How did Annabeth not realise?

She was never this stupid. Never! Yet somehow, you had managed to escape her grasp, slipping out of her hands like a well oiled, slippery fish.

A child of Loki, non-binary and a shapeshifter, tending to take on the appearance of multiple people, not animals, like her cousin Magnus’ partner Alex, another child of Loki.

She and Percy have been searching for you for months, sent by Chiron and the prophecy of the Oracle in the attic of the Big House.

They had finally tracked you down, in England no less, strolling about London while appearing as a harmless, friendly teenager in pastel clothing, window shopping and being generally polite and an upstanding citizen.

Then you saw Annabeth and Percy, walked into a shop to pretend to go to the toilet and shift to looking like a black haired, grey eyed young man and slipped away, switching your clothing to an outfit you bought literally an hour ago.

Sneaky, conniving bastard! Annabeth is frustrated, pacing around the park she and Percy are sat in, trying to make plans.

It’s hard to catch someone who can look like anyone, Gods damn it.

“How do we even do this! They’re too good at this, better than us!” Percy is trying to calm her down, offering her a blue smoothie, but her seaweed brain boyfriend isn’t helping at all.

Then she spots you. Sat at the café in the middle of the park, leaning your elbow on the table and your chin on your hand, smirking at the couple in such an infuriating way, such a— such a Loki way.

“Look!” Annabeth runs towards you, determined to finally catch you, with her boyfriend running behind her as you just sit there, smirking, waggling a few fingers in greeting.