"I thought I'd find you here." Percy said, approaching Annabeth and sitting down next to her at the edge of Halfling as she quickly closed her book, the small orb she used when she left Halfling the first time dangling around her neck.
"Percy." Annabeth said, trying to calm her breathing since the word came out shaky.
"So what's going on Wise Girl?" Percy asked, smiling over at Annabeth and taking off the crown his father forced him to wear whenever they had an audience with someone. "Why are you so anxious about leaving Halfling? You've already done it once before."
"It's not the leaving I'm scared of, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth said, playing with the edges of her dress. Ever since Annabeth became the Royal Historian, she and Percy had spent so much time together that the two had nicknames for each other. She called Percy Seaweed Brain because when the mermaids that had given them directions to the Cave of Reflection visited Halfling and had accidentally pulled Percy under the water, resurfacing with seaweed on resting on his head. He called Annabeth Wise Girl because she always seemed to know something about every subject he brought up. "It's the fact that your father is trusting me to smooth over generations of hatred."
"Annabeth, you're gonna be fine."
"How do you know that, Percy? Every time we go to a party your father is hosting, you and me hide in the background unless he specifically asks you to dance and socialize. I'm just not good with people. What if I somehow make everything worse than what it already is? What if things get so much worse because of me that they can never be repaired?"
"They're not gonna get that way."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I'm going with you."
Annabeth's eyes widened with surprise. "You're coming with me? But I thought-"
"The invitation was for the oldest son, i.e. me, to come for peace talks, and King Jupiter said that I could either come alone or bring someone that I trust. Well, you're someone I trust. You're not doing this alone." Percy said, avoiding Annabeth's gaze as he looked up at the sky. "Unless you don't want to come with me, Wise Girl. I thought you liked me more than that."
"Okay, you dork!" Annabeth said, elbowing Percy as the two started laughing.
"There's the smile I like." Percy said happily. "So are you in?"
"I guess..." Annabeth said as the two stood up. "When do we leave exactly?"
"Tomorrow evening."
"That does not give me a lot of time to pack..." Annabeth said, standing up as she started to fly away.
"I will see you tomorrow, right?" Percy asked for confirmation, flapping his wings twice as fast as he normally did to try and keep up with her.
"Yes, you'll see me tomorrow." Annabeth said, waving goodbye. "Night Seaweed Brain."
"Night!" Percy said, flying back to the castle. As far as Percy could tell, this was going to be an interesting trip.
YOU ARE READING
Beyond the Shining Lights (Percy Jackson Barbie's Mariposa AU)
FanficAnnabeth isn't like the other fairies. Sure, she has the same wings as them, but they all treat her like an outcast because she always wonders what's beyond the borders of the city. However, when King Poseidon gets sick and his sheltered son, the su...
