when you heard about the demigod detective agency in san francisco, you figured, hell, why not? finally, a gig where your half-blood skills could be something more than party tricks or battlefield scrap.

you didn’t expect to be greeted by a blonde hurricane, though, when you knocked on the battered front door.

annabeth opened it just a sliver, grey eyes slicing right through you like knives. her mouth was tight, suspicious, like she’d been born with a permanent scowl just for moments like this.

“who are you?” she barked, the words snapping sharp between you.

you barely got your mouth open before she cut in again, tone grittier, firmer. “identify yourself, or i won’t let you in. this isn’t kindergarten,” she grumbled, her fingers curling a little tighter around the door’s edge.

the daughter of athena gave you one of those soul-deep up-and-downs, like she could see every secret stitched into your bones. it wasn’t exactly the warmest welcome committee, but at least you knew one thing for sure:

you’d have to earn your place here.