pda

The living room of the apartment was a haze of golden light and the dull roar of a football game playing on the television that nobody was actually watching. The air smelled like pepperoni pizza, expensive perfume, and the faint, crisp scent of saltwater that always seemed to cling to Percy.

In the center of the oversized sectional sofa, Percy and Annabeth were currently acting as if they were the only two people in the entire world. Annabeth, looking soft and radiant in a pastel pink oversized sweater, was perched comfortably on Percy’s lap. Her light brown boho knotless braids cascaded over her shoulders like silk, framing her face as she leaned down to press her lips against his.

Percy’s large hands were firmly planted on her hips, his fingers digging slightly into the soft denim of her jeans before sliding down to cup her curves. He pulled her closer, deepening the kiss until Annabeth let out a soft, airy moan against his mouth. Her hands were buried in his mess of curly blonde hair, pulling him toward her as if she couldn't get enough of him.

"God, you taste like strawberries," Percy mured against her lips, his blue eyes blown wide with affection.

Annabeth giggled, a sweet, melodic sound that made Percy’s heart skip. "And you taste like that lemonade you’ve been drinking all night," she whispered, leaning back just enough to look at him. Her brown eyes were warm and heavy-lidded. "Is that a bad thing?"

"It’s the best thing," Percy replied, his voice dropping an octave as he pulled her back down for another searing kiss.

"Okay, seriously? Get a room!" Thalia shouted from the other end of the couch. She was leaning back with her feet on the coffee table, her curly hair tied up in a messy bun. As a twenty-two-year-old who had seen far too much of her cousin’s romantic life, she was reaching her limit. "I’m trying to eat my wings without seeing Percy's tonsils, thank you very much."

Luke, sitting next to her, leaned his head back and laughed. His curly hair fell over his forehead, and his dark eyes crinkled at the corners. "Let them be, Thalia. They’ve been like this since they started dating. It's like a permanent honeymoon phase."

"It’s fucking gross is what it is," Clarisse grumbled, though there was no real heat in her voice. She was sitting on the floor, leaning against the coffee table, her own curly hair wild and free. She reached for a slice of pizza, narrowly avoiding Grover’s hand. "If I see one more hickey on Annabeth’s neck, I’m charging them a tax."

Grover, Percy’s best friend, just shook his head. He was leaning against the armchair where Silena was sitting. "Good luck with that, Clarisse. Percy would pay anything just to keep her where she is. Look at him, he’s gone. Total goner."

Silena adjusted her position in the chair, her dark, glossy hair falling over her shoulder. She smiled softly at the couple. "I think it’s sweet. Look how happy Annabeth looks. She’s literally glowing."

Annabeth pulled away from Percy’s lips just long enough to stick her tongue out at Thalia. "You’re just mad because you’re single and bitter, Thalia. Don't hate on our love."

"I am not bitter!" Thalia retorted, throwing a discarded napkin at them. "I just have standards. Standards that don't involve dry-heaving in my own living room."

Percy didn't even look up. He was busy tracing the line of Annabeth’s jaw with his thumb. "Shut up, Thalia. You’re just loud. Annabeth, ignore her. She’s just jealous she doesn't have anyone to hold her ass like this."

"Percy!" Annabeth squealed, her face turning a deep shade of crimson as she swatted his shoulder. "Don't say that in front of everyone!"

"What? It’s a great ass," Percy said with a grin, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "I’m a fan. A huge fan. Number one subscriber."

Charles, who had been quiet while scrolling through his phone, finally looked up. At 6'3, he loomed over the rest of the group even while sitting down. He let out a deep, rumbling chuckle. "Man, you really have no shame, do you?"

"Zero," Percy confirmed, pulling Annabeth back into a hug. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the scent of her hair. "She’s my girl. I’m allowed to be obsessed."

Annabeth sighed, melting into his touch. She loved how protective and affectionate he was. Even though she was a soft, "girly girl" who loved her dresses and her skincare routines, she had a fire in her that only Percy seemed to know how to stoke. She turned her head, whispering something in his ear that made his eyes darken and his grip on her tighten.

"Oh, for the love of—" Thalia stood up, grabbing her drink. "I’m going to the kitchen. If I come back and you guys are horizontal, I’m calling the police."

"We’re just sitting here!" Annabeth called out, though she was currently nipping at Percy’s earlobe.

"You are vibrating with horniness, Annabeth Chase," Clarisse shouted from the floor. "It’s radiating off you like a heat wave. It’s making my pizza cold."

Luke leaned over and nudged Clarisse with his elbow. "Leave them alone. Remember when you and Chris first started? You were worse."

Clarisse turned a bright shade of red. "We were not! We were subtle."

"You were about as subtle as a brick to the face," Grover chimed in, grinning. "I remember finding you two in the library. I couldn't look at the 'History' section for a month."

The group erupted into laughter, the tension breaking as they began to recount embarrassing stories of their college years. Despite the teasing, there was an underlying warmth in the room. They were all close, a patchwork family of friends who had seen each other through the best and worst of times.

Percy pulled back slightly, looking at Annabeth with an expression so tender it made Silena sigh wistfully. "You okay?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the noise of the others.

"I’m perfect," Annabeth replied, her voice soft. She reached up, running her fingers through his blonde curls, smoothing them down only for them to spring back up. "I love being here with you."

"I love you," Percy said. He didn't care who heard him. He leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that started slow and sweet but quickly escalated as Annabeth leaned her weight into him.

She let out another soft moan, her hands sliding down to his chest, feeling the steady thud of his heart beneath his shirt. Percy’s hands moved again, his palms pressing firmly against her, pulling her flush against his lap. The heat between them was palpable, a magnetic pull that made the rest of the room fade into a blur of colors and sounds.

"Alright, that’s it," Grover said, standing up and stretching. "I think it’s time for a round of Mario Kart. We need to distract these two before they start a fire."

"I’m in," Luke said, grabbing a controller. "Percy, put the girl down and prepare to lose."

Percy groaned, resting his forehead against Annabeth’s. "Do I have to?"

"Yes," Annabeth whispered, though she looked just as reluctant as he did. She pressed one last, lingering kiss to his nose before sliding off his lap and onto the cushion next to him. "Besides, I want to see you beat Luke. He’s been bragging all week."

Percy’s competitive streak flared up. He grabbed a controller, his eyes narrowing playfully at Luke. "Oh, it’s on. You’re going down, Wasian Prince."

"In your dreams, Blondie," Luke retorted, a smirk playing on his lips.

As the race began, the room filled with the sounds of shouting, laughter, and the occasional curse word as someone got hit by a blue shell. Annabeth sat close to Percy, her head resting on his shoulder, her hand resting on his thigh. Every now and then, Percy would lean over and kiss the top of her head, or Annabeth would squeeze his hand when he took a sharp turn.

Thalia returned from the kitchen with a fresh bowl of chips, sitting back down and immediately starting to heckle everyone. "Grover, you’re driving like a grandmother! Move it!"

"I’m trying!" Grover yelled back, his eyes glued to the screen. "The controls are sticky! Who had the wings last?"

"That would be Clarisse," Silena said, pointing a manicured finger at her friend.

"Lies and slander!" Clarisse shouted, though she was currently licking buffalo sauce off her thumb.

The night went on like that—a chaotic, beautiful mess of friendship and love. As the hours ticked by, the group began to thin out. Silena and Charles were the first to leave, heading back to their own place with a round of tired hugs. Clarisse and Grover followed shortly after, arguing about who had actually won the most races.

Eventually, it was just Thalia, Luke, Percy, and Annabeth left in the dimming light of the living room.

"I’m heading to bed," Thalia announced, yawning loudly. She looked at Percy and Annabeth, who were once again tangled together on the couch. "Try not to break the furniture."

"Goodnight, Thalia," Annabeth said with a sleepy smile.

"Night, Thals," Percy added.

Luke stood up as well, stretching his long limbs. "I’m out too. See you guys in the morning for brunch?"

"Definitely," Annabeth said.

Once the apartment fell silent, the only sound was the hum of the refrigerator and the distant sound of a car passing by outside. The heavy atmosphere of the party had settled into something quieter, more intimate.

Percy shifted, pulling Annabeth back onto his lap. She went willingly, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder. "They’re finally gone," she mured.

"Finally," Percy agreed, his hands finding their familiar place on her waist. He started to trail kisses along her neck, making her shiver. "I thought Thalia would never leave."

Annabeth pulled back, looking at him with a mischievous glint in her brown eyes. "You were being very loud about your 'appreciation' earlier, Percy."

"I can’t help it," he said, his voice husky. "You look so beautiful tonight. That sweater, those braids... I’ve been wanting to get you alone since the moment you walked in."

Annabeth leaned forward, her lips brushing against his. "Well, you have me now."

Percy didn't need to be told twice. He captured her lips in a deep, hungry kiss, his hands moving with more urgency now that they were alone. He pulled her closer, his fingers tangling in the soft knit of her sweater, while Annabeth’s hands moved down to the hem of his shirt, tugging it up so she could feel the warmth of his skin.

She let out a low moan as he began to kiss the sensitive skin just below her ear. "Percy..."

"I’ve got you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I’ve got you, Wise Girl."

He lifted her up effortlessly, his strength surprising her even after all this time. Annabeth wrapped her legs around his waist, her boho braids swinging as he carried her toward the bedroom. The PDA in the living room had been fun, a way to show the world how much they belonged to each other, but this—the quiet, private moments—was where they truly shone.

As he kicked the bedroom door shut, Percy pressed her against the wood, his mouth finding hers again. The world outside didn't matter. The teasing from their friends, the stress of school, the noise of the city—it all fell away.

In the quiet of the room, surrounded by the scent of lavender and the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the curtains, they were just two people deeply in love.

Annabeth pulled back for a second, catching her breath. Her eyes searched his, finding nothing but devotion and heat. "You’re really obsessed with me, aren't you?"

Percy smiled, a genuine, lopsided grin that made him look younger than his twenty years. He brushed a stray braid away from her face, his touch incredibly light. "Since the day I met you, Annabeth. And I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon."

"Good," she whispered, pulling him back down to her. "Because I’m not going anywhere."

The night was long, and the apartment was finally still, but for the two of them, the world was just beginning. They were young, they were in love, and they had all the time in the world to be exactly who they were—together.