Archive of Our Own ^beta

Annabeth’s eyes were solely on Penelope. She was unblinking as a statue. “You never told me you liked other women.” She didn’t sound angry but she did sound upset.

Penelope raised an eyebrow. “I don’t really talk about it.”

It was easier to talk about demi-god stuff to her Mom than it was to talk about her views on romance. Men were handsome and, sometimes, even pretty. Women were beautiful and, sometimes, pretty. A person being really attractive didn’t mean Penelope inherently wanted to date someone though.

“I thought you liked men.” A few seconds passed, “Luke was-“

Penelope interrupted her. (Annabeth was still staring at her. It was only then that Percy realized her curly hair was somewhat frizzy. Had she been running her hands through it?) “Luke knew I was angry and he never tried to make me something less.”

Annabeth scowled, her expression darkening. “Luke would have set you on fire just to keep himself warm.”

The words were cutting. It always shocked Penelope how Annabeth could be so stupidly loyal to Luke - despite all the things he had done to her - and, at other times, be so unforgiving toward him.

“He would have let you walked off an edge instead of holding you back when-“

Penelope interrupted her. “Luke was handsome and he was angry when I was angry and he was there when I had lost my mom. Of course there was a crush but that doesn’t mean I’ve never felt attraction to other people.”

“You had a crush on Rachel back then, didn’t you?” Annabeth asked instead of addressing the elephant she had brought into the room.

Penelope sighed, knowing she would have to be one to acknowledge the elephant. “I’m not mad at you for Tartarus. You know that, right?”

Annabeth looked as though Penelope had jabbed her in the ribs.

“I would have killed her if you didn’t stop me,” Penelope said and she didn’t need to elaborate just who ‘her’ was. It had been years but Penelope knew neither of them had forgotten about Achlys.

“Don’t say that,” Annabeth all but yelled out. “You can’t just-“

“I chopped off Crusty’s head to protect you and Grover when I was twelve.” Penelope’s shoulders were shaking. She didn’t know why she was fighting laughter. “Why are you surprised I would killed her to protect-“

“Because she’s a goddess, Penelope.” Annabeth’s words were rushed out. “You can’t just go around trying to kill gods.”

Penelope opened her mouth to say something but Annabeth was still talking.

“They will kill you for that if you’re lucky. If you’re not lucky? They’ll curse you, keep you in Tartarus, or something else and
I can’t fucking lose you too.”

Penelope breathed in through her nose. The pipes in her apartment building did not burst; she wouldn’t let them despite how upset she was.

Annabeth was shaking her head. “I use to think that you and Thalia were so alike when I was younger and that’s why you two could never get along for long. But that’s the thing, isn’t it? You’re not like Thalia. You’re like Luke.”

“I am not Luke,” Penelope told her and her voice was shaking. Because, if Penelope was like Luke, she would have done something by now. And she hadn’t. She hadn’t despite there being kids, who had been at Camp Half-Blood for years, and hadn’t been claimed. She had made a promise to Luke and hadn’t-

“You’re right.” Annabeth agreed. “You’re Penelope.”

How did they end up here? Annabeth had visited to talk about Penelope dating Rachel and they had ended up talking about Tartarus.

“I’m not mad,” Penelope told her and she desperately needed Annabeth to understand. The thing was she felt like she had to keep saying this to get Annabeth to understand. “I’m not mad for you stopping me.”

Annabeth’s fingers twitched.

“Then why did you leave?” Annabeth asked. Her voice was small. In this moment, Penelope was reminded of the twelve year old girl she had grown close to while hidden in a car that was illegally transporting animals. She remembered how Annabeth had fiddled with her necklace while talking about her dad.

“I didn’t leave.” Penelope argued because she hadn’t ever left. She had never left for Alaska despite how much at times she wanted to.

“Yes, you did.” Annabeth all but snarled out. “You still are.”

Penelope’s eyebrows drew together. What was she talking about?

“You’re here but you’re not here.” Annabeth said like that explained everything. It really didn’t. “Even if you’re with me, it’s like you’ve hidden a part of yourself away and you’re not just doing it with me. Your mom-“

Her mom and Annabeth were talking about her when she wasn’t around. Of course they were.

“If my mom has a problem, she can address it with me.” Penelope told Annabeth, her voice firm. “Just like if you have a problem, that’s for you to bring up with me instead of Mom trying to talk to me about it.”

“I don’t have a problem,” was Annabeth’s immediate response.

Penelope fought the urge to snort. She didn’t snort. “Why are you here, Annabeth?” She sounded tired even to her own ears.

Seconds dragged. Eventually Annabeth spoke, “You never told me you were into women.”

Penelope shrugged. “I don’t talk about it.”

Annabeth’s face twisted. “I’m your best friend. Why wouldn’t-“

Penelope interrupted her. “And?”

Annabeth’s eyebrows knitted together. “And what?”

“Just because you’re my best friend doesn’t mean I owe you this conversation.” She didn’t have this conversation with people. Not even if someone knew that Penelope wasn’t normal and was trying to get her to admit to it. Triton had tried - he had been almost kind about it - but even then Penelope hadn’t wanted to admit to anything. She was fine not talking about it. Why did she have to go tell people about-

“So you just rather me find out from a news that you’re dating one of my friends.” Annabeth’s voice was sharp as the knife Luke had once gifted her.

Penelope fought the anger that rose up in her. That was bullshit. That was such bullshit.

“You’re not friends with Rachel.” It has been years since she introduced Rachel and Annabeth but she remembered how mean some of Annabeth’s comments had been. Back then, she had brushed off because it had been Annabeth’s quest and Penelope had-

“We get along.” Annabeth argued instead of admitting that getting along with someone and being their friend was two separate things.

Penelope was tired of this conversation. They weren’t going anywhere with this.

“We’re not getting anywhere this conversation,” Penelope admitted out loud. “You should go home or go visit David or whatever you want to do.”

Annabeth looked as though Penelope had kicked her. “You don’t mean that.”

Penelope thought about how much they talked in circles. “Yeah, I do.” A few seconds later she added, “Go home, Annabeth.”

Annabeth stayed where she was instead of getting out of Penelope’s apartment. “I am home.” She told Penelope quietly. “You and Grover are my home.”

“Then why are we fighting so much?” Penelope said instead of trying to kick Annabeth out again.

Annabeth, for all that she was the daughter of the goddess of wisdom, didn’t have an answer. She only had a question to give Penelope. “Can I just stay here?”

Penelope’s anger drained away like water down a sink drain that was somewhat clogged: it was happening but it was slower than she liked. “Yeah, of course.”

Because, no matter how much they fought, they were each other’s family. No matter how angry she got, Penelope would never let Annabeth feel unwanted. She would never let her run away from Penelope like Annabeth’s family had.