look at me go, it hasn't even been a month! we're back with (i think) the penultimate part of the spy au !! thanks to @perseannabeth who helped me figure out some plot points literally irl for the final stretch. there's always been a vague plan for the end, hopefully it lives up! also again available on ao3 if tumblr formatting screws up.
Annabeth hasnât seen Percy for four and a half weeks. Sheâs been off the Jupiter Industries case for just as long, what with Luke Castellanâs involvement; theyâre currently restructuring the plan forward. Sheâs not used to boredom, but sheâs not sure she could consider it full boredom when her brain will not stop churning. Sheâs aware itâs usually a stomach churning, but no, in this case, her mind is on the go in a thousand different directions. She doesnât feel nauseous or sick - just overwhelmed mentally, which as far as sheâs concerned is one of the worst kinds. Sheâd rather be vomiting.
Sheâs back at her apartment - her real one. Itâs nearly as empty as the fake one. She doesnât keep a lot of things around, not wanting too many distractions on top of the fact that she feels like she spends very little time actually in it. The most personalization is an owl throw pillow with a matching blanket on the couch and a few architectural prints across her walls. It feels emptier than it ever has, and she cruelly imagines what it might be like if Percy came here. She really, really needs to stop thinking about him, but it feels impossible, because if sheâs not thinking about him, she starts to think about Luke. And thatâs worse.
She faceplants directly into the owl blanket with a groan and lays there, ignoring the wafting smell of her Korean BBQ takeout sitting on the countertop. This has been her life each day for the last week: different dishes but a very familiar static and face full of fluff, followed by dejectedly eating lukewarm food. And then she just gets mad at herself for being such a sad sack. Sheâs Annabeth fucking Chase. What the hell did Percy Jackson do to her?
Reyna checks in periodically. She sends minute updates, but not enough for Annabeth to start doing her own poking and prodding. Frank stops by a few times to make sure sheâs eating, and she does welcome his company in an absent way. He brings some of the best takeout, but he knows all her favorites. He carries the conversation in directions that serve the best distractions.
âYou should use this time to get out,â he says one day, dragging some naan through the rest of his curry. When Annabeth stares at him, he clarifies. âI mean, maybe think of it like a vacation? You never take a vacation. Do things youâve always wanted to.â
She grumpily shoves her own naan into her mouth to avoid answering him. But maybe he has a point. Maybe she does need to leave the house more often, if only to refresh herself. To get back on her feet. Itâs only a matter of time before they give her a new assignment, and she refuses to fall into distractions again next time.
She takes herself out. She ventures further than a ten block radius and tries a new Pho place sheâs been wanting to check out. She looks up a current run of temporary exhibitions around the city, buys tickets for three of them. She makes a reservation for herself at one of the museum restaurants, uncaring that itâs definitely overpriced and she can get a burger down the block for half the cost. She is utterly determined to give herself a good, clean, solid break from her time with Percy, so sheâs prepared for the next chapter. Whatever it brings.
Naturally, itâs at one of the exhibitions that she runs into Sally Jackson.