Alright. Here's a mountain for you guys. Just one thing before I begin, on itsy bitsy thing I ask of you all.
If you spot it? Please don't spoil it.
You'll know what I'm talking about when you see it.
-Bronzeandsteel
Also, if you want an idea of what Hammer falls looks like look up Juneau, Alaska, specifically in the rainy season. That's what I based it off of.
Percy, at this moment in time, had never felt so uncomfortable in his life, and he certainly had a lot of references to compare to.
There was the time he almost got turned into a pseudo-sex slave by the amazons on his quest with hazel and Frank, that was certainly something. Or there was that time he tried the rock wall on "Billy goat" difficulty and a stream of lava burned the seat of his pants and underwear clean off. Man, Clarisse didn't let him hear the end of that for a week. Or hell, even the time he got caught going on some... questionable websites at his old apartment. That wasn't a fun bedroom conversation to have with mom and her boyfriend.
No, but this current situation, it was just a perfect storm of tension and uncomfortableness.
Artemis, for her part, was doing what Percy assumed to be her best not to calmly pull Zoe off of Percy before most likely skinning him alive. Leo could not even for a single second stop grinning as he laid his hands on his hips, chuckling slightly to himself. But that really wasn't what made Percy want to sink into his couch cushions, it was Annabeth.
She just... bored into him with those storm grey eyes. Sizing him up and breaking him down as she kept an eyebrow raised and her mouth in a firm line across her face. Percy felt Zoe's body go stiff basically the second they'd shown up and she'd gotten a look at Annabeth, and considering the conversation they'd just had in his truck, and the current state of their relationship... let's just say Percy was glad she was unarmed.
He'd also be lying if he said his heart didn't skip a beat when the words Zoe and relationship crossed his mind in the same sentence.
Eventually, after sharing some glares across the room, Zoe eventually got off Percy, who took the opportunity to stand up straight, giving a polite bow to Artemis.
"Lady Artemis..." He mumbled, through a tightly clamped jaw. The goddess looked at him with a thoroughly unimpressed face as she slowly brought her arms up, crossing them across her chest.
"Perseus..." She replied, in a tone that made him bite his tongue before he corrected her, "May I ask what you're doing with Zoe?"
Percy felt his face go pale as he slowly brought his eyes to meet the goddess, "I uh, well..." he stammered out as Leo's grin grew across his face. He caught a glance at the son of Hephaestus and felt his face pull into a frown.
"Oh, what're you laughing at, hothead?" He asked, as Leo tried and failed to stifle a laugh.
"Nothing Percy, just... man if only Calypso could see this." He said, with a toothy grin. Annabeth narrowed her eyes a bit, inspecting Percy as he stood in front of them. He'd have been lying if he said it wasn't making him nervous, but he'd also have been lying if he said he wasn't happy that she was being as... civil as she was.
"So." He said, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm guessing this is the quest team?" He asked looking at Artemis. The goddess let out a slight nod.
"More or less, my hunters will also be arriving."
Percy couldn't help but let out a slight sigh, realizing that he and Zoe's private time was officially over. He let go of Zoe's hand and took a step towards Artemis. "I see." He said, putting his hands on his hips, "They won't be tranquilizing me and tying me to a chair again, right?" He asked her. Her face pulled into a glare that bored into him.
"Well that all depends on whether or not you plan on sticking a gun in my face again." She replied, make him break the glare and look down in shame.
"Sorry about that..." He muttered, and she waved a hand in front of him.
"That doesn't matter. What does matter however, is properly preparing for the quest at hand. I assume you've had... some briefing by the thunder god?" She asked him, to which he cocked his chin up and let out a small whistle.
"You have no idea." He said, before turning back to her. "I've got a couple crates of weapons in my truck. Knives, arrows, swords, axes. Hell, I think I even grabbed that morning star..." He said, rubbing his chin. Artemis took a step forward, gently patting him on the arm.
"Yes well, I'm certain you have made many acquisitions in preparation, and I'll be sure to get my hunters situated with these weapons when they arrive."
Percy nodded, rubbing the back of his neck as he did. "So uh... what now? Is it time for planning? Or what exactly do we do here? Because I haven't really done a quest in a while."
Artemis sighed and took a side step, moving towards Zoe as she looked at Percy's outfit in disgust. "How about you... change into something more appropriate, Percy. Then we can talk about the quest."
Percy looked down, confused at her choice of words, before he noticed that, in his chaotic storm of cooking he'd splattered marinara all over his white shirt. He sighed and walked to his bedroom. As he did he passed his kitchen, and couldn't help but notice Annabeth. She was leaning against the counter, arms pulled tightly across her stomach.
She had tears in her eyes when her gaze met his. He turned away quickly and entered his room.
He closed the door behind him, hearing the door handle close with a quiet click, before a sigh passed over his lips and he sat down on his bed.
Fuck.
That's all he could really think, all he could really express in regards to his current situation. Everything had been so perfect, so absolutely stupendously perfect, for all of around 4 hours. Then his past, his complicated, somewhat terrifying, emotionally confusing past had shown up in his living room in a pair of jeans andoan orange t-shirt. He felt like his heart had stopped the moment she showed up in the room, dying in his chest that very second. He felt nervous and worried and a little scared, all at the same time. He silently cursed the gods for being so cruel.
He sighed, standing up and peeling his shirt off him, tossing it in the hamper as he moved over to his closet, feeling around for another rone of his dozens of white t-shirts. He figured he may as well get ready for a bunch of other, Hammer falls specific conversations so he kicked off the pants he had on too and felt around for one of his uniforms. He was pulled from his search when he heard his bedroom door open. He silently paled, and froze in place. Who was that? Who had just walk into his room? He was silently praying it wasn't Annabeth. Not now, not when he was in nothing but a pair of boxers. He heard the door close and lock behind him and felt panic shoot up his spine. He turned around, only to be met with a steely pair of onyx eyes. Onyx eyes that looked, more than anything else, to be wrought with jealousy.
"Hi." He managed out as Zoe stood in his room, arms folded across her chest.
"Hi." She replied, staying still by the door.
"...I'm guessing you didn't just come in here to check me out, right?" He asked with a slight smile. She blushed and made her way over to him, placing her hand on his bare stomach, making him shiver slightly at her touch.
"Maybe I did." She offered, looking up as him with a certain look in her eye as she added in a bitter tone, "I'd rather I got to than she did."
Percy sighed, and placed his hands on her waist. "... I'm sorry she's here, Zoe." He said, his brow furrowing. "I... I'm sorry.
She let out a soft sigh, "You don't have to be sorry Percy. You said it yourself, you guys made some progress, and I don't think we can really make any progress until you and her do first."
He rubbed the back of his neck as his brow furrowed, "That... that actually makes a lot of sense."
She smiled at his answer and stepped forward, shifting her hand up to his pectoral, "I tend to make a lot of sense, you should know that by now."
He chuckled at her answer, before his face went serious.
"Are you okay, though? With her being here?"
She sighed, drumming her fingers on his chest. "I think I'm gonna have to be."
He met her gaze, giving her a soft smile. "I'm not gonna do what You're worried I will." He said, running his hand over her cheek. "I'm here for you, Zoe. I meant every word I said in the truck."
She caught his hand, holding his palm against her cheek. She looked up at him, a mix of emotion running through her eyes. She knew he wasn't lying, she trusted him more than that, but she'd be lying herself if she said that Annabeth Chase's presence didn't terrify her beyond measure.
"Do you promise?" She asked him, her voice a quiet whisper, a vocal tone he never thought he'd hear from her. He smiled, running his thumb over her cheek.
"I promise." He said.
She smiled as he said it, running her own thumb over the back of his hand before she laughed to herself and looked down.
"Y'know, when we started this I had no idea relationships could be so... complicated." She said, before looking up at him, "I kinda hoped it'd just be us kissing every day."
Percy let out a smile, "Who said we can't?"
She grinned devilishly at him as he pulled her into a kiss. He felt her press her body close, her hands roaming his bare chest as he ran his up her back under her sweater. He pulled away suddenly, leaving her with a confused look on her face.
"Artemis can probably hear us, right?" He asked her, looking at the door with a timid look in his face.
She paused, thinking about it, "Probably."
Percy groaned, putting his face in his hands. "Couldn't this quest have just waited a week? Gods above, give me a few days with my girlfriend before I need to save the world again."
Zoe would've been a liar if she said her heart didn't spin when he said girlfriend.
She pulled his hands off his face, putting them at his side as she poked him in the chest with her finger. "Get dressed." She told him, "The sooner you save the world, the sooner you get to have all the time in the world to spend with me."
He grinned at her words. "I like the sound of that."
She smiled at him, before she unlocked his door and left his room. He sighed as she left, missing her already, before he dropped his head into his hands again. I'm hopeless, he thought to himself. He pulled out a fresh uniform, slipping on the black pants and black shirt before grabbing his hat off his dresser, pulling his leather coat over his shoulders. He stepped back out into his house, making his way over to the kitchen where everyone had moved to.
Leo saw him first, and boy did he make a scene of it.
"Dios mio..." he said, shaking his head with a grin, "Sheriff Percy Jackson?"
"Deputy..." Percy corrected him as he slipped his boots on. Artemis, who'd been standing on the other side of the kitchen (as far from Leo as she could) gave him a look.
"That's not exactly what I meant by get changed..."
"I need to go do something before we talk." He said, moving to the door. Artemis stepped in front of him, her arms crossed as she did.
"What could be so important as to-"
"Look Artemis." He said, pinching the bridge of his nose as his frustration boiled over, "I got three things going on in my life right now. One is Zoe, the second is this quest, the third is my job. The job unfortunately cannot come with me on another march to my possible demise, so I am going into town to explain to my secretary that if I end up dying to prevent the compete destruction of her hometown that she may need to look for a new job." He brought his hand back down, pushing the hem of his jacket aside to rest his hand on his waist. "When I get back, we can talk about the quest. Alright?"
He looked her in the eye, as she glared back into his, her eyes flashing silver. He could feel her anger coming off her in waves, but she gritted her teeth and looked away.
"Be back in an hour." She grumbled, stepping aside.
"I'll be back in 30 minutes." He replied, grabbing his keys and heading gout the door.
He walked up to his truck, unlocking the door and climbing in before he turned over the engine, turning on the heat to bring some warmth into his vehicle. He laid his hands on his steering as he stared out the windshield, lightly drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, taking a deep breath in and let out a heavy sigh, before he reached over to his passenger seat and snatched Annabeth's Yankees cap off her head.
She pulled back immediately, looking at him in a bit of shock and confusion at how he'd been able to tell she was there. She hadn't worn her perfume, or disturbed any of the stuff in his car, or touched any of his dials on his dashboard...
"I saw your breath." He said, handing her the cap as she slowly took it from his hand. "It's cold in here. Always is."
She opened her mouth to say something in response, before she shut it, closed her eyes, and sighed deeply in response.
"Naturally."
He smiled at that. A small smile, but a smile nonetheless.
"Indeed."
She turned back forward, slipping her seatbelt over her shoulder as she crossed her arms.
"I hope you aren't planning on kicking me out. I'd at least like to get some idea of where you've been the last few years."
He shook his head, "I won't. Just dont expect to see much." He shifted the truck into drive, "It's a small town."
She let out a small smile at his words, "Then why don't you lead the way, sheriff."
He sighed as he pulled out of his driveway.
"It's deputy."
They rode in silence. A minute of deafening, agonizing silence, a silence that screamed all the words into his mind that neither of them could say. Words that just hung in the sky, waiting for them to reach up and grab them. He flipped his wipers to a higher setting as rain poured onto the truck. He made a mental note of the rain, and how there'd been pouring rain just about every day lately.
"So." Annabeth finally spoke up, breaking the silence.
"So." Percy replied, keeping his eyes on the road as his heart beat firmly in his chest.
"So, Zoe..." Annabeth said, her tone tinged with a bit of curiosity as she said the name, "How long has she been here for? I thought she didn't make it at Othrys."
"Around eight years, give or take." He replied, "And, well... I didn't really make it at Naples either." He said as he softly drummed his fingers on the wheel, "This town is... not exactly normal. Especially with dead people."
Annabeth clicked her tongue, "I suspected as much."
She left that statement and it got quiet. Quiet and tense as Percy continued to drum his fingers on the steering wheel, watching the windshield wipers go back and forth in front of him.
He drummed a couple more beats into his wheel before Annabeth sighed and reached over, grabbing his fingers to stop the drumming. He did, and she settled back in her seat.
They rode in silence for a few more minutes, before Percy sighed and pulled the car over, before turning to look her right in the eye.
"Alright, start asking."
She furrowed her brow in confusion.
"I don't follow."
"I know you, Annabeth, or at least I like to think I do. I know that you've got at least a million questions right now, so..." He waved his hand around in the air, "Just start asking."
She was quiet for a minute, before she sighed, slipping her seatbelt off herself as she turned her body to face him head on and let her eyes bore right into his.
"Alright." She said as her eyes narrowed, "All that, back there. How long has that been going in for?"
He opened his mouth to answer, before he shut it and gazed off, thinking about it.
"A week or so."
Annabeth's eyebrows raised, and her eyes narrowed a bit, but other than that she say anything. The silence wasn't really as comforting for Percy as it seemed to be for her.
"You're not gonna... get mad at her, are you?"
Annabeth shook her head as her eyes kept locked on his face, "No. I won't."
He felt his body settle a bit, "Are you sure?"
She nodded, "I'm sure. We're not together anymore, and haven't been for years, Percy. I'm not gonna get mad at her."
He let out a breath of relief.
"Alright, thank the gods. Last thing I need I'd you two being at each other's throats."
Annabeth grimaced a bit, "Well I won't be, but her on the other hand..."
Percy shook his head, "You might have a bit of a psychological advantage, she's a little bit terrified of you."
He stiffened at his words and his eyes went wide immediately.
"I shouldn't have said that..." He mumbled under his breath.
Annabeth sat up a bit straighter, taken aback by his statement.
"She was a hunter for thousands of years, has probably killed thousands, if not tens of thousands of monsters, and she's scared of me?"
He sighed, realizing she'd caught what he'd said, and nodded, "Terrified of you."
She felt her eyes narrow as a look of confusion swept over her face, "Should I know this? It seems like something she'd want under wraps."
"Under most circumstances, yeah." He admitted, with a guilty look on his face, "But the only way she'll stop being terrified is if you show her that... well, that you're not a threat."
Annabeth sputtered out a laugh, "A threat to what, her? Look, I've gotten pretty good with the dagger these last few years but I'm also pretty sure she could handle me."
"No." He replied, meeting her eyes, "Not a threat to her, a threat to me." His eyes got dark as heavy thoughts seemed to pass behind his eyes, "To me... well, being with her."
It made him wince a bit at how blunt he was putting it, but it was true, even if Zoe would never admit it. She was stressing herself down to the bone from Annabeth's presence alone and it wasn't gonna get any better until Annabeth herself cleared the air.l
Annabeth kept the look she had on her face for a moment, watching as her ex-boyfriend basically poured out all his new relationships insecurities just for her. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out her nose.
"Alright." She replied, "I'll talk to her."
He gave her a curt nod and turned back forward, clearing his throat as he turned his truck back on.
"Thank you Annabeth, I mean it." He shifted the truck into drive and pulled back onto the road, "Now... how about we go see my office?"
She turned forward and let out a small smile.
"I'd love to."
They arrived at the police station in silence, Annabeth opting to stay in the truck when she realized Percy's office wasn't some architectural marvel. He didn't mind, leaving the heat on as he hopped out and made his way into the station. He found his lips pulling themselves into a frown when he realized Freya wasn't in her seat at the front desk as she usually was, before he cursed to himself realizing why she wasn't.
It was Sunday night. She always had service on Sunday nights.
He groaned as he checked his watch, taking note of the fact that he'd probably be late getting back to Artemis if he tried to give one last message to his loyal, incredible, sweetheart of a secretary. He decided a handwritten note would have to do. He grabbed a parchment of paper and a pen, and sat down at his desk, writing out the note.
Dear Freya,
It's me, Percy. Your "Boss" ( know you hate when I call you that)
Look, I'm gonna be doing something for your dad, and I'm guessing you know who your dad really is. It's gonna be dangerous, and I'm not sure I'm coming back. Honestly, knowing my history and my luck? I'd say my chances sit at around 50/50.
If I don't return then I want you to know I'm giving you my house. You can sell it, rent it out, whatever makes you the most money, honestly. Whatever can take some financial burden off of your and Erik's shoulders.
You've been a great friend these last years, Freya. Someone I can rely on, someone I can trust. I hope I come back, but if I don't, I want you to know that you were like family to me, and I mean that with every ounce of my heart.
Love, Percy.
He sat up, looking over the note. When he'd shown up here he'd planned on keeping it casual, maybe throw in some jokes like he always did. But sitting there, writing the letter... he couldn't help but pour his heart out. He read it over, thinking about how she's react when she read it, thinking about if it was the last thing from him she ever read. It hurt him to think about.
He scribbled another little thing on the bottom.
P.S. tell the kids they're rascals, and there's a bag of mars bars in one of my cupboards that's all theirs.
He held the note up, before another though made him write one last thing.
P.P.S. When Erik's boat breaks again, which it will, hell him the engine block is loose on the right side and it's leaking gas. If he asks how I knew, tell him it told me.
He folded the letter up, and walked out of his office, intending to leave it on her desk before another figure in the station caught his attention.
"Sheriff Sterr? What're you doing here?"
The sheriff turned to Percy and gave him a sly grin. The sheriff was an odd man, not too old but not too young, sitting in that indescribable area between 35 and 65. He was probably the only other person in town that didn't look straight out of the Scandinavian mountains. He had slick black hair, slightly receded at the temples, and a slim elvish face. His eyes were dark onyx, almost completely black, with a slight glint about them that always gave Percy the idea that he knew more than he let on. His featured were gaunt, and pulled into his face, and he had a wide, perfectly white smile, bright enough to blind you if the lighting was right.
"Just dropping off some paperwork from up on the mountain." The sheriff replied, dropping some papers on his desk. "And Percy, for the millionth time, you don't need to call me that. We've got to be on a first name basis by now, my boy."
"Of course, Theodore." Percy said, as the sheriff cringed at the name.
"No no, Theodore was my father's name. Remember..." He said, holding up his finger, "It's Richard, the middle name, which I guess makes this a second name basis, but I digress. Only thing I can hear without his face popping up in my brain."
"Of course, Richard." Percy said, emphasizing the name and drawing a laugh from the sheriff, who gestured at his hand, "What's that?" He asked, his face suddenly pulling into a serious look, "It's not a suicide note, right?"
Percy shook his head, despite the fact that it may as well be, "It's just something for Freya." He said, "I'm going on a... well a trip. I'm not sure if I'm coming back..." He said, his eyes glazing over slightly as his heart sank. He clenched the note and took a step forward up to the sheriff.
"Can you give it to her for me? Please... it's important that she gets it."
The sheriff cocked an eyebrow at him. His eyes drawing back into a calculating squint.
"You're not confessing your love for her, right? Because Erik is..." The sheriff waved his hand way above his head, "...gonna be a handful of that's the case."
Percy shook his head, blowing air out of his nose. "No. It's just... it's for both or them. Erik and Freya. Just... please sheriff..." He asked, getting a cocked eyebrow from the man. Percy took a breath.
"Please Richard." He corrected. The man smiled, gently taking the note from Percy.
"You're a good man, Perseus Jackson. I'll make sure she gets it, alright?"
Percy smiled, shaking the man's hand before he left the station, quite possibly for the last time.
They got back to Percy's place around 8, the sun having set by then but his driveway still illuminated by the floodlight over his garage. The drive home had been quiet. Not painfully so as Percy had remembered their camp half blood conversation had started, no it was just a natural quiet ad they both watched the rain ricochet off his windshield. It was the kind of quiet that came in the aftermath of finally speaking your mind. It was a peaceful quiet. One he enjoyed.
So it was only fitting that once they got to his driveway he opted to ruin it.
Annabeth started taking her seatbelt off pretty quickly, admittedly eager to get out of Percy's truck and away from its terrible heater, but he stopped her with a gentle hand on her shoulder, making her turn his way.
"You okay with talking to her once you get in there?"
Annabeth gave him a nod and and small smile, "I'll... ease her mind, alright?"
He nodded, returning her smile with a grin, "Thanks. I mean it."
She was about to leave when Percy remembered something, something that made him freeze up when he did.
"She knows, just so you know."
Annabeth froze, her hand right near the door handle.
"Knows what?"
He let out a shaky breath, "What happened in the pit."
She left her hand fall onto he door handle as a small silence fell over them.
"Oh."
He nodded, "Yeah."
She furrowed her brow in thought, before turning to him.
"Well... if there's anything I am, it's smart." She shot him a weak smile, "So I'm sure I'll figure out what to say."
He couldn't bring himself to smile, instead turning back towards the windshield with a nervous look on his face.
"I hope."
She let out a soft sigh and opened the door, but jot without some gentle words under her breath.
"Me too."
With that, she shifted out of the car and headed inside, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
He didn't want to be alone with his thoughts.
Not right now at least. What he really wanted was to be with Zoe. He wanted to sit on the couch with her and hold her hand and wrap his arm around her shoulder and watch more of his old movies with her. He wanted it bad, so bad it hurt not to do it, but there was something he wanted more.
Her ease of mind, and that would only happen if her and Annabeth had a talk.
He sighed, resting his head on the steering wheel as he let out a groan. He couldn't shake the worry that he'd just made a mistake, that maybe he'd sent Annabeth to a fight, but he thought about it. Thought about Zoe. He knew her and he trusted her enough to not worry about her maiming Annabeth the second she saw her.
Hopefully, at least.
He was pulled from his thoughts by a sharp knock on his window. He jumped at the noise, turning to see Leo standing there, grinning as he normally did. Percy sighed, opening his door and stepping out, sizing up his old friend.
He was dressed... well very inappropriately. He had on the same outfit he always did, albeit with a knit sweater on now too. He had on his toolbelt (No surprise there) and had ditched his regular work boots for winter ones. He looked like a regular, Nordic mountain man, save for the fact that he was without a doubt the most Hispanic man in town.
"So." Percy began, crossing his arms, "What the hell are you doing here?" He asked him.
Leo shrugged, digging his hands into his pockets. "It was either me or Clarisse." He said, "And trust me, you do not want to see the new mother-of-two Clarisse." He said.
Percy let out a breath and shook his head, he really had been gone too long. "I'd imagine not, but really. Why are you here, in Alaska, and not with your family, your wife."
Leo got a sad look in his eyes. "Calypso and I talked about this. We couldn't stop worrying about you." He said, before rubbing the back of his head, "Well... more I couldn't stop worrying about you. She thinks you're gonna be fine." He got a stern look in his eye, one that looked foreign on his face as he looked at Percy, "Then again, she never had to watch you go over a cliff with a sword in your gut."
Percy dropped his gaze in shame, to which Leo planted a comforting hand on his friends shoulder. "It's alright, man. I don't blame you for anything, especially not staying here." He held his hands out, "This place is be-you-tiful."
Percy chuckled as he looked towards the house, "Yeah, that's not the only reason I stayed though." He said, his voice trailing off. Leo turned back to the house before looking back to Percy with a drawn back grimace.
"Yeah, that girl, Zoe, right? She was pretty... heated, shall we say, once you left and she realized Annabeth and her magic hat had left too." Leo rubbed his hand along the back of his head, "I'm guessing she...?"
Percy closed his eyes, letting out a soft sigh.
"It went... a lot better than I thought it would."
Leo nodded, patting his friend on the arm again. "Did Apollo give you the gusts of love speech?" He asked.
Percy nodded with a glum smile, "He do that to you too?"
Leo shook his head with a grin, "No, I was just eavesdropping when he said it to you. Wanted to see if I could freak you out with my Leo mind reading powers."
Percy groaned, "Leo you've got exactly 3 powers. Mechanics, bad jokes, and fire." Leo frowned at his remark.
"You're forgetting my irresistible sex appeal!" he said, holding his wedding ring up to Percy, "And you can't deny it any more either."
Percy let out a soft grin, "Alright, I'll admit it, you've also got your... your..." his voice would not say it.
Leo leaned in, pressing the wedding ring closer to Percy's face. "Say it." He said
"Your... irresistible sex appeal." Percy got out, nearly throwing up as he did.
Leo nodded, smiling a sly grin as he did. "That's what I thought." He said, before turning to Percy's truck.
"So Percy..." he said, cracking his knuckles, "Mind if uncle Leo pops open hood for a minute and-"
"No!" Percy exclaimed, standing between Leo and the truck with his arms outstretched, "Leo, I bloody well love this truck, and I am not having you or your fire powers get anywhere near it or it's gas tank."
Leo frowned at him, crossing his arms, "I could make the thing fly if you'd let me." He grumbled out, "I could turn it into a submarine, too. Like, both of them at once."
Percy leaned in close to his friend. "No."
Leo shook his head. "You're no fun."
Percy sighed, and reached into his pocket. "You can look at this if you'd like, instead." He said, as he handed him the lighter. Leo took it from his hands, running his thumb over the case.
"Percy. I'm me." He said, holding up his free hand letting it burst into flames, "Why would I need or care about a lighter?"
Percy smiled, "Just try it."
Leo sighed, extinguishing his hand as he flicked open the lighter and struck the flint, letting out a rather high pitched yelp as Maelstrom extended into it's full length. Leo caught his breath and grinned devilishly at the blade. "Oh Percy, why oh why do you always get all the fun toys?" He asked him.
Percy shrugged, "Guess its just in my nature."
Leo nodded, pursing his lips at his friend, "That's a pretty good nature."
"Not always." Percy replied, subconsciously running his hand over his scar on his stomach.
Leo sighed, running his hand along the blade and examining the hilt, before he held it up to Percy.
"Okay, take it and turn it back before I fall in love." He said. Percy grinned and folded the hilt over, collapsing Maelstrom back into a lighter.
"So fucking cool" Leo mumbled under his breath as Percy tucked it back into his pocket. Leo turned to the house with a grim look on his face. "Alright, you first." He said, drawing a look from Percy.
"What? There's nothing but girls in there. What happened to your irresistible sex appeal?" He asked him as they walked up together.
Leo frowned, "Okay, one, I'm married now, two I came here mostly for some bro time with you, and three, that room is currently occupied by your terrifying girlfriend, your terrifying ex, and a terrifying man hating goddess of the hunt." Leo shuddered as he closed his eyes. "I think she started... sharpening her knife when she saw my wedding ring, Perce..." He hissed to his friend,
Percy clasped his arm around Leo's shoulder as they walked. "Leo, don't worry man. Zoey's a sweetheart once you get to know her, Annabeth is your friend, and Artemis is gonna be way more focused on the guy dating her best friend than you, buddy. The worst times are far behind you as far as who's in that room." He put his hand on the door handle.
"I mean, what's the worst thing that could happen?"
He swung open his door. The worst thing had happened.
The hunters were here. All of them.
Percy stood frozen for a moment, his hand still around Leo, who was frozen as well. They looked at each other and Leo shot a laugh to the room, before looking back at his friend.
"You have fun, buddy. I'm gonna go look at your truck." He pushed Percy in and closed the door behind him.
Percy gulped audibly. He stepped forward, putting his hat and jacket on his coat stand without looking and dropping his keys in the key bowl. The room was silent, not a soul spoke as he moved towards the crowd, awkwardly shifting through the hunters as he made his was to his kitchen. He got to his kitchen table and took a seat, the other members of the quest sitting there too. Zoe sat to his left, and immediately skooched her chair closer to him, holding his hand in hers as she did. He gave her a smile and turned to the table.
Artemis was sat to his right, observing Percy and Zoe as they sat together. She was leaning back slightly, with her arms crossed and a her boots kicked up on the table. Percy took note of her footwear on his dinner table, grumbling out an "I eat here..."
"Let's begin." Artemis said, kicking her boots down and leaning into the table, she turned to the other head of the table and spoke to the figure who sat there. "Are you ready to proceed?"
Annabeth nodded. She looked... well, alright. A lot better than she would if Zoe had started pulling out her dagger during their talk, so that filled Percy with at least a little bit of confidence. That and the smile on Zoe's face when Percy had shown up filled him with at least a little bit of hope, too.
"Excellent." Artemis said, "I suspect the boy outdoors won't be joining us?" She asked.
Percy sighed, "No, he's busy tearing my truck apart at the moment." He looked over towards his front door, trying to see if he could see any flames through his front window.
Artemis nodded, "Well, I'm sure you'll fill him in. We've already been briefed on the subject of this quest, and I'm sure you have too."
"More or less." Percy said, "We get to the top of the mountain, stop... something, kill... someone. I don't know, Thor wasn't very clear on that."
Artemis sighed. "The great hound stirs..." she said.
Percy held up his hand, "That sounds familiar."
Artemis nodded, "It's Fenrir, the bringer of Ragnarok, the one foretold to, amongst other things, consume the moon..." She said, anger spreading across her face. "which is something I strongly wish to prevent."
Percy nodded, leaning into his seat. "I'm guessing you're planning on joining us, then?"
Artemis nodded, "More or less. We'll make our own way up the mountain, cut a path along the eastern face while you make your way up the west."
She spread a map out over his kitchen table, it was an ancient looking thing, with frayed edges and ornately drawn borders and little illustrations depicting various... fun things on their journey. Percy sighed as he looked a the map. "Where you get this?" He asked the goddess, who shrugged.
"I've had this map for centuries." She said, running her hands over the paper. "I got it during a hunt, in a visit to Canada. Truth be told I assumed it would sit in my storage forever..."
"Well, thank you for sharing..." Percy replied, running his fingers over a drawing that caught his eye. One of a sea serpent, consuming its own tail...
"Perseus." Artemis' voice roused him from his thought, "This mountain, you know what it is, right?" She asked him, he nodded.
"It's Asgard, home of the gods. I know Artemis, I did my research."
Artemis pinched the bridge of her nose, "No Percy it's not just that, it's... oh how do I explain this..."
"It's all of Norse mythology." Annabeth spoke up from the edge of the table. They all turned to her, Percy's met her eyes and Annabeth gave him a firm look, that seriousness he remembered that only showed up during quests nestling itself back into her eyes.
"Everything. Every last myth, every last monster, every last group of beings from Norse mythology..." Annabeth said, leaning over and poking the map with her finger. "All of it is on this mountain."
They all sat in silence for a moment, taking in what Annabeth had said, the massive bombshell she'd dropped in their laps.
"Well " Percy said, breaking the silence, "That sounds bad."
Annabeth let out an absent minded chuckle, "You don't know the half of it, Percy."
The older him probably would've continued their little back and forth, just for old times sake, but he remembered that his girlfriend was sat next to him. His supportive, loving, caring girlfriend who was very openly nervous about Annabeth and probably didn't want to watch him talk and joke with her in front of everyone.
Instead, he just gave Annabeth a polite nod and turned to Zoe, giving her a smile and her hand a gentle squeeze, drawing a smile from the former lieutenant of Artemis.
Zoe turned forward, looking at Artemis. "We have weapons, lady Artemis. Weapons for the hunt to use. Weapons that will kill just about anything we meet on the mountain."
Artemis smiled at her old friend. "Perfect. The majority of ours are celestial bronze and we've been made very aware by your lightning spewing friend that that doesn't fly here." She got up and stretched, cracking her shoulders, "I take it the weapons are in your vehicle?"
Percy nodded, gesturing out front. "They're in the the truck bed. Just please don't sneak up on Leo. He tends to get... explodey when he's surprised."
Artemis nodded, and called two hunters forward. "Phoebe, Lydia, please go outside and retrieve these weapons?" The girls nodded and went off, before Artemis stopped them, "And girls?" The two hunters looked at her, "...don't harm the boy, no matter how tempting he may make it."
They frowned slightly at that as they walked out the door.
Artemis turned back to Percy, giving him a nod. "Well Percy, if we're done here my hunters will be setting up camp in your yard. I'd hope that that is acceptable?" She asked and Percy nodded. Artemis was about to leave before Percy spoke up again.
"Artemis wait, is Thalia around? I haven't had a chance to properly chat without weapons being drawn." He chuckled to himself, trying to remember a moment that wasn't how they interacted.
Artemis was still for a moment, her back turned to Percy as she stewed over an answer. "Thalia is no longer with the hunt." Artemis finally said, her voice firm. "There was a... complication, and she chose to leave several years ago. She was only with us that day to aid in finding Zoe and you."
Percy's mouth fell open, hanging slightly as he glanced at Annabeth, who gave him a look that said she knew as much as he did. He let out a sigh and turned back to Artemis, who had... quite a bit of thought in her eyes as she spoke up again.
"People change, Percy. Especially in 5 years..." She turned to Zoe, giving one last look at her friend before leaving to set up her tent. "...I think we both know that by now.
In hindsight, Percy was really glad he'd gone grocery shopping that weekend.
After Artemis had left to go outside and pitch camp Percy had, for the most part, been left inside his house, nervously bouncing his knee at the dinner table while a dozen or so hunters around him watched him do so.
He recognized some faces. Girls who'd been there when he's done his little... stunt, shall we say, with the revolver. He got the feeling they really did not enjoy being in this house. He stood up, clapping his hands together and giving them a rub.
"So." He said, "Anyone hungry?"
The silence he was met with was deafening, but a couple of hunters did raise their hands.
"Perfect." Percy said with a smile, "I'll get started on dinner." He turned to his stove and pulled out some pots, shooting a glance over his shoulder, "I like a mostly empty kitchen while I cook."
The hunters who were left piled out.
He sighed to himself, running a hand over his face as he filled the pot with water, dropping it on the stove before grabbing some coriander pepper and his salt and pepper grinders. He felt a hand slip it's fingers through his and he smiled as he looked over at Zoe.
"Well." She said, pushing close to him, "I'm hoping your little announcement didn't include me."
He smiled, rubbing his thumb along the back of her hand. "Not a chance. I need my sous chef to help me."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm your partner in the kitchen now?"
He moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as he did. "Partner in the kitchen, partner in life, partner in deadly quests..." He rested his chin on her shoulder, "I like to keep you involved in everything."He planted a kiss on her cheek and she felt it get hot.
He stepped away and walked up to his fridge, opening it and pulling out all the deer meat he could carry. He dumped it on his counter, pulling open the packages before he grabbed his cutting board. He rolled his sleeves up, a move that really shouldn't have made Zoe's breathing get a little heavier, but it did, and pulled out a knife and sharpening rod, quickly running the blade over the tool.
"So." He said, as he started absent mindedly chopping up the venison faster than Zoe thought possible, "How badly do the hunters want my head?"
She let out a glum laugh as she watched him, "Pretty badly. I've known Phoebe for a thousand years and I don't think I've seen her as scared or pissed as when she saw me hold your hand."
Percy shook his head, sliding the meat he had cut onto a pan and putting it on one of his burners. "Can't really say I'm too surprised. Not every day you see... well you like this." He said, as he started chopping up potatoes and carrots.
She nodded, still amazed at how he could make cooking look hot. "I think they'll learn to understand my choices." She said in a reassured tone, before walking a bit closer to him, "Especially after they try your cooking."
Percy smiled as he dumbed the cutting board into the pot of water and turned it on, snapping his fingers so the water boiled immediately. He turned back to the board and got to work on some garlic and onions. "I can picture it now..." he said, lifting his chin slightly. "Every year, around this time, they show up, fresh from a hunt. They walk in, slap a dead dear on our table, and say 'Get to work boy'."
She laughed at his anecdote, before she took note of what he'd said. "Our table?"
His smile fell a bit as he looked at her, "I mean... if you're okay with it being our table," He mumbled, dumping the ingredients and his spices into the frying pan and turning it on, continuing in a quiet voice, "and this being our house, and this being our kitchen, and the truck outside being our truck..."
He stopped when she wrapped her hand around his again, pushing close to him.
"Depends..." She said, looking up at him, "Can that be our bed too?"
He blinked, before beaming a smile at her. "Absolutely." He said.
She returned the smile, before standing on her toes and planting a kiss on his cheek.
He smiled at her gesture, happy that she seemed to be back to her old self, but that happiness kinda dissipated when her next words came out with a tinge of sadness.
"Me and Annabeth talked."
He froze up, feeling his breath hitch and his body tense. He drew a shaky breath and tried his best to focus on the food.
"I see." He replied, "Did it... go well?"
She shrugged, leaning into his counter, "It went better than I thought it would."
He let out a small smile, "No fighting?"
She nodded with a small smile, "No fighting."
He gave her a squinting side eye, "Are you still terrified of her?"
Zoe shook her head, "No, she made it pretty clear she's okay with this." She said, waving her finger between the two of them, "And has no intention of trying to come steal you away."
He let out a breath he'd been holding, and didn't really bother trying to hide it. She noticed, and smiled.
"I'll take it that lifts a weight off your shoulders?"
"You kidding?" He asked, "It just about lifted all the weight from my shoulders."
She let out a soft smile as she got up close and stood up, resting her chin on his shoulder as she whispered right into his ear.
"Glad I could help."
He shot her a soft smile and turned to face her, planting a soft kiss on her lips that made her blush pretty quick as she pulled away.
"Alright. I'm gonna go check on the hunt, I'll see you soon." She left the kitchen and headed outside.
Percy turned back to the stove, letting out a happy sigh as he gave the pan a flip and dumped the contents into the pot of water. It had been a while since he'd cooked a stew, and frankly, it was kinda making him sweat. Those girls out there, and Artemis, were about as close to family as Zoe had, and despite their and Percy's history (namely Percy holding up the sky for Artemis at one point, and very recently holding her at gunpoint in his boxers) he was treating this as a proper introduction to the new him.
So he really needed to not fuck up this stew.
He brought the pot down to a simmer, reaching up into his cupboard to grab a handful of bowls. He held them in his hand and looked at the pot and realized he was gonna need to make two trips. He groaned. He hated making two trips.
"Need a hand?" a voice gently said from behind him.
He turned around, bowls still in hand, and felt a small smile spread over his face when he saw Annabeth standing there.
"Ah, if you feel so inclined." He replied, "That being said, if I'm being honest, you've already helped a lot."
She cocked an eyebrow, "Oh really?"
He nodded, "Yeah. I heard you and Zoe talked." He leaned back into his counter, "Seems like it went well."
She gave him a shrug, "No knives were pulled and I'm still breathing, which is more than I could ask for from her, all things considered."
He let out a soft smile, meeting her eyes proper and letting those sea green orbs meet her storm grey ones.
It was... nostalgic. That was really the word that came to mind and the word that made the most sense. He didn't feel attraction, or pain, or fear, or longing, all he really felt was a sort of comfortable happiness. Annabeth had been his friend for years, way longer than they'd ever been dating, and that was really something he'd missed.
Her being his friend.
"Y'know..." He said, clearing his throat as his hands settled on his hips, "...if you want you can say it."
A small smile spread over her face, before she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure? You seemed pretty... adamant that I never said it again." She asked. Her eyes got a little dark as they both remembered their last conversation on the Argo II. He sighed to himself and let hisnhead drop a bit.
"It's alright Annabeth. I'm not gonna be angry anymore." He tookna step towards her, raising his gaze as his body loosened up, "Not at you, or at us, or at any of it. I promise."
She met his eyes, the storm meeting the sea again as a million thoughts seemed to swirl behind them. She sighed, letting her head drop before she have it a soft shake.
"Alright..." She said, letting a small smile spread over her face, "... Seaweed Brain."
He smiled at that. It wasn't necessarily a big smile, but it was enough to show how he felt. Complete, and past this, just like she was.
"Didn't sting too much, I hope." He mused. She faked a scowl at him and softly punched his shoulder.
"Yeah well... why don't you try it then."
"Alright..." He replied, rubbing his hands together and cracking his neck before he huffed out a breath, "... Wise Girl."
She smiled at his little performance, before she reached over and plucked the cutlery and bowls from his hands.
"How about I take this..." She said with a small smile, before pointing at the pot, "...And you take that."
He smiled as he hefted the pot, "Don't feel like carrying my 22.3 pounds of stew?"
She rolled her eyes, "Not a chance, Percy."
He grinned at her reply as they both walked out of the house. It may not have been what it was, but in at least a little way, they had each other again.
Dinner was nice. That's really all Percy could describe it as, it was nice. Maybe even sweet, after a couple hours of awkward small talk with the hunters. It maybe even turned enjoyable after Leo started a bonfire in Percy's back yard by snapping his fingers at some old firewood he had. It maybe even turned lovely when everyone started sharing stories with each other around the fire. Hell, it even turned happy when Percy spotted Annabeth and Zoe talking together, smiling, and laughing, and just... enjoying each other's company.
He silently thanked Zoe for that.
Of course the mood turned at least a little bit more serious when Artemis sat down next to him. She had a bowl of his stew and though he knew better than to say anything he was damn sure it wasn't the first one she'd had tonight.
"Well Perseus..." She began, before Percy gave her a look.
"... Percy," She corrected, "I must say, you certainly know how to show people a good time." She told him. He nodded, taking in the groups around him. At some point they'd found his liquor cabinet and had started passing around bottles. The hunters were smiling, laughing even as they shared stories of great hunts to a rather uncomfortable looking Leo, who between forced smiles shot Percy a look that said save me you prick.
He caught a glimpse of Annabeth, watching as Zoe took some training shots with her new bow. She had her eyes focused on the girl, watching her notch and let fly arrows. For the first time in years she wasn't stealing glances at Percy when she thought he wasn't looking. He smiled as he watched her mouth fall open in shock as Zoe split one of her arrows in half with a new one, making all the hunters around her cheer.
Percy sighed a happy sigh, leaning back in the grass as he did. "Y'know," He said, "I think I could make a tradition out of this." He said, turning to Artemis who had a puzzled look on her face.
"I thought you were done with quests, Percy." She asked him.
He shook his head, "Not the quest. This. Think about it, Arty..." She shot him a glare and he corrected himself, "...Artemis, every year or so you can bring the hunt up. I'll make you all several gallons of stew. You can drink every bottle of booze I've got. We'll party into the night." He held up his bowl and took a sip of his stew with a smile.
She gave him a look, a puzzled, questioning look.
"It almost seems like you missed us, Percy."
He shook his head with a glum look, watching as Leo tried, and failed, to shoot a flaming arrow, before a rather buff looking hunter held his hands to lead him, much to his terror.
"Like you wouldn't believe." He said.
"Then why didn't you come back?" She asked, "Why did you hide all these years?"
He took a deep breath, letting it out through his nose, lightly drumming his fingers on the ground as he leaned into his yard. He looked up and stared at the stars, taking a moment to find her constellation, Zoe's constellation.
"Because sometimes a comforting lie is better than a painful truth." He said, still looking at the stars. She took in his words, a little stunned at the depth he portrayed with them.
"What is the truth, Percy?" She asked him.
He was silent for a moment, then another, before he turned to look at her.
"The truth is I care about you all more than I could ever hope to deny. The truth is I'd give my life for all of you, without a second thought. The truth is that, regardless of what happened, I was gonna help on your quest no matter what."
He turned back forward, feeling like, for a second time in his life, she'd helped him take the weight of the sky off his shoulders. She stared at him for a moment, thinking about what he'd just said. Thinking about all she thought she knew about Percy Jackson, and about how those three sentences had just told her the truth about him. She let out a soft smile.
"You just can't help being a hero, Percy. It's in your nature."
He gave her a squinting side eye, "Y'know, your brother said the exact same thing." She let out a groan.
"Yes well, I suppose he has something intelligent to say once in a millennia, doesn't he?" Percy chuckled at her words, taking a sip of his stew as she continued, "I'm guessing he spouted one of his ridiculous haiku's as well?"
"He opened with it." Percy replied, raising his hand and putting on his best Apollo impression, "love is in the air, a gust blows from either side, Percy is so fucked." He let out a laugh before his smile fell and he looked at Artemis, expecting a glare. What he got was a questioning look.
"Blows from both sides?" She asked him, he let a breath out of his nose.
"Not anymore." He said, glancing back over at Annabeth and Zoe, who were laughing with each other now. He smiled as he watched them.
Artemis let out a sigh, leaning back into the grass herself. "Only you..." She said in a huff, "Only you would somehow make me okay with this Zoe situation."
He let out a chuckle, "Thank you. I know that was painful to say."
She shook her head with a chuckle of her own. "No Percy, I mean it." She looked up at him, her silver eyes boring into his. "The world would be a lot better place if every man were as pure of heart as Percy Jackson."
Percy smiled at her words, feeling a tug at her heartstrings as he looked back over at Zoe, their eyes meeting for a second and his heart skipping a beat.
"I love her." He said, his voice tightening as he did, "I told her already, but... I want you to know too." He turned to her.
"As far as I'm concerned you're about as close as I can get to a parents blessing for this, because I am NOT going back to Othrys for the real deal."
Artemis let out a chuckle, turning back to the party. "I think you already know the answer to that, Percy."
Percy smiled to himself. "Thank you." He said.
"You're welcome." She said, before she stood up, ready to walk back to her camp, not before turning back to give him some final words.
"Thank you too, Percy." She said, he frowned.
"What for?" He asked.
She smiled, "For keeping her safe."
With that she started marching towards her camp, Percy stood up and called after her.
"I can spread out some blankets if you want! I don't mind you guys crashing on my couch!"
Artemis let out a grin he couldn't see, but heard in her voice. "It's alright Percy, we're hunters." She called over her shoulder, "We don't mind the outdoors."
Percy didn't have the heart to tell her that he could feel the rain in the sky that was gonna start pouring any minute. He just chose instead to leave his door unlocked.
Just in case.
It was around 11 when he finally decided it was bed time. The majority of the hunters had gotten into their tents, zipping them up to shelter themselves from the rain that poured down onto them.
Percy had taken some time to make sure his friends were comfortable too, easing his old lazy boy back for Leo and setting his couch up as well as he could for Annabeth.
He'd have been lying if he said it didn't feel good to call her his friend again.
He tossed blankets and pillows on either setup, making sure they had more than enough to be warm. Leo had hopped right into the chair, easing back as he shot a look at Annabeth.
"Wanna tell ghost stories? Or maybe watch a movie as we sleep?" He'd asked her, which just brought a groan from Annabeth.
"Leo, we're about to go on a deadly, dangerous quest tomorrow, and you're treating it like a sleep over." Leo let out a sarcastic frown.
"No, if it were a sleep over there'd be spin the bottle, but they're all hunters and I'm married, so that'd leave you, Zoe, and Percy." He let out a grin, "And I'm guessing that's not gonna fly."
Percy and Annabeth both blushed deeply, muttering out a "Shut up Leo" in perfect synchrony. He let out a laugh.
"I love you two, you make it so damn easy." He said, before easing into his chair.
Percy turned to Annabeth, handing her a sweater with a smile.
"Here, it's from a shop in town. Should keep you warm if the heat goes out."
She looked up at him with wide eyes. "If the heat goes out?"
He shrugged, "You get used to it, just tuck the blanket under your feet." She shook her head, and looked down with a sigh.
"You're unbelievable, Jackson..." She muttered.
"I know." He said with a sly smile, before turning toward his room, "That's why everyone loves me."
He got a few steps before she spoke up again.
"Percy, wait."
He stopped, turning around with a worried look. "What's wrong, need more blankets?"
She shook her head, "No it's just... well, I just wanted to say thank you."
He raised an eyebrow, "For what? The blankets? I'm not gonna make you freeze, if that's what you're worried about."
She shook her head with a sigh, "No Percy, for..." She let out a soft sigh and tucked her hands in her pockets, "...for coming back to us. For easing our minds. For letting us know you're okay."
He got quiet, quiet enough that she was worries she'd said something wrong, before a soft sigh from him eased her nerves.
"I was always gonna come back." He mumbled, before he met her eyes with a soft smile, "I just... wasn't ready yet."
She was quiet, before she tilted her head a bit, "Were you ready for this? For coming back now?"
He looked down, pursed his lips, and thought about it. Thought about all he'd been through and all he'd dealt with. Thought about how long he'd had to heal and how much less it hurt ad time went on. Thought about everything and everyone that had helped him when he'd felt broken.
Well, about one person in particular. A certain Hesperide who'd helped him more than even she knew.
He met Annabeth's eyes and gave her a nod and smile.
"Yeah. I think I was."
She held her gaze for a second, before she let out a soft smile and got into bed.
"Good. I'm... I'm happy, Percy. For the both of us." She tucked herself into the blankets, "I'll see you in the morning."
He grinned, shifting over to the entrance of the living room to get the light.
"Sweet dreams." He said
"You too, Percy." She replied.
He turned around to leave, before stopping and giving her a look as she tucked herself in. "Did you just call me... Percy." He asked, in a mock hurt tone.
She rolled her eyes, and pulled the blanket up.
"Goodnight... Seaweed Brain."
He smiled at her.
"Goodnight... Wise Girl."
"You two make me sick, you know that?" Leo mumbled from the chair.
They both groaned, muttering a "Shut up Leo" As he chuckled out a "good night" Of his own.
Percy flipped the light switch and walked over to his room, opening it, stepping in, and closing it behind him.
He found Zoe in his bed, under the covers, which was a nice surprise.
"So." She said.
"So." he replied.
"Me and Annabeth talked." She said, as he stepped into his ensuite, putting toothpaste on his toothbrush as he scrubbed his teeth. He spat out the paste and looked at her from the bathroom.
"I heard. I'm hoping it went well?"
"Very." She said from the bed, "We talked about... well you mostly. She seems a bit less angry and I think I'm starting to like her, to be honest..."
Percy gargled a glass of water, spitting it into the sink. "Y'know, most guys would kill to have a girlfriend so awesome even their ex likes her." He said as he walked back to the bed, kicking off his pants and peeling off his shirt as he did. He could feel her eyes hungrily watch him as he moved across his room.
"Well, I guess you'd better keep me around then, huh?" She asked.
He smiled at her from the foot of the bed. "I guess I should." He answered.
She gave him a look, a raised eyebrow that made him squint at her from his position and put his hands on his hips.
"What?" He asked.
"Percy." She said, cocking her head at him, "Go lock the door."
He felt his cheeks redden as he swallowed a lump in his throat. He went over to his door, trying to get his nervously shaking hand to twist the lock. He finally locked it with a resounding click and turned around, only to find her standing right in front of him, wearing an oversized flannel that she'd folded over her chest rather than buttoned up. He opened his mouth to speak and she pressed a finger to his lips, her eyes a pretty intimidating mix of emotion that he couldn't quite read.
"Percy." She said, her voice low.
"Zoe." He replied, his voice shaky.
"This might be out last night together, like this." She said, her eyes looking up into his. "We could die on this quest, I know that. But if we do..." She said, standing on her tippy toes to talk into his ear, "I don't want any regrets."
She pulled the flannel loose and it fell to the floor.
She was naked.
Like, not wearing underwear naked, but fully naked. Completely naked. One hundred percent unclothed, unrestrained, unburdened naked. She was standing there with her perfect skin and her perfect body and her perfect face and her perfect hair and my gods the way she was looking at him-
"Percy." She said, pressing her body up to him. He felt his heart jack hammering in his chest, felt the blood pumping through his body, felt the heat burning in his cheeks. If there was ever a time she was going to make him pass out from just her sheer presence, it was now. He took a deep breath, trying his best to maintain eye contact with her.
"Yes?" He stammered out.
She smiled, "you've got 10 seconds to get your ass in that bed."
He was there in two.
She giggled as she leapt onto him, pressing her lips to his as they kissed, just about as passionately as they could. They rolled their lips together as his hands roamed over her back and hers dug their fingernails into his chest. She pulled away for a moment, looking into his eyes as she did, thinking just about a million thoughts at once before her mind, well really her body focused on one.
"Percy..." She said.
"Zoe..." He replied.
"Remember how I said no regrets?" She asked him.
He nodded, unable to get words out as he stared at her.
She smiled, leaning into his ear, "Boxers off. Now." She said, in a voice that just about set him on fire right then and there.
He didn't need to be told twice.
Man, I've been waiting around 70 thousand words to write that.
Anyways, next chapter quests starts, things get good, we start seeing some monsters n' shit. I've got a couple ideas bumping around in my brain for some encounters, and I've already got an ending in mind. All that I need now is to get it in words.
I also just want to thank you all for your kind reviews, and shout out a couple notable ones that stood out. Not that they aren't all notable, I read your reviews every day in my free time and they bring a sme to my face when I do, but I do have a few I want to shout out.
Voiceless entity, you're my un-ironic day one. Seriously, I think this story was up for around twenty minutes before you left a comment so sweet I thought my poor heart would melt. Every other review you've left makes me smile when I read it to the point my coworkers think I've got a second girlfriend or something.
And no, they don't know about this fanfiction thing.
Quenartist your comment really brought a smile to my face. I don't think anyone's ever said something that sweet before in regards to anything I've made. It really made my day reading that.
Mgc 26, I'm happy I inspired you and if you ever want an editor or any comments or anything I'm a pm away. Don't be scared to publish, if you write from the heart the heart will show, and your words will reflect what the heart cannot say.
xlonewolf001x you kept it short, sweet, and hit me right in the core. Thank you for what you said.
Boyfromangels what you said had weight, and I felt it. It made my day reading your comment and I think I looked at it a dozen times, just checking if someone could really be so kind.
Fanficaddict I'm not sure if you deleted your comment or if it just doesn't show up but I got the email notification and it made me laugh. It also made me make this chapter 12 thousand words instead of 9 thousand.
Hunter You've commented the most on my story, and I appreciate it every time. You keep em short, and concise, and there's something there about brevity being the soul of wit, but I'm too busy smiling at my phone to care.
Keep up the reviews, everyone, and keep reading. I've got a lot more in me and I haven't felt this passionate about something in a while. I'll see you guys with another update soon.
-Bronzeandsteel