Annabeth and the Nine Step Career Plan

Step 5

"I didn't mean..." she tries, but Annabeth shakes her head, desperate for some kind of control.

"It's okay," she starts, "I just had a different opinion of Mr. Luthor before I started working here, and now..." She purses her lips, cutting off her own words, but Lana gets the point.

"It was just my first impression from the notes," Lana clarifies, quickly, "I definitely don't think that way anymore, now that I've gotten to know you."

Annabeth gives her a weak smile, but on the inside, she almost wants to scream. You don't know me, she thinks, not really. She doesn't spend every waking hour lying her to supervisor, but so many of their conversations have ulterior motives that Annabeth's psyche is wearing thin trying to keep track of them all. What if, without even realizing it, she actually does resemble—

"How do you feel about a change of title?"

Annabeth jerks back into focus, squashing that train of thought as far down as she can possibly manage. Now is not the time.

"What kind of change?" she asks, brows furrowing.

"From intern to assistant," Lana replies, lips twitching at the way Annabeth gapes a little bit.

"Yours?"

It comes out a little more aggressive than she means it to.

"No, Heyeck's."

Lana breaks her own poker face to laugh at the way Annabeth scowls. "Yes, my assistant."

A whirlwind of new possibilities floods her mind. She hadn't exactly planned for this, and Annabeth is at odds with herself, confused and more than a little excited about what it means for the bigger picture.

"You'd pretty much be doing a lot more tasks like this one, just with higher clearance. To be honest," Lana lowers her voice mock conspiratorially, "It's kind of an excuse to bring you places."

"I'm only here for the summer," Annabeth argues, just to push back a little, but it's a flimsy counterpoint.

Lana shrugs, leaning back. "So it's a temp position then. And you can see how you feel by the end of August."

"Okay," Annabeth agrees, letting out an almost disbelieving laugh, "Yes, I accept."

When Lana ushers her out of the office and home for the day with the promise of a new employment contract to be delivered to her inbox by morning, Annabeth pauses in the doorway, hearing the soft whoosh of a text message being sent, and smiles.

LINEBREAK

Following a bout of grumbling and groaning made quiet by a delicious bribe, Annabeth finds herself sitting on Dennis Bryant's couch once again, a plate of butter biscuits and a cup of tea placed before her. Wait here, Dennis had said before clutching the railing and ascending the stairs, so here Annabeth waits, sipping on the pleasantly bitter drink.

The man finally emerges with a battered tin box in his hands, which he drops into her lap before disappearing again into the kitchen. This time, he returns for good, a small piece of metal glinting in his fist. Annabeth wordlessly passes him the box.

"You ready?" Dennis asks, grinning, and turns a key into the lock, "I didn't want to show my hand right away, but I think now's the time."

Annabeth has no idea what she is or isn't ready for. Dennis had called her to visit without giving any additional information as to why.

In two rotations, the lid pops open, and Dennis pulls it the rest of the way. The joints creak like they haven't been used in decades.

Inside is a small stack of tri-folded paper, yellowed with age, and upon Dennis's encouraging nod, Annabeth pulls them free, flipping the top and bottom out to read.