A/N
Continuation of the previous chapter.
I'm not entirely happy with it, to be honest, but I didn't want to make it too long.
Enjoy!
cheers,
combatwombat14
To Thalia's surprise, Percy Jackson did not seek her out despite his words from last night.
It was, however much she wanted to deny it, also much to her disappoinment that he hadn't kept his word.
In fact, Thalia didn't think she had seen Percy at all today – the Daughter of Zeus had been engaged in some pranking activities with the Hunters in an attempt to stave off her anxiousness about their upcoming meeting, yet she hadn't seen her cousin a single time despite the numerous circles of Camp Half-Blood she'd made.
To say she was pissed was rather accurate. Annoyed at Percy for keeping her on edge for no good reason and as a result unable to truly enjoy he mortified looks on the Campers' face – Thalia sniffed thinking about all the things she'd blew up yet her inability to enjoy the vandalism (she wouldn't deny it) haunted her.
"Lia!"
The Daughter of Zeus's face contorted into a scowl at the mention of her nickname from that oh-so-familiar voice behind her. The voice that had been haunting her for the past night and day, saying "Good night, Lia" again and again in her head.
"What?" Thalia snapped, displeased at his presence.
She looked back and cursed to herself as she felt her breath hitch looking at the shirtless form of Percy Jackson. For some reason, the Son of Poseidon had opted to let some water touch him instead of just willing it away; it just made it all the more harder for Thalia to tear her eyes away from those glistening abs sculpted into that bare torso of his.
"Woah, Thals." A lopsided grin found its way onto Percy's face that made Thalia's heart beat just that much faster, before she banished the feeling. "Relax."
"Relax?" The Daughter of Zeus hissed, but to her surprise Percy just raised an eyebrow. "How can I relax after- after-"
For the first time, some guilt made its way onto the Son of Poseidon's face. "Yeah, I know. I fucked up." The remorse on his face made Thalia want to just hug him and never let go, but she couldn't risk being seen like that. "But I meant what I said, Lia."
Thalia stared at Percy incredulously. "Percy-"
"Stop lying to yourself, Thalia." The Son of Poseidon interrupted her brazenly, and Thalia's nostrils flared and she glared at him furiously, but Percy didn't back down. "That's your rule, isn't it? Lie, lie, lie?"
Her eyes widened in shock. "How-"
"Annabeth." Percy interjected again, and Thalia remembered she was supposed to be angry. Before she could say anything else, however, Percy had gotten close – right behind her, in fact – and leaned in slightly, his hot breath making contact with her ear, and goosebumps formed on her arms.
Percy whispered in a quiet, quiet voice, but that was all Thalia needed to hear him. "You know what mine is?" The Daughter of Zeus stayed silent, and the boy took it as consent. "Rules were made to be broken, Lia."
Just like that, Percy pulled away with a dazzling smile, as if nothing was wrong. "See you, Thalia."
And as the insolent boy walked away, another spark of hope seemed to light up Thalia's body – this time not from the warmth of good old fashioned, golden liquid courage, but rather from the smile that seemed to light up the entire camp.
Quietly, the Daughter of Zeus swore under her breath. What the hell was Percy doing to her?
...
It'd been three weeks now.
Three weeks staying at Camp Half-Blood, because their Lady had ordered them to do so. Thalia understood, she did; after the Titan War Lady Artemis had a good reason to be wary of her ranks, with the deaths of a number of her Huntresses, but that didn't mean the Daughter of Zeus had to like it.
Sure, most of the Huntresses hated being cooped up in one place too long, but it was especially excruciating for Thalia. After what had transpired between her and Percy, the tension was at an all time high. Still, the Son of Poseidon was casual as ever.
"Hey Thals."
Ugh. Like now.
"Percy."
The demigod in question raised an eyebrow. "Why so frigid, Lia?"
She snapped. "You know. Don't act all high and mighty."
"I wouldn't say high and mighty. I'd say pretentious."
Thalia shot Percy a venomous glare. "Well, the douchebaggery is still intentional."
The Son of Poseidon made a noncommital sound but his eyes told a different story. They gleamed with mischief and mirth as he looked into her pure, blue postively electrifying eyes.
(Get it? Positively- never mind.)
"Douchebaggery is also not entirely accurate. But I'll give it to you, I guess."
Thalia sat on the nearest log by the campfire, and Percy across her. It was oddly reminiscent of the first time it'd happened; just the two of them sitting there, getting drunk. Well, not drunk. Tipsy.
Staring into the fire, Thalia murmured a few indecipherable words. Percy looked up and cast her a questioning look.
"What?"
Thalia blushed as she realised she'd been heard. Sighing, knowing how stubborn Percy could be at times, she replied.
"What have you done to me?"
Percy smiled, though it was a small, sad one. A smile all the same. "I haven't done anything to you, Thals. I've tried my best to act as normal as possible all week. You're just lying to yourself again."
Instead of the usual fiery anger that would bubble in her stomach, Thalia just felt... naked. Unsafe. Vulnerable.
"...Why?"
Percy got up and made it to her side as soon as he heard the brokenness in her voice. It was too much for him to bear now; he wouldn't hurt Thalia. Not on his life.
"I don't know, Lia." He whispered. Percy wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and to his surprise Thalia moved voluntarily and shuffled closer towards him.
"Do you love me?"
The Son of Poseidon did a double take at Thalia's question. It was out of nowhere and Percy hadn't expected for the Daughter of Zeus to be anywhere ready to ask that question – or to receive the answer.
He still did.
"Yes."
In a flash, Thalia had straddled his waist and clung on to his frame. Percy was surprised, but had no hesitation wrapping his arms around her smaller body and rubbing her back soothingly. The front of his tee started to wetten, but the Son of Poseidon took no heed, focused entirely on the girl in his arms.
The Daughter of Zeus sobbed in Percy's arms, letting herself be held by the Son of Poseidon, who whispered sweet comforts into her ear, soothing her soul.
In spite of all of this, she managed to get a word out. "Why?"
Percy tried to find a reason. Maybe it was because of her kickassery, or her stubborness, or her endearing habit of trying to act mad when she was in fact not mad at all.
Still, none of that seemed to fit.
"I... I just love you. I don't know how to say it anyway else."
Thalia sniffed and looked up into the eyes of Percy Jackson, those sea-green eyes of his that were always so easy to read.
Now, all she read from them was love.
"I can't say it."
The Son of Poseidon looked down into the eyes of the angel below him. Wiping strands of her hair from her reddened face, and slowly rubbing her cheeks in circular motions, taking the tears off of her face as they dropped down, drip by drip.
"I know-"
"No, I mean I physically can't, Percy. But- but I do. As well."
Sure, it wasn't technically an I love you, but the profession of love was good enough for the Son of Poseidon.
He leaned in, slowly, and so did Thalia, before she stopped him with a finger.
"I can't do that," she murmured softly, "but I can do this."
The Daughter of Zeus pecked him on the cheek gracefully, before pulling back and smiling slightly.
Percy, meanwhile, was grinning from ear to ear, his cheeks blown red.
"Wow."
Thalia giggled and Percy smiled, and they thought maybe this could work out.
Fin.