This is an abridged version of Capture the Flag (Assassin's Verson). 

Inspired by Community S1E23: "Modern Warfare"

Annabeth POV

"I swear to god, Seaweed Brain! This is all your fault!"

"My fault? I'm not the one who insisted that we make a PowerPoint presentation to accompany a two-minute conversation in Latin!" Percy shouts.

That absolute moron. "Because it wasn't a conversation! It was a report on a deity!"

"And you tried to say that Minerva is better than Neptune! Nobody thinks that!"

Now, Annabeth doesn't condone getting in screaming matches with your... whatever... in front of your entire study group.

But this is her pride at stake. And Percy's the reason why she got a C—a freakin' C—on the oral midterm presentation! She hasn't felt this humiliated since the day she got arrested.

"Hey, uh, I don't want to cut in," says Piper, "but you guys should just have sex. I mean, preferably not here, but I think everyone in this group would benefit from some steamy Perca-sex."

"With Seaweed Brain? That is disgusting," says Annabeth.

"Yeah, I'll have to pass up the opportunity; I could catch more than just COVID," Percy retorts.

He just went too far.

"Are you calling me a whore?" Annabeth crosses her arms.

Frank gasps and covers his ears.

Percy raises a finger. "I'm..."

"I thought so." Annabeth storms out because she's just that great at dramatic exits.

"Wait!"

Annabeth turns around to find Percy skirting around the corner like he's running a marathon and she's at the finish line.

"I'll email Octavian and see if we can get some extra credit," he says. "You've been kind of on edge lately though. Are you alright?"

Shoot. He's being nice. "Yeah," says Annabeth. "Just tired."

Percy tosses her a keychain from the National Aquarium. The name "ESTELLE" is engraved on it in tidy lettering.

"You can take a nap in my car if you want," he says. "You look like you need it. I'll catch you up on the notes if you want to skip class too."

"You'd skip capture-the-flag for me?" Annabeth asks.

Why Percy Jackson wants to join the paintball assassins' capture-the-flag game is beyond Annabeth. Knowing him, it's probably because anyone who participates gets to skip class, but that doesn't sound worth it. They haven't even announced the prize yet. What if you win, like, a t-shirt? Then, all you have would be a t-shirt and a crap ton of makeup work.

"You're my friend, Wise Girl," Percy answers.

No, she isn't. She's been kind of awful to him all year.

But she'll be damned if she doesn't take advantage of this opportunity.

"Thanks, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth takes the key and heads out into the parking lot. Hopefully, Percy put the top on his blue Jeep because she'll kill him if she wakes up covered in bird crap.

Oh, he's got a blanket in here. That's really... something.

Not bothering to set an alarm, Annabeth curls up in the backseat and drifts off into a deep sleep.

✎✎✎

Good god, how long was she asleep? It's like a colorful asteroid hit the campus and Annabeth couldn't even be bothered to stir.

She cracks her neck and rubs her eyes. Annabeth was out for a while; it's dark outside now.

She locks Percy's Jeep—which is now covered in paint—and picks at the keyring.

The odds of Percy leaving the notes for Annabeth in the study room are pretty good, so she heads toward the library.

This paintball game must have gotten out of hand; the cleaning crew deserves a lot more than what they're currently making for this.

The scanner beeps and turns green when Annabeth presses her student I.D. against it.

Holy shit.

The walls are coated in splatters of neon paint, and the floors are covered in vibrant footprints, discarded papers, and lost items. If Annabeth wasn't such a genius, she'd be convinced that she just walked into the wrong building.

Her footsteps echo off the walls. She pulls her flannel tight against her body to keep the shiver from traveling down her spine.

There's no way that Percy's Jeep is actually the DeLorean time machine from Back to The Future, is there?

"Run..." a voice mumbles from the ground.

"Lacy, what the hell happened to you?" Annabeth barks.

She shushes Annabeth and beckons for her to come closer, so she obliges.

"The prize... Annabeth, they all turned on each other..."

"What was the prize?"

Paint spills onto Lacy's lip when she chuckles. "Was? This isn't over!"

Like a sack of flour, Lacy tumbles onto her side, breathlessly cackling.

The Hunger Games who? Annabeth's living in some sort of paint-infused dystopia.

And then she feels the barrel of a gun against her back. So they just gave guns to the students? What the hell kind of game did Mr. Brunner come up with, anyway?

"Hold it right there, friend," says a voice. "I don't want this to be messier than it has to be."

Annabeth doesn't dare turn around, mostly because she likes the current color of the flannel she thrifted from the men's section of the Goodwill.

"Hmm, what color should I paint you?"

"Don't do this, Will," says Annabeth. "C'mon, we have GSA together. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

The barrel digs deeper into her back. "There is no more gay-straight-alliance club. Only- Oh!"

And just like that, Annabeth's free. Will lays across the floor on his stomach, his back splattered in green paint.

"Sorry, Will," says Frank. He's dressed in his hockey pads, and a paintball gun is slung over his shoulder. His Toronto Maple Leaves mask from Hazel is fortunately still intact. She'd probably throw a temper tantrum if Frank ruined it.

"Come with me if you want to live," he says.

"What?"

"Sorry," says Frank. "I mean, we have a base. We'll get you some equipment."

It feels ridiculous to be cowering behind a man, but Annabeth is sort of helpless right now. They're attacked by more peers turned enemies on the way to Frank's hiding spot, a computer lab.

Hazel sits criss-cross-applesauce on the floor, staring at a projection on the wall. She's waiting for the DVD logo to hit the corner, even though everyone in this room knows fully well that it never will.

"What's she doing here?" Hazel asks. She reaches for the paintball gun fastened to her belt loop.

"She's with me," Frank explains how he came across Annabeth in the entryway.

"Did you get the stuff?" Hazel asks.

Frank sets a box of Star Wars bandaids and some tubes of paintballs on the table. "This is all Will Solace had on him. Guy didn't even bring his phone."

"You can only go rogue for so long," Hazel says. She unwraps an R2-D2 bandaid and sticks it around her knuckle. "You're lucky you found us, Annabeth."

Annabeth can't take this drama anymore. "What the hell is happening?"

"Make sure you can move around easily in what you're wearing," says Frank. He passes her a black bandana. "Don't want to get your hair caught in the gun."

Annabeth ties her flannel around her waist and surveys the rest of her outfit. The skin-tight crop top leaves her exposed, but it'll do. Converse sneakers aren't the best running shoes, but at least she didn't choose today to break in her fake Docs.

Wait. "I don't have a gun."

Hazel slides a black paintball pistol across the table and towards Annabeth. "You do now. Sorry, it's not the best. We stole it from Katie Gardner when we got her." Hazel looks at the ground, glumly.

"It's okay, Hazel," says Frank. "She came after us first, remember?"

"I know, but I hit her bare arm. That must have hurt."

The two continue to bicker as Annabeth ties the black bandana around her head and loads the paintball gun with Will's ammo.

"So what's this prize?" Annabeth asks.

"Priority registration," Frank and Hazel say in unison.

Annabeth scoffs. "Really? We're going nuts over that?"

"Just think about it," says Hazel.

"If I win, I'm going to put all my classes after lunchtime so I can go back to the gym in the mornings," Frank explains.

Oh.

That sounds amazing. She won't say it aloud, but she knows she can kick Frank and Hazel's butts... after she uses them as allies.

"Watch out!" says Frank. He shoots a guy dressed in gladiator gear.

"The MythoMagic club," Annabeth notes. "They're like a cult. There's sure to be more where he came from."

"Send out the decoy," Hazel orders.

Frank rolls the decoy, which is just a desktop monitor strapped to a wheely chair, to the door. With one firm push, it spirals out into the hallway.

Annabeth squeezes her eyes shut as the sound of paint against the screen echoes into the computer lab.

"They should be low on ammo now," says Hazel. "Quick! Through the window."

While she admires Frank and Hazel's preparedness, it's a little difficult trying to maneuver through the window without accidentally firing her gun, and being at the wrong end of Frank's nervous tummy doesn't help much either.

Hazel presses a finger to her lips and aims her camo print paint rifle at the backs of the nerds in togas. Such a large weapon for such a small girl, Annabeth notices.

She and Frank follow suit. How did Frank get a shotgun? That is so not cool of them to stick Annabeth with the tiniest gun. She's going to have to stop shooting mid-battle to reload.

"One for each of us..." Hazel murmurs.

Annabeth focuses on the dude in the middle carrying the ridiculous staff.

"Now," Hazel commands.

"Bingo!" Frank shouts when the togas are no longer white.

"I know Caesar was stabbed twenty-three times, but I'm not wasting any more ammo on library geeks. Let's make a pit stop at the student union, get some more kills, and then we can head to the dining hall," Hazel points down the hall where Annabeth came from.

✎✎✎

"Dude, I'll give you two of my Honey Buns if you give me a pack of Welch's."

"Add in the Flaming Hot Cheetos and the Diet Coke and we can call it a deal."

"Stolls," Annabeth scowls from behind the couch.

"Hey, hey, now..." says a third voice. "Don't skimp your buddy! I'll give you my Tastykakes if you give me the fruit snacks." Could it really be Leo?

"Shut up, Valdez. You know those Cosmic Brownies ain't worth shit."

"Oh, yeah? Who's the guy with the skinny arms that fit up the machine?" Leo asks.

"Have you forgotten how much you need this alliance?"

"Yeah, you need us!"

Annabeth emerges from behind the couch and aims her gun at the Stolls.

"What are you doing?" Hazel hisses.

"Oh, screw this," says Leo. He points a gun at each brother and fires, coating their matching shirts in purple paint.

Frank and Hazel timidly emerge from their hiding spots.

"What did you shoot them for?" Frank asks.

"Yeah, why'd you hurt us like that, man?" Travis asks.

"Shut up, Connor," Leo kicks Travis. "I'm joining you guys."

"Wait, can he just do that?" Frank asks Annabeth.

She rolls her eyes. "Like him or not, Leo's smart. We need a loose cannon like him. Plus, his arms fit in the vending machine."

"Okay, welcome to the alliance, Leo!" says Hazel.

"Thanks, guys." Leo wipes the Cheeto dust from his hands onto his jeans. "You're way cooler than the Stolls anyway."

"Hey..." Connor groans.

"The flag has to be in the dining hall," Hazel says. "It's an open field."

They wouldn't put the flag in the dining hall where anyone can find it. New Rome is essentially losing money to whichever student wins the priority registration, and Dean D can't have that. The flag is somewhere nobody will ever find it, except maybe Annabeth.

Still, the dining hall is a great place to shake some dead weight.

So Annabeth nods in agreement. "Perfect for an epic showdown."

The allies make their way through the empty rooms in the student union. Annabeth is thankful for the carpeted floors; she doesn't have to step lightly.

Frank lets out a small gasp from behind, sending the group to a steering halt.

He picks something off the floor and shows it to the others in his open palm. It's a piece from the foosball table, a tiny soccer player made of resin. He might have been purple or gold at one point in time, but it's hard to tell now.

"Poor guy," says Hazel. "Must have gotten shot off the table." She takes a quick glance into the next room before proceeding, crouched down close to the floor with her paintball rifle over her shoulder.

Annabeth chooses not to say anything when Frank tucks the little man away in his pocket.

They take a shortcut through one of the lounges, wordlessly weaving around furniture. It's chilling, knowing that this room is usually lively with people watching football games.

Now, the television is on the floor.

"Hey, guys, look at this," says Leo. "Ammo!" He prances over to the pinochle table and reaches for the prize in the middle.

Annabeth squints. Something isn't right here. The table is covered in paint, except for the very spot Leo's standing in.

"Leo, no!" Annabeth shouts.

That Leo Valdez has stellar reflexes because, at lightning speed, he's face-up on the floor, narrowly escaping the crossfire of the assassins who've burst from unknown hiding spots.

Frank and Hazel hold the attackers at gunpoint. "Put 'em down!" Hazel shouts.

Jason and Piper look at Hazel and Frank with wide eyes.

"Oh my god. We just tried to shoot Leo," Jason says.

"Uh, duh," says Piper. "We're in it to win it."

Jason speaks again, not daring to lower his gun. "We- We can't shoot Leo!"

"Yes, we can."

"No, we can't!"

Annabeth grunts when a projectile smacks her back and turns around immediately.

"Ahaha! Got you with the couch cushion, now I'll get you with paint!" Percy Jackson springs out of the sofa. He's wearing a white wife-beater undershirt and there's soot on his face.

Annabeth glances down at the discarded couch cushion and then back at Percy. "Jesus, this isn't Die Hard."

"You know you're into it, Wise Girl!" Percy teases.

"I'll shoot you."

Piper throws her head back and groans. "Can we all gang up against Percy and Annabeth?"

"No!" says Frank. "We need Annabeth."

"Aww, that's sweet," says Annabeth.

Jason lowers his gun. "We need her too, guys," he says to Piper and Percy. "This plan is going to get us a lot of kills, but we won't come any nearer to the flag this way."

Hazel and Frank follow suit. "Do you know for sure that the flag isn't here?"

"Yeah," says Jason. "We scoured the whole building. It isn't anywhere here."

"It's not in the library either," says Frank.

Annabeth lowers her gun but doesn't take her eyes away from Percy, mostly because she doesn't know whether to trust him or not. It's best not to.

For now.

"It's got to be somewhere secret and secluded. Someplace that'll be guarded whether there are other competitors or not," Annabeth explains. "We have to go to the dean's office."

✎✎✎

Annabeth explained her plan to the group, but she didn't explain that they'd be losing members of their alliance on the way over to the dining hall.

Yes, the dining hall. Not the dean's office just yet. Annabeth managed to convince the team that it'll be a great place to unwind, distribute ammo, and assess damages. In reality, it's an open field. She should be able to shake the rest of the alliance there and make it to the dean's office by herself.

They can't all capture the flag, and Annabeth likes winning too much to let herself lose.

"So Annabeth," Frank says, pulling her aside. "I was wondering if you, uh..."

He's definitely on to her at this point, and Annabeth knows this when he finally asks his question: "Would you want to try to stick together?"

Something's off though. There's rustling in the trees, and it isn't even windy. Annabeth rules out squirrels as a possibility. The squirrels here are fat; there's no way they could even climb up into the trees.

"Oh!" Annabeth pretends to trip over—well, nothing actually—and falls into Frank's arms, completely dodging a paint bullet.

"What?" Frank asks. Of course, he doesn't realize he just got hit, likely because of the thick hockey padding.

Annabeth puts on her best doe eyes and says, "Frank, you saved me..."

"Oh, don't mention it." He whistles as he walks off to his residence hall.

The remaining six take cover behind the hedges, but it's not a good strategy. Annabeth doesn't know which tree the band kids are hiding in, but she does know that she'll riot if she has to hear the Notre Dame fight song again.

"Someone has to look," says Piper. "See where they are."

They need a sacrifice. Another pawn, kind of like the one the MythoMagic club sent into the computer lab to scope out Frank and Hazel's hiding spot.

Nobody here is entirely worthless. Hazel's proven to be a great gunwoman, Leo's arms are small enough to fit in vending machines, and Annabeth really likes Piper. Somebody's gotta keep things light.

So that just leaves Percy and Jason.

Annabeth tries to keep her bias out of this decision, but the image in her head of Percy being assassinated by the band kids is too funny. She has to make this fantasy a reality.

Before she can give him a firm push, Jason peeks over the hedge like a meerkat.

When he returns, his glasses are coated in pink.

Piper wipes the paint away. "Well, thanks for being my partner."

"I really wanted to win," says Jason. He gets up and trudges away.

Pop! Pop-Pop!

And just like that, three kids with clarinets fall from the treetops. "That was for Jason and Frank," says Hazel.

"Atta girl, Hazel," says Piper.

Annabeth leads the team over the hedge. "The dining hall isn't far. We can make a run for it."

✎✎✎

It's sort of bittersweet. Annabeth will admit that she appreciates having the time to relax, but her senses are too heightened to, say, lounge cat-like the way Piper is.

"I miss Frank and Jason," says Hazel, taking a bite of her Chex-Mix. "I wish they could be here with us. It's nice to hang out and not be studying."

"Frank sacrificed himself for me," says Annabeth. "He's a great guy, Hazel."

Hazel pauses with her bagel chip mid-air.

"So, what are you guys going to do if you win the priority registration?" Leo asks.

"That's easy," Annabeth says. "I'm going to over-elect so that I can get enough credits to transfer as soon as possible."

"I don't want you to go," says Hazel.

"We'll keep in touch."

Piper steals some of Hazel's Chex-Mix and then says with her mouth full, "I want to take easier classes. College has been a lot harder than I thought it would be."

"Oh, that's a great idea," says Hazel.

"I think that's what I would do too," Leo adds.

Annabeth unties her bandana and runs a hand through her hair.

Percy stares.

"What?" Annabeth asks.

Percy looks at the ground.

Hazel clears her throat. "How about you, Percy?"

"Yeah, what's your dream schedule?" Piper asks.

Percy throws his arms behind his head, his muscles flexing as he does so.

Annabeth takes a sip of water, for no other reason than that she's thirsty. Thirsty for water, that is. She won't let her actions be influenced by Percy.

"Oh, I don't want to rain on the parade..." Percy trails off.

The others lean in eagerly, sending choruses of "Oh, tell us!" and "Please, Percy!"

That's exactly what he wants from them, Annabeth is sure of it. That's a dick move.

"Well, uh," Percy starts. "My family is in New York, and it's kind of hard being away, so I'd like to stack all my classes in the mornings so I have more time to FaceTime them."

Hazel beams. "Oh, that's ni-"

"My mom and I are close," Percy continues. "For a long time, it was just the two of us. We went through... a lot together."

"Percy, that must be so hard being away from her," Piper says.

"I'm just happy she has my stepdad, Paul, and my little sister, Estelle to keep her busy. It's a little harder here for me, being alone and all, but I miss her, and it's really hard to schedule calls with her since the time zones are different."

"You're lucky to have a family to miss," Leo says.

"Well, if I win, I'll give the prize to you, Percy," says Hazel.

"Same here," Piper says.

Leo tosses the tab from his soda can onto the trash pile. "Ditto."

"Annabeth?" Hazel asks.

"It's okay," says Percy. "You don't have to."

So she doesn't. She can feel the disapproving looks of her friends, but what did they expect? She and Percy aren't friends.

Annabeth fastens the bandana around her head, tying it in a knot.

But this stupid capture-the-flag game is just one thing after another, isn't it?

"Oh, shit," says Leo. He looks down at his t-shirt, which is now covered in bright orange.

Annabeth takes her gun as well as one of Leo's and starts shooting with both hands.

She should have suspected that The Hunters would be a threat. They're only the most powerful clique at New Rome.

Now, who gave them rollerblades?

"It's an ambush!" Piper yells. She's using Leo's limp body as a human shield.

"Leo, you know you don't have to play dead, right?" Percy asks, taking out a Hunter.

Annabeth and Hazel crouch behind a garbage can.

"There's so many of them!" Hazel squeaks.

"Hazel," Annabeth says. "You're the best sharpshooter on the squad. You've got this!"

"I've got this!" With her newfound confidence, Hazel aims for a Hunter, only to immediately get shot in the arm.

So much for Annabeth's pep talk.

"Oh, hell yeah! I got one!" shouts Zoë Nightshade. Annabeth remembers her from orientation. Yeah, Zoë's a sophomore. She gave Annabeth and some of the other architecture majors a campus tour.

Well, that's too bad because Annabeth's got to shoot her now. Revenge for Hazel, you know.

"Annabeth, can you help me up?" Hazel asks.

"Shut up! I have to avenge your death!"

"But I have a six-page paper due on Monday!"

Annabeth points her gun and fires directly at Zoë's chest. The impact sends her to the ground.

There's no time to celebrate her victory now that Annabeth's hiding spot has been revealed.

A group of Hunters settles around Zoë to hear her last words. "I can see the stars again..."

"Zoë," says Thalia. "It's paint. Get up and go shower. We'll see you at Dave and Buster's tomorrow."

"Win the jumbo Squishmallow for me..."

Thalia hops to her feet. "Hunters, retreat!"

Percy and Piper emerge from beneath a cafeteria table. "Thanks for saving us!" Piper says. "We sure did get trapped under that table!"

"Where's Hazel?" Percy asks.

Annabeth looks at the ground. "Hazel... Hazel was shot."

Piper gasps. "Percy!"

"I know," says Percy. "I'm going to miss her positive attitude..."

"No, Percy, you got shot!"

Oh no. Percy. What a shame.

"Well, see ya later, Seaweed Brain! Pipes and I have some ass to kick," Annabeth says a little too cheerfully.

And then there's a miracle. Priority registration will be Annabeth's next semester for sure because a lingering Hunter—who, let's be honest, was probably aiming for Annabeth—shoots Piper in the back, coating her hair in green paint.

Annabeth takes her out easy peasy. The Hunter isn't very good at roller skating.

"I look like I just got Nickelodeon slimed, don't I?" Piper asks. 

Percy and Annabeth nod gravely.

"Win that priority registration, Annabeth. You deserve it," says Piper.

"Not unless I win it first!" Percy says.

Annabeth arches an eyebrow. "You're out, dumbass."

"Oh!" says Percy. "Don't worry! I'm just bleeding, thank God! We should go someplace where I can take care of this though."

She should just shoot him right now. Then she wouldn't have to deal with him, and she'd be close to winning the prize again.

Then again, what if she needs another human shield? That's not the worst reason to let Percy tag along. Besides, he probably can't even take care of his own battle wounds.

✎✎✎

Annabeth and Percy take one of those study bubbles in the student union. You know, the kind with the glass walls that sort of make you feel like you're in a fish tank. She's got to finish caring for Percy's cut, and fast because they're here on full display. Anybody could just walk in and see them doing something a little more intimate than what Annabeth would like people to know about.

That, and she doesn't want to lose this damn game.

"Thanks for doing this," Percy says. "I know it's kind of an awkward situation..."

Annabeth rolls her eyes. "Awkward? What's awkward about you sitting shirtless on a study table while I tend to your wounds?" She rubs some hand soap from the bathroom into the cut on Percy's rock-hard abs. Not that she's noticing his physique or anything like that, but he has a six-pack, probably from all of that swimming he does.

"You good there, Wise Girl?" Percy asks.

Annabeth tries to play her, uh, less than wholesome thoughts off with a joke. "Yeah, this just really feels like some tacky misogynistic movie or something. You know?"

Percy throws his head back and laughs so hard that he almost falls off the table. His smile is so gorgeous, Annabeth doesn't even care that he discarded his mask on the table next to them.

"Right? 'Oh, Annabeth, tend to my wounds!'" he mocks.

Annabeth laughs along. "Oh, Lord Perseus! Let me bandage you with my dainty trembling hands!"

Percy wraps his arms around himself and twists so that his back is facing Annabeth. Holy muscles...

Thankfully, her thoughts are interrupted by Percy's kissing noises. "Mwah! Oh, Lady Annabeth, I do declare you to be the finest maiden in the land!"

"It's a battle movie, Percy, not Bridgerton."

"You mean there isn't a lot of this in Bridgerton?" Percy asks.

Well, it's a little more than just making out in Bridgerton, but that's fine.

"Let's see you do better, Wise Girl!" Percy taunts.

Annabeth does not want to do better, but a challenge is a challenge.

"It's more like, 'How can I ever repay you for saving me?'" she mocks, tucking a stray curl behind her ear for show. "Oh! I know!" Annabeth throws an arm on either side of Percy, being careful to not touch him. Then, she sticks out her tongue and mimes the grossest French kissing she can. Any theater major would be impressed with her performance.

Percy joins in, adding sound effects to their fake kiss.

Then, they freeze. It might be incredibly stupid to think, but this might be the longest they've gone without insulting each other.

Percy scratches the back of his neck, and Annabeth can feel her cheeks heating up.

"I... I don't know why I was mean to you all year," she says.

"It's alright," Percy says. "I'm happy to be goofing around with you now."

"Why?" she probes. "I've been awful to you."

Percy shrugs.

So obviously, Annabeth remedies the awkwardness with another, "Oh, Percy, kiss me before we die!"

That's something frenemies say to each other, right?

Percy chuckles softly and licks his lips. "Think I've got time for a quick power nap?"

"What?" Annabeth asks.

"I mean, we found this nice little spot, and you just took a nap in my car, so if you wouldn't mind keeping an eye on things while I sleep..."

"Oh, uh, sure."

He sits down in a wheely chair and rests his feet on top of the table. His eyes flutter shut and he sighs.

"Sweet dreams, Percy," says Annabeth.

✎✎✎

This was not part of the plan. Watching Percy Jackson drool all over himself in his sleep was not part of the plan.

And he didn't even have the decency to put his tank top back on before passing out! So what's Annabeth supposed to do now, watch the rising and falling of his abs while she keeps an eye out for enemies?

Oh, but just because this wasn't part of the plan doesn't mean that Annabeth isn't going to take advantage of it.

Percy stirs a little in his sleep, so Annabeth grabs his teal paintball gun from the ground and points it at his buff frame.

"Woah," he says.

Annabeth smirks. "You drool when you sleep."

There's a betrayed look in Percy's sea-green eyes.

"You thought you could trust me?"

"I really wanted to," he says, defeated. For some reason, this victory isn't as fun as Annabeth thought it would be.

He looks up at Annabeth and then his eyes widen. "Annabeth, look out!"

"I'm not falling for that, Seaweed Brain!"

"No, seriously!"

Annabeth jumps. The handprint on the wall is coated in orange paint.

"Ciao, bitches!" shouts Nico di Angelo. He's wearing a white cowboy hat and a mask with skulls on it.

"Truce!" Annabeth passes Percy her plain black pistol.

He tilts the table onto its side and the two of them use it as a shield.

"I've got a plan," Percy says.

"Oh, I can't wait to hear about it!"

The table vibrates from Nico's paintball assault. He must be one of those assholes that brought his own equipment.

"You have to get to Dean D's office," Percy says. "I'll go out there and face Nico as a distraction. Hopefully, I can take him out."

"But you'll get shot!"

"Your shield won't hold forever..." Nico says.

"Listen, we've got no choice," Percy continues.

Annabeth gives him daggers, and he smiles sheepishly.

Then she does something completely stupid.

She kisses him.

"Be careful, Seaweed Brain," she says.

"Uh, yeah," Percy says. Then, he emerges from their shield, and the sound of paintballs hitting the walls is all Annabeth can hear.

And then it's quiet. "Percy?" Annabeth calls. She peeks over the table. Percy's yellow paint coats Nico's cowboy outfit and Nico's orange paint is splattered all over Percy's abs. It's a good look for him.

"No biggie," Nico says. He opens his jacket, revealing a... bomb?

Well, it's a paint bomb. And it's about to explode.

"'Beth, get outta here!" Percy shouts.

Annabeth slams the door shut as soon as she's out and takes a step back. Blue paint covers the walls of the study bubble. Nico and Percy aren't even visible anymore.

At least it's Percy's favorite color.

✎✎✎

"Dean D!" Annabeth growls, kicking down the door to the dean's office with zero effort.

Sure enough, the purple flag is behind the desk.

Dean D ducks beneath his desk. "Ms. Pace, I know why you're here but-"

"People are out there shooting each other! They're turning against each other for nothing!" Annabeth screams.

Dean D emerges from behind his desk, holding a purple t-shirt. "Not nothing. You see, we can't do priority registration anymore because apparently, it's against some sort of student equality- Oh!"

Annabeth shoots at Dean D and his stupid t-shirt. She'll be screwed if she doesn't get that priority registration.

That priority registration is her ticket out of this place!

"Can we talk now, Annabelle?"

"That's Annabeth to you, Dean!" She fires one paintball at his forehead for good measure and then casts the gun to the side.

He raises his hands in the air, surrendering himself to Annabeth. "Okay, okay. What do you want from me?"

Annabeth laughs. She's never laughed so hard in her life. She's like a hyena, she's laughing so hard!

"I think we both know what I want."

✎✎✎

Annabeth walks into the study room that Monday morning, and she does the right thing.

She gives stupid Percy those stupid priority registration forms so he can call his mother, who Annabeth assumes is not stupid. His mother sounds like a very nice lady.

"Are you sure?" he asks. "What about transferring?"

Annabeth shrugs. "There's a Greek and Roman mythology class next semester, and I wouldn't want to miss out on taking that with you guys."

"Oh, that's so nice!" Hazel says.

"I need it for my classics major, so it'll be nice to have a group to take it with," Jason adds.

Annabeth beams. She really is a genius.

"Something's off," Piper says.

"What are you talking about?" Frank asks.

"Something is different," Piper says. "It's... less... sexually tense in here."

Percy scoffs. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Pipes."

So Percy understands that nobody can know about what happened in the study bubble Friday night.

Before Leo or Piper can make some stupid joke about 'Perca-sex,' Nico di Angelo enters the study room.

"Nico, you're here!" Hazel squeals and hugs her half-brother. Then, she addresses the group. "Everybody, Nico was thinking about joining our study group."

"That sounds nice," says Jason.

"Yeah, the more the merrier," says Percy.

Nico's eyes widen when he notices Percy and Annabeth.

"Oh," he says. "You guys... uh..."

Annabeth winces, praying to all things holy that Nico won't tell the group what he may or may not know about them.

Percy's knuckles turn white from how hard his fists are clenched.

"You know," Nico says. "I think I might be more of an independent studier. Uh, see you later everyone."

"Bye, Nico!" Percy says.

He just grunts in reply.

Annabeth should probably go find the security tapes. Now that Dean D is afraid of her to some degree, that shouldn't be a problem.