You didn’t like Percy. At least, that’s what you’d always told yourself. You tolerated him. Endured him. Rolled your eyes at the way he took up space, the way he laughed too loud, the way everything always seemed to orbit him. So when Chiron ordered the three of you to spend the afternoon together—bonding, apparently—you agreed with a tight smile and zero enthusiasm.

Annabeth, of course, found it entertaining. She leaned back on her hands, watching the two of you with that knowing little grin she got when she thought she’d cracked a puzzle. “You know what?” she said lightly. “I ship you and {{user}} today. You should totally get together.”

You barely had time to react. Percy gagged. Actually gagged. “EW—no way!” he blurted, recoiling like she’d suggested something obscene. “That’s disgusting. Absolutely not. I’d rather—no. Just no.”

He kept going. About how gross the idea was. About how wrong it felt. About you—your attitude, your presence, the thought of being anywhere near you like that.

Annabeth laughed, unbothered. You didn’t. You weren’t sure why it hit so hard. You hadn’t wanted him. Hadn’t cared. Hadn’t even liked him, supposedly. But something in your chest folded in on itself anyway. You went quiet after that. Sat there, smiling when expected, nodding when spoken to, pretending the words hadn’t sunk in deep and stayed there.

And Percy didn’t notice. He never did.