-Shattered-
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MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS!
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TO SEVEN HUNDRED NOW!
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS CHAPTER FOR Y'ALL AFTER THAT DARK ASS CHAPTER LAST TIME...
EXPECT THE FLUFF BUNNIES TO STRANGLE YOU IN YOUR SLEEP!
BAI!
Percy was standing in front of a mirror that he was growing rather acquainted to.
It seemed like every dream he had, that he hadn't already had in the past, took place in the very room that he was standing in.
He stared at his own reflection.
The Percy in front of him was older and wore a light green formal button-up shirt and dark blue formal pants. His shoes were the same shade of blue as his raven black hair. A gray streak was prominently displayed, breaking away from his boyish charm.
Percy felt as his vision being obscured be long, slender fingers.
"Merry Christmas, honey," said a voice he definitely recognized that time.
"Merry Christmas, Zoe," he found himself saying. He felt as silent happy smile crept across his face.
The boy heard a hearty chuckle from behind his back.
"Guess I didn't have to ask guess who," Zoe said, as she uncurled her arms away from his eyes. Her voice was playful, much more than anything Percy could remember her voice being, outside of dreamscape.
He smirked at the demi-titan.
"Of course I'd recognize my own girlfriend's hands," he said. That, confirmed it. If this was really a dream that showed a possible new future…
Zoe popped her head from behind his shoulder stuck her tongue out at him in response.
"Why do we even celebrate Christmas Percy? Isn't it that mortal thing, where this fat guy sneaks into people's houses through their chimneys and eats their cookies?"
Percy shrugged in response. "I dunno. It's just a way of having fun. Getting time with family and friends."
Zoe punched him in the shoulder and turned away. Percy mimicked her actions and turned away from the familiar mirror.
He was in his room. Back in Manhattan at his mother's apartment.
The warm aroma of his mom's blue cookies filled his nose. The walls were decorated, lights hanging off of every nook and cranny. Streamers and mistletoes studded the ceiling.
Zoe smirked at him, and gave a silly pose showing of her clothes. His heart popped at the scene.
"How do I look?" she said, with a suppressed smile.
Older, definitely. Which never ceased to surprise Percy, considering that Zoe was a hunter. The girl had foregone her usual colors of silver and blue, option for festive colors instead.
She still had her tiara on. Percy had yet to see her without it. Her hair was adorned with a similar streak of gray to his own, which clashed rather suddenly with her coppery skin.
Percy loved it regardless.
Percy paused, as he found his eyes travelling down her frame, taking in everything he saw.
Zoe's eyes were bright and vibrant, full of joy. She seemed to have light makeup on, which was rather uncharacteristic of her.
Percy lowered his gaze further.
Zoe was wearing a white sleeveless top, which had a thin red trim doing across the porters and across the fabric of the shirt itself. Percy noticed subtle snowflakes which were a smidgen darker than the rest of her shirt.
Percy looked at her legs.
Zoe wore a long, red skirt that flowed down to her ankles, behind them were her trademark silver flats.
The girl never wore heels, claiming that they were far too impractical for anything, not that Percy minded. He was just barely taller than her in the first place.
Zoe extended her hand towards Percy; the boy noticed a certain golden bracelet that hung loosely off her skin.
His eyes shifted down to his own wrists. He still had the golden loops around his hand.
The second pair must have been a gift to Zoe form Artemis or Apollo. In all honesty, the gold color pretty much gave away the answer to Percy.
"Come on, fish breath," Zoe groaned, poking him. "The others will be here any time now. You ready?"
Percy smirked at her. Perfect opportunity to tease.
"You don't seem to mind my breath when our lips are locked."
Zoe flushed a deep crimson and punched him harder than before.
"Let's go!"
She grabbed his wrist and pulled him along out into the hallway.
Percy was billed by Zoe until they ended up in Percy's kitchen. There, his mother was in the midst of preparing a meal. She had her back turned away from them, but it could be seen she had her apron on. Percy could only guess that it probably said something cheesy like, '#1 MOM' or something.
"I got him out, Sally."
The older woman turned around, a tray of her fresh, homemade cookies in hand. His mother was just as beautiful as ever, her eyes shone with a similar mirth as Zoe's.
Percy could practically feel the drool forming as the cookies stared at him.
The savory sweetness was within just an arm's reach away…
He made a reach for one. Which Zoe slapped down.
"Percy," his mom began, "No cookies till the guests arrive."
Percy pouted, but he couldn't help but wonder who their guests were.
It seemed like his curiosity would soon be answered however, because he just heard the doorbell go off.
"I'll get it!"
Percy ran to the door before the two girls could argue.
When he reached the door, Percy swung it open, grinning widely.
He was more than a little surprised by just how many people were stood outside his doorway.
He was even more surprised at the sheer lack of males.
Nico and Grover stood awkwardly to the side, nervous glances being thrown to their left as they were only a small part of a wider group of girls.
Percy directed his gaze towards the center of the doorway.
The first person he noticed was Artemis, she seemed to have forgone the silver too, and word an outfit similar to what Zoe was wearing, but the trims were silver instead of red.
She seemed to have aged herself to one similar to that of his mother. In fact, she almost looked like the mother of the five girls who stood behind her.
Percy first noticed Bianca and Thalia. Thalia looked exactly the same, but Bianca, surprisingly looked to be around sixteen.
The daughter of Hades also had a tiara, not dissimilar to Zoe's, woven into her dark hair.
The olive skinned girl smiled kindly at Percy and squeezed Thalia's hand, which Percy just noticed was being held by the daughter of death.
Behind the two, were three other girls, probably more hunters.
Percy immediately recognized Rachel Berry, she looked exactly the same as the last time he saw the girl.
Standing beside the first was a girl who Percy didn't completely recognize. The girl looked to be a Caucasian-American around fourteen and had red-brown hair that was pulled back in a ponytail.
The girl had bright green eyes, fair skin with freckles, a scar on her right eyebrow, and a thin stature.
Percy didn't know the girl, but he recognized her as one of the hunters from when he was training with Artemis.
The final girl, Percy recognized. He could never mistake the girl's red hair and green eyes.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare.
Whelp... There were two Rachels now... That was bound to get confusing. (B/N: Called it.)
"Merry Christmas!" they sang.
Everyone chorused to each other, as Percy ushered them into his house.
"Mom, the guests are here," he announced.
Percy skilled at his guests.
Zoe abandoned his mother in the kitchen and joined him in the living room, where Percy had seated everyone down.
Nico and Grover took the seat furthest away from the hunters. Thalia sat beside Bianca, their fingers interlocked. They seemed to be leaning on each other, but Percy decided to ignore it.
Artemis, and the two Rachels took another couch, with the other girl sandwiched between the two.
Zoe squeezed down next to Percy without hesitance.
"Zoe!" Artemis smiled at her best friend and daughter figure.
Zoe smirked at the mood goddess and the two united in a warm hug.
"You look old Lady Artemis, too many wrinkles. The hunters causing trouble without my guidance?"
Artemis growled at Zoe and gave Percy a playful but annoyed look, which disappeared as quickly as it came. "It seems like Percy had rubbed off on you a little too much."
Her eyes were narrowed at the boy.
He simply chuckled and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, and laid back on the couch – out of sight.
Artemis then turned to the unrecognized girl.
"Introduce yourself, Ellie."
The girl looked up at Percy, and waved. "Ellie Mathews, Daughter of Ares. Pleased to meet you"
She extended her hand for Percy to shake, which he did eagerly after walking up to her.
"Come on, lunch should be ready soon, I'll get the table set."
Zoe got up, off the couch.
Percy nodded and began to follow her, "I'll help."
Zoe shook her head, her dark hair waving back and forth in a hypnotic trance.
"Stay here and keep them company," she told him. It was not an option.
Percy shrugged, "Suit yourself" as he retook his seat.
Percy blinked, when his head began to throb.
That wasn't right. He was in a dream.
He shouldn't be able to feel pain in a dream.
Percy's vision began to blur, and then spin. He saw as his face came down towards the coffee table.
But before it came down on him, Percy's eyes snapped open with a gasp escaping his lips.
He was dripping sweat. His dream was far too realistic, not that he minded having such pleasant dreams.
He was in an infirmary. A place he recognized.
Apollo's infirmary.
Then, out of nowhere, Percy was tackled with a spine-crushing hug.
"Percy!"
He recognized the melodic voice.
"Hi… Zoe…"
B/N
Hey all!
So I was super happy that you all enjoyed the chapter that I had put together last time. It made me feel good as a beta. :)
Can I say that the fluffiness of this chapter was a good call, especially after the dramatic events of last chapter. Very contrasty. Love it. And did I mis-read that, or are we shipping Bianca/Thalia?
I don't care. I personally have nothing against the ship.
ANYWAY, hope you all appreciate that we were able to squeeze time out from our Holidays to get you this update. I probably should be working on my own fanfics, but I like helping out Josh. :P
I hope you have an awesome holiday or winter or summer or whatever you're doing!
Best Wishes, ~ VCRx