster attack, you completely ignored my directions from the get go—"

"Okay, not completely ignoring—"

"Completely ignoring," Athena repeated to herself. "See? How could you possibly—"

"NO! No, absolutely not."

"Percy, don't live in denial—"

"What you have completely failed to notice, no offense," Percy knew he was talking to the goddess of wisdom and that he definitely did not want to insult her too much, "is that when I questioned you about the trials, I was trying to be organized, trying to plan, trying to show you that I think before battle. When I hesitated to choose Annabeth, I was doing so to purposefully show you I knew your tricks—Annabeth knew all along I would choose her. When I took too long to fight the hellhound I was dealing with a handicap I know I'll never have, Riptide always appears in my pocket. Always. And," Athena opened her mouth to respond, "I know what you're going to say." Percy held up his hand as if to stop her. "I have to get used to not having Riptide, blah blah, but you and I both know that I'm safe with relying on the sword." Percy hoped he wasn't jinxing himself and that Athena wouldn't now steal Riptide periodically from him. "And of course I relied on Annabeth's help, you and I both know what would happen if I didn't. I wouldn't be able to do anything—I wouldn't be alive now. Clearly."

"Huh. I never thought we could agree on something so easily," the goddess smiled to herself.

"I told you about the nonexistent child already. I would never take advantage of Annabeth and you know that as well as I do. And the monster attack at the apartments? Come on. I would never win any battles if I didn't break the rules."

Athena scoffed. "Spoken like a true son of Poseidon. A true hooligan."

Percy ignored her. "You know you were right, earlier."

"I was?" Now both of Athena's eyebrows rose.

"Yes. That Annabeth Chase is not some result of a test. In fact, she never could be."
"I'm not following you," Athena cocked her head and looked Percy in the eyes.

"Let's say she was. That you would need to 'pass' a test for her. No one would. No one deserves her. Let's be real, I don't even deserve her." Percy looked down at his feet. He continued talking. "But you know what the greatest feeling is in the world?" Percy didn't wait for Athena when she opened her mouth. "It's knowing that even though you don't think you're worth it, that you could never deserve her, she's there telling you you are. That you are worth it, that she chose you."

There was a pause in which Percy could sense Athena's calculative mind.

"Go." The word was so soft Percy was sure he imagined it.

"Go? Where?" Percy asked.

"To Annabeth you dimwit! Before I change my mind." Athena shook her head and turned around.

She knew he would pass. She knew all along. And if she didn't accept it, she knew everyone in Olympus would turn on her and those alliances were valuable. Her relationship with Annabeth was valuable.

She thought he had left, but then heard him breathe behind her.

"Thank you, Athena."

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