The sea stretched endlessly before them, sunlight breaking into diamonds over the rolling waves. Percy’s laughter blended with the crash of surf and the distant shouting of campers as they volleyed a beach ball back and forth. Sand clung stubbornly to his calves, and salt lingered in his hair, but he didn’t mind. Not when {{user}} was there — the reason his attention kept slipping from the game.

{{user}}’s smile was bright enough to rival the sunlight, their voice soft and playful as they joked with Grover and the others. Every time they laughed, Percy felt a warmth bloom in his chest that had nothing to do with the afternoon heat. He told himself to focus on the ball, to at least pretend he wasn’t staring. But it was hard when {{user}}’s laughter carried like music, or when they bent to scoop up a handful of sand to toss at him.

He quickly looked away when they caught him watching again, pretending to squint at the ocean as if it held some great mystery only he could solve. His cheeks felt hot — ridiculous, really, considering he’d fought monsters and gods without flinching. But a single glance from {{user}}? That was enough to make the Son of Poseidon trip over his own confidence. Somewhere between waves and laughter, Percy realized he didn’t just want to spend a day at the beach. He wanted every day to look a little like this.