Yes yes, I know that this was supposed to be an Another Chance update, but the boys at the pertemis discord decided to have a friendly (cut-throat) competition between a trio of Punk!Percy fics as suggested by yours truly. I ended up with pertemis, LostHouse with preyna, and DeadDredd with perlia and it was decided that we would upload each one of our fics at the same time and let the madness unfold.

After reading this one, do check out theirs too (their's will be just around my fic in the ffnet pecking order). Since it is a friendly competition, if you want to choose a fic that you liked between ours, do head on the pertemis community discord (link on my profile) and vote on the poll or just review or whatever. Of course, this is all just jokes so no worries if you don't want to pick a winner lol.

Now, I hope you enjoy this, 'cause I do feel I've fluffed this one. There's some real mushy stuff going down there so don't say I didn't warn you. (pls notice the title reference, it was not easy to come up with)

Good game Lost and Dead, may the best writer win ;)

Enjoy and review!

Artemis hates everything.

Usually, it depends on her mood and the state of her tummy, but she can shamelessly admit that everything that has ever had the misfortune of meeting her has proved to be something she hates.

And as she's trying to navigate through the hordes of people to cross the bloody street, her hatred is mainly directed to the unholy citizens of New York City. Being a not-so-broke college student has successfully turned her into a grumpy old bat who complains excessively about loud music and fast cars. (after all, she's been taught by the best old bat there is- her stepmother)

Her books clutched tightly against her chest, she hurries along the sidewalk, glaring at anyone who dares to look at her. Normally, she's never this edgy, but then again, every student ever can attest that twelve unsubmitted assignments can even make the most level-headed people grouchy.

And as if the Universe hadn't already screwed her over with school, her favorite study spot, a cafe near her apartment, had shut down. She had tried her godsdamn hardest to study on her rickety bed, but the squeaks of the mattress didn't exactly provide the best soundtrack to do calculus on.

So, in dire need of a new spot, she finds herself walking two blocks downtown to a small but cozy coffee shop. The spot is suggested by Thalia, so she doesn't really have high hopes, but she'll take what she can get right now.

The establishment comes into view, and she takes a deep breath, pushing the doors open. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm cookies assaults her senses, and she smiles a little despite her sullenness.

The place isn't as different from her first spot as she expects. It is a cozy little shop with soft orange lighting and lo-fi music strumming from the speaker. There isn't anyone at the counter, and based on the rattling noises inside, she assumes they're doing... whatever in the pantry. The absence of customers surprises her slightly, but she figures the place hasn't been open for long. (or Thalia lied about the popularity shop and Artemis naively believed her)

Artemis drops her bag and one of the tables and heads on off to the counter. Normally, she'd just order a water and then head on to finish her assignments, but today, she decides to treat herself. (also because she desperately needs caffeine to function)

A faint yell of "One sec!" comes in reply to her knock on the table.

Her eyes sweep across the menu as she waits for the barista. Footsteps alert her of the person entering the room but, she keeps her eyes trained on the menu.

"Hey!" A voice cheers cockily, "Welcome to Deja Brew! How are you this fine day?"

She catches a flash of black and straightens her back. Actually, that's an understatement. The person in front of her is dressed from head to toe in black and Artemis has to try her best to not scowl reflexively at the color. (She isn't so cruel to make the life of an underpaid essential worker miserable just because she doesn't like what he's wearing)

His lower lip glitters slightly, and Artemis realizes that he has a lip piercing, of all things. A streak of aquamarine catches her eyes, a band of azure in a sea of spiky raven hair.

"Hello," Artemis greets with strained politeness, her silver eyes meeting his sea-green ones. "I'm good, thank you."

"That's nice to hear," The boy smirks, giving her an obvious one-over, "Wouldn't want you to have any difficulties, do we?"

And like a switch being flipped, her face goes devoid of all emotion as she stares coolly at the smirking punk boy in front of her. She tries for a small smile.

"I'd like a cafe latte, please," She replies tersely, not acknowledging his other comment. "That's it."

The boy grins and writes down her order.

He says, "One Latte, coming right up!" - and then he winks.

For a second, Artemis is taken aback by the sheer audacity of the boy. Her brain screeches to a halt. She sputters internally, 'Did he- did he just wink at me?!'

Before she can do something drastic- like, punch him in the face or splutter in indignance- he interrupts her train of thought.

"Before I forget, can I get a name from the pretty lady?" He asks, his eyes glinting mischievously, and Artemis has to dig her nails into her arm to restraint herself from decking him. "For the coffee, of course."

Artemis clenches her teeth so hard she's surprised a couple of them don't chip off. "I am the only customer you have. I think I'll notice when you bring out my drink," she grits.

Artemis doesn't know why she's being this unreasonable about telling her name, but the look he's giving her makes her skin crawl. She hopes her reply would provide him the blatant hint to back off but he, unfortunately, remains undeterred.

If that doesn't make her eye twitch, the wide grin on his face, as if he expects that response, definitely takes the cake.

"But that isn't fun, is it?" He smirks, playing with his lip ring (No, that doesn't distract Artemis. It doesn't!).

"My name's Percy," He continues, as close to chirping as punk can get without violating the 'Punk's handbook of propriety. "And now, because I've informed my name, by the human code of conduct, you have to introduce yourself too. It's the rule and no one can tell me otherwise."

...okay.

Artemis blinks before narrowing her eyes even further. "That is the most idiotic thing I've heard all day," she says.

She half-expects Percy to sulk or give up, but all she gets is a pearly-white set of teeth flashing in her face.

"Well, someone had to take up that top spot, and it looks like I'm the lucky one," he shrugs. "Besides, I'm sure you'd hear a lot worse if you're gonna come here more often."

"Who says I'm gonna come here often?"

"Oh, please," Percy waves off-handedly. "You haven't tasted Annabeth's famous lemon tarts yet. I'm offended that they don't have their own food group. They are heavenly."

He grins, drumming his fingers over the counter, and Artemis has to resist the urge to stop him. (she really doesn't like fidgeting)

Annabeth must be the barista's co-worker, Artemis assumes.

"And that pertains to my regularity in your shop, how?" Artemis crosses her arms, her extreme annoyance back down to bearable levels.

"Oh, look at those big words," Percy says, rolling his eyes. "Obviously 'cause they're addicting. Some even say she adds edibles in her pastries. Once you put them in your mouth, you see everything else as inferior. I once went an entire weekend without eating them, and I had to go to the ER because I went cuckoo. I'm pretty sure most of our customers visit regularly because they're afraid of the relapse."

Artemis makes a face. "That's wildly inappropriate. Not to mention, illegal."

"All speculation," Percy says off-handedly. "No one's actually proven she adds drugs to her pastries. Well, not yet, anyway."

"You mean there was something to prove?" Artemis asks, her voice strained.

Percy nods sagely. "Annabeth has a dark past. Some say her name isn't Annabeth at all."

Artemis suddenly thinks it was a bad idea to come here.

"Oh, chin up," Percy chides, noticing the visible distress on her face. "It's probably false."

"That does not reassure me. I could get arrested for Aiding and Abetting here."

"Eh," Percy replies off-handedly. "What's life if you haven't even been arrested at least once."

Artemis squints. "Have you ever been arrested?"

"Yup. I killed a man in an alley with this thumb because he tried to steal my sour-patches," Percy says, lifting up his thumb. "And I also robbed the second-largest bank in France with only my ballpoint pen, Riptide."

A pause.

Artemis thinks her expression must have been something because Percy suddenly doubles over in laughter and wheezes.

"That wasn't funny!" Artemis accuses, crossing her arms and frowning. "You had me worried for a second there."

"I can't believe you fell for that, princess!" Percy weeps, still laughing. "I literally quoted Chef Horstfrom Ratatouille!"

"Excuse you," Artemis glares. "Not everyone watches Disney films, so stop calling me princess. I find documentaries about the outdoors far more interesting than a film about a rat in a kitchen."

And that, surprisingly, cues the first appalled face of the barista. Artemis straightens in surprise.

"What?!" Percy exclaims indignantly, looking genuinely scandalized. "You've never watched Disney movies? That is a disgrace! How can you not have watched Disney movies! And that too, Ratatouille? And how very dare you insinuate that a documentary is more interesting than Ratatouille? I'm very disappointed in you-"

'You're nothing but a disappointment!'

Artemis flinches and reels back.

The row-divider behind her clatters to the ground, the sound unnoticed in between the blood roaring in her ears. She grips one of the arms of an astray chair as she steadies herself. The harsh voice rings in her mind, bringing back the unwanted memories of her time with her stepmother.

"Oh, shit!" she hears Percy swear, and she looks up. He seems frantic.

"Are you alright? Oh, gods- I'm so stupid, I'm so sorry. Oh, gods, are you hurt-" And Artemis has already had enough.

"Shut up!" she snaps, and Percy flinches slightly at her hoarse tone.

Artemis swallows thickly as she breathes, trying to get her heartbeat back to normal. A part of her does want to chew the stupid barista out, but her rational side protests. He couldn't have known about what happened. Neither did she, to be honest.

As she brings her rapid breathing under control, her voice quavers slightly. "Just please bring me my drink. I'll be at my table on the lookout. And just so you know, what happened wasn't your fault."

"Wait," Percy blurts, looking hopeful. "C-can I have your name now? Please?"

Artemis thinks about refusing again but pauses at his downcast gaze.

"Artemis," she says, sighing. "My name is Artemis."

Percy beams so wide, Artemis has to suppress the urge to smile back.

"Artemis," Percy tests the name on his tongue before nodding approvingly. "Nice name."

"Thanks," Artemis deadpans. "I got it for my birthday."

Percy snorts.

"Now, can you please make me a coffee?" Artemis asks, annoyed. "I have a shit-load of papers to complete before Thursday, and I'm in desperate need of caffeine."

"I am going to make you the best latte you've had, don't you worry," He promises, already turning around and fiddling with the buttons of the coffee machine. "It'll be, like, life-changing."

"I severely doubt that," Artemis shoots back, but she notices it lacks the bite she's so used to. "I am a college student. The best coffee I've ever had came from an instant pouch while cursing at my Calc textbook."

"I can't disagree with that!" Percy calls from the counter before clicking his tongue. "There's nothing like a cup of sand-water while you lose your shit over your finals. That being said, I'm pretty sure my coffee will take the second place, seeing the position is up for grabs."

"Do your worst," Artemis challenges, and then her mind screeches to a halt because she doesn't know why's she suddenly joking with this guy, someone she met literally ten minutes ago.

Oh god.

Her mind suddenly floods with different scenarios about this... Percy.

Appearances are meant to be deceiving, after all. Granted his appearance isn't as... chaste as she would like, but he is punk. There's a reason she stays away from people like him, who wear black all the time, the troublemakers.

He can be anyone! He can be a serial killer in disguise hired to kill her, or a member of a local gang paid to stab her, or a prankster hired by Thalia to put laxatives in her coffee, or... anyone!

She also vows to not associate in any conversation with him because then she knows he'll surely use his masculine viles to charm her and eventually murder her and then dump her remains into the Hudson. (...okay that does seem far-fetched)

And who cares about his gorgeous teal eyes, or his perfectly defined jaw, or his high and sharp cheekbones, or his messy raven head of hair that looks too silky to be real, and the perfectly sculpted torso that hugs his black t-shirt- and what was the point of this train of thought again?

She flails internally. Not even ten minutes and she's already wrapped around his little finger! How the hell-

"Do you always think this loud?"

Artemis turns. "Excuse me?"

Percy is draped languidly against the counter as he twirls a pen in his hand. "Do you always think this loud," He drawls, gazing at her lazily. "I can hear your brainwaves choking me through the air."

And at that moment, Artemis's mouth decides to lose all semblance of dialogue.

"Splendid," is the first thing she says, which- fuck- why does she sound British. "I-uh-"

Percy's eyebrows scrunch up. "Huh?"

And frankly, Artemis can't blame him, she has the same thought swirling in her head, why the fuck did she say that?

"Nothing," Artemis snaps. "Uh, your brain is too smooth to understand that statement, so don't even bother taking the long route." - which is a blatant lie.

Percy snorts, and Artemis scowls some more.

"Haven't heard that one before," he admits, pushing himself off the counter and back to his station. "Usually it's all about 'you're so dumb' or 'you're a stupid-head' but never one so... original."

"What? The smooth brain part? I'm surprised someone like you even knows what that means."

And for the first time since she's been in this shop, Percy frowns.

"What do you mean by 'someone like me'?" He asks, leaning forward in annoyance. "Of course, I know what it means. Just because I dress like this doesn't mean I'm dumb."

Artemis pauses and glances at him. He looks genuinely offended by her accusation, his eyes wide and dark and his lips curved downwards in displeasure. Artemis swallows and glances away. He looks like an affronted kitten. Well, an affronted goth-kitten, but a kitten nonetheless.

There's a small voice in Artemis's head that urges her to laugh in his face and tell him that's exactly what she thinks. This part would've won about ten minutes ago, but now, looking at his afflicted face, something's changed, and she can't bring herself to agree.

"Well?"

"I don't think you're stupid," she says.

He sniffs. "Well now I don't believe you."

"Oh you baby."

And somehow he still manages to smile. Artemis can't believe him. She insults him to his face and he still takes it as a joke.

Maybe, she thinks, just maybe she is wrong on this one.

"I'm sorry," Artemis says. "I didn't mean to offend you."

(She feels quite proud of herself for apologizing because her stepmother, the cow, would've scolded her on retracting at the time. And then she would've told her how all these punk teenagers were the root of all evil in society and how she was a disgrace to interact with one of them.

Whatever, Artemis decides, she's done letting the posh bovine dictate her life.)

Percy blinks and stares at her. Twin pools of silver meet his wide and surprised aquamarine orbs. Artemis squirms slightly as his bottomless eyes pierce into hers. Before long, he lets his face break into an easy smile, and Artemis relaxes.

"It's okay," he says, playing with his lip ring, and maybe Artemis stares a bit. "It happens a lot. You wouldn't be the first to assume something like that."

"But that doesn't make it right."

"It is what it is," Percy shrugs, wiping a glass absent-mindedly. "I've learned to accept it as it has been. People would sooner lower those different to them than accept them. Though, you're the first to actually apologize," He tilts his head and pauses and then smirks. "-and definitely the most attractive."

Artemis flushes, slight guilt building at her assumptions. She conveniently disregards the fact that Percy calls her 'attractive' and it makes her feel all tingly inside, because then she'll have another thing to lie about herself.

Even if her negative assumptions about him had been influenced by her stepmother, she still feels stupid to believe them as they were.

The two relapse into silence, only broken by the bustle of the New York crowd outside. Artemis dumbly stands at the till, looking at Percy while he makes her drink. He turns to glance at her every once in a while.

A minute passes.

Percy clears his throat and opens his mouth to say something but pauses before turning his head awkwardly.

"Uh," He eyes her weirdly. "Are you just gonna stand here... or...?"

"Oh!" Artemis blinks. "Sorry! Yeah, I'll leave. Still have my projects to complete!" she says awkwardly and flees.

She faintly hears Percy chuckle and her cheeks color. A resounding smack to her forehead sounds as she chastises herself over abandoning her incomplete assignments. She glares at her papers, for reasons unknown to her, as she plops down on one of the chairs and buries her face in her work.

Time flies.

Artemis prides herself on her attention span. She can confidently state that she's one of the only students in her Uni who can sit for five hours straight to finish an assignment without feeling like floppy sand-paper in between. (the end is another topic, altogether)

It's a gift.

She is faintly aware of a couple of customers entering the establishment, as she is of the gradually setting sun. At one point, Percy brings her drink out to her and sets it on her table and she just stares at it. Percy eyes her curiously.

"What?" Percy asks.

"You brought it out for me?" Artemis asks weirdly.

"Well, yeah," he says, looking confused. "Was I not supposed to?"

"Uh, no?" Artemis says. "I mean, I noticed you called the names of the other shoppers to pick up their drinks."

"Oh!" Percy says, looking around. "Yeah, I was about to call yours too but you seemed pretty engaged in your work. So, I thought better not disturb you."

Artemis smiles. "Thank you."

"No problem," Percy grins. "Sorry, it took a while, by the way. I'm the only one working here today, and the other's orders were much simpler."

"Simpler?" Artemis asks, quizzically looking at her cup. "I asked for a Latte?"

"Yeah, you did," Percy nods, albeit a little shyly, fidgeting with the hem of his black jacket. "But since you remain to be the only customer on my level of wit and humor, today, so I thought I'd make you something special."

"Something special?" Artemis questions, with a raised eyebrow. "Do you do this for everyone?"

"Only the really pretty ones?" Percy tries, winking.

Artemis snorts. The last person she would consider pretty is herself. With her ratty silver t-shirt and worn-over jeans, only an idiot would call her pretty. (pretty sure Percy disagrees)

"I'm not pretty," she mumbles, picking up the cup and bringing it to her mouth.

Percy watches on with wide, earnest eyes as she takes a sip. Her eyes widen momentarily before she dives straight in for another sip like a hungry bear. Percy beams.

"Is it any good?" Percy drawls smugly, crossing his arms. "The second best coffee you've ever had?"

"Mhm," Artemis says contemptuously, her lips still glued to the rim of her cup. "Not terrible."

Percy only grins wider.

"No, don't get any ideas," Artemis protests half-heartedly. "It's far from the best! It might not even be the tenth best!"

"Su~re," Percy sings.

Artemis harrumphs and glares. "Whatever. Now, shoo before I knee you between your legs. I still have to complete my assignments."

Percy leaves pretty quickly after that.

She takes a deep breath to calm her thumping heart. Her eyes widen as she catches sight of her rosy cheeks on the cup's surface, and a flush she knows wasn't present before Percy came.

Fuck.

Her mind swirls with unanswered questions. She wonders if everything she'd presumed about his kind is false. She's seen plenty of punk kids who are unnecessarily rude to everyone. She just can't seem to figure out why Percy seems to be different. And why in fuck does she feel all tingly all around-oh gods.

She shakes her head to rid the blasphemous thoughts. She does not want to down that route now. To divert herself, she looks at the acclaimed 'greatest' coffee.

Pfft.

Such lies, she thinks.

However, secretly, Artemis has to agree. It is the dam best coffee she's ever had the fortune of tasting. She isn't going to describe the taste because she isn't some coffee connoisseur, she just likes coffee. And she thinks Percy's might be the best. She sighs and glances tiredly at her assignments, sipping her tasty beverage.

The next time she sees Percy is when he approaches her and she's just finishing her project.

"Are you done with that?" he asks, pointing at the cup.

Artemis nods, and Percy picks up the empty mug and turns to walk back to the counter. Artemis, determined to get some answers, panics for some reason.

"Wait!" she blurts.

Percy pauses and turns. "Yes?"

"Uh," Artemis gushes out. "Why are you like you, but not like you?"

"..."

Great. Just jump off a bridge, Artemis. You've handled that with the grace of a wet cat.

Percy looks so lost that Artemis has to bite her cheek to stop herself from cooing. (Gah! What's wrong with her!)

"Let me rephrase that," she says, taking a deep breath.

"Yes," Percy says, blinking. "Please do."

"Why are you so different?!" Artemis flails, waving her arms. "I'm genuinely sorry if this sounds rude but you're punk, for gods' sake! Not in the stupid stereotypical way where everyone portrays you as the root of all evil in the society because I know that is false, just in the normal view of things. I mean, aren't punks supposed to be all brooding and scowling? With dark and skinny jeans acting like they don't give two fucks about the world? I'm sorry but you do not give that sort of vibe! You certainly look the part with your clothes and your stupidly attractive lip ring but you don't act like that. You literally brought my drink to my table because I was doing my schoolwork. Not only that you went through an effort to make me something better because I was being a bitch to you?"

Silence.

Percy blinks. "Uh," he says.

Artemis pants heavily, too out of breath to even blush at her subtle confession. Her heart thumps wildly, not in emotion, but in fear that her rant might've offended Percy, who stares at her with an unreadable expression.

"I better take a seat," Percy says finally, placing her mug back on the table. "Uh, do you mind?"

"No, uh, sure go for it."

He carefully slides into the chair next to her, cautious not to disturb her smattered pile of books. Artemis feels her face heat up at the proximity but motions him to speak.

"I wasn't always punk," Percy starts and Artemis can't help but release a snort.

"Really? You mean you didn't have a lip piercing as a toddler? Shocker, who would've guessed?"

"Oh, do keep quiet," Percy chastises softly. "It's rude to interrupt."

Artemis laughs and Percy decides he quite likes the sound.

"Sorry. Please continue."

"Annabeth liked punks," he says, ducking his head. "She was always the one to fawn over how hot they looked and how she could kiss one senseless if she had an opportunity. Now, sixteen-year-old Percy was dumb. He also fell in love pretty easily. Annabeth was his closest friend since they were kids and she was pretty. Very pretty, and one of the only girls who would voluntarily talk to Percy. And when Percy realized she liked punk guys, well, his dumb little brain thought if he dressed like them, he could finally have his chance."

"And then?" Artemis asks, biting her lip to smother a smile.

"Annabeth did like punks, in fact," Percy grumbles, "What she did not like, were guys."

A pause.

And then Artemis starts wheezing. Her head thrown back and her body racking in laughter, the sounds of mirth fill the shop. It's so hilarious to her, changing everything to impress the girl you like, only for her to end up being lesbian. It's like a high-school version of Adventure Time where Annabeth is Princess Bubblegum and Percy is Jake and whoever Annabeth would end up with would be Marceline. (who, coincidently, is also punk)

"No, don't laugh," Percy protests. "I was in severe distress at the time. I even considered switching schools and scratching my face off for the sake of anonymity. It was so embarrassing"

"Then you should've clarified first, dumbass," Artemis shoots back, still giggling.

"Doesn't matter," Percy harrumphs, crossing his arms, "It's all in the past. The point is that the style stuck. I felt more at ease with myself and my clothes. There was still a huge stereotype to overcome. People expected me to be... stormy all the time, you know, as you said. All dark and brooding and scowling. I did try being that but it felt so... unnatural. Maybe, it worked for others, but I just couldn't see myself being that. My mom had already undergone the shock of her life when I came home with dozens of Metallica t-shirts and a liter of hair gel. She had then made me promise to never not be myself. Even if I stayed punk, she wanted me to be kind to others and not lose my, well, Percy-ness."

Artemis listens to him quietly. She can't deny that her throat closes up when she notices how fondly Percy talks about his mom.

She has done a good job raising him, Artemis thinks.

"Your mom seems wonderful, Percy," she says wistfully.

"Yeah," he nods dreamily. "She is."

Artemis swallows thickly and smiles.

"Anyway," Percy interrupts loudly, noticing her melancholy tone. "Now are we gonna talk about my marvelous coffee or what? You almost seemed to moan at the taste."

"Ew, don't make it weird," Artemis makes a face before rolling her eyes. "Also, it wasn't that good. It still stands at the second- no tenth! Yeah, um, tenth place!"

"Aha!" Percy exclaims smugly, "I knew it!"

Artemis quickly realizes she likes talking to him. He is funny and honest and just about adorable. Even with his intimidating clothes and the lip ring and the rebellious streak of aquamarine in his raven locks behind his hair, Artemis can't describe him as anything but pure.

She can see it in the way he talks about his friends, his mom, and his favorite bands (PAtD or something) that he's the kind of person to see the good in everything. He makes her forget about her problems at home and makes her laugh and blush as she has never before. He almost worms into her heart without even trying, and for the first time in her miserable life, she lets him. She knows she is getting dangerously attached with each passing second but at this point, she doesn't even care.

("Why do you hate black so much," he asks curiously and she freezes.

Her throat closes up as she remembers the haunted day, nine years ago.

The accident.

The funeral.

The coffins.

The black suits.

Her best friend- dead. Her mother- dead.

Her eyes swell with tears. She grabs Percy's hand in her hysteria and gives it a crushing squeeze and cries. Percy lets her)

They talk for what seems like hours. The sun has long since set but the two have never been more reluctant to leave. So, they don't. They trade stories and jokes and fall for each other just a little more.

At one point, Artemis is laughing wildly at a stupid joke Percy has said about a cyclist and an ant-eater and she meets his eyes mid-laugh. There's this look in his eyes as he gazes at her. Adoration, she thinks. A voice that whispers love. Her throat closes up in the best way possible and her heart thumps wildly.

Percy gives her one of his brilliant smirks and reaches to tuck a stray strand of auburn behind her ears.

"There's this girl," Percy hums, and Artemis bites her lips to smother her giddy smile.

"Yeah?"

"I haven't known her long, but she really likes coffee. She is really also determined about her schoolwork. I mean a lot of people would find it weird that she can sit for hours, studying and completing her work. She's lucky I find it cute."

"Mhm. She sounds familiar. Do I know her?"

"Possibly," Percy whispers, leaning just a little closer. "I like her very much. She'd probably run away thinking how much I like her considering I've only known her for a couple of hours. She has the most brilliant pair of silver eyes and the cutest of blushes I've ever seen. I've only known her for a day and I can't believe how much I've grown attached. And now I can't help but admit how much I want to kiss her."

A raging inferno burns in her chest.

"What does she think?"

Percy bites his lips, dragging his teeth along the piercing. "You tell me."

Artemis knows this isn't herself. She knows there's a lot of things that can go wrong in the future, yet she finds herself unable to stop. She doesn't think she can even if she wanted to.

She doesn't care she's met this guy only three hours ago because she can admit that these three hours with him have been better than the last twenty years of her life she's spent with anyone else.

And so she leans forward and presses her thumb softly over his lips, brushing the cool piece of metal softly. (who knew lip rings would prove to be her weakness)

She whispers, "Good thing that she doesn't mind," and Percy takes her breath away.

i warned u.

so, uh, did i win? probably not, but i do hope it was entertaining in the least.

please review your thoughts and ofc the criticism and i'll see u guys next time ;)