𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐌𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓! [pjo]

IX; adventure time

━━━adventure time

.・゜゜・───・゜゜・"

Callahan 'Cal' Lee. The name felt right, just like kissing Percy and thinking of Annabeth, just like pulling her hair into a low ponytail, just like laughing and making people laugh. Those were the only things that really felt right to her, and could you blame her? She had woken up with no memory of her life, except for one of Percy and Annabeth arguing, a playful glint in their eyes. She couldn't even remember what they were arguing about.

The rest of it, Camp Jupiter, daughter of Fortuna, it all felt wrong. Like trying to shove a puzzle piece into the wrong spot. So, Cal came up with a game she played while she waited on the park bench for Percy. She thought of anything she could, and tried to decide if she liked it or not. Sweaters, books, rivers, trees, Percy, Annabeth, kissing, and skinship. She liked all of that.

She thought of anything she could, she thought of doves, of apples, of the tree across from her, the guy working the stand underneath it. It passed the time, and it brought her a melancholic sense of comfort. When Percy left the Principia and saw Cal sitting there, waiting for him, he smiled. He approached quietly, sneaking up behind her.

"Hey!" he whispered.

Cal screamed. "Jesus fucking Christ, Perseus!" Her hand rested on her chest, "what was that for?"

Percy threw his head back and laughed. Callahan stood up and glared at him before marching away.

"Hey! Wait up!" Percy called, jogging after her. When he caught up, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She smiled.

"Hi," Percy said.

"Hey."

"You ok, Lucky Charms?"

Cal grinned ear-to-ear. "I'm just fine." she kissed his cheek. "Barnacle Brains."

Percy scowled.

.・゜゜・───・゜゜・

Lunch was weird. Like a funeral. People muttered amongst each other, and everyone avoided the quartet like the plague.

Reyna made a brief speech wishing them luck. Octavian ripped open a Beanie Baby and pronounced grave omens and hard times ahead, but predicted the camp would be saved by an unexpected hero (whose initials were probably OCTAVIAN). Then the other campers went off to their afternoon classes—gladiator fighting, Latin lessons, paintball with ghosts, eagle training, and a dozen other activities that sounded better than a suicide quest.

Cal and Percy followed after Frank. They didn't have much, just a change of clothes each, ambrosia, snacks, a little mortal money, and camping supplies in theirs, Percy's, backpack. At lunch, Reyna had handed Percy a scroll of introduction from the praetor and camp senate. Supposedly, any retired legionnaires they met on the trip would help them if shown the letter.

Their roommate, Bobby, gave them a ride on Hannibal the Elephant, dropping them off at the border.

It took them two hours to reach the docks in Atlanta. The trip was nice, nothing and no one noticed them and Cal spent her time playing her little game. Percy was staring out the window, thinking. They got off in Oakland. They walked through some rough neighborhoods, Percy wrapping his arm around Cal and tucking her into his side as they walked past others. Cal hated to admit it, but she had more to fear from mortal men than immortal monsters.

There are some things worse than death, and almost always women are the ones suffering them. She could recall someone telling her.

They reached the docks in the late afternoon, and Cal watched Percy relax a little as the waterfront came into view. Dozens of boats lined the dock, ranging from small fishing boats to yachts. Cal hoped to god that one of the yachts was theirs.