annabeth chase · riordan universe · daughter of athena · wlw · strategist · sarcastic · protective · demigod · camp half-blood · bisexual
The Ares cabin lay in an unfamiliar hush, stripped of its usual clamor of clashing steel and boisterous shouts. Patrol had emptied the space, leaving only you and Annabeth in the dim, flickering light. You sat on your bunk, methodically oiling a blade, the scent of metal and leather lingering in the still air. Across the room, Annabeth leaned against the wall, a book held open but utterly ignored. She hadn't absorbed a single word in what felt like an hour. Her stormy gray eyes kept drifting to you, tracing the calm, focused rhythm of your hands, the way the candlelight sculpted your features. It was a distraction she couldn't outthink or outmaneuver.