One Shots feat. PJO, Irondad, and More!

PTA Meeting (PJO)

Inspired by a comment string by cajoling and I, haha. I suppose this would occur after the quarantine one-shot prior to this, in a world where the pandemic is over (though pretending Charlie, their daughter, is older than I originally had her). Please enjoy, I know I did.

... a few parts may be a bit satirical, lol

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"Percy."

"Mmm?" the dark haired demigod hummed from the kitchen table, distractedly filling in a page from Charlie's My Little Pony coloring book. Said daughter sat happily by his side, her curly black hair swinging freely by her face in tight pigtail braids. She was drawing with a blue crayola on the back of an old legal bill. Annabeth smiled at the sight before remembering the matter at hand.

"I have a question," she said tentatively. She picked at the nail polish on her fingers.

"I have an answer," he replied, dropping his pink crayon before searching through the box. The curly blonde watched with amusement when his eyes eventually locked on the utensil in their daughter's pudgy fist.

"Hey Charlie," he poked her side, earning a small giggle. "Wanna pink crayon? I'll trade you."

The little girl wrinkled her nose, not even sparing him a glance. It looked like she was drawing what was supposed to be a seahorse of some kind. "I like blue, Daddy."

"Yeah, but what about pink?"

"No thank you."

He sighed in defeat, reaching for another instead. "Guess the sky's gonna be asparagus green, then."

Annabeth snorted. "Anyway. Is there any chance you wouldn't mind taking my place at that meeting for Charlie's school tonight? I was going to, but honestly... I'm not feeling up to it."

He cast her a worried look. "You okay?" he asked gently. "I thought you said work was good today?"

"It was fine," she affirmed before exhaling deeply, closing her eyes. She was so tired. "I just had a long night. I'm fine-" she added quickly at his saddened expression, "But I don't think I can deal with anyone but you tonight."

It was true. She had snapped at nearly the entire firm staff at least once that day, and they'd done nothing wrong. Elementary school parents were obnoxious enough that'd she'd probably try to fight one in the mood she was in.

He hugged the back of the chair, resting his chin on his arms. "Yeah, I can go. I'm not sure I'll get the warmest welcome, but I'll try." 

It was her turn to be sympathetic. After the whole mess with his job event getting blown up and him taking the fall for it, he couldn't so much as walk down the street without being cast a nasty look. His name had been cleared, and no one had any lasting injuries, but the media had already done its damage. People liked to gossip and hate. 

It was with recent footage, though, that the news companies tried to bring the story back in desperation to keep it alive. They were lucky enough for it to work in their favor. The Mist had apparently at least shown Percy defending the kids at the conference from something, if not a gryphon. Now it was a toss-up if he was regarded as a hero or crazy bat-wielding lunatic. 

"Percy-" she started. 

"Nah, it's fine," he rubbed his face. "I'm sure it'll be good. It's just a PTA thing anyway, right? I have to sit there and listen while they try to leech money out of us?"