snippet of ch1 of my fic!
Chapter 1: We have a normal day. Almost.
Camp Half-Blood was quiet.
Not normal quiet—normal at Camp Half-Blood meant the clang of swords against shields, satyrs yelling because someone had accidentally set the strawberry fields on fire again, and the occasional explosion from the Hephaestus cabin that everyone collectively agreed to ignore.
This was... different. Peaceful.The kind of peaceful that settled over the valley after surviving too much.
The sun hung lazily over Long Island Sound, warm enough to bake the cabin roofs without making anyone regret existing. A breeze drifted through the pine trees, carrying the scent of saltwater, strawberries, and smoke from the forge. Somewhere in the distance, a pegasus let out an indignant whinny that was quickly answered by another.
Nobody screamed, no alarms rang, and no oracle called for heroes.
The realization still felt strange enough that Percy Jackson had to remind himself every morning that yes, he was allowed to wake up without immediately assuming something wanted to kill him.
"...I think I'm bored." He sighed, lazily dipping his fingers into the lake, dragging little cascades as he pulled them out.
"No, you're not." Annabeth didn't even look up from the thick architecture book balanced on her knees.
Percy frowned. "I think I know whether I'm bored.
"She calmly turned another page. "I know you," she corrected. "You're not bored." He leaned farther over the edge of the dock until his fingertips skimmed the surface of the lake.
"You've mistaken the two." Annabeth looked at him in the eyes.
Percy sighed dramatically enough to deserve an award. "Okay, maybe."
Annabeth smiled without lifting her eyes from the page. He watched the tiny smile tugging at the corner of her mouth and rolled his own eyes affectionately.
"Nerd." She reached over without warning and shoved his shoulder. He yelped, windmilling his arms dramatically before catching himself inches from the water.
"You almost killed me!" Percy cried out dramatically.
"I barely touched you," Annabeth chuckled, smiling as she shoved him lightly a second time.
"You assaulted a war hero, wise girl!" Percy shoved her right back, looking at her as she laughed out loud. "You are so unbelievably dramatic!" Annabeth continued to giggle as if he was the greatest amusement available.
"You are literally the son of Poseidon." She deadpanned.
"Exactly." He pointed toward the lake with complete seriousness. "Hostile territory." He waved his hand and little droplets came at her, hitting her on the forehead a little too hard.
"There she is, the wisest wise girl tragically shot by lukewarm lake water!" Percy flung an arm around her shoulder and put the back of his hand on his forehead, feigning devastation. "Oh gods, now who could survive such a thing!"
Annabeth groaned, rubbing her forehead."I regret laughing." She faced him and dropped her head as if she was sad.
"I know," he grinned cheekily as he dropped his hand from his forehead.
"You'll be insufferable now," she sighed, smiling at Percy despite his theatrics.
"I was already insufferable"
"Fair point." She cupped his jaw with a hand and kissed him sweetly.
Off to nowhere, chapter 1 out this Sunday (26/7)!!