Percy pushed open the door to Taki's Diner and got a table in the back for the eight of them.
A blonde Faerie came up and gave them menus, then walked off to tend to the others siting in various booths.
Percy was sat beside Annabeth, Thalia on her other side and Reyna on the very inside. Across from Percy sat Jason, then Piper, Will, then Luke across from Reyna. He didn't know whether to be pleased that the bastard was far away from him and Annabeth, or disappointed he wasn't within striking range.
"So, what exactly is going on?" Piper glanced between Percy and Annabeth with a raised eyebrow. Jason fought back a grin as he poked his girlfriend in the side in warning. "What? It's a valid question!"
Annabeth chuckled and sighed. "When I first got here, Percy offered to show me around. You know, the places Shadowhunters get information and things like that." She waved her hand around as if batting off a fly. "But then we got pulled into this thing with the vampires and we've finally made a break." She sighed and let her chin rest on her propped up fist.
Percy rolled his eyes while laughing softly, letting his left hand rest on Annabeth's back and trace circles. "Now we are trying to figure out which Shadowhunter would want the vampires to be hunted, or which werewolf decided to do something about the Night's Children." He looked at Annabeth and smiled faintly, so he missed the looks the others were giving them, giving his hand still on her back.
"So that is about where we are." Annabeth rolled her eyes and sat up a bit. "What about you?"
"We," Thalia snapped. "have been hunting you down to try and get some information!" She poked Annabeth hard in the ribs, and Annabeth swatted at her. "So, mind telling us what happened?"
She swallowed, and Percy didn't let anyone notice as he moved his hand from her back to her knee under the table. He squeezed, in reassurance and comfort. She sighed and waved her hand. "Maybe later," She mused, glancing to Luke in the corner.
Who was grinning like a cat.
Percy saw nothing but red.
This asshole . . . He did something.
Annabeth laid her hand over Percy's and laced their fingers together. It was enough to keep him from launching himself at the blonde across the table from him, barely.
"But what I would like to hear about," She teased, light filling her grey eyes again as she smiled at Will. "is this Nico, that I only found out about since being here." She leaned forward again and propped her head up on her left fist.
Will bit his lip, but the waitress was back and gave them all their drinks. He sipped from his Diet Coke before grinning again. "Well," He started. "it's a game I've been playing for hundreds of years. Nico rules over the vampires of Queens, fought hard for the title. He is fairly short, has longer black hair, and dark eyes. And hates my guts." His blue eyes lit up at the challenge. "I've been after him forever, and he still hasn't given in." He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Which only make it more fun."
Percy chuckled. "And might I add, that our Nico has been very stressed out here lately, and may need an outlet?" He drank from his Cherry Cola and smirked.
"You don't say?" The Warlock bit his lip and looked at the door. "Oh, but I should eat, especially before a big hunt."
The group laughed, except the bastard in the corner.
The time passed with laughter and talking, the group saying they were only in town for a few days. Staying at the Institute even. And when they parted, Luke going off somewhere on his own, and Thalia and Piper sweeping Annabeth off in front of Percy, Will parted with a wave and headed for Hazel's home. He wanted to make an entrance, apparently, and thought Hazel could help him with it.
Percy only said he wanted to be at the party and let the Warlock go on his way.
He walked a few steps behind the three females in front of him, Jason by his side. Reyna had gone off somewhere too, not even telling anyone exactly where.
"Here in New York," Jason started, glancing at Percy. "who's the strongest?"
Percy chuckled. "Well, it's a toss up apparently. Between me, this guy named Jace, Alec Lightwood, his sister Isabelle, and now Annabeth." He threw himself in there so causally, as if it didn't mean anything. "The others are amazing too, but we seem to scare them nonetheless." He waved his hand and brushed it off. "What about in California?"
"Well, Annabeth when she was there." He seemed a bit bitter about that. "But other than her, Thalia, Reyna, and Luke." Jason seemed to not care much for Luke.
So Percy took a chance, "What's Luke's deal?"
"He's a cocky bastard with family issues." Jason rolled his eyes. "He thinks that it gives him the right to be an asshole. The only real friends he has are Annabeth and Thalia, and even Annabeth seems to be growing apart from him. Thalia just doesn't put up with his shit and he knows she won't." His blue eyes blazed as he talked about Thalia. "She's my sister, Thalia is, and I couldn't be prouder of her."
By the looks of them, Jason was younger by at least two years.
"Annabeth and Thalia thought they might be Parabati, but the bond never snapped into place. So then, Thalia turned to Luke, but it didn't work out either. But once her and Reyna met, they had the bond verified the next week." Jason chuckled kicking a lose rock with his foot. "Speaking of Parabati, Piper would have been mine but we fell in love." He smiled at the brunette in front of them.
"She seems cool." Percy shrugged, and she did seem cool. But not exactly Percy's type. Or what he thought was his type anyway.
"How do you like Annabeth?" Jason asked, tensing a bit, the question was casual, but dangerous.
Percy smiled faintly. "She's super smart, like crazy intelligent." He mused, rolling his eyes. "And I've seen her kick the asses of some of the most experienced Shadowhunters, so I'm not getting on her bad side any time soon."
Jason laughed. "Good answer."