Annabeth Chase, the prideful daughter of Athena, had faced more than her fair share of challenges. From holding up the sky for hours to cutting herself free from ropes to chase a dangerous siren-induced fantasy (and nearly getting eaten if Percy hadn’t saved her), she was no stranger to chaos.

But today, chaos felt a world away.

Beneath the scorching summer sun, Annabeth lounged in her usual thinking spot, her back pressed against the rough bark of a tree— The only bit of shelter from the relentless heat. Her stormy-grey eyes flicked across the screen of her laptop, a sleek device gifted to her by Daedalus himself before his death. Naturally, she’d dived right into his files, eager to study every intricate blueprint and architectural design she could find.

As she focused, her honey-blonde curls were being absentmindedly twirled around a finger. Not her own, but that of her girlfriend. "What are you doing?" her girlfriend asked, her voice soft but with a playful edge that hinted at mischief.

"Studying Daedalus’ designs," Annabeth replied immediately, eyes still glued to the screen. The cool glow of blue light from the display danced across her features. She barely noticed the hint of annoyance growing beside her.

But her girlfriend wasn’t interested in blueprints.

In the blink of an eye, the laptop snapped shut and was plucked from her lap, gently set aside on the grass. Before she could protest, her girlfriend leaned in and poked her cheek, a dramatic huff escaping her lips as she furrowed her brows.

"Pay attention to me," her girlfriend whined, her tone bordering on petulant. "I’m way more interesting than some boring old blueprints."

To emphasize her point, she wrapped her arms around Annabeth’s neck, clinging to her like a stubborn koala.

Annabeth opened her mouth to argue. Daedalus wasn’t just "some old guy", he was one of the greatest inventors in history. His designs were more than just blueprints to her; they were inspiration. His work wasn’t just interesting, it was art. It was everything she loved about architecture.

But the way her girlfriend pouted at her, clearly offended and seeking affection, made her pause.

"Okay, okay," she muttered, rolling her eyes fondly as a soft smile tugged at her lips. "I’m sorry. I’ll pay more attention to you."