They haven't even started yet and Annabeth's heart is already pounding.

And it's not because adrenaline is beginning to sweep through her veins, either. It's because when she hears, "Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase," the tiny romantic part of her brain largely influenced by Aphrodite conjures up an image of an invitation in fancy script: You are invited to witness the union of…

It takes a little longer than she'd like for it to go away, but it does, she forces it to. It's a completely ridiculous idea, after all, and it's not as though it's easy for them to live to eighteen – and of course, with the prophecy…

Then, bright as day, Percy's grinning at her and she's blinded by the light in his face as he says, "Nice."

Yes, it is, she thinks, and 'cause she's squinting she can only notice one thing.

"Your armor is crooked."

And she redoes his straps for him, partly just to have an excuse to touch him.

What ever happened to staying away from this boy?

a/n: last time i reread this part in BotL, i thought this was weird, that annabeth seized on this tiny detail when percy smiled. it's like when someone's hinting at wanting you to ask them out and you say, "hey, are those new pants? did you get a haircut?" this is what started this whole series, actually. XD

yet another shameless plug: TLO-throne-room fic called Janus is up today, and i have a harry potter seven-deadly-sins fic going up tomorrow. go read 'em?

i bet you guessed wrong on this one. :P can you redeem yourself for TLO? again, not obvious, but here's a hint: i've written about it before. ;)

as always, please review.

~whispered touches

disclaimer: i don't own percy or annabeth. they belong to rick.