A Crown of Golden Leaves: A Percy Jackson Fanfiction

Caput XLII: The Puzzle Pieces

This was a first.

"You're joking."

"Does it look like I'm joking?" Grover pointed at his flat face, and Percy admired the sudden bravery for a moment. "Besides, waking you up in the morning is not something I enjoy doing without a good reason."

Apparently, Grover was testy about waking Percy this early too. With a loud groan, he threw his legs over the side of the bed and sat up.

"Wha'?" Annabeth asked, her voice hoarse from sleep and muffled into her pillow. "Percy, why're'ou up?"

"My pater has had a temporary bout of madness." He paused, and then he grabbed his pillow, stuffing it into her arms. Like that plant he found when he was a boy that closed around bugs, she snapped her arms close around it. He raised an eyebrow at the way she started hogging his stuff. She better not go about stealing his pillows next. That was just greedy. Wars were started over lesser things. "Go back to snoring the morning away, love."

"I will hit you for that later." She suddenly sounded much more alert, but she relaxed back into the mattress that she stole, so he figured she was going to go back to sleep. Turning back to Grover, he shooed him away with his hands.

"But your clothes—!"

"I'll be fine. It's not like he expects me in ceremonial clothing." It was too early in the morning for anything that required so many different layers. Hopefully. "...Right?"

Grover pointed at him with an angry finger and opened his mouth as if he was going to say something. Probably insulting. His face turned a little red with the strain of keeping inside of him – it surprised Percy a little, usually he was much more mild tempered – but he snapped his jaw shut with a click of his teeth scraping together. He turned and walked away, his back rigid though his brown hooves didn't make a sound against the squeaky floors as he strode out, probably out of consideration for Annabeth.

"It's only gotten worse ... never let me do my job ..."

He didn't think he was supposed to hear that. With a laugh, though he was mindful to keep it quiet, he grabbed the toga Grover had laid out earlier (or perhaps it was Annabeth's maid?), stripped out of his sleeping clothes and pulled it over his shoulders.

"Percy!" Annabeth sounded startled (somewhat belatedly), and very, very awake, and he jumped. He'd thought she had fallen back asleep. But then she started laughing and was barely able to keep himself from ducking his head. "Nice."

His cheeks burned at her appreciative tone, and he looked at her over his shoulder. He couldn't see clearly in the dim lighting, but he thought she might be smiling.

"Like the show?"

"You're not giving me much to look at."

This time, he tried to duck out before she could embarrass him (more), but she grabbed his wrist and tugged him back down to bed. He caught himself before he could sprawl across her stomach (she was stronger than she looked, but he was also heavier than her), and she blinked up at him.

"Uh..." he said eloquently. He cleared his throat. "Seriously, I have to leave. My pater..."

Understanding made her eyes drop, and she nodded, pushing herself up onto her elbows to brush her lips against his gently over and over. He allowed it until his head started to spin, and he pulled away. She pouted at him—Oh gods.

"Annabeth," he groaned, and she laughed. He turned on his heel, and rolled his eyes. "I'm leaving before I give in to any more temptations."

"I'll be here, waiting." She replied cheekily, startling a laugh out of him as he closed the door behind him.

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