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“okay. I think I’m finally done. get over here.” percy lifts himself off the bed with a “yes ma’am,” walking over to where you stand in front of your bookshelves, admiring. “so… tell me about what’s happening here.” you sigh and clasp your hand together quickly before pointing to the top shelf, standing on tippy-toes. “this is all jennifer lynn barnes. so the inheritance games, the grandest game, and the naturals.” percy hums attentively, nodding his head and ushering you to go on. “then this.” you outstretch your hand to the next section. “is empyrean. and this tiny dragon the young campers made for me. and my tairn keychain.” “I bought you that one.” “yes!” you move down to the next shelf. “here is stephanie garber and lynn painter, and sarah j maas on the end.” “but this isn’t all of your books.” “gods no, I only reorganized this bookshelf. I’m doing the others tomorrow.” “oh. can I help?” percy slips his arms around your waist, leaning down to rest his chin on the top of your head. you place the palms of your hands over the backs of his, toying with his fingers. “really help or just distract me the whole time?” “you think so little of me, sweet girl. is it so hard to believe I want to actually help you?” “I believe that you’ll help but you have the attention span of a goldfish. you’d get bored by the second shelf.” “accurate. but at least I’m willing to help at all.” you sigh and turn your head backwards to face percy. though it makes your neck ache, you suffer through it because looking into his big green eyes is worth it. he kisses your forehead at this new angle. “my sweet girl.” “hmm, this is what I mean. you’re distracting me.” “it’s all about perspective, sweet girl.” he kisses your head again. “I’m helping by distracting you.” you furrow your brows. “that’s not how that works and you know it.” “it could work like that if you keep an open— wait come back.” you slip yourself from percy’s arms mid-sentence, but only to fully turn your body to be more comfortable. with this position, you rest your hands on his biceps, his own returning back to your waist. “I’m back. did you miss me?” a smile slips onto your lips involuntarily. percy pecks it with his own grin. “more than anything. how’d you guess?” “it’s a soulmate intuition. guess what I’m feeling.” “aroused?” “no! try again.” “really? because your hands are grazing my arms awfully—” “percy.” “right. uhmmm… happy? no— playful. wait…” he pauses and closes his eyes. “what’re you doing?” “my spidey-senses are tingling…. you’re buoyant.” “I didn’t know that you knew that word.” “oh yes.” percy opens his eyes with a smirk. “I listen when you talk, y’know.” you only hope the pink hue isn’t very visible beneath his gaze. “okay, romeo. so you do.” “I do. thank you, juliet.” “you… are a loser. I’m walking away.” before he sees your lousy attempts in stifling a laugh. but he calls after you, “they ended tragically, I remember that too!”

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