Percy finally managed to convince the shadowhunters to let him go back to the apartment where he and his friends were staying, with the exception of them trailing along. It was difficult to agree to such a thing because knowing Nico, Jason and especially Annabeth, they would immediately write them off as the enemy.

Mainly because Percy has been missing for half the night already and when he shows back up at the apartment with them, their brains will automatically tell them the shadowhunters are a threat. It's just how their brains work as demigods.

Percy agreed, very reluctantly of course as long as they followed his lead and didn't do anything rash. Like not letting him explain before they barged into the apartment.

So now, Percy was walking up the steps to the penthouse apartment where he and his friends were staying. The minute Percy stepped into the apartment, he was bombarded with questions on his whereabouts.

"Where were you?!" Annabeth.

"Are you okay?!" Piper.

"Did you get hurt?!" Thalia.

"What happened?!" Jason.

"You should have called you moron." Clarisse.

Percy calmly waited for them to settle down and be quiet before he started answering their questions. "I'm okay, no I'm not hurt, I was attacked by a demon and some people helped me, I know I should have called and I'll let them explain where I was."

Percy answered every single one of their questions in one breath and observed his friends reactions carefully.

"Them?" Annabeth asked incredulously; she narrowed her eyes. "Who's them?"

"That would be us." Jace spoke walking into the apartment with Clary, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec.

Percy facepalmed himself and glared at Jace as Annabeth and the others drew their weapons. Why is he such an idiot, Percy thought as he stepped between the two equally dangerous sides. Turning to his friends he said,

"Guys the arrogant blonde is Jace Wayland, Isabelle and Alec Lightwood, Simon Lewis and Clary Fray." Percy introduced. "They're Shadowhunters. They aren't a threat."

Jason crosses his arms. "How do you know?"

Percy glared at him with his sea-green eyes and said, as if it was the most simple thing in the world. "They saved my life."

Honestly Percy prayed that would quell any lingering doubt they had and they'd be satisfied with his answers. He also hoped it would be enough for them to try to be friends with the shadowhunters and end the hostility between the two groups.

Thank the gods it worked.

"Well in that case, you guys are cool in my book." Annabeth says. She nodded her head in Percy's direction. "Seaweed brain is always looking for trouble."

"I am not!" Percy cries indignantly. "Trouble always finds me! It's not like I go looking for it. I'm not that stupid."

Clarisse scoffs and crosses her arms. "A lot can be said about that part on behalf of your determination to always be the self-sacrificial lamb when it comes to saving people."

Percy, now offended as well as angry, narrows his eyes at her. His eyes hold a dark gleam in them and he's sure it makes even Annabeth nervous. "I happen to recall saving your life by risking the life of my mother's as well as my own, Clarisse, and my mother didn't make it. So I suggest you stop talking, now."

Percy's voice is calm and flat, animosity and a tone that meant he was absolutely fed up with her attitude, reaching its peak as he finished speaking. Clarisse pales and her eyes widen a bit; she mutters some-thing under her breath and steps back. Percy can feel stares burning holes in his back but he ignores it as he turns on his heel and walks away.

Pausing by the door leading to the balcony, he addresses the shadow-hunters, saying over his shoulder, "You guys can let yourselves out when you leave."

☁ ☁ ☁

It's been over fifteen minutes since Percy walked out onto the balcony, his anger simmering. Dealing with Clarisse and her attitude was a chore and yes, they were friends but she was harsher with him than any of the other demigods and it was grating on his nerves. He hated it when she said things like that. It brought too many bad memories back to the surface and made Percy feel like he was drowning, which was next to  impossible since he could basically breathe underwater. The ocean was his second home.

If he were being honest, Percy thought that maybe he had been a little harsh with Clarisse earlier. True, she was always being mean to him but two wrongs never made anything right. However, with the day he's had so far, Percy deserved the right to be pissed off and take it out on Ares' daughter. After all, Ares was the reason they ever had a war to fight in the first place years ago. Percy was still angry with his "Uncle" but fought hard not to take it out on Clarisse. It was hard though because Clarisse and Ares acted so much alike that it was hard to see any difference in their personality or just as a person period.

Percy became aware of Annabeth's presence behind him before she had moved to stand beside him, staring out at the city from the balcony. Her presence was always a relief to him and when he was in this mood, she never forced him to talk about it. She understood him and that was one of the reasons why he loved her so much. It was several minutes later when either one of them decided to speak.

"You can't blame Clarisse for her outburst." Annabeth said, still staring out at the city below, her arms crossed over the rail. "You know how she is."

Percy sighed. "I know. I know she didn't mean it but it's been a shitty stressful night and I'm just-" He cuts himself off, unable to find the right word to fit all of his emotions inside. Shaking his head, he runs a hand through his hair and sighs frustratedly.

"It's okay, Percy." Annabeth's voice is so gentle and Percy looks up into her stormy grey eyes, seeing nothing but genuine love and concern. But most of all, understanding. They stand like that for who knows how long, her hand on his shoulder--keeping him grounded--his hand on top of hers as they watched the city bustling with energy at the late hour. It's peace-ful.

The peacefulness is disturbed when Nico appears behind them in the sliding doors, his face one of excitement. "Guys, these shadowhunters want to hang out with us tomorrow! There's this place--Taki's I think--they said to come to in the morning."

Percy shoots Annabeth a sidelong glance as they turn around before saying, "Really? Have they left yet?"

"Yes." Nico nods. "But they said to tell you that they like you or something like that. I don't do chick flick moments so I can't really remember."

Percy takes Annabeth's hand and smiled at both of them. "Well, I guess we have a date with Shadowhunters tomorrow. Dress to impress."

Author's Note: I am so sorry this took me forever to update but I've been busy with my other account and updating other books on this account. I hope this chapter makes up for it!

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