Here we go with a shorter one shot. But still a nice one, man I am on a posting spree the past few days and it feels great! Gonna be writing quite a bit more during the next few days, trying to keep up this energy. Anyways lets dive into the story shall we?

Annabeth let out a bit of a sigh as she walked through the woods with Percy for their biweekly talk they always had. It was nice being the counselor of a cabin where she could arrange for them to have activities with each other. Sure they couldn't always line up, but they always made sure to have at least two free times together a week so they could just...Talk and destress from the Titan War going on. Though they called it a talk or discussion, it was mostly a complaining session from one side or the other. With either her or Percy making comments here and there of understanding or sarcastic wit to get their best friend to stop being needy and whiny

Today was Percy's turn to complain to her as they strolled through the monster-infested forest without much care. If anything dared to attack them together, it would be dead sooner rather than later.

Either way, what was Percy complaining about to her again? Oh yeah, something about his looks, which made Annabeth raise an eyebrow, what was he talking about, he looked perfectly fine in her eyes.

"I mean, sometimes I wish I could be that vision I saw in Circe's mirror a few summers ago, you know?"

"I really don't, I didn't see the same things you did in that mirror, nor was I enraptured by her in the same way, so you are going to have to elaborate Percy." Annabeth had to suppress a soft chuckle at his soft groan. She had liked him as a guinea pig. He was adorable and fluffy as one, though making him relive that memory probably wasn't super pleasant...

"Ok, so, first off, me in the mirror actually had a decent tan instead of the...Slightly dark sunburn that I always get." But I like your skin color, it suits you, it's also pretty funny to occasionally tease that "slightly dark burn" with little pokes and prods.

"Secondly, my teeth, they were all actually straight and in my mouth, all symmetrical and stuff." Bah, who cared about having symmetrical teeth, braces were just a beauty scam anyway, fixing some problem that is only really cosmetic. Besides, Percy wouldn't be the same without that goofy smile of his, uneven teeth and all, it was perfect just the way it was. She just hummed in response to her friend, though, enough to let him know she was listening.

"I had perfect skin as well, no zits, no pimples on my skin like i have now right on my nose, more acne on my face." But the red mark on his nose was cute! She loved pressing onto it to tease her friend. The rest of the pimples weren't that bad, barely noticeable. Even if it was only signifying he was getting older, the pimples and stuff were perfect already. Why would he need to adjust them with magic? He would grow out of em.

"I was taller as well, like by a few inches, that would be nice." Oh? But what was wrong with how tall he was now? They were like, at the perfect height for looking into each other's eyes for battle communication, for talking, for giving the little whispers that would make her giggle all the time. She didn't have to reach up to do the same to him yet, sure he might grow some more in the future, but for now, his height didn't need to change, he was fine as he was. As they walked, Annabeth found herself getting even angrier at Circe and also put these doubts in her best friend's head! Who the hell did she think she was? She let out a small growl, the thing slipping out unintentionally, and Percy, the dork, looked at her with a worried look in his eye before figuring out she wasn't pissed at him this time. He let out a sigh of relief, see? Perfect non-verbal communication!

"Then...Well I know I looked more athletic, I had more muscle on my arms, the things being more toned and looked like they could handle anything, I was 13 at the time, but I saw the beginnings of a six-pack. And like, you would think after all the training I have done, some muscles would start to show, but no, I was cursed to be ugly." And if his slight bits of flab on his stomach went away, where the hell would she rest during the fourth of July, or during the various adventures out into the world for the war effort. Where they had to sleep together for safety, his soft belly was perfect to act as a pillow, slightly firm but soft as well. He would want to take that away from her? Also, there wasn't any need for bigger biceps or whatever; she had seen him fight, seen him struggle their lives when up against a bloodthirsty hellhound, and could tell there was a lot of power packed in there, despite not looking so. Actually, him not looking threatening was probably what led to so many monsters underestimating them before being slain.

"I could also tell I was a lot more confident, self-assured, and the like...Instead of the mess, I am now." Well, that might be the one thing she agreed on with Circe. Percy needed a massive injection of self-confidence and worth, especially after all he has done! He always acts like he is the same loser that walked into camp crying for his mother, but like...She has personally seen him do many things that would be impossible. Still, the Seaweed brain just wouldn't listen to her when she insisted that he was indeed really skilled and deserved to be called a hero.

"My hair was actually kept down, instead of the rat's nest I have now." What? His hair was fantastic, always looking windswept, always in a shaggy, but a good state of unruly. It also felt amazing to run her hands through when one of them needed a way to calm down she found. No, his hair was something that didn't need to change either.

"I actually think the only two things I like about my appearance are my eyes and the gray streak in my hair." That comment made the girl stop suddenly, Annabeth's hand going to the gray in her own hair, a mark of her time bearing the sky. Also, he better like those eyes of his. It was only like, one of the most beautiful parts of his body, mesmerizing enough that she could probably get lost for an hour or more just looking in them, not that she would do that, of course.

"Oh, and...why do you like the gray streak? I personally...I don't like it at all, reminds me of the pain it gave me and...How...He completely betrayed me then." Annabeth gripped her hair then, not wanting to say Luke's name out loud, it hurt too much to think about how far he had gone...

"Oh, but it looks super wonderful on you, blending in like bits of silver among the gold! The contrast highlighting how brilliant your hair normally is...And besides, my gray streak reminds me of the one time I actually felt like the hero everyone says I am."

Annabeth looked at him incredulously, seriously? Having a streak of discolored hair made him feel like a hero when she assured him that he was not just someone who got lucky and had good friends...

"Yes, of course, I mean...It's the time that I took the sky, so you didn't have to, so I could save you. Protecting you, that is kind of what made me feel like a real hero at that moment, even if it didn't amount to much in the end." That made her smile a little bit, yeah she didn't like being "protected" or guarded, but the fact that her being in danger brought out the hero in him made her heart start to quicken a bit in her chest.

"Anyway, wouldn't you like to see me in like, a better body? So you aren't always walking around with a complete loser?" That made her sigh again before letting out a small groan, Annabeth just shrugged before stepping back to look at her friend, stormy eyes tracing up and down his body, trying to imagine what he would be like as he described, a little bit taller, more tanned and the like. Sure she would probably enjoy playing with his muscles in his sleep or messing around with his abs, tracing them with her fingers to feel the firm muscles...That would be plenty nice if it happened, but would it really be her Percy if he became that way? Would it really be her scraggly, awkward best friend who always managed to make her laugh in the worst situations? Maybe, but she didn't want to risk it, besides everything about him was perfect as it was...Perfect for her, and besides, if he did look like that, the Aphrodite chicks would never leave him alone, and she already had to struggle against Miss RED now.

"Percy, literally, the only thing I would give you is a healthy dose of self-confidence, otherwise you are fine, really, so please stop doubting yourself." Percy seemed to perk up a bit at that, good because it was true. She wanted to tell him more, that even the way he had a slight slouch was cute, that his awkward stammers were endearing, and that he was actually a lot smarter than he thought he was. Instead, her mouth decided to go ahead and make things awkward.

"Besides, there would be way too much competition." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Annabeth broke out into a blush, did she really just say that? What the Hades? Looking at Percy, he didn't seem much better though he saw a slight teasing glint in his eyes, and Annabeth let out an internal groan, she was never gonna live this down was she?

"Meh, I don't think there is really a competition for the hottest guy at camp is there?" Oh, thank gods, his denseness was saving her from embarrassment! Now, if they could finish their talk about this and get back to other complaints, that would be dandy.

"And I know there isn't a competition for me, who would be interested in this anyway? This body is completely flawed." He let out a sigh as Annabeth became slightly redder, as she tried to calm herself down and really wanted to disagree with him there with her points but... Well, she didn't want to die from awkwardness just yet. But, she knew he was utterly wrong, there was nothing really flawed about his body. Not the way she saw it.