This is a commission for the wonderful Valasania the Pale, who requested female Percy and Thalia in a rivals-turned-lovers scenario. Enjoy~
Thanks go to GrimGrave for beta reading this piece!
Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better
"Miss Thalia?"
The dark-haired Huntress grit her teeth as she searched for the patience to answer without revealing her ire. For three straight nights, she had had to put up with a slew of complaints, well-meant-but-utterly-foolish suggestions, and the sort of small talk that was somehow worse than awkward silence. Thalia was the daughter of a God, not a saint, and she definitely didn't have the seemingly endless reservoir of patience that Artemis did.
As the immortal's right hand, it was Thalia's duty to educate the newbies and ease them into their new lives as eternal maidens beneath the banner of the Goddess of the Hunt. This usually meant dinner with the others, and a hunt with the prospective Huntresses (usually no more than three at a time because it wasn't like positions opened up frequently), followed by a charming little ceremony overseen by Artemis herself. Dinner had been fantastic and the duo—twins by the names of Paige and Brighid—had gotten along famously with everyone else. Then, it had all gone downhill from there.
Thalia had no way of knowing that a routine Huntress induction could go so very wrong.
The weather had taken a turn for the worse while they'd been out, the heavens opening up and vomiting out deluges of water accompanied by a wicked light show—as though Zeus himself was playing a cruel joke on her. Ultimately, given her companions' lack of experience, Thalia had made the decision that they wait out the storm until hungry, cold, and more than a little stiff from sleeping on a cave floor, they emerged the next morning and returned to the main camp.
That had been the plan, anyway. Thalia was surprised to find the area had been vacated and all traces that the Hunt had come through here had been erased—until she remembered that there was a harvest festival being held in Artemis's honour on the other side of the State. The Goddess must have figured Thalia would catch up with them, not wanting to keep her faithful waiting for her.
Burdened by two fledgling Huntresses, the journey had been much slower and the rest of the Hunt always remained several steps ahead. Arguably, this was the perfect sort of hands-on scenario to mold Huntresses, but the perfect storm of inconveniences left Thalia less than able to see the silver lining. She just wanted to find camp, crawl into her tent, and curl up in her bedroll for a few days.
"What is it?" Thalia asked, proud to say her tone was level.
Her expression must not have been, because the blonde girl flinched. "There's, uh, a cabin up ahead."
Thalia looked around, really focused on her surroundings, and frowned thoughtfully. She had been on a sort of autopilot while tracking the others, so it only just dawned on her that they weren't too far from Camp Half-Blood. Why would Artemis have chosen to go this way? Perhaps the merciful Goddess knew that, while she couldn't slow her pace, she could provide somewhere for the missing members of her flock to rest their weary heads? Thalia could have kissed the immortal squarely on the mouth the next time she saw her… had they not both taken a vow of chastity, of course.
"This way."
…
A large cabin sat within a semi-circle of smaller ones—a nostalgic sight. As Thalia, Paige, and Brighid approached, the door opened and a man leaned out of the doorway and gave them a wave. He was well-dressed in a bookish sort of way and dark facial hair was trimmed immaculately. When he stepped into full view, the other two gasped audibly.
"Hello, Chiron."
Chiron, the Camp Half-Blood activities director, was a centaur and Thalia supposed that wasn't something the twins had encountered yet. He was probably one of the more tame mythical encounters they could have had, so their reactions made the demigod chuckle.
"It's good to see you, Thalia." His warm gaze slid to her companions. "And who are your lovely friends?"
After catching up for a time, Chiron insisted that they use one of the empty cabins for the night. Mess had already stopped serving food for the night, but he assured them that a delicious breakfast would be available the very next morning, after which they could be on their way. After Thalia promised to give his regards to Artemis, Chiron ushered them off to get some "much deserved rest."
Which was his nice way of saying they looked dead on their feet.
Thalia kindly allowed the twins to use the facilities first. It had been a long first day and she was very familiar with wanting to shower the grime of a long journey from her body. She began to regret that decision by the time Brighid (or was it Paige?) finished her shower and her sister took her turn. Would there be any hot water left?
A knock at the door made Thalia flinch. She had specifically asked Chiron to keep their presence to himself. It wasn't that she didn't have friends here at Camp Half-Blood; there just wasn't time to make nice. She planned on leaving at first light and reuniting with the rest of the Hunt.
Oddly enough, when Thalia opened the door no one was there. She leaned out of the doorway, casting a glance around for any signs of movement. Nothing. Thalia listened hard, but all she could hear was the usual cacophony of nocturnal critters.
When Thalia returned to the cabin, both girls had showered and changed into the clothes Artemis had provided them via Chiron. She was always five steps ahead and that was what made her a great leader, Thalia mused.
"I'm starving," Paige (or was it Brighid?) said, spread-eagle on one of the bunks.
Brighid (or was it Paige?) nodded emphatically from the bed adjacent to her. "What's for dinner?"
The mess hall wasn't too far from their cabin. It was after hours, which meant there wasn't anything being prepped right now, but no one would mind if they helped themselves to a few things, right? Dusk was settling over the camp and, though small groups still lingered, most campers had already headed inside for the night. Thalia gestured for Paige and Brighid to follow her and they did so, quietly, while staying out of sight. She'd make Huntresses of them yet.
The entryway led into the dining area and the trio made a beeline for the storage closet. That was likely locked, so Thalia would need to get a little creative—
"Mess isn't open right now," a familiar voice said. "Go back to your cabin."
The twins' eyes went wide, but Thalia scoffed and called the speaker's bluff: "Then what are you doing here, Percy Jackson?"
There was hurried rustling, as though the other party was trying to cover up a misdeed. Then, a tall, tan girl with a shock of spiky black hair emerged from the other side of the counter, eyes the depthless sea-green of the ocean narrowed.
The mere sight of her made Thalia's hackles raise. Just what was it about the other Demigod that made her feel so aggressive? So irrational?
"What in Hades name are you doing here?" Percy leaned against the open doorway with the haughty air of someone who hadn't picked the lock and been where she shouldn't have.
"I could ask you the same thing." Thalia looked pointedly at the rucksack slung over the girl's shoulder.
She could practically see the gears whirring behind Percy's eyes as she assessed the current situation. "... My silence for yours?"
"Deal."
With that settled, she looked to Thalia's companions and flashed them a smile. "Hi. I'm Percy."
"Nice to meet you," Paige (?) ventured. "My name is Brighid and this is my sister, Paige."
Okay, so she'd had it all wrong. This was why Thalia avoided calling either girl by name.
"Charmed," Percy was saying. "Don't listen to a word she says about me."
"As if I'd have a reason to mention you in the first place." There really wasn't and Percy knew that. The moment it left Thalia's mouth, however, gave Percy an excuse to continue.
"You mean you haven't told them about the time I beat you in a race?"
"Once out of five times? That's not exactly tale-worthy."
"That I bested you in a contest of strength?"
She was unusually tall for a girl her age and her larger stature had had Thalia at a disadvantage. "A brute is strong, but not very bright."
"Says the girl who couldn't solve a simple Sphinx's riddle."
"You'd heard it before and already knew the answer!" Thalia couldn't help the way her pitch rose with her incredulity.
"And?"
They glared at each other, both parties unwilling to back down from their verbal exchange. Despite her ire, Thalia couldn't help but admire Percy's face. She was the very image of Greek beauty: olive skin, dark hair, and piercing green eyes set into striking features. It was a shame she was such a knucklehead or she'd be the stuff of legends, akin to Helen of Troy.
It was something Thalia had found herself musing on more than one occasion, much to her own disdain. Just what was it about the other Demigod that made her feel so intrigued? So... attracted?
When it came to her vow of eternal maidenhood, there was no taboo in experiencing attraction. Immortal or not, the Maidens were still human, at least in their mentality, and there was no harm in looking. Thalia had never before acted on her baser instincts and she wasn't about to change that now. Besides, Percy Jackson was the last person on Earth to whom Thalia would want to confess any sort of attraction. And not because they were both women or anything silly and closed-minded like that. Percy was just, well, Percy and she would never shut up about it.
The tense silence stretched on and it was Thalia who looked away first. Brighid's jaw was slack and Paige glanced from one girl to the other, as though watching a tennis match. Thalia forced herself to be the bigger person and end this petty back and forth. She had to set an example for her companions, after all. "Weren't you sneaking off somewhere?"
A guilty look confirmed Thalia's suspicion. "I'll see myself out. Later, ladies."
…
While the twins prepared the rations they'd liberated from the pantry, Thalia headed out on her own to rustle up some protein. When she returned, she was triumphant and a little bloody from the deer carcass she'd slung over her shoulder. She taught the girls how to clean and cook her catch and it was well past midnight by the time they were able to eat.
Their bellies full, exhaustion settled over the trio. Though tempted to fall into bed and go straight to sleep, Thalia steeled herself to get cleaned up first.
When she opened the shower stall, a niggling feeling that something was amiss made the Demigod hesitate. After a precursory once-over, Thalia told herself that she was imagining things and reached out to turn on the water. The pipes groaned, and that was all the warning Thalia got before the showerhead spat out a curtain of foul, dark liquid. The girl leaped backward, moving quickly enough to avoid the brunt of the thick, sticky substance as the showerhead sputtered then stopped completely, but her calves and feet had been splattered.
"Great…"
This reeked of the antics of the Stoll brothers, Hermes's trickster kin. Thalia scowled, the urge to wring their scrawny necks rising, and weighed her options: there was a stream a few miles away or she could knock on some doors. Given the hour she didn't feel comfortable disturbing any of the councilors and who was to say whether the other unoccupied cabins were also ticking prank time bombs.
That left one option...
Part of Thalia hoped Percy would still be sneaking around, and therefore not in her cabin, when she knocked on the door. When the lights flicked on, the Huntress sighed inwardly. Just her luck...
"Do you realize what time it is?" Percy asked, bleary-eyed and sleep-tousled. She blinked owlishly as she noticed Thalia's current state. "What the heck happened to you?"
Thalia was in no mood to mince words. "Step aside."
Dark eyebrows rose, but Percy actually didn't put up a fuss as she allowed Thalia entry. She shut the door behind the Huntress and asked, "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah." Thalia glanced around the room, but try as she might, she couldn't help but notice Percy's state of undress. Long legs were left bare by a pair of dark blue boy shorts and her tank top was too short, exposing her midriff. Something about the impropriety of being alone with Percy, dressed as she was, at this late hour made Thalia feel anxious. She kept her gaze pointedly on Percy's face, but the dark-haired beauty's just-woke-up look was unexpectedly sexy. "I, uh, just need to use your shower."
Any concern that might have been on the tan girl's face disappeared. Percy pointed wordlessly to the bathroom and shook her head as Thalia stalked past her.
After closing and locking the door behind her, Thalia let out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Deep breaths. Each one cooled the heat in Thalia's face until she could think clearly again. Standing here, in a place where Percy had been naked, wasn't helping matters.
'Damnit, Jackson…'
Thalia turned on the water so it could heat up while she stripped. With each article of clothing she shed, she felt a bit better about her day. So what if she was tired and dirty? Tomorrow, well technically today, was a new day. She would shower, return to her room, and get what rest she could before they had to leave. Once the twins had safely rejoined the rest of the Hunt, she was going to take a little vacation. Just her and the wilderness.
Thalia got out and toweled off, but then she froze when realization struck her: she had left her change of clothes in her cabin. She wrinkled her nose distastefully at her soiled clothing and sighed. This just wasn't her night. Thalia cracked open the bathroom door and barked, "Percy!"
"What?"
"Can I borrow some nightclothes?"
After a brief pause, some articles of clothing were shoved through the gap. "You're a pain in my ass, you know that?"
"Thanks." The plain white tee was a size too large, fitting her like a short dress rather than a blouse, and it smelled like Percy. The knowledge made Thalia's cheeks heat anew. "... Where's the rest of it?"
"That's all I've got."
"I'm not asking to borrow underwear. I just need some shorts."
"Don't have any."
"Boxers?"
"Nope."
"Seriously?" Thalia ran a hand through her hair. "Do you just not do laundry?"
"Not recently, no. But that's beside the point! I... don't usually wear anything to bed."
Oh... Thalia's mind stuttered, uncertain of what to do with that information. Percy's current state of undress was proof of that statement; she had likely thrown on something in a hurry after being awoken.
Thalia gathered up her dirty clothes and exited the bathroom, fidgeting with the hem of the shirt with every step. She could practically feel the hot flush spreading across her cheeks and down to her collar and found it difficult to look the other girl in the eye as a result.
"Thanks," Thalia said. She cleared her throat and added, more loudly, "I owe you one."
"Couldn't you have just splashed around in the creek or something?" Percy made a show of yawning widely. "Leave it to Artemis's cabin not to have plumbing."
There was the total ass Thalia was accustomed to arguing with over everything and nothing. Her temper flared, any goodwill she might have felt towards the other Demigod dashed in an instant. Without thinking, Thalia threw the bundle of dirty clothes and it struck Percy squarely in the face.
Percy spluttered and flailed, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What the hell, Thalia!?"
"Screw you."
The air became heavy with tension. Percy looked taken aback, at least at first, but then something Thalia couldn't identify glinted in sea green orbs.
"Maybe then you'd be a little less uptight." Percy sneered. "I guess the eternal maidenhood thing isn't for everyone."
That was a low blow. "Like you would understand? You have no idea what self-control is."
"Me? I told a joke and you threw crap at me!"
"You aren't funny." Every time Thalia stepped away, Percy advanced. Her proximity was distressing for a variety of reasons; a mixture of anxiety as her heart hammered against the inside of her breast and irritation at the dark-haired girl's cocky attitude. "Back off, Kelp Head."
"Or else what, Pinecone Face? Artemis isn't here to save you."
Thalia's fuse had already been shortened considerably by a trying series of events throughout the day and it was inevitable that, when she snapped, it would be explosive. The punch caught Percy off-guard and she staggered away, clutching her stomach. Adrenaline flooded Thalia as she stood tall, daring Percy to retaliate with a scowl. "I warned you."
"You… hit... like a punk," Percy said through gritted teeth, not quite pulling off the bravado she wanted.
Thalia threw another punch, but this time her opponent was ready. Percy caught Thalia's fist and used her forward momentum to swing her around, where she staggered a few steps and collided with the dresser. Thalia recovered quickly, dodging out of the way as Percy rushed her and vaulting over one of the bunks. She was at a disadvantage in terms of strength, and there was also the matter of her state of dress… Thalia held fast to the hem of her shirt as she moved, intensely self-conscious of the possibility that she might accidentally expose herself.
Percy seemed to realize that Thalia was holding back and she changed tactics, trying to corner the Huntress rather than overpower her. Thalia went on the defensive, studiously avoiding being grappled by the larger girl. Percy was quick and cunning, but she came close a few times only to grab at thin air.
Finally, Thalia wore Percy down and the two stood at opposite ends of the room, panting and glaring at one another.
"Had enough?"
"I could… hah… do this all night." Her chest heaved with each ragged intake of breath and Thalia's attention shifted despite herself.
That was all the opening Percy needed. She pounced, capturing Thalia in a bear hug. A brief, but violent scuffle ensued, during which Percy managed to get Thalia in a headlock. The Huntress twisted in her grasp, elbowing the taller girl's side sharply, and the pain loosened Percy's grip so that when Thalia kicked the back of her knees, she crumpled.
Before Thalia could place some distance between them, Percy grabbed her ankle and jerked, hard. Thalia hit the ground with enough force to knock the wind out of her, but she didn't stop moving; she kicked out with her free foot, crushing Percy's fingers and forcing her to release her grip with a pained hiss.
There were welts on pale skin, Percy had been squeezing so hard.
Thalia made an attempt to get to her feet, but Percy tackled her a second time. Blows were exchanged, punctuated by colourful language, until, finally they ended up in a tangle of limbs on the floor. Percy straddled Thalia's midsection, pinning her wrists on either side of her head, and no matter how Thalia twisted and bucked, she couldn't get the larger girl off of her.
And, miraculously, through it all Thalia managed to avoid exposing herself.
"Get off of me, Percy."
"You're in no position to be making demands." Her grin was infuriating. "Admit that I won and I'll let you go."
'Ugh…!' Her pride stung now, but her body would hurt worse tomorrow, after the adrenaline had faded. "Hardly. I kicked your ass."
"By fleeing like a scared rabbit?" Percy scoffed.
Thalia glowered then looked away, contemplating her escape options. There was no way she would be able to overpower Percy and there was nothing within reach she could use to aid her. She didn't want to actually harm the girl and if they really got into it, a fight between both Demigods could potentially result in catastrophic damage to Camp Half-Blood. Her absentminded stare adjusted, zeroing in on the low neckline of Percy's tank top; she flushed, quickly diverting her gaze, but it was too late.
"Oi. My eyes are up here."
"I wasn't…" She couldn't even finish the lie.
The grin had taken on a sly air. "See something you like?"
"You're a pig."
"I'm not the one ogling someone in the middle of a fight." Sea green orbs wandered lazily. "Okay, maybe a little."
'Wait, what?'
Percy's face was too close and, just like that, the fight was over, forgotten. Thalia shrank back as best she could; it was difficult to think straight with how hot her face was and how loudly her heart pounded in her ears. "Percy—"
"Have you ever even kissed someone?"
Thalia blushed hotly. "What kind of question is that?"
"Is that a "no"?"
"I never said that…" Maybe once, before she'd become a tree. It was so long ago, Thalia's memory of the event was fuzzy. Or maybe it hadn't been that memorable?
A challenge glittered in Percy's eyes. "Prove it."
"What?! No!"
"Why not?"
I don't want to kiss you, Thalia's brain offered, but that was a lie. "I can't."
"Why not?" She was like a dog with a bone. Or a precocious child.
"Seriously? Does eternal maidenhood mean nothing to you?"
"It's just a kiss. It's not like we're having sex."
The word alone was enough to send a tremor of excitement along Thalia's spine. "Just… No."
There was no way Percy was going to goad her into this.
"What, are you scared?"
"No."
None.
"C'mon. I don't bite."
…
"If I do this, will you shut up about it?"
Percy released one of Thalia's wrists in favour of pantomiming the act of sealing her lips shut and throwing away a key. Escape didn't even cross Thalia's mind as she stared at the lips in question.
'Artemis, forgive me…'
Thalia took a deep breath and then leaned up and kissed Percy firmly on the mouth. Though the contact only lasted a matter of seconds, the physiological response was overwhelming for someone so inexperienced with such matters, and Thalia shivered as wet heat suffused the apex of her thighs.
Percy's eyes were wide—as though she didn't believe Thalia had actually gone through with it—and the Huntress would have been triumphant if she hadn't been so flustered. "Happy...?"
"That's the kind of kiss you give your grandmother," Percy said, after schooling her features into a more neutral expression. "Let me show you how it's done."
Thalia wasn't given a chance to protest as Percy claimed her lips a second time. A soft sound of surprise escaped Thalia when Percy cupped her cheek with unexpected tenderness and traced a thumb along the curve of her jaw. Percy took advantage of the opening that created, snaking her tongue past Thalia's lips.
Had this whole thing been an excuse for Percy to take what she wanted like she always did?
That niggling suspicion was buried beneath a wave of desire when a large, warm hand began wandering Thalia's front. It managed to hitch up the hem of her borrowed tee before Thalia's good sense caught up to her. She broke away from the kiss and began struggling anew. "Percy..."
"What." Percy's eyes were wild, intense, and the animal magnetism within them actually caused Thalia to fall still.
"I-I shouldn't."
"Artemis will never have to know."
Thalia worried her bottom lip with her teeth. She took her vow of eternal maidenhood seriously, of course, but in the heat of the moment, that seemed silly and idealistic. What difference did it make if she engaged in… carnal relations? "But—"
Percy cut her off with a smouldering kiss. She didn't pull away until Thalia was breathless, her mind a haze of desire. Why was she still fighting this? Her loins ached like never before, demanding release of her pent-up desires.
"You want this, don't you." It wasn't a question, so much as a confirmation.
Thalia whimpered as her inner muscles twitched eagerly. "Percy…"
The taller girl kissed her again, and the length of her body pressed into Thalia's. The warmth shared between their bodies was irresistible and Thalia moved against Percy, shuddering ecstatically. She felt the hem of her shirt being lifted again and, this time, she didn't have the presence of mind to stop it.
Sea green orbs widened. "You're not wearing—"
"You didn't give me anything, remember?" Thalia snapped, embarrassment making her temper flare.
"I'd say I was sorry, but…" Percy smirked.
Thalia simultaneously wanted to smack her and kiss her. She settled for the latter, wiping that smirk off of the other girl's lips with her own. Percy made an appreciative sound as she hiked up the tee-shirt, exposing pale flesh to her roaming hands. Her touch left pinpricks of fire in its wake and Thalia moaned into their kiss.
When Percy pulled away, taking her incredible warmth with her, Thalia couldn't contain a disappointed sound. The girl smiled—a genuine smile, not her usual smirk—and pressed a kiss to Thalia's temple before removing her tee-shirt. Totally nude before someone who was a friend and part-time rival, Thalia felt a surge of self-consciousness.
She wasn't given time to dwell on it as Percy lifted her without warning—easily, as though she hardly weighed anything. She held her bridal style as she crossed the room then deposited her on the bed before stripping off her own clothes.
'Absolutely shameless,' Thalia thought, biting her lip. And Percy had every right to be because her body was magnificent: tan and lithe with curves in all the right places. The glances Thalia had stolen at twin swells, which were a few shades lighter than the rest of the olive-skinned beauty, didn't do them justice. Her hands moved of their own volition, the overwhelming desire to touch making it difficult to fully form thoughts, and palmed warm, soft swells.
She gave them a gentle squeeze, her gaze going to Percy's face when the girl released a soft sound. Encouraged by the throaty vocalization, Thalia began exploring Percy's breasts; tracing her fingers along their undersides; hefting their weight in her palms; tweaking a nipple and watching, fascinated, as it stiffened and the areola around it pebbled.
Thalia was still learning things about herself and apparently, she was a breast woman.
Thalia buried her face in their warmth, relishing in the softness of Percy's skin. She smelled good, too, something that Thalia had noticed many times before, but had been unable to appreciate. Now, with her nose buried in the scent's source, Thalia's head swam pleasantly. She kissed the valley between twin peaks, kneading Percy's breast as she nipped and nuzzled.
'So soft…'
Thalia could have spent all night lavishing them with attention, but fingers tangled in her hair and applied pressure, yanking her upright. Percy was breathing hard and her gaze was heavy-lidded. Had she done that? Thalia had been so lost in her ministrations that she hadn't even noticed the effect she was having on her partner.
"Lay down," Percy growled.
Breathless, eager, Thalia did as she was told and Percy knelt next to her. She cupped the Huntress's sex, petting the triangle of dark curls as she pressed kisses along the curve of her jaw. Her fingertips brushed against Thalia's slit, spreading the slickness she found there and using it to tease the sensitive bundle of nerves above while Thalia whimpered and squirmed.
The direct contact was almost overwhelming in its intensity, her movement meant to simultaneously prolong and end it. As the teasing continued, Thalia's inner muscles began to throb in silent askance for more. Primal instinct took over and Thalia bucked, angling her hips so that Percy's fingertips dipped inside her slit. Just that taste of being filled was like a bolt of electricity zipping along her spine and Thalia gasped as a shudder rolled through her.
Percy, bless her, caught on and positioned her fingers at Thalia's entrance. She hesitated before sliding a single finger inside, meeting some resistance as she pierced Thalia's maidenhead. It hurt. Thalia let out a breath between clenched teeth as she buried her face in Percy's throat.
"Sorry," Percy murmured, kissing the crown on Thalia's head. "It'll feel better soon..."
She continued to thrust shallowly, giving Thalia the opportunity to adjust as she made soothing sounds. Who would have thought Percy Jackson would be such a gentle and attentive lover? Thalia actually chuckled aloud at the thought.
Percy arched an eyebrow. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah. I…" She smiled, glad Percy couldn't see the expression. "I never would have thought you would be the one to… You know."
Not that she thought she'd lose her virginity in the first place.
Percy's fingers stilled and she sat back to look at Thalia. "Is… that a good thing?" Her tone was careful, as though she wasn't certain what Thalia's response would be.
The vulnerability Thalia saw in sea green orbs was endearing. She leaned up and kissed Percy gently as she placed a hand over the one between her legs. The pain had faded to a dull ache and Thalia began pumping her hips, the sweet friction the motion created making her cry out softly.
They'd come too far to stop now.
Percy inhaled sharply, her gaze smouldering. She thrust her finger to meet Thalia, slowly increasing her pace until velvet inner muscles had relaxed enough for her to add a second. Thalia shivered and bit her lip, meeting Percy's eyes as she worked her over. It was obvious the Demigod had done this before and Thalia didn't want to think about with whom or how many times.
She mewled as Percy leaned over her and took a rosy nipple into her mouth. She ran her tongue around the bud before applying suction, her fingers maintaining their steady pace and driving Thalia wild. She alternated between breasts, nipping, nuzzling, and flicking her tongue across pert peaks; all the while, her fingers continued to wreak sweet havoc.
Percy slipped in a third finger and the way her muscles stretched to accommodate it made Thalia wince. She whined and squirmed, clawing at the sheets, and Percy kissed her soundly, distracting her from the discomfort that swiftly gave way to pleasure. The kiss became messy and disjointed as Percy's pace quickened. Pleasure threatened to overtake Thalia, her hips moving of their own volition to wring as much sensual gratification as she could from them.
When Percy spread long digits apart and wriggled them the sensation of fullness was more than Thalia could bear. A wave of ecstasy crashed over her, ripping a scream from her throat that Percy quickly muffled with her own lips. Long fingers never stopped pumping, easing Thalia down from her high. After a brief eternity, Thalia shuddered and slumped, feeling more relaxed than she had before. She tensed up again when Percy slid her fingers out, the friction of her inner walls clenching around them making her eyes roll back in her head.
That was sex? Gods above, she understood what all the fuss was about now.
"Oi."
Thalia stretched lazily, muscles she didn't know she possessed aching in the best of ways. "Mm?"
"We're not finished here."
Percy swung her leg over Thalia, positioning herself so that she was facing Thalia's sex and vice versa. Thalia caught on quickly, reaching up and tracing her fingers along the bare lips of Percy's sex. The sight was so alien to her and therefore intimidating, but she shrugged off her trepidation and reached lower—or would it be higher? Percy's throaty sound confirmed that she was on the right track.
While Thalia continued her exploration Percy returned to her slit, wasting no time before burying two fingers up to the second knuckle. They slid in more easily this time, but the electrical arcs of pleasure were still as potent as they had been the first time.
Her view wasn't the best given Percy's height and her lack thereof, but she prodded gently until she found a spot with some give, and gasped. Percy's excitement leaked out of her entrance, which was so slick Thalia's fingers slid right in. She released a squeak, as if surprised by the boldness of the action, but that didn't stop her hips from rolling. Seeing Percy ride her fingers, especially from this angle, was an incredible turn-on and Thalia bit her lip. It took some maneuvering, but she managed to find an angle and pace that had the other girl bouncing and bucking, her husky sounds increasing in volume and frequency.
Percy redoubled her efforts, forcing a low moan out of Thalia. Every deep thrust, every wriggle of fingertips, every pleasurable vocalization felt like an effort to outdo her own actions as a litany of moans filled the cabin. As incredible as she felt, her competitiveness wouldn't allow her to just lose herself to it without returning the favour tenfold—especially when her partner was Percy.
The race was on to see who would surrender to their pleasure first.
Thalia craned her neck and stuck her tongue out, licking blindly until she had located Percy's clit. The action actually caused Percy to falter, her fingers falling still as she pushed her hips down. It became difficult to breathe, the musk of Percy's arousal flooding her senses, but Thalia didn't let up, licking in earnest while her fingers thrust quickly into wet heat. She could feel Percy's inner muscles clamp down around her fingers and it excited her, her own inner muscles clenching empathetically.
"Thalia!" Percy called, rocking her hips with wanton abandon.
She nipped Thalia's hip as she quickened her pace, the curve of her fingers ramming against a spot that made the Huntress's toes curl.
"Mm…!" Thalia's moan was muffled by Percy's sex.
Her mind went blank, every fiber of her being dedicated to giving and receiving pleasure. She could feel her own climax approaching with alarming speed and there was no way to delay the ecstasy that threatened to overload her senses.
Neither girl could be certain who reached orgasm first as they collapsed in a tangle of limbs, spent and euphoric.
"Miss Thalia. Wake up."
Thalia stirred and mumbled incoherently. When the hand on her shoulder didn't cease its gentle shaking, she groaned, and heavy lids opened to reveal bloodshot eyes.
"A-are you feeling alright?" Paige was standing a safe distance behind her sister, so she probably felt brave enough to add, "You don't look so good."
Thalia shrugged Bridhid off and sat up, immediately regretting the decision as her everything ached. She cursed beneath her breath and dragged a hand through her hair as she struggled to assemble her thoughts into working order. Last night she had…
…
…
...
Oh, Goddess. The night came back in a rush and Thalia buried her face in her hands in a futile attempt to mask the crimson hue that spread across her nose bridge. She and Percy had explored every inch of each other's bodies and Thalia still craved more. She couldn't shake that desire any more than she could shake the deep sense of guilt that settled in the pit of her stomach, heavy as the planet upon Atlas's shoulders.
She had broken her vow to Artemis. As the Goddess's lieutenant and close friend, she was held to greater standards. She was supposed to set an example as a Maiden and serve her mistress—and the tenets she set forth—with unwavering devotion. All of that had gone out the window after spending one night with Percy Jackson.
Thalia groaned. She could feel the twins' concerned gazes, but she didn't dare raise her head.
On top of everything, she had overslept. The twins had no way of knowing that that was something she never did and for that, Thalia was glad. She didn't even remember stumbling back to the cabin; Percy must have carried her.
Abruptly, Thalia threw her feet over the side of the bed. There was no use mulling things over and getting down in the dumps. Not when there was still so much to do.
…
They left Camp as inconspicuously as they had arrived. Exhausted as she was, Thalia was happy to be back on the road again. Part of her wished she had had a chance to say goodbye to Percy, but perhaps it was better this way. Her good sense seemed to disappear completely when that seaweed-headed brute was concerned.
As the trio approached Half-Blood Hill, Thalia's chest constricted. She'd spent a lot of time here and her memories weren't exactly fond, but she powered through her anxiety. When they made it to the top, Thalia paused. She felt as though she was being watched, and as piercing blue orbs scanned her surroundings, she confirmed her suspicion: Percy stood near a stand of trees at the bottom of the hill.
How had she known Thalia would be here at this exact moment?
Thalia waited until the twins had walked away some distance before she lifted her hand and gave Percy a little wave. The girl returned the gesture, her smile radiant even from this distance, and then turned around and walked out of sight without once looking over her shoulder. Thalia watched her go, a curious little maelstrom of emotions swirling beneath her breast. It would take some time to sort them all; perhaps she needed a little time off more than she had originally thought.
"Miss Thalia?"
"Coming."
And perhaps during that time, she could make a trip to Camp Half-Blood…
End