Demigods: In Paris (a Miraculous Ladybug and Percy Jackson crossover)

Annabeth is sneaky

.TWO HOURS EARLER.

Percy finished his ice cream as they walked along the pool in front of the Louvre. Annabeth was still walking along the the edge of the water, eating hers. Percy smirked, an idea forming.

He pushed her into the water.

Annabeth came up spluttering and completely mad, like a bull he'd waved a red flag at.

"What the Hades was that for?" She cried in outrage. "My clothes! Dry me off right now!"

Of course, all Percy heard was a bunch of French gobbledegook. "Your face!" He laughed.

She climbed out of the pool, face red. Passers-by averted their gaze. "It's not funny," she hissed, shoving him as she stormed away. She lost him quickly in the crowds, and he sat down dejectedly on a bench. Resentment bubbled inside him. He'd just been trying to have some fun. She didn't need to over-react like that.

In a dark room full of fluttering white butterflies, a window opened.

"Loney, bitter, rejected. Perfect. Fly, my pretty akuma and evilise him!"

A purple butterfly appeared around Percy's shadowed eyes. "Tidal Wave, I am Hawkmoth. I can give you control over water so you can make them all regret abandoning you. All I ask for in return is that you bring me Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miruculous. What do you say?"

"Kindly remove yourself from my head, whoever you are, and I don't speak French, so you'll have to repeat yourself in English."

"I-Tidal Wave, I am Hawkmoth. I can give you control over water so you can make them all regret abandoning you. All I ask for in return is that you bring me Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miruculous. What do you say?"

"Ohhhh, you're akuma guy! I think you've got the wrong person. My name is Percy, and I'm not interested in your water powers. Besides, why would I terrorise the entire city to get back at Annabeth? She's a smart girl, someday she'll figure it out that I'm worth keeping. Also, she's already been through much worse than I could ever do to her with your silly water powers."

"How dare you! I mean, are you sure? This is the opportunity of a lifetime! Imagine the power, the control-"

"Sir, my fatal flaw is loyalty to my friends. My answer is no. Please go away before I make you."

The butterfly vanished. Hawkmoth growled in rage, but the window stayed open. Of course - the girl.

Annabeth was storming through Paris when the butterfly appeared around her eyes.

"Scholar, I think that you and I can help each other. I can let you get revenge on those who have humiliated and frustrated you, and show the world that you are superior, if you do me one small favour..."

"Hawkmoth, I presume?" Annabeth asked, slowing her pace and touching her face in fascination.

"Indeed. If you have heard of me, you will know that I can make you strong. I can sense your pride. You want everybody to understand that you are better than them."

"What, are you saying I'm not already strong?"

"Uh-I- No! What I mean is, I can give you the ability to show them the strength you already have."

"Mmm-hm. I'm sorry Hawkmoth, but you've gone about this the entirely wrong way. Yes, my flaw is hubris, but you've underestimated me. I'm too proud to accept your help, even if I was stupid enough to consider it in the first place. When the world finally sees my superiority, if they ever do, it will be because of my own merit, not because I took a shortcut to power. Besides, I don't really care what the world thinks. My friends respect me and I them, and that's all I will ever care about. Goodbye!"

Hawkmoth screamed in frustration as the butterfly faded. "Impossible!" He roared. "Nobody has ever said no! Only the most strong-minded can break the connection! They're just a pair of teens! What could they possibly do?"

Percy and Annabeth met back in their hotel room. First, they apologised. Then,

"You'll never believe what just happened."

"A weird guy called Hawkmoth spoke to you in your mind and offered you powers?"

"Exactly. You too, huh?"

"Yep. He underestimated my pride."

"He tried to offer me power over water."

"He's really not very bright, is he?"

"Really not. Fancy a walk? Alya and Marinette should be on lunch break soon."

"Sure. As long as you don't push me in any more bodies of water."

"Deal."

They were just walking out of the hotel when their demigod hearing picked up voices in the alleyway beside the building. They exchanged a look.

"Is that... Marinette?" Percy asked, recognising the female voice, but not what it was saying.

"I think so? Come on, let's get closer."

They peered around the corner, but instead of their friend, they saw the city's resident superheroes.

Annabeth frowned. She had been so sure it was Marinette's voice... But it had to be a coincidence - didn't it?

"It's Hawkmoth. I know who he is," said the boy in black. Chat Noir, Annabeth remembered.

"What? Really?! Who? Maybe we can go talk to him!" It was Marinette's voice, but...

"He's Gabriel Agreste."

Ladybug's eye's widened. "Mr Agreste? But-but..." Every word screamed Marinette.

Annabeth relayed the information to Percy in English.

"Gabriel Agreste? Wait, wasn't that boy we met earlier called Adrien Agreste?"

"Yep, and that's him on the billboards. I guess Alya wasn't joking when she said he was a supermodel."

"Yeah..."

Annabeth peered back around the corner, tuning into the conversation again just as a butterfly appeared around Chat Noir's eyes. Ladybug cried out, but could do nothing. Annabeth shifted her ankle, checking that her dagger was still in her boot.

There was a pause, then Chat Noir said,

"Thanks, but no thanks. Tempting, but I think I'll have to pass. Get the message? nO."

The butterfly disappeared. Chat frowned.

"That was easy."

Ladybug winced. "I'm really sorry Chat, I didn't realise my teasing had that much of an effect-"

"That's the thing," he said, frowning. "It didn't. Sure, I was a bit annoyed, but not on an akuma level. It was like... like he was desperate."

Annabeth whispered this to Percy, who snorted with restrained laughter. "Oops?"

"Percy, what did you do to him?"

"I just... talked to him?"

"Mmhm. How much sass?"

"I didn't think there was too much..."

Annabeth laughed. "I think we broke Paris's resident supervillain."