Chapter Text
“I thought you both would end up together, you know”, Drew mused as she looked at the sprawling city underneath. What a city it was. It is ours. We built it, we built this.
There were scores of people milling about, going about their day, in Corinth. Mortals, Immortals and Demi-Gods. She caught sight of one of her younger siblings, beautiful Marie, trying to wrangle her daughter Louise, who seemed intent on escaping into the market in the midst of their little family’s laughter. Children were truly a handful, she was glad she decided not to have any, even if tiny Louise could be an absolute darling when it suited her whims.
Annabeth looked up from her work and stared at the dust-motes, lit up by her floor to ceiling windows that allowed a look at the city, a culture, she helped build. She looked a little wistful and soft as she sighed, leaning back into the chair, “I thought that too, but then she was captured, and we had the Titans, then Luke and Gaea. I had a city to build and she was busy trying to survive The Crooked One’s invisible tests and give us a chance to live. Suddenly our lives were more, and we had to cope without each other.”
Annabeth stood up and joined her, staring at the city, Drew was curious, she had always wanted to know why Percy and Annabeth had never worked out. The blonde just nodded at the city, “You see that? That’s the beginning of my life’s work, my legacy that will span thousands of years, and quite possibly the love of my life. When we were kids, I thought all I wanted was fame and recognition from my mother, as I grew up and built this city, I knew it would never be enough. Percy wouldn’t be enough for me.”
Drew gasped dramatically at that declaration, and Annabeth giggled at her reaction before continuing with a grin, “I had changed. I might have been happy with Percy and her picket fence and children but now that I had this…”
Drew turned to carefully looked at her, Annabeth had changed so much, from being an itty-bitty Cabin Six Counsellor, to a woman in legends, on par with Romulus and Remus with the way the city and her influence was spreading. She considerately added to her open ended statement, “She couldn’t be the centre of your world, or love.”
Annabeth hair shone like gold, her eyes tracing the city with focus few others could bear, “She needed more and I think she knew that no matter how much I convinced myself my few acres of land was enough, I would never be content. She never blamed me or made me feel ashamed for wanting more.”
Drew forced herself to look away from the lovely view that Annabeth Chase was beginning to make, “Yeah, that’s her. She never judges. It would be natural for a man to want these things and do them, but when a woman wants more than her station, to be arrogant enough to want to create and be proud of it…”
“It never ends well,” Annabeth smiled wryly at the view, “and is called hubris.”
“Sooo… a little birdie told me you wanted to establish more cities at the East coast and would require my help with contacts.” Drew turned to her fully and angled her face in a way that she knew light and shadows hit just right.
Annabeth finally looked away from the view, amused, “You mean Percy.”
“Exactly. Now that I know there are no hard feelings in between you two, I am wondering if you would be up for coffee.” Drew gave it a shot. She would kick herself if she never tried this when given the opportunity.
Annabeth’s smile widened, “If you are okay playing second fiddle to a city for the rest of you life? Okay.”
Drew scoffed, “I wouldn’t find you this hot if you weren’t in charge of the city.” Annabeth laughed at that, surprised, a full bellied laugh she had never heard in the camp or any of their meetings, that absolutely captured her attention and had her staring at Annabeth like a fool. Percy’s encouraging smile and wink came to her mind… that bitch… she definitely knew Annabeth would be her type!
Annabeth looked politely amused at her gaping until she got it together and took her out. Percy might have shown the way, but it was upto her whether this would work out. Looking at the way Annabeth was all business like, serious and considerate of her, even on their date, she sighed almost love-sick in her mind. It shouldn’t be hard, she thought to herself as she caught the hand and looked into her beautiful gray eyes. It wouldn’t be hard at all.