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]

[His hands hover awkwardly for a moment before settling at her waist as the safest(ish) place to put them. Annabeth's cup his face, and he closes his eyes just briefly in relief before meeting her gaze again.

He tries for a smile] It was a little stupid. [You know. A bit.]

[sophos]

Stupid in that you didn't say anything before now. [And she gives him a look that clearly says she's smack him if she wasn't refusing to pull her hands away from his face.]

[Annabeth presses her lips to his, but it's a gentle kiss, and she closes her eyes as she lingers there for a moment, without movement. Forehead to his, she pulls back a fraction. Her tone is full of the feeling behind the words.] I love you.

[A pause.] But don't ever do that again.

[kelpful]

[He screws his face up back at her. Please don't hit him, he can't help his intelligence.

The face disappears the second her lips touch his. It's gentle, but it sparks a reminder in him of what they were doing before, and the fact that she's still sitting in his lap.] I love you. [His response is instant, instinctive.

And then he laughs. The way he kisses her this time, it's a little less gentle, and a little more...more] Whatever you say, Wise Girl.

[sophos]

[Annabeth smiles when he repeats it back to her, for all she's heard him say it before. Right now it's just especially nice to hear.]

[She laughs when he does, and is about to remark on how he should just listen to her more often, but then he's kissing her like that. Her laugh turns into a happy sort of hum, because he started it. Finally. And it's been a while. This stupid boy she's sitting on, she can't handle how much she loves him sometimes, and it's such a relief to get back to this. To know they're okay, to know neither of them did something wrong. When she kisses him back, it's with more fervor and she shifts herself even closer in the process.]

[kelpful]

[She shifts closer and his hands tighten at her waist, encouraging that. Percy loves it when she's close to him, but her body being pressed against his like this is a whole other level. There's a quiet, nervous tremor in his gut at the prospect, but he sits on it. He has something to prove, after all.

On hand stays at her waist, but the other skims up her torso. He cups her face, thumb absently sliding back and forth over her cheek as he tilts his head to the side a little, deepening the kiss. Still not close enough.]

[sophos]

[Oh well, if he's okay with that, so is she. She likes the feeling of his arm holding her tight, and she's shoving herself even closer. Is that even feasible?? Annabeth already feels as flush against him as possible. But with a lack of this since seeing what happened in Rome, she doesn't care.]

[So when his hand slides up her side, there's a small jolt, a small but sharp intake of air, and she's kissing him just as deeply, maybe even a little rougher, needier.]

[Except there's a nagging feeling. A literal feeling, in her foot, because sitting too long at this angle is putting an uncomfortable pressure on it.] Percy. [Okay she kisses him again before anything else, and everything is spoken against his lips.] Wait. One second.

[She really needs to move but she doesn't want to disentangle. One more lingering kiss, then she starts wriggling her leg to stretch it out, and thus her whole body sort of shifts to the side, but her hands are still holding his hair and face.]

[kelpful]

[The way she moves against him sends a shiver of heat through Percy's body. The hand at her waist curls slowly into the hem of her shirt, rucking it up a little. Accidentally. Definitely by accident.

He is absolutely okay with the way she's kissing him right now, matching her intensity. But then she stops and it's something else that jolts through him, eyes flying open] Um. [She starts shifting, and while he can recognise that she's uncomfortable, he groans a little (involuntarily) because - well. It feels good. It takes him a couple of seconds to find his words again] What? Are you okay--?

[sophos]

[Accidentally, her ass. Good thing she doesn't mind. She's kind of growing fond of the motion tbh.]

[Her face flushes when he groans, but she shakes her head.] I'm fine. Just - my ankle.

[Her one leg is still curled in an awkward kneel, and the other is across both him and couch, but already there's relief from the ache. Annabeth brushes her lips lightly over his, still very much looking at him like she's not done.] I had to move it.

[Except this is not very good positioning to continue as they were. She frowns in thought for a second, then tilts backward on the couch. One hand slides to his chest to fist into the front of his shirt, and she tugs him to follow, just in case he pulled a dumb Percy.]

[kelpful]

['I'm fine' and 'my ankle' don't feel like words that should be in the same sentence unless there's a not in there somewhere. Percy opens his mouth to reassure her that they can stop and, he doesn't know, play cards or something(?), but then her lips are brushing against his and he ends up kissing her again instead] Right. [It was??] That makes sense. [It does?????

There's a flicker of realisation across his face when she starts moving backwards, and his face flushes red, embarrassment and...something else. He wants to ask if she's sure she wants to do this, but the way her fist is clenched in his shirt seems to imply that yes she is very sure.

Besides, this is Annabeth. if she wasn't okay with something, she'd definitely let him know. So there's only a brief hesitation from Percy before it seems like he comes to some sort of decision. His entire thought process has been obvious on his face, even in the space of a few seconds, and his expression shifts now to become focussed as he effectively takes control of the situation. Instead of letting Annabeth drag him, he pushes her back onto the couch, body moving over hers until he has her lying between his legs, knees on either side of her thighs.

Something more smirk than smile hovers about his lips as he looks down at her. His head dips, mouth brushing against hers] You're amazing, you know that? [Because sap]

[sophos]

[Something changes in him before she barely starts tugging (she notices right away, she knows him too well, she watches it unfold in his face), and she's content to go with it, let him push her down. It's a little thrilling on some level, compared to his prior hesitance. The hand on his chest moves to his waist, the other weaving through his hair. It's a disaster, worse than usual. She feels oddly proud.]

[Her ears and cheeks go red when he says that, in combination with his smirk, and she half glowers up at him.] Shut up. [Annabeth can romance good. She tilts her head in to return it, then just mutters into the kiss, because she can't help it:] I know.

[And don't mind her, she'll just pull at him a little, because he's too far away. Attractive as the sudden confidence is, like she'd let him keep control without a fight of some kind. Please.]

[kelpful]

[The smirk solidifies a little. He balances on one elbow, brushing her hair back off her face with his free hand before he goes back to her waist. His palm meets skin, her shirt having wriggled up a little with the change in position, and Percy makes approximately no effort to tug it down again.

That 'shut up' draws a chuckle from him and he speaks into the kiss at the same time she does] Make me. [He's never known Annabeth to back down from a challenge, after all.

He's totally malleable when she pulls him closer, because why wouldn't he want to be close to her? The prospect of kissing her like this is a tempting one, but Percy's curiosity is getting the better of him. He kisses her again just once, hard, before his lips start moving along her jaw. He wants to explore]

[sophos]

[Without thinking, Annabeth wriggles her waist just a smidgen, pushing into his hand.]

I fully intend to. [It's almost a growl she gets in before she returns his kiss with gusto, entirely determined. There's a glint in her eyes radiating "challenge accepted" and already her mind is spinning on how.]

[At least until his lips start to move along her jaw, and she is, unfortunately, temporarily distracted from inner planning. Her hand tightens at his hip, digging into his shirt. There's a haphazard attempt to catch his lips with hers, but she lands on his cheek instead as he moves along her skin. For the moment, she just waits, letting him continue with keen interest, approval shown via hand playing in his hair.]

[kelpful]

[He reacts instinctively when she wriggles like that, hand taking it as encouragement to slide under her shirt. Just a little bit, his fingers skimming the skin over her hip gently.

Words are beyond him right now, so Percy doesn't bother trying to what she's saying, just letting her own words shiver down his spine. He is absolutely okay with her considering that challenge accepted, but he's not going to sit back and just let her have her way with him. He's kind of curious to see if he can interfere with the constant thinking she's always doing.

His lips move down the stretch of her neck, fingers briefly tugging from her hip to brush her hair out of the way before returning under her shirt, just a little bit higher this time.]

[sophos]

[It feels normal - she's taken aback for a moment by how normal it is to just be here with him like this, especially in the wake of what's coming. The fumbling, the testing, the figuring it out and enjoying every second of it. Right now, they're just Percy and Annabeth, teenagers in love. That's normal, right?]

[Well congratulations, you jerk. Diversionary tactics are working, and Annabeth's having a hard time thinking straight. It feels nice, his fingers brushing over her skin. His mouth doing the same. It's so easy to just let herself go in it. Everything feels good. Even as he pushes his hand higher than he's chanced before.]

[So much so that there's a very strong desire to just pull her shirt off, and it's declining that urge that finally makes her move. Instead, she slides her hand under his shirt, trailing up his side to clutch at his shoulder as she lazily tries to steal a kiss (she just keeps catching his cheek). He ghosts over the side of her neck, and she unexpectantly draws in a sharp breath, almost a gasp, and her other hand moves from his hair to his neck with somewhat directional intent.]

Jerk. [It's more of a mutter than anything else, annoyed and breathless as she tilts her head backwards; she's trying to think and calculate, really, she is. Just give her a moment to come up with something beyond I love you Percy.]

[kelpful]

[He doesn't push his luck too far; his fingers curl around her waist, holding her lightly, but that's about all. For now, at least.

His lips quirk up when her mouth gets his cheek again, the smile pressed into her neck. It quickly falls away when he feels her hands move, though, because the feeling of bare skin against bare skin is electrifying in the best way.

Percy lifts his head a little to watch the way Annabeth's head tips back, another quiet sound escaping the back of his throat. She's just so beautiful, he can't help himself. His exploration of her neck is tossed to the wayside for the moment as he captures her lips against, body shifting over her as he does so. A stuttered sort of gasp leaves him at that.] I don't - think you mind that much.

[sophos]

Shut up. [She's fully aware she's repeating herself without following up on the first time around, but she's too busy ignoring the flush on her cheeks in knowing he's right and eagerly returning his kiss.]

[He moves over her, hovering just enough to be too far away; without thinking, her hand slides down his back, towards the middle, so she can pull and press him closer.]

[Annabeth doesn't even realize her fingers are brushing against the small of his back, his prior weak spot and Achilles Heel. She should be aware of it, but kissing him is too distracting for her own good.]

[kelpful]

[The response from Percy is instantaneous and probably takes them both a bit by surprise. Annabeth's hand brushes over that place, the small of his back that he has memorised probably for the rest of his life. Not for this reason, though.

Pleasure flares through him, radiating outwards, and a low groan tears itself from his throat. He breaks the kiss as any and all focus completely leaves him panting against her lips, not entirely sure what just happened.] Um. [Gods, he wants her. He's caught between the need to throw himself at her all over again and try to figure out what she did. His hips rock a little involuntarily.] I - um.

[sophos]

[Surprise is an understatement. The moment that reaction starts, Annabeth sort of stills and watches, her hand tucked closer to his waist. She wants to kiss him again over it, the sound and look on his face unexpected but not uncomfortable. Just... confusing. What did she do??]

[Her breath hitches when his hips rock, and she sort of moves her own back against him. Also involuntarily.]

Percy? [It's unsure. Curious. Is he still okay??? It certainly sounded okay. She's trying really really hard not to brush her lips against his, because they're still right there and she really wants to. Something occurs to her, somewhere, and though she doesn't quite have the full thought or theory in her haze, her hand creeps a little closer on instinct back towards his back, though she doesn't quite touch the center yet.]

[kelpful]

[Percy is so tempted to let her hand move back to the small of his back that he can hardly think straight. His eyes close briefly when she rocks against him, and he can feel her fingers sliding across his skin, almost brushing over the same place--]

No, um, I-- [He reaches back and takes her hand, pushing up on his elbow so that he's not so - on top of her. His expression is caught somewhere between pained, embarrassment, and something like need. For her. He flushes, caught between conflicting emotions. Carefully, he moves her hand back to his hip. Flushing, he tries to gather his thoughts enough to explain something he doesn't even understand himself] It's my Achilles spot. My weak point. Or - was. [Duh, Jackson, she knows that]

[sophos]

[She knew it, even if it was delayed. The Achilles spot. She's a little insulted on her own behalf that it took her so long to realize. Apparently it was still... sensitive. She files this accordingly.]

[When he pulls her hand away, she doesn't fight it, letting it rest where he sets it and only lightly fiddling with the hem of his shirt. Annabeth can read his face and everything on it clear as day, and as endearing as it is, she flushes a little herself. Over the whole thing.]

[Because logic:] You're probably - you know. Just still hyper aware. [Given what they were kind of in the middle of, too. Noooope still red. And a little less urgent, despite the look of need on his face and the same feeling in her gut. With her other hand, she brushes some of the hair from his eyes.]

[kelpful]

[He breathes out an embarrassed laugh, ducking his head as he does so. At least she's not - freaking out, or anything.] Yeah, that - that makes sense. [He doesn't really remember it coming up at any point before now, but things had been kind of hectic ever since the Curse of Achilles was washed away. Maybe it was just the...situation that made it an issue.

Is that even the right word for it? It isn't exactly a problem, right? At least, his girlfriend doesn't seem to mind too much. He lifts his head when she brushes his hair from his eyes, managing a smile for her] Sorry. It was just kind of, um, intense.

[sophos]

Well, you had to be, for all that time, so you probably always will on some level - [She sort of cuts herself off after recognizing that she's rambling, but in a slightly nervous way above factual lecture way. Her brain is still processing.]

[And maybe it's the dumb smile. Annabeth can feel her own lips curling into one to match. Intense is a good word for it.] A little. But - it's... okay. I mean, if you're okay, too.

[Because, well, she did that to him. Without even trying in this case. She's kind of pleased with herself in a way and already kind of plotting how to use it to her advantage in the future. Her smile turns into a bit of a smirk.] And it did kind of get you to shut up.

[kelpful]

[His smile widens, because Annabeth is cute when she gets on a knowledge kick. Dipping his head a little, he steals a brief kiss] I'm okay. [To say the least] That wasn't never do it again, or anything. [He definitely doesn't want her to think that.He's pretty sure they both know why he stopped her without him having to get into the details. Some things need to be worked up to.

He raises his eyebrows at that smirk. His face is still totally red, but he doesn't sound that embarrassed when he replies] I don't know, I kind of think some of what I was doing shut me up before then. [Like exploring her neck with his mouth oops]

[sophos]

[Yeah. Yeah, he doesn't have to explain why. Annabeth figured it out probably before he did, even though he was the one that stopped it first - she's still glad he did though. Because she needs to think.] Good. [That he's okay.] I know. But I'll keep that in mind. [8')]

[Her own face is just as red, but she gets a little huffy at the same time.] You still shut up, and so I won. [She steals a kiss of her own, then her voice turns light.] It's not a bad means of accomplishing that, though.

[That means good job, Seaweed Brain, A++ pls try that again in the future.]

[kelpful]

[Percy is on the verge of responding to Annabeth in kind, maybe with some teasing and another kiss, when a scratching sound makes itself known. And then a whimpering. And then finally a godawful howling. Pushing himself up so he can see out a window, he spots Mrs O’Leary lifting her head to the sky.]

Oh – crap. [Annabeth gets an apologetic look.] I should – probably see to her before the kedan come after us with pitchforks.