𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 (Annabeth X Malereader)

[17] The wine dude comes to the rescue... unfortunately

"There," Zoe suggested. "By the Embarcadero Building."

"Good thinking," Chuck said. "Me and Hank can blend in with the pigeons."

They all looked at him.

"Kidding," he said. "Sheesh, can't statues have a sense of humour?"

As it turned out, there wasn't much need to blend in. It was early morning and not many people were around. They freaked out a homeless guy on the ferry dock when they landed. He screamed when he saw Hank and Chuck and ran off yelling something about metal angels from Mars.

"Sooo..." Percy said, as the metal angels flew off. "What are we gunna do now?"

"The monster." Y/N said. "We need to find out what the monster is that Artemis was chasing."

"Okay, well. How are we supposed to do that." Thalia raised an eyebrow.

"Nereus," Grover said, looking at Percy. "Isn't that what Apollo told you to do? Find Nereus?"

"The old man of the sea," Percy remembered. "I'm supposed to find him and force him to tell us what he knows. But how do I find him?"

Zoe made a face. "Old Nereus, eh?"

"You know him?" Thalia asked.

"My mother was a sea goddess. Yes, I know him. Unfortunately, he is never very hard to find. Just follow the smell."

"What do you mean?" Y/N asked.

"Come," she said without enthusiasm. "I will show thee."

.

.

.

Percy had a bad feeling when they stopped at the Goodwill drop box. Five minutes later, Zoe had him outfitted in a ragged flannel shirt and jeans three sizes too big, bright red sneakers, and a floppy rainbow hat.

"Oh, yeah," Grover said, trying not to bust out laughing, "you look completely inconspicuous now."

Zoe nodded with satisfaction. "A typical male vagrant."

"Thanks a lot," Percy grumbled. "Why am I doing this again?"

"I told thee. To blend in."

She led the way back down to the waterfront. After a long time spent searching the docks, Zoe finally stopped in her tracks. She pointed down a pier where a bunch of homeless guys were huddled together in blankets, waiting for the soup kitchen to open for lunch.

"He will be down there somewhere," Zoe said. "He never travels very far from the water. He likes to sun himself during the day."

"How do I know which one is him?"

"Sneak up," she said. "Act homeless. You will know him. He will smell... different."

"Great." Percy mumbled. "And once I find him?"

"Grab him," she said. "And hold on. He will try anything to get rid of thee. Whatever he does, do not let go. Force him to tell thee about the monster."

"We've got your back," Thalia said. She picked something off the back of his shirt. "Eww. On second thought... I don't want your back. But we'll be rooting for you."

Grover gave him a big thumbs-up. Y/N just smirked, as if he was waiting for a show to start.

Percy grumbled as he trudged over towards the homeless people. He pulled his hat down and stumbled like he was about to pass out, which wasn't hard considering how tired he was.