Judgmental (a Percy Jackson AU)

Blue Donuts

"Why is the frosting blue?" Circe asked.

She was looking at the blueberry cake donuts that Percy had dipped in vanilla icing. He had found blue food coloring this morning and dyed some of the vanilla icing blue.

"It looks nice," Percy said.

"Yes, but how will anyone know it's vanilla-flavored?" Circe asked.

Percy shrugged and said, "They could use their taste buds."

"You truly are a handful," Circe said with a sigh. "You're lucky I hired you."

"I'm the luckiest man in the world," Percy said sarcastically. "I just got a criminal record and a degree in donut decorating."

"And you'll be the unluckiest man in the world of you don't keep decorating donuts," Circe said. "Athens Architectural Firm put in an order for four dozen assorted donuts. You need to package them quickly because they should be coming by in fifteen minutes."

     Percy nodded and walked quickly over to where the large donuts boxes were stored. He unfolded the white, flattened boxes and put a dozen donuts in each of them before closing each box and securing it with a piece of tape. When he was finished, Percy wiped off the traces of glaze on the boxes and set them on the counter with the receipt taped to box sitting on the top of the stack.

     A few minutes after Percy had finished packaging up the donuts, the door to Monsters' Donuts opened and a tall, blonde woman strode forward. She looked athletic even in high heels, a blouse, and a pencil skirt and her curly hair was tied back in a high ponytail. Her grey eyes looked more stormy that Circe's scowl and her gaze swept across the room coolly. Percy got the sense that she was examining everything and deciding what information to catalogue and what to forget.

     "I have an order for four dozen donuts," the woman said.

      "Here they are, princess," Percy said, picking up the stack of donut boxes and handing them to her.

    The woman gave him a small smile and accepted the burden. She carried the boxes easily and even in heels, she was quickly gone. Percy stared at the door for a few moments after she left.

     "Percy!" Circe called from over where she was filling donuts with custard. "Stop mooning over that customer and go make some more of the dirt and worms donuts!"

     "Yes, Circe," Percy said.

      He grabbed a dozen plain, glazed donuts and took them to one of the decorating stations. He dipped each donut in vanilla icing and then while it was still wet, he pressed each one into the container of Oreo crumbles. Then, he set down each donut right-side-up. He finished by adding a gummy worm to each donut. This was one of the many special flavors they offered at Monsters' Donuts.

     They also offered vanilla-frosted donuts covered in rock candy, sprinkles, and gummy bears called sugar rush donuts, as well as more traditional flavors like lemon custard and strawberry cake donuts. While some people came for donuts, others came to buy their freshly brewed coffee or enjoy the sweet pastries Circe made. The kind varied daily, but Percy's job at Monsters' Donuts meant that he encountered plenty of sweets and customers. Yet none of them seemed as intriguing as the beautiful woman he had seen today.