Sorry I haven't been on here as much. I may or may not have gotten wrapped up writing yet another original story whoops...
Anyway hope you like the one shot despite how awkward it turned out.
-Jaz
~~~~
The Real
"Uh babe?"
"Hmm?"
"Why exactly are you putting me in handcuffs and dragging me toward a cop car?"
"Were you even listening when I read you your rights?"
"I heard but it still doesn't make sense. Cristy you're sixteen. How the hell can you arrest me?"
"My name is Annabeth Chase not Cristy actually," she corrected. "I was just undercover here. And you are under arrest for the possession of illegal substances with intent to sell."
"Whoa! Back up!" He yelled trying to pull away but she gripped his arms tight. "I didn't know about that! We share a locker unfortunately, but I don't go through his stuff!"
"At this moment we don't know which of you it belongs to," Cristy- Annabeth told him putting him the car. "But soon enough we will know. So sit tight and cooperate Percy."
"How? You go from kissing me to arresting me in ten seconds flat!"
Annabeth shrugged. "We weren't dating. It's just a job."
Before Percy could possibly form a sentence she closed the door and walked off and next thing Percy knew he was being driven down to the police station.
~~~~
Hours upon hours of questioning left Percy drained and frustrated. His head lay on the cold table on his arms. They had taken off his handcuffs a while ago as a part of a "good cop" routine. When he heard the door opened Percy groaned.
"Can I leave now?"
"Not until we make a deal."
Recognizing the voice Percy looked up to see Cristy- Annabeth but she looked a bit different. Her eyes no longer looked green but we're a nice gray color. Her usual leather jacket was gone and she looked more professional, and more serious.
"What kind of deal?" He questioned.
"We now know that the drugs found weren't yours."
"That's what I've been saying!"
"But," she continued. "We can't prove that you didn't know about it. You both shared a locker after all. I still think it's weird in general that you share one-"
"Well it wasn't my choice. The stupid administration screwed up."
Annabeth shrugged. "Well since you can still be charged I'm offering a deal. With this deal your slate will not only be wiped clean but it will also give an opportunity to make money."
Percy sat up straighter. "I'm listening."
Annabeth gave a small chuckle and nodded. "I work for a government agency called the General's Institute for Children or the GIC for short," she started pulling something out her pocket and placing it in front of Percy. A badge. Percy stared at it surprised as she continued. "We train and then go undercover at places like schools and such in order to gain information about a subject. The prime example we give is this: a young guy, let's say somewhere in his twenties, has a high position in a gang. Should we waste our time and try to infiltrate through him and others or should we send someone in to gain the trust of his younger sister who he cares a lot for? Gain access to the sister, and her brother comes with. Make sense?"
"You go undercover and use people for information and then arrest them," Percy summed up.
Annabeth nodded. "So what do you think?"
"I think this all insane. And wouldn't people know if an agency like this existed?"
"We try to keep things quiet," Annabeth told him taking back her badge. "It's happened in the past people have accused the organization of being 'a farm for child soldiers'. Mainly because once we age out most go to the FBI, CIA, other agencies, or the military. But what do think about what you want to do?"
"So my options are to join you in this made up government organization or go to prison and hope to get out and only to go home to my bastard stepdad?"
Annabeth smiled and stood. "I'll tell them your decision."
"I never said it aloud," Percy muttered as she walked it to the door.
"True, but I know you Percy, and I know you hate Gabe. So, I'll see you eventually."
Percy sighed and watched her go before dropping his head back onto the cold table.
~~~~
Three months later Percy found himself standing at the entrance to on first glance looked like a large college campus along with the other Rookies. He looked around watching as kids and teens looking anywhere from fourteen to early twenties, hung out and laughed as they walked around. Had he not just spent three months training in the academy he would have never guessed that this place was a government agency.
"Welcome Rookies!" A voice yelled gaining Percy's attention. It was a boy who had spoken. He had curly brown hair and bright blue eyes. Beside him stood a boy who looked just like him but a bit shorter, both wore a pair of jeans and an orange t-shirt. The third boy was shorter than the other two had dark hair and dark eyes to go with. He wore an oversized aviator jacket over a black shirt and dark jeans. Behind them a girl in a silencer jacket watched them closet with her arms crossed.
"My name is Travis Stoll," The first introduced. "The one who looks like me is my younger brother Connor Stoll and the last one is Nico di Angelo."
"The three of us are gonna show you around and sort of show you how things work once you're out of the Academy," Nico added.
"And we are totally doing this of our free will," Connor threw in. "It's not like we're doing this because we were forced to learn to get along or anything. Right Zoë?" He asked looking over to the girl in silver.
The girl- Zoë didn't reply but rather pulled a clipboard out of who knows where and marked something down.
Travis whacked the back of his brother's head. "Anyway some basics. Today is Monday, so in seven days you all will take on the Qualifier."
Beside Percy a girl (whose her name couldn't currently remember) raised their hand. "And what exactly is the Qualifier?"
"A test of your skills," Nico explained. "You will need to show everything you've learned to pass then-"
"Except shooting," Connor added. "That's been taken out after an... incident."
"Then after a discussion, and meeting between the Heads, you each will be chosen by one of the five Sectors, or by one of the other two bases. As you know this is our main base in DC but we also have a California, and a New York branch.
"And hopefully you're sorted into the best Sector," Travis added. "Sector Four-"
"Three," Nico said over him.
"What's the difference between each?" Someone else asked.
"It's just a way to separate people, and it can also promote competition between each of the five Sectors. But at the same time each Sector runs things a bit different."
"The most uptight is Sector One," Travis nodded.
"Right Zoë?" Connor called to her. She only glared in reply.
"Next is Sector Two, Sector Five."
"Then Sector Three discovered how to have fun and still finish our work on time," Nico continued. "Then last is Sector Four. It's a miracle they get anything done on time."
"We are just that great," Connor smiled and pulled a bunch of red tags on lanyards out of bag. "Put one on. It just shows your a rookie," he continued passing them around.
"Now enough talking let's get to showing you around!" Travis stated.
The three (and Zoë) led Percy and the other Rookies through a few Sector buildings, the main hall, the Science Center, the Elite building, shooting range, and finally the dorms where they were each given rooms to share until their stay here was up.
Percy found himself rooming with three other guys who introduced themselves to be: Leo Valdez, Ethan Nakamura, and Luke Castellan.
"This room is tiny," Leo commented flopping on the bunk below Percy. He was right, the room consisted of two bunk beds, and two dressers and two closets. "Is this really what all the dorms look like?"
"You're a tiny person," Ethan commented from the other top bunk. "You'll fit fine."
Leo sent a glare toward Ethan who didn't seem to care.
"Well this gonna be an interesting week," Luke decided sitting down on his bed.
"So how'd you guys get into the GIC?" Leo asked.
"It was either this or prison for something I didn't do," Percy shrugged.
"What was it that you supposedly didn't do?" Ethan asked leaving his bed to moving to sit beside Luke. The latter gave Ethan a raised eyebrow but didn't protest.
"My school screwed up and made me and this other kid share a locker, but I didn't really use it," Percy explained leaning over the side to see them. "And he had a lot of drugs in there and they can't prove I didn't know about it so yeah... what about you guys?"
"First just come down here and make it easier," Ethan said.
Percy rolled his eyes but complied and headed down and sat in the floor between the three.
"You're annoying," Luke told Ethan. "Get off my bed."
"Nah. You know you love me Luke," Ethan smiled swinging an arm around Luke's shoulder.
"I could use many words and I doubt any of them would be love."
"I take it you two know each other?" Leo asked.
"Unfortunately Eyepatch and I roomed at the Academy too," Luke sighed. "But talking about your earlier question as to why I'm here, I got involved with a bad gang and this only got worse when I tired to get out of it. But I helped some agents take them down and now this is my second chance."
"I'm just a foster kid who keeps running away," Leo shrugged. "Seemed like this place would be better than another foster home."
"Oh my turn?" Ethan asked. "The GIC was at my school and due to their screw I lost an eye. And I had also just been kicked out of my house so they kinda paid me back by offering me a job and a place to live."
"What exactly are we supposed to be doing now?" Leo questioned.
"Pretty sure were just here until someone comes and gets us," Luke shrugged.
~~~~
The next four days were a blur to Percy.
He was constantly being shuffled from place to place by Connor, Travis, and Nico. At this point things said, done, and the people he had met had all blurred in his memory. He was so thankful for his days off. He had all day for the new two days to relax before his run on the Qualifier the day after that, and then after that he had two days until he was chosen to join a Sector or another Base.
But for now he could simply do nothing, which was the primary reason he didn't really mind being completely lost and unsure where his dorm was.
He wandered around the Base aimlessly and then found himself stopping for a coffee at a small coffee shop. But not long after he left the shop he found himself wearing his coffee.
"Shit!" Percy cursed at the hot beverage spilled on him.
"Damnit sorry, Rookie!" A girl choppy haired girl said. "I'll buy you another."
"You don't have to," Percy told her.
"I'm heading there to meet my friend anyway."
Percy sighed and nodded. "Alright fine."
"Cool. I'm Piper by the way. What's your name Rookie?" She asked as they walked back the way Percy had come.
"Percy."
"Cool. I wonder if I'm staying long enough to watch the Qualifier and stuff," Piper wondered aloud.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh I'm not part of this Base. I'm over at the California one. I'm just here 'cause I'm on the Challenge Team. We had a match, and we crushed it."
"Congrats? What's the Challenge Team?"
"A competitive way of training. There's running competitions, shooting, etcetera. But we do it in teams and each win is points, and the team with the most wins. It's fun."
Percy shrugged. "I'll take your word for it."
They had reached the coffee shop and were standing in line when someone called to Piper. Percy looked up as a blonde girl hurried to meet them in line. She was smiling at her friend but it faltered for a moment when her eyes rested on Percy. "Uh hi?"
Percy nodded. "Annabeth? That's your real name right?"
She nodded. "Yeah. What are you doing here, Percy?"
"Well a few months ago you told me to join or go to jail. So I joined."
"You're that Percy. 'The Real' Percy?" Piper asked eyes wide.
Annabeth stomped on Piper's foot.
"Sure," Percy nodded. He awkwardly cleared his throat. "Well I should get going."
"No," Piper protested. "I spilled your coffee you deserve another. Or at least let me repay you in some way."
"Tell me where my dorm is?"
"Perfect! I'll grab our coffee Annabeth you show him the way. You're good with directions."
"But I-" Annabeth interjected.
"Fine," Percy said starting for the door. He walked closer but he could hear the girls talking behind him.
"Oh stop it Annie," Piper said.
"Stop what?" Annabeth demanded.
"Lying to yourself."
"You know he's your Real."
"Shut up- he isn't! And now I have to walk him to the dorm!"
A moment later Annabeth walked up to Percy and the two left the coffee shop.
~~~~
Two hours had passed and they weren't any closer to the Rookie dorms.
Turns out Annabeth didn't know the way either but she wasn't willing to admit she didn't know or to ask someone. So instead Percy had found himself wandering with her and oddly having a "normal" conversation with her.
"So he just gave up?" Percy asked confused.
"Yup," Annabeth laughed. "He saw me beat up two of his friends and he just fell to the ground and gave up. And that's not even the best part."
"What is it?"
"He pissed himself."
"Seriously?" Percy laughed. "You're so badass you made a guy piss himself?"
"I'm proud of it. It was the best feeling to arrest him and march him down the hall in front his friends. Piper even got a picture."
"I need to see that."
Annabeth coughed a few times to get over her laughter. "So, what's your life been like since I saw you last?"
"Training, sleeping, eating, and then repeat," Percy shrugged. "Nothing too interesting."
"There must be something interesting. What about your roommates?"
"At the Academy my roommates were eh. But here? I've gotten stuck with three crazy people. Leo likes to invent things out of random things he finds. I keep finding pieces of metal in my head which I don't understand because his bunk is under mine. Then Ethan and Luke enjoy bickering over the stupidest things. They were up until two am this morning arguing over if sidekicks was considered useless or not."
"Why would they be useless?" Annabeth questioned.
Percy shrugged. "Luke claimed they only hold heroes back. Ethan on the other hand said it's better than have a bunch of untrained supers running around. I personally don't care."
"How did that conversation even start?"
"Ethan broke one of Leo's inventions, and Leo called him Luke's sidekick... it was a long night."
Annabeth laughed. "Sounds like it. My roommate is Piper and another girl named Thalia. They're both cool we all get along."
"Lucky."
She shrugged. "After a couple more days you probably won't be rooming with them anymore."
"True. I can't wa-"
"Percy!"
Percy grimaced and turned to see Ethan waving to him. Ethan stood with Luke as usual. Ethan hurried over to him and Annabeth, and Luke lagged behind.
"We've been looking everywhere for you. There's a meeting with all Rookies starting in five minutes. Come on!"
Percy nodded and turned to Annabeth. "See ya."
She smiled and waved as Percy followed the boys off.
~~~~
They arrived to the meeting five minutes late, but it didn't seem as if they had missed anything. Nico was bickering with Connor about something while Travis talked to Zoë. Finally when they had calmed down did Nico speak.
"So, we called you all here to get some things straight. You see not supposed ask any senior agents about what happens in the Qualifier and they tell you, both people will be penalized."
"Cheating isn't allowed people," Connor said plainly. "That's something that shouldn't have to be said."
"So to those who did cheat," Travis continued. "We know who you are and you will be penalized, but were not gonna tell you how yet 'cause that will ruin the fun. So that's it. Meeting over."
"Any clue who cheated?" Leo asked the others when they got back to their room.
Percy shook his head. "Nope."
"I have a guess," Luke nodded looking to Ethan.
"Dude I've been with you this whole time," Ethan responded.
"Sidekick," Leo coughed.
"I'm not a sidekick!"
Percy rolled his eyes. "Here we go..."
~~~~
Percy bounced his leg nervously as he sat on the metal bench. Soon enough the Qualifier would commence. He and the other rookies sat in a large room on metal benches waiting for whatever it is they were supposed to do. The room was bare except for a large screen which covered half of one of the white walls.
They had been brought through the set of double doors earlier than left alone. Percy wasn't sure how much time had passed, but it felt like hours. No one in the room really spoke, except for the few whispers said quickly. Everyone was too nervous to have a conversation.
Suddenly the double door banged open and their guides along with their supervisor marched in.
"Ready to prove yourselves or fail miserably?" Connor smiled.
Silence we his reply.
The three moved closer and stood in front of the giant screen. The lifts clicked off suddenly and the screen light up with a picture of a huge maze. Percy's eyes widened, but as he stared at it. Large purple walls, and obstacles in between them. Things which looked like puzzles and others which you have to climb through. The only thing which looked clear on it was the large spot marked "START" and another on the other side of the maze labeled "STOP".
"This is your Qualifier," Travis announced. A giant maze. You will need all your skills to get past its puzzles and to the other side. And you will be timed. The timer will only stop when you make it to the end and hit the big red button. And no I will not tell you the average time," he said as the screen took away the maze and instead put of pictures of ten teenagers, with numbers, and times listed next to them," instead I will tell you the best times. These our top ten."
Percy scanned the pictures and times. Some appeared older, clearly from years ago. Number One in the list held a time of 6 minutes and 54.85 seconds. Number Ten held one of 14:45.33.
If these were the top ten Percy could only assume the avenge was between fifteen and twenty.
"One at a time you will enter the Qualifier and once you're done your time will be revealed to everyone. And not just the Rookies here. The entire base is watching from a platform above the Qualifier itself."
"And I have bad news for our cheaters," Nico put in. "You're initial time will have an two and half minutes added to it for themselves and an additional two and half will be added for every person you asked."
A few people yelled out against this, but Nico shrugged.
"It's your fault."
"So. Let's get this thing rolling!" Connor cheered. "The order is completely random. So..." he looked to the screen as a picture and a name popped up. "Jason Grace," he read off.
Slowly a boy with blonde hair and glasses stood up. He glanced around nervously before he took a deep breath. Connor nodded toward a second door to the side and Jason hesitantly went out of it.
With that done. The three guides gave them a wave and walked out the way they had come with Zoë leaving the Rookies alone.
The room was full of quiet whispers, but soon fell silent as everyone waited for the screen to reveal their own name. After what felt like forever the screen changed to show a time appear next to Jason's name and picture: 17:23.20.
It stayed there for a moment before a different name and face replaced it.
~~~~
Hours passed.
Percy still sat in the room anxiously. The only about a third of the Rookies still remained. Two of his roommates, Leo and Ethan had gone already both had sort of good times. Leo managed a 16:54.32 and Ethan had initially a 14:23.05 before he had five additional minutes added.
Percy stared up at the screen as a new name and face appeared. He watched them for a moment before a hand clapped his shoulder.
"Good luck," Luke told him.
Percy blinked and looked to the screen again suddenly recognizing the name and face as his own. He gulped and stood up making his way to the door ignoring the eyes on him. He reached the door and hurriedly went through it to the other side. On the other side a girl he didn't recognize beckoned him down a hall. She said nothing as she led the way before she stopped in front of a set of double doors. Percy stared at her for a moment before she motioned to the door.
Percy took a deep breath and walked through. Once through he could see the tall purple walls. They had to be at least ten feet tall. Percy's eyes drifted upward to where he saw people sitting stands above him. They cheered when he walked and Percy looked forward again. His eyes landed on the large "START" painted on the floor and walked over to it. He stood on the words for a moment trying to get himself mentally prepared for this.
Suddenly chanting reached his ears.
"Ten! Nine! Eight!"
Above him the crowd had begun chanting. Percy took a deep breath and stared down the opening to the giant maze which held his future.
"Five! Four!"
Percy could hear his heart beating quickly in his chest as he moved closer the entrance ready to bolt inside. He tried to look to see if he could see anything, but the wall turned quickly blocking his view.
"Two! One! Go!"
Percy ran into the maze. He followed the walls which forced him to go left, then straight, then right.
Suddenly he came to a dead end with the only way to continue being a small hole he'd need to crawl though. Percy dropped down to the ground and crawled through. Once through and standing up again, he was faced with two paths to take. Percy glanced down both. To the right he noticed something like a blue light and assuming it was an obstacle decided to go that way.
The light was an obstacle.
A screen glowed from where it sat upon a door. On the screen were words: "General protocol states..."
Below were three choices.
A) A weapon is to be carried at all times
B) True identities are not to be revealed without permission from the supervising agent
C) Secrecy is the the upmost priority
Percy stared at them for a moment recalling his basic training before he reached out to the screen and pressed the letter B. For a moment nothing happened before the swung open and Percy hurried through.
He continued on hurrying and breathing heavily as he ducked down different route and came back as he hit dead ends, and obstacles ranging in teasing his physical and mental strength. Percy silently wondered how much time had passed as he turned down yet another hallway on a whim. He quickly turned left before taking a right only to curse at another dead end.
Percy was about to turn back when something caught his eye, an three odd black marks at the base of the purple wall. They looked like footholds.
Percy but his tongue but finally ran for the wall. He stepped into the foot holds and climbed up the three and paused, waiting for something. But nothing did.
"Damnit I'm wasting time," Percy said shaking his head. He put his hands on the wall to stabilize himself before he headed down when his right hand caught on something.
Percy looked to see a small lip in the wall. He then looked closer to see an outline of a square around it. Percy's eyes widened and he pulled on the part of the wall. He heard a small creak of metal but it wouldn't move. Percy used his left hand as well and pulled again and he felt the metal move forward. Percy bit his lip as he yanked it again and it finally gave. The metal panel came back toward him and Percy fell back off his footholds with it. Percy groaned when he hit the ground and laid there for a moment before he remembered his race against time.
He pulled himself up and smiled at the square hole in the wall. Percy was vaguely aware of the crowd screaming at him as he climbed back up the footholds and put a hand into the hole and gripped the other side. It took some effort but he finally managed to pull himself through and drop down. He stood to his feet and started running down the predetermined path which went left and right and then straight before switching once again.
He ran and ran, but he didn't see any obstacles- on his path. To his sides he now and then noticed tall structures of obstacles on different sides of the wall.
Percy kept running ignoring the fact he was out of breath. Another path soon merged with his and Percy hoped that meant he was close to the finish. He kept running before he proved something which brought a smile to his face. Black lettering on the floor and a big red button with a screen beside it. Percy sprinted forward. He exited the purple walls on the maze and slammed his hand down upon the button.
Percy took a few of deep breaths before he looked up to the screen on which words appeared:
"Congratulations on finishing with a time of 8:03.41."
Percy's mouth dropped open at his time before the sound of a trumpet rang and the screen flashed to show the top ten. But this time it was different.
Because his name, face, and time were there. Sitting at number four.
Cheering let his ears and Percy looked up to see those agents in the stadium shouting wildly. A smile came to Percy's face and he waved at them.
He then looked forward again to see his three guides smiling at him from a door. Percy walked over to them and the two brothers clapped him on the back and congratulated him.
"Congrats," Nico nodded. "The last person to find the trapdoor was our supervisor Zoë, who holds fifth place now, and our director Chiron like forty years before her. He's got the second place time."
"How did you know it was there?" Connor demanded grabbing Percy's shoulders.
"I didn't," Percy answered honestly. "I just noticed something was off."
"Awesome man," Travis smiled. "Well we gotta get ready for he next ones, head through this door to the next, then the third door on your right."
Percy nodded and walked past them, and followed directions finding himself at a room full of those who had already gone.
For a moment they all simply stared at him before Ethan spoke.
"I cheated and I didn't find that! No fair!"
Percy chuckled before the rest began to shout questions at him.
~~~~
"Percy!"
Percy walked along with the rest of the Rookies and their guides when Annabeth and Piper walked over.
"That was awesome!" Piper cheered.
"That was cool I'll admit," Annabeth told him with a small smile.
"I certainly hope you get sorted to California. We need someone like you."
Annabeth opened her mouth to say something but Piper whispered in her ear. Percy wasn't able to catch all of what was said but he did catch the word "Real". Percy raised an eyebrow as a blush spread on Annabeth's face and she pushed Piper away.
"I'll see you around," Annabeth said quickly before hurrying off. Piper rolled her red before following.
Percy looked back to the Rookies who were walking away without him. He ran to catch up and after a moment he ran up toward the front to Connor and Travis.
"What's a Real?" Percy asked him.
"Should we tell him?" Connor asked Travis.
Travis hummed in thought. "Maybe we shouldn't."
"He'll find out eventually."
"True."
"But then again-"
"I vote that you tell me," Percy put in.
"Alright," Connor nodded. "You know how we constantly go undercover, lie, date, flirt with whomever to get our intel?"
"Yeah..."
"Well after the job is over since it's all fake we just come home the end," Travis explained. "But when an agent finds their Real? It's no longer fake for them. They have real feelings for that person. In this case that person being you and the agent being Annabeth."
Percy blinked. "You think Annabeth..."
"What you don't like her?" Travis asked confused. "Well I mean she's hard to like in general since she's so- so- anyway, you dated her for a couple months."
"I dated Cristy," Percy corrected. "And Cristy didn't exist. Annabeth is a different person than the Cristy I fell for."
"But you still like her."
"No- I- I um..."
Travis and Connor locked eyes.
"Bet you five bucks they'll be dating in three days," Connor proposed.
"What?" Percy asked looking back and forth between the two.
"Please," Travis said shaking his head. "I give it two. And you're on."
~~~~
Percy sat alone on the room of his dorm watching the sunset. Soon enough he'd be sorted into a place here at the GIC and become an official member.
"Shouldn't you be getting to the hall?"
Percy turned to see Annabeth walk up beside him. Then his conversation with Connor and Travis resurfaced in his memory and he quickly looked forward again, as he felt himself blush. "I guess," Percy said finally. "Why are you on the Rookie roof?"
"I came looking for you," Annabeth said quietly sitting down.
Percy slowly turned to face her. "Why?"
"I um, I..." Annabeth cleared her throat. "I wanted to apologize for how things started. I mean I was Cristy and you were a job. Then I arrested you and um, well if you're gonna be a real agent can we just focus on the present instead of strange past?"
Percy nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Annabeth breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay good."
"So uh... you know things about me, but I know nothing about the real Annabeth expect for a couple of arrest stories."
Annabeth looked out to the sunset. "The real Annabeth? Well Annabeth Chase ran away from home at seven because she hated her step mother. But now that she's somewhat patched things up she goes home now and then to visit her father and her annoying younger twin brothers. I'd tell you more, but you need to get to the hall for the ceremony. Find me after and maybe I'll tell you then."
Percy raised an eyebrow and stood. "I'm gonna hold you to that."
"I said maybe!" Annabeth called after Percy as he walked to the door to lead him inside.
~~~~
It was nerve wracking. All of the Base and both of the others (via big TV screens) were watching as each rookie was sorted into their new position.
Clapping reached his ears and Percy joined in as Ethan was placed into Sector Three. Earlier Luke had been placed into the California base (Percy vaguely wondered how the two would survive separated, he assumed Luke would respond with something close to "easily").
Even more nerve wracking was the random order the Rookies were called up in. Five more people were called before Leo was called up.
Leo stood up and made his way to where the Director Chiron Brunner sat in his wheelchair. The Director smiled at him and pulled the red lanyard off of Leo and handed him a badge. Leo stared at it for a moment and a smile came on to his face before he read it loudly. "Sector Four!"
Everyone clapped and shouted especially those from Sector Four who eagerly waved Leo their way. Leo made his way off the stage to sit beside them as someone else was called up. Then after that...
"Our new fourth place time on the Qualifier, Perseus Jackson!"
Percy swallowed and stood as he headed over knowing everyone's were on him. He bent slightly as his red lanyard was removed from his neck. The Director gave him a smile and held out a badge to him.
Percy took it shakily before he looked up at the crowd and read it loudly, "Sector Two of the New York Base!"
People cheered loudly and he swore he heard some groan. Chiron gave him a handshake and motioned off stage. Percy headed down the stairs off stage and moved to sit beside Luke and other agents who were placed out of state.
When the ceremony was over Percy walked out the door and off of to the side waiting. Soon enough a familiar blonde emerged.
"Annabeth!"
Surprised she turned around and waved to him. "What's up?" She called as Percy moved closer.
"You said we could talk," Percy shrugged awkwardly.
"I said maybe," Annabeth corrected.
"So does that mean we can't?"
She paused and pursed her lips. "I guess we can... I owe you that much right?"
Percy smiled. "I guess. So... where too? The roof?"
Annabeth shook her head and looked to the ground. "No... um, Piper still owes you a coffee right? I'll um, pay off her debt."
"It's late, but what the hell? Coffee it is," Percy smiled. Annabeth didn't respond, but began walking toward the coffee shop.
~~~~
"So I've told you about my family, my friends, and stupid things. Anything else you want to know?" Annabeth asked.
Percy shrugged. "I don't know, anything else you want to tell me?"
"Not without good reason."
"What's defined as a 'good reason'?" Percy questioned.
"Give me a reason and I'll tell you if the good enough," Annabeth shrugged taking a sip from her cup then frowning finding it empty.
"I want know."
"Not good enough."
Percy rolled his eyes. "You're difficult."
"How am I difficult? I've been talking with you for..." she paused to check her phone. "Three hours. Oh my God it's been three hours?"
"Wait what time is it?"
"Almost one am..."
"That would explain why the barista has been glaring at us," Percy commented looking across the coffee shop to wear the barista watched them with arms folded.
"I still haven't packed!" Annabeth shouted standing. "I leave at nine!"
"You're leaving?" Percy asked following her out the coffee shop?
"Yeah we head back to California. I gotta go! I'll see you soon enough!" Annabeth called running off.
Percy waved after her.
~~~~
Percy found himself walking with Connor and Travis early the next morning. Well he was walking to the entrance of the Base and the two had followed him for reasons they wouldn't disclose. Percy glanced at his watch and cursed seeing how close it was to nine in the morning. He picked up the pace as he rounded a bend only to frown at the Base's entrance. Unlike he had expected no one with suitcase crowded the area.
Percy sighed and turned back to walk the way he had come when some called after him.
"Hey Percy!"
Percy turned to see Piper waving at him. She smiled and "subtly" pushed Annabeth toward him. Annabeth said something to her and walked over.
"So uh, have a nice flight?" Percy said awkwardly, everything he had practiced saying in his mind now gone.
Annabeth looked at the ground for a moment. "I-I will and you-you should join the New York Challenge Team."
"I should?" Percy blinked.
Annabeth nodded sharply and Percy thought he saw a small blush on her face. "Yeah," she said. "The next competition is New York versus California. In California. So if you join the team I- I'll see you then."
Percy couldn't stop the smile which crept on his face. "Looks like I'll need to join then."
Annabeth nodded quickly before hurrying off towards Piper and the others.
"So which of us won the bet then?" Travis asked Connor.
Connor shrugged. "I guess neither."
"No someone won," Percy interrupted.
"Who?"
Percy smiled again and waved as Annabeth glanced over to him. "Me."