(A/N I tried to stay on point, really I did!)

Artemis

They were walking up and down the river now. A few spots had grey water runoff and Percy cursed the pollution. Artemis felt it too, the strangulation of the Wild. She couldn't feel the river spirit's suffering, but she could imagine. A voice at the back of her mind reminded her she should be annoyed that he could sense it, as he was supposed to be cut off from such things. Sighing, she continued down the river.

There was a physical change in the air as they crossed the last bridge in town. Hurrying up the block they observed the wilderness past town and her heart broke at the visage of death that met her gaze. What was once green and brown was instead grey and black.

She heard her own rattling intake of breath. How had they not seen this from the mountain spring? Perseus silently pointed up at the canopy and she could see the sickness was fairly concentrated. The height of the buildings would have covered the scar on the land.

"Pretty sure we're in the right place," Percy muttered beside her. His hand brushed hers and she could pull his pain and memory from the contact. The swamp he'd infiltrated to find Estelle. The cursed, dead region that was left behind and is still drowned in poison a year later.

He almost shifted away, but she quickly grabbed his hand and laced their fingers before he could escape the contact. She couldn't pinpoint exactly why that felt so necessary, but she held fast nonetheless.

He glanced at their laced fingers and tilted his head to give her a questioning look, but she pointedly ignored him and ventured to the visible boundary between living and dead.

"What do you think caused this?" she asked in a hopefully normal tone.

"I dunno," he muttered before smirking. "But it doesn't exactly give off the 'date night' vibes I was looking for." She twitched and his smirk widened.

He was challenging her. He was challenging her again. Only this time they were equals, or if anything he held the power because he couldn't follow simple direction and act like a mortal! Taking a breath she reminded herself that she was the one who grabbed his hand. And now he was playing along with the stage she'd inadvertently set.

She grit her teeth and squeezed his hand for a moment. His smirk lessened and his gaze softened and she knew he understood her boundaries. Another breath. Relax. And a wicked idea.

She bounced up onto her toes in an instant and placed her free hand on his chest for balance, their faces only inches apart. Though they'd be closer if he didn't feel the need to be so ridiculously tall.

"And what kind of setting did you want?"

He shifted, obviously catching himself from backing away from her and she bit a laugh. He wanted to play on this stage? Then he had to stay in character.

Slowly, slowly, he placed his free hand on her waist, barely making contact, just steadying his fingertips at her hip.

"Alone is great," he rasped out. She grew slightly nervous at the tone of his voice, but she steadied herself knowing she could trust him. "But maybe somewhere a little less...exposed."

She felt her face flamed up and bit her lip to keep any other expressions from crossing her features. Artemis honestly wasn't sure what her face might say without her consent.

Shifting away from her once more, Percy kept her hand in his and led her back into the town's streets.

"Do you think anyone was watching us, milady?" he finally said under his breath when they were within two blocks of the BAD Hotel.

She tried not to let the title surprise her. It was a common thing for people to call her. Or at least for those in her Hunt to call her.

"I don't know, but it was good for us to keep the ruse," she replied equally as quiet.

He hummed a chuckle and she glared at him, stealing her hand back. Her reaction built his chuckle, but he continued to try to hide it and she pouted for a moment.

This was...fun for some reason. The challenge, the playacting, the banter. Even the nonverbal teasing they were doing now, just trying to get the other to cave without even saying a word. She didn't even know what it would look like for either of them to forfeit their game, but she knew she'd be disappointed when it ended.

And end it did. They reached the hotel.

.

Percy

"So," he sat on the arm of the chair, bouncing his leg anxiously as she paced, "we know where her power is resonating."

"Yes."

"And no one was visibly following us."

"No."

"So do we go in as we are or do we take time to charge our true forms?"

This time she hesitated, turning to face him.

"I don't know. We haven't found where she is yet, and if we charge in in our true forms then she might sense us and run. But if we go in as we are…" she trailed off, bit her lip, resumed pacing, and started braiding and unbraiding bits of her hair.

"We're not defenseless, milady," he said pointedly, earning another glare.

"And she is not to be underestimated. Last time you only succeeded because your goal was to save Estelle. Need I remind you how you failed otherwise?"

He felt his temper flair to match her taunt, but dammit if she wasn't right!

"I'm not reckless," he ground out.

"I never said you were," she smirked. "Though if you think so-"

"I'm not reckless. I did what I had to. I know better now than then, which is why I'm trying to help form a plan."

Artemis inclined her head, regarding him. He could see the moment she decided she'd crossed a line.

"Forgive me," she said softly. "I don't...enjoy being in this state. And I definitely don't relish the idea of facing she who could kill the infamous Percy Jackson while I am at such a disadvantage."

He considered her for a moment. This was the second time in as many days that she, Artemis, had admitted to experiencing fear.

"You wandered the world over like this. Alone."

"But I never sought out anything that was more than I thought I could handle."

"And now?"

She sighed and sat on the other side of the couch, her head in her hands.

"I feel like the best strategy is to take her in these forms, when she'll be surprised. But I also doubt our ability to actually take her down while like this."

"Okay… So how about we do both?"

"Excuse me?"

"I'll infiltrate the area and find where she is and call you in."

She considered the plan's merits.

"No… I should go in."

"But you're-"

"The better tracker, yes," she interjected. "And if we're speaking about raw power I can nurse my pride and admit you are more powerful than I. My experience is the only thing that gives me an edge over you."

He tried really hard to think of an argument.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?"

She gave one sharp nod.

"How long will it take me to reach my true form?"

"Not long," she said through a yawn. "You're not very far removed from it. You could probably begin calling on your domain when we part ways and be reasonably recovered by the time I find her."

"So, I'll wait until then so she doesn't sense my presence too soon."

"Mmhmm," Artemis nodded, her eyes drooping a little. "I'll take something of yours so you can find me easier."

"What do you mean?"

"Haven't you noticed it's easier to find things you have a connection to?"

"Yeah… but I've never had an issue finding you." The moment the words left his mouth he regretted them. He didn't realize how they'd sound until they were already out there making her jaw drop to form a little 'o' with her lips. Swallowing he tried for a bit of nonchalance. "Must be a loyalty thing since I consider you a friend." He resisted the urge to clear his throat or point out that he'd had no issues even before they became close. Thinking about it now, it'd taken a while for him to find Themis or Styx with such ease, but never Artemis.

"Yeah," she said after a moment of concentration. "That makes sense." She reached up and touched his temple, tracing the hair that grew there. The grey/white hairs that remained in any form he took. He was unsure why he couldn't rid himself of the streak in his godly form, Artemis didn't have one.

A knock at the door startled her hand away from him and she stretched and yawned again as he made his way to answer.