Can you please please please continue with the roommates au?? And maybe with a kiss scene?? Your writing gives me life, thank you for it!!
percabeth roomates au
special thanks, as always, to @insidiousmisandry, who is the best ♥
*
Grover is yelling to him about his swim cap–it’s crooked, or pulling off, or something? He’s standing at the far end of the pool and gesturing to his own head, terribly, in some mimicry of a hat, gesturing like he’s placing a serving bowl on top of his head instead of maybe just pointing to the problem–Grover has never been his first choice for charades, except for the times Percy needs to be a good best friend and does so out of solidarity–but Percy idles before the block, and is looking down the pool at Grover, anyway, and pawing at his own head, trying to understand, and that’s when he sees her.
Annabeth is sitting in the bleachers. She’s wearing an oversized NAU Swim Team t-shirt, cuffed at the sleeves, and her hair is up in a ponytail. A few teammates from the women’s team are sitting with her, and, inexplicably, Clarisse la Rue of the university’s wrestling team, sandwiched between her and Silena. Annabeth leans in to listen to something Clarisse says, and pulls away frowning while Clarisse throws her whole body backwards in laughter.
He knows that frown, even from here. The little line between her brows. The spark in her eyes. The premature wrinkle only at the one side of her mouth as her lips purse. He has lived with Annabeth for nearly two full semesters now, and he can feel her disapproval from so many yards away.
He can feel his nerves, too, shiver and alight and rocket through his body, from his chest to his fingertips, down his legs to his toes.
Annabeth is here.
And of course, that’s when the whistle blows, when his whole body comes alive. Annabeth is here, Annabeth is here, oh god, Annabeth is here. He seems to go through the same kind of problem all the time lately. Percy loses all care about what his swim cap is doing, and Grover throws his hands up, and Percy stumbles numbly onto the block, because how long has she been here, watching without him noticing? Did she see his clumsy dive into the pool a few heats ago? Did she see him barely scrape into a second place finish last heat?
Does she know that this is the last heat, and what it means?
Breathe, he reminds himself. Deep from his diaphragm. Down to his feet. Deep, deep, from the center of himself. Focus on the pool, and the water, and the lines.
Percy tries to pretend that everything is fine–oh god, Annabeth is here–and takes his mark. He looks down at the blue, blue surface in front of him. He tries not to combust. This last heat, of course, is the one that matters most. This is his best stroke, and the tie breaker between New Athens and their rival school.
He breathes deep, and looks at the water, and closes his eyes.
The bell sounds.
Percy leaps.
He hits the water like he’s been born to it, rockets forward, stays under. He surfaces and sucks in a deep gulp of air, kicks his legs, reaches for large stretches of lane.
When he’s in the pool, he doesn’t think about the race–he likes the burn of his muscles and his lungs, and the way he cuts through the water, the way he curls forward, bends his body, kicks free of the wall. It’s him and his lane and his water. This is where he belongs. This is his, and he is swimming it, and he feels amazing.
He swims. He pulls himself through the water. He kicks off at the wall. He gulps down air, and feels himself drowning, and keeps going.
And when he finally slams against the touch pad, the crowd goes crazy.
Percy ducks under the water, just for a second, just for the silence. He comes back up to the sight of Grover next to the block, grinning, his arms out, and Percy reaches up for him.
“You did it, man!” Grover yells, squeezing his forearms.
“What?”
“You did it! The record!”
Percy looks around. Some of the swimmers are still finishing the heat. His teammates–men’s and women’s–are going bananas, jumping up and down, swinging stopwatches and t-shirts and hoodies, hugging one another. Will Solace points up to the scoreboard, shouting his face red, and Percy keeps hold of Grover as he looks up.
And that’s his time.
That’s his time?
“You did it,” Grover yells again, yanking at his arms. They manage a horribly awkward pull up and out of the pool, and by the time he gets to his feet, Annabeth is there, helping them both to their feet.
“Hi,” Percy says dumbly, amid the noise.
“Percy,” she says, clutching his bare waist, looking up at him with some kind of unreadable expression. He’s lived with her for almost two semesters now, and she’s never smiled at him quite like this–soft, and proud, and happy, and disbelieving.
She shakes her head, and reaches up for his face.
And then Clarisse is there, roaring.
“Fuckin’ broken record, man!” she crows, wrapping her arms around the both of them. She pulls them both in hard enough that they knock heads, and then she’s twisting them around and around again on the wet floor, and Percy’s still kind of dizzy from it all–the heat, and Annabeth, and his win. He’s not sure he has his breath back yet–
And then Clarisse is laughing again, and pushes them both into the pool.
The world dims.
Percy adjusts quick, reaches out for Annabeth, makes sure she’s okay. She’s blinking at him through the water, and laughs, her breath escaping her amid a burst of bubbles. Her hair curls around her, golden and dancing, and he can’t help it–she’s the most beautiful thing, and she’s here, and she’s smiling at him underwater like some kind of siren–
She lets him pull her forward. Her skin is soft as he slips his hand beneath her t-shirt, holds her close, his palms against her spine, and she takes the liberty, too, of freeing him from his goggles, his crooked swim cap, fisting her hand in his hair.
His pulse pounds loud in his ears. He holds his breath beneath the water, and looks up at her, and kisses her.
She smiles against his lips.
Percy’s not sure his heart has run so fast, or felt as full. She tastes like gum and chlorine, and he feels her tongue against his for a second, for two, until she’s squeezing his shoulders and pulling away. She heads for the surface, and Percy, feeling dumb and lovestruck and unusually out of breath, follows.
“Congratulations,” Annabeth says, when he reaches air. She shoves the hair from his forehead, cups his cheeks. He’s not sure he’s ever seen her grin so wide. “Wow.”
“You’re here,” he says.
She laughs. They’re both treading water, but she shifts closer, allows him to balance most of her weight. He’s swam a marathon today, and his body aches, but he feels ready to swim an ocean when she slips an arm around around his shoulder and kisses his forehead. “I’m so proud,” she says, and Percy holds her close, feeling happy enough to burst.
Rated PG-13, 948 words. From the Mine for Safekeeping ’verse. @jewishsuperfam requested Daisy fighting off bad guys with the baby in a sling and it was such a fun idea that I couldn’t resist. Daisy/Jemma. Reading Unsung Melody (Mine for Safekeeping) is probably necessary.
“So much for a fun day at the mall,” Daisy said, heart hammering in her throat as she eased her way back into the little changing room where they’d holed up. Jemma’s face had gone entirely bloodless, and she wasn’t sure she looked much better. Tony slept on underneath his little panda hat, blissfully unaware that the acceptable quota of ninjas in his vicinity had been surpassed by over a thousand percent.
“Hydra?” Jemma asked, her lips completely white.
“I don’t know.” Daisy shook her head. She didn’t bother to check the bars on her phone—they’d obviously planned ahead with some kind of jamming technology. As far as the other members of their team were concerned, Daisy, Jemma, and Tony were completely off the map.
Dammit.
“They’re sweeping every store,” Daisy said. “We can’t hide here much longer.”
“Maybe there’s a way out through the ceiling?”
Daisy shook her head. “Doesn’t seem likely.”
“What are our options, then?”
“Well, we could hope that Coulson somehow has developed a sixth sense about when we’re in trouble and is coming, completely unprompted, to save the day. Or,” and Daisy eyed the top of Tony’s head, feeling her stomach sink, “we fight our way out.”
Jemma gasped. “Not with him!”
“I don’t think we have a choice here, Jem,” Daisy said. “I don’t think we can sneak out. There are too many of them. If I attack first, we might have the upper hand. It might be enough to let you and him get away.”
“And let you sacrifice yourself?” Jemma drew herself up to her full height, her chin going firm. “Absolutely not.”
“I’ve been in sticky situations before. I can handle myself. It’s you two I’m worried about—”
“No. We do this together.”
“Jemma—”
“I mean it, Daisy.” One arm bracing Tony, Jemma began unstrapping the sling from around her torso. The infant began to kick and move his arms, clearly displeased about being awake. “Shh, shh, it’s okay. Mummy’s still here, you’re fine.”
“What are you doing?” Daisy said.
“Giving him to you so I know you won’t do something stupid like give yourself up to let us get away. It’s clearly inhumans they’re after.” Jemma finished unwrapping the sling and held Tony out. The baby blinked sleepily at her, his little nose wrinkled.
“You can’t—I’m a target!” But Daisy took the baby, shushing him when he began to make a gurgling noise they’d learned preceded bouts of tears. “If they get me, they’ll get both of us.”
“Then you have incentive not to let that happen, don’t you?” Jemma helped her with the wrap. Daisy could feel her hands shaking as she double-checked the fastenings, but her friend’s face remained resolute. She picked up a sock that Tony had kicked off, and wiggled it back onto his foot. “Give me your gun.”
Her own hands shook as she pulled it from the holster at the small of her back, passing it over.
“I really think you should take Tony and go,” Daisy said, as the back of her mind had gone blindingly white with panic. All of May’s training about remaining calm in the face of danger didn’t seem to stand a chance against the fact that it wasn’t just her she’d be protecting but the baby strapped to her as well. It jellified her knees and her spine. “Seriously, Jemma. This is not a good idea.”
Jemma calmly checked the chamber and the magazine before holstering the gun. “I know. But it’s our best shot. And if there’s one thing I know about you, it’s that you will do anything to protect the ones you love. I’m not worried.”
“That makes one of us,” Daisy said, “because I’m currently scared out of my mind.”
Jemma gave her a bolstering smile and touched her cheek. Without thinking about it, Daisy covered Jemma’s hand with her own, pressing it to her cheek. They stayed like that for a few seconds, just long enough for Tony to protest and let out a little wail.
“Shh, shh, it’s okay,” Jemma said, dropping her hand rub Tony’s back. She didn’t look away from Daisy, though. “We’re going to be just fine.”
“Yeah,” Daisy said, swallowing hard. Her cheek felt impossibly warm, even though the rest of her body had been plunged into icy terror. “We’re going to be fine.”
And with Jemma leading the way, gun out, they burst out of the store.
There was no way for SHIELD to suppress all of the footage, of course, not with so many of the hostages in the mall having cell phones. Which was why the news cycle that night showed loops of Quake, the superhero, blasting ninjas at a local mall away with her fists with—“Is that a baby? Does Quake have a baby? When did our favorite superhero get knocked up?”—Tony strapped to her chest in a sling. One by one, the attacking fighters rushed Quake, only to be blasted into walls, into giant potted ferns, into the escalator, Forever 21, and the food court. Daisy Johnson walked confidently on to the exit, throwing tremoring blasts left and right until she strode right out of the mall, baby strapped to her chest.
It was only outside that the unobtrusive woman some of the footage had caught, and subsequently ignored, hugged her, both of them nearly crying from relief.
“That’s it,” Daisy said, laughing out of sheer relief as Tony let his displeasure be known loud and clear. “No more buying baby clothes at the mall, we’ll just order them online.”
“Deal,” Jemma said, linking her fingers through Daisy’s as they went to find the car.
Ugh, it never lets me tag you :( but yes, that would be adorable!! I'm not always a fan of that in fic/movies, but tbh I could actually see it for them ❤ Although also, she apparently uses it when frustrated, so who knows... (if they take each other's last names though, can you imagine how happy Chels would be after the first time she full-names her and says "Raven Lydia Baxter-Daniels"?? Or, even better, Raven getting out of ~trouble by reminding her to add -Daniels)
i have no idea how this crossover would work, but pls imagine a dcu/marvel crossover that leads to kate/kara. like, ive read some p good kate/stephanie brown fics before, but pls imagine kate/kara danvers
hoooomygod though.
so like. the whole thing before secret wars, and all the universes smash into each other (I HAVE SO MANY AUS THAT UTILIZE THIS) so some of Marvel’s characters wind up in DC land and have to make their way and Kate and a few others wind up in National City and all of these superheros and everyone is way more chill about aliens only no they’re not. and there’s ANother archer how dare
Kate has a crush on Kara because she’s so cute!!! and sweet!!! and not really smol but with like a tiny smol cinnamon bun spirit!!!! and just how could she not!!! Kate is only human. and maybe she’ll have better luck dating someone who is not a superhero??? new world, try something new, right?
But Kara is super awkward and she’s probably straight, way to go, Hawkeye, falling for straight girls again, Kara is just adorable and awkward with everyone ok? ok
but Supergirl
Supergirl has caught Hawkeye no less than three times and stopped no fewer than two cars from hitting her; she has rescued Hawkeye from at least one burning building and stepped in between her and no more than four bullets.and she’s started to???? make eyes???? at Hawkeye??? and Kate doesn’t know what to do with this because she’s Supergirl, okay, she’s a superpowerful VERY ATTRACTIVE ALIEN and yeah it would be great to date her or whatever because then Kate wouldn’t feel weird about asking to be bench-pressed because that’s weird to ask a coworker but not weird to ask your girlfriend
and SO MUCH INTERNAL ANGST because she really likes working with Supergirl and she has so many fewer injuries but also she is hopelessly in love with Kara Danvers like it’s so obvious to everyone BUT Kara. Cat is even like UGH KATE CAN YOU REEL IN THE HEART EYES I’M GOING TO BE ILL (because Kate does...things???? that utilize her pi skills and helping break news stories idk ok)
and like. Kara really likes Kate!!! But she is crazy about Hawkeye and all the shit she gives Oliver and her willingness to throw her very!!! breakable!!! human body in between other people and danger!!!! and Kara has a few nightmares about her not reaching Hawkeye in time and how has this woman managed to live so long with such a lassiez-faire attitude about danger?????
and Kate flirts with her at work and it’s nice, Kate is funny and sarcastic and makes the best coffee but she’s just--Kara feels bad about thinking this, but Kate is normal. And Kara can hurt normal people, she’s too dangerous and powerful and has too many people coming after her. Hawkeye stares danger in the face and makes sarcastic remarks about danger’s fashion choices
(and Cat Grant is SO DONE with these idiot nerds my god)
and I feel like EVERYONE knows that Kate is Hawkeye and Kara is Supergirl before either of them figure this out Tommy knows Alex knows J’onn knows Jimmy knows Peter Parker knows (because sure he’s here why not) LITERALLY EVERYONE KNOWS
and then idk maybe something kryptonite related happens and Kara stays home from work and Kate is just going to bring her chicken noodle soup it’s an old family recipe she’s just checking on Kara like a friend it’s not weird Cassie shut up
only maybe Kara has carelessly left out her costume (but of course Kate would at first be like “Maybe Kara and Supergirl are together???” because CLEARLY this is the most logical thing) but then holy shit nope Kara IS Supergirl and she realizes Kate is Hawkeye because she has broken ribs or something
and they all lived happily ever after
only when they fight bad guys together they turn into a 110% married couple with Kara constantly being like “do you HAVE to stand so close to the edge of the roof???” and Kate being all “wow was it really necessary to FLY those five feet WOW.”
insidiousmisandry replied to your post “hey what should I write about?”
u should combine the two and write sweater percy/punk annabeth
you right, you right
punk Annabeth and sweater Percy has a tag!!!
*
Annabeth breaks into Percy’s locker after second period and steals his backup sweater.
She’s got Dr. Vesta’s bio lab next, which is on the old hallway and is therefore always frigidly cold, no matter what season--the air conditioners are always broken, and the heaters eke out less and less warmth each year. She’s not even sure they work anymore. It’s only a few degrees from snowing outside, and she left her own coat in homeroom, clear across the school.
So she spares it little second thought. It’s easier to leverage Percy’s locker door open than trying to rush down the halls, risking detention for running and being tardy. She pulls the sweater from the hook--a neutral gray, worn at the elbows and cuffs, missing a few buttons--and pulls it on. It kind of matches her outfit, ripped jeans and boots and all. It smells like old wool.
She makes it to class before the bell. Dr. Vesta smiles at her, and someone at the back of the class whistles.
Annabeth flips a finger at Connor Stoll, who is grinning at her.
“Cold, Chase?” he asks.
“Screw you, Stoll.”
“Language,” Dr. Vesta warns. She waits until Annabeth sits down before pointing at the empty desk at the front row. Annabeth crosses her arms. The class is loud with students talking to one another and getting their books from their bags, pulling out their work, ignoring the staring contest between Annabeth and the teacher.
Dr. Vesta points again, and Annabeth gives in, relocates to the front row, where she’s obligated to pay attention and participate the whole period.
It’d be awful--it is pretty awful, being under Dr. Vesta’s watchful stare--but when the bell rings again, and she’s the first one out of the room, Percy’s there, waiting for her in the hallway, his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wall.
He’s smiling. And a little pink around the cheeks.
