and the day keeps on worrying me

[kelpful]

Characters: Percy, Mrs. O'Leary, and YOU
Date: April 9-10
Location: Both Atam and Keeliai. Pick and choose where you want to run into him!
Situation: Percy has a giant hellhound who likes to lick things
Warnings/Rating: IT'S A GIANT PUPPY basically G-rated. Except for Percy and Annabeth oops

[It's no secret that Percy has been in a terrible mood lately. Between everything going wrong on the turtle and what's waiting for him and Annabeth back home, it's difficult for the usually upbeat demigod to maintain a positive attitude. Percy tries to be a source of positivity for the others, but he's still a teenager with the world on his shoulders, so some moodiness is expected.

Except for right now. Because right now, Percy is seated comfortably on the back of a giant black dog - literally, she's about the size of a rhino, or maybe a small elephant. He looks relaxed in a way he hasn't in weeks as he chats to the hellhound; Mrs. O'Leary doesn't really look like she's very interested in what he's saying, tongue lolling out and dribbling drool on anyone who happens to get too close as she looks around the surrounding area. There's a kind of barely restrained energy in her form that says the only thing stopping her from bounding around like a maniac is Percy's presence on her back.

He's not sure how Atam feels about a hellhound in its midst, and the kedan don't seem to happy about her presence in their streets, but they're too intimidated to actually approach the beast of a dog just yet. Besides, she only knocks over a few things, and Percy apologises right away.]

Comments

[kelpful]

[He sighs, a little mournfully] That would've been cool. [Except for the whole zombie thing, oops. Mrs O'Leary gets them to their apartment in no time; Percy jumps off, and then reaches up to help Annabeth down.]

This is just because of the ankle. [He makes sure to clarify, because he definitely doesn't want her hitting him for being misogynistic or something]

[sophos]

It might happen again soon enough. Apparently there's no real pattern to it. [Only yeah let's avoid the zombies this time.]

[Annabeth rolls her eyes, but uses him as leverage to help herself down anyway. As if she could ever seriously think of him as misogynist in any way at this point in their lives.] It's fine, Percy. It wasn't even a bad break. [She wriggles her castless foot around to prove it, once back on the ground; maybe it aches a little, but she doesn't let that show.] Ambrosia works like a charm, in case you've forgotten.

[kelpful]

Really? [Jeez Percy calm down. He looks like she's just reminded him that Christmas is tomorrow.

Helping her down ends up with Annabeth very much in his personal space. The problem is not that he's not okay with this. The problem is that he wants to move closer, and they're kind of in public.] Um. [What is she saying?

Right, that ankle. Percy gives his head a little shake and steps back, taking her hand in his and heading for the door] Saying you only broke your ankle a little bit still means that you had a broken ankle, you know. Besides, I know it still hurts. [He knows you, okay Annabeth??]

[sophos]

[She's near a chuckle at the look on his face.] Really. But you'll probably be the only one that happy about it.

[Annabeth doesn't really think about breaking the personal space bubble, because it's something the both of them have done aplenty. But she sort of raises an eyebrow at him, watching his face and trying to figure out what's up, what's different now, before he turns gear. She wriggles her fingers through his, stealing a glance at Mrs. O'Leary, who's now sitting and watching them.]

It's not like it's the first time I've broken bones. [She makes a face, because gdi stop that.] And fine, it's just a little sore still, okay? But it's not like it's crippling.

[kelpful]

I don't know. The Atlanteans might be cool with it.

[The eyebrow raise confuses him a little, but he resolves to put it out of his mind, tugging her towards the entrance] Stay. [This is said in a solemn tone to Mrs O'Leary before he leads Annabeth inside and responds]

You know what, neither of those things are the point at all.

[sophos]

Some of them were. [She sounds a little thoughtful, as she thinks back on it. Nita had been one of the first to note the undead rising, so that was useful at least.]

[She grins as Mrs. O'Leary whines a little, but the hellhound shows no real signs of running off. Once inside, Annabeth flashes Percy a grumpy look, dragging him to flop on the couch.] The point is I'm fine now, and I will kick you with it if you don't believe me.

[kelpful]

Whoa-- [Said because he's unprepared for Annabeth to take over the dragging. Off balance, he drops heavily onto the couch, blowing at his fringe a little] Okay, okay, I believe you! Please no kicking.

[sophos]

[Okay well all of that turns her grump into a grin, and she sits down next to him, a little closer than would be acceptable in polite company.]

[Look they spent a few days in communal housing in Atam she can't help it. She gives his hand a squeeze, and there's a slightly sort of flirty look in her eyes.] Are you sure? I could probably swing it anyway.

[kelpful]

[Percy's body kind of goes on red alert when she sits next to him so close. They've been all over each other since she got back, but it's still been almost platonic touching. Her proximity couple with the look she's giving him right now? A little less than platonic.

Not that he wants to be platonic with Annabeth. The opposite, actually. He can still remember that urge to just - be as close to her as physically possible. It's a feeling that practically overwhelms him, and after everything she's been through, the last thing he wants to do is unleash that on her.

He squeezes her hand back reflexively] Am I sure I don't want you to kick me? Uh, yeah. Positive. [Close close she's so close. it would be extremely easy for him to just lean over and kiss her right now.]

[sophos]

[He's still not doing anything. He hasn't tried anything, not since they got back from the audience. He's sort of even pushed away her own attempts when she just kind of wanted to throw herself at him and kiss him senseless. She doesn't know why, and it's frustrating, for a lot of confusing reasons. Especially considering how it was before. But she didn't push it too much, since he didn't seem receptive.]

[At his remark, she moves her leg, brushing her foot against his, then drawing it up to just below his knee. One more try, and she's still looking at him like she knows exactly what she's doing to him, which she does; but for some reason it's not working and hasn't been.] It could be a not-so-violent kick?

[kelpful]

What is a-- [And then Percy's brain just sort of stutters to a stop, his mouth imitating it. He just sort of stares at his girlfriend, wide-eyed, because that's not a kick. He's not sure what that is, but it's definitely not a kick, and while most of him really wants to see where else she wants to go with this train of thought, the giant flashing neon sign of TARTARUS pops up in his brain.]

Um.

[sophos]

[GODDAMNIT PERCY JACKSON.]

[Her patience is wiped completely. Annabeth starts shifting; she pulls her hand from his and rests both on his shoulders for balance, then maneuvers herself around so she's sitting in his lap, sort of awkwardly kneeling.]

[There's a few seconds where she just stares at him, threading one hand through his hair, hoping maybe he will finally take the hint. Spoilers: he does not. So she leans in without any build up or teasing and just starts kissing him.]

[kelpful]

[If she'd stopped there, Percy might have had a hope in hell of regaining brain power. She doesn't, though; Percy's not sure what it is he does (he definitely doesn't say anything), but she's suddenly in his lap and kissing him, and he's missed this so much. Did he have a reason for not doing it? Whatever that reason was, it must have been stupid as hell. Percy doesn't hesitate in kissing her back, one hand curling around her waist as the other cups her jaw, gently.

Tartarus flashes in his mind, but quieter this time. It sparks some kind of memory, but he's too busy kissing his girlfriend right now to really focus on it]

[sophos]

[Finally, is about all she thinks when she feels his hand at her back, feels his mouth react to hers. There's a part of her wondering if she should have just done this earlier, but given how much he didn't seem keen on it, she'd tried to leave him some space.]

[Which she isn't doing right now, fed up with that distance. She presses closer, just content and relieved that he's not shoving her away - so much so that she starts smiling (and smiling, not smirking) as she kisses him.]

[Though she has no idea what brought about this shift. Give her a moment to actually ask, she's a little occupied and distracted right now.]

[kelpful]

[His hand shifts at her waist, tugging her closer against him as he straightens a little on the couch.

It had something to do with wanting it too much, wanting her...or not being sure if that was okay, what with the whole Tartarus thing hanging over their heads. Kissing her now, both of those reasons seem like bullshit to Percy. Which is strange, because they had seemed so legitimate before...]

Annabeth. [The name is murmured against her lips as he deepends the kiss; he can't seem to help himself]

[sophos]

[This is okay. Annabeth has missed this. The hand on his shoulder moves to his cheek, while the other's still tangled in his hair at the back of his head.]

[She shudders a little when he says her name, instantly matching his intensity; a small grumble-growl escapes the back of her throat, as she maybe even tries to one-up him.]

[There's some thoughts of Tartarus, they always sort of creep in lately, and maybe that's part of why she's kissing him so hard. But it's also the fact that they haven't really done this since before she saw it happen. After a little, she needs to pull back - she needs to breathe, however reluctantly. And it's with delay that she says his name in return, breathing heavily.] Percy.

[kelpful]

[That shudder earns a quiet moan from Percy. He likes that he can do that, likes that he can make her feel good, and that sound from her is amazing.

They haven't kissed like this since before the palace. Actually, Percy is having trouble thinking about the last time they kissed like this at all. Actually, he' having trouble thinking at all.

There's a sound of protest from him when she breaks the kiss, but some part of him dimly recognises the need to breathe. He presses a kiss to the corner of her mouth instead, hand sliding back into her hair. He's a little at loss of what to say right now, so he just kind of gives her a helpless smile.]

[sophos]

[She steals another kiss when he smiles at her like that, brief and quick, but she's still trying to catch air so she avoids crashing into his lips again. For now.]

[Annabeth doesn't pull her hands away at least, holding onto his head and keeping herself close. She brushes her thumb along his cheek. Her voice is a little low, a little questioning, and a little demanding when she speaks up.] And what, exactly, changed between now and the last week or so?

[Because srsly what happened?? Why have you not been macking on her???]

[kelpful]

[It takes Percy a couple of seconds to realise that Annabeth has even spoken. He's too busy looking at her, drinking in the sight of her.

It registers eventually, though. Not what she said, just that she said somrthing] What?

[sophos]

[The way he's looking at her in distraction sends a light blush to her cheeks (different from the flush acquired via the prior hands on transgression), but she rolls her eyes at him all the same.]

I repeat: what changed today from the last week or so? You weren't... [She sort of trails off, and she'd make a vague hand gesture if her hands weren't still attached to him.]

[kelpful]

[His hand is still in her hair, but his thumb slides down over her cheek, gently tracing that blush.

He frowns a little though, not quite getting the question. They haven't been making out, but he didn't think that was....weird. Was it?] Weren't what?

[sophos]

[Oh my gods he's so dumb and really going to make her vocalize it. Her face turns a shade disgruntled, with a side of confused and maybe worried?? Had he not even noticed?]

You haven't... [Frown.] That. [Wow so articulate, good job, Annabeth. She blames her heart rate and the fact that he's still gently touching her face.] Why didn't you want to...?

[kelpful]

[His expression becomes more concerned as he sees what happens to her face, and he focuses a little better. There's clearly some sort of problem here that he hasn't--

Oh.

Percy abruptly goes bright red, ducking his head a little. And then it jerks up again when he realises that she thinks he didn't want to.] No! [The word spills from his lips before he even knows what else he's going to say.] No, I didn't - I mean, I did. I wanted to - want to! Obviously. [Ugh just going to press his forehead into her shoulder and groan]

[sophos]

[She's not sure what kind of answer she was expecting, but it probably wasn't that.]

Then why didn't you? I mean - you just, every time - I can tell you do now - [Clearly] But ever since the audience, and we just - [How do you word??? Annabeth's a little grateful he's hiding his face, because her own's turning redder by the second. It doesn't really occur to her to equate Tartarus with this, because if anything, that's just made her want to kiss him more. Finally:] You were avoiding it.

[And after it'd kind of started to be A Thing with them?? She couldn't help but wonder.]

[kelpful]

[Of course, now that she's brought it up, he can see what she means - the instances over the past few weeks when he's just kind of shut down, changed the subject, even though they've gone so far as to start sleeping in the same bed.]

I'm an idiot. [He informs her shoulder of this before listing his head. Sea-green eyes are clear, concerned, and completely earnest when he looks at her.] It's not you, or - or us, or - I didn't even realise, not really. I just... [He screws his eyes shut for a moment] Oh man, this is going to sound so stupid.