it’s often you find yourself snapping at percy during training, rolling your eyes when he plays around too much for your liking, you simply act like his presence is something you tolerate.

everyone falls for it.

everyone thinks you can’t stand percy jackson.

but what they don’t see is the way you gawk at him when he’s not looking. the way your breath catches when his sea green eyes catch yours across the room.

the way those are your favourite parts of the day, you replay those moments at night, lying awake when the world is sleeping, wondering how someone could be so brave, so beautiful, so kind and unfairly gorgeous without even trying.

it feels like a cruel joke, honestly. like the universe is playing jokes on you.

because liking someone like him feels dangerous. liking percy jackson feels like losing control of yourself.

percy is not as inattentive and oblivious you think, though.

he notices the way your jabs are always laced with a nervous stutter. how you stand with your shoulders narrowed and stiff whenever he’s within 6 metres of you. he notices that despite all your defensive words, you never actually walk away from him when he speaks to you.

and he most definitely notices the way you look at him with pink cheeks when you think no one’s watching you.

that’s why, when the campfire approaches on the beach, when everyone is loud, distracted, and wrapped up in each other’s shenanigans, percy eyes you sitting apart from the group.

the firelight sparkles behind you, but you’re turned towards the ocean instead, watching the waves lap against each other under the pale moonlight.

the water is dark and endless in hindsight, and percy notices that… you look… small, harmless… unguarded.

percy hesitates, and then he makes up his mind and walks over and sits beside you, close enough that your knees almost make contact.

you tense instantly, wrapping your arms around yourself. “what do you want, jackson?” you ask sharply. “ran out of people to annoy?”

he grins, soft and patient, like the front you put up didn’t clock to him whatsoever. “i just wanted to sit with you.”

you scoff in disbelief. “don’t you have literally anyone else to sit with?”

“i do,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck, a nervous gesture you don’t notice.“but i don’t want to.”

well…that threw you off balance.

you hide your face in your arms. “you’re so weird.”

“sure,” he says as if he’s agreeing with you. “but you’re avoiding me.”

you turn towards him, all a sudden defensive. “i’m not avoiding you. i just don’t like you.”

percy doesn’t bat an eye.

“you really don’t have to pretend,” he whispers quietly.

your heart drops. “pretend what?”

“that you hate me.”

you move to stand abruptly. “gods… you-you’re full of yourself.”

before you could walk away, percy stretches his arm out and places his hand gently over yours where it rests in the sand.

you could still leave, his grip is light enough, but you… don’t.

his hand is warm on yours, his touch sparks something in your body… you like it.

“don’t go,” he mutters softly.

your breath catches in your throat.

“i… i know you like me,” he continues, voice unsteady and nervous. “and i know that probably scares you.”

your defences snap up again instantly, why is he treating you like your weak? like your some baby. “you don’t know one thing about me.”

“i know you look at me like i’m something you’re not supposed to like,” percy snaps. “like it’s a burden to you that i exist.”

your cheeks redden instantly.

“percy, you’re imagining things,” you murmur.

he grins, ears pink and almost shy. “you stare at me when you think i don’t notice. and when i catch you, you get all flustered and mean... like now…”

“i do not—”

“you do,” he says gently. “it’s kind of…adorable.”

you groan, covering your face in embarrassment. “gods, you’re actually insufferable.”

percy laughs quietly, then looks at you with that serious face again. “i like you,” he whispers, as if it’s only a secret the ocean and you could hear. “a lot. probably more than i should.”

you glance at him through your fingers. his eyes are that same bright green, firelight and ocean glimmering in his eyes all at once. looking at you like you’re the only thing that matters to him in that moment.

“you really shouldn’t,” you whisper.

“too late,” he shrugs. “you kinda ruined my life by not being mine.”

your heart skips a beat.

“that’s… well, dramatic,” you say weakly, defenders crinkling under his warm words.

“yeah, it is,” he agrees. “but it’s true.”

you swallow that stupid lump in your throat, hating the direction of vulnerability you’re heading towards. “i hate that you’re so… brave. and kind. and stupidly handsome.”

his smile widens. “you think i’m handsome?”

“don’t push it, jackson.”

he leans closer to you, slow enough that you could stop him… but you don’t.

“i thought maybe you felt the same,” he whispers. “but if i’m wrong—”

you cut him off by leaning in and placing your lips against his soft ones.

it’s gentle. soft. everything you’re not. it’s as if you’re both afraid of startling the moment. his lips are warm, and he freezes for a second before kissing you back, slow and steady, as he’s savoring it, altering the shape of your lips into his brain chemistry.

when you pull back, you immediately panic.

“i— i shouldn’t have—” you stutter, cheeks burning under his gaze.

percy smiles so wide, so adorably to the point that it makes your chest ache.

“gods, you’re really damn cute when you’re flustered,” he says before he leans in again, this time more confident, brushing his thumb along your jaw before kissing you once more. it’s still soft, still dripping in sweetness, but it’s deeper now, more passionate. like he’s telling you without words that this is safe, that it’s more than okay.

when he finally pulls back, his forehead rests against yours.

“so,” he murmurs. “does this mean you don’t hate me?”

you let out a genuine laugh, heart racing, you almost don’t believe this is real. “don’t get used to it.”

he grins. “i don’t need to. i just like that you’re here, with me.”

you stay like that, waves crashing in beside you, the campfire crackling behind you, percy’s hand still warm and intertwined in yours.

and for the first time, you stop pretending you don’t want him, because he’s gorgeous.

and you finally know, he’s yours too.

𝖱𝖤𝖡𝖫𝖮𝖦𝖲 𝖠𝖯𝖯𝖱𝖤𝖢𝖨𝖠𝖳𝖤𝖣 ૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა

© blairenqs 2026 do not repost, plagiarize, or translate.

✧ 𝑓. yes i actually wrote this whole fic bc i thought of percy while listening to the song gorgeous. what about it… ALSO HELLO HARRY STYLES ALBUM ANNOUNCEMENT?? we’re winning fr.