Third PoV
Percy climbed up into the Pad and dried off, smiling at the sight of Artemis asleep on the futon.Artemis awoke a few minutes later, rubbing her eyes groggily.
"Percy," she murmured. "No matter what the circumstance, the idea of someone watching me sleep will always creep me out."
He smiled apologetically and moved closer. "How are you feeling?"
Artemis sat up and shrugged. "I'm alive. I'm not dying from poison. Apollo is searching for the person that injected me with the sedative serum thing. Everything is normal."
Percy gestured to the futon. "May I?"
Artemis nodded and Percy laid down next to her, wrapping her in a hug.
"There's still something bothering you," Percy murmured, kissing his girlfriend's temple.
"It's nothing," she responded.
"If it keeps bothering you, just tell me. Okay?" Percy asked.
Artemis nodded, kissing his jaw.
Percy PoV
"More hugs?" I asked.
Artemis nodded, nuzzling into my side.
A few minutes later, she sat up, kissing my cheek. "My brother is looking for me. I should go now."
I kissed her nose. "If you need anything, just ask. I don't care if it's a hug at two in the morning. You tell me, okay?"
Artemis nodded, smiling lightly as I kissed her nose again.
"I'll see you tomorrow," she told me.
I closed my eyes, opening them a few seconds later to find Artemis was gone.
I sighed and swam up to the beach, heading over to the dining pavilion.
After offering some of my briskets to the gods and finishing the rest of my food, I headed back to my cabin.
The next morning, I snagged some breakfast before heading into the forest.
I let out a grunt as a monster's claw cut deep into my back.
Well, I guess I found the monsters for training.
After much running, jumping, slicing, stabbing, blocking, and watching monsters explode into yellow dust, I headed back over to the Pad.
The gash in my back was burning, so I just laid on my stomach, my hand in the water.
While the water was doing it's healing thing, I heard a gasp.
"Percy, what the hell did you do?" Artemis asked.
"I was poking around the forest for some monsters so I could train," I grunted, trying to get up. "Found 'em."
She helped me to the futon and cut off my shirt.
I sighed as the nectar was poured over the wound.
When I tried to get up, I felt her soft, tender hands on my back, keeping me down.
"Artemis," I began. "How could your hands be so soft if you're a hunter?"
She kissed the back of my head. "I'm a goddess, Percy."
"Can you stay tonight?" I asked sleepily.
"Yeah," she replied. "I can stay."
I smiled as she laid down next to me, hands around one of mine.
"What would your brother say if he found out you were in bed with a half-naked boy?" I joked.
That comment earned me a well-placed smack to the shoulder.
"He wouldn't say anything," she replied. "He'd find you, castrate you, then throw you into Tartarus."
"And if he knew it was me?" I asked.
"Not sure," Artemis answered. "Not planning on finding out, either."
I shivered as her finger traced along what was now just a long, thin line on my back.
I rolled over onto my back, letting out a sigh.
Artemis curled up next to me, head rested on my chest.
"I could get used to this," J murmured as I drifted off.
I woke up early in the next morning, finding Artemis sitting on my legs, engulfed by my hoodie.
I sat up and kissed the tip of her nose. "I thought you said staring at people while they slept was creepy."
Artemis just buried her face in my neck, holding me tightly.
"What's the matter?" I asked, rubbing her back.
"Percy," she murmured. "Promise me if you're offered godhood again you'll take it."
"I promise," I whispered in her ear, kissing her temple.
"I know we haven't known each other long, but I really like you," she explained quietly. "I don't want to lose you."
I pressed her hand over my heart. "Feel that?"
Artemis nodded. "Heartbeat. You are very much alive."
I cupped her cheek, leaning forward to kiss her.
My girlfriend's arms went around my neck, and she moaned softly as my tongue entered her mouth.
As our lips moved together, I rolled so I was hovering above her.
Artemis let out a small gasp, breathing heavily as she lay under me.
After a few minutes, she reached up and gave me a peck on the lips.
I rolled off of her, resting my head back on the pillow.
I felt her head on my chest and smiled, draping an arm around her.
Sometime later, her lips ghosted my ear. An explanation of her departure. Warnings to remain alive. Her lips on mine.
Then she was gone again.
I sighed and sat up, getting on with my day.
Artemis PoV
I collapsed on my bed. It still smelled of Percy.
Aphrodite appeared seconds later, gasping at the goofy smile on my face.
"Artemis?" She asked cautiously. I looked up at her. "Aphrodite."
"Oh, my gods. You're in love with him!" The goddess shrieked.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean you love him, Artemis. You've only been together for, like, a month. Does he know? Do you know?"
I continued to look at her, confused.
Aphrodite smiled gleefully and disappeared.
I fell back on the bed and drifted off.
Third PoV
Artemis woke up, pulling the covers up over her in a feeble attempt to trap the warmth.
After it faded, Artemis woke up and showered.
She headed over to the Pad and flopped down on the couch, curling up as she waited for her boyfriend.
Percy appeared a few minutes later, planting a kiss on her forehead.
"What are we doing today, my lady?" The demigod asked.
"We're going to help some baby animals," Artemis responded.
She sat up and kissed Percy's cheek,
grabbing his hand.
They appeared at a trash-filled beach, wearing working clothes.
Heavy-duty boots and jeans, thick flannel shirts.
A peppy young man walked up to them, introducing himself as Jay.
Percy and Artemis were assigned to the animal washing station.
Percy wrinkled his nose as they got closer to the water. "It's so dirty. There's so much grease and oil and there's a ton of chemicals."
"Well, then we should probably get all that gunk off them," Artemis replied.
They got to work.
Artemis brought a baby otter to their washing station, gently setting him down in the little tub.
As she washed the grease and oil off the young animal, it splashed at her.
Artemis smiled, rubbing the little guy's head.
The goddess moved the otter out of the tub and dried him off while Percy washed off a little duckling.
As the duckling waddled back off to her mother, the otter stayed at Artemis's feet.
Artemis allowed the semi-aquatic animal to stay, Percy fetching the dirty animals for cleaning.
The demigod sat down next to his girlfriend, smiling as the otter stretched out across their knees.
"I think he likes you," Percy told Artemis, rubbing the animal's head before turning back to the next duckling he was washing.
Artemis, well, she was preoccupied with the mischievous little animal in her lap.
Percy planted a little seed about keeping the animal as he washed a turtle.
Artemis scurried off to talk to the head of the event, asking what was to happen to the baby otter.
It seemed that the otter was alone, and had been left by his family.
Nobody would miss the young animal.
Artemis sat back down next to Percy, who was easing some plastic off a turtle's shell.
"So, are we keeping the otter?" Percy asked absentmindedly.
"You wouldn't mind?" Artemis asked timidly.
Percy responded by kissing her cheek and rubbing the top of the otter's head.
They finished up and headed home, cuddling the animal like it was their own child.
Percy created a blob of freshwater suspended in the air that the otter, whom they had named Oliver, could swim around in and poke his head out.
Artemis smiled, kissing Percy's cheek.
Someone cleared their throat from behind the couple, and they turned to find Apollo standing there, arms crossed.
