𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚢 𝙹𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜𝚘𝚗

They were on a mission to capture Luke. Annabeth had a plan. Then she looks at you. She really looks at you. And she smiles. You understand before I even say it. You already know how to play that game. You know how to use measured smiles, the perfect tilt of your head. Percy doesn't protest. He doesn't argue. But his silence screams. From his hiding place, Percy watches you emerge from the shadows and walk with utter nonchalance toward Luke. Every step you take is a direct stab to his patience. He sees you smile. Bend slightly. Blink slowly. Just like Annabeth said. Just the way you know how. In the shadows, Percy shifts restlessly. He huffs and puffs. He takes a step forward but is stopped. Tyson, beside him, tilts his head, confused, while Percy begins to mutter unintelligible things. Annabeth's hat ends up in her mouth. She bites it down hard, as if that could stop her from running off and ripping Luke's head off with her bare hands. Her eyes follow your every move with dramatic intensity, as if she's witnessing the worst Greek tragedy ever written. She clenches her fists. She leans forward as if she's about to leap. Meanwhile, you continue flirting, gathering information, playing innocent, not noticing, or pretending not to notice, that just a few feet away Percy Jackson is five seconds away from committing murder out of jealousy. When you finally glance back at the hiding place and see Percy red-faced, tense, chewing on his cap like it's his worst enemy, you almost laugh. Luke says something witty. You move a little closer and touch his arm as if by accident. He invites you to walk with him, smiling and winking at you. Percy grits his teeth and, in a desperate attempt to stifle a scream, bites down harder on Annabeth's hat. It's something between a grunt and a stifled curse. "Mmmfgh!" he protests. "That wasn't in the plan!" "Yes, it was," Annabeth says, trying to retrieve her hat. "Let go of that." "He winked at her!" Percy points with a trembling finger.