Thy fate is the common fate of all; Into each life some rain must fall. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

There was something about the quiet moment that always came after an argument.

It was smothering, choking. Not to forget the part where the moment was quiet only to let the voices in your head berate you all the louder, bringing up more counterpoints or justifications or comebacks that couldn't be said. And then those would fester in silence - the worst possible thing for anything to fester in - and then the next argument would be louder and angrier, and then things would be left even more bitter and quiet than before, and then …

And then it repeated.

But there were ways to get out of that cycle. Talking things out weren't quite working, obviously. The next step was advice from close friends - except all those were also sorta close friends with the other person in question, and Percy really didn't want to drag them into anything problematic.

Who was left, then, as someone who could provide solid advice and not favor either side?

The answer was obvious.

So Percy sat at his bedroom desk, considering the bowl of water he'd set before him, drachma bouncing in his hand and too many thoughts in his head.

What to say?

'Hi, how you doing, I've been great?'

Nice.

The first sentence in and he was already lying.

That would work well.

But what else could he start with?

He hadn't seen Luna since the Solstice. He'd meant to contact her earlier, to maybe call a week ago instead of now, but he'd just sorta been preoccupied with his significant other. Just a bit.

And then he'd forgot, and then more shit hit the fan, and then he remembered …

And then, and then, and then. It was like drowning again, with everything moving so fast and taking him off guard.

Things were snowballing faster than an avalanche.

Well, insincere as it was, he had something to start with.

Flicking on his desk lamp, he adjusted the angle before waving his hand, lifting and freezing (holding, really) a spray of water droplets in place. A rainbow splayed out over the table, dim but resplendent.

Good enough.

He tossed in the gold coin, muttering a 'prayer.' "Fleecy, do me a solid and show me Luna."

For some reason, it took a good minute for her to appear, slightly flustered and more than surprised. She looked just as he remembered, almost. She was dressed exactly the same (not that he was anyone to say anything about fashion), and her eyes were just as silver as he remembered. Her hair was redder than he recalled, but the light that night two weeks ago had been sketchy, to say the least. And … somehow, she seemed … shorter?

Nah.

"Perseus! I didn't expect - what?" She bubbled, a tad flustered, edging closer to a tree beside her.

"Well, I said keep in touch, didn't I? I wanted to know how you were doing." And there he went, off script already. Not that he had much of a script in the first place, but that wasn't the point.

Nonetheless, Luna still looked confused by the whole deal.

"Oh! Yeah, you've never gotten an Iris Message before, right? It's a Greek thing."

Luna nodded quickly, clearly relieved by his explanation. "Yes, yes, it's just a bit strange - I've heard of them recently, but I didn't really know what it was. I hardly expected to receive one! Nor did I really expect you to try to keep in touch with me, to be frank."

Percy sat back, surprised. "Wha? I said I would, that's as good as giving my word."

The Roman waved her hand dismissively. "Perhaps, but I imagined you would be busy with all your heroic shenanigans and school, and forget about me."

"Well, how to put it?" Percy smiled, genuinely, properly amused for the first time since - since the Solstice. "Hell no. How could I forget about you?"

And in response, Luna shied away, trying her best (but failing) to hide the cutest blush. It passed quickly, though, and she turned back to face him, a glimmer of contentment playing at her lips. "You flatter me."

"Nothing more than you deserve," he quipped in response. And it wasn't. There was no reason for Luna to downplay herself so much - she was certainly memorable. "Unless you think that I don't keep my word? I have to take that back, if you're going to be so mean."

Luna giggled. "No, no, what's mine is mine. Perseus Jackson holds me in high regard."

Percy rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Fine, fine, be that way. Still, c'mon, lady. How're ya doing?"

Her smile faded as she contemplated her answer. "I am doing well, I suppose. Things have occurred as per expected, although I'm very busy …"

While he was never the best at picking up subcontext, he quickly understood her meaning. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Yes, you did," Luna admitted reluctantly. "But no matter - you've called, so -"

"No, no, if it's something important you should get back to it! Was it?" Percy asked, to which Luna hesitated, before nodding carefully. "Then another time - any other time that could be better?"

"Perhaps? I don't quite know …" She added.

"I guess I'll call again sometime?" Percy suggested, losing confidence. Things had started off well, but this was getting more than a little awkward.

"I suppose, yes. Keep in touch, wasn't it?" Luna smiled again, honest and open.

"Keep in touch." He agreed, smiling back.

And then she broke the connection, leaving Percy to sink back in his chair.

That hadn't worked out as planned.

It hadn't been horrible. That had to be something, at least.

And now it was quiet again.

If you are well, I am well.