Other characters picking up on Percabeth / Cute Moments [PJO]
I'm currently re-reading the series and one of the cutest themes is how other characters pick up on Percy and Annabeth's feelings for one another, ship them together, and/or react to them. I've gone through and found some of these moments.
The Sea of Monsters
I was about to close my notebook when Matt Sloan reached over and ripped the photo out of the rings.
“Hey!” I protested.
Sloan checked out the picture and his eyes got wide.
“No way, Jackson. Who is that? She is not your—” “Give it back!” My ears felt hot.
After Percy opens his locker to look at Annabeth's photo, the bullies at Meriwether Prep rip it out of his hands and ask if she's his girlfriend. Percy gets visibly flustered by this.
She gasped and coughed. Her whole body shuddered, but when she looked at me, I knew the spell had been broken.
She started to sob—I mean horrible, heartbroken sobbing. She put her head on my shoulder and I held her.
Fish gathered to look at us—a school of barracudas, some curious marlins.
Scram! I told them.
They swam off, but I could tell they went reluctantly. I swear I understood their intentions. They were about to start rumors flying around the sea about the son of Poseidon and some girl at the bottom of Siren Bay.
After Percy rescues Annabeth from the sirens, schools of fish watch as she cries in his arms. They then start spreading (likely romantic) rumors about the two across the ocean.
The Titan's Curse
He went on asking questions. Did I fight a lot with Thalia, since she was a daughter of Zeus? (I didn't answer that one.) If Annabeth's mother was Athena, the goddess of wisdom, then why didn't Annabeth know better than to fall off a cliff? (I tried not to strangle Nico for asking that one.) Was Annabeth my girlfriend? (At this point, I was ready to stick the kid in a meat-flavored sack and throw him to the wolves.)
After Nico is extracted from Westover Hall, he seems to detect Percy's distraught feelings about Annabeth's loss, asking him directly if she was his girlfriend.
"I have to go," I said. "I need to be on this quest."
"Why?" Zoe asked. "Because of thy friend Annabeth?" I felt myself blushing.
I hated that everyone was looking at me. "No! I mean, partly. I just feel like I'm supposed to go!"
When Percy tries to join the quest, Zoe immediately suspects he's motivated by his feelings for Annabeth. As he blushes, the whole camp looks at him. It's obvious Zoe isn't the only one who thinks this.
"I don't have much time," my mom said. "Percy, whatever you decide, I love you. And I know you'll do what's best for Annabeth."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because she'd do the same for you."
After Percy tells his mom about Annabeth's disappearance, she is 100% sure he'll do whatever's best for her... and that she would do the same for him. Sally seems to understand the depth of their feelings toward one another already.
As I was about to leave, she said, "Percy."
When I looked back, her eyes were red, but I couldn't tell if it was from anger or sadness. "Annabeth wanted to join the Hunters, too. Maybe you should think about why."
Before I could respond, she raised the power windows and shut me out.
Thalia tells Percy why she didn't join the hunters, saying she would have had to leave Luke behind (strongly implying her own love for him). Thalia then gets upset when Percy points out she'll have to fight Luke now and tells him to leave. Before he does, she tells him to ruminate why Annabeth wanted to join the hunters.
Thalia had spent a whole semester in boarding school with Annabeth before the latter disappeared. Her words to Percy strongly allude to her realization that Annabeth likes him and/or vice-versa, especially given how she parallels it to her own relationship with Luke.
"Annabeth is in trouble."
Aphrodite beamed. "Exactly!"
"I have to help her," I said. "I've been having these dreams."
"Ah, you even dream about her! That's so cute!"
...
"Of course! Because really, how boring these Hunters . are! A quest for some monster, blah blah blah. Saving Artemis. Let her stay lost, I say. But a quest for true love—"
"Wait a second, I never said—"
"Oh, my dear. You don't need to say it. You do know Annabeth was close to joining the Hunters, don't you?"
I blushed. "I wasn't sure—"
...
"Now listen, Percy," Aphrodite said. "The Hunters are your enemies. Forget them and Artemis and the monster. That's not important. You just concentrate on finding and saving Annabeth."
...
But it's been ages since we've had a good tragic love story."
"Whoa, first of all, I never said anything about love. And second, what's up with tragic!"
"Love conquers all," Aphrodite promised. "Look at Helen and Paris. Did they let anything come between them?"
Aphrodite meets with Percy and admits she manipulated events to let him join the search for Annabeth. She intervened as she sees their story as the next "good tragic love story," and tells him to "focus on a quest for love." Aphrodite even compares them to Helen and Paris, possibly the most famous star-crossed lovers of all.
This is the most explicit acknowledgement of romantic tension yet.
Grover was looking at me funny. Being empathic and all, he could usually read my emotions, and I got the feeling he knew exactly what Aphrodite had talked to me about.
After Percy's meeting with the love goddess, Grover seems to realize exactly what Aphrodite spoke to his best friend about. This is the first time that he seems to openly acknowledge he understands what's going on between Percy and Annabeth.
I half expected Mrs. Chase to turn into a raving lunatic at the mention of her stepdaughter, but she just pursed her lips and looked concerned. "All right. Go on up to the study and I'll bring you some food." She smiled at me. "Nice meeting you, Percy. I've heard a lot about you."
When our heroes visit Annabeth's house, her stepmother smiles at Percy and remarks that Annabeth speaks a lot of him. It's unclear if she says this knowingly, but it seems like she may have suspect her step-daughter's feelings toward Percy.
"I hope the Council's decisions prove wise," Athena said. "But I will be watching, Percy Jackson. I do not approve of your friendship with my daughter. I do not think it wise for either of you. And should you begin to waver in your loyalties…"
After the council meeting, Athena approaches Percy and all but tells him to stay away from her daughter. The smartest Olympian has figured out their romantic tension, and does not like it one bit.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
“Think positive. Tomorrow you’re off to camp! After orientation, you’ve got your date—”
“It’s not a date!” I protested. “It’s just Annabeth, Mom. Jeez!”
“She’s coming all the way from camp to meet you.”
“Well, yeah.”
“You’re going to the movies.”
“Yeah.”
“Just the two of you.”
“Mom!”
She held up her hands in surrender, but I could tell she was trying hard not to smile. “You’d better get inside, dear. I’ll see you tonight.”
Percy's mom teases him about meetup with Annabeth, calling it a date knowingly. Sally enjoys teasing her son about this, and seems pretty happy about the potential between the two.
Somebody else slid next to me on the bench: Annabeth.
“I’ll tell you what it’s about,” she said. “The Labyrinth.”
It was hard to concentrate on what she was saying, because everybody in the dining pavilion was stealing glances at us and whispering. And Annabeth was right next to me. I mean right next to me.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” I said.
“We need to talk,” she insisted.
“But the rules . . .”
Annabeth breaks the rules to sit next to Percy in the pavilion. The whole camp stares at them intently and whispers about what they're doing. By now, they all suspect these two are an item or about to become one.
“But we were only gone a few minutes,” I said.
Chiron trotted up, followed by Tyson and Grover.
“Percy!” Tyson said. “You are okay?” “We’re fine,” I said. “We fell in a hole.”
The others looked at me skeptically, then at Annabeth.
“Honest!” I said. “There were three scorpions after us, so we ran and hid in the rocks. But we were only gone a minute.”
“You’ve been missing for almost an hour,” Chiron said. “The game is over.”
After Annabeth and Percy disappear into the labyrinth during capture the flag, Chiron and the other campers clearly suspect Percy's not telling the truth. Given the gossip flying around camp about the two, it's clear what at least some think might have happened...
“From reading about it.”
“Well, yes.”
“That’s not enough.”
“It has to be!”
“It isn’t!”
“Are you going to help me or not?”
I realized everyone was watching Annabeth and me like a tennis match. Mrs. O’Leary’s squeaky yak went EEK! as she ripped off its pink rubber head.
Annabeth and Percy heatedly argue about the quest at a camp counselor's meeting, while the others watch them. Pretty sure at least some wonder if it's partly a lover's quarrel.
Behind me, somebody cleared his throat.
It was one of Annabeth’s half-brothers, Malcolm. His face was bright red. “Um, sorry,” he said. “Archery practice is starting, Annabeth. Chiron said to come find you.”
I stepped away from Annabeth. “We were just looking at maps,” I said stupidly.
Malcolm stared at me. “Okay.”
“Tell Chiron I’ll be right there,” Annabeth said, and Malcolm left in a hurry.
Annabeth's half-brother walks in on Percy comforting Annabeth in his arms. Embarrassed by interrupting an intimate moment, he leaves as soon as possible.
“WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?” Annabeth interrupted, shoving aside the other campers. I thought she was going to punch me, but instead she hugged me so fiercely she nearly cracked my ribs. The other campers fell silent. Annabeth seemed to realize she was making a scene and pushed me away. “I —we thought you were dead, Seaweed Brain!”
When Percy crashes his funeral, Annabeth embraces him in full view of the other campers, who once again silently watch the show. These public scenes are a recurring theme now.
Annabeth glared at me. “You are the single most annoying person I have ever met!” And she stormed out of the room.
I stared at the doorway. I felt like hitting something. “So much for being the bravest friend she’s ever had.”
“She will calm down,” Chiron promised. “She’s jealous, my boy.”
“That’s stupid. She’s not . . . it’s not like . . .”
Chiron chuckled. “It hardly matters. Annabeth is very territorial about her friends, in case you haven’t noticed. She was quite worried about you. And now that you’re back, I think she suspects where you were marooned.”
Annabeth storms out, having realized Percy was marooned with Calypso and now wants to bring Rachel on her quest. Chiron (who basically raised Annabeth) tells Percy she's just jealous. If he didn't put 2 and 2 together, he definitely has by now.
“We’ll try, Ms. Jackson,” Annabeth said. “Keeping your son safe is a big job, though.” She folded her arms and glared out the kitchen window. I picked at my napkin and tried not to say anything.
My mom frowned. “What’s going on with you two? Have you been fighting?”
Neither of us said anything.
“I see,” my mom said, and I wondered if she could see through more than just the Mist. It sounded like she understood what was going on with Annabeth and me, but I sure as heck didn’t. “Well, remember,” she said, “Grover and Tyson are counting on you two.”
“I know,” Annabeth and I said at the same time, which embarrassed me even more.
My mom smiled. “Percy, you’d better use the phone in the hall. Good luck.”
Sally realizes her son and Annabeth have been fighting. And she understands fully what's going between the two teenagers even when Percy doesn't.
“Annabeth’s usually not like this,” I told her. “I don’t know what her problem is.”
Rachel raised her eyebrows.
“Are you sure you don’t know?” “What do you mean?”
“Boys,” she muttered. “Totally blind.”
After a hostile Annabeth gives them a private moment, Rachel is skeptical that Percy doesn't understand the reason for her behavior, as she has long-recognized Annabeth's feelings for Percy and jealousy toward her.
“You’ve had a rough summer,” he said. “I’m guessing you lost someone important. And . . . girl trouble?”
At Percy's birthday party, his step-father, Paul, also suspects what's up.
The Demigod Files
Status: Why does everybody think Annabeth and I are a couple? She’s just my friend, seriously!
Camp Half-Blood's senior scribe seems to think Annabeth is Percy's girlfriend, and seems to suggest this openly to him.
She jogged back to her teammates, who all laughed and gave her high fives. I’d never seen her so happy, like the chance to beat me up was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Beckendorf walked up with his helmet under his arm. ‘She likes you, man.’
‘Sure,’ I muttered. ‘She likes me for target practice.’
‘Nah, they always do that. A girl starts trying to kill you, you know she’s into you.’
‘Makes a lot of sense.’ Beckendorf shrugged. ‘I know about these things. You ought to ask her to the fireworks.’ I couldn’t tell if he was serious.
While Percy is confused by Annabeth's behavior to him during capture the flag, Beckendorf amusedly explains why she's acting the way she is to him. He's obviously known what's up for a while.
Where was I? Oh yeah, so he’s got a lot going for him, but he’s so… obtuse. That’s the word. I mean he doesn’t see really obvious stuff, like the way people feel, even when you’re giving him hints and being totally blatant. What? No, I’m not talking about anyone or anything in particular! I’m just making a general statement. Why does everyone always think… agh! Forget it.
During Annabeth's interview with the senior scribe, he also suggests that she is referring to her romantic feelings for Percy, much to Annabeth's irritation.
The Last Olympian
"So," Beckendorf said, "I'm guessing you don't want me to mention that little scene to Annabeth."
"Oh, gods," I muttered. "Don't even think about it."
Beckendorf chuckled, and together we soared out over the Atlantic.
Rachel kisses Percy. Beckendorf witnesses this and his first thought is of Annabeth's reaction.
"Vlacas," Annabeth muttered, which was basically calling herself an idiot in Greek.
Her second-in-command, Malcolm, suppressed a smile. "Yeah, um . . . we cleaned everything else. Didn't know if it was safe to move your notes."
That was probably smart. Annabeth had a bronze knife that she reserved just for monsters and people who messed with her stuff.
Malcolm grinned at me. "We'll wait outside while you finish inspection." The Athena campers filed out the door while Annabeth cleaned up her bunk.
I shuffled uneasily and pretended to go through some more reports. Technically, even on inspection, it was against camp rules for two campers to be . . . like, alone in a cabin.
That rule had come up a lot when Silena and Beckendorf started dating. And I know some of you might be thinking, Aren't all demigods related on the godly side, and doesn't that make dating gross? But the thing is, the godly side of your family doesn't count, genetically speaking, since gods don't have DNA. A demigod would never think about dating someone who had the same godly parent. Like two kids from Athena cabin? No way. But a daughter of Aphrodite and a son of Hephaestus? They're not related. So it's no problem.
The entire Athena cabin breaks a camp rule to let Annabeth and Percy be alone in a cabin, while Malcolm openly grins at Percy at he's leaving. It seems like they're openly trying to make this happen.
"Last thing." Hermes looked at me. "She said to tell Percy: 'Remember the rivers.' And, um, something about staying away from her daughter."
I'm not sure whose face was redder: Annabeth's or mine.
Athena's mother passes on a message to Percy to stay away from her daughter. She knows the tension is only growing and is far from pleased.
"I'll go with Percy," she said. "Then we'll join you, or we'll go wherever we're needed."
Somebody in the back of the group said, "No detours, you two."
There were some giggles, but I decided to let it pass.
When Annabeth says she'll go with Percy during the Battle of Olympus, the other campers openly tease them about this.
"I want to be a regular guy. I want to grow up. Have, you know, a regular high school experience."
"And my daughter?"
"I couldn't leave her," I admitted, my throat dry. "Or Grover," I added quickly. "Or—"
"Spare me." Athena stepped close to me, and I could feel her aura of power making my skin itch. "I once warned you, Percy Jackson, that to save a friend you would destroy the world. Perhaps I was mistaken. You seem to have saved both your friends and the world. But think very carefully about how you proceed from here. I have given you the benefit of the doubt. Don't mess up."
After Percy refuses immortality, Athena seems resigned to the fact that he and her daughter will become a couple, but warns him in no uncertain terms that she'll be watching.
Rachel kissed me on the cheek.
"Good-bye, Percy," she whispered. "And I don't have to see the future to tell you what to do now, do I?"
Her eyes seemed more piercing than before. I blushed. "No."
After Rachel "dumps" Percy to become the oracle, she tells him to go tell Annabeth how he feels.
When she kissed me, I had the feeling my brain was melting right through my body.
I could've stayed that way forever, except a voice behind us growled, "Well, it's about time!"
Suddenly the pavilion was filled with torchlight and campers. Clarisse led the way as the eavesdroppers charged and hoisted us both onto their shoulders.
"Oh, come on!" I complained. "Is there no privacy?"
"The lovebirds need to cool off!" Clarisse said with glee.
"The canoe lake!" Connor Stoll shouted.
With a huge cheer, they carried us down the hill, but they kept us close enough to hold hands. Annabeth was laughing, and I couldn't help laughing too, even though my face was completely red.
We held hands right up to the moment they dumped us in the water.
Afterward, I had the last laugh. I made an air bubble at the bottom of the lake. Our friends kept waiting for us to come up, but hey—when you're the son of Poseidon, you don't have to hurry.
And it was pretty much the best underwater kiss of all time.
And finally, confirmation the entire camp has been shipping Percabeth. They literally hid and eavesdropped on the two in the dining pavilion because they realized the tension had reaching a breaking point and something was about to happen.
---
When do you think others figured out what was going on between Percy and Annabeth? What do you think they suspected? Who was shipping the two of them?
Would love to hear everyone's thoughts and headcanons on this!