k_puff

I feel bad for writing this at work, but we were majorly overstaffed today. Besides, I'm really, really proud of this one. It feels like it's coming straight out of the book.

Title: A Little Reminder
Prompt: "Author's Choice: You're an idiot."--

un_love_you
Claim: Percy/Annabeth from Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Spoilers: A 'missing scene' piece, set at the end of Battle of the Labyrinth.
Summary: Annabeth can get very territorial about her friends.

I looked around at my room and grimaced. It always surprised me, considering the short length of time in which I was actually attending camp, how messy my room became by the end of summer. I sighed and kicked wrappers, broken arrows, and some of Tyson's half-finished trinkets under the bed, throwing a quick glance at the broken fountain and reminding myself to have him fix it later.

I heard a footstep behind me and reflexively my hand jerked towards the ballpoint Riptide in my pocket.

"You never told me your birthday was two days after the end of camp."

I turned around toward the familiar voice and was greeted by Annabeth's smirking face. I relaxed and shrugged.

"Never seemed to be that big a deal when my birthday was," I said. "Just the fact that I keep having them."

"It's definitely something to celebrate, that's for sure," she said dryly, rolling her eyes. I smiled. Her smirk faltered a bit and she looked down at her sneakers. "Have any plans?"

I shrugged. "Mom'll probably have something in mind."

"Just family, then?"

"Yeah..." I said, my eyebrow raised. "Why?"

She shook her head. "I wasn't, I mean..." She scowled and kicked the doorframe. "Never mind." And she turned around and walked away.

I stared at the vacant spot, feeling extremely confused. What had just happened? But before I could even turn back to halfheartedly cleaning my room, I heard running footsteps and Annabeth's face peeked back in, looking flushed. "That Rachel girl won't be there, will she?"

I blinked at her. Rachel? Why would Rachel be at my birthday party? "No." I said. "Why would she be?" I frowned. "Why do you have such a big problem with Rachel?"

"I don't have a problem!"

"Oh really?"

"Really."

"Well then, fine!"

"Fine!"

And with that, Annabeth ducked back out of the doorway, vanishing.

I turned back to my bed and sat down, still scowling. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. What was her problem!? Rachel had done absolutely nothing to her, but Annabeth just could not -- then Chiron's words floated back to me. "Annabeth can be very territorial about her friends..."

I sighed. For the love of Poisidon. I stood up and headed towards Athena's cabin.

Sure enough, Annabeth sat at a desk with her nose buried in Quintus' laptop, or Daedelus' I suppose. Her blonde hair was pulled in a halfhearted ponytail that twitched as she analyzed the maps on the screen.

I sighed, loudly enough that she would hear me. "Annabeth."

Her head snapped around to look at me, and I could see that her cheeks had red blotches on them. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Seaweed Brain."

"Just listen to something, okay?" I said impatiently, walking over to her desk and looking her straight in the eye. "You are the daughter of a goddess. You're a hero and a friend, and someone who I would trust with my life, and no matter what kind of special abilities Rachel or anyone may have, they can never, ever compete with that." I paused. "Okay?"

She looked a little stunned, to be honest. But then a small smile spread slowly over her face, and she nodded.

I felt a little embarrassed, all of a sudden. I was very glad that the cabin was otherwise empty -- I probably should have checked for that before I barged in. "Okay then," I said, and turned to walk away.

I hadn't even gotten to the door before I heard a muffled, "Oh, Percy!" and turned just in time to catch Annabeth as she leapt up from her chair and ran to pull me into a huge hug. Startled, I was able to place my hands in what I hoped were the appropriate places.

We stayed like that for awhile. I couldn't possibly tell you how long.