Spandex Isn't That Bad, Actually
So... The whole 'telling my mom I'm going to be an illegal vigilante' thing didn't really go as planned.
The bigger news though - I was going to be a brother! The thought kind of freaked me out to be honest. Having someone look up to me like that? Sounded like more responsibility than I was equipped to handle. And I definitely wasn't the best role model. Though in my defence... I hadn't had the best experience with those.
I mean, I was a mess. I risked my life on a daily basis, I was barely a functioning human being myself, and now I was supposed to look after a whole extra tiny human being??!!
So... Yeah. You could say I was freaking out a little.
I took another swig of coffee and looked at the clock. Annabeth hadn't said what time she'd be back, or if she was getting back that day at all. Mom and Paul were out, so I had the apartment all to myself, which I wasn't a fan of.
Everything was too quiet. The walls seemed too wide apart, the room too dark. Even with all my mom's different art projects and stuff hung up, the place still seemed too bare.
I paced around for a while in an attempt to burn off some of my restless energy, watched some TV, made a pot of instant noodles for dinner, before I got bored and tried to get some homework done for an hour or so. Yes, I know, go ahead and laugh, Percy Jackson, an academic weapon? Read it and weep, because your boy was maintaining a solid C+ grade average.
School had become more tolerable now, maybe because of the actual support that my new school, Midtown High, offered for students with learning difficulties like me, or because Anna was there, or maybe I was just more mature. In any case, for the first time in my life, I felt like I had stuff to work hard for - my future, my family... I didn't want to let anyone down.
My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden scratching - the turning of a key. I jumped up from my seat like a little kid as one fairly bedraggled but extremely excited Annabeth fell through the door. I swept her up in a hug and planted a kiss on her forehead as she laughed.
"Welcome home Wise Girl," I smiled, "Missed you."
"I was gone for less than two days Seaweed Brain."
Her tone was was light, and her cheeks were flushed as I released her from my grasp. Her curly hair was damp from the rain outside, and her steely grey eyes sparkled with mischief. I could practically feel the energy bouncing off her. She was lugging a large, heavy looking black duffel bag that she definitely hadn't had when she left, and I could tell she was waiting for me to ask what it was.
I gestured to it, "What's that?" Though I already had a suspicion.
She smirked at me, unzipped the bag and threw a blue bundle in my direction.
"Go try it on and find out."
Approximately fifteen minutes later (I may or not have had a battle with a zipper), I stood in the bathroom, staring into the mirror. Not at myself, obviously - however dashing I may be, I'm not that vain - but at what I was wearing. Annabeth had honestly outdone herself.
The main suit was a dark, navy blue color, with cool boots to match, I could feel there was some light armouring embedded in the fabric - not nearly as heavy as the traditional Greek; but even though you couldn't really see it from the outside, I could tell it was the same sort of style. A black belt sat at my hip, sporting a variety of straps and weapons holsters. I traced the emblem at my chest - a large trident, the same light blue as a calm ocean. A brown leather jacket completed the look.
However much I trusted my girlfriend, I had had worries that I would like a real prick in a 'super-suit', but this.... It was practical and comfortable, unique without being flashy. It was very... Me.
I was a little anxious to put the finishing touch on - a navy blue domino mask. For some reason I felt that putting it on would somehow.... Make everything permanent. I don't know, ADHD logic or something.
I sighed. No point procrastinating. By some Greek gods magic or marvellous technology, the mask still stuck to my face even without a strap. I looked at myself in the full length mirror again with the new addition. I didn't feel very heroic, but I had to admit I looked the part.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Annabeth opened the door, and my jaw dropped.
The base color of her suit was the same soft, wise kind of grey as her eyes, and like me she sported a mask, but where mine dipped at the nose, hers was straight, and wrapped around the back of her head, under her hair like a blindfold.
She'd clearly gone for a more Greek warrior-ish style, as she wore a bronze chest plate fastened on with brown leather straps, and vambraces (arm thingies) to match. The armour, like mine, looked lighter and duller than the stuff we used back at Camp, but knowing the Cabin 9 ingenuity, it could probably withstand a bullet. Her boots were thick, made of rich brown leather, and rose all the way up to her knees, where they joined a pair of bronze knee guards.
A bronze medallion sat at an angle on her waist, held in place by a brown leather belt. The medallion, I noticed, was etched with the symbol of Athena - a square on its side like a diamond on top of a cross.
All in all, she looked absolutely gorgeous. And also like she could and would kill me. Which, in my opinion, only made her more attractive. Haha, forget I said that. No, seriously.
"Holy shit," I breathed, "You look amazing!"
She blushed and pushed my cheek away playfully, "Yeah, yeah. What about yours? Do you like it?"
"Like it? love it!"
I scooped her up in a hug, pulling her tight, not caring as the straps of her amour dug into my chest.
"Did you know you're amazing?"
"I did actually."
"So," I said, after we'd finally pulled apart, "We look the part. Now what?"
"You know..." Annabeth said, whilst stifling a yawn, "I haven't thought that far ahead yet."
I smiled, "How about we talk about it tomorrow?"
She nodded gratefully, clearly still exhausted from her trip. And twenty minutes later we were in our pyjamas - the suits safely stashed in my bedroom - curled up on the sofa.
Anna had nodded off a while ago, her head resting on my shoulder. I was getting a mad cramp, but I didn't move her. Everything was so cozy and calm - Annabeth tended to have that effect on me. I even felt excited about the future and our plan. Sure, I was nervous about it, but we were skilled warriors who had defeated literal titans; what was the worst that could happen?