Author's Note: Rick Riordan owns all characters. This is in Artemis' POV.
Denial
He was different. I'd known that for a while now. He was nothing like other men. He had done something I had never expected he had saved me, even if I hadn't been the first thing he was trying to save.
I watched him when Thalia became my lieutenant. He thought that Annabeth would be the one to join the Hunters and his panic was visible.
I don't know when I started to feel like this. I don't want to know because that would mean that I am feeling something for him.
I respect him. He is the second man to gain my respect. The first was his older brother, Orion. I consider him a friend, though I won't ever tell him.
I watched as he was offered divinity and turned it down so others could benefit. Then again, I always knew he was different.
I watched Poseidon tear himself apart when he went missing. What no one knew is that I was tearing apart as well.
I watched as he defeated Gaia and saved the world once again. I was happy, even though I had to watch him with the girl he loves.
I watched as he grew older and became the swords master at Camp Half Blood. I watched as he fathered children and raised them. I watched as he breathed his last.
I watched, but never acknowledged my feelings. I was in love, but I'd never admit it. For a long time, I was in love with Percy Jackson and the world never knew.