Children of the Big Three Book 4: Battle of the Labyrinth

Chapter Three: Catching Up

"Perce! My main man, how's it hanging? What's hip-happenin' my home slice?"

Percy's face was blank, as he tried to digest what he had just heard. Sure it had been a year since he'd last seen her, but he certainly didn't remember Annabeth being the type to say 'my main man.' He opened his mouth, only to close it once more as words failed him at the moment. He looked past Annabeth to see none other then Nico Di Angelo covering his mouth, as he tried not to laugh. "Is this.. is this a prank?"

In response, Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, P-Dawg?"

Percy remained confused for a moment, but then a flash of memory hit him. It was of his dance with Thalia; the second one anyway. "Okay, now I know you're fucking with me. Only Nico could come up with something as dumb as:'P-Dog.' "

Immediately, Annabeth dropped her hands, which up to this point had been in a 'gangsta' pose. Instead, she opted to put her hands up for a hug. "You caught me, Seaweed Brain." Without hesitation, Percy took her up on her offer, and the two hugged it out. It was a hug that lasted far too long, if you were to ask Thalia.

"How've you been doin', Wise Girl?"

"Hasn't been easy, Perce. Lot of people still don't quite trust me, but I guess I can get why."

"Well, you tell me if anyone gives you a hard time. You saved us a couple years back, and helped out last year. There ain't no reason not to trust you."

"Well thanks, kelp head. But I'm a big girl, I can-" It was at this point that Thalia felt the need to interject, because they were still fucking hugging.

"Yes hello I am also here." Thalia said after fake coughing, and Percy took the hint and untangled himself from Annabeth, who was hesitant to do so.

"Yeah I also exist." Nico added helpfully. Percy let out a chuckle, and sat down on the grass. They were a little ways out into the forest, neither Percy or Thalia wanted to be swarmed with kids, new and old, quite yet. So here they were, all four of them. Just sitting there. There was no threat, no life or death situation, just.. Them. Percy had to admit it was nice.

"It's been a while since we've done this, yeah?"

"Yeah.. Last time was back in Thalia's hideout in the sea of monsters, right? I mean, you and Thals talk all the time, but poor old Neeks is always left out."

"I've never been a part of this."

"Oh yeah, that reminds me. What the fuck, Nico? How did you convince her to do that act she was doing earlier."

"I bet her twenty drachma she couldn't make you laugh by using a gangster accent."

"Do I want to know how that conversation started?"

"Probably not." After that, a silence that was both comfortable and horrendously awkward overtook the group. After a minute or two, Percy sighed and laid down on his back, his friends following suit soon after. Finally, the Son of Poseidon broke the quiet with a sentiment that had been two years in the making.

"Man, this is not as easy as it used to be."

"Gonna need some elaboration there, fish face." Thalia responded, her eyes still locked onto the clear summer sky above them.

"This whole.. Talking thing."

"Huh? Dude, what are you on?"

"I mean, think about it. Back in the day, we'd be able to just spit out whatever was on our minds, no matter how fucked up it was. Now though.."

"I mean, that makes sense, doesn't it? We were young, we didn't know the weight of our words."

"But that's the thing! Shouldn't we want to be open like that, now more then ever? I mean, we're at war! Who knows which day is our last."

"Don't talk like that." Thalia said, in a forceful tone Percy hadn't heard in a while.

"Why not? We're fifteen! We're old enough to talk about this stuff!"

"Well maybe I don't want to talk about that kind of shit, ever think of that, smartass?!"

"Fine! You don't wanna talk about that? How bout this: What the fuck did that kiss last year mean!?"

"Are you being fucking serious right now?!"

"Would I bring it up if I wasn't?!" By now the two were standing up and yelling at each other, faces so close that spit landed on the others face every time they yelled.

"You're such a dumbass, Jackson!"

"Hey! You're the one who said they didn't wanna talk about death, so this must be better! Now out with it: What did it mean?!"

"You're actually fucking brain dead if I need to explain it!"

"Well as you're so fond of telling me, I am a dumbass! So you're going to have to spell it out for me!"

"I-You-You're just-Gah! You're impossible, Percy Jackson!"

"Just fucking say it already, Thalia Grace!" The two stood there for a minute, both out of breath, staring at each other angrily, red in the face with their fists balled up. It seemed like both Demi-Gods wanted to punch the other until.. Without warning, Thalia grabbed Percy's shirt, closed the distance between the two, and held him there for a solid fifteen second kiss, at which both Nico and Annabeths eyes widened in surprise. Then, just as soon as it had begun, Thalia pushed Percy away from her, and onto the ground. She gave a final huff, then began to walk away. "What the fuck did that mean!?" Percy yelled after her.

"It means you're stupid and I fucking hate you!" Percy stood to his feet, and began to walk after her.

"Will you go out with me?!" Percy yelled, as Thalia sped up.

"Of course I will, Jackass! It took you long enough!"

Percy paused for a second in his walk, muttered: "It was that easy?" Then chased after her. Thalia only turned around for a second, when she heard Percy's footsteps following her, and in that second, Annabeth saw her childhood friends face red, but for a completely different reason than earlier. Then just like that, they were gone.

"Huh.. Well, I feel irrelevant."

"Meh. You get used to it."