Archive of Our Own ^beta

Percy Jackson was a complete and utter loser for cuddles.

It wasn’t something he admitted outright and outloud, and really, people should cut him some slack considering how much he’d been through the past two years.

Sally Jackson had not been shy in giving her son hugs and kisses on the cheek, his forehead, his nose, and that habit of hers manifested itself in her son who would pout at the lack of it. Percy knew his mom loved him dearly, and he loves her so very much. 

Unconsciously, he gulped down a breath of air when his thoughts wandered back to when Percy thought she was dead. It felt like one of the worst days of his life, but Grover had given him a hug when he woke up from the infirmary the next day, and perhaps that made it sting a little less. Percy loved the warmth that came with arms wrapped around each other, and the very real presence of another human near him. 

It helped calm his nerves, and allowed his mind to focus on pressure that wasn’t self inflicted. He’d hug campers he missed during his— well, Clarisse’s successful mission to get the fleece, and he was so overjoyed he nearly gave the girl herself one. 

But he most especially loves to cuddle with his friends, and well, seeing as Grover is currently away hunting for more demigods to bring back to camp, Annabeth absolutely had no choice but to endure his long, warm cuddles. 

Percy thinks she secretly loves it, even when she squirms in her place and pretends to be annoyed.

“Percy,” Annabeth sighed. She was laying flat on her back across his couch in his and Sally’s apartment, with Percy laying on top of her, his head tucked in the crook of her neck. His blonde curls tickled her cheek while he used her shoulder as a pillow. Annabeth had an arm wrapped around his shoulders while the other rested on his lower back, “You’re like a whole head taller than me, aren’t you getting too big for this?”

Annabeth and Thalia decided to get ready at the Jackson residence, which was a few streets away from their new all-girls academy, because Sally had kindly offered to drive the three of them to the military school Grover was calling them to. Sally was helping Thalia buy last minute dresses for her and Annabeth, and left Percy and Annabeth alone because Sally didn’t trust her son to not burn down their apartment. 

Percy harrumped, and squeezed Annabeth tighter, with his arms which were wrapped around her hips. He could vaguely feel a thumping sound go faster under his ear, “You can never be too big and too old for cuddles. I like warm hugs, and you’re currently warm.” 

“Did you just quote Olaf? A snowman?”

“Well yes,” he snickered, “Snow is technically water right? Do you think I could make my own Olaf?”

Percy tilted his head up at Annabeth, grinning. He watched her eyebrows scrunch together and a sparkle in her eye rise, a twinkle he knew came out when she was thinking about something. 

“Probably,” she mused, “but I doubt you’d be able to give him a brain considering you don’t even have one.”

“Hey!” Percy protested, rising up from his place to glare down at her, “I’ll have you know I’ve got plenty.’

Annabeth laughed, tilting her head back, and Percy found himself watching the way her cheeks widened in glee, “Having more than one brain is not normal Percy.”

Grumbling, he settled back into his place on top of her, sighing happily.

“The second anyone gives you hugs, your brain turns to mush anyway,” she added, and to demonstrate, she used the hand not wrapped around his shoulders to caress the curve of his spine. 

Percy felt his eyelids droop, and fleetingly, without really thinking about it, he reached up to swiftly kiss her cheek. Annabeth’s hand stuttered, but she continued her ministrations immediately. 

“Go nap for a bit Percy,” she whispered, and Percy didn’t know if he was imagining things or that Annabeth sounded extremely fond, “I’ll wake you when Sally and Thalia come back.”

“Okay,” Percy murmured in reply, and despite her initial promise to look after him while he slept, she found comfort in the warmth above her, and drifted off to sleep herself. 

・・・・・

Annabeth was woken abruptly by the sound of keys clanging together, and she could vaguely hear voices coming closer. Her cheeks warmed, registering her current predicament once her sleep-addled brain finally caught up with her. 

As opposed to Annabeth being flat on her back earlier, Percy had somehow moved them in their sleep so that her back was pushed flush against the corner of the sofa. They were somewhat tilted now, with one of Percy’s legs between her own. Her head was resting on top of his forehead and he had his face buried in her braids. His arm had maneuvered around for one to snake around her hips and the other around her neck. Annabeth’s own were fastened lazily across his back. 

Annabeth was smart, she knew this was crazy for just friends, and she thinks she’d burst into flames of embarrassment if Thalia, let alone Sally, finds them like this. 

Percy suddenly sighed in his sleep, lips parting slightly, and Annabeth didn’t have the heart to wake him from his nap, which was even dream-free. She let out a breath herself and closed her eyes, pretending to still be in the middle of slumber. 

“Yeah, but Chiron said that—,” Annabeth heard Thalia pause, and she knew she’d seen the state of Percy and her on the couch. Quietly, she could hear Sally laughing beside her. 

“Oh my gods,” Thalia groaned. Annabeth could picture her rolling her eyes to the sky, “It’s only been an hour!” 

She heard shuffling to her far left, and registered warmth apart from Percy in front of her. Annabeth heard a click of a camera and felt the flash even through her eyelids. 

“They are so adorable,” Sally gushed, and Annabeth prayed to any of the gods listening to not let her blushing show, “I’ll give him this when he wakes up.”

Annabeth’s heart started palpitating.

“Do you think he knows?” Thalia asked, and Annabeth wondered what she was talking about.

“Definitely doesn't realize it yet,” replied Sally, “I raised him with as much love as I can and he still turned out oblivious.”

Annabeth’s heart wasn’t just palpitating now, it was threatening to burst at the seams. 

“Percy has photos of Annabeth taped all over his bedroom,” she added, and Annabeth’s heart stopped all together, “How am I supposed to believe him when he says they’re just best friends.”

Percy shifted above her, pulling her closer and nuzzling his nose under her chin.

“Annie,” he mumbled, tightening his grip on her. 

“Oh my babies,” Sally cooed, there was a brief lull before Annabeth heard her shuffle away to the kitchen. 

“Do wake them in a few minutes, will you Thalia?” she called after her, “We have to leave in around four hours.”

Annabeth heard Thalia call out an affirmative before she felt her friend slither closer. 

“You’re not really good at hiding the fact that you’re awake Annabeth.”

She cursed under her breath before staring up at Thalia, her dark eyes nearly glowing in glee. 

“Not a word of this, ever, you hear me? Or so help me I’ll turn you back into a tree myself!” 

Thalia laughed quietly, her expression becoming sad and fond, “He’s good for you, did you know that?”

“You don’t even like him!” Annabeth protested, cheeks hot.

“That may be,” nodded Thalia, “But he likes you and don’t be so dumb as to say you don’t like him.”

Annabeth kept her mouth shut.

“That’s what I thought, am I invited to the wedding then?”

Annabeth shut her eyes and hid her face in Percy’s hair, “I’d turn you into decoration first…”

“So there will be a wedding!”

“Thalia!”