Artemis PoV
Probably shouldn't have said that."So you guys are a thing, then?" Aphrodite asked. "It's not just a hookup?"
"It's not a hookup!" I snapped.
"You must really like him if you're being so defensive," The love goddess muttered. "Wait, he is immortal, right?"
I bit my lip.
Aphrodite gasped. "He's mortal?"
"He'll probably be offered immortality again anyway," I murmured.
"It's Percy!" Aphrodite exclaimed. She's smarter than she acts.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I lied.
Before she could ask any more questions, I flashed over to a spot outside the cave and swam into the Pad.
I dried off as best I could and heard splashing from behind me.
"I take it you liked my hugs?" Percy asked, wrapping me in one.
I kissed his cheek.
"Well, that, and Aphrodite was giving me crap about going on a date." I looked up at him. "She's a lot smarter than she lets on."
Percy kissed the top of my head. "Do you still like my hugs?"
I laughed. "Yes, Percy. Your hugs are incredible."
"And what about my kisses?" He inquired mischievously.
"I don't know," I replied. "I've only had one. His lips met mine and I closed my eyes.
When I pulled away, I was in some sort of daze, a little smile on my face.
"Cuddle?" Percy suggested.
I grabbed his hand and flashed us back to my palace, flopping down on the couch.
My boyfriend kissed my forehead and sat down next to my head, grabbing a pillow.
I curled up and rested my head in his lap, hugging the pillow.
I tugged on his hand, and Percy slid down next to me, pulling me into his chest.
He kissed my cheek and my forehead, holding me tightly. "You really do like cuddles."
I murmured my agreement, closing my eyes.
Of course, like most great moments,
Aphrodite ruined it.
She cleared her throat. "So I was right. You are with Percy."
I groaned in frustration.
Percy kissed the top of my head. "Go away, Aphrodite."
I sighed and sat up. "What is it you want, Aphrodite?"
Aphrodite shrugged. "Just confirmation that you have a boyfriend."
Percy sat up and pulled me into a hug from behind. "That would be me. Are we done here?"
Aphrodite sighed and left.
I kissed Percy's cheek. "Good boy."
He smiled and kissed my forehead.
"It's getting late," I murmured.
"I should get going then," Percy finished, standing up. "I'll see you tomorrow."
He kissed my cheek and disappeared into a cloud of mist.
Show off.
I went to bed, and when I awoke in the morning, Aphrodite was there, looking down at me again.
I threw a pillow at her.
The goddess pouted. "I was just curious! You never would have told me if you slept with him!"
"Why must you obsess with my love life?" I asked.
"Because!" Aphrodite replied obscurely. "Besides, I also came to inform you about the dance tonight. Immortals only, you know?"
I nodded and waved her off, heading to the bathroom.
Afterwards, made my way to the Pad and summoned pizza.
Percy arrived a few minutes later, dried off, and kissed my cheek. "Hi, Arty."
"Arty?" I asked.
"Nickname," Percy explained, kissing my cheek again. "And thank you for the pizza." I smiled.
After we ate, Percy asked about going to the movies later.
I shook my head. "I have to go to a dance on Olympus. Immortals only, my attendance mandatory."
Percy kissed my temple. "Be safe."
"I'm a goddess, Percy," I chided. "I can take care of myself."
"I know," my boyfriend murmured, pulling me closer.
"If you're going to kiss me, do it already," I whispered against his lips.
Percy chuckled and obeyed.
I pulled away for breath, a slight blush tinting my cheeks.
"I need to go now," I murmured, kissing his cheek as I flashed away.
I showered and put on the same dress I wore to every event.
Of course, at the dance, several gods gave wolf whistles and sexual comments.
As I took another sip of my drink, I felt a hand on my neck, paralyzing me.
A needle was jabbed into me, and everything started to become blurry.
I flashed away to the first place I could think of, the Pad.
Since I couldn't actually flash inside, I appeared in the water, unable to move, breath oozing out of me as I sank.
My head hit a hard object, and everything went black.
Percy PoV
It was getting late, and I was finishing up a swim when I sensed a powerful presence in the water.
I found Artemis, slowly sinking, the stream of air bubbles almost gone.
I grabbed her and shot up to the Pad, laying her down on the floor.
I tapped her forehead, expelling the water from her lungs and drying her.
"Artemis?" I asked. "Artemis, can you hear me?"
Noticing a gash on her templeā I poured nectar on it.
I pulled the futon out and placed Artemis on it.
After what felt like hours, the goddess emitted a soft groan as her eyes fluttered open.
"Percy," she murmured, trying to sit up.
"I'm right here, Artemis," I said softly. "We're at the Pad. Just rest."
She tugged on my hand, murmuring something about a hug.
I laid down next to Artemis, kissing her forehead.
"Rest, Artemis. I'll be right here," I murmured into her hair.
The goddess curled up next to me, closing her eyes.
I woke up in the morning with my girlfriend snuggled into my side, her head on my chest.
At this, I couldn't help but smile.
I kissed her forehead, watching as her eyes fluttered open.
"Percy," Artemis murmured quietly. "What...?"
"I don't know," I replied. "You appeared by the Pad. I found you in the water with a cut on your head, and you couldn't move."
"I need to get back to my palace, or others will start to worry," she murmured tiredly.
"You aren't strong enough to use your powers at the moment, Arty. I'll take you," I responded, holding her close.
! turned us both to mist, zipping over to my girlfriend's palace.
We solidified in her bedroom, and Artemis fell back on the bed.
"Do you need anything else?" I asked. Artemis nodded. "I need a hug."
I laid down next to her and pulled her into an embrace, kissing the top of her head as she buried her face in my chest.
"If you don't feel better by the time you wake up, I'll get Apollo, okay?" I asked.
Artemis groaned. "I'll do it. If Apollo finds out you're my boyfriend, he'll kill you."
I kissed the top of her head. "He'll find out eventually."
Artemis kissed my cheek, and I held her tightly as she fell asleep.
I was awoken by my girlfriend stumbling out of bed, toward the bathroom.
I helped her to the toilet and put up the seat, where Artemis promptly began to throw up into the toilet bowl.
I found a hair tie and put her hair up in a messy but functional bun, kissing the top of her head.
"I'll grab my hoodie on the way out, but you need to call Apollo," I said, holding her back as l flushed the toilet. "Contact me when I can see you again."
I could still hear her vomiting as I appeared back in my cabin.
After a quick lunch, I changed into a fresh set of clothes and went out for a long run.
I stopped at the edge of a cliff with water far below.
Of course, I dove down into the water, taking a deep breath as the cool water consumed me.
After helping untangle a young
hippocampus from a fishing net, I swam over to the Pad, silently hoping for my girlfriend's presence.
And there she was.
Artemis was splayed out on the futon, taking a nap.
